John Roth, the COO of both the Bills and the Sabres, and Kathryn D’Angelo, the SVP/Business Administration of the Bills, "were fired" yesterday, "less than three months after Roth and D’Angelo were elevated to their leadership positions." The firings were a result of the fact that Roth was "involved in a romantic relationship with D’Angelo, who reported to him, and thus created an unethical situation." Josh Dziurlikowski is the "lone remaining member of the Bills' management committee" and will take over as interim COO. Longtime Bills exec Jim Overdorf will serve as the interim legal counsel (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/11). In a joint telephone interview last night, Roth and D’Angelo "confirmed they were dismissed without going into detail" (AP, 10/11).

KPMG first sponsored the event in 2015 and has boosted its purse to a record $10Mwes sanderson

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. CAA's Megan Nicol, an SBJ Game Changers honoree in '23, helped complete the three-way partnership between KPMG, the LPGA and the PGA. The Tournament Business Affairs team from the LPGA was involved in talks, led by Chief Tournament Business and Operations Officer Ricki Lasky, also an SBJ Game Changer. CCO Jeff Price and Senior Dir of Partnerships Luke Reissman led talks for the PGA.

KPMG National Sports Industry Leader Shawn Quill called the extension “more of a mission than a sponsorship” for the Big Four accounting firm. “The partnership is about elevating women’s golf and providing the opportunities to these female athletes that they deserve,” Quill said.

As part of the deal, Quill said KPMG has made a “continued commitment” to increasing the tournament purse, increasing TV hours and creating “other ways to engage with the experience from a fan perspective.” He also noted fans will begin to see an “increase in a number of categories” starting at the 2024 championship at Sahalee Country Club outside Seattle. Those categories are said to include broadcast production, coverage windows and a further elevated experience for players and fans.

The Broncos' day-to-day organizational structure will not change in making CEO Greg Penner controlling ownerGetty Images

The Broncos yesterday "finalized a change in their designated controlling owner" from Rob Walton to team CEO Greg Penner, the team confirmed. The move became official yesterday, when the NFL’s finance committee "reviewed the details of the change and gave it unanimous support," according to a league source. Nothing about the club’s "day-to-day organizational structure or duties changes" in making Penner the controlling owner. Penner and Carrie Walton Penner have had "daily operational control" of the Broncos since the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group purchased the franchise in August 2022. Though Walton is "transferring a stake of his ownership to the Penners’ four children," they are "not expected to have any formal role in running the organization now or in the foreseeable future" (DENVER POST, 10/11).

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has reassigned Chief Commercial Officer Jake Burns to a newly created role, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, where he will focus on “forward-looking, big-picture strategic initiatives, including commercial efforts like naming rights, legalized sports betting and other projects,” according to a Tepper S&E representative.

Burns’ old position will not be filled. Under the new structure, two of Burns’ prior direct reports -- VP/Corporate Partnerships Dan O’Neil and VP/Ticket Sales & Service Mike Brown -- will now both report to Panthers President Kristi Coleman and Charlotte FC President Joe LaBue.

The move comes one day after Tepper S&E opened Atrium Health Performance Park, Charlotte FC’s new team business headquarters and training facility. Insiders expect the organization to eventually plan a major redevelopment or replacement for aging Bank of America Stadium.

Burns’ new role is still primarily commercial. Caroline Wright remains in place as Chief Venues Officer. 

Nissan has held naming rights to the Titans' home stadium since 2015, and now, multiple industry sources have said that the automaker has committed to continuing that title sponsorship at the new 62,000-seat, $2.1B stadium slated to open in time for the 2027 NFL season. The 20-year deal originally signed by Nissan did not automatically transfer, sources said. Those same sources say the deal is not fully papered, but "the commitment has been made for at least a 15-year deal." Typically, naming-rights deals are a cornerstone of sorts, often allowing teams additional loans or credit lines. “For any project, it just adds validity and makes any other partnership easier to complete," said one involved source. Elevate Sports Ventures is consulting with the Titans on partnership sales. An Elevate spokesperson, when asked about the development, told SBJ "no comment."

