For Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, catenaccio is a beautiful word.

The term used to describe the kind of stifling defense long practiced by Italian teams where 1-0 wins at home and 0-0 draws away were the norm has no negative connotations for Ancelotti.

Arsenal remains on course for another season in the Champions League after beating Newcastle 3-0 at home on Monday.

The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europe's top competition for the 17th straight year.

LeBron James scored 31 points as Miami completed a first-round sweep of Charlotte with a 109-98 victory Monday.

James scored 19 points after slightly injuring his thigh in the third quarter. He finished the game 10 of 19 from the field and had nine assists.

From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, from Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant, from President Obama to prominent corporate partners of the NBA, the condemnation of racist comments purportedly made by Donald Sterling has come from all circles and has shown that the issue extends far beyond the Los Angeles Clippers.

They all will be watching on Tuesday, when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is scheduled to discuss the league's investigation and possibly reveal disciplinary actions against the Clippers' owner.

International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates has slammed Rio's preparations for the 2016 Olympics, saying they are "the worst I have experienced."

Coates, who has made six trips to Rio as part of the Coordination Commission responsible for overseeing the preparations, said the IOC had taken the unprecedented step of embedding experts in Rio to help the local organizing committee deliver the games.

It is a testament to Ayrton Senna's lasting impact on Formula One that the 20th anniversary of his death will be observed this week with five days of commemorations at the Imola track where he had his fatal accident.

Current and past F1 drivers, mechanics, racing officials and fans will pay their respects to Senna and Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger, who also died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been voted player of the year by his fellow professionals in English football, capping a season in which his scoring prowess helped erase memories of previous bans for racism and biting.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international became the first South American to collect the Professional Footballers' Association accolade on Sunday, having led Liverpool's unexpected Premier League title challenge with 30 goals.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves responded to a racist taunt when a banana landed at his feet during Sunday's game at Villarreal by picking up the fruit, peeling and then eating it before proceeding to take a corner kick.

Alves said after the match that humor is the best way to combat racism in sports.

China's most decorated golfer Liang Wenchong says it could be a decade before a Chinese player breaks into the top ranks of the game but he's certain it will happen.

At the Volvo China Open that finished on Sunday, just five out of 32 home hopefuls made the cut despite the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen pulling out all the stops to promote the success of local talent.

Manuel Pellegrini claims he never lost faith that Manchester City could win the Premier League after his side regained control of the title race with a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

On a potentially decisive weekend in the battle for supremacy at the top of the table, City took full advantage of Liverpool's unexpected 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea with a ruthless performance just hours later in south London.