The Winter Olympics entered a new era 18 years ago, becoming a place where a once-rebellious teen could become something of an icon for 21st Century sports.
Now, at the ripe old age of 27, that icon will be back again in Vancouver, adding to a set of adventures that have made him a hero in one country, a villain in another and a champion not only in his chosen sport but in the lavish world of reality television.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Carlos Boozer's 34 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday carried Utah to its season-high ninth straight win, 109-99 over the Los Angeles Clippers.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Kevin Durant's double-double Tuesday boosted Oklahoma City to its sixth straight win, an 89-77 decision over Portland.
EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- E'Twaun Moore scored 25 points and JaJuan Johnson added 19 Tuesday to propel No. 6 Purdue to a 76-64 victory over No. 10 Michigan State.
DENVER, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Carmelo Anthony, returning from an eight-game absence, scored 19 points to power the Denver Nuggets' 127-91 pounding of Dallas Tuesday.
LEXINGTON, Ky., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- John Wall scored 22 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 16 Tuesday to pace No. 2 Kentucky to a 66-55 victory over Alabama.
COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- No. 1 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and hometown hero Thomaz Bellucci notched first-round wins Tuesday at the Brasil Open.
CHICAGO, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Kris Versteeg's shootout goal Tuesday lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Brad Boyes notched the game-winner in a shootout Tuesday, delivering the St. Louis Blues a 4-3 win over Detroit.
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The Detroit Pistons got 18 points each from Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon Tuesday to post a 93-81 win over Milwaukee.
MEMPHIS, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford lit up the scoreboard in the second half Tuesday, scoring 19 of his 28 points late to pace the Atlanta Hawks to a 108-94 win over Memphis.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Tyreke Evans hit two key overtime free throws to complete a Sacramento comeback and lift the Kings to a 118-114 win over New York Tuesday.
BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- David Krejci notched a fourth-round shootout goal Tuesday to hand the Boston Bruins a 3-2 win over Buffalo.
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Martin St. Louis scored twice in the third period Tuesday, delivering the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-1 victory over Vancouver.
OTTAWA, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Jason Spezza's second-period goal provided the winning margin Tuesday in the Ottawa Senators' 3-2 victory over Calgary.
MIAMI, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Dwyane Wade scored 17 points and Udonis Haslem added 14 Tuesday, leading a balanced attack that powered the Miami Heat's 99-66 rout of Houston.
