The Big East and Big Ten conferences today will announce the creation of the Dave Gavitt Tipoff Games, a “four-day, eight-game season-opening challenge” beginning with the ’15-16 season. The games will take place in November “from Tuesday to Friday of the first full week of the season.” ESPN and Big Ten Network will air games played at Big Ten sites, while FS1 will televise games at Big East locations. Each conference “will host four games.” The deal is for eight years (SI.com, 5/4).

The office of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal confirmed that the Verizon IndyCar Series will race at Nola Motorsports Park outside New Orleans next year. The track will undergo some changes before the race, including “a new pit entrance and wider, longer pit lane, as well as adding perimeter fencing and straightaway enhancements.” Jindal today is expected to “make a formal and detailed announcement at the track.” No race date is expected to be announced today (AP, 5/4).

Talladega Superspeedway Chair Grant Lynch indicated that yesterday’s Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race drew “well north of 100,000” fans. That comes after Talladega has “taken a beating over bad attendance news in recent years.” Reasons for the attendance increase can be traced to “ideal” weather this weekend, the improving economy and efforts “to enhance the fan experience since last fall.” Race winner Denny Hamlin said, “This was the biggest crowd I’ve seen here in many, many years” (ANNISTON STAR, 5/5).

The 49ers’ new practice facility has been officially renamed the SAP Performance Facility. SAP, a business software and analytics firm, has naming rights to the building as a founding partner for Levi’s Stadium, a deal announced in September ‘12. The practice facility sits next to the new stadium.

NFL Draft prospects QB Blake Bortles and WR Marqise Lee have signed exclusive deals with Fanatics Authentic, the new memorabilia division of e-commerce retailer Fanatics. Fanatics Authentic has existing deals with Red Sox DH David Ortiz, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, Broncos QB Peyton Manning, Pacers F Paul George and Bulls F Joakim Noah (THE DAILY).

PBR CEO Jim Haworth said that the Built Ford Tough tour “will return during the first weekend of May 2015” to Colorado Springs’ Broadmoor World Arena. A total of 11,907 fans came this weekend to the three-day Rumble in the Rockies, the PBR’s first stop in Colorado Springs since ’05. Saturday night’s session drew 4,395 fans, followed by 3,927 Friday night and 3,585 yesterday afternoon. Haworth: “After being away for nine years, it was wonderful to see the fan base return” (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 5/5).

Golf Channel today unveiled a new logo, which will be rolled out in connection with The Players at TPC Sawgrass (Golf Channel).

Sporting KC players yesterday received their ’13 MLS Cup championship rings “in a 20-minute ceremony” prior to the club’s match against the Crew (K.C. STAR, 5/5).

The dates for the Pacers-Wizards series have been set, but if the series extends to six games, the Wizards “would have a scheduling problem on May 15 because of a Lady Gaga concert that is already booked for that night" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/4).

A crowd of more than a 1,000 fans "lined up along Sunday's course" for the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships in Richmond (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 5/5).

An estimated 10,000 people gathered at Maple Leaf Square on Sunday to "cheer for the Raptors in the final game of their first-round playoff series" against the Nets. Fans "filled the square" and "milled about in packs" outside the sold out Air Canada Centre (TORONTO STAR, 5/5).

“The draft is not game day. It’s just the draft. People ask, ‘Is this your Super Bowl'? No. Our Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. The draft is just part of the process” – Chargers GM Tom Telesco, on the hype around the NFL Draft (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/3).

“If I didn’t have a deep respect for the game before, I have a much deeper appreciation for it now. I love calling golf. I love talking about it” – Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay III, after suffering a heart attack last month (GOLF WORLD MONDAY, 5/5).

“It feels weird driving down pit road the wrong way and seeing cars go the wrong way” – IndyCar driver Scott Dixon, on going clockwise around the IMS road course during practice for this weekend’s inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The drivers go counterclockwise during the Indy 500 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/4).

"Jacksonville ought to take him because how much are they going to love him when the Jaguars move to Los Angeles" – N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica, on QB Johnny Manziel ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/4).

Showtime Sports Exec VP & GM Stephen Espinoza: "Insane Twitter traffic for #MayweatherMaidana. Add up all tweets for all 3 #NBA game 7s & it's still 100k fewer tweets than for the fight."

Pro Football Talk's Darin Gantt: “Bad sushi last night: I dreamt an NBA owner didn't like black guys, a Heisman winner loved crawfish and the NFL hadn't drafted anyone yet.”

Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay: “The silliest thing about the whole Brooklyn Nets-call-out-fans on Twitter thing is Nets apologized. It's Brooklyn. Who does that? Own it.”

The AP's Jenna Fryer: "Could have racing implications down road? RT @AP: BREAKING: Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel resigns as fallout from massive data breach goes on."

Coca-Cola is “dropping a controversial ingredient from its Powerade sports drink, after a similar move by PepsiCo’s Gatorade last year.” The ingredient, brominated vegetable oil, is “linked to a flame retardant and is not approved for use in Japan or the European Union” (AP, 5/4).

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Business History.”

“In 1945 this product added a plaid design to its ‘snail’ dispenser.”

This Saturday's "Weekend Update" news segment on NBC's "SNL" featured cast member Colin Jost reporting, "L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling was banned for life this week by the NBA for making a series of racist remarks, after which I'm guessing he made a few more. V. Stiviano, the ex-girlfriend of Donald Sterling, continued to insist that she did not release the recordings of Sterling's racist comments. Though I don't know if I'd trust a woman who sounds like she got her name from how often she's a defendant." The segment aired an image featuring "The People v. Stiviano" ("SNL," NBC, 5/3).

CBS’ David Letterman: “Tomorrow, Kentucky Derby ladies and gentlemen, Kentucky Derby. If I want to see a horse’s ass I’ll swing by Donald Sterling’s place” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/2).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “For the first time in NBA playoff history tomorrow there will be three Game Sevens on the same day. … Even better news, Donald Sterling can’t go to any of them.” After his monologue, Fallon aired a segment where he read his weekly thank you notes, noting, “Thank you NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, for being the 'American Gothic' guy come to life.” Fallon added, “Thank you, Donald Sterling’s girlfriend V. Stiviano, for showing off this year’s hottest Halloween costume, slutty welder” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/2).

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Other Ways Donald Sterling’s Girlfriend Hides Her Face." Letterman said, “To hide her face, Donald Sterling’s girlfriend, V. Stiviano, has been wearing a visor, like a welder’s mask” (Late Show,” CBS, 5/2).

10) “Diving helmet”
9) “Beard of bees”
8) “Bigger visor”
7) “Tuba”
6) “Newspaper”
5) “Pot of mums”
4) “Pet cone”
3) “Optometrist’s phoropter”
2) “Pharrell’s hat”
1) “Balloon”

“What is Scotch Tape?”