American Jordan Spieth wins Australian Open by 6 strokes in inaugural trip Down Under

Jordan Spieth made his first trip Down Under a successful one, shooting an 8-under 63 on Sunday to win the Australian Open by six strokes. Spieth's four-round total of 13-under 271 on the tough, windy Australian Golf Club made him the first American to win the Australian Open since Brad Faxon in 1993, when the 21-year-old Spieth was four months old. Spieth birdied four holes on the front nine — three of them in a row — to lead by three after nine holes, then added four on the back nine, never threatening to lose his lead. Adam Scott shot 71 and finished fifth, nine strokes behind. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who shot 76 Saturday, finished with a 72 and was 2-over, 15 strokes behind Spieth.

Butler, Rose carry Bulls past Celtics 109-102

Jimmy Butler hit four free throws late in the game and finished with 22 points, Derrick Rose scored 21 points and the Chicago Bulls pulled out a 109-102 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. Pau Gasol had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Joakim Noah added 15 points with 14 boards for the Bulls, who had lost four of their previous six games. Boston has lost six of seven. Jared Sullinger led Boston with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Avery Bradley had 18 points and Brandon Bass 16 with nine boards. Rajon Rondo had eight points, seven rebounds and nine assists for the Celtics. Butler's two free throws tied it with 80 seconds to play. Rondo missed two free throws and Sullinger front-rimmed an attempted 3 before Butler's two free throws put the Bulls ahead for good, 104-102, with 51 seconds left. Noah nailed a short jumper on Chicago's next possession.

Aces again bank on Monfils and Ivanovic, thump hometown Mavericks

The Micromax Indian Aces continued their fine run in the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League, easily turning back the hometown Manila Mavericks, 24-15, before a good-sized Saturday night crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena. Following their 26-16 drubbing of the Singapore Slammers in the inaugural match of this groundbreaking tournament Friday night, the Aces relied on the sterling play of Gael Monfils and Ana Ivanovic to disappoint the home crowd. Team captain Fabrice Santoro got the ball rolling with an easy 6-1 victory in the past champions’ set, where his original opponent, Carlos Moya, was forced to retire due to injury. Santoro was up 3-1 when Moya suffered a groin injury. Mavericks team captain Treat Huey sent in Daniel Nestor as replacement, but Santoro easily won the last there games to wrap up the set, 6-1. The Mavericks bounced back in the men’s doubles set, with Huey and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga blanking Monfils and Rohan Bopanna, 6-0. Huey provided the highlight of the night with a between-the-legs shot that Monfils failed to handle and which helped give the Mavericks a 3-0 lead.

The Highest Paid Athleete of 2014: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. ($105 Million)

What is particularly amazing about Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr.‘s return to the top of this list is how he was able to do it solely on the strength of his paydays from just two fights: against Saúl Álvarez in September of 2013 and against Marcos Maidana in May of 2014. In fact, Forbes listed “Pretty Boy” as having earned nothing from endorsements, and yet the $105 million Mayweather earned for 72 minutes of fighting in the ring was still enough for him to be named The Highest-Paid Athlete for 2014.

It’s all about drawing power for Floyd; the figures from his fight against Alvarez were record-breaking: $150 million from pay-per-view grosses, $20 million from the gates, and $200 million in total revenue. In fact, Mayweather’s $105 million total for 2014 made him only the second athlete after Tiger Woods to have breached the $100 million mark in annual earnings. And with the #1 pound-for-pound fighter winning his rematch against Maidana in September of 2014, a fight that earned Floyd a guaranteed $32 million, it’s not unlikely that he’ll once again be featured in the 2015 version of this highest-paid athletes list.

LeBron James Total Earnings: $72.3 Million

In 2014, LeBron James did not win the NBA Championship with the Miami Heat, nor did he claim his fifth NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Nevertheless, he still ended up being the highest-earning NBA player for the period covered. How did he do it? — That’s a valid question, most especially considering that LeBron’s salary with the Miami Heat, while impressive at $19.3 million, was only ninth in the league. Well, “King James” was able to make up for the deficit by being the NBA’s biggest endorsement star through his lucrative deals with McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Upper Deck, among others. And that LeBron commands the largest endorsements shouldn’t be surprising since his NBA jersey was the league’s #1 seller, while his Nike shoes were #1 in 2013 with sales of $300 million worldwide.

Andy Murray hopes to play tennis with Manny Pacquiao

Before flying to the Philippines for the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), Andy Murray asked for suggestions through his Twitter account on what a first time Manila visitor should do. He got a unique reply from English boxer Alex Arthur who said the tennis star and reigning Wimbledon champion should sign up as Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partner.

Murray, now engaged Kim Sears, was welcomed by the sight of Manila traffic. With multiple contrusction sites near the airports, he saw a lot of heavy traffic from NAIA to EDSA Shangri-la where he attended the IPTL press conference.

