NBC Sports today announced the British Open will "move over to NBC and Golf Channel" in '17, ending a "relationship that spans more than half a century with ABC and ESPN." ESPN was scheduled to carry the tourney in '17, but the R&A "opted out of that final year." Sources said that NBC will pay an average of $50M per year "for more than 10 years," an amount that doubles the current $25M per year from ESPN from a deal that took effect in '10 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/8 issue).

The Chargers today will meet with San Diego officials "for the second time in less than a week" to discuss stadium plans, and the team will bring its own "financing, land use and election law experts." This comes as a "local Republican business club with ties to Mayor Kevin Faulconer" recently sponsored a "negative Facebook post criticizing" the team. Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani said Faulconer "and his political operatives ... have always seemed more concerned with political cover than with actually building a stadium" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/8).

The Pac-12 announced that its CEO Group has approved the creation of a conference-wide multimedia-rights sales arm. Each member school now has the option to manage their rights with the support of the new entity. The CEO Group also approved the next phase of the Pac-12 Fan Engagement initiative. The conference over the next academic year will work with schools to identify data management infrastructure and deploy business metrics to offer analysis of fan engagement (Pac-12).

Lagardere Unlimited has acquired Akzio Ajoint Group, one of Germany’s largest sponsorship consulting and activation agencies. "We’re happy to add a really strong group as part of the expansion of our consulting in Europe as we grow into a truly global consulting unit," said Lagardère President & CEO Andy Pierce. Akzio Ajoint, which represents brands including BMW, HTC, Nissan, DVAG, Unicredit and Gazprom, will continue to operate independently in the marketplace and retain its current management team. The German agency has around 115 employees and advised five UEFA Champions League sponsors activating during the recent final in Berlin.

FIFA's official website "did not have a great start to the Women's World Cup on Saturday" when its gamecast play-by-play coverage "used male pronouns to identify the female players in the Canada-China game." Several players "were referred to as 'he' or 'his'" during the match. FIFA’s social media manager said that the "error was due to a bug and it was fixed for the tournament’s second game between Netherlands and New Zealand" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/6).

The civil trial over Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson's succession plan resumes Wednesday in New Orleans, and Benson's third wife, Gayle Benson, "will testify" this week. Lawyers for Benson's daughter, Renee Benson, and her children "rested their case Friday" after "nearly five days of testimony that had been described as 'grueling and emotional.'" Tom Benson’s lawyers "began their defense Friday afternoon," starting with Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/6).

HBO's John Oliver last night revisited his promise that if FIFA sponsors were to help to get rid of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, he would use their products. Oliver said, "To be fair, it is not clear that the sponsors had anything to do with Blatter leaving and Blatter's departure still leaves FIFA with a huge amount of restructuring to do. But that said, a promise is a promise and I'm a man of my word. So first, check these puppies out!" Oliver revealed his shoes, a pair of golden-winged adidas, and said, "Who needs arch support when you look like Louis XIV going to a rap battle? And as for McDonald's ... a bite of all of this disgusting mess. It's like there's a party in my mouth and my stomach has called the cops to shut it down."

Oliver: "We all know what the main event is. I promised I would drink a Bud Light Lime and say it was delicious. But if I'm going to do this, I'm not going to do it small. I'm going to do it properly, so please come with me! It's a pool party where cool people are having a good time.” Oliver walked over to another part of the stage where men and women wearing bathing suits were having a party featuring “Bud Light Lime” signage. Oliver added, “Bud Light Lime may taste like your tongue is angry with you, but after seeing Sepp Blatter leaving, to me it tastes – [Oliver then chugs a whole bottle of Bud Light Lime] – delicious!” (“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” HBO, 6/7).

Red Sox execs this week will meet to “discuss possible changes to fan protection” at Fenway Park following Friday night’s incident in which a fan was injured by a broken bat (USA TODAY, 6/8).

The NHL appears to be "closing in on a transfer agreement with Russia." The reported four-year deal would "allow a per-player fee" should a player move between the NHL and KHL (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/7).

Former CHL Oklahoma City Blazers CEO Brad Lund is “assembling an ownership group with a goal of bringing” minor league hockey back to the city for the ’16-17 season. Lund has a mid-fall deadline to let the ECHL know if his group “will be ready for ’16-17” (NEWSOK.com, 6/8). The AHL OKC Barons recently ceased operations (THE DAIILY).

Ryan Sanders Baseball, which owns the Triple-A PCL Round Rock Express, announced the Choque de Campeones preseason match between Liga MX clubs CD Guadalajara and Pachuca will be held July 14 at Dell Diamond (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6/9).

The USTA runs four quarter-page ads in the N.Y. Times touting the start of U.S. Open ticket sales this morning. The ads feature images of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams (THE DAILY).

Google today is offering a soccer-themed doodle for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. The U.S. national team plays Australia tonight in their first match of the tournament (THE DAILY).

