Former USA Gymnastics women's national team coach TERRY GRAY has been "formally suspended from the sport for two years by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for sexual misconduct involving a minor." Gray is appealing the suspension. SCEGA Gymnastics in an email sent to parents Sunday said that Gray is "no longer employed at the club." He was at the SCEGA facility "as recently as Thursday." SCEGA is "recognized as a national team training center" by USAG. Gray appeared in promotional campaigns on the club's social media platforms "as recently as September" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/22).
ON THE BIG SCREEN: An upcoming MMA film has "pulled together a new cast with production due to start" on Nov. 1 in Saskatchewan. "CAGEFIGHTER" follows an MMA knock-out specialist, who is now to be played by UK MMA fighter ALEX MONTAGNANI. The character's promoter, played by GINA GERSHON, sets up a "cross-promotional bout" against an international Pro Wrestling showman played by All Elite Wrestling's JON MOXLEY. The cast also includes WWE's JAY "CHRISTIAN" RESO and former UFC fighters CHUCK LIDDELL and LUKE ROCKHOLD (DEADLINE.com, 10/21).
LEGAL MATTERS: Actress RACHEL BLOOM and her husband, writer-producer DAN GREGOR, have "filed a lawsuit against various corporate entities allegedly tied" to Fox Sports' MATT LEINART and his former USC teammate BRANDON HANCE, accusing the shell companies of "operating a fraudulent home-flipping operation." Bloom and Gregor said that they are "among those duped by" real estate investor RAUL MENJIVAR. Leinart and Hance are "named in the lawsuit as associates of Menjivar" (L.A. TIMES, 10/22).
NAMES: Homes belonging to Stars G BEN BISHOP and C TYLER SEGUIN "sustained damage" when a tornado "touched down in north Dallas" on Sunday. Bishop described "broken windows, down trees, and someone else's chimney in his backyard," but he and his family "were fine." The tornado passed through Seguin's former neighborhood, "removing the roof" from his home. Seguin moved from the house last November, and it is "currently for sale." Seguin said that no one was injured (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/22)....Marathoner SHALANE FLANAGAN announced on Instagram that she is "retiring from professional running." Flanagan said that she will "serve as a coach of the Nike Bowerman Track Club" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/22)....Nationals LF GERARDO PARRA used his "last free day" before the World Series begins tonight to "visit pediatric cancer patients with his wife, TANIA," at Children's National Hospital (NBCPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 10/21)....RAFAEL NADAL "married MERY FRANCISCA 'XISCA' PERELLO in Mallorca on Saturday" (N.Y. POST, 10/22).
