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    ‘Get off the phone’ snaps Troy Deeney after his wife called him out live on air over Arsenal comment

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    TROY DEENEY had a hilarious barney with his wife live on talkSPORT radio – before telling her to “get off the phone”.Wife Alisha called into the show to question her husband’s newfound love for the Gunners- after Deeney refuted claims Arsenal were using the “dark arts” in their epic 2-2 draw with Manchester City.Troy Deeney hilariously told his wife to get off the air on talkSPORTCredit: TalksportDeeney’s wife Alisha Hosannah is a life-long Arsenal fanFormer Watford striker Deeney has been locked in a row with Arsenal fans since he famously said their side lacked “cojones” in 2017.The comment came after Deeney inspired Watford to a 2-1 win over Arsene Wenger’s side at Vicarage Road, leaving supporters rattled.Fans have since got revenge by challenging Watford’s “cojones” after inflicting some heavy defeats on the Hornets since.But Deeney backed Arsenal for SunSport this week by rejecting their alleged use of the “dark arts” in the second half against City on Sunday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHis Arsenal-supporting wife Alisha seemed shocked to hear his praise and called into the show to question him.She said: “There was no way you were going to give Arsenal props after all these years and not get stick from me live on radio, babe.”What are you playing at? Diehard Gooners in our house, but honestly babe, where has this come from? This is what I want to know.Troy then jokingly quizzed: “Am I actually answering?”, before replying: “So in my house, I like to have a level of discipline.Most read in FootballDeeney left Arsenal fans rattled after his ‘cojones’ comments in 2017Credit: ReutersIt came after Deeney helped Watford to 2-1 win over ArsenalCredit: REUTERS/Eddie KeoghFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”That’s clearly gone out of the window based on this. No, I like to wind people up in the house, obviously Arsenal fans.”And yeah, I like to just highlight certain things that Arsenal players do that annoy me. Former Arsenal star Fabian Caballero passes away aged 46″For example, when defenders defend, and they laugh and giggle and it’s like, ‘Yes, we did our job!’ But it’s like, ‘You didn’t do your job because you ended up drawing the game.'”Alisha was then asked if Troy has softened his position on Arsenal.She said: “At times. I feel like every now and again you’ll let out a little comment and I’ll go, ‘OK, maybe the ‘cojones’ thing. We’re out of the woods with that.’ “But I think he’s always been a secret Arsenal fan.”I feel like when you’re married to someone like Troy, you kind of give or take whatever comes out of his mouth.”Deeney then quickly snapped: “Babe, honestly, get off the phone now.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBefore turning to co-hosts Sam Matterface and Alex Crook – who were loving the interaction – and said: “What you don’t understand is, this is going to be a long discussion.”I have a two-and-a-half hour drive home, I promise you we’ll be speaking for at least three.”Arsenal ratings vs Man CityTEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.Here’s how the players rated…DAVID RAYA – 9Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol. RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.GABRIEL – 9Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.WILLIAM SALIBA – 8Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.DECLAN RICE – 7Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.THOMAS PARTEY – 7Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.BUKAYO SAKA – 6Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.  KAI HAVERTZ – 7Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.SUBSWHITE – 7(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.KIWIOR – 6(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.JESUS – 6(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutesLEWIS SKELLY – 6(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.Click here to read more on Arsenal. More

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      Watch Max Verstappen get slammed as ‘CHILDISH’ by his own team on radio after smashing into F1 rival Lewis Hamilton

