NBC Sports today will announce a multiyear deal with boxing adviser/manager Al Haymon for a series of fight telecasts that begin March 7. NBC is "expected to carry five cards in prime time and six on Saturday afternoons," while the "remaining nine shows will be on NBCSN in prime time." The deal is a time-buy arrangement, with Haymon Boxing paying at least $20M annually to purchase airtime on NBC and NBCSN (N.Y. TIMES, 1/14).

Meanwhile, negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight today will move to discussions between HBO and Showtime, which are "scheduled to sort out a joint broadcast of the super-fight." Boxing officials said that "both boxers have expressed agreement over terms of the purse split" (L.A. TIMES, 1/14).

MLB owners today begin a two-day quarterly meeting in Paradise Valley, Ariz., the final one that will be presided over by Commissioner Bud Selig before his planned retirement at the end of next week. Selig will be feted tonight at a special dinner involving the owners and invited guests, a prelude of sorts before another recognition Saturday night of his more than 22 years in office during the annual Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Awards Dinner in L.A.

The owners meeting agenda itself is highlighted by a likely announcement of the '16 All-Star Game, with San Diego among the candidates. Selig last summer said he hoped to award both the '16 and '17 All-Star Games before leaving office, but it appears he will only name one. Owners also will ratify a recently struck five-year labor agreement with umpires and receive updates on several other ongoing negotiations, including with the MLBPA toward a new domestic violence policy.

Also on the agenda is a continued review of experimental efforts to improve MLB's pace-of-play issue. The issue was studied extensively at the last set of owners meetings in November in K.C.

The Heat yesterday were named NBA team retailer of the year by the league for the fifth time at the annual NBA Team Retail Summit in Las Vegas. The award follows a season in which the Heat achieved the highest retail sales total in league history. "The Heat continue to do everything well and they are experts at integrating marketing and promotions at retail," said NBA VP/Global Retail Development Brian Keegan. By a vote of team retailers, 47 Brand won NBA apparel licensee for the third consecutive year. "They have the right products at retail and are fantastic at servicing our teams," said Keegan.

Team retailers also voted NBA ball and backboard licensee Spalding non-apparel licensee of the year, in recognition of improved service to NBA venues and team shops, including lower minimums and more custom items.

The NBA has a series of events planned in London ahead of tomorrow's Bucks-Knicks Global Games contest at The O2 Arena. Thanks to a partnership with the Royal Foundation, Knicks F Carmelo Anthony and Prince Harry "will meet with England's next generation of sports coaches and mentors who participated" in the foundation's Coach Core program. In addition, Bucks coach Jason Kidd and some of his players will "participate in children's clinics" (USA TODAY, 1/14).

A Univ. of Hawaii Board of Regents committee will meet today to "discuss the salary" for its vacant AD position before the school advertises the opening starting tomorrow. Outgoing AD Ben Jay, who announced his resignation Dec. 9, has been paid $293,000 annually. The move comes as UH Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman "announced an eight-person search advisory committee and plans for hiring Jay's successor no later than 'mid-year.'" Initial interviews "will be held no later than early March" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 1/14).

Skechers today named golfer Belen Mozo as its newest brand ambassador. She will be featured in upcoming global marketing campaigns and will have direct design influence on a custom Go Golf Blade footwear style scheduled for release in late '15. Other Skechers athlete endorsers include golfer Matt Kuchar and distance runners Meb Keflezighi and Kara Goucher (Skechers).

U.S. Youth Soccer will announce Chris Moore as the organization’s new CEO. Moore has more than 10 years of business development and leadership experience, and most recently was COO & President of GENYouth, a non-profit organization that operates the Fuel Up To Play 60 program in partnership with the NFL and National Dairy Council. U.S. Youth Soccer members voted to create this new position and eliminate the position of Exec Dir at their '14 meeting.

The USTA today will make history by “adding same-gender couples doubles tournaments to its sanctioned list of competitive events in its popular adult division.” The first event will be held at the Plaza Racquet Club in Palm Springs on March 7-8. Plaza Racquet Club Dir of Tennis Kurt Haggstrom: "When you look around at what's happening across the world and with more and more states allowing gay marriage, there's just a growing acceptance of the LBGT community" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 1/14).

New ESPN CTO Aaron LaBerge made his first hire, bringing in Tasneem Brutch as a VP in the network's advanced technology group. Brutch will report directly to LaBerge and be based in Bristol. Previously, she was Samsung Electronics Dir of Research & Development (John Ourand, Staff Writer).

The Mobile City Council yesterday postponed consideration of a request to “provide nearly $500,000 for upgrades to Hank Aaron Stadium until Jan. 20.” The ballpark is home to the Double-A Southern League Mobile BayBears (AL.com, 1/13).

The Sarpy County (Neb.) Board yesterday voted 4-1 to “accept a $589,484 bid” for a Daktronics HD scoreboard at Werner Park, home of the Triple-A PCL Omaha Storm Chasers. Despite being only four years old, the ballpark's scoreboard “had been blacking out and had squares that didn’t work” (OMAHA.com, 1/14).

