ESPN will bid on EPL rights when the league's current deal with NBC Sports ends after two more seasons. During an impromptu press conference following ESPN's annual upfront presentation to advertisers, ESPN President John Skipper said he expects negotiations for the EPL's next deal to start next spring. Skipper said, "We'll be interested in it. We love the English Premier League."

ESPN almost certainly would partner with another media company, like Fox Sports, on a bid. Skipper: "What we do is try to spread the rights around a little bit. I don't know that we could do an all-in deal." He said ESPN would likely partner on a bid because it has too many commitments to other sports on its channels during the EPL season. EPL matches conflict with the channel's college football and college basketball programming during the fall and winter on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, for example. Skipper also praised NBC Sports Group's production quality following its first season carrying EPL games, culminating with NBCUniversal running season-ending matches across 10 networks. Skipper: "NBC has done a great job. I watched Sunday. We could do that. But what they do on Saturday, we don't have the windows for. We could not do all those games."

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The NBA today announced two exec promotions. Senior VP/Team Marketing & Business Operations Amy Brooks has been named Exec VP/Team Marketing & Business Operations, while Senior VP/Global Marketing Partnerships Emilio Collins has been named Exec VP/Global Marketing Partnerships. Both will continue to report NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum. Brooks had been promoted to her previous position last year, replacing Chris Granger, who became NBA Kings President. She has been with the NBA since '05, while Collins joined the league in '01. Both Brooks ('14) and Collins ('12) have been honored as part of SBJ/SBD's "Forty Under 40."

The 49ers and Northern California Toyota Dealers Association today announced a "multi-year, multimillion-dollar" contract starting in '14 to make the car company the "exclusive auto partner" of the team and Levi's Stadium. Financial details were not disclosed. Toyota will have its "logos and model cars all over" Levi's Stadium, including a "Toyota Plaza" at the northeast entrance of the venue. Toyota also will "get to attach its brand" to 49ers touchdowns, as the "'Toyota Red Zone' will flash across screens" in the stadium any time the team's offense makes it past the 20-yard line (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/13).

CONCACAF is "adamant it should be given" hosting duties for the '26 FIFA World Cup, with the governing body's President Jeffrey Webb saying that it is "only fair that the region should be awarded" the tournament. This comes following CONCACAF "losing its place in the queue" when FIFA "scrapped its rotational policy after selecting Brazil" as the '14 host. Webb: "That's not about the USA hosting the World Cup, for us it's about a confederation standpoint." The U.S., Canada and Mexico "have all expressed interest" in hosting (REUTERS, 5/13).

The ACC today at its spring meetings announced that its men's basketball conference tournament title game will move to Saturday night "after being a Sunday final on the day of the NCAA tournament selections" since '82. Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said, "Prime time on Saturday night during the tournament week is another step in the right direction." The ACC, Big Ten and SEC were the "three highest-profile conferences that have played a Sunday final recently." The ACC tournament will run Tuesday-Saturday, meaning the "regular season will end on the previous Saturday instead of Sunday" (ESPN.com, 5/13).

Bloomberg LP CEO Daniel Doctoroff is "pitching a fresh case" for N.Y. to host the Summer Games in '24. Doctoroff, a former N.Y. Deputy Mayor under Michael Bloomberg and architect of the city's '12 bid, has submitted plans to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that "trumpet the transformative effect the Olympics could have on the city." The plan is focused on Queens and "hopes to win backing from politicians" by arguing that it "would kick-start a wave of new developments." Current Mayor Bill de Blasio has been "cool on the idea of hosting the Olympics" (FT.com, 5/13).

A new web video series from Coldwell Banker titled "Home Field Advantage" debuted today on the real estate brand's Blue Matter blog and on the league website. New episodes will appear throughout the season, each one highlighting a different player. The two debut episodes feature Yankees P CC Sabathia and Pirates 2B Neil Walker. The schedule includes a special All-Star game edition due out July 14 starring Twins P Glen Perkins. In complementary activation, Coldwell Banker Real Estate is now sponsoring the "Home Field" segment of ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" (Coldwell Banker).

