Sports reports that the Celtics have agreed to a deal with free agent center Jermaine O’Neal. Details are still emerging, but the Boston Herald reports that it’s a 2-year deal, and that O’Neal will be paid $5.765 million for the 2010-2011 season.

O’Neal earned more than $23 million last season but was willing to take the $5.7 million mid level exception for a chance to win a title. And it’s good news for Celtics fans hoping their team can compete with the Miami Heat if they manage to sign LeBron James. O’Neal struggled mightily in the playoff series against the Celtics last April, going 9-for-44 from the field and averaging 4.2 points, but when he is playing well, O’Neal is a solid perimeter player and rebounder.

The move would ease the pressure of finding a replacement for Kendrick Perkins, who is expected to miss a large portion of the upcoming season following an injury suffered during Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics had been increasingly rumored to have interest in signing 38-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, a move that seems less likely now.

This gives Boston some frontline help that they need with Kendrick Perkins out until a couple months into the season. He also gives the Celtics some depth so Kevin Garnett can have his minutes scaled back and keep his knees fresh for the playoffs.

The 6-foot-11 O’Neal is a15-year NBA veteran, mostly with Indiana but most recently in Miami. Last season he averaged 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game.

O’Neal had a good season last year in Miami, a career high shooting percentage of nearly 53 percent and giving the Heat 13.6 points per game. His all around offensive game was better, as evidenced by a PER of 17.9, the best number he has had since his peak years early in the last decade.

The addition of O’Neal does not affect Boston’s interest in Kwame Brown. However, Brown would likely have to sign for the veteran’s minimum now.

“It’s all about team, winning championships,” O’Neal said. “That’s why I’m coming.”

A new champion will be crowned at the World Cup on Sunday, when Spain meets the Netherlands in a final which has the potential to be a classic.

Spain had been a regular World Cup participant and they missed many times to advance this far. This year at the World Cup 2010, Spain had assembled the best team ever comprising of players from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Well-organized and experienced but blessed with finesse and flair, Spain has the players to outplay any team in the world.

The Dutch have forwards, wingers and midfielders capable of slicing through any defense.

Robben is the play maker for Netherlands while Sneijder had been the goal hitting hitman. He had 5 goals so far and Robben also had 2 goals. Netherlands
has accumulated a total of 12 goals and a combined score of 12-5.

Spain has David Villa who ties Sneijder in the number of goals. He had made crucial goals in Spain’s game against Portugal and Paraguay. Then there is Iker Casillas, their dependable goalie. Spain has a total of 7 goals and a combined score of 7-2.

The highest point allowed by Netherlands to their opponents is 2 while they average 1 goal against them.

For Spain their highest goal given to their opponents is 1 and they have limited their opponents to nil in five of their six games.

The first World Cup final to be staged in Africa should be a memorable one if both teams bring their best game to Soccer City.

Although some of its stars looked short of fitness and form in the early stages, Spain produced its best performance in Wednesday’s 1-0 semifinal victory over Germany. It looked more like the side that brushed teams aside to win the European Championship two years ago.

“We’ve shown that in the big moments we can grow even more,” said striker David Villa, who is level with Dutchman Wesley Sneijder as leading scorer with five goals. “We should have scored more goals, but one from (Carles) Puyol has put us in the final.

“This is one of the greatest moments for Spain, for us to be in the final of the World Cup, it’s history. And we want to make more history in the final.”

The European champion faces a Dutch side which at times oozes class but has a habit of falling short when it really matters.

Although the Netherlands too has won a European title, that was back in 1988 and this is its first World Cup final since ‘78 when it lost to Argentina in Buenos Aires.

“It’s quite something to have achieved this after 32 years,” coach Bert van Marwijk said. “That only really sank in right at the end of the match when I was sitting there on the bench. But we can’t stop here. We have one more match to go.”

Van Marwijk is striving to brush aside the tendency to choke in the late stages. The team lost finals in 1974 and ‘78 when it had probably its best ever team and has since wilted in semifinals of both the World Cup and European Championship.

“We lost that (1974) final (against West Germany) when we should have won it,” Van Marwijk said. “We had a unique generation at the time, and Johan Cruyff was the best footballer I ever saw. What we’ve done in the last two years, though, is to try and eradicate that complacency and overconfidence.”

The Dutch have won six World Cup games in a row after eight in qualifying. Van Marwijk is confident he has a team who fight for each other, with attacking players chasing back to help out defenders whenever they lose the ball.

