Australia's Shane Warne took five wickets but Andrew Flintoff helped England to a defendable total in the second Test with a half-century. Warne dismissed Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison with successive deliveries. But Flintoff, batting with an injured shoulder, crashed two sixes off Mike Kasprowicz to take the lead past 250. Brett Lee had already claimed four victims, dismissing Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard in a morning spell of 3-4 in 11 balls....BBC

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claims that Arsenal and Manchester United want to beat Chelsea to the signature of midfielder Michael Essien. He suggests Arsenal want Essien, 22, after failing to sign Julio Baptista as a replacement for Patrick Vieira. Aulas said: "The longer Chelsea take to make up their minds, the more exposed they are to a bid from another English club who have lost a key midfielder. "Essien is a bit mixed up. Manchester United are after the player as well." Chelsea have been chasing Essien after missing out on a deal for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard but the French champions have slapped a £32m price tag on him. But Arsenal's interest has increased after Baptista's move from Sevilla to Real Madrid. The Gunners are keen to move into the transfer market following Vieira's departure to Juventus, with Baptista their first target. Boss Arsene Wenger was reportedly looking at converting the Brazilian into a midfielder to plug the gap left by Vieira, but is now looking at Essien as a direct replacement for the influential Frenchman. United, meanwhile, will see Essien as a replacement for Roy Keane who is approaching his 34th birthday. Both clubs have funds available, but will not be able to match Chelsea's spending power. Aulas added: "It's annoying to lose one of the best players in Europe but he has not gone yet. "As far as recruiting is concerned, if manager Gerard Houllier needs reinforcements we will do what is necessary over the next period of the transfer window."...BBC

French Open champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week's Croatia Open. The 19-year-old Spaniard aggravated a knee injury during his victory in the Mercedes Cup final on Sunday, his eighth clay court title of the year. "Rafael called and said he was awfully sorry but that he couldn't play because of a knee injury," said Croatia Open tournament director Slavko Rasberger. "He played the last three matches with the help of injections and said he cannot do it any more....BBC

Colin Montgomerie's second-place Open finish has lifted him to 22nd in the world rankings and secured a spot at the HSBC World Match Play Championship. The 42-year-old Scot has risen from 40th in the rankings and is also up to second in the European Order of Merit behind New Zealander Michael Campbell. Montgomerie is also now certain to be among the 16-man field at Wentworth in September, based on major performances. "I am thrilled to make it in," he said. "It is one of my favourite events." Montgomerie will compete for the biggest first prize in golf, £1m, with even first-round losers earning £60,000. "I have really missed playing in it over the past couple of years," he added. "I really enjoy the match play format and always feel very at home playing at Wentworth." Retief Goosen has also secured a place and he and Montgomerie join defending champion Ernie Els, Vijay Singh (world number one on 31 March), Kenneth Ferrie, Angel Cabrera and major winners Tiger Woods and Michael Campbell....BBC

Greg Rusedski successfully defended his Hall of Fame Championships title with a three-set victory over Vince Spadea in Newport, Rhode Island, on Sunday. The British number two came from a break down in the final set to battle past the American 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-4 for the 15th tournament win of his career. "I was really, really pleased to win today," Rusedski told BBC Five Live. "It's the first time I've defended a title. I really seem to like this grass in Newport." It is the third time he has won the event, which gave him his debut tour title in 1993. World number 57 Spadea looked in good shape when he recovered from losing the opening set to break twice in the second and again early in the third. But Rusedski hauled himself level at 4-4 in the decider and got what proved to be the decisive break to take victory. "When he broke me, I just had a feeling I could still get back in the match," said the 31-year-old Briton. "I went for it a little more and things just worked out for me....BBC

London has defeated European rival Paris to host the 2012 Summer Games, bringing the Olympics back to Britain for the first time in more than half a century. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge made the announcement after IOC members voted 54-50 to eliminate the French capital in the fourth and final round of secret ballots Wednesday in Singapore. "The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London," Rogge declared after opening a sealed envelope containing the result. Thousands of people in London's Trafalgar Square cheered as they watched the announcement on giant TV screens. (Full story) London has twice played host to the Olympics, in 1908 and 1948. It becomes the first city to host the Olympics three times. British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the victory as "a momentous day for London." London bid leader Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic, we have the opportunity to do what we always dreamed about, getting more young people into sport. "This is our moment. It's massive. It's huge. This is the biggest prize in sport," The Associated Press quoted Coe as saying. England soccer captain David Beckham said: "In 2012, I can take my children to an Olympics which we might never had had the chance to do. ... This is such a huge lift for our country." Rogge also expressed joy at London's victory. "We are very, very pleased with the victory of London," AP quoted the IOC chief as saying. "People we trust, people we know will give us a superb games." In the French capital, groans of disappointment swept through a crowd of thousands gathered at Paris Town Hall. It was the third defeat for Paris in 20 years, with bids for the 1992 and 2008 Games also failing....CNN

New Zealand secured their record win against the Lions as they wrapped up the series with one game to play in Wellington on Saturday. Dan Carter was the star of the show, grabbing two tries as he scored a New Zealand individual record of 33 points against the Lions in the 48-18 win. Tana Umaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw also went over. The Lions tries came from captain Gareth Thomas and Simon Easterby, with Jonny Wilkinson kicking eight points. They were much improved from the side which was well beaten in the first Test but, after living with the hosts for the first half, they were blown away after the break. All Black's fly-half Carter produced a marvellous all-round display and he was amply rewarded with 23 points from the boot to add to his brace of tries. The visitors made a dream start and after a couple of probing attacks new captain Thomas strode through an enormous gap around the fringes of a ruck to cross under the posts. Wilkinson was never going to miss and his conversion put the Lions 7-0 up after just two minutes. Within a minute Dwayne Peel sniped round the fringes of a ruck once again and scampered to halfway before being held, but the Lions kept the pressure on and were awarded a penalty, only for Wilkinson to hit the post. The Lions won the ball back in prime attacking position but Paul O'Connell came flying into the ruck and conceded a stupid penalty, halting the Lions' momentum. The All Blacks got on the board through two Carter penalties and the fly-half then engineered a marvellous try. When Thomas dropped a pass Umaga fed Carter and the fly-half shrugged off Gavin Henson before racing 50 yards and returning the ball to Umaga. The All Blacks' captain crossed near the posts and Carter converted to push the hosts into the lead after 18 minutes. Wilkinson cut the gap with his first penalty eight minutes later but straight from the re-start the Lions conceded a penalty and Carter restored the gap. Wilkinson, who had just missed a drop goal, again trimmed the gap to three points with his second penalty before the All Blacks scored a sparkling try....BBC

Jason Robinson and Martin Corry appear to be the major casualties of the Lions' first Test disaster after being selected to play Manawatu on Tuesday. Robinson, replaced after a poor display at full-back against the All Blacks, will start on the right wing. Corry, who took over the captaincy on Saturday after Brian O'Driscoll's injury, plays at blind-side flanker. Head coach Sir Clive Woodward insisted, however, that it did not necessarily mean they would miss the second Test. "Competition is intense," he said. "There are some involved on Tuesday who will also be involved in the Test." Even so, it is unlikely either Robinson or Corry will be asked to start three matches in eight days. Neil Back could be another casualty after being named on the bench against Manawatu. The absence of Lewis Moody from Tuesday's 22 suggests he could replace his Leicester team-mate at open-side flanker for the second Test. Ryan Jones is likely to start at number eight after his outstanding contribution since joining the tour, while Simon Easterby could replace the injured Richard Hill at blind-side. Gavin Henson, who many believed should have played in the first Test, will not play against Manwatu because of a slight groin strain. But if the Welshman recovers in time, he should feature in the second Test. Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Ben Kay and Gethin Jenkins were also not considered for Tuesday's match because of minor knocks....BBC

