MLS expansion club LAFC today will formally announce plans to "construct the country's most expensive privately financed soccer stadium" on the site of the Sports Arena in Exposition Park. The $250M complex would include a conference center, restaurants and a soccer museum, in addition to a 22,000-seat stadium "at its center." The project costs $100M more than the team's "projections seven months ago" (L.A. TIMES, 5/18).

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, in his first public comments since the Deflategate punishment came down, said that he is "convinced" Tom Brady "played no part in any football-deflation scheme." Kraft, who spoke for 50 minutes Saturday by phone from his home outside Boston, said, "To receive the harshest penalty in league history is just not fair. ... If we're giving all the power to the NFL and the office of the commissioner, this is something that can happen to all 32 teams." Kraft: "If they want to penalize us because there’s an aroma around this? That’s what this feels like. If you don’t have the so-called smoking gun, it really is frustrating" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/18).

NFL owners this week in S.F. will hold their annual May meetings, where they will "undoubtedly address" both the Deflategate scandal and the competing L.A. stadium proposals. They are also "expected to vote on potential changes to the extra-point rules, and will hear about cities vying to play host to future Super Bowls." There are "no votes scheduled on the competing proposals in Inglewood and Carson, and there will be no presentations from those cities or other outside groups." The sessions are expected to run from tomorrow night to midday Wednesday (LATIMES.com, 5/16).

The long-running MASN dispute is scheduled to reach final arguments today in New York State Supreme Court. Reps for the Orioles-controlled RSN, the Nationals and MLB will all appear before Judge Lawrence Marks in N.Y. MASN last summer filed suit against the league and Nationals, seeking to vacate an internal league arbitration resetting the Nationals' annual local TV rights fee from $41M to about $60M. That award from the league's Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee has been enjoined since August while the suit progresses.

The case holds significant ramifications for the Nationals’ future cash flow and payrolls, the financial viability of the 10-year-old MASN and potentially how MLB in the future resolves rights-fees issues for teams such as these holding equity in the local broadcasters. MASN is arguing the RSDC award was badly compromised on several fronts, including law firm Proskauer Rose simultaneously representing the league, the Nationals and several RSDC members, and the RSDC using an evaluation process inconsistent with how it rules on other clubs in similar situations.

The Marlins today are expected to announce that GM Dan Jennings will "move down to the dugout to become the team's next manager." He will replace Mike Redmond, who was fired Sunday by team Owner Jeffrey Loria after the Marlins fell to 16-22. Jennings joined the Marlins in '02 and became GM in '14. He has "no managerial experience at the major league level." Marlins President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill said, "We're hopeful that a new voice will spark and motivate our guys" (ESPN.com, 5/18).

Oberto Beef Jerky today will unveil its new digital campaign, "Heroes of Summer." The effort spotlights Seahawks CB Richard Sherman along with blind marathoner/mountain climber Randy Pierce, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet-Davis and leukemia-stricken youngster Brady Wein. Sherman will make a surprise visit to his high school in Compton, Calif. The campaign was created by Positivity (Oberto Beef Jerky).

More than 800 people are expected at the eighth annual Sports Business Awards on Wednesday evening at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in N.Y., where awards will be given in 15 categories. The event will include the presentation of the SBD/SBJ Lifetime Achievement Award to former NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol. This week’s issue of SBJ features an extensive tribute to Ebersol, including his memories around the '96 Summer Games in Atlanta, his last day at NBC and his opinion on today’s TV talent.

NRG Stadium is the “front runner” to host the '15 Texas state championship football games. The championships will not return to AT&T Stadium “after miscommunication between” the Cowboys and the Univ. Interscholastic League “left the dates for the state finals this year off the calendar” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/18).

Japan Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura said that Tokyo’s National Stadium “should ditch its plan for a retractable roof to save money.” Shimomura also wants about 35% of the seats at the Olympic venue to be “temporary ones in another cost-cutting measure” (REUTERS, 5/18).

A StubHub Center sellout crowd of 27,000 attended last night’s U.S.-Mexico women’s soccer friendly, the “second-to-last tuneup before next month’s FIFA World Cup in Canada” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/18).

The Amgen Tour of California yesterday was won by Peter Sagan “in front of a large crowd next to the Rose Bowl Stadium” (PASADENA STAR NEWS, 5/18).

“We will show Mr. Manfred our love for the sport. I don’t want to negotiate openly, but we’ll clearly talk about Montreal” – Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, on a May 28 meeting with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about having baseball return to the city (CP, 5/17).

“We might be a good case study for a sports marketing or sales class one day” – Hockey Vision Las Vegas Ticket Sales Dir Todd Pollack, on selling tickets for a franchise that does not exist yet (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/16).

