A source said that non-binding preliminary bids for the Hawks are "due today as the next step in the sale" of the team and Philips Arena. A financial book "has been available to prospective buyers for several weeks but does not include detailed information." The price of the Hawks and the venue is expected to begin at $800M and could exceed $1B. The team has hired Goldman Sachs and Inner Circle Sports to handle the sale process (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/25).

The Inglewood City Council yesterday "voted unanimously" to approve an 80,000-seat stadium at Hollywood Park, "jump-starting the effort to bring an NFL team" to the L.A. area. Inglewood Mayor James Butts called the agreement "the best financial arrangement in the history of stadium deals in this country." Developers include Rams Owner Stan Kroenke and the Stockbridge Capital Group. An economic impact report estimated the stadium "could be the most expensive in U.S. sports history," with a price tag $1.86B. Developers "plan to start construction on the stadium by December" (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).

Sources said that Providence Equity has begun exploring selling World Triathlon Corp., which owns the Ironman races. One source said that Providence could sell the endurance race series, sell public stock or simply hold the asset. A source said that WTC has between $50-60M of cash flow and a sale could fetch as much as 20 times that amount. However, other sources said a far likelier multiple is about 13 times cash flow. The seller is sure to ask for the higher multiple. At the least, a sale would then be over $650M.

Providence bought WTC in '08, and the length of time is somewhat on the high end for private-equity firms to hold a company. The likely buyer of the race series could be another private-equity fund. WTC has 250 events in 25 countries, including its iconic Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. Sources said that Providence has only recently begun talking to financial advisors.

NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith in a statement said that the union is "against the proposed right-to-work legislation now being debated" in the Wisconsin state Legislature. Smith said the  NFLPA "stands together with the working families of Wisconsin and organized labor in their fight against current attacks against their right to stand together as a team." The bill would give pro athletes in Wisconsin the "right to opt out of paying union dues to keep their job." Gov. Scott Walker has said that he "will sign the bill if it reaches his desk" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/25).

Sources said that Mohegan Sun Arena "will host the WNBA All-Star Game this season," with a press conference scheduled at Mohegan Sun today to announce the move. The All-Star Game will be held the week of July 26. The arena, which serves as the home venue for the WNBA Connecticut Sun, also hosted the ASG in '05, '09 and '13. The venue also hosted last year's WNBA Draft (AP, 2/24).

NBC Sports Ventures and Red Bull Media today will announce the '15 TV schedule for the Red Bull Signature Series, a slate of action sports events. The schedule features 20 hours of coverage total on the broadcast network, with Sal Masekela returning as host for the fourth consecutive year. Coverage begins Sunday at 2:00pm ET. New events this year include the Red Bull Foundation, featuring a format and course layout from Ryan Sheckler (NBC Sports Ventures).

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) have sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "asking him to clarify what penalties teams could face if they do not properly address domestic violence." Questions included "whether teams could lose draft picks" (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).

Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced a sponsorship deal with WGL, which becomes the official energy partner of the Capitals, Wizards and Verizon Center (MSE).

Roku "scored an important multiplatform app" yesterday with the launch of WatchESPN (CABLEFAX DAILY, 2/25).

The Pittsburgh City Council yesterday voted unanimously to "create a special tax district that will pave the way" for the Penguins' planned development on the former Civic Arena site (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/25).

Oregon State baseball unveiled new gameday additions to Goss Stadium, allowing fans to "enjoy beer and wine" in the ballpark's deck area. An alcoholic beverage "may not be brought into the regular seating area" (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/25).

Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts and Mesa (Ariz.) Mayor John Giles took part in a "brief ceremony" yesterday afternoon to rededicate the team's Sloan Park Spring Training facility "with its new naming-rights deal" (SBNATION.com, 2/25).

"I'm not discouraged" – Fidelity National Financial Chair William Foley, on the difficulties encountered so far in attempting to bring an NHL team to Las Vegas (ESPN.com, 2/24).

"We are nomads. This winter was so frenetic, I had to react on so many fronts, traveling back and forth ... it almost felt like an out-of-body experience" – Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman, on moving his family from Tampa during the offseason (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).

"If you were planning this with a clean slate, you might look for 10 acres, but we're trying to do it with about six to seven acres. We think it's possible. The architects tell us it's possible" – New Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox investor James Skeffington, on plans to build the team a ballpark in Providence (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 2/25).

