One of the law firms representing retired players who sued the NFL in '09 for not paying them for using their images in NFL Films products has now signed up 600 former players. Currently there are six named plaintiffs to the case, which is scheduled to go to trial April 1. That disclosure was made in a filing today by firm Zimmerman Reed as part of its request to be made interim class counsel in the case. The players, whose lead plaintiff is Fred Dryer, allege the NFL should pay them for their use in NFL video products. The NFL responds those rights belong to the league as part of their player contracts.

“To date, over 1,300 former players have contacted Zimmerman Reed regarding the case, and over 600 have retained Zimmerman Reed to represent their interests in this matter,” the law firm wrote in the filing with the Minnesota federal court. The law firm also said it has had disputes with lawyers Bob Stein and Daniel and Thomas Ward, who are also working on the case, over who should be interim class counsel.

“In the course of the prosecution of this case, certain attorneys of record for the Plaintiffs have disagreed with Zimmerman Reed and other attorneys of record over litigation strategy and the manner in which the case should proceed,” Zimmerman wrote. Later in the motion, the law firm said it expected others to apply to be interim class counsel. Magistrate judge Arthur Boylan is presiding over the case. Boylan is also currently mediating between the NFL and active players.

Blues Owner Dave Checketts today said that he "would be granted an extension" to pay back a $120M loan from a Citigroup-led syndicate, "giving him more time to sell" the team. Checketts also said he has three "very strong" bidders, but did not identify them. He added that he "never missed a payment on the loan, which was due June 30," and that the banks "wanted to know when they could expect repayment by getting an update on the sale process." Checketts "wouldn't disclose details of the pending extension," saying that he and the banks "have agreed to confidentiality" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/6).

The NBPA maintains that there "is an 'adequate basis' for doubting the NBA losses, citing the inaccurate financial projections" the NBA made in '09-10. The union's assertion today came a day after a N.Y. Times blog post titled "Calling Foul on NBA's Claims of Financial Distress" questioned whether "the league indeed lost money two seasons ago." NBPA Dir of Communications Dan Wasserman said that the NBA "projected a decline in revenues that season but they actually rose, so the final losses should have been much less than the league said" (AP, 7/6). Click here to read the NBA's full response to the N.Y. Times article.

Lisa Brown "has left her position" as Richard Petty Motorsports CEO to become a senior adviser to Medallion Financial Corp. President Andrew Murstein and to help Murstein build Medallion Sports Media, which launched in April. Brown "orchestrated the restructuring" of RPM's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program "under its new ownership group and guided the company through that transition." For the past nine months, she had "brought stability to a racing organization that was on life support last fall under the direction of George Gillett," and she "fought for Petty to regain control of the company." Murstein owns a majority stake in RPM (FOXSPORTS.com, 7/6).

The Clippers for the fourth year in a row "declined to raise their season-ticket prices" despite a 7.9% increase in attendance last year that can be "largely correlated" with the arrival of F Blake Griffin. The team's most expensive courtside seats cost $48,400 for a full 41-game home season, while the cheapest seats in the third level of Staples Center ran $396. The team in its brochure to season-ticket holders "implied that it wanted to reward its loyal fans who had held onto their seats while the team lost 116 games combined the previous two seasons" (ESPNLOSANGELES.com, 7/6).

The Breeders' Cup today announced that it is launching a series of marketing activities highlighting the Classic, Classic contenders and Breeders' Cup Challenge Classic division races. The efforts include a racetrack-focused consumer promotion; expanded TV coverage of the Challenge races; a dedicated web presence and social media campaign; and branding that promotes the Classic's international prestige and its status as the U.S.'s richest race. The campaign will begin with the July 9 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park (Breeders' Cup).

Humor website Funny Or Die's NFL labor dispute-inspired spoof on "Field of Dreams" debuted on ESPN's "SportsCenter" this morning. The three-minute-plus video quickly became the most prominent one displayed on the Funny Or Die homepage, where users also can quickly find links to outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage. In one of the deleted scenes, actor Taylor Lautner's character asks Tony Gonzalez, "Why aren't you wearing a normal jersey?" Gonzalez: "Legal reasons" (THE DAILY).

CBSNEWS.com's Stephen Smith writes, "While the video is only a moderately amusing parody of the seminal baseball movie, it is much more notable for its all-star cast." The HUFFINGTON POST notes the video is "loaded with stars from the NFL and Hollywood" and includes a "brief cameo" by Kevin Costner. ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky writes the video is "a quality way to spend a work break."

Human resources firm ADP today announced a three-year marketing deal with Annika Sorenstam. The deal includes multiple businesses under the Annika brand, such as the Annika Foundation, Annika Academy, Annika Course Design, Annika Financial Services and shopAnnika.com (THE DAILY).

ESPN Regional Television, in cooperation with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and MLS, has secured the four teams participating in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational at Aloha Stadium in February. The four teams are the MLS Rapids, Japan's Yokohama FC, South Korea's Incheon United FC and Australia's Melbourne Heart FC (ESPN).

Esurance today announced a summer-long marketing partnership with doubles tennis team Bob and Mike Bryan, who last week won their second Wimbledon title. The deal includes promotional appearances and a consumer sweepstakes (Esurance).

Paciolan today announced that Stanford Univ. has renewed its partnership with the company. Stanford has partnered with Paciolan since '82 (Paciolan).

“I'm sorry you are spending your honeymoon listening to a Pyeongchang presentation for a third time. I promise to make it up to you in Pyeongchang in 2018” – Korean Olympic Committee head Park Yong-sung, during Pyeongchang’s appearance before the IOC today, to Prince Albert II of Monaco, an IOC member, on his wedding last weekend (AP, 7/6).

"We are not closing any doors, all doors are open. ... It would be good to have an African and South African bid for 2020" – South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, on the country's interest in bidding to host the '20 Olympics (REUTERS, 7/6).

"He'll be part of our advertising, along with Brandon Jennings. We're still going to release shoes and go ahead with our plan of having a full speed ahead campaign" – Under Armour Senior VP/Sports Marketing Matt Mirchin, on plans to use Bobcats draft pick Kemba Walker in advertising during the NBA lockout (CNBC.com, 7/6).

WMG Chair & CEO Casey Wasserman: “UK, Russia, Brazil, South Korea,Qatar...IOC/FIFA rotation...amazing globalization of huge events, only likely to continue for years to come.”

EAG Sports Management CEO Denise White: “It was great working with the crew of ‘funny or die’ last week. Our guys had a great time filming it. Great experience for all.”

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Scott Brown: “Positive sign from steelers: organization-wide meeting on training camp being held 2day at practice facility.”

Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay: “July 2010 ESPN: Losing its mind about LeBron James. July 2011 ESPN: Losing its mind about Women's World Cup. Bravo, 2011 ESPN.”

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

LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan will take part in a panel discussion on women’s golf during Golf Channel’s “Golf Talk Live” at 8:00pm ET.

Packers WR Greg Jennings will appear on USA Network’s “Royal Pains” 9:00pm ET.

Golfer Rory McIlroy offers a rare look at his private backyard golf course and reveals how he often alters the setup to prepare for upcoming tournaments.

132 – Population rank of the Quad Cities market, which is hosting the PGA Tour John Deere Classic this week in Silvis, Ill. The date on the PGA Tour schedule had been previously held by the Greater Milwaukee Open/U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, whose population ranks 28th in the U.S. and is roughly five times the size of the Quad Cities (THE DAILY).