NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson last night announced he will "put the team up for sale" at the conclusion of the season, with the news coming "just hours after a Sports Illustrated report outlined allegations of sexual and racial misconduct by Richardson toward former Panthers employees." The NFL on Sunday announced it will now "take over" the Panthers' investigation, but by making the announcement when he did, Richardson "could avoid the possibility of being forced out by the NFL depending on what its investigation uncovers." Sources said that Panthers players "were not alerted to the announcement of the sale ahead of time" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/18).

Richardson's decision to sell the team is a "fast decision" that "caps a whirlwind 72 hours" for the owner (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/18). The move "represented a swift fall for a man who at times has been among the NFL’s most powerful owners" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/18).

LeBron James last night during the first half of Cavaliers-Wizards "wore special 'EQUALITY' Nike shoes," one black and one white, with the word "stitched in gold across the back of the shoe." James has "been adamant about raising social awareness" and this was "yet another unique way to send his message" (Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 12/18). James after the Cavs' 106-99 win "explained his decision to wear the different colored sneakers, referencing President Trump but never saying his name" (USA TODAY, 12/18).

MSG is promoting Exec VP/Corporate Development Andrew Lustgarten to President, effective immediately. MSG Former President & CEO Doc O'Connor stepped down last month. Lustgarten joined MSG in '14 and will continue to report to Exec Chair & CEO James Dolan. Prior to MSG, he spent seven years at the NBA. Lustgarten also has had stints with Cablevision and Bear Stearns. He was an SBJ/SBD "Forty Under 40" honoree in '14 while serving as NBA Senior VP/Business & Strategic Development (THE DAILY).

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis following yesterday's game against the Vikings denied ESPN's report claiming he has made the "decision to walk away" at the end of the season. Lewis, when asked if the report was true, replied, "No. It’s the same report you’ve been reporting on all season. There’s nothing changed since August. It’s just the speculation that people keep throwing out there. We’re all wasting time talking about that." Sources said that there had been "no recent conversations between Lewis and Bengals ownership about his future, and the feeling among many was Lewis was focused on the Vikings and willing to wait until after the season finale on Dec. 31 in Baltimore to discuss his future" with Owner Mike Brown (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/18).

The Eagles' 34-29 win over the Giants yesterday at MetLife Stadium saw "thousands of Eagles fans filling the seats," making it "sound like a game at Lincoln Financial Field." When the Giants had the ball, "loud chants of 'De-fense … de-fense' cascaded down to the field" (N.Y. POST, 12/18). MetLife was "made to feel like home sweet home for the Eagles," as the "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles, Eagles, Eagles, chant rocked the house" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/18).

Meanwhile, the announced paid attendance for Cardinals-Redskins yesterday at FedExField was 71,026, but Owner Dan Snyder was "lucky if half that many people were in the place." There were "times when crickets would’ve made more noise." There were also reports that midfield seats "could be had for less than $20 on StubHub." The Redskins won 17-12 (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/18).

SiriusXM will launch 24-hour Pac-12 and ACC radio channels early next year as part of multiyear deals signed with each conference. Formal announcements are expected to come later this afternoon. The channels, which will be called “SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio” and “SiriusXM ACC Radio,” will include live sports (football, basketball, baseball and softball), coaches shows, press conferences, analysis and call-in shows. They also plans coverage of each conference’s Media Days and classic games re-broadcasts. SiriusXM last month announced a similar deal with the SEC, which also launches early next year.

NYRR will announce today it has signed Popular Bank as the title sponsor of the ‘18 Brooklyn Half Marathon, replacing Airbnb after three years. Along with entitlement rights, Popular gets the official bank designation for the race, and will also become a strategic partner of NYRR’s five-borough series of half marathons and 10Ks. The Popular Brooklyn Half is May 19.

