Friday Sports Links-Super Bowl Edition
With nearly half the nation watching, along with millions more around the globe, it simply doesn't get much bigger than the Super Bowl. In honor of the big game, everything NFL and Super Bowl related leads off this week's sports links.
Super Bowl
During the Super Bowl, the NFL introduced an ad focused on its efforts to improve player safety. http://t.co/L0JKHuup
At least four lawsuits blaming the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain disease will be consolidated in Philadelphia, and more could follow. http://es.pn/AzEaLf
The NFL/Saints, and "Who Dat?", Inc. have agreed to voluntarily dismiss all the claims against each other in their pending lawsuit and to work together on merchandise featuring the "Who Dat?" phrase. http://bit.ly/xw1BQj
What is the economic impact of the Super Bowl on the host city? Is it overestimated? http://onforb.es/AqN2SA
An excellent analysis by Michael McCann of the "clean zones" implemented at the Super Bowl and other major sporting events to prevent ambush marketing. http://t.co/HlMZVZcn
The NFL tenaciously protects its trademarked phrase 'Super Bowl.' Advertisers have come up with many ways to skirt the issue, using such phrases as 'The Big Game.' http://lat.ms/ACBfuL
Even though he didn't play in this year's Super Bowl, Aaron Rodgers is still the most marketable player in the NFL. http://bit.ly/A5LRMj
'They use you up': Add Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett to the list of ex-players suing the NFL. http://apne.ws/AzbJPY
"60 Minutes" profile on NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. http://bit.ly/yFHcwO
NCAA
This week, thousands of high school seniors signed their NLIs, but some received 4-year offers instead of the traditional 1-year option. http://es.pn/wpgPf6 and http://wapo.st/zOq8Hm
The Pac-12 is planning to stream its own content online. In the near future it will enable consumers to watch thousands of events each year - ranging from football, to basketball, to Olympic sports, to non-athletic content - from any device anywhere on Earth. http://on.mash.to/Au77Qh
The NCAA will look this summer at retooling its Division I governance structure amid what some officials say is growing sentiment to further split its top football-playing schools. http://usat.ly/x7Al5u
The NCAA is also looking at revamping its enforcement procedures. The NCAA wants to become more predictable and efficient in enforcement cases while putting harder hits on serious offenders who risk cheating. http://bit.ly/ygD80G
MMA and the First Amendment
An update on the legal battle over New York's live fighting ban. http://bit.ly/yHQ1Tu
Olympics
The IOC wants governments to do more to prevent illegal gambling and match fixing. http://es.pn/yUyyMT