Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao underwent successful surgery Friday to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, the club said, but the Brazilian star is not expected to return this season.

Brian Donley performed the procedure following an injury that took place Tuesday, when Varejao collapsed while going for a rebound in the third quarter of Cleveland's 125-104 victory over Minnesota. He had to be helped off the court.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United showed their rivals no seasonal cheer on Friday as they pulled away from the pack in the Premier League with one-sided Boxing Day victories.

Leaders Chelsea set the tone by overcoming West Ham United 2-0. City followed suit with a 3-1 success at West Bromwich Albion and United kept pace by beating Newcastle United 3-1, with Wayne Rooney scoring twice and making one.

LeBron James was running the gamut of emotions Thursday when he arrived at the arena that he called home for the past four seasons.

So did the Miami Heat fans who were seeing him again.

There's a very different feel to Christmas Day at Liverpool this season.

Twelve months ago, Liverpool was top of the Premier League — always a significant milestone in the English game — and playing the most exciting brand of football in the country. With striker Luis Suarez pouring in goals and Brendan Rodgers being hailed for his managerial qualities, the club was gearing up for its first genuine title challenge for years.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists that winning the Premier League title remains a goal for him and the players despite being 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea heading into Friday's fixtures.

The 63-year-old Dutchman -- who originally said when he took over after the World Cup this year that he foresaw a three year rebuilding process -- has overseen a revival in the club's fortunes in recent months after a poor start to his reign which was Manchester United's worst since the 1986/87 season.

Newcomer Comanche was off to a blinding start in Australia's 70th Sydney to Hobart yacht race Friday, blitzing all rivals including seven-times line honors winner Wild Oats XI in Sydney Harbor.

The 100-foot Comanche was ahead of Wild Oats, also a supermaxi, to the first mark as 117 yachts set off on the 628 nautical mile endurance race down Australia's east coast in scorching summer conditions.

The sport of kings is trying to become less elitist by breaking down knowledge barriers.

No longer is British horse racing content with just being at the heart of the social calendar for the aristocracy — as it has been for centuries. The Jockey Club recognizes its future relies on educating the masses about a sport filled with arcane terms and rules.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao, who was injured in the third quarter of Tuesday's game, will be out for the rest of the NBA season, the club said Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Varejao suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Tuesday's 125-104 win over Minnesota.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants his players to show the world why they are currently on top of the Premier League table when they host West Ham United on Friday.

Monday night's 2-0 victory at Stoke City ensured that Chelsea would be the league leaders over Christmas and they will maintain that position with a positive result at home to their London rivals on Boxing Day.

While professional footballers in the rest of Europe sleep off their Christmas hangovers, the Premier League ploughs on regardless on Friday with a bumper schedule of traditional Boxing Day fixtures.

For the first time in the 2014-15 season, all 20 English top-flight clubs will be in action on the same day, with leaders Chelsea's home game against high-flying London rivals West Ham United the stand-out match.