President Trump is receiving "criticism for inviting the Clemson football team to the White House" this evening in the midst of the government shutdown. The visit by Clemson players and coaches comes "exactly one week after winning" the CFP title game. The trip "came together faster than visits from previous college football champions during the Trump administration." U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are "also set to join the White House visit, their offices confirmed" (Anderson INDEPENDENT-MAIL, 1/14).

Volkswagen of America has signed a four-year deal with U.S. Soccer, making the automaker the first presenting sponsor in the federation’s history. The deal, which runs through ’22, is valued at eight figures annually, according to sources. It will be USSF's second-largest deal, only behind its long-standing partnership with Nike. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. VW will unveil the partnership today during the Detroit Auto Show.

As part of the partnership, which was brokered by Soccer United Marketing on behalf of U.S. Soccer, VW is planning to integrate itself widely across the federation, including efforts to help boost the sport’s participation rates at all levels, the development of players, coaches and refs and various fan engagement plans. VW will also see its logo appear on training tops for all U.S. Soccer national teams. As part of the deal, the automaker will be the presenting sponsor of the Tournament of Nations, a round-robin international women’s tournament that the U.S. hosts in non-World Cup or Olympic years -- the next one occurring in ’21.

See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

cloud9

Puma today will announce its first major esports move, an apparel deal with the tier-one team organization Cloud9. Puma becomes the official apparel and game-day pants/shoes provider of the Cloud9 League of Legends Championship Series team. The Puma logo will appear on the breastplate of the team’s jerseys, which are sold by We Are Nations via a league-wide apparel deal with Riot Games. “This deal gives us ability to be a part of more things our kids love, and that’s how our brand moves the culture forward,” said Puma Team Head of Digital Marketing Matt Shaw. “Cloud9 is really uniquely poised to help us do that.”

The deal only covers the spring LCS season, which kicks off Jan. 26, and does not include any Puma product available for retail. However, both sides suggested the relationship will expand. "There's a lot of potential for growth on both sides, so we're ecstatic that this is only the beginning of the partnership,” said Cloud9 Head of Partnerships Jordan Udko. Terms were not disclosed. Cloud9 is one of esports’ most valuable and successful brands, with its League of Legends team becoming the first American team to make the global semifinals in '18. Because the deal covers team managers too, Puma is providing women’s apparel as well.

Puma did a brand integration deal with the video game Pro Evolution Soccer in '14, but this is its first foray into modern elite esports. Other apparel brands that have entered esports recently include Champion with Team Dignitas and K-Swiss with Immortals.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

The A's met with Kyler Murray over the weekend to "discuss the dual-sport star's options" ahead of today's "deadline to declare for the NFL draft." Exec VP/Baseball Operations Billy Beane "led the A's contingent, which made its case for Murray bypassing the NFL to concentrate on baseball." Murray, picked ninth overall in June's MLB draft, "has yet to play in the minor leagues," but the A's could offer him a "major league contract that would more closely correspond to the amount of money he'd receive as a first-round NFL draft pick." However, that would "force them to put him on their 40-man roster immediately" (USA TODAY, 1/14).

Sources said that MLB "sent marketing executives from the league office to attend" the weekend meetings between the A's and Murray and to "present information regarding Murray's off-field earning potential" (MLB.com, 1/13).

A crowd of 42,691 people on Monday "filled Melbourne Park" for the first day of the Australian Open, "lower than original crowd estimates which predicted 70,000 to 80,000 people would brave the heat." Monday's forecast predicted a high of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but temperatures "didn't quite meet expectations with Melbourne recording a maximum" of 90 degrees. Warm conditions will "continue into the week," with Tuesday's high "predicted to reach" 91 (THEAGE.com.au, 1/14).

