Shaquille O'Neal has become an NBA Kings investor, and his involvement "will begin in earnest" today, as he plans to meet with Kings players and coaches in Sacramento "before having dinner with franchise centerpiece and his new protégé," C DeMarcus Cousins. O'Neal said, "What interested me in this deal is the new vision, the new Kings, the new everything." More O'Neal: "Once that new arena comes, once that new downtown is up ... they'll be knocking on the door" (USA TODAY, 9/23). 

NFL U.K. Managing Dir Alistair Kirkwood today said that Wembley Stadium "could become the permanent home of an NFL franchise before the end of the decade" and could host the Super Bowl "one day." He also revealed that he is "in negotiations over staging three regular-season matches in London" in '14. He warned that 24 NFL franchises "would have to agree" to placing a team overseas. Kirkwood said the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium is going to be an "incredibly seismic moment," and the U.K. "could match it with one of our own" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 9/23).

The Raiders during their home "MNF" game against the Broncos will unveil the new Raider Rusher mascot, and YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Edholm writes, "If Al Davis doesn't roll over in his grave over this blight ..." (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/22). CBSSPORTS.com's Will Brinson writes there is "no way" the late Davis "would be OK with this." Brinson: "This clownshow is the absolute opposite of boisterous swagger" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/22).

Meanwhile, the Colorado-based chain Appliance Factory for the last decade-plus "has offered customers who buy products from the stores in the week before the Raiders game their items free" if the Broncos shut out their AFC West rivals. The company pays $20,000-40,000 each year for insurance to cover the cost "should the Broncos come through." The promotion ran Sunday-Sunday, and Appliance Factory said that it expected $1.2M-1.4M in sales in that time frame (ESPN.com, 9/20).

Pelicans VP/Communications Harold Kaufman has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Kaufman began his career with the expansion Hornets in '88, moved with the team to New Orleans in '02 and stayed with franchise after Saints Owner Tom Benson bought the Hornets in '12 and renamed the team earlier this year. Kaufman's last day is Friday. His duties will be absorbed by Saints Senior VP/Communications Greg Bensel. “I’m proud to be part of this group for all these years,” Kaufman said. “I can’t speak to what is next, but I am excited about what the future holds.”

The Nets and Barclays Center today announced a deal with CBS Radio for increased coverage on WFAN's AM and FM feeds. The deal includes coverage of college basketball games and boxing matches. The station continues as the Nets' flagship outlet, continuing a partnership that began in '04. There will be expanded pre- and postgame shows before a number of games and a weekly "Brooklyn Nets Report" during the "Joe and Evan Midday Show." Also, Nets content will be available at CBSNewYork.com (Nets).

EPL club Arsenal saw a decline in profits for the fiscal year ended May 31 after the London soccer club “earned less from selling players and wage costs rose.” Net income declined to $9.3M (all figures US) from $47.5M in the year-ago period despite revenue increasing from $389.6M to $448.9M. The team earned $75.4M from player sales, which was $29.7M less than it earned in ’12. The club’s wage payments surpassed $240.5M for the first time (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/23).

A source said that the Dolphins have "quietly extended" GM Jeff Ireland's contract through the '14 season (MIAMIHERALD.com, 9/23).

Blackhawks LW Patrick Sharp has agreed to endorse the Illinois Lottery and help launch its new game (Illinois Lottery).

Skin care brand Jack Black today announced that it has renewed its deals to supply products to the Falcons, Bills, Bears, Cowboys, Broncos, Packers, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks and Redskins for the fifth consecutive year (Jack Black).

Turner Sports today announced that it has added former MLBer Pedro Martinez as a studio analyst for the ’13 MLB postseason. Martinez will join ESPN’s Keith Olbermann and SI’s Tom Verducci in the studio (Turner Sports).

Independence Blue Cross has partnered with the Phillies, 76ers, Flyers and MLS Union to create Home Team IBX, a website offering team-specific content and Blue Cross-sponsored programs promoting health and wellness (Independence Blue Cross).

The Rose Bowl has selected Vivid Seats as its official ticket reseller. The multiyear deal applies to all sports and concert events held at the stadium (IMG College/Vivid Seats).

ESPN anchor Chris Berman’s father, James, has passed away. Berman has been absent from ESPN programming since last Sunday, but the net today said that he will return next weekend (TWITTER.com, 9/23).

"We won't have a blimp up there. We put our ship in the hangar in the winter" – Goodyear chief pilot Greg Poppenhouse, saying there will not be a Goodyear blimp around MetLife Stadium for the Super Bowl (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/23).

"They like our event. They like Road America. They're not saying no. Will it be next year? No" – Road America President & GM George Bruggenthies, on the track eventually hosting a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Road America has hosted a Nationwide Series race since '10 (JSONLINE.com, 9/23).

"I'm going to find a nice spot in the suite, or maybe I'll stay home and watch on TV" – NASCAR team owner Roger Penske, on how he will watch the remaining Sprint Cup races this season after being banned from the spotter stand in the fallout from the Richmond scandal (AP, 9/23).

"He is the best negotiator, a complete and total visionary and an absolute arrogant jerk. I try not (copy) that part of him, but I like him" – 247Sports.com Founder & CEO Shannon Terry, on MLBAM President & CEO Bob Bowman (NASHVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/20 issue).

Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde: "Sportswriter complaint: the new NCAA stats site is a bust. Less information, harder to navigate than the old one. Carry on."

Sirius XM's Adam Caplan: "Some execs around the NFL were keeping an eye on the #Dolphins GM job...scratch that one off the list."

Newsday's Neil Best: "Objectivity alert: New TBS analyst @45PedroMartinez worked as special assistant to Bosox GM Ben Cherington this season."

CSN consultant Tim Fitzpatrick: "So the 2015 #WinterClassic is scheduled south of the Mason-Dixon line? Come to Alaska - we may not have an NHL team but we do have winter."

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

UFC fighter Alexander Gustafsson posted an image on Facebook of himself and Jon Jones at the hospital after their light heavyweight title fight on Saturday. Both Gustafsson and Jones missed the post-fight UFC 165 press conference due to injuries sustained in the five-round fight.

MLS will host a Google+ hangout with Timbers MF Darlington Nagbe, who will digitally autograph photos of himself for fans.

Yankees P Mariano Rivera appears in his latest ad for N.Y.-area Acura dealers. The title of the ad, "Legends," is a play on words referring to both Rivera's status as a baseball icon and the brand name of one of the automaker's sedan models.

0.00 – Local rating for yesterday's Indians-Astros game on CSN Houston, "with an average audience of zero households" (CHRON.com, 9/23).