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Business

Groupon lays off over 500 staff after reporting net loss of $129m

Groupon lays off over 500 staff after reporting net loss of $129m

Online coupon business Groupon has culled more than 500 employees in a bid to reduce costs due to poor business performance.

It’s understood staff were cut from the business’s merchant development, sales, recruiting, engineering, product and marketing teams, with the cuts representing roughly 15 per cent of the company’s global 3416 work force.

The move comes as Groupon reported a US$90.3 million (A$129.3 million) net loss in its second quarter results on Monday. The company reported a steep “decline in engagement” and a 42 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue at $153.2 million.

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In Groupon’s earnings release statement, chief executive Kedar Deshpande said the company would be prioritizing “taking decisive actions to improve our trajectory” after the lower-than-anticipated result.

“We are significantly reducing costs, and based on the progress we’re making on our initiatives to drive customer purchase frequency, we are now ready to begin

reinvesting in marketing to drive growth,” he said.

In a letter to staff sent on Monday, Mr Deshpande stressed the business would be “leaning on” outsourcing staff and focusing “only on mission-critical activities”, TechCrunch reports.

The letter indicated Groupon would also be re-evaluating its real estate assets, in what could be a shift to more remote or a blended working environment.

Mr Deshpande said he believed the company could begin to generate positive cash flow by the end of 2022, while increasing “purchase frequency and customer retention”.

In order to turn around the business, the quarterly report flagged “reducing our cost structure” and improving their customer experience as their two key strategies. Part of this included reducing their tech costs by $US60 million ($A85.99 million), which equates to 30 per cent of Groupon’s annual spend.

In Australia, Groupon has been operating since 2011, with its website claiming the company has built a customer base of 3.3 million across 26,000 merchants.

The site allows customers to buy discounted experiences and products, with the business earning affiliate revenue for the sales. A wide range of offers are available on products from discounted pink slips and car safety checks, to massages and helicopter rides.

It’s unclear how the staff cuts will impact the company’s Australian workforce, however news.com.au has reached out for comment. As it stands, the company is still advertising for four sales and buying roles within their Sydney offices.

While the latest round of lay-offs are significant, they’re a fraction of what the company experienced as a result of the Covid pandemic. In April 2020, the company stood down about 2,800 employees, which amounted to 44 per cent of its work force.

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Business

Vegan Air Canada passenger stunned at lack of airline meals

Vegan Air Canada passenger stunned at lack of airline meals

A woman was left stunned and annoyed after she ordered several vegan meals on a plane – but was served nothing more than a bottle of water during meal service.

Miriam Porter, a travel blogger who goes by the TikTok handle ‘the kind traveller’, was on an Air Canada flight traveling from Toronto, Canada to Frankfurt, Germany.

In a now viral clip that has amassed almost a million views, Miriam explained she ordered several vegan meals during the more than 10-hour flight, but was left hungry after claiming to be served nothing but water.

“POV: You are on an Air Canada flight for over ten hours and order vegan meals,” her post begins.

She then shares footage from the flight showing her first ‘meal’ being a bottle of water.

For “meal 2” she showed a napkin with nothing on it.

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Miriam was eventually given some food – though not part of the proper meal service.

Instead, a flight attendant nabbed a makeshift meal for her from business class.

“Shout out to the kind flight attendant that got me fruit & dinner rolls from business class,” she captioned the clip.

“I love fruit but also like entire meals!” she pointedly added.

Air Canada has a selection of ‘special meals’ that passengers can order in advance. It varies from vegetarian to diabetic, kosher and vegan meal options.

“Special meals are available in all classes of service on all flights where a meal service is offered (except on flights offering Air Canada Bistro service),” its site states.

“We won’t be able to guarantee that your special meal request can be accommodated if it’s submitted less than 24 hours before the first flight in your itinerary.”

However, Miriam said her order was placed “well in advance and confirmed (many times)”.

“This has happened many times sadly. I always preorder in advance and bring my own food in case. But this time it was impossible,” she said.

Her clip has attracted hundreds of comments from users who asked why she just didn’t bring her own food this time.

“I always bring my own food in case but I was on a 24-hour delay and couldn’t make food to bring,” she explained.

Air Canada states: “You may bring your own snacks and food on board, or purchase meals and beverages at the airport before your flight – just make sure to purchase beverages after you’ve passed through security and take into consideration any limitations on bringing food through US pre-clearance when traveling to the US.”

