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Tuesday 9:00am ET....Today's News....D-League Gets Some G-Love

  • NBA D-League To Become G-League Under Gatorade Sponsorship
  • James Dolan, Charles Oakley Meet At NBA Office To Resolve Dispute
  • UConn Women Win 100th Straight Game At "Packed" Gampel Pavilion
  • Judge Denies Armstrong's Dismissal Request In USPS Sponsorship Suit

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Today: How was The Daily tipped off on NBA D-League name change? Can Adam Silver ease Dolan/Oakley feud before All-Star? Early names floated for possible NFL Panthers president role.

NBA D-League To Become G-League Under Gatorade Sponsorship

By John Lombardo

The NBA has signed an entitlement deal for the D-League with Gatorade, rebranding the property as the NBA Gatorade League beginning next season. Gatorade’s new NBA G-League logo will be featured on all team jerseys and in on-court signage, in addition to appearing on the league’s digital platforms. Even the league’s game balls will sport the NBA G-League logo. Gatorade also will use the league to test new products and equipment, a key component of the deal.

Financial terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed, but it comes as Gatorade extends its NBA leaguewide sponsorship that dates back 30 years. Gatorade Senior VP & GM Brett O’Brien said the ability to incorporate product testing into the league was as much a part of the agreement as the entitlement.

James Dolan, Charles Oakley Meet At NBA Office To Resolve Dispute

Knicks Owner James Dolan and former NBAer Charles Oakley yesterday "worked to begin to patch up their differences" in a meeting at the NBA's office at Commissioner Adam Silver's request. Silver said that Dolan "expressed a hope that Oakley would return to the Garden as Dolan’s guest in the 'near future.'” Hornets Owner Michael Jordan, a "close friend of Oakley’s," participated in yesterday's meeting by telephone (N.Y. TIMES, 2/14). Oakley "wants more time to process everything that transpired over the past tumultuous week" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/14).

UConn Women Win 100th Straight Game At "Packed" Gampel Pavilion

Gampel Pavilion was "packed" and "loud" last night as the UConn women's basketball team won its 100th consecutive game with a 66-55 victory over South Carolina. The atmosphere in Storrs resembled "what it was like back when the men were playing huge games in the Big East." As the final buzzer sounded, fake $100 bills bearing the likeness of coach Geno Auriemma "floated from the Gampel Pavilion in a barrage of confetti" (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/14). After the game, the team "put on shirts commemorating the 100th win in a row and posed for photos" (NEW HAVEN REGISTER, 2/14).

Judge Denies Armstrong's Dismissal Request In USPS Sponsorship Suit

The federal government’s $100M lawsuit against Lance Armstrong will "proceed to trial" after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper yesterday "denied Armstrong’s request to throw the case out of court." The decision "marks a significant defeat for Armstrong, who had asked Cooper to dismiss the case with a summary judgment ruling." Instead, Cooper "sided with the federal government, which is suing Armstrong on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service" and is seeking nearly $100M in damages. The USPS paid $32.3M to sponsor Armstrong’s cycling team from '00-04 (USA TODAY, 2/14).

Magic Johnson Talks Lakers Return With NBC's Jimmy Fallon

Magic Johnson appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and discussed his return to the Lakers as an advisor. Host Jimmy Fallon said of the move, "This makes so much sense." Johnson: “We've been struggling here in the last four or five years, and so Jeanie Buss asked me to come back. ... I love the Lakers, so it's been great. I think I've been back for the last two weeks just trying to come up with a strategy and a plan to get us back where we belong, which is on top.” Fallon: “If anyone can do it, you can, because you’re Magic” ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 2/13).

FloSports To Stream Several Big 12 Championships In Olympic Sports

By Eric Fisher

Austin-based streaming outfit FloSports has renewed its partnership with the Big 12 to distribute several championship tournaments in Olympic sports. The deal, which begins later this month and covers various competitions not included in the Big 12’s contracts with Fox and ESPN, will involve swimming and diving, indoor track & field, wrestling and gymnastics. Live and on-demand coverage will be distributed on various FloSports portals. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is primarily based on a rights fee with FloSports recouping the costs through subscription fees and ad sales. “This is another important validation for what we’re trying to build,” said FloSports co-Founder & CEO Martin Floreani.

