Commanders owner Daniel Snyder “evaded questions by saying more than 100 times that he did not know or could not recall information” and gave “’misleading’ answers when he testified remotely in July” as part of the House Committee on Oversight & Reform’s investigation of the team’s workplace. The committee today issued a 79-page final report after a nearly 14-month investigation that gives the “strongest indication yet that the team or someone working on its behalf leaked the inflammatory emails that prompted Congress to get involved in October 2021.” The report states former Commanders president Bruce Allen testified to the committee that Snyder “spoke about using private investigators to gather information on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell” (WASHINGTON POST, 12/8).

The report found that Snyder “’permitted and participated’ in the Commanders’ ‘deeply entrenched toxic work culture’ and tried to interfere with probes into him,” including the Wilkinson investigation. In addition to hiring private investigators to “obstruct the NFL’s investigation into his team,” Snyder also “interfered the congressional committee’s probe by intimidating witnesses and blocking the release of documents” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/8).

The report also criticized the NFL’s handling of the matter, “painting in stark terms the way that the league’s actions effectively shielded Snyder from harsher punishment” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/8).

The Federal Trade Commission is suing to block Microsoft’s planned $69B takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying that it "could suppress competitors to its Xbox game consoles and its growing games subscription business." The FTC voted 3-1 to "issue the complaint after a closed-door meeting." The FTC’s complaint points to Microsoft’s "previous game acquisitions, especially of well-known developer Bethesda Softworks and its parent company ZeniMax," as an example of where Microsoft "made some popular game titles exclusive despite assuring European regulators it had no intention to do so." Microsoft President Brad Smith in a statement suggested that the company is "likely to challenge the FTC’s decision." The deal also is "under close scrutiny" in the European Union and the U.K., where investigations "aren’t due to be completed until next year" (AP, 12/8).

Avocados From Mexico "will return to the 2023 Super Bowl" with a 30-second ad produced by Lerma/, a Dallas-based agency that’s "done work for the brand over the years." The company has had seven previous Big Game TV ad appearances, with work from GSD&M as well as Energy BBDO. Avocados From Mexico "will tap into QR codes" as part of its campaign with its in-store "Big Game Guac Showdown" shopper marketing promotion featuring Deion Sanders and Tracey Edmonds. The couple partnered with AFM "to create their favorite guacamole recipes," and the brand "is inviting shoppers to vote for their favorite" in January by scanning the QR code found on in-store displays (AD AGE, 12/8).

The NWSL added three new senior level execs to its league office staff, which has now doubled in size to about 40 employees since Commissioner Jessica Berman took over in April. The hirings include Celine Perrot-Johnson as CFO, Carlin Hudson as Dir of Strategy and Maureen Raisch as Creative Dir. The NWSL used James & Co. for the CFO search and no search firm for the other two roles. 

Perrot-Johnson joins the NWSL from Buzzfeed, where she served as EVP, Finance Transformation Officer and Treasurer following the company’s acquisition of Complex Networks, where she had served as CFO and Treasurer. She previously served as a CFO consultant at Disney Streaming Services, where she advised on developing an initial budget for the company’s direct-to-consumer video business, including ESPN+, Disney+ and BAMTECH Media. She spent the bulk of her career at Viacom, where she served in a variety of roles pertaining to corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and analysis over 18 years.

Hudson, a former NWSL player, previously worked as a senior associate consultant at Bain and Co., where she served as a strategy extern for U.S. Soccer. In that capacity, she utilized nationwide studies of youth soccer participation to help develop a long-term approach to expanding access to the sport in historically underrepresented player groups. She also helped develop action plans to improve player development and safety in youth soccer.

Raisch comes to the NWSL from the NFL, where she served as a senior designer for the league’s brand experience team. She designed the primary logo for Super Bowl LVI and created the cinematic concept for the event identity in L.A. She previously worked as a designer at both Fanbrandz and Frederick and Froberg Design, where she designed event and team identities for MLB and the NHL. At the NWSL, Raisch will oversee the league’s brand vision across digital platforms, events and merchandise.

