The Great America theme park is being sold for $70M to S.F. real estate firm JMA Ventures, which says that the move "will be a boon for the future relationship with the 49ers football stadium and end a lawsuit that the current owners filed against the team and the city." Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews said that the York family, which owns the team, "is investing in the purchase," but he did not disclose the amount. Great America's owner, Cedar Fair, did not support Santa Clara's stadium-building measure (MERCURYNEWS.com, 9/19).

Tennis player Andy Murray today said that the world's top players are "'not afraid' of going on strike unless officials heed their calls to improve the crammed tennis calendar as soon as possible." Murray said it is "a possibility" that the players will discuss a strike when they meet during next month's Shanghai Masters. Murray: "I know from speaking to some players they're not afraid of doing that. Let's hope it doesn't come to that but I'm sure the players will consider it" (REUTERS, 9/19).

LOCOG today revealed that it "will be putting off the sale of more than a million of the most highly sought after tickets until into the new year." The change in the ticket-release schedule means that consumers wanting to buy '12 London Games tickets "to put under the Christmas tree will be limited to a release of a million football tickets that still remain left over from the original U.K. ticket offer." LOCOG said that it is currently planning that these soccer tickets "should go on sale around the beginning of December" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 9/19).

PVH Corp. today announced that its Van Heusen apparel brand will partner with GQ and ESPN on new elements of its Institute of Style campaign. The effort will include a digital platform and new ad campaign that includes a chance for consumers to win a Super Bowl XLVI experience in Indianapolis in February. Men can submit before and after style photos to be judged by a panel consisting of Pro Football HOFers Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders, plus experts from Van Heusen, GQ and ESPN The Magazine. Van Heusen also will activate around the campaign with Facebook posts (PVH).

USA Water Polo today announced the launch of its Cap Campaign marketing effort in which celebrities and athletes will wear water polo caps to raise awareness about the growth of the sport. Participants include entertainer Sean Paul, actor Ted McGinley, astronaut Steve Smith, model Annalaina Marks and WNBA Silver Stars C Jayne Appel. Also taking part are two U.S. Olympic water polo players who are surgeons: Omar Amr and Margie Dingeldein. Images of Cap Campaign participants will appear in print ads and PSAs launching in '12 (USA Water Polo).

PGA Tour sponsor Charles Schwab today announced the launch of an online documentary series titled "The Mentor Project." The episodic series depicts PGA Tour legends imparting advice and guidance to emerging stars in the sport (Charles Schwab).

MusclePharm announced a two-year deal to become the official nutritional supplement provider for the UFC. MusclePharm will have exclusive in-ring placement, including its trademark MP logo on the Octagon mat and bumpers up to 10 times per year during UFC live events (MusclePharm).

Baltimore Grand Prix organizers are looking to raise $1.5M from current investors "as they ramp up preparations" for the Izod IndyCar Series event's second year in '12 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/19).

The NFL and Mothers Against Drunk Driving today announced that the Cardinals, Broncos and Chargers have added game-day designated driver programs, bringing the total number of participating teams to seven. The Bills, Bears, Raiders and Eagles already have programs in place (NFL).

“How could you not be waiting on the 18th green to give this 16-year-old record-breaking girl a card and say ‘Welcome, we’ve needed you for a long time – Welcome to the LPGA.’ …Give this girl a card, give her what she deserves” – Golf Channel’s Jay Townsend, on Lexi Thompson following Thompson’s win at the Navistar LPGA Classic this weekend (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 9/19).

"I don't think turnover will be down this year. I think it will be flat because we were paid for Bahrain. I said we will give them the money back and they said 'Don't bother'…. They are lovely people" – F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone, when asked about the sport's '11 balance sheet, on Bahrain paying a $40M hosting fee despite not hosting a race this year (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 9/19).

"There's an inaccurate perception out there that there's this group of agents – including myself – that have decided to quote-unquote blow up the union, or destroy the union, and nothing could be further from the truth" – Priority Sports Founder & CEO Mark Bartelstein, on the notion that agents want to decertify the NBPA during the lockout (SI.com, 9/19).

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban: "The Most Patriotic Thing You Can Do: Bust your ass and get rich. Make a boatload of money. Pay your taxes. Lots ... http://bit.ly/pIDoZq."

ISC VP & CMO Daryl Wolfe: "Unfortunate it is on Monday, but what a great race today! Chase contenders brought their a-game today!"

ESPN.com's David Ubben: "If the Big East and Big 12 leftovers do eventually merge, the only acceptable, compromised league name is obviously Pangea."

N.Y. Times’ Harvey Araton: "Here is what I am rooting for. The Big East basketball schools say to hell with this SUV conference mentality and go back to the future."

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

The Patriots' Twitter feed today posted this shot of the team's cheerleaders handing out team-branded Massachusetts lottery scratch tickets in Boston.

The N.Y. Times Store and Steiner Sports will host an event featuring Yankees SS Derek Jeter and former Yankees players Tino Martinez and Dave Winfield at The TimesCenter in N.Y.

Evan Williams, a 10-year-old cerebral palsy patient at the Children's Hospital Boston, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the second game of the Orioles-Red Sox doubleheader. Williams is helping CVS Caremark and Children's Hospital Boston celebrate the $1M mark in donations from the company to the hospital.

The Hurricanes-Sabres preseason game at First Niagara Center has been named "Slug" Appreciation Day to recognize the former logo and help usher in the current Sabres logo. The team will be holding "Slug"-related contests throughout the game and a sale in the Sabres Store will give fans the opportunity to purchase merchandise with the new logo.

IMG Speakers today announced that former NBC President & CEO Jeff Zucker has signed with the company for exclusive representation for all professional speaking engagements and appearances (IMG).

DIY Network will premiere a baseball-themed episode of "House Crashers" at 8:00pm ET. MLB Network's Mitch Williams will help renovate the house and backyard of a Phillies fan. The episode marks the third partnership with MLB Network and DIY Network.

UFC fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Jon “Bones” Jones will appear on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at midnight ET.

NFL Films and Snickers have partnered on a four-part mockumentary, entitled "The Man Who Literally Played Hungry," that chronicles former Cowboys DT Leon Lett's blunder in the '93 Thanksgiving Day game against the Dolphins. Watch the first episode, "The Moment."

3,002,347 – Number of fans of the Red Sox' official Facebook page, at presstime. The team today announced that it had surpassed 3 million fans, giving it the second largest Facebook fan base of any MLB club, behind the Yankees at more than 4.5 million. The Red Sox' Facebook fan base has increased by more than 1.2 million since Jan. 1 (THE DAILY).