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN was slammed as “CHILDISH” by his own team after crashing into Lewis Hamilton.The Red Bull Racing star collided with the Brit during the 63rd lap of the Hungarian GP on Sunday.Max Verstappen crashed into Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian GPCredit: SplashVerstappen appeared to be called ‘childish’ on the team radioCredit: The Mega AgencyRed Bull principal Christian Horner has played down the argumentCredit: GettyVerstappen, 26, tried to overtake Hamilton on the inside on one corner but instead saw contact between the cars.The Red Bull car shot up into the air and was fortunately able to continue the race.The driver’s conversation with his team on the radio has been picked up.Verstappen’s team blasted him as a result as race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase labelled him as “childish.”READ MORE ON F1He said: “I am not even going to get into a radio fight with the other teams Max.”We will let the officials just do their thing.”Childish on the radio, just childish.”As a result of the collision, Verstappen had to settle for a 4th placed finish as Hamilton took the third podium spot.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAfter the race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed that the jibe was not being directed at Verstappen.He said: “I think that GP [Lambiase] at that point wasn’t actually referring to Max.The richest Wags in F1 revealed with some earning thousands from Instagram”I think he was referring to others on the radio complaining about penalties.”So, I don’t think GP’s reference at that point was in reference to Max.”Others obviously goading for penalties because the stewards are listening to the radio as well.”They’ve been together for eight years.”There are things that we could have done better in the race today but it’s something we’ll talk about as a team.”Verstappen was critical of the team strategy throughout at the race, at one point calling it “s**t”.He was asked about what he. thinks of those who have criticised him and the driver gave a very blunt response.He said: “They can all f**k off.”McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the Gran Prix after being let through by team-mate Lando Norris.It was a momentous moment for the Australian as it was his first-ever F1 victory.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, Norris was less than happy about being asked to move aside as he took a couple of laps to obey the instruction.He also had a spikey moment with Hamilton in which some fans believe that the pair may have some “underlying problems”.🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 Inside track on Hamilton’s lifeLEWIS HAMILTON has driven his way into pole position as Formula One’s most prolific winner. More

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      Watch moment Ryan Reynolds is surprised by Wrexham star live on BBC Radio 1

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      RYAN REYNOLDS was surprised by Wrexham star Paul Mullin while live on radio today.Reynolds was appearing on Greg James’ Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 1 alongside his Deadpool and Wolverine co-star Hugh Jackman.Reynolds was able to guess the identity of Mullin straight awayCredit: X @BBCR1He was full of praise for Wrexham’s ownersCredit: APJackman said he was a ‘big fan’ of MullinCredit: BBCThe two were taking part in an “unpopular opinion” segment.Reynolds and Jackman had to guess the identity of celebrity callers by the sound of their voice and their “unpopular opinion”.On the other end of the line was star striker Paul Mullin saying: “Rob McElhenney is the best Wrexham owner.”Reynolds then replied: “I know that voice!READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Mullin why aren’t you doing calisthenics right now buddy? Maybe stretch that recently fixed back out a little bit, maybe make good on an investment and a promise that we made.”Jackman then interrupted to say, he was “a big fan” of the 29-year-old, adding that he’d loved to get the striker’s autograph one day.Mullin recently underwent a back operation to solve a long time issue.He will miss Wrexham’s tour of the US and Canada.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe forward may also miss the beginning of the League One season too, with the side being promoted from League Two last season.When asked about what he really thought of owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney owners, Mullin added: “Both wonderful as owners and more than that just as people. We get to see them as people rather than owners now.Watch bizarre moment Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star gatecrash live Euro 2024 broadcast “As we’ve seen in the documentary what they’ve done for the community is phenomenal and our success is obviously down to them, and they’re success with the club is down to us which is brilliant and long may it continue.” More

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      Alex Scott takes shock new job outside of sport as BBC presenter ‘sets everyone up for the week’

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      ALEX SCOTT has a new job as a radio presenter on KISS.The former England star has mostly worked as a TV presenter and a pundit since hanging up her boots.Alex Scott will present a radio show on KISS on SundaysCredit: The Mega AgencyShe hosts Football Focus and often guests presents The One Show, as well as appearing as a pundit on the BBC’s coverage of men and women’s football.But now Scott is set to pursue her other love – music – by becoming the host of KISS’ Sunday 7pm show.Scott, 39, will present two hours of “Old Skool anthems”, possibly leaning on favourites such as Lauryn Hill and LL Cool J.Scott told The Mirror: “Everyone knows that I love football, but music is just as much a part of who I am.READ MORE ON ALEX SCOTT”I’m thrilled to be back with the KISS team and digging into my collection to share some more Old Skool anthems every Sunday. “I’m hoping to carry on those weekend vibes all the way into Sunday night and setting everyone up for the new week.”Scott also has a big social media presence where she often catches the eye in stylish outfits and bikinis.She is often seen posing with her singer girlfriend Jess Glynne, who has has been dating since last year.Most read in FootballScott recently opened up about how she loves “being more vulnerable” in her relationship.She said: “I think, before, I was very walls up. All those walls have, like, come down.” Alex Scott sends warning to fans over FAKE Instagram accounts being made in her name as she blasts ‘annoying scam’ More

