NFLPA President Eric Winston last night announced that eight candidates had qualified for the ballot to challenge NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith for the union’s top job. The list includes sports entrepreneur Rob London and NFLPA Senior Dir of Player Services & Development Jason Belser. They join already announced challengers Michigan-based attorney Jim Acho, former NFLers Sean Gilbert and Robert Griffith, former NFLPA counsel Arthur McAfee, former Navy Admiral and NFL P John Stufflebeem and sports and labor lawyer Andrew Smith.

Belser initially was left off the ballot and told THE DAILY last night he was asking why he was not named as an official candidate. Winston tweeted out a list of challengers soon after the deadline to submit nominations, which was 11:59pm ET Thursday. However, he later tweeted, “Correction: Jason Belser is on the ballot. Unfortunate email oversight by me on a crazy last day. My apologies to Jason.”

TNT's “NBA Tip-Off” pregame show last night began by welcoming back sideline reporter Craig Sager after his battle with leukemia. TNT’s Ernie Johnson said of footage of Sager entering United Center before the Thunder-Bulls game, “This is good for the soul.” TNT aired video messages of goodwill with the caption “Welcome Back Craig Sager” from Thunder G Russell Westbrook, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Heat G Dwyane Wade, Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

As the broadcast went to Chicago for game coverage, TNT’s Kevin Harlan said, “Thank goodness, Craig Sager back on our sideline. ... He received an emotional and deserving standing ovation from the crowd here. ... The Bulls mascot, Benny the Bull, presented Craig with his very own Bulls custom sport coat.” Sager said to Harlan, “It was a long 11 months.” When asked how he was feeling, Sager said, “I think I’m back.” Harlan: “You look like a million and we're glad to have you” (“Thunder-Bulls,” TNT, 3/5).

Audi today will formally announce its new sponsorship deal with MLS, making it the league's official automotive sponsor and presenting sponsor of the MLS Cup playoffs. Other activation includes a presence at the MLS All-Star Game, as well as a new 30-second spot, titled "The Game," debuting with the start of the MLS season. Audi has existing deals with the Sounders and Timbers through local dealerships and will announce more club deals in the near future (THE DAILY).

As Fanatics and SMI close in on a multiyear trackside merchandise deal, the two sides have reached another one-week pact to allow the retailer to operate during this weekend’s NASCAR races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This marks the second straight week that SMI has allowed Fanatics to operate at one of its tracks despite the absence of a long-term deal. SMI Senior VP/Business Affairs Don Hawk said that this is because the two parties have hammered out the long-term deal’s major sticking points and lawyers are now just finalizing the agreement.

Fanatics, which has already struck a trackside merchandise deal with ISC, plans to start rolling out its climate-controlled-tent shopping experience at races in July. In the meantime, the company is using haulers and kiosks. Fanatics Authentic President Ross Tannenbaum has been on site at both Daytona and Atlanta to oversee operations personally.

New Jersey state Sen. Loretta Weinberg today is expected to file a lawsuit against the state Treasury Dept. over the Izod Center closure. She said that there was a "failure to provide documents regarding the financial state of the 34-year-old arena." Weinberg also said that news of WWE's SummerSlam event being relocated to Barclays Center and not Newark’s Prudential Center "further called into question the stated benefit of closing" Izod Center. The arena will close later this month, "at least until 2017, and perhaps for good" (Bergen RECORD, 3/6).

The Warriors are close to opening their third team store in Oracle Arena as the franchise looks to capitalize on its booming merchandise sales. As the team gets set to open its new 1,600-square-foot store this month, sales of Stephen Curry’s No. 30 jersey have increased 57% to date this year from last year. Curry ranks second in NBA jersey sales from NBAStore.com, and the Warriors have the third highest total merchandise sales in the NBA. The team's in-arena merchandise sales have increased by 25% to date this year compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the Warriors today will announce that Apple Pay will be available in all three of its team stores at Oracle Arena.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and two members of the Citizens' Stadium Advisory Group yesterday met downtown with 12 former Chargers players, including Nick Hardwick, Shawne Merriman, John Carney and Pro Football HOFer Ron Mix. Faulconer said it was a "great, positive meeting." One of the "talking points delivered to the former players was that a new stadium wouldn't solely be for the Chargers, that it'd serve as a regional asset" for events like concerts and Super Bowls "that the area otherwise wouldn't host" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/6).

Blue Jackets season-ticket prices "for most seats are going up slightly" next season. Team Exec VP Larry Hoepfner said that those who "renew by March 27 will pay an average increase" of 2.7%. Those who "renew after March" will face an average increase of 4.5% (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 3/6).

A source said that FS Ohio "has selected Andre Knott as its sideline reporter" for Indians telecasts during the '15 season, replacing Katie Witham, who "left her position to pursue other opportunities" (NEWS-HERALD.com, 3/5).

