Spain are the champions, I guess I was right.

Andres Iniesta struck a dramatic winner late in extra time to give Spain World Cup glory for the first time but condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a final.

By Paul Fletcher, Johannesburg

Iniesta drilled his left-foot strike across goal - but the Dutch were incensed after referee Howard Webb had failed to award their side a corner moments earlier when a free-kick took a sizeable deflection off Cesc Fabregas.

However, Euro 2008 champions Spain, who conceded only two goals during the tournament, deserved their victory after gradually taking a grip on a tense and bad-tempered contest that produced 14 yellow cards with Johnny Heitinga sent off on 109 minutes after picking up a second yellow card.


The Dutch, who lost in the 1974 and 1978 finals, were bidding to become the first side since Brazil in 1970 to go through World Cup qualifying and the finals unbeaten.

They had a glorious chance to take the lead in the second half but Arjen Robben, comfortably his team's most potent attacking weapon, could find no way past Spain captain Iker Casillas, who slumped to the floor and cried tears of joy after the final whistle.

Sergio Ramos was equally culpable of a glaring miss for Spain when he headed over and substitute Fabregas, as with Robben before him, also failed to convert a one-on-one chance.

But it was from a through ball by the influential Fabregas that midfielder Iniesta struck making Spain the first team to win a World Cup after losing their opening game of the tournament.

Spain also become the team to win to World Cup having scored the fewest number of goals - finding the net eight times in their seven matches. The previous mark was held by three teams including England in 1996.

The dramatic finale at Soccer City was in stark contrast to a hugely underwhelming opening 45 minutes, which was a brutal disappointment after the spectacular opening ceremony and moving appearance by former president Nelson Mandela that had preceded it.

Spain dominated possession in the opening minutes and looked to have the measure of an uncertain Dutch backline. Ramos almost put them ahead after just four minutes but his thunderous header was brilliantly saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Netherlands could not get a grip on the game but were helped by a spate of yellow cards from referee Webb that disturbed the rhythm of the match.

Webb booked five players in the opening 28 minutes, although several crude challenges left him with little option.

Dutch enforcer Mark van Bommel was booked after going through the back of Iniesta, while Nigel de Jong was lucky to escape red after planting his foot in the chest of Xabi Alonso.

Robben did force a decent save from Casillas with a low left-foot strike after cutting inside during stoppage time.

But the match had degenerated to the extent that Alonso opted to shoot with a free-kick on the wrong side of 40 yards instead of a seeking out a team-mate.

Spain defender Joan Capdevila wasted a good chance shortly after the restart, failing to make contact with a Carles Puyol flick-on.

The bookings continued after the break and the contest occasionally threatened to boil over as the tension appeared to affect the players.

But there were also a few moments of real quality, none more so than a sumptuous through ball from the largely anonymous Wesley Sneijder that played Robben clean through on goal.

Robben delayed his shot but, equally, Casillas stood his ground as long as possible and brilliantly saved with his legs.


It was a head-in-hands moment for Robben, but one quickly followed for Spain when a completely unmarked Ramos headed a corner over the crossbar.

Robben's pace troubled the Spanish defence throughout and another burst from the Bayern Munich man unsettled Puyol, who appeared to impinge his opponent. Robben, just outside the penalty area, chose to stay on his feet and Casillas again denied him.

Spain had moved into the ascendancy as the match wore on, with Xavi increasingly influential.

Fabregas replaced Alonso in the 87th minute and quickly made an impression by collecting a superb Iniesta pass, but the Arsenal man could find no way beyond Stekelenberg, who saved brilliantly with his legs.

The complement was returned shortly afterwards but Iniesta opted not to strike from 18 yards and was eventually dispossessed by the excellent Gregory van der Wiel.

Heitinger became the fifth man to be sent off in a World Cup final when he pulled back Iniesta on the edge of the area, giving Webb little choice but to hand him a second caution, and that seemed to spur Spain on for a final effort.

