05292018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018

NAUGHTY

Column, See page 3

Bahamas wins 1st round tie against Honduras STUART

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

he Bahamas men’s team, riding on the two singles victories from Philip Major Jr and Baker Newman, won their first round American Zone III Davis Cup Tie against Honduras.

Yesterday as the tie got underway at the Costa Rica Country Club in Escape, Costa Rica, the Bahamas prevailed with a 2-1 decision.

Major Jr, the No.2 seeded player on the team, won the opening singles 6-4, 6-2 over Honduras’ No.2 seed Keny Turcios, while Bahamas’ top seed Newman easily got

by Honduras’ top seed Jaime Bendeck 6-2, 6-1.

T

PHILIP Major Jr (left) and Baker Newman in action yesterday during their first round singles matches of American Zone III Davis Cup Tie against Honduras.

The Bahamas, however, lost their doubles match as player/captain Marvin Rolle and newcomer Jody Turnquest lost 6-2, 6-2 to Bendeck and Alejandro Obando of Honduras.

Major Jr’s match lasted one hour and 13 minutes as the 22-year-old Bahamian produced four aces against the 29-year-old Turcios.

Both players were tied 3-3 in double faults and Turcios held a 71 percentage (44-62) in first serves compared to 58 (33-57) for Major Jr and the Honduran had a 44 per cent (8-18) to 38 per cent (9-24) in second serve points won.

Major Jr, however, had a 85 per cent (28-33) in 1st serve points won compared to Turcios’ 48 per cent (21-44), second serve in - 88

SEE PAGE 2

Warriors reach 4th straight NBA Finals

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Stephen Curry and Golden State turned all those Houston bricks into a road back to the NBA Finals.

Kevin Durant scored 34 points, Curry sparked another third-quarter turnaround, and the Warriors earned a fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals by beating the Houston Rockets 101-92 in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals last night.

The defending champions trailed by as many as 15 in the first half after falling behind 17 in Game 6.

Curry, who finished with 27 points, scored 14 of Golden State’s 33 points in the third quarter as Houston’s shooting didn’t just go cold, it froze. The Rockets missed all 14 3-point attempts in that quarter as part of 27 misses from long range.

The Warriors will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Thursday night in the fourth straight matchup between the teams.

James Harden had 32 points as the top-seeded Rockets’ bid to return to the finals for the first time since 1995 fell short without Chris Paul, who was nursing a hamstring injury.

The Rockets fell apart in the second half again after doing so in Game 6. The Warriors outscored Houston 122-63 in the second half of the final two games.

Golden State led by seven entering the fourth and pushed the lead to 10 on a 3-pointer by Klay Thompson with about 9 1/2 minutes left. Clint Capela made a hook shot for Houston but Durant hit a long 3 seconds later to make it 86-75.

The Rockets were behind by 13 after a 3 by Curry and had missed 27 straight 3-pointers when P.J. Tucker hit one from the corner to cut the lead to 89-79 midway through the quarter.

It was their first 3-pointer since one by Eric Gordon with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter that put the Rockets up 42-28.

Tucker’s 3 was the first of seven straight points for Houston which cut the lead to 89-83.

But Durant scored six points in a 9-2 spurt after that which left the Warriors 97-85 with about three minutes to go.

Houston finally found a little offence after that, using a 7-2 run to cut it to 99-92, but their rally bid came up short.

Thompson added 19 for Golden State after scoring 35 in the Game 6 win and the Warriors got a fourth straight start from Kevon Looney with Andre Iguodala sitting out again with a bone bruise on his left leg.

After being down by 10 at halftime of Game 6, the Warriors trailed by 11 entering the third quarter on Monday night. Golden

Page 5

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MALIK Stuart couldn’t close out his collegiate career any better than breaking one of the Bahamas’ longest standing records - held by his mentor and former coach Bradley Cooper - in the men’s shot put at the NAIA. Elsewhere, Pedrya Seymour and Devynne Charlton are set for the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships showdown next month in the women’s 100 metre hurdles and will be joined

by Brianne Bethel, Denzel Pratt, Serena Brown and Kaiwan Culmer in individual events.

The athletes highlighted the collegiate track and field competition over the weekend.

Stuart, inking his name in the record books, had a heave of 18.37 metres or 60-feet, 3¼-inches on his first attempt to highlight the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

In the process, erase the 39-year-old national record of 18.35m (60-2) that was set by Cooper on June 15, 1979, at the CAC Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. Cooper still holds

SEE PAGE 2

MINUS JR, RODGERS JOIN FORCES GOLDEN State Warriors forward Draymond Green celebrates with forward Kevin Durant during a timeout in the second half of Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets last night. The Warriors won 101-92.

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) State opened the third quarter with a 10-4 run to cut the lead to 58-53 after a 3-pointer by Nick Young with about eight minutes left in the quarter.

Tucker made one of two free throws and the teams exchanged layups before Golden State scored nine straight points, with two 3s from Curry, to take a 64-61 lead.

Harden made two free throws before Curry scored eight points in a row, highlighted by a 3-pointer which bounced high off the rim before falling back in,

to make it 72-63 with just over two minutes left in the quarter.

Golden State scored 33 points in the third quarter for the second straight game while Houston managed just 15 points on Monday night after it scored 16 in the third in Game 6.

TIP-INS Warriors: Curry went to the locker room with trainers between the first and second quarters, but returned to the bench with about 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter

and soon returned to the game. ... Thompson picked up his third foul with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter and sat out most of the period. ... Draymond Green had 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Rockets: Houston fell to 6-5 all-time in Game 7s and 4-2 at home. ... Capela finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. ... Tucker had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

UP NEXT The Warriors host Game 1 of the finals on Thursday and Game 2 on Sunday.

TWO SELECTED TO TAKE PART IN FOOTBALL 4 FRIENDSHIP PROGRAMME ALIAH Rodriguez and Jordan Wilson have been selected by the Bahamas Football Association,

SETS NEW NATIONAL RECORD IN SHOT PUT

the governing body for soccer in the Bahamas, to participate in this summer’s Football for Friendship programme in Moscow, Russia.

