Former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt died early this morning at age 64 at Sherrill Hill Senior Living in Knoxville. Summitt won eight national championships as UT coach and had "more wins than any NCAA college basketball coach in history when she was forced to retire at age 59 because of a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease." Her success "helped catapult women's basketball to popularity" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/28). Summitt's career "spanned nearly four decades and earned her a reputation as one of the toughest coaches of either a men's or women's team." Her son Tyler Summitt today released a statement on her passing (WATE.com, 6/28).

We "all owe Summitt a debt for how long she stayed in the public eye, raising money and awareness to fight an insidious disease that steals your identity before it takes your life" (KNOXNEWS.com, 6/28). Her "reach across the national and global landscape went well beyond her sport" (PHILLY.com, 6/28).

ESPN's Hannah Storm tweeted: "Every Lady Vol basketball player from 1976-2011 had the opportunity to play in at least one Final Four. #PatSummitt." The MMQB's Peter King: "RIP Pat Summitt, one of the great coaches of any game in American history." Boston Globe's Peter Abraham: "Covered a practice she ran once. She wasn't a great women's coach. She was a great coach, period." SEC Network's Gracie Blackburn: "SEC Network airing special programming all day in remembrance. Currently airing- SEC Now: Pat Summitt Remembered."

Sources said that the deadline for bids on Sports Authority "has passed without an offer" from Modell’s Sporting Goods and U.K.-based retailer Sports Direct. There "will be an auction" tomorrow for the leases and other remaining assets of the failed retailer, but there is "little to no hope of a deal that could save a significant piece of the Sports Authority chain" (DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, 6/27).

Meanwhile, the naming rights for the Broncos’ stadium "remains a giant, red question mark" for the Denver Metropolitan Football Stadium District. The district's board, "not wanting to be caught flat-footed," yesterday initiated an RFP process "to hire a marketing firm that could sell the naming-rights in the event the deal isn’t sold" as part of Sports Authority’s bankruptcy liquidation. Officials have said that the stadium district "has not received a formal offer for the naming rights" (DENVER POST, 6/28).

The Univ. of Colorado "has completed a deal to remain with Nike." More details will be released today, but CU AD Rick George said, "In general, it's a $30 million deal over 10 years." The new contract "is retroactive to last year and will extend through" the '24-25 school year. George: "We feel really good about that relationship and that partnership. We were one of the initial Nike schools and we're excited to continue our relationship with them" (BUFFZONE.com, 6/27).

Nike today is expected to "report earnings per share of 48 cents on revenue" of $8.3B when the company releases Q4 earnings (WSJ.com, 6/27). 

Arizona last night shut out Coastal Carolina 3-0 in the opener of the College World Series finals "before 20,789 at TD Ameritrade Park" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 6/28). Omaha hosted the game and the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials "in two venues nearly next to each other." However, many fans "had little problem getting where they wanted to go when they wanted to be there." The events "will overlap again tonight, and that could also happen" tomorrow night "if Coastal Carolina forces a third game" in the series (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 6/28).

MLB has renewed its partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the two entities will jointly develop a “Play Ball Summer” initiative to continue the league’s push around youth baseball participation. Between now and August, more than 200 cities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will hold Play Ball youth events. The effort expands upon a Play Ball month MLB and the USCM developed last August. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “The support from the U.S. Conference of Mayors last year helped raised tremendous awareness for Play Ball, and we are very pleased to expand that partnership in 2016 with Play Ball Summer.”

Harris County, Texas, commissioners today will be presented with a $105M proposal to "raise the floor of the Astrodome two levels and convert those areas into 1,400 parking spaces." The move would be the "strongest signal yet that the county plans to maintain and find another use" for the iconic venue. This marks the "first time that county officials have put a dollar sign on the much-anticipated project, which the county engineer's office has been studying for months" (CHRON.com, 6/24).

The Players’ Tribune later today will be rolling out “Scouting Myself,” the first video series the media company is producing as part of its partnership with American Family Insurance. The series will feature eight videos from top athletes, including Clay Matthews, Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore, Paul Pierce, Greg Olsen, DeMarco Murray and Larry Fitzgerald. Each episode will begin with a high school athlete being surprised by a pro athlete in his or her sport showing up for a film session. The two athletes will break down the pro’s old film from high school as well as the young athlete’s film. The video will culminate with the two athletes training together.

TPT in January announced AFI would be the presenting sponsor of its charitable vertical TPT Assist. TPT this year has also announced branding partnerships with Budweiser and Tyson Foods.

One thousand people yesterday "descended upon the Dick’s Sporting Goods store" in Cranberry Township outside Pittsburgh "to see the Stanley Cup." Dick's Community Marketing Manager Maureen Hester said that the company "has a longstanding partnership with the Penguins," so the sporting goods store "was excited at the opportunity to showcase the Cup for local fans." The three-hour opportunity "marked the Cup’s lone public appearance." Among those present for the photos were Penguins radio analyst Phil Bourque and Stanley Cup keeper Mike Bolt (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28).

Sports Illustrated this morning is debuting its multiplatform special devoted to 40th anniversary of Caitlyn Jenner’s Gold Medal decathlon win at the '76 Montreal Games. The package, located at SI.com/Jenner, includes a cover profile on Jenner written by SI’s Tim Layden that will lead the mag’s annual “Where Are They Now” issue, along with the premiere of the SI Films exclusive documentary, “Jenner: 40 Years After Gold.”