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, speaking at Bloomberg’s inaugural Screentime conference, confirmed that the company is "interested buying a stake in the PGA Tour." Emanuel: "We put in a bid. It’s one of the great sports. I love it. You know, I think we could add to it what we’ve added to all of our sports." Emanuel also spoke about the current media landscape, saying he was "impressed by the turnaround" being led by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and that Disney CEO Bob Iger "would also be successful." He was also "critical of Paramount Global" and "questioned the outlook for Fox Corp.," controlled by the Murdochs (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/12).

At the same conference, Emanuel also "castigated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," citing a "massive failure of Israeli intelligence agencies to anticipate" Saturday's cross-border attack by Hamas militants. Emanuel, who has spoken out about antisemitism, "blamed Netanyahu for making Israel vulnerable to 'heinous' attacks by Hamas 'terrorists'" (L.A. TIMES, 10/12).

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said he "certainly" has "room to grow"Getty Images

The Cardinals' culture is the subject of a deep dive by THE ATHLETIC, which writes team owner Michael Bidwill has been "contributing to a culture where many employees felt constantly on edge." More than a dozen current and former employees "with 100-plus combined years of experience with the team," most on the non-football side of the organization, described "unwritten policies about how women were to dress, interact with male football staffers and players, and where they could and couldn’t go in the building." They also described how the "lack of a robust human resources department" made it "difficult to know where to take complaints, such as nursing mothers having to pump near a shower area or in a conference room."

Bidwill issued a statement in response that read in part, "I certainly have room to grow and with the benefit of hindsight, would have done some things differently over the years. I also know that my direct approach doesn’t always land well, and I’m working on that. Over the last several years, we have taken significant steps to improve our culture and build a stronger community. We are a better and more inclusive organization today than we were yesterday" (THE ATHLETIC, 10/12).

Oral arguments began in a Pennsylvania court yesterday in a "long-fought case over a tax levied against out-of-town athletes and artists performing at publicly funded venues." The fee, sometimes referred to as a "jock tax," takes "3% of income earned in Pittsburgh’s professional sports facilities," including PNC Park, PPG Paints Arena and Acrisure Stadium. The case began in 2019, when three professional athletes -- Scott Wilson, Kyle Palmieri and Jeff Francoeur -- sued the city. The NFL, NHL and MLB players' associations also joined in the suit. In September 2022, Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Ward "ruled in favor of the athletes," arguing that the tax placed a "discriminatory burden on out-of-state residents" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/11).

California-based Takitka Padel, which installs and manages padel facilities, has partnered with S.F. Bay Area community sports venue operator Lifetime Activities to construct pickleball and padel courts across Lifetime’s six locations. As many as 17 padel courts and 24 pickleball courts will be installed within the next two years. The initiative represents the latest stateside push for padel, the paddle sport that’s mirrored pickleball’s stateside popularity overseas and is now beginning to make inroads in the U.S.

The newly launched Pro Padel League, whose team owners include Golden Knights minority owner Gavin Maloof, rapper Daddy Yankee and former tennis pro Tommy Haas, just completed its debut season in June. Takitka earlier this year opened a padel facility at the Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park and has plans to open the nation’s first collegiate pickleball and padel complex on Univ. of the Pacific’s Stockton campus later this year.

UNLV athletics yesterday announced its "first comprehensive capital campaign," with the goal of raising $150M for "new facilities, upgrades and enhancing student-athlete wellness." Funds raised will "go toward four new UNLV Athletics buildings," as well as to "help fund improvements" at current facilities. The money raised also will help "fund resources for student-athletes including academic and scholarship support, career development, mental wellness, sports nutrition and sports science studios and research" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/11).

Activities for the upcoming Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic will begin at Edmonton ICE District Fan Park with the WestJet NHL Fan Park, a free two-day, non-ticketed fan festival open to the public. On Oct. 27 and 28, more than a dozen official NHL partners will activate to engage fans ahead of the game on Oct. 29, with some new partners activating this year in Purex, Hyundai, Kal Tire, WestJet, CAT (Caterpillar), Truly Hard Seltzer and Play Alberta (Alberta Lottery and Gaming Commission). The Flames and Oilers face off at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Oct. 29 (NHL).

