NBC "still has eight to ten 30-second spots left to sell" for its Feb. 1 telecast of Super Bowl XLIX, having sold "about 90% of the inventory available." NBC has been seeking $4.5M per spot in '15. NBC Sports Exec VP/Sales & Marketing Seth Winter said that "the going has been tougher this year," as the Super Bowl "has fallen victim to some of the same marketplace forces that have crimped TV advertising this season." He added that ad sales for the live stream "were pacing alongside the TV broadcast" (VARIETY.com, 11/10).

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is "prepared to fight the NFL – and if it becomes necessary, sue it – if the league continues to hold his career in undefined purgatory," according to a source. The NFLPA last night "filed a grievance against the NFL," asking the league to "remove Peterson from the commissioner's exempt list." The union cited an "agreement between Peterson and the NFL, which 'based on explicit language' would reinstate" him once his legal case was resolved. If the league "reinstates Peterson and then subsequently suspends him, it is expected that the NFLPA will appeal the suspension" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/10).

Baylor Univ. today announced that it has reached a deal with IMG to extend its current multimedia partnership through July '24. Also, Baylor has signed with IMG Seating to provide cushion stadium seats. Baylor signed with IMG in '05 and first extended the partnership in '10. IMG manages Baylor's corporate partnerships, game broadcasts, coaches' shows, publications, venue signage, promotions and game-day hospitality. IMG will focus on maximizing sponsorship opportunities and other assets at McLane Stadium (IMG).

MLB clubs on this Veterans Day will "recognize active or former service members in their communities." Tributes throughout the league will include the following:

• The Dodgers will host "approximately 300 pre-selected active duty service members representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard along with veterans and their families for batting practice" at Dodger Stadium.
• The Yankees and the USO at Yankee Stadium's Great Hall will again host "approximately 150 volunteers to help assemble more than 5,000 USO Big Apple Greeter Packs" for active service members.
• Mets P and NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom will march in the 95th annual New York City Veterans Day Parade.
• The Rangers and Southwest Airlines "will fly 15 military heroes and their guests on a two-day trip to Washington as part of the 'Faces of Freedom' program."
• Members of the Red Sox front office "will visit veterans hospitals and homeless shelters" in the Boston area (MLB.com, 11/11).

The eight cities bidding to host the Final Four in '17-20 today will present their final pitches before the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee in Indianapolis. The NCAA "will announce the four winning cities Friday night." The competing bids are from Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Antonio and St. Louis. The "committees from each of the contending cities" are scheduled to make presentations today (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/11).

Univ. of Hawaii AD Ben Jay said that the school is "expected to close out the year" with a $3.5M deficit "as football ticket sales and fundraising totals come in below targets." The "estimated shortfall has more than doubled" from a $1.5M estimate Jay gave the UH Board of Regents Intercollegiate Athletics Committee in August. Football ticket sales are expected to be down by $400,000, with donations down by $700,000 and licensing income "coming in $50,000 lower than expected" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 11/11).

In today’s Must Read, WNBA Mystics G Bria Hartley and Stars G Kayla McBride headed overseas after their rookie seasons, but “have found that the transition off the court is not so easy, as their first month in a foreign country has largely been filled with bouts of boredom and homesickness” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/11).

The Cavaliers and iHeartMedia Cincinnati have reached a deal to makes the team's radio broadcasts available in Southwest Ohio for the first time. WSAI-AM and WCKY-AM will air 48 regular-season games, plus the postseason (Cavaliers).

The draft of an anti-doping law in Germany plans "jail terms of up to three years for top athletes caught taking performance-enhancing drugs." The law will "go before parliament in the spring and makes doping a crime for the first time (AP, 11/11).

The Web.com Tour Cleveland Open today is expected to announce a title sponsorship deal with Rust-Oleum. Milestone Sports Management, which runs the tournament, will receive “a significant fee” for the sponsorship of the event, which will be known as the Rust-Oleum Championship (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 11/10).

“I wasn’t so humored by the commissioner actually jumping in on top of that, too. He doesn’t need to get in on that. There’s enough focus on (the) triangle” – Knicks President Phil Jackson, on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments about the team’s offensive struggles (ESPNNY.com, 11/10).