Miriam described the situation as “annoying”.

“Especially since it was day two of trying to get home with little food. But I’m back so a happy ending,” she said.

Miriam added that it took her two days to get home from Berlin.

Her clip prompted others to share their horror food stories, with one woman saying she was served a “small bun with three slices of zucchini” during a long-haul flight.

Another said they were served “lettuce with six cold mushrooms on top” during their flight.

One woman said she was given “chicken on my vegan pre-booked menu”.

Others said they often had to fill up on the bread rolls and snacks such as pretzels and hummus.

News.com.au has contacted Air Canada for comment.

Read related topics:TikTok

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Sports

Adelaide Crows pre-season camp, Caroline Wilson, San McClure, media coverage, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, AFLPA

Adelaide Crows pre-season camp, Caroline Wilson, San McClure, media coverage, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, AFLPA

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has taken aim at the Adelaide media for its response to coverage of the Crows’ infamous 2018 camp amid more calls for club figures responsible at the time to take ownership.

The Crows on Monday night released a lengthy open letter to the club’s fans, apologizing to Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and any players who had a “negative experience” at the pre-season camp after shock new revelations emerged last week.

It comes after Adelaide journalist David Penberthy earlier this year slammed Nine’s Sam McClure and Wilson, who’ve both extensively reported on the camp, saying the latter’s coverage was a “miserable way to spend your post-journalistic career.”

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And speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night, Wilson said she remained “baffled at the collective chip on the shoulder of certain sections of the Adelaide media where that camp was concerned”.

“I don’t know the above mentioned commentator (Penberthy), but I gather he’s flipped around a bit on the camp story since then,” Wilson said.

The Crows camp that ‘ended careers’ | 02:10

“Graham Cornes in his Advertiser column recently tried to portray another side of the story, and talked about more brutal camps of days gone by, and asked where then was the Victoria media piled on. Seriously Graham?

“You boys, all of you, need to grow up, this is so childish. That story would’ve been a massive yarn wherever it’d taken place, and equally condemned. In fact it would’ve been a much bigger story if it had taken place at Collingwood or Richmond. Talk about shooting the messenger.”

The directors of Collective Mind, who organized the camp, Amon Woulfe and Derek Leddie told the Advertiser in February the Crows’ then chief executive Andrew Fagan and the club’s board had “full awareness” of the program.

The story also states the program was approved by senior club figures including coach Don Pyke, head of football Brett Burton, and doctor Marc Cesana who cleared every player as mentally and emotionally fit to attend, and was even pilot tested by one of the coaches.

And while current Crows bosses and the AFL have both apologized following last week’s revelations, McClure, who in 2020 broke the story of the camp’s details, still wasn’t satisfied those who oversaw the controversial pre-season event have taken ownership.

Jenkins full statement on infamous camp | 15:39

“We’ve talked a lot about the potential cover-up and to what extent it went. I know there’s been apologies and elements of contrition, but I stand here today still wondering who is going to take responsibility for some of the things that went on at that camp,” he said.

“They either knew about it and they deliberately lied, or they didn’t know. I’m not sure which one’s worse.”

Fox Footy AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley called for all Crows figures in power at the time who’re still at the club to depart.

“I hold to the view that those who were in positions of authority at the time and oversaw this and who have actively participated in the cover-up over four and half years should depart their positions,” he said.

“(Crows director of footy Mark Ricciuto) would be one, but I doubt he’s the only one within that club that would still occupy one of those positions.“

Wilson also hit out at the AFL’s lack of accountability and why it took so long for it to act.

“For Gillon McLachlan to take four years — given the AFL’s known since 2020 what went on — to actually apologize in a stand up at an airport with Channel 7 in an exclusively arranged interview is frankly quite pathetic,” she said.

“Our game betrayed him” Robbo on Betts | 01:02

“Why the AFL did nothing then still baffles me. The cover-up has been astonishing.”

The AFLPA (Players Association) last week indicated it would effectively reopen its investigation into the camp and contact all players for a “better understanding” of what occurred, saying it would’ve taken more immediate action had it known all the information from the outset .

However McClure believes putting the onus on the players to divulge the information is “classic victim blaming” and that more action should’ve been taken at the time.

