Big Poppi’s long stroke wins HR derby.  The old-timer walked to the plate, a bat in his hand, four home run derbies worth of experience to his credit, and none of them a victory.

But it being the derby’s final round Monday night at Angel Stadium, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz could change that last part.

And, after several home runs, many of which sailed into the elevated right-field stands, Ortiz did, winning his first derby by beating Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez, 11-5, in the final.  (Read More).

Epic fails in dunking history.  

Now we gotta stop eating Guacamole and salsa!  Hot or mild, the salsa and guacamole Americans love to order in restaurants may be packing an unexpected kick, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The dishes were blamed for one in 25 identified outbreaks of food poisoning at restaurants between 1998 and 2008—more than twice the rate of the previous decade, the CDC said. Often, the outbreaks were traced to raw hot peppers, tomatoes and cilantro—common ingredients in salsa and guacamole.

Uncooked foods, such as salsa and guacamole, are risky because there is no heat to wipe out bad bacteria, says Lisa McBeth, who supervises food safety for the Qdoba Mexican Grill chain, based in Wheat Ridge, Colo. She said the company inspects suppliers, monitors its kitchens and prohibits bare-handed contact with food. “It’s the same risk you have at home if you don’t wash your hands or if your refrigerator isn’t working properly,” Ms. McBeth said.  (Read More).

World Cup duz big numbers but America still doesn’t like soccer.  Wow: The World Cup Final shattered U.S. ratings records on Sunday, drawing  24.3 million U.S. viewers.

Domestically, that makes it the most-watched soccer game of all time, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

The 1-0 victory by Spain, televised by ABC and Univision, surpasses the 19.4 million viewers that tuned in for the U.S. vs. Ghana match earlier in this World Cup.

The top 10 metered markets for Sunday’s telecast on ABC: San Francisco (14.7), San Diego (13.6), New York (13.1), Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (12.0), Washington, D.C. (11.9), Los Angeles (11.3), Austin, Texas (10.4), Seattle-Tacoma (10.0), Cincinnati (9.5), and Boston (9.1).  (Read More).