Sources said that Notre Dame will switch from adidas to Under Armour apparel "for all its team sports" when the "current deal expires at the end of the school year." UA Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank flew to South Bend, Ind., yesterday to meet with school officials, according to sources. Notre Dame's deal with adidas began in '97. In '05, the German shoe and apparel company "signed a 10-year deal that lasted through this school year" (ESPN.com, 1/9).

NBC Sports Group has pulled out of extension talks with MLS, ending a three-year relationship between the two. That leaves ESPN and Fox Sports as the remaining bidders for an MLS package that starts with the '15 season. Sources said ESPN and Fox are likely to share the package, which includes U.S. Men's National Team World Cup qualifying games, at a significant rights fee increase. NBC Sports begins its final MLS season March 8 and plans to produce 38 games for NBCSN, three for NBC and an undetermined number of playoff games. News of NBC's decision to pull out was first reported by Goal.com.

IMG execs George Pyne and Ben Sutton are leaning toward staying with the company in the aftermath of William Morris Endeavor's $2.4B acquisition, according to industry sources. Pyne, the President of IMG Sports & Entertainment, and Sutton, President of IMG College, stayed in L.A. after Monday night's BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl to negotiate their new roles with WME's co-CEOs, Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell. While the talks have progressed and it appears that Pyne and Sutton could lead the new WME sports division, sources say no contracts have yet been signed.

Tony La Russa reportedly is on the Mariners' "short list of candidates" to replace outgoing President & COO Chuck Armstrong, according to two baseball officials. Team Chair & CEO Howard Lincoln "would neither confirm nor deny La Russa's candidacy but divulged that the  interview process began this week with two candidates within the Mariners organization." With La Russa's resume and several prominent MLB officials "recommending La Russa to Lincoln, he could be the odds-on-favorite" to take the job, "providing they open the search to outside candidates" (USA TODAY, 1/10).

Washington State Municipalities has partnered with Seahawks sponsors Bud Light, Delta and Western Washington Toyota Dealers to ensure that only Seahawks-themed messages will appear on Clear Channel Outdoor billboards in downtown Seattle during the team's playoff run. Clear Channel has dedicated 20 billboards within a two-mile radius of CenturyLink Field as the "12Zone." Starting today and ending Jan. 26, those billboards will carry partner messages paying tribute to Seahawks fans. The campaign will extend to digital out-of-home media throughout the Seattle region (Clear Channel).

Meanwhile, T-Mobile will be the presenting sponsor of tomorrow's Saints-Seahawks Divisional Round NFL playoff game. The company "will be giving away 10,000 branded '12th man' capes to fans entering the stadium." It also will produce local radio and TV ads and social media efforts supporting the Seahawks. T-Mobile "doesn't disclose how much it is spending on the promotions" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/9).

The Pro Football HOF last night announced 15 modern-era finalists for induction, with former 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. among that list. DeBartolo, who owned the team from '77-'00, "set a standard in the modern era, not just in the NFL but in all of professional sports, in the spare-no-expenses way he ran his club." This is the "third year DeBartolo has been in the running" for the HOF (SACBEE.com, 1/9).

Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "didn't make the cut." He is "getting further away from enshrinement as the years go on, rather than closer." His candidacy "was once a hotly debated topic, but now he's not getting a lot of support." Former Giants GM George Young also did not make the list (NFL.com, 1/9).

Country music star Jason Aldean announced that "at least four MLB stadiums will be included in his 2014 Burn It Down Tour that starts May 1 and hits roughly 50 cities." Stops will include Great American Ball Park, Nationals Park, PNC Park and Citizens Bank Park. Aldean said that "more ballparks may be coming." Aldean during his tour last July played to sellout crowds for two shows at Fenway Park and one show at Wrigley Field (MLB.com, 1/9).

Omaha’s CenturyLink Center has been selected to host the FIVB World Grand Prix final round in ’15. Outside of previous Olympics, the World Grand Prix will “mark the first major FIVB event hosted on U.S. soil” (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 1/10).

Mercedes-Benz today announced an endorsement deal with German golfer Martin Kaymer, who will begin sporting Mercedes-Benz marks on his shirt at next week’s European PGA Tour Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Kaymer joins fellow golfers Adam Scott, Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem as brand ambassadors (Mercedes-Benz).

MLB's new style guide now "requires that the block 'C' be used during broadcasts to represent" the Indians instead of the Chief Wahoo logo. Indians Senior Dir of Communications Curtis Danburg said that the team "made this change last year" and that "no changes are being made to how Chief Wahoo is used on uniforms or merchandise" (CLEVELAND.com, 1/9).

EPL club Manchester United today announced a multiyear sponsorship to make Aperol the club’s official global spirits partner. The deal runs through the ’16-17 season (ManU).

A meeting to update nearby businesses and neighbors on construction of the Vikings’ proposed $1B stadium “drew perhaps 75 people Thursday night, but only a few voiced concerns regarding the massive project” (STARTRIBUNE.com, 1/10).

Roush Fenway Racing received multiple MarCom awards for it '13 marketing efforts. The team received a MarCom Platinum Award for its “Let Ricky Race” campaign that featured NASCAR Rookie of the Year Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Best Buy Racing (RFR).