Missouri Secures Another Big Donation For Stadium Addition

The Missouri football program received "another seven-figure donation to go towards the south end zone project" at Memorial Stadium, which is "planned to be completed by the start" of the '19 season. This marks the "ninth seven-figure donation in the past eight months." Currently, more than $46M has been obtained for the new facility, projected to cost around $96.7M. The school's Board of Curators recently "approved Populous to be the architect for the project" (COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN, 2/14).

Speed Reads....

A group of investors has "applied to start a Baltimore-based expansion team" in the USL, and the potential owners are "working with the USL to evaluate stadium options." If accepted, Baltimore "could join the league as early as next year" or '19 (Baltimore SUN, 2/14).

Crews at Heinz Field have begun "laying the groundwork for the ice surface" ahead of the Feb. 25 Flyers-Penguins Stadium Series game there. Crews will continue to construct the surface "over the next few days" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/14).

Texas state Sen. John Whitmire today is expected to announce the filing of his bill that would give Harris County voters a "say in the fate" of the Astrodome (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/14).

A crowd of 15,941 was on hand at TD Garden last night to see the Harvard hockey team win its first Beanpot title since '93 with a 6-3 win over Boston Univ. (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/14).

Quick Hits....

"We're gonna wait until everything is up and running. I definitely see league events in the future and we've had preliminary discussions" – NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in an interview for Detroit-based WXYT-FM, on future All-Star Games coming to Little Caesars Arena (DETROIT NEWS, 2/14).

"Some days I feel like we've been invaded by another power and taken over (by people) who don't feel the same. It's a strange land" – Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who continues to criticize the Trump administration (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 2/14).

“At an international tennis match, U.S. officials accidentally played the Nazi national anthem. White House advisor Steve Bannon was outraged and said, ‘We're not rolling that out until August. Come on!’” – TBS’ Conan O’Brien (“Conan,” TBS, 2/13).

Morning Hot Reads: Take Me Out To The Ball Game

The Chicago DAILY HERALD writes shortening MLB games is "not going to get young people more interested." The problem is that the average family "can't afford" to take their kids to many games, which is "how you get young people hooked on baseball." Make the game "more affordable and you'll get young children back in stadiums and loving the game."

The AP writes New Orleans' acceptance of the LGBT community will "be on full display this weekend" around the NBA All-Star Game, as the festivities will "feature a number of LGBT-friendly aspects." The issue of inclusion "played a role" in the city being chosen to host the event after the league withdrew from Charlotte due to North Carolina's "bathroom bill."

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-Times

Spanning The Global....

The most-read Global stories today on SportsBusiness Daily:

1) Lionel Messi Renews Contract With Adidas, Is Reportedly Tied To German Brand For Life
2) West Ham Set To Freeze Season Ticket Prices At London Stadium
3) Facebook To Livestream 46 Liga MX Matches In Deal With Univision
4) Williams Deputy Team Principal Excited About F1's Income Equality Plans
5) Board Of Control For Cricket In India Opens Tender For Indian Premier League Rights

Final Jeopardy!

Last night’s "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Books of the Bible."

"It begins with God saying, 'Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel.'"

Laugh Track: Ownership Change?

Actor Tracy Morgan appeared on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night where he talked about the "fiasco going on in New York" with the Knicks. Morgan said, "Did you see when the security guard pushed (Charles Oakley)? You don't push Oakley. Everybody knows he throw punches in bunches." Morgan said "you don’t push" Basketball HOFer Karl Malone either. Morgan: "Oakley will beat you up but Karl Malone will beat you up and then shoot you." Morgan added, "I think I'm going to buy the team from (Knicks Owner James Dolan)." Host Jimmy Kimmel: "That would be amazing. Do you have that much money that you could buy the New York Knicks?" Morgan said referring to his auto accident when he was rear-ended by a Wal-Mart truck and seriously injured, "You act like I got hit by Bob's Discount Furniture truck" (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/13).

Final Jeopardy....

"What is Numbers?"

The episode marked the beginning of the “Jeopardy College Championship” tournament.