Fox made its “TNF” debut last night, and combined with NFL Net’s audience, the Rams’ 38-31 win over the Vikings delivered a 10.7 overnight rating. That figure is up 8% from a 9.9 for Bears-Packers last year in Week 4, which aired on CBS and NFL Net. The increase comes despite what is likely a big ratings uptick for cable news networks last night in the wake of the hearings around Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Fox will likely get a primetime win among all nets. Two years ago, the Week 4 “TNF” game aired solely on NFL Net. In ’15, CBS and NFL Net combined to draw a 13.0 overnight for Ravens-Steelers.

Meanwhile, the L.A. Daily News notes the game drew an "electric crowd of 70,000-plus" to L.A. Coliseum. YAHOO SPORTS writes with the Rams improving to 4-0, L.A. "may belong to LeBron James," but the Lakers "aren't the only star-studded show in town anymore."

Amazon Prime's live stream of "TNF" last night featured the historic pairing of Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer calling the Vikings-Rams game, but the process of finding the audio feed "caused confusion and frustration." When fans "initially tuned in," they were "treated to the normal Fox broadcast of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews." In order to hear Storm and Kremer, they "had to change a couple settings on Amazon" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/27).

Storm herself tried to help fans out on Twitter: "Go to the audio settings and click on the 'Storm-Kremer' option at kickoff!" NBC Sports' Peter King: "Just spent 10 minutes, after having signed up for Amazon Prime, trying to find a way to watch Storm/Kremer tonight. Gave up. Waaaay too complicated. Turned back to Fox." Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock: "Anyone else watching the Amazon feed and it's just randomly switching from Storm and Kremer to Buck and Aikman?" SI's Tim Layden: "Watching Rams-Vikes with Storm-Kremer because they're deserving and this is overdue." TheFootballGirl.com's Melissa Jacobs: "Thoughts about Kremer-Storm broadcast 1) Can Amazon make it any harder to find? 2) Why aren't they offered as the main event instead of a token option? 3) Holy shit, listen to them, my heart is singing."

Boston College has unveiled a five-year strategy that "aims to make BC more competitive nationally -- particularly in football and men's basketball -- enhance the athletic facilities and improve the fan experience." BC AD Martin Jarmond "revealed the plan, the first of its kind at BC," at a donor event yesterday. It will be backed by a $150M fundraising campaign called "Greater Heights: The Campaign for Boston College Athletics." The fundraising effort will "target alumni, parents, corporate partners, and others" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28).

Tokyo Olympic organizers today "conducted a series of drills with the metropolitan police department" with the "aim of boosting security" for the '20 Games. The exercises included "removing an explosive package and subduing a knife-wielding intruder who attempted to breach security." Officials also "tested facial recognition technology," which is "expected to effectively eliminate entry with forged IDs, reduce congestion at accredited waiting lines and reduce athletes' stress in hot weather" (AP, 9/28).

Hendrick Motorsports has signed a new deal with Australia-based athletic wear brand 2XU, which becomes Hendrick's official performance apparel partner through '21. 2XU, which is announcing the news this week, will outfit HMS’ at-track personnel -- including pit crews -- starting next season. The company will also develop social and digital content with Hendrick. This is the first deal in motorsports for 2XU (pronounced “Two Times You”), which was founded in '05 and typically activates in endurance sports, including with USA Triathlon. Hendrick previously had a deal with Under Armour that ended several years ago.

ESPN's rollout of its new 20-hour documentary, "Basketball: A Love Story," included several premiere events this week in N.Y. The Paley Center for Media in Manhattan Wednesday showed a highlight reel, accompanied by a panel discussion featuring NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern, filmmaker Dan Klores, ESPN's Jalen Rose and Basketball HOFers Earl Monroe and Isiah Thomas. Then last night, the Brooklyn Academy of Music hosted a premiere, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on hand, along with HOFers such as Bernard King, Lenny Wilkens, George Gervin and David Thompson (THE DAILY).

#NBA Commissioner Emeritus, David J. Stern, says that sports break down barriers. #PaleyLive #Basketball pic.twitter.com/ISoeSYL9xh

— Paley Center (@paleycenter) September 27, 2018

Commish arriving at “Basketball: A Love Story” screening at BAM pic.twitter.com/MZi4pT8VOP

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) September 27, 2018

The Flyers' new mascot, Gritty, continues to garner mainstream media exposure. The opening sequence to NBC’s “The Tonight Show” featured host Jimmy Fallon and guest Ricky Gervais having a private dance party in the dressing room. Then unexpectedly, Gritty walks into the room and decides to join in, attempting to dance with Fallon several times. But Gervais objects to the mascot's attempt to butt in, and then tries to fight Gritty, forcing Fallon to break up the scuffle (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/27).

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said Gritty “has been getting a lot of attention because most people just find it ridiculous.” Greenberg: "It's not pretty" (“Get Up,” ESPN, 9/28).

