NASCAR this weekend is rolling out a new Chase for the Sprint Cup marketing campaign that "will portray popular drivers and their supporters as nation-states fighting for hegemony." The effort from Ogilvy & Mather, N.Y., promotes the revamped format for the 10-race series, which will air on ESPN/ABC. It includes "online content and fast-paced commercials with an intensity that suggests the theme perhaps ought to be 'Onward, Nascar drivers, racing as to war.'" To date, 12 drivers have been selected to take part in the campaign (N.Y. TIMES, 8/22).

Jon Bon Jovi and his Toronto backers "are reassessing whether even to continue in their pursuit" of the Bills, because their bid "has been on the rocks for weeks and no one within the group is optimistic." The group on Wednesday "cancelled a scheduled tour of Ralph Wilson Stadium." The potential withdrawal "has nothing to do with the announced departure" yesterday of CEO Tim Leiweke from MLSE. Sources said that the group's maximum bid of $1-1.2B, "isn't nearly enough to compete" with that of Sabres Owner Terry Pegula (QMI AGENCY, 8/21).

Donald Sterling yesterday "voluntarily dismissed the Sterling Family Trust from his federal antitrust lawsuit against the NBA," and the league "agreed to drop the trust from its counterclaim filed against Sterling earlier this month." Despite the filings in U.S. District Court in L.A., Sterling "remains a plaintiff in the case," and his attorney Max Blecher "confirmed the dismissal doesn't apply to his client." The NBA's "counterclaim against Sterling remains in place, as well" (L.A. TIMES, 8/22).

The Angels are "asking to rejoin a lawsuit filed by a community group that charges that ongoing negotiations for a new stadium lease between the team and the city of Anaheim are illegal and should be nullified." Team attorneys in a motion filed last week said that the "city’s lawyers cannot adequately represent the team’s interests, because they are on opposite sides of the bargaining table." Angels consultant Marie Garvey: "Given that the lawsuit involves the city and the Angels, it is important for us to be represented." The Coalition of Anaheim Taxpayers for Economic Responsibility filed the suit in December (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/22).

Daytona Int'l Speedway hosts the Red Bull Global Rallycross today and tomorrow, and the series' first visit to the track "will be televised live on NBC." A total of 20 drivers will compete, "including 14 in the Supercars class." Track President Joie Chitwood said, "It's a unique event. It's an import-style car (event) that appeals to a different (younger) demographic than a hot rod" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 8/22).

The fact that the sport "earned a race date at Daytona is testament to its growing popularity" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 8/21). Track VP/Operations Andrew Gurtis said it is "events like this that make Daytona the world center of racing" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 8/21).

Serena Williams appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night and discussed the issue of crowd noise during tournaments. Host David Letterman said, "This is such an old story: Should people make noise at a tennis match? I thought this was settled 40 years ago. People can make noise at a tennis match, for the love of God, right?” Williams: “In New York, people can make noise at a tennis match. It’s great for the crowd. You really want to get the crowd really involved. (It’s) great for the competitor and as a player you're sitting there, you hear the noise. Some tournaments even play music in between, and it really gets the crowd involved because tennis is so quiet. … It's really fun to have that crowd participation.”

Letterman: "That's the origin of the sport when it was kind of a country club deal. When it was, 'Shhh, we're playing with poison darts. Shhh, got to be quiet.'" Williams: "The sport has changed so much. It's fun" (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/21).

See today's Laugh Track for more on Williams' appearance.

Nike co-Founder & Chair Phil Knight yesterday accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Tiger Woods. Knight "also made a donation to the cause, according to a social media post by a Nike public relations official" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/21). MLBAM accepted the challenge after being nominated by MLB Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred, and 392 staffers took part. Afterward, MLBAM President & CEO Bob Bowman challenged Yankees President Randy Levine "and the club's front office," as well as the Red Sox' front office and Columbia AD Dianne Murphy (MLB.com, 8/21). Watch the MLBAM video.

Meanwhile, the USTA put a slightly different spin on the challenge by dousing the trophies for the U.S. Open. The challenge was then extended to other famous sports trophies: The Stanley Cup, the World Series Trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy and the Sprint Cup (THE DAILY).

In today’s Must Read, CBSSPORTS.com’s Jon Heyman gives an “inside look” at how Rob Manfred was elected MLB’s 10th commissioner in a meeting that featured “heated arguments, politicking and surprise vote-switching” (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/21).

The NCAA has notified the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that “it intends to appeal a judge’s ruling in the Ed O’Bannon case that it violated antitrust laws.” A formal appeal has not yet been submitted (AP, 8/21).

The Allstate Sugar Bowl agreed to become the presenting sponsor for the Football Writers Association of America’s Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, “which is awarded annually to the top head coach” in FBS (NOLA.com, 8/21).

The T'Wolves and FS North announced that the RSN "will broadcast 75 regular-season games and two preseason games" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 8/21).

