With the 2019 Copa America complete and hosts Brazil crowned as champions, Gab Marcotti dusts off his Monday Musings for a special Copa edition from Brazil.

Jump to: Copa brand is safe | Tite works magic | Signs of life for Argentina? | Gareca, Peru a delight | Tabarez gets angry | Japan, Qatar hold their own

Copa brand prevails despite CONMEBOL mistakes

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -- The Copa America is football's oldest international competition: you can trace its roots back to 1916, making it not just older than the World Cup, but actually older than CONMEBOL itself. That and the fact that it is home to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and other footballing blue-bloods suggests it ought to be leading, rather than following. Or at least doing its own thing, like Wimbledon and the white tennis balls well into the 1980s.

In some ways, it does. Familiarity breeds contempt and there's an edge to these teams on the pitch that you don't get at the World Cup or the Euros. The South American bid for 2020 refers to four "hermanos" and in that sense, they're like the brothers who not only beat each other up but also harbor deep-rooted psychological issues they privately share with their shrinks. That's why you get the fouls, physicality and gamesmanship that is a turn-off to some but a reason to be alive to others. We're so used to the slick, glossy veneer of the Premier League and Champions League that the Copa can feel like a throwback, with the same characters that adorn our in-season football somehow time-traveling into the past.

If that alone were what defined this Copa America -- hyper-competitive games, occasional jaunts into the dark side, century old rivalries and some of the very best players in the world -- it would be great. Alas, the 2019 Copa America threw up other wrinkles, entirely avoidable ones that make you think CONMEBOL could have done better.

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The venues themselves were excellent (my personal favorite: the Arena do Gremio in Porto Alegre) which makes sense since we're only five years removed from the massive spending of the 2014 World Cup. But ticket prices were poorly thought out, with the cheapest costing more than double the average price of a domestic league fixture and average prices well over $100 for a number of games. That's why you had more than 20,000 empty seats for Brazil's home opener and just 11,000 showing up in Porto Alegre for Peru vs. Venezuela.

Sure, the Copa America is CONMEBOL's cash cow. But anybody who understands pricing structures knows that first and foremost, you want full grounds: they look good on TV, they yield extra revenue via parking and concessions, they make fans happy and involved. Not to mention the fact that (and this is basic arithmetic here) you earn more from selling 60,000 tickets at $20 each than 10,000 at $100 each.

The pitches themselves could have been better. It's currently winter in Brazil, which is basically perfect football weather. When you've got highly technical players, as so many Copa America teams do, why not put them in conditions where they can strut their stuff?

And finally there was VAR or, rather, not VAR itself, nor even the way it was used on the main, but the cack-handed way CONMEBOL dealt with controversy. The silence, both official and unofficial, after the Brazil vs. Argentina game was deafening and needless. Once again, CONMEBOL had not helped itself.

For those of us who love a certain kind of football, the Copa America brand is too strong, its protagonists too big and too important for it to be seriously damaged. Maybe that's what breeds the complacency. You can't help but feel thought that this was a missed opportunity. And with the tournament moving to even years to coincide with the Euros from next season, you worry a bit about what happens when they have to further share the spotlight.

Tite does masterful job with Brazil

Tite and the Selecao did what was expected of them, lifting the Copa America at home just as they had done every other occasion it was played in Brazil. When you're expected to win and you deliver, the only way you get plaudits is if you do it in style and show progress. Unquestionably they have (and I'm writing this on the fifth anniversary of the Mineirazo) and that they've done it without Neymar is a further feather in the cap.

What strikes you most though is that, perhaps more than any other top side in the world, Brazil look like a club team and play with a chemistry and a tactical organization that international football often lacks. The fact that three of the back four (Dani Alves, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva) play their club football together at the same club (Paris Saint-Germain) no doubt helps, as does the having forwards who are smart and quick learners (Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus epitomize this, while Everton slotted in beautifully). Midfield remains a work in progress and while Philippe Coutinho wasn't the shadow we often saw at Barcelona, he didn't necessarily do enough to suggest he ought to be handed the keys to the team.

