Penske Entertainment Corp. is "taking its next major step in the company's IndyCar diversity efforts" with the formation of Paretta Autosport and the team's plans to enter this May's Indianapolis 500 with driver Simona de Silvestro. Longtime motorsports exec Beth Paretta, IMS President Doug Boles and PEC Chief Diversity Officer Jimmie McMillian are part of today's announcement. The No. 16 Chevy entry becomes the "latest push" from Roger Penske's Race for Equality and Change initiative, unveiled last July. Silvestro is a five-time Indy 500 starter and the race's '10 Rookie of the Year (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/19).

Paretta "tried to field a female-staffed entry" in '15 and '16 under the Grace Autosport banner (RACER.com, 1/19).

Alex Rodriguez has signed a one-year extension to remain on ESPN's “Sunday Night Baseball” this season, according to sources, "allowing ESPN and him to figure out their long-term plans after the network’s contract with MLB is announced." Play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian also signed a one-year extension, and Buster Olney will continue as dugout reporter. On “Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown,” Eduardo Perez will replace Mark Teixeira as pregame analyst. Karl Ravech is back as host, as are analyst Tim Kurkjian and contributor Jeff Passan (N.Y. POST, 1/19).

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today said that the league has "discussed having players receive COVID-19 vaccines to educate and influence the public regarding their safety and effectiveness." Silver said, "Several public health officials -- and this is operating state by state right now -- have suggested there would be a real public health benefit to getting some very high profile African Americans vaccinated to demonstrate to the larger community that it is safe and effective." Last month, Silver said "there's no way we'd ever jump the line in any form whatsoever," and he emphasized that they would "not attempt to get the vaccine for players without the support of public health officials" (ESPN.com, 1/19).

The NCAA revealed new dates for the men’s basketball tournament, now slated to begin Thursday, March 18, instead of Tuesday, March 16. The Final Four will remain Saturday, April 3, and the national title game stays on Monday, April 5. Pushing the First Four back to be "held entirely" on March 18 in turn "moves the first round" to Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20, and the second round to March 21 and 22. Sweet 16 games will be played the following Saturday and Sunday, a "two-day delay from the usual Thursday/Friday setup." All Games remain set for the Indianapolis region (SI.com, 1/19).

Alabama stars WR Devonta Smith and RB Najee Harris have each chosen their representation on- and off-the-field ahead of the NFL draft. The Heisman Trophy winner Smith signed with ISE for all on-field work, with father-and-son agent team Jovan Barnes and Roosevelt Barnes repping him. Smith signed with Rubicon Talent for marketing and other non-playing work. Rubicon partner Dave Maryles and Dir of Talent Marketing Evan Anslow will represent him.

Harris signed with Wasserman for on-field, repped by Doug Hendrickson and CJ LaBoy. Off the field, Harris signed with Beast Mode Marketing, founded by former NFLer Marshawn Lynch, a longtime client of Hendrickson. Lynch and Bryon Sheng will rep him for marketing and other work.

Former NFLer Brandon Marshall's House of Athlete brand will host the House of Athlete Scouting Combine at its South Florida facility March 3-5, inviting up to 50 NFL prospects for a series of workouts and demonstrations ahead of the NFL Draft. House of Athlete, a “lifestyle wellness” brand launched earlier this year, claims the event will be broadcasted live, though no media distribution details were released. The event, led by HOA Dir of Pro Performance Mo Wells, will cap off HOA’s Path to the Draft series.

This comes after the NFL revealed it would cancel the usual pre-Draft Combine due to the pandemic, instead planning on live workouts at a series of college campus-based events and virtual interviews.

Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan will sing the national anthem together as part of Super Bowl LV pregame festivities at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7. H.E.R. will perform "America the Beautiful" (NFL).

Sara Thomas will be the "first woman to officiate" a Super Bowl at this year's game in Tampa (TWITTER.com, 1/19).

The Seahawks formally named Karen Wilkins-Mickey the team's first VP/Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She will lead the team's overall DEI strategy, reporting to team President Chuck Arnold. Wilkins-Mickey has previously held diversity & inclusion roles at Alaska Airlines, Expedia Group and Microsoft (Seahawks). Arnold said of Wilkins-Mickey's role, "It represents much more than HR. She has decision-making authority across our entire organization, including football operations and business operations. ... She also represents us externally in the community" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/18 issue).

Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing is partnering with Dixie Vodka for the '21 NASCAR Cup Series, naming it the official vodka of the racing team. Dixie Vodka will also be the primary sponsor of driver Cole Custer for two Cup races in '21. For all other races, Dixie Vodka will be an associate sponsor on the No. 41 Ford. Meanwhile, AdventHealth partnered with driver Jamie McMurray to sponsor Spire Motorsport's No. 77 Chevrolet during this year's Daytona 500. McMurray, a current NASCAR analyst on Fox, last competed in the Daytona 500 in '19 (THE DAILY).

NBC Sports will integrate odds from sportsbook PointsBet into its popular free-to-play “Predictor” app as part of a two-year extension with game provider Boom Sports. Already offering games around properties that air on NBC, including the NFL, EPL, PGA Tour and NASCAR, Boom and NBC plan to expand their contests to other leagues, including the NBA. PointsBet is the exclusive sportsbook sponsor of NBC Sports.

OOFOS is now the official recovery footwear sponsor for the '20-21 NWHL season, which begins Saturday in Lake Placid, N.Y. Other sponsors around the two-week bubble staged at Herb Brooks Arena include Discover, according to a source, as well as Dunkin’, Hyperice, BladeTech, NYU Langone Health and Zenkai.

Meanwhile, rookie Toronto Six F Lindsay Eastwood will be blogging about the bubble season for SPORTSNET.ca, and she writes the "bubble season being condensed is an incredible opportunity for the NWHL to now take on the spotlight."

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has authorized nine operators to "launch online sports betting, or both online gaming and sports betting," effective at noon ET Friday (DETROIT NEWS, 1/19).

Main Line executive advisory and consulting firm CRA Inc. has "signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with PGA Tour player Steve Stricker." Financial terms of the deal are "being kept confidential" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/19).

Feltman's of Coney Island signed a deal with the NHL Panthers to become the team's official hot dog brand at BB&T Center (Panthers).

The Nets and Hospital for Special Surgery partnered up launch The Brooklyn Nets Food Pantry presented by HSS. It will be located at P.S. 308, Clara Cardwell School, a Title 1 school in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood (Nets).

Beginning Saturday, Fortnite players will be able to choose their outfit from among 23 participating soccer clubs, including MLS' Sounders, Atlanta United and LAFC (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY). 

“We lock the door and turn the keys over to the PGA Tour. They tell us who is allowed in and who is out" -- PGA West Head Golf Pro Chris Caballero, on the PGA Tour taking over the facilities for this week's American Express Tournament amid the pandemic (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 1/19).

"The last couple of years the competition has grown a lot. You don’t see anymore only big stars ending their careers in MLS. You also see a lot of young talents making big steps and developing their quality in MLS. ... I do believe MLS will be one of the top leagues in the short term" -- New DC United coach Hernán Losada (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/19).

Major League Baseball is launching an investigation into fired Mets general manager Jared Porter, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Based on the results, Porter could face suspension, which would prevent him from holding another MLB job without reinstatement.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) January 19, 2021

Kyrie Irving stepped to plate, acknowledged he has been disturbed by political and social issues, needed time away, even help from others who have reached out. Also confirmed was "part of a team" that bought house for family of police brutality victim George Floyd. Very moving.

— Greg Logan (@GregLogan1) January 19, 2021

Another former Daytona 500 winner plans to compete in the 2021 race — 1990 winner Derrike Cope confirmed to me he will drive the Rick Ware Racing No. 15 car (built by StarCom) with sponsorship from Jacob Companies. Pat Tryson will crew chief. #nascar @NASCARONFOX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 19, 2021

The Rams are working towards hiring Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator, per sources. Morris cancelled a trip to Florida to interview for the Jags DC job that was slated for today.

(Morris & Sean McVay worked together in Tampa and Washington. NFLN linked Morris to Rams 1st.)

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 19, 2021

Sources: Expect a decision on Tom Arth and the Chargers by the end of the week. https://t.co/sbzhxWIgCB

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 19, 2021

EPL club Chelsea F Christian Pulisic stars in GQ Sports' "10 Things I Can't Live Without" video series in conjunction with the magazine's feature titled, "America Finally Has A Global Soccer Star."

$78.25M -- Total amount investment vehicle Element Partners is paying to acquire the World Poker Tour from Allied Esports Entertainment. Element will pay $68.25M upfront, plus up to $10M via 5% of WPT-branded tournament entry fees, up to $10M, payable over three years after closing (Allied Esports Entertainment).