Backheel Breakfast: West Ham aren't cutting ticket prices to give back to fans

There's always a business motivation, and it's not just PR.

Premier League clubs make more off television money than anyone else in the world, but they have some of the world's most expensive tickets. This is a contentious issue in English football, where long-time working class fans have been priced out of the game. West Ham is the first club to make a change.

On Tuesday, West Ham announced that they would be the first club to cut ticket prices as a result of the Premier League's TV money increase. Their cheapest season ticket will cost £289 in the 2016-17 season, down from £620 this year.

But they're not just doing this to be nice. That's also the year that West Ham moves to the Olympic Stadium, which will have 15,000 more seats than their current ground. West Ham are actually raising ticket prices for next season before cutting them drastically.

And why are they doing that? Because they wouldn't sell out the Olympic Stadium at current prices. They'll sell out Upton Park at a 5 percent increase on current prices. This isn't about giving back to fans or becoming less greedy. It's just business as usual.

In the news

FC Porto fans waited for their team at the airport to cheer them, despite their heavy loss at Bayern. (Mais Futebol)

Martin Skrtel will be staying at Liverpool. (ESPN FC)

Rafa Benitez says he's had no contact with Manchester City. (Guardian)

The agent for Mattia Destro, who is in poor form, says AC Milan, who will have a new owner shortly, are too modest for his client. (Football Italia)

NYCFC's Tony Taylor is out for the season. (MLS)

Wolfsburg are punting on Europa League. They're not bringing Kevin de Bruyne or Andre Schürrle to Napoli. (Bundesliga)

Andres Iniesta: "Has the old Iniesta returned? I never left." (AS)

You should be reading

Iain Macintosh on supporters needing to come together to fight unfair ticket pricing. (The Set Pieces)

Miriti Murungi on Beitar Jerusalem, who are totally fine with being really racist. (Soccer Gods)

Michael Cox on Pep Guardiola's change of tactics on Tuesday. (Guardian)

Fun with transfer rumors

The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.

Hugo Lloris is ready to leave Spurs to play Champions League football. (Guardian)

Real Madrid are shying away from David De Gea to go after ... Asmir Begovic? Okay. (Express)

If Manchester City want Jay Rodriguez, who hasn't played since blowing out his knee a year ago, it's going to cost them £20m. (Manchester Evening News)

Tuesday's games

Neymar was the star of Barca's win over PSG.

Bayern Munich just absolutely trucked Porto.

You can watch Copa Libertadores highlights here. (FootballManiaChannel)

What to watch on Wednesday (click for listings, all times ET)

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (2:45 p.m.) - Los Merengues have been decimated by injuries.

Monaco vs. Juventus (2:45 p.m.) - Juve have a one-goal lead and are favorites to hold it.

Five Copa Libertadores games (from 4:30 p.m.) - The best games are the two Group 1 matches at 6:45 p.m., where all four teams are still alive and no one has clinched.

Club America vs. Montreal Impact (9 p.m.) - The first leg of the CCL final.

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The Predators' goalie lost the puck in his pants for 3 dang minutes

Moments like this are the best. Whether it's a basketball stuck in the rim or wind blowing a football off a tee, it's always fun to see entire events grind to a halt because of something really weird. On Tuesday night this concept was taken to its happy place when Predators' keeper Pekka Rinne lost a puck in his pads ... for THREE MINUTES!

Alas it was no BUTT GOAL, but here's a play-by-play of the action:

• 0:06 - The puck falls in Rinne's pads while he's up against the boards. He has no clue this happened.
• 0:08 - Thinking the Blackhawks have the puck he makes a GHOST SAVE.
• 0:15 - Rinne starts to suspect the puck is in his pads.
• 0:26 - He checks his pads, but can't find it.
• 0:42 - The linesmen begins his search.
• 0:55 - The goalie begins getting pat down like he's at an airport.
• 1:02 - Rinne checks his butt.
• 1:12 - Officials check his butt ... the crowd cheers.
• 1:42 - The goalie starts shaking wildly to see if something comes loose, but to no avail.
• 1:54 - Officials, Rinne and teammates help him check his gear again.
• 2:22 - Rinne digs around in his pants ... the crowd cheers.
• 2:51 - HE FINDS THE PUCK!

