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SOUTHLAND VS OTAGO LIVE

2010-08-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

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Watch St George Dragons VS. Raiders Live || Raiders VS. St George Dragons Live || NLR Live

2010-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Watch St George Dragons VS. Raiders Live || Raiders VS. St George Dragons Live || NLR Live

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St George Dragons VS. Raiders Live

Match scheduled:
23-05-2010 from 07:00 until 09:00

Watch Warriors VS. Rabbitohs Live || Rabbitohs VS. Warriors Live ||NLR Live

2010-05-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

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Warriors VS. Rabbitohs Live

Match scheduled:
23-05-2010 from 10:00 until 12:00

Cardiff Blues VS Leinster live || Leinster VS Cardiff Blues live online

2010-03-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Cardiff Blues VS Leinster live || Leinster VS Cardiff Blues live online

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Rugby Magners League

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Cardiff Blues VS Leinster live
07-03-2010 from 17:00 until 19:00
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Sale Sharks VS Northampton Saints live || Northampton Saints VS Sale Sharks live online

2010-03-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

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07-03-2010 from 15:00 until 17:00
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Eddinburgh Rugby VS Ospreys live || Ospreys VS Eddinburgh Rugby live online

2010-03-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Eddinburgh Rugby VS Ospreys live || Ospreys VS Eddinburgh Rugby live online

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07-03-2010 from 15:00 until 17:00
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2010-03-02T04:22:00.000-08:00

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00

Tottenham Hotspur vs Hull City live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

Tottenham Hotspur vs Hull City live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00

Portsmouth FC vs Birmingham City live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

Portsmouth FC vs Birmingham City live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00

Manchester United vs Burnley FC live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Manchester United vs Burnley FC live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00

Chelsea vs Sunderland live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

Chelsea vs Sunderland live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00

Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham FC live / English Premier League live

2010-01-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham FC live

The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Match scheduled:
16-01-2010 from 16:00 until 18:00
06-01-2010 on 10:01

Bayonne vs Racing Metro live / Rugby: European Challenge Cup

2010-01-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Rugby: European Challenge Cup!

Bayonne vs Racing Metro live

Match scheduled:
15-01-2010 from 20:45 until 22:45

Ulster Rugby vs Eddinburgh Rugby live / Rugby: Heineken Cup

2010-01-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

Ulster Rugby vs Eddinburgh Rugby live

Livethe big rugby Heineken Cup!

Match scheduled:
15-01-2010 from 20:30 until 22:30

Andy Reid Expletive

2009-12-29T10:23:00.000-08:00

Brandon Stokley Ejected For slapping Ref .. Broncos vs. Eagles

2009-12-29T10:22:00.001-08:00

NFL Week 16 2009 - Jets VS Colts Highlights

2009-12-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

NFL Week 16 2009 - Panthers VS Giants Highlights

2009-12-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Manchester City vs Stoke City 26/12/09

2009-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Vikings VS San Francisco 49ers 2009 WEEK 3 highlights

2009-12-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre highlights vs. 49ers

2009-12-29T10:16:00.000-08:00

Lakers vs Cavaliers -Fans Throw Foam Fingers onto the Court on Christmas HD 12-25-09

2009-12-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre Game Winning TD Pass to Greg Lewis..Vikings vs. 49ers

2009-12-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup:Botswana in WC fever

2009-12-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Playing on a dusty ground with no sign of grass under Botswana's scorching desert sun, with shoes that have seen better days, young footballers dream of their heroes arriving in Africa for the World Cup.

"I think I would go mad the day I will see great football stars face to face," said Masego Mmolotsi, who plays for the middle division team Amagents FC.

"They are my heroes and they are the reasons why I am playing soccer, I just cannot do without football," he told AFP.

Botswana, like South Africa's other neighbours, are hoping that at least one of the World Cup teams will camp and practise on their soil. Mmolotsi said he hopes to have a chance to see stars like France's Thierry Henry, England's Wayne Rooney or Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo.

"We are hoping it will make a big difference. Gaborone is hoping to host one of the big teams for a training camp here -- that would be fantastic," said Jonathan Laverick, British coach for Amagents, whose skills have been pressed into service for a country even more football-mad than his homeland.

"Hopefully it will all go off perfectly and people will have a really nice time, and see what Africa's really all about," he said.

"Football is the biggest thing in Botswana. Every village, every school, every work, every company has a football team. Come five o'clock, every football pitch in Botswana has people training on it -- it is the life of Botswana," he added.

In Botswana, the enthusiasm has also been fuelled by a new government programme that has created 1,582 community football teams, in a nation with just 1.9 million people.

President Ian Khama launched the scheme after he took office last year, and even highlighted its success in his state of the nation address last month.

"We shall therefore continue supporting these competitions, which are providing entertainment, promoting fitness and inculcating a spirit of camaraderie and shared values among participants," he said.

Most of these new teams operate on a shoestring budget. In 10 years, Amagents have climbed from the bottom of the fifth division to the top of the second, but they're still light years away from the turnover of even bottom-rung European clubs.

"As a club we probably survive on about 1,000 pounds (1,600 dollars, 1,100 euros) a year. That goes on kit for the first team that goes on kit for the youth team. Our biggest expense is probably footballs -- all the balls you see here today, we've stolen," Laverick said.

But here players say the excitement is more about associating themselves with the World Cup, as well as hopes for some economic spill over from the 450,000 foreign fans expected in South Africa for the month-long tournament that kicks off on June 11.

Barclays English Premier League:Berbatov eyeing glory

2009-12-29T10:06:00.001-08:00

Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov believes his side will retain their Premier League crown this season ahead of Wednesday's encounter with Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.

A Wayne Rooney-inspired 3-1 victory over Hull City on Sunday helped United reduce Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to just two points - prior to the Blues edging Fulham on Monday.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson stated publicly earlier this season that if his side are that close to Chelsea on the eve of 2010 then he would expect them to win their fourth consecutive league championship and Berbatov agrees.

"I think we are in a great position," said the Bulgaria striker.

"There are still a lot of games to go and it will be difficult, but in the end I think we'll end on top," Berbatov added.

"We've had a difficult time with injuries, but we still have a great squad and players are starting to come back and we will go on a winning run now.

"The boss knows what to do in terms of changing things when he needs to and I'm sure we'll finish on top at the end of the season."

Berbatov is not exaggerating when discussing United's injury plight.

They have been short of most of their recognised first team defenders with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Jonny Evans all recently struggling.

The tide would appear to be turning though for Ferguson's side as he welcomed back Brown and Vidic for the match with Hull and the United manager believes the return of those two at the back will help United overcome Wigan.

"Hull was a step forward for us," Ferguson said.

"We've got the win which is very important as we're entering a crucial stage, and we've got two of our centre-backs back which will make a big difference to us. And they were absolutely magnificent (against Hull)."

Wigan will make the short journey to Old Trafford knowing history is against them.

United have won all 10 previous matches against the Latics - scoring 30 goals - and this season's reverse ended in a 5-0 away victory for the champions in August.

Wigan's own form has also been worryingly lacklustre of late - they are winless in four matches, have only managed one point from their last four away fixtures and they have conceded 39 goals in 18 league matches this term, the second worst in the division behind Hull.

United will still be without Ferdinand and Evans, who have calf injuries, and Neville (groin) although Nani and Federico Macheda could return following ankle and hamstring complaints respectively.

Meanwhile Wigan are only missing midfielder Mohamed Diame, who has torn his medial cruciate ligament and will be out until February.

Watson thanks Rauf

2009-12-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Shane Watson is lucky Pakistan are one of the worst fielding teams in world cricket as his first Test century was in the hands of Abdur Rauf, but only briefly. On 99, Watson cut hard to point where Rauf misjudged the easy chance and spilled the ball, one of five catches put down by Pakistan during the match, allowing Watson a single to achieve his milestone.

It was a dramatic way to end an agonising stay in the nineties for Watson, who spent 67 minutes, plus the 40-minute lunch break, searching for those ten important runs. Pakistan didn't make things easy; once he reached the nineties they bowled well wide of off stump and the message was if you want it, you've got to take the risk and chase it.

"It took me a long while to get through the nineties," Watson said. "It didn't help my cause scoring freely with the Pakistanis bowling the line they did, it worked nicely for them, stopped my scoring. It meant there was a lot of time spent in the nineties.

"It was nice to see the ball drop out of Mr Rauf's hands, and then I scampered through for the one. I actually didn't get much of a chance to think about it because I hit it really well, before I knew it, it was straight at him. It hit the ground, I didn't have much of a chance to see it. Lucky enough he dropped it for me."

That the missed opportunity came off the bowling of Mohammad Aamer was especially pleasing for Watson, after Aamer peppered him with fast bouncers on the third afternoon. It would have been the sixth wicket for the impressive teenager Aamer, who Watson described as easily the toughest of the Pakistani fast men to face.

Their battle was intense and featured a blown kiss from bowler to batsman after a particularly testing bouncer. Watson was described earlier this month by West Indies captain Chris Gayle as "soft" and he can expect further attention from opposition players, but he was confident such contests would bring out the best in him.

"That's always going to be the case anyway being an opening batsman, fast bowlers going at you are always going to have a bit of a crack anyway," Watson said. "That's the way I love playing. My personality is that I do love competition, I do love getting into a bit of a battle. For me that works perfectly, it gets me really sharp.

