Morning Buzz

BILL HANCOCK SAYS CURRENT BCS SYSTEM WORKS, HAS SUPPORT FROM ESPN

Before last night's title game, BCS Exec Dir Bill Hancock yesterday defended the current college football postseason system, saying, “I will stand here and tell you this system works.” The BCS also currently “appears to have the full support of ESPN, finishing up its first year of a four-year contract.” ESPN Senior VP/College Sports Programming Burke Magnus said that the net “will not push for any further expansion” of the BCS (LATIMES.com, 1/10). Hancock: “There is no groundswell among the presidents for any kind of ... seismic change.” He even noted that while a “return to the old postseason system … isn’t likely,” it remains an option (AP, 1/10).

Meanwhile, copies of “All in to Win,” a collection of articles from the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile Press-Register on Auburn’s championship season, will be available online beginning today. The 136-book “will include special chapters on coach Gene Chizik and quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton,” as well as “hundreds of photos from the preseason through the victory in Glendale” (AL.com, 1/11).

PHILLY UNION TO ANNOUNCE JERSEY SPONSORSHIP WITH NEW MLS SPONSOR BIMBO

The MLS Philadelphia Union today will announce a four-year, roughly $12M agreement with the U.S. arm of Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. to have its Bimbo bakery brand become the team’s jersey sponsor. The deal “represents a victory for the Union, which has labored to sign a shirt sponsor that is iconic, well-financed, and regionally based.” In the deal, Bimbo also becomes an official sponsor of MLS. The “courtship between the Union and Bimbo began when the team approached the firm about six months ago.”

Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz: "A good strategic fit for them, and a good strategic fit for us. … It's a cool name. It's a 'Wawa-like' name" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/11).

NHL TODAY TO UNVEIL '11 ALL-STAR JERSEY, PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN GAME

The NHL today will unveil jerseys for the '11 All-Star Game, which will be played Jan. 30 at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The jerseys are designed to reflect the new format of the game, which includes teams built through a “Fantasy Draft” rather than the traditional matchup between conference all-stars. The front of the jersey features an NHL crest, and stripes have been added to sleeves. The stripes are an “aggressive design” that reflect the “faster, speedier, more fluid” new NHL, said Keith Leach, Dir of Merchandising for Reebok, which designed the jerseys. The NHL’s All-Stars also will be named today (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 1/11).

INDYCAR EXECS MEETING TODAY IN INDY TO DISCUSS KEY POINTS OF THE SERIES

IndyCar officials are set to hold the leagu's “State of the Union” meeting today in Indianapolis in front of series sponsors, teams and media executives to discuss the key issues facing the series. The venue for the final race in '11 “is expected to be announced.” IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard “would not confirm the location of the season-ending race but speculation has focused on Las Vegas Motor Speedway the second weekend of October.” If IndyCar was unable to secure Las Vegas, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana “was also in the running” (SI.com, 1/10).

CARMAKER VAUXHALL INKS MULTIYEAR DEAL WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

England's Football Association today “unveiled a new three-and-a-half year sponsorship deal with carmaker Vauxhall.” The car firm “is also set to complete further deals with the national associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the next week.” The deal comes six months after Nationwide building society ended its 11-year FA deal (BBC.com, 1/11). The Vauxhall deal with the FA “is expected to be worth” in the region of US$31M (GUARDIAN, 1/10).

IOC MEETING TO DISCUSS '18 OLYMPICS BIDS, NEXT U.S. BROADCAST DEAL

The IOC’s executive board meets tomorrow to review plans for the '18 Winter Games and discuss the sale of U.S. TV rights. Officials representing the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang, considered the favorite for '18, and a group from Annecy, France, submitted their bid books on Monday, a day ahead of the deadline. Representatives from Munich will submit their book today at Olympics headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. IOC committees will visit the three cities in February and March, with the winner to be picked on July 6.

The next U.S. broadcasting rights deal “could now include a package of four Olympics instead of the usual two-Games deal,” after some TV networks expressed interest in bidding for the '18 and '20 Games, in addition to the '14 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and the '16 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Adding two more Olympics to the package “could bring the total rights fee to more" than $4B (AP, 1/11).

PLAYTEX SPORTS BRAND JOINS WPS AS NATIONAL SPONSOR FOR '11 SEASON

Energizer Personal Care today announced a national sponsorship for Women’s Professional Soccer’s 2011 season. The company will activate around its Playtex Sport brand of tampons, and will use its “Be Unstoppaple” tagline on stadium signs and in Web content, including player blogs. Playtex Sport will also have game-night title sponsorships throughout the 2011 season, as well as participation at youth soccer programs affiliated with WPS. WPS will hold its 2011 draft on Friday, with the season beginning April 9 (THE DAILY).

N.J. LEGISLATORS APPROVE HORSE-RACING SUBSIDY, INTERNET GAMBLING

The New Jersey state assembly last night passed a bill that could that could lead to the state’s horse-racing industry getting $30M to supplement racing purses for the next three years. The bill had stalled because of objections from Gov. Chris Christie regarding oversight of the money, but after revisions that would put the state Racing Commission in charge of dispersal, legislative leaders said they were “confident Christie would sign the bill.” Legislators also approved an Internet gambling bill. If Christie signs it, New Jersey will be the first state to allow residents to play poker and “other wagering games” on their computers (NORTHJERSEY.com, 1/10).

SPEED READS….

NESN has reached a multiyear contract extension with Tom Caron. The 15-year NESN veteran hosts the network’s Red Sox pre- and postgame coverage, as well as several offseason studio shows (NESN).

The Phillies are “installing a new HD scoreboard” at Citizens Bank Park as part of offseason improvements (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/11).

Last night’s Grizzlies-Bobcats game drew an announced crowd of 10,188 at Time Warner Cable Arena, but the “winter weather limited the crowd to what looked like 1,000” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/11).

QUICK HITS….

“This sounds crazy, but so far it looks like the Caps made a good deal” -- ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, on the 13-year, $124M contract the Capitals gave LW Alex Ovechkin three years ago (“PTI,” ESPN, 1/10).

“You might walk into McDonald’s one day and see a star running back that ain’t been paid yet, working behind the counter” -- Eagles DE Trent Cole (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/11).

“They have sided with my competitor to try and hurt me. I don’t think that’s going to make me feel very warm and fuzzy about them” -- WFAN’s Mike Francesca, on his perceived rivalry with Jets over their relationship with ESPN 1050 (NEWSDAY, 1/11).

“We are looking at all options to ensure the long term viability of this franchise. … We’ve been at this for 10 years without any (arena) success” --NBA Kings co-Owner Joe Maloof, responding to suggestions that the arena stalemate in Sacramento could cause the NBA team to leave town (SACBEE.com, 1/10).

TWITTER ME THIS….

SI's Richard Deitsch: "I just checked, and yes, Washington said, 'This is for all the Tostitos' right before he crossed the Delaware.

CNBC's Darren Rovell: "Estimating Musburger's 'All The Tostitos' line was worth $2.5 million in equivalent advertising (value of 3 30-second ads).

If you see a tweet we won’t want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

THE BACK PAGES....

The back page sports covers will not appear in today's Morning Buzz, but will appear in tomorrow's edition.

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Symbols."

"One tale of its origin is that the blind seer Tiresias separated two snakes with his staff."

LAUGH TRACK….

THE MONOLOGUES:

Watch NBC's Jay Leno's monologue from last night's "The Tonight Show."  

FINAL JEOPARDY….

"What is the caduceus?"

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

The Morning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.