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation has postponed a hearing on college sports that had been scheduled for tomorrow morning, rescheduling it for a date following Congress' Memorial Day recess. In a press release, "no reason for the postponement was given." Image-rights lawsuit plaintiff Ed O'Bannon and Texans RB Arian Foster were expected to testify, and NCAA President Mark Emmert "had an invitation to attend" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/12).

The Suns today formally announced that they have entered into a single-affiliation relationship with the NBA D-League Bakersfield Jam, starting next season. The Suns become the 15th NBA franchise to have a one-to-one relationship with a D-League club (Suns).

The Capitals and AHL Hershey Bears have extended their affiliation agreement through '14-15. The affiliation has been in place for the past nine seasons (Capitals).

The CFL has fined Calgary Stampeders WR Maurice Price for making negative comments on social media about Rams DE Michael Sam (CFL).

NASCAR today announced the launch of a #NASCARwithDAD sweepstakes in collaboration with official partners Goodyear, 3M and Ford. The contest will wrap up on Father's Day, June 15 (NASCAR).

TicketCity today named ESPN's Chris Fowler a brand ambassador (TicketCity).

Fidelis Care and the WNBA Liberty announced a sponsorship deal making Fidelis the team's official health plan partner (Fidelis Care).

"Well, I've been ten years with Reebok, and they've kind of gotten out of the NFL. So still trying to some new productions right now and I'm trying to figure out what direction I want to go in" – Giants QB Eli Manning, when asked about being spotted with Under Armour gear ("Fast Money Halftime Report," CNBC, 5/13).

"If you ask every single guy on this team, they’d say they love their family. They love their teammates. That’s who we’re playing for. And that’s really the bottom line" – Clippers F Blake Griffin, refuting Clippers Owner Donald Sterling's comments that his players love him (AP, 5/13).

“He went out, under the spotlight and said, ‘World, this is who I am,’ and now we know he’s a racist” – FS1’s Bill Reiter, on Donald Sterling’s CNN interview (“Fox Sports Live,” FS1, 5/13).

ESPN Senior VP/Corporate Communications Chris LaPlaca: "Cam Newton just calling @ESPN_FirstTake best show on tv had @richarddeitsch losing his breakfast. #espnupfront"

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.: "Today is work related. Photoshoot with my pals @WranglerDenim and another shoot with a yet to b announced program."

L.A. Times' Chris Dufresne: ‏"Sorry, you don't rename a stadium for the No. 22 pick in the NFL draft #TAMU when TWO teammates drafted ahead of you."

Georgia Tech Assistant SID Mike DeGeorge: "20,000+ expected for GT/UGA tonight at The Ted -- Gotta love college baseball in the south!"

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski: "Stan Van Gundy's seriously considering Pistons offer of full control, torn on that opportunity vs. coaching Warriors, sources tell Yahoo."

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert: "SPORTS FACT: There's something called the 'NFL' in which people perform live-action role playing of fantasy football."
 
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ESPN's Brett McMurphy tweeted an image of the "leaked" ACC logo and wrote, "The ACC has a brand new logo (but don't tell anyone)."

Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation tonight will receive The Salvation Army's Community Partner Award.

This video from the ITTF's official YouTube channel, depicting armless table tennis player Ibrahim Hamato, is trending on the video sharing site and now has more than 300,000 views.

FS1 will debut a six-part series on "The Pecos League," an independent professional baseball league in New Mexico, Colorado and West Texas, at 9:30pm ET. View a promo for the series.

4,000 – Number of fans attending tonight's Angels-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park as part of a Millville Night promotion giving fans from the Millville area access to discounted tickets in order to see Angels CF Mike Trout, who played his high school baseball in the New Jersey town (NJ.com, 5/12).