Mourinho: I called Balotelli for a meeting... he went to the Formula 1!

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that Mario Balotelli once skipped a meeting with him at Inter to attend a Formula 1 event. The Portuguese worked with the striker, now at Liverpool, during his time in charge of Inter, and though the Italian was unpredictable, he has fond memories of his “funny problems” in trying to control his mercurial charge.

Mourinho has previously said that he could write a book about his dealings with Balotelli and told BT Sport that it would be “a funny book, a good book!”

“[Balotelli was a] nice kid, in my time, needed support, needed the older players to support him because it’s not good when that educational relationship is just between the manager and the player,” he said in an interview to be broadcast on Christmas Day.

"I always think that it’s important that the people surrounding help the manager in that process.

"We had funny problems. I told him to be at 2pm in my office for a meeting and, when I called him, he’d gone to the Formula 1 qualification on the Saturday for the race on Sunday.

"He said: ‘Meetings in your office I can have every day but to see the Formula 1 is only once a year in Italy’. This is a funny situation. A couple of days later I had to laugh.”

Peyton Manning was named to his NFL-best 14th Pro Bowl to lead a league-best nine Denver Broncos players into the annual all-star game, the NFL announced.

The superstar quarterback, who won a Super Bowl title with Indianapolis, lost in last February's title game against Seattle but hopes to lift the Broncos back to the championship spectacle in next month's NFL playoffs.

Two of Manning's favorite targets, receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas, also were named to the preliminary Pro Bowl lineup. Hall of Fame receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin will serve as alumni captains for the January 25 matchup in suburban Phoenix at the same stadium where the Super Bowl will be staged a week later.

Players will be divided into teams in a draft format by the captains as was done for the first time last year in place of the old format between players from American Conference clubs playing those from the National Conference.

Jacksonville, Minnesota, Tennessee and the New York Giants did not have a player named but could have talent added to rosters as injuries and playoff success force other players to drop out.

Players from Super Bowl squads do not take part in the Pro Bowl. Among those not selected to the Pro Bowl were new York Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham, whose spectacular one-handed touchdown grab along the sideline became the season's most talked-about play, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who sparked his team to its first Super Bowl crown last February.

New England quarterback Tom Brady was named to his 10th Pro Bowl and was among five Patriots selected. Other quarterbacks chosen include Tony Romo of Dallas, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger. Romo's Cowboys had six players named to the Pro Bowl talent pool, second only to Denver. The game, traditionally played in Hawaii, will be played at a site beyond Aloha Stadium for only the second time since 1980, and the first since 2010. The game will return to Honolulu in 2016.

Last January, Jerry Rice's team took a 22-21 triumph over one guided by fellow Hall of Famer receiver Deion Sanders.

Kevin Durant: The Choice of the Millennial Generation

In mid-August, the numbers—$225 million! $300 million! $350 million!—began trickling out.

Kevin Durant, the NBA’s reigning MVP and no worse than the second-best basketball player on the planet, was looking around, maybe seeking a better fit, possibly in search of a new sole.

Suddenly, shoe company free agency became mainstream news.

Could Under Armour—the Baltimore-based upstart founded in 1996 on $15,000 but now with $3 billion in revenue expected in 2014—actually poach Durant from Nike, the behemoth in Beaverton, Oregon, with anticipated revenue of $30 billion for 2015?

Not this time. The Oklahoma City forward stuck with Nike, announcing the news on Twitter and ending what might have been a major coup for an ascending brand. Under Armour’s high-stakes courtship and Nike’s ensuing reaction underscored Durant’s perch among the ranks of sport’s most marketable stars—a game-changer.

“He would have given UA instant credibility,” said Matt Powell, vice president of industry analysis for Sports and Leisure Trends at The NPD Group, via email. “And every brand needs credibility—that’s why they pay elite athletes to wear their products. Signing KD would have helped UA gain traction in the basketball market.”

Indeed. According to Powell’s estimates, Nike and its Jordan subsidiary comprise 95 percent of all U.S. basketball sales, with UA currently at less than 1 percent.

So, even as Nike seemingly prints cash—and with megastar LeBron James already on board and established as the company’s top endorsee—was re-upping with Durant a matter of playing “keep-away” from a surging competitor or simply continuing to appreciate and maintain an existing relationship?

“KD’s been a Nike athlete since he entered the league and we’re proud to have a relationship with one of the most dynamic players in the game,” Nike spokesperson Brian Strong wrote in an email. “He possesses exceptional on-court talent, a strong off-court personality and the ability to connect with and inspire the athletes that we exist to serve, including the youth.”

The last three words in that statement are likely the key.

The Heat is on as LeBron returns to Miami

LeBron James plays in Miami for the first time since leaving the Heat for Cleveland when the Cavaliers visit Thursday to highlight five Christmas holiday NBA clashes being televised globally. The schedule opens with Washington at New York followed by Oklahoma City at defending NBA champion San Antonio before the latest episode in James' city-switching saga plays out in Miami, where he led the Heat to the past four NBA Finals and brought the city two NBA crowns. Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose, two injury-prone stars, could be the focus when the Los Angeles Lakers visit Chicago in the penultimate contest, with the Golden State Warriors, who have the best record in the NBA, visiting the Los Angeles Clippers in the final game of the 67th NBA Christmas calendar. James spurned his home-region Cavaliers for the Heat in 2010 but after winning his long-sought after first NBA titles with Miami, he returned to Cleveland vowing to bring the city a major sports title, something not seen there since the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1964. "The schedule came out after I had decided to come back. The NBA knew something," James said. "They knew that I was going to go home or stay in Miami, so they knew I would have to play my home team or my old teammates." James, who ranks second in NBA scoring with 25.2 points a game and fifth in assists with 7.8 a contest, has sparked the Cavaliers to a 16-10 record, fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Martin Skrtel reveals full extent of head wound on Instagram after Liverpool hero's clash with Olivier Giroud's boot

Martin Skrtel has revealed the extent of the wound on the top of his head after he was caught by Olivier Giroud's boot during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday. Skrtel was the hero at Anfield as he salvaged a 2-2 draw for the Reds in stoppage time with a powerful header from Adam Lallana's ball into the box. But earlier the Slovakia defender had needed six minutes of treatment on the pitch after feeling the full force of Giroud's boot.

Bale: Real Madrid have shown we're the best team in the world

Gareth Bale hailed Real Madrid as the best team on the planet after the Welshman's goal helped them to seal Club World Cup glory against San Lorenzo in Marrakech.

