Gambling advertising "for the first time" will "adorn the walls of the three major arenas" at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, which begins tonight. The advertising campaign from official gambling partner William Hill has "angered those campaigning against the continued spread and saturation of sports betting." William Hill "became the first ever gambling sponsor of a Grand Slam event last year." For the first time, electronic advertising boards have "been installed inside Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Hisense Arena for the Australian Open." Advertising will "only be shown on the screens during breaks in play and the commercials will not only be for William Hill but include other sponsors' messages" (Melbourne AGE, 1/18).

The Maryland Attorney General's office in an advisory opinion on Friday said that daily fantasy sports games "may not be legal under" a '12 state statute. The opinion, from two lawyers in the office of AG Brian E. Frosh, states that the games have "changed and expanded so substantially since the legislature authorized fantasy sports play that the law needs immediate review by the General Assembly." Frosh did not move to "stop residents from participating" with daily fantasy operators (Baltimore SUN, 1/16).

Washington state Sen. Pam Roach and other lawmakers are "working on legislation to legalize at least some forms of fantasy sports so people playing the games aren’t breaking the law." They just "don’t agree on how." Roach has "proposed a bill to allow participation in seasonlong fantasy leagues where no more than 50 people pay no more than $50 to play" (AP, 1/16).

Rams Owner Stan Kroenke on Friday during his first press conference since the franchise's relocation to L.A. said, "It's been a long road back. It's been a long road. But we made it." Tears "welled in his eyes" as he let cheers from about 200 Rams supporters at the Forum "wash over him." The Rams "showed a minute-long video showcasing the planned stadium and its connection to the L.A. community -- the same video they showed NFL owners during a meeting in August." The "feel-good event took an unexpected turn" when Rams Exec VP/Fooball Operations & COO Kevin Demoff "mentioned the likelihood of sharing the stadium with another team." Boos and catcalls "echoed through the arena and caused Demoff to briefly stop until his words could be heard" (L.A. TIMES, 1/16).

Also, the relocated team now has a logo, and, "other than the obvious" city switch, it is "not much different than the old one" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/15).

During the recurring segment "Weekend Update" on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live," cast member Michael Che said, "The NFL announced that the St. Louis Rams will return to Los Angeles, which I knew was coming the second I saw their mascot got some work done" ("Saturday Night Live," NBC, 1/16).

ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen will "not appear" on the air "for an undetermined time while he receives treatment" for Stage IV throat cancer. Mortensen in a statement said, "With the support and encouragement from ESPN president John Skipper and many others at ESPN, I am temporarily stepping away from my normal NFL coverage duties to better engage this opportunity to fight the good fight." Skipper: "Our thoughts are with Chris and his family as he faces this challenge" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/16).

Following last night's Cardinals-Packers game, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald during an on-field postgame interview said, "Mort, I wanna tell ya, we're thinking about you and fight, baby. Love you, Mort" (THE DAILY).

Due to the recent litigation filed by opponents of the Warriors' planned 18,000-seat arena in S.F.'s Mission Bay, the team are "backing up their planned" opening date one full season, to fall '19. That means the Warriors "will be playing at Oracle Arena at least through" the '18-19 season -- three more seasons after this one -- "instead of the original plans to depart by the summer" of '18. Warriors President & COO Rick Welts said that "everything else is an all-go" for the S.F. arena -- only the litigation "stands in the way of the Warriors putting a shovel in the ground, and it will take over two years to construct it once the shovel goes in" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 1/15).

The Cubs are "stepping up security measures" at Wrigley Field heading into the '16 season. Fans for the first time will "have to go through metal detectors to enter the park," and the team is trying to close several streets around the ballpark on game days to "create a 'safe perimeter.'" Wrigley Field is "located in a neighborhood with little room between the ballpark and street where cars drive by." The Cubs would like to "allow for only 'essential' vehicles to be moving next to the park." Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said, "People will need to allow themselves a little more time. We’re asking our fans to plan their day accordingly" (ESPN.com, 1/16).

Orioles 1B Chris Davis yesterday agreed to a seven-year, $161M contract with the team, a deal that will "make him the highest-paid player in franchise history." A source said that the contract includes $42M in deferred money to "be paid out over 15 years after the contract ends," from '23-37. A source said that team Owner Peter Angelos was a "leading force in the Orioles staying in on Davis and continuing to deal" with Davis' agent Scott Boras all offseason. Ownership is "fond of Davis on top of recognizing the slugger's importance to the fan base and the club's on-field product, and thus never wavered from its desire to keep him." Landing Davis "also puts" the Orioles' '16 payroll "at an all-time high," over the $130M mark (Baltimore SUN, 1/17).

Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder knocked Artur Szpilka "out cold in the ninth round to retain his world title Saturday night before 12,668 at the Barclays Center." When the bout was over, another fight "nearly broke out when lineal heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, owner of two title belts, entered the ring WWE-style, crashed Wilder's postfight interview on Showtime, and began singing before he and Wilder got into a nose-to-nose shouting match in the center of the ring" (ESPN.com, 1/16).

During NBC's "SNL" last night, cast member Beck Bennett and guest host Adam Driver impersonated the net's Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, respectively, who try to respectfully cover a devastating injury to fictional Packers QB Jared Schleff, played by cast member Pete Davidson. Cast members Cecily Strong (NBC's Michele Tafoya) and Bobby Moynihan (Cardinals coach Bruce Arians) also appear in the sketch (THE DAILY).

Fox NASCAR analyst and former driver Jeff Gordon appeared on “Fox NFL Sunday” to promote the upcoming NASCAR season (“Fox NFL Sunday,” 1/17).