Arjen Robben is a match-winning winger with a fast dribble and powerful left-foot shot. Although Robin van Persie has failed to produce his best form so far, an appearance in a World Cup final may bring out the best in the striker.

Sneijder is there to unlock defenses with accurate and well-timed passes. But the Inter Milan midfielder has also contributed goals and could add the World Cup title to club triumphs in this season’s Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup.

“This is unforgettable,” Sneijder said after scoring in the Netherlands’ 3-2 semifinal victory over Uruguay. “I played in big finals last season for my club, but nothing is better than this tournament. We’ve got to savor this, enjoy it, and then give everything we have to claim the trophy on Sunday.”

Who will be the World Cup 2010 champion? Let us watch the Netherlands vs Spain World Cup Finals 2010 on July 11, Sunday at Soccer City, Johannesburg.

Carles Puyol has just scored his most important goal for Spain.

He launched himself at an Andres Iniesta corner kick and powered a header into the back of the German net in the 72nd minute for a 1-0 lead.

Puyol charged into the box and climbed above the defence to head home Xavi’s corner from the left. The winner will meet Netherlands in Sunday’s final. Germany and Spain are locked at 0-0 after 60 minutes of their World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, with the Spaniards having the best chances and dominating possession.

The World Cup is guaranteed a first-time champion if the score holds.

Spain striker David Villa’s close-range shot from a pass by Pedro Rodriguez was blocked by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the sixth minute.

Neuer stopped Pedro’s shot in the 58th, and Andres Iniesta missed from a tough angle moments later.

Piotr Trowchowski had Germany’s best opportunity, with a long-distance shot in the 32nd that was saved by Iker Casillas.

The match was interrupted in the fourth minute when a spectator ran onto the pitch and was escorted off by security guards.

The winner will play the Netherlands in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Germany haven’t won a World Cup in 20 years, and haven’t won the thing since reunification. This tournament looks like Germany’s chance to not only reclaim the World Cup, but to do so in a style that could redefine perceptions of German football. But they need to beat Spain before thinking about that.

Spain swept every one before them in the 2008 European Championship with a modern and controlled form of football based around a few midfield maestros. The German team defeated in Vienna that day had no such player, or rather they had no such tactical genius.

Bosh and Wade each are eligible for contracts that start at $16.6 million for 2010-11.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are teaming up together on the Miami Heat, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Bosh was selected with the No. 4 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft out of Georgia Tech, with Wade selected at No. 5. Riley had been interested in drafting Bosh ahead of Wade at the time.

Wade and Bosh are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday, according to the source.

A week ago, on the eve of the league’s negotiating period, Wade hardly was considered a concern at all. His re-signing was thought to be a formality.

It was not immediately clear whether Bosh will sign with Miami outright or join the Heat through a sign-and-trade deal. Bosh could earn $125 million over six years via sign-and-trade, but only $96 million over five without it.

“Either way, he’s definitely going to Miami,” the source said.

Bosh remains the guy both Wade and LeBron want–he is the connection to a title for them. He balances their game.

Wade and Bosh together would form the core of what could be a powerhouse team. However, with the two of them the Heat would have four players under contract, so there is a lot of team building to go on (building that could take a couple years to get near championship team caliber).

For James, the questions are harder if he does not go to Miami with the other two. Stay home where the heart is in Cleveland and bring Bosh there to be part of a team that would instantly contend? Or maybe LeBron joins Rose and Noah in Chicago? Joins a young core to build a dynasty with New Jersey? Joins Amare in New York to try to win on the biggest stage? No easy answers there.

Everything is murky, but Wade staying in Miami seems to fit the information. And Bosh may well join him for his day in the sun.

In Miami, a combo of Wade and Bosh makes for a better team, even without much around them so far, than Rose and Bosh.

It’s a slam dunk!

It’s hard to argue against the idea that Brock is the best “pound-for-pound” fighter in the world, and here’s why: remember the bully in elementary school? He became the bully because he was the biggest guy in the school, right? Well UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is the biggest, baddest dude in the UFC now and after withstanding the ominous talent of Shane Carwin in definitive fashion, there’s no doubt that he is the best in the world at all ranks.

UFC 116 ended last night with Joe Rogan calling UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (5-1) the “baddest man on the planet” after he defeated Shane Carwin (12-1). It is hard to make a statement such as that after watching his performance and comparing him to some of the other fighters in the heavyweight division around the world.

