The St. Petersburg City Council "rejected an agreement negotiated by Mayor Rick Kriseman that would have given" the Rays three years to explore ballpark sites in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Council member Darden Rice said that the Rays "blew the deal with their presentation." Rays President Brian Auld "refused to yield an iota on development rights on Tropicana Field," and following the vote he declined to answer questions, "instead issuing a terse statement." What happens next is "anything but clear" ( TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/19 ).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter today said that the organization "will not reopen the vote" for the '18 and '22 World Cups, but it "will publish at least some" of a report on the bid process. Blatter said that the Exec Committee, meeting over two days in Morocco, "agreed unanimously to publish" the report by Michael Garcia , who earlier this week stepped down in protest. Blatter said the report will be published "in an appropriate form once the ongoing procedures against individuals are concluded" ( AP, 12/19 ).

The five Rams players who late last month made the "hands up" gesture today are "making good" on their promise to assist the Ferguson, Mo., community. TE Jared Cook and WRs Stedman Bailey , Tavon Austin , Chris Givens and Kenny Britt are heading to the Ferguson area to "distribute basic need items to residents" who have been "affected by civil unrest in the area" ( ESPN.com, 12/18 ).

Meanwhile, Jaguars WRs wore "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts during pregame warmups prior to last night's win against the Titans in Jacksonville ( Mult., 12/18 ).

In today's Must Read, the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's Tom Sorensen pens his first column since late September, when he sustained a head injury after a fall in Baltimore while covering the Panthers-Ravens game. Sorensen: "I'm Back, And Thankful" ( CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/19 ).

Last night’s series finale of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” featured a multitude of celebrities and newsmakers singing together to wish host Stephen Colbert goodbye, including Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban , Basketball HOFer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , ESPN's Keith Olbermann , director Ken Burns and broadcasters  Alexi Lalas and Bob Costas ( “The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central, 12/18 ).

The Raiders announced that Sunday’s game against the Bills has sold out and “will air on CBS affiliates in the Raiders home market,” including KPIX ( CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/18 ).

The Canadiens last night held a ceremony for former NHLer Saku Koivu before their game against the Ducks. Koivu’s appearance was “emotionally packed, his speech set up by video footage of him during his fight against cancer as a player in Montreal” ( L.A. TIMES, 12/19 ).

Read More >>>