IOC President Thomas Bach today said that the Sochi Games "set records in competitor numbers, medals awarded and quality of venues, keeping athletes happy and proving critics wrong." Bach, who presided over his first Games since assuming his position in September, said that "Russian government support and President Vladimir Putin's personal involvement had contributed to the success." He added, "We saw excellent Games and what counts most is the opinions of the athletes and they were enormously satisfied" (REUTERS, 2/23).

The Sochi Games Closing Ceremony included a "light show, a flying boat and a clever reference to the opening ceremony snag in which one of the Olympic rings did not open." Dancers "created the rings, with one closed," but as opposed to the Opening Ceremony, the fifth ring this time opened after a "long pause" (LATIMES.com, 2/23). The Closing Ceremony celebrated "Russian culture: music, dance and literature." While the Opening Ceremony was called a “blockbuster,” tonight's event was "more down the art-house avenue” (NYTIMES.com, 2/23). 

Lowe's during this afternoon's broadcast of the Daytona 500 will break a new TV spot supporting the company's "twelve-year sponsorship" of the No. 48 Chevy driven by Jimmie Johnson. The ad, created by BBDO, N.Y., shows Johnson "walking around a Lowe’s store -- including a trip to the paint aisle, where a new shade of brown has been created to match his beard -- and culminates in the garden center where there is a huge topiary figure" of him (ADWEEK.com, 2/21).

Meanwhile, Landon Cassill has landed a sponsorship deal with tablet manufacturer Fuhu, which "will be on the No. 40 Chevrolet as an associate sponsor" in today's race. Fuhu "will serve as the primary sponsor for 18 races, starting in Las Vegas." For the primary sponsored races, the car "will have Nabi Tablet branding" (AP, 2/23).

NFL Draft prospect Michael Sam yesterday as part of the NFL Combine "faced questions from reporters in a news conference setting" for the first time since he announced he is gay. Sam held a 15-minute session "in front of nearly 1,000 reporters that was aired coast-to-coast not only on the NFL Network, but also CNN." He said, "A trailblazer? I feel like I’m Michael Sam. I just wish you guys would just see me as Michael Sam the football player, instead of Michael Sam the gay football player" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/23).

Sam "displayed a sense of humor, humility and perspective that would serve any pro prospect well, gay or not" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/23). He was "poised, engaging and willing to answer every query" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/23). Sam said that so far in interviews with teams, no one "has asked him about being gay" (PHILLY.com, 2/22).

AutoZone on Friday announced an "extension of its title sponsorship" of the annual college football bowl game played in Memphis. The deal now runs through '19. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl beginning this year "will match" an SEC team against an opponent from the Big 12. AutoZone has "been involved as a sponsor of the bowl game for 20 years, the past 10 as title sponsor" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/22).

Baseball HOFer-elect Frank Thomas is "completing details on an agreement to work this season as a studio baseball analyst" for FS1. Thomas, who has worked as a White Sox analyst the past three seasons for CSN Chicago, said that he "expects to continue to have a role with Comcast this year" (AP, 2/22).  Thomas said that he "is expected" to join the net next month, and added that he "will be a studio analyst on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights" (Columbus LEDGER-ENQUIRER, 2/23).

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley "all but slammed the door Friday on the efforts of two taxpayer groups to mount a ballot-box challenge to the public subsidy" for the new NBA Kings arena, "saying the groups made significant errors in the initiative petitions they circulated among the city’s voters." His comments from the bench "suggested he is strongly leaning toward keeping the arena subsidy off the ballot." He added that he would "issue a ruling sometime" this week (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/22).

The "sparks were flying again" between Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino and Yankees President Randy Levine this weekend, "setting up what could be a fireworks-filled season" between the teams. Lucchino said the Yankees are still "relying heavily on their inimitable old-fashioned Yankees style of high-priced, long-term free agents. I can’t say I wish them well, but I think we’ve taken a different approach." Levine responded, "I feel bad for Larry; he constantly sees ghosts and is spooked by the Yankees" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/22).

