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LUCKY TO SURVIVE Neighbours save woman from horrific ten minute attack from four Pit Bulls

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A 51-YEAR-OLD woman is nursing severe head, arm and leg injuries after she was nearly killed in a brutal attack by four Pit Bulls on Friday.

Hours before her arrival home that day, the dogs had been on the loose, terrorising the Pastel Gardens community where the ordeal unfolded, it has been claimed. During that time, the dogs had nearly attacked children and had gone into another neighbour’s house and were chased out, The Tribune was told.

Completely unaware of the imminent danger the dogs posed, Alicia Barton,

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

PILOT RESCUED AFTER OFFSHORE ENGINE FAILURE

an 11-year cancer survivor, said she had just arrived home and got out of her car when the animals set their sights on her.

“It was a typical day and all I wanted to do was get inside the house and go do what I usually do,” Ms Barton said yesterday.

She added: “I got out of the car. I didn’t see the dogs. So, when I got out of the car, I saw the dogs charging toward me and I tried to run back to the car, but I slipped down and they just jumped all over me.”

Ms Barton said she believes the attack continued for about ten minutes before neighbours realised what was happening.

SEE PAGE TWO

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN pilot was rescued yesterday morning after his plane crashed in waters off western New Providence shortly after take-off.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said the agency was notified of the accident after 10am.

According to the AAIA, the Piper Cherokee N1215H was enroute to Fort Lauderdale after departing Lynden Pindling International Airport when the incident happened.

SEE PAGE FOUR

‘WE NEED MORE THAN LUCAYAN TO HELP GB’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said that “a complete visionary plan” must be developed so that the Grand Lucayan resort and tourism can be successful on Grand Bahama.

He indicated a new airport, along with other important components such as airlift and attractions, must be in place for the success of the hotel property after it is sold.

Mr Davis also noted investor confidence has waned on Grand Bahama,

NEW PRIVATE HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE BEDS FOR PUBLIC

causing a stall in investments for the island.

Yesterday, Mr Davis travelled to the island where he toured parts of Freeport.

During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, along with Minister of Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, he gave an update on the Grand Lucayan, which is back on the market for sale.

He said: “The update I have is that there have been a number of expressions of interest that (are) under consideration by the Minister of Tourism and SEE PAGE FIVE

FACE TO FACE: THE ROCK ON WHICH MEKA BUILT HER LIFE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ALICIA BARTON, who was attacked by four Pit Bull dogs on Friday in the Pastell Gardens area.

SANDS - I’D BE A LOYAL TEAM PLAYER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DR DUANE Sands says he is the “consummate team player” who would support the vision and agenda of Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard and not try to usurp or overshadow him if elected chairman of the party.

His comment came as he nominated himself for chairman of the FNM

DR Duane Sands yesterday.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff yesterday ahead of the party’s convention this month.

“I am not running to be leader of the Free National

Movement,” he said. “I am running to support the leader of the Free National Movement and I intend to do the very best job that I can, so help me God.” FNM insiders believe Dr Sands has a solid shot at winning the chairmanship race. His critics in the party, however, worry that he is an outsized personality with leadership ambitions who could be difficult to control

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

DOCTORS Hospital has teamed with three philanthropists to close the $3.2m purchase of its new Freeport facility and provide services to those who cannot normally afford private healthcare.

Chief financial officer Dennis Deveaux said it had partnered with Lucayan Medical Philanthropic Ltd to complete the acquisition.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PETER YOUNG: A FRIEND READY TO DIVE IN FROM THE OFF

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Lucky to survive from page one “I was fighting them off and screaming for someone to help me. I then saw one neighbour, he came with his car and tried to run them off and another neighbour came in his car and he tried to scare them off, but one of them was still holding on the back of my head and really shaking violently.

“I know I was on the ground and I know a neighbour — they were throwing rocks and he tried to hit the dog sideways with something he had in his hand. I can’t say for sure what got them to release me, but he got me off the ground and he put me in his car and then we waited for the police to come.”

The dogs ripped out a part of her scalp and bit her arms and legs. In addition to her physical injuries, Ms Barton was brought to tears recalling how she suffered emotional anguish due to the attack.

“Both my arms, my legs are severely injured,” she said. “I was in surgery for about five to six hours. My scalp, a lot of the skin from my scalp is gone. They couldn’t graft it so it’s hopeful that it just grows back together. There is a lot of pain, particularly in my head.

“I am a cancer survivor for about 11 years. I had cancer and now I have to be fighting Pit Bulls.”

ALICIA BARTON The attack has left her dogs and had been lingerafraid to go home. ing around her sister’s yard “On my way home from after the ordeal. the hospital I saw a guy She said: “They walking his dogs and I attempted to attack some couldn’t stop crying. I can’t children in the area earlier go home and I don’t want to that day just before she go home. I heard dogs bark- arrived home and then they ing last night and I couldn’t attacked another neigheven sleep no more and the bour, actually went into one injuries to my head, it just of the neighbour’s houses hurts so much.” and they had to chase the Ms Barton’s sister, Indira dogs out.

Rolle said she could not “So, for the life of me I understand why the dogs don’t understand the police were not better secured to or when you call them, prevent them from getting they came that night when out and roaming freely. the incident happened, but She claimed the animals couple hours after when the were trained to be attack scene cleared and my sister

SOME of the injuries, above and below, suffered by Alicia Barton. was at the hospital and the the police never came.” police left, the dogs came She said animal control back to the scene and my laws need to be amended or niece called the police and better enforced to prevent no one came,” she claimed. incidents like this.

“The very next day the “There needs to be stiffer same dogs were out again penalties for the dog owners in her yard again, called and and the dogs should be put down once they taste blood.

“One dog was caught or shot. I am not sure how that part went, but the others are still terrorising my sister’s yard,” she said.

Royal Bahamas Police Force press liaison officer, Superintendent Audley Peters said police did receive a report of a dog attack and responded. A person has been arrested, he said.

“I can confirm that police received reports of a dog attack. The lady was treated in hospital and the matter is being investigated following the arrest of a person,” Supt Peters said yesterday.

He did not disclose what will happen to the remaining three dogs.

While Ms Rolle said her family is now focused on

helping her sister make a full recovery, they do plan to seek legal recourse.

“We are most definitely going to seek legal action,” she said. “This was a healthy woman. She survived cancer. She was coming from work and in her own yard. She was at the right place at the right time. The dogs were at the wrong place. They should have never been in her yard.

“So, we’re going to fight this. We need something to be done with the dogs. This is not about money. We need those dogs gone and we need the owners held accountable because something has to be done. This is not just about paying off, this ain’t about that. This is about a life that was almost lost for no reason and we kept on seeking help from the police afterwards and nothing was done and the dogs were still there making noise.

“My sister is afraid to go home,” Ms Rolle said.

‘OWNER OF DOGS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

KIM Aranha, Bahamas Humane Society president, says the owner of the four dogs that mauled Alicia Barton should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Whoever they have in custody it should cost him financially, emotionally and socially, but will it?” she said yesterday as she expressed sadness over the incident that left Ms Barton with serious injuries.

According to Ms Aranha yesterday, the incident shows The Bahamas has not yet reached the point where it takes dog aggression seriously.

Police said yesterday that a man was in custody over the dog attack on the cancer survivor.

However, Ms Aranha

suggested this was not sufficient.

She said: “Yeah, they have him in custody and he’ll get a couple of meals from the prison system and then probably be out by day after tomorrow and they’ll track down the other three dogs and they’ll kill them right and then what’s going to happen? I can tell you, nothing until we take this seriously as a country. It’s not going to resolve itself on its own.

“Whoever they have in custody it should cost him financially, emotionally and socially, but will it? This is my concern.

“The thing is there are tons of instances where people’s dogs get out and they bite people or they savage somebody’s dog. But there are no repercussions for that.

“What I keep saying to people is if he (a dog) kills the neighbour’s dog

today then what’s he going to do next week to the neighbour’s kid? It’s all a progression.”

Ms Aranha said the issue also involves how guard and attack dogs are trained.

Ms Barton has claimed the dogs who mauled her were trained attack dogs.

“It’s just dreadful and once we put aside what’s been done to the victim and what she’s going through, it’s dreadful for all animal owners or dog owners in The Bahamas because (some will think) all dogs are going to go back to being killers and people will be frightened of them and yet the majority of dogs are good guys.

“So, this does everybody a great disservice because I know Pit Bulls who are very nice dogs. All Pit Bulls are not killers. Now, we have no idea under what circumstances these dogs were being kept. We don’t

know if they were taught to attack.

“So, they’ve been turned into living, breathing, machine guns, which is so wrong and let me tell you what I find the most shocking in The Bahamas is just about every guard dog I’ve met, when you come to The Bahamas and you see the guard dogs, if you walk up to a guard with a dog he says don’t ‘don’t touch him, don’t touch him, he’s dangerous.’

“You go up to a guard dog in America or in England or a police dog they will lie on their backs and you can rub their tummies until they are told they are on duty and even when they’re on duty they don’t bite you just because you walk up to them.

“The guard dogs/attack dogs in The Bahamas are not adequately trained.

“Now, I can’t actually speak for the police dogs because I’ve had absolutely

nothing to do with them.

So, I have no idea how they train them. I would be interested to know if, like in other countries, that the police dogs here go home with his handler and lives in the house with the family, with the kids, with the wife, with the cat. I doubt that happens here.”

She also drew attention to the fact that a board mandated under the Animal Control and Protection Act has met only once.

The board’s purpose is to set certain guidelines pertaining to animals in the country.

“Right now, animal issues are not taken seriously in The Bahamas. This is not new. They have never been taken seriously,” the animal advocate said.

“We had a law called the Animal Control and Protection Act. That Act has within its legislation that there has to be a board that

meets on a regular basis to establish certain guidelines.

“That law was passed 11 years ago. We have met once. Does that sound terribly serious to you?

“We must start to do things to ensure laws are there and that they are enforced.”

Ms Aranha gave some advice on what to do when an aggressive dog is approaching.

“The big thing is if you ever see dogs like that coming at you, get back in your car. Don’t run. Running away from a dog is the worst thing you can do. You don’t run away from a bear, right? You run away from a pack of dogs, you’re going to get attacked.”

She said everyone was brave in the situation that unfolded on Friday and the advice was not to blame Ms Barton, but instead to help anyone faced with the same situation.

AG’S OFFICE: HEAVENLY TERVEUS WAS MURDERED, THEN KILLER COMMITTED SUICIDE THE Royal Bahamas Police Force said the Office of the Attorney General has agreed with its conclusion that young mother Heavenly Terveus was killed by her fiancé, who then killed himself.

“In relation to the murder/suicide investigation, the Attorney General’s Office has

agreed with the conclusion and recommendation of the Criminal Investigation Department, that Delano Ferguson killed Heavenly Terveus and then killed himself,” the RBPF said in a statement yesterday.

“Hence, the matter will be forwarded to Her Majesty’s Coroner where an

inquest will be held, so that the circumstances and cause of death can be presented to that court,” police said.

Terveus was found lying on the floor next to her infant son and fiancé by relatives inside her parents’ home on Miami Street on January 22.

Superintendent of Police

Audley Peters told reporters on the scene that officers received information about the shooting shortly before 6pm.

He said upon arrival, officers were directed to a single-storey home where they discovered the bodies of a man and woman lying on the floor in one of the bedrooms.

EMS were called and later pronounced the woman dead.

However, the man was taken to hospital. He died of his injuries around 7pm on January 24.

Their son, who was also in the room at the time of the incident, was taken to hospital, but has since been discharged.

HEAVENLY TERVEUS

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 3

Pintard: ‘Shockwaves’ over Davis comments on economy

FNM leader Michael Pintard.

SANDS - I’D BE A LOYAL TEAM PLAYER from page one or fall in line behind Mr Pintard.

Asked about this, Dr Sands said: “What is important is that when leadership and in particular the leader is attempting to execute his agenda or his vision that the party on which that platform is based is ready to execute, that we are prepared to do what it takes, that we understand the grassroots requirements of a political organisation. And so my personality to get it done, my grounding in the surgery of trauma and other things, I think provides me with a complementary skill set.”

Dr Sands dismissed internal concerns that he would use the chairmanship post to further whatever leadership ambitions he may have.

“I can say categorically that Duane Sands does not need to be the leader of the Free National Movement in order to feel that he has been self-actualised,” he said. “Duane Sands does not need to be prime minister.

What I would love to be is an effective, reliable part of the team that is going to further (the) deliverance of the Bahamian people. I believe in the leadership, the consultative approach of Michael Pintard, and he will have in me an incredible ally.”

Former Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes was nominated for chairman last week. Elsworth Johnson, former Yamacraw MP, is expected to formally enter the race as well.

Mr Johnson’s sister, first woman speaker of the House Italia Johnson, was on hand to support Dr Sands yesterday.

“I decided to support Dr Sands because I think he brings experience, he brings knowledge in an area that is challenging the country and he speaks to it in a manner that we can understand and we respect and appreciate

and I think that is critical at this time,” Ms Johnson said.

“In addition to that, Dr Sands is not in any respect a novice to the Free National Movement, nor is he a person that’s not exhibited that he has the capacity to work or to build and to listen and to be available. In politics, you have to have those capacities. Politics is a difficult vocation,” she added.

Dr Sands, a former minister of health, parliamentarian and senator, said his decision to run came after a long period of consideration and prayer.

“The chairman will play an important role in providing (the) foundation for our leadership team and in particular our leader,” he said. “I believe that my experience would allow us to strengthen the headquarters of the Free National Movement and build on the many, many strengths that we’ve had in this organisation to date.

“I like to use the metaphor of a winning championship team. Many of you will recall the plight of one of the greatest sports figures in the history of professional basketball, Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan, despite his various skills, could never win a championship until the team was augmented with the likes of Scottie Pipen, Dennis Rodman and others.

I would like to be the Scottie Pipen for our leader to provide him with my team of executives with a level of support that would allow him to have a foundation and a platform on which to launch his visionary ideas for this country.

“We need to strengthen our associations across the length and breadth of The Bahamas. We need to increase the respect so that we can get advice from our Meritorious Council members, look to our young people in the Torchbearers and the Women’s

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis must address statements from Ministry of Finance officials that are “sending shockwaves nationally and giving the wrong signals” internationally about the government’s management of the economy.

His comment came after Tribune Business reported that the government will bridge the gap to its $1.3bn revenue increase with additional measures in the upcoming mid-year budget.

Financial Secretary Simon Wilson said the new tax measures will be required to achieve the projected 55.7 percent increase in government revenues over the next four years.

Mr Pintard said: “It was alarming to read in this morning’s Tribune that the government has committed to new or additional taxes, and that it plans to reduce

the number of public servants.

“It is reported by the Ministry of Finance that the government will introduce ‘new revenue measures.’

What is especially worrisome is that the details of these new revenue measures were not expressly stated in the government’s Fiscal Strategy Report 2021 (FSR) that was published just last week.

“If that is the plan, why was it not stated in the report? Several critical questions must be answered by the Prime Minister: What are these new revenue measures? Which new taxes will be introduced?

How much will the new taxes yield? Why cut the VAT tax only to increase taxes later? What will be the impact on Bahamian households and businesses?

