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Wednesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Chocolate Rain

  • Caroline Wozniacki To Become Godiva's First Sports Endorser
  • Miami Reportedly Lands Its First-Ever MLB All-Star Game
  • Massachusetts Bill Seeks Financial Details Of '24 Games Bid
  • Bolt Helps Launch Puma's Ignite Shoe With Times Square Event

Caroline Wozniacki To Become Godiva's First Sports Endorser

Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki is becoming N.Y.-based Godiva Chocolatier's "first sports endorser" in a deal that could be announced as early as today. Both sides declined to offer financial details, but they confirmed that "product definitely is included." Godiva CEO Mohamed Elsarky said that a profile in the Wall Street Journal after her U.S. Open final appearance last fall "brought Wozniacki – and her love of chocolate – to his attention" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/11).

Miami Reportedly Lands Its First-Ever MLB All-Star Game

MLB officials this week are expected to announce that the ’17 All-Star Game “will be played at Marlins Park,” marking the first time that South Florida will host the Midsummer Classic. The Marlins in '12 attempted to bid for this year's game, but it was awarded to the Reds. MLB selected Miami to host the '00 All-Star Game, "only to yank it away and hand it to Atlanta following the dismantling" of the '97 World Series team (MIAMI HERALD, 2/11).

Massachusetts Bill Seeks Financial Details Of '24 Games Bid

Two Boston lawmakers today are slated to file a bill that "would impose financial disclosure requirements on all public and private expenditures associated" with the '24 Games. The bill would establish a commission to review the "public safety, economic, and social impacts" of the Games. It is a "clear indication that Beacon Hill leaders are increasingly determined to play a more significant role in the process." The measure has been discussed with legislative leaders, and it "drew a swift rebuke" yesterday from Boston Mayor Martin Walsh (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/11).

Usain Bolt Helps Launch Puma's Ignite Shoe With Times Square Event

Puma today officially introduced its Ignite performance running shoe that hits retail next month. As part of the launch, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt last night was “front, centre and totally unmissable in Times Square.” Bolt posted several images from the event to his Twitter account (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 2/10).

FS Prime Ticket Adding Interactive Feature To Clippers Telecasts

FS Prime Ticket starting with tonight's “Clippers Live” pregame show will "add an element to its broadcasts in which viewers can respond to onscreen prompts." The RSN is partnering with interactive media company IPowow on the feature. When a question is flashed onscreen during a Clippers telecast, "fans can go to Fox Sports via their smartphone, laptop or tablet to cast their vote and the results will be shown in real time" (L.A. TIMES, 2/11).

AC/DC To Play At Least Three MLB Ballparks In Summer Tour

By Don Muret, Staff Writer

Legendary rock band AC/DC this morning released a few stadium dates for the group’s “Rock or Bust” tour, including MetLife Stadium (Aug. 26), Wrigley Field (Sept. 15), AT&T Park (Sept. 25) and Dodger Stadium (Sept. 28). The Wrigley show will be the third summer concert booked at the Cubs’ ballpark behind Billy Joel (Aug. 27) and Foo Fighters/Cheap Trick (Aug. 29).

NBA House Party: League Ramps Up All-Star Events In N.Y.

The NBA today opens an unprecedented two NBA House locations in advance of All-Star Weekend in N.Y. The Brooklyn Paramount Theatre location will feature a "regulation-size court that will host clinics, competitions and special appearances by some of basketball's biggest stars." The other NBA House at the Skylight at Moynihan Station will showcase "skills challenges and competition on a specially designed half court" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/8).

Meanwhile, the All-Star Game in N.Y. brings with it a slew of media appearances tonight, with TNT's Charles Barkley on NBC's "The Tonight Show" and fellow broadcaster Kenny Smith on NBC's "Late Night." Magic Johnson will appear on the syndicated "Wendy Williams Show." Appearances later in the week include Shaquille O'Neal on "Live! With Kelly & Michael" tomorrow and Warriors G Stephen Curry on ABC's "GMA" Friday (THE DAILY).

Showtime Sports To Air Documentary About The Late Dean Smith

Showtime announced that it will air a one-hour documentary titled, "Dean Smith," premiering on Wednesday, March 25. The film about the late Basketball HOFer is produced by Showtime Sports and Ross Greenburg Productions, directed and edited by George Roy and written by Steve Stern. Production began in early '14. The film will feature interviews with former Univ. of North Carolina basketball players Charlie Scott, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Antawn Jamison, Eric Montross and J.R. Reid (Showtime).

Meanwhile, ESPN Classic tonight will begin showing blocks of programming dedicated to Smith, including the half-hour "Remembering Dean Smith" and replays of past UNC basketball games (ESPN).

Speed Reads....

The “secret documents behind a secret deal to build an NHL-size arena” in Markham, Ont., will “stay secret – even though the project was defeated” by the city council more than a year ago. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti called the motion to release 10 confidential reports “out of order” (TORONTO STAR, 2/11).

Edmonton officially withdrew its bid to host the ’22 Commonwealth Games “less than three weeks before the March 2 submission deadline.” The withdrawal leaves Durban, South Africa, as “the only bid remaining” (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 2/11).

