A year after an anti-government revolt forced Bahrain's rulers to cancel the kingdom's coveted Formula One race, the grand prix is again smack in the middle of a power struggle.

Protesters aiming to break the Sunni regime's grip on power have stepped up their campaign against the event — holding rallies across the island, plastering anti-Formula One posters on walls and criticizing the F1 chief and race drivers on social media websites.

Italian international striker Antonio Cassano admitted Thursday that a heart scare caused him to fear dying, but he is now desperate to seize his new lease of life and help steer AC Milan to the Serie A title.

Cassano, who underwent heart surgery on November 14, has now been given the green light to resume his playing career with a recall to the team a possibility in Saturday's clash against Fiorentina.

Tiger Woods followed his first victory in 28 months with some of the worst tee shots of his career, struggling to a level-par 72 after the opening round of the 76th Masters on Thursday.

Snap-hooking drives into the pine trees at Augusta National with alarming regularity, Woods stunningly salvaged pars on the first two holes only to suffer a bogey-bogey finish to plunge off the leaderboard.

The Orlando Magic's day went from uncomfortable to ugly as a tense moment between coach Stan Van Gundy and star Dwight Howard was followed by a 96-80 loss to the New York Knicks.

Van Gundy told reporters at the team's morning shoot-around that Howard had asked team management to sack him -- an allegation Howard has denied.

Luol Deng scored a season-high 26 points Thursday to lead Chicago to a 93-86 NBA victory over Boston as the Bulls bounced back from their first two-game skid of the season.

Deng, who is expected to lead Britain's basketball squad at this year's London Olympics, added six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

The head of the Saudi Olympic Committee has ruled out sending women athletes from the ultra-conservative kingdom to the London Olympics this summer, local dailies reported on Thursday.

Prince Nawaf bin Faisal said, however, that Saudi women taking part on their own are free to do so and the kingdom's Olympic authority would "only help in ensuring that their participation does not violate the Islamic sharia law."

AC Milan's Brazilian striker Pato will be out of action for the rest of the season, club doctor Jean-Pierre Meerssman revealed on Thursday.

The 22-year-old has suffered 14 injuries in the past two years, principally thigh muscle problems, but also to his ankles and groin, restricting him to just 11 league games this season, in which he has scored once.

Mohammed al-Akkari has joined the elite century club after scoring 113 points in a local league game.

The guard led Mouttahed to a 173-141 victory over Bejjeh in a Division A league game on Tuesday.

LeBron James scored 34 points with 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Miami Heat held off Oklahoma City 98-93 in a game billed as a possible preview of the NBA finals.

The Heat on Wednesday stretched their NBA home winning streak to 17 games, somewhat making up for a blowout defeat two weeks ago in Oklahoma city.

Nine-time champions Real Madrid eased into the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, beating APOEL Nicosia 5-2 in their quarterfinal second-leg clash and by 8-2 on aggregate.

A double from Cristiano Ronaldo, along with goals from Kaka, Angel Di Maria, and Jose Maria Callejon ensured the Spanish giants will meet Bayern Munich - who beat French side Marseille 2-0 on Tuesday and 4-0 on aggregate - in the final four.