Kevin Harvick captured the NASCAR Sprint Cup yesterday by winning the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ESPN.com's John Oreovicz writes, "After 10 months of speculation, analysis and criticism, the revised, elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup format actually produced the thrilling, winner-takes-all-finale that NASCAR hoped for" (ESPN.com, 11/16). USA TODAY's Nate Ryan writes it was a "validating night" for NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France, "whose gamble to overhaul his sport's championship philosophy ... worked – at least in its first year" (USA TODAY, 11/17).

Charlotte Observer, A1 above the fold, “Hard-Charging Harvick Wins Chase” … Miami Herald, center A1, “Twice A Winner” … Bakersfield Californian (Harvick's hometown paper), A1, “Champ!”

Mobil 1, which sponsors both Harvick's ride and NASCAR as a whole, runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating the driver: "The Last 1 Standing." FedEx runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Chase finalist Denny Hamlin: "Thank You, Denny, From All 300,000 Members Of Your Crew" (THE DAILY).

Federal drug agents investigating the distribution of painkillers in the NFL questioned members of the 49ers' medical staff at MetLife Stadium yesterday following the team's win over the Giants. The DEA also reportedly "grilled members" of the Buccaneers' medical staff at Baltimore-Washington Int'l Airport. 49ers Dir of PR Bob Lange said the "only thing" agents asked was whether the team physician "was carrying any controlled substances." Under the Controlled Substance Act, the DEA is charged with ensuring medical personnel who prescribe medication follow the law (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/17).

The Nets today will announce that they are forming sponsorship deals with two China-based partners: footwear maker Anta and digital product distribution company Lava Tech. Anta will receive TV-visible court signage during home games at Barclays Center this season, while Lava Tech will promote its health and wellness products with rotational courtside signage at the arena. Nets F Kevin Garnett is one of Anta's major endorsers (Nets).

Root Sports Southwest debuts today as the "new home of the Rockets and Astros." For Comcast subscribers, the RSN will air on channels 39 and 639, "in the same slot where CSN Houston aired." A report indicated the channel will be 674 on DirecTV and 758/1758 on AT&T U-Verse, "but those numbers could not be immediately confirmed." Calling the outlet Root Sports Southwest as opposed to Root Sports Houston "may be an effort to offset perceptions" that the new channel is "merely a local service" (CHRON.com, 11/16).

S.F. Mayor Ed Lee today will announce that home builder Lennar Corp. and retail developer Macerich have reached an agreement to transform the former stadium at Candlestick Point into a "500,000-square-foot 'urban outlet' shopping center." The shopping center, slated to open in '17, would be a "pedestrian-friendly retail anchor" for a $1B development that "will eventually include 6,000 homes and create more than 3,000 jobs." The project also will feature "neighborhood retailers, restaurants, an African-diaspora-themed marketplace, movie theaters, a performance venue and hotel," as well as "rental and for-sale homes" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/17).

A conference call is scheduled for today at 2:00pm ET to address Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's effort to be removed from the commissioner's exempt list. Peterson did not attend a scheduled meeting Friday regarding his case (THE DAILY). The NFL "will judge Peterson under its revamped personal conduct policy, which calls for players involved in domestic violence to be suspended for six games" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/17).

In today’s Must Read, the N.Y. TIMES’ Steve Eder in a front-page piece writes NFL teams’ ties to law enforcement “put victims of domestic violence in a bind” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/17).

Former FA Chair David Bernstein has “urged European nations to boycott” the ’18 World Cup in Russia unless FIFA “undergoes serious reform” (PA, 11/17).

The NCAA today will announce “the first and second weekend sites” for the '16-18 men’s basketball tournaments. The women’s Final Fours for '17-20 also will be announced today (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/16).

A “dismal” crowd of 15,107 attended Sunday’s Alouettes-Lions CFL East semifinal at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, the Alouettes' “smallest crowd” since '98 (Montreal GAZETTE, 11/17).

