Tom Brady is "making a blitz into Hollywood" and will produce and appear in a football-themed road trip movie titled "80 for Brady." Actresses Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field will "star in the feature project that is being made by Paramount Pictures and Endeavor Content." The movie "will be directed by Kyle Marvin, who also co-wrote the script with Michael Covino." "Brady" tells of four best friends and Patriots fans (Tomlin, Fonda, Moreno and Field) who "take a life-changing trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their quarterback hero, Tom Brady play, and the chaos that ensues as they navigate the wilds of the biggest sporting event in the country." Brady was "deeply involved with the inception of the project." He will "produce through his production company, 199 Productions." Production is due to begin this spring (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/23).

The NBA All-Star Game averaged 6.28 million viewers across TNT and TBS on Sunday night, up 6% from last year’s record-low figure for the game. TNT alone averaged 5.43 million viewers for the game’s traditional telecast, while TBS averaged 852,000 viewers for its first unique feed of the game (the network had provided a straight simulcast of the TNT feed in recent years). That 852,000 viewers was slightly higher than what ESPN2 got for the first “ManningCast” back in September (800,000 viewers). The All-Star Game had direct competition from the tape-delayed Closing Ceremony for the Winter Olympics from Beijing, which averaged 6.7 million viewers. Sunday night’s game peaked at 6.7 million viewers during the halftime ceremony.

The NBA telecast also had headwinds from increased cable news coverage around the Ukraine crisis (cable news coverage across Fox News, MSNBC and CNN was up 15% vs. last year). The level of homes using TVs (HUT) in the U.S. also continues to slide, with that metric down 20% from the same night last year. This year marked the first time that the NBA ASG was one week after the Super Bowl (normally there is a two-week gap between the two events). While the TV audience was lower, the NBA saw a 182% uptick for views on social media platforms (616 million). The league had its best day ever on Sunday on Instagram, posting 223 million viewers -- a figure that was 70 million higher than what the NFL account did on Super Bowl Sunday.

Download the NBA All-Star Viewer Trend

Rendering of the proposed Redmond, Wash., facility provided by MLCMajor League Cricket

The King County (Wash.) Council last night unanimously passed a motion to develop a Major League Cricket complex in Redmond’s Marymoor Park, 20 minutes from downtown Seattle. The cost and funding details have yet to be finalized, but the cities of Redmond and Bellevue will also be involved in the project. The venue at the 20-acre site is expected to accommodate 4,000-6,000 spectators, with the ability to expand to 10,000+ for larger events. In preparation for the sport’s '24 T20 Men’s World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host, MLC recently announced stadium developments in Grand Prairie, near Dallas; at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose; and in Morrisville, N.C., near Raleigh.

In partnership with the USA Cricket NGB, MLC plans to begin play in '23, with six teams in major U.S. cities under a single-entity model. The organization's 27 U.S-based minor league clubs played in the inaugural season last year. The facilities will also host U.S. National Team and potential World Cup and other major international matches.

The minor-league Seattle Thunderbolts cricket team will play at a new training center at Tollgate Farm Park in North Bend this season. Yesterday’s motion was sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Pete von Reichbauer, who also helped pass a '18 plan to invest $135M in public funds into renovating the Mariners’ T-Mobile Field. Minor-league stadiums with a comparable capacity that have recently opened, or are currently under construction, have cost in the range of $12-30M, according to SBJ research. A cricket pitch requires a 450-foot diameter circle, or slightly larger than a baseball field.

The Cavaliers "have a new general manager, elevating assistant GM Mike Gansey following Koby Altman’s move to president of basketball operations." Gansey will "continue assisting Altman in scouting and personnel decisions while increasing his role in the team’s draft preparations and logistics." Gansey has played a "critical part in the franchise’s rise, serving as Altman’s right-hand man during the draft." In addition to Gansey’s promotion, the Cavs also promoted Senior Dir of Player Personnel Brandon Weems to Assistant GM; Basketball Chief of Staff and team counsel Jason Hillman to VP/Basketball Operations; and Senior Dir of Strategy and Research Jon Nichols to VP/Basketball Strategy and Personnel (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/23).

The Premier Hockey Federation increased its salary cap and made other updates to its roster configurations for the remainder of the '21-22 regular season and playoffs. The six PHF franchises now are permitted to sign up to two players from other pro leagues and spend an additional $10,000 on salaries above the existing $300,000 cap for '21-22 competition. The current roster limit of 25 contracts is expanded to 26, and clubs are able to dress 18 skaters per game, plus two goalies, (up from 17+2 previously). Beginning in the '22-23 season, the PHF will expand to eight teams and the salary cap will rise 150% to $750,000, with 100% percent healthcare premiums paid by the team (PHF).

The NHL, NHLPA and TikTok reached a content-focused deal that will include in-ice branding and the introduction of the TikTok Tailgate Stage at two upcoming outdoor events: Saturday's Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game in Nashville and the March 13 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic in Hamilton. That activation will featuring performances by some musical artists, starting with TikTik favorite Walker Hayes this Saturday. The NHL and TikTok also will work together on content like player fashion interviews (“Who Wore It Best” and “Get Dressed with the Best” segments) and other programming showcasing player personalities (NHL).