“The Ministry of Finance also reported that the cuts in public sector salaries outlined in the FSR will be

DR Duane Sands officially nominates for chairmanship of the FNM party.

Association. “There are have decided not to seek remany potential opportu- election to the post of deputy nities to strengthen this leader or to seek any other organisation, to make it run executive office in the Free like a business, to make the National Movement at the officers accountable and to upcoming national convendelegate their activities of tion,” Mr Turnquest said. not only paid, but elected “In making this decision, officers.” although I realise that there Meanwhile, former is so much more work to be Deputy Prime Minister done, I am satisfied that I and current FNM Deputy have given my best and will Leader Peter Turnquest be forever grateful for the said in a statement yester- opportunity to serve. I am day that he will not run for also confident in the men deputy leader of the party and women of the FNM to at the convention. take on this work and to “After much thought defend our party and proand discussion with family, mote its ideals. We have a friends and supporters, I deep bench.”

facilitated by transitioning public servants to the private sector. We demand to know how many public servants will be let go from the public service. From which Ministry departments and agencies? Are these ministries, departments and agencies presently overstaffed? Were the public service unions consulted?

Were the respective ministers consulted and did they submit the recommendations of staff cuts forecasted by the Ministry of Finance?

“It is stunning that these critical policy plans of the government were not outlined in the FSR. The law requires that this information be disclosed in the Fiscal Strategy Report.

We in the opposition now understand why the government has decided not to follow the law and has refused to bring the report to parliament for debate as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018.”

Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville during his visit to Bahamas Waste yesterday.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

Omicron confirmation expected ‘in short order’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville yesterday.

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said he expects his ministry will soon receive the test results of “hundreds” of COVID-19 samples sent abroad to confirm the Omicron variant’s presence even as cases decline in the country.

“We are looking forward to having that concluded in short order,” Dr Darville said when asked about the issue yesterday. “Today I (will) speak with our National Reference Lab and we’ve sent (a) couple hundred samples to a lab in Panama and I’ve been petitioning the company to get the results as soon as possible.”

As officials await confirmation, Dr Darville said he had no doubt the variant was the predominant strain of the virus infecting people in The Bahamas.

He said this was based on preliminary reports made from the National Reference Laboratory.

COVID infections skyrocketed since the country entered its fourth wave in late December and even reached a single day record of 818 in early January.

However, in recent days, local infections have fallen considerably, with cases once again being recorded in the double digits.

According to the Ministry of Health, only 26 new cases

of the virus were confirmed on Saturday, while 67 were recorded on Friday.

Dr Darville said while the low numbers were a positive sign, it was too early to tell whether the country was nearing the end of the fourth wave.

He said: “We’re watching the numbers very closely. It’s good to report that the numbers are going down. For us, that’s a sign but COVID is a very invasive pandemic and so we are mindful that even though we are seeing positive signs, we are positioned to execute additional protocols to pushback in this fourth wave, but I am pleased that today we’re seeing the signs that we’ve been working forward to over the last few months.”

Yesterday, the minister also could not say when the paediatric vaccine doses for children will be in the country.

Calls for broader vaccine coverage, particularly among children, comes as COVID-19 concerns mount following the return of face-to-face learning in schools last week.

Acknowledging those concerns yesterday, Dr Darville told reporters that the government is doing all it can to acquire the special doses for children.

“I don’t have a date but we, the vaccination committee as well as foreign affairs, are petitioning many countries so that we could get the paediatric vaccines in The Bahamas,” Dr Darville said.

The health minister’s

comments came at the sidelines of an event hosted by Bahamas Waste yesterday, which saw a handful of lucky staff members win cash prizes in a COVID-19 vaccine raffle drawing.

At yesterday’s event, Dr Darville thanked company executives for helping to get more Bahamians vaccinated in the fight against COVID. “It’s good to be here at Bahamas Waste and I want to thank the management team here.

The management team here has gotten the message. They have been working very close with our vaccination committee and the key is basically for Bahamians to be vaccinated,” he said.

“We know that vaccinations save lives and individuals who are vaccinated who unfortunately get COVID-19, they very seldom end up in hospital, so I want to thank Bahamas Waste, the executive management team and the staff for coming to the call and working closely with the vaccination committee to demonstrate to the Bahamian people that vaccination for COVID-19 is the way to go.”

Bahamas Waste M ​ anaging Director Francisco de Cardenas added: “We want to thank the vaccine committee and everyone that’s been involved to either educate and make people understand the importance of getting the vaccine... and we will continue to plug away and hope that we can get 100 percent vaccine compliance so we can get over this and live our lives.”

PILOT RESCUED AFTER OFFSHORE ENGINE FAILURE from page one The pilot, a 32-year-old Bahamian, alerted authorities about an engine failure before crashing into the water. The AAIA said he was the only person onboard the aircraft and added that an investigation into the crash is continuing.

“Shortly after departure, the pilot advised of an engine failure and made an attempt to return to the field but crashed into

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waters approximately nine miles west of New Providence,” the AAIA said in a statement.

The AAIA said search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area and later rescued the pilot, who was said to be in good health.

“The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority has been notified that the pilot in command of the aircraft has been rescued by responding RBDF vessels and is en route to New Providence to receive medical attention,” the statement continued.

“The pilot in command of N1215H is a 32-yearold Bahamian male who was alert and in overall

good health, as advised

by RBDF officials. The AAIA’s investigation into this matter is ongoing to determine probable cause and contributing factors, if any, related to this occurrence. The goal of the AAIA is not blame or liability but instead to ascertain facts that once analysed my help to mitigate future similar occurrences.”

The incident comes nearly two weeks after police received reports of a downed plane at the eastern end of New Providence.

However, officers suspended their search after being unable to find any debris nor could they confirm that a plane had in fact crashed in the area.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 5

‘We need more than Lucayan to help GB’ from page one Investments to which they will make a recommendation to us.

“But for me, the real issue is not just the Grand Lucayan; it is no sense of us putting it in the hands of someone, and then the other components for a successful community are not there.

“For example, to have a successful project at Grand Lucayan, airlifts are important; we have to look at the airport and see how we can get the airport back on stream in a way to complement and ensure it feeds into the Grand Lucayan hotel,” he said.

He also said: “We also have to assure persons who are coming as well, apart from airlifts, we have to also have what I call other attractions for the guests.

“And there has to be what I call a complete visionary plan if we are going to continue to promote Grand Bahama as a touristic destination.

“We will have to put that plan together which will include us not just having the Grand Lucayan hotel, but any other projects such as that.”

The Davis administration cancelled the sale of the hotel to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCL) and ITM Group in December, citing it as a deal that was not in the best interest of Bahamians.

The Prime Minister said his government is looking at a number of factors to determine the direction for Grand Bahama.

“We have to decide what kind of tourism you want, whether it will be golfdriven because there are a number of golf courses here on Grand Bahama, or casino-driven or whether it is just going to be a tech hub and hotels are going to be what I call business hotels.

“But we are now looking at all those possibilities and projects,” Mr Davis said.

“We want to have partners in Grand Bahama who have a vision and who are prepared to put their money

PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis during his tour of Grand Bahama yesterday. something about it.”

Mr Davis believes that part of the problem has been the lack of investor confidence on Grand Bahama.

“I think part of the challenge you have and that is why I say talk is cheap.

The challenge has been that investors’ confidence has waned over the many years. And we have been in our movements seeking to restore that confidence.”

Despite growing investor confidence in The Bahamas, Mr Davis said many investors do not have a desire to invest in Grand Bahama.

“I can say investor conwhere their mouth is to having lived here myself in ensure it becomes a reality.” the early 70s, and time has fidence in The Bahamas is The Prime Minister said come for Grand Bahama rising exponentially. There that he is tired of talk when to truly live up to its true are really interests in The Bahamas today; it has really it comes to Grand Bahama. potential.

“The time for talk as to “And it is not going to grown and continues to grow. the way Grand Bahama is happen when people are But for Grand Bahama there going is over for me; I need, just talking about it. It is always this question mark, we need action,” he said. has to happen with some- and why is that question “I know Grand Bahama one who is willing to do mark? “And they are willing

to invest in The Bahamas, and when asked if they wish to come to Grand Bahama, there is always some reluctance on their part.”

During his recent trip to Dubai, Mr Davis learned that an investor was turned off from investing in Grand Bahama.

“I had a conversation in Dubai with a person who came to Grand Bahama and looked at the projects, and their desire to invest just waned because…something that did not connect for them.

“Hopefully, I have been talking with them, and they might find that something that will cause them to reconnect and revisit their vision and desire to invest here. But again, we are working on how we can restore fully the confidence in investors to invest in Grand Bahama.”

He is optimistic that Grand Bahama is ideally

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn suited for a mixed economy in the contexts of tourism, agriculture, and industrial.

“I think it could co-exist together - you just need someone with a vision, the wherewithal, and leadership to make it happen. So, I would not just put my eggs in one basket and say let us make it a totally tourism destination or make it an industrial park, or tech hub for example.”

He added that the latter is one of the industries his administration is looking at expanding in Grand Bahama because of the emerging markets of technology. The Minnis administration also expressed a desire to make the island a tech hub.

“And there are persons in that industry who are looking for space to exploit in that industry. So, I am just not looking to any one market for Grand Bahama,” Mr Davis said.

INITIATIVE TO HELP HOMELESS LAUNCHED IN FREEPORT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced that a social initiative launched by the Ministry for Grand Bahama involving the restoration of houses for homeless families is underway in Freeport.

He also revealed that 100 people have been engaged in a cleanup exercise in the area in preparation for the halfway-housing project at Tripp Circle.

Yesterday marked Mr Davis’ first official visit to Grand Bahama since being elected to office. He was accompanied by Myles LaRoda, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, David Davis, Permanent Secretary (OPM); Leon Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary (OPM); and Jerome Fitzgerald, Senior Policy Advisor (OPM).

Mr Davis said the initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry for Grand Bahama, is in collaboration with the private sector in Grand Bahama to alleviate social ills that affects some residents.

He said 14 abandoned houses that were previously occupied by the Royal Bahamas Police Force at Tripp Circle would be repaired and renovated so that eight homeless families could be relocated there.

“I am aware there are many homeless persons in Grand Bahama, and, unfortunately, they are living in conditions that jeopardise their wellbeing and their health,” he said.

“I was taken by a dilapidated building where persons are living, and that it is intended that the building will be taken down, and because those persons will be displaced and homeless, even though they are homeless now because they are squatting in these dilapidated apartments.”

Mr Davis and his entourage visited the condemned apartment building situated at East Mall Drive, across the street just east of the Office of the Prime Minister in the Harold DeGregory Government Complex.

He said Ms Moxey has spearheaded a collaboration with corporate Grand Bahama and the RBPF to renovate the homes. He said the homes have been abandoned and are sitting idly, and in many instances in a bad state of repair.

“They will be undertaking renovation and repair of all 14 buildings, and there they will relocate those persons living in the dilapidated state I saw today. They would be relocated there for a short period to get them used to living properly. We will try to provide some counselling and rehabilitation of their mindset and get them into mainstream life again.

That might take two to three months, and we will find jobs for them afterwards so they can go on their own.

“That exercise I am advised will continue because the number of persons there are much more than others that find themselves in that situation and we need to find relief for

them.”

In the meantime, the Prime Minister also noted that jobs have been created for Bahamians through the initiative.

“I am advised 100 young men and women are engaged in a cleanup exercise in that area where the homes are in Tripp Circle and they are there cleaning up and I can see relief in their eyes, and the dignity that they are doing something to earn a living as opposed to getting a hand-out. They are getting a hand up and that was really encouraging to me, and hopefully we can find ways and means to keep them engaged along the way. For the time being, it is only a one-week job, but I charged the minister to look at how we can keep them going in the future.”

Ms Moxey expressed her excitement with the initiative.

“Today is a great day.

Grand Bahama has been through so much over the past few years with many hurricanes, including Dorian and pandemic.

We are all in this together and one of the initiatives we have pledged is our new unit called Partnerships for Development. And with that we are bringing in NGOs, businesses, the regulatory bodies. and communities at large together to make things happen. Our administration promised we would bring relief to the people.”

Speaking on the storm recovery effort, Mr Davis expressed his

disappointment with the slow pace of recovery in Dorian stricken areas in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“I have been apprised of the restoration efforts with respect to Dorian recovery,” he said. “I am not satisfied with the pace that

is occurring. I have spoken to the Minister of State who has been charged with the responsibility of that aspect of my ministry. He too has expressed his dissatisfaction on the pace, and we are committing ourselves today to find mechanisms, means,

and structure to accelerate the pace in which relief could be had to our people in the stricken-Dorian area.

And that is the commitment we made today, and hopefully we will see the results of that in short order,” he said.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

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Yet another plan for Grand Bahama PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis wants a plan. Not just any old plan, but a “complete visionary plan” for Grand Bahama.

Grand Bahama has been short of many things over the years, but it never seems to be short of plans. Mr Davis’ plan can join that of his predecessor, Dr Hubert Minis, with his suggested Grand Port revolution, the now abandoned Grand Lucayan deal or the economic recovery zones after Hurricane Dorian.

Forgive us for saying so, but it’s not that long since the election – shouldn’t Mr Davis have had his visionary plan in his manifesto?

What Grand Bahama doesn’t need is more of the same old, same old – ideas that are reused or tinkered with and are little different from what has been done before. It needs some out of the box thinking. Less asking how does investment fit in with what we do already, more asking what will it take to bring in the business.

Maybe that’s less of a focus on keeping foreign workers out, in the knowledge that the income will spread to Bahamians who feed those workers and provide the company’s infrastructure. Maybe it’s reaching out to the US to offer the advantage of a deep water port for its military in the region. Maybe it’s figuring out how to offset the incoming global corporation tax and giving businesses a home with better advantages than our rival nations. What can we do to create not a Silicon Valley, but a Silicon Island?

Some ideas might work, some might not, but you have to be prepared to reach further rather than just go over the same old ground.

Perhaps Mr Davis can borrow a few ideas for his plan from the article in the Insight section on Monday of last week, written by Fred Smith, QC. Mr Smith lamented the long stranglehold on Freeport, saying it was “now less than a shadow of what it could have been”.

But he said too that Freeport can still become a new Dubai or Hong Kong.

He said: “All the requisite ingredients are still there – the revolutionary Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the laissez-faire freedom it sired; the unparalleled geographical advantage of being at the nexus of several important trade routes and on the doorstep of the largest economy of the world; an already existing and well-established industrial zone; a low population density and the vacant real estate needed for exponential expansion – all lying dormant, waiting for leaders with the foresight and courage to resurrect this bold, ambitious project.

“There is not need to re-invent the wheel; just cut the red tape and roll out the red carpet.”

Mr Smith recommended the government focus on attracting new investment – and Freeport would be particularly suited to many new industries. It has a lot of the infrastructure in place, and if the government helped to supplement that where necessary, it might be an ideal location in a world that has discovered the possibility of remote working, crypto business and more.

The problem is, Grand Bahama needs more than just planning, it actually needs action. Plans have come and gone over the years and left Grand Bahama undisturbed by their passing.

