Santa Anita today begins its winter-spring meet, and "about 40,000 people" will be on hand at the Southern California track as opening day is "likely to attract the largest ontrack audience" of the meet. Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo said that "demand for suites, box seats, and dining room accommodation are at capacity" for today. Santa Anita "will operate through June 23," with the meet "encompassing 61 racing days through April 7." The track "will race mostly on a Thursday-Sunday basis" (DRF.com, 12/22).

Santa Anita also will open its 82nd season with a "new race caller" in Frank Mirahmadi and a "new bet that is trying to bring the feel of casino gambling." A new ad campaign, "Timeless Tradition, preys on the memories of when horse racing was the thing to do" (L.A. TIMES, 12/26).

ESPN’s affiliate deal with Verizon’s FiOS TV is up at the end of the year, and the two sides do not appear close to a deal -- so much so that Disney this morning started telling its customers that ESPN and Disney networks, Freeform, WABC-N.Y. and WPVI-Philadelphia could go dark on FiOS systems. Such comments, which were scrolled on those channels this morning, are standard negotiating tactics in these types of carriage battles. But they also illustrate that negotiations are not going smoothly.

It is not clear what the problems are, outside of price -- at more than $9 per subscriber per month, ESPN commands cable's highest affiliate fee. ESPN is trying to win carriage for its new ACC Network, but it is not likely that Disney would threaten to take all of its channels dark over a new net that is not slated to launch until late summer. ESPN: “Our proven history of providing extraordinary value to consumers and distributors is unmatched. Our negotiations continue in earnest and we remain optimistic that we can reach a deal.”

Tickets go on sale at 3:00pm PT today for Saturday's UFC 232 PPV, which the MMA promotion moved on "six days' notice" from Las Vegas to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., in order to keep headliner Jon Jones on the card. UFC President Dana White said that fans who purchased tickets for the event at T-Mobile Arena "will have first priority buying tickets." White said that the UFC is losing $5M on the "gate alone after they were guaranteed" $6M to have it at T-Mobile Arena. White: "This is the first time I’ve ever done this, but I’m not expecting big ticket sales. Tickets are a lot cheaper now. I think the highest ticket price is $300.  … I don’t expect to do a huge gate" (DAILYNEWS.com, 12/23). Social media has been "filled with complaints from fans who have hotels and flights to Las Vegas for the event" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/25).

Meanwhile, the UFC and PokerStars reached a marketing partnership that creates the sponsorship category Official Poker Partner. PokerStars will have a presence in the Octagon beginning with UFC 232 (UFC).

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The Raiders beat the Broncos 27-14 in an "MNF" contest that may have marked their final game in Oakland, as "uncertainty hovered over" the home finale. Players "repeatedly formed Oakland 'O' signs with their hands." Oakland-born RB Marshawn Lynch "lit the ceremonial torch before kickoff, and heavy security lined the stands." After the final seconds, Raiders coach Jon Gruden "headed for the 'Black Hole' to greet fans." RB Doug Martin said, "It was possibly the last time the Raiders will be in Oakland, and we wanted to make sure we came out with that win" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/25).

For more scenes from the crowd, the San Jose MERCURY NEWS sent beat writer Matt Schneidman into Section 106: "My Night In The Black Hole."

The NBA "will take no action in the aftermath" of Lakers F LeBron James' "social media post of a song lyric that referenced 'Jewish money,'" according to a source. The league office reportedly "accepted his explanation that he made a mistake." James had been "quoting the song 'ASMR' by the performer 21 Savage on Saturday, typing the lyrics 'We been getting that Jewish money. Everything is Kosher'" on his Instagram account. James said, "I actually thought it was a compliment, and obviously it wasn't through the lens of a lot of people. My apologies. It definitely was not the intent, obviously, to hurt anybody" (ESPN.com, 12/24).

The NFL and NFLPA have "requested a report from the independent administrator of their drug-testing program into the questions raised" by Panthers S Eric Reid about the "number of times he has been tested this season." Sources said that the league and union "have no reason to suspect any impropriety but are awaiting the report" by John Lombardo, who oversees the league’s drug-testing programs. Lombardo "has been the administrator of the drug programs for 28 years and can be dismissed by either side" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/24).

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl saw a record crowd of 44,738 for Army-Houston at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday. It was the first sellout for the Ft. Worth-based bowl, which began in '03. Lockheed Martin also extended its title sponsorship of the game for another six years, which takes the company through at least '25. 