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance for the Canucks’ home opener against the Oilers last night at Rogers Arena, though he was "never introduced to the crowd" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 10/11).

The Florida Panthers and Publix signed a multiyear partnership naming the grocery chain the team's Official Supermarket. The partnership also includes the entitlement of "Publix Plaza," the front entryway and pregame activation location of Amerant Bank Arena (Panthers).

The family of late Flames Assistant GM Chris Snow -- Kelsie, Cohen and Willa -- dropped the ceremonial opening puck in yesterday's game against the Jets at the Scotiabank Saddledome. A memorial service is set for today at 2pm MT at St. Michael Catholic Community, with a "live stream available for those unable to attend" (CALGARY SUN, 10/12).

D-backs GM Mike Hazen’s four sons threw out the ceremonial first pitch yesterday at Chase Field before NLDS Game 3 against the Dodgers. Hazen and his family "tragically lost their wife and mother, Nicole, to glioblastoma, a malignant brain cancer, last August." The diagnosis "took a toll on the family as Mike took a leave of absence to spend time with his family during the 2021 season" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/11).

Saudi real estate developer Roshn is returning as presenting partner for LIV Golf’s regular season finale in Jeddah, taking place this weekend at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club (LIV Golf).

“(Jets QB) Aaron Rodgers is anti-vax and lately he’s taken issue with Chiefs TE Travis Kelce for appearing in a Pfizer ad, so last week Rodgers went on ESPN and derisively called Kelce ‘Mr. Pizer.’ Okay, that’s not nice. You know very well his name is Mr. Taylor Swift’s Maybe Boyfriend” -- CBS's Stephen Colbert (“The Late Show,” CBS, 10/11).

“These kids are way more prepared at 18 than we were at 18 when we came into the league. It’s all part of the game now and they understand that” -- TNT’s Wayne Gretzky, on Blackhawks C Connor Bedard being prepared to handle media crush (“NHL Post-Game on TNT,” TNT, 10/11).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS goes with the headline, "As Stars and Mavericks seasons begin, games will air on Bally Southwest, but for how long?" Though much about the Mavericks' and Stars' 2023-24 seasons "appear to be set," one "significant loose end remains" for many Stars and Mavericks fans: How will fans be able to watch Bally Sports Southwest coverage? And is it a certainty that Bally Southwest broadcasts will continue through the season? Anyone who has followed turbulent events for regional sports networks in general and specifically Bally Southwest’s parent network, Diamond Sports, "understands there are no certainties in that industry." And that is a "major concern" for professional sports leagues, "whose lifeblood is national and regional broadcast contracts."

Also:

• Local fans sack 49ers broadcasts for featuring shots of San Francisco instead of Silicon Valley.
• Why sports are returning to free over-the-air TV.
• Nichols: Here's why I changed my mind about Lexi Thompson competing on the PGA Tour.

That’s fantastic. pic.twitter.com/f8cOZhsCzA

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 12, 2023

This October, by regular-season wins:

104: Atlanta, down 2-1 in NLDS
101: Baltimore, swept in ALDS
100: Los Angeles, swept in NLDS
99: Tampa Bay, swept in wild card
92: Milwaukee, swept in wild card
90: Houston, Texas in ALCS; Philadelphia one win from NLCS
84: Arizona in NLCS

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 12, 2023

“An early owner of this 1889 painting full of blue and green noted how well the artist ‘understood the exquisite nature of flowers!’”

We have a bonus “Final Jeopardy!” this morning from last night’s broadcast of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” which featured Apple TV+’s MLB broadcaster Kate Nolan as one of the contestants.

The “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Rallying Cries.”

“Don’t mess with Texas: Sam Houston’s troops shouted this three-word battle cry while attacking Santa Anna’s army at San Jacinto.”

But we aren’t finished yet as Nolan and actor Christopher Meloni were tied after “Final Jeopardy!” and were asked this tiebreaker question.

The category was “French History.”

“Drink up! A famous New Orleans street is named after this dynasty that ruled France for most of the 17th and 18th centuries.”

“What is ‘Irises’ by Vincent van Gogh?”

The correct responses to the bonus “Final Jeopardy!” questions were:

“What is ‘Remember the Alamo!’”

“What is Bourbon?”