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      Spanish Soccer Chief Finds His Defenders Backing Away

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      Luis Rubiales was widely condemned for kissing a player after the Spanish women’s team won the World Cup, but retained a few public supporters. Many now appear to be reconsidering.When the president of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed Jennifer Hermoso, a star forward on the Spanish national team that had just won the Women’s World Cup, much of the Spanish news media condemned his behavior. Most mainstream outlets, along with Spaniards on social media, called out the kiss as evidence of a callous disregard for Ms. Hermoso and, more broadly, lingering sexism in soccer.Not the radio sportscaster Manolo Lama. Mr. Lama said on a popular late-night show on the Cadena Cope radio station, “Those who are angry, it’s because they have never been kissed.” He used the female pronoun for “they” in Spanish.Earlier, in a post-match interview with Mr. Rubiales, also on Cadena Cope, a popular sports presenter, Juanma Castaño, did not question the federation president about the appropriateness of his behavior. When Mr. Rubiales characterized the kiss as a “peck between two friends celebrating something” and brushed off his critics as “losers,” “idiots” and “stupid people,” Mr. Castaño laughed and said, “I think the same thing.”As the chorus of condemnation grew over the week following Mr. Rubiales’s actions at the World Cup final, it became harder to defend the federation president.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez waded in, calling it “unacceptable” that the soccer chief had kissed a player on the lips without her consent. The secretary of the opposition People’s Party, Cuca Gamarra, described the kiss as “shameful.” On Saturday, the world soccer federation temporarily suspended Mr. Rubiales. On Monday, Spanish soccer officials will hold an emergency meeting about the situation.Since their initial comments, both sports journalists have apologized to their audiences. Mr. Castaño issued a statement last Monday saying that he now realized the kiss was “more than a mistake with no importance.”Mr. Lama published an apology of sorts on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, asking last Monday for “forgiveness from those I have offended.” But he did not condemn Mr. Rubiales, and wrote of the kiss: “I simply think it is an act produced from euphoria and without malice.”“But Spain has become a country of inquisitors,” he continued, “if you think differently, you’ll be stoned.”The Cadena Cope radio station did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The kiss has brought the ongoing lively conversation in Spain about the treatment of women back into the fore.Some of Spain’s conservative mainstream news outlets have used the incident to take a dig at a controversial law passed in August last year by Mr. Sánchez’s Socialist government. The law classifies all nonconsensual sex acts as rape, but initially contained a loophole that allowed some convicted offenders to lower their sentences.On Saturday, an editorial in Spain’s conservative newspaper, La Razón, described the episode as a “national monstrosity,” and said the progressivism of Mr. Sánchez’s government had created an environment that enabled Mr. Rubiales. “His vulgar and inappropriate behavior in the Women’s World Cup final would have been impossible” the editorial said, without the protection that Sánchez’s government “has provided to his escapades.”The more left-leaning El País has focused on the emergence of a hashtag in support of Ms. Hermoso: “se acabó,” or “it’s over,” coined by Alexia Putellas, a member of the Spanish national team, who is widely acknowledged as the best female player in the world. An editorial on Saturday said that “women are saying enough to the abuse of power and Spanish society is with them.” By Sunday, El País led with the simple affirmation: “Spain no longer tolerates ‘los Rubiales,’” referring not only to Mr. Rubiales, but to sexist behavior in general.Protesters on Friday holding red cards, which signify the sending off of a player in soccer, as a protest against Mr. Rubiales in Las Rozas, Spain.Isabel Infantes/ReutersThe sports newspaper AS, which had seemed to initially back Mr. Rubiales, has dropped its support for the soccer chief.Earlier this week, it ran a headline blaming Ms. Hermoso — “Jenni lets Rubiales take the fall.” By Saturday, after widespread criticism, it was leading with a photo of Mr. Rubiales and a more neutral headline in reference to him, “Struck down.”Some of his colleagues at the Spanish soccer federation are shifting their allegiance as well.On Friday, as Mr. Rubiales defiantly announced he would not be quitting, many of his closest colleagues, including Jorge Vilda and Luis de la Fuente, the managers of the Spanish women’s and men’s squads, gave him a standing ovation.Hours later, FIFA announced Mr. Rubiales’s suspension from soccer for 90 days, and the entire female squad and dozens of other players signed a joint statement saying they would not take the field to play for Spain “if the current managers continue.”Mr. de la Fuente and Mr. Vilda have now distanced themselves from Mr. Rubiales, with Mr. Vilda saying that he regretted the “inappropriate conduct” of his boss. More

