Coca-Cola today announced that Bears LB Brian Urlacher and Blackhawks LW Patrick Sharp have signed deals to endorse the Coke Zero beverage brand. New radio and in-store ads featuring Urlacher will appear in the Chicago area starting Sept. 1, while Sharp's ads will appear in stores later this fall. The deals also include merchandise giveaways, interactive banner ads and social media elements. Financial terms were not disclosed (Coca-Cola). This comes after the Bears this year "ended a longtime relationship" with Coca-Cola in favor of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 8/27).

EA Sports' "Madden NFL 13" hits stores at midnight, and EA is touting the game's new Infinity Engine on-field physics system as the most noteworthy aspect of this year's installment. The CONTRA COSTA TIMES' Gieson Cacho wrote this is "the next-gen football game that fans have been waiting years for." IGN.com's Greg Miller said, "Playing a game of this year's 'Madden' feels like watching the NFL, and I can't remember the last time I said that." The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Ebenezer Samuel wrote EA Tiburon sought to "revolutionize sports career modes and improve on-field action." The developer "doesn't reach all those lofty goals, but it does set a new bar for football gaming."

Citizen Watch Company today announced that it has signed tennis player Victoria Azarenka to endorser the brand in its "Unstoppable" media campaign. Azarenka is the No. 1-ranked player on the WTA Tour and the No. 1 seed in the U.S. Open, for which Citizen serves as the official timekeeper and official watch. Print ads featuring Azarenka will break in late fall along with TV, digital and in-store activation. Citizen also counts tennis player Kim Clijsters among its athlete endorsers (Citizen Watch Company).

U.S. Open sponsor Panasonic today announced its plans for on-site activation at the tennis tournament, which includes three separate hospitality areas located throughout Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. One such area, the Panasonic Gallery, will feature a virtual version of Mardy Fish. The Panasonic booth will give fans the opportunity to Skype video chat. The camera company also will be loaning out units of its '12 Lumix Cameras for spectators to use on-site (Panasonic).

ESPN has released its redesigned college football mobile app for the '12 season, "adding new features including in-progress video highlights and other enhanced content in a bid to boost viewer engagement." The ESPN College Football app, previously called ESPN Bowl Bound, provides video highlights, scoring alerts, breaking news, customizable scoreboards and access to live games. Other features include tweets from ESPN analysts, game previews, recaps, "College GameDay" voting and a "Bowl Bound" section with weekly projections from ESPN's Brad Edwards (MULTICHANNEL.com, 8/27).

The CIAA today announced that Jacqie Carpenter has been appointed Commissioner of the conference, which is comprised of predominantly Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Carpenter is the first appointed African-American female Commissioner of the CIAA, which was formed in 1912 (CIAA).

Bradley Center Sports & Entertainment Corp. plans "to add about two feet of surface space atop the existing 'Bradley Center' sign" outside the venue to accomodate its new name, BMO Harris Bradley Center. The larger sign requires approval from the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 6 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/27).

The Saints moved up the departure date for the team's final preseason game, a Thursday night contest against the Titans in Nashville, due to Hurricane Isaac. The team will fly to Cincinnati tonight and hold practices tomorrow and Wednesday in Paul Brown Stadium (NOLA.com, 8/27).

Coconut water brand Vita Coco today announced endorsement deals with four NFL athletes: 49ers TE Vernon Davis, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, Broncos WR Eric Decker and Bears WR Devin Hester (Vita Coco).

"We're not giving up. I don't think Virginia Beach would be a better place. I don't think the grass is greener in Virginia Beach than in Sacramento" – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, on reports that the NBA Kings are considering relocating to Virginia Beach (AP, 8/27).

"This time, we know going in that a lockout won't kill the game. ... It won't be the end of the world if a lockout starts" – Former Maple Leafs GM and current "HNIC" broadcaster Gord Stellick, on the possibility of a work stoppage in the NHL during negotiations on a new CBA (TORONTO SUN, 8/27).

"It's such a big market and they love sports so much, this is an incredible trip for me. I said OK, I'll do four, five, potentially six exhibitions, a lot of tennis" – Tennis player Roger Federer, on planning an upcoming exhibition tour through South America, where he has never played as a pro (WSJ.com, 8/26).

Slate's Dave Weigel: "I feel bad for the next Florida city boosters who say 'yes, you can hold a giant event in our city in late summer, no worries!'"

Deadspin’s Timothy Burke: "Jim Rome impersonator on ad during JR Show for fantasy football gambling site opens with 'Okay, we're back.' About as sketchy as it gets."

Sporting News' Michael DeCourcy: "It would be easy to persuade me Armstrong was not clean. Nearly impossible to persuade me USADA had the goods to vacate all seven Tours."

Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde: "Bills released Vince Young. Amazed that less than seven seasons after he and Matt Leinart lit up the Rose Bowl, both are fringe NFL guys."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

MLS Dir of Corporate Communications Sean Dennison posted this image of MLS Commissioner Don Garber, NBA Commissioner David Stern and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the department's event today promoting its "See Something, Say Something" initiative.

Actors Stanley Tucci and Alec Baldwin will headline the U.S. Open's 12th annual Opening Night Gala at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Journalist and USTA Serves President Mary Carillo will serve as host for the event.

BMX rider Mike Escamilla rides an unusual location in this video, part of GoPro's ongoing series of viral efforts promoting its Hero2 HD camera.

$335.87 – Average ticket price for U.S. Open matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium that are currently being advertised on ticket reselling websites, according to data from TiqIQ. The price is a 7.6% increase over the average price of $312.27 before the U.S. Open began last year (NYTIMES.com, 8/27).