NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today will publicly address the Donald Sterling situation, and he could "hand out discipline for actions that are detrimental to the game by imposing an indefinite suspension on the Clippers' owner." Such action "likely would remove Sterling from his involvement in the day-to-day operations of the team" (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/28). SI.com's Michael Rosenberg writes, "Expect Sterling to be suspended for a year, with the likelihood of extending the suspension at the owners' meetings in July. Doing it that way would give Silver cover if Sterling sues and says Silver is abusing his powers. It would also allow Silver to accomplish another objective: setting up an exit for Sterling" (SI.com, 4/29).

Former Suns Owner Jerry Colangelo said today is "a big day for Adam Silver," as he "has a chance to make an early mark in his new commissionership" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/29). Heat F LeBron James: "We believe in the NBA and we believe in Adam Silver and justice should be served" (NBA.com, 4/29). Clippers coach Doc Rivers: "This is a defining moment, but I think we'll have more defining moments. I think this is a very important decision. I hope that it's a very strong message, and I believe that it will be" (L.A. TIMES, 4/29).

NBC's Joe Fryer said it was "unclear" how the NBA would sanction Sterling because "experts are calling this uncharted territory." NBC's Matt Lauer noted there was a "lot of pressure" on Silver to "bring the hammer down." The N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica said he thought Silver would "announce a lengthy suspension and a fine today, but that's not going to be enough."  Lupica: "The end game here ... is to get him out of the sport" ("Today," NBC, 4/29).

Players for multiple teams last night "showed solidarity" with the Clippers. Spurs and Mavericks players wore black socks during their game. Heat players for their game against the Bobcats "removed their warmup tops at midcourt ... revealing warmup shirts turned inside-out" (L.A. TIMES, 4/29).

The Sterling story was a dominant theme on yesterday's late-night talk shows, including David Letterman's Top Ten list.

How the Sterling controversy plays today on the front pages of major dailies:

L.A. Times front above the fold: "It's The NBA's Move"
USA Today front above the fold: "Sponsors Dump Clippers Over Scandal"
Orange County Register bottom right rail: "Clippers Owner Faces Punishment"
N.Y. Times left rail: "Clippers' Old-Guard Owner Adrift In New, Global NBA"
N.Y. Daily News cover: "Boot The Bum For Life!"
Chicago Tribune left rail: "Pressure Building On NBA, Sterling"
Detroit News front page center: "Clippers Owner Faces Swift Fallout"
Orlando Sentinel above the fold: "Clippers' Sterling Joins Owners' Hall Of Shame"

The All England Club announced that it has boosted the Wimbledon prize purse by 11% to a record US$42M for this year’s tournament. The men’s and women’s singles champions will be rewarded with US$3M each, or 10% more than last year. The club also said that Stella Artois has “become the official beer brand for the two-week championships” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/29).

The Flames today will formally announce that longtime radio play-by-play announce Peter Maher is "set to retire." Maher's "unique delivery and turn of phrase made him as locally famous as the players whose exploits he chronicled." He has called Flames games "through all but the first season after the team relocated north from Atlanta" in '80, most recently for CFAC-AM. Maher in '06 was inducted into the Hockey HOF as a Foster Hewitt Memorial Award recipient (CALGARY HERALD, 4/29).

Post Foods today announced that Galaxy D Omar Gonzalez and NWSL Portland Thorns F Alex Morgan will appear on its cereal boxes as part of an ongoing promotion that pits Fruity Pebbles endorsers in competition with Cocoa Pebbles ambassadors. Gonzalez joins Team Fruity, captained by WWE star John Cena, while Morgan joins Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving's Team Cocoa. Boxes featuring the two soccer players will be available starting next month (Post).

The Univ. of Missouri contracted Collegiate Sports Associates Executive Search & Consulting for "assistance in its ongoing search for a new men's basketball coach" and will pay Todd Turner's N.C.-based firm $42,500 "plus expenses" after Kim Anderson is introduced today. The contract includes a guarantee that if Anderson leaves MU "on his accord" for non-health reasons within the first year he is appointed, Collegiate Sports Associates "will lead the search for the next coach for free." MU would only pay for "reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses" in that instance (K.C. STAR, 4/29).

