Y’all ever heard of James Butler? A former professional boxer from Harlem, Butler is most known for losing a fight against Brooklyn native Richard Grant at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on November 29, 2001. Grant, after winning by unanimous decision, went to shake Butler’s hand. Butler, instead, sucker-punched him and knocked him out, later arrested for assault. Thankfully, last night’s parting shot from Patrick Beverley on Chris Paul didn’t replicate that infamous incident, but there was a similar level of corniness displayed on the way out from each sore loser. There’s also a chance some better defense could’ve avoided this, but we’ll get to that in a second. Let’s run it. First off: 41, CP3? That’s the second most ever in NBA playoff history for anyone age 36 or older. It’s worth noting that this was truly the dagger, putting the Los Angeles Clippers up 26 with 5:42 left in the game. The jumper was actually guarded by Marcus Morris, and it didn’t matter. The Clips called timeout, and you’ll see right before the commercial break — which was subsequently delayed — he and Beverley exchanged looks. Beverley, while down 26, took exception to this, like the professional heel that he is, and walked behind Paul, who had been venturing over to his bench, and shoved the shit out of him. Beverley earned an ejection, and Paul later got up, laughed, celebrated, then hit the technical free throw. On the replay, it doesn’t look like Paul said anything and Beverley just pushed him from behind, WWE style. He might as well have had a chair in his hands at that point. For what it’s worth, Beverley did apologize Thursday in a sportsmanlike gesture: Going back to where this could’ve possibly been avoided: Frank Kaminsky, what are you doing, dawg? Not to say Kaminsky is the reason this escalated at all, the 7-footer was just inefficient in putting out this abrupt fire. In fairness, perhaps he didn’t expect Beverley to blow up, I guess. But on the re-watch, you’ll see on Beverley’s path to Paul, only Kaminsky could potentially stand in the way of this. He did not. Instead, he tried to stare Beverley down as the agitated guard bulldozed right passed the former Wisconsin lottery pick and pushed Paul from behind. Kaminsky, after merely watching this unfold, and seeing Paul fly and plop onto the ground like a fallen skittle, half-assed (really, quarter-assed) shoved Beverley back a whole three seconds later. And who was the first Paul teammate to arrive onto the scene and really step to Beverley? You guessed it: Jae Crowder. Here, watch it again, but skip to the 0:52 mark: What a shameful act. You, too, Pat! (As our Carron Phillips points out, perhaps it wasn’t the only time Kaminsky disappeared when his team needed him most.) In partial seriousness, though, what Beverley did was corny, but Kaminsky isn’t entirely without fault either. Being surprised that your team leader got shoved is one thing, but damn, to barely react after watching him get dropped? You better hope the Milwaukee Bucks don’t win, because Bobby Portis will be on yo ass.
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The striker has been widely tipped to leave the Stadio Dragao after three years in Portugal, with Atletico, Arsenal and Milan all linked with a move.
However, last week the Spanish club emerged as favourites to land the 28-year-old, with Martinez telling reporters at the Copa America he would sign a four-year deal in Madrid.
And Porto have now confirmed to the Portuguese Securities and Market Commission that Atletico have activated the €35million clause in his contract, paving the way for talks to begin over his transfer.
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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes his decision to omit Iker Casillas was a success despite his side s 3-2 loss to Malaga.
Mourinho s selection of Antonio Adan between the sticks instead of the club captain caused many fans to raise eyebrows, and Real subsequently lost at La Rosaleda Stadium.
But Mourinho played down the defeat and hailed the influence of coaches in modern day football.
Maybe it looked like a bad week, but the outcome was fantastic, he told reporters in the United Arab Emirates.
Football changes greatly, but there is one thing that doesn t – the teams continue to be picked by the coaches.
Real return to Champions League action in February against 2010/11 finalists Manchester United in the last 16 of the competition.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp could be returning to German Bundesliga as early as this winter, Le Parisien has claimed.
