Team owners approved placing 2.5” x 2.5” patches on jerseys.

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NBA jerseys will begin featuring advertisements during the 2017-2018 season.

Team owners approved the decision Friday in New York.

Ads will come in the form of a 2.5 inch x 2.5 inch patch placed on the left shoulder. The timing of the implementation of ads coincides with the league's scheduled apparel provider switch from Adidas to Nike.

The NBA called it a "three-year pilot program" in an announcement. The league also said: "The sponsor patch will not appear on the retail versions of the player jerseys but teams will have the option to sell the jerseys with sponsor patches in their own retail outlets."

The teams will choose their own advertising partners.

According to Bloomberg, revenues from the ads will be split between the team and a league revenue-sharing pool:

"The ads will generate about $150 million in total revenue. Teams will keep half of what the ads generate, and the other half will be put into a revenue-sharing pool, one of the people said. Successful teams that make more national TV appearances -- and teams with bigger international audiences -- can make more money from a company seeking to put its logo on a uniform."

The projected ads on NBA jerseys are still a far cry from the advertising used in the WNBA:

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In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: "We are always thinking about innovative ways the NBA can remain competitive in a global marketplace, and we are excited to see the results of this three-year trial."

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“I think the right way to work to the proper resolution here is for the league to remain engaged in the conversation rather than setting ultimatums,” Commissioner Adam Silver said Friday.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday called new anti-LGBT legislation in North Carolina "problematic," but said there are no plans to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte.

"I think that the best role for the league to play here is through constructive engagement toward change, not setting deadlines, not making ultimatums, but working with the private sector and the government to effect change in North Carolina," Silver said at a news conference.

Since the HB2 law, which among other things strips legal protections for transgender people using public bathrooms, was hastily implemented, corporations and entertainers have been canceling planned events in North Carolina in protest.

Despite news reports that claimed otherwise, the NBA has not joined the list.

And moving the All-Star Game, while still maintaining a team in North Carolina, would send a confusing message, Silver said.

"I mean, for example, we have a playoff game in Charlotte, North Carolina, in roughly a week from now, and I'm not sure what statement we would be saying...about our team in North Carolina if we now announced that the All-Star Game would not take place in North Carolina, but our team continued to operate there," he said.

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NBA officials have been working "closely" with the Charlotte Hornets, Silver said, adding that he had spoken with "many people in government" in North Carolina.
Hopefully, he added, the state legislature will modify HB2 to shed the anti-LGBT provisions when it meets later this month.

"I'm not sure what incentive would be left for the legislature in North Carolina to change the law if we announced that we were moving our game," Silver said.

Though the NBA is not pulling out of North Carolina, Silver made it clear that the message was "not that somehow the current state of affairs is OK for the league."

"Let me be clear: The current state of the law is problematic for the NBA in North Carolina," he said. "I think for the league office and our owners, I think the discussion was how can we be most constructive in being part of a process that results in the kind of change that we think is necessary. That's where we find ourselves."

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Get ink or get out.

Oh, and the Flyers lost.

Shocking shock: Fans of a Philadelphia sports team behaved badly.

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During Monday night's 6–1 loss to the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers fans threw promotional bracelets onto the ice, earning their team a delay of game penalty.

The bracelets started raining down in the third period after Flyers right winger Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was ejected for checking Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov — who was pelted with a few bracelets himself.

The Flyers are down 0-3 in the series and are one loss away from being swept by the Capitals in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Flyers right winger Wayne Simmonds tried to tell fans to cool it. He even stood with Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals on the ice, waving their hands in disbelief.

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The agent told a satellite radio show that “it’s imperative” for the former Browns quarterback to stop partying and get help.

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Former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been dropped by NFL super-agent Drew Rosenhaus, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.

Manziel was dropped by his first agent, Erik Burkhardt, in February before he was released by the Browns in March. Not long after, Rosenhaus was hired.