BMW will enter its own racing team on the Formula One circuit in 2006 after buying a majority stake in Swiss team Sauber. The name of the new team, the driver line-up and the revamp in key positions will be resolved by the takeover date of January 1. "For the first time in company history, BMW will be competing independently in Formula One," it said in a statement. Unhappy with the disappointing performances from its partnership with Williams, BMW said it sees a greater chance to race for the championship by playing a greater role beyond just supplying engines. "Success in Formula One increasingly depends on the perfect interplay of all factors," said Burkhard Goeschel in a statement. "With a team managed by BMW we will, as of next year, take on responsibility for the entire package, which will include the key factors of the chassis, tyres and drivers," the management board member in charge of Formula One continued. The German company's decision to focus its attention on Sauber is a slap in the face for veteran team owner Frank Williams, who has won nine constructors championships and seven drivers titles since 1980. "Regrettably, sadly, the relationship has been just too hostile for too long," said Williams on June 10. "It makes life very difficult. It does not compare well with (previous) Renault or Honda relationships, which we regret." BMW entered the circuit in 2000 with Williams but the team has failed to improve on its second-place showing in 2002. Williams-BMW are tied for fourth place with Toyota, while Sauber rank seventh in the current standings. A failed attempt to radically improve its aerodynamics last year with a hammerhead shark-styled nose led to a disappointing placing last year and the team had lost both its drivers from last season. Despite the difficulties Ferrari has faced this year, rival stables Renault and McLaren-Mercedes have emerged as the main contenders while BMW continued to struggle, leading to speculation they might take over Swiss-based Sauber. Sauber joined Formula One in 1993. Its best season was 2001 when it finished fourth in the constructors' championship and made the podium six times. The team is one-third controlled by Peter Sauber and are two-thirds owned by financial group Credit Suisse. The deal provides for Credit Suisse to sell its holding over the next three years. Sauber will hold on to a stake in the team of about 20 percent. "I have been involved in this company and tied to this company for 35 years and I am very very happy that I can hand it over into good hands," said Sauber. BMW motor sport head Mario Theissen said he was impressed with the performance at Sauber and believed the team provided a strong basis for the future. "The results achieved there (at Sauber) so far are worthy of respect in the light of the team's limited budget," he said....CNN

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer hopes to avoid British number one Tim Henman when the draw is made for this year's Championships on Thursday at 1030 BST. The pair could meet as early as the quarter-finals and the world number one said: "Tim's a threat and I really hope he's not too close to me in the draw. "I really respect his game, which is excellent for grass, and the home crowd really get behind him which is a bonus. "He's definitely got the tools to win Wimbledon for sure." Federer must first get past the first round where he could be drawn against the likes of Greg Rusedski, Ivo Karlovic and Mark Philippoussis - all unseeded, but dangerous on grass. A total of 11 British players have been given wildcards for the main draw, including teenager Andy Murray and his Davis Cup doubles partner David Sherwood. But top seed Federer is already thinking ahead, and is wary of several other top-ranked players. They include Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal, who beat Federer in the French Open semi-finals before going on to capture the Grand Slam title for himself....BBC

Seamers Darren Gough and Jon Lewis took seven wickets for eight runs in 20 balls as England stunned Australia to win their first Twenty20 international by 100 runs on Monday. The match was little more than a light-hearted romp before the serious business of the one-dayers and the Ashes series. But England, egged on by the crowd at Southampton's Rose Bowl, were soon celebrating as Australia, chasing a 179-8 target, were bowled out in 14.3 overs. "We were really up for it," Gough said after the win. "The Australians normally come at us hard from day one. To get one up on them was nice. It's 1-0 to England but it's a long summer." Australia captain Ponting responded: "There wasn't much good stuff to come out of it for us. Our guys just weren't good enough today." One moment the world champions were 23 without loss in the third over and the next they were 31 for seven in the sixth. The 29-year-old Lewis, uncapped in one-dayers or tests, took four for 24 off four overs while Gough took three for 16 off three. Three wickets fell in four balls, with Gough sparking the carnage. Adam Gilchrist had made 15 off 14 balls before a big slog across the line went straight up in the air and the ball was caught by Kevin Pietersen. Next delivery, Matthew Hayden went for the pull and Pietersen, this time running back, made it two out of two. Michael Clarke then followed for a golden duck, prodding forward and adjuged caught behind with Geraint Jones standing up to Lewis. Moments later and man-of-the match Pietersen, who had earlier hammered a quickfire 34, had his third catch, snapping up Andrew Symonds. Within minutes and the top five had gone for the addition of a single run as Mike Hussey edged a ball from the 34-year-old Gough and Andrew Flintoff, standing at second slip, pouched the chance. By the time Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting had both gone to Lewis, one edging and the other driving to extra cover, the game was already over with only 5.5 overs gone. Earlier Pietersen hammered 34 off 19 balls, Marcus Trescothick made 41 and Paul Collingwood top-scored with 46 off 26 balls before going last ball of the innings to give Glenn McGrath his third wicket....CNN

Uefa are set to tell Liverpool on Friday whether they can defend their Champions League title. The executive commitee at Uefa has already held a phone conference on the matter and will now inform the Reds, possibly around 1200 BST. It is believed Liverpool will be offered a place in the qualifying rounds, giving the Premiership five teams in next season's competition. Liverpool won the Champions League but did not qualify to play in it again. However, it is thought enough members of the executive commitee - Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson was not given a vote - want the reigning champions to defend their crown. Otherwise Liverpool will play in the Uefa Cup where they have earned a spot by finishing fifth in the Premiership. If given the green light, Liverpool will join Manchester United and neighbours Everton in the qualifying stages, with Chelsea and Arsenal already assured of a spot in the group stages. It is not clear, however, which qualifying round Liverpool would go into, should they be given a place. The first qualifying round first leg would be on 12 or 13 July, with the second legs on 19 or 20 July. That could mean the Anfield club cancelling their scheduled friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Cologne. If Liverpool then play in the second round they would have to cancel a pre-season tour of Japan, where they are due to play Shimizu S-Pulse and Kashima Antlers. It seems much less likely that Liverpool will be allowed to go straight into the group stages, not least because of the knock-on effects around Europe. In Turkey, officials have already registered unhappiness at that suggestion because it could to their league champions Fenerbahce being relegated to the qualifying round. However, Uefa has insisted the European champions have not yet not guaranteed a place....BBC

When the NHL finally returns to the ice, the tie game will probably be a thing of the past. "If they don't have a shootout, I'll be shocked," New York Islanders general manager Mike Milbury said Tuesday. "That's an easy one. "The fans want it, and it's the least we can do after spitting at them for the last 12 months." Fans in the AHL and other minor leagues have grown to enjoy shootouts. The NHL seems ready to implement the system that would eliminate tie games. "It sounds like most people want a definite outcome -- a win or loss -- one way or the other," Vancouver Canucks director of player personnel Steve Tambellini said during a break on the second day of the three-day NHL research camp. Shootouts would be used to determine a winner if a game remained tied after a five-minute overtime period. After watching free-agent junior and college players on Monday test a radical plan by Boston Bruins president Harry Sinden that allows passing from the top of the faceoff circles to anywhere on the ice, and the use of nets four inches taller and eight inches wider than usual, club representatives took in scrimmages Tuesday to test zero tolerance on obstruction fouls and strange-looking nets with arced posts. The most likely changes in NHL play for next season are shootouts, smaller goalie equipment and tag-up offsides. Some of the radical stuff being tested is too over the top for many GMs. "We have, traditionally, been very conservative as a group," Milbury said. "There isn't any doubt about that. "We've tried to be respectful of the game's history and heritage but the coaches haven't. They've coached the hell out of it. They've coached defensive hockey and worked the trap and angles and crowding in front of the net, and goalies have cheated ... over the last number of years....CNN

