Liberty Media is "closing in on a deal to take a significant stake" in F1 in a deal that would "value the racing car series" at between $8-9B. The Colorado-based company is "in advanced talks with CVC Partners, the private equity group which controls F1’s parent company." Sources said that a deal "could be announced within the next two weeks" (FT.com, 9/4). Fox Exec Vice Chair Chase Carey "will be named as the new boss" of F1's parent company. Sources said that his appointment signals Liberty's intention to "exploit F1's lucrative media rights more aggressively" (SKY.com, 9/4).

Viewers of the FS1's new debate show, "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed," which premieres this morning at 9:30am ET, "will be greeted" by Lil Wayne "touting his own debate skills on the song 'No Mercy.'" The rapper is "expected to appear" on today's debut episode of the show, which features Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe, and will "air live for two-and-a-half hours every weekday morning." Lil Wayne was a "frequent guest" on Bayless' ESPN programs (BILLBOARD.com, 9/6).

Fanatics today will announce a multiyear deal with the Univ. of Houston to run the school’s online and on-site retail operations. UH’s on-campus bookstore in the TDECU Stadium parking garage today also will be re-opened. Fanatics additionally has opened up UH’s largest-ever in-stadium merchandise spot, located on the concourse inside TDECU Stadium. As part of the deal, Fanatics Branded will produce custom gear for UH throughout the year (THE DAILY).

The Big 12 "trimmed its group" of potential expansion candidates "by one-third, leaving 11 schools still alive." The remaining schools are Air Force, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, Colorado State, Houston, Rice, USF, SMU and Tulane. Sources said that reps from each of the 11 schools this week will "make in-person presentations to Big 12 officials." The conference has said that it "hopes to make a decision on expansion by the Big 12's regularly scheduled board of directors meeting on Oct. 17" (ESPN.com, 9/2).

Communications exec Chris Bellitti has left Fox Sports to head up WWE’s global PR and strategic communications planning. Bellitti starts today as WWE Senior VP/Communications and will be based in Stamford, Conn. Bellitti's final day with Fox was last week. He becomes the fifth senior Fox Sports exec to leave the communications department since April. Lou D'Ermilio, Dan Bell and Ileana Pena took voluntary company-offered buyouts in May, while Emily Parker left for a job with the Bengals in April.

A total of $647.32M was wagered at Saratoga Race Course this season, "nearly matching last year's record-setting performance." Total paid attendance for the 40-day meet "grew by nearly 58,000," or 5.4%, to 1,123,544 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/6). This was the "second consecutive year that attendance exceeded 1 million." The "height of the season was on Travers Day, Aug. 27, when nearly 50,000 people" came to the track (SARATOGIAN, 9/6).

Rich Brady will replace Mike Antolini as Tournament Dir of the PGA Tour stop at TPC Boston on Sept. 30. Brady and Antolini "both worked at the Deutsche Bank Championship for the Tiger Woods Foundation, which will no longer run the event." Antolini will "leave TPC Boston to become tournament director of the Genesis Open" in L.A. Brady, a Massachusetts native, has worked for the Deutsche Bank Championship since '10 (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 9/6).

Meanwhile, windy conditions caused by Tropical Storm Hermine "dictated play" during yesterday's final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship and forced tournament officials to "move up tee times." Trees, reeds and shrubs "danced in the wind at TPC Boston," and a light fixture "fell inside the media tent" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/6).

120 Sports will use Michael Kim and Alexa Datt to co-host its morning show, "Morning Run," which has moved its production from Chicago to N.Y. The OTT network now produces the show, which runs from 8:00-11:00am ET, from MLBAM’s Manhattan studios. The rest of 120 Sports programming lineup is being produced out of Chicago. Kim is a former ESPN anchor who has been with 120 Sports since its June '14 launch. Datt was Citi Field's in-stadium host.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino today restated that he is "open to a 40-team World Cup in 2026, with several countries serving as co-hosts." FIFA "will consider co-hosting" in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They are "expected bidders" for '26. Infantino said, "These two topics will certainly be on the table for discussion.” The FIFA Council will hold a meeting Oct. 13-14 in Zurich (AP, 9/6).

Official attendance for Sunday's IndyCar Grand Prix at The Glen was not announced, but multiple drivers said that they were "happy with the crowd" at Watkins Glen Int'l, "particularly given the short notice for the race" (Elmira STAR-GAZETTE, 9/5).

Vizio today announced the launch of its fifth annual "TDs for TVs Vizio Fandemonium" campaign, featuring Jaguars WR Allen Robinson (Vizio). 

"Being defending NFC champs, it’d have been nice to open up the regular season at home. But it didn’t work that way. I don’t set the schedule. We just go out and play the game. So we’re going to play the game to the best of our ability and hopefully do things the right way" – Panthers coach Ron Rivera, on opening the season with a road game against the Broncos in a Super Bowl rematch (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/5).

"We did not pay, and we are not going to become Olympic sponsors either" – Nintendo spokesperson Yasuhiro Minagawa, on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dressing up as video game character Super Mario during the Rio Games Closing Ceremony (AP, 9/2).

“The first thing I noticed from minute one is that Lindsey Vonn does not want to be helped” – TV host Bear Grylls, on taking U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn on a survival trip (“Running Wild With Bear Grylls,” NBC, 9/5).

"Tennis has made huge, huge improvements. We just have to keep that ... going for all other female sports" – Tennis player Serena Williams, on gender equality in sports (AP, 9/3). 

The N.Y. TIMES' Pat Borzi writes a visit to Wrigley Field these days can be "an expensive, often hassle-laden production," leading many Cubs fans to take the "90-minute drive straight up Interstate 94" to see MLB's top team play against the Brewers at Miller Park. The Cubs contingent that showed up for yesterday's holiday matinee was "bigger than usual" and large enough to "sell out" the ballpark.

The WASHINGTON POST's Kevin Blackistone wrote reaction to 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem has "reminded us of how absurdly we still regard sporting events and their nationalistic rituals."

Also: 

• Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones discusses his regrets in excerpt from new book.
• What is the difference between Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Networks?
• Charlotte interim city manager known as "deal-maker" for stadium, ballpark projects.
• Panthers' Super Bowl run continues to provide boost to businesses in Charlotte.
• Charles Woodson got first dose of broadcast chaos at the cancelled HOF Game.
• Why Vin Scully and Dick Enberg are "living legends."
• U.S. Open renovations reflect "restless state of sports consumerism."
• Third-generation hatmaker has become Cam Newton's go-to guy.
• Carmen Policy pens an op-ed on whether his grandson will play football.
• USC football players use GPS technology to sharpen their game.

To repeat: A playoff committee's emphasis on nonconference schedules produced greatest opening weekend ever. Playoff made reg season BETTER.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 5, 2016

Opening CFB weekend so fun, they need to this every year...sponsored bowl-type, out-of-conference games in big sites everywhere..

— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) September 5, 2016

Oh my god Peyton is kind of crushing it what is this feeling #LoweRoast

— Katie Nolan (@katienolan) September 6, 2016

For those wondering, there's no history of people BUYING $100 jerseys to burn them. Kaepernick jersey sales are votes of support.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 6, 2016

“Officials called tribunes sat at Rome’s senate door and if they didn’t like what was going on, shouted this Latin word.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Ballpark Facts & Figures.”

For $200: “In 1934 this American League park got a new left field wall; in 1947 that wall was painted green to match the rest of the park.”
For $400: “The first triple in this park was April 17, 1992, courtesy of Cal Ripken Jr.”
For $600: “It only became the ‘friendly confines’ for night games in 1988; it was the last ballpark to install lights.”
For $800: “Built as the centerpiece of the 1996 Olympics, it was converted for baseball after the games.”
For $1000: “A 1963 Mickey Mantle home run hit the upper deck of this stadium and bounced back nearly to second base.”

​CBS’ Stephen Colbert said, “The NFL season is about to get under way, and this week at a press conference, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady unveiled his new haircut. … Brady's getting a lot of grief online for this, but I think that is beneath us as a nation. Just let me say I think this is a perfect style if you spend most of your time wearing a helmet. This is just perfect. Where is his offensive line? Aren't they supposed to protect him from traumatic head injuries like this? That's the haircut your wife gets before running away to run a lesbian food co-op in Vermont” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 9/3).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “Politico reports that in 2008, Donald Trump ventured into a mixed martial arts business that blended boxing, wrestling and karate. You can tell he's pretty into prize fighting. In fact, he's been trying to give the upcoming election a catchy nickname, like ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ or ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Let me give you a few examples. First up there's ‘The Hair vs. The Square." Next we have ‘The Tan Brute vs. The Pantsuit.’ Finally, I think this is the one he's going to go with: ‘Mr. Cheeto vs. Mrs. Delete-o’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/3).

“What is veto?”

Correct responses to the “Ballpark Facts & Figures” category:

$200: “What is Fenway Park?”
$400: “What is Camden Yards?”
$600: “What is Wrigley Field?”
$800: “What is Turner Field?”
$1000: “What is Yankee Stadium?”