UFC has reached a marketing deal with Motel 6, which becomes the MMA promotion's first-ever official economy lodging partner. Motel 6 will have a branded presence inside the octagon for select events, which will include several PPV cards and a variety of ESPN and ESPN+ broadcasts. Other activation will include in-venue ads; branded integrations in select PPVs; collaboration on digital/social campaigns; and a branded presence at UFC Fan Experience activations. Motel 6 has sponsored several UFC events since November '17 (UFC).

The Raiders today will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for their new $100M HQ on "55 acres near the Henderson Executive Airport" outside Las Vegas. The new facility will include a "fieldhouse, office space, three practice fields and parking for at least 400 cars" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 1/13).

Also today, a specialty Raiders license plate becomes available for Nevada residents. A "black-background plate with the NFL team’s iconic shield logo and the slogan 'Commitment to Excellence' will be available" through the state DMV. The "cost is $62, with $30 going" to the Raiders Foundation (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/11).

Former CBC Sports Exec Dir Greg Stremlaw will be announced today as the new CEO of USL club Indy Eleven. Stremlaw, who oversaw CBC Sports’ operations related to its "Hockey Night in Canada" NHL broadcasts and helped secure the rights for the ’22 and ’24 Olympics, was previously the CEO of Curling Canada. Indy Eleven, which joined USL last year after debuting in the NASL in ’14, announced plans last week to build a 20,000-seat stadium as part of a larger $550M mixed-use real estate development project. Nolan Partners assisted the club in its executive search and hiring.

The NLL San Diego Seals on Saturday "rousingly captured their inaugural home game" against the Rochester Knighthawks before a "near-capacity crowd" at 12,920-seat Pechanga Arena. The city's "immediate response" to the team was "considerable." Before the game and at halftime, there were "lines about eight deep to purchase Seals merchandise," and "considerably longer were the queues for $3 beers." It was "exactly the kind of response that Seals executives and NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz, who was in attendance, hoped for in the league’s latest foray into Southern California" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/13).

Washington state rep Drew Stokesbary has "introduced legislation to allow student-athletes enrolled in Washington's colleges to earn compensation," and the Legislature convenes today. House Bill 1084 "isn’t likely to pass any time soon, and Stokesbary "recognizes that." He said that his goal is to "advance the conversation about amateurism, and perhaps pressure the NCAA into changing its draconian rules." The measure would allow athletes to be "compensated by any party for their services up to the fair-market value of those services, and to retain an agent" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/12).

The NBA G League Windy City Bulls on Saturday "put a very cool spin on their jerseys by replacing the text with images of American sign language spelling out 'Bulls' as part of Deaf Awareness Night." The team will auction off the uniforms, with proceeds "going to the Illinois Association of the Deaf" (SUNTIMES.com, 1/14).

The Patriots yesterday prior to their AFC Divisional Playoff game held a moment of silence for Makenna Mebane, the daughter of Chargers DT Brandon Mebane, who died Jan. 3 at just seven weeks old (AP, 1/13).

"Have you ever seen a baseball brawl where they open up the fences and both teams come running out and then they all merge in the infield? And there’s just a lot of talking and pushing and shoving? That’s basically what happened to us on September 4" -- Former FS Detroit Tigers analyst Rod Allen, on the incident with play-by-play man Mario Impemba that essentially ended their 16-year run calling games together (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/14).

"Actually, McVay’s barista at Starbucks has had three head-coaching interviews" -- Fox' Joe Buck, on the impact Rams coach Sean McVay has had on the NFL coaching carousel (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/14).

"OU is one of those elite schools that the athletic program actually brings in positive cash to the university” -- Univ. of Oklahoma President James Gallogly, on giving a raise to OU football coach Lincoln Riley. The school has been under "financial stress and has been laying off employees" (TULSA WORLD, 1/13).

SPORTSNET.ca profiles Blue Jays prospect Vlad Guerrero Jr. under the header, "Money. Fame. Power. Hitter." The conversation around Guerrero has "always centred on skill," but he has "plenty of potential off the field as well." With the Blue Jays, it is "already understood" that he is the face of the team. If Guerrero can "maintain his buoyant energy, opportunities will come."

