RTC Director

The ease of England's Ashes-clinching win over Australia meant newspapers back home didn't even have to wait a day before proclaiming a first successful defence of the urn for 24 years.

The 11-hour time difference between Britain and Australia's east coast means fans back home usually have to wait an extra day to savour descriptions of victory in the traditional medium of print.

But England wrapped up victory before lunch on the fourth day in Melbourne to make sure they keep hold of international cricket's oldest prize until 2013, no matter what Australia do in next week's fifth and final Test.

In a move usually only made for football, almost every one of yesterday morning's national papers trumpeted England's cricketing glory on its front page.

"Wizards in Oz," The Guardian said above a photo of the players celebrating next to Ben Hilfenhaus, the last man out in Australia's innings defeat.

"Thr-Ash-ed," was the pun on the back page of The Daily Mail, while The Daily Express went with "England Urn Glory."

But despite years of Australian dominance — including a 16-year hold on international cricket's oldest trophy between 1989 and 1995 — most papers and pundits resisted the urge to gloat over the result.

The Guardian lamented what may be a sad end to Ricky Ponting's tenure as Australia captain.

The scorer of 12,363 Test runs over 15 years, the 36-year-old Ponting averaged just 16.14 in the current series and only the lack of an in-form credible successor seems able to prolong his time in charge of a side in urgent need of rejuvenation.

"It would be a brave man to gamble Ponting will not respond with something heroic in the fifth Test in Sydney," the paper said. "And Punter is a brave man."

The understated response could have something to do with an understandable disbelief.

After failing to win an overseas Ashes Test with the series undecided since 1987, England twice beat Australia by an innings and had by far the best of an opening draw in Brisbane. Only a batting slump and some wayward bowling in Perth kept the series competitive.

The Times even used its front page to lament the fact that the series has been so one-sided.

"And so, with a rather dismaying sense of inevitability, it seems that it is all over," The Times said. "There are some who will feel a certain flatness about the comparative ease with which England placed themselves in so dominant a position."

But the paper soon clarified its position.

"Most of those who share such a feeling haven't lived long enough."

Brett Favre was fined $50,000 by the NFL for failing to cooperate with its investigation of inappropriate messages and lewd photos he allegedly sent to a former Jets game-day employee.

Commissioner Roger Goodell "could not conclude" that Favre violated the league's personal conduct policy based on the evidence currently available to him.

The league said forensic analysis failed to establish that the 41-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback sent objectionable photographs to Jenn Sterger. "The review found no evidence to contradict the statements of both Favre and Sterger that they never met in person, nor was there anything to suggest that Sterger engaged in any inappropriate conduct, " its statement announcing the fine said.

The NFL said its sole focus was on whether Favre violated workplace conduct policy, not to "make judgments about the appropriateness of personal relationships."

Goodell determined Favre was "not candid in several respects during the investigation resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention for Favre, Sterger and the NFL, " the league said. The NFL's investigation began in early October.

The commissioner also told Favre that if he had found a violation of the league's workplace conduct policies, he would have imposed a "substantially higher level of discipline."

Favre's fine will help fund a new training program on workplace conduct around the NFL, Goodell said in a memo sent to clubs Wednesday, though for the multimillionaire QB the penalty is a pittance. Even while sitting out of Tuesday's game at Philadelphia because of post-concussion symptoms, Favre essentially earned $50,000 over about five minutes of action.

Favre's NFL record for consecutive starts was snapped at 297 after he sprained throwing shoulder kept him out of a Dec. 13 loss to the New York Giants. He then sustained a concussion against Chicago on Dec. 20. He may be playing his last game on Sunday, when the regular season ends, if he is healthy.

There was no immediate comment from Favre or his agent, Bus Cook.

Sterger's attorney, Joseph Conway, said that "my client and I are extremely disappointed, but not surprised" by the ruling. He added that they "strongly disagree" with Goodell's finding of insufficient evidence to show a violation of league policy.

"It clearly shows that an NFL star player was given preferential treatment and tells all other players that failure to cooperate may cost you some money but will not result in other punishment, " said Conway, who added there was "ample evidence" the photos were of Favre.

"Additionally, today's decision is an affront to all females and shows once again that, despite tough talk, the NFL remains the good old boys' league, " he said.

The league said its probe dragged out because of difficulties in setting up interviews with "certain key individuals, " the complication of retrieving and reviewing electronic records and Goodell's decision to meet with both Favre and Sterger before reaching a conclusion.