More broadly, there's a talent issue... maybe. Some of Brazil's most individually gifted players are either older (Dani Alves, Thiago Silva), absent (Neymar) or star-crossed (Coutinho). Others, like Arthur, Alex Sandro and Roberto Firmino, are great at what they do but have specific roles in which they excel. The obvious exception is Alisson, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now, and Marquinhos, a defender who's been long underrated. Plus, Everton and Gabriel Jesus who look as if they have another level to which they can go.

Either way, in terms of raw material Tite is under-resourced compared to past Brazil sides, which may explain why he's had to work so heavily on the tactical cohesion.

Signs of life for Argentina?

Argentina may have Lionel Messi but they also have a raft of concurrent issues, from the manager to the chaos at the FA to being painfully thin in certain positions. A lot can happen in three years, of course, and it's evident that a lot needs to happen if they are to compete in Qatar, but they did offer up a few bright spots.

Juan Foyth, playing right-back, showed he can more than hold his own though his future (you'd imagine) is in the center. Lautaro Martinez was a livewire who showed plenty of grit and personality. Those two will be part of the future, but they'll need help.

Gareca the star of the tournament

Long-haired and craggy-faced with deep set eyes, Ricardo Gareca was already a cult hero in Peru and only cemented his status with the runner-up finish as well as the 3-0 pounding of Chile in the semifinal. He has worked wonders with Peru, a country with tremendous support but highly limited resources in terms of players. The fact that he tends to play front-foot football, and often in situations where it makes more sense to park the bus, only adds to the romantic notions.

Most of all, he radiates pride like few other managers in world football.

"Do I want CONMEBOL to improve? Of course I do," he said after the final. "Do I want Peru to improve? Of course I do. But I also think we need to be aware of who we are as South Americans and the legacy of those who came before us. We don't need to automatically imitate Europe or other continents as a way to improve. We know who we are, we should work on our own style, our own culture."

Tabarez the king of the soundbite

Ultimately, the mantle of South American cult hero, picturesque demigod remains with Oscar Washington Tabarez. "El Maestro" whipped out some of his trademark, brutally (and yeah, to use a horribly overused word) refreshing quotes after his Uruguay team dominated Peru, had three goals disallowed but ultimately fell on penalties.

"They slowed the game down, they put men behind the ball, they played for penalty kicks in the second half, that was all they were interested in," he said. "Do I have a problem with that? No. We would have done exactly the same thing in their position. And, in face, we have done exactly the same thing, many times."

A whole lot of managers could still learn plenty from him.

Japan, Qatar more than hold their own

The two Copa America invitees from Asia acquitted themselves rather well. Japan's decision to send a young, experimental side made sense with three years to go until the World Cup. They were overmatched in the opener against Chile, losing 4-0, but then more than held their own, grabbing draws against Uruguay and Ecuador. Considering they left out the likes of Hiroki Sakai, Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Kagawa and a host of others, that's a good tournament.

The same can be said for the Asian champions, Qatar, arguably in a tougher group. They battled back from an 0-2 deficit to grab a point against Paraguay (and really should have done better) before succumbing only to a late, late goal against Colombia. Against Argentina, they conceded straight away but then came close to equalizing on numerous occasions before conceding a second late on.

The global landscape is changing.

It's MLB All-Star Week in Cleveland, and as baseball's biggest sluggers -- minus one Christian Yelich, who pulled out of the Home Run Derby with a back injury -- take aim at the Progressive Field fences and the brightest stars in the game prepare to battle for league bragging rights, we asked our experts on the scene in Ohio to weigh in with their long-ball and Midsummer Classic predictions.

Whether you are wondering who will be this summer's home run king, which slugger will hit the long ball we'll all be talking about or which All-Star showdown we can't wait to see, we've got it all covered.

Who is your pick to win the Home Run Derby?

