data-mm-id=”_ns1bv65f2″>No matter where you stand on the whole NBA-in-China fiasco, one thing we should all know as a common fact is the league is suffering from a series of self-inflicted blows. With the public relations wheel spinning a bit out of control right now, all parties on foreign soil would like nothing more than questions about motion offense or offensive rebounding or, really, anything basketball-related.Everything else? Well, you see, the answer isn't quite so simple. Those tasked with making sure players and coaches don't say something that may exacerbate the controversies are seizing on every opportunity to steer things into safe waters.For instance, here's what happened when Russell Westbrook and James Harder were asked about their willingness to continue to speak out on social issues in the wake of all the recent messiness.James Harden and Russell Westbrook were asked if they would “feel differently” about speaking on political and societal affairs because of the events with the NBA/China.A spokesperson interrupted and informed the reporter that the players would answer basketball questions only. pic.twitter.com/zMe8uWz2hY— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) October 10, 2019Oh yeah. Things are going great.Playing defense on such questions is understandable, but obviously bad. One has to wonder how long this strategy will remain viable. Certainly returning to America will mean removing the protective plastic shell they're trying to keep players under. And it's silly to think this issue is going to magically resolve itself. For the Rockets, this has a real chance to become a lingering sideshow. The NBA's equivalent to the Colin Kaepernick scent that was omnipresent in the air around the NFL a few years ago. So who comes up with an answer, and who backs it up with action, to get us to a point where the page is turned?There doesn't seem to be a clear path. The above one is clearly untenable and short-sighted.
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Leicester, who won the Premier League with Vardy in the side in 2015-16, finally got their hands on the cup with a 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Youri Tielemans scored the sole goal for Brendan Rodgers team at Wembley, with a late own goal from Wes Morgan disallowed following a VAR review.
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Henrik Mkhitarayan s opener was cancelled out by Nikola Milenkovic but a Jordan Veretout brace secured three points for Mourinho on his return to Serie A.
Abraham benefited from VAR twice for his two assists, first rolling in Mkhitaryan before offloading for Veretout to convert his first.
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In case you have forgotten, or never knew in the first place, Coventry won impressively 4-1 at Villa Park thanks to two goals apiece from John Aloisi and George Boateng.
However, the result is not the reason why the fixture is of great interest. Instead, it is the team selected by Villa boss John Gregory, as he fielded a starting XI made up entirely of English players.
Here is the line-up: Michael Oakes, Steve Watson, Gareth Southgate, Dion Dublin, Simon Grayson, Riccardo Scimeca, Alan Wright, Lee Hendrie, Paul Merson, Ian Taylor, Julian Joachim.
It was the 55th time an all…
Arsenal want to sell Eddie Nketiah in the summer transfer window, according to . Premier League rivals West Ham United and Crystal Palace are keen on signing the striker, and so are German club Bayer Leverkusen.
Nketiah has been on the books of Arsenal since 2015 when he joined after leaving Chelsea. The former England Under-21 international striker is part of the Gunners’ first-team squad, but he is not a regular in the starting lineup.
During the , Nketiah made four starts and 13 substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process. The striker also made six starts and two substitute appearances in the Europa League for the North London club, scoring three goals in the process. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang …
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That sparked inevitable debate about how it might happen, should Neymar be serious about that wish.
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He told ESPN: What I want most is to play with Messi again. I want to play with him. I ll let him play in my position if he wants! Next year, we have to play together, for sure.
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Substitute Juan Cuadrado struck in added time against his former club as Juventus finally broke down 10-man opponents Fiorentina to win 1-0 in Saturday s Serie A clash.
Juve were on the verge of going a fourth league game without a victory when Cuadrado, on the field for just 13 minutes, beat Pietro Terracciano at his near post late on.
The hosts had struggled for large parts of the contest but momentum swung in their favour when Nikola Milenkovic was sent off 17 minutes from time.
After Federico Chiesa hit the bar and Alvaro Morata had a goal ruled out for offside, Cuadrado found a way through to lift Juve level on points with their opponents in eighth place.
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— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
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