NHL crews today will begin building the outdoor rink in Citizens Bank Park that will be used for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game between the Rangers and Flyers on Jan. 2. According to an NHL rep, the league's 53-foot trailer containing its mobile refrigeration unit will arrive at the park tomorrow, and a crew of around 100 will begin laying the system of cooling pipes and building the rink in the middle of the field. The crew has 13 days to build out the stadium before the alumni game on Dec. 31. Last year, crews had only nine days to build out the Winter Classic infrastructure at Heinz Field due to the Steelers' schedule.

Cable TV operator Virgin Media and the BBC have agreed to a deal for "hundreds of hours of extra coverage of major sports events next year, including live video streams from the London 2012 Olympics, through its TiVo service." The wide-ranging deal will give Virgin Media customers "access to 'enhanced' BBC TV services," which includes all 24 streams of coverage that the BBC is carrying of the '12 Games. Virgin Media has a subscriber base of about 3.7 million (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 12/19).

Golf Channel today will formally announce that announcers Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo will be in the booth together for the net's coverage of the Jan. 5-9 PGA Tour Hyundai Tournament of Champions. When asked if the experimental pairing "will lead to them being paired together more," Golf Channel President Mike McCarley said, "We'll see how it works, what kind of hijinks ensue. ... We'll have to check if it's safe to release these two into the wild" (USA TODAY, 12/19).

LOCOG today said that Dow Chemical's "name will not appear on a fabric 'wrap' around the main stadium" at the '12 London Games after the Indian Olympic Association's repeated objections to the Dow sponsorship. LOCOG said that "it was never their intention Dow's name would be on the wrap during the Games, but Dow had now also agreed that its branding will not now even appear on five 'test' panels either" (AFP, 12/19).

Indian Olympic Association acting President V.K. Malhotra said, “We are not happy with the move and will continue to press for total removal of Dow Chemical as a sponsor of the London Olympics” (WSJ.com, 12/19).

Red Bull’s media arm, Red Bull Media House, has agreed to a "three- to five-year agreement with NBC’s Alliance of Action Sports, or Alli, to develop the Red Bull Signature Series." The series will see NBC and NBC Sports Network devote 35 hours of programming annually to Red Bull events in sports such as motocross and downhill ice skating. Red Bull "will continue to run and produce the events," while collaborating on sponsorship sales and sharing sponsorship revenue with the other parties (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/19 issue).

Tebow-mania hit this weekend’s “SNL,” as cast member Jason Sudeikis played Jesus and Taran Killam played Tim Tebow. In the skit, Jesus appears to the Broncos team following their victory over the Bears last week, and begins by saying, “First of all, you’re welcome, alright. Yes, I, Jesus Christ, am indeed the reason you’ve won your past six football games.”

    Jesus: “I mean, let’s face it, it’s not a good week if every week, I, the son of God, have to come in, drop everything and bail out the Denver Broncos in the 4th quarter.”  An overly eager and giddy Tebow asks, “So wait, you’re only helping in the 4th quarter? But I pray to you before every game.”  Jesus: “Yeah, I know and I appreciate that but here’s something else you should do before the game ok? Stretch, get the arm warm, read the playbook. Do you read that?” Tebow: “The Holy Bible is my playbook.”

    Jesus also says that the Broncos should be thanking their kicker: “I mean, you don’t win unless this guy hits a 59-yarder. I’m serious man, Matt Prater, I pray to you, brother.” Cast member Andy Samberg, as Matt Prater: “Wow, you pray to me? I didn’t know that.” Jesus, turning to look at Tebow: “Well yeah – that’s because I’m not in everyone’s face about it.”

    After being told the Broncos were playing the Patriots on Sunday, Jesus replies: “Oh boy, really? Wow, ok. Did not know that. That’s going to be a tough one. I mean, hey, this doesn’t leave this room ok? But if I’m the son of God, Tom Brady’s got to be the guy’s nephew alright? That guy is a miracle worker.” Jesus: “Oh, but that Coach Belichick? Well let’s just say” – Jesus put both fingers to his forehead, as if to make devil’s horns, squealed like an animal, and concluded: “So they’re coming at you both ways there” (“SNL,” NBC, 12/17).

The Ravens and Hearst Broadcasting announced a deal that will "keep the team on WBAL radio and television for the next five years." WBAL-NBC, WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM will carry Ravens broadcasts for every preseason and regular-season game (Baltimore SUN, 12/19).

The '12 Izod IndyCar Series schedule could be announced as early as today. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that the holdup to the announcement is his negotiations over "returning in June to Texas Motor Speedway" (L.A. TIMES, 12/19).

ESPN's Craig James today will "have to decide whether he will join the race" for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas that is being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison (N.Y. TIMES, 12/17).

The Magic have agreed to use SAS Analytics for their basketball operations. The coaching staff will use SAS software tools for automated reporting and analysis of game statistics (SAS Analytics).

A crowd of 10,627 attended Sunday night's UConn-Baylor women's basketball game at the Ferrell Center. The attendance was the largest crowd in Baylor women's basketball history (SI.com, 12/19).

"It's not simply a hockey team. It's much more than a hockey team; it's an institution. Like all institutions, it has reponsibilities that go beyond being a hockey team in this market" – La Presse's Philippe Cantin, who is upset with the Canadiens hiring Randy Cunneyworth, the team's first coach since the '50s who cannot speak French (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/18).