As John Lennon sang, life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

Grand Bahama doesn’t need to spend time twiddling its thumbs while the newest man in charge figures out a plan.

It needs investment, it needs to open up to foreign business, it needs action.

If we wait around for another plan, we might just end up with another new leader and another new plan, and nothing changed at all.

Dog attack The report on the front page of today’s Tribune of a woman attacked by four Pit Bull dogs is shocking.

Alicia Barton was doing nothing more than getting out of a car when she was charged by the dogs, who knocked her down and savaged her.

She has been left afraid to go home, scarred and having had to have medical attention – and it should never have happened.

Yet how often do we see dogs running loose around our streets. How often does someone own a dog in a community but leaves it running wild?

There are people who get a dog for their own safety – afraid of home invasions so they get a yard dog – or take in a local potcake. But the dogs are never trained, never taken on a lead and then is it a surprise when it gets out and starts biting? It’s the owner’s responsibility, not the dog’s fault.

The president of the Bahamas Humane Society has said the owner of the dogs that mauled Ms Barton should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She’s right. But what about elsewhere? The board mandated for the Animal Control and Protection Act has met only once since the law was passed 11 years ago. So we have the ability to have done something to prevent this beforehand – or to stop the next occasion, but we’re not taking it seriously.

We should get tough, and we should do it now.

Lucayan workers EDITOR, The Tribune.

PRIME Minister Philip Davis is to be commended for showing early in his tenure that the Memorandum of Understanding between his party and the trade union movement is a matter of substance and not just words.

In taking a conciliatory and indeed concessionary position with the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Union over wrongful dismissal claims of its members laid off at the Lucayan resort, government appears to be setting a welcome new standard of labour relations.

Workers in this country, from the clerical to the managerial level, have been sacrificed to an ideology that proposes a backward relationship between economic progress and worker benefits. The thinking is that, when the economy

gets better, more benefits to workers will follow.

All of Bahamian economic history confirms the exact reverse to be true.

The peculiar structure of The Bahamian economy means that increases in pay and benefits to workers in the frontline industry are the principal means by which the domestic economy benefits at all from the industry.

That is why every substantial rise in wages (such as followed the Burma Road Riot and the 1958 general strike) has led to a boom in the domestic economy. Yet each of these had to be forced on a reluctant political and business establishment.

The same holds true consistently in Caribbean economies, most of which are far less robust and resilient than ours. Rises in wages, forced or otherwise, lead to economic upturns, not vice versa.

While this move by the government is a relatively small gesture (affecting only 36 people) it is to be hoped that it is a signal that it will begin listening more to the labour movement over issues like a “livable wage”, which Obie Ferguson is rightly determined to keep at the top of the agenda.

It is always the right time to raise the minimum wage, as there is no evidence that it has ever been a negative factor in the performance of the tourist or any other foreign currency generating industry.

As for the complaints that this move by the government is unfair on the taxpayer, it is rather less so than the $100m-plus now spent on buying and up keeping the hotel just to lay off its workers.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, January 30, 2022.

Shift the narrative EDITOR, The Tribune.

OVER and repeatedly we hear people ask: “Why do women stay in abusive relationships?’’ or “Why doesn’t she just leave him?”

Although these may seem like valid questions, all these very simple questions have very complicated, multi-layered answers.

As an Advocate and Founder of 242 Domestic Violence Support Network Inc, an organisation fighting against domestic violence and sexual abuse of women and children, I want to clarify why women in abusive relationships ‘don’t leave’.

In fact the question we need to ask more importantly, is why are men abusive to their partners? It is time to change the narrative in this country and stop blaming the victim; instead hold the abuser accountable.

Domestic violence affects all socio-economic groups, even with the prominent and the wealthy, it is often kept quiet. An opulent lifestyle doesn’t protect women from abuse. Domestic Violence develops as a pattern of coercive control, contrary to what most people think, domestic violence comes in various forms, physical, financial, emotional, verbal, economic, digital, mental, sexual, behaviour like terrorism and stalking. Victims oftentimes become isolated and trapped first by the abuser, and then the people around them who often seem to impose guilt and shame upon them. And sit in silence when witnessing the abuse.

Outside of our broken system and lax laws, one of the most painful experiences expressed by victims is the silence of everyone around them. So to address some of the questions asked about why they don’t report or speak up.

Here are a few responses as to why they stayed: She held dreams and hopes for the future.

She thought no one would believe her.

She felt embarrassed about being abused.

She was afraid of losing her affluence.

She was told that women should be submissive.

She still loved him.

She felt his behaviour would change or she could change him.

She was worried about the effects of divorce on the children.

She shared financial commitments and emotionally couldn’t manage on her

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net own.

She was worried about single parenting and that it would be too difficult.

He was the sole provider.

She was afraid of how he’ll react if she leaves.

She held strong values and ideas about marriage and commitment.

She was afraid of being forced into poverty.

She was threatened if she left he would kill her, the children, the family or himself.

He had threatened to hurt her if she left.

He had threatened to hurt the children.

He had threatened to get full custody of the children.

She had no support system from family, friends or relevant authority.

Her partner was a highprofile individual, law enforcement officer, or successful business-man, etc.

Learned Helplessness or suffered from Trauma Bonding.

He used power and control tactics.

The tendency to blame the victim also stems in part from our need to believe that the world is a fair and just place. When something bad happens to another person, we often believe that they must have done something to deserve such a fate. Some psychologists ascribe this tendency to lay the blame on the victim is known as the fundamental attribution error. This bias involves attributing other people’s behaviours to internal or personal characteristics while ignoring external forces and situations that also may have played a role.

None of us is exempt from bad situations or unhealthy relationships, so the next time we find ourselves wondering what someone else did to bring on their misfortune, take a moment to consider the psychological attributions and biases that affect our judgment. Rather than blame the victim, try putting ourselves in that person’s shoes and perhaps try a little empathy instead.

Largely, gender role socialisation leads to the transmission of the cultural values of patriarchy, including male entitlement, privilege and domination.

In our society we have a deeply rooted patriarchal culture which promotes

male entitlement and the objectification and possession of women (a lot of men see their partners as possessions) leads to an imbalance of power in relationships.

Violence becomes a tool to exert power and keep control in a culture where men are supposed to always be in control and never be challenged or disrespected. The culture of honour further justifies abuse and often encourages the same. Victims constantly live in fear. Victims live with stigma. Fear clouds judgment – leaving becomes harder and harder.

Victims tend to start blaming themselves and also minimising and hiding the partner’s abuse since they don’t want their partner to be judged by others. In many cases the abuse escalates slowly and in gradual increments with intermittent spurts of love, affection and apologies. Gifts, grand gestures and huge apologies may be used to convince the victim that they are loved.

The abuse follows a cyclical pattern where there is a violent episode, followed by apologies and the honeymoon phase. This cycle can be as short as a week or in some cases have months or years in between. Abuse is confusing! However, one common denominator abuse stems from the need for power and control.

Instead we must all focus on the right questions, instead of asking why she didn’t leave, ask why and how in 2022 can a man feel confident and entitled to abuse a woman?

Focus on how we are raising our sons and why our boys grow up to be abusive.

Ask the right questions and maybe we will find the right solutions. While the cries for shelters are a vital part of the system for abused women. However, it will take a fully integrated community wide effort to save victims, women and children from domestic violence. We need clergy, the judicial system, police, medical, schools, corporations, government and families of all types coming forth and implementing a zero tolerance approach.

Without that we can’t affect any long-term change.

SHERVONNE CASH-HOLLIS Advocate, Founder 242 Domestic Violence Support Network Inc. Nassau, January 31, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 7

175 RECRUITS AT DEPT OF IMMIGRATION THE Department of Immigration recently recruited 175 young Bahamians, the largest recruitment exercise in its history.

On hand to greet and welcome this class was Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell, who conducted the ceremonial inspection.

Also in attendance was immigration director Keturah Ferguson, assistant director Rudolph Ferguson, assistant director Minus, deputy director Fausteen Major-Smith, and deputy director Dwight Beneby

Carnival to pay extra $1m fine for environment crimes CARNIVAL’s Princess Cruise Lines Ltd has agreed to pay a $1m fine on top of a $20m penalty it received two years ago after pleading guilty to violating its probation for environmental related crimes.

Carnival paid a $40m fine in 2016 after admitting to dumping waste into the ocean and covering it up.

As part of the settlement the company was required to serve a five-year probation and be supervised by a court-appointed monitor.

The monitor’s reports for the first two years of the probation period showed Carnival ships dumped 66,000 gallons of ballast waters and hundreds of thousands of gallons of treated sewage and food waste in Bahamian waters.

Federal prosecutors ultimately accused the company of six violations of its Environmental Compliance Plan, including discharging plastic mixed with food waste into Bahamian waters. In 2019, US District

SIX ON DRUGS CHARGES

By PAVEL BAILEY

SIX men were taken to court yesterday to face charges in connection with two separate drug seizures that took place on Moore’s Island and Ragged Island last week.

Luthianos McPhee, 32, Deno Hield, 41, and Wenzel Stuart, 51, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney after police arrested them for being in possession of 265 lbs of cocaine in Moore’s Island on January 25.

In court, they all faced two separate charges of conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

While Stuart appeared late to court, all three men pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Magistrate McKinney set their bail at $60,000 with one or two sureties, under the condition that they surrender their travel documents and wear an ankle bracelet.

Another condition of their bail is they must report to the police every Wednesday before 6pm. McPhee is expected to check in at Central Police Station in Freeport and Hield and Stuart are to report to the Moore’s Island Police Station.

The case was

adjourned to March 29.

In a separate case, three other men were charged in connection with a major drug bust that occurred off the coast of Ragged Island last week.

Michael Miller, 52, Kingston Saunders, 63, and Romell Miller, 40, appeared before Magistrate McKinney after they were arrested in open waters near Ragged Island for being found in possession of 3,000 lbs of Indian hemp.

They collectively faced four charges, those being conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs and importation of dangerous drugs. All three men pleaded not guilty to the four counts against them.

Magistrate McKinney set their bail at $50,000 each with one or two sureties on the condition that they surrender their travel documents, wear ankle bracelets, and report every Wednesday to their local police station before 6pm.

Michael Miller is expected to report to Wulff Road Police Station while Saunders and Romell Miller are to report to Central Station in Freeport.

The case was adjourned to March 29 or 30.

MONEY LAUNDERING ACCUSATION

By PAVEL BAILEY

A JAMAICAN man was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of money laundering and receiving.

Damian Dujon, 37, of Westmoreland, Jamaica appeared before Magistrate Kendra Kelly on two separate charges.

The first count against him was for receiving in connection with Dujon coming into possession of 905 euros, the property of Christian Schmuck, from January 12-28.

His money laundering

charge is in connection with his arrest in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, on January 28 when he was found in possession of $18,577, which is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Dujon pleaded not guilty to both counts against him and elected to be tried in Magistrate’s Court.

The magistrate ordered that Dujon surrender his travel documents and told him that a bail hearing will be heard at his next court appearance. He was remanded until that time.

His next court date is set for February 2.

Court Judge Patricia Seitz approved a settlement agreement between the cruise line and prosecutors that would see Carnival pay a $20m fine and undergo enhanced inspections because of the violations.

The Miami Herald reported this month that Princess failed to establish an independent investigative office, which was a condition of the company’s probation.

US Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the

Southern District of Florida said in the statement: “Just like individual defendants, corporate defendants must also comply with court orders. They are not above the law.”

He added: “The corporate defendant here ignored the court, choosing instead to thwart the compliance plan that was put in place to protect our environment.

As this probation violation proceeding demonstrates, the government will not tolerate defendant’s blatant

violation of court orders.”

According to The Miami Herald, last October an independent third-party auditor and the courtappointed monitor sent a letter to a federal judge in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida saying Carnival’s repeated failure to abide by the rules of its probation, “reflects a deeper barrier: a culture that seeks to minimise or avoid information that is negative, uncomfortable, or threatening to the

company, including to top leadership.”

A spokesperson for Carnival told the Herald the company is working in good faith through its probation to improve internal investigations.

“Our top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew members, shoreside employees and the people in the communities we visit,” the spokesperson said.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Mammy was the rock on which Meka built her life WE know the bond between a mother and child can be strong. But sometimes, a child grows up under the wing of a loving grandmother, and the bond can be even stronger.

That’s what happened to Meka Cooper, who was raised by her mother, Rosemary as well as her grandmother, Shirley Mae King. Meka’s life has been moulded by a caring, talented Bahamian woman and because of it, she has come into her own in a way that pays homage to the matriarch of her family.

Shirley Mae is “Mammy” to her 11 children and all of her grand and great grandchildren. Meka was often mistaken for one of Mammy’s children, and not the grandchild, as she was the youngest in the household. As a little girl, Meka would be ‘foot to foot’ behind her grandmother. She watched all of her ways. She saw her crocheting, sewing, gardening, baking and cooking. She saw Mammy was industrious and never idle; that she found time to show love and care to all her family members and to extend that virtue to the wider community. Meka had a great role model in her Mammy, who imparted the wisdom of life to her and she watched her grow.

Meka shared a special memory: “I can remember one time I went into the kitchen and saw her kneading dough for coconut tart. I was always interested in the things she did. So, being who I am, I asked her how to make the tart and, as always, she told me step by step. She showed me how to grate, boil and put in the sugar and various spices for the coconut filling.

I caught on very quickly. She also taught me how to make banana bread, which I perfected. She asked me to bake this for her all the time with raisins or coconut inside. She loved her banana bread dark on top because she hated to eat it if it was light. Now, I

ABOVE: Meka and her beloved grandmother, Shirley Mae. bake and sell banana bread, pound cake and more, but I am most famous by family and friends for my amazing carrot cake.”

Growing up in a large household with extended family including her grandmother, step-grandfather, brother, aunts and uncles, Meka recalls that it was very crowded. There was a “lack of privacy, constant conflicts and different personalities to deal with”. On the other hand, “it was full of excitement and you always had a companion”.

Mammy was the glue that held them all together.

Mammy had many hobbies and Meka tried to imitate her in all of them. She wasn’t able to pick up all of her skills, especially crocheting.

No matter how many times Mammy showed her how to hold the needle and chord, she just couldn’t get it. Mammy even tried to show her in slow motion – nothing. But she did pick up Mammy’s knack for sewing. She got so good at it that today, Meka has a line of exquisite bags and other products that she makes by hand with fabric, straw and other materials woven into one-ofa-kind pieces.

“I have a great imagination that I have been able to successfully put to great use,” Meka says of her product line.

“My pieces boast of great craftsmanship and finished work in each product, making them look almost manufactured. They are elegant, stylish and sophisticated. To achieve this flawless look, I stitch to perfection, and I use quality

hardware. The inside of each bag is lined with suede fabric.

I use vibrant colours as well as neutral colour straws to set the tone for any occasion.”

She also learned how to garden from Mammy, and it’s something that kept them close even after she left the household.

“After I got married, I visited Mammy often,” said Meka.

