ESPN.com's Bob Harig noted golf's various governing bodies "have had six years to figure out what all knew would be a difficult situation -- adding the Rio Olympics to an already jam-packed lineup." Harig: "It's a shame they all simply didn't step back, make some one-off decisions to extend the PGA Tour schedule into the fall, or skip a tournament, or do something to figure out a way to make room for the Olympics while giving players a chance to breathe. You can't play three majors in seven weeks, throw in a World Golf Championship event, the Olympics, four FedEx Cup playoff events and the Ryder Cup, in such a relatively short period of time and not have some fallout" (ESPN.com, 8/5).
TIP OFF: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt writes under the header, "NBA, Union Have Too Much To Lose To Opt Out Of CBA." In the first 24 hours of free agency, NBA teams "agreed to contracts with players" worth approximately $1.5B. Do not "feel badly for owners handing out those deals." The NBA’s new nine-year media-rights deal starts in the '16-17 season and the league will be paid $2.6B per season until '24. It "doesn’t require a Nobel prize-winning economist to surmise that business is good and is improving for both players and owners" (USA TODAY, 8/6).
TAKE A WALKER IN HIS SHOES: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin pondered possible successors to outgoing IndyCar President of Competition & Operations Derrick Walker. Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles prefers that he "select someone not currently on IndyCar's staff, though that doesn't eliminate a series staffer." The following individuals "could be in the mix" -- Mazda Road to Indy Owner & CEO Dan Andersen; IMSA President & COO Scott Atherton; Hulman & Co. CRO Jay Frye; former Honda Performance Development Presidents Robert Clarke or Erik Berkman; Andretti Sports Marketing President John Lopes; Toyota Racing Development Group VP Andy Graves (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/5).
THE DON HIMSELF: USL club Sacramento Republic FC President Warren Smith said that MLS brass "met with team officials last week at the MLS All-Star Game in Denver." He added that the league "still expects to have a plan for adding expansion teams by year’s end." In Sacramento, Ben van der Meer noted while nothing "suggests Sacramento could get the nod soon, MLS Commissioner Don Garber plans to visit Sacramento." No date "has been set for the visit" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/3).