Bale struck in the second half to double Madrid's lead after Sergio Ramos had opened the scoring against the reigning South American champions.

It crowned an incredible year for Carlo Ancelotti's side, who helped themselves to four titles in all - the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and now the Club World Cup

"For us it's a massive tournament to win and to show we're the best team in the world is amazing," Bale told Goal.

"It's been a great year all round. Winning the Champions League, winning the Super Cup, winning the Copa del Rey and now this ... it's been a great year and hopefully there's more to come."

Los Blancos are on course to reign supreme in La Liga this season, currently holding a one-point advantage over Barcelona, having played one game fewer.

They are also favourites to win the Champions League when the competition resumes in February, with Schalke lying in wait in the last 16.

"We need to keep concentrating on each and every game and hopefully we'll achieve what we know we can," Bale added.

Kobe Bryant may take time off after another subpar outing in Lakers loss

"I don't have much of a choice if the body is feeling the way it's feeling right now," Bryant said. "You got to be smart. You got to make sure you get enough return on your investment. With the amount of work that I do and put into my body and to get my body ready, for it to be sore as it is right now, sometimes you do have to consider sitting down.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott said he would talk to Bryant about taking off one or two games or lowering his minutes after he looked fatigued while struggling in a 108-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Bryant missed 22 of 30 shots from the field and had nine turnovers in nearly 38 minutes against the Kings. The Lakers next play the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday before going on the road to play the Chicago Bulls on Christmas and the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Bryant said he was uncertain what games were best for him to take off.

"You got to look at the body," Bryant said. "You make the call tomorrow and see how my body feels and go from there." When asked if Bryant's offensive struggles were due to fatigue or being aggressive offensively, Scott said: "That's fatigue. I think that goes hand in hand. I'm going to think about it tonight and sit down with Kobe tomorrow and we'll talk about it. We'll come up with a solution and try to figure out the next few games and what we want to do."

Bryant is averaging 24.6 points on 37.7 shooting from the field in 35.2 minutes per game this season. The NBA's third all-time leading scorer hasn't shot under 40 percent in his previous 18 seasons. Bryant has played in all 27 games this season after being limited to a career-low six games last season due to knee and Achilles injuries.

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The term coward has been thrown Floyd Mayweather’s way alluding to the thinking that he does not want to fight Manny Pacquiao. In a recent interview with Ben Thompson of FightHype, Mayweather cleared up that he does not mind being called a coward.

“I laugh about it because I say, you know, I don't mind being a rich coward,” Mayweather said.

Pacquiao called out Mayweather after defending his WBO welterweight championship against Chris Algieri. Mayweather responded weeks later saying he's willing to fight on May 2.

In the same interview, Mayweather again threw shots at Pacquiao’s financial situation, which the undefeated American claims is forcing the eight-division world champion to chase the mega-fight.

“We all know he has financial problems. He has problems with those capital letters, which is the IRS. It's crazy that people has been misled,” he said.

“Look at his pay-per-view numbers and look at my pay-per-view numbers,” Mayweather added. “I got people that used to work in Pacquiao camp that now works for my camp. So I know the truth about his checks and I know the truth about other things that I'm not going to speak on.”

Still, Mayweather claims he’ll give Pacquiao a shot at taking staining his immaculate record.

“I think the time is right, the time is now," he said about Mayweather-Pacquiao finally happening.

Former NBA center Milicic loses kickboxing debut

Former NBA center Darko Milicic, a 7-foot Serb who spent 10 years with various teams after being the second overall pick in the 2003 draft behind LeBron James, has lost his first kickboxing fight. The 29-year-old Milicic sustained a bloody cut on his left leg in the first round of an exhibition match Thursday night against Serbian fighter Radovan Radojcic. The World Kickboxing Association bout had to be stopped in the second round on doctor's orders.

"The next time, it will be better," Milicic said. "I'm invincible."

The Detroit Pistons bypassed Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade to take Milicic with the second pick in 2003. The team then went on to win the 2004 NBA title. Milicic, who has been without an NBA contract for two years, also played for Orlando, Memphis, New York, Minnesota and Boston during his time in the league.

Fighters are raring to go for ONE FC: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS after successfully making weight

On 19 December, ONE FC is set to connect with history in a gigantic step in its campaign to lead the Asian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene. The biggest MMA promotion in Asia will hold ONE FC: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS – its first fight event in China. All fighters sucessfully made weight and are ready for an action-packed night at the National Olympic Sports Center in Beijing.

Indian boxer banned 1 year for refusing medal

The Indian female boxer who refused to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games was banned for one year. World governing body AIBA backdated the ban on Sarita Devi to the day of the incident, Oct. 1, Boxing India said on Wednesday. It was a lighter-than-expected penalty, given that AIBA president CK Wu told The Associated Press last month the boxer would be "heavily punished."

Boxing India president Sandeep Jajodia said it worked hard for Devi. "There was apprehension that Sarita would be banned for life, but BI continuously worked to get relief for Sarita, trying to impress on AIBA that she is a disciplined boxer," Jajodia said. Devi, suspended since the incident, was also fined 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,040), and India's Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez was banned for two years.

Devi was angered by the judging in her semifinal loss in the 60-kilogram division, and showed her displeasure at the medal ceremony, refusing to let the medal be placed around her neck, and handing it the South Korean who beat her. Park Ji-na left it on the podium. Devi apologized, and the India delegation said her action was not premeditated.

Devi missed the women's world championships last month, but will be eligible to return in time to try to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Three high-profile mixed martial arts fighters filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday accusing the UFC of illegally monopolizing power in the industry by eliminating its competition. Former UFC fighters Jon Fitch and Nate Quarry, along with Cung Le, who is still under contract with the UFC, also accuse the Zuffa-owned company of "artificially suppressing fighters' " earnings with their contracts and practices.

The civil suit alleges that the UFC has violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by illegally scheming to create a non-competitive marketplace that restricts the earning capabilities of fighters, as well as coercing fighters to relinquish rights to their names and likenesses. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and damages, and the suit claims to represent a class of current and former UFC fighters in similar situations as Le, Quarry and Fitch.

"This lawsuit is about fairness," Quarry told reporters during a press conference in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday. "It's about a fair market value for the athletes. … It's time for those things to change. We deserve to be out in a free market place." Zuffa is primarily owned by billionaires Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, along with UFC president Dana White.

The UFC has had a stranglehold on MMA for the majority of the 21st century, and Zuffa has either bought up or driven out several other viable promotions. The suit references past statements made by White and other UFC officials comparing the promotion and its practices to that of the NFL and NBA, but makes a distinction in regards to those leagues' ability to foster an open market by creating a bidding war among individual teams.

