Lions Owner & Chair William Clay Ford died this morning at the age of 88, according to Ford Motor Co. He bought the Lions for $6M in the fall of '63 and "has run the organization for the past 50 years." He was known by players and execs within the organization and across the league "for his uncommon wealth and generosity" (FREEP.com, 3/9).

Ford "was the last surviving grandchild" of Ford Motor Co. Founder Henry Ford. William Clay Ford "had been in poor health the last couple of years and has stayed mostly out of the public eye." His son, team Vice Chair Bill Ford Jr., "has in recent years taken on most of the ownership responsibilities of the team." Only Bills Owner Ralph Wilson "owned a team longer than Ford" (DETROITNEWS.com, 3/9).

EPL club Manchester United is "set to announce a world-record kit deal" with Nike that is worth more than $1B (all figures U.S.) over 10 years. The club "will make a major statement that proves" it is "still the biggest name in world football." The $1B figure is "almost double the current best kit manufacturing deal," which sees La Liga club Real Madrid earn $51.8M annually from its arrangement with adidas (London DAILY MIRROR, 3/9).

ESPN's FiveThirtyEight website will launch March 17, ESPN President John Skipper announced at a SXSW event in Austin yesterday. During a panel session following Skipper's announcement, the site's creator, Nate Silver, said his site will focus on five areas: sports, politics, economics, science and lifestyle. "We'll probably be a little bit heavier on sports -- probably more than 20 percent," Silver said. "My history is not rooted in politics. In fact, I started writing about sports before I started writing about politics at Baseball Prospectus."

On a panel with Grantland Founder Bill Simmons, Silver spoke about his decision to leave the N.Y. Times for ESPN, saying that he spoke with as many as 12 companies before deciding to launch FiveThirtyEight with ESPN. A release touting the launch said cheekily, "As with all plans, this one could go awry. ...We estimate the probability of a March 17 launch at 90.617854%."

U.S. men's national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and ESPN FC writer Roger Bennett today at SXSW are "expected to announce" a special ESPN series, "Inside: US Soccer's March To Brazil," that starts May 13 with a one-hour episode. The series, in which Bennett is a co-producer, will continue with "three half-hour shows in the ensuing weeks and a one-hour finale on June 10." It is an "obvious part of the marketing that will precede broadcasts of the World Cup on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/9).

Austin's Driskill hotel had big crowds all weekend as SXSW rolled out its first sports track at this year's event. Many of the sports-focused panel sessions were filled, as were SXSports Lounges that were sponsored by NFL Players, Inc. and MVPindex. Octagon sponsored an opening night reception on Friday; Dick's Sporting Goods threw a party last night; and Fox Sports will throw one tonight. Some big sports media attendees included ESPN President John Skipper (who is speaking tomorrow), NBC Sports Group President of Programming Jon Miller and Fox Soccer Exec VP & GM David Nathanson (who both spoke yesterday).

A 600-ton crane on Friday finished placing "two sets of 43-foot-tall letters" atop Cowboys Stadium to "finalize its rebranding to AT&T Stadium." The lettering stretches "385 feet across the north and south sides of the stadium’s dome." Austin-based Facility Solutions Group "started working on the letters at the first of the year after a meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones." It took the company "nearly four dozen trips from Austin to Arlington to haul" the two-ton letters (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/8).

As MLS' 19th season kicked off yesterday, league Commissioner Don Garber in an e-mail to fans wrote, "This will be an incredibly exciting year as we embark on our 'March to Brazil' as our League, clubs and fans throughout the United States and Canada gear up for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. MLS will have the largest contingent of MLS players ever to compete in the World Cup. ... There is no better way for soccer fans in the United States and Canada to tap into the building excitement for the World Cup than to follow their MLS club" (THE DAILY).

Basketball HOFer Phil Jackson is "leaning toward" accepting the role of Knicks President of Basketball Operations, which would give him "complete control of all basketball-related matters," according to a source (ESPN.com, 3/8). Another source said that Jackson "wouldn't be usurping the current power" of President & GM Steve Mills (N.Y. POST, 3/9). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said of Knicks Owner James Dolan, "He can give Jackson the autonomy. The question is will he be willing to do so?" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/9). Jackson is "expected to give the club a decision" sometime this week (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/8).

Target Chip Ganassi Racing Owner Chip Ganassi on Friday at The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino of Las Vegas "saluted every member" of his organization as they celebrated the team's 25-year partnership with Target. He said, "Our organization and Target have had an open dialogue from Day 1. The program doesn't look like anything from 25 years ago, and it continues to evolve" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/8).

Duke Univ.'s men's basketball team last night defeated UNC at Cameron Indoor Stadium with a slew of athletic luminaries in attendance, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, former Cowboys coach Barry Switzer and former basketball coach Billy Tubbs (THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, the WALL STREET JOURNAL in a front-page piece yesterday examined the difficulty in obtaining a ticket to a UNC-Duke game under the header, "Want To See The Duke-UNC Game? Better Be Hiding In The Restroom Now" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/8).

The Cavaliers yesterday raised former NBAer Zydrunas Ilgauskas' jersey "to the rafters," and everyone from former team Owner Gordon Gund to the GM who drafted him, Wayne Embry, "was in attendance." The "most notable onlooker" was Heat and former Cavaliers F LeBron James (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/9).

James "was not announced to the crowd during the half-hour celebration, but he was spotted on the court when it was over by the home bench, posing for pictures with a few former teammates" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/9). James "ducked in and out" of Quicken Loans Arena "without speaking to reporters, watching the game ... from a suite" behind the Knicks bench (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/9).