Jeffrey Passan: Pete Alonso. I know Progressive Field plays better to left-handed hitters. I also know Alonso has the sort of power that renders fences meaningless.

Joon Lee: I'm gonna go with Josh Bell. His emergence in Pittsburgh this year has gone a little under the radar, but the switch-hitting Pirates star has moon-tower power and has hit some of the most majestic home runs of the 2019 season.

Dan Mullen: For the record, I had Christian Yelich for the win, but now I'm going to jump aboard the Pete Alonso train. Alonso has done nothing but destroy baseballs all season long, and I don't expect him to slow down on the big stage. And besides, something has to go the Mets' way eventually ... right?

David Schoenfield: I know this isn't a fielding contest, but I'm going Matt Chapman. The last-minute addition will shock everyone with a barrage of home runs. Plus, Chapman attended the Home Run Derby in Anaheim when he was 17, his dad will be pitching to him and he has always dreamed of participating. We already have a script to write.

Which non-winner will create the most excitement during the Derby?

Passan: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., because I couldn't pick Alonso twice. And because Vladdy, like Alonso, has the most to play for -- both can nearly double their $555,000 salary with the $1 million Derby-winning prize.

Lee: Everyone wants to see Vladdy Jr. hit some moonshots. His batting practices this season have been a sight to behold on a daily basis. At the Rogers Centre, people stop what they are doing to watch Vladdy slam baseballs into the second and third deck during BP.

Mullen: Yelich's last-minute absence opens the door for Vlad Jr. to make some serious noise Monday night. I'm not sure the rookie can put three rounds together, but if Guerrero puts on a show in the first two rounds, he's going to have plenty of buzz and lots of fans in Cleveland in the final round.

Schoenfield: Considering Cleveland fans were really into the celebrity softball game on Sunday, they're really going to be into Carlos Santana's efforts on Monday. If he gets on a roll, he could ride that fan support all the way to the title.

Longest home run of the night: Who will hit it, and how far will it fly?

Passan: Alonso, 514 feet. That's nearly 60 feet longer than his longest home run. Fine. The extra-juiced balls are coming out for this one.

Lee: Josh Bell, 490 feet.

Mullen: 506 feet by Josh Bell. How far over the Progressive Field fence is the closest Great Lake? Bell has a habit of depositing home run balls in the nearest body of water, and while he probably won't hit one all the way to Lake Erie, he's going to crush the longest ball of the night.

Schoenfield: Bell, 506 feet.

All-Star Game: Who will win and by what score?

Passan: AL, 4-3. In the past 30 games that didn't end with a tie, the AL is 24-6. This doesn't really matter, but guessing a score for an All-Star Game is entirely logic-free, too.

Lee: The National League, 12-7, but I also could not tell you the score of literally any All-Star game ever played.

Mullen: NL, 9-7. The NL simply has more star depth than the AL does right now. But the real question here is: Will the All-Star home run record set last year be broken? I say yes, with a dozen balls heading into the Cleveland night.

Schoenfield: The AL extends its winning streak to seven games with a 6-4 victory.

Your All-Star Game MVP pick?

Passan: Joey Gallo. He's the likeliest player to arrive later in the game, when it's still close, and hit an important home run. The All-Star Game MVP formula.

Lee: Nolan Arenado, but who really knows?

Mullen: Cody Bellinger. This is the Year of Yeli and Belli, but since we don't know if Yelich will participate Tuesday night yet, let's go with Bellinger hitting a couple of bombs to win All-Star MVP.

Schoenfield: When in doubt, go with Mike Trout.

What's the one All-Star Game matchup you are most excited to see?

Passan: Justin Verlander vs. Cody Bellinger: In the 2017 World Series, Bellinger went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts -- all swinging -- against Verlander. Safe to say Bellinger 2.0 is looking for a different result this time.

Lee: Mike Trout vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu. Two of my favorite players to watch going head-to-head.