The lawsuit alleges that the UFC has maintained control of more than 90 percent of the revenue derived from live MMA bouts nationwide. It also maintains that the UFC has allegedly retaliated against fighters who have worked with or who have announced intentions to work with rival promoters.

“UFC’s threats are taken seriously by fighters because they know that a UFC ban will substantially diminish, if not end, their ability to earn a living at their chosen profession,” said plaintiffs’ co-counsel Joseph Saveri of Saveri Law Firm, Inc. “These MMA professionals deserve the right to take back their careers.”

Warriors' 16-game win streak stopped by Grizzlies

A big boost from the very deep Memphis bench put a stop to the Golden State Warriors' 16-game winning streak. With all backups on the floor, Vince Carter and the Grizzlies scored 20 straight points to start the second quarter and went on to beat Golden State 105-98 on Tuesday night.

"They punched us in the mouth to start the second quarter, and that was the difference in the game," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. Carter scored 11 of his season-high 16 points during the decisive run. Marc Gasol scored 24 points and Zach Randolph had 17 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis earned its fifth straight win.

Mike Conley had 17 points and reserve Jon Leuer added 11 for the Grizzlies. Memphis trailed 30-24 before holding the Warriors scoreless for the first five minutes of the second period.

"They deserve all the credit for what they did," Gasol said of the bench. "They came in, and I thought defensively they did an amazing job playing from one side of the floor helping the other side ... Young guy Vince made some tough shots."

The Warriors came in with the NBA's best record at 21-2 and longest winning streak in franchise history. They lost for the first time since Nov. 11 against the Spurs, also the last team to beat Memphis. This was the first time in NBA history in which both teams had 19 or more wins in the first 24 games — the Grizzlies improved to 20-4.

‘I don't want my son to think of me as a coward’ says Manny Pacquiao

A mega-fight between WBC champion Floyd Mayweather and WBO champion Manny Pacquiao has dominated boxing conversations for the past five years. Since Pacquiao stepped into the welterweight division, boxing fans wanted to see him fight the undefeated American. However, the two camps can’t seem to work together to make what could be the richest fight in boxing history. For Mayweather, drug testing, money, and Bob Arum are issues impeding the fight from happening although he has claimed that he is not ducking Pacquiao. For the Filipino, however, his drive to fight Mayweather comes from a much simpler place. He does not want his son to think he’s a coward.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is now willing to fight Manny Pacquiao. The undefeated American, who calls himself the greatest boxer ever, said he wants to fight Pacquiao on May 2 in a bout that could generate over $200 million in revenues. And under his terms.

If it happens, the fight could break all existing records in boxing. Pacquiao must have heard about Mayweather’s interview with “Showtime” yesterday because he seemed ready with his response to the challenge: “Gawin niya, hindi yung salita.” Stop talking and just do it. “Pumirma na siya sa kontrata (He should sign the contract),” Pacquiao told reporters at his Forbes Park home yesterday. “I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. We tried to make the fight happen years ago; we had problems with random blood and urine testing,” Mayweather said in the interview.

“I just want to be on an even playing field. Now he’s in a very, very tight situation. He’s lost to (Juan Manuel) Marquez, he’s lost to (Timothy) Bradley. Pay-per-view numbers are extremely low. He’s desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago. I’m just waiting on them.

“Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent,” Mayweather told Showtime.

Instead, the boxer with a perfect record of 47-0 blamed Pacquiao’s promoter, and his former promoter, Bob Arum, for preventing the fight from happening. Fight fans around the world can’t wait to see the fight, which for the last five years has gone on and off. But over the last few weeks, there’s strong buzz that negotiations are back on, and this time, things look brighter than before.

Hornets targeting Nets, Pacers to unload Lance Stephenson

The Charlotte Hornets are targeting the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets as destinations to unload guard Lance Stephenson, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Stephenson becomes eligible to be traded on Monday, and Charlotte has rapidly lost hope that its brief partnership with Stephenson can stand the test of time. Indiana hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing back Stephenson, but appears unwilling to seriously engage the Hornets without the inclusion of a first-round pick in a potential deal, sources told Yahoo Sports. So far, Charlotte has shown no inclination to package a future draft pick to move Stephenson, league executives told Yahoo Sports.

Charlotte signed Stephenson to a three-year, $27 million deal this summer, but holds a team option on the final season of the contract. After reaching the playoffs with 43 victories a season ago, the Hornets have stumbled to a 6-17 start this season. Charlotte coach Steve Clifford has largely stopped using Stephenson in the fourth quarter and key stretches of games. The gulf between Stephenson and his Charlotte teammates has been growing, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Stephenson's inability to co-exist on the floor with point guard Kemba Walker is among the primary reasons for the franchise's desire to trade him, sources said. Charlotte reached out to Indiana on a potential Stephenson deal and has been pushing to generate an ongoing conversation, sources said. Indiana knows there's significant trepidation about Stephenson around the league, and knows him better than anyone. They've acted with little urgency on the matter, understanding they would own all the leverage in talks on Stephenson, league sources said. When the Hornets first proposed a deal to reunite Stephenson with Indiana, the Pacers suggested the discussion start with two future first-round picks, league sources said. Make no mistake: The Pacers understand they can negotiate from a position of strength.

Ramsey to miss Arsenal's clash with Liverpool

Arsene Wenger has confirmed Aaron Ramsey will miss Arsenal's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool next Sunday. The Wales international scored twice in midweek as Arsenal beat Galatasaray in the Champions League but was forced off with a hamstring injury that subsequently ruled him out of Saturday's win over Newcastle. Ramsey is now set for a spell on the sidelines along with Laurent Koscielny with Wenger unable to say when the duo will be fit to return to action.

"Ramsey will be out for a few weeks and Koscielny as well," he told reporters. "They will not be back next week."

Arsenal's injury problems saw Mathieu Debuchy deployed as a centre-back against Newcastle but Wenger says his side were much improved from Saturday's defeat to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

"I’m a bit scared to say that but at Stoke we missed the start of the game and defensively," he added.

"You look at the chances we had at Stoke and we could have scored four or five there as well and we finished the game with 10 men. Defensively we were not at the races from the start and we paid the price for that.

"The fluency going forward was not disastrous, it was our defending that was not good."

The Gunners have now scored 10 goals in their last three outings but Wenger has denied his team are the most creative in the Premier League.