Group licensing agency The Brandr Group and campus store operator Follett reached a partnership on apparel and jersey sales for schools with players who have opted in to TBG’s group licensing programs. Follett will promote player and team brands both in-store and online, while bringing customized jerseys to the market. Schools with both Follett and TBG ties include Boston College, Villanova, Florida, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Xavier, Georgia, Michigan State and Nebraska. Fans of those schools and athletes will have access to products from brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Champion and New Balance, among others (TBG).

The Premier Lacrosse League and Champion are nearing a deal for an expanded renewal that would cover on-field uniforms in addition to sideline apparel, SBJ understands. Terms are not yet clear, but the announcement could come as soon as this week and is part of Champion growing its investment in the sport. Champion would replace Adidas as the on-field uniform partner under the scenario being worked on. Adidas has been with the PLL through its first three seasons. The PLL and Champion first aligned last year when Champion became the sideline apparel partner only, while Adidas provided jerseys and cleats. That original Champion deal included rights to IP and for Champion to provide certain apparel for players, coaches and staff, as well as to collaborate on clothing lines and marketing campaigns.

Slate’s “What Next” took a deep dive into the Beijing Games figure skating scandal involving Russia's Kamila Valieva. Slate’s Mary Harris said after Valieva tested positive for banned substance, the "outcome seemed obvious" as "most countries would pull an athlete like that out of competition, but Russia, Russia’s not most countries." Slate’s Justin Peters noted Valieva “skated in near complete silence” as NBC’s Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir said very little during her performance.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: “Torched” host Molly Bloom looked back at an earlier Olympic figure skating scandal, this one at the '02 Salt Lake Games involving Canadian pair skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. Former skating commentator Sandra Bezic said “their performance that night” for the Gold Medal was “as good as they could possibly do.” But Bloom said commentators were "stunned" when the scores were revealed and the Russian team was in first place. Bloom: “The moment isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s shocking, heartbreaking.”

MID-ATLANTIC RANGE: CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams spoke with the “SportsTravel Podcast” about the HBCU conference relocating its men’s and women’s basketball tournament from Charlotte after 13 years to Baltimore, noting “it wasn’t that we wanted to leave Charlotte,” but Baltimore “submitted in a bid that was hard to turn down.” McWilliams: “It was extremely attractive to see the support around this tournament that wasn’t just local, but it was really the region.”

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

Boston Athletic Association President & CEO Tom Grilk will "step down" at the end of April after this year’s Boston Marathon (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/23).

Snickers and the "WWE 2K22" video game will be the presenting partners of WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium. The April event "will mark the first time two brands serve as presenting partners" of WrestleMania (ADWEEK.com, 2/23).

The Sabres named FanDuel its official sports betting partner, giving it the exclusive rights to include branding, sports betting odds and promotions during Sabres broadcasts (Sabres).

The Giants announced a partnership with Mad River Brewery for the '22 season, marking the first tribal craft beer partnership for an MLB franchise. Mad River Brewery, tribally owned by the Yurok Tribe, will serve its brands of craft beers at Oracle Park (Erik Bacharach, SBJ).

49ers EDU presented by Chevron along with nonprofit RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching) have made available their new STEAM education project kit for Bay Area students (49ers).

The NLL New York Riptide have partnered with tech firm Q30 Innovations and its Q-Collar, which helps protect athletes' brains during head impacts. In addition to the Riptide wearing the Q-Collar, it will receive brand visibility during game play and through signage and in-game announcements (Riptide).

"I told the players we're moving on and anyone on the fence needs to make a decision. ... All this talk about the league and about money has been distracting to our players, our partners and most importantly our fans" -- PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, on looking to move beyond the recent controversies and speculation about a rival league (AP, 2/23).

"The only thing I wish about leaving NBC is that it ended on a more gracious note, and maybe we'll circle back and make that right at some point" -- Bob Costas, on his departure from NBC after 40 years ("In Depth with Graham Bensinger," 2/23).

“It’s been about two weeks since I competed, and a lot of things have gone on during that period of time. There's a lot of media and a lot of things that are associated with the Olympics. But it’s been a really fun ride so far” -- U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen, on what he has been doing since winning a Gold Medal at the Beijing Games (“CBS Mornings,” 2/23).

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MLB and MLBPA are caucusing on their own after about an hour, 40 minutes together. TBD if there is a second meeting today.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 23, 2022

This settlement is not a “huge win.” It’s heartbreaking and infuriating. A “promise” of equal pay from the Federation and backpay for a select group of players isn’t equal pay and it’s not what this fight was about.

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) February 23, 2022

New York City has a plan to phase out the vaccine mandate in the coming weeks, Mayor Eric Adams says, at which point Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving would be cleared for home games.

Spokesperson adds that current rules remain in place.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2022

Life comes at you fast pic.twitter.com/b6wDXCbO2f

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) February 23, 2022

Negotiations might not be making progress but I can assure you that my watch tan is escalating

I had to redo this tweet because I added a word I am losing my mind

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 23, 2022

Olympians Dr. John Carlos, Ibtihaj Muhammad and Simone Manuel join the latest episode of Nike's FM Broadcast to discuss the confidence and courage needed to create a more inclusive future.

4.4 million -- Views on Twitter of the video of Michael Jordan embracing Magic Johnson at the NBA 75 Ceremony from last weekend's All-Star Game, the most-viewed NBA Twitter video from this season. It also had 11.2 million views on Instagram, making it a top-five most-viewed video on that platform (NBA).