England have named an unchanged squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, starting at the Riverside on Friday. Spinner Gareth Batty keeps his place with Ashley Giles again ruled out because of a hip problem. Giles has been included, however, in a 14-man squad for the NatWest Series against Australia and Bangladesh. Uncapped seamer Jon Lewis replaces Alex Wharf in the squad, which sees Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen team up for England for the first time. "Jon Lewis had an excellent A tour, continues to perform consistently for Gloucestershire in both forms of the game and fully merits a place in both the Test and one-day squads. "He is keen to represent his country and I am sure he will be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come his way," said chairman of selectors David Graveney....BBC

Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in football history to claw back a three goal deficit before beating AC Milan in a penalty shoot out to win the Champions League final. The match in Istanbul appeared over as Hernan Crespo added two first half goals to an early Paolo Maldini strike inside the first minute. But three goals in six minutes from Liverpool's inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso sensationally brought them level on the hour. With the scores tied at 3-3, the match went into extra time and with Milan again looking the stronger side, it took a stunning double save from Jerzy Dudek to deny star striker Andriy Shevchenko the winner with just two minutes remaining. In the subsequent penalty shoot out, Milan missed their first two penalties as Serginho blazed over and Andrea Pirlo saw his effort saved by Dudek. Dida in the Milan goal kept out a John Arne Riise effort, but another Dudek save from Shevchenko gave Liverpool an improbable fifth triumph in Europe's premier club competition. They can now keep the trophy to mark the achievement. "I don't think I have the words to express how I feel at this moment," said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez who had led Valencia to UEFA Cup triumph last season. "We played a good match. We had six minutes of craziness," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "It was something which can't be explained. It's not the moment of regrets. We are sorry, embittered, but this is soccer." It all looked so different as Maldini put the Italians ahead in the first minute with a downward volley from an Andrea Pirlo free kick, which bounced through a crowded area and beat the outstretched arm of Liverpool keeper Dudek. The defender's goal, his first of the season, was the fastest in a European Cup final since Enrique Mateos for Real Madrid against Stade de Reims in 1959. At 36, the Milan captain also became the oldest player to score in a final. Liverpool bravely rallied and gave the massed ranks of their spectators in the Ataturk stadium reason for hope as captain Gerrard crossed for Sami Hyppia to force a good save from Dida. But the respite was only temporary with Milan's midfield trio of Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso and Kaka giving them a vice-like grip on the game. Crespo saw a near post header cleared off the line by Luis Garcia and Andriy Shevchenko had the ball in the net from a Kaka pass only to be pulled back for offside...CNN

Liverpool striker Milan Baros says Wednesday's Champions League final could be his last game for the club. The 23-year-old Czech forward has been upset at his lack of playing time and admits his agent, Pavel Paska, will be in talks with other clubs over a move. "I have had several offers from other clubs and it is now the job of my agent Pavel to talk to them," Baros was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. "Maybe I'll leave Anfield, maybe I'll stay. We'll listen to what is offered." Forward Baros, who moved to Anfield in December 2001, has made 44 appearances for the Reds this season but has often failed to finish the game, and he has criticised Reds boss Rafael Benitez. He faces a battle to keep his place in Istanbul from fit-again striker Djibril Cisse. Baros added: "I am calm about my future and I can concentrate fully on the Champions League final. "But my main aim at the moment is that I can keep my place ahead of Cisse for the final against Milan, and I will do my best to make that happen." Should Djibril Cisse play it will cap a remarkable comeback for a player who was expected to miss the season after breaking his leg in two places last October. There were suggestions he may never play again and Cisse even admitted that he may have had to have the leg amputated if medical staff had not acted so quickly. But the French international said: "Some people said my career was finished. It was hard to hear that because I knew I could play again. "I was sure I would play again and score goals, and felt I could play again this season. "My leg was so sore that sometimes I couldn't stand up. It was frustrating and it was the worse period of my career." Cisse believes Milan's overconfidence could see Reds boss Rafael Benitez lead them to upsetting the Italians in Istanbul. "Milan think it will be easy but maybe it's a mistake by them. I say it will not be easy. It will be a hard game for them," he added....BBC

Ashley Cole is set to appear at the Premier League inquiry into Chelsea's alleged illegal approach for him. The 24-year-old Arsenal defender attended the first day of the two-day hearing in London on Tuesday but it is understood he was not questioned. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and manager Jose Mourinho also both gave evidence on Tuesday. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger attended the inquiry to support Cole, who is also accused of approaching Chelsea. Cole turned up to the inquiry early on Tuesday with Gunners vice-chairman David Dein. The England defender is reported to have met Mourinho and Kenyon in January while under contract to Arsenal. An independent three-man commission, whose chairman will be High Court judge Sir Philip Otton, chairs the hearing and its ruling will be binding under Premier League rules. Cole has been charged under Rule K5, governing approaches from players to clubs, while Mourinho was charged under Rule Q, governing a manager's conduct. Chelsea's charge relates to Rule K3 and governs clubs approaching players. Fifa president Sepp Blatter also waded into the row, suggesting clubs found guilty of 'tapping up' should be punished by being prevented from operating in a transfer window....BBC

West Brom boss Bryan Robson was ecstatic after they avoided relegation on the final day of the season. A 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, combined with their three relegation rivals all failing to win, saw them stay up. "This is the best ever," said Robson. "It is a fantastic feeling. The boys have done me proud and worked their socks off. They deserve this. "I feel sorry for the other managers. I feel great now but I can understand how the others must feel." West Brom become the first team in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas. "That is in the past now," added Robson. "Full credit to the players because people mention the history all the time and sometimes you can start to believe it but this lot didn't. "I always believed in the players we have. We narrowed the squad down and once we started firing on all cylinders I knew we could do it." Substitute Geoff Horsfield scored the Baggies' opener and Kieran Richardson added the second. And Robson admitted that the atmosphere in the ground gave him an indication of the scores in the other matches involving teams battling the drop - and whether West Brom were in a survival position. "Towards the end of the second half we were 2-0 up and the fans weren't really behind us so we knew Crystal Palace must be winning," he said. "But I had told the lads to concentrate for 90 minutes and Charlton have gone and scored the goal to keep us up. "All four teams have battled right until the end of the season." Horsfield scored the opener within seconds of his introduction and said that helping the club survive was the highlight of his career. "Even though I have been promoted with every club I have been at this is the best moment of my career," said Horsfield. "I am delighted for the fans and the gaffer. We have proved all the critics wrong." Defender Neil Clement could not contain his joy. "Staying up means everything, it is absolutely fantastic," said Clement. "We knew we had to win to have a chance and we got the result....BBC

Bolton striker El Hadji Diouf has been ordered to appear before magistrates over an alleged spitting incident involving fans at Middlesbrough. Diouf is accused of disorderly conduct after an incident in the 1-1 draw at Boro's Riverside Stadium in November. A Boro fan complained after Diouf appeared to spit a mouthful of drink into the crowd after being substituted. The 24-year-old is currently on loan from Liverpool, who signed him from French club Lens for £10m in 2002. A spokeswoman for the CPS in Cleveland said: "Information has been laid and a summons is being sent out." Diouf will face magistrates on Teesside for disorderly conduct, although a date has yet to be set. The Senegal international has scored eight goals this season in Bolton's unlikely push for a European place....BBC

In theory, this should have been a pleasant and uneventful spring for the Tennessee Volunteers. With 17 starters returning from a team that went 10-3, won the SEC Eastern division and stomped Texas A&M 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl, the biggest "issue" facing the coaching staff was supposed to be determining which of their three proven quarterbacks -- Erik Ainge, Rick Clausen or Brent Schaeffer -- should be named the starter. If only things were that simple. Injuries to four of the Vols' five projected offensive line starters and several sidelined receivers made it tough to truly handicap the quarterback race, with Tennessee's offense failing to score a touchdown its first three scrimmages. A total of 21 players missed all or part of spring practice -- which concluded with Saturday's modified spring game -- while recovering from surgery, but nearly all are expected to recover in time for the season. More disturbing has been the near-daily rash of headlines involving various off-the-field transgressions by team members, forcing head coach Phillip Fulmer to defend himself and his program against an onslaught of critics (including, albeit half-jokingly, SEC rival Eleven Vols have been either arrested or issued citations since March 2004, including two incidents within a week's span recently involving alleged fights between Tennessee players and members of their school's general student body. Schaeffer and receiver Bret Smith were charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly hitting and throwing to the floor a student who was arguing with Schaeffer's girlfriend in a dormitory lobby, while defensive end Robert Ayers and linebacker Jared Mayo were issued warrants for their role in a March 5 fight at a fraternity in which the victim was knocked unconscious and had his jaw broken (the student's mother said his jaw remains wired shut and is unable to talk). Meanwhile, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel faces a felony assault charge for allegedly punching a student during a pickup basketball game in January, breaking four bones in his face....CNN

