Kia today will break a comedic online spot starring Clippers F Blake Griffin for its Optima sedan entitled “Showdown” that will debut on TV during broadcasts of Christmas Day NBA games. Griffin in the series of spots created by David&Goliath, L.A., is cast in the lead role of several big-budget action movies set in the Old West, ancient Rome and an aircraft carrier (Kia).

The NFL announced that it has flexed the Dec. 28 Bengals-Steelers to NBC’s “SNF,” which came as “a bit of a surprise,” considering the Bengals could clinch a playoff berth tonight with a victory. With a loss tonight, the Bengals would have to win next week to reach the postseason. The Steelers “clinched a playoff spot” yesterday with their win over the Chiefs (ESPN.com, 12/21).

The Week 17 Lions-Packers game, which will decide the winner of the NFC North, was flexed from 1:00pm ET to 4:25pm on Fox. The "working theory" for choosing Bengals-Steelers over Lions-Packers was that the NFL "wanted a prime-time matchup featuring a team in a win-or-go-home scenario" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/22).

Today's inaugural Miami Beach Bowl features Memphis and BYU competing at Marlins Park. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said, "Anytime you play well on national TV it helps the brand" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/21). Today's game will tell if the event "got lucky in getting what you want if you're the new kid in the Bowl Season class." Memphis was co-champion of the AAC and BYU brings "a national following" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/21).

Miami Beach Bowl Exec Dir Carlos Padilla, who served in the same capacity for the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl in '08, said the new bowl has come a long way in a short period of time. Padilla: "On Feb. 28 I didn't even have a computer in my office. And now we have a game [today]. It's been pretty smooth" (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 12/19).

TSN today will announce a multiplatform broadcast agreement with the NLL for the ’15 season. Per the deal, TSN will broadcast 12 regular-season games and select postseason games, including the Champions Cup Final. The remaining 69 regular-season games will be streamed on TSN.ca. TSN’s NLL coverage begins Jan. 3 with a Vancouver Stealth-Calgary Roughnecks game (THE DAILY).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association CEO Tiger Shaw said that Aspen’s future of hosting FIS World Cup races “will be determined this May during an annual meeting” in Bulgaria. It could “be an uphill battle” for Aspen, as the FIS has “grown weary of the lack of planning and improvements that have been made" to Shadow Mountain and the surrounding neighborhood. There is also “increasing interest from competing resorts to host races, and bring more ‘animation’ and a livelier festival atmosphere to World Cup events” (ASPEN DAILY NEWS, 12/22).

Canadian taxpayers "will pay more than" C$9M to "help competitors and their coaches travel to Toronto’s Pan Am and Parapan Am Games next year." Public money accounts for about 90% of the estimated C$10.6M "being spent by Toronto Games organizers to subsidize travel costs for 11,000 athletes, coaches and team officials," with the remaining 10% coming "from private sources including sponsorships." Toronto Pan Am Games Organizing Committee Chair David Peterson said that providing travel grants for competitors and coaches has become "a bidding 'tradition' for cities that hope to host multi-sport events" (TORONTO STAR, 12/22).

In today’s Must Read, USA Today’s Douglas Robson writes of evidence of match fixing in tennis, “As the gap between tennis’ haves and have-nots continues to spread, top players are concerned about the sport’s susceptibility to match fixing and other corrupting tactics” (USA TODAY, 12/22).

Lightning struck an SUV in the Raymond James Stadium parking lot shortly after yesterday’s Packers-Buccaneers game, “sending seven people to the hospital” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/22).

A crowd of more than 11,000 attended yesterday’s U.S.-Brazil women's soccer Tournament of Brasilia final at the Mane Garrincha. Brazil drew 0-0 with the U.S. to win the tournament on a tiebreaker (AP, 12/21).

“I think a lot of times in our community athletes are criticized for not doing that. And it’s refreshing to see in a situation where some horrible things have occurred that athletes are not afraid to speak up” – Turner’s Grant Hill, on several athletes speaking out on issues such as the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner (OKLAHOMAN, 12/22).

“Our athletic director is probably going to try and negotiate a deal where it’s got to work for us” – UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, on scheduling future regular-season games at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport CONNECTICUT POST, 12/20).

