The NBA's dunk contest "could make an argument for being part of the best" All-Star Saturday Night that the league "has ever put together." T'Wolves G Zach LaVine and Magic F Aaron Gordon "engaged in a dunk contest that went to overtime," and "brought life to an event that's been an afterthought in the months leading up to" All-Star Weekend. It was "an A-plus, plus, plus night, maybe the benchmark for all other all-star Saturday's going forward" (TORONTO STAR, 2/14). The "never-before-seen moves kept coming and so did the perfect scores." LaVine and Gordon "brought the long-comatose dunk contest back to life" (L.A. TIMES, 2/14). The dunk contest was the "best run in the long history of the contest" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14).

CBSSPORTS.com's James Herbert writes fans "will not forget the 2016 NBA Slam Dunk contest." It will "be up there with" Vince Carter in '00 and Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins in '88 (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/14). SI.com's Ben Golliver notes the dunk contest "will be remembered as one of the greatest shows in NBA history" (SI.com, 2/14).

ESPN L.A.'s Arash Markazi tweeted, "Love Zach LaVine. Said he'd win the Slam Dunk contest the day he was drafted but Aaron Gordon had two of the best dunks I've ever seen" (TWITTER.com, 2/13). The DENVER POST's Troy Renck tweeted, "Gordon and LaVine have breathed life back into slam dunk contest Damn" (TWITTER.com, 12/13). ESPN's Darren Rovell tweeted, "Slam Dunk Contest evolves when NBA puts its largest social media following to use. Gets rid of judges & allows world to vote in real time" (TWITTER.com, 12/13).

NBA owners are scheduled to meet today in Toronto to "discuss a rule clarification" due to the "epidemic of intentional fouling that is sweeping the NBA." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during his State of the League press conference yesterday said that he has "shifted toward changing the so-called Hack-a-Shaq strategy." Silver: "My personal view is beginning to change on the issue. Last summer, I said I was personally on the fence. I'm beginning to feel that a change needs to be made" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/13).

Silver addressed other topics during his press conference.

* On the NBA considering bringing its All-Star Weekend overseas: "It’s logistically more difficult than it may seem because there’s a ripple effect in terms of the number of days we take off on the rest of the schedule" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/14).

* On the the All-Star balloting process: "The internet has been disruptive in every industry. ... While we love the fan participation and we're big advocates of social media, at the same time, I don't want our All-Stars to be determined based on who has the most clever or active social media campaign for a particular player" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14).

* On the salary cap: "A dramatic increase in the cap, as we're going to see next year, is not something we modeled when we designed this collective bargaining agreement. We'd prefer a system where teams are managing for cap room, and we'd prefer a system in which stars are distributed throughout the league as opposed to congregating in one market" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/14).

* On whether the league would balance things out financially for the Raptors due to the weak Canadian dollar: "There is no current plans to make any adjustments, but we have a planning committee of our owners that deals with matters like that. Of course it's something that we talk to MLSE about all the time. I should say the issue is complex" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14).

The NBA All-Star Weekend has been "all about the weather." Social media for a full week "has been full of weather updates, temperature forecasts, wind chill readings." In Toronto, Steve Buffery writes, "It’s Canada. And in Canada in February, it’s supposed to get cold" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14). The city of Toronto has been "an ice-box" during the NBA's All-Star Weekend. Rockets G James Harden said of the weather, "Terrible. It’s too cold. That’s probably the only thing that’s wrong, it’s freezing." Raptors G DeMar DeRozan said, "Nobody seem to believe me when I tell them this has been the worst. It’s been a great winter until these last couple of days" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/14). NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said to the media, "We love it here in Toronto. The game is indoors. Stop complaining" (SI.com, 2/13).

Rapper Drake will be "bringing his own special touch" to the NBA All-Star Game player introductions when the festivities tipoff tonight at 8:00pm ET at the Air Canada Centre (TORONTOSUN.com, 2/13).

Controversial Rwandan President Paul Kagame yesterday "attended the NBA Africa summit in Toronto" with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Raptors President & GM Masai Ujiri, "drawing sharp remarks from critics of his regime." Kagame "delivered a speech during the private event at the Art Gallery of Ontario." Kagame’s government has "been accused of suppressing dissent and assassinating political opponents in Rwanda and abroad" (TORONTO STAR, 2/14).

Meanwhile, the Jordan Brand gave Lakers G Kobe Bryant a "full set of the sneakers released so far in the Air Jordan line -- 30 pairs in all." The gift "was presented" yesterday at the Jordan Brand All-Star party (ESPN.com, 2/13).

