• New Hurricanes Owner Dundon Will Do "Whatever It Takes" To Win
  
• MLS Making Big Push Into Esports With New "FIFA 18" League
  
• Alvarez, Golovkin Close To Agreement On May 5 Rematch
  
• Cubs To Launch Military-Themed Activations Under New Boeing Deal

The Hurricanes today are scheduled to formally introduce their new owner, Topgolf Chair Tom Dundon. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is "scheduled to appear" at the news conference in Raleigh (AP, 1/11). One of Dundon's "first priorities" will be "improving the experience for both the team and the fan." He said he is willing to spend "whatever it takes." Dundon: "We're going to do whatever we need to do to win -- to have the best people and the most resources. There's really not a budget for that" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/12). FS Carolinas will deliver live coverage of the news conference at noon ET (Fox Sports).

MLS is making its first league-wide push into esports by creating a competitive league within EA Sports’ "FIFA 18." The league, called eMLS, will see 19 of MLS' 23 teams participating, with each selecting a player from their region to represent it in competitive play. eMLS also will feature an event called eMLS Cup, where each club’s player will compete for an automatic berth in EA Sports’ FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs on the Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup '18 -- an international competition the game publisher launched last year. eMLS Cup will debut in April at the PAX East gaming festival in Boston.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

Canelo Alvarez has "agreed to a May 5 rematch" against Gennady Golovkin, and GGG’s team is "expected to provide its blessing 'within the next few days,'" according to a source. It has "long been assumed that T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the fighters first met" in a September bout that ended in a split draw, "will host the rematch." But Golden Boy President Eric Gomez, whose company promotes Alvarez, said that MSG is "expected to make a strong offer" (L.A. TIMES, 1/12).

Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler said that his fighter "isn’t ready to sign off on a contract." Loeffler: "We are getting close, but not all points are agreed to yet, still some open issues that have not been resolved" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/12).

The Cubs have signed a three-year, $3M partnership with Boeing that will create a series of military recognitions both at Wrigley Field and around the world. Activations will include a military salute in the fourth inning of every Cubs home game; a first pitch at every Sunday home game by either active or retired military personnel; and the creation of several military-themed days in the team’s schedule. The agreement also is slated to include a VR experience from in and around Wrigley Field featuring Cubs players and coaches that will be shown at U.S. military bases around the world.

The Cubs-Boeing deal comes as the club is holding its 33rd annual Cubs Convention today through Sunday. The event will have a slightly different feel this year than last year’s convention celebrating the team's '16 World Series title and the end of a 108-year championship drought. Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts said much of the club’s messaging will focus on the ongoing development work in and around Wrigley Field, including the forthcoming opening of Hotel Zachary, several restaurants and continued efforts to improve The Park At Wrigley.

The build-up to the MLB Cardinals’ '18 season officially starts today when the club "begins its annual Caravan that will eventually make stops in six states over three days." On Saturday, Cardinals fans from throughout the Midwest will "make their annual pilgrimages to St. Louis to see their favorite current and past stars at the Winter Warm-Up" at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis. Then if weather holds on Sunday, locals fans will "get their first look at the Cardinals’ biggest addition" this offseason when LF Marcell Ozuna "makes his first Winter Warm-Up appearance" (STLTODAY.com, 1/8).

Chip Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta said that Danica Patrick "would not be driving in either" this year's Daytona 500 or Indianapolis 500 for CGR. Lauletta on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio said that CGR, which operates teams in both IndyCar and NASCAR, "was talking with Patrick at one point." But he added, "We're not talking any longer. ... We couldn't come to a solution that worked for both of us." Lauletta said that he "hoped something could be worked out for Patrick to get her into the Indy 500" (USATODAY.com, 1/11).

Shaquille O’Neal last night unveiled a new partnership with Carnival Cruise Line during TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off.” TNT's Ernie Johnson said O’Neal “has some very exciting news to share.” O’Neal: “I’d rather show you.” The broadcast then aired a new Carnival ad featuring O’Neal, who said Carnival Chair and Heat Owner Micky Arison “made me CFO at Carnival.” Charles Barkley said, “First of all, nobody trusting you with numbers.” O’Neal replied he is "all about numbers," and added as the “new CFO, I’m giving you guys two free cruises.” The ad revealed that CFO stands for "Chief Fun Officer" (“NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 1/11).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” last night to promote his new book, “Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court.” Host Trevor Noah noted Abdul-Jabbar is a such a “renaissance man” that being the “NBA all-time leading scorer is No. 6 on your resume.” Abdul-Jabbar: “I go through life and I try to find interesting and meaningful things to do.”

Noah noted Abdul-Jabbar had previously written an op-ed contrasting President Trump and U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), after which Trump “wrote you a personal letter” that read, “Dear Kareem, now I know why the press always treated you so badly. They couldn't stand you. The fact is that you don't have a clue about life and what has to be done to make America great again.” Noah: “What do you do with a personal note like that from the President? Do you frame it or do you burn it?” Abdul-Jabbar: “When I got that, I crumpled it up in a ball and I skyhooked it into a wastebasket” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 1/11).

DraftKings plans to "hire about 300 new workers" by mid-'19, and the Boston-based company's HQ is also "moving from offices near South Station" to the city's Back Bay neighborhood (AP, 1/12).

