• Arizona Fires Rich Rodriguez Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
• Jon Gruden Says “Good Chance” He Becomes Next Raiders Coach
• Foot Locker Debuts New Boston Pop-Up Shop With Variety Of Brands
• Fantasy Operator SportsHub Technologies Continues Acquiring Rivals

Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez was fired yesterday amid allegations that he "ran a hostile workplace and sexually harassed a former employee." UA President Robert Robbins and AD Dave Heeke said they will "honor the separation terms" of Rodriguez' contract after he was fired without cause. A former employee and her lawyer last week filed a $7.5M notice of claim with the state Attorney General's Office, indicating the "intent to file a lawsuit." Rodriguez late yesterday tweeted a statement saying he will "vigorously fight these fabricated and groundless claims." The coach added that he "was fired by email" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 1/3).

The ARIZONA DAILY STAR offers a timeline of the firing: "How Rich Rodriguez was fired as Arizona's head coach in an hour and a half."

ESPN’s Jon Gruden this morning said there is a “good chance” he is going to be the next Raiders coach and confirmed he has had talks with Raiders Owner Mark Davis about the opening. Gruden: “They're still, I believe, going through the interview process. When he knows, I think we'll all know.” He added, “I'm excited about where I am in terms of studying the game and being prepared to come back and coach.” Gruden added there is “no truth … at all” to reports there is an ownership stake included in his potential contract. Gruden: “There’s no validity to that, none, zero.”

Gruden said he wants to get back into coaching after nine years serving as analyst for “MNF” because “you miss the players, you miss the grind, you miss the journey.” He said, “I love my ‘Monday Night’ team. That has been outstanding and I've had a great opportunity to work with exceptional people. But the peaks and valleys that go along with the football season are things that all coaches always miss when they get away from it” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 1/3).

The Raiders have persuaded the Henderson (Nev.) City Council to shave $6.05M from the $12.1M "market value of 55 acres of land to build" a practice facility and corporate HQ "near the city's executive airport." The city council last night voted unanimously to "move forward toward a direct sale of land to the Raiders, a decision that allows city officials to use a Nevada law allowing no-bid sales at under-market prices when they deem it in the public interest." If the sale gets "final council approval in February, the Raiders will pay roughly $110,000 per acre for the land" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/3).

Foot Locker today opens its new Sneakeasy pop-up shop in Boston, and the experience will "feature several limited, must-have sneakers," including "looks from Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse." Throughout the week, Foot Locker will "deliver different sneakers each day in its exclusive space." The shop is "complete with ticker to tell customers how many pairs of each shoe are left in stock, gold packaging and individual staffers to walk" customers through what is available on the given day. The shop's opening also coincides with the Celtics hosting the Cavaliers tonight at TD Garden (FOOTWEARNEWS.com, 1/3).

Minneapolis-based fantasy operator SportsHub Technologies has acquired the game operations of rival entity MyFantasyLeague, continuing a run of transactions for the company. Financial terms were not disclosed. SportsHub acquired CDM Sports, Sports Technologies, LeagueSafe, the National Fantasy Championships and WhatIfSports over the past two years as it seeks to consolidate much of the middle tier of fantasy sports. MyFantasyLeague operates in a fee-based, draft-only style of fantasy football commonly known as MFL10s. The games are growing in popularity but increasingly are requiring a license in many states similar to daily fantasy, something SportsHub is better equipped to manage.

A poll conducted by NHL.com has named the Blackhawks the league's "best-dressed team of all time." The team's uniform from '59 to the present "came out on top after more than 6 million votes were cast" in the poll, which ran from Nov. 28-Dec. 31. The Hartford Whalers "finished second" for their '79-92 look, while the Ducks' uniforms from '93-'06 "came in third" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/3). The Quebec Nordiques ('79-95) and Minnesota North Stars ('78-81) "rounded out the top five" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/3). See the full poll results at NHL.com.

Which is the best hockey uniform ever? It's a hard question to answer that our fans did NOT take lightly.

All December you voted and the response was overwhelming. But in the end, the @NHLBlackhawks are your choice for the greatest uniform in League history! #NHLGreatestUniforms pic.twitter.com/kWu54u788f

— NHL (@NHL) January 2, 2018

The Maple Leafs "held a touching pregame ceremony" in tribute to Johnny Bower prior to last night's home contest against the Lightning, the Leafs' "first game since the great goaltender's passing last week at age 93." Fellow Hockey HOFers Dave Keon and Frank Mahovlich "escorted Nancy, Johnny’s wife of 69 years, to a black carpet placed in front of the Leaf net he guarded." A group of more than 30 of Bower's descendants was joined by former Leafs players Bob Nevin, Eddie Shack and others. A "moment's silence was followed by a long ovation." This served as a "prelude" to today's "celebration of life" for Bower (TORONTO SUN, 1/3).