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Today's Washington Post sports page is what every city dreams about

The Greatest #DC sports night ever? The @washingtonpost @PostSports front. #Wizards #Nats #RockTheRed #dcRising http://ift.tt/1OFEHub

— Dan Worthington (@danWorthington) April 22, 2015

Newspapers can be limited and hard to futz with and sometimes they get ink on your hands. But front pages are still pretty great when something big happens. Here's what happened last night in D.C. sports:

1. The Wizards took a 2-0 series lead over the Raptors in the NBA playoffs.

2. The Capitals tied their NHL playoff series with the Islanders at 2-2.

3. Nats win on walk-off capped with an amazing, hilarious celebration.

Any of these things would be a really good sports night for a city. All three in one night is pretty great! What could possibly be better!?!!?? Oh. A football schedule.

☁️ http://ift.tt/1OFEHuf

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) April 22, 2015

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Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies, 2015 NBA playoffs: Time, TV schedule and online streaming for Game 2

The Grizzlies look to take a 2-0 lead over Portland.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies meet for Game 2 of their first round series Wednesday night at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies currently hold a 1-0 lead in the series after earning an impressive 100-86 victory in Game 1 over the weekend.

Portland currently has several key players sidelined, and it showed in the opening game Sunday. LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard ended up firing off 55 shots as the team struggled to create open shots, and the resulting offense was a far cry from the dynamic unit we saw most of the regular season.

Arron Afflalo could return for Game 2, but he's still considered a gametime decision due to a shoulder injury. The team badly needs help on the wings with Wesley Matthews and Dorell Wright also sidelined, so even getting back one body would be a significant boost.

One thing that shouldn't be doubted is the Grizzlies' motivation entering the game. Not only is this a pivotal chance for the team to assert itself in the series, but the Trail Blazers offered up some pretty obvious bulletin board material with a sign hung in the team's locker room reading "We don't lose to Spanish players."

Portland forward Nicolas Batum had to apologize for the reference to Grizzlies star and Spain native Marc Gasol, and now Memphis has an extra reason to bring the fire.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies

Place: FedEx Forum

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: TNT

Online: Watch TNT

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Ian Poulter shouldn’t have to ‘shovel s**t’ if he doesn’t want to

Ian Poulter heads to Twitter to defend himself against critics unhappy that he won’t play the Euro Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, on a Wentworth track that’s, um, not to his liking.

Ian Poulter, to the surprise of no one who follows the British Ryder Cup standout, kicked up quite a Twitter ruckus on Tuesday with a series of tweets defending his decision to skip the European Tour's most prestigious event.

Poulter, Henrik Stenson, and Sergio Garcia are taking passes on next month’s BMW PGA Championship, the flagship tourney across the pond, and a column in the Daily Mail blasted them for it. Derek Lawrenson took Poulter to task for missing the contest, especially when Jordan Spieth did "the right thing" by honoring his commitment to play a PGA Tour event just four days after he won the Masters.

IJP was not amused.

Really Derek Lawrenson @MailOnline. What a load of Bull... Making assumptions again. Nothing to write about again? http://t.co/YHBnUz68AK

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) April 21, 2015

It would seem Poulter has plenty of reasons not to want to compete on a Wentworth course that has not been particularly kind to him over the years, a fact he laid out in black and white.

I've played 13 PGA's at Wentworth and had 1 Top 10. I've had 8 MC. Would Usain Bolt compete in a marathon. I didn't think so.... Enough said

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) April 21, 2015

Simple terms. I've won 19.11 world ranking points from poss 832 over 13 years. & for tied 3rd at Open in 2012 I won 28.50 Points.

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) April 21, 2015

Another British player typed his regrets that Wentworth -- which will host several big names, including world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and 2013 U.S. Open winner Justin Rose -- would not have Poulter to kick around come May 21.

Shame @IanJamesPoulter isn't @BMWPGA (poor record in event) Not being funny but it ain't as bad as my record & I can't wait to play

— Ian Ellis (@necky_fade) April 21, 2015

Poulter wished his mate well but could not emphasize enough that he would not be joining him at Wentworth.

Ian I hope you play well mate. It's a great tournament but my stats don't lie. I can't shovel shit uphill forever. https://t.co/jrybS4jrw4

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) April 21, 2015

Beyond Lawrenson's offenses, Poulter’s not much of a fan of the Fourth Estate, as Dale Concannon can attest. After calling Poulter out last year for taking a pot shot at his Doral playing partner, Hideki Matsuyama, Concannon learned how the 12-time European Tour winner viewed him.

Didn't realize you were that much of a Penis. But they do say you learn something new everyday. @DaleConcannon

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 8, 2014

Golf writers are not the only objects of Poulter’s ire, as British Airways discovered when the airline bumped the golfer’s nanny from business class — an outrage only to those among the 1 percent.

