NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last night was a "surprise visitor" to Patriots Owner Robert Kraft’s box at Gillette Stadium for Jaguars-Patriots, marking his first return since the '15 AFC Championship game that "spawned Deflategate." Goodell has been "touring several training camps this season, was in the area, and decided to catch the game." Goodell is still "planning on being in Foxborough for the season opener Sept. 7" against the Chiefs and "will be in the area a few days early for some community events" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/11). 

The L.A. City Council today is "expected to endorse documents at the heart of its plan to stage" the '28 Games. The contract outlines the city's "financial responsibility in hosting the games," although a budget "has not been completed." City analysts have "recommended the council approve the contract, which faces an Aug. 18 deadline, but also emphasized a revised budget" for '28 "could take months to complete" (AP, 8/11). 

The NBA yesterday unveiled its national TV schedule for the first four days of the regular season, and "just like Christmas Day, the slate of games doesn't disappoint." This season the NBA filled "its Christmas Day stocking with all sorts of goodies for hoops fanatics" (USATODAY.com, 8/10). The Dec. 25 slate includes a record three games on ABC (NBA). 

THE RINGER posted its instant reactions to the TV slate, and CBSSPORTS.com graded both the opening week and Christmas Day selections.

The Clippers today will unveil two of their four new Nike uniforms for the ’17-18 season. The uniforms apply visual design elements of a Clipper ship, as well as the team’s traditional colors of white, blue and red. Above the Nike jock tag are a series of international maritime signal flags converted into the Clippers’ colors that spell out “Clipper Nation.” The sides of the uniforms feature horizontal lines, representing an ocean horizon and a ship's bow cutting through the water (Clippers). Several other team yesterday unveiled their new jerseys:

• The Suns’ new “Association” uniforms feature a modernized wordmark of “Suns” across the chest, while their “Icon” uniforms have “Phoenix.” The Phoenix Sunburst, an element from the team’s original logo, is “prominently displayed on the waistband of the shorts with the tail of the burst along the hem” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/11).

• The T’Wolves’ new jerseys “feature a stripe across the upper chest, just above the Wolves name” and the team’s new logo is “on the shorts” (AP, 8/10). The new look was “created through a collaborative effort” between the team and RARE Design’s Rodney Richardson (TWINCITIES.com, 8/10). 

• There “really isn’t too much difference between the Rockets’ new jerseys and the old ones.” The double stripes that went over the shoulder and down the sides are “gone.” They have been “replaced by more traditional red trim around the shoulders, and a couple chevrons down the sides” (CHRON.com, 8/10). 

• The Pelicans’ new uniforms include “some nuanced changes.” Most “notably, the words ‘New Orleans’ … are significantly bolder and larger than their predecessors” (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 8/10). 

• The Grizzlies unveiled their new uniforms and there are “not a lot of changes to been seen” (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/10). 

The NHL is slated today to hold its first-ever European player media event in Stockholm. The league has held a press event in conjunction with the NHLPA for roughly the last 10 years, typically at its NYC HQ, and decided to expand the initiative to include an event in Europe as well, tailored specifically to European rights holders and other media. The event, held at the television studios of Viasat, the league’s rights holder across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, will feature 18 players from 16 teams. Eight of the league’s international rights holders are also scheduled to attend, including NBC, as well as more than 30 other media outlets. See THE DAILY for more.

The Ohio Supreme Court has "ordered Cleveland City Council Clerk Pat Britt to accept referendum petitions submitted by a coalition that opposes Cleveland's use of tax dollars on upgrades at Quicken Loans Arena." Thursday's 4-3 ruling "leaves the project in limbo, at least in the short term." Cuyahoga County "delayed selling bonds to finance the project while Cleveland's role was being contested," and the Cavaliers had "hoped to begin work right after" the playoffs ended in June. The decision also likely "scuttles Cleveland's hopes of hosting" the NBA ASG in either '20 or '21. The NBA "recently warned Cleveland that if work on the upgrades did not start by Sept. 15, the city's bid would not be considered" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/11). Also still unanswered is when the issue of using tax dollars "could be on the ballot" for city voters (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/11). 

The Mariners' three-day celebration to "officially retire Edgar Martinez's No. 11 jersey" kicks off this morning. Martinez will appear on the deck of Seattle's Space Needle with current Mariners players to "hoist a giant flag bearing his number," and both national and local television "will be covering" the event. Later at Safeco Field for Angels-Mariners, the first 45,000 fans will "get an Edgar Bobblehead." On Saturday the team will hold the "official retiring ceremony" with the first 45,000 fans receiving a "replica No. 11 plaque." Saturday evening Seattle's Russell Investments building on Second Avenue will "have its windows lit in the number 11." The celebration wraps up Sunday with the first 45,000 fans "receiving a replica No. 11 jersey, and the team itself wearing a commemorative logo on their caps and jerseys" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/9).

Amazon is "seeking to partner with U.S. venue owners to sell event tickets," a move that "could loosen Ticketmaster's powerful grip on the lucrative ticketing business," according to sources. The move would represent the latest attempt by Amazon to "use its massive customer base, tech savvy and bargaining power to shake up a big market." Live Nation-owned Ticketmaster is the "exclusive seller of primary tickets for many top" U.S. venues. Would-be challengers have "struggled to compete" with its "strong relationships with the operators of major U.S. sports stadiums, arenas, concert halls and other venues." Amazon already has "had success with ticketing in Britain" (REUTERS, 8/10). 

The USL will formally announce that a team in Las Vegas will enter the league in '18 at an event today in the city. The team will be owned and operated by former Orlando City SC COO Brett Lashbrook (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

A source said that the NFL's “ruling on its investigation” into Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott “could come as early as” today (NFL.com, 8/10).

