data-mm-id=”_i5k6s7rkk”>Heading into the NBA restart in Orlando, it felt like any one of a million things could go wrong. But three weeks into the grand experiment with the playoffs around the corner, it has been shockingly smooth sailing. Sure, the Lou Williams debacle wasn't great, but other than that players have stuck to the rules and it's resulted in consecutive weeks of no positive coronavirus tests from the bubble. While it's of course important to remember that there's still three months to go until the season is complete, it's encouraging to see everything go as well as it has. Adam Silver said as much in an SI interview with Chris Mannix published this morning, calling the current situation "better than we envisioned." He did note, however, that the bubble concept is not a sustainable model due to the cost, which could have implications down the line. Here's what Silver had to say after Mannix asked him about the financial consequences if the league didn't manage to return this year: “[Pauses.] I’m hesitating only because it’s better to play than not to play, but in terms of a net basis, it’s not as dramatically different as people might think, because it is so costly to do what we’re doing in Orlando. It’s not a sustainable model, but we also recognize that this virus will end and that at some point we will return to more of a normal business operation with fans in seats.”- Adam SilverThe bubble setup will reportedly run the league about $170 million if it lasts the duration. That's a lot of money, even for a professional sports league with revenue in the billions. But it's noteworthy Silver used that particular terminology because there remains a very real chance that a "normal business operation" won't be in the cards when the NBA wants to start the 2020-21 season in December. Reggie Miller went on The Dan Patrick show today and said he thinks there could be an East and West bubble if there isn't a widespread vaccine by the time next season's start date rolls around. We've pondered what the NBA might do if they needed to create a bubble for next season on this very site. We had no answers, but concluded that an immense amount of creativity would be required to sell it to the players. But if Silver says it's not sustainable, which lines up with the bill the NBA is footing once it's all said and done, that changes the situation entirely. In the sadly likely event that it won't be safe for fans to return to arenas and the coronavirus is still running loose throughout the country, what will the NBA do if another bubble (or several) isn't feasible? While the jury is still out on how the NFL will handle things, MLB's strategy hasn't exactly been one to model. But there aren't many alternatives without a bubble. Silver and his cohort will have a lot of decisions to make rather soon. Right now, it doesn't seem like there's an easy answer. Then again, 2020 isn't the year of easy answers.
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David Wheater has signed a new three-year deal with Bolton Wanderers, the Championship side have confirmed.
The 26-year-old joined Bolton from hometown club Middlesbrough in January 2011 and has made 45 appearances since his arrival, with the majority of those coming in the Premier League.
The centre-back s participation in the 2012-13 campaign was restricted to just four brief substitute appearances, however, after he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in May of last year.
But, having proved his fitness in pre-season training, Wheater has expressed delight at earning a new contract.
I m very happy to have signed, he told the club s official website.
I believe we have a real chance to move forward this season and the manager is certainly the right man…
France coach Raymond Domenech has warned that nothing short of victory will suffice against old foes the Faroe Islands, now managed by former Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr, in Wednesday s 2010 World Cup qualifier.
A glance at the Group 7 standings explains the French boss s unease ahead of the game in Torshavn with his men lagging eight points behind leaders Serbia, albeit with two games in hand.
The winners of each group qualify automatically for South Africa with the best runners-up being forced into a play-off, an eventuality Domenech wants to avoid at all costs.
Anything barring victory is a catastrophe, the man who led France to the 2006 World Cup finals insisted in a video published on the French Football Federation s website.
Domenech added…
Hamburger SV are eager to cash in on midfielder Gojko Kacar before the January transfer window closes.
Kacar, 25, is one of the highest earners at the club and is nowhere near winning a place in the starting line-up, so no wonder the club officials want to push him towards the exit door.
The Serbian midfielder appeared to be on his way to Hannover, after the two clubs agreed on the transfer fee, but he could not agree personal terms with the 96ers.
Kacar appears to be perfectly happy to stay on the fringes at Imtech Arena and keep pocketing hefty salary, but HSV have other plans.
“We now have until the end of the month to find another club for Gojko (Kacar),” sporting director Frank Arnesen .
