• IOC Visit To L.A. Could Be Pivotal To City Landing '24 Games
• Infantino: FIFA's Finances "Extremely Solid" Despite Reporting Loss
• PGA Tour Event Gets Rave Reviews For One-Off In Wilmington
• Longtime CLC/IMG Exec Siegal Joining Learfield As Senior Counsel

The IOC's host city evaluation commission arrives in L.A. tomorrow for "four days of touring proposed venues and meetings" with LA 2024 and city officials that "could prove pivotal" to the city’s Summer Games bid. The commission heads to Paris next week before presenting reports to the full IOC in July. The '24 and possibly '28 Games will be awarded in September (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/8). Central to L.A.'s bid is the fact that a '24 Games there "would require no new venue construction, with events held in an array of existing arenas or stadiums that are already under construction" (AFP, 5/7). The site visits come as the '24 race "encounters historic uncertainty" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/8 issue).

Meanwhile, the Paris bid is "welcoming the election of pro-business Emmanuel Macron as France's new president, after concerns that a win for his populist rival Marine Le Pen could have damaged the bid" (AP, 5/7).

FIFA President Gianni Infantino today claimed that the "finances of football's governing body were 'extremely solid,' despite it posting" a $369M loss earlier in the year. Speaking at the Asian Football Confederation's congress in Bahrain, Infantino said that the "losses were in line with FIFA's 'business model' and there was no need for it give 'artificial' figures." He added that it was "normal for FIFA to make losses for three years and then 'make revenue' during the fourth financial year, when a World Cup takes place" (AFP, 5/8).

The Greensboro NEWS & RECORD goes with the header, "Eagle Point A Miracle Of Agronomy, Imagination."

Bruce Siegal, who spent 30-plus years serving as General Counsel at CLC (and subsequently IMG College), is going to work at Learfield starting this week. He will be Learfield Senior Counsel, based out of the company’s Atlanta office. Siegal was one of the first non-family members to be hired by CLC Founder Bill Battle in '86, and he was instrumental as a member of the senior management team there over the last three decades. Siegal parted ways with IMG at the end of '16.

Tough Mudder will get a dedicated retail and content page at Amazon.com under a one-year partnership that makes Amazon the official online retailer of the obstacle race series' '17 season. At the site, Tough Mudder will post short-form video content about health, training and wellness. The site also will offer Tough Mudder-licensed merch and products made by other series partners, such as Nexcare bandages or Vega’s vegan protein shakes. Other fitness products may be sold there as well. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“We’re working with the No. 1 online retailer, probably the No. 1 retailer, so it’s very exciting,” said Tough Mudder Senior VP/Partnership Marketing, Int’l Event Licensing, Corporate Sales & Merchandising Donna Goldsmith. “It also gets many more people to look at my content than may have looked at it in the past.” Tough Mudder and Amazon also will co-brand an exclusive video series, titled “Coachified,” featuring Tough Mudder official trainer Kyle Railton, that will air on Amazon channels.

Mets P Matt Harvey is "filing a grievance against the organization after it suspended him for three days without pay for violating club rules." Instead of taking the mound yesterday against the Marlins for his scheduled afternoon start, Harvey was "sent home after showing up at Citi Field, disciplined for a compilation of issues dating back to last year," according to sources. Mets GM Sandy Alderson "would not say" what Harvey was suspended for (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/8).

MLS will host its sixth annual season ticket membership workshop today through Wednesday at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel. All 23 clubs, including LAFC, which will join the league in '18, will be represented. Presentations will be made by MLSE, MLS’ National Sales Center and multiple MLS club execs. The workshop is put on by MLS’ Club Services group.

Video game developer 2K today announced that the "NBA 2K18 Legend Edition" will feature Shaquille O'Neal on the cover. This will mark the third "NBA 2K" cover appearance for the Basketball HOFer-elect (2K).

Tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska has become a brand ambassador for Poland-based oil company LOTOS Group (LOTOS).

Nike runs a full-page, double-sided ad in the N.Y. Times promoting its attempt to have runners post sub-two-hour marathon times in its newest running shoe: "What's crazier? Trying to tun a marathon in under two hours? Or running an ad for a shoe you can't buy?" (THE DAILY).