The allegations against the three-time MVP surfaced on the website Deadspin, which posted a video Oct. 7 that included text messages and voicemails allegedly left by Favre for Sterger in 2008 when they both worked for the Jets, including one in which he invites her to his hotel. The video ends with several below-the belt photos - said to be of Favre - which were allegedly sent to Sterger.

A former model who was a Jets gameday hostess and later appeared on the Versus television network, Sterger refused to speak on the record to the website. Weeks after the story broke, she talked with league investigators and cooperated fully, according to her manager.

Deadspin editor in chief A.J. Daulerio acknowledged paying a third party for the material it posted on Favre and said that he could not guarantee the material was genuine.

Citing unidentified sources, Fox Sports reported earlier that Favre admitted to NFL investigators that he left the voicemails but denied sending the inappropriate photos.

The league also reviewed media reports that Favre pursued two massage therapists who worked at the Jets' facility in 2008. But the NFL said that claim could not be substantiated because people with "potentially relevant information" declined to be interviewed or cooperate with investigators.

The league said its investigation included the following: "an analysis of publicly available reports; a series of interviews with knowledgeable individuals, including Sterger and Favre; a review of communications between the two furnished to our office; and independent forensic analysis of electronically stored material."

It said the investigation was limited in several respects because the matter was not brought to its attention until two years after it allegedly occurred.

"Every member of every club's staff should be able to work in an environment free of harassment or hostility, and one in which every employee is valued, respected, and given a full opportunity to contribute to the goals of the club and the NFL, " Goodell said in the memo sent to the teams.

Favre has consistently refused to answer reporters' questions about the allegations. He said early on that he had enough to worry about with the Vikings' next opponent, and that's certainly been true this season.

Convinced to come back for one more run at a title by three Minnesota teammates who flew down to see him in Mississippi, Favre's second year with the Vikings has been nothing like the charmed run of last season, which ended with a heartbreaking loss to New Orleans in the NFC championship game.

Favre also has been battered with injuries to his ankle, chin, ribs, and back - in addition to the concussion and throwing shoulder injury. But despite all his troubles, Favre has said all along that he did not regret coming back for a 20th NFL season.

Lamar Odom cruised into the lane on a fast break, put the ball behind his back and then bounced a finger roll off the back rim. Unfazed, he jumped to jam home the rebound.

The sequence sent Lakers teammates into giggling fits while New Orleans coach Monty Williams disgustedly called a timeout.

"It's funny that a play like that happens in New Orleans," Odom said. "Basketball is almost like jazz, right? Because if you make one move, you can take it to another move, but you never know which way it's going."

The looks of anger and frustration that characterized Los Angeles' recent three-game skid were history. A commanding 103-88 victory over the Hornets brought back the fun of the game - perhaps more so for Odom than anyone, even though he found himself out of the starting lineup for the first time all season.

Coach Phil Jackson started Andrew Bynum in Odom's place.

"Some people could have took that personally," Odom said. "It didn't matter to me, honestly."

Odom responded to his season debut as a reserve by scoring a team-leading 24 points, the most by a Lakers player coming off the bench since Tierre Brown had 27 in February 2005.

Odom hit from a wide range of spots, even draining a casual, too-easy-looking 3-pointer as the horn sounded to end the third quarter.

Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, Bynum had 18 and Pau Gasol added 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Lakers snapped out a funk in which they had lost by 15 or more points in their previous three games.

"We played much better. We executed much better. Our defense did an excellent job," Bryant said. "Drew makes a big difference plugging up the middle, rebounding. He's moving better. ... He seems to be more stable, more active."

Odom had started all 31 of the Lakers' previous games. Bynum, who had played a reserve role in his first seven games since returning from knee surgery, started for the first time this season.

"We had three loses, so we might as well do it now if we are going to do it," Jackson said.

The Lakers' lineup shift produced a dominant performance in New Orleans, where the Hornets had been 13-3 coming in.

Chris Paul had 20 points and Marco Belinelli scored 15 for the Hornets, who lost their second straight by double digits after falling 113-98 at Minnesota two nights earlier.

"One day we're playing well and everybody is getting it going and the next day we could be somebody's little brother," Hornets forward Trevor Ariza said. "If we want to win and do something in this league, we can't be like that. ... We played really soft today. That's the bottom line."

It didn't help that David West twisted his left ankle late in the first half. He tried to play through it, but finished with only eight points in 28 minutes.

