NBA Commissioner Adam Silver yesterday at All-Star Weekend "kept his focus on the game but hinted at some changes to the business during his first news conference" in his new role. Silver "touched on a number of topics during his remarks that ran about 40 minutes," ranging from "the look of the draft to the look of the uniforms." Silver: "This is a fabulous league that has its best years still ahead of it" (AP, 2/16).

Silver opened by "tracing his personal history with the game." He said, "I grew up in the New York area. I think I’m not allowed to say that I was once a Knick fan, but I was. I’m not allowed to be anymore. And I promise I’m a fan of all teams. But when I was a kid, I attended a lot of Knick games with my father, and basketball always had a special meaning to me to when I followed pro basketball, especially through my high school years, then I went on to Duke University" (SI.com, 2/15).

The NBPA Exec Committee yesterday met for 2 1/2 hours in New Orleans to "interview finalists for the job" of replacing former Exec Dir Billy Hunter as the head of the union. Sources said that the "strong front runner" is Screen Actors Guild Exec Dir David White. The other finalist is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom attorney Michele Roberts. Roberts if selected "would be the first woman" to lead any of the major four U.S. sports' respective unions. Yesterday's meeting was "attended by about 30 players," less than 10% of the union membership (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/15). White left a "strong impression" in yesterday's meeting. An unnamed player said, "He was great" (TWITTER.com, 2/15).

Wizards G John Wall last night won the NBA's Sprite Slam Dunk contest, but the competition "played to mixed reviews because of a new format that left many fans -- and even players throughout the league -- confused by what was actually going on at times" (ESPN.com, 2/16). The format "left a lot to be desired." The "first issue was no one inside the arena seemed to understand the new format," so fans "mostly sat on their hands instead of cheering because they didn’t know when to do so" (N.Y. POST, 2/16). The new format made for a "confusing competition" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/16).

The format "left fans and other NBA players fighting mad on social media" (L.A. TIMES, 2/16). Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears tweeted, "Just when the NBA dunk showcase, not contest, was getting good it ended. Disappointed fans can't leave arena fast enough. Whose idea at NBA?" Awful Announcing's Twitter feed added, "Aside from John Wall's dunk, this had all the excitement of a NASCAR caution lap."

The WNBA and the WNBPA yesterday "reached a labor agreement," and the six-year deal "replaces the agreement that expired Sept. 30." The maximum team roster "will increase by one to 12 under the deal, which must be drafted" into a formal CBA in the next few weeks. The players "ratified the deal in a vote over the past few days," as the union constitution "required approval from a majority of the voting members" (AP, 2/15).

TNT's Charles Barkley sat down Thursday at the White House with President Obama for an "interview that will be shown" before tonight's NBA All-Star Game. The interview "covered a variety of topics, including the NBA and health care reform" (NEWSDAY, 2/15). Barkley said, “It is always an honor to meet the President. But to be able to sit down and ask him questions, it was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life" ("PTI," ESPN, 2/14).

TNT's All-Star Game coverage will feature analysts Grant Hill and Chris Webber embedded on the East and West benches throughout the game (Turner).

Meanwhile, law enforcement on Friday continued its "crackdown on counterfeit merchandise" during NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, collecting "more than 500 suspected knockoffs" (NOLA.com, 2/15).

NBC drew an 11.0 fast-national rating and 19.2 million viewers for primetime Olympic coverage on Friday night, which featured Gold Medal finals for men’s figure skating, women’s skeleton and men’s alpine skiing (super combined). That rating marks the first time during the Sochi Games that NBC’s primetime telecast fell below the rating earned by a comparable night during the '06 Turin Games (11.2 on same night in 2006).

Meanwhile, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports Live Extra app saw 589,552 unique streams for the U.S.-Russia men’s hockey game on yesterday morning, marking a record for any streamed hockey game in NBC history (NHL or Olympics). The figure passed previous hockey marks set during the '10 Vancouver Games and the '13 Blackhawks-Bruins NHL Stanley Cup Final.

Matt Lauer is set to return tonight as Bob Costas’ fill-in for NBC's primetime coverage of the Sochi Games. NBC said Costas is still "day to day" with his eye infection. Meredith Vieira hosted over the weekend. Costas' absence tonight is "sure to raise questions as to whether Costas will be able to return to the anchor desk before the Games wrap." NBC Olympics Exec Producer Jim Bell on Friday "brushed off press suggestions the network might be ready to 'shut down' Costas as its primetime anchor" (DEADLINE.com, 2/16).

The Braves have "selected two finalists" seeking to lead construction of a mixed-use complex adjacent to the team's new ballpark. Sources said that one finalist is "a group consisting" of Cincinnati-based North American Properties, Houston-based Hines Interests and L.A.-based AEG. The other is "a tandem of two Atlanta-based firms," Pope & Land Enterprises and Fuqua Development. The Braves will now "get detailed proposals from the two groups on developing and financing a 45-acre mix of shops, restaurants, bars, offices, residences and hotels" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/15).

