The Chargers host the Dolphins today, and it could be their "last home game ever" in San Diego with L.A. rumors swirling. Whether fans see the situation as an "emotional betrayal or a disaster of epic, rubbernecking proportions, there are a few things most Chargers fans can agree on." Even after "all these months of insanity, saying goodbye is going to hurt like crazy." About 1,500 tickets remained as of Wednesday, which is "on par for the season." The Chargers were "not planning on increasing security or imposing any new restrictions on alcohol sales" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/19).

ESPN’s Chris Mortenson said of Chargers QB Philip Rivers, “He even admitted this. (When) he drives to the stadium today ... it’s going to be sentimental, it’s going to be emotional because there is the strong belief that the Chargers will be playing in Los Angeles in 2016” ("NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition, ESPN, 12/20). The UNION-TRIBUNE's Nick Canepa writes the "mere idea" of the Chargers playing their last game in San Diego "makes me sick." Canepa: "This can’t be their last game here, can it? I hate this column" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/20).

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Friday took a decisive step in a "quest to remain an 'NFL city' by giving approval to fund construction" of a potential NFL stadium. Months of debate and dealing "ended with a vote of 17-10 for final passage." The city "would finance" $150M of the overall $1.1B project. The rest of the funding "would come from" the state, the NFL and the team owner. Friday’s meeting "lasted more than two hours and was interrupted by protesters singing special Christmas carols such as, 'We want a new Board of Aldermen for Christmas'" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/19).

There continues to be "persistent chatter in NFL personnel circles" that Broncos QB Peyton Manning could be joining former NFL GM Bill Polian "in the front office" of the Titans in '16. The Titans "have an opening at team president," with the contract of interim President & CEO Steve Underwood expiring. Titans ownership's interest in having Manning on board is "well known around the league, though Manning's future plans remain unclear" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/20).

IndyCar promoters and Massachusetts state agencies on Friday "signed a letter of intent" that could "bring the high-speed spectacle to the Seaport in September." All involved parties entered into "binding agreements for the race." The letter "states that the Grand Prix of Boston will be solely responsible for costs associated with the event and the use of roadways controlled by state agencies." The Labor Day weekend race would be "run on a 2.2-mile temporary street course around the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/19).

The college bowl season began yesterday with six games. The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl kicked things off with a crowd of 35,528 for North Carolina A&T-Alcorn State at the Georgia Dome, a number "higher than 15 FBS bowl games last year" (TWITTER.com, 12/19). A crowd of 42,213 attended the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl between BYU and Utah at Sam Boyd Stadium (LAS VEGAS SUN, 12/20). The inaugural AutoNation Cure Bowl, pitting Georgia State against San Jose State, drew a "crowd of 18,588" to the Citrus Bowl (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/20).

However, most bowl games "are as insane and regrettable as their corporate names." Nothing "speaks to the habitual American tradition of rewarding mediocrity and dubious achievement like questionably named college football bowl games" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/20). Football Bowl Association Exec Dir Wright Waters: "This whole bowl season may give rise to a very honest conversation at the highest level. What do we want to do with the bowl system?" How the sport's power brokers "answer that fundamental question will shape a nine-figure industry that kicked off Saturday with games from Orlando to Albuquerque" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/19). 

Tomorrow will be "judgment day" for suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini, as FIFA's ethics court is "expected to ban the scandal-scarred soccer body's most powerful leaders." The two "face being kicked out" of the sport "for at least several years." Bans of around 10 years "are possible, judging by recent FIFA ethics committee sanctions in cases not involving financial misconduct." Blatter and Platini "already promised appeals that would need to be processed urgently ahead of FIFA's presidential election on Feb. 26." Both are "expected to be defiant if found guilty" (AP, 12/20).

Indiana State Univ. AD Ron Prettyman on Friday "resigned his position," which he had held since '05. Prettyman has "overseen growth in nearly every aspect of ISU's athletic department." Several sources confirmed that Prettyman will be "taking a job with the NCAA." Prettyman "declined to confirm or deny the NCAA position, or his intentions, but said he will make an announcement" tomorrow morning regarding his future (Terre Haute TRIBUNE-STAR, 12/19).

Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane yesterday played his "first game in his hometown" of Buffalo since he was "not charged in a sexual assault investigation he faced in late summer and into the fall stemming from an incident at his home." Some Blackhawks fans "cheered him when he was announced as part of the starting lineup." But fans during the game "booed him whenever he carried the puck." Kane: "I'm on the road team, they're cheering for the Sabres. It's nothing you don't expect" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/20).

Still, Kane "didn’t get the kind of vitriol from the crowd one might have expected," and, in fact, it was "hard to notice much different" about yesterday's game. There were the "usual number of red Blackhawks sweaters crowded around the tunnel for warmups and most were either" 88s for Kane or 19s for C Jonathan Toews (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/20).

Three management firms have "submitted bids to take over operations" of Gila River Arena in Glendale. The bids were "submitted to Beacon Sports Capital Partners, a Massachusetts-based sports consulting firm, that has been hired to evaluate the proposals for the city." Glendale "did not release the names of the bidders nor their proposals," which had a deadline of Friday. Coyotes VP/Communications Rich Nairn confirmed via email that the team, which plays in the arena, "did not submit a proposal." The city "plans to announce finalists Jan. 4" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/19).