The youth centred empowerment programme is sponsored

by Gazprom, a major sponsor of FIFA. Rodriguez is a student of Temple Christian School and Cavalier FC, while Wilson is a student of the Lyford Cay School and Western Warriors FC. The youngsters will be accompanied on their trip by chaperones Saskia D’Aguilar and Simone Wilson. They will attend the children’s social programme June 8-15 in Moscow Russia right before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Rodriguez will gain further understanding of sports journalism and media for football, while Jordan will actively participate in

RODRIGUEZ and WILSON football training with like-minded youths from all over the globe.

The aim of the Football for Friendship is to develop youth

football by championing youth sports and a healthy lifestyle as well as by promoting tolerance and friendship among children from different countries.

Its key values are friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, tradition and honour.

This year’s programme will unite young participants - 12 year old footballers - and youth journalists from 211 countries and regions.

F4F is a unique place where young participants of different backgrounds, nationalities and physical capabilities not only meet and communicate with their peers from other countries, as well as with famous football players and public figures, but also become young ambassadors to promote universal values themselves among their peers.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE they wait on the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation to get the irregulars of the recent elections sorted out, Ray Minus Jr and Ronn Rodgers have joined forces to form the Bahamas Community Boxing Programme.

The aim of the new body is to get at least 1,000 boxers registered in amateur boxing.

Rodgers said they decided to forge the new partnership because of what they saw happening in the federation and with IABA not recognising the newly elected administration.

“Right now pretty much, there is no administration for amateur boxing,” Rodgers said.

“We’re not going to let that stop us. We have already started a programme where we are going into the community and training more boxers.

Now into its third week of existence, Rodgers said they don’t want to see “the sport fall by the wayside,” so he and Minus Jr are going into the community and trying to find fresh new talent to bring into the sport.

“When the federation get their act together, we will be ready to join them,” Rodgers said. “But for now, we are moving forward and trying to do whatever we can to push the sport further.”

Since forming his Champion Boxing Club on Wulff Road, Minus Jr has been

SEE PAGE 2

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 29, 2018

MINUS JR from PAGE 1

calling for a unification of the sporting clubs, especially with the monthly shows that he regularly stages.

“Ronn Rodgers is a person of great principle and he is so knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the sport, not just in boxing, but so many other sports,” Minus Jr said.

“So with the knowledge that he has, he has been a great help to me, so I am very happy to work with him because although we had a great friendship before, we were able to come together and form this partnership without any problems.”

THE TRIBUNE Minus Jr said he’s overwhelmed to be able to forge the relationship with Rodgers. So far, the two coaches have staged an introduction to the programme at the Mother Pratt Park in St Cecilia’s where they worked with about 100 youngsters and two weeks ago, they were on Goodman’s Bay where they entertained another 50 youngsters.

“Over the summer, our intention is to go into every community park and work with the youngsters,” Rodgers said. “We will get a regular schedule where people in the community will know that we are coming and they will be able to have their youngsters available.

“We want to get as much kids trained as possible during the

summer. We just feel that three months is just too long to have kids idled. So we want to get the kids out there and training in the sport.”

Rodgers said their Strikers Boxing Club has seen a vast improvement on the young men who have joined as some of them have gone on to attend the University of the Bahamas and schools in the US and Canada. He said they are also preparing boxers to compete in the Olympic Games or to turn pro.

“Even though we are both on Wulff Road, we know that everybody can’t come to us, so we are going to them,” Rodgers said.

“With school still open, we are only on Goodman’s Bay from 2-5 pm on

Saturday and 3-6 pm on Sunday.

“Once school closes, we will branch out to the community parks, starting with Mother Pratt Park where we got the programme started. We will go from Monday to Sunday. We will move it around so that we can hit the districts in Kemp Road, Fox Hill, Englerston, Bain Town and Nassau Village, places like that with parks.”

Rodgers assured the public that they can expect to see Bahamas Community Boxing to come to their community during the season, so they just want them to get their youngsters ready. The good thing is that there is no charge for them to participate. Everything is going to be free of charge.

Stuart sets new national record in the shot put FROM PAGE 1 the discus record of 67.10m that he set here at home on June 14, 1986. “It’s a surreal feeling breaking the outdoor national record.

I’m still in disbelief,” Stuart told The Tribune. “I’ve been chasing it for three years now and I’m just happy that I finally achieved the accomplishment.

“I felt that there’s more inside of me. I want to take the record to new heights over the last few years. But I was just happy to have achieved it in that moment.”

Following his record breaking toss, Stuart also had respective marks of 17.97 (58-11 ½), 17.76 (58-3 ¼), 18.25 (59-10 ½), 17.62 (57-9 ¾), 17.83 (58-6).

“The competition was the stiffest that it has ever been. We had two guys go over 60 feet,” Stuart pointed out. “I took the lead with my new PR and record performance and my friend came back and took over the lead with his PR. It was the most competitive nationals that we’ve had.”

His friend, Alex Washington, a senior at Hastings, surpassed him with his heave of 19.04m (62-53/4) on his 5th attempt to snatch the lead and the title from Stuart.

Prior to his record breaking performance, Stuart, a 20-year-old St John’s College and Indiana Institute of Technology graduate, had a PR of 17.62. He said although he went through some adversities with a hand injury, he’s particularly impressed with the tremendous improvement he made this year.

Now he’s looking forward to moving to Syracuse, New York to work as a software engineer, while

he continues his trainNCAA West ing to make the IAAF Regional at CaliforWorld Championnia State University in ship team next year Sacramento: in Doha, Qatar and • Texas’ junior transeventually the Olymfer Pedrya Seymour pic Games in 2020 in led the way in posting Tokyo, Japan. the fastest time of 12.80 “Bradley Cooper in the women’s 100m was my high school hurdles. She advanced coach, who got me out of the preliminary started throwing and rounds with a time of provided me with a 13.08. lot of support when a Seymour, who prelot of people didn’t,” viously competed for Stuart reflected.

Illinois, also ran a MALIK STUART “I recently spoke to member of Texas’ 4 x him and he admitted 100m relay that qualithat he knew that I will eventually fied with a third place in 43.69. break the record, so it feels like the • LaQuan Nairn, a sophomore baton is being passed onto me. He’s at the University of Arkansas, was definitely supported me over the 30th overall in the men’s long jump years and I’m happy to have him in with a leap of 7.23m (23-8 ¾) as he my corner.” failed to advance to the final.

