WEEI's John Dennis this morning is reporting that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein "has agreed with the Cubs on a five-year deal worth more than $15 million." The Red Sox reportedly "granted the Cubs permission to talk with Epstein late last week." The deal is expected to be finalized by week's end, "following negotiations for compensation with the Red Sox, who have Epstein under contract for one more season" (WEEI.com, 10/12). The two teams also are reportedly "negotiating about which current Red Sox employees from outside baseball operations Epstein might be bringing to Chicago" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/12).

Some sources "dispute the done-deal nature" of the Boston Herald report, but "indications are an offer has been made within acceptable parameters to Epstein." The Cubs in recent days "sent memos to their top baseball personnel to keep the second week of November open for tentative organizational meetings, a sign to some in the organization that the team could be close to naming a GM" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/12).

This comes as the BOSTON GLOBE goes out front with a bruising look at the Red Sox’ late season collapse under the header, "Inside The Collapse: Dedication waned, unity unraveled, and manager lost influence as a once-inspiring Red Sox season ended in epic failure."

Minneapolis' Metropolitan Council today will release a report that raises "new questions about the viability of the Arden Hills site" for a new Vikings stadium. The report, ordered by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, states that the "price tag and time line for clean-up of the site ... will be greater than expected." It also says a county sales tax plan to help finance it would "compromise the county's and the region's ability to finance other projects." The report also identifies $39M in unfunded costs for the proposed $1.1B project (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/12).

Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire yesterday said that NBA players "will give 'serious' consideration to starting their own league" if the lockout forces full cancellation of the '11-12 season. Stoudemire: "It's just a matter of us strategically coming up with a plan, a blueprint and putting it together." The players would need to clear "many hurdles," such as "finding a source for player salaries, game venues, broadcast rights and player insurance" (ESPNNY.com, 10/11). Stoudemire "declined to say if there's financial backing in place" (N.Y. POST, 10/12).

A source said that the NHL and NHLPA have set the players' escrow rate at 8.5% for the first quarter of the season, "the lowest rate since the first year after" the '04-05 lockout. The league and union are "still negotiating the final escrow number" for the '10-11 season. A portion of the players' salaries is set aside in an escrow account "in order to protect owners in the event players earn more than the allotted 57 percent of hockey-related revenues at the end of the season" (ESPN.com, 10/12).

The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts notes the escrow rate is a "a key indicator of the league’s economy," and the 8.5% number indicates that NHL officials are "betting on a good year for the league."

ESPN.com today will debut "Wider World of Sports," a Kenny Mayne-hosted homage to the classic ABC series "Wide World of Sports" in which Mayne travels around the world for unique sporting experiences. Originally announced at the May upfronts, the six-part series involves Mayne making stops in Brazil, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Thailand, with featured sports including extreme golf, elephant polo and Irish road bowling. Though not scripted like Mayne's prior online venture, the web comedy series "Mayne Street," the new effort will include elements of his offbeat sense of humor.

"We were looking to be in the moment while we're after these interesting sporting events, maybe have a few laughs, and not have it be just a straight travelogue," Mayne said. "Each time we went somewhere, it became our new favorite." Segments will run weekly through Nov. 16, beginning today with the first set based in Brazil that also features soccer star Ronaldinho. JC Penney has signed as an initial sponsor of "Wider World of Sports."

The Izod IndyCar Series on Friday is expected to formally announce that it will return to Baltimore "on Labor Day weekend 2012 for the second Baltimore Grand Prix." Race promoter Jay Davidson, whose group has a five-year contract with IndyCar, also confirmed that the American Le Mans Series will return for a Sept. 1 event. Ryan O'Doherty, a spokesman for Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, said, "The city learned a lot about traffic and pedestrian flows, and (there) will be some changes moving forward" (Baltimore SUN, 10/12).

