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Sports International
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
January 28 - February 3, 2012
McIlroy will relish his duels with Woods
U.S. OPEN champion Rory McIlroy is relishing the chance to lock horns with 14-time major winner Tiger Woods and world number one Luke Donald. McIlroy, world number three, will get a ringside view of Woods’ start to the 2012 season in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship which started on Thursday, as he bids to recapture the form that saw him spend 623 consecutive weeks as the sport’s best player between 2005 and 2010. The Northern Irishman will also be alongside Donald, who finished top of the money list on both the European and U.S Tour last year. McIlroy saw his own star rise in 2011, capturing his first major title at the U.S. Open, and he admits he can’t wait to test himself against two of the biggest stars in the modern game. After joking at a press conference that the draw was “not exactly low profile,” McIlroy added: “It will definitely get the juices flowing. “There are not many tournaments where you get really excited about a Thursday or a Friday, but this is one of these times.” McIlroy admits idolising Woods as a youngster and says he felt more than a little trepidation when he came face-to-face with the 36-year-
The Los Angles Lakers are worth $900 million.
Lakers back as most valuable franchise
Rory McIlroy (right) said he idolised Tiger Woods as a youngster.
old for the first time. He explained: “The first time you play with him -- you’ve watched this guy your whole life, winning majors and doing things that no-one thought was possible -- so you are going to be awestruck. “I suppose once I got to spend a little time with him and maybe have lunch with him a few times and everything, you can sort of break the barrier down a little bit and it’s fine from there. I feel quite comfortable being around him.” Woods has been struggling for form ever since 2009 when a sex scandal engulfed him, and though he suffered an injury-hit 2011, he won his first tournament in two years at
the Chevron World Challenge in November. McIlroy practiced with Woods on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s opening round and says his rival is still a force to be reckoned with. “He still is the face of golf,” McIlroy said. “He set the benchmark for a lot of guys – no one may play the way he did in 2001. He’s still the main attraction in 2012. “I see him contending again in majors. I practiced with him and he looked in good shape. He seems determined and looks at full fitness. “It can only be good for the game. Hopefully I can get in the mix with him down the stretch on a few Sundays.” (BBC)
Kobe tops NBA earning list Apparently the Kobe System has taken him beyond success. You’re welcome. As part of their NBA financial breakdown on Wednesday, Forbes Magazine named the top earners in the NBA, based on both salary and endorsements. Not shockingly (and to the delight of ex-wife Vanessa), Kobe Bryant tops the list at $53.2 million last year. Kobe made half of that in salary, $25 million as the highest paid player in the NBA, but that’s not where the real money is. While the NBA lockout angered fans and threatened the 2011-12 season this fall, Kobe Bryant toured Europe to promote Nike and the game that made him a global icon…. The story is the same in Asia. Bryant is the most revered athlete in China as a five-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and the heir apparent to the high-flying Michael Jordan. He makes annual pilgrimages to China in support of Nike. The rest of your top 10 earners: LeBron James ($49 million), Dwight Howard ($28.9 million), Dwyane Wade ($27.7 million), Carmelo
WHILE the New York Knicks were wallowing in the ditch built by Isiah Thomas, the Los Angeles Lakers moved past them on Forbes Magazine’s list of the most valuable NBA franchises. When the Knicks got their act together the past year or so (relatively, at least) they vaulted back to the top of the list. But the Lakers got a massive new cable deal and are back on top. The Lakers are worth $900 million by Forbes estimates, up 40 percent year over year. What moved them into the top spot was a new local television deal with Time Warner Cable to broadcast their games, one that reportedly will pay the Buss family franchise nearly $200 million a year for 20 years (for comparison, the entire Milwaukee franchise is estimated at $268 million). Even with the new league revenue sharing rules, the Lakers will be rich. The Knicks are not hurting, worth an estimated $790 million, up 19
percent over last season. They have a renovated Madison Square Garden where they jacked up ticket prices 49 percent for this season, just to help that bottom line. Which is working, the Knicks turned a league best $75 million profit last year, Forbes estimates. The rest of your top five are: Chicago Bulls ($600 million), Dallas Mavericks ($479 million) and the Boston Celtics ($482 million.). The Heat are sixth ($457 million), once again finishing behind the Mavericks. At the other end of the scale are your bottom five: The Charlotte Bobcats ($272 million), Minnesota Timberwolves ($272 million), Atlanta Hawks ($270 million), Memphis Grizzlies ($269 million) and the Milwaukee Bucks ($268 million). That disparity of wealth played into the lockout and is only getting worse, Forbes notes. (Bleacher report)
Rafael Nadal battled from behind to defeat arch rival Roger Federer.
Nadal overcomes Federer in semifinal Kobe Bryant earned 53.2 million last year in both salary and endorsements.
Anthony ($26.5 million), Amare Stoudemire ($26.2 million), Kevin Garnett ($26.2 million), Kevin
Durant ($24.5 million), Tim Duncan ($23.3 million) and Chris Paul ($22.4 million) (Pro basketball talk.com)
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal battled from behind to win another epic clash with his great rival Roger Federer on Thursday and earn a place in the Australian Open final. The Spaniard triumphed 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in three hours and 42 minutes as he set up a clash with either defending champion Novak Djokovic or British fourth seed Andy Murray, who meet in Friday’s second
semifinal. Nadal, seeking his 11th grand slam title, extended his winning record over Swiss third seed Federer to 18-9 -- and 8-2 in major tournaments. Federer, who has a record 16 grand slam titles to his name, saved a match point but was unable to repeat the form that had seen the 30-yearold not drop a set in his previous five matches in Melbourne. (CNN)