Fewer than 1% of former NFLers opted out of the $765M concussion settlement "designed to pay players with severe neurological conditions." Those 220 players "have preserved the right to continue suing the league." It is unclear "how much success such a small group will have compared with the 5,000 former players who filed the lawsuits that led to the current settlement." With so few players opting out, the judge overseeing the case "may not feel compelled to force the league and the plaintiffs to make wholesale changes to the agreement" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/4).

Foot Locker today announced that Ken Hicks will retire as President & CEO of the company on Dec. 1, though he will continue as Exec Chair of the BOD through May. Dick Johnson will succeed Hicks as President & CEO and has been appointed to the BOD, also effective Dec. 1 (Foot Locker). 

The "handoff going into the crucial holiday selling season could rattle investors." Foot Locker shares "have more than quintupled" since Hicks took his current position in '09, "amid strong sales of big-ticket basketball shoes." Hicks said that he is "leaving at a good time, amid strong results and before the buying season for next year's holidays," but fellow BOD members wanted him to "lead Foot Locker longer." Hicks said a CEO should leave "when things are good and you have a good successor" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/4). 

The Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville "have applied for a state program" that would let them recoup $30M in sales taxes paid "as part of renovations to EverBank Field." Jacksonville requested $1M in annual distributions under the 30-year program. The city is "involved because it owns the stadium, which is leased to the football team." The request is "one of four received under the new program," in addition to requests by Daytona Int'l Speedway, the Dolphins and Orlando City SC (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA, 11/4).

Attorneys for Comcast yesterday asked U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes to "grant an emergency stay" while the company "appeals a bankruptcy court order that will allow the sale" of CSN Houston to DirecTV and AT&T. The new owners plan to "relaunch the channel later this month" as Root Sports Houston. Comcast requested a hearing tomorrow before Hughes, "at which it also will request permission, if the stay is not granted, to appeal immediately to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn" the reorganization plan (CHRON.com, 11/3).

Twelve MLB free agents were given qualifying offers by yesterday's 5:00pm ET deadline, one less than last year’s number and three higher than the nine such offers given in the system’s first iteration in '12. The qualifying offers, equal to a one-year contract worth $15.3M, allow teams to gain a supplemental draft pick next June should the players elect to sign elsewhere. A qualifying offer has never been accepted.

In the system’s first two years of application, it has been heavily debated within baseball circles as several prior recipients have subsequently found their free agent markets curtailed and signed much later than anticipated and for less money. Players receiving qualifying offers have until Nov. 10 to decide whether to accept or reject. If they reject, they become free agents.

A New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association attorney "accused the NFL of having 'unclean hands' regarding sports betting – and therefore an injunction to stop Monmouth Park from offering NFL betting beyond Nov. 21 should not be granted." Ron Riccio in a brief filed yesterday in U.S. District Court accused the league of "hypocritical conduct." Judge Michael Shipp has set a deadline of Friday for the four leagues and the NCAA to file a response to Monday's filings. Oral argument is scheduled for Nov. 20 in Trenton (NORTHJERSEY.com, 11/4).

Giants P and World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and brought the World Series trophy with him, joking, “I keep it in my truck at all times.” Bumgarner said when he entered Game 7 in relief, the fans in K.C. were “booing me and hating on me, so I really wanted to start crying and turn around and run back to the bullpen.” With the Giants having won three World Series in five years, Bumgarner said, “Hopefully there’s more to come.” Host Jimmy Fallon said, “What could you do next? Maybe cut an album?” Bumgarner gave Fallon some underwear with “Mad Bum” on the rear end. Bumgarner: “It’s a normal thing for a guy to give another guy on national TV” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/3).

The Jacksonville Sports Council announced that EverBank Field will “serve as host” for the Jan. 17 Florida Cup, a friendly soccer tournament featuring Brazilian clubs Corinthians and Fluminense and German sides Bayer Leverkusen and FC Cologne (JACKSONVILLE.com, 11/3).

Knoxville-based Studio Four Design will design and oversee a $15M "facelift" of the Univ. of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena. The renovation will include "updated men's and women's locker rooms, upgraded restrooms, concourse improvements, mechanical and electrical upgrades and a new roof" (KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL, 11/4).

South Korean figure skater Yuna Kim today was named "an official ambassador" for the '18 Pyeongchang Games. Kim was "one of the key figures in Pyeongchang's successful bid" (REUTERS, 11/4).