“I can’t imagine having a better existence than the one I’ve enjoyed. I’m honored to have had the opportunity. To be part of the lives and aspirations of young people means everything to me” – Duke AD Kevin White, reflecting on his 41 years in college athletics (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/22).

"I appreciate you asking about my stomach. Thank you" – Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, responding to reporters' questions about his stomach issues in the early part of last night's game against the Cardinals. Lynch's response to most of the media's questions yesterday was "thanks for asking" (Mult., 12/21).

Marshawn Lynch answers all tonight's interview questions by saying "thanks for asking."

I don't envy the Seahawks beat writers. They have to find words that do Marshawn Lynch's TD run tonight justice. #goodluckwiththat

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) December 22, 2014

#Falcons playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon. Can't believe I just typed that sentence.

— Paul Newberry (@pnewberry1963) December 22, 2014

Can't wait for 2015, I will be using the influence and pressure of the fans to bring you the best fights possible. @GoldenBoyBoxing

— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) December 22, 2014

Gave my girlfriend first rights to the only iPhone charger because I'm a 21st century gentleman. 😎

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) December 22, 2014

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “International Motoring.”

“One of the three European union countries besides the United Kingdom that have not switched to driving on the right.”

Friday night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Points.”

For $200: “In 2013 Jimmie Johnson became a 6-time champ in this sport, winning the Sprint Cup Series title by 19 points.”

For $400: “NBAer Al Attles joked about the night in 1962 that this man ‘and I combined for 117 points’; Al did score a solid 17.”

For $600: “He’s the NHL’s all-time regular season points leader with 2,857; No. 2 is a mere 970 behind.”

For $800: “In 1960 the Packers’ Paul Hornung truly did it all in scoring 176 points: 15 TDs, 41 PATs and 15 of these.”

For $1000: “Every two years U.S. and European teams vie for the Ryder Cup in this sport; 14 ½ points wins it for the challenger.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “Be very careful if you’re out shopping because of the sidewalk vendors. They’re selling inexpensive items. You can buy counterfeit watches, counterfeit handbags and actual Knicks tickets. … President Obama and his family are spending the holidays in Hawaii and while they’re gone they got a fence-jumper to house sit. Tomorrow President Obama will be in Hawaii playing golf with Raúl Castro and the Pope. … The Russian economy is tanking. It’s gotten so bad, today Vladmir Putin had to pawn his stolen Super Bowl ring” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/19).

Comedian Jay Thomas appeared on-set of CBS’ “Late Show” to take part in the final, annual “Quarterback Challenge” segment. Thomas said jokingly, “I just want to say, I am so friggin’ glad this is over. I've never been so glad for something.” He went on to say the challenge came about backstage in '98 after Letterman suggested he and Thomas, along with then Jets QB Vinny Testeverde, try to knock the meatball and pizza off the top of the “Late Show” Christmas tree. Thomas said that “Late Show” stage manager Biff Henderson would not let him back onto the stage to take part in the challenge. Thomas: “I faked Biff to the right -- that's a true story -- he grabbed for me and I came through stumbling. I went over, grabbed the ball, and just threw an incredible pass and knocked the meatball off” ("Late Show,” CBS, 12/19).

Friday's edition of NBC's "The Tonight Show" featured host Jimmy Fallon airing his regular segment “Tonight Show Superlatives," with players from the Cardinals and Seahawks receiving awards ahead of their “SNF” matchup (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/19).

Friday night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things You Don’t Want To Hear On Christmas Morning.” Letterman said, “The holidays are a wonderful time and there's many reasons to be thankful, especially in the world we live in now. But often, there's tension, and the tension can occur Christmas morning” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/19).

10) “Freeze--FBI!”
9) “Something’s moving in the tree.”
8) “He left the cookies and milk, but the TV is gone.”
7) “There’s a caroler frozen on the porch.”
6) “Did you get a long, rambling poem about ‘The Late Show,’ too?”
5) “My stocking has a foot in it.”
4) “Do you smell singed hair?”
3) “Santa left a photo he took of us sleeping.”
2) “No, no, no, I said hug grandma and water the tree.”
1) “Just messing with you kids--give the presents back.”

“What is Ireland?”

Correct responses to the “Points” category:

For $200: “What is NASCAR?”

For $400: “Who was Wilt Chamberlain?”

For $600: “Who is Wayne Gretzky?”

For $800: “What are field goals?”

For $1000: “What is golf?”