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Thursday 9:00am ET....Today's News....One Direction?

  • Prominent ADs Concerned About Direction Of College Sports
  • Dodgers Create Buzz At Winter Meetings With Flurry Of Trades
  • City Council Vote On Rays Ballpark Agreement Delayed A Week
  • NFL's Vincent On Why Conduct Policy Not Collectively Bargained

Prominent ADs Concerned About Direction Of College Sports

A panel consisting of seven prominent ADs at the '14 IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum yesterday expressed a lot of concern, and a little optimism, over the state and direction of college sports. Duke AD Kevin White said, “I really worry about where we’re heading. We’re becoming so commercialized. I have this fear that college sports will become semi-pro. I think that’s the biggest challenge we have in front of us, to save us from ourselves.” Vanderbilt AD David Williams: “We have to remember we’re part of a system called higher education. I’m worried that we may have taken something that was good and pure, and we may have hurt it. I agree, we’re our own worst enemies.” 

Morning sessions at the conference's second and final day will include a second AD panel, plus panels on "College Sports Business Headlines of the Day," "Targeting the Mobile Fan though Proximity Marketing" and "Sponsor Marketing and Enhancing the Game Day Experience." There will also be an inside look at the SEC Network and an interview with Sporting Innovations CEO Robb Heineman.

Dodgers Create Buzz At Winter Meetings With Flurry Of Trades

The Dodgers have been the talk of the MLB Winter Meetings over the past 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to several transactions that see CF Matt Kemp go to the Padres and 2B Dee Gordon and P Dan Haren go to the Marlins, while acquiring SS Jimmy Rollins, 2B Howie Kendrick, P Brandon McCarthy and C Yasmani Grandal. The L.A. Times’ Bill Shaikin writes, “To say the Dodgers are a better team today than yesterday would be premature. To say they are a more exciting team would be inarguable, not on the field, necessarily, but in the front office” (L.A. TIMES, 12/11). SI’s Jim Jaffe writes under the header, “New front office puts its stamp on Dodgers with flurry of acquisitions” (SI.com, 12/11).

ESPN’s Aaron Boone said, “With the old regime, they were accumulating talent. … Now you’re seeing [President of Baseball Operations] Andrew Friedman, one of the smartest guys in the game, start to shape this into a real team. Now you’re seeing what he values, and that’s defense.” ESPN’s Jim Bowden: “They improved the clubhouse a lot, too” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 12/10).

City Council Vote On Rays Ballpark Agreement Delayed A Week

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has asked the City Council to delay for a week a vote on the deal that would allow the Rays to look for ballpark sites in Hillsborough County. A "vigorous lobbying effort" by Kriseman and Rays execs "fell short of persuading uneasy council members to support the complex deal right away." Several council members said that they "wanted more time to digest the eight-page memorandum of understanding about the stadium deal, and three days wasn't enough." A "backlash doesn't appear to be building" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/11).

NFL's Vincent On Why Conduct Policy Was Not Collectively Bargained

NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent this morning on ESPN Radio discussed the league’s new personal conduct policy and why it was not collectively bargained, something the NFLPA lobbied for. Vincent said, “It’s never been collectively bargained, but then as recently as 2011, this wasn’t an issue that was raised, that the influence of the commissioner’s office should remain there. … It was negotiated when, at the negotiation table in 2011, the union at that particular time gave the commissioner the authority. That’s black and white.”

Vincent said the players continue to “raise the question of consistency” in regards to discipline. He said, “We haven’t been. We have to acknowledge that and we’ve continued to acknowledge that. They’re looking for that. As a player, you want consistency. … We have failed in some of those areas, but we believe that our new policy, again, allows us to be firm for these criminal acts, fair, consistent and clear” (“Mike and Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/11).

Georgetown Wears "I Can't Breathe" Shirts For Pregame Warmups

The Georgetown men's basketball team for last night's home game against Kansas "came out for pregame warmups wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with 'I can't breathe.'" Georgetown "became the first school to wear the shirt" that some NBA players have been wearing in pregame. Coach John Thompson III said, "We have been, as a group, talking about this for a while." C Joshua Smith: "We didn't wear the shirt to say that the cops were wrong or the system was wrong. We just wore the shirts to show our condolences to the (Garner) family. ... We're not choosing sides" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/11).

Public Funds To Pay For $7.5M Of Bengals' New Videoboard

Hamilton County (Ohio) commissioners voted 3-0 for public money to cover about $7.5M of the $10M cost of a new HD videoboard at Paul Brown Stadium. The display is "part of a broader deal the county and the Bengals reached last year on improvements" to the stadium and riverfront development. The team will pay about $4M toward improvements "that the team's lease otherwise would have required the county to cover" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/11).

Speed Reads....

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has “put forward a motion to rename a one-block section of Abbott Street in front of Rogers Arena” after former NHL coach and exec Pat Quinn, who died on Nov. 23 (VANCOUVER SUN, 12/11).

