Maytag and MLB today announced a partnership that makes Maytag the league's official washer and dryer in '15. Activation launches today with the "Filthiest Plays of the Week," in which Maytag and MLB ask fans to vote on plays made on the field. Baseball HOFer Barry Larkin will help promote the "Filthiest Plays." In addition, Maytag top-load washers will be installed in four ballparks, offering MLBers a chance to hit a home run into the machine and trigger a $1M donation to area Boys & Girls Clubs. This is the first time the league and appliance brand have partnered (MLB).

Yesterday’s MLB Futures Game, featuring minor-league all stars, and Celebrity Softball Game at Great American Ball Park drew an announced paid attendance of 43,661. The total was listed as a sellout, though the ballpark was a bit more than half full for the game. The Futures Game historically has been the weakest draw of MLB All-Star Game events each year, but has seen marked growth in recent years. The host club Reds had three of their prospects in the game.

MLB last night held an All-Star gala for more than 3,000 people at Cincinnati’s Union Terminal. The art deco building, currently a rail station, museum and theatre, was the real-life inspiration for the Hall of Justice in the '70s animated TV show “Super Friends.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred today at 1:30pm ET will conduct his first All-Star online Town Hall Meeting since assuming the sport’s top management role in January. The session, to be held at the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest at the Duke Energy Convention Center, will be streamed live on MLB.com.

The USGA announced that the '15 U.S. Women's Open drew a record attendance of 134,016 for Monday-Sunday at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. The previous record was 131,298, set in '05 in Colorado. Even "before the announcement was made" on Fox' live broadcast, "there was a strong sense from those working at the event that the '05 mark at Cherry Hills was in jeopardy." Golfer Michelle Wie: "It's been such a big crowd to play in front of. There is so much support and they were so excited to see us play" (PENNLIVE.com, 7/12).

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour John Deere Classic, which also concluded yesterday, drew "record-size crowds" despite some inclement weather. Jordan Spieth won the event and was the "marquee attraction" for the week at TPC Deere Run in Illinois (QUAD-CITY TIMES, 7/13).

Mitsubishi Electric today announced a deal to sponsor golfer Tom Watson, who will wear the brand's logo on his hat in competition starting this week with the British Open at St. Andrews. Per the deal, Watson will promote Mitsubishi Electric worldwide. The brand will explore other partner and community engagement opportunities with the golfer. This is expected to be Watson's final British Open (Mitsubishi Electric).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week is holding "several large-scale private meetings with House Republicans," including "sessions with top GOP leaders." House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) today is hosting Goodell "at a closed meeting of his whip team." Tomorrow, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) is holding "what she calls a 'Power House Lunch' with more than 40 lawmakers" so they can "hear leadership lessons from Goodell." Goodell also will meet with a "group of GOP chiefs of staff" (POLITICO.com, 7/10).

The four-day SEC football media days begin today in Birmingham, Ala., the first such event since the launch of SEC Network. “SEC Now” co-hosts Joe Tessitore and Dari Nowkhah will anchor more than "20 hours of as-it-happens coverage." The show will offer six hours today-Wednesday, 10:00am-4:00pm ET, with a half-day (10:00am-1:00pm) on Thursday. Monday-Wednesday, Paul Finebaum’s "simulcast radio show from Media Days will follow 'SEC Now' and run" until 7:00pm (Columbia STATE, 7/13). A total of 1,200 media members are expected to attend (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/12).

Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber yesterday said that Switzerland now has 81 reports of "suspicious financial activity linked to FIFA's decisions to let Russia and Qatar run the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments" (REUTERS, 7/12). Swiss federal prosecutors said that they had "new evidence of 28 acts of possible money laundering" linked to the '18 and '22 World Cup bid contests (AP, 7/12).

ESPN Radio tallied 2.5 billion total listening minutes in 2Q ‘15, a figure that is up 31% from a year earlier. Plus, the company’s podcasts logged more than 90 million downloads, up 27% from Q2 '14. ESPN plans to announce these numbers in an official release later today (John Ourand, Staff Writer).

Fox Sports has suspended NFL analyst Donovan McNabb “following his arrest for DUI” in Gilbert, Ariz., on June 28 (SI.com, 7/12).

NYC FC Sporting Dir Claudio Reyna has spoken with NWSL Sky Blue FC officials and has a "desire to explore having a women’s team" (TWITTER.com, 7/12).

The Sept. 19 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Chicagoland Speedway will be title sponsored by "Furious 7," the latest movie in the "Fast and Furious" series (Chicagoland Speedway).

Browns CB Joe Haden announced via Twitter that he is “joining Jordan Brand” as an endorser (CLEVELAND.com, 7/12).

Golfer Henrik Stenson today announced the debut of Henrik Stenson Golf Design. The golf course design business will be based out of Florida with a European office located in Sweden (Henrik Stenson Design).

MLB runs a full-page ad in USA Today touting the new format for tonight’s Home Run Derby: “Five Minutes, All They Can Mash. To Crush The Bracket, They’ve Got To Beat The Clock” (THE DAILY).

“I would prefer he wouldn’t. He is (our only representative), but I also want him to pitch for us the rest of the year, too” – White Sox manager Robin Ventura, on preferring that P Chris Sale not pitch in the All-Star Game (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 7/12).

“We won’t be doing that. That wasn’t part of the deal, and we’re going to continue to move forward” – Cobb County Chair Tim Lee, saying the county will not use general fund revenue or money from its contingency fund to build a multi-use bridge designed to span I-285 and connect the Cobb Galleria to SunTrust Park (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 7/13).

“I’m disappointed in how it’s really being portrayed, and how it’s being used. What is a laudable intent of covering cost of attendance is played out now in the recruiting game as being about funny money, play money, pocket money” – Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager, on the cost-of-attendance stipend (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 7/12).

“It’s a big deal. I hope this opens the door for more women to walk through and make a spot at the table in men’s professional sports. Guys don’t have to get up and leave the table, just scoot over a little bit” – Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, on coaching the Spurs Summer League team (MYSANANTONIO.com, 7/13).

The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL goes with the header, "Gambling Or Game Of Skill? Debate Swirls Over Fantasy Sports." Fantasy sports leagues "have caught the attention of casino and sports book operators," but "Nevada gaming regulators have cautioned the industry to keep its distance." Meanwhile, the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS examines the rapid growth of daily fantasy.

ESPN.com notes the "signs of a prosperous NBA are everywhere." With the "league in such a healthy state, what could there be to fight about" in the next round of CBA talks? One league source said, "The money."

Also:

• Pretzel chain employees may have toughest job at U.S. Women's Open.
• Pete Rose turns on the charm in long-shot effort to get back into baseball.
• Former LPGA pioneer Renee Powell joins R&A membership.
• Does DeAndre Jordan affair illustrate that power in NBA has shifted?
• Predictions on what is to come in the NFL to L.A. saga.

It always amazes me how so many athletes can spend their careers engulfed by diversity and multiculturalism, yet emerge unscathed

— jeffpearlman (@jeffpearlman) July 13, 2015

Can't remember the last time I watched SportsCenter and was as into it as I am watching it at a bar now.

— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) July 13, 2015

So long, #Wimbledon. Always an honor to visit you 17 days each summer. You always deliver. See you next year!

— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) July 13, 2015

#OnThisDay in 1930, the first-ever FIFA #WorldCup kicked off in host country Uruguay http://t.co/Ytmhve5OCs pic.twitter.com/R54KvsY4C0

— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) July 13, 2015

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19th Century British Literature.”

“‘I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel’ is spoken to this title character by his creation.”

“Who is Frankenstein?”