Mullen: Justin Verlander vs. the heart of the NL lineup. At-bats against Verlander tend to end with a long ball or a strikeout right now, and I can't wait to see which of those two results we get when the Astros' ace takes the mound to face Yelich, Bellinger, Javier Baez and Nolan Arenado on Tuesday night.

Schoenfield: Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler against Alex Bregman, George Springer and Michael Brantley in some fashion -- aka a World Series preview.

For an illustration of how unexpected Paul George's trade request was for the Oklahoma City Thunder, look no further than Mike Muscala and Alec Burks.

The Thunder reached agreements with Muscala and Burks to open free agency last week, but after George's stunning trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City granted both players the opportunity to re-evaluate their options, league sources told ESPN.

Muscala will remain with the Thunder while Burks is signing with a different team, league sources said.

The Athletic first reported the situation and reports Burks will sign a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

Both Muscala and Burks were part of the Thunder's free-agency plan, with the veteran players added as part of a win-now mindset for OKC. Thunder general manager Sam Presti flew to Minneapolis to recruit Muscala as free agency opened on June 30. Burks was added to bolster OKC's second unit scoring and shooting. The Thunder also re-signed center Nerlens Noel.

But after George's request, the Thunder were prepared to honor the commitments on the agreements while also allowing the players to reconsider their situations. With George traded, the Thunder are changing course, focusing on rebuilding with draft assets and young players. They traded Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, collecting their sixth first-round draft pick in the past three days.

The Thunder have cut their enormous luxury tax bill considerably since George's trade and need to shave only around $4 million more in salary to get under the tax threshold. They are still evaluating their options going forward with Russell Westbrook, which includes a possible trade as they work with Westbrook and his representatives on an agreeable outcome for the franchise player.

European indoor champion sets Universiade record to win shot put in Italy

Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki set a Universiade record of 21.54m to win the men’s shot put on day one of the athletics at the World University Games in Naples, Italy.

Although the 2017 European indoor champion was unable to beat his personal best of 21.97m set in Rome last month, his university record throw was just enough to win the gold by 5cm.

American thrower Andrew Liskowitz took the silver with a personal best of 20.49m.

Having improved his PB by over a metre since finishing eighth at the 2017 World Championships in London, Bukowiecki will hope to be a medal contender in Doha later this year.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Jenny Nesbitt finished eighth in the 10,000m in a time of 34:27.50.

Nesbitt ran nearly two minutes behind her personal best in a tactical race won by China’s Deshun Zhang.

Zhang just had enough to break away from Japanese athletes Rino Goshima (34:03.65) and Natsuki Sekiya (34:05.84) to take the gold in 34:03.31.

Nesbitt was one of several British athletes to have competed throughout the day.

Mari Smith negotiated the first round of the 800m with ease, winning her heat in 2:07.66, while Taylor Campbell and Joe Ellis qualified for the men’s hammer final.

Sprinter Adam Thomas also progressed to the next round of the 100m.

Results can be found here.

Her Wimbledon run was so extraordinary that Serena Williams and Andy Murray had to cancel their plans.

"It was definitely the best week of my life," Coco Gauff told the BBC - few 15-year-olds will have had better.

This American - a qualifier, remember - is why Wimbledon 2019 will live long in the memory for all who have experienced it. She enjoyed a rise to stardom so rapid that she became the hottest ticket in town.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and whose face adorns posters in Gauff's bedroom, called her an "absolute star". Her eventual conqueror, Simona Halep, said "she will be top 10 soon".

The likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama, Jaden Smith and Beyonce's mum all became interested in the youngster from Florida, who, still eight months shy of her sweet 16, will soon fly back across the pond to finish her school year.

But despite her remarkable run to the fourth round at the All England Club, Gauff has remained humble and showed a maturity throughout.

"I learned a lot," she said. "I learned how to play in front of a big crowd. I learned what it was like to be under pressure. I learned a lot and I'm really thankful for this experience.

"I hope they learned about me - that I'm a fighter and I'll never give up.

