WINNING STREAK: Andrew Bynum collected a career-high 28 points, 10 less than Kobe Bryant, while Derek Fisher added 19, Lemar Odom 15 and Trevor Ariza 14
Kobe Bryant asked to be traded last spring in part because he wanted to play for a team that could contend for a championship. He just might have gotten his wish by staying put.

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Wild Oats XI, chasing a third straight win in the Sydney to Hobart race, led an 82-yacht fleet out of Sydney Harbor and down Australia's southeast coast yesterday at the start of the annual bluewater classic.

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SIXTH TIME LUCKY: Matthew Hyden scored his sixth hundred in nine Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, putting his Aussie colleagues in the shade
Skipper Anil Kumble inspired a dramatic Indian fightback to almost bowl Australia out on the opening day of the first cricket Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

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Pakistan cricket authorities announced yesterday that all players who featured in a rebel Indian league will be banned from domestic matches.

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Veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement will replace Gael Monfils as Tatiana Golovin's playing partner at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, starting in Perth on Saturday.

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KIWIS BOUNCE BACK: A rapid-fire 70 by the Bangldesh skipper was in vain as the Black Caps seamers shared nine wickets before Jamie How anchored them to victory
Bangladesh posted their largest total in a limited-overs match against New Zealand but couldn't stop the Kiwis from cruising to a six-wicket win in the first one-day international yesterday.

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Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has refused to rule out switching his national colors to England.

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FROM RIO TO RIVERSIDE: Not many people would sacrifice Christmas on Copacabana for a scrap in Sunderland, but the United midfielder is still smiling
Brazilian midfielder Anderson says he is happy to spend the chilly festive period playing soccer -- and not relaxing on Copacabana beach -- as he pursues his dream of making history with Manchester United.

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BOWLING THEM OVER: The legendary legspinner will also join two former Test skippers to scrutinize playing conditions in Australia
Former Test legspinner Shane Warne will help to develop Australia's next generation of spin bowlers after accepting a development role with Cricket Australia.

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Blackburn boss Mark Hughes believes there is no reason to panic despite seeing his side suffer a worrying Premier League winter slump.

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■ BOXING

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