After event, Murray got the chance not to spar but to have a picture taken with Pacquiao. The eight-division world champion is popular in the United Kingdom where Murray is from ashe knocked out British fighter Ricky Hatton in two rounds.

Japan banned from FIBA competition

Japan have been suspended from international basketball competitions -- including the Olympics -- after failing to merge their two national leagues. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the sport's global governing body, issued the ban in Switzerland on Wednesday, saying the Japan Basketball Association (JBA), which oversees the game domestically, had not met its requirements. FIBA said the JBA had failed to come up with a plan to merge the community-based professional bj League and the National Basketball League comprising corporate-sponsored teams. The ban from international competitions will be applied to both men's and women's national teams, and threatens to lock Japan out of next year's qualifiers for the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics. "FIBA regrets that the situation has reached such a point of no return," FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann said in a statement at the conclusion of a two-day executive committee meeting in Mies, near Geneva. "However, we are convinced that after so many years of warning and struggle, and for the good of basketball in Japan, it is absolutely time to make important changes to the structures of the JBA," he said. FIBA had set an October 31 deadline for a reply to its requests, local media reported. The JBA, the NBL and the bj League all issued statements separately, pledging to make efforts to address the issues raised by the FIBA.

Manny Pacquiao is back in PBA vs Purefoods

Hardly damaged or hurt in his fight versus Chris Algieri Sunday, Manny Pacquiao wears his basketball uniform and shows up with the Kia Sorento in their important matchup with the Purefoods Star Hotshots in the PBA Philippine Cup in Antipolo Wednesday.

Pacquiao is not just showing up but playing in the 7 p.m. match, according to Kia team manager Eric Pineda.

Meanwhile, PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the PBA has prepared a short video clip to be shown before the match in tribute to Pacquiao’s latest victory atop the ring.

And the Sorento hope they can live up to Pacquiao’s inspiration, particularly in this match where they are now in a virtual must-win situation.

They’re on the brink of elimination, having lost all their last seven games or all the games missed by Pacquiao as he focused on his preparation for the Algieri fight.

“Anong nangyari?” boxing scribes quoted Pacquiao as saying as he met his team in Macau.

The whole team was at ringside as Pacquiao pulverized his American opponent.

Also in the interview with the boxing scribes, Pacquiao expressed hope the Sorento can win at least two of their last three games to have a shot at making the post-elims play.

Historic win! Azkals crush Indonesia, 4-0, to make semis of AFF Suzuki Cup

For the third straight time, the Philippine Azkals are in the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup. And they did it by ending an 80-year drought.

The Azkals essayed an astonishing 4-0 victory over regional powerhouse Indonesia, their first over the Merah Putih since 1934, on Tuesday night at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam to clinch another return ticket to the semifinals of the region’s most prestigious football tournament.

Riding high on an equally impressive 4-1 win over Laos last Saturday, the PH side rode high on a relentless offensive attack and solid defensive schemes to get back at the surprisingly outclassed Indonesian side.

The masterful victory enabled the Azkals to claim six points in Group A and clinch the first semifinal ticket of the eight-nation tournament.

Aside from pushing the Merah Putih on the brink of elimination following the latter’s 2-2 draw with host Vietnam in the opener last Saturday, the Azkals also gained some measure of revenge on a pair of 0-1 defeats to Indonesia in the semifinal round of the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010.

The victory is expected to go down as one of the best for the Azkals, who went into the match out to play above their 1-19-2 (win-loss-draw) record against the Merah Putih, who even scored a staggering 13-1 victory over the Philippines in 2002.

Proving they still have plenty of bite left, the Azkals took the game to the Merah Putih and, after several tries, were amply rewarded when Misagh Bahadoran got fouled by defender Firman Utina when they were chasing down the leather at the penalty box.

Phil Younghusband made sure Bahadoran’s exploits won’t go to waste via penalty kick as he fired the go-ahead marker to the right of Indonesia goalie Kurnia Megia in the 15th minute.

Following the break, Bahadoran made another strong play when he fed Manny Ott with a slick pass at the penalty curve, enabling the Ceres midfielder to drill in one powerful goal into the net over the outstretched arms of the 6-foot-1 Megia in the 52nd minute.

Amar'e rips guardian 'angel' refs for giving Harden calls

With Dwight Howard still shelved by a strained right knee, Terrence Jones entering his third week sidelined by a peroneal nerve contusion and Patrick Beverley out nursing a strained left hamstring, the New York Knicks entered Monday's road game against the Houston Rockets thinking that, despite the wide disparity in the two teams' records and early-season statistical profiles, they had a real chance at pulling the upset. Those chances seemed to take a sizable hit when top dog Carmelo Anthony began experiencing back spasms that would keep him out for the entire second half and leave him in considerable pain after the game, but the Knicks hung around, taking a six-point lead and forcing a Houston timeout after a Tim Hardaway Jr. 3-pointer with 8:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The difference over that final 8:51, though? Houston had James Harden, and the Knicks didn't:

Dwayne Wade on Struggles of Lebron's Cavs

Dwayne Wade knows something about the struggles LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are going through right now. The two of them experienced much of the same thing in 2010-11, the year James and Chris Bosh joined Wade in Miami. That team started off the season 9-8 and endured plenty of scrutiny before eventually making it to the NBA Finals. Wade has seen enough to know that James’ Cavs aren’t going to struggle for very long.

