• Int'l Champions Cup Matches Draw Big Crowds As "El Clasico" Looms
  
• U.S. Wins Gold Cup Before Crowd Of 60,000-Plus At Levi's Stadium
  
• UConn, Nike Agree To $32.4M Sponsorship Extension Through '22-23
  
• Univ. Of Miami Health System To Sponsor Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium

Last night's Int'l Champions Cup Manchester City-Real Madrid match drew 93,098 fans at L.A. Coliseum, the "largest soccer crowd in the stadium's history." The crowd had a "raucous tone," with the "overwhelming majority donning the iconic white kits" of Real Madrid (L.A. TIMES, 7/27). In another ICC match, a crowd of 80,162 was on hand at FedExField for FC Barcelona-Manchester United. The lone goal of the match by FCB F Neymar "had many in Barcelona colors buzzing the rest of the night" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/27).

Juventus' win over Paris Saint-Germain last night drew a "buoyant crowd" of 44,444 to Hard Rock Stadium, the site of Saturday's "El Clasico." The FCB-Real Madrid match "would do well to clear the bar set Wednesday in terms of entertaining, lively futbol" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/27). Last night "had the trimmings of a big event," but the crowd "wasn't as animated as when South American powerhouses have visited, or can be expected for Saturday's sellout" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/27). FCB and Real Madrid arrive today in South Florida, and organizers "remained hopeful" that Real Madrid F Cristiano Ronaldo would "make it to Miami by Saturday" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/27).

The U.S. won last night's CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Jamaica 2-1 before an "announced 63,032" at Levi's Stadium (WASHINGTON POST, 7/27). Three days after a Manchester United-Real Madrid ICC match drew 65,109 in Santa Clara, "another big crowd enjoyed a festive night of soccer" at Levi's Stadium (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/27).

FS1’s John Strong said turf conditions at Levi’s have been a "consistent issue," and the facility has had to "re-seed this field a couple times over the years." After seeing a chunk of turf laying on the field, FS1’s Stuart Holden said, “That looks like Landon (Donovan)’s nine iron right there” (“CONCACAF Gold Cup Final,” 7/26).

UConn "extended its sponsorship contract with Nike" through the '22-23 academic year, a $32.45M deal in "combined products and cash." Nike will "continue to provide UConn teams with uniforms, apparel, footwear, practice gear and equipment in addition to making cash payments to the school." UConn said that all the money from the deal "goes to the athletic department." In '08, UConn and Nike reached a 10-year, $46M agreement (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/27).

The Univ. of Miami Health System reached a deal to serve as the official health care provider of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. UHealth will entitle the southeast corner of the stadium. Additional elements of the partnership include UHealth's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center serving as presenting partner of the Dolphins' Oct. 8 home game against the Titans. Also, UHealth will be on the team’s backdrop for media interviews during away games, as well as various media and digital assets (Dolphins).

Clemson today will announce a multiyear deal for Fanatics to take over physical retail operations across many of the school's sports venues. Fanatics already had a long-term e-commerce deal with the school. As part of upgraded retail operations, Memorial Stadium's south concourse store will be expanded to hold nearly 40% more merch. The existing west concourse store also will see a full overhaul, with updated team branding and a new Nike pop-up shop.

Fanatics' in-house apparel division, Fanatics Branded, also will design and distribute custom Clemson gear throughout the year, including items for historic feats and special team performances. In addition to football at Memorial Stadium, Fanatics will operate retail footprints at Littlejohn Coliseum (basketball), Doug Kingsmore Stadium (baseball) and Riggs Field (select soccer games).

The NBA has hired Ann Rodriguez as Senior VP/WNBA League Operations, reporting to NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell. Rodriguez will oversee all on-court basketball operations and all player-related policies and programs for the WNBA. She previously worked for Atlanta United FC as VP/Business Operations, and she also has worked for the Earthquakes and Under Armour. Her job title is a new one created after longtime exec Renee Brown left as WNBA Chief of Operations in October. Rodriguez, a '17 SBJ "Forty Under 40" honoree, begins her new role Aug. 7.

MLBAM has again partnered with Google to create a new virtual reality video series for the Daydream platform entitled, "On The Verge." The new series is comprised of behind-the-scenes profiles of emerging stars in the game, with the initial episodes featuring Red Sox RF Mookie Betts, Twins P Jose Berrios, Pirates 1B Josh Bell and Padres CF Manuel Margot. The series follows prior collaborations between MLBAM and Google on the MLB.com At Bat VR app and the MLB.com Home Run Derby VR video game on Daydream.

