USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said he is hopeful the USOC and IOC will resolve their revenue-sharing negotiations after a new proposal arose during two days of talks this week in N.Y. Blackmun declined to specify what the proposal entailed but expressed "genuine optimism" that it would bring an end to the impasse between the two parties. Blackmun said, "If we figure this out, we'll ask ourselves why we didn't think of it before." The USOC and IOC plan to analyze the new proposal's financial impact and speak again next week.

Blackmun said the USOC remains open to bidding for the '20 Olympics and will submit paperwork later this month that would allow it to put forward a bid city in September. The organization has met with U.S. cities interested in hosting the Olympics, but Blackmun said it won't put forward a city unless it resolves the revenue-sharing issue with the IOC. Blackmun: "As each day goes by, the likelihood of a bid decreases. We want to make sure if we submit a bid, it's a good bid, and ... we're not going to focus on a bid if we don't get this (revenue-sharing agreement) done."

The USOC and IOC have been negotiating on and off since '05 to adjust the amount of revenue the USOC receives from the IOC. A contractual agreement signed in the '90s guarantees the USOC receives a 12.75% share of U.S. broadcast revenues and a 16% share of global sponsorship revenues collected by the IOC. International sports federations and other national Olympic committees have complained that the USOC receives a larger share of Olympic revenue than it deserves.

The USOC and IOC have met six times this year to discuss the issue. The most recent talks took place Thursday night and Friday in N.Y. at the offices of Banco Popular. The IOC was represented by Marketing Commission Chair Gerhard Heiberg, Chief of Staff Christophe De Kepper and Finance Commission Chair Richard Carrion, who is Chair & CEO of Banco Popular. The USOC was represented by Blackmun, Chair Larry Probst and special advisor Fraser Bullock.

Delaware Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross Friday afternoon ruled in favor of MLB supplying the Dodgers $150M in interim financing while the team's case is pending. In doing so, Gross denied Owner Frank McCourt's bid to borrow from Highbridge Capital Management, and the decision represents another major win for the league.

But Gross, as he hinted at the end of a nearly 10-hour hearing Wednesday, strongly cautioned that the Dodgers' requirement to negotiate with the league is not a means for MLB to assert more control over the franchise. MLB's loan "must be independent of and uncoupled from Baseball's oversight and governance of the Dodgers under the MLB constitution," Gross wrote. By not getting approval of the Highbridge loan, McCourt also forfeits an initial $5.25M fee to the firm. Gross said in his decision the fee "clearly compromised McCourt's judgment."

NFL GMs “were told Friday at a meeting to discuss the specifics of the proposed labor agreement that the Saturday start to re-signing free agents and opening team facilities to players is on hold” until the NFLPA “accepts terms of Thursday's announced deal,” according to sources. An official NFL announcement of the delay is “expected later Friday.” Sources said that GMs were told that they “could start some business activities the day after acceptance of the labor agreement,” but it still is uncertain when that will occur. A player vote is “still possible later Friday,” but the logistics of coordinating a conference call after the day of travel to Myra Kraft’s funeral in Boston has “made it unlikely” (ESPN.com, 7/22).

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, Friday at Temple Emanuel outside Boston. All other 31 NFL team owners “attended the heartfelt service,” as did NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith and “numerous current and former players.” The funeral included “tributes and memories from three of her four sons, one of her eight grandchildren, and three people representing some of the organizations she worked most closely with during her life of tireless philanthropy” (BOSTON.com, 7/22).

Others in attendance included Patriots QB Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick; Celtics Managing Partners Steve Pagliuca and Wyc Grousbeck; Red Sox owner John Henry and his wife, Linda Pizzuti. “Who else but Myra could bring such an eclectic bunch together?” asked Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz, who led the service. “Only one person on the planet. Only Myra could” (BOSTON.com, 7/22).

The NFLPA sent out an advisory to NFL player agents early Friday afternoon, warning them to steer players away from a website that purportedly was trying to reconstitute a union and was not affiliated with the NFLPA. "We have received information from players indicating that they are being referred to a website," the message to agents said. "The website is asking players to vote to reconstitute as a union and that the players can use the site to facilitate that action. Please be advised that this site is not affiliated with either the NFL or the NFLPA. You should ignore this site and advise your players to do so as well."

NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir for External Affairs George Atallah wrote on Twitter, “PLAYERS: The NFLVR website is not real. The NFL knows nothing about it either. Ignore it if you are solicited. RT Please.”

In a "rare collaborative effort," Randy Moss Motorsports and Germain Racing have "combined sponsors to form one fully sponsored Toyota Tundra" driven by Todd Bodine in Friday night's Lucas Deep Clean 200 at Nashville Superspeedway and for the rest of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Bodine: "This is the first time I've ever heard of anything like this – two teams combining sponsors to get one full season." Bodine's No. 5 truck team will be "made up of personnel from his former No. 30 team at Germain" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/22).

The MLS Fire will host Manchester United on Saturday at Soldier Field as part of the Herbalife World Football Challenge, and the expected sellout crowd "will be the largest to ever see a Chicago Fire soccer game." Fire President Julian Posada on Thursday confirmed that sales had topped 60,000 for the match, and "limited tickets were still available" at the 61,500-seat venue. The previous high for a Fire crowd was 37,122 against the Galaxy in '98 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/22). 

