The NBA’s free agency period "opened with a bang Monday," and it was an "eye-popping opening night for a league that has suffered billions in lost revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic." Within less than 90 minutes of the 6:00pm ET start to free agency, the NBA’s 30 teams agreed to deals worth more than $1.1B. Most of Monday’s "early action centered on teams retaining their own players, in part because only a handful of teams entered the summer with meaningful cap space" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/3). The NBA set the '21-22 salary cap at $112.4M with a luxury tax level of $136.6M. The team minimum salary is $101.2M. That is up from '20-21, when the salary cap was set at $109.1M and the tax threshold at $132.6M, static with the prior year (SBJ).

Point guards were the "immediate focus when the NBA’s free agency window opened," with Kyle Lowry headed to the Heat, Lonzo Ball on his way to the Bulls while Chris Paul (Suns) and Mike Conley (Jazz) "landed lucrative deals to remain with their current teams." Lowry is repped by Priority Sports. Deals cannot be formally announced until Friday (AP, 8/2).

Under Armour today reported Q2 profit and sales that "topped analysts’ estimates as its turnaround efforts took hold and shoppers bought more of its merchandise at full price." In the quarter ending June 30, UA swung to a profit of $59.2M, from a loss of $182.9M a year earlier. Excluding one-time charges, the company earned $0.24 per share, where analysts "had been looking" for $0.06. Revenue climbed 91% to $1.35B from $707.6M a year earlier, beating estimates for $1.21B. UA "hiked its outlook for the full year, anticipating that its momentum will build" (CNBC.com, 8/3). At presstime, shares of UA in pre-market trading were at $21.11, up 3.2% from the close of business yesterday.

Rich Eisen will be the radio host for the “Monday Night Football” pregame and halftime show on Westwood One this season. The move expands the broadcaster’s relationship with Westwood One owner Cumulus Media; Eisen is part of the Cumulus Podcast Network, hosting “The Rich Eisen Show” and “Just Getting Started.” Westwood One also helps distribute Eisen’s radio show. Eisen’s Monday night schedule starts Sept. 13 with Ravens-Raiders. He also will host Westwood One’s pre- and halftime coverage of the NFL’s Opening Night Cowboys-Buccaneers game on Sept. 9 and will contribute to Westwood One’s pre- and halftime coverage for Super Bowl LVI.

The Blackhawks are "pledging to release the findings of an independent investigation into allegations that a then-assistant coach sexually assaulted two players" in '10. Team President of Hockey Operations & GM Stan Bowman confirmed that CEO Danny Wirtz "informed Blackhawks employees in a memo that the team will share the results of former federal prosecutor Reid Schar's investigation and implement changes to address any shortcomings." Bowman said, "Danny was very clear on the direction the organization's taking" (AP, 8/2).

Simone Biles returned to the Tokyo Games on Tuesday night and departed with a Bronze Medal on balance beam. Her return to competition, "not surprisingly, brought her back to center stage on the final night of competition at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre." A phalanx of five TV cameras "were lined up to one side of the beam, and two robotic cameras kept track of the other side, with one trained the end of the beam where Biles was to perform her dismount." At least 30 still photographers were "lined up along the wall parallel to the beam" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/3).

Biles' return was teased in the opening of NBC's “Today” show with the “Breaking News” headline of “Biles Beaming!” NBC’s Hoda Kotb: “A dramatic return to the Olympics just moments ago. ... Will this be the last time she competes on the Olympic stage? What’s next for the star?” Kotb told co-host Savannah Guthrie Biles “delivered,” and it was “remarkable.” NBC’s Tom Llamas: “Amid mounting pressure and a lot of questions, Simone Biles marched into this gymnastics center and reminded us all why she's a champion.” Llamas: “She had to be medically cleared to compete tonight. She had to undergo medical evaluations and meetings with sports psychologists to get here. She said she wanted to show the world she's a fighter. ... The face of USA Gymnastics seizing her chance, adding yet another inspiring moment to her iconic career” ( “Today,” NBC, 8/3).

The opening of ABC’s “GMA” teased Biles coverage with the headline “Olympic Comeback,” then led the broadcast with Biles. ABC’s Amy Robach: “All eyes were on Simone Biles as she walked into that gymnastics arena this morning, the pressure was on. This was her final chance at medaling this Olympics and she did not disappoint” ( “GMA,” ABC, 8/3). “CBS This Morning” teased Biles coverage with the headline “Olympic Glory,” with CBS’ Jamie Yuccas reporting Biles “looked relaxed on the podium as she accepted that Bronze Medal." She "waved to the camera and to the crowd, and even though there no fans in that arena her fellow athletes and coaches were majorly cheering her on” ( “CBS This Morning,” 8/3).

