MLB today unveiled its full game schedule for the '20 season, and the March 26 start is the earliest in history "other than international games." All 30 teams "could play on opening day for the first time" since '68. A "full slate" was scheduled in '18, but two games were postponed. The '20 regular season is slated to end Sept. 27, "putting the World Series on track for Oct. 20-28" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/12). Other schedule highlights include a three-game Mets-Marlins series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, set for April 28-30. The Marlins will serve as the home team (MLB). 

Several teams marked the occasion by posting unique schedule release videos on their social feeds. For example, the Rays went with an Area 51 theme, accompanied by Polaroid-style photos of an alien visitor; the Phillies posted their dates in the style of a Match.com profile; the Mets riffed on the growing trend of creative gender reveals for expecting parents; and the White Sox went with a back-to-school theme (THE DAILY).

We got into #Area51...

We found our 2020 schedule. https://t.co/VnNNqSjysg pic.twitter.com/TFJ1vuTGqD

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 12, 2019

The NBA will experiment with new start times on national TV in an "effort to boost ratings in the upcoming season to showcase its biggest stars." The number of 10:30pm ET starts on TNT and ESPN "will be cut drastically from 56 to 33," and the "majority of them will be on TNT’s Thursday night marquee." While the 8:00 and 10:30 TNT Thursday doubleheader times "will remain unchanged, earlier in the week will see a shift." The 8:00/10:30 ESPN split on Wednesdays will move to 7:30/10:00 and 7:00/9:30. Tuesdays start times on TNT "will predominantly shift to the earlier schedule" (N.Y. POST, 8/12).

TNT’s Charles Barkley said he and his co-hosts on “Inside the NBA” have been trying to get the NBA to move up the start times “for years.” Barkley said the later start times are “not fair to the East Coast and actually, it would be better for the players in the long run." Barkley: "Great move by the NBA if they stick to it" (“Schedule Release Special,” NBA TV, 8/12).

The NCAA has "amended its certification process for agents representing basketball players who are deciding whether to stay in school or explore the NBA draft and will no longer require them to have a bachelor's degree." The NCAA's new requirements were "heavily criticized because some current NBA agents didn't attend college." The bachelor's degree requirement "led some to refer to it as the 'Rich Paul Rule.'" The NCAA will still "require agents representing players who might return to school to have NBPA certification for a minimum of three consecutive years, maintain professional liability insurance, complete the NCAA qualification exam and pay the required fees" (ESPN.com, 8/12).

TeamWorks Media announced a content partnership between its La Vida Baseball platform and the Houston Chronicle, providing print and video coverage of the Astros, MLB Rangers and other sports topics. This is the first content deal between La Vida Baseball and a major news outlet. All written content will be overseen by LVB Editor & Senior Writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, who previously wrote for the Chronicle. LVB also will provide video content on the Chronicle's digital assets (TeamWorks Media).

DAZN Canada announced a deal that will see Adidas Canada "advertise the brand's 'Hardwired Pack' initiative" across all of DAZN's EPL live content, as well as "other digital assets including the Sporting News website" and social channels. Adidas will be the "first brand to run ads on the DAZN platform in Canada," and this will mark the first time that Adidas has "advertised on an OTT streaming platform in North America" (FORBES.com, 8/12).

ESPN's Kate Markgraf today was formally named the "first general manager in the history" of the USWNT (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/12).

The Hurricanes signed President & GM Don Waddell to a multiyear contract extension (Hurricanes).

The Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium launched newly redesigned team and stadium apps for this upcoming season (Falcons).

Former USWNT G Hope Solo and Jeremy St. Louis will be co-hosting a new show on beIN Sports called "Weekend Winners" (beIN Sports).

"We want to be Disney when we grow up" -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking at this morning's grand opening of the NBA Experience at Disney Springs (TWITTER.com, 8/12).

"We have to realise that there is another world out there outside of Cardiff and Madison Square Garden. We have an obligation to grow the sport to new areas and regions. This event could change boxing forever. If Saudi is going to invest in these fights you could be seeing a big change in the dynamics of the sport" -- Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, on Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, being chosen as the city to host the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua rematch on Dec. 7 (BBC.com, 8/12).

Conversations ongoing between Matchroom and Andy Ruiz's team, but there are no indications that Ruiz will refuse to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Anthony Joshua rematch. Ruiz deal could be sweetened some, but he is largely locked in.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 12, 2019

I'm told next round of CBA negotiations r "tentatively scheduled" for Aug 19-21st. A source adds, "we still don't agree on the rev split & all the other talks move off that. Players r asking for (more than) a 50/50 split." Makes u really wonder how much progress stalls off that.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 12, 2019

MLB just winked at the world, announcing the regular season schedule for 2020 on the 25th anniversary of the strike

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) August 12, 2019

The performative genuflection MMA media do of the subjects they cover - and the fans expectation media do this - is weird. I don't mean being nice or offering praise in the assessment of a particular sporting accomplishment, but in a reverential, all-encompassing way.

— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) August 12, 2019

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

The Indians left a spot for Nick Cafardo in the press box with flowers — and a ball autographed by Terry Francona. Really touching because there was a lot of mutual respect in their relationship. Thanks to the Indians media staff and Tito. pic.twitter.com/LMTVuD22Wa

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 12, 2019

Choppin it up with The Commish #nba @nba pic.twitter.com/o8zy7OVTrY

— Orlando Magic Mascot (@STUFFMagic) August 12, 2019

Club level inside the new TowneBank Tower. #ECU pic.twitter.com/g6zmyfYMkG

— Stephen Igoe (@StephenIgoe) August 12, 2019

Sporting K.C. posted this footage of F Johnny Russell struggling a bit to film a promo video inspired by one of Jach Nicholson's famous scenes in "The Shining."

When Johnny Russell says "I want to axe down a door"...

You do it.

How JohnnyRussellAxingADoorGoal.GIF came to life 👇 pic.twitter.com/vNTB4VSmCW

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) August 12, 2019

4 -- Out of the first five regular-season games in Pelicans F Zion Williamson’s NBA career, the number that will appear on national TV (NBA TV, 8/12).