• Boise State University filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference claiming the league breached its contract with the school by entering into a new TV rights contract with CBS and Fox without the school’s approval, voting to phase out the school’s $1.8 million annual TV bonus and seeking to take away its right to separately negotiate material terms of media rights relating to its home games. The two parties said in a joint statement, saying they are “in discussions in hopes of bringing this matter to a resolution without litigation.” (Idaho Statesman)

• Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, chairwoman of the NCAA Division I Council, said the 40-member group is committed to drafting proposed regulations governing how student-athletes can benefit from their names, images and likenesses by April. Calhoun, the athletic director at the University of Pennsylvania, said the council has divided itself into three groups, each focused on different types of benefits that would be available to student-athletes under the new rules: “student-athlete work product,” individual licensing and group licensing. (Los Angeles Times)

• New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion WIlliamson, the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, tallied 22 points in 18 minutes of playing time in his first professional game against the San Antonio Spurs, a milestone that had been delayed as the former Duke star recovered from preseason knee injury. Williamson, whose debut aired nationally on ESPN, gave fans a taste of his explosive potential in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 consecutive points, including four three-pointers on four attempts, during a three-minute stretch before heading to the bench. (ESPN)

Chipper Jones interest is latest twist in ESPN’s baseball saga
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

In its effort to go big-name hunting, ESPN has interest in signing Hall of Famer Chipper Jones as a game analyst, The Post has learned. Jones did a game last year on ESPN in which he and play-by-player Boog Sciambi had very good chemistry. 

Pac-12 Networks locks in Vidgo OTT distribution deal
Sam Carp, SportsPro Media

The partnership will see Pac-12 Network, the NCAA conference’s flagship national channel, be made available as part of Vidgo’s ‘Core’ package, which provides sports coverage from the likes of ESPN and BeIN Sports for U$39.99 per month.  

HBO Working On Craig Carton Documentary
Barrett Sports Media

Tuesday morning, on WFAN’s morning show Boomer and Gio, Esiason said HBO is working on a documentary featuring Carton. Esiason and WFAN’s longtime morning show producer Al Dukes, both stated they were interviewed for the unannounced project.

Bleacher Report Promotes Senior VP Stefanie Rapp To CRO
Austin Karp, Sports Business Daily

Bleacher Report announced it has promoted Senior VP/Revenue & Strategy Stefanie Rapp to CRO, a role that will see her continue to oversee the integration of B/R across Turner Sports, WarnerMedia and AT&T. Rapp will continue to report directly to B/R CEO Howard Mittman.

SoFi Stadium rises to a new level as Inglewood prepares for its impact
David Wharton, Los Angeles Times

The new, 70,000-seat home of the Rams and Chargers is 85% complete and on schedule to open with a Taylor Swift concert in late July. At an estimated cost of $5 billion, it ranks as the priciest venue — by far — in NFL history.

CBS All Access Uses NFL Playoffs to Launch Star Trek: Picard, Its ‘Biggest’ Show Yet
Jason Lynch, Adweek

In the run-up to today’s premiere, the former CBS Corp. has been promoting Picard across all its platforms, particularly during the NFL playoff games. There is some promotion on Viacom platforms, but given that the Viacom-CBS merger just closed last month, “the real connectivity is going to be with CBS because we had planned it for months and months,” said DeBevoise.

After an Erroneous Report, the NFL Clarifies Its Position on Las Vegas Advertising in Super Bowl
Doug Zanger, Adweek

A report from a local Las Vegas site indicating that the NFL rejected a Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority TV spot for Super Bowl 2020 made little sense. Sources at the league confirmed that the story was inaccurate, pointing to the fact that the league has fully embraced the market in multiple ways.

Watch Feuding ‘Real Housewives’ Unite Over Hummus In Sabra Super Bowl Teaser
Jeanine Poggi, Ad Age

What do feuding “Real Housewives of New Jersey” co-stars Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo have in common with drag queens Kim Chi and Miz Cracker … and rapper T-Pain? For starters, they’ll all be in Sabra’s Super Bowl commercial.

Planters Really Has Killed Off Mr. Peanut, With A Funeral Planned For The Super Bowl
Jessica Wohl, Ad Age

Mr. Peanut met his fate saving the lives of Wesley Snipes and Matt Walsh in a pregame ad depicting a road trip in the character’s Nutmobile gone wrong. That ad appeared on Tuesday, for a few hours at least, on the Mr. Peanut Twitter feed.

