Ball has recently cut ties with his agent and a co-founder of Big Baller BrandNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Lakers G LONZO BALL and his agent, HARRISON GAINES, have "mutually agreed to part ways." Although the announcement "comes two weeks after Ball severed ties with and sued" former Big Baller Brand co-Founder ALAN FOSTER for damages of at least $2M, Ball "insisted Gaines supported him through that situation and that his decision was unrelated." Ball was Gaines' first client, but "unlike many others hired by Lonzo's father, LAVAR BALL, Gaines was never a part" of BBB. Instead, he "founded his own agency," Slash Sports (ESPN.com, 4/4).
I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW: Giants RB SAQUON BARKLEY is "expected to take over the popular New Jersey-based youth football program" bearing Browns WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.'s name after his trade from the Giants this offseason. The fourth annual Citi Odell Beckham Jr. Football ProCamp was announced in February as scheduled for June 15-16 at Arthur L. Johnson High School (NJ.com, 4/5).
NAMES: Former MLBer ICHIRO SUZUKI has "turned down" Japan's "prestigious People's Honor Award for the third time." Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary YOSHIHIDE SUGA said Ichiro wishes to "devote himself so he can receive it when he draws a curtain on his life." The government has "attempted multiple times to present him with the award for the numerous records he established during his career" in both Japan and the U.S. (KYODO, 4/5)....Saints and Pelicans Owner GAYLE BENSON and New Orleans real estate magnate DARRYL BERGER are "teaming with a national hotel investment firm to purchase" the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in a deal that is "expected to close Friday." This will be Benson's "first hotel acquisition" (NOLA.com, 4/4)....Warriors President & COO RICK WELTS, a Univ. of Washington alumnus, will be the featured speaker at UW's Commencement exercises on June 15 (Warriors)....A's Exec VP/Baseball Operations BILLY BEANE will be the opening keynote speaker for the Optima talent optimization conference on Nov. 21 (Optima).
