Falcons use table tennis to stay loose ahead of Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons, preparing to battle the New England Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl, brought along another game to help keep themselves loose ahead of the title clash.

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Patriots defense unfazed by high-flying Falcons

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Something has got to give on Super Bowl Sunday when the National Football League's top-scoring Atlanta Falcons face a New England Patriots defense that allowed the fewest points in the league.

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Super Bowl security tight amidst tension over Trump orders

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Security in Houston, America's fourth-largest city, is tight ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl 51, though officials have vowed to support peaceful demonstrations against President Donald Trump's executive order restricting entry to the United States for travelers from some Muslim-majority nations.

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Athletics: Coe denies misleading doping committee

LONDON (Reuters) - The head of world athletics Sebastian Coe has denied that he misled a British Parliamentary committee investigating doping in sport when he appeared before it last December.

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Olympians urge speedy resolution to Trump travel ban

(Reuters) - The World Olympians Association (WOA) expressed concern on Tuesday about the potential impact U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on visitors from some Muslim-majority nations could have on athletes and urged a quick resolution.

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Motorcycling: Rabat to undergo surgery after crash in testing

(Reuters) - Spanish MotoGP rider Tito Rabat will return to Europe for surgery after breaking his hand in a crash during the first pre-season test in Malaysia on Tuesday.

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Brady pumped up to dispel asterisk over Deflategate

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the man who has everything -- leading man good looks, super model Gisele Bundchen as his wife, lovely children and hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings.

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Two-hour marathon not possible, says Cheruiyot

ELDORET, Kenya (Reuters) - Running a marathon in under two hours is not possible, Kenya’s Olympic 5,000 and world 10,000 champion Vivian Cheruiyot has said in response to an initiative by sportswear manufacturer Nike to achieve that feat.

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Doping: Russia's Olympic bobsleigh champion Trunenkov banned for four years

BERLIN (Reuters) - Russian Olympic bobsleigh champion Dmitriy Trunenkov has been banned from his sport for four years after violating anti-doping rules, Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) said on Tuesday.

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Kyrgios hopes team spirit can help overcome Seppi loss

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios struggled to deal with the furor over his shock second round meltdown at the Australian Open but said the return to a team environment with Davis Cup had helped him through it.

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Thomas pens strong finish as Celtics jolt Pistons

(The Sports Xchange) - Isaiah Thomas performed more of his fourth-quarter magic and the Boston Celtics blew an 11-point lead but held off the Detroit Pistons 113-109 for the their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night.

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USOC say foreign athletes not affected by Trump travel ban

(Reuters) - The U.S. Olympic Committee said on Monday they were told by the U.S. government that President Donald Trump's ban on visitors from some Muslim-majority countries should not impact athletes traveling to the United States for international events.

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Raptors' Lowry joins condemnation of Trump travel ban

(Reuters) - Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Kyle Lowry is the latest member of the National Basketball Association community to blast U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, describing it as "absolute bullshit."

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Hacking costs Cardinals $2 million, top two draft picks

(The Sports Xchange) - The St. Louis Cardinals were ordered to pay $2 million in damages by Major League Baseball on Monday and will forfeit their first two picks in the 2017 draft as a result of illegal computer hacking of the Houston Astros' database.

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Nadal left out of Spain Davis Cup squad

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has been left out of Spain's Davis Cup squad for their World Group first-round match against Croatia this weekend due to fatigue.

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Federer says his game-style made him believe he could win 18th slam

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - In his darkest moments last year when he doubted if he would ever get back to full fitness following his knee injury, Roger Federer clung on to one thought -- he still had the game to maybe sneak another grand slam title.

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AFC stands firm to hold off NFC in low-scoring Pro Bowl

(The Sports Xchange) - In the lowest-scoring Pro Bowl since 1998, the AFC made two first-half goal-line stands and then held off the NFC's final drive to secure a 20-13 win at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday.

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U.S. draw 0-0 with Serbia as Arena returns as coach

(Reuters) - Forward Jozy Altidore earned his 100th cap for the United States in a goalless draw with Serbia in a friendly at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday in the first match of Bruce Arena's second stint as U.S. head coach.

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James reaches milestone for Cavs in win over Thunder

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and became the first player to score 20,000 points in a Cavaliers uniform in Cleveland's 107-91 victory on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Eagles land for Torrey Pines winner Rahm

(Reuters) - Spanish rookie Jon Rahm eagled two of the last six holes to clinch his first PGA Tour title by three shots in sensational fashion at the $6.7 million Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego on Sunday.

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Lincicome wins LPGA season opener in playoff

(Reuters) - Long-hitting Brittany Lincicome came agonizingly close to tying an LPGA Tour scoring record before winning the season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in a playoff with fellow American Lexi Thompson on Sunday.

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Trump card could be played at Super Bowl

(Reuters) - From the broadcast booth to the owners' suites the Trump effect will be felt on and off the field at the Super Bowl say industry experts, as a 'Make America Great Again' beat provides the background music for the country's biggest sporting party.

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Curry sizzles for 43 points as Warriors slice up Clippers

(The Sports Xchange) - Stephen Curry bombed in five three-pointers in a personal 25-point, third-quarter explosion, helping the Golden State Warriors run away from the Los Angeles Clippers in a 144-98 victory on Saturday.

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Serena to play fewer tournaments to aid grand slam quest

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) - Serena Williams plans to play fewer tournaments in the future to aid her quest to win more grand slam titles, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

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Americans Rodgers and Snedeker share lead at Torrey Pines

(Reuters) - Former college standout Patrick Rodgers, seeking his first PGA Tour title, produced bogey-free golf in dazzling sunshine to charge into a two-way tie for the lead after the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego on Saturday.

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Whistleblower doubts Russian attitude changed

BOSTON (Reuters) - The woman who helped blow the whistle on Russian doping doubts her country's attitude toward performance-enhancing drugs has changed fundamentally in the three years since she and her husband exposed the massive problem.

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Serena sinks Venus to win magic 23rd slam

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams reigned supreme in tennis's great sibling rivalry, edging an emotion-charged clash with sister Venus to claim her seventh Australian Open on Saturday and a record 23rd grand slam title in the professional era.

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Deja vu slam to climax with vintage Roger-Rafa show

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal take to Rod Laver Arena to reprise one of the great sporting rivalries of the modern age on Sunday, a fitting climax to an Australian Open which has sent tennis back to the future.

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LeBron leads Cavs to much-needed victory over Nets

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James scored 31 points and made 11 assists, Kyrie Irving scored 28 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-116 for just their third win in nine games on Friday.

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Nadal edges Dimitrov to set up dream Federer final

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal had to be at his battling best to outlast Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4 at the Australian Open on Friday and set up a mouth-watering ninth grand slam final meeting with his great rival Roger Federer.

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History of music

History of music

(EN) SteamBroker

What is "SteamBroker"?

SteamBroker service provides marketplace to trade items from digital distribution platform Steam™. Using our marketplace you can buy goods from other users or sell any items from your inventory yourself, which can be exchanged with Steam™ trade offers. For example, items from such games as Dota 2™, Counter Strike: Global Offensive™ (CS:GO), Team Fortress™, Unturned™ and so on. Also it's possible to buy and sell Steam Trading Cards and any games, presented as a Steam gifts if you already can exchange it. You will pay a price set by other users for it, so will guarantee you lowest possible prices. You can even get discounts in case of constant use of our service.

SteamBroker guarantees the absolute security for all deals. All items will be exchanged through our service Steam accounts, these accounts will be your automatic MiddleMan and will guarantee an accuracy of transferring the items to the buyer and money paid to seller.

