The Heat are the NBA’s third franchise to sign a floor apron advertising deal, per the team’s new sponsorship with Samsung. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but no NBA team is pricing the new apron inventory below $1M, with one big-market team asking $3M for the apron space. Samsung’s deal with the Heat will put the company’s logo on the hardcourt in front of both team benches. The team is looking to place the ads on the floor by its upcoming home game on Dec. 1 against the Bobcats.

“It’s an integrated sponsorship with a good mix of assets,” said Heat CRO John Vidalin. “It has a combination of assets including the apron, some LED signage, promotions, playoff options, and social media activations.” The NBA earlier this year allowed teams to sell the highly visible apron inventory and the Heat now join the Pacers and Raptors as having signed apron deals. Samsung is also one of the NBA's newest league partners, last month signing a reported three-year, $100M deal.

The NHL’s 12-year, C$5.2B media rights deal with Rogers Communications was completed late Sunday night after a marathon weekend of negotiations finalized a month-long process. NHL COO John Collins said of the combined $7.2B rights-fee packages the league now has with Rogers in Canada and NBC in the U.S., "It’s indicative of the strength of the league. As (Commissioner) Gary Bettman says all the time, ‘We have a great game.’ Now, our league is in great shape and the CBA is behind us. We have amazing partners. This is the NHL’s time."

The deal with Rogers will change the way the league operates the NHL Network. The NHL’s current partners on the network are Insight Media – owned in part by MLSE Chair Larry Tanenbaum – and TSN, its outgoing broadcast rights-holder after this season. NHL Network utilizes TSN studios and some of its talent. Over the next few months, the league will look to transition into a partnership with Rogers and Sportsnet and consider other ways to upgrade the performance of NHL Network.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao today said that he "has no money to keep his promise to help typhoon victims because Philippine revenue authorities have frozen his bank accounts." The country's Bureau of Internal Revenue said that Pacquiao "hasn't proved he paid taxes" in '08-09. It has assessed that Pacquiao owed US$50M in back taxes as of July. Pacquiao today said that he borrowed more than US$22,700 "to purchase relief supplies" before Sunday's fight in Macau (AP, 11/26).

Alex Rodriguez' lawyers have amended their lawsuit against MLB and Bud Selig to include the fact that the Commissioner "did not have to testify and give a justification" for the Yankees 3B's "unprecedented 211-game drug suspension at the recently concluded arbitration hearing." The amended suit also includes a picture of Selig with a young fan wearing a T-shirt that reads, "A-Roid."

The complaint now reads, "Mr. Selig lacked the courage of his convictions to explain under oath the reasons for the suspension and the conduct of the investigation. ... Sadly, this cowardly stance by Mr. Selig is consistent with his past and highly inappropriate conduct in posing, smilingly, with a young fan wearing a T-shirt with a derogatory message directed at Mr. Rodriguez" (ESPNNY.com, 11/26).

HBO today unveiled plans for "State Of Play," a new documentary film series from exec producers Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey that will debut Dec. 4 with "Trophy Kids." The series, presented by Film 44, Herzog & Co. and HBO Sports, explores how sports stories relate to larger society. Immediately following the 9:00pm ET debut of "State Of Play: Trophy Kids," Berg will host a roundtable discussion featuring sports psychologist Larry Lauer and former NFLer Todd Marinovich (HBO).

Brazil's government today said that the cost of 12 stadiums being prepared for the '14 FIFA World Cup "has soared" by nearly US$435M. The increase was "expected following delay and cost overruns at several venues." FIFA's deadline of next month for completion of construction is "unlikely to be met in some cities" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/26).

JTG Daugherty Racing today announced that it will switch from Toyota to Chevy for the '14 NASCAR season. The team "has formed a technical alliance" with Richard Childress Racing for '14 and will use Earnhardt Childress Racing engines (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/26).

Indianapolis reportedly has "landed the 2016 U.S. Olympic diving trials," which will take place at the Indiana Univ. Natatorium at IUPUI. Atlanta was the other finalist to host the event (IBJ.com, 11/26).

The ECHL today formally announced that its BOG has approved the expansion membership application of the Indianapolis Fuel. The team will begin play in October '14 at the 6,145-seat Fairgrounds Coliseum (ECHL).

Pop music group One Direction today unveiled the North American leg of its '14 summer-fall tour, which will include performances at 14 NFL stadiums and two MLB ballparks (One Direction).

"Starting next year, Rogers will assume all editorial control. ... While this deal will result in job losses, the staffing impact would have been much greater had we lost hockey entirely" – CBC President & CEO Hubert Lacroix, in an internal memo on the NHL's recently announced TV rights deal with Rogers Communications (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/26).

"The more ability you have to help people understand just how good these guys are, how special they are, how fast the game is, and how tough the sport is, compared to a football or basketball, benefits hockey and benefits our players" – NHL COO John Collins, on using the "NHL Revealed" reality show concept to promote the Stadium Series (ADAGE.com, 11/26).

“They ideally would like to move to the country. If they can’t move to the country, they are moving the country to the course” – Golden Tickets Owner Steve Parry, on Augusta National acquiring parcels of land around the golf course (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/26).

“In sports, your reputation today is a three- to five-year lag of what was reality back then. … I hope our reputation in three years is our reputation from today. Because our reputation today is pretty damn good” – LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan, on the number of Korean golfers that speak English (AP, 11/26).

"We're very close to getting it done. I don't see any reason that we won't get this all done in the very near future" – Quail Hollow Golf Club President Johnny Harris, saying the Wells Fargo Championship is close to signing a five-year extension with its title sponsor and the PGA Tour (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/26).

Toronto Sun's Steve Buffery: "Does #Rogers consider selling the #Jays now? I don't think that would necessarily a bad thing."

Florida Times-Union’s Vito Stellino: "At presser at EverBank, Mayor Alvin Brown encouraging businesses to close early thursday night so workers can come to pre-game tailgate"

South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Juan C. Rodriguez: "#Marlins add two to baseball ops staff: Mike Berger named VP/Assistant GM; Jeff McAvoy named Director of Pro Scouting"

Heat G Dwyane Wade: "A lot of people are saying my cartwheel from last night was avg... So let me see who can do it better... @ me w a video of u doing it better"

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

MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre on his Facebook page posted this image of himself on the sidelines at Sunday's Panthers-Dolphins game and wrote, "First time ever at an NFL game!"

Former MLBer Mariano Rivera will sit for an interview and VIP photo session at TimesCenter in N.Y. The event is presented by the N.Y. Times Store and Steiner Sports.

Northern Illinois Univ. tonight will honor Diesel, its live husky mascot, during Senior Day celebrations as the canine "will retire after nine years on the sideline." NIU AD Sean Frazier said that Diesel will still "be welcomed at NIU games and events as the Huskies' 'mascot emeritus.'" NIU during the first quarter of the game "will introduce its new husky, 'Mission'" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/26).

The Pistons teamed up with FS Detroit and area rapper Big Sean for this local TV spot with the theme "Together We Can."

US$122,000 – Amount Russia will pay its Gold Medal winners in the Sochi Games, with Silver winners to earn US$76,000 and US$46,000 for bronze. The higher payouts are "aimed at improving the medal haul of the team," which earned only three Golds and 15 medals overall at the '10 Vancouver Games (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/25).