The Nets are expected to sign C Jason Collins and activate him for tonight's game against the Lakers, making him the first openly gay player to play in one of the four major U.S. pro leagues ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 2/23).

Officials said that the "remaining ring beam that made up part of the Metrodome's roof structure was demolished with controlled explosive charges" this morning (TWINCITIES.com, 2/23).

Former MLBer Barry Bonds will join the Giants at Spring Training as a "guest hitting instructor," ending "an official Giants exile that began shortly after he set the all-time home run record" in '07 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/23).

Marlins P Henderson Alvarez yesterday "organized a small gathering" of his teammates and "called for peace in his home country of Venezuela." The group stood outside the team’s clubhouse "holding the Venezuelan flag, along with handmade signs" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/23).

The Univ. of Oregon men's basketball team today will "wear special-edition Nike uniforms" against Washington State as an homage to the school's '39 National Championship team (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/22).

Rays officials estimated more than 20,000 people attended yesterday's Rays Fan Fest (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/23).

A burglar "broke into" Aqueduct Racetrack and "raced off with a Breeder’s Cup trophy" (N.Y. POST, 2/23).

"I would say there is absolutely zero excitement for it. There just isn't any excitement to it. I can't think of one reason to be excited for it" -- Dodgers P Zack Greinke, on the lack of enthusiasm regarding the team opening its season against the D-Backs in Australia (ESPNLA.com, 2/22).

"The report? Reee-diculous. Reee-diculous. No. Ridiculous" -- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, on reports that the team had come close to trading him to the Browns (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/23).

"People don't like it. I'm stealing candy from a baby. `Til the rules are changed or everybody else grows up and can beat me, then we're racing" -- NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, on criticism of Sprint Cup drivers who race in the second- and third-tier events (AP, 2/22).

"I wish they'd just sing the damn song, that's my reaction" -- NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, on rock band Madison Rising's hard-rock version of the Star Spangled Banner before yesterday's Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/23).

"I'm not. I don't know very much about it at all. I'm going to get an education. I'm going to be entertained, and I'm going to meet some great people." -- Actor Gary Sinise, on whether he is a big fan of NASCAR and what he expects when he is on hand to wave the green flag at today's Daytona 500 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/23).

ESPN.com’s Howard Bryant: “I’ve read the Warren report and now I’ve read the Ted Wells report. And the only thing less plausible than Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone is that Joe Philbin knew nothing” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 2/23).

The Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL's Clayton Park profiles NASCAR COO Brent Dewar, previously a General Motors exec, who recalled NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France suggesting in a meeting last summer, "You should stay here more often. We could make this more permanent." Dewar said that he and his family were not "looking to relocate" but after several months of talks he "decided to accept, calling it a 'dream job' and a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'"

More From Daytona:

• Victory Lane celebrations take "preparation and team work" in advance of the moment. 
• Richard Petty "finds himself mired in a valley along with other low-budget teams."
• Thirteen years later, the late Dale Earnhardt’s death “still is the shock of shocks.”
• NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson speaks on his future, Derek Jeter’s retirement.

Elsewhere:

• The Blackhawks have “offered salvation for a success-starved city” in Chicago.
• As the Leffler Agency turns 30, President & Owner Bob Leffler sits for a Q&A.

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 tomorrow. 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:

* YouTube completes massive VOD streaming effort in Sochi

* NBC on Friday has lowest-rated Olympic night in at least 20 years

* Facebook, McMorris top social media engagement as Games wind down
 
* USA Hockey remains most popular governing body in social media

ESPN N.Y.'s Jane McManus: "Jason Collins will play for the Nets, Michael Sam preps for the NFL Draft... Baseball, you're on deck."

Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper: "This is our game. #WeAreWinter #Sochi2014 #GoCanadaGo #CANvsSWE."

U.S. bobsledder Lauryn Williams: "Tried to strike up a conversation w/ staff about @united being an Olympic sponsor to chat my way into first class but no luck. #10hrsNcoach"

U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati: "US based ticket buyers for the World Cup--again tops among international residents. USMNT should have great support in Brazil this summer."

Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "Costas floats a Johnny Weir-Tara Lipinski show. People would watch. People would most definitely watch."

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