• DeMaurice Smith Re-elected NFLPA Exec Dir Under New Process
• Estadio Azteca Sustains No Major Structural Damage In Earthquake
• Sounders Sign Deal With SeatGeek, Dropping Ticketmaster Tie-In
• 76ers Reveal "Spirit Of 76" Season Campaign Featuring Bell Logo

NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith has been selected by a 14-player committee to lead the union for at least the next three years, union officials announced last night on Twitter. "The union is centered on player leadership," Smith said in a tweet posted last night. "I am proud of their commitment, humbled by their trust in me and honored to serve. There is more work to be done." Smith was reelected under a new process in a new NFLPA constitution, the terms of which just became public in the last several weeks. A selection committee of 14 players determines the fate of the exec dir, who serves a term no less than three years and no more than five. ESPN's Jim Trotter was the first to break the news, reporting that Smith's term, set to expire in March, will run through '21.

Following the deadly earthquake that hit Mexico City yesterday, engineers "determined there to be no major structural damage to Estadio Azteca" based on a "preliminary review." The venue, which reportedly experienced "slight damage," is scheduled to host a Raiders-Patriots regular-season game on Nov. 19 as part of the NFL's International Series. The NFL will "await the results of a thorough stadium review, which will be conducted before the site is cleared for reuse" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/20).

Meanwhile, Royals mascot Sluggerrr and Twins mascot TC Bear were in Mexico City yesterday as “part of a goodwill tour” hosted by MLB. The person in the Sluggerrr custom detailed on Twitter the experience of going through the earthquake (K.C. STAR, 9/20).

The Sounders today will announce that they have signed a deal with SeatGeek as their official ticketing partner for primary and secondary sales, "shedding their longstanding Ticketmaster partnership after this season." The club said that the move is "unrelated to complaints about Ticketmaster network outages this season that delayed fan entry into CenturyLink Field." The Sounders will become the "second team to use SeatGeek’s primary ticketing platform" (joining Sporting KC) since the company "became the official ticketing partner of MLS" in July '16. The Timbers and Minnesota United will use SeatGeek for primary sales starting in '19 (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/20).

The 76ers today unveiled their '17-18 season campaign dubbed "Spirit of 76," a nod to the team and the city of Philadelphia's "historic past with a bright light on the team's future." Aspects of the campaign include a promotional video featuring current players and HOFers Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Allen Iverson. Also, the 76ers will play "seven home games featuring a Spirit of 76 center court 'bell' logo," with the team wearing special "City Edition" Nike uniforms for those games. Season-ticket boxes and "souvenir tickets for premium clients" will include the bell logo, and season-ticket holders "will be able to autograph the court" (USATODAY.com, 9/20).

The Overwatch League’s inaugural season will launch in January with 12 teams, game publisher Activision Blizzard will announce today. The regular season will begin Jan. 10 and run through June, with playoffs and finals set for July. The league's 12 teams will debut in a series of exhibition matches starting Dec. 10, Blizzard said. All contests will be at a new studio built by Blizzard at Burbank Studios. Blizzard eventually wants to develop a 28-team league and will continue sales efforts hoping to land additional buyers for a second season. That process will focus on building out its international aspirations. Of the 12 charter teams, nine are American.

Royals LF Alex Gordon last night hit the 5,694th home run of '17, breaking MLB's "all-time record for homers in a single season" and cementing a "new era of power in baseball." The previous mark was set in '00, at the "height of baseball's so-called Steroid Era." The record-breaking ball, which Gordon hit during a game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, is "headed for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown" (K.C. STAR, 9/20). With 12 days left in the season, the "current pace calls for a total of 6,139 home runs -- a stunning 47% hike" since the '14 season (USATODAY.com, 9/19).

A ninth-inning home run by Angels LF Justin Upton in last night's loss to the Indians "appeared to be on the mark" for a $1M promotion when it "bounced inside the oversized paint can behind the left-center field fence at Angel Stadium." However, the Angels said that the "homer would not count for the promotion because it did not land on the fly" in the Sherwin Williams paint can. The company this season has offered to donate $1M to the Angels Baseball Foundation if an Angels player "hits a home run that lands in the can" (ESPN.com, 9/20).

A crowd of 30,596 last night witnessed the USWNT defeat New Zealand 5-0 at Nippert Stadium, a "record for the women’s national team in the state of Ohio" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/20).

Cubs manager Joe Maddon last night made his "first visit back" to Tropicana Field since serving as Rays manger and was treated to a "scoreboard video tribute." A "loud crowd of 25,046," with the cheapest ticket $44, celebrated Maddon's "hefty role in the Rays' success during his nine-year stint" from '05-14 (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/20).

Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena last night hosted the Penguins' preseason opener against the Sabres in front of a sellout crowd of "more than 6,000" (Clearfield PROGRESS, 9/20). About "three-quarters of the fans in a full student section wore hockey jerseys," and about 90% of those "had a Penguins crest across the front" (TRIBLIVE.com, 9/19).

The representatives for both Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez "plan to begin discussions this week for a rematch" following last Saturday's bout at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN.com, 9/19).