Stuart, the son of Marian StuartNCAA East Regional at the UniDixon, thanked Cooper and his vertsity of South Florida in Tampa, current coach Ashley Dewitt for Florida: getting him to where he’s at right • Devynne Charlton, a red shirt now. senior at Purdue, had the second Also at the meet were a few other fastest qualifying time of 13.01 in Bahamians. the women’s 100m hurdles as she Antonishka Deveaux ran the prepares for the showdown with second leg of Indiana Tech wom- Seymour. Seymour also ran a winden’s 4 x 400m team of Patience aided 12.82 in the heats.

Kennedy, Lauren Edwards and • Brianne Bethel continues her Ayanna Moody that finished third impressive performance for the in 3:46.86.

University of Houston. The Grand Deveaux also anchored Indiana Bahamian sophomore advanced in Tech to victory in the 4 x 400m in both sprints, running 11.31 in for 3:46.00.

11th in the 100m and 23.01 for ninth Deveaux, however, got fourth in in the 200m. her heat of the women’s 200m in • Denzil Pratt, a junior at Liberty 24.83 for 16th overall.

University, qualified third in the Aaliyah Brown, an Indiana Tech men’s javelin with a toss of 74.22m Jr, was seventh in her heat for the (243-6).

Grenada’s Anderson women’s 100m in 12.55 for 30th Peters, a freshman of Mississippi overall.

State, won with 74.22m (243-6)

and his teammate senior Nicolas Quijera was second with 70.01m (229-8).

• Serena Brown, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, was eighth in the women’s discus with her best toss of 53.87m (176-9).

• Kaiwan Culmer, a senior at Nebraska, was eighth in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.85m to advance.

• Janae Ambrose, a junior at Auburn University, ran the lead off leg for her 4 x 100m team that qualified with the third best time overall in 43.20.

In her individual event, Ambrose was 23rd overall in the women’s 200m, but it wasn’t enough to get her into the next round.

• Xavier Coakley, also in his junior year at Auburn, ran the lead off leg as well in the men’s 4 x 400m relay as they finished 12th overall in 3:08.30 to advance.

In his individual event, Coakley ran 13.95 in the heats of the men’s 110m hurdles to advance to the quarter-final. However, he false started and was unable to qualify for the NCAA final.

Also failing to advance out of the quarter-finals was Kirk Lewis, who ran a personal best of 13.95 in the preliminaries. His time of 14.42 wasn’t fast enough for him to move on.

In the men’s 100m, Cliff Resias, a senior at Southeast Louisiana, was 33rd overall in 10.47. He also contested the 200m where his time of 20.69 got him to the quarter-final where he did 21.13 for 23rd overall.

And in the men’s 400m hurdles, Bronson Rolle, a freshman at Liberty, clocked 52.48 for 31st overall as he failed to advance.

Bahamas wins 1st round tie FROM PAGE 1 per cent (21-24) compared to 83 per cent (15-18)

by Turcios and he had a 36 per cent (5-14) advantage in break points won compared to Turcios’ 33 per cent (2-6).

At the end of it all, Major Jr had a 70-49 advantage in total points won.

In his second match, Newman won every category except for second serve in where Bendeck had an 81 per cent (22-27) compared to Newman’s 80 per cent (16-20).

Newman, 22, had four aces and as many double faults. He had a 57 per cent in 1st serve in and 81 per cent in 1st serve won, as well as 55 per cent in second serve won and 45 per cent in break points won.

He finished with a 63-38 edge in total points won.

In the doubles match, Rolle and Turnquest also had four aces with two double faults. The only other category they won were second serve in with an 89 per cent.

Bendeck and Obando dominated the other categories, posting a 68 per cent in 1st serve in, 1st serve points won (68 per cent), 2nd serve points won (50 per cent) and break points won (63 per cent).

In the total points won, Bemndeck and Obando out-classed Rolle and Turnquest 61-40.

The Bahamas is slated to be back in action today when they take on Antigua & Barbuda. After a day off on Wednesday, the Bahamas will play Jamaica on Thursday and wrap up round robin play on Friday against Bermuda.

If the team finishes in the top two, the Bahamas will advance to the playoffs where they will face one of the top teams coming out of Pool A, inclusive of Paraguay, Costa Rica, Cuba and Panama.

The top two teams out of the playoffs will be promoted to Zone II for 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 29, 2018, PAGE 3

FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 PREVIEW PART 2

SPAIN is seen by many experts as one of the favourites in FIFA World Cup 2018, blending the perfect mixture of youth and experience. They open their campaign against rivals Portugal on June 15 before facing Iran five days later.

They close Group B against Morocco on June 25.

Baring a major catastrophic injury, Spain should advance through the group rounds into the second round, and beyond.

They will be an entertaining side to watch as they frustrate opposing defences with their signature style.

BEST OF LA LIGA Spain have announced a star-studded World Cup

squad ahead of Russia this summer. Head coach Julen Lopetegui named his 23-man squad yesterday with Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata as the only headline name to miss out along with Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas.

Pedro and Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta and former Chelsea striker Diego Costa are included.

Manchester United’s David de Gea is the No. 1 choice at goalkeeper with former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina backing him up.

Captain Sergio Ramos is joined by Real Madrid teammates Marco Asensio, Dani Carvajal, Nacho and Lucas Vazquez.

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the final back in 2010, who is retiring from Camp Nou after 22 years, is also on the squad.

MORATA MISSING IN ACTION Morata’s late-season lack of form appears to have cost him his place in Russia.

The 25-year-old managed only 11 league goals this season, after falling out of favour and behind Olivier Giroud at Stamford Bridge, only appeared as a last-minute substitute in Saturday’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester United.

Also, rather surprisingly, Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin, Atletico Madrid

forward Vitolo and Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez did not make the squad.

SPAIN FULL ROSTER Goalkeepers: David De Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa (Athletic Bilbao) Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho (all Real Madrid), Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique (both Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Odriozola (Real Sociedad) Midfield: Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta (both Barcelona)

Saúl, Koke (both Atletico), Thiago (Bayern) David Silva (Manchester City), Isco, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vázquez (all Real Madrid) Forward: Iago Aspas (Celta), Rodrigo (Valencia), Diego Costa (Atletico) Next week we look at powerhouse GERMANY.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.

Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net

Mixed martial arts on its way to becoming an Olympic sport

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MIXED martial arts continues its movement toward becoming an Olympic sport.

The International MMA Federation and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association announced an amalgamation that seeks the global unification of the sport and the organisations jointly recognised Empire Mixed Martial Arts as the only MMA federation in the Bahamas under its umbrella. “The decision to recognise your national federation is based on recognition targets being met in accordance with membership criteria set at an international level by the Global Association of the International Sport Federations and standards of good governance,” said IMMAF President Kerrith Brown and WMAA President Vadim Finkelchtein in a joint statement.

Dr Kent Bazard of the Bahamas Wushu/Sanda Association, founder of Empire Mixed Martial Arts and the BOMAC fight series says the sport of MMA has grown exponentially since the organisation and the recognition represents another milestone.

“What it does it further legitimises MMA at the international level as a mainstream sport as it makes a progression toward the Olympic level alongside other major sports.

Plans are underway for MMA to be elected to host a demonstration at the 2024 Olympics as a non-Olympic sport. For example, Tokyo 2020 will feature baseball, skateboarding and surfing making their debut at that level and MMA looks to follow suit,” he said.

“Eventually we will have to go to the Bahamas Olympic Committeee but right now our focus is to build a strong programme at the developmental level, beginning with our youth.

The key to the growth of any sport, particularly a relatively new sport so we want to continue to draw new people into the sport, educate people about its benefits and most of all continue to expose it as a safe, healthy practice just like any other martial art.”

Empire is set to host another edition of its BOMAC series this year and has placed a bid to host the Pan American Amateuer MMA Championships in the near future.

“We’ve come a long way and I’m always looking for the next standard. Right now the next standard is for us to reach the international level. It immediately adds legitimacy to our events because we are held to an international standard these organisations establish.

“For them to support us is a big deal,” he said. “It forces us to maintain that standard and it helps our local fighters to get a lot of international exposure.

For our fighters to compete at home and to be recognised internationally is a great accomplishment and not have to travel halfway across the world, which is a challenge. They will also help us in hosting that international quality event. We will have access to their knowledge, techniques and personnel who will advise us on everything from promotion, setup to the production itself.”

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown visited the capital in 2017 on a site visit to meet with stakeholders and assess the local state of the sport.

“Our role is to get new countries under our affiliation and our job is to be the main governing body globally.

“We currently have 53 international governing bodies and we are growing at 23 per cent, so by the end of this year we look to be at about 70 international federations. This is probably the fastest growing sport in

NCAA FOOTBALL: CARTWRIGHT CONTINUES TO GET OFFERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN high school gridiron star Michael Cartwright continues to garner offers from NCAA Division I football programmes during a busy recruiting process.

In the month of May alone, Cartwright has recicved a new slate of eight offers from the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Kent State Golden Flash, UCF Golden Knights, UAB Blazers, Georgia State Panthers, Temple Owls, UMass Minutemen and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Cartwright, a 6’7” 300-pound offensive lineman for the Champagnat Lions out of Hialeah, Florida, recently began prep for his senior year as the Lions took on North Miami in a spring exhibition last weekend.

Cartwright’s blocking skills have been sought after by major

MICHAEL CARTWRIGHT programmes both in the state of Florida and around the United States.

He previously received offers from the Tulane Green Wave, FIU Golden Panthers, Indiana Hoosiers, Marshall Thundering Herd, FAU Owls,

Southern Mississippi Eagles, Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Pittsburgh Panthers.

A junior in the class of 2019, Cartwright is expected to field even more offers for a Lions team that has become a powerhouse in their division.

Last season, the Lions won their second Class A Florida High School state title 24-7 over eight-time state champion Jacksonville University Christian.

Cartwright, a former student at Aquinas College, has also blossomed into a three-sport star for the Lions.

On the basketball court he averaged 12.6 points and 15 rebounds per game and in athletics, he became the school’s first multiple district champion in the shot put.

Cartwright was a member of the Bahamas’ Caribbean Basketball Confederation under-16 team that won gold in the British Virgin Islands.

the world at the moment,” Brown said.

“The federations that come under our umbrella are entitled to bid for events like the Continental Championships, World Championships or the other events.

“The main benefit is the growth and development of the sport through networking, assistance, education and training. The main benefit is that the Bahamas will

be involved with a governing body that has a strong vision to become an Olympic sport and benefit your athletes in the future.”

Both organisations applied to the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) for recognition as the global governing body for the sport of MMA but reached a resolution to create a singular amalgamation.

JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 29, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Power the latest Indianapolis 500 champion for Penske

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Will Power lost three consecutive championships before he decided a change was in order.

He knew he must improve on oval tracks to be considered among the best in racing.

If there was any doubt how serious Power was about his turnaround, he settled it Sunday by winning on the biggest oval of them all.

Power won the Indianapolis 500 to check off one of the few empty boxes on his résumé. When he stopped hating ovals, he won the 2014 IndyCar championship.

When he started to appreciate Indianapolis Motor Speedway and made it a priority, he finally figured out how to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

“You work hard at something, it comes to you. It eventually comes to you, and (Indy) was the last box to tick to be considered as a very successful driver,” Power said.

Power gave team owner Roger Penske a 17th Indy 500 victory in a sweep of the “month of May” at Indianapolis. Power also won on the road course — he’s considered a specialist on road and street courses — two weeks ago and Sunday’s win was his 34th, tying him with Al Unser Jr. for eighth on IndyCar’s all-time list.

Power also became the winningest IndyCar driver in Penske history (31). He is the first Australian victor in 102 editions of the race and was able celebrate only a few hours after countryman Daniel Ricciardo won Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix, an extraordinary showing for drivers from Down Under on the biggest day of the year in motorsports.

Power is an emotional and expressive driver, and he’s most known for getting caught on television flashing both his middle fingers at IndyCar race control. The moment made him an internet sensation. The Indy 500 victory he hopes makes him an international star.

“To be the first Australian to win the Indy 500, that’s very special,” he said. “Maybe they might recognize me down there now. I don’t think many people know who I am down there.”

