World Cup

The final is set as Spain will take on Holland for football immortality. Neither have won it in the past but many would consider Holland to be the best team historically to have never won and Spain to be the best national team in the world over the course of the last 2-3 years. Paul the Psychic Octopus is predicting Spain to hoist the cup and he’s been pretty spot on. China’s own ‘Brother Future’, an anonymous forum poster, is predicting a 2-1 Holland win, but he apparently predicted this two days before the entire tournament started. I might tend to trust the mollusk over anonymous forum posters.

Luga’s Villa has been a hot bed of soccer fans, even for late weekday matches so tonight should be no exception. Just take the weather into consideration, because a good portion of their seating is outside. Many venues will continue to extend their hours for the game including Frank's Place, Eudora Station and Paddy O’Shea’s, while 24 hour mainstays The Den and Goose & Duck are agreeable options as well.

Other Soccer Links

• chinasmack.com: North Korea’s World Cup Loss To Portugal, Chinese Reactions
• chinasmack.com: North Korea Football Team spotted in Beijing, eating BBQ
• chinasmack.com: Lionel Messi apologizes to Chinese fans, “I feel bad for not living up to your expectations”
• chinasmack.com: China Abandons 2018 World Cup Bid, Chinese Netizen Reactions
• enovatechina.com: Chinese Youth Betting Heavy on the World Cup
• AFP: China firms shoot for the big leagues at World Cup
• modernleifeng.com: Tianjin Travesty
• dailybeast: China Goes Mad for Soccer
• cityweekend.com.cn: What's to Love About the World Cup?
• New York Times Goal Blog: Why Isn’t China at the World Cup?
• pekingduck.org: Where are China’s soccer stars?
• modernleifeng.com: Waka Waka Hey Hey*….
• The WSJ China Real Time Report Blog: Police Smash Soccer Gambling Ring
• chinalawblog.com: China Soccer As China Business Metaphor?

Basketball

The big news in the NBA, as everyone knows, is that Yi Jianlian was recently traded to the Washington Wizards for a pittance. “The Trade”involved other minor pieces and… OK, OK. Everyone wants to talk about Lebron. But I have nothing nice to say so just read this Bill Simmons mailbag and look at this picture. They say it all.

Other Basketball Links

• The New York Times’ Off The Dribble Blog: The N.B.A. Brand, on Display in China
• deadspin.com: Confusing Chinese Yao Ming Ad Here To Befuddle Us All

Notes & Link Drop

• cityweekend.com.cn: Woodward Park Isn't Just for Sk8ter Boyz
• The WSJ China Real Time Report Blog: Welcome to China: Join My Golf Club?
• AFP: Serena joins Li fan club
• People's Daily: China launches automobile Formula Grand Prix
• about.com Chinese Culture Blog: Yen-hsun Lu Beats Andy Roddick to Advance to Wimbledon Quarterfinals