NASCAR team Owner Michael Waltrip last night was eliminated from ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" (THE DAILY).

“I think there is a nice proverb in English. ‘Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you’” – Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, on Jason Kidd leaving the Nets to coach the Bucks in the offseason (N.Y. POST, 11/4).

“I am proud of labor peace, I am proud of the Wild Card, and I am proud of a lot of things I have done, but the economic reformation of the system is most important” – MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, on what he thinks was the most important change to baseball during his tenure (MLB.com, 11/3).

“I’m confident enough in my reporting to do it all over again. … At ESPN, we don’t just go on the air without properly vetting our material” – ESPN’s Britt McHenry, on her report on a divided Redskins locker room being refuted by team officials and members of the local media (SI.com, 11/4).

“I don’t think you make splashes in free agency. You make wise decisions that you think work for your club at a particular time. Splashes aren’t usually the way to go about doing that” – Tigers GM & President Dave Dombrowski, on how the team will handle the offseason (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/4).

Last night’s 2:00am ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” both led with Colts-Giants, followed by Pelicans-Grizzlies.

ESPN’s Adnan Virk filled in for ESPN’s Keith Olbermann last night and did not air a “world’s worst” persons in sports segment.

Usually hear about a handful of former well-known athletes running for Congress. Seems there aren't many (any?) this year.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 4, 2014

Feel like there's been a game in London every week....

— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) November 4, 2014

Haven't made it to front of line yet but can tell you I'm definitely voting for Clayton Kershaw.

— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) November 4, 2014

Bad Boys I and II are definitely fav movies of Reggie Wayne. He's referenced lines from the movie at least 3x's in interviews this season

— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNFL) November 4, 2014

No, autocorrect, I do not mean "horses hit," as legendary as the Dodgers episode of Mr. Ed may have been.

— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) November 4, 2014

The GREAT @JerryRice! In my office!! What a morning!!! pic.twitter.com/njV2TKh5ZZ

— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) November 4, 2014

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

“Accepting his 1922 Nobel Prize in Stockholm, he spoke of ‘the intellectual solidarity’ in the Scandinavian countries.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy” featured the category “Trophies.”

For $200: “Tony Dorsett, Bo Jackson and Carson Palmer are among winners of this football trophy.”

For $800: “First played in 1903, this event got an official piece of hardware, the Commissioner’s Trophy, in 1967.”

For $1000: “For seven of the Maple Leafs Stanley Cups, this man was manager; the playoff MVP trophy is now named for him.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “Yesterday was the New York City Marathon and runners Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany from Kenya won the men’s and women's divisions. That's right Wilson and Mary, so hey, at least American names are winning marathons. Mary Keitany from Kenya won the woman's race at the New York City Marathon. You can tell she was fast because guys on the street didn't even have time to finish their catcalls.  … NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski started a brawl on Sunday after Keselowski's car gave Gordon a flat tire and made him lose the championship. It was nuts. They started a big fight. It got even weirder. Someone's teeth got knocked out and a couple of fans came over and stole them” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/3).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “The Jets, yesterday, lost to the Chiefs 24-10. I'm telling you that stadium over there in New Jersey where the Jets play, that place cleared out like somebody spotted that Ebola nurse. … It's fun to beat up on the Jets, but honestly, I feel bad for them. Listen to this: No team has lost nine in a row and then gone on to win the Super Bowl. But you've got to give the Jets credit for one thing: They have turned sucking into a dynasty. … Yesterday was the New York City Marathon and a lot of Republicans won in a landslide” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/3).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Nik Wallenda's Dad Said To Him During The Tightrope Walk.” Letterman said Wallenda walked a tightrope between two Chicago buildings using a “1,000-foot balance pole” while his father spoke to him (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/3).

10) "Try not to be distracted by this ear-piercing megaphone."
9) "Remember, if you fall just get right back up."
8) "Your brother never needed to use a balance bar."
7) "That's the safest walk you can take in Chicago."
6) "Hurry up, I don't want to miss 'The Good Wife.'"
5) "Careful...careful...careful..."
4) "Have you ever given any more thought to grad school?"
3) "Tuck in your shirt."
2) "Whoa, look at that moon!"
1) "Okay, now take a left."

“Who was Niels Bohr?”

The correct responses to the “Trophies” category:

For $200: “What is the Heisman Trophy?”

For $800: “What is the World Series?”

For $1000: “Who was Conn Smythe?”

The $400 and $600 answers were not revealed.