Football! Football! Little Caesars Plans To Run Its First Super Bowl Spot
Jessica Wohl, Ad Age

Little Caesars will run its first in-game Super Bowl spot to promote delivery, which is a new concept for the chain. Little Caesars is hinting that the creative will claim its “America’s Best Value, Delivered” is the “best thing since sliced bread.”

Sodastream Taps Bill Nye The Science Guy To Tease Its Super Bowl Ad
Ann-Christine Diaz, Ad Age

Sparkling water maker brand SodaStream enlisted Bill Nye The Science Guy for its Super Bowl teaser released Wednesday morning—and in it, he’s hinting that finally, mankind has made it to Mars. Earlier this month, SodaStream announced it would be airing its first Super Bowl ad in six years—also, its first to debut under new parent PepsiCo.

Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald purchases stake in Phoenix Suns
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic

The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and future Pro Football Hall of Famer has purchased a minority stake in the Phoenix Suns, the team announced Wednesday. The news of Fitzgerald joining the Suns ownership group has been circulating for months as he reportedly sat in on interviews with the Suns involving a front-office move last April.

What’s leading Hornets to drop certain season-ticket prices
Erik Spanberg, Charlotte Business Journal

The Charlotte Hornets are cutting some lower-level ticket prices by 41% next season in an attempt to liven up the atmosphere at Spectrum Center. All other season-ticket prices will be flat for the 2020-21 season.

Mets Name Luis Rojas Manager After Beltran’s Ouster
Kevin Armstrong, The New York Times

On Wednesday, Rojas took another big, unexpected leap when Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team was making Rojas its next manager. The move came in the middle of a tumultuous off-season for the Mets.

MLB umpires’ union clarifies use of electronics at spring training sites
Buster Olney, ESPN

As umpires go through their regular spring work, MLB will be operating an electronic zone for nine games in Florida as it continues to refine its system that is expected to be implemented in the years ahead.

Astros Players Cheated. Baseball Wanted Answers. So It Made a Deal.
Jared Diamond, The Wall Street Journal

The league and the MLB Players Association struck an agreement early in the process that granted immunity in exchange for honest testimony, according to several people familiar with the matter. The league was quick to make such an offer, these people said, in part because it did not believe it would win subsequent grievances with any players it attempted to discipline.

MLB commissioner responds to Dodgers World Series resolution from L.A. City Council
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

The commissioner of Major League Baseball politely but logically rebuked the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, saying the league is not interested in the council’s resolution calling for the Dodgers to be awarded the World Series championship trophies for 2017 and 2018. “I think there’s a long tradition in baseball of not trying to change what happened,” Rob Manfred said on Fox Business. 

Did Gritty punch a 13-year-old boy in the back? Philadelphia detectives are investigating
Christian Hetrick, The Philadelphia Inquirer

In father Chris Greenwell’s telling, his son Brandon playfully patted the mascot on the head after a photo was taken. As Brandon walked away, Gritty got out of his chair, “took a running start,” and “punched my son as hard as he could,” Greenwell said Wednesday.

NCAA to allow elite Olympic athletes to receive compensation for training and travel expenses
Dan Wolken, USA Today

The NCAA Div. 1 council approved legislation that will allow athletes designated as elite by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and corresponding national governing bodies in other countries to receive additional training expenses, including travel for parents, guardians, coaches and sports experts.

Iowa AD Gary Barta replacing Oregon AD Rob Mullens as College Football Playoff committee chair
Nick Bromberg, Yahoo Sports

In addition to Mullens, former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and Robert Morris University president Chris Howard’s terms are up. The three will be replaced by Colorado AD Rick George, former Penn State offensive lineman John Urschel and Wyoming AD Tom Burman.

Big 12 suspends four, including Silvio De Sousa for 12 games, after KU/K-State brawl
Kellis Robinett and Gary Bedore, The Kansas City Star

The Sunflower Showdown became a national story as basketball fans across the country tried to make sense of the brawl that took place between Kansas and Kansas State players Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. The incident was replayed throughout the Wednesday news cycle, sparking opinions on what transpired and what punishments should be given.

Earthquakes sign jersey sponsor
Jody Meacham, Silicon Valley Business Journal

Sunnyvale-based Intermedia Communications has signed a deal for an undisclosed amount to be the San Jose Earthquakes’ jersey sponsor, the team will announce at a press conference this afternoon. The MLS team has not had a sponsor for its game jerseys since 2018, when Sutter Health ended a three-season run and became the jersey sponsor of the Quakes’ academy, which develops young players.

