Atlanta and Guangzhou, China, will join the Overwatch League in '19, league officials and the new team owners announced today. Cox Enterprises and Las Vegas-based advisory firm Province Inc. will own the Atlanta team through a new joint venture, Atlanta Esports Ventures. It will be the second U.S. communications conglomerate to own a team after Comcast’s Philadelphia Fusion team. Guangzhou will be owned by the Nenking Group, a financial and entertainment conglomerate controlled by billionaire Zhong Naixoing that also owns the Guangzhou Long Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. ESPN first reported these sales as negotiations reached completion in recent days.

Prices were not disclosed, but sources said the OWL was seeking at least $30M for the expansion franchises, though that number could have doubled depending on competitive bids or the desirability of certain cities. The 12 charter spots in the league sold in ‘17 each sold for $20M.

OWL hopes to finalize four more expansion deals this year, but Atlanta might be the only American city added. The second-year plan calls for two slots in North America, but one could come from outside the U.S., according to Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues President& CEO Pete Vlastelica. Currently, nine of 12 teams call U.S. cities home and 11 of the 12 teams are American-owned. “When all is said and done this year, we’ll have a more balanced league around the globe than we have today,” Vlastelica said.

Ohio-based restaurant chain Bob Evans this afternoon tweeted it is "suspending the current partnership" it has with Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer. Bob Evans also said it is "removing all related content" from its website and stores, pending OSU's investigation into the matter involving Meyer and a former coach. The company on Monday had announced the new endorsement deal, "showcasing images of Meyer wearing a Bob Evans jacket and holding a branded coffee mug." The announcement had its "own landing page, which no longer works" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/2).

David Beckham's yet-to-be-named Miami MLS franchise has added Atlanta United VP/Soccer Operations Paul McDonough, "one of the top executives in the league," to its front office. McDonough, whose title "will be Sporting Director, will work closely with the Miami ownership group and report directly" to Managing Owner Jorge Mas and Beckham. He "will be responsible for building the team's roster and leading the sports operations." McDonough had "been with Atlanta for two and a half years, hired away from then-expansion team Orlando City." He "signed a four-year contract extension with Atlanta last October, but chose to take the Miami job" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 8/2).

Nationwide signed a two-year renewal with Hendrick Motorsports, which has now sorted out all of its major expiring deals this year. Financial terms were not revealed, but the insurer will step up from 19 to 20 primaries on HMS’ No. 88 Chevrolet driven by Alex Bowman through ’20. Additionally, HMS has extended Bowman’s deal -- which originally ran through ’19 -- for one year through '20. This is the first year that Nationwide sponsored a driver at HMS other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide’s renewal marks the 13th company to either newly sign or renew as an HMS partner this year, though the one company not to renew was the largest in full-season sponsor Lowe’s, which the team is still working to replace. Nationwide’s agency of record for motorsports is Wasserman.

Nationwide Associate VP/Sports Marketing & Sponsorships Jim McCoy said the company extended for two years because the sport "hits a lot of markets that are important for Nationwide.” McCoy noted Nationwide has earned several B2B wins over the last year from its HMS relationship and also views its advertising that it does with Bowman as a linchpin of the program. HMS VP/Marketing Pat Perkins: “The racing asset and on-track asset is certainly the focal point, but then underneath that there are a lot of other opportunities that we’re continuing to tap into, explore and support.”

Top Rank today "formally announced the extension" of its TV deal with ESPN through '25. The agreement will see 54 Top Rank boxing events a year "broadcast on an ESPN platform," including "18 live fight cards on ESPN, 12 prime time events in the U.S. on ESPN+ as well as 24 international cards on ESPN+." There will be "undercard coverage of all 54 events." The deal also features "original programming and library content, as well as extensive news coverage." The partnership debuted last year with a Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn bout in Australia (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/2).

MLB has set the postseason schedule for this October, with the format again following its established pattern of recent years. The World Series will begin Oct. 23 in the league champion city with the better regular-season record, followed by games on Oct. 24, 26-28 and 30-31. The schedule assures that were that there will be no November baseball for the first time since '14. The World Series schedule avoids conflicts with “TNF” on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, and “MNF” on Oct. 29. If the World Series goes at least five games, MLB will retain a conflict with NBC’s “SNF” broadcast of Saints-Vikings on Oct. 28.

