Armstrong to address doping scandal in televised interview

NEW YORK - The world will finally get to hear Lance Armstrong's "confession" when the first part of highly-publicized interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey is broadcast on television. (CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/, expect first copy by 0230 GMT/9:30 PM ET, by Julian Linden and Steve Keating, 800 words)

Note: Reaction stories will move following the show

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Armstrong stripped of 2000 bronze medal

LONDON - Lance Armstrong is stripped of his 2000 Olympic Games cycling time trial bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee, continuing the once dominant rider's spectacular fall from grace after a doping storm. (CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/OLYMPICS (UPDATE 4), moved; may be led, 600 words)

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A tough climb to redemption

LONDON - Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong faces a tough battle to salvage his image as the usual strategy by fallen stars of confession, apology and making amends may not be enough to appease an angry public, according to crisis management experts. (CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/IMAGE, moved, by Belinda Goldsmith, 750 words)

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National Football League

Ravens' Flacco tries to conquer Brady and the Patriots

Joe Flacco, anointed the 'General' of the Baltimore Ravens as the hand-picked successor by the team's motivational leader, Ray Lewis, seeks to establish himself among the top rank of quarterbacks when the AFC North champions take on the New England Patriots and signal caller Tom Brady in the AFC title game on Sunday. (NFL-PLAYOFFS/AFC, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 600 words)

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Lewis either exits NFL or heads to Super Bowl

Ray Lewis will be playing the last game of his brilliant 17-year career with the Ravens or heading to his first Super Bowl in 12 years when Baltimore visits the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game. (NFL-PLAYOFFS/AFC-LEWIS, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 500 words)

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In Gus they trust: Jaguars hire Bradley

Gus Bradley was almost the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles before Chip Kelly reemerged from the dark. But he lands in a solid situation in Jacksonville, where a new owner and new GM will help him build up a moribund roster. (FBN-JAGUARS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

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49ers continue Atlanta preparations

SAN FRANCISCO - Post-practice story from the 49ers three days before the NFC Championship Game in Atlanta. (FBN-49ERS-NEWS/, expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)

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Turner for hire

Many believe Norv Turner is better suited as an excellent offensive coordinator rather than a head coach. He lands exactly that role working for new Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinksi. (FBN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words)

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NFL Notebook

The latest news and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTES/, expect by 0000 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)

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Manti Te'o

Hoax tip came by email

The tip that led to the revelation that one of the most widely recounted U.S. sports narratives of the past year was a hoax came to the editors of an online sports blog as many of their news tips do: an unsolicited email. (FOOTBALL/HOAX, moved; will be led, 700 words)

Note: Sidebars to move as warranted

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Te'o fiasco could lead to draft-day slide

It has been a rough start to 2013 for Manti Te'o. The Heisman runner-up struggled on the field in the BCS title game, and now must satisfy questions by NFL teams regarding the alleged hoax surrounding a nonexistent dead girlfriend to save his once rock-solid draft status (FBN-COLUMN/, expect by 1830GMT/2 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Rob Rang, 500 words)

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National Basketball Association

Clippers take on Love-less T'Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS - The Los Angeles Clippers seek their third consecutive victory, with point guard Chris Paul a game-time decision. Minnesota has won seven of its last nine home games, but is 1-5 without injured star Kevin Love (BKN-CLIPPERS-TIMBERWOLVES-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)

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Heat check: Surging Lakers test recent success

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers get Paul Gasol back in the lineup as they seek their first three-game winning streak in more than three weeks. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat's LeBron James returns to the court a night after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. (BKN-HEAT-LAKERS-WRITETHRU/, expect by 0700 GMT/2 AM ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)

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NBA Notebook

The latest news and notes from around the league. (BKN-NEWS/NOTES, expect by 0000 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)

