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Sunday, Dec. 11, 2:30pm ET

Weekend Rap .... Latest News .... Command & Control

President-Elect Trump Enjoys Spotlight Of Army-Navy Game

President-elect Donald Trump attended yesterday's Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium, and the sellout crowd of 71,600 "offered no apparent reaction" to his arrival as he "made his way to a glass-enclosed suite on the Navy side of the stadium." Trump "appeared on the large video boards at the stadium during the first half, waving and pumping his fist to the crowd, which greeted him with cheers and chants of 'USA, USA.'" Trump did "not walk across the field from the Navy side to the Army side at halftime, a ceremony generally reserved" for the President or Secretary of Defense. Fans "generally greeted Trump warmly" (Baltimore SUN, 12/11). While nine sitting presidents have attended the game, "it’s unclear whether a president-elect has ever been in attendance." Army won 21-17 to snap a 14-game losing streak to its rival (USATODAY.com, 12/10).

Trump appeared in CBS' broadcast booth at the start of the third quarter, saying, “I love the armed forces and I love the folks. The spirit is so incredible. I don't know if it's necessarily the best football, but it's very good. And boy, do they have spirit, more than anybody. It's beautiful. … I’m totally neutral.” CBS’ Gary Danielson said, “How about the Ambassador to Sweden for Mr. Verne Lundquist?” Trump: “I can't do better than this. … We have to have him for The Masters. That sounds like a great idea. Great idea. I would do that in a heartbeat” (“Navy-Army,” CBS, 12/10).

Anthony "Skeptical" New CBA Will Be Reached Before Deadline

After "months of optimism on both sides," Knicks F Carmelo Anthony said he is "skeptical" that the NBPA and owners will be able reach a new CBA before Thursday's deadline. Anthony, who is also NBPA VP, said, "Do I think something could happen by the 15th? Yeah, I think something could happen. But I think this kind of put a dent in conversations. We had something so close. We were supposed to have a deal done weeks ago, and for this to happen at the 25th hour is tough." Anthony "declined to go into the specifics of the late snag." Sources on both sides of the negotiating table "nonetheless expressed optimism" last night. Sources said that "control over licensing matters and the use of player likenesses has emerged as a significant issue" (ESPN.com, 12/10).

UFC 206 Draws Capacity Crowd At Air Canada Centre In Toronto

UFC 206 drew a crowd of 18,057 at Toronto's Air Canada Centre last night, with gate receipts totaling $1.8M (MMAWEEKLY.com, 12/11). The UFC eight weeks ago "laid off nearly all of its Toronto-based staff, making the organization’s future appear unclear in a city that was once its jewel." But the UFC said that yesterday's event "marks a renewed relationship with the city and that Toronto remains a priority, even if it’s a puzzle." UFC Senior VP/Int'l Operations Joe Carr said, "We’re still trying to run a business but we don’t want that to overshadow the importance of Toronto and our Canadian fans. I’m going to give a lot of thought to time of year” (TORONTO STAR, 12/10).

Sounders Beat Toronto FC On Penalty Kicks To Win MLS Cup Title

The Sounders yesterday "won their first MLS Cup, defeating Toronto FC after 120 minutes, including 30 minutes of extra time, without a goal." The Sounders won 5-4 on penalty kicks in a game played in "frigid conditions" at BMO Field, with "temperatures about 28 degrees" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 12/11). The match drew a sellout crowd of 36,045. This was "not a classic, and it paled in comparison to the seven-goal thriller played at BMO Field last week between" Toronto FC and the Impact in the semifinals (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/10).

It was a "night of almost unbearable tension." It would be "easy to ridicule a scoreless tie in a championship game, but the delicious pressure that permeated the second half, and beyond, made it a spellbinding experience" (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/11). This final was "more unlovely than most" and a "disjointed affair." The Sounders' three shots and zero shots on goal were the "lowest ever in an MLS final." This was the "first MLS final in years on network television," and while drama "has value, MLS probably missed out on a chance to add new fans" (SI.com, 12/11).

