ABCDE SPORTS thursday, july 8, 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
London calling Coach Mike London is selling a new atmosphere at Virginia to his first full recruiting class, and so far players appear to be buying. D3
BLOGS, MULTIMEDIA AND CHATS
washingtonpost.com/sports
Ask Boswell Today, 11 a.m. Thomas Boswell takes your questions on the Nationals and more. World Cup Check out the Soccer Insider blog, fan Wapo Cup fan blog, all-time results and all the coverage from South Africa. Wizards Insider Stay up-to-date on NBA free agency and how it affects Washington’s plans.
NBA FREE AGENCY
FOLLOW THE MONEY. BUT AT WHAT COST?
As top stars cash in, NBA left to confront its economic woes
by Amy Shipley
When LeBron James appears live on ESPN Thursday night to officially announce where he will play basketball next season, he will cap an unprecedented free agency period for the NBA. In the last week, NBA exec- utives have criss-crossed the country in private jets and luxury automobiles, passing out whop- ping contract offers like business cards and begging James and
other free agent stars to accept their $100 million deals instead of those from other teams. On Thursday, the first day contracts can be signed, at least eight play- ers are expected to ink deals to- taling around $800 million. Yet many who have observed the frenzied courting that has in- fected entire cities — Miami- Dade County was officially re- named Miami-Wade County for the week as the Heat sought to re-sign all-star guard Dwyane Wade — say the free-flowing funds and mad grab for stars be- lie a league in financial distress, its owners engaging in economic recklessness that is all but en-
nba continued on D4 Reality television: A sign of the times MIKE WISE
any people have asked me recently, “Mike, you used to cover the NBA regularly — do you know where LeBron James is going?” Being the responsible kind of columnist who checks his facts before he writes, I always promptly reply, “Yes.
M
“LeBron is going to Hades, which is worse than Cleveland. He will be sent there for putting us through this unseemly charade in which one basketball player who has won exactly zero NBA championships has decided to hold a league hostage because nothing else is on TV.” Will I watch “The Decision” at
9 p.m. on ESPN? Of course I will watch. Because let’s face it, America, other than authenticating the Shroud of Turin or finding a bathtub stopper big enough to plug a
wise continued on D4
TONIGHT, HE DECIDES WHO PAYS THE KING’S RANSOM LeBron James announces his destination on an hour-long ESPN special at 9 p.m. »
JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES World Cup 2010
Dunn’s power outburst
by Adam Kilgore Adam Dunn hopped up the
first two steps of the Washington Nationals’ dugout, chomping a piece of gum and holding his hel- met in his right hand. Only 10 ac- tive players have launched more home runs than Dunn, but none of those rockets had necessitated a moment quite like this. Dunn lifted the helmet, waved it over his head and pumped his fist. The brave, sweltering 13,762
MICHAEL STEELE/GETTY IMAGES Spain’s Carles Puyol, on ground, looking toward net, tallies the game-winner in the 73rd minute, just his third goal in 89 national team appearances. A Spanish breakthrough
A 1-0 win over Germany sends La Roja to its first World Cup final
by Steven Goff
durban, south africa — For dec- ades, Spain’s soccer history has been marked by the extraordinary success of its club teams. Now, after perpetual disappointment on the sport’s grand- est stage, Spain will play for the World Cup championship. With a 1-0 victory over Germany on
Wednesday in front of 60,960 at Moses Modhida Stadium, La Roja advanced to Sunday’s final against the Nether- lands in Johannesburg. It’s the first time in 32 years that two teams that have never held the trophy will face
EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS
Bastian Schweinsteiger and the Germans were seeking their country’s eighth berth in the final. They will face Uruguay in Saturday’s third-place game.
Sunday’s final Netherlands vs. Spain, 2:30 p.m., ABC
one another for the title. “We have been waiting for so many
years,” said Coach Vicente Del Bosque, who played for Spain’s national team in the late 1970s and has guided the current group for two years. “Our play- ers carried out their job in a magnif- icent way.” After dominating possession, Spain
finally broke Germany’s stout resis- tance in the 73rd minute. Veteran de- fender Carles Puyol, who squandered a can’t-miss chance in the opening mo- ments, launched himself at Xavi’s cor- ner kick and directed a 10-yard header into the right side of the net for just his third goal in 89 national team appear-
world cup continued on D8
fans at Nationals Park had coaxed Dunn out of the home dugout so they could applaud the final act of his historic night. In a 7-6 vic- tory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, Dunn, with the first such game of his 10-year ca- reer, became the first player to hit three home runs in a game at Na- tionals Park. After the third home run, Dunn blew a bubble while cir- cling first base. He accepted the milestone with his typically care- free demeanor. He was asked if knowing he had two home runs altered his approach in his final at-bat, in the eighth inning. “I don’t have an approach to change, man,” Dunn said. “That’s all I got.”
By joining Alfonso Soriano as the only Nationals players to hit three home runs in a game, Dunn reminded the franchise how forceful he can be. The trio gave him 20 home runs, tied for sec- ond in the National League with Albert Pujols behind Joey Votto. After the game, Ryan Zimmer- man reiterated how important he believes Dunn — and left fielder Josh Willingham — could be for the organization’s future. “One of the hardest things to
find on a team is a 3-4-5,” Zim- merman said. “Obviously, he’s one of the best four hitters in the game, has been for the last five or
nationals continued on D5
Overlooked Padres are looking down on rest of division. D5
PRO BASKETBALL Blue chips falling into place
NBA free agency begins to take shape as Chris Bosh agrees to join Dwyane Wade in Miami, and Carlos Boozer will head to Chicago. D4
D S
lifts Nats Slugger’s three homers help Washington edge San Diego for 7-6 win
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