Hughes bring to hospital after batting accident

In this Dec. 14, 2012 file photo, Australia's Phil Hughes ducks under a bouncer from Sri Lanka's Shaminda Eranga on the first day of their cricket test match at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Test hopeful Hughes has been taken to a Sydney hospital after being struck on the head while batting during a domestic first-class match on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014.

Test hopeful Phil Hughes has been taken to a Sydney hospital after being struck on the head while batting during a domestic first-class match on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old South Australia opener, who was a strong contender to play in the first test against India next week if injured Michael Clarke is ruled out of the Australian lineup, was on 63 when he was hit on the side of the head by a bouncer from New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hughes, who was wearing a batting helmet, reeled back and was off balance after the impact of the short-pitch delivery and then fell to the ground. He was treated on the field by a doctor and medics before being moved on a motorized stretcher to the boundary, and later taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.

Cricket Australia reported on its website that Hughes had been knocked out and played had been suspended for the day. Hughes has played 26 test matches for Australia since his debut in 2009 but hasn't been able to cement a regular spot in the starting lineup.

Ninety-one goals in a year, 73 in one season, four Golden Balls: Messi's remarkable records

Lionel Messi has made a habit of rewriting history at Barcelona and his hat-trick against Sevilla on Saturday means he is now La Liga's all-time top goalscorer. The previous mark had stood since 1955. But by the time he has finished, Messi's may last forever.

Asked about the possibility of Messi surpassing Telmo Zarra's recently, Luis Enrique's reply was that the record was of little interest. After all, it was not a matter of if, but when the tally would be surpassed.

Perhaps more significantly, the Barca boss claimed his players had not commented on the record in the dressing room. And that's possibly because Messi has made a career of achieving the unthinkable, normalising what for most is impossible.

Virtually every time he plays, the Argentine attacker appears to shatter some kind of mark or milestone. His propensity for record-breaking on the football field is nothing new - and it knows no bounds.

Still only 27, the Argentine celebrated 10 years since his Barcelona debut last month and is likely to go on and set many more marks over the coming campaigns. But in light of his latest achievement in La Liga, Goal looks at some of his most remarkable records to date and a few others he is close to breaking for club and country.

Pressure on Mayweather after Pacquiao's Win

Manny Pacquiao is done taking the high road, tired of pretending he doesn't care. At long last he has Floyd Mayweather Jr. right where he wants him. And this time he's not about to let him slip away without a fight.

"I think it's time to say something," Pacquiao said Sunday after dispatching Chris Algieri in convincing fashion in this Chinese casino town. "The fans deserve that fight. It's time to make that fight happen."

Whether it actually happens, of course, depends on Mayweather agreeing to sign on the bottom line. And for the better part of five years now, Mayweather has given one excuse after another when it comes to making the one fight boxing fans really want. He thought Pacquiao might be on steroids, and refused to deal with his promoter. When Pacquiao got knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez, Mayweather said it wasn't worth his time to even mention his name.

But now Mayweather may be boxed into a corner for a number of reasons and from a number of angles. The pressure will be on to make the fight sometime in the first half of next year or forever draw the wrath of the fans who contribute to his massive paychecks. And suddenly the prospect of boxing's richest fight ever doesn't seem like such a far-fetched fantasy after all.

"Answer the telephone, it's as simple as that," promoter Bob Arum said when asked what it would take to make the fight. "If boxing is to be considered a major sport then the fight has to happen. The nonsense needs to cease. There are no excuses anymore."

Vintage Pacman overwhelms foe

Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao showed flashes of his former self, with his explosive fists and old fury, chasing American challenger Chris Algieri all day that led to six knockdowns and a shut-out unanimous decision at the Cotai Arena here yesterday. But the eight-time world champion missed scoring a knockout that could have sealed the showdown that the world has hungered for all these years: A fight for the ages and the greatest. “I want that fight. The public deserves that fight. It’s time to step up and say yes,” Pacquiao said, alluding to the mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The unbeaten American fighter was like a pesky presence in the Filipino champ’s mind and talks of the duel dominated the pre-fight hype, and Pacquiao needed Algieri to send the message across. In fact, he sent the tall American six times to the canvas, unwittingly showing various forms of a knockdown, going down in a corner, somersaulting from the impact of a hard right, dropping sideways by the ropes and absorbing a torrid left to the neck, among others.