Start times for Padres home games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons "have been pushed back a half hour." During the '16 season, Friday night games "will begin" at 7:40pm PT, and Sunday afternoon games "will start" at 1:40pm (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/16).

The MLB Cardinals' 20th annual Winter Warm-Up "kicked off Friday and continued" yesterday. Many fans "waited in long lines to nab autographs from team favorites" such as 3B Matt Carpenter and C Yadier Molina (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/17).

The Bruins yesterday announced the Jacobs family, which owns the team, as well as the Bruins Foundation and TD Garden have pledged a minimum donation of $200,000 to help support NWHL Boston Pride F Denna Laing. Laing sustained a significant spinal injury during the Outdoor Women's Classic at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 31 (Bruins).

General Electric Chair & CEO Jeff Immelt was at yesterday's Patriots-Chiefs playoff game at Gillette Stadium "sitting once again in the owner’s box." Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, a Patriots season ticket holder, "was also spotted at the game hobnobbing" with Immelt and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 1/17).

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson and his wife Gayle, who saw their "pair of talented 3-year-old colts, Mo Tom and Tom's Ready," finish 1-2 in the Lecomte Stakes yesterday at the Fair Grounds Race Course (NOLA.com, 1/16).

"Sometimes it does feel like I'm a celebrity not a tennis player, but honestly when it does feel like that it's fun" – Tennis player Ana Ivanovic, on her celebrity status she shares (SMH.com, 1/16).

“This is great news for football fans in Los Angeles. I mean, they’re going to run out of water soon, but at least they have a home team” – Fox’ Michael Strahan, on the NFL returning to the city (“Fox NFL Sunday,” 1/17).

"That the bitterness and anger, it may dim a little bit, but it never really leaves you. I’ll just tell your readers: it’s harder to move on than they think" – SI senior writer Greg Bishop, a Seattle native and resident, on the lingering difficulties of losing a professional sports team (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/17).

"I don’t know if you know this, but Mets fans are really, really obnoxious" – Cubs co-Owner Todd Ricketts (N.Y. POST, 1/17).

"We would love to figure out a way to do it, but it’s also logistically very difficult because of the travel to Europe and the travel home from Europe" – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, on the difficulties the league would face holding its All-Star Game in Europe (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/17).

"The bottom line is this: It's callus, but the NFL doesn't care" – CBS Sports' Brandon Tierney, on fans in St. Louis being upset over losing the Rams (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 1/17).

"People who don’t know what’s going on will just say, 'Well, this isn’t a really good football town.' I think that’s crap. I think that’s complete crap. There’s nothing we could have done to keep the Rams. I don’t care what anyone at the NFL says. St. Louis couldn’t have done a thing to keep the Rams here" – Pro Football HOFer Dan Dierdorf, on St. Louis losing its football team for a second time in the city's history (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/17).

"We had a race fan that probably had too much beer from my observations after speaking with him. He kept taunting Tony Stewart as Tony would pass by. Tony came up to the stands and decided to have a discussion with him on why he did not like him" – Tulsa Deputy Police Chief and Expo Square Liaison officer Dennis Larson, on NASCAR driver Tony Stewart's altercation with a fan during Friday's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals (TULSA WORLD, 1/17).

The L.A. TIMES' Michael Hiltzik asked, "Will Los Angeles -- or more specifically, the small city of Inglewood -- be happy with the NFL as a partner?" Despite the "assertion that the new stadium will be entirely privately financed," taxpayers will be "on the hook for unspecified 'public services and infrastructure.'" Furthermore, local officials have been "blinded to the NFL's dismal record as a corporate citizen in the communities hosting its franchises."

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun wrote even the "most cynical of cynics has to admit the change is apparent" with the Maple Leafs since their offseason hirings of coach Mike Babcock and GM Lou Lamoriello. So many Leafs fans in recent years "stopped caring," which is the "worst nightmare" for ownership. While the team's current record of 16-20-7 is "hardly anything to write home about," it finally "appears there's a plan in place."

Elsewhere:

• UFC President Dana White has a "deep bond" with the city of Boston.
• Life in Denver -- "from traffic to toilets -- revolves around the Broncos."
• After 50 years as a team owner, Roger Penske is respected "beyond [the] track."
• Bulls G Jimmy Butler maintains a "remarkable friendship" with Mark Wahlberg.
• Former top NHL pick Patrik Stefan is now an agent and coach in the Detroit area.
• Vivek Ranadive's daughter says her dad is "not financing" her pop-music career.
• Massachusetts-born comic "Fitzy" is the "voice of a generation" of Patriots fans.

.@nflnetwork just discussed missing TV tapes of Super Bowl I without saying nearly complete version of CBS telecast is at @paleycenter. Odd.

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) January 16, 2016

Bank of America is a nice stadium, too. Proof you don't need all the crazy bells and whistles. Just nice design and sightlines.

— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) January 17, 2016

J Kraft says Kroenke will be spending "btwn $3.3-3.5 billion for the right to be in Los Angeles" with new stadium and $550m relocation fee

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 16, 2016

Going forward, every time Kroenke wants to make a capital improvement to his state-of-the-art stadium, as partners #Chargers Spanos pays 50%

— Jill Lieber Steeg (@JillLieberSteeg) January 15, 2016

The #Seahawks are losing more than just a game, a whole generation of Western Canadian bandwagon fans are leaving the party as well! #NFL

— Jordan Karst (@Jordancjoc) January 17, 2016

If you go to church before watching #NFL playoffs, please say a prayer, light a candle for our great friend and colleague @mortreport

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) January 17, 2016

There's no reason to boycott the #NHL All-Star Game b/c John Scott isn't there. Just do what you normally do and not watch it

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 15, 2016