“The last people who are responsible for what went on at that camp are the players,” he said,

“It is absolute garbage to think that we could sit here and label any of those players as part of the problem. And yet when people come out and speak the truth and show great courage, we suddenly turn around the responsibility on them.

“If the AFLPA wanted to know what was going in that camp, they could’ve asked, because from where we sat, it wasn’t that hard to find out.”

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Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Kelsey-Lee Barber wins javelin result, Aussie is a freak

Commonwealth Games 2022: Kelsey-Lee Barber wins javelin result, Aussie is a freak

However, you want to describe it, Aussie Kelsey-Lee Barber simply has that champion quality that all the great legends are made of.

Fresh from her record-breaking world championships victory last month, Barber pulled off a famous win in the javelin at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday night (AEST), taking the lead with her final throw.

Barber was pushed to her limits by Aussie Mackenzie Little, who had led all the way until the second-final throw of the event.

Barber won the gold by just 16cm with a monster final throw of 64.43m.

Little threw two personal bests in the competition and it still wasn’t enough as Barber produced a monster effort right at the death.

It was a super-human comeback after she tested positive to Covid last week and was isolated from the rest of the Aussie team.

Athletics commentator David Culbert said in commentary on Channel 7: “That is extraordinary, take a bow. That’s unbelievable.”

Barber, who won bronze at the Glasgow Games in 2014 and silver at the Gold Coast Games in 2018, was also stunned when interviewed after the final throws.

“I am in shock still. I went over to the fence and I said… my brain is a bit fuzzy,” she said.

“I don’t know what just happened. But you are right it is a beautiful story to share over my Commonwealth Games journey and I am happy to come away with a gold.”

Barber had thrown 66.91 in the final at the world championships in Oregon.

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Entertainment

Kanye West, Kim Kardashian: Insta post mocks Pete Davidson saying ‘Skete is dead at 28’

Kanye West, Kim Kardashian: Insta post mocks Pete Davidson saying 'Skete is dead at 28'

Kim Kardashian is reportedly furious with Kanye West over a poor taste post on Instagram targeting Pete Davidson who the reality TV star had recently broken up with.

The rapper, 45, shared a screenshot of a fake newspaper front page with the headline “Skete Davidson dead at age 28” on Instagram on Monday, reported the US Sun.

West has now deleted the post, apparently following Kardashian’s intervention.

The photo was a mock-up of the New York Times and was dated Monday, August 8 2022.

West has been using the nickname “Skete” for Davidson, 28, for months.

West’s latest post comes just days after it was revealed that Davidson and Kardashian have split following nine months of dating.

The Kardashians star and former SNL funnyman have broken up, and decided to just be friends, E! News reported late last week.

A source said: “They have a lot of love and respect for each other but found that the long distance and their demanding schedules made it really difficult to maintain a relationship.”

An insider later claimed Kardashian broke up with Davidson because she was “totally exhausted” by his “immaturity” and their 13-year age gap.

The split occurred sometime last week, according to the site.

Kim ‘incredibly upset’ with West

But despite the break up Kardashian has come into bat for Davidson saying the Insta meme posted by West was “appalling”.

“Kim won’t stand for this. She is demanding that Kanye take the post down, but he won’t,” a source told the Daily Mail.

“She has been vigorously defending Pete. Ella she’ll never get back together with Kanye over the way he’s treated the people she loves and respects.

“She won’t stand for this type of behavior from him.”

the new york post had further details from Kardashian sources.

“Kim is livid and incredibly upset … Kanye is back to his old ways and Kim will not tolerate his bullying behavior towards the people she loves and cares about,” a source close to the SKIMS founder told the Post’s Page Six column.

The musician – who has four children with Kardashian. – repeatedly targeted Davidson on social media after he began dating Kardashian in October.

He called Davidson a “d**khead”, threatened to “beat his a**” and accused the actor of trying to “destroy” his family in various rants.

Davidson has been spending part of the summer in Australia working on his new movie, David Michôd’s comedy Wizards!

The split comes amid rumors that Kardashian and West have reconciled.

They have four kids together – North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three.

The SKIMS founder filed for divorce from the rapper in February 2021 after nearly seven years of marriage.

However, Kardashian has seemingly dropped several hints recently that the two may be back on.

Earlier this month, she wore white bikini bottoms, and a matching white top that says “The Incredibles.”

