TOKYO (Reuters) – Aspiring sumo wrestler Mainoumi once convinced doctors to inject silicone into his scalp to meet height requirements for the ancient Japanese sport. Such sacrifice is a rarity now in a sport beset by scandals and with popularity at an all-time low. With a history spanning centuries, sumo once graced the Imperial courts of Japan and wrestlers were held in the highest regard. Sponsors lavished gifts on the hulking giants and to join the ranks of the sumo was considered a worthy occupation. Those days are long gone, however. … Sumo - Japan's ancient sport threatened in 'age of convenience'
TOKYO (Reu ters) – Aspiring sumo wrestler Mainoumi once convinced doctors to inject silicone into his scalp to meet height requirements for the ancient Japanese sport. Such sacrifice is a rarity now in a sport beset by scandals and with popularity at an all-time low. With a history spanning centuries, sumo once graced the Imperial courts of Japan and wrestlers were held in the highest regard. Sponsors lavished gifts on the hulking giants and to join the ranks of the sumo was considered a worthy occupation. Those days are long gone, however. … Sumo-Japan's ancient sport threatened in 'age of convenience'
TOKYO, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Aspiring sumo wrestler Mainoumi once convinced doctors to inject silicone into his scalp to meet height requirements for the ancient Japanese sport. Such sacrifice is a rarity now in a sport beset by scandals and with popularity at an all-time low. With a history spanning centuries, sumo once graced the Imperial courts of Japan and wrestlers were held in the highest regard. Sponsors lavished gifts on the hulking giants and to join the ranks of the sumo was considered a worthy occupation. Those days are long gone, however. …
Blatter backs Ronaldo as Brazil's football chief
Rio de Janeiro, Nov 30 (IANS) FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed the possible future candidacy of former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo as president of Brazil’s Football Confederation (CBF).
China's Wu Dajing and Canada's Charles Hamelin compete in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya
China's Wu Dajing (front, L) and Canada's Charles Hamelin (front, R) compete in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) China's Liang Wenhao competes in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya
China's Liang Wenhao competes in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) Netherlands' Breeuwsma, South Korea's Kwak, Russia's Kurginian and Hungary's Beres compete in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya
(L-R) Netherlands' Daan Breeuwsma, South Korea's Kwak Yoon-gy, Russia's Viacheslav Kurginian and Hungary's Bence Beres compete in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) France's Jeremy Masson crashes into a wall during the men's 500 meter preliminaries at the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya
France's Jeremy Masson crashes into a wall during the men's 500 meter preliminaries at the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) France's Masson and China's Wu crash into a wall as Hungary's Burjan skates past them in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya
France's Jeremy Masson (R) and China's Wu Dajing crash into a wall as Hungary's Csaba Burjan skates past them in the men's 500 meter preliminaries during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) NBA standings
Nov 30 (Infostrada Sports) – Standings from the NBA on Thursday EASTERN CONFERENCEATLANTIC DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Brooklyn 10 4 .714 – 2. NY Knicks 10 4 .714 – 3. Philadelphia 9 6 .600 1 1/2 4. Boston 8 7 .533 2 1/2 5. Toronto 3 13 .188 8 CENTRAL DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Milwaukee 7 6 .538 – 2. Chicago 7 7 .500 0 1/2 3. Indiana 7 8 .467 1 4. Detroit 5 11 .313 3 1/2 5. Cleveland 3 12 .200 5 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Miami 11 3 .786 – 2. Atlanta 9 4 .692 1 1/2 3. Charlotte 7 7 .500 4 4. Orlando 5 9 .357 6 5. Washington 1 12 .077 9 1/2 WESTERN CONFERENCENORTHWEST DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. …
Warriors hold off Nuggets 106-105 in wild finish
Andre Iguodala's 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded was waived off, and the Gold en State Warriors held on for a wild 106-105 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night after four replay reviews over the final 3.4 seconds. Lady Gaga Jhb transport info released
Lady Gaga Jhb transport info released 
SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) – American Bill Haas and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts shared the first-ro und lead at the Sun City Golf Challenge after posting two-under-par rounds of 70 in tough conditions on Thursday. A significant breeze and a demanding layout ensured that none of the players in the 12-man field could escape the chasing pack and the top 10 finished within two strokes of each other. Haas, who had reached four under by the 15th, bogeyed the 16th hole and found himself in big trouble at the par-four 18th before sinking a 12-foot putt to salvage a bogey. … 
(TNO) Sáng nay 30.11, nh?ng thông tin n?i b?t trên các báo g?m: Tình hình Syria nóng lên vì tên l?a ??i không; Israel "v??t m?t" M? bán tên l?a cho ?n ??; S? c? th?y ?i?n ??k Mek 3; Phá sòng b?c l?n nh?t mi?n B?c; V? x? ch?t th?i xu?ng h?; Vi?c các ngân hàng ch?m d?t huy ??ng vàng khi?n dân ?em vàng v? c?t; B? m?c Liên hoan phim qu?c t? Hà N?i; Tr??c tr?n Vi?t Nam – Thái Lan… 
The first soccer-specific store in the area when it opened 25 years ago in a new strip shopping center on St. Andrews Road, Corner Kick survived the rise of Walmart and sports-oriented big-box stores on Harbison Boulevard. It finally is succumbing to the Internet age. 
