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10. Delly chases the balls against the Cavs
#IGGY | Andre Iguodala Speaks Out On Dellavedova's Shot To His Groin | https://t.co/f4DYZUQ6ZI pic.twitter.com/fGNzKK1Crn
— BNA 🇦🇺 (@AusBballnews) June 4, 2016
What is it with NBA players belting each other in the pants department during the Playoffs this year? Matthew Dellavedova, who is no stranger to controversy, has bitch slapped Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala in the plums while attempting to attack the ball.
This comes after Draymond Green lined up Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams and kicked him fair between the legs earlier in the Playoffs.
Ahead of Game 5 of the Finals, WilliamHill.com has the Golden State Warriors as gross favorites to take out the title, clinching the seven game series 4-1. William Hill has the Warriors @ $1.30 and the Cleveland Cavaliers at $3.60.
9. Sharapova cops her ban
.@rogerfederer has no sympathy for Maria Sharapova, saying he backs a “zero tolerance” stance against doping. https://t.co/KdU3GnEoy7
— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) June 10, 2016
Maria Sharapova has finally been given her sentence after being caught out as an “unsuspecting” drug cheat.
Sharapova was handed a two-year ban this week, but the likes of Roger Federer feel Sharapova should have been hung out to dry as an example to other drug cheats and handed a massive sentence like 20 years.
You can’t help but agree with Federer’s stance. Given Sharapova is among the top three highest paid female athletes in the world, a two year suspension seems like a slap on the wrist. Drugs are becoming an ever present specter in international sports. A hard line has to be taken to whip the cheats into a frenzy of fear and loathing.
8. World mourns The Champ
https://twitter.com/MuhammadAli/status/738953942634233856
Muhammad Ali has died. The greatest boxer of our time is dead. For a brief moment this week the entire world was united in their grief at the passing of a fighter, poet, activist, father and history changing man.
The champ died of septic shock after being hospitalised with respiratory illness.
His legacy transcends boxing. Ali was a public figure who paved the way for real change in America through civil disobedience.
7. A bad week to be a fighter…
#RIPKimboSlice https://t.co/HGAFYrVVBV
— UFC (@ufc) June 7, 2016
Seasoned street fighter, Kimbo Slice, died suddenly on Tuesday, shocking the MMA community to its core.
Slice died of heart failure.
Sadly, his last professional MMA bout, in Bellator 149 against Dada 5000, ended in farcical circumstances, with Slice initially “winning” the bout after taking an air swing at Dada 5000, who did a dizzy lap of the octagon before collapsing. The win was later changed to a No Contest after Slice tested positive for Nandrolone.
The legendary street fighter will be missed.
6. Bogut throws Shaq under the bus
.@andrewbogut sits down with NBA TV after the @warriors take a 2-0 series lead in the #NBAFinals… https://t.co/ITdSJL2FoU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 6, 2016
After Golden State Warriors’ 110-77 win over the Cleveland Cavs, Aussie Andrew Bogut sat down with Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Grant Hill for a brief interview.
During the interview Bogut insinuated that he knew some girls that O’Neal “knew” in Australia. This drew jeers from Smith and Grant, with Bogut being told that “snitches get stitches”.
Never throw another bloke under the bus Bogut: loose lips sink ships.
5. Maroons take Origin 1
Advantage Queensland! #QLDER #Origin pic.twitter.com/Aq4TS6nN1w
— Queensland Maroons (@QLDmaroons) June 1, 2016
It was one of the most tense series openers ever. Both sides were sloppy, both sides played like blunt instruments, trying to bludgeon their opponents into submission.
All of the points were scored during the first half. A Johnathan Thurston penalty conversion proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Despite the close, 4-6 score line of Game One, WilliamHill.com.au has the Queenslanders as massive favorites at $1.55 amid their only home game of the season. The Blues are fetching a price of $2.45.
4. Kyrgios withdraws from Olympics
Guys, I have an announcement to make. Please follow this link –https://t.co/KY3Mu041Kk https://t.co/qCpL3Zx3oQ
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 2, 2016
Nick Kyrgios has finally confirmed he will not be attempting to participate in the Olympics.
Kyrgios made it clear that his decision was made thanks to the perpetual criticism of the AOC and Kitty Chiller in particular.
Kyrgios is a divisive figure not only in tennis, but among the broader international sporting community. He is a renegade with personality who has turned the beige nature of recent tennis into something worth watching. Sure he is rough around the edges, but he can hit the green off a tennis ball. For the AOC to lynch Kyrgios in the realm of public opinion is weak.
Now that Kyrgios is out of the Olympics, the next big event on his calendar is Wimbledon. SportsBet.com.au has Kyrgios as fifth favorite to take out the all white tournament with odds of $22.
3. Men’s tennis’ first Golden Slam?
Novak Djokovic Golden Slam: Shot at Grand Slam plus Olympic gold medal to push claims as greatest – Fox Sports https://t.co/N5i8N72alB #nole
— noledjokovic (@noledjokoviccom) June 7, 2016
Novak Djokovic is shaping to be the first man to take out a Golden Slam. A Golden Slam is when a player takes out the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, the US Open and an Olympic gold medal all in the same calendar year.
Djokovic has already taken out the Australian Open and the French Open this year and SportsBet.com.au has him as $1.72 to take out the gold medal in Rio. He is also $1.80 favorite to take out Wimbledon and $1.83 to win the US Open.
2. Cameron Smith: G.O.A.T.
Falls over. Still converts.
Well done, @camsmith9!#NRLRoostersStorm#NRL https://t.co/xqkqcVfNy4
— NRL (@NRL) June 11, 2016
Cameron Smith proved last night that he truly is the greatest of all time. In the early stages of the Storm’s 46-0 routing of the Sydney Roosters this weekend.
While lining up a conversion 19 minutes into the game, Smith went head over heels as he booted the pill. But as Smith watched the flight of the ball from the turf, he was stunned to see it float over the black dot in what could only be referred to as a perfect conversion.
Cameron Smith has the ability to turn lemons into spun gold. Priceless.
With that in mind CrownBet.com.au has the Melbourne Storm at $6 to win the Premiership this year.
1. Match fixing allegations in the NRL
REVEALED: Two Manly games from 2015 v Souths & Eels are being investigated as part of the match-fixing probe. https://t.co/yvfvhuRHpZ
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) June 2, 2016
The NRL has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons so far this year. Parramatta has been the main source of humiliation with their salary cap penalties and stars caught up in in drugs, underworld identities and alleged massive gambling binges.
Not to be outdone though, the Manly Sea Eagles are now under the spotlight from the NSW Organised Crime Squad for alleged match fixing.
A big time punter and former brothel owner Eddie Hayson has been associated with six current and former Sea Eagles players, who are being investigated over allegations they were paid $50,000 each to throw to separate games in 2015: one against the Rabbitohs and one against the Eels.
There is still a lot to come to light about this story: so stay tuned.
Luxbet.com.au has the Sea Eagles at $51 to win the Grand Final or $4.50 to make the top eight.