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      The Boot Camp for NBA Analysis and Hot Takes

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      Alan Williams was the first person to brave the anchor desk, tucked away on a chilly set at the University of Southern California that was darkened, save for the spotlight on Williams in his black suit and blue-striped tie. Almost involuntarily, he lifted a hand from the desk’s shiny surface and nervously scratched his face.Williams, a former N.B.A. player, read from a teleprompter, his deep voice booming robotically in the nearby control room, where U.S.C. students monitored his volume and made sure the camera was level. He bobbed his head up and down, much like the aliens inhabiting human bodies in the 1990s movie “Men in Black.”“Hi, everyone!” he said as he looked into a camera. “Welcome to ‘Sports Extra.’ I’m Alan Williams. The Miami Heat have evened the series against the Denver Nuggets. The Miami Heat’s tough-mindedness is really led by Coach Erik Spoelstra. And their identity truly proves Heat culture. Goodbye.”The camera stopped rolling, and Williams loosened his shoulders.“Oh god, did I go too fast?” Williams muttered. He looked around the set. Five other current and former professional basketball players quietly lingered in the corners. After a woman off to the side reassured Williams that he was fine, he responded with relief: “Man, I was about to say. Silence?”Norense Odiase, left, said broadcasting allowed him to tap into his skills beyond basketball.Alan Williams, left, and Norense Odiase, top right, are seen in the monitors during an exercise with Rob Parker, an analyst at Fox Sports.This drew laughter from the set and scattered applause from the players, who, like Williams, were wearing crisply pressed, stylish suits. Williams did another, smoother take, prompting one of the suited men to yell, “That boy good!”Williams, 30, and the men were at U.S.C.’s journalism school this month for a two-day N.B.A. players’ union camp called Broadcaster U., now in its 15th year. They learned how to host a studio show or podcast, do color commentary and rapidly dole out hot takes for an on-camera sports debate. Former N.B.A. players like Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Shaquille O’Neal have gone through the program.Willow Bay, who once hosted “Inside Stuff” with Ahmad Rashad, addressed players during the camp. She’s now the dean of the U.S.C. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.While superstars typically compete for more than a decade, the average N.B.A. player lasts only a handful of years. Dozens of players will get their start at the N.B.A. draft on Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but most of them will eventually have to find a new way to make a living. Crossing over into film and television has proved to be a viable, and often lucrative, alternate path, even for players who weren’t big stars.With a new television deal looming for the N.B.A., and streaming services and social media changing how fans engage with the game, there will likely be more opportunities for players to cash in.Williams played for the Nets and the Phoenix Suns from 2015 to 2019. Last year, while playing in Australia, he occasionally provided color commentary for the National Basketball League there.“I know that my time is coming to an end soon,” Williams said. “I want to be as prepared for the next step as possible.”Brevin Knight, a former N.B.A. point guard who went through the program in its inaugural year in 2008, is now a color commentator for the Memphis Grizzlies.“When you are done playing, you would like to take a little bit of time just to take a deep breath,” Knight said. “But I’ll tell you: The spending habits keep going and you always need something coming in.”Some camp attendees have already undertaken pursuits beyond the court. Norense Odiase, 27, plays in the NB.A.’s developmental league, the G League, and has a self-help podcast called “Mind Bully.” Will Barton, 32, has been in the N.B.A. since 2012 and has released several albums for his singing career under the name Thrill. Craig Smith, 39, spent six seasons in the N.B.A. and has written a children’s book.Will Barton, right, working with Jordan Moore, co-host of the “Trojans Live” radio show.Gerry Matalon, a talent performance coach and former ESPN producer, talking with Craig Smith.Smith was next up at the anchor desk after Williams, and he bounced in his seat. The words on his teleprompter were in all capital letters, though they were not supposed to be read that enthusiastically. Someone must have forgotten to tell him.“Hi, everyone!” Smith nearly shouted. “Welcome to ‘SPORTS EXTRA!’ I’m Craig Smith! Just about 24 HOURS until Game 3 of the N.B.A. finals!”He even stomped his feet a few times.Smith said he has been inspired by the many players who have started podcasts and especially by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who have used their fame to create production companies.