The partnership led by David Rubenstein "will own about 97% of the Orioles when it completes the sale’s second phase" in a transaction that "could occur as soon as the end of May." Rubenstein noted his group "originally structured the deal so that we would own about 40%," but the death of former owner Peter Angelos in March "accelerated when the partnership would obtain the balance" (Angelos owned roughly 70% of the team at the time of his death). The other 30% is "held by minority investors," including the estate of the late novelist Tom Clancy and retired tennis star Pam Shriver. The minority investors contractually had "tag-along rights," meaning they "could essentially join in the sale." While Rubenstein "declined to discuss those investors' individual decisions," it’s "clear that most sold all or most of their stakes because otherwise there wouldn’t be 97% available to Rubenstein’s group." Rubenstein also said he "will be hiring an executive to oversee the team’s business operations" (BALTIMORE SUN, 5/17).

PGA Tour player Scottie Scheffler is "set to be arraigned" at 9am ET Tuesday following his arrest prior to the second round of the PGA Championship this morning. Scheffler was booked at 7:28am on charges of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. Second-degree assault is a Class C felony in Kentucky, "punishable by between five and 10 years in prison." The incident stemmed from Scheffler trying to dive around traffic caused by a fatal accident involving a pedestrian early this morning. A man working the PGA Championship as a vendor was struck by a bus and pronounced dead at the scene (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/17).

The Women’s Sports Foundation on Wednesday night hosted a private event celebrating its 50th year of operations. The event featured a panel conversation, moderated by Cari Champion, with WSF President and Paralympian Scout Bassett and CEO Danette Leighton, formerly the Pac-12’s CMO. 

Bassett and Leighton shared their perspectives on the WSF’s work, which includes research efforts, government advocacy and program funding. But Leighton stressed how much more needs to be done. “There's a lot more research that we are really not able to do because we have to find funding for that,” Leighton said. “At the end of the day, we care about the entire women's sports ecosystem, from the elite side ... to the youth side. And we see this as a thriving business, as much as we see this as a necessity for women to thrive.” 

Others in attendance on Wednesday included Women’s Sports Network President Carol Stiff, Wasserman’s Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Just Women’s Sports founder & CEO Haley Rosen, Hextec CEO Heather Brooks Karatz, Bryant Stibel managing partner Peter Delgrosso, Angel City investor Tim Fong and elite athletes in Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, two-time Paralympic medalist Jaleen Roberts and decorated sailing skipper Jimmy Spithill.

The evening was hosted at the Pacific Palisades home of Muse Capital founding partner Assia Grazioli-Venier and her husband, MGMT. Entertainment CEO David Schiff. Billie Jean King founded the WSF in 1974 with $5,000, and it today has an annual operating budget of nearly $10M. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced today that the governing body "will hold an urgent meeting to decide if Israel should be thrown out of world football over its response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks." Infantino confirmed FIFA would "carry out a 'legal assessment' of the matter" following a proposal submitted by the Palestine Football Association for inclusion on the agenda for its annual congress in Bangkok this week. The proposal, which was backed by the FAs of Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Yemen, "was not put to a vote" of FIFA member associations today, with Infantino revealing it would be "decided upon at an emergency meeting" of the organization’s council in late July (London TELEGRAPH, 5/17).

Papua New Guinea is "set to clinch one of two" new franchises in Australia's National Rugby League after Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V'landys and Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy "eased" tensions in crisis talks today. Those talks were critical in "clearing the path for PNG to edge closer to becoming the code’s next expansion team." V'landys also "made the stunning revelation" that NRL expansion "could be fast-tracked for two franchises to be announced within a fortnight." The PNG team "and potentially the Perth Bears" could be added to a 19-team competition "in time for the code's next broadcast deal from 2028-32" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17). The league’s top stars "are set to be offered 'danger money'" to go to Papua New Guinea, with V'landys saying players "could be offered extra incentives to play for an 18th PNG franchise, including major tax breaks" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

The Lakers will host two preseason games at Acrisure Arena as part of the Desert Duel, presented by Spotlight 29 Casino, this October. The Lakers will kick off their preseason at Acrisure Arena with a matchup against the T'Wolves on Oct. 4 at 7:30pm PT, followed by a game against the Suns on Oct. 6 at 6:30pm (Acrisure Arena).

MLB Network's "Intentional Talk" with Ryan Dempster, Kevin Millar and Siera Santos will be live at TCU baseball’s Lupton Stadium today after the Cubs-Pirates game. Following a visit to the Univ. of Texas in 2022, this will mark the second time "Intentional Talk" has visited a college campus. TCU coach Kirk Saarloos and top MLB prospect JJ Wetherholt are scheduled to join the program (MLB Network).

FaZe Clan today announced it is hosting the upcoming Halo Championship Series (HCS) Major Atlanta 2024 in partnership with 343 Industries. HCS Major Atlanta will be held July 26-28 at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park in Atlanta (FaZe Clan).

Three players from Australian A-League club Macarthur FC, including captain Ulises Davila, were "arrested for alleged betting corruption" after an investigation in New South Wales. Davila and teammates Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus were arrested and charged with "taking instructions from a man -- believed to be offshore in South America -- to organise for yellow cards to occur during certain games in exchange for profit" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/17).

U.S.-based investment firm 777 Partners today "criticised the decision of a court in Brazil to take control of one of the clubs they own away from them." 777 lost control of Brazilian side Vasco da Gama on Wednesday after a judge "suspended the effects of the contract" that saw 777 take control in 2022, and "called for an independent examination of accounting operations of the firm at the club" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 5/17).

New statement from the PGA of America:

"Our primary concern today remains with the family of John Mills, who lost his life in a tragic accident early this morning while reporting to work. As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as…

— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) May 17, 2024

I remember 4 years ago when we were pitching Full Swing to Netflix and they asked me if there was ever any real drama in pro golf. I said sometimes guys play slow and it makes people mad.

— Chad Mumm (@chadmumm) May 17, 2024

The Mayor of Louisville and the Governor of Kentucky are currently on property at Valhalla for the @PGAChampionship.

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) May 17, 2024

My brain can't compute this pic. Just truly cannot believe they cuffed him and hauled him off and threw him in a jumpsuit and took a mugshot. Insane that not one person stepped in during the process and said maybe we don't need to do all of this https://t.co/ZkxN40JlXc

— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) May 17, 2024

“$80 pants damaged beyond repair” is now part of golf canon.

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) May 17, 2024

9:47 a.m. pic.twitter.com/Fa2zVaG5xc

— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) May 17, 2024

If Nike isn't currently, right this second, delivering orange polos to Louisville for the weekend they are lost as a company.

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) May 17, 2024

North Carolinians lost $105,251,672 in sports betting in the month of April. North Carolina will collect 18% of that from sportsbooks. March's losses (starting 3/11) were more than $66 million. Here is where the collected money will go: pic.twitter.com/PP9H3dj6n4

— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 17, 2024

EA Sports College Football 25 released its official reveal trailer today.

$965,000 -- The famous napkin on which a 13-year-old Lionel Messi agreed to a deal with Barcelona sold for $965,000 today, British auction house Bonhams said (AP, 5/17).