• ESPN Has Challenging Q2, Though Disney Overall Sees Profits Climb
• FS1 The Big Winner At Sports Emmys, Earning Nine Statuettes
• LA 2024 Bid Group Rolls Out The Red Carpet For IOC Commission
• Jack Daniel's First NBA-Themed Ad Highlights Lynchburg, Tenn.

Disney reported an 11% jump in Q2 profit, but the company's "closely watched media networks unit, which includes ESPN, had a tough quarter." Operating income fell 3% to $2.2B, which the company "attributed in part to higher programming costs and subscriber losses." Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger "extolled ESPN’s forthcoming standalone multi-sport subscription streaming service," scheduled for release by year's end (L.A. TIMES, 5/10). Iger also "touted the presence of ESPN and other Disney networks on new less-expensive 'skinny' TV packages." But he "conceded they aren’t making up for losses from traditional cable and satellite packages" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/10).

In pre-market trading, Disney shares were down 2.35% to $109.44 (THE DAILY).

FS1 "scored the most Sports Emmy Awards" during last night's ceremony in N.Y., taking home nine awards to "top all cable and broadcast networks." Sister broadcast network Fox "finished second with seven awards," according to the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. HBO and NBC "tied for third with five awards, while CBS, ESPN and MLB Network garnered four awards each." Overall, Fox Sports Media Group earned 18 Sports Emmys, followed by NBC Sports Group with 15 (MULTICHANNEL.com, 5/9).

The IOC Evaluation Commission today begins its formal meeting with LA 2024, with an all-day, closed-door session between IOC and bid reps. But the civic charm offensive was already under way yesterday as the bid prepared for its biggest few days yet. Around 2:00pm PT, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and IOC member Angela Ruggiero were seen greeting Spanish IOC commission member Marisol Casado and IOC venues expert Xavier Becker in the lobby of the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live. Members continued to arrive throughout the day, along with international sports media.

Later on, senior American bid leaders took the visiting commission members to a Pirates-Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium, while assembled media headed to Hollywood and were entertained at a bar backstage at "Jimmy Kimmel Live." ABC's Jimmy Kimmel himself shook hands and bantered afterwards. The LA 2024 brand colors were displayed throughout the city, including in fountains at Grant Park and on the side of the iconic Broad museum.

Welcome to LA ✈️@FlyLAXairport is bursting with #LA2024 spirit as we welcome the IOC Evaluation Commission to the City of Angels! pic.twitter.com/Imca4MA6v7

— LA 2024 (@LA2024) May 9, 2017

Jack Daniel's today begins airing its first ad using assets from its new NBA sponsorship deal, a 30-second spot dubbed "Lynchburg Lights." The ad highlights the town of Lynchburg, Tenn., showing workers at the Jack Daniel's distillery rolling a barrel of their prized product. The voiceover mentions Lynchburg’s dream to have its own NBA team, and Basketball HOFer Bill Walton makes a cameo (THE DAILY).

The Bills have named Brandon Beane GM and will formally introduce him to the media on Friday. Beane has spent the past 19 years with the Panthers, most recently as Assistant GM. He was the only "one of four known candidates for the job to be interviewed twice." While he "doesn't have extensive scouting experience, he was exposed to virtually all facets of the Panthers' player-personnel department" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/10). Beane reportedly has signed a five-year deal with the Bills (TWITTER.com, 5/9).

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman formally announced that the '18 Winter Classic will feature Rangers-Sabres at Citi Field on Jan. 1. Bettman noted the "first Winter Classic was in Buffalo," and for the 10th Winter Classic, the "Rangers will be playing, appropriately enough, the Buffalo Sabres." Bettman: "To have Buffalo back to do it again, maybe they’ll bring some snow with them." Bettman said the two teams have an “intra-state rivalry… and doesn’t New Year’s start here in Times Square? So it’s all good, being in New York” ("Senators-Rangers," NBCSN, 5/9).

Electronic Arts "will push stronger into competitive gaming, building on what it considers a successful year, during which it hosted thousands of competitions in some of the industry's more popular sports franchises," including "Madden NFL" and "FIFA." In an earnings call on the company's Q4 and FY '16 results, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said, "This is the future of play that we see at EA, and we are ready to lead in reporting" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/10). EA posted record revenue of $4.9B in FY '16, "once adjusted for items like deferred sales from online games" (WSJ.com, 5/9).

The company is not "planning to release any games between now and June 30," when its Q1 ends. But Q2 will be "very busy," for the "first time in two years, there will be four EA Sports titles launching" during that window. "NBA Live 18" will be the "first entry in the franchise" since "NBA Live 16." Meanwhile, EA "appears to be on a two-year cycle with its UFC franchise" (POLYGON.com, 5/9). In pre-market trading, shares of EA were up 7.8% to $103.50 (THE DAILY).