Sources said that Time Inc. "is close to naming" former Mandalay Sports Media CEO Rich Battista "to lead the company's largest brand, People magazine, as well as its sibling publication Entertainment Weekly" (ADAGE.com, 3/6).

NBC runs a full-page ad in USA Today and the N.Y. Times promoting tomorrow night's network debut of Premier Boxing Champions: "After 30 Years, Boxing Is Back On NBC Primetime" (THE DAILY).

"They're within just a couple of weeks" – Flames President & CEO Ken King, on an anticipated announcement about a new arena in Calgary to replace Scotiabank Saddledome (CALGARY SUN, 3/6).

"Just because your family gets a little older or maybe moves out of the house doesn't mean they stop being your family. If you don't pay attention to history, it will come back and bite you" – Julius Erving, at yesterday's event at Philips Arena honoring fellow Basketball HOFer Dominique Wilkins, saying the Hawks should do more to embrace their history (AJC.com, 3/5).

"For a moment, I thought I was a little crazy. But as soon as we came and saw it and talked to the Cowboys, everybody kind of looked at each other and said, 'Yeah, we think this makes sense'" – USA Gymnastics President & CEO Steve Penny, on staging this weekend's Nastia Liukin Cup and AT&T American Cup events at AT&T Stadium (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/6).

"The mask is too cool. ... Rock and roll and hockey are very simpatico. During the breaks, it's hard rock music the whole time, It really works" – Alice Cooper, on the Cooper-themed mask Coyotes G Mike Smith wore for yesterday's Throwback Night game against the Canucks (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/6).

Last night’s 1:00am ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” both led with Thunder-Bulls, followed by Mavericks-Trail Blazers. ESPN then followed with an injury update on MLB Giants RF Hunter Pence, Mets-Nationals and Broncos QB Peyton Manning passing his physical. FS1 followed with two men's basketball highlights – California-Arizona and Wisconsin-Minnesota – then Islanders-Predators.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Two youth hockey teams in Russia for starting a brawl in the postgame handshake line. Olbermamnn said, “It looked like the Avalanche and Detroit from the '90s.” Olbermann also criticized MLS, “which has averted a major players’ strike” but only agreed to “non-free free agency” in the new CBA, and Hartford's newly relocated Double-A Eastern League franchise for its choice of several possible team names.

The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL profiles driver Daniel Suarez, who is from Monterrey, Mexico: "Should he deliver on his potential and become a force in NASCAR, that could create a market in the country of about 120 million people."

The SEATTLE TIMES: "How can an MLS team – especially one, such as the Sounders, that built its scouting network from scratch less than a decade ago – hope to compete in the global market? Where do you even begin? Welcome to International Scouting for Dummies."

Also:

• How stats analyst Justin Zormelo helped Kevin Durant win MVP.
• New Big East is not the old Big East, but still has compelling hoops.
• For success in the NFL, mastering the salary cap is an absolute must.
• Katie Nolan discusses her upcoming FS1 show "Garbage Time."

If there really are going to be nine candidates on NFLPA ballot, it guarantees De Smith victory. It's over. He wins. Period.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 5, 2015

Sounds like there are a lot of Habs fans at Staples Center.

— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_FOX) March 6, 2015

So, @RandyGregory_4 knocked the #SportsScience tackling dummy's head off. Never been done before. pic.twitter.com/1EdjiqPoUw

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 5, 2015

Thank You @ArizonaCoyotes for a fun night! What an honor&loved seeing old teammates,great friends #throwbackjersey pic.twitter.com/o9KQ1XkLZc

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) March 6, 2015

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Presidential Medal of Freedom Winners.”

“She was called a ‘trailblazer for America’s daughters’ when she won in 2012, a century after founding an organization.”

TNT’s Reggie Miller appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night. Miller said, “This is the best time of the year for my vocation. Right after the All-Star break, the pros start to focus in on the playoffs, getting toward the end of the season. Spring training starts. I’m a big baseball fan, and obviously March Madness.” Miller said of his famed rivalry with Knicks fan Spike Lee, “He’s a fanatic, along with Jack Nicholson. Those two are the biggest fans for their fan base. But he talks too much.” Miller noted he and Lee made a bet on a series many years ago where “if we won, he was going to put my ex-wife in one of his terrible movies,” and if the Pacers lost, “I had to go visit” Mike Tyson in prison. Host Jimmy Kimmel said, “Tyson was here last night. He got out.” Miller said of current fashion in the NBA, “It’s all about celebrity. You know back when I played, everyone came to games in suits. What the hell is Russell Westbrook wearing coming to games? … But today’s guys take it to a different level” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 3/5).

“Who was Juliette Gordon Low?” Low was the founder of the Girl Scouts.