Fans pointed out that West once talked about his love for the Disney movie, The Incrediblesduring an interview on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Kardashian has also taken to wearing clothes from West’s label Yeezy again.

Just last week, she posed with her daughters North and Chicago while all three of them wore Yeezy sunglasses.

They rocked black leather outfits and matching silver oversized shades in the series of selfies and photos.

One wrote: “YEEZY SHADES I’M TELLING YOU THEY’RE BACK.”

Another added, “They were cute together though for real,” and a third posted: “Kimye is alive.”

This story appeared in the US Sun and is reproduced with permission.

Read related topics:kanye-west

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Entertainment

Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John’s death

Vanessa Amorosi stops Sunrise interview after Olivia Newton-John's death

Australian singer Vanessa Amorosi appeared overcome with emotion and had to bow out of her live interview on Sunrise this morning, having only just learned of the death of Olivia Newton-John.

Amorosi was booked to appear on the program to discuss her new single, having just performed at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

But with Newton-John’s death aged 73 after a long cancer battle being the biggest news of the morning, Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch were keen to first ask Amorosi about her memories of the star.

“It is an incredibly sad day – Vanessa, what are your memories?” Barr asked as they crossed to the Aussie singer in Birmingham.

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“Uh… I don’t know. I don’t particularly want to think about it, because I’ll get very emotional,” Amorosi began. “I just literally had one of the highest endorphins that just happened out there (at the closing ceremony), to being extremely sad coming offstage and checking my phone. I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”

Koch said he’d give Amorosi a chance to “compose” her thoughts about the late music legend, and changed tack to discuss her Commonwealth Games performance and new single.

A few minutes later, and with the interview nearing its end, the hosts moved the topic of conversation back to Olivia Newton-John.

“We know it’s a sad day for you and so many people, but we wanted to show this photo from quite a few years ago of you, Olivia Newton-John and Tina Arena,” Barr said, as a photo of the three Aussie singers at the Sydney 2000 Olympics appeared on screen.

“Can you talk us through those memories, that time, Vanessa?”
Amorosi gave it her best – but soon became overcome with emotion.

“Both of these women I have looked up to since (I was) a kid… I don’t know. I’m actually very sad about Olivia, to be honest. It’s..”

With that, she bowed her head and raised her hand, signaling the interview to stop.

Barr and Koch thanked her for her time – and Barr noted how hard it must’ve been to learn the news between a live performance and a live TV interview.

“I’m horrible. I feel for her, after coming off that.”

It’s been an emotional morning on breakfast television as friends, colleagues and fans of Newton-John have reacted to the news of her death in real time, after it broke at around 5:30am AEST.

Over on Nine, veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins at first held it together as he reported the sad news on Today – but later in the morning, he was overcome with emotion, sobbing as host Karl Stefanovic rushed to comfort him.

And back on Sunriseanother emotional live interview, this time on the streets of Los Angeles with Grease casting director Joel Thurm, who wept openly as he described his fond memories of Newton-John.

The British-born, Melbourne-raised entertainer had waged a decades-long battle against cancer, which returned again in 2013.

In May 2017, she announced her breast cancer had returned and metastasized to her sacrum, and in 2018, it was revealed she was again battling the disease.

In October last year, Newton-John revealed that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer but was managing the pain with medical marijuana.

Then today came the news fans had been fearing for years: Newton-John had died at her Southern Californian ranch, surrounded by loved ones, including her husband, John Easterling, and daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.

Chloe has today paid tribute to her late mum on social media – who she just days ago referred to as her “best friend.”

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Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne stuns world at Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne stuns world at Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

Legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne brought the curtain down on the Commonwealth Games in spectacular style on Monday as dominant Australia celebrated finishing top of the medals table yet again.

Athletes swarmed Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium for a closing party that also featured UB40, Dexys and a tribute to Peaky Blinders, the global hit TV show about the city’s most notorious gang.

Birmingham-born Osbourne, known as the “Prince of Darkness”, brought the ceremony to a climax after emerging as the surprise act.

Osbourne was recently seen looking frail following a major back operation in June, two years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

But the 73-year-old put on an energetic performance of the Black Sabbath’s biggest hit paranoid to put a cap on the 11-day sporting extravaganza.

The show, celebrating Birmingham’s rise from the wreckage of World War II and its emergence as a diverse and vibrant modern city, brought 11 days of sporting action to a close.

