Adidas has "agreed to sell its CCM hockey equipment brand for roughly" $100M to Canada-based private equity firm Birch Hill Equity Partners. The CCM apparel license was "not included in the sale." Sources said that Adidas "will replace its CCM and Reebok logos" on NHL uniforms with its Adidas logo. Similar moves "will occur with NHL-licensed T-shirts and other apparel items." CCM will "still be seen on NHL helmets and sticks" (N.Y. POST, 7/21).

The Int'l Champions Cup match between Manchester United and Manchester City last night was played "in front of 67,401 at NRG Stadium" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/21). The venue was "humming" with the "sounds of one of soccer's most iconic rivalries" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/21). Texans DE J.J. Watt and rapper Drake were "on hand" (CHRON.com, 7/20). 

Meanwhile, last night's CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal doubleheader featuring Mexico-Honduras and Jamaica-Canada drew "about 37,000 fans" to Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, with "many wearing the colors of the Mexican national team" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/21).

J.C. Penney's 15 North Texas stores this morning are “selling 1,000 exclusive T-shirts it designed” with the Cowboys. These $20 T-shirts serve as a ticket to “pick one day to tour the Ford Center at The Star" in Frisco. Customers will be “able to pick a designated date.” Credentials “issued with the purchase include a $10 voucher to buy refreshments." The shirts “go on sale” when the stores open at 10:00am CT, but in order to “buy the shirt, you have to be a Penney Rewards customer” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/20).

The D-backs are “offering free tickets for children 15 and under for the weekend series” against the Nationals. Fans can “receive up to two free kids tickets with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket for select sections in the ballpark.” The series includes tomorrow’s game in which 20,000 fans will “receive a Robbie Ray Strikeout Counter Bobblehead” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/21).

UFC President Dana White appeared on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night where he discussed next month’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor bout, calling it the “biggest fight in combat sports history." White said he thought McGregor has chance to beat Mayweather, because “when you put two people anywhere ... and they start throwing punches, anything is possible." But host Jimmy Kimmel said, “Isn’t this like a cricket team trying to win the baseball World Series?" White noted McGregor "will be completely unorthodox in his fight with Floyd Mayweather and it’s what makes the fight so intriguing."

White said of the fight's recent media tour, "Nobody had to pay anything for this. This was a spectacle on its own. ...  It's as much a part of the fight as the fight itself. Conor McGregor is one of the best ever. ... And I got one job, that's it: Make sure these two don't touch each other.” White, a noted supporter of President Trump, said Trump was going to attend UFC 205 at MSG back in November, but Trump told him he did not want to "ruin" the event with Secret Service having to do all they would need to do. Kimmel: "Do you say to him, 'You seem to go to these golf tournaments no problem'" ("Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC, 7/20).

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), speaking yesterday before the Foreign Relations Committee for NFL Jets Owner Woody Johnson’s confirmation hearing to become U.S. ambassador to the U.K., presented a “plan he’s cooked up" to sideline Patriots QB Tom Brady. Rubio, a Dolphins fan, said to Johnson, "Support for your nomination due to your relationship with the New York Jets is painful and difficult, but I'm willing to do it for the good of the country." He added, "You and I agree the country would be well-served if a certain Thomas Brady were nominated ambassador to Brazil."

However, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) “tossed cold water on the scheme.” Markey: "I don't think there's any chance of Tom Brady leaving the country until he's won at least two or three more Super Bowl championships” (AP, 7/21).

White Sox-Royals tonight will "stream on Facebook Live," as the game is "one of 20 being offered this season" on the social media platform as part of a partnership with MLB (K.C. STAR, 7/21). 

For O.J. Simpson's hearing yesterday, "one of the members of the parole board decided to wear" his Chiefs tie to the proceedings (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/20). 

ESPN this morning relaunched its redesigned ESPNCricInfo website and app around the globe. The platform is also launching its first weekly cricket highlights show in India called "Turn & Bounce," produced by Sony. The show will air every Saturday at 10:00pm IST (ESPN). 

