The LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was just a constituent part of the Redeem Team’s single ego. Photograph: Timothy A. Clary/AFP
The United States have their redemption. They arrived in Beijing a fortnight ago on a mission to right the wrongs of Athens four years ago, when they conceded their Olympic crown in humiliating fashion, and [...]

Jelena Jankovic. Photographer: Ian Walton/Getty Images
Informed that she would face “a Thai girl” for a place in the last eight, Jelena Jankovic replied: “Tiger? Tiger who? Tiger Woods?” There were no drivers in evidence, but there was clubbing aplenty as the cull of the women’s seeds continued with Jankovic, the second seed, battered into submission [...]

Martin Petrov and Goran Stankouski. Photograph: Mike Clarke/AFP
Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to be drawn on his future at Manchester City after the club concluded their post-season tour of Asia with a humiliating defeat to a South China Invitational XI. Eriksson’s position has been the subject of feverish speculation since it was revealed club owner Thaksin Shinawatra [...]