The Vikings have generated about $30M in Stadium Builders License revenue for their new stadium development, far exceeding projections for the first two months of the program, according to officials with Van Wagner Group, the team’s sales agency. Since launching a high-tech preview center of premium seat options in late February, Vikings season-ticket holders have purchased 6,600 seat licenses, with 82% of those individuals buying club seats, said Van Wagner VP/Team & Venue Services Jason Gonella. The agency budgeted $37M in sales for the calendar year. “We’re converting at a rate of 75%, which is extremely high,” he said. “It speaks to the power of the preview center.” See more information in today's issue of THE DAILY.

Sources said that banned Clippers Owner Donald Sterling is "battling cancer," with one source saying that the 80-year-old was "specifically suffering from prostate cancer." A source said, "They thought he would die two years ago." Other sources said that Sterling "has been phoning friends for support." Also, insiders at ABC said that Sterling was "in negotiations to chat with Barbara Walters for a '20/20' interview" (N.Y. POST, 5/2). 

The bid for Daytona Int'l Speedway to claim Florida sales-tax revenue was delayed yesterday by "typical last-week jockeying in the state Senate and will likely be delayed" today, the session's last day. The course of events is "just like last year when it failed." Lawmakers yesterday "removed one attempt from a package of tax-cut legislation and a related bill got postponed (but later revived) because of 'mixed signals' from the House" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 5/2).

Meanwhile, nine fans injured when a car flew into a safety fence at the track last year "have reached a settlement." Track owner ISC "will not release the amount of the settlement." The fans were injured by debris that sprayed into the grandstands during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 on Feb. 23 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 5/2).

The Braves yesterday filed a rezoning application for their proposed $672M Cobb County ballpark and nearby $400M mixed-used development. The Cobb Planning Commission is slated to vote on the application July 1, “followed by the final vote by the Board Commissioners on July 15” (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 5/2).

Meanwhile, Cobb Citizens for Governmental Transparency yesterday “called for a moratorium on any public spending relating” to the new Braves ballpark, and “a public vote before the county borrows money for stadium construction” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/2).

Grand Prix Sports announced a plan to launch a professional indoor volleyball league that would begin play no later than '18. Grand Prix is working under the support and sanction of USA Volleyball to create the Grand Prix Volleyball League (VBL). The company was awarded the sanction, license and global media rights for the league shortly after the '12 London Games. The VBL will initially target 16 major U.S. media markets for both its men's and women's leagues (Grand Prix Sports).

The CapTech USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, which start today in Richmond and runs through Sunday, “feature about 400 of the top college cyclists” in the U.S. (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 5/2).

The Univ. of Kansas today will break ground on the $18M, 32,000-square-foot DeBruce Center, “the new home for James Naismith’s original ‘Rules of Basket Ball’” (K.C. STAR, 5/2).

NBC is running a full-page ad in this morning’s USA Today that promotes its coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (THE DAILY).

Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions are running a full-page ad in this morning’s USA Today that promotes Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Marcos Maidana bout under the header, “The Moment” (THE DAILY).

“It’s an important part of Nike. It’s been one of the best acquisitions we’ve made” – Nike CEO Mark Parker, on the company’s $305M purchase of Converse in ’02 (BOSTON HERALD, 5/2).

"This has become one of my favorite courses anywhere in the world, and I think one of the best courses anywhere in the world" – Phil Mickelson, on Charlotte's Quail Hollow Club, the site of this week's PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship (AP, 5/1).

"Normally in MMA there's a lot of sportsmanship. It has been like 10 years and we don't like each other" – UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, on his next UFC opponent, King Mo Lawal ("The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson," CBS, 5/1).

Last night's 11:00pm ET editions of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and FS1's "Fox Sports Live" both led with the full NBA playoff schedule. ESPN led with Thunder-Grizzlies, Pacers-Hawks and Clippers-Warriors, while FS1 aired Pacers-Hawks, Thunder-Grizzlies, the statement from the NBA regarding Donald Sterling's removal as Clippers owner and Clippers-Warriors highlights. ESPN aired a report on the NBA statement about 28 minutes into the broadcast. FS1 aired highlights of Canadiens-Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1 at about 12 minutes into their broadcast, while ESPN aired the same highlights about 36 minutes into their telecast.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: A fan at a Korean baseball league game running onto the field and putting the umpire "in a headlock" after a safe call at first base. Olbermann also criticized the fan who has "stolen the heads off of giant bobblehead dolls" depicting Red Wings G Jimmy Howard and C Pavel Datsyuk, and Redskins Owner Dan Snyder, who is under pressure to change the team name.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich: "The right answer to the Clippers ownership challenge is to sell it to the people of Los Angeles. Green Bay, not billionaires, is the model."

