Five children from Opening Ceremony made a cameo and opened up a present to reveal a snow globeGETTY IMAGES

The Pyeongchang Games "came to a conclusion with a rousing, rocking" Closing Ceremony. The last 15 minutes of the ceremony were "simply listed as an electronic dance music party" featuring DJs Raiden and Martin Garrix. The athletes "streamed out of the stands onto the floor and many of them danced." U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn "led a conga line." The dance party was a "fun and unregimented way to end things." Meanwhile, the five children who starred at the Opening Ceremony also "turned up for a cameo." They "opened up a giant present that revealed a snow globe." Sports scenes were "projected, an advertisement for the IOC's Olympics Channel." Skaters also "scooted around the stage leaving luminescent trails that formed patterns, and eventually the logo" of the '22 Beijing Games. Also at the Closing Ceremony was the parade of flags, which included each nation except for Russia, whose flag has been "banner non grata at the Games" (NYTIMES.com, 2/25). The crowd for the Closing Ceremony about an hour from the start began "filling the stadium" and it seemed a "much more festive mood" than at the Opening Ceremony (LATIMES.com, 2/25).

IOC President Thomas Bach ahead of today's Closing Ceremony praised the Pyeongchang Games as "successful." Bach "lauded great organization and competition facilities for the first Winter Olympics to take place in South Korea." The Games were also "highlighted by the presence of North Korean athletes for the first time in an Olympic Games held south of the border." Bach said having players from the two Koreas together on the same team in women's hockey was "a strong message that transcends sports and the Olympic Games." Bach: "We hope now the political world will use this momentum for a dialogue on their level because now it is up to the politicians. Sport and the IOC have done what we could do" (YONHAP NEWS, 2/25).

POCOG said that South Korea's first Winter Games were "financially successful, breaking the conception that major international competitions end with high levels of debt." POCOG President Lee Hee-beom said, "There's no reason to post a deficit." He added, "We have [U.S.$27.9M] won of reserve funds, which we still haven't used even half of. On top of that, sales from souvenirs also remained strong. ... There's no reason for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to close in debt" (YONHAP NEWS, 2/25).

CBS this morning launched its OTT service devoted to sports news, seven months after it first detailed such plans. Dubbed CBS Sports HQ, the 24-hour service is available at no cost to people via connected devices or mobile services. CBS modeled the service after its OTT news service, which launched in November ’14 and logged 287 million streams last year, up 17% from '16. “CBS has had a clear and effective strategy for over-the-top programming,” CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus told THE DAILY, referencing CBS All Access, CBSN and Showtime’s streaming service. “This is a continuation of what already has been successful for CBS.”

CBS Sports HQ will feature news, highlights and analysis. The service, which is set up as a co-production between CBS Sports and CBS Interactive, has hired on-air talent that will be dedicated to the OTT service exclusively. But CBS said the new service also will use some current CBS Sports announcers and reporters. The net stressed that all coverage will be complementary to CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network, meaning that it will not simulcast any of those shows, at least not initially.

The service will have the look and feel of a CBS Sports channel, with similar looking graphics and logos. It has a different strategy from other OTT sports offerings, like the upcoming ESPN+, because it will not carry events. McManus said it also will focus more on news and analysis and less on opinion. McManus: “CBS Sports HQ will not be an event-oriented product. We feel like the market and appetite is ready for a direct-to-consumer service that is just news, highlights and analysis." CBS Sports HQ will be available on the CBS Sports app, which is on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. It also is available via iOS and Android.

NCAA President Mark Emmert on Friday issued a statement on "potential rules violations" committed by 20 D-I basketball programs and more than 25 players detailed in a Yahoo Sports report. Emmert said, “These allegations, if true, point to systematic failures that must be fixed and fixed now if we want college sports in America. Simply put, people who engage in this kind of behavior have no place in college sports" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/23). Emmert said, "Nobody was shocked that these things occurred. The magnitude of them, I think, is surprising to a lot of folks" ("Inside College Basketball," CBS, 2/24). The Yahoo Sports and ESPN reports on the potential violations were the "most significant revelation to date from an ongoing FBI probe into corruption in college basketball" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/24).

