BMW agreed to end its sponsorship of USA Swimming two years early, paving the way for the NGB to sign a more lucrative deal with Toyota. Toyota, which became an IOC TOP sponsor in '17, announced today it has signed with six U.S. summer sports NGBs through the '20 Tokyo Games: Swimming, USA Track & Field, USA Triathlon, USA Skateboarding, USA Surfing and National Wheelchair Basketball Association. USATF and USA Triathlon were first reported by Sports Business Journal in October. The deals give Toyota rights to domestic events and access to athletes in those sports during the run-up to the '20 Games, expanding its global and Team USA rights. Aside from Swimming, the mobility category was vacant for the other NGBs.

BMW had renewed with Swimming just after the '16 Rio Games, but its overall position in the Olympics had been diminished because Toyota’s global deal pushed it out of its USOC sponsorship. BMW was willing to step aside if the Toyota deal got done, said USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey. He added the transition was amicable. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Hinchey said Toyota’s deal will be a “nice increase” from what BMW was paying. Having the same car sponsor as the USOC and the IOC will make activations at major events such as ‘20 Trials easier, Hinchey said.

Verizon FiOS will carry the ACC Network on its expanded basic package when the net launches on Aug. 22. Verizon becomes the second big distributor to agree to carry the planned network; Altice is the other. As part of a multiyear deal that was signed a day before its current contract runs out, Verizon will continue to carry ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, Longhorn Network, the college football channel ESPN Goal Line, the college baseball channel ESPN Bases Loaded and ESPN3. The deal also encompasses non-sports channels like WABC, WPVI, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and Freeform.

Greg Papa is "in as the voice of the 49ers, signaling an end" to Ted Robinson's 10-year run as the team's radio play-by-play broadcaster. Papa was "ousted as the Raiders legendary emcee prior to this past season" after 21 years with the team, and in '18 he served as pre- and postgame host of 49ers games on NBC Sports Bay Area. Tim Ryan "will continue to serve as the 49ers' radio analyst." Robinson had been the 49ers' play-by-play voice since '09, when he "succeeded Joe Starkey's 20-year run." Robinson "will continue to work in other capacities for the 49ers, including community-related events" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 1/2).

Astros Owner Jim Crane's plan to renovate Houston's Memorial Park golf course in order to host the PGA Tour Houston Open "was delayed" today, as "several council members questioned whether the city should receive a larger share of an annual tournament fee for other city park projects." The vote on the proposal "would have allowed renovation work on the Memorial Park course to begin as early as next week." Astros General Counsel and Astros Golf Foundation President Giles Kibbe said that the delay "jeopardizes plans to host the Houston Open at Memorial Park" in '20 (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 1/2).

Mike Tirico will handle radio play-by-play duties for the Colts-Texans Wild Card game on Saturday afternoon, marking the veteran broadcaster’s debut on Westwood One. Tirico will share the booth with analyst Brian Griese and sideline reporter Hub Arkush. Elsewhere, Westwood One will have Kevin Kugler, Jason Taylor and Ed Werder calling Seahawks-Cowboys on Saturday night; Ian Eagle, Tony Boselli and Ben Leber calling Chargers-Ravens in the early Sunday afternoon window; and Kevin Harlan, James Lofton and Laura Okmin calling Eagles-Bears in the late Sunday afternoon window.

The Mavericks have "moved to protect" G Luka Doncic's nickname by "filing trademarks on 'The Matador' and 'El Matador.'" The team is "claiming ownership of the name," meaning if Doncic "leaves the Mavs he will now own his nickname." The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office "will require that the Mavs have Doncic's written permission to register this trademark." However, the application filed by Mavericks attorneys "DID NOT include this required consent" (TWITTER.com, 1/2).

Sources said that Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko is joining the Crew and "will oversee both the soccer and business side" (CP, 1/2).

Bowler Amleto Monacelli has left Kentucky-based ball manufacturer Ebonite and agreed to a "new two-year contract with Brunswick" (FLOBOWLING.com, 12/1).

The Timbers today unveiled an updated logo (TWITTER.com, 1/2).

Green and gold never gets old.

Say hello to our updated logo. 👋 #RCTID pic.twitter.com/QJJBFYXyJg

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 2, 2019

"The ultimate goal is here (the US). The European Tour is a stepping stone. That’s the truth. The European Tour is a stepping stone. That’s the way it is" -- Rory McIlroy, on the PGA Tour compared to the European circuit (GOLF-MONTHLY.co.uk, 1/2).

"Without the success on the field and without the support in the stands ... it's easy to say that we would not be building this stadium. It's very easy for the city to get behind a winner, and I think we are winners in large part because of our fans" -- USL Louisville City FC President Brad Estes, on the club's upcoming stadium project that is projected to open in '20. The club has also won the past two USL championships (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/2).

"I'm on a tightrope, and me in a tutu on a tightrope ain't pretty" -- NFL Giants GM Dave Gettleman, on balancing the desire to win-now and rebuild (TWITTER.com, 1/2).

"I love the fact that Texas allows him on the field and his majestic nature. I’ll just keep my head on a better swivel and pay him more respect in the future" -- Austin American-Statesman photojournalist Nick Wagner, on his collision with the school's mascot, Bevo, ahead of yesterday's Sugar Bowl against Georgia (STATESMAN.com, 1/2).

In addition to Tilman Fertitta & Houston giving Dana Holgorsen the type of deal WVU wasn't willing to, he's also expected to have a huge Power-5 type salary pool to go hire assistants/staff, per source.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 2, 2019

Padres' exec Erik Greupner gets a promotion/title bump from COO to president of business operations.

— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) January 2, 2019

It's also embarrassing Art Rooney II hasn't put a stop to all of this --- or at the very least vehemently spoken out about his disdain for the happenings right now.

— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) January 2, 2019

Just heard Mean Gene Okerlund has passed away. As an interviewer, pitch man, announcer, or host, he was untouchable. Simply the best. Total professional with quick wit, sarcasm, humor, and that golden voice.
Condolences to his friends and family.

— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) January 2, 2019

#Cubs can’t afford drop in interest as they go out on their own for TV deal after 2019. Will it be motivation enough to take tax/draft hits for Bryce Harper? Or will #Cubs lay in the weeds for Mike Trout or Nolan Arenado? Tough to judge patience of grumbling fanbase.

— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) January 2, 2019

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

With F Christian Pulisic headed from Bundesliga club Dortmund to the EPL's Chelsea, the Guardian takes a quick look at the highlights of the American phenom's still-young career.

1,063,358 -- Signatures, at presstime, for a Change.org petition to have a song from a "SpongeBob SquarePants" episode performed at halftime of the Super Bowl. The song, "Sweet Victory," is viewed as a tribute to the popular animated show's creator, Stephen Hillenburg, who died in November (CHANGE.org, 1/2).