National Football League

BC-Sports Weekend Preview,ADVISORY

Published Jun. 5, 2014 12:15 p.m. ET

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Digest of sports enterprise stories for weekend use, moving for June 6-8. For questions, please call Noreen Gillespie at 212-621-1642. For repeats, call the service desk at (800) 838-4616.

WORLD CUP:

BC-SOC-WCUP-GETTING THERE

SANTIAGO, Chile - Planes, trains and automobiles? That's not all. With Latin American soccer fans eager to witness the sport's biggest event in their home hemisphere neighboring nation Brazil, travelers are taking to bikes, buses, boats and at least one homebuilt trailer. For many, this is a once in a lifetime chance to cheer their national teams in person. By Luis Henao and Eva Vergara. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos. Moving Saturday for Sunday use.

NCAA REFORM:

NCAA REFORM-O'BANNON TRIAL

Some believe it could upend the way college sports are operated. Others say it already has. Five years after former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon filed his antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, it goes to trial beginning Monday in a California courtroom. The stakes are high in the biggest challenge yet to the NCAA's authority to operate college sports at a time when big money is flowing into the games. By Tim Dahlberg. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Moving Sunday for Monday use.

NCAA REFORM-AUTONOMY

NEW YORK - The word is autonomy and its introduction into big-time college sports is a game-changer, even if it doesn't immediately change the games. The NCAA is in the midst of a radical restructuring that will likely result in the five wealthiest football conferences being allowed to make rules without the support of the other 286 schools that play Division I sports. It could widen an already large gap between the big conferences and the less powerful conferences when it comes to acquiring talent and revenue. But it may not immediately transform the competition. By College Football Writer Ralph Russo. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. Moving Friday for weekend use.

GOLF:

GLF--US OPEN

PINEHURST, N.C. - The return to Pinehurst No. 2 was always going to be different. For starters, it will be the first time the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open are held on the same course in consecutive weeks. It's the end of an era for NBC Sports and Johnny Miller, the voice of this championship for 20 years. The biggest surprise, however, involves golf's two biggest starts. Tiger Woods, who figured to have a great chance at Pinehurst to end his six-year drought in the majors, remains on the mend from back surgery and will miss his second straight major. As for Phil Mickelson, there is more chatter about Clorox and his link to an insider trading investigation than his bid for redemption at Pinehurst and his bid to end two decades of frustration at the U.S. Open and win the career Grand Slam. Upcoming: 850 words, photos. Moving Friday for weekend use.

GLF-US OPEN-LEFTY'S LAMENT

PINEHURST, N.C. - Fred Funk recalls walking up the 18th fairway at Shinnecock Hills and feeling ''like we were in a morgue'' after Phil Mickelson made double bogey to cost him a chance at winning the U.S. Open. The noise was so loud at Winged Foot that Kennie Ferrie said his ears were ringing, up until Mickelson made double bogey on the last hole to lose. They were among six players paired with Mickelson when the U.S. Open trophy was within reach. No one has ever had so many chance in one major without ever winning it. Somehow, he is as optimistic as ever. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Moving Friday for weekend use.

With:

- GLF--US Open-Mickelson Capsules.

- GLF--US Open-5 Things to Know

- GLF--US Open-Capsules. A look at 10 top contenders.

- GLF--US Open-Facts & Figures.

- GLF--US Open-Hole by Hole.

- GLF--US Open-Yardage-Par.

- GLF--US Open-Trivia Quiz. By Doug

NFL:

FBN-DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUE

NEW YORK - When Troy Vincent mentioned in April the NFL's interest in establishing a developmental league, he couldn't have imagined the response it would get. ''I got more than 100 proposals,'' he said with a laugh. ''I think that shows it is worth a look.'' That is what it will get, although the NFL has no timetable for establishing such a league. Before it can, there are dozens of questions to be answered, such as how many teams would compete, when they would play, and if television networks have interest. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Moving Friday for weekend use.

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