Dea Spanos Berberian, the sister of Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos, has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court arguing that Dean must sell the team to offset the family's growing debt.
According to The Los Angeles Times' Nathan Fenno, Dea "who serves as co-trustee of the family trust along with her brother, alleges the trust’s debts and expenses exceed $353 million." The filing also stated that the trust currently doesn't have a plan to pay more than $22 million it currently has pledged to charities.
"Every day that passes increases the risks that the charitable beneficiaries and the Spanos family legacy will suffer irreparable financial and reputational damage," the petition said.
The Chargers relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017, which came with a heft $650 million relocation fee. The filing alleges that Dean has forced the family trust to continue to borrow money in the "hope" that the team will be able to earn them all of their money back.
In response, Dean and two of his siblings released a statement saying that they planned to keep the team.
"For the three of us, the Chargers is one of our family’s most important legacies, just as it was for our parents," the statement said.
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The Green Bay Packers decided to cut cornerback Jaire Alexander last month, a rather frustrating move considering the Packers didn’t really have much of an answer to replace him. One of the primary reasons Green Bay released Alexander was because of his inability to stay healthy, as the two-time Pro Bowler played in just 14 games over the last two seasons and 34 over the last four. He refused to take a pay cut, and the Packers did not feel justified paying that much money for a guy who was rarely on the field. Well, Green Bay was kind of validated in its decision to move on from Alexander in training camp, as the 28-year-old is already sidelined in Baltimore Ravens camp due to swelling in his knee, via Jason B. Hirschhorn of The Leap. Alexander is going to have his knee drained and is expected to practice on Tuesday, but the fact that he is already experiencing injury issues in Baltimore is evidence that the Packers made the right move. Of course, it would have been nice if Green Bay cut Alexander back in March rather than in June, as it would have given the team a better opportunity to add another cornerback, either via free agency or the NFL Draft. Yes, the Packers signed Nate Hobbs, but the general consensus at the time was that he was being added to play alongside of Alexander; not to replace him. Green Bay has very limited proven depth at the position, and had the Packers known for sure they would be parting ways with Alexander earlier in the offseason, perhaps they would have been more inclined to bring in another corner. When healthy, Alexander is terrific. During his last healthy campaign in 2022, he racked up 56 tackles, five interceptions and 14 passes defended en route to a Pro Bowl appearance, but that’s just the thing: it’s rare that the former first-round pick isn’t dealing with some sort of injury.
On Monday, Steph Curry's grandmother (Candy Adams) passed away. His mother (Sonya) made the announcement (via Instagram). She wrote: "Heaven gained an angel, and we lost our heart. Today we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A woman who taught us to love fiercely, laugh often, and keep family at the center of everything. Her love lives on in every hug we give, every story we tell, and every lesson she left us with. As Luther said, “A house is not a home when there’s no one there to hold you tight.” You were our home and now your love lives in all of us. Rest easy now, we’ll carry you with us, always. ❤️ I love you Mommy" @49ers_Throwback: " for Curry family." @warriorstalk: "Sending out our condolences and prayers " @WarriorsMuse: "May she rest in peace Prayers go out to Steph, Sonya, and the rest of the Adams/Curry family " @Simpli_Wundaful: "My Condolences to the entire family" @CarolNetti49500: "Your Grandmother is Beautiful RIP sweet lady." @Kit10star: "O steph. Sorry to hear ur grandma left this world. Heavens gain I am sure. Much l8ve" @Corebreezy_: "May her soul rest in peace, sending my prayers to the curry family️" @KDawnSeven: "Prayers up and sincerest condolences to Steph and his family " Curry (who is 37) is coming off another All-Star season for the Golden State Warriors. Next year will be his 17th in the NBA.
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg lost his battle with cancer on Monday. He was 65. A 20th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 MLB Draft, Sandberg quickly moved through the Phillies system despite his humble beginnings. He made his major league debut at the end of the 1981 season, getting six plate appearances in 13 games, his only hit coming off of a bat he borrowed from shortstop Larry Bowa. Drafted as a shortstop, the Phillies hoped that Sandberg would be the heir apparent for Bowa. However, that 13-game stint convinced the Phillies that he was not the answer. Although Sandberg had played at second and third as well in the minors, he was blocked at those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt respectively. Bowa and Sandberg were traded to the Cubs during the 1981-82 offseason, with shortstop Ivan DeJesus heading to Philadelphia. Sandberg, now a second baseman, had a solid first two seasons in Chicago before exploding into stardom in 1984. He posted a .314/.367/.520 batting line in his 700 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 36 doubles while stealing 32 bases as he led the Cubs to their first postseason berth since 1945. Sandberg made his first All-Star Game, was named the NL MVP, won a Silver Slugger and his second Gold Glove award. A perennial All-Star, Sandberg possessed a combination of power and speed at second base that was rare for his era. He was a 10-time All-Star, winning nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Sandberg posted a lifetime .285/.344/.452 batting line in his 9282 plate appearances, hitting 282 homers and 403 doubles while stealing 344 bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame 2005 in his third year on the ballot. After a decade away from the game, Sandberg returned as a minor league manager in the Cubs system in 2007, moving up the ladder to Triple-A in 2009. After Cubs manager Mike Quade was fired, and Sandberg was passed over for the opening, he joined the Phillies organization in 2011. After three years in the Phillies organization, he became the interim manager in 2013, and was eventually hired full-time at the end of the season. Sandberg lasted just over two years in total as the Phillies manager, resigning after 74 games in 2015 as the losses piled up. He remained in the game as a goodwill ambassador for the Cubs before announcing that he had prostate cancer in 2024. Although his cancer had gone into remission, it returned in December, spreading to other organs before Sandberg ultimately lost his battle. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sandberg during this difficult time.
The Toronto Blue Jays (63-44) have the best record in the AL for many reasons, but veteran outfielder George Springer is one of the main ones. The 35-year-old is slashing .291/.383/.506 with 18 homers and 57 RBI over 101 games this season. He leads the team in homers after hitting 19 in 145 contests last year. Springer also came into Monday's matchup with the Baltimore Orioles ranked 11th in baseball with an .893 OPS and a six-game hitting streak. However, the 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pounder not only lost that streak on Monday, but he was involved in an unfortunate incident. Springer left the contest after getting hit in the head by a pitch in the ninth inning. Blue Jays manager John Schneider provided an update about the four-time All-Star postgame, via MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. “It kind of got him in his shoulder, then helmet, which…thankfully, he was able to turn a little bit, too," he said. "I just had a chance to talk with him. He’s with the doc right now getting evaluated.” Toronto lost the contest 11-4 and is now on a two-game losing streak after winning its previous four. The Blue Jays and Orioles will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, with the first game rescheduled from April 11. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton (6-8, 5.48 ERA) will start the afternoon affair for Baltimore, but Toronto has not yet listed a starter. However, southpaw pitcher Eric Lauer (6-2, 2.61 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays in the evening game, while the Orioles' starter is undecided for that one.
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