A bomb was detonated on a trolley bus this morning in Volgograd, Russia, the second such attack in Russia in two days, raising fears about security for the '14 Sochi Games, which begin in 38 days. NBC’s Jim Maceda led the “Today” show with the report and noted Sochi is "some 400 miles from Volgograd." Maceda: "Olympic officials are confident those games will be safe but some Russian analysts are worried" (“Today,” NBC, 12/30).

ABC’s Brian Ross said the attacks "show just how difficult it will be to defend the Olympics against a determined and ruthless set of terrorists” (“GMA,” ABC, 12/30). CBS’ Elizabeth Palmer said the perpetrators "may not be able to actually stop the Games from going forward, but they can certainly drive up the cost to Russia primarily with massive security bills and, of course, drive ticket sales way down" (“CBS This Morning," 12/30). The N.Y. TIMES' Steven Lee Myers writes never before has "an Olympic host country experienced terrorist violence on this scale in the run-up to the Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/30).

The Browns last night fired coach Rob Chudzinski after one season, citing a "concerning step backward in the second half of the year." A source said that the firing came "after a lengthy meeting" among Chudzinski, Browns CEO Joe Banner and Owner Jimmy Haslam III "in which Chudzinski had an opportunity to plead his case" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/30). 

The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL's Nate Ulrich writes fans "should know to expect the unexpected with the Browns, especially" with Haslam and Banner in charge. NFL.com's Marc Sessler wrote the firing was "a move nobody saw coming as recently as a few days ago."

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Vikings are parting ways with coach Leslie Frazier (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 12/30).

See THE DAILY for more Black Monday news from across the NFL.

The Metrodome held its final game yesterday in the Vikings' win over the Lions, and the facility "appeared to only lose only a few small items" to memento-seekers. Team security and the Minneapolis police "doubled their presence in the 32-year-old building brimming with history" to prevent theft. Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson John Elder said that about 25 fans "were caught trying to steal seats and banners, but they were not arrested" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/30).

NHL officials said that "Mother Nature will likely not be an issue" for Wednesday's Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. Temperatures for the Maple Leafs-Red Wings game are expected to be around 12 degrees F at the 1:00pm ET start time, with winds up to 16 mph. Forecasts are calling for "overnight skies with a 30-40% chance of flurries." But that is "good news," because for outdoor hockey games, "clouds are good" (TORONTO SUN, 11/130). 

The Cavaliers "did not hand out" Fatheads in the image of recently suspended C Andrew Bynum during last night's home game against the Warriors, "as was previously scheduled." The team has lifted the suspension, but Bynum is "still excused from all team activities." They also "did not hand out game-day programs, called 'Tipoff Tonight,' because he was featured on the cover." To make up for the Fathead issue, "kids 14 and under received a certificate to redeem for future Fathead packs." Bynum was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/30).

A crowd of 15,650 attended Saturday's UFC 168 in Las Vegas, resulting in a live gate of $6.2M. The attendance "was a new UFC record at MGM Grand Garden Arena." The main event "ended in shocking fashion" when Anderson Silva broke his leg while fighting Chris Weidman (MMAJUNKIE.com, 11/29). UFC President Dana White said, "There's nothing worse than breaking your leg like that. Well, there are worse things but it's the worst thing that's ever happened here" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 11/29).

Meanwhile, Ronda Rousey was met with a "din of angry fans" when she refused to shake hands with Miesha Tate after besting Tate via submission. The "vocal reaction" suggests there are few fans who "don't at least feel something about her." Under the header, "Ronda Rousey Playing Villain Could Help Women's MMA," USA TODAY's Ben Fowlkes writes, "That might be the type of champion women's MMA needs" (USA TODAY, 12/30).

Kansas State defeated Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on Saturday “before 53,284 fans at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/29). That figure is up 19% from the Michigan State-TCU matchup last year (THE DAILY).

A crowd of 51,098 watched Louisville feat Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Saturday (MIAMI HERALD, 12/29). That figure is up 6% from the Virginia Tech-Rutgers matchup last season (THE DAILY).

A crowd of 47,122 watched the Notre Dame-Rutgers New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, marking “the largest crowd in the game’s history” (SI.com, 12/28). That figure is up from the previous record set last year for the Syracuse-West Virginia matchup (THE DAILY).

North Carolina defeated Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl on Saturday “before 45,211 fans” at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (CINCINNATI.com, 12/28). That figure is down 6% from the Cincinnati-Duke matchup last year (THE DAILY).