"We try. I don’t think we are the most," he explained. "It’s always the same in football - you try to attack to go forward and if you win everybody says well done, when you don’t win everybody says you’re not realistic enough.

"I think our target is to combine keeping our style and defending well as well - that’s what we did today."

Kobe Bryant falls short of MJ's scoring mark, but helps Lakers beat Spurs

In a young season rife with rightful criticism, Kobe Bryant went completely against type on Friday night in playing the sort of team ball necessary to down the defending champs on their home court by a 112-110 overtime score. He also acted, for long stretches, as stereotype late-career Kobe Bryant. It was fascinating. The kicker is the fact that had Kobe Bryant played the sort of shot-happy, inefficient ball that has marked his 2014-15 season, he could have passed his model Michael Jordan and moved into third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Instead, Bryant held back and made the correct plays that he usually anticipates before any other mere mortals, plays he often disregards prior to tossing up another jumper.

Kobe finished with 22 points on 22 shots as a heretofore terrible Lakers team knocked off a Spurs squad working with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and even Tony Parker for a spell. Kobe entered the game needing 31 points to top MJ, but he sat huge chunks of the second and fourth quarter without a complaint, and his work down the stretch helped an active Lakers squad retain their lead in the win.

His absence, for whatever reason, also saw the Lakers building that lead. This team is so strange. Bryant made expert pocket and screen-and-roll passes, hitting the sorts of teammates he recently denigrated in full and knowledgeable view of the media on Thursday afternoon. Kobe may have missed 15 of 22 shots, but he had ample opportunity to gun for Jordan’s scoring mark several times in this contest, but instead chose to make the intelligent and proper basketball play that suits his basketball genius – obvious passes he often ignores in order to launch yet another shot. Bryant routinely found big men Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill, and swingman Wesley Johnson for great looks with gorgeous passes on his way toward nine assists in 40 minutes of action. In the game’s deciding play, with Kobe barking at guard Jeremy Lin (who had sat about 30 minutes of real time prior to the play after being pulled to the bench) late in overtime, mercurial Lakers scorer Nick Young hit a 3-pointer with just under eight seconds to go in overtime. Young actually finished the contest with a team-high 29 points, two short of what Bryant needed to top Jordan.

DIEGO COSTA LOOKING TO GET BACK IN THE GROOVE

Two games without a goal might not constitute a drought for many footballers but, for Diego Costa, it probably does. After 11 in his first 10 Premier league appearances for Chelsea, the Spaniard has now gone a minute shy of four hours without one. Fortunately for the offensive department at Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba (three goals in his last four appearances) and to a lesser extent Loic Remy (two goals in his last four games at Stamford Bridge) have taken up the slack.

Despite Chelsea's recent stumbles in the league, they should be okay facing Hull City. The Tigers are in a terrible state with seemingly only goalkeeper Allan McGregor capable of repelling the opposition. The Scot has saved all three penalties that he has faced in the Premier League and could become the first goalkeeper to ever save four in a row. At Stamford Bridge, he may well get the chance.

Kobe Bryant calls his Lakers 'soft,' yells at his GM over lacking teammates

Players throw temper tantrums in practice all the time. Practices often contain dressing-downs from coaches, which can raise tempers, and scrimmages can get heated. It’s a contentious atmosphere for even the most even-keeled and successful outfits. The Los Angeles Lakers are not successful, nor are they even-keeled. They’re a poorly constructed team that many think was cobbled together in order to tank the season so as to hang onto the rights to its 2015 NBA draft pick. The problem with this set is that the Lakers still boast Kobe Bryant, the league’s highest-paid player and leading scorer. He’s in his twilight years and could retire in 19 months, and the dude wants to win now!

FIFA to vote on releasing World Cup corruption report

FIFA face a vote next week on whether or not to publish the controversial and sensitive report into alleged corruption during the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, it was claimed Thursday. The sport's world governing body will discuss the matter at its two-day executive committee meeting being held on the sidelines of the Club World Cup in Morocco on December 18 and 19.

The agenda released on Thursday for the meeting will hear a proposal submitted by Theo Zwanziger, the former head of the German football association and a powerful critic of the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Britain's Daily Telegraph claimed that Zwanziger wants a redacted version of the full Ethics Committee report published to protect the identities of witnesses who co-operated with the probe led by US lawyer Michael Garcia. Garcia carried out an 18-month investigation into the bidding which led to the controversial awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

The former New York federal prosecutor's 350-page report summed up an investigation that involved interviewing more than 75 witnesses and compiling a dossier with more than 200,000 pages and audio interviews. However, Garcia blasted as "incomplete and erroneous" a subsequent version of his report. German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA's independent ethics committee, said that the investigation had not yielded evidence of corruption and there would be no re-vote on awarding the tournaments.

Radford skating with new freedom at GP final

Canada's Eric Radford admitted that he was skating with a new-found freedom as he and pairs partner Meagan Duhamel surged to the lead after the short programme at the ISU Grand Prix final on Thursday. Radford, 29, was performing in Barcelona just days after coming out as gay. And the pair drew gasps from the audience for their fluid and acrobatic display as they led Olympic silver medallists Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov by 2.17 points going into Saturday's free skating final. The Canadians spoilt what would have been a dream opening day for Russia who dominated the women's event on the first day of competition with Elizaveta Tuktamysheva leading the way ahead of three countrywomen -- Julia Lipnitskaya, Elena Radionova and Anna Pogorilaya -- in the six-woman field.

Warriors beat Rockets 105-93 for 14th straight win

Steve Kerr knew he had a lot of expectations on him after taking over a Golden State Warriors team that Mark Jackson led to a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff appearances. In less than two months, Kerr has built on his predecessor's success and eclipsed every rookie coach that came before him. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry shook off slow starts to finish with a flurry, and the Warriors extended their franchise-best winning streak to 14 games by beating the Houston Rockets 105-93 on Wednesday night. Golden State improved its NBA-leading record to 19-2 and helped Kerr carve out a slice of history. Kerr became the first rookie coach to win 19 of his first 21 games. "It means I'm the luckiest coach in NBA history," Kerr said. "Because I inherited a team that was already really good." And apparently made them even better. Thompson scored 21 points and Curry added 20 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to power an 11-0 run in the final minutes and turn a tight game into another comfortable win. About the only thing Kerr said he could complain about was the postgame meal, and he even laughed that off.