“A lot of guys have come out here and it hasn’t taken them long how to learn how to win. We don’t play maybe with as much fear” – Golfer Rory McIlroy, on the number of golfers under the age of 25 that are having success on the PGA Tour (GOLFDIGEST.com, 5/17).

“If the fans want something different than the administration, then I implore you to listen to the fans just as I have to do sometimes when the constituents in my district want me to vote a certain way” – Tennessee state Rep. Roger Kane, in a letter to Univ. of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro regarding the school possibly dropping the “Lady Vols” moniker (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/17).

“The hard part – the decision-making – is what you have to let go. … It goes from having total control of things to releasing it” – U.S. Open Championship Dir Danny Sink, who has been working on the tournament at Chambers Bay since ’12, on being 30 days out from the event (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 5/18).

The TAMPA BAY TIMES profiles U.S. women's national soccer team F Alex Morgan on her path from a "bright-eyed University of California graduate" to a "savvy vet, handling her fame with aplomb as she prepares for her World Cup sequel."

ESPN.com: "This was supposed to be the year that aero kits brought speed and style back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Instead, unproven aerodynamic components have made safety the watchword."

Also:

• Actual NBA Draft Lottery takes place before "made-for-TV sideshow."
• Analytics movement may be biggest winner of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• Wells Fargo Championship remains one of golf's biggest non-majors.
• Rockies appear to have regressed under "neophyte" GM Jeff Bridich.

#UCI sees #BMX Freestyle Park as possible new #Olympic discipline.

— Steve Wilson (@stevewilsonap) May 18, 2015

I will say this: Dan Jennings is a fun, fiery personality and full of baseball knowledge. No idea how that jibes with never managing.

— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) May 18, 2015

Good luck 2 @kwpierce @DurhamBullsTurf @DurhamBullsGM on this week's @theACC Baseball Championship. Massive undertaking w/ 15 games/6 days.

— Michael Strickland (@mgstrick) May 18, 2015

.@NASCAR PLEASE study the history of this sport up to today & explain how Bruton Smith isn't in the @NASCARHall of Fame yet? Thanks, Hawk

— Donald Hawk (@HawkSMI) May 17, 2015

USGA President Tom O’Toole Jr., Fox Sports Coordinating Golf Producer Mark Loomis and broadcaster Holly Sonders will ring the NASDAQ opening bell alongside the U.S. Open trophy.

Citi is launching its Citi Call-Ups program that will present a N.Y. restaurant with the opportunity to showcase its cuisine at Citi Field during the second half of the Mets’ season. The contest runs through May 31.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Celebrity Memoirs.”

“Memoirs by Righteous Brothers singer Bill Medley and this late actor share the title ‘The Time of My Life.’”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “The New England Patriots put out a point by point rebuttal to the report that found it was likely that Patriots locker room attendants deflated the footballs intentionally and that Tom Brady knew they were doing it. And this is hilarious: One of the key pieces of evidence is text messages sent between two locker room guys. One of the guys in the text actually refers to himself as ‘The Deflator’ … so the Patriots in their rebuttal are saying the reason he calls himself that is not because he deflates footballs … (but) calling himself ‘The Deflator’ was a term he used to refer to losing weight. … So the Patriots are blaming it on the fat guy. That’s what’s going on here. Are they really trying to tell us his nickname is ‘The Deflator?’ Not since a rapper named C. Murder was convicted of murder has there been a more ridiculous case than this one” ( “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/15).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “It’s a sad day for professional football. You know, Tom Brady has been suspended for four games. People are saying, ‘What will Tom Brady do during his suspension? We have a report. Take a look.” The broadcast then aired a “news report” with the broadcaster saying, “While serving his suspension for deflating footballs, Tom Brady will earn extra money as the security guard who deflates beach balls thrown on to baseball fields. Tom Brady: Too pretty for suspension” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/15).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “This week on Celebrity Jeopardy, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers surprised everyone. He defeated astronaut Mark Kelly and ‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary. ... It might just be me but I think the odds might have been stacked in Rodgers’ favor. Look at the categories.” The broadcast then aired the “categories” from Rodgers’ episode which included the fictional “Football Statistics,” “Playing Football,” “The NFL in General,” “Quarterback Stuff” and “Aaron Rodgers’ Favorite Colors” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/15).

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Thoughts Going Through Dave’s Mind While Presenting The Top Ten List” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/15).

10) “Nine more to go.”
9) “Forgot to make sure they were good.”
8) “How are we only on number 8?”
7) “Hey, my license plate number has a 7 in it.”
6) “Is that a giant walking stick or are you just enjoying the list?”
5) “If we’d done a Top Five list, America could be spared half these lame jokes.”
4) “What self-respecting man recites lists for a living?”
3) “Why does he look at me like that?”
2) “If number one ain’t funny, I’m retiring.”
1) “Johnny never had to do this s#*t.”

“Who was Patrick Swayze?”