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SteamBroker

Что такое "SteamBroker"?

Сервис SteamBroker предоставляет площадку для торговли вещами из сервиса цифровой дистрибуции Steam. На нашей площадке вы можете купить у других пользователей или продать сами любые предметы из Вашего инвентаря, которые возможно передать через торговое предложение Steam. Например, вещи из таких игр как Dota™ 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive™ (CS:GO), Team Fortress™ 2, H1Z1 и прочих. А так же возможна продажа коллекционных карточек Steam и даже игр, в виде подарков в инвентаре, которые так же возможно передавать. Вы можете купить вещи за ту цену, которую указывают другие пользователи, что гарантирует отличные цены без лишних наценок.

Так же Вы можете использовать наш сайт как магазин для своих предметов. Вы получите персональную ссылку которая будет отображать только Ваши предметы.

Наш сервис гарантирует абсолютную безопасность всех сделок. Товары передаются через наши сервисные аккаунты Steam, которые выступают в качестве гаранта и контролируют точность получения вещей покупателем и выплату денег продавцу.

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(EN) Steam-Trader

Steam-trader.com - Trade platform Dota2, CS:GO, TF2, Gifts.

It is a unique traiding platform, allowing you to buy and sell cosmetic items of Dota 2, CS:GO, Team Fortress2 or Games (Gifts) for real money, at the best prices! Trading platform consists of four sections, which are interlinked by a shared wallet that will allow you to sell things in one section and buy them in another. Deposit and withdrawal funds available with the help of multiple payment systems. Earn - resting! Successful auction!

Go to Steam-trader

Steam-Trader

Steam-trader - Торговая площадка Dota2, CS:GO, TF2, Gifts.

Это уникальная торговая площадка, позволяющая покупать и продавать Игры или Гифты (Gift) Steam, а так же вещи Dota 2, CS:GO, Team Fortress2 за реальные деньги, без комиссии! Торговая площадка состоит из четырех разделов, которые связанны между собой общим кошельком, что позволит вам продавать вещи в одном разделе и покупать их в другом. Пополнение счета и вывод средств доступно при помощи множества платежных систем.

Выводи деньги из Steam! Зарабатывай - отдыхая!

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Dimitrov falls just short, but departs with head held high

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defeated Grigor Dimitrov walked off Rod Laver Arena with applause ringing in his ears and his head held high after a performance of skill and resilience fell agonizingly short of toppling Rafa Nadal on Friday.

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Nadal wipes tears away to reach final at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - It took nearly five hours of grueling tennis for Rafa Nadal to fend off Grigor Dimitrov and book a dream Australian Open final against Roger Federer but before Melbourne Park the Spaniard endured a season of heartache and doubt.

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Williams sisters add another chapter to great sibling rivalry

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Australian Open electrified by the revivals of seasoned champions will bathe in the warm glow of nostalgia on Saturday when the Williams sisters contest the women's final at Rod Laver Arena.

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Super Bowl glare fixes attention on Texas 'bathroom bill'

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - As Houston readies to host the Super Bowl, a push by lawmakers in Texas to restrict bathroom access for transgender people is raising fears the state may be unable to score future major sporting events and could lose championships on its books.

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Doping-Russia withdraws appeal against weightlifting ban - report

ZURICH (Reuters) - Russia's weightlifting federation (RWF) has withdrawn its appeal against a one-year ban from the sport, the Russian news agency TASS said.

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Hayward, Jazz shoot past Lakers

(The Sports Xchange) - Gordon Hayward scored 24 points in his first game after being selected as an NBA All-Star, leading the Utah Jazz to a 96-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

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Thunder's Westbrook earns sixth All-Star selection

(Reuters) - Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, a notable absentee from the starting line-ups for next month's All-Star Game, was selected among the reserves for the marquee exhibition game, the NBA announced on Thursday.

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Falcons have more in common with Pats than meets the eye

(Reuters) - At first blush, perennial powerhouse New England Patriots seem in stark contrast to the upstart Atlanta Falcons team they will face in the Feb. 5 Super Bowl in Houston.

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Young defenders come of age for Super Bowl-bound Falcons

(Reuters) - Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn expected a learning curve when he decided to start four rookies on defense this season, but the move paid off as the improving unit helped them reach the Super Bowl.

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Super Bowl has proven immune to ratings fatigue

(Reuters) - A Super Bowl blowout will not help the National Football League but it will not hurt either as industry experts say the American sporting juggernaut will roll on regardless of the championship game's result.

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Federer sees off Wawrinka to reach Australian Open final

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer held firm against a furious fightback from fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, edging his former apprentice 7-5 6-3 1-6 4-6 6-3 in a Melbourne Park classic to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday.

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Bring on Rafa, says excited Federer, ahead of final push

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer reached his first Australian Open final in seven years on Thursday and then made it as clear as he politely could that he would welcome the chance to renew his epic rivalry with Rafa Nadal as he chases his 18th grand slam title.

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Serena thrives under pressure to seal all-Williams final

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Having seen her sister Venus win her semi-final at the Australian Open on Thursday, Serena Williams admitted she felt the weight of history to seal her place in their first grand slam title decider in eight years.

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Venus rises over Vandeweghe to reach Melbourne final

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Venus Williams drew on the experience of 73 grand slam campaigns to rally from a set down for a 6-7(3) 6-2 6-3 victory over fellow American Coco Vandeweghe on Thursday to set up a possible Australian Open final against her sister Serena.

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Cavs GM Griffin understands LeBron's frustration

(Reuters) - Cleveland General Manager David Griffin has met with LeBron James following the player’s recent criticism of the Cavaliersroster, the team said on Wednesday.

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More injury trouble for Pelicans forward Davis

(Reuters) - New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis missed the second half of Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma City after aggravating a right thigh bruise.

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Tiger hopes fond Torrey Pines memories provide boost

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods hopes the familiar surroundings of Torrey Pines will ease his transition to tournament golf when he plays in his first full tournament field in 17 months starting on Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open.

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Bolt loses relay Olympic gold after Jamaica's Carter tests positive

(Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals and his perfect triple treble of Games' sprint victories after team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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Giving Lombardi Trophy to Brady would be an honor: Goodell

(Reuters) - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday he would not be uncomfortable handing the Lombardi Trophy to quarterback Tom Brady if the New England Patriots win the Feb. 5 Super Bowl in Houston.

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Crutchlow targets home win after big breakthrough

LONDON (Reuters) - Less could be more for double MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow this year with the Briton seeking to build on his breakthrough 2016 season by targeting what would be a momentous home triumph.

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Serena leads semi-final charge of thirtysomethings

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Only three women can now prevent Serena Williams from clinching a 23rd grand slam title on Saturday, her sister Venus, a younger compatriot and a 34-year-old Croatian she last played nearly two decades ago.

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Aldridge helps Spurs edge Raptors

(The Sports Xchange) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and added seven rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Toronto Raptors 108-106 on Tuesday night.

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Expect little neutrality in Swiss civil war

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka delights in the fact that his favorite nickname, 'Stanimal', was given to him by Roger Federer, who he also admits is simply the greatest player to have picked up a tennis racquet.

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Serena overwhelms Konta to sweep into Melbourne semis

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams remained on course for her 23rd grand slam title by quelling the challenge of in-form Briton Johanna Konta 6-2 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the eighth time on Wednesday.

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Cincinnati Bengals' Jones told police 'I hope you die' after arrest

(Reuters) - Cincinnati Bengals' cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones told a police officer "I hope you die" after his arrest earlier this month for disorderly conduct, according to an expletive-filled dashcam video released by police.

