RM returns Monday.  Picking Germany and Spain today.

No RM today as Canada Day festivities hang over the proceedings. Picks today: Holland and Uruguay. Yes, I said "Holland". Love me some Oranje!

Happy Canada Day

After 23 straight semi-final appearances in Grand Slam's, Roger Federer has now failed to make the semi's in two straight after yesterday's loss at Wimbledon, a place he practically owns.

Sounds like Chelsea have had enough of John Terry and will look to move him, as owner Roman Abramovich "has grown rather tired of JT's bloated sense of self-importance, and curious habit of sticking his nose into other people's business," not to mention sticking other part's into teammate's ex-girlfriends.

Adeus, Portugal!

The Quarter Final matchups are all set for the World Cup, and in Holland/Brazil and Germany/Argentina, you've got two that are finals worthy.  Shame two of those teams are going to go out.  The other match-ups will see Spain, who dominated Portugal yesterday everywhere but the scoreline, face Paraguay, and Uruguay face Ghana. The downside to all this?  No games today and tomorrow.  The upside?  Let's us all celebrate Portugal's demise free of distraction.

How is this for the first half of July: the final stages of the World Cup, Wimbledon finale, a huge UFC Heavyweight fight, and NBA and NHL free agency begins?

Sepp Blatter is now opening the door ever so slightly for FIFA, and one expert of replay technology looks at three ways FIFA could improve the game. 

A little less entertaining than the last 10 days or so, but still good fun in your Culturally Insensitive World Cup Goal Roundup for June 29th. Nice usage of a take on Sinatra's "My Way", and a little New Pornographers.

Okay Cliff Lee, three complete games in a row and the latest at Yankee Stadium is advertising enough that you are raising your hand for free agency.  Looking forward to seeing you in pinstripes, and if not for the fact my fantasy franchise got back CC Sabathia for you last year, I might regret dealing you.

A couple parents in Toronto are suing the hockey club's their sons play for after they were cut from said clubs.  If I'm a lawyer, I'm contacting the boys and offering a cut rate deal to sue the parents for ruining their kids lives.

A little depressing news today: Steve Carrell will be leaving The Office after the coming season.  Can't imagine them continuing without him, myself.

Wow, soccer truly hit the bigtime in the U.S. over the World Cup as a Texas man has been charged with murder after killing his 2-year old who wouldn't stop crying during the U.S.-Ghana game.  As the old saying goes, it's not life or death, it is far more important than that.

Manchester United legend and former Irish interntational Roy Keane took apart England  in this awesome verbal beatdown.  I fear Roy Keane.  You should, too.

A cheerleading expert posits that cheerleading is not in fact a sport.  In related news, experts in golf, poker and ice dancing are ducking for cover.

Worth your time today is a glance at these 30 hilarious police blotters.

Finally today, the Globe and Mail says that the German goalie is a cheat for not signaling that the goal on Sunday against England was in fact good.  As if that would ever happen.  I get the myopic intent of the message here about sportsmanship and all, but I'll blame the German goalie for not signaling a goal right after all sports are cleaned up of all fouls and referees are made unnecessary.

It is a real shame that one of Brazil and Holland - arguably with Argentina the most impressive sides at World Cup 2010 - will be going home Friday morning as their quarter final dance is set after 3-0 and 2-1 wins, respectively, yesterday.  Up today are Paraguay facing Japan at 10am (Eastern) and a tantalizing Spain vs. Portugal game at 2:30.  I've got Paraguay and Spain both victorious here.

Might the MLS save soccer from itself?  It could if FIFA takes it up on an offer from the U.S. Soccer Federation to test the usage of additional officials, goal-line technology or other ideas.  Why the need, you're wondering?  Because barely two weeks into the World Cup, we've got a full-on top ten list of the worst blown calls at this World Cup.

Not sure how the MLB Players Union will feel about pitchers who pitch the last day before the All-Star Break being ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game, what with potential bonuses they'd be foregoing.  Expect more of this story soon as CC Sabathia is a lock to pitch the game, but slated to pitch the Sunday game ahead of the ASG.

