As a reporter, you’d watch those Sunday evening draws anticipating where the wonderful magical backdoor journey could take you.

Back when I met Dave Hopla last March, he told a story which gives an insight into Kobe Bryant.

Until this season, the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team were really only known for one saga: the infamous big-money acquisition of Wayne Gretzky, a move that shocked the sport and tore the heart out of a city and a country in the late 1980s.

THERE’S winning pretty, and there’s just plain winning – and the Los Angeles Lakers will to continue their no-nonsense winning approach as they look to outmuscle the Boston Celtics in tomorrow night’s Game Two of the NBA Finals (tomorrow 1am Irish time, Live on ESPN).

SYDNEY SWANS coach Paul Roos has expressed doubts about the proposed new Australian Rules team, the Sydney Celtics, which is to feature Irish players.

NO member of the Boston Celtics enjoyed their 17th championship more than Paul Pierce.

PAUL PIERCE hailed the character of the Boston Celtics after they stormed back from a 24-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers and move within one game of the NBA title.