Cora, a native Puerto Rican, has vocally supported the movement for Gov. Ricardo Rossello to resigngetty images
In Boston, Peter Abraham reported Red Sox manager ALEX CORA has waded "into the political arena over the last few months, first by declining a visit to the White House in May and lately with the support for the throngs of protesters who successfully convinced" Puerto Rico Governor RICARDO ROSSELLO to resign. Cora has "worn T-shirts with political messages (in Spanish) to his pregame and postgame meetings with the media." It is "hard to fault Cora for how he represents himself." He expresses his opinion "without it getting in the way of his job," but also in a way that is "meaningful to the people of Puerto Rico" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/28).
LEGAL MATTERS: Former Tigers clubhouse attendant DERRELL COLEMAN II has filed a complaint against the team and former pitching coach CHRIS BOSIO claiming that he "experienced discriminatory remarks and actions from Bosio, leading to his dismissal on June 29, 2018." Coleman, who is African-American, in the complaint said that within the Tigers organization, a "culture of racism was tolerated by the upper echelons of management as African-American employees were treated differently than their similarly situated white counterparts." Coleman worked with the Tigers during the '17-18 seasons and is "seeking more than $25,000 in damages" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/27)....A limited liability company tied to Pelicans G LONZO BALL has "sold a commercial property" in L.A. for a little over $4.265M. Family Always Matters, LLC bought the industrial warehouse in '17 for $3.5M. The building was "used as a distribution for Big Baller Brand" (L.A. TIMES, 7/26).
NAMES: Mets 1B PETE ALONSO, after winning the Home Run Derby and its $1M prize earlier this month, donated $50,000 to both the Wounded Warrior Project and the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (Bergen RECORD, 7/26)....The Milwaukee Bucks Foundation will be "giving 15 Wisconsin-based organizations $311,500 in grants over the next year." The foundation has committed to giving a total of $1.4M to the community since it was founded in '16, with an annual goal of $500,000 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/26)....The Indiana Historical Society gave PEYTON MANNING its '19 Living Legends award for his "work in the community on a statewide and national level" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/26)....Baseball HOFer MARIANO RIVERA received a “key to the city” of New Rochelle, N.Y., and was honored with a “parade through the streets” (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 7/28)....Spotted at Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport’s Admirals Club yesterday afternoon was Villanova men’s basketball coach JAY WRIGHT and members of his family (THE DAILY)....A former Babson College student has pleaded guilty to "sending death threats via Instagram to at least 45 professional and college athletes he had gambled on." The threats were posted between July and December '17, and often included "multiple targets per threat" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/27)....BILL COWHER, HINES WARD, LARRY BROWN and the late ELBIE NICKEL will make up the Steelers' '19 Hall of Honor class (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/28)....Pro Football HOFer MORTEN ANDERSEN “became a U.S. citizen last week” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/29).
