• Under Armour Hires New Exec As Plank Drops President Role
• Drake Ribs NBA Stars In League's Inaugural Awards Show
• Russell Westbrook's MVP Prompts Musical Ad From Jordan Brand
• First Season Of ESPN's "30 For 30 Podcasts" Debuts Today

Under Armour's Kevin Plank will "step back from his role of president in a management shakeup" announced today, but he "will remain" Chair & CEO. Patrik Frisk, former CEO of footwear company The Aldo Group, will become the company's President & COO on July 10, "responsible for go-to-market strategy and executing the company's long-term growth plan." Frisk has "nearly 30 years' experience in the apparel, footwear and retail industry, directing brands such as The North Face and Timberland." UA said that the "management changes are designed to improve digital business and operational efficiency" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 6/27). 

The first annual “NBA Awards” aired last night on TNT, and host Drake opened the broadcast with a comedy segment featuring Will Ferrell and Raptors G DeMar DeRozan before performing a monologue. Highlights include: “We're coming to you live from basketball city here in New York. ... It's a city that never sleeps, mostly because everyone that lives here is afraid of being traded. ... People keep asking if the dominance of the Warriors and Cavs is bad for the league. I'm just glad that people aren't as critical of dominance in other professions, because I'd never want my doctor to be like, ‘I'm going to mess this one up so nobody thinks that I'm too good. I don't want to save every life. Got to be humble.’ ... Draymond Green stopped kicking people in the groin and moved onto something much worse: His own podcast. ... Rookie Markelle Fultz says he almost signed with Big Baller Brand before he eventually signed with Nike. When asked what changed his mind, Fultz said, ‘I went to college’” (“NBA Awards,” TNT, 6/26).

Basketball HOFers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson were "on hand to present" Bill Russell with a lifetime achievement award. After "pointing to each member of the group," the smiling Russell "raised a conspiratorial hand alongside his mouth and announced, 'I would kick your ass'” (NBA.com, 6/27). SI.com's Dan Gartland writes, "Drake was great, but maybe Russell should host this thing next year" (SI.com, 6/27).

Thunder G Russell Westbrook won MVP at last night's NBA Awards, and just after his acceptance speech, a "jingle ran on televisions across the country" featuring a cartoon version of him. The Jordan Brand spot, titled "Why Not 0?" was a "School House Rock style ad for calculating up" Westbrook's "dominating MVP season." The spot "immediately swept over social media" (NEWSOK.com, 6/27). 

The Jordan Brand Instagram account last night made a post before the MVP award had been officially announced, which congratulated Westbrook as if he had "already been crowned" (NEWSOK.com, 6/26).

Unknown to unstoppable. #WhyNot

A post shared by Jordan (@jumpman23) on Jun 26, 2017 at 2:23pm PDT

ESPN's "30 for 30 Podcasts" debut today, offering an "inspiring, sports-documentary adrenaline rush in a format that's easy to consume." The franchise spin-off "starts its first season with a look at Reebok's ubiquitous 1992 'Dan and Dave' campaign." The 50-minute story chronicles "how commercial stars and decathletes Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson became household names ahead of their unpredictable Olympic runs." Also coming up in the five-episode season is the "story behind the bootleg 'Yankees Suck' T-shirts" sold outside Fenway Park (USA TODAY, 6/27). 

ESPN's ad sales team "lined up MINI USA as the presenting sponsor, while Blue Moon, Citi, Blue Apron, Delta Air Lines and ZipRecruiter have also signed on as backers." Custom integrations were "developed for each client by ESPN's CreativeWorks division." Each spot is voiced by "30 for 30" host and Senior Producer Jody Avirgan (ADAGE.com, 6/26).

Richmond Int’l Raceway this morning is announcing that its booking agreement with AEG Presents has been extended into a 10-year arrangement. RIR announced the deal with AEG Presents, then known as AEG Live, in November, but no terms were revealed. AEG is helping RIR revive the 6,000-seat Classic Amphitheater on the track's property by booking musical guests. The amphitheater recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, but was relatively dormant for years until '13, and the AEG partnership is supposed to further accelerate the revival.

RIR President Dennis Bickmeier said earlier this year that the track was eyeing six to eight shows annually for the amphitheater. RIR is owned by ISC, which also has a wider deal with AEG Presents that was announced in May '15 and centers around adding musical content to 13 tracks around the U.S.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said that she "supports new legislation to be introduced" today about how the state, city and Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox would finance a new ballpark because it "addresses her concerns about whether Pawtucket would backstop its financial commitment if anticipated revenues fall short." Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee Chair William Conley Jr. said he is ready to introduce legislation today with “significant improvements” over proposed legislation Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien released last month. If projected revenue from the ballpark "were to fall short, state taxpayers would be responsible for the city’s portion of the bonds" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 6/27).

The NASL confirmed that former EPL club Chelsea F Demba Ba and a group of high-profile European soccer players are "bringing a team" to San Diego in '18. The club will play temporarily at the Univ. of San Diego’s 6,000-seat Torero Stadium before "building a new venue." The yet-to-be-named club is "expected to hold an introductory news conference sometime in July." NASL's expansion fee is "less than" $10M (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/27). Ba recently took part in a Q&A with the San Diego Union-Tribune (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/25).

EPL club Manchester City has partnered with esports platform Battlefly to host the inaugural Man City FIFA 17 Cup for U.S. residents. This is the first soccer esports tournament hosted by a European club in the U.S. and coincides with Man City's '17 U.S. preseason tour. The competition is hosted on both Xbox One and PS4. The two overall winners per console will then compete in Houston on July 19 where the champion will be decided ahead of the Int'l Champions Cup match between Manchester City and Manchester United at NRG Stadium (Manchester City).

