Dodgers SS MOOKIE BETTS announced on Friday that he will accompany the team on its visit to the White House next week when President DONALD TRUMP recognizes the club’s 2024 World Series title. There had been uncertainty over Betts’ decision, given he declined to go with the Red Sox in 2019 during Trump’s first term. Betts said, “No matter what I say or what I do, people are gonna take it as political. But that’s definitely not what it is. This is about what the Dodgers were able to accomplish last year.” Dodgers manager DAVE ROBERTS said that he was “expecting 100% attendance,” though he reiterated that the team would “have been OK with any players who declined to go” (L.A. TIMES, 4/4).
TAKING ACTION: Former Villanova F KRIS JENKINS has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and some of its member conferences and is seeking damages for the NIL compensation he was “unable to receive” while in school. The suit seeks a judgement to “void NCAA rules that limit payments athletes can receive for their NIL rights and services” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/5).
NAMES: Bills TE DAWSON KNOX is the recipient of the 2025 Call to Courage Award, an honor that “reflects his performance on the field and his strong Christian faith off of it.” The award was presented in downtown Buffalo at the Hyatt Regency on Saturday (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/5)….The Rangers announced that they will donate $31 from every JAKE BURGER jersey sold at Globe Life Field’s team store this season to The Burger Family Foundation. Burger’s daughter, PENELOPE, was born in October with Down syndrome. He and his wife, ASHLYN, started the foundation shortly after. The Rangers will also host a Down Syndrome Awareness Day on Aug. 10 against the Phillies (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/4).