Meanwhile, Saturday's SoFi Hawaii Bowl saw 30,911 fans for Louisiana Tech-Hawaii, which was up big from last year's record low of 20,546. It is also the Honolulu-based game's best figure since '11. Also on Saturday, the Jared Birmingham Bowl saw a record-low crowd of 25,717 for Wake Forest-Memphis. The game started in '06. Saturday's Dollar General Bowl in Mobile (31,828) and Friday's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (18,711) also were up, while Friday's Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl (13,510) was down slightly.

Our sister publication, The Esports Observer, runs a regular briefing recapping the week that was in esports. This week: ESL’s Counter-Strike Pro League goes in-studio for its ninth season; three premier esports companies combine; and there’s a light at the end of China’s game regulation tunnel

Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross is "all but certain to dismiss" VP/Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum by the new year, "ending his four seasons with the club" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/26).

The Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll announced a contract extension that "will keep him in Seattle" through the '21 season (SEATTLETIMES.com, 12/24).

FS North reporter Marney Gellner "will fill in for Dave Benz and take over play-by-play" for today's T'Wolves-Bulls game in Chicago while Benz visits an ill family member. Gellner calls play-by-play for the WNBA Lynx; this will be her "first Wolves game in this role" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 10/24).

The Air Force Academy is "not at risk of again shuttering athletic competition" amid the government shutdown. The Department of Defense "was funded" for the FY through September '19, and Air Force "would be covered under that financial umbrella." A January '18 shutdown "led to the cancellation of multiple events" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 12/22).

"All that kind of talk embarrasses me. My goal for this year was we'd go through the season and when it ended, I'd go on Twitter and say, 'Thanks everybody. I'm outta here'" -- Clippers broadcaster Ralph Lawler, on tributes to him in his final season and talk about him belonging in the Basketball HOF (L.A. TIMES, 12/25).

"As someone who watches other leaders and tries to learn, she's someone I've taken interest in. If there's some sort of report card on her first year and a half that asks about her commitment to excellence in athletics, she's off the charts" -- Cal women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb, on university Chancellor Carol Christ (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/24).

"There's like the corporate, 'we're going to fill the arena no matter how many tickets we sell, we're just going to sell out,' and then there's like the rowdies and there's a few rowdy cities in the NBA, and I would consider Salt Lake one of them" -- Jazz G Kyle Korver, on how the atmosphere at Vivint Smart Home Arena compares to that of other NBA venues (DESERET NEWS, 12/23).

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR profiled new Pacers Assistant GM Kelly Krauskopf, who became the first woman in the NBA to "hold that title in the role's modern-day format." Krauskopf, who was "told right out of college she wasn't right for a sports television job because women don't know how to cover sports, is now charged with creating a championship culture and paving the way for the team's first NBA title." Meanwhile, the BOSTON GLOBE wrote under the header, "NBA Continues To Set Trend Among Major Sports In Hiring Women." 

Also: 

• F1 owners Liberty Media "still relying" on Bernie Eccestone's sponsor deals.
• USA Hockey deal for female national team players helps them focus on playing.
• A "life-altering experience" led to Alyson Lozoff becoming Golden Knights reporter.

Are you still a believer in the Knicks? Because at seven it's marginal, right?

— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) December 25, 2018

Good morning @Betfair @BetfairCS I’m recommending that after my recent experiences anyone wanting a bet on this fine Boxing Day morning should use someone other than you. Sort yourselves out.

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) December 26, 2018

The next time someone tells you NFL players aren’t doing enough in their communities, have em peep this thread... https://t.co/jfGs9YDFw4

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) December 26, 2018

Gonna run for president on a platform of overtimes not counting for any bets on the total.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 26, 2018

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

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “The Supreme Court.”

“Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes once referred to this 1857 decision as the court’s first self-inflicted wound.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Olympians From Countries That No Longer Exist.”
$400: “1964, Judo: Nguyen Van Binh of this country.”
$800: “1984, Ali Al-Ghadi of North Yemen: this common charity race distance, about 3 miles.”
$1200: “1972, gymnastics: this 4 medal female star for the USSR.”
$1600: “1960, gymnastics: Miroslav Cerar of this century, father of a future prime minister of Slovenia.”
$2000: “1952, men’s marathon: Emil Zatopek of this country that’s now divided in two.”

“What is Dred Scott v. Sandford?”

Correct responses to the “Olympians From Countries That No Longer Exist” category:
$400: “What is South Vietnam?”
$800: “What is a 5K?”
$1200: “Who is Olga Korbut?”
$1600: “What is Yugoslavia?”
$2000: “What is Czechoslovakia?”