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Falcons' receiver Jones a beast for Patriots to contain

(Reuters) - Julio Jones had a monster game in Sunday's rout of the Packers that put the Atlanta Falcons into the Super Bowl, and the scary wide receiver was already giving the New England Patriots a fright as they studied game film.

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Brady says Patriots 'brainwashed' to shut out distractions

(Reuters) - Few teams have faced controversy over recent years to the extent of the New England Patriots, and none have enjoyed their measure of success, which quarterback Tom Brady credits to "brainwashing" by coach Bill Belichick.

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Roethlisberger unsure of future, considering retirement

(The Sports Xchange) - Ben Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday that he is not ready to commit to playing next season after the Pittsburgh Steelers' 36-17 loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.

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Livid LeBron sounds off after Cavs' latest loss

(Reuters) - LeBron James is growing increasingly frustrated with his team's performance the last three weeks and is calling on the Cleveland Cavaliers' front office to step in and bolster parts of the reigning NBA champions' roster.

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Injured McIlroy says he will be out until March

LONDON (Reuters) - Injured Rory McIlroy has ruled himself out of action for a further month, targeting a return in Mexico on March 2, he told Fox Sports on Tuesday.

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Tennis-Back to the future as Federer storms into Melbourne semis

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Four-times champion Roger Federer continued to roll back the years as he took apart Mischa Zverev 6-1 7-5 6-2 with a clinical display of all-court tennis to reach his 13th Australian Open semi-final in 92 minutes on Tuesday.

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Konta's learning curve continues against Serena

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Britain's Johanna Konta has learned much from matches against grand slam champions and former world number ones over the last 18 months but on Wednesday her education will be complete when she faces Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

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UAE gets set to host 2019 Special Olympics World Games

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Some 7,000 athletes and their families from 170 countries will participate in the Special Olympics World Games from March 14-21, 2019 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, organizers said on Tuesday.

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Vandeweghe blasts into first grand slam semi-final

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Coco Vandeweghe blasted her way into her first grand slam semi-final with a dominant display of power tennis to destroy French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4 6-0 at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

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Wawrinka wins testy clash with Tsonga to reach semi-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former champion Stan Wawrinka engaged in a war of words with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga but won the argument that counted to storm into the Australian Open semi-finals with a 7-6(2) 6-4 6-3 win over the Frenchman on Tuesday.

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Irving scores 49, but Cavs fall to Pelicans

(The Sports Xchange) - It's far too soon in a marathon regular season for LeBron James to press the panic button, but his trigger finger is getting itchy.

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Venus reaches first Melbourne Park semi in 14 years

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Venus Williams continued her astonishing late-career revival by felling Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 7-6(3) on Tuesday to reach her first Australian Open semi-final in 14 years.

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Clijsters, Roddick head Hall of Fame's Class of 2017

(Reuters) - Former world number one players Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick headlined the International Tennis Hall of Fame's list of 2017 inductees announced on Monday.

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Fox needs Patriots' popularity to drive Super Bowl ratings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fox will have to rely on the popularity of the New England Patriots as they face the less-celebrated Atlanta Falcons if it wants to draw a record U.S. television crowd for the Super Bowl.

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Ecclestone replaced as Formula One boss: report

LONDON (Reuters) - Bernie Ecclestone has been replaced as Formula One supremo by the sport's new owners Liberty Media and offered a new honorary role, Auto Motor und Sport magazine reported on Monday.

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Federer ready to restore order against Zverev

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Seeing world number 50 Mischa Zverev and wildcard Denis Istomin upset the top two players in the world at Melbourne Park shows more players believe they can take shake up the established order and that can only be good for tennis, says Roger Federer.

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Nadal survives Monfils fightback to reach quarter-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal returned to the grand slam big-time by fending off Gael Monfils 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-4 in a tense clash on Monday to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

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China's Xi says Winter Games must have no 'grandiose' projects

BEIJING (Reuters) - Money must be spent properly for the 2022 Winter Olympics that China is to host and no "grandiose" projects must be allowed, President Xi Jinping said on Monday, as he toured sites for the Games.

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Figure skating: Chen lands record five quads at U.S. nationals

(Reuters) - Teenage prodigy Nathan Chen became the first skater to land five quads in a single programme as he claimed his first national title at the U.S. figure skating championships on Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Falcons beat Packers 44-21 to reach Super Bowl

(Reuters) - Matt Ryan piloted high-flying Atlanta to a 44-21 rout of the Green Bay Packers in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game on Sunday as the Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl for just the second time.

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Once mighty Lakers endure biggest loss in franchise history

(The Sports Xchange) - The Los Angeles Lakers have endured some low points in recent seasons, but the nadir occurred Sunday.

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Serena grinds down dogged Strycova to reach quarter-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams battled a misbehaving serve and scorching heat but stayed cool under pressure in a 7-5 6-4 win over Czech Barbora Strycova to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

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Swafford stands tall with maiden PGA Tour win

(Reuters) - American journeyman Hudson Swafford, whose focus all week was on "standing tall", birdied three of the last four holes to clinch his first PGA Tour title by one shot on Sunday at the $5.8 million CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California.

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Sleepy Warriors wake up in time to stop the Magic

(The Sports Xchange) - Even when they are half asleep, the Golden State Warriors still dominate the NBA.

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Royals pitcher Ventura killed in car crash

(Reuters) - Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura has been killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic, the Major League Baseball team said on Sunday.

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Melbourne Park carnage as top seeds topple

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The whiff of sporting upset hung around Melbourne Park on Sunday after top seeds Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber were handed stunning defeats in the Australian Open fourth round.

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Federer shows iron-man quality to reach quarters

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Resilient Roger Federer showed there was still life in the 35-year-old's legs as he overhauled fifth seed Kei Nishikori 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-3 on Sunday to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

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Zverev emerges from the depths to take out Murray

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Mischa Zverev first faced Andy Murray across the net when they were both in their mid-teens but it is fair to say their paths have diverged somewhat since.

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World number one Murray downed by Zverev in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Andy Murray's hopes of finally getting his hands on the Australian Open title were ended for another year when the top seed and world number one was tied up in knots and flung out of the fourth round by Mischa Zverev on Sunday.

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Leonard's late dunk lifts Spurs to OT win over Cavaliers

(The Sports Xchange) - Kawhi Leonard capped his career-high, 41-point night with a dunk in the final seconds and the San Antonio Spurs held on for a 118-115 overtime victory Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Venus downs Barthel to reach quarter-final at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Venus Williams continued to turn back the clock with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Germany's Mona Barthel in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday and set up a quarter-final against Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

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United States' Bryan brothers retire from Davis Cup

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - United States grand slam doubles record holders Bob and Mike Bryan have retired from the Davis Cup after playing in the competition for almost 14 years.

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Patriots and Steelers in royal clash for shot at Super Bowl

(Reuters) - In a match-up of NFL royalty, the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's AFC title clash with the winner earning a record ninth trip to the Super Bowl.

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Packers late into Atlanta after being fogged in at home

(The Sports Xchange) - Making it to Atlanta for the NFC Championship Game turned into a tough task for the Green Bay Packers.

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Biathlon union drops investigation into 22 Russian athletes

MILAN (Reuters) - Biathlon's governing body (IBU) has dropped proceedings against 22 of the 29 Russians who were placed under investigation last month following the McLaren report due to lack of evidence, it said on Saturday.

