Disney and Altice reached an agreement last night that will see the N.Y.-based cable operator carry SEC Network and ACC Network, sources said. The two sides emailed a statement to reporters yesterday simply saying, “We have reached an agreement in principle and have extended the deadline accordingly to try and finalize the terms.” Disney negotiated a price increase for its channels, but the size of that increase is not clear. The agreement encompasses all of Disney and ESPN’s cable channels as part of a multiyear deal that has been viewed as a bellwether for the pay-TV industry.

Negotiations between Altice and ESPN became acrimonious and public over the past several weeks, with the cable operator complaining about the price for ESPN and Disney warning that Altice’s N.Y.-area subscribers would miss out on the Twins-Yankees AL Wild Card game tomorrow, which is exclusively on ESPN. The deal was set to expire over the weekend, with the threat that Disney’s channels, including the broadcast channel WABC, could go dark. ESPN execs clearly expect the Altice deal to provide a blueprint for future carriage deals. As part of the agreement, Altice will drop ESPN Classic.

A number of NFL players and teams "protested in some fashion" before yesterday's games, through the "demonstrations were fewer and more muted than last weekend." This weekend's gestures were "much smaller in numbers than the broad response from players and teams across the NFL last Sunday." Many "teams knelt before the singing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' then rose as a group for its playing" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/2).

The 49ers "had about 30 players kneel" prior to yesterday's road loss to the Cardinals. The team last played on Thursday, Sept. 21, the day before President Trump's initial comments on the protests, so "most players stood for the anthem" that day (Baltimore SUN, 10/2).

The Univ. of Louisville BOT has called an unscheduled meeting for 9:00am ET today, following a "calamitous week" in which the school put AD Tom Jurich and basketball coach Rick Pitino on administrative leave. The trustees "could approve" an interim AD. The agenda "calls for closed-door discussions of litigation and personnel matters as well as an update on the search for a new president and the accreditation review of the university." The school's Athletic Association will meet at 1:00pm after the trustees' meeting (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 10/2).

President Trump yesterday became the "first-ever sitting president to award" the Presidents Cup trophy, handing it to U.S. team captain Steve Stricker after the American team's 19-11 win at Liberty National. Trump arrived at the course at 3:00pm ET and "about three hours" later attended the trophy ceremony, where he spoke for "about two minutes" on golf and hurricane relief. He "lauded the PGA Tour's philanthropy efforts and the Americans' 'unbelievable' play" (NJ.com, 10/1). The ceremony was "largely a rowdy affair, with chants of 'USA' and the singing of 'God Bless America.'" One attendee yelled, "You don't give a shit about Puerto Rico!" (N.Y. POST, 10/2).

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott's suspension case today heads to an "oral hearing" before a three-judge panel at the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The NFL and the Elliott/NFLPA side will "present arguments on whether the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas had subject matter jurisdiction" in the case. That court had issued a "preliminary injunction that allows Elliott to play while his case is dealt with." Elliott wants the NFL's motion for a stay of the injunction denied, while the NFL "wants the entire case dismissed" (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/1).

With the case headed back to court, the recent "good feelings between NFL players and owners ... could end soon" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/29).

Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria today "plans to finalize" the team’s $1.2B sale to the new ownership group. New Principal Owner Bruce Sherman, incoming CEO Derek Jeter and "several other minority owners and their families watched" yesterday's season finale against the Braves at Marlins Park "from a suite-level box." Loria "watched several innings from his second-row seat next to the Marlins’ dugout" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/2).

Terry Collins "will not return next season as the Mets' manager," but with his contract expiring will "move into a new front-office position that has yet to be specified." At 68, he is the "oldest manager" in MLB (N.Y. TIMES, 10/2). The "hasty agreement ends not only his seven-year stay as Mets manager but also brings resolution to what was increasingly becoming a messy breakup." Reports late last week "detailed dysfunction within the organization, which included strained relationships between Collins, some of his players, and the front office" (NEWSDAY, 10/2).

White Sox TV play-by-play announcer Hawk Harrelson yesterday "called his final road game as a broadcaster," a 3-1 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. It was with "tears in his eyes" that Harrelson "closed out a chapter of his storied baseball career." He said, "Fifty-six years, parts of seven decades, and baseball's been great to me. I've been blessed. I love this game." Harrelson is scheduled to call 20 White Sox home games next season "before moving into an ambassador role with the organization" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/2).

The Indians "honored Harrelson with a video montage in the first inning." He "started to choke up as he discussed the highlights" of his career. Watch the video on MLB.com (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/1).

MLS has hired Diego Moratorio as GM of MLS Canada, a new position for the league. Based in Toronto, Moratorio will be responsible for growing the fanbase of the league in Canada, as well as increasing sponsorship in the country, both at the league and club level. He will also work with the league's Canadian broadcast partners, TSN and TVA Sports, as well as with the three Canadian MLS clubs in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Moratorio was most recently the Dir of Marketing for Coca-Cola Canada. He will report to SUM President Kathy Carter, and will begin his new role today.

A deal between Indianapolis-based WTHR-NBC and AT&T "wasn't struck in time" for the Colts-Seahawks "SNF" game, and fans "used Twitter to let the involved parties know they are not pleased." There is "no timetable for when the issue will be resolved" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/2).

MLB's average time for a nine-inning game this season "rose 4½ minutes" to a "record 3 hours, 5 minutes, 11 seconds." That was "up from 3 hours, 42 seconds last year" (AP, 10/2).

