Last night's NBA Draft featured "more top-to-bottom uncertainty than almost any in recent memory" following the Hornets' expected pick of F Anthony Davis with the No. 1 overall selection. A "rare constant" throughout the opening round was that many fans in attendance at Prudential Center booed NBA Commissioner David Stern (SI.com, 6/29). Stern at one point walked down to press row and said, "You know it’s bad if I have to come down and talk to the media to not get booed" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/28).

Toward the end of the first round, CBS Sports' Seth Davis tweeted, "The only people left are the ones who want to boo David Stern." FS Ohio's Pat McManamon: "Fans continue to boo David Stern as he arrives to announce the 20th pick. Gotta love their staying power." Former NBAer Bobby Hurley: "Forget the Jay Bilas 'wingspan game' How about the 'Boo' David Stern game?" FoxSports.com's Dan Wolken: "'Do you still boo your wife?' - What David Stern should have said."

Meanwhile, Wasserman Media Group and Excel Sports Management led all agencies in Thursday night's NBA Draft with four selections each. WMG was led by overall No. 1 pick F Anthony Davis, while C Meyers Leonard, the No. 11 selection was the first client for Excel picked (THE DAILY).

Nike yesterday after the bell reported a 7.6% drop in Q4 profit "despite solidly higher sales as higher marketing costs pressured margins." The company's "gross margin narrowed for a sixth-straight quarter on a year-over-year basis," with the latest decline "attributed to higher product costs and increased investments in Nike's digital business, offsetting price increases and lower air freight costs." So-called "demand creation expenses" were up 23% to $760M, "driven by marketing costs tied to key product launches," UEFA Euro 2012 and the London Games (WSJ.com, 6/28).

Daytona Int'l Speedway has taken the first step toward a major redevelopment of the 53-year-old facility, filing paperwork with the city and hiring an architect. The steps are the first of a six- to eight-month process that could result in an overhaul of the speedway's grandstand, the addition of new suites, the creation of a modern exterior, a redesigned midway and more. Track President Joie Chitwood said, "We have elements that are original to (the speedway's) first year. As we continue to be the world center of racing, we have to look at what's next. That's the important element now: what can Daytona be for the next 50 years?"

Read more on Daytona renovations in today's issue of THE DAILY.

Texas A&M "has tabbed" South Carolina AD Eric Hyman "as its new athletic director," according to a source. Hyman, who also previously was TCU AD, has lead South Carolina's athletic department since '05. Texas A&M regents today are "expected to authorize school President R. Bowen Loftin to negotiate an agreement" with Hyman. Hyman is expected "to lead either an extensive renovation or complete rebuild of football's Kyle Field," beginning after the '13 season (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/29).

Hyman would succeed Bill Byrne, who retired as AD last month. Hyman, who is under contract with South Carolina until '15, made $500,000 this past year. Byrne made a base salary of $690,000 and "had substantial bonuses in his contract" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/29).

Saints QB Drew Brees appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night and said the Saints' bounty scandal is "just an extremely unfortunate deal." CBS’ David Letterman: “On which side of it?” Brees: “All sides. It’s certainly not a positive thing. I mean, just the whole process itself and the investigation I feel like has been extremely unfair. Unfortunately, it seems like it's been more of a media campaign than it is actually finding the truth of the matter.” When asked whether he knew about a bounty program, Brees said, “Absolutely not, and that's not something that I believe our team would be engaged in.” Letterman asked, “Is this just a part of the culture of football?” Brees: “Pay to injure? No, absolutely not.” Brees added, “It seems like it's a smear campaign. We’re dragging them through the mud, we’re ruining their reputations and careers with no true evidence.”

Brees also talked about his partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods and their PACE program to test for concussions. Letterman: “I got a concussion right now. I had a little trouble in the makeup room” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/28).

Director Danny Boyle has taken steps to "assuage concerns about the welfare of animals" that will be featured in the London Games Opening Ceremony by "promising to remove them from the stadium early and ensure they do not face a grisly end afterwards." Boyle sent a letter to PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk to "offer a range of assurances over plans to use live animals" in his Isles of Wonder-themed Opening Ceremony. Boyle said "genuine care will be taken of the animals" (GUARDIAN, 6/29).

The NCAA unveiled the logo for next year's Women's Final Four at New Orleans Arena. New Orleans will become the first city to host three Women's Final Fours (NOLA.com, 6/29).