"I know where the point is. I know there has only been a couple of times previously that I've gone over it. My boiling point is when my performance falls away and I know when that is. So far no-one's get anywhere near it and when I'm in a fight I'm at my best so hopefully he keeps doing it because it will keep bringing the best out of me."

Watson's batting efforts in both innings -- he struck 93 in the first and finished unbeaten on 120 in the second -- have helped Australia into a strong position needing seven wickets on the final day for victory. Pakistan require a further 252 runs and Watson said that would be a tough ask on a surface becoming more difficult.

"We know that the way the wicket is, it's definitely a bit up and down," he said. "A few balls are keeping low and the ball's reversing as well. There are a couple of good batters in at the moment. Umar Akmal and Mohammad Yousuf are high-class batters.

"We know we're really going to have to come out hard tomorrow morning and bowl as well as we did in the first innings. The way we bowled in the first innings was one of the most complete bowling performances we]ve been involved in with the Australian team with this group of bowlers. I know we've got it in us to do it again tomorrow morning."

Cash reward for natants

2009-12-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

General Secretary of Bangla-desh Swimming Federation Mahbubur Rahman Shaheen has promised monetary rewards for local swimmers who would grab any medal in the swimming events of the upcoming SA Games. The gold medal winners would get Tk 50,000 each, silver medal winners would get Tk 10,000each while Bronze medal winners would get Tk 5,000 each, said a press release from Bangladesh Swimming Federation yesterday. It may be mentioned that Shaheen gave away Tk 1,00,000 in reward to Shahjahan Ali Rony, the lone gold-medal winner in the 2006 SA Games.

Barclays English Premier League:Chelsea back on track

2009-12-29T09:57:00.001-08:00

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba (R) celebrates his equalising goal against Fulham during their Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Monday.Photo: AFP

Chelsea won for only the second time in eight matches to extend their Premier League lead to five points after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 in a dramatic west London derby on Monday.

Fulham needed just four minutes to go ahead at Stamford Bridge through Zoltan Gera before Carlo Ancelotti's side scored twice in two minutes late on though Didier Drogba and a Chris Smalling own-goal to rescue all three points.

But second-placed champions Manchester United will cut Chelsea's lead back to two points if they win at home to Wigan on Wednesday.

Fulham, who've already beaten Manchester United and Liverpool this season, stunned their hosts when the Blues failed to clear a Paul Konchesky cross and Hungarian midfielder Gera hooked an acrobatic shot past Petr Cech.

It wasn't until the 73rd minute that striker Drogba, in his last Chelsea match before he departs on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast, equalised with a powerful header, his 19th goal in all competitions this term.

And just two minutes later Chelsea were in front after Daniel Sturridge's cross-shot was saved by Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer only for the rebound to go in off the luckless Smalling.

"It was a great performance by my players," Chelsea manager Ancelotti told Sky Sports.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said: "To have the lead for so long and to defend that lead for over 70 minutes and then to concede two goals was a bit tough."

Earlier, Luka Modric marked his first start since August by scoring the opener as Tottenham Hotspur beat West Ham 2-0 at White Hart Lane to go fourth and remain in contention for a Champions League place.

In Monday's late match, Manchester City made it two wins, and two clean sheets, out of two under new manager Roberto Mancini with a 3-0 victory away to Wolves.

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez twice finished in style, his 33rd and 86th minute goals sandwiching Javier Garrido's superb, curling, free-kick.

Victory saw City move level on points with fifth-placed Aston Villa, who will go fourth if they beat Liverpool on Tuesday.

In-form Birmingham, now unbeaten in their last 11 league games, won 1-0 away to Stoke thanks to striker Cameron Jerome's 50th minute goal.

Elsewhere, England forward Darren Bent twice gave Sunderland the lead only for Blackburn Rovers to draw 2-2 after goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf while Everton beat 10-man Burnley 2-0.

Croatia midfielder Modric, out for several months with a broken leg, started and finished a length of the field move as he scored in the 11th minute.

Jermain Defoe sealed victory against his old club nine minutes from time with his 14th league goal of the season, a strike that left the England forward as the division's top scorer.

Defeat against their London rivals left West Ham hovering above the relegation zone and they also saw key midfielder Scott Parker make an early exit with what appeared to be a recurrence of a hamstring injury

Everton substitute James Vaughan came off the bench to score seven minutes from time at Goodison Park before South Africa's Steven Pienaar wrapped up victory against a Burnley side reduced to 10 men midway through the second half after Stephen Jordan was sent-off.

England gain upper hand

2009-12-29T09:54:00.001-08:00

Stylish England batsman Ian Bell (R) raises his bat after scoring a century during the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday.Photo: AFP

Off-spinner Graeme Swann struck two early blows for England as South Africa set out in their quest to avoid defeat on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

South Africa, trailing by 232 runs on the first innings, were 37 for two at tea, still 195 short of avoiding an innings defeat.

Swann continued his uncanny knack of taking a wicket in his first over of an innings when he dismissed Ashwell Prince with his second ball.

He followed up two overs later by bowling Hashim Amla in the last over before tea.

Swann was brought on after Prince and South African captain Graeme Smith had taken the total to 27 in nine overs without any major alarms.

He had Prince caught for 16 by Ian Bell off bat and pad at silly mid-off. Amla made six before missing a drive against a ball which spun sharply to hit his off stump.

Bell earlier hit 141 as England made 575 for nine declared, adding 189 runs for the loss of four wickets on Tuesday.

Bell and Matt Prior (60) put on 112 for the sixth wicket in a partnership which wrecked South African hopes of making a breakthrough early in the day and ensuring that the deficit would be less than 100 runs.

Bell and Prior had no difficulty in seeing off Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, South Africa's main strike bowlers, at the start of play.

With the pitch playing easily under an overcast sky, Smith was soon forced on the defensive.

Bell and Prior gradually increased the tempo and Prior seemed set to go on a major assault when he raised a 77-ball half-century with a six off left-arm spin bowler Paul Harris. He hit one more boundary but was then bowled by off-spinner JP Duminy when he chopped an attempted cut onto his stumps.

Bell, whose place as a number six batsmen had been questioned by several commentators because it left England with only four specialist bowlers, justified the confidence shown in him by the team management with a composed, confident innings.

After posting his fifty on Monday off 65 balls, Bell was more circumspect on Tuesday, reaching his ninth century off 172 deliveries when he went down the pitch and lofted Harris over mid-on for his eighth four. He also hit a six.

It was Bell's first Test century since he made 199 against South Africa at Lord's in July 2008.

England went on the attack immediately after lunch, adding 62 runs for the loss of three wickets in nine overs before Andrew Strauss declared.

England batsman Paul Collingwood, who made 91 on Monday, dislocated his left index finger during fielding practice before play. He was sent for X-rays which revealed no fracture. He did not field at the start of the South African second innings.

Sporting land Sinama-Pongolle

2009-12-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

Sporting Lisbon said Monday they have agreed a 6.5-million-euro deal with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of French international Florent Sinama-Pongolle in a deal running to June 2013.

Sporting added they would pay a further million euros based on performance bonuses.

Sinama-Pongolle, 25, began his career with French outfit Le Havre and then had a spell with Liverpool before joining Atletico in July 2008.

He has only been a bit-part player, however, in Madrid as Atletico keep faith with Uruguayan international Diego Forlan and Argentine star Sergio "Kun" Aguero in attack.

City owner not interested in Real

2009-12-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan has not made inquiries about trying to buy Real Madrid, according to a source close to the Emirati minister of presidential affairs.

The AS sports daily claimed on Sunday that the Abu Dhabi-based billionaire would be prepared to pay one billion euros (dollars) for the Spanish giants, home to world class players like Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But a source close to Sheikh Mansour "expressed his condemnation of the information released by the daily", the official Emirati WAM news agency reported.

The source described the news as "unfounded and totally lacking in credibility".

Kaka declares himself fit

2009-12-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Kaka has declared himself recovered from a hernia injury that has kept him sidelined since early this month.

"I am much better, I am healed," he told Spanish media in Sao Paulo, where he has been resting, before returning to Madrid late Sunday to rejoin his teammates after the Christmas break.

Kaka, a 65-million-euro summer signing from AC Milan, did not join the other players at a training session Monday afternoon but instead did exercises in the gym, Real said.

If his recovery is confirmed this week, he could be called up to the squad to face Osasuna in the league on Sunday in Pamplona.

Other Real stars resumed training Monday, including Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, the world's most expensive player, and Frenchman Karim Benzema, who Spanish media said was involved in a traffic accident while on holiday on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.

Some had a few extra days of holiday, including Argentines Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago, who were both expected back on Tuesday.

Real went into the Christmas break two points behind leaders and champions Barcelona in the Primera Liga.

NFL: Delhomme, Stafford put on injured reserve

2009-12-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

The Carolina Panthers placed quarterback Jake Delhomme on injured reserve yesterday with a broken finger on his throwing hand, ending his worst season as a pro.

"This move doesn't change anything about his future," said general manager Marty Hurney. "We feel the same about Jake as we did yesterday before we put him on IR."
Delhomme, 34, said he broke the knuckle on his middle finger in a loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 29. He hasn't played or practiced since.

