In this year’s NBA All Star Game one team from the Eastern Conference is more heavily represented than any other team in the game; the Boston Celtics. But there’s one notable stipulation. None of the four Celtics on the roster are listed as starters. The All Star Bostonians include; Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo.

But despite the fact that none of the Celtics are listed as starters in the game, Boston’s regular season has been going just fine. Going into the All Star game the team has the best record in the NBA with a win percentage of 74.1%. All four Celtic players have been doing their part on their own team this year. Allen has been averaging more than 17 points a game, Garnett puts away nearly 15 points per game, Pierce contributes nearly 19 points per game. and Rondo has been adding nearly 11 points.

By comparison, LeBron James of the Miami Heat averages 26.1 points per game. In any sport there is always some debate over what is more effective in the end, superstar scorers like James or more even scoring and teamwork like the Celtics. The Heat happens to be right on Boston’s tail in the regular season with a win percentage of 73.2%.

While being selected to the All Star team is certainly an honor; it’s the regular season that will really show the strength of your team. Whether starting on the court or on the bench the rosters on both sides look great, fans have a great game of basketball in store.

John wall lead the Rookie Challenge with a record 22 assists. The Rookies won over the Sophomores 148 to 140 in the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge.

After a less than spectacular first half, the energy doubled the second half with what seemed like a duel for the MVP prize by DeJan Blair and DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins had been an MVP favorite and looking at his stats you could not deny that. But in the end Wall’s 22 assists pushed him into the MVP slot.

Blair ended the game shooting 14 for 21 with 28 points and 15 rebounds. Cousins had 33 points and an equally impressive 14 rebounds.

Wall and Griffin had the quintessential wow moment of the game. During the second half of the game an alley-oop bounce pass with a reverse two handed slam dunk by Griffin had everyone out of their seats.

John wall scored 12 points only slightly behind Blair and Cousins, but his 22 assists are what everyone is talking about. Chris Paul held the record at 17 assists previously.

There is also some talk of Dougie dunks and whether or not that was the move Wall was trying to do while hanging from the rim. Right now that is still open for interpretation.

Further highlights of the game include Serge Ibaka of the Thunder with two three pointers and a whopping 30 points by James Harden.

The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday the day before the regular All Star Game Which is happening Today.

The government of India will shoulder as much as half of the subsidy expenditures from the oil companies managed by the state. Since Indian oil companies sell fuel at a lower cost, their losses have already increased as crude has stayed above $100 per barrel.

According to oil minister S. Japial Reddy, the subsidy, which is also termed as under-recovery, may reach up to one trillion rupees. It is higher compared to the estimated amount of 750 billion rupees by the Indian oil head.

Currently, India has an informal scheme of shouldering 30% of the total cost of selling different kinds of fuels on all state-owned oil companies at regulated prices. These costs may come from selling liquefied petroleum gas, gas oil, cooking fuels and kerosene.

The government’s action to formalize the agreement and pay a bigger share could raise the country’s burden on finances. However, it could lift the increasing losses of all state-run companies from trading their fuels lower than the production cost.

This could also help investors place a better evaluation on share sales proposed for several Indian oil companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corp and Indian Oil Corp.

Increasing prices on diesel and other fuel appears very much unlikely as inflation is already widespread among major market worldwide, including the corruption cases the government are involved to this year.

However, the government has one alternative to cut off responsibilities on crude, as well as other refined petroleum products. This will minimize the load of all state-owned oil companies to sell their cooking fuels and diesel at a much lower market price.

Manny Pacquiao levels out his responsibilities as the world’s greatest boxer, as well as an honorable congressman of Sarangani, Philippines. While the famous champ is busy with both careers, trainer Freddie Roach tries to figure out the key to beat down former WBA welterweight super champion, Shane Mosley.

Pacquiao has to defend his WBO welterweight title against Mosley, the winner of three weight division titles on May 7 in Nevada, Las Vegas. Because of this, the hailed pound-for-pound king of new era boxing has to take a break from his role as a congressman in the Philippines.

Manny Pacquiao is set to meet with Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader of United States. According to Pacquiao, they will talk about some political issues. However, he added no further details regarding the occasion.

The boxing legend says he still finds excitement inside the ring, but he also wants to pursue his career as a legislator in the Congress of the Philippines.

Pacquiao coined the anti-human trafficking bill and helped raise the funds to construct a hospital that will cater to his fellow countrymen in the province of Sarangani.

