Raptors President MASAI UJIRI said that a lawsuit "filed against him by a northern California sherrif's deputy is 'malicious.'" Ujiri: "It's incredible that this malicious kind of claim, if I've been dismissed with the criminal case, then I really don't know what this means for me. There is no case there and I look forward to whatever is coming." Sheriff's deputy ALAN STRICKLAND is seeking $75,000 in "general damages, as well as other compensation including punitive damages, lost wages, current and future medical expenses and legal costs." The NBA, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and the Raptors also were "named as defendants in the lawsuit" (CP, 2/12).
DEEP TIES: An AP review of public tax documents revealed that Saints and Pelicans Owner GAYLE BENSON's foundation has given at least $62M to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and "other Catholic causes over the past dozen years, including gifts to schools, universities, charities and individual parishes." New Orleans Archbishop GREGORY AYMOND has "become almost a part of the team," having been "spotted on the field at Saints games and inside the team's Superdome box and has flown on the owner's private jet" (AP, 2/12).
JOINING THE TEAM: TONY ROMO's fantasy football convention known as SportsCon will return to Dallas in July, with "two new owners" in Cowboys DE DEMARCUS LAWRENCE and Chargers RB MELVIN GORDON. Romo and Cowboys RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT "remain part of the ownership group and this year's convention will be held July 10-12 at the Dallas Convention Center," featuring over 200 athletes and personalities (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/12).
NAMES: Netflix has "picked up an untitled docuseries starring tennis star NAOMI OSAKA," created by Uninterrupted and Film 45. The documentary follows Osaka from the U.S. Open in August '19 and "on tour as she plays in each of the Grand Slams and prepares" for the '20 Games in Tokyo (DEADLINE.com, 2/12)....STEPHEN CURRY's "Eat. Learn. Play." group "arranged to have local high school students watch" Monday's Heat-Warriors game from a Chase Center suite (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 2/13)....MANNY PACQUIAO has signed with Paradigm Sports Management for representation (Paradigm Sports Management)....New Hampshire-based arcade-action video game developer Bit Fry Game Studios raised $3.5M in funding from investors, including 1Up Ventures and BITKRAFT Esports Ventures (FORTUNE.com, 2/12).
