Blatter's trip to the World Cup in Moscow is the first time he has left Switzerland since '15GETTY IMAGES
Despite "currently serving an eight-year ban from soccer," former FIFA President SEPP BLATTER was "due to attend the Portugal-Morocco match" in Moscow today and Brazil-Costa Rica on Friday. Blatter's trip will be a "rare public appearance for him since he survived his own toppling" in '15, when he "stopped travelling outside of his native Switzerland." Though he was "never charged with a criminal offense by the U.S. and denies all wrongdoing, the former globe-trotter preferred to stay home for fear of attracting attention from American law enforcement." His trip to Russia is Blatter's "first venture beyond Swiss borders" since '15 (WSJ.com, 6/19).
TALKING ISSUES: Patriots S DEVIN MCCOURTY, CB JASON MCCOURTY and WR MATTHEW SLATER last night "acted as the moderators" for a two-hour political forum at Dorchester's Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School. The trio "took the role seriously, asking an array of questions, including ones focusing on domestic violence, cash bail, drug prosecutions, and immigration." The forum was "hosted by the Players Coalition, a nonprofit group that works with professional athletes, coaches and sports club owners to 'improve social justice and racial equality in our country'" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/20).
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The second Donald Driver Charity Softball Game will be played Aug. 5 at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis., and will feature former NFLers JAMES JONES, NICK COLLINS, BRADY POPPINGA and JARRETT BUSH. Former NBAer STEVE NOVAK and singer GAVIN DEGRAW will also play (POSTCRESCENT.com, 6/19)....Packers TE JIMMY GRAHAM and the American Cornhole League will "host the Jimmy Graham Charity Cornhole Challenge on July 22 at Badger State Brewing" in Green Bay. Entry fees and proceeds from the "silent auction and charity toss will be divided between the Wounded Warrior Project and Angel Flight" charities (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 6/19)....The Boston Bruins Foundation has donated more than $3M to more than 150 charities over this past year. Since its inception in ’03, the foundation has raised more than $30M (Bruins).
NAMES: Bucks G STERLING BROWN "filed a federal civil suit" yesterday against the Milwaukee Police Department and the city. The lawsuit "claims wrongful arrest and excessive force by police during the incident on Jan. 26 outside a Walgreens store on the city's south side" (JSONLINE.com, 6/19)....Galaxy F ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, Astros P DALLAS KEUCHEL, figure skater ADAM RIPPON and GREG NORMAN, Dodgers OF YASIEL PUIG, T’Wolves C KARL ANTHONY-TOWNS, Giants RB SAQUON BARKLEY, Pro Football HOFer JERRY RICE, WNBA Seattle Storm G SUE BIRD and F BREANNA STEWART, USWNT Fs MEGAN RAPINOE and CRYSTAL DUNN, U.S. runner TORI BOWIE, WWE’s CHARLOTTE FLAIR, Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier JESSIE DIGGINS and softball player LAUREN CHAMBERLAIN are among those being featured in ESPN The Magazine’s 10th Anniversary Body Issue set to be released June 2(AP, 6/19)....Nets G JEREMY LIN has partnered with DoSomething.org and Saban’s Power Rangers to be the face of the national anti-bullying campaign “You’ve Got the Power” (DoSomething)....DC-based WTEM-AM host STEVE SOLOMON will be on Tuesday’s primary ballot for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/19)....Gold Medal-winning volleyball player KERRI WALSH JENNINGS’ new beach series, p1440, is providing nine of its international athletes with financial sponsorships (p1440).
