Patriots DBs DEVIN and JASON MCCOURTY hosted an "advance screening of the film, 'JUST MERCY,'" which "calls attention to the ongoing fight for criminal justice reform, an area in which the McCourty's have been very active over the past years." Among those in attendance at Patriots Place last night were fellow teammates TE BEN WATSON, OT MARCUS CANNON and LB JA'WHAUN BENTLEY (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/7).
LEGAL MATTERS: Former "BACHELOR" contestant JADE ROPER "won first place in DraftKings' Millionaire Maker contest," earning a $1M prize. However, when some "seasoned daily fantasy players began looking into the results, allegations began to surface that she and her husband, TANNER TOLBERT, had violated the site's rules by what's called 'pooling' their entries." DraftKings CEO JASON ROBINS yesterday said that the company has "begun an investigation" into the situation (USA TODAY, 1/7)....A man "charged with repeatedly raping a teenage boy at New Hampshire's youth detention center in the late 1990s went on to work as a clubhouse attendant for the Red Sox, who suspended him when the club learned of the allegations." STEPHEN MURPHY was charged in July on 26 counts of aggravated felonious assault (AP, 1/6).
NAMES: The Springfield City Council (Mass.) "issued a proclamation" honoring Dolphins DE CHRISTIAN WILKINS, a native of Springfield (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 1/7)....Former NFLer VICTOR CRUZ has "joined E!'s morning news show 'POP OF THE MORNING' as a co-host" (DEADLINE.com, 1/6)....Former tennis player ANDY RODDICK, rapper J. COLE and former NBAer CHRIS WASHBURN were in attendance at Pacers-Hornets last night (THE DAILY).
IN MEMORY: ANDREW BURKLE, son of MLS expansion club Sacramento Republic FC Owner RON BURKLE, has been found dead in his Beverly Hills home. He is "believed to have died early Monday in his apartment but was found later that evening" (PEOPLE.com, 1/7).