Earlier, six-time defending champions Australia wrapped up their campaign in style, hammering India 7-0 in the men’s hockey final to end up with 67 golds overall.

Hosts England ended in second place with 57 golds, ahead of Canada on 26 and India on 22, with para sports included in the medal tally.

Sporting powerhouse Australia have topped the table at every Games since 1990 except in 2014, when England finished in first place in Glasgow.

Australia hockey captain Aran Zalewski said winning the Commonwealth Games title is “harder than you think”.

“We have won seven, but it’s not as simple as coming out here and winning,” he said.

Elsewhere on Monday, Scotland’s James Heatly and Grace Reid won the mixed synchronized 3m springboard final, with England pair Noah Williams and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix taking gold in the 10m event.

India celebrated a golden double in badminton.

World number seven PV Sindhu won the women’s singles, overcoming Canada’s Michelle Li, while Lakshya Sen beat Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong to win the men’s gold.

India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta beat England’s Liam Pitchford 4-1 in the men’s singles table tennis gold-medal match.

Birmingham 2022 CEO Ian Reid told a briefing earlier that the Games had been a huge boost for the city and the surrounding area.

He said more than 1.5 million tickets had been sold, with most venues above 90 per cent capacity.

“One of the goals at the outset was to put the city on the world map and instill that huge pride across everyone that lives in the region and I think we’ve achieved that,” he said.

“I think that can lead to much bigger and greater things.”

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said there had been “huge engagement” with the Games globally.

She added a number of countries had expressed an interest in staging future Commonwealth Games, including African nations.

She said Birmingham, which already had many facilities in place, could be a blueprint for the future.

“It is definitely not something we want people to spend huge amounts of money and capital investment if it is not needed and desired by the long-term plans for the country,” she said.

The Birmingham Games made history in being the first to award more medals to women than men.

Australian swimming great Emma McKeon became the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history, with 20 medals — including six golds in Birmingham.

And the tiny island of Niue won its first ever Commonwealth Games medal, a boxing bronze for Duken Tutakitoa-Williams.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin handed the flag to Linda Dessau, the governor of the Australian state of Victoria, which will host the 2026 Games.

Martin said Birmingham had put on an event “unlike any we’ve seen before”.

“We are emerging from one of the most challenging periods in modern history, where the Covid-19 pandemic has kept us apart,” she said.

“Birmingham 2022 proved to be a special moment when we reunited, when the power of sport to connect us came into sharp focus.”

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Sports

Daniel Ricciardo posts on Instagram

Daniel Ricciardo posts on Instagram

Wherever he ends up next year, Daniel Ricciardo is going to keep on smiling.

The most famous pearly whites in Formula One reappeared on Monday as the Australian driver posted on Instagram for the first time since it was reported he was being replaced at McLaren by Oscar Piastri in 2023.

Enjoying his mid-season break in what appeared to be his sunny California base, Ricciardo kept it short and sweet.

“Hello,” he said, adding a sun emoji as he stood in a swimming pool.

Daniel Ricciardo popped up to say hello. Picture: Instagram
Daniel Ricciardo popped up to say hello. Picture: InstagramSource: Instagram

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‘Great potential’: Alpine boss’s claim suggests Ricciardo’s future isn’t so bleak after axing

Ricciardo has been hailed for his dignity and classy response to constant speculation about his future in the sport during a rocky 2022 season.

The Aussie F1 veteran became the story of the F1 mid-year break when it was reported he was being moved on for his 21-year-old countryman Piastri.

The news erupted last week after Fernando Alonso blindsided the F1 world when he jumped into Sebastian Vettel’s vacated seat at Aston Martin for 2023.

Alpine then announced Piastri would be the man to replace Alonso, only for the Melburnian to reject the seat, a bold move for a man who’s never driven an F1 car in anger.

But the news leaked over the weekend that it was Ricciardo’s seat Piastri was set to take, while McLaren were set to cut the eight-time race winner loose for the prodigious youngster — a move which would reportedly cost McLaren $21m in a payout for Ricciardo .

It leaves Ricciardo’s career at a crossroads after two largely miserable seasons in papaya, outside of the 2021 win at Monza.

Ricciardo had been regularly beaten by teammate Lando Norris and struggled to get his head around the car.

The 32-year-old left Renault for McLaren, but could return to the Enstone unit now branded Alpine, who are open to the move.

