Perhaps Associated Press believes that adding the word “global” to a laughable, meaningless play with numbers-the futile attempt to rank the world’s best soccer players and clubs on a weekly basis by 20 or so self-titled experts-gives credence to the funny enterprise AP started in the fall of 2012: the Associated Press Global Soccer Rankings. Somebody somewhere in the AP hierarchy thought that the venerable institution would hit the jackpot by importing to the sport’s most popular game what had worked in college football (American football, that is) for many decades. …
Carter passes Bird as Mavs put away Kings 123-100
DALLAS (AP) -- Move over, Larry Legend. Vinsanity still has a few special moments in him. The Sprint Unlimited, 500 qualifying Kick off 2013
The Sprint Unlimited, 500 qualifying Kick off 2013
Miss Sprint Cup: Jaclyn Roney
Miss Sprint Cup: Jaclyn Roney
Miss Sprint Cup: Brooke Werner
Brooke Werner, the newest face in the lineup, joins the Miss Sprint Cup program in 2013 and hails from the green mountains of Granville, Vt.
?Road to Daytona? wraps up at World Center of Racing
?Road to Daytona? wraps up at World Center of Racing
From humble roots, Sprint Unlimited hits big stage
From humble roots, Sprint Unlimited hits big stage
SR? Motorsports adds Jason White to lineup
SR? Motorsports announced Tuesday that Jason White will join Blake Koch as the driver of one of the team’s three Toyota Camrys in its 2013 lineup.
Bóng ?á n? Vi?t Nam: Ngôi h?u SEA Games và h?n th? n?a
Nhi?m v? trong n?m 2013 c?a bóng ?á n? là ph?i b?o v? ngôi vô ??ch SEA Games, làm c? s? ni?m tin ?? 't?n công' World Cup 2015. 
NEW YORK (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony's All-Star game start could be in jeopardy after he received a deep bruise in his right arm that caused numbness. 
(TNO) Hình ?nh Bóng ?á Pháp v?a ti?p t?c b? hoen ? sau khi các công t? viên Paris ti?t l? ?ang m? cu?c ?i?u tra v? vi?c m?t tuy?n th? qu?c gia b? nghi ng? mua dâm gái g?i tu?i v? thành niên (d??i 18 tu?i), theo ngu?n tin c?a AFP hôm 14.2. 
Nhi?m v? trong n?m 2013 c?a bóng ?á n? là ph?i b?o v? ngôi vô ??ch SEA Games, làm c? s? ni?m tin ?? 't?n công' World Cup 2015. 
(Reuters) – The Boston Celtics avoided another last-ditch loss against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday when they eked out a s crappy 71-69 home victory in a low-quality encounter between two injury-ravaged teams. Last month, Marco Belinelli sealed a 100-99 victory for the Bulls with three seconds left but his potential game-winning basket in the latest match-up was blocked, before Taj Gibson missed an attempted three-pointer as the clock ran down. … 
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Mason Plumlee had 18 points and 11 rebounds and No. 2 Duke beat North Carolina 73-68 on Wednesday night. 
President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address will be his best chance to rescue a presidency beset by sloppy governance and empty promises. 
PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) – Having been on both sides of the 'long putter' debate, former world num ber one Ernie Els can see no good reason why putters anchored to the belly or chest should be banned by golf's rulemakers. In November, the game's governing bodies proposed a ban on players anchoring putters to their body, saying they wanted to outlaw the practice by 2016 in order to preserve the "skill and challenge" of putting. … 
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- After leading the Minnesota Vikings to a surprising playoff berth last season, Leslie Frazier has reached an agreement on a contract through 2014. 
There's something different about spring training this year. It came early because of the World Baseball Classic, and Tim Lincecum came without his long locks. 
PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) – A refreshed Luke Donald aims to prosper from a delayed start to his 2013 PGA Tour campaign, just as he did two years ago when he went on to complete the most successful season of his career. The Briton won four times worldwide in 2011 and became the first player to clinch the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic after spending much of that year atop of the rankings. … 
Video: Welbeck header stuns Real Madrid 
NEW YORK (AP) -- Super Bowl Monday. Super Bowl Wednesday. 
MADRID (AP) -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a spectacular header for Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Wednesday night in the first leg of their final-16 Champions League series. 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- There's a buzz about NASCAR and the season-opening Daytona 500 that has nothing to do with an exploding jet dryer or a well-timed tweet from a driver. 
Colorado Rapids Homegrown player Dillon Serna has been added to head coach Tab Ramos' 20-player roster for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, beginning Feb. 18 in Puebla, Mexico. 
TORONTO (Reuters) – The Denver Nuggets are happy flying under the radar, but a lack of attention despite an impressive campaign has given them added motiva tion to make noise in a competitive Western Conference. Before Sunday's overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, Denver owned the NBA's longest active winning streak with nine straight victories in which they topped the 100-point plateau in each. … 
As the MLS season approaches, MLSsoccer.com marks each passing day with a different statistic, observation or talking point, setting the stage for March 2.17 - Goals for Álvaro Saborío in 2012 
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says he's reached a decision on whether this will be his final season and plans to announce it before opening day. 
