The 40th annual Sports Emmys were held last night in N.Y., and ESPN and NBC "tied for the most trophies with six apiece," while their "respective network groups also played to a draw with eight each." NBC's coverage of the Pyeongchang Games "skated away with three Sports Emmys to lead all programs." Fox’ World Series coverage won for Outstanding Live Sports Special, and NBC’s "SNF" snagged the Outstanding Live Sports Series trophy. ESPN's Dick Vitale received the Lifetime Achievement Award (DEADLINE.com, 5/20).

Other highlights included NBC's Michele Tafoya winning Best Sports Reporter, while NBCSN's Mike Emrick "won for Play by Play." ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit won in the category of Outstanding Sports Personality -- Studio Analyst. TNT's Ernie Johnson was recognized as the best Studio Host, with Bill Raftery of Turner Sports and CBS feted as Sports Event Analyst (THEWRAP.com, 5/20).

See a full list of winners, and check out some of the memorable moments on Twitter.

The NFL Panthers will get $115M in "state tax discounts from South Carolina" when the team moves its HQ and practice facilities "across the N.C. border and to Rock Hill." S.C. lawmakers yesterday "officially passed the incentive package" after "ironing out minor tweaks to the bill last week." Gov. Henry McMaster is "expected to sign H. 4243 into law soon." Lawmakers said that the federal government will chip in about $20M for the project, while the state contributes $12.5M and Rock Hill the remaining $7.5M (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/21).

Digital sports marketing company Omnigon is rebranding as iX.co with the launch of a new entity created between the N.Y.-based agency and Swiss parent Infront Sports & Media. The new company combines Infront’s digital group with Omnigon, which was acquired by Infront in '16. Infront Senior Dir of Digital Media, Platforms & Services Christoph Heimes will become CEO of iX.co, which will have over 250 employees working from Zug, Switzerland, as well as N.Y., London, L.A., Paris and Toronto. No job cuts are expected under the new structure, with iX.co to add staff over the next 18 months. The launch of the new company is effective immediately.

iX.co Chief Commercial Officer David Nugent said, “The broad vision is to ensure that we are using data to inform decisions across the board, whether it's investments in technology or content creation or in the way you go direct-to-consumer.” Heimes: “For us, it is a natural progression.” iX.co counts MLS, the PGA Tour, USGA, Fox and the Cavaliers among its clients.

GlaxoSmithKline brand Nicorette this morning announced a new endorsement deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is going to use his mostly unknown smoker story to try to help launch a new product. Financial terms were not disclosed for the multiyear deal, but endorsement deals with Earnhardt typically cost seven figures annually. Earnhardt is helping launch Nicorette Coated Ice Mint Lozenge, which the brand is debuting today starting off with an appearance on “GMA” with the retired NASCAR driver. Earnhardt says he used to be a cigarette smoker during his driving career but eventually quit.

Nicorette has shot a social/digital content series with Earnhardt as part of the launch that involves him talking about his quitting process and also holding taste tests of the new product, which Nicorette says is its first major innovation in 10 years. Weber Shandwick is the PR and social agency of record for Nicorette and helped set up the deal, while Earnhardt has an internal brand team and also works with Endeavour.

Nashville's Metro Council today will consider legislation that "could clear the one hurdle" that SMI claims "stands in the way of bringing NASCAR back to the Nashville Fairgrounds." An ordinance filed by council member Steve Glover looks to "require that any private parking building or lot is constructed at least 100 feet from the historic racetrack." Glover's bill is to be "considered on first reading" at today's council meeting. SMI's proposed makeover of the track calls for a 30,000-seat grandstand with "premium seating, an expanded concourse, pedestrian tunnels and sound barriers" (TENNESSEAN.com, 5/16).

L.A.-based ticketing startup Season Share launches today with the 49ers and Univ. of Oregon as its first clients, with the NFL team also counted among its investors. Season Share’s software is designed to make it easier to share season-ticket packages by creating a “private ticket group.” Once the group is formed, fans can create a draft for desirable games, distribute tickets and pay deposits. The software integrates with clients’ core ticketing system. Season Share’s business model depends on sharing revenue on added sales, rather than recurring or volume-based license fees.

The Henderson, Nev., city council today is expected to "discuss and probably approve a land lease deal" with the Golden Knights that would see the team build a $25M ice rink center on 3.2 acres of land. The agenda item includes the city kicking in $10.75M, as Henderson believes the two-rink community facility "will be a good economic investment." The venue would be "similar to the Golden Knights ice center in Downtown Summerlin," dubbed City National Arena. The lease deal is for 20 years (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 5/20).

Dodgers P Julio Urias "will be reinstated from administrative leave following a domestic-violence arrest" after MLB "did not obtain a security video that allegedly showed the incident," according to sources. Urias is "expected to rejoin" the club today. Last week, MLB and the MLBPA "agreed to place Urias on paid administrative leave pending the league's review of the video." The 22-year-old was "arrested May 13 after an alleged altercation with a woman" in an L.A. parking lot (ESPN.com, 5/20).

