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Wednesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Sustained Drive

  • BCS Officials Meet Again As Movement Toward Playoff Continues
  • Bobcats Unveil New Uniforms, Alter Color Scheme For Next Season
  • Cadbury Announces "Olympic House" Interactive Hospitality Area
  • AFL Owners, Players Expected To Formally Ratify New CBA

BCS Officials Meet Today As Movement Toward Playoff Continues

The "slow, seemingly inexorable march toward a college football playoff" resumes today when BCS officials meet in Chicago for the second time in two weeks. A four-hour meeting is scheduled for today, and officials "could meet further Thursday morning" (USA TODAY, 6/20). The "hope" is that the conference commissioners can "agree on a playoff plan" that could then be presented to the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee at its meeting Tuesday in DC (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/20). ACC Commissioner John Swofford: "I think we're within striking distance on most of it" (Mult., 6/19).

A source said that the name "BCS" will "go away when the new playoff structure is determined." A new name to replace the 14-year-old moniker "has yet to be determined" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/19).

Bobcats Unveil New Uniforms, Alter Color Scheme For Next Season

The Bobcats are "coming out with a new color scheme and new uniforms in time for next season." They also will shorten the nickname on the home white jerseys from "Bobcats" to "Cats." The team is "switching to a darker navy blue, adding Carolina blue as an accent, and further de-emphasizing the orange color" on their uniforms. This comes as the team today also plans to introduce Mike Dunlap as its new coach. A fan campaign continues to lobby for the team to reclaim the "Hornets" brand (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/20).

Cadbury Announces "Olympic House" Interactive Hospitality Area

LOCOG tier-two sponsor Cadbury today unveiled plans for an "Olympic House" interactive area in Hyde Park for the London Games. The area will include "a 'Joyville' tasting room, where visitors can sample chocolate and a 'Chocolatorium', which leads visitors to five experiences" for its candy brands. There also will be a "Great Game Zone," where visitors can take part in a virtual race against U.K. swimmer Rebecca Adlington "to win a chocolate medal" (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 6/20).

This comes as LOCOG this week unveiled the Prestige Pavilion official London Games hospitality area within Olympic Park. The area was designed and built by in-venue hospitality provider Prestige Ticketing. This marks the first time official hospitality at the Games has been available to purchase and not exclusive to sponsors. The three-floor structure can cater for up to 3,000 people a day (LOCOG).

AFL Owners, Players Expected To Formally Ratify New CBA

AFL team owners and players today are expected to sign a new CBA that will "ban strikes and lockouts through 2017, allow for multiyear contracts and eventually increase salaries" by 131%. The league's live televised game of the week on NFL Network "will return Friday" after being canceled last week. Meanwhile, Avitae caffeinated water has agreed to sponsor Arena Bowl XXV, slated for Aug. 10 in New Orleans (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/20).

DC City Council Holding Hearing On Verizon Center Renovations

A DC City Council committee today is slated to hold a hearing on proposed upgrades at Verizon Center, which include adding nine electronic billboards to the arena's outer facade. Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair Ted Leonsis introduced the special legislation in January, but local officials "objected to the sound and size of the billboards." Leonsis "met with them, killed the sound and reduced their size." The measure is being considered as the "Verizon Center Graphics and Entertainment Act of 2012" (WASHINGTONEXAMINER.com, 6/18).

Twins Get Local Approval For Upgrades At Spring Training Facility

Lee County, Fla., commissioners last night approved a deal with the Twins for upgrades at the Hammond Stadium Spring Training facility "without discussing the financial obligations that will accompany it." The renovations were "the ballclub's 'primary inducement' for agreeing" to a new 30-year lease that will take effect "once construction is completed." The team's lease payment of $300,000 a year was "removed from the contract," with rent to be determined "after the county decides what improvements it will have to finance" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 6/20).

