• NHL Playing First-Ever Game In China; Fans Get Primer On Rules
• Memo From Players To NFL Seeks Activism Awareness Month
• Medal Designs For '18 Games Feature Korean Alphabet Motif
• The Players' Tribune Partners With Yahoo On NFL-Themed Content

The Kings and Canucks this morning are playing the first NHL game ever in China. A Hockey 101 session took place inside Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai about 25 minutes before faceoff “to explain some of the rules” to fans. Kings D Alec Martinez said after the first period, “The ice is good. It’s not as foggy as it was the last couple days” (“Canucks-Kings,” NBCSN, 9/21). Skaters prior to the game showed fans things “like offside,” and an emcee was “narrating in Mandarin.” The team’s mascots were “demonstrating charging, elbowing, etc.,” and NHL highlights played on the scoreboard screen “as the Zambonis resurface the ice” (TWITTER.com, 9/21).

Tickets for Kings-Canucks as of last night were "still easy to find the in the arena's lower bowl," while a few upper-bowl sections were "less than half sold" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/21).

Current and former NFLers campaigning for social causes "wrote a lengthy memo" to Commissioner Roger Goodell "seeking overt league support in their effort." The memo, sent to Goodell and Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent last month, "seeks an investment of time and education, political involvement, finances and other commitments." It also asks the NFL to "endorse the month of November as an activism awareness month, similar to the periods of league calendar dedicated to breast cancer awareness and military recognition." It was endorsed by Seahawks DE Michael Bennett, Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins, Eagles WR Torrey Smith and former NFLer Anquan Boldin (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/20).

The medal designs for the '18 PyeongChang Games were unveiled at a "ceremony simultaneously held" in N.Y. and South Korea, with the "Korean alphabet hangeul as their motif." South Korea President Moon Jae-in was in attendance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase the medals, which were designed by Korean industrial designer Lee Suk-woo. The hangeul consonants on the medals "represent the Korean words" for the PyeongChang Olympics. They were "written and stretched in 3-D and formed together in a cylinder shape." The design also was "inspired by the texture of tree trunks," and the curved pattern of the medal case is a nod to "Korean traditional architecture" (YONHAP, 9/21).

The Players’ Tribune has partnered with Yahoo Sports to create the new content series "This Season," which will spotlight players from the Ravens and Jaguars leading up to their game in London on Sunday. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement is a one-time deal to promote the game at Wembley Stadium, which will be streamed on Yahoo's site. Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette, Jaguars DE Calais Campbell, Ravens DT Brandon Williams and Ravens S Tony Jefferson will be featured in the series. TPT developed and produced four individual videos on the players, with pieces on Fournette and Jefferson debuting today.

This is not the first time TPT has partnered with a media outlet. It previously teamed up with Business Insider on its "Letter to My Younger Self" series.

StubHub Center has signed a multiyear partnership with Mobilitie to provide wireless connectivity at the stadium. As part of the deal, Mobilitie will design, install and operate the venue's new wireless system, which will be able to provide a record amount of capacity for an MLS stadium. The deal was brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, which recently struck a deal with Mobilitie to provide services at T-Mobile Arena. Terms were not disclosed.

Tennis HOFer Billie Jean King appeared on NBC’s “Late Night” last night to promote “Battle of the Sexes,” the new movie that chronicles her match against Bobby Riggs. King talked about attending a U.S. Open match with actress Emma Stone, who portrays her in the film, and King confessed she is “terrible” to watch tennis with. King: “I don’t have any filter, so I commentate the whole time.” King said the match with Riggs “was all about social change, trying to fight for equality and freedom for everyone.” When asked about the current state of tennis, King said, “I’m a total pain in the backside and I totally am a perfectionist, so it always can be better” (“Late Night,” NBC, 9/21).

The federal government has "signed off on Disney's purchase of a majority stake in BAMTech, which it will use to launch a direct-to-cosumer ESPN-branded video streaming service next year" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 9/20).

Sporting KC last night defeated the Red Bulls in front of a "sold-out, vibrant Children’s Mercy Park crowd of 21,523, the third largest attendance figure in stadium history." The win gave Sporting KC its "fourth U.S. Open Cup championship in franchise history" (K.C. STAR, 9/21).

