The demise of Boston's '24 Games bid is dominating the news cycle in the region, with headlines and cover images placing the onus for the failed effort on bid organizers and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. Boston Business Journal: "This is a story about the Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight. It’s about an A-list brigade of gunslingers whose aims and aspirations were at once inspiring and altogether self-defeating."

Boston Globe, A1 above the fold, “Games Over” … Boston Herald, A1, “Bid Adieu” … Lowell Sun, A1 above the fold, “Boston’s Bid For Olympics KO’d” … Attleboro Sun Chronicle, A1 above the fold, “Boston’s Dream Denied” … Springfield Republican, A1 bottom rail, “Bid For 2024 Olympics Dropped” ... L.A. Daily News, A1 above the fold, "L.A. Gets Second Shot At Olympics" ... L.A. Times, A1, "2024 Games: L.A. Is A Player Again"

CSN New England’s Mike Felger said, “I wanted the Olympics here but I didn’t want it to be a bad deal.” The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy: “It was never going to happen. It was a flight of fancy” (“Sports Tonight,” CSN New England, 7/27).

A proposal for $250M in public subsidies goes before the Wisconsin state Assembly today, and top Republican leaders "think they have enough votes to pass" the plan. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that "fewer votes than normal would be needed overall because some legislators were on vacation for the vote, which is coming at an unexpected time." The measure passed the state Senate 21-10 on July 15, so passage in the Assembly would send the bill to Gov. Scott Walker, "a supporter of the overall idea" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/28).

The NFL Cardinals are adding a female assistant coach and establishing the Bill Bidwill Coaching Fellowship. Jen Welter, who will work with inside linebackers as one of seven coaching interns this summer, is believed to be the "first female to hold a coaching position of any kind in the NFL." Coach Bruce Arians said that he "talked to several veteran Cardinals players and 'they were all cool' with the hiring of Welter." The team today will introduce Welter and former NFLer Levon Kirkland, the "inaugural participant in the fellowship" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/28).

The Packers today will hold their annual shareholders' meeting at Lambeau Field, "rain or shine." The team expects a "normal turnout," which means about 12,000-14,000 shareholders and guests. The agenda includes remarks by President & CEO Mark Murphy and GM Ted Thompson, "as well as reports by directors heading various committees." Though Thompson "has made an art form of revealing nothing, his talk on the football aspects of the organization is the most anticipated portion of the meeting" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 7/27).

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman and Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani today will take part in a meeting "with time running out" on efforts to build a $1B-plus stadium in Mission Valley. Local officials will brief Grubman on "efforts to complete an environmental impact report." The Chargers will update Grubman on the proposed $1.75B venue in Carson "backed by the team and the Raiders" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/28). Faulconer: "The importance of getting this across the finish line remains" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/26).

The NFL today is hosting a day-long sponsor activation summit, featuring A-B and 28 team reps at MetLife Stadium. NFL execs Renie Anderson, Brian Lafemina and Brian Matthews will provide an overview of national and local activations and best practices for the upcoming season. Top A-B execs including VP/Marketing Jorn Socquet and regional A-B reps will participate, as will reps from NFL’s broadcast partners. A-B is an NFL sponsor, and also has club-level deals with the 28 teams scheduled to attend.

The city of Charlotte yesterday formally committed to "spending $600,000 in general tax dollars to help host" the '17 NBA All-Star Game, with the City Council voting 8-2 in favor. The $600,000 "will come from the sale of surplus land" near the NASCAR HOF. The total incentive package for the ASG is about $5.9M, and "most of the money will come from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority." The Hornets will contribute $150,000 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/28).

The Sacramento City Council today will conduct a hearing on the "bonds it plans to issue to finance its share" of the NBA Kings' downtown arena project. The hearing, a "requirement of the bond process," is "something of a formality." The council "will hear a summary of the financing but won't vote; it already approved the bond sale when it made a definitive development agreement" with the Kings in May '14. Scheduling the hearing right away "shows the city is intent on moving ahead swiftly" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/26).