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association's Polartec Big Air at Fenway Park event on Thursday and Friday nights drew a total crowd of 27,228, and first-time viewers of the sport were likely "left wanting more." A 140-foot high ramp was placed in the middle of the ballpark, and to the left of the slope there was "a neon-lit stage with a DJ and band pumping out a consistent soundtrack for the part-competition, part-performance art, part-death defiance ritual, part-party" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/12). The FIS Freestyle World Cup '16 event "tested the limits of creative risk taking on a frigid stage constructed in one of America’s oldest baseball parks." U.S. freeskier Devin Logan said, "It’s pretty wild just knowing how historic this place is with the Red Sox being here. I never thought they would bring snow in here let alone build a tall jump we get to hit. You get a different perspective of Boston for sure, but it is fun and exciting" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/13).

DraftKings "recently raised" about $70M from investors, a "sharp drop from the company's previous investment rounds as it fights regulatory battles across the country," according to sources. A source said that investors "did not assign a fixed valuation to the company in this funding round, which happened in the past few months." The new investment round prompted Fox Sports to "cut the value" of its $160M investment in the company. It was "not clear if Fox was among the investors in the new" $70M round (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 2/13).

The Univ. of Iowa is "facing a wide-ranging federal civil rights investigation into allegations that its athletics department does not provide equal opportunities for female athletes." The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education is "looking into gender bias allegations in 13 areas, including how the department counts participation levels, awards scholarships, schedules practices and games and delivers services such as tutoring, medical attention, housing and dining" (AP, 2/12).

Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed by six former female students against the Univ. of Tennessee last week "argues its athletics department has long condoned a 'hostile sexual environment' stretching back to the mid-1990s, citing nearly a dozen instances of former student athletes accused of sexual assault" -- including Broncos QB Peyton Manning (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/14).

Mets P Jenrry Mejia "failed a doping test for the third time, resulting in a lifetime ban" from MLB, marking the first time league has "handed down the most severe punishment under its antidoping program." Mejia in each case was "caught using anabolic steroids, substances that have long been easy to detect in a urine sample." Mejia’s case highlights how, despite MLB's "longstanding efforts to strengthen its drug program, players continue to see incentives in trying to gain an edge" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13). MLB said that Mejia "tested positive for boldenone, which athletes have used to increase muscle mass and once was popular for use in horse racing" (ESPN.com, 2/12). The suspension can "last as little as two years" if Mejia "succeeds on an application, as is his collectively bargained right, for reinstatement" (N.Y. POST, 2/13).

New Fox Sports NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon made his race broadcasting debut during last night’s season-opening Sprint Unlimited, and the new-look booth received mostly favorable reviews. The race, which was won by Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota at Daytona Int'l Speedway and held before an estimated 35,000 fans, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, was the first NASCAR event in the newly renovated facility. ESPN.com’s Ryan McGee tweeted, “Little while ago I watched 10 mins of #NASCAR practice & @JeffGordonWeb taught me like 3 things I didn't know. So...good hire.” SB Nation’s Jordan Bianchi: “Fox has done a nice job incorporating Jeff Gordon into its coverage while not completely diminishing Larry McReynolds’ role.” But media commentator John Daly added: “Same addiction to zooming in live and trying to be cute and fancy. Just let us watch the racing.”

Meanwhile, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team the Wood Brothers, NASCAR’s oldest team, revealed on Friday that it has withdrawn from the Race Team Alliance. The move comes amid the fallout from it being confirmed that the team did not receive one of 36 charters -- NASCAR’s version of a franchise -- since it did not meet the prerequisite of having run full time since ’13. The decision not to make an exception for the Wood Brothers has drawn the ire of NASCAR’s vocal fan base. The RTA, which was founded in the summer of ’14 as a new way to represent NASCAR teams’ interests, now has 17 affiliated teams.

Sports Illustrated last night on TNT announced the first set of multiple Swimsuit covers in the franchise’s 52-year history. Model Hailey Clauson, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and plus-sized model Ashley Graham were each placed on separate covers of the Swimsuit issue, which will be released this week. Graham represents the first plus-size model on the cover. Rousey is the first active athlete featured on the cover. Former tennis player Anna Kournikova was on the ’04 cover as an inset, shortly after she retired from competitive play (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). Rousey said, "(It's) not promoting just one cookie cutter image for every woman, but showing that the healthiest version of every body type is the sexiest version out there" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 2/14).

Super Bowl 50 MVP and Broncos LB Von Miller appeared on SNL's "Weekend Update" segment last night to discuss gravitational waves. However, his explanation of gravitational waves sounded more like bragging about the Super Bowl (THE DAILY).

Patriots QB Tom Brady managed to "garner four write-in votes in the recent New Hampshire primary." Brady received two votes from Republicans and two votes from Democrats, indicating he could be a "political unifier when his playing days are completed" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).

Astros SS Carlos Correa "was the most popular draw" for autographs yesterday at NRG Arena during the second day of TRISTAR's 30th annual Houston Collectors Show. The show "sold 500 tickets for Correa's booth" and they could "have easily sold more" (CHRON.com, 2/13).