“I would meet her either planting a flower tree or watering her garden under her room window, and I would offer to help. It was something about nature that we both enjoyed. Gardening was so therapeutic to us. A few times I would pull up some of my suckers or baby plants and take it to her for her to plant in her garden and in return, she did the same for me. Her garden was more beautiful, though. I always told her she had a green thumb, because anything she planted in her garden grew. One time, I gave her a piece of stem from my rose tree and in no time, she had a tree with blooming pink roses, which she planted in various corners of her front yard. My rose tree never bloomed, unfortunately. Up to today, I don’t know what’s happening!”

As Meka came into her own, she got a job as a cocktail server at Kerzner International, which became the Atlantis Resort. She worked there from October of 1998 to November of 2006. After resigning from the hotel, she and her husband Henry Cooper, owned and operated

RIGHT: The Shirley Mae collection. a small business (Destiny’s Hair & Beauty Supplies) for about two years.

As life would have it, Meka’s talents, first bestowed on her by Mammy, began to blossom and she carved out her unique talents. She was first introduced to the straw craft industry in 2009 by Tina Riley, a family friend. Fascinated by Mrs Riley’s beautiful straw products, she went home and made her first straw clutch by hand from a cereal box with a needle and thread and some straw pieces given to her by Mrs Riley. In 2010, determined to learn more, Meka took straw classes at the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC) while she was eight months pregnant.

Over the years, Meka made straw pieces for family and friends as gifts, and also sold them. She also became a seamstress, specializing in school uniforms.

“It wasn’t until late 2018 when I fully committed myself to the straw craft that I fell in love with it,” she confesses.

“I then started a small bag business and named it “Bella Borsa” (bags of beauty). In 2019, I renamed it the ‘Shirley Mae Collection’.

Shirley Mae’s rosebuds of life closed and she took her rest after a battle with cancer. Meka could do no less than honour the woman who meant so much.

“In July of 2017, my grandmother was diagnosed with

GN-2673

stage 3 esophageal cancer,” Meka said.

“From as long as I can remember, she always had a problem swallowing her food properly. We would always have to rush and get her some water if she did not have any on hand, because her food was hard to go down and it caused her to choke. She loved checking on and maintaining her health if there were any issues she had. This was no different.”

Shirley Mae alerted her doctors about her swallowing problem, but none suggested a biopsy, Meka said. Not until it was too late. During the biopsy, Shirley Mae’s esophagus was perforated, which complicated the matter, as fluid got into her lungs.

Meka recalls the events: “She went from feeling fine to terrible in a matter of months! By this time, she was unable to walk because of her weak limbs. She was confined to a wheelchair. She wanted to go to the United States one more time with her daughter, her traveling companion, my aunt Cynthia. She wanted to visit my mother and step father, Rosemary and George. A few days after arriving, Mammy was rushed to Memorial West Hospital because she was unable to breath properly. The doctors examined her. They told the family that in all their career, they had never seen a hole so large in anyone’s esophagus. They told her daughters that she was not going to make it back home alive; so, they encouraged her family members to come over and spend her last days with her.

When I heard this news, my family and I were devastated.

I was emotionally distraught!

I begged my aunt Nakola, who was there with her, to please let me see “Mammy” on video call because I was not sure if I would make the trip. Thankfully, my aunt did so and I was able to see and speak with Mammy. Her voice was very weak and she could barely talk. I tried not to cry while she was watching, but I couldn’t help it. I told her that I will see her soon and I loved her. In a very low voice, she said she loved me too.”

Eventually, Meka was able to make the trip to visit her grandmother for what she assumed might be the last time. To everyone’s surprise, including the doctors, Shirley Mae got stronger and was able to fly back home.

Meka mused: “She was a fighter… to God be the glory!

After Shirley Mae returned home, Meka would visit her and just sit with her on her porch. Meka would play gospel songs on her phone and they would sing together.

She cherished these precious memories because soon after,

Shirley Mae’s condition worsened.

She became bedridden, and her children and grandchildren became her caretakers.

“I can remember one morning, when I came over to help care for her along with a few family members… she just had a blank stare,” Meka said.

“Sheila Mae told her daughters Nakola and Patrice that she saw her sister Sylvia, who is deceased, and she was calling her.

“Excruciating pain overwhelmed her frail body. She was so strong, even in her sickness she hardly complained until the pain became unbearable. I remember her telling us that she prays we never get cancer… that she did not wish that on her worst enemy. By this time, she was ready for God to call her home. She was visited very often by Pastor Alvin Taylor, who sang songs of praise, prayed with and ministered to her.”

Meka asked her beloved grandmother to pray over her life and her business, and with a gentle squeeze of the hand, Shirley Mae let her know she had done so.

Around the second week of November 2018, Shirley Mae travelled to Andros to be with her daughters, Cynthia and Lisa. Later in the month, she had to be airlifted to Nassau on an emergency flight. On November 24, a day of thanksgiving, Shirley Mae left this realm.

“She was our hero, a warrior, one that never gave up until the end; she fought a great fight,” Meka said.

Today, Shirley Mae’s legacy lives on in all her descendants. Meka’s special Shirley Mae Collection, launched in December, 2021, allows the world to share in her legacy. The collection has reached as far as Nigeria, Europe, St Lucia, Barbados, and throughout the United States. Even a Ghanian Princess owns one of these elegant pieces. Oralee Smith, owner of Flyshine Travel Cruises, has given the bags away prizes for valued clients.

“To keep the tradition alive, the Shirley Mae Collection will continue to produce authentic Bahamian made straw products with exceptional service, in hopes that more Bahamians learn this indigenous craft.” Meka said.

She is thankful to her husband Henry Cooper, who purchased her first sewing machine and her biggest supporter, along with her children Donovan, Shaquan, Destiny and Nathan. To see the collection, visit Shirley Mae Collection on Facebook and Instagram; call 636-1508; or email shirleymaecollection@gmail.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 9

PHOTOGRAPHS showing the visit of the HMS Medway to The Bahamas.

Photos: British High Commission

WHEN WE NEED HELP THERE’S ONE FRIEND READY TO DIVE IN FROM THE OFF HOW interesting, and even inspiring, it was to read the words last week of Britain’s Armed Forces Minister about assistance to Tonga following the massive undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami that had earlier hit this island state in the Pacific. He was referring to the arrival on the scene of a ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Spey, to help with disaster relief work.

The minister was quoted as saying: “Responding to humanitarian crises across the globe is a core part of our Armed Forces’ daily business. The UK is a longstanding partner of the Pacific Islands and having the ship deployed in the Indo-Pacific meant that we could be there for Tonga in their hour of need.” This Offshore Patrol Vessel was able to provide necessary medical and other supplies including water, sanitation and baby products; though its sailors were not allowed to go ashore because of the local coronavirus

restrictions.

Reportedly, it will remain in the area, working with the navies of Australia and New Zealand in order to offer further assistance as needed.

This seems to be a fine example of a modern, global Royal Navy (RN) ready to respond at short notice to assist a fellow Commonwealth country.

So I found it equally interesting that, as part of its preparations for the coming Atlantic hurricane season, a similar RN vessel, HMS Medway, visited The Bahamas last week.

As the RN’s permanent presence in the Caribbean, she has been on deployment in the region since 2020 conducting counter narcotics operations in support of the US Coast Guard.

She provides support to Britain’s five Overseas Territories in the region – Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands – for whose defence, security and diplomatic relations the UK

government is responsible.

But she also offers disaster relief to other countries according to need. Moreover, in addition to providing humanitarian aid in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster like a volcano, HMS Medway works side-by-side with law enforcement in the region to stop the flow of illegal drugs from South America to the US and Europe.

While in Nassau, the Commanding Officer of HMS Medway, Commander Chris Hollingworth, paid courtesy calls on the Governor General and the Prime Minister as well as the Commander of the RBDF; and he had discussions with the Minister of National Security, the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and the Director of the National Emergency Management Agency. Accompanied by the UK’s Defence Attache, he also joined The Bahamas National Trust in planting two Lignum Vitae trees at the Retreat Garden

The Peter Young column National Park on Village Road as a contribution to the tree planting initiative known as “The Queen’s Green Canopy” to mark her Platinum Jubilee this year - the 70th anniversary of her reign.

On a personal note, I was delighted to be able to meet Commander Hollingworth and to learn in more

detail about the way HMS Medway assists the local community in the event of a hurricane.

As I understand it, the ship will be accompanied by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel which usually deploys a helicopter and carries stores to be distributed in an emergency.

Known simply as RFAs, the primary purpose of these ships is to deliver worldwide logistical and operational support to RN military operations. But they are also capable of providing disaster relief for sustained periods.

For example, people will recall the impressive humanitarian support and aid provided by RFA Mounts Bay at the time of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 which caused such heavy damage and loss of life in Abaco as well as in Grand Bahama. Coordinated so ably by British High Commissioner, Sarah Dickson, this turned out to be a highly effective operation.

As for Medway itself, I gather it has a “crisis

response troop” on board including engineers. In response to a disaster - and working in co-operation with local authorities - they carry out a reconnaissance to assess needs and then help in a variety of ways like restoring communications and fresh water pipes, repairing roads and contributing to putting public buildings and people’s homes back in order.

While countries such as The Bahamas, which with an organisation like NEMA in place - is accustomed to dealing with hurricanes, assistance from outside sources is presumably always welcomed as a practical form of international co-operation during a crisis. As such, in addition to the UK’s direct responsibilities for British Overseas Territories, it is surely reassuring to know help is on hand from the RN whose ships have the resources and necessary skills to contribute effectively in case of need – especially in Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean.

FOR THE STORIES NEVER TOLD SOME two decades ago, the United Nations designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This was the day in 1945 of the liberation by the Soviet Red Army of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, the largest of the Nazi death camps where at least one million are known to have died.

On this day every year, the UN urges every member state to remember and honour the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust – said to have amounted to about two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population – together with millions of others who suffered from the cruelties carried out under the Nazi regime. All are also pressed to develop educational programmes to help prevent future genocides.

This day of remembrance which is also known as Holocaust Memorial Day commemorates as well people killed in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Many countries, mainly in Europe, have also designated national dates of remembrance

of genocides.

How heartening it was to learn that in Britain this year Prince Charles commissioned portraits of seven Holocaust survivors in order to commemorate the Day. Portraits of them were put on display in The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace – and, around the UK, landmark buildings, including the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle and the Titanic Museum in Belfast were illuminated in purple, the colour of Holocaust Memorial Day. Describing the portraits, Prince Charles said they were a living memorial to the millions of people “whose stories will never be told, whose portraits will never be painted”.

In the words of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, this terrible event in history threatened the fabric of civilisation and to this day “prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all” – and many believe this has never been more relevant in modern times as anti-Semitism remains a threat to the world.

BORIS CLINGS ON WHILE PUTIN’S GAMES CONTINUE ALTHOUGH I wrote about Ukraine in last week’s column - and the week before about the socalled “Partygate” scandal surrounding Prime Minister Boris Johnson - I should like to return to both today because of their inherent importance. It is hard to ignore either, not least because there has been so much news about them that, ironically, people find it difficult to work out exactly what is happening.

All eyes around the world are now on a possible global conflict precipitated in eastern Europe by a threatened Russian invasion of Ukraine - and, while this international crisis is unfolding, in Britain politicians are preoccupied by attempts to overthrow Mr Johnson over Partygate.

First, Ukraine. Even though Western countries,

including NATO, have reacted fiercely to the Russian build-up of military forces on the Ukrainian border and warned of heavy sanctions in order to deter Putin from invading, the stand-off continues. So the threat of war persists and the situation is fraught with danger even though Putin - despite refusing to withdraw his forces - has denied any suggestion of an invasion.

According to the UK press, what many in the UK now find particularly interesting is the apparent ramping-up of Britain’s direct involvement and diplomatic activity. This is seen by some to be linked to the country’s newly independent status outside the European Union and to efforts to develop Global Britain. But leading EU nations like France and

Germany are also apparently acting unilaterally, with Macron’s recent telephone call to Putin and Germany’s well-publicised refusal to join with European partners in supplying weapons and military hardware to Ukraine for defensive use.

While Putin appears to be continuing what has been termed his “cat and mouse game”, some argue he has already achieved his objective of forcing the West to take seriously his claimed concerns about NATO’s threat to Russian security and what he considers to be Russia’s sphere of influence.

The UN Security Council met yesterday to consider the Ukraine crisis while the British PM is said to want to speak directly to Putin and then travel to Ukraine for talks there. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed Foreign

Secretary Liz Truss will visit Moscow soon for talks with her counterpart Sergey Lavrov - and, reportedly, one of her purposes is to spell out to him exactly what economic sanctions imposed by the West in response to an invasion would entail; in particular their effect not only on the Russian economy but also on the personal wealth of some of Putin’s closest allies.

Secondly, Partygate.

Cynics suggest the UK’s apparent determination to play a high-profile independent role in relation to Ukraine is designed, in part, to help take the spotlight off Boris Johnson’s domestic political troubles so that the Partygate saga will be overshadowed by his actions on the world stage. He has been awaiting results of the investigation by senior civil servant Sue

Gray into lockdown parties at Downing Street allegedly in contravention of coronavirus regulations. Yesterday, she delivered an interim report to him – described as an update on the investigation - which has also been published. It is being called her initial findings only because the Metropolitan Police have muddied the waters by launching their own separate investigation. She has condemned “failures of leadership and judgment” in Downing Street in relation to some of the events concerned which were “difficult to justify” and should not have taken place. But, she says, no firm conclusions can be reached in advance of the police investigation.

This is only the second time in the UK’s parliamentary history that the police have started investigating

political leaders and the Prime Minister in such a way, and the much-criticised Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is now under fire for getting involved at all and wasting police resources in what is claimed to be a disproportionate and misguided manner. Be that as it may, while the next step of a report by the police is awaited, there is bound to be a shake-up and reform of the structure and staffing of the offices at No. 10 Downing Street. But, according to the UK press, even before yesterday’s “Gray” report the Prime Minister seemed to have steadied the ship for the time being as the angry mood of Tory MPs cooled significantly over the past week. So the threat of a leadership challenge in the immediate future appears to have receded.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

CANADA PM POSITIVE FOR COVID

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau announced yesterday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is “feeling fine” and will continue to work remotely from home.

Trudeau said two of his children have COVID-19 and a test yesterday revealed he has been infected as well. He also used a televised virtual press conference to denounce anti-vaccine protesters who filled Canada’s capital to complain about COVID restrictions.

“Canadians were shocked and quite frankly disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said. “I want to be clear. We are not intimated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small businesses and steal from the homeless. We won’t give in those who fly racist flags.”

N KOREA TESTS MISSILE THAT COULD HIT GUAM NORTH Korea said yesterday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the US territory of Guam, the nation’s most significant weapon launch in years, as Washington plans steps to show its commitment to its Asian allies.

Sunday’s launch could be a prelude to bigger provocations by North Korea such as nuclear and longrange missile tests that pose a direct threat to the US mainland, as the North tries to further pressure the Biden administration.

The official Korean Central News Agency said the purpose of the test was verifying the overall accuracy of the Hwasong-12 missile that is being deployed in its military.

THE TRIBUNE

British PM apology as predecessor asks if he thought rules didn’t apply to him LONDON Associated Press PRIME Minister Boris Johnson apologised yesterday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a “serious failure” to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic.