But last week, Rosenhaus told Schefter he had given Manziel an ultimatum: Either get treatment take "necessary steps to get his life back on track," or he'd be dropped permanently.

Manziel instead spent the weekend with friends at Coachella.

Appearing on a SiriusXM show Wednesday night, Rosenhaus called Manziel's situation "life-or-death."

"Right now, I believe for him to have a chance to have a successful life, forget football for a moment, I think it's imperative for him to get help," Rosenhaus said. "I'm taking a stand here purely to help this man. I got involved with the idea that I'd be able to make a difference, and l'm really grasping at straws. This is the last thing I can do."

Nike also confirmed to ESPN that the 23-year-old was no longer an endorser for the brand.

Manziel, meanwhile, is also awaiting the result of a grand jury hearing in Dallas regarding allegations by his ex-girlfriend that he assaulted her at a hotel and in her car in January.

Thanks for the cheese.

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor stunned the mixed martial arts world Tuesday, announcing on Twitter he had retired.

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In March, Nate Diaz handed McGregor his first-ever loss in UFC. The pair were scheduled to have a rematch in July.

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Estelle Balet, a 21-year-old, decorated Swiss snowboarder, died Tuesday after being overtaken by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.

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Balet, who won the Freeride World Tour this year, had been snowboarding in the Orsieres region of Valais, Switzerland, on April 19, when an avalanche hit, according to a statement by Valais police.

Swiss authorities received a call about the incident around 8 a.m. local time, and immediately airlifted a rescue team to the site.

They quickly recovered Balet's body, but declared her dead on the scene after multiple attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

Freeride World Tour, who sponsored Balet, said in a statement, “Estelle Balet was a naturally gifted shining star and demonstrated remarkable talent as she quickly became a household name on the Freeride World Tour, bringing home her second title as World Champion just a few weeks ago in Verbier.”

Here's Balet at the Swatch Freeride World Tour on January 24, 2016.

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In addition to her recent victory, Balet was also the Freeride World Tour champion in 2014 and 2015. She was a Freeride World Qualifying winner in 2013, and a Junior Freeride winner in 2012, according to her Facebook page. Her sponsors included companies like Swatch, North Face, and Audi.

She was recently featured in a short film called Paradigme, which documents the skills of nationally and internationally known snowboarders in Valais.

On April 17, two days before her death, Balet shared a photo to her Facebook page with the caption, "Pretty awesome to get to snowboard with such a view !! Can't wait for more filming next week. #ExploringTheKnown"

“ESPN is an inclusive company,” the company said in a statement.

Schilling shared the above Facebook post from another user, but later deleted it.

"A man is a man no matter what they call themselves," Schilling commented on the post, which he apparently said in response to a recent North Carolina law that restricts transgender people's access to bathrooms and locker rooms. "I don't care what they are, who they sleep with, men's room was designed for the penis, women's not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic."

In a statement released late Wednesday, ESPN said: "ESPN is an inclusive company. Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."

On his blog, Schilling said he did not post the photo: "This latest brew ha ha is beyond hilarious. I didn't post that ugly looking picture. I made a comment about the basic functionality of mens and womens restrooms, period."

Once the post was reported by Outsports Tuesday, people started to call into question whether or not Schilling should be allowed to keep his job at ESPN.

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Chyna, 45, whose real name was Joanie Laurer, was the first female wrestler to regularly step into the ring with men. She was found dead in her home Wednesday.

Former WWE Women's Champion Chyna, whose real name is Joanie Laurer, has been found dead in her Southern California home. She was 45.

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Redondo Beach Police records clerk Brian Maldonado confirmed to BuzzFeed News that officers found Chyna's body at her home Wednesday. He did not immediately have additional details.

Chyna's manager Anthony Anzaldo confirmed her death to NBC 4 and TMZ, saying she appeared to have died peacefully.

Anzaldo did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News requests for comment.

