Good morning. It’s Wednesday May 24, 2017 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

The NBA is once again setting its eyes on Charlotte, announcing that the city will host NBA All-Star 2019 on Feb. 17 that year, after previously moving away from the state over controversies surrounding HB2. “We have decided to award NBA All-Star 2019 to Charlotte based on this deep connection and the belief that we can honor our shared values of equality and inclusion, and we are excited to bring the All-Star Game back to Charlotte for the first time in 28 years,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

“While we understand the concerns of those who say the repeal of HB2 did not go far enough, we believe the recent legislation eliminates the most egregious aspects of the prior law. Additionally, it allows us to work with the leadership of the Hornets organization to apply a set of equality principles to ensure that every All-Star event will proceed with open access and anti-discrimination policies. All venues, hotels and businesses we work with during All-Star will adhere to these policies as well.”

Meanwhile, Equality NC and the Human Rights Campaign responded to the NBA’s decision. “We need to see concrete guidelines and policies put in place that will live up to the proposed principles put forward by the NBA designed to protect all of its players and fans," said Equality NC Interim Executive Director Matt Hirschy. "As we move forward with the NBA All-Star Game returning to Charlotte, LGBTQ people must be invited to the discussions between the NBA, the city of Charlotte and NCGA leadership to provide input and feedback on how to best protect LGBTQ people."

ON THE AIR

Meanwhile, the NFL announced that the Pro Bowl will return to Orlando in 2018, locking in Camping World Stadium for the second year in a row on Jan. 28 at 3p. For the first time, the game will be carried on ESPN and simulcast on ABC while ESPN Deportes will offer a Spanish-language production of the Pro Bowl. For the second consecutive year, the NFL will host Pro Bowl Week festivities in the area, with the city also playing host to events such as the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown and the NFL Pro Bowl Experience. ESPN’s Monday Night Football commentator team of Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden and reporter Lisa Salters will call the game.

FOX Sports has assembled its cast for the upcoming BIG3 basketball season. Gus Johnson will handle play-by-play, joining Jim Jackson as BIG3’s lead broadcast team for the Ice Cube-backed league. Michael Rapaport will join the duo as a sideline reporter, offering in-game updates and interviews. The 3-on-3, half-court basketball league tips off June 25 at Barclays and will air on June 26 at 8p on FOX. “I think the biggest takeaway talking to Ice Cube is that he just doesn’t want this to be a gimmick. I think that’s why it was huge that FOX Sports signed on and that they’re doing it in different locations,” said Jackson. “But the names in regards to some of the coaches – George Gervin, Julius Erving, Charles Oakley, Allen Iverson as a player/coach – these guys are really taking this serious.”

Speaking of basketball, ESPN and ABC announced that the total live audience (for the 2017 NBA Playoffs is up 5% on the channels compared to 2016, according to Nielsen, hitting 4,488,000 average viewers. The 2017 NBA Finals, on ABC, tips off June 1, with Game 1 at 9p.

Meanwhile, NBC Sports reports that Penguins/Senators Game 6 on NBCSN produced a 1.41 overnight rating, holding even with last year’s Lightning/Penguins Game 6. Locally, the game produced a 23.9 rating in Pittsburgh, up 13% vs. last year’s Game 6 rating. The Predators’ series-clinching Game 6 win against Anaheim on Monday night on NBCSN saw a Total Audience Delivery of 1.558 million average viewers, up 15% over the comparable series-clinching Game 5 last year. Across all 76 games on NBC/NBCSN/CNBC/USA to date, the 2017 NHL Playoffs have averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.085 million, up 6% from last year through the same point in the Playoffs.

HBO’s Saturday night boxing telecast, anchored by the Terence Crawford/Felix Diaz main event drew 961,000 viewers on average to the live airing. For Crawford, the viewership on Saturday night was a 19% increase from his last HBO appearance in December when his fight vs. Molina Jr. averaged 806,000 viewers.

NBC Sports Group takes on the 2017 French Open starting Sunday at noon on NBC with first round action from Paris. The company’s coverage will run through the women’s final on June 10 at 9a with the men’s final on June 11 at 9a, both on the broadcast network. Host Ted Robinson anchors NBC’s coverage, and will be joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo.

ESPN announced that - f or the first time ever - First Take will air live primetime specials from the NBA Finals in addition to the show’s usual 10a slot. The show will be on the road at the site of the Finals games – Golden State (Oakland, Calif.) or Cleveland/Boston – starting June 1, with the First Take Special shows beginning June 4.

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SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

Nike and Odell Beckham Jr. locked in the biggest shoe deal ever given to an NFL player, as the Giant is reportedly set to reel in $29 million over five years and potentially $48 million over eight years, per ESPN.

Bose Corporation and the NFL signed a multi-year extension to their sponsorship agreement which makes Bose the official headphone and headset of the league. Bose will continue to design, engineer and manufacture headsets for the coaching staffs of all 32 NFL clubs to use in-game, enhancing sideline and booth communications in a variety of areas, including play-calling and instant replay.

The Vault NYC announced it has been assigned to concept and produce a series of television and digital ads for FanDuel’s fantasy golf offering. The spots were shot on location in Orlando and will run in conjunction with the US Open Championship.

DIGITAL & STREAMING

Gunpowder & Sky is partnering with Mandalay Sports Media to produce a slate of sports-themed horror movies, with the first project set to be Lucky Number, which follows a pro basketball player who must pay up on a deal he made with the devil. Variety writes that the films will be known as “sporror” flicks, and will star celebs from the world of sports. “Digital audiences are devouring horror films and sports entertainment so it only seemed natural to create content that caters to both passions, at the same time,” said Van Toffler, CEO and co-founder of Gunpowder & Sky.

ESPORTS

In this week’s edition of Cynopsis Esports & Gaming…

Sportsnet snares ESL rights
Publishers turn up the heat
Pepper’s new pet
Halo’s Astro blast
Xbox makes a Pass
Activision Blizzard’s licensing debut
Catalyst Sports talks esports play

THE MAIN EVENT

Game 7 Senators/Penguins on NBCSN at 8p.

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ON THIS DAY in 1997: The Minnesota Twins retire Kirby Puckett’s number.

In The Know : What is number did the Twins retire to honor Kirby Puckett? ( Email Chris-Sports@Cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: In which James Bond movie does Roger Moore (RIP) fight off an attack by a group of hockey goons? Answers: For Your Eyes Only. Kudos: Christopher Long-DraftKings/NY; Carl W. Schellenberger-VCA/NY; Rob Casalaina-ITN/NY; Michael Ritz-BucStar Consulting/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Deerfield Beach; Jack Hodgson-Oklahoma State University/Stillwater; Michael Shames/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/Burbank

Later -- Chris

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