Twins Senior Communications Dir Dustin Morse said that 3B Miguel Sano "will not attend" TwinsFest later this month at Target Field "due to the 'ongoing investigation" by MLB into allegations that he assaulted a photographer in '15. Morse said that Sano will "remain in Fort Myers to 'concentrate on his medical rehab'" (TWINCITIES.com, 1/12).

Drake Univ. will be "hosting this summer's USATF Outdoor Championships" from June 21-24. The school previously hosted the event in '10 and '13 (DESMOINESREGISTER.com, 1/11).

The City of Edmonton is "scheduled to discuss participating in a bid" to be a host city of the '26 FIFA World Cup on Jan. 17 (EDMONTON SUN, 1/12).

Fifth Third Bank will soon offer a Daytona Int'l Speedway debit card, and fans can view the card's four design options online and vote for their favorite. The winning design will be announced prior to the first weekend of Speedweeks starting Feb. 10 (Fifth Third Bank).

"I don’t know anything about Joe Paterno. I know about the character I played in the movie. And that character was as close to a savant as I’d ever played" -- Al Pacino, on playing the longtime Penn State football coach in a upcoming HBO biopic (PHILLY.com, 1/11).

"I just don’t anticipate that happening. For all of the misgivings of the NCAA, I don’t see anybody out there that would be able to step into that role" -- North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham, on whether Power 5 schools could pull away from the NCAA and start their own governing structure (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 1/12).

"If the Saints want it as their anthem, they can make it their anthem. Who cares? This is music. This is not football. And I still don't watch football" -- Hip-hop artist D-Roc, an Atlanta native, on the Ying Yang Twins' "Halftime (Stand Up & Get Crunk)" becoming the Saints' "de facto soundtrack" to home victories (NOLA.com, 1/11).

USA TODAY goes with, "Jags' Success Creates A Quandary." NBC's "The Good Place" has long made Jaguars QB Blake Bortles one of the show's "biggest punchlines." But now show producer Joe Mande is asking, "What do we do now that the Jaguars are good?" The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION goes with, "Jaguars Fans Plan Extreme Measures To Get To Playoff Game In Pittsburgh." But the WALL STREET JOURNAL goes with, "If London's NFL Team Makes The Playoffs, Does It Make A Sound?"

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE writes under the header, "Twins Front Office Brings In The Brainpower." The environment surrounding the club has "changed dramatically since Derek Falvey took over the baseball operation from Terry Ryan."

Also:

• The NLL's "surprisingly nimble digital strategy."
• Will Raiders, 49ers make Bay Area "center of NFL universe?"
• Will cities around the world soon be too warm to host the Winter Games?
• EPL club Tottenham Hotspur "aims to make NFL feel right at home in London."
• How Kentucky, other universities deal with athletes on social media.
• A look back at President Trump's "disastrous tenure" as a USFL owner.

Staffers inside the White House aren't that worried about Trump's "shithole" remark -- with some predicting it will actually resonate with his base, not alienate it, much like his attacks on NFL players who kneel during the national anthem did.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 11, 2018

A couple of quick thoughts on the game/London
- The O2 is a great venue.
- I'd guess fans were about 70/30 in favoring Celtics gear.
- That being said, most fans seemed to cheer for good plays more than teams.
- Many in European press were cheering plays as well.

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 12, 2018

I've said this from the start: I don't mind when LaVar Ball is bragging about his kids and hyping them up. When he criticizes his son's coaches, teammates and management, he's a distraction and he hurts the team.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 12, 2018

On behalf of our organization I want to personally thank @hornets fans for the respect, patience and understanding you demonstrated when Coach Cliff was out. Really speaks volumes about #BuzzCity 🙏

— Pete Guelli (@PeteGuelli) January 12, 2018

Facebook is "radically altering the formula that determines what bubbles to the top of people's news feed" as part of "sweeping changes the giant social network has planned to address growing controversy over the role it plays in people's lives and in society" (USA TODAY, 1/12). Users can "expect to see more content from their friends and family, and less from businesses, brands and media" (NBCNEWS.com, 1/11).

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

“It’s the first Oscar nominee for Best Picture to be produced by an Internet streaming service.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “College Hoops.”

$200: “In 1988 Glenn Tropf of Holy Cross set a single-season record by making 63.4% of these long shots?”
$400: “This Tar Heel hit a championship winner versus the Hoyas in 1982 ; in 2013 he was named an all-time March Madness player.”
$600: “Lonzo Ball, a star for this college team, didn’t have far to travel for his pro job when the Lakers took him in the 2017 draft.”
$800: “In 2014 both the men’s and women’s teams from this university located in the small town of Storrs won basketball titles.”
$1000: “This Spokane, Washington, Jesuit school made its first appearance in the NCAA final game in 2017, but came up a tad short.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said Russia has been “banned from the Winter Olympics next month because they give their athletes performance-enhancing drugs and apparently a group of hackers linked to the Russian government have been releasing e-mails that were stolen from the International Olympic Committee to punish them." Kimmel: "The hackers call themselves Fancy Bears, which incidentally happens to be the name of an upscale gay bar I'm opening next month” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/11).

“What is ‘Manchester by the Sea?’”

Correct responses to the “College Hoops” category:
$200: “What are three pointers?”
$400: “Who is Michael Jordan?”
$600: “What is UCLA?”
$800: “What is UConn?”
$1000: “What is Gonzaga?”