The trial date for the USWNT's pay-discrimination suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation has been scheduled for May 5 of next year, "much earlier than either side wanted." The trial is "nearly three months before the July 24 start" of the Tokyo Games. The plaintiffs had "requested to the court that the trial start in November 2020, while U.S. Soccer had requested a December 2020 start." The case is "scheduled to be heard" by Judge R. Gary Klausner in L.A. at the U.S. Central District of California (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/19).

Dolphins WR Kenny Stills said Jay-Z's involvement with the NFL "doesn't sit right with me." Stills "criticized the rapper for his comments during the partnership's introductory news conference" last week. Stills today said, "He could have reached out to [Colin Kaepernick]. He could have reached out to me. Some of the ways that he answered his questions, talking about 'We’re moving past kneeling' -- like he ever protested. ... I wonder if he’s read my Facebook comments or my Instagram. ... It didn’t seem very informed" (SI.com, 8/19).

Adidas today unveiled a collection of alternate uniforms for the upcoming college football season, featuring new looks for Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State and Nebraska. As a nod to the 150th anniversary of college football, a custom “150” patch that outlines the shape of a football is prominently sewn on the right shoulder of each jersey. Four of the schools -- ASU, Georgia Tech, UM and MSU -- are part of Adidas' "Selfless" uniform initiative, pairing the design/construction of their uniforms with charitable endeavors (Adidas).

adidas

Penn National Gaming's Ameristar Casino East Chicago "expects to begin offering sports betting Sept. 1," the day it becomes legal in Indiana. Ameristar joins Caesars' Horseshoe Hammond Casino as Northwest Indiana venues offering sports wagering in time for the NFL season (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/19). Caesars also is "set to open six more sportsbooks throughout the state in September." Neither Caesars nor Penn National Gaming "addressed whether they will offer mobile sports wagering with the opening of their casino sportsbooks." Boyd Gaming also "hopes to open sportsbooks at its Indiana casinos" next month (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/19).

Univ. of Minnesota athletics announced today a "flash sale" from 10:00am CT on Thursday to 10:00am on Friday, coinciding with the "first day of the Minnesota State Fair, where fans can purchase discounted online tickets" to the 8:00pm Aug. 29 football game at TCF Bank Stadium against South Dakota State. UM's average announced attendance last season at TCF Bank Stadium was 37,914, their "lowest since 1992" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/19). Meanwhile, South Dakota State announced a multiyear partnership with The Aspire Group (Aspire Group).

Globe Life Field construction is "nearly complete." Steel work for the roof is "expected to be complete by the end of October" ahead of the scheduled March opening of the Rangers' new ballpark (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/19).

CBS NFL announcer Tony Romo said that the idea of being a golf broadcaster in the future "doesn't interest him" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 8/19).

Temperatures at kickoff for tonight's 49ers-Broncos preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High are "expected to be in the low-to-mid 90s."  The "current record is a 92-degree kickoff temperature, set just last September" (WEATHER NATION TV, 8/19).

"Quite frankly, I'm scared" -- YES Network's Michael Kay, on the status of his voice after returning to the Yankees broadcast booth over the weekend. Kay recently had vocal cord surgery (N.Y. POST, 8/19).

"How do we fix it? Well we go to work" -- Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, announcing his multiple sclerosis diagnosis in a letter posted to the website of his current team, Greece-based Olympiacos Piraeus (USA TODAY, 8/19).

Our sister publication, The Esports Observer, runs a regular briefing recapping the week that was in esports. This week: Ninja vents his frustrations after Twitch mistakenly promotes lewd content through his old channel, while Riot Games will now direct the sale of Echo Fox’ LCS slot.

AB and this helmet issue is like someone walking into a Verizon store with a flip phone complaining that Instagram won’t work on it.

Sir, it doesn’t work that way anymore, there’s been significant upgrades to the equipment. Either upgrade or stop complaining.

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 19, 2019

Any honest discussion of why fans "are losing interest in baseball" must address the economics of the game, including but not limited to the negative impact of tanking on attendance and how high ticket and concession/parking prices are keeping fans home.

— Mike Gianella (@MikeGianella) August 19, 2019

Are British TV announcers required to mispronounce the names of Mexican players like Jiménez?

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 19, 2019

Caller to @MikeFrancesa just started with, “Welcome back,” and he clearly was not kidding. Francesa came back on May 1, 2018.

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) August 19, 2019

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

SEC Network's Tony Barnhart will speak at the Touchdown Club of Memphis.

In honor of this weekend's MLB Little Legaue Classic, Red Bull surprised Cubs 3B Kris Bryant with a trip down memory lane.

In honor of the Little League Classic, watch what happens when @redbull surprises @KrisBryant_23 with a mixtape of his HS and college highlights pic.twitter.com/dqL84reiKN

— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) August 18, 2019

Former USWNT G Hope Solo's new show on beIN Sports, "Weekend Winners," debuts at 7:00pm ET.

Golf Channel debuts "The Legend Of East Lake" at 10:00pm ET ahead of the Tour Championship, which begins Thursday in Atlanta.

1.3 -- Overnight rating for last night's Cubs-Pirates Little League Classic on ESPN, up 8% from last year's event (THE DAILY).