• Final Decision On Outdoor World Juniors Game Expected Today 
• St. Louis NFL Lawsuit Over Rams' Relocation Likely Headed To Trial
• Dick's Cancels Discounted Astros Jerseys Due To Pricing Glitch
• Fox Appears To Air Tape-Delayed F-Bomb Ahead Of Bowl Game

A decision will be made today on whether the U.S.-Canada game tomorrow in the World Junior Championship "will remain outdoors at New Era Field" amid snowy conditions. Pegula Sports & Entertainment Dir of Communications Don Heins said that a committee meeting is "scheduled for noon to give final approval for the game to go forward." If the game "cannot be played outdoors because of weather conditions, it will move to KeyBank Center." The game "must be played" because it is part of the round-robin Group A schedule. Team USA "practiced at New Era Field" yesterday and Team Canada is "scheduled to practice there" today (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/28).

St. Louis plaintiffs suing the Rams and NFL over the team’s relocation to L.A. yesterday "scored a victory in court ... after a judge largely denied pretrial motions by the league and its member clubs." St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Christopher McGraugh also "denied motions to dismiss some 85 defendants, including all member teams and members of their ownership groups, for lack of jurisdiction." McGraugh "denied the Rams’ efforts to send the case to arbitration under the terms of the Dome lease between the team and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority." McGraugh did "dismiss a count of fraud alleged against the other clubs and owners, but the NFL, the Rams and the team’s owners must still defend themselves against that claim" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/28).

Dick's Sporting Goods "made a pricing error on its website," and Astros World Series jerseys apparently selling for $9.98 "will not be sold" at the discounted price. The jerseys "usually cost $135 to $140." Astros fans on Tuesday "got the deal of a lifetime" with the sale. But Dick's canceled the orders yesterday and in an email wrote to customers, "We are sorry to inform you that due to a pricing error on our website, we need to cancel your order for the Majestic World Series Jersey. In the event a pricing or promotional error occurs, we reserve the right to cancel any orders that were affected by the issue." By yesterday, the jerseys "were back" to their original prices (CHRON.com, 12/27).

College bowl season saw another four games yesterday:

• Yankees President Randy Levine said that the New Era Pinstripe Bowl yesterday had a "paid attendance of 37,667" for Iowa-Boston College at Yankee Stadium. With a "biting wind chill of 12 degrees for the game's early evening kickoff," the temperature was the "coldest in the bowl's eight-year history." It left the ballpark's stands "sparsely populated" (QUAD CITY TIMES, 12/28). During the game, many players were "slipping during plays" on the "frozen surface" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 12/28). The attendance was down from 37,918 for Northwestern-Pitt last year.
• Texas beat Missouri in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in front of a "seemingly inflated announced crowd of 67,820" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/28). SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey attended (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/28). The attendance was down from 68,412 for Kansas State-Texas A&M last year.
• The Walk On's Bistreaux & Bar Independence Bowl saw 33,601 fans turn out on a "cold and gloomy Wednesday afternoon" for Florida State-Southern Miss in Shreveport (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 12/28). Despite the cold weather, that figure at Independence Stadium is the bowl's best attendance since South Carolina-Miami in '14 drew 38,242.
• Purdue beat Arizona in the Foster Farms Bowl last night "in front of an announced crowd of 28,436 at Levi's Stadium" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 12/28). That figure is up from 27,608 for Utah-Indiana last year.

Fox has "blamed a technical glitch for what sounded like a giant F-bomb" that aired prior to last night's Purdue-Arizona Foster Farms Bowl. Just before kickoff, Fox aired Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez’ pregame pep talk, and at the "end of the speech, microphones appeared to catch the team, in unison," yelling the word. It would be "understandable if the pep talk was airing live, but it was taped" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 12/28).

