The NHL BOG convenes for meetings today in Las Vegas, where the agenda will include an update on collective bargaining and an "overview of business operations," including the fact that the league has seen revenues rise since '06 from $2.1B to $3.3B. NHL Enterprises has seen revenue increase in that period, and European revenues "have started to take off in the wake of the NHL's initiatives at selling the game across the Atlantic." Owners also will hear about potential streams of revenue that league officials believe could generate $300M "in the next few years" once a new CBA "is hammered out" (ESPN.com, 6/18).

IBM today announced the launch of the redesigned official Wimbledon website at www.wimbledon.com. The site integrates a new online broadcast channel called Live @ Wimbledon, alongside the interactive analytics-enabled IBM SlamTracker scoreboard. Live @ Wimbledon will feature a minimum of five hours of live coverage per day during the tournament. IBM also will bring its player movement tracking feature to Centre Court after a trial run last year on Court 18 (IBM). 

NBA Commissioner David Stern yesterday "brought his case for punishing floppers" before the league's new Competition Committee in Miami, initiating a "long discussion on the problem during a six-hour meeting." The committee – which recently underwent a change in composition to include coaches, owners, GMs and an NBPA rep – also addressed "proposals to expand instant replay for flagrant fouls and goaltending calls" (REUTERS, 6/18).

The Goldwater Institute and the city of Glendale are back in court today in Arizona as the watchdog group "tries to invalidate" Glendale's Coyotes deal. The two sides will appear before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dean Fink, and it is "unknown how soon Fink could rule" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/18). As the NHL BOG meets in Las Vegas today, it seems that the future of the Coyotes "will be almost as uncertain as it was when they rescued the team out of bankruptcy." It is "difficult to imagine the league would be able to relocate the Coyotes before the start of next season" (ESPN.com, 6/18).

Meanwhile, the Coyotes are "searching for legal counsel" and have posted the position on the NHL's job website. The post is described as providing "legal support, advice and counsel" for the team and Jobing.com Arena (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/18). 

The Lee County, Fla., Commission today is expected to vote on a multimillion-dollar deal that would improve Hammond Stadium, the Twins' Spring Training home in South Fort Myers. The improvements "would help keep the Twins in Lee County" (FOX4NOW.com, 6/18). This comes as First Amendment attorney Barbara Peterson said that county commissioners "may have skirted the state Sunshine Law last week when they met with Minnesota Twins executives individually to discuss stadium upgrades" (NAPLES DAILY NEWS, 6/18).

Women In Sports & Events (WISE) holds its 18th annual Women of the Year Awards luncheon today at the Marriott Marquis in N.Y. The sold-out event will fete NBA Senior VP/Events & Attractions Gail Hunter, MLB Senior VP/Special Events Marla Miller and NFL Network COO Kim Williams. CBS' Tracy Wolfson will serve as emcee. CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus will be presented the second annual WISE Champion Award (THE DAILY).

Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly, IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball and Hockey HOFer Pat LaFontaine are among the 18 Jefferson Award recipients being honored today during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in DC and at an evening celebration at Constitution Hall. Kelly is being honored for his foundation's work to fund research for the treating and curing of Krabbe disease and other leukodystrophies. Kimball is being feted for his role as a spokesperson for diabetics. LaFontaine is being lauded for creating a group that pays for "Lion's Dens" game rooms for kids in hospitals (Jefferson Awards).

Michigan State announced a “significant pay raise” for AD Mark Hollis, “increasing his base salary to $600,000 from $395,000.” Hollis’ new contract becomes a rolling five-year deal that renews every July 1 (DETROIT NEWS, 6/19).

The city of Austin has partnered with the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, local chambers and business organizations “to issue a 15-question online survey to find out what information local businesses need to help them prepare” for the F1 U.S. Grand Prix in November (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/18).

A proposed soccer match featuring Serie A club A.C .Milan and EPL club Newcastle United this summer at Heinz Field "has been called off." The friendly was first announced on A.C. Milan's website last month (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/19).

UFC has unveiled plans for a five-day Int'l Fight Week in Las Vegas leading up to the July 7 UFC 148 event at MGM Grand Garden (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/19).

"Oklahomans don't know what it's like to suffer through 31-win seasons on the way to building a championship. The Thunder was built on the broken backs of Sonics fans, not Thunder fans" – Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley, on most Sonics fans rooting for the Heat in the NBA Finals (NJ.com, 6/19).

