A "45-minute lightning delay" pushed the NFL's Falcons-Eagles season-opener to a 9:05pm ET start last night at Lincoln Financial Field. It also held up the "Super Bowl Championship Moment" for the Eagles, which culminated with Pro Football HOFer Brian Dawkins "stoking the fans up, owner Jeffrey Lurie hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and a banner reading '2017 World Champions' unfurled in the upper, upper deck." The lightning and rain "kept the players indoors for the unveiling of the banner." But Eagles coach Doug Pederson later said that the "plan was for both teams to stay indoors through the ceremony." The banner ceremony was "much less gawdy than the Super Bowl LII ring rollout" (DELAWARE COUNTY DAILY TIMES, 9/7). There was a "gigantic, oversized Lombardi trophy at the middle of the field for good measure" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 9/6).

The Eagles won 18-12, and it "wasn't exactly a sparkling display of football." This was "one opening show that artistically deserved to close after one night" (AP, 9/7).

There were "no visible protests" during the national anthem prior to Falcons-Eagles last night. Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins stood on the sideline with his "hands clasped behind his back," and DE Michael Bennett "also stood." Jenkins during preseason games had "waited in the tunnel for the anthem to be played," while Bennett "waited in the locker room until the anthem was over" (PHILLY.com, 9/6). Bennett and RB Jay Ajayi "took seats on the bench near the end of 'The Star -Spangled Banner,' but that was the extent of it." Jenkins "wore a shirt that read 'Ca$h bail = poverty trap' in pregame warmups" (USATODAY.com, 9/6).

Jenkins said, "It's important for us as a movement to continue to change and adapt to the context of the situation. ... There's a huge need for us to turn the attention to not only the issues, but what players are actually doing in their communities to promote change" (Wilmington NEWS JOURNAL, 9/7).

NBC's "Today" show opened with co-host Savannah Guthrie mentioning the lack of player protests: "Game on! The NFL returns. The national anthem plays without protest, and the Eagles squeak by the Falcons to kick off the new season" (NBC, 9/7).

A question about the "propriety of NFL players kneeling in protest during the national anthem helped select one of Thursday's preliminary winners in the Miss America competition." Miss Virginia, Emili McPhail, was "asked what advice she would give to players about whether to stand or kneel for the anthem." In her response, she said refusing to stand is a "right you have." McPhail: "But it's not about kneeling; it is absolutely about police brutality" (AP, 9/6).

The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative last night gave its 5th annual inspiring leadership awards to ABC's Robin Roberts and Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger. The event for the first time was held at the U.S. Open prior to the evening women's semifinals. The theme of the evening was gender pay equality, and BJK Foundation backers Cesears and Starbucks were recognized for their efforts in this area. Iger said the sad stories of abuse that have emerged in the #MeToo era show it is "high time not just business, but society, accept" change. Iger called for leaders to advocate for change, and to boldly take actions to create equality. "Protecting the status quo is a coward's way," he said.

USA Today's Christine Brennan writes about King's social advocacy under the header, "For King, Tennis Just Part Of Open."

Wayne Gretzky has signed a deal with Untuckit just days before the apparel brand opens its first Canadian store, in Toronto. Gretzky received equity in the company and will appear in print and digital ads for Untuckit in the U.S. and Canada. Endeavor's Ira Stahlberger represents Gretzky.

untuckit

The Overwatch League formally announced six more teams will play in the '19 season, putting the final number of participants in Activision Blizzard’s premier esports league at 20 for its second year. New expansion teams will be in DC, Toronto, Vancouver, Paris and two Chinese cities -- Chengdu and Hangzhou. That comes after expansion teams in Atlanta and Guangzhou, China, were already announced. There were just 12 teams in the launch season that ended in July. The Paris team will be owned by DM Esports, a group led by Drew McCourt, president of the L.A.-based McCourt Global.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

The seating bowl at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium is "receiving its first major upgrade" since football games returned to campus in '00. A portion of SMU's student section is "being outfitted with 'party platforms,' which will debut" tonight during the home opener against TCU. The school "held a naming contest for the platforms in August, and 'The Stables' is the apparent winner" (DALLASNEWS.com, 9/4).

“The Stables” will officially make its debut for SMU students this Friday! 🐴

The SMU student platforms open at 5:30PM. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. (Limited spots available)

Mustangs take on rival TCU at 7PM. WEAR WHITE!⚪️⚪️⚪️ #PonyUp 🐎⬆️ pic.twitter.com/8nSDF0JC6t

— SMU Athletics (@SMUMustangs) September 4, 2018

Magic CEO Alex Martins said that players will "wear an 'RDV' patch on their uniforms" this season to commemorate late Owner Rich DeVos. A part of Amway Center’s game court will also "have DeVos’ initials" and team employees will "wear pins to commemorate DeVos" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/7).

