In her new role, she will work closely with league staff and clubs on football-related matters, the source said. With the Dolphins, she had been the team’s chief contract negotiator and responsible for overseeing management of the football business and administration operations. The NFL declined to comment, and Aponte did not reply for comment.

Friday night's NBA Finals Game 4 on ABC averaged 19.01 million viewers, up 15% from a 16.57 million viewers for last year’s Game 4, which also aired on a Friday night. Friday's Warriors-Cavaliers matchup peaked with 22.45 million viewers from 11:00-11:30pm ET. The NBA Finals won the night across all nets for the 59th consecutive time. Through four games, the Finals are averaging 19.38 million viewers, which keeps the series on pace for the most-viewed NBA Finals since '98 (THE DAILY).

The Cavs with Friday's 137-116 series-extending win "gave us a glimpse of what this series could have been." LeBron James and his teammates "saved their season and the NBA's reputation." The series heads back to the Bay Area for Monday's Game 5 (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/10).

All-sources betting on yesterday's Belmont Stakes was down 9.2% compared to last year's event, as the handle "suffered from a lackluster field that did not include" Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, Preakness winner Cloud Computing, Belmont Stakes expected favorite Classic Empire "or any clear standout." Total handle on the race at Belmont Park was $47.5M, down from $52.2M last year, according to charts compiled by Equibase. The handle for the 13-race card was $93.6M, down 6.3% versus last year. Attendance "on a sunny day was 57,729," according to the NYRA. Last year, attendance was "reported as 60,114" (DRF.com, 6/10).

The Bucks yesterday announced that the team will play a '17-18 regular-season game at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, formerly known as the MECCA, in "honor of the team's 50th season." The announcement was "made at the team's annual block party" in downtown Milwaukee. The date and opponent for the "Return to the MECCA" will be "announced a later date." Meanwhile, the team announced the launch of the 50th Anniversary Superpass, a $500 "digital ticket pass guaranteeing access to all" '17-18 regular-season home games, including the MECCA contest (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/10). 10,000 people attended the block party outside of the Bucks offices (THE DAILY).

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the organization is "confident the diplomatic crisis sweeping Qatar will normalise and not threaten" the '22 World Cup. Infantino: "I'm confident the region will return to a normal situation." He added FIFA is “closely watching the evolving situation and we are in regular contact with the highest authorities in Qatar." However, he "stressed that Qatar's World Cup was five years away" (AFP, 6/11).

Meanwhile, FIFA announced that it "has reached a TV rights deal with Russian broadcasters for the Confederations Cup just six days before the tournament kicks off" (AP, 6/11).

UFC Fight Night 110: Derrick Lewis vs. Mark Hunt "drew an audience of 8,649 to Spark Arena" in New Zealand that accounted for gate receipts of US$829,644. Hunt put on a "stellar performance for his home country fans" (MMAWEEKLY.com, 6/11). Hunt's TKO win "capped a banner day for New Zealand MMA" as Kiwi fighters Dan Hooker and Luke Jumeau both "registered notable victories." Hunt and Lewis' bout was "awarded 'Fight of the Night' honors," which netted both men US$50,000, while Hooker "won a 'Performance of the Night' bonus for the same amount (NZHERALD.co.nz, 6/11).

Country music artist Luke Bryan will open the Penguins-Predators Stanley Cup Final Game 6 TV broadcast tonight at 8:00pm ET with a performance from the rooftop of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville. He will perform one song exclusively for the broadcast on NBC in the U.S. and Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada. Earlier in the evening, Bryan will perform four songs at 7:00pm ET streamed live on NHL.com (NHL). 

Meanwhile, the Penguins' indoor watch party at PPG Paints Arena for the game "has sold out." They will be "adding an outdoor big screen on Fullerton Street across Centre Ave." from the arena. There is "no charge for admittance to the big screen area" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 6/10).

NASCAR driver Danica Patrick had a "discussion with some fans at Pocono who booed her" as she was walking back from pit road on Friday. A man "appeared to walk into a pass-through" to get Patrick’s autograph, and she "acknowledged the man's presence and ... refused to sign." That "elicited boos from people on the other side of the walkway," so Patrick "went over to confront them about the booing." The incident was "captured in a fan’s Facebook live video." Patrick said, "I don’t appreciate the booing. It hurts my feelings. I’m a [expletive] person, you know what I mean?" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/10).

