The Crew will host the Timbers in the MLS Cup today at 4:00pm ET, and "having earned the home game in a tiebreaker," they can "count on one-sided support from an expected crowd of about 22,000" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/6). Timber Joey, the Timbers' mascot, will be "prevented from bringing his props -- a chainsaw and the log he cuts slices out of -- into MAPFRE Stadium." But the Timbers Army supporters group "managed to get" EPIC -- a "5-foot-by-5-foot drum that usually sits right in the middle of the Timbers Army section at Providence Park" -- inside the venue today (ESPNFC.com, 12/6).

Today's MLS Cup marks the "first time the final has included two teams that are run by young, new-age owners" in the Timbers' Merritt Paulson and the Crew's Anthony Precourt. For a league whose demographics "trend young, Paulson and Precourt are symbols of where MLS is right now -- and where it wants to go" (SI.com, 12/5). Precourt said that he "did not expect" the Crew to play for an MLS Cup "at the end of his second year of ownership." He said, "It was not in the business plan" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/6).

MLS is "planning to expand to 28 clubs over time," with the league's BOG yesterday giving its approval. A timetable is "yet to be released." The league "plans to have 24 teams" by '20, as Atlanta United FC, LAFC and Minnesota United FC "will join the league within the next three years." David Beckham's Miami franchise "is expected to become the league's 24th club" (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/6). MLS yesterday gave "strong support" for the "latest effort toward a stadium" by Beckham's group. After previous efforts failed, some observers speculated Sacramento "could leapfrog the Miami effort to get a team" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/5). 

Clemson last night defeated North Carolina in the ACC Championship "in front of a crowd of 74,514 at Bank of American Stadium." The attendance marked "an ACC championship game record and third consecutive sellout" in Charlotte (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/6). Meanwhile, Michigan State's victory over Iowa in the Big Ten title game at Lucas Oil Stadium drew a crowd of 66,977, "most of which" were Iowa fans. It marked a "new Big Ten Championship record" (KWQC.com, 12/5).

In contrast to the ACC and Big Ten, Levi's Stadium "was half-full at best for the opening kickoff" of the Pac-12 Championship between Stanford and USC. There were "reports of insane traffic jams and thousands of people waiting forever to get in." The crowd "had a respectable look by the second quarter," but the announced attendance of 58,476 "seemed a tad generous" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/6). A crowd of 20,959 attended the Mountain West title game between San Diego State and Air Force at Qualcomm Stadium, but "only if you use the term 'crowd' loosely" (DENVER POST, 12/6).

Univ. of Houston AD Hunter Yurachek last night said that he was "'disappointed and angered' by the actions of security workers who tackled, punched and wrestled with UH fans as they rushed onto the TDECU Stadium field" at the end of yesterday's AAC Championship. Several videos "showed security personnel with Contemporary Services Corporation, which provides security services for UH athletics, punching and tackling individual fans." Yurachek: "We are working ... to review today’s activities and will take swift and appropriate action including the termination of our current contract with CSC and any legal action deemed necessary" (CHRON.com, 12/5).

The D-backs on Friday agreed to terms with P Zack Greinke on a deal that will pay him an average of $34.4M a year, the "highest average annual value of any contract" in MLB history. The deal is "pending a physical examination," which Greinke will undergo tomorrow (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/6). Greinke sought a deal with an annual value "slightly higher" than the $31M a year that Red Sox P David Price commanded in the seven-year, $217M contract he signed last week. A source said that while Price's deal with the Red Sox "includes an opt-out after three years, there is no opt-out in Greinke's agreement" (ESPN.com, 12/4).

A federal judge on Friday "granted class-action status to two lawsuits," including one from attorney Jeffrey Kessler, that are "challenging the NCAA's rules that limit the amount of compensation college athletes can receive." The certification of the cases "allows the lawsuit to move forward" against the NCAA and its conferences. The certification "places more pressure on the NCAA to potentially find a solution on how to compensate college athletes." The plaintiffs were able to persuade U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken that the "issues related to the case are common to a wide class." The NCAA and FBS conferences had "argued, in part, that the 'substitution effect' and 'economics of superstars' would hurt some athletes while benefitting others" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/4).

