• Erin Hills, USGA Get High Marks For U.S. Open As Koepka Wins
• Verizon To Sponsor NBA Draft Content On The Players' Tribune
• Federal Lawsuit Could Impact Pistons' Move To Downtown Detroit
• NASCAR HOF To Regularly Host Tapings Of NBCSN Studio Show

USGA Exec Dir Mike Davis yesterday said Erin Hills has been a “wonderful host site” for the U.S. Open, which was won by Brooks Koepka. Davis said, “We've been very pleased. Like you do at any one of these things, if you had to do it over, you'd make a few alterations here and there. But a great start to a golf course that's only a dozen years old” (“U.S. Open,” Fox, 6/18). Golfer Brandt Snedeker said, "I thought the USGA did a great job with the golf course. … They didn’t try to monkey with the course and get some arbitrary numbers. They let the course stand for itself " (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 6/19).

Meanwhile, Joe Buck is catching some grief, as the Fox announcer went on to “misidentify the winner of the tournament's girlfriend," a "cardinal sin of broadcasting." Buck said the name of Koepka's "previous girlfriend, instead of Jena Sims," after he clinched the win (GOLFDIGEST.com, 6/18). Fox’ Brad Faxon was "more up to date on Koepka’s love life and corrected the mistake moments later" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/19).

The Players' Tribune has signed a deal for Verizon to sponsor multimedia content featuring top prospects leading up to this Thursday's NBA Draft. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal starts today with Verizon sponsoring some videos and other content created by some top prospects. TPT will feature stories, photos, videos and social media posts created by more than 15 players, with Verizon sponsoring some of that content. Prospects to be featured include UCLA F T.J. Leaf and UNC F Justin Jackson.

A hearing has been scheduled for today in U.S. District Court for Eastern Michigan to consider a lawsuit that "might hamper" the Pistons' planned move to downtown Detroit. The suit to "block public funding" for Little Caesars Arena was filed June 1 by activist Robert Davis and City Clerk candidate D. Etta Wilcoxon. According to an affidavit by Pistons CFO Greg Campbell, the NBA "may not approve" the Pistons' move if "all legal and financing matter are not settled before its board meetings next month." Campbell said that "receiving public dollars was a 'condition' of the team's agreement with the Detroit Downtown Development Authority." The arena's estimated cost has increased from $450M to $862M and is "anticipated to be 62% privately funded and 38% publicly funded" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/19).

A week before it takes over for its half of the NASCAR TV season, NBC Sports this morning will announce that NBCSN's daily “NASCAR America” studio show will shoot an episode from the NASCAR HOF in Charlotte once a week for the rest of this year. The episodes will air live from the HOF every Tuesday or Wednesday, with Monster Energy Cup Series race announcers Rick Allen and Jeff Burton joining Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett as they interview an active driver and highlight that athlete’s journey to pro racing.

NBC Sports, which also airs the NASCAR HOF induction ceremony annually, said the move is a way to add diversity to the way it will tell drivers’ stories. “NASCAR America,” which will shift from airing at 6:00pm ET to 5:00pm starting July 3, will have its first airing from the HOF on July 5.

The San Diego City Council today is scheduled to decide "whether to send voters the SoccerCity proposal" for the Qualcomm Stadium site, while supporters and critics are "clashing over the legal validity of recent concessions by the developers." Supporters feel that the concessions, which Mayor Kevin Faulconer unveiled last month, are a "legally binding set of promises that strengthen and clarify" what voters would consider. But critics claim that the concessions, which promise that "nothing will move forward" unless San Diego gets an MLS team, are an "unenforceable handshake deal that carries no legal weight" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/19).

The NHL salary cap has been set at $75M for the '17-18 season in a "slight increase over last year." The league and the NHLPA in a joint statement announced the salary floor of $55.4M. The numbers are "set by the league's hockey-related revenue." This marks an increase of $2M from the $73M cap for the '16-17 season, as "players elected to use their escalator clause to raise it" (AP, 6/18).