Johnson brushed off calls to quit over the “partygate” scandal, promising to reform the way his office is run and insisting that he and his government can be trusted. But he faced criticism from some of his own Conservative colleagues, who have the power to oust a leader some fear has become damaged goods. One Conservative lawmaker accused the prime minister of taking him for “a fool”.

“I get it, and I will fix it,” Johnson said in Parliament after senior civil servant Sue Gray published interim findings on several gatherings in 2020 and 2021 while the UK was under governmentimposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Gray found “failures of leadership and judgment” allowed events to occur that “should not have been allowed to take place”.

“The hardship under which citizens across the country worked, lived and sadly even died while

observing the government’s regulations and guidance rigorously are known only too well,” Gray wrote.

“Against the backdrop of the pandemic, when the government was asking citizens to accept far-reaching restrictions on their lives, some of the behavior surrounding these gatherings is difficult to justify,” she added.

Gray’s glimpse inside a 10 Downing St marked by excessive alcohol consumption and staff afraid to speak out about workplace problems are a blow to Johnson, despite the fact that Gray’s conclusions relate to just four of the 16 events she investigated.

Her findings on 12 others have been withheld at the request of the Metropolitan Police force, to avoid “any prejudice” to a criminal investigation launched last week into the most serious alleged breaches of coronavirus rules.

Among the events under police investigation are a June 2020 birthday party for Johnson in Downing Street and two gatherings held on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021 — a service at which the widowed Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone.

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said either Johnson and those around him “had not read the rules, or didn’t understand what they meant. … Or they didn’t think the rules applied to them. Which was it?”

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 11

Tom Brady says he’s still evaluating his future plans

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Tom Brady says he’s still evaluating his future and the seven-time Super Bowl champion isn’t ready to make a decision about retirement.

“I’m just still going through the process that I said I was going through,” Brady said last night on his SiriusXM podcast. “Sometimes it takes some time to really evaluate how you feel, what you want to do, and I think when the time is right, I’ll be ready to make a decision, one way or the other, just like I said last week.”

The 44-year-old quarterback has already stated a desire to spend more time with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, and three children. He’s under contract for 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

and is coming off one of the best seasons in his 22-year career.

“I understand my decision affects a lot of people’s lives so when that decision comes, it’ll come,” Brady said.

ESPN first reported Brady’s retirement on Saturday, citing unidentified sources. Brady’s health and wellness company posted a tweet indicating he’s retiring, and reaction came from around the world congratulating Brady on his career.

Even the NFL’s Twitter account posted a series of congratulatory messages.

TB12sports quickly deleted its tweet, but ESPN and NFL Network continued reporting that Brady has played his last game.

“We’re in such an era of information and people want to be in front of the news often, and I totally understand that and understand that’s the

TAMPA Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet (74) blocks during a NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, January 23, in Tampa, Florida. While the NFL conference championship games went on without Brady for only the second time in 11 years, the world waits for the greatest quarterback of all-time to make his future plans official. An announcement is expected soon and a person close to Brady on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, told The Associated Press his decision will be based on family priorities, not finances.

(AP Photo/Alex Menendez) environment we’re in,” Brady said. “But I think for me, it’s literally day to day with me. I’m trying to do the best I can every day and evaluate things as they come, and I’m trying to make a great decision for me and my family.”

Brady said he was disappointed that coverage of his possible retirement

overshadowed the NFL’s conference championship games over the weekend.

“I’ll know when the time’s right,” he said. “When I know, I’ll know and when I don’t know, I don’t know, and I’m not going to race to some conclusion about that.”

When Brady walks away, he’ll do so as the NFL’s

career leader in numerous passing categories and most prolific winner. He’d also be going out at the top of his game.

Brady led the NFL in yards passing (5,316), touchdowns (43), completions (485) and attempts (719), but the Buccaneers lost at home to the NFC champion Rams last

Sunday in the divisional round after rallying from a 27-3 deficit to tie it in the final minute.

Brady won six Super Bowls with the Patriots playing for coach Bill Belichick, and got better with age. He led the Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl title last year in his first season in Tampa.

On to Super Bowl: Bengals versus Rams, who will host big dance

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer TWO years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were the NFL’s worst team. Now they’re headed to the Super Bowl to play the Los Angeles Rams — in the Rams’ home stadium.

Matching the biggest comeback in an AFC championship game, the Bengals rallied from an 18-point hole to stun Kansas City 27-24 in overtime Sunday for their first trip to the big game since the 1988 season.

The team that won only two games in 2019, earning them the top overall draft pick that they used on quarterback Joe Burrow, pretty much dominated the Chiefs after the first quarter.

Rookie Evan McPherson made a 31-yard field goal to win it.

Then the Rams overcame a 10-point second-half deficit and took the NFC crown with a 20-17 victory over San Francisco when Matt Gay made a 30-yard field goal with 1:46 remaining. Los Angeles (15-5) had lost six consecutive times to the 49ers (12-8), but the visitors couldn’t slow All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp.

Safety Jaquiski Tartt dropped a certain interception in the fourth quarter that helped LA tie the game.

Kupp finished with 11 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

NFC In a brutally physical game also highlighted by some clutch plays from

Kupp and fellow All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel of the 49ers, Matthew Stafford went 31 for 45 for 337 yards passing to get to his first Super Bowl. The Rams got there in the 2018 season, but lost to New England.

“We got one more at the home stadium, let’s get it done,” Stafford said.

Samuel wound up with four receptions for 72 yards and a 44-yard score. He rushed for an additional 26 yards.

The Rams have been to four previous Super Bowls, going 1-3; the only victory came in the 1999 season while they were based in St. Louis.

Los Angeles is an early 3 1/2-point favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

“I’m blessed to be part of this team, with this group of guys, this coaching staff,” added Stafford, who spent his first dozen NFL seasons in Detroit. “You can’t write the story any better. I’m at a loss for words. I’m just having a blast playing ball with these guys ...”

AFC The Bengals (13-7) reached their third Super Bowl; they lost to the 49ers in 1982 and 1989. Kansas City (14-6) hosted its fourth straight AFC championship contest, and is 2-2 in those.

The Chiefs won the NFL title two years ago.

Cincinnati, winner of the AFC North, hadn’t won a postseason game since 1991 before beating Las Vegas, then earned a road victory in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history

RAMS’ Cooper Kupp (10) gets past 49ers’ Emmanuel Moseley during the second half of the NFC Championship on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

BENGALS quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

when it eliminated topseeded Tennessee.

The AFC West champion Chiefs routed Pittsburgh and then won a classic in overtime against Buffalo to get to their fourth consecutive conference title game.

“We’ve been a secondhalf team all year,” said Burrow, who missed six games in his rookie season with a knee injury.

“You don’t really want to be that way, but that’s kind of how it’s worked out.

Our defence really stepped up in the second half and on offence we made plays when we had to. ... It was just a great overall team effort.”

On Sunday, Burrow led them back and McPherson, making like a 10-year veteran, kicked four field goals in the game, including the winner after Vonn Bell’s interception of Patrick Mahomes on the opening series of overtime got Cincinnati the ball.

“We’re made for this moment. We never quit,” Bell said. “Never quit fighting. We’re a resilient group.”

The other 18-point rally in the AFC championship game came in the 2006 season when Indianapolis beat New England 36-34.

Burrow can take note that the quarterbacks in that contest were Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

“We’ve overcome a lot of deficits this year,” coach Zac Taylor said. “We always believe in all three of our phases. Everyone stepped up. We’re not done yet.”

NEW RAIDERS COACH MCDANIELS HOPES FOR SUCCESS IN 2ND STINT

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer WHEN Josh McDaniels was hired for his first head coaching job in Denver as a precocious 32-year-old, he flamed out almost immediately because he realises now that he didn’t really know what the job entailed.

The experience with the Broncos that ended with his firing before the end of his second season humbled McDaniels, who then went back and spent another decade as a coordinator.

Now 13 years later, he’s ready for his next shot as a head coach with the Las Vegas Raiders and hopes the lessons he learned back then lead to more success his second time around.

“When I went to Denver, I knew a little bit of

football,” McDaniels said yesterday after being introduced as Raiders coach.

“I didn’t really know people and how important that aspect of this process and maintaining the culture and building the team was.

I failed, and I didn’t succeed at it.

“Looking at that experience has been one of the best things in my life in terms of my overall growth as a person, as a coach.”

After backing out of a deal in 2018 to coach Indianapolis after it had already been announced, McDaniels jumped at the opportunity to coach the Raiders where he will be teamed with a general manager he has known for decades.

McDaniels and new GM Dave Ziegler were

teammates in college at John Carroll University, worked together in Denver and then again the past nine years with the Patriots.

That trust was a factor for both McDaniels and Ziegler for taking the job and for owner Mark Davis, who set out during the process to replace coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock to find a coachGM combo that could work well together.

While McDaniels comes in with the higher profile, Ziegler said he will have final say on personnel.

“Obviously Josh and I are tied in many ways in our vision of how to build a team and our vision of what we want in terms of the players that we bring into the building is very connected,” Ziegler said.

“But at the end of the day when it’s time to make decisions on personnel, while we’re work together, those final decisions will be made by me.”

Davis made the change despite the Raiders making the playoffs for just the second time in the past 19 seasons.

Gruden resigned in October after the release of his old offensive emails and interim coach Rich Bisaccia led the team to the playoffs where they lost in the wildcard round to Cincinnati.

Davis then fired Mayock after the season and looked for a clean slate to build on the foundation in place.

He said this is not a “rebuilding” situation and that he believes the experience McDaniels and Ziegler had in New

England will help the Raiders get to the next level.

“I’ve just always seen the Patriots as a team that not only adapts from week to week or half to half, but maybe even series to series,” Davis said.

“I just believe in Josh’s ability to assess a situation and make the changes in real time, and that’s always been something that’s impressed me.”

McDaniels is viewed as one of the brighter offensive minds in the game with his many years working with Tom Brady on the Patriots.

And his work this season helping to develop rookie Mac Jones.

But his first experience as head coach fell apart quickly following a 6-0 start in 2009.

Denver finished 8-8 that season and McDaniels was fired with a 3-9 record in 2010, losing 17 of his final 22 games as coach.

McDaniels was also fined $50,000 by the NFL for not reporting that the team’s director of video operations videotaped a San Francisco 49ers walk-through practice before the teams played a game in 2010 in London.

The investigation determined that McDaniels did not know about the taping in advance and declined to view it, but he was punished for not immediately reporting the infraction to the league.

McDaniels takes over a team that has several key pieces in place, including quarterback Derek Carr, who is entering the final year of his contract.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Improved Davis, better chemistry boosting No. 11 Wisconsin

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Expected to take a step back this season. Wisconsin instead has made a major leap forward.

Wisconsin (17-3, 8-2) is ranked 11th and heads into February sharing the Big Ten lead with No. 18 Illinois (15-5, 8-2). which hosts the Badgers on Wednesday night. That’s quite an accomplishment for a team that had to replace four of its top five scorers from last season.

“The Wisconsin standard is we want to compete to win the Big Ten,” guard Brad Davison said. “That’s always our expectation, being in this programme.

We knew how much talent we had in the gym.”

A year ago the Badgers were ranked as high as fourth in the Top 25 but ended up tying for sixth in the Big Ten with a 10-10 conference record.

The season ended with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to eventual national champion Baylor.

The most obvious change is the progress of sophomore Johnny Davis, who came off the bench last season but has developed into a candidate for national

player of the year honours.

Davis could become the Badgers’ first NBA lottery pick since Frank Kaminsky went ninth overall after leading Wisconsin to the 2015 NCAA Tournament final.

“I never would have thought I would have been in this position,” said Davis, who is averaging 21.1 points to rank eighth in Division I. “But here I am now. I think that’s just a way of giving myself credit for all the hard work I’ve put in to get to this point.”

Davis leads a group that’s a little different from the typical Wisconsin team. It’s younger than usual with five freshmen and seven sophomores. The Badgers also are playing at a slightly faster pace.

Wisconsin has an adjusted offensive tempo of 66.9 possessions per game according to KenPom, the college basketball statistics site.

That only ranks 199th out of 358 Division I teams, but it’s the fastest pace for Wisconsin since KenPom started tracking the statistic in 2001-02.

“It’s like baking a cake,” coach Greg Gard said.

“What ingredients do you have available? We have a lot of ingredients in terms

WISCONSIN’s Chucky Hepburn (23) claps after Wisconsin beat Minnesota 66-60 during an NCAA college basketball gamecSunday.

(AP Photo/Andy Manis) of this team, and they can chemistry and cohesion on and the backgrounds they “I just think it’s us stickdo a lot of different things.” the floor.” come from,” said Gard, ing together,” forward Tyler An improved Davis Davison said this team whose mother is undergo- Wahl said. “We’ve got a certainly has helped has benefited from the abil- ing breast cancer treatment. really tight-knit group.” the Badgers’ fortunes. ity to do more off-court “They understand through All those close wins show Improved chemistry also activities together after the whole recruiting pro- that Wisconsin doesn’t have has made a difference. dealing with so many pan- cess this is way bigger much margin for error.

Of the seven seniors on demic-related restrictions than basketball because of The Badgers’ home loss Wisconsin’s 2020-21 roster last season. That chemis- times like what you’ve seen to No. 15 Providence withwho had an opportunity to try has helped the Badgers happen. out Davis and road setback return this season due to work through plenty of “The basketball’s an at No. 13 Michigan State w the pandemic, only Davison adversity. important part of it, and ithout Wahl exposed their came back. That was part Chucky Hepburn, a fresh- that’s obviously at the front relative lack of depth. of a turbulent offseason man guard from Omaha, end of their brain when But the fact that Wisthat included the release of Nebraska, returned to his they’re 16, 17, 18, making consin has lost only one secretly recorded portions home state last week for a those decisions. game while at full strength from a February 19 team victory over Nebraska less But as life unfolds for shows what this team also meeting in which some of than a week after long- them and evolves for them, could accomplish if it keeps those now-departed seniors time friend Vincent Burns they realise there’s other improving. criticised Gard. was shot to death in his things that will take higher “The difference between There haven’t been any hometown. priority and have more good teams and great teams such issues this season.

Hepburn said after the importance.” now – winning the Big Ten Gard says he knew early on game that “when you have Their ability to get along or just being in contention – this would be a very coach- good support around like with one another also has is getting better every day,” able group. this team, they help you get made a difference on the Davison said.

“I thought we had through.” court.

“Everyone gets the same some talent,” Gard said.

“It’s another testament Wisconsin is 10-1 in amount of time each day, “I thought we had some to the quality of the people games decided by six points the same amount of pracpieces. And I really liked we have in the programme, or fewer after going 3-6 in tices. You’ve got to make what I saw in terms of their specifically our players those situations last season. the most of them.”

Brink powers Stanford

by Arizona in NCAA title rematch 75-69

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer STANFORD, Calif.

(AP) — Cameron Brink pondered for a moment whether this might be her best college game yet.

Rather than answering, she turned to her Hall of Fame coach, Tara VanDerveer, for a little assist.

“I don’t know, what do you think? Is it a good game?” Brink asked.

