The NBA got a "record-setting scoring explosion in a forgettable blowout that unexpectedly ended with a wave of boos"Getty Images

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game was "a record-setting affair," as the Eastern Conference took down the Western Conference, 211-186, last night in Indianapolis and the East became the first team to ever reach the 200-point mark in the All-Star Game. It was also a return to the game's classic format, as the East faced the West and the Elam Ending was "scrapped in favor of a traditional 48-minute game." Neither change "did anything to affect the intensity of the game," as it was "once again a total shootout with basically no defense." Bucks G Damian Lillard was named the game's MVP with 39 points, edging out Celtics F Jaylen Brown (36 points) and Pacers G Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 32. Pacers fans in the building "had their star's back and showered Lillard with boos during the trophy ceremony." Once again, the game "was a dud, made notable only by how many points the two teams were able to rack up while not playing any defense." The "problem for the NBA is the players don't care to try any harder," and "until that changes, nothing else matters" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/18).

The 73rd All-Star Game "looked exactly like last year's lackluster performance" in Salt Lake City, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's annoyance at what took place was clearly on display. Silver said flatly after the game, "And to the Eastern Conference All-Stars, you scored the most points. Well ... congratulations." It was "a fitting end to an evening that did nothing to stop the discussions over what the future of the NBA's marquee midseason event should look like moving forward." Ultimately, the game "left things in the exact same place they were in a year ago" (ESPN.com, 2/18).

The NBA had hoped for a "more intense and competitive All-Star Game," but instead got a "record-setting scoring explosion in a forgettable blowout that unexpectedly ended with a wave of boos." The NBA spent months making a "concerted effort to put on a more compelling show after the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City was panned for its lack of intensity." The league even "trimmed down the pregame festivities by introducing the players on the court rather than on an elaborate stage and featured Jennifer Hudson in a simpler halftime act." But the "thoughtful structural changes didn’t produce a better balance between offense and defense" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/19).

More on the NBA All-Star Game:

• THE ATHLETIC: "High scoring NBA All-Star Game raises competitiveness concerns once again."
• ESPN.com: "NBA again left seeking solutions after uncompetitive All-Star Game."
• CBSSPORTS.com: "NBA's All-Star Game has become unwatchable, and it also might be unfixable."
• BOSTON GLOBE: "NBA commissioner Adam Silver wanted to restore luster to All-Star Game, but talk of that was just a long shot."
• L.A. TIMES: "Players know the NBA All-Star Game might be too broken to fix."

The 79,690 fans at MetLife Stadium made up the third biggest crowd for an NHL outdoor game Getty Images

The Rangers rallied from three goals down for a 6-5 OT victory over the Islanders in front of 79,690 fans in the second and final game of the NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium yesterday. The fans -- "approximately two-thirds rooting for the Rangers" -- "filled the football facility on a sunny Sunday afternoon that morphed into a shadowy early evening," with temperatures starting at 41 degrees before dipping (NEWSDAY, 2/18).

It was the third biggest crowd for an NHL outdoor game and "a little more than 9,000 higher" than the attendance of the Devils' 6-3 win over the Flyers the previous night at MetLife. Rangers players arrived at the stadium "wearing NYPD and FDNY hockey jerseys," while the Islanders "were in suits and ties." The start of the game was then "delayed about 45 minutes to allow for the shining sun to move off the ice" (AP, 2/18).

The fans "filled the Stadium with a Wall of Sound that would have made Phil Spector proud" after Rangers LW Artemi Panarin scored the game-winner in OT. After the game, Panarin said, "I had to hold back tears just because it was that much of a spectacle." Panarin: "I have to say the atmosphere was electric and it was something I couldn’t compare anything else to." These outdoor games "have become the NHL’s signature events." This was the league’s 41st "foray into the elements and one of its most memorable" (N.Y. POST, 2/18).

The Islanders and UBS Arena will be the hosts of the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend, marking the first time the franchise has hosted the event since 1983. Word came "during a live interview on ABC with Islanders greats" Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin during the first intermission of Sunday’s Stadium Series. The event will be "a major milestone for the building and franchise." The 2026 All-Star Game "will be the next one played because there will not be one next season" as the league pauses for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. The 2026 game at UBS will "serve as a lead-in" to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics (NEWSDAY, 2/18).

Technically, NASCAR does not need a deal with a majority or unanimous number of teams to have a new charter agreementgetty images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Race Team Alliance invited NASCAR to a group meeting on Saturday in Daytona to discuss the charter system negotiations, but NASCAR declined, citing its ongoing process of meeting with owners individually, according to people familiar with the matter. Team executives still met yesterday despite NASCAR declining to attend, according to some of the people familiar with the matter. Meanwhile, the AP is reporting that NASCAR teams have hired Jeffrey Kessler, partner and co-executive chair of Winston & Strawn LLP and one of the country’s top antitrust and sports lawyers, to advise them in their ongoing dispute.

