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Sunday, June 14, 2:00pm ET

Weekend Rap....Latest News....Under New Management

ESPN Removes Whitlock As Head Of Forthcoming Race-Focused Site

Jason Whitlock "was replaced Friday" as the head of ESPN's The Undefeated website "just weeks before its planned kickoff," and the search for his successor "will most likely require a further delay of the site’s debut." Whitlock "will be replaced on an interim basis by Leon Carter, the site’s editorial director." ESPN in a statement "did not cite any recent incidents that prompted the change but implied that he did not have the management skills to run the site." The company said Whitlock “will now be entirely focused" on creating content "across various ESPN platforms" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/13).

Swiss Newspaper: FIFA's Blatter May Revisit Decision To Step Down

A Swiss newspaper has reported that FIFA President Sepp Blatter "may seek to stay on," despite his June 2 announcement that he would step down. Swiss paper Schweiz am Sonntag reported Blatter "had received messages of support from African and Asian football associations, asking him to rethink his decision to step down." However, FIFA Audit & Compliance Committee Chair Domenico Scala said that Blatter's departure "was an 'indispensable' part of planned reforms to soccer's governing body" (REUTERS, 6/14).

Coyotes Granted Injunction Against Glendale's Cancelled Arena Deal

A Maricopa County (Ariz.) Superior Court judge on Friday granted the Coyotes' request "for a temporary injunction to keep Glendale from killing their arena deal" (AZCENTRAL.com, 6/13). The injunction "sets the stage for what is expected to be a series of legal actions with one or more lawsuits seeking monetary damages" in excess of $200M as compensation for the alleged breach of contract by Glendale (SI.com, 6/12).

Meanwhile, there has "been discussion" among Coyotes ownership about a move to reduce Majority Owner & Chair Andrew Barroway's shares in the team. He "would stay on" as co-Owner and Governor (TWITTER.com, 6/12).

As Trial Closes, Benson Confident In Ruling Over Mental Competency

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson "expressed confidence on his way out of the courtroom Friday as the eight-day trial to determine his mental competency came to a close." The judge "will issue his ruling by next Friday at the latest." But Benson said, "Aw hell, I already know the decision. I could tell by his face." Benson "did not testify during the proceedings, which were closed to the media and public to protect Benson's medical information." He said, "To have your kids turn against you, that's for the birds" (ESPN.com, 6/12).

American Pharoah Parade Brings 30,000 Fans To Churchill Downs

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah last night was "paraded before" approximately 30,000 "adoring fans before sunset in the Churchill Downs paddock" (BLOODHORSE.com, 6/13). Having American Pharoah on display "brought out what assuredly is the largest media contingent to be at a track outside the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and Breeders' Cup" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/14). The horse was "paraded along the eastern side of the track and into the plaza like a war hero" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/14).

Meanwhile, American Pharoah Owner Ahmed Zayat "all but guaranteed" that the horse's next race will be the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park (NEWSDAY, 6/14).

Wowed By All-Star Crowd, MLL Seems Ready To Expand To Houston

The MLL All-Star Game was held yesterday at BBVA Compass Stadium, where "the official attendance was 10,084." Fans "were active and engaged" throughout the game. The city "did a great job in hosting the event," and the league will "continue to work on bringing a team to the city." MLL Commissioner David Gross: "We were impressed with the crowd size. Hearing people and talking to them saying to bring a team, you know that it's ready" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/14).

Lampley, "Unquestionable Voice Of Boxing," Heads Into Boxing HOF

Longtime HBO fight announcer Jim Lampley today will be inducted into the Int'l Boxing HOF in Canastota, N.Y. In a "highly formatted business, there are only a few voices whose style and attitude will never be duplicated," and Lampley "is one of those voices" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/14). Lampley "has called boxing matches brilliantly for nearly 30 years, the past 27 for HBO, and is the unquestionable voice of boxing" in the U.S. He has been ringside "for the biggest fights over the past three decades and had one memorable call after another" (ESPN.com, 6/12).

Weekend Briefs....

Sahalee Country Club, located in Sammamish, Wash., has been named the site of the '16 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, marking the first time this major championship will be played in the Pacific Northwest (LPGA).