The highly rated shot-stopper is far from happy with his current status in the squad having lost the starting berth to Alphonse Areola and he is determined to leave the club at the earliest opportunity.
It remains to be seen whether Paris Saint-Germain will be ready to grant his wish, but there has already been some interest in his services.
Le Parisien has learned that Bundesliga outfits Wolfsburg and Leipzig are hot on the trail of the 26-year-old footballer, and they could step up their interest in the January transfer window.
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Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea admitted a thousand things can happen while he is on World Cup duty with Spain as he stopped short of ruling out a move away from the club during the transfer window.
The 27-year-old has long been a target for Real Madrid and speculation is rife that he might join the Champions League winners ahead of the 2018-19 season.
In seven years at Old Trafford, De Gea has become a firm fans favourite and one of Jose Mourinho s most important players, but he would not be drawn on his future at the club.
My future? The important thing is the World Cup and not to think of anything else that can divert you or upset you, De Gea told reporters at Spain s World Cup training camp.
You have to be focused on having a good World Cu…
Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Sunday at the City Ground to strengthen their hold on a Champions League qualification spot.
Goals in either half from Antony and Diogo Dalot were enough to take Erik ten Hag s men up to third in the Premier League table, overtaking Newcastle United after their defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Forest – without a win in 10 – remain in the relegation zone, behind Everton on goal difference.
United s injury issues lengthened further after Marcel Sabitzer pulled up with a groin problem in the warm-up, with Christian Eriksen replacing him in the starting line-up, but that did not appear to weaken the Red Devils.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s controversial red card in Everton’s FA Cup third-round clash at Crystal Palace last week has been rescinded, the Football Association has announced.
The striker was facing a three-game ban after being dismissed following a challenge on Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne during the goalless draw at Selhurst Park last Thursday.
Referee Chris Kavanagh initially took no action after contact with Clyne appeared minimal but later sent the 26-year-old off following a VAR review.
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)
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England manager Roy Hodgson says Tottenham defender Michael Dawson fully deserves his call-up to the national squad.
The 29-year old has only received four senior international caps since his debut against Hungary in a friendly in August 2010.
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Michael (Dawson) is in the squad on this occasion in the same way as Rio (Ferdinand) is in the squad on this occasion, because I think their performances merit them being there, Hodgson told Sky Sports News.
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Celtic make the short journey to Paisley on Saturday to take on St Mirren in their Scottish Cup quarter-final tie, just a week after the Parkhead side thrashed the Buddies in the league.
A second-half collapse by ten-men St Mirren saw them ship seven goals to the Old Firm giants with Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura hitting a hat-trick in the match.
Now the Paisley side have a chance for revenge in the Scottish Cup as they host the Hoops at New St Mirren Park for the first time.
The Buddies are unbeaten at their new home and will want to restore some pride as they look to win the cup for the first time since 1987.
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that a host of top European sides are readying January bids for AS Roma defender Antonio Rudiger.
The German centre-back has impressed since joining the Giallorossi from Stuttgart and he has caught the eye of quite a few high-profile clubs in the process.
The latest reports suggest that AS Roma are ready to entertain offers for their star player as they need money from the sale to comply with FIFA Financial Fair Play rules.
French giants Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be keen on the 23-year-old footballer, but English Premier League remains his most likely next destination.
Namely, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool all have Rudiger on their respective wish lists, and they will certainly be encouraged by the latest news.
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UEFA has confirmed it has lifted the restrictions on transfer spending and Champions League squad sizes on Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Both City and PSG competed in last season s Champions League with just 21 players instead of the usual 25 and also had their spending capped at £49million for breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
In addition, the clubs agreed that their wage bill for the 2014-15 Champions League squad would not exceed that of the 2013-14 campaign, while fines of £16.3m a year were levied on both.
UEFA relaxed its regulations in July pending a final decision based on the clubs compliance with FFP regulations something both have successfully done.
The UEFA Club Financial Control Body Investigatory Chamber…