Joris Mathijsen headed over for the Netherlands in what was their only good chance of the extra-time period before Iniesta struck his late and decisive blow.

Hivi serikali maana yake ni CCM? Kweli?

Najaribu kuelewa mambo mawili matatu juu ya nchi yangu ya Tanzania. Yaani siamini kwamba nchi nzima inatega sikio kusikia ni nini kinaendelea katika mkutano mkuu wa CCM. Naweza kulaamu TBC kwa upande mmoja lakini sitakuwa fair. Ila pale itakapotokea ya kwamba hawatarusha mikatano mikuu ya vyama vingine then nitawaambia wakanyonye***
Naelewa kwamba siko peke yangu ambaye sielewi swala zima la u CCM lakini imekuwa ngumu kukutana na mtu mwingine tunayekubaliana sawasawa na kwa uwazi kuhusu ujinga huu. Nimekutana na watanzania mbalimbali ambao tumekubaliana moja kwa moja kuhusu ujinga unaondelea Bongo lakini kwa sababu moja au njingine hawapo tayari kuweka hadharani na kusimama kidete kuelezea umma wanachofikiri.
Moyoni ninaiota siku ambayo CCM hawatakuwa madarakani tena. Naota kuona mali walizojipatia kwa mgongo wa umma zikichukuliwa na serikali kwa sababu sielewi sababu yoyote iliyowafanya wakaachiwa umiliki wa vitega uchumi vyote walivyokuwa navyo wakati nchi ilipokuwa ni chama kimoja. Lazima tuelewe ya kwamba wakati wa chama kimoja serikali na chama ilikuwa ni kitu kimoja kwa hiyo mali za CCM ni mali ya serikali.
Mimi naamini kabisa ni rushwa inayofanya watanzania wote kuangalia matokeo ya mkutano mkuu wa CCM. Wagombea wa chama hiki siku zote humwaga fedha nyingi kwenye kampeni. Binafsi nafahamu watu waliojenga nyuma wakati wa kipindi cha uchaguzi. Watu wanataka kujua ni wapi kwa kupata kula.
Binafsi naona aibu ya kuwa watu wanauza kura zao kwa sababu ya njaa. Nawaonea huruma vyama vya upinzani kwa sababu ya kutokuwa na uwezo wa kushindana. Na ninaamini baadhi ya vyama vya upinzni si vya kweli bali ni vibaraka wenye kazi ya kudhoofisha upinzani.

Is is Spain?

I do believe Spain is gonna win it today not because the octopus said so but I believe they have a better team. Lets wait and see

US and Russia in Vienna spy swap

The US and Russia have taken part in the biggest spy swap since the Cold War, in an exchange at Vienna airport.

One plane brought 10 Russian agents deported from the US after a court hearing at which they admitted being agents for a foreign country.

The other was said to have brought four people convicted of spying in Russia but given a presidential pardon after they signed to admit their guilt.

Both planes took off again after about 90 minutes.

The Russian Yakovlev Yak-42 plane said to be carrying the four people pardoned by Moscow had landed at Vienna airport at about the same time as the Vision Airlines Boeing 767-200 from New York, carrying the Russian agents.

Television pictures showed the two aircraft parked side-by-side on the runway. Covered aircraft stairs were brought up to both planes and none of the agents could be seen being transferred.

The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says a swap on the runway would mean that no-one had officially entered the country.
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The next destinations of the planes have not been confirmed.

However, a senior Russian official was earlier quoted by Agence France-Presse news agency as saying the Russian agents were expected to arrive back in their homeland on Friday.

The lawyer for nuclear specialist Igor Sutyagin, one of those released by Russia, confirmed that his client had left Moscow, Austrian media said.

Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged the swap, saying it would mean the "return to Russia of 10 Russian citizens accused in the United States, along with the simultaneous transfer to the United States of four individuals previously condemned in Russia".
'Conspiracy'

The 10 Russian agents earlier pleaded guilty in New York to "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country". More serious money laundering charges against them were dropped.