A crowd of 34,136 fans watched Washington-BYU in the Fight Hunger Bowl on Friday, “marking the final one in the Giants’ ballpark before the bowl is moved next season to the 49ers’ new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/28). That figure is flat compared to the Arizona State-Navy matchup last season (THE DAILY).

The Syracuse-Minnesota Texas Bowl drew 32,327 fans to Reliant Stadium in Houston. That figure is an all-time low for the event, which drew a previous-record-low of 50,386 for the Texas Tech-Minnesota matchup last year (THE DAILY).

Former F1 driver Michael Schumacher “remains in critical condition after suffering severe head trauma in a skiing accident in the French Alps, hospital officials said Monday” (CNN.com, 12/29).

ESPN “has bumped the Jan. 8 meeting between the Rockets and the Lakers from its lineup.” In its place, ESPN will air Suns-T’Wolves (CHRON.com, 12/27).

Today is radio host Taylor Zarzour's final day at Charlotte-based WFNZ-AM before he moves to SiriusXM Radio to host "Bleacher Report" starting Jan. 6. The new show will run from 11:00am-2:00pm ET (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/30).

The Wild last night celebrated their 10 millionth fan at Xcel Energy Center. The sellout crowd of 18,851 against the Islanders brought the all-time Wild attendance at the venue to 10,005,259 (Wild).

A crowd of 3,898 attended a Bentley-Holy Cross men's college hockey game at Fenway Park on Saturday (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/29).

USA Today' Ad Meter runs a full-page ad in today's issue of the newspaper, encouraging readers to register as an Ad Meter panelist ahead of the Super Bowl XLVIII telecast (THE DAILY).

Champagne brand Moet & Chandon runs a full page ad in the Dec. 20 issue of N.Y. Times Magazine featuring Roger Federer (THE DAILY).

"It's unbelievable, unthinkable really for me to be sitting here three years in a row and this game ended up putting us at .500 and this game eliminating us from going to the playoffs" – Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, after yesterday's 24-22 loss to the Eagles kept his team out of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row (ESPN.com, 12/30). 

"Actually I don't, and for the reasons everyone else wishes he wasn't. I like Jerry, but we've got great people (in the front office) so leave it to them" – MLB Rangers co-Chair Bob Simpson, when asked if he or anyone else in the club's ownership group had an interest in being a "Jerry Jones-type owner" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/30).

"I can address that after watching Oregon's video" – Outgoing Texas football coach Mack Brown, in a pre-Valero Alamo Bowl press conference, when asked about a report that he was fired by school President Bill Powers (STATESMAN.com, 12/29).

SI’s Don Banks: “Watching Berman-read NFL highlights. Hope to live long enough for him to run out of bad rock-song puns. Probably won't. Must accept that.”

CSN Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir: “Media (with exception of NFL Network) not allowed inside Redskins Park until later this morning. #RedskinsTalk.”

N.Y. Times’ Bill Carter: “Lots bad pub for NFL this season: bullying, head trauma horrors. Then last day of breathtaking action. Still powerhouse of TV entertainment.”

ESPN L.A.'s Arash Markazi: “Jerry Jones should throw everything at Jon Gruden. Most of his assistants (Kiffin, Marinelli, Callahan and Bisaccia) are already in Dallas.”

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

The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Suzanne Vranica surveys ad execs on the best and worst ads of the year. Among the worst: A Samsung Galaxy Note 3 spot that features soccer star Lionel Messi (WALL STREET JOURNAL).

Under the header, "The Concussion Doctor's Tangles Interests," the BOSTON GLOBE's Bob Hohler writes, "Dr. Robert C. Cantu is on call amid football’s concussion crisis: congressional hearings, courthouses, NFL meetings, helmet safety panels, operating rooms, research labs, television studios, film documentaries" (BOSTON GLOBE).

The DENVER POST's Benjamin Hochman and Patrick Saunders write, "New laws taking effect Wednesday in Colorado allow the retail sale of recreational marijuana. But as much as society often mirrors changes in sports culture, to most of the ruling bodies of sports, weed remains a four-letter word" (DENVER POST).

Also among today's must-reads:

• SI's Richard Deitsch asks pundits who the "most fascinating athlete of '14" will be.
• How the NBA Kings and sponsor Kaiser Permanente work together.
• A look at the feasibility of alternative sites for a new Warriors arena.

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “18th Century America.”

“There were just 13 of these, the title of an historic document; one offered admission to Canada.”

“What are the Articles of Confederation?”