Los Angeles led by 20 late in the second quarter and stayed ahead by at least 20 for significant stretches of the second half. The Lakers shot 58.6 percent (41 of 70) for the game. Los Angeles also finished with a whopping 44-24 advantage in rebounds, and the Hornets' seven rebounds in the first half tied a Lakers all-time opponent-low for a half.

"We were overwhelmed," Williams said. "They are a great team and hit a lot of tough shots."

Energized by a boisterous, sellout crowd, the Hornets started respectably. Paul had 11 of his points in the first quarter to keep the game close. Gasol's 13-foot jumper gave the Lakers a 26-23 lead at the end of the period.

New Orleans started to unravel early in the second quarter with primarily reserves on the court.

Odom's layup as he was fouled ignited an 11-0 spurt during which Matt Barnes and Derek Fisher hit-back-to-back 3s before Fisher added a 22-foot jumper to push the Lakers' lead to 46-29.

Kevin Garnett threw down an emphatic dunk, then grimaced before he even landed.

With that, Boston's smooth run through this NBA season came to an end.

Garnett left in the first quarter with a leg injury, and the Celtics looked ragged without him in a 104-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Boston lost for only the second time in 17 games, but the Celtics are suddenly facing some adversity they hope isn't too serious.

"It is a muscle injury, not a knee," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "You always worry when a guy goes down without anyone around him, because those always seem to be severe injuries, so that was the first thing that went through my mind. We don't think this one is too bad, but we'll see. He'll probably miss some time, and we'll have to adjust."

Tracy McGrady - himself no stranger to leg problems - scored a season-high 21 points for the Pistons. He also played over 30 minutes for the first time since March.

"I've been making progress," McGrady said. "I've been confident mentally, physically for quite some time now. I'm just continuing to get better because I work. I see the improvement that I'm making on the court and I'm going to continue to do that. I'm excited about my future."

Detroit led 45-37 at halftime and pushed the margin to 16 in the third quarter.

Boston played without point guard Rajon Rondo, who missed his sixth straight game with a sprained left ankle. The Celtics have been able to win without him, but it was a struggle from the start against the Pistons.

When Garnett dunked for his only two points of the game, he had a pained look on his face before he landed and was careful to avoid putting too much weight on his right leg.

After intentionally fouling to stop the game, he went down to the ground momentarily and appeared distraught when he got up, at one point covering his face with his hands. He was able to hobble off the court but was limping badly by the time he got back to the locker room.

X-rays revealed no fracture, but he was done for the night and possibly longer.

"I think Kevin's injury took a lot of wind out of our players, because we originally thought the injury was a lot more severe than it turned out to be," Rivers said. "I think there was a while there where our minds weren't where we needed them to be."

Garnett had surgery on his right knee in May 2009 after missing all of that year's playoffs.

This game was much anticipated because of Garnett's dustup with Detroit's Charlie Villanueva earlier in the season. After a Nov. 2 loss to the Celtics, Villanueva complained on Twitter that Garnett had called him a "cancer patient" during Boston's 109-86 win. Garnett denied that, saying he had actually called Villanueva: "cancerous to your team and our league."

Villanueva insisted Wednesday he wasn't fixated on that feud. He picked up two quick fouls early, the second when he and Garnett appeared to bump each other gratuitously. Villanueva then headed to the bench.

"It was very frustrating," Villanueva said. "Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me."

Garnett's injury eventually put a stop to that chippy matchup. Villanueva went scoreless in the first half, but contributed 11 points in the third quarter and finished with 14.

Tayshaun Prince added 18 points for Detroit.

Paul Pierce scored 33 points for the Celtics, but he was fighting a losing battle on this night.

Down 12, Boston began the fourth quarter with a lineup of Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, Marquis Daniels, Von Wafer and Luke Harangody - not exactly the lineup the Celtics hope will take them back to the finals for the third time in four seasons.

Rivers was called for a technical foul early in the fourth, and a basket inside by Greg Monroe gave Detroit a 77-62 lead. The Pistons maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way.

Garnett's injury in 2009 hurt Boston's attempt to win a second straight title that year. He had injured the knee going up for an alley-oop in a game against Utah, then aggravated the injury later in the season.

"I was worried, because I saw the play in Utah where he got hurt the first time, and this looked exactly the same," O'Neal said. "I know it took him a long time to come back from that one, so it is good that it sounds like this is something different. I know from experience how bad it is to try to get back from leg injuries."