Nike accuses former shoe designers of taking secrets to Adidas

Nike Inc is accusing three of its former senior shoe designers of stealing its commercial secrets and making off for German rival Adidas AG, which announced in September the trio would staff its new urban footwear design studio in Brooklyn. A lawsuit filed in Oregon where Nike is headquartered claims at least $10 million in damages. The world's largest sportswear maker said the former designers, Marc Dolce, Mark Miner, and senior design director Denis Dekovic, started consulting for Adidas while still working at the company, violating their non-compete agreements. Nike said the designers hatched their plan last April, and pitched Adidas on a design studio that would help craft products while also bringing Adidas information about Nike's plans for the next few years in its running, sportswear and soccer lines. The plans for the studio were essentially for a knockoff of Nike's own design lab, called the Kitchen, according to the complaint. Adidas bought the studio idea and offered the designers lucrative employment contracts, Nike said. The project, called the Brooklyn Creative Design Studio, is set to open early next year.

An Adidas representative said the company attracts top talent and has "no interest in old work or past assignments." Nike's spokesman declined to comment further on the case, but said the company will "vigorously" protect its intellectual property. Before leaving Nike, the complaint alleged, the designers copied sensitive design and business documents from their computers, including drawings for an unreleased shoe made for one of Nike's sponsored athletes. The suit accused the designers of trying to hide their tracks by erasing incriminating emails and text messages from their work-issued cellphones and laptops.

Nike also claimed that Adidas knew of the non-compete agreements and promised to pay for any legal fallout. The agreements barred the designers from any connection with Adidas during their employment and for one year after. The case is Nike, Inc v Denis Dekovic, Marc Dolce, and Mark Miner, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Multnomah, No. 14-cv-18876.

Mo'ne Davis starts H.S. basketball career

Many young athletes are one-sport speciailists these days, but don't expect Mo'ne Davis to follow the trend. That's never been her style, as the world learned when the 13-year-old pitcher became the first girl to win a Little League World Series game. Now she's starting for her school's high school varsity basketball team. It comes as no surprise, until considering her age. Davis is still in eighth grade.

Because she attends a private school that plays in Philadelphia's Inter-Academic League, she is able to step up early. (When they play public schools, Davis will have to sit out.) So far, she's helped her squad to a 2-0 start, scoring in both games. “Mo’ne is way too good for middle school basketball,” Springside Chestnut Hill girls athletic director Tina Tina O’Malley told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “For her, it was a no-brainer.” “Her natural instincts for the game are very good,” coach Tony Tucker added. “She’s able to penetrate and get to the basket, but at the same time, she can shoot. Her shooting is not as consistent as it will be, but at this point, it’s very good for her age.” Playing with the varsity girls a year early is just the first step towards Davis's goal of playing women's hoops at the University of Connecticut.

Cavs serve notice with win over East-leading Raptors

LeBron James matched a Cleveland record in style on Tuesday as his late three-pointer helped the Cavaliers post a 105-101 victory over NBA Eastern Conference leaders Toronto. James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player who rejoined Cleveland this season after a four-year sojourn in Miami, joined Mark Price atop the Cavs' list of all-time three-pointers made. He drained the long-range go-ahead basket with 48.1 seconds remaining as Cleveland extended their winning streak to eight games. The contest was tied 99-99 before Kevin Love pump-faked from the left wing beyond the arc, dribbled to the left and passed to James, who made the shot from beyond the arc for his 802nd three-pointer as a Cavalier. A free-throw gave Cleveland a 103-99 edge before Terrence Ross cut the deficit to 103-101 with a dunk with 4.2 seconds remaining. Cleveland's Kyrie Irving made a brace of free throws to seal the win. Toronto shot 58.1 percent through the first three quarters and led by as many as 10 in the fourth. But the Cavaliers -- fresh from impressing Britain's Prince William and wife, Kate, with a win in Brooklyn on Monday, held the Raptors to a 30 percent shooting rate in the final period.

AFF Suzuki Cup: War Elephants maul Azkals 3-0 in Thailand

The Thailand War Elephants booked a return trip to the AFF Suzuki Cup finals after easily dispatching the Philippine Azkals 3-0 in front of a packed Rajamangala Stadium. Chanathip Songkrasin started the game with a huge statement, scoring a beautiful left-footed goal six minutes into the match to put pressure on the Azkals. Kroekrit Thawikan then picked up where his teammate left off as he scored two more goals (56’, 86’) in the second half to completely bury the overmatched Philippine side.

The Azkals had to fight off with a disadvantage for much of the match after Thailand’s goal in the sixth minute. Two yellow cards for the Azkals in the first half did not help their cause. Daisuke Sato was booked for one in the 22nd minute and he was later subbed out by Patrick Reichelt. Martin Steuble was also booked at the 34th minute. The 40th minute saw the only good opportunity for the Azkals in the first half as Reichelt sent a header directly to Thailand’s keeper.

The Azkals played well to start the second half as Reichelt had another great strike from just outside the box that was on-target but saved by the Thai keeper. However, just as the Azkals were feeling the momentum was already on their side, Kroekrit Thawikan scored a second goal for the War Elephants in the 56th minute as he received a pretty long pass and shook off Simone Rota’s defense.

Did Floyd Mayweather rile up rapper friend about his 'cheating wife' before he shot her dead and killed himself?

Floyd Mayweather allegedly riled up his rapper friend Earl Hayes over his wife's infidelity before Hayes gunned her down in the bathtub and then killed himself, according to a new report. TMZ claims that the champion boxer told his rapper friend over iPhone FaceTime Monday morning that he was 'weak' for not leaving Stephanie Mosley after she allegedly cheated on him with a fellow rapper. Citing anonymous sources, TMZ says that Mayweather was still on FaceTime when Hayes left to get a gun.

A message MailOnline left with Mayweather's publicist was not immediately returned. Realizing that his friend was out of control, Mayweather pleaded for Hayes to calm down and stop what he was doing. According to a source who spoke to TMZ, '[Mayweather] was pleading with him to get a grip ... to no avail.'

The source added that Mayweather will not say how much he saw, but he acknowledges he was a witness and heard everything. A message MailOnline left with Mayweather's publicist was not immediately returned. While the prize fighter was still on the phone, Hayes allegedly went into the bathroom and fired 10 to 12 shots at his wife, who was taking a bath.

Ronda Rousey memoir coming in 2015

Actress and martial arts champion Ronda Rousey is ready to share some war stories. Rousey's memoir "My Fight/Your Fight" has been acquired by Regan Arts, the publisher announced Tuesday. The memoir is scheduled to come out in May and will be co-written by Rousey's sister, Maria Burns Ortiz, a sports journalist who contributes to Fox News Latino and ESPN.com.

