Business of Sports October 22, 2009, 11:49AM EST

Comcast + NBC = Sports Juggernaut

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" Limbaugh also said he told Checketts that he refused to withdraw, saying "you go public and you fire me." Apparently, he didn't have to tell Checketts twice.

NFL sources were also cited as saying that Limbaugh's role meant the bid had "zero chance" of being approved by a necessary three-quarter majority of the league's 32 owners. While most owners remained silent on the topic, Colts owner Jim Irsay said: "Sometimes privileges in life do get lost. …I've met Rush only once, and he seemed like a nice guy. But when you see the comments that are out there, I would not be comfortable." Miami Dolphins wide receiver Greg Camarillo summed it up well. "The NFL is obviously a diverse workplace," he said, "and you've got to be pretty sensitive to everybody's needs. You can't alienate any group."

Despite the uproar over Limbaugh, the Rams may not even be for sale. Rams President John Shaw said it was "premature" to discuss an ownership change, telling NFL owners meeting in Boston that Chip Rosenbloom and his sister, Lucia Rodriguez, who inherited the team from their mother, Georgia Frontiere, had not even committed to sell. Regardless, six parties have expressed interest, including Checketts' group.

3. LPGA: Trying to Keep Sponsors on Course

The swath of destruction to the LPGA Tour left by former Commissioner Carolyn Bivens is pretty wide. Under her watch, the number of official money events dropped from 34 in 2008 to 28 this year, and still more tournaments are struggling to replace key sponsors. The latest casualty is Samsung, the namesake of the LPGA Tour's Samsung World Championship since 1995, which pulled out as that tournament's title sponsor, despite "indications during tournament week to the contrary," according to a memo to players from LPGA Acting Commissioner Marty Evans immediately after the tournament was concluded on the South Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Luckily, the Samsung announcement came a day after State Farm renewed its contract for the LPGA State Farm Classic for two more years. That event will continue through 2011 and maintain its $1.7 million purse. State Farm Insurance has hosted the event since 1993; next year's tournament is scheduled for June 10-13 at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.

In its latest step to stem the tide of defecting sponsors, last Wednesday the LPGA hosted its 2009 New York Agency Summit at Chelsea Piers. Guests who attended the LPGA-themed evening included current corporate partners and a variety of media/marketing agency and corporate representatives. Evans was on hand, along with golfers Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome, who provided golf tips and mingled with guests. A sports property sponsorship panel discussion moderated by SportsBusiness Journal's Terry Lefton included Tony Ponturo (Ponturo Management Group), Tom McGovern (Optimum Sports), and Tony Pace (Subway).

Additionally, Thursday night's episode of YES Network's SportsMoney profiled golfer Anna Rawson as an example of a sports brand trying to diversify revenue streams. Rawson, who earns in the neighborhood of $3 million annually from endorsement and licensing deals, said that when other golfers ask her for advice, she tells them: "You've got to have a great story. That's the start of everything…and that's what you're selling."

Let's hope Evans and current LPGA leadership were watching.

4. Busted Nose, Muscular Legs, Sweaty Finish?

We've seen wine labels from the likes of Mike Ditka and race car drivers Mario Andretti and Richard Childress. Dick Vermeil and Ernie Els have their own private vintages, and Annika Sorenstam just added a release of her own.

Not World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) honcho Vince McMahon. In fact, his reaction to the vino is downright threatening. McMahon and WWE have informed the American Wine Foundation property, the Wine School of Philadelphia, that the organization is infringing on WWE's copyright by naming one of its wine classes "Sommelier Smackdown." In a letter to the school, the WWE called out the use of "smackdown" as "likely to create consumer confusion as to WWE's affiliation, sponsorship and/or approval of the class." The WWE claims it pursued the American Wine Foundation only after the foundation filed a trademark application for "Sommelier Smackdown," and insists its actions are legitimate attempts to protect a valuable trademark and not just sour grapes.

After all, the only place where it makes sense for wrestling fans and wine snobs to comingle is at a good old-fashioned grape stomping, a highlight of the Crush.

Rick Horrow is a leading expert in the business of sports. As CEO of Horrow Sports Ventures, he has been the architect of 103 deals worth more than $13 billion in sports and other urban infrastructure projects. He is also the sports business analyst for CNN, Fox Sports, and the Fox Business Channel.