The NBA has contacted the U.S. State Department to "try to determine how" President Trump's executive order suspending immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries could "potentially impact the league." Bucks F Thon Maker and Lakers F Luol Deng have Sudanese roots, and the league "does a significant amount of work overseas through its Basketball Without Borders program." While a judge "granted a request" from the ACLU to stay the order last night, it "remains to be seen if the order will wind up having an impact on either Deng or Maker as the season progresses" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/29). 

Trump's executive order "could have a wide impact on international sports," including "threatening the chances" of L.A. hosting the '24 Games and of the U.S. securing the FIFA World Cup in '26. Sports officials "struggled to understand the implications of Trump's executive order, including the question of whether athletes from the targeted nations could enter" the U.S. to compete, "especially in the initial 90-day period of the ban" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/29). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour tweeted, "Remember the IOC Refugee Team that we all found so inspiring at the Rio Games? Yeah. They wouldn't be allowed in US today" (TWITTER.com, 1/28).

The NHL kicked off its All-Star Weekend festivities in L.A. on Friday by revealing its list of Top 100 players, "opting to group them as a singular body rather than rank them No. 1-100." Meanwhile, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, who all made the list, "met briefly with the media." The three said that it was the first time they had "ever been together for such an event" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/28). Orr: "I'm thrilled that I came. I'm seeing so many old friends. ... I thought the league did a nice job" (SI.com, 1/29).

There were "some surprising omissions" from the NHL's list (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/29). The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington writes under the header, "Who Got Snubbed And Left Off Top 100?" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/29). USA TODAY goes with "Notable Players Missing From NHL's Top 100 Of All Time" (USATODAY.com, 1/28). Sportsnet.ca's Luke Fox wrote under the header, "In Support Of Mr. 101, Who Just Missed The NHL’s All-Time List" (SPORTSNET.ca, 1/28).

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that player participation in the '18 PyeongChang Games was "discussed for 'about 10 seconds'" yesterday at the BOG meeting. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "As of right now, there's not a will." The NHL has "sent its players to every Olympics" since the '98 Nagano Games. Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane said, "As a proud American, you want to play for your country any chance you get. I think a lot of us players would be ecstatic if they said we were going to the Olympics. But at the same time, you understand the owners’ side of things, too, you know?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/29). 

Meanwhile, Bettman "liked the buzz that helped" L.A. secure this weekend’s All-Star festivities, the first such weekend at Staples Center since '02. He noted the "growth of hockey in California in regards to the increase of registered players in the state," from 3,400 in '81 and '02 to 28,000 currently (L.A. TIMES, 1/29). Also, the NHL and NHLPA yesterday announced a joint initiative to "get kids playing hockey." The "Learn To Play" project will be "expanded from eight markets to all 31 teams for next season" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/29).

Orlando is hosting the Pro Bowl tonight at 8:00pm ET, and the city has "already opened some NFL eyes this week by selling out" the game and showing the league that the city takes football "seriously." SeatGeek.com Content Analyst Chris Leyden said, "The Orlando game is definitely the most in-demand Pro Bowl ticket that we’ve seen. Orlando is a lot more accessible to a lot more people than Hawaii." Leyden added that the average price of a seat for tonight’s game is $150 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/29).

Automaker Genesis will award the Offensive and Defensive MVPs with a Genesis G80 (Genesis). The Elias Sports Bureau reported that 37 players have "turned down Pro Bowl invitations this year." That is "down from the record 45 who declined to attend last year, but it's still the second most in history and a further sign that the game is increasingly viewed as an afterthought" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/28).

The A's were "doubling down on Oakland" yesterday, holding their FanFest at Jack London Square on the city's waterfront for the "first time in well over a decade." The franchise was also "promising an announcement on a location for a baseball-only stadium in the city" by the end of the year (EAST BAY TIMES, 1/29). In S.F., Susan Slusser wrote under the header, "Lots Of Goodwill, Excitement At A's Jack London Square FanFest." An estimated 15,000 fans attended the event, and the site had "more than a few in attendance thinking about a stadium nearby" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/29).

The A's are "down to four" options for a "viable" new ballpark site. A's President Dave Kaval said the sites are "all in Oakland, but they are in different locations." Kaval: "Baseball needs some new energy, and I think Oakland can be kind of the shining star for that new model" (EAST BAY TIMES, 1/29).

The Big Ten held its "Hoops & Hockey" doubleheader at MSG yesterday, with a "rocking crowd" of 8,531 in attendance for Wisconsin's 61-54 OT victory over Rutgers in men's basketball. Meanwhile, a crowd of 5,002 saw Wisconsin defeat Ohio State 3-2 in men's hockey. The basketball game tipped at noon ET, while the hockey contest began at 6:00pm. Nine "busloads of Rutgers students made the trip," which was a home game for Rutgers. But Wisconsin fans "showed up in force," comprising at least 60% of the crowd. Meanwhile, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, a Rutgers alum, was in attendance, and sat courtside next to Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs. Hobbs said of Stern, "He loves Rutgers. He can still sing the fight song, so it was great to have him here" (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 1/29).

