The Senate subcommittee investigating sexual abuse in the Olympic movement has sent a referral letter to the DOJ and FBI "asking them to investigate" former USOC CEO Scott Blackmun for lying to Congress. The letter, sent Friday, said that Blackmun "made 'materially false statements' when he told the subcommittee in written testimony that he spoke with the USOC’s safe sport staff about a conversation he had" with then-USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny in July '15. The letter also "recommended Blackmun be investigated for obstruction" (USATODAY.com, 12/14). 

The Senate referral comes four days after a USOC-commissioned report "outlined how USOC policies, negligence and complicity" allowed Larry Nassar and other sexual predators to "prey on young athletes undetected" (OCREGISTER.com, 12/14).

Meanwhile, Blackmun has resigned his spot on the IOC marketing commission in the aftermath of the Ropes & Gray report that shed new light on his failure to act on reports of Nassar's abuse. Blackmun had kept that role after he resigned from the USOC in February, citing health concerns, but stepped down this week. He has also given up his spot as one of 20 members on the Int'l Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to Around the Rings (Ben Fischer, THE DAILY).

College bowl season gets under way on Saturday, and this season, there also are 401 brands designated as an official sponsor by at least one of the bowl committees. That figure is up from 392 last season. Premium hospitality outfit PrimeSport leads the way with 20 bowls, followed by the Marriott hotel chain with 17. Listed below are the brands with the most bowl sponsorships for the ’18-19 season.

Download the Top Bowl Sponsors

Intel and the ESL have "extended a long-standing partnership," signing a three-year, $100M deal "designed to boost the profile" of esports worldwide. Under the deal, Intel "will provide multiple layers of technology -- including its high-powered 'Core' computer processors and 5G -- for some of the biggest esports events" through '21. The semiconductor giant also will "work alongside ESL to create new events seen around the globe." The ESL-run Intel Extreme Masters is "set to enter its 14th season as the longest-running global professional gaming circuit." Intel "has sponsored ESL events for 18 years" (CNBC.com, 12/13).

RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS

The U.S. Air Force has extended its primary sponsorship of Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 driven by Bubba Wallace in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, taking the partnership into its 11th season. Air Force will continue to have two primaries on the car in '19 -- the summer race at Daytona and fall race in Phoenix -- and serve as an associate for all other races. The team has a significant amount of inventory it needs to sell before the season but says it is in discussion with several prospective partners.

Relevent Sports is partnering with digital consulting firm Rain in an effort to "bring more soccer content to the Amazon Echo, Google Home and other voice products." Initiatives already in development include "educational audio programming," as well as "features that make it easier for fans to keep track of when and how to watch different games from around the world." The deal will run "at least five years." The relationship on the Relevent side will be handled by a committee of five execs, with "further assistance from a 10-person growth marketing team" (DIGIDAY.com, 12/14).

CITI

Players Championship officials announced plans for a new venue at the PGA Tour event called the Captain's Club, a premium club space with views of the 16th and 18th holes at TPC Sawgrass. The hospitality venue will be the only daily upgraded ticket available for purchase. It will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full-service bar. Citi is the venue's presenting sponsor. Beginning Friday and ending Dec. 31, Citi card holders will receive exclusive access to purchase tickets at a discounted rate (PGA Tour).

Yankees Vice Chair Joan Steinbrenner, the wife of late Owner George Steinbrenner, died Friday at 83 (Yankees).

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya "has reserved T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4 for Canelo Alvarez’s next fight, but he emphatically said 'no' to the idea of having either Gennady Golovkin or Daniel Jacobs as the opponent that night" (L.A. TIMES, 12/14).

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is "preparing to launch a signature breakfast cereal" called "Patty Flakes," according to Mahomes' agent Leigh Steinberg. It is "not clear who will produce or market the cereal" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/13).

The Professional Fighters League will kick off its partnership with DraftKings "with a fantasy contest for the PFL Championship on New Year's Eve" (ESPN.com, 12/14).

Vineyard Vines will have an NFL pop-up shop at N.Y.'s Grand Central Station from Friday through Feb. 4, the day following Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta (NFL).

The Marlins and StadiumLinks are partnering to transform Marlins Park into a nine-hole golf course from Jan. 18-20 (Marlins).

“The truth is, it’s the dream we’ve always been looking for, to fight in this arena" -- Boxer Canelo Alvarez, on fighting Rocky Fielding at MSG on Saturday night (L.A. TIMES, 12/14).

"We're looking at investing in another sports franchise that we would try to bring here to Milwaukee" -- Bucks co-Owner Marc Lasry (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/14).

"Christmas comes at an inconvenient time right in the middle of the football season" -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, after asking the media whether they had done their holiday shopping (TWITTER.com, 12/14).

"We have eclipsed last year’s total already. South Carolina wants to turn Charlotte into Williams-Brice Stadium North and Virginia wants to surpass the Virginia Tech fans from two years ago" -- Charlotte Sports Foundation Exec Dir Will Webb, on tickets sales for the Dec. 29 Belk Bowl between Virginia and South Carolina (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 12/14). 

"In 2003, maybe there were three dozen persons like myself loitering in the lobby. Now, there must be at least 3,000. It's impossible not to appreciate the good fortune that has come my way" -- Orioles Assistant GM/Analytics Sig Mejdal, on his first experience at MLB's Winter Meetings (BALTIMORE SUN, 12/14).

Excited to announce I’ll have the opportunity to teach a spring semester journalism class at the University of Florida!

— Eric Adelson (@eric_adelson) December 14, 2018

NBA League Pass goes to Amazon Prime Video, where U.S. members can purchase/subscribe for $28.99 a month or $169 a season. League pass is free for the next seven days, too.

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) December 14, 2018

I’m convinced the NFL is a scripted reality show.

— Larry Johnson (@2LarryJohnson7) December 14, 2018

appropriate bookends for the week: On Monday, Yankees and Mets sources told me that the teams were talking about a 3 team deal involing Syndergaard and Realmuto.

On Friday morning, my Yankee fan uber driver also briefed me on these reports. He wants Noah btw

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 14, 2018

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

It’s a game dedicated to the fighters, to hope, and the sound of surviving. It’s a game dedicated to all of those affected by breast cancer and the efforts towards finding a cure.

Saturday on CBS Sports Network, Tulane and Louisiana meet in The @CureBowl. pic.twitter.com/AHwmJe4gZc

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) December 14, 2018

Friday

The Devils and Prudential Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new William Hill Sports Lounge at the arena.

The Weekly Standard, owned by Phil Anschutz' Clarity Media, is "shutting down." The magazine's final issue, which was "completed Thursday," will publish on Monday. The decision to shutter came after "more than a week of uncertainty for employees." Amid rumors of its possible demise, Clarity said 10 days ago it was "exploring a number of possibilities" for the conservative journal. But execs have "remained silent since then," including Anschutz (POLITICO.com, 12/14).

NFL Giants WR Sterling Shepard poses as "Derrick," a new employee at Modell's Sporting Goods in Times Square, to interact with customers.

WWE's Mixed Match Challenge streams its season 2 finale on WWE Network and Facebook.

22 -- Of the 41 FBS and FCS college bowl games airing on SiriusXM Radio this season, the number of broadcasts produced and provided by ESPN Radio. Those 22 games include the CFP semifinals and title game (SiriusXM).