MLB owners today will begin a quarterly meeting in Paradise Valley, Ariz., seeking to advance efforts to expand instant replay and implement a ban on home plate collisions in time for the '14 season. A subcommittee of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s Special Committee for On-Field Matters will present the latest tweaks to the replay system for approval. “We are in the final refinement stage,” said Braves President John Schuerholz, head of the replay subcommittee. “We’re pretty far down the road and are confident in the adjustments we’re making.”

Schuerholz declined to detail the latest version of replay, but a manager’s challenge system remains at the heart of it, with reviews conducted by a crew operating out of MLBAM HQs. Owners in November approved funding for expanded replay, but agreements with the MLBPA and the umpires’ union for the changes have not yet been struck. A deal with the union over replay is expected fairly soon, but progress toward a ban on home plate collisions is not as great.

A proposed contract for incoming Arizona State VP/Athletics Ray Anderson today will go before the Arizona Board of Regents, and the pact would pay him $600,000 in base salary with "just as much in potential bonuses." That is $150,000 more than the annual pay for previous ASU AD Steve Patterson, who now has the Texas job. The regents today "could vote to approve the deal." Anderson "is making seven figures" as NFL Exec VP/Football Operations (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/15).

Also up for approval by the regents is a $50M fundraising drive to help pay for a $225M renovation of Sun Devil Stadium. ASU President Michael Crow yesterday announced the launch of the effort. Construction would begin in spring '15 and continue through the '17 offseason. ASU "also will explore stadium naming-rights options as a revenue source" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/15).

Coca-Cola today in Brazil is introducing 18 mini-bottle designs to commemorate the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The designs represent past and future World Cup host countries. The "bottles (which contain no actual soda) are also interactive," as consumers can use Facebook or mobile apps to "create special messages and avatars that can be delivered to other bottle owners." This effort follows Coca-Cola's release of "special bottles featuring the Brazilian flag" during the FIFA Confederations Cup (ADAGE.com, 1/14).

Sports equipment maker STX today will announce deals with the NHL and USA Hockey, as well as a multiyear endorsement agreement with Sabres LW Matt Moulson. This comes as Baltimore-based STX "will begin selling hockey gear this spring" after years of being a primarily a lacrosse equipment company. The four-year partnership with USA Hockey "will make STX an official sponsor and equipment supplier" or the governing body (Baltimore SUN, 1/15).

The NFL today is hosting a fan experience panel for the media at league HQs to highlight its effort to make WiFi more available in stadiums. The panel will include a presentation from Extreme Networks, which in November acquired Enterasys. Enterasys holds the designation as the NFL’s provider of WiFi analytics, a post that Extreme assumes. Getting fans into stadiums has been a major priority for the NFL and as part of that, ensuring mobile and other electronic devices can connect is a top concern.

Teams that work with Enterasys will present today, including the Eagles and Patriots. There is also a presentation on the future of the fan experience by Ray Wang, an analyst at Constellation Research. Other teams represented on the panel include the Jaguars, Seahawks and Lions.

SMU is putting into effect its "Let It Ride" men's basketball ticket campaign, "offering a $30 ticket that will be valid for games in Moody Coliseum" until the team's next home loss. The deal begins with tonight's game against USF, which will air on ESPNU. Fans "can continue purchasing the win-and-extend ticket for $30 through Jan. 20, but the promotion ends if the team loses" to USF tonight or to Hofstra on Jan. 19 (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/14).

Today is the last day that fans can buy Metrodome seats on the floor of the retired stadium, but the company selling them "expects to offer the keepsakes again at its Fridley warehouse starting next week." Albrecht Signs estimates it has sold 10,000-15,000 seats to date. The deadline for ordering seats was Jan. 7, but Albrecht's "has accepted cash payment for seats from drivers coming to the Dome." Sales will continue today from 8:00am-4:00pm CT (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/15).

Tennis great Billie Jean King appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" last night to discuss going to the Sochi Games as part of the U.S. Olympic delegation. Host Stephen Colbert said, "Obama knows the host country is against the gays. So he sends a bunch of them over there? That's like getting invited to a potluck dinner where you know the host has a peanut allergy and bringing a tray of Pad Thai and gay people!"

King said of her responsibilities at the Sochi Games, "I probably won't protest, but if the media asks me a question, I'm going answer it." Colbert noted, "If you say something positive about homosexuals or about homosexual rights, you'll be breaking the law. Technically you could be thrown into jail." King: "I'll take that chance." Colbert asked, "Do you think you'll have a chance to meet Vladimir Putin or do you think someone else might do the interrogating?" Colbert asked if King was "offended that you're being chosen because you're gay?" King: "I'm proud of it! I love it!" ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 1/14).

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. today will arrive in South Africa for “a six-day visit that the government hopes will help ‘resuscitate’ boxing in the country” (AP, 1/14).

The Padres are “holding an open tryout for a new public address announcer” on Jan. 25 (UTSANDIEGO.com, 1/14).

Revenue from online gambling in New Jersey totaled $8.4M for “the five weeks since its launch in November.” That was “well off the pace necessary to reach the state’s forecast” of $1.2B total “by the end of its fiscal year” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/15).

