Egypt's longtime national goalkeeper Nader el-Sayed had never been interested in politics. But when in January he joined hundreds of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square to demand regime change, he knew a new career was in the making.

The veteran player, who won more than 100 caps and was twice voted best goalkeeper in the African Cup of Nations, is standing for parliament in the first elections since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak after three decades of rule.

With the unofficial title of "winter champion" nearly secured before the visit of Cologne on Friday, Bayern Munich is uncharacteristically calm ahead of the year's last weekend of Bundesliga play.

Bayern is three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, and a vastly superior goal difference should ensure the top spot going into the league's four-week break.

Eliminated from the Champions League and with its unbeaten run in the Premier League over, Manchester City's mettle will be tested by in-form Arsenal on Sunday as the battle for the English title hots up this weekend.

City's defeat by Chelsea on Monday blew the title race open ahead of the traditional busy schedule of Christmas fixtures, with four teams now within nine points of the leaders.

Chris Paul will supply the Los Angeles Clippers with so much more than alley-oop passes to Blake Griffin when he arrives in Hollywood on Thursday night.

A bold trade for New Orleans' superstar point guard on Wednesday just might alter the entire sports world's perception of the Clippers. After managing just six winning seasons in their first 41 years of existence, the bumbling Clippers suddenly look slick and scintillating after swinging arguably the biggest trade in franchise history, giving them two of the NBA's elite players and a capable supporting cast.

The Indian Olympic Association will formally ask organizers of the London Games to drop Dow Chemical as a sponsor over its links to the Bhopal disaster, acting chief Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Wednesday.

"We will express our displeasure to London Games organizers and ask them to drop Dow as one of their sponsors," Malhotra told AFP, adding that the company's role was "unacceptable".

Cologne striker Lukas Podolski has poured cold water on Schalke 04's ambitions to sign him by saying he cannot imagine switching to another German league club.

Germany international Podolski, who is under contract until 2013, hit a late equalizer for Cologne in their 1-1 draw with Mainz Tuesday, thus netting his 14th goal of the season and 10th goal in eight league games.

Paul Ince expects recent developments at Manchester United mean the club will look to sign new players during the January transfer window.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has repeatedly expressed his reluctance to add to his squad halfway through the season on the grounds there are few good deals to be had.

Lamar Odom knows what it takes to repeat as an NBA champion.

Vince Carter wants to know what it feels like to become an NBA champion.

South American champion Santos advanced to the Club World Cup final by beating Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 Thursday, setting up a possible showdown between Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Brazil teenager Neymar.

The 19-year-old Neymar, who is touted to be the next big star in football, scored one of the Brazilian club's goals.

After months of putting his health at risk while playing with a chronic bowel disease, Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been forced take an extended break from football to rest and recuperate.

The 27-year-old Scotland captain, who did not play between March and September with what United previously called a "virus," has been suffering from ulcerative colitis — an inflammatory bowel condition.