Pacquiao, 32-years old, won over Joshua Clottey, as well as Antonio Margarito last year. He has a fight record of 52-3-2. Meanwhile, Mosley, who has 7.5 inch advantage to Pacquiao, lost a fight against Floyd Mayweather through a decision and an even fight with Sergio Mora. The 39-year-old boxer has 46-6-1 record.

The upcoming fight between the two living legends is fast approaching. Tickets to the event are almost sold out. With Pacquiao’s speed and punching power, and Mosley’s experience inside the ring, the event is indeed a much awaited fight.

Rory McIlroy takes took the first round lead in the Dubai Desert Classic, surpassing top the three golfers in the world with 7-under 65 shots on Thursday.

He was four shots ahead of Lee Westwood, who currently ranked no. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings and Martin Kaymer, who ranked no. 2. Also, he was six shots ahead of Tiger Woods.

McIlroy only had a European Tour win in Dubai a couple of years ago. He wasn’t able to defend his title at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic. But, he ranked seventh at the Official World Golf Rankings.

The professional golfer from Northern Ireland had eight birdies and one bogey to go at the annual golf tournament held at Emirates Golf Club. He obtained the early lead and held on to it. Both Thomas Aiken and Sergio followed by two shots.

Woods had 71 shots, but he experienced some problems earlier in the day. He scored two under par at the 18th hole following a 3-wood hit 250 yards to the green.

However, much of the attraction in the opening round focused on the top three golfers. The English golfer, Lee Westwood had several hits to get four birdies. He wavered toward the end as he missed out another birdie. On the 18th hole, he scored a lone bogey when the ball fell short of the green and almost rolled into the water.

Kaymer, who received a double bogey, hit the grandstand on the ninth hole where the ball ended up in water. He had six birdies and barely missed an eagle putt. Woods had moments of difficulty and brilliance throughout his round. The difficulties were evident by his actions.

Last month, McIlroy was a runner-up at the Abu Dhabi Championship. He also triumphed at the 2009 Quail Hollow Championship. He said he benefited from the effort he made on his swing this week and in the offseason.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Maria Sharapova on Sunday giving four-time champions Russia a momentous 3-2 win over France and a position in the Fed Cup semi-finals.

Playing her first Fed Cup game in three years last Saturday, Sharapova had fallen with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Virginia Razzano in the opening singles rubber. She also did not feature well in Moscow last Sunday.

After Alize Cornet defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Russia had been down 2-0 overnight. However, world number 14 Pavlyuchenkova defeated Cornet 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 last Sunday, before Kuznetsova intensified the World Group I clash by seeing off Razzano to 6-4, 6-4.

In the history of the event, no team has ever overturned a 2-0 deficit. But, Pavlyuchenkova ignored the record books and partnered with Kuznetsova to a 7-6, 6-0 win against Cornet and Julie Coin in a fierce doubles competition.

Russia has been the 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 Fed Cup winners. On April, they will face two-time defending champions Italy in the semi-finals.

Italy defeated Australia 4-1 with world number Flavia Pennetta. In the competition, she extended her winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jarmila Groth. It was followed by world number four Francesca Schiavone, the French Open champion, with 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 win over Samantha Stosur.

Sera Errani and Roberta Vinci beat Australian combination Anastasia Rodionova and Rennae Stubbs 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the doubles rubber.

Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters took a semi-finals ticket for Belgium thanks to a 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bethanie Mattek-Sands in Antwerp when the home-side took an indisputable lead over the United States.

Bosh is back to the All-Star game as an Eastern Conference reserve along with Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. The announcement made on Thursday gave Miami Heat three players in the league’s midseason showcase for the first time.

Some speculations were made about whether Bosh would get the vote for the All-Star team, but the Heat power forward never worried.

Bosh averaged 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds before their Friday game in Charlotte. The figures were simply worth an All-Star consideration. However, his value to the team goes far deeper than what it appears on the stat sheets.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said James might be the reigning MVP in the league. But, Bosh is more significant to Miami. He called Bosh as their most important player. He secures defense and facilitates offense in the team.

This is Bosh’s sixth All-Star trip in eight seasons- his fourth as a reserve. However, this vote came without any display of past appearances. Before the 2008 game, he filmed some videos that were posted in YouTube in an effort to attract fans to vote for him as a starter. This time, he simply sat back and waited for the official announcement.

The reserves were chosen by the head coaches in each conference. The head coaches had to vote for two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position.

The other East reserves that will accompany Bosh are Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Al Horford. Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Jeremy West and Shaquille O’Neal were selected for the 14th straight year. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo will also accompany their Boston Celtics teammate.

