Wall Street has "uncharacteristically lowered the bar for Nike" heading into today's earnings report after "several lackluster quarters." Analysts expect Q2 earnings of $0.43 per share, an estimate that was "as high as 52 cents over the summer." The lowered consensus forecast is the "first time in at least a year that Nike analysts have cut their views prior to an earnings report." Today's release will "mark the first time Nike won’t report so-called futures orders in its quarterly report" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/20).

Last night's Red Wings-Hurricanes game "was not played after a problem with a PNC Arena cooling system caused the temperature of the ice to rise and making the ice surface unsuitable for play." The NHL "has a policy that a 22-hour window must exist between back-to-back games," and the Red Wings were scheduled to play tonight in Tampa. With "no chance" of last night's game starting by 9:30pm, the decision was "reached to postpone the game and look to reschedule it." Several updates were "made to the fans in the arena before an announcement" at 8:45pm that the game "had been postponed." Hurricanes President Don Waddell said that a "ticket-exchange plan would be announced soon" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 12/20).

A public memorial celebration for late TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager will take place today at 11:00am ET at the Mount Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga. (SI.com, 12/18). The service will be available on NBA TV and streamed on NBA.com (NBA). The NBA today runs a full-page ad in USA Today in memory of Sager: "Always Remember. #SagerStrong" (THE DAILY).

Panthers QB Cam Newton following last night's game against the Redskins "wore a light purple checkered suit with a bright pink velvet hat, and said it was a tribute" to Sager (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 12/20). Redskins DE Ricky Jean Francois last night was slated to wear a pair of "colorful custom cleats" in honor of Sager (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/19).

Clark County (Nev.) commissioners at a meeting today will "consider loaning as much as $500,000" to the newly formed Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board. That money will allow the stadium authority to "hire legal representation to negotiate the stadium’s development and operating agreements." It will also "pay local research firm Applied Analysis to act as the stadium authority’s temporary staff at a rate not to exceed $25,000 a month" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/19).

A "scarce crowd" of 15,262 attended the Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park yesterday afternoon on a "warm and sunny" day as Tulsa beat Central Michigan 55-10 (TULSA WORLD, 12/20). That figure is a new low for the three-year-old bowl game. Last year's Western Kentucky-South Florida matchup drew 21,712 fans, while the inaugural game in '14 saw 20,761 fans come out for the Memphis-BYU matchup (THE DAILY).

The Univ. of San Diego will introduce Bill McGillis as its AD at a press conference today at 10:00am PT. McGillis comes to USD from Southern Miss, where he had been AD since July '13 (USD). McGillis "replaces Ky Snyder," who was promoted to VP/Operations & COO at the school (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/20).

Rink boards for the outdoor NHL Centennial Classic yesterday "were put in place" at BMO Field, and today the ice is scheduled to go in at the Toronto venue (THESTAR.com, 12/19).

Wild LW Zach Parise has signed a multiyear deal with equipment manufacturer CCM Hockey (CCM Hockey).

Premier Event Management has struck a deal with Competitor Group to acquire The Nation's Triathlon (held in DC), Philadelphia Triathlon and Lake Geneva Triathlon (held in Wisconsin) (PEM).

Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova was "attacked [at] her home on Tuesday and is receiving medical attention." A spokesperson for Kvitova said that her injuries were "not life threatening" (REUTERS, 12/20).

"He is absolutely one of the guys I admire as much as anybody. I’ve admired him since he’s been involved every step of the way" -- Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, on Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/20).

"We wanted to continue to allow for fans to get closer to the game when there's so much hope during the offseason" -- NFL Senior VP/Events Peter O'Reilly, on expanding access for fans at the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis (ESPN.com, 12/20).

The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER's Luke DeCock writes if the North Carolina General Assembly repeals HB2, what "still has the potential to be a historic drought of sporting events in North Carolina could, and should, revert to a one-year blip." Otherwise, the door will "shortly slam shut on the NCAA bid cycle" that covers the '18-19 to '21-22 academic years.

A USA TODAY editorial examining the recent allegations of sexual abuse against USA Gymnastics states, "Institutions and individuals working with children are morally bound to report disturbing allegations of potential child abuse to law enforcement. Otherwise, no matter how unintentionally, they enable abuse to continue." Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics execs write about their reform efforts, including an independent review by a former federal prosecutor.

Also: 

• Young guns on nearly every NHL team are "playing exceptional hockey."
• Cubs look to "keep tickets in the hands of people" who actually attend games.
• After warm welcome to Santa Clara, 49ers now "exchange testy letters" with city.
• LSU AD Alleva "touts the football coaching hires" as part of year-end letter to fans.

So far this season I've seen a fired coach have to hail a cab after a game and a game called because of a freon leak. Wonder what's next?

— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) December 20, 2016

NFL should do one last Thursday night game after Week 17: Browns-49ers with the first pick in the draft on the line. I'd watch.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 20, 2016

Crazy stat from ESPN: Redskins have lost 16 of their last 17 Monday night games at home.

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) December 20, 2016

Out with the old. 👋

The @AvayaStadium pitch is getting a makeover as #Quakes74 will have a new playing surface in 2017. 😀 pic.twitter.com/uOf2W9alP8

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) December 19, 2016

The Missouri Development Finance Board will vote on a request from the city of St. Louis for $40M in tax credits to go toward a $200M downtown MLS stadium plan.

The El Paso City Council will discuss the latest proposal for a $180M downtown arena that would be built at the site of the current convention center.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Words with Multiple Meanings.”

“Found in a 1970 Tom Wolfe book title, it’s a chemistry term, a math quantity and a drastic word in politics.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley was fired yesterday after the team lost nine games in a row, or as the Cleveland Browns put it, "So he's available? Yes!" Fallon: “NBC is launching an all-Olympic channel next year. It will feature the Summer Games, the Winter Games, and two years of commercials in between” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/19).

“What is a radical?”