Also: 

• Kevin Burkhardt "continues to make a name for himself at Fox Sports."
• FS Detroit and the Tigers "need a home run" with new announcers.
• Olympic report goes "behind the scenes" of Ben Johnson's drug-test hearing.

Kyler Murray needs to make the right decision and pick football …

… based primarily on my personal entertainment value. 😃

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 14, 2019

40 years ago @CBSsports televised the Daytona 500 flag-to-flag for the first time. Huge rating, thrilling finish, propelled @Nascar into the mainstream.

Why does it feel like it just happened yesterday?

— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) January 14, 2019

Matt Kuchar just said in a live television interview: "I believe it was Jay-Z who said '40 is the new 20.'"

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) January 14, 2019

Andy Murray. "If this was my last match... amazing way to end".

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 14, 2019

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

A brief hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home. 

Some of the top news items from yesterday's edition of Weekend Rap:

• Sources: NFL coaches' contracts have work stoppage language.
• Joe Gibbs Racing President & co-Chair J.D. Gibbs dies at 49.
• Fulham's Tony Khan criticized for telling fan to "go to hell."
• Stephen Curry reveals "sneak peek" of Infiniti QX Inspiration concept.

This week's In-Depth covers spending on sports venues, with an eye toward a record year in '20. 

• Geico becomes NCAA partner, taking two categories from Allstate.
• Sports maintains dominant viewership, thanks in part to NFL resurgence.
• Wizards, Knicks making most of visit to London.

Get a jump on the big stories in this week's SBJ in the First Look podcast. To download a transcript of this week’s podcast, CLICK HERE.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Famous Doctors.”

“Not an artist himself, he inspired the surrealists but thought them ‘absolute cranks’ until he met Dali in London in 1938.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “A Simple Flick of the Wrist.”

$200: “The scoober is thrown forward at an angle in ultimate this.”
$400: “Joe Sakic’s wrist shot helped him score 625 goals in this league.”
$600: “In a fall at age 11 Shaquille O’Neal broke both wrists, a factor in his famous problems with this skill in basketball.”
$800: “Bob Feller said, ‘Unlike the curve, the snap of the wrist is late and the arm turns in only half as much’ throwing this pitch.”
$1000: “A web site for this pastime in which close does count says, ‘The release is effected by a deft … wrist-motion.’”

This morning’s edition of NBC’s “Today” featured co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb discussing their friendly wager on the Eagles-Saints game. Guthrie was rooting for the Eagles, Kotb for the Saints. Kotb: “Depending on who won the game, someone was going to have go down into the subway of New York City and put on a little show.” Guthrie noted the loser would “sing to commuters.” The Saints defeated the Eagles 20-14, so Guthrie sang to subway passengers. Guthrie: “So many people calling 9-1-1, ‘Who are these two crazy people in the subway?’” (“Today,” NBC, 1/14).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said a “gas shortage in Mexico could mean that avocados aren't delivered to the U.S. before Super Bowl Sunday. It's the first time gas will affect Mexican food, and not the other way around” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/11).'

CBS’ Stephen Colbert said of U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), “Long before Donald Trump, King was a trailblazer of harsh, xenophobic immigration policies. He was like the Jackie Robinson of thinking Jackie Robinson shouldn't be allowed to play baseball” (The Late Show,” CBS, 1/11).

Friday night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” aired the recurring segment “Tonight Show Superlatives,” where host Jimmy Fallon ribbed Colts and Chiefs players before Saturday's AFC divisional game in K.C. (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/11).

“Who was Dr. Sigmund Freud?”

Correct responses to the “A Simple Flick of the Wrist” category:

$200: “What is frisbee?”
$400: “What is the NHL?”
$600: “What is free throw shooting?”
$800: “What is a slider?”
$1000: “What are horseshoes?”