MLS yesterday awarded Nashville an expansion franchise and Commissioner Don Garber indicated the league will "announce the next steps in its drawn-out expansion process" today. Garber: "(Thursday) we’re going to talk about what our timing will be, process timing." He noted the league is "not going to announce" the second expansion team today. The statement indicates the league "still has questions about the expansion applications from Sacramento, Cincinnati and Detroit." In a statement last week, MLS said that it was "continuing to work with all four finalist cities" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/21).

The Timbers are "set to move forward on expanding the team's chronically sold-out stadium at Providence Park by up to 4,000 seats." The Portland City Council yesterday "unanimously approved the project," which is expected to cost Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson's holding company Peregrine Sports $50M. The city will pay about $3M for "system repairs and replacement costs, property insurance for the expansion and for a consulting team and lawyers to oversee the project for the city" (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/21).

NFL Media Group VP & Exec Editor David Eaton has resigned "a little more than a week" after NFL Network "came under fire for tolerating a hostile work environment for female employees." Last week, Eaton got "swept up in the controversy after news media reports surfaced about his history of engaging in sexually explicit conversations on Twitter." Eaton was in charge of "news operations at both the television channel and NFL.com" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/21).

The Mets last night reached a contract extension with GM Sandy Alderson, who was "always expected to come back" despite a "disaster" of a '17 season. The Mets "did not reveal the length or financial terms of the new contract" (NEWSDAY, 12/21). During the '15 season in which the Mets advanced to the World Series, doctors "diagnosed Alderson with a treatable form of cancer." The 70-year-old "underwent chemotherapy and a surgery" in '16, and said last May that he was on the "road to a full recovery." Alderson has "remained upbeat and positive" since (Bergen RECORD, 12/21).

DC United is in "advanced talks with Loudoun County about building practice fields, offices and a 5,000-seat stadium for a lower-tier team at Philip A. Bolen Park in Leesburg, Va." If a deal is reached, the county would "provide land for the facilities" and approximately $15M in financing for construction, including a stadium to "serve a United-owned team in the second division." Under the proposal, the team would "repay the county for the cost of constructing the facilities." The project "would include four fields" and the club would "operate its youth academy at the complex" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/21).

Louisiana Tech last night defeated SMU 51-10 in front of 14,419 fans at Toyota Stadium in the inaugural DXL Frisco Bowl (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/20). Louisiana Tech alum Terry Bradshaw "was on the Bulldogs' sideline at the start of the game while SMU sported alums" Eric Dickerson and Craig James (REUTERS, 12/21). The bowl was previously played at Marlins Park, but ESPN Events bought the game earlier this year and moved it out of Miami after three straight years of low attendance. However, all three years of what was the Miami Beach Bowl outdrew last night's game, including 15,262 for last year's Tulsa-Central Michigan game (THE DAILY).

NBC Sports Philadelphia and Beasley Media Group will partner to simulcast Mike Missanelli's WPEN-FM afternoon show on the air weekdays from 2:00-5:00pm ET beginning in '18 (NBC Sports Philadelphia).

Former Panthers GM Dave Gettleman yesterday "interviewed for the Giants’ GM vacancy" with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and consultant Ernie Accorsi. The team today "will interview ESPN analyst Louis Riddick" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/21).

Data from Standard Media Index shows ad spending for cable was "up 3% YOY in November, but down 2% year-to-date." Digital was "strong, with 9% more spend in the month." ESPN "continues to be the largest cable net in terms of spend by volume, with a 3% increase" for November YOY (CABLEFAX DAILY, 12/21).

MEDIAITE has released its list of the “Most Influential In Media 2017” (MEDIAITE.com, 12/20).

"The early signing period is the best thing that's ever happened to college football. It's going to create and improve the equality and parity in the game" -- Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy (OKLAHOMAN, 12/21).

"We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal. It's real" -- UFC President Dana White, on discussing a deal with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to have the boxer compete in the octagon (ESPN.com, 12/20).

"Four years? That's it? For all of the trash I've been talking?" -- Knicks C Enes Kanter, on Turkish prosecutors seeking a prison sentence for his comments insulting the country's president (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/21).

THE RINGER notes the NFL will generate about $14B this year, yet some of the "most critical plays during any given game rely on the chain gang  --  people who are typically fans of the home team and get paid under $100 a game to operate a contraption." Last week the chain operation was "in the spotlight" when a referee used an index card to "distinguish whether the tip of the football had passed the first-down marker."

USA TODAY writes under the header, "Why Do You Need A Signing Day At All?" After years of debate at the NCAA level "over whether the annual February free-for-all should be supplemented by another opportunity for high school seniors to sign their scholarships," a brand new world was opened when players "started faxing in their paperwork roughly six weeks earlier than usual."

Also:

• What is there for Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson to "salvage now?"
• A closer look at Diddy's business ventures as he claims interest in buying Panthers.
• Meet the final candidates "vying to become U.S. Soccer's next president."
• Mystery surrounds Tom Brady’s trainer Alex Guerrero.
• By not being Dean Spanos, San Diego power brokers "get favorable treatment."
• A close look at the trials of Jimmy Haslam during his Browns tenure.

Been working 14 hr days since I decided to run for USSF President. It’s been eye opening experience & my family has been so incredibly supportive, couldn’t do it without them. Now is time to be Husband & Dad for The Holidays so I’m shutting down for a week. Happy Holidays y’all!

— Kyle Martino (@kylemartino) December 21, 2017

In all the debate over the new Marlins ownership, how other owners and MLB view it is "if Miami can bring $1.2B, it ups the value of every other franchise, from Tampa Bay to Baltimore to Boston."

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 21, 2017

Update: #Disney #Fox

Disney paid an 11.9x average multiple on Fox's estimated 2018 cash flow. Fox Sports Networks provided a 12.5x multiple as a standalone asset, highest multiple amongst all assets. #sportsbiz #mediarights

— Daniel Cohen (@AnotherDanCohen) December 21, 2017

Understand that @NHL & @myregularface now have a long-overdue partnership. Details coming later tonight, I think. Good for both her and the league.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 20, 2017

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

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “European Countries.”

“This country’s last three queens abdicated in favor of their children.”

Last night’s “The Daily Show” took a look back at some of '17’s most disastrous events. In a clip shown from an earlier show, host Trevor Noah was speaking with contributor Neal Brennan about gun control. Noah: “So what you’re saying is that guns are actually just a symbol of freedom?” Brennan: “Yeah, everything in America is about symbols. That’s why the Colin Kaepernick thing got so crazy. For a lot of people, he wasn’t protesting against police violence. He was protesting the national anthem, and that’s the symbol for everything. The troops, bald eagles, mattress sales, Tom Hanks, type 2 diabetes -- you know, America.” Noah asked what could be done to achieve gun control legislation. Brennan joked, “Here’s what we do. NFL players, listen to me. This Sunday, instead of taking a knee, stand during the national anthem and, above your head, hold an AR-15. We’ll have new gun control legislation by halftime” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 12/20).

“What is the Netherlands?”

The queens who abdicated were Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix.