Front-Page Headlines: Chicago Sun-Times: "Builder Of The Bulls" ... Chicago Tribune: "'Unappreciated' Bulls GM Built Dynasty Around Jordan" ... Chicago Daily Herald: "Architect Of A Dynasty"

Nike "blew away Wall Street profit projections" in Q3, though sales were "slightly below expectations," up 5.5% to $8.4B. This comes amid "predictions from some industry analysts" that Nike, reporting after markets closed yesterday, would "post its first profit decline in four years." Nike President, Chair & CEO Mark Parker "called it a 'solid' quarter." Adidas has "successfully grabbed some market momentum from Nike," and "coming up slightly short on revenue expectations could fuel speculation that the balance of power in the industry is continuing to shift" (OREGONLIVE.com, 3/21).

Alibaba Group has acquired online ticket vendor Damai.cn, with an "eye toward feeding China's growing appetite for concerts, movies and sporting events." Once integrated with Alibaba, Damai "aims to become China's version of Live Nation," marking a "change from its former goal of aggregating ticketing services to become the country's version of Ticketmaster." Upcoming Damai events include the F1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai and the Bayern Munich-Real Madrid UEFA Champions League match in Spain (WSJ.com, 3/21).

The Chargers yesterday reached an agreement with the City of Costa Mesa to hold training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex. The team "can use the facilities for three to five weeks a year for 10 years." The team has also "agreed to make renovations to the site" that are projected to cost $1M and "pay $150,000 in annual rent." They can also "use the facility during their bye week each year" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/22).

Shell's Pennzoil brand today will announce a new partnership with motorsports athlete Ken Block, who competes in rallycross series and is known for his viral Gymkhana videos. The deal with Block's Hoonigan Racing company is part of Pennzoil's pivot away from traditional print and TV advertising and toward digital video content. Terms were not disclosed. Gymkhana videos average about 38 million views per episode on YouTube alone. Pennzoil Global Brand Dir Doug Kooyman: "We're impressed with the work that Ken does in reaching consumers in his unique voice."

Pennzoil is planning several pieces of content around Block, starting off with a piece that debuts today and talks about how Pennzoil is helping power Block's Hoonicorn Mustang up Pikes Peak in Colorado as part of a new iteration of the Gymkhana series called Climbkhana. MediaCom is Pennzoil’s ad agency; JWT, Atlanta, is its creative agency; and it works with Coyne PR.

Prospective MLS ownership group SC STL has formalized an agreement with the city of St. Louis in which the team "would support workforce development and youth sports programs." This comes "two weeks before city voters will decide" whether a proposed stadium should get $60M in public funding. It was "one of the requirements put on the ownership group by the Board of Aldermen when they voted to approve" financing. SC STL is pledging $5M over 20 years to "fund youth soccer programs in the area" through the nonprofit Scott Gallagher Soccer Club (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/22).

KT Tape has renewed its partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation and all its teams/programs through '20, a time frame that includes the '18 FIFA World Cup, '19 FIFA Women’s World Cup and '20 Tokyo Games. Previously, the kinesiology tape producer signed a three-year deal with the USSF in '14. KT Tape has also signed USMNT F Jozy Altidore as a brand ambassador. The company partners with eight U.S. sports NGBs, as well as the USOC.

The Cleveland City Council will "begin hearings as early as next week on a proposal calling for the city to provide" $88M toward improving Quicken Loans Arena. Groups on both sides of the issue will "be invited to weigh in," but the hearings will "not provide an open microphone for the public at large" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/22).

The MLB Giants today will announce that they are partnering with Airbnb to support the Hamilton Families' Heading Home Campaign aimed at ending family homelessness (Giants).

The MLB Cardinals are "launching a food truck" that will be parked near Busch Stadium "on game days this season." The truck will also "be available for corporate events and catering" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/22).

Rolex runs a full-page ad in today's N.Y. Times congratulating Roger Federer on his victory at the BNP Paribas Open: "Sensational" (THE DAILY).

PGA Championship Dir Jason Mengel was the featured speaker at this morning's inaugural Breakfast at SouthPark, a new quarterly event series (Charlotte Observer).

"Maybe at some point, regional leagues will come into it. Because one of the benefits of Europe is that supporters can travel. It's more difficult in the United States to go six hours to support your team. And supporters are vital to the atmosphere" – Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, on the impact of North American geography on MLS (ESPNFC.us, 3/21).

"I just don’t know the answer. I’m on the competition committee. I wish there was an easy answer. I don’t have an answer. I know guys do need rest and I know fans need to see guys play" – Clippers President of Basketball Operations & coach Doc Rivers, on teams resting star players (L.A. TIMES, 3/22).

“It’s at least a little bit of acknowledgment from the league’s part that there’s room for improvement here” – ESPN’s Joe Banner, on the NFL possibly hiring full-time referees (“NFL insiders,” ESPN, 3/21).

The TORONTO STAR's Bruce Arthur writes under the header, "NBA Towers Over NHL In Fan-Friendly Fun." The NHL has "eliminated the gong-show stuff people loved, let offence wither, suppressed personalities and limited itself in a thousand different ways." The NBA "pushes its own envelope," while the NHL "seems content to scrape along without too much vision, without too much verve."

The N.Y. TIMES writes U.S. sailors Charlie Enright and Mark Towill are committed to using the '17-18 Volvo Ocean Race "as a bully pulpit to promote renewable, sustainable energy and ocean health." This comes as professional sailors are "increasingly striking sponsorship agreements connected to social or humanitarian issues."

Also: 

• Orioles' Duquette reflects on Amherst ties to Huntington, Cherington.
• Tickets For Less has become "one of the go-to places for tickets" in the K.C. area.
• Mets RF Jay Bruce has tried to "incorporate more data into the way he plays."
• Adam Schefter calls his NBA sideline reporting a "professional vacation."
• For gamers, a "hobby that was considered shameful has evolved into a vital sport."
• The NFL should heed Dwight Clark's request to improve safety after ALS diagnosis.

USA Hockey women's pre-worlds camp that was to run today through Tues won't happen as scheduled. Exhibition vs. Finland on Friday canceled.

— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) March 22, 2017

NBA can improve the rest issue by not letting arenas black out gm nights /introducing the science of rest into the science of scheduling

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) March 21, 2017

BREAKING: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on 2018 Olympics: "Assume we're not going."

— Tom Harrington (@cbctom) March 21, 2017

LaVar can be over the top but saying it's tough for kids of all time greats because they'll always be compared to their dads is not crazy.

— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) March 22, 2017

Heat may start Dragic, Richardson, McGruder, Babbitt Reed on Thu vs Toronto.

Combined salary: $19.5M

29 NBA players make more this season.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 22, 2017

Digital platform Sqor is holding a roundtable discussion to support its first original production, the web series "Lance Briggs: Time of My Life." The event in Baton Rouge features Briggs, Pro Football HOFer Brett Favre and Prevacus Founder & President Dr. Jake VanLandingham, whose company focuses on developing drugs for concussion treatment. View the trailer for "Time of My Life" on Vimeo.

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Fashion History.”

“These pants first became popular when Pratap Singh, a maharaja’s son, visited Queen Victoria with his polo team in 1897.”

Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah said Donald Trump is "running his presidency on the golf course." Noah: "The FBI is investigating whether Trump learned how to play golf from the Russian video series, 'Puttin’ with Putin'” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 3/21).

“What are jhodpur trousers?”