The official Twitter feed for the Emerald City Supporters fan club: "We sincerely hope that @MerrittPaulson recovers fully from his alligator bite. (Officially the most bizarre tweet we've ever made.)"

ESPN L.A.'s Arash Markazi: "On Saturday, for the first time in NBA history, we will have three Game 7s on the same day."

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.: "Random idea for today: Would be nice if the next iphone update allowed a user to edit the name of each bluetooth device."

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

ESPN's Kevin Negandhi re-tweeted an image of this morning's "Kevin Up" headline from the Oklahoman. After Thunder F Kevin Durant scored 36 points in a Game 6 win against the Grizzlies, the paper is taking a markedly different tack than when it referred to Durant as "Mr. Unreliable" in a headline yesterday.

A funeral mass for late former Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles, Ill.

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

“Other than ‘Q,’ these two letters appear the least in the names of states, each appearing only once.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “The Los Angeles Clippers are being placed up for sale and will be purchased by Oprah Winfrey. Insiders told us that. … the new team physician will be Dr. Phil. We know that for a fact, and it will be the only team in the league with a book club." During Letterman’s monologue, the broadcast aired a segment called “Billionaires Interested In Buying The Clippers” after rumors of various celebrities and personalities being interested in acquiring the team. The video announcer said, “Ted Hanson: Founder, Offendatronix. Bob Lewis: Owner, Discriminaco Industries. Jack Turner: President & CEO, The Bigoted Group and its subsidiaries Prejudiced Machine Tools, Biased Aerospace and Anti-Ethnic Mineral & Chemical.” Letterman: “No, we’re not on that list” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/1).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the Clippers are for sale, whether the owner of the team wants to sell them or not. You probably also heard the rumor that Oprah and I are planning to buy the team together. … Right now it’s an idea, nothing more, but people are talking about it. … As soon as my name came up in conversation, sure enough, lo and behold, look who decided to throw his stupid hat in the ring.” A video was aired of actor Matt Damon expressing his desire to “jump in to be a super minority partner.” Kimmel added, “Minority partner, now he’s claiming to be a minority, how convenient. … This could be the first time a major sports team has been purchased using money earned from making out with Michael Douglas. … I get it, I took Ben away from you and now you’re trying to take this away from me. Guess what? It’s not just me you’re screwing with this time. It’s Oprah. It’s me and Oprah” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/1).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “This Donald Sterling situation has everybody nervous about saying the wrong thing. On ESPN … the anchor got caught up trying to be too careful.” A video was aired of Clippers coach Doc Rivers’ pregame press conference and following the end of the presser an unidentified ESPN anchor said, “So Doc Rivers, got a game to coach but still giving the media about fifteen minutes on the day his owner, or at least the team owner, probably bad choice of words there.” Fallon: "Nothing sounds more racist than a white guy catching himself sounding racist." More Fallon: "Jameis Winston … shoplifted $32 worth of crab legs from a Florida grocery store. Not good. Experts say that if he doesn’t clean up his act and stop breaking the law, he could end up in the NFL” (The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/1).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Reasons Rob Ford Is Taking A Leave Of Absence.” Letterman said, “We saw this coming and I feel for these people because, clearly, they need help. They need someone to reach out and finally, it looks like now, your old friend Rob Ford from Toronto is getting some help” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/1).

10) “His drinking began to interfere with his crack smoking.”
9) “Wants to spend more time with his humiliated family.”
8) “Crack scene in Toronto is so over.”
7) “Worries that if he stays, he’ll embarrass himself.”
6) “Meeting with CBS about a late night project.”
5) “Allergies.”
4) “Already accomplished everything he set out to do.”
3) “Made the decision in a drunken stupor.”
2) “He’s going to help Justin Bieber turn his life around.”
1) “The great ones always know when to leave on top.”

“What are ‘J’ and ‘Z?’"

The two states are New Jersey and Arizona.