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Tuesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Tiger Bomb

  • Clemson Wins Title Game For The Ages In Rematch Against Alabama
  • FIFA Votes Unanimously To Expand World Cup Field To 48 Teams
  • Phil Jackson Not Available To Media As Knicks' Rose Goes AWOL
  • MLS Reaches Pair Of Five-Year Deals For Canadian TV Rights

Clemson Wins Title Game For The Ages In Rematch Against Alabama

Clemson won last night's CFP title game 35-31 over Alabama, completing a "stunning second-half comeback capped by a go-ahead touchdown with exactly one second left" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/10). The AP goes with the header, "Tigers-Tide II Gets A Place In The History Of Great Games." If fans "thought last year's College Football Playoff championship game was great," the "rematch was even better." And it "will take a place in the history books" (AP, 1/10). For "sheer entertainment value, Monday's instant classic grades as the best college football championship contest ever" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/10). It was a "rare sequel that surpassed the original" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/10). Clemson QB Deshaun Watson was "magical in the win," and for the "second consecutive year, he put together a masterful performance against the nation’s best defense" (Columbia STATE, 1/10).

Front-Page Headlines: Anderson Independent Mail: "Roll Tigers" ... Columbia State: "Believe It! Clemson's No. 1" ... Charleston Post & Courier: "Champions" ... Tuscaloosa News: "Denied" ... Anniston Star: "Tide Denied" ... USA Today (top ribbon): "Tigers Roar To National Title" ... Wall Street Journal: "Sweet Revenge As Clemson Captures National Championship" ... ESPN.com: "Clemson Beats Bama By Being Bama" ... SI.com: "Last-Second Magic"

With the game coming down to the wire, it is likely to produce a solid audience figure for ESPN. SBD/SBJ yesterday on its official Twitter feed conducted a non-scientific poll on predictions for the game's TV audience. Just prior to kickoff, 848 respondents had chimed in, with 43% feeling that the audience would top the 25.7 million viewers for Alabama-Clemson last year, but fall short of the 33.4 million viewers for the inaugural Ohio State-Oregon CFP finale in '15. Another 36% of respondents believed last night’s viewership would fall below the first two CFP title games, while only 21% felt it would top both games (THE DAILY).

FIFA Votes Unanimously To Expand World Cup Field To 48 Teams

FIFA yesterday in Zurich "voted unanimously" to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in '26, which is "likely to be held in North America." The new format will see the total number of games "increase from 64 to 80," and it is expected to generate around $1B extra for FIFA (London INDEPENDENT, 1/10). For "would-be hosts, the prospect of welcoming 50% more teams complicates the logistics of an already gargantuan event" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/10). The decision to expand was "both political and financial" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/10).

Phil Jackson Not Available To Media As Knicks' Rose Goes AWOL

Knicks President Phil Jackson “elected not to address the media” following last night’s loss to the Pelicans after G Derrick Rose “went AWOL” and missed the game. Jackson instead left coach Jeff Hornacek to “answer questions about a situation that is above [his] pay grade.” MSG Chair James Dolan “was said to be upset” about the situation. The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Frank Isola writes this is the “type of culture Jackson has created” in that there is “zero accountability” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/10). The N.Y. POST’s Kevin Kernan writes the Knicks’ season is “one huge embarrassment, and Jackson has to be held accountable for his players’ disgraceful play” (N.Y. POST, 1/10).

MLS Reaches Pair Of Five-Year Deals For Canadian TV Rights

By Ian Thomas

MLS has finalized new broadcast agreements in Canada, including a five-year extension with TSN and a new five-year agreement with TVA Sports. TSN, which has broadcast the league since '11, will have exclusive English-language rights in Canada, as well as exclusive rights to Toronto FC and Whitecaps matches. TVA will have exclusive French-language rights for Impact matches, and it will air more than 50 additional MLS matches. RDS previously had French-language exclusivity in Canada. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

ESPN's Adam Schefter Launching New Podcast Focused On Interviews

By John Bauernfeind, Staff Writer

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is launching a new podcast this morning, with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones serving as the show’s first guest. “Know Them From Adam” will go live each Tuesday, with recently retired NFLer Steve Smith Sr. lined up as the next guest. “Inevitably, there will be news that seeps into the interviews,” Schefter said, “but they’re designed to be more about the person, the lessons they’ve learned, advice they would give, philosophies they’ve developed.” Schefter’s podcast is one of several new assignments he is adding after signing a five-year contract last month to remain with ESPN.

Schefter said he would like to have musicians, politicians, actors and actresses on the podcast, “as long as they have some kind of connection to football.” He mentioned Angels CF Mike Trout, a noted Eagles fan and season-ticket holder, as someone he would like to interview. “This is going to be more personality and life-lesson driven than the regular newsy shows that are on ESPN every single day,” Schefter added. ZipRecruiter and Blue Apron have signed on as launch sponsors.

Falcons Reach Sellout Of General Seats For Home Playoff Game

The Falcons said that "all general seats are sold out" for Saturday afternoon's NFL Divisional playoff game against the Seahawks at the Georgia Dome, but a "few suites are available for sale." According to the Georgia Dome website, at 10:25am ET there were "still tickets available" from $203-12,181 (AJC.com, 1/10). The team as of yesterday reportedly had "thousands of tickets available" (AJC.com, 1/9).