Matt Moore has started the last three games and threw for a career-high 299 yards and three touchdowns in last Sunday's upset win over Minnesota. Ex-Eagle A.J. Feeley is No. 2 on the depth chart.

The Panthers (6-8) promoted quarterback Hunter Cantwell from the practice squad to take Delhomme's roster spot.

In 11 games this season, Delhomme has thrown 18 interceptions this season and just eight TD passes. He threw four interceptions against the Eagles in the season opener and four more in his last game, against the Jets. The Panthers lost both games.

Lions. The Detroit Lions placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve.

The No. 1 overall draft pick of 2009 was to have undergone surgery on his right knee after the season, but coach Jim Schwartz said an exam indicated Stafford wouldn't be healthy enough to play any more this season.

"We anticipate a minor surgery just to clean out some irritants and debris," Schwartz said.

Drew Stanton, a third-year player out of Michigan State, will start Sunday.

Raiders. Oakland fullback Luke Lawton has been suspended four games without pay by the NFL for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Lawton, 29, will miss the Raiders' final two games this season and lose nearly $63,000 in pay. A free agent next year, he would also have to sit out the first two games of the 2010 season with whatever team he lands with.

He has played in 13 games this season, starting three. Lawton was in the Eagles' training camp in 2008.

NFL fines. Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has been fined $10,000 by the NFL and New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been hit for $7,500.

The players were fined yesterday for an altercation late in New York's 45-12 victory at Washington on Monday. Haynesworth struck Jacobs after a play ended and Jacobs struck back.

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall also was involved, but was not fined.

The league also fined Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams $5,000 for a tackle at the knees on the Panthers' Moore.

Colts. Peyton Manning and his teammates won't lobby Colts coach Jim Caldwell to play the final two regular-season games.

Indianapolis is the third team in NFL history to go 14-0 and are going for a perfect regular season. The Colts say they will go with whatever decision the coach makes.

"It's not really set up that way, to lobby. I don't think there's one guy in that locker room that's going to tell you, 'No I don't want to play,' '' Manning said after Indianapolis beat Jacksonville last week. "But we've followed his [Caldwell's] orders all year, and I think that's a good plan. Those are decisions I don't have to make and whatever decision he makes, I think will be the right one."

Biting commentary. Seattle Seahawks defensive end Darryl Tapp said he's perplexed that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has accused Tapp of biting him in a game last season. "It felt like a bee sting," Rodgers said Wednesday.

The teams play Sunday.

"If he believes I bit him, send me the film, the exact play and I'll apologize. I'm pretty sure it didn't happen - pretty positive," Tapp said.

Browns. Cleveland has been granted a 48-hour extension to avoid its first TV blackout since its expansion return for Sunday's game vs. Oakland.

Saints. Two days after waiving veteran kicker John Carney, the Saints have brought the 45-year-old back as a kicking consultant.

Injury updates. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been limited in practice this week, but said he expects to start Sunday vs. Buffalo. . . . Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick missed his second straight practice because of an ankle injury. . . . Linebacker Jason Taylor has returned to practice as the Miami Dolphins prepare to play Houston. . . . Seattle coach Jim Mora said it was "very unlikely" that receiver Nate Burleson (ankle) would play this Sunday. Linebacker Aaron Curry (shoulder) is listed as doubtful after not practicing yesterday.

NFL Week 15 Preview

2009-12-25T09:47:00.002-08:00

Brett Favre Game Winning TD Pass to Greg Lewis..Vikings vs. 49ers

2009-12-25T09:47:00.001-08:00

Favre Still Flapping His Pie Hole

2009-12-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Im starting to get the impression that Brett Favre woke up one morning and said, “Hey, you know that Curt Schilling fellow always seems to stay in the news talking about shit no one cares about. Maybe I can do that, because I haven’t been a front page headline in like a week.”

So what does he do? He goes out and trashes the Jets saying that he shouldn’t have been playing and should have been on the injury report…blah, blah, blah. Blame Mikey T. Blame the Jets. Blame Mangina. Blame anyone. Does the NFL think that no one plays games with the injury report. If they do, I have two words for them: BILL BELLICHICK! That mother fucker makes a mockery of the report every week. Tom Brady’s been on it weekly since 2002. I could see Bellichick throwing darts at the roster to see who’s going to be on the Injury Report this week…its all bullshit. Now all of a sudden we need to investigate the Jets? Thats a steaming pile of dog shit.

Yes, I promised to never blog about this asshole ever again, but I couldn’t help it. I hope Favre gets syphilis, leads the Vikings to an 0-16 season and gets crushed by the Packers. Fuck that guy.

Changes seem very likely for 7 teams:NFL players brace for coaches' roulette

2009-12-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - The coaching carousel has begun to spin in the NFL, with seven teams possibly stepping on once the season ends. Those teams certainly know who is out there for the hiring: Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, and Brian Billick for starters.

Mike Holmgren has landed in Cleveland, although he is not likely to be on the Browns' sideline in 2010. Holmgren was hired as president of the team, even though the coaching bug has never really left him. But don't expect to see him wearing a headset next year.

What might we expect in coaching moves? Here's a look at teams that might be headed for the merry-go-round, not including Tampa Bay or Dallas.

Some believe Raheem Morris is a one-year fill-in before the Buccaneers go for a bigger name with more experience, but there's been little evidence ownership is thinking that way.

And Jerry Jones wants to find every reason to keep Wade Phillips at the Cowboys' helm, although failing to make the playoffs surely could change Jones' approach.

CLEVELAND

Holmgren's coaching genes tell him it's unfair to fire a coach after one season, no matter how disappointing and dysfunctional that season has been. But Holmgren also understands holding on to Eric Mangini for 2010 could mean delaying Holmgren's own program for rebuilding the Browns by another year.

When Bill Parcells took over in Miami, he weighed the same options before firing Cam Cameron and bringing in his own guy - Parcells has a lot of "guys" - in Tony Sparano. That's worked out pretty well, and Holmgren is likely to want a coach of his choosing.

Besides, Mangini hardly has been the most popular, diplomatic or understanding coach in the league, both in Cleveland and New York. All three of those traits defined Holmgren when he led the Packers and Seahawks.

They probably will define whoever he seeks to replace Mangini.

OAKLAND

Don't be surprised to see Tom Cable return.

Yes, the Raiders remain losers, and JaMarcus Russell has made virtually no progress at quarterback. But remember that Cable had nothing to do with Al Davis selecting Russell at the top of the draft in 2007, and his decision to go with Bruce Gradkowski late this season worked well enough.

Oakland plays hard, if not with consistent efficiency, and the players seem to respond to Cable.

One thing that could hurt his future coaching opportunities: off-the-field issues that surfaced this year.

Plus, nobody can predict the whims of Davis, who might just decide a Super Bowl-winning coach needs to be brought to Oakland. Of course, Shanahan and Gruden already have been down that Black Hole.

CHICAGO

Three seasons back, Lovie Smith was the toast of Chitown, as secure as any coach or manager in the Windy City. Now, followers of Da Bears are ready to bring out Da Ax.

And not just for Smith, but for general manager Jerry Angelo.

The Bears' frugality was legendary, but Angelo has spent big time on some of his stars, who have
not played like stars, and he did get aggressive in acquiring Jay Cutler.

Unfortunately for the GM and his coach, Cutler has been the season's biggest individual flop, more a franchise scourge than franchise quarterback thus far.

Chicago has looked inept and disinterested at times this season, about the worst indictment a coaching staff can be handed.

If Smith goes, don't look for a big name to replace him.

CAROLINA

John Fox is an excellent coach who has been hamstrung by some poor contract situations (Julius Peppers) and decisions (Jake Delhomme). Fox was part of those choices by the Panthers, of course.

Carolina has been up and down for most of the decade, going 7-9, 11-5 (and a last-second loss in the Super Bowl), 7-9, 11-5 (and a trip to the NFC title game), 8-8, 7-9 and 12-4 under Fox.

That might be too much inconsistency for owner Jerry Richardson and GM Marty Hurney, and if Fox is fired, he easily could wind up with another head coaching position quickly.

The Cowher factor plays heavily here. Does the former Steelers coach and superb TV studio analyst want to leave his comfortable gig? Cowher lives in North Carolina and would be a popular choice.

WASHINGTON

Since Daniel Snyder bought the Redskins in 1999, he has had six head coaches, one of them interim.

It's clear that Jim Zorn won't be around for 2010, and new GM Bruce Allen had a long working relationship with Gruden in Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Snyder loves big names, doesn't mind spending big bucks, but Gruden has indicated he will stay in the broadcast booth next year. Plus, there's another megacoach out there in Shanahan, who wants back in. This looks like his landing spot, particularly if he's willing to have less say over personnel than he did in Denver.

One question: Would he have as much say about personnel as the owner?

BUFFALO

Dick Jauron couldn't stick around long enough to go 7-9 for a fourth successive season. Perry Fewell has to win his last two, including beating the Colts, to get that high as he finishes out Jauron's term.

Owner Ralph Wilson says he will spend to get a quality coach and he had a long meeting with Shanahan after firing Jauron.

This team desperately needs an infusion of offense regardless of who takes over, and Shanahan would be a good choice if he slips out of Snyder's grasp.

HOUSTON

This was supposed to be the Texans' year after not making the playoffs or managing a winning record since their 2002 inception. It hasn't happened, although victories over Miami and New England would give them a 9-7 mark and at least slim hope of making the postseason.

