Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner toured Cowboys Stadium and met with team execs yesterday. Banner said, "One of the things they do probably better than anyone else is they aren't afraid to think big" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/18).
ESPN analyst Mike Ditka was absent from “Sunday NFL Countdown” today after suffering a stroke Friday. Host Chris Berman said, "He’s told us everything is OK. He’ll be back with us soon right here, just not this weekend” ("Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 11/18). Ditka: “I feel good right now and it’s not a big deal” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/17).
More than 43,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's MLS playoff game between the Galaxy-Sounders, which will "set a franchise record for a home playoff game" (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/17).
Outdoor Channel Holdings will "merge with" InterMedia Outdoors Holdings, and the group said both Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel will "continue to serve genre enthusiasts." The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of '13 and will create InterMedia Outdoor Holdings Inc. (MULTICHANNEL.com, 11/16).
Virginia Tech yesterday sported helmets with turkeys on them for the team's game against Boston College. The helmets featured the player's number on one side and a "fighting turkey" on the other (YAHOO SPORTS, 11/17).
As a reminder, tonight's episode of CBS' "60 Minutes" features a story on how universities are using college football as a tool to raise revenues and bolster images. Among those featured are Univ. of Michigan AD Dave Brandon and Towson Univ. (THE DAILY).