Rich Rod pre-game speech that aired on FOX. pic.twitter.com/dUTZeqQQJc

— AZ Wildcat Country (@Wildcat_Country) December 28, 2017

The Coyotes tonight could get "one of their biggest crowds of the season" with when they host the Maple Leafs, with Arizona native and Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews in town. Fans usually "come out of the woodwork when the Maple Leafs are in town," and Matthews, a former No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft, will be the "star attraction." Matthews' entire extended family "plans to be" at the game (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/28).

The Royals yesterday "started to put" new LED lights at Kauffman Stadium with the help of helicopters, which "began picking up sections of the lights from the parking lot at the Truman Sports Complex and moving them to each tower" (K.C. STAR, 12/28).

ESPN's "30 for 30" on Bill Parcells and Patriots coach Bill Belichick, "The Two Bills," will air Feb. 1 (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 12/27).

“You’ve never heard me blame anything in any point in time, make up any excuses about anything that we’ve ever done, and I never will. I’ve been around a long time. My father wouldn’t allow me to do it when I was a kid. So, no difference today” -- Lions coach Jim Caldwell, rejecting the notion that his race was playing a factor in there being questions about his job security (DETROIT NEWS, 12/28).

"I really enjoy him on the broadcast. I think he's done an amazingly good job in his first year. I didn't think he'd be close to that. ... Romo's really good, I mean, really, really good I think broadcasting games" -- Dallas-based WFAA-ABC anchor Dale Hansen, on Tony Romo's debut season in the CBS NFL broadcast booth (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/28).

"It’s slowing up the game for sure, but someone’s going to be unhappy. Someone’s going to get that unfortunate call. Someone’s going to be on the wrong side. I wouldn’t want that job" -- Lions WR Golden Tate, on NFL officials determining what a catch is (DETROIT NEWS, 12/28).

"I’m excited to finally have it in New York. I think it’s a great way to celebrate. New York City is the center of the country for the most part on New Year’s Eve, and it extends the party until the next day" -- NBC Sports President of Programming Jon Miller, on Monday's Sabres-Rangers Winter Classic at Citi Field (NEWSDAY, 12/28).

NBCSPORTS.com writes MLB's competitive balance tax is "ruining the offseason." Teams are now making trades so they "don't inch any closer" to going over the luxury tax threshold. The tax is making trades "boring and unsatisfying." But it is "not just trades," as free agency has been "greatly affected as well." There just "hasn't been that much money going around" this offseason.

LVSPORTSBIZ.com writes the Golden Knights and NHL Kings have a "complicated business relationship," as both team owners "own a piece" of T-Mobile Arena. AEG is in the "unique financial position of benefiting when the Golden Knights generate revenues for their home venue." Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley also owns 15% of the arena, setting up a "fascinating business milieu where both the owners of the Golden Knights and Kings have motivation to see the venue generate lots of revenues."

Also: 

• Why the Pyeongchang Games are "already tainted" weeks ahead of their start.
• Women in recent years have "slowly moved into positions of power within NBA front offices." 
• America's pastime is "being enjoyed" in North Korea, one of the world's "fiercest opponents of Yankee culture."

For years in leadership talks I’ve used LeBron James as an example of the relentless pursuit of improvement. Now he offers another great example - in balance and perspective. https://t.co/ygqPwArVfl

— James Comey (@Comey) December 28, 2017

Cinema attendance was flat at U.S. cinemas in 2015 and 2016, and analysts are projecting a 4% decline in 2017 https://t.co/J7o8r7zkT7

— NYT Media (@nytmedia) December 28, 2017

At some point in the second half of Sunday's game the Giants should call a timeout and surprise Eli Manning by having Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada come out on the field to take him out.

— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) December 27, 2017

If Walk On's can sponsor a bowl game you better believe the @finebaum show could sponsor the @Birmingham_Bowl! Come on, let's do it!

— John Hayes (@JohnHayes730) December 27, 2017

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Presidential Homes.”

“Originally called Rural Retreat, this 19th century presidential home has a name that’s a synonym for ‘retreat.’”

“What is The Hermitage?”