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said that he has signed the bill allowing for alcohol sales at Michigan Stadium for the Maple Leafs-Red Wings NHL Winter Classic outdoor game on Jan. 1. The state's Legislature "gave its approval" earlier this month (FREEP.com, 6/28).

The PGA Tour is running a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today touting Web.com's title sponsorship of its developmental tour. The ad features an image of a green with the Web.com Tour branding on the pin flag and the copy, "Same Birdies. Same Eagles. Same Heritage. Same PGA Tour Dreams. New Name" (THE DAILY).

"We're the Dodgers. We're supposed to be big. We intend to be big. Will we look at big things? You bet" – Dodgers President Stan Kasten, on expectations that the team will make significant moves at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline (L.A. TIMES, 6/29).

"There are a lot of objectives when you're putting a schedule together, but part of the objectives is to create contests that are interesting to people, fascinating to people and contests people want to talk about" – Univ. of Michigan AD Dave Brandon, on scheduling a neutral-site football game against Alabama this fall, a Thursday night game against Utah in '15 and promising to schedule another night game against Notre Dame (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/29).

Synergy Sponsorship CEO Tim Crow: "As always 30DTG biggest Olympic Marketing spike so far. Six sponsor campaign launches/refreshes in a week, 'big' outdoor appearing."

AECOM Principal Jon Niemuth: "Landis n Hamilton? Really!!!??? Is that the best the govnt has. Its not even groundhog day Leave @lancearmstrong alone. Let the man race."

Bulldog Sports Radio GM Bob Carskadon: "It's official now. Mississippi State is the only school in the country with first round picks in NFL, MLB and NBA Drafts this year."

ESPN's Colin Cowherd: "3 thoughts--Cavs and Hornets upgraded nicely. Portland picks feel sort of hit or miss. Boston drafted a guy they can call Sully."

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

Euro Sport & Event Management Managing Dir Christian Machowski posted these images from picturesque Seefeld, Austria, where he is working with soccer club AS Monaco on a training retreat.

A-B InBev is acquiring the rest of Mexico-based Grupo Modelo in a deal valued at $20.1B. A-B InBev, which already owns 50% of Modelo, "will buy the remaining stock for $9.15 per share." Grupo Modelo today also announced that it will sell its 50% stake in Crown Imports, "the joint venture that exports and markets its Corona brands in the U.S.," to its partner Constellation Brands for $1.85B (STLTODAY.com, 6/29).

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

“The title of this scandalous novel set in 1930’s Paris symbolizes the ‘The Disease of Civilization.’”

Heat F Chris Bosh appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and after footage was shown of the Heat celebrating in the locker room after winning the NBA championship, host Jimmy Kimmel asked, “What happens once the camera crews leave and the reporters go and you guys are just on your own in that locker room?” Bosh: “Then you realize how tired you are.” Bosh said the team stayed at the arena late into the morning and “I remember walking and champagne was still in my shoes.” When asked if there was a team meal after the game, Bosh said, “Nah, we went to Taco Bell” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/28).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “The NBA Draft is going on right now as we tape the show. As expected, the No. 1 pick was Shmuley Greenberg out of Yeshiva University in New York. No surprise there. … I love watching the NBA Draft because there’s a lot of drama, but there’s also a lot of time to kill, which sometimes leads to fun stuff like this. This is ESPN reporter Andy Katz, talking about I guess some health issues from Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger, apparently a lot more serious than previously thought.” ESPN’s Rece Davis: “Andy, what’s the latest on the former Buckeye star?” Katz: “Well, after the Chicago pre-draft camp, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford reported that medical reports were red-flagged by a number of NBA teams saying he had bulging discs.” Kimmel: “More than one is unusual. He was drafted by the Kardashians” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/28).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Least Popular Picnic Offerings.” Letterman: “July is ‘National Picnic Month.’ … Everything tastes better when you eat it outside. In fact today, when the family has dinner, I will go outside and eat in the yard” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/28).

10) “Sun-Dried Lunchmeat.”
9) “East German Potato Salad.”
8) “Cobs.”
7) “Ambient Temperature Clam Dip.”
6) “Peel-and-Eat Chicadas.”
5) “Three-Bean Brownies.”
4) “Fire-Ant Casserole.”
3) “E. Coli Slaw.”
2) “Bath Salt-and-Vinegar Chips.”
1) “S’pores.”

“What is Henry Miller’s ‘Tropic of Cancer?’”