Sports News---may want to read, bama back in coco protocol, back to figuring the new way.

[TNmavol]

Top Stories​

The NHL announced it will pause its season tomorrow, two days ahead of its planned holiday break, through Dec. 27 after 11 teams suspended operations due to COVID-19 outbreaks and the league postponed all games involving travel across the U.S.-Canada border. Including games affected by the pause, the league has postponed 49 games, which sources said the league views as sufficient cause to exercise its opt-out clause for player participation in the Beijing Winter Olympics. (ESPN) David Blitzer, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, is nearing a deal to purchase an approximately 35 percent stake in the Cleveland Guardians that includes a path to control of the MLB franchise, according to multiple people familiar with the negotiations. If the deal is finalized, Blitzer would be acquiring portions of the team from both the Dolan family, the team's majority owners, and current Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman, who was a minority owner of the Guardians prior to buying the Royals. (Sportico) In a reversal from its initial position, the PGA Tour reportedly issued a memo granting 30 of its members permission to participate in the Saudi International, a tournament run by the government-backed entity trying to launch the rival Super Golf League. The tour attached conditions to the waivers, however, requiring players who skip this year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to play in the Saudi International to commit to play in either one of the next two or two of the next three editions of the AT&T, depending on how often they have participated in the event in recent years. (Golfweek)

Chart Review​ NBA, NHL Attendance Lags Behind Pre-Pandemic Pace — And Might Get Worse Before It Gets Better Morning Consult

Cinemark Movie Theaters to Screen ESPN's College Football Playoff Broadcasts

Dominic Massimino, SportTechie

Movie theater chain Cinemark has partnered with ESPN to screen the College Football Playoff Semifinals and National Championship in select theaters. The games will be shown in theaters across 19 states and 27 cities, including the local markets of all four playoff schools — Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati.


Peyton Manning in ownership mix as Broncos sale could be completed by the spring

Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports

Prospective buyers have been preparing for years for the eventual sale of the Denver Broncos and, league sources said, there is a strong sense coming out of last week's NFL meetings that the transaction could be fast-tracked to be completed by the spring, with a formal vote not out of the question by the March league meetings.

NFL's covid-testing plan could fuel spread, experts say, but it's 'where society is going'

Rick Maese, The Washington Post

With the omicron variant baring its teeth, the NFL's revamped coronavirus testing policy will lead to an increase in infections among its ranks, experts said Monday, and could risk spreading the virus as hospital systems struggle to bear the weight of another wave of covid-19 infections. But some epidemiologists said the league's plan also could provide a hint of what the general public can expect as the coronavirus becomes further entrenched in everyday life.

COLLEGE SPORTS

Pac-12 basketball: COVID resurgence could force policy changes on forfeitures, player thresholds and make-up dates Jon Wilner, The San Jose Mercury News The Pac-12 is discussing policy adjustments to its basketball season in the wake of COVID's resurgence and the potential for disruption to the regular season, according to a source. It shouldn't be a complicated process: The Pac-12 can simply dust off the appropriate COVID policies it deployed last season and present them for approval by the athletic directors and other key campus officials. NC State Wolfpack men's basketball program put on 1-year probation; former coach Mark Gottfried gets one-year show-cause order Mark Schlabach, ESPN NC State's men's basketball program was placed on one year of probation and former Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried was given a one-year show-cause order on Monday, as punishment for a former assistant coach helping facilitate money from Adidas to a prospect's family. The Wolfpack weren't banned from playing in the postseason. No. 1 Alabama implements safety protocols ahead of College Football Playoff game vs. No. 4 Cincinnati Alex Scarborough, ESPN With COVID-19 cases surging nationally and games in the NFL being impacted by the pandemic again, Alabama is returning to its safety protocols from a year ago as it prepares to take part in the College Football Playoff. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday that the team is back to wearing masks in the facility and social distancing during meetings. College Football Playoff Names Byron Hatch Chief Operating Officer Matt Traub, SportsTravel Byron Hatch has been named the College Football Playoff's chief operating officer after spending six years as the assistant commissioner of championships for the Southeastern Conference. During Hatch's time with the SEC he oversaw the SEC football championship game, men's basketball tournament and softball tournament.

--Morning Consult
GBO
Ma