Johnson hopes that the partnership with Harvard sparks a longtime relationship with the instituteGETTY IMAGES
Former NFLers CALVIN JOHNSON and ROB SIMS have partnered with Harvard to "research the benefits of medical marijuana in the areas of chronic traumatic encephalopathy" and the "management of pain." The two former players -- who co-own the cannabis company Primitive -- announced the Harvard partnership that "includes a six-figure donation, with the option for future money," to the Int'l Phytomedicines & Medical Cannabis Institute at Harvard during the Cannabis Capital Conference in Detroit Thursday. Harvard will "do medical research for Primitive, run clinical trials related to CTE and pain and also will provide quality assurance from Harvard Medical School for any products the company creates." Johnson and Sims hope that this is the beginning of a "long-term partnership with the institute" (ESPN.com, 8/15).
LET'S GET POLITICAL: One of U.S. Sen. TED CRUZ' (R-Texas) "top campaign donors" gave him Rockets tickets "worth nearly $8,000 last year." One ticket "worth $5,175 let Cruz attend Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals." Cruz' Campaign Manager JEFF ROE "also gave him a Rockets ticket valued at $5,000" in May '18 (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/16)....Kentucky-based sports radio personality MATT JONES, who has "flirted with a Senate run, is writing a book" about Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL (R-Ky.). "MITCH, PLEASE" will be published by Simon & Schuster and is "expected to be released next summer" ahead of the '20 elections (WASHINGTON POST, 8/16)
NAMES: Seahawks WR DK METCALF “spent part of his team off day from preseason practice” Wednesday at Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Wash., “surprising 25 teachers from Seattle Public Schools with gifts to buy back-to-school essentials for their classrooms” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 8/15)....Bears play-by-play announcer JEFF JONIAK and Baseball HOFer HAROLD BAINES are “among those set to be honored" by the Chicagoland Sports HOF on Sept. 25 at Wintrust Arena. The ’19 class of inductees also includes ESPN’s RICK SUTCLIFFE and DESMOND HOWARD, as well as former ESPNer LOU HOLTZ. Northwestern AD JIM PHILLIPS will also be honored (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/15).