Crews from New Era Field and Ice Rink Events “wasted little time” yesterday after Dolphins-Bills to “turn the football field into an ice surface” for the IIHF Under-20 Championship Series Team Canada-Team USA hockey game on Dec. 29. Crews will “need the entire week for construction and setting the ice.” The Sabres are “expecting to attract a crowd of around 45,000 people” for the game. The ice “has to be ready by Dec. 26” as Team USA practices on it on Dec. 27 and Team Canada the next day (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/18).

A collection of top Democrats in Congress "want to hold hearings" on Disney’s $52B bid to buy 21st Century Fox. Key voices on competition and consumer protection "fear Disney’s latest deal will only solidify its dominance in entertainment -- granting it too many major box-office franchises and too much power over regional sports networks and streaming video services." U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said that she has "already asked the Republican leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee to convene a hearing" (RECODE.net, 12/17).

WFAN “will not waste any time moving on from the Mike Francesa.” Chris Carlin is “scheduled to work all five weekdays” this week, and is “expected to be joined on Thursday and Friday by Maggie Gray and Bart Scott, offering listeners a preview of the new show that officially launches on Jan. 2” (NEWSDAY.com, 12/13).

A fire alarm at a concession stand delayed Ohio State’s men’s basketball game Saturday night and “forced a temporary mid-game evacuation of Value City Arena.” After an eight-minute delay, the situation was “cleared and fans were allowed to return” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/16).

Injured Steelers LB Ryan Shazier yesterday “made an unexpected appearance” at Heinz Field for Patriots-Steelers. Fans “roared in approval at Shazier, who was smiling widely and waving a Terrible Towel from a private box” (TRIBLIVE.com, 12/17).

Attendance for the National Finals Rodeo at Thomas & Mack Center was 168,952 for “10 consecutive sellouts for the Super Bowl of rodeos” (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 12/17).

"It’s been a challenge. But it’s so wonderful now to see a young team come through and with the veteran leadership, it gives us sustainability and hope for the future" -- Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan, on the team clinching its first playoff berth since '07 (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/18).

"He’s one of my best friends. I always say to people: ‘How often do you talk to your best friends?’ I talk to him a lot” -- Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, a former agent, on his relationship with former longtime client Kobe Bryant (L.A. TIMES, 12/18).

The TORONTO STAR writes under the header, "NHL Concussion Battle Isn't Ahead By A Century." Celebrating its centennial this year, the NHL is "spotlighting the best players from its rich history, the greatest goals, the coolest sweaters." But "this is an era, too, in which" CTE is "as much a hockey term as coach’s challenge."

The RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH sarcastically writes under the header, "There Are Too Many Bowl Games? No Way." Despite many games not drawing large crowds, the bowl games are not going away because "enough people will watch to where the money says put them on TV and keep on doing it."

Also:

No league snatches actual sports from the jaws of conversation like the NFL

— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) December 18, 2017

In many ways, Jerry Richardson is nothing beyond a product of his time.

But times change. People have to as well.

— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) December 18, 2017

There are many people on many levels that believe Dustin Fowler's sit against Guaranteed Rate Fiel is the beginning of owers in many citiies being forced to better ballpark safety, including spring training

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 18, 2017

NFL has capability to put cameras in the pylons and have cameras fly over the field, but they still use 10 yards worth of chains to measure for first downs.

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) December 18, 2017

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Friday's “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Movie Settings.”

“The setting for this 1994 Oscar-winning animated film was inspired by Kenya’s Hell’s Gate National Park.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “I saw that a statue of soccer superstar Diego Maradona was just unveiled and some people don’t think it looks like him.” After showing images of both Maradona and his statue, Fallon added, “A lot of people have spoken out about the statue, including Maradona himself. He said, ‘I am honored to be memorialized in this way. Thank you to everyone involved.’ Then his new statue spoke up and said, ‘Erm henerred to be mermerierlerzed, ter! Thernks to evvryone ernverlved!!’ Then Maradona said, ‘On second thought, maybe I don’t need a statue.’ Then the old statue of Cristiano Ronaldo said, ‘Whert?? Whert’s wrerng with stertues!?’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/15).

“What is The Lion King?”