Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 9-17-21

Sports
Evander Holyfield, At 58,
Chris Paul Calls Return To Phoenix Suns An ‘Easy Decision’
CHRIS PAUL
Chris Paul had options. The Pelicans were offering more guaranteed money. He could have put on a Knicks uniform in Madison Square Garden. Other teams were kicking the tires on a deal.
But there was never really any expectation around the NBA he would leave Phoenix after leading the Suns to the NBA Finals. He didn’t, inking a new $75 million (at least, could be worth $120 million) contract with the Suns. Paul told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today it was an easy decision.
“It was an easy decision,” Paul said. “Not only did I love the basketball aspect, I’m close to family (in Los Ange- les) and Phoenix is a family, too. I’m excited to be back there...
“The thing I’m looking for- ward to now is our approach to the every day,” he said. “You don’t start the season and get to automatically end up at the Finals again. It’s an- other building process, and I’m excited about going through this experience with these guys because I went as far (in the playoffs) as I’ve ever been. We’ll be on this journey of something new to- gether.”
The Suns return as the de- fending Western Conference champions, but they will need to build something even bet- ter to return to the Finals this year because the landscape of the West has gotten more challenging.
New Lakers Center DeAndre
Loses In First-Round
Jordan Says Durant,
To Vitor Belfort
Kyrie Remain 'Brothers
Evander Holyfield, five weeks shy of his 59th birth- day, was stopped on his feet by former UFC champion Vitor Belfort just 1:49 into the opening round Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Belfort, 44, swarmed Holyfield from the opening bell and never let up in the Triller Fight Club main event, as former President Donald Trump watched from the commentary booth. Holy- field, the former heavy- weight champion and one of boxing's all-time greats, showed no resistance in his first fight since 2011.
A flurry of punches sent Holyfield to the canvas, and after he beat the count, Belfort let his hands go until the ref wisely stopped the fight, saving Holyfield from further punishment.
"Did you see what he did to me? He tried to knock me out," Belfort told reporters when asked if he felt remorse for Holyfield considering his advanced age. "He threw a hard cross and hard hooks. Instincts are hard, and in-
Beyond Basketball'
Evander Holyfield falls to the mat during the first round in his bout against Vitor Belfort.
stincts kick back.
"He came very hard in the
beginning. It's a fight. He's a legend. ... My style has always been like that."
Belfort, who was boxing for just the second time after an illustrious MMA career, said he didn't know if the bout would count on his official record.
Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs), who landed only one punch, accepted the assign- ment on eight days' notice after Oscar De La Hoya tested positive for COVID-19.
This celebrity boxing con- tinues to shame sport of box- ing.
When DeAndre Jordan signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, he came as part of a package deal with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, as the two megastars both agreed to less-than-max con- tracts to preserve cap space so that Brooklyn could add the former All-Star center.
Two years into the four- year, $40 million deal he signed in Brooklyn, Jordan was traded to the Detroit Pis- tons and summarily waived, paving the way for him to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
As Jordan left one star- studded roster for another, the big man deadpanned that
DEANDRE JORDAN AND KYRIE IRVING
his relationship with the Nets' dynamic duo soured on his way out the door.
"We're definitely not friends anymore, so ..." Jor- dan said jokingly with a hearty laugh during his intro- ductory video news confer- ence Thursday.
Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Chris Webber Among 16 Inducted Into Basketball Hall Of Fame
CHRIS WEBBER AND PAUL PIERCE
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame cele- brated the Class of 2021 on Saturday as 16 legends were honored with induction into the Hall.
The Class of 2021 was headlined by two-time NBA champion and 11-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, NBA Fi- nals MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, four- time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Champion Ben Wallace, and five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber.
Also inducted were Bill Russell, the first Black NBA head coach, two-time NCAA national champion Villanova coach Jay Wright, seven- time WNBA All-Star and two- time Olympic gold medalist
CHRIS BOSH
Yolanda Griffith, and seven-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Lauren Jackson.
Bosh, who was forced to retire at just 31 years old be- cause of blood clots, delivered a heartfelt speech in which he spoke about the highs and lows of his career.
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