Numerous news outlets are reporting WNBA Atlanta Dream co-Owner Kelly Loeffler “has lost her U.S. Senate runoff race in Georgia to Raphael Warnock, a Democratic candidate who was strongly endorsed by the WNBA's players.” The players' support of Warnock over Loeffler was “one of the major stories of this past season” and has been credited in “raising Warnock's profile.” Loeffler, who has “criticized the league's support” of the Black Lives Matter movement, joined the Dream’s ownership in '11 but is “not involved in the daily operations of the team.” She stepped down from her seat on the WNBA BOG in '19 (ESPN.com, 1/6).

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel noted Loeffler's stake in the Dream and said, “This is a picture that the players on the team all posed wearing ‘Vote Warnock’ shirts, her opponent: 'Nothing personal, boss, we just don’t like you'” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/5).

Patriots Dir of Player Personnel Nick Caserio "has agreed to a deal" to become the Texans' new GM. Caserio’s hiring "completes an objective that began two years ago when the Texans attempted to interview him" after they fired former GM Brian Gaine and were "briefly facing tampering charges that were withdrawn when they agreed to stop the pursuit." Under his two-year contract extension and "new NFL rules, Caserio was allowed to interview this time" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/6).

Former NFL QB and coach Tom Flores is up for induction in the Pro Football HOF, and Coors Light is "wading into the selection process with a new 30-second TV commercial, cut in both English- and Spanish-language versions, starring Flores." The ad "questions why the football great has been snubbed by the Hall for so long." Coors Light also will launch a "microsite where fans can petition" for Flores’ induction and sign up for free beer. The HOF advocacy campaign, which Coors Light "believes is a first for any brand, was the brainchild of creative shop Alma DDB; PR strategy is being handled by ICF Next." Leading up to the '21 induction ceremony, Flores’ likeness will "grace limited-edition cans of Coors Light that are available only in Las Vegas" (ADAGE.com, 1/6).

The PGA Tour has signed Whoop as an official marketing partner, a deal that makes the company the official fitness wearable of the Tour and the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Boston-based Whoop also will be a sponsor of PGA Tour Active, the Tour’s new digital health, fitness and lifestyle initiative. Financial terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed. The fitness wearable designation is a new sponsorship category for the Tour. Other activation includes the creation of a new Whoop Live Charity program that highlights real-time player biometric data during the upcoming golf season. Featured players will receive a $10,000 contribution to the charity of their choice on behalf of Whoop and the Tour. Noble People is the agency of record for Whoop.

The deal comes after the Tour last summer distributed 1,000 Whoop health monitoring bands to players, caddies and other essential personnel at PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Champions events. Whoop’s deal with the Tour also comes after the company last October closed on $100M in Series E financing. Pro athletes investing include Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Nets F Kevin Durant, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, former NFLer Eli Manning and golfers Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.

Read more about how Whoop has quickly grown into a go-to for athletes, leagues and schools.

Panini has signed David Beckham to an exclusive global deal for autographed memorabilia and trading cards. Panini’s first product with the Inter Miami co-Owner will be autographed cards within the company’s "Immaculate Soccer Collection" being released Friday for around $2000 per box. Beckham is being designated a global brand ambassador and will be featured on Panini packaging. He also will participate in social media and other marketing campaigns around marquee soccer events. Beginning later this year, Panini America will be the exclusive home for Beckham’s autographed memorabilia, including soccer balls, jerseys and photos. Panini has exclusive trading-card rights with the EPL, NBA, and NFL.

Panini

The Taste of the NFL charity food event "will not take place in person during Super Bowl LV week in Tampa," but instead will become "Taste of the NFL@Home." It will take place on Super Bowl Sunday with celebrity chefs like Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall and Tim Love "preparing game day tailgate eats live from a stage outside Raymond James Stadium." Tickets go on sale today for the livestreamed event, which "promises appearances by players and celebrities, and will benefit GENYOUth, a charity that fights food insecurity in schools." The $100 price includes access to recipes, and the "first 5,000 ticket purchasers will also receive a free goodie box from Pepsi and Frito Lay" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/5).

The Rams and sponsor Pechanga Resort Casino are raising the stakes for their free-to-play Pick 'Em game ahead of the team's return to the playoffs, offering up to $1.65M in cash, Rams season tickets and tickets to Super Bowl LVI in '22 as prizes. The Rams have been running free games as a way of building the runway toward legalized gambling in California since '19, but the regular-season prizes have been relatively modest. The playoff competition will require fans to make in-game predictions for outcomes like total passing yards, result of the opening drive or statistical leaders in certain categories, and a perfect score is required for the cash prizes. The top 10 finishers can qualify for the tickets, tours and other prizes.

