Alabama won the CFP title game last night with a decisive 52-24 result over Ohio State at Hard Rock Stadium. The "final game of a college football season in a pandemic, a season that was uncertain to be played in the summer and filled with disruptions in the fall, ended in the most predictable fashion." The celebration was "at once familiar and unique." Confetti cannons "sent a crimson and white shower into the air and the Tide players ran to the sideline to grab their championship hats and T-shirts." But this time, the "band playing the fight song was a piped in recording and when 'Sweet Home Alabama' blared, only a few thousand Tide fans were still in the building" (AP, 1/12).

Fitting the "unique nature of this season," the game featured limited attendance and social distancing. Typically a "frenetic mash of tailgating, merchandise hawkers, rowdy pregame entertainment and long lines at every entrance point and concession stand, the vibe Monday night more closely resembled a random midseason game than the biggest stage in the sport." There were about 14,900 fans in attendance, with attendees "required to socially distance and wear masks." Coach Nick Saban now has won six national championships at Alabama, seven overall (USA TODAY, 1/12).

Front-Page Headlines: MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER: "Title Wave" ... DOTHAN EAGLE: "Domination" ... Cleveland PLAIN DEALER: "Relentless Tide Drubs Buckeyes" ... COLUMBUS DISPATCH: "All Things Title Game" ... WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Alabama Captures National Title" (below the fold)

Legends has signed an agreement to receive a majority investment from Sixth Street, and the global investment firm will lead the Legends partnership group alongside co-founding entities tied to the Yankees and Cowboys. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 (Legends).

The deal is expected to value Legends at $1.3B "including debt," sources indicated. The group that founded Legends in '08 included the merchant bank of Goldman Sachs, which sold its stake in '12. The remaining owners "sold a significant minority stake to private-equity firm New Mountain Capital" in '17 in a deal that valued the company at more than $700M. In the transaction being discussed, Sixth Street reportedly "would primarily be buying the stake owned by New Mountain, with the Cowboys and Yankees remaining sizable owners" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/12).

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he will not "move forward" with the Presidential Medal of Freedom that Donald Trump planned to present to him on Thursday (ESPN.com, 1/11). Though "flattered, Belichick cited last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol and his team-first philosophies for not accepting the award, which is considered the highest civilian honor in the United States." With this move Belichick "avoids being in Washington during a week in which Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the House of Representatives will move forward with impeaching President Trump" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/12).

Read the full statement in which Belichick explains his decision.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman estimated a leaguewide revenue shortfall of at least $1B as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, "It would be cheaper for us to shut the door and not play. The magnitude of the loss starts with a ‘B.’ We’re out of the ‘M’ range and into the ‘B’ range. It’s just what we have to deal with and what clubs have decided they have to do." Bettman added that the NHL is "anticipating that further COVID-19 outbreaks among teams may impact games," and that there is "limited wiggle room to accommodate rescheduling." This comes as the Stars "already have had the first three games of their season postponed" (NEWSDAY, 1/12).

A meeting of the NBA BOG "reportedly has been scheduled" for today amid what is "already shaping up to be one of the most erratic regular seasons on record -- full of incomplete lineups and inexplicable blowouts." Already, "two-thirds of the league’s teams have had at least one player miss time due to the health and safety protocols this season, adding up to dozens in total." The NBA’s current guidelines and protocols are "thorough," but without the "shelter of a bubble, there is no set of rules that can make basketball safe" (THERINGER.com, 1/11).

Sportsbook operator PointsBet will convert a Little Caesars Arena sports bar into a branded betting lounge as part of its new sponsorship of the Red Wings, the latest development in a flurry of activity around the city’s franchises as the state readies to launch mobile sports betting this month. The deal is the third sponsorship of a Detroit team for PointsBet after it signed in July with the Tigers, who like the Red Wings are owned by Ilitch Holdings. PointsBet announced a deal with the Pistons last week. The Red Wings also have a deal in the category with BetMGM.

PointsBet expects to open the two-level, re-branded sports bar, accessible from both the street and from within the arena, later this season if fans are able to return to venues en masse. The deal also includes virtual advertising during broadcasts, with logos appearing inside the blue lines and behind the goals, permanent dasher board signs and LED signs throughout the arena, along with promotion on the team’s digital platforms and radio broadcasts.

The Sharks "will talk once again with Santa Clara County officials" today to "discuss where things stand as far as the team being able to return to San Jose at the end of the month." The Sharks play their first eight games this season on the road and are "scheduled to play their first home game" at SAP Center on Feb. 1. The Bay Area remains under a "regional stay-at-home order," and contact sports in Santa Clara County are "not allowed while the shelter order is in place." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that the Sharks "would be prepared to play its designated home games at an alternative site, 'should it come to that'" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/12).