Arizona men's basketball coach Sean Miller yesterday said he "will be vindicated" after reports surfaced that the FBI "intercepted telephone conversations where he talked about paying $100,000 to ensure" C DeAndre Ayton signed with the team. Associate head coach Lorenzo Romar last night "took over coaching duties as Arizona faced Oregon." The school and Miller had "agreed on the decision that he would not coach Saturday's game" (AZCENTRAL.com, 2/24). Miller "addressed his team" late yesterday morning and Ayton was "not made available to the media after" the game (ESPN.com, 2/25). The Arizona Board of Regents yesterday met in an emergency executive session to "receive legal advice regarding the issue and plans to reconvene for updates and legal advice in the coming days" (ESPN.com, 2/24).

The Mavericks "intend to hire" former AT&T Senior VP/HR Cynthia Marshall in a "capacity that will help lead the revitalization of the franchise," according to sources. Marshall also "took on the additional role" of AT&T Chief Diversity Officer in '15. It is "believed Marshall's title will be interim executive chairwoman, but the key is that she will run all non-basketball operations." Hiring Marshall would "send a strong message to both investigators and the NBA" that Mavs Owner Mark Cuban is "serious about fixing the problems that may still exist in a front office that has been rocked" by the workplace conduct and sexual harassment scandal last week (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/24).

Former President Obama on Friday attended the 12th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, but if "you were not an attendee at the event, don’t expect to hear much" about what Obama shared as there were "strict rules in place that extended beyond barring the media from divulging Obama’s insights." During Obama’s panel, "photography; video recording; streaming; and social media posting" was not permitted -- "without exception,” according to a warning from conference officials. The notice said, “Those who fail to adhere to this policy will be subject to removal from the conference and denied tickets to future SSAC conferences.” Conference co-Chair Jessica Gelman said that this year’s conference has "more than 3,500 people from more than 35 countries representing some 600 organizations and 200 universities" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/24). Reporters were "granted media credentials weeks ago, only to be slapped with the journalistic equivalent of a gag order just 24 hours before the conference" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/24).

One or two people here in line to see Obama. Eat your heart out, Hall H at Comic-Con. #SSAC18 pic.twitter.com/CP7MuVpQzp

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 23, 2018

All 30 teams wore the hats to honor the 17 victims of the recent shooting tragedy in Parkland, Fla.GETTY IMAGES

On the first day of Spring Training games, 30 MLB teams "wore hats with the letters S.D. to honor the 17 victims of the recent shooting tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School" in Parkland, Fla. It was a "solid gesture" by MLB. The Blue Jays "planned to sign the caps and return them to the school to raise money for charity" (TORONTO STAR, 2/24). Members of the Stoneman Douglas baseball and softball teams "spent Friday taking in baseball at Roger Dean Stadium," the Spring Training home of the Marlins. Marlins players and manager Don Mattingly "patiently autographed baseballs and posed for pictures with the Douglas players" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/24).

Meanwhile, Heat players on Friday night began wearing patches on their uniforms that they "plan to wear the rest of the season to honor the 17 students and teachers who lost their lives" in the Stoneman Douglas shooting. The patch was a "black stripe with the letters 'MSD' placed near their left shoulders" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/24).

The USTA and Eugenie Bouchard on Friday afternoon settled their lawsuit after hours of, at times, frenetic negotiating in different wings of a federal courthouse. The amount was not disclosed, but given Bouchard largely won the liability trial, it is believed she would not have walked away unless it was a high seven-figure or more payment. Bouchard's lawyer, Benedict Morelli, said the USTA realized after losing the liability phase of the trial its previous settlement offers were insufficient. Bouchard suffered a head injury at the '15 U.S. Open when she slipped in a locker room area that had recently been cleaned but left unattended. She was forced to withdraw from the event and subsequent ones, and said her ranking fall was still tied to emotional trauma caused by the injury. Bouchard expressed relief and vindication as she left the court house Friday. The USTA in a statement said it was glad to amicably conclude the case. Bouchard's mother, Julie Leclair, cried in court after the settlement was announced by the judge, underscoring how intense the lawsuit has been since it was filed shortly after the accident.