Gary Kubiak has built a strong passing offense, but the Texans don't make the big plays in tight spots.

He is 29-33 since taking charge, hardly the return on his investment that owner Bob McNair expects.

McNair, one of the league's most respected owners, could make a run at the big names if he parts with Kubiak.

N.F.L. Roundup:Season Over for Carolina Panthers Quarterback

2009-12-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Carolina Panthers placed quarterback Jake Delhomme on injured reserve Thursday with a broken finger on his throwing hand, ending his worst season as a pro and raising questions about his future with the team.

Delhomme, 34, said he broke the knuckle on his middle finger in a loss to the Jets on Nov. 29. He has not played or practiced since. Matt Moore has started the last three games and threw for a career-high 299 yards and 3 touchdowns Sunday in a victory against Minnesota.

The Panthers promoted quarterback Hunter Cantwell from the practice squad to take Delhomme’s roster spot.

Despite committing six turnovers in Carolina’s playoff loss to Arizona in January, Delhomme received a lucrative contract extension in the off-season. He committed five more turnovers in a blowout loss to Philadelphia in the season opener, and had 18 interceptions and 8 touchdown passes in 11 games while completing 55.5 percent of his passes.

STAFFORD TO HAVE SURGERY The Detroit Lions placed the rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve ahead of what the team called minor knee surgery. Coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford was to have had the surgery after the end of the season. But Stafford was placed on injured reserve after a physical exam indicated he would not be ready to play in the Jan. 3 season finale against Chicago.

BLACKOUT IN CLEVELAND? The Cleveland Browns were granted a 48-hour extension by the N.F.L. to avoid their first television blackout since the franchise was resurrected in 1999. The team declined to say how many tickets needed to be sold. A Browns spokesman said the league had given the club until 1 p.m. Saturday to sell the remaining tickets for Sunday’s game against Oakland or the game would not be broadcast within a 75-mile radius.

VIKINGS’ KEVIN WILLIAMS FINED The N.F.L. fined Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams $5,000 for a tackle at the knees on Panthers quarterback Matt Moore last Sunday.

RAIDERS FULLBACK SUSPENDED Oakland’s Luke Lawton was suspended for four games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He will miss the final two games this season and the first two games of 2010.

NFL San Diego at Tennessee:Red-hot Chargers stand in way of a titanic reversal

2009-12-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

The Tennessee Titans, the team that seemingly blew its Super Bowl dreams with a dreadful 0-6 start, will play a game that matters tonight.

And it won't just matter for the San Diego Chargers.

Tennessee is among six AFC teams tied at 7-7 and mathematically alive in the playoff chase, just one game behind the last wild-card berth. The Titans already have made NFL history by clawing back to .500 after that 0-6 start. According to Stats, Inc., no NFL team has ever finished at .500 or better after starting 0-6.

Talk about a titanic turnaround.

"Anytime a team goes 0-6 and gets back to .500 and has a chance to get to the playoffs, you've accomplished something," Titans center Kevin Mawae said. "We can't rest on that. We've got to continue on. We've got a great team."

The Titans never lost the confidence gained from last season's 13-3 record, even after the sixth loss in a 59-0 rout at New England. Coach Jeff Fisher sent them home for their bye with permission to forget football, a welcome mental break. Owner Bud Adams ordered Vince Young off the bench and into the lineup, and their banged-up secondary healed up.

Since then, they've been nearly unstoppable, winning seven of eight. Only New Orleans has averaged more yards on offense (413.9 to 398) or points (30.6 to 29.5) than Tennessee. No pressure, only opportunity.

"It speaks volumes about Jeff and the coaching staff and the leaders on the team how we've been able to keep things honed in," Mawae said. "There was never a sense of panic at 0-6."

The Titans, who needed overtime to down Miami 27-24 last week, must win their sixth straight home game, then finish with a victory at Seattle on the final day of the season. They also need plenty of help to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

The Chargers want a 10th straight victory and an 18th consecutive December win dating back to 2006. Quarterback Philip Rivers, the AFC's leading passer and third in the NFL with a 102.8 rating, has been under center for each of those December wins.

'Progress being made'

2009-12-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

Arsene Wenger has claimed that Arsenal's last four trophy-less seasons have given him more satisfaction than any other spell in his long career with the Premier League team.

Wenger's side have failed to win major silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 2005, but the Gunners boss, who arrived in north London 1996, believes the progress made by the club on and off the pitch makes it the most rewarding time.

The Frenchman has overseen Arsenal's move to the Emirates Stadium, the construction of a new training ground and the development of a hugely successful youth academy.

"For me the best period at the club is the last four years but unfortunately it is also the period where we have not won trophies," Wenger said.

"But people forget we have been reasonably consistent and it has been the most difficult period, but as well for me, the period where I worked the best.

"Moving into a new stadium, with fewer resources, people should respect the fact we have still made some money in every single year without the team dropping a level and maintaining a successful period in the Champions League and reasonably in the league. I think it was quite difficult.

"The last four years have been the most challenging. It's not linked with the fact we have won no trophies. I think it is moving into the new stadium and keeping the team at the top."

Wenger, reflecting on his 13-year reign in a webchat with arsenal.com, admits there have been positive and negative changes to the Premier League since his arrival from Japan's Grampus Eight.

He is happy to be part of a league with such a renowned global brand, but feels the vast sums of money spent by top clubs have made the game too serious.

"It has become a worldwide product and when I travel nowadays I see how popular this league has become and we shouldn't take it for granted in England," he said.

"Firstly it's a worldwide product, secondly the ownership has changed completely, the structure of the game has changed. And don't forget, for example, referees have become completely professional.

"The league has become much more professional, the pressure has become much bigger, financial input has become much bigger which means the quality of the games has become much better.

"All that has changed. In some ways for good, and some ways a bit more negatively because it's less relaxed. Everybody is a bit more tense.

"I felt 13 years ago a defeat was less dramatic than it is now, it's much more dramatic and tense.

"It is because of money and it is all about the Champions League now, being in the top four. A few years ago it was a bit more open and as soon as you are a bit out from what is expected of you now, it is a crisis."

Barclays English Premier League:Blues aim to extend lead

2009-12-25T09:12:00.000-08:00

Chelsea can cement their position on top of the Premier League with a win over Birmingham on Saturday, while new Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini gets his first taste of English football against Stoke.

With second-placed Manchester United not in action until Sunday's clash at Hull, Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea will move seven points clear of the reigning champions if they can defeat Birmingham at St Andrews.

But Ancelotti, whose team have spluttered of late, would be wise not to take Birmingham for granted.

While Chelsea have looked surprisingly vulnerable during a run of one win in six matches in all competitions, Birmingham have risen to seventh place on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run.

Ancelotti, who will be without injured France striker Nicolas Anelka, needs a big performance from Didier Drogba after the Ivory Coast striker's anonymous effort in last weekend's 1-1 draw at West Ham as he will be making his last appearance before flying off to the African Nations Cup.

"Birmingham have had five consecutive victories and a draw," Ancelotti said.

"Above all, it's difficult to play up there. They put a lot of pressure on and we'll have to pay attention."

While Ancelotti looks for the solution to Chelsea's recent inconsistency, his compatriot Mancini will hope for an early sign that there is no dressing room dissent over his appointment.

Several of City's players including Craig Bellamy and Shay Given were reported to be unhappy that Mark Hughes was sacked to make way for former Inter Milan coach Mancini.

Hughes was dismissed despite losing just two league matches this season, so Mancini will know that only instant success will satisfy the club's Abu Dhabi based owners.

But the former Italy forward, who has only been at City for a week, said: "I thought the players trained very well. I think I have a good team and we have only one problem and that is many players injured.

"I have a good relationship with the players. I appreciate some players are close to Mark but that is a good thing for a manager."

Rafael Benitez is another manager under close scrutiny this weekend after Liverpool's woeful 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth last Saturday left them eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Missing out on a spot in the Champions League would leave Benitez in severe danger of losing his job and Spaniard, whose side host Wolves, acknowledges things must change soon.

"I must manage and control the anxiety of the players, and the anxiety of the fans," Benitez said.

"We know we have to change the situation, sooner rather than later. That is clear.

"If we talk too much about having to win a title, or win a cup, it just makes things worse. We must help our players by making them concentrate on the next match and winning it."

Liverpool's poor form has given Villa and Tottenham hope of snatching one of those lucrative top four spots.

Villa, who have already beaten United, Liverpool and Chelsea this season, go in search of a big four cleansweep at Arsenal on Sunday.

Tottenham travel across London to face Fulham, who thrashed United 3-0 last weekend.

That loss was the lowest moment for United in an erratic campaign marred by injuries to a host of defenders.

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to have Nemanja Vidic or Wes Brown back at Hull on Sunday, but he knows the hosts will go on the attack in an attempt to exploit United's weakness at the back.

"Hull will be encouraged by the fact we have these defenders injured. They will certainly have a go at us," Ferguson said.

