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Friday’s Morning Mashup: NBA players confront fans during summer league games 08.05.11 at 7:56 am ET
By Jerry Spar

Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY FRIDAY:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI)

SATURDAY:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m. (FOX; WEEI)
MLS: Chivas USA at Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)

SUNDAY:
MLB: Yankees at Red Sox, 8:05 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Anyone who has seen video of summer league basketball could tell that it was only a matter of time before a confrontation erupted between a player and a fan. Fans at games ring the edges of the court and often walk onto the court after big plays to celebrate, frequently making contact with the players.

While Kevin Durant was being lauded for his memorable performance in New York, Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley did not enjoy being taunted about his failure to stop Durant. During a game at Dyckman Park, Beasley confronted a fan who was heckling him, pushing the fan in the face before security stepped (video here).

Even Durant had issues with hecklers this week. Here’s video from a game at New York’s Pro City in which Durant responds to a fan who was riding him.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco Thursday night, Lakers forward Matt Barnes reportedly punched someone in the face during a game there.

♦ Knicks owner James Dolan, who apparently does not mind being the butt of jokes, plays in a blues band. He wrote a song called “Fix the Knicks” that his band played last week before an Aretha Franklin concert on Long Island. An excerpt from the song: “Doing my best, yes, that’s my promise. I check with my friends, call Isiah Thomas.” The audience groaned at the line.

♦ It might not be a major problem in Boston — witness the Red Sox’ record attendance Thursday night — but declining ticket revenue is a concern nationally in all of the major sports. At Slate.com, Neil deMause looks at the situation and concludes we’re headed for a two-tiered system in which some teams and events can name their price while the majority of tickets go at bargain-basement prices on the secondary market.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Aug. 5, 1979, which Red Sox pitcher became the first player born and raised in the Netherlands to record a major league victory?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Let’s get things straight: Me and Mr. Kraft never had a problem. I never said he lied. When I said the organization, I never said he did. So let’s get that straight right now. Me and Mr. Kraft never had a problem. We’ve talked last offseason, we’ve talked last season, we’ve talked this offseason, we’ve talked in training camp, so everything is good between me and him.” — Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins, talking about last season’s holdout

STAT OF THE DAY: 10-2 — Justin Masterson‘s record at Fenway Park (he is 15-33 everywhere else), after he pitched the Indians to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox Thursday night

NET RESULTS: A soccer player lying on the ground tries to trip a goalie, the goalie kicks the player, and the player reacts as if he’s been shot. Just another day on the pitch.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Win Remmerswaal

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Samantha Sang turns 60 Friday.

Read More: Isiah Thomas, James Dolan, Matt Barnes, Michael Beasley Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It

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