Must be a slow time for the folks at Pro Football Talk when they're speculating what hurricane season might do to games in the first few weeks of the season.

Some awesome stuff here in the Top 10 Worst Boxing Moments.

That's two straight losses for Stephen Strasburg, for those scoring at home.

Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo told Fan590 that it is very likely that Chris Bosh will be leaving the team.  Former Raptor Charlie Villaneuva tweeted that's he's off to Miami, joining that thread.

Aaron Hill and Adam Lind, two of the Toronto Blue Jays more reputable hitters, aren't batting their weight this year, in case you didn't know.

The American League beat the National in Interleague play 134-118 to run their overall record in Interleague to 1808-1652.  The AL has won the season series every year since 2003.

Your Culturally Insensitive World Cup Goal Roundup for June 28.

Damien Cox at the Toronto Star looks at the reaction in England to the curbstomping they took from Germany and says never again will he think Canada's reaction to a hockey loss is intense.  One great quote in an English paper said that if the British military had defended the country in similar fashion to John Terry et al, "we'd all be speaking German right now".  Ouch.

Expect UFC boss Dana White to be at the top of his game this week ahead of UFC 116 now that the one heavyweight he doesn't have that is viewed as tops - Fedor Emelianenko - lost in a little over a minute Saturday in a Strike Force fight.  The main event at UFC 116 is Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar facing Shane Carwin in what should be a dynamite fight of two powerhouses.

Enjoy the games.  Go Spain!

Way to go, FIFA.

Oh, FIFA, silly you for not taking any number of opportunities in the past to learn from your mistakes and figure that in this day and age, using video replay isn't only a smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do.  Two goals yesterday were scored - one in each Round of 16 game - that altered momentum and left the games looking like something less than legitimate.  Even if they only did the chip in the ball thing that would send a signal when the ball crossed the line - technology that already exists - they'd be at least half extricated from the mess they found themselves in yesterday.  FIFA's response to yesterday's debacle is to stop showing video replies in stadium. Very evolved.  As I said last week, shoddy officiating is the story of the tournament right now.  The one I'm surprised people aren't discussing is the poor shape of the field's they're playing on.  The field this morning came apart far too easily.  Somebody will get hurt.  Oh, Germany beat England 4-1 and Argentina beat Mexico 3-1 to set up a juicy matchup Saturday.  Cheer up, England fan, as you still have this.

In a round of 16 game this morning, Holland downed Slovakia on the strength of a beauty goal from Arjen Robben and another from Wesley Sneijder.  Slovakia scored a last second PK to make the blow a bit softer.  Holland will face the winner of Brazil and Chile, who kick off at 2:30pm (Eastern).

German publication Der Spiegel has broken a story that implicates a high ranking UEFA - Europe's governing body for soccer - in match fixing.  French language link here.

Entourage came back to the airwaves last night, and in celebration, here are some hot ass Entourage ladies.

One NBA source has called a LeBron James and Chris Bosh union in Chicago a "done deal".  Sportsbook.com had LeBron as +125 and Chris Bosh as +300 to sign with the Bulls.  Now, both are -300.  But wait, that's not all...Stephen A.Hole Smith says that he's heard from multiple sources that both will be joining Dwayne Wade in Miami.  How scary would that team be with that three headed monster?

Some aeronautical engineers confirmed what most with eyes could see.  The Jabulani ball being used at the World Cup performs inconsistently.

Since May 23rd, the Tampa Bay Rays are 12-19 and have dropped into third in the AL East.  And what's better than two teammates getting nose to nose because one BJ Upton isn't playing hard and Evan Longorria has to tell him about it?

Holland and Brazil are my picks for today.  Should be back with RM early afternoon at latest.  Some technical difficulties as my BlackBerry was a casualty of Saturday's dull Toronto FC draw with LA Galaxy.  Seems dropping it and spilling beer on it doesn't do wonders for it.

Picks

Playing England and Argentina today.