Oregon State has offered its AD job to Pitt's Scott Barnes and the two sides "are in negotiations.” Barnes would replace Todd Stansbury, who “recently left OSU after less than two years” to take the same post at Georgia Tech (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/22). Barnes met with OSU officials on Dec. 14 to “discuss the vacant position,” and Pitt officials “believed Barnes would take it."  He has “spent much of his personal life and professional career” in the western U.S. (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/22).

NBA owners yesterday voted to “approve a proposed seven-year collective bargaining agreement that was tentatively agreed to last week.” Sources said that the owners' vote “was unanimous and players are expected to finish casting their ballots in the coming days.” Teams met by teleconference yesterday to “discuss and approve the proposed deal.” Sources said players were “recently emailed information about the CBA from the union and were intending to have their ratification vote completed electronically” by tomorrow (AP, 12/22).

The Univ. of Florida’s men’s basketball team last night defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 94-71 in the “grand re-opening of Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center” before a crowd of 10,655. The Gators “played their first 11 games off campus this season and had a 17-game, 295-day stretch away from Gainesville overall” while the O'Dome's $64.5M makeover was being completed (GAINESVILLE SUN, 12/22). With the renovation complete, UF unveiled the $2M “jumbotron, new chairback seating and club areas” (GAINESVILLE SUN, 12/22).

The annual Illinois-Missouri men's basketball game at Scottrade Center in St. Louis last night drew a crowd of 12,409 with "embarrassing pockets of unused seats" in the lower bowl and sections upon sections "empty in the upper deck." The game drew 14,456 fans last season, "but before that, every one of these games in this building surpassed 20,000 except one (and that was 19,586)." From '96-'06, every game in the series "had at least 22,000 fans." An "eye test says it was 65 percent Illinois fans" last night (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/22). Of the 8,000 tickets MU had available for sale, "only 2,850 were claimed" (KANSASCITY.com, 12/21).

Cable provider Layer 3 TV will carry NFL Network and NFL RedZone under a new deal that will be announced later this morning. Layer 3 will carry NFL Network on its allHD package. RedZone will be on its Sports & Info tier. The channels will be up-and-running in time to carry three “TNF”-branded games this week: Giants-Eagles on Thursday, Bengals-Texans on Saturday and Ravens-Steelers on Sunday. Layer 3 launched in the Chicago and DC areas earlier this year and is preparing to launch into other big markets. It is backed by deep pocketed investors, including Evolution Media Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners and Altice USA.

BYU beat Wyoming last night in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl before a crowd of 28,114 at Qualcomm Stadium. The event featured "rare rain for San Diego’s first of two bowl games," with precipitation "coming down before kickoff and not letting up much over three quarters" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/22). The attendance figure is up from a Poinsettia Bowl-low of 21,501 last year when Boise State played Northern Illinois (THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, the three-year-old Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday night drew an "announced crowd of 24,726" to at FAU Stadium for Western Kentucky's win over Memphis (TCPALM.com, 12/20).

Exec Editor Abe Madkour and Staff Writer John Ourand look at the year that was in sports media and the year ahead, tracking the trends that matter in the marketplace. Listen below or at Soundcloud.com.

The Packers “put out a call for people to shovel snow from the benches at Lambeau Field.” The team will “employ as many as 650 shovelers, 18 years or older.” Shovelers “will be paid $10 an hour, with payment made immediately upon completion of work” (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 12/21).

Helen Alfredsson “has been appointed the first player president of the Ladies European Tour” (REUTERS, 12/22).

"It is extremely challenging and it's something that I’m actually hoping that they find a way to get a win, because just to be able to get that monkey off their back in the next two games, I think will be tremendous for them" -- Former NFLer Ryan Nece, who played on the winless '08 Lions team, on hoping the Browns can win a game this season (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/22).

"I only see great benefits for the growth of the game worldwide, especially with China and South Korea on the horizon. Isn't it what the mandate is? Is it further developing worldwide interest? Franchise value can only benefit from financial growth" -- CAA hockey agent Pat Brisson, on the NHL's reluctance to continue participating in the Olympics (TSN.ca, 12/21).

"I love seeing the Jumpman logo play out as we envisioned. I have reflected back on how fortunate I was that Charles called me with that idea. That’s why it takes a village" -- Former Michigan AD Jim Hackett, on getting a call from former UM player Charles Woodson suggesting the program explore a deal with Jordan Brand (DETROIT NEWS, 12/22).

"Dirk is phenomenal at those things, but he never wants anyone to know about it" -- Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, on F Dirk Nowitzki not publicizing many of his philanthropic efforts (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/21).

ESPN.com asks, "What will cell service be like at NASCAR tracks now that Sprint no longer sponsors the Cup Series?" It likely will be "a little worse for those who have Sprint," as the company "hasn't reached a deal for an acceptable price" to join the distributed antenna systems at SMI- and ISC-owned tracks. During its entitlement deal, Sprint "spent millions" to bring its own portable antenna units to every track, but talks to continue that "have fallen through as well."

CBSSPORTS.com writes, "Few people on Earth know how to game the system in which they operate better than Jeffrey Loria." The Marlins' owner has "outfoxed everyone in his path" for two decades, "en route to gargantuan riches." He has "thrust himself in position to make more money than even the sharpest business minds could ever dream of reaping."

Also: 

• Fashionistas are having a "mini-resurgence of interest" in the Champion "C" logo.
• Poverty is "just one of the obstacles facing Africa's top baseball prospects."
• The search for the "Yao Ming of hockey" is on with the NHL eyeing China closely.
• NHL players share their thoughts on the league's concussion protocol.
• St. Johns County (Fla.) considers "creating a sports commission" to boost tourism.

Federer hints at a Scottish appearance next year in return for Murray coming to Zurich: "I hope I can return the favour and go to Scotland."

— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) December 22, 2016

"Hey do you know anything about football?"
"Absolutely not"
"Come run the @NFL account"

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 22, 2016

We're not going to post the halftime score. Check out our mentions if you want to see how the game is going.

— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 22, 2016

And thus, a Charlotte NBA All-Star Game fades further into the horizon... https://t.co/vJgXg0xqsF

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) December 22, 2016

Failure to repeal HB2 is catastrophic for sports industry in NC. Impact could last decades, once NCAA gets comfortable elsewhere. Ask SC.

— Luke DeCock (@LukeDeCock) December 22, 2016

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

“It’s the closest nation to the mainland U.S. where cars customarily drive on the left.”

“What is the Bahamas?”