"I hope they learned from me that anything is possible if you work hard, just continue to dream big."

In reaching the last 16, she pockets £176,000 but, not yet old enough to drive, plans to make her first purchase a new hoodie. She will soon go on a mini holiday with her family. Her parents - themselves former sportspeople - have been a constant by her side through her journey to the second week.

And a holiday is just what she needs. She looked out of sorts against Halep, an upset stomach blighting her performance as the Romanian former world number one proved a challenge too far for a player who, only a couple of weeks ago, was sitting a science exam.

Yet Halep, among others, has high expectations for the new kid on the block.

"She has potential to be a very good player," she said.

"It's a huge thing that she is able to play in the fourth round at Wimbledon, and if she keeps going, she will be top 10 soon."

How did she do it?

Twelve months ago, Gauff entered the Wimbledon junior competition and could not get beyond the quarter-finals. A lot can change in a year.

In qualifying at Roehampton in June, she became the youngest player in the Open era to qualify for the main draw, but it was her straight-set victory over five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams - 24 years her senior - that announced her arrival.

Next up was former Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova in a match that would see Gauff become the youngest player to reach the last 32 at Wimbledon since fellow American Jennifer Capriati, who reached the semi-finals in 1991, also aged 15.

Prior to the match, she had chatted with Roger Federer and was watched in practice by Rafael Nadal and, in a performance that belied her years, she looked at home on the grass as she wrapped up victory in straight sets.

Polona Hercog was the next to try to take her down, and it looked as though that was exactly what was going to happen when she won the first set.

Yet, in her most astonishing performance to date, Gauff saved two match points before launching a comeback even the very best would be proud of, one which forced Murray and Williams' mixed doubles debut to be postponed until the following day.

Despite a straight-sets defeat by Halep, Gauff leaves London knowing she has left her mark.

"It just shows that even though I'm young, my game gives these players a little bit of a hustle," Gauff said.

"I can't put into words how I feel, I don't know how long it will take until it sinks in."

Where does she go from here?

WTA rules dictate Gauff can play only 10 professional tournaments between her 15th and 16th birthdays. With five already under her belt, Gauff will make reaching next month's US Open her priority. Her Wimbledon performance has bumped her into the world top 150, a ranking that will leave her hoping to be handed a wildcard for the main draw in New York.

But now she is in the limelight, she won't be leaving it any time soon. She will need to be carefully managed, with new sponsorship deals and increased media interest undoubtedly headed her way.

But, as her "idol" Williams says, keeping her grounded falls on all the people around her.

"We're not famous when we go home or when we go to sleep and we shut our eyes," she said. "We really look at ourselves as anyone else. We really always try to remain incredibly humble.

"I really think it boils down to parents and role models.

"She's a complete star. I personally was nothing like her at 15. First of all, I didn't play like that. I didn't look like that. She's just so poised. I was somewhere watching cartoons, for sure."

Gauff has previously spoken of her desire to go to college, a "requirement" from her parents though she plans to complete her education online, allowing her to continue playing professionally.

"She will be a very tough opponent for everybody. If she keeps doing what she did here, she's going to get a lot of confidence and she can win big tournaments soon," added Halep.

"I think it's a good thing, a positive thing, for tennis because the juniors can see that everything is possible. They can get motivated. They get confident there is a chance for everybody."

PONTA VEDRE, Fla. – E3 Spark Plugs has expanded partnership with the National Hot Rod Ass’n.

Supporting NHRA racing across all platforms, E3 continues the company’s longstanding partnership as the NHRA’s official spark plug and official ignition products through 2024.

Since their initial sponsorship, E3 has grown into not just one of the major marketing forces behind NHRA, but has brought an entirely new line of racing ignition products to the sport.

E3’s patented DiamondFIRE Technology was introduced to NHRA racing in 2016 in the form of a new line of racing spark plugs that has gained a solid following and contributed to numerous national championships in the last three years. Following that success, E3 brought to market a complete line of Racing Distributors, Extreme Performance Spark Plug Wires and Coil Packs that work together to ensure optimum performance and wins at the track.

