Kobe Bryant's estate has "reached a new long-term contract" with Nike to "continue producing both footwear and apparel from Bryant's Zoom Kobe series." The news comes "nearly a year after Kobe Bryant's initial endorsement deal with Nike expired." The partnership will "look to provide young athletes access to youth sports," with several initiatives "planned globally to honor Bryant's legacy." In addition to "re-releases of the 11 signature Kobe models worn by Bryant during his career, and potentially his six post-career models as well," Nike also will be "launching a new Gigi Bryant shoe series, with a charity component" (ESPN.com, 3/24).

Three bids in the Chelsea sale process involving Dodgers co-Owner Todd Boehly, former Liverpool Chair Mark Broughton and the Ricketts family "now lead the race to take charge" of the EPL club after the Raine Group "spent Thursday informing a host of unsuccessful bidders they were out of the auction before starting the process of confirming the shortlist" of prospective buyers. Bids headed by Boehly and Broughton have "made the shortlist to buy Chelsea." Jets Owner Woody Johnson and Saudi Media Group are "reported to have missed out." The Ricketts family are "confident of making the shortlist." The Raine Group "will dig into further details of remaining submissions once the shortlist is rubber-stamped" (SKYSPORTS.com, 3/25). A source said the bid involving Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment co-Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer also will "make the next round" (BLOOMBERGQUINT.com, 8/25).

The NFL’s stadium and finance committees this afternoon are “expected to vote to recommend the league approve a maximum $200 million loan” to Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula to help build a new $1.4B stadium in Orchard Park. It is expected the loan will be recommended, meaning the league’s “full ownership group will vote to approve the deal on Monday, as part of the NFL’s annual owners’ meeting,” according to sources. However, the financing deal with the state of New York “is not yet signed,” meaning the NFL owners “are voting on a proposed deal – not an actual one” (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/25).

New Browns QB Deshaun Watson “will conduct his introductory press conference” this afternoon at team headquarters in Berea, during which he will “answer questions for the first time since the accusations” of sexual misconduct began surfacing last year. Watson will be joined by Browns GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski at the 1:00pm ET event. Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam two hours later “will be available via Zoom” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/25).

The press conference comes after a Brazoria County, Texas, grand jury yesterday “chose not to indict” Watson on criminal charges of sexual assault and harassment. That comes after similar actions by a Harris County grand jury two weeks ago (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/25).

A fire “burned through parts of Empower Field at Mile High” yesterday, “sweeping through rows of seats” before it was extinguished. The fire “broke out in a construction zone near the East Club Lounge.” The area was “quickly evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries.” The fire “started in the fourth-floor suites area and burned seats on the third level,” encompassing about 1,000 square feet of the stadium. Firefighters will “carry out an additional investigation as to whether there was any significant structural damage to the stadium” (DENVER POST, 3/24).

The U.S. “emerged with a point it needed” in the World Cup qualifying tournament last night with a 0-0 tie against Mexico at Estadio Azteca. The draw leaves the U.S. “second to Canada in the eight-team qualifying table.” Four teams from the group qualify for the World Cup. Due to sanctions leveled over Mexican fans continuing to use an "anti-gay chant, more than half of the stadium’s 84,000 seats were vacant, leaving the upper deck mostly empty and quiet” (L.A.TIMES, 3/25).

Meanwhile, Italy "will miss their second World Cup in a row" after being shocked 1-0 by North Macedonia. The loss comes after winning last year's Euro 2020 tournament (BBC.com, 3/24).

Corona has once again teamed up with WNBA Seattle Storm G Sue Bird on a limited-edition mini-refrigerator" designed to keep both beer and sneakers “on ice.” Fans "will have the chance to win" their own Corona Fine Life Fridge between today and Monday by participating on social media. Bird is a "creative director of the project." The fridge "contains features such as a turntable to highlight a favorite pair of kicks, LED lights and Bird’s signature. The initiative is "tied to the beer brand’s creative campaign that debuted earlier this month," featuring Bird and fellow hoops stars Devin Booker, Vince Carter and Christian Laettner (ADWEEK.com, 3/24).

Venus and Serena Williams will "join a star-studded group of presenters" at Sunday's Academy Awards. The sisters are depicted in "King Richard," which is nominated for five Oscars (TENNIS.com, 3/24).

In the '22 results of the NFL and NFLPA's annual laboratory testing released yesterday, five of the six newly created helmet models all scored in the “top performing” group, clearing them for use by NFL players. See more in the SBJ Football newsletter.

“I kind of told you guys that I wasn’t too worried about it" -- Yankees RF Aaron Judge, on the rule that would have prevented unvaccinated players on N.Y.'s two MLB teams from playing in home games. N.Y. Mayor Eric Adams lifted that restriction yesterday (N.Y. TIMES, 3/25).

"Everyone knows we’re coming, we’re on our way. ... We may not be playing Grand Slam-level tennis right now but give it a couple of years and you’ll see our names up there” -- U.S. tennis player Sebastian Korda, on the up-and-coming group of young American male players (MIAMI HERALD, 3/25).

The N.Y. TIMES in a front page piece goes with the header, "Inside New York City’s Decision to End Vaccine Mandate for Pro Athletes." Owners and execs of "some of the wealthiest sports franchises urged Mayor Eric Adams to allow unvaccinated athletes to play." Privately, efforts have long been "underway" to persuade Adams to "change his mind." Yankees President Randy Levine personally "reached out to the mayor’s team and encouraged officials to consider that baseball is played outdoors." Mets Owner Steve Cohen has been "paying $10,000 a month to a lobbying firm, Moonshot Strategies, to push state officials and City Hall on several issues, including Covid protocols." Both baseball teams are "believed to have players who remain unvaccinated."

Also:

• Should Vanderbilt have kept its "Star V" athletics logo?
• Trevor Story's new deal with the Red Sox almost fell apart.
• How NIL jump-started South Carolina guard's online clothing business.

Gonzaga loses in the Sweet 16. Fair or not, this program will get called out once again.

— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) March 25, 2022

Sitting at a stoplight at 6:30AM. Dude who is probably nearing 70 is jamming to “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue. Dancing, singing. I’m listening to dudes argue about sports. He beats me 5 and 4.

— Jay Coffin ⚰️ (@JayCoffin) March 25, 2022

Tyrrell Hatton just referred to a short putt as "a little bum-squeaker" so now I have a favorite new golf phrase

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 24, 2022

Last night’s "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Disney Characters."

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “It’s A Race.”

$400: “This city’s marathon runs past the Aloha Tower before finishing in Kapiolani Park.”
$800: “Competitors run west across San Francisco to the Pacific coast in a race with the alliterative name this ‘to Breakers.’”
$1200: “For almost a century the Fastnet race for these ships has gone from the Isle of Wight to Ireland & back to England.”
$1600: “The original horse race known as this takes place at England’s Epsom Downs each June."
$2000: “Drivers vie to see who can go farthest in a single day in the ’24 Hours of’ this French city.”

"Who is Princess Jasmine? (from 'Aladdin')"

The correct responses to the “It’s A Race” category were:

$400: “What is Honolulu?”
$800: “What is bay?”
$1200: “What are sailboats?”
$1600: “What is the Derby Stakes?”
$2000: “What is Le Mans?”