Schools in the power five conferences today are expected to gain preliminary approval to "break away from some of the strictures of the NCAA, a significant change that would give them more freedom to govern themselves and could allow athletes to share in the wealth of college sports." Today's vote in Indianapolis "would make their first-class status official." The new rules "would further widen the gulf between the 65 universities in the wealthiest conferences" and other universities that have "less money for their sports programs" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/6).

Discussions on "one of the front burner issues, how to calculate the full costs of attendance, are still in the relatively early stages, however, and there could be significant disagreements among the five conferences" (USA TODAY, 8/7). Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said that the vote "would not affect the percentage of postseason or television revenue any conference or athletic department could receive" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/7). The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE's Chip Scoggins writes under the header, "'Power 5' Conferences Could Set Agenda In NCAA" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/7).

The Indians today will announce plans for "major improvements at Progressive Field" in a renovation project "meant to improve fans' experience at the 20-year-old ballpark." Team President Mark Shapiro today "will explain the renovation plans and lead a walking tour of the facility." The upgrades "will stretch from center field to right field and will require a slight reduction in seats in favor of social areas for standing-room-only crowds." The team hopes to finish the project by Opening Day in '15 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/7).

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur today will hold a status conference on the Comcast SportsNet Houston bankruptcy case after a reorganization plan filed late last night "apparently" would make AT&T and DirecTV Sports Networks "sole owners of the network." The agreement would give 40% to AT&T and 60% to DirecTV. The plan also states that the "reorganized company will enter into new media rights agreements with the Astros and Rockets, but no terms of those agreements are stated" (CHRON.com, 8/6). AT&T and DirecTV are in the process of completing a merger (THE DAILY).

A sellout crowd of 21,733 last night watched the MLS All-Stars defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 at Providence Park in Portland in a match that, while "just an exhibition," put the "growing MLS talent pool on display" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/7). The SEATTLE TIMES' Matt Pentz writes this All-Star Game "lived up to the name," while Galaxy F Landon Donovan and Red Bulls F Thierry Henry "stole the show." Donovan scored the winner, and Henry earned a "rousing ovation" for "perhaps his final All-Star Game." Pentz: "It was a night of stars, from beginning to end" (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/7).

A crowd of 14,871 attended last night's AC Milan-Chivas de Guadalajara friendly at Houston's NRG Stadium, the "smallest attendance figure" for an int'l soccer match at the venue. AC Milan was "rightfully appalled" at the field conditions, as "inconsistencies in the turf were clearly evident." But the "pitch was nearly one of several mistakes that led to an embarrassing turnout." AC Milan wore two sets of jerseys, "completing the farce" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/7).

The NFL today is launching “NFL Now,” a personalized video service that gives users access to a digital library of NFL video, accessible through apps and browsers across various Internet-connected devices. Mobile apps are available on Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile, while connected devices include Xbox, Amazon Fire TV and Roku.

Fans can sign up at NFL.com/Now for free, with a premium tier that costs $1.99 a month. The service allows users to customize their own stream of short-form videos from NFL Media and all 32 teams. Gillette, McDonald’s, Nationwide and Verizon have signed on as presenting sponsors (THE DAILY).

The Bills reportedly "have begun listening to in-person presentations from prospective buyers, with as many as eight scheduled over the next three weeks" and an "undisclosed bidder" scheduled to present today. Sources said that the presentations will take place "in the Detroit area," as Ralph Wilson Enterprises is based in Grosse Point Shores, Mich. Donald Trump's jet was spotted in Detroit yesterday, and a source said that Trump "was the first to deliver his pitch" (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/7).

adidas today posted first-half results for FY '14 and said that it would "make up for a poor summer marked by a weak demand for golfing products, poor sales in Russia, and higher-than-expected marketing costs during the World Cup." adidas CEO Herbert Hainer said, "We take full responsibility to rectify our shortfalls swiftly." The company last week said that it "wouldn't meet a target" of $23B in revenue next year "among other financial goals" (WSJ.com, 8/7).

The Pro Football HOF yesterday announced that it is "adding a contributor category for nomination next year." The new category, approved by the Hall's bylaws for the selection committee, has the "potential of increasing the number of annual inductees to eight." HOF President David Baker said that there was a "need to add the category to address what had become a backlog of qualified candidates, including commissioners, owners and general managers" (AP, 8/6).

Former Knicks and Raptors GM Glen Grunwald reportedly will be named McMaster Univ. AD today (SPORTSNET.ca, 8/6).

Duke AD Kevin White has agreed to a contract extension through the '20-21 academic year (AP, 8/6).

Joe Louis Arena operator Olympia Entertainment has reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney's Office to make the venue "more accessible to people with disabilities" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/7).

The Washington Times today unveiled a new Redskins-specific digital magazine and mobile app, an "outgrowth of a new content and marketing partnership announced last month" between the paper and the team. The launch coincides with tonight's preseason opener against the Patriots (WASHINGTONTIMES.com, 8/7).

Athletic apparel brand Respect Your Universe has moved the "bulk of its management" to Vancouver, B.C. The brand had been managed in Portland "for about four years" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/7).

South Florida Super Bowl Bid Committee Chair Rodney Barreto said that he "intends to make a bid to host" Super Bowl LIII in '19. The expectation was that the initial offer "was due in August" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/7).