“NHRA has been a win-win for E3 and for the racers that participate in our NHRA contingency program,” said E3 Vice President of Motorsports Rob Fisher. “This extension of another three years to 2024 was an easy decision. Our goal is to support the NHRA racers, crews and fans by having a strong presence at events that fuel their passion for drag racing at its finest. We like the direction NHRA is heading with the evolution of programs like NHRA TV, Pro Mod drag racing, and Factory Stock just to name a few. Consequently, extending our contract underscores our commitment to the racers and fans.”

A schedule filled with midweek games stretched the resources of teams across Major League Soccer this round, leading to silly mistakes that really shouldn't happen.

We here at MLS Power Rankings wouldn't know anything about that. Thanks to a very nap-heavy daily calendar, we're always in tiptop shape. The Power Rankings don't make mistakes. The Power Rankings are prefect.

With all the majesty of a Zlatan IRBahimovic wonder-strike from midfield, let's get ranking.

Previous rankings: Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

1. LAFC (13 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses)

Previous ranking: 1

Next MLS match: July 12 at Houston (9 p.m. ET)

LAFC were back on their ... good stuff. After a strange loss in Colorado, Bob Bradley's team only put in 11 goals in two games this week against Western Conference opponents. The words "historically dominant" are starting to resolve into view, and there's no reason yet to doubt LAFC will march to a title.

2. New York City FC (7-8-2)

Previous ranking: 2

Next MLS match: July 14 at New York Red Bulls (6:30 p.m. ET)

No one beats NYCFC at home. Well, almost no one. The Sounders didn't do it on Wednesday, but Portland somehow managed to hand Dome Torrent's club just its second loss of the season overall and its first loss in the Bronx in a scrappy game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

3. Philadelphia Union (10-6-5)

Previous ranking: 3

Next MLS match: July 13 at Real Salt Lake (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

Knock knock. (You say "Who's there?"). Orange. (Now you say "Orange who?").

....orange you glad the Union aren't playing Orlando City anymore? Back-to-back games separated by four days between the same teams just feels weird. Let's not do that anymore.

4. LA Galaxy (11-1-7)

Previous ranking: 5

Next MLS match: July 12 vs. San Jose (11 p.m. ET)

Not only did Zlatan Ibrahimovic score twice and lead the Galaxy to a needed win against a weakened Toronto team but he did it wearing a shirt with his name spelled wrong. Maybe LA should consider leaving "Irbahimovic" on the Swede's jersey just in case it's good luck?

5. FC Dallas (8-5-7)

Previous ranking: 6

Next MLS match: July 13 at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

FC Dallas continue to hang around just behind the top tier of teams in the Western Conference, thanks to the young talent in the roster and the contributions of veterans such as Santiago Mosquera. Mosquera's early tally was the game winner in an Independence Day win over D.C.

6. Atlanta United (9-3-7)

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: July 14 at Seattle (3:55 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Five Stripes, one point from a double-game week. Wednesday's humbling in Chicago certainly leaked into Sunday's tilt against the Red Bulls -- not just because of fatigue but because Atlanta was missing Leandro Gonzalez Pirez via suspension. United thought they had a win against New York, only to have it snatched away by poor defending.

7. San Jose Earthquakes (8-4-7)

Previous ranking: 7

Next MLS match: July 12 at LA Galaxy (11 p.m. ET)

The Quakes watched a six-game unbeaten run -- four of them wins -- end in a midweek trip to Minnesota. It took an added-time goal from Danny Hoesen to get back to winning ways at home against RSL on Saturday. Does San Jose have the staying power to go on another strong run of form?

8. New York Red Bulls (8-4-7)

Previous ranking: 8

Next MLS match: July 14 vs. NYCFC (6:30 p.m. ET)

The Red Bulls get the Shrug of the Week Award after they took a 4-0 thumping in Houston on Wednesday, then executed a late comeback to earn a draw after they were forced to play the same day they arrived in Atlanta on Sunday thanks to travel issues. And next week is the Hudson River Derby!