Joshua-Klitschko Title Fight Is On, But Uncertainty Over TV Coverage

IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will meet former title holder Wladimir Klitschko on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London, promoter Eddie Hearn announced yesterday after Joshua "knocked out Eric Molina." What is "less clear is which television network will broadcast the fight." Joshua "signed an exclusive deal with Showtime earlier this year," and the net "will broadcast his third fight" in '16 this weekend. Klitschko’s three-fight deal with HBO "expired, but he’s long been one of the network’s marquee fighters" (USATODAY.com, 12/10).

Celtics Receive Bomb Threat On Flight To Oklahoma City

The Celtics yesterday were the "victims of a bomb threat on their flight" from Bedford, Mass., to Oklahoma City. The FBI was "still investigating the matter late last night." Celtics VP/Media Services & Alumni Relations Jeff Twiss said that the threat was "called in during the flight." The plane "did not execute an emergency landing at Will Rogers World Airport" in Oklahoma City, touching down as planned around 5:45pm CT. A source said that it is "not yet known whether the call came" from the U.S. or outside the country (BOSTON HERALD, 12/11).

N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir Pens Final Sports Media Essay

N.Y. Times sports media reporter Richard Sandomir today pens a final essay from the beat after having covered it for the past 25 years. Sandomir will remain with the Times, where he will cover obituaries, writing he "needed a new challenge." Sandomir: "For the past quarter of a century, I had the best job I’ve ever had." He writes his "great regret" is that he was not more accepting of late ESPNer Stuart Scott’s "hip-hop-infused creativity." Sandomir "may return to the sports section now and then," as he will still cover the Westminster Dog Show and the Baseball HOF induction ceremonies one more time (N.Y. TIMES, 12/11).

Inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic Features Sellout, Close Games

The inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic college basketball doubleheader drew a sellout crowd yesterday at Prudential Center. Villanova topped Notre Dame 74-66 in the opener, followed by Pitt's 81-73 win over Penn State. The event partners with the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which supports the education of children of 9/11 victims (THE DAILY). The upper deck of the facility was open, and Villanova "had it packed and loud." The arena was as "loud, if not louder, than any Seton Hall home game" (NJ.com, 12/10).

Cavaliers Rick Roll Fans For Team's 80's Night On Friday

The Cavaliers "threw it back to the 80's for Friday night's game" against the Heat, wearing bright orange uniforms. Quicken Loans Arena "transformed into something from another era, as the music and customary in-game production was 80's-themed." Prior to the game, "scrapping their usual pregame introduction video set to DMX, the Cavs unveiled a new one, which featured Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' while players danced, wore wigs and throwback outfits" (Cleveland PLAN DEALER, 12/10). Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnasy Simone Biles went to yesterday's Hornets-Cavs game and tossed out "T-shirts to the crowd" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/11).

21st Century Fox Reaches Deal To Buy Remaining Stake In Sky

U.K.-based telecommunications company Sky on Friday said that 21st Century Fox had "reached a preliminary deal to acquire" the 61% stake in Sky it "did not already own." The new takeover offer would value Sky at about $23B. Sky said that the two companies are "still in talks over the final terms of a deal." Sky "offers television, broadband and telephone phone services," and has "nearly 22 million customers in Austria, Britain, Germany, Ireland and Italy." It also "broadcasts the top soccer leagues in Britain, Germany and Italy" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).

Speed Reads....

Sources said that the NFL "plans to inform teams this week about the projected salary cap" for the '17 season, which is expected to be somewhere between $163-165M. This season's salary cap is $155.27M (ESPN.com, 12/11).

The Flyers yesterday released their jersey for the '17 Stadium Series game against the Penguins at Heinz Field, which feature a "black design" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/10).