"Our preference is that the semifinals be incorporated into the bowl system, which seems to be in good shape. We're comfortable with the championship game being bid out" – ACC Commissioner John Swofford, on talks regarding the format for a college playoff system (ESPN.com, 6/18).

"I was just in the ticket office and it looks like we will have a very big day, maybe the biggest of the year. How much is timing, how much is promotion, how much is Junior winning ... hard to say" – Kentucky Speedway GM Mark Simendinger, on ticket sales for the June 30 Quaker State 400 (CINCINNATI.com, 6/19).

“The jury’s action further muddies this whole steroids/Hall of Fame controversy” – The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Bill Madden, on baseball writers likely not voting Roger Clemens into the Baseball HOF despite the acquittal at his perjury trial (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/19).

“I just think he’s guilty. I don’t care what the court said, I think he did it. I think he knew he was cheating, and I’m not voting for him” – Former BBWAA president Paul Hoynes (CHRON.com, 6/18).

"We look forward to him taking his rightful place in the Hall of Fame” – MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner (AP, 6/18).

"There will come a day when the baseball writers will relent and find a way to judge the best of this era. But until then they are stuck" – The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS’ Buck Harvey (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/19).

“Selig hoped the Mitchell Report would provide closure to the steroid era. Yet Selig and the players' union have resisted the most fundamental of Mitchell's proposed reforms, the recommendation that baseball outsource its drug testing to an independent agency” – L.A. TIMES columnist Bill Shaikin (L.A. TIMES, 6/19).

SI.com's Jimmy Traina: "I know the media wants to think they're saving the world w/steroids coverage, but RA Dickey is a way bigger story in NY than Clemens."

Sports agent Evan Morgenstein: "Odd fact: Greatest pitcher and hitter in @MLB history will NEVER get into the ‪#HOF: ‪#RogerClemens + ‪#PeteRose!"

NFL Senior VP/Events Frank Supovitz: "The board of 'Taste of the NFL' is at 345 Park 2day 4 their annual mtg. 'Taste' raises $ and awareness in fight vs hunger at Super Bowl."

SEC Associate Commissioner for Media Relations Charles Bloom: "We have pleasure of listening to HP umpire on wireless mic in ‪#NCAACWS press box. He must have been communications major. Sells call well."

Media writer Tim Lemke: "I've never held a Windows phone, nor have I ever seen a person using one. So I don't expect the new Windows tablet to take over the world."

UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre posted this image on Facebook of himself meeting fans at the Cannes Lions Int'l Festival of Creativity.

NBC Sports Group will begin three weeks of live U.S. Olympics trials on NBC and NBC Sports Network. Every night of the swimming trials will air in primetime on NBC for the first time.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl will begin hosting its two-day Sustainability Summit presented by Waste Management at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Fictional Pairs.”

“These two men first meet after one of them tells a friend, Stamford, of needing new lodgings in London.”

Newark Mayor Cory Booker appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and host Jay Leno introduced him as a “star football player at Stanford University.” Booker was the commencement speaker at his alma mater, Stanford, for the school’s recent graduation ceremony and Leno noted Booker was an All–Pac 10 academic tight end for the Cardinal. Leno: “We've got some footage here. Take a look here, watch 81.” A clip showed Booker catching a pass across the middle and running in for a touchdown. After he scored, Booker kneeled on one knee with his head resting on his fist while in the end zone. Leno said, “Now, was that ‘Tebowing’ before it was fashionable?” Booker: “You know, I have a small lawsuit against Tim Tebow for stealing my move there.” Leno: “He should be ‘Bookering.’” Booker: “He should be ‘Bookering,’ exactly.” Leno: “‘Bookering’ doesn't have the same panache” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/18).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things I Want To Achieve Now That I’ve Thrown A Perfect Game.” Giants P Matt Cain presented the Top Ten list via satellite from Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Letterman: “Let me ask you something, can you hear me? … How was your yakker?” Cain: “It was good, you know. It was breaking hard. I was able to backdoor some good ones (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/18).

10) “Throw a perfect game with my other arm.”
9) “Convert the mound into an organic vegetable garden.”
8) “Discover a cure for groin pulls.”
7) “Open my dream salon.”
6) “Catch a line drive with my mouth.”
5) “Fix the economy – just kidding, that’s impossible.”
4) “Pitch an inning without my pants.”
3) “Appear on Jay Leno’s ‘Ten at Ten.’”
2) “Throw a hole-in-one.”
1) “Win the contest to replace Regis Philbin.”

“Who were Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?”