He’s an Indy 500 champion.

And his winner’s circle celebration is one that won’t soon be forgotten because the wide-eyed Power could not stop screaming.

He screamed to wife, Liz, took a sip of the traditional milk, then dumped the rest over his head and around his crew. Liz Power reached for the empty milk bottle, then pointed out to her husband

WILL POWER, of Australia, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) that he’d sprayed milk all over Indianapolis festival princess Natalie Murdock. He apologized, then started screaming again.

“I felt so bad. When I turned around, (her) glasses, she was covered in milk. I didn’t realize she was behind me,” Power said.

“I said ‘I’m so sorry.’ What could I do? I didn’t see (her) behind me.”

It was his only wrong move of the race.

As Power held off pole winner Ed Carpenter, the 81-year-old Penske pumped his fist in the air

and clapped. Penske was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame earlier this month, but the Power victory kept him in Indianapolis and he was unable to travel to North Carolina to watch his three NASCAR drivers race in the Coca-Cola 600.

“To be able to race on Memorial Day in the biggest sporting event in the world, have America the way it is, that’s what I’m going to take away from this race,” Penske said. “I’m just so thrilled, 17 wins. Now I have to worry

about 18. I’m not going to look back, I’ll look forward. We have to be back next year.”

This year’s race was a strange one in that no clear favorite ever emerged and a new Indy car that has less downforce made it difficult to predict a winner. Penske’s four Chrevolets were fast and so was Danica Patrick in the final race of her career. That was all that was known headed into Sunday.

Come race day, it was 91 degrees, just short of the Indy 500

race-day record of 92 set in 1937.

The conditions created a slick, 2 ½-mile track, and new cars proved to be a handful for even the most experienced of drivers.

Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Sebastien Bourdais and Patrick were among those who crashed in single-car spins.

Defending race winner Takuma Sato was also knocked out when he ran into the back of a slower car.

Power led 59 laps but his final pit stop dropped him to fourth, behind three cars that were trying to win on fuel mileage. Kanaan’s crash with 12 laps remaining set up a final restart with Oriol Servia out front.

Servia didn’t get a great restart and was passed by Stefan Wilson and Jack Harvey. But all three were gambling they had enough gas to get to the finish line, and it was Power who was frantically chasing them down.

Wilson and Harvey both ducked onto pit lane for gas, giving Power the lead with four laps remaining.

He knew he had it won when he took the white flag all alone, and spent the final lap yelling to himself in joy as he drove away from the field.

“I’ve won so many races and poles, led more laps than anyone.

I just hadn’t done it here,” he said.

“I’ve be thinking, ‘Am I going to finish my career without a 500 win?’ I would race ovals every week now because I’m just so experienced at it, I really enjoy it, have become quite good at it.

I feel like every time I go to an oval, I have a chance to win.

“That definitely wasn’t the feeling at the beginning of my career.

I would always think, ‘Oh, it’s going to suck.’ I never thought I could win. Now I know every oval I go to, like a road course, I have a great shot at winning. That’s the attitude you have to have.”

Carpenter was second in another Chevy and noted just how much Power used to hate the speedway.

“I remember listening to him complain on the scanner, and I didn’t really like him much in 2008 because he hated this place,” said Carpenter, who grew up nearby.

“Will and I became friends somehow. You can ask him now, like his favorite part of the schedule are the ovals. It’s bizarre, but we kind of bonded since I’m an oval guy now. He likes to think of himself as an oval guy. He definitely has one up on me now.”

Scott Dixon stretched his fuel to finish third and was followed by Alexander Rossi, who drove from 32nd to fourth and made some of the most spectacular moves in the race.

NATIONALS CRUISE PAST ORIOLES 6-0 FOR 4TH STRAIGHT VICTORY BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp pitching performance by Gio Gonzalez, and the surging Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 yesterday.

Gonzalez (6-2) allowed six hits over 7 2/3 innings to end a six-game losing streak against Baltimore.

The left-hander won his first start against the Orioles in 2009 before coming up empty in his next nine outings.

Shawn Kelley got four outs to complete the fifth shutout against the Orioles this season.

Matt Adams and Michael Taylor both had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who have won four straight and 13 of 18.

Though NL home run leader Bryce Harper went hitless, his leaping catch against the right-field wall in the fifth inning robbed Andrew Susac of a potential extra-base hit.

Making his ninth start with Baltimore since signing as a free agent in March, Alex Cobb (1-7) was undone by a horrific, 42-pitch third inning that featured Rendon’s sixth home run.

BRAVES 4, METS 3 ATLANTA (AP) — Charlie Culberson’s pinch-hit, two-run homer off Seth Lugo in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Braves a victory in the first game of a doubleheader.

Lugo (1-1) gave up Nick Markakis’ sacrifice fly in the eighth and walked Johan Camargo to begin the ninth before Culberson took him deep.

Devin Mesoraco gave the Mets a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth with a solo homer off Shane Carle (3-1), but Lugo’s performance wiped out seven strong innings from Jacob deGrom as the Mets lost their fourth straight.

Atlanta improved to 31-21, second best in the NL, and has won 44 games in its last at-bat since manager Brian Snitker took charge on May 16, 2016, most in the majors over that span.

DeGrom pitched six scoreless innings before allowing Tyler Flowers’ homer to make it 2-1 in the seventh. He allowed five hits and three walks and struck out eight, lowering his NL-leading ERA to 1.52.

DeGrom has given up just two runs over his past 40 1/3 innings, a span of seven starts in which he has a 0.45 ERA. BREWERS 8, CARDINALS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jonathan Villar and Christian Yelich homered, while Ryan Braun had three hits to lead the Brewers.

Milwaukee starter Brent Suter (5-3) allowed three runs in five innings, but hit a two-run double in the fourth that gave Milwaukee a 4-0 lead. Milwaukee

won for the 10th time in 12 games.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver (3-5) lost his third consecutive start, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings.

The Brewers were shut out 5-0 by the Mets on Thursday.

Since then, they’ve scored 37 runs in four games, all victories.

Milwaukee broke open the game in the seventh inning. With two outs and Yelich on second, the Cardinals intentionally walked Braun to face Villar. The second baseman hit the second pitch from Brent Cecil into the Milwaukee bullpen for an 8-3 lead.

