NFL owners kick off their first full day of the annual league meetings this morning. On the docket for today is a presentation on cybersecurity from former CIA agent Henry Crumpton. Securing the league's increasing load of digital data is increasingly a concern for the NFL, like any large organization, said NFL Senior VP/Security Jeff Miller. Crumpton is in private practice with an eponymous firm. His session is a new format for the league at the meeting. The so-called "learning" session is structured almost as a classroom.

League execs also will brief owners on the L.A. situation, with the Rams, Raiders and Chargers all having in various forms announced plans for a stadium in the market. Giants President & CEO John Mara, who is on the six-owner L.A. committee, told reporters yesterday he expected one or teams in L.A. by the '16 season. However, NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman, who is in charge of L.A. for the league, said he thought '17 was the earliest a team could relocate to the city.

Mara, who is also on the competition committee, said he did not expect any of the more than dozen proposals related to expanding uses of instant replay to pass.

A source said that NFL officials have hired B. Todd Jones to "lead a blitz against the league's bad-boy players" by becoming head enforcer of the league's personal conduct policy. Jones recently announced his resignation as Dir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and sources said that he will leave his government post "in about two weeks." A source said his role at the NFL will involve "determining the length of suspensions and handing out fines," and the job will pay "several million a year" (N.Y. POST, 3/23).

The Earthquakes got their new $100M Avaya Stadium "off to a festive start" yesterday with a 2-1 win over the Fire before a sellout crowd of 18,000, "many of whom have waited for two decades to attend" an MLS match at a permanent home (MERCURYNEWS.com, 3/22). There were "long lines entering the stadium" and "some confusion about where to park and where to enter the stadium" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/23).

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, "I think this is going to be one of the best models for us going forward. ... Not every stadium is going to be several hundred million dollars. It's actually good to have them build in a way where the economic model makes sense" (MLSSOCCER.com, 3/23).

The Cubs today in a Chicago courtroom will "square off against two Wrigley rooftop businesses in the most pivotal moment since the team was sued in January." Lawyers for both sides will present oral arguments to a federal judge on the businesses' request to "bar the Cubs from installing outfield advertising signs and video boards that could block their views." The hearing comes about a month after U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall "rejected the rooftops' emergency request to stop installation of the signs" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/23).

UMass today is expected to announce that it has hired Georgia Tech Senior Associate AD Ryan Bamford as the school's seventh permanent AD. Athletic department staff "were notified" yesterday, with a "press conference likely" tomorrow. Bamford emerged from a finalist pool that included former Stony Brook AD Jim Fiore and Buffalo Deputy AD Allen Greene. Bamford replaces John McCutcheon, who left in February to become UC-Santa Barbara AD (DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, 3/23).

Meanwhile, new Air Force AD Jim Knowlton "reports for work" today. He is "expected to spend much of the week handling in-processing procedures and paperwork" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 3/23).

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey will be in Albany, N.Y., today and tomorrow to "press state leaders to join the 49 other states in legalizing" MMA. She said, "I'd be surprised if the bill wouldn't pass this year. I have a huge sense of optimism this year." Rousey's trip will take place between appearances on ABC's "The View" and NBC's "The Tonight Show" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/23).

The ATP/WTA BNP Paribas Open concluded yesterday, setting a new "record total attendance" with 456,672 fans (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/23). Yesterday's final session drew an attendance of 16,988, above capacity at the 16,100-seat main stadium. The total crowds are up 24,145 from last year, and Indian Wells is "closing in on attendance at the French Open, the lightest-attended Grand Slam" (L.A. TIMES, 3/23).

The D-Backs yesterday for the third time in two weeks set a single-game record for Spring Training attendance with a sellout crowd of 13,507 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (D-Backs).

A sellout crowd of 3,400 attended Sunday's Women's Frozen Four championship game at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Minnesota defeated Harvard 4-1 to "win their third NCAA women's hockey title in four years" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/23).

The Browns are reportedly "front-runners" to be the "next featured team" on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series (TWITTER.com, 3/22).

The General Assembly of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has voted in favor of Hamburg as the country's official nominee to bid for the '24 Summer Games. Hamburg won out over Berlin (DOSB).

An IOC evaluation commission today began meetings in Beijing "in preparation for a five-day inspection of the city's bid" for the '22 Winter Games (AP, 3/23).

Daytona Int'l Speedway this morning will "begin the process of bringing down the backstretch grandstands" as the next phase of Daytona Rising renovations (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 3/23).

The "first piece of public artwork" for Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton "will be unveiled" today (EDMONTON SUN, 3/23).

U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin on NBC's "Today" announced that she is "entering a new phase of her career: the professional ranks" (TODAY.com, 3/23).

Longtime Tigers beat writer Tom Gage today formally joins FoxSportsDetroit.com (Fox Sports).

"That was a big moment for all of us in our history and I got it wrong, completely, almost in every way" – Marlins President David Samson, on the team taking an inflated payroll into the '12 season, only to abandon the increase after one season (PALM BEACH POST, 3/23).

"There are 30 guys in here and 20 of them are on a phone or iPad. I feel like it’s a huge distraction" – Angels P Hector Santiago, on MLBers using devices in the clubhouse before games (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/23).

"No. N-O. No” – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on whether he ever considered stepping down last season (MMQB.SI.com, 3/23).

“The first time I saw it I liked it. The second time I loved it” – Christian Laettner, on the recent ESPN "30 for 30" documentary about him (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/21).

Special to the MONTREAL GAZETTE on sports wagering: "The dark underbelly of gambling is played down or ignored completely, but the amounts bet on March Madness alone are enough to make anyone queasy."

ESPNW.com: "The success stories of women in drag racing are exciting the female fans – and inspiring the youngest of them – but they're also piquing the interest of male fans."

Also:

• Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant have testy relationship with local media.
• Michael Sam learning to handle fame as he looks for way back into NFL.
• State of Georgia qualifies new Falcons, Braves venues for tax exemptions.
• Sports economist: '24 Boston Games impact projections do not add up.

If those reports about what Toyota has paid IOC are true TOP now stands for Total Over Payment

— Tim Crow (@synergytim) March 23, 2015

I see John Fisher! On the field. I don't believe I've ever seen him before. I thought he was a myth, like a unicorn.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) March 22, 2015

Ted Wells was hired to investigate the Patriots 59 days ago.

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) March 23, 2015

Hey CBS: Can we see that Wichita State locker room song one more time? The first 35 didn't take.

— Ron Judd (@roncjudd) March 23, 2015

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Unwanted Firsts.”

“Jean Vallière, burned in 1523, is considered the first martyr of this religious group.”

“Who are the Huguenots?”