Mets P Noah Syndergaard's Thor bobblehead will be given "out to 15,000 fans attending Saturday night’s game against the A’s" at Citi Field. The bobblehead has "already had eBay buyers paying as much as $99.99 for the promise of receiving one from persons attending the game" (NEWSDAY, 7/21). 

The 40-day Saratoga Race Course meet begins today, as the venue opens "for its 149th season" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/21). 

"There is no plan to do it. Is there still a burning desire? The clubs would like to do it but we are also realistic that says until the fan, political and media reaction is any more warm towards it, it won't happen" -- EPL Chair Richard Scudamore, on clubs playing regular-season matches abroad (SKYSPORTS.com, 7/20).

"The market spoke, I said, 'Done.' There’s not that many transformative free agents out there and a lot of teams are paying a lot of money on free agents and they’re not quite sure how it’s going to work. I felt keeping Otto, maxing Otto, was way lower risk than saying, 'Let’s let him go and we’ll get someone in free agency'" -- Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair Ted Leonsis, on the Wizards giving a max deal to F Otto Porter Jr. (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/20).

"It was a great plan by our marketing people to do the worst video that you can. Because if you do a good one, nobody really cares. It's just another promo video. If you do a really horrible one, then maybe we'll get on SportsCenter and all these recruits will see us" -- FAU football coach Lane Kiffin, on purposefully making an unenthusiastic promo video for the team's upcoming season (DALLASNEWS.com, 7/20).

"I know in '79 they did that, but this is 2017. It's a totally different world. I can't fathom going to our fans and saying we're going to play a whole season away from the Carrier Dome" -- Syracuse AD John Wildhack, on avoiding playing a football season away from the Carrier Dome when it undergoes renovations (SYRACUSE.com, 7/20).

Golfer Paige Spiranac in a special to FORTUNE wrote while she knows golf is "enveloped in tradition and that certain rules and regulations must be upheld," she fears the new LPGA dress code is "stifling the growth of the women’s game." Meanwhile, the Toledo BLADE goes with the header, "LPGA Needs More Young Americans." In fact, the "call to arms has never been louder." 

The WASHINGTON POST writes the NFL "never wanted to be the No Fun League." It "just happened that way." Now the new relaxed rules for the upcoming season represent an "abrupt and remarkable about-face for a league that had spent years and years tightening such standards." 

Also:

• College ADs making more money than ever before. 
• Jerry Jones' Legends Hospitality becomes global power. 
• MLS makes final tweaks to video replay. 
• Will President Trump return to golf world after White House stay?
• Las Vegas no longer seen as gamble for pro sports.
• Time to revist expanding NCAA Tournament field? 

Thanks to "Playing Through" - @GolfChannel viewers saw an additional 67 action shots today in @TheOpen First Round. pic.twitter.com/lZ1FqPlcZ0

— Golf Channel PR (@GolfChannelPR) July 20, 2017

Apparently Javier Hernandez "Chicharito" was asking for something in the $8-9m NET range to come to @MLS. Basically "No Thanks". 💰💰#MLS

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) July 20, 2017

Hugh Freeze will not receive a settlement. “No buyout,” Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork said. Freeze was to make nearly $5 million this year

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 21, 2017

Current conditions at Birkdale: Hats are becoming increasingly useless. #TheOpen

— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) July 21, 2017

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

“In 1932 a 4,700-pound piece of the object that gave this capital it’s ‘small’ name was moved to City Hall.”

Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night to promote his appearance on two Discovery Channel “Shark Week” shows next week, “Shark School with Michael Phelps” and “Phelps Vs. Shark.” Phelps said, “I've had an infatuation with sharks my whole life and I basically turn into like a nerd when I talk about sharks. I know a ton about them, and for me, I've always wanted to dive with a white, and I've always wanted to be in the cage.” Phelps said he told his wife he “wanted to do it without a cage and she said, ‘Well, we have a family. I don't know.’” Host Jimmy Fallon said, “Somebody asked me to do that once to get in a cage and I go, ‘No, absolutely not.’ I love to live vicariously through you” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/20).

“What is Little Rock, Ark.?”