(L-R) Japan's Daisuke Uemura, France's Maxime Chataignier, China's Gong Qiuwen, Travis Jayner of the U.S. and Netherlands' Jeroen Sonneveld compete in the men's 1,500 meter heat during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 
REUTERS – Misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres needs two weeks of intensive sprint training and Britain's former Olympic champion Darren Campbell believes he can help the Spaniard regain his explosive pace. Campbell, who worked with Torres towards the end of the 2010-11 season, insisted the striker just needed a period of fine-tuning to regain his speed and confidence. "It's something best done in pre-season but Fernando just needs two weeks when he hasn't got to worry about playing on the Saturday," Campbell told Britain's Daily Telegraph. … 
Japan's Yuzo Takamido (front) and Hungary's Bence Beres compete in the men's 1,500 meter heat during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) 
China's Chen Dequan (R) and Russia's Ruslan Zakharov compete in the men's 1,500 meter heat during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) 
Japan's Daisuke Uemura crashes into a wall as France's Maxim Cathaignier skates past him during the men's 1,500 meter heat during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) 
Russia's Viacheslav Gurginian (bottom) and China's Yu Yongjun crash into a wall as Germany's Torsten Kroeger skates past them during the men's 1,500 meter heat during the ISU Short Track World Cup competition in Nagoya, central Japan, November 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: SPORT SPEED SKATING) 
The Atlanta Falcons raced to a 17-0 lead and the defense made it stand up, picking off five of Drew Brees' passes and ending his NFL-record touchdown streak with a 23-13 victory Thursday night. 
Banged-up Teddy Bridgewater came off the bench to throw two-second half touchdown p asses, and John Wallace kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:41 left to send Louisville to the BCS with a 20-17 victory against Rutgers on Thursday night. 
Ray Allen's 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left gave the Miami Heat the lead, and they held on to beat the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 105-100 on Thursday night to remain perfect at home this season. 
CARSON, California (Reuters) – David Beckham will end his Major League Soccer playing career on Saturday but has urged L.A. Galaxy team mate Landon Donovan not to do the same. Donovan has s aid he is considering his future in the game and has talked of the need for a break while suggesting he could even quit the game. While Beckham is talking of a "new challenge", possibly back in Europe, Donovan has recently questioned whether he will even be playing when the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil come around. … 
(Reuters ) – NBA Commissioner David Stern has vowed to punish the San Antonio Spurs for sending Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green home early rather than play in Miami on Thursday against NBA champion Heat. With the second-placed Spurs (13-3) set to take on Southwest Division leading Memphis (11-2) in San Antonio on Saturday, coach Gregg Popovich decided his group of veterans could use an extra day of rest at home after their hectic road stretch. … 
CARSON, California (Reuters) – David Beckham will end his Major League Soccer playing career on Saturday but has urged L.A. Galaxy team mate Landon Dono van not to do the same. Donovan has said he is considering his future in the game and has talked of the need for a break while suggesting he could even quit the game. While Beckham is talking of a "new challenge", possibly back in Europe, Donovan has recently questioned whether he will even be playing when the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil come around. … 
THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) – Nick Watney's sharper short game has helped him to two titles in the past four months and put himself in good position to clinch a third by surging two shots clear at the World Challenge on Thursday. The soft-spoken American birdied four of the last six holes at Sherwood Country Club to fire a five-under-par 67 in the opening round of the elite, 18-man event hosted by Tiger Woods where only three other players broke 70. … 
The Atlanta Falcons made a statement with a strong running game to take a 7-0 lead over the New Orleans Saints after one quarter Thursday night. 