The U.S. Soccer Federation and DC United are in "talks about arranging a U.S. women’s national soccer team friendly at Audi Field in November," according to sources. The match, against an opponent to be determined, "would be part of a post-World Cup tour" by the USWNT (WASHINGTON POST, 5/21).

Seattle Univ. has "agreed to a seven-year deal" with Adidas, which will become the school's official apparel provider. The school's previous apparel deal was with Nike (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/21).

H5G Brands has extended its agreement with the PBA to continue as its official jersey provider through July 1, 2022 (PBA).

Mississippi State and Dyehard Fan Supply have entered into a five-year merchandising agreement (Dyehard Fan Supply).

"In this business, (stuff) like that happens all the time. It happened to me last year" -- Jets coach Adam Gase, who was fired by the Dolphins last season, on denying that he won a power struggle over recently fired GM Mike Maccagnan. Jets Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson named Gase interim GM after the move (N.Y. POST, 5/21).

"It’s great and it’s important that we support men and women, that we support the non-revenue sports just like we do the revenue sports. However, the student-athletes that are participating shouldn’t be held back, in my opinion, from benefiting from their work and their likeness" -- Auburn men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, on whether college athletes should be able to profit off their likeness (AL.com, 5/20).

The WASHINGTON POST writes under the header, "James Holzhauer Is The Face Of 'Jeopardy!' He's Also The New Face Of Sports Betting." For decades, the faces of the American sports bettor were "caricatures: a chain-smoker with a curled-up racing form, a bookie sitting in a dimly lit room." Then last month, a real-life example "sprang off the television screens of middle America."

Also:

• For first time in 42 years, the Bills "let another player wear O.J. Simpson’s former No. 32."
• The NBA is a "24-hour-a-day, 12-month-a-year sport." But are the playoffs broken?

If the Mets go after Cespedes' contract, I was told it's not out of the realm of possibility - depending on how the agreement is written - that Cespedes' agent from the deal would have to forfeit part of his commission. That agent would be Brodie Van Wagenen.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) May 20, 2019

It’s OK to appreciate the Warriors right now, folks. Don’t have to wait 10, 20 years from now to acknowledge that this is a historic run for one of the greatest TEAMS we’ve ever seen. One man won’t make or break them. But the collective has broken every challenger. Respect. Enjoy

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) May 21, 2019

Kinda wild how Magic said he loves Jeannie Buss and the Lakers and wants them to succeed but chose the day of Frank Vogel’s introduction to hit the First Take set and torch the franchise like it was King’s Landing.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) May 21, 2019

Determined. Unstoppable. Courageous. To all female athletes fighting for a sustainable future for the sports you love, so that those who come next can succeed, I thank you. ⚽️🏒 #KinderGirlWorldDay

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) May 21, 2019

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

Tennis player Madison Keys launches the first-ever "Kinder Girl World Day" in an effort to stop toxic behavior among girls online.

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Name The French Author.”

“’I am making myself liable to Articles 30 & 31 of the law of 29 July 1881 regarding the press, which make libel a punishable offense.’” 

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Let’s Go To That Sports Thing.”
$200: “Rodeo is featured at the Calgary this, a term for a frenzied rush of cattle, and that’s no bull.”
$400: “A long-distance public road race as well as a baseball term for scoring a bunch of runs to make up a deficit.”
$600: “The 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships included (probably) the last race for this all-time great, a Bronze in downhill.”
$800: “In 2021 we’ll go down to the water and check out the best-of-13 chase for this oldest international sports trophy.”
$1000: “A bonspiel is a meet where teams from various clubs compete in this Olympic sport; a Molson or two may get consumed.”

Actor Jon Hamm, a native of St. Louis, appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night “dressed head-to-toe in blue” to support his hometown Blues. Hamm: “When I support a team, I go all the way!” Hamm noted the Blues need one more win in the Western Conference Finals, which would be the “first time they would have made the Stanley Cup Finals in my lifetime.” Hamm said he “literally moved things around" in his schedule to attend Game 7 against the Stars in the previous round with his old high school teacher. Host Jimmy Kimmel: “That high school teacher must have been like, ‘Thank God I gave him an ‘A’” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/20). 

NBC’s Seth Meyers said President Trump "spent the 2016 branding himself as the anti-war candidate and then on Sunday, he jumped on Twitter to threaten a war with Iran seemingly out of nowhere.” Meyers: “I can't believe I'm saying this but go play golf. It's actually now a matter of national security that we make sure Trump spends as much time on the golf course as possible" (“Late Night,” NBC, 5/20).

“Who was Emile Zola?”

Last night’s edition marked the return of champion James Holzhauer, who celebrated the night with another dominating performance, earning $89,229 for a 23-day total of $1,780,237.

Correct responses to the “Let’s Go To That Sports Thing” category:
$200: “What is stampede?”
$400: “What’s a rally?”
$600: “Who is Lindsey Vonn?”
$800: “What is the America’s Cup?”
$1000: “What is curling?”