Colin Cowherd has "been pulled from the air by ESPN for his offensive remarks on Dominican baseball players in the big leagues" on his radio show last week. The host's 12-year tenure at ESPN "was about to expire by mutual accord -- he's widely expected to join the Fox network -- but his show was still supposed to run through next Friday." Cowherd on Friday "attempted to clarify the remarks that started the firestorm, but only made matters worse." He "called his wording 'clunky' but stopped well short of an apology." He also "replayed the 'rant' to underscore his point" (USATODAY.com, 7/25).

MLS has signed a multiyear deal with DraftKings, which becomes the exclusive daily fantasy provider of the league in the U.S. and Canada. DraftKings will offer exclusive MLS fantasy games and experiences and gets exposure in stadium and on digital platforms. DraftKings, which will develop new games in conjunction with MLS, also will partner with a number of league clubs, with those details to be released at a later date (MLS).

Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti today denied that he is among the NFL owners who Commissioner Roger Goodell "would anger most if he reduces or overturns" Patriots QB Tom Brady's suspension. ESPN's Sal Paolantonio on Friday said Bisciotti, Colts Owner Jim Irsay "and others in the AFC" believe that the Patriots "have gotten away with murder for years and have not been publicly punished properly." Bisciotti today in a statement said, "I have not and will not put any pressure on the commissioner or anyone representing the NFL office to take action in what everyone is calling 'DeflateGate.' The story circulating that I've put pressure on Roger is 100 percent wrong" (ESPN.com, 7/25).

The "large number of empty seats in the upper tier" of Mohegan Sun Arena for yesterday's WNBA All-Star Game was "troubling, in terms of the game's esthetics." The crowd "was 8,214 in a building that seats approximately 9,500," and one section behind a basket "was nearly empty." Prior to the game, a delay occurred when water "began to filter down from a misfiring fog machine near the roof of the building" as the teams were being introduced (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/26).

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley on Friday "handed the city of Sacramento a resounding victory by rejecting a lawsuit" challenging its '14 deal with the NBA Kings to "subsidize a new downtown arena." Plaintiffs now "have 15 days to file objections for the judge to consider before finalizing his decision." But city officials said that they "plan to move forward in the next few weeks on their stalled plans to finance their share of arena construction" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/25).

Meanwhile, sources said that the Kings "have offered" a full-time, player-personnel ‎position in their front office to former NBAer Peja Stojakovic (ESPN.com, 7/25).

The opening ceremony for the Special Olympics World Games was held last night at L.A. Memorial Coliseum, where 6,500 athletes from 165 delegations "basked in the constant cheers from 62,338 fans." Special Olympians' "joyous presence overshadowed the sort of opening ceremony stuff that is usually the big story during traditional Olympics." President Obama "spoke via video" and First Lady Michelle Obama "showed up to close the ceremonies with words of inspiration" (L.A. TIMES, 7/26).

Former Sabres Owner Tom Golisano announced the "single largest private donation in the Special Olympics' 47-year history," a $25M gift to "expand health care services around the world for people with intellectual disabilities" (ESPN.com, 7/25). Meanwhile, the Chargers and 49ers "are both sponsoring delegations at the Special Olympics World Games," while the Raiders "are hosting an interactive fan zone and putting on a football clinic" (ESPN.com, 7/23).

A spokesperson for Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut said he will "use the full power of his office" to push for Toronto to bid for the '24 Games. The bid would "mark the city’s third attempt to host the Olympics." Aubut had "previously hinted he would back the move but stopped short of openly promoting a bid." The city hosting this month's Pan Am Games has "stirred talk of another Olympic bid" (CP, 7/25).

Meanwhile, "a 'couple thousand' tickets remained available" for tonight's Pan Am Games closing ceremony at Rogers Centre. The opening ceremony "drew a sold-out crowd of roughly 45,000" (CP, 7/26).

The city of Charlotte once again "proved it can host world-class soccer events with aplomb," as a crowd of 61,224 was on hand for yesterday's Int'l Champions Cup match between EPL club Chelsea and Ligue 1 club Paris St. Germain. It was the second soccer event at the stadium this month, following the July 15 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader. Yesterday's match "drew far more actual fans in actual seats than your run-of-the-mill" Panthers preseason game (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/26).

