After a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Napa area early this morning, crews "have been walking Levi's Stadium" since 6:00am PT and "there are no reports of damage." It is "game on" for today's Chargers-49ers preseason matchup at the stadium (TWITTER.com, 8/24). Due to the earthquake, the Altamont Corridor Express train to Levi's Stadium has been cancelled for today's game (THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, the 49ers this weekend re-sodded their "entire field, with the exception of the end zones and out-of-bounds sideline areas." Niners COO Al Guido said, "This field will be perfect for the game Sunday." The organization "is expected to eventually remove that sod and lay down a more permanent surface." Guido said that the 49ers "aren't seriously considering installing artificial turf" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/23). The team following tonight's game "likely will start removing the grass and adjusting the composition of the soil underneath" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 8/23).

Dan Marino "is expected to be named" a special advisor to Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and team President & CEO Tom Garfinkel "in the coming days." CBS "dropped Marino as a studio analyst earlier this year, and the Dolphins and Marino have discussed a potential job with the organization over the past five months." Marino "has had an increased visibility around the team in recent days, attending two practices and Saturday's preseason game" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/24).

Ahead of the '14 U.S. Open beginning tomorrow, yesterday's N.Y. TIMES examined the USTA's finances under the header, "A Tennis Board Woven With Conflicts." The paper found that several USTA board members "have benefited from USTA grants and contracts, raising questions about the unofficial perks available to the men and women at tennis’s highest rungs." The USTA spends roughly $200M a year on "salaries, grants to tennis organizations, operating costs and outside contracts," but at least $3.1M of that "annually goes to organizations with ties to board members" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/23).

The NFL has "reached a confidential settlement" with singer M.I.A., who "flipped the bird during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show appearance with Madonna." In March '12, the NFL "filed a claim with the American Arbitration Association" seeking $1.5M from the artist. In March of this year, "with the matter still not resolved, the NFL filed papers with the AAA seeking an additional" $15.1M in damages. M.I.A.'s attorney Howard King said that he "could not share" any details of the settlement, including when it occurred (ESPN.com, 8/22).

The Emmy Awards will air tomorrow night on NBC, and the net's "decision to push the Emmys from Sunday to Monday" was a switch "driven by the network's desire to not interfere with its lucrative NFL franchise, even in the pre-season." Tonight marks NBC's first telecast of "Sunday Night Football" this year, and moving the Emmys "highlights the immense ratings power of the NFL." It will be "the first time in 40 years" the Emmys will be on Monday night. The award show traditionally "has aired on the last Sunday before the official start of the TV season in late September" (L.A. TIMES, 8/23).

The Browns last night held their first game at the newly renovated FirstEnergy Stadium, where the Daktronics-made videoboards were the "obvious focal point" of the $120M in upgrades the venue will receive over the next two years. The videoboards are 192 feet wide and 40 feet tall -- "three times the size of the scoreboards they replaced" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/23). The PLAIN DEALER's Mary Kay Cabot tweeted, "The #Browns new ginormous video boards at FirstEnergy Stadium are amazing. Gives the place a whole new energetic vibe."

The College Football HOF and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience opened yesterday in Atlanta, and crowds gathered outside the venue "long before the doors opened." Fans "of more than 150 different colleges" visited the HOF on its opening day. HOF President & CEO John Stephenson said that officials "limited ticket sales to less than 1,000 per hour." Visitors seemed "enamored with the interactive multimedia technology" at the HOF. Stephenson said the new facility experienced "no major technology hiccups" yesterday. Rather than a traditional ribbon-cutting, dignitaries on stage "blew whistles to signal the opening" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/24).

The Yankees yesterday retired HOF manager Joe Torre's No. 6, becoming "the 17th in franchise history to be retired" (ESPNNY.com, 8/23). N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio "designated Aug. 23 as Joe Torre Day" as part of the festivities. Torre "was lavished with gifts, including a 14-karat gold ring lined with diamonds." Torre said to the crowd, "The one thing you never forget and never lose the feeling for is you people" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/24). Torre's daughter, Andrea, performed yesterday's national anthem "with a couple of her girlfriends" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/24).

The NHLPA invited 33 prospects to this weekend's annual Rookie Showcase in Toronto, which serves as a way to "introduce some of the top rookies to the fans, to help Upper Deck promote its products, and to help young players learn about the marketing side of the business" (DALLASNEWS.com, 8/23). Most of the functions that made up the two-day event were "organized by Upper Deck, the official trading card company of the NHL." The group also "enjoyed a tour" at the Hockey HOF (NHL.com, 8/22).