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College Basketball

No. 3 Duke looks to rebound against young Georgia Tech

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke hits the floor for the first time since its first loss of the season to N.C. State, which dropped the Blue Devils to No. 3 in the country. Georgia Tech is a young team riding a three-game ACC losing streak (BKC-GEORGIATECH-DUKE-WRITETHRU/(PIX), expect by 12:30 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)

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Spartans seek consistency against rivals

MINNEAPOLIS - Michigan is no longer undefeated, and now kicks off a nine-game stretch of conference games that includes six on the road - beginning with No 9 Minnesota. (BKC-MICHIGAN-MINNESOTA-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 10:30 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)

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CBK Notebook

The latest news and notes from around the league. (BKN-NOTES, expect by 0045 GMT/7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

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Golf

Mickelson opens 2013 PGA Tour campaign at Humana Challenge

LA QUINTA, California - American PGA Tour rookie Russell Henley, fresh from a stunning three-shot victory at the Sony Open on Sunday, will command the spotlight along with twice former winner Phil Mickelson and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson in Thursday's opening round of the 72-hole pro-am celebrity event in the California desert. (GOLF-PGA/, expect early lead by 2330 GMT/6:30 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 450 words)

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Rose and Donaldson lead as McIlroy and Woods toil

ABU DHABI - Rory McIlroy is reduced to a bit-part role and Tiger Woods strikes one of the worst shots of the day as Britons Justin Rose and Jamie Donaldson steal the show in the Abu Dhabi Championship first round. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/ (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 750 words)

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Green has Augusta in mind for dad

ABU DHABI - Richard Green is launching his new season at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week and, anxious to make a dream come true for his 70-year-old father George, he already has Augusta in April very much on his mind. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/GREEN (INTERVIEW), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 700 words)

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Major League Baseball

Team USA announces roster for World Baseball Classic

The National League Cy Young Award winner, three MVP award winners and a host of Major League Baseball All-Stars are on Team USA's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic. (BASEBALL-WBC/USA, moved, 450 words)

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Tennis

Federer and Serena make light of Melbourne scorcher

MELBOURNE - Roger Federer and Serena Williams show there is plenty of life left in their relatively old legs by easing into the third round of the Australian Open on a day when sweltering heat tests the stamina of thirty-something and teenager alike. (TENNIS-OPEN/ (WRAPUP 3, PIX), moved, by Nick Mulvenney, 900 words)

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Another double bagel unlikely as Sharapova meets Venus

MELBOURNE - After serving up a 'double, double bagel', second seed Maria Sharapova could find herself packing her bags for her next tournament on Friday after she meets Venus Williams in the third round of the Australian Open. (TENNIS-OPEN/FRIDAY (PIX), moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 300 words)

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'Diva' Raonic has appetite for grand slam success

MELBOURNE - Milos Raonic is as fastidious about his food as his attitude to training and hopes his 'diva-like' attention to detail might help him gate-crash the exclusive club guarded jealously by the 'Big Four' of men's tennis. (TENNIS-OPEN/RAONIC (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved by Ian Ransom, 900 words)

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So unfair! Bad day for teens at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE - Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki says she feels old at the age of 22 while Kimiko Date-Krumm, 20 years her senior, takes a look around the locker room and realizes she is old enough to be the mother of many of her rivals at the Australian Open. (TENNIS-OPEN/TEENAGERS (PIX), moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 800 words)

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Federer sets up match against Tomic and Australia

MELBOURNE - After routing old sparring partner Nikolay Davydenko at the Australian Open, Roger Federer shifts his focus to humbling one of the young guns in his third round clash against local favorite Bernard Tomic. (TENNIS-OPEN/FEDERER (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by Ian Ransom, 600 words)

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Monfils still believes he can win a grand slam

MELBOURNE - A rejuvenated, fit-again Gael Monfils believes he is capable of winning a grand slam, if his body holds up. (TENNIS-OPEN/MONFILS, moved, by Simon Cambers, 500 words)

See also: British teenager Robson upends eighth seed Kvitova (TENNIS-OPEN/ROBSON)