The new World Boxing Super Series announced that it will stage "eight-fighter tournaments in the cruiserweight and super-middleweight divisions." Super Series Chair Richard Schaefer said that the "process to begin signing up fighters should begin by next week, with the participants announced by the first week of July" ahead of a targeted September start. Showtime is "interested in televising the action." Schaefer said that he is "hopeful the tournament concept" – with a pool of $50M in prize money – can "help ease the divisiveness among rival promoters that permeates the sport" (L.A. TIMES, 5/10).

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is "urging the City Council to approve a resolution" today supporting a roughly $200,000 annual tax break for the Timbers as they renovate Providence Park. The team is "seeking a deal that would exempt them from paying any taxes for the next 10 years on tickets for the 4,000 seats it hopes to add" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/10).

The NBA and sponsor Mountain Dew will tip off the second iteration of Dew NBA 3X on Saturday in Chicago. The three-on-three hoops tour will make stops in six NBA markets throughout the summer. Winning teams from each city will qualify for the '18 USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament (NBA).

PGA Tour golfer Brooks Koepka today is unveiling a promotion with Michelob Ultra titled “A Round on Brooks” in which fans can win prizes based on his on-course performance in 10 tournaments this season, beginning with this week’s The Players (THE DAILY).

"Agents have the power. I mean, that's just the bottom line with these top kids. The agents control – they have the ability to control the draft. That's just how it has been in recent years" – ESPN's Fran Fraschilla, on some agents keeping their NBA Draft prospect clients out of the NBA Combine (K.C. STAR, 5/10).

"It can be done and I want to be a part of it. Phoenix is an ideal place for MLS" – USL Phoenix Rising FC F and part-owner Didier Drogba (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/10).

SI.com notes the "future front in the cable-digital war is a likely reduction in rights fees" for "all but the most premium content." In a "world of fragmented viewership, professional leagues will try to make up the decline in revenue in other ways. ... College athletics, though, is different."

WASHINGTON POST: "There is direct evidence that the NFL’s medical personnel knowingly engaged in illegal painkiller abuses, yet federal law enforcement and other government arms have sat conspicuously on their hands and have yet to issue so much as slap a wrist to the league. What’s needed and deserved here is a smack with a big stick."

Also:

• N.Y. City Council member advocates extended nets at ballparks.
• MLB taking steps to confront its "complex racial future."
• Panthers LB Thomas Davis' foundation helps area kids.
• Big Ten could be future "destination of choice" for Univ. of Oklahoma.

Update on my Monday column: An official from beIN Sports contacted me and says that network still wants to play ball with C-USA.

— Doug Smock (@dougsmock) May 10, 2017

LaVar Ball is an expert troller & self-promoter. He knows exactly what he's doing. Causing reaction = buzz = relevancy. See: Kardashian, Kim

— J.W. Cannon (@cannonjw) May 10, 2017

How much does Paul George love watching that Gatorade commercial every time it comes on?

— Sarina (@sarina) May 10, 2017

They're doing the Simba Cam in San Antonio where people hold up their babies, which is weird. One lady just held up her Bud Light.

— Scott Cacciola (@ScottCacciola) May 10, 2017

The Red Wings will allow fans to paint personal messages on the ice at Joe Louis Arena as part of the Farewell to The Joe event from 3:00-8:00pm ET. Money raised donations will benefit the team's foundation.

NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will be in DC at the Cannon House Office Building at 1:30pm ET for a meet-and-greet sponsored by the Financial Security and Life Insurance Caucus.

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Famous Teachers.”

“William Jennings Bryan gave the keynote speech at this man’s high school graduation in 1919; six years later their paths would cross again.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said Shaquille O'Neal “wants to become a sheriff in the next few years. As part of his training, he's actually been working as a dispatcher answering 911 calls. I'm not sure it's going to work out, though. Take a look at how it's going so far.”

The broadcast then aired fake audio of O’Neal talking to a caller.
Shaq: “9-1-1. I’m Shaq.”
Caller: “Wait, what?”
Shaq: “It’s 9-1-1. I’m Shaq. What’s the emergency?”
Caller: “I just got back to my house and it smells like gas.”
Shaq: “You think it smells like gas in your house? Try coming to my house. Not good.”
Caller: “What?”
Shaq: “Especially this week. We got Taco Tuesday. That's on Thursday. I like to mix it up like that. You can come if you want. I'm Shaq” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/9).

“Who is John Scopes?”