The postseason will start Oct. 2, with the NL Wild Card Game and be televised by ESPN, followed by the AL Wild Card Game Oct. 3 on TBS. FS1 and MLB Network will share the NLDS, and Fox and FS1 will air the NLCS. Turner will have the entire AL playoffs this year. Fox will again air the World Series, its 21st time broadcasting the event.

EA Sports today launched a new ad for "Madden NFL 19," and it "features a bevy of stars" from across the sports and entertainment landscape, including Joel Embiid, DeAndre Hopkins, Nicki Minaj and Katie Nolan (SI.com, 8/2).

Meanwhile, A Twitter user pointed out that Colin Kaepernick's name "has been scrubbed from one of the songs" in the game. The track, "Big Bank" by YG, has a "verse where Kaepernick's name is mentioned," but in the version of the song that ended up in the game, his "name is edited out." However, his name "has only been edited out of preview copies," and EA "could theoretically do an update and add Kaepernick's name" before the game's Aug. 10 release (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/2).

Organizers planning an "anti-violence march" in Chicago "have not ruled out forcing their way into Wrigley Field" for tonight's Padres-Cubs game. As a result, the Cubs "have worked with the Chicago Police Department to ensure safety for their fans by increasing security inside and outside the ballpark." The planned demonstration is expected to begin around 4:00pm CT and culminate at the ballpark ahead of the game's 7:05pm start, "potentially setting up a swarm of protesters and Cubs fans together in the same vicinity." The march is "part of a protest calling for the resignations" of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson "because of their inability manage the city's ongoing violence" (USATODAY.com, 8/1). Anywhere from 200-400 officers "will be deployed to handle the protest" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 8/2).

"NBA 2K18" has now sold more than 10 million units, a new record for the franchise (2K Games).

Conference USA has entered into a multiyear partnership with Franklin Group, which will now serve as the official promotional solutions partner of the conference (C-USA).

North Carolina will "honor basketball coach Roy Williams by naming the court" at the Dean Smith Center for him. "Roy Williams Court" will be "dedicated during a UNC basketball reunion on Aug. 24" (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 8/2).

Realtor.com has extended its Yankees sponsorship for the fourth consecutive year. This year's deal will include a variety of advertisement display opportunities within Yankee Stadium during home games through the rest of the '18 season (Realtor.com).

"I have nothing further to add to it. I haven't signed anything. Nothing is confirmed. When it is, I'll let you guys know" -- Tiger Woods, on the proposed match with Phil Mickelson on Thanksgiving weekend (TWITTER.com, 8/2).

Quick, what’s the difference between a Sporting Director, Technical Director, Director Of Soccer Operations and General Manager? #SoccerJargon

— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) August 2, 2018

Announcement: I can’t help it anymore. I am officially wearing a @MizzenAndMain shirt next time I play golf. pic.twitter.com/GZ3wl1o1xP

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) August 2, 2018

Every kid ever: "My dad is so embarrassing..."

Phil Mickelson's kids: Hold my juice.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) August 2, 2018

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

From sleeping on ⁦@NFL⁩ sheets to the ⁦@ProFootballHOF⁩ it’s been quite a journey (& I’m not done yet)! Unlike my fellow enshrinees, I didn’t play the game, instead I told their stories. Little girls in babydoll pajamas can become HOFers. #Tbt #PFHOF18 pic.twitter.com/TXqGN2OSiT

— Andrea Kremer (@Andrea_Kremer) August 2, 2018

The Basketball Tournament's Final Four tips off at 7:00pm ET at Morgan State Univ. in Baltimore. The second game will take place tomorrow night at 9:00pm ET. 

This harrowing video from Red Bull chronicles the first-ever descent on skis of K2, the second-tallest mountain in the world.

NBC will air the Bears-Ravens HOF Game at 8:00pm ET.

$36,045,500 -- Combined '18 payroll of Red Sox players currently on the disabled list. P Chris Sale most recently was put on the DL, meaning the team now has nine players "on sick call" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 8/1).