The Los Angeles Times reported that there were no signs of foul play. The cause of death remains under investigation.

Known for her muscular physique, Chyna was something of a trailblazer in women's wrestling. She was the first female performer to regularly step into the ring with men and is still the only woman to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

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As with most things, it’s about the money.

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UFC fighter Conor McGregor said Thursday that he is not retiring, despite tweeting Tuesday that he was retiring at age 27.

Following his tweet Tuesday, UFC announced that McGregor had been pulled from his upcoming rematch against Nate Diaz, who handed him his first-ever UFC loss in March.

"[UFC President Dana] White revealed that the decision was made by the promotion after McGregor informed UFC officials that he would not participate in any promotional activities, including a commercial shoot and press conferences," the statement said.

I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote. I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting.

There comes a time when you need to stop handing out flyers and get back to the damn shop. 50 world tours, 200 press conferences, 1 million interviews, 2 million photo shoots, and at the end of it all I'm left looking down the barrel of a lens, staring defeat in the face, thinking of nothing but my incorrect fight preparation. And the many distractions that led to this. Nothing else was going through my mind.

It is time to go back and live the life that got me this life.

McGregor said: "I'm doing what I need for me now. It is time to be selfish with my training again. It is the only way. I feel the $400 million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway.

I am still ready to go for UFC 200."

"For the record also," McGregor added, "For USADA and for the UFC and my contract stipulations - I AM NOT RETIRED."

A UFC response was not immediately available.

Read McGregor's full statement below:

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“Purple Rain” in the pouring rain.

In 2007, Prince gave us the best Super Bowl halftime performance of all time.

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The legendary musician died Thursday at his home in Minnesota. He was 57.

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BuzzFeed News

World tennis authorities say they received warnings about suspicious activity related to 48 matches in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of more than 50% over the number of warnings during the same period last year. The matches in question include one at a Grand Slam tournament and one on the Women’s Tennis Association Tour.

The information was revealed in a first-of-its-kind report from the Tennis Integrity Unit, the body charged with investigating corrupt betting. Following an investigation by BuzzFeed News and the BBC into match-fixing in January, the unit has faced criticism — and an inquiry by the British Parliament — over its lack of transparency.

In its report Friday, the TIU emphasized that the warnings are not necessarily evidence of match-fixing. “Every alert received by the TIU is assessed and followed up as an indicator that something inappropriate may have happened. It is important to appreciate that an alert on its own is not evidence of match-fixing.” The TIU did not specify what the suspicious activity was, and did not name the matches in question. (January’s Australian Open, however, was the only Grand Slam tournament held in the first three months of 2016.)

The integrity unit receives alerts through “Memorandums of Understanding” with members of the betting industry worldwide. The watchdog group ESSA, formerly the European Sports Security Agency, said in its latest quarterly report that it had issued nine suspicious alerts to the Tennis Integrity Unit during the first three months of 2016.

In total, the TIU says it received alerts on 246 matches last year, a fact it previously revealed during a special hearing in front of Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

In late January the tennis authorities also announced an independent review, which was to be led by Adam Lewis, an expert in sports law. In the new quarterly report the TIU said that Lewis will be aided by Beth Wilkinson, a former assistant U.S. attorney in New York, and Marc Henzelin, a partner at the Geneva-based law firm LALIVE.

Aside from the Grand Slam and WTA match, this year’s alerts also flagged suspicious activity related to 12 ATP Men’s Challenger matches, 24 ITF Men’s Futures matches, and 10 ITF Women’s matches.

There are only 6 teams across the NBA, NFL, and MLB that DO NOT end with the letter “S.” Can you name them all?

Just football, basketball, and baseball here – hockey and soccer would just muddle this. And no, "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" doesn't count. Can you do this in two minutes?

The indictment on a misdemeanor assault charge of the former Cleveland Browns quarterback was expected to be formally announced on Monday.

