The NHLPA “has formed a search committee” to find the successor to Exec Dir Don Fehr. The committee “will begin the process of finding candidates” and “will give a progress report” to the NHLPA exec board at its meeting in Toronto on July 18-20. The initial members of the committee are Ian Cole, Justin Faulk, Sam Gagner, Zach Hyman, Kyle Okposo, Nate Schmidt and Kevin Shattenkirk, though other members “might be named” in the future. Fehr, who joined the NHLPA in December '10, will “continue to lead the NHLPA until his successor is found." Candidates "likely to be considered to succeed Fehr" include NHLPA Special Assistant to the Exec Dir Mathieu Schneider, NHL Alumni Association Exec Dir & President Glenn Healy, former Canucks GM Mike Gillis and player agents Ian Pulver and Allan Walsh (ESPN.com 4/29). Fehr had come “under attack for poorly handling” the sex assault allegations by former Blackhawks W Kyle Beach, as well as “player unrest regarding some of the finer points" of the CBA (TORONTO STAR 4/29).

Boxer Katie Taylor claimed a split decision over Amanda Serrano on Saturday in front of a "sold-out crowd" of 19,187 at MSG. Taylor-Serrano was "billed as the biggest fight in women's boxing history," and the fight "lived up to the massive hype." Taylor's promoter Eddie Hearn said, "What we witnessed was one of the greatest fights in the history of Madison Square Garden." The arena was "completely packed," with an "atmosphere rivaling a high-level European soccer match along with the party crowd of an American sporting event." Whenever Taylor or Serrano were shown on the big screen either during the co-main event or in the lead-up to the main fight, "the arena erupted." Hearn said that officials from MSG have "already inquired about having Taylor-Serrano II, if it happens, back at the Garden" (ESPN.com, 4/30). But there is a "good chance MSG won’t be the venue for the occasion" for the rematch. Instead, Hearn may bring Taylor, who is from Ireland, "home for the first time in her professional career" (NEWSDAY, 5/1).

A bid fronted by Dodgers co-Owner Todd Boehly is seen as the "preferred bidders" for EPL club Chelsea and will be "presented to the UK government and the Premier League for approval." Boehly's group has been "granted a five-day period of exclusivity” in which to “fulfill any outstanding contractual requirements.” Meanwhile, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe "has not given up trying to force his way into the sale,” and he is understood to be “lobbying the government on the grounds that his is the only solely British bid.” His efforts “have already been dismissed” by Chelsea and the Raine Group (LONDON TIMES, 5/1). Chelsea is “taking very seriously” the U.K. government’s renewed warning that May 31 is a "hard deadline for the sale of the club beyond which there is no guarantee they will be able to compete" in EPL or UEFA competitions next season (London TELEGRAPH, 5/1).

Angel City FC made its regular-season NWSL debut on Friday with a 2-1 win over the North Carolina Courage in front of a "crowd announced at 22,000" at Banc of California Stadium. The scene was "more red carpet than green grass," as there were "fireworks, singers and a marching band." A cast of "nearly 100 team owners and investors" took the field before the players for "cheers, hugs and a photo op" (L.A. TIMES, 4/30).

Nashville SC will host the grand opening of the 30,000-seat Geodis Park today for its game against the Philadelphia Union. Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre said, "It's going to be like a festival. There's a bunch of other things to enjoy and we hope everybody leaves with a great memory from that historic day.” Geodis Park's "stealth exterior" is a “shell for a radiant midnight blue and gold set of seats, three massive premium club spaces, with a walnut-colored finish at the press level.” Ayre: "Our stadium is quite authentic. It's not as shiny and glitzy of a design as some, but it was designed to fit into this neighborhood" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/30).

The Mets, including pitchers and some position players, had a "productive meeting" with MLB representatives on Friday at Citi Field about "all the hit by pitches." MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Morgan Sword, accompanied by former MLBers Dan Otero and Rajai Davis, who now work in the commissioner’s office, had a conversation with the Mets about "potential solutions to their major-league-leading beanings." Mets manager Buck Showalter said, "It went well. A lot of good give and take. I appreciate them coming out" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/30). What was accomplished from this meeting was "both uncertain and left unsaid." The Mets had been "hit an MLB-high 19 times in 20 games" entering play Friday (N.Y. POST, 4/30).