"When you talk to people in hockey, and even fans, there's such a divide. You're either for these analytics or you're against them" – Former Oilers coach Dallas Eakins on the use of advanced statistics in the NHL (ESPN.com, 2/24).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with injury updates on Bulls G Derrick Rose and Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane, followed by Pacers-Thunder and more discussion on Rose’s knee injury. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” also led with Rose’s injury, followed by Cavaliers-Pistons, Warriors-Wizards and Pacers-Thunder. The first NHL report on FS1 was about 36 minutes into the broadcast with Coyotes-Islanders.

ESPN’s Adnan Virk filled in for the suspended Keith Olbermann last night and did not air a "world’s worst persons in sports" segment. Olbermann has been removed from the air for the remainder of the week for some critical tweets directed at Penn State.

ORLANDO SENTINEL on the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao mega-fight: "Boxing is peeking its head out of a dark hole like Punxsutawney Phil, only to scurry back underground, the forecast calling for more years of apathy."

GRANTLAND.com covers the NFL Combine under the header, "America's Second-Greatest Reality Show." The "exploding popularity of the combine represents one of the great triumphs of the modern NFL, a business that is marketed every bit as ingeniously as it is incompetently governed."

The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH on MLB Cardinals Owner Bill DeWitt Jr.: "The secret to the Cardinals' sustained success starts at the top. And yes, it really is a secret, because no one really thinks of the owner as the creative mind that powers his team’s winning baseball operation."

Also:

• Shoe company Vans: from humble beginnings to $2B in revenue.
• U.S. professional soccer sees explosive growth in lower tiers.
• An inside look at the NHL's high-tech video replay center.
• Pawtuckett, R.I., braces for historic McCoy Stadium's likely demise.
• MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred puts length of season on table.
• Vanderbilt adopts Catapult Sports GPS system for football program.
• Lessons WWE has learned one year after launch of WWE Network.

BYU's Holmoe said it is the school's "intention" to play in a P5 football conference "some time in the near future."

— Jay Drew (@drewjay) February 24, 2015

After all the over-thinking, US Ryder Cup committee to pick captains still has 3 Suits in team of 6. Europe has 1. Corporate America.

— Paul Mahoney (@paulmahoneygolf) February 25, 2015

#MLS inks a four-year deal with #SkySports to televise league tilts live in the UK. Lasting impact of David Beckham & Thierry Henry.

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) February 25, 2015

Geriatrics and pediatrics. Also known as my flight to Ft Myers. #RedSox #MLBSpringTraining

— Trenni Kusnierek (@trenni) February 25, 2015

The Indiana state House is scheduled to vote on a NASL Indy Eleven stadium bill, "after an amendment passed requiring the team owner to guarantee half the debt" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/25).

Warriors G Stephen Curry is slated to speak at the White House in support of the fight against malaria.

Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino is expected to meet with media at JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, Fla. This will be his first media session since suffering injuries in a recent motorcycle accident.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “1980s Movies.”

“At his term’s end, Ronald Reagan took an office in an L.A. high-rise, still a mess from the filming of this 1988 thriller.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said of the new cast of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars," “The first openly gay NFL player, Michael Sam, will be dancing this year which is the closest we’ll get to having football on this network” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/24).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “Alex Rodriguez reported for spring training for the Yankees two days early. Alex Rodriguez, he’s ready to play ball. Here’s the schedule: Tomorrow he has a urine test and the next day he’s suspended for a year. He showed up two days early and they had nothing to do so his lawyers took batting practice. But it was exciting because he hopped out of the limo with his new hot girlfriend, Betty White.” More Letterman: “Some of these guys, they’re athletes. They’re highly paid and skilled. CC Sabathia pitches, weighs 305 pounds. That’s 305 pounds throwing a baseball at you. It seems to me like the Yankees have a bigger offensive line than the Jets” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/24).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Bad Excuses For Leaving Work Early.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “A member of the House of Commons missed voting on an issue because he left due to tight underwear. His underwear was tight, apparently cutting off circulation and he had to get out of there or he would have been killed” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/24).

10) “Too drunk to focus.”
9) “Noisy co-workers made it hard to nap.”
8) “Need to deposit embezzled funds.”
7) “’Matlock’ isn’t going to watch itself.”
6) “Just not feeling my second term as President of the United States.”
5) “Getting another appendix removed.”
4) “Weed dispensary closes in ten minutes.”
3) “Kitty needs daddy.”
2) “Have tickets to the ‘Late Show.’”
1) “My underpants fit perfectly.”

“What is ‘Die Hard?’”