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Hadwin on PGA Tour career upswing takes lead with 59

(Reuters) - Canadian Adam Hadwin provided the fireworks with a sizzling 59 to vault one stroke clear after Saturday's third round of the $5.8 million CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California.

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Packers, Falcons set to give Georgia Dome explosive sendoff

(Reuters) - The Georgia Dome's final game could fittingly be an explosive one with the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers poised to blow the roof off the place when the NFL's most potent offenses clash on Sunday for a berth in the Super Bowl.

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Federer comeback continues against Nishikori

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer took a massive step forward upon his return to the weekly grind of the tennis circuit with his third round thrashing of Tomas Berdych and is enthused at the prospect of facing Kei Nishikori at the Australian Open on Sunday.

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Warriors top Rockets for sixth straight win

(The Sports Xchange) - Having already delivered convincing statements earlier this week by drubbing the Cavaliers and Thunder, the Warriors were quick to send the message on Friday that exacting revenge for a previous loss was a pressing priority.

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Nadal holds off rising talent Zverev to reach last 16

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal held off a fierce challenge from one of the hottest prospects in the game when he outlasted German teenager Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open on Friday.

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Serena marches on to fourth round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams gave compatriot Nicole Gibbs a lesson in grand slam tennis with a 6-1 6-3 thrashing to charge into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

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Agassi backs Djokovic to rebound quickly

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Andy Murray is yet to reach his maximum potential and should only get better but the world number one has not seen the back of Novak Djokovic, according to eight-times grand slam champion Andre Agassi.

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Closer Casilla signs two-year deal with Oakland A's

(Reuters) - The Oakland Athletics beefed up their bullpen on Friday by signing former San Francisco Giants closer Santiago Casilla on a two-year contract worth $11 million, the Major League Baseball team said.

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Vintage Federer makes statement with Berdych demolition

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A rampaging Roger Federer delivered a stunning reminder of his class with a crushing 6-2 6-4 6-4 win over Tomas Berdych to storm into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.

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Silverstone says no decision on British GP until July

LONDON (Reuters) - Silverstone's owners have dismissed as "speculative and wrong" recent media reports suggesting the British Formula One Grand Prix would be dropped after 2019.

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Norris hopes to follow in Button's tracks

LONDON (Reuters) - Jenson Button's departure from Formula One last year had one local website reflecting on the sad fact that the English county of Somerset would have no driver on the starting grid for the first time since 1999.

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Murray avoids Djokovic fate to reach fourth round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - With Novak Djokovic's reign broken, Andy Murray boosted his claim to the Melbourne Park throne with a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 6-4 win over American Sam Querrey to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.

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Life is beautiful, Venus says, brushing off commentator row

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Seven-times grand slam winner Venus Williams on Friday brushed off a remark made about her at the Australian Open which led to a TV commentator being stood down by broadcaster ESPN.

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Cavs All-Stars shine too brightly for shrinking Suns

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James and Kyrie Irving celebrated being named Eastern Conference All-Star starters by shining in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 118-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

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Kerber cleans up Pliskova to race into round four

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World number one and reigning champion Angelique Kerber wasted no time in racing into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-0 6-4 victory over Kristyna Pliskova on Rod Laver Arena on Friday.

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Packers play waiting game over wide receivers Nelson, Adams

(Reuters) - The Green Bay Packers face major question marks over the fitness of wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams as they prepare for Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Falcons in Atlanta.

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Pudge says hard work, not PEDs, led to Cooperstown

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ivan Rodriguez, the second catcher ever elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, said on Thursday hard work, not steroids, carried him to the Cooperstown, New York, shrine.

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My 68 was phenomenal, says post-surgery Mickelson

(Reuters) - "Phenomenal" was how Phil Mickelson described his first round of golf since recovering from a pair of offseason surgeries after he carded a four-under-par 68 on Thursday at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California.

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Steelers' Roethlisberger heaps praise on offensive line

(Reuters) - Ben Roethlisberger has played a key role in getting the Pittsburgh Steelers one win away from a Super Bowl berth but the quarterback is quick to deflect the praise toward an offensive line that wants to "pound people."

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Sleeping, not sailing, key to victory, says Vendee Globe doctor

LES SABLES D'OLONNE, France (Reuters) - The biggest challenge facing the Vendee Globe's solo round-the-world racers is sleeping not sailing, according to the gruelling event's doctor Jean-Yves Chauve.

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Rampant Durant helps Warriors silence Thunder

(The Sports Xchange) - Kevin Durant terrorized his former team for the second straight time on Wednesday, pouring in a season-high 40 points in the Golden State Warriors' 121-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Nadal smashes through Baghdatis to reach third round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal stormed into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with a 6-3 6-1 6-3 demolition of former finalist Marcos Baghdatis.

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From also-ran to top 50, Evans prepares to take on Tomic

MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Five years ago, Dan Evans was considered so bad that he wasn't even allowed to practise with Australian Bernard Tomic.

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Westbrook vows retribution after hard foul

(Reuters) - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook offered a warning that he will seek retribution for a hard foul on him on Wednesday by Golden State's Zaza Pachulia.

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Defending champion Djokovic knocked out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday by Uzbek wildcard Denis Istomin, losing 7-6(8) 5-7 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.

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British challenger Konta hones mental mettle to down Osaka

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The last time Johanna Konta faced Naomi Osaka in qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Open, the Briton had just scraped into the top 100 and her then 16-year-old opponent was more than a hundred places further back in the rankings.

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The heat is on for Atlanta's 'Matty Ice' in NFC title game

(Reuters) - Matt Ryan will be playing for more than a Super Bowl berth on Sunday as his performance in the NFC Championship will go a long way in determining if the Atlanta Falcons quarterback can be rated among the game's greats.

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Bonds, Clemens move closer to baseball Hall of Fame welcome

(Reuters) - The Baseball Hall of Fame announced three new members to its fraternity on Wednesday but a spike in voting for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, two of the most controversial candidates ever, was creating just as much buzz.

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Ivan Rodriguez elected to baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2017

(Reuters) - Ivan Rodriguez, a strong hitter and rifle-armed catcher who nabbed would-be base stealers at a 46 percent career rate, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday in his first year of eligibility.

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Thorvilson makes transition from online to on-bike racing

PARIS (Reuters) - Former marathon runner American Leah Thorvilson is just getting started on the bike at an age when many riders retire, having won an online competition for a place on the Canyon/SRAM team.

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F1 governing body approves Liberty Media takeover

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's governing body gave its approval on Wednesday to CVC Capital Partners' sale of the sport's commercial rights to Liberty Media.

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Raonic faces Muller on day of potential upsets

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Milos Raonic needs no reminding about the threat Gilles Muller will pose in their second-round clash at the Australian Open on Thursday, having lost both of their previous encounters.

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Zverev emerges from Isner trance to reach third round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tennis players have come to dread being caught up in the phenomenon known as the 'Isner trance' - as Germany's Mischa Zverev discovered at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

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Bekele sets 02:01:30 marathon career target

DUBAI (Reuters) - Triple Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest marathon runner in history, said on Wednesday he can shave around 90 seconds off the current world record over the classic 26.2 mile distance before he retires.

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Federer wobbles but roars back to reach third round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer dug himself out of a late slump to fend off American qualifier Noah Rubin 7-5 6-3 7-6(3) on Wednesday and enjoy a confidence-building win on the way to the third round of the Australian Open.

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Steelers' Brown apologizes for live locker room video

(Reuters) - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown apologized on Tuesday night for going live on Facebook from the locker room following Sunday's 18-16 playoff victory against Kansas City Chiefs.

