U.S. District Judge David Doty today is scheduled to hear arguments from both sides in the NFLPA's "motion to vacate the arbitration decision that upheld" Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's suspension and "reinstate him immediately." Peterson will attend the hearing but "isn't expected to speak" (USA TODAY, 2/6). The suspension via the Commissioner's Exempt List "set a precedent for future NFL disciplinary cases" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/6).

The LPGA tournament scheduled for May 18-24 at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala., "will not be held." Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Foundation Chair John Cannon said that the "event without a title sponsor would not be possible." Last year's event was the Airbus Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, but Airbus "did not renew its title sponsorship." The event "had been listed with a tentative designation" on the '15 schedule. Cannon "did not rule out the LPGA returning to Mobile next year" (AL.com, 2/5).

Sun Devil Stadium renovations "took another significant step" yesterday as the Arizona Board of Regents "approved financing for the first phase of construction," which includes a new student section and infrastructure upgrades. Arizona State officials said that the first phase is being funded by $60M in bonds and $5.7M in private donations, and that "public funds won't be used." The full three-phase renovation is projected to cost $256M (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/6).

Meanwhile, the Colorado State BOG approved plans to finance construction of an on-campus football stadium, "clearing the way for groundbreaking this summer" and a '17 opening. CSU "will issue a variety of bonds" totaling $242M, with a 40-year payback period. The "total cost over the 40 years" will be $451M, the board was told before voting (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 2/6).

Loretto Sports Ventures President Lamar Hunt Jr., brother of Chiefs Chair Clark Hunt, today will be formally introduced as ECHL Missouri Mavericks Owner. The team plays its games at Independence Events Center near K.C. Hunt's ownership is "not part of Hunt Sports Group," which is run by Clark. Lamar said, "I can't say today that Kansas City would be a strong NHL market." He is "interested in the Mavericks' affiliating as a top farm club for an NHL team" (K.C. STAR, 2/6). 

The Timbers starting today will be "offering fans the opportunity to participate in an axe photo shoot" in celebration of the club's 40th anniversary and fifth year in MLS. The team "will offer two free photo shoots to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis," today and tomorrow and Feb. 14-15 at Providence Park. Fans who took part in an '11 shoot can "retake their pictures and may be featured in team programming" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/29).

The NFLPA's collusion claim against the NFL received a setback last night after a federal judge denied the union's request to conduct discovery. The union has argued the league colluded in '10, and hid this conduct from the league to obtain the '11 CBA and settlement of the players' antitrust lawsuit. The union filed the lawsuit in '12. The case has already been thrown out once before, by Judge David Doty. The '11 CBA and lawsuit settlement contain strong language precluding collusion claims. The one area of wiggle room in the law is the argument that agreements were fraudulently induced.

For more, see today's issue of THE DAILY.

Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin's Dalian Wanda conglomerate reportedly has bid around $1B for Switzerland-based Infront Sports & Media (BUSINESS TIMES, 2/4). A source said that the deal will be announced on Tuesday. A second source said that Dalian Wanda, whose bid "beat interest from U.S. sports marketing firms and media-focused buyout group Providence, values Infront at well above" $1B (REUTERS, 2/3).

The Triple-A PCL Memphis Redbirds unveiled a “new St. Louis Cardinals-inspired logo featuring the parent club’s ‘birds on the bat’ over a cursive ‘Memphis’” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/6).

Kansas State formally announced that its annual spring football game will be held April 25 at Sporting Park due to “logistical and safety issues” around construction work on the school’s Vanier Football Complex (MANHATTAN MERCURY, 2/6).

Patriots coach Bill Belichick will appear on CBS’ “Late Show” next Wednesday, marking Belichick’s second appearance on the show. He made an appearance in ’04 after winning Super Bowl XXXVIII (CBS).

More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the U.S.-Mexico int’l friendly on April 15 at the Alamodome. The match will mark the U.S. men’s national team's "first appearance in San Antonio" since ’88 (MYSANANTONIO.com, 2/5).

“He’s got 11 rings – he can say a lot of things” – Nets GM Billy King, on Knicks President Phil Jackson admitting that his construction of the Knicks' roster had “fallen flat on its face” (ESPNNY.com, 2/5).

“We eventually want to win championships. I think this team has an opportunity to get to the playoffs, and we’re expecting to get there” – Astros Owner Jim Crane, discussing his franchise’s goals for the upcoming season (MLB.com, 2/5).

“We want to see your best teams in the playoffs. And there is an unbalance and certain unfairness. There is a proposal (from one of the broadcasters) where the division winners would all automatically go into the playoffs and then you’d see the next 10 best teams” – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, on possibly changing the league’s playoff system (NBCSPORTS.com, 2/5).

“I think there’s a recognition that we don’t want to be different in two ways than everybody else, that is to stay not having a championship game and not having a definitive way to determine our champion” – Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, on holding talks to determine a single team as conference champion to the CFP Playoff selection committee in the event of a tie like this past year (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/6).

“It was talked about and utilized. There’s a discrepancy in what teams will be able to offer based on how they choose to write their formulas” – Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads, on stipends for student-athletes already being used as a chip in the recruiting process (K.C. STAR, 2/6).