Meanwhile, the average ticket price for Sunday's Packers-Cowboys Divisional game at AT&T Stadium has "soared" to $813 at secondary outlet TicketIQ, as of yesterday morning. The game is the "most expensive divisional round game TicketIQ has ever tracked, and the second-most expensive playoff game" behind the '15 NFC Championship game featuring Packers-Seahawks. The average for that matchup topped out at $854 (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/10).

Ravens Brass To Address Media Following Second Non-Playoff Season

Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti, President Dick Cass, Exec VP & GM Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh today will deliver the annual "State of the Ravens" address, which "comes at a crucial time for the organization and its top decision makers." They will have "plenty of questions to answer about the direction of the franchise." The environment at M&T Bank Stadium was "not the same" during '16 "as it's been in the past." Every game in the venue's history "has been sold out," but single-game ticket sales for '16 were "a bit behind" previous years' pace. Another non-playoff season will "surely make the ticket office's job a little more challenging" (Baltimore SUN, 1/10).

Mitsubishi Electric Becomes Official HVAC Partner Of NHL In Canada

Mitsubishi Electric has signed a multiyear marketing agreement with the NHL to become the official heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and hand dryer partner of the NHL in Canada. The company is an official partner of the NHL Centennial Fan Arena visits to the league's Canadian markets in '17. Mitsubishi Electric will receive in-arena branding, camera-visible dasherboards and custom integration of the brand (NHL).

Speed Reads....

The Chargers' decision to stay in San Diego or try to move to L.A. "most likely will be made by Sunday." A source said that the team "doesn't plan to request an extension of the deadline" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/9).

The Warriors next season will "play two preseason games" against the T'Wolves in China as part of the NBA's '17 Global Games. The games will be "held in Shenzhen and Shanghai in October and will feature two teams with ties to China." The T'Wolves have the NBA's "first Chinese minority owner in Jiang Lizhang" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10).

Golfer Lydia Ko has signed with Ecco Golf, agreeing to "wear the company's shoes, as well as brandish the Ecco logo on her collar" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 1/9).

Quick Hits....

"People think we are bitter enemies. We really aren’t. You know we are pretty good friends. And I have said this before, until somebody puts a microphone in front of him, he’s a pretty good guy. After that, you never know" – College football HOF coach Phillip Fulmer, on his relationship with inductee Steve Spurrier (Knoxville NEWS-SENTINEL, 1/10).

"I wasn't fired because of analytics. ... I'm a stubborn guy at times; maybe I said a little too much, maybe I gave my opinion a little bit too much. Maybe when they asked for my opinion, I have an honest opinion and sometimes it doesn't help you" – Former NHL Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, on why the team fired him earlier this season (ESPN.com, 1/9).

"It has logistical advantages if you’re that close. On the other hand, in some of these situations, you like the idea of sending guys to (crummy) places and having to ride on buses and do that kind of stuff to really get a taste of what the minor leagues are. Then guys will gain a much greater appreciation of being in the NBA" – Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, on the pros and cons of having the team's D-League affiliate in nearby Frisco, Texas (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/10).

Morning Hot Reads: Power Punch

YAHOO SPORTS goes with the header, "Why Women's Boxing Doesn't Have A Ronda Rousey." Women’s boxing "historically has been largely ignored by promoters, television networks and the media in the U.S.," but promoter Lou DiBella "senses a seismic shift about to unfold."

The AP notes several Group of Five schools have "recently committed major resources to either improving or building new football facilities on campus." The projects are "part of a complicated dance in which universities utilize sports to increase their public profile."

Also

Twitter Me This....

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

Today's Events....

The '19 NCAA Final Four Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee will brief media on its plans and community impact focus, beginning at 12:15pm CT.

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) Formula 1 To Introduce Faster, Wider Cars To Physically Test Drivers
2) F1 Teams Will Be Forced To Hold On To Shares For At Least 10 Years
3) Adidas Enters French Esports Market With Team Vitality Sponsorship
4) Report Claims Expanded World Cup Will Increase Revenues By $1B
5) IMG Inks Three-Year Deal To Sell Broadcast Rights To Bolt's Nitro Athletics

Final Jeopardy!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19th Century Notables.”

“Calling him a red-headed madman, in 1889 a group of his neighbors signed a petition to ban him from his home in Arles, France.”

Laugh Track: Sea Legs

CBS’ Stephen Colbert said the Giants' 38-13 loss to the Packers was a “brutal game.” Giants QB Eli Manning “could not get anything going,” Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. “kept dropping passes and the defense even let Aaron Rodgers throw a Hail Mary.” Colbert: “Luckily, New York fans are used to being embarrassed since we also have the Jets. Some angry Giants fans are now pointing to this photo of several players on a boat in Miami last week, saying they should have been focused on the game instead. Yesterday, the players on that boat had a combined three dropped passes, and two of them would have been for touchdowns. Just think, if they had caught those touchdowns, the Giants would have lost by only 11 points. Way better, and it doesn't help that when you zoom into that photo you can actually see Eli Manning water skiing behind the boat on top of two dolphins wearing a shirt that says ‘I DON’T CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL’” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/9).

Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah discussed actress Meryl Streep's speech at the Golden Globes, in which she said football and MMA “are not the arts.” Noah said, “You don’t have to make your point by (EXPLETIVE) on someone else's thing because a lot of people love football and the arts. I know yesterday I was watching the football with friends and then I went on to watch the Golden Globes. A lot of the time football and arts go hand in hand. For instance, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acts like he cares about concussions. You see, they go together” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 1/9).