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Tuesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....'24 Ours?

  • USOC To Decide Whether To Pursue Formal Bid For '24 Games
  • ESPN Extends Jon Gruden's Contract Through '21 NFL Season
  • Warren Buffett Beside Bench In Cleveland For Cavaliers Game
  • San Diego City Council Promises Funds For '16 MLB All-Star Game

USOC To Decide Whether To Pursue Formal Bid For '24 Games

By Mike Bebernes, Staff Writer

The USOC BOD today will decide whether to pursue a formal bid for an American city to host the '24 Games during its meeting at Electronic Arts HQ in Redwood City, Calif. The board, led by Chair Larry Probst, will hear presentations from each of the four interested cities: L.A., DC, Boston and S.F. The decision today likely will be only whether to pursue a '24 bid, with the choice of a specific city expected in the coming weeks.

Presentation Schedule:

L.A., 8:00am PT
Reps: Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, Discovery Cube LA science museum Dir Kafi Blumenfield, AECOM Olympic design expert Bill Hanway, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti

D.C., 9:15am
Reps: Ramsey Asset Management head Russ Ramsey (bid Chair), Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis, Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Gold Medal U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky, DC Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser

S.F., 10:30am
Reps: MLB Giants CEO Larry Baer, Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee CEO and former Olympic swimmer Anne Cribbs, Albany Road Real Estate Partner Steve Strandberg, Populous architect Jerry Anderson, S.F. Mayor Ed Lee

Boston, 11:45am
Reps: Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish (Bid chair), Elkus Manfredi Architects Founding Principal David Manfredi, UMass Boston Chancellor Keith Motley, Paralympic athlete and sports medicine physician Cheri Blauwet, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh

USOC Decision On Bid City For '24 Games Could Be Delayed

The USOC BOD could "delay a decision" on a '24 Games bid city "until it gets further direction from IOC leadership on which city it prefers" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/16). DC bid group Chair & CEO Russ Ramsey: "We're preparing for (a decision) to come as early as Tuesday. We're also preparing for it to be pushed back to mid-January" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/16). IOC member Dick Pound said, "The larger issue for the USOC may be, is this the right time to get back in? It might be a smart thing ... to sit on the sidelines" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16).

Of the U.S. four cities in the running, none "has presented a slam-dunk proposal," though in recent days L.A. "has picked up measured support among USOC higher-ups" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/16). The L.A. group will "emphasize all that has changed since the Olympics last visited" in '84, including the "adition of Staples Center and a light-rail system." With "major venues already in place, the city could limit most of its spending to operating costs" (L.A. TIMES, 12/16).

The S.F.-area group "will be pitching a 'pop-up' stadium in Brisbane" for the Opening and Closing ceremonies and track & field events. A source said that there have been talks with the Raiders and the NFL "about building a stadium that would host the Olympics as well" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/16).

ESPN Extends Jon Gruden's Contract Through '21 NFL Season

ESPN’s "MNF" analyst Jon Gruden has agreed to an extension with the net for the remainder of the company's current NFL rights deal through the '21 season. Gruden joined ESPN in May '09 and has earned four Sports Emmy nominations in the Best Analyst category (ESPN).

During last night’s Saints-Bears game, ESPN’s Mike Tirico said to Gruden, “We’ve had kettlebells that you’ve given us in the booth, we’ve got blenders that you’ve given us in the booth. I’m not giving you these for Christmas. I’m giving them as a thank you gift because ESPN's announcing right now that Jon has agreed to a contract extension. … It means, stuck with you for a while. Congratulations pal, that’s awesome news.” Gruden said, “Love working with you. Love football, love the team I'm on and I can’t wait for years to come. I love it, thank you” (“Saints-Bears,” ESPN 12/15).