Puma today announced a multiyear partnership to become an official partner and the exclusive licensing partner to the Mercedes GP Petronas F1 team for footwear, apparel and accessories. Per the deal, Puma will receive branding on the team's '12 race car and on all race and teamwear products. Puma will also develop licensed products for the team for global sales and distribution (Puma).

The Bengals have announced that there remain "too many tickets" unsold for Sunday's game against the Colts to avoid a local TV blackout. It will mark the seventh straight home game blackout for the Bengals, "which is the longest current run in the league" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/12).

Army and the Yankees have announced that next year's Army-Air Force game, scheduled for Nov. 3 at Yankee Stadium, "will be moved to West Point's Michie Stadium" due to a "potential conflict" with MLB's postseason schedule (NEWSDAY.com, 10/11).

Construction workers at Cal's Memorial Stadium yesterday lifted the "fifth and final section of the press-box frame" into place (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/12).

Boost Mobile, a WNBA partner, is running a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today congratulating the Minnesota Lynx for winning the WNBA Finals (THE DAILY).

"I don't feel comfortable taking money for not working. I'll either defer it or give it to charity" – TNT's Charles Barkley, on being paid by the net during the NBA lockout ("The Waddle & Silvy Show," ESPN Radio, 10/11).

"There would definitely be no grudge for the fact that Denver abandoned the race" – IOC President Jacques Rogge, on Denver possibly submitting a bid to host the '22 Games. Denver was awarded the '76 Winter Games, but opted not to host the event after Colorado taxpayers balked at the cost and environmental effects (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 10/12).

"Further recourse does include an investigation into what legal recourse might be available to this group. Whether or not we go in that direction is a completely separate matter" – Former NHLer Stu Grimson, who is part of a group of former players seeking a full apology from the CBC's Don Cherry over controversial comments made during Saturday's "HNIC" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/12).

"I'm enjoying it. It's a lot of work, but the stress level isn't what it is when you manage" – MLB Exec VP/Basetball Operations Joe Torre, saying he would not be interested in becoming the next Red Sox manager (NEWSDAY, 10/12).

Heat F LeBron James: "@ClaytonESPN When is the deadline for a team to sign a free agent?"

ESPN's John Clayton: "LeBron, sorry to get back to you so late. Trade deadline next Tuesday 4 p.m. Free agency goes until last team is eliminated. Game on. … LeBron, don't look at the Philadelphia Eagles. You're already on a Dream Team."

ESPN L.A.’s Arash Markazi: "I think the Vikings' odds of relocating went from slim to none tonight. It's not a done deal but I think a deal gets done. … Former Calif. Gov. Gray Davis said NFL wouldn't come back to LA until every NFL team got a new stadium. They're close."

Newsday's Alan Hahn: "Moral of the story, kids, is players shouldn't waste energy/money on silly 'rival league' and instead focus on getting NBA deal done."

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

IndyCar driver Tomas Scheckter was so excited to get his helmet for the upcoming Izod IndyCar World Championships in Las Vegas, he felt compelled to tweet several images of the headgear.

adidas and Electronic Arts will launch a series of promotional events in Chicago around their partnership for "Need for Speed The Run" branded apparel. The video game company has partnered with adidas for a line of branded apparel available at adidas Originals stores ahead of the upcoming release of the racing game.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19th Century Literature.”

“‘How are you getting on?’ said this animal character, ‘As soon as there was mouth enough for it to speak with.’”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “College Sports.” The other five categories in the “Double Jeopardy!” round were a play on college conferences. “The SEC” was all about the Securities & Exchange Commission; “The Mountain West” was about mountains in the U.S.; “The Patriot League” asked about American war heroes; “The Sun Belt” was all about our sun; and all the questions in “The Big ‘Ten’” featured ‘ten’ in the correct response.

For $400: “At a 1935 college track meet, he broke three world records and tied a fourth; then it was on to the Berlin Olympics.”

For $800: “Hitting .361 as a sophomore got him a contract with the Yankees, but he’d win a Super Bowl as a Bronco quarterback.”

For $1200: “The model for this, originally called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, was NYU football player Ed Smith.”

