SPORTS DIGEST:CRICKET: Dale Steyn insists South Africa are not getting ahead of themselves after they took a step closer to a series victory over India with another strong display on day one of the second Test at Kingsmead.
The Proteas paceman took four wickets for 36 to leave the tourists on 183 for six at stumps on a shortened day which saw only 56 overs bowled after overnight rain and morning drizzle in Durban.
All the touring batsmen got starts, but none kicked on as Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (two for 40) took wickets at regular intervals to ensure the dominance from the first Test – at Pretoria which the home side won – continued.
“I don’t think we want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Steyn said afterwards. “We want to treat their bowlers like we would treat their top order batsmen. They still have (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni there and he’s a player that can take the game away from you. We must be patient, get the ball in the right areas and let the wicket do the rest for you.”
Eagles-Vikings showdown delayed
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Yesterday's NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings has been moved to tomorrow to avoid a forecast blizzard, the Eagles said. Heavy snowfall is expected in the Philadelphia area shortly before the scheduled kick-off and after discussions between the teams and the league it was decided to put the game back 48 hours.
Klitschkos keen to take Haye’s title
BOXING: Ukraine brothers Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko, who hold four out of five world heavyweight title crowns, have promised a much-anticipated fight with WBA champion David Haye would take place next year.
"We promise that a fight with David will take place in 2011," the brothers told German newspaper Bild.
“He can choose who of the two of us he will fight and will lose his world title to,” they said.
Vladimir, who holds the WBO, IBF and IBO belts, pulled out of his bout against Briton Dereck Chisora on December 11th with a stomach muscle injury.
Vitali retained his WBC world heavyweight title by beating American Shannon Briggs on points in October.
Haye easily defended his WBA title against fellow Briton Audley Harrison in Manchester, England, on November 13th.
He had been due to fight Vladimir, the younger of the brothers, in June last year but withdrew citing an injury.
A Haye-Klitschko fight would certainly generate major media attention, especially now that many of the Klitschko world title defences get no or hardly any live coverage in North America.
It is also the only fight that would give the Klitschkos the title of undisputed heavyweight champions of the world, given they will not fight each other.
Leonardo takes up Inter reins
SOCCER: Last season's AC Milan coach Leonardo has been named manager of city rivals Inter Milan in a move which has stunned the soccer world.
The Brazilian, who failed to shine in his year at Milan, succeeds Rafael Benitez, who left Inter on Thursday after just six months in charge following a poor domestic spell and his public attack on Inter for not investing in new players.
Tyrone urge Croke Park to embrace women’s games
GAELIC GAMES: Croke Park officials have been urged to embrace women's football and camogie in a new fully integrated association,
The call has come from Tyrone, where an innovative fixtures plan, covering football, hurling and camogie, is to be drawn up for 2011.
County chairman Ciarán McLaughlin said the GAA should take a lead from Tyrone’s spirit of integration and adopt an all-inclusive approach.
“The GAA is a family and the powerbrokers in Croke Park, responsible for the GAA, Cumann Peil nBán and Camogie must listen to us in Tyrone, take our lead and integrate,” he said.
“In 2011 we in Tyrone will for the first time, attempt a county fixtures plan for football, hurling, camogie.
“The CCC will ensure the fixtures plan will be made early and with everyone’s buy-in will be adhered to. This will be helped by our newly appointed fixtures planners, Patsy Hetherington and Aidy O’Kane, whose job is to identify, on behalf of all clubs, issues that arose in 2010 and to help address them in the fixtures plan.
“An integrated plan will aim to avoid fixtures clashes and other situations which arose in 2010 will, in future, be avoided.”
McLaughlin intends to review all competitions and to involve the clubs in making decisions on whether more suitable formats can be identified. And he urged clubs to place and increased emphasis on coaching at youth level.
Miami turn up the Heat on Lakers
BASKETBALL: The Miami Heat gave their fans some Christmas cheer with a dominating 96-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
LeBron James collected 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Chris Bosh added 24 points and 13 rebounds to ensure it would not be a happy holiday for the Lakers (21-9), who have now been blown out in two games in a row.
The Lakers were hammered 98-79 by Milwaukee on Tuesday.
“I don’t care if we lose by 20 or by one – I just dont like to lose,” said Kobe Bryant.
Bryant struggled to break down a stifling Miami defence and finished with just 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
Miami (23-9) seized the lead midway through the first quarter and never trailed after that.
