UFC

The UFC is revamping its apparel licensing, with Zappos signing exclusive rights to manufacture the MMA circuit’s fanwear. It will sell the apparel on its own site, as well as on parent company Amazon.com and other outlets. The early stages of a new line of fanwear will be available today on Zappos.com/UFC. Zappos' new rights are exclusive in the U.S. and non-exclusive outside America. The deal represents the replacement of Reebok, which held comprehensive UFC apparel rights since ‘15. Starting in April, UFC’s uniform rights will be held by Venum.

UFC Senior VP/Consumer Products Tracey Bleczinski said the Zappos line will begin with traditional fanwear, including fleece, T-shirts, headwear, bags, accessories and hoodies for men, women and kids. It is expected to eventually include slides (Q2) and athletic footwear (Q4). The UFC and Zappos have been talking for around a year, she said. Legends will continue to run the circuit’s UFCstore.com, and sell merchandise at UFC events when fans can return.   

The UFC deal represents Zappos initial entry into sports licensing as a manufacturer. By extension, that means Zappos/Amazon is now competing with the likes of Fanatics and other licensees that are also retailers. Both Zappos and UFC are HQed in Las Vegas. 

The Coyotes’ home opener against the Sharks last night marked the first NHL game this season with fans in attendance, and the announced crowd of 2,274 at Gila River Arena was a “bit less than the maximum amount of fans allowed for proper spacing” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/15). The current capacity is 3,450 fans, though last night’s crowd likely was the largest for an “indoor sporting event in Arizona since the pandemic hit the United States in earnest last March.” The Coyotes emphasized a “series of initiatives are in place to create a safe environment, including socially-distanced seating, paid touchless parking, sanitizer stations throughout the venue and a no-bag policy” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/15).

The Jets reached an "agreement in principle" with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be their "next head coach." Sources said that the "agreement is for five years." Saleh received "interview requests from six of the seven teams in the NFL head-coaching market." Saleh, who is Lebanese American, will join Brian Flores of the Dolphins, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team as "active minority head coaches in the league." The 49ers will "receive two third-round compensatory draft picks as part of the NFL's new hiring initiatives to incentivize an expansion of the candidate pool" (ESPN.com, 1/15).

Meanwhile, the Panthers are hiring Seahawks VP/Football Operations Scott Fitterer as the team’s new GM. He will "sign a five-year deal." Fifteen candidates "were interviewed" and there were "four finalists, whom the team met with for a second time" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/15).

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said that he "thought it was likely the team would return to play against the Magic Friday night, as long as there are no more positive tests." The Celtics have "not played since Friday because positive COVID-19 tests." Ainge said that the team would "still need to be tested before Friday’s game, so things can change" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/15).

Meanwhile, the NBA said that Saturday's Pacers-Suns game "has been postponed." Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Suns, the team does "not have the league-required eight available players to proceed with the Pacers." That brings the "leaguewide total to nine games postponed since Sunday and 10 overall this season" (ESPN.com, 1/14).

MLB Network will produce “MLB Tonight: A Conversation” on MLK Day at 7:00pm ET. The one-hour show will feature Harold Reynolds, who will interview Cardinals P Jack Flaherty, former manager Cito Gaston, Negro Leagues historian Larry Lester and noted baseball fan and hip hop star Chuck D. Conversations will focus on the life of Martin Luther King Jr., personal stories of racial injustice and systemic racism. This marks the third time MLB Network has produced “MLB Tonight: A Conversation.” The first two came last year around Juneteenth and after the launch of The Players Alliance.

USADA and the UFC have "essentially" struck marijuana as a "punishable offense in its anti-doping policy." Beginning retroactively Jan. 1, a "positive drug test for carboxy-THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, will no longer be considered a violation -- unless USADA is able to prove that an athlete intentionally used it for performance-enhancing purposes." UFC Senior VP/Athlete Health & Performance Jeff Novitzky said the MMA outfit and USADA "wanted to make the change because there's no scientific correlation between levels of THC being in urine or blood samples and actual impairment." However, while USADA will "no longer be stringent on positive marijuana tests, most athletic commissions that oversee UFC events still can be" (ESPN.com, 1/15).

Japanese cabinet minister Taro Kono has said that “‘anything can happen’ in regard to the postponed Tokyo Olympics, raising more doubts about the games scheduled to begin in just over six months.” Kono “opened the door to a possible cancellation” and gave “more credence to recent poll results that show about 80% in Japan think the Olympics shouldn’t happen, or will not happen.” His comments “contradict the official government position and that of the local organizing committee.” Tokyo organizers in a statement “did not address Kono’s comments but said that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga ‘expressed his determination to hold the games’” (AP, 1/15).

UFC President Dana White said that the promotion is producing a documentary “on how it navigated the early days of the pandemic ... and it takes aim on the media he claims ‘tried to get us shut down’” (AP, 1/15).

The Pirates are meeting with Allegheny Health Network and Highmark to learn "how to transform" PNC Park into a vaccination distribution site (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/15).

Kia, the NBA’s official automotive sponsor, is “dumping ‘Motors’ from its corporate name as part of a global brand relaunch” (AUTONEWS.com, 1/14).

“We want a team that brings championships to this city. That’s what this is all about. It’s not about selling more T-shirts” -- CF Montreal President Kevin Gilmore, on the MLS club rebranding away from its long-held Impact nickname (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 1/15).

