The Golden Knights last night made their T-Mobile Arena debut before a crowd of 17,101 for the preseason game against the Kings. The fans were "into it," chanting "Go Knights Go!" throughout. The crowd was "loud, enthusiastic and knowledgeable." Players "noted how loud T-Mobile Arena was, and this could become an intimidating building for visiting teams over time" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/27). There was a "kaleidoscope of NHL team jerseys in the arena besides the gray and red of the Golden Knights" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 9/26).

President Trump last night "defended his view" that the NFL "should require athletes to stand" for the national anthem. Trump, speaking at a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in N.Y., said, "They have a rule, you can’t dance in the end zone, you can’t wear pink socks, one guy’s mother had breast cancer and they wouldn’t let him, you can’t do anything! But you’re allowed to sit down for the national anthem." Addressing "about 150 of the Republican Party’s wealthiest donors," he "lambasted" NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and free agent QB Colin Kaepernick (POLITICO.com, 9/26).

Trump this morning once again referenced the NFL on Twitter, writing, “Spoke to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. Players will stand for Country!” (TWITTER.com, 9/27).

The Sparks last night "opted to stay in the locker room" for the National Anthem prior to Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Lynx in Minneapolis, "as was the case Sunday" for Game 1. The Lynx "stood at attention" during the anthem. They "did not lock arms, though, as they did for Game 1." Sparks players have said that this is "simply a way to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement" (ESPN.com, 9/26).

Meanwhile, HBO’s Bryant Gumbel at the conclusion of last night’s “Real Sports” episode thanked President Trump for “energizing the social conscience of the modern American athlete.” Gumbel, who did not mention the president by name, said this weekend’s “series of racist, churlish and childish comments drew a variety of stunning rebukes and actions, which suggests jocks may finally be realizing that apathy won't cut it anymore.” Gumbel: “Bob Dylan famously said: ‘The times they are a changin’, and that's still true today ... as is the sad reality that certain things haven't really changed at all” (“Real Sports,” HBO, 9/26).

NBA owners meet today and tomorrow at the St. Regis Hotel in N.Y. for the league's annual fall BOG meeting. Key topics on the agenda include revenue sharing, along with expected votes on draft lottery changes and on guidelines related to teams resting healthy players during the regular season. Owners also will hear a report on team and league business operations, a report on international business and an update on the NBA’s esports league. CBS' Charlie Rose also is scheduled to conduct a one-on-one interview with former CIA director George Tenet.

CSN Mid-Atlantic has chosen Kara Lawson to replace Phil Chenier on Wizards games this season, making Lawson the latest woman to occupy an analyst seat for the upcoming NBA season. Lawson will be paired with Steve Buckhantz on the games. She replaces Chenier, a former player who served as an analyst for 33 seasons. Chenier will move to the studio for most games, though he will call 10-12 games either as the third person in the booth or replacing Lawson when she has an ESPN commitment. Former NBAer Drew Gooden also will appear in studio and will be the third person in the booth on occasion later in the season. See THE DAILY for more.

Nike's "new challenging era was reflected in flat revenue growth" and a 24% decline in earnings per share in Q1. Robust international sales were "balanced by another decline in North American revenue," while the company "kept a tight lid on expenses" (OREGONLIVE.com, 9/26). Nike's net income for the quarter was $950M, down from $1.25B in the year-ago period. However, profits "hit the high end of analysts' estimates and outperformed the average" (WWD.com, 9/26).

Counting the Dodgers home regular-season finale today against the Padres, the team "will have sold more than 3.7 million tickets this season." That means the club has "led the majors in attendance in each of the five full years under Guggenheim Baseball ownership, selling between 3.7 million and 3.8 million tickets each year" (L.A. TIMES, 9/27). The Dodgers have also made the playoffs all five seasons under Guggenheim's ownership (THE DAILY).