The disagreement in meeting format is the latest indication that the sides remain far apart from a deal to collectively strike a new agreement that would begin in 2025. Technically, NASCAR does not need a deal with a majority or unanimous number of teams to have a new charter agreement; teams are independent contractors who don’t own NASCAR.

However, the sport has been moving in certain ways toward operating more like a traditional stick-and-ball league, and the original charter system did grant them some governing rights, including getting quarterly Team Owner Council sessions with NASCAR. NASCAR continues to attend those. At least for the moment, teams are currently sticking together, with the suggestion being that the sanctioning body needs to strike a joint deal agreeable to all of them in order to move forward in good faith as an industry.

There are 15 teams in the RTA, and principals from all 15 of those organizations were in attendance at the meeting, a source said. The specific deal points they wished to discuss were unclear, though. But broadly, at least some of the teams don’t feel NASCAR’s offer has been good enough in the total sum of incremental media revenue gains that they will get along with more ancillary things like gambling revenue.

Like many sports, media revenue is by far NASCAR’s most lucrative stream of money. By the end of this year, Fox Sports and NBC Sports will have paid NASCAR and its industry $8.2B from 2015 through 2024, and the sanctioning body has another $7.7B now slated to come in from 2025 through 2031 with an expanded set of media companies.

Along with the new media cycle that will begin in 2025, NASCAR wants to move into a new era of its business entirely with changes like having a more unified digital media ecosystem across teams and paying drivers directly to promote the sport away from the track.

While it’s not a certainty, most team and NASCAR executives currently remain confident that a deal will likely be struck in time for next year’s Daytona 500. But at this stage, a deal appears to be months off as frustrations rise, sources have said in recent weeks.

The original charter system agreement was for nine years from 2016 through 2024.

Rain fell "all day Sunday" in Daytona and forced race officials to postpone the Daytona 500 until 4pm ET today, which "will set up the first Daytona Monday doubleheader" -- with the Xfinity Series race scheduled to get underway at 11am. Television broadcast assignments "have not changed, as Fox will carry the Daytona 500 and FS1 will air the Xfinity race. For ticketholders who are not able to stay for the race now, NASCAR's Weather Protection Program "allows fans to exchange their ticket for another race at a designated track this season or for the 2025 Daytona 500" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/18).

Today "will likely be a better day for racing," weather officials said, as "by the afternoon there will be a less than 20% chance of rain falling." By the time the Daytona 500 starts, "much of the rain will have moved offshore." Temperatures are "expected to reach a high of 62 degrees" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/18).

Artist Pitbull was "supposed to perform the pre-Daytona 500 concert" before the race, but he "couldn't stay" following the delay. DJ Khaled (the race’s honorary starter) and Miss America 2024 Madison Marsh (the honorary pace-car driver) "couldn’t stick around, either." However, grand marshal Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson "will remain in town and fulfill his role" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/18).

Reports of the CFP agreeing to or having concluded an extension of the media rights deal with ESPN were described as "incorrect"Getty Images

The College Football Playoff says it "has not agreed to a new television contract" as had been reported last week, according to at least one member of the CFP Management Committee. In a memo sent to his league administrators, MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher described reports of the CFP agreeing to or having concluded an extension of the media rights deal with ESPN as "incorrect." In fact, Steinbrecher told administrators that commissioners and their corresponding presidents on the CFP Board of Managers "have not reviewed a draft of a potential new deal." While the CFP "continues to work toward an extension" with ESPN, "no deal can be formally agreed to or signed because of a litany of unresolved matters related to the long-term structure of the playoff," according to multiple commissioners (YAHOO SPORTS, 2/18).

Beats selected Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, Inter Miami, LAFC, Nashville SC, NYCFC, St. Louis City SC and Toronto FCBeats/MLS

Apple-owned consumer audio brand Beats by Dr. Dre will produce custom headphones for players on eight MLS clubs this season as part of a new global marketing partnership with the league. Financial terms of the four-year deal were not disclosed, but both parties confirmed it is additive on top of the league’s 10-year, $2.5B media partnership with Apple. The agreement makes Beats the league’s official consumer audio products partner, a designation previously held by JLab Audio.  

Beats selected eight clubs -- Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, Inter Miami, LAFC, Nashville SC, NYCFC, St. Louis City SC and Toronto FC -- to provide with hand-painted headphones in 2024. Other clubs will follow throughout the partnership. Beats CMO Chris Thorne said that the brand has recently increased its efforts in the soccer space, including through a partnership with Manchester City F Erling Haaland, to resonate with the sport’s younger fan base. 

“What we love is so many of the fans appear to be the Gen Z youthful audience that Beats has forever resonated with since we started,” Thorne said. “A huge focus for us the past few years has been how do we continue to stay youthful, creating great products that audience loves and then how do we connect with them.” 

RELATED: MLS Season Preview: The Messi Effect

MLS Exec VP/Apple Partnership, Properties, & Events Camilo Durana said the partnership with Beats is a natural extension of some of the initiatives the two companies have engaged in already around Apple Music, such as themed playlists. He believes highlighting the connection between soccer and music will deepen fans’ connection with their favorite players and teams. 