History repeats itself as farce Who is Russia releasing? Vienna, playground for spies

Their New York court appearance was the first time they had all appeared in public together since being arrested last month.

Prosecutors said the accused had posed as ordinary citizens, some living together as couples for years, and were ordered by Russia's External Intelligence Service (SVR) to infiltrate policy-making circles and collect information.

BBC Washington correspondent Kevin Connolly says there is broad agreement in the US that the agents are being deported swiftly because neither government wants this to damage attempts to reset their often prickly relationship.

Court documents revealed the real names of five of the Russians involved:

* "Richard Murphy" and "Cynthia Murphy" admitted they were Russian citizens named Vladimir Guryev and Lydia Guryev
* "Donald Howard Heathfield" and "Tracey Lee Ann Foley" admitted they were Russian citizens named Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova
* "Juan Lazaro" admitted that he was a Russian citizen named Mikhail Vasenkov

"Michael Zottoli" and "Patricia Mills" had admitted earlier they were Russian citizens named Mikhail Kutsik and Natalia Pereverzeva, Anna Chapman and Mikhail Semenko had apparently operated in the US under their own names, while Vicky Pelaez was born in Peru.

An 11th suspect known as "Christopher Metsos" went missing after being released on bail in Cyprus, where he had been arrested.

The Kremlin named the four released in Russia as:

* Igor Sutyagin, a nuclear scientist jailed in 2004 for spying for the CIA
* Sergei Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the UK in 2006
* Alexander Zaporozhsky, a former employee of Russia's foreign intelligence service jailed for espionage in 2003
* Gennadiy Vasilenko, reportedly a former KGB agent

'Poor health'

The US state department said after the hearing that there would be "no significant national security benefit" in sentencing the 10 to lengthy jail terms.

"The network of unlawful agents operating inside the United States has been dismantled," spokesman Mark Toner said.

"The United States took advantage of the opportunity presented to secure the release of four individuals serving lengthy prison terms in Russia, several of whom were in poor health."

The lawyer for Anna Chapman played down the importance of the Russian group's espionage in the US.

Robert Baum told Associated Press: "None of the people involved from my understanding provided any information that couldn't be obtained on the internet."

A lawyer for Vicky Pelaez, John Rodriguez, said a Russian official had told his client she would receive $2,000 a month for life and free housing in Moscow, but added she would be allowed to leave Russia if she wanted to. Mr Rodriguez indicated Ms Pelaez would return to Peru.

The Russian foreign ministry said the exchange by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency was being conducted in the context of "overall improvement of the US-Russian ties and giving them new dynamics".

EAST WEST SPY SWAP

* 1962: KGB Colonel Rudolf Abel freed by US in exchange for Gary Powers, pilot of a U-2 spy plane shot down over the USSR in 1960
* 1969: UK frees Soviet agents Peter and Helen Kroger for Gerald Brooke, jailed for spying in USSR
* 1981: Guenter Guillaume, agent for East Germany's Stasi, exchanged for Western agents
* 1985: US agents held in Eastern Europe handed over in return for a top Polish agent, Marian Zacharski, and three others held in West
* 1986: Soviet dissident Anatoly Sharansky and three Western agents swapped for KGB husband-and-wife spies Karl and Hana Koecher and two other agents

LeBron James to Heat it up.

The most wanted man in league history decided Thursday night that it was time to leave the comforts of home to chase a championship.

The two-time MVP, a player with supreme skills but without a title, decided to join forces with fellow superstars, good friends and U.S. Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) - a dominant threesome that could rule the league for years to come.

“I can’t say it was always in my plans, because I never thought it was possible,” James said of this union with the two perennial All-Stars, players he has known for years. “I’ve looked forward to it. Those are two great players, two of the greatest players that we have in this game today. You add me, and we have a really good team.”

Landing James was a huge victory for the team president Pat Riley, who was able to corral the top three stars in an unprecedented free-agent class and now must resist the temptation to leave the front office to coach them.