Brock did defeat Shane which is something I did not see coming. I was sure Brock would have his chin tested for the first time, which we did, and that it would be as soft as a down pillow. Let’s start by saying Brock did a good job of recovering and winning the fight via submission in the second round. .

Now to the real story of who the best heavyweight in the world is and why it is not Brock Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar took some hard shots from Shane in the first round and crumpled like a house of cards in a wind storm. Not only did he crumple, he essentially ran away using the good old “duck and cover” defense. While it works for children in a school yard getting beat by a bully it does not work for a man many will now proclaim as the top heavyweight in the world.

“The Baddest Man on the Planet” would never cower like what we saw Brock do last night. Had it not been for Shane Carwin gassing out after five minutes of complete dominance through ground and pound Brock would be a footnote in the UFC heavyweight division lineage.

We often over think things like inter-divisional rankings. Anderson Silva is by far the most talented fighter, and Georges St-Pierre may be the best technical fighter in the entire sport. But if you’re using a blanket term like “best”, then there’s no way that you can make an argument that Brock isn’t the scariest, meanest, most resilient fighter in the world.

Not all heavyweights have the kind of physical gifts. Lesnar moves like a middleweight, and punches like a charging rhino. His technical skills are still lacking, but how can you overcome his combination of sheer size, power, power, speed, agility and technical skill? For a guy that nearly died several months ago, to come back and defeat the interim heavyweight champion so decisively is an unearthly accomplishment. As far as UFC betting goes, Brock is a no-brainer until we see a heavyweight who can match him pound-for-pound.

Today’s second stage of the Tour de France brought the riders from the Flemish flatlands into the hilly Ardennes in the south of Belgium. The hills are category 4 and 3 but what lacks them in height is easily compensated by the steep descents along narrow and winding slippery roads.

An early breakaway guaranteed Jerome Pineau the polka dot jersey as he won the first three category 4 climbs that puts him on top of the climbing standings. The group was splintered and it looked as the entire peloton would cross the finish line in Spa together, leaving the stage victory to the strongest sprinters.

Lance Armstrong had every reason to smile as the first stage of the Tour de France headed into Belgium. After all, he had indicated the previous day that his intention to win a record eighth Tour de France, at 38, was far more than Texan lip service.

The American, who returned from a three-year break to place third in last year’s Tour, made that clear with his fourth place in Saturday’s prologue time trial over 8.9 kilometres in Rotterdam–an effort that showed he has the form to extend his seven Tour wins.

It has long been accepted that the opening time trial indicates who can win the Tour–and who cannot.

And with Armstrong (RadioShack) finishing best of the overall Tour contenders, at 22 seconds to the Swiss winner Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), he has proved he is a serious candidate.

Armstrong, racing in his last Tour, didn’t stop to talk at the finish line. But he later attributed his turn of form in the time trial to his work in getting fit again, rather than a return to excellence in the discipline. ”I knew I felt good, but [the good result] was more through general condition,” Armstrong said. ”The days of that being my specialty, of winning them, are in the past now. It is … there is only one more [a 52km time trial on stage 20] in my life.”

Despite his good spirits, it was also clear Armstrong’s performance had been fuelled by his anger after again being subjected to doping allegations in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal by his former teammate and friend, Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour title for doping.

Armstrong’s fiery rebuttal of Landis’s latest allegations revealed his mood, and he put that anger to good use several hours later.

One insider said Armstrong had told him that he had ”never been so motivated, nothing close”.

It was not just Armstrong’s high place that impressed, but also that his deficit was against a rider, in Cancellara, who is a time trial specialist. Cancellara, the Olympic and world champion in the discipline, clocked a winning time of 10minutes, 00.48seconds at an average speed of 53.4km/h.

”I am happy. Happy with the result, happy with the feeling–which may be more important than the result,” Armstrong said after his time trial in which he and Cancellara raced in dry and sunny weather–unlike most of the field, who had to contend with rain throughout the day.

Two-time winners Uruguay ended Africa’s World Cup dreams by beating Ghana -2 in a dramatic penalty shootout Friday after the match finished 1-1 during 120 minutes of play.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup just got incredibly interesting. The Netherlands defeated powerhouse Brazil 2-1 sending the tournament favorites home early. Uruguay, however, pulled off the most incredible “comeback” so to speak against Ghana.

