After Serena Williams' victory in the Wimbledon final yesterday, Gatorade quickly followed up with a congratulatory ad. The spot, in which she describes the burden of being the world's top ranked player, opens up with Williams walking onto the court as her voiceover states, "People are going to expect you to win every time you step out on a court. It's going to be bigger news for you to lose than for you to win, but that's a privilege. That's what we play for." The spot then switches to a screen showing the message, "Congrats on 21, Serena," referring to her 21st Grand Slam victory, before closing by showing the Gatorade logo (THE DAILY).

An anonymous NFLPA exec late last week said that the union "is reviewing information to determine whether there was collusion" between the Broncos and Cowboys on the "unsettled contractual situations of respective franchise wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant." The union believes that the teams "had contact about each player's contract," which would be prohibited under the CBA. The NFLPA "now is trying to determine whether collusion did occur and when to file a potential a claim" (ESPN.com, 7/10).

The Sabres "sold 17,115 tickets" to First Niagara Center for Friday night's Blue & Gold Scrimmage, which featured the first look at No. 2 overall draft pick Jack Eichel. There were 11 NHL teams that averaged fewer than 17,000 fans per game last season, and coach Dan Bylsma said of the atmosphere, "Even coming to the game with the weather, it had the feel and excitement of a playoff game almost with the people that were here. Seventeen thousand for July 10. Pretty awesome." The Sabres, who "added an Internet stream in the hour before the scrimmage after howling popular demand" on social media, "pushed the faceoff back to 7:15 to accommodate fans because they could, since they were not beholden" to TV restrictions (BUFFALO NEWS, 7/11).

Fans began lining up outside the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati this morning for the MLB All-Star FanFest "hours before the showroom floor was open to ticket holders" (CINCINNATI.com, 7/12). The Cincinnati Zip Line Experience at The Banks, an MLB All-Star attraction, "was open to the public" last night "after a delay of more than nine hours." Some riders earlier in the day "were not making it all the way to the landing platform outside of Great American Ball Park's Joe Nuxhall Way entrance." Ride operators said that this was "due to some lighter riders not having enough momentum to pass through braking mechanisms near the end of the 700-foot-long line." Reds COO Phil Castellini "donned a harness so he could test the attraction" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/12).

MLB Giants fan Grace Witt last night at 6:20pm PST became "the 50 millionth paid customer to come through the turnstile at AT&T Park," which was punctuated when "orange confetti shot from a cannon at Willie Mays Gate, a jazz band played 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame,' and broadcaster Duane Kuiper was on hand to give her a hug and present her with a World Series jersey." At AT&T Park, it "took 15 1/2 seasons to accomplish what took 40 at Candlestick Park -- reaching 50 million in regular-season attendance" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/12).

The Univ. of Akron on Friday announced that it is cutting $40M in expenses, "including eliminating 215 positions and dumping the baseball program," as "part of a three-year plan to repair the public school’s troubled finances." The school said that the baseball program "requires 'substantial and costly renovations' and costs $700,000 to operate annually," or 1.4% of the budget. UA VP/Advancement Lawrence Burns said that scholarships "will be honored." The official baseball Twitter account tweeted, “We would like to thank everyone who has ever supported Akron Baseball. Please keep our players and coaches in your thoughts" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/11).

The future of IndyCar racing in Milwaukee "could be determined by how many tickets are sold" for today’s ABC Supply Co. Inc. Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee Mile Speedway. Wisconsin State officials estimated that attendance for last year's race was "between 25,000 and 30,000," and Andretti Sports Marketing Managing Dir Kevin Healy believes that attendance "will be 'a bit better' this year." He added that ASM execs "are negotiating with IndyCar to continue the Milwaukee Mile race beyond this year." The race has been run on a different date each of the past three years (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/10).

NWSL club Sky Blue FC drew a crowd of 3,014 -- "more than double their average" -- for yesterday's home match against the Portland Thorns, and "all four World Cup-winning U.S. players" on the teams' rosters were in attendance. But the crowd "fell far short of a sellout, which Sky Blue FC hasn’t had since the days of Women’s Professional Soccer league." Fans "never got to cheer" the women's national team players, "since a communication gaffe led to them not being announced" (N.Y. POST, 7/12).

Musician Taylor Swift on Friday night "honored the U.S. women's soccer team by bringing them onstage" at her concert at MetLife Stadium. The players brought their Women's World Cup trophy and "let the singer hold it." The audience "chanted 'U.S.A.' after they exited" (AP, 7/11).

Seahawks CB Richard Sherman spent yesterday "surprising" Nike customers "via phone and email by handling their returns and various issues" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/11).

Rutgers Univ. runs a full-page ad in today's N.Y. Times featuring U.S. women's national team MF Carli Lloyd, who played soccer at the school (THE DAILY).

Stars LW Patrick Sharp takes out a full-page ad in today's Chicago Tribune thanking Blackhawks fans. He played 10 seasons with the team before being traded Friday (THE DAILY).