9. D.C. United (8-7-5)

Previous ranking: 9

Next MLS match: July 12 vs. New England (7 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

It was a Texas-sized nightmare for the Black and Red in Frisco on Thursday. There's some relief that Wayne Rooney's red card was downgraded to a yellow, but the chances seem good that Luciano Acosta might miss more than a game after his stamp on Paxton Pomykal in the loss.

10. Colorado Rapids (5-4-10)

Previous ranking: 10

Next MLS match: July 13 at Portland (11 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The end of the Casey bump means the Rapids remain in last place in the West and fall below .500 at home. The danger is that a disappointing home loss damages the confidence of a team just starting to believe in itself. This is when Casey's real work -- and his audition for the full-time job -- really begins.

11. New England Revolution (6-5-8)

Previous ranking: 14

Next MLS match: July 12 at D.C. United (7 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

The Bruce-clamation project (these are definitely getting better) continued in Colorado on the Fourth of July. Commerce City is never an easy place to win, even when the Rapids are bad -- and the Revs now have a chance to jump into a playoff spot next week with a win against a scuffling D.C. United team.

12. Minnesota United (9-3-7)

Previous ranking: 16

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. FC Dallas (8 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Loons took six points from two games this week and have a three-game winning run going. The U.S. Open Cup tilt in midweek makes things a little more complicated for Adrian Heath, but the Loons have climbed all the way to fourth in the West and are starting to look like ... if you can believe it ... the real deal.

13. Montreal Impact (9-3-9)

Previous ranking: 11

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

It couldn't have started any better for the Impact versus Minnesota United thanks to Anthony Jackson-Hamel's goal 27 seconds in. That start didn't lead to a win, though, and the Impact will be kicking themselves for losing to a Loons team minus several starters. Next up, a rivalry clash with a TFC team that will have its big names back.

14. Portland Timbers (7-2-8)

Previous ranking: 15

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. Colorado (11 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Portland creep up the table continued this weekend after a road win in the Bronx over NYCFC. It was a momentous win for several reasons: One, NYCFC hadn't lost at home in 2019. Two, NYCFC has only two losses on the year in total. Three, the last time NYCFC lost a game it was the first week of spring.

15. Seattle Sounders (9-5-5)

Previous ranking: 12

Next MLS match: July 14 vs. Atlanta (3:55 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

A swing east for two games this week delivered a loss in New York City and a win in Columbus for the Sounders. The biggest difference between the two games was Nicolas Lodeiro, who returned from Copa America duty and a penalty and late winner at the death to secure the win in Ohio.

16. Houston Dynamo (8-3-7)

Previous ranking: 13

Next MLS match: July 12 vs. LAFC (9 p.m. ET)

In a span of six days, the Dynamo will have played against the league's worst team, FC Cincinnati, and the league's best team, LAFC. Houston suffered the shame of being the first team to lose to FCC since May 11. That doesn't bode well for next Friday's tilt against the Black and Gold.

17. Orlando City (6-4-9)

Previous ranking: 17

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Lions just finished a weird week in which they faced the Union in back-to-back games separated by four days and got a single point for the effort. Dom Dwyer scored in the weekend draw, which is a good sign that the forward can reclaim his form after paternity leave.

18. Real Salt Lake (8-2-9)

Previous ranking: 18

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. Philadelphia (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

RSL nearly played their way to a busy, unbeaten week, but a late concession in San Jose ruined a chance to extend a three-game unbeaten run. There's some extra sting on the loss because it vaulted the Quakes back over Real Salt Lake and into the playoff places. Will this one matter by the end of the year?

19. Vancouver Whitecaps (4-8-8)

Previous ranking: 19

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. Sporting Kansas City (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The most notable thing about the Whitecaps this week is that they were LAFC's latest victim. Conceding six goals is not good, but neither is anyone surprised.