“It’s a great game,” VanDerveer said. “... Her best game is yet to come. You haven’t seen it yet.”

Brink dominated in the paint on both ends of the court and finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots, leading reigning national champion and No. 2 Stanford past eighth-ranked Arizona 75-69 on Sunday in a long-anticipated rematch of the NCAA title game.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore star raised both arms in joy as the final buzzer sounded.

Sophomore Jana Van Gytenbeek came off the bench and contributed career-bests of six 3-pointers and 18 points as Stanford (16-3, 7-0 Pac12) remained unbeaten in Pac-12 play with its eighth straight win since falling 65-61 at No. 1 South Carolina on December 21.

“She matched her points all season in one game.

There’s a lot more coming.

This game helped my confidence in her,” VanDerveer said.

“Jana really made a statement how hard she played, offensively, defensively, knocking down her shot she stretches the defence. It was really exciting for her. We had the 1-2 punch, the inside and outside. I love it.”

The timing was perfect given VanDerveer wants to take some pressure off

the high minutes played by guards Lacie and Lexie Hull and Anna Wilson.

“I try to work really hard in practice all the time, bring good energy,” Van Gytenbeek said. “I’m glad I had this moment and want to use it to build the momentum.”

Cate Reese scored 17 points for Arizona, which lost the the NCAA championship game in April 54-53 to the Cardinal in an unprecedented all-Pac-12 final. Stanford captured just the third national title in program history and first since 1992.

Arizona coach Adia Barnes vowed from before this new season started to push her Wildcats to be better from the positive experience, even in losing.

This date had been circled on both teams’ calendars since schedules were released with the game as the lone regularseason matchup between the Pac-12 rivals — one of the four teams only faced once during the 18-game conference schedule.

Brink made all three of her shots in the first quarter to go with five rebounds and finished 10 for 12 from the floor on a day Cardinal co-leading scorer Haley Jones struggled at 2 of 12 for four points against the Wildcats’ Pac-12 leading scoring defence that allowed 54.6 points per game entering play Sunday.

“Cameron did a really good job of asserting herself and just kind of bulldozing us. I thought we had to be a lot more physical with her,” Barnes said.

“Jana and Cameron killed us, together over 40 points.

That can’t happen.”

The Cardinal jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with Lexie Hull hitting the first two baskets of the game but finished the first missing four straight shots with

STANFORD forward Cameron Brink, left, blocks as Arizona forward Sam Thomas (14) aims for the basket during the second half on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Josie Lepe) Stanford: The Cardia scoring drought of 2:23 to clamored for the one-of-akind souvenir after about nal surrendered 22 points hold a 17-16 edge.

Shaina Pellington added a two-week break allowing off their 18 turnovers but 16 points, five rebounds spectators to attend aside held a 34-26 rebounding and five assists for Arizona. from friends and family as advantage.

Stanford overcame a The Wildcats went the a precaution with the Bay final 3:12 of the third with- Area’s spike in coronavirus slow start from the 3-point line to finish 9 of 19 from out scoring, missing two cases.

BIG PICTURE deep, largely thanks to Van field goals, a pair of free Arizona: The Wild- Gytenbeek’s accuracy. ... throws and committing two turnovers to fall behind cats missed earning their The Cardinal improved to second win against a top-10 5-3 vs. top-25 opponents 55-46. opponent this season this season.

TARA’S having beaten Louisville in UP NEXT BOBBLEHEAD Arizona: Host Oregon Stanford celebrated all- overtime on November 15. time winningest women’s Arizona was trying to win on Friday night looking basketball coach Tara Van- 16 of its first 18 games for to avenge a 68-66 overDerveer with a bobblehead the first time in programme time loss to the Ducks in for the Hall of Fame coach. history. The Wildcats had Eugene on January 15.

Stanford: At UCLA on Fans returned to the their three-game winning Thursday night. arena this weekend and streak snapped.

SABALLY SCORES 23, NO. 19 OREGON ROLLS PAST USC 80-48 EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — Nyara Sabally scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and No. 19 Oregon rolled to an 80-48 win over USC on Sunday.

Endyia Rogers added 17 points for the Ducks (13-5, 6-1 Pac-12 Conference), who have won seven straight, including a forfeit over UCLA on Friday because of injuries unrelated to active COVID-19 cases. Per NCAA policy there is no adjustment to the overall records as it is considered a no contest but will count in the Pac-12 standings.

Jordyn Jenkins scored 16 points for the Trojans (9-9, 2-6), who have lost 11 straight in the series.

Oregon used a 13-0 run in the middle of the first quarter to take a 17-4 lead and the Trojans never recovered. Sabally had the first seven points of the second quarter and the Ducks’ lead was 28-9 after Te-Hina Paopao’s fast-break layup capped the run.

With a 38-21 halftime lead, Paopao opened the second half with a basket and Sabally scored the next six points.

Oregon ended up shooting 50%, while USC was at 26% with seven more turnovers (17), half as many 3-pointers (four) and 10 fewer rebounds (32).

Oregon is back in action today at home against Arizona State, a game that was postponed on January 13.

MLB FROM PAGE 16 disrupting the February 16 scheduled start of spring training workouts. Players would need several days to travel to team complexes in Arizona and Florida, plus time to go through COVID19 protocols.

Given the need for at least three weeks of workouts, Opening Day on March 31 would be threatened if there is not an agreement by late February or early March.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 13

76ers outlast Grizzlies in OT thriller minus Embiid PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, including a driving layup with 26.4 seconds left in overtime that put Philadelphia ahead for good, and the 76ers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-119 without Joel Embiid last night.

Tobias Harris added 31 points and Andre Drummond had 16 points and 23 rebounds for Philadelphia, which won its fifth game in a row and 15th in the last 18. The 76ers improved to 4-8 without Embiid, who was rested.

Ja Morant scored 37 points and Desmond Bane had a career-high 34 for Memphis. Morant reached 30 points for the seventh straight game.

WARRIORS 122, ROCKETS 108 HOUSTON (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 21 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter to lead Golden State over Houston.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Warriors, while Houston extended its skid at home to 11 straight games.

Curry made seven 3-pointers, four in the fourth quarter, and had nine assists and five rebounds. His 21 fourthquarter points were the most of his career.

Andrew Wiggins added 23 points for the Warriors and Klay Thompson had 14.

The Rockets, who lost their fourth straight game overall, were led by Christian Wood’s 24 points and 13 rebounds.

CELTICS 122, HEAT 92 BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 29 points, Jayson Tatum had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Boston rolled past Miami.

Marcus Smart added 16 points and seven assists as the Celtics won for the fourth time in five games.

It was Brown’s fourth consecutive game with at least 25 points, and Tatum has scored 20 or more in his last six.

Miami has lost two straight and struggled mightily without several key players in the opener of a six-game road trip: Jimmy Butler (toe), P.J. Tucker (knee) and point guard Kyle Lowry, who missed his eighth game in a row for personal reasons.

ATLANTA’S TRAE YOUNG OUT WITH SHOULDER CONTUSION ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young was scratched from last night’s lineup with a right shoulder contusion.

Coach Nate McMillan said Young was a gametime decision. The Hawks hosted the Raptors on Monday.

Young’s injury occurred in the first half of Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers when he collided with Carmelo Anthony.

Young ranks fifth in scoring with a 27.7 average, third in assists with a 9.3 average and fifth in freethrow percentage at 89.5.

He had his NBA-leading 12th 30-point, 10-assist game against the Lakers.

PHILADELPHIA 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey reacts to scoring the final dunk in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzles last night in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 122-119 in overtime.

(AP Photo/Chris Szagola) In their absence, Max Strus finished with 27 points. The Heat were coming off a triple-overtime loss to Toronto on Saturday.

CAVALIERS 93, PELICANS 90 CLEVELAND (AP) — Reserve guard Brandon Goodwin matched his career high with 21 points, Jarrett Allen added 16 and Cleveland shook off an ugly road loss by rallying to beat New Orleans.

The Cavaliers, who played poorly in a 10-point defeat at Detroit the day before, were without starting point guard Darius Garland due to a sore lower back. Kevin Love added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Cedi Osman had a career-best 12 assists for Cleveland, which trailed by nine in the fourth quarter.

Devonte’ Graham scored 20 points and Jaxson Hayes had 19 for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth straight.

New Orleans was also down a major piece as forward Brandon Ingram, who leads the Pelicans in points and assists, missed his fifth game in a row with an ankle injury.

Jonas Valanciunas could have tied it in the final second, but he missed on a drive that was tightly contested by several Cavs players.

RAPTORS 106, HAWKS 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. scored 31 points, Pascal Siakam added 23 and Toronto ended Atlanta’s sevengame winning streak.

Trent, who has scored at least 30 points in four straight games, hit three 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the third quarter, including a buzzerbeater, and connected again early in the fourth to put the Raptors up 85-77.

Fred VanVleet, who had 16 points, made consecutive 3s to push the lead to nine.

The Hawks played without All-Star guard Trae Young, who was scratched with a bruised right shoulder.

Kevin Huerter scored 26 points to lead Atlanta.

PACERS 122, CLIPPERS 116 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Rookie forward Isaiah Jackson had 26 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double,

leading Indiana past Los Angeles.

Both totals were season highs for Jackson, a firstround draft pick out of Kentucky. Duane Washington Jr. added 16 points and made all four of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

The short-handed Pacers won for the second time in six games and Rick Carlisle became the second coach in the franchise’s NBA history to win 200 games.

Frank Vogel won 250 during a five-season tenure with the team.

The Clippers were led by Amir Coffey with 27 points and Reggie Jackson with 21.

Los Angeles went 4-4 on its road trip but had a five-game winning streak against Indiana snapped.

Injured All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were out again for the Clippers, and the Pacers played without two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, who entered the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

THUNDER 98, TRAIL BLAZERS 81 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Lu Dort scored 18 points and Oklahoma City

defeated Portland to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Josh Giddey added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the short-handed Thunder.

Oklahoma City’s scoring leader, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is out until after the All-Star break with a sprained right ankle sustained last Friday against Indiana.

CJ McCollum scored 21 points and Norman Powell added 18 for the Trail Blazers, who have lost four of five.

KNICKS 116, KINGS 96 NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Burks had 21 points off the bench, Evan Fournier also scored 21 and New York routed skidding Sacramento to stop a three-game slide.

Julius Randle added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who won for the second time in eight games.

Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and eight assists and Chavano “Buddy” Hield scored 11 for the Kings, who have lost seven straight overall and 12 in a row on the road.

Sacramento’s last road victory was December 1 at the Los Angeles Clippers.

UTAH’S INGLES OUT AFTER MRI SHOWS TORN ACL IN RIGHT KNEE SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles tore a ligament in his right knee that will require surgery.

Ingles is out indefinitely after an MRI yesterday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He will have surgery in the coming weeks.

Ingles was injured in the second quarter of the Jazz’s game Sunday night at Minnesota. His left leg buckled as he drove to the basket with 5:52 remaining, and the Target Center crowd fell silent while he was treated on the floor.

The seven-year veteran had to be helped off the court. The Jazz were already shorthanded with the absences of Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Rudy Gobert (left calf strain).

Ingles, Utah’s all-time 3-point leader, was averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 45 appearances this season.

The Jazz are 30-21 and in fourth in the Western Conference standings this season but they have lost their last five straight games.

NBA Prospect Watch: Baylor’s Kendall Brown on the rise

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer THE curious thing about the Big 12 this season is that while it might be the toughest conference in the country, boasting the defending national champion and three other Top 25 teams, it doesn’t have a single, slam-dunk lottery pick.

Kendall Brown of Baylor might be the best bet.

With remarkable athletic ability, a fierce competitive nature and the ability to take over a game, Brown has surged up draft boards during his freshman season in Waco. Just look at his performance earlier this season at Oregon, when he scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to help the Bears overcome a 10-point deficit and squeak out a 78-70 win.

Among his latest starring turns was a 10-point, eightboard performance as the No. 4 Bears beat Oklahoma last weekend.

Yet, as Baylor guard Adam Flagler said, “He’s so selfless.” Brown only took three shots and scored two points during a game at West Virginia. He pulled down eight rebounds, dished out a couple of assists, did not commit a

turnover and played lockdown defence in a 77-68 victory.

“He’s a competitor. He never complains about anything,” Flagler said. “He just goes out and plays at a high level.”

The Big 12 was always going to have a tough time living up to last year’s draft, when Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham went No. 1 overall to Detroit.

Baylor’s Davion Mitchell went No. 9 to Sacramento and Kai Jones of Texas went to the Knicks to give the league three of the first 19 players off the board; four more players were selected in the second round.

Brown could be the best of a relatively shallow pool of talent, and even his outlook is based more on projection than his current ability. He doesn’t turn 19 until May and, as Baylor coach Scott Drew said, his game is improving every day.

“For all freshmen,” Drew explained, “it’s an adaptation at the beginning of the Big 12: the physicality, the speed, just how hard everything is. And I think it takes some getting used to. And hopefully in the second half (of the season), he can keep improving, because he’s a

BAYLOR guard Kendall Brown (2) goes to the basket past Oklahoma guard Bijan Cortes (14) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on January 22, 2022, in Norman, Oklahoma.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) lot more physical and a lot more sure of himself out there.”

SIZE: 6-8, 205 pounds STATS: 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds STRENGTHS: Brown is the prototypical wing with otherworldly athleticism.

He’s capable of jumping out of the gym, and when you combine that with his strength, he’s able to take the ball to the rim and finish through traffic. He also has

a long wingspan, allowing him to guard nearly every position on the floor, and is a willing lock-down player on defense.

WEAKNESSES: Brown is shooting an incredible 64.8% from the field this season, but that number is misleading: Most of his buckets have come at the rim. He’s still developing an outside shot — Brown is shooting just 33% from beyond the arc — and he

will need to be able to hit that consistently to be more than just another athletic wing in the NBA. DRAFT PROJECTION: He is a potential first-round pick, but whether he climbs into the top 10 could depend heavily on how he performs down the stretch.

Make a big impact in the NCAA Tournament and parlay that into a nice combine workout and Brown

could be one of the first wings selected this summer.

Other prospects around the Big 12: SG OCHAI AGBAJI, KANSAS: Once a fringe draft prospect, Agbaji’s stock has continued to soar this season. He just scored a career-high 39 points in a double-overtime win over Texas Tech, and his gutsy performance leading the Jayhawks back from a 16-point deficit to beat Kansas State showcased his competitive streak.

PG IZAIAH BROCKINGTON, IOWA STATE: Brockington began his career at St. Bonaventure, spent three seasons at Penn State and finally found his breakthrough with the Cyclones. He’s averaging a career-best 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds for new Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger.

PF TRE MITCHELL, TEXAS: Another newcomer to the league this season, Mitchell averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 boards for UMass last season.

Those numbers have been cut in half at Texas, but part of that is the fact that Mitchell no longer has to carry such a load. His future could depend on his ability to better stretch the floor.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, February 1, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Ko holds off Kang to win at Boca Rio on the LPGA

By JEFF BABINEAU Associated Press BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — A terrific up-anddown for a scrambling par from a short-side bunker on the 72nd hole lifted Lydia Ko to a one-shot victory over Danielle Kang on Sunday at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. Kang, trying to become only the second player since 1966 to open a season with back-to-back LPGA Tour victories, shot a 4-under 68, one shot better than Ko, but fell one short.