Yelich hit his sixth homer, singled, stole two bases and scored twice.

CUBS 7, PIRATES 0 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Montgomery pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning, Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, and the sleep-deprived Cubs beat the slumping Pirates.

Montgomery (1-1), starting for the first time this season in place of injured Yu Darvish, retired the first 13 batters before giving up a sharp single to Corey Dickerson with one out in the fifth. He struck out five and needed just 76 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings.

Montgomery struck out five without allowing a walk.

Rizzo hit his seventh home run in the second off

Chad Kuhl (4-3) to give the Cubs an early lead.

Addison Russell gave Chicago breathing room in the seventh with the second pinch-hit home run of his career, a shot to the bleachers in left off reliever Steven Brault that stayed just inside the foul pole.

Kuhl gave up just one run in six innings, but fell to 1-5 in his career against the Cubs.

Dickerson’s single and Sean Rodriguez’s infield hit leading off the sixth were the only two base runners for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates have dropped eight of 10.

The Cubs arrived in Pittsburgh at 4 a.m. local time following a victory over San Francisco in Chicago on Sunday night.

Manager Joe Maddon wondered openly before the game why the start time wasn’t pushed until later in the day, but the wellrested Montgomery, who has worked exclusively in the bullpen this season, was more than ready to go.

RED SOX 8, BLUE JAYS 3 BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth inning, J.D. Martinez added a solo homer and Boston coasted.

Benintendi also had a triple and single, and Jackie Bradley Jr. added an RBI double, scored twice and made a spectacular catch in center field. Boston won for the seventh time in nine games.

It was the Blue Jays’ 11th loss in 15 games, dropping them to 2-5 against the Red Sox this season.

Teoscar Hernandez had an RBI triple and double for Toronto.

Red Sox star Mookie Betts missed his second straight game because of tightness he felt in his left side during batting practice on Sunday. The outfielder entered the day with a major league-leading .359 batting average.

ASTROS 5, YANKEES 1 NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring team in the majors.

Verlander exited in the seventh inning with a major league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early three-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.

Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.

Facing the only club in baseball that hasn’t been shut out this season, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.

As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.

Verlander has done this before against the Yankees, especially lately. He was the MVP of the AL Championship Series last October, going 2-0 and limiting New York to one run in 16 innings while striking out 21.

TIGERS 9, ANGELS 3 DETROIT (AP) — James McCann hit a grand slam in the third inning as the Tigers routed the Angels.

Matthew Boyd (3-4) allowed two hits in fiveplus innings for the Tigers.

His first scoreless outing of the season came on a hot day in which Detroit outfielder Niko Goodrum had to leave the game because of heat exhaustion. The temperature was around 90 degrees when Goodrum was removed for a defensive replacement in the fourth.

Leonys Martin also homered for the Tigers, and Mike Trout went deep in the ninth for the Angels, his 18th home run of the season. Before leaving, Goodrum made a contribution in the second inning, beating out an infield hit and going to third on a single by John Hicks.

JaCoby Jones grounded into a double play, but the run came home to put the Tigers up 1-0. McCann broke the game open an inning later with a drive to left for his third career grand slam. Martin added a solo homer in the seventh.

THE TRIBUNE

NBA Finals brings another huge challenge for LeBron

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer BOSTON (AP) — LeBron James will get a couple days to catch his breath, then make his annual June journey to Golden State or down to Houston to face a team far better than his.

His eighth straight NBA Finals sets up as one of his most difficult, flanked by a largely unheralded set of teammates who force him to do much more at 33 than most other players are ever asked.

But James keeps showing he can do it, and he can’t wait for his chance to win another ring.

Dare count him out?

“At the end of the day, the game is won in between the lines, and we have an opportunity to play for a championship,” he said after Sunday’s 87-79 victory over Boston.

“That’s all that matters.”

James dragged an injured and inconsistent Cavaliers team out of the Eastern Conference and back to the NBA Finals, where they will be an underdog against whichever team won Game 7 in the West last night.

But after playing all 48 minutes in his 100th game of the season, punctuating one of the greatest series a player has ever had with 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, he sure looks capable of more.

And the Cavaliers will need every bit of it. They had to play seven games just to get out of the first round, and seven more to finish a climb out of 2-0 deficit against a younger, more athletic Celtics team. They have to be tired, and that’s no way to go into a series against Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and the Warriors, who blew Cleveland away in five games last year, or James Harden and a Rockets team that can be every bit as potent on one end and lock teams down on the other.

The only way it would appear Cleveland would have a chance would be if James can summon his

CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James reacts to a play during the second half in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on Sunday in Boston.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) highest level, the kind that perhaps no other player can reach — and then do it three more times.

The Celtics have seen him do it, after he averaged 33.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists to eliminate them in the East finals for the second straight year.

“I think we’ve played now until May 25th and May 27th the last two years, and we started on Sept.

25th,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “That’s every day. Every

day that you’re totally focused on this, and he’s gone past that eight straight times.

“It’s ridiculous, and he does it at this level and with the pressure, with the scrutiny. Doesn’t matter.

It’s just unbelievable.”

This was the year James’ finals streak looked over. Kyrie Irving had been traded to Boston in the offseason, Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose weren’t the answers as his replacement,

and Kevin Love missed significant time with injuries.

And even after the Cavaliers remade their team at the February trade deadline, it didn’t look good enough. Cleveland had finished just fourth in the East, never developing the necessary cohesiveness required to be even a mediocre defensive team, let alone a championship-caliber one. They still can surrender open shots everywhere, a flaw that seems fatal against the 3-point happy Rockets or Warriors.

The only obvious advantage the Cavaliers have is James, the kind of player who can win a Game 7 in Boston with a team that was without its other All-Star because of a concussion and couldn’t shoot straight deep into the first half, with Cavaliers other than James missing their first 10 3s until J.R. Smith hit one with 2:54 remaining until halftime.

“I mean, the bigger the stage, the bigger the player, and he’s been doing it for us since we’ve been here,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “The great quote from the great Doc Rivers is you always want to go into the Game 7 with the best player, and we have the best player on our team going into a Game 7. I like our chances.”