“It seems to be taking away from the primary purpose, which is raising awareness for children’s cancer” – Dee Dee Bonner, mother of former Alabama QB AJ McCarron, on pulling the plug on Toomer's Corner tree poisoner Harvey Updyke appearing in a pie throw or dunking booth at a charity event (ESPN.com, 8/21).

“How sensitive are you? You call me up? You know what you’re like? You’re like the caller who doesn’t listen, OK?” – WFAN’s Mike Francesa, to Univ. of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari, who had called into the show as “John from Kentucky” after he was on the show (N.Y. POST, 8/22).

The 12:00am ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with LLWS highlights, followed by the Steelers playing RB Le'Veon Bell and RB LeGarrette Blount against the Eagles after their arrest on marijuana charges and Eagles-Steelers highlights. The 12:00am ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" led with Eagles-Steelers, followed by NFL news and notes and Tigers-Rays highlights. FS1 did not air LLWS highlights.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: FC Bayern Munich for staging a public event to "unveil their new team bus." Olbermann also derided Sky Sports for posting an MLS score of "Los Angeles Galaxy 4-3 Colorado Rockies," with Olbermann noting, "I don’t know who should be more insulted by that: MLS or the baseball Rockies." The Blue Jays also drew his ire for filing a patent complaint against Creighton Univ., whose nickname is also the Bluejays.

Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan: "The Cubs had 32 guys removing the tarp tonight, about twice as many as Tuesday night."

Awful Announcing: "NFL Network calling Steelers-Eagles from the studio. Wasn’t a good idea two weeks ago. Not a good idea now."

Horrow Sports Ventures Exec Dir Brian Finkel: "Love seeing @mcuban pimp his Shark Tank investments on Twitter. Proof he stays actively involved with them."

S.F.-based KZMG-FM host Damon Bruce: "I can already tell this Simpsons marathon on FXX is going to be counter productive to, um, everything."

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

Representatives of MLB, the Reds, Procter & Gamble, the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening of the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy at 11:00am ET.

The Blue Jays will take part in a ribbon cutting for a new Jays shop in the Toronto Eaton Centre at noon ET.

The 49ers will unveil the Denise DeBartolo York Education Center at Levi's Stadium at 9:15am PT. The event will feature team execs, 49ers Academy students and reps from Chevron and other supporting partners.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Pulitzer Prize-Winning Authors.”

“He’s the most recent winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for fiction, winning in 1982 and 1991 for books in the same series.”

Serena Williams last night appeared on CBS' "Late Show" and said, “After playing for so many years, now I'm just going for different things, like different titles and different records. That gives you a whole new boost and a whole new confidence and a whole new kind of hunger for it.” David Letterman asked, “(Is) doubles just something you do because you and your sister want to horse around?” Williams said, “We have so much fun out there because I chose the best partner. Venus hits this great big serve and I just stand at the net. I just hold my racket here and look like I'm doing something” (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/21).

Letterman: “If you want to be the halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl, you have to pay the NFL. It would be like if you guys wanted to be the band, you would have to pay me. If you're looking for a reason to hate the NFL, this is it right here. They're very sensitive about this. Here is an announcement about their new policy regarding the Super Bowl halftime extravaganza.” A “congratulatory commercial” was aired in which the announcer said, “Because of the unparalleled exposure, musical acts must now pay to perform during the Super Bowl. We're pleased to announce this year’s highest bidder. Your Super Bowl XLIX halftime show act is billionaire Warren Buffett.” The clip aired video of Buffett playing a mandolin and singing “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad” (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/21).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: "The president isn't really helping himself by going on vacation. In fact, I saw that President Obama played the eighth round of golf on his vacation today. He's played so much golf, I guess, he's getting pretty good. He's still not quite at the pro level yet. I'll show you what I mean. Here’s Rory McIlroy's tee shot." A video was aired of McIlroy hitting a tee shot that included fans yelling, “Get in the hole." Fallon added, “They're yelling, ‘Get in the hole, get in the hole!’ Now, you can see the difference here with Obama’s swing.” A video was aired of Obama hitting a shot and voices in the background yelling, “Get back to work," and, "Get back to the White House!” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/21).

Last night's Top Ten list was “Top Ten Excerpts From The Senior Citizen’s Romance Novel.” Letterman said, “An 86-year-old great-great-grandmother has published a steamy romance model entitled ‘No Goodbye’” (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/21)

10) “He was as old and hard as the candy I keep on the table.”
9) “When she walked into the room, his heart stopped.”
8) “He had an ass like Coolidge.”
7) “'Blow in my hearing aid,’ she cooed.”
6) “Enrique’s pants weren’t pleated anymore.”
5) “Teeth in or out?”
4) “She caressed the balls of his walker legs.”
3) “It was a position called ‘The Reverse Rocking Chair.’”
2) “We watched ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and he gave me an ‘O.’”
1) “Finally she whispered, ‘That’s what I call an early bird special.’”

“Who was John Updike?”