The worst professional sports franchise ever. That would make for an interesting, if ignoble, list-topper. Contenders from all over the globe coming together for the ultimate contest in sports ugly.
In North American professional sports, however, there is a singular club that is so reliably inept and so outdistances the field that there can be no debate … the Los Angeles Clippers!
If nothing else, the "other" Los Angeles club are remarkable in their consistency. Bad today, bad yesterday, bad just about every day. They have six winning seasons in their 40-year history. In their 27 seasons in LA (previous stops: San Diego, Buffalo) they have managed two winning seasons.
The Clippers are one of only three NBA teams, along with the Memphis Grizzlies (founded in Vancouver in 1995) and Charlotte Bobcats (2004) never to have won a divisional title.
Now here they are again, version 2010/11, still the same not-so-lovable losers. The Clippers are off to an NBA-worst 1-13 start. Which doesn't even approach their 0-17 start of 1998/99.
Almost improbably, an attitude vaguely resembling "hope" had been associated with the team a month ago. Blake Griffin, a forward and the top pick of the 2009 draft, missed all of his first season with an injury but was back and looked impressive. The Clippers had an improved Eric Gordon, the guard who helped carry Team USA to the Fiba World Championship in Turkey. They added Al-Faroug Aminu, the No 8 overall pick in this year's draft. They brought in Vinny Del Negro as their new coach.
And they are the biggest losers in the NBA again. "Something has got to change," Griffin said after a 107-80 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday left them 0-7 on the road, though he did not indicate why change would happen now, after all these years.
A 40-year refrain. The faces change, but the results remain the same. All while playing in the same city as the NBA champions, the Lakers.
Over the years, the Clippers have had 29 top-10 draft picks. Three times they have had the first pick, most infamously taking all-time bust Michael Olowokandi No 1 in 1998. Their roster is continually being made over, as draft picks and free agents prove disasters, or those few who do develop eagerly await fleeing the moment they become free agents.
Last Monday the Clippers' starting line-up featured two 20-year-olds, a pair of 21-year-olds, and the 22-year-old DeAndre Jordan. They lost 110-96 to the New Jersey Nets. Baron Davis, the veteran guard, was meant to lead the kids, but he was out with a sore something. Mostly, the Clippers are disappointed he came to camp woefully out of shape. He was supposed to be their missing link when he signed for $65 million (Dh238.7m) in 2008. He has proven to be their latest fiasco.
The one constant for the past 29 years of this ongoing disaster is Donald Sterling, the owner renowned as the Scrooge of the NBA. He is being sued by Elgin Baylor, the former general manager, for "a racist attitude". Mike Dunleavy, the coach fired early this year, has filed an arbitration claim for $6.75 million for unpaid salary. And the defeats keep coming.
REVIEW
Players of the week
• Michael Beasley, Minnesota: The Timberwolves' forward, pictured below, acquired from the Heat for a second-round draft pick as Miami cleared salary space for LeBron James and Co, averaged 28.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in three games.
• Tony Parker, San Antonio: Apparently not distracted by the announcement that Eva Longoria, his actress wife, will divorce him, the Spurs point guard averaged 21.3 points and 7.7 assists in three victories last week.
• Monta Ellis, Golden State: The guard averaged 33.5 points in two games with the Warriors. His season scoring average of 27.7 is second in the league.
Teams of the week
• San Antonio: The Spurs won three more to take their winning streak to 10. Their 11-1 record leads the NBA.
• Oklahoma: The Thunder went 4-0, including wins at Utah and Boston. Their last two victories came without Kevin Durant, the NBA's leading scorer, who is out with a sprained ankle.
Dud of the week
• Ron Artest, LA Lakers: The hero of Game 7 in the NBA Finals is off to a rough start. In three games, he averaged five points and four rebounds.
Games of the week
• Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (Wednesday): The Heat's signature victory was their 96-70 win at home over the Magic. Orlando get a chance to return the favour.
• Sacramento Kings at LA Clippers (Thursday): Of the Clippers' next six opponents, the Kings are the only team with a losing record, and their best hope to avoid a 15-game losing streak.
sports@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
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Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Results
4pm: Maiden (Dirt) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Moshaher, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Handicap (D) Dh165,000 2,200m
Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.10pm: Maiden (Turf) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Rua Augusta, Harry Bentley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
5.45pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,200m
Winner: Private’s Cove, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
6.20pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 1,600m
Winner: Azmaam, Jim Crowley, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6.55pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,400m
Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.30pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 2,000m
Winner: Rio Tigre, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now