In N.Y., Joe Drape writes the NBA has "become the Netflix of sports properties, a league whose players are helping transform the way sports are being bought, sold and consumed in much the same way the streaming services have changed entertainment." No one in the league office "flinches when LeBron James wears one black and one white shoe with the word 'equality' written on them." The NBA "helps its stars expand their reach by offering regular programming on Twitter, by live-streaming games on Facebook and by blasting out highlights on Snapchat." This partnership has "not only given voice and weight to different points of view, but it has also helped drive interest" in NBA players off the court. The players "have, for the most part, used their elevated platforms judiciously and joyfully" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20).
WORST TO FIRST: In DC, Adam Kilgore notes the Rams and Jaguars "represent NFL parity, a quality once again defining the competitive portion" of the season. Both teams have 10-4 records after last season winning four and three games, respectively. If the season ended today, there "would be just three repeat division winners, all of them in the AFC." Eight of the 12 playoff teams "would have missed the postseason last year, with the Falcons being the only NFC repeat playoff team" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/20).
