Cousy is the second Celtics player to receive the award after Bill Russell was honored in '11GETTY IMAGES
Basketball HOFer BOB COUSY will "receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom" from PRESIDENT TRUMP. He is the second Celtics player to receive the distinction after PRESIDENT OBAMA gave it to Basketball HOFer BILL RUSSELL in '11. Cousy "received the official confirmation from the White House last Wednesday" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/1).
TABLES TURNED: AAF co-Founder CHARLIE EBERSOL "responded to a lawsuit filed by the league's former players by alleging that it was the AAF players who committed 'intentional misrepresentations' and fraud." Ebersol's response document does "not say what type of fraud or misrepresentation he is alleging that the players committed." The document does "allege that the plaintiffs had 'material breaches of obligations' and 'directly interfered with Defendant's performance of its obligations' but does not state what those breaches or interference are" (ESPN.com, 7/1).
THE BRIGHT SIDE: The Red Sox' Home Base -- a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program -- and the U.K.'s Walking With the Wounded hosted the Mission: Gratitude Gala at Kensington Palace over the weekend around the team's trip to London. The gala raised $1.3M for "veterans dealing with mental health issues, and their families." Musician and activist STING, Massachusetts Gov. CHARLIE BAKER and his wife, LAUREN, NESN host TOM CARON,MLB Commissioner ROB MANFRED and Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY and wife, LINDA PIZZUTI HENRY, were all in attendance (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/1).
WORLD TRAVELER: Redskins RB ADRIAN PETERSON "completed a trip to Asia that focused on promoting the sport that has meant so much to him." Peterson traveled with Red Phoenix Entertainment from June 21-29 while "moving through Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai." He "hosted a few football camps including one with members of Japan's top football league, the X-League" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 6/30).
NAMES: Fanatics CEO & Dir DOUG MACK and former Deloitte CEO CATHY ENGELBERT were named to USA TODAY’s list of Top CEOs for diversity in large companies. Engelbert now serves as WNBA Commissioner (USA TODAY, 7/2)....YES Network this spring adopted the City Island Little League in the Bronx, and on Saturday, YES analyst JOHN FLAHERTY presided over the league’s trophy day. YES Net President JON LITNER sits on the Little League Int’l BOD (John Ourand, THE DAILY)....Former NFLer MARK RYPIEN was “arrested on suspicion of domestic violence” Sunday, after an “incident in north Spokane.” Rypien has said that he “believes he has” CTE (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 7/1)....DREW BREES “donated $250,000 to help build KIPP Believe," a school in New Orleans for kindergarten through eighth-grade students (NOLA.com, 7/1).
