The USOC BOD today will gather at Denver Int'l Airport to decide whether to choose Boston, DC, L.A. or S.F. as the U.S. bid city for the '24 Games. USOC leaders will then "hop on a plane to the winning city to present the plan with local officials" tomorrow (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/8). Instead of a "formal vote," the members "may come to an agreement after discussing the four contenders at their closed-door session." The choice "would be announced following the meeting" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/8).

It is "difficult to identify a clear-cut favorite" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/8). However, the winner "automatically will become a favorite" when the IOC selects a host in the summer of '17 (L.A. TIMES, 1/8).

The Falcons today "plan to present their PSL pricing plan" for their new stadium’s club seats to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority board at a "special called meeting." The team will seek $45,000 for PSLs from fans who "want the best seats." That fee will apply to "each of 1,200 lower-bowl seats near the 50-yard line," while another 6,500 seats will carry PSLs ranging from $10,000-20,000. The plan being presented today covers roughly 11% of seats in the 71,000-seat venue (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/8).

The Cubs have signed Sloan Valve Co. for naming rights to their Spring Training ballpark in Mesa, Ariz., elevating brand exposure to a much higher level for the little-known provider of commercial plumbing systems. The deal runs more than 10 years and is valued at seven figures annually for the $84M facility that opened in '14, team officials said. Sloan Park is named for a 109-year-old Chicago firm whose flush valves have been in place at Wrigley Field since the ballpark opened in 1914, said Cubs VP/Sales & Partnerships Colin Faulkner.

The agreement positions Sloan as the Cubs’ sixth Legacy Partner linked to Wrigley Field’s $375M renovation. As part of the deal, Sloan becomes the Cubs’ official water efficiency partner. In addition to Mesa, Sloan receives brand exposure at Wrigley to include a fixed sign in the visitors bullpen in right field.

More details are emerging about adidas' apparel deal with the Univ. of Miami, and the 12-year pact "has the potential to become the most lucrative in the history of Hurricane athletics." It is also the "longest deal Adidas has struck with any collegiate program." A source said that the deal, which is expected to be formally announced today, "is worth 'multiple times' more than Miami's previous arrangement with Nike, which chose not to match adidas' offer" (AP, 1/8)

MLS today will announce a five-year deal with AdvoCare Int’l, making the health and wellness company the league’s official sports nutrition partner. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. AdvoCare Rehydrate will be the official sports drink of MLS, featured on the sidelines at games. This is the first league partnership for AdvoCare, and it will look to announce additional MLS club-level partnerships in the coming weeks. AdvoCare has had a partnership with FC Dallas since '12, when the company became the team’s first jersey sponsor. That agreement was recently extended through '20.

Las Vegas leaders have "killed efforts to put an advisory question on the June 2 ballot" on a $200M downtown soccer stadium, but City Council member Bob Beers yesterday afternoon started a petition drive "aimed at bringing the issue to voters without City Council approval." By the time his motion failed, Beers "had already signed an affidavit to kick-start his own signature gathering campaign aimed at blocking the stadium project" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/8).

Chicago-based marketing and media agency rEvolution has acquired Indianapolis-based Act(s) Marketing and their current client roster, subsequently becoming the agency of record for Continental Tire in the U.S. and Canada. Continental Tire last month entered a multiyear college basketball partnership in six high-profile conferences, with LED signage at each home game, in-stadium activation and a targeted TV package for a total of 381 games per season. The company also sponsors MLS, U.S. Soccer and IMSA. By acquiring Act(s), rEvolution gains six new full-time employees along with a new satellite office in Indianapolis.

rEvolution Exec VP Garret Mudd: “With the Women’s World Cup coming up, followed by the Olympics and the men’s qualifying cycle starting again, we’ve really just positioned Continental to continue to be on the forefront of leveraging and activating those properties.”

ESPN last night honored the late Stuart Scott with a "moving tribute" at the net's Television Critics Association Panel in Pasadena. The room of reporters was presented with a video montage that "included on-set bloopers of the beloved 'SportsCenter' anchor" (VARIETY.com, 1/7). The Hornets honored Scott prior to their game against the Pelicans with a "video montage and a moment of silence." The montage included photos of Scott with Hornets Owner Michael Jordan (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/7).

Ball State today is scheduled to announce its new AD amid reports that Eastern Kentucky AD Mark Sandy has accepted the job. This will be "one of the first cabinet appointments" for school President Paul Ferguson (Muncie STAR PRESS, 1/8).

SPL club Rangers told Robert Sarver that it "will put his latest offer to major shareholders" after the Suns Owner "upped his bid for the club" to US$30M and offered a short-term loan of US$9.8M (DAILYRECORD.co.uk, 1/8).

A source said that Blake Shelton has been asked to perform the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLIX Feb. 1 in Arizona (HOLLYWOODLIFE.com, 1/5).

The NLL Minnesota Swarm announced that 50% of all new season-ticket revenue Jan. 3-Feb. 5 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Minnesota (Swarm).

"I don’t care where you watch our shows – just watch them" – CBS President & CEO Les Moonves, telling an audience at CES the network's strategy on streaming its programming (TECHCRUNCH.com, 1/7).