LONDON (Reuters) – Drawing on the wisdom derived from 92 tests for the New Zealand All Blacks, Sean Fitzpatrick's praise for the 2012 team before the final match of the Rugby Championship carried a special authority. "This year they have shown they are one of the great sides," the former New Zealand captain told television viewers. "They are trying to play the perfect game. They want to take it to a new level." New Zealand subsequently fell some way short of perfection against the Wallabies, finishing the match tied 18-18 after Dan Carter missed a drop goal with the last kick of the match. … 
The San Antonio Spurs will be punished by the NBA for their decision to send fou r top players home and not make them available to play in Miami against the Heat on Thursday night. 
Lawyers for players appealing NFL suspensions in the New Orleans Saints bounties case cross-examined one key witness Thursday. Now they're supposed to get a chance to confront another central figure: former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. 
Not even the party atmosphere in Las Vegas can cut the tension b etween Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer. 
THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) – With his game markedly better than this time a year ago, tournament host Tiger Wo ods was happy enough after grinding out a two-under-par 70 in Thursday's opening round of the World Challenge. Though Woods did not strike the ball as well as he did in Wednesday's pro-am competition, he sank several par putts from around 10 feet to remain in contention and ended an overcast day at Sherwood Country Club just three strokes off the lead. … 
South African courts rule refusal to grant a visa to Tibet spiritual leader in 2011 as stalling tactics. 
Newly-appointed Espanyol head coach Javier Aguirre could could be set to bring some of his countrymen to play in La Liga. 
DETROIT (Reuters) – For the first time in nearly two decades, GM's Chevrolet brand will be back in the business of selling rear-wheel-drive sedans in the United States. General Motors Co expects the production version of the Chevrolet SS rear-wheel-drive sedan to act as a low-volume car meant to build excitement around the brand, the head of the automaker's North American operations said on Thursday. The car gives GM its first nonluxury rear-wheel-drive sedan since it stopped selling the Pontiac G8 in 2009. … 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Chemmy Alcott of Great Britain competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Chemmy Alcott of Great Britain competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
Hey, major college football player. Can you give us a few minutes of your time? 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Daniela Merighetti of Italy competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
BEAVER CREEK, CO – NOVEMBER 29: Jan Hudec of Canada prepares for men's downhill training for the Audi FIS World Cup on the Birds of Prey on November 29, 2012 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Anna Fenninger of Austria competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
BEAVER CREEK, USA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Alexandre Bouillot of France competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Beaver Creek, USA. (Photo by Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Leanne Smith of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Stacey Cook of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
BEAVER CREEK, CO – NOVEMBER 29: Erik Guay of Canada prepares for men's downhill training for the Audi FIS World Cup on the Birds of Prey on November 29, 2012 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) 
Belarus's Darya Domracheva competes during the women's 15 km individual race of the Biathlon World Cup in Ostersund on November 29, 2012. Norway's Tora Berger won the event ahead of Darya Domracheva of Belarus (2nd) and Russia's Ekaterina Glazyrina (3rd). TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRANDJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Leanne Smith of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Julia Mancuso of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Larisa Yurkiw of Canada competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Tina Maze of Slovenia competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
BEAVER CREEK, CO – NOVEMBER 29: Ted Ligety of the USA leaves the start house for men's downhill training for the Audi FIS World Cup on the Birds of Prey on November 29, 2012 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) 
BEAVER CREEK, USA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Alexandre Bouillot of France competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Beaver Creek, USA. (Photo by Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
LAKE LOUISE, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: (FRANCE OUT) Julia Ford of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill training on November 29, 2012 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) 
GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Jose Torres to Tigres? Herculez Gomez to Chivas?