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True love keeps Venus coming back for more

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Seven-times grand slam champion Venus Williams advanced to the third round at Melbourne Park on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-2 win over Stefanie Voegele but conceded she was still troubled by an elbow injury that forced her to pull out of the women's doubles.

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Elite quarterbacks hold key to Super Bowl tickets

(Reuters) - Defense wins championships, or so the saying goes, but high-flying offences look set to unleash a bombs-away spectacle led by elite quarterbacks that may be the best quartet to ever reach the conference championships.

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Paul to miss 6-8 weeks after thumb surgery

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul will need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb and is expected to be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, the team announced on Tuesday.

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Triple-double machine Westbrook a one-man wrecking crew

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Russell Westbrook is either on the verge of history or overkill this NBA season while on pace for one of the league's most baffling statistical efforts.

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Struggling Islanders fire head coach Capuano

(The Sports Xchange) - The New York Islanders fired coach Jack Capuano on Tuesday in the midst of a poor season for the club.

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U.S. soccer players eager for fresh start under Arena

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With a 2018 World Cup berth hanging in the balance, the arrival of coach Bruce Arena has brought a heightened sense of urgency to U.S. Soccer with players eager to rewrite their roles and undo recent failures.

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Rublev preparing to land knockout blow on Murray

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Russian tyro Andrey Rublev spent his day off sparring in Melbourne boxing ring in readiness for his clash with world number one Andy Murray at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

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Spieth looking forward to 'tough competition' in 2017

TOKYO (Reuters) - American Jordan Spieth faces "very tough competition" to return to the top of the world golf rankings this year, he said on Tuesday.

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Ace high Karlovic prevails in Court 19 marathon

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Ivo Karlovic fired down 75 aces in a remarkable Australian Open first-round marathon against Argentina's Horacio Zeballos which lasted five hours 15 minutes and finished with a 6-7(6) 3-6 7-5 6-2 22-20 victory for the Croatian on Tuesday.

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Bottas can be as quick as Rosberg, says Lauda

LONDON (Reuters) - Niki Lauda believes new Mercedes signing Valtteri Bottas can be as fast as the man he replaced, retired Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg.

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Australian Open blazes but extreme heat avoided

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Fans frolicked in front of mist fans dotted around Melbourne Park on Tuesday as Australian Open organizers breathed a sigh of relief that this year's tournament might escape the worst excesses of the weather.

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Djokovic makes no mistake against Nadal-slayer Verdasco

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic launched his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title on Tuesday with an impressive 6-1 7-6(4) 6-2 win over hard-hitting Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

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Comeback kid Nadal mangles Mayer in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal showed there was plenty of life in his battered body yet when he cast aside the disappointments of last year to reach the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Florian Mayer on Tuesday.

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Clippers' Paul to have MRI on injured thumb

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul injured his left thumb during his team’s 120-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday and will have an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.

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Federer makes winning return at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer made a winning return to competitive tennis after six months out of the game on Monday, thrilling a packed Rod Laver Arena as he beat qualifier Juergen Melzer 7-5 3-6 6-2 6-2 to reach the Australian Open second round.

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Serena swats doubts, Bencic aside to reach second round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams launched her bid for a 23rd grand slam title with a 6-4 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open on Tuesday, swatting aside doubts over her fitness and motivation on a sweltering day at Melbourne Park.

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Cowboys Elliott seeks 'closure' on domestic violence probe

(The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott wants to see "closure" on the NFL's domestic violence inquiry related to the assault accusations made by his ex-girlfriend over the summer.

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Djokovic aware of Verdasco threat as bid for seventh title begins

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World number two Novak Djokovic needs no reminder of the threat posed by Spain's Fernando Verdasco as he begins his quest for a seventh Australian Open title on Tuesday.

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Packers win an 'unbelievable effort', says QB Rogers

(Reuters) - Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the MVP of Green Bay's Super Bowl triumph six years ago, was left almost speechless after his team's nailbiting 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys in a divisional playoff showdown on Sunday.

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Top seed Kerber overcomes nerves, Tsurenko to advance

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion and top seed Angelique Kerber battled her nerves and faltered badly with victory in sight before finally overcoming Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 5-7 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.

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Harden's triple-double leads Rockets past Nets

(Reuters) - Eric Gordon's sprained left big toe was not normal on Friday and neither was the pace and 3-point rhythm of the Houston Rockets.

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Boswell boots Steelers past Chiefs, into AFC title game

(The Sports Xchange) - The Pittsburgh Steelers did not spend much time in the end zone at Arrowhead Stadium in Sunday's AFC divisional round game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, it was the home team that scored the game's only touchdowns.

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Nishikori digs deep to book second round berth

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Kei Nishikori was forced to dig deep to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with the world number five taken the distance by Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov before eking out a 5-7 6-1 6-4 6-7(6) 6-2 win.

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Thomas romps to Sony Open victory in record style

(Reuters) - Justin Thomas overcame a slow start for a second straight day before five birdies in seven holes helped him wrap up a wire-to-wire victory in record style at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday.

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NBA: League eyes growth in Mexico, looks at possible franchise

(Reuters) - NBA games have been played in Mexico for a quarter of a century and the league, eager to grow the sport worldwide, is "going to look at" the possibility of establishing a franchise in that country, according to commissioner Adam Silver.

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MVP contender Ryan delivers as Falcons down Seahawks

(Reuters) - Quarterback Matt Ryan again proved himself the leading contender to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award as he guided the Atlanta Falcons to a 36-20 victory over the visiting Seattle Seahawks in their NFC divisional playoff clash on Saturday.

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Storm holds off McIlroy to claim South African Open

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - England’s Graeme Storm claimed a first European Tour trophy in almost 10 years after holding off the challenge of world number two Rory McIlroy on the third playoff hole to win the South African Open on Sunday.

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Federer, Kerber in the spotlight on day one in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer takes the spotlight on his return to grand slam tennis on the opening day of the Australian Open on Monday but those looking for title contenders might be wise to cast their gaze elsewhere.

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Dark horse Konta keeping it all in perspective

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Johanna Konta did her best to downplay expectations on Sunday but there was no quieting the chatter around Melbourne Park that, for the first time in decades, Britain has a genuine contender for the Australian Open women's crown.

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Staying number one harder than getting there, says Kerber

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Melbourne Park was ground zero for the stunning breakthrough of Angelique Kerber's tennis career so the German has naturally savored some golden memories before the defense of her Australian Open title.

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Clippers get even, rout Lakers

(The Sports Xchange) - The Los Angeles Clippers returned their Christmas gift.

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Ryan's aerial attack fuels Falcons past Seahawks

(The Sports Xchange) - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, building off a spectacular regular season, threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns to help the Falcons to a 36-20 playoff romp over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

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Weather makes Vonn wait for World Cup comeback

(Reuters) - Lindsey Vonn, the four times World Cup overall champion, had her race return held up by bad weather at the Austrian resort of Altenmarkt on Saturday with training canceled and a downhill postponed to Sunday.

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Raiders to apply for move to Las Vegas: report

(Reuters) - The Raiders will soon file relocation papers to move from Oakland to Las Vegas, the National Football League's official website reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the team's plans.

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Serena defers engagement joy to focus on Melbourne effort

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams drive to reach the overall record for grand slam titles was never more evident at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she revealed that her engagement to fiancee Alexis Ohanian was being forced to take a back seat.

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Tearful Muller wins in Sydney for first tour title

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An emotional Gilles Muller clinched a first ATP Tour title in his 17th year as a professional when he beat Briton Dan Evans 7-6(5) 6-2 to win the Sydney International on Saturday.

