Star columnists

Talk about trading the talented Aussie star became a hot topic after the 76ers’ exit from the playoffs earlier this year and less than 10 games into this campaign some have started singing a similar tune. This time former NBA star turned ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is leading the charge. A championship winner with the Celtics in 2008, the 14-year league veteran who retired in 2018 said the 76ers made a mistake by keeping Simmons over Jimmy Butler and believes the franchise should look at trading its star point guard. Stream over 50 sports live & anytime with KAYO on your TV, mobile, tablet or laptop. Just $25/month with no lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial “I’m taking Jimmy Butler over Ben Simmons all day, man. Jimmy Butler was a better fit for Joel Embiid than Ben Simmons, I’ll tell you that much,” Perkins said on Radio.com’s podcast Scal and Pals. “I would, I would try to trade him. I would try to see what offers I could … [Read more...] about Ex-NBA star raises Ben Simmons trade talk again

In a week of turmoil for the grand final hero, the Bulldogs and Roosters both reportedly pulled contract offers to the 22-year-old last week, leaving the Wests Tigers as the reported front-runners to pull off the signing. North Queensland and Newcastle are also reportedly considering entering the battle to sign the Kangaroos centre. It emerged on Monday that the Tigers are now having second thoughts about a reported three-year, $3 million deal offered to Mitchell. The rich offer comes after the Roosters pulled a reported $1.6 million, two-year deal that would have made Mitchell the highest paid centre in the game. The Daily Telegraph now reports the Tigers board of directors is divided over Mitchell’s signing with some members “scarred” by the disastrous $8.2 million signing spree during Ivan Cleary’s tenure where the club signed Josh Reynolds, Ben Matulino and Russell Packer to mega-deals. The panicked signings came after stars James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and … [Read more...] about Wests Tigers get cold feet on Latrell Mitchell offer, Zac Lomax on NRL open market

'...a dazzling flash, and then, fizzle,' argues Shekhar Gupta.That defeat is an orphan is a very old truism. I might have had that metaphor on my mind because I am reading British journalist Myra MacDonald's book by the same name, on Pakistan's recent history. But equally, the thought would have occurred to me also, reflecting on the setbacks Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has suffered in Punjab and Goa. While in Goa their flight had obviously stalled, in Punjab even its rivals and critics (including this columnist) expected it to do better. First, or second, I had said, but honestly, I saw it at least a strong second, upwards of 40 seats. It did finish second, which is creditable for a young, 'outside' party in a state almost as politically polarised as Kerala, but its tally of just 20 makes it look like a humiliation. Of the many tough things said about AAP after these elections is that the way things are, Mr Kejriwal could end up being the Vinod Kambli of Indian cricket, a … [Read more...] about Kejriwal could end up the Vinod Kambli of Indian politics