"If you look at Los Angeles culture, it's very finicky. ... For Hollywood, especially young Hollywood, I think the Clippers could be the hot ticket now" – ESPN.com's Laura Lane, on the increased interest in the Clippers following the acquisition of G Chris Paul (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/17).

"We have every expectation that we'll have 15,000 to 20,000 people at the ballgame. It's just that they will not have all purchased their tickets from the university" – Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver, on the school having trouble selling its 17,500 ticket allotment to the Sugar Bowl (Norfolk VIRGINIAN PILOT, 12/18).

"Formula 1 will not be big in America. But Formula 1 will be in Russia for 2014, and in South Africa by 2013 even" – F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone, on the expansion plans for the racing series (BBC.co.uk, 12/17).

Hornets President Hugh Weber: "Went to a great season ticket draft party tonight, another tomorrow. Want me to come to yours? tweet me & we'll try to make it happen."

"Late Show" writer Eric Stangel: "Kim Jong Il dies. People in the streets of North Korea heard yelling 'We want Gruden! We want Gruden!'"

Comedian Andy Kindler: "Kim Jong Un reportedly a fan of Michael Jordan. Knows nothing about basketball. Just loves the bullying owner tactics."

Fletcher Digital founder Molly Fletcher: "Had a gr8 production day w/ one of my coaching clients, top coach w/ a top brand...rolling out this spring. It will be a big hit."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin posts this frame of TV footage showing the op-art baseline paint job at Air Canada Centre during a Celtics-Raptors preseason game.

On this day in 1917, the NHL held its first two games. The Canadiens defeated the Senators 7-4 and the Montreal Wanderers beat the Maple Leafs 10-9 (HISTORY.com, 12/19).

Aspen's Highlands Pizza has unveiled a special menu item named after Broncos QB Tim Tebow that the restaurant will offer "only during what fans are calling 'Tebow Time' – the fourth quarter of each game." Highlands Pizza co-Owner Ryan Sweeney said it will "be a football-shaped pizza sold by the slice. It's a white pizza made with extra virgin olive oil, 'extra virgin' being the key part there" (ASPEN TIMES, 12/18).

NBA Cares Home for the Holidays tips off and will continue through Jan. 1, featuring NBA teams and players hosting hundreds of charitable events to brighten the holidays for thousands of children and families.

See a full list of events in THE DAILY’s week ahead.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Word History.”

“A Roman legal term for a debtor sentenced to servitude is the origin of this term for a slave to a vice.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “It was so cute today out on Broadway, I was coming to work and they had all the sidewalk Santa guys lined up for their random drug tests. It was very cute. I loved it. … Then I went over to buy a Christmas tree. Now, this is a singular New York City experience, buying a Christmas tree in New York City. It’s not exactly Currier & Ives when you're buying a Christmas tree in New York City. … I remember one time several years ago I went to one of those tree stands and you only see it there for, like, four weeks, and then it goes back to being a guy selling crack or something. … So, I bought the tree. Guess how much the tree cost me? $200. That was just the beginning. The guy said, ‘Do you want that tied up?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That will be another $40.’ He said, ‘I can load it on the roof of your car and that will be another $10--’ Oh, forget it. I'm thinking about a hooker. … Thank you, I tell that joke every year. I couldn't be more proud. … Anyway, I'm out shopping for the tree, and I have my son with me, ‘Okay, Daddy! Let’s go get a tree!’ So we go over there to one of these places, we get the tree, we bring it home and it's all dried out. I plug it in, you get the lights on it, then you plug it in and it starts to smell funny and out drops an electrocuted rat. … I tell that one every year, too … Here's good news: Macy's open 24 hours a day now. That's just got hold-up written all over it, right? Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit like that nightshift Santa” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/16).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Hey, quick note from Martha Stewart: She says no matter what your holiday decorations are, no matter how thoughtful, no matter how simple or how expensive - you're doing them wrong and hers are better. … I've got to admit, Christmas is strange in this town. See, people in Hollywood, they marvel when they see the nativity scene because rarely do people in this town ever see a baby being taken care of by both parents at the same time. … According to the Pentagon, an American drone captured by Iran now appears to be a fake. See, did Iran really think they can fool us with the fake? We're the country of breast implants, hair extensions, collagen lips. … We invented fake, okay. We know fake. Thank you very much! … USA Today reports that the number of death row executions this year has hit a 35-year low. They attribute that to DNA evidence clearing more people and the fact, of course, Rick Perry has been on the road campaigning. He hasn't been able to find anyone. … During the Republican debate last night, Rick Perry compared himself to Tim Tebow. He said he's the ‘Tim Tebow of Iowa.’ The big difference, Tim Tebow actually has a prayer. … How stupid is this? What was this guy making, $2-3 million bucks a year? Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd, arrested outside a Chicago restaurant after he accepted a kilogram of cocaine from an undercover federal agent. He also tried to buy ten kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana. Typical guy, waits until the last minute to do all his Christmas shopping. … If convicted, he can face up to 40 years in prison, or even worse, traded to the Colts. … I think I would go for the 40 years” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/16).

“What is addict?”