Harris early last year reportedly met on multiple occasions with Jared KushnerGETTY IMAGES
In N.Y., Drucker, Kelly & Protess in a front-page piece report 76ers and Devils Owner JOSHUA HARRIS early last year was "advising" PRESIDENT TRUMP administration officials on "infrastructure policy." Sources said that during that period, he "met on multiple occasions" with Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law JARED KUSHNER, and the two men "discussed a possible White House job" for Harris. The job "never materialized," but in November, Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm founded by Harris, lent $184M to Kushner's family real estate firm, Kushner Companies. The loan was to "refinance the mortgage on a Chicago skyscraper." Rubenstein Exec VP CHARLES ZEHREN, an Apollo spokesperson, said that Harris was "not involved in the decision to loan money to Kushner Companies." He said the loan "went through the firm's standard approval process" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1).
IN OTHER NEWS...: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT is "not the father" of girlfriend RICKI LANDER's baby. She gave birth to the child in the fall of last year and has been "on-again, off-again with Kraft" since '12. A Patriots spokesperson said, "While Robert Kraft is not the biological father, he is thrilled with Ricki's blessing of having a healthy child" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/1). Sources said that Kraft is "taking full care" of Lander and the baby. Kraft has "bought her" a mansion in L.A. and "made some sizable financial investments on her behalf" (NYPOST.com, 2/28).
STYLIN' AND PROFILIN': The N.Y. TIMES' Men's Style section profiled Nets F DEMARRE CARROLL, who is "known for his bright shirts and colorful ensembles off the court." Carroll said of his shirt preference, "I'm more a fitted button-down type of guy. I like those by Dolce & Gabbana because they fit me." Carroll: "Most people would say that I'm a vibrant guy with loud colors and things that catch the eye" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1).
NAMES: More than 16,000 elementary school students from over 170 schools attended the Ducks' First Flight Field Trip yesterday at the Honda Center. The theme of the event was "Turn Up The Energy," and the team "took over on the ice to show the ways the hockey players use different forms of energy in their sport" (OCREGISTER.com, 2/28)....Trail Blazers and Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN yesterday said that he was "pumping an additional" $125M into his nonprofit computer research lab for a new "effort to teach machines 'common sense.'" The money for the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence will "about double the lab's budget over the next three years" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1)....The life of KEITH JACKSON will be “celebrated at the Rose Bowl on April 15” in an event open to the public. Among the scheduled speakers are Pro Football HOFers DAN FOUTS and BOB GRIESE, former UNLV football coach HARVEY HYDE, Washington State Assistant AD JASON GESSER, and NBC’s TODD HARRIS and Pro Football HOFer LYNN SWANN, who both worked with Jackson at ABC. Former DC-based WJLA-ABC sports anchor TIM BRANT “will preside” (AP, 2/28)....SERENA WILLIAMS will host the Desert Smash Pro/Celebrity Tennis Exhibition on Tuesday at the La Quinta Resort & Club (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/1)....ESPN’s JESSICA MENDOZA yesterday revealed the cover of her new book, “THERE’S NO BASE LIKE HOME,” co-written with her sister, ALANA, that will be released in June. The book is for children ages 8-12 and based on Mendoza’s adventures “growing up” (TWITTER.com, 2/28).