The first knockdown, which looked more like a slip, came in the second round. But the succeeding ones, twice each in the sixth and ninth and once more in the 10th, were legit. Algieri tumbled backwards to his corner in the ninth when, on the retreat, he took a left straight from Pacquiao. In the 10th, another combination sent Algieri down for the last time. Pacquiao obviously went for the knockout, which he hasn’t provided his fans for a long time now, chasing the 5-foot-10 Algieri around the ring all night. But Algieri showed more of foot speed than footwork inside the ring and was hard to catch. He refused to engage. Each time he did, he ended up on the floor.

The three judges had it 119-103, 119-103, 120-102 for Pacquiao, who retained his WBO welterweight title. It was the third straight victory for the former pound-for-pound champion from Sarangani in Mindanao following two straight losses in 2012.

Algieri took his first defeat in 21 fights.

Collins enters game as NBA's first openly gay player

"Right now I'm focusing on trying to learn the plays, learning the coverages and the game plan and the assignments. So I didn't have time to really think about history," Collins said at a crowded press conference less than an hour before his Brooklyn Nets faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier Sunday and played 10 scoreless minutes with two rebounds and five fouls in the Nets' 108-102 victory.

"I know that I can play in the NBA and it felt good to be out there tonight," he said afterward. The 35-year-old center revealed at the end of last season he is gay, but he was a free agent and had remained unsigned. Collins said he was aware of the magnitude of his signing, which made him the first openly gay player in the four major U.S. professional sports leagues, but repeatedly said he was most concerned with learning the Nets' schemes. "The pressure is playing in an NBA game tonight and last time I played in an NBA game was last April," Collins said. "So I think that's enough pressure right there."

With a need for another big man, the Nets turned to the 7-foot Collins, who helped them reach two NBA Finals in the early 2000s. "The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision," general manager Billy King said in a statement. "We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract."

Collins entered the game with 10:28 left in the second quarter and the Nets leading 35-26 after Nick Young made the first of his two free throws. The crowd welcomed him with a nice ovation when public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced his name. Walking to the scorer's table to check into the game for the first time, "It felt like, `I've done this a thousand times before,' `' Collins said. `'You go to the scorer's table, you hear what the play's going to be for the next offensive play and you go out there. Once you're out on the court, it's basketball. It's what I've been doing for almost three decades." Collins has played 12 NBA seasons, including his first seven with the Nets, when they were in New Jersey and Jason Kidd was their point guard. Kidd is now the Nets' coach and Collins has been a teammate of several other current Nets. >

Lewis Hamilton's second Formula 1 world title

Perhaps Lewis Hamilton's greatest strength this year, a key to the second title that he won at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, was that he always believed he would do it. Through all the difficult times - and there were plenty this year for Hamilton, despite the overwhelming superiority of the Mercedes car - faith was his crutch.

Hamilton has been waiting for a car this good for years, but was soon on the back foot, as an engine problem in the season's first race meant he had a win's worth of points to make up before he had even got going. He put a brave face on it, but that was hard to take, because he knew already that team-mate Nico Rosberg was his only opposition for the title.

Still champion!

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao dominated his undefeated challenger Chris Algierie to a unanimous decision victory, Sunday afternoon at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Algieri’s camp saying that it will be the Chris Algieri Show. His trainer Tim Lane even said that his guy would stop Pacquiao inside ten rounds. However, the American shrunk at the gravity of the moment, aided by Pacquiao’s flying fists.

Algieri ran around the ring trying to survive. In the few times Pacquiao caught him flat-footed, it was disastrous.

Pacquiao knocked down Alieri six times officially in the fight, all though one or two of these could have been ruled as slips. Michael Buffer read the scorecards as 119-103, 119-103, and 120-102 but the numbers, gaudy as these are, could not completely encapsulate just how dominant Pacquiao was in the fight.

“Tonight I did my best. I’m so satisfied with my performance tonight. I came to fight. I did my best. That’s enough for me,” Pacquiao said in the post fight interview.

“I’m very confident I’d win the fight. I was trying to go for a knockout but he was fast. He was moving.”

Top 10 NBA Plays: November 21th

Filipina fighters Julaton, Nagaowa ready for ONE FC: Warrior's Way

Filipina boxers turned MMA fighters Ana Julaton and Jujeath Nagaowa are both set to show their wares on December 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ONE FC’s May event in Manila earlier this year was a successful endeavor, as both former professional boxers Nagaowa and Julaton earned victories and solidified their standing as leading belles of women’s MMA in the Philippines.

At ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on December 5, they aim to put on a repeat performance. Both women will once again be in action on the same night. Nagaowa is set to face Cambodia’s Tharoth Sam while Julaton has a stern test in front of her against Egypt’s Walaa Abbas.