The Stars prior to last night's game against the Wild retired former NHLer Mike Modano's number. Modano, who serves as the team's Exec Advisor & Alternate Governor, was "greeted by Dallas-Forth Worth Sports Royalty" in Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki, former MLBer Michael Young, Mavericks Dir of Basketball Development and former NBAer Rolando Blackman and Pro Football HOFers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman (ESPNDALLAS.com, 3/8). Also on hand were "all three men who have owned the franchise in its Dallas years: Norman Green, Tom Hicks and Tom Gaglardi" (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/8). The game had a "Stars-record crowd of 19,109 fans" (FT. WORTH STAR TELEGRAM, 3/9).

A new documentary on concussions in sports, "Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis," made its U.S. debut last night at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. The film looks at "never-before-revealed neurological findings of rugby and soccer players" and makes a "strong case that repetitive head trauma is not just a concern for football players and boxers." After the screening, a panel discussion was held with film Dir Steve James, former NFLer Mike Haynes and Arizona Republic writer Paola Boivin (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/9).

The Univ. of South Florida is believed to have "settled" on UCLA Associate AD/External Relations Mark Harlan as its AD, though the school "has released no update on the search" (TAMPABAY.com, 3/7).

Foot Locker's Q4 report "sent its shares soaring to an all-time high," giving the company a market capitalization of $6.82B. The results were "fueled by brisk sales of Nike sneakers" (N.Y. POST, 3/9).

Ethiopian runners Amane Gobena and Gebo Burka won the women's and men's races, respectively, today at the 29th annual ASICS L.A. Marathon. Gobena won the "gender challenge," finishing 41 seconds ahead of Burka (LATIMES.com, 3/9). More than 25,000 total participants were "expected to compete" (L.A. TIMES, 3/9).

The O2 Arena "filled with 14,604 people" last night for UFC Fight Night 37, "accounting for a live gate" of $2.06M (MMAWEEKLY.com, 3/8).

Boxer Canelo Alvarez last night defeated Alfredo Angulo by TKO in front of a "capacity crowd of 14,610 at MGM Grand Garden Arena" (L.A. TIMES, 3/9).

The WHL Portland Winterhawks last night "wore commemorative jerseys" with a design that "reflects Portland’s 100-year hockey history." The game against the Vancouver Giants drew 9,609 fans at Moda Center (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/9).

"You don’t need the perfect job. You paid all that money to learn; now here’s your chance to get paid to learn. It’s okay to flip from job to job" – Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, giving advice to those graduating from college (AUSTIN360.com, 3/8).

"Because kickers have grown proficient, somebody decided something must be done about it? Why? Isn’t pursuit of excellence the idea of this whole exercise?" – Boston Herald's Ron Borges, on the NFL's consideration of moving extra-point attempts from the 2-yard line to the 25-yard line (BOSTON HERALD, 3/9).

"He’s a smart guy. He’s a thoughtful guy. A careful guy. He has the respect and the confidence of the players" – NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr, on MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/9).

"The Yankees have boxed themselves in this corner because they've got to spend and tell people, 'We've got this guy and that guy and we're doing all of this.' But it is not going to work" – N.Y. Times' William Rhoden, on the Yankees' offseason spending spree ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 3/9).

"The same Bible that teaches us well about the virtues of chastity and the virtue of fidelity and marriage also tells us not to judge people. So I would say, 'Bravo'" – N.Y. Archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, on NFL Draft prospect Michael Sam's decision to reveal he is gay ("Meet The Press," NBC, 3/9).

Red Sox Owner John Henry, on the team apologizing to the Marlins last week for fielding a weakened lineup in a Spring Training game, "They should apologize for their regular season lineup."

ESPNW's Mechelle Voepel, on the WNBA announcing its new CBA in the midst of college basketball conference tournaments, "The WNBA knows darn good and well most of the people who cover the league ALSO cover college hoops. ... Is it that hard to used more common sense if you want to get more publicity? Did Val Ackerman need to spell out LOOK AT THE CALENDAR."

Toronto Sun's Kurtis Larson, on Root Sports missing the MLS Timbers' goal last night due to showing an instant replay for too long: "MLS broadcast meetings need to address when to cut to replay, and when it's completely useless -- and causes you to miss a goal."

MSNBC's Nisha Chittal: "Silver on leaving NYT: 'Combo of them being a little slow on their feet, and them not having entrepreneurial spirit.'"

beIN Sports' Jeremy St. Louis: "Why @NHL Gamecenter can't show pregame ceremonies & anthems is beyond me; & it's very irritating if you know something special is happening."

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

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC's Bob McManaman writes under the header, "Former Arizona Diamondbacks Slugger Tony Clark Enjoying New Role As Players Union Director." Those around the game are "confident in Clark’s ability to lead the players association into the future, which will include negotiating" a new CBA and "dealing with a new commissioner."

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS offers an excerpt from SI Assistant Managing Editor Kostya Kennedy's "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma," which will be released Tuesday by SI Books. Kennedy writes "nothing had prepared" late MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti for the investigation of Rose's alleged gambling or for "answering the telephone to hear in an unfamiliar voice these words: 'If you put Pete Rose out of baseball, we will kill you.'"
 
Elsewhere:

• The Univ. of Maryland today plays its last regular-season game in the ACC. Meanwhile, the school's "recent stasis has coincided with a sharp decline in attendance." 
• Experts are "not optimistic about" Chicago's proposed expansion of Soldier Field.
• A look at the "top MLB storylines" for the '14 season.
• N.Y. TIMES' Ken Belson: "No Quick Or Clear Solution In NFL Settlement."