“It’s our understanding that someone would have to eat the turf or be run over by a tire to be injured. … There’s no concern” – NFL VP/Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy, on possible health concerns with the crumb rubber (recycled tires) being used as infill on synthetic turf fields (USA TODAY, 1/10).

"Winning always helps. ... This is a different era; we're coming off a great recession. The city has myriad problems. We're still optimistic we can get something done" – Chargers Chair & President Dean Spanos, on the team's playoff run helping with its efforts to build a new stadium (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/10).

"Everyone was coming after me, and there was so much criticism. I feel like LeBron deals with that every single day of his life" – Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, who recently declared for the NFL Draft, on one of the reasons he decided to sign with LeBron James' marketing firm (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/9).

"It's the X Games. It's still $25,000 on the line. It's the best training for the Olympics. If you can throw your best run at the X Games, you are ready for the Olympics" – U.S. freeskier Devin Logan, on whether Olympic athletes will compete in this year's action sports competition that starts two weeks before the Sochi Games (DENVER POST, 1/10).

West coast men's college basketball led the 1:00am ET editions of "SportsCenter" and "Fox Sports Live," as both began their broadcasts with Arizona-UCLA highlights. The game aired previously on ESPN. FS1 followed with California-Oregon, which led into the 1:00am edition. Heat-Knicks and the Redskins hiring coach Jay Gruden were the other dominant reports of the night.

ESPN2's Keith Olbermann documented his "worst persons" in the world of sports, blasting the BBWAA for needing to "triage the Hall of Fame election process." Honorable mentions went to the Rockets mascot "Clutch the Bear" for scaring players. There "was nothing wrong with what he did, I just thought this was the best place for it in the show." TSN's Ray Ferraro, who was reporting from between the benches, "forgot rule No. 1 of being a civilian next to the ice" when his coffee spilled as players fought for the puck in front of him.

Washington Post Capitals beat writer Katie Carrera: "Because of poor ice conditions in the #Caps crease, the teams will switch sides half way through the first period. … Never seen it happen before (aside from the Winter Classic when teams switch in the third)."

Miami Herald's George Richards: "re: story on #FlaPanthers losing money. That's never been in doubt. How much money they make from everything else is."

MRN's Dustin Long: "Good morning from @DISupdates where clouds are heavy but spirits high about seeing plenty of track activity."

Dynamo President Chris Canetti: "Great off-site day w/ staff yesterday going thru 2014 strategy & plans. Exciting year ahead. Dynamo opener in 8 weeks. So much to get done."

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

The U.S. Supreme Court as soon as today will say “whether it will consider the claim by companies” including Disney “that Aereo Inc.’s business is built on copyright violations, obtaining broadcast signals for free and distributing them for a profit.” RBC Capital Markets media analyst David Bank said, “It’s nothing short of a watershed moment. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear it, we’re going to finally resolve the issue” (BLOOMBERG.com, 1/9).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Magazines.”

“This title, launched in early 1930, seemed at odds with the Great Depression in subject and its $1 cover price.”

NBC’s Jay Leno: “What is going on with the Lakers? They lost again last night. They lost nine of their last ten games! Oh, they're playing bad. The Lakers are playing so bad, the Kardashians said they won't even date them anymore. That's how bad they're playing. In fact, instead of chanting ‘MVP,’ the fans are yelling ‘WTF.’ That's how bad it is! Their shooting is so bad, when they take their drug tests, they can only get it in the cup on a bank shot. … Dennis Rodman apologized for yesterday's outburst on CNN. Did you see that? He said he was under a lot of stress. He had been drinking heavily, and he promised to be completely sober next month at Fidel Castro's Super Bowl party. … Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has declared himself eligible for this year's NFL Draft, which is a difficult decision. Depending on what round he's drafted in, he could actually take a huge pay cut” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/9).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “After two decades of trying to lower the birthrate, Iran is now actively encouraging families to have more children to try to boost its population. They have a plan to give a gold coin to any family that has a baby. Maybe we should send Dennis Rodman and his squad of former NBA players straight from North Korea over there. They'll get that birthrate up in no time, I guarantee you that” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/9).

CBS’ David Letterman: “You've heard of the New York Knicks, the kids that play basketball down at the Garden? They’ve got a player who is a guard, J.R. Smith, and what he does now at the foul line when he’s lining up with the guys, he will bend over and untie an opponent’s shoes. I think this is hilarious. … On the other hand, the bad news is, this is the kind of thing, if you think about it, that could really tarnish the Knicks' 12-22 season” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/9).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Highlights Of The Chris Christie Press Conference.” Letterman said, “This guy is a throwback to the old, old days of politics. He’s a big guy, he’s bombastic, everything he does is big and bombastic, and his press conference, two hours" (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/9).

10) “Shocking revelation of corruption in New Jersey?”
9) “Blamed the whole thing on getting drunk with Dennis Rodman.”
8) “More profanity than ‘The Wolf of Wall Street.’”
7) “Claimed his heart was broken, but acknowledged it might be obesity-related.”
6) “Said he wasn’t a bully, then he put Chris Matthews in a headlock.”
5) “Christie’s claim he had no idea a bridge connected New Jersey and New York.”
4) “An appearance by the fake sign language guy.”
3) “Boldly took responsibility by blaming everyone but himself.”
2) “Announced plans to execute his uncle.”
1) “Interrupted press conference to smoke crack.”

“What is Fortune magazine?”