James’ announcement ended weeks of speculation and capped a multi-ringed media circus in this age of social networking that spun out of control. It also concluded a somewhat embarrassing courtship of a player by cities, celebrities and franchises who fawned over the 25-year-old who doesn’t have a finals win on his resume.

New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Los Angeles and every other NBA spot came up short, finishing out of the money.

So did Cleveland. As it always does.

This time, losing was tainted with bitterness.

Once James shared his secret, fans poured out of the same downtown bars and restaurants that have thrived during these tough economic times. A few set fire to his No. 23 jersey while others threw rocks at the 10-story-tall billboard featuring James with his head tossed back and arms pointing skyward.

“We Are All Witnesses,” the mural says.

This was something Cleveland never thought it would see.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was as upset as anyone. He posted an open letter to fans on the team’s website ripping James and told The Associated Press he believes James did not play up to his abilities in Cleveland’s second-round loss to Boston.

“He quit,” Gilbert said in a phone interview. “Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar. … People have covered up for him for way too long.”

Not Gilbert, not anymore.

“As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier,” Gilbert wrote. “This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his ‘decision’ unlike anything ever ‘witnessed’ in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
Wade and Miami were the only city celebrating Thursday night.
(AP Photo)

“The self-declared former ‘King’ will be taking the ‘curse’ with him down south. And until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

“Just watch.”

Cleveland could offer James $30 million more than any team, but that wasn’t what interested James this time. He was willing to make less for something else - a title. Maybe a bunch of them with the 28-year-old Wade and 26-year-old Bosh in their primes.

“It’s about a team,” James said.

After leaving Connecticut, James touched down at a private terminal at Miami International Airport at 2:30 a.m. He was met by Heat officials, shook Riley’s hand, climbed into a car and was driven away while a small group of fans, paparazzi and other news media waited outside.

Meanwhile, outside the W Hotel on Miami Beach, 17 more celebrity photographers and about a few dozen fans lurched toward every SUV that neared the hotel entrance, eager to get a look at the two-time MVP. Also inside that club was Bosh, who walked in virtually unnoticed earlier in the evening.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, fans so accustomed to disappointment, were let down again - this time, by one of their own sons.

Not long after James’ decision was announced, one of his jerseys was shown being burned in the city’s streets.

“I can’t get involved in that,” James said. “I wanted to do what was best for LeBron James … At the end of the day, I feel awful. I feel even worse that I wasn’t able to bring an NBA championship to that city. I never wanted to leave Cleveland. My heart will always be around that area. But I also felt like this is the greatest challenge for me, is to move on.”

Even one of James’ teammates was distraught.

“I feel like my heart has been pulled out,” Cavs guard Mo Williams(notes) posted on his Twitter account. “But I’m happy for my friend.”

James’ decision ends nearly two years of posturing and positioning by teams hoping to add the 6-foot-8, 260-pound physical force of nature to their roster. He famously announced at New York’s Madison Square Garden in November of 2008 that “July 1, 2010, is going to be a big day.”

He wasn’t kidding. When the clock struck 12:01 a.m. last Thursday, a free-agent frenzy unlike any before it - in any professional sport - got under way with the enough speculation, rumor and second-by-second intrigue to last a lifetime.

March may be madness, but this was a year’s drama crammed into eight days.

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

Mel Gibson!! whats new?

LOS ANGELES – Mel Gibson is being investigated in a possible domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend earlier this year, sheriff's officials said Thursday.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department listed the actor-director as a potential suspect in the alleged attack on Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva at an undisclosed location in Malibu.

The two have been involved in a nasty custody dispute over their infant daughter — the subject of a confidential court case.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said detectives interviewed Grigorieva on Monday. She has been the only person interviewed so far.

Whitmore declined to disclose further details of the investigation or any potential evidence.

"We're in the process of verifying, verifying, verifying," Whitmore said. "All the allegations that have been put forth will be thoroughly investigated."