For $1600: “Last name of the twins seen here, they put their oars in the water for Oxford as well as Harvard.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “Any folks protesting in Wall Street, the financial district? Any protestors? I appreciate you taking an hour off to come up here and see me. An insider, a friend of mine in the Mayor’s office, said Mayor Bloomberg is so scared they found him hiding in a desk drawer. … Donald Trump is scared. He's teaching that thing on his head to attack. … You know Ben and Jerry, Ben and Jerry the ice cream guys? They're supporting the protestors. I think I'll wait to see what Mister Softee has to say about this. … You know who's also joining the protestors? Kanye West. That's good, a guy with diamonds in his teeth protesting greed. Good idea. … Paul McCartney, a couple days ago in London, got married. Married a truck heiress. She's worth half a billion dollars. I'm telling you, you know the economy is bad when Paul McCartney is marrying for money. … The First Lady, Michelle Obama, attempted yesterday to set a world record for jumping jacks. I think that will get the attention of the rest of the world. I think that will make unemployment a little easier to tolerate. I mean, the pride of knowing that we have the world record for jumping jacks. … I wish I was travelling abroad right now because whenever I travel abroad, hell, whenever I travel in the tri-state area, I get heckled. But if I was overseas now when that happened I could say, ‘Sure, say what you will, but we hold the world record in jumping jacks! Get away from me you grimy little foreigner, we hold the record for jumping jacks!’ I don't mean to suggest that foreigners are tiny and grimy” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/11).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “A woman gave birth to a baby girl just seven hours after she completed the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Isn't that amazing? And listen to this: Since it was Bank of America, they charged her a $5 fee to withdraw the child. … President Obama announced that he will visit Detroit on Friday. Why? I mean, the Tigers are in the playoffs. The Lions are undefeated. Car sales are going through the roof. Why ruin it with a presidential speech? They are doing fine! … Two Americans have won the Nobel Prize for economics. I mean, Americans winning the Nobel Prize for economics? It's like the Chinese winning for child daycare, isn't it? … Up in San Francisco this weekend, they hosted the first-ever medical marijuana job fair. The keynote speech was entitled ‘Jobs and How to Avoid Getting One.’ … Harold Camping, the wacky preacher who predicted the world was going to end back in May, now says the world will end in two weeks. In fact, he's so sure that he's not even buying a pumpkin this year. … The NBA has cancelled the first two weeks of their season. See, that's different from NBC. We start the season and then begin canceling stuff after two weeks. … This is the biggest work stoppage in the NBA, I guess, since the Miami Heat was in last year's finals, right? … You know, there's a chance they could cancel the whole year. Imagine a whole year without professional basketball? Like being a Washington Wizards fan. … Three Utah State Prison inmates are being treated for botulism after drinking an alcoholic brew they made up in their cell. Who could have seen that coming? Imagine getting sick drinking something you made in your prison toilet” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/11).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Little Known Facts About Herman Cain” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/11).

10) “Spends free time pepper-spraying Wall Street protestors.”
9) “Wants to add the inventor of the calzone to Mount Rushmore.”
8) “Had no idea Newt Gingrich was running for president.”
7) “Ends every conversation with a, ‘You know we hold the world record for jumping jacks.’”
6) “Oil he uses for pizzas, same stuff Romney puts in his hair.”
5) “He’s the last remaining person on Earth named ‘Herman.’”
4) “Secretly funneled cash to Pepsi during the 1980’s cola wars.”
3) “Once arrested for ‘dating’ uncooked pizza dough.”
2) “Candidate most frequently hit on by Marcus Bachmann.”
1) “Chris Christie wants to be his running mate just for the free pizza.”

“Who is the Cheshire Cat?”

Correct responses to the “College Sports” category:

For $400: “Who was Jesse Owens?”
For $800: “Who is John Elway?”
For $1200: “What is the Heisman?”
For $1600: “What is Winklevoss?”
For $2000: “Who was Arthur Ashe?”