Alpine still believes it has an iron-clad deal with Piastri and are still planning for the young Aussie to take the seat, despite reports the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board had cleared Piastri’s move.

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Kevin Durant issues ultimatum to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, trade news, rumors, whispers, latest, updates

Kevin Durant issues ultimatum to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, trade news, rumors, whispers, latest, updates

The “Slim Reaper” nickname might apply off the court, too.

Kevin Durant is trying to become both a coach and GM-killer.

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The Nets superstar issued an ultimatum to Joe Tsai over the weekend that the team owner needs to choose between Durant and the pairing of head coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks, The Athletic reported Tuesday (AEST).

Durant, who requested a trade in June and has not been moved, had a face-to-face meeting with Tsai in London in which he did not rescind his demand.

According to the report, the Nets have “direct knowledge” concerning why the 12-time All-Star has asked out a year after he signed a four-year, $198 million extension.

The Nets have not found a trade offer that could satisfy losing the all-time great, and according to the report, Tsai and the Nets have made it known they will take “every last asset from a team that trades for Durant.”

In stating the lofty hope for the trade return, perhaps the Nets think Durant would be less motivated to leave.

Will Kevin Durant stay in Brooklyn? Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.
Will Kevin Durant stay in Brooklyn? Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.Source: AFP

MORE COVERAGE

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Real reason behind Ben’s messy Philly exit as Sixers coach ‘had nothing’ to do with departure

KD set for showdown with Nets owner over NBA trade bombshell as likely resolution revealed

The Nets are coming off a chaotic and wildly disappointing season in which the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving was banned until December and then primarily could only play in road games; James Harden, dealing with a heavier burden without Irving, requested a trade and was flipped for Ben Simmons, who never actually stepped foot on the court; and Brooklyn eventually was swept out of the first round by the Celtics.

In the aftermath, Marks said the team culture “isn’t what it quite was” and said it was his and Nash’s “job to pick that up.”

Durant reportedly does not want the GM and coach combination to be able to follow through.

After the Game 4 loss to Boston, Durant expressed his appreciation for Nash and said he was the right coach to lead the Nets into the future.

“Steve’s been dealt a crazy hand the last two years,” Durant said.

“He’s had to deal with so much stuff as a head coach, a first-time coach. Trades, injuries, COVID and just a lot of stuff he had to deal with.

“I’m proud of how he’s focused and his passion for us. We all continue to keep developing over the summer and see what happens.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission

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Daniel Ricciardo posts on Instagram for the first time since McLaren F1 sacking

Daniel Ricciardo posts on Instagram for the first time since McLaren F1 sacking

Wherever he ends up next year, Daniel Ricciardo is going to keep on smiling.

The most famous pearly whites in Formula One reappeared on Monday as the Australian driver posted on Instagram for the first time since it was reported he was being replaced at McLaren by Oscar Piastri in 2023.

Enjoying his mid-season break in what appeared to be his sunny California base, Ricciardo kept it short and sweet.

“Hello,” he said, adding a sun emoji as he stood in a swimming pool.

Ricciardo has been hailed for his dignity and classy response to constant speculation about his future in the sport during a rocky 2022 season.

The Aussie F1 veteran became the story of the F1 mid-year break when it was reported he was being moved on for his 21-year-old countryman Piastri.

The news erupted last week after Fernando Alonso blindsided the F1 world when he jumped into Sebastian Vettel’s vacated seat at Aston Martin for 2023.

Alpine then announced Piastri would be the man to replace Alonso, only for the Melburnian to reject the seat, a bold move for a man who’s never driven an F1 car in anger.

But the news leaked over the weekend that it was Ricciardo’s seat Piastri was set to take, while McLaren were set to cut the eight-time race winner loose for the prodigious youngster — a move which would reportedly cost McLaren $21m in a payout for Ricciardo .

It leaves Ricciardo’s career at a crossroads after two largely miserable seasons in papaya, outside of the 2021 win at Monza.

Ricciardo had been regularly beaten by teammate Lando Norris and struggled to get his head around the car.

The 32-year-old left Renault for McLaren, but could return to the Enstone unit now branded Alpine, who are open to the move.

Alpine still believes it has an iron-clad deal with Piastri and are still planning for the young Aussie to take the seat, despite reports the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board had cleared Piastri’s move.

Read related topics:Daniel Ricciardo

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