Spain World Cup fiesta goes wild

World Cup: Spain erupted with its biggest fiesta in memory Monday when its football team returned to a jubilant nation after winning the World Cup, giving elated Spaniards a break from months of economic gloom and political squabbling.

Hundreds of thousands of people – if not more – jammed Madrid’s historic avenues as an open air bus ferried the national team down stately avenues to cheers from Spaniards decked out in a sea of red and yellow, the colors of the Spanish flag.

Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas said the victory meant “Spain’s name will be on top of the world for the next four years.”

• FIFA: Players should have behaved better: FIFA president Sepp Blatter says players on the Netherlands and Spain should have behaved better during the World Cup final.

Blatter says he expected more fair play during Sunday’s match, which had the most yellow cards of any final in World Cup history.

• Overall attendance 3rd highest in history: The overall attendance at the World Cup was the third highest in history, behind the 1994 tournament in the United States and the last World Cup in Germany.

• Pitch invader to appear in court: The man who ran onto the field at the World Cup final and tried to touch the trophy will appear in court on charges of trespassing and attempted theft.

Stern dismisses tampering by Heat

NBA: NBA Commissioner David Stern dismissed any notion of tampering charges being filed against the Miami Heat over its free-agent recruitment of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Stern said there has been no request for a tampering investigation among the league’s 30 owners, who met in advance of his media briefing, with Nick Arison, son of Heat owner Micky Arison, representing the Heat.

There had been concern by some teams about the three conspiring in advance of the July 1 start of free agency.

• Heat, Timberwolves finalize Beasley trade: The Timberwolves and Heat completed their trade that sends Michael Beasley to Minnesota for two second-round picks and cash considerations.

The 21-year-old Beasley averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Heat last season. The former No. 2 overall pick started all 78 games he played in last year.

Woods to play with Rose at St. Andrews

Golf: Tiger Woods will play the first two rounds of the British Open with Justin Rose of England, one of the hottest players in golf with two PGA Tour victories in his last three starts.

It will be the first time the two have been drawn together in the Open since 2002 at Muirfield.

• UNLV golfer takes lead at Public Links: Derek Ernst from UNLV shot a 6-under 65 for a one-shot lead on John-Tyler Griffin of Georgia Tech after the first round of the U.S. Amateur Public in Greensboro, N.C.

Ernest made nine birdies at Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center, five during an eight-hole stretch.

S. Williams cuts foot, will miss WTT season

Tennis: Serena Williams will miss the entire World TeamTennis season after cutting her foot.

The WTT said she was to have played four matches for the Washington Kastles, but she hurt the bottom of her foot late last week and needed stitches.

South Africa will consider Olympic bid

Miscellany: The president of South Africa’s Olympic committee says the country will consider a bid for the 2020 or 2024 Games.

A day after the World Cup final, Gideon Sam said the committee will consult with the government on the possibility of trying to host the first Olympics in Africa.

• Bolt to skip London because of tax rules: Usain Bolt is skipping next month’s Crystal Palace Diamond League meeting because of British tax rules.

• Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission board dissolved: Jamaica has dissolved the board of directors of its Anti-Doping Commission after a review found potential conflicts of interest.

Jamaica Olympic Association President Mike Fennell said that all 15 members were fired.

• USA Basketball national women playing in Hartford:

USA Basketball announced that it has scheduled two exhibitions for the squad, on Sept. 10 and Sept. 12, against the defending world champion Australians and Spain, ranked fifth in the world.

• NCAA may bar scholarship offers to young: The NCAA may possibly ban scholarship offers to recruits before July 1 in the summer between their junior and senior years in high school.

• Arkansas St. receives NCAA notice of inquiry: Arkansas State has received an official notice of inquiry from the NCAA concerning potential violations.

The school self-imposed a $43,500 fine last year after admitting “inadvertent mistakes” that led to improperly certified credits for athletes who transferred in.