• Estimated Crowd Of 70,000 Attends First NFL Draft Held Outdoors
• CAA Leads The Way At NFL Draft, Repping Nine Players In First Round
• Time Inc. Opts To Reject Takeover Offers, Retaining Assets
• Senators See Thousands Of Empty Seats For Second-Round Opener

There were “70,000-plus” fans last night at NFL Draft in Philadelphia, lending an "absolutely electric atmosphere" to the first round. ESPN’s Trey Wingo said, “What a scene in Philadelphia, what a night it has been it has been so far.” As the Eagles' No. 14 draft pick approached, Wingo said the “crowd is absolutely going crazy right now.” Just prior to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing the Eagles' selection, Wingo noted, "This place just kicked it up a notch." Goodell was booed each time he took the stage (ESPN, 4/27).

The Steelers took Wisconsin DE T.J. Watt at No. 30 overall, and in announcing the pick, Goodell paid homage to late Steelers Owner Dan Rooney as "one of the best men I've ever known." Pro Football HOFers Jerome Bettis and Franco Harris "joined Goodell at the podium to honor Rooney" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/28).

The Browns’ three first-round picks – Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku – are "scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch" for tonight's Mariners-Indians game at Progressive Field (OHIO.com, 4/27). Meanwhile, the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an editorial cartoon on the Draft and ESPN layoffs. 

CAA Football for the second year in a row led all agencies with nine players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, including three of the top 10 picks. Athletes First and Lagardère Sports tied for the second most picks in the first round with four each. BC Sports' Bus Cook reps No. 1 overall pick DE Myles Garrett, while Rep 1 Sports represents QB Mitchell Trubisky, who went second overall. There were 13 different agencies repping Round 1 players, compared to 19 last year. See today's issue of THE DAILY for a complete rundown of agents and agencies repping first-round picks.

SI parent Time Inc. said this morning it is not selling company assets, rejecting various takeover offers, and instead will “continue to pursue its strategic plan” under President & CEO Rich Battista. Time Inc., like many legacy publishers, has been struggling in recent years with the industry-wide decline in print readership and ad revenue, particularly after its '14 split from Time Warner. The company had been up for sale, with fellow publisher Meredith Corp. among the reported interested bidders. But after evaluating multiple offers, Time Inc.’s board instead decided to stay on its own path that includes a heightened emphasis on digital video, TV programming, live events, film production and other similar efforts.

“Time Inc. is a reinvigorated company uniquely positioned to succeed in the multi-platform media marketplace,” Battista said. “Our transformation has brought a number of potential partners interested in working with us to unlock and accelerate value across our portfolio of brands.” The decision not to sell comes as Time Inc.’s Newfront presentation is scheduled for May 4 in N.Y. Time Inc. stock plummeted nearly 20% in pre-market trading in the wake of the news.

A crowd of 16,744 attended last night's Rangers-Senators Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round opener at Canadian Tire Centre, the "smallest home gate this post-season by about 2,000." Hundreds of empty seats were "conspicuous at all three arena levels" for the Senators' Game 1 win. Crowds were "longer in the outdoor face-paint lines than at the inside ticket windows." This is only the second time since '07 the Senators have been "among the final eight teams" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 4/28).

The NBA and Discovery Education will launch their latest collaboration with “Careers That Count: A Virtual Field Trip With The NBA” to debut May 4. The virtual experience takes students to the league's N.Y. HQ and MSG while highlighting the relationship between math and careers in pro sports. The virtual field trip is hosted by actor Miles Brown and includes Nets F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and NBA Exec VP/Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe. The free, 30-minute interactive experience will be available to teachers through online registration at discoveryeducation.com/CareersThatCount. Discovery Education and the NBA's multiyear partnership began last year.

UFC 216 will be held in Edmonton on Sept. 9, the "one-year anniversary of the opening of Rogers Place." Edmonton "becomes the 10th Canadian city to host a UFC card." This will mark the UFC’s "second Canadian event this year, following a successful return to Halifax in February." The card is "planned to be one of the biggest UFC numbered events of the year with an expectation of two title fights." A special UFC 216 microsite launched today (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/28).

The Univ. of Minnesota today will host a "topping off" event for its Athletes Village, and "guests can sign the final structural steel beam" to be added to the facility. Construction on the $166M project is 65-70% complete. The work "remains on schedule and is expected to be completed" by January '18. About $100M of the $166M funding goal has been raised. The "original fundraising goal" was $190M (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/28).

David Letterman was "sitting close to the ice" for last night's Penguins-Capitals Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1. He "pumped his fist in enthusiasm" when he was shown on the Verizon Center video board. When interviewed at the game, the retired late-night host joked, "I went to school with Ovechkin. ... We were roommates at Ball State. ... Roommates, two years, Muncie." When asked what Ovechkin studied, Letterman replied, "Home ec." The Capitals lost 3-2 (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/27).