“It influences me a lot because I feel like we have a real voice and I feel like we have power that comes with it, being that we’re more than just ‘shut up and dribble’ players,” Smith said. “We have meaning and people want to hear what we have to say.”Hours later, Rob Parker, a Fox Sports host and an adjunct professor at U.S.C., gathered the players for what might be called Hot Take O’Clock to show them how to throw verbal bombs. He shared directives like “Don’t stay in the middle of the road” and “Make stuff that you can pull out — ‘Meme-able.’”“It’s OK to be wrong,” Parker said, adding that if they could be right all the time, they “would be in Las Vegas making money.”Parker frequently debates Chris Broussard, a Fox Sports host, on their radio show “The Odd Couple.” Williams asked Parker if he had ever disagreed with Broussard just for argument’s sake. Parker said no, and that he and Broussard discuss topics before their show. They use the ones they disagree on.“If we all agree that LeBron is the greatest player ever, what conversation are we having?” Parker said. “Do you know what I mean? There’s nothing going on here, and no one’s going to watch it.”Parker led the players in mock debates, as if they were on ESPN’s “First Take” or Fox Sports’s “Undisputed.” Those are among the most-watched programs at their networks and have turned their hosts into household names.Barton, center, taking notes during the broadcasting camp.Odiase and Smith argued about whether the Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler needed to win a championship to get into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Odiase said no; Smith said yes.“How many guys have taken a team of seven undrafted players, the eighth seed, to the N.B.A. finals?” Odiase said.“Is it Jimmy or is it Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley?” Parker interjected, referring to Miami’s longtime coach, Spoelstra, and its president and former coach, Riley.Odiase paused.“I’m sorry,” he said. “Before Jimmy got there, did they win without LeBron?”“Yeah, with Shaq and D-Wade,” Smith retorted, referring to O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, who won a championship in 2006 with Riley as coach.This rebuttal, undercutting Odiase’s argument, elicited laughter from the control room. Parker ended the segment and complimented Odiase and Smith for having a lively debate.“I do not believe nothing I’m saying,” Odiase told Parker afterward. Later, in an interview, Odiase said he felt “very uncomfortable” arguing a point he did not support, though he believes it happens “a lot” in sports media.The players receive reels of their best moments to show with networks in hopes of getting hired.For current and former players, taking part in hot take culture means having to critique players in ways they might not like if the comments were directed at them.Barton said that he gets frustrated sometimes when analysts “go too far on a player, especially if you haven’t played or you don’t really know what the guy’s going through.”He continued: “I feel like a lot of guys try to do that so they could go viral or feel like they’re a bigger asset to whatever company they’re working with because it’s entertainment.”The players also pretended to be analysts for an N.B.A. finals game. Jordan Moore, the radio voice for U.S.C. men’s basketball, did play-by-play. But first, he had advice.“Worst broadcast is if I go, ‘Oh, what a shot by Jimmy Butler!’ And you go, ‘Man, what a shot!’” Moore said.He added: “You all played in this league. You played with these guys. You have advance knowledge. That’s what you need to tap into. I could never get your job.”Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, who have worked for ESPN, and Shaquille O’Neal, an analyst for TNT, are among the former players who have gone through the program.The most earnest session was about podcasting. In 15-minute chunks, the players exchanged stories about their lives: playing on the road, dealing with fans, growing up.Shelvin Mack, 33, who played in the N.B.A. from 2011 to 2019, asked Robert Baker, a 24-year-old in the G League, what it was like to play for Harvard. Baker recalled a game against Kentucky.“My nerves was cool,” he said. “Tip off, I was warming up well. I was hitting shots, and then they played the intro type of song, I said, ‘Oh.’”Mack said, “You froze up?”“Yeah, bro,” Baker said, adding, “Tough day.”The players receive reels with their best moments from the camp that they can send to networks in the hopes of getting hired. Williams said the potential financial rewards of broadcasting appeal to him, though he’s “comfortable” financially. Odiase said this alternative career is a way to tap into his other skills and interests beyond basketball.“It’s learning all aspects of yourself to grow after the game,” he said. More