Mariners 2B Robinson Cano appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show" last night, and host Jimmy Fallon noted Cano signed a 10-year, $240M contract this offseason. Fallon: "Is that a lot of pressure for you? ... Are you allowed to strike out?" Cano: "Well, nobody want to strike out. ... I have some great teammates and stay loose and relaxed, and it's about having fun." Fallon asked jokingly, "How is the Dominican food in Seattle? What does $240 million get you there? What have they got on the Starbucks menu?" Cano replied, "I brought my mom all the way from the Dominican to cook."

Cano said of Jay Z, whose company, Roc Nation, represents him, "That's the guy that you want, a guy that's been successful, a guy to come up from nothing and made himself into one of the biggest guys in business. … That's the guy you want on your side." Fallon added, "I want him to sign me" (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/28).

CONCACAF today announced that Traffic Sports has agreed to a multiyear renewal through '22 for sponsorship rights to all of the organization's properties, including the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Champions League. Traffic becomes CONCACAF's official corporate partnership agency (CONCACAF).

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur said that he will “rule within two weeks whether he has subject matter jurisdiction to hear a lawsuit filed” by Astros Owner Jim Crane against Comcast, NBCUniversal and former Astros Owner Drayton McLane (CHRON.com, 4/28).

The AVP has appointed California-based Nucleus Worldwide as its marketing agency of record. The firm will handle the tour’s brand strategy, brand graphic standards, creative development and media planning/buying (AVP).

The Triple-A PCL El Paso Chihuahuas held their inaugural game at Southwest Univ. Park last night against the Fresno Girzzlies with a sellout crowd of 9,245 fans, as well as another “hundred or so who watched from the street” (EL PASO TIMES, 4/29).

“What she said was egregious, but what he said was probably worse” – Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, comparing Donald Sterling's comments to those of late Reds Owner Marge Schott (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/28).

“For Sterling himself, it’s over. There’s no crisis management in the world that will fix this, so he has to go” – Corporate crisis PR firm Gordon Group Principal & CEO Michael Gordon, on the fallout from the Donald Sterling controversy (USA TODAY, 4/29).

“Everyone around here wants to talk about how much money you’re going to spend on the team like it makes a difference” – Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos, responding to a question about the payroll for next season (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/29).

“Our theme on the whole renovation is how can we take this classic American stadium and bring in the very best technology” – NFL Panthers President Danny Morrison, on the team’s offseason upgrades to Bank of America Stadium (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/28).

"To have a player like Beckham, this is very important and fantastic. Not only Miami but the whole United States" – Soccer legend Pele, on David Beckham leading the push for an MLS team in Miami (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/28).

Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Hawks-Pacers, followed by the ongoing Donald Sterling scandal and Penguins-Blue Jackets. The 11:00pm ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" led with Heat-Bobcats and Hawks-Pacers, followed by Sterling and a Spurs-Mavericks scoring update. FS1 then aired Penguins-Blue Jackets highlights.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: A fan throwing a banana at Barcelona D Daniel Alves during a match against Villarreal. Also irking Olbermann were runner James Nielsen for setting the "world beer mile record" by drinking a beers for each lap of a mile run (four total) and the N.Y. Post's Phil Mushnick for trying to "rationalize Donald Sterling."

Former NFL coach Wade Phillips: “Excited to do the NFL draft in London with Sky sports. Hope they can understand Texas English.”

Author James Andrew Miller: “Great job by @sagesteele on#GMA this am re #Sterling”

San Jose Mercury News’ Tim Kawakami: “I do realize I'm unhealthily creative at coming up with harsh punishments for powerful people. Should've been a war-time consigliere.”

NFL Network’s Jason Smith: “When the Village People sends you a letter banning you from playing your music, you've insulted America, Donald Sterling.”

If you see a tweet we won’t want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

SACRAMENTO BEE cartoonist Jack Ohman places Donald Sterling alongside another public figure who recently drew criticism for his comments about race, Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.