The latest round of executive hires comes on the heels of the league’s 10th season, during which the league experienced an upshot in business momentum while reckoning with the fallout from allegations of sexual assault and abuse of players by now-former coaches. The league is currently in the advanced stages of working with Inner Circle Sports to add two expansion franchises, which will bring the league to 14 teams by 2024. 

UCLA AD Martin Jarmond said with all the change surrounding college sports from NIL to the transfer portal, administrators “don't have control” over the enterprise, but still need to “try to anticipate where it's going.” Speaking during a panel at the SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, presented by LEARFIELD, NCAA EVP/Regulatory Affairs Stan Wilcox said change is going to “be constant” and one “can't look at change as an impediment.” However, he added the changes are leading to “external forces” coming into the space that “don't truly understand the enterprise and how collegiate athletics operates.” Tulane AD Troy Dannen said those inside college athletic are “now relying on those outside of the enterprise to protect the enterprise,” but “I don't trust anyone outside the enterprise.” Dannen: “I worry about the people that we're allowing to provide direction to the enterprise, don't understand the core of what we're trying to accomplish.” West Coast Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez noted that some of the outside forces are “our own stakeholders,” as athletes look to push some of the changes.

NIL especially has allowed outside forces to bring massive change to college sports. Dannen said they “basically let state legislatures create an NIL structure for us” and they “ended up with how many different NIL structures.” Because of that, they “had to react and almost open the door to everything,” and so things “aren't in a good place.” He added, “I worry to death about a strategy of waiting for the government to bail us out,” though it “may be the only solution.” However, LEAD1 Association President & CEO Tom McMillen said college athletics “can't count on Congress” for an NIL solution because “given the present situation, I think Congress will probably only react if there's a crisis.” He added Congress will “eventually” get to working on NIL because it is going to “get very chaotic.” But It will take a “lot of groundwork and a real strategy to accomplish that,” and they have not “done a very good job of educating legislators across the country.”

Quick Hits:

• Dannen, on the gaps among D-I schools: “I can't buy my way outta mistakes, so I don't make them. … [But competitively] it doesn't matter how much you spend. … Everybody's there because they want the ability to compete against the best and the biggest in the brands.”

• Nevarez, on the future of school’s looking after athlete wellbeing: “There is a bucket of things in there that you will see manifest itself in minimum standards for Division-I, but also being prioritized in this new world where we need to be able to have a little bit more freedom to spend and invest in our student athletes.”

In what was likely his final appearance at the SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, presented by LEARFIELD, outgoing NCAA President Mark Emmert had strong words for the college athletics community.

See Emmert’s full comment below.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Lakes Tourism and Mammoth Lakes Recreation have launched an expansive, multiyear partnership with the Kings that will see the town’s first indoor Olympic-sized ice rink. The forthcoming “LA Kings Ice at Mammoth Lakes” will operate within a newly constructed, multi-use Community Recreation Center that is set to open to the public in 2023. Additionally, as part of the agreement, MLT will continue its longstanding relationship as an official partner of the Kings (Kings).

“The problem with college football is you can’t tell the world, ‘Hey, I’m only going to be here for a little while,’ because you’re asking the kids to sign up for four years. So, one level he played the game that just everybody else plays but he attached a nobility to it when he got started and made it sound like he was doing not really just for him but for something larger, then when the money came he went and took the money” -- ESPN’s Bomani Jones, on the criticism Deion Sanders has received after leaving Jackson State to be named football coach at Colorado (“First Take,” ESPN, 12/8).

“They’re acting like a big market team” -- MLB Network’s Chris Russo, on the Padres signing free agent SS Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280M contract (“High Heat,” MLB Network, 12/8).

“It puts them in a terrible position in terms of dealing with (3B) Rafael Devers before he becomes a free agent. It really puts them on a path to either give him a record-setting deal or to consider trading him next year ... knowing how besieged the Red Sox ownership is, how fans up there are so angry about the departure of Mookie Betts and then Xander Bogaerts” -- ESPN’s Buster Olney, on what the Red Sox will do with Devers contract now that Bogaerts signed with the Padres (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 12/8).