Warren Buffett Beside Bench In Cleveland For Cavaliers Game

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett made another appearance at a sporting event last night when he sat near the Cavaliers bench for a home game against the Hornets. Buffett, who wore a No. 23 Cavaliers jersey, was a guest of F LeBron James and "perhaps more so, of owner Dan Gilbert, who sat next to Buffett." Buffett said of James' return to Cleveland, "I thought it was absolutely the right thing to do. I couldn't have been more pleased" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/16). James said that this is "just the second time Buffett has watched him play" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/16).

San Diego City Council Promises Funds For '16 MLB All-Star Game

San Diego's pursuit of the '16 MLB All-Star Game "took a key step forward" when the City Council unanimously agreed to cover up to $1.5M for "police officers, firefighters and other services during the event." Council members said that hosting the event "would boost the city’s economy and enhance its image." City officials said they expect MLB to announce the All-Star Game venue in January (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/16).

WBC President Opens Convention With Call For Transparency

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman kicked off the WBC's 52nd annual convention in Las Vegas by addressing the sport's "credibility problem." He said, "We need to have transparency. We have to get the people's trust back in boxing. We have to have the best fighters face each other in the ring without the politics." The convention runs through Thursday at the Mirage and will include "more than 1,800 attendees from every segment of the sport" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/16).

NFL Set To Announce Candidates For Man Of The Year Award

By Daniel Kaplan

The NFL today will announce the 32 players who are their teams’ Man of the Year. One of the players will win the league’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which this year for the first time is presented by Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide in August became a first-time NFL sponsor and is buying advertising during the Super Bowl. The NFL will announce the Payton award in Arizona on Jan. 31 during the league’s annual awards show the day before the Super Bowl. The award winner will receive $20,000 to donate in his name.

NBC's Live Stream Of Broadcast Network Goes Live Today

NBC today is launching a live stream of its broadcast network but "isn't planning to sell a separate online version of its network to consumers without requiring that they be pay-TV subscribers." To access the stream as well as additional on-demand content, consumers "will have to provide proof that they already have a pay-TV subscription." This is "part of a broader effort at parent NBCUniversal to make more of its content available online via computers and mobile devices" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/16).

Speed Reads....

In today’s Must Read, N.Y. TIMES columnist Joe Nocera writes of UAB eliminating its football program under the header, “When Football Gets The Axe” (N.Y. TIMES, 12/16).

The Southern Miss athletic department has “officially settled on the ‘traditional eye’” logo and set up a website offering “a detailed analysis” of the redesign process (HATTIESBURG AMERICAN, 12/16).

Suns players wore “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts during “warm-ups and on the bench for their Monday night loss” to the Bucks. Suns G Isaiah Thomas: “You see a few teams doing it. We felt like we should come together as a team and support just like they are” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/16).

Saints coach Sean Payton wore a “visor with a pink ‘B’ on it, in honor of 11-year-old cancer patient Bailey Leon” (NOLA.com, 12/16).

The Hallmark Channel takes a shot at the NFL and AMC’s “The Walking Dead” in a full-page ad in the N.Y. Times: “The NFL And ‘The Walking Dead’ Share One Thing In Common … Big Ratings. More Than A #1 Series. More Than A #1 Franchise. Hallmark Channel Is The #1 Cable Network On Weekends In November And December” (THE DAILY).

Quick Hits....

“I like it, but I’m a little concerned where it could go. Take Texas – we found out on Pit Road where the line is drawn, and it could get to that on the racetrack as well” – NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, referring to a post-race brawl with Brad Keselowski, on the Chase format creating more drama (ESPN.com, 12/15).

“You have a front office that’s really uneducated, and I’m not talking about just the coach” – Former NFLer Bernie Kosar, criticizing Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III and GM Ray Farmer for perpetuating a losing culture (“The Mike Trivisonno Show,” WTAM-AM, 12/15).

“We’re going to make him a character” – Ross Greenburg, an exec producer of Epix’ "Road to the NHL Winter Classic," on Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis (USA TODAY, 12/16).

