Peace to reader A.J. Travis for suggesting Wright Thompson's ESPN story, "Shadow Boxing": The old man opens the door and shuffles into a familiar room. The air smells of stale beer and discount brand cigarette smoke. The tables are taken by men with no names. They are all friends. They are all strangers. A different journey brought each of them here, to the pool hall on NW Second Avenue, but that doesn't matter anymore. Their journeys are over. Most don't share the details, not even their last names. Some don't remember the year, or how long they've been coming here. They have no past. The old man walks clumsily to a table. He has a story. The act of telling it, of having people hear it, keeps him from disappearing forever. One night, he says, he fought Muhammad Ali. Almost won, he brags. Some believe him. Some don't. Most don't care. He's just another wacko wandering the streets with some tale about how his life could have been different. They ignore him, pretending he's not even there. He's got to show them. The old man gets up and throws punches into the air. The people around him laugh. He sits back down, invisible again. [Photo Credit: Michael Brennan, Special to ESPN.com]
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There has been much speculation about Terry s future after Manchester City revealed they had made an offer for the defender, but Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insisted on Wednesday that the player is not for sale.
And, despite reports that City are still pursuing the player, Chelsea have now confirmed that Terry will join up with the rest of the squad for the four-match pre-season tour.
Meanwhile, Cole required the operation to correct a small tear to his meniscus in his knee and is expected back in full training in one month.
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Mikel Arteta said the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth was a good start to his tenure as Arsenal manager.
Dan Gosling s opener for hosts Bournemouth was cancelled out by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the break.
It was Arteta s first match as Gunners head coach, having left the team in the hands of Freddie Ljungberg for the game at Everton last Saturday.
The former Manchester City number two is back at the club he played for with distinction, and has the task of lifting Arsenal from their current mid-table station.
The unfamiliar lowly position leaves Arteta with plenty to look at, and he was impressed by his players resolve.
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Jurgen Klopp could still add to his squad before the transfer window closes but insists Liverpool benefit from some advantages that money simply cannot buy.
The Reds have added Ibrahima Konate during the offseason, the centre-back joining from RB Leipzig to provide further competition at a position decimated by injuries last term.
There has been speculation Liverpool could look to add a midfielder, too – Florian Neuhaus and Saul Niguez are two names to be linked – while there are rumours of potential departures to reduce numbers.
However, other top-flight clubs have been busy, too. Both Manchester City and Manchester United have completed big-name signings, while Chelsea are reportedly close to completing a deal to get Romelu Lukaku from Inter.
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A Sunderland fanzine has labelled the club’s decision to decorate a Stadium of Light bar in the colours of arch-rivals Newcastle as a “real schoolboy error”.
The bitter north-east rivals meet on Wearside in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and Sunderland fans reacted furiously when images circulated on Thursday of the Black Cats Bar decked out in banners with the messages: “Keep the Black and White Flying High” and “We are United”. Sunderland’s motto “Ha’way the lads” in red was also replaced with the Geordie spelling “Howay” in black.
Sunderland swiftly apologised for “a serious error in judgment” and announced an immediate review, while chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said he was “disgusted and hurt” by the “inappropriate signs”.
Fulham have signed Aston Villa striker Darren Bent on a season-long loan deal.
The England international – who signed for Villa for £18million from Sunderland in 2011 – scored 25 goals in 64 appearances for Paul Lambert s side but fell out of favour last season due to the emergence of Belgian Christian Benteke at Villa Park.
He was previously linked with a move to Newcastle and Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace ahead of the start of the new campaign, but Fulham have now won the race for his signature.
Fulham manager Martin Jol, who signed Bent when Tottenham boss in 2007, is delighted to be reunited with the forward.
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Chelsea have reached an agreement with Anzhi Makhachkala for the signing of Brazil international Willian.
The 25-year-old will move to Stamford Bridge provided he is given a work permit, with a decision expected at a hearing on Wednesday, having already agreed personal terms.
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Former Bayern Munich captain Klaus Augenthaler believes out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will make the move to MLS.
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Chelsea have joined several other Premier League clubs in sending their condolences to the Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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