TORONTO (Reuters) – The struggling Los Angeles Lakers were unable to solve their mounting problems in the National Basketball Association’s most northern outpost on Sunday as the Toronto Raptors handed them a 108-103 defeat.

With the offseason addition of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, the Lakers created the NBA’s newest super team, rekindling fond memories of the team’s “Showtime” era from 1979-1989 with Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – The National Hockey League (NHL) was back and so were the fans on Saturday as the puck finally dropped on a season that nearly never was because of bitter labor dispute.

From sunny California to wintry Quebec 26 of the NHL’s 30 teams were in action, the Los Angeles Kings raising their Stanley Cup banner to the rafters before opening defense of their crown against the Chicago Blackhawks while in Montreal, two of the league’s flagship franchises, the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs renewed their storied rivalry.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – Lance Armstrong showed barely the slightest flicker of emotion when he confessed to cheating his way to a record seven Tour de France titles, but the American finally cracked when he recalled telling his children the truth about his doping-fueled career.

In the second segment of his televised interview with U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey aired on Friday, Armstrong clinically sifted through the rubble of a career destroyed by the exposure of his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Jan 18 (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong showed barely the slightest flicker of emotion when he confessed to cheating his way to a record seven Tour de France titles, but the American finally cracked when he recalled telling his children the truth about his doping-fueled career.

In the second segment of his televised interview with U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey aired on Friday, Armstrong clinically sifted through the rubble of a career destroyed by the exposure of his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was left unimpressed by Lance Armstrong’s doping confessions in a television interview, calling the disgraced cyclist’s confession a convenient truth.

Armstrong, already stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, revealed his dark secrets to talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Thursday with more revelations expected to follow on Friday in part two of the interview.

Jan 18 (Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was left unimpressed by Lance Armstrong’s doping confessions in a television interview, calling the disgraced cyclist’s confession a convenient truth.

Armstrong, already stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, revealed his dark secrets to talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Thursday with more revelations expected to follow on Friday in part two of the interview.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – Lance Armstrong may be ready to admit to doping and say sorry for his actions but his old nemesis, former-World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound, does not expect any apologies coming his way.

“I doubt it very much,” Pound told Reuters. “But if he did I guess if I thought he meant it, I might (accept it), I mean what’s done is done.”

Jan 16 (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong may be ready to admit to doping and say sorry for his actions but his old nemesis, former-World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound, does not expect any apologies coming his way.

“I doubt it very much,” Pound told Reuters. “But if he did I guess if I thought he meant it, I might (accept it), I mean what’s done is done.”

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – After dragging its fans through another draining labor dispute, the National Hockey League returns Saturday promising supporters more bang for their buck and a playoff chase sure to have hockey hearts pumping.

Having settled a 113-day lockout in time to run a shortened season, Commissioner Gary Bettman, the players and teams offered apologies to fans along with discounted tickets, merchandise, free parking and open practices.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – Cycling could be dumped from the Olympic program if Lance Armstrong implicated the sport’s governing body of covering up a widespread doping scheme, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound told Reuters on Tuesday.

Pound said the IOC might be left with no choice other than to take drastic action if Armstrong was able to prove the International Cycling Union (UCI) had acted improperly.