The Arizona Rattlers won Arena Bowl XXVII 72-32 over the Cleveland Gladiators "in front of 18,410 fans" last night at Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/24).

The AFL on Friday formally announced that the Las Vegas Outlaws expansion franchise, "owned by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, will begin play next season" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/23).

The Travers Stakes attendance of 46,557 yesterday at Saratoga Springs "marked the fifth straight year the crowd has surpassed 40,000" and was the "second-biggest crowd" since '04 (Albany TIMES UNION, 8/24).

The Red Sox signed Cuban OF Rusney Castillo to a seven-year contract worth $72.5M, which "ranks as the most money given to an international amateur" by an MLB team (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/23).

Foot Locker's profits for the quarter ended Aug. 2 "jumped 39%, as strong demand for athletic shoes overcame sluggish apparel sales." The running and basketball categories were the company's "strongest sources of growth" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/23).

ESPN's Sara Walsh today will throw out the first pitch for the Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds (TENNESSEAN.com, 8/24).

"I don’t follow his life and I don’t really follow golf anymore" – Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, on how she has handled the fallout from her nixed engagement to golfer Rory McIlroy (N.Y. TIMES, 8/24).

"I’m starting to feel bad for a lot of the other charities who are going to have a far more difficult time raising money. A lot of people are going to try to copy what ALS has done and it’s going to be impossible" – Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, on why he is not comfortable accepting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge ("Ben & Skin Show," KRLD-FM, 8/22).

"If an American Indian says it’s offensive, that’s fine – I’m all for changing it. But I don’t want some liberal to come out and say, 'This is wrong'" – ESPN's Mike Ditka, on the growing pressure on the Redskins to change their team name (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/24).

"Casey’s not the boss of me. I’m sure he’ll have things to say and whatnot. But when it comes down to it, it’s my decision" – Royals LF Alex Gordon, on whether his agent Casey Close would approve of his plans to put off free agency by exercising his '16 player option (K.C. STAR, 8/24).

"Baseball is fragile right now, football is king, (and) basketball has the kids. Baseball should be in the hands of someone who cares deeply, who thinks the best thing about the job is the idea he can go to any game he wants. Tell us, Rob, who are you?” – The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan, on issues facing MLB Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 8/24).

"It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when" – USL Pro club Sacramento Republic FC Owner Warren Smith, on bringing an MLS franchise to the city (FOX40.com, 8/22).

The WASHINGTON POST's Sally Jenkins wrote Mo'Ne Davis made the cover of SI "because a man deemed her unrepulsive enough to put her there." Had she been "playing ball against other girls, instead of boys, they never would have wasted a thought on her." Jenkins: "While it’s great that a 13-year-old girl was treated as an accomplished athlete, I’d be more grateful if Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi ... didn’t have to spend the winter in Russia just to make a decent living."

The BOSTON GLOBE's Chad Finn writes under the header, "NFL Draft Went From Meager Start To TV Royalty." There "is not another professional sports league in the United States that more effectively sells the enticing premise of the unknown to its fans."

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION's Jeff Schultz talks with Braves Chair Terry McGuirk, who said of how long he has been with the franchise, "I've been with the organization since 1976. I'd like to see if anybody has been to more baseball games in Atlanta than me since 1976. I've been to over 2,000 games."

Elsewhere:

• Retiring NBA ref Dick Bavetta reflects on working 2,635 consecutive games.
• As U.S. Open begins, next generation of tennis stars "is serving notice."
• Baseball still "has a long way to go to increase diversity."

Fox Sports' Clay Travis: "Bruce Pearl’s NCAA sanctions ended at 12:01 last night and he’s already gotten a top player from Philly to go to Auburn. Philly! Absurd."
 
SportsBusiness Journal's John Ourand: "Slight change to ESPN's Redskins stance. 'Individuals [have] the opportunity to decide how they will use those words when reporting on team.'"

(London) Sunday Times' Barry Flatman: "Murray's former doubles partner Eric Butorac wins election to succeed Roger Federer as president of the ATP Player council."

Washington Post's Adam Kilgore: "Some of the speakers at Nats Park are down and not working. i actually love when that happens."
 
Dynamo TV announcer Glenn Davis: "Reported that @puma will purchase 5% stake in Borussia Dortmund."

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

The St. Paul Pioneer-Press' John Shipley posted this image of the T'Wolves ad in today's paper, promoting newly acquired players such as Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett after trading Kevin Love to the Cavaliers.

Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly took to Instagram to thank well-wishers for their support in his fight against cancer.