A crowd of “more than 10,000 is expected” for Sunday’s Baseball HOF induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. Longtime MLB team exec Pat Gillick will be inducted into the HOF, alongside Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven (USATODAY.com, 7/22). Gillick, who is a consultant for the Phillies after serving as the team’s GM, is “just the fourth team architect to be elected” to the Baseball HOF. Gillick also served as GM for the Orioles, Blue Jays and Mariners during his career (CSNPHILLY.com, 7/22). 

In a Saturday ceremony, Marlins radio broadcaster Dave Van Horne will accept the HOF's Ford C. Frick Award, the Philadelphia Daily News' Bill Conlin will receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and D'Backs Special Assistant Roland Hemond will receive the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards for the first time "will be presented at a ceremony separate from" the HOF inductions (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 7/19).

StubHub on Friday announced a deal to become the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Univ. of Michigan athletics. The partnership was facilitated through two pre-existing relationships: UM's tie-in with Paciolan and the school's multimedia rights deal with IMG College. In addition to creating a secondary ticket marketplace through the new deal, UM for the first time this fall will offer print-at-home ticket delivery for home football games. StubHub and Paciolan expect to announce more collegiate partnerships in the coming weeks (StubHub).

The Heat on Friday promoted VP/Basketball Operations Nick Arison to the newly created position of CEO (THE DAILY).

Caddie Steve Williams said that he is "planning to write a book on his career that will include an 'interesting' chapter" on Tiger Woods. Williams "never signed a 'confidentiality' clause that would stop him from writing about his relationship with Woods" (USATODAY.com, 7/22).

Comedian Artie Lange said that he will begin co-hosting "a sports entertainment kind of comedy show" with Nick DiPaolo on Fox Sports Radio in September. But a representative for Lange said that there is "no job to confirm for them at this time" (MEDIABISTRO.com, 7/22).

T-Mobile on Friday announced that it is partnering with the Angels on a new tablet rental program at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (T-Mobile USA).

Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reportedly is "going to spin-off" Serie A soccer club AC Milan from parent company Fininvest. The club earlier this year was valued at US$838M (FORBES.com, 7/22).

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that he will meet with Paul Tracy this weekend in Edmonton to "discuss Internet comments attributed" to the driver after Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/22).

"Earl Campbell is an example. Somebody from ESPN and IMG should call me. I'd love to do the Earl Campbell story for the Longhorn Network. Earl deserves it" – Outgoing HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg, who had occassional spats with ESPN in recent years, on wanting to return to making documentaries (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/22).

"We want to focus on the existing teams. I've had people come to me who are interested in owning a team. So we must be doing something right" – WNBA President Laurel Richie, on whether the league has any expansion plans (SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/22 issue).

"Alex is the cornerstone of our franchise, and he's the spokesperson for hockey and the Olympics in Sochi. I'm only one voice, but I'm supporting him” – Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis, on letting Alex Ovechkin play in the '14 Winter Olympics even if the NHL does not allow players to participate (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/22).

John W. Henry Family Foundation Dir Linda Pizzuti Henry: “Mourning the loss & celebrating the beautiful life of Myra Kraft- an incredible woman who touched countless lives & is an inspiration to all.”

CBS Sports’ Steve Elling: “Boss says my blog item Thurs about Steve Williams had 2x more hits than any CBSSports.com story. Includes SEC, MLB, NFL. Tiger still = news.”

USA Today’s Michael McCarthy: “Why do ESPN anchors like 2 say ‘great stuff’ after an ex-player-turned analyst weighs in on something? Not always great.”

Outgoing ESPN reporter Tim Graham: “Unfortunately, ESPN canceled my last chat and apparently pulled my farewell piece, thanking readers and editors. So I do so here: Thank you.”

If you see a tweet we won’t want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

FRIDAY

MLS execs, Red Bulls President of Business Operations Chris Heck and MLS All-Stars Tim Ream and Brek Shea will ring the NYSE Closing Bell at 4:00pm ET. The group is visiting the NYSE to celebrate next week's MLS All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

The Hurricanes will hold their annual Summer Fun Fest at RBC Center. The event will be open to the public and parking will be free.

SATURDAY

The H206 Charity Basketball Classic will be held at KeyArena in Seattle. The NBA-sanctioned exhibition will feature several Seattle-area NBA players and will raise funds for A Plus Youth Program.

The Univ. of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium will host a U2 concert. The show will mark the "first time in 33 years" that the Minneapolis-St. Paul area has hosted "a big-time outdoor stadium concert" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/20).

FRIDAY

ABC's "20/20" will feature a segment on U.S. paralympian Chris Waddell summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro on a handcycle at 9:00pm ET.

SATURDAY

NBC will broadcast its first episode of "Summer at Saratoga," which will feature stakes races from Saratoga Race Course, at 5:00pm ET. The series, which will be hosted by Tom Hammond, will air over eight weekends – three on NBC and five on Versus. Tom Durkin will call the races.

Despite fallout from Niketown's controversial store display in Boston, the company continues with the drug references in this melodramatic "Addiction" spot via F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, São Paolo.

Watch The Clip

US$7,000 – Approximate cost per seat of building Brazil's new soccer stadiums for the '14 FIFA World Cup, up from an average of about $6,000 per seat in "other recent World Cups." Brazil Sports Minister Orlando Silva said that the higher costs are "due to a fast-growing economy, and a heated construction sector" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/21).