In Houston, Jenny Dial Creech profiles Fox World Cup researcher JEN COOPER, who is "part of a team that looks up interesting stats, anecdotes and factoids that are used during the game broadcasts." Cooper has been to "four women's World Cups," but this is the "first men's World Cup for the soccer maven." She published the NWSL Almanac in '15, which "put her on the map with the league." It then "brought her in to provide all the research and statistical support for live broadcasts of NWSL games." Fox analyst ALY WAGNER "thought Cooper would be terrific for the job" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/13).
Green is receiving criticism for firing guns at a border police training center during his visit to IsraelOR SHKEDY
WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY: Warriors F DRAYMOND GREEN is "receiving criticism for his trip to Israel," where he met Israel President REUVEN RIVLIN and "fired guns at a border police training center." Part of Green's trip was "sponsored by the Friends of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/12)....Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY has been "supoenaed in a civil lawsuit that was filed Tuesday" by Under Armour against Battle Fashion. Curry is "not named in the suit." The case "centers around Under Armour's use of the phrase, 'I can do all things'" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/12).
THE GOOD STUFF: USL North Carolina FC M AUSTIN DA LUZ' Playing for Pride fundraising campaign "asked professional soccer players and fans to pledge a donation for every goal, assist, win save or appearance" during June which was LGBTQ pride month. The campaign "ended up raising more than $23,000" for Athlete Ally. Da Luz said, "It's higher than I thought for sure. I thought we could do something pretty cool, but this exceeded my expectations" (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 7/12)....Falcons rookie WR CALVIN RIDLEY "held his inaugural Bowling For The Boys charity and fundraising event" in Davie, Fla., on Thursday, with proceeds going to the TUFF Start program, which "supports underprivileged youth in South Florida." About 200 guests attended the event (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 7/12)....The Raiders Foundation "donated $150,000 to Veterans Village in Las Vegas." Reps gave a check to Veterans Village CEO & Founder ARNOLD STALK. The donation will be "used to help veterans with housing and other needs (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 7/13).
NAMES: The NFL and Football Research Inc. announced the winners of the HeadHealthTECH Challenge IV, the latest in the TECH Challenge series designed to stimulate research and innovation in protective equipment. The winners included: FieldTurf from Montreal; Corsair Innovations from Plymouth, Mass., with its FEAM material acting as an impact attenuation system for helmets; and Yobel Technologies from Starkville, Miss., with a lightweight, energy-absorbent prototyped faceguard (NFL)....Seahawks and Trail Blazers Owner PAUL ALLEN is “listing one of the largest undeveloped parcels left in Beverly Hills -- a sprawling 120-acre development site known as ‘The Enchanted Hill’” -- for $150M. Allen had planned to “develop a private compound there, but didn’t get around to it” (WSJ.com, 7/10)....The NHL and Sports & Fitness Industry Association have both hired DC-based Forbes Tate Partners to lobby on their behalf. Meanwhile the Stronach Group has ended its lobbying relationship with The Roth Group (POLITICO.com, 7/12)....Missouri Western State Univ. honored Kansas State football coach BILL SNYDER by “dedicating the Bill Snyder Pavilion on the west end of Craig Field at Spratt Stadium.” Snyder spent one semester of his college career at MWSU (KANSASCITY.com, 7/12)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier KIKKAN RANDALL confirmed she has breast cancer and “started chemotherapy this week” (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, 7/13)....Celtics C AL HORFORD’s wife, former Miss Universe AMELIA VEGA, “gave birth” to a baby girl, the couple’s third child, Wednesday night in Boston (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/12).
IN MEMORY: NORTON CUBAN, the father of Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN, “died Tuesday in Dallas” at the age of 92. Mark Cuban's brother, BRIAN, said that the family “already has held a private service.” Norton Cuban was “never in the spotlight," and the Mavericks organization “did not announce Norton Cuban’s passing” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/13).
