• MLB Giants' Sellout Streak Ends At 555 With Loss To Indians
• Visiting Cubs Help Braves Post Seventh Sellout At SunTrust Park
• Las Vegas NBA Summer League Easily Sets Attendance Record 
• Power Conference Status Is Big Theme At AAC Media Days In R.I.

The "longest sellout streak in National League history" ended last night when the Giants drew a crowd of 39,538 for a 4-3 loss to the Indians, the "opener of a 10-game homestand." That "ended the streak at 555 sellouts at AT&T Park: 530 in the regular season, 25 in the postseason." That run began on Oct. 1, 2010, with a "three-game series against the Padres that settled" the NL West in the Giants' favor. Many observers "have questioned the streak because seats were often available at the last minute" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/18). 

Meanwhile, the A's hosted the Rays last night before a crowd of 9,736 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the club's "lowest attendance since May 2, 2011," when it drew 9,193 spectators (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/17).

The Braves last night drew their "seventh official sellout at SunTrust Park" with a crowd of 41,256 that included "several thousand fans for the visiting team – little surprise because it was the popular Cubs." However, the "percentage of Cubs fans at SunTrust seemed lower than the usual contingent at Turner Field." Braves C Tyler Flowers said, “We like that. A little more energy, that’s always fun, even though a lot of them were ‘Chitown’ fans. It’s always good energy. You prefer that over 10,000 people.” The Cubs won 4-3 (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/18).

The Lakers emerged as Las Vegas NBA Summer League champions with last night's 110-98 win over the Trail Blazers at Thomas & Mack Center in the "culmination to the most attended summer league in Las Vegas history." A total of 127,843 fans attended games at Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack, up from a "previous high" of about 109,000. When discussing Lakers G Lonzo Ball's effect on attendance, Summer League co-Founder Albert Hall said, "It's great having the star power of the top players, but I wouldn't say summer league is any better or worse because of one player. There is just more awareness" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/18).

American Athletic Conference players and coaches are in Newport, R.I., for the conference's Summer Kickoff & Media Days, a two-day event culminating today with AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco's "annual state-of-the-American address." Broadcaster Verne Lundquist will host the event (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/18). Aresco is "expected to beat the drum for the Power Five to expand and include" the AAC (TULSA WORLD, 7/18). The "quest to be considered a power conference is alive and well with the hashtag #AmericanPow6r and a logo that was plastered all across Newport" this week (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/17).

It's all coming together. #AmericanPow6r pic.twitter.com/AJBaglulP3

— American Football (@American_FB) July 17, 2017

MLS execs are in Charlotte today "touring the city" and considering it for an expansion team, but the city has said that it "won't meet" with the MLS contingent. Charlotte officials as of yesterday morning "had planned to meet" with MLS President & Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott and other execs, but by "mid-afternoon, they had reconsidered." The city "did not say why the meeting had been canceled." Mecklenburg County (N.C.) Manager Dena Diorio "still plans to meet with MLS" today. Last week, county commissioners "canceled their meeting with MLS amid concerns over whether such meetings should be open to the public" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/18).

CHARLOTTE AGENDA goes with the header, "Where Is The Grassroots Support For Major League Soccer?"

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto today said that "uncertainty over the final budget" for the '20 Games "will continue" until '19. He said, "We will continue to explore more cost efficiencies." This comes amid "concerns regarding the higher-than-projected costs." The estimated price of hosting the Games "has doubled" to US$12.6B, up from the US$6.6B that was "proposed when Tokyo won the bid" in '13 (AP, 7/18).

The World Series of Poker "shattered its attendance record" this summer with 120,995 entrants, an "increase of more than 13,000 players" compared to '16 (AP, 7/17). 

Living Essentials, maker of the 5-Hour Energy drink, announced a Racing Throwback Sweepstakes, where the grand prize is a trip to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, along with a photo featured on the hood of the 5-hour Energy #77 Throwback Camry (Living Essentials). 

The UMass-Lowell athletic department has extended its partnership with Under Armour through '22 (UMass-Lowell). 

"This was a strong request of his to do it, and we were really happy to do it” – Celtics Assistant GM & Team Counsel Mike Zarren, on Paul Pierce signing a one-day contract to retire as a member of the organization (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/18). 

"I mean, he does call me every day about the team" – Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio, on MLB Commissioner Emeritus and former Brewers Owner Bud Selig (AP, 7/18). 

"I did invite him out to training camp. We’ll see if he does that. Hopefully he shows up. He’s a great player, we want to have him kind of in the tent, not outside the tent" – Lions President Rod Wood, on the team's relationship with former WR Calvin Johnson (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/18). 

"We went through some kind of tough years there, but certainly with Honda Canada's support, we've done a great job of keeping it going and building momentum and getting stronger every year" – IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe, on the company extending its sponsorship of the Toronto IndyCar race for at least three more years (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/18). 

The NATIONAL POST goes with the header, "Abandoned DraftKings-FanDuel Merger Could Spell The End Of Daily Fantasy Sports – And The Dawn Of Legalized Betting." It is "at least a decent bet (sorry) that full sports betting will be legalized within the next few years. People would be able to gamble on sports, and unlike with daily fantasy, they wouldn’t have to pretend they weren’t gambling."

THE UNDEFEATED profiles new Knicks GM Scott Perry, who "went from being unemployed to living out his dream in what felt like a New York minute." Meanwhile, the BOSTON HERALD reveals why Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge has been an "expert at handling criticism since high school."

Also:

• Philadelphia fans react to Allen Iverson not playing for the BIG3 over the weekend.
• Should women golfers have stood against President Trump at U.S. Open?
• The N.Y. TIMES' Richard Sandomir remembers Bob Wolff.
• WNBA President Lisa Borders on her path to league's top post.
• Former NFL exec Mary Owen discusses her late uncle, Bills Founder Ralph Wilson.
• Is Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert his own worst enemy?
• A's DJs fill Oakland Coliseum with summertime hits.
• Univ. of Memphis looks to flourish in AAC.

Early impressions of Royal Birkdale:
Terrific spot...and lovely mid-70s sunshine. Proper Open Championship weather is on the way it appears

— RonGreenJr (@RonGreenJr) July 18, 2017

Redskins president calls his QB "Kurt" Cousins and Panthers owner fires GM for playing hardball with veterans. This is why the Patriots win

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) July 18, 2017

that skins statement reads like a guy complaining he didn't hear back from a girl after texting her "u up" ten times

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) July 17, 2017

I love reading about schools that get it and provide these types of student-athlete dev programs https://t.co/AkmttwPLKf

— Matt Wilson (@dr_matt_wilson) July 18, 2017

🔥🔥🔥Honored to be SI top fashionable athlete in the #fashionable50 issue. .... https://t.co/djNQ3gV7UY pic.twitter.com/2DSzsgaQJK

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) July 17, 2017

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Deadly Creatures.”

“The National Ocean Service says one lethal type of this bone-free creature is the most venomous marine animal.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy” featured the category “A Day at the Horse Races.”

$200: “A horse may win a close race by a head or by this part of a head, sometimes literally.”
$400: “The Kentucky Derby is run the first Saturday in May at this Louisville racetrack.”
$600: “According to his 1989 obituary, this racing legend was survived by more than 300 sons and daughters.”

“What is a jellyfish?”

Correct responses to the “A Day at the Horse Races” category:

$200: “What is a nose?”
$400: “What is Churchill Downs?”
$600: “Who was Secretariat?”
$800: “What is a maiden?”
$1000: “What is a trifecta?”