MLB and the MLBPA have finalized plans for the second Players Weekend on Aug. 24-26, marking a return of last year’s event that allowed players to wear non-traditional, youth-inspired uniforms with nicknames and customize their accessories such as spikes, batting gloves and socks. The weekend now carries a presenting sponsorship from Valspar Stain. The union also selected a series of player ambassadors who will help promote the event: Braves 2B Ozzie Albies, Twins P Jose Berrios, Astros 3B Alex Bregman, Mariners P Edwin Diaz, Yankees SS Didi Gregorius, Dodgers IF Kike Hernandez, Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins, Mets OF Brandon Nimmo, Angels 1B Albert Pujols and Angels SS Andrelton Simmons.

The Players Weekend uniforms will again employ the five-stage “Evolution” logo showing the progression of a player from youth leagues to MLB. Players will now also have the option of wearing a T-shirt spotlight a cause or charity of their choice during pre-game workouts and post-game interviews. Like last year, the game-worn jerseys from Players Weekend will be auctioned off to benefit the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. The Mets and Phillies will wear the Players Weekend jerseys on Aug. 18 for the second MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa. Players Weekend again is involving the sport’s primary uniform licensees including Majestic Athletic, New Era and Stance.

Lawyers representing the NFL and Colin Kaepernick today are meeting before arbitrator Stephen Burbank to determine if Kaepernick’s collusion complaint against the league "will go forward," marking the "most pivotal moment to date" in the case. The hearing is "taking place in response to the NFL’s request for summary judgement." If Burbank sides with the league, "ruling that Kaepernick hasn’t met the burden of proof set forth" by the CBA, it is "likely that his grievance will be dismissed." The NFL "wants to set the standard of proof it believes Kaepernick needs to meet to win his case; and second, the league’s lawyers want to make it clear they don’t believe Kaepernick is anywhere near meeting that standard" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/9).

Bud Light

Bud Light today announced that it is bringing back its NFL team-customized cans for the '18 season, which will "hit shelves" on Monday. A total of 28 teams will have "customized beer cans and 27 of them are typical Bud Light blue with a customized color stripe down the side with the team logo on the front." For the reigning Super Bowl champions, the "entire can is Eagles green and instead of 'Bud Light' on the back, it has 'Philly Philly' written" on it (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/9). The four teams without custom cans are the Packers, Cowboys, Vikings and Bears, as those teams "have deals with MillerCoors" (AZCENTRAL.com, 8/9).

Bud Light

ESPN2 tonight at 7:00pm ET will air the debut of "Training Days: Rolling With The Tide," a four-part series on the Alabama football program filmed throughout the summer. The series carries presenting sponsorship from AT&T and was produced by JM Associates and Sport & Story in association with ESPN. After tonight's premiere, each subsequent episode will air on Wednesdays Aug. 15, 22 and 29. All of the hour-long episodes will air first on ESPN2 (THE DAILY). The series will include "all-access footage" of coach Nick Saban, "interviews with players about their lives on and off the field, a tour of the program’s state-of-the-art facilities and a look at the Crimson Tide’s die-hard fans" (TUSCALOOSA NEWS, 8/8).

Hendrick Motorsports has signed a three-year deal with Ingersoll Rand’s golf-cart brand Club Car that will provide HMS with vehicles to use at the track and elsewhere, while giving Club Car new marketing opportunities. Financial terms were not disclosed, which lasts through ’20, but it is based around value in kind. HMS gets access to Club Car vehicles to use exclusively at track and at its campus in Concord, N.C. Club Car gets activation opportunities at HMS events, content opportunities and the rights to produce HMS-branded personal transport vehicles and showcase its vehicles at HMS’ team store. Club Car, a sponsor of HMS from ’08-13 previously, becomes HMS’ 14th new sponsor or renewal in '18.

getty images

Newly professional Olympic swimmer Kathleen Baker has signed with Rubicon Talent and will be represented primarily by agent Brandon Swibel. Baker, who recently left Cal with one year of NCAA eligibility left, signed her first endorsement deal this week with Speedo. Baker won a Silver Medal and a relay Gold at the '16 Rio Games, and also set a world record in the 100m backstroke at the U.S. National Championships in July, where she won three Golds.

dibit

Hospitality platform dibit today announced that fans can now purchase reservations for CFP National Championship tickets, premium packages and hotel rooms through its CFP-RSVP Marketplace. The title game will take place at Levi's Stadium on Jan. 7 (dibit).

Topgolf named rental car brand Hertz its newest strategic partner (Topgolf).

The player transfer window for EPL clubs closed today, capping off a "busy period for many" clubs (GOAL.com, 8/9). The EPL ended its transfer window three weeks earlier than usual, while other European leagues "decided to stick with the traditional end of August deadline" (FT.com, 8/9). See SBD Global for more.

"No, we're not going to sell" -- MSG Chair & CEO Jim Dolan, on if he is considering selling the Knicks and NHL Rangers (FOX5NY.com, 8/9).

"(Digital), that’s the new world, and we have to be part of the new world. It’s a big change for our fans, but in the end, I think everyone’s going to like it very much" -- Ravens President Dick Cass, on the team "employing their mobile ticketing services at M&T Bank Stadium" for tonight’s preseason game against the Rams (BALTIMORESUN.com, 8/9).

The Facebook TV camerawork on the Nats-Braves game is just awful. @MLB, pls end this experiment as soon as possible.

The equivalent of having newspapers produce video news -- until they realize it made sense to partner with the talent that actually puts out professional TV.

— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) August 9, 2018

I find it very interesting that the Patriots were only willing to give Brady incentives, not guaranteed money. And I wonder if Brady would have gotten guaranteed money had he participated in OTAs and been more involved this year

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 9, 2018

Super excited to announce that @Travis_Sawchik will soon be joining FiveThirtyEight as our national baseball correspondent! Travis has done a tremendous job of blending statistical analysis with traditional reporting at Fangraphs and will vastly improve our ⚾ coverage.

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 9, 2018

The Tribune deal may have fallen apart but some good news for Sinclair. It's wrestling arm Ring of Honor sold 10,000 tickets on a pre-sale for upcoming event at Madison Square Garden.

— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) August 9, 2018

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

At the @BosBizJournal “Business of Sports” Power Breakfast, @tdgarden President Amy Latimer & @celtics prez Rich Gotham team up to showcase how sports drive the conversation in Boston. #BBJbiz pic.twitter.com/1LjtcsPymW

— Denterlein (@Denterlein) August 9, 2018

Actor Luke Wilson appears in a series of online videos promoting CBS Sports' coverage of the PGA Championship.

You may know that CBS has brought you many of the most memorable moments in the history of the PGA Championship.
But you may not have known that Luke Wilson helped produce them. Wait…what, Luke Wilson? pic.twitter.com/MpdIMPEuEb

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 9, 2018

Did you know Luke Wilson has been a CBS Sports producer for the PGA Championship for the past 28 years? Yeah, neither did we. pic.twitter.com/QN0xRhNnMi

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 9, 2018

Only CBS personnel is allowed into the 18th tower of the 100th PGA Championship. So, obviously that includes Luke Wilson. pic.twitter.com/spAZTCSsPT

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 9, 2018

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban will be a guest judge on ABC's "The Gong Show" at 8:00pm ET.

$23,992.70 -- Amount the Patriots paid for "use of multiple Air Force Academy outdoor practice fields and the indoor Holaday Athletic Center in November." The team trained there to "prepare for the altitude of Mexico City," where they played the Raiders on Nov. 19 (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 8/9).