"Now you’re going to have some people that have agendas, but most journalists are open-minded and want the team to win because it’s easier to cover the team when you win" – NFL Jets consultant Charley Casserly, when asked if the N.Y. media will have any influence on the team's process of hiring its next coach and GM (N.Y. POST, 1/8).

"This is something I learned from my dad – you talk to everybody because you can learn from everybody" – Raiders Owner Mark Davis, on interviewing Mike Shanahan for the team's vacant coaching position. Shanahan was hired to coach the team by late Raiders Owner Al Davis in '88, but was fired after only 20 games (MERCURYNEWS.com, 1/7).

"Whenever I can get around important or exciting people, I want to do it. I’ve got a nice little list of sitting with some pretty big winners at some of these key games" – Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, explaining why he enjoys having celebrities – such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie – join him during games (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/7).

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Rockets-Cavaliers, followed by Grizzlies-Hawks highlighting a Tinder promotion and Lakers-Clippers, including Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer dancing along to an in-arena performance by Fergie. Last night’s 1:00am edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Pelicans-Hornets, followed by Suns-T'Wolves and Rockets-Cavaliers.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: an unnamed referee in a middle school boys basketball game for talking on a cell phone while officiating the game. Olbermann also busted PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” for misidentifying several very old baseball cards, and Rexall Place in Edmonton for having part of the advertisement on the boards get stuck to a player when he was checked into it. Olbermann: “Do you see how ugly advertising on players’ uniforms will be?”

ESPN drops Nets-Knicks next month and Clippers-Knicks in March. MSG Network remains stuck with them.

— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) January 8, 2015

This Tinder themed highlight for the Hawks-Grizz game on Tinder Night is outstanding. Well done, @SportsCenter. #SwipeRightATL

— Amanda Rykoff (@amandarykoff) January 8, 2015

i’m telling you guys…this ballmer thing is gonna be cute until it’s not.

— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) January 8, 2015

This is the type of owner I'll be looking to hug after a #Packers win on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/W20LRO5oMM

— Governor Walker (@GovWalker) January 7, 2015

The Mets, in conjunction with the N.Y. Blood Center, will host a blood drive in the Caesars Club at Citi Field from 10:00am-5:00pm ET. Donors will receive a voucher good for two free tickets to an April game, excluding Opening Day.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Historical Nicknames.”

“In the Red Star in 1976, Captain Yuri Gavrilov coined this nickname for a U.K. politician who had made a speech against the USSR.”

TNT’s Marv Albert appeared on CBS’ Late Show” last night to discuss the state of sports, including the controversial non-pass interference penalty in the Lions-Cowboys game. Albert was discussing the call when host David Letterman said, “What about Ed Hochuli?” Albert noted, “Ed was not involved. Ed is an excellent official, the guy who’s all pumped-up.” Letterman said, “He’s all beefed-up and goofy.” Letterman then read of list of improvements for football, including “once a quarter everybody in” that is on a roster. Albert said of the audience laughing, “Is this laughter of support or derision?” Letterman said, “When I'm in the cold, hard ground, people will be thanking me for improving this game that, by God, needs a little positive attention here lately and I've got the key to that success.”

Last night marked Albert's 126th appearance on Letterman’s show, with Albert noting, “Much of that, it must be pointed out, I happened to be in the building doing NBC (sports).” Letterman said, “Not so. We loved you. We sought you out, we would wait in line, we would take our place, we would do anything we could to get you to be a guest on the show.” Albert replied, “I think I'm trailing Regis, is that correct? Jack Hanna?” Letterman said to Albert, “Bring an animal out next time” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/7).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “No one got hurt but some areas near Dallas, Texas, actually experienced a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, which some blame on fracking. However, scientists say that it was more likely aftershocks from Chris Christie celebrating at the Cowboys game” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/7).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” featured a segment called “Puppy Predictors” in which puppies predicted the winner of the CFP Championship game based on what bowl of food they ate from. Fallon said, “There is a 5 percent chance that this will be correct” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/7).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things I Said When I Learned I Made The Baseball Hall Of Fame.” All four members of the '15 Baseball HOF induction class – Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Craig Biggio and John Smoltz – appeared live on-stage to read the list, wearing their HOF jerseys and caps.

10) Martinez: "Maybe I should make baseball my career."
9) Johnson: "One step closer to becoming People Magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive.'"
8) Biggio: "Second biggest thrill? Showering with Roger Clemens."
7) Smoltz: "Ooh, what will I wear to the ceremony?"
6) Martinez, Biggio, Smoltz: "Please tell me I got more votes than Randy Johnson."
5) Johnson: "I feel like an ever Bigger Unit."
4) Biggio, Smoltz: "Kind of spoils it if Smoltz got in too."/"Kind of spoils it if Biggio got in too."
3) Martinez: "Who's your daddy?"
2) Johnson: "Guess they forgot about me killing that bird."
1) All four: "Do I really have to do Letterman?"

“Who is the ‘Iron Lady’?” The politician was former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.