VSiN signed a deal with radio syndicator Sports USA that will see VSiN produce a 60-minute pregame show before Sports USA’s NFL doubleheaders on Sundays. The show will debut this Sunday and occupy the 11:30am ET timeslot. It will focus on gambling updates related to the upcoming games (John Ourand, Staff Writer).

Colombia and Venezuela will "play a friendly" tonight at Hard Rock Stadium at 8:00pm ET, as both teams "begin preparations" for the '19 Copa America and the '22 FIFA World Cup (MIAMI HERALD, 9/7).

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the the league "does not expect to change its rules on marijuana with the legalization of cannabis in Canada coming on Oct. 17" (AP, 9/6).

A proposal going before the LSU Board of Supervisors today would "request approval for a new Alex Box Champions Plaza," which would honor LSU baseball’s past SEC regular season and tournament championship teams and "feature a statue" of former AD and coach Skip Bertman (THEADVOCATE.com, 9/7).

Procter & Gamble antiperspirant brand Secret as "signed on as an official partner" of the USWNT. The brand "had signage at the USA's match against Chile" on Tuesday this week (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 9/6).

"It’s going to happen, so it’s not like guys are guessing on that one" -- 49ers CB Richard Sherman, on some NFLers reportedly already planning on a lockout in '21 upon the expiration of the current CBA (USA TODAY, 9/7).

"Who are the most powerful voices in the NFL as they prepare for their new season? Donald Trump, Nike and Colin Kaepernick" -- N.Y. Times political reporter Mark Leibovich, author of the new book "Big Game," on the state of the league (RELIABLE SOURCES, 9/6).

"We have always stayed in touch, through the good and the bad times of our lives, talking about once a month for as long as I can remember" -- ESPN's Lee Corso, on his late friend Burt Reynolds (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/7).

"We’ve been dancing on the clouds for nine years and living in a pretty good place. Maybe this was a wake-up call that needed to happen. Maybe this was sobering" -- Blackhawks President & CEO John McDonough, on missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade last season (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 9/6).

"I would figure who Brooks Koepka was dating before he won the US Open at Erin Hills" -- Fox' Joe Buck, on if he could have one do-over in his career (NYPOST.com, 9/6).

YAHOO SPORTS writes under the header, "How The Eagles' First Super Bowl Triumph Changed Philadelphia." Other cities "care about sports," but none has "ever simultaneously cared so much and lost so often." The Eagles’ Super Bowl quest "embodied the plight."

The WASHINGTON POST goes with, "For Decades, The NFL Wrapped Itself In The Flag. Now, That's Made Business Uneasy." The NFL’s "massive popularity across all societal spectra may have made its ties to national identity inevitable."

Also: 

• TCU "in great hands" under new AD Jeremiah Donati.
• How Jason Kidd and exec Rod Thorn transformed the "laughingstock" Nets.
• MSNBC’s Chris Hayes talks Cubs fandom, ties to Chicago.
• Remembering Burt Reynolds, who "invented the Athlete-Movie Star."

What was Nike thinking?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2018

Can NBC make the end zone pulsate with white colors? I’m a moron and I’m having trouble figuring out where the end zone is.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) September 7, 2018

Bill Parcells was among many I know who openly questioned this approach of minimum preseason play by most teams and players. The first couple weeks of the regular season may be the old preseason. #dinosaurs

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 7, 2018

Time on court: Serena Williams 2018 US Open

R1 1:10
R2 1:07
R3 1:12
R4 1:37
QF 1:26
SF 1:06

— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 7, 2018

Sad to see my old pal Burt Reynolds bite the dust. He was great in Semi-Tough. Wanted the part badly, loved doing it. We had fun.

— Dan Jenkins (@danjenkinsgd) September 6, 2018

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Four Kentucky soccer players are "being disciplined for playing a game of pickup with the Foo Fighters" before the band played a concert at Rupp Arena in May.The players "involved in the 'incident' will be forced to sit out two future supervised team activities, which could include practices or meetings" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/6).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “School Supply Words.”

“Adding ‘P’ to a word for a chronic back condition gets you this synonym for graphite or pencil lead.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon had fun with the Eagles hosting the Falcons last night to kick off the NFL season, as it was "perfect timing for the Eagles fans because they just sobered up from the Super Bowl." Fallon: "You can tell the game was on NBC because when the player committed a penalty, they didn't throw a flag, they just heard this (the iconic Law & Order chime played). Of course, fantasy football also began tonight. It's a fun way for people who are bad at real sports to realize that they're also bad at imaginary sports. It's just that odd combination. I saw that later this season too, the NFL will hold a game in Mexico. It's all part of the league's plan to combine as many things that Trump hates as possible. It's really clever. Rosie O’Donnell is doing the halftime show and Jeff Sessions is a referee” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/7).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: "Most of the guys I know studied harder for their fantasy football draft this year than all of high school and college combined” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 9/6).

“What is plumbago?”