ESPN will carry Arena Football League games for the first time since '08, having signed a non-exclusive, multiyear rights deal with the league. The deal sets ESPN up as the league's third TV partner in the past three years. CBSSN carried 19 regular-season games last season, while NFL Network carried games in '11 and '10, having signed a series of one-year deals. CBSSN also will continue to air games in '14.

ESPN has committed to show more than 10 regular-season and postseason games on one of its TV networks annually, including a conference championship and the ArenaBowl. It will carry another 75 games per year for its ESPN3 broadband service. These games also will be available on the AFL's website via ESPN's video player. ESPN carried the first ArenaBowl live in '87. ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski owns the AFL Philadelphia Soul franchise.

Churchill Downs yesterday received approval for its LED video board from the Louisville Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment. That marks the "final approval needed for the project, which is on schedule to be completed for the April 26 opening night." CDI VP/Racing Communications John Asher said that "some preliminary work is underway, and work will begin in earnest next month." The $12M, 15,224-square-foot HD board features a 171-foot-by-90-foot screen  (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 12/17).

A study on the impact of a downtown Sacramento arena found that the proposed venue "would not cause substantial traffic jams on game nights, thanks to the strength of the city core's street and freeway system and the likelihood" that 10-15% of patrons "will walk or take transit to events." The report shows that the period of 6:00-7:00pm PT weeknights "would be crowded on streets as late-leaving downtown workers crossed paths with early-arriving arena-goers." City and NBA Kings officials "heralded the report, a required part of the development approval process, as a milestone moment" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/17).

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles P Masahiro Tanaka, the "man at the center" of the MLB posting system drama, stated his wishes to the Japanese Pacific League team to "try his hand at pitching in the majors." The "ball is now in Rakuten's court as far as whether or not to honor Tanaka's wishes and make him available to MLB clubs." The team "had been widely expected to post" Tanaka this offseason, but changes to the posting system, which now places a $20M cap on posting fees, have "caused Rakuten officials to reconsider their options" (JAPAN TIMES, 12/17).

The Dolphins and G Richie Incognito have "come to an agreement" that will keep the player "on the team's suspended list for the rest of the season." A source said that the team "will continue to pay Incognito." He "still awaits a grievance hearing that will determine whether he should be paid for the initial four games he was suspended." The NFL is "continuing the investigation" into bullying accusations against Incognito, but the "final report isn't expected until after the regular season has concluded" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/17).

A fan vote hosted by USA Today Sports Media Group found that a '99 spot featuring then-Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks is fans' favorite NFL-United Way PSA. The NFL and United Way partnered with USATSMG on the nationwide vote, which utilized USA Today's Ad Meter. In the spot, Brooks teaches a bus full of kids his favorite song, which describes his on-field accomplishments. The vote was part of a series of efforts to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the NFL-United Way partnership. View the top 10 ads via NFL.com/unitedway (NFL).

Time Warner Cable has launched a video titled "Catch In The Dark" encouraging fans of Giants WR Victor Cruz to help vote him into the NFL Pro Bowl. The video features Cruz, outlined in a glowing silhouette, catching illuminated footballs on an otherwise dark playing field (THE DAILY).

Former NFLer Joe Theismann appeared on CBS' "The Late Late Show" last night and while mentioning a game involving the Redskins, host Craig Ferguson asked, "Can we still say Redskins? I thought there was a thing going on about that?" Theismann: "There is, but I played for the Washington Redskins, so I take that liberty. I don't know what's going to happen with that. There might be some point where the pressures are going to come to bear and all of a sudden you're going to have to make a change." But then Ferguson interjected and said, "Anyway, let's trash Tony Romo a little bit" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 12/16).

Work on the Sabres' $172.2M HARBORCenter project is "on schedule and should pave the way for the opening of two ice rinks, a restaurant, retail space and a parking ramp by next autumn" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/17).

Last night's edition of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” aired the world premiere of Eminem’s new music video for the song “The Monster” featuring Rihanna. ESPN’s Chris Berman noted Lions WR Calvin Johnson “will do a photo shoot this week with Eminem for the January 24 music issue of ‘ESPN The Magazine’” (“Monday Night Countdown,” ESPN, 12/16).