T'Wolves' Kevin Love Discusses Twitter During Kimmel Appearance

T’Wolves F Kevin Love appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and discussed his Twitter habits. Host Jimmy Kimmel said to Love, “A lot of NBA people tweet, but you were tweeting early on and then you left tweeting for a while.” Love said he stopped tweeting for “about two years" after accidently breaking the news that T’Wolves coach Kevin McHale was leaving the team in '09. Kimmel asked, “He called you in confidence to tell you he was leaving and you tweeted it?” Love said that was the “reason I ended up leaving." Love said of being more judicious on Twitter: “They put so many rules and restrictions and I think I actually had a lot to do with that. You have to let the media do their job. So there's certain protocol to it. For us, we have to be safe with what we say or Mr. Stern’s going to come knocking on our door with a pink slip or a slip that’s going to give us a pretty hefty fine” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/19).

Speed Reads....

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today will meet with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in DC to "discuss the NFL's bounty investigation into the Saints." The pair are expected to hold a press conference following the meeting (NOLA.com, 6/20).

The San Jose City Council "unanimously approved a deal for a new adult and youth soccer complex." Approval clears the way for development of four recreational fields that would be open in two years adjacent to the Earthquakes' practice field and the site of the MLS team's planned 18,000-seat stadium (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/20).

The Tommy Hilfiger Group has entered into a sponsorship with the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in N.Y. The two-year pact includes "advertising placement for Hilfiger's Spring 2012 campaign, which features endorser Keegan Bradley." Parking garage banners, elevator door wraps and tee-divider patches are also part of the deal (GOLFWEEK.com, 6/19).

The Colonial Athletic Association is "exploring moving its men's basketball tournament out of Richmond, possibly for next season." The CAA has a contract to hold the tournament at Richmond Coliseum through '14, with an option to extend it to '16 (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/20).

Quick Hits....

"You know why it's important? The players. If you show up and your belt and shoes don't match, they look at you funny" – ESPN's Ric Bucher, on the improved fashion sense among NBA broadcasters and analysts (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/20).

"Good to be back, for a minute" – Heat President Pat Riley, in a rare speech yesterday at AmericanAirlines Arena after accepting the National Basketball Coaches Association's Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 6/20).

"What a waste. I was thinking about it after all this time, what a waste of resources. ... Really, I don't think anybody cares. At this point nobody cares" – Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, on the five-year federal investigation into former MLBer Roger Clemens (AP, 6/19).

"What's missing, even though there's been some good research, is a longitudinal study governed by common protocol. Measuring before college, in college and post-college" – Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, on his conference's collaboration with the Ivy League on a research project studying the effects of head injuries in sports (ESPN.com, 6/19).

“This is our new national pastime and it’s as American as baseball, except in baseball there is slightly more horse testosterone” – Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert, on presidential candidate Mitt Romney owning a horse that could compete in the London Games in dressage (“The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central, 6/19).

Twitter Me This....

FIFA President Sepp Blatter: "After last night’s match ‪#GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity."

London Times' Oliver Kay: "Would've been 'interesting' to say the least if goal-line technology had allowed a goal that should've been given offside."

Saints QB Drew Brees: "My WMD comment has nothing to do with politics or our brave military. Merely an analogy to show how media influences public perception. ... I apologize if the WMD comment offended anyone. Especially our military. There is no one I respect more than our service men and women."

Complex magazine's Russ Bengtson: "Can't wait to cop them 'Cramp Game' shoes in 10 years."

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

Today's Events....

The White House Council on Women and Girls will host an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX at the White House South Court Auditorium. WNBA President Laurel Richie will take part in a panel discussion moderated by ESPN's Bonnie Bernstein.

The EPA will recognize the city of Philadelphia as a new Green Power Community during a ceremony at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies President David Montgomery will take part in the event.

The Rose Bowl Operating Co. will hold a topping-off ceremony for the final piece of structural steel in the Rose Bowl renovation at 10:45am PT. The last piece of steel will be signed by the project's 270 construction workers and hoisted to the top of the Pavilion structure.

Tigers C Alex Avila will serve ice cream at Campus Martius Park in Detroit as part of a celebration highlighting Hudsonville Ice Cream becoming the team's official ice cream.

Back Pages....