Bouchard said of the lawsuit, "It's been a long time, but it's something I wanted to do. It's been two and a half years, so I'm happy it's over" (NYTIMES.com, 2/23).

NASCAR today has its "smallest Cup field in more than 21 years when 36 cars" took the green flag for the Monster Energy Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR had "not had a 36-car field since" the September '96 race at Martinsville Speedway, where the field was" limited to 36 starters." With the "implementation of the charter system" in '16, NASCAR "guaranteed the 36 charter cars a spot in every Cup race, leaving four races open for non-charter cars." There were no "open" cars entered in Sunday's race. NASCAR "considers a 36-car field a 'full' field" (ESPN.com, 2/24). With rain "forecast for race day," AMS officials yesterday moved the race's start time from 2:00pm ET to 1:00pm, however rain delayed the start until 3:00pm (MYAJC.com, 2/24).

The Jazz on Friday submitted a formal bid to host the '22 or '23 NBA All-Star Game with a "Game Elevated" theme emphasizing guest experience, innovation and arts and education. The '23 All-Star weekend would be the 30th anniversary of the '93 ASG in Salt Lake City when Basketball HOFers John Stockton and Karl Malone were the co-MVPs (Jazz). The Jazz have "partnered with the state of Utah, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Sports Commission, Visit Salt Lake and the Utah Office of Tourism to strengthen the case of Vivint Arena as a proposed site" (DESERET NEWS, 2/24).

The Titans on April 4 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center will unveil the team's "first new uniforms in almost two decades" at an event that will be "attended by approximately 8,000 season ticket holders." Florida Georgia Line will also perform at the free event set for 7:00pm CT. This is the team's "first revamp of the jerseys since the team changed its name from the Oilers" in '99. The Titans also "unveiled a logo to commemorate the 20th season since the franchise re-branded," which players are "planning to wear as a small decal on the back of their helmets throughout next season" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/25).

Friday night was senior night at the Indiana Univ. men's basketball team's game against No. 16 Ohio State, but "some students didn't get the memo." Lackluster attendance in the IU student section is "not a new issue" as both this season and during the latter stages of last season, student ticket holders "haven't showed up consistently." Student attendance has been "hit or miss," and on Friday, nearly "entire portions of Assembly Hall's balcony were empty" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/24).

TWITTER

HBO on Friday "released the official trailer" for its upcoming film "Paterno." Starring Al Pacino in the title role, the drama centers on late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno "in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal." The film debuts Saturday, April 7 at 8:00pm ET (DEADLINE.com, 2/23).

The Padres today at Petco Park will hold a memorial service for former GM Kevin Towers, with "dozens of baseball executives and evaluators expected to attend" to honor Towers, who was "incredibly likable and fun, and a person of great integrity" (ESPN.com, 2/25).

New Padres 1B Eric Hosmer has "taken out a full-page thank you ad" in today's edition of the K.C. STAR (KANSASCITY.com, 2/24).

The NFL on Friday said that "more than 100,000 fans have already registered for the ticket lottery" for the '18 Draft at AT&T Stadium. The 100,000 figure is approximately an 11% bump in sign-ups "compared with the first three days in advance" of the '17 Draft in Philadelphia (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/25).

The Devils last night retired Patrik Elias' No. 26 jersey. Elias spoke at the ceremony that saw his jersey "raised to the rafters to join the quartet of predecessors" (N.Y. POST, 2/25).

