Lakers star Kobe Bryant announces end of career

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has announced his retirement from active competition for the end of this season. Its 20th season in the professional league NBA will be his last, reported the "New York Times" on Sunday.

The shooting guard has announced his resignation on the Internet platform "The Players 'Tribune' in a poem entitled" Dear Basketball ». Although his heart and his brain could bear the burden of the sport yet, wrote the 37-year-old. "But my body knows it is time to say goodbye."

He fell in love at the age of six years in the sport and given him everything: "Brain and Body", "spirit and soul", Bryant wrote on.

Bryant has enjoyed a career full of superlatives: it has five NBA championship titles and is two-time Olympic champion. He also scored the fifth player in the NBA history 30,000 points in his career. In 2012 he managed the youngest player in the illustrious circle the inclusion of the most successful hunters points in the long history of North American professional basketball league NBA.

His contract ends on 30 June 2016 just two months before his 38th birthday. Kobe Bryant had in recent years, however, repeatedly suffered physical setbacks (Achilles tendon injuries, knee, shoulder). The newspaper "USA Today" said that in view of its rather poor form lately, the announced withdrawal from the sport was hardly surprising.

 Kobe Bryant is one of the biggest earners in professional basketball and also results in 2015 again the list. The Lakers star earned $ 25 million this year.

Andrea Petkovic motivated by Sven Voss

Andrea Petkovic, currently world ranking number 22 in women's tennis, was on Saturday night as a guest in the current Sports Centre (ZDF) and told in an interview with presenter Sven Voss, why she thought the leztzten weeks and months again and again about their careers end.

A good performance with a distinct message right at the beginning of the conversation: Petko continues.

Who on Saturday night not just the TV-Total-diving or the boxing Klitschko vs. Fury remained hanging, which was in the ZDF Sport Studio to see a classic interview in which tennis star Andrea Petkovic presenter Sven Voss answer questions stand. The conversation began:

Sven Voss: "You have said.? I want to find out if I want to continue playing Which conclusions did you come" Andrea Petkovic (laughs): "Well, I'm going to continue playing." Sven Voss: "Thank you here were. "Andrea Petkovic:" Yes, I can now indeed go ... "

After this little slugfest the face of Petkovic started to significantly darken before they talked about the most difficult time of their career. Career-ending? Burn-out, deep hole ... all terms that last fall in connection with Germany's tennis ace.

Petkovic commented wiefolgt: "I have said I do not want to go on like that was, but rather based on the 0:. 6, 0: 6 defeat (...), on the deep hole in which I daily maneuvered myself had - I had just not fun anymore, I took everything too seriously, every defeat was totally meaningless pregnant It was loose anything I had forgotten that I still love the sport "...

Voss goes where it hurts - the TV viewers got a sovereign Petkovic to see that, however, time and again noticeably tried to steer the conversation in a fluffy, light, entertaining direction. Somewhat confused her compared to the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, who had to fight also the age of 28 years with burnout, but then "his guitar in his hand took" and doing what he loved. Moderator Sven Voss however let such comparisons winking subsequently no longer apply and turned consistently among the subjects that Petkovic visible severe fell:

Voss: "Is it too difficult to go on tour, if one knows that one is really needed at home your mother is ill ...?" Petkovic: "Yes, there came much together I am a very familirärer Man Man enjoying.. the time very, you must spend at home. (...) It was also a part of the whole, I've built up in my head (...) which was not so bad to the outside. This is me now become aware." 

Sven Voss: " Is that your criticism at the tennis circus you travel a lot (...) In reality, you are there also very lonely "? Andrea Petkovic: " Yes, (...) the images that you see, it always looks all very loud. But it is most of the time alone in the hotel (...) as I would hope, I would have a football team with me (...) Just the time to share together (...) The of course, has played a big part. "

Conclusion: A presence that is encouraging - and wanting more towards the end of the interview told Petkovic nor of their friendly ties to Boris Becker: "When I go to a match almost depressed sitting at the French Open at the table, he's easy to set me. (...) In the end it was really great, he could tell me a lot of things. " Boris Becker, as Petkovic could "give a bit of maintenance" her. And you could see that even the TV appearance. Petkovic had strengthened, motivated, confident. Nothing to see from the disturbing impressions, moored at the headlines of the past few weeks ("End of career", "crisis of meaning", "crying fits").

Andrea Petkovic is back. And looking forward to the new season. At the Olympics in Rio. "I look forward to as a little child," said the tennis player. We are pleased with it! The ease, it seems, is back. On the ZDF goal wall she put the end of the program then also directly demonstrate - and hammered the ball in the last try in the top left in the proverbial "Willi".

Bundesliga: Pep: declaration of love to the city & staff

Coach Pep Guardiola has let elicit any concrete statements about his future at Bayern Munich on Sunday, but raved about the city and issued a declaration of love to his staff.

 "We speak in peace," he said during Advent visit to the Lower Bavarian Fan club "Bayern Vilsbiburg Bazis" with regard to the interview with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

The club boss wants 96 perform this after the last match of the first round in Hanover on 19 December with the coach. "We will," Guardiola announced for the interview to "make the right decision. For the club. For me. That's the most important thing."

Pep raves about employees

Nevertheless, the Catalan underlined once again how well he feels in the Bavarian capital. "The city is amazing. I love it. I'm very happy. My family also." This was "a big reason" for a possible extension.

"I am satisfied with the club, the players," Pep, who had prepared a declaration of love, especially for the staff of the record champion said: "I love working with the Bayern-employees."