Daytona Int'l Speedway has partnered with Fanatics Inc. to "offer mounted grandstand seats and other collectibles that are being replaced" during the track's $400M renovation. DIS officials said that seats from Turn 1 will "be available starting in September." The DIS items will "be sold through a new memorabilia division of Fanatics called Fanatics Authentic" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/15).

Meanwhile, NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip were among more than 1,500 runners to participate in the Daytona Beach Half Marathon this morning (NASCAR).

The 49ers have "fired their Sacramento lobbying firm after the company was smacked with a $133,500 fine by the California Fair Political Practices Commission." 49ers Dir of PR Bob Lange said that the team parted ways with Kevin Sloat and his firm, Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates, after the company "agreed to settle 30 counts of violating the Political Reform Act by giving gifts to dozens of elected officials" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/15).

Former Univ. of Missouri DE Michael Sam yesterday "received a standing ovation when he appeared on the arena video boards" during the school's basketball game against Tennessee (AP, 2/15). Sam's was the "loudest ovation from the crowd" while the school's football team "was recognized at halftime" (K.C. STAR, 2/16).

ESPN on Friday sent "anyone who registered on GetSECNetwork.com" an email from an SEC coach "urging them to call, email and tweet TV providers to let them know they want the net." The net's "only signed affiliate" so far is AT&T U-verse (CABLEFAX DAILY, 2/18).

The Univ. of Arkansas honored former U.S. President Bill Clinton during halftime of yesterday's game against LSU (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/15).

Citi runs a two-page ad in today's N.Y. Times featuring U.S. women's hockey player Julie Chu (THE DAILY).

"We did have an initial meeting with Tustin. We're still in discussions with the City of Anaheim, but we have to take a long-term view and explore all of our options to insure we have certainty for the future" -- Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey, on talking to Tustin officials about the possibility of a new ballpark for the team (LATIMES.com, 2/15).

"The fact it went viral is probably one of the most awesome things that has happened to me" -- U.S. figure skater Ashley Wagner, on a photo of her dismayed reaction to the judges' score of her performance going viral online (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/16).

"It was like 'Rocky IV' met the Miracle on Ice" -- NBC's Chuck Todd, on yesterday's U.S.-Russia men's hockey game ("Meet The Press," NBC, 2/16).

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR's Bob Kravitz writes if the NHL is "seriously considering yanking their players from further Olympic competitions, it should take a second look at the tape" of yesterday's U.S.-Russia game and "seriously reconsider." But the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES' Mark Lazerus wrote while the league "has not closed the door" on participating in the '18 Games, it "seems increasingly likely that this is the last hurrah for the NHL and the Olympics."

The N.Y. TIMES' Claire Martin profiles Boston-based Global Rescue, the company that since '06 has worked with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association on "high-stakes rescue work." The company since its founding a decade ago has "used military veterans to help innovate within the field of medical and security-related evacuations."

Elsewhere:

• With the Sochi Games, Russia is "keen to put a friendlier face on its customer service."
• Exorbitant spending in Sochi has seemingly failed to trickle down to nearby citizens.

SportsBusiness Daily/Journal have converted their On The Ground blog into a comprehensive, daily website devoted to the Sochi Games and the business behind it. The site is free and runs through Monday, Feb. 24, the day after the Closing Ceremony. The site also can be accessed through the On The Ground link on SportsBusinessDaily.com. SBJ Olympics writer Tripp Mickle is in Sochi providing news updates, people profiles and personal insights from the Games. Entries currently on the blog include:

* Avaya's technology makes IOC's promise of free WiFi possible

* Catching Up With: NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel

* Samsung's Sochi-focused WOW app producing big results

* BMW engineering pushes U.S. bobsled team to the top

* Outside The Rings: If you've got a camera, these truly are the 'model' Olympics

Boston-based WEEI-FM's Gerry Callahan, on a report that Dunkin' Donuts pulled its advertising from the station based on a disparaging remark he made: "Truly amazing how many factual errors @BostonGlobe can cram into a story. Must be getting old. I remember when the paper had some standards."

NHL Dir of Communications Nirva Milord: "Not surprising but @OSH74 tees and jerseys are in high demand at @NHL store in NYC, especially in children’s sizes. #Sochi2014"

PR Consultant Joe Favorito, on the Russian hockey team's disallowed goal yesterday: "Great catch @NBCSports although would be great if #IOC had mic'ed someone explaining what happened from the ref. #USAvRUS."

ESPN's J.A. Adande: "Adam Silver says ads on jerseys isn't close, but 'I believe it ultimately will happen in the NBA.'"

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.