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      Leicester City supporter trolled by rival fans after his dad’s phone number’s exposed on TV

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      RIVAL supporters let rip when they spotted a fan of relegated Leicester City listening to a radio with his dad’s phone number on it.They bombarded Paul Parwaiz with jokey calls after seeing son Asim on TV at the Foxes’ final game of the season.
      Rival supporters let rip when they spotted a fan of relegated Leicester City listening to a radio with his dad’s phone number on it
      Asdim Parwaiz and his dad Paul, 70, a retired GPCredit: Roland Leon
      Asim, 33, was using the radio to follow Everton v Bournemouth — crucial to whether his team stayed in the Premier League.
      He was seen on Sky Sports and Match of the Day reacting with horror at Everton’s goal, which meant Leicester would be going down, despite their 2-1 home victory over West Ham.
      Dad Paul, 70, a retired GP, had written his mobile number prominently on the digital radio in case he misplaced it.
      Asim had borrowed it and said: “When Everton scored, you can imagine my reaction, a bit four-lettered. I’d no idea the cameras had caught it until after.
      READ MORE ON LEICESTER CITY
      “My dad called and said he was being bombarded with calls from fans of other clubs.
      “They had seen his number on the radio. One was asking for help to repair his because it was going down, down, down.”
      Asim, also a GP, added: “Ironically, Dad isn’t even a Leicester fan — he supports Chelsea.” More

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      BBC in more turmoil as Mark Chapman and Colin Murray step down from Radio 5 Live to support Gary Lineker

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      MARK CHAPMAN has stepped down from BBC 5 Live radio duties in solidarity with Gary Lineker.The radio and Match of the Day 2 host, 49, was due to be on air this afternoon to help cover the Saturday football schedule for 5 Live Sport.
      Mark Chapman will not appear on BBC 5 Live this afternoonCredit: PA
      Colin Murray won’t be hosting Fighting TalkCredit: Getty
      However, SunSport can reveal he will not be taking to the mic and the entire programme is at risk of being pulled – plunging the BBC into further turmoil.
      At 12pm, when 5 Live Sport was due to start, there was a change in the schedule with a replay of the Footballers’ Football Podcast instead.
      And Colin Murray will not be in the studio for Fighting Talk on 5 Live either, with the popular programme dropped from the schedule.
      The Northern Irishman, 46, confirmed our news when he tweeted: “No Fighting Talk today, for obvious reasons.
      READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER
      “In the interest of transparency, this was a decision taken by the entire FT team and myself. Bob Mills was still up for it, to be fair ;)”
      Dion Dublin also withdrew, adding: “In solidarity with my BBC Sport colleagues NO 5 Live for me today!”
      It comes in the latest twist following the BBC’s decision to suspend Gary Lineker from hosting Match of the Day following his tweets comparing the Government’s new Illegal Migration Bill to 1930s Nazi Germany.
      Lineker was told to step away unless he apologised but stood firm.
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      Pundits and commentators, including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, confirmed they would not appear on the show either in a stand of unity with Lineker.
      Chapman had already ruled himself out of replacing Lineker on the flagship highlights show.
      The bungling Beeb confirmed there would be no studio talk or punditry tonight – while manager and player interviews will also be axed.
      Football Focus was also scrapped at the 11th hour when host Alex Scott and replacement Kelly Somers pulled out.
      The lunchtime preview show has been replaced by Bargain Hunt at midday on BBC One.
      And results programme Final Score is also expected to be cancelled with presenter Jason Mohammad refusing to go on air.
      Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray was due to appear on both Football Focus and Final Score but opted out because “it felt the right thing to step away”.
      Ex-England captain Lineker wept when he heard about his colleagues’ support to boycott Match of the Day and the BBC’s other sport scheduling.
      Chapman presents Match of the Day 2 and 5 Live SportCredit: BBC
      A source said: “This has been a tumultuous 24 hours. Gary is in shock and had no idea this was coming. He wanted to go on air, make no bones about it, this was not his decision.
      “Privately, everyone at the Beeb is in meltdown too. They genuinely don’t know how they will get a show out because no one wants to touch it.
      “Everyone in the industry is appalled at how Gary has been hung out to dry, and the general BBC inconsistency. 

