LeBron James wins NBA regular MVP

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- 24-year-old LeBron James, super star of Cleveland Cavalier, was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season on Monday.

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It was announced a day before the Cavaliers begin their second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. They trounced the Detroit Pistons four games in a row in the previous round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

James, the first Cavaliers player by winning the award, finished second in voting for defensive player of the year.

At 24 years and 125 days old, he became the youngest player to win the award since Moses Malone (24 years, 16 days) in 1978-79 Season. Wes Unseld was 23 when he won it in 1968-69 Season.

James started a career-high 81 games and recorded personal bests in field-goal (49%) and free-throw (79%) percentages. He became just the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Soccer player banned for swine flu related spitting

Special Report:World tackles A/H1N1 flu

MEXICO CITY, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A Mexican soccer player has been banned for spitting and blowing nasal secretions at an opponent then telling him he had swine flu.

Guadalajara defender Hector Reynoso has provisionally been suspended from all matches in the Libertadores Cup following last week's game at Everton of Chile in South America's top club competition.

The South American Football Confederation (CSF) said the length of the ban would be determined in the next 72 hours.

"At around the 90th minute of the aforementioned game, Reynoso, following an incident in the game, reacted by spitting at Everton player Sebastian Penco and then releasing nasal secretions at the face of the player," said the CSF in a statement.

Reynoso was widely quoted as saying in the media that he had told Penco he had the disease (swine flu).

Guadalajara players complained that their opponents taunted them with remarks about swine flu during the game which ended 1-1.

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Magic center Howard named NBA Defensive Player of Year

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday after becoming the fifth player in league history in rebounds and blocked shots.

The three-time All-Star center received 542 points, including 105 first-place votes from a panel of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters, to easily outdistance the rest of the field.

Howard, 23, led the NBA in rebounding with 13.8 per game and blocked shots, 2.9 per game, as he helped the Magic to third place in the Eastern Conference, as well as the team's second consecutive Southeast crown.

"It's something you got to want to do," Howard said. "It's all about winning, and I try to have that mentality of protecting the paint."

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, the favorite to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award this season, finished second with148 points, while Miami Heats' Dwyane Wade was third with 90 points.

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National volleyball squad gets first black player

A rookie ball player caught the media's attention yesterday when the China Volleyball Association released the new training roster for the men's national team. Ding Hui, who turns 20 this June, is the first black player in Chinese history to be chosen for the national squad.

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Ding's father is from South Africa, but he was brought up by his mother in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. He showed early promise as an athlete and was accepted into a special sports school. In 2003, he was became a member of the provincial volleyball team and later progressed to the national junior squad. His selection for the senior squad is the logical progression for the talented youngster who plays in the libero position.

Starring at the Youth World Championships

Ding first grabbed public attention at the World Youth Championships in Mexico in 2007 when the Chinese team took a surprising second place. The 1.85-meter player deeply impressed Zhou Jian'an, head coach of the national team. "I've been watching him play for some time. He is in good physical condition and has great potential, but he is a little young to play at the Beijing Olympics," Zhou said in 2007.

A year later, Zhou recruited Ding for the new national squad that will train for the London Olympics. The coach acknowledged that Ding had brought media attention but denied this was the reason for his selection. "We pick players for their ability and to meet the needs of the team as a whole," said Zhou. "He's no different from the other players. They are all Chinese."

Ding echoed the coach, saying that he didn't want to be treated differently from the other players. But he has suddenly found himself thrust into the spotlight and has to field constant phone calls from the press. "They all want to interview me, maybe just because I have overseas origins," said Ding. "But I want to build my reputation through my performances on the court."

"I am not expecting Ding to become a celebrity. I just want him to be healthy and happy," said Yu Jianxiu, Ding's mother.

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