Thunder fan petitions to change name of Durant, Oklahoma to Westbrook

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The negative feelings toward Kevin Durant run deep in certain parts of Oklahoma.

How deep? Well, did you know there is a town called Durant in Oklahoma? And did you know that a resident of the state is now petitioning to change the name of that town?

Edmond, Oklahoma resident Ryan Nazari started a petition asking the Governor of Oklahoma to change the name of Durant to Westbrook to celebrate the newly-committed guard.

“As many of you know, Kevin Durant has left our state, torn out our hearts, and left our beloved Oklahoma City Thunder in depleted shape,” the petition reads. “All of this after even being offered a cabinet position for the State of Oklahoma. It is because of this heinous action that I believe the State of Oklahoma has a responsibility to change the name of the City of Durant to Westbrook, the man who is loyal, whom we believe in, and who will lead our team to glory.”

Will it happen? Probably not. Is it fun? Yes, it is, and much like this, probably a more constructive thing to do than burning jerseys.

H/T theScore

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Europe’s Top Clubs Alert As Real Madrid Name Price For Creative Star

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PSG are flexing their financial muscles again.

Fresh from losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of last season, new boss Unai Emery has wasted no time reshaping his squad.

The former Sevilla boss has added Hatem Ben Arfa and Grzegorz Krychowiak to his ranks, and has now agreed a fee with Real Madrid for winger Jese Rodriguez.

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A price of €25m is enough to prise Jese from the Santiago Bernabeu, ending a nine year spell at the club after he joined from Las Palmas as a 14-year-old.

Jese missed out on Spain’s Euro 2016 squad, as Vicente Del Bosque opted to take Lucas Vasquez instead, and had been advised by Zinedine Zidane to leave the club in search of regular first team football.

PSG should be able to provide that, although the Spaniard will have to dislodge either Angel Di Maria or Lucas Moura from the first team.

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Emery is a long term admirer of Jese, having tried to bring him to Sevilla from Madrid three years ago, but being denied as it looked like the speedy attacker may have broken into the first team.

That hasn’t materialised though, and PSG now look certain to sign the 23-year-old.

Whether or not Madrid will insert a buyback clause into his contract like they did with Alvaro Morata is yet to be seen, but it may be a wise move with the amount of players returning to their previous clubs for huge money this summer *cough Pogba, cough*.

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Madrid may use the money to move for Newcastle United’s Moussa Sissoko, as they prepare to give up on the chase for Paul Pogba.

Looks like Real are adopting a more standard approach to transfer business.

Football – UNILAD
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Argentina name Edgardo Bauza new coach

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Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina named coach Edgardo Bauza to run the national team Monday, as the nation seeks to regain its football prowess and convince superstar Lionel Messi to return from early retirement.

Bauza, 58, takes on the job after a strong season at Brazilian club Sao Paulo, which he coached to the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

“We hope he will have the success we all need,” said Armando Perez, the president of a committee named by FIFA to whip things into shape at the crisis-plagued Argentine Football Association (AFA).

He told a press conference Bauza would be in Buenos Aires on Friday to give more details on his plans for the team.

The new coach faces the stigma of being the default choice.

A string of potential coaches including Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid, Jorge Sampaoli of Sevilla and Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham Hotspur reportedly declined the job.

“We were in talks with a lot of people, and it seems Mr Bauza is the best,” said Perez.

Bauza has won two Copa Libertadores — one in 2014 with Pope Francis’s favorite team, San Lorenzo, the other in 2008 with Ecuadoran side LDU Quito.

He takes over an Argentina smarting from Barcelona star Messi’s abrupt retirement announcement, the departure of coach Gerardo Martino and a series of disappointing losses in big tournaments — most recently in the Copa America final, the catalyst for Messi’s exit.

Messi, 29, left the pitch in tears after that loss to Chile, saying “For me, the national team is over.”

Bauza’s number one job will be to convince the Barcelona star and five-time World Player of the Year to reconsider.

“He’s in contact with Messi,” said Perez.

Meanwhile, Bauza must get Argentina ready for two key dates on the 2018 World Cup qualifying trail: against Uruguay at home on September 1, and away at Venezuela on September 6.

The post Argentina name Edgardo Bauza new coach appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

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