Leeds’ pulling power lands lucrative adidas kit deal, with the value going up if they win Premier League promotion
David Coverdale, The Daily Mail

The German sportswear giants will replace Kappa as the Whites’ shirt manufacturers from next season. The value of the deal will depend on whether Marcelo Bielsa’s side win promotion to the Premier League.

Castrol backs Newman at Roush Fenway
Kelly Crandall, RACER

Castrol will make its debut on the No. 6 Ford Mustang in the March 1 race at Auto Club Speedway. The company will also be Roush Fenway Racing’s official oil partner.

NBA All-Star Paul Millsap uniquely positioned to be first PGA WORKS ambassador
Julie Williams, Golfweek

Paul Millsap, a four-time NBA All-Star and a power forward for the Denver Nuggets, has become the next great crossover star in the golf world, but in a way unlike other professional athletes before him. Millsap, 34, has been named the first-ever PGA WORKS Ambassador.

Esports Organization 100 Thieves Unveils New Facility in Los Angeles
Alex Stedman, Variety

The group unveiled its new 15,000 square-foot facility, officially named the 100 Thieves Cash App Compound, in a media preview with some of its biggest personalities and investor Scooter Braun on hand. Also in attendance was Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter and Square, the latter of which is the parent company of major 100 Thieves sponsor Cash App.

Epic, PlayVS introduce Fortnite esports circuit for colleges, high schools
Mike Hume, The Washington Post

Epic Games and PlayVS announced on Wednesday a partnership to introduce an official competitive circuit for Fortnite to U.S. high schools and colleges. This marks the first time Fortnite will have an official competitive series at the high school level and the first time it will have an officially sanctioned collegiate format with a season-capping national championship.

FlyQuest promotes Tricia Sugita to CEO, acquires new team headquarters called The Greenhouse
Tyler Esguerra, Dot Esports

Before the start of the 2020 LCS Spring Split, FlyQuest’s former team COO Tricia Sugita has been promoted to CEO, while Ryan Edens will transition to his new role as team president, the organization announced today. Sugita’s first decision as CEO is for the team to adopt a “Go Green” initiative this year.

NISSIN Cup Noodles Partners With Evo for Fifth Consecutive Fighting Game Event
Trent Murray, The Esports Observer

The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) has announced NISSIN’s Cup Noodles brand as a returning sponsor for its fighting game tournament Evo Japan 2020. This will be the fifth consecutive Evo-branded event Cup Noodles has sponsored, dating back to 2018.

Bob Arum proposes two-fight deal between Terence Crawford and UFC star Conor McGregor
Dan Rafael, ESPN

Arum said that he would like to make a two-fight deal with UFC president Dana White for McGregor to fight undefeated welterweight world boxing titleholder Terence Crawford — first under MMA rules inside the Octagon, then a second fight under boxing rules.

Ameren to sponsor St. Louis BattleHawks
Annika Merrilees, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ameren announced Wednesday that it will sponsor the St. Louis BattleHawks’ first home game, and become a founding partner of the team. This comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Anheuser-Busch.

Nassar Victims Move to Throw Out USA Gymnastics’ Bankruptcy Bid
Louise Radnofsky, The Wall Street Journal

Victims of longtime national team physician Larry Nassar moved to dismiss USA Gymnastics’ bankruptcy proceedings Tuesday, a sign that the gymnasts and federation remain far apart in mediation talks to resolve legal claims stemming from sexual abuse by Nassar over a three-decade period.

W.N.B.A.’s Maya Moore to Skip Another Season to Focus on Prisoner’s Case
Kurt Streeter, The New York Times

Maya Moore, the W.N.B.A. star regarded as one of the greats of the sport, will sit out for a second straight season and remove herself from contention for the Olympics so she can continue to push for criminal justice reform and the release of Jonathan Irons, a man she believes is innocent of the crime for which he was sentenced to prison.

Abandon Mountain West for the AAC? Boise State football appears to have options
Dan Wolken, USA Today

The Mountain West’s peer league, the American Athletic Conference, is watching this soap opera closely, considering whether the time is right to make a play that would significantly strengthen its brand as the best football league outside the Power Five, kneecap its rival and fill a hole in its membership that was created when UConn announced it was leaving last summer.