SBJ Live From Tokyo

TOKYO -- IOC TOP sponsor Panasonic has extended its support of the IOC’s Young Leaders Program through '24. The four-year program, first launched in '16 and revamped last year, offers an annual class of 25 chosen applicants access to mentorship opportunities, educational modules and about $11,000 in seed funding to support planned sports business initiatives. According to the IOC, to date the Young Leaders Program has resulted in 116 sports projects benefitting over 30,000 people around the world, with a focus on education, social inclusion, sustainability and well-being. Currently, 18 program members also have been appointed to an IOC commission. Panasonic, a founding partner of the program, will provide access to its brand ambassadors and technological expertise.

Several ads involving Team Eli Lilly-sponsored USA athletes all rank among the most prevalent commercials during the Tokyo Games so far, according the SBJ Atlas’ Olympic Ad Tracker. Last year, the pharmaceutical giant signed multiple athletes to sponsorship deals connected to three of its high-profile brands on the heels of its short-term pact with the USOPC through these Olympics. Swimmer Ryan Murphy appears in two prominent ads for Emgality, a migraine medication, while an ad for Trulicity shows gymnast Laurie Hernandez and her father discussing type 2 diabetes. Volleyball star April Ross is featured in two commercials for Verzenio, a breast cancer treatment.

SBJ reporter Chris Smith is in Tokyo to cover the Olympics. He will be filing reports throughout his time there. Here is his latest dispatch.

SBJ Live From Tokyo

TOKYO -- My first time visiting Narita Int'l Airport, I was arriving in Japan and about to spend six hours jumping through hoops to ensure I met all of Tokyo 2020’s prerequisites for entering the country. On Monday, I returned to the airport for a far more enjoyable experience. In fact, the only requirement for departing the country, aside from the usual ticket and passport, was meeting my destination’s COVID restrictions. In my case, that meant a negative COVID test result from the prior three days.

And for once, Tokyo 2020’s over-complicated web of digital systems made my life easy. All Games stakeholders are regularly tested in Tokyo, and organizers recently added a new component to ICON, its infection control platform, to allow users to download a PDF of their most recent negative test result. The addition marks the first time users have been able to actually receive clear information on their test results; until now, everyone I’ve spoken with has simply been operating under the assumption that no news was good news. And I have to say that, while many of Tokyo 2020’s online systems have been shaky at best, downloading my COVID test results could not have been easier.

Read More >>>

Raiders GM Mike Mayock has tested positive for COVID-19 and “will begin working from home,” according to a source. Mayock, who is “fully vaccinated,” has been a “consistent observer at Raiders camp” so far this summer (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/3).

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly expects the league to conclude its investigation into claims Sharks LW Evander Kane bet on NHL games “by the start of training camp next month” (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 8/3).

The Vikings have “sent an expression of interest to the NFL to have the combine at U.S. Bank Stadium as soon as 2023 should it be available for another area.” The combine has been held in Indianapolis since ’87 (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/3).

Yesterday’s crowd at the Patriots’ training camp “was the smallest and quietest since camp opened and possibly in the last seven seasons” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/3).

With Paul Tagliabue to be inducted into the Pro Football HOF this Saturday as part of the '20 Centennial class, the CANTON REPOSITORY writes the former NFL Commissioner's "steady leadership brought tremendous growth" to the league. When Tagliabue was elected to succeed Pete Rozelle on Oct. 26, 1989, the seventh commissioner of the NFL "was taxed with growing the game as much as he could." Tagliabue soon "announced a four-year television deal worth a then-record $3.6 billion." Under his reign, "20 new stadiums were built" and the NFL "expanded from 28 to 32 teams." Tagliabue also was a "pioneer when it came to keeping the NFL at the forefront politically." More on HOF: "' Creative genius' Steve Sabol loved football, work at NFL Films is proof."

Also:

• Why are female Olympians "still dressed to thrill?"

• How "race-norming" was "built into the NFL concussion settlement."

• This is Philly sports' "era of missed opportunity." 

Tigers Chair Chris Ilitch and Exec VP & GM Al Avila will be in attendance at a 9:30am ET ceremonial groundbreaking event to begin the $2.6M renovation of Historic Hamtramck Stadium, the former home of the Negro National League’s Detroit Stars. The restoration project is in part being funded by the Detroit Tigers Foundation.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Historic Businessmen.”

“Born in the village of Waldorf, Germany in 1763, he arrived in the U.S. in 1784.”

“Who is John Jacob Astor?”