UCSF yesterday “threw its weight behind” the Warriors’ plan to build an arena across from its hospital in Mission Bay, “contingent on reaching a binding agreement” with the city of S.F. on how to handle traffic on days when there are major events at the arena and nearby AT&T Park (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/28).

The Chargers have signed a three-year partnership making Vivid Seats the team’s official online ticket marketplace and hospitality package provider (Chargers).

The Univ. of Michigan athletic department yesterday announced that “there are fewer than 4,000 tickets available” for the ’15 football season (MLIVE.com, 7/27).

“Fighting is her No. 1 priority, but she’s building a life after fighting. If there’s a bit of conflict, we don’t mind because she’s amazing for us” – UFC President Dana White, on Ronda Rousey (L.A. TIMES, 7/28).

“I don’t know that really is very realistic. This is realistic. ... He can actually turn around and watch himself throw the ball – watch his footwork, where his arm is” – Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, whose team is putting virtual reality cameras on their practice field, when asked about QB Teddy Bridgewater using the "Madden NFL” video game to study (ESPN.com, 7/27).

“The Olympics is all about bridging gaps, building bridges between communities. This a great signal to send to a troubled region” – IOC Dir of Communications Mark Adams, on the organization planning to vote on adding war-torn South Sudan as a member this week (REUTERS, 7/28).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Yankees-Rangers, which was the lead-in to the broadcast, followed by Braves-Orioles, Royals-Indians and Reds-Cardinals. The first non-MLB report on ESPN was the NFL Cardinals hiring a female coaching intern for the team, the first in the league. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Braves-Orioles, followed by Royals-Indians, Tigers-Rays and an update on Deflategate.

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE on the U.S.' and Mexico's performances in the CONCACAF Gold Cup: "Both regional powerhouses must improve considerably in order to compete at the highest international level."

The N.Y. TIMES notes Donald Trump's golf interests in Scotland "will fall under scrutiny this week as the Women's British Open is held at his most recent purchase, Turnberry."

Also:

• Scenes from '15 Sneaker Con, N.Y.'s "largest shoe convention."
• Special Olympics is one event that takes equality seriously.
• Twins embrace analytics in effort to end four-year downturn.
• Q&A with Maryland Stadium Authority Exec Dir Michael Frenz.
• Will ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti's retirement change Davis Cup?

This I know: If there's one person who would've hated what's taking place between the Seau family and the HOF, his name is Junior.

— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) July 28, 2015

<<<Hall just thinks 4.5-hour ceremonies are non-starters. That’s why acceptance speeches now have been cut to 10 minutes, as a suggestion.

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) July 28, 2015

Someone needs to see if the Monforts have been hanging with Jeff Loria, because I'm pretty sure the Rockies just got Marlin'd.

— Alicia Jessop (@RulingSports) July 28, 2015

The trade deadline and December are unsettling for me as they are the only times of the year where being a morning person is a disadvantage.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) July 28, 2015

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Classical Music.”

“The first movement of the 1888 suite named for her is titled ‘The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship.’”

USWNT MF Carli Lloyd appeared on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” last night and discussed not having any downtime after the Women's World Cup. Lloyd said, “We've missed a lot of games with the NWSL ... it's right back to business. I'm doing appearances and flying in and out for games right now.” Host Seth Meyers noted the World Cup was played on artificial turf and asked if Lloyd thought “FIFA will move to rectify what seemed like a disadvantage to athletes who play at your level that had to play on a lesser surface.” Lloyd: “I sure hope so. To rip grass fields out and then put in turf seems kind of odd. They did that in Canada for a few of the fields. ... I mean, we made a big stink about it. I don't think we had enough time to change it permanently for that World Cup but the next World Cup I compete in will be on grass in France” (“Late Night With Seth Meyers,” NBC, 7/28).

“Who is Scheherazade?”