A record crowd of 7,847 braved “cold, damp conditions” to attend Saturday’s San Antonio Scorpions-Ft. Lauderdale Strikers NASL Championship Final at Toyota Field (MYSANANTONIO.com, 11/16).

“The game seemed a lot crisper to watch, and that’s evidenced by the time of the fall league games that are played with the clock” – MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Joe Torre, on the league’s efforts to speed up the pace of play (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/16).

“The clocks here are bull----. The whole day it’s going out so it’s just another thing” – Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, on the Soldier Field clock malfunctioning during Sunday’s game (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/17).

“I was playing Mario Kart on my sofa when I got the call. I was winning at that. It’s better than my tennis at the moment” – Andy Murray, on being called to play in exhibition matches after Roger Federer was forced to withdraw from the ATP World Tour Finals (SI.com, 11/16).

“I plan on asking a lot more questions than providing commentary. In general, human beings more often than not need to be heard and not dictated information to” – Dodgers Dir of Player Development Gabe Kapler, who has some non-traditional opinions on fitness and nutrition (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/17).

#Breaking: GameDay will be heading to Cambridge, MA for "The Game"! #GetUp4GameDay pic.twitter.com/gkQzPlo2ZT

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 16, 2014

For the first year of the new Chase format, have to admit it has exceeded expectations. A true trophy dash.

— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) November 16, 2014

You know what a band does when they cancel?...REFUND the tickets. Roger gets $1M & off to Davis Cup he goes...

— Greg Brady (@bradyfan590) November 17, 2014

And Dan Snyder turns 50 on Sunday. No longer young owner learning. Has to make changes in his own leadership.

— Rick Snider (@Snide_Remarks) November 17, 2014

The 7th Annual Primetime Sports Management Conference kicks off at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. Today will feature scheduled keynote addresses by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr. In addition, one panel will feature Flames President Brian Burke moderating a session on Athlete Evaluations and the role of analytics.

The three-day Streaming Media West Conference & Exhibition begins in Huntington Beach, Calif. NFL Now VP & GM Cory Mummery will deliver the keynote tomorrow.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Opera Characters.”

“In an 1893 opera that was its composer’s greatest success, Peter and Gertrud are the parents of these two characters.”

CBS’ David Letterman said, “Big movie this weekend is ‘Dumb and Dumber To.’ … It’s starring Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/14).

Friday's edition of NBC's "The Tonight Show" featured host Jimmy Fallon airing his regular segment "Tonight Show Superlatives," with players from the Patriots and Colts receiving awards ahead of their "SNF" matchup (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/14).

Last night’s edition of Fox’ “Family Guy” featured Peter and Brian Griffin searching for a last-minute Thanksgiving turkey. They end up at the County Zoo, chasing a turkey from the “Birds of North America” exhibit around the facility. During the chase, Brian falls into the lion enclosure and tells two angry lions who are ready to attack him, “Hey, it’s Thanksgiving. Shouldn’t you be in Detroit losing a football game right now?” (“Family Guy,” Fox, 11/16).

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Said in Jesus’ Household.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “In a new book entitled ‘Lost Gospel’ the authors claim Jesus was married and fathered two children. Good for him” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/11).

10) “Fish and loaves again?”
9) “Don’t you kids ever put down your stone tablets?”
8) “Be nice to grandpa or he’ll flood the planet again.”
7) “Honey, can we please have one dinner without lepers?”
6) “Mucho gusto encantado (No, I’m sorry, that’s something overheard in the Jesus household).”
5) “Take down the Christmas lights already.”
4) “I was at the brothel for…biblical reason…”
3) “What would be a miracle is if someone did the dishes.”
2) “It’s been three days -- where have you been?”
1) “I wasn’t calling you; I just hit my thumb with a hammer.”

“Who are Hansel and Gretel?”

The opera was “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck.