Trump still wants Kraft to join the Patriots at the White House despite his ongoing prostitution caseGETTY IMAGES
PRESIDENT TRUMP wants Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT to "join his players at the White House this spring" for their celebratory visit after winning Super Bowl LIII, a "prospect that has White House aides worried that it could turn a feel-good photo op into an embarrassing media spectacle." A White House source said that Trump has told staffers that he "wants Kraft there," and that he and Kraft had "spoken since Kraft's arrest late last month" (POLITICO.com, 3/20).
FINANCIAL MATTERS: Rockets Owner TILMAN FERTITTA is "gearing up to make a second run at Caesars Entertainment -- and he may get help" from financier CARL ICAHN. Caesars initially "rebuffed" Fertitta's offer to merge Caesars with his Golden Nugget Casino brand in November. What has changed since the initial offer is the "number of shares" Fertitta would need to "purchase thanks to Icahn's desire for a strategic partner" (NYPOST.com, 3/20)....SERENA WILLIAMS will "invest in and advise the Bumble Fund, the dating app's fund that primarily backs startups led by women of color." Williams has invested in about 30 companies "through her own platform, Serena Ventures, which also focuses on female founders of color" (FORTUNE.com, 3/20)....Dish Network Chair CHARLIE ERGEN took home $3.11M in "total pay" in '18 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 3/19)....Former Oath CEO TIM ARMSTRONG is leaving Verizon with a $60M severance (WSJ.com, 3/20).
THE GOOD STUFF: MAGIC JOHNSON was at Crenshaw High School in L.A. yesterday for the unveiling of a STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine) and Robotics Lab that was partially funded by donations from the Lakers (DAILYNEWS.com, 3/20)....The Boston Marathon finish line will “soon have an ‘emotional’ tribute commemorating the three victims who died” in the '13 bombings. Two monuments on Boylston Street are “currently under construction and are expected to be unveiled sometime this summer.” Boston Mayor MARTIN WALSH said that the families of the victims “selected the artist to design the tributes and have been involved in the process at every step” (BOSTONHERALD.com, 3/20)....LUCA DE LA VEGA, a 12-year-old who has cancer, and his family were specials guests of Jazz G RICKY RUBIO during last night’s game against the Knicks at MSG (STRIB.com, 3/21).
NAMES: Cal's athletic department has "referred an allegation of sexual harassment involving the football team" to the school's Office for Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination. A former student yesterday posted "detailed accusations on her public Facebook page." She "worked last season for the football team's sports medicine unit" (SFCHRONICLE.com, 3/20)....A federal judge has "dismissed a suit filed by an NCAA basketball official against Kentucky Sports Radio." The lawsuit alleges that KSR, Founder MATT JONES and contributor DREW FRANKLIN "harmed referee JOHN HIGGINS' family and his business by sharing his personal and business information online and on radio broadcasts" after Kentucky's loss to UNC in the '17 NCAA Tournament (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 3/20)....Minnesota United MF MIGUEL IBARRA attended Tuesday night’s Warriors-T’Wolves game, sitting with teammates in United Owner BILL MCGUIRE's floor seats. Ibarra after the game presented T’Wolves G DERRICK ROSE with a United jersey (STARTRIBUNE.com, 3/20)....The Bucks Gaming NBA 2K League team recently took a wellness retreat in Kohler, Wisc., spending “three days at the spa before practices begin” (JSONLINE.com, 3/20).