Timepiece maker TAG Heuer named LPGA golfer Jessica Korda a brand ambassador (TWITTER.com, 7/11).

Galaxy MF Steven Gerrard yesterday "made his Galaxy debut against Mexico's Club America" before a "boisterous pro-America crowd of 27,924" at StubHub Center. The Galaxy won 2-1 (L.A. TIMES, 7/12).

Longtime friends of Univ. of Tennessee basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt gathered last night to "trade stories about Summitt's career and raise money for Summitt's foundation," which benefits Alzheimer's disease research, as well as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event was hosted by "GMA" anchor Robin Roberts (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/12).

Conor McGregor knocked out Chad Mendes last night at UFC 189 "before a sold-out crowd of 16,019 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena" (ESPN.com, 7/11).

Attendance problems at the Pan American Games, which began Friday in Toronto, "appear far from over as large swathes of empty seats could still be seen at some events" yesterday, particularly soccer and rugby (REUTERS, 7/11).

"I can't say enough positive things about this direction that NASCAR is going with less downforce. I felt like a race car driver tonight" — Driver Carl Edwards, on the new car setup that NASCAR debuted during last night's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway (AP, 7/11).

"I want to be here. I really like where I’m at and have worked really hard here. I’ve worked harder than I ever have in my career to understand things, learn things, develop relationships and really find a home" — NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, on ongoing negotiations to stay with her current team, Stewart-Haas Racing (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/11).

"We want to make sure that when your wife or your daughter goes in for a job interview, she gets the same opportunity that a guy gets. I think that's the bigger picture" — Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, on becoming the first woman to be a head coach of an NBA Summer League team (ESPN.com, 7/11). 

"Just extend it. I saw a kid get hit in Wrigley Field when I was a player and he was in a coma for two days. It's dangerous. They just don't have time to react and people block you out" — Yankees manager Joe Girardi, on whether to extend the netting behind home plate to other parts of MLB ballparks after yet another incident this past weekend (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/12).

"I very much agree that the name is offensive" — U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julián Castro, on the Redskins' nickname debate (NBCNEWS.com, 7/11).

"The ratings were astonishing. They were bigger than the NBA Finals. They were bigger than the All-Star Game is going to be by far. ... We went through this in ‘99 with that group. And people love events. And it was an international competition that ‘we’ won" — The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan, on the U.S. women's national team's popularity during and immediately after their recent World Cup run (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPNews, 7/12).

In Pittsburgh, Gene Collier writes diversity "veritably magnetizes" to the Pirates organization "from every direction." Over the course of their history, the Pirates established with the "first reliably impactful scouting system for Latin American talent, fielded the first all-black lineup without then-manager Danny Murtaugh even pretending to notice, signed the first players ever from India, [and] are employing at third base this weekend the first South Korean ever to jump directly from the Korean Baseball Organization to the majors."

In Miami, Sam Jacobs profiles MP & Silva Founder & President Riccardo Silva, whose company "now has annual revenues" of around $700M and 20 worldwide offices. Silva recently helped found NASL expansion club Miami FC, but despite his "new preoccupation with the soccer team, he said, 'TV rights is still 95 percent of our business, and it will stay that way.'" 

Elsewhere:

• Soccer becomes "sport by which Americans most passionately express" patriotism.
• Perceptions of Univ. of Illinois AD Mike Thomas "depend on who's talking."
• CBS News reporter Major Garrett in WaPo op-ed: "End The Home Run Derby."
• BOSTON GLOBE profiles "the man behind NHL Player Safety Department."
• A '65 Twins game put Minnesota "on the map as a major-league market."
• Nearly 20 NHLers "get relief" with convictions of two men who conned them.
• With NASCAR race next week, IndyCar race in '16, a look at N.E.'s racing history.

Ted Leonsis said he hasn't spoken to either the NHL or NBA about DC hosting an All-Star Game, but "certainly our fans deserve to have" one.

— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) July 11, 2015

I'm not surprised Harold Reynolds had distance of the pesky pole wrong by roughly 100 ft. I am surprised he didn't call it the doerr pole.

— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) July 12, 2015

John McEnroe = terrific analyst. Insightful & honest, yet respectful & w/o arrogance that some alltime greats have. Diff from playing days!

— Ben Schlosser (@benschloss) July 12, 2015

Kyle Petty and Ray Evernham bringing it so far on NASCAR America. And without hyperbole. Serious props.

— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) July 12, 2015

Enjoy @SteveLetarte #NASCARonNBCSN perspective brings what it takes to win from team perspective; very different from the other analysts

— Mike Hull (@IndyMHull) July 12, 2015

I'm corny enough to enjoy the interplay between Patrick and John McEnroe. Feels like neither would trade with the other. Not bad.

— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) July 12, 2015

My first day at ESPN was 10 yrs ago today. Time flies. What a great ride so far. pic.twitter.com/aDJiMI18ly

— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) July 11, 2015