Sports briefs

* Now that David Beckham officially arrived in the U.S. (image) his success will partially rely on the Latino community, according to soccer journalist Grant Wahl.

* With the Pan American Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro some news articles are highlighting the stereotype of sex and Brazil. Exhibit A - this article from Bloomberg on the “benefits” the Games will have on local prostitutes. (More on the Games below).

* Earlier today Colombian cyclist Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez won the 9^th stage of the Tour de France.

* Latin American players are dominating in Major League Baseball, according to this Spanish-language article.

* South American soccer bodies allowed an exemption for international games to be played in the high attitude of La Paz, Bolivia.

* FIFA will choose the site of the 2014 World Cup in October; Brazil is the lone candidate.

* More news on the events from the Pan American Games:

• As of Monday night, the U.S. leads the medal count with 30 medals, nearly double that of second-place Canada.
• For the first time ever, Puerto Rico won a men’s team gymnastics competition.
• Argentine dentist Juan Carlos Dasque won gold at the men’s trap shooting event and thus qualified for the 2008 Olympics.
• Despite the suspension of several baseball games on Saturday due to lighting problems, Panama upset perennial favorites Cuba 4-3.
• In a heartwarming story, Brazilian taekwando competitor Diego Silva opted before the games to compete rather than buy his mother a car for her to get to work. Yet after winning the gold medal on Sunday he has earned enough new sponsorship deals to get the car she desires.

Sources (English)- SI.com, Bloomberg, BBC News, International Herald tribune, USA TODAY, Reuters, People’s Daily Online, New York Times, TBO.com

Sources (Spanish)- El Diario/La Prensa

Image- ESPN Soccernet