The result means Uruguay
eturn to the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

Uruguay and Ghana seemed to be headed to penalty kicks with the game entering the 121st minute in extra time. Ghana was able to muster one last chance, a corner kick which would be the last play of the match before penalty kicks.

The ball was in the air; it floated; Ghana gets a head on it..saved by the goalie; they get a rebound; chested out by a Uruguay defender on the line; they get another kick..saved…but…it was blocked on a handball by Luis Suarez of Uruguay.

That means Suarez is ejected and Ghana receives a penalty kick; an unbelievable turn of events. Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan lines up for the absolute last play of the game before penalty kicks. He winds up, trots, fires and…it hits the crossbar!!!

Ghana was just inches away from wrapping up a spot in the World Cup semifinals. The chance of a lifetime was gone.

Now on to the penalty kick shootout…

Gyan, who had just missed the potential game-winning penalty kick, stepped up and buried his penalty kick. Diego Forlan of Uruguay matched it. The teams traded PK goals again. Ghana then missed…as did Uruguay. Ghana would miss again… but this time,Uruguay would take a one kick lead.

Ghana had one more chance. They needed a save to keep their dreams alive.

Sebastian Abreu for Uruguay calmly booted the ball into the net on a trick shot sending his nation to the World Cup semifinals.

It was surely, a devastating defeat for Ghana and Asamoah who had the chance to move on in the 121st minute on a penalty kick.

Luis Suarez was redeemed and his handball to stop a goal in the 121st minute ended up winning it for Uruguay. It should now be named Hand of God II.

The first Hand of God occurred in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico when Diego Maradona hand-balled a goal vs. England in the knockout round. He would later score the goal of the century to finish England.

It was both the best match of this World Cup and the most important win by a Uruguayan team in four decades, because it sent the South Americans to the World Cup semifinals–where they will meet the Netherlands next week—for the first time since 1970. And that touched off spontaneous celebrations throughout the soccer-mad country

World Rank Number 1 Brazil was defeated by Netherlands in their Quarterfinals match with score 2-1. Felipe Melo helped Netherlands win by scoring in Brazil’s own goal.

Brazil had a chance to put this game away in the first half, but they instead grinded away with a 1-0 lead. That opened the gate for the Dutch, who tied the match on a fluky own goal off of Melo.

In the first half, Brazil got the early lead after Robinho scored before the 10th minute. Brazil was able to hold on to that lead and it seems like they are way on Semifinals. However, in the 53rd minute of the match, Wesley Sneijder got a free kick. Felipe Melo tried to head the ball away, unfortunately, it went into the opponents goal, tying the score. In 67th minute, Wesley Sneijder made another goal giving the lead to Netherlands.

From there, Brazil seemed to lose its way. Melo eventually was red-carded for spiking Sneijder. Bastos was lucky not to get sent off earlier.

And Holland gritted out a 2-1 win. Argentina will be pleased to see their old foe gone, but nobody wants to face Holland.

They have found ways to win every time out, and it still seems they haven’t quite yet found their top gear.

Meantime, Brazil fails to reach the semis for the second World Cup in a row.

The Netherlands faces the winner of Uruguay and Ghana on Tuesday.

The background to the Canarinha smiling because of the three times he faced both combined in the finals, two ended with victory for the five-time champion. Netherlands vs Brazil was a great game.

Thus, for history and the obligation to continue to dream of winning the sixth bowl, Dunga had the following starting XI: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Alves, Robinho, Kaka and Luis Fabiano. Netherlands vs Brazil ended 2-1.

Van Marwijk, meanwhile, had to make a change at the last minute because Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up and could not participate in the meeting. His position was filled by Ooijer. So, the lineup was formed by Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Ooijer, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Jong, Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt and Van Persie.

The meeting began with too much tension at the wrong entries and a small dose of controversy, as the line judge annulled a goal to Brazil for clear offside Daniel Alves. Robinho had scored, but was good for nothing. Nevertheless, the Brazilian’s smile reappeared seconds later. Felipe Melo masterful pass between the lines and perfect definition of the former Real Madrid to the desperate Output Stekelenburg. Minudo 0-1 in ten. Too easy for Canarinha.

Dunga’s men played a pleasure after both stolen. Had an advantage on the scoreboard and knew perfectly handle the periods of play. They felt comfortable with the ball at his feet, but when the Netherlands had also dominated the ball. John could make the second in 25 ‘, but his shot went over the bar when it was easier to score. Netherlands vs Brazil ended 2-1 and Brazil goes home.

Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in a close-fought game in Cape Town on Tuesday. Vincente del Bosque’s side goes on to a quarterfinal date with Paraguay, who beat Japan in a penalty shootout earlier in the day.

The white-hot spotlight was on Cristiano Ronaldo as the star striker led Portugal onto the pitch for Tuesday’s highly anticipated clash with Spain, a place among the World Cup’s final eight at stake.

But after 62 highly entertaining yet scoreless minutes, it was David Villa who delivered the game-winner. Denied with his left foot, he knocked in the rebound with his right to lift Spain to a 1-0 victory in the first World Cup meeting between the Iberian neighbors.

It was Villa’s fourth goal of the tournament, tying him with Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the World Cup’s leading scorer. And it was the result of sharp reflexes and pinpoint timing against Portugal’s otherwise brilliant goalkeeper Eduardo, with Villa manipulating the ball like a marionette does a puppet.

Vincente del Bosque’s men now face Paraguay in the quarterfinals, after the South Americans defeated Japan in a penalty shootout earlier on Tuesday.

Spain came out of the blocks in fine attacking form, with Portuguese keeper Eduardo forced to make three saves in the first seven minutes.

The first real chance for the Portuguese came in the 21st minute when combination play between Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao led to Tiago receiving the ball and having a crack at goal from outside the box.

Spanish keeper Iker Casillas palmed the shot up in the air back towards his own goal, but managed to get a fist to the ball to push it to safety under pressure from Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida.

Despite several more attacking opportunities neither team were able to take the lead ahead of the break.

Both teams started the second half at high tempo, exhibiting attacking football. Spain finally cracked the Portuguese defense in the 62nd minute to take the lead after some nifty short passing by Andres Iniesta in the congested Portuguese goal box.

Iniesta fed the ball to Xavi, who deftly flicked a pass on to Villa on the left side of the penalty area. Eduardo managed to block Villa’s first effort, but the ball came back to the Spanish striker to put the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

The Spanish received their first yellow card of the tournament in the 74th minute, after Xabi Alonso brought down Pedro Mendes.

As the final whistle drew ever closer, Portugal were frustrated as the Spanish kept hold of the ball. Tiago was booked for a foul on David Villa.

At 89 minutes came the only red card of the game, for Portugal’s Ricardo Costa after an off-the-ball challenge on Joan Capdevilla.

With the victory, Spain advances to a quarterfinal against Paraguay, which defeated Japan, 5-3, in a penalty-kick tiebreaker earlier in the day. Portugal heads home “with honor and dignity,” in the words of Coach Carlos Queiroz, having staged one of the more impressive defensive displays of the tournament.

John Isner threaded a backhand pass beyond Nicolas Mahut as the Frenchman attacked the net, then–justifiably–fell to the floor. The final toll after 11 long hours and five minutes? 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.

His exploits over the previous three days took their toll as Isner lost 6-0 6-3 6-2 to Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker, a player 30 places below him in the world rankings.

Yawn tennis? Not a bit of it. “Herculean,” John McEnroe called it. When Isner and Mahut began their fifth set, on Tuesday, they were small fry in the tennis scheme of things. Wimbledon also-rans. Well, they have battered and bloodied their way into the sport’s history books, having contested a fifth set watched around the world, during which the standard never faltered.

No wonder that Isner confirmed what most had suspected. “I was completely delirious,” he said. Though not delirious enough to miss the meaning of the match. “This is something that Nic and I will share forever. I don’t think I’ve ever said five words to the guy prior to our match. Now when I see him in the locker-room, we’ll always share that.”

Less than 24 hours after playing his part in the longest match in tennis history–comprising 183 games–Isner’s clash with De Bakker was all over after just 25 games.

The American surrendered the first set of his second round clash with Thiemo de Bakker in just over 16 minutes, while his record-breaking deciding set tussle with Nicolas Mahut lasted 8hr10min.

A packed crowd on Court Five looked on as Isner received regular massages from his trainer just to keep him moving.

His demeanour from the start did nothing to encourage his new army of fans.

With his head bowed and shoulders hunched at every missed shot,he resembled the figure that struggled to combat fatigue on Court 18 on Wednesday, only this time there was no adrenaline to draw on.

Elsewhere the All England Club was gearing up for bumper crowds tomorrow as fans make the most of a weekend of hot weather, with Andy Murray taking on Gilles Simon in the third round.

Murray has played Simon four times, winning their most recent three matches, which all came in 2008.