The Eagles today will officially announce that the team has flipped from Pepsi to Coke in a long-term sponsorship deal. Of the 20 or so NFL clubs with soda deals to renew this year, some of the big-market teams have changed, with the Bears changing from Coca-Cola to Dr Pepper Snapple Group (which includes RC Cola) and the Steelers to Pepsi after 50 years with Coca-Cola. Pepsi had been an Eagles sponsor since the team moved into Lincoln Financial Field in '03, but the team was a Coca-Cola shop at Veterans Stadium for 31 years prior.

The change from Pepsi to Coke at Lincoln Financial Field is complete and fans at the June 9 Monster Truck Jam and the June 12 Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw concert were already consuming Coke products.

F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone has offered to pay more than US$54M to stage "the biggest grand prix motor race in the world in London." The route to be revealed tonight would pass around some of the city's "most famous landmarks," such as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. An estimated 120,000 spectators would attend the race. The LONDON TIMES' Kevin Eason writes the route "would be more impressive than the Monaco Grand Prix" (THETIMES.co.uk, 6/28).

Meanwhile, the Austin City Council today will consider a no-bid contract to spend almost $5.5M on a temporary customs and immigration facility ahead of F1's U.S. Grand Prix in November. This is due to concerns that the facility at Austin-Bergstrom Int'l Airport is "too small to effectively handle" potential F1 charter flights. Former Travis County judge Bill Aleshire said, "That blows up the City Council's claim that they weren't putting any city money into the F1 deal" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6/27).

USA Today Sports Media Group has reorganized its digital assets under one umbrella, to be called USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Within the division will be numerous elements including the company's BNQT action sports portal, MMA sites such as MMAjunkie.com, and the Big Lead Sports collection of sites acquired earlier this year. USA Today Sports Media Group has hired Chris Pirrone as the GM for the Sports Digital Properties unit. Pirrone formerly was Exec VP & GM of premium display, mobile and video digital advertising for online ad network Traffic Marketplace, and also has worked for Connexus Corp. and ValueClick.

The Rockets and Clear Channel announced a multiyear rights agreement that makes KBME-AM the team's new flagship radio station. The sports talk station will air all Rockets games, with some contests being simulcast on KODA-FM and KTRH-AM. KBME's Rockets broadcasts begin tonight with coverage of the NBA Draft. Craig Ackerman will return as play-by-play announcer and will be joined by analyst Joel Blank (Rockets). The deal ends the Rockets’ 10-year association with CBS Radio's KILT-AM, "which now brands significant parts of its schedule as 'Texans Radio'" (CHRON.com, 6/27).

The NBA and Quiksilver today announced a multiyear merchandising deal in which the surf apparel manufacturer will create a line of NBA-branded boardshorts. The initial collection will feature marks from the Celtics, Bulls, Mavericks, Lakers, Heat, Knicks and Magic. The line is now available at Quiksilver flagship store locations throughout the U.S., as well as at select Quiksilver retail partners and on Quiksilver.com. The shorts will be available at NBAStore.com. The shorts retail for $65 (Quiksilver).

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) kicks off its annual convention today in Minneapolis, with opening remarks from Twins President Dave St. Peter. About 500 people from more than 40 states and three foreign countries are expected to attend the event. The agenda includes 25 research presentations, "many of them from baseball historians." The "irony" of the timing and location of the event is that the Twins, on pace to finish last in the AL Central for the second consecutive season, are "widely seen as having one of the most 'gut instincts-old school' management teams" in MLB (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/28).

Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson's Aspire network launched last night with distribution in seven million homes and "in 16 of the top 25 African American markets," including N.Y., Atlanta, Chicago and DC (CABLEFAX DAILY, 6/28).

MLS DC United announced it will play Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain on July 28 at RFK Stadium as part of the Herbalife World Football Challenge. United was originally slated to play Juventus before the Serie A team canceled its North American tour due to scheduling issues (DC United).

The Broncos have pledged to make a $50,000 donation "to assist with relief efforts as wildfires continue to burn across Colorado" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 6/27).

The '12 NBA Draft Cap from adidas is now available on NBAStore.com. The cap design is inspired by early '90s style and features the team name on the front with the NBA logo and team logos on the back (NBA).

