Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

SOCCER
BRAZIL AWARDED RIGHT TO HOST 2014 WORLD CUP
Brazil was chosen host of the 2014 World Cup yesterday, returning the showcase event to the soccer-mad country that held the tournament in 1950 and has captured the title a record five times. Brazil was the only candidate and won in a unanimous vote by the executive committee of the sport’s governing body.
“Soccer is not only a sport for us,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. “It’s more than that: Soccer for us is a passion, a national passion.”
BASKETBALL
TIM DUNCAN, SPURS AGREE ON 2-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
Tim Duncan has agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs, an official familiar with the negotiations said yesterday.
The agreement will add to Duncan’s existing three-year deal and keep him in San Antonio at least through the 2011-12 season, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to discuss negotiations.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke about the extension before yesterday’s opening night game against Portland, though nothing official has been released.
“It shows him what we think of him and it adds continuity for all of the other players who are here — other players that we might want to sign in the future,” Popovich said.
FOOTBALL
COWBOYS QB ROMO SIGNS 6-YEAR, $67M DEAL
Wearing jeans and an untucked Dallas Cowboys golf shirt, Tony Romo treated yesterday as if it was any other day of work.
Well, there were a few difference. Such as the fact he brought mom and dad to team headquarters.
And the six-year, $67.5 million contract he showed up to sign.
On one of the biggest days of his life, Romo remained the average guy he’s been since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent five years ago. He said he was humbled by the $11.5 million signing bonus and by cementing a spot in the lineage of Don Meredith-to-Roger Staubach-to-Troy Aikman, but he also insisted the only thing that’s going to change is his tax bracket.