Architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group, hired by Redskins Owner Dan Snyder to design a new stadium for the team, "unveiled a model of the proposed project recently" as part of a feature on the firm CBS' "60 Minutes" plans to air tonight. The images released by the program "show a semi-transparent hyperbolic paraboloid-shaped stadium surrounded by a moat for kayakers." Bjarke Ingels Group Founder Bjarke Ingels in the feature said, "The stadium is designed as much for the tailgating, like the pre-game, as for the game itself. Tailgating literally becomes a picnic in a park. It can actually make the stadium a more lively destination throughout the year without ruining the turf for the football game." Building a new stadium "designed by one of the buzziest names in architecture could give Snyder the opportunity to host the Super Bowl, something he has pined for since becoming owner" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12). Bjarke Ingels Group is the architect for Google's new Bay Area campus and Two World Trade Center in N.Y. (REDSKINS.com, 3/11).

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday delivered the keynote address for SXSW Sports and "touched on a number of different topics such as the growth of social media, the league's cable deals, VR technology in the NBA and even expansion." Silver said, "No doubt, Seattle is a great market. At the moment, like for me as successful as the league is right now, we (are) not in the position, putting even aside profitability, where all 30 teams are must-see experiences. That's not a secret" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/11). To see all of Silver's comments, click here.

Several NCAA D-1 men's basketball conference tournaments concluded yesterday with the Selection Sunday broadcast set for today on CBS at 5:30pm ET. 

• A "raucous crowd" of 19,812 attended last night's Seton Hall-Villanova Big East Tournament championship game at MSG (NJ.com, 3/12). 
• Verizon Center hosted 20,719 for the North Carolina-Virginia ACC title game (THE DAILY).
• The Kansas-West Virginia Big 12 Tournament title game at the Sprint Center was played before a crowd of 19,046 (THE DAILY).
• A "sellout crowd" of 12,916 was in attendance for the Oregon-Utah Pac-12 Tournament title game. It was the "final tournament game" in the Grand Garden, as the Pac-12 "will move" to the 18,500-seat T-Mobile Arena next March (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/13). 
• A crowd of 8,132 watched Fresno State-San Diego State in the Mountain West Tournament championship at the Thomas & Mack Center (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/13).

Maria Sharapova on Friday defended herself in a lengthy Facebook post, in which she "disputed a media report that said she was warned five times about the ban on meldonium." Sharapova: "Some -- not all, but some -- in the media distort, exaggerate and fail to accurately report the facts about what happened." Sharapova claimed that she "received an email Dec. 22 that she should have paid attention." She wrote more information about the drug's ban was buried in a newsletter with "tons of information about travel, upcoming tournaments, rankings, statistics, bulletin board notices, happy birthday wishes, and yes, anti-doping information" (USATODAY.com, 3/11).

The N.Y. Daily News’ Mike Lupica said, “What was far more stunning to me, than Sharapova’s announcement, was the almost breathtaking hypocrisy of sponsors like Nike, who suspended its relationship with her faster than a really fast first serve. This from a company that stuck with a legendary con artist, stumble bum like Lance Armstrong until the bitter end. But you know what they say about corporate America sometimes, some of these companies have all the qualities of a dog, except loyalty” (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 3/13).

The Boston Pride yesterday won the NWHL's inaugural Isobel Cup, sweeping the Buffalo Beauts in a best-of-three series at the Prudential Center practice facility in Newark, N.J. (ESPNW.com, 3/12). Fans packed inside the Devils' practice arena to "witness both games in the series." The "excitement and energy with seeing the historic event overflowed throughout the weekend" (SI.com, 3/12). NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan before yesterday's game said that the league "will 'definitely' be back for a second season next year, and that she also plans on having a longer season and more games" (SI.com, 3/12). TODAY'S SLAPSHOT's Mike Murphy tweeted, "Looks like the league has plans for expansion. 2 Canadian teams" (TWITTER.com, 3/12). If it is the NWHL's plan to expand to Canada, "it is a big one, and one that will no doubt bother" CWHL Commissioner Brenda Andress. The CWHL has teams in Montreal, Toronto, and Toronto suburb Brampton (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/13). 

Chicago-based Monterrey Security on Friday earned a three-year contract to "make sure fans and visitors are safe at events in U.S. Bank Stadium." The Vikings, stadium operator SMG and Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority did not "detail the monetary value of the contract, saying the terms depended on the number of events and hours worked." Monterrey is expected to help with "crowd management and 24-hour security" when the stadium opens this summer (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/12).

