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Sunday, April 2, 2:30pm ET

Weekend Rap .... Latest News .... Final Four Ratings Up

Close Games, Return To Broadcast TV Boost Final Four Ratings

CBS averaged a 10.4 overnight rating Saturday night for the Final Four doubleheader, marking the second-best semifinal since '05. The rating also was up 37% over '16, when TBS had both games, and was helped by a pair of close games this year. North Carolina-Oregon and Gonzaga-South Carolina were decided by a combined five points, compared to 61 for last year's Villanova-Oklahoma and UNC-Syracuse semifinals. UNC-Oregon in the late window drew an 11.5 overnight, up 42% over UNC-Syracuse. Gonzaga-South Carolina drew a 9.3 in the early window, up 31% from Villanova-Oklahoma (Josh Carpenter, Assistant Editor).

Meanwhile, a crowd of 77,612 turned out for the Saturday's games at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, marking the "second-highest total ever behind the 79,444 at AT&T Stadium" in '14 (TWITTER.com, 4/1). The Final Four Fan Fest on Saturday played host to the official championship trophy, and lines were "constant in front of the trophy's glass case" (AZCENTRAL.com, 4/1). About 9,000 South Carolina fans "were expected for Saturday's game, and about 1,500 showed up up at the Gamecock Club tailgate at the NCAA Experience" (THESTATE.com, 4/2). Meanwhile, "more than 10,000 festival-goers crowded into Margaret T Hance Park" in Phoenix for the free March Madness Music Festival on Friday to see country musician Keith Urban (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/1). 

Yankees-Rays Starts MLB Season; Manfred Attending Cubs-Cards

The Yankees and Rays opened the MLB season Sunday afternoon with a 1:10pm ET game in St. Petersburg, and the contest "is a sellout." This is the 12th straight year the Rays "have sold out their home opener" (TAMPABAY.com, 3/30). This year also marks the Rays' 20th season, but what they "haven't yet done" is prove if MLB "can be successful" in the market (TAMPABAY.com, 4/1).

Meanwhile, the defending World Series-champion Cubs begin their title defense on "Sunday Night Baseball" against the Cardinals in front of "what should be one of the biggest crowds in Busch Stadium history" (AP, 4/1). MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will be in St. Louis, and ESPN's Buster Olney wrote under the header, "Rob Manfred Needs To Step Up, Foster Relationships With Players" (ESPN.com, 3/31). The Giants' game against the D-backs at 4:00pm ET also is "officially sold out" (FOXSPORTS.com, 3/30). 

Braves Say Issues At SunTrust Park Debut Are "Easy Fix"

The Braves’ first exhibition at SunTrust Park on Friday night against the Yankees "exposed a few stadium glitches that team officials vow to correct before the regular-season home opener April 14." Braves President of Business Derek Schiller said, “I’d say most everything was somewhat anticipated and can easily be fixed.” The main video board "malfunctioned in the sixth inning," and some fans in the first row of seats down the left-field line "had their view of the field blocked by the rolled-up tarp." Braves President of Development Mike Plant and Schiller also said that waits at many concession stands "were longer than desired" (AJC.com, 4/1).

YES Network's Ken Singleton noted some of the railing down the foul lines and near the dugouts "needed to have padding on them" ("Yankees-Braves," YES Network, 3/31). Meanwhile, widespread warnings about the effect of the collapse of a section of I-85 in Atlanta "convinced many fans to arrive early" for Friday's game. Many also "followed the advice to avoid congested interstates and take back roads" (AP, 3/31).

Blue Jays Draw Nearly 100,000 For Two Exhibition Games In Montreal

The Blue Jays drew 52,202 fans to Montreal's Olympic Stadium on Saturday, as they "ended their pre-season schedule with a 6-4 victory" over the Pirates. It is the "fourth year in a row" the Blue Jays have ended their preseason with a pair of games in Montreal, where fans hope to show MLB they "deserve to get a team back to replace the departed Expos." This year's total attendance of 95,382 was "the lowest yet, but only slightly from the first two years" (CP, 4/1). A crowd of 43,180 watched the Blue Jays "play to a nine-inning 1-1 draw" with the Pirates on Friday night (CP, 3/31).

Women's NCAA Championship Set, But Without Primetime TV Slot

Mississippi State and South Carolina square off Sunday night in Dallas for the NCAA Women's Tournament title, but the game will "not have its accustomed prime-time slot on ESPN." Instead, the game will start at 6:00pm ET, ahead of the 8:30pm coverage of Cubs-Cardinals. This year's women's Final Four is being played Friday-Sunday, but ESPN said that it would have "preferred to retain the Sunday-Tuesday format" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/1). Meanwhile, with Spurs-Thunder airing on ESPN on Friday night, the women's semifinals were on ESPN2. ESPN analyst Kara Lawson: "The semifinals were always on ESPN. That's a big deal in TV. ... I don't think it's a great move" (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/31).

