IOC TOP sponsor Toyota is beginning to implement its U.S. strategy for the '20 Tokyo Games, nearing deals in recent weeks to sponsor both USA Triathlon and USA Track & Field, sources said. Toyota would become Triathlon’s first-ever auto sponsor; Toyota would be USTAF’s first auto sponsor since BMW left in '16. The Triathlon deal is through '20. The length of the USATF deal is not known, and sources suggested a deal is done in principle but final negotiations continue.

Toyota and the NGBs both declined to comment. Many TOP sponsors augment their primary sponsorships with NGBs, which gives access to domestic events leading up to the Games and convenient connections to athletes. After joining the IOC’s global program in '17, Toyota signed with US Ski & Snowboarding, U.S. Figure Skating, USA Bobsled & Skeleton and U.S. Speedskating for the PyeongChang Games.

Fox and NFL Network combined to draw a 9.9 overnight rating for the Patriots’ 38-24 win over the Colts on “TNF,” down 11% from the comparable Patriots-Buccaneers game in Week 5 last year on CBS/NFL Net. That Pats-Bucs game remains the best Week 5 “TNF” overnight yet. The game last night had plenty of competition, up against Braves-Dodgers NLDS Game 1 on MLB Network, as well as heavy coverage of political news on cable TV. The combined audience for CNN, MSNBC and Fox News was up 41% compared to the same night in '17 as people continued to watch news around Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Two years ago, CBS/NFL Net combined for an 8.8 overnight for Cardinals-49ers, but that game was affected by Hurricane Matthew, with the Orlando-Daytona and West Palm Beach markets not reporting.Meanwhile, the 9.9 for Colts-Pats is up from what NBC/CBS averaged for their "TNF" games last season (9.6).

76ers

The 76ers announced that Beats by Dr. Dre is now an official team partner under a multiyear deal. Branding for Beats, which is also an NBA league sponsor, will appear throughout Wells Fargo Center, including within and above the player tunnel. This marks the first time a 76ers sponsor will have its brand showcased in the locker room corridor. Beats will sponsor 76ers pregame "lifestyle" content across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and the Beats logo will be integrated into pregame player imagery on social media (76ers).

The Golden Knights drew a "record regular season crowd of 18,555" for last night's home opener, with "only a small share of Flyer fans" in attendance. A "Cirque acrobat dropped slowly from the T-Mobile Arena rafters to help start the game, which featured the unveiling" of the '18 Western Conference Champions and '17-18 Pacific Division Champions banners. Prior to the game, the Golden Knights "created a carpet of stars showing player names and numbers leading across the plaza" to the arena. The Flyers won 5-2 (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 10/4).

.@GoldenKnights Hockey is officially back in the desert. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/LxoJ2hXta5

— T-Mobile Arena (@TMobileArena) October 5, 2018

The '18 NBA China Games are underway in Shanghai, with the 76ers and Mavericks taking part in the 25th such game since the league's effort began in '04. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in his pregame address said, "The NBA has never been more committed to building the sport of basketball throughout China. It's amazing to see the progress that this nation has made since we first played games here."

Silver: "Everywhere I travel in China, I see evidence of the tremendous interest in this sport. Whether it's billboards that include Chinese players or NBA players who were born outside of China, whether it's the tremendous social media presence we have, or the enormous exposure we have through CCTV, BesTV and Tencent, there's no doubt that the Chinese people love basketball" (NBA.com, 10/5).

getty images

Lakers F LeBron James arrived at Staples Center for last night's preseason game against the Kings "wearing a branded Nike long-sleeve shirt that read 'KAEPERNICK' on the back." James' shirt "represented several of his loyalties." He said, “I wear a Kaepernick shirt tonight, one because I mean it’s Nike, and I’m a Nike guy. And two, I support Kaep. I always support Kaep and what he stands for, what he believes in” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/5).

The game also served as the Lakers' "first-ever Pride Night," and former NBAer Jason Collins was honored, "receiving the Laces of Unity award from the organization" (OCREGISTER.com, 10/4).

The Univ. of Memphis' preseason men's basketball event, "Memphis Madness," drew a crowd of 18,000 to FedExForum last night for Penny Hardaway's on-court debut as the "newest Tigers coach." Six "top 50 recruits in the class of 2019" were in the crowd. The night also featured performances by locally based rappers Derez De'Shon, Moneybagg Yo, BlocBoy JB and Yo Gotti. Perhaps the "only disappointment on the night was the absence of two reported and rumored stars," as "neither Drake nor Justin Timberlake was seen" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/5). Hardaway: “You can’t ask for much more than that because it’s like 18,000 people in there screaming to the top of their lungs" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/5).

Penny Hardaway was just introduced, and I don’t know if I I’ve ever heard this building louder. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/R0fpYmUFAj

— Christian Fowler (@C_Fowler14) October 5, 2018

EA Sports is broadening its esports efforts around “FIFA 19.” The game publisher will add four new global events -- increasing the total to six -- and will also create a new points system for players to advance to the eWorld Cup. EA now has 15 official league partnerships tied to the video game, including the EPL and MLS. Last year, more than 20 million players participated in global qualifying events.

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

Actor Billy Crystal, a lifelong Yankees fan, attended the Yankees-A's Wild Card Game and told host Jimmy Fallon, “I saw my first baseball game 62 years ago … (and) the magic of it has never changed. From my first game in 1956 seeing Mickey Mantle play ... it feels like it's still present." Crystal joked how Yankees RF Aaron Judge and retired Red Sox DH David Ortiz would “point to God” during their at-bats, but “when they make an error, nobody points up again." Crystal: "When they strike out, they don't go (looking up to the sky), 'Hey! What!? Come on! I'm still here'" (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/4).