Coaches at “some of the most storied programs in college basketball,” along with some Adidas execs, are at the "center of federal allegations that if proven true could shed light on the lucrative worlds of sports management and apparel contracts and underscore the power coaches wild over top prospects" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/27). The news around the charges leveled by the FBI and subsequent arrests of coaches and execs was given front-page treatment in several papers across the country (THE DAILY).

The story was covered during the first 15 minutes of ABC’s “GMA” and “CBS This Morning” with taped segments. NBC’s “Today” aired a report on the scandal 30 minutes into their broadcast, while also teasing the report in the opening of the show with the headline “Bribery Scandal.” Last night’s editions of ABC’s “World News,” CBS’ “Evening News” and NBC’s “Nightly News” all aired reports on the scandal about 17 minutes into their telecasts (THE DAILY).

Disney in today's N.Y. Times and Newark Star-Ledger took out full-page ads aimed at customers of Altice USA's Optimum services. "Optimum Customers: These Networks May Soon Be Gone From Your TV Lineup. We're Working For You To Make Sure You Don't Miss A Minute." The ad focused on ESPN, Disney Channel, Freeform and a local ABC affiliate (THE DAILY).

The Yankees last night for the seventh consecutive year teamed with Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure to "promote prostate cancer awareness with free screenings" at Yankee Stadium during a game against the Rays (NORTHJERSEY.com, 9/26).

The CFL Montreal Alouettes GM Kavis Reed yesterday "admitted he has reached out" to Colin Kaepernick's agent (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 9/27).

The North American Premier Basketball league "will have a team based" in K.C. in its inaugural season that will play at Municipal Auditorium (K.C. STAR, 9/27).

"It’s definitely something I wouldn’t cross out. I’ve experienced a lot of racism myself in hockey and on a day-to-day occurrence. I haven’t really sat down to think about it too much yet, but I definitely wouldn’t say no to it" -- Sharks RW Joel Ward, on possibly kneeling during the national anthem this season (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 9/27).

"The hardest thing is that all of us would love to just stick to sports -- but if you want us to be role models to kids then you need to stand for more than just sports" -- U.S. bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, on athletes speaking out on social issues (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27).

"Doing it in Oakland might be the right place, right time, right town kind of deal. But I know that there are silly little things that I couldn’t even share on how difficult it is to stand out" -- SNY broadcaster Ron Darling, on A's C Bruce Maxwell kneeling during the anthem over the weekend (NEWSDAY, 9/27).

"That’s one of the great things about him. It’s why a lot of guys want to come here and play for him. Because of how he is speaking out for us, minority groups. It makes us proud to play for him. He uses his voice for good reasons" -- Spurs F Danny Green, on Gregg Popovich being a socially conscious NBA coach (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/27).

The Adidas/NCAA scandal has risen to the top of the news cycle, and ESPN.com quotes former footwear exec Sonny Vaccaro as saying, "I was absolutely shocked with the breadth of it. You got everybody in one story." The N.Y. TIMES notes the "complaints might pressure these coaches to cooperate with the government, perhaps resulting in even more coaches' facing criminal charges."

In terms of specific schools implicated, the Univ. of Louisville's "acknowledgement of its involvement raises questions about what is next on several fronts, including the fate of coach Rick Pitino." ... If this is "not yet the worst day" in Univ. of Arizona basketball history, it will "possibly turn out that way." ... Georgia Tech "does not expect that it will change its partnership" with Adidas. ... For Auburn AD Jay Jacobs, "this should be one scandal too many."

On NFL player protests:

• Is it time to stop taking the anthem "out to the ballgame?"
• Kaepernick's statement was over "injustice," everything else "just noise."
• State of Texas flummoxed by Trump vs. the NFL.
• Is Trump turning NFL players' brains "into a political football?"

One thing about Joel Ward - from my experience, there are few players in this league that are as well-liked and respected as he is.

