The Angels' deal to send LF Josh Hamilton back to the Rangers today is expected to "receive final approval" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/27). He will be forfeiting about $6M of the more than $80M left on his five-year contract. So with Hamilton "forfeiting money" and the Rangers contributing about $2M a year, the Angels are expected to pay him $68M "to go away." That is "easily be the largest severance pay a team has absorbed" in MLB (USA TODAY, 4/27).

Coldwell Banker Real Estate and MLB.com today will launch a video series about the homes of star players for the second consecutive year. The 14-week series, which launches on the Coldwell Banker Blue Matter blog, will profile more than a dozen baseball figures. It starts with Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig and includes Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes, Royals CF Lorenzo Cain, Mets P Jacob deGrom, Cubs 3B Kris Bryant and Baseball HOFer-elect John Smoltz (Coldwell Banker).

Mack Rhoades today "officially replaces" Mike Alden as Missouri AD. This comes as the school on Friday announced a new contract for football coach Gary Pinkel, who was hired by Alden (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/25). The COLUMBIA DAILY TRIBUNE goes with the header, "Alden's Personality, Work Ethic Leave An Impression" (COLUMBIATRIBUNE.com, 4/26).

Also today, new Hawaii AD David Matlin "officially starts work," replacing Ben Jay (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 4/26).

A proposed new ballpark for the Triple-A Int’l League Pawtucket Red Sox will be the topic today at a public meeting involving team President James Skeffington, MLB Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino, Rhode Island state officials and the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. RDC Exec Dir Jan Brodie "asked for the team's financial model for operating the stadium," but Skeffington "won't share detailed financial information" about ownership. Skeffington: "As a private company, our financial information is confidential" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 4/25). 

ESPN2 last night aired "Heroes of the Dorm," a “collegiate tournament final of the computer game ‘Heroes of the Storm,’” the first time eSports have been televised on an ESPN outlet. Students from Arizona State played Cal at a “packed L.A. Shrine Auditorium, and people on Twitter were stunned” (USATODAY.com, 4/26).

Dodgers P Brett Anderson wrote, “This is on ESPN2...expecting thousands to immediately switch channels.” ESPN.com’s Jason Sobel: “Here's hoping this ESPN2 video game telecast opens the door for live Golden Tee tournaments on our TV screens soon.” Yahoo Sports’ Greg Wyshynski: “As I watch #Esports on ESPN2, all I can think of is how many NHL games would have been pushed aside for the new Texas Hold'em.” Deadspin’s Timothy Burke wrote, “'Heroes of the Dorm' has been on ESPN3 for months, so this surprise/outrage at it being on ESPN2 tells you how obscure ESPN3 is to most ppl.”

Honda is “working on an extension” with IndyCar to stay in “open-wheel racing beyond this season.” Honda Performance Development COO Steve Eriksen: “We are moving along on a very positive path” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/27).

Masters champion Jordan Spieth was presented with a Mavericks jersey by team Owner Mark Cuban during yesterday’s Rockets-Mavericks game (DALLASNEWS.com, 4/26).

Wimbledon has “become the latest sports event to ban the use” of selfie sticks, calling them a “nuisance” (AP, 4/27).

Former Denver Post writer Mike Klis, who covered the Broncos beat for 10 years, today “begins a television career” at KUSA-NBC. Klis will join reporter Rod Mackey in covering the Broncos for the station (DENVERPOST.com, 4/26).

An estimated crowd of about 50,000 attended yesterday’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Int’l Raceway. The frontstretch was “filled almost to capacity” at the start of the race, but crowds “were sparse on the backstretch” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/27).

A sellout crowd of 2,600 attended yesterday’s Santa Cruz Warriors-Fort Wayne Mad Ants NBA D-League Finals Game 2 at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The Warriors defeated the Mad Ants 109-96 to sweep the best-of-three series (SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL, 4/27).

“I think Orlando has done a great job, and I think it’s a place that deserved a team and hopefully Miami can take hints from them if they get in the league” – Toronto FC and U.S. men’s national team F Jozy Altidore, who spends the offseason in Boca Raton, Fla., on MLS returning teams to the state (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/27).

“I think it’s better for fans, TV and media, but not necessarily for us. We were talking about a couple possible scenarios – you could win 6-and-5 and 6-and-5 and then lose in a playoff and you’re done” – Golfer Webb Simpson, on the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship’s new format of group play leading into single-elimination matches (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/27).

