LeBron, 40, says he wants to finish his career with the Lakers

The player said his exit would come before he felt he could no longer compete "at a high level."

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Five-star Liverpool pull eight points clear with West Ham rout

Arne Slot has stressed nothing can be won yet with Liverpool still one game shy of the halfway mark in the Premier League.

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Guardiola relieved at much-needed win in 500th game

Manchester City won for the first time in five league games to climb to a provisional fifth in the Premier League.

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MLB teams making pitches to Roki Sasaki

The pitcher is expected to sign with a club soon after the opening of the 2025 international signing period on Jan. 15.

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Drama and dreams: Japan's wildly popular school soccer tourney breeds future stars

The annual tournament kicked off on Saturday, with young players dreaming of playing in the final in front of tens of thousands at National Stadium in Tokyo.

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Olympic champion Evenepoel eyes return in time for cycling's Ardennes classics

The 24-year-old Belgian had hoped to resume racing at the start of March but said on Saturday that he was not going to rush back after his latest mishap.

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Chargers clinch playoff berth with dominating win over Patriots

Ladd McConkey caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Derwin James had two sacks and a fumble recovery for the Chargers.

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Kyrgios says tennis' integrity 'awful' in wake of Sinner and Swiatek doping cases

"The tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it, is awful. It's not okay," the Australian player said.

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Diamondbacks and pitcher Corbin Burnes agree to six-year, $210-million deal

The contract reportedly is for six years and $210 million, but Burnes has the right to opt out after two seasons. It would be the largest contract in Diamondbacks history.

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Swiatek feared more negative public response after failed doping test

Swiatek tested positive in an out-of-competition sample in August but the ITIA, which runs tennis's anti-doping program, accepted that it was caused by contamination.

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Dodgers voice Stephen Nelson paves way for Japanese Americans in media

Nelson strongly believes representation matters in media and is aware that he might be helping inspire the next generation of Asian Americans in sports media.

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Liverpool powers to seven-point lead in Premier League

Liverpool's comeback lifted it well clear of second-placed Chelsea, which was defeated 2-1 by Fulham earlier in the day.

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JFA hopes Nils Nielsen's international focus leads Nadeshiko Japan back to glory

Nils Nielsen was officially unveiled as the new Nadeshiko boss at a packed news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18. 

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Chiefs secure AFC top seed with win over Steelers

The defending Super Bowl champions will now have a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

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New Nagoya arena won't ease sumo's ticket crunch

A shiny new arena in Nagoya will seat 17,000 but capacity won't be nearly that high for sumo, meaning there's no relief on the horizon for ticket-hungry fans.

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Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window

Spurs have been hit by injuries and suspensions during the past month, but Postecoglou has refused to rein in his attacking approach.

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Questions emerge about data used by China to defend against doping allegations

The finding raises more questions about explanations from China and WADA as to why elite Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance.

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Djokovic has sights set on more glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud

As doubts grew over Djokovic's motivation and ability to take down the new guard after a disappointing 2024, he stunned the tennis world by hiring Murray to coach him.

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Players on edge after Sinner, Swiatek doping cases

Time out of the game to serve or fight a doping ban means a loss of income for players.

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Team Langer beats Team Woods in PNC Championship playoff

The day will perhaps best be remembered for Charlie Woods' first-ever hole-in-one.

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Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid downs Sevilla

"We can see on the pitch that I click better with my teammates and now we're all playing better," the player said.

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Wind halts Vonn comeback as St. Moritz super-G called off

After three postponed starts the race was in danger of overrunning its broadcasting slot.

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Rickey Henderson, baseball’s flamboyant ‘Man of Steal,’ dies at 65

Henderson holds the MLB career record for stolen bases with 1,406 — a mark unlikely to be swiped from him anytime soon, or perhaps ever.

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Tsunoda loses out in Red Bull's F1 reshuffle

A flurry of Red Bull announcements culminated on Friday with 20-year-old Isack Hadjar confirmed as Tsunoda's teammate.

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Tyson Fury all business ahead of rematch with Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk beat Fury in a split decision in Saudi Arabia in May to become a four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.

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Spurs' Ange Postecoglou defends style after reaching League Cup semifinals

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou bristled at suggestions he should tone down his side's entertaining style.

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Chiefs star Mahomes set to face Texans after injury scare

Mahomes was dropped from the Chiefs' injury report on Thursday, clearing the way for him to suit up against the Texans.

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Sammy Sosa and Cubs set to reconcile after slugger apologizes for "mistakes"

Sosa, beloved among Cub fans during his 13 years with Chicago, has remained distant from the team since his final season with the club in 2004.

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Mikaela Shiffrin's status for remainder of season in doubt after injury

The 29-year-old American has been sidelined since suffering a punctured abdomen on Nov. 30.

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Red Bull set to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson, not Yuki Tsunoda

The move comes after Red Bull saw its run of consecutive constructors' championships come to an end in 2024, McLaren finishing on top.

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Brazil's fallen 'Emperor' Adriano bids farewell to soccer

After the 2006 World Cup, he gradually lost his place in the national team and club soccer, plagued by weight and alcohol issues.

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WNBA to host first regular-season game outside the United States

The announcement comes amid rapid expansion for the top-flight North American league.

