Ujiri took part in the opening of a community center in the village of Kogelo in KenyaNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Raptors President MASAI UJIRI has done "invaluable work in Africa through basketball and social skills in almost 20 years of work with his Giants Of Africa foundation and the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program." Ujiri yesterday along with PRESIDENT OBAMA and Obama's sister, DR. AUMA OBAMA, "took part in the opening" of a community center in the village of Kogelo in Kenya that is part of Auma Obama’s Sauti Kuu Foundation, which is an organization "focused on creating structures to help youth become mentally, socially and financially self-reliant." President Obama’s appearance "dovetailed with a speech he gave" yesterday in South Africa to "mark the 100th birthday" of the late NELSON MANDELA (TORONTO STAR, 7/18).
GETTING POLITICAL: CNN's DAVID GREGORY attended the MLB All-Star Game last night and sat "three rows behind" the NL dugout. A few rows behind Gregory sat Bloomberg News' AL HUNT, a Nationals season-ticket holder. Also in attendance was Supreme Court nominee BRETT KAVANAUGH, who "sat in the upper deck" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/18)....21st Century Fox and Fox Sports held a pregame and watch party at the Due South restaurant. In attendance were U.S. Senators DOUG JONES (D-Ala.), CHRIS COONS (D-Del.), JEFF FLAKE (R-Ariz.), U.S. Rep. GREG WALDEN (R-Ore.), National Geographic Partners CEO GARY KNELL, National Geographic Global Networks CEO COURTENEY MONROE and 21st Century Fox Exec VP/Public Affairs CHIP SMITH (POLITICO.com, 7/18).
THE GOOD STUFF: Browns coach HUE JACKSON "delivered an impassioned speach" yesterday at the opening of the Hue Jackson Foundation Survivors of Human Trafficking Residence in Cleveland (OHIO.com, 7/17)....Spurs G LONNIE WALKER IV is “making the most of his new endorsement deal with Adidas,” as he will “deliver 300 pairs of shoes worth $30,000 to children in his hometown at the Blacktop Basketball League” in Reading, Pa. (MYSANANTONIO.com, 7/17)....Raiders coach JON GRUDEN is “overseeing the distribution of funds and equipment to four Oakland youth football programs through the Dick’s Sporting Goods Sports Matter Program.” Gruden has been a “major spokesman for that initiative for more than four years.” Gruden yesterday “presented grants of $15,000 to the head coaches of McClymonds High School and Oakland Tech” (AP, 7/18).
NAMES: Manchester United F ROMELU LUKAKU and Bayern Munich D JEROME BOATENG, the "first two soccer stars signed" to JAY-Z's Roc Nation Sports, were "back from Russia" and at Catch NYC on Monday. The duo "dined with a group including" Spurs F RUDY GAY and Roc Nation Sports' President JUAN PEREZ and President & Chief of Branding & Strategy MICHAEL YORMARK (NYPOST.com, 7/17)....A class-action lawsuit against Indianapolis-based USA Diving accuses the NGB of “ignoring or obstructing sexual abuse allegations, and the lawyer says the organization is ‘worse than gymnastics, worse than swimming.’” The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court last week, “describes the now-familiar dynamic of a coach-athlete power imbalance leading to sexual abuse” (TRIBLIVE.com, 7/16)....Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist PATRICK REUSSE is “one of three finalists for the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, the top honor for baseball writing.” The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram’s JIM REEVES and The Athletic’s JAYSON STARK are the “other finalists.” The BBWAA votes, with results "announced during the annual baseball winter meetings in December” (STARTRIBUNE.com, 7/18)....Pro Football HOFers TIM BROWN and JEROME BETTIS have been named honorary chairmen of the 40th U.S. Senior Open Championship at The Warren Course on the campus of Notre Dame (USGA)....CBS Sporting Club, located in Patriot Place, is “officially open for business.” Big Night Entertainment Partners RANDY GREENSTEIN, ED KANE and JOE KANE joined Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and President JONATHAN KRAFT to “christen the new” location on Monday (BOSTONHERALD.com, 7/18)....Nuggets G ISAIAH THOMAS and his wife, KAYLA, are expecting a baby girl (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/17)....New DC United F WAYNE ROONEY was seen “grabbing dinner” at the Salt Line restaurant located at the Navy Yard in DC (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/17).
