MGM Resorts Int'l and partner AEG today are breaking ground on a new $350M, 20,000-seat arena in Las Vegas slated to open in two years. The venue behind New York New York is "expected to stage more than 100 events annually," including concerts, sports, award shows, UFC events and boxing matches (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/1). The project will include an eight-acre park "with tree-lined streets, outdoor dining and shopping." Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman "remains adamant that a downtown stadium be built and that both venues could be home" to pro sports teams (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/1).

Mike D'Antoni yesterday resigned as Lakers coach with one more guaranteed year on his contract. D'Antoni, who was "dismayed when the Lakers declined to pick up his option" for the '15-16 season, "will receive less than half" of the $4M he was set to earn next season. The team "might pursue a high-salaried, big-name NBA coach," or they "could go after a low-salaried NBA assistant." Of the last four Lakers coaches, "only Phil Jackson left on his own terms" (L.A. TIMES, 5/1).

Under the header, "Jim Buss Can't Afford To Whiff On Lakers' Next Coaching Hire," the L.A. TIMES' Bill Plaschke writes the team's Exec VP/Player Personnel has had "three hires, three wild swings, three magnificent strikes." His fourth coaching decision "will be a vital piece of the life preserver Jim Buss is attempting to construct to ensure his survival" (L.A. TIMES, 5/1).

Yokohama Tire and the Clippers announced an agreement in which the company will immediately reinstate its sponsorship of the team, with half of the '14 NBA playoff sponsorship funds being earmarked to a charity instead of the organization. The money will be donated to NBA-backed charitable organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts. Yokohama in a statement applauded NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for banning Clippers Owner Donald Sterling for life (Yokohama Tire Corp.).

The Sterling issue continues to provide material for late-night talk shows.

The Hawks tonight will unveil a new secondary logo during Game 6 of their playoff series against the Pacers. The team is giving away red T-shirts at the home game to "everyone in attendance that features an updated version of the franchise's iconic image." The logo is a redesigned version of the Pac-Man mark originally used from '72-95. It features a "more pronounced hook of the beak and a new eye." Fans can visit the team website to "sign up to purchase merchandise with the new logo" (AJC.com, 5/1).

Int'l soccer officials today will gather in Miami to confirm that the U.S. will host the '16 Copa America "Centenario," a "100th anniversary special edition of the historic South American tournament." The field is "expected to include all 10 South American nations" in addition to the U.S., Mexico and "four other teams from the CONCACAF region." It would be the "biggest and most prestigious soccer tournament held on U.S. soil" since the '99 FIFA Women's World Cup (MIAMI HERALD, 5/1).

USA Today High School Sports has struck a strategic partnership with photo crowdsourcing service Scoopshot. The Finland-based Scoopshot provides a software platform that allows anyone, professional or not, to shoot and upload photos and video and be paid for their work when published. The deal will begin with the '14-15 scholastic season. "This partnership will help provide us with a potentially unprecedented amount of visual content at scale for our coverage of high school sports around the country," said USA Today Sports Media Group President Dave Morgan.

Apparel designer/marketer The Antigua Group announced that it has signed a multiyear license agreement with the UFC. Effective immediately, Antigua gains non-exclusive rights to produce men's and women's UFC lifestyle apparel, headwear and luggage. The licensed items will be sold at UFCStore.com, fan shops, sporting goods stores, specialty retailers, department stores, military base stores and via TV retail (Antigua Group).

The NBA's 10-member Advisory & Finance Committee today will hold a meeting via conference call "in hopes of providing more clarity in officially removing" Donald Sterling as Clippers owner (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/1).

USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said that the organization "hopes to narrow the field" of potential '24 Games host cities in the U.S. to two or three by June and "make a final host city selection by the end of the year" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/1).

San Antonio Express-News NBA reporter Mike Monroe received the Professional Basketball Writers Association's Phil Jasner Lifetime Achievement Award during a pregame ceremony prior to last night's Mavericks-Spurs Game 5 in San Antonio (MYSANANTONIO.com,4/30).

StubHub announced that it "will sell tickets to concerts it will produce." It has "five shows planned so far featuring 'emerging acts' and will launch its first self-produced concert" May 18 in L.A. (AP, 5/1).

"I will be owning an NBA team sometime. Is the Clippers the right situation? Of course. It's one of the premiere franchises" – Magic Johnson, confirming his interest in Clippers ownership (Mult., 5/1).

"I was very pleased with Adam Silver's decision – it was big time" – Heat F LeBron James (MIAMI HERALD, 5/1).

"Roger Goodell is a good man, but it's time for this good man to act. Remove this hateful term from your league's vocabulary, follow the NBA's example" – U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), urging the NFL Commissioner to do away with the Redskins moniker (POLITICO.com, 4/30).

"The tour needs him. We need him forever. We need him more than anything. But one day he's going to be gone. Then what?" – Golfer Pat Perez, on Tiger Woods (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 5/1).