@IanJamesPoulter @British_Airways Thoughts with you at this dark time Ian

— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 8, 2014

@IanJamesPoulter @British_Airways #PrayForPoulter

— Christian Cerisola (@ChristianCeriso) August 8, 2014

But we digress.

Aside from his Twitter history, Poulter makes a valid point -- for himself, as well as other well-to-do professional golfers who have the luxury of picking and choosing where and when to play. These guys are free agents and may play courses they enjoy and spurn those they don’t and it's hardly something about which to get one's knickers in a twist.

Poulter should not have to "shovel s**t uphill" for even four days, let alone "forever," especially when, as even Lawrenson conceded, he was "doing plenty behind the scenes to ensure the relaunched British Masters" succeeds. Poulter will also be part of the festivities at the Open Championship and possibly play the Scottish Open.

However I will be at @WoburnGC for the British masters in October. So I will be playing 2 big events in the UK. Same as this year.

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) April 21, 2015

As Poulter noted, his playing time in the U.K. is just about par for the course, so what's the big deal?

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Nets vs. Hawks, NBA playoffs 2015: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Game 2 online

The Hawks look to go up 2-0 against the Nets.

The Atlanta Hawks lead the Brooklyn Nets in the first-round series, 1-0, but they haven't turned everyone into believers yet after an incredible regular season. The team will get another chance Wednesday night in Game 2 against Brooklyn at Philips Arena.

The Hawks rolled into the playoffs with a conference-leading 60 wins after clinching the East's top seed weeks ago. That made the playoff opener the team's first truly meaningful game in a long time. At times, it showed, as the Nets kept things close throughout the contest.

Kyle Korver led the team with 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, but overall the Hawks shot just 43 percent from the field in Game 1. They let a double-digit first-half lead dwindle down to three in the third quarter, and got beat on the boards, 47-39.

It wasn't the dominant performance you'd expect from a 60-win team facing a 38-win team in the playoffs, but Atlanta didn't sound alarmed. The Hawks are a veteran team with a balanced lineup and a smart coach in Mike Budenholzer who can manage them through the situation.

The team will need to play better if it wants to make a run to the Finals, though, and they seemed aware of that even after starting the playoffs with a win. We'll see if they bring more Wednesday night.

How to watch Nets vs. Hawks

Place: Philips Arena

Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: NBA TV

Online: NBA League Pass

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NBA playoffs 2015 schedule: Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks look go up 2-0

The Clippers, Grizzlies and Hawks look for Game 2 wins on Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles Clippers earned a huge Game 1 win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs to start the postseason. On Wednesday night, the two teams will meet again to highlight an exciting three-game NBA playoff slate.

The matchup between the Clippers and Spurs was expected to be the best of the opening round of the postseason, but L.A. asserted itself in the first game with a 107-92 win. Blake Griffin had several thunderous dunks, Chris Paul racked up 32 points and DeAndre Jordan was active defensively throughout the game.

It was a sign the Clippers will be a tough out this season, even if they're facing one of the toughest contenders in the Spurs. Los Angeles and San Antonio were two of the hottest teams in the league to close out the regular season and should treat us to an exciting series by the time someone is eliminated.

The other two games of the night feature the Memphis Grizzlies taking on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Brooklyn Nets.

Memphis is coming off a 100-86 victory over the Trail Blazers in Game 1 thanks to the inspiring performance of point guard Mike Conley, who missed the final few games of the regular season due to injury. They will look to take a 2-0 lead to Portland for Game 3.

The Grizzlies should have no shortage of motivation after The Oregonian reported that the Trail Blazers had a sign in their locker room that read, "we don't lose to Spanish players." It was a reference to a rivalry with Memphis star and Spanish native Marc Gasol, but it warranted an apology from Portland forward Nicolas Batum, who has often played Gasol in international competitions as a member of the French national team.

So expect Memphis to come out punching with the chance to grab a two-game lead in the series, especially if the Trail Blazers are without shooting guard Arron Afflalo again. Portland missed Afflalo in Game 1, and with Wesley Matthews and Dorell Wright also sidelined, the team is sorely in need of depth on the wings.

The night actually starts with the least interesting game, the No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup between the Hawks and Nets. Brooklyn managed to expose some of Atlanta's problems in the first game, but they'll have a tough time doing it consistently enough to beat the East's top seed in a seven-game series.

Wednesday's schedule

Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks: 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, TNT Overtime

San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, TNT Overtime

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