MLS will not consider Las Vegas as an expansion market until after ‘18, according to a letter that Commissioner Don Garber sent to Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman. The local ownership group lobbying the league had received approval in December from the city council for public stadium funding if awarded a team. However, following a lawsuit brought forth by a council member, the status of that funding was uncertain. Following Garber’s letter, the city has said that deal is off.

In his letter, Garber said the decision comes “given the timing of our expansion rollout and the uncertainty as to when we might be able to move forward in Las Vegas.” Garber has previously stated the league hopes to make a decision on its next two expansion teams in the first half of this year.

Boston 2024 organizers yesterday "brought their pitch for federal money" to DC, "seeking support in Congress for taxpayer-funded security measures they told lawmakers will cost at least" $1B. The meeting "was held behind closed doors," and included "most members of the congressional delegation." USOC CEO Scott Blackmun, "as well as all the top officials of Boston 2024," including Chair John Fish, were on hand. Some of the discussion focused on "how much money might also be secured for transportation and other infrastructure improvements" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).

The NBA this morning will hold its annual Technology Summit, a key event of the league's All-Star Weekend. The summit this year is at the Waldorf Astoria in N.Y. The theme of "GameTime" includes sessions on the "Gaming in a Digital Universe," "The Currency of Sports," "Next Generation Wearables”, “The Evolution of Basketball Analytics” and a one-on-one interview with The Huffington Post Media Group President & Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington.

Real Salt Lake's efforts to build a minor-league soccer stadium at the Utah state fairgrounds "took a step backward" yesterday. A state Legislature committee "voted down a proposal calling for the state to sign a 50-year lease" with non-profit group Utah State Fairpark, which operates the fairgrounds. The Fairpark "needs the extension so it in turn can sign a 40-year lease with RSL" to build an 8,000-seat, $18-23M stadium for the USL Monarchs. Some worried that the long-term lease "could lock the state into making higher long-term subsidies" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/13).

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred today will hold a press conference in Miami formally announcing that Marlins Park will host the ’17 All-Star Game. Manfred will then join Florida Gov. Rick Scott this evening in West Palm Beach “where the governor will host his annual baseball dinner … to kick off the start of spring training” (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 2/12).

The college baseball season begins today with one significant change from last year, a “new flat-seam baseball designed to bring a little more scoring back to the college game.” The ball’s seams have been lowered “so it’s more like the ones used at the professional level.” The change was made after criticism over “the lack of offense the past four years” (AP, 2/11).

Meanwhile, perennial powerhouse LSU is expected to open its season before a sellout crowd at Alex Box Stadium, and the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE looks at how the program is “hoping to reverse” its declining attendance trend.

Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium starting today hosts the three-day USA Sevens Int'l Rugby Tournament, with NBC, NBCSN and Universal Sports Network combining to carry 20 hours of coverage. The broadcast network's coverage begins tomorrow. The event is part of the '14-15 HSBC Sevens World Series (NBCUniversal).

This marks the event's sixth year at Sam Boyd, and it is "clear that leaving San Diego for Las Vegas was one roll of the dice that has paid off." Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson said, "The biggest difference between rugby sevens and other events is the international traveler. (The international fan base) grows every year and (accounts for) a significant portion of the fans for the tournament" (VEGASSEVEN.com, 2/11).

NFL free agent RB Ray Rice today as the one-year anniversary of his high-profile domestic-violence incident approaches this weekend issued a statement in which he "apologized and also thanked the city of Baltimore and the Ravens, including owner Steve Bisciotti." Rice "plans to leave Maryland and move back to his home state of New York," according to sources. Rice in his statement said, "To all the kids who looked up to me, I’m truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it’s helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 2/13).

The Big Ten announced that Penn State will “receive its share of conference bowl money” in ’15, which could reach $6.9M. The school has not received bowl revenue since ’10 “because of self-imposed and Big Ten sanctions” (PENNLIVE.com, 2/12).

The Sacramento Planning Commission has approved the 16-story hotel and condo tower planned for the downtown arena complex, “a pivotal step that allows the Kings to begin construction of the project” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/13).

Arkansas State Univ. AD Terry Mohajir has been awarded a four-year contract extension through June '19 (Arkansas State).

Boxing promoter Lou DiBella announced that the April 11 Danny Garcia-Lamont Peterson bout “will take place at the Barclays Center” (ESPN.com, 2/12).

The Pac-12 announced that the Univ. of Utah will host next month’s conference gymnastics championships. The event was originally slated for Arizona State, but “it is being relocated to Utah’s Huntsman Center because ASU could have a scheduling conflict with the first and second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/13).

State Farm is running a full-page ad in USA Today featuring Clippers G Chris Paul, Warriors G Stephen Curry, Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard, Basketball HOFer John Stockton and WNBA Storm G Sue Bird: “The State Farm All-Star Team Is Here To Assist” (THE DAILY).

Bergdorf Goodman is running a full-page ad in N.Y. Times featuring Knicks F Carmelo Anthony: “A Goodman Shoots For Success” (THE DAILY).

“Do you care if I ask you stuff about baseball?” – Golfer Nick Watney, who is paired with MLB Giants C Buster Posey at the PGA Tour AT&T National Pro-Am, on the first tee of yesterday’s round (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/13).

"It's my claim to fame. It's something no one way can take away. It's proof I lived on this earth that I created 'The Splash Brothers'" – Warriors.com writer Brian Witt, who in '12 coined the nickname for Warriors Gs Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with an in-game tweet (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/13).