The 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with four NBA-related reports, including Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni resigning, Nets-Raptors, Trail Blazers-Rockets and analysis of D'Antoni's resignation. ESPN then followed up with Flyers-Rangers Game 7 highlights. The 11:00pm ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" aired a similar line-up, with three NBA-related reports leading the broadcast, including Nets-Raptors, Mavericks-Spurs and D'Antoni. Both telecasts aired reports on Clippers Owner Donald Sterling approximately 20 minutes into the broadcast.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: The "angry goalie" from an indoor soccer league throwing the ball at an opposing player and having the ball bounce into the net behind him. Also irking Olbermann was the Class-A Midwest League Ft. Wayne TinCaps 1B Fernando Perez, who after chasing a foul pop-up "accidentally kicked a sprinkler head and suddenly Perez is starring in the oil strike scene" from the film "There Will Be Blood," and the owner of an "unattended pit bull" who was attending a Simon Fraser Univ.-Western Oregon softball game when the dog ran onto the field and stole a glove.

Nets & Barclays Center Senior Reporter Lenn Robbins via the team's official feed: “#Nets fans take note- this is what a playoff crowd sounds like..set your DVD and take notes #RAPTORSvNETS - LR”

MSP Sports Founder Tim McGhee: “I totally get why Donald Sterling would sue the NBA. I mean the ownership agreement he signed when he bought the team is just a contract.”

Boston Globe’s Eric Wilbur: “Gotta figure there is a whole ton of soaking-wet bobbleheads in the Fens this morning.”

Marquee Search Exec Recruiter Jeff Yocom: “First round of the NBA Playoffs has been outstanding this year. I think NHL fans call it just another year of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

UPS Senior Project Lead/Sponsorships & Events J.W. Cannon: “Donald Sterling is probably sending a nice fruit basket to Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford, this morning for putting him below the fold.”

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

Clippers Owner Donald Sterling and the league response to his comments continue to be favorite subjects for editorial cartoons. The SACRAMENTO BEE's Jack Ohman creates a fictitious NBA MVP ballot that offers a choice between Thunder F Kevin Durant and Commissioner Adam Silver (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/1).

The Heisley family will hold a wake for late former Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley at Malone Funeral Home in Geneva, Ill., from 2:00-8:00pm CT.

The funeral for former NBA coach Dr. Jack Ramsay will be held in Naples, Fla. Fifteen Heat employees including President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra are expected to attend.

The Raptors last night distributed branded lint rollers prior to their game against the Nets. Meanwhile, IKEA Canada announced yesterday via its Twitter account that it "would be giving out lint rollers before the game." Musician and Raptors Global Ambassador Drake during Game 2 of the series applied a lint roller to his pants (NATIONALPOST.com, 4/30). During a break in play in the first half last night, a camera at Air Canada Centre "once again focused" on Drake and it "paired him with a pair of his own lint-rollers" (NATIONAL POST, 5/1).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Album Covers.”

“This band used a picture of the Hindenburg disaster on the cover of its eponymous debut album.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “Adam Silver … is a tough guy. You don’t want to mess around with this guy and he jumped on this problem and took care of it. He answered a bunch of questions about Donald Sterling and then he took some questions about grazing cattle on public land. … I love the things that are ironic. Donald Sterling has now been banned for life. … This guy has been blacklisted. … The owners will get together and vote and perhaps force him to sell his team. He originally bought the team for $12 million and the market value of the Clippers now is $800 million. Ouch, that is going to sting. That’s $700 million profit. That will teach him. Then I thought, 'Well if they really want to hurt this guy, they should force him to buy the Knicks'" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/30).

During Letterman's monologue, the broadcast aired a segment called "Other Sports Figures Banned For Life" after Clippers Owner Donald Sterling was given a lifetime ban from the NBA. The announcer in the video said, "Pete Rose: Banned from Major League baseball for gambling. Lance Armstrong: Banned from cycling for doping violations. Linda Janner: Banned from LPGA for dress code infractions." The broadcast then aired a video of a female golfer hitting a shot in the fairway naked. The announcer added, "'Other Sports Figures Banned For Life' is made possible by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/30).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Adam Silver has ordered Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers in the wake of his racist comments. You probably heard the big rumor today … (about) a group of investors led by me and Oprah are planning to buy the team. … I would like to say that I think Oprah and I would be great team owners. How does the idea of a halftime book club hit you?" (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 4/30).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “After his racist remarks yesterday the NBA banned (Sterling) for life and now he’s being pressured to sell the Clippers. Do you know who might buy them? Floyd Mayweather Jr, apparently he’s interested in buying the team. Either that or he’s lying just so he can get alone in a room with Donald Sterling. … Despite being banned from the NBA, Sterling isn’t giving up. In fact, he’s actually starting his own basketball league with a bunch of new teams that appeal more to white people. … We have a sneak peak at some of the team names.” Some of the teams in the "new league" were named were the “Denver J. Crew Catalogs,” “Wyoming Whole Foods,” “Oregon Off-Beat Clappers” and “Austin Paula Deens.” Fallon added, “Should be a good league” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/30).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Other Banned Dr. Seuss Books.” Letterman said, “An irate parent has demanded the Toronto Public Library to ban … The Dr. Seuss book ‘Hop On Pop’ … because it demonstrates violence against fathers” (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/30).

10) “How The Grinch Stole Cable – And You Can Too.”
9) “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Mercury Poisoning.”
8) “The Lorax Takes Xanax.”
7) “Megan Fox In Only Socks.”
6) “Liquor Before Beer, Never Fear.”
5) “Yertle The Infertile Turtle.”
4) “There’s A Wocket In My Colon!”
3) “Clarence K. Diggs and His Electronic Cigs.”
2) “Naked Golf Digest.”
1) “Horton Hangs At Hooters.”

“Who is Led Zeppelin?”