The U.S. women's national soccer team's World Cup game on Friday against Sweden was played "before a sellout crowd of 32,716" at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg (L.A. TIMES, 6/13).

UFC 188 was held last night "in front of a sell-out crowd of 20,000+ at Arena Ciudad de Mexico" (SBNATION.com, 6/14).

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica will perform the National Anthem tonight before Game 5 of the NBA Finals (TWITTER.com, 6/13).

Charges have "been dismissed" against WNBA Shock F Glory Johnson in a domestic violence case in Arizona "involving her then-fiancee," Mercury C Brittney Griner (AP, 6/13).

Single-A New York-Penn League Staten Island Yankees President & GM Jane Rogers is profiled in the N.Y. Times' "Sunday Routine" feature (N.Y. TIMES, 6/14).

Tonya Carpenter, who was "seriously hurt when a broken bat flew into the stands at Fenway Park" during an A's-Red Sox game earlier this month, has "been released from a hospital" and transferred to a rehabilitation center (AP, 6/12).

Quick Hits....

"I'm turning 41. So it's on the horizon" – NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., when asked if he is pondering retirement anytime in the near future (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/13).

"It is a witch hunt, you can put that in the paper" – Former NFLer Jerramy Stevens, on the media coverage surrounding his wife, U.S. women's national soccer team G Hope Solo, and her domestic-violence case (USATODAY.com, 6/13).

"He needs to get rid of them Under Armours right quick. The world would love to see Steph in some Yeezys" – Rapper and producer Kanye West, on his hopes of getting Warriors G Stephen Curry to spurn UA for adidas (COMPLEX.com, 6/11).

"I'm sure something has to be done to make it more exciting to people to watch and also to really see the speed and make it a little bit more dangerous. It is part of the game. We don't want anybody to get hurt but it also makes it more exciting" – F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, on perceptions that the racing series has become too safe (ESPN.com, 6/12).

Weekend Hot Reads....

The PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW's Jason Mackey writes a front-page profile of Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, who "quickly has immersed himself" in the city after one year on the job. What has "become apparent during his first 53 weeks on the job" is how "seamlessly he has fit into the Pittsburgh culture." Also telling is that Rutherford "does not speak to anyone on gamedays, including his wife, Leslie."

Elsewhere:

Sunday Comic....

A sneak preview of SportsBusiness Journal's weekly editorial cartoon:

Twitter Me This....

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Back Pages....

The Weekend Rap offers today's back page sports covers from some of the North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post N.Y. Daily News Newsday Boston Herald Chicago Sun-Times

Hit The Ground Running: The Week Ahead....

THE DAILY’s Week Ahead: June 15-21

MONDAY
• NACDA Convention begins — Orlando
• Deadline for submissions to IOC for broadcast rights across Europe for '18 and '20 Olympics (excluding Great Britain and France, where deals are already in place)
• ATP World Tour Aegon Championships begins — London
• ATP World Tour Gerry Weber Open begins — Halle, Germany
• WTA Tour Aegon Classic Birmingham begins — Birmingham, England

TUESDAY
• WISE Women of the Year Awards event (honorees: TD Garden President Amy Latimer, 76ers Exec VP/Business Operations Lara Price, United Entertainment Group President of Sports & Experiential Mary Scott) — N.Y.

WEDNESDAY
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship begins — Czech Republic

THURSDAY
• USGA U.S. Open begins — University Place, Wash.
• 76ers unveiling new uniforms

FRIDAY
• NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin — Bristol, Tenn.
• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol 200 — Newton, Iowa

SATURDAY
• Stihl Timbersports’ U.S. Pro and Collegiate Championships — N.Y.
• NASCAR Xfinity Series June Chicagoland Race — Joliet, Ill.
• Class A Florida State League All-Star Game — Port St. Lucie, Fla.

SUNDAY
• Father’s Day
• Pilot for “Ballers” premiers on HBO
• Formula One Austrian Grand Prix — Spielberg, Austria
• ATP World Tour Aegon Open Nottingham begins — Nottingham, England
• WTA Tour Aegon International Eastbourne begins — Eastbourne, England

Note: Events are subject to change. Information about upcoming events can be sent via e-mail to calendar@sportsbusinessjournal.com.