Eagles CB Malcolm Jenkins “continued” racial injustice protest that he started last season, “holding his right fist aloft during the national anthem” last night prior to the team’s preseason game against the Packers at Lambeau Field (PHILLY.com, 8/11).

German broadcasters ARD and ZDF have “struck a deal with Discovery Communications for the right to show the Olympic Games” from '18-24. ARD did not say “how much the broadcasters were paying to sub-license the rights” (REUTERS, 8/11).

Country singer Shania Twain was “announced on Thursday as the halftime performer” at this year’s CFL Grey Cup. She also performed at the ’02 game (CP, 8/10).

"I’m actually tired of hearing that question. Right now, we have over 60 million dollars in the box office. What part of that remotely looks like ticket sales are slow? This isn’t a damn Rolling Stones concert. That’s the only thing that sells out in seconds" -- Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, when asked about reported slow ticket sales for Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor on Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena (AP, 8/10).

"I put a lot into this sport, and I know that I might not have met everyone’s expectations, but I certainly exceeded my own. ... I hate that that’s how he feels" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., addressing Kevin Harvick's recent comments that NASCAR's growth has been hindered because Earnhardt did not win enough (AP, 8/10). 

"It's not so much the money -- it's about the future and building for the future, getting a fresh start. We talked to people (for Kahne), we got close to some deals, we had some deals that drug out too long, and it wasn't fair to Kasey or me" -- Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick, on releasing Kasey Kahne at the end of the season so William Byron could take over the No. 5 NASCAR Cup Series car (ESPN.com, 8/10). 

"We’re considering five or six cities and looking for a multi-year deal, but Austin is clearly attractive to us for a number of reasons" -- Spring League Founder & CEO Brian Woods, on the possibility of basing the developmental football league at Circuit of the Americas (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/11).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “Weekend Update: Summer Edition” featured SNL cast member Kenan Thompson portraying LaVar Ball. Thompson said, “I'm doing incredible. I got one son in the NBA and two on the way. I'm like Earl Woods, Joe Jackson, and Dina Lohan all rolled into one. Never lost!” (“Weekend Update: Summer Edition,” NBC, 8/10).

The N.Y. TIMES writes 10 years ago, on the eve of the '08-09 season, six teams in the EPL “came from the capital and its general vicinity.” Nine, by contrast, “hailed from England’s North West, representing not only the powerhouses of Manchester and Liverpool, but also towns like Blackburn, Wigan and Bolton.” A decade on, the “picture has reversed.” When the season begins today, almost half the division is “filled with teams from London and nearby areas, and from England’s affluent south coast.” It “seems the power base of English soccer is shifting south.” In part, that is a “straightforward business decision: Everything from the value of land to the price of tickets is higher in London, making any club a potentially more lucrative investment.”

ALSO:

• With Yankees, Red Sox competitive, their matchups “have some juice again”
• Could Mayweather adviser Sam Watson “bring big-time boxing back” to Memphis?
• A look at North Carolina FC Owner Steve Malik's efforts to land an MLS team in Raleigh.

So actually, as frustrating as Goodell'a discipline powers are, it's a tiny % of NFLers. We should focus on other areas in the next CBA https://t.co/LNNkjMYr7M

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 11, 2017

Didn’t think anything would top Bill Hader as the Mooch, but then Kenan Thompson somehow did it showing up as Lavar Ball on SNL tonight.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) August 11, 2017

Pretty sure the referees in the @Saints preseason game were using an Etch-A-Sketch for instant replay.

— Chris Yandle (@ChrisYandle) August 11, 2017

Something charming about Sonny Jurgensen telling listeners to turn to tomorrow's Washington Post for all day's sports scores.

— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) August 11, 2017

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Randall Cobb will sign autographs and participate in a Q&A at Preva Health's "Preva Get After It Live" event at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Famous Names.”

“At a May 1989 ceremony in Cape Town, he received a bachelor of laws correspondence degree in Absentia.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Football season is almost upon us. Seven exhibition games tonight. We all of a sudden have not one, but two NFL teams in L.A. We had none for years, now we have two, the Rams and the Chargers, who had a friendly inter-squad joint scrimmage yesterday minus the friendly part.” After airing a brief clip of a fight that broke out between the two teams at the scrimmage, Kimmel said, “Sadly that's probably the most exciting thing that will happen to either the Rams or the Chargers this season, but they were charging and ramming” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 8/10). Meanwhile, TBS’ Conan O’Brien said, “Some football stadiums are going to get a delivery system that will bring food right to your seat. That's amazing. However, if you're a Rams fan, your food will most likely be intercepted and returned for a touchdown. That's the only problem” (“Conan,” TBS, 8/10).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said during Wednesday night's Royals-Cardinals game, someone “ran out of stands and across the field and when security tried to remove him, he put up a pretty good fight.” After running a clip of the “rally cat” from the game, Fallon said, “The cat's friends were like, ‘Dude, he only had two Bud Lights. What is he doing?” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/10).

Footballoutsiders.com Editor-In-Chief Aaron Schatz was a guest on last night’s edition of NBC’s “Late Night” and talked about how his website has become so prominent and important to NFL analytics. Host Seth Meyers asked, “Before you, there was not this sort of exhaustive analytical, statistical, analysis of football, and the way that you did it. You first started this because you wanted to prove a reporter wrong. Can you explain that?” Schatz said, “Isn't that how everybody starts their careers?” (“Late Night,” NBC, 8/11).

“Who is Nelson Mandela?”