The disqualifications unleashed a flood of statistical analysis about badminton that wouldn't have been out of place at a fantasy-football draft.

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Another kind of sweepstakes took place in the NBA in 1997: the draft lottery for the rights to pick the consensus best player in the country, Wake Forest center Tim Duncan.

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Mr Simmonds said he wanted Northamptonshire to be the "safest place in the country" and the draft plan set out a goal of reducing violent crime by at least 40%.

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