Modric targets title after signing new Real deal

Luka Modric's top priority is to win La Liga this season, the midfield maestro said on Wednesday after signing a new contract that will keep him at Real Madrid until 2020.

Cricket: India skipper Dhoni relying more on Kohli

Indian one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Saturday he has started relying more on his younger teammate Virat Kohli, who is tipped to take over the captaincy in the shorter formats of the game.

Rutgers beats Fairleigh Dickinson 72-64

PISATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- As Rutgers plays undersized and undermanned, Mike Williams was looking at the positives.

''I get more playing time,'' Williams said with a wry smile.

For Davis and many more, their NBA Christmas debut awaits

MIAMI (AP) -- Jrue Holiday grew up watching Christmas Day games, with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers almost being an annual fixture in the NBA's holiday lineup.

He's never gotten to play on the holiday.

That is, until now.

Messi: Ronaldinho told me to take his No.10

Lionel Messi has revealed Ronaldinho told him to take his No.10 shirt months before the Brazilian left Barcelona in 2008. 

Ronaldinho joined Barcelona in 2003 and inherited the iconic number from Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme - who was sent on loan to Villareal for

Neymar will become the best in the world - Eto'o

Samuel Eto'o is in no doubt that Neymar will be the best player in the world once Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo are past their peak.

The trio make up the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, an accolade which the Argentine and the Portuguese have dominated for the past seven years.

Liverpool's Klopp surprised by reaction to Kop salute

London (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Thursday expressed surprise over the mirth provoked by his decision to salute the club's fans following the recent 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Titans fire Whisenhunt as head coach

The Tennessee Titans have fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt less than two years after signing him to a five-year contract, the NFL team said on Tuesday.
The Titans lost 20-6 to the Houston Texans on Sunday, their sixth straight defeat.

4TH LEAD Feyenoord fans clash with police, damage monument in Rome By Alberto Cagliano, dpa

Rome (dpa) - Fans of Dutch side Feyenoord hurled smoke bombs at police in Rome's central Piazza di Spagna and damaged a baroque fountain ahead of Thursday's Europa League game against Roma.

Police reported that clashes with drunken Dutchmen had already taken place late Wednesday near the Campo de' Fiori square, with 23 arrests.

Muguruza wins Spanish struggle; Czech-mate for on-form Pliskova

Dubai, UAE (dpa) - Garbine Muguruza won an all-Iberian battle over doubles partner Carla Suárez Navarro 6-7 (4-7) 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Classic.

Muguruza will line up against on-form Czech Karolina Pliskova, a winner over compatriot and 11th seed Lucie Safarova 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. It was the 16th win of the season against just four defeats for Pliskova.

Bjoergen, Northug rewrite Nordic record books in worlds openers

Falun, Sweden (dpa) - Norwegian stars Marit Bjoergen and Petter Northug rewrote the skiing record books by winning cross-country sprint races on the opening day of the Nordic world championships Thursday.

Bjoergen won the women's race from Stina Nilsson of hosts Sweden and Norwegian Olympic champion Maiken Caspersen Falla. Northug topped a dramatic men's event from Canada's Alex Harvey and Ola Vigen Hattestad, the Olympic champion from Norway.

Italian teams held to draws in Europa League

Madrid (dpa) - Italian teams Torino and Roma were held to disappointing home draws in the Europa League round of 32 first legs Thursday, by Athletic Bilbao and Feyenoord respectively.

Germany's Frenzel keeps winning in Nordic combined

Sapporo, Japan (dpa) - Title holder Eric Frenzel remained unstoppable in the Nordic combined skiing World Cup and extended his overall lead with a sixth season victory in Sapporo on Friday.

There was more joy for Germany when cross-country skier Steffi Boehler matched a career-best third-place finish, in a 10-kilometres freestyle race in Rybinsk, Russia, won by Norway's Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen. Swiss Dario Cologna topped the men's 15km.

Paris denies Austrians in Kitzbuehel super-g

Kitzbuehel, Austria (dpa) - Italy's Dominik Paris denied the hosting Austrians when he pipped Olympic champion Matthias Mayer for victory in a World Cup super-g Friday.

Seppi stuns sluggish Federer, healthy Nadal sails through

Melbourne (dpa) - Italian Andreas Seppi stunned second seed Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) in the third round on Friday and sent the four-time champion to his earliest Australian Open defeat since 2001.

Holders Japan crash out to UAE, Iraq upset Iran

Sydney (dpa) - Holders Japan crashed out of the Asian Cup 5-4 on penalties against the United Arab Emirates after a 1-1 draw Friday while Iraq produced a thrilling performance to upset 10-man Iran 7-6 from the spot after a 3-3 deadlock.

Stich hopes that Haas can play Hamburg one more time

Hamburg (dpa) - Organizer Michael Stich hopes that injury-plagued tennis veteran Tommy Haas will be able to play one more time at the tournament in his birth town of Hamburg.

Administrators remain hopeful that Caterham F1 can race in 2015

London (dpa) - Administrators have not given up hope that the Caterham team will be able to compete at the start of the next Formula One season in March, Sky TV reported on Tuesday.

"We remain hopeful that the Caterham Formula 1 team can be saved and be on the grid in Melbourne for the first race of 2015," joint administrator Henry Shinners told the broadcaster.

Skates off: German ice hockey team improves with physiognomy

Third division ice hockey team Moskitos Essen have made a remarkable turnaround since starting to work two years ago with a physiognomist who has profiled and improved the players through an analysis of their faces and feet.

Essen, Germany (dpa) - Monika Sundermann takes a short breath and then walks into a sticky dressing room at an ice hockey rink in the western German city of Essen.

Munich get the longest holiday and like all others then train abroad

Berlin (dpa) - Runaway leaders Bayern Munich have the longest holiday while ailing VfB Stuttgart will be the first Bundesliga team to resume training for the second half of the season.

Stuttgart coach Huub Stevens will gather his players on January 3 while Pep Guardiola's Munich don't start until four days later with their preparation for the January 30 restart.