TV network execs are expecting to see bigger TV ratings from today’s NFL Conference Championship games, thanks to the effect of the weekend’s big East Coast blizzard that has left many snowbound viewers in the country’s biggest media markets. “It does help ratings when the weather is bad on the East Coast,” CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said on Friday from Denver, where CBS will produce the Patriots-Broncos game. “It should provide, hopefully, a good diversion for people who might be snowed in or might be dealing with the storms.” Last week, Fox Sports VP/Programming & Research Mike Mulvihill took to Twitter to share his thoughts on how much bigger today’s audience will be because of the storm. “Seems believable to me that the storm will increase in-home viewership by over a million people for each champ game,” he tweeted, pointing out that last year’s Super Bowl ratings in Chicago and Detroit were up 23% and 12% , respectively, partly due to a snowstorm that affected both markets. “DC, BAL, PHL, NY should all see increases…Factor in Virginia, Central PA, Pittsburgh and that’s almost 20 percent of the country likely to be stuck inside for most or all of Sunday,” Mulvihill said over two tweets.

The weather forecast in Denver calls for "a rainy Sunday with a snowy evening, likely to make for a wet Broncos game" when the team takes on the Patriots today in the AFC Championship. Forecasters "predict an inch of snow accumulation to fall in the evening" (DENVERPOST.com, 1/23). Ahead of today's game, the Broncos will "share live, behind-the-scenes footage of players getting ready for the game." S.F.-based CrowdOptic will "capture players prepping for the game and go into places where most cameras don't go." Footage will be "streamed live for the first time on YouTube" (DENVER POST, 1/23).

Meanwhile, CBS Sports Exec VP/Operations, Engineering & Production Services Ken Aagaard said that the "specially commissioned, state-of-the-art" production truck the net will use to air today's game "exceeds anything used before in size and scope." That means the telecast will feature "more cameras, more angles, more info-laden graphics" (DENVER POST, 1/24).

The high temperature today in Charlotte will "peak at a brisk 47 degrees, with temperatures possibly dipping into the 30s" by the kickoff of the Cardinals-Panthers NFC Championship Game. Panthers Exec Dir of Stadium Operations Scott Paul said of the Bank of America Stadium field, "We've had to remove snow from the tarp twice" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/24). NFL Network’s Tiffany Blackmon said, “The tarp is off the field, and crews here pretty much worked round the clock these last few days to keep the snow and the ice off of the tarp in order to keep the field as dry as they could. ... There will be plenty of time for this field to air out." She added, "It's pretty amazing what this field looks like considering what it's been through” (“NFL GameDay Morning,” NFL Network, 1/24).

Meanwhile, about 4,000 Cardinals fans "lined Phoenix Sky Harbor tarmac" yesterday as the team departed for Charlotte. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) "spoke of the team's rising influence" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/23).

The first day of what "will be a nearly three-week traffic closure" in downtown S.F. began yesterday as crews "prepared the area for Super Bowl celebrations." Specific streets downtown "will be closed to vehicle traffic until Feb. 12." Bay Area Super Bowl Host Committee CEO Keith Bruce said, "This is a hallmark day. A milestone day. We want this to be an inclusive Super Bowl experience for everyone in the Bay Area." Traffic in the area yesterday morning "was light," though the real test will come tomorrow morning "when commuters descend upon the Financial District" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/24).

The N.Y. TIMES in its travel section examines the city under the headline, "A San Francisco Super Bowl Experience, With Or Without A Ticket." With 15 days until Super Bowl 50, the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS looks at "The Five Biggest Super Bowl Myths." The S.F. CHRONICLE writes under the header, "As Security Ramps Up For Super Bowl, Soft Targets Are A Concern."

The NFL Scouting Combine will "remain in Indianapolis for at least the next five years," through '20. Visit Indy last week "entered into a five-year agreement with the NFL" to continue hosting the event. The event had previously "been handled on a year-to-year basis," and this is its "first long-term deal." The combine, which will be held in Indianapolis "for the 30th consecutive year from Feb. 23-29," was mentioned in several media reports as "an event coveted by developers of the Rams' new multibillion-dollar stadium complex" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/24).

