Sources: Paul has list, to talk to Hornets

The New York Knicks are the first team on point guard Chris Paul's wish list of clubs he'd like New Orleans to trade him to, according to sources.

Orlando, where he could team with superstar center Dwight Howard, is the second team on Paul's list, which includes Dallas and then Portland, according to sources.

In the ideal scenario, Paul and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony would wind up in New York to play alongside Amare Stoudemire, forming a big three that could compete with Miami's newly formed super trio of LeBron James,Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"Those guys want to beat the three guys in Miami," a source close to the situation said. A report Wednesday on CBSSports.com said Paul saw what James did in signing to play alongside Wade and Bosh and has designs on doing something similar.

Anthony has one year left on his deal with the Nuggets before he can become a free agent. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million contract extension.

The Dallas Mavericks have put themselves in position to put together arguably the best trade offer for Chris Paul, ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon writes. Blog.

James offered his support to Paul via Twitter. "Best of luck to my brother @oneandonlycp3. Do what's best for You and your family," posted James.

Anthony has until next June 30 to sign the extension, and the Nuggets have said they have no intention of trading Anthony. While most league executives believe Anthony will sign the extension, several sources close to him said he will not sign and that his ultimate desire is to play in New York.

Meanwhile, the Hornets have scheduled a face-to-face sitdown with Paul for Monday in New Orleans, sources with knowledge of the meeting told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

The Hornets, the sources said, will be represented by team president Hugh Weber, general manager Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams, with the hope that Paul -- once he has his first extended conversation with the new GM and coach -- will give the Hornets' new basketball decision-makers an opportunity to sell him on their plan to improve the roster.

If they do not present realistic scenarios that convince Paul that New Orleans can build a contender very quickly, he'll ask the club to begin speaking to the Knicks, Magic, Mavericks and Trail Blazers about possible trades. Sources differ on whether the Lakers are also on list.

Paul's demands come in the immediate aftermath of a Hornets overhaul within the coaching staff and front office. A little more than a month after making 38-year-old Williams the youngest coach in the NBA, the Hornets hired Williams' longtime friend and former NBA teammate, 40-year-old Demps, on Wednesday.

The pitch is expected to include reminders that the Hornets, despite ongoing uncertainty about the proposed ownership transfer from George Shinn to Gary Chouest, had a payroll close to the luxury-tax line last season and would have been in tax territory again next season if not for the draft-day deal that sent Morris Peterson to Oklahoma City.

The Hornets, sources said, will use that reminder to support their claim that they have shown a willingness to spend in recent seasons but spent their money poorly. Sources maintain that Paul's increasingly strained relationship with former GM Jeff Bower was a major factor in Bower's dismissal, but Weber contends that Demps -- after five seasons in the Spurs' highly respected front office -- will make better use of New Orleans' resources.

Weber said earlier this month, while attending a community service event with Paul, that there was "no question" Paul would be in a Hornets uniform when next season opened. As recently as Tuesday, Weber also said that an exchange of text messages gave him the impression that Paul approved of the recent hirings of Williams and Demps.

After the Hornets came within one game of advancing to the 2008 Western Conference finals, Paul agreed to a four-year, $68 million extension that went into effect last season and includes a player's option for the fourth year.

Since then, however, the Hornets have traded center Tyson Chandler and fired coach Byron Scott, who both were close with Paul, all while the club's performance went into steady decline.

The Hornets were bounced from the first round of the 2008-09 playoffs, then missed the playoffs entirely last season, during which Paul missed 37 games with three separate injuries.

Earlier this month, Paul cut ties with his basketball and marketing agents at Octagon and joined LRMR Marketing, an agency founded by James.

Chris Broussard is a senior NBA writer for ESPN The Magazine. Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report

Farewell To A Hard-Working `Clown`

Pete Gill thinks I'm obsessed with Emile Heskey. 'Obsessed' is a strong word, but it's fair to say that I have fought Heskey's corner consistently and vociferously over the past decade or more. I'm not quite alone in my feelings for the big man but that's exactly why I've been so strident in my protestations - anyone in a minority knows they need to shout louder to be heard and that's always been the case for Heskey's champions. We're a small but ear-splitting crew.

The big man has attracted a ridiculous level of derision and ridicule over the years - mostly because successive England managers have consistently put him in their football teams. And when in those football teams, he has done exactly what has been asked of him.

In over 56 hours in an England shirt, there has barely been a minute when Heskey has shown a lack of effort or a lack of discipline. Can you say the same of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard or Wayne Rooney? Can you say the same of any England player whose international career has stretched over 12 years?

You can accuse the man of a lack of finesse and certainly a lack of composure in front of goal, but the six England managers who have picked Heskey have known exactly that when they've sent him out onto a football pitch. They have known they don't want Heskey in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. They have picked him because he enables other players to get into those positions in his stead.

You can also argue that a footballer as big, awkward and agricultural as Heskey should no longer have a place in international football. It's a valid argument that's backed up by the teeny-tiny tippy-tappy nature of the European and world champions. I would have readily agreed prior to Heskey's retirement that his England days should be over, that he and the 4-4-2 formation that his presence dictates should be swept out with any new broom. But I would have blamed Fabio Capello for any future call-up, not the player himself.

There will be laughter at his retirement and there have already been comments of the 'I thought he'd retired four years ago' variety. Would that be before his recall by Steve McClaren that rejuvenated England's ultimately-unsuccessful (after injury to Heskey ruled him out of the key games) Euro 2008 qualifying campaign? Before he was an integral part of England's cruise to this summer's World Cup? Before he was clearly England's best player in their flawed performance against the United States?

But those who choose to laugh and point at Heskey will have no truck with facts, memories of Heskey's part in the 5-1 thwacking of Germany or the successful 2002 World Cup campaign, or observations of a player who always delivered in terms of effort if not in terms of quality. They will not listen to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who would prefer to play with Heskey than each other. To the ignorant it's simple - Heskey is a laughing stock. Look at him, he's a muppet and a clown. It's a safe stance that unites every idiot in the pub.

Has any one footballer ever attracted this level of criticism simply by not being really very good? It's not fault his qualities have been appreciated by managers and teammates while his deficiences ignored. It's not his fault that England have resorted to a certain way of playing football when he's been on the pitch. All he's done is show up with his boots 62 times and played the very best football that he can muster. And for that he's a clown? Really?

Sarah Winterburn

spain is the champion in the 2010 football world cup

This was Spain's first ever World Cup semi-final and the fans were in high spirits.

Hours before kick-off they were painting flags on their faces and Espana up their arms and legs; street stall holders were doing a strong trade in replica shirts and red and yellow wigs and hats.

All around, huddles of young fans sang Yo soy Espanol to the tune of "Kalinka". And everywhere, everyone was predicting victory.

"We're going to do it," one girl told me. "2010 is going to be Spain's year to win."

Continue reading the main story

Spain for ever; champions of the world!

Spain supporter Abrupt end to German football-fest

"We'll play like we did in Euro 2008 so the whole world is impressed by Spanish players," David Cabo said, the national flag knotted around his shoulders like a cape.

"Our team is the best in history so we are going to change history tonight and win."

World record crowd watch Clijsters beat Serena

A world record tennis crowd at King Baudouin Stadium has watched Kim Clijsters beat Wimbledon champion Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 in an exhibition umpired by Martina Navratilova on Thursday.
The crowd of 35,681 surpassed the previous record of 30,472 set in 1973 in Houston for the Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Clijsters was originally meant to play compatriot Justine Henin, but Henin withdrew after injuring her elbow at Wimbledon.
Top-ranked Williams agreed to replace Henin despite a foot injury