The L.A. City Council today is expected to unanimously approve a revised joint agreement between the city and the USOC "essentially sealing the deal" for L.A. to be the U.S. candidate to host the '24 Games. The council also is expected to "instruct the city attorney to negotiate a memorandum of understanding" between the city and the L.A. '24 organizing committee "for the mayor and council's approval" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/1).

Meanwhile, the Toronto City Council "appears to be cooling on the idea of hosting the Games." Several councillors yesterday "voiced caution about the idea," saying that Toronto "can't afford the cost of bidding or hosting" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/1). Not a "single member of the city's budget committee is endorsing Toronto entering the race" for '24 (TORONTO STAR, 9/1).

A portion of the left-field wall at O.co Coliseum fell down during last night's Angels-A's game, necessitating a 10-minute stoppage "while the 'ate' section of the 'State Farm' signage was reattached." This comes after the grounds crew "had less than 24 hours to put the Coliseum back in baseball shape" between the Cardinals-Raiders preseason and the A's homestand opener. The "technical faux pas wasn't the best advertisement for why the A's want to build a new stadium, but it wasn't bad" (BAY AREA NEWS GROUP, 8/31).

Nearly two years after ESPN abruptly canceled its ambitious Global X Games series following a loss of more than $30M, the action sports property is wading back into the overseas markets. ESPN today announced that it has licensed X Games Oslo, set for Feb. 24-28 in the Norwegian capital, in partnership with local broadcaster TV2, event production company SAHR Concepts and the Oslo city government. The five-day event will include snowboarding, skiing and skateboarding events – the first X Games event to include both summer and winter sports in the same city – along with a major music act yet to be identified.

Nationwide Insurance today debuts its "first Cowboys-only" NFL ad with the spot appearing on Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms. An English- and Spanish-language version also "will air on local TV and run into the regular season." The spot "features a substitute teacher working 'Cowboys Math' on the board with problems such as '5 + 4 = Romo' and '90 - 8 = Witten,'" references to the players' jersey numbers (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/1).

Coastal Carolina Univ. today is expected to announce that it is joining the Sun Belt Conference. The school last month hosted Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson and his team for a campus visit. CCU President David DeCenzo then said that he "would accept an invitation to join the conference if offered." DeCenzo also said that the school "would immediately begin the process of expanding Brooks Stadium from 9,214 seats to more than 20,000 if it joined" (Myrtle Beach SUN NEWS, 9/1).

CCU will join the league in '16 "in all sports but football, which is expected to have an FBS transitional year and be a full member" in '17 (USATODAY.com, 8/31).

ESPN debuted its ad campaign for the '15 season of "MNF" with a spot titled "Double The Football," ahead of the Sept. 14 season-opening doubleheader featuring Eagles-Falcons and Vikings-49ers. The ad is a collaboration among ESPN Consumer Marketing, Wieden + Kennedy, N.Y., and NFL Films. It showcases the top players in both games (ESPN).

MLB is marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September with a series of club-level activations beginning today and a social media campaign rallying around the #GoGold hashtag. Planned activities during the month include in-game recognitions of individuals and groups fighting pediatric cancer, auctions of player-used merchandise to raise funds for research, online fundraisers and special ticket offers, among other activities. "We are all proud to bring attention to such a worthy cause to all those working to bring us closer to a cure," said Rays President Brian Auld.

The Rays will wear special gold Childhood Cancer Awareness Month T-shirts during batting practice at Camden Yards today, and then sign and auction the shirts to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

The likelihood that an MLS stadium "will land in St. Paul instead of Minneapolis seemed to grow" yesterday with the "expiration of a deal securing land near downtown Minneapolis." There was "no sign" that a negotiating period of the $150M piece of land was extended. Minnesota United FC "has grown increasingly interested in a site near the Midway shopping mall in St. Paul, where local leaders are willing to forgo property taxes on the facility" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/1).

A source said that the Angels have begun their search for a new GM, "though it's hard to narrow down their list of candidates at this point." Jerry Dipoto stepped down from the position in July (MLB.com, 9/1).

Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork said that the school's new arena, The Pavilion, is "on track for its scheduled opening" of Jan. 7, 2016. He also said that Daktronics will provide the venue with the "largest center-hung video board in all of college athletics" (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 9/1).

Smithfield Foods has agreed to be the title sponsor for the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour's Sept. 13 season finale as part of a two-year partnership with the PWBA (BPAA).

The Barclays runs full-page ads in the N.Y. Times and Wall Street Journal congratulating golfer Jason Day for winning the FedExCup Playoffs event (THE DAILY).

Two companies run full-page ads in USA Today congratulating Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing for winning the '15 Verizon IndyCar Series title. Series sponsor Verizon goes with, "4 Titles. 1 Legend." Car manufacturer Chevy runs the copy, "There's only room for one driver, but our whole company was riding along" (THE DAILY).

“I outgrew any role here, unless Paul wants to hand the team to me from an ownership perspective” – Indians President Mark Shapiro, jokingly referring to Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan, on his decision to take the Blue Jays President & CEO position (CLEVELAND.com, 8/11).

“I love the people on the show and I will be a fan of ‘GameDay’ down the line but I don’t know how I’m going to feel on Saturday mornings. I think it’s going to feel like an out-of-body experience” – ESPN’s Chris Fowler, who for the first time in 25 years will not be the host of “College GameDay” (SI.com, 8/31).

“We’ve had some glitches, myself included. Every decision I’ve made, like I said, even though a lot of people disagree with them, I do try to give it a great deal of thought in what’s in the interest of USC” – USC AD Pat Haden, on how he disciplined football coach Steve Sarkisian following the “Salute to Troy” incident (L.A. TIMES, 9/1).

The N.Y. TIMES goes with the header, "Baylor, Football And The Rape Case Of Sam Ukwuachu." It is "worth taking a closer look at the case, which says a lot about the relationship between Baylor and its football team, very little of it good."

YAHOO SPORTS goes with, "What NHL Players Are Told About Rape, Violence." What does the league "tell these players about rape? About sexual assault? About domestic violence? Does the League do enough? Does it have an effective approach?"

Also:

• No longer a valid reason not to increase fan safety at MLB ballparks.
• Braves fan's death leaves Yankees announcer Suzyn Waldman shaken.
• Factory Xtreme combines sports, Star Wars for unique fan art.
• Cost-of-attendance gives student-athletes a little financial freedom.
• CoCo Vandeweghe could be the next star of American tennis.
• The late Al Arbour belongs on Mt. Rushmore of hockey coaching.

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Giants-Dodgers, followed by Rays-Orioles, Indians-Blue Jays, Yankees-Red Sox and Serena Williams’ first round match at the U.S. Open. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Yankees-Red Sox, followed by Indians-Blue Jays, Rays-Orioles, Redskins QB Robert Griffin III being benched and Deflategate.

Pat Kirwan on Dan Synder: I always say owners have to learn how to own and he's been in school for a while. #Redskins

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 31, 2015

They predict NFL games, why not NFL verdicts? Atty Alan Milstein: "I don’t believe there is any way Tom Brady loses" https://t.co/j2VOQ3hxR2

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 1, 2015

Only in LA can you leave Ballgame at 1 am and be dead stopped on the highway on the way back home😩

— ScottVanSlyke (@ScottVanSlick) September 1, 2015

Mendoza is the perfect example of someone getting an opportunity and proving they've been ready all along.

— Jane McManus (@janesports) September 1, 2015

@_JulieJohnston_ @lorichalupny @ChristenPress Thanks for leading tonight's stretch! #LetsGetSomeRuns pic.twitter.com/RW7WdxZlVu

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 1, 2015

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Animated Movie Characters.”

“Her look was partly inspired by descendant Shirley ‘Little Dove’ Custalow McGowan and by model Christy Turlington.”

After sprinter sprinter Usain Bolt was run over by a cameraman on a segway during his victory lap at the World Athletic Championships in Beijing, an Italian commentator on the telecast reacted by shouting, “Momma mia!” NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “They actually say that in Italy? That’s not true, right? Who’s the announcer, Super Mario? Also, where was that camera guy during the 12-minute Kanye speech?” (“The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” NBC, 8/31).

“Who is Pocahontas?”