Athletes prepare to compete in the Ski Jumping World Cup in Klingenthal, eastern Germany on February 13, 2013. Slovania's Jaka Hvala won the event ahead of Japan's Taku Takeuchi (2nd) and Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer (3rd). AFP PHOTO / JAN WOITAS GERMANY OUTJAN WOITAS/AFP/Getty Images 
The referees speak during the Ski Jumping World Cup in Klingenthal, eastern Germany on February 13, 2013. Slovania's Jaka Hvala won the event ahead of Japan's Taku Takeuchi (2nd) and Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer (3rd). AFP PHOTO / JAN WOITAS GERMANY OUTJAN WOITAS/AFP/Getty Images 
În 2013 se împlinesc 35 de ani de la apari?ia primului simulator de fotbal pe calculator, intitulat simplu "Football". 
Team Great Britain's Paula Walker takes part in a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Team Great Britain's Paula Walker wears brightly coloured socks as she prepares to take part in a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALL EON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
The Netherlands' Esme Kamphuis pushes off during a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Team Great Britain's Paula Walker takes part in a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Team Great Britain's Paula Walker prepares to take part in a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
An unidentified competitor takes part in a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Switzerland's Caroline Spahni (L) pushes off during a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Canada's Jennifer Ciochetti pushes off during a training run for the Bobsleigh Women category of the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Cup 2012/23 at the Sanki sliding centre, near Rzhanaya Polyana on February 13, 2013. With a year to go until the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, construction work continues as tests events and World Championship competitions are underway. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images 
Ireland's Cian Healy takes part in their Captain's run at Eden Park in Auckla nd September 16, 2011. Ireland will play against Australia Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup Pool C match in Auckland on Saturday. REUTERS/Nigel Marple 
COMMERCE CITY, Colo.- On a crisp and crystal blue Tuesday morning in suburban Denver, new Rapids striker Edson Buddle tested out his injured right knee at a practice field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. 
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka has officially joined the revitalized Cleveland Indians. 
Le football est un sport populaire, c'est bien connu. Et à l'ère du numérique, c'est tout naturellement que le foot en ligne prend une dimension internationale. Le jeu Fifa l'a bien compris et met en place chaque année la Fifa Interactive World Cup (FIWC). Et nous connaissons désormais le représentant français, il se nomme Bruce Grannec. Le « gamer » parisien s'est qualifié pour la phase mondiale hier en remportant la compétition française qui se déroulait à Marseille au centre d'entraînement de … 
SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France (AP) -- David Beckham has started his first training session with Paris Saint-Germain, with dozens of camera crews and photographers jostling for position at the club's training facility in the western suburb of Paris. 
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- IOC President Jacques Rogge says he w ill meet with the head of wrestling's governing body to discuss ways the sport can fight to save its place in the 2020 Olympics. 
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- It has been slightly more than nine years since prosecutors and grand jurors alike grilled a defiant Barry Bonds for hours about his relationship with performance enhancing drugs. 
After three straight seasons of double-digit goals and an MVP award in 2012, Chris Wondolowski could be about to join the league's elite in more ways than just the stats column.The San Jose Earthquakes star told media members this week that he's currently in talks with the club about a new d eal that would make him the only Designated Player in the Quakes' locker room, and could mean he'll become an MLS millionaire."We are in the process of working something out," Wondolowski says in an article in The Sporting News. … 
Russian Nikita Avtaneev competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Japan's Ayumu Nedefuji competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
British Ben Kilner competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Russian Nikita Avtaneev competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Chinese Yiwei Zhang competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013 . AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
French Arthur Longo competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013 . AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Lars Bender: I want to make Germany squad for 2014 World Cup 
Lars Bender: I want to make Germany squad for 2014 World Cup 
Lars Bender: I want to make Germany squad for 2014 World Cup 
Japan's Taku Hiraoka competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Swiss Christian Haller competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Italy's Manuel Pietropoli competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
Japan's Ayumu Nedefuji competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
A snowboarder competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
Russia's Dmitrij Koltsov competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
Switzerland's Lucien Koch competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
Switzerland's Christian Haller competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
Japan's Ryo Aono competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Japan's Ryo Aono competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
US Louie Vito competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013 . AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Austrian Nathan Johnstone competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Switzerland's Lucien Koch competes at the Snowboard World Cup Men's Qualification Halfpipe Test Event at the Snowboard and Freestyle Center in Rosa Khutor near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVANATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images 
The tragedy shows how the Latin giant is still plagued by underdevelopment despite its booming economic growth. 
TOKYO, JAPAN – MAY 27: Saori Yoshida (L) of Japan competes against Vareria Zholobova of Russia in the 55kg division of the final match between Japan and Russia during day two of the 2012 Female Wrestling World Cup at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on May 27, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) 
US Gregory Bretz competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013 . AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
Austrian Nathan Johnstone competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images 
US Gregory Bretz competes in a Half-Pipe qualifying race during the Snowboarding World Cup Test Event at Snowboard and Free Style Center in Rosa Khutor near Sochi on February 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANOJAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images