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Sofia Goggia makes victorious return with super-G victory at Beaver Creek

The weekend at Beaver Creek capped a remarkable return to competition for Goggia, who broke her tibia during a giant slalom training crash in Italy 10 months ago.

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Daizen Maeda strikes decisive blow as Celtic wins Scottish League Cup

The start of the match was briefly delayed due to flares in the stadium, and there were reports of clashes between fans in central Glasgow earlier on Sunday.

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Bucks beat Hawks to reach NBA Cup final against Thunder

Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks.

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Man City boss Pep Guardiola says no regrets over contract extension

Following a series of disappointing Premier League performances, City finds itself in fifth place with 27 points, trailing leader Liverpool by nine points.

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Lindsey Vonn hopes comeback gets her to 2026 Olympics

The 40-year-old American had retired in February 2019 citing the physical toll the sport had taken on her body but announced last month she was making a comeback.

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Cubs acquire star OF Kyle Tucker from Astros

In return, the Astros received infielder Isaac Paredes, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith.

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Inoue world title fight off after Goodman suffers cut in training

Sam Goodman, the mandatory challenger for Inoue's WBO and IBF titles, needed four stitches and was told he could not fight for four weeks.

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Yankees’ post-Juan Soto plan has a powerful echo

The Yankees began their pivot away from Juan Soto by reaching an eight-year, $218 million contract agreement with lefty Max Fried

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Carlos Sainz motivated by new challenge with Williams

Sainz jumped in his Williams car for end-of-season testing on Tuesday, and posted the second-fastest time behind Charles Leclerc.

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Juan Soto hoping to build dynasty with Mets

Mets fans are eager to see their team end a World Series championship drought that stretches back to 1986.

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NFL trio brace for physical toll of playing three games over short period

"It's a unique situation," said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who shared that he told the team to take one day at a time through the unprecedented stretch.

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Saudi Arabia awarded 2034 FIFA World Cup despite human rights concerns

FIFA also confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal will be joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, in which three games will also be played in South America.

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Leclerc on top as F1 test wraps up 2024 season

Leclerc tested Pirelli's 2025 tyre compounds, doing 134 laps and setting a best time of 1:23.510.

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Real Madrid heading for Champions League playoffs, says Ancelotti

Real is languishing four points off the top eight in 24th, the last spot that earns a place in the playoffs.

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45-day negotiation window begins as Marines post Roki Sasaki

The right-handed flamethrower has until 10 p.m. (JST) on Jan. 24 to sign with an MLB team.

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Lando Norris aiming for F1 drivers' title after leading McLaren to team crown

It was McLaren's first title of any sort since Lewis Hamilton's first drivers' crown in 2008.

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Lewis Hamilton ends Mercedes era with rousing drive in F1 season finale

The 39-year-old Briton will be driving for Ferrari next season.

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Vissel Kobe defends J1 championship after roller-coaster title race

The defending champions cruised past Shonan Bellmare 3-0 at home thanks to goals from Taisei Miyashiro, Yoshinori Muto, and Takahiro Ogihara.

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U.S. skate stars Malinin, Glenn sweep Grand Prix Final titles

Madison Chock and Evan Bates claimed ice dance gold to make it a clean sweep for the United States on the closing day of competition in Grenoble.

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German skaters Hase and Volodin defend Grand Prix Final gold

Former world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took silver with 206.71.

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Darvish could help lure prized free agent to San Diego

Darvish is said to badly want young right-hander Roki Sasaki as his teammate.

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Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts honored by city of Naha

Roberts, who was born in the city, was presented the award by Mayor Satoru Chinen on Thursday.

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Pioneer soccer journalist Hiroshi Kagawa dies at 99

Kagawa covered a total of 10 FIFA World Cup tournaments, starting with the 1974 event in West Germany.

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Hamilton bids farewell to Mercedes as Ferrari vies for the title

Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the end of an era as the Briton concludes a remarkable 12-year spell with the Silver Arrows.

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Japan Sumo Association to hold tourney in London next year in rare overseas event

The announcement means the world's top professional sumo wrestlers will be competing in London for the first time since 1991.

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A 12th F1 team after Cadillac? Why not, says FIA president

Formula One has always had a provision for 12 in the rules but there was strong opposition from existing teams to going beyond 10 before a deal was reached.

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Tiger Woods has 'long way to go' after latest back surgery

Woods hasn't played since he missed the cut at the British Open in July.

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No concerns about Hamilton's speed, says Ferrari's Vasseur

The seven-time Formula One world champion finished only 12th in Qatar on Sunday.

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Liverpool players prepared to 'go to war' for each other: Van Dijk

The captain believes the mentality within the squad is a crucial factor in its recent success.

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Man City boss Pep Guardiola laughs off taunts from Liverpool fans

Guardiola, the Spaniard who has ripped up the record books since arriving at City, is now reaching unwanted milestones.

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Novak Djokovic eager to challenge tennis' new stars for Grand Slam titles

After winning three of the four Grand Slams last year, the 37-year-old endured a dry spell in 2024.

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Arne Slot says Liverpool came 'close to perfection' in win over Manchester City

The Reds beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-0 to take a nine-point lead in the Premier League.

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Rookie Johnston wins men's Australian Open as Shin claims women's trophy

While Shin made sure of her win by storming to a seven-stroke lead midway through, Johnston wielded magic on the back nine greens to take the title.

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