NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France yesterday said that the Confederate flag is "an 'insensitive symbol' that he finds offensive," adding that the sanctioning body will "be aggressive in disassociating it from its events." France: "We want to go as far as we can to eliminate the presence of that flag. ... We're working with the industry to see how far we can go to get that flag to be disassociated entirely from our events." He said that NASCAR is "exploring its options." Meanwhile, driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said of the flag, "It belongs in the history books and that's about it" (ESPN.com, 6/27). Meanwhile, France is profiled in the WALL STREET JOURNAL's Weekend Confidential feature.

Boston 2024 execs tomorrow at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center "will unveil their revised proposal," according to sources. The altered blueprint, which is being called bid 2.0, "has been in the works for months," after mounting public criticism forced Boston 2024 to "acknowledge mistakes and change leadership" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/27).

Meanwhile, Boston 2024 CEO Richard Davey "faced sharp questions Friday from Boston councilors about financing, transparency, and proposed venues for the Games." But Davey "offered few new details, particularly when pressed for specifics about private financing." Councilors "expressed discontent that Boston 2024 did not have financial data it could share" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/27).

The turnout for the NHL Draft at the BB&T Center was "impressive and enthusiastic, particularly Friday night" for the first round. There "was a long line to pose with Lord Stanley's cup, and the arena was packed." Although attendance figures "weren't announced, the draft configuration accommodated seating for about 12,300." Florida hockey fans, "much maligned around the NHL, acquitted themselves well" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/28). NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman pointed out the packed top rows and standing room areas while addressing the crowd, saying, "Hockey's alive and well in South Florida!" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/27).

Bob Costas yesterday said that he "would apologize" to Cubs P Pedro Strop for remarks he made Friday when Strop was leaving the field after allowing a game-tying homer and then a couple other base runners in the eighth inning. Costas during the game on MLB Network said, “We can only ask, or wonder, that he (Strop) is asking some departed relative for forgiveness for this atrocious performance.” Costas said that late Friday, he "set up an appointment to speak to Strop face to face 'not because my motivation was wrong but I could see how somebody could misunderstand it'" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/28). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's David Haugh wrote Costas "polluted" the telecast with the "insensitive, inappropriate comment" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/28).

Yesterday's Verizon IndyCar Series MavTV 500 could have been the series' "last stand at Auto Club Speedway," because the "great show was witnessed by an embarrassingly small crowd, maybe 10,000 and change in the 68,000-seat grandstand and a little more than a handful of RVs in the infield campground." Track President Dave Allen said, "A June date in the Inland Empire with the heat, we knew it was going to be a challenge. But we didn’t have a whole lot of choices. ... It needs to be either September, October or later in the year, after Labor Day. If it’s another summer date, it’s not going to work, to be frank” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/28).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that his decision to step down "was 'liberating' and that he expected the election to replace him to be held" in early '16. Blatter: "It was the only way to take away the pressure from FIFA and my employees" (AP, 6/27). Blatter "reaffirmed he won't be a candidate in the next FIFA presidential election" (L.A. TIMES, 6/28).

NBA player agent James Dunleavy, son of former NBA head coach Mike Dunleavy and brother of Bulls F/G Mike Dunleavy, Jr., has left Wasserman Media Group. "I am not sure what I am going to do going forward, but I can confirm I am not there," he said of leaving Wasserman. Dunleavy represented his brother Mike, Jr. and Villanova G Darrun Hilliard, who was taken No. 38 overall in last week’s NBA draft by the Pistons. Dunleavy would not comment on why he left. A Wasserman spokesperson had no comment.

Last night's performance by the Grateful Dead -- the "first of a final five shows" for the band under the moniker -- was "expected to break" the Levi's Stadium attendance record of 77,000 set by Wrestlemania in March. Still, a ticket with a face value of $200 "could be had for as little as $39 on StubHub in recent days." The assumption is that speculators "scooped them up in anticipation of a healthy aftermarket that did not materialize." StubHub Communications Specialist Cameron Papp said, "The prices for the Santa Clara shows have been dropping pretty rapidly since April." Capacity for the band's two Santa Clara shows, the latter of which will be held tonight, "was 80,000, which is about 10,000 more than for a 49ers game." Meanwhile, a "happy energy was everywhere" at last night's concert (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/28). The setlist from last night's show included both old favorites and rarities.

Great start to the #FareTheeWell tour. Thx @GratefulDead for coming to @LevisStadium pic.twitter.com/3V1JQoLSDq

— Al Guido (@AlGuido) June 28, 2015

Yesterday's Reds-Mets game at Citi Field that was "suspended because of rain" resumed today at 1:30pm ET, and the regularly scheduled game between the teams "will follow it." A postgame concert by Steve Miller Band, which was "scheduled" for yesterday, "will now take place" today, as well. Fans who had tickets for yesterday's game "will be able to exchange them, but only for available tickets" to today's games and concert. Some Mets fans "took to social media to complain that they could only exchange their Saturday tickets for the one date." But the club said that its policies listed on the tickets "don’t even obligate the club to offer the Sunday exchange." The Mets "wanted those who came for the game and the concert to be able to see them" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/28).

