• Selig Highlights Baseball History In HOF Ceremony Before 27,500 Fans
• Goodell: Possible DC/Baltimore Super Bowl Bid An "Interesting Idea"
• Chargers Open Training Camp With Crowd Of 5,000, Kobe Speech
• Fanatics To Run Bears' E-Commerce Ops As Part Of Heavy NFL Push

MLB Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig yesterday was inducted into the Baseball HOF, outlining his "great journey" in baseball during an 18-minute speech that required more than 30 drafts and spotlighted the sport's deep role in American society. The ceremony drew a crowd of 27,500 to Cooperstown, N.Y. That attendance is down sharply from last year's 50,000 for an induction weekend that included Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, but represented the fourth straight ceremony in excess of 25,000 (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). Read the full text of Selig's address (JSONLINE.com, 7/30). Selig "dropped his speech midway through it but never skipped a beat" (AP, 7/30).

There were 50 HOFers in attendance, and they were "all introduced as part of the induction ceremony" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 7/31). Officials said that the ceremony "lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes." Locally, reactions were "mixed Sunday about the volume of business, though there was agreement that the weekend remains a key moneymaker for the summer tourist season" (Oneonta DAILY STAR, 7/31).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday characterized a proposal for Baltimore and DC to host a Super Bowl as an "interesting idea." But Goodell, speaking in a fan forum around Ravens training camp at M&T Bank Stadium, said that the league "would prefer to keep the championship game in warm-weather cities and domed stadiums." He said, "We want the game to be played in perfect conditions. ... I personally love football in the elements.  ... I love that part of it, but I also understand the issue of wanting to put on an event where we probably have 150 to 200,000 people" (Baltimore SUN, 7/31).

An estimated 5,000 fans yesterday "packed" Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, Calif., to "watch the Chargers open training camp" for the first time since their move to L.A. The "atmosphere was festive," and "many of the fans wore new Chargers jerseys." This was "with the Rams working out five miles away at UC Irvine." Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "wandered into the area near the bleachers," and fans "didn't know who he was" (L.A. TIMES, 7/31). Chargers QB Philip Rivers said the crowd was "awesome," adding, "I didn't anticipate this" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/31). Kobe Bryant "addressed players during their first team meeting to start training camp" (ESPN.com, 7/30).

Meanwhile, an announced crowd of 26,721 attended the Ravens' open training camp practice and "fireworks show that followed" at M&T Bank Stadium. Due to "ongoing renovations" at the Under Armour Performance Center, this was one of the "only glimpses of summer practices that fans will get" (Baltimore SUN, 7/31).

About 23,000 fans attended the Eagles' open practice at Lincoln Financial Field, "more than the 20,680 fans" on hand for the Braves-Phillies game at nearby Citizens Bank Park (PHILLY.com, 7/30).

Fanatics is continuing its heavy NFL push as training camps get under way, and today will announce a multiyear deal with the Bears to operate the club’s e-commerce platform. A new online store, store.chicagobears.com, has already launched. The team's e-commerce ops were previously run by Delaware North. The Bears become the 20th NFL club to have their e-commerce business run by Fanatics. The company also runs e-commerce for the NFL at the league level, having struck a long-term deal last year. The NFL, along with MLB and the NFLPA, also bought equity stakes in Fanatics earlier this year.

New York officials today will "release a long-awaited" RFP to "develop Belmont Park with retail, entertainment, sports and hospitality options -- leaving the door open for an expected bid" by the Islanders to return to Nassau Coliseum and construct a new hockey arena. The RFP "provides developers less than two months to place a bid to develop up to 43 acres of vacant land at the state-run park in Elmont." Among the expected and "most high-profile bidders" are the Islanders, who are being advised by Oak View Group. All bids are due by Sept. 28 (NEWSDAY, 7/31).

Members of a Massachusetts commission today will vote on a "key report" on whether or not daily fantasy sports is gambling under state law. The "highly charged designation is a crucial one" to Boston-based DraftKings, which "argues that such a move could imperil relationships with business partners, bring tax headaches, and potentially lead to conflicts over its status under federal law and in other states." For now, DFS is "regulated in Massachusetts under a set of consumer-protection rules." DraftKings "declined to comment on what it would do if the change becomes law" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/30).

The Drew League was "officially christened as part of mainstream basketball culture" yesterday with Rockets Gs Chris Paul and James Harden and Thunder G Russell Westbrook "planning to suit up." Fans lined up as early as 8:45am PT and by 11:00am, King Drew High in Compton, Calif., was "already at capacity." The event was a "basketball fantasy, even though Westbrook never showed." Warriors G Nick Young, Raptors G DeMar DeRozan and Lakers F Julius Randle "played alongside each other earlier in the afternoon," while ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne was "at the top of a row of bleachers filming a segment" (L.A. TIMES, 7/31).

Allen Iverson "did not show up" for the BIG3 games in Dallas this past weekend. The league said that it is "investigating his absence" (AP, 7/30). His absence "caught the league off-guard." The BIG3 in a statement said, "We had no advance warning and do not have information as to all the circumstances surrounding his absence" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/31). Iverson has "played sparingly" to date during the BIG3's inaugural season (ESPN.com, 7/30).