"I honestly think we could change the sport. There is no doubt in my mind, in the Olympics, it'll be the biggest talk, me against Michael" – U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte, on his rivalry with Michael Phelps (Baltimore SUN, 6/28).

"I don't expect to disappear" – Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley, who said that he would keep his season tickets if he sells the team to Ubiquiti Networks Founder & CEO Robert Pera (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/27).

"Every human being on Earth has lame-duck status. ... That contract is only a piece of paper, and a piece of paper can't be what makes you comfortable. If that's the case, you're probably in the wrong business" – Suns GM Lance Banks, on coach Alvin Gentry being in the last year of his contract with the team going through a rebuilding process (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/28).

"We were nervous going into it, not knowing how the field would perform. But I've got to say it performed like a very mature field" – BBVA Compass Stadium turf and grounds manager Rodney Griffin, on the stadium hosting an Italy-U.S. rugby game as one of its test events before its grand opening (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/28).

Guardian's Barry Glendenning: "Lot's of people who clearly don't give two hoots about Olympic football seem to be angered by Beckham's omission. Strange."

Freelance soccer writer Georgina Turner: "Presumably this means Beckham will still be with Galaxy squad in Chicago next week. As I've actually got tix for that, I'm pretty pleased."

HolterMedia President Pete Holtermann: "Met Office forecasts have such interesting writing. For example, this is what to expect Friday: 'A much fresher feeling day…'‪#wimbledon."

UPS Dir of Sponsorships & Events J.W. Cannon: "Great to catch up with @mikewelch11 & the sponsorship team at the MN Timberwolves yesterday. Up & coming franchise. Look fwd to the season."

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

Author and former MLB exec Dan Migala posted this image and tweeted, "Two examples of why many ‪#sportsbiz execs say the @athletics have the most creative giveaways in MLB."

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Early Films of Oscar Winners.”

“The 1995, 2003 and 2006 winners for Best Actor all appeared in this 1982 teen comedy.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Our president, as you may know, has been spending his summer traveling around the country asking for money. That's what you have to do if you want to get elected, I guess. He's had some trouble with sports-related topics this week. On Monday night in Boston, he made a joke that had Red Sox fans in the crowd booing him at his own fundraiser and then last night at a fundraiser in Miami Beach, he mispronounced the name of their NBA team.” President Obama said to the audience, “Finally, it would be incomplete if I did not congratulate the city of Miami for having the world champion Miami Heats here in town.” Stock video was shown of former President George W. Bush sitting in the audience, laughing. Kimmel: “It's funny when it isn't you, right? The Miami Heat. You know that half-white side of him definitely pokes through every once in awhile” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/27).

CBS’ David Letterman: “Tomorrow is the NBA Draft. Do you care? Are you excited? Who cares? Anybody? … I don't know. I liked the NBA when it was all-volunteer. … Let's talk about the Knicks for a second. The Knicks have the 48th draft pick in the NBA Draft. What do they hope to get, a ball boy? … They will take the best athlete available. That's the Knicks' position on this, ‘We will take the best athlete available.’ And so will Kim Kardashian” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/27).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Last night on NBC, they showed the U.S. Olympic Trials, the swimming finals. Cuba also had their swimming finals. In fact, do you know which athletes do not end up on the Cuban swimming team? Do you know? The ones that can make it all the way to Miami” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/27).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Words That Could Be Mistaken For ‘Boo.’” Letterman: “President Obama is up in Boston the other day and he makes a joke about Kevin Youkilis, who used to play for the Red Sox and got traded to the White Sox. … Like Boston Red Sox fans would expect to do, booed the guy because he's a White Sox fan. The White House spokesman said the crowd was not booing … they were saying ‘Youuk’ for Kevin Youkilis. Clearly the White House is lying here” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/27).

10) “Dude.”
9) “Mahmoud.”
8) “Brit Hume.”
7) “Poodles.”
6) “Who’s on ‘The View?’”
5) “Weasel.”
4) “Heidi Klum.”
3) “Screw you.”
2) “Two.”
1) “Ewwww.”

“What is ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High?’” Nicolas Cage won in ’95 for “Leaving Las Vegas,” Sean Penn in ’03 for “Mystic River” and Forest Whitaker in ’06 for “The Last King of Scotland.”