      “Gary wept when he found out his mates had all publicly backed him. 
      “The support has been overwhelming which, essentially, is a massive pie in the face for the BBC. 
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      “Gary wasn’t willing to pretend to support something he vehemently doesn’t agree with.
      “He doesn’t need the cash and, frankly, it seems hard to imagine a way back for either party from here.”
      Gary Lineker was suspended by the BBC for his Twitter commentsCredit: Alamy
      Football Focus was scrapped because Alex Scott and Kelly Somers refused to host the showCredit: BBC via Twitter More

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      Red McCombs, Car Salesman Turned Media Mogul, Dies at 95

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      A Texas entrepreneur, he co-founded the media giant Clear Channel, owned pro sports teams and created more than 400 businesses in a variety of industries.Red McCombs, a former Texas used car dealer who became a billionaire entrepreneur by venturing into an array of successful businesses, including the media giant Clear Channel Communications and several professional sports teams, died on Sunday at his home in San Antonio. He was 95.His family announced his death but did not state the cause.Mr. McCombs was a flamboyant wheeler-dealer who created more than 400 businesses across an array of industries, including oil, real estate, cattle, insurance, movies and racehorses, often selling them at a substantial profit. At various times he owned a pro football team, the Minnesota Vikings, and two pro basketball teams, the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.But his heart was in the automobile business, where he began as a standout car salesman in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950. He went on to start his own dealership, and then expanded it into a network that at its peak in 1998 included more than 100 outlets, making it the largest car dealership in Texas and sixth largest in the United States.“I was an entrepreneur before I knew what the word was and certainly before I could spell it,” Mr. McCombs said in a 2006 radio interview. “New deals, new opportunities, new ventures are always a part of my life.”A University of Texas alumnus and a passionate Longhorns football fan, Mr. McCombs parlayed his love of sports into ownership of a minor-league baseball team in Corpus Christi in the 1950s.Then he bought the Dallas Chaparrals of the old American Basketball Association in 1973, relocated the team to San Antonio for the 1973-74 season and changed its name to the Spurs.When the A.B.A. and N.B.A. merged in 1976, he played a key role in having the Spurs included in the merger. He sold the team in 1982 and acquired the Nuggets, only to sell that franchise in 1985 for $19 million, nearly twice what he’d paid for it. He then repurchased the Spurs for $47 million before selling it in 1993 for $75 million (about $157 million in today’s money).In a statement on Monday, the N.B.A. commissioner, Adam Silver, called Mr. McCombs “a driving force in creating the modern N.B.A.”In 1998, Mr. McCombs purchased the N.F.L.’s Minnesota Vikings for $246 million, but grew impatient with futile attempts to build a new stadium for the team in the Minneapolis area. He sold the Vikings for $600 million in 2005.He also played a key role in bringing Formula One racing to Austin by investing in the Circuit of the Americas, the Austin track where the annual U.S. Grand Prix race has been held since 2012.In a statement on Monday, the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, called Mr. McCombs “a true Texas titan across sports, media, business and philanthropy” who had “followed his dreams.”Mr. McCombs’s most lucrative venture was Clear Channel, which he co-founded with Lowry Mays in 1972, when they purchased a local radio station in San Antonio, KEEZ-FM, for $125,000. (Mr. Mays died in September at 87.)The two men continued to acquire radio stations, then television stations and billboards around the country. Aided by the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act, which allowed media conglomerates to own an unlimited number of stations, they built the company into the world’s largest owner of radio stations; by 2000, Clear Channel owned more than 1,200.The company eventually expanded into event promotion, live music and sports management. Mr. Lowry oversaw the business, but Mr. McCombs was instrumental in seizing opportunities to expand, according to John Hogan, the company’s former chairman and chief executive.