Little League Baseball today announced it has "stripped the U.S. championship from the Chicago-based Jackie Robinson West team and has suspended the coach for violating a rule prohibiting the use of players who live outside the geographic area that the team represents" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 2/11).

Rockets G James Harden appears in a Bloomingdale's full-page ad running in the N.Y. Times that touts a "one-on-one" appearance tomorrow at the company’s flagship store in N.Y. (THE DAILY).

Quick Hits....

“What’s interesting to me is all the creative work, all the planning and seeing it’s better than I ever thought it would be. You feel proud that we’re living up to that legacy” – Daytona Int’l Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, on the Daytona Rising renovation project at the track (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/11).

“We are not an impediment to this fight. We stand ready to go. The principals need to agree to terms and come to a deal” – A statement from HBO Sports regarding negotiations between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao (HBO Sports).

“All these guys who run these organizations who talk about analytics, they have one thing in common – they’re a bunch of guys who have never played the game, and they never got the girls in high school” – TNT’s Charles Barkley, on NBA front offices using analytics more ("Inside The NBA" TNT, 2/10).

Night Moves....Cat Scratch Fever

Last night’s 11:00pm ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live" both led with Kentucky-LSU men's basketball. ESPN followed with Notre Dame-Clemson, Rockets-Suns and ESPN’s Barry Melrose showing NHL highlights with the L.A. Kings mascot in his “man cave.” FS1 followed with Wisconsin-Nebraska, Kansas-Texas Tech and Notre Dame-Clemson. The first NHL report on FS1 was 34 minutes into the broadcast with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gauging interest in placing a franchise in Las Vegas.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann did not air his “world’s worst” segment last night, but railed against retired Braves 3B Chipper Jones for his tweet calling the Newtown school shooting in '12 a “hoax” for which he later apologized.

Morning Hot Reads: American Film Institution

Tributes continue to pour in for late NFL Films Founder Ed Sabol. Under the header, "I Loved This Man (Even Though I Never Met Him)," the CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Steve Rosenbloom writes, "I loved what he did. I loved the memories he left me." PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS headline: "NFL Films' Sabol Captured The Game's Magic, Mystique." Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE: "It is never not football season, and the credit for that belongs as much to Ed Sabol and his son, Steve, as anyone."

Also:

Twitter Me This....

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In Other News....

Coca-Cola fell short of its annual profit target for “the first time in several years amid weak sales in markets ranging from China to Europe to Mexico.” The company warned that “overseas business conditions could worsen this year” after Q4 profit plunged 55%, “pulled down by weakening foreign currencies and one-time charges” (WSJ.com, 2/10).

Spanning The Global....

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

1) English Premier League Agrees Record $7.8B Domestic Televison Rights Deal
2) SpoBiS Summit: NBA's Morel Says No. 1 Status In Global Market Is 'Doable'
3) SpoBiS Summit: Bayern Munich Using New York As Launchpad Into U.S.
4) Microsoft, Real Madrid Form Partnership To Ease Fans' Access To Players
5) Infront Seals $1.2B Deal With Chinese Billionaire Wang Jianlin's Dalian Wanda

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 Chicago Sun-Times

Final Jeopardy!

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

“Winner of a Tony for Best Musical, it culminates with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

Laugh Track....Knicks Knacks

ESPN/ABC NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson appeared together on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night, with host Jimmy Kimmel introducing them by saying, “Our next guests met more than 25 years ago as assistant coach and point guard for the Knicks, back when New York had a professional basketball team. They are together again in the broadcast booth for ESPN and ABC.” Jackson said of the pair’s broadcasting style, “It doesn't matter whether it's a blowout or not, we’re just freestyling. We just have fun, which is the beautiful part. If you watched us or listened to us do a game or you went to dinner with us … it'd be the same guys. We just try to have fun and just grab different topics at any point” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/10).

CBS’ David Letterman noted the film “50 Shades of Grey” is opening, “If you’re really that excited about sadomasochism just go down and see the Knicks play.” Letterman noted Pope Francis will visit the U.S. later this year, including an address to Congress, “He's going to talk to them. He believes the New England Patriots have been deflating his giant hat” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/10).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “It was just revealed that back in 2011 -- I just read this -- Michael Jordan was signing a poster for Obama's 50th birthday but accidentally spelled the president's name wrong. But don't worry the president made sure Jordan's name was spelled right when he had him audited by the IRS” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/10).

Top Ten....Between A Rock Center And A Hard Place

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Other Things Brian Williams Has Said That May Or May Not Be True” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/10).

10) “I'm proud to hail from the great state of New Jersey.”
9) “Up next, a profile of Mitch McConnell you'll find fascinating.”
8) “I was initiated into manhood by Sandra Day O'Connor.”
7) “Have you met my sisters, Venus and Serena Williams?”
6) “I recently defeated Bill O’Reilly and Richard Simmons in a cage match.”
5) “Boy, did I enjoy ‘Mortdecai.’”
4) “I invented nachos.”
3) “My temporary replacement, Lester Holt, once killed a guy with his bare hands.”
2) “I've never been to a strip club.”
1) “It's a thrill to be on your show, Dave.”