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Wednesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....Moving The Football?

  • Raiders, Chargers Relocation Plans Take Shape As Committees Meet
  • Don Yee Forming Pacific Pro Football Developmental League
  • MLS Execs Convene For Two-Day League-Wide Meetings In L.A.
  • Bucks Get Key Public Endorsement For Planned Entertainment Area

Raiders, Chargers Relocation Plans Take Shape As Committees Meet

The NFL's finance and stadium committees meet today in N.Y. to "begin sorting out how or if" the Raiders might move to Las Vegas, after which committee members will "formulate a firm proposal for all 32 owners to consider" March 26 in Arizona. Raiders Owner Mark Davis or another team rep "will address the committees and express a desire to file for relocation." NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman also will speak (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/11). There is a "growing belief within the NFL that owners will support a move by the Raiders." One high-ranking team official said, "I do think the Raiders will end up in Vegas" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/11).

The Chargers will not be in N.Y. this week and are "not planning to ask for an extension on the L.A. option." This "further fuels the belief" that Chargers Chair Dean Spanos is "prepared to turn the page in San Diego and head north." Sources said that the team's decision "could come any time" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/11). However, there are "grave concerns among owners and the league office about the potential of having two teams" in L.A. (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/10). Sources indicated that "multiple owners have spoken with Spanos recently to express the widely held belief that he should stay in San Diego." The Raiders are "prepared to effectively defer" their option to move to L.A. "contingent on the relocation vote," according to a source (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/11).

Don Yee Forming Pacific Pro Football Developmental League

By Michael Smith

A new L.A.-based pro football league – Pacific Pro Football – will give players coming out of high school an alternative to playing college football. The developmental league is the brainchild of NFL agent Don Yee, who is partnering with former NFLer Ed McCaffrey. Pac Pro will kick off its inaugural season in July '18 with four teams in San Diego and L.A. It will operate with a free-market system, paying players whatever the market will bear. The league will feature athletes who have been out of high school four years or less, largely players who are not eligible to play in the NFL. In addition to players coming out of high school, Yee envisions players coming to the Pac Pro out of junior college or from college programs where they were not getting a chance to play.

Yee, whose clients include Patriots QB Tom Brady, has assembled a roster of power brokers to run the league and advise it. Yee will serve as CEO, while McCaffrey and his wife, Lisa, are co-founders. Former NFL and ESPN exec Bradley Edwards has been appointed COO, while SportsPlus Properties' Jeffrey Husvar will serve as Chief Communications Officer. Pac Pro’s advisory board includes former NFL coach Mike Shanahan, former NFL exec Jim Steeg, Fox Sports analyst Mike Pereira, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Edelman Communications' Steve Schmidt.

MLS Execs Convene For Two-Day League-Wide Meetings In L.A.

By Ian Thomas

MLS holds its annual league-wide meetings today and tomorrow at the JW Marriott L.A. Live. Top league and club execs will meet to discuss business development, community relations, digital media/social media, finance, human resources, legal, marketing, public relations, sponsorship and ticketing plans. MLS Commissioner Don Garber will address the attendees, as will MLS execs Mark Abbott and Gary Stevenson. The league will recognize top club and executive award winners at a party tomorrow.

Bucks Get Key Public Endorsement For Planned Entertainment Area

The Bucks have received "another important city endorsement" for a planned entertainment center near their new arena. Milwaukee's Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee yesterday "recommended approval for the development." This comes after December's Plan Commission endorsement, with the "full council to review the proposal next week." Bucks-affiliated development group Deer District "plans to begin construction this spring and complete the entertainment center and arena" by fall '18 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/11).

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved the Packers' "master plan" for the Legends District area near Lambeau Field. The proposal "now goes to the city's plan commission for review before heading to the full City Council" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/11).

Winter Storm Disrupts Travel For Cavaliers-Trail Blazers Game

A West Coast winter storm is causing travel headaches for tonight's scheduled Cavaliers-Trail Blazers game at Moda Center. The Blazers visited the Lakers last night and were scheduled to take off from LAX at 1:00am PT this morning for Seattle-Tacoma Int'l. The team was to "spend the night in the Tacoma area and then fly or drive to Portland" today (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/11). The Cavs were "grounded on the tarmac for more than two hours" last night following their loss to the Jazz in Salt Lake City. The charter flight "eventually departed and landed safely in Portland" around 2:15am (OHIO.com, 1/11).

Meanwhile, stormy weather last night was "felt indoors" at Golden 1 Center prior to the Pistons-Kings game due to a "leak in the roof." About a half-dozen fans were "moved to other seats" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/11).

Clemson's CFP Championship A Hot Topic On Late-Night Talk Shows

Clemson's CFP championship win was a popular topic on late-night TV. On CBS’ “The Late Show” last night, host Stephen Colbert walked onstage for his monologue wearing a Clemson helmet: “What's this? Oh, this? It's no big deal, just the Clemson helmet given to me by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and signed by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. ... I wear it all the time.” Colbert, who is from Charleston, S.C., said, “Since I've got the helmet, I'm kind of national champion too. Couldn't play last night because I had to do my show. ... What a great game, real back-and-forth affair. ... Impossible to figure out who was going to win the game because I was watching ‘Big Bang Theory.’ But still, hell of a game. Congratulations to all the players. You earned every penny last night” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/10).

