ESPN’s Justin Connolly has secured a big promotion, being named Disney President of Media Distribution. He is replacing Janice Marinelli, who earlier this week announced that she is leaving her role as President of Global Sales & Marketing for Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international division. Marinelli had been with Disney for 34 years. Connolly will remain in N.Y. and report to Disney Chair of Direct-to-Consumer & Int'l Kevin Mayer. Connolly had been Disney and ESPN Media Networks Exec VP/Affiliate Sales & Marketing, reporting to ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro. He started at ESPN in '03 and has held a variety of jobs, including launching and running SEC Network for a number of years. In '15, SBJ inducted Connolly into its "Forty Under 40" HOF.

In his new role, Connolly will oversee a combined group of Disney’s media sales and channel distribution, encompassing media, affiliate, content and syndication sales/distribution. Connolly will continue to oversee affiliate sales and marketing, which means he still will have a heavy hand in the distribution of ACC Network. The ABC affiliate relations and marketing team will continue to report to him.

His new duties put him as the exec in charge of all content sales agreements for Disney, Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox Film, Fox Animation, Disneynature, ABC Studios, ABC Entertainment, National Geographic, FX Productions, 20th Century Fox TV, WABC, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. He also will head up global app distribution sales for Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming services, as well as distribution of film and TV programming. Connolly will continue to sit in on Pitaro’s management meetings. Pitaro is said to be well on his way to finding an exec to fill Connolly’s role as ESPN’s head of strategy.

Rockets G James Harden "has joined the ownership group" of the Dynamo and NWSL Houston Dash. Harden joins a group led by Gabriel Brener, the majority owner of both soccer teams. It is not known what percentage Harden owns, but sources said that he is "not replacing" any incumbent members of the ownership group (FOX26HOUSTON.com, 7/18). Harden first hinted at the news his Instagram account today:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Harden (@jharden13) on Jul 18, 2019 at 9:53am PDT

USWNT F Alex Morgan is "planning to launch her own media venture," which will "focus on storytelling, specifically content for girls created by female athletes." Morgan said, "We'll be focusing on women in sports and sharing the stories that I think a lot of people want to hear, and girls need to be given access to." Morgan "declined to provide too many specifics about the venture, which doesn't yet have a name." She did say that she "isn't planning to launch it in partnership with any major media companies" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/18).

Seton Hall today named Bryan Felt AD, and he "will fill the void created when Pat Lyons was promoted" to Exec VP in June. This is a "homecoming" for Felt, who has served as Saint Peter’s AD since '17. Felt "spent two decades on Seton Hall’s campus between his time as a student there and his rise to the post of senior administrator." Although a "search was conducted, the writing was on the wall for Felt’s return" to his alma mater (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 7/18).

The total purse for this year's U.S. Open is more than $57M, the "richest in tennis history." The men’s and women’s singles champion each will receive $3.85M, and the men’s and women’s doubles champion teams will get $740,000. Both figures are the "highest payouts in U.S. Open history." Payouts start at $58,000 for the first round of singles. The USTA also "will make a payment of $500,000 to each tour to support the ATP and WTA Tour player programs, including pension" (AP, 7/18).

Joe Skibinski/IndyCar

The St. Petersburg city council today unanimously voted to accept race promoter Green Savoree Promotions' request to extend the city’s annual NTT IndyCar Series race for another four years. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has served as the season-opener every year since '11. The current deal was set to expire following next year, but the extension now takes it through '24. The city council stated that the race has “earned its status” by bringing in an average of 150,000 fans per event weekend.

Pitt's sports marketing property will be managed by Laila Brock, who formerly worked on operations and logistics for the College Football Playoff. JMI Sports owns Pitt’s multimedia rights and hired Brock, who had been with the CFP since it started. Her new title will be VP/Sponsorship Sales & Operations. Brock will oversee business operations and strategy, reporting to JMI President Tom Stultz. This comes as Pitt is suing previous multimedia rights holder Learfield IMG College over withheld funds.  

Pirates Charities is covering the cost of tickets for tonight's sold-out showing of "Heading Home, The Tale Of Team Israel," a documentary about Israel's national baseball team competing in the '17 World Baseball Classic. In addition to the screening in the Pittsburgh suburb of Edgewood, there will be a "Q&A with MLB.com reporter and film producer Jonathan Mayo and Pirates play-by-play announcer Greg Brown, plus a special appearance by Pirates President Frank Coonelly." Also, there will be a street fair in Pittsburgh's Regent Square (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/18).

Roundtable participants from this week's SBJ In-Depth debate the effectiveness of the NFL’s Rooney Rule. Appearing in the video are Braves exec Adrian Williams, USADA Chair and Olympic legend Edwin Moses, Morehouse College's David Wall Rice and the Hawks/State Farm Arena's Nzinga Shaw.

Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin will visit China the week of Aug. 4, serving as an ambassador for the NHL. His trip to Beijing will include youth hockey clinics, a media tour and business development meetings (NHL).

Rookie Celtics G Carsen Edwards has "landed a multiyear footwear-and-apparel endorsement deal with Adidas" (ESPN.com, 7/18).

Serena Williams appears on the cover of SI's "Fashionable Fifty" double issue: "Strong. Sexy. Sensible" (THE DAILY).

“The issue is that the small-market teams want things in their favor so that they can compete with the big-market teams” -- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, on whether the supermax contract is working in the NBA and if it’s good for the league (“OTL,” ESPN, 7/18).

"From a content plan ... it’s about being authentic and uniquely ACC. If we do that, it naturally separates us from any other conference" -- ESPN Senior VP/College Networks Rosalyn Durant, on the difference between the ACC and SEC networks (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/18).

Hope I’m not alone here but i keep thinking how this is the last major of the PGA tour season and it really bums me out.

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) July 18, 2019

There are no short attention spans when content is compelling enough. The average viewer who saw any part of the Wimbledon men’s final watched for 138 minutes.

— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) July 18, 2019

.@DICKS & The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation have pledged to provide access to sports for 1M youth athletes over the next five years. It will match up to $1M in donations made by customers to the Foundation at store checkouts or https://t.co/eClsdNxmth July 14-Sept 13, 2019 pic.twitter.com/8bROsFv5ed

— Barry Janoff (@barryjanoff) July 18, 2019

The power of the @FCBayernUS brand on full display last night in LA despite a 2-1 loss to @Arsenal. Turnout of supporters from over 20 states & countries. Proud to be a partner! #MiaSanMia #onlyhere #sportsbiz pic.twitter.com/lzK5w6aMQ3

— CUSportsBiz (@CU_SPS_Sports) July 18, 2019

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

Last month, Kawhi Leonard sued Nike to gain control of his "claw" logo.

Nike has now counterclaimed against Kawhi, claiming breach of contract and copyright infringement. #Nike claims that #Kawhi "seeks to re-write history by asserting that he created the logo"

My analysis: pic.twitter.com/KarE0tQlSK

— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) July 18, 2019

FS1's "NASCAR Race Hub" last night debuted a segment about "NASCAR Goes Country," an ill-fated '75 album that featured some of the sport's top drivers moonlighting as country singers.

Rams coach Sean McVay will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:35pm ET.

$46.3M -- Amount generated in sports betting by the state of Pennsylvania in June, the first full month the state had online wagering (THE DAILY).