ESPN.com today went live with a new site design that features "three distinct columns within the home page." The right-hand ESPN Now column is a "continually updating stream that includes breaking news, trending topics, social media highlights, statistics and a sampler of other peaking content." The left-hand column is the "key area for user personalization." The "center column most resembles prior versions of ESPN.com." The redesign also "allows for easy rescaling of pages to optimize for the screen" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/30 issue).

The new design comes as ESPN.com celebrates its 20th anniversary. Read more on the history of the website and view a timeline in this week's SBJ.

Boston last night hosted its "third public meeting" on its proposed '24 Games bid, and "hundreds of residents voiced their concerns over housing and transit problems" during the event at Harvard Business School. Attendees were "polite, many silently holding anti-Olympics signs." But the "tone of the questions and comments grew increasingly stern as the evening went on." Presenters included Boston '24 Master Planning Committee co-Chair David Manfredi (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/1).

Larry Collmus today "walks into the announcer's booth at Aqueduct as the new racetrack announcer for NYRA." He will serve in that role from April-October, "allowing him to continue his job as Gulfstream Park's announcer" from December-March. Collmus replaces Tom Durkin, who retired in August. He will maintain a schedule "similar to one Durkin had in the 1990s where, in addition to calling the races at NYRA, he was the voice of Gulfstream Park, the Triple Crown, and the Breeders’ Cup" (DRF.com, 3/30).

A crowd of 38,114 attended last night's Mexico-Paraguay men's soccer friendly at Arrowhead Stadium, which resulted in a 1-0 Mexico win. Those in attendance "made their presence felt – with energy during the match and perhaps a little too much of it after the match, resulting in a scene that produced multiple arrests" (K.C. STAR, 4/1).

Meanwhile, nearly 30,000 tickets have been sold for the July 22 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals at the Georgia Dome, "despite purchasers not yet knowing which of the 12 teams participating in the tournament will advance" (AJC.com, 3/31).

The Baseball HOF has developed an app, called BHOF Beacon, that offers fans “an exclusive location-based mobile tool that opens users’ eyes to baseball history.” The app was built by brand engagement firm Sullivan and is available for free on iTunes. The HOF said that the app "incorporates artifacts, historic imagery and video from the Hall," and it "spotlights destinations a Cooperstown-bound visitor might encounter" (ONEONTA DAILY STAR, 4/1).

Bourbon brand Maker's Mark today unveiled a special Univ. of Kentucky-themed bottle that will go on sale Friday. The all-white bottle features an image of late basketball coach Adolph Rupp. It is "dipped in Kentucky blue wax" and has a "ribbon with Rupp's championship years draped over the wax seal," where the initials "UK" are pressed. The bottle will be the "first in a series to raise money" for a $4M expansion of UK's Center for Academic & Tutorial Services (KENTUCKY.com, 4/1).

Officials from the AAC are set to meet with Austin leaders today to “discuss plans for a proposed college football bowl game at Royal Memorial Stadium” (MYSANANTONIO.com, 3/31).

FIFA confirmed Hawk-Eye as the official goal-line technology provider for this summer’s Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in Edmonton on June 6 (FIFA). Read more in SBD Global.

The USA Hockey Foundation has finalized the purchase of Compuware Arena, and has taken over operations of the Plymouth, Mich., facility immediately (USA Hockey).

Mobile technology company OneUp Sports today announced the acquisition of Tixers, an outlet that gives fans value for unusable tickets that can be redeemed for future events (THE DAILY).

“My body is mine. It belongs to me. It doesn’t belong to the PGA Tour. They have no right to advertise on me and not compensate me for it” – Caddie Kenny Harms, who is one of 167 caddies that have filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour regarding advertising on caddie bibs (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/1).

“I started on Tour 40 years ago, and at the time if Nicklaus didn't play or Palmer didn't play or Player didn't play, everybody thought the Tour was going to fold its tent and go home. … It's a natural changing of the guard at all times” – Peter Jacobsen, on the next wave of PGA Tour talent following Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (THE DAILY).

“The expectation for us is to get to those moments – he knows that, we know that, everyone knows that” – Univ. of Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, on basketball coach John Calipari’s contract not calling for a bonus for winning a national championship (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/31).

