MLB is "suspending all political contributions in the wake of last week’s invasion of the U.S. Capitol." The league in a statement said, "In light of the unprecedented events last week at the U.S. Capitol, MLB is suspending contributions from its Political Action Committee pending a review of our political contribution policy going forward." MLB is the "first of the major professional sports leagues to say it would alter its lobbying strategy in the wake of the deadly Capitol riots." The Office of The Commissioner of MLB Political Action Committee has "donated $669,375 to Senate and House candidates since the 2016 election cycle" (AP, 1/13).

The Broncos have hired a new GM in George Paton, who comes to the team after "working the last 14 years with the Minnesota Vikings," most recently as Assistant GM & VP/Player Personnel. A source said the deal is for six years. Over the past several years, Paton "declined numerous opportunities to interview" for GM openings, "opting to wait for the right fit and the right time." The Broncos "checked both boxes." Last week, he also interviewed with the Lions. Both Broncos President of Football Operations John Elway and President & CEO Joe Ellis "offered praise for the Broncos’ new hire via statements" (DENVER POST, 1/13).

Fanatics

Alabama fans are buying CFP championship gear at a faster pace than ever before, according to Fanatics. In the first 36 hours after defeating Ohio State for the title, Alabama’s sales are setting an all-time record for what Fanatics calls its hot market merchandise, beating the pace set by LSU last season. Compared to Alabama’s last championship in '18, sales are up 75% during that 36-hour postgame stretch, Fanatics said. The company also looked at transactions within two hours after the game ended and found that 90% of all sales were placed on mobile devices, another Fanatics record high.

COYOTES

The Coyotes reached a multiyear sponsorship deal with Med-Supply, which now will serve as the official PPE Provider of the club and receive the branding entitlement on the Coyotes' practice jersey. Med-Supply also will be featured during all regular-season home games with an on-ice logo at Gila River Arena, and it will have a presence with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, which includes dasher board branding (Coyotes).

Coyotes President & CEO Xavier Gutierrez noted with the NHL expected to absorb heavy financial losses, the league is allowing teams to get creative with new revenue streams, such as sponsorships on helmets and practice jerseys, sponsor logos on tarps and digital advertising on TV broadcasts. Gutierrez: “We’ve just been looking outside the box in terms of the corporate partners that might make sense. ... So we’re really, really trying to be innovative” (“Squawk on the Street,” CNBC, 1/13).

The NBA today tips off its leaguewide efforts to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., culminating Monday with MLK Day proper with five nationally televised games on TNT and NBA TV. The league, teams, coaches and players will engage in the national dialogue on race and equality across all platforms. Efforts will include custom Nike warmup shirts, designed in collaboration with the NBPA, MLK Foundation and Martin Luther King III. Also on tap: a new league TV spot titled “We Must Learn” and a virtual roundtable on NBA Twitter at 11:00am ET Monday (NBA).

NBA

The PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix Open, which will be played Feb. 4-7 at the TPC Scottsdale, will let in "fewer than 5,000 fans Wednesday through Sunday of tournament week because of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona." Fans will also be "required to wear masks and will undergo temperature checks before they're allowed on the grounds." Tournament Chair Scott Jenkins said he remains "hopeful" that the tournament will have "extremely limited number of socially distanced fans" at this year's event. As of today, there have been 641,729 cases of COVID-19 and 10,673 deaths overall in Arizona and "numbers have been spiking" (ESPN.com, 1/13).

A group of marketing/communications execs has founded Stadion Sports, a new advisory firm with the goal of assisting college athletics stakeholders with issues around student-athlete name, image and likeness. Stadion will provide educational and consulting services to universities, athletic departments, corporate sponsors and student-athletes.

The three founding partners are former USA Swimming CMO Matt Farrell, now President of marketing agency Farrell Sports Worldwide; Zac Logsdon, Founder & CEO of sports branding design firm Old Hat Creative; and World Lacrosse Chief Brand & Communications Officer Darryl Seibel, who previously led Team USA communications from '03-09. The company’s advisory board features former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops, Univ. of Missouri-K.C. AD Brandon Martin, U.S. swimmer-turned-sports-commentator Summer Sanders and former U.S. luge athlete and USOPC board member Cameron Myler, now an arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The debut episode of Leaders' "Rules of the Game" featuring Leaders in Sport Founder & CEO Jimmy Worrall discussing the “art of networking” in business and sports. Worrall: "A lot of people say they don’t really like networking, they find it insincere, and I say to them that’s probably because you don’t understand it because there’s nothing more authentic than building relationships."