And he’ll like them again starting Thursday even if the oddsmakers don’t. The Cavaliers were probably far better last year and could only get a game from the Warriors.

But two years ago, they also weren’t given much of a shot against the Warriors, especially after falling behind 3-1 in the finals. Nobody had ever overcome that deficit in the championship round, and Cleveland had to do it against a team that had won an NBA-record 73 games.

James led that comeback to Cleveland’s first title, and now he’s got a shot for another unlikely one.

“I’ll be available for at least four more games,” James said, “and we’ll see what happens.”

ROSE WINS COLONIAL AND MOVES TO NO. 3 IN THE WORLD FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Justin Rose closed with a 6-under 64 and finished at 20 under Sunday at Colonial for a three-stroke victory over U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka in the Fort Worth Invitational.

Rose won for the ninth time on the PGA Tour and became the fifth player with multiple victories this season. Rose also won the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in the fall. The 37-year-old from England earned $1,278,000 and a plaid jacket for winning at Hogan’s Alley. He moves to No. 3 in the world and will have a mathematical chance to reach No. 1 next week at the Memorial.

Koepka shot 63, but had started the day four strokes behind Rose in the final group. Emiliano Grillo shot 64 and finished third at 16 under.

While Rose missed matching Zach Johnson’s 2010 tournament scoring record of 259 because of bogey on the 72nd hole, first-round leader Kevin Na matched the course record with a closing 61 and finished fourth at 14 under.

Rose opened with two straight birdies for the third straight day and led by as many as five shots after a birdie on No. 9.

Jordan Spieth made a short birdie at No. 18 on Sunday for a closing 68 to finish 5 under and tied for 32nd at Colonial, where he had a win and two runner-up finishes the past three years.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS BENTON HARBOR, Mich.

(AP) — Paul Broadhurst shot an 8-under 63 to win the Senior PGA Championship by four strokes and match the 72-hole scoring record.

Broadhurst finished at 19-under 265 at Harbor Shores, matching the record by Rocco Mediate at Harbor Shores two years ago.

Broadhurst, a 52-year-old from England, won his second senior major following his Senior British Open title in 2016.

Broadhurst led the field with 26 birdies and passed 54-hole coleaders Tim Petrovic and Scott McCarron with a 31 on the back nine. Petrovic was runner-up after a 69. McCarron closed with a 70 and tied for third at 14-under 270 with Jerry Kelly (65).

Broadhurst, who won six times on the European Tour and played in the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, earned a career-high $585,000 for his fourth PGA Tour Champions title. The victory gets him into PGA Championship in August at Bellerive.

career victory, and her first since 2016.

Kim shot a 32 on the back nine and birdied No. 18, but it wasn’t enough to force a playoff.

WEB.COM TOUR NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — Cameron Davis of Australia birdied the last two holes for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Nashville Golf Open for his first Web.com Tour victory.

It was the second time in the last six months that Davis rallied from a six-shot deficit in the final round.

He shot 64 in the final round of the Australian Open in November to overcome Jason Day’s six-shot lead. This time, Davis needed some help from Lanto Griffin.

Griffin, who had a three-shot lead starting the final round at Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, closed with an even-par 72. He tied for second with Kevin Dougherty (66) and Josh Teater (68).

Davis finished at 18-under 270 and moved to No. 14 on the money list. The top 25 at the end of the regular season earn PGA Tour cards.

JUSTIN ROSE, of England, right, receives the trophy from Colonial Country Club President Rob Doby, left, after winning the Fort Worth Invitational golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Cooper Neill) EUROPEAN TOUR VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Francesco Molinari completed a bogey-free weekend at Wentworth Club and closed with a 4-under 68 to win the BMW PGA Championship by two shots over Rory McIlroy in a duel that never developed.

McIlroy, who led by three strokes after 36 holes, entered the final round tied for the lead with Molinari. He didn’t make his first birdie until the eighth hole, and by then Molinari already was two shots ahead. McIlroy fell four shots behind through 10 holes, and only a birdie-birdie finish for a 70 made it look closer than it was.

Molinari won for the fifth time in his career and celebrated his biggest title since beating Lee Westwood in a World Golf Championship in Shanghai in 2010.

“If I could pick one tournament to win in my career, it would be this one,” Molinari said.

The victory moved Molinari into one of the automatic qualifying spots for the Ryder Cup. The Italian has not played in the Ryder Cup since beating Tiger Woods in singles at Medinah during Europe’s record-tying comeback.

LPGA TOUR ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Minjee Lee of Australia birdied the 18th hole to close with a 4-under 68 and win the LPGA Volvik Championship by one shot over I.K. Kim. Lee, who turned 22 on Sunday, three-putted for a bogey on No. 17, dropping into a tie with Kim, who finished her round of 67 around the same time. Lee needed a birdie to win on reachable par-5 18th. Her second shot landed a few feet to the right of the green, and she calmly chipped to about 3 feet She made the putt to finish at 16-under 272 at Travis Pointe Country Club. It was Lee’s fourth

OTHER TOURS MEN Shota Akiyoshi closed with a 2-under 70 to win the Mizuno Open and earn one of four spots in the British Open. Akiyoshi won for the first time on the Japan Golf Tour. Michael Hendry, Masahiro Kawamura and Masanori Kobayashi tied for second to earn a place at Carnoustie in July. The Mizuno Open was part of the International Final Qualifying series. ... Minkyu Kim won the D+D Real Czech Challenge with a 66 in the final round. At 17 years and 64 days, he became the youngest winner ever on the European Challenge Tour. ... Tae-hee Lee closed with a 5-under 67 on the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea to win the Genesis Championship on the Korean PGA Tour.

WOMEN Louise Ridderstrom closed with an 8-under 63 to set the course record at Raven’s Claw and win by four shots in the Valley Forge Invitational on the Symetra Tour.

The former UCLA player from Sweden won her first Symetra Tour title. ... Da-Yeon Lee closed with a 67 for a three-shot victory in the E1 Charity Open on the Korean LPGA Tour. ... Eri Okayama won the Resort Trust Ladies Tournament in a playoff on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018, PAGE 5

UNLIKE DJOKOVIC, PAST FRENCH OPEN CHAMP WAWRINKA LOSES EARLY

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Like Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka is a past French Open champion still working his way back into form after surgery.