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Clippers-Cavaliers, followed by Tiger Woods withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open and Gonzaga-Santa Clara men's basketball. The first NHL report on ESPN was 23 minutes into the broadcast featuring Ducks-Predators. Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Woods’ withdrawal, followed by Clippers-Cavaliers, Wizards-Hornets and Suns-Trail Blazers. The first NHL report on FS1 was 24 minutes into the telecast, also with Ducks-Predators.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Univ. of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, who “prefaced National Signing Day by reneging on a scholarship offer to a kid who had been willing to commit to their school last June.” Olbermann also criticized two Canucks fans for dressing as "Muppet Show" characters Statler and Waldorf, and Redskins QB Kirk Cousins for continuing to be the “NFL leader in TMI” after posting to social media about urinating at an NFL drug tester's house for his drug test.

As the FIFA presidential race takes shape, incumbent Sepp Blatter is drawing heat. S.F. CHRONICLE headline: "Blatter's Corrupt Guidance Of FIFA Needs To End." YAHOO SPORTS goes with, "The Unfavourable Man Who Is Poised To Stay As FIFA's Unpopular Leader."

THE POYNTER INSTITUTE examines the "dramatic shift in the sports media landscape." Internet sites "now are more prevalent," as evidenced in this year's edition of "The Best American Sports Writing."

SPORTSONEARTH.com on the Falcons' fake noise scandal: "All three major networks can feature Deflate-gate news on their nightly telecasts, yet the Falcons – who have actually 'fessed up to their transgression – don't even warrant a significant mention on SportsCenter?"

Also:

• Rob Manfred may have to spark change in youth baseball's structure.
• An analysis of the stigma surrounding baseball as a "boring" sport.
• NHL experimenting with player- and puck-tracking technology.
• Browns' Jimmy Haslam III moving up "NFL problem owners" list.
• Schools look to capitalize on college football signing day hoopla.
• A week in the life of Jets star OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Should find out today whether Budapest will bid for the 2024 Olympics.

— Steve Wilson (@stevewilsonap) February 6, 2015

Was hoping to see Tiger in a swansong battle with Rory over the next 5 years. Must be a doubt now whether that is ever going to happen.

— Paul Mahoney (@paulmahoneygolf) February 6, 2015

Looking forward to discussing @IowaSpeedway Fan Engagement this morning at the @amaiowa #AMAIowaExperience #AMAIowa

— Jimmy Small (@IowaPresident) February 6, 2015

Three footballs on Today set. All appear to meet inflation standards. Studio lights could influence pressure.

— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) February 6, 2015

British broadcasters BT and Sky will bid in an auction for EPL TV rights.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's Chargers stadium task force holds its first meeting.

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

“Efforts to save the historic treasures threatened by the creation of the Aswan High Dam led Unesco to create this list.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Olympic Sports By Gold Medalist.”

For $200: “1980: Eric Heiden.”

For $400: “2004: Ian Thorpe.”

For $600: “1976: Michael Spinks.”

For $800: “1996: Dominique Dawes.”

For $1000: “1968: Jean-Claude Killy.”

Dodgers investor Magic Johnson appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night, with host Jimmy Kimmel noting he “ruled the NBA when legends were born and shorts were actually short. He’s a five-time NBA champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist and owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers (and) Sparks. I think he even owns the airport, LAX.” Johnson said of his comments that he hoped the Lakers would keep losing to help secure a high lottery pick, “I don’t have to hope anymore (the team keeps losing).” But Johnson said the Lakers are “not tanking by any stretch of the imagination. They’re playing hard.” Johnson: “This team right now is not built to win, it’s not. So if you’re going to be bad, be all the way bad so we can get a good draft pick” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/5).

CBS’ David Letterman: “Over the weekend, (Lance Armstrong) and his girlfriend were driving and plowed into a parked car. They took off and the cops got them and Lance talked his girlfriend into saying she was driving the car, to take the rap. So actually they wrote her a ticket, DWI, Driving With an Idiot.” More Letterman: “Hard to keep a thing like this quiet but the world’s oldest man turned 112. I’m going to tell you something, 112 years old, that guy could have carried the ball and scored for the Seahawks. … The Patriots had the victory parade in Boston yesterday, and whenever Boston celebrates, it’s like no other city. It’s a fantastic celebration. They had the parade and they had the team and they had balloons. Here, let me show you.” The broadcast then aired footage of Patriots’ fans in Boston, Patriots players riding in the parade and then an “image” of a balloon shaped like a deflating football (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/5).

Last night’s Top Ten List was “Top Ten Little-Known Grammy Award Categories” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/5).

10) “Best Country Performance By A Tammy”
9) “Most Improved Rapper”
8) “Best Song Pulled From A Republican Campaign At The Request Of The Artist”
7) “Least Dressed”
6) “Iggiest Azalea”
5) “Copyright Lawsuit Of The Year”
4) “Best Suge Knight Alibi”
3) “Most Polite Jazz”
2) “Outstanding Rapper-Turned-Actor On A Prime-Time Police Drama”
1) “Best New Age Bull****”

“What is World Heritage Sites?”

Correct responses to the “Olympic Sports By Gold Medalist” category:

For $200: “What is men’s speed skating?”

For $400: “What is swimming?”

For $600: “What is boxing?”

For $800: “What is gymnastics?”

For $1000: “What is downhill skiing?”