Let’s see what the Twitterverse had to offer in the realm of sports this week!
10. King Kyrgios
I honestly love this guy. He doesn't play the game and just conform to what people expect him to be. #KingKyrgios pic.twitter.com/udmxvvN3EE
— Slatts (@trentslatts) July 5, 2016
Nick Kyrgios may have been blasted out of Wimbledon by Andy Murray, but that wasn’t the end for the king of controversy.
Piers Morgan, the famously pompous British journalist, tweeted a congratulations to Andy Murray on the win whilst belittling Kyrgios. The Australian, ever the entertainer, returned serve with a simple, succinct, “EAD”.
Stay classy, Nick Kyrgios. Stay classy.
Now that Wimbledon is out of the way, WilliamHill.com.au is looking to the US Open. The bookie has Kyrgios at $34 to take out the men’s title at Flushing Meadows this year.
9. Kevin Durant takes the easy way out…?
'Fuck KD' (Official Music Video) [#KevinDurant Diss]https://t.co/pghCtpdTRh pic.twitter.com/BdD69vKx4p
— Kollege Kidd (@KollegeKidd) July 9, 2016
The NBA has a new favourite villain.
Kevin Durant has emerged as the most loathsome cur to have ever dribbled on international TV now that he has moved west to form an Avengers-style super group at the Golden State Warriors.
News of Durant’s defection to Oakland spread like wildfire, while the Warriors’ price to take out the 2016/17 NBA Championship has dropped like a stone. Sportsbet.com.au now has the Warriors at $1.80 in the outright betting.
In fact, the bookie even has an exotic bet paying $13 for Golden State to win each one of their first 20 games next season.
8. Dwayne Wade to the Bulls
Chicago right now with the Dwayne Wade news. pic.twitter.com/KDQKM73Vyr
— Sonny Gill (@sonnygill) July 7, 2016
The last of the once-great Miami dynasty has finally fallen away with Dwayne Wade confirming he is returning home to Chicago.
Earlier in the week there were rumours that Wade would be joining former teammate, LeBron James, at the Cleveland Cavaliers in an effort to combat the Warriors uber-squad.
But that chapter of the rumour mill was quickly closed when Wade announced his signing with the Bulls.
Sure, Chicago had to trade away the vast majority of their established squad to secure Wade’s signature. But who cares? What’s a lazy $US 47.5 million between friends?
Despite them securing Wade as well as Rajon Rondo, CrownBet.com.au only has the Chicago Bulls at $41 to take out the 2016/17 NBA Championship. The same bookie also has Wade at $151 to be the 2016/17 MVP.
7. Lionel Messi sentenced to jail
Leo Messi and his father were sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, but neither will serve jail time: https://t.co/b7fUEkockM
— ESPN (@espn) July 6, 2016
It’s finally happened. The Spanish government got to Lionel Messi the same way the American government got Al Capone: tax fraud.
Messi and his father were convicted of an array of tax related crimes and both handed 21-month sentences.
Little Leo will be free to continue playing for Barcelona, however, because he won’t actually serve a day in the nick.
Thanks to a quirk in Spanish law, first time, non-violent offenders with a term of less than 24 months aren’t required to serve any time behind bars.
It would seem rather convenient, then, that Messi received 21 months. He really dodged a bullet there. Or at least a shank in the showers…
6. Greyhound racing banned in NSW
https://twitter.com/mikebairdMP/status/750869358176378881
NSW Premier Mike Baird last week announced that the state’s greyhound racing industry would be shut down for good on July 1, 2017.
This comes on the back of a report that revealed widespread animal cruelty and illegal activities within the industry.
The punting world was in shock after Baird’s announcement. The NSW Labor opposition government soon came out in defence of the racing industry, vowing to fight for the greyhounds and the thousands of jobs attached to the industry.
Until June 30, 2017, we suggest boycotting the NSW Tab and taking your greyhound betting to Sportsbet, which will have markets on every race until the shutdown.