Later, Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews appeared on the show and said she is an "SEC girl" and a “huge” fan of Alabama coach Nick Saban. Andrews: “I’ve actually told Nick Saban that when I have my first-born, it’s going to be like ‘Lion King’ circle of life. I’m going to give birth to my child and pass it on to Nick Saban to raise my kid, make him win a Heisman Trophy and national championship and go to the NFL.” Colbert: “No pressure.”(“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/10).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, noting Clemson upset Alabama 35-31, added, "Coincidentally, 35.31 was also the blood-alcohol content of most Clemson fans after that game. The last-second victory, not only did it move the Tigers’ coach to tears, it motivated one of the players, a kid named Christian Wilkins, to bust both a move and possibly a testicle. He's acting like he's fine, but get that man on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ immediately” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/10).



Meanwhile, Amway, presenting sponsor of the AFCA Coaches' Trophy, runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Clemson (THE DAILY).

Speed Reads....

The Bills' search for a new coach "appears to be nearing its end," with Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott "emerging as the likely choice." The team "could finalize an agreement with McDermott within the next day or so" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/11).

A source said that the Cubs will visit President Obama at the White House on Monday, "before his departure later this month" (ESPN.com, 1/10).

The starting times for Saturday's Frozen Fenway college hockey doubleheader at Fenway Park "have been moved up 2½ hours" in consideration of fans "planning to watch" the Texans-Patriots playoff game, which starts at 8:15pm ET (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/11).

The NHL Rangers shared a video tribute to Steven McDonald, a "paralyzed NYPD hero" and dedicated Rangers fan who died yesterday. The video "chronicles McDonald's passion for the Rangers" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/11).

Quick Hits....

"We have a vibrant Dominican community who look at Big Papi, David Ortiz, swinging his bat for the Red Sox, and wonder why you said, ‘Almost no one coming from the Dominican Republic to the US is coming here because they have a provable skill that would benefit us" – U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), during the confirmation hearing for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who has been tapped as Attorney General (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/11).

"I actually have not seen it. But I have seen the real-life version with some of my dad’s former teammates and guys that I have played against, so it’s definitely something that makes you think about what you are doing and what some of the long-term effects will be" – Patriots WR Matthew Slater, on whether he has seen the movie "Concussion" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/10).

"It would be terrible. How terrible? Are there different levels of terrible?" – U.S. men's national team coach Bruce Arena, on the possibility of the team not qualifying for the World Cup (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/10).

"I've been on a lot of committees – government, corporate, university – and I've said many times, I think it's the best committee I've ever served on" – Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on the CFP selection committee (ESPN.com, 1/10).

"We plan to have Manny fight four times this year – we have an offer in Russia in July, another offer in Europe for September and in the U.S. against (unbeaten two-belt junior-welterweight champion) Terence Crawford in November or December. That will be Manny’s last fight" – Boxing promoter Bob Arum, on the four-fight farewell tour he has planned for Manny Pacquiao (L.A. TIMES, 1/11).

Morning Hot Reads: How Beckham Changed Soccer In The U.S.

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of David Beckham making the leap to American soccer by joining the Galaxy, and YAHOO SPORTS goes with the header, "Beckham's Impact On American Soccer Endures A Decade After Landmark MLS Signing."

THE MMQB on ESPN's Chris Berman: "As he steps back from more than three decades as the face of the NFL on ESPN, players, peers and Berman himself reflect on a seminal broadcasting career."

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 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) West Ham Not Allowed To Wear Special FA Cup Kit After Administrative Error
2) Amazon Game Studios Posts Job Ad For Europe Head Of Marketing, Esports
3) Yao Ming's Yao Capital Becomes Latest Formula E Investor
4) League One Side AFC Wimbledon's Stadium Assessed For Historic Listing
5) League Two Side Notts County Takeover Being Held Up Over £1M Loan Dispute

Final Jeopardy!

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

“Of the Beatles songs on which Ringo Starr sang lead, this one charted the highest, reaching No. 2.”

Laugh Track: Cold Opening

Erin Andrews during her appearnce on CBS' "Late Show" noted she was on the sidelines for the Packers-Giants playoff game last weekend in Green Bay: “I froze my patootie off. It kind of feels like this studio right now.” Andrews said of the cold weather in Green Bay for the game, “The biggest factor for me, it’s not even like you’re freezing it’s just the constant runnage of the nose. I just feel like you don’t know if you’re talking to a player and you’ve just got this snot coming down.” Host Stephen Colbert said, “It humanizes you.” Andrews said of her duties as a sideline reporter, “You have to paraphrase. You can’t say exactly what they said. I don’t think the NFL really likes it. It’s just a rule as a sideline reporter, I cannot repeat verbatim what I hear on the sideline” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/10).

Actress Anna Faris appeared on TBS’ “Conan” last night to discuss her new book, “Unqualified,” in which she attempts to give life advice along with personal stories. Faris said women shouldn’t date athletes, “not just because of the rumors of cheating, but because I think you would have to be like, ‘You know, that rookie’s not so good.’ There would the constant emotional like, (SWEET GIRLFRIEND VOICE) ‘I know you guys lost but you'll win next (time).’ That seems like a big chore.” Host Conan O’Brien: “That's how my wife talks to me and I'm a comedian” (“Conan,” TBS, 1/10).