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Tuesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Commitment Rings

  • LA 2024 Asks Olympic Officials Not To Question Principles Amid Election
  • NHL GM Meetings To Include Discussions On Expansion-Draft Rules
  • Nevada Gov. Wants To Wait On NFL Before Fast-Tracking Road Projects
  • Chargers, Mayor Meeting For First Time Since Stadium Effort Failed

LA 2024 Asks Olympic Officials Not To Question Principles After Election

By Ben Fischer

LA 2024 during a presentation today in Qatar only briefly and indirectly mentioned President-elect Donald Trump to a major Olympic group. Gold Medal-winning U.S. runner Allyson Felix did the work of reassuring international officials that Trump’s isolationist rhetoric would not change the U.S. Olympic movement. "Some of you may question America’s commitment to its founding principles,” Felix said, according to a prepared speech. "I have one message for you: Please don't doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength. Diversity is not easy. Diversity is a leap of faith that embraces all faiths. And that’s why I believe L.A. is a perfect choice for the 2024 Games, because the face of our city reflects the face of the Olympic movement itself.”

LA 2024 Chair Casey Wasserman and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, both major Hillary Clinton supporters, did not discuss the election during their part of the presentation. The surprise election result is a challenge for the bid team after Wasserman in August said, “People should judge our country on who our president is, not who runs for president." Six L.A. bid leaders and athletes addressed the Association of National Olympic Committees, a group that includes most of the 98 IOC members who will choose a host for the ‘24 Games in September in Lima, Peru.

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NHL GM Meetings To Include Discussions On Expansion-Draft Rules

NHL GMs today will "get together for a quick one-day meeting" at league HQ in N.Y. and likely will discuss "further clarification on expansion-draft rules." Hurricanes Exec VP & GM Ron Francis: "I'm sure that's going to be one of the topics." One Western Conference team exec said that he was "caught off guard when word leaked out of a 48-hour window" for the Las Vegas expansion team to "sign unprotected free agents." One GM also "complained ... about the five-day bye weeks that are in place this season for the first time" (ESPN.com, 11/14).

Nevada Gov. Wants To Wait On NFL Before Fast-Tracking Road Projects

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval yesterday said that he "wants to take a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to fast-track" at least $899M in freeway improvements to "support construction of a new 65,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas." Sandoval during a Department of Transportation meeting said, "I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, given there’s still a process on the stadium with regard to the NFL. I’m hopeful that we’ll know one way or the other in January. So, I don’t want to spend a bunch of money in anticipation of that" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/15).

Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, a "vocal opponent of using public money to fund a stadium, wants the tax increases" for the proposed stadium and convention center projects "considered separately" at the governing body’s meeting today. The problem is that the stadium and convention center projects were "bundled together in a bill during the special legislative session" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 11/14).

Tom Coughlin Makes Most Of Giants Ring Of Honor Induction Speech

Former NFL Giants coach Tom Coughlin “was not about to be rushed off the stage” during the team’s Ring of Honor ceremony last night at MetLife Stadium. Coughlin was the last of three to be introduced on the field stage by Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan, following former GM Ernie Accorsi and former NFLer Justin Tuck. Coughlin said, “I know the players are back on the field, but I'm not gonna get cheated." Coughlin “proceeded to read his entire prepared speech and spoke for so long that he was still talking when the halftime clock struck zero.” Coughlin's “insistence on owning the moment was understandable, though.” The least the Giants could “spare Coughlin was an extra minute in Monday's spotlight” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/15).

Sharks' Parent Company, San Jose To Settle Suit Over Loss Of Parking

San Jose city leaders today are “expected to settle a lawsuit” brought by Sharks Sports & Entertainment “over city approval of a big office and retail tower that would eat up 835 parking spaces” near SAP Center. Sharks S&E “filed suit in June against San Jose and developer Trammell Crow Co. to stop the massive new project near the Diridon transit station.” The settlement includes a $4M payment from Trammell Crow to the city, which would “use that money to acquire certain properties to the north of the SAP Center for public parking." It is “unclear how many new spaces would be provided.” As part of the settlement, Sharks S&E will “give San Jose an option to purchase the properties if the city constructs a parking garage or upon termination of its Arena Management Agreement” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/15).

X Games Returns To Norway For Second Year In '17 With Smaller Event

By Ben Fischer

ESPN today will announced that X Games will return to Norway for a second year in ‘17, albeit with a smaller event than the initial run this year. X Games Norway 2017, set for March 8-11 at the Hafjell ski resort, will include big air and slope-style events in both skiing and snowboarding. ESPN is collaborating with Norway’s TV2 and organizer SAHR to produce the event, with coverage on ESPN3 and part of the “World of X Games” series on ABC. There will be no live U.S. broadcast.