FIGHTING'S GRAVITY: The “DC & Helwani” podcast covered the upcoming first-ever live UFC event on ABC, with co-host Ariel Helwani noting “this is a really big and historic deal, and I don’t know if everyone appreciates it.” Co-host Daniel Cormier said the broadcast on ABC will “go down in history as the first time mixed martial arts truly was accepted globally.”

WIDER INTERESTS: Maria Sharapova appeared on “Just B with Bethenny Frankel,” where she talked about being “more than just a tennis player” in her life and career. Sharapova: “You start understanding that there are so many different angles and things that you learn along the way, such as business, such as creating your own individual form.”

Know of a podcast we should keep tabs on? Send an email to pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com. Also, check out SBJ's podcast home.

There were "zero positive tests today" for the NFL's remaining playoff teams, according to a source (TWITTER.com, 1/13).

CBS Sports named Ndidi Massay Senior Dir of Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives, and she will drive planning and execution of CBS Sports’ diversity/inclusion initiatives. Massay begins her tenure Feb. 1, reporting to CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus and President David Berson (CBS).

Jesse Washington has agreed to a multiyear extension with ESPN’s The Undefeated, continuing as a senior writer and contributing to other ESPN platforms such as "Outside The Lines" (The Undefeated).

The team name and branding for the new Atlantic League franchise located in Gastonia, N.C., was revealed today. The team will be known as the Gastonia Honey Hunters, with a logo featuring the "honey badger, described as notorious for its strength, ferocity and toughness" (GASTON GAZETTE, 1/13).

“I’m a grown man, so I’m gonna do what I wanna do. If I wanna go see my family, I’m gonna go see my family. They can’t tell me I have to stay in the room 24/7. If it’s that serious then maybe we shouldn’t be playing” -- Thunder G George Hill, on the NBA’s stricter COVID-19 protocols (OKLAHOMAN, 1/13).

"As exciting as this is, it’s also crazy that it’s taken this long for us to see our first coach, for us to see the first general manager, and now finally the first African-American woman to coach within baseball. I’m excited, but it’s also the reaction of all these women -- I know them well -- is, ‘Why hasn’t this happened sooner?’" -- ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza, on the hiring of women in MLB to high-profile positions (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 1/13).

"We did see a domino effect of athletes coming out in high-profile sports. It's clear that a lot of progress happened under Barack Obama's administration. Sadly, sports (have) been slower to show the same type of LGBTQ representation as other entertainment fields, but that political progress still extended to (sports)" -- USL San Diego Loyal MF Collin Martin (USA TODAY, 1/13).

JUST IN: Nike says it will not support lawmakers who “voted to decertify the Electoral College results”

— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) January 13, 2021

Non-partisan rant: these speeches are poorly written, constructed and delivered. Members of Congress, I am available for hire. The “Washington speech writer” you are currently paying is ripping you off.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 13, 2021

I firmly believe that if the Cardinals had beaten the Rams, which would have eliminated the Bears from the playoffs, the Bears would have fired both Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. But they made the playoffs and kept them. That's terrible process. Don't base your decisions on dumb luck.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 13, 2021

Just realized I never logged into Snapchat on my new phone since getting it in November. Not sure if that says more about Snapchat or me.

— ✏️Jacob Feldman (@JacobFeldman4) January 13, 2021

Brandon Tartikoff, who died in 1997 from Hodgkin's, would have turned 72 today. He was a terrific human being and a master TV exec (Hill St. Blues, Seinfeld, Cheers, Law & Order, Fresh Prince, St. Elsewhere, Golden Girls, Miami Vice, Cosby, and many more). #Tartikoff #NBC

— james andrew miller (@JimMiller) January 13, 2021

First Time Sportscaster

(Ft. @waynelarrivee and @packers) pic.twitter.com/yNJqCwQnZv

— Charlie Berens (@CharlieBerens) January 12, 2021

$1M -- Grand prize offered in Avocados From Mexico's Virtual Guac Bowl Stadium marketing effort, along with $1,000 weekly prizes. AFM is sitting out this year's Super Bowl broadcast on CBS, but Fox NFL broadcasters Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews are on board for its sweepstakes this year around the "Big Game" (THE DAILY).

Avocados From Mexico