As Day Two of the Learfield Intercollegiate Athletics Forum gets underway in N.Y., today’s opening session will surely be one of the most fun. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will join NCAA Exec VP/Regulatory Affairs Oliver Luck and ESPN’s Seth Greenberg to talk about the big issues of the day. A key theme to look for today is the path of the college sports fan – from the decision to buy a ticket, to the game experience, to connecting digitally with the fan and incorporating as much personal data as possible for future marketing.

On Day One, themes of economic inequities, time demands, integrating academics more into athletics, health and safety concerns and a continued unsettled landscape were balanced with academic graduation progress, more clarity on the procedural framework of college sports and the unquestionable relevance and popularity of college athletics.

See the full agenda, and get continual updates by following the Twitter hashtag #sbjiaf.

China's highest court today "ruled largely in favor" of Hornets Owner Michael Jordan, overturning previous lower-court rulings and holding that he "owns the legal rights to the Chinese characters of the equivalent of his name." The four-year lawsuit pitted Jordan against Qiaodan Sports Company, which he "accused of building a brand around the Mandarin transliteration of his name." The verdict from the Supreme People's Court reversed prior rulings that Qiaodan "could use the Chinese characters for Jordan to sell their goods" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/8).

Jordan "previously argued unsuccessfully in Beijing courts" that the company "had used his Chinese name 'Qiaodan' by which he has been known since he gained widespread popularity in the mid-1980s, his old jersey number 23 and basketball player logo to make it look like he was associated with their brand" (AP, 12/8).

The NHL's continued participation in the '18 PyeongChang Games and beyond will be a "major topic of discussion" at BOG meetings today and tomorrow in Palm Beach, Fla. The NHL "has participated for five consecutive Winter Games" since '98, but league officials and owners "have done so with reservations." It is "unknown whether owners will vote on Olympic participation" at the meetings or "merely discuss" the issue (USA TODAY, 12/8).

ESPN.com goes with the header, "Games Over: Why The NHL Shouldn't Return To The Winter Olympics." The TORONTO SUN features a panel of BOG members who "discuss the pros and cons of NHLers going" to the '18 Games.

St. Louis officials today will make a presentation to the Missouri Development Finance Board requesting $40M in state tax credits to help pay for a $200M MLS stadium "just west of Union Station." At the meeting in Jefferson City, "no action will be taken." Under the plan, prospective ownership group SC STL is expected to provide $280M, with the city contributing $80M, "though specifics on that plan were not detailed." The city's contribution of tax dollars and the MDFB's approval of tax credits is "contingent on an April vote by the public" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/6).

The Univ. of Cincinnati has released construction renderings of more than $2M of work being done to the on-campus Nippert Stadium that is being funded by USL club FC Cincinnati, "work that'll be completed there this winter." The renderings "show carved out corners in the south end zone," and UC AD Mike Bohn said that those changes "will enhance player safety and create opportunities for new seating areas" for football. For FC Cincinnati, the changes "will expand the field size" to meet MLS specifications, "making the venue a more attractive component of the soccer club's bid for MLS expansion" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/8).

The NHL is moving its HQ to a "67-story office tower under construction on Manhattan's west side." The project's developer announced that the league "will move from its current location in midtown to the tower that will be known as One Manhattan West." The league "will lease five floors of the new skyscraper," which is scheduled to open in '19. The NHL also will "open a new store in the complex's retail mall" (AP, 12/7).

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey appeared on TBS’ “Conan” last night and discussed her retirement plans, Pantene endorsement and her new hobby, knitting. Rousey said she belongs to a "knitting/drinking club," and she "had some reasons to drink this last year." Rousey, when asked whether she would retire after her next fight, said, “I don’t think after this fight, but definitely soon.” TBS' Conan O’Brien: “You're an incredibly attractive spokesperson who a lot of companies would be vying for. Why Pantene?” Rousey: “It’s really the new direction that they've gone with the company. The whole ‘Strong is beautiful’ slogan is something I really identify with, and I really feel like it's representative of real social change” (“Conan,” TBS, 12/7).