“No one wants to be that guy that doesn’t follow the rules and starts spreading it throughout the locker room” -- Wild G Cam Talbot, on he and teammates taking the NHL’s safety protocols seriously (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/15).

“It’s definitely been a challenge and it certainly doesn’t help when you’re on the road and they’re pumping in crowd noise" -- Heat F Duncan Robinson, on playing without fans in the arena (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 1/15).

"It’s definitely not ideal but, given the circumstances, it’s nice playing in our building where the music is rocking. It’s still going to be a better atmosphere than is going to be pretty much at every other rink that doesn’t have fans" -- Golden Knights LW Max Pacioretty, on the atmosphere inside T-Mobile Arena (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/15).

The N.Y. TIMES goes with the header, "Can’t Measure Heart? NFL Teams Are Trying." In the NFL, scouts, talent evaluators, coaches and GMs "spend tens of thousands of hours every year in a quest to identify which players are best at these fundamental skills." Despite all the "complexities and intricate strategy of a modern pro football season, some of the most imperative evaluations still border on the rudimentary." Teams are "increasingly using tech help to recognize and verify those unique qualities." But it "doesn’t always work as intended."

Also:

• Welcome to the "next golden age of Chicago sports broadcasting."
• Without fans, the Senators are "staring at an even deeper collapse in revenues."
• Character is the "main challenge" for the Nets’ new big three.

Credit to Joe Douglas for an open mind in both the search and HC hiring process.

Douglas had never met Saleh before Saleh’s Zoom interview Friday.

Didn’t matter. Past relationships & resume crossovers didn’t matter.

A meritocracy. Best candidate—not buddy—won. @gmfb @nyjets

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 15, 2021

Coach became a great friend the last two years. Coach is also one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around and by far the greatest Leader I know! @CoachUrbanMeyer I’ll miss you brother. Best of Luck! @Jaguars

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) January 15, 2021

The league did a great job identifying new sources of corporate inventory this year. The virtual in-ice signage is new this year and produced for every club/RSN by SMT, a company based out of Durham. Looks like it could be permanent in-ice branding with how seamless they made it. https://t.co/wFoANPFRuA

— Mike Forman (@MForman5) January 15, 2021

Went to bed early cuz I didn’t sleep much my entire work week.(Lindor, Carrasco,Harden,NHL starts) wake up & #Jets hired Robert Saleh & #Yankees do deal w DJ LaMahieu. And now I’m off today & I’m stressed because I can’t cover& talk about these stories. Vicious circle. 🤦🏻‍♀️🏈⚾️🏀🏒

— Tina Cervasio (@TinaCervasio) January 15, 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: NBA Postponements Continue Amid Tightened Protocols.

• Raiders' Mark Davis Acquires WNBA Aces From MGM Resorts
• MarketCast Poll: Execs Bullish On Sports Betting In 2021
• Venuetize Inks Deal With NFL On Mobile Ticketing

More from SBJ College: Gene Smith OK With NIL Pause.

• Gene Smith On NIL: “We Will Pass This Legislation”
• SEC On CBS In Line With Recent Seasons Despite Pandemic
• Barry Alvarez Hanging Around Madison At Least One More Year

More from SBJ Football: Super Bowl Hospitality Continues To Shrink.

• More Super Bowl Plans Shrink As Virus Situation Worsens
• Jags Back To Drawing Board With Lot J Development
• Super Bowl Gets Autograph Help From Emmanuel Sanders' Venture

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Children’s Books.”

“This 1969 book was first printed in Japan because no U.S. company would then make a book with so many holes in the pages.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “The Best of Times.”

$200: “In 2014 Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto ran one of these in two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds.”
$400: “Monarchos in 2001 and this horse in 1973, still the record holder, are the only horses to run the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes.”
$600: “Hicham El Guerrouj holds the world records in the mile and this metric track distance that’s just a bit shorter.”
$800: “Rohan Dennis holds the time-trial speed record for this European event, averaging better than 34 mph in 2015.”

$1000: “In 2016 this American swimmer set an Olympic record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.” 

Actor Anthony Mackie told host Jimmy Fallon about being a big Saints fan as well as being a “very superstitious” fan. Mackie: “I have my collective jerseys in order of strength, like the strongest being my 12-year-old jersey, the weakest being my one-year-old Jersey, and so on and so forth as every other year I get a jersey. I have my slippers, my socks, my sweatshirt if I really need like a strong pull, so I'm very superstitious.” Mackie said of the Saints playing the Buccaneers this weekend, “I hate Tom Brady, man, I hated him when he was with New England. Tom Brady is one of those people I know I’m going to love him so much that I hate him so I can never meet him because I just want the hang out with him and hug him and like comb his hair and cook him dinner" (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/14). 

"What is 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'?"

Correct responses to the “The Best of Times” category:

$200: “What is a marathon?”
$400: “Who was Secretariat?”
$600: “What is 1500-meters?”
$800: “What is the Tour de France?”
$1000: “Who is Katie Ledecky?”

Freelance sportswriter Brett Moore was a contestant on last night’s episode who finished in third place. During the interview segment, Moore said he has a “really weird memory for baseball stats and history and players, and I showed a friend just a little game my wife developed for road trips where we kind of play ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ using baseball players who had played with each other, and my friend had a theater and said, ‘That is incredible and you must turn it into a show. I'm directing it. Get to work.’” Moore said it was "something a lot of people hadn't seen before and we were hoping to take it on tour when theaters reopen” (“Jeopardy,” 1/14).