The ONE FC female mixed martial arts scene continues to thrive, especially with the addition of the two former boxers. Julaton previously won both the WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight titles in boxing.
Julaton then decided to try her hand in mixed martial arts and immediately fell in love with the sport. She has now enlisted the help of prominent wrestling coach Ricky Lundell to improve her grappling and is eager to showcase her newfound skills in her next fight.

Julaton is now set to fight in Manila for the second time, and will look to have her hand raised in victory once again in front of her fans in the Philippines.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao win by Unanimous Decision

Pacman win by unanimous decision versus Algieri, Pacman scores 6 knockdowns. Pacman is the lord of the boxing ring.

I'm trying for the knockout but it's hard. He's fast, he's moving." - @MannyPacquiao #PacAlgieri

The 10 worst fans to sit next to at a sporting event

You saved up and snagged great tickets to go see your favorite team. The anticipation has been building for weeks and when you arrive at your seats you realize that you are stuck sitting next to the worst fan.

The fan of the opposing team when your team is losing Sitting next to the vocal fan of your opponent is already a headache in itself, but when your team is losing, it’s just salt in the wound. There is no escaping this spectator, so sit back and enjoy the next 60 minutes of ear-deafening heckling coming from your charming neighbor.

Pacquiao makes weight easily, Algieri takes three tries to get under 144

Manny Pacquiao easily made the 144-pound catch weight limit for the first defense of his WBO welterweight title Saturday morning here, weighing in at 143.8. The reigning champion did not have to exert much effort to cut weight as he was at the 141-142 pound range a few days before the weigh in.

Chris Algieri, the natural light welterweight, was the one who struggled with weight as he first weighed in at 144.4 pounds. Algieri then dropped his underwear to officially weigh in at 144.2 pounds.

Algieri did some light workout backstage as the gloves for Sunday's fight were all checked. After barely 30 minutes, the American fighter weighed in at 143.6 pounds. The only drawback to this development is that while Pacquiao has already started rehydrating, Algieri needed to spend a handful of minutes to drop the weight.

Quigg retains WBA Super Bantam-Belt from Otake

Scott Quigg successfully defended his WBA super bantamweight belt a fifth time with a unanimous points win against Hidenori Otake of Japan on Saturday. Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KO) wobbled Otake (22-2-3, 9 KO) in the second round, opened a cut around his left eye in the 10th, and landed a fierce left hook in the 11th, but the British fighter had to settle for a one-sided decision. Also, Jamie McDonnell (25-2-1, 12 KO) retained his WBA bantamweight title after Javier Chacon of Argentina (20-3-0, 5 KO) retired midway through their 10th round with a shoulder injury.

Frankie Edgar vs. Cub Swanson

Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson fight tonight, November 22, 2014 on Fox Sports

Cris Paul Finally Sits Down with Long Lost Brother, Cliff Paul

On Monday night, Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul hit a 15-foot bank shot as time expired to put his team up 2-0 over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs. You should have seen it—it was really cool.

You know what’s even cooler? The fact that Chris Paul finally met his long-lost brother who we learned existed during the holiday season. Finally, State Farm and agency Translation’s sick little experiment, which included separating twins at a young age and documenting their lives for over two decades in the name of insurance, is coming to an end. Finally, Chris Paul can be at peace. And, finally, Cliff Paul has enough money to quit his job at State Farm once an for all, pursuing a new career of professional moocher.

However, having established a reputation for inhumane cruelty, don’t count out the possibility that Translation isn’t done toiling in the lives of the brothers Paul. Sure, they may have reunited the twins, but that doesn’t mean that before the NBA Finals, Cliff is “accidentally” run over by an uninsured driver. I’m just saying, if Blake Griffin shows up to Cliff’s funeral wearing an argyle sweater in a few months, don’t be surprised. Credits after the jump.

The Generika Lifesavers once again survived another five-set thriller after beating the Cignal HD Spikers, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 15-9, on Wednesday in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Natalia Korobkova led Generika with a game-high 26 points while Abigail Maraño had an all-around performance with 14 points, 7 blocks and 13 digs. In addition, Cha Cruz chalked up 13 points.
Meanwhile, Cignal’s import tandem of Lindsay Stalzer and Sarah Julie Ammerman had a combined 41 points.
“Maganda yung nilalaro niya [Korobkova] pero endurance niya mababa pa dahil napapagod agad,” said Generika head coach Ramil de Jesus. “Wala naman kaming special na ginagawa sa training. Active recovery lang siguro and digging, and service.”
With this win, Generika now moves up to second place in the standings with a 5-3 record while Cignal is undergoing an untimely funk after dropping their last four straight games.

Delonte West released by China's Shanghai Sharks after just 4 games

After a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers' Summer League squad didn't result in a domestic job offer for the season ahead, former NBA guard Delonte West decided to return to China, signing a one-year deal with the Yao Ming-owned Shanghai Sharks in the hope of securing a solid payday while preparing to make another push for a return to the big show. That hoped-for comeback appears to have just gotten even farther away, though.

