The Saints and Mercedes-Benz announced a 10-year naming-rights deal that will turn the Louisiana Superdome into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Officials from the team, the state and the automaker today will formally announce the deal and "unveil plans for the new signage in and around the stadium, where the Mercedes-Benz name and logo will be featured prominently." Financial terms were not announced, but the agreement is "expected to guarantee that the state will not pay the team any more direct subsidies" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 10/4).

The name change will take effect with the Oct. 23 Colts-Saints "Sunday Night Football" game on NBC (USA TODAY, 10/4).

ESPN pulled its "MNF" intro segment featuring Hank Williams Jr. after the singer compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler during a Monday morning appearance on "Fox & Friends." ESPN released a statement "expressing disappointment in Williams' comments." The net said that the intro would be "pulled for one game and any further discussion will be based on how contrite the singer-songwriter is in the immediate future." ESPN skipped the intro "without mentioning the controversy." At the start of the telecast, it cut to announcer Mike Tirico "and proceeded like nothing had happened" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/3).

ESPN's Adam Schefter during the "Monday Night Countdown" pregame show noted that Williams' musical segment would be pulled (THE DAILY).

NBA owners and players are slated for a "full bargaining session" today in N.Y., "knowing if they fail to produce results, there may not be enough time left to avoid canceling regular-season games." NBPA President Derek Fisher said "a lot of signs" point to today being "a very huge day." Fisher: "There will be a lot of pressure on all of us in the room, and we'll accept that responsibility and go in and see what we can get worked out." The sides met "in small groups" yesterday for about five hours, a session that Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said was mainly about "setting the table" for today (AP, 10/4).

NBA Commissioner David Stern said there are "no preconditions" for today's meeting. Stern: "If it's a very short meeting, that's bad. And if it's a very long meeting, that's not as bad" (NEWSDAY, 10/4). The sides will meet separately, "then join up around noon" (USA TODAY, 10/4). 

Australian Open organizers today announced that the men's and women's singles champions for next year's tournament will each earn US$2.2M, "the greatest amount in grand slam tennis history." The total purse for the event has been increased to US$24.5M, "also the most ever at a grand slam." Organizers also announced that Hawk-Eye technology has been added to Margaret Court Arena, "allowing for challenges to line calls on all three main showcase courts" (AAP, 10/4).

Today's Rangers-Rays ALDS Game Four is scheduled to start at 2:07pm ET, a game time that MLB did not establish "until late Sunday," after the Tigers beat the Yankees in Game Two of their series. All four division series will have games today, and the "huge ratings clout" of the N.Y. market "made it a no-brainer" for TBS to slot that game in primetime. Philadelphia, "another huge TV market," is targeted with the 5:07pm Phillies-Cardinals game. That leaves the Rays and Rangers as "more of a warm-up act – priming audiences for big-town headliners" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/4).

2K Sports today releases its new "NBA 2K12" video game for multiple platforms, including a version that will be available at Apple's app store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The main added feature of this year's game is the ability to play with NBA legends and classic teams (THE DAILY).

Magic Johnson, who appears on the cover with fellow Basketball HOFers Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, promoted the game during an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night. He noted 2K Sports is releasing the game with three covers: one each with himself, Bird and Jordan. Johnson: “They’re having a contest to see who sells the most, and then what's great is, my ‘Showtime Lakers’ can actually play against my Lakers today.” The “Showtime Lakers” can play the current Heat squad as well, so “it's old-school versus new-school.” When asked who would win, Johnson said, “The ‘Showtime Lakers’ would beat everybody” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/3).

The Missouri Board of Curators today will meet in St. Louis in "closed-door executive sessions beginning shortly" after noon CT. The main topic of discussion will be the school's "pivotal role in conference realignment" (K.C. STAR, 10/4).

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie said that public schools will "offer competition in surfing as a statewide sport in the spring of 2013." The state's Board of Education today is scheduled to discuss "a plan to implement the sport" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 10/4).

Hexagon Metrology and Hendrick Motorsports have announced a multiyear partnership agreement that makes Hexagon Metrology the NASCAR team's official provider of dimensional metrology products and services. The race team uses Hexagon's products for inspections and assembly of auto body, chassis and engine components (Hendrick Motorsports).

The NFL is running a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today congratulating Bridgestone and PepsiCo. for winning this year's Back to Football Friday contest (THE DAILY).

"Even though it hasn't been financially successful, I think it could be. We just have to stay with it. I just think it's the right thing to do" – WNBA Minnesota Lynx Owner Glen Taylor, who has endured losses speculated to be as much as $1M per season over the last 13 years (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/4).

"I'm color blind so it won't make a jot of difference to me. They keep me well away from those decisions" – LOCOG CEO Sebastian Coe, on the organization going with the color red for the Olympic Stadium track despite speculation that the track color could be blue (AP, 10/3).

"Missouri is midwestern, not southern" – Interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas, on speculation that the Univ. of Missouri may leave the conference to join the SEC (AP, 10/3).

CBSSPORTS.com' Pete Prisco: "Hank Williams = idiot. But you think he really cares if they take away his Monday night theme?"

Ellerbe Becket Principal Jon Niemuth: "#Greenbuild this week. Would love to see LA NFL present their case for carbon neutrality. Sports are a final frontier in Grn Bldg Mvmnt."

