Wash

Sunderland, England  - West Ham United have agreed a 10 million pound (13.9million-dollar) compensation package with Sheffield United to settle the dispute over Carlos Tevez, according to reports in the British media on Friday.

United argued that the Argentinian forward's involvement in a number of games in 2007-07 while in breach of the Premier League's regulations on third-party ownership had been decisive in West Ham staying up while they were relegated.

Tehran, Mar. 13: Iran beat the United States in a wrestling competition in Tehran on Thursday, the same day President Obama announced that the U. S. is extending sanctions against that nation for one more year.

Six U. S. wrestlers participated in the two-day Takhti Cup at Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) sports complex, along with athletes from Cuba, Turkey and other nations.

The Iranians took ten of the competition's twelve medals.

"We made some pretty critical mistakes," U. S. head coach Zeke Jones.

"It is always a wonderful opportunity to compete with the Iranians. They are such a great wrestling country. It is one of the best tournaments in the world," he added.

Los Angeles  - One night after carrying the Los Angeles Lakers to the finish line, Kobe Bryant saved them from a late collapse.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player scored 23 points, including the game-sealing three-pointer with 1:46 left, as the Lakers held off the San Antonio Spurs 102-95 on Thursday night in a showdown between Western Conference leaders.

With the victory, the league-best Lakers (52-13) won the Pacific Division title for the 20th time in franchise history, and became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot.

Melbourne, Mar. 13: After scoring over 1000 first class runs in the 2008-09 season and being recognized as Australia’s One Day Player of the Year, Victoria’s Chris Rogers is being rated as a possibility for the upcoming Ashes tour in England.

If he scores again in the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland starting at the Junction Oval today, he could make the national grade as the third opener in the Ashes touring party - a position his coach Greg Shipperd and skipper Cameron White agree is Rogers for the taking.

London, Mar. 13  Liverpool defender Philipp Degen may have scored on his return from injury last night, but had to limp off with a groin strain.