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Johnny Manziel has been indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on a charge of "misdemeanor assault with bodily injury charge," according to WFAA and CBS DFW.

There will be an official announcement Tuesday, according to the Dallas County District Attorney's office.

The reported indictment follows a January incident in which Manziel was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Dallas and Fort Worth. Manziel's ex-girlfriend currently has a restraining order against him.

The charge was expected to be formally announced on Monday. The Dallas County District Attorney did not immediately return a request for comment by BuzzFeed News on Sunday night.

Manziel played two seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns before he was cut from the team in March following repeated off-field incidents. Manziel entered rehab for alcohol abuse in early 2015. He was accused of hitting the same ex-girlfriend in October 2015.

Manziel has also been dropped by two agents during this offseason. Agent Drew Rosenhaus dropped Manziel last week after issuing a warning to Manziel to get treatment or lose his representation.

CBS DFW also reported an out-of-court settlement between Manziel and his ex-girlfriend.

The court found Commissioner Roger Goodell had the authority to suspend the quarterback.

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A U.S. Appeals Court has reinstated New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension related to Deflategate, reversing a decision made in a New York District Court.

In a ruling issued Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said:

"Our role is not to determine for ourselves whether Brady participated in a scheme to deflate footballs or whether the suspension imposed by the Commissioner should have been for three games or five games or none at all. Nor it is our role to second-guess the arbitrator's procedural rulings. Our obligation is limited to determining whether the arbitration proceedings and award met the minimum legal standards established by the Labor Management Relations Act."

The court said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "was authorized to impose discipline for, among other things, 'conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence, in the game of professional football.'"

The court ruled that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association "may appear somewhat unorthodox, it is the regime bargained for and agreed upon by the parties, which we can only presume they determined was mutually satisfactory."

"[E]ven if an arbitrator makes mistakes of fact or law, we may not disturb an award so long as he acted within the bounds of his bargained‐for authority. Here, that authority was especially broad."

Last year the NFLPA argued on behalf of Brady that the Commissioner had exceeded his authority in punishing Brady for being "generally aware" of an alleged scheme to deflate footballs to gain a perceived competitive advantage. Attorneys for the NFL argued to Judge Richard Berman that the court must take a deferential position and rule on the terms of labor rather than on whether or not the judge felt Brady had been sufficiently determined guilty by the NFL.

Still, Judge Berman vacated the four-game suspension of the quarterback.

The NFLPA on behalf of Brady can seek review of Monday's decision, either from the full court of appeals or from the Supreme Court. Both options, however, are discretionary appeals — meaning the court would have to agree to hear the appeal.

In a statement, the NFL said:

We are pleased the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled today that the Commissioner properly exercised his authority under the collective bargaining agreement to act in cases involving the integrity of the game. That authority has been recognized by many courts and has been expressly incorporated into every collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA for the past 40 years.

In a statement, the NFLPA said:

The NFLPA is disappointed in the decision by the Second Circuit. We fought Roger Goodell's suspension of Tom Brady because we know he did not serve as a fair arbitrator and that players' rights were violated under our collective bargaining agreement.

Our Union will carefully review the decision, consider all of our options and continue to fight for players' rights and for the integrity of the game.

Read the full decision below:

At night I think of youuuuu.

It’s a good day to be alive, ladies and gents. Maryland Terrapins players Jaylen Brantley and Jared Nickens came out with an Instagram video issuing a dance challenge for other athletes to Ghost Town’s “My Boo." Not only are these videos hilarious, but they're also very appealing to the eye. NOM, NOM, NOM.

Instagram: @jaybriddle_1

The video went viral and many teams like the Miami Hurricanes accepted the challenge, calling it the "#runningmanchallenge."

Instagram: @mikerobinson05

From Maryland to Miami and Villanova this is definitely a more modernized version of the running man, but it's totally OK...

Instagram: @bigsmoove2

...Because it is one of the most attractive things in the world to see a bunch of shirtless athletes dancing and having a good time in a locker room.