The MLBPA has signed a licensing deal with Jump Ramp Games' flagship app, Lucktastic, which connects digital and mobile users with promotions and rewards. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. For now, the deal is expected to run through this MLB season. "MLBPA Fun Packs" will be released each week for the remainder of the season, and fans will be able to win a variety of personalized and autographed items from star players. See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was "caught on video confronting" a Cubs fan during yesterday's Cubs-Brewers game at Miller Park. A video circulating on Twitter shows Christie, who was "carrying a basket of nachos," leaning over to "nearly get in the man's face." Christie's son, Andrew, "works in the Brewers' baseball operations department" (AP, 7/30).

At #Cubs #Brewers game. #ChrisChristie was getting razzed by fans, so he got in the face of one of them. 5:30 on @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/sx8euMgFy2

— Ben Hutchison (@BennyHutch) July 30, 2017

Calgary officials are "recommending council not move forward" with a '26 Winter Games bid "unless certain financial concerns and risks are addressed." The report "goes in front of council" today (CALGARYHERALD.com, 7/29).

FanDuel has withdrawn its offering from the U.K. after just one season (FanDuel).

Organizers of Montreal's Formula E race said that they were "happy with attendance" for Saturday's qualifying run even though the crowd "looked sparse in the early part of the day" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 7/31).

Circuit of the Americas will "lose an event" in '18 when the IMSA WeatherTech sports car series "veers away from Austin." Instead, IMSA will "stop at the Mid-Ohio road course in Lexington on May 4-6" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/29).

Discovery Communications and the Olympic Channel on Friday unveiled a new partnership to engage a new audience in Europe. The agreement covers 50 markets in Europe and will launch on Wednesday (Discovery).

The playing surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta "was completed" yesterday (AJC.om, 7/30).

We have a playing surface. @MBStadium pic.twitter.com/BfFec6SYw2

— Brett Jewkes (@BJewkes) July 30, 2017

"I’m here so I won’t be fined" -- Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre, joking at his press conference after getting his 3,000th career hit last night against the Orioles (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 7/31).

"If you want to get in this business, it’s the same way as a player as it is in my position: You’re either in or you’re out. There is no halfway in doing this. You can’t sit there and try to take the summer off and come in after training camp and then oversee everything and try to dictate different moves on the team if you’re not totally engaged" -- Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations & GM John Elway, who last week agreed to a five-year contract extension through at least '21 (MMQB.SI.com, 7/31).

"What I see going on is headed in that direction, and I don’t like it. You know, I try to separate politics from my profession. But I have opinions. ... No president of ours should treat individual humans the way (President Trump) has treated people" -- WNBA Mystics coach Mike Thibault, who had the entire team visit with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) after a practice this month (WASHINGTON POST, 7/31).

Reaction to the latest revelations on football and CTE continues to dominate the news cycle. The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES’ Rick Telander pens a front-page piece under the header, “As CTE Rocks Football, I’m Donating My Brain To Science.” In a special to the Baltimore SUN, George Washington Univ. sports business professor Mark Hyman writes under the header, "NFL Can't Ethically Endorse Tackle Football For Kids." The Newark STAR-LEDGER goes with, "The NFL Is Ducking Its Commitment To Brain Research." Neurosurgeon Charles Tator pens a special to the GLOBE & MAIL: "CTE Is A Serious Problem In Sports, But It’s Not Too Late To Save Most Games."

Also:

• It is "too bad" the Baseball HOF had to "push some voters out."
• AAU basketball "isn't as bad as LaVar Ball is making it look."
• MLB's "out-of-control" umpires are "not helping pace of play."
• Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones has a "fierce loyalty" to the team's players.
• Canada "should forget about hosting" the '26 FIFA World Cup.

Lot of reaction to joint Baltimore-DC SB question, I wouldn't get too worked up about it. Was just a question from fan about possibility.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) July 30, 2017

Wow, 2,000 subscribers our 1st week! Way beyond what we hoped for. We're so thankful for your support. Team BSJ won't leave u hanging! pic.twitter.com/p3YuOZP1VV

— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) July 30, 2017

So cool to hear Tim Raines thank @jonahkeri in his HOF speech. I can only hope Duane Kuiper will do it for me when I get him into the Hall.

— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) July 30, 2017

Not a surprise that names in potential @dcunited sale are 2 of the other single entity owners in DC area (Snyder, Leonsis). #ProRelforUSA

— Steve Graff (@SG_Calcio) July 31, 2017

Good news for Indy: The new @Topgolf going in in Fishers hiring 500 new employees over the next month or so.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) July 31, 2017

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

Excited to #shareacoke with these two legends as they're inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame #hof #mlb #sbjsbd pic.twitter.com/7oX1rJj0ru

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 30, 2017

The Hornets will unveil new uniform designs, and changes are expected to include adding the Jordan Brand "Jumpman" logo. Also, fans could learn whether the team will be one of eight that can wear "Classic Edition" uniforms next season.

This marks the final day for Tampa Bay Times readers to enter a contest to spend a day with Rays beat writer Marc Topkin as he covers a September game against the Red Sox.

MLB Network will televise 15 consecutive live hours of coverage around today's trade deadline beginning at 10:00am ET that will feature more than 20 experts on air throughout the day. MLB's trade deadline is at 4:00pm.

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Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “21st Century Thought.”

“The title subject of a 2007 bestseller, it was discovered in Australia where today it's a state emblem.”

“What is the black swan?”