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opened in theaters Friday, and it now "holds the record for the largest opening weekend of a film ever," grossing an estimated $238M in the U.S. and Canada. The box office "has not seen a performance like this since Universal’s 'Jurassic World' opened in June" with $208.8M (LATIMES.com, 12/20).  See what SBD readers had to say about their "Star Wars" fandom. 

Disney "saw its shares slide" 4% on Friday after a downgrade from BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield. Shares of Disney "traded as low at $107.42" in the early afternoon after Greenfield "cut his Disney price target to $90" (N.Y. POST, 12/19). At close Friday, shares of Disney were trading at $107.57, down 3.96% from the close of business Thursday (THE DAILY). 

The main entrance to AT&T Stadium "will now be known as the 'Mayor Robert N. Cluck Atrium.'" Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "unveiled a plaque to honor Cluck near the entry doors" (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/19).

The AHL Condors-Heat outdoor game at Sacramento's Raley Field on Friday night was postponed due to a "steady rain." The game was played Saturday afternoon before a stadium "less than half full," though attendance was announced at 9,357 (BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN, 12/20).

The Blue Jays are "aiming to install a dirt infield at the Rogers Centre" in time for the '16 season. Work is "tentatively scheduled to begin in February." The Jays in the past have "played their home games on artificial turf" (NATIONAL POST, 12/20).

A crowd of 14,459 turned out last night for the Donald Cerrone-Rafael dos Anjos main event of "UFC Fight Night" at Amway Center (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/20).

The Univ. of Kansas yesterday set a Guinness world record for the "largest gathering of people wearing holiday sweaters" with 3,473 during Kansas’ victory over Montana at Allen Fieldhouse (KANSASCITY.com, 12/19).

"I probably should have fit in better to the culture, rather than thinking the culture was going to fit better around me" – Former Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Tim Leiweke, on how his leadership style sometimes clashed with the norm in Toronto (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/19).

"We’re like at the strip club ... and the stripper is throwing the money back at us" – St. Louis Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, on approving construction funding for a new NFL Stadium, despite Rams Owner Stan Kroenke's intentions of moving the team (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/19).

"I really feel sorry for my Mormon friends at BYU, they don't drink. This game would drive you to it" – ESPN's Brent Musburger, on the BYU football team allowing 35 points on five turnovers during the first quarter of yesterday's Las Vegas Bowl against Utah (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/19).

"Nobody wants to kill football. We just want to make it safer and that's the whole thing, and I think the NFL has made a lot of changes" – Former NFLer Marvin Washington, discussing "Concussion" and its impact on football ("Outside the Lines, ESPN2, 12/20).

"I am incredibly sore and exhausted. Being tackled by that large man I would compare to a minor car accident. My head and neck hit pretty hard, so it was scary. My whole body feels like it was hit by a truck" – Ellie Day, the wife of golfer Jason Day, on being run into by Cavaliers F LeBron James while sitting courtside at a game (TWITTER.com, 12/19).

The BOSTON GLOBE's Bob Hohler in a front-page piece writes under the header, "Questions Linger Over Tom Brady’s Relationship With ‘Body Coach.’" The Patriots, in an unusual departure from NFL practice, have "created a revenue stream for a private business" owned by Brady "and a partner who faced federal sanctions after falsely presenting himself as a medical doctor and deceptively promoting nutritional supplements."

The N.Y. TIMES' Joe Nocera wrote under the header, "Baseball Has A New Policy On Netting, But There's A Catch." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's office last week during the owners' meetings "issued a news release outlining its new netting policy," but it "could not have been more lame."

Elsewhere: 

• Seahawks CB Richard Sherman proposes "four ways to fix NFL officiating."
• Some ex-MLBers with PED links might "get the votes necessary" to join the HOF.
• Maryland basketball's "on-again, off-again" relationship with Baltimore is "complicated."
• TAMPA BAY TIMES: "Bloated Free-Agent Contracts Bad For Baseball."

Jason McCourty of the Titans won a fundraising bet with twin brother Devin McCourty of... https://t.co/TBEtbziapL pic.twitter.com/wlrJsJhMkw

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 19, 2015

The Carl Weathers American flag light up costume from Rocky IV just sold for $43,750. pic.twitter.com/axSdhjX1lt

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) December 19, 2015

Grace Cashman, daughter of Yankees GM Brian Cashman, just belted out a fine rendition of the national anthem. #Giants #Panthers

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) December 20, 2015

Simply stated: Ron Prettyman was the best Athletic Director ever at Indiana State. He will be missed.

— Dunning-SycamoresNOW (@SycamoresNOW) December 18, 2015

I wish Bill Walton could call the Holy War blowout with Brent Musburger.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 19, 2015

Jimmy Kimmel sitting with Jerry Jones. What's up? Does Christ Christie have something better to do?

— Brian Blessing (@BrianBlessing) December 20, 2015