The NBA told teams that it "will have several events in the coming months designed to help improve workplace cultures, as well as find more ways to have women in leadership roles around the league." The league's memo "revealed plans to hold workshops" in Atlanta and L.A. in mid-November on "diversity and inclusion efforts." An event is also planned in Charlotte over the All-Star break to expand the "pipeline of female talent in basketball operations roles" (AP, 9/26).

Missouri Department of Economic Development officials met with MLS reps as recently as yesterday concerning Gov. Mike Parson and his administration's interest in "working on a stadium proposal," according to a source. It is not yet known which St. Louis sites were "under consideration and how many other times state officials had met with MLS." St. Louis voters in April '17 "rejected public funding for a stadium," but MLS Commissioner Don Garber earlier this month "once again dragged St. Louis" into the expansion mix. He said the city has been "floating around a little bit" as a potential market for one of two new teams (STLTODAY.com, 9/26).

Celtics F Gordon Hayward has "agreed to a 4-year footwear & apparel offer sheet with Anta." The "massive shoe deal also includes a signature apparel collection and marketing throughout Asia and the U.S." Nike will have 10 business days to exercise its "match clause." China-based Anta's current crop of NBA endorsers also includes Warriors G Klay Thompson and Lakers G Rajon Rondo (TWITTER.com, 9/26).

NYRR has launched a new marketing platform for the TCS NYC Marathon Collection, "relying on powerful storytelling, to drum up excitement" for the Nov. 4 race. The “Team #MovedMe” campaign "spreads across digital, social, print and TV." It "focuses on 26 runners, each of whom showcases how running has the power to transform you and your life." NYRR is "relying on these powerful stories as a way to inspire, but also encourage people who may not be avid running fans to tune in and watch the race as it unfolds" (ADWEEK.com, 9/26).

Stars C Tyler Seguin has retained SBX Group as his exclusive sales and marketing agency. The company will work with Seguin and his sports agency, The Will Sports Group, to expand and create multiple lines of business, including the expansion of e-commerce and merchandising and the development of traditional partnerships outside of endemic hockey brands. The company will also assist in the development of equity-driven ventures and businesses in lifestyle, entertainment and fashion (SBX Group).

MLB sponsor Kingsford Charcoal today released a new ad featuring Rangers P Bartolo Colon. The spot shows Colon, when asked about his offseason training regimen, performing various grilling-related workout movements. These include "squats" with a whole pig on his back, "rows" with a bag of charcoal in each hand and "curls" that consist of bringing ribs to his mouth. It closes with Colon speaking in Spanish with an English subtitle, saying, "Offseason doesn't exist" (THE DAILY). SB NATION writes, "The best Super Bowl commercial of the year was released in September." SI.com: "The world finally gets to see what it takes for Colon to sculpt his one-of-a-kind physique."

Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy tweeted that he has "finished his radiation treatment and will stop by the booth for an inning" tonight at Fenway Park. Remy, who has been undergoing treatment for a recurrence of lung cancer since early August, is "expected to join the booth during an early inning of the evening game" against the Orioles (BOSTON.com, 9/26).

Final session of radiation today👍 Will be on NESN tomorrow night to join the guys for a inning. Looking forward to visiting Fenway.

— Jerry Remy (RemDawg) (@Jerry_Remy) September 25, 2018

Gander Outdoors has signed on as the title sponsor of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Dover Int'l Speedway on Oct. 7 (Dover Int'l).

MLS will host a YouTube and Twitter stream to celebrate the launch of EA Sports’ “FIFA 19” this afternoon in Atlanta. Atlanta United additionally will hold a scouting tournament to find a player for eMLS, the league’s esports competition (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

Penn State athletics has reached a new sponsorship agreement with Utz (Utz).

Pilot Flying J has launched its new "Welcome To" college football-themed marketing campaign featuring ESPN's Paul Finebaum and Laura Rutledge (Pilot Flying J).

Kentucky-based Braxton Brewery has signed on as the official beer partner for the Breeders' Cup in November at Churchill Downs (Breeders' Cup).

The Magic announced a deal with SAS to help the club analyze fan data (Magic).

"I was happy for Tiger last week. I think the golf world was. He's had an immense struggle the last few years, and I think it's brilliant to see him back. ... It's good for our sport" -- Justin Rose, on Tiger Woods' victory at the Tour Championship (ESPN.com, 9/26).

“We kept that secret pretty good, didn’t we?" -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, jokingly referring to the months of speculation on his job status after the team today announced they will amicably part ways with him at the end of this season (THESTAR.com, 9/26).

Only reason for Eric Reid’s unemployment, at this point, is the fear that he will influence others in a locker room with his protest. His presence would give like-minded players courage to do what they feel is right, and owners would rather players operate in fear for their jobs.

— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) September 26, 2018

Per social firm @unmetric, #Browns had the highest growth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of any NFL club during the first three weeks of the 2018 regular season.

Fact: winning still trumps everything else in terms of accelerating numbers.

(via AdWeek) #SMsports

— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) September 26, 2018

SportsByBrooks' second tweet:

"Why I'm joining The Athletic"

😂

— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) September 26, 2018

CBS sending Dolphins-Patriots (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon) to 41 percent of country - including most of Florida and Northeast, parts of mid-Atlantic and Great Plains and large chunk of West. Map here: https://t.co/ehWor6rUUc

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 26, 2018

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

They clean up well!😍😍 pic.twitter.com/C8PM1I6B7O

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 26, 2018

The NHL Kings will host a technology and sports-focused mixer and panel in L.A.'s Playa Del Rey neighborhood featuring NHL CMO Heidi Browning, Kings Senior VP/Partnerships Josh Veilleux, Snapchat Head of Sports Partnerships Anmol Malhotra, BCG Digital Ventures Partner Walter Delph and L.A. Chamber of Commerce’s Bixel Exchange Dir Kat Yalung. Kings President Luc Robitaille will be in attendance (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

On the 30th anniversary of the Jordan Brand "Jumpman" logo, ESPN offers up an online quiz to test users on their knowledge of athlete-specific logos. Take the quiz at ESPN.com.

MGM today released a new official trailer for the boxing film "Creed II," which hits theaters Nov. 21.

Shaquille O'Neal will appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show" at 11:35pm ET.

The new series “Behind The Glass: New Jersey Devils Training Camp” premieres on NHL Network at 7:00pm ET. 

456% -- Increase in the property tax base in Detroit's Catalyst Development district since '13. The area includes Little Caesars Arena, which opened in September '17 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/26).