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CLINTON PORTIS and other retired NFLers "have been charged by a federal grand jury with defrauding the NFL's health care benefit plan for its retirees." The former players allegedly "submitted fraudulent health care claims seeking to be reimbursed for 'expensive medical equipment,' even though the equipment was never purchased." The scheme, which lasted from June '17-December '18, "led to fraudulent claims" totaling more than $2.5M (CNN.com, 12/12).

Gordon (c) is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of LiverpoolGETTY IMAGES

BEST WISHES: A private jet carrying Fenway Sports Group President MIKE GORDON yesterday "skidded off the runway" at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Gordon was on board with "three crew members when the plane came off the runway after landing." He "didn't require medical treatment." At Fenway Sports Group, which owns EPL club Liverpool and the Red Sox, Gordon is "responsible for the day-to-day running of Liverpool" (AP, 12/11).

COURT REPORT: Baseball writer JONAH KERI has been "arrested again, this time on new charges alleging he assaulted his wife and a minor." The charge "alleges the assault took place between April and May." In total, Keri "faces eight new charges," which include "assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, criminal harassment and uttering threats." His wife is the "complainant in each of the charges not related to the minor." In July, Keri was "charged with assaulting his wife" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 12/11).

OPEN INVESTIGATION: Boxer ADRIEN BRONER has been "connected to drug and money laundering investigations." That allegation is "mentioned in a forfeiture case" surrounding 29-year-old GIOVANNI CRAWFORD, who "was suspected of drug trafficking" in '16. Specifics are not included, and Broner's attorney said that he was "not aware of Broner being investigated for those crimes" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/12).

CHARITY STRIPE: An NWSL-wide initiative led by the Orlando Pride and the Chicago Red Stars has "raised $45,146 to benefit Libby's Legacy, an Orlando-based nonprofit that provides assistance to breast cancer patients." The effort began in September "following the breast cancer diagnosis" of Pride D TONI PRESSLEY. All of the money raised will "directly benefit the nonprofit," which helps patients by "providing financial assistance and health services" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 12/11)....Bears CB PRINCE AMUKAMARA yesterday made a "special appearance" at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, Ill., to "launch the resort's annual Snowland celebration and help make wishes come true for seriously ill kids." Amukamara shared the task of "pushing the official Snowland button with several alumni of the Make-A-Wish program and their family members" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 12/11).

NAMES: Hockey HOFer GUY LAPOINTE has been "diagnosed with oral cancer" (CP, 12/11)....Outgoing Chick-fil-A College Football HOF CEO DENNIS ADAMOVICH on Tuesday got a "Legacy Award," which is a "prestigious parting gift from the National Football Foundation" given at its 62nd annual awards dinner in N.Y. (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 12/11)....California Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM and wife, JENNIFER, on Tuesday honored the 13th class of the California HOF in Sacramento, which included skateboarder TONY HAWK and former USWNT player BRANDI CHASTAIN (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 12/12)....Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK invested $3M of the $5M "recently raised by Bridge Connector." The healthcare software company has "grown from zero to 135 employees in less than two years" and has offices in South Florida, Nashville and S.F. (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/12)....Esports business ReKTGlobal announced American pro tennis player TAYLOR FRITZ as its most recent celebrity investor. The 22-year old Fritz, who is ranked No. 32 in the world and won his first ATP tournament earlier this year, calls himself an avid gamer. He joins an investment group that includes Redskins S LANDON COLLINS and Jazz C RUDY GOBERT (Bret McCormick, THE DAILY).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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