Sunday's Euro 2012 final is set. Shakira's boyfriend ready to help Spain mount its best defense against Italy:

La final de la Eurocopa será España-Italia! Vamoos! #euro2012

— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) June 28, 2012

Imagine what Mario Balotelli will accomplish by the time he's 30:

If italy win the Cup, #Balotelli would have won the euros, champions league, premiership, italian league 3 times, at the age of 22, BOSS.

— Big H(@iamhamdi1) June 28, 2012

Italy might ride this bus all the way to the Euro 2012 championship:

This is class, this bus in Rome changed it's number/destination to SUPER MARIO. #balotelli #euro2012 twitter.com/Now__Football/…

— Now Football (@Now__Football) June 28, 2012

Super Mario? Try superb?

Mario Balotelli: "Best moment of the night was when I saw my mother after the game. Those goals were for her" twitter.com/AnfieldCat/sta…

— Anfield Cat (@AnfieldCat) June 28, 2012

OK, the real Prince Charles might have kept Chancellor Merkel's message to himself. But his faux counterpart couldn't wait to spread the word:

Text from Angela Merkel: "I want that bloody #Balotelli's head on a plate".

— Prince Charles (@Charles_HRH) June 28, 2012

Ann Curry wasn't the only big name to make a surprising exit on Thursday. The big upset at Wimbledon was not lost in the Euro 2012 shuffle by this English footballer:

Wow nadal out , ballotelli scores 2 , Italy win , what a night of sport

— Robbie Savage (@RobbieSavage8) June 28, 2012

Rafael Nadal was humble and gracious in any language after losing to Lukas Rosol. (The very rough and not-at-all-literal translation: "You win some, you lose some.")

No pudo ser... así es el deporte, hay q saber celebrar las victorias y encajar las derrotas! enhorabuena a Lukas... fb.me/2fZKHm3ea

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 28, 2012

This is what happens when you go from 1,500-1 to 20-1 to win Wimbledon after upsetting the No. 2 player in the world:

Rosol post match interview 'I don't know what to say. I'm not just surprised, its a miracle for me!' twitter.com/Wimbledon/stat…

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2012

NBA Draft - "Believe It or Not Edition." Well, believe it:

I can't believe this... I'm in the NBA.

— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) June 29, 2012

It was a family affair for this father and son duo from Winter Park, Fla.:

Let the games begin lol!instagr.am/p/McPtSiKzVk/

— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) June 29, 2012

From austinjrivers on Instagram

More than one person tweeted speculation on who would be signed first in New Orleans: No. 1 pick Anthony Davis or franchise QB Drew Brees?

Welcome @AntDavis23 to New Orleans - the newest member of the @Hornets!twitpic.com/a1n3ay

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 28, 2012

The NBA draft triggered this tearful exchange between the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft, defenseman Alex Galchenyuk of the Canadiens, and the Bruins first-round pick and goalie Malcolm Subban. Galchenyuk had questioned why so many rookie NBA players were crying on draft night.

@SubbZero30 I heard u cried too lol hahah

— Alex galchenyuk (@AGally94) June 29, 2012

The New York Mets made a last-minute recruiting pitch to some heavy hitters in their quest to get David Wright elected to the All-Star Team:

Hey @snooki @billmaher @JerrySeinfeld @nas @jimmykimmel @VINNYGUADAGNINO @chrisrock! Did you #VoteWright yet? atmlb.com/LUpw21

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 29, 2012

If you see any offbeat and fresh newsy links from your favorite sports site that might be of interest to others, pass them along to me @billsperos or