The N.Y. TIMES' Ken Belson profiled Luker on Trends Founder RICH LUKER as part of the paper's "Visionaries" series. Luker's company "works with many professional sports leagues and teams," and just recently merged with Social Science Research Solutions, which will provide an "even bigger platform to ask questions" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/19).
NOT GOING AWAY: A ninth alleged victim of sexual abuse is suing coach BARHAM HOJREH, USA Water Polo and Int'l Water Polo in Orange County Superior Court. The suit is the "seventh to allege that USA Water Polo failed" to act upon a July '17 SafeSport report alleging that Int'l Water Polo players had "sexually abused opposing players during a Junior Olympic qualifying tournament in the Inland Empire" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/20).
NEW MOUTHPIECE: 49ers CB RICHARD SHERMAN is a new shareholder and global brand ambassador for Luminosity Gaming. He "will appear at Luminosity Gaming activations in the year ahead, and will help with player personnel decisions as the organization's newly-named captain." Luminosity Gaming also "plans to create original content with Sherman, including videos in which Sherman and other NFL players compete with the organization's Call of Duty team" (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 9/19).
NAMES: Atlanta United President DARREN EALES will be presented with the World Football Summit award for Best Executive during a ceremony Tuesday in Madrid (Mult. 9/19)....Colts CB PIERRE DESIR "donated a weight room to his former high school," Francis Howell Central in Cottleville, Mo. (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/19)....Wizards Gs JOHN WALL and BRADLEY BEAL were in attendance at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in DC on Thursday night for Aces-Mystics WNBA Semifinals Game 2, each "sporting [an] ELENA DELLE DONNE face mask" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 9/19)....LIONEL MESSI on Thursday night "celebrated the official launch of his fashion line, the Messi Brand" (WWD.com, 9/19).
IN MEMORY: The memorial for longtime Oklahoma State booster T. BOONE PICKENS was held Thursday in Dallas, and in attendance were Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES, Texas Gov. GREG ABBOTT, OSU President BURNS HARGIS, OSU AD MIKE HOLDER and several members of the school's Board of Regents. Around 800 guests in total "filled the sanctuary of Highland Park Methodist Church" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/20).