Vince Carter breaks down in tears after watching the video, Toronto's tribute to him

Memphis Grizzlies reserve swingman Vince Carter returned to Toronto on Wednesday night in a game that pitted his Western Conference-leading squad against a just as game Toronto Raptors team. Carter, who played for the Raptors from 1999 until late 2004, has long been reviled by Raptors fans for more or less quitting on his team during his final season with the franchise, but that didn’t stop the team from launching a video tribute to the former All-Star prior to the game.

Gilas candidates down to two; new coach to be named

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios stressed on Wednesday night anybody who will be appointed to take over the coaching reins left by Chot Reyes should focus mainly and solely on the national team.
After the search and screening committee, led by SBP chairman Ricky Vargas, conducted its second meeting, Barrios bared they have trimmed down their choice from six to just two, who they believe met their criteria and will already be interviewed next week.
Among those who are in the running for the Gilas job are Purefoods Star’s Tim Cone, Jong Uichico of Talk ‘N Text, Meralco’s Norman Black, Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine, former Bolts mentor Ryan Gregorio and current TNT consultant Tab Baldwin.
Barrios refused to divulge the name of the two coaches, but was adamant on one thing. “Any fulltime head coach of PBA team or any other team will have to divest yourself of that head coaching job if you’re appointed as Gilas Pilipinas head coach,” he said.
Barrios also bared the criteria set by the search and screening committee.
“We have categorized the criteria into two categories–must and preferable. ‘Yung must, number one is must have international experience and exposure. There was also a refinement to that main criteria. The more extensive, the better. The more recent, the better,” he said.
“The second is he must possess leadership with maturity. The refinement is able to motivate players even during adverse stressful conditions. At the same time, he should also handle the ego of veteran players. These are professional players,” he added.
Familiarization with the existing Gilas program should also be taken for consideration, according to Barrios, saying: “The search and select committee recognized the Gilas program that has been in place. It is obviously a new coach simply because the current coach has begged off.”
“He should be able to actively interact with his different publics, meaning to say, have positive relations with the media, the basketball community both local and international, the basketball fans and the general public even though they are not basketball fans,” stressed Barrios, adding they intend to make the final recommendation during the SBP board meeting late next month where the decision makers, among them telecommunications mogul and chief Gilas Pilipinas patron Manny V. Pangilinan, will make the final choice.
“The committee is to wrap up its work before the SBP Board meeting before the Christmas holidays,” Barrios said

Spurs top Lebron again, 92-90

With the Spurs leading 91-90 and 9.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, San Antonio shooting guard Manu Ginobili stepped to the foul line for two free throws. He canned the first but missed the second, giving Cleveland possession with a chance to tie up or win it at the buzzer. The Cavaliers had no timeouts remaining, so they had to push the ball the length of the court to get one last shot at an equalizer or a winner.

But after Anderson Varejao had rebounded the miss and give it to James, the Spurs worked to pressure James' dribble in the backcourt, with Tim Duncan looking to cut James off from the middle of the floor as he sprinted back and Ginobili stepping over from the stripe to impede James' progress. After James dribbled from left to right around his back to evade Ginobili, he tapped the ball a bit too hard with his right hand, losing control of his dribble and sending the ball into Duncan's feet. Ginobili came away from the ensuing scramble with possession, raced back into the frontcourt, and avoided a Cavaliers foul long enough for the final horn to sound, giving the Spurs a 92-90 road win, their fifth in six games.

Before he walked off the court, James raised his hand, throwing up a sign to one and all that he was taking responsibility for the turnover that cost the Cavs a chance to get one last shot. It was James' fifth turnover of the game, and Cleveland's 18th; San Antonio scored 22 points off those mistakes, seven more than the Cavs managed off Spurs turnovers.

Pacquiao makes fun of Mayweather in new advertisement

Days before he defends his WBO welterweight title against Chris Algieri in Macau, Manny Pacquiao is featured in a Footlocker commercial that pokes fun at someone’s unwillingness to fight him. Promoting their ‘Week of Greatness,’ which features a release of some of the best-selling shoes of the year, Footlocker picked Manny Pacquiao along with NBA stars and even a pro wrestler.

Footlocker also poked fun at Tim Duncan's perceived boring personality, James Harden's lack of defense, and WWE superstar John Cena's fake fighting.

Every team in the league wanted LeBron James this summer, and the four-time NBA MVP chose Cleveland over Miami, because, in his words, "My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball." The Cavaliers also happened to have Kyrie Irving, enough assets to acquire Kevin Love and a few other young pieces that made the city an attractive destination from a basketball perspective. Nine games into his homecoming season, James told ESPN's Chris Broussard this is the most trying experience of a career that has seen its share of trying experiences since he entered the league in 2003.