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation today will launch the public portion of a $30M fundraising campaign to "help build youth sports parks in underserved communities around the country." The foundation has built 25 "Youth Development Parks," and officials "hope to bring that number to 50 within five years" (Baltimore SUN, 12/17).

The Double-A Eastern League Richmond Flying Squirrels today are "set to announce the name of a beer" created by area craft brewery Universe Brewing Co. specifically for the team (AP, 12/17).

"Everywhere I go, what people want to know is, 'Should my kid play football or hockey?' We need to know how common this is, how many injuries are too many, and prevent this from happening" – Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Deputy Dir of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Strokes, part of the National Institutes of Health (N.Y. TIMES, 12/17).

"No, I really don't. That's why I'm confused, lost, baffled at the opportunity. But maybe it's a blessing in disguise" – Nuggets F Kenneth Faried, when asked if he knows his exact duties yet as the team's NBPA player rep (DENVERPOST.com, 12/16).

"I hope it stays alive. The biggest thing is the medical field and profession, and the sports business. There’s got to be someone out there who can come up with something" – Norma Vargas, mother of late MLBer Ryan Freel, who was found to have been suffering from CTE when he committed suicide last month (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/17).

Goodwin Sports’ Nate Jones: “Think about if Tony Parker played in NY. He'd be one of the league's biggest names. Sure he prefers the Spurs stable organization though.”

Boston Globe’s Ben Volin: “Wonder if NBC regrets removing Pats-Ravens from SNF this coming week for Bears-Eagles.”

ESPN’s Michael Wilbon: “NBC brilliantly flexed into something huge: Bears @ Eagles, two biggest NFL markets w teams alive (no NYC, no LA of course, no Houston)!”

CBSSports.com’s Jerry Palm: “When did ESPNews stop doing news?”

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Danica Patrick posted this image of herself and NASCAR teammates dressed up as characters from "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." Patrick tweeted, "It's the #10 @GoDaddy team party & #Anchorman2 screening tonight!! Proud of my team for their hard work, all year long!"

Nets players will take 75 children from the Administration for Children's Services shopping at a Brooklyn department store, giving each of them a $150 American Express gift card.

Baseball-Reference.com Founder Sean Foley, Hartwell Studio Works Founder John Hartwell and Jayro Design Owner Jay Rodgers created a "potential solution" for MLB teams in need of a middle infielder with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Shortstop." They created a dedicated page on Baseball-Reference.com they "never imagined would be such a hit." Hartwell said that the page was "set up as a complement to a newsletter he sends out to clients." Hartwell designed the card and Rodgers illustrated it (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/17).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Countries For Short.”

“North Korea is the DPRK; this country is the LPDR.”

NBC’s Jay Leno: “The Mega Millions Jackpot now up to $586 million. The odds of winning are 1 in 259 million. Those are the same odds as Tony Romo throwing a pass to his own teammate in the fourth quarter. The Dallas Cowboys blew a 23-point lead and then their quarterback Tony Romo threw two late interceptions in their 37-36 loss to Green Bay, proving you can’t spell Tony Romo without ‘O’ and ‘No!’ Tony needs a tattoo that says, ‘WWTBD: What would Tom Brady do?’ In other sports news, a security guard with the Lakers has been charged with stealing two Championship rings. That’s when you know you're having a tough season, when the security guard leads the team in steals” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/16).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Unusual Things To Hear In A Huddle.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “A lot of schools run the no-huddle offense, you see that a lot in professional football but when there is a huddle there are some unusual things you hear in the huddle.” The Top Ten list was delivered live on stage by '13 Heisman Trophy winner FSU QB Jameis Winston (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/16).

10) "Is this about football?"
9) "One of their guys is shoving me."
8) "Who's wearing perfume?"
7) "Let's win this for Kim Jong-Un's uncle."
6) "Is anybody here a notary public?"
5) "Hey – we match!"
4) "Ugh – grass stains."
3) "Guys, I'd rather be alone right now."
2) "Crap, wrong team."
1) "How many of you guys won the Heisman?"

“What is Laos?”

LPDR stands for Lao People’s Democratic Republic.