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness claimed "things conspired against" his side as they went out of the Uefa Cup. Sporting Lisbon won 4-1 in the second leg, going through 4-2 on aggregate, after the Magpies lost Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Jermaine Jenas. The injuries were such that Charles N'Zogbia, 18, had to finish the game with a suspected fractured collar bone. "We are very disappointed," said Souness. "We felt that things conspired against us tonight." Souness added: "We had some golden opportunities to kill them off, and then we started to lose our better players with Jenas coming off at half-time, Titus coming off and then Kieron Dyer, who had been a real threat during the game, coming off. "We knew we were under pressure then and when we had had our strongest 11, our starting 11, we were very confident, especially after getting the first goal. "But it shows how thin our squad is. We had some boys on there tonight and asked them to do a man's job. But that is the situation we find ourselves in. "There is nothing we can do about it. We will take this defeat on the chin and start to prepare now for a very hard game in Cardiff on Sunday (against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals)....BBC

With the red-hot Nuggets in town, Denver should have no trouble melting all that snow that hit the area over the weekend. George Karl's team has now won 21 of 23 since the All-Star break to climb into the No. 7 spot in the West. The way they're going, they could get as high as the fifth spot. Like the Nuggets, the Warriors of late have also undergone a remarkable turnaround. Led by Baron Davis, Golden State had won eight straight before falling in double OT Sunday to the Spurs. The Warriors, who play at Denver on Monday, won't be going to the playoffs this year. But they sure have brought excitement -- and hope -- to the Bay Area over the final month of the season...CNN

Manager Graeme Souness admitted he was glad both Dyer and Bowyer played their part in the 1-0, Uefa Cup quarter-final first leg win. "I'm just relieved that we have got through a game and we are talking about football again," added Souness. "There was pressure on the players out there tonight and I think that contributed to maybe the way we played at times. "Lee and Kieron know they have been really daft and they won't do it again - but the crowd have been fantastic to both of them here. "You can understand them going home frustrated on Saturday but they showed they are behind the boys."BBC

A rare Fabio Cannavaro header handed Juventus a strong chance of making the last four of the Champions League despite a 2-1 loss on an emotional night at Liverpool on Tuesday. Goals by Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia rewarded a forceful first-half as four-time winners Liverpool shrugged off indifferent domestic form in the clubs' first meeting since the 1985 Heysel tragedy. But veteran defender Cannavaro, who had scored just twice in 78 previous European games, grabbed a vital second half reply for the Italian giants. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was in positive mood despite the soft reply which should have been blocked by keeper Scott Carson. "I'm sure Scott will be disappointed with it but he stopped one in the first half with one of the best saves I've seen this season," he said. "He's young and he'll learn from it. Now Scott or Jerzy (Dudek) need to keep a clean sheet for us in the second leg." Looking forward to the match in Turin next Wednesday when a goalless draw would be enough to send Liverpool through, Gerrard added: "I don't think we'll play for 0-0, we've got the players to nick a goal over there." Having conceded just two goals in its eight previous Champions League games this season, Juve let in two more in the first 25 minutes. Hyypia, recalled to the Liverpool defense because Mauricio Pellegrino is ineligible, scored in the 10th minute. Steven Gerrard's right wing corner was flicked on by Luis Garcia and the Finland defender arrived unmarked at the far post to prod the ball home....CNN

Newcastle have confirmed Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer will both stay at the club despite fighting each other during the 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. But Bowyer has been fined the maximum six weeks wages by the Magpies, thought to be in the region of £200,000. The pair were sent off for brawling but shook hands after training on Monday and boss Graeme Souness revealed they have contested Dyer's dismissal. Souness said: "They've spoken over the weekend and have had a laugh about it." A Newcastle statement read: "Lee Bowyer has been handed an unprecedented fine, severely censured and additionally warned as to his future conduct. "The decision to fine and censure Bowyer was taken after chairman Freddy Shepherd and Graeme Souness interviewed both players at the club's training ground on Monday. "The fine, amounting to six weeks wages, is the highest fine handed out by the club."...BBC

UEFA dismissed Chelsea's claim over the meeting as "false, wrong and unfounded" and are expected to punish Mourinho with a touchline ban of at least two games on Thursday. During a lecture to coaches in Tel Aviv, Mourinho said: "If something happens in a football stadium and I don't see it and if one of my people arrives and says: 'I saw this happen' and another one says: 'I saw the same', I say it is true. I cannot run away from it because I trust my people." This latest claim could now leave his assistant Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles, upon whose testimony Chelsea's version of events is understood to be based, facing the heaviest punishment. Frisk quit refereeing after being sent death threats by Chelsea fans in the aftermath of the match. UEFA accused over 'assault' on Mourinho UEFA's attack on Mourinho was branded extraordinary by Commons leader Peter Hain. Mr Hain said a "full frontal assault" had been launched on the Chelsea manager and said football's authorities should act with a little more dignity. UEFA say Chelsea's claims created "a poisoned and negative ambience" in an attempt to influence the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Mr Hain: "On the question of the UEFA attack - I should call it full frontal assault on Jose Mourinho - I do find it extraordinary. "I do think the football authorities ought to conduct themselves with a little more dignity in these matters."DAILY MAIL

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has recalled Emile Heskey to his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan. Birmingham striker Heskey, 27, has been pushing for a recall and Eriksson has brought him back while dropping Manchester United's Alan Smith. Fellow forward Andy Johnson has kept his place in the squad but the axe has also fallen on Darius Vassell. England play Northern Ireland on 26 March and Azerbaijan on 30 March. Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt is another not to be included in the 24-man squad along with Heskey's club team-mate and central defender Matthew Upson. Eriksson spoke to Magpies boss Graeme Souness about Butt and both decided the player needed more time to build up his fitness after recently returning from injury. Heskey has not featured in an England squad since pulling out of the friendly against Ukraine in August 2004 with an injury. But he has been showing improved form of late and has scored six goals in his last 10 Premiership outings, including the opener in his side's derby win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Johnson has been included despite a foot injury and is set to miss the first couple of days of training. Central defender Sol Campbell is out through injury for the games against Northern Ireland at Old Trafford and Azerbaijan at St James' Park....BBC

Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect Farmer Jack has died while training on the gallops on Tuesday morning. The Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old was supplemented at a cost of £17,500 for Friday's blue riband event. Farmer Jack landed the Aon Chase and the Racing Post Chase on his last two starts and was a general 12-1 chance. "It happened about 0830 - he was having an ordinary canter and just dropped dead," said Hobbs. "We presume it was a heart attack." Farmer Jack's death follows Tuesday's withdrawal of Kingscliff and Rule Supreme, while three-time champion Best Mate scratched last week. Somerset-based Hobbs, who won the Champion Hurdle with Rooster Booster in 2003, trains Gold Medallist, the favourite for Wednesday's opening race, the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

