BASKETBALL

Kobe Bryant Wins His First MVP Award

Finally, an MVP award for Kobe Bryant.

Regarded as the NBA’s best player for several years but never its most valuable, Bryant earned the honor at last on Tuesday after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.

He called the award a blessing and an honor and emphasized that he wants another trophy this year.

“It’s Hollywood, it’s a movie script. The perfect ending would be for us to hold a championship trophy at the end of it,” Bryant said at a news conference attended by his teammates, club officials, his wife and two daughters.

HOCKEY

Jagr: Rangers Are No. 1 Option for Next Season

Jaromir Jagr entered his season-ending exit interview not knowing if it would be his last act with the Rangers.

Two days after the Rangers were eliminated with an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs, Jagr stood in front of his stall Tuesday and did his best to explain what the future holds.

Nearly a half-hour later, there were still no concrete answers from the free-agent-to-be.

“I don’t have 30 teams to choose from,” the New York captain said. “First, I am going to talk to the Rangers. That’s the number one option for me.

“They gave me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey. Everybody doubted me when I was playing in Washington for whatever reason.”

BASEBALL

Zito Returns to Rotation Against Pirates

Barry Zito, demoted to the San Francisco Giants bullpen last week, is returning to the starting rotation without having made any relief appearances.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Zito will start Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh against the Pirates’ Phil Dumatrait (0-1). Zito, who a year ago signed a $126 million, seven-year contract, was sent to the bullpen last week after compiling a 7.53 ERA while losing his first six starts.

Judge Allows Clemens to Keep Attorney

A federal judge ruled yesterday that Roger Clemens can keep his lawyer in the defamation lawsuit against his former trainer, who accused the pitcher of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Lawyers for Clemens’s former trainer, Brian McNamee, filed a motion for attorney Rusty Hardin to be removed from the case because Hardin represented both Clemens and pitcher Andy Pettitte for several days before the release of the Mitchell Report in December.

McNamee said both Clemens and Pettitte used performance enhancing drugs. After the report’s release, Pettitte admitted he used human growth hormone but Clemens has steadfastly denied using any performance-enhancing substances and in January filed a defamation suit against McNamee.

TENNIS

Federer Defeats Nemesis Canas in Rome Masters

Roger Federer is back on track.

The top-ranked player defeated one of his most challenging opponents yesterday, cruising past Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Rome Masters. Perhaps more importantly, Federer said he is nearly back to normal after being slowed by mononucleosis earlier in the year.

“I think I was lacking matches at one stage, when I lost in the first round of Dubai. Now, I’m again back in my stride and feel like I’m playing well and nothing ever happened,” Federer said. “It was a tough couple of months early on.”