The Royals defeated the A's 9-8 last night in a 12-inning AL Wild Card game before a sellout crowd of 40,502 at Kauffman Stadium. The crowd "gave this the feel of a night 29 years in the making, the 'Let's Go Royals' chants starting well before the first pitch and carrying through the game" (K.C. STAR, 10/1). MLB Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred visited downtown K.C. prior to the game and said, "The level of excitement in this market is unbelievable, and it seemed like every other person had a Royals shirt on" (K.C. STAR, 10/1).

TBS’ broadcast of the game drew some criticism on Twitter last night. The Seattle Times' Larry Stone wrote, "One of greatest postseason games ever…but you’d hardly know it listening to anemic TBS announcing crew." Newsday's Erik Boland: "Wow, TBS, just wow. You're beyond awful with the whole replay thing. Hire the YES and/or SNY people to produce these playoff games." But Bleacher Report's Dan Levy wrote, "Ron Darling is great. All over the over-managing in the playoffs.” For more reactions to TBS’ coverage, see today’s issue of THE DAILY.

The NHL BOG has unanimously approved the sale of the Islanders from Charles Wang to Jonathan Ledecky and Scott Malkin. The deal calls for Ledecky and Malkin to "own a minority stake in the team once it is complete." They will "assume majority control in two years, with Wang retaining a minority stake." While announcing the deal yesterday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that "no issues were raised" by the BOG regarding Wang's "two-year period of ceding control." Bettman said the new owners will "bring in some additional ownership expertise, resources" (NEWSDAY, 10/1).

MLSE today will formally announce a naming rights deal with Ford Motor Co. that designates the "Ford Fan Zone at Maple Leaf Square." The name "accommodates Ford's corporate branding while preserving the Maple Leaf name." MLSE Chief Commercial Officer Dave Hopkinson said that the two companies "spent the last year brainstorming names for the re-branded square," but "'Ford Square' was never considered" (TORONTO STAR, 10/1).

Dish Network launches ESPN Classic On-Demand today and will drop the linear channel. The service will have 600 hours of programming and will be anchored by college football (200+ games) and college basketball (50+ games). Dish Network customers that subscribe to a tier that carries ESPN have access to the VOD service. A digital content offering through WatchESPN will launch early next year.

The move to VOD signals the end to a channel that ESPN bought from a group including Brian Bedol for $175M in '97. Five years ago, ESPN turned the channel into a sports tier channel, swapping out carriage for ESPNU. It currently is in 27 million homes, according to Nielsen's most recent numbers.

Roughly 1,000 Univ. of Michigan students and members of the university community gathered last night to protest UM AD Dave Brandon and the "department's mishandling of injuries sustained" by QB Shane Morris. The group stopped at school President Mark Schlissel's house, where several students yelled for Schlissel to "come out and face us." It is "unknown whether Schlissel was in the house, but he released a statement about 30 minutes before the rally expressing disappointment in the athletic department" (MLIVE.com, 9/30).

Rolex has signed Grigor Dimitrov to an endorsement contract, a source said. The deal is expected to be announced next week in China when the Rolex Shanghai Masters starts. Rolex, which could not immediately be reached for comment, plans to use Dimitrov in global advertising. The deal, the source said, is for five years and more than $2.5M over that term. Dimitrov is represented by Team8, an agency founded by Roger Federer and his agent, Tony Godsick. Dimitrov also endorses Nike and Wilson.

adidas today said that it would buy back shares "to appease disgruntled shareholders following a profit warning and dissatisfaction with the company's turnaround efforts in recent months." The company will begin a shareholder return program worth up to $1.9B running through the end of '17, "funded primarily from free cash flow." A "key component of the program is the repurchase of up to 10% of the company's share capital, approved by shareholders in May" (MARKETWATCH.com, 10/1).

Meanwhile, adidas is opening a design studio in Brooklyn early next year. The office will be "staffed by three design veterans the German shoe company poached from Nike." This is "believed to be the company's first U.S. presence" outside of Portland, Ore. (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/1).

Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Sportsman Channel today announced a renewal of their TV rights deal. The network "won't document the race live" in '15, but "hours of programming will air later." Musher standings "will be updated on the network's website during the race." The channel "maintains its status as the official network" of the event. The Iditarod Trail Committee also provides race footage via the Iditarod Insider online service (AP, 10/1).

The Misty May-Treanor Sports Center in Irvine, Calif., today will be unveiled with a "casual, sneak-peek open house." The "new and – in key ways – unique indoor sports training facility" has 22 volleyball courts and 21 basketball courts on wood floors, plus an electronic scoreboard for each court. An "air-conditioned 350-seat restaurant, enclosed by soundproof glass and with 10 large HDTV screens, will look over the action when it opens in mid-November" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/1).

The launch of the WWE Network in the U.K. slated for today “has been pushed back.” The WWE did not give a reason other than “discussions with potential partners.” A new launch date will be announced by Nov. 1 (PHILLY.com, 9/30).

SportSouth announced that it will air 75 regular-season Hawks games during the '14-15 season. The broadcast team of Dominique Wilkins and Bob Rathburn will be joined by sideline reporter Andre Aldridge. The net will also "continue its 30-minute pre- and post-game show" with Jerome Jurenovich and Mike Glenn (AJC.com, 9/30).

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan today will ask to “designate the Tampa Sports Authority to lead discussions with the Rays” on a new ballpark, “if the Rays get permission to look at sites outside Pinellas County” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/28).

“To be quite honest, it’s like a punch in the stomach. I felt like I was going to throw up. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but he’s the face of our sport” – NBC’s Rowdy Gaines, on Michael Phelps being arrested for a second time on DUI charges (Baltimore SUN, 10/1).

“That’s what the league is about, is about making money, which is fine. I like to make money as well. But, yeah, it’s tough on your body, tough on your head” – Packers G Josh Sitton, on playing games on Thursday nights (ESPN.com, 9/30).

“We decided, as a membership, that that’s Dan Snyder’s decision. He brought a lot of things to the membership regarding the Redskins name. It was quite compelling. It was professionally done” – Cowboys COO & Exec VP Stephen Jones, on the NFL letting the Redskins owner make the final decision on the team’s name (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/1).

“We have an opportunity here to build and create the highest-grossing casino in the western Hemisphere” – Former NJSEA Chair Carl Goldberg, on a possible casino license for the Meadowlands Sports Complex (NORTHJERSEY.com, 9/30).

The 1:00am ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with A's-Royals, followed by Michigan's handling of the Shane Morris injury, more postgame coverage of A's-Royals and the Raiders naming Tony Sparano head coach. The 1:00am ET edition of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" led the first 45 minutes of the broadcast with coverage of A's-Royals, followed by a preview of Giants-Pirates and Bulls G Derrick Rose addressing the media.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann called out his "world's worst" persons in sports: Washington State coach Mike Leach for his commentary on society relying too much on technology because "I'm not real good with technology." Olbermann also slammed Thunder C Steve Adams because he "grew a mustache just for the pictures" at NBA Media Day, and CFL Calgary Stampeders DB Fred Bennett for doing the "dumbest thing you can do in sports: He trash-talked another player while ... the other player was on-camera" being interviewed.

Questionable. RT @MLB: Tomorrow is October - the greatest month of the year. #postseason pic.twitter.com/Gs5k5i186d

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) October 1, 2014

agent seth levinson, being investigated at mlb's behest, found self seated next to commish-elect manfred on flight to kc

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 1, 2014

The person responsible for hiring Pedro Martinez should get a promotion…speaks his mind & not afraid to challenge. #bestia

— Victor Rojas (@VictorRojas29) October 1, 2014

If only there had been something to do in Kansas City the las two nights.....

— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 1, 2014

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

Charlotte Motor Speedway President & GM Marcus Smith and track officials will make a major sponsorship announcement. Also, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano and track officials will join breast cancer survivors in painting CMS' pit wall pink in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Anti-Defamation League will present its Torch of Liberty Award to Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany. The dinner is co-chaired by Bulls Exec VP Steve Schanwald and Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman.

The North American Football League, which plans to begin play next spring, is placing a franchise in Orlando called the Sentinels. NAFL President Christopher White: “We didn’t name it after the newspaper.” White said the name comes “from the legend of Orlando Reeves,” a militiaman during the Seminole Indian Wars (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/1).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “World Leaders.”

“He came to power 34 days before FDR and left it 19 days after him.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “College Football Stadium Nicknames.”

For $200: “This team plays its home games in ‘The House That Rockne Built.’”

For $400: “This Trojans home field is known as ‘The Grand Old Lady.’”

For $600: “This school’s Gamecocks rough it up in ‘The Cockpit.’”

HBO’s John Oliver appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night and the conversation turned to the structure of soccer leagues in England. Host David Letterman asked, “In England alone, how many soccer teams of consequence are there?” Oliver: “There are soccer teams everywhere. Of consequence, there’s probably about five or six that could actually win something. The rest are trying their hardest and we respect that.” Letterman: “Now you have two separate leagues, you have people who get bumped out of the No. 1 league?” Oliver: “We have four separate leagues. It’s a classic British thing, you want to make failure really hurt so you are relegated.” Letterman: “But the lesser teams can struggle their way up and make it to the Premier League?” Oliver: “That’s the idea. Of course, we all know how that works." Letterman: “So what’s the point?” Oliver laughed, “You are literally embodying why soccer will never take off in the United States. Because you can talk about it as long as you want and you’ll eventually get to the point of an American going, ‘So what’s the point?’” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/30).

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert said of Chiefs DB Husain Abdullah being penalized for praying after scoring a touchdown, "A Muslim prayer in the end zone and even more shocking, I was allowed to play footage without the express written consent of the National Football League." Colbert said of the NFL saying there should not have been a penalty, "No penalty on the play? How about holding…the wrong…religious beliefs?" Colbert: "Football works like this: Players thank Jesus after every touchdown, then whoever wins is the team Jesus loved more. ... But now with Muslims in the end zone, all that's changed. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for pitting Christianity against Islam to find out who has the best God." Colbert: "This will completely ruin the game of football and that job is already filled by Roger Goodell" ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 9/30).

David Letterman: “New England Patriots got routed, 41-14, something like that and a Kansas City Chief … player was penalized because he was in the end zone praying. See that’s different than the New York Jets: They pray to get in the end zone” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/30).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: "Rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made his debut for the New England Patriots after Tom Brady made a ton of mistakes during the game. Even Garoppolo’s family was like, ‘Man, we came to see Tom Brady.' … I saw the NFL recently hosted a football workshop in China. Unfortunately, most kids just ran when they heard the phrase workshop” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/30).

Last night's Top Ten list was “Top Ten Secret Service Excuses.” Letterman said, “People shooting at the damn White House, people breaking in and one guy got in and just was walking around looking at stuff. (He) even had a minute to sign the guest book” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/29).

10) “You try running full speed in a suit.”
9) “Thought it was Biden.”
8) “Can’t just assume every guy storming the White House is a threat.”
7) “We always mute the alarm during ‘Jeopardy.’”
6) “We’re only here till Thursday.”
5) “We need a dome.”
4) “Can’t see a thing through these dark glasses.”
3) “About time someone in Washington got off the fence -- am I right, ladies?”
2) “Didn’t George W. Bush prove anyone can get into the White House?”
1) “Excuse? What happened?”

"Who was Adolf Hitler?"

Correct responses to the "College Football Stadium Nicknames" category:

For $200: “What is Notre Dame?”

For $400: “What is the Coliseum?”

For $600: “What is the University of South Carolina?”

The $800 and $1000 answers were not revealed.