Padraig Harrington played 18 sizzling holes in the final round of the Honda Classic before edging a tense play-off to win his first PGA title. Harrington shot a nine-under-par 63 and prevailed in a three-way play-off over Joe Ogilvie and Vijay Singh to win the £2.86million event. Harrington finished on 14 under, collecting £514,000 for his first victory in his third full year on the PGA Tour. The Honda Classic continued to be good to players looking for their first tour victory. Harrington became the ninth golfer to notch his first career win in this tournament. Harrington shot a blistering round that included 11 birdies to vault from a tie for 21st to the play-off. The Irishman birdied 10 of his first 13 holes, including six in a row starting at number eight. His only blemishes were bogeys on the 14th and 15th. The trio went back to number 18 to begin the play-off and Ogilvie was eliminated with a bogey. Singh was the only one to find the fairway with his drive but his birdie putt trailed off to the right by inches and he tapped in for par. Harrington drove in the rough and found the rough again on his approach but was able to get up and down, holing a six-footer to force another hole. On the second play-off hole, Singh and Harrington both found the fairway off the tee and were within feet of each other in the rough to the left of the green. Singh was inside Harrington after each player chipped onto the green with their third shot and Harrington nailed his putt for par. Needing to hole a putt from four feet, Singh pushed it just to the right and the ball lipped out of the right of the hole....DAILY MAIL

Marcelo Zalayeta's goal four minutes from the end of extra time gave Juventus a 2-0 win over Real Madrid and a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The goal followed red cards for Real's Brazilian striker Ronaldo and Juve defender Alessio Tacchinardi after the paid clashed when Ronaldo was hauled down as he raced through on goal. Juve had forced the match into the extra period when David Trezeguet pulled them level at 1-1 on aggregate 15 minutes from the end of normal time. The substitute French striker scored with an acrobatic overhead strike from six meters. Uruguayan striker Zalayeta then beat Madrid keeper Iker Casillas with a half-volley from 20 meters as the match seemed to be heading for penalties. "We played with great humility, never giving up the hope to beat Real. I was overjoyed after scoring such a decisive goal," said Zalayeta. Juventus coach Fabio Capello, normally one of the most reserved coaches in Serie A, raced to the tunnel screaming with delight after seeing his current side defeat his former club. "It is never an easy business defeating Real Madrid and so that was a special feeling," said Capello. "I think it is the first time I have celebrated like that but now I've done it, I'd like to try it again. It was a very tough game for both teams. We played well and gave them very few chances. It was really an excellent performance from us. We gave away little and were also dangerous, which hasn't always been the case of late. "It's a great result for us, to come back from a 1-0 defeat in Madrid and turn it around here was always going to be difficult. But we played with intelligence, spirit and quality." Ronaldo had come closest to scoring for Real when he clipped the post in the 50th minute. A burst of speed took the Brazil striker past the defense from the halfway line before his low cross-shot was diverted on to the woodwork by Gianluigi Buffon. "We had our chances, but in the end Juve took theirs and went through," said Madrid striker Raul....CNN

Belgium's Tom Boonen confirmed he is the rider to watch when he snatched the first stage of the Paris-Nice cycle race over 186.5 kilometers. The 24-year-old Quick Step rider easily outsprinted Brazil's Luciano Pagliarini and experienced Latvian Jaan Kirsipuu to take victory at the end of the stretch from Etampes to Chabris on Monday. Dutchman Erik Dekker, who finished with the bunch, took the overall leader's yellow jersey from Germany's Jens Voigt, winner of the prologue on Sunday. The stage which took place under a grey and cloudy sky sparked into life when Frenchman Fabien Sanchez and Spaniard Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano broke away at the 45th kilometer. The two riders pushed their lead up to seven minutes and 45 seconds before the bunch, led by the Quickstep team of Boonen, caught them with 15-km to go. Boonen did receive some luck when several riders collided on a narrow road eight kilometres from the end. The race still has six days to go but some riders like double winner Alexander Vinokourov and Liberty Seguros team leader Jorg Jaschke, victor in Nice last year, may have already lost out in the crash. "The fall happens on the right side of the road and almost all my guys were trapped in it," Liberty Seguros team manager Manolo Sainz lamented. "The only thing it was good for was the show." T-Mobile team leader Vinokourov and Discovery Channel's Lance Armstrong finished 41 seconds behind but the American had always made it clear he was not chasing a win. Six-time Tour de France winner Armstrong crossed the line in 44th position and is now 70th overall, 68 seconds adrift of Dekker. On Tuesday the second stage will lead the riders from La Chatre to Thiers over 191 kilometers of hilly roads but organizers said they are considering shortening the ride because of snow....CNN

Martin Jol's eyes are firmly fixed towards Cardiff rather than Amsterdam saying the cup represents a 'very good opportunity' for silverware. The Tottenham head coach re-iterated that he is in it for the long haul at White Hart Lane after his side's 3-0 FA Cup victory at Nottingham Forest. Jol felt obliged the day before the fifth-round replay to issue a statement saying he had no intention of leaving after being linked to Ajax. Maybe it was not meant to be a rallying call but it certainly did the trick as Tottenham secured a place in the last eight and a match at Newcastle. A blistering second-half performance brought goals from Noe Pamarot, Robbie Keane and sub Mido. That gave them a comfortable victory and moved them a step closer to the Millennium Stadium Jol spelt out his desire to succeed at Spurs, saying: "This is a very good opportunity for me and the players. "Maybe the club have not done that well for the last five or 10 years. We have good players. We just need to gel to become a very good side. We are working on it. "Perhaps it is not the best draw going to Newcastle. However, we beat them in the league and we have to be confident. Jol: I know how important the Cup is "I know how important the FA Cup is to Tottenham and I thought our supporters were unbelievable."...DAILY MAIL

The Football Association may launch a disciplinary inquiry after Jose Mourinho was sent off during Chelsea's Carling Cup final win over Liverpool. The Chelsea boss was sent from the touchline by a policeman for appearing to taunt Liverpool fans after Chelsea equalised - before going on to win 3-2. Referee Steve Bennett has confirmed he will include the incident involving Mourinho in his official match report. Mourinho said his gesture was aimed at the English media, not Liverpool fans. Mourinho was charged with improper conduct in January following comments he made after Chelsea's Carling Cup semi-final, first leg encounter against Manchester United. But the Football Association decided not to take any disciplinary action. However, he confirmed the circumstances of his dismissal in Sunday's final at the Millennium Stadium. And he expressed his regret at any possible misjudgement over his gesture of putting his fingers to his lips in front of thousands of frustrated Liverpool fans. "The police told the fourth official `Mr Mourinho must go' - and if I made a mistake I apologise," he said. "I have a lot of respect for fans of every team in the country, in the world and try to show that." He added: "This is a special situation for me but if I made a mistake and did something that I cannot do in English football, then I have to adapt and understand where I am. "I have a lot of respect for Liverpool fans. What I did, the sign of silence - `shut your mouth' - was not for them. It was for the English press." Mourinho could not disguise his anger at the criticism he and his team had received after losing to Newcastle United in the FA Cup and Barcelona in the Champions League. He was also criticised for refusing to speak to the media after the defeat in the Nou Camp but was in outspoken mood after claiming his first trophy in English football....BBC

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has ordered captain Steven Gerrard not to play down their Champions League ambitions and be more positive. Gerrard told the BBC Liverpool were unlikely to win the trophy this year. Benitez responded: "I spoke to Steven and said to him that in future it's better to think we can win the Champions League. Why not?" He said: "We need winners here and everyone thinking only of winning. I always want to win." Benitez added: "When we lose I only think of solutions. If you only think about winning the next game, you don't know what the draw will be. "If we can win the next game, maybe we will draw a side that isn't so strong, or a side with injuries or suspensions." Benitez is hoping to win his first trophy since arriving at Liverpool from Valencia when they play Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Sunday in Cardiff....BBC

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed their display in the 3-1 defeat against Bayern Munich was "our worst peformance in the Champions League". Kolo Toure's late goal gives the Gunners hope for the second leg, but Wenger said: "The only positive is that we are still in the tie. "The players are really down in the dressing-room. I feel we really turned in a bad performance. "At 3-0 we faced a real struggle, but 3-1 at least gives us a chance."...BBC

Wayne Rooney will play for Manchester United on his first return to former club Everton on Saturday. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has decided not to spare the 19-year-old the hostile reception that is expected at the FA Cup fifth round tie. "Wayne will handle the pressure. Like any player going back to his former club, he is going to get a bit of stick," said Ferguson. Everton have warned fans the club could be punished if there is crowd trouble. Ferguson said: "Wayne's going to get a lot of abuse, but he has got a first-class temperament. He will handle it and I'm sure Everton know that, too. "He responds to big-game atmospheres. I never entertained the thought of not playing him. He's already answered all the questions about himself...BBC

Arsenal produced a scintillating display to crush Crystal Palace 5-1 and close to within two points of second-placed Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday. Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes and Thierry Henry scored three goals within eight minutes just before halftime and Patrick Vieira and Henry completed the rout. The English champions moved to 57 points from 27 matches, 11 adrift of leaders Chelsea. Palace remained 17th, two points above the relegation zone. Henry said that he should have had a hat-trick having one ruled out for offside. "I am convinced it should have been a hat-trick," said Henry, who has bounced back with three goals in two matches having previously gone seven matches without a goal. "However the match tonight was to see if we could be consistent and I think after taking 10 minutes to settle we played well, had great movement and scored some great goals." Palace also made a bright start at Highbury and keeper Jens Lehmann nearly conceded a comical own goal when he allowed a back pass from Gael Clichy to slide under his foot. The German also reacted smartly to keep out a snap shot from Palace striker Dougie Freedman but Arsenal gradually took control of the match. Bergkamp produced a clinical finish at the near post on 32 minutes, Reyes rifled in a low shot from the edge of the area and Henry whipped in the third after cutting in from out wide. The Palace defense was ripped apart once again on 54 minutes, Henry's clinical pass releasing Vieira who rounded keeper Gabor Kiraly and prodded the ball into an empty net. Palace pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when Andy Johnson was fouled by Vieira in the penalty area and the England striker smashed the resulting spot-kick into the roof of the net. Arsenal's fifth goal came 13 minutes from time when Bergkamp teed up Henry and the French international bamboozled the Palace defence before crashing an unstoppable shot past Kiraly from the edge of the area....CNN

Phil Mickelson has claimed consecutive PGA Tour titles for the first time in his career. The U.S. golfer closed with a 1-over-par 73 but still won for the second straight week, claiming a four-stroke victory in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and becoming the first winner to lead throughout in the 68-year history of the event. The only thing he didn't do on a cold, damp day along the Pacific Ocean was set the tournament scoring record. Mickelson finished at 19-under 269, missing by one shot the record set seven years ago by Mark O'Meara. Still, it was the first time in his career he had won in consecutive weeks. Even more alarming is the margin of victory, especially for a guy who usually keeps it entertaining to the very end. After a five-shot victory last week in Phoenix, Mickelson nearly matched that Sunday in beating Mike Weir. Going into this year, Mickelson had won his previous eight PGA Tour events by a combined nine shots, three of those in playoffs. "It's been fun," Mickelson said. "I've been playing well the last couple of weeks. I'm excited to get the year started with a couple of wins." The margin might have been even wider except that Mickelson missed six birdie putts inside 18 feet over the final seven holes. Weir posted the best round of a difficult day at Pebble with a 5-under 67, including a 3-wood into 6 feet for the only birdie on No. 9 that kept his hopes alive. After another birdie on the 11th, Weir looked exasperated as six straight putts burned the edge of the cup, and his eagle chip on the 18th just turned away. "I played one of the better rounds I've ever played," Weir said. "It could have been a really special round if a few things could have dropped for me." Mickelson won for the 25th time on the PGA Tour. His $954,000 winner's purse pushed him over $2 million for the year and put him on the top of the money list. He will take the Nissan Open off next week, then head to La Costa for the Match Play Championship. "Obviously, he's doing something right," Weir said. Greg Owen of England, a PGA Tour rookie playing in the final group with Mickelson, birdied the last hole for a 72 and finished third to earn $360,000....CNN

Hermann Maier bounced back to take gold in the giant slalom at the world skiing championships with his compatriot Benjamin Raich's silver medal completing a return to form for Austria. American Daron Rahlves, who had a 0.60 second lead over Maier from the first run, finished third. Maier won an Olympic giant slalom gold at the Nagano in 1998, but was without a medal in the discipline in a world championships and feared he would never return to the podium in the event. "It's unbelievable -- a medal in GS was so unexpected," said Maier. "Where I made the difference was in the first leg in the upper part and middle part, I really gave everything in the second run. But I'm still surprised by this." The former double Olympic and world champion had been off the pace in the speed events, finishing fourth in super-G and a poor 17th in the downhill. However he produced a powerful second run to beat Raich by 0.25 seconds and become the first Austrian man to win a world championships giant slalom since the late Rudi Nierlich took gold in 1991. Raich has now picked up three medals, a bronze in the super-G, followed by gold in the combined and now the silver in giant slalom to complete the set. He will also be a medal contender in the slalom. American Bode Miller, the defending world champion in giant slalom who was searching for his third gold at Bormio, skied out in the first run. Maier's victory was all the more surprising given his poor form in giant slalom since coming back from a motorcyle crash in August 2001 that kept him out of action for more than a year. His most recent win in giant on the World Cup circuit was in Are back in March 2001 and in his last two races in the discipline he finished 18th and 28th. "Coming back from an injury, everything is really hard and a medal in GS was the one which was missing," he said. "Being on the podium today means so much for me because everything these days is much more difficult." Despite his best finish in a giant slalom race, speed specialist Rahlves was disappointed to have missed out on gold as he paid heavily for mistakes on his second run. "On the second run you have to take a risk, that's the main rule in GS. If you want to ski comfortably it's nonsense because you have to give your all. "I made a big mistake in the second run and I lost my advantage and lots of speed. But it's still a nice medal," said the American who was second in the downhill....CNN

England's Darren Gough made an early breakthrough in the fourth one-day match, trapping South Africa opener AB de Villiers lbw in the fifth over. But both Gough and Steve Harmison - back from injury to replace matthew Hoggard - struggled as Jacques Kallis joined captain Graeme Smith. Captain Michael Vaughan, who returned from illness to replace Vikram Solanki, won the toss and elected to bowl first. South Africa named an unchanged side after Friday's three-wicket win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Latest action: 9th over: Kallis holds his cover-drive pose for a second to admire his handiwork after dispatching Gough through the covers. Smith takes a single to bring up the 50. 8th over: Kabir Ali replaces Harmison, whose three-over opening spell cost 24. He has an appeal against Smith with a delivery perhaps going down the off side. Smith uses that trademark clip, this time in front of point and worth four. 7th over: Smith tucks Gough off his legs behind point, but doesn't quite make the rope. 6th over: Kallis, another home town boy, drives Harmison with authority through the covers for four. Smith is a little lucky to avoid a run out, with the throw from cover off target. 5th over: Gough makes the breakthrough, pinning De Villiers on the back foot with a delivery that would have taken out middle and leg. South Africa 18-1 (De Villiers 9) New batsman Kallis gets off the mark with a top-edged hook which flies for four. 4th over: De Villiers' first shot is a hook off Harmison for six into the oak trees at midwicket. The bowler is into the 90s now but bowls successive wides and is getting wider. De Villiers drives into the covers, Giles attempts a sliding stop and turns his ankle doing to. 3rd over: Gough's wides come on both sides of the wicket and Extras are running away with it at the moment as Smith blocks and leaves with more assurance than he has shown recently. 2nd over: Harmison begins with a couple of leg-side wides, but at a speed of 88mph at the ground where Shoaib Akhtar broke into three figures during the World Cup. 1st over: Smith edges the first ball to third man to get the scoreboard running and Gough concedes a wide, with very little swing on offer. 0759 GMT: On a sunny day in Cape Town, Graeme Smith takes strike on his home ground and Darren Gough marks out his run....BBC