Today's Penguins-Capitals game has been postponed with DC "blanketed in snow." No makeup date "has been announced as yet." The NHL "now has to reschedule two Capitals games," as Friday's game against the Ducks was also postponed. Today's 12:30pm ET game "was to be nationally televised by NBC" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/23). Yesterday's Flyers-Islanders contest was also postponed (THE DAILY). The NBA took two games scheduled for yesterday "off the board due to potential severe weather conditions." The Celtics-76ers game "will be made up" today while the Jazz-Wizards matchup "will be rescheduled at a later date" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/23).

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, the AHL Checkers' game Friday night against the Chicago Wolves was "played in front of an empty building after the team closed the game to the public due to the worsening weather conditions outside" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/22).

The storm that affected most of the East Coast also caused the Redskins' training facility bubble to collapse. ESPN’s Trey Wingo said, “They'll try to get it inflated, re-inflated as soon as the snow goes away” (“NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition,” ESPN, 1/24).

Speedway Motorsports Inc. Exec Chair Bruton Smith "delighted the audience with an off-the-cuff speech Saturday while accepting his place in NASCAR's Hall of Fame, touching on everything from his building of Charlotte Motor Speedway to his unwavering support of Coca-Cola." Smith in his 16-minute speech at the Charlotte Convention Center said that he "offered Pepsi Cola a 50-year deal as the exclusive soda supplier" at CMS, but the company "declined." It "led to a partnership with Coca-Cola that has spanned decades and helped turn the annual Coca-Cola 600 into one of most prestigious races in NASCAR." Smith: "If we had all the money we took in from selling Coca-Cola, we would have plenty of money and I could give y'all some money tonight" (AP, 1/23).

Univ. of Alabama fans yesterday "lined up in droves" for the school's football national championship celebration parade "in 30-degree weather." Fans "packed the sidewalks and grass areas between University Boulevard at Denny Chimes and Bryant-Denny Stadium to see their beloved players, coaches and support staff." The celebration "lasted about 43 minutes as dignitaries such as" Alabama AD Bill Battle and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey "spoke to the crowd" (USATODAY.com, 1/24). Sankey said, "I spent a lot of time listening to people wonder if we were still the best conference in college football. Nobody is wondering anymore" (AL.com, 1/24). Everyone on stage looked "freezing." The SEC chant started as Sankey stepped to the stage (AL.com, 1/23). Battle in his speech "reflected on his time as a player at Alabama, past seasons, and expressed his pride" for coach Nick Saban, his staff and this year's team (AL.com, 1/23).

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey hosted NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” last night, and during her monologue said, “It's the first time I'll be live on television without getting punched in the face." She added, "All those who are worried I'm not ready to host the show because I, like, have brain damage, relax! I'm good. Besides, everything I need is on cue cards” (“Saturday Night Live,” NBC, 1/23).

YAHOO SPORTS’ Kevin Iole writes the show’s writers “were clearly the losers on this night.” They “gave Rousey very little to work with and used her far less than they do most hosts.” Rousey “appeared comfortable and didn’t seem particularly nervous.” She “delivered what few lines she had reasonably well, but the issue was that the writers elected to use her as background scenery and didn’t write her many decent jokes” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/24).

Rousey on Instagram wrote, "Thank you @nbcsnl for an unforgettable night. Had a blast and learned so much.... Thank you to everyone who took the time to watch and support. Hope you all enjoyed the show."

A crowd of 12,052 was in attendance for last night's Danny Garcia-Robert Guerrero welterweight bout at Staples Center, which Garcia won in a unanimous decision (L.A. TIMES, 1/24).

The Oilers today will be the first NHL team to utilize Pride Tape on their hockey sticks during the sold-out Skills Competition at Rexall Place. Pride tape is a representation of support for LGBTQ players (Oilers).

New Georgia football coach Kirby Smart at halftime of yesterday's Arkansas-Georgia men's basketball game at Stegeman Coliseum "addressed the crowd." It was Smart’s "first opportunity to speak to the general public" (AJC.com, 1/23).

