The Univ. of Maryland today named Damon Evans its next AD. Evans has been UM's acting AD "since Kevin Anderson went on a sabbatical last October." Anderson "officially stepped down from the position in mid-April, which led to a two-month search for his successor." UM "decided to stick with Evans, who had been second-in-command to Anderson" since '14. Sources said that Evans has had the "full support" of UM President Wallace Loh since Anderson resigned (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/25).

Meanwhile, sources confirmed that former Arkansas AD Jeff Long is "being considered for the vacancy at USF." Long also "has been mentioned as a serious candidate for the vacancy at Kansas" (TAMPABAY.com, 6/25).

Fox Sports’ three-man NASCAR booth -- play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and analysts Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon -- are all expected to return for the ‘19 season, a source close to Fox informed THE DAILY. Gordon's deal was expiring after '18, and there have been calls for Fox to shake up the booth, but Gordon is now close to renewing, while Waltrip and Joy -- who have both been with Fox since it started airing NASCAR in ’01 -- are also expected to be back, the source said.

An official announcement could come once Fox finalizes its deal with Gordon. Fox wrapped up its ’18 season coverage this past weekend as far as Monster Energy Series and Xfinity Series action is concerned, though it will continue to air Camping World Truck Series action and shoulder programming for the remainder of the year.

CBS and the NFL today announced an extension of their deal to stream all NFL on CBS games via CBS All Access through the '22 season. Starting this season, CBS also will expand its streaming access to include mobile devices. The deal includes Super Bowl LIII in February. In addition to extending CBS All Access streaming rights to mobile, NFL on CBS authenticated streaming rights will extend to mobile for the net's cable, satellite, telco and vMVPD partners (CBS).

Gray is buying Raycom, including Raycom Sports, in a deal valued at $3.6B. The deal is being billed as creating the "single largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the country." Raycom President Pat LaPlatney "will become President of the combined company," which will reach a "combined 24% of the country" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 6/25). In addition to its sports media assets, Raycom also is the "title sponsor for the Camellia Bowl," a college football game featuring Sun Belt and MAC teams (MONTGOMERYADVERTISER.com, 6/25). 

Bob Costas will be "honored on the field" during tonight's Indians-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, where he will throw out the first pitch and a bobblehead in his likeness will be "presented to fans who buy a special 'theme' ticket that costs about $10 more than the standard price." Some of those proceeds are to "benefit Cardinal Glennon Hospital, longtime one of Costas’ favorite charities." There also is a "meet-and-greet package that includes the buyer posing for a photo with Costas." Costas "got his professional start" in St. Louis and has "remained a fixture in the community" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/24).

Sneak peek! This is the Bob Costas bobblehead available at Busch Stadium June 25. pic.twitter.com/mhMPkucKQY

— Charlie Brennan (@charliekmox) June 14, 2018

Golf Channel’s Paige Mackenzie said of KPMG, which title sponsors this week's Women's PGA Championship, “When you look at creating and growing the women's game, it's all about creating role models and giving women a platform to succeed. KPMG, more than any other sponsor of the LPGA Tour, has done that and they’ve done that in a huge way. It’s not only creating great golf role models and giving the women of the LPGA Tour a place to play, but it's also creating role models off of the golf course. You have the Women's Leadership Conference being hosted every single year that creates more business leaders for women. So, KPMG's investment has been more of walking the walk -- they're not a talk-the-talk kind of company” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 6/25).

Our sister publication, The Esports Observer, runs a weekly briefing recapping the week that was in esports. This week: Dutch authorities crack down on loot boxes, Activision Blizzard lures another NBA exec to its growing esports team, and Melbourne readies Australia's biggest esports event to date.

Fox Sports has signed David Ortiz to a multiyear deal as an MLB studio analyst. Ortiz will contribute to Spring Training, regular-season, All-Star Game, postseason and World Series coverage, making his '18 debut during the net's coverage of the MLB All-Star Game (Fox Sports).

FILA has signed tennis player Leo Borg, son of Bjӧrn Borg, to an endorsement deal. Leo will wear FILA footwear and apparel on and off the court, and he will begin to appear in ads for the brand in '19. FILA in March re-signed Bjӧrn as a brand ambassador (FILA).

Video game headset maker HyperX has signed Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster as an endorser (HyperX).

NBC Sports Group has selected musician ZZ Ward to record an all-new show open and theme song for its '18 NASCAR coverage. Set to Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” the new show open kicks off NBC Sports’ season of Monster Energy Cup Series coverage this Sunday from Chicagoland Speedway (NBC Sports Group).

"It is kind of what George Clooney once said about being an actor. He said, ‘It’s never that I thought I was that good. But I would see what the other guys were getting I’d say, Well, I am at least as good as that guy.’ I feel the same way as a broadcaster. I swear I think I am competent and thoroughly unspectacular" -- ESPN's Adnan Virk, on his role as a broadcaster (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/25).

Any concerns about sports betting cannibalizing horse racing were laid to rest following the first weekend of legalized sports betting in New Jersey. Monmouth Park Race Track reported the on-track handle for the 2 days (June 16-17) was up +18% YoY, as attendance rose +21% YoY.

— Stephen Panus (@Man_o_PR) June 25, 2018 

When the unquestioned best player in the draft goes No. 1 overall and still takes less than slot value, you know you got a sweet deal going on there, @MLB. https://t.co/7vldbgoSpN

— Matthew Pouliot (@matthewpouliot) June 25, 2018

With Damon Evans getting hired as Maryland’s permanent AD, 11 of the 65 Power 5 programs are led by African-Americans

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) June 25, 2018

Shout out to the one and only @Rachel__Nichols for reaching another milestone! 1 million followers on Twitter. #Rachel1M💪🏿👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) June 25, 2018

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

ESPN offers a behind-the-scenes look at NBA Draft night with some of this year's top picks.

Meanwhile, the NHL goes behind the curtain with No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin.

NBC Sports figure skating commentators Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will host the "Wedding Cake Championship" on Food Network at 9:00pm ET.

$200,000 -- Donation from golfer Bubba Watson to the Travelers Championship, which brings the event's charitable donations up to $2M for '18. Watson's donation will benefit the Connecticut-based Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (TWITTER.com, 6/25).