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah yesterday "was on display on the unusually-muggy Southern California afternoon, parading in front of 21,528 fans" at Santa Anita Park, where the horse started with a few victory laps and then "calmly made several trips around the walking ring." Last year's attendance on Gold Cup Day was 12,396 (BLOODHORSE.com, 6/27).

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan on Friday "received the Red Smith Award from the Associated Press Sports Editors." Basketball HOFer Bill Walton "introduced Ryan as he received the award." Ryan: "I stand here as a relic, a dinosaur, a child of newspapers, and I’m really proud to be that last guy standing. Long live newspapers" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/27).

Yesterday's FIFA Women's World Cup England-Canada quarterfinal saw the host country bow out of the tournament "in front of a record 54,027 fans at BC Place" (TORONTO STAR, 6/28). Meanwhile, Japan defeated Australia in front of 19,814 fans at Commonwealth Stadium (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/27).

The Galaxy last night defeated the Earthquakes "in front of a sellout crowd of 50,422 fans" at Stanford Stadium as part of the league's Rivalry Week initiative (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/28). Meanwhile, "a near-sellout crowd" is expected tonight at Yankee Stadium for Red Bulls-NYC FC, with 44,000 tickets "already sold and hopes of hitting a sellout of 47,000" (N.Y. POST, 6/28).

Mexico played Costa Rica last night in a 2-2 draw in front of an "announced crowd of 53,629" at the Citrus Bowl (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/28).

Some members of the Blackhawks today will "make appearances at the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade" while carrying the Stanley Cup. They "are scheduled to ride on the WGN Radio float" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/27).

Records show that the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on May 2 "helped Nevada casinos make" more than $1B (AP, 6/26).

The Astros "took infield practice wearing Saturday’s fan giveaway -- orange T-shirts bearing the phrase 'Yes Way, Jose' in support the team’s campaign" to elect 2B Jose Altuve to a starting role in the All-Star Game (CHRON.com, 6/27).

UFC last night "sold out the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with a crowd of 5,604 in attendance" for the Yoel Romero-Lyoto Machida bout (MMAWEEKLY.com, 6/28).

Tennis player Rafael Nadal appears in a print ad in today's N.Y. Times Magazine for the "Olives From Spain" campaign, which features the copy, "Born in Spain. Admired in the world" (THE DAILY).

"When you've got those four guys -- four aces -- why would you give them up? We're committed (to them)" – IndyCar team owner Roger Penske, on his first season fielding four full-time drivers in the series (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/28).

"Budget. That’s one message that has already stuck with me ... how to spend our money wisely and not become one of those players that are broke after a couple years playing in the NFL" – Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah, on his main takeaway from attending the NFL Rookie Symposium last week (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/28).

"People ask me about it. It’s the pink elephant in the room" – MLB Cardinals Senior VP & GM John Mozeliak, on being asked about the hacking accusations against the club by officials from other teams (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/28).

“I'm not saying Jordan Spieth is going to become as big as Tiger Woods, but golf is in pretty good hands with guys like Spieth and Rory McIlroy” – N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 6/28).

The TAMPA BAY TIMES' Antonya English wrote new SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey "takes great pride in having worked" for more than a decade with his predecessor, Mike Slive, but it is "clear he's his own man." Unlike Slive, Sankey is "actively involved in social media, saying he plans to use Twitter 'for positive means.'" He also "continues to be demanding of member-schools" in terms of compliance with NCAA regulations.

The WASHINGTON POST's Chuck Culpepper profiled Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully, who is in his 66th season broadcasting the team's games. Even as "one of the most treasured figures in the entire American culture," he still responds to compliments with "near-blushing thanks." His "sturdy gait" through the press box at Dodger Stadium "makes age 87 seem a swell place to be."

Elsewhere:

• NFL "holds its ground" against betting, even as leagues "reap rewards of fantasy."
• Still, the barrier separating gambling and sports is "beginning to show some cracks."
• ESPNW: "Will the Supreme Court's Marriage Equality Ruling Impact Sports?"
• Blackistone: Sports "rarely chooses to be" the leader in societal change it "could be."
• Sabres GM Tim Murray "doesn't care what you think or I think, nor should he."
• Five questions with Maryland Stadium Authority Exec Dir Michael Frenz.
• The road to the NBA is taking a "detour around college," as seen in Friday's draft.

At the end of the day, love it or hate it, people are talking about the #IndyCar race.

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) June 28, 2015

Man the #MLB stream of #GD50 is HORRIBLE. Killer Trucking, and the stream's kicking in and out. I've got 3x the minimum HD bandwidth.

— Mark Frisk (@markfrisk) June 28, 2015

#LoveWins pic.twitter.com/LI1BVuniE9

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 26, 2015

At my first Formula E race in London. Great set up. Excited to see the race pic.twitter.com/lTrYpmYyPL

— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) June 28, 2015

.@FloydMayweather on why he let the Burger King mascot walk out with him: "Because they paid millions and millions of dollars."

— Marcus Vanderberg (@marcowill) June 28, 2015

With my girls @serenawilliams and @karliekloss singing along to @taylorswift pic.twitter.com/cYgbKBIW3q

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) June 27, 2015