The Vikings are adding 15 mini suites to their new stadium to meet the needs of small and mid-size companies in the Twin Cities. The 10-person units replace three loge lounges that were part of HKS' original design. The cost of each suite will be $150,000 a year. The team is picking up the $1.2M cost to build the mini suites. As it stands now, the Vikings are responsible for providing $552M in funding for the $1.2B facility set to open in '16.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has hired Sara Myerson, a former Goldman Sachs analyst, as the city’s “financial 'fact-checker' of Boston 2024’s books and to make sure taxpayer money isn’t used in the group’s plan” to host the '24 Games. She will start April 27 as the Exec Dir of the newly created Office of Olympic Planning in City Hall, where her "main job is to make sure we’re not using taxpayer dollars to build venues." Walsh said that she will "report directly to him, with the possibility of adding staff under her 'as the Olympic bid grows'” (BOSTON HERALD, 4/17).

Meanwhile, USA TODAY’s Christine Brennan writes if the U.S. "wants to have even a sliver of a chance" to host its first Summer Games since '96, the USOC "must dump Boston ... and immediately turn" to L.A. The "problem for Boston, and the USOC, is that polling consistently shows that more Bostonians are against the Olympics than for them" (USA TODAY, 4/17).

A Marquette Univ. Law School poll found that 79% of Wisconsin registered voters surveyed "oppose borrowing" about $150M for a new Bucks arena, while "only 17% support the proposal." In the Milwaukee media market, 67% oppose funding for the arena while 29% support it. Marquette Polling Dir Charles Franklin said, "This is a heavy lift for politicians to deal with that modest level of support. It certainly says that salesmanship is required to convince people that this is a worthwhile idea" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/16).

The NBA said it reached several new records across its digital media assets. In addition to previously disclosed achievements in social media assets, NBA.com and NBA Mobile reached a combined 16.7 billion page views and 4.2 billion video views during the '14-15 regular season, up 9% from the prior year. The league’s Game Time mobile app in particular set a new record with 7.4 million global downloads, up 32% from last year.

The Texas state House has approved a measure that would "change the state constitution to let professional sports teams ... hold cash raffles at games." Half of the proceeds from the raffles "would go to charity, with the rest awarded to the winners." If the plan is accepted by the Senate and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, it "must be approved by Texas voters." Supporters "hope to begin having raffles early next year" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/17).

The Springfield Falcons, the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, today will announce that both teams "have agreed to exercise the mutual option and part ways with one year remaining on their affiliation agreement." The tie-in with the Massachusetts had been in place for five seasons. The expected announcement of a new multiyear agreement between the NHL team and the AHL Lake Erie Monsters "likely will come next week." The Monsters are owned by Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert. It is "unclear what the future holds for Springfield" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 4/17).

Southern Illinois Univ. today will hold the first of four public forums with the finalists for its AD position, which was left vacant when Mario Moccia became New Mexico State AD. Western Illinois AD Tommy Bell "will make an opening presentation then take questions from the audience." The school will then conduct similar sessions with former Northern Iowa AD Rick Hartzell on Monday, Illinois Senior Associate AD Rick Darnell on Thursday and South Dakota State Deputy AD Leon Costello on Friday (Carbondale SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN, 4/15).

The Cavaliers yesterday unveiled their new "All in" slogan for the '15 NBA Playoffs. Crews spent "several hours putting up banners with the slogan outside Quicken Loans Arena" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/17).

FINA today published financial compensation details, making the organization that governs world swimming the "first international sport body to follow the lead" of the IOC earlier this month (REUTERS, 4/17).

The PGA Tour RBC Heritage today "is going blue" as part of its partnership with Els for Autism, the foundation of golfer Ernie Els. All players, volunteers and spectators are "asked to wear blue during Friday's round to show support for people on the autism spectrum" (Hilton Head ISLAND PACKET, 4/15).

"They're talking about speeding the game up? One way is to let the pitcher ground out to the second baseman three or four times a game" – White Sox P Jeff Samardzija, suggesting that the elimination of the DH could speed up games (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/17).

