Liverpool Owners Fenway Sports Group "insist the club is not for sale after a report in the Daily Mail claimed the cousin" of Manchester City Owner Sheik Mansour "recently failed in an attempt to purchase the team." The report states that Sheik Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan was "exploring a takeover in the past year that valued Liverpool" at US$2.6B. A source confirmed that Sheik Khaled was "interested in taking over" the EPL club, but "ultimately it was not believed to be a credible bid" (ESPN.com, 8/23).

Liverpool last night said that "discussions eventually failed." The club added that although Liverpool Chair Tom Werner met Bin Zayed Group Managing Dir Midhat Kidwai in N.Y., the "deal never reached the stage where major shareholders" John Henry or Michael Gordon "met the Abu Dhabi investors" (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 8/23).

Reax to the decision at Ohio State and Urban Meyer continue, with the institution and coach getting heavily criticized for actions related to the domestic-abuse accusations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. The N.Y. TIMES A1 story goes with, "Urban Meyer And The Missed Signs At Ohio State." USA TODAY goes A1 above the fold with, "Ohio State Drops The Ball On Meyer," and the online header, "Might As Well Go Ahead And Rename The Place. It's Urban Meyer State University Now." N.Y. POST: "Urban Meyer Will Be Just As Powerful After Suspension." Even the local paper, the COLUMBUS DISPATCH, goes negative: "Never Mind His Heart; Can We Trust Meyer’s Head?" Also, "Urban Meyer’s Apology Missed The Mark."

In other markets, the HOUSTON CHRONICLE goes with, "Ohio State Showed Its Priorities: Urban Meyer And Winning." PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE editorial: "Failing The Ultimate Test: Ohio State Embarrasses Itself On Urban Meyer." ORLANDO SENTINEL: "Disingenuous Urban Meyer Didn't Get A Slap On Wrist, He Got Kiss On Cheek." CHICAGO TRIBUNE: "Urban Meyer Is Clueless And Ohio State Is Gutless." DETROIT FREE PRESS: "Urban Meyer Would Be Fired If Ohio State Cared About The Truth." Portland OREGONIAN: "The Mad Pursuit To Be Like Ohio State Should Die With Urban Meyer Mess." SEATTLE TIMES: "Ohio State’s Blind Spot For Urban Meyer, Sadly, Is Not A Surprise."

Fox Sports President Eric Shanks weighed in on the national anthem controversy last night, saying that his network’s policy on showing the anthem will not change this season and highlighting the coverage Fox Sports gives to military members throughout the NFL season. Fox in past seasons has aired the anthem live on certain days, like Veterans Day and its Thanksgiving Day games. “We will do it routinely like we’ve always done, but what we’ll do is really pay attention to big special events,” Shanks said during a Fox Sports media reception in N.Y. for its “TNF” pregame show.

He added, “We have big plans for Thanksgiving and Veteran’s Day this year. Those are the great moments for Fox Sports to shine a spotlight on all the people who volunteer to serve this country.” Shanks referred to Fox’ decision to take its NFL pregame show to Pearl Harbor in ’15, the Norfolk Naval Station in ’17 and Afghanistan in ’09 to illustrate how Fox Sports supports service men and women.

Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins "stayed in the tunnel adjoining the Eagles' sideline" during the national anthem prior to last night's preseason game against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, "as he'd done last week" against the Patriots in Foxboro. CB De'Vante Bausby was "on the sideline with the rest of the team." DE Michael Bennett was the "last Eagle to take the field ... presumably remaining in the locker room during the anthem" (PHILLY.com, 8/23).

Here’s Malcolm Jenkins during the anthem. 📷: @TheRealHinser #Eagles pic.twitter.com/SVd8oqj9XN

— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) August 24, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is cutting food prices again, as it will offer a $10 fried chicken sandwich, $5 cheese fries, $8 burger and $9 chili cheese fries as part of the cuts. Prices on those items are being cut by $1, or on average 12%. The stadium also is rolling out a new 12-ounce $5 craft beer and a 16-ounce $7 craft beer, according to AMB Group LLC CEO Steve Cannon. “It’s demonstrating our commitment to our fan bases,” said Cannon. AMB and concessionaire Levy launched their first prices cuts in '17 when Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened. The idea of cheaper food and beverage prices was pushed by Falcons Owner Arthur Blank.

Foot Locker today reported Q2 profits of $88M, and the results "surpassed Wall Street expectations." The shoe chain posted revenue of $1.78B in the period, "also beating Street forecasts" (AP, 8/24). At presstime, shares of Foot Locker were at $52.87 in pre-market trading, down .62% (THE DAILY). This comes shortly after Foot Locker launched its Nike-focused "Discover Your Air" campaign featuring Celtics F Jayson Tatum. A group of analyst said that this "new collaboration between the two companies shows Nike is still reliant on Foot Locker outlets even as the apparel giant pushes its direct-to-consumer strategy" (MARKETS INSIDER, 8/23).