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has issued a formal opinion stating that it was constitutional "for Detroit Downtown Development Authority funds to be used" for a new Red Wings arena (AP, 12/11).

The Astros yesterday announced the date for an October '13 Taylor Swift concert at Minute Maid Park. After some fans noted the concert fell during MLB's postseason, the team tweeted out: "The date of the Taylor Swift 1989 tour show at #MMP is subject to change if it conflicts with an #Astros postseason home game" (THE DAILY).

Quick Hits....

“Students are making great money in some internship, and I’m telling my football players they can’t leave for the summer. Where’s the equity there?” – Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick, who believes student-athletes should be paid through group licensing deals for use of their names and likenesses (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/10).

“Oh my God. I would never have imagined. I thought we were going to be actually very good. That’s how much I know” – Jets Owner Woody Johnson, on his team being 2-11 so far this season (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/11).

“It would be nice to be doing meaningful games” – SportsNet N.Y. broadcaster Keith Hernandez, on calling Mets games next season (NEWSDAY, 12/11).

“It’s like a child, you’ve seen grow up from infancy and now it’s a teenager. Sometimes it’s best for change” – Outgoing WNBPA Dir of Operations Pam Wheeler, whose tenure with the union ends later this month (AP, 12/11).

Night Moves....Incarnate Word Of The Day

Last night’s 2:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Rockets-Warriors, followed by Clippers-Pacers, Incarnate Word defeating Nebraska in basketball and the Phillies trading SS Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers. Last night’s 2:00am ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Wizards-Magic, followed by Kansas-Georgetown, Columbia-Kentucky and the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: CBS Sports Radio’s Doug Gotlieb for commenting about Lakers G Kobe Bryant wearing a “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt. Olbermann also raked over the coals Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, who is sending videotapes of his work outs to Yankees manager Joe Girardi, and the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, which has “badly screwed-up a high school football playoff game” and has asked a judge to decide outcome.

Twitter Me This....

Today's Events....

Steiner Sports hosts a "Power Breakfast" event featuring Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and former MLBer Derek Jeter from 9:00-11:00am ET at the Millennium Hotel's Hudson Theatre in Manhattan.

A Lighter Buzz....

The Marlins yesterday traded P Andrew Heaney to the Dodgers as part of a deal for Dee Gordon and Dan Haren, and the Dodgers just minutes later traded Heaney to the Angels for Howie Kendrick. Showing a good sense of humor about the events of the day, Heaney tweeted the following (THE DAILY).

Spanning The Global....

The most-read Global stories today on SportsBusinessDaily.com:

1) ManU Warns Rival Fans Of 'Lawless' Rome Riot Police Ahead Of Champions League Clash
2) Financial Crisis In Brazilian Football Results In Late Paychecks, Job Insecurity
3) Sports Broadcast Rights Deals Generate Close To $37B Worldwide In '14, Report Says
4) Formula One Teams To Meet To Replace F1 Chair Peter Brabeck-Letmathe
5) Five Track Events In Jeopardy As IOC Looks To Tighten Olympics Athletics Program

Back Pages....

The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of the nation's major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post N.Y. Daily News Newsday Philadelphia Daily News Boston HeraldToronto Sun

Final Jeopardy!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Presidents.”

“The first man in the 20th century to hold all four federally elected offices: Congressman, Senator, Vice President and President.”

Top Ten....Wing And A Prayer

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Overheard At The Buffalo Wild Wings Church.” Letterman said, “Reverend Wesley Savage, an Alabama church pastor, is holding weekly Sunday services at a local Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/10).

10) "Can I get an 'Amen' and a wet nap?"
9) "After that wing platter, it's going to take me three days to rise again."
8) "My hymnal is sticky, too!"
7) "Jewish services are next door at P.F. Chang's."
6) "He's choking -- call a mountie!"
5) "Separate checks or one bill for the pew?"
4) "Would you like 'Spicy', 'Exra Spicy', or 'Jesus Wept?’"
3) "We don't have stained glass windows, but we do have stained glassware."
2) "You gonna finish those, Cardinal Dolan?"
1) "Jesus, these wings are delicious."

Laugh Track....For Your Eyes Only

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert said of the recent CIA torture report that stated former President George W. Bush didn’t want to know where the CIA detention facilities were for fear of inadvertently disclosing their location, “It’s a simple slip-up anybody could make. What you mean to say is, ‘Congratulations to the world champion San Antonio Spurs,’ but what comes out is, ‘We’re sticking dental tools up somebody’s pee-hole under a Bulgarian disco.’ Then of course you have to send Tim Duncan to the disco because he knows too much” (“The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central, 12/10).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “Hey, guess who is on the program tonight? The lovely Meryl Streep, ladies and gentlemen. … You know, she was supposed to be here a couple of weeks ago and then a terrible thing happened. She was cleaning her gun and blew off one of her fingers” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/10).