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
 
N.Y. Post
N.Y. Daily News
Newsday
Philadelphia Daily News
Boston Herald

Final Jeopardy!

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

“The name of this fabric includes the initials of the city where it was introduced at a World's Fair site.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “NBA MVPs.” Contestants had to name the team that each of the MVPs played for when he won the award.

For $200: “1987: Magic Johnson.”

For $400: “1997: Karl Malone.”

For $600: “2009: LeBron James.”

For $800: “1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.”

For $1000: “2011: Derrick Rose.”

Laugh Track....Rocket Fuel

CBS’ David Letterman: “Roger ‘The Rocket’ Clemens found not guilty of lying to Congress. … He was, however, found guilty of looking guilty. … Clemens said he was thrilled by the verdict, although he could be lying, but we don't know” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/19).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “The jury has found Roger Clemens not guilty of lying to Congress about steroid use. How about that? That was a ten-week trial. It was pretty tense before the verdict. I mean, people were on pins and needles. … Well, the lawyers were on pins. Clemens was on needles. … In fact, did you see right after his acquittal, Clemens got a little emotional on the courthouse steps. He actually cried, yeah. He's accused of lying to Congress and he cried. You know what that means? He could be our next Speaker of the House” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/19).

Women’s motocross rider Ashley Fiolek appeared on TBS' "Conan" last night and host Conan O’Brien noted she was the “first deaf person to ever compete professionally in the sport.” Fiolek appeared on-stage with her father, Jim, who signed the questions from O’Brien and her responses, and O’Brien noted that Fiolek wasn’t “riding a tricycle when you were three, you were riding a motorized bike pretty young.” Fiolek: “I never really actually rode a bicycle. I didn’t learn how. I just always rode a motorcycle.” O’Brien said, “Well then Jim, this question’s for you: What the heck were you thinking?” Jim said, “It seemed like a good idea at the time. I just grew up (riding), my dad grew up riding.” Fiolek said being deaf is a “little disadvantage” on the track because “I can’t hear them” but it’s an “advantage off the track because I can’t hear them talking trash about me” (“Conan,” TBS, 6/19).

Prior to tipoff of Game Four of the Thunder-Heat NBA Finals last night, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel aired a special NBA Finals edition of “Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night” and told the audience, “Tonight, Game Four of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat. Miami fans were out in full force at the AmericanAirlines Arena tonight all wearing white because nothing is more welcoming to a group of primarily African-American men than a huge mob dressed in white. … This is kind of interesting, maybe even surprising. Tickets to the games in Miami are actually going for less money than tickets to the games in Oklahoma City. They say the season ticketholders in Oklahoma are more likely to hold on to their tickets and go to the game rather than scalp them, which drives up the price. Also they say there’s more to do in Miami, more recreational activities. You can go to the beach or watch Gloria Estefan chase ducks off her lawn” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night,” ABC, 6/19).

Laugh Track....Reach Out And Touch Someone

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things An Out-Of-Touch Person Would Say.” Letterman: “The Republicans are now saying that the Democrats are out of touch and the Democrats are now saying, ‘The Republicans are out of touch.’ … Okay, once we determine who's out of touch, things will be so much better” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/19).

10) “Can you direct me to the nearest Fotomat?”
9) “That Trump guy makes a lot of sense.”
8) “Someone should invent a blanket with sleeves.”
7) “Women can vote?”
6) “What do you call these pastry-wrapped cocktail wieners?”
5) “Bitchin’, dude!”
4) “When will Ellen DeGeneres meet Mr. Right?”
3) “I’m Dave, welcome to the show!”
2) “Can you recommend a good dance teacher for my horse?”
1) “An iWhat?”

Final Jeopardy....

“What is nylon?” The '39 World's Fair was held in N.Y.

Correct responses to the “NBA MVPs” category:

For $200: “Who are the Los Angeles Lakers?”

For $400: “Who are the Utah Jazz?”

For $600: “Who are the Cleveland Cavaliers?”

For $800: “Who are the Milwaukee Bucks?

For $1000: “Who are the Chicago Bulls?”