Haas was scheduled to play in the Genesis Open this weekend at Riveria Country Club in L.A.GETTY IMAGES
Golfer BILL HAAS last night was "injured in a car accident in Pacific Palisades, Calif.," that "left the driver of the vehicle Haas was riding in dead and the driver of the other car involved injured." The accident took place at 6:30pm PT "just a few miles from Riviera Country Club," where Haas was scheduled to play in this week’s PGA Tour Genesis Open. LAPD Detective JEFF FISCHER said Haas was “doing OK" and the golfer has since been released from a local hospital. A third vehicle involved in the crash "was being driven by actor LUKE WILSON." He "did not sustain serious injury" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 2/14).
NASSAR FALLOUT: USA Gymnastics has "told Congress it has not used non-disclosure agreements in investigations except in the case of Olympic gold medalist MCKAYLA MARONEY, one of more than 200 women and girls who have said now-imprisoned sports doctor LARRY NASSAR sexually abused them." But attorney JOHN MANLY, who represents several women who were abused by Nassar, said the statement "is a lie." Manly said he has "spoken to USAG athletes bound by NDAs" (AP, 2/13)....The Michigan State faculty senate yesterday "erupted in applause after nearly all of its voting members" cast a "vote of no-confidence" in the BOT in the wake of the Nassar scandal. The vote "has no legal weight but is aimed at taking a stance on the issues facing MSU" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/14).
NAMES: Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI and several family members yesterday "made their charitable rounds visiting children’s hospitals in Boston, Rhode Island and Maine to hand-deliver $25,000 checks." The money was "raised by the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, through AFC Championship and Super Bowl ticket raffles" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/14)....Texans CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH yesterday morning "donated new weight room equipment to Willowridge High School" in Houston. The donation was "made in conjunction through a $10,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare to Joseph's Dreambuilders program" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/14)....Late former UNLV basketball player ARMEN GILLIAM "will be inducted posthumously May 11" into the Southern Nevada Sports HOF. Gilliam died in '11 at age 47 (LAS VEGAS SUN, 2/14)....LEBRON JAMES' production company SpringHill Entertainment is considering remaking the "early 1990s hit 'HOUSE PARTY'" (ESPN.com, 2/13)....MICHAEL PHELPS and wife NICOLE on Monday "welcomed their second baby" (NYPOST.com, 2/13).