Instagram: @seth04

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Some of the men found the tweets to be so degrading, they found it difficult to hear them being said aloud. Warning: This story contains graphic material.

In a recent video, two female sportswriters, Julie DiCaro and Sarah Spain, sat and listened to men read appalling tweets that had been written about them.

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Head coach Geno Auriemma said, “A lot more than 12 players could easily have been named to that team.”

The U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team was announced Wednesday for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.

Elena Delle Donne

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The 12-woman roster will be coached by UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who was the assistant coach of the U.S. Women's Basketball Team in the 2000 and coach at the 2012 Olympics.

The 2016 team is as follows:

Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Angel McCoughtry, Tina Charles, Lindsay Whalen, Sylvia Fowles, and Seimone Augustus.

All members of the 2016 team play for the WNBA, though recent UConn-grad Breanna Stewart has yet to play a game for the Seattle Storm.

USA Basketball says team captains are Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Tamika Catchings, each of whom is a three-time Olympic gold medalist.

Tamika Catchings

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A notable exclusion from the roster is Los Angeles Sparks player Candace Parker, who played in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Parker told the AP she was "surprised and disappointed" by the exclusion.

In a statement head coach Auriemma said the selection process was especially difficult this year due to an abundance of talent:

"Obviously it's always incredibly difficult to try to identify 12 players from a group of so many great players. The committee had a really difficult job this year, because it's the first time in a long time that a lot more than 12 players could easily have been named to that team. But the 12 that were named are a great combination of Olympic gold-medal experience, multiple gold medal winners and great leaders."

The team appeared on the TODAY show Wednesday morning to announce the roster.

The 2016 Olympic Games begin August 5 in Rio.

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Cities bidding on the league’s events must have laws in place to protect participants from discrimination.

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The NCAA board of governors announced new measures to protect participants from discrimination, including requiring cities bidding to host an event to demonstrate how they will provide a safe environment for everyone involved.

At its quarterly meeting in Indianapolis Wednesday, the board decided to adopt the new requirements for sites hosting on NCAA events in all divisions including the Men's and Women's Final Fours and education events such as leadership conferences.

"The higher education community is a diverse mix of people from different racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual orientation backgrounds," Kirk Shulz, president of Kansas State University and chair of the board of governors said in a statement. "So it is important that we assure that the community — including student athletes and fans — will always enjoy the experience of competing and watching at NCAA championships without concerns of discrimination."

The decision comes after laws were passed in several states allowing residents to refuse services to someone based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

"We need to make sure our student athletes are competing in venues and competing in states that have an inclusive environment for all of our student athletes, our fans, and our coaches," Shulz said.

Wednesday's announcement is another showcase of the association's values, according to the statement, like the 2001 ban on championship events from states where governments display the Confederate flag.

"Board members feel the measure will provide assurance that anyone associated with an NCAA championship event – whether they are working, playing or cheering – will be treated with fairness and respect," the statement reads.

The suspension was announced just after Wednesday night’s Marlins–Dodgers game.

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Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon has been suspended for 80 games by MLB after testing positive for two performance-enhancing drugs.

Gordon was the National League batting champion and led the league in stolen bases and hits in 2015.

The suspension was announced just after the Marlins beat the Los Angeles Dodgers late Wednesday in Los Angeles. Gordon formerly played four seasons for the Dodgers.

In a statement released by the MLB Players Association, Gordon denied taking the PEDs deliberately:

Though I did not do so knowingly, I have been informed that test results showed I ingested something that contained prohibited substances. The hardest part about this is feeling that I have let down my teammates, the organization, and the fans. I have been careful to avoid products that could contain something banned by MLB and the 20-plus tests that I have taken and passed throughout my career prove this. I made a mistake and I accept the consequences.

Gordon will not appeal the suspension, and is eligible to return to the Marlins on June 29.