• Gordon Hayward Injury Casts Pall Over NBA Season Opener
  
• Warriors Receive Championship Rings With Record Diamond Count
  
• LeBron James Wears "Equality" Shoes During Cavaliers' Opener
  
• President Trump Again Blasts NFL As Anthem Policy Is Unchanged

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Today: What’s next after a by-all-accounts productive NFL meeting and Crew, Stars and Flames in the news – but for different reasons.

Much of the "excitement for the NBA built up over an incredible summer was zapped less than six minutes" into the season, as new Celtics F Gordon Hayward "dislocated his ankle and fractured his tibia" in the first quarter against the Cavaliers (SI.com, 10/17). With the injury, the "celebratory tenor of the season opener quickly turned solemn" (WSJ.com, 10/17). The NBA season "couldn't have started worse." Hayward's injury was the kind that "fills an arena with solemn silence" (USA TODAY, 10/18). The injury drew "ghastly comparisons with Paul George and Joe Theismann" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/18).

Meanwhile, FS1’s Skip Bayless is drawing criticism for a tweet he sent out shortly after Hayward’s injury. He wrote, “If Gordon Hayward is gone, maybe for the season, LeBron's path to losing a sixth finals gets even easier.” Many NBA players wrote back to Bayless, with Raptors G DeMar DeRozan writing, “You’re a clown for that tweet after a man gets hurt with a potential career ending injury! Shit bigger then basketball!”

The Warriors last night received their '17 NBA championship rings during a pregame ceremony at Oracle Arena. The rings from Jason of Beverly Hills weigh 11 carats and "feature more diamonds than any other championship rings across all four major sports." There are 36 princess blue sapphires to "represent the number of Warriors' home wins last season, while the 31 white trapezoid diamonds represent the team's away wins." The 83 diamonds on the top "represent the Warriors' total number of regular season and playoff wins combined." There are "five trophies on the side of the ring to represent each of the five NBA championships won by the franchise" (ESPN.com, 10/17).

Warriors unveil 2017 championship rings 🔥 (h/t jasonofbeverlyhills/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/VIAHJe4KHp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 18, 2017

Meanwhile, James' Nike jersey ripped during the game, which "marked the sportswear company's debut" as NBA uniform provider in the regular season. A "large tear was visible down the back" of James' jersey, "between the numerals of his #23 kit." The rip appeared after "incidental contact" with Celtics F Jaylen Brown. It was "at least the second Nike jersey to endure a large tear during play," after Lakers G Tyler Ennis "suffered a ripped jersey in a preseason game" (WSJ.com, 10/18).

Following the NFL's decision yesterday not to alter its national anthem policy, President Trump tweeted, "The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!" (TWITTER.com, 10/18). NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league reportedly "did not ask" that players commit to stand for the anthem. Goodell said the meeting was spent "talking about the issues that our players have been trying to bring attention to, about issues in our communities ... That was the entire focus" (ESPN, 10/17).

49ers CEO Jed York said, "Everybody understands that we're going to get baited, whether it's from the President or whether it's from other detractors. We need to be above petty attacks from anybody, because racial and socioeconomic inequality has existed in this country for too long. We need to get the focus on that, and we need to make sure that we make progress there" (SI.com, 10/18).

See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

A U.S. District judge in N.Y. last night "forced another interruption" in Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension, ordering a temporary restraining order "after hearing oral arguments" from the NFL and NFLPA. This comes after a federal appeals court on Thursday "vacated the preliminary injunction that had allowed him to play in all five of the Cowboys' games so far." The TRO is "good through Oct. 30" or whenever the N.Y. court decides to hold another hearing on "whether Elliott should be granted a preliminary injunction." Judge Paul Crotty filled in for the assigned judge, Katherine Polk Failla, who will "make the more lasting decision on Elliott's fate when she returns" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/18).

Mobile-based ticket platform Gametime has struck official distribution partnerships with the Hawks, Bucks, Magic, Stars and Lightning, marking the first such pacts for the upstart S.F.-based company. Gametime already has been working with more than a dozen pro teams on an opaque basis, but these deals represent the first teams to publicly disclose an official relationship. The five deals, while varying slightly in individual details, involve each team using Gametime as a last-minute distribution channel for primary ticket inventory with a particular intent of reaching the company’s predominantly young adult audience.

The agreement follows a wide-ranging partnership Gametime struck with Ticketmaster in May, and each of the five teams are aligned with Ticketmaster for primary ticketing. “This really enables the teams to get wider distribution in a quick and easy way, and in a manner that stays tied to their existing ticketing strategy,” said Gametime Senior VP/Business Development Larry Martin, who led the partnership negotiations with each team. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Martin said the deals will be “on a performance basis.” There are not any marketing assets included, as the deals are focused on ticket distribution. Each of the teams will also gain Gametime transaction data.

Asics is launching new marketing that "positions the Japanese footwear company as a health and wellness brand." Today the company is debuting "I Move Me," a campaign that "celebrates its diversity of products for a diverse range of people -- including, but not limited to, athletes." DJ Steve Aoki is headlining the campaign, "marking the first non-athlete spokesperson for the brand." A new digital spot "leans heavily on music and the power of movement." U.S. wrestler Jordan Burroughs and U.S. bobsledder Lolo Jones will also be "featured in the new push, among others." The new marketing is "solely digital, and will include nine pieces of content coming online between now and the end of the year" (ADAGE.com, 10/18).

