A federal jury on Friday "ordered the owners of the defunct supermarket chain Dominick's" to pay Michael Jordan $8.9M "for using his identity without permission" in an ad. Jordan said that he will "give the award to charities in Chicago." The verdict "comes at the end of a hard-fought, five-year court battle." The case "turned on the two sides' competing versions of how to calculate the fair market value of the ad" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/22). Jordan's case "demonstrated to anyone using his name without permission that they face a long and expensive court battle" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/23).

MLB and the MLBPA announced a Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Policy in which the league can "suspend players with pay when legal charges are pending in 'exceptional cases.'" The deal allows the MLB commissioner to "issue discipline for 'just cause,'" and discipline is "not dependent on a criminal conviction." The commissioner "can place a player accused of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse on paid 'administrative leave' for up to seven days before a disciplinary decision, which can be appealed to the sport's arbitration panel." The commissioner "may defer a discipline decision until the resolution of criminal charges" (AP, 8/21).

As Tiger Woods eyes a top-two finish in the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship to secure a spot in the FedExCup Playoffs, the tournament drew a sellout crowd of 34,000 for yesterday's third round and "a similar crowd awaits" today at Sedgefield Country Club. Tournament Dir Mark Brazil yesterday was "reveling in the 34,000 who poured into Sedgefield," and called it "an historic day at the Wyndham Championship." Woods began today's fourth round two strokes behind tourney leader Jason Gore (PGATOUR.com, 8/22). Meanwhile, Golf Channel's ratings for Friday's second round "were up" 243% year-over-year (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 8/23).

Patriots President Jonathan Kraft yesterday said that it "might be time to rethink the NFL's disciplinary process" in which Commissioner Roger Goodell "has ultimate decision-making authority." Talking to Boston-based WBZ-FM, Kraft was "clear that he wasn't speaking specifically about the NFL's handling of its investigation" into Deflategate, but instead "from a big-picture viewpoint." Kraft: "Things that I don't think we ever thought we would be dealing with, we're dealing with. ... There probably needs to be a rethinking so that the league office and the commissioner aren't put in a spotlight in a way that detracts from the league's image and the game" (ESPN.com, 8/23).

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said that he "isn’t comfortable with the playing conditions" at Levi's Stadium, where his team will face the 49ers in a preseason game tonight. Jones: "We’re going up here to a great new stadium where we’re going to have the Super Bowl, and we’ve got field problems. And this field is really causing us to have to look at what we’re going to do during the game" (DALLASNEWS.com, 8/21). All eyes "will be on the grass" during tonight's game. With the stadium set to host Super Bowl 50 in February, the 49ers "are eager to prove that their new home isn't cursed with a banana peel for a field" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/23).

Both Chevrolet and Honda "have agreed to terms on a five-year extension to their manufacturer agreements to remain with IndyCar, although Honda has yet to finalize the extension." Honda’s current contract as an engine supplier concludes on Sept. 13, and the company "originally wanted a two-year deal." But Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said that Honda and Chevy "would continue through the 2020 season pending final approval of the contract" (FOXSPORTS.com, 8/22).

Today's Verizon IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway marks the final race in a three-year contract, and track President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky said that he "hopes to know within two weeks if the financial numbers justify another season." He said that sales for today's race "are not where they were" in '13, when "about 30,000 to 35,000 fans were estimated" to be in attendance (AP, 8/22). IndyCar "is expected to return to Pocono next year" if enough fans attend today's race, but Igdalsky "won't say what the 'enough' figure is" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/21).

Meanwhile, 20-year-old IndyCar driver Sage Karam is profiled in today's N.Y. TIMES, which writes Karam "is considered by many" to be the future of the series. He "has an audacious racing style and personality to match" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/23).

Int'l Sailing Federation CEO Peter Sowrey "threatened Saturday to move all Olympic sailing events out of polluted Guanabara Bay unless the water is cleaner and floating rubbish is removed for next year's Rio Games." Such a move "would be an embarrassment to local organizers" and the IOC. Both groups have said repeatedly that the water "is safe despite being filled with floating rubbish and untreated sewage that gushes down gullies from hillside favelas" (AP, 8/22).

Las Vegas and Quebec City have "advanced to the third and final formal stage to land NHL expansion franchises." A source said that the third stage "involves the NHL reviewing the applicants’ business plans and revenue projections." The source "spoke on the condition of anonymity because the NHL has not revealed the details of the process." The third stage is "scheduled to end next month" (AP, 8/21).

