The NFL this morning announced it will play four games in London next year, marking the most games the league to date will play in the U.K. during one season. The teams and venues for the games will be announced Tuesday at 8:00am ET (1:00pm in London) on Facebook Live. It was reported in late October the Dolphins and Saints would play one of the ’17 games in London. The four games next season will make 21 total games the NFL has played in the U.K. since the start of the Int’l Series in ’07 (THE DAILY).

MLS Commissioner Don Garber today is "expected to discuss the league’s timeline for expansion during his annual State of the League address." He will give the address from Toronto, site of tomorrow night's MLS Cup (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/9). MLS Exec VP/Communications Dan Courtemanche said Garber is "not announcing any expansion teams on Friday, and he's not announcing the process and timeline, but he's certainly going to discuss it." Courtemanche said that the next round of additions to the league will be "on the agenda" when the BOG "meets next Thursday with the league's expansion committee" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/9).

The Cubs “will hold a grand opening” today for a “new two-floor official team store” on Michigan Ave. The Cubs opened the two-story shop last weekend. Cubs officials said that the new “‘pop-up’ store” is “slated to be open” through April. A team spokesperson said that it is the “first official team store outside of Wrigleyville.” The Cubs will “kick off a tour of the World Series trophy at the new store, giving fans a chance to take a photo with it” from noon-3:00pm CT (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 12/8).

U.S. Olympic Gold medalists Michael Phelps and Aly Raisman have “partnered with Virginia Beach-based online mattress company Leesa Sleep to promote the company's products as well as the importance of quality sleep.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Both Phelps and Raisman “will be part of the Leesa One-Ten program, in which the company donates one mattress to a shelter for every ten sold.” Leesa Sleep launched in late ‘14 and “offers direct-to-consumer services of American-made mattresses delivered to the customer's home” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/9).

The Oak View Group, which is “looking to overhaul KeyArena” and is headed by Tim Leiweke, has added former Seahawks and Univ. of Washington exec Lance Lopes to “oversee the KeyArena bid effort while ICON Venue Group will head the redesign proposal.” ICON was “instrumental” in the recent two-year, $120M overhaul of BMO Field in Toronto and “has overseen more arena designs worldwide than any other company.” Lopes “was the Seahawks’ general counsel for 13 years, overseeing operations for them and later the Sounders as well at CenturyLink Field” starting in ’00 (SEATTLETIMES.com, 12/8).

Daytona Int’l Speedway and the Univ. of Northwestern Ohio have agreed to a multiyear partnership for the school to secure naming rights to the Fanzone, the 211,636-square-foot entertainment section at the track. UNOH is the title sponsor to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is also DIS' first-ever official educational partner (THE DAILY).

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.

Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera yesterday announced "multi-year contract extensions" with GM Chris Wallace, VP/Basketball Operations John Hollinger and Exec VP/Player Personnel Ed Stefanski (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 12/8).

The L.A. City Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Officer “expect in the next few days to finalize a proposed Memorandum of Understanding” between the city, LA 2024 and the USOC for the L.A. City Council’s approval, which “could come as early as Friday” (OCREGISTER.com, 12/8).

Sources said that former MLB manager Bobby Valentine is “on a short-list of candidates” to serve as U.S Ambassador to Japan (WEEI.com, 12/9).

USA Today runs a special section for tomorrow’s Army-Navy football game (THE DAILY).

“Personally I feel we should pull the plug on the Penguins. I don’t see them ever developing this site. I think they’re making too much money parking cars there every day” – Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment board member and former state senator Jim Ferlo, on the Penguins’ rights to the former Civic Arena property (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/9).

“There is only one way to stop the scalping industry, and that’s to make it illegal. Anything else is just Whac-a-Mole, and grandstanding by politicians” – Independent concert promoter Seth Hurwitz, on the House of Representatives passing the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, which now goes to President Obama for approval (N.Y. TIMES, 12/9). 

The BOSTON GLOBE writes the Red Sox have taken a "philosophical U-turn" under President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. In movie terms, the team has "switched from documentary filmmaking" under former GM Ben Cherington to "producing a star-studded summer blockbuster" under Dombrowski.

PHILLY.com profiled Fox Sports producer Shaw Brown, who tomorrow will serve as the "lead producer" for the MLS Cup for the first time. There will be "17 cameras rolling" tomorrow, and Brown will "use all of that footage to produce Fox's broadcast feed, which will also serve as the raw feed that is distributed to TV networks across the globe."

Also:  

• Kat Vosters is a "vital behind-the-scenes member" of Wisconsin men's basketball.
• Blazers use special lights on game nights to counteract Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• USA TODAY's Nancy Armour: NFL should make charitable cleats "a regular thing."
• Oregon's hiring of an African-American football coach shows merit of state law.

As you consider Russian corruption, remember the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was happy for them to compete in Rio

— Paul Kelso (@pkelso) December 9, 2016

Russian journalist asks if nation will lose its 1st place standing at Sochi. Investigator calls review of doped medals by IOC "inevitable."

— Rebecca R. Ruiz (@RebeccaRuiz) December 9, 2016

Woody Johnson, Bobby Valentine considered for #Trump ambassadors. Bernie Williams, Puerto Rico & @StarburyMarbury for #China too? lol

— Joe Favorito (@joefav) December 9, 2016

The Raiders wore what last night #TheGreatAlDavisRollingInHisGrave

— Warren Sapp (@WarrenSapp) December 9, 2016

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

“The three major western typefaces are Gothic, Roman and this one first used in an entire book in 1501 for a work by Virgil.”

CBS’ Stephen Colbert said, “Trump also appointed WWE billionaire and woman who's always in the front row of aqua aerobics, Linda McMahon, to lead the Small Business Administration, which is a natural fit for small business because WWE, of course, stands for ‘Wee Wittle Enterpwise.’ I think it's great that we're bringing wrestling into the Trump administration because when the jabronis in Congress try to block Trump's agenda, Linda's going to reach for the folding chair.” Colbert: “For some people, it's been hard dealing with the Trump victory but in these tough times, I believe it's important to look for inspiration wherever you can find it which is why I am looking to the most inspiring team in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns. If you don't like football, you might be a Cleveland Browns fan because they are currently 0-12. They have not won a single game this season. So technically, I am as good of a football team as the Cleveland Browns right now. We have the same record, but having the worst team in the NFL isn't getting the city of Cleveland down. No, Cleveland rocks because it was announced yesterday that plans for a Cleveland Browns ‘Perfect Season’ parade are moving forward. That's right, if the Cleveland Browns can manage to lose every single game this season, the city will throw them a parade. … It's like the old saying goes, ‘When life gives you lemons, those lemons probably play football better than the Cleveland Browns” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 12/8).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “I had fun last night after the show. I went to see the New York Knicks. … They were playing the Cavs and it was a close game, they only lost by 45 points. It was really good, nail-biter, if you have really long nails” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/9).

“What is Italics?”