Fixtures
(1500GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Birmingham v Chelsea (1245GMT), Burnley v Bolton (1400GMT), Fulham v Tottenham (1300GMT), Liverpool v Wolverhampton (1730GMT), Man City v Stoke, Sunderland v Everton, West Ham v Portsmouth (1300GMT), Wigan v Blackburn

Sunday
Arsenal v Aston Villa (1330GMT), Hull v Man Utd (1600GMT)

Barclays English Premier League:'City stars back me'

2009-12-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

Roberto Mancini insists there has been no dressing room rebellion at Manchester City in response to his arrival as replacement for sacked boss Mark Hughes.

Mancini arrived at Eastlands on Monday following Hughes's dismissal last weekend and reports in England claimed a number of senior players including Craig Bellamy and Shay Given had protested about the decision to City chief executive Garry Cook.

It has been suggested that Bellamy, Given and other players close to Hughes could ask to leave during the January transfer window.

But former Inter Milan coach Mancini claims he hasn't had any complaints about his squad's attitude in training this week.

"I thought the players trained very well. I think I have a good team and we have only one problem and that is many players injured," Mancini said.

"I have a good relationship with the players. I appreciate some players are close to Mark but that is a good thing for a manager.

"When I go away from Manchester City in 15 years after five Premier League titles and four cups the players will have the same situation with me!"

Mancini also dismissed claims made by Cook this week that he had previously been approached by Liverpool when American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were considering the future of Reds manager Rafa Benitez.

"Liverpool never contacted me, absolutely. They have a good manager, Rafa is a good manager," Mancini said.

Mancini set a target of finishing in the top four when he was unveiled as City boss on Monday and he believes he can match his achievements at Inter in the long run.

He won three Serie A titles with the San Siro club, helping Inter replace AC as the city's dominant force. To do the same in Manchester would be quite an effort but Mancini is convinced it is possible.

"It depends (finishing in the top four) but I think so. It is important now we concentrate on Boxing Day's game at home to Stoke and then after that one game at a time," he said.

"I think I can do a job and my target, always, is to win. Inter Milan was a good job. I arrived there when they had not won in 18 years and after one year they won the cup and then after that the championship.

"I think I can do the same in Manchester but for this it is important that I work hard and I get to know the team fast."

Mancini accepts it will take time for the players to adjust to his methods but hopes to have the team playing his way within a month.

"We must work out our defensive problem. A balance to the team is the most important situation but for this we must work every day," he said.

"After three or four weeks it will be possible for them to adapt to my style.

"I hope the players play well on Saturday and understand my team talk."

South Africa v England: Second Test:KP braced for Durban return

2009-12-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

Controversial England batsman Kevin Pietersen hopes to end his topsy-turvy 2009 by playing a match-winning role on the Kingsmead ground where he learnt his trade.

The South African-born batsman, who started the year by losing the England captaincy and was sidelined during the Ashes through injury, has shrugged off the significance of his return to his former home where the second Test gets underway today.

"My family are all here, and it's something that is special," said Pietersen.

"It's not all about me playing in Durban; it's about the team coming here and doing special things. Playing for England in South Africa is something I love and enjoy."

Pietersen made 40 and 81 in the drawn first Test at Centurion and refuses to believe that 2009 has been a year to forget.

"It's true 2009 hasn't been fun. But life isn't always good," he said.

England captain Andrew Strauss said he was confident in the ability of his batsmen to deal with what is likely to be an improved South African bowling attack.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was ruled out of the first Test before the start because of a hamstring injury, is set to return, while Jacques Kallis is likely to feature as a bowler as well as a batsman after a rib injury restricted him to just three overs on the final day at Centurion.

The weather could be a factor in Durban, where rain is predicted at some stage during all five days, but the pitch looked in good condition on Thursday.

It is expected to be hard and provide more consistent bounce than was the case in the first Test.

Strauss said of Steyn: "I respect him as a bowler. He's the kind of skiddy bowler who sometimes you can score off but obviously he bowls wicket-taking balls.

"But if he is a bit rusty and bowls a few loose balls it's important to put them away and put him under pressure."

Responding to South African captain Graeme Smith's assertion that the hosts played the better cricket in the first Test, when England's last wicket pair needed to bat out the last 20 balls to earn a draw, Strauss said the pressure could be on South Africa.

"It can be pretty dispiriting getting a side nine wickets down and not winning," said Strauss who admitted however that England needed to play better than they did in the opening encounter.

Kingsmead has a reputation for helping the bowlers in the early part of a match before flattening out.

The three previous Test matches between South Africa and England at Kingsmead have been drawn.

Rain spoiled the clash in 1995/96 and the next two matches both featured high scores in the third innings, with Gary Kirsten scoring 275 after South Africa were forced to follow on in 1999/2000 and England scoring 570 for seven declared after trailing by 193 runs five years ago.

Strauss was one of three England century-makers on the latter occasion.

Teams have several times gone into Kingsmead Tests without picking a spin bowler but it is unlikely this time, with off-spinners Paul Harris and Graham Swann having been the most successful bowlers in the first Test.

While Steyn is expected to replace Friedel de Wet in the South African team, England are likely to be unchanged.

TEAMS
SOUTH AFRICA (probable): Graeme Smith (captain), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

ENGLAND (probable): Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

Shoaib overlooked

2009-12-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Temperamental Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar's dreams of making a 'shock' comeback to the international cricketing scene has been shattered, as the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee has ignored him for an important first class domestic tournament.

Akhtar's name was not in the final list of the players picked for the Rest of Pakistan squad for the Pentagular Cup starting January 1, which has left his future in jeopardy.

"The selectors have mainly concentrated on selecting those players who performed well in the just concluded Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and some promising Under-19 youngsters," said one of the selectors.

The fact that the Rawalpindi Express failed to secure a place in any of the five teams participating in the tournament has certainly put a big question over his international career.

Akhtar's wounds are likely to get more painful, as the PCB is unlikely to retain his central contract, and chances are that he may be axed from the elite list of cricketers.

A two-member committee, consisting of PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari and Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, will finalise the list, and insiders suggest that Akhtar is unlikely to get a central contract for the next season, The Dawn reports.

Akhtar has been out of competitive cricket from a long time due to niggling injuries and other health related issues.

Once the mainstay of Pakistan's bowling line up, the PCB has completely sidelined the Rawalpindi Express, replacing him with younger fast bowlers like Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul.

With bowlers like Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami returning to the national squad, it has become even harder for Akhtar to return to the international stage.

India seal series

2009-12-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli hammered impressive centuries to power India to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international on Thursday.

Kohli made 107 for his maiden hundred and Gambhir an unbeaten 150 for his seventh century as India surpassed Sri Lanka's 315-6 with 11 balls to spare in the day-night match for an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

The duo were involved in a 224-run stand, India's best for the third wicket against Sri Lanka in one-day internationals. The previous highest was 221 between Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh in Colombo in February 2009.

The fifth and final one-dayer will be played in Delhi on Sunday.

Sri Lanka rode on opener Upul Tharanga's robust 118 to set a challenging target in the must-win match that was interrupted by a power outage.

They were 307-6 in 49.2 overs after electing to bat when play was held up for 23 minutes due to a power failure in one of the light towers at the Eden Gardens.

Sri Lanka put India under pressure when paceman Suranga Lakmal removed openers Virender Sehwag (10) and Sachin Tendulkar (eight) in his lively opening spell to reduce the hosts to 23-2 in the fourth over.

Gambhir and Kohli then denied Sri Lanka success for nearly 36 overs with their rich strokeplay, gathering runs comfortably during their big stand. Gambhir also completed 3,000 one-day runs during his 137-ball knock.

The 21-year-old Kohli offered just one chance in his 114-ball knock when wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara failed to latch on to an edge off spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan. He was then on 88 in a total of 207-2.

He hit one six and 11 fours, including four in a row off paceman Lasith Malinga, while Gambhir's knock contained 14 boundaries.

"We started really well, with Upul Tharanga batting really well and the rest batting around him," said Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

"Lakmal and Randiv bowled well but there wasn't enough back-up. The fast bowlers should have been more disciplined. Gautam and Kohli batted quite brilliantly."

India captain Sehwag said the playing conditions proved crucial.

"We knew dew would be a factor. Even if I had won the toss, we would have fielded," said Sehwag.

Sri Lanka were earlier well-served by left-handed Tharanga, who hit two sixes and 14 fours in a 128-ball knock for his seventh one-day hundred.

He added 126 for the third wicket with skipper Sangakkara (60) to prop up the innings after the early dismissals of in-form opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (nine) and Sanath Jayasuriya (15).

Tharanga dominated the Indian attack with a wide range of strokes, once cracking five fours in an over from paceman Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka plundered 98 in the last 10 overs, with debutant Thissara Perera smashing a 14-ball 31 and Mahela Jayawardene 33 in 30 deliveries.

Tharanga offered a difficult chance on seven when Nehra failed to hold a firmly-struck shot off his own bowling.

Sangakkara, dropped by Harbhajan Singh off Sharma before he had opened his account, made the most the opportunity as he consolidated his team's position.

Australia vs Pakistan First Test:Ponting likely to play

2009-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Feeling "better" after Friday's practice session, Ricky Ponting is confident of leading Australia in the Boxing Day Test, the first of a three-game series, against Pakistan today.

Ponting batted without guard on the injured elbow, facing teammates Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger with the new ball.

"It went well today. I had a bit of pain in the nets yesterday. I was always going to bat two days into the game. I'm really confident that I can play the game," Ponting said.

