FIFA and Visa today announced an extension of their sponsorship deal through '22. As a top-level FIFA partner, Visa now secures its global marketing rights and product category exclusivity for the '18 World Cup in Russia and the '22 event in Qatar, as well as more than 40 FIFA events scheduled throughout the time period. Visa first signed with FIFA in '07 and activated at the '10 World Cup in South Africa (FIFA). The "value of the deal was not disclosed" (AP, 1/14).

News of the extension was first reported by SportsBusiness Journal in April.

Citi today will begin activating its USOC sponsorship with the premiere of a TV ad featuring Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier Billy Demong. Other athletes working with Citi include injured figure skater Evan Lysacek, skier Ted Ligety, hockey player Julie Chu, luger Erin Hamlin and former Olympians Picabo Street and Dan Jansen. Citi will run "four other TV ads in coming weeks, two with Ligety and one with Lysacek and Paralympian Rico Roman." The "last two will be centered" on the Every Step of the Way grassroots funding program, to which Citi is donating $500,000 (USA TODAY, 1/14).

CBS and longtime sportscaster Tim Brando have parted ways in a move both sides are calling a mutual decision. Brando's radio show, which had been simulcast on CBS Sports Network since the fall of '11, was taken off the air earlier this month and replaced with a simulcast of WFAN-AM's "Boomer and Carton," which runs at the same time. Brando yesterday told his radio listeners that the show would not be returning to CBSSN.

Later in the day, Brando told THE DAILY that he also was leaving CBS Sports. The departure ends an 18-year relationship that has seen him call college basketball, college football and NFL games, in addition to hosting studio shows for the network.

A court hearing today in St. Louis will address a claim by the NFLPA that the NFL "colluded to set a secret salary cap" in '10. Representatives from the league and union "will have 20 minutes apiece in oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals." The NFLPA is appealing a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge David Doty. A ruling is "not anticipated for a few months" (AP, 1/13).

The PBR and AEG today will announce that they have partnered to create a new bull riding series, the PBR Velocity Tour. The series will begin its inaugural season March 14, making stops in 16-18 U.S. markets. It will function as part of PBR's qualification system for its top-level Built Ford Tough Series. It will showcase both established and up-and-coming riders. Select events will be broadcast on PBR Live, a CBS Interactive digital platform (THE DAILY).

The Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Council today plans to introduce formal legislation for a "ballot initiative about extending the countywide tax on sales of alcohol and cigarettes ... to pay for renovations to Progressive Field, Quicken Loans Arena and FirstEnergy Stadium." The Council has until Feb. 5 to decide to "put the sin tax extension on the May ballot." Team reps, communication consultants and corporate leaders are "trying to agree on when and how much detail to release to the council and the public, and whether to seek more money than what the sin tax generates right now" (CLEVELAND.com, 1/10).

The Hawks were scheduled to land in London today ahead of Thursday's game against the Nets at O2 Arena. The team charter carried more than 100 people, including "players, coaches, support staff and families." Coaches and players "will have sightseeing opportunities at Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus and a tour" of EPL club Chelsea's facilities. There are also scheduled appearances at NBA Cares and "tipoff party events" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/14).

Meanwhile, Nets CEO Brett Yormark, GM Billy King and F Mason Plumlee will join Barclays Group Head of Brand, Reputation & Citizenship David Wheldon at Barclays Bank's London HQs, where they will speak before 125 Barclays employees at a Town Hall event. Nets players also will tour Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium (Nets).

The Heat today will visit the White House for the second consecutive January to celebrate their NBA championship from the previous season. Team President Pat Riley, "who missed last year's White House visit because of flu symptoms, is planning to attend" today. Heat G Ray Allen also has arranged for players to visit the U.S. Holocaust Museum in DC (MIAMI HERALD, 1/14).

When discussing how much time players will get with President Obama, Heat F Shane Battier said, "You get your 10 seconds. ... You get a solid minute or two if your name is LeBron or Dwyane or Chris. The social politics and meritocracy also extend to the White House" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/14).

The NHL today is expected to formally announce that the Panthers will host the '15 NHL Draft. The team last hosted the draft in '01 (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 1/13).

The Indianapolis 500’s qualifying format is “headed for a change, with the battle for this year’s pole moved to Sunday, May 18, perhaps at the end of the day.” Pole day has traditionally been held on Saturday (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/14).

The extreme heat today at the Australian Open “caused a ball-boy and men’s player Frank Dancevic to collapse” during his first-round match. Dancevic “slammed organizers as ‘inhumane’ for not suspending play” (REUTERS, 1/14).

The Seahawks yesterday put a few thousand tickets for Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the 49ers up for sale and the allotment “sold out within minutes” (SEATTLETIMES.com, 1/13).

Russian weather agency Roshydromet Dir Roman Vilfand has predicted that the Sochi Games “will have enough snow.” Vilfand: “Now it’s possible to say with confidence that there will be a blanket of snow at all the Olympic venues” (R-SPORT, 1/13).

The UFC last night announced that “it will stage a series of nationally televised bouts” on April 19 at Orlando’s Amway Center (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/14).

“It seems to be a much less controversial notion today than it was 18 months ago” – NCAA President Mark Emmert, on a proposal to provide stipends to student-athletes (AP, 1/13).

“Their presence allows us to market Cobb County in entirely new ways because it allows us to improve our quality of life” – Cobb County Commission Chair Tim Lee, on the Braves building a ballpark in the county (AJC.com, 1/13).

