The NFL today announced the finalists to host the Draft in '19 or '20: Cleveland/Canton, K.C., Tennessee, Denver and Las Vegas. The winners "will be announced at the Spring League Meeting in May." A winning city "cannot host the draft in both years." This year's event will be held April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas (NFL.com, 2/15).

Heading into All-Star weekend, NBA game viewership on national outlets is on pace for the league’s best average since the '12-13 season. For telecasts across ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, games are averaging 1.4 million viewers, up 15% from the same point last season. NBA games on RSNs also are performing well, with those games up 9% to date. Both ESPN and TNT are on pace for the nets’ best NBA viewership since '13-14, while NBA TV is looking at its best season average on record.

See more in tomorrow's issue of THE DAILY.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan today "denied a motion to dismiss federal criminal charges against three of their 10 men arrested" in conjunction with the FBI's investigation into college basketball corruption. Attorneys representing former Adidas execs James Gatto and Merl Code and former agent Christian Dawkins argued that "what their clients are accused of doing -- allegedly funneling money from Adidas to the families of high-profile recruits to ensure that the players signed with Adidas-sponsored schools, and then Adidas and certain sports agents and financial planners once they turned pro -- doesn't constitute a federal crime." The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 1 (ESPN.com, 2/15).

The T'Wolves prior to tonight's home game against the Lakers will honor the late Flip Saunders, whose "presence is still very much felt by those within the organization." The "Flip Saunders Night" tributes include a pregame ceremony in which the team will "hang a banner in Saunders' honor." Also, players "will wear custom sneaks," and the T'Wolves FastBreak Foundation "will make a $5,000 donation to the Flip Saunders Legacy Fund." Team Owner Glen Taylor said, "He's with us into the future, just because of all the things he did" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/15). The night will be a "celebration of one of the greatest basketball ambassadors the state of Minnesota has ever had" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/15).

LAFC today named ESPN's Max Bretos its play-by-play voice for all locally televised English-language matches on YouTube TV. As the club's Lead Broadcaster & Head of Content, Bretos also will serve as host and director of original LAFC programming and content on the team's designated YouTube TV channel, including a 30-minute pre- and postgame show from the YouTube TV studio set at Banc of California Stadium. Bretos will continue to work at ESPN (LAFC).

Belmont Univ.'s Curb Event Center "will serve as host" for a Davis Cup quarterfinal between the U.S. and Belgium this spring. The April 6-8 event "will be televised live on the Tennis Channel." It is "expected to be a sellout" at the 5,000-seat Nashville venue (TENNESSEAN.com, 2/15). The last time the Davis Cup came to Nashville was "40 years ago" when Vanderbilt hosted a match in '78 (WSMV.com, 2/15).

Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is departing Spring Training for his home in Parkland, Fla., to "offer support in the wake of a deadly shooting at his former high school." Rizzo is an '07 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of yesterday's mass shooting. He donated $15,000 to his alma mater in November to "help toward lights for the baseball and softball fields" (AP, 2/15).

This week six years ago, the city of Minneapolis, the state of Minnesota and the Vikings "reached a tentative agreement" on a new $975M stadium. The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE's Sid Hartman wrote at the time that a new covered stadium would "allow the area to compete for many national events," foreshadowing this month's Super Bowl LII between the Eagles and Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Other stories from this week in '12:

• NBA scrambles to get surging Knicks G Jeremy Lin to All-Star weekend.
• N.Y. TIMES' Joe Nocera, NCAA engage in war of the words.
• Jaguars bring on Mark Lamping as President.

Pringles and the ESL have "decided to extend their collaboration, following on from the two companies' initial sponsorship deal for last year's ESL One Hamburg event" (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 2/15).

BK Racing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. NASCAR "could take the team's charter because of the filing but it has not announced any action" (ESPN.com, 2/15).

NBA partner NeuLion is launching a new live video syndication site for this weekend's NBA All-Star events. Live player interviews from Media Day at the L.A. Convention Center will be offered free of charge (NeuLion).

“Curling is hard to get into. We were walking over tonight and I heard some people complaining that curling was sold out, you got to know a sponsor, you know anybody at Visa that can get in” -- CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, on the hottest ticket at the Pyeongchang Games (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 2/15).

"The reality is, if I have to do that, I’d get out. It wouldn’t be fair to the fans" -- Angels Owner Arte Moreno, on the concept of tanking (TWITTER.com, 2/15).

Just being real. Not mad at all. I’m aware of the business. Just opens your eyes going through the arbitration process. Second time going through it. Still love my team and the entire country of Canada. More upset that I had to fly to AZ and miss my Monday workout. Lol

— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) February 15, 2018

Former #Hurricanes players have collectively raised $2 million in support of the Carol Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility at #Miami. The most recent commitment -- a $100,000 gift from Panthers tight end Greg Olsen who is one of 80 former #UM players who’ve donated.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 15, 2018

Hardest parties to get into during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles:
Michael Jordan's party on Friday (he'll be celebrating his 55th birthday at midnight) and GQ's party on Saturday (hosted by Cardi B).

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 15, 2018

SDSU AD J.D. Wicker says the signatures for SDSU's Mission Valley West initiative have been confirmed, and it will go to City Council on Feb. 26 for approval to be on ballot

— Tod Leonard (@sdutleonard) February 15, 2018

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

Darts is second only to soccer as a televised sport in the UK. 16M+ American's play. The 2018 @OfficialPDC season on @BBCAMERICA Thursdays. pic.twitter.com/O8DxxARhoE

— Jess (@JGolden5) February 15, 2018

As the Genesis Open gets underway today at Riviera Country Club, all eyes are on Tiger Woods as he looks to return to form. This PGA Tour video examines his legacy off the course in Southern California.

Celtics G Kyrie Irving will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:35pm ET.

37% -- Increase in sales of NBA All-Star merchandise on NBAStore.com compared to same time last year (through Feb. 12 this year). Overall, sales on NBAStore.com are up 18% vs. last season to date (THE DAILY).