CBS

Late-night talk show hosts riffed on the PGA of America pulling the '22 PGA Championship from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. CBS’ Stephen Colbert: “So up until now, the PGA thought Trump was fine for their brand. I guess that explains their 2016 promotional slogan, ‘The PGA: Grab 'em by the putter!’ ... That’s got to hurt. The president loves golf more than he’s loved any of his wives. It's way easier to cheat on, and you rarely end up with an accidental Eric" (“The Late Show,” CBS, 1/11). 

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel: “Things have turned very fast on Donald Trump. Trump was said to be ‘gutted’ by this. You know, usually when Trump loses a golf tournament, it’s because chicken nugget grease kept causing the club to slip out of his hands” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/11).

The Magic honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an in-game celebration during last night’s home game against the Bucks. The proceedings included a "recorded address from Markelle Fultz and messages from various Magic players about King before, during and after the game" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/12).

The F1 Australian Grand Prix scheduled for March 21 “has fallen victim to the pandemic for the second year running,” with organizers now targeting Nov. 18 for the race. The new F1 season opener is slated for Bahrain on March 28 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/12).

“I’m disappointed that not all FBS stuck together. I regret that. But I’m not the one who walked away, we’re not the ones who walked away. We all should have been more connected. The SEC didn’t walk away” -- SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, on staging this unique college football season (SI.com, 1/11).

“Legal? It was encouraged. It led ‘SportsCenter’” -- ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, after a targeting penalty against Alabama DB Jordan Battle last night, on how dangerous hits like that used to be highlight material (“Ohio State-Alabama,” ESPN, 1/11).

“A lot of people enjoyed seeing the game like this. I mean, it was way better than the time they had the Rugrats host a UFC fight” -- NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, on Nickelodeon broadcasting the Bears-Saints game (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/11).

“Meanwhile, on the NFL game on Bravo, instead of Gatorade, the players doused their head coach with a tub of cheap red wine” -- CBS’ James Corden, on playoff football on Nickelodeon (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 1/11).

The N.Y. TIMES goes with the header, "One Division, Seven Canadian Teams And A Lot of Travel." With nonessential travel restricted between the U.S. and Canada, the NHL "temporarily realigned its divisions to ensure its Canadian teams could play in their own buildings." Thus, the "new North Division was born." All seven Canadian clubs, from the Canucks to the Canadiens "more than 2,800 miles away, will play games solely against one another." Despite the "evident travel disadvantage teams in Canada will endure, the sentiment behind the concept among those set to take part has been positive."

Also:

• Spurs' Patty Mills helps "establish Indigenous Community Basketball League."
• What the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act "would mean for MMA."
• A look at President Trump's "post-riot troubles with sports."

There have been 21 CFP games. 17 have been won by Alabama, Clemson or Ohio State. Expanding the playoff, which I haven't been a fan of, will not give us more title contenders, but it might be necessary to create more excitement among fan bases currently not in the CFP.

— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) January 12, 2021

Nick Saban becomes first college football coach to earn $10 million in a season.

$9.1 million + $950,000 in bonuses.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 12, 2021

What an incredible season it has been in CFB. Players all over the country sacrificed and fought to play the game that they love. I'm so impressed with your passion, dedication, and discipline. You are the reason we love this sport so much. Well done and thank you!

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) January 12, 2021

My name is Matt Fortuna and I am one of 480 Heisman Trophy voters who did not put DeVonta Smith No. 1 on my ballot.

This is my confession.

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 12, 2021

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: NCAA Delays NIL Vote Indefinitely.

• Sixth Street Partners Nears Deal For Majority Stake In Legends
• Minneapolis Brand Finds Warm Reception On South Beach
• More NBA Postponements Spark Meeting With Union

More from SBJ Media: ESPN Brings Smaller Crew For Bama-Ohio State:

• Eminem Returning To ESPN As Part Of CFP Telecast
• NHL Officials Consulting With Teams On Game Presentation
• ViacomCBS Hits The Mark With Nickelodeon NFL Game

Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was "1960s Songs."

“The name of this title song from a 1964 movie can be translated from Spanish as 'Long Live the Meadows.'”

"What is 'Viva Las Vegas'?"

The episode marked the debut of Ken Jennings as guest host, and he began the broadcast by saying, “Sharing this stage with Alex Trebek was one of the greatest honors of my life. Not many things in life are perfect, but Alex did this job pretty much perfectly for more than 36 years, and it was even better up close. We were dazzled by his intelligence, his charm, his grace, really, there’s no other word for it. Like all ‘Jeopardy’ fans, I miss Alex very much, and I thank him for everything he did for all of us. Let’s be totally clear: no one will ever replace the great Alex Trebek, but we can honor him by playing the game he loved” ("Jeopardy," 1/11).