Bruce Arena’s "first match in charge" of the USMNT since the group stage of the '06 FIFA World Cup will come today against Serbia in a friendly at Qualcomm Stadium. Winter friendlies are "not typically high-demand events, but with San Diego angling for an MLS expansion team, a decent showing would help its cause." As of mid-week, 11,500 tickets "had been sold." That number "needs to climb into the mid-to-upper teens" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/28). 

The Kansas-Kentucky men's basketball game at Rupp Arena yesterday drew a crowd of 24,408 that "set the world record for loudest indoor crowd roar" at 126.4 decibels (K.C. STAR, 1/29).

• The 76ers are "once again a hot ticket in Philadelphia" as Friday night against the Rockets registered their "fourth sellout of the season" at Wells Fargo Center. Coach Brett Brown said, "That crowd was fantastic. That was a playoff crowd" (PHILLY.com, 1/28).
• UFC on Fox 23 at the Pepsi Center drew 13,233 spectators last night, generating gate receipts totaling $1,020,434 (MMAWEEKLY.com, 1/29). 
• The Leo Santa Cruz-Carl Frampton boxing match last night was attended by 10,085 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (USATODAY.com, 1/29). 
• The Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff featuring Princeton-Penn State drew a crowd of 15,127 at Wells Fargo Center yesterday (Princeton).
• A crowd of 16,653 attended the Pegasus World Cup Invitational horse race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., yesterday. The race featured a $12M purse (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/29).

The Texas Historical Commission on Friday voted to "designate the Astrodome a State Antiquities Landmark, joining the ranks of the Alamo, the State Capitol, the Cotton Bowl and other notable sites" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/28).

Longtime NHL Kings broadcaster Bob Miller was "taken to the hospital" yesterday afternoon after "experiencing some discomfort as he prepared for a live broadcast" before the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Miller underwent a series of tests and will "remain overnight for observation at USC Medical Center" (L.A. TIMES, 1/29).

Attendance for the Dodgers' free fan festival at Dodger Stadium yesterday was a "record" 28,967 (L.A. TIMES, 1/29).

"I learned a lot of stuff from [Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones], especially with my own business that I got going on. A lot of my work and a lot of my mind came from him. It's just the way he inspires people. The way he goes about his business is everything" – Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, on why Jones should be inducted into the Pro Football HOF (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/28).

"I've always shown [Conor McGregor] nothing but respect, and if he wants to go down that road with us, let me tell you, it will be an epic fall" – UFC President Dana White, on McGregor being critical of the organization (MMAJUNKIE.com, 1/29).

"It should be an honor because somebody that has Roger Goodell’s ethics doesn’t belong on any stage that Tom Brady is on" – Tom Brady Sr., on the potential of his son being handed the Lombardi Trophy by Goodell (BOSTON HERALD, 1/28).

“Wouldn't it be funny if Roger Goodell handed Tom Brady a deflated Lombardi Trophy?” – ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski, on the Patriots potentially winning Super Bowl LI (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 1/29).

"[TNT's Charles Barkley is] the worst. ... He's the worst dresser on that panel -- by far. Chuck is terrible" – Thunder G Russell Westbrook, on Barkley's fashion sense (WASHINGTON POST, 1/28).

"He's got a lot of good songs. I don't know if I could say that around the locker room, but I'm a big fan" – Patrick Kane, on Justin Bieber (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/29).

A group of Texas Tech fans dressed up as ESPN commentators as part of the men's basketball program's "Superhero Day," which was held yesterday for the school's home game against LSU. The fans were "dressed to the nines in full suit and tie, with their own makeshift cardboard desk and poster 'ESPN' sign." Other "costumed heroes to attend the game" included Spiderman, The Incredibles and Left Shark (ESPN.com, 1/28).

Longtime DC-area sports radio commentator Andy Pollin reminisced on 25 years of sports-talk radio in the nation's capitol. ESPN Radio 980 DC earlier this month revealed that Pollin's contract would not be renewed. Pollin: "The run was much more than I could have asked for. I leave behind people I loved working with."

The L.A. TIMES writes under the header, "How The Media Helped Overturn The NFL's Unwritten Ban On Black Players." The "impact from the long-ago episode continues to ripple through the NFL." Eight minority head coaches will start the '17 season in the NFL, which is the "most in league history entering a season."

Someone is streaming a non-televised FA Cup game on Periscope from just a phone in the stands and has more than 12k viewers already

— Ben Grossman (@grossman) January 28, 2017

FYI, we are now at FIFTY-THREE majors--and counting--since Andy Roddick was last American man to win a major. No end in sight.

— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) January 29, 2017

Holding a baby, @justinbieber popped into the media room at Staples Center to announce that he wouldn't be appearing in the media room.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) January 28, 2017

To be clear: Neither Maker or Deng will play outside the country because the Bucks and Lakers both completed trips to Toronto.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) January 29, 2017

The "old guard" still keeping watch over tennis-- the more things change- the more they stay the same!!! #Serena#Federer#effort#winners

— Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) January 29, 2017

A kid asked the panel where they would like to play if not with the White Sox. Todd Frazier: "Tokyo Giants."

— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) January 28, 2017

"With my mind on my slap shot and my slap shot on my mind."
- @SnoopDogg pic.twitter.com/VCSCSqHNgJ

— #LAKings (@LAKings) January 28, 2017