Losses for Klose and Rüdigers from AS Roma - Juventus wins without Khedira

With football champion Miroslav Klose as the joker Lazio Rome in the Italian Serie A conceded a painful defeat. When tables -16th Empoli FC defeated the capital club on Sunday with 0: 1 (0: 1) and slipped to tenth place.

Lorenzo Tonelli (5th) had Empoli scored an early lead in the second half (57) Substitute Klose missed in the 74th minute the equalizer home.

Without the injured Sami Khedira put Juventus his comeback continues. After his poor start to the season of champions triumphed at US Palermo 1: 0 (0: 0) and celebrated his fourth win in succession. Juve's fifth and six points behind leaders Inter Milan. The former Munich Bundesliga player Mario Mandzukic (54), Stefano Sturaro (89th) and Simone Zaza (90 + 3) met for Turin.

Without national player Antonio Rüdiger Lazio's city rivals AS Roma suffered their first home defeat. Five days after the 1: 6 defeat in the Champions League with FC Barcelona the former Stuttgart was on the bench when his team 0: 2 (0: 1) against Atalanta lost.

Alejandro Gomez (40th) and German Denis (83. / penalty) scored the goals, substitute Roman Maicon was sent off (81), yellow and red, there were for the guests Player Guglielmo Stendardo (88th) and Alberto Grassi (90th). Rome failed to make it to second place and is with 27 points in fourth place - three points behind leaders Inter Milan, who competes on Monday (21.00 clock) at Napoli. Rüdiger had been harshly criticised by Italian media after his poor performance in Barcelona.

PSG should especially be wary of himself

Autumn Champion - PSG - after his success against Troyes (4-1) Saturday, PSG flies over the Championship of France as did Lyon during the 2006-2007 season, which had 14-point lead over Lille at the 15 th day. There are three competitions a. The battle for the title, one for European markets and finally the struggle to maintain. 

One certainty: PSG remains alone in its class. He will be champion of France and the only suspense is knowing when. Without competition or adversity in France, PSG could pay in the Champions League. 

How to motivate? Tomorrow, simply PSG to read the classification of the L 1 for not taking Angers, promoted and surprising 3 e, too to lightly. But how to stay focused when you have as much advance? For now, the question does not arise. "During our last 4 or 5 games, you're in the right frame of mind," notes Laurent Blanc, referring to the victories against Toulouse, Lorient, Troyes or Malmö for 16 and scored two goals conceded. 

The PSG coach however, is not fooled: sagging sometimes watches his men, as in Rheims September 19 (1-1), one of two draws Parisians of the season. 

"Youth will be put if the pros do not have the motivation," he warns. PSG is not there. However, the gap of thirteen points Ligue 1 on the first prosecutor gives the technician more convenience to rotate his team and integrate young shoots, became a subject sensitive to the club since the start in 2014 of Kingsley Coman at Juventus and more since his explosion at Bayern in 2015. 

Augustin, scorer Saturday against Troyes, had known his first start on August 16 against Ajaccio (2-0) and the Park and Ongenda Kimpembe immediately trampled the lawn of the Stadium Moustoir in Lorient when moving with a purpose and a penultimate pass for the first (2-1)

Serie A - Juventus puts the fourth 0-3 to Palermo

The Bianconeri also pass Barbera finding the fourth successive league: a decisive blow with the head of Mandzukic in the second half on assists usual Dybala, then seals the end of Sturaro and Zaza. Juve thus returns to -3 from Rome Ranked fourth

It is not completely cured, it is not completely round, but for less time wins. The fourth consecutive victory of Juventus in the league comes with a round 0-3 in Palermo - 0-1 score "true" - that does not erase the problems of construction of the maneuver of the Bianconeri, but at the same time delivered a solid team again and cynical . And this in itself is already a news story. Success, this was built based on a 3-5-2 module now with more guarantees for Allegri; and showing the Juventus to -3 from that Rome that until a few weeks ago seemed unattainable. Now, however, even before the Christmas break, Juve is already there breathing down the neck of the Giallorossi. Too early to kick up a 'Championship Manager', but the march is clear: somehow, Juventus, it has led to. The other the task - not obvious - to continue as if nothing had happened.

THE CHRONICLE

Cuardado yes, Alex Sandro not. In Palermo Allegri returns with 3-5-2 appearing form better working at home Juve, but compared to the City's turnover Exterior: instead of the Brazilian - best in the field with the English - Evra; instead of Lichtsteiner, Cuadrado. The move does not seem to pay much: the Colombian fact combines little to the right, and on the other side of the Juve struggling to break through. About, of course, also of Palermo. The boys Ballardini keep high pace on the ball carrier and kill the bud already - rather poor - ideas of Juve. In short, it comes out so that the best chance to score in the first half comes on the head from a corner by Bonucci. Little, if the idea is to put Juventus fourth consecutive win in season.

But after the break the music changes. And it does so almost immediately. Or because Palermo is unable to keep the pace of the first half, but want above all because of the stroke of Paulo Dybala that with a perfect left is the movement of the far post Mandzukic: detachment of arrogance on Struna, goals that changes the race.

Yes because Ballardini goes a bit 'in panic lever Gilardino, he throws in Quaison and Trajkovski, but not so the Palermo takes on a more even. For the Juventus rearguard becomes a breeze manage the lead, and in the end, in Palermo now unbalanced, before Sturaro - assists Pogba - and then Zaza - assists Morata - close the budget.

STATISTICS

Fourth straight league victory for Juventus. He not happened since last April.

Piano piano, e neppure tanto in verità, la #Juve completa il suo giro rivoluzionario e lancia tre squilli al campionato.

— Roberto Renga (@RobertoRenga) November 29, 2015