• USA Football Launching Pilot Program To Aid Youth Development
• Lawsuit Seeking To Block Little Caesars Arena Funding Moves Forward
• Beckham Group Now Wants To Open Miami Stadium In '20
• Blackhawks Debuting Web Series On Draft Preparations

USA Football today is unveiling its Rookie Tackle pilot program in 11 organizations around the U.S. that "features fewer players, smaller fields, no special teams and no three-point stances." The program is "intended to serve as a bridge between flag football and 11-man tackle football for kids to help them learn the game and develop their skills." The organization said that the program "will involve leagues with a total of 24,000 players." The plan is part of the USOC’s American Development Model, which "encourages kids to learn a wider range of athletic skills" (USATODAY.com, 6/7).

A federal lawsuit seeking to block funding of Little Caesars Arena and a new Pistons HQ "has moved forward after an emergency hearing was held" yesterday in the wake of a Detroit City Council vote to "provide millions of dollars in tax incentives for part of the project." A hearing is set for June 19, "one day before the city council is expected to vote" on an additional $34.5M in "public funding tied to the arena project" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/7).

The city council voted 7-2 in favor of a $20M "tax incentive, development plan and associated community benefits" for the Pistons' planned HQ/practice facility. However, the vote "isn't the last approval needed for the complex deal." The facility "will proceed only if the Pistons get the approval needed to play at Little Caesars Arena" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/7).

Miami Beckham United investor Tim Leiweke yesterday "moved up the timeline" for the group's planned MLS venue by a year after he "previously said the stadium would be ready" in '21. Following approval of a land purchase by Miami-Dade County commissioners, Leiweke "hopes to have the stadium ready" for the '20 MLS season. MLS officials are "expected to look at the site" today. Leiweke said that MBU will "publicly unveil its full ownership group after receiving MLS approval for a team" and that the group "has some partners with 'strong roots in Miami'" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/7).

The Blackhawks today are releasing the first episode of their four-part web miniseries "On The Clock," which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the team's Draft preparations. The first three episodes will debut on consecutive Wednesdays ahead of the NHL Draft June 23-24 at Chicago's United Center, with the final episode to break on July 12. The series, produced in collaboration with Chicago-based production company Banner Collective, will be available via the team's official website, as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages (Blackhawks).

Bell Media and the NFL today announced a multiyear rights extension that makes Bell the exclusive broadcast partner of the NFL in Canada. The new deal also features expanded digital opportunities, such as syndication rights for NFL highlights in Canada, as well as expanded footage and programming rights to bolster Bell Media's non-game NFL content. The agreement includes the "Thursday Night Football" package, which will air starting in '17 on TSN and CTV Two for the first time and will return to RDS (Bell Media).

Shamrock Farms has signed Gold Medal-winning skier Ted Ligety to anchor the '18 Games campaign for its Rockin’ Refuel protein drink. Ligety will appear in digital, print, social and point-of-sale promotions starting in September, said Shamrock Farms Dir of Brand Management Blake Atkinson. Ligety is the first Olympian signed by the company, which in '16 signed a three-year deal as the official protein beverage of the U.S. Ski & Snowboarding Association. Shamrock will be applying to the USOC for a Rule 40 waiver that, if granted, would allow the Ligety/Rockin’ Refuel campaign to continue into the PyeongChang Games themselves in February.

The continuation of the effort around Sport at the Service of Humanity – which started in October with a two-day conference established by Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome – will continue in the U.S. over the next two days at Villanova Univ. with sessions related to collegiate sports. The conference starts today with Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman offering a keynote on "A Vision for a Holistic Collegiate Athletics." That will be followed by group discussions throughout the day about how collegiate sports can be tied closer to inclusion and giving back, with reports on action going forward.

Among the speakers are Bishop Paul Tighe and Monsignor Melchor Sanchez from the Vatican, plus Villanova President Father Peter Donohue and AD Mark Jackson. Seattle Univ. Rev. Paul Kelly will talk about the interplay between sports and spiritual life (THE DAILY).

The Bucks "have narrowed their search" for a new GM, according to sources who identified Nuggets Assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox and Bucks Assistant GM Justin Zanik as the three remaining candidates. Sources said that Karnisovas and Wilcox "will travel to Milwaukee later this week" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/6).