Despite knockout drought, Manny Pacquiao still a major draw

Manny Pacquiao is struggling to explain his five-year streak without a knockout, as well as why a fight with Floyd Mayweather has yet to happen. Manny had difficulty coming up with the right words, unable to provide a good explanation. After scoring five stoppages in eight bouts, Pacquiao has now gone eight consecutive fights without a knockout.

Pacquiao stopped Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, 2009, a comprehensive and impressive victory that led some to believe that he, and not Mayweather, was the sport's finest fighter. And it was only days after that bout that talks began to heat up about the two great champions facing each other. Five years later, we're still waiting for another Pacquiao win by knockout as well as a fight with Mayweather.

Hungry for Glory!

Manny Pacquiao hasn't scored a knockout win in five years. Will this change against Chris Algieri?

Kobe Bryant hits 32,000 career points

The Los Angeles Lakers are not a very good basketball team, which has caused many NBA observers to term the franchise's 2014-15 season little more than a chance for longtime superstar Kobe Bryant to build on his already very impressive career statistics. Bryant is still a ways off from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA scoring record, but he's set to pass some big names and reach other milestones throughout the 82-game schedule. Not all his records will be fully positive, but they all speak to the impact that Kobe has had on the sport and league.

It's unclear if Lakers fans will take comfort in this historic silver lining to a lost season, but it figures that at least a few notable milestones will occur on nights in which the Lakers look pretty good. That's exactly what happened in Tuesday night's road game against the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers got off to a fast start and led by 15 at the half, only to see the hosts battle back and turn it into a close game in the final minutes. With the Lakers up 105-102 and roughly 1:20 left on the clock, Bryant backed down Thabo Sefolosha, fought through some quality defense, and nailed a turnaround jumper through a foul to give his team a two-possession lead. The shot also gave Kobe 32,000 points for his career, putting him alongside Kareem, Karl Malone, and Michael Jordan as the only players to reach the milestone

Thiago Silva angry with Neymar

Thiago Silva has revealed his anger at Neymar after losing the Brazil captaincy to the Barcelona star. The Paris Saint-Germain defender led his nation at the World Cup but a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany and 3-0 loss to Netherlands in the third-place play-off saw new coach Dunga hand the armband to the young forward.

Di Maria, multi-millionaire footballer!

Your Premier League star, in this case one Angel Di Maria of Manchester United, is cruising along in his brand spanking new £250,000 Lamborghini at petrol station when disaster strikes - he needs air in the tyres.

James Harden hopes OKC will pay Reggie Jackson the money he's 'earned'

Kelly Dwyer-A little over two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder and guard James Harden could not come to terms on a contract extension for the team’s super scoring sub. Fearful of paying the luxury tax in a small market and working with three and nearly four maxed-out players on the team, the Thunder dealt Harden to Houston, where he was happily inked to the same sort of contract OKC’s owners refused to pay.

That deal hasn’t been the reason the Thunder have failed to return to the Finals setting that they enjoyed a few months before the Harden trade, but it is part of that package. Earlier this autumn, the Thunder and guard Reggie Jackson also failed to come to contract terms for the hybrid guard, whose services are needed more than ever with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant smarting with injuries. Jackson, 24, is playing over 41 minutes a game for OKC – contributing 21.5 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds. He can be a restricted free agent in July.

Fabricio Werdum TKOs Mark Hunt with massive knee to win heavyweight belt

Mark Hunt was controlling the bout with his punching power, keeping the Brazlian on edge and wary of engaging. But as Hunt moved in for what appeared to be a right hand, he ducked his head. At the same time, Werdum leaped and hit the iron-jawed Hunt squarely on the chin with a crushing knee.

Hunt went down and Werdum quickly followed him to the ground. He landed a series of hard shots that forced referee Herb Dean to stop it at 2:27 of the second round. He won the UFC's interim heavyweight title and will meet champion Cain Velasquez when Velasquez recovers from knee surgery.

Warriors beat Lakers 136-115 despite Kobe's 44

The Golden State Warriors got off to such a fast start, they gave Kobe Bryant no other choice but to keep shooting the ball to keep the Los Angeles Lakers within striking distance.

Stephen Curry had 30 points and 15 assists, Marreese Speights added 24 points, and the Warriors cruised to a 136-115 victory Sunday night despite 44 points by the 36-year-old Bryant.

Andrew Bogut had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Warriors, who are off to an 8-2 start in Kerr's first season. Klay Thompson, who had 41 points in a win against the Lakers on Nov. 1, finished with 18 in the rematch.