“I’ve always wanted to have that element. This is all great. These guys can be as impressive or not impressive as whatever. But they can’t play if they can’t skate” – Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen, on the possibility of on-ice testing at the NHL scouting combine (AP, 6/6).

“There is no way that the FIA could have the same problems with corruption that FIFA are experiencing” – FIA President Jean Todt, on an upcoming European Union report on the governance and financing of F1 (LONDON TIMES, 6/8).

“A thousand more dollars means a thousand more dollars instead of relating it to thinking it’ll be a little more expensive at one place than another. … Of course it’s their money to do with what they want but at least let them be aware of what could be available” – Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger, on schools now offering full cost of attendance stipends (OKLAHOMAN, 6/8).

“The field was getting bad and everything else. And they had a lot of big games here back in the day. And it’s good to see having the Energy here and Tim McLaughlin really backing this place and everything to get it back to where it needs to be” – Broncos WR Wes Welker, on the USL Oklahoma City Energy FC owner's renovations to Taft Stadium (NEWSOK.com, 6/8).

As the FIFA corruption scandal develops, attention shifts to former CONCACAF President Jack Warner. N.Y. TIMES Sunday front page: "At Center Of FIFA Scandal, A Divisive Politician." WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Trinidad's Soccer Hero Falls From Grace In Global Scandal." N.Y. DAILY NEWS: "King Of Thieves!"

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS goes with the header, "Bullied By FIFA, Women May Be Its Saviour." Women "might hold the key to reforming FIFA, to preventing the old boys’ club tactics from continuing into the future." The N.Y. TIMES notes Sepp Blatter is still seen "more as a version of Horatio Alger than Humpty Dumpty" in his hometown of Visp, Switzerland.

Also:

• Milwaukee pol. Chris Abele plays big role in Bucks' arena financing.
• California drought spurs teams to look more closely at water usage.
• Ballpark owners not liable for fans' injuries, thanks to Baseball Rule.
• Should Puerto Rican MLB prospects go in U.S. or int'l draft?
• Which of baseball's current crop of young stars will emerge as a legend?

First American Pharoah, now the City of Cleve is 3 wins from a title. Next thing you know the Cubbies will win the WS. #worldgonecrazy

— Len Berman (@LenBermanSports) June 8, 2015

Strike! World Bowling has applied to Tokyo for inclusion in 2020 Olympics.

— Steve Wilson (@stevewilsonap) June 8, 2015

Always feel weirdly let down after a tennis Grand Slam event ends. Weird, right? But miss going to bed with TV on so I don't miss anything.

— Diane Pucin (@mepucin) June 8, 2015

Big congrats to @NBCSports on winning rights to The Open Championship. @GregHughesNBCSG ...big week for you my friend.

— Brett Jewkes (@BJewkes) June 8, 2015

A special day at the ballpark: Paul Dolan gets his head shaved by @Themikeaviles in support of Mike & his daughter. pic.twitter.com/TMw7oxw8bI

— #VoteKip #VoteTribe (@Indians) June 7, 2015

The FIFA-financed "United Passions" film "bombed in its limited debut in 10 theatres, earning a measly $607 on Friday and Saturday" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/7).

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Mottoes.”

“Though the two men were very different, this four-word motto came to represent both Oscar Wilde and Louis B. Mayer.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “It has been a crazy week in the news. Let me just tell you how weird it's gotten. It turns out the names Lincoln Chafee and Sepp Blatter are actual people, and not horses running in the Belmont Stakes. I was going to bet on Sepp Blatter.” Following his monologue, Fallon said after the show aired its “Superlatives” segment last week featuring Lightning and Blackhawks players, the Lightning “struck back” with a tweet. The Lightning tweeted a picture of Fallon with the caption “Most Likely to Regret Getting A 2015 Rangers Stanley Cup Champions Tramp Stamp.” Fallon said, “You got me!” Fallon also sent a “thank you” note to former FIFA exec Chuck Blazer, thanking him “for looking like Santa Claus if you were a ‘70s porn star” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/5).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “The Cavaliers official team colors aren't red and yellow, they’re wine and gold, which is confusing for us here in L.A. because those are also the team colors of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’” Kimmel: “There's a thing happening between NBA players and the media lately that's causing some controversy. You may have noticed some players have been bringing their kids to the postgame press conferences … and some reporters are complaining because they need that time to ask important questions like, ‘Talk about Houston's defense.’ I have to say these reporters, they're actually right. Children have absolutely no place in something as serious as basketball. It's not a game. Oh, it is a game. Oh, then bring the kids. We should be happy that players are acknowledging that they even have children. That used to not be the case in the NBA” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night,” ABC, 6/7).

Last night’s broadcast of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night” featured a segment called “Sink It or Swim” with Kimmel shooting baskets against Bulls G Jimmy Butler while perched over a dunk tank (“Jimmy Kimmel Live Game Night,” ABC, 6/7).

“What is ‘Art For Art’s Sake?’”

This is the motto for MGM Films.