MLS Dynamo President Chris Canetti: "Just landed in London. Here for Leaders in Football Conference, starting tomorrow. Today's order of business: A tour of the Emirates."

London Telegraph's Henry Winter: "Most significant result of the season: Premier League loses TV pub dispute. Pubs can show live games on cheap decoders. PL can appeal."

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

NASCAR HOF Exec Dir Winston Kelley posted this pic of Richard Petty stopping by the HOF and Museum in Charlotte.

The Bills and Roswell Park Cancer Institute are hosting the Prostate Cancer Early Diagnosis Outreach Clinic, a free cancer screening event, at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Hewlett-Packard has completed its $12B acquisition of software firm Autonomy. HP said its US$39.23-per-share cash offer, "representing a 79 percent premium that many HP shareholders found excessive," has been accepted by investors representing 87% of Autonomy's shares, "well ahead of the 75 percent threshold needed" (REUTERS, 9/3). Autonomy is one of two shirt sponsors for EPL club Tottenham Hotspur (THE DAILY).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Remembering U.S. History.”

“Issued in 2011, a stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of a major event in U.S. history depicts this stronghold.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Baseball Nicknames.”
For $200: “A-Rod.”
For $400: “The Lip.”
For $600: “Dr. K.”
For $800: “Hall of Famer ‘Eck.’”
For $1000: “‘The Scooter’ of the Bronx.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “What a nice looking audience. … I feel awful talking about people when they're not here, but we had an audience last week, oh my God, dumb and ugly and mean. The kind of audience, they’d spend a weekend at Rick Perry’s hunting camp. ... Here's a big story coming out of Italy. Amanda Knox has been acquitted. Just happened earlier today and she'll be packing up her stuff and coming home, and also got a congratulatory call from OJ ... Four years in an Italian prison. I know it sounds ugly, doesn't it? Sounds bad? But that includes salad and unlimited bread sticks … Right after the verdict was announced, Amanda Knox got a phone call from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Wanted to know what she was wearing. … Boy, we are getting it done overseas. Now Special Forces bombed and killed the editor of Al-Qaeda Magazine. So if your delivery this month is a little late, it's because they killed him … Al-Qaeda Magazine is very popular, or as it is known over there, AQ. … The guy's very good, the guy that they knocked off. Before he worked at Al-Qaeda Magazine, he worked at Car, Bomb & Driver. … Too bad when they killed the guy he was just finishing up their swimsuit issue. … The guy is crazy and maniacal and difficult to work with, and crazy, but a pretty good editor. He reminded me of that Anna Wintour. … Happy Anniversary to Fox News, ladies and gentlemen. It’s their 15th anniversary. They had a big anniversary party, and you know how things get carried away at parties like this. People were drunk. You know who was really drunk? Bill O’Reilly. Got really drunk and he was making some sensible moderate statements” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/3).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “An Italian jury overturned American Amanda Knox’ murder conviction. She is free to come home. That's pretty amazing. What happened was after having those ‘Jersey Shore’ kids over there, Amanda Knox didn't seem so bad. … The police in Massachusetts have arrested a man for allegedly planning to blow up the Pentagon and the Capitol by using radio-controlled model airplanes filled with explosives. Is this the best the terrorists have now? They're using toys? What, has Wile E. Coyote joined al-Qaeda? I mean, what's next? Maybe a batch of poisoned cookies from an Easy-Bake Oven. … That terrorist that was killed last week, al-Awlaki, that guy. He was a top al-Qaeda recruiter overseas, and he was American-born. That shocked a lot of people. He’s an American citizen. You don't often see that, an American taking a foreigner's job. Usually it's the other way around … In fact, they're calling this al-Awlaki guy the most hated American since Jon Gosselin. ... Last night was Andy Rooney’s final broadcast on ‘60 Minutes.’ You know what that means? Now the crankiest guy on CBS is Letterman. … Rick Perry is pretty serious about running for President. Today, he freed all the slaves on his ranch. … He came under fire this weekend over a report that his Texas hunting camp had a racially-charged name. They're saying this is the most embarrassing thing for the people of Texas since yesterday's performance by Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. … Not looking good for Perry. In fact, earlier today Herman Cain said he'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than Rick Perry. … In China, there's a KFC-type restaurant called ‘OFC’ with a picture of President Obama as Colonel Sanders. Well, the President has nothing to do with this business. You know how you can tell? It's successful and making money” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/3).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Thoughts That Went Through Amanda Knox’s Mind When The Verdict Was Read” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/3).

10) “Mama Mia, that’s a spicy verdict.”
9) “If there’s time, I’d still like to see the Coliseum.”
8) “May I keep my Versace prison jumpsuit?”
7) “Four years in an Italian prison. This is the last time I book through Priceline.”
6) “Who’s Justin Bieber?”
5) “I want to go hiking in Iran.”
4) “I can’t believe I’ve gone four years without a Pop Tart.”
3) “Does time-served in an Italian jail count towards my degree?”
2) “I wonder how Conan is doing on ‘The Tonight Show.’”
1) “If Michele O’Bachmann becomes President, I’m moving back to Italy.”

“What is Fort Sumter?”

Correct responses to the “Baseball Nicknames” category:
For $200: “Who is Alex Rodriguez?”
For $400: “Who was Leo Durocher?”
For $600: “Who is Dwight Gooden?”
For $800: “Who is Dennis Eckersley?”
For $1000: “Who was Phil Rizzuto?”