Suppliers of a plumber on trial for a gas leak manslaughter charge confirmed yesterday that they advised the accused that converting a boiler, central to the case, was just a matter of changing a chip.

Last week, just before he would inspire Austin Stacks to their first county title in 20 years and win the right to captain Kerry in 2015, Kieran Donaghy ran a five-day basketball camp for 150 kids in his hometown of Tralee.

Model turned actress Cara Delevingne has become the highest new entry in an annual list of the UK's wealthy young stars.

Hollywood star Zac Efron has been named the “hottest hunk” of 2014 – ousting Tom Daley, who took top spot in the Heat magazine poll last year.

LeBron James is heading back to free agency.

Kawhi Leonard will probably never adorn an NBA billboard in China, nor will Boris Diaw or Patty Mills.

Does your nana love sport? Because this one adores NBA basketball!

Chicago Bulls centre Joakim Noah is in the form of his life this season in the absence of star teammate Derrick Rose and produced another talismanic performance Sunday evening against the Miami Heat.

The US first-lady videobombs a White House interview with the Miami Heat. FLOTUS got game.

Chris Brown has filed a countersuit against a woman who has accused him of battery.

One of the signposts welcoming traffic to Brooklyn from Queens calls on those who pass by to “Believe the Hype”, paraphrasing that classic Public Enemy hip-hop track.

Heart-throbs One Direction have topped another chart - toppling Daniel Radcliffe from the number one spot in a rich list of young UK stars.

Heartthrobs One Direction have topped another chart — toppling Daniel Radcliffe from the number one spot in a rich list of young stars.

Lady Gaga made Cher carry her "weird" meat handbag.

"I'm LeBron James from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city. I'm not even supposed to be here… It doesn't matter what anybody else says about me. I ain't got no worries."

The San Antonio Spurs spent most of the past week resting, answering the same questions from the media and battering each other during practice.

They have a phrase in American sport: “the Face of the Franchise”.

It was a good weekend for two of the greatest, most divisive athletes in the world.

Gail Goodrich knew Miami would beat Boston the other night.

When the members of the LA Lakers team that won the 1971-72 NBA title got together last year to reminisce about the good old days, one question dominated the event: would there ever be a season like theirs?

THE CREAM OF THE CROP

Chart stars One Direction have amassed so much cash they have soared into an under-30s British rich list – displacing Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.

Chart stars One Direction have amassed so much cash they have soared into an under-30s British rich list — displacing Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.

These used to be the moments that suffocated LeBron James.

LeBron James led the way with a triple-double as the Miami Heat completed a 4-1 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to secure the NBA title last night.

Chris Brown has been spending time with Rihanna's family.

AFTER weeks examining the illicit and underhanded practices of a sensation- hungry press, Britain’s media ethics inquiry shifted its gaze to celebrity magazine editors, who painted a kinder, gentler picture of their trade.

CHRISTMAS DAY is the jewel in the crown of the NBA season but this year it will bring with it a bigger gift than ever: basketball’s return from the brink.

IN the year I saw my first live NBA game, it was worth a sleepless night to catch the season’s last.

HE held the trophy into the air, Dirk Nowitzki marching across the court pushing midnight now, pushing past his wildest dreams as a skinny, scared teenager arriving in the NBA all those years ago.

Elle Macpherson cuts out heavy foods before hitting the beach.

Cheryl Cole has rounded off a successful year by topping two beauty polls.

The break-up of FHM and Heat publisher Emap remained on track today after the media group reported “good interest” in all of its assets.

Britney Spears is turning to special lollipops and asthma inhalers in a desperate bid to lose weight, according to reports.

FHM publisher Emap is today said to be in talks with banks to offer loans to bidders interested in buying its businesses.

PROFESSIONAL basketball player Shaquille O’Neal is a Miami Beach reserve police officer.

Professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal is now a Miami Beach reserve police officer.

Defending champions Detroit will are going back to the NBA finals due to Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat could not hold onto a lead in the final minutes.

Victoria Beckham will give birth to her third child in a Madrid hospital on 25 February, according to reports.

A British showbiz magazine has apologised to a lapdancer after former Westlife singer Bryan McFadden denied he had sexual relations with her.

Magazines and radio group Emap saw its share price tumble 9% today after it said that trading conditions had worsened at its French arm.

THE president of a counter-terrorism consulting firm has been charged with possessing 2,352 unregistered small military missiles.

Kylie Minogue's dress from her latest video has been named top of the frocks in a national poll.