The Nationals yesterday unveiled three additions to their uniform assortment, which include an alternate home jersey and two caps to be "worn on special occasions and select home games." The jersey is a "hybrid of the club’s alternate blue-and-standard-white looks, with the stars and stripes curly W logo on the chest" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/10).

Former NHLer Scott Gomez today will join The One Jersey Network's audio coverage of Devils-Rangers, starting with pregame coverage. Gomez will round out a three-person booth with the Devils' radio team of play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin and analyst Sherry Ross (Devils).

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on Friday gave the commencement address at Mississippi State's Fall '16 graduation ceremony (Mississippi State).

Two construction companies have "agreed to pay a combined $147,500 in fines over safety violations in the death of one worker and injuries to another during construction" of U.S. Bank Stadium last year (AP, 12/9).

Duke defeated UNLV 94-45 yesterday "before an announced sellout of 19,107 in the first college basketball game at T-Mobile Arena" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/11).

Quick Hits....

"It'll be huge for the game, especially on the women's side. Our tour is growing dramatically ever since I turned professional, but to have a combined event, I think it'll bring a huge fan base" – Golfer Lexi Thompson, on the possibility of a combined men's/women's tournament (USATODAY.com, 12/9).

"I don't think it should be allowed all the time. Guys do probably get out of hand and put stuff that shouldn't be promoted on their cleats, so I think that's why we have a structure on what we can wear on our cleats and what we can wear on any part of our body when we're playing in a game" – Titans TE Delanie Walker, on players wearing customized cleats to support charities of their choice (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/11).

"There are pros and cons about his election into the Hall of Fame, but I do know that no previous commissioner was as passionately in love with baseball itself as Bud Selig" – The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN2, 12/11).

Sunday Comic....

A sneak preview of SportsBusiness Journal's weekly editorial cartoon:

Weekend Hot Reads....

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS notes if "any owner in sports is a rock star," it is the Cowboys' Jerry Jones. His team "will likely need just two playoff victories in January to get to Super Bowl LI." But if Jones' oil wells "had a two-decade drought back in the day like the Cowboys are trying to end now by getting back to the Super Bowl, he would be out of business."

The BOSTON GLOBE goes with the header, "No One Deserves To Be Enshrined In Cooperstown More Than Marvin Miller." All the "bountiful riches and benefits the players enjoy today trace back to the Brooklyn-born Miller, the soft-spoken, CBA-thumping economist/unionist whose only true two equals in Cooperstown are Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson."

Elsewhere:

Twitter Me This....

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Today's Back Pages....

The Weekend Rap offers today's back page sports covers from some of North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday   Boston HeraldChicago Sun-Times

Laugh Track: Student-Athlete

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “SNL” featured a skit where WWE performer John Cena played the role of an Alabama football player presenting his final project in science class. Cena: “Let's be real. I'm at Alabama mostly because of my abilities on the football field, but I take my academics incredibly seriously. That's why I said unless I got an A+ on all my finals, I would voluntarily sit out that bowl game against Washington.” SNL cast member Beck Bennett: “Well, we will uphold our end by judging you just like any other student. And also, thank you for signing my hat” (“SNL,” NBC, 12/10).

Hit The Ground Running: The Week Ahead

THE DAILY's Week Ahead Dec. 12-18

MONDAY
• SVG Summit (N.Y.)

SATURDAY
• Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl – North Carolina Central vs. Grambling (Atlanta)
• Gildan New Mexico Bowl – New Mexico vs. UTSA (Albuquerque)
• Las Vegas Bowl Presented by Geico – Houston vs. San Diego State (Las Vegas)
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl – Appalachian State vs. Toledo (Montgomery, Ala.)
• AutoNation Cure Bowl – UCF vs. Arkansas State (Orlando)
• R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Southern Miss vs. Louisiana-Laf. (New Orleans)

SUNDAY
• FIFA Club World Cup concludes (Japan)