“People don’t realize it’s like 65 degrees in a hockey arena. It’s kind of warm. It’s not that cold” – Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky, on people having concerns about the ice conditions at the upcoming Ducks-Kings outdoor game at Dodger Stadium (AP, 1/13).

"The wind is very considerable out there. … The best way to describe these conditions would be to say, go inside your bathroom at home and turn on your hair dryer full blast right into your face" – ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi, on the playing conditions at the Australian Open (ESPN, 1/14).

The first nine minutes of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and FS1's "Fox Sports Live" at 1:00am ET were both basketball-heavy, and both led with the marquee college men's game of the night, Kansas-Iowa State, which aired on ESPN. ESPN followed with the UConn-Baylor women's game that also aired on ESPN. Both shows featured the Knicks as the first NBA report and the Titans hiring Ken Whisenhunt as the first non-hoops report.

ESPN2's Keith Olbermann documented his "worst persons" in the world of sports, with MLB Rangers P Derek Holland called out for a suspicious injury. Holland claims he injured his knee tripping over his dog and not by "playing hockey last week, you know the kind of injury that could be a violation of his contract and cost him money." Lakers G Kobe Bryant again made the segment after he generated a bill at a recent Nike ad shoot for $862.50 "for grooming." The Seahawks drew ire for their NFC Championship Game ticket sales policy.

The Guardian’s Owen Gibson: “After Adidas, Fifa signs up another sponsor on long term deal - Visa to 2022. Insurance against delivering in Russia and Qatar? … On the other hand, spsonsors still queuing up as World Cup goes to new markets. Was told Adidas wanted to sign up for even longer.”

ESPN’s Buster Olney: “Much time in Michael Weiner’s final months were spent defending Alex Rodriguez, and now Weiner has effectively been sued, posthumously.”

Former MLBer Mike Cameron: “One monkey don't stop no show’ C'mon A-rod against your peers bro.. No one is bigger than the game.”

Writer Danny Knobler: “No East Coast bias here in Bangkok. MLB caps featured: Royals, Indians, Astros.”

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

The Titans are slated to introduce Ken Whisenhunt as their new coach in a press conference at Saint Thomas Sports Park.

The second season of ESPNU's weekly college basketball show, "Katz Korner," debuts at 1:00pm ET.

NASCAR Managing Dir of Integrated Marketing David Higdon will be the guest speaker at the Volusia/Flagler Counties chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Charter Communications has offered to buy Time Warner Cable for about $61B, "a stunning bid that would merge the No. 4 and No. 2 cable companies in America." The TWC BOD "quickly rejected the offer, calling it 'a third grossly inadequate proposal'" (USA TODAY, 1/14).

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

“Since 1991, it’s the only former Communist nation to restore its monarchy, which it still has.”

NBC’s Jay Leno: “The Super Bowl is just three weeks away and it’s pretty serious. New Jersey officials are working day and night to stop sex trafficking before the game. If anybody knows how to stop traffic in New Jersey it’s Chris Christie. … Four more states are expected to legalize marijuana this year, including California. Medical marijuana is already legal here. In fact, today medical marijuana was approved for severe nausea experienced by Lakers fans during the past couple of games. What is going on? They’ve lost 10 of the last 11 games. The Lakers are shooting so bad, Kim Jong-Un said he wouldn’t let them shoot his uncle. They are so bad, they missed their flu shots. They are so bad, Bruce Jenner was able to frown while watching them” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/13).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees had a rough weekend for using performance-enhancing drugs and trying to obstruct the investigation. He’s being suspended for 162 games without pay and those are baseball games. Think about how long one baseball game is, multiply that by 162. We’re going to be living on Mars by the time A-Rod can play again. A-Rod’s suspension is the longest doping penalty in the history of baseball, so another record for A-Rod. Between A-Rod and Dennis Rodman this is a bad week for people with Rod in their name” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/13).

CBS’ David Letterman: “(Alex Rodriguez has) been suspended for 162 games, and I wouldn’t give his troubles to a monkey on a rock. This guy has left behind more needles than my Christmas tree. He wanted to be a better baseball player so he goes to an anti-aging clinic in Miami and he goes up to the guy and he goes, ‘What do you got?' Well, that’s where it began and then last night on '60 Minutes,’ did you see the guy on '60 Minutes’ last night? The show aired video of an actor playing Tony Bosch telling CBS’ Scott Pelley that he injected Alex Rodriguez with “human growth hormone, insulin growth factor-1, peptides, testosterone, estrogen, squid ink, some paint thinner, WD-40, maple syrup, Pert Plus shampoo and conditioner, mustard, Dijon mustard, root beer, Aqua Velva, brake fluid, baby oil, Tabasco sauce, Lysol, diesel fuel, bathroom caulk, borscht, wood glue, aerosol cheese and fabric softener” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/13).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Odd Habits Of Mayor Bill de Blasio.” Letterman said, “Somebody saw him eating a pizza with a fork and a knife and they're trying to make a big deal about it" (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/13).

10) “Eats lasagna with a harpoon.”
9) “Refers to himself as ‘Her Majesty.’”
8) “Keeps his body temperature at a dangerously low 86 degrees.”
7) “Prefers to write emails long hand.”
6) “Refers to tonight's guest, Bill Cosby, as Bill de Cosbio.”
5) “Sleeps in the City Hall coat room.”
4) “Uses chopsticks to drive.”
3) “Asks people to guess his inseam.”
2) “Tips waiters with bagged goldfish.”
1) “Stops and frisks himself.”

“What is Cambodia?”