With the Ryder Cup under way this morning, the event's competing watch brands took out full-page ads in major U.S. publications. Rolex, which is the official sponsor of the event when it is in Europe, runs an ad in the N.Y. Times featuring six of its biggest endorsers -- Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm. Day, an Australian, is the only one of those not playing in France this weekend. Meanwhile, Omega, which partners with the the U.S. team for the Ryder Cup, runs a full-page ad in USA Today with an image of the event's trophy and the brand's Seamaster Aqua Terra Ryder Cup Edition watch, along with a logo for the event.

Bellator also runs a full-page ad in USA Today ahead of tomorrow's Bellator 206 event at SAP Center in San Jose (THE DAILY).

Atlanta United announced that Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be "open to full capacity for at least six games" during the '19 MLS season (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/28).

The Canadian Premier League, which debuts in the spring, has signed a partnership with Italian sportswear company Macron to serve as its official jersey provider. Each of the league’s seven teams will have custom jerseys and training gear supplied by the brand. Canadian Soccer Business, the CPL’s business arm, negotiated the deal (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association said that all eight of its "Super Bowls" -- high school football title games in various divisions -- "will once again be held at Gillette Stadium." All eight games were "held at Gillette last year for the first time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28).

"Those are the best jerseys the Carolina Hurricanes have ever had by far. It's not even close" -- TSN's Jay Onrait, on the team planning to wear throwback Hartford Whalers jerseys on Dec. 23 ("SC With Jay & Dan" 9/27).

"We are offensive and people will be offended. If you believe there is malicious intent and an agenda behind it, we'll never convince you otherwise" -- Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini, defending her site's politically-incorrect commentary (ADAGE.com, 9/27).

"Tiger Woods’ comeback -- seeing him carrying our bag and walking the back nine with him -- I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to top that as a memory or an experience" -- Monster Energy VP/Sports Marketing Mitch Covington, on being at last week's Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club (TUSCALOOSANEWS.com, 9/27).

“Kanye West was recently spotted wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat and a Colin Kaepernick sweatshirt, and yet somehow it's still the least confusing thing Kanye has ever done” -- NBC’s Jimmy Fallon (“The Tonight Show,” 9/27).

“If you watch the testimony, you know (Kavanaugh) was loud, he was angry, he was tearful. I haven't seen this much crying and yelling since the Cubs won the World Series" -- ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, on yesterday's hearing involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” 9/27).

THE ATHLETIC's Jeff Rueter wonders what it will take to get American fans interested in the U.S. Open Cup. Despite featuring some heavyweight MLS match-ups, the competition is "most intriguing" when smaller, non-MLS clubs "make a deep run."

Also: 

• WSJ front page: athletes "beg and whine" for improved video game avatars.
• How does Fenway's organist get Red Sox fans involved?
• The lasting legacy of SNL's "Da Bears" sketch.

Well into the 80s, HBO was considered a bigger threat to the big 3 networks' sports dominance than even ESPN. With this announcement, they're completely out of the sports game.

— 506 Sports (@506sports) September 27, 2018

Nick Saban on if he knew ESPN’s Greg McElroy would be a talented announcer: “ He always was a good bullshitter, so...”

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) September 28, 2018

There are NBA preseason games tonight.

Ladies and gentlemen, our great national nightmare is over. The association is back. pic.twitter.com/ucz0wtZ9fL

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 28, 2018

You think you are insanely cool in your 20s, and you do interesting things and then, you turn 30, and literally the only thing you like is the Ryder Cup. It comes for us all.

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) September 28, 2018

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

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

“In 1883 a Catholic diocese sold this to the state of Texas for $20,000.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “We’re In This League.”
$200: “Arizona Diamondbacks”
$400: “Jacksonville Jaguars”
$600: “New York Red Bulls”
$800: “Vegas Golden Knights”
$1000: “Hamilton Tiger-Cats”

On TBS’ “Conan” last night, host Conan O’Brien noted the MLB playoffs are "almost here." O'Brien: "I'm a Red Sox fan, so I'm really excited and I think they have a chance to win it all. Andy, are you excited about the playoffs?” O’Brien’s sidekick, Andy Richter, said, “Not really, Conan. I'm not into sports.” O’Brien: “Come on, don't you know anything about sports?” Richter: “Not at all, Conan.” O’Brien: “Not even the most basic details?” Richter: “Nope.” O’Brien then said, “Then you know what time it is. … It's time for 'Andy Richter's Sports Blast'” (“Conan,” TBS, 9/27).

NBC’s “The Tonight Show” featured host Jimmy Fallon introducing an NFL-themed segment, “Heads and Tails.” Fallon: “We're in Week 4 of the NFL season, and Sunday night's big matchup is between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, every NFL game starts with a coin toss to see which team gets to kickoff. But there's actually a lot more riding on it than just that. I'll show you what I mean” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/27).

“What is the Alamo?”

Correct responses to the “We’re In This League” category:
$200: “What is the NL (or MLB)?”
$400: “What is the NFL?”
$600: “What is MLS?”
$800: “What is the NHL?”
$1000: “What is the CFL?”