This weekend marks MLB's second-annual Players Weekend, and Louisville Slugger is "helping make the event more colorful -- literally." From today through Sunday, MLBers will be "using bats in team colors and with special team logos inside Louisville Slugger 'LS' center-brand logo that were made at the downtown Louisville bat factory." MLB rules "typically limit bat colors to seven finishes," and logos and player-name branding "are not allowed." This weekend players are also "permitted to engrave something other than their names on their bats, such as nicknames or messages" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 8/24).

Louisville Slugger

The AFL will be relocating its HQ to Philadelphia next month. The league's offices had previously been located in Las Vegas (AFL).

Ball State will "sell beer at its football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games" this season. The sales are "part of a pilot program that isn’t necessarily here to stay," but it "might depending on how the one-year trial goes" (MUNCIE STAR PRESS, 8/24).

UFC

UFC next month will debut a 25-part documentary series to celebrate the MMA outfit's 25th anniversary. The first short film will launch on UFC Fight Pass on Sept. 17 (UFC).

An Allegheny County (Pa.) man has been "arrested for allegedly threatening to commit a mass shooting during a football game at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium" (TRIBLIVE.com, 8/24).

Select Central Florida Dunkin’ Donuts locations are "pouring one free small hot or iced coffee per guest" today from 8:00-10:00am ET. Dunkin' Donuts was recently "named the official coffee of Orlando City" and the NWSL Orlando Pride, and both clubs have "big games" this weekend (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/24).

"It’s embarrassing what I did. I was just trying to have some fun. Haro and I just entertaining and just trying to take it to a different level and make the interview a little more exciting and I obviously crossed the line with that" -- Giants P Derek Holland, apologizing for an appearance on MLB Network's "Intentional Talk" earlier this week where he appeared alongside Giants massage therapist Haro Ogawa. Holland "failed to introduce Ogawa by name and made racially insensitive jokes during the interview" (EAST BAY TIMES, 8/24).

"I don’t know. I’ve never played one, but I’d be happy to do it if anybody wants to play" -- Golfer Brooks Koepka, on what it would be like to play in a $9M match similar to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (NEWSDAY, 8/24).

"Our brand is not tarnished. It just needed to be dusted off a little bit. And I’m here to tell ya: It’s dusted" -- Nebraska AD Bill Moos, on the school's football program looking to get "back to national prominence" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 8/24).

The N.Y. TIMES writes under the header, "At The U.S. Open, It's What You Wear." Grand Slams, "like the people who play in them, have their own style identity." Blame it on the tournament’s "proximity to New York Fashion Week," and "forget the white." Instead, "give us the neon, the glam, the wild outfits yearning to break free."

Also:

• Player tracking data the "next step in NFL's analytics revolution."
• DC United players' latest drill? Spanish lessons. 

College Football Playoff's Bill Hancock tells @TheAthleticCFB that the Ohio State suspension "does not affect Gene Smith’s status on the selection committee."

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 23, 2018

"Got up" at 7 a.m. (late for me!), just a guy who wanted to see what went on in sports last night. Started with "Get Up!" Five minutes in, turned to ESPN2 for "SportsCenter," so I could see what went on in sports last night.

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) August 24, 2018

PSA: I continue to try to get "No Shildt" by the @stltoday copy editors, but they keep blocking me. I will continue my fight.

— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) August 24, 2018

I respect the flag, the military, our police officers, and the freedoms bestowed upon me from them

I also have hope for racial equality

I don’t plan to take a knee but I don’t plan to sit quietly about injustice either

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” MLK

— Calais Campbell (@Campbell93) August 23, 2018

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

The #Texans welcomed two families from @HouUnitedWay affected by Hurricane Harvey to watch Thursday's practice.

📰 » https://t.co/NmCRq6xGLW pic.twitter.com/Cl8jjDaWcT

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 23, 2018

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The Bucks at 11:00am CT will unveil the team's new art collection at Fiserv Forum, comprised of 79 original pieces and 43 photographs. 

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

“Its official seal includes the year 1864 for when it was established, a folded flag and a scroll inscribed ‘Our Most Sacred Shrine.’”

TBS’ Conan O’Brien noted a drone "flying over the Amazon rain forest discovered a tribe that has never had contact with the outside world." O'Brien: "That was three weeks ago. Now, every member of the tribe is addicted to Fortnite” (“Conan,” TBS, 8/23).

“What is Arlington National Cemetery?”