Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/345536
VICTORR.CAIVANO—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Argentina's Lionel Messi pumps his fists a er Argentina defeated the Netherlands 4-2in a penalty shootout to advance to the final a er the World Cup semifinal match. ByMattiasKaren The Associated Press RIODEJANEIRO Themostentertain- ing World Cup in a generation comes down to a final match that pits the planet's best player against the tour- nament's best team. Lionel Messi will lead Argentina out against Germany at Maracana Stadium on Sunday for a game that will define careers, cement legacies and be watched by a global audience of about a billion viewers. And it's a matchup that means more to both sides than just a chance to lift one of the most hallowed tro- phies in sports. For Messi, it's a chance to firmly make his case for being perhaps the greatest ever to play the world's most popular game. For Germany, it's an opportunity to make up for a number of near-misses over the last decade and re-establish itself as the domi- nant force in international football. And then there's the matter of set- tling a historical score. Argentina and West Germany played each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and '90, games that are well remembered in the sports psyche of both countries. Diego Maradona and Argentina won the first, the Germans took the second. So call this game the tiebreaker. "At this point who is favorite, who is not, it doesn't make a difference," Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodri- guez said. "Both teams feel a respon- sibility to go all the way." Most would name Germany as the favorite, especially after its as- tounding 7-1 drubbing of host Bra- zil in the semifinals. Argentina only reached the final after eking out a penalty shootout win over the Neth- erlands following a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes. Germany also dismantled Argen- tina 4-0 in the 2010 quarterfinals in South Africa. "Germany is a great team. What happened to Brazil could happen to any team," Argentina forward Sergio Aguero said. "(But) we have players WORLD CUP SOCCER MagicalMessiorGermany? Entertaining tourney comes down to best player vs. best team By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press MONCKS CORNER, S.C. Gone are the days when Bruce Ellington would rush from a basketball workout with South Carolina teammates to a football meet- ing room to learn the complex schemes of coach Steve Spurrier. Ellington's only focus is the San Francisco 49ers and making an impact on the NFL. "It was fun, all the rushing around," said Ellington, taken in the fourth round by the 49ers. "I thought I could do and I went af- ter it." Ellington hosted a youth camp Friday at his high school with his older cousin, Arizona Cardi- nals running back Andre Elling- ton who twice rushed for 1,000 yards while playing college ball at Clemson. Bruce Ellington actually pared down his workload in college af- ter playing three sports — he ran track, too — at Berkeley High. He helped his school win a state foot- ball title his senior year and many NFL New 49er Ellington focusing on football By Bob Baum The Associated Press PHOENIX The Phoenix Suns agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings for point guard Isaiah Thomas, two people with knowledge of the sit- uation said Friday. The people, who sought ano- nymity because the deal has not been officially announced, say Thomas is signing a four-year, $27 million contract. In exchange, the Kings get the draft rights to cen- ter Alex Oriakhi, a second-round draft pick of the Suns in 2013, plus a $7 million trade exception. One of the people who con- firmed the deal said the Suns see Thomas as a "perfect third guard" to play with Phoenix's dou- ble point guard starting lineup of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. He is not envisioned as a replace- ment for either of them. Thomas was a restricted free agent who was in Phoenix meet- ing with the Suns on Thursday and Friday. The Kings were not expected to match any offer. NBA Suns pick up Thomas in sign-and-trade A U.S. effort to discourage immigrants' repeated at- tempts to enter the country illegally by dropping them back in Mexico hundreds of miles away from where they were caught gets scaled back. IMMIGRATION Bordereffortsputters as migrants cross again FULLSTORYONPAGEB3 The Sacramento Kings' Der- rick Williams is hosting a skills academy July 28-31at Shasta High School. The camps are open to boys and girls ages 5-18. For more information email sschuster@sushd.net. YOUTH BASKETBALL Kings' Williams hosting camp in Redding The Red Bluff Bulls under-15 American Legion baseball team will host a doubleheader against Sonoma beginning at 1p.m. Saturday at Red Bluff Union High School. AMERICAN LEGION Bulls under-15 team to host doubleheader By Tom Withers The Associated Press CLEVELAND If LeBron James was going to win another NBA title, heal broken hearts and con- tinue building his legacy, he knew there was only one place to go. To Ohio. Home. Four years after he left for Mi- ami, a widely criticized depar- ture that damaged his image and crushed a long-suffering city's championship hopes, James is coming back to play for the Cav- aliers to try and end Cleveland's half-century title drought. He's re- turning to his basketball roots, to the people who know him best to make good on a promise. James made the announcement Friday with a powerful essay writ- ten for Sports Illustrated. His de- cision ended two weeks of specu- lation with the entire league wait- ing on his move. In the end, he chose Cleveland over re-signing with the Heat. "I looked at other teams, but I wasn't going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland," he said to SI. "The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy." James had not yet signed a con- tract, but he made it clear he will wear a Cavaliers jersey next sea- son. "When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission," James said in the SI first-person story. "I was seek- ing championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn't had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many ti- tles as possible, no question. But what's most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio." James is the league's best all- around player, a four-time MVP who was dubbed "The Chosen One" as a can't-miss high school star in nearby Akron. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, he can score from all over and is one of the game's best passers and defenders. Staying in Miami would have been easy. He could have made another run at a third title and NBA JAMES DECIDES TO RETURN TO CAVS Four-time most valuable player chooses young, unproven Cleveland stars for run at next title TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In this Oct. 10, 2006, file photo, the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James dunks against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter of a game in Cleveland. James told Sports Illustrated on Friday he is leaving the Miami Heat to go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. LORI SHEPLER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In this Dec. 25, 2009file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers in a game in Los Angeles. James has decided to opt out of the Miami Heat and rejoin the Cavaliers on Friday. Israel's prime minister vowed Friday to press forward with a broad military offensive in the Gaza Strip, insisting interna- tional pressure will not halt what he called a determined effort to halt rocket fire. MIDDLE EAST Israel leader: Pressure won't stop offensive FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 JAMES PAGE 2 SOCCER PAGE 2 49ERS PAGE 2 » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, July 12, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1