“I’ve never seen anything like this. Who announces a fight when you don’t have a contract with a venue? How do you (expletive) up the tickets? It’s embarrassing what the MGM and (Al) Haymon did” – Top Rank Chair Bob Arum, on being exasperated with the promotion of Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao bout (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/27).

The GLOBE & MAIL notes in the NHL's "salary-cap era, now in its 10th season, the one person" who can make the "difference between good and great" is the GM. Team-building "while finding market efficiencies has become paramount."

SHREVEPORT TIMES: "Thanks to nearly $1.5 million in losses over the past two years and a dubious title sponsorship experiment, the Independence Bowl, an event that may have already exercised its nine lives, is on a hot tin roof once again."

The Charleston POST & COURIER notes when it comes to cost-of-attendance stipends, smaller schools face "pressure to keep up with the big boys." Also, USA TODAY examines how new NCAA regulations have changed how athletic departments provide food to student-athletes.

Also:

• NFL Draft was vastly different when last held in Chicago in '64.
• In Shaka Smart, VCU loses man who built its athletic brand.
• A hypothetical report from the '44 Olympics in Port-au-Prince.
• Longtime Crew fans stick with team through economic turmoil.
• A look at ESPN NBA analyst Marc Stein's Western New York roots.
• Former Vikings Owner Red McCombs on why he sold franchise.
• How Seahawks GM John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll work together.
• Q&A with Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson.

Just had a tweet favorited by a spambot offering 1,000 followers for $12. There are no words. Happy Monday morning.

— Dave Campbell (@DaveCampbellAP) April 27, 2015

It's a historic #MinutemenMonday in Amherst as @UMassADBamford embarks as our leader for @UMassAthletics #Welcome #WeWinTogether

— Rocko DeLuca (@Rocko_DeLuca) April 27, 2015

When you can't watch a game, follow on Twitter, then come home and watch the game and realize the whole world is on drugs.

— Jeff Bradley (@JerseyJBradley) April 27, 2015

Stan Kroenke has spent £30,000 on 2 more Arsenal shares taking his stake to 67.02% (from 67.01%)

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) April 27, 2015

Jury selection begins in the trial of Phil Kenner and Tommy Constantine, who are accused of defrauding nearly 20 current and former NHL players.

The Wizards' Twitter feed last night "took this jab at ESPN" after the team swept the Raptors in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Only one of ESPN's basketball analysts "picked the Wizards to win last year's first-round playoff series against the Bulls." This year, a total of five analysts picked the Wizards in the first round (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/26).

Getting closer, "experts" #dcRising pic.twitter.com/XvStFUPZb6

— #dcRising (@WashWizards) April 27, 2015

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Actors.”

“Ironically, in the summer of 1955, he gave an interview about the dangers of racing on highways.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “President Obama hosted the New England Patriots at the White House but Tom Brady couldn’t make it due to a family commitment. Apparently, there was an emergency at the Brady house.” The broadcast aired footage of Brady throwing a football spliced with a scene from “The Brady Bunch” in which Marcia Brady gets hit in the nose. Fallon said, “Everything was fine. Tom ended up taking Marcia to the prom.” More Fallon: “I saw that Miami Dolphins lineman A.J. Francis just tweeted that he has signed up to be an Uber driver during the off-season. But since he’s with the Dolphins, he can only drive 15 yards before he has to punt” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/24).

Last night’s edition of Fox’ “Family Guy” took a shot at Vikings RB Adrian Peterson in one of their patented cutaways from the show’s storyline. Glenn Quagmire says to Peter Griffin about his upcoming roast, “You’re more excited than Adrian Peterson at an arboretum.” The scene showed Peterson, wearing his No. 28 jersey, walking among numerous trees, with his young son asking, “Daddy, what kind of tree is that?” But Peterson is distracted by the trees and says excitedly, “Man! I want to beat you with so many things around here” (“Family Guy,” Fox, 4/26).

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten 2015 Prom Themes” (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/26). 

10) “Night of a Thousand Hormones”
9) “The World Before Antibiotics”
8) “Know Your Rights as a Tuxedo Renter”
7) “Garden of Deleted Emails”
6) “Build-Your-Own Baked Potato Under the Stars”
5) “Hooray For Taxidermy”
4) “Scientology Wonderland”
3) “Goodbye Dreaming, Hello Settling”
2) “Blue Bell Ice Cream Special”
1) “Prom Blart Mall Cop”

“Who was James Dean?”