“A call for justice shouldn’t offend or disrespect anybody. A call for justice shouldn’t warrant an apology” – Browns WR Andrew Hawkins, saying he should not have to apologize for wearing a T-shirt asking for justice in the deaths of African-American boys killed by police (Mult., 12/15).

“Down the road, I could see that that could happen. I am still making out my schedule next year” – Tiger Woods, who is designing a course in Houston, on possibly playing in the nearby PGA Tour Shell Houston Open in ’15 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/16).

Night Moves....Crosby, Stills & MASH

Last night’s 2:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Saints-Bears, followed by an injury update on Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray and Bucks-Suns. The first NHL report was 33 minutes into the broadcast with Penguins C Sidney Crosby suffering from the mumps. Last night’s 2:00am edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Bucks-Suns, followed by Saints-Bears and Hornets-Cavaliers. FS1 reported on the NHL at 50 minutes into their telecast with Crosby.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Cleveland Police Union President Jeff Follmer for demanding an apology from Browns WR Andrew Hawkins for wearing a T-shirt asking for justice for two boys shot by police. Olbermann was also irked by the NHL and the Penguins for letting Sidney Crosby “continue to be contagious all over the place” when it appeared he had the mumps, and the “robots” that host Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” for a sensationalized story about the Super Bowl possibly not able to get terrorist insurance.

Twitter Me This....

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

Today's Events....

The Kings will unveil their jerseys for the Feb. 21 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game against the Sharks.

Spanning The Global....

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

1) F1 Sees Declining Interest From Fans In Germany, Survey Says
2) Football Federation Australia CEO Gallop Cautious About A-League Expansion
3) Report: NBA Owner Mark Cuban Interested In Buying EPL Club Aston Villa
4) Scottish Rangers Shareholder Mike Ashley Faces SFA Action Over Role At Club
5) Omega Boss Believes Rio Games Will Provide Breakout For Women's Golf Game

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 “Poetry.”

“The narrator mistakes the presence of this title creature for the wind and later calls it Prophet.”

Laugh Track....Skin In The Game

CBS’s David Letterman said, “We’re very excited. Both the New York Giants and the New York Jets won their football games yesterday. Astronomers say this will not happen again until the year 2164. … According to the new Pope, dogs can go to heaven. … Dogs can now get into heaven, but not Pete Rose” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/15).

Letterman addresssed the controversy around the Redskins name and about his friend's idea to help out team Owner Daniel Snyder. Letterman said, “The solution to this idea came from an old friend of mine, a kid that I went to high school with named Steve.  … We’ve heard about this problem for the last three or four seasons with the Washington Redskins. Well Dan Snyderman says no. He’s not going to change the name. It’s going to be the Redskins. He’s entrenched. Roger Goodell, what a hip guy, he goes to Dan Snyderman and says, ‘Come on, Dan. Loosen up on this.’ And he says, ‘Nope! We’re the Redskins. We’re always going to be the Redskins.’ This is where my friend Steve comes in.” Letterman displayed a picture of the Redskins helmet and then displayed a new image of the helmet featuring a red-skinned potato. Letterman exclaimed, “Still the Redskins! Ladies and gentlemen, you’re telling me this isn’t Einstein-level genius? Look at that. It’s the Redskins!” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/15).

Laugh Track....Mind Over Matter

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Thoughts That Went Through Marcus Mariota's Mind When He Won the Heisman Trophy.” The Top Ten list was read by on-stage by Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, who was wearing a tuxedo (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/15).

10) "Can't believe I beat Meryl Streep."
9) "This trophy will look great in my aquarium."
8) "To heck with the NFL, I'm going on 'Dancing With The Stars.'"
7) "Last Heisman winner from Hawaii? Don Ho."
6) "Don't spike the trophy..."
5) "My 'General Science' major really paid off."
4) "Maybe now the cheerleaders will notice me."
3) "I'd like to play in the NFL; does New York have any professional teams?"
2) "Selfie!"
1) "Heisman? Now that's mayonnaise."

Final Jeopardy....

“What is ‘The Raven?’”

The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1845.