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Irving, Korver shine as Cavaliers usurp battling Kings

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, Kyle Korver added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off a series of runs by the Sacramento Kings to post a 120-108 victory at the Golden 1 Center on Friday.

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Federer relishing 'family' reunion at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The 'extended family' of tennis, the thrust of competition and that winning feeling. Roger Federer missed them all during his six months away from the circuit and is relishing the prospect of rediscovering them again at the Australian Open.

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Melbourne maestro Djokovic wary of over-confidence

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic has dominated the blue courts of Melbourne Park for the best part of a decade but the defending champion still fears over-confidence could prove his undoing at the Australian Open.

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Top seeds Patriots, Cowboys join the playoff push

(Reuters) - The top-seeded New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys join the Super Bowl tournament with a golden veteran and surprising rookie leading their respective offenses into the divisional round of the playoffs.

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Qualifier Mertens clinches maiden WTA crown in Hobart

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens completed her fairytale run at the Hobart International by beating third seed Monica Niculescu 6-3 6-1 to clinch her maiden WTA Tour title on Saturday.

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Thomas moves five ahead at Waialae in record style

(Reuters) - Justin Thomas, hunting his third victory of the young season, eagled the par-five last to set a PGA Tour record for 36 holes and stretch his overnight lead to five shots after the second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii on Friday.

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UFC chief offers $25 million each for Mayweather-McGregor bout

(Reuters) - UFC president Dana White on Friday weighed in on talk about a possible bout between Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, saying he would offer $25 million to each plus pay-per-view money.

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Jordan emerges as backbone of title-hungry Clippers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After years of playing the third wheel in a trio of standouts DeAndre Jordan has quietly become the backbone of a Los Angeles Clippers team eager to keep their window of contention from slamming shut.

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Leonard inspires Spurs to thumping win over Lakers

(The Sports Xchange) - Kawhi Leonard poured in 31 points in just three quarters of play, and four of San Antonio's starters scored in double figures as the Spurs demolished the Los Angeles Lakers 134-94 at the AT&T Center on Thursday.

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Dimitrov aims to keep it simple going into Australian Open

(Reuters) - Grigor Dimitrov has worked on simplifying his game and said he feels better prepared for the Australian Open next week after ending a two-and-a-half year trophy drought in Brisbane.

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'Sir Andy' seeks end to Australian Open agony

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Having snatched Novak Djokovic's world number one ranking in a thrilling late-season raid, Andy Murray will bid to storm the Serb's Melbourne Park fortress and capture an elusive Australian Open title after five agonizing near misses.

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Goffin wins one-set shootout to retain Kooyong crown

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Belgium's David Goffin retained his Kooyong Classic title in almost farcical circumstances on Friday when he beat Ivo Karlovic 7-2 in a tiebreaker after the final of the Australian warm-up was reduced to a one-set shootout.

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Chargers bolt San Diego to become second NFL team in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The San Diego Chargers said on Thursday they will move to Los Angeles this upcoming NFL season, ending sometimes tense negotiations for a new stadium in the city where the sports franchise has played for more than five decades.

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Djokovic faces Verdasco test in Australian Open first round

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic will launch his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title with a mouth-watering first round match against Fernando Verdasco.

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Golf: Magical 59 gives Thomas early five-shot lead at Waialae

(Reuters) - Long-hitting American Justin Thomas started and finished with eagles to fire a sizzling 11-under-par 59 for an early five-stroke lead in the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii on Thursday.

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Golf: Sizzling Thomas joins elite 59 club at Waialae

(Reuters) - Red-hot Justin Thomas became only the seventh player to break 60 on the PGA Tour, and the youngest in that elite club, with a superb 11-under-par display in the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii on Thursday.

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Rams make McVay youngest head coach in NFL history

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Rams made Sean McVay the youngest head coach in NFL history on Thursday by announcing the former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator as Jeff Fisher's replacement.

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Two teams sharing Los Angeles market cause for concern, experts say

(Reuters) - Having two NFL teams in Los Angeles may prove too much for the city to handle and the timing could not be worse according to sports industry analysts with the Rams and Chargers rebuilding and searching for coaches.

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Weightlifting: China faces one-year ban after trio stripped of Beijing golds

BERLIN (Reuters) - China faces a one-year ban from international weightlifting competitions after three of its athletes were stripped of their 2008 Olympic gold medals on Thursday following re-tests of samples from the Beijing Games.

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Golf: Big-hitting McIlroy one shot off the pace at SA Open

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - World number two Rory McIlroy marveled at his long hitting off the tee after producing a fine five-under-par 67 to finish one shot behind leaders Trevor Fisher Junior and Keith Horne after the first round of the South African Open on Thursday.

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McGregor was offered $15m for crossover fight: Mayweather

(Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather said he has offered UFC champion Conor McGregor$15 million and a percentage of pay-per-view sales for a crossover boxing bout.

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British lawn tennis chief Downey to step down after Wimbledon for Canada job

(Reuters) - Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said on Thursday its chief executive, Michael Downey, will step down after this year's Wimbledon tournament and return to his home nation to take over the reigns at Tennis Canada.

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Portland blazes trail past off-target Cavaliers

(The Sports Xchange) - CJ McCollum scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, and Allen Crabbe came off the bench for 24 points as the Portland Trail Blazers hammered the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-86 at Moda Center on Wednesday.

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Chargers poised to announce relocation to Los Angeles

(Reuters) - The San Diego Chargers are poised to confirm their long-rumored plans of relocating the franchise to Los Angeles, the National Football League (NFL) reported on its website (www.nfl.com) on Wednesday.

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Furyk named U.S. captain for 2018 Ryder Cup

(Reuters) - Former U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk will captain the defending champion United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup against Europe at Le Golf National in Paris, the PGA of America said on Wednesday.

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Murray makes career commitment to play at Queen's

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's world number one Andy Murray has committed to compete in the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club for the rest of his career, officials said on Wednesday.

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McDermott hired as Bills head coach, reports

(Reuters) - The Buffalo Bills have hired Carolina Panthers no-nonsense defensive coordinator Sean McDermott as their new head coach, NFL.com reported on Wednesday.

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Broncos name Miami defensive chief Vance Joseph as head coach

(The Sports Xchange) - The Denver Broncos hired Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as their head coach on Wednesday to replace Gary Kubiak.

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American Vonn returns to the slopes this week

LONDON (Reuters) - Four-times overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn will make her return to competition this week in Austria's Altenmarkt-Zauchensee.

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Landslide forces cancellation of Dakar ninth stage

(Reuters) - A massive landslide caused by thunderstorms forced the cancellation of Wednesday's ninth stage of the Dakar Rally in Argentina, organizers said.

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DeRozan scores 41 as Raptors top Celtics

(The Sports Xchange) - DeMar DeRozan led the way with a 41 points as the Toronto Raptors avoided a third straight loss, defeating the Boston Celtics 114-106 on Tuesday.

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Woz wilts in Sydney heat as Strycova prevails

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki's eighth attempt at reaching the Sydney International semi-finals wilted in the stifling Australian heat on Wednesday with the former world number one going down to Barbora Strycova in a three-set slugfest.

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Garnett signs on as Clippers consultant

(Reuters) - Retired NBA center Kevin Garnett has been hired by the Los Angeles Clippers as a consultant to work with the team's big men like center DeAndre Jordan and forward Blake Griffin, the team said on Tuesday.