Mississippi State on Friday ended UConn's 111-game winning streak "in front of a sellout crowd" in OT. Most fans were "on their feet," including Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, who attended MSU (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/1).

ACC Prepared To Bring Events Back To N.C. After Repeal Of HB2

The ACC is "ready to start holding events again in North Carolina after the state rolled back a law that limited protections for LGBT people." Now the ACC football title game will "return in December to Charlotte, where it was set to run" through '19. The women's basketball tournament, "previously announced to stay" in Greensboro through '22, will "return there after a one-year stop in South Carolina." In addition, the baseball tournament "will be held in Durham" in '18 (AP, 3/31).

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign on Friday "accelerated its effort to persuade the NCAA and corporations that the law that repealed HB2 continues to discriminate against the LGBT community." The NCAA is "expected to decide within days whether to locate dozens of championships" in N.C. through '22 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/1).

ll title game will return in December to Charlotte, where it was set to run through 2019. The women's basketball tournament, previously announced to stay in Greensboro through 2022, will return there after a one-year stop in South Carolina.

In addition, the baseball tournament will be held in Durham in 2018

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article141991879.html#storylink=cpyead more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article141991879.html#storylink=cpy

U.S. Women's Hockey Opens Worlds With Strong Performances

The U.S. women’s hockey team was "fueled and fired up by an opportunity to play" in the IIHF World Championships on Friday night, beating Canada 2-0 in the opener. The landmark labor deal signed last week "paved the way for a highly entertaining game" in front of a sellout crowd of 3,152 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. (AP, 3/31). The DETROIT FREE PRESS goes with the header, "USA Women's Hockey Greeted Like Heroes For Taking Principled Stand" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/1). The U.S. shut out Russia 7-0 on Saturday in front of a crowd of 1,919 (DETROIT NEWS, 4/2).

Late Bulls GM Jerry Krause To Be Enshrined In Basketball HOF In '17

Late Bulls GM Jerry Krause will "be enshrined" in the Basketball HOF as part of the '17 class. Krause, who died 11 days before the news became official, was the "architect of six Bulls championships." Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said, "It's sad that he won't be here to receive the honor, but it's very well deserved." Bulls Chair Jerry Reinsdorf in a statement said, "This would have meant the world to Jerry. It only further validates his legacy" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/2).

Former NCAA exec Tom Jernstedt on Saturday said he was "stunned and overwhelmed" to be one of 11 new members of the HOF. Jernstedt, part of SBJ/SBD's "Champions" class in '15, was elected from the HOF's "contributor committee." Joining Jernstedt in the '17 class is former WNBAer and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, as well as ESPN NBA analyst Tracy McGrady (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/2). 

Nike's Phil Knight Says Company Interested In Signing Lonzo Ball

Nike co-Founder & Chair Emeritus Phil Knight said the company "would be interested in signing" former UCLA G Lonzo Ball. Knight also said he has "no qualms about Lonzo's father, LaVar, seeking" $1B in "exchange for a shoe and apparel deal" for Lonzo and his two younger brothers. Knight said, "If he can get it, get it." But the Ball family "won't be getting" that $1B from Nike. Knight: "It's a little steep" (USATODAY.com, 4/2).

TaylorMade Golf, Adidas Officially Begin Process Of Splitting Off

The planned separation between TaylorMade Golf and Adidas "officially began" on Friday, and the two-step process "should take approximately three months, beginning with the formal separation and concluding with a divestiture phase." While Adidas has had "'concrete negotiations with interested parties,' it's not known if TaylorMade has a new buyer at this point" (FORBES.com, 4/2).

Pro Tennis To Introduce Transition Tour In '19 Following ITF Review

In a move that could see the number of tennis players competing professionally "decrease from 14,000 to 1,500," the ITF has approved the introduction in '19 of a Transition Tour that "features localized entry-level events to 'better aid the transition from junior to professional tennis.'" The ITF undertook a "three-year review of the professional and junior game," which established that there are "too many players trying to compete on the professional circuit." The ITF said it is recommending a professional player pool of "no more than 750 men and 750 women" (AP, 3/31).

Speed Reads....

The Red Sox and Nationals played an exhibition Saturday at the U.S. Naval Academy. Max Bishop Stadium was "jammed with 1,030 fans -- most of them Midshipmen in uniform" (AP, 4/2).

