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TCU, BYU in talks to play nonconference game at Cowboys Stadium

Winter X Games 15 drew 15,400 fans to Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain yesterday, the "largest Thursday attendance" in Winter X Games history ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/27).

TCU and BYU, which are both leaving the Mountain West Conference over the next two seasons, are "negotiating to play a nonconference football game at Cowboys Stadium, possibly during Thanksgiving weekend." TCU, which will remain in the MWC through next season, has two slots to fill on its '11 football schedule (ESPNDALLAS.com, 1/27).

The Scottish Premier League is "looking to create its own subscription television channel as early as next year." The league is "considering whether it can opt out" of a US$20.7M a season deal with Sky and ESPN in order to create its own network. IMG Media has been retained to "examine the possibilities over the next six months" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 1/28).

"You might as well go to a second grader and ask him how high can they count" – Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, on Forbes' evaluation of professional sports franchises (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/28).

"As ridiculous as it sounds, this is probably legitimate. I know there are some marked-up suites out on the secondary market, but this is one of the higher prices I've seen" – Cowboys sales consultant Mike Dammen, on a Cowboys Stadium suite for Super Bowl XLV being offered on eBay for $599,000 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/28).

"No doubt, some of it was negative. But we'd rather be relevant than ignored at the end of the day. That's the price you pay for being vocal and engaging your fan base" – Jets VP/Business Operations Matt Higgins, on the team earning more social media mentions than any NFL team this season (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/28).

"The focus is to observe, observe, observe. And take notes. We're not going there to party" – '12 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee spokesperson Dianna Boyce, on a delegation traveling to Dallas for this year's game (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/28).

"We are not on an austerity program" – Angels Owner Arte Moreno, on the recent deal for OF Vernon Wells not precluding the team from offering contract extensions to some of its young players (L.A. TIMES, 1/28).

NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir for External Affairs George Atallah: "I've always said this is a discussion about principles. I would apply the same values if only $1 is at stake."

ESPN's Ross Tucker: "Probably not a good sign for the NFL that I am way more interested in watching the Senior Bowl than the Pro Bowl. Or maybe it is?"

NBC's Luke Russert: "I send my congrats to Zenyatta and Bernardini: http://tinyurl.com/6k8sceo That's a power couple on the same level as Bill and Hillary."

ESPN's Michael Smith: "That we're negative by nature RT @CT_BallHawk: what do u think is the biggest misconspection(sp) about the biz./line of work that ur in...?!"

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

Former NFLer Drew Pearson is being credited with "saving the Vince Lombardi trophy from falling on the escalator at the Dallas Convention Center" last night during the opening ceremony of the NFL Experience. Pearson was holding the trophy when "the escalator he and members of the media were on stopped" suddenly. Pearson "lurched forward and braced himself with one hand on the escalator rail" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/28).

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post	N.Y. Daily News	Newsday

Philadelphia Daily News	Boston Herald

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Sports Awards."

"In the four major U.S. sports leagues, he's won more regular season MVP awards than any other player."

Fox Sports' Joe Buck appeared on TBS' "Conan" last night where host Conan O'Brien asked him about the Steelers and Packers playing in the Super Bowl. O'Brien: "I don't know how you feel about this: Much has been made about the fact that neither team has cheerleaders this year." Buck: "I feel bad about that if you're asking me about that." Co-host Andy Richter added, "Isn't it better to play football without a bunch of icky girls around?" O'Brien said the Steelers and Packers "have the worst mascots." O'Brien said the Packers "had a mascot that was so bad they discontinued their mascot in the '80s and now deny that he ever existed. Packy Pack Packer, which is a guy who looks like Lemmy from Motorhead carrying sausages." O'Brien asked Buck, "Are you excited about this game?" Buck: "What if I said, 'No.' How odd would that be?" Buck said of broadcasting the Super Bowl, "It's kind of intimidating to think that you're going to do a game and whatever pops into your mind and out of your mouth..." O'Brien: "80 million, 70 million, it's a lot of people watching." Buck: "Once you get over a 100 million it kind of gets weird so you don't think about it." O'Brien: "It's twice the number of people that are watching you right now." O'Brien: "The Pro Bowl is Sunday on Fox and I've got a bone to pick with you. It's that animated robot Cletus. ... I hate Cletus ... but because it's the Pro Bowl, they've updated Cletus and put him in a grass skirt. I don't know why that enrages me but he has no genitalia to cover. Can you talk to the people at Fox?" Buck: "Why am I responsible for that? No, you're right, I'm sorry. I want to apologize to America for what Fox has done with Cletus, putting a grass skirt on him to cover his non-genitalia" ("Conan," TBS, 1/27).

Wilson shows off his nautical side during last night's appearance on TBS' "Lopez Tonight"

Giants P Brian Wilson appeared on TBS' "Lopez Tonight" last night dressed as a sea captain with his trademark black beard dyed grey. Host George Lopez asked, "Alright captain, what's happening with the outfit?" Wilson: "When I meet folks for the first time, they say, 'Hey, you kind of look like a few characters,' Chuck Norris is one of them with a little edge." Lopez: "Are you Chuck Norris with a little edge?" Wilson: "A tiny bit." Lopez asked, "How would you relate your pitching to Chuck Norris?" Wilson: "Chuck Norris has been known to throw a 100 mile-an-hour fastball. I've been known to throw Chuck Norris 100 miles an hour." Lopez: "Are you a nautical man?" Wilson: "I do have a schooner. It's double-parked out front. I have 15 minutes until I get a ticket." Lopez: "To be a closer is like being a gunslinger in baseball, right? You have to not fear anything." Wilson: "You got to be a little bit crazy" ("Lopez Tonight," TBS, 1/27).

MONOLOGUES:

CBS is airing reruns of the "Late Show" all week.

NBC's Jay Leno: "Just another huge snowstorm back east, completely shut down Washington, D.C. ... It's like the Tea Party's dream come true, ladies and gentlemen. Mother Nature did what they couldn't. The storm helped to break New York's record for January snowfall. In fact, Mayor Bloomberg today told New Yorkers, 'Stay home, just stay home,' to which the New York Jets said, 'Yeah, no problem.' ... A little while ago, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Rahm Emanuel can run for mayor of Chicago. Well, the law in Chicago is clear. Dead people can vote. Live people can run. That's the way the law works, ladies and gentlemen. ... In an interview with Fox News, Sarah Palin – Sarah Palin on Fox News, what are the odds? – kept referring to President Obama's slogan 'Winning the future' as a WTF moment. That's what she kept saying, 'WTF.' Although to be fair, she also says that about math, reading, science. ... Actually a Boston Globe columnist is now proposing a Sarah Palin-free month. He wants a whole month of news coverage without any mention of Sarah Palin. You know what the perfect month would be: November 2012. ... Walmart is causing a controversy now after coming out with a line of makeup and anti-aging products for 8-12 year-old girls. What, is an eight-year-old using an anti-aging product? What is the hip look now, trying to pass as a fetus? ... Researchers at the University College of London report that indoor heating makes us fat. They say cold air helps us stay thin. Unless of course, the blast of cold air you're getting is from constantly opening the refrigerator door. ... Tony Romo's TV news reporter fiancée Candice Crawford has quit her broadcasting job in Dallas so she can focus on her wedding plans. In a related story, Hugh Hefner's Playboy playmate fiancée has quit chewing gum so she can focus on walking down the aisle" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 1/27).

"Who is Wayne Gretzky?" Gretzky won nine Hart trophies as MVP of the regular season.