Fergie refuses to loan out fringe players

MANCHESTER, England: Sir Alex Ferguson insists he will not allow any Manchester United players to leave the club on loan as they continue to fight on four fronts heading into the new year.

Bent sends Cup holders into semis

WATFORD, England: League Cup holders Tottenham showed no signs of wanting to relinquish their trophy as Darren Bent came off the bench to secure a 2-1 win over Watford in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

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Armstrong rides with Contador

The Big Boss: Yao kills off Clippers

HOUSTON: Yao Ming scored 24 points, had 10 rebounds and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line to lead the Houston Rockets over the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96 on Wednesday.

Knicks edge Lakers as NBA's most moneyed team for fourth year

NEW YORK: The New York Knicks are the most valuable professional basketball team in the NBA for the fourth consecutive year, Forbes magazine reported on Wednesday.

Internacional win Cup with late equalizer

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil: Internacional won the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday, snatching an extra-time equalizer to draw the second leg of the final 1-1 with Estudiantes and win 2-1 on aggregate.

BOA fuming at funding cuts for minority sports

LONDON: The British Olympic Association (BOA) accused the government of turning its back on less popular sports on Wednesday when a breakdown of funding for sports in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics was published.

IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Maradona says no place for 2nd best

GLASGOW: New Argentina coach Diego Maradona will not accept anything less than first place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Aguero flees camp to tend to boss's daughter

GLASGOW: Diego Maradona's daughter Giannina has had a minor complication with her pregnancy, almost certainly denying partner Sergio Aguero the chance to feature in her father's debut as Argentina coach on Wednesday.

Diego not bothered by Butcher snub

GLASGOW: Diego Maradona will not lose any sleep over Terry Butcher's refusal to shake hands with him at Wednesday's friendly against Scotland, Argentina's coach said on Tuesday.