North and South Korean officials yesterday "tested a special hotline for the first time in almost two years" to discuss North Korea's "possible participation" in the Pyeongchang Games. This came after a New Year’s Day "suggestion by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he would be open to talks" (WSJ.com, 1/3).

Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah lampooned Kim Jong Un for threatening the U.S. shortly after his Olympic comments. Noah: “I love Kim Jong Un. He’s the only guy I know who will threaten nuclear destruction and RSVP to an event in the same speech. He’s just like, ‘I've got a bomb and also I’m going to come to the Olympics.’ That’s like a guy walking into his office (and saying), ‘Nobody move! I have a bomb strapped to my chest! Oh and Cynthia, put me down for that pot luck on Saturday please’” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 1/2). CBS’ Stephen Colbert: "There are even rumors that North Korea has been pumping their Olympic team with performance-enhancing food” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/2).

Meanwhile, S.F. CHRONICLE cartoonist Signe Wilkinson contrasts the competitive spectacle of the Winter Games with the persistent nuclear threats from North Korea.

The Bengals announced that they have signed coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year extension, a "surprising turn of events for a franchise that seemed destined to part ways with its longtime head coach." Lewis' return comes after "days of discussions" with team Owner Mike Brown (ESPN.com, 1/2).

The NLL today announced a deal with Facebook Watch to feature NLL Productions' new show "ReLax." The program, airing exclusively on Facebook Watch on Mondays at 6:00pm ET, will feature news, analysis and reactions from each weekend's games (NLL).

IMG has acquired museum exhibition producer Exhibitions Int'l. This comes after IMG and Exhibitions recently collaborated with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities on the 10-city tour, "King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh" (IMG).

"There’s nobody happier than me that 2017 is over. Maybe Vance" -- Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations & GM John Elway, on the team's 5-11 season under first year coach Vance Joseph (DENVER POST, 1/3).

"It's very difficult to come from a bowl game and just have seven days to prepare. ... Somebody has got to think about the players a little bit when it comes to these games and not just what's convenient for the media or TV or whatever" -- Alabama football coach Nick Saban, on the quick turnaround between the CFP semifinal and championship (AL.com, 1/2).

"We’ve got no interest in exploring that. We really think we got it right with four teams in terms of balancing the regular season and the excitement of the Playoff" -- Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, on whether the CFP committee is interested in expanding its field (USA TODAY, 1/3).

"It’s not something we would be really excited about. I love the show, but I think some thing[s] are best left behind closed doors. I fundamentally have a problem with cutting players and things of that nature (on camera). It’s not something we’d be thrilled about" -- 49ers GM John Lynch, on whether he would embrace his team being chosen for HBO's "Hard Knocks" next season (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 1/2).

SI.com writes under the header, "Michael Jordan's Influence As Strong As Ever In Today's NBA." The Hornets Owner "still carries an unmatched mystique in the eyes of players and fans." Jordan is an "generational trendsetter whose influence on sneaker culture, basketball and modern day advertising stretches well beyond the NBA."

The FINANCIAL POST goes with, "Ticketmaster Is Killing The Bar Code And Choosing Which Fans Can Buy Tickets In Fight Against Bots And Scalpers." The company now looks to "create a new and secure way to sell that puts more tickets in the hands of actual fans."

Also: 

• South Korea cracks down on price gouging ahead of Pyeongchang.
• Texas A&M donors suing 12th Man Foundation. 
• How Louisville's Adidas deal "goes beyond sports and scandal." 
• This Warriors lawyer started out as an underground rapper in Chicago.
• How the MLB Giants limit payroll "amid increased earnings."

So many people assume that the Dodgers/Friedman and Yankees/Cashman are prepared to dive into $350m/$400m long-term contracts. What in their recent history suggests they will actually do that? Nothing.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 3, 2018

Joe Ellis also said this about owner Pat Bowlen and his ongoing battle with Alzheimer's: “I visited with Pat last week. He is one tough guy. He’s fighting through the disease....It’s really, really difficult for him, but he’s a strong man. He’s hanging in there and doing fine.”

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 2, 2018

Great to see former #Browns coach Pat Shurmur getting head coaching interviews. Proof there's life after taking the job here. https://t.co/ljXShrsJPr

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 3, 2018

Herm Edwards is the longest tenured pro or college football coach in the state of Arizona.

— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) January 3, 2018

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

“A 2015 BBC list of the 25 greatest British novels included 12 by women, three of them by this woman who died in 1941.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel noted on the night of Christmas, President Trump tweeted the holiday was fun “but back to work." But then after the tweet Trump proceeded to golf seven days in a row. Kimmel: "It was like his version of Hanukkah. The golf was supposed to only last for a day, but instead it lasted the whole week. It was a miracle” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/2).

“Who was Virginia Woolf?”