TNT and TBS averaged 7.3 million viewers for the NBA All-Star Game yesterday from Chicago, up 8% from 6.8 million last year in Charlotte. Two years ago, the networks averaged 7.7 million viewers for the game from L.A. This year’s game won the night among all cable TV networks. The peak for last night’s game was 8.0 million viewers during the final 15 minutes (11:15-11:30pm ET) in the first-ever commercial free fourth quarter, which also was played under a new format. Pregame coverage from 8:00-8:30pm, which included a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, averaged 6.3 million viewers, up 19%.

The uptick last night means each All-Star Weekend telecast saw a year-over year viewership gain, including All-Star Saturday Night (+1% on TNT), Rising Stars on Friday (+1% on TNT) and the Celebrity Game on Friday (+9% on ESPN).

David Beckham and Inter Miami reportedly have signed a roughly US$235M sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation, which "will see the Qatar name emblazoned on the stadium, kit and merchandising." The deal, "signed two weeks ago," follows "weeks of secret talks with the controversial Arab state." A source said, "Qatar is keen to drive investments overseas to improve and soften its image. Miami and the Beckham brand fits perfectly with this." Qatar previously sponsored FC Barcelona for two seasons (THE SUN, 2/17).

Dodgers 3B Justin Turner today opted to "take aim" at MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and his handling of the Astros scandal "unlike any other player had done." Turner "doesn't believe the findings from the league's investigation into the Astros' cheating were sufficient." He also responded harshly to Manfred referring to the World Series trophy as a "piece of metal." Turner: "For him to devalue it the way he did yesterday just tells me how out of touch he is with the players in this game. At this point the only thing devaluing that trophy is that it says 'Commissioner' on it" (L.A. TIMES, 2/17).

Also today, Angels CF Mike Trout "did not hold back when making his first public comments" about the Astros scandal. Trout: "I lost some respect for some guys. ... It's sad for baseball. It's tough. They cheated. I don't agree with the punishments, the players not getting anything. It was a player driven thing" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/17).

Fox is airing the restarted Daytona 500 after its rainout yesterday, but the network and NASCAR may be feeling a bit discouraged by what could have been a pretty strong day yesterday. Early numbers showed that the event had the potential for an uptick over '19, as initial tune-in figures were the best in five years. Fox drew 11.193 million viewers for the first 15 minutes of the race, which is up 32% from '19. The tune-in figures came as President Trump served as grand marshal for the race and was interviewed before it started. Fox said it earned 10.935 million viewers for the first 20 laps of the race (when it was red-flagged due to rain).

Yesterday's numbers will not factor in to final viewership figures for today's race, which is scheduled to resume at 4:00pm ET.

The Philadelphia Barrage are returning to the MLL after being "away for more than a decade." The team, which folded in '08, today said that it is "coming back" for the '20 MLL season. A spokesperson for the franchise said that the Barrage "will be announcing its stadium partner shortly." Former Ravens and MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks exec Mark Burdett, who most recently served as MLL CRO, "will serve as president of the Barrage." Tickets will go on sale March 11 ahead of the team's June 6 home opener (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/17).

New Hampshire Deputy AD Steve Metcalf was named the fifth commissioner of the Hockey East Association, replacing the retiring Joe Bertagna. Metcalf also serves as Chair of the NCAA D-I Men's Ice Hockey Committee (Hockey East).

Golf ball maker Volvik has signed on as title sponsor of the newly renamed Volvik Founders Cup on the LPGA tour, held March 16-22 (LPGA).

Fanatics' annual three-week Externship program commenced today in Jacksonville in partnership with the NFLPA. NFL figures participating include Ross Pierschbacher, David White, Montre Hartage, Charles Johnson, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manasseh Garner. Former NHLer Ethan Moreau also will take part (THE DAILY).

"If you cheat in 2017 and you won, why don’t you do that the next year and the next year too?" -- Yankees SS Gleyber Torres, who is skeptical of the idea that the Astros only stole signs electronically during the '17 season (N.Y. POST, 2/17).

“This would devastate not just all these communities, but millions of fans. Their only access to a professional game are these minor league teams” -- U.S. Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), on leading a bipartisan effort to get MLB to slow down and not eliminate MiLB affiliate teams (“Today,” NBC, 2/17).

"We never viewed the Games as 17 days in February of 2002. We viewed the Games as a means of being able to bring a brand to Utah that meant we could compete with the world and we could win" -- Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who created the state's Sports Commission in '00 ahead of the '02 Salt Lake City Games (DESERET NEWS, 2/17).

Next up is formal approval at G League level. Players union held voting in meeting today. https://t.co/C2mO8SnTXh

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 17, 2020

Kyrie Irving elected as VP at Players Association meeting today, per source.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 17, 2020

Going through some NHL attendance numbers, and it's astounding that Ottawa is papering its building and still only drawing at 64.2 tickets-distributed capacity. Carolina was at 63% in 16-17. Chicago's 62.1% in 06-07 is, I believe, the lowest in NHL 2.0.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 17, 2020

The streak is over! @UConnWBB falls to sixth in new @AP_Top25 women's basketball poll, ending record 253 week run in the top 5.

— Doug Feinberg (@DougFeinberg) February 17, 2020

So, Mike Trout, the best baseball player on Earth, who is criticized often for being bland, showed no hesitation coming after the Astros.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) February 17, 2020

Spotted at the fan zone entrance: NASCAR’s @Eric_Nyquist, who heads communications, is greeting every fan and thanking them for coming back. pic.twitter.com/rhWg0eQdQy

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 17, 2020

Ben Kennedy out here checking bags to get in pic.twitter.com/aav8n9uiI9

— Dylan Goodin (@dgoodin24) February 17, 2020

See the NBA on TNT's All-Star weekend tribute reel in honor of the late David Stern.

3 -- Number of times the Daytona 500 will have been run on Presidents Day, with the event having resumed today following yesterday's rain postponement. The other two instances were in '59 and '70. Much of the sellout crowd "won't stick around" for today's restart (AP, 2/17).