NBC’s Fallon: “I want to say congrats to the New York Yankees, because last night they beat the Oakland A’s and got one step closer to the World Series. But now the players are nervous, because they're also one step closer to having to meet the president. … Great game for the Yankees. They won 7-2. The postgame locker room was nuts. The whole team drank almost as much as Brett Kavanaugh” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/4).

The Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation has pledged to donate $5M to "support relief efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina, Super Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines and the recent Indonesia earthquake and resulting tsunami" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5).

The USWNT last night "defeated Mexico" at Sahlen's Stadium in its first match of FIFA World Cup qualifying during the CONCACAF Women’s Championship. The match drew an "announced 5,404-person crowd" in Cary, N.C. (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 10/4).

Around 200 fans yesterday attended the "elaborate unveiling production" for El Paso's expansion USL club, Locomotive FC. The club also unveiled a logo and crest in a ceremony at the EPIC Railyard Event Center (EL PASO TIMES, 10/5).

The Dec. 15 NCAA D-II football championship will be "contested at a high school district stadium in McKinney, Texas, a Dallas suburb." The game has been played at Children's Mercy Park the past four years and was set for K.C. "again this year, but last month Sporting KC informed the NCAA that it would not be able to host this year because of field renovations" scheduled after the MLS season (K.C. STAR, 10/5).

"Anybody who thinks this is staged, it is the dumbest (expletive) thing I have ever heard. How did we stage this? How could we possibly have (expletive) staged this? This is real (expletive)" -- UFC President Dana White, on Conor McGregor's April bus incident at Barclays Center. McGregor returns to the Octagon this weekend for UFC 229 (USA TODAY, 10/5).

“The traffic is a little heavy. There must be a McGregor fight going on" -- UFC fighter Conor McGregor, on the crowd for yesterday's press conference at the 5,200-seat Park Theater ahead of UFC 229 (SI.com, 10/5).

"We have a couple of markets that would give their eye teeth to have a facility like this" -- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, on the Brewers' Miller Park (FORBES.com, 10/5).

"Most of the time, if someone gives me trouble at a bar or something, saying, ‘Why do you hate the Red Sox or Patriots?’ they end up buying you a drink or whatever. They like to be heard, say their piece, and then talk about the team" -- Fox' Joe Buck, on fans thinking he is biased against their teams (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/5).

“At some point, we could and should and would host an All-Star Game here. I just don’t have a date or a time frame based on other commitments" -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on St. Louis' hope to host an ASG at Enterprise Center (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/5).  

THE ATHLETIC writes under the header, "After Years Of Speculation, This Is Finally The Right Time And Right Fit For Cal Ripken Jr. To Rejoin The Orioles." This would not be "about nostalgia." Ripken "knows how to run a successful business," and the timing "now seems perfect." The Orioles need a "full reboot and the fans are desperate for someone they can believe in."

THE RINGER goes with, "LeBron Came To Hollywood. So Did The LeBron Media Machine." 

Also: 

• WSL makes strong statement with equal prize money for men and women. 
• City of Pittsburgh "embracing the NFL's Rooney Rule." 
• Are Reds losing ground to FC Cincinnati in "battle for fans?"
• New NASCAR President Steve Phelps on his rise through the industry.

More #BobCostas on post-season baseball, please.

— rickbozich (@rickbozich) October 5, 2018

Tons of injuries and a non-competitive score. Thursday Night Football is back!

— Nora Princiotti (@NoraPrinciotti) October 5, 2018

Excellent ESPN tribute to the late, great Dave Anderson this morning. Great job, guys.

— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) October 5, 2018

What percentage of this evening's Yankees-Red Sox broadcast will be devoted to replays of Aaron Boone's homer, Dave Roberts' steal and Clinton/Bush-era Yankees-Red Sox nostalgia, and what percentage will be devoted to the two extremely good baseball teams on the field?

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) October 5, 2018

FIRST FIRST INTERMISSION POLL OF THE SEASON

Who would you least want to encounter in a dark alley

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 5, 2018

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The Bucks' Fiserv Forum this weekend hosts PBR's "Unleash the Beast, Ariat Invitational." As part of the festivities, one of the 70 bulls on-site will be weighed against a mystery number of Miller Brewing kegs today at 12:45pm CT outside the arena (PBR).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!’ category was “International Crime.”

“Italy’s agromafia enriches itself through counterfeit versions of this ‘liquid gold’ mentioned by Homer and Plato.”

Model Gisele Bundchen shed some light on how competitive the family of Tom Brady is in athletics, especially when it comes to dodgeball. Bundchen described dodgeball as when you “throw really hard at a person, and then they die and they’re out of the” game. Host Jimmy Fallon: “Well yeah, if it's Tom Brady throwing a dodgeball, yeah. That might happen.” But Bundchen also explained how Brady’s sisters, former softball players, are also “intense.” Fallon: “The whole Brady family can throw?” Bundchen: “Oh yeah.” Bundchen was asked how she and Brady met, telling Fallon it was on her “third blind date” and the first two were “dinners so I was stuck there for an hour-and-a-half.” Bundchen: “The third blind date was actually Tom and I was like, ‘That's it, I’m not going on anymore blind dates,’ and I figured, ‘Let's meet for a drink,’ because a drink can take three minutes, or two hours. You can go drink, or you can go sipping. But when I saw those kind eyes, I literally fell in love right away.” Fallon: “Oh, I'm in love with him too” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/4).

“What is olive oil?”