However, New South Wales' Phillip Hughes will stay with the team as standby until the match starts.

Ponting had suffered the elbow injury in the third Test against the West Indies in Perth, when he was struck by a delivery from Kemar Roach, which caused tendon damage.

Ponting said Nathan Hauritz was also recovering fast from his groin problem and chances are that the off-spinner may also play.

However, it's hard to know what to expect from a contest between the team that has played the most Tests over the past two years and the side that has played the fewest. Australia's hectic schedule means they've played 27 Tests since this time in 2007, while Pakistan's home circumstances have limited them to eight Tests in the same period. Australia are coming off a 2-0, though tightly-fought, series against West Indies. Pakistan have just drawn 1-1 in New Zealand.

In years gone you could confidently predict not just an Australian win, but a rout, so dominant have they been against Pakistan since the mid-90s. But this is a different Australia side and as the series against West Indies proved, one closer back to the pack than ever before. This Pakistan side retains the essence of all Pakistan sides and thus capable of anything.

What can be expected for sure is some high quality pace bowling. After a decade of batting riches, cricket suddenly finds itself with good fast bowlers floating around and few are more exciting than the ones Australia and Pakistan have; between them, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammmad Asif and Umar Gul are likely to determine the fate of the series.

If Pakistan feel they have the better spinners in Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal, Australia will be more than confident that their batting is by far the stronger. But if all goes well, it could be the most closely-fought series between the two sides since the 1994-95 tussle in Pakistan.

Bollinger has become Australia's newest cult bowling hero. He entertains his teammates with his antics, thrills the fans with his wholeheartedness and good humour, and worries the opposition with his pace, swing and consistency. Chris Gayle made no secret of the fact that he felt Bollinger was the most dangerous of Australia's fast men during the recent Test series and Bollinger will be desperate to ensure his place in the attack becomes permanent.

On the other hand, three hundreds on an impressive Pakistan A tour to Australia in July brought Umar Akmal into the national side and he hasn't stopped scoring since; he already has two international hundreds and a spate of fifties. He was hugely impressive in his maiden Test tour against New Zealand and his clear-headed aggression and a steady technique should win him more fans down under.

TEAMS
AUSTRALIA (probable): Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz/Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger.

PAKISTAN (probable): Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Misbahul Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul/Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.

Robin out for season

2009-12-24T01:21:00.000-08:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Tuesday he'd all but given up on the idea of Dutch striker Robin van Persie playing for the English Premier League club again this season.

However, he stressed the player would regain full fitness and once more be a force at top-flight level.

The 26-year-old forward suffered a right ankle injury while on international duty in November.

The Gunners had hoped the striker might be out for six weeks but instead he needed surgery and now Wenger believes the best van Persie and Arsenal can hope for is a return towards the end of the current campaign.

"If you are very positive you would say (he'll be back in) April," Wenger told the club's website. "If you're a bit cautious you say May. It is virtually the rest of the season.

"Personally I thought 'Let's put it in my head that he will not play again this season and hope that I will have a good surprise'," the Frenchman added.

However, Wenger is confident van Persie will bounce back from the injury and rediscover his top form next season.

"When you have such a big surgery there is one thing that is important first of all, and that is the option of the surgeon, will he be the player he was before? We had a clear answer. 'Yes'," Wenger said.

"The second thing that is very important in the first stage after surgery is has he an infection or not? He hasn't.

"The third thing is patience. At the moment he cannot do anything, he is just sitting at home waiting until he can work again. The first two steps have been very successful."

Van Persie's injury has led to speculation that Wenger will move for another forward when the transfer window re-opens next month.

Arsenal are third in the Premier League table and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Wenger said he would have no concern in signing a player in January who was cup-tied for the Champions League, just as he did when bringing influential Russia forward Andrey Arshavin to north London at the same stage last season.

"Yes, I would," Wenger said when asked. "We are going for the domestic title and the FA Cup as well and doing that allows you to rest a player for the Champions League or play another player in the Premier League.

"Of course I would prefer the player who can play in both competitions and so it would mean the player has the quality to play in the long-term for Arsenal Football Club.

"But we have an interested eye on the transfer window and if the right player turns up then we will do it.

"Sometimes you think that is a bargain you cannot turn down and don't forget Arshavin got us into the Champions League last season."

Turner gets 4-game ban

2009-12-24T01:19:00.000-08:00

Sunderland defender Michael Turner will now serve a four-game ban for his sending-off against Manchester City after the Football Association (FA) added an extra match to the usual suspension.

He will miss the Boxing Day Premier League clash with Everton, the trip to Blackburn two days later as well as the FA Cup third round tie against non-league Barrow and the home game against Bolton on January 9.

Turner won't be available again until Sunderland face current Premier League leaders Chelsea on January 9.

He was sent-off by referee Andre Marriner during the closing stages of Sunderland's 4-3 Premier League loss away to City at Eastlands on Saturday after catching Gareth Barry with an elbow.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce branded the decision a joke and announced the club would appeal.

The Black Cats argued the standard three-game ban is excessive but an independent FA regulatory commission landed Turner with a four-game ban on Tuesday, effectively for wasting their time, as they said the appeal had no chance of success.

The commission's statement said: "Turner claimed the standard punishment is clearly excessive.

"But this was rejected by the commission and the defender will now receive a four-match ban - increased by one game as the commission felt the claim had no prospect of success - starting with immediate effect."

Bruce, speaking immediately after the match, was far from convinced Sunderland would get much joy given he'd complained about Marriner's display during a recent match against West Ham where Black Cats striker Kenwyne Jones was sent-off.

"Because I have complained about him, I get that decision," said Bruce.

"You have got to raise your elbows when you are jumping for a ball," Bruce, a former Manchester United central defender, added.

"I might as well tell my centre-half not to head it next week because he might be sent-off.

"I hope the referee looks at it again. I doubt it though."

Bruce could be in trouble with the FA for his comments about Marriner.

The governing body said on Tuesday they had written to Bruce "seeking his observations following media comments made immediately after the match at the City of Manchester Stadium".

New York Giants thrash Washington Redskins, 45-12

2009-12-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Landover, Md. - Playing for their playoff lives, Eli Manning and the New York Giants were efficient, focused and dominant.

Playing for their new general manager, the Washington Redskins did a good job of convincing the boss that maybe everyone ought to be fired.

The Giants kept themselves in the postseason hunt Monday night with one of the most lopsided victories in the long, storied series against their NFC East rival. New York scored on six of its first seven possessions and controlled every facet of the game in a 45-12 win.

Manning completed 19 of 26 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, and Ahmad Bradshaw ran for two scores for the Giants (8-6), who are one game behind Dallas and Green Bay in the battle for wild-card spots with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Giants marched downfield at will to take a 24-0 halftime lead. At one point in the second quarter, they held a 226 to minus-2 advantage in total yards and a 16-0 dominance in first downs.

Even when the Redskins (4-10) scored their first touchdown, with the game out of reach in the third quarter, the Giants blocked the extra point.

The Giants defense, which had largely been the culprit as the team lost six of eight games to waste a 5-0 start, was stout even with defensive backs Corey Webster and Aaron Ross inactive with injuries.

Terrell Thomas got his fifth interception of the season and turned it into his first NFL touchdown with a 14-yard runback. Osi Umenyiora temporarily forced quarterback Jason Campbell out of the game with one of five sacks by different players.

Bradshaw had touchdown runs of three and four yards in the first half and was greeted with snowballs thrown from the stands. The Redskins had to remove an estimated 25 million pounds of snow from the stadium and their parking lots just so the game could be played two days after a historic East Coast storm.

Bruce Allen, hired Thursday as the Redskins general manager in a front-office shake-up, is using the final three games of the season to evaluate his new team, and Coach Jim Zorn didn't do much to help whatever slim chances he had of returning next season.

The Giants set the tone by taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards for a touchdown in a 16-play drive that took 9:13. The second drive was 63 yards in 11 plays over five minutes.

Tiger, Elin go separate ways

2009-12-24T01:11:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods is reportedly yachting to the Bahamas for the holidays to escape the firestorm over his sex scandal while his wife Elin is said to be off back to Sweden for Christmas with her family.

Woods, who turns 34 next week, launched his yacht from Palm Beach for the Bahamas at the weekend, with People magazine quoting an unidentified friend as saying that the golf star faced a deeply unhappy time ahead.

"He's devastated at everything he has lost," the magazine quoted the source as saying. "He will go through some dark times. It's going to be a lonely Christmas for him."

Both People and the Palm Beach Post reported the Bahamas as the supposed destination for the yacht named "Privacy".

Woods has admitted cheating on wife Elin and at least 14 women, one for every major golf crown he has won, have claimed to have had affairs with the world's first billionaire sportsman.

Sponsors have backed away from Woods and comedians have made him the punch line for jokes. Woods has put his golf career on hold indefinitely to work on his personal woes.

People also reported that Elin Woods, a Swedish model whom Woods married in 2004, will take the couple's two children with her to Sweden.

Celebrity website TMZ reported Elin would not immediately move to divorce Woods but said she has been especially upset by the sheer number of affairs by her husband and two particularly painful relationships.

She was reportedly most upset about a three-year relationship Woods maintained with one woman and that he was with another woman while she herself was pregnant.