The NHL Rangers tonight will retire Jean Ratelle’s No. 19 jersey "33 years after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame." Ratelle will be the "ninth Ranger to have his number retired" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/25).

Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani made his Spring Training debut yesterday, and "nearly 100 media members" attended his postgame press conference in a tent beyond the right-field wall (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).

The Yankees hired Alex Rodriguez as a "special advisor." He will keep his role as an analyst on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" and Fox' postseason coverage (NORTHJERSEY.com, 2/25).

"We’ll see how it feels in April. I don’t know how this is going to play out" -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon, on MLB's new rules limiting the number of mound visits per game (ESPN.com, 2/24).

"It means a lot. It feels good. We knew that we would do it if we win" -- Russian men's hockey LW Ilya Kovalchuk, on the team singing Russia's national anthem, which was a violation of the IOC's sanctions against their country, after winning the Gold Medal at the Pyeongchang Games (LATIMES.com, 2/25).

"Hopefully people remember there’s a lot of places that are doing it the right way" -- Celtics coach Brad Stevens, on the recent reports of rules violations in men's college basketball (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/24).

“I may not look the most physically fit, but it’s not about being on the cover of Men’s Health and looking like it" -- Golfer Rickie Fowler, on working out and staying in shape (N.Y. POST, 2/25).

The U.S. men's curling team defeated Sweden 10-7 for the Gold Medal at the Pyeongchang Games, but officials "awarded them the wrong medals" at the podium. Four of the five members of the team "realized they were wearing medals meant for winners of the women's curling competition." The Olympic faux pas was "quickly resolved" and Team USA last night ended up with the right medals (NYPOST.com, 2/24).

A sneak preview of SportsBusiness Journal's weekly editorial cartoon:

The WASHINGTON POST writes under the header, "America's Gay Olympians Hope That In 20 Years 'Gay Olympians' Won't Be A Thing." U.S. skier Gus Kenworthy said, ""Anyone can be exactly who they want to be, and I think that more people will realize that and, in 20 years, it's going to be like a complete rainbow" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/25). NEWSDAY writes under the header, "Why Skater Adam Rippon’s Sexuality Matters" (NEWSDAY, 2/25).

Olympic Landscape: 

• Nassar victims say USOC deserves blame for abuse. 
• USA Gymnastics' Karolyi Ranch was "perfect environment for abuse."
• Former U.S. Olympian shares her guide to retirement at 25. 

Elsewhere:

• Astros "speak Up About Guns, School Safety And Concern For America."
• Marlins' financial secrets are a top prize in legal battle with former Owner Jeffrey Loria.
• Univ. of Pennsylvania hockey broadcasters are "amazing" despite impairment.
• Mets hope to reduce injuries with new Dir of Performance & Sports Science Jim Cavallini. 
• Linda McMahon has a "Ringside seat for TrumpMania."
• The ruination of college basketball "starts in high school."
• How Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi "built a dynasty -- in fantasy football."
• In light of NCAA basketball probe, "should the Hall of Fame let in active coaches?"

Steve Ballmer is like a human reincarnation of an energy drink. Everything he does/talks about, he's enthusiastic about.

— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) February 24, 2018

Talk about a cool dinner .. how about great authentic Korean seafood with @DaleJr. Glad to have him as an @NBCSports teammate. @NBCOlympics@NASCARonNBC pic.twitter.com/92uOxKgnLy

— MikeTirico (@miketirico) February 23, 2018

Sam Hinkie says he never actually said “Trust The Process,” like that matters #SSAC18

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 24, 2018

Big takeaway from @SloanSportsConf: While NFL’s still king, glaring how far behind it is with analytics, new ideas. Other leagues discussing fun rule changes; NFL can’t define catch. Others making useful data available for public consumption; NFL operating in bubble of paranoia.

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) February 25, 2018

Hello from backstage with the IOC President Thomas Bach! #EXO @weareoneEXO #엑소#EXO#ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/xexPlDcXar

— Olympics (@Olympics) February 25, 2018