Ko finished at 14-under 274, earning her 17th LPGA victory. Yuka Saso (67), the U.S. Women’s Open champion, was third, two shots behind. Charley Hull (68) and Celine Boutier (69) tied for fourth.

Kang had a 20-foot downhill putt for birdie to force a playoff on the final hole, and even got a read from fellow competitor Celine Boutier, but Kang’s slick putt started left and never drifted back. Ko then tapped in for the win.

Ko won for only the third time since 2016. The 24-year-old from New Zealand started winning LPGA events at the age of 15, and early on, made winning appear easy. (“Trust me,” she said Sunday, “it was never easy.”) At times she said she tried to play perfect golf, and make perfect swings, but has come to the realization that perfect golf doesn’t exist on video games.

“Sometimes, like today,” Ko said, “I’m going to hit some not-so-pretty ones.”

The difference-maker Sunday came at the 15th hole. Ko and Kang were tied at 12 under, and Kang hit the better approach into the par 4. That’s when Ko, who put a new putter in the bag this week, stroked a downhill, 25-foot rightto-left curler that tumbled in on its last roll. Kang had 12 feet and missed. Ko led at 13 under. Both players traded birdies at the par-5 16th, then closed with pars.

The past few years Ko, the former world No. 1, has had to reconstruct her confidence and try to simplify her game. She fell out of the top 50 in the rankings. It’s more work these days to win, but still quite rewarding, nonetheless. Her coach, Sean Foley, texted Ko on Sunday morning with this: “Every day, every shot, you have a chance and a choice.”

The intention of the message: Go do something incredible.

Ko faced not one, but two tall challenges on the

LYDIA KO, of New Zealand, (inset with trophy), holds up her ball as she finishes on the 18th hole in the final round to win the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament on Sunday. closing hole. Her drive found a left-side fairway bunker, leaving 171 yards in on the 415-yard par 4.

She made great contact with a 5-iron, but her ball caught the edge of a greenside bunker. Her bunker shot from 15 yards pitched softly and rolled out to a foot below the hole. What were Ko’s thoughts as the final hole unfolded?

“Please ... I don’t want to play this hole again,” she said, smiling. Ko picked up a winner’s check for $300,000. Added her caddie, Derek Kistler, “I’m not sure if she was nervous or not on those bunker shots, but I wasn’t. That final shot to a foot? Standard operating procedure for her. She’s amazing.”

Ko and Kang, her longtime friend — Kang refers to Ko as her “little sister” — traded pars for much of the cool, sunny South Florida afternoon, which left a handful of other players sticking around with a chance. Canada’s Brooke Henderson went out in 5-under 31 and tacked on a birdie at the 10th to get to 10 under par. Japan’s Saso turned in 3-under 33, getting to double-digits under par. Likewise, England’s Hull made three early birdies to get to minus-10 and make her presence known.

But all three would cool.

Saso birdied the ninth and didn’t make another until the 17th. Hull played her

DANIELLE KANG, of the U.S. lines up a putt on the fourth hole, during the final round of the Gainbridge LPGA golf tournament on Sunday.

(AP Photos/Rebecca Blackwell) first six holes of her final nine in 1 over. Henderson, 6 under at one point on the day, struggled with the putter, and came home in 37.

Kang, who won last week’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, started the day two shots back and was trying to become only the second player since 1966 to sweep the first two events of the LPGA season. Ai Miyazato was the last to do it, in 2010, when the season opened in

Asia. Before that, it was Marilynn Smith, who won the 1966 St. Petersburg Women’s Open and Louise Suggs Delray Beach Invitational back-to-back.

Nelly Korda, who entered the week at No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, tied for 20th, which means Jin Young Ko will retake the No. 1 spot this week. Ko is ranked third.

Ko is taking time off next week to get ready for the upcoming Asia and West Coast swings. For all the winning that she has

done, she’d never won this early in a season. It’s a long year, and she has work to do on her game, but she likes where she sits. She planned to be back in the gym yesterday, and working with Foley today. “It’s definitely good momentum going into the rest of the year.” Ko said. “If somebody asked me, ‘Hey, do you think you’re going to win this week? I’m not sure I would have said yes.’”

Lydia Ko, a winner once more. Call it an unexpected bonus.

TYSON FURY, DILLIAN WHYTE TO MEET IN UK FOR BELT LONDON (AP) — Tyson Fury will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Dillian Whyte in the UK this spring after promoter Frank Warren won a purse bid for the bout.

Top Rank, Fury’s U.S.based promoter, and Warren’s Queensberry Promotions announced the deal Friday, concluding months of drawn-out negotiations over the unbeaten Fury’s future. Warren is paying just over $41 million for the rights, according to WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán, making it the richest purse bid in boxing history.

Fury (31-0-1, 22 knockouts) took to his social media platforms to herald the deal for his first bout since his dramatic 11thround knockout of Deontay Wilder last October in Las Vegas, completing their entertaining fight trilogy.

“Big G.K. is coming home, I’m coming home!”

Fury sang, referring to his nickname, the Gypsy King.

“Cannot wait. Me and Dillian are going to put it on the line.”

The date and location of the bout aren’t certain yet, but Fury’s announcement confirmed he and Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) plan to meet in the spring somewhere in the UK. Fury is a Manchester native, while Whyte was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain as a child.

Fury and Whyte squabbled for weeks over the split of fight revenue, and heavyweight stars Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk got involved in the discussions while promoters considered several options for the four heavyweights’ next steps.

Joshua was offered money to step aside from his contractually obligated rematch with Usyk to allow the Ukrainian three-belt heavyweight champion to unify the titles with a fight against Fury. Joshua lost the WBA, WBO and IBF belts to Usyk in September.

But the negotiations ultimately led to a new challenge for Fury, who hasn’t fought in the UK since August 2018. Whyte is the mandatory challenger for Fury’s belt, and he is getting his first world title shot.

“Dillian Whyte got what he wished for,” Top Rank boss Bob Arum said. “I look forward to Tyson Fury defending the heavyweight title in one of the biggest all-British showdowns in boxing history. The Gypsy King is coming home.”

Hovland beats Bland in playoff to win Dubai Desert Classic DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Viktor Hovland beat Richard Bland in a playoff to capture the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday after Rory McIlroy missed a chance to win the title in regulation by bogeying the last hole.

Hovland claimed his third victory in five events by making birdie from inside 3 feet at the first playoff hole — the 18th — at Emirates Golf Club. Bland had just missed a birdie putt from longer out.

Both players finished on 12-under par. Hovland shot 6-under 66 after finishing birdie-eagle-birdie, while Bland birdied the last for a 68.

McIlroy was tied for the lead with Hovland and Bland heading down the 18th hole, only to send his approach shot from 267

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yards into the water in front of the green.

His par putt, which would have sent him into the playoff, brushed the edge of the cup.

McIlroy, who shot 71, was looking to win the event for the third time — 13 years after the first.

“This is pretty wild, I didn’t really think this was possible going into today,” Hovland told Sky Sports.

“I knew I had to shoot a real low number but a lot of things had to go my way.

I’m thankful that it did.

“I was fuming after the three-putt on 15. I felt that was it. I just had to try to finish off well and I rolled a really long one in on 16 and then, on 17, hey, we got a shot. I’m pumping right now. It’s a bit surreal.”

The 24-year-old began his round way off the pace but put himself among the contenders with four birdies on his front nine.

His hopes took a knock as he bogeyed the 15th but he then surged into a share of the lead on 11 under with stunning back-to-back efforts on his next two holes.

He first holed a 35-foot birdie putt at the 16th and then eagled the par-four

RORY MCILROY, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the 2nd hole during final round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) 17th after a tee shot onto the green, which coincided with third-round leader Justin Harding all but seeing his hopes disappear with a triple-bogey at the 11th.

McIlroy was still looking strong, however. Two behind Harding overnight, the Northern Irishman

had a wobble himself after being forced to take a drop on the 10th, but he recovered to salvage a bogey and then birdie the 11th.

He then responded to Hovland’s charge by picking up another shot on the 13th to move one ahead.

Hovland, further ahead on the course, was not done

yet, though, and he claimed another birdie on the last to set a clubhouse target of 12 under.

This was later matched

by Bland, who - after three successive birdies around the turn - had put himself within striking distance and quietly stayed in the picture. After a steady back

nine, the 48-year-old then finished strongly with clutch birdies at the 17th and 18th to join Hovland with a 276 aggregate.

McIlroy, however, still had the closing holes to play and the tournament appeared to be his for the taking.

Yet he was unable to edge ahead and began to lose his shape as a wild drive at the 17th put him in thick rough.

From there he could only knock towards the fairway and it took a superb approach shot to ensure he saved par.

He did not make the most of that reprieve when he found the lake with his second shot on the closing par five.

That left Hovland and Bland, who is enjoying a late career renaissance after his victory at last year’s British Masters, to fight it out.

Hovland held his nerve and Bland, despite an excellent chip onto the green, was unable to match the Norwegian’s birdie in the playoff.

Harding along with Sam Horsfield, Tyrell Hatton, Adrian Meronk and Erik Van Rooyen all finished on 8 under in joint fourth.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 1, 2022, PAGE 15

US has little margin for home World Cup qualifying stumble

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer THE United States has little margin for a stumble at home in World Cup qualifying.

With a victory over Honduras on Wednesday night in brutal cold at St Paul, Minnesota, the Americans could be in position to clinch a return to soccer’s showcase if they beat Panama on March 27 at Orlando, Florida.

A defeat or draw in either home game would put the US in danger of missing its second straight World Cup. “Our focus right now is finishing off the window with a win,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said after Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Canada. “If we can do that, we’ll be in good position, and then it’s about going to the last window and getting results, and we’re confident we have a team that can do that.”

Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 22 points and the US is second with

18, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Panama is fourth with 17, followed by Costa Rica (13), El Salvador (nine), Jamaica (seven) and Honduras (three).

The top three nations qualify for this year’s tournament in Qatar, and fourth place advances to a playoff against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand.

Winning road games in the region has been a difficult task for the Americans, who have lost at Panama and Canada, tied at El Salvador and Jamaica, and won at lastplace Honduras. They’ve been blanked three times and scored five goals in five road games, four of the goals at Honduras.

At home, the US opened with a draw against Canada and followed with victories over Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico and El Salvador.

The match against Honduras could be complicated by weather: Accuweather forecast a kickoff temperature of 4 degrees (minus-16 Celsius), with a drop of 1-to-2 degrees

UNITED States’ Matt Turner (1) walks off the pitch following the team’s loss to Canada in their World Cup soccer qualifier in Hamilton, Ontario, on Sunday.

(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) during the match, con- games would create ditions the US Soccer immense pressure when Federation’s cold-weather they play March 24 at guidelines label “extreme” Mexico and six days later and suggest merit a cancel- at Costa Rica. The US has lation or move indoors due 12 losses and four draws in to potential frostbite. qualifiers at Mexico City’s If the Americans sweep Estadio Azteca, the likely their final two home site of the match, and has games, they would clinch lost its last nine qualifiers no worse than third if at Costa Rica, including Mexico defeats Panama a 4-0 wipeout in 2016 that on Wednesday night and led to the US Soccer FedCosta Rica doesn’t beat eration firing coach Jurgen Jamaica on Wednesday Klinsmann. and then Canada and El In the 2018 cycle, the Salvador in its first two US was done in by an March games. opening loss at home But failing to get six against Mexico and a points from those home defeat to Costa Rica in the

Americans’ next-to-last home game. They gained three points on the road, with draws at Panama, Mexico and Honduras, before losing infamously to Trinidad and Tobago on the final night.

This cycle has been marginally better, but every match has been tense until late: The Americans have been tied at halftime eight times and trailed twice, taking a first-half lead only once.

They been outscored 4-2 in the first half, going scoreless eight times, before an 11-3 advantage in the second.

“We’ve created enough in the first half to score more goals,” Berhalter said.

“I think we’ve done a good job of wearing teams down in the first half with both possession and transition. So we’re doing a decent job. I think the last thing is just finishing those attacks. ... I’m happy that the team shows enough poise and composure to come out in the second half and still play strong.”

Salah’s Egypt, Mané’s Senegal into African Cup semis YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — The biggest stars of African soccer are on course to meet in their continent’s biggest game.

Mohamed Salah’s Egypt and Sadio Mané’s Senegal reached the African Cup of Nations semifinals on Sunday. One more win for both teams will see the Liverpool pair meet in the final.

Salah scored the equaliser and created the winner to inspire Egypt’s comeback to beat Morocco 2-1 after extra time in the day’s first quarterfinal.

Mané set up Famara Diedhiou for Senegal’s opener in a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea later at the same Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.

Substitutes Cheikhou Kouyaté and Ismaila Sarr finished off Equatorial Guinea, which had drawn level through Jannick Buyla a few minutes after having a penalty awarded and then taken away through a VAR check.

Egypt progressed to a semifinal game against tournament host Cameroon, a repeat of the 2017 final that Cameroon won.

That game on Thursday will also be a clash between the two most successful sides in African Cup history with 12 titles between them.

Senegal plays Burkina Faso in the first semifinal on Wednesday, when Mané’s team will be aiming to make a second

straight final.

Senegal hopes to finally win one this year to get rid of its unwanted label as the best team to never win an African title.

Egypt fell behind to an early penalty won by Achraf Hakimi and converted by Sofiane Boufal in the seventh minute.

Egypt captain Salah reacted quickly to knock in a rebound to make it 1-1 in the 53rd and sent in a perfect low cross for Trézéguet to tap in near the end of the first half of extra time.

Egypt was left to rely on third-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy for most of extra time after an injury to Mohamed Abou Gabal, who was already in the team in place of No. 1 Mohamed el-Shenawy.

Abou Gabal was injured in normal time but tried to play through it. He couldn’t and had to come off in the sixth minute of extra time, leaving the 22-year-old Sobhy to make his debut for his country in the final stages of a high-pressure game.

In the end he wasn’t tested and Salah and Trézéguet combined for the winner four minutes after Sobhy came on.

Salah was faced with three defenders covering him on the right wing but he went for the outside and sent a right-foot cross into the path of Trézéguet at the back post.

Trézéguet’s celebration was all about recognising

EQUATORIAL Guinea’s Iban Salvador, left, vies for the ball with Senegal’s Sadio Mane during the African Cup of Nations 2022 quarter-final soccer match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

the brilliance of Salah. He kneeled in front of the Liverpool forward, put Salah’s right foot on his knee and pretended to shine his boot.

Egypt hasn’t won the African Cup since its record-extending seventh title in 2010. Salah made his debut for the national team the year after that triumph and is still searching for a first major title with his country.

So is Liverpool teammate Mané, although Senegal’s wait has been much longer.

Mané’s pass opened up Equatorial Guinea’s defence for centre forward Diedhiou to score in the 28th. Senegal appeared in control but got a first

warning when captain Kalidou Koulibaly had a penalty awarded against him in the 50th minute.