Serena Williams has beaten top-ranked Lindsay Davenport 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the Australian Open final, making a stirring comeback after injuring her back in the opening game. Williams stretched her winning streak at Melbourne Park on Saturday to 14 matches and captured her seventh Grand Slam singles title, ending an 18-month drought without one. She beat sister Venus to win the final here two years ago -- when the Williams sisters were at the top of women's tennis -- but couldn't defend the title last year because of a knee injury. The seventh-seeded Williams, who fended off three match points in her semifinal win over Maria Sharapova on Thursday, made a dramatic comeback after needing a medical timeout in the first set for what a trainer initially described as a rib injury. "Lindsay had me on the run. My back went out -- I'm not as young as I used to be," Williams said. "Eventually I was able to come back." Coming to grips with a series of injuries and the shooting death of her sister, Yetunde Price, in September 2003, had been hard enough, Williams said, without having to face persistent questions about "what's wrong with the Williams sisters?" "There's nothing wrong with us," she said Saturday. "We're still players to beat." Williams said regaining the Australian title was the start of a resurgence: "This gives me confidence." Davenport, who won the last of her three Grand Slam titles here in 2000 and hadn't been in the final of a major since the 2000 U.S. Open, won only eight points in the third set. After Davenport's backhand landed long on match point, Williams dropped to one knee and raised both arms in the air. She held up her index finger, showing she's No. 1, before walking over to her entourage in the crowd and slapping hands with her mother, Oracene, and Australian hitting partner Mark Hlawaty. Davenport, who lost in the women's double final Friday afternoon, said Williams was too strong in the end. "She's had a tough couple of years, but she's come back like the champion she is," Davenport said....CNN

Sir Alex Ferguson deflected blame for the goal that dumped Manchester United out of the Carling Cup away from keeper Tim Howard and onto his defence. "They scored from a free-kick from 50 yards out," he said of Damien Duff's late winner for Chelsea. "You cannot expect to win losing goals like that. "The defenders had every chance to attack it before it bounced in. "We played extremely well in the second half. We needed that bit of luck in a cup tie which we didn't get." He added: "But it was a great game and I didn't think you could divide the teams." The loss saw Ferguson lose his record of not having lost a domestic semi-final but he remained philosophical in defeat. "I thought we had the far bigger momentum in the second half. We played some excellent stuff. "Ryan scored a very good goal and at that moment I thought we would go on and win it." United were denied a penalty when Wayne Bridge looked to have brought Quinton Fortune down but Ferguson said: "I'm fed up of talking about penalties being turned down. "In the first leg we should have had a penalty kick and we should have in the second leg as well. I'm disappointed but that is the matter over."...BBC

When Billy Gillispie took over as head coach at Texas A&M in March, he found a team lacking size, experience and depth. He soon found out, however, that the Aggies did have some talent despite their woeful record from the previous season. Acie Law, one of those talented leftovers, had 24 points and six assists, freshman Joseph Jones added 13 points and 10 rebounds and A&M ended an 18-game Big 12 losing streak with a 74-63 upset of No. 10 Texas on Wednesday night. "It's about having the right guys," Gillispie said, smiling. "It's no magic formula. The story is not about me ... it's about those guys in the white jerseys. The sky's the limit on what you can achieve." Gillispie has the Aggies achieving way beyond what many thought was possible at a school that has always treated basketball as a distraction after football season. A&M has finished last in the Big 12 three of the past four seasons. The Aggies (12-1, 1-1) are off to their best start since 1959-60, and Gillispie has made the best debut in school history. Before a school-record crowd of 12,811, A&M ended the Longhorns' 10-game winning streak in College Station and improve its record at Reed Arena to 12-0 this season. The Aggies also knocked off their first Top Ten foe, and fourth overall, since beating Texas in 1982. "It feels real good to get the first Big 12 victory," said Law, a sophomore point guard who suffered through last season's 7-21 record. "A Top Ten team comes in ... that's a perfect opportunity to show everyone what we can do."...CNN

The dominoes fell more than a year ago, unleashing a torrent of emotions in fans, players and coaches alike. And now, just when that domino energy had dissipated, here they are again, cosmically linked, the top three teams in the latest AP poll: Illinois. Kansas. North Carolina. In the annals of coaching changes, the 2003 Domino Effect was the Big One, a remarkable confluence of events that transformed three of the nation's premier college hoops programs. To understand how unusual it was, consider the first three dominoes the last time UNC changed coaches, in 2000: North Carolina. Notre Dame. Delaware. You certainly didn't see that trio topping the polls a season later. And that was normal. This isn't. On one hand, you could say all the hand-wringing, finger-pointing and talk radio-slamming from a year ago is moot. The Illini, Jayhawks and Tar Heels are doing just fine, thank you, under their new bosses. (In fact, their rankings are an intriguing reversal of the supposed pecking order established by the changes, with Illinois at No. 1 and UNC at No. 3.) All three teams are loaded with talent, and yet they deserve tremendous credit: to the players for adjusting to new systems, and to the coaches for succeeding with players they didn't recruit. But getting here sure took a psychic toll on the principals. Williams became a pariah to many in Lawrence, Kan., the town that once revered him, and had to turn around an underachieving Carolina squad. Self spurned the Illini, whose fans pleaded with him to stay, then faced the skepticism of Kansas players who'd already won playing another way. Weber got so fed up with the comparisons last year that he dressed in black and held a mock funeral for Self, right there in the Illini locker room. Illinois. Kansas. North Carolina. With the possible exception of Illinois-UNC, they'll never schedule games against each other. On the human drama scale, a Final Four involving all three -- in St. Louis, no less -- would be off the charts.

The 31-year-old passed a medical on Monday and will now link up with father Harry at St Mary's. "I am so excited about this - it's a great club to come to and a big challenge for me," he said. "The fact that I am helping my Dad out comes into it a little bit but the main thing for me is to be playing again." Redknapp joined Spurs from Liverpool in 2002 and made 53 first-team appearances for the club. He was appointed club captain following the departure of Teddy Sheringham in 2003 but he has made only nine league starts this season....BBC

The 28-year-old is struggling to make the first team at Real with Ronaldo, Raul and ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen above him in the pecking order. "The main reason is coach Rafa Benitez - he is Spanish and knows me perfectly which is worth a lot," said Morientes. "I don't want to expand except to say I am already looking through the English dictionary," he told the Reds website. Morientes' agent Gines Carvajal has admitted the Spanish international's future is now in the hands of Madrid, who will need to agree a fee for the player. "Everything depends on Real Madrid - I haven't seen anything in writing from Liverpool," Carvajal said. "I know they spoke with Madrid and the initial amount did not satisfy the president. "But within the right price frame the feelings of the player will be a priority - that is important." Newcastle were also reportedly in the running to sign Morientes, but the frontman looks to have quashed those rumours....BBC

Chelsea kick-start a busy festive period for football with a tough Boxing Day game against Aston Villa. The Premiership leaders carry a five-point lead into Christmas, ahead of a run of four matches in eight days. But Jose Mourinho's men can ill afford to rest on their laurels (or holly) as defending champions Arsenal and Manchester United step up their bids. Relegation strugglers, meanwhile, will desperately be hoping for a windfall of seasonal points to help their causes....BBC

Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton faces disciplinary action after an incident at the club's Christmas party. Barton poked a burning cigar in youth team player James Tandy's left eye after a fracas in central Manchester. The 22-year-old Barton is said to have been provoked after Tandy tried to set his shirt on fire. City carried out an internal investigation, finding the two players guilty of gross misconduct and docking them six weeks' wages. In Barton's case that is thought to mean the loss of £100,000. Police are not investigating the incident, but Tandy did receive hospital treatment for burns on his eyelid. The pair will now face a disciplinary hearing in the next couple of days with manager Kevin Keegan and two of the club's directors. City are keen to stress that both players were equally responsible for the incident, but it is Barton's future at the club which is once again likely to be called into question. He has been in trouble before for on-the-field misdemeanours, with Keegan recently warning him to improve his behaviour. A spokesman for the club earlier told BBC GMR: "We are aware of an incident that took place on Sunday involving two members of our playing staff. "An investigation has already been carried out by senior club officials and the matter is being dealt with."...BBC

