A source said that Boston, L.A., S.F. and DC "apparently" have made the USOC's "short list" of potential '24 Games host candidates, with a formal announcement expected as soon as Friday. The source added that it "would appear to mean that San Diego and Dallas have been eliminated." The USOC will spend "roughly the next six to eight months performing 'due diligence' on the cities that made its short list" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/13).

Farmers Insurance on Friday announced that it "will remain with Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor" of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 5 Chevrolet for 12 races "for each of the next three seasons." The company currently sponsors the car driven by Kasey Kahne for 22 races. Kahne is "in the third year of a four-year deal" that ends in '15. Farmers also announced a promotion "where fans can help design" the car's paint scheme for the '15 season (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/13).

ESPN announced that in-progress and post-match '14 FIFA World Cup highlights from ESPN FC and live matches on WatchESPN will be featured on Google for relevant game, team, and tournament searches. Searchers across computers, smartphones and tablets will be able to access links to ESPN FC for recent highlights. Also, links to live matches on WatchESPN will be featured in search queries. The agreement with ESPN marks the first fresh in-game video highlights integration for sports on Google Search (ESPN).

The U.S. Open Tennis Championships formally unveiled its sponsorship with Visit Orlando Friday morning at a luncheon in midtown Manhattan. The sponsorship is tied into the USTA's plan to build a tennis complex in Orlando by late '16. The sponsorship though is a separate contract, and Visit Orlando will pay a fee for the four-year Open deal. Sponsors generally pay more than $1M for such deals. The tourism agency will get sidewall signage in Arthur Ashe Stadium and other smaller courts, and a promotional booth on-site. Visit Orlando replaces the tourism agency for Puerto Rico, which had similar inventory last year.

As part of Visit Orlando’s deal, the tourism agency for the state, Visit Florida, will sponsor the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, which is owned by the USTA. That deal also bumps the Puerto Rican tourism agency.

The average listing price on the secondary ticket market for Friday night’s Rangers-Kings Stanley Cup Final Game 5 in L.A. is $1,230.31, according to aggregator TiqIQ, with a low-end, get-in price of $574. The average price has dropped by 8.7% since the conclusion of Game 4 Wednesday night. The figure is comparable to the average listing of $1,149.62 for Game 1 at Staples Center, and $1,374.63 for Game 2.

But the figure is considerably lower for other recent potential Stanley Cup-clinching games at home. The average secondary market figure for Game 6 of the '12 Stanley Cup Finals, won by the Kings at home, was $1,703.57, with a get-in price of $696. The average figure for Game 7 of the '11 Finals at Rogers Arena, lost by the Canucks to the Bruins, was $3,834.74 with a get-in price of $1,455.

NASCAR this week is "staging nine races in seven series in four countries on two continents." The “super week” began June 7 with a race in England and concludes with Sunday's Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400 in Michigan. The sanctioning body "has spun off series in Canada and Mexico, plus developed the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series with stops in England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany." NASCAR COO Brent Dewar: "NASCAR has a big global presence, and I think that's surprising to a lot of folks" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 6/13).

Friday's "CBS This Morning" examined the marketing power of the FIFA World Cup's star players, with CBS' Elaine Quijano saying Brazil F Neymar "has been pegged as one to watch for his skill on the field and his style off of it." He "follows the lead of soccer's biggest star," Portugal F Cristiano Ronaldo, who has "defined why soccer is called 'the beautiful game.'" Argentina F Lionel Messi is "considered by many to be the best player of this generation," and Italy F Mario Balotelli "is one of Italy's most electric talents." Both "will be worth watching over the next month and both have capitalized on their soccer success."

N.Y. Times style reporter John Koblin said, "You sort of look at the soccer field as a runway. … (but) they have to play well, they have to be good. You can't just be beautiful and look great in an underwear ad unless you're good" ("CBS This Morning," 6/13).

With Fox taking over U.S. Open rights from NBC next year, Joe Buck and Greg Norman have been filing reports from Pinehurst for FS1. Watch Buck and Norman break down the tournament's first round (THE DAILY).

WWE's Alberto Del Rio, Titus O’Neil and Roman Reigns are helping the Ad Council launch a series of PSAs encouraging fathers to take an active role in their kids' lives (WWE/Ad Council).

"Formula One isn't working. It's declining because the FIA have forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency" – Ferrari Chair Luca di Montezemolo, who threatened to leave F1 to focus on sports-car and endurance racing, on the new F1 rules this year (WSJ.com, 6/13).

"No way in hell (he gets off). They are going to bury Wanderlei Silva. In my humble opinion" – UFC President Dana White, on the Nevada State Athletic Commission likely giving the UFC fighter a substantial suspension for refusing to undergo a random drug test (BLOODYELBOW.com, 6/13).

id29 Principal Doug Bartow: "Give ESPN’s Bob Ley credit. He has learned the game, and represents well on air."

USA Today's Dan Wolken: "UL-Lafayette giving Mark Hudspeth $950k base salary eliminates a lot of potential jobs for him. Only needs to leave for a big one."

USA Hockey Program Services Coordinator Michael Lukken: "Trying to follow O’Bannon v. NCAA trial while darting through airports is becoming difficult. Can anyone send me the cliff notes?"

Houston Chronicle's Brian Smith: "#Texans' Tom Savage is sticking by his college car. 2007 Chevy Malibu. Color: 'Terrible black.' Added: 'I don't like cars.'"

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

SATURDAY
MSG Promotions President Mimi Griffin will be inducted into the Women's Basketball HOF for her contributions as a member of the broadcast media.

As an addendum to its video encouraging soccer fans to use Twitter to follow the World Cup, the micro-blogging site posted this tutorial explaining how to use TweetDeck to refine preferences and searches.

FRIDAY
MSG Network will premiere "Phil Jackson & Derek Fisher: The Interview" at 8:00pm ET. The 30-minute special features Al Trautwig sitting down with Fisher and Jackson to discuss the upcoming Knicks season.

36 – Number of former Brewers players attending Friday's unveiling of the Wall of Honor at Miller Park. The club claims that this is the largest single gathering of Brewers alumni ever (Brewers).