Known for her brash, trash-talking style, the 27-year-old Rousey was the first American woman to win an Olympic bronze medal in judo and she currently holds the women's bantamweight title for the mixed martial arts organization Ultimate Fighting Championship. She was seen last summer in "The Expendables 3" and is scheduled to appear in "Furious 7" and "Entourage," a feature film based on the HBO series.

Panthers quarterback injured in car crash

LeBron violates royal protocol, puts arm around Kate Middleton during photo

As part of a holiday and also in support of the NBA Cares initiative, Prince William and Kate Middleton took in a Brooklyn Nets-Cleveland Cavaliers contest on Tuesday night, sitting alongside unofficial NBA ambassador Dikembe Mutombo. The royals sat courtside as the Cavaliers broke a tie game in the third quarter and ran away with a lopsided 110-81 score. Following the contest, LeBron James was kind enough to pose for a photo opportunity with Prince William and Kate, but he appeared to break a protocol that even the most ardent stateside royal admirers might still be unaware of. That’s right, shock and horror! LeBron James put his arm around Kate Middleton!

James was handing the couple Cavaliers jerseys in the hours between the least-loved NBA trip out there – a back-to-back scheduling that results in a late night trip through customs to Toronto. A photo op with the royal couple is clearly worth his time, though, with the Cavaliers supplying a “Cambridge” jersey for the former Miss Middleton and a “Prince George” jersey for the couple’s young son. Still, in royal culture, acting normally in a chummy photo setup is a no-no, but the Duchess of Cambridge hardly appeared to be set off.

In this Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, photo, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, left, talks to former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar during a friendly match in the sidelines of the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi, India.

Anthony Pettis becomes first to submit Gilbert Melendez, keeps belt

Anthony Pettis insisted that his 15-month layoff since his last bout would have no impact upon him. And after submitting No. 1 contender Gilbert Melendez less than two minutes into the second round of their lightweight title fight at UFC 181 at Mandalay Bay, it was hard to argue.

Melendez, the former Strikeforce champion and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, shot in on Pettis in the decisive sequence. Pettis appeared ready and got Melendez in a guillotine. He quickly forced Melendez to tap, the first time in a 12-year career Melendez was finished.Anthony Pettis (red) defeats Gilbert Melendez (blue) during UFC 181. (USAT) Anthony Pettis (red) defeats Gilbert Melendez (blue) during UFC 181. (USAT)

Asked what message he wanted to send to other lightweight contenders, Pettis cut to the chase. "I just showed the message right there," Pettis said. "The No. 1 guy in the world [and I finished him in] two rounds." It was a good first round and Melendez had more than his share of moments. He took Pettis down and also landed a series of good punches.

But the harder, more impactful strikes were coming from Pettis. "He was fast, striking tight in the pocket," Melendez said. "I was trying to load up on that punch and he popped in that jab." Pettis hurt Melendez several times, once with a right hand and another time with a kick. He seemed unsettled at first when Melendez came after him, but that was part of Melendez's strategy.

Pettis is a striker, but Melendez wanted to make him trade. "I wanted to stay in his face and bang it out, and try to test his chin as much as possible," Melendez said. "He's good and quick." Pettis, 27, has made a phenomenal rise. He won the title last year in his hometown of Milwaukee, finishing Benson Henderson in the first round with an arm bar.

On Saturday, he was just as impressive in beating a guy no one else could really handle. Melendez was coming off a dynamic win over Diego Sanchez that some thought was the 2013 Fight of the Year. But Pettis showed he's unquestionably the best at 155 pounds.

"GIl is tough,and he was throwing heat," Pettis said. "I give big ups to Gilbert. I've been watching him a long time. When I was a kid, I was watching him. But now I'm here." And it's going to take one exceptional fighter to get past him.

Bryant says Jordan scoring mark not on his mind

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, closing in on Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list, insists he isn't fueled by a desire to surpass the league icon. "I only think about it when I'm asked about it," Bryant said, refuting former coach Phil Jackson's claim that Bryant has been driven throughout his career by a desire to surpass Jordan.

"People who say that don't really understand me," Bryant told the Los Angeles Times last week. "It's a myth. Phil likes to say things a lot of times to create good content and create good stories."

But Bryant has been measured against Jordan ever since he joined the league, making the leap straight from high school in 1996. Since then, he has won five NBA titles with the Lakers -- one less than the six Jordan captured with the Chicago Bulls. Bryant, 36 and back on court after injury limited him to just six games last season, has been fielding questions since the pre-season about how his current campaign compares to the waning of Jordan's career.

Bryant has admitted he can see how the comparisons arise, but he doesn't necessarily think they are apt. "We've had different career paths completely," Bryant said, adding that he considers himself a torch bearer for a line of shooting guard greats that includes former Laker Jerry West as well as Jordan.

"I feel great about that," said Bryant, who took his career points total to 32,230 in a loss to New Orleans on Sunday, and needs 63 to surpass Jordan's career tally of 32,292.

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387 and Karl Malone with 36,928, scored more in their careers. Bryant will no doubt edge closer to Jordan's tally this week, when the Lakers host Sacramento on Tuesday and visit San Antonio on Friday. After that, the Lakers are at Minnesota on Sunday and Indiana on December 15. The aging warrior is among the league leaders with an average of 25.2 points per game, but he's connecting on less than 40 percent of his shots and his Lakers are a dismal 5-16 -- next-to-last in the Western Conference. Although a Jordan-matching sixth title for Bryant is seemingly already out of reach this season, Lakers coach Byron Scott still thinks Bryant, who has vowed this campaign will be his last, could still be persuaded to come back next year if the Los Angeles Lakers show signs of life.

"He's got a lot left in the tank," Scott said. "And I think if we put something together that excites him, I think we have a real good chance of saying 'Play another year, give it another shot.' And that's what we plan to do."

Greg Oden Arrested, Charged After Allegedly Punching Ex-Girlfriend

Greg Oden’s miserable professional career continues, and the former highly touted big man might have reached a new low. NBC 13 in Indiana reported that Oden was arrested Thursday morning and booked on two counts of misdemeanor battery. According to FOX 59, Oden has been accused of punching his ex-girlfriend. Police were dispatched to a disturbance around 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The 2007 first overall pick out of Ohio State has battled injury problems throughout his NBA career. Oden missed three full seasons because of injury and finally returned to the NBA this past season with the Miami Heat. The center appeared in 23 games and averaged just 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Oden currently is a free agent, but he reportedly was scheduled to have a workout with the Los Angeles Clippers.