The news that no charges will be filed against the police officer who shot Jacob Blake -- a Black man who was then left partly paralyzed after the August incident in Kenosha, Wis. -- drew strong reactions in NBA circles. LeBron James said, “To hear what happened in Kenosha today was a blow to the heart and to the gut. ... It’s a blow to our community once again.” Lakers teammate Anthony Davis: “It sucks. We as a community tried to support the family and do everything we can to get justice for him.” Lakers F Wesley Matthews said the ruling was “truly disheartening, especially with all the work everybody had put in.” The Bucks released a statement on Tuesday, saying the organization “remains firmly against excessive use of force by law enforcement” (USA TODAY, 1/6).

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine “ruled out loosening” the current 10:00pm ET statewide curfew for the Browns’ Wild Card game on Sunday and Ohio State’s CFP title game on Monday, “saying the coronavirus crisis is still too severe to allow such a move” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/5).

Confluent Health agreed to a multiyear, multi-school relationship with Learfield IMG College spanning 13 universities and seven states. This builds upon the health services brand's preexisting individual sponsorship agreements with Learfield IMG College at two schools: North Carolina and Evansville (Learfield IMG College).

San Diego County Credit Union's naming rights for the Chargers' former stadium ended Jan. 1, after SDCCU held them the "past four years." The facility is "in the midst of demolition" and will "go out the way it came in," as San Diego Stadium, its original name when it debuted in '67 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/6).

“I have great sympathy for whoever gets it and misses football games, but I think the NFL made it clear: Here are the rules, know the rules and you have to live with that. Every team knew that … (and) the NFL is not going to make tremendous adjustments, especially during the playoffs” -- Showtime’s Phil Simms, on NFL playoff teams dealing with COVID-19 issues (“Inside the NFL,” Showtime, 1/5).

“All 67 games in the men’s March Madness basketball tournament will be played in Indiana, in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. And it might work, because what are you going to do after the game, go out?” -- NBC's Seth Meyers (“Late Night,” NBC, 1/5).

“Baseball did in one day what we’ve been trying to do as an institution for almost 30 years. It is always the right time to do the right thing, and Commissioner Manfred did the right thing. Others had the opportunity to do this and didn’t” -- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Dir Bob Kendrick, on MLB recognizing stats from the Negro Leagues (WASHINGTON POST, 1/5).

SI.com goes with the header, "It's Time To Change The Model When It Comes To GM Candidates." There are "traditionally three backgrounds from which NFL general managers have been hired, with one of those backgrounds vastly more common than the others." Surprisingly, the resumes of general managers are "strikingly similar today to what they were 10, 20 and 30 years ago." But the ideal GM "should have skills far beyond those of coaching, player evaluation or cap management." The true role of an NFL GM is that of a "leader, a consensus builder and a master communicator, both internally and externally."

Also:

• Reflections after "watching 28 games in Edmonton’s world juniors bubble."
• The Blackhawks’ "historic hiring of Jaime Faulkner is just the beginning."
• WNBA's Angel McCoughtry "sets her sights on expanding the women’s game."

During this crisis impacting the sports business, we want everyone to be up-to-date on the latest news and information. Here are the top headlines from last night's SBJ Unpacks: CFP Leaders Nix Title Game Postponement Talk.

• MLS Won't Ask Players To Take Another Pay Cut
• NFL COVID-19 Cases Are Rising As Playoffs Begin
• NFL Has 24 League Sponsors Activating Against Playoffs

More from SBJ College: CLC, Game Plan Team Up For NIL Infrastructure:

• Reports Of CFP Championship Delay Refuted By Hancock
• CFP Semifinal TV Viewership Relatively Flat
• Duke's Mayo Scores Big With Trophy Mishap

More from SBJ Marketing: Which Pandemic Experiments Will Stick Around?

• Legends Only League Looks To Test Different Models
• Where Does A Challenger Brand Like Legends Only Go Next?
• NFL Has 24 League Sponsors Activating Against Playoffs

At the World Hockey Juniors in Canada, the 50/50 raffle just closed at an all-time record $17,492,525, which means that one resident of Alberta, Canada will be taking home $8,746,263 (US Dollars: $6,902,774)

And no, unlike the US, you don’t have to pay taxes on lottery winnings!

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 6, 2021

I don’t make many promises. Shit happens. Life changes. But here’s one — I will never do a reverse mortgage commercial. I promise. Never.

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) January 6, 2021

Finished calling a game from my home at 1030. Everyone asleep so I wandered downstairs, hungry. Too lazy to make anything so just eating hunks of bread and cheese while drinking wine. I imagine this is what the 16th century was like, except for the calling a game from home part.

— Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) January 6, 2021

For those asking, I can confirm Adam Scott is still on staff with Titleist for his gear. Uniqlo hat is the only change. https://t.co/Z4iYQnE0IR

— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) January 5, 2021

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was "State Name Origins."

"The names of these 2 states honor a king & his father, who was executed in 1649."

"What is North Carolina & South Carolina?"