Meanwhile, Levi's Stadium drew a crowd of 68,416 for an ICC match between EPL club Manchester United and La Liga side FC Barcelona. The stands were "a healthy mix" of United and Barcelona supporters, "along with thousands of fans sporting Earthquakes or U.S. national team jerseys" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/26).

In a "celebration of Hispanic culture" last night at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals "were clad in uniforms bearing 'Los Reales' across the chest, had the game broadcast in Spanish for the first time on local radio and gave away bobbleheads" of P Yordano Ventura, a Dominican Republic native (K.C. STAR, 7/26). The game was "broadcast on radio stations in Kansas City and Houston by Francisco Romero and Alex Trevino, the Astros’ regular radio play-by-play team, who made a rare road excursion for the occasion." The Astros wore their orange "Los Astros" jerseys (CHRON.com, 7/25).

Keith Olbermann's final show at ESPN aired Friday, with guests including Basketball HOFer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, actor Hank Azaria of "The Simpsons" fame and radio host Tony Bruno. Abdul-Jabbar presented Olbermann with a signed Lakers jersey and basketball. Bruno’s appearance lasted less than 30 seconds. The show concluded with a seven-minute video montage of past clips from the show, followed by Olbermann quickly thanking a long list of production and technical staff ("Olbermann," ESPN2, 7/24).

The Univ. of Maryland-Baltimore County "is scheduled to begin" construction on a new arena this winter, and it will "be completed in time for the start" of the '17-18 season (CATONSVILLE TIMES, 7/25).

An anonymous boxing official said it is "90 percent" likely that boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight on Showtime in his next fight, despite previous reports that his final bout could be shown on CBS' broadcast network (L.A. TIMES, 7/26).

Boxer Gennady Golovkin on Oct. 17 at MSG "will face Canadian brawler David Lemieux in a middleweight unification match on HBO Pay-Pier-View" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/26).

Herbalife ran a full-page ad in yesterday's N.Y. Times around its status as an official partner of the '15 Special Olympics. The ad features the copy, "There is a champion within all of us. We salute the athletes who dream big, work hard and inspire others" (THE DAILY).

"These ruthless capitalists who say they're competing have perfected a system of sharing the wealth that would make Karl Marx proud. ... Any politician who approves public money for private stadiums needs to be voted right out of office" – ESPN’s Howard Bryant (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 7/26).

"We need to remember and promote in some way Larry Doby in the same manner that we celebrate Jackie Robinson" – Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan, on Doby's contributions to the game, having debuted less than three months after Robinson (CLEVELAND.com, 7/25).

"It's definitely a good feeling to know that people do have your back. But I'm sure it will take a while for this (last year) to get erased out of my memory" – Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, on the fan support he received at training camp this week after his arrest kept him off the field last season (ESPN.com, 7/25).

"It’s very difficult when you have to build a team from nothing. This is what I’ve learned this year" – Orlando City SC MF Kaka, on his experience playing for the MLS expansion club (N.Y. TIMES, 7/26).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Thompson & Vinton report under the header, "Wise Guys: Jeffrey Webb And Enrique Sanz Took Over CONCACAF With Same Mafia Ways As Predecessors." The media in '12 presented Webb and Sanz as "vanguards of clean dealing atop a regional soccer authority" just months after a scandal "flushed out their predecessors, Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer." But CONCACAF employees "describe a different reality."

Elsewhere:

• Korean Basketball League execs "descend en masse" on Vegas for an import draft.
• Marvin Miller turned the MLBPA "into a fierce labor force," but remains a HOF snub.
• Theo Epstein "has come out ahead" in leaving the Red Sox for the Cubs.
• YAHOO SPORTS: The sport of MMA is "bigger than ever -- and still growing."
• Texans Owner Bob McNair "has some catching up to do" in quest for a Super Bowl.

Good that former AEG exec Tim Leiweke kept tidy notes on NFL in LA, because brother, Tod, Will be knee-deep in that as league's new COO.

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) July 26, 2015

ESPN suspending Cowherd and basically stamping "RACIST" on his forehead as he leaves for a rival is a special kind of devious. I love it.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 24, 2015

I've tweeted this before, but that Napa/Chase Elliott merchandise commercial is so great! Prob my favorite NASCAR ad this year. Hilarious.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 25, 2015

Breaking: raccoon in mets weight room has been captured and released into the wild, mets announce

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 26, 2015

Sea of humanity awaiting Hall of Fame ceremony pic.twitter.com/S074DDjfce

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 26, 2015