NBCUniversal and Twitter have signed a Tokyo Games-centered deal to show "limited live event coverage, highlights and a daily Olympics show on the social media platform." For NBCU, this is the "furthest the company has gone in letting some live video leave its ecosystem." Each morning of the Games, "fans will vote on which prime time live event or athlete they want to look in on -- for about five minutes or less -- that night on Twitter." NBCU also will produce a daily 20-minute studio show live from Tokyo for Twitter, and "increase its production of highlights for the platform." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed (N.Y. TIMES, 7/25).

Dan Le Batard emerged from his lunchtime meeting with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro in N.Y. today seemingly unscathed. The TV and radio host traveled to ESPN’s Manhattan office nearly a week after he complained on air about the network's policy that its hosts not talk about politics. Details are scarce about today’s meeting, but sources said that Pitaro did not budge from ESPN’s no-politics policy. Because he traveled to N.Y., Le Batard missed today’s radio show and “Highly Questionable.” He will be back on “Highly Questionable” tomorrow. He will return to his radio show Monday.

Beer and wine will now be "sold in the public areas" at LSU's Tiger Stadium, starting with their Aug. 31 home opener. LSU Senior Associate AD Robert Munson said that the school plans on "extending its public alcohol sales policy to its other sports venues like Alex Box Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center," but the focus at this point is on "making sure the new program will be ready at Tiger Stadium this fall." LSU will "sell a variety of domestic and imported beer, plus red and white wines." Concession stands nearest to the student section will "not have alcohol sales" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 7/25). 

Activision Blizzard Esports this afternoon will announce that next year’s inaugural season of the new "Call of Duty" league will immediately start with a home/away format for events. The video game publisher is launching the new city-based "Call of Duty" league next year and is also now in the second year of running the similarly geo-located Overwatch League. OWL is transitioning to running its regular home/away format next season.

The league has announced seven teams to date -- Atlanta, Dallas, L.A., Minnesota, N.Y., Paris and Toronto. A source familiar with the league’s plans said to expect at least 12 cities for '20. Activision has been reportedly asking $25M per expansion fee for the "Call of Duty" league. Some of the team owners for the new "Call of Duty" league are also owners in the OWL, including Atlanta Esports Ventures, Envy Gaming (Dallas), OverActive Media (Toronto) and Sterling.VC/NY.

U.S. Figure Skating has signed sponsor HomeLight to a three-year extension that locks in the online real estate broker through the '22 Beijing Games. The deal includes new media time for a HomeLight-branded “Scoring Insights” feature that will help fans better understand figure skating scoring and judging. That feature will air in ad units controlled by USFS on NBC Sports broadcasts. HomeLight will continue to brand the live on-screen scoring bug. Terms were not disclosed. The S.F.-based company, which first signed as a USFS sponsor in early '18, develops software that helps match home sellers with agents and buyers.

DraftKings has reached a multiyear deal with MLB to become an authorized gaming operator, gaining rights to official league data, along with MLB marks/logos within DraftKings sports betting products. The agreement will add to DraftKings' wagering offerings, particularly live and in-game options as real-time betting grows in popularity. The partnership also will bring more instantaneous data feeds to DraftKings Sportsbook, supplementing live betting (DraftKings).

The '19 SBJ Thought Leaders retreat wrapped up yesterday in Newport Coast, Calif., with sessions including former aide to President Obama, Reggie Love, former LOCOG Chair Lord Sebastian Coe and Rams VP & GM/Media Marissa Daly.

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The Celtics today entered into an agreement to purchase the NBA G League Maine Red Claws (Celtics).

Globe Life signed a multiyear deal with the Cowboys, making them the official life insurance partner of the team (Globe Life).

John Isner signed an endorsement deal with Defy, becoming the "first professional tennis player to ink a CBD sponsorship" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/25).

Swimwear company Arena signed a deal with U.S. swimmer Abrahm Devine (Arena).

USL club Indy Eleven signed a multiyear partnership with Learfield IMG College Ticket Solutions (Learfield).

"This summer, the story of the Oklahoma City Thunder is transitioning to a new phase. ... The next great Thunder team is out there somewhere, but it will take time to seize and discipline to ultimately sustain" -- Thunder Exec VP & GM Sam Presti, in an open letter to fans posted today on the OKLAHOMAN's website (OKLAHOMAN, 7/25).

"I would say it’s a blessing and a curse to be in a mascot town with a precedent set here by Mr. Phanatic" -- Union Senior VP/Marketing Doug Vosik, on Philadelphia's high-profile mascots (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/25). 

Decent few days for Ireland and golf. The hangover from Shane Lowry’s victory hasn’t even worn off and the nation has been announced as host for the 2026 Ryder Cup.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) July 25, 2019

Sources tell @TheAthleticBOX negotiations are back on between Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev, and a deal is imminent. Alvarez was in talks with Sergey Derevyanchenko after Monday’s purse bid was delayed. Per @Idecboxing, Canelo-Kovalev could take place Oct. 19 or 26 in Vegas

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 25, 2019

Top Rank is close to announcing a fund for boxer Maxim Dadashev, who died Tuesday from brain injuries suffered in his Friday bout. Will get you the details shortly.

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) July 25, 2019

Dan Le Batard needs to do the show he wants. If ESPN won't allow that, go find a place that will.

It's easy to not talk politics/culture when you have a 30 minute show that's scripted and formatted. Not so easy when you have 3 unscripted hours to fill in mid-July.

— John Hayes (@JohnHayesOnAir) July 25, 2019

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

Welcome to the #FortniteWorldCup 🙌🏆 pic.twitter.com/XSvZV23zGX

— DEXERTO.COM (@Dexerto) July 25, 2019

Pistons F Blake Griffin hosts his annual "Comedy By Blake" charity event at 9:30pm ET in Montreal. The event, in which Griffin serves as emcee and performs his own stand-up, is part of the Just For Laughs comedy festival in the city.

UFC President Dana White will do the coin toss before the CFL Toronto Argonauts-Edmonton Eskimos game at Commonwealth Stadium. White is town promoting Saturday's UFC 240 card at Rogers Place.

The A's will offer a special analytics-driven audio broadcast of their home game against the Rangers via A's Cast.

The Boston Herald's YouTube page posted this video from the start of Patriots training camp, interviewing some of the die-hard fans who came out in droves to see their team practice.

$1,500 -- Cost of entry for the '19 edition of the Las Vegas SuperBook's NFL handicapping tournament, the SuperContest. James Holzhauer, who won $2.4M on "Jeopardy!" this year, is slated to compete. Last year's SuperContest winner took home $1.4M (TWITTER.com, 7/25).