A new sports podcast from the Boston Globe and WBUR-FM, "Season Ticket," will debut this afternoon. Hosted by Globe sports columnist Christopher Gasper, it will feature "conversations, insider information and unfiltered opinion on the Boston sports scene and beyond" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 9/28).

The Celtics yesterday "held a fan event at TD Garden that was attended by about 5,000 season ticket-holders." Players were "introduced one by one" before a "roundtable chat began" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/2).

The ECHL Colorado Eagles today will formally "announce their partnership" with the Avalanche and the AHL in a joint news conference at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The Eagles will become the Avalanche's AHL affiliate (DENVER POST, 10/2).

The Rugby Football Union is "considering selling the naming rights to ­Twickenham" as it seeks to maximize the financial returns from the "historic home of English rugby" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/1).

"I'm okay. We were right there..sounded like fireworks at first then everyone started running. Scary" -- British tennis player Laura Robson, on attending last night's country music festival in Las Vegas, where at least 50 people were killed by a mass shooter (BBC.com, 10/2).

"Sports can’t be silent. They want you to be silent, but this is a microcosm of our whole society. It’s more of a microcosm than probably any other occupation in the world" -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker, on athletes using their platforms to speak on social causes (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/2).

"I’m tired of the cameras in my face all of the time" -- Steelers OT Alejandro Villanueva, on cameras focusing on him during the playing of the national anthem yesterday ahead of the team's game against the Ravens (DKPITTSBURGHSPORTS.com, 10/1).

"To use me as a tool to push an agenda and push message is completely unacceptable" -- Villanueva, on becoming part of the debate over protests during the national anthem (USA TODAY, 10/2).

“It’s good for the NFL. But let’s be honest, the AFC, this is good for CBS” -- CBS’ Phil Simms, on the number of good, young quarterbacks emerging in the AFC (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 10/1).

YAHOO SPORTS wrote Adidas execs Merl Code and Jim Gatto, both arrested last week as part of the men's college hoops scandal, "could control the fate of college basketball," as they are "benevolent dealmakers, behind-the-scenes shakers and confidants of the sport’s boldfaced names." No one has "more wide-ranging information of the inner-workings of the black market of agents, shoe companies, financial advisers and college basketball recruiting." Could their "knowledge of the basketball scene lead to more firings, charges and chaos?"

More on college hoops landscape:

• What are the 10 most pressing questions on recruiting scandal?
• PROVIDENCE JOURNAL on "how to disinfect college basketball."
• A look at schools' "addiction to shoe-company cash."
• AAU, shoe companies tied to "end of modern NCAA basketball as we've known it."

Also:

• Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum "full of memories for longtime fans."
• A look back at S.F.'s initial coverage of Colin Kaepernick's protest.
• Lions punter doubles as financial advisor.
• Deserted stadiums at LSU, Tennessee "illustrate misery."
• A look at football fans' behavior during typical national anthem.
• NBA turning players "into running, jumping billboards?"
• Fair to compare Kaepernick with late Muhammad Ali?
• Wizards' tie to China stretches back "nearly 40 years."
• Bill Simmons on President Trump and the NFL's "Unsolvable Crisis."

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

Golfer Stewart Cink will ring the NYSE Closing Bell alongside PGA Tour and Southern Company officials in recognition of his winning this year's Payne Stewart Award.

Supposed to tweet out Pats-Panthers links, break down the film and record a podcast today. Seems all so trivial right now #PrayForLasVegas

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 2, 2017

Congratulations Team USA on a strong #PresidentsCup victory! Always a treat to watch the best play the best.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 1, 2017

So Mets fans will get @kevinburkhardt and Keith on FOX and Ron Darling on TBS. Meanwhile, Gary Cohen will be napping on the couch.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) October 2, 2017

Jaromir Jagr playing in the Saddledome in a throwback jersey would basically be redundant, and also redundant

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) October 2, 2017

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

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19th Century People.”

“On June 28, 1838 an archbishop jammed a ring made for her little finger onto her fourth; she had to soak it in ice water to get it off.”

The opening skit of NBC’s “SNL” this weekend featured Alec Baldwin portraying President Trump and cast member Aidy Bryant as White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The two were discussing the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico, with Trump telling Sanders, “You’re a straight shooter.” Trump said she “handled that NFL thing just great.” Sanders: “I’m a little embarrassed that I said it’s a black-and-white issue. I should have said it’s a black-versus-white issue.” Trump: “I actually love football. I could have played. People say that I remind them of an NFL player because I’m combative, I like to win and I might have a degenerative brain disease.”

On the “Weekend Update” segment, cast member Colin Jost said Trump "continued his criticism of NFL players who protest during the national anthem." Jost: "I guess Trump thought, ‘Well, CNN and MSNBC already hate me, how can I get ESPN to hate me too?’ I’m worried it’s not going to stop with ESPN, though. Next he’s going to tweet at Nickelodeon that they need to show us Dora’s papers." Cast member Michael Che: “The commissioner of the NBA said that he expected players to follow league rules and stand during the national anthem. Okay, the NBA is what, 130, 140% black? What exactly are you going to do if they all decide to kneel? Have a game between the New York Porzingis and the San Antonio Ginobili? And how did this guy even get to be the commissioner of the NBA anyway? He looks like somebody put a suit on a sex toy” (“SNL,” NBC, 9/30).

Friday’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” aired the recurring segment “Thank You Notes.” Host Jimmy Fallon: “Thank you, this week, for being a really awkward time to propose in an NFL game.” More Fallon: “Thank you, every picture of Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at the President’s Cup, for looking like the last shot in a Flomax ad” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/29).

“Who was Queen Victoria?”