The Titans have "begun the process of replacing all the seats inside Nissan Stadium," a project "which will cost" the Metro Nashville Sports Authority $15M (TENNESSEAN.com, 2/12).

Recently retired NFLer Charles Woodson "is joining" ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" next season, according to sources. Sources said that ESPN "is expected to make an announcement later this month" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 2/12).

Aqueduct Racetrack "has canceled" today's races, the "second straight day of racing lost to the cold snap" (AP, 2/14).

French Open Tournament Dir Gilbert Ysern "has been officially fired from his job" (AFP, 2/13).

"Anheuser-Busch is saying that Peyton Manning was not paid to say that he wanted to drink a lot of Budweiser after the Super Bowl. I guess it was just a coincidence that he left the field on a wagon drawn by Clydesdales screaming, 'Wassup'" – NBC's "SNL" cast member Colin Jost, riffing on the Broncos QB during the "Weekend Update" segment about his Budweiser plug after his team won Super Bowl 50 ("Saturday Night Live," NBC, 2/13).

"Look, I think the new watchword for tennis is transparency" – USTA Exec Dir & COO Gordon Smith, acknowledging the need for a more open flow of information in the sport (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13).

"Sunday is ... Valentine's Day. I want to wear something that says, 'Wow!'" – TNT's Craig Sager, whose penchant for flashy suits is likely to be on display during tonight's NBA All-Star Game (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/12).

"It's not sad at all. I'm really happy and honored to be here and see this" – Lakers G Kobe Bryant, on his final All-Star Game appearance (CHRON.com, 2/13).

"So we're talking about celebrity stuff, not politics. Congratulations on your MVP" – ESPN's Sage Steele, cutting off Arcade Fire singer and NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Win Butler (TORONTOSTAR.com, 2/13).

"I'd like to see us very competitive in three years. ... That means not just making the playoffs" – 76ers Chair of Basketball Jerry Colangelo, on his goals for the team moving forward (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/14).

"We have a rule -- certainly in my office and most of the clubs follow the same rule -- that we don't talk about other sports. Other sports have their issues. We have our issues. And we try to take care of our own" – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, offering his opinion on Raiders Owner Mark Davis calling out the A's (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/14).

"Hopefully people will see the value of this tournament and know that the tournament is back. We pulled out all the stops this week to reinvigorate the brand" – Memphis Open co-Chair Josh Ripple, confirming that the '17 ATP World Tour event at The Racquet Club will be played Feb. 11-17 (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/14).

"I can't believe they got it finished. I saw that place five or six months ago. I was like there's no way this thing is going to be done" – FS1's Wally Dallenbach, on the improvements made to Daytona Int'l Speedway ("NASCAR Race Hub," FS1, 2/14).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Shaun King examines court documents stemming from a defamation lawsuit filed against Broncos QB Peyton Manning in ’01. Then-Univ. of Tennessee Dir of Health & Wellness Jamie Naughright in ’96 alleged that Manning sexually assaulted her, and in ’01 filed the defamation suit based on what Manning and his father Archie wrote about the incident in a book. King writes the case "offers us the living, breathing human names and faces of the individuals the American sports machine is willing to mow down in the name of profit and fame."

• Salaries among assistant coaches are "far different today" than in the past.
• Grizzlies G Vince Carter's legacy for Canadian basketball "goes beyond one dunk."
• College recruiting has reached "ridiculous heights."
• The SEC's response to Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh "is hysterical."
• Making less than $13 an hour as a Super Bowl concession worker.
• The Dir of DodgerVision chooses fans to appear on the team's Kiss Cam.

Adidas has signed Carlos Correa to a huge, record-setting, 5-year deal. Negotiated by Greg Genske of Legacy Agency.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 13, 2016

1. Lots of intrigue/speculation about Nets GM search among team execs here in Toronto. Gen'l consensus is Bryan Colangelo gets the nod.

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 12, 2016

I shall replace your Caps hat, thank you for honoring Alex on the road, very classy. dm me @Margefro87 @jackieajensen #RockTheRed

— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) February 12, 2016

Completely serious question: Is digging up an 15 year old story on Peyton Manning journalism or payback? https://t.co/4xjDQpPC2p

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 13, 2016

Whether claims are accurate or not, Manning took risk not settling before it got to court--where it can't be erased. https://t.co/2k3qZkZ13U

— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) February 13, 2016

FMC Ice Sports, which operates 24 ice skating rinks across Massachusetts, is holding a fundraiser to benefit NWHL Boston Pride F Denna Laing, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury during a Dec. 31 game at Gillette Stadium.

CBS' Dottie Pepper goes crowd surfing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a little help from actor and comedian Bill Murray.