If you want to get behind the dogs and fight for this ban to be overturned, sign the online petition at change.org.
5. Is UFC200 cursed? Jon Jones withdrawn for potential doping
Jon Jones pulled from UFC 200 for doping violation: https://t.co/GvEd4PT4FL pic.twitter.com/shPB4lDfB5
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) July 7, 2016
Jon “Bones” Jones was pulled from UFC200 after USADA informed organisers that one of his samples had returned an irregular result.
It was yet another crushing blow for the seemingly doomed UFC200, which had weathered the controversy of Conor McGregor’s axing after he refused to participate in a media junket ahead of his re-match with Nate Diaz.
It’s also another intriguing chapter in the remarkable and bitter feud between Jones and Daniel Cormier.
Their inability to actually fight each other is one of the most peculiar tales in sports. Their bouts have now been interrupted by a hit and run, a foot injury (coupled with a positive test for cocaine metabolites and subsequent rehab) and now this doping saga.
4. Most gangsta UFC fighter ever?
"Get up." @JoannaMMA
THESE TWO LADIES ARE BRINGING IT!!!#TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/WsXhTJV2SH— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2016
Polish pygmy and UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk proved just how hardcore she is.
After getting her opponent, Claudia Ghadella, to the ground, Jedrzejczyk jumped up, walked away and waved for her opponent to get back to her feet and continue the bout.
This was a phenomenal show of sportsmanship given the normal route UFC bouts take after one fighter hits the floor is the good old ground-and-pound.
Can’t wait to see Jedrzejczyk in action next.
3. Foran walks out on the Eels
Former NRL Parramatta Eels star Anthony Watmough shows support for ‘hero’ Kieran Foran https://t.co/oobo3Ttl9m
— Daily Mail Rugby L (@MAILrugbyleague) July 9, 2016
The Parramatta Eels cannot catch a break.
The club is constantly being kicked while they are down. There needs to be a UFC umpire around to step in and put an end to this brutality.
The Eels are down. They are not getting up. Stop hitting them!
In more bad news for the club, Kieran Foran has announced he is leaving to deal with his personal issues, effective immediately.
This is the last thing Parramatta needed after a year of lost players, lost competition and lost $1 million.
Despite losing 12 points and now their star half-back, PalmerBet.com.au has the Eels at $101 to take out the NRL Premiership – a far cry from the $301 the Sydney Roosters are paying.
2. Zika destroys golf at Rio
After careful consideration, Dustin Johnson has made the decision to withdraw from the #Olympics. More on GC soon. pic.twitter.com/yBUvG8l0YC
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 9, 2016
Another week and another top golfer has withdrawn from the Rio 2016 Olympics citing fears of the Zika virus.
Following the trend set by Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and company, 2016 US Open winner Dustin Johnson has announced his withdrawal from the Olympics.
This has happened so regularly we’ve run out of half-funny things to say now. It’s just getting sad that an entire Olympic sport has been decimated by potential mosquito bites and unprotected sex.
Things have become so dire that Sportsbet.com.au and WilliamHill.com.au, among many others, have axed their Olympic golf betting markets for Rio 2016.
1. Klemmer wants to be the next Gallen
.@NSWRL Blues enforcer David Klemmer has his sights set on Paul Gallen's role long-term.https://t.co/GlbgjeMuvA pic.twitter.com/HcTUJO4Ffq
— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 9, 2016
David Klemmer has come out and announced he wants to become the next Paul Gallen – a strange aspiration for anyone of sound mind.
Those are very big and very dirty shoes to fill.
To even come close to being the next Gallen, Klemmer has to become a drug cheat, racist, cheap-shot master and register an IQ score similar to his shoe size.
Only then can he ever hope to become anything close to the enigma that is Paul Gallen.
We will get to see if Klemmer has anything on his hero in Game 3 of the 2016 State of Origin series, which is to be played at ANZ stadium this Wednesday.
Bet365.com.au has Klemmer’s Blues at $1.90 and the Maroons hot on their heels on $1.95.