Vail Resorts yesterday officially unveiled its "new Epic Discovery summer projects" at its flagship mountain and at Heavenly, near Lake Tahoe in California. Vail’s $25M summer investment "is designed to turn its ski areas into 12-month playgrounds, with mountain coasters, ziplines, aerial adventure courses and more hiking and biking trails." The resort world, ski town leaders and federal land managers across the country "will be watching closely," as Vail "has set the standard for summer development with Epic Discovery" (DENVER POST, 6/28).

The NFL today will announce $10M in funding "over the next five years to a coalition of non-profit organizations working to prevent sexual violence" (USA TODAY, 6/28).

adidas has signed an agreement with Wang Jianlin’s Dalian Wanda Group Co. to "help develop soccer and basketball in China." adidas also will sponsor "two of Wanda’s Ironman triathlon events in China this year" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/28).

The Cuban national baseball team has "received a warm reception" on its swing through the northeastern U.S. and Canada as it competes in a 19-game tour of the independent Can-Am League (Bergen RECORD, 6/28). 

The Calgary City Council yesterday voted 12-3 "in favour of further exploring the pitch" from the Calgary Sports and Entertainment "to replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium." The company that owns the Flames and CFL Stampeders "will now meet with the city-owned Calgary Municipal Land Corporation and other stakeholders" (CALGARY SUN, 6/28).

A Tennessee judge has "ordered a temporary stop" until July 13 for the NHL's arbitration hearing on the dispute between Predators co-Owner David Freeman and team Chair Tom Cigarran (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/28).

The Saskatoon city council "unanimously endorsed renaming the city’s newest bridge" after late Hockey HOFer Gordie Howe (Saskatoon STARPHOENIX, 6/28).

Rolex runs a full-page ad in the N.Y. Times touting its sponsorship of Wimbledon under the tagline, "When Your Traditions Are Known To All, You've Made History" (THE DAILY).

"You have to ask them: Why don't they want to sit at the table? Why are they continuing to charge their fans higher price and providing less service?" – Yankees President Randy Levine, on Comcast, which has an ongoing carriage dispute with YES Network (NEWSDAY, 6/28).

"That decision was made before the vote even took place" – USA Basketball Chair Jerry Colangelo, saying he believes the '09 IOC vote that eliminated Chicago from contention for hosting the '16 Games was predetermined ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 6/27).

"I mean, if it was that big an issue I'm pretty sure they would've cancelled stuff" – Raptors G DeMar DeRozan, on taking part in the Rio Games despite concerns over the Zika virus (ESPN.com, 6/28).

In a special to the WASHINGTON POST, Center For Gaming Research Dir David Schwartz writes under the header, "The NHL Is Coming To Las Vegas Because America Is Now A Casino Nation." The Chicago DAILY HERALD notes "bosses" like NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "pretend it's not happening, that illegal gambling doesn't exist, and the duplicity is really beyond description."

Also:

• "Prep school loophole" could create problem for NBA, NCAA.
• How brands can help Summer Games and Brazil thrive again.
• Recounting history of Cincinnati Gardens as arena faces destruction.
• Road courses make for some of NASCAR's most exciting races.
• Why Alberta should not get behind Calgary's Olympic effort.
• How Jason Benetti landed in the White Sox broadcast booth.

Hey peeps! Thrilled to say it officially: I've accepted a job @ The Washington Post to cover the Wizards. This is beyond a dream come true!

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) June 27, 2016

WaPo's hired 140 journalists since Bezos took over: https://t.co/765jKgT0ok

— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) June 28, 2016

Roger Federer is out on the practice courts. Needless to say he has an audience #bbctennis #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/GUi3to1B6x

— Caroline Chapman (@caz_chapman) June 28, 2016

Will Serena Williams tie the open-era record of major wins at #Wimbledon? Tweet us! pic.twitter.com/JeIbPpMNrS

— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 28, 2016

Just got back from Miami and @MarlinsPark is a fantastic venue! 1st class and loved everything about it, minus Cubs losing the series...

— Mike McAdams (@McAdams18) June 27, 2016

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

United States Management, the private company chosen to build the $200M multi-purpose entertainment and sports arena on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, will update the City Council on its progress and announce a new source of financing for the project.

The '16 Green Sports Alliance Summit gets underway at Minute Maid Park. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will kick off the three-day event with an interview session.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “French Monarchs.”

“His reign was interrupted for ‘100 days’ in the 19th century before he was restored and reigned for nine more years.”

Cavaliers F Kevin Love was a guest on CBS’ “The Late Show” and brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy with him. Host Stephen Colbert said, “That is the actual trophy right there, was it okay for me to hold it? Because I know there are some sports things you aren't allowed to touch. Like, if you touch The Masters green jacket, they come and kill you.” Love said of the picture of him and Cavaliers F LeBron James hugging post-game, “I didn't want to be the guy that was searching for someone to hug. … It was a special moment, something I’ll always remember among many things in that game. But that was a warm, cuddly embrace at the end there.” Love said of the championship belt that the WWE made for the Cavaliers, “We all were really into '90s wrestling and early 2000s wrestling. … We knew it was going to be, especially in the Finals, that kind of a series. It was going to be a wrestling match, it was going to go the distance” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 6/27).

“Who was Louis XVIII?”