With last night's loss to the Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Bobcats brand will exit the league without a playoff win to its credit. The team this offseason will rebrand as the Hornets after 10 years under its current moniker. The Bobcats were swept in this year's postseason and in their only previous appearance in '10 against the Magic (THE DAILY).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Nobel Prize-Winning Authors.”

“Due to injuries suffered in two plane crashes in Africa, he was unable to accept his 1954 Nobel Prize in person.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Tennis Tips.”

For $200: “Doing this before serving can keep you loose, but don’t imitate Novak Djokovic, who does it up to 25 times.”

For $400: “Swing from low to high to hit this type of spin; some pros get 3,000 RPM on the ball.”

For $600: “Getting close to the net gives you better angles on your volleys but leaves you vulnerable to this – look up!”

For $800: “Because the net is lower in the center and there’s an extra four and a half feet of court to work with, this type of diagonal shot is typically smarter than hitting it down the line.”

For $1000: “Popularized by Evert, Connors and Borg, it’s an easier stroke to learn but does limit your reach.”

Former MLBer Mookie Wilson appeared on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" last night to promote his new book, "Mookie: Life, Baseball and the '86 Mets." The topic of Donald Sterling's racist comments came up in the interview and Wilson said there is "always going to be that weird relationship between players knowing that management has the last word," but the Sterling situation is "really different (with) a lot of racist remarks. He owns a team that is 80 percent black. That's kind of weird." Wilson said of whether the Clippers' players should boycott games, "To let some idiot not let you fulfill the potential that your team has I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice and the league itself" ("The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central, 4/28).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Sterling insists he’s not a racist. He says some of his best credit cards are black. … Most everyone seems to agree that Donald Sterling should be forced to sell the team. … If he sells the team this guy is going to make at least $500 million, which that’s not much of a punishment in my book. I think I have a solution. I think I have an idea that will work for everyone. I will buy the team from Donald Sterling for $5,000. I think it would be great for the city. I think it would be perfect for basketball. First of all, I love basketball. Secondly, I have $5,000 and thirdly, I happen to love black people. … Donald Sterling, I will give you $5,000 cash, by the way. Do whatever you want with it. Give it to the NAACP, maybe they’ll give you another award. I would be proud to take the reins of what was once, and again, will be the worst, most miserable franchise in all of sports” (Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 4/28).

CBS’ David Letterman: “You folks hear the story about the owner of the Clippers over the weekend? Donald Sterling is the guy’s name and he’s in trouble for making racist remarks and being broadcasted. It must be terribly embarrassing for this guy to be identified as the owner of the Clippers, I mean honest to God. Earlier today he was rushed to the Paula Deen rehab center, so that’s where he’ll be" (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/28).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “Some people are actually defending Sterling saying he has a very good record at hiring minorities. For instance, he always has at least one white guy on the team. …In their defense, Sterling and the Clippers released a statement saying they weren’t sure if the tape was even real. That is still not a good sign if you hear your voice in a racist rant and go, ‘That might be me, sounds like something I might have said, maybe.’ … Even President Obama is calling Donald Sterling’s racist remarks incredibly offensive and you know it’s bad when even Putin is like, ‘I hate to say it, but I am with Obama on this one’" (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/28).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Guys Donald Sterling Looks Like" (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/28).

10) “The only naked guy in the sauna.”
9) “The guy who parks with one wheel on the sidewalk.”
8) “The guy who licks his fingers before pulling cash off a wad.”
7) “The guy at the gas station smoking near the pumps.”
6) “The guy who thinks every male performer is gay.”
5) “The guy who takes a bite out of a sandwich at a buffet and puts it back.”
4) “The guy who hits on a bride at her wedding.”
3) “A satisfied customer in ‘Cash For Gold’ ads.”
2) “Mickey Rourke.”
1) “The soon-to-be former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.”

“Who was Ernest Hemingway?”

Correct responses to the “Tennis Tips” category:

For $200: “What is bouncing the ball?”

For $400: “What is topspin?”

For $600: “What is a lob?”

For $800: “What is a cross-court?”

For $1000: “What is the two-handed backhand?”