"To say that this most recent challenge has been difficult would certainly be an understatement, just as saying that this win comes with some relief – that would be an understatement, as well" – NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s victory yesterday at Talladega snapping a nearly three-year Cup Series winless streak (ESPN.com, 5/8).

"It's the one time you get best on best in hockey. ... It would be a shame not to have these young guys like the (Connor) McDavids, the (Auston) Matthews', to not let these guys to get a chance to play on the best stage for their country. It would be unfortunate" – Wild LW Zach Parise, who hopes there is "time to reconsider" NHL participation in the '18 PyeongChang Games (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/8).

“The box office has been strong (for Disney). It’s been hit after hit. The focus for investors sometimes wavers to ESPN and some of the subscriber losses” – CNBC’s Sara Eisen, after “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” from Disney's Marvel Studios had a $145M opening weekend in theaters (“Worldwide Exchange,” CNBC, 5/8).

Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock pens a special to the WALL STREET JOURNAL under the header, "How A Gawker-Affiliated Website Made ESPN Politically Correct." Deadspin "ended the sports network’s frat-boy culture, but also infused it with a deadening ideology."

The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION goes with, "Racing Without Junior Scarier Than Golf Minus Tiger." Tiger Woods is "far more of an accomplished golfer" than Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a driver. But the "passion for Earnhardt among race fans ... makes his loss every bit as impactful, if not more, than the prospect of Woods never returning."

Also:

• Mitch Albom reflects on the end of ESPN's "The Sports Reporters."
• Is attending live sporting events "special" to latest generation of sports fans?
• Oakland Coliseum's re-opened upper deck provides "laid-back" atmosphere.
• NHL Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola's Kentucky Derby win rooted in Brooklyn.
• Steph Curry's wife, Ayesha, is "building her own empire – in the kitchen."
• A look at the man whose company creates many NBA Playoff T-shirts.

My big takeaway from the Matt Harvey story today: Whatever the #Mets are paying PR man Jay Horwitz, it isn't enough.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) May 7, 2017

.@HardballTalk A moment of silence to the poor bastards who had to watch six hours of an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) May 8, 2017

Giants player bus broke down on way to airport. Not kidding. We picked them up on shoulder. Say it with me everyone - stay hot Giants

— Dave Flemming (@FlemmingDave) May 8, 2017

Absurd to schedule Sun. Night Baseball teams to travel and play the next night, and also easily avoided.

— Mark Whicker (@MWhicker03LANG) May 8, 2017

#FreeOubre pic.twitter.com/c7xCMqZstx

— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) May 7, 2017

Sinclair Broadcast Group is "near a deal to buy Tribune Media," according to sources. A deal is "expected to be announced" as soon as today, and it would "cement Sinclair's status as a growing power in the broadcast industry." A source said that Sinclair was "expected to pay just under $44 a share," valuing Tribune at about $3.8B (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8).

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Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” was “Monarchs.”

“In 2016 Elizabeth II became the world’s longest-reigning living monarch when this country’s king died after a 70-year reign.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said of Kentucky Derby participant Practical Joke, "His owner said he was named after the Republican healthcare plan. That's right, there is a horse named Practical Joke. Apparently, he got his name because he actually loves to play practical jokes. I'll show you what I mean. For instance, the night before a race he puts the other horses' hooves in a glass of warm water. … He goes to carnivals and rides the carousels while remaining completely still. … He puts an Uber sticker on his back then trots up to people waiting for rides outside bars. … Whenever he sees his jockey, he says, ‘Hey, why the short face?’ … He likes to walk into Arby's and say, ‘Hey, have you seen my grandpa?’”

Model Gisele Bundchen appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” on Friday night, and she talked about watching the Super Bowl and her husband, Patriots QB Tom Brady. Bundchen said the Super Bowl was a “nail-biter and was one of those moments where all the Falcons fans were really intense, saying basically that it was over. It’s not over until it’s over, but after screaming and praying and calling my family asking everyone to pray I started meditating because it was the only thing that could calm me down because it was kind of crazy.” Fallon asked, “How do you get in the zone and mediate with all that going on around you?” Bundchen: “I have been practicing … and quite frankly, I thought I channeled some great energy and really I feel like I’m a little responsible (for the Patriots comeback victory)” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/5).

“What is Thailand?”