One of the state of Alabama’s top high school players for the class of 2016 committed suicide Monday. Julian Jones, who played defensive end and tight end at Hazel Green High School in northern Alabama, was the son of former Alabama A&M (Huntsville, Ala.) coach Anthony Jones.

“We are deeply saddened by Julian's death and know that he will be missed by the lives he touched, the Hazel Green High School family, and the Trojan Football Team. We are confident that Julian's memories will forever be in the hearts of those who knew him best.

“The Madison County School family extends sincere sympathy to the Jones family and wants them to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them. We pray that they will gain strength and comfort during this most difficult time and in the days ahead."

According to 247Sports.com, Jones is listed at 6-5, 235 pounds and ranked the No. 17 player in the state.

Suzy Favor Hamilton, Prostitute and Former Olympian, Stripped of Award

A little over a half of a year after former Olympian and legendary Big Ten track athlete Suzy Favor Hamilton was first exposed as a call girl, she's now being stripped of more than just her clothes. The Big Ten's female athlete of the year award will no longer be named after Hamilton.

Late last year it was revealed that Hamilton, a three-time Olympian as well as a three-time Big Ten female athlete of the year for Wisconsin, had been operating as a high-priced prostitute for an organization called Haley Heston's Private Collection. Before the news broke, only her husband knew of her secret life.

This INSANE Slam Dunk by a 17-Year-Old Will Blow Your Mind

In the video, Mississippi high-school senior Shelby McEwan pulls off an astonishing left-handed dunk from behind the free-throw line. McEwan flies above the paint with grace, nailing the slam and capping it off with a slick celebratory dance. It's one of the most incredible things we've ever seen. The 6'3'', 150-pound guard isn't even ranked in Rivals.com'st of the Top 150 prospects for the class of 2015, but thanks to the freakish feat, we definitely know his name now.

'King' James honored to play before Prince William

Prince William and his pregnant wife Kate will attend their first NBA game Monday during a three-day US visit when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Brooklyn Nets.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player nicknamed "King James" said it would be a "huge honor" to play before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when he leads the Cavaliers in search of their seventh win in a row at the Barclays Center.

"You read about people like them only in books growing up," James said. "To hear that they're coming to town to see me play and they want to see me do what I do best, it's a huge honor."

The NBA said Sunday the royal couple will attend the game as part of a new partnership between the league and the Royal Foundation, a project linking the league's NBA Cares program with the foundation's United for Wildlife and Coach Core programs. The projects will unite NBA players and England's royalty to stress global wildlife conservation, develop a new generation of conservation leaders and boost the sport of basketball.

"I think it's great different people from different parts of the world want to come see great stars like LeBron and want to see the great game of basketball here in the United States," Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. "That's a blessing for all of us."

Bulls defeat Hornets 102-95, Gasol scores 19

Pau Gasol had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic each posted double-doubles, and the Chicago Bulls handed the Charlotte Hornets their 10th straight loss, 102-95 on Wednesday night.

Noah had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Mirotic added 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulls bounced back from a double- overtime loss to Dallas on Tuesday night.

Kirk Hinrich, who had the costly foul on a 3-point shot in the loss to the Mavericks, came up with two big 3-pointers in the final three minutes to help the Bulls (12-7) hold on and improve to 10-3 on the road.

It is the fifth straight game the Bulls have scored at least 100 points.

Jimmy Butler, who had led the Bulls in scoring in seven of the previous nine games, and Derrick Rose each had 15 points for the Bulls in a well-balanced scoring attack.

Gasol came in averaging 20 points and 11.2 rebounds per game and had his 10th double-double of the season by the middle of the third quarter. The Bulls out-rebounded the Hornets 49-42.

King James as the Messenger of hope

Whether or not you're a LeBron James fan, it's hard to disagree that King James is an ultimate competitor in the NBA. Long before the back-to-back championships he helped claim for Miami, Lebron has given his all and took the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals with head coach Mike Brown, only to lose to the Spurs 4-0. But there are other great moments to relive: from his days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, he was voted Ohio's Mr. Basketball, and winning back-to-back state championships, before moving on to the bright lights of the NBA. I joined many sports hounds and have followed LeBron since he was in high school, and before he was a young explosive high school basketball star featured on the cover of SLAM magazine. Everything LeBron has touched since learning the fundamentals at age nine has led to a championship. Everything so far, except for his Cleveland Cavaliers. James has always implied that he owes his home state of Ohio a championship, which has not won a single professional title since the Cleveland Browns won the 1964 NFL championship trophy. But an NBA Finals trip this season is unlikely, per many basketball aficionados, Las Vegas odds makers and even Cavs coach David Blatt, a cautious optimist who thinks that such lofty expectation is ‘unjust’.

J.B. Bickerstaff rebuilds Rockets defense

When Damian Lillard drilled the 3-pointer to beat Houston in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs last season, the Rockets left Portland knowing that they had to do one thing if they were going to become legitimate contenders in the powerful Western Conference. They had to become a better defensive team. Assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff took on the task, and the changes he has implemented have been a smashing success early this season. The Rockets are second in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions, third in field-goal percentage defense and third in points allowed per game, helping them to a 16-4 record that is the second-best start in the league.

Sergio Aguero's injury blow may hand Chelsea the title

The situation with Sergio Aguero doesn’t look good. It’s an injury to his left knee, which he’s had problems with before. Manchester City will have been praying for good news, but it looks like he’ll be out for at least a month. This will play into Jose Mourinho’s hands and could decide the title - as I suggested in this column at the end of October. Aguero’s form has been so hot, Man City can’t help but miss him.

He has been magnificent, defenders have found him impossible to handle. He is scoring goals from anywhere, his finishing is deadly and it only takes him a split second to send a shot flying in. If he is out long-term it would have to make Chelsea favourites. Mourinho likes to be the underdog. He uses that psychology with his players well, so it will be interesting to see how he acts if they stay out in front. With City closing the gap on Chelsea over the weekend to three points, he will try to turn the heat on to Manuel Pellegrini. That is what Mourinho is so good at, getting at his opposition manager. But if Aguero is out for a chunk of the season with his injury, I don’t think Jose will need his mind games.