Kacar is currently earning €1.5m per campaign, b…
QPR manager Harry Redknapp is hopeful of securing the signing of Scott Parker in the next few days.
The Tottenham midfielder is facing stiff competition for a starting berth at White Hart Lane this term following the close-season signing of Paulinho.
However, Redknapp, who signed Parker when he was in charge at Tottenham, is keen to have the England international with him at Loftus Road as QPR aim to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
We re hopeful of getting Scotty signed soon, Redknapp said.
He s a great lad and will be a really good signing for us.
Parker made only 23 appearances in all competitions last season after the beginning of his campaign was disrupted by injury.
The 32-year-old was named the Football Writers …
Nigeria have included Simeon Nwankwo in their final squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Crotone striker, who only made his international debut against DR Congo last Monday, has earned a spot in Gernot Rohr s 23-man group.
Established stars including Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel and Joel Obi have all been included, alongside Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Brighton and Hove Albion s Leon Balogun, Porto s Chidozie Awaziem and forward Ahmed Musa, who spent the end of the 2017-18 season on loan from Leicester at CSKA Moscow, are also in the squad.
Nigeria, who were beaten 2-1 by England in a friendly match at Wembley on Friday, face Czech Republic on Wednesday, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Croat…
Danny Rose described England as his salvation as the Tottenham full-back revealed his depression diagnosis, which was triggered by injury and family tragedy.
Rose endured a difficult campaign in 2017-18, the Spurs left-back only making 10 Premier League appearances due to a serious knee injury sustained last year.
The 27-year-old spent nine months on the sidelines before returning in October, however, treatment of that injury was the start of a turbulent period in his life.
Rose s uncle took his own life, the England international s mother was the victim of racial abuse, while his brother was the target of a shooting inside the family home.
Now in a better place ahead of the World Cup in Russia – where Rose will be without his family amid concerns over …
What the papers say
Conor Gallagher is reportedly at the head of Tottenham’s transfer wishlist as Ange Postecoglou searches for a number eight. According to The Independent, Spurs are aiming to complete the transfer in January, with Chelsea bosses believed to be willing to make a deal for the right price.
Staying with Tottenham, The Independent says Bayern Munich are in talks to sign Spurs defender Eric Dier. It comes after the north London outfit beat Bayern in the race for the signature of centre-back Radu Dragusin.
The Telegraph reports Newcastle have had an approach for forward Dominic Solanke turned down by Bournemouth. Bosses at the Cherries are said to be determined not to release the 26-year-old this month.
Brentford and Crystal Palace are interested i…
Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter is among five nominees for the Premier League s Manager of the Month award as his move to Chelsea draws closer.
The 47-year-old is widely reported to have agreed terms to take charge at Stamford Bridge following the departure of Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday.
Having been nominated for August s Manager of the Month gong, Potter s arrival at Chelsea could coincide with him being rewarded for a stellar start to the season with Brighton.
The Seagulls won three of their five games in August, drawing with Newcastle United and losing to Fulham, and finished the month in fourth place behind Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Those three sides have also seen their leaders nominated, with Mikel Arteta, Antonio Con…
Inter Milan are planning an ambitious swoop on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, .
With Erick Thohir set to complete the club takeover, he is likely to make some funds available for the January transfer window.
And rather than investing into high-profile players, the Indonesian businessman prefers to add more young and talented players to the squad that already contain the likes of Kovacic, Icardi, Jesus and Taider.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are set to make a move on Paris Saint-Germain starlet Marco Verratti.
The 20-year-old has said on numerous occasions that he would like to return to Italian Serie A, with Inter Milan ready to pounce.
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Bolton Wanderers are set to sign Southampton defender Danny Fox on loan until January,.
The left back has made just one league appearance this season, having fallen down the Saints’ pecking order following the emergence of England U21 sensation Luke Shaw.
Fox moved to the south coast club from Burnley in 2011, and was a regular starter during their promotion winning 2011/12 campaign, form that saw him win his first competitive cap for Scotland the following season.
Bolton are currently second from bottom of the Championship, above Barnsley on goal difference following Tuesday evening’s goalless draw at Blackpool.
They have brought in no less than four players on loan over the past few days, with Neil Danns, Liam Feeney and Kyle McNaughton all mov…