Mr. David @Letterman! #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/Cu802Dg3vR

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 28, 2017

The NBA last night opened up fan voting on social media for "six new award categories." Fans can weigh in on Dunk of the Year, Best Style, Block of the Year, Assist of the Year, Game Winner of the Year and Top Performance of the Year by "posting # with the name of the award." TNT will broadcast the NBA Awards on June 26 (ESPN.com, 4/27).

The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte is sold out, and the PGA of America and PrimeSport have "launched an official ticket exchange" for the Aug. 7-13 tournament. Single-day passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday start at $189 (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 4/27).

The Penn Relays, JMI Sports and Nike announced a deal making Nike the exclusive athletic footwear and apparel supplier/sponsor of the track & field event through the '20 Tokyo Games (Penn Relays).

"I didn't think anything could overwhelm me but this is overwhelming. I haven't been able to get it off my mind. Everywhere I go, people remind me about it" – MLB Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig, after being given his orientation at the Baseball HOF as an upcoming inductee (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/28).

"I need to do something ill-advised to stop some of these articles from being written. It's something that if it wasn't myself they were writing about I wouldn't like me very much" – Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, after CNN's David Axelrod said that Epstein "could be elected" as Illinois Gov. or a U.S. senator if he had any desire to run for public office (BOSTON HERALD, 4/28).

“Even though it's great what we get to do, just playing golf every day, it can get monotonous. You just kind of do the same thing over and over every week. I think it was great for the (Zurich), to get some excitement, not only for the spectators [but] I think all of [us] are excited to play the new format" – Golfer Ben Martin, on the new team format that began yesterday at the PGA Tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/28).

The GLOBE & MAIL explores how Canada-based theatre chain Cineplex is "quickly becoming a leader in a whole new field: the rapidly expanding world of live competitive video gaming."

On WASHINGTONPOST.com, political speechwriter Stephen Krupin wrote he was "never was asked to promote a policy that contradicted my conscience or violated my values. With one exception: Last October, I helped President Obama honor the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. And I hate the Pittsburgh Penguins."
 
Also:

• Are NFL Draft prospects "treated like pieces of meat" throughout process?
• DETROIT NEWS: "Little Caesars Arena Off To A Roaring Start."
• In MLB, success still comes with suspicions about PED use.
• Pro athletes need financial advice before ever taking the field.
• Members of Dodgers, Lakers reflect on L.A. riots 25 years ago.

Mel Kiper on Mike & Mike on the Browns' draft picks: "I don't understand analytics at all. I have no clue what analytics is."

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) April 28, 2017

Also loved the reaction at the Bears draft party to Trubisky. Actually surprised that ESPN--was it ESPN?--showed it.

— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) April 28, 2017

The NFL Draft should never be held indoors again (and if Jerry Jones wants to host 2018, he needs a bigger plan). https://t.co/VhIPHWdsKb

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) April 28, 2017

BREAKING: Tribune sports staff made an executive decision to refer to Bears QB as Mitch not Mitchell. (He said he's fine w either.)

— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) April 28, 2017

Chicagoland Speedway will make a 2:00pm CT announcement regarding its Sept. 14-17 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend. 

The Cubs and Red Sox during their series this weekend will team up for a pair of charity events. The Red Sox Foundation will join with Theo and Paul Epstein's Foundation To Be Named Later for a luncheon today from 11:30am-1:30pm ET, featuring appearances by former players Pedro Martinez, Ryan Dempster and Bernie Williams. Tomorrow, players from both teams will participate in a Red Sox and Cubs edition of the Hot Stove Cool Music series at the Paradise Rock Club. 

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NBCU's revenue was up 14.7% to nearly $7.9B in the January-through-March quarter "compared with the same period a year ago." Standout performers "included the company’s Universal Filmed Entertainment unit and its Universal Studios theme parks." Television "improved its financial picture." Revenue at the NBC broadcast group, which "includes the flagship network, television stations and Spanish-language Telemundo, grew 5.9%" to $2.2B in the quarter (L.A. TIMES, 4/28).

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

“When it was first marketed in the late 1970s, this toy was given the Hungarian name ‘Buvos Kocka.’”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Sports.”

$200: “This swimmer drew a 10-month suspension after his story of a Rio robbery didn’t hold water.”
$400: (The answer was read by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver) “In 2009 the NBA announced that the NBA Finals MVP award would be named for this man who played on 11 NBA championship teams.”

“What is the Rubik’s Cube?”

Correct responses to the “Sports” category:

$200: “Who is Ryan Lochte?”
$400: “Who is Bill Russell?”
$600: “Who is Calvin Johnson?”
$800: “What is Kentucky?”
$1000: “What is Tennessee?”