“We’re focused on performance first, quality, consistency, sustainability and we’re sitting down having a conversation about our women’s line, and one thing I’m very good at knowing is what I don’t know ... and who do want to bring on as a partner. I was sitting down having a conversation with my wife and Misty’s name was the first one that came up” -- Derek Jeter, on partnering with ballerina Misty Copeland in his new apparel company Greatness Wins (“Today,” NBC, 12/8).

“When you had players that went to LIV, it was ‘live and let live. You go do what you want to do, good for you, I don’t agree with your decision but I’m going to stay here.’ Where it became very, very personal for most players is the lawsuit that came up in August” -- Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, on how the PGA Tour and LIV Golf rivalry has fractured long-term friendships of players on both tours (“Golf Today,” Golf Channel, 12/8).

“The report says the NFL put the interest of league owners ahead of employees by failing to protect them or ensure that they could speak up without fear of retaliation. It further accuses the NFL of burying the findings of the league’s internal investigation” -- ESPN’s Tisha Thompson, on the findings of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform findings in their investigation into the NFL and Commanders (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 12/8).

“Who do you think knows more about pay-per-view buys in the UK? Me or Bob Arum? A 93-year-old geezer is off his swede on edibles. The guy is completely on another planet. When I say they’re done, I mean that with all due respect. Bob Arum is 92 years old; he has no ambition" -- Matchroom Sport and Professional Darts Corporation chair Eddie Hearn, reacting to U.S. promoter Bob Arum's criticism over Hearn's prediction of the buy total for Tyson Fury vs. Derek Chisora 3 last Saturday night (BOXINGNEWS24.com, 12/8).

Hal Steinbrenner had an audience with Pope Francis on December 1, according to the Office of the Holy See. Five days later, he closed the Aaron Judge negotiations from Italy. I’d call that a memorable week. pic.twitter.com/8oInknJRax

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) December 8, 2022

FOX Sports’ @mulvihill79 says the three Big Ten broadcast partners (FOX/CBS/NBC) are going to have two spots each promoting Big Ten games on NFL Sundays.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 8, 2022

Under Armour founder Kevin Plank has listed his Park City, Utah, penthouse for $21.5 million.

• 7,000 square feet
• 5 beds & 7 baths
• Ski-in, Ski-out with 24-hour valet, room service, concierge, spa, gym, and indoor/outdoor pools

The HOA fee is more than $7,000/month. pic.twitter.com/iGMSYMliZL

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 8, 2022

In anticipation of the annual NBA on Christmas Day five game slate, the NBA today released its 2022 Christmas spot titled “A Nonstop NBA Christmas.”

The spot will premiere during the Boston at Golden State game Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. pic.twitter.com/KPJIgxVXxI

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 8, 2022

Atlanta United MF Derrick Etienne will guest star on tonight's episode of Fox's "Welcome To Flatch."

SportTechie offers daily updates and analysis on all the latest happenings that cross over between the sports and technology industries. Here are some of today's top headlines:

• FTX Collapse: A Timeline of the Cryptocurrency Exchange’s Sports Partnership Deals, Including Where They Stand Now
• LoopGolf Is a Digital Wallet for Golf Aimed at Simplifying Real Money, On-Course Wagers
• Geospatial Web Company Fabric Adds Former Pro Basketball Player Tamir Goodman as Director of Sports Relations
• Royal Spanish Football Federation to Launch Copa Del Rey Digital Video NFTs With RealFevr

Relive the World Cup through the Round of 16 with the top five best goal calls from Telemundo Deportes, including Andrés Cantor’s call for Spain and USA, Copan Alvarez for Portugal and Sammy Sadovnik for Argentina and Brazil.

1,122 -- The total number of seconds for Telemundo broadcaster Andrés Cantor's signature "goal" calls during the World Cup. Through the Round of 16, Cantor has made 46 goal calls -- an average of 24.4 seconds per call -- with the longest lasting 43 seconds (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/2).