Today's friendly between the U.S. women's national soccer team and Trinidad & Tobago "has been canceled" due to "poor field conditions" at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The match was scheduled for 3:00pm local time. The women’s team members have complained about playing on synthetic surfaces in recent months, and a source said that this "was the last straw." The conditions were poor "particularly in the bench area." The USWNT practiced Saturday in front of 3,000 fans and "complained that the field was too dangerous." All ticket buyers "will be fully refunded" (STARADVERTISER.com, 12/6).

San Diego State and the Univ. of San Diego this afternoon will play a men's basketball game at Petco Park "on a court laid between home plate and third base." The game, scheduled for 2:00pm PT, was moved from yesterday to today to "accommodate SDSU’s football team hosting the Mountain West championship game" at Qualcomm Stadium. Tarps installed to block sun "streaming through the upper deck did not completely shield it from the north basket ... where 3-pointers from the right corner were a blinding proposition" yesterday. Large fans are "positioned around the floor to deter moisture from accumulating as the sun sets" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/6).

The NFL on Friday set a Dec. 30 deadline for St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland officials to "send final stadium proposals" to the Committee on L.A. Opportunities (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/5).

Sources said that the '16 NFL salary cap "could increase" by more than $10M, and "will be between" $150M and $153.4M (ESPN.com, 12/4).

Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson "will grace the cover" of Playstation's "MLB 16: The Show" (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/5).

Raptors President & GM Masai Ujiri and his non-profit organization, "Giants of Africa," yesterday held the second annual Nelson Mandela night at Air Canada Centre as the team "took on and lost" to the undefeated Warriors (TORONTO SUN, 12/6).

"It was like having God call you, asking for new halos for the archangels." – Designer Alexander Julian, on receiving a call from late Basketball HOFer Dean Smith in '90 to redesign North Carolina's uniforms (N.Y. TIMES, 12/6).

"I split hairs and thought carefully about it, and felt that Ross was the right person to take this organization and build upon its success." – Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro, on hiring Ross Atkins to be the team's new GM (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/5).

"There is a perception now that officiating is not very good at the moment. But the reality is that the officiating is very good." – NFL VP/Officiating Dean Blandino, defending the league's officiating, which has come under scrutiny this season (ESPN.com, 12/4).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL's Paul Tenorio notes only three head coaches and four GMs/Technical Dirs in MLS "are people of color." Lack of diversity is an issue that has "plagued the league for several years," which runs "in contrast to the cultural and ethnic range that soccer, including MLS, embraces and celebrates."

The GLOBE & MAIL's Roy MacGregor notes Canadian leaders this week announced they will work on a "national strategy to raise awareness for parents, coaches and athletes on concussion treatment." This comes after a 17-year-old Canadian rugby player in '13 died after "suffering three concussions in a single week."

Elsewhere:

• High-priced pitchers "may have trouble providing 50 cents on the dollar" for teams.
• Tennis players opt to "spend their ephemeral offseason globetrotting after money."
• WNBAer Swin Cash "ready to help break down" gender boundaries in broadcasting.
• U.S. Skier Lindsey Vonn discusses various topics in "20 Odd Questions" feature. 
• Some Bills fans "aren't happy" about having to stand up to watch games at the Ralph.
• Despite reputation, Bucs QB Jameis Winston has been "very good" off the field.

One of the reasons @ussoccer canceled today's game in Hawaii. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/uKJUMmOCA5

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) December 6, 2015

Covered #Dolphins from 2000-02 and again since Oct. '12. Not sure ever seen parking lot so empty at this hour.

— Chris Perkins (@chrisperk) December 6, 2015

Carmen Policy, Carson's advocate, told me: "We have our core piece of land, we don't need anything else." To look elsewhere for development

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 6, 2015

Evaluator on LAD: "They spent $62 million on an unknown" --Hector Olivera-- "but were outbid by $30-40 million on a known star (Greinke)."

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2015

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Va Tech coach Frank Beamer participate in pregame coin flip as honorary captains #ACCChamps

— Eric Boynton (@ericjboynton) December 6, 2015

Nice job by Fox NFL pre game crew from Pearl Harbor. Solemn reminder of significance of a day that still lives in infamy.

— Gary Gerould (@ggerould) December 6, 2015