USA Today features a full-page ad for this week's FedExCup finale (PGA Tour Championship) at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta with the copy: "One champion. Delivered by FedEx." Also in USA Today is a half-page ad touting the upcoming Presidents Cup (THE DAILY).

"I want to commend the NBA. You know, these poor babies can't play back-to-back games. They're making $20-, $30-, $40 million a year. But we want to make it convenient for them. At $40 million a year, we can't stress 'em out. The private jets and four-star hotels aren't enough" -- TNT's Charles Barkley, on the NBA reducing the number of back-to-back games for the '17-18 schedule (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/21).

"Our goal is to really connect our team with the community. We want this to be a destination where the public feels they’re partners. My hope is that people will be drawn to this area and feel a part of it as much as we do" -- Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arn Tellem, on the Pistons' multimillion-dollar practice facility set to open in '19 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/21).

"We see Tom every day. I don’t feel like we really need to read a book" -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, on Tom Brady's new book being released (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 9/20).

The NATIONAL POST writes under the header, "Never Cross Jerry Jones: How Roger Goodell's Trademark Arrogance May Finally Lead To His Downfall." Jones, "owner of the biggest, wealthiest team in the NFL," is "aggrieved by Goodell’s handling" of Ezekiel Elliott's domestic violence case. This has been "Goodell’s pattern, to hoard all the power to impose justice ... then to watch as the case is torn to pieces."

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION goes with, "Young Guns Take Aim At Tour Championship, FedEx Cup Millions." Players like Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm's idea of paying dues is "getting a paper cut while handling one of those oversized winner’s checks."

Also:

• Timbers deepening relationship with NWSL Thorns.
• Cincinnati just can't get enough soccer.
• Golden Knights settling into Vegas home.
• Kings, Canucks embrace China opportunity.
• Old Dominion AD Wood Selig "welcomes ambitious capital campaign."
• Former fighter Gina Carano on rise of women in MMA.

Streaming of sports events has grown exponentially, but a lack of consistent measurement has made it difficult to determine the true impact.

— Brian Hughes (@bhughes_magna) September 20, 2017

So, news! Sunday will be my last game covering the Redskins. Next stop: back to Boston to cover the Patriots for the @BostonGlobe!

— Nora Princiotti (@NoraPrinciotti) September 20, 2017

I have a theory. The more buzzwords thrown out during an injury update, the more concerned I am.

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 21, 2017

Internetty question:

If there’s a story that’s behind a paywall, is it fair/good to share? Or does that annoy people?

— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) September 21, 2017

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

Had a three-time NBA champion & 12-time NBA All-Star in the house today. Thanks for coming by, @DwyaneWade, you're always welcome at The 🙌! pic.twitter.com/Ujjw7OoLLI

— Canes Women's BBall (@CanesWBB) September 20, 2017

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

The Heat will announce a jersey patch sponsor at 11:30am ET.

Tim Tebow will join U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to meet with local and state officials as well as volunteers dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Postal Abbreviations.”

“In 1969 the ‘B’ in this state’s abbreviation was changed to an ‘E’ to avoid confusion with a Canadian province.” 

Actor Jeff Bridges appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” last night and talked about attending this year’s Kentucky Derby, noting he “happened to bet on the winning horse,” Always Dreaming. Host Stephen Colbert asked, “Was this like high-class Kentucky Derby? Because I went there when I was in college and I did the infield, which is a snake pit.” Bridges: “I got to say, ‘Riders up!’” Colbert: “They say that at the ‘Magic Mike’ show too” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 9/20).

Tennis player Maria Sharapova appeared on NBC's “Last Call” and promoted her new memoir, “Unstoppable: My Life So Far.” She again discussed her comeback at the U.S. Open after a doping suspension. Sharapova: “Throughout the whole (suspension), I was determined to get back on the court, to produce the type of (effort) that I played with in that first-round match” (“Last Call,” NBC, 9/21).

“What is Nebraska?” The Canadian province is New Brunswick.