The National Lacrosse League's Saskatchewan Rush drew a crowd of 13,720 fans to SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon yesterday for a game against the Georgia Swarm. It is the largest crowd the arena has hosted for a sporting event since '10. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, a near capacity crowd at First Niagara Center of 18,751 fans turned out Friday night to see former NLLer John Tavares have his jersey retired prior to the Rochester Knighthawks-Buffalo Bandits game (NLL).

The teams, leagues, companies and individuals voted as the nominees in 17 categories for the '16 Sports Business Awards will be revealed at roughly 7:00am ET on Monday in a video announcement. Look for an email and tweet directing you to the video. Winners will be announced during a live ceremony in N.Y. on Wednesday, May 18.

Numerous celebrities made an appearance at Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open. Among them were Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky, former boxer Mike Tyson and actress Hilary Swank (ESPN.com, 3/12). 

The D-backs announced that yesterday's sold-out crowd of 13,514 set the single-game record for Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The previous record was set on March 22, 2015 with 13,507 fans (D-backs).

Texas A&M men's basketball coach Billy Kennedy reached an agreement with the school in principal for a new five-year deal. Kennedy was among the lowest-paid coaches in the SEC at $1M a season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/11). 

Rock band the Architects performed "about 15 minutes before" Sporting KC's home opener yesterday. Any of the 20,178 who attended the game also had a chance to see K.C.-based rapper Tech N9ne, who has been the "voice behind a recent Sporting marketing campaign" (KCSTAR.com, 3/11).

"I love nerds. I wish I had some 'nerdism' in me. These guys went to school, went to class, wrote their own papers. They did everything right, and now all of a sudden they're in a good position and they can give me some information that I don't have. I'll take it" – Cubs manager Joe Maddon, addressing recent comments made by Baseball HOFer Goose Gossage that the analytics-minded are ruining baseball (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/12).

"The analytics vs. scouting thing, it's so tired. It's so East Coast-West Coast rap. Uncle. Uncle, you know what I mean?" – Angels GM Billy Eppler, on the criticism of different approaches to baseball front offices (L.A. TIMES, 3/12).

"The (Yankees) are on the defensive for many reasons, starting with the fact that everyone hates the new ballpark and sees it as a money grab, period" – The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan, on the Mets currently being the model baseball franchise in N.Y. ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 3/13).

"It's good to see people call us and not always have to beg" – Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, on the team's busy start to NFL free agency (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/13).

"We are not a mid-major league any more. We are a major conference in basketball" – Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, defending the conference's relevancy in college basketball (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/13).

The Baltimore SUN's Jeff Barker profiles Under Armour Senior Creative Dir of Team Sports Adam Clement, who has designed uniforms for college football and basketball, as well as those that will be worn at the Rio Games. Clement designed the Univ. of Maryland "Pride" football uniforms and Northwestern basketball's specialty uniforms worn in '14 that adopted pinstripes on the shorts, modeled after the Bulls. Clement years ago "traded his sketch pad for a mouse pad." Clement does "extensive research on athletes and teams with the goal of fulfilling one of Under Armour's mantras: 'Tell a great story.'"

Elsewhere:

• A's P Sean Doolittle does not want to be looked at as a "baseball robot."
• Dodgers fans share how they believe the club should honor Vin Scully.

"David Stern used to say 'B/c we're Jewish, the sky is always falling.'" - Adam Silver on what the NBA worries bout #SXsports

— AP (@Ananth_Pandian) March 11, 2016

Covering the Riveters & the #NWHL was and is an absolute privilege. Congratulations to each & every athlete for making history this season.

— Mike Murphy (@DigDeepBSB) March 13, 2016

The atmosphere at @cmpark is always terrific, but last night was on another level. Amazing crowd, and it was LOUD! Great night! @SportingKC

— Nate Bukaty (@nate_bukaty) March 13, 2016

And why was there a Trump rally at an opera house? What's next, NASCAR at the Met?

— Doug Farrar (@SI_DougFarrar) March 12, 2016

The #Raiders have done well in FA. Give owner Mark Davis credit for allowing GM Reggie McKenzie time to complete his rebuilding program.

— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) March 13, 2016

At the very least, there should be an MLB-sponsored event for women/POC analysts to get involved in the industry.

— Jen Mac Ramos (@jenmacramos) March 12, 2016

Love this group! #ThePack pic.twitter.com/DORxkF5gND

— Hilary Knight (@Hilary_Knight) March 13, 2016