Algieri in for a shock—Roach

Manila Bulletin- If a one-dimensional puncher like Ruslan Provodnikov could give Chris Algieri a taste of hell, imagine what Manny Pacquiao can dish off against the unbeaten but vastly inexperienced Algieri on Nov. 23 in Macau. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who is about to close the book on what he described as “the best training camp ever” in his more than 13 years of working the corner of the 35-year-old Pacquiao, said he is certain that Algieri will be in for a shock. “Ruslan is not like Manny. (They’re) totally different,” said Roach late last week before presiding over the Filipino’s last few workouts in General Santos City. Algieri’s claim to fame was picking himself up from two first-round knockdowns against Provodnikov last June in New York en route to a dramatic decision win that paved the way for a shot at Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Leslie Smith gets her left ear torn half off by punch

Jessica Eye and Leslie Smith engaged in a spirited slugfest for the better part of the first round, until a right hand by Eye landed on Smith's left ear in the waning seconds of the round on the preliminary card at UFC 180 Saturday in Mexico City Arena.

It split Smith's ear open, sending blood pouring out and covering the side of her face. Doctors took a long time to look at the ear and didn't to allow Smith to continue the fight, Eye win the bout.

Ronaldo claims Euro goals record

Cristiano Ronaldo became the European Championships' all-time top scorer by giving Portugal a 1-0 victory over Armenia, while Germany could only beat Gibraltar 4-0 as its World Cup victory.

Portugal captain Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute to take his tally across Euro finals and qualifying to 23 goals. Denmark's Jon Dahl Tomasson and Turkey's Hakan Sukur had previously scored 22 goals each.

Donnie "ahas" Nietes defends WBO light flyweight title by stoppage

Nietes pummeled Velarde for seven rounds and forced his corner to stop the bout before the start of the eighth round. One of only two remaining Filipino boxing world champions alongside Manny Pacquiao, Nietes retained his WBO light flyweight title and raised his record to 34 wins against a single loss with 20 wins coming via stoppage. Velarde drops down to 26 wins against four losses and a draw.

Ryan Anderson discusses girlfriend's suicide

Anderson's girlfriend, model and reality television star Gia Allemand, committed suicide last August. She was 29 while Anderson rejoined the Pelicans for training camp a mere seven weeks later, and did his level best to articulate what he was going through before the season, an event so traumatic can take years to properly process, and putting those feelings into words ... well, it's the kind of thing that's not likely to happen on Media Day.

Manny Pacquiao debuts in the PBA as playing coach

Playing coach Manny Pacquiao initiated the game for KIA Sorento but he was unable to score while committing two turnovers and a foul.

Roach wants KO win in first round

Freddie Roach seems to be getting impatient with the prospects of seeing Manny Pacquiao spending too much time dealing with Chris Algieri when they slug it out on Nov. 23 in Macau.

The 50-year-old Roach said to the reporters during a break Wednesday that he “hopes to see Manny get him out in one round” as the Hall of Fame trainer has obviously been peeved by Algieri’s apparent display of braggadocio.

But Roach dismisses that Algieri has the moves needed to ruin Pacquiao’s party at the Cotai Arena not to mention that the Filipino has been nothing but phenomenal in this training camp.

Roach believes the 5-10 ½ Algieri, who has a four-and-a-half height advantage, is “not fast” contrary to what just every Tom, Dick and Harry has been saying in the runup to the scheduled 12-round world welterweight title match.

Gilas players want a shot at Olympics

According to Manila Bulletin, Several members of Gilas Pilipinas who played at the FIBA World Cup expressed a desire to be back for the national team and get a shot at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

To do that, however, Gilas must win the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship to be played in China, a tall order considering that only one Olympic slot is available and the tournament will be played on hostile soil. Asked if they were willing to undergo the sacrifice of doing long training and to be away with their love ones for months, many Gilas players had no reservations.

“That’s not even a question,” said Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, a 6-foot-5 defensive specialist who has been with the national team since 2007.

“Well, I have to be chosen again first. And if that happens, I’m on it. Definitely, there’s no doubt about it,” said Norwood, whose thunderous dunk over Argentina’s 6-foot-10 center Luis Scola was one of the highlights of the last World Cup in Spain.

Lots of sex at Olympic Village: Hope Solo

Perhaps it's just to release stress or just the thousands of taut and toned physiques on show but expect plenty of free love at the Olympic Village at the upcoming London Games. At least that's if history repeats itself. US Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo, who recently gave an insight on what went on the behind-the-scenes during her two-week stay at the Olympic Village back in 2008 in Beijing, said there's "lots of sex going on". The 30-year-old goalkeeper, who will be heading to the London Games with the US women's national football team, told ESPN in an interview, "With a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you want to build memories, whether it's sexual, partying or on the field. I've seen people having sex right out in the open. On the grass, between buildings, people are getting down and dirty." Apparently, she's not the only one who's seen the "down and dirty" side of the Olympics.

Yao Ming arrives in Manila for Friendship Games

Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association team Shanghai Sharks, arrived in Manila Saturday night on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 337 for his team’s two-day Friendship Games against Gilas Pilipinas and a Philippine Basketball Association selection.