Final Scoreboard: Lakers-Celtics to Game 7, Swiss Upset Spain in World Cup Play

The Lakers mopped the floor of the Staples Center with the Celts, force Game 7 in the Finals. The World Cup favorite is stunned in its opener and the hosts are dealt a critical blow to advancing. A look at today's 'Final Scoreboard'...Lakers-Celtics: It's Going Seven

Part of me wishes that could I have gotten in some betting action on last night's Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Great Carnac, I am not, but I saw this coming a mile away. What was surprising was the outcome and how lopsided it was. The Celtics only scoring 67 points was a shocker, but when you look at the box score and realize that the Celtics bench only scored 11 points (the majority of it in garbage time) it's not too shocking.

The Lakers came out with a purpose last night to push the series to seven games. Ron Artest's impact of getting off to a hot start last night can't be understated and the Lakers bench finally got involved to make a difference. As we move to the series climax and dénouement all in one game, you have to figure that the Celtics losing Kendrick Perkins to two torn knee ligaments will have them fighting uphill Thursday. The team that has won the rebounding battle has won every game in the series thus far. If the Celtics want to stay on the floor tomorrow night for Title No. 18, they have to get production from bench front-court players like Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace, in addition to a near superhuman effort from the Big Three of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen.

World Cup Round-Up: Day Six

A World Cup that has started generally in a pedestrian manner finally has its big upset. Switzerland began the tournament a 250-1 odds long shot. Their opponent Wednesday was European champion Spain, who entered the tournament as the popular favorite to win the Cup. Playing inspired defense, the Swiss struck in the 52nd minute when midfielder Gelson Fernandes put the ball in the back of the net and pulled away with the stunning upset over the favored Spaniards 1-0 in Durban. Though Spain out-shot Switzerland and pressed for much of the match, they could not capitalize on a number of chances to get the equalizer. They now face an uphill battle in Group H with Chile's 1-0 victory over Honduras in group play today, which was their first World Cup win since 1962. An interesting stat: No team has ever lost its opening match and won the World Cup.

The host nation was dealt a serious blow to its chances to advance to the elimination round after a 3-0 loss to Uruguay in Group A play. Striker Diego Forlan scored two goals, a deflection in the 25th minute and a converted penalty kick in the 80th minute, to dampen the hopes of 'Bafana Bafana' and the partisan crowd in Pretoria. South African keeper Itumeleng Khune was sent off in the 76th minute for clipping the leg of Luis Suarez and he charged the goal. They will be watching closely as Mexico takes on France tomorrow with each team standing with 1 point. The fate of that game could greatly determine what South Africa will need to accomplish in its closing match against France on Tuesday.