SPORTS

 ||| NBA. Pierce scores 18 as Celtics beat Raptors to extend streak to nine games

The best streak in 14 years

||| Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Kevin Garnett had 16 and the Celtics beat the Raptors 90-77 on Sunday for their ninth straight victory. ||| The Atlantic Division leaders matched their longest win streak since March 16-31, 1993.   

John Nadel | AP Sports Writer

The Boston Celtics impressed Toronto coach Sam Mitchell with the way they beat the Raptors and matched their longest winning streak in more than 14 years.
"They just beat us, they're better than us right now," Mitchell said. "They set the bar to where all the teams need to be."
Chris Bosh had 17 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto. Jamario Moon finished with 13 points and Kris Humphries had 12.
"We played hard ... they're a better basketball team right now, it wasn't for a lack of effort," Mitchell said. "I didn't see our guys not playing hard, there's a difference between getting beat and not playing hard."

“We played hard ... they're a better basketball team right now, it wasn't for a lack of effort.”

Boston improved to 20-2 for the second time in franchise history, matching the mark set by the 1963-64 team that went on to win a championship.
In other NBA games on Sunday, it was: Detroit 109, Golden State 87; Portland 116, Denver 105; the Los Angeles Lakers 113, the Los Angeles Clippers 92.
The Celtics won their second straight game without guard Ray Allen (sore right ankle). Allen, who remained in Boston for treatment, is expected to return when Boston hosts Detroit on Wednesday.
Rajon Rondo scored 14 points, and has 31 points and 12 assists in Allen's absence.

"He's been tremendous," Pierce said. "It seems like he's getting better each and every game."
Toronto trailed 71-54 after three quarters before opening the fourth with a 7-0 run, cutting the gap to 10. But with Garnett back on the floor, he and Pierce scored six points in an 8-2 run that put Boston up 80-63 with 5:52 remaining.
"They made an adjustment and got a couple of buckets and started to make their way back," Garnett said. "We adjusted to what they were doing and never looked back from there."

James Posey, who had 10 points, believes accountability up and down the roster is the reason for Boston's success on defense.
"We've got guys that take responsibility when they mess up," Posey said.
"We correct our mistakes, get back out there and make sure we're on the same page. We just cause havoc for the most part."         

||| SOCCER. The Italian coach promises ‘great results’ for an underperforming England team

Capello introduced as England’s

new coach

Robert Millward | AP Soccer Writer

Fabio Capello was introduced as England's new soccer coach on Monday, promising to bring "great results" to a national team that has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations.
The former AC Milan, AS Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid coach signed a 4½-year contract Friday worth a reported $12 million a year, making him the highest paid national manager in world soccer.
The 61-year-old Italian replaces Steve McClaren, who was fired last month after England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. His first task is to make sure England qualifies for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"It's an honor," Capello said at a packed news conference broadcast live in Britain. "It's a dream come true. It's a job that everyone wants and carries great expectations. We will work hard to achieve our objectives."
Capello, who starts officially on Jan. 7, said he will meet with players and coaches to identify the problems which have affected the underachieving England team.
"I think this is a great team," he said in Italian. "I am convinced that we can have great results."
Capello said he was as surprised as anyone that England didn't qualify for Euro 2008.

"The pride of wearing this (England) shirt should be a stimulus for all the players to give more," he said. "I want to see them play for their national team the way they play for their clubs."
Capello spoke mainly in Italian, with a few words in English. He said he will work hard to learn English in time for his first training session with the players next month before the Feb. 6 friendly against Switzerland.

"I am convinced that in a month when I meet with the national team I'll speak English," he said. Capello, who coached David Beckham at Real Madrid, was guarded about whether he will pick the former England captain for the national squad.
Beckham, now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, has made 99 national team appearances and hopes to reach the 100 mark against Switzerland.
"I think Beckham is an important player for England and I will take him into serious consideration," said Capello, who dropped Beckham from Madrid's lineup after the player announced his move to the Galaxy.
"But we still have a month to make decisions."  
 

Sharks spoil Niedermayer’s

return to Ducks

The Associated Press

The San Jose Sharks finally got the better of Anaheim in a shootout, spoiling the return of Scott Niedermayer to the Ducks. After only four of the 11 previous shooters were successful, Joe Thornton ended the shootout by snapping off a shot to the stick side of Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, giving San Jose a 2-1 victory on Sunday night. The Sharks had lost two previous meetings with Anaheim this season, both on shootouts. "Every game we come here or they come up to us, it's always an exciting, low-scoring game," Thornton said. "We've been having a lot of shootouts against them, so it's nice to win."

Niedermayer, who was the playoffs MVP after helping the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup last season, sat out the first part of this season while contemplating retirement. He informed the team on Dec. 5 that he was returning, and began working out with his teammates.
A former Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenseman, Niedermayer didn't look particularly rusty in his first game since June. On one play in the second period when he was hemmed in by two defenders, he deftly flicked a no-look, backhand pass between them and to an open teammate. "I really did not know what to expect, just probably play it by ear and see how I was feeling," said the 34-year-old Niedermayer.

"If I was tired, I'd get off and change." In other NHL games Sunday, it was Phoenix 5, the New York Rangers 1; New Jersey 4, Philadelphia 2; Calgary 5, St. Louis 3; and Florida 3, Chicago 1. With Niedermayer leading the defense, the Ducks held San Jose to just the lone goal through regulation and overtime, a marked improvement to the five they allowed in a 5-2 loss to Minnesota two days earlier. Niedermayer played 23:52 against the Sharks, took one shot and drew a penalty for holding. "Getting that first one under your belt is always a big step," he said. "The next two games are back-to-back, so that will be another bit of a test. But it's all part of it, and I've just got to be smart and know what I'm comfortable with out there."