The Solheim Cup is set to return to network TV for the first time in 15 years, as NBC will air the singles matches from the biennial women's golf event on Sunday, Aug. 20. Golf Channel and NBC will combine for nearly 30 hours of coverage from the competition at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, which is scheduled for Aug. 18-20. Golf Channel will air the Sunday singles matches from noon-4:00pm ET, with NBC continuing coverage from 4:00pm through the event's conclusion (THE DAILY).

The Calgary City Council today will be updated on the Calgary Olympic Bid Exploration Committee's newly completed report on a potential '26 Winter Games bid. Councillors will hear a "joint verbal report from CBEC, city administration and a city consultant on research and investigation techniques." They also will "hear some high-level findings, but the final yea or nay won’t be revealed until July 24." The IOC is giving potential host cities until February '18 to "put forward a letter of intent." Previously, the "deadline was Sept. 13 of this year" (METRONEWS.ca, 6/15).

A Father's Day crowd of 48,321 was on hand at Coors Field for yesterday's Giants-Rockies game, marking the "second sellout in a row" at the ballpark. The NL West-leading Rockies won to improve to 20 games above .500 (DENVER POST, 6/19).

ESPN and ESPN Deportes will air the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn boxing match from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on July 1 at 10:00pm ET (ESPN).

The USMNT's "apparent" new uniform design was leaked yesterday, and it "features a whole lot of stars and stripes." The kit includes "red and navy stripes with faint stars." The USMNT was "expected to officially release their new uniform around July 1 ahead of this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup" (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/18).

Been a while since I liked a #USMNT kit (the Waldos, probably.) The Gold Cup kits have me straight up salivating. Yes. Give it to me. pic.twitter.com/9Cy2qQ4Pvx

— Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) June 18, 2017

“Absolutely I think they should. I'll be a big fan of that” – U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepka, on whether the USGA should bring the tournament back to Erin Hills in the future (“Live from the U.S. Open,” Golf Channel, 6/18).

"I can't take it serious" – Former boxer Lennox Lewis, saying he will not buy the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight (ESPN.com, 6/18).

"Right now we're looking into going to Paris, and then Normandy and then London" – Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, on where the team might travel next summer after this year's one-week visit to Rome (DETROIT NEWS, 6/18).

"They need to know we care about them even if they don't give money and that they're always welcome back. If they want to support us financially, they will" – Fresno State AD Jim Bartko, on successful pro sports alumni Yankees RF Aaron Judge, Pacers F Paul George and Raiders QB Derek Carr (FRESNO BEE, 6/19).

THE RINGER examines Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig and the “blueprint for reaching MLB superstardom.” For all of his “struggles at the plate, his outsize persona has kept him squarely in the spotlight, and he undeniably remains one of the most recognizable figures in the game.”

BLEACHER REPORT writes, "The NFL, quietly, is using its massive power in ways it never has before – positive ways. It's an effort that has stunned even the most cynical of team executives. Can the NFL be an altruistic force for once? Can it be – gulp – decent?"

Also: 

• Local brewers want presence at College World Series concession stands.
• MLB teams "must do better a job protecting fans from foul balls, flying bats."
• Univ. of Virginia, Virginia Tech "investing millions in ACC Network preparations."
• What the Paul George free-agency rumors mean for Lakers, Celtics and Pacers.
• Samantha Huge still getting adjusted to life as William & Mary AD.

Congrats to my old Boxing friends at @espn on scoring this deal! I know @thewhalelives will do a stellar job on the production. https://t.co/uvw6oA6a2k

— Todd Grisham (@GrishamMMA) June 19, 2017

On TV I'm watching Interstellar where a team is trapped in a time space wormhole & on Twitter I'm watching @roushfenway in a same situation.

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) June 19, 2017

It'd be funny if the whole "I'm going to Lakers no matter what" were a ruse to reduce PG's trade value so he can get to a really good team

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) June 19, 2017

Smart of FOX to bring in the girlfriend drama to keep all the wives engaged.

— Chad Coleman (@HashtagChad) June 19, 2017

Cool scene I just sneaked into. pic.twitter.com/whPP5Rxa5R

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 19, 2017

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Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Classical Music.”

“Scholars think this 1810 piano piece was dedicated to Elisabeth Rockel or Therese Malfatti, a student of the composer.”

“What is the ‘Fur Elise?’” The composer was Ludwig van Beethoven.