Morning Hot Reads: Ain't It Grand?

USA TODAY notes the Grand Canyon Univ. is "home to possibly the best student section in college basketball." In fact, Louisville coach Rick Pitino earlier this season called it the "toughest crowd I've ever faced." The atmosphere at the arena "caters almost entirely to students," and before tipoff, the stands are an "avalanche of streamers, EDM and dubstep."

DIGIDAY.com's Max Willens wrote, "In the developing race among publishers to build audiences of logged-in readers, ESPN has come out of the blocks fast." Log-ins "make it a lot easier to track a user across devices, which has become progressively more important to advertisers." With this in mind, ESPN has "begun experimenting with new products."

Also: 

• Daytona President Chip Wile preps for his "first time at the helm" of Speedweeks.
• Pirates Owner Bob Nutting addresses payroll criticism, team's direction in Q&A.
• Contrasting the late Mike Ilitch with Knicks and Rangers Owner James Dolan.
• Tigers fans enjoy an "almost supernatural relationship" with Lakeland, Fla.
• Ex-NFLer Shawn Springs is using "baby car seat technology" to make safer helmets
• Too much snow is the "biggest concern" for World Cup skiing at Squaw Valley.
• All-Star weekend in New Orleans will be "special time" for ESPN's Michael Smith.
• A look at Phoenix as a possible MLS expansion market.