The Maple Leafs in October will add Turk Broda, Tim Horton and Dave Keon to the franchise’s Legends Row monument (TORONTO STAR, 1/24).

The Olympics reportedly are "opening the field of competition to transgender athletes by adopting an updated policy that reflects standards already adopted by other regulatory sports organizations" (ESPN.com, 1/23).

Rider Ryan Dungey last night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim "pulled away from the field for his 24th career Supercross victory in front of 42,934 spectators" (L.A. TIMES, 1/24).

"Did he order the wrong type of food for post game meals? Did he not give (Cavaliers GM) David Griffin a nice enough Christmas present? I don't know. If David Blatt's getting fired how in the hell do the rest of us have jobs? Because our front offices aren't quite as crazy as theirs, but that's about it" – Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, on the recent firing of Cavaliers coach David Blatt (CLEVELAND.com, 1/23).

"This narrative that somehow we're taking direction from him, it's just not fair. It's not fair to him in particular. But frankly, it's kind of not fair to me and our group anymore" – Cavaliers GM David Griffin, on the notion that F LeBron James has had a say in the teams' front office decisions, including the dismissal of Blatt (ESPN.com, 1/22).

"Boycott is a very strong word for not attending a party you were never invited to. Like the Jets boycotting the Super Bowl" – "SNL" Weekend Update anchor Michael Che, on black actors boycotting this year's Oscars ("Saturday Night Live," NBC, 1/23).

"Yeah, it's disappointing. But I've been in a lot of them" – NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, on not appearing in a Super Bowl ad for the second consecutive year (ESPN.com, 1/21).

"It would be a big disaster. It will be terrible if he doesn’t end his career in the postseason" – Red Sox Owner John Henry on DH David Ortiz, who is set to retire after the '16 season (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/23).

"Yes. But...be aware of the risks" – Pro Football HOFer Barry Sanders, in an op-ed, on whether or not he would let his child play football (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/23).

The N.Y. TIMES' Joe Nocera wrote under the header, "True Scandal Of Deflategate Lies In The NFL's Behavior." Patriots Owner Robert Kraft has been "been publicly humiliated by his own league." Although Kraft "no longer lashes out at the league the way he did in the early days of Deflategate -- his style is to be a conciliator, not a slasher -- he is said to feel betrayed," not least by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Ahead of today's NFL conference championship games, the BOSTON HERALD's Steve Buckley examines an "alternate reality" in which Kraft never bought the Patriots. Meanwhile, the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's David Perlmutt writes as the Panthers' "wins mounted" this season, crowds of "far-flung Panthers fans have grown" in cities across the U.S. Also, the DENVER POST's Patrick Saunders opines the major difference between the Broncos and the Rockies is "a commitment to, and a passion for, winning."

Elsewhere:

• A look back at "Hollywood Park-Raiders deal that never happened."
• The Maple Leafs' poaching of ex-Devils GM Lou Lamoriello was "unprecedented."
• NHL All-Star Game the "latest example" of Bridgestone Arena's impact on Nashville.
• Eagles' 17-day coach search that yielded Doug Pederson "took longer than 17 days."
• Super Bowl XIX at aging Stanford Stadium was "a landmark in the game's evolution."

.@NFL will test in the Pro Bowl a new-&-improved coach-to-coach communication system that @Bose helped create. Will end post-game complaints

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2016

Interesting tennis note from @cbfowler that unknown players often make sponsor deals before big match on show court vs high-profile opponent

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) January 24, 2016

Last Sunday off before the 2016 racing starts!I'm looking forward to it! hope you are! Let's go win some Races and Championships! @CGRTeams

— Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) January 24, 2016

You haven't really lived until you've retweeted lines from Raleigh-Durham airport. #glamorouslife https://t.co/1WJ4UVggth

— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) January 24, 2016

A look at the tailgating scene outside the @sbjsbd office almost four hours before #ARIvsCAR pic.twitter.com/fFAIwBGLG2

— Joe Perez (@JoePerezSports) January 24, 2016