“We’re going towards 4,000 in advance, and the crowd should be about 5,000. From an MLS perspective, it’s been successful. MLS teams aren’t used to seeing so many at preseason events” – Austin Aztex CEO Rene van de Zande, on the expansion USL club hosting a preseason tournament this weekend that includes DC United, Columbus Crew SC and FC Dallas (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 2/13).

“People are gambling now on sports teams and doing it through bookmakers, which is illegal. And they are going to do it anyway, so why not make it legal? It doesn’t hurt anybody. It’s not something that’s going to hurt people” – Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander, on being in support of amending the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/13).

TV using words like "painful" and "brutal" to describe the cold in NY this weekend. Congrats to the All-Star snubs who get to be elsewhere.

— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) February 13, 2015

This time Sat night/Sun morning we're gonna be talking about the best Slam Dunk Contest we've seen in years. I feel it. And no I'm not drunk

— Michael Smith (@michaelsmith) February 13, 2015

If teams would just stick with cheerleaders in their calendars they'd never have a Riley Cooper moment.

— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) February 13, 2015

Michael Irvin will make a guest appearance as a spiritual muse in an episode of Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs. pic.twitter.com/oWlKgOboXV

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 12, 2015

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with late-game NCAA heroics between North Dakota St.-Denver, Mississippi State-Kentucky women’s basketball and Mississippi-Florida. ESPN followed with Cavaliers-Bulls, Penguins-Senators, Maple Leafs-Islanders, and Oilers-Canadiens. Last night’s edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Cavaliers-Bulls, followed by reports of George Karl being named Kings coach and Knicks F Carmelo Anthony hinting he’ll be shut down for the remainder of the NBA season. FS1 then aired NHL highlights of Jets-Predators, Blues-Lightning, and Oilers-Canadiens.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox for his voice cracking uncontrollably during a post-game interview. Olbermann also ripped on the reporter for asking a follow-up question. Olbermann also criticized T’Wolves F Shabazz Muhammad for hitting himself in the face after finishing a breakaway dunk, and a Twitter troll for using the “insult” of “Keith Loverman.”

The SPORTING NEWS looks at the NFL hiring Dr. Elizabeth Nabel as its Chief Health and Medical advisor and highlights that Nabel “isn’t a concussion expert” and “has ties to the Patriots” and team Owner Robert Kraft.

The NATIONAL POST notes it’s been five years since Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili’s tragic death: “It seemed the 2010 Vancouver Olympics could be remembered for nothing but Nodar. But time, starting with the 16 mostly glorious says that followed his death, has had its softening effect on the tragedy that cut the heart out of the opening that night” (NATIONAL POST).

Also:

• NBA’s Adam Silver knocked out quite a to-do list in first year.
• NBA taking lead in advocating for legal sports gambling in U.S.
• How falling oil prices are adversely affecting some college athletic departments.
• A review of how far the NHL has come since its canceled ’05 season.

Penn Law School will host an event on "The Intersection of Sports & Entertainment." ESPN's Adam Schefter will be the keynote speaker and other notable speakers include Fenway Sports Group General Counsel Ed Weiss, ESPN's Andrew Brandt, NFL Senior Media Counsel Lee Goldsmith, Octagon President Phil de Picciotto and Relativity Sports agent Happy Walters. 

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

“Not in the 10 longest, this 1,560-mile river in a fertile basin flows by 29 cities of over 100,000 people.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “This week, a Little League team in Chicago was stripped of its World Series title after it was revealed that they faked a map to get better players from different neighborhoods. Then Nicholas Cage said, ‘Wait, that means the real map is still out there. We’ve got to get the baseball diamond and find out’.” More Fallon: “One of the best parts about Spring Training is the fantasy camps that they have where anyone can sign up and play against former professional players. Even though the games are just for fun, tensions can still run pretty high.” The show then aired a clip of an 88-year-old man attempting to charge the mound at Rockies fantasy camp. Fallon: “I’ve got to say, A-Rod looks great. I haven’t seen him in a while” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/12).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” superlatives segment featured NBAers who were awarded during Wednesday’s show -- Grizzlies C Marc Gasol, Warriors G Stephen Curry, Raptors G Kyle Lowry, Hawks G Jeff Teague, Kings C DeMarcus Cousins and Heat F Chris Bosh. Each player appeared on-set and read out awards given to “The Tonight Show” staffers (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/12).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “Pot growers in the state of Washington have a problem. Apparently supply there has outstripped demand and now they have a lot more marijuana than they can sell. … This might help to explain why Pete Carroll called for a passing play on the one yard line” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/12).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Least Popular Events of the NBA All-Star weekend.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “It's the NBA All-Star weekend right here in New York City. Popular events -- the All-Star Celebrity Game, the three-point shooting contest, the slam dunk contest and the big All-Star Game itself. Least popular events -- not all of them can be fantastic, big-time, home-run winners” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/12).

10) “Competitive Bench Sitting”
9) “LeBron's LeBrunch”
8) “The Gatorade Hamstring Pull”
7) “Discipline A Mop Boy”
6) “Rupert Jee Sells Ill-Fitting NBA Apparel”
5) “Mark Cuban Appreciation Dinner Hosted By Mark Cuban”
4) “3-Point Hat Contest”
3) “Hands on a Van Gundy”
2) “The Donald Sterling Apology Experience”
1) “New York Knicks autograph signing”

“What is the Ganges?”