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'Miracle Man' Jacobs to challenge unbeaten Golovkin

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Undefeated middleweight slugger Gennady Golovkin will put four world championship belts on the line March 18 against WBA champion Daniel Jacobs, who said on Tuesday that he relished another chance to beat the odds.

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Ex-NFL star Hernandez's tattoos may be shown at murder trial: judge

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former National Football League star Aaron Hernandez's tattoos may be shown as evidence at his upcoming double-murder trial because they appear to refer to the killings at issue, a Massachusetts judge ruled.

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Beckham put MLS on fast track to respectability

(Reuters) - David Beckham sent shockwaves around the world when he signed with Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, giving Major League Soccer a level of legitimacy and visibility that otherwise may have taken decades to reach before the ink on his contract was barely dry.

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Edwards to announce retirement from NASCAR

(Reuters) - Carl Edwards is expected to announce his retirement from NASCAR racing at a press conference Wednesday morning, according to multiple reports.

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Lowe leaves Mercedes for 'new challenge'

LONDON (Reuters) - Mercedes technical head Paddy Lowe is departing the Formula One world champions and has started on a period of 'gardening leave' before a likely move to rivals Williams.

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Kenya sets up doctors network to fight doping

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Athletics Kenya (AK) has drawn up a list of accredited doctors who will be responsible for examining samples from elite athletes and ensure they are not tempted to use banned drugs, AK's chairman said on Tuesday.

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FIFA agrees to expand World Cup to 48 teams

ZURICH (Reuters) - Soccer's governing body, FIFA, voted on Tuesday to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from its current 32, brushing aside concerns that the expansion would lower the overall standard of the tournament and make it too big and unwieldy.

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Sharapova to make comeback after doping ban in Stuttgart

BERLIN (Reuters) - Five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova will return to competitive action following a 15-month doping ban at the Stuttgart Grand Prix in April.

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Knicks' Rose a no-show for game against Pelicans

(Reuters) - New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose did not show up for Monday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Prior to the opening tip off the Knicks said he was not with the team but provided no other information.

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Westbrook, Thunder breeze past shorthanded Bulls

(The Sports Xchange) - The anticipated matchup between Russell Westbrook and Jimmy Butler fizzled, but Westbrook sizzled to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 109-94 win against the Chicago Bulls on Monday at the United Center.

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Harden triple-double lifts Rockets to 8th in row

(The Sports Xchange) - After producing his 10th triple-double of the season, it was a single-digit number that brought the biggest smile from James Harden.

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Nishikori pulls out of Sydney exhibition to rest hip

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Kei Nishikori has pulled out of an exhibition event in Sydney to recover from a hip injury, with the Japanese world number five reluctant to take any risks ahead of next week's Australian Open.

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Bekele to run London with eye on world record

LONDON (Reuters) - Triple Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest marathon runner in history, will make another attempt at claiming the world record over the classic 26.2 mile distance when he leads a stellar field for the London marathon in April.

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Revenge of the Hail Mary propels Packers over Giants

(The Sports Xchange) - The Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants 38-13 on Sunday thanks in no small measure to a Hail Mary touchdown that provided sweet revenge.

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Steelers rout Dolphins 30-12, advance to meet Kansas City

(The Sports Xchange) - The Pittsburgh Steelers' dynamic B-team offensive trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, a bitterly cold winter day and non-stop pressure by the blitzing defense created a 30-12 AFC playoff game home rout of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday that wasn't even that close.

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Bell continues Pittsburgh running back tradition

(Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Steelers were blessed to have two of the National Football League's greatest ever running backs in Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis and on Sunday they celebrated the prowess of another as Le'Veon Bell set a franchise record for rushing yards in a postseason game.

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Stars' plane makes emergency landing, smoke in cockpit

(The Sports Xchange) - A plane carrying the Dallas Stars National Hockey League team was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff at a St. Louis-area airport on Sunday because of smoke in the cockpit.

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Finn Laine concussed by hard hit, no timetable on return

(The Sports Xchange) - Winnipeg Jets standout forward Patrik Laine was diagnosed with a concussion after a wicked hit during Saturday night's game against the Buffalo Sabres.

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Rawls, Seahawks run past Lions

(The Sports Xchange) - Thomas Rawls ran for 161 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown as the Seattle Seahawks continued their home playoff success with a 26-6 victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

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Bautista Agut stifles aggressive Medvedev to win Chennai Open

(Reuters) - World number 14 Roberto Bautista Agut outclassed the aggressive Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-4 to win the Chennai Open title on Sunday.

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FIFA proposes Americas-wide qualifying contest for 2026, says official

(Reuters) - FIFA has proposed merging the CONCACAF and South American qualifiers as part of its plans to expand the 2026 World Cup, a leading official from the region said in a newspaper interview.

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Kuznetsova opens Sydney defense with win, seeds withdraw

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Svetlana Kuznetsova opened the defense of her Sydney International title with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu on Sunday as the Australian Open warm-up event suffered a pair of big-name withdrawals.

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Texans beat injury-hit Raiders 27-14 in wild card game

(The Sports Xchange) - The Houston Texans, behind a defense that smothered rookie Oakland quarterback Connor Cook throughout, cruised to a 27-14 victory over the Raiders in an AFC wild card playoff game in Houston on Saturday.

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No doubting Thomas as American leads Matsuyama by two shots

(Reuters) - Justin Thomas, hunting his third PGA Tour victory, seized a two-shot lead after the third round of the SBS Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Saturday but has the game’s hottest player, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, in close pursuit.

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Djokovic makes statement in epic win over Murray in Doha final

(Reuters) - Novak Djokovic made an immense statement in his bid to rule men's tennis again when he defeated Andy Murray, the man who deposed him as world number one, 6-3 5-7 6-4 in an epic Qatar Open final in Doha on Saturday.

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Mattek-Sands dethrones Mirza as world number one in doubles

LONDON (Reuters) - American Bethanie Mattek-Sands will rise to number one in the world when the WTA doubles rankings are released on Monday.

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Defending champions Cleveland acquire sharp-shooter Korver

(The Sports Xchange) - The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the trade to acquire guard Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, giving the defending NBA champions another premier shooter.

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Dimitrov stuns Raonic to set up Nishikori final

(Reuters) - Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov upset top seed and defending champion Milos Raonic of Canada at the Brisbane International on Saturday to set up a title clash against Japan's Kei Nishikori.

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France beat United States to win Hopman Cup

(Reuters) - Kristina Mladenovic and Richard Gasquet beat Coco Vandeweghe and Jack Sock of the United States to win France's second Hopman Cup title in Perth on Saturday.

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Davis wins in Auckland to earn first WTA title

(Reuters) - American Lauren Davis won her first WTA title by defeating Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-3 6-1 in the Auckland Classic final on Saturday.

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Rookie quarterback Cook primed for playoff spotlight

(Reuters) - Oakland Raiders' Connor Cook will command much of the spotlight this weekend when he becomes the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to make his first career start in the postseason.

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Moore, Thomas set pace at Kapalua after inspired pairing

(Reuters) - Ryan Moore and Justin Thomas inspired one another in a low-scoring pairing as they moved one stroke clear of a tightly bunched leaderboard in the second round of the SBS Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Friday.

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British biker Sunderland takes Dakar lead

(Reuters) - British biker Sam Sunderland seized the overall lead in the Dakar Rally's motorcycle category on Friday after rivals lost their way in the high plains and dunes of Bolivia.

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Murray and Djokovic face off in Doha final

(Reuters) - Andy Murray and champion Novak Djokovic will go toe-to-toe in the Qatar Open final after the world's top two players laid down their markers for the 2017 season.

