Puma today announced that MLS Red Bulls F Thierry Henry has signed a multiyear endorsement deal with the brand, which becomes his performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel sponsor both on and off the pitch. Henry will take part in a wide variety of Puma consumer and trade programs. The first in-game activation of the partnership occurred last night, when Henry made his worldwide debut in Puma cleats during the MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United (Puma).

Univ. of North Carolina AD Dick Baddour today announced his resignation, leaving it up to school chancellor Holden Thorp "to find a new football coach" following yesterday's firing of Butch Davis. Baddour "will continue to work at UNC, at least through the university's scheduled meeting with the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Oct. 28." Baddour "did not specify when he would leave," but Thorp said that he "will be paid through the remainder of his contract, which runs though next June" (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 7/28).

Construction crews are at the halfway point with the first phase of MSG’s renovation, and the arena is on schedule to be ready for the NHL Rangers’ season opener on Oct. 27. MSG President & CEO Hank Ratner led journalists on a tour of the arena today to show the progress. “On the construction side and the commercial side, the transformation is on schedule,” Ratner said. Crews have installed new seats in the lower bowl, framed out the expanded locker rooms and the new Delta Sky Club hospitality suite, and have expanded mid- and lower-level concourses.

Ratner said 19 of the 20 event-level suites, valued at $1M per-year, have been contracted, and that 75% of the 58 Madison-level suites have also been sold. Crews must finish construction to the concourses and lower suites, as well as the Delta Club, which will provide views of players entering and exiting the locker rooms. Ratner said the arena will not have to cancel any of its fall events due to construction. The construction is being done over three summers, and will finish in the fall of '13.

Churchill Downs Inc. Chair & CEO Bob Evans today reiterated that the company "questions how successful the slot-like Instant Racing game could be in the local market" and said that CDI will "wait until an appeal is finished before installing the game." Churchill Downs has "expressed interest in implementing the game at some point." Kentucky Downs in Franklin is approved for 200 of the machines. Evans: "We think it's a good idea to get a definitive answer from the court before making that kind of investment" (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 7/28).

Meanwhile, CDI's Q2 profits grew 45% from the year-ago period to $40.1M, or $2.37 per share. CDI earned $27.6M, or $1.85 per share, in Q2 '10. The company's revenues rose 16%, "driven chiefly by gains in its casino businesses and online horse wagering operations, both of which expanded significantly in 2010 through acquisitions" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/28).

MLB Productions' and HBO's new hour-long documentary special, "Derek Jeter 3K," will debut tonight on HBO at 9:00pm ET/PT. The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at Jeter's quest to become the first Yankees player with 3,000 hits. The "normally private" Jeter wore a microphone during games and "did an interview at his home for the first time" for the film. Jeter "had control over what was shot, but he didn't see the documentary until after it was completed" (AP, 7/28).

The Reds-themed film "Let's Get Ready To Win," depicting a "day-in-the-life of Great American Ball Park," will premiere today at 4:00pm ET at the Reds HOF ahead of its national TV debut Saturday at 5:00pm ET on MLB Network. Filmmaker Craig Lindvahl's documentary takes place around the Sept. 28 game against the Astros in which RF Jay Bruce hit a walk-off home run to clinch the NL Central title. The film "gives fans a rare look behind-the-scenes" at the venue, and there are "beautiful shots of the field and river traffic" (CINCINNATI.com, 7/26).

U.S. Soccer today announced that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties as U.S. men's national soccer team coach after a five-year tenure (USSF).

AEG and the Green Sports Alliance (GSA) today announced a partnership in which the AEG 1Earth program will become a founding partner of GSA (AEG).

M&T Bank has inked a deal to sponsor the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. The first bank to sponsor the Izod IndyCar Series race, M&T will receive "signage on the race course, branding on print and electronic promotional material" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/28).

Putnam Investments and Kraft Sports Group today announced a multiyear marketing deal that includes promotional and branding opportunities at Gillette Stadium (Putnam Investments).

GroupM today formally announced that it has promoted Bryce Townsend to CEO of GroupM Entertainment & Sport Partnerships, effective immediately. Townsend, who joined the company in '07 as a Senior VP, will replace Greg Luckman, who is leaving to join CAA Sports (Mult., 7/28).

"Seattle lost the Pilots and got the Mariners. Milwaukee lost the Braves and got the Brewers. Kansas City lost the Athletics and got the Royals. New York lost the Dodgers and Giants, and got the Mets. And we know what happened in Washington" – MLB.com's Barry Bloom, on the possibility that Montreal could one day get another MLB franchise (Montreal GAZETTE, 7/28).

"It is like a pie with a new filling. It is not a simple job, retaining something from the 1950s for the 21st century, but I am certain the new stadium will be special for Rio, for Brazil and for the whole world" – Icaro Moreno Jr., who is overseeing the renovation of Brazil's iconic Maracana Stadium ahead of the '14 FIFA World Cup (REUTERS, 7/28). 

CBSSPORTS.com’s Dennis Dodd: “Big Ten Network not interested in doing high school games, per Mark Silverman Big Ten Network prez.”

The L.A. TIMES’ Mark Medina: “I am saddened by the departure of @MHeislerLATimes. I learned so much from his insight & perspective on the NBA/Lakers. He will be missed.”

The NATIONAL POST’s Bruce Arthur: “Sometimes I feel like Peter Gammons' Twitter account is some sort of experiment in existential poetry. RT @pgammo: Q.”

Horizon Media Senior VP & Dir of Research Brad Adgate: "#Nielsen DVR penetration in US has stalled at 38%, cable operators providing more VOD content to subscribers, will VOD surpass DVR's?"

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

As X Games 17 opens today in L.A., action sports veteran Travis Pastrana will not only compete in the annual event, but also will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on Saturday in Indianapolis. (Note, the entity "The Daily" that produced this video is not affiliated in any way with SportsBusiness Daily).

Dodgers CF Matt Kemp will appear on TBS’ “Lopez Tonight” at midnight ET.

2 hours, 50 minutes – The duration of an average MLB game this season, which is “about 20 minutes longer than 30 years ago” (SI, 8/1 issue).