“His agent knows. They’re ready. They know this (CFL) may be what it is. It’s Michael who has to make the decision” – CFL Alouettes GM Jim Popp, on efforts to sign DE Michael Sam if he does not land with an NFL team (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/1).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” both led with Spurs-Heat and Pacers-Nets. ESPN followed with Hawks-Pistons and Marlins-Cardinals. ESPN reported on the Switzerland-U.S. int'l soccer friendly at seven minutes into the broadcast. FS1 followed with Warriors-Clippers and QB Jameis Winston’s pro day. FS1 reported on Switzerland-U.S. 30 minutes into their broadcast.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: a Virginia elementary student “who just torched” Panthers QB Cam Newton in his school newspaper. Olbermann also put on notice search engine Bing for tweeting a photo of a “Duke fan” that was actually a photoshopped Wisconsin fan, and Redskins Owner Dan Snyder in light of the AP considering not using the name “Redskins” in their reporting.

TIME magazine examines Robert Morris, the "first college in the U.S. to make video gaming a varsity sport." Top players "can receive athletic scholarships worth up to $19,000 per year."

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS on the "Bay Bridge Series" of A's-Giants preseason games: "It is an exaggerated concept that is only pretend-important. And it's pretty much time to do away with the whole thing."

Also:

• Al Nippon Airways' sponsorship of LPGA major a "successful marriage."
• J.J. Watt's turn in "New Girl" compared to classic athlete TV cameos.
• NCAA Tournament is big business for sporting goods stores, bars, etc.
• Jim D'Aloia took unusual path to running Mets' scouting department.

Cool event by @usc libraries tonight @ Dedeaux field. Tom House & former MLB star Rob Nen featured speakers. pic.twitter.com/hldoVqBYxA

— Dennis Johnson (@DJohnson310) April 1, 2015

Dear @espn, classic example of fixing what wasn't broken. New site requires learning curve, keeps me from sports. Thumbs down. #sportsbiz

— Steve Seiferheld (@steveseiferheld) April 1, 2015

The best part about Steph Curry's State Farm commercial is that it's actually impossible to tell him and his insurance alter ego apart.

— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) April 1, 2015

Always kind of depressing to be on the final flight of the season. This is my 10th -- nine with early tee times. Time to break out the clubs

— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) April 1, 2015

No fooling - It's listing day for @GoDaddy #ItsGoTime pic.twitter.com/6GMTZZdeI7

— NYSE (@nyse) April 1, 2015

Baseball HOFer Reggie Jackson is auctioning the letters of old Yankee Stadium's signage through Sotheby's.

The Astros unveil the renovated Mazda Club Level, including a sneak peak at new Aramark concessions at Minute Maid Park.

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

“Rodney Dangerfield credited this 1972 Best Picture Oscar winner for inspiring his most famous line.”

CBS’ David Letterman said the Falcons “have been fined and lost a draft pick because, through their loudspeaker system at the stadium, they have been using fake crowd noise. So you have the real crowd and then they jump it up with some kind of high volume amplified fake crowd sound. It’s the same setup I have in my bedroom. The New York Jets do not use crowd noise, but they do have a laugh track. And by the way, here at ‘The Late Show,’ the silence you hear is real” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 3/31).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Kate (Middleton) and her husband, Prince William, are expecting their second child next month and a popular thing to gamble on over there in Great Britain is what the baby’s name will be. You can bet on this legally, too. There are places you can go. I guess this is the British version of filling out a March Madness bracket” ("Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 3/31).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” featured a segment called “Puppy Predictors” in which puppies predicted who would win out the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 3/31).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Guys Indiana Governor Mike Pence Looks Like.” Letterman said, “Undeniably a handsome man but something has gone haywire. I can’t prove exactly what went haywire but it doesn’t pass the sniff test. It may be legal but it ain’t right” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/31).

10) “The guy at the bar who sends your girlfriend a drink.”
9) “The guy who makes his dog sleep outside.”
8) “The guy whose wife has to tell him he's ‘getting a little loud.’”
7) “The guy who greets a roomful of guys with ‘morning ladies.’”
6) “The guy who has a little too much fun on ‘Audience Get Acquainted’ night.”
5) “The real estate agent whose photograph is on a bus stop bench.”
4) “The guy who keeps a baseball bat in his trunk.”
3) “The guy who won three national championships as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.”
2) “The guy who arrives at his high school reunion in a rented Ferrari.”
1) “The guy fishing in a Cialis commercial.”

“What is ‘The Godfather?’”

Dangerfield’s famous line was, “I get no respect, no respect.”