The inaugural X Games Oslo had extensive funding and assistance from the city government. However, since those events were planned, a left-wing party has taken over city hall and did not want to continue the partnership. This year’s event was notable because it included a summer discipline, skateboarding, at a permanent venue built for the competition. X Games has tried to revive an international licensing business in the last two years after its Global X Games project failed in ‘13.

Hockey HOF Inductions Highlighted By Memorable Speeches

The Hockey HOF induction ceremony last night was marked by “four remarkable speeches.” Tears of “joy and sadness flowed” as late coach and exec Pat Quinn was remembered by daughter Kalli. Former G Rogie Vachon “tried to hold it together, his decades-long wait for an invite coming too late for his wife of 45 years, Nicole, who passed in February.” Former RW Sergei Makarov of Russia got “through his entire script in English on national TV, hitting all the right notes.” Former C Eric Lindros thanked his “oft-criticized parents for watching his back and wife, Kina Lamarche, for teaching him about ‘letting go of negative feelings’” (TORONTO SUN, 11/15).

JPMorgan Tournament Of Champions Squash Event Gains Sponsor

By Ben Fischer

The Hospital for Special Surgery in N.Y. has signed a one-year deal to sponsor the JPMorgan Tournament of Champions stop on the Professional Squash Association’s world series tour. The deal is valued in the “high five figures” and also makes HSS the official on-site medical provider for the tournament, set for Jan. 12-17 inside Grand Central Terminal.

Speed Reads....

ESPN college football analyst Butch Davis said that he is "leaving the network immediately" to accept the vacant coaching position at FIU. He had been at ESPN since '14 and "will be introduced" at FIU today (ESPN.com, 11/14). 

MLS expansion club Atlanta United FC today unveils its jerseys, which will "range from $150 (for long sleeves) to $40 (for infants)" (AJC.com, 11/12).

Lehigh Univ. and the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union agreed to a multiyear deal through the '20-21 athletics season, making PSECU the official credit union of Lehigh Athletics. Learfield's Mountain Hawks Sports Properties secured the deal (Lehigh).

Red Sox P David Price, a Vanderbilt alum, on Friday will "announce a major gift" to the school's new $12M baseball facility project. A ceremony is scheduled for 1:30pm CT at the construction site. The amount of Price's gift "is not known" (TENNESSEAN.com, 11/14).

The NWHL yesterday agreed to a deal with Sling TV channel Cheddar to "broadcast NWHL weekend games" for the rest of the regular season (EXCELLESPORTS.com, 11/14).

ESPN's men's and women's basketball coverage will feature Atlantic Records recording artists for the fourth straight year, with 14 musicians being included (ESPN).

Quick Hits....

"The fans are gonna come. If we keep winning and putting a product on the field that we’re putting on the field, sooner or later, those stands are gonna be full. And if 8 o’clock helps, then we’ll play at 8. If midnight helps, I’d play at midnight” – UCF football coach Scott Frost, on improving attendance (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/15).

"It'll be great to go down there and play an international game in a very, very famous stadium with a lot of tradition. I know there will be a lot of people there and we're looking forward to it" – Texans coach Bill O’Brien, on the team playing the Raiders in Mexico City on Monday (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/15).

“I’ve been around a million stadiums and have seen those names there, and their immortal players and coaches. To be up there with that kind of group of people is overwhelming. It’s not something I ever dreamed” – Former NFL Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, on being inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor last night (NEWSDAY, 11/15).

Morning Hot Reads: Dynamic Duo

THE UNDEFEATED's Justin Tinsley examines the relationship between President Obama and Cavaliers F LeBron James, who met when "both were fueled by massive potential, with grander expectations from critics who wondered 'Would talent ever surpass the hype?'" James on Thursday visited Obama at the White House for the "third and final time." The two "most analyzed, critiqued and polarizing black men in America ... have evolved and experienced growing pains in the public eye."

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Today's Back Pages....

The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday   Boston HeraldChicago Sun-TimesPhiladelphia
Daily News

Spanning The Global....

The most-read Global stories today on SportsBusiness Daily:

1) F1 Draws Largest Viewership In Three Years In Germany With Brazilian Grand Prix
2) Rugby Execs Debate Best Strategy For Raising Sport's U.S. Profile
3) Recently Approved Sleeve Sponsorships For EPL Clubs Could Be Worth $12.5M
4) South Melbourne To Launch A-League Bid For Inclusion From Next Season
5) HSBC Exec Says Rugby Sevens Has To Raise Commercial Appeal To Move Game Forward

Final Jeopardy!

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

“This practice officially began in Pakistan in 1977, 44 years after an amendment ended it in the United States.”

Laugh Track: The Playbook

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “Apple just released a new app that lets you read books with your kids on your TV, or as dads put it, ‘Yeah, this book is about the Patriots-Seahawks game’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/14).