With black, red and gold German flags waving among the crowd of 15,103, Fire MF Bastian Schweinsteiger "unexpectedly played the entire game" in his MLS debut Saturday (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/2).

DirecTV "will have two NASCAR races from the Monster Energy Cup series in 4K" beginning with the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. The Fox Sports production "marks the first live NASCAR race in 4K." On May 13, DirecTV will "feature the Go Bowling 400" at Kansas Speedway in 4K (CABLEFAX DAILY, 4/3).

The Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox will have the "highest payroll in Triple-A history" thanks to the contracts of 1B Allen Craig ($11M) and RF Rusney Castillo ($10.5M) (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/2).

WrestleMania 33 takes place Sunday night at 7:00pm ET at Orlando's Citrus Bowl and will be streamed live on WWE Network. See a preview of the event here (WWE).

Quick Hits....

"I still haven't decided if I want to coach, if I want to go into the front office. I know I can be very, very helpful at both of those" – ESPN's Chauncey Billups, on his future job endeavors (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/2).

"Nobody makes a big deal that the Phoenix Suns are resting Tyson Chandler and Eric Bledsoe. Let's start with the tanking issue first. You've got fan bases who've had to witness four or five years in a row of teams intentionally trying to lose and collect assets" – Clippers G J.J. Redick, on NBA teams resting players (LATIMES.com, 4/1).

"It has to be the high-water mark in the history of the university as far as athletics are concerned" – South Carolina AD Ray Tanner, on becoming just the 10th school to have both its men and women's basketball teams make it to the Final Four in the same season (Columbia STATE, 4/2).

Sunday Comic....

A sneak preview of SportsBusiness Journal's weekly editorial cartoon:

Weekend Hot Reads....

The N.Y. TIMES goes with the header, "North Carolina's Dominance Fails To Cover Cheating's Stain." Amid the praise UNC gets for its basketball program, few are "so rude as to mention" the school, the "Microsoft of college basketball, remains enmeshed in a scandal of spectacular proportions." The ARIZONA REPUBLIC wonders, "Why is it so hard to hug this North Carolina program?" Because the "backdrop music for Saturday's victory over Oregon was the low murmur of Hank Williams' 'Your Cheatin' Heart.'"

The S.F. CHRONICLE asks, "When Did Stadiums Become Disposable?" The Raiders' move to Las Vegas was "based on a simple premise" that the team could not continue business in the "horrible, disgusting, dysfunctional facility known as the Oakland Coliseum." That was the baseline argument, and "the world bought it." The ORLANDO SENTINEL writes there is "no way the Raiders are going to stay in Oakland until the stadium is built in their new Las Vegas home." Orlando's movers and shakers should "pounce on this unique opportunity" to house the Raiders at Camping World Stadium. 

Elsewhere:

Twitter Me This....

Today's Events....

Actor Lenny Clarke, actor Sedale Threatt Jr.  and "Wally's Opening Day" Exec Producer Linda Henry will join Wally the Green Monster and other Boston-area mascots for a special "green carpet" premiere of the 30-minute animated show today at 3:00pm ET at the Regal 13 Fenway Theater in Boston. 

The Sabres will hold Family Appreciation Day on Sunday for their 3:00pm ET game against the Islanders.The Sabres will offer $15 tickets for children with the purchase of a regularly priced 300 Level ticket ($54). Sabres announcer Rick Jeanneret will call the game from the 300 Level. 

Channel Surf....

Univision Deportes is airing special coverage of the '17 Madden Challenge Finals at 9:00pm ET on Sunday. This is the first time the finals will feature live play-by-play and commentary in Spanish from Univision Deportes talent.

Today's Back Pages....

The Weekend Rap offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday   Boston HeraldChicago Sun-Times

Hit The Ground Running: The Week Ahead

THE DAILY’s Week Ahead April 3-9

MONDAY
  • MLB Opening Day
  • NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (Univ. of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, Ariz.)
  • WTA Abierto Monterrey begins (Monterrey, Mexico)
  • WTA Volvo Car Open begins (Charleston, S.C.)

THURSDAY

  • The Masters begins (Augusta National)
  • NCAA Men’s Frozen Four begins (United Center – Chicago)

FRIDAY

  • Nike Hoop Summit (Moda Center – Portland)
  • Davis Cup Quarterfinals begin (multiple locations)

SATURDAY

  • NASCAR Xfinity Series Cowboy 300 (Texas Motor Speedway)

SUNDAY

  • F1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai)
  • Verizon IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Streets of Long Beach – California)
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 (Texas Motor Speedway)

Note: Events are subject to change. Information about upcoming events can be sent via email to calendar@sportsbusinessjournal.com.