The Timbers Army supporters' group "unveiled a tifo in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month" ahead of yesterday's home game against FC Dallas. The tifo "featured a rainbow flag next to the words, 'Love, Unite, Support, Defend'" (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/10).

Former MLBer Lee Smith was "honored at the Gem Theater" last night along with Al Oliver, Tony Perez and Maury Wills as members of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's '17 "Hall of Game" class (KANSASCITY.com, 6/10).

The NLL Georgia Swarm recorded their first league championship with a 15-14 OT win yesterday against the Saskatchewan Rush at SaskTel Centre. The win stopped the Rush's "run at a three-peat" and gave the Swarm a "two-game sweep in their best-of-three NLL final" (THESTARPHOENIX.com, 6/10).

North Face runs a full-page ad in Sunday's N.Y. Times congratulating mountain climber Alex Honnold on becoming the first person to free solo Yosemite's El Capitan (THE DAILY).

"We haven't gotten the final pricing, but we know the NFL takes over the stadium, and takes over the pricing. It's going to be some sticker shock for sure for our market" – Vikings Exec VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley, on the potentially expensive prices for Super Bowl LII tickets at U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/11).

"The thing that worries me is that the Browns essentially tanked the season last year and no one – except a few of us – said anything about it. And it may well be that this is something that can spread around the league, and I don't think that's good for the sport in the long run" – ESPN's Bill Polian (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/11).

"The younger generation wants to look at the TV and try a sport out because they see somebody that they look like"– NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace, on the potential impact of his debut as an African-American driver in the Monster Energy Cup Series (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/11).

"If we were to start the stadium project in today's market, we would be lucky to get the same scope at a price less than $245 million – $25 million over what we are currently paying" – Colorado State VP/University Operations Lynn Johnson. CSU started its new on-campus stadium project two years ago (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 6/11).

“Once they see my truck, I want them to know it's going to be the biggest, baddest truck on this dirt. I want every fan to be standing up in the air, everyone going crazy” – Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, on his expectations for a Gronk-themed monster truck featured in Saturday night's Monster Jam at Gillette Stadium (“E:60,” ESPN, 6/11).

Pretty remarkable scene playing out at PK Subban's locker. Preds say he's not available for 3rd straight day. Media refusing to leave stall.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 11, 2017

A day that starts with Rafa winning a grand slam and ends with a world cup qualifier and a do-or-die Stanley Cup game is a nice day.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) June 11, 2017

Interesting to hear LeBron James talk about how upset he was over Cavs owner Dan Gilbert writing that comic sans letter. pic.twitter.com/zVa6O74Ew1

— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) June 9, 2017

Forget Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale, Arnett and Affleck, the real Batman for me was Adam West. RIP Caped Crusader. pic.twitter.com/OetD53KLID

— Mark Parkman (@markparkman) June 10, 2017

To honor Rafael Nadal's 10th win on Paris clay, Nike introduces the NikeCourt Tennis Classic El Decimo w/ suede upper, clay orange accents. pic.twitter.com/mKWFXoYflf

— Heidi Burgett (@heidiburgett) June 11, 2017

The GLOBE & MAIL writes the Vegas Golden Knights franchise "has been given much better terms than previous NHL expansion teams and, in an attempt to build a hockey following in the booming Nevada metropolis, GM George McPhee sounds determined to be competitive right from the opening faceoff."

The L.A. TIMES asks, "Could Lakers icon Jerry West really go work for the Clippers?" It is the "summer acquisition that could shake the Los Angeles basketball landscape down to its old-school roots. ... It could happen, and the fallout would be felt from El Segundo to Playa Vista to the depths of a Staples Center tunnel hallway."
 
Elsewhere:

• Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, WASHINGTON POST on Nashville as hockey market.
• Years after "Moneyball," MLB teams are still drafting players who look the part.
• Why media, fans can't jump to conclusions about Cubs SS Addison Russell.
• Pulse nightclub shooting made former Orlando Predators exec a humanitarian.
• Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins turns love of fashion into growing business.
• Hockey historian/archivist Paul Patskou an "unsung hero in the sport."

Boxing broadcasters Steve Farhood and Barry Tompkins are being inducted into the Int'l Boxing HOF in Canastota, N.Y., alongside boxers Evander Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Fox Sports' Erin Andrews will appear on the Season 2 premiere of ABC's "The $100,000 Pyramid" at 9:00pm ET. Andrews also will appear in a taped interview on NBC’s “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” at 7:00pm ET.