The Red Sox and Yankees tonight are "swapping radio announcers during the fourth inning of their three-game series opener at Yankee Stadium." Yankees play-by-play voice John Sterling will join Red Sox announcer Tim Neverett on WEEI-FM, while the Sox' Joe Castiglione moves into the WFAN-AM Yankees booth with Suzyn Waldman. Sterling said, "It’s a fun thing and I’m looking forward to it." Castiglione: "It should be a lot of fun." Waldman and Castiglione "exchanged booths for an inning" several seasons ago (NORTHJERSEY.com, 9/17). WEEI and WFAN are both Entercom-owned stations (THE DAILY).

German insurer Allianz today formally announced that it has "agreed to become a global Olympic sponsor for a four-Games period" from '21-28, becoming the IOC's 14th TOP sponsor. Allianz is "eager to access the Games' young global audience and wider sports community." The insurer "will already have marketing rights in China, France and Spain" starting in '19. Financial details of the deal were not released, but the IOC was "reportedly seeking" about $50M per year (REUTERS, 9/18). 

Meredith Corp. is "said to be in final negotiations" with a "buyout group" that includes Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert and motivational speaker Tony Robbins for its SI, Fortune and Money magazine titles. The group is "being assembled" by Velocity Global Group Founder & CEO Josh Pollack, who had "briefly worked as a developer" on the nascent SI Films. One of the plans being considered would be to "further cut the frequency of Sports Illustrated -- the one-time weekly, which was cut back to 26 issues earlier this year" (N.Y. POST, 9/18).

The Orioles drew an announced attendance of 8,198 -- the "second smallest home crowd of the season" -- for last night's loss to the Blue Jays, but that number was "maybe four times more than the actual fans in seats." The 5-0 loss was the O's 107th of the season, "tying the team record" (BALTIMORE SUN, 9/18).

Meanwhile, the Orioles for tonight's home game against the Blue Jays will become the "first team in professional sports to incorporate Braille lettering into their game day uniforms." The word "Orioles" and the players' last names "will be spelled out in Braille, and the first 15,000 fans to attend" will receive a Braille alphabet card. The promotion honors the "40th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind moving" its HQ to Baltimore (MLB.com, 9/17). Blind singer/pianist Carlos Ibay "will perform the national anthem," and NFB President Mark Riccobono "will throw out the first pitch" (BALTIMORE SUN, 9/5).

Las Vegas 51s owner Howard Hughes Corp. today announced a two-year player development contract between the A's and the Triple-A PCL club. The 51s were previously a Mets affiliate (Howard Hughes Corp.). The 51s are "set to open a new state-of-the-art ballpark next spring" -- Las Vegas Stadium -- and "introduce a new team name." This comes as MLB this week enters a "team reaffiliation period that could levy sizable changes across the organization," with the 51s seen as the "key catalyst in the PCL changes" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/17 issue).

The PGA Tour will "provide free Tour Championship tickets" for tomorrow's practice round at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta for individuals from North Carolina and South Carolina "impacted by Hurricane Florence." This comes after multiple teams, including the Braves and both the Tennessee and Florida football programs "donated free tickets to games over the weekend for hurricane evacuees" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/17).

Meanwhile, the North Carolina and Duke football programs are "starting Hurricane Florence donation drives this week" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 9/18).

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Actress Jenifer Lewis of ABC's "Black-ish" last night wore a "custom Nike sweater with the brand's emblem on the Emmys red carpet in support of Colin Kaepernick." Lewis said, "I am wearing Nike to applaud them for supporting Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality." While on the red carpet, she addressed Kaepernick directly: "Thank you, Colin. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for taking a knee" (VARIETY.com, 9/17).

The NBA has informed its teams of its "updated projected salary cap and tax level" for '19-20 ($109M, $132M) and '20-21 ($118M, $143M) (TWITTER.com, 9/17).

The Magic were named the '17-18 Budweiser NBA Partner of the Year at the Budweiser NBA Summit in St. Louis (Magic).

The PGA of America today announced Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., will host eight major events over the next two decades, including the ’36 Ryder Cup, ’31 PGA Championship and ’22 and ’27 KPMG Women’s PGA Championships (THE DAILY).

The PGA and Congressional have a monumental announcement to make... pic.twitter.com/UjZO8un3Kh

— PGA of America (@PGA) September 18, 2018

"It’s a funny thing. I grew up in L.A., but I act more like a New Yorker than a West Coast guy. People shout across the street at me, ‘Coach you better kick some ass this year,’ and I’m ‘You’re damn right, we’re going to kick some ass'” -- First-year Knicks coach David Fizdale, on adapting to N.Y. (N.Y. POST, 9/18).

"The days of just stadium food are over. We’re trying to offer choice and bring exposure to local fare. Diners, including millennials, want variety, choice and value. This is an opportunity to improve upon the game-day experience" -- Buccaneers COO Brian Ford, on the team hosting its first Celebrity Chef Showcase this past Sunday, an initiative that "brings together foodies and regional culinary stars with onsite appearances" for home games (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/18).

The AP writes under the header, "Easier Gambling Has Sports Worried About Fighting The Fix." With dozens of states "rushing to capitalize" on the lifted federal ban on sports gambling, will fixed scenarios "become more common?" The four major pro sports leagues and the NCAA "think so," and now with inside information being "so key to betting markets, any tidbit ... can take on greater significance."

Also: 

• How boxers "get 'the business' on way to fame and fortune."
• The man who inspired Colin Kaepernick "would like to clear a few things up."
• Knicks C Enes Kanter "rediscovers love of soccer" through N.Y. Red Bulls.

Stunning & (for Lee, great) news: Lee Jenkins, SI’s stellar NBA writer and superb colleague, leaves to join the Clippers front office. In other words: Another LJ to LA, with shock waves - for sports journos - hitting with pretty much the same impact.

— S.L. Price (@bySLPrice) September 18, 2018

I have no idea why ESPN has this music group on at halftime.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) September 18, 2018

With the Mets changing stations, WOR is discontinuing the Sports Zone at some point this fall. It's been a dream come true talking about the team I grew up rooting for these last five seasons. Many thanks to all those who listened or contributed. LGM!

— Pete McCarthy (@PeteyMacWOR) September 17, 2018

Even though he retired, the NFL granted the #Bills a roster exemption for Vontae Davis, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018

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

I officially donated my Olympic costume to the @smithsonian today. Pretty cool to soon have something on display in the American History Museum. Now, I just need to convince someone that they need to be next to the ruby slippers. pic.twitter.com/YIgkSBcyXv

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) September 17, 2018

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “20th Century Novels.”

“‘I’ve killed my brother’ is said near the end of this 1952 book with a biblical title and a plot echoing a biblical story.”

On last night’s episode of TBS’ “Conan,” host Conan O’Brien made light of Bills CB Vontae Davis’ retirement during his opening monologue. O’Brien: “In a football game yesterday, an NFL player realized he just couldn’t do it another minute and retired in the middle of the game. Isn’t that crazy, Andy?” O’Brien then turned to find sidekick Andy Richter had left his desk (“Conan,” TBS, 9/18).

“What is ‘East of Eden’?”