Werner simply referred to a previous statement when pressed on the return and cancellation of "Rosanne" GETTY IMAGES
Red Sox Chair and "ROSEANNE" producer TOM WERNER yesterday had an "opportunity to explain his decision to bring" the actress back to television, despite a "history of wildly inappropriate social-media behavior predating the actress' racist tweet" last week. Werner declined, "pointing to a statement he issued last week." Given how fervently the Red Sox fought to have the late Red Sox Owner TOM YAWKEY's name "erased from the City of Boston street directory," because of Yawkey's "troubling racist history in and around Fenway Park, it behooved Werner to be more transparent about Roseanne" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/4).
MOVING ON: New Orleans attorney SCOTT SCHNEIDER cleared Georgia Tech basketball coach JOSH PASTNER of "accusations that he sexually assaulted" Georgia Tech booster RON BELL's girlfriend. Schneider's report said, "It is highly likely that the allegations of sexual misconduct against Pastner were concocted by Bell, made in bad faith, and asserted only after various other attempts to damage and/or extort Pastner failed" (MYAJC.com, 6/4).
HITTING THE LINKS: NHL referee and amateur golfer GARRETT RANK "earned a spot in the U.S. Open" yesterday by finishing tied for first at a regional qualifying tournament near Roswell, Ga. (CP, 6/4). Meanwhile, Baseball HOFer JOHN SMOLTZ "qualified for the U.S. Senior Open later this month." Smoltz played at Planterra Ridge Golf Course in Georgia and "won a three-way playoff to get the final qualifying spot from that site" (MLIVE.com, 6/4).
PAGE TURNER: In N.Y., John Swansburg reviewed former MLBer KEITH HERNANDEZ' new book, "I'M KEITH HERNANDEZ: A MEMOIR." It is "by turns crusty and soft," but it is "pretty good too." Swansburg: "If you've ever listened to Hernandez in his current capacity as a color man for the Mets, you know that he can be unapologetically cranky." In his book, Hernandez "alternates between glimpses of his childhood and scenes from his days as a prospect" in the Cardinals organization (N.Y. TIMES, 6/3).
NAMES: Proskauer represented Discovery Inc. in the negotiation of its deal with the PGA Tour. The Proskauer team was led by partners ROBERT FREEMAN, LAUREN BOGLIVI, RICHARD CORN, CHRISTOPHER ONDECK, KRISTEN MATHEWS, Senior Counsel PARESH TRIVEDI and associates LAURA GOLDSMITH, WAI CHOY and JASON JOFFE (Proskauer)....Former professional skateboarder ROB DYRDEK was among the investors in Series A funding for S.F.-based travel booking agent Emergence Capital, which raised $8M (FORTUNE.com, 6/4)....Spurs G DANNY GREEN “traveled to Japan for a series of meet-and-greets” during the NBA Finals (MYSANANTONIO.com, 6/4)....Clippers C BOBAN MARJANOVIC has “joined the cast” of “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3” and will be featured as an assassin (COLLIDER.com, 6/4)....Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI on Sunday "got his head shaved for charity at the 'Buzz Off'" at Gillette Stadium (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/4)....Buccaneers DT GERALD MCCOY and his wife, EBONY, have a “baby boy on the way” in November (TAMPABAY.com, 6/4)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT, longtime girlfriend RICKI LANDER and her child were “looking very much like a family” when they “had brunch together Sunday afternoon at Gather in the Seaport, sitting quietly by a window” (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/4).
IN MEMORY: Former R.W. Sports & Entertainment Group President & CEO ROBERT WAGNER “passed away on May 23, 2018, at the age of 60.” Wagner was a “well known executive" in the sports and entertainment industry in the Southern California area "for the past 35 years," working for the Angels, Ducks, NHRA, Cedar Fair Entertainment and the LA84 Foundation. Wagner “volunteered and served on the boards of numerous organizations,” including the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, Long Beach State Sports Advisory Council and Special Olympics. He was also a “mentor and teacher at several MBA programs throughout the country" specializing in sports management (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/2).