Today's NYC FC-Galaxy match will feature six designated players, including NYC FC's Frank Lampard and the Galaxy's Steven Gerrard, and there has "never been an MLS game like" it. TV networks "are going all out" for the game. ESPN "will have 11 commentators covering the match, a record for a regular-season contest," while Sky Sports’ "interest in the game likely prompted the kickoff shift" from 2:00pm to 12:00pm PT (SI.com, 8/22).

Meanwhile, Impact F Didier Drogba made his debut with the team last night against the Union at Saputo Stadium. The game marked the first home sellout "in nearly two years" for the Impact (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/22).

USC football coach Steve Sarkisian reportedly was "slurring his words" during a speech at the school's annual Salute to Troy event, and "dropped an F-Bomb" while introducing his team to donors. He "could not complete his speech and was pulled off stage" by AD Pat Haden and College Football HOFer John McKay (SBNATION.com, 8/23).

The PGA Tour on Friday "filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a group of more than 80 Tour caddies earlier this year." The motion is "scheduled to be argued on Oct. 29" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 8/22).

Former MLBer Jorge Posada yesterday had his No. 20 jersey "retired by the Yankees and he got a plaque in Monument Park" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/23).

Lakers G Kobe Bryant "appeared on stage" during Taylor Swift's Friday night show at Staples Center to present her "with a banner recognizing her for the most sold-out shows" at the arena (ESPN.com, 8/21).

"We can’t react that fast in the dugout and we’re paying attention to the game. A fan who’s never seen anything moving that fast at them in their life? No chance" – Tigers CF Anthony Gose, on his concerns with fan safety after a fan was struck by a foul ball this weekend at Comerica Park (AP, 8/22).

"John’s a good friend. He probably doesn’t want to be dragged in. ... I understand why he respectfully passed on the opportunity to get involved" – Patriots President Jonathan Kraft, on Giants President & CEO John Mara declining to help mediate a settlement between Patriots QB Tom Brady and the NFL (BOSTON HERALD, 8/23).

"In the court of public opinion, they’re losing. ... The fact that it’s gone this long, it’s disgraceful, but the NFL’s lucky because it’s the Teflon league -- nothing it does to itself can damage it” – N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola, on the Deflategate hearings (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 8/23).

The College Football HOF hosts a celebration of its first full year of operation at its new Atlanta location. The event includes a panel of HOFers.

The 49ers will honor late radio play-by-play announcer Lon Simmons before their preseason game against the Cowboys at Levi's Stadium.

The N.Y. TIMES' Alex Vadukul profiles former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, whose last decade "is worth considering" if "starting a hole-in-the-wall juice-and-rotisserie-chicken franchise seems like a comedown for a boxer who earned" more than $80M over the course of his career. His last ten years have included a "vortex of misfortune that included bankruptcy, failed comebacks and incarceration."

The DETROIT FREE PRESS' Joe Rexrode writes under the header, "Michigan State AD Mark Hollis Uses Painful Past To Shape The Future." Hollis: "As you get older, you try to instill in people, 'It's OK to make a mistake. ... There is no such thing as a perfect life. There is no such thing as a perfect family."

The BOSTON GLOBE's Peter Abraham gave a behind-the-scenes account of the Red Sox' courtship of new President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Being let go by the Tigers "sparked a 14-day period of behind-the-scenes negotiations involving four teams." The Red Sox' "rapid pursuit took place without" GM Ben Cherington’s knowledge.

Elsewhere:

• AZ REPUBLIC: "Anatomy Of A Promotion: Teams Strive For Best Fan Experience."
• After years of success, this is the "season of our discontent" for Boston sports fans.
• The NCAA "is about to face a more direct challenge" to its student-athlete model.
• N.Y. TIMES: "Surprise Star Of 2013 U.S. Open Receives No Break In Comeback."
• College programs "are seeking new ways to lure fans away from their comfy couches."

More protective measures need to be put in place in all ball parks! Players are sick of seeing injuries that could easily be avoided!

— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 22, 2015

Yes, Saints/Patriots just spent week practicing and living at the Greenbrier, a posh resort with, among other attractions...a casino.

— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) August 23, 2015

As a rule, probably best for coaches not to allegedly appear drunk in a venue where attendees run straight to the message boards and Twitter

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 23, 2015

Crowd supposed to be up today from a yr ago. That would be 3 consecutive wks of increases (Glen-Michigan-Bristol) & likely again Darlington

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 22, 2015