Kasey Kahne will "stay in NASCAR next season and drive for Leavine Family Racing" in the Monster Energy Cup Series No. 95 Chevy, replacing Michael McDowell (AP, 9/19).

MSG Co. has hired Nick Allen as the head of its esports division. Allen was previously Twitch VP/Esports (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

The village of Ashwaubenon, Wis., yesterday honored Pro Football HOFer and former Packers GM Ron Wolf by naming a street "Ron Wolf Way." The street was "created during the team's new Titletown development project" (ESPN.com, 9/19).

The NFL and 15 Seconds of Fame have agreed to a multiyear partnership to deliver fans their on-camera appearances from all NFL broadcasts this season (15 Seconds of Fame).

"We are pretty lucky to have this. It’s like we’re at the Ritz-Carlton" -- Red Wings C Dylan Larkin, on the team's first official practice at Little Caesars Arena (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/20).

"I’ll go to my grave believing that when you come right down to it, as a pitcher, it’s what you do in traffic. ... And if you’re at the plate, I’ll kiss your ass on Main Street if you tell me certain hitters don’t have a nose for an RBI, the big clutch hit. To the SABR people it’s random circumstance, and I just can’t rationalize that" -- Giants Exec VP/Baseball Operations Brian Sabean (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/20).

THE BUSINESS OF FASHION writes under the header, "Global Sportswear Brands Making A Play for Women." Nike, Adidas and Under Armour "now feature women in their marketing campaigns and are developing lines that women want to wear." But "is it too late?" Meanwhile, RIVALS.com writes Adidas "most certainly is feeling upbeat" about its booming U.S. market share, but Nike "continues to dominate sponsorships among schools in the Power Five conferences."

The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER goes with the header, "Kevin Durant's Anti-Social Comments Are A Boon For NBA's Social Media Frenzy." The NBA's offseason was "Santa Claus-fat with jolly surprises." Things were capped off earlier this week with Durant's "bizarre third-person comments" explaining why he left the Thunder.

Also:

• Pitchers hurting MLB's pace-of-play push.
• Billie Jean King discusses her upcoming film depiction.
• "Major League" director on the Indians' recent success.
• NFL sees opportunity in sending Ravens across the pond.

There are 153 hitters with at least 15 home runs.
There are 149 hitters qualified for the league batting title.

Baseball in 2017 is wild.

— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) September 20, 2017

New season at ACC pressbox begins. No more second seat for Globe. The Athletic stormtroopers moved in. I'll try to be quiet.

— David Shoalts (@dshoalts) September 19, 2017

Nice work - as usual - @ESPNMcGee on @KyleLarsonRacin E:60 feature. When I grow up I want to be half as good in Where are they now? pieces.

— Tim Southers (@TimSouthers) September 20, 2017

Source on EE case: "It's a good sign (5th circuit) didn't feel need to rule (Tues). Just leave PI in effect while they write their opinion."

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 20, 2017

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

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LeBron James opens the first-ever Bloomberg Global Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel in N.Y. with a taped video for world leaders.

The NFL Compensation Committee will hold a conference call to discuss terms for Commissioner Roger Goodell's contract extension. 

The Suns at 2:00pm PT will announce a $1M grant to fund a yet-to-be-revealed Phoenix community initiative. 

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Potent and Nonpotent Potables.”

“Reverse the two words in the name of this Canadian whiskey brand and you get the name of a cola.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Super Bowl Halftime Shows.”
$200: “With Radio City Music Hall producing the show in 1988, it’s no surprise that it featured these dancers.”
$400: “In 1998 Smokey Robinson and The Temptations took part in the 40th anniversary salute to this record label.”
$600: “She lit up the halftime show in 2015 with a ‘firework’ finale as she shot across the sky.”
$800: “They started the halftime show in 2006 with ‘Start Me Up.’”
$1000: “Many of the early shows including the first one featured this Louisiana school’s famous marching band.”

Actress Emma Stone appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” last night to promote her new film, “Battle of the Sexes,” in which she plays Tennis HOFer Billie Jean King. Host Stephen Colbert said of the match between King and Bobby Riggs, “It's hard to convey to everybody now what a giant media event this was. It was a circus.” Stone: “It was a huge entertainment spectacle, but it was also a huge catalyst for a lot of social change, and Billie Jean has obviously become one of the most recognizable figures in the fight for equality.” Stone and Hillary Clinton, the show’s first guest, met backstage and posed for a picture holding up commemorative T-shirts depicting King. Stone joked that because she was holding up the shirt over her strapless dress, “I look like I’m nude.” Colbert: “It does look like you're topless.” Stone said she sat next to King for a match at the U.S. Open, and King "did live commentary without any pauses in my ear for the entirety of the match." Stone: "It was pretty incredible" (“The Late Show,” CBS, 9/19).

“What is Crown Royal?”

Correct responses to the “Super Bowl Halftime Shows” category:
$200: “Who are the Rockettes?”
$400: “What is Motown?”'
$600: “Who is Katy Perry?”
$800: “Who are the Rolling Stones?”
$1000: “What is Grambling?”