Musician Luke Bryan yesterday announced the dates for his That’s My Kinda Night Tour, which will make stops at Heinz Field in June, as well as Lincoln Financial Field and Soldier Field in August (AP, 1/14).

“You’ve got to hand it to Tim Leiweke. He’s got people in Toronto thinking big again” – TORONTO STAR columnist Damien Cox, on Toronto FC’s recent signings of F Jermain Defoe and MF Michael Bradley (TORONTO STAR, 1/15).

“Come forward with a site, design and cost for us. We don’t have that” – San Diego interim Mayor Todd Gloria, on a formal proposal from the Chargers to repair or replace Qualcomm Stadium (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/15).

“I’m a little skeptical about putting in $1 million after I saw our failure for our last Olympic bid” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, on not wanting to spend $1M for a detailed look at the costs of bidding for the ’24 Games (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/15).

“I will not take the blame for his outfits. I’ve thrown them away many times. I’ve asked him: ‘Please, pleats are gone. Wear the flat front.’ He has a flattering body” – Sarah Harbaugh, wife of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, on her husband’s penchant for wearing pleated khakis on the sideline (997NOW.CBSLOCAL.com, 1/14).

The first nine minutes of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and first 11 minutes of FS1's "Fox Sports Live" at 1:00am ET hit the campus hardwood heavy, as both led with Kentucky-Arkansas and Wisconsin-Indiana. Both games aired on ESPN. The first non-basketball-related report on both nets was the Lions naming Jim Caldwell head coach.

ESPN's Keith Olbermann documented his "worst persons" in the world of sports, noting he would describe Canucks LW Tom Sestito as a "hockey player, except he's not." Sestito in 101 career NHL games has nine goals and 342 penalty minutes. Honorable mentions were the Broncos for following the Seahawks' example and restricting ticket sales to the AFC Championship Game; and Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, who acted surprised Monday night when told the Knicks had another game Tuesday. Olbermann noted the Cablevision courtside reporter "knows more about the team's schedule."

ESPN’s Chris Fowler: “from Down Under, wishing@TimBrando the best in the next stage of his TV career. an old friend and admired colleague since the 80's.”

Writer Jeff Bradley : “If A-Rod wasn't paying Tony Bosch $12,000 a month for PEDs, what was he spending $12,000 a month on? I'm curious.”

Temple Univ. Associate Dir of Athletic Communications Karen Auerbach: “After watching an entire game on CBSSN in standard def I have to go back to an HD channel to get my eyes right before bed.”

N.Y. Daily News’ Peter Botte: “Who would watch a J.R., A-Rod, Francesa, Valdespin, Rex, Metta, Canseco, living-in-a-house-together reality show?”

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

The official Twitter feed of the NASCAR Fuel For Business Council posted this image of Richard Petty visiting NASCAR's N.Y. office.

The Lions today will officially introduce Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell as their new coach during a press conference at Ford Field.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Occupational First Names.”

“It’s once again in demand repairing old stone infrastructure, and is one of the five most popular U.S. boys’ names today.”

Former NFLer Michael Strahan appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night. Strahan said he thinks differently about football now that he is retired because "it's always in your blood and because I finished on top I always feel like I can play.” Strahan said the game has changed, “A lot of people are frustrated with all the hits to the head and this concussion stuff. It’s made people feel like the game has gotten softer. I don’t know if the game is softer, but I know they throw more flags.” Strahan opined on why Broncos QB Peyton Manning and Patriots QB Tom Brady are always yelling "Omaha." Strahan: “It’s because they like the steaks" (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/14).
 
CBS’ David Letterman: “How about Alex Rodriguez? Here now, we have a breakdown of the regimen of banned substances that the guy took daily: Four injections everyday of performance-enhancing drugs, two testosterone lozenges, that’s right, lozenges, two different skin creams, a handful of anti-aging pills. He would take this every day, and a Tic-Tac” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/14).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “With both Seattle and Denver winning over the weekend, there’s an actual chance the two teams may make it to the Super Bowl. They’ll be from states that have legalized marijuana, thus giving a whole new meaning to the term Super Bowl. ... I guess you heard A-Rod has been suspended from baseball for an entire season. He said the news hit him like a shot in the ass” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/14).

Stephen Colbert last night noted in his "Stephen Colbert's Sport Report," "I'm as mad as a man who's too angry to finish his similes because my favorite athlete has been dealt a gross miscarriage of sports justice, Yankees 3B A-Rod. Now A-Rod's a friend. We use the same artist to paint us as centaurs, Google it. To me, this guy is not just A-Rod, he's The-Rod, and it makes my blood boil to see how he's being persecuted." ... There is "absolutely no evidence he's using performance-enhancing drugs, especially the playoffs. So listen, ultimately what if he did use drugs? It's the culture of the game! To stay competitive, today's players need a little something-something given the physical demands of this sport. I mean, there's the standing, the sitting and hey, those crotches aren't going scratch themselves!" ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 1/14).

“What is Mason?”