“By allowing our players to wear Beats on the field as they warm up for games and go through their routines, we can start to think big and connect the dots between that visual, share player playlists with fans, further tell their stories of where they're from and why they're choosing certain music,” Camilo said. 

RELATED: SBJ Q&A: MLS Commissioner Don Garber

Beats also plans to announce partnerships with several MLS players this year. Thorne wouldn’t disclose whether that group will include Lionel Messi, but he noted that the brand received a massive amount of attention last season when it helped the Inter Miami star gift his new teammates custom Beats headphones.

“I had more requests for that headphone than any other that we’ve made,” Thorne said.

RELATED: The Half-Century Club: Three MLS clubs mark milestone

The Penguins yesterday raised former RW Jaromír Jágr's No. 68 to the rafters at PPG Paints Arena, making him "the third player in franchise history to have his jersey retired." A banner with his jersey number "joined Mario Lemieux's and the late Michel Briere's." Lemieux was also present for the ceremony, his "first public appearance at the arena since selling the team." Jágr was also "joined by dozens of teammates" from when he won two Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins. During Jágr's 12-minute speech, "multiple video montages highlighted his most memorable moments" with the Penguins. Jágr also "took the ice for the Penguins' pregame warmup." Members of the current squad like Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and many others "donned familiar mullet wigs" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/18).

Meanwhile in the land of college basketball, Baylor retired Brittney Griner's No. 42 jersey during yesterday's game against Texas Tech at Foster Pavilion. Griner "generated rousing, appreciative cheers before, during and after the game," as "thousands of fans proudly wore" their No. 42 shirts. They "serenaded her with loud and proud applause" when the banner with her No. 42 was unveiled (WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 2/18).

The first full-squad spring training workout for the Red Sox will be "preceded by ownership’s annual meeting" with players, coaches, and staff members today. Principal owner John Henry, Chair Tom Werner and CEO Sam Kennedy will be on hand. Asked if any of the trio "would take questions from reporters," Red Sox Chief Communications Officer Zineb Curran said "their plans in relation to the media had not been set" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/18).

Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy is "recovering from heart surgery." Shaughnessy is "resting and healing at home" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/18).

"This is, what -- tinfoil hat, right -- a little conspiracy theory. But maybe they altered the color a little bit so you wouldn’t wear last year’s pants or last year’s jerseys. So if you wore last year’s jerseys or pants you could tell, and then Nike wouldn’t like it" -- Reds P Nick Martinez, on how this year's Nike uniforms have "slightly different hues of team colors" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/17).

"I can't say I feel good about anything related to the structure because there isn't one. I guess you could say by default, the market has filled the void created by the lack of forward thinking in this space. It's created the most chaotic and disruptive environment in the history of college athletics, period. That is indisputable" -- Univ. of Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione, on the landscape of NIL in college sports (OKLAHOMAN, 2/18).

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER goes with the header, "Kristen Lappas grew up on Villanova basketball. It helped her make a film about Giannis Antetokounmpo." Kristen Lappas "missed a week of elementary school every year to sit behind the bench" at the Big East Tournament. And when your dad is the coach at Villanova, you "get to fly with the Wildcats to Hawaii." It was "impossible to know" then that those trips were "laying the foundation for a Hollywood career." Lappas is the director of a newly released documentary about Antetokounmpo. Her grandfather’s own story of emigrating from Greece -- and her love of basketball -- brought about "a connection with Antetokounmpo," whose family emigrated from Nigeria to Greece. She met him in 2019 when ESPN sent her to Athens for a story. Lappas "stayed in touch" with Antetokounmpo, which "proved vital" when she landed in 2022 with Words and Pictures. The production company wanted to make a movie about "The Greek Freak," and Lappas "was the perfect person for it."

Also:

• How a broadcaster undercut a great moment for a WNBA superstar.

TUESDAY

• Caesars Entertainment will release its quarterly earnings.

WEDNESDAY

• Churchill Downs will release its quarterly earnings.

THURSDAY

• Live Nation will release its quarterly earnings.

FRIDAY

• Leaders in Sport will host the GBA International Business Summit, co-hosted by Realeague, Lanxiong Sports and Macau Pass, at Galaxy International Convention Center in Macau. Speakers will include Nets owner Joe Tsai, Basketball HOFer and Li-Ning Chief Product Officer Dwayne Wade and many more. See the agenda here.
• Warner Bros. Discovery will release its quarterly earnings.
• Gray Television will release its quarterly earnings.
• The E.W. Scripps Company will release its quarterly earnings.

Have an event we should feature? Send an email to malongi@sportsbusinessjournal.com.

10 million unique viewers in the U.S. watched State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on TNT, truTV and B/R Sports on Max, up 54% vs. last year. It is the most-watched NBA All-Star Saturday Night in four years. pic.twitter.com/s91qMqBHy3

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 18, 2024

"A 1955 play review noted 'restless Delta folk' and 'lives as uncomfortable & insecure as the proverbial' this title."

"What is 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'?"