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) September 27, 2017

Having a hard time figuring out how big-time college basketball isn’t over. The shoe money has run it for decades. If that goes, it goes.

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) September 26, 2017

Theo on Monday's Nacho Man incident: "I thought that whole thing was cheesy."

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) September 26, 2017

Trump’s new travel ban includes Chad, North Korea, Venezuela, and the Golden State Warriors.

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 27, 2017

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

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The D-backs will name the Scout Section at Chase Field after longtime exec Roland Hemond.

The TORONTO STAR's Theo Moudakis tackles the Penguins' decision to accept President Trump's invitation to the White House.

A Maryland-based boxed water company is "encouraging baseball fans to snarl, growl, grimace and strut, all for the chance to win a meet-and-greet" with Nationals P Max Scherzer. Fans interested in participating in Rethink Water’s “Strikeout Plastic” sweepstakes are "invited to share videos of their best 'Mad Max' pre-pitch impressions of the Nationals’ ace on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram through Oct. 31" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/27).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Fictional Characters.”

“At the Women in I.T. awards in 2017, the head of MI-6 said today the real version of the character known by this letter is female.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Sports Abbreviations.”
$400: “In the 2005-06 season, LeBron James averages 42.5 mpg – that’s not miles per gallon but this.”
$800: “In hockey, PP is this situation in which a penalty gives one team more players than the other.”
$1200: “Jim Courier and Steffi Graf are members of the ITHF, this.”
$1600: “Mariano Rivera and Goose Gossage are among those who have been charged with BS, ‘blown’ this.”
$2000: “In cricket, a batsman can be dismissed (that’s cricket talk for ‘out’) for LBW, ‘leg before’ this.”

Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah said of fans booing Cowboys players when they knelt prior to the national anthem, “You can't kneel during the anthem, you can't kneel before the anthem. It's gotten so intense I bet if a player drops their car keys they're probably like, ‘Ohhh, I guess I'll just walk home.’” Noah: “If there's one unlikely winner from all of this though, it's actually the NFL. ... While this kneeling controversy was going on, their ratings rose this weekend, and knowing the NFL, it's only a matter of time before they find a way to cash in.” The broadcast then aired an NFL “promo” with the announcer saying, “It's time for the ‘Ford Pregame Protest Kneel’ brought to you by Del Taco. Del Taco, join the resistance against hunger. Also brought to you by Icy Hot. When you feel the kneel, reach for Icy Hot and stay tuned for the post-kneel boos, brought to you by Tyler Perry's ‘Boo2: A Madea Halloween.’ In theaters everywhere October 20th. Then stick around for the post-presidential tweet storm brought to you by the Canadian Immigration Bureau. When you've finally had enough, give us a call” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 9/26).

CBS’ Stephen Colbert said according to President Trump, NFL “fans are tuning out right after the game starts,” causing low ratings, which is the “way Jets fans have been watching for years.” Colbert said Trump “may be right” that viewers are tuning in only at the start. Colbert: “But some businesses are already ready to capitalize on this new trend” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 9/26).

TBS’ Conan O’Brien: “Trump announced he will visit Puerto Rico next Tuesday and survey the storm damage. ... However, he may have to cancel depending on what happens on ‘Monday Night Football.’ … An employee for the Buffalo Bills quit after the entire team took a knee during the National Anthem on Sunday. Meanwhile, an employee for the Los Angeles Chargers quit after watching them play on Sunday. … It's been revealed that a tweet President Trump sent out yesterday about Iran testing a ballistic missile was based on old news footage. Even worse, most of Trump's complaints about the NFL were based on the movie ‘Rudy’” (“Conan,” TBS, 9/26).

“What is 'Q'?”

Correct responses to the “Sports Abbreviations” category:
$400: “What is minutes per game?”
$800: “What is a power play?”
$1200: “What is the Int'l Tennis Hall of Fame?”
$1600: “What is a blown save?”
$2000: “What is a wicket?”