After taking a year off from playing stadiums, Kenny Chesney returns in '18 with an 18-date tour covering MLB, NFL and MLS venues. Chesney’s “Trip Around the Sun” route starts April 21 at Raymond James Stadium and concludes Aug. 24 at Gillette Stadium. Tour venues include Mapfre Stadium (June 16), Miller Park (April 28), Chase Field (June 23) and Busch Stadium (July 21). The 14 remaining dates are NFL facilities, including the Falcons' new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Pawtucket City Council last night voted 6-2 on a "non-binding resolution of support for the city to issue bonds" worth up to $15M for the Triple-A Int'l League Red Sox' ballpark proposal (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 10/18).

The Univ. of Louisville BOT will meet at 1:00pm ET today to "determine the employment" of suspended AD Tom Jurich (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 10/17).

The field of potential names for Philadelphia's new NLL franchise has been "whittled down" to three candidates: the Fire, Founders and Wings (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/17).

Georgia Tech is "attempting to arrange an exhibition basketball game with Georgia State to be played Oct. 28 at McCamish Pavilion." The game would "raise money for hurricane relief" (AJC.com, 10/17).

A vandal yesterday "stole the bat" from a Ken Griffey Jr. statue outside of the Mariners' Safeco Field at around 5:00pm PT (ESPN.com, 10/17).

TCU has launched a line of merchandise bearing the TC trademark worn by the baseball team available to fans at retail (TCU).

"I think so, yeah. We’ve shown some progress and I’m happy about it" -- Jets Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson, on if he is pleased with how the team is progressing after a 3-3 start to the NFL season (NEWSDAY, 10/18).

"Because they haven’t been able to solve that (CTE) problem, they’re going to lose participants and they’re going to lose people watching. ... I just don’t think kids are going to be as excited about football as we were growing up and that’s a long-term problem" -- Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, on the future of the NFL and its safety concerns (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/18).

"The locker room, as the kids call it, it’s fire" -- Pistons F Tobias Harris, on the Little Caesars Arena locker room compared to the Palace of Auburn Hills' (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/18).

The Nashville TENNESSEAN writes under the header, "Nashville More Competitive With MLS Soccer Team And Stadium." With the Titans and Predators each having reached a Super Bowl and Stanley Cup, Nashville is now "ready to diversify its mix of teams and add" an MLS team. But that also "means committing to build a stadium."

The TAMPA BAY TIMES goes with, "Exposé 'Champions Way' Uses FSU To Illustrate Bad Behavior In College Programs." N.Y. Times reporter Mike McIntire's new book "includes a little new information" on the Jameis Winston case, but also "takes a broader view of the major problems endemic to big-time college football."

Also:

• Michael Jordan "scores again" with Jumpman logo.
• Drew Brees' "plan to save football."
• Golden Knights "looked to Boston to help Las Vegas move on from tragedy."
• Pat Riley on his 50 years in the NBA.
• A CHICAGO TRIBUNE editorial takes a look at baseball fans' safety. 
• Cardinals C Yadier Molina delivers help to his native Puerto Rico.

On the same day the NFL promoted societal fairness, the NFL argued in court that fairness isn't required in player disciplinary hearings.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 18, 2017

I haven't heard new Yankee Stadium sound like this. Not even close. It sounds like old Yankee Stadium.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 18, 2017

Not saying it’s quiet here, but it sounds like a White Sox game broke out.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 18, 2017

Please note: Ads on NBA Jerseys happened. World continues to spin

— Matt Powell (@NPDMattPowell) October 18, 2017

The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER's Ted Crow suggests it may be time for Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III to hit the panic button after his team's 0-6 start.

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Deloitte Principal Peter Giorgio at 1:00pm ET hosts a special webcast looking at compliance risks in the recent college hoops scandal. NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts will also make an appearance.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Asian Geography.”

“It’s the only country that borders both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “October: Sports Fans’ Heaven.”
$400: “The NHL’s new Golden Knights franchise of this city starts its regular season next to New York-New York.”
$800: “It’s World Series time, with this team that lost to the Cubs now having gone the longest without a Fall Classic title.”
$1200: “This bearded Houston Rocket starts NBA play with a $170 million extension and a new teammate, Chris Paul.”
$1600: “It’s the heart of the NFL season, with rivalries like the Jets versus this division rival they accused of 2007’s’Spygate.’”
$2000: “This California city’s Earthquakes and Major League Soccer’s other squads wrap up the regular season.”

Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah was on location in Chicago last night and told the theater audience he could “see some of you are a little bit nervous” about the Cubs in the playoffs. But Noah said, “I do think it’s pretty hilarious just to see how people in Chicago went from, ‘Man, after 108 years I wish we could just win once, just one time,’ and now people are like, ‘We want it every year! We deserve it every year!’” Noah: “I know that some of you are nervous that Chicago won't win anymore championships, but I have good news for you. It turns out you've already won.” The broadcast aired a news report which stated Chicago is the “rattiest city in the U.S.” Noah noted it was the “third year in a row that Chicago has topped the most rats list. It’s your first three-peat since Jordan.” Noah: “I wonder if there’s like a rat Michael Jordan out there thinking, ‘Yo, I got to get my own line of shoes now’” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 10/17).

500 -- Number of tickets Grizzlies coach David Fizdale gave away to fans yesterday for the team's season opener tonight against the Pelicans at FedExForum (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 10/17).

"What is Iran?"

Correct responses to the “October: Sports Fans’ Heaven” category:
$400: “What is Las Vegas?”
$800: “Who are the Indians?” 
$1200: “Who is James Harden?”
$1600: “Who are the Patriots?”
$2000: “What is San Jose?”