The Raptors' practice facility will now be named OVO Athletic Centre under an "extended partnership" between the team and recording artist Drake. The new branding at the facility went up "late in the day on Wednesday and the official announcement" came this morning. The Raptors' practice jerseys will sport the OVO apparel brand's owl logo on the "upper left chest," and those "will be for sale." The facility first opened in '16 as the BioSteel Centre (TORONTOSUN.com, 3/14). Drake's ties to the team have been "growing steadily ever since he was named" a club ambassador in '13 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/14).

The NFL is launching a contest in which it will "present two season tickets for the next century to a contest winner as part of the 100th season of play." To qualify to win the tickets to their team of choice for 100 years, fans "must describe their loyalty to their favorite team in a social media post (@NFL and #NFL100Contest in an Instagram post of a picture or video, or in a tweet)." The contest opened today and closes April 7. Three finalists will be flown to Nashville for the Draft, and the "winner will be announced during the first round" on April 25 (AP, 3/14).

Minute Media said that it has "purchased sports, media and pop culture website The Big Lead from USA Today parent company Gannett Co." Minute Media President Rich Routman said that Big Lead co-Founder Jason McIntyre will "no longer be part of the site." Of The Big Lead’s roughly 10 staffers, some full-time and some part-time, only a "handful remained" as of this afternoon, according to sources. The terms of the deal "were not disclosed." The Big Lead has been a Gannett property since '12 (MORNINGCONSULT.com, 3/14)

The Capitals have extended their multiplatform partnership with Entercom through the '20-21 NHL season. Entercom's DC-based WJFK-FM will continue to serve as the team's flagship radio station, and all games will continue to be streamed on Radio.com. Capitals game broadcasts will continue to feature 15 minutes of pregame coverage, as well as 45 minutes of postgame programming, with both shows hosted by Ben Raby. The booth team of John Walton and Ken Sabourin remains in place (Monumental Sports & Entertainment).

A.J. Mleczko and Jen Botterill will "team up as studio analysts for two late-season Islanders games" on MSG Plus: tonight's away game against the Canadiens and an April 4 game against the Panthers. Regular host Shannon Hogan's travel is "restricted in the late stages of pregnancy." Both Mleczko and Botterill "have worked separately" alongside Hogan throughout the season (NEWSDAY, 3/14). Hogan on May 6 is due to give birth to her first child, and she "hopes to cover home games as long as she is able" (NEWSDAY.com, 3/14).

TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning, saying he was going to be "honest" and admit he does not do any “prep work” for the "Inside The NBA" studio show. Laughing, NBC’s Craig Melvin said, “Have you seen the show?” O’Neal also noted he opened a new restaurant, Shaquille’s at L.A. Live: “My favorite dish, believe it or not, is the Kobe burger” (“Today,” NBC, 3/14).

O’Neal also appeared on the YouTube series “Hot Ones” and answered questions between eating increasingly spicy chicken wings. O’Neal said of becoming a media personality and dealing with criticism, “I realize that everyone has a job to do. Being in the game for a long time, I can tell who’s being personal and who’s not.” O’Neal said if Twitter and Instagram were around during his playing days it would be “good and bad” for him. O'Neal: “I always say what’s on my mind, and sometimes you have to be politically correct. ... But as far as advertising and marketing, I definitely would have been a trillionaire by now. I also would have gotten into some trouble” (YOUTUBE.com, 3/14).

Pitt has signed a long-term multimedia rights deal with JMI Sports, which will become the school's corporate partnership and multimedia rights partner as of July 1. IMG College has held Pitt's multimedia rights for the past 10 years (Pitt).

The D-backs have signed a three-year working agreement with Japanese club Yokohama DeNA Baystars to exchange information and non-uniformed personnel throughout the season (D-backs).

CBS is adding two AAF games to the broadcast network: one of the conference championships on April 21 and the April 6 Memphis Express-San Antonio Commanders contest (CBS Sports).

“Nike has been unbelievable and has played the resurgence of the NBA better than anyone else” -- CNBC’s Jim Cramer, on Nike releasing earnings next week (“Squawk on the Street,” CNBC, 3/14).

"I've heard a lot about expectations, but good teams win in the fall ... we've got to work on the chemistry" -- Browns GM John Dorsey (TWITTER.com, 3/14).

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said conference will keep same bowl partners going forward -- Alamo, Camping World, Texas, Liberty, Cheez-it, Armed Forces.

— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) March 14, 2019

Our family, along with thousands of others, used Rick Singer’s company to guide us through the college admission process. We are shocked by the revelations of these events. Obviously, we were not part of this fraud, our kids would disown us if we ever tried to interfere.

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) March 14, 2019

Never saw an early Thursday crowd around 16-17 @THEPLAYERSChamp like this one. Going to be nuts by the afternoon when @TigerWoods comes through.

— Garry Smits (@gsmitter) March 14, 2019

ESPN's promo for the entire ACC tournament is a Zion Williamson highlight reel, but he probably doesn't deserve to be paid

— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) March 14, 2019

I have learned that the A's will be selling booze popsicles at the Coliseum this year and I would like to formally take back every negative thing I've said about the front office. #rootedinoakland

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) March 14, 2019

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

Has anyone made a fyre joke yet pic.twitter.com/ydyni4rzqe

— Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) March 14, 2019

This video goes inside the making of Maxfli's new Tour and Tour X golf balls. Maxfli individually measures each ball's center-of-gravity line to reduce sidespin and generate more distance.

$178.1M -- Projected digital ad revenue in the esports space for '19, a 25% increase, according to a new report from eMarketer. By '20, that number "will reach nearly" $213M (ADAGE.com, 3/14).