Ohio State has scheduled the celebration of its CFP National Championship for Jan. 24 in Ohio Stadium. The event is open to the public (CLEVELAND.com, 1/13).

Amway, which sponsors the American Football Coaches Association and is the presenting sponsor of the organization's Coaches Trophy, runs a full-page ad in USA Today: “Congratulations Ohio State Buckeyes” (THE DAILY).

The American Football Coaches Association named Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville President. He was elected by members attending the AFCA's '15 convention this week in Louisville (AFCA).

NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon last night at the Spurs-Wizards game took part in a tricycle race with a fan. The result was “predictable” as Gordon “left that poor guy in the dust” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/13).

“What I give them credit for is that, unlike the NBA, they defined the rule so that it’s easy to call under replay. There’s no room for discretion” – Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, referring to Cowboys WR Dez Bryant’s overturned catch in Sunday’s game against the Packers (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/13).

“I didn’t realize how much more passionate you became as an owner. You’re very focused. I think I was a huge fan. I didn’t think it could get worse, and I think it’s multiples of that” – Bucks co-Owner Marc Lasry (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/14).

“To the speaker, I just want to point out I said there are going to be some things that we agree on. Having a college football playoff is clearly something that we can agree on” – President Obama, referring to Speaker of the House John Boehner (AP, 1/13).

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Cavaliers-Suns, followed by T'Wolves-Pacers, Warriors-Jazz and the Jets naming Todd Bowles head coach. Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Miami-Duke, followed by Cavaliers-Suns, Mavericks-Kings, T’Wolves-Pacers, Spurs-Wizards, Missouri-Kentucky and the Bowles hire.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman for knocking down several cheerleaders while running onto the field during pregame introductions. Olbermann also criticized Labatt USA for issuing commemorative beer cans of "U.S. Olympic goaltender stars," including one for "'Miracle on Ice' netminder" Jim Craig, who has a DUI arrest on his record. Also on blast was Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman for wearing a Univ. of Houston hat after Ohio State won the national championship because he has been named head coach at the school.

Ryan Braun was only Brewer player at the funeral of Mark Attanasio's father last week

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) January 14, 2015

Not sure whose idea that was to have Maccagnan and Bowles huddle together alone (woody or casserly and wolf) but it was a good idea #jets

— NYPost_Cannizzaro (@MarkCannizzaro) January 14, 2015

The NBA announced the networks have bailed on a whole bunch of Knicks and Lakers games they probably shouldn't have scheduled to begin with.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 14, 2015

Today I watched 6 episodes of Family Feud and I cried watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I think I'm ready for baseball to start.

— dan haren (@ithrow88) January 14, 2015

Mikhail Prokhorov is looking to sell the Brooklyn Nets. Maybe the new owner will move them to the city. New York deserves a basketball team

— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) January 13, 2015

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Broadway Musicals.”

“’Iowa Stubborn’ was the second song heard in this show when it opened on Broadway in 1957.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Sports Talk.”

For $200: “Oh I do say, sticky wicket is a term that comes from this team sport.”

For $400: “In figure skating a spin executed in the Arabesque position is named for this beast of burden.”

For $600: “In bowling, try to get your ball in this area, between the one and two or the one and three pin to get a strike.”

For $800: “At the first Winter Olympics, the Brits swept up in this sport.”

For $1000: “Who’s there? Oh, it’s this notch at the end of an archer’s arrow into which the bow string fits.”

Actress Aubrey Plaza appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night where she discussed her role in Newcastle Brown Ale's campaign around the Super Bowl. Plaza: “Newcastle Brown Ale has decided to do a campaign where they’re crowdfunding an ad for the big football game. It’s kind of an anti-commercial, so they’ve asked me to be their anti-spokesperson because I actually don’t care” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/13).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “Congratulations to Ohio State, your new national college football champions. If you saw the game, what a game, what a juggernaut. They crushed the Oregon Ducks. Their coach, Urban Meyer, they’re saying may be the greatest college football coach of all time. People say, ‘Urban Meyer?’ and I say, ‘Yeah yeah yeah. Do not confuse Urban Meyer with our mayor, Mayor de Blasio. That’s Urban Quagmire.’ That’s a different deal” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/13).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Overheard Inside The Car That Was Crushed By An Elephant.” The broadcast aired footage of an elephant climbing on and then sitting on the hood of a car (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/13).

10) "That'll buff right out."
9) "Happens every time you wash your car."
8) "Just give him the peanuts!"
7) "Probably smells my elephant."
6) "Who cares, it's a rental car."
5) "Thanks for nothing, Tarzan."
4) "Hey, no hitchhikers!"
3) "Reminds me of the time I walked in on Milton Berle."
2) "Hello, OnStar?"
1) "Still beats taking the bus."

“What is ‘The Music Man?’”

Correct responses to the “Sports Talk” category:

For $200: “What is cricket?”

For $400: “What is a camel?”

For $600: “What’s the pocket?”

For $800: “What is curling?”

For $1000: “What is the nock?”