It was cancelled by referee Victor Gomes after he saw on VAR that Koulibaly’s right hand was down by his side when the ball struck it.

Equatorial Guinea did get its goal seven minutes later but the introduction of Kouyaté and Sarr as substitutes paid off big time for Senegal coach Aliou Cissé.

Kouyaté put Senegal ahead just three minutes after arriving when he pounced on a miscued defensive header. Sarr finished after brilliant work down the left wing by Saliou Ciss.

That goal was also vindication for Senegal after insisting that Sarr join up with the squad at the African Cup of Nations despite his club Watford saying he was injured and wouldn’t be able to play at the tournament.

Sarr was sent to Spain by Senegal for treatment on a knee injury and will now be a part of the final stages of his country’s title chase.

Senegal will play Burkina Faso back at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Egypt and Cameroon will meet at the tournament’s main Olembe Stadium across town in Yaounde after it was cleared to stage games again following last week’s deadly stadium crush.

ECUADOR CAN QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP AT PERU’S EXPENSE

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer ECUADOR can qualify for the World Cup in Qatar by beating host Peru today.

The match in Lima should be the most intense of South America’s latest round of qualifiers, and Ecuador coach coach Gustavo Alfaro has promised they will treat it like a final.

“This will be decided by details,” Alfaro said. “We must have absolute concentration to bring this qualification.”

Ecuador won’t count on two key players due to suspension; striker Enner Vallencia and starting goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, who was sent off on Thursday during the 1-1 draw with Brazil.

Peru will be highly motivated, also. Peru is in the qualifying spots at fourth after surprising Colombia 1-0 on Friday.

If Peru wins, the team will overtake Ecuador for third.

The team won’t have the suspended Christian Cueva. Edison Flores, who scored the winner against Colombia, is his likely replacement.

Peru won in Ecuador 2-1 when they met last June.

Brazil and Argentina, both unbeaten, have already advanced to Qatar.

Ecuador was third overall, four points ahead of Peru, and six ahead of Uruguay.

Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay were within six points of Uruguay, which was in the qualifying playoff spot.

Brazil meets Paraguay, and Argentina faces Colombia, which is outside of the qualifying places due to a goal drought of six matches.

Striker Falcao Garcia said the team’s drought seems “supernatural.”

“Sometimes you need a little luck for the ball to hit the post and enter.

We haven’t had that in the latest matches,” he said.

Falcao and James Rodríguez have been up front for Colombia alongside new Liverpool signing Luis Diaz.

The team was jeered by its own supporters in Barranquilla after Friday’s defeat to Peru, and morale is low.

Argentina, which hasn’t lost for 28 matches, will miss four starters for the match in Cordoba; defenders Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico and midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes.

“In some positions we will have difficulties, players will play out of their positions,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who will be in charge after testing negative for COVID-19.

SIX NATIONS IS BACK WITH FANS BUT WITHOUT A CLEAR FAVOURITE

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer ENGLAND is the highest ranked and most well-resourced rugby team in Europe.

Ireland is on an eighttest winning run including knocking over the All Blacks.

France also has a recent victory over New Zealand and is improving quicker than any test nation ahead of hosting next year’s Rugby World Cup. Wales won the 2021 championship out of nowhere and has pedigree with four titles in the last 10 years.

Good luck picking a winner in the upcoming Six Nations.

The northern hemisphere rugby tournament that rarely fails to deliver is rolling around again — this time with fans and less certainty than ever about where the trophy will be heading.

Of course, there are some cast-iron guarantees around the Six Nations: Fiercely

sung national anthems, press conference jibes from Eddie Jones, post-match chaos at railway stations outside Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium.

Oh, and it’s fairly likely Italy will be limping to the final weekend already sure of the wooden spoon.

But almost everything else seems up in the air, especially given what transpired over the autumn internationals, which ended with European rugby sticking out its chest with pride.

For the first time since 2002, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia were all beaten on the same weekend — by France, England and Wales, respectively. Ireland also devoured Argentina on that statement weekend for the northern hemisphere that provided the perfect set-up for the Six Nations.

The French are the favourites this year. They have the world player of the year in scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, a mighty pack, a sense of togetherness, a coach with a plan in Fabian

Galthie, and momentum from a first home win over the All Blacks since 2000.

Galthie called the Nov. 20 victory a “moment of truth” and now is the time to break a drought that feels almost as long. Not since 2010 has France won the Six Nations, a travesty for a country with so much rugby talent.

Les Tricolores have had back-to-back second-place finishes, losing out last year after a final-round loss at home to Scotland when a 21-point win was needed to overhaul Wales.

As for the Welsh, retaining the title just got that much harder with stalwart lock Alun Wyn Jones likely to miss the whole tournament because of a shoulder injury sustained in the autumn tests.

Jones is just one of a number of key injury absentees for coach Wayne Pivac, who is also without George North, Ken Owens and what could have been the starting back row of Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.

The fact the Welsh are starting out at Ireland and also have to visit Twickenham makes their title defence even tougher.

England can never be discounted but this tournament might be filed in the drawer marked “transitional” with Eddie Jones still rebuilding a team for the 2023 World Cup. The absence of Owen Farrell for the whole Six Nations because of injury denies England leadership in the back division and an ice-cool goalkicker, while putting more focus on the rising star of English rugby, flyhalf Marcus Smith.

Jonny May, the team’s most likely try-scorer, will also likely miss the whole tournament.

Jones survived a fifthplace finish last year, despite it being arguably England’s worst ever display in the championship after losing to all three Triple Crown rivals — Scotland, Wales and Ireland — for the first time since 1976 and having their most points conceded in a campaign.

Then again, beating Australia and South Africa in November highlighted the strength in depth available to England, which is something the Irish can also boast.

Not to mention their three wins in five years over New Zealand — most recently by 29-20 on November 13 — that can only embolden Andy Farrell’s side going forward.

Ireland scored a total of 142 points in wins over Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina in November and will have the backing of a home crowd for three of its five matches.

It’s the away match against France in round two that could determine the destination of the title, though, and the French have beaten the Irish the last two years in the Six Nations.

With Italy, now under the stewardship of New Zealander Kieran Crowley, almost a lock for last place these days — after all, the Azzurri haven’t won a game in the Six Nations

since February 2015 — the last question to ponder is where Scotland fits in.

For the last few years, it has been from third to fifth — and a class above Italy after an 11-year period from 2004 where they mostly vied for the wooden spoon.

The Scots have the ability to compete with the favourites, though, and don’t be surprised if they give old enemy England a bloody nose in round one in the oldest international fixture of them all. For that’s the weekend that will see full capacity crowds back for Six Nations matches for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.

As it stands, only Italy — where attendance is capped at 50 percent — is expected to have limits on the number of spectators.

The tournament loses so much of its lustre without fans in stadiums, even if the drama hasn’t abated during the pandemic, with the last two editions settled in the final round. Expect more of the same this year.

SPORTS PAGE 16

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Kai Jones cans 13pts with 17 rebounds and 3 blocks

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

J

ust days after Charlotte Hornets rookie forward Kai Jones made an NBA milestone with his first three-point field goal, he was back in the G-League affiliate Greensboro Swarm with another dominant performance.

Jones finished with 13 points, a game-high 17 rebounds, and a game-high three blocked shots in the Swarm’s 115-108 win over the Wisconsin Herd on January 29. He shot 6-7 from the field and 1-2 from three-point range in 33 minutes.

Jones continues a recent productive stretch in the G-League this month after he posted 17 points, made 3-6 three-point field goals, and added four blocks in a 116-109 loss to the Capital City Go-Gos on January 15.

In four G-League regular season games in 2022, Jones is averaging 13.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 58 percent from the field.

The Swarm tipped off the regular season on January 7 following the Showcase Cup portion of the NBA G League schedule.

The first 12 games of the season came against regional, divisional opponents with the top finisher in each pod playing in the Showcase Cup – single-elimination championship bracket.

The Swarm did not qualify for the tournament but split a pair of games at the AT&T NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. Including the games at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the Swarm completed its

Dominates in G-League days after making his first NBA 3-pt field goal

CHARLOTTE Hornets’ rookie forward Kai Jones.

(AP Photos) first 14 games with a 4-10 record.

Jones finished with 11 points, six rebounds and a team-high three blocks in 27 minutes of a 113103 loss to the Iowa Wolves at the AT&T Showcase. With the Hornets, Jones made his first three-point field goal of his NBA

career in the Hornets’ 158-126 win over the Indiana Pacers on January 26 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In November, Jones scored the first points of his NBA career in the Hornets’ 133115 November 26 win over the

Minnesota Timberwolves at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The No.19 pick in last June’s Draft, Jones continues to move back and forth between the Hornets (16 appearances) and the Swarm (22 appearances).

Brady, Page 11

MLB LOCKOUT TALKS TO RESUME TODAY AS SPRING TRAINING NEARS

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball labour negotiations are set to resume today, just over two weeks before the scheduled start of a spring training that’s threatened by a lockout.

The sport’s 9th work stoppage began December 2 after the expiration of a five-year labour contract, and the sides did not meet again on the central economic issues until January 24, when players withdrew their proposal for more liberalised free agency.

Management responded the following day by withdrawing its proposal for more limited salary arbitration. Clubs also accepted the union’s framework to funnel additional money to pre-arbitration-eligible players from central revenue, offering a $10 million pool based on awards and WAR. The union has asked for $105 million for the group, usually about 30 players annually.

Today’s session will be the first on the central issues since then, and the sides don’t agree on many economic proposals, leaving very little time to end the lockout and avoid

SEE PAGE 12

Triple jumper Charisma Taylor off to impressive start

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FORMER Queen’s College versatile track and field star Charisma Taylor is enjoying a phenomenal graduate transitional year from Washington State College to a Lady Volunteer at the University of Tennessee.

Not only did she break the Bahamian and Lady Vols’ records in the triple jump, but Taylor also achieved the 60m hurdles standard for the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Securing one of her two victories over the weekend at the Bob Pollack Meet in Clemson, South Carolina, Taylor erased the all-time Lady Vol record in the 60-metre hurdles on Friday in a time of 8.01 seconds.

The previous record of 8.04s was established by Celriece Law in 2009. In the process, Taylor moved into a tie for 10th place in the world, matched the

third best time done in the Southeastern Conference and equalled the fifth best in the NCAA. And she also surpassed the qualifying standard of 8.16 for the World Indoors, scheduled for March 18-20, but she will remain at school as she focuses her attention on the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) season.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships is set for March 25-26 at College Station, Texas, followed by the NCAA Indoor Championships, set for March 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The outdoor season is expected to begin over the weekend of March 23-25 at the Raleigh Relays.

Over the weekend in the triple jump, the 22-yearold Taylor also soared 45-feet, 7 1/4-inches or 13.90 metres in her double victory to eclipse the Lady Vols’ previous mark of 44-5 1/4 (13.54m) set by LaChyna Roe in 2019 and the Bahamian national record

CHARISMA Taylor of 13.60m that was set by Tamara Myers on February 10, 2018 at the Tyson Invite in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In fact, Taylor soared past the mark on her first attempt with 45-3 1/2 (13.80m) before she extended it to the permanent mark on her fifth attempt. Her record-setting performance was posted as the sixth best in the world and the third in the NCAA. “I feel really good about my performances this weekend. It is showing me that all the hard work that I put into practice is paying off,”

said Taylor, who needed to clear 46-11 (14.30m) for the World’s Indoor qualifying standard in the triple jump.

Like she’s done all through her career, Taylor said she continues to enjoy the experience of competing from one event to the other, including the long jump, which she didn’t contest this weekend.

“The events I do are very different so there isn’t one event that I enjoy more than the other, I have a special love for each of my events,” Taylor said. “I am very happy with my performance in the long jump and I know I can improve on that in the near future.”

Beth Alford-Sullivan, Tennessee’s director of track and field/cross country, said Taylor’s versatility has proven to be a tremendous asset to their Lady Vols programme.

“We’ve had a great opportunity with adding Charisma into our team and into our fold,” Alford-Sullivan said. “She’s a graduate student. She’s in the MBA

programme here. She’s just an outstanding first-class young person.

“Charisma is a perfect example of coming in and being open to being coached and being passionate about what she’s doing. We’ve just been able to clock with her and she’s been able to click with us.

Charisma and the coaches have done an outstanding job.”

On Saturday, January 22, Taylor contested the long jump where she soared a personal best of 20-8 1/2 (6.31m) at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Virginia for second place, but the highest collegiate finish. The feat moved her up six to fourth on the Tennessee indoor long jump top-10 list.

Prior to that performance, Taylor had a previous best of 20-6 1/4 (6.25m) at the Virginia Tech Invite over the weekend of January 14-25. At the time, it ranked her at No.7 on Tennessee’s indoor top-10 list.

In making her debut for Tennessee, Taylor also competed in the 60m hurdles where she had set a PR in 8.11 to pull even for third on the all-time performances in the Lady Vols’ history.

“My transition from one school to the next was really smooth,” Taylor reflected. “My coaches and I have had a very good relationship since the beginning and it has really helped me to adjust to their coaching styles.”

Taylor is expected to be back in action over the weekend of February 11-12 when she competes in the Tyson Invite in Alabama.

“Right now we are focusing on getting the job done indoors, but outdoors I will be competing in the triple jump, hurdles and long jump,” she stated.

“We will see when the time comes. I just train hard and listen to what my coaches say.”

So far, it’s working to her perfection on the track and on the field.

MCPHEE-MCCUIN AND REBELS LOSE TWO GAMES AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AFTER earning its first Associated Press ranking for the first time in 15 years, the Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme dropped a pair of games against two of the top teams in all of NCAA Division I. The No.24 Rebels suffered a 69-40 loss to the No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina on Thursday night and followed with a 62-52 loss at home to the No.15 Georgia Bulldogs Sunday night

at SJB Pavillion in Oxford, Mississippi.

Ole Miss is now 17-4, 5-3 in the SEC after three straight games against ranked opponents in the conference.

“It was an incredible atmosphere, really disappointed that we couldn’t come out with the win for the crowd,” McPhee-McCuin said after the Georgia loss.

“Another ranked opponent and we are learning as we go.

“This is uncharted territory for us. I thought Georgia played like they’ve been to the tournament

MISSISSIPPI head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin communicates with players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina on January 27 in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) before, like they’ve won a lot of games and finished in

the top four last year. They were just poised and made

the winning plays when it mattered.”

Georgia improved to 16-4 overall and 5-3 in the SEC while South Carolina leads the AP poll at 20-1, 8-1 in the SEC and extended their own win streak in SEC play to eight games.

The Rebels earned multiple honours as the NCAA and United States Basketball Writers Association Team of the Week once they earned the ranking in the AP poll.

Despite the accolades, Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said that for her team to take another leap they have to

contend against the top teams in the country. ‘’It was embarrassing to say the least,’’ she said of the loss against South Carolina. “If us getting whooped on national television is going to get us four more wins, I’ll take that.”

The Rebels head back out on the road for their fourth road contest in a five-game stretch with a trip to face the Missouri Tigers on February 3.

Ole Miss has two wins over ranked teams this season, over then No.23 Kentucky Wildcats and a December win over No.18 South Florida.