The series will be available on MLB.com At Bat VR, and on the league’s official YouTube account. Other episodes are planned for key moments as the '17 season progresses. “We worked closely with MLB to tell these stories from a new perspective amidst unique access points around ballparks with Jump, Google's platform for VR video capture,” said Google Dir of VR Video Matt Apfel. “Because the Jump cameras don’t take up a ton of space, it allowed MLB to capture memorable moments on and off the field, ultimately producing fun stories."

Officials and police yesterday at the start of the Adidas Uprising Summer Championships at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas "blocked doors and ordered a police barricade outside due to fire code concerns an hour before LaVar Ball's Big Baller squad" was scheduled to play. The game, which featured a few top recruits, "was played" despite the crowd issues. Fans stood "six and seven rows deep hours before" the game. Kansas coach Bill Self, who was on hand, said, "Unreal. Never seen anything like it." A source said that LeBron James had "planned to watch" courtside, but he did "not get out of his vehicle after he arrived" (ESPN.com, 7/26).

CBS Sports Network announced plans for a new documentary series titled “Four Sides Of The Story,” exploring famous sports moments through multiple perspectives. The series debuts Monday with “One Stunning Moment,” about Villanova's NCAA basketball championship-winning buzzer beater in '16. The series in its initial run also will explore Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour event in '92, the role of kickers in football and the '16 Army-Navy football game (THE DAILY).

The shot of a lifetime + the story behind it. CBS Sports Network debuts "One Stunning Moment" July 31 on @NovaMBB’s 2016 Championship moment pic.twitter.com/4b1wKClbpZ

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) July 26, 2017

ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" and ESPN2's "Fantasy Football Now" are expanding to three hours this fall. Both shows will now air from 10:00am-1:00pm ET on Sundays (ESPN).

Atlanta has been "contacted about participating as a host city" for the '26 FIFA World Cup as part of the joint U.S.-Canada-Mexico bid (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/27).

Kentucky's football stadium yesterday "received a finishing touch" in its rebranding as Kroger Field (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 7/27).

Sky TV's "grip on major golf could be weakened yet further" as BT is "in talks with Augusta as it tries to wrest full coverage of the Masters." Sky has been the U.K.'s host channel for the Masters since '11 (London TELEGRAPH, 7/25).

"I wasn't speaking about the Bengals in particular. I said people who have acted in objectionable and even criminal ways can find their way back into the league. A guy who makes a political statement can't get a phone call" -- NBC's Bob Costas, clarifying comments he made last weekend about the Bengals "running a halfway house" when speaking about the current unemployment of QB Colin Kaepernick (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/27).

"I can promise you. We're very competitive. We want to make sure we're going to support a great several days of activities here, and you should all know, the fans should all know -- we know how to do big events" -- DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, on sending representatives to Miami for the MLB All-Star Game this year to prepare for hosting in '18 (WASHINGTON POST, 7/27).

"It's disappointing, but that's the way it is. You want to be able to represent your country on the highest stage, and the Olympics is obviously the highest stage possible" -- Oilers C Connor McDavid, on the NHL's decision to not send players to the '18 PyeongChang Games (AP, 7/26).

YAHOO SPORTS goes with the header, "Hockey Canada Exhibition Rosters A Dreary Reminder Of The PyeongChang Reality." Whatever talent is available, it "can’t change this grim reality: the 2018 Olympic tournament will be played without legitimacy -- and perhaps to negligible fanfare."

The DETROIT NEWS writes Little Caesars Arena is "just weeks from its fall debut and there's both a last minute bout of fear and loathing about its impact as well as about hopes that it can overhaul 50 blocks of the city."

Also:

• Rams, Chargers set to begin fight for control of L.A. market.
• Which shoe company should try to sign Lonzo Ball?
• Can a stacked card give UFC 215 in Edmonton a big-event feel?
• A quick look at Jerry Jones' HOF career as an iconic NFL owner.

NBCU chief Steve Burke: NBCU saw upfront volume rise 8% worth approximately $400 million - not including sales for Olympics or Super Bowl

— Brian Steinberg (@bristei) July 27, 2017

...wondering if Foxconn is the leader in the clubhouse to have naming rights for #Bucks new arena.

— Greg Matzek (@gmatzek) July 26, 2017

Two entrances to Patriots training camp. Two long lines. It is 7:50 a.m. and practice starts at 9:15 a.m. pic.twitter.com/xnGHqWpsGq

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 27, 2017

Chiefs QB Alex Smith will collect a $2M reporting bonus for showing up to training camp today, by far the largest such bonus in the NFL.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 27, 2017

My wife is working on her masters👏 in nursing and asks me to help her write. I ask if nurses are cross dogging vs 2 Jet. She just 🙄 at me. 🤣

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) July 26, 2017

Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen host the 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose charity event at Dodger Stadium.

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 “Novels.”

“'A man can be destroyed but not defeated' is a line from this 1952 book, later a Spencer Tracy film.”

“What is ‘The Old Man and the Sea’?”