Meanwhile, heading into May, MLB is "having a problem" with offense. Scoring, entering Saturday, was "down almost a full run per game from last season -- from 9.06 to 8.16" -- and the average hitter’s on-base-plus-slugging percentage was "down 50 points, from .728 to .678." And, pitchers were "still hitting last year." The major-league batting average was .232, also lower than last year (TORONTO STAR, 4/30).

NWSL Washington Spirit President Ben Olsen is “stepping down” from the role, according to sources. Olsen was appointed to the role in September, with the club at the time “ensnarled in turmoil,” including a "coaching change, accusations of unprofessional behavior by team executives, a league investigation and an ownership feud." Olsen “helped steer” the club through those “turbulent times” and to a championship last season. He was also the Spirit’s "de facto general manager." Olsen had been hired by Steve Baldwin, who over the winter “lost his bid to retain control of the team” after a “long feud with partner Y. Michele Kang." Baldwin hired Olsen “without consulting” Kang (WASHINGTON POST 4/30).

Former Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and Fox Sports are “deep in negotiations for Meyer to return to the network.” Meyer "was fired" by the Jaguars just 13 games into his NFL coaching tenure. Prior to his Jaguars tenure, Meyer "worked for two years" as one of the studio analysts on Fox’s "Big Noon Kickoff.” He is “well-liked” by top Fox Sports execs and the show “found viewership success for the network” (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/30).

Following Steelers GM Kevin Colbert's final draft in the role, he "tried like heck to not reflect on 22 years of drafting players -- and failed." When asked how he thinks he is leaving the franchise since his arrival in '00, Colbert’s voice "started to crack." He said, "Better than ... It’s important that we added to that room." Colbert: "It was four trophies. ... There were four when we got here and you knew the task." In reference to late Steelers Chair Dan Rooney, Colbert said, "You think about DMR. And being able to add to that room means a lot. It doesn’t mean it’s over. The next step, I mean, we’ve got to get more. We’ll never lose that. But it means a lot." Colbert previously had "maintained a calm and steady demeanor every time he was asked about retirement" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/1).

Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer announced her retirement Saturday, “concluding a Hall of Fame career" that included 1,055 wins, four Final Four appearances and 28 NCAA tournament berths during stops at Cheyney State, Iowa and RU. Stringer’s retirement is effective Sept. 1. RU will “name its home court at Jersey Mike’s Arena after her.” Stringer saw “21 of her former players selected in the WNBA draft” (WASHINGTON POST, 5/1).

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A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant in his rookie season "will be sold at auction." The jersey "could fetch between" $3M and $5M in an "online auction that begins May 18" (AP, 4/30).

"I never thought the league would have an event here, period. I never thought we would see the NFL logo all over the Las Vegas Strip, or the the Green Bay Packers logo on a playing card. This is historic" -- NFL Network's Rich Eisen, on the NFL's embrace of Las Vegas during this weekend's draft held there (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/1).

"We’re testing people who don’t have symptoms; it’s almost like we’re trying to find something. We’re trying to seek it out. If we’re not showing symptoms at all, let’s just not test. The rest of the country is not" -- D-Backs P Ian Kennedy, on his view that MLB should update its COVID protocols (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/30).

Under the header "Analysis: Behind Bills stadium talks, threat to leave was real – and everyone knew it," the BUFFALO NEWS' Tim O'Shei writes team officials "didn’t have to hop a plane" to "anywhere else that’s bigger than Buffalo, has a richer corporate base and stands ready to invest in pro football." Everyone involved in the negotiations "knew that could happen -- and acknowledge openly it was always a possibility." Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “At no time did the Pegulas say directly to me, ‘We will move the team.' However, there were multiple times their representatives noted the other interests that existed ... and how they could make so much more money in those other markets."

Also:

• Calling play-by-play of Mets games has been "incredible" for radio broadcaster Jake Eisenberg.

• May is the month for the "familiar sights and sounds and storylines" of IMS to return.