"I still don't understand what they're doing. Can you explain it to me, if it's so clear?" – Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, on the 76ers' rebuilding plan (ESPNLA.com, 4/16).

"We’re going to start looking at '19, '20 and '21 in the next few months. I understand that it's been a very long time since we’ve been in L.A., and that’s an important factor in their favor" – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, on Dodger Stadium possibly hosting an All-Star Game (DAILYBULLETIN.com, 4/16).

"I try to keep myself from thinking like that. But as a human being those thoughts definitely come into play. You sit down at night and you're thinking, 'Did I really make the right decision?'" – Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, on whether he thought he made a mistake signing with the team in free agency (ESPNNY.com, 4/16).

Last night’s 1:00am ET editions of both ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Stanley Cup Playoff highlights of Penguins-Rangers and Red Wings-Lightning. ESPN followed with MLB highlights of Marlins-Mets, Phillies-Nationals and a report on the Cubs promoting 3B Kris Bryant from Triple-A. FS1 followed with a report on Vikings RB Adrian Peterson’s reinstatement, a story on the civil suit filed against Jameis Winston and MLB highlights of Marlins-Mets and Rays-Blue Jays.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: The father of Quinn Patrick – a boy from a viral video who was smacked in the face by a fish – for not preparing his son for the realities of fishing, including retaliation. He also went in on Senators coach Dave Cameron for demanding the NHL suspend Canadiens D P.K. Subban for slashing or else the league should allow a Senators player to slash a Canadiens player. Olbermann also criticized SB Nation writers Seth Rosenthal and Rodger Sherman for “consuming” $600 worth of free food during the Pistons-Knicks game on Fan Appreciation Night at MSG.

The N.Y. TIMES goes with the header, "In Canada, It's March Madness In April." Five Canadian NHL teams qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs marks a "sharp contrast to the national hand-wringing last year."

USA TODAY: Sandy Grady and Stan Hochman, both of whom died this month, "helped change sportswriting" as part of the Philadelphia Daily News editorial staff in the mid-1950s.

Also:

• In glimpse of things to come, Glazer family ran Manchester United for profit.
• Salt Lake Marathon has thrived under new ownership, with string support.
• Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson took a stand by not re-signing Greg Hardy.
• Demolition looks more and more likely for Edmonton's Rexall Place.
• WNBA President Laurel Richie discusses league's upcoming draft.
• Capitals GM Brian MacLellan perfectly executed plan to get team in playoffs.

RIP Lee Remmel - legendary & long time Packers PR man. 1st friend I made in Green Bay b4 meeting staff or teammates pic.twitter.com/y00XaJtYpf

— Vai Sikahema (@VaiSikahema) April 16, 2015

Judging by the angry tweets at her, most aren't truly offended how she mistreated that woman, they're offended she's attractive and on TV.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 16, 2015

My car was towed in NYC. I went to the lot, paid fine, drove away. I did not find the transaction tense or stressful. Must be a TV thing.

— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) April 17, 2015

@franfraschilla When we go to dinner in a couple wks, I am reserving an hour just to talk about Sonny Vaccaro and the sneaker wars.

— Desmond M. Wallace (@MisterWallaceGA) April 17, 2015

#CoorsField, currently. At least the #Rockies are out of town this week... pic.twitter.com/m7BJJ36gqp

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 16, 2015

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

“On the occasion of this late leader’s visit to the U.S. in 2009, ABC News listed 112 various spellings of his name.”

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Landing A Gyrocopter On The United States Capitol Lawn.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “Is it gyro? I’m confusing it with the sandwich” (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/16).

10) "Is it pronounced 'gyro' copter or 'yeero' copter?"
9) "Are there other gyrocopter protests scheduled today?"
8) "Should I do this during Secret Service happy hour?"
7) "Who will water my plants while I'm in prison?"
6) “Do I have time to swing by Hungary?"
5) "Will I be greeted as a liberator?"
4) "Do they validate?"
3) "How long until my ass stops vibrating?"
2) "Should I land somewhere unguarded, like the White House?"
1) "Will I be the only person who actually did something in Washington today?"

“Who is Muammar Gaddafi?”