People also reported that Tiger's Thai-born mother, Kultida Woods, was "hurt, angry and disappointed" in her son, according to an unnamed source close to the family.

"She wants to know how he could do this to his family," People reported the source said. "She loves him and will support him through anything but she needs some time to work through this. It was devastating to her.

"She likes Elin, adores her grandchildren. She's worried about them. She doesn't want to see them hurt."

Possible avenues for golf star Woods making a return to the public were reported even as book deals for examinations of Woods's fall from grace were said to be in the works.

MSNBC's Courtney Hazlett said sources close to Woods indicated he might appear on the January 9 edition of Saturday Night Live, which is to be hosted by a friend of Woods, retired basketball star Charles Barkley.

"He's a little incredulous at the way he is being judged," MSNBC quoted the source as saying. "If he went on SNL, it would definitely change the conversation."

The NBC network late-night comedy show spoofed Woods three weeks ago and two weeks ago aimed a parody at US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, mocking how he might defend events as interest and sponsorship dim without Woods.

Woods is also being sought by Hollywood director Todd Phillips for his sequel to "The Hangover", according to website Hollyscoop. Filming for the new movie is set to begin in about six months for a 2011 release.

"We are going to try and get Tiger Woods for the second one... Yeah, help him regain his image," the site quoted Phillips as saying.

Premier League manager caught 'using a brothel'

2009-12-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

The manager of a Premier League football club has reportedly been caught visiting a brothel.

The Sun newspaper claims that it approached the unnamed manager after he had spent an hour in a massage parlour on an industrial estate.

The manager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was said to have left the premises wearing training gear and an overcoat while talking on his mobile phone. Asked by the reporter if he knew that it was a brothel, he "smiled and replied 'Yes'".

The man, who was reportedly seen outside the brothel on a previous occasion in October, was then driven away. However, the car returned shortly afterwards without the manager and with a different driver, who entered the parlour for a brief period. The reporter then went inside and was told that a girl's time would cost him £100 an hour or £70 for half an hour including sex.

If the story is true, it will almost certainly cost the manager his job and will leave his club open to ridicule

Football transfer rumours: Valencia's David Villa to Chelsea?

2009-12-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

Spare a thought for prolific smoker Carlo Ancelotti, who, like Def Leppard, is finding it increasingly difficult to get a hit. Already the Italian has been grumbling since his arrival in Britain about the law that prevents him from grabbing a gasper in restaurants – food being his other great passion, apparently – and now he can't even spark up outside for fear of being frozen like a swindler's assets.

To keep his mind off his misery, Ancelotti has resolved to get active and though it is less than two weeks since he declared "I've already said this many times so this is the last time: we will not be buying anyone in January. 100%", today Chelsea are being linked with a slew of new signings.

First up is David Villa, the Valencia striker who, according to several tabloids, "has put Europe's top clubs on high alert" by saying he will after all consider a move beyond Spain, particularly to the Premier League. Chelsea are suddenly the favourites to land him, though Manchester United are pretending to be in the running and Arsène Wenger will gladly take him if Valencia will accept a fee well below his market value and a pious lecture about playing the game the right way.

Rafael Benítez, meanwhile, is wrapping bandages around his self-esteem as he goes into battle with Wigan and Hull for the services of £2m-rated Brann striker Erik Huseklepp.

There's also talk about Chelsea chasing Bolton's England Under-21 anchor man, Fabrice Muamba and Porto's Colombia forward Falcão. Benítez, meanwhile, is wrapping protective padding around the bandages around his self-esteem as he attempts to persuade Emile Heskey to return to Anfield.

Ancelotti is also going to have to busy himself with sweet-talking Branislav Ivanovic into staying at Stamford Bridge despite interest from Real Madrid.

Elsewhere, the new Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will try to take his mind off the hysterical media moralising about a club's decision to take steps to ensure they have a manager ready to step in when they ditch the under-performing incumbent, by bounding into the transfer market to bag Matthew Upson, the Internazionale full-back Maicon and Bolton's Gary Cahill. Benítez, meanwhile, is wrapping cotton wool around the protective padding around the bandages to his self-esteem as he sidles up to Benjani Mwaruwari.

Two widemen on their way back to the Premier League are Jermaine Pennant, coveted by Aston Villa, and José Antonio Reyes, in demand from Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, is about to put Nani out of Old Trafford's misery by including him in the deal that could bring winger Angel di María from Benfica. And while United make do with an Angel, plucky Reading are aiming for God himself. The Championship side plan to appoint Glenn Hoddle as their new manager.

Jose Mourinho's mind games won't work on us, says Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack

2009-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

Michael Ballack has warned Jose Mourinho he will need more than mind games to get the better of Chelsea in the Champions League.

Ex-Blues boss Mourinho and his Inter Milan side will return to Stamford Bridge in the last 16 of the competition and the Portuguese has already tried to rile his former club.

He said: I won't need to study them. With the addition of Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka, they are my old team.'

But Chelsea midfielder Ballack shrugged off the comments from his old boss, saying: 'It's part of his job [to use mind games] but we're focused on ourselves.

'We haven't spoken much yet about what it will be like to play against him but when the game gets nearer there will be enough going on.

'We know him but he won't be on the pitch so obviously it doesn't help us. It will help them more because he knows all the Chelsea players.
michael ballack

'It is a big draw and will be a tough game against a tough opponent. Everybody likes these games, although it's a bit early to be playing such a big team at the last-16 stage.

'We have one of the best teams but we just have to take it. It will be special for Jose and also for us.'

Mancini targets title

2009-12-23T08:30:00.001-08:00

Roberto Mancini crowned an eventful first news conference as Manchester City manager by saying he wanted to bring the English Premier League title to Eastlands next season.

It is more than 40 years since City were last crowned champions of England.

And given the manner in which his predecessor Mark Hughes was sacked last week, there are some who believe former Inter Milan boss Mancini may do well to still be at City come the start of the 2010/11 campaign.

Nevertheless, Mancini told reporters here on Monday: "My target this season is to arrive in the top four. I think it's possible. Next season we want to win the Premier League."

Mancini, who won three straight Serie A titles with Inter before being sacked a year-and-a-half ago because of the club's lack of Champions League success, added: "I stayed at Inter for four years - which is a record in itself. I also won seven trophies when they had not won anything for 20 years.

"Then I got sacked. Pressure in this job is normal."

But the fact former striker Mancini, who briefly appeared in England for Leicester towards the end of his playing days, is City's 17th manager (including caretakers) in 20 years may put a dampener on any title talk.

Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour, who has already spent some 200 million pounds on bringing new players to Eastlands, is the latest in a long line of colourful if demanding City owners.

No side has lost fewer games in the Premier League so far this season than City, who've been beaten just twice and lie sixth in the table, 11 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Hughes, who on Sunday said he had no idea he was about to be sacked, believed he was on course to achieve the "realistic target" of sixth place or in the region of 70 points set by the owners at the start of the season.

But chief executive Garry Cook said the club's wealthy backers felt that target would not be achieved unless there was a change of manager.

"The trajectory of recent results was below this requirement and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change," Cook, sitting alongside Mancini, explained.

It said something that this comment - and television phone-ins suggested fans were split on whether the club were right to sack Hughes - was arguably the least contentious one made by Cook on Monday.

Cook originally planned to read out nothing more than a prepared statement which outlined that no discussions with Mancini had taken place until after last Wednesday's 3-0 league loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, Mancini then contradicted Cook by revealing he had met with chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and Sheikh Mansour in London a fortnight ago.

"Two weeks ago I met Khaldoon in London," Mancini said. "Only to speak in general on football - it is possible (to only meet to talk about sport)."

This appeared too much even for Cook who, in an unscripted intervention, added: "Two weeks ago Roberto met Khaldoon Al-Mubarak in London and after the Spurs game he was contacted for further discussions of a more serious nature.

"The discussions in London were general, they were about football and they were about considering managerial options at that point."

Earlier Cook, reading from the statement, said: "I think it is important for people to know that Roberto was only offered the job after the Spurs game, we negotiated on Thursday and finalised his agreement on Friday."

He added it was Sheikh Mansour's decision to fly-in to tell Hughes in person he'd been sacked that was behind the bizarre scenario that saw Mancini signed on Friday only for the Welshman to still be in charge for Saturday's match.

Cook then became rattled when asked why City had not spared either Hughes or the club itself the embarrassment of their former boss's protracted departure.

"It seems to me there is an overwhelming theory there is a conspiracy," he said. "There are no conspiracy theories, we need to draw a line and move onto the future."

Serena Williams Is the AP Female Athlete of the Year

2009-12-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

Serena Williams is named 2009 AP Female Athlete of the Year

2009-12-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

Playing her best at the most important events, Serena Williams re-established herself as the top player in women's tennis in 2009 and was a landslide choice as Female Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press.

Williams received 66 of 158 votes cast by editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP. No other candidate got more than 18 votes in the tally, which was announced Tuesday.

Clearly, Williams' most infamous on-court episode - a tirade directed at a line judge after a foot-fault call near the end of her U.S. Open semifinal loss in September - didn't hurt her standing in the eyes of the voters.

"People realize that I'm a great player, and one moment doesn't define a person's career," Williams told the AP. "And I was right, for the most part: It wasn't right the way I reacted - I never said it was - but I was right about the call."