LaVar Ball and his sons Lonzo and LaMelo last night took part in a WWE "Monday Night Raw" segment that "quickly went off the rails." The ring at Staples Center had "four mannequins wearing 'Big Baller' T-shirts." LaVar "started hyping the Big Baller Brand and got booed," after which he "ripped off his T-shirt and challenged" WWE entertainer The Miz. LaMelo had a microphone in his hand and said, "Beat that n----'s ass." WWE later issued a statement in response: "The inappropriate language used by a guest during the 'Miz TV' segment was not scripted nor reflects WWE's values" (L.A. TIMES, 6/27).

There is "no question the segment will have people talking, which is likely all WWE wanted when it reached a deal with LaVar to bring the Ball family on" the show (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 6/26).

The Raptors this week are expected to name Assistant GM & VP/Basketball Strategy Bobby Webster the team's new GM, replacing Jeff Weltman after he left for the Magic last month. Webster, 32, "will become the youngest current general manager in the NBA" (TSN.ca, 6/26).

Eastern Michigan today will name Mississippi State Senior Associate AD/External Affairs Scott Wetherbee the school's new AD "during an on-campus ceremony" in Ypsilanti. He replaces Heather Lyke, who "left to take the same position at Pittsburgh" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/27).

A spokesperson for NESN's Jerry Remy said that the Red Sox broadcaster's "latest surgery for lung cancer went well and he was resting." Remy "hopes to return after the All-Star break" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/27). 

Strategic Property Partners, the real estate firm backed by Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Entertainment, today will announce Water Street Tampa as the "official name for the highly anticipated" $3B revitalization project in downtown Tampa (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/27).

Qualcomm Technologies has agreed to be the race title sponsor for rounds 9 and 10 of the '16-17 Formula E season, acquiring naming rights to the '17 Qualcomm New York City ePrix (FIA).

A "pro-LSU crowd" of 25,679 last night attended the opening game of the College World Series final at TD Ameritrade Park, where Florida notched a 4-3 win to begin the best-of-three championship series (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 6/27).

"The crowd was the biggest I've seen on a Sunday. We filled the main parking lot and almost our second one, which we had expanded this year because Jordan, Rory and Jason were coming" – PGA Tour Travelers Championship Tournament Dir Nathan Grube, on the attendance boost provided by a field that included Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and eventual winner Jordan Spieth (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/27).

"For some of them to find great success certainly opens the door. It's something I'm thankful for, to the extent that it influenced and helped open minds with respect to my own situation" – Rays Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM Erik Neander, on the growing trend of successful MLB front office execs who did not play baseball at the college or pro level (ROANOKE TIMES, 6/27).

"We're going to have another great turnout this upcoming game. So I love it. I love being here in Nashville and hopefully they get a team in the future" – USMNT MF Gyasi Zardes, on soccer fandom in the Nashville area. The U.S. opens CONCACAF Gold Cup play July 8 at Nissan Stadium against Panama (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/27).

“Visibility and name recognition are huge parts of us getting our message out. Having the CBS broadcast and our two-time champ Jordan remind everyone of what he did back in 2013 and have 2013 video rolled as they talked about it and seeing video clips on social media today is all terrific and all good” – PGA Tour John Deere Classic Tournament Dir Clair Peterson, on CBS showing old footage of Spieth as he neared victory Sunday at the Travelers Championship (QCONLINE.com, 6/26).

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE writes under the header, "NCAA Needs To Change Rules In Sexual Assault Cases." When players "accept money, when they cheat on tests and when they break recruiting rules, there are consequences." There should be "consequences in cases involving sexual assault, too."

The AP noted as Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s "farewell tour" reaches the second half of the NASCAR season, the driver is "becoming more reflective with each passing race." Earnhardt "seems to be recognizing the end is near" and it "sounds very much like he has mixed emotions." However, Earnhardt's last season under the hood is far from a "goodbye." 

Also: 

• Blue Jays broadcaster "returns to the booth after cancer surgery."
• FC Cincinnati's coach is a "soccer purist grappling with the game's tech future."
• What will sports talk radio "sound like 30 years from now?"
• Triple-A baseball was "never built to last in Colorado Springs."
• Fans should "take plenty of money" if attending the MLB All-Star Game in Miami.
• Taking a look back at Las Vegas' "short-lived" CFL team.

Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017

Huge crowd, huge group waiting on Kyle Schwarber to sign autographs and huge ovation as he's introduced. #Cubs #MiLB

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) June 26, 2017

Big night for #TeamWass at the #NBAAwards! Congrats @russwest44 & @Money23Green!! 🔥🏀👏 pic.twitter.com/hATjjvREL8

— Casey Wasserman (@caseywasserman) June 27, 2017

K. Totally didn't know Samsung was going with the many "Russells" angle but I still say Sentimenal Russell > All the Other Russell & Nems

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) June 27, 2017

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

“Later an Oscar winner, she appeared as the child baptized towards the end of ‘The Godfather.’”

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” aired a new segment called “Tonight Show Polls,” in which host Jimmy Fallon read the results of various “polls” fans responded to. Fallon said of one of the polls, “Are you going to watch Michael Phelps race a shark? Thirty percent said, ‘I can’t wait.’ Seventy percent said, ‘At this point I’ll literally watch anything that’s not about Trump’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/26).

“Who is Sophia Coppola?”