Gordon Strachan turned down the chance to become Portsmouth manager so as not to sour memories of his time at local rivals Southampton. The Scot, who left his job as manager of Saints in February, felt his recent St Mary's connections made it an untimely and unseemly move for him to make. Harry Redknapp made a similar switch much quicker, albeit in the opposite direction, when he quit Portsmouth last month and subsequently defected to Southampton. But it was not for Strachan, who told BBC's Match of the Day 2: "I think it's a fantastic job for anybody apart from somebody who has just been the Southampton manager....DAILY MAIL

WICKETS with both new balls for Matthew Hoggard made the beginning and end of the opening day of the series a good deal more enjoyable for England than the long and blustery hours in between. A strong sou’wester enabled Ashley Giles to bottle up an end for most of the afternoon while the quick men did their best to extract some spark from a pitch that was as slow as expected, but Boeta Dippenaar’s typically steadfast innings and an attractive 93 by Jacques Rudolph insured South Africa against calamity. Neither side could feel complete satisfaction, England because they missed chances offered by both Rudolph and Dippenaar, South Africa because a partnership of 112 by these two had taken them to 178 for three before Andrew Flintoff undermined them with one of those hostile, shrewdly mixed spells that are becoming increasingly common. England had the edge by the end, but for South Africa to have got within sight of 300 despite ducks for their two outstanding batsmen, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, showed the level of determination in their ranks. In particular they refused to be bullied by the pace and hostility of Flintoff and Stephen Harmison. Dippenaar played them mainly off the back foot in his adhesive innings of just under five hours. WICKETS with both new balls for Matthew Hoggard made the beginning and end of the opening day of the series a good deal more enjoyable for England than the long and blustery hours in between. A strong sou’wester enabled Ashley Giles to bottle up an end for most of the afternoon while the quick men did their best to extract some spark from a pitch that was as slow as expected, but Boeta Dippenaar’s typically steadfast innings and an attractive 93 by Jacques Rudolph insured South Africa against calamity. Neither side could feel complete satisfaction, England because they missed chances offered by both Rudolph and Dippenaar, South Africa because a partnership of 112 by these two had taken them to 178 for three before Andrew Flintoff undermined them with one of those hostile, shrewdly mixed spells that are becoming increasingly common. England had the edge by the end, but for South Africa to have got within sight of 300 despite ducks for their two outstanding batsmen, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, showed the level of determination in their ranks. In particular they refused to be bullied by the pace and hostility of Flintoff and Stephen Harmison. Dippenaar played them mainly off the back foot in his adhesive innings of just under five hours...THE TÝMES

England's four representatives in the Champions League will learn their opposition for the knockout stage of the competition on Friday at 1100 GMT. Arsenal and Chelsea are seeded as group winners, while runners-up Manchester United and Liverpool are not. Rules state that teams from the same country or group will be kept apart. The favourites are Chelsea and Barcelona, and Real Madrid, the two Milan sides, Juventus and Bayern Munich are among the 16 still in the hat. Sir Alex Ferguson believes his Manchester United side will be paired with Italian giants AC Milan. "We've played the others so many times, the team that we haven't met is AC Milan. But I think fate will probably throw them our way. I have that feeling," said Ferguson. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he wants to face his old club Barcelona...BBC

Real Betis winger Joaquin has admitted he would be interested in a move to Chelsea. The Spain international, who tormented England in the friendly defeat at the Bernabeu last month, has been linked with a number of top clubs but Chelsea appears to be his preferred destination. Jose Mourinho is reported to have been following the £20million--rated player for several months and the Stamford Bridge club are believed to have already made an approach to Betis. "I have heard the offer is very big and I know Chelsea are a very big club but for me money has never been the issue," said Joaquin, according to a newspaper. "Football is the only issue for me. My friend (Arsenal star Jose) Reyes tells me good things about English football when we play for Spain. "It makes me think about things. The main club of the last two seasons has been Chelsea. All the players these days want to play for Chelsea."....DAILY MAIL

STEVEN GERRARD stood and watched in disbelief, his hands on his hips, as his Liverpool team-mates contrived to undermine his latest rescue act by conceding an inexplicable stoppage-time equaliser that cast serious doubts about their hopes of satisfying his ambitions. For the second time in six days, albeit in far less dramatic circumstances than in the breathless Champions League victory over Olympiakos, Gerrard had dragged Liverpool almost single-handedly out of the sea of mediocrity that threatens to consume them, this time with a spectacular free kick with 20 minutes to go. It is questionable whether even a 1-0 win would have quelled his doubts about his prospects of enjoying success at Anfield. After a last-gasp goal from Loman a LuaLua, though, Liverpool must be more fearful than ever of losing their inspirational captain to Chelsea...THE TIMES

With the NHL in the throes of a lockout, 33 players got together Monday night to play some big-time, soft-checking hockey in a farewell game honoring Russian legend Igor Larionov. Larionov, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings, retired after last season but invited some of his old pals to Moscow for an exhibition. Many of them were current or former Wings, plus coaches Scotty Bowman, Dave Lewis and Barry Smith. The game ended in a 6-5 victory for Larionov's all-Russian squad over a world team captained by Steve Yzerman. Fittingly, Larionov scored a goal, assisted by one former Wing, Sergei Fedorov, and beating another, goaltender Chris Osgood. After the second period, Larionov and Yzerman switched teams. Yzerman then scored twice in his biggest test since he suffered an eye injury May 1 during the Wings' playoff series with Calgary. Wings forward Darren McCarty and former Wings forwards Luc Robitaille and Martin Lapointe also scored for the world team. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov attended the Larionov farewell, played before a sellout crowd at the Luzhniki sports complex. President Vladimir Putin was invited but didn't show; instead, he sent over a green-ribboned Order of Friendship, which Larionov pinned to his jersey in a ceremony after the game. Larionov said the game left him with "bittersweet feelings."...FREEP

Referee Graham Poll said he applied the laws of the game in allowing Arsenal striker Thierry Henry's free-kick in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Keeper Petr Cech was organising his defensive wall when Henry's quick free-kick flew in, which angered Chelsea. "The whistle doesn't need to be blown. I asked Henry 'do you want a wall?'. He said 'can I take it please?' He was very polite. I said 'yes'," said Poll. "I deal with the laws of the game. I deal with fact." Poll added: "I gave the signal for him to take it. That's what he did. "The same thing happened when I refereed Chelsea against West Ham in an FA Cup replay two years ago - when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored - and I don't remember them complaining about that." Henry explained why he paused before striking the ball for the goal, which put Arsenal 2-1 ahead. Henry told BBC Radio Five Live: "The ref asked me if I wanted 10 yards or if I wanted to take it straight away and I said that I wanted to take it straight away. He said to me, 'go'....BBC

Arsenal could be hit by a double Spanish raid, with Lauren and Edu being linked with moves to Primera Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real are reportedly set to snap up Cameroon international Lauren when his contract runs out in the summer. Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is quoted in The Sun as saying: "Lauren will play for Real Madrid next season because his contract will expire. We have him signed." Brazil midfielder Edu, meanwhile, has expressed a desire to join Barcelona after stalling on signing a new deal at Highbury....DAILY MAIL

STEVEN GERRARD appeared to nail his colours to the Liverpool mast when he inspired his team to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, but Roman Abramovich is steady in his belief that the inspirational midfield player will be wearing the blue shirt of Chelsea by the start of next season. Sources at Stamford Bridge indicated last night that Abramovich, the billionaire Chelsea owner, remains as confident as ever that Gerrard will move to London at the second time of asking ne