The allegations are being handled by the same sheriff's substation that handled Gibson's 2006 arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. The station in Agoura also covers Malibu, where Gibson lives.

The release states the incident occurred Jan. 6 and the investigation is in a preliminary stage.

A phone message left for Alan Nierob, Gibson's spokesman, was not immediately returned.

The Academy Award winner is no longer on probation for the drunken driving case and his conviction has been expunged.

The actor has not publicly discussed the breakup with Grigorieva, 40. The former couple first revealed their relationship shortly after Gibson's wife, Robyn, filed for divorce last April.

Whitmore said it may take a month to conclude the investigation. The results will then be turned over to the district attorney's office, which will decide whether to pursue charges.

(This version CORRECTS Adds that Gibson's ex-girlfriend has been interviewed, additional details. Corrects spelling of Gibson spokesman's last name to Nierob in 8th paragraph. Moving on general news and entertainment services.)

Do I care where LeBron will b next season?

LeBron James’(notes) inner circle told multiple NBA officials and players Wednesday night that the two-time MVP is leaning toward joining Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) with the Miami Heat, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

James’ representatives spent part of Wednesday calling free agents to assess their interest in helping strengthen the Heat roster. James’ camp, sources said, went so far as to propose scenarios where the Heat would trade forward Michael Beasley(notes) to create additional salary-cap space to sign a complementary player. In those conversations, the representatives spoke only of Miami as the destination for James.
Suspicion lingered in the league whether this was a clear affirmation of James’ intent or a misdirection play designed to generate suspense for his primetime TV announcement. James will announce at 9 p.m. ET Thursday whether he will play for the Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks or New Jersey Nets.

Bosh and Wade decided early Wednesday to sign with the Heat and invited James to join them in forming an All-Star triumvirate that could alter the NBA’s power structure. Sources said Bosh and Wade felt optimistic about their odds of landing the sport’s most celebrated free agent after their conference call with James.

“They think they’ve got a real chance to pull this off with LeBron,” a source with knowledge of the call told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday morning.

One executive whose franchise was among James’ initial suitors said Wednesday morning the Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers were the only teams still being seriously considered by James. James’ representatives did little to quash the Miami speculation when they began helping search for players to fill out the Heat’s roster.

The Heat’s efforts to sign all three players received a boost Wednesday evening when the league announced it had set next season’s salary cap at $58 million, a $2 million increase from what most teams had projected. The Heat can now give James, Wade and Bosh a more modest cut from the maximum salary to fit all three players under the cap. All three are also represented by the same agency, CAA.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Wade said he told the Heat they would have to get a commitment from either Bosh or James to convince him to re-sign.

“It had to be one or the other,” Wade told the AP. “Of course, there’s a lot of talented players in this league. But you want to look at players that complement my game, and Chris and LeBron are two of those guys.”

Even if James decides to sign, the Heat still have significant work to fill out the remainder of their roster. Beasley and point guard Mario Chalmers(notes) are the only two players currently under contract, which, sources said, has been a concern of James.

The Bulls reached agreement with forward Carlos Boozer(notes) on a five-year, $80 million contract later Wednesday in hopes of improving their standing with James. The Knicks previously gave Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) a five-year, $100 million deal while also hoping his presence would help sway James.

Still, the Cavaliers loom as the biggest threat to keeping James from playing alongside Wade and Bosh in Miami. Cleveland is limited to pursuing trades and using its midlevel exception on free agents as ways to improve its roster, but has one significant advantage over James’ other suitors: The Cavs can offer James a six-year, $125 million contract, more than $30 million more than what he stands to receive from the Heat in a five-year deal.

James’ strong ties to Cleveland and Akron have also continued to pull at him, which is why only a few people have characterized his intent to play for the Heat as set in stone. One former confidant said James is often indecisive, and with the announcement not scheduled until late Thursday evening it’s possible James could continue to waver.

“LeBron always waits until the last minute to make a decision,” said Chris Dennis, who used to run James’ foundation. “He always does.”