She also noted that the outburst, which resulted in a record fine and two-year probationary period at Grand Slam tournaments, "got a lot more people excited about tennis."

The 28-year-old American tends to do that, thanks to her powerful, athletic play and her outgoing personality.

"We can attribute the strength and the growth of women's tennis a great deal to her," WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said in a telephone interview. "She is a superstar."

Williams, who is based in Florida, also won the AP award in 2002, a seven-year gap that is the longest between AP Female Athlete of the Year honors since golf's Patty Berg won in 1943 and 1955.

"I'm just happy and blessed to even be playing seven years later. All this is a bonus, really," Williams said. "In 2002, I just was really dominant, and I think in 2009, I just brought that back. I kind of became that player again."

Indeed she did.

Williams finished the year at No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She topped $6.5 million in prize money, breaking the single-season tour record by more than $1 million. She won three significant singles titles - Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the season-ending tour championships - and paired with sister Venus to win three Grand Slam doubles championships.

"An incredible performance," Allaster said. "Her game just continues to improve through this long career she's had."

Williams went 50-12 in singles, an .806 winning percentage that was the highest for any woman who played at least 20 matches in 2009. She tied for the tour lead in singles titles. She led the tour with 381 aces, 75 more than anyone else, and also led in percentages of first-service points won and service games won.

Serena clinches 3rd Wimbledon

2009-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Serena Williams beat her sister Venus 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Saturday for her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam championship.

In the fourth all-Williams final at Wimbledon, Serena came out on top for the third time by out-serving her big sister, lifting her game in the tiebreaker and dictating play throughout the second set.

By taking the title for the first time in six years, Serena stopped five-time champion Venus from becoming the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1991-93 to win Wimbledon three years in a row. The Williams sisters have won eight of the 10 Wimbledon singles titles this decade.

When Venus slapped a backhand into the net on the fourth match point, Serena fell to her knees on the grass, eyes closed, arms raised, and threw back her head. As always with Williams versus Williams matches, the celebrations were relatively muted. The two sisters embraced at the net, with the 29-year-old Venus patting 27-year-old Serena on the back.

It was Serena's turn to hold up the women's trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish.

"It feels so amazing," she said. "I'm so blessed. I feel like I shouldn't be holding the trophy. I can't believe I'm holding it. It's named for Venus and she always wins. It hasn't settled in that I won yet."

Serena beat Venus in the 2002 and '03 finals, before Venus prevailed in last year's championship match.

"Today she was too good," Venus said. "She had an answer for everything. She played the best tennis today, so congratulations."

The sisters were due back on Centre Court later for the women's doubles final, where they will face Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs of Australia. They are seeking their fourth Wimbledon doubles title and 10th Grand Slam crown.

Venus had come into the final as the favourite after playing some of the best grass-court tennis of her career. She hadn't dropped a set in 17 straight matches at Wimbledon, but couldn't cope on this day with the fierce competitive drive and relentless power game of her sister.

Serena now has an 11-10 edge overall and 6-2 in Grand Slam finals against her sister

Messi voted the best

2009-12-23T06:53:00.001-08:00

IN THEIR BEST BIB AND TUCKER: Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) and Brazil's Marta pose with their FIFA World Player of the Year awards during the World Player Gala in Zurich on Monday

Main Story:
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, who earlier this month won the European Footballer of the Year, was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009. Messi, who made history by becoming the first Argentine player to win the award, beat off the other finalists Kaka, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and last year's winner, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The award, which was presented at a ceremony in Zurich on Monday evening, crowned an exceptional season for the 22-year-old, during which he won the Champions League, as well as the Spanish double and on the weekend he added the world club cup to his list of titles.

In front of the who's who of international football, Messi thanked his team-mates when accepting the award.

"What can I say. I would like to thank everybody. All of my colleagues, everybody who has been involved all over the last years.

"It is an award for us all to celebrate. For without all those around me it would simply not be possible to win this award."

Messi picked up 1,073 points from managers and captains of the world's national teams, comfortably edging out Ronaldo, who had 353 points and Xavi, who had 196 points.

Brazilian Marta won the women's award for a record-breaking fourth time in a row, beating team-mate Cristiane, England's Kelly Smith as well as Germans Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz for the title.

Marta, who is back in Brazil playing for Santos on loan from American club Los Angeles Sol, said that she never expected to win the award for a fourth time.

"For me the greatest pleasure is to play football and I would like to thank everybody who has been involved with me - not forgetting my family.

"All these people have always been by my side. This award is as much for them as for me, for without them I would not be here and I owe them a great depth of gratitude."

She said that she considered it as very special to win four times in a row. "But I accept it for women's football in general," she said.

The FIFA Presidential award went to the Queen of Jordan, Rania Al- Abdullah, who spearheads the One Goal - Education For All programme.

FIFA President Joseph Blatter said that the work that she does proves that football can contribute towards a better world if they work together.

"You are this programme and I am proud that FIFA is a part of this wonderful work," Blatter said.

FIFA also made two new awards: the FIFA Puskas Award, which was named in honour of the Hungarian legend, was given for the most beautiful goal, while the FIFA/FIFPro World XI was for the 11 best players of the world.

Ronaldo won the Puskas award for his goal for Manchester United in the Champions League against Porto, while the following were elected into the FIFA/FIPro World XI.

Goalkeeper: Iker Cassilas (Real Madrid/Spain)

Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea/England), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United/Serbia), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/France) and Dani Alves (Barcelona/Spain)

Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona/Spain); Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool/England)

Forwards: and Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Spain) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool/Spain)

Factfile
Name: Lionel Messi
Date of birth: June 24, 1987
Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
Height: 1.69 m (5ft 7in)
Weight: 67kg

Playing position: Striker
International Caps: 44
Goals scored: 13
Club: Barcelona - since 2005
Club Honours
Primera Liga (3): 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2008-2009
Spanish Cup (1): 2008-2009
Spanish SuperCup (3): 2005, 2006, 2009
UEFA Champions League (2): 2005-2006, 2008-2009
UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009
International Honours
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
Individual Honours
UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2008-2009 (9 goals)
Spanish footballer of the year: 2008-2009
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
Ballon d'Or: 2009

Yuvraj out of Lanka ODIs

2009-12-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

India batsman Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of the ongoing one-day international series against Sri Lanka because of a finger injury. Yuvraj had picked up the injury while fielding during the second Twenty20 in Mohali and was subsequently unavailable for the first two ODIs.

He has been advised rest for the next two matches of the ODI series after aggravating the worrisome finger and his participation in the forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh remains in doubt. Yuvraj returned to the starting XI for the third ODI in Cuttack yesterday and scored 23 from 40 balls as India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match contest.

This is the second serious injury he has sustained this year. In September, Yuvraj fractured a finger during a practice session in Johannesburg before India's Champions Trophy got underway. He recovered ahead of the six-week timeline doctors had estimated and played five of seven ODIs against Australia at home before Sri Lanka arrived.

Yuvraj could be replaced by batsman Rohit Sharma, who last week boosted his chances of a national recall with a triple-century for Mumbai against Gujarat during the Ranji Trophy.

The Indian selectors are expected to make an announcement shortly. The fourth ODI is in Kolkata on December 24, followed by the final game in Delhi on December 27.

Sachin sees India home

2009-12-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

India superstar Sachin Tendulkar sweeps fine during his unbeaten knock of 96 in third one-day international at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Monday

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Sachin Tendulkar hit a solid 96 not out to power India to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international here on Monday.

The opener cracked 13 fours in his 104-ball knock to help India achieve a 240-run target with more than seven overs to spare in the day-night game for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total, finishing with a career-best 4-32 off 10 tight overs. He was named man of the match.

Sri Lanka were on course for a big total when they reached 165-1 in the 23rd over before losing their last nine wickets for 74 in a dramatic collapse, sparked by Jadeja.

India made a brisk start, with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag smashing a 28-ball 44 with nine fours in a 55-run stand for the opening wicket with Tendulkar.

Sehwag led the team in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was banned for two matches for a slow over-rate during his team's three-wicket defeat in the previous game in Nagpur.

India capitalised on the start as Tendulkar added 72 for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir (32) and 73 for the unfinished fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (36 not out) to steer his team home.

Jadeja led India's fightback with a disciplined spell. He bowled well-set opener Upul Tharanga (73) before dismissing Chamara Kapugedera (15), Nuwan Kulasekara (10) and Ajantha Mendis (six).

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the other bowler to impress, conceding 29 off nine overs for one wicket.

In-form opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who smashed brisk centuries in the last two matches, helped Sri Lanka get off to an explosive start with an 18-ball 41 as the visitors raced to 65 off just 6.2 overs.

Dilshan, who survived a run-out chance on 36, was caught by wicketkeeper Karthik off a mistimed pull off seamer Ashish Nehra after hitting 10 fours in his impressive cameo.

There was no respite for India as Tharanga and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (46) put on 100 for the second wicket to raise their team's hopes of posting a big total.

Tharanga cracked one six and six fours in his 81-ball knock.

But India fought back after the dismissal of Sangakkara, stumped by Karthik off part-time spinner Sehwag. They then never allowed Sri Lanka to build a partnership, striking at regular intervals.

Paceman Ishant Sharma, who conceded 46 runs in his opening three overs, came back strongly to remove Thilina Kandamby for 22 and Suraj Randiv off successive deliveries.

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