IndyCar announced that longtime partner Dallara "will manufacture the universal bodywork kits" for the '18 cars. Dallara "already builds the IR-12 chassis for IndyCar and will make sure the new kits fit those chassis" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/7).

The Lausanne Hockey Club has selected AEG Facilities to manage its new arena in Switzerland, which broke ground earlier this year and is set to open in '19 (AEG Facilities).

"Sponsors are primarily interested in promoting their products and they do not in theory have any influence over who hosts the World Cup. Otherwise the United States would have hosted it many times thanks to McDonald's and Coca-Cola" – Sebastian Chiappero, Managing Dir of Swiss consulting firm Sponsorize, on whether the proliferation of Chinese FIFA sponsors will help China land a World Cup (AFP, 6/7).

"I've never heard anything that loud in my life. It was fantastic. Nashville fans are the best. ... I'm hoping they'll bring it to the Titan games" – Titans Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk, on fan support for the Predators at Bridgestone Arena for the Stanley Cup Final (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/7).

"I don't think Mike meant to disrespect Odubel or Latin players. ... He's a pretty good guy. I believe some people are taking his words out of context" – Phillies SS Freddy Galvis, on Baseball HOFer Mike Schmidt's recent comments regarding Phillies CF Odubel Herrera's potential as a team leader (CSNPHILLY.com, 6/6).

The Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS goes with the header, "Despite Revenue Gap, ACC Competing Nationally Like Never Before." Despite "falling behind the SEC and Big Ten as their cable channels prospered, the ACC has enjoyed a four-year run unsurpassed in its history."

Seth Davis pens his farewell piece for SI: "Wherever I go and whatever I will do, I will always be amazed and humbled that I have written so long for this incredible magazine. It's all I ever wanted to do."

Also: 

• What does Robert Mueller's NFL investigation mean for President Trump?
• Leagues should heed judge's stern warning in Derek Boogard case.
• Is there a hysteria around concussions and the threat of CTE?
• PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Classic celebrates 60th anniversary.
• LaVar Ball's business plan for Big Baller Brand does not lack for audacity.
• G-League is key to NBA reforming age limits, player development.

CNN's in Super Bowl pregame mode for the Comey hearing, a day in advance

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) June 7, 2017

I am scheduled to cover first five #jets games in September / October and I already am out of relevant things to say about them.

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) June 7, 2017

I hate saying goodbye to people on Twitter but damn - Todd Harris was a great guy and it's hard to imagine the NBA without him. RIP.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 7, 2017

Amazing that at 4:10 a.m. ET "Todd Harris," a behind-the-scenes catalyst @NBA, is trending. Hoping he gets a moment of silence pre-Game 3.

— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) June 7, 2017

Predators fans are rallying to send the team off to Pittsburgh for Stanley Cup Final Game 5. Fans are encouraged to gather at Signature Flight Support near Nashville Int'l Airport ahead of the team's 1:00pm CT flight.

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

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

“This man received two honorary Oscars in his career, and the actor who played him on film received a 1992 nomination for the role.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Major League Baseball Team Nicknames.”

$200: “The Bronx Bombers”
$400: “The Halos”
$600: “The Redbirds”
$800: “The Buccos”
$1000: “The Fightin’ Fish”

Actress Kate Mara appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and discussed her recent engagement to British actor Jamie Bell. Host Jimmy Fallon noted Mara “comes from a football family” as the Mara family owns the NFL Giants, and asked whether Bell “knows about American football” because he is British. Mara: “He learned all about the Giants for me. How sweet is that?” Mara noted early in their dating relationship Bell and his friend “watched an entire season of the New York Giants and knows more about it then I do.” Mara: “He’s got all the gear. He went on eBay and bought all the shirts there are. Now I’ve got a great collection of Giants vintage t-shirts all because of him, not because of my family” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/7).

“Who was Charlie Chaplin?” Actor Robert Downey Jr. portrayed the comedian in “Chaplin” in ’92.

Correct responses to the “Major League Baseball Team Nicknames” category:

$200: “Who are the Yankees?”
$400: “Who are the Angels?”
$600: “Who are the Cardinals?”
$800: “Who are the Pirates?”
$1000: “Who are the Marlins?”