“I’m not being negative toward Texas Tech and West Virginia, but that’s a long way to go for a basketball game. I think there’s been some real unholy alliances created that have been driven by media rights” – Purdue AD Morgan Burke, on recent conference realignment (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/11).

“In a heartbeat. That would be like my life’s purpose to be on that committee” – ESPN’s Holly Rowe, saying she would love to be a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee (AL.com, 11/10).

“People in England are still kind of raw to the rules and regulations. Once they get that down, it’s going to really, really take off” – Raiders OT Menelik Watson, a native of England, on the growing interest for football in the U.K. (USA TODAY, 11/11).

“How long is this supposed to go on? It’s clear that the system is dysfunctional” – NHL Kings GM Dean Lombardi, on the team being in salary-cap limbo during the domestic abuse investigation of D Slava Voynov (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).

Last night’s 2:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with “MNF” featuring Panthers-Eagles, followed by Pelicans-Cavaliers, Spurs-Clippers and Sounders-FC Dallas. Last night’s 2:00am ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Pelicans-Cavaliers, followed by Panthers-Eagles and Cardinals QB Carson Palmer's season-ending injury. FS1 did not report on the MLS playoffs.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: For the “first time” ever a stadium was the “worst person” in sports. Reports from O.co Coliseum on Sunday had a dead rat in the press box. Olbermann also put on notice NHL COO John Collins for his comments that advertisements on NHL sweaters are “coming and happening" and Ravens Senior VP/Public & Community Relations Kevin Byrne for being “steamed at CBS” for “inadvertently” televising coach John Harbaugh’s victory speech on Sunday.

21 of 31 NFL prime-time games this season have been blowouts. Your move, Dolphins and Bills.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 11, 2014

The give-up factor by teams in prominent NFL TV games an issue for league with 7 weeks remaining. To say nothing of killing sports books.

— bruce dowbiggin (@dowbboy) November 11, 2014

It. Is. Loud. Koshien Stadium knows how to get amped. #JapanSeries

— MLB (@MLB) November 11, 2014

Been to every arena in the league over the years...#Spursnation has never been this big! Me likey. #GoSpursGo

— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) November 11, 2014

That’s a wrap on the first game of the #JapanSeries, @MLB All-Stars win, 8-7. It’s been fun, Koshien Stadium. pic.twitter.com/mxSSnZYst7

— MLB (@MLB) November 11, 2014

The NHL will hold its Club Business Meetings Nov. 11-12 in Toronto. The two-day league conference will open with a Q&A session led by Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and COO John Collins.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “State Holidays.” The episode marked the beginning of the annual “Tournament of Champions.”

“This is the only state that honors a former U.S. Secretary of State with his own legal holiday.”

Racecar driver Alex Zanardi, who lost both his legs in an '01 crash, appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night, with host David Letterman noting “when you hear this life out of this man’s mouth it brings you to tears, the awe and the admiration that I have.” Zanardi said after that heartfelt comment from Letterman, “I wish my time was over so I could go home with that.” Zanardi discussed his hectic schedule of racing and competing in paralympic events, with Letterman saying, “You are busier than my schedule and I have two legs. You’re making me look like a dope for God’s sake.” Zanardi said, “I’m not that type of person. It’s just that I am so well advertised, everything I do it’s always under the lights. As a matter of fact, I’m a pretty lazy guy.” Letterman said jokingly, “No drive, no ambition” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/10).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “The Seattle Seahawks beat the New York Giants on Sunday but the real star of the game was an actual Seahawk. … The team’s official mascot decided to fly into the crowd. That guy was lucky he wasn’t at a Bears game” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/10).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Going Through This Guy’s Mind At This Moment.” Letterman said, “This happened (on Sunday) at the pre-game festivities in Seattle. That’s a Seahawk or something that has landed on a guy’s head ” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/10). Watch the video.

10) “Shouldn’t have used salmon-scented shampoo.”
9) “Can I keep him?”
8) “Selfie?”
7) “Could you drop me off in parking Lot B?”
6) “Beats the time I was groped by the Philly Phanatic.”
5) “He probably smells my hawk.”
4) “Thanks a lot, Obama.”
3) “My toupee!”
2) “First $12 beers and now this.”
1) “Yum, wings!”

“What is Alaska?”

Former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward helped negotiate the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867.