Tiger Woods of the U.S. hits from a sand trap

Tiger Woods of the U.S. hits from a sand trap on the 12th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, August 8, 2014. REUTERS/John Sommers II

QB stars when Florida St meets Oregon in Rose Bowl

Jameis Winston won the last Heisman Trophy. It looks as if Marcus Mariota is going to win the award this year. And on New Year's Day, the two most decorated quarterbacks in college football will go head-to-head in the Granddaddy of Them All. Defending national champion Florida State (13-0) will face West Coast king Oregon (12-1) in the 101st edition of the Rose Bowl. The tantalizing matchup was determined by the College Football Playoff committee on Sunday. "You have two of the greatest of all time at their position," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. The schools will meet for the first time in a playoff semifinal that could be a showcase for Winston and Mariota, who both finished up their regular seasons by leading their teams to victories in their conferences' championship games. Winston threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the Seminoles' 37-35 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC game, and Mariota threw two TD passes and ran for three more in the Ducks' 51-13 rout of Arizona in the Pac-12 final.

The Los Angeles Galaxy gave Landon Donovan a fairytale ending to a storied career Sunday, beating the New England Revolution 2-1 after extra time in the MLS Cup final. Ireland international Robbie Keane scored the winning goal in the 111th minute as the Galaxy claimed a record fifth Major League Soccer title. Donovan, the all-time leading scorer for both the United States and in Major League Soccer, announced he would retire at the end of the season in August -- after he was left off Jurgen Klinsmann's World Cup squad. Keane, the newly named Most Valuable Player of the MLS regular season, endured a difficult afternoon at the StubHub Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, but came through when it mattered the most. He slipped in behind the defense -- thanks to superb ball from Marcelo Sarvas -- to slide a shot into the bottom right corner. "It was a tough game," Keane said. "I think there was a lot of nerves there, I think by both teams. "I think we didn't play as well as we know we can at home, but it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, we won, and we're the champions again." The Galaxy had seized the lead in the 52nd minute as Gyasi Zardes got on the end of a cross from Stefan Ishizaki and fired a left-footed shot past New England keeper Bobby Shuttleworth. The Revolution equalized in the 79th as rookie substitute Patrick Mullins got free on the left flank and got the ball to Chris Tierney, who took one touch and slotted a shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.

Viloria knocks out Vazquez with perfect body shot

Brian Viloria wants another shot at a world title. The former two time light flyweight and former unified flyweight champion of the world, scored a fourth round knockout victory over Armando Vazquez, Sunday [Manila time] at the Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California. Viloria landed a picture perfect left hook to the body of Vazquez. The Mexican tried to get up but he crumpled on again as he was counted out by the referee. The official time was 1:37 of the fourth round. With the victory, Viloria moved up to 35 wins with 21 knockouts against only four losses. Vazquez drops down to 21 wins against 12 losses.

Warriors beat Bulls for 12th straight win

Steve Kerr called himself the luckiest coach in the NBA. In his first coaching job, his Golden State Warriors have set a franchise record with their 12th straight victory and improved to a league-best 10-1 on the road. "They're easy to coach. They're really talented. They're unselfish," Kerr said. "I'm just lucky." Draymond Green scored a career-high 31 points and the Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls 112-102 on Saturday night. Klay Thompson added 24 points for the Warriors, who extended their league-best record to 17-2. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls (12-8) with 24 points. Pau Gasol added 22 points and 20 rebounds. The Warriors previously won a franchise-record 11 straight games from Dec. 29, 1971-Jan. 22, 1972. "You're talking about a franchise that was historically known for losing," Green said. "A new ownership group came in, and it completely changes the entire organization. It's a great feeling. We feel like we have a lot left in the tank." The Bulls fell to just 2-5 at home. The Warriors had lost five straight and 11 of 12 and were 6-28 over 35 years in Chicago.

Robbie Lawler upsets Johny Hendricks, takes UFC welterweight crown

Twelve years after he made his UFC debut amid great hype as a green but extremely talented 20-year-old, Robbie Lawler finally fulfilled all the experts' predictions of greatness. Lawler edged Johny Hendricks Saturday in a tight and, at times, odd fight, winning a split decision to upset Hendricks and claim the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 181 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Judges had it 49-46 and 48-47 for Lawler and 48-47 for Hendricks. Yahoo Sports scored the bout 48-47 for Lawler, giving Lawler Rounds 1, 2 and 5. Hendricks took a similarly close decision on March 15 when they fought for the vacant title in Dallas. But this time, a big rally in the final round when Hendricks was surprisingly docile led Lawler to the title.

Hendricks, who tore a biceps in the first fight, kept trying to keep the fight up against the cage and grapple with Lawler. Lawler fended off many takedown attempts, but wasn't often able to open up with his strikes. UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich, Lawler's former coach, left his seat after the second round and urged Lawler to make Hendricks fight. But he didn't really open up until the fifth when the bout was hanging in the balance. "I thought I needed to get in his face and force him to fight," Lawler said. "That's what my corner told me to do. That's how we fight in UFC. It's how you fight championship fights." When the final bell sounded, Hendricks walked away toward his corner with little emotion. Lawler, though, was charged up by a flurry of punches and kicks he'd landed in the last minute. He followed behind Hendricks and shouted at him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks on Chris Bosh with his insanely long arm

Milwaukee Bucks guard-forward-superhero Giannis Antetokounmpo is a fixture on our blog and others for one simple reason — he does things that few of us have ever seen before. He is still growing while playing games against adults, has the longest stride in the league, and can get owners to lament passing on him in the draft despite the fact that his PER just barely tops the standard at 15.2. So it's somewhat shocking, if also still really cool, when Antetokounmpo comes through with an amazing highlight that could belong to many other players, at least at first glance. With around 2:50 to go in the third quarter of Friday's home game vs. the Miami heat, Jabari Parker found Giannis near the basket in transition with a chance to dunk. Chris Bosh met him in mid-air near the block, but Antetokounmpo extended his incredibly long right arm to throw it down over the All-Star, plus the foul.

Chelsea join Arsenal and Man City in race for £20m star Marco Reus

The Borussia Dortmund star has a £19.6million buy-out clause in his contract and Manchester City and Arsenal are already fighting to activate that. But Chelsea are now involved, too, even though manager Jose Mourinho originally distanced himself from getting involved in the scrap for Reus, who missed the World Cup through injury. The Daily Star understands that Chelsea now feel Reus, 25, is too good to miss at that fee. Chelsea have Edin Hazard and Oscar established as two of the three players operating behind target-man Diego Costa.

The third spot is up for grabs and being contested by Willian, Ramires and Andre Schurrle. Buit that place could now go to Reus, who not surprisingly has also been linked with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. All that makes him the most-wanted obtainable player in the world. Reus is under contract until 2017, but has rejected a new, enhanced deal at Dortmund. The feeling on Germany is that he’ll move in the summer - or even in next month’s transfer window.