ICE CUBE claims to have gotten "caught up in a bizarre bribery plot involving his popular BIG3 basketball league, the Qatari government, former National Security Adviser MIKE FLYNN -- and STEVE BANNON." Ice Cube and fellow Big3 co-Founder JEFF KWATINETZ "filed an affidavit" in L.A. on Tuesday, alleging that they were "both used as pawns by the Qataris in a bid to get sympathy from people" in DC. The pair is suing for $1.2B under the claim that they were "promised millions of dollars in investments" Big3, "but never received it" (N.Y. POST, 5/11).
Monahan (l) joined his predecessors Thursday at a sponsorship summit at The PlayersPGA Tour
COME TOGETHER: The PGA Tour held its sponsorship summit on Thursday at The Players, with former Commissioners DEANE BEMAN and TIM FINCHEM joining current Commissioner JAY MONAHAN at the meeting. It was the first time the three have appeared at summit that brings together all of the Tour's official marketing partners and title sponsors (John Lombardo, Staff Writer)....Warriors President & COO RICK WELTS, MLB Giants President & CEO LARRY BAER, 49ers President AL GUIDO, Earthquakes President TOM FOX and Sharks President JONATHAN BECHER were part of a Thursday morning panel at the 49ers Innovation & Business Strategy Conference at Levi's Stadium. Stanford professor GEORGE FOSTER moderated (THE DAILY).
NAMES: LEBRON JAMES and friends FRANKIE WALKER and JARON KANFER have reportedly "signed a lease to open their men's streetwear clothing shop Unknwn" in the Wynwood area of Miami (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 5/10)....Former NFLer DREW BLEDSOE is going to be "developing a wine" inspired by Celtics G TERRY ROZIER. Bledsoe joked it would be called "Terry Rosé," adding that it would have a "great finish." Bledsoe "owns a vineyard back in his native Washington state" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/10)....The Brewers tweeted pictures RF BRETT PHILLIPS and Ps JOSH HADER, JEREMY JEFFRESS and DAN JENNINGS playing Epic Games’ “FORTNITE” on the centerfield scoreboard before Tuesday night’s game against the Indians (JSONLINE.com, 5/10)....Eagles S MALCOLM JENKINS moderated a forum in Sacramento on Thursday, which was the “first of a planned series of events to discuss criminal justice reform and public safety issues with district attorneys and candidates nationwide” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/11)....Former USMNT coach BRUCE ARENA co-wrote a book about the state of U.S. soccer titled, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH US: A COACH’S BLUNT TAKE ON THE STATE OF AMERICAN SOCCER AFTER A LIFETIME ON THE TOUCHLINE,” which is set to release June 12 (L.A. TIMES, 5/11).