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton yesterday unveiled a Super Bowl XLIX countdown clock at Phoenix Sky Harbor Int'l Airport. The game takes place in 178 days (Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee).

The Bears announced a partnership with Tempur-Pedic, which will provide players with mattresses during training camp (Bears).

Braun runs a full-page ad in USA Today featuring Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and touting the brand's status as the official electric shaver of the NFL (THE DAILY).

“It's a PGA of America facility and I think we have every intention of bringing multiple championships back here over the course of the years. We don't have a definitive timeslot or schedule built yet but I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't something we discussed with a lot of seriousness over the next few months” – PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua, on the PGA Championship returning to Valhalla Golf Club (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 8/7).

“Maybe if I did something and had a misstep, I would be disappointed in myself. I think the baseball gods didn’t feel like it was my time to leave the Yankees” – Yankees Assistant GM Billy Eppler, on not being named Padres GM (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/7).

“The same brain that won the NBA championship is the same brain that hired her. I think it’s awesome” – Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich hiring WNBAer Becky Hammon as an assistant coach (SFGATE.com, 8/6).

“If I were HBO I would have – and they did. There are some compelling storylines here” – Browns coach Mike Pettine, on the network showing interest in the team for “Hard Knocks” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/7).

"I think one of the difficulties in this discussion really is if you really look at what a full-ride football scholarship is worth at the University of Texas, it's about $69,000 a year. ... It puts you into about the top third of the household incomes in the United States” – Texas men's AD Steve Patterson, on the value of a scholarship at the school (DALLASMORNINGNEWS.com, 8/7).

“The concept of college football no longer has any bearing on the quality of the person, the quality of students. Universities are selling themselves out” – Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder, on the effect TV deals have had on the sport (AP, 8/6).

“I’m aghast at the autonomy movement of the big five. This is what the big five doesn’t get. You’re non-profit. Sharing the largess is the heart of college sports” – Former Texas women’s AD Donna Lopiano (K.C. STAR, 8/7).

The 12:00am ET edition of ESPN’s "SportsCenter" led with a report on the MLS All-Star Game, followed by four MLB game highlights and a report on Tiger Woods’ arrival at the PGA Championship. The 12:00am ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" led with two MLB game highlights, followed by a report on Nationals manager Matt Williams and LF Bryce Harper. The MLS All-Star game was not reported on during the broadcast.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: cyclists Vicente de Mateus and Asbjørn Kragh Andersen for throwing punches after colliding into each other during the Volta a Portugal bike race. Olbermann also criticized the NCAA for the self-reported minor infractions by the Univ. of Oregon regarding a football recruit's father forgetting his shaving cream and razor, and the baseball team's impermissible entertainment of mini golf and laser tag. Olbermann also disapproved of SI swimsuit model Chrissy Teigen tweeting that she was drunk prior to throwing out the first pitch at the Dodgers game.

ESPN’s Michele Steele: “NFL players do watch Hard Knocks - heard Rams players were giving DE Chris Long a hard time for his brief cameo.”

SI’s Grant Wahl: “Losing track of how many World Cup media people are still physically exhausted after World Cup (including me). Never seen anything like it.”

Forbes’ Maury Brown: “The owners do all know we all remember Werner's cross-promotion debacle with Roseanne and Padres, don't they? Natl Anthem never the same.”

VMW Communications Owner Vince Wladika: “Reading all about the 3 candidates for MLB Commish... and it struck me like a brick: best candidate isn't on list -- Chase Carey.”

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

Sources said that Leo Burnett has "won an agency shootout for ideas to refresh the McDonald's brand." The sources added that the agency's concept is "likely to appear in a significant campaign next year or perhaps late this year." DDB has "long been McDonald's lead creative agency for national advertising and digital" (ADAGE.com, 8/6).

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

“These are not found in the Koran, and the angel Gabriel told Muhammad that they were not revealed by God.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “I saw that LeBron James supposedly lost a lot of weight since he announced he was returning to Cleveland. When asked how much he dropped, he was like, ‘How much do Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh weigh?’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/6).

UFC fighter Jon Jones appeared on-set of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night to promote his upcoming UFC light heavyweight title bout against Daniel Cormier. Jones said that his morning workout regimen includes “some sort of martial art” and in the afternoon he does “swimming and other days Cross-Fit.” Kimmel: “Is that in case you have a fight in the ocean or you’re getting attacked by great white?” Jones went on to discuss the scuffle he had with Cormier at their fight promotion earlier this week saying that he first met Cormier backstage of a UFC event and that he “heard he was an Olympic wrestler.” Jones continued, “So I go up to him just trying to start conversation and I'm like, ‘Olympics, huh?’ (Cormier) was like, ‘Yeah, wrestled in the Olympics.’ I said, ‘I bet you I could take you down any day.’ I had no clue he’d be so prideful. He took some serious offense to the fact that I didn’t know who he was initially and I didn't respect his Olympic medal. He took fourth, I'm not even sure what you get when you take fourth. What do you get?” Kimmel: “Nothing. You just get the ribbon with no medal attached to it.” Jones: “So I guess he was upset I didn’t respect his ribbon” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 8/6).

“What is ‘The Satanic Verses’?”