For the West, the reserves are San Antionio Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Forwards Pau Gasol of Los Angeles Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, and guards Rusell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and Deron Williams of Utah. Westbrook joins Blake Griifin of Los Angeles Clippers as the lone fist-time selections.

The game will be held on Feb. 20 at Los Angeles.

The original Super Bowl champions are back. Last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the Super Bowl held at Cowboys Stadium.

Packers have won four Super Bowl titles since the 1960s. However, this is their first since 1997 when they still had Brett Favre as their quarter back. In the late 1960s, they won their first two Super Bowl titles with their coach, Vince Lombardi.

Pittsburgh was supposed to get their third title in six seasons, but that goal reached an end when Ben Roethlisberger’s fourth-down pass was incomplete in the final minute.

Before halftime, Jennings’ 21-yard TD had placed Green Bay up 21-3. Early in the fourth quarter, Jennings’ 8-yard TD made it 28-17.

The Steelers responded along with Roethlisberger tossing a 25-yard TD pass to Mike Wallace with only 7 minutes, 34 seconds left. Pittsburgh went for two. Taking a pitch into end zone, Andtwaan Randle El cut the gap to a field goal.

Aaron Rodgers finished 24 of 39 for 309 yards with three touchdowns. Roethlisberger was 25 0f 40 for 263 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns in the first half.

Green Bay had three penalties and a punt in the second half. Pittsburgh had 50 yards in five plays. Rashard Mendenhall made a 17-yard run to the end zone from 8-yards to score 21-17.

The Steelers missed an opportunity to get closer when Shaun Suisham’s goal attempt was wide left on a 52-yard field late in the third quarter. It came after Frank Zombo sacked Roethlisberger, whose first touchdown pass came before the 32-minute halftime break that highlighted the performance of the Black Eyed Peas. Special appearances were made by R&B star Usher and former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash.

Jarret Bush made an interception near midfield before Jennings made his first TD catch. Nick Collins returned the other interception made by Roethlisberger 37 yards for a touchdown.

Fernando Torres firmly said he will not be taken aback while making his debut for Chelsea against his previous club Liverpool on Sunday.

Torres was given an astounding 50 million pounds, or 80 million dollar transfer fee from Liverpool to Stamford Bridge just before the transfer deadline on Monday. This weekend, the Spaniard striker is expected to make his first appearance for Chelsea against his old club from Anfield.

The record transfer fee for Torres paid by the English football club Chelsea hasn’t calmed down some Liverpool fans. They burned replica shirts with the name of the Spain striker upon hearing the news of the deal on Mereyside.

Torres admitted that it would be an overwhelming moment to face Liverpool this early in his Chelsea career. However, the 26-year-old footballer does not want to miss the Bridge clash, even though he could be mocked by Reds supporters.

Although Torres enjoyed most of his stay at Liverpool, he admits he once started to think about leaving Anfield at the end of last season subsequent to the failure of the club to qualify for the Champions League.

The former star from Atletic Madrid had hoped to win several medals when he moved to Anfield, but his trophy cabinet isstill bare after four years.

Torres told Chelsea’s website that last summer, he felt he needed to do a step forward in his career, as well as for his ambition as a footballer.

He said he is joining a team that is at the top level since there is not another level after Chelsea.

After not be being able to go to the Champions League with Liverpool who was beaten by Chelsea in the 2008 semi-finals, Torres is desperate to assist his new club take over Europe.

The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) has decided to ban Tour de France champion Alberto Contador for one year because of his failed drug test that took place durring last year’s race.

A statement released by the rider’s spokesman Jacinto Vidarte said on Wednesday that Alberto Contador has received notification of the one-year ban proposal by the competition committee of the Spanish federation.

Contador has threatened to end his career if he is punished. He has still 10 days to appeal the preliminary ruling before the RFEC gives their final decision.

Vidarte added that the 28-year-old rider will hold a news conference on Friday in Mallorca where he is currently training.

However, he did not mention if the federation has also decided to remove the Spaniard from the 2010 Tour title.

Since August, Contador has been temporarily suspended after it came out that he had tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned anabolic agent, during his third Tour de France win.

The athlete denied the wrongdoing. He said the failed test was because of food poisoning.

Even though he will accept the decision of the federal, he may still not be able to immediately close the controversy since the cycling’s world governing body called UCI, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency could defy the ban.

For the past few years, the sport has been marked with a series of high-profile drug testing cases, including 1996 Tour winner Bjarne Riis and 2006 champion Floyd Landis.

Seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong is also the center of federal investigation in United States after Landis alleged last year that the 39-year old Texan and other well-known figures in the sport had taken drugs.