20. Sporting Kansas City (5-7-7)

Previous ranking: 21

Next MLS match: July 13 at Vancouver (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

If Sporting is going to get back to its accustomed level, getting out of last place is the first step. A win from two matches this week was enough to do just that, though the progress from the win over Chicago will need to ramp up significantly. Strange stat: Daniel Salloi, the man who led Sporting in goals last year, has yet to score in 2019.

21. Toronto FC (6-5-8)

Previous ranking: 20

Next MLS match: July 13 at Montreal (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Reds interregnum is finally over with the Gold Cup done. How quickly Greg Vanney can reintroduce Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore is critical to getting the season back on track. Despite last year's struggle, seventh place is not good enough for a team that aims to win championships every year.

22. Chicago Fire (5-7-8)

Previous ranking: 22

Next MLS match: July 13 vs. FC Cincinnati (8 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Fire are our "Whiplash Team of the Week" after beating the defending champs 5-1 on Wednesday(!) and falling to Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on Saturday. The short rest and the trip to Kansas City make it tough to be tough on Chicago, but that's a big difference.

23. Columbus Crew (5-2-13)

Previous ranking: 23

Next MLS match: July 13 at Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

The Gold Cup is over. Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes will be back with the team, presumably for the trip to Orlando next week. That's the best possible news for the Crew, who are tied with [checks notes] an expansion team for the most losses in Major League Soccer this season.

24. FC Cincinnati (4-2-13)

Previous ranking: 24

Next MLS match: July 13 at Chicago (8 p.m. ET on ESPN+)

FC Cincinnati got themselves a big win over Houston on Saturday, the kind of win that lets everyone breathe again. Not a season-saving win, but a "hey, we can actually win, what a feeling" kind of win. The kind of win that maybe could turn into a winning streak kind of w... OK, maybe that's a step too far.

LOS ANGELES -- Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton says sexual assault allegations against him are not backed up by facts and are designed to attract media attention.

Walton made his comments in a court brief filed Wednesday in response to a lawsuit by sportscaster Kelli Tennant. The lawsuit is filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, and the Kings and the NBA are jointly investigating the accusations.

Walton's court filing claims Tennant filed a lawsuit nearly five years after the alleged assault, which the brief calls a "pleasant encounter,'' after she quit two jobs and needed money.

Tennant has said Walton attacked her in 2014 when he was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, but she was too afraid to file charges, though she did confide in others at the time.

"I was scared,'' she said. "I felt coming forward would jeopardize every aspect of my life.''

Tennant calls Walton a former longtime friend and mentor who wrote the foreword to a book she had written. When the coach was on a Warriors road trip to Los Angeles, she met him in the lobby of his Santa Monica hotel and he invited her to his room, she said. They discussed the book, and Walton allegedly grabbed her.

"Out of nowhere, he got on top of me and pinned me down to the bed and held my arms down with all of his weight while he kissed my neck and my face and my chest,'' Tennant said at an April news conference, adding that when she asked him to get off, "he laughed at me.''

Tennant's attorney, Garo Mardirossian, has said it's unlikely police would be able to put together a criminal case. Walton's lawyer, Mark Baute, has called Tennant "an opportunist, not a victim.''

The court filing last week says encounter was "very short, entirely pleasant and consensual," and did not include raised voices or groping. In the filing, Walton said he did not write a forward for Tennant's book and does not consider himself a mentor to her. They briefly worked at Spectrum Sports at the same time.

The court filing characterizes the meeting as "platonic in nature'' where Tennant was "entirely pleasant during the encounter.'' The filing also states Tennant waited beyond the statute of limitations to come forward and has no basis to seek economic relief from Walton because she quit her job at Spectrum Sports for reasons unrelated to him.

Walton is seeking for the lawsuit to be dismissed and Tennant to pay his costs and attorneys' fees.

Attorneys for Tennant and Walton could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.