“He was steadfast in support of the notion that when the telecommunications regulations changed in 1996, we had to move quickly and aggressively, and that those who were slow and hesitant would get left behind,” Mr. Hogan said in an interview for this obituary.Though the company was often criticized for homogenizing radio programming in a way that eliminated much of the local flavor of independent radio stations, the formula was extremely profitable. When Mr. Lowry began to see signs that the internet would disrupt its well-oiled strategy, he and Mr. McCombs sold the company in 2006 for $17.9 billion to a private equity group led by Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners. As part of the deal, the group agreed to take on more than $8 billion in the company’s debt.The timing was perfect for selling. Clear Channel’s fortunes plunged almost immediately. In 2014, the company split into Clear Channel Outdoor, for the billboard business, and iHeartMedia, for the radio stations and other media properties.Red McCombs, left, arrived in Denver in 1983 after buying the Denver Nuggets basketball team. At right was Carl Scheer, the team’s president and general manager.Duane Howell/The Denver Post, via Getty ImagesBilly Joe McCombs was born in the tiny West Texas town of Spur on Oct. 19, 1927. His father, Willie Nathan McCombs, was a sharecropper and later an auto mechanic. His mother, Gladys McCombs, came from a family of farmers.Billy, whose shock of red hair earned him the lifelong nickname “Red,” showed an entrepreneurial bent as early as age 9, when he began selling bags of peanuts to migrant cotton pickers. He was 15 when his family moved to Corpus Christi, where he became a standout high school football player, eventually winning a scholarship to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He left college to serve in the Army for two years before returning and enrolling at the University of Texas in 1948 on the G.I. Bill.But he dropped out to start a business career. He landed a job at the local Ford dealership in Corpus Christi and realized that he had found his calling. Just 22, he set a goal of selling a car a day and, by his account, managed to accomplish that feat for three years straight.In 1950, he married Charline Hamblin, who died in 2019 at 91. He is survived by their three daughters, Lynda McCombs, Marsha Shields and Connie McNab; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.After selling new cars for several years, Mr. McCombs realized that he could make more money selling used cars, he wrote in his autobiography, “Big Red: Memoirs of a Texas Entrepreneur and Philanthropist” (2010). New cars, he thought, were all alike, but “every used car is unique” and had a story to tell.“People like stories about the things they might be interested in buying,” he wrote.In 1957, at 29, he opened his first new car dealership, in Corpus Christi. But it sold Edsels, a Ford brand that would become synonymous with automotive failure. Though he sold many cars, he said, he knew that the brand would not survive. (The Edsel was discontinued in 1959.)“I was selling it myself and I could see the resistance,” he said. “We had to shoehorn everyone into it, and after I’d sold them to all my friends, I had nowhere to go. It was time to move on.”He moved to San Antonio in 1958 and there befriended Mr. Mays. The two soon began buying up radio stations, ultimately turning Clear Channel Communications into a behemoth. Mr. McCombs knew the power of radio and outdoor advertising from his experience with auto dealerships.He did his own radio and television commercials for 25 years, becoming a Texas celebrity along the way. He struggled for years with alcoholism and nearly died at age 48 after a serious case of hepatitis. He gave up alcohol then, and often spoke candidly about his addiction.In 2000, Mr. McCombs and his wife gave a gift of $50 million to the University of Texas business school — the single largest donation in the school’s history at the time. It was renamed the McCombs School of Business. He and his wife also donated $30 million to the university’s MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.Mr. McCombs was a major donor to Republican politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and President Donald J. Trump.Of all of his business achievements, Clear Channel was his most significant, Mr. McCombs declared in his autobiography. “I would never have thought I could ever have had a chance to do something like Clear Channel,” he wrote. “That’s why I don’t really believe in long-term plans. There was no way I could have ever planned Clear Channel.” More