The 10th Anniversary of the Sports Business Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at the N.Y. Marriott Marquis at Times Square. Entries are now being accepted in 17 categories. Visit the event page to make your bid to share the stage with the best in sports business at the SBAs. The deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 13.

The PBR and CBS Sports today released the TV schedule for the first half of the '17 PBR Built Ford Tough Series season, which begins Jan. 6-8 with the first PBR Major on CBS Sports Network at MSG (PBR).

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon yesterday was named by President-elect Donald Trump as "head of the Small Business Administration" (STAMFORD ADVOCATE, 12/8).

A website for the planned NFL stadium in Las Vegas launched yesterday at LVStadiumAuthority.com, where Clark County residents "interested in joining the Stadium Authority Board can now get application instructions" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/8).

"I don't think anybody's thinking of that in the fourth quarter" – Chargers QB Philip Rivers, saying the team has tuned out talk of possible relocation. Chargers Chair Dean Spanos met yesterday with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer as the franchise continues to seek a new stadium (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/8).

"There's a lot of things I think the sports needs: Retirement pension, health care. I'm more just voicing my opinion of what I think this sport needs" – UFC fighter Donald Cerrone, on joining the newly formed MMA Athletes  Association (TORONTO SUN, 12/8).

The MMQB writes Rams coach Jeff Fisher's derogatory comments about GM Les Snead's contract extension "didn't create a problem, so much as it revealed one that's existed for quite some time." Their frayed relationship has been "an open secret in league circles," and some have come to know the team's facility as "Rams Junior High."

The WASHINGTON POST notes Liberty Univ.'s hiring of former Baylor AD Ian McCaw has "drawn approval and scorn" on campus. Liberty "saw a chance to bring in an administrator who could shepherd the Flames toward the big leagues." But was McCaw "actually clean," or was he "simply clean enough?"

Also:  

• Ex-Dodgers Owner McCourt finds "fresh start in mainstream sports 6,000 miles" away.
• At age 31, LeBron James "seems more self-assured than ever."
• Phil Jackson adds "more fuel to an already simmering feud" with Carmelo Anthony.
• Peak's offer to develop a shoe for Matthew Dellavedova was "too good to pass up."
• What will NASCAR get from its new relationship with Monster, and vice versa?
• For Raiders fans, relocation seems to rear its head whenever the team is playing well.

Chapman got $30.25MM before he ever threw an MLB pitch. It should come as no surprise he gets $86MM after throwing 2,241 pitches 100+ MPH.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) December 8, 2016

Mark Melancon's record for richest contract for a reliever in MLB history lasted a grand total of two days.

— Rich MacLeod (@richmacleod) December 8, 2016

Alderson is not keen on adding payroll before trading away dollars: "It's like a buying a new house without selling your old one."

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 7, 2016

Trump is and will be the only President in the WWE Hall of Fame, right?...

— Keith Stoeckeler 🍔 (@KeithStoeckeler) December 8, 2016

A few of my fellow potential jurors are wearing @Cubs caps. Wonder how a @Cardinals fan defendant might feel.

— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) December 8, 2016

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Presidential Elections.”

“One of two states whose first-ever electoral votes were cast for Woodrow Wilson.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “This is a subject I'm surprised Donald Trump hasn't gone off on yet. The Cleveland Cavaliers were in New York playing the Knicks tonight and the team, as they usually do, booked rooms at the Trump Hotel in Soho. But LeBron James and a number of his teammates decided to stay elsewhere. They didn't want to stay at a Trump hotel. I don't know if moving to another hotel is the best way to protest. Why not just stay at his hotel and steal all the towels from the room? By the way, can you imagine how many tiny little soaps a man the size of LeBron James must go through? They're probably saving money not having him there” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 12/7).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” featured the recurring segment “Tonight Show Superlatives,” in which host Jimmy Fallon gave out awards to Raiders and Chiefs players ahead of their matchup on NBC's “Thursday Night Football” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/7).

“What are Arizona and/or New Mexico?”