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Federer signals intent with rout of Gasquet

(Reuters) - Roger Federer overwhelmed Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-4 in under an hour at the Hopman Cup on Friday to signal his return to form following a long injury layoff.

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Swiss court rejects claim against FIFA over Qatar World Cup

ZURICH (Reuters) - A Swiss court has rejected a claim by Dutch and Bangladeshi trade unions accusing FIFA of wrongful conduct and liability for alleged human rights violations in connection with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the global soccer body said on Friday.

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Cowboys' Gregory banned one year for substance abuse

(The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has been suspended without pay for at least one year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy for the third time.

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Harden gets last laugh as Rockets top Thunder

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook repeatedly had his way with the Rockets defense, torching it to the tune of a Toyota Center scoring record for an opponent before three late misses set the table for James Harden to play the role of facilitator at the most opportune time for Houston.

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NHL-Coach praises Blue Jackets for 'hell of a run'

(Reuters) - The magical 16-game winning streak of the Columbus Blue Jackets ended one shy of matching the National Hockey League record for consecutive wins, but coach John Tortorella was understandably proud of his club.

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Love breaks collarbone in three places snowboarding: report

(Reuters) - Three months after captaining the United States to Ryder Cup glory, Davis Love crashed back to earth, literally, breaking his collarbone in three places, Golf Channel reported on Thursday.

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NHL-Blue Jackets' win streak ends at 16 games with loss to Caps

(The Sports Xchange) - The Columbus Blue Jackets fell one game short of matching the National Hockey League record of 17 straight victories when they fell to the Washington Capitals 5-0 on Thursday.

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Eatons take to the snow after life on the track

SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Athletics' retired super couple have discovered a new sport but do not expect them to be chasing Olympic medals anytime soon.

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Djokovic and Murray through in Doha as oldies bow out

(Reuters) - Ageless Czech Radek Stepanek's run at the Qatar Open was ended by defending champion Novak Djokovic on Thursday and fellow veteran Ivo Karlovic also bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

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Nadal cruises, net-focused Raonic slugs it out in Brisbane

(Reuters) - Former world number one Rafa Nadal bulldozed Mischa Zverev 6-1 6-1 in the Brisbane International on Thursday to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with defending champion and top seed Milos Raonic.

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Woods to compete in Dubai Desert Classic

(Reuters) - Former world number one Tiger Woods said he would compete in the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic next month as he charts his comeback from injury.

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Serena's Auckland appearance fails to deliver

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Serena Williams saw the Auckland Open as the ideal event to return from a long injury layoff and work on her game ahead of the year's first grand slam, while New Zealand's largest city hoped her presence would take the tournament to a new level.

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Injured Heat forward Winslow to undergo shoulder surgery

(Reuters) - Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and is likely to miss the rest of the season, the team announced on Wednesday.

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Guarantee or not, McCarthy confident for next Giants clash

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New York Giants have spoiled a pair of previous postseasons for the Packers, but Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy is confident this Sunday's playoff clash will be different.

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Woods to play PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods will launch his official comeback at the Farmers Insurance Open this month, the PGA Tour event announced on Wednesday.

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Murray struggles to tame Melzer in Doha

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray labored past Austrian Gerald Melzer 7-6(6) 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Wednesday after defending champion Novak Djokovic had also progressed with relative ease.

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Former league most valuable player Schmidt dead at 98

(Reuters) - Former National Hockey League most valuable player Milt Schmidt and won the Stanley Cup as both a player and manager has died, the National Hockey League said on Wednesday.

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Olympic champion Eaton announces retirement

(Reuters) - Two-time Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton announced his retirement on Wednesday, saying he had given everything he could to the sport.

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Tiger's form, battle for top spot to dominate 2017 storylines

(Reuters) - The new golf year begins with Jason Day and Tiger Woods seeking to overcome back issues, Rory McIlroy trying to shake off a bout of glandular fever and Hideki Matsuyama perhaps on the cusp of supplanting them all as the game's top dog.

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Veteran Davis return to A's from Indians

(Reuters) - Free agent outfielder Rajai Davis returned to the Oakland Athletics on a one-year contract after he helped the Cleveland Indians to the World Series last year.

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105-year-old Frenchman cycles into history with hour-long ride

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (Reuters) - Robert Marchand, a 105-year-old Frenchman, made cycling history on Wednesday by covering 22.528 km (14.08 miles) in one hour on a track near Paris.

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Brengle stuns erratic Serena in Auckland

(Reuters) - Serena Williams crashed out of the Auckland Classic after fellow American Madison Brengle pulled off a 6-4 6-7(3) 6-4 upset in a see-saw second round contest on Wednesday.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame names finalists for 2017 class

(Reuters) - The Pro Football Hall of Fame named its finalists for the class of 2017 on Tuesday, narrowing down the potential enshrined standouts to 15 modern era players along with three other finalists.

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Murray opens year with Chardy win, extends streak to 25

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray extended his career-best winning streak on the ATP Tour to 25 as he swept past Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-0 7-6(2) in his opener at the Qatar Open on Tuesday.

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Black Monday brings golden opportunities

(Reuters) - National Football League owners were sifting through head coaching resumes on Monday with six teams looking to fill vacancies.

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Nadal beats Dolgopolov on return to action in Brisbane

(Reuters) - Rafael Nadal beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 6-3 in the Brisbane International first round on Tuesday to make a successful return to action following two-and-a-half months out due to injury.

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Serena shakes out rust to advance in Auckland

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - World number two Serena Williams shook out any cobwebs from four months away from tennis with a 6-3 6-4 victory over France's Pauline Parmentier in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday.

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Sterling quarterback crop lead way into the playoffs

(Reuters) - An evergreen crop of elite quarterbacks featuring Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, offer the promise of a dazzling Super Bowl tournament with the playoffs getting underway this weekend.

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Kubiak steps down as Broncos coach due to health concerns

(Reuters) - Gary Kubiak has stepped down as head coach of the Denver Broncos a year after leading them to victory in Super Bowl 50 because of health concerns, the team said on Monday.

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Djokovic recovers from slow start to begin year with win in Doha

(Reuters) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic made a sticky return to action before recovering from losing the opening four games to beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff at the Qatar Open on Monday.

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Rodgers leads Packers to NFC North title

(The Sports Xchange) - Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes, two to Davante Adams, and the Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North Division title with a 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

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Giants spoil Redskins' playoff bid

(The Sports Xchange) - The visiting New York Giants, who had already clinched their wild card playoff berth, played to win on Sunday and beat division rival Washington Redskins 19-10 to eliminate them from playoff contention.

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For hockey fans nostalgia is dish best served cold

TORONTO (Reuters) - Thousands of Canadians kicked off the New Year on Sunday the way much of the world has come to expect - sitting outside in freezing temperatures watching a hockey game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

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Ravens receiver Smith calls it quits after 16-year career

(The Sports Xchange) - Steve Smith Sr., a tough, elusive, explosive receiver over 16 years in the NFL, confirmed his retirement after Sunday's loss to the Bengals in the team's regular season finale.

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Patriots clinch AFC top seed with win over Dolphins

(Reuters) - The New England Patriots clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 35-14 victory over the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday.

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Westbrook, Thunder overpower Clippers

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook collected his 16th triple-double of the season to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

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Cowboys quarterback Romo makes an appearance

(The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo took his first snaps of the regular season when he entered Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half for Dak Prescott and showed little rust.

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Warm, wet weather could delay Winter Classic

(Reuters) - Warm and wet weather conditions may alter plans for the 2017 NHL Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Blues outdoors at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday.

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