Like Djokovic, Wawrinka is ranked lower than he has been in more than a decade.

And like Djokovic, Wawrinka recently reunited with a coach who helped guide him to success earlier in his career.

Both men were in firstround action at Roland Garros yesterday, but unlike Djokovic, who won in straight sets, Wawrinka could not summon and sustain the sort of high-level play that has carried him to major titles in Paris and elsewhere. Returning to a place where he won the title in 2015 and made it back to the final a year ago, Wawrinka bowed out with a 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss to 67th-ranked Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.

Wawrinka only recently returned to the tour after missing three months to rest his left knee, which was operated on twice last August. He’s played 11 matches in 2018, going 4-7.

As Monday’s match stretched to 3½ hours, Wawrinka was hindered by the physical strain of playing in a fifth set for the first time since his French Open semi-final victory over Andy Murray a year ago.

But that wasn’t the biggest impediment to success.

The owner of one of the prettiest one-handed backhands in the sport, Wawrinka — who is again working with coach Magnus Norman — only managed 12 winners, compared with 35 unforced errors, with that shot. He finished with 72 unforced errors in all, 32 more than Garcia-Lopez, who never has been past the fourth round at a major tournament.

Djokovic — a former No. 1 now ranked 22nd, his worst spot since 2006 — beat 134th-ranked qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, quickly recovering after dropping the opening two games.

Since winning the 2016 French Open to complete a career Grand Slam and become the first man in nearly a half-century to collect four consecutive major trophies, Djokovic has taken a step back. He has not added another major championship since, and after dealing with right elbow trouble for more than a year, he finally opted for surgery in February.

“It has been difficult to face ... the most, say, challenging injury that I have ever had. It’s been a long 12 months behind me, but I’m starting to play better, I feel like, in the past couple of weeks,” said Djokovic, who is being coached at Roland Garros by his former longtime mentor Marian Vajda.

“Not thinking about the elbow. Playing pain-free, which is the most important thing at the moment.”

The third past men’s champion on the schedule for Day 2, No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal, did not complete his match, which was suspended along with several others because of rain in the evening.

Beginning his bid for a record-extending 11th French Open title, he never quite seemed to be at his absolute best against 129thranked Simone Bolelli of Italy, and while Nadal grabbed the first two sets 6-4, 6-3, he was trailing 3-0 in the third when action was halted.

They’ll resume today, when the most anticipated match of the tournament is scheduled for the main stadium: 23-time major champion Serena Williams, in her first Grand Slam match since January 2017, against 70th-ranked Kristyna Plyskova of the Czech Republic.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 29, 2018, PAGE 7

PORTUGAL HELD BY TUNISIA IN WORLD CUP WARM-UP MATCH

FULHAM SECURES EPL RETURN, WINDFALL OF AT LEAST $210M LONDON (AP) — Fulham secured a return to the Premier League after four years away and a windfall of at least $210 million by beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the second-tier English playoff final on Saturday.

Tom Cairney netted probably the most lucrative goal he’ll ever score by calmly sidefooting home a finish in the 23rd minute at Wembley Stadium, ensuring Fulham joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff in getting promoted from the League Championship.

Villa, captained by former Chelsea defender John Terry and seeking to get back in the top flight after a two-year absence, dominated the second half — and Fulham’s players bid to defend their lead was made even harder when defender Denis Odoi was sent off in the 70th minute for a second yellow card.

They succeeded, and will play in the Premier League for the first time since relegation in 2014 ended 13

straight seasons in the world’s wealthiest and most-watched division.

By winning the sport’s richest single game, Fulham guaranteed future additional revenue of at least 160 million pounds ($210 million) from prize money and broadcast deals, according to the sports business group of accountancy firm Deloitte.

That figure could rise to in excess of 280 million pounds ($370 million) if the club from southwest London survives its first season back in the Premier League.

Fulham finished third in the regular season, making it the highest placed of the four teams that entered the playoffs. Many pundits felt Slavisa Jokanovic’s side played the best football in the second tier.

“After we missed out on promotion, a lot of people wrote us off,” Cairney said.

“We got a lot of stick. But football won today. Football won.”

Fulham is owned by Shahid Khan, who recently placed an offer to buy

BRAGA, Portugal (AP) — Portugal was held to a 2-2 draw by Tunisia yesterday in the teams’ first warm-up match for the World Cup. Portugal was without Cristiano Ronaldo, who still hasn’t reported to the squad because he played in the Champions League final with Real Madrid on Saturday.

Andre Silva opened the scoring with a header in the 23rd minute and Joao Mario added to the lead with a powerful shot from outside the area in the 34th.

But Tunisia rallied with a goal by Anice Badri before halftime and another by Fakhreddine Ben Youssef midway through the second half.

“We are just beginning our World Cup preparations,” Joao Mario said.

“We will keep working to fix our mistakes and arrive at the World Cup in the best possible form.”

In addition to Ronaldo, Portugal also was without

FULHAM’S TOM CAIRNEY, centre, holds the trophy after the final soccer match of the English League Championship against Aston Villa, at Wembley Stadium, in London, on Saturday. (AP) Wembley for about 600 million pounds ($840 million). He also owns Jacksonville Jaguars and wants an NFL presence in London.

Ryan Sessegnon set up the goal for Cairney with a pinpoint through-ball, continuing his influential role for Fulham this season and especially in the playoffs.

The 19-year-old left-sided player is widely regarded as one of the most talented youngsters in the English game and he will be able to test himself on the country’s highest stage next season.

“We’ve brought the club back where it should be,” on-loan striker Aleksandar Mitrovic said.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Humid with some sun

Partly cloudy and humid

Humid with periods of sun

Clouds and sun

Times of clouds and sun

Intervals of clouds and sunshine

High: 85°

Low: 75°

High: 84° Low: 76°

High: 84° Low: 75°

High: 83° Low: 75°

High: 84° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

95° F

80° F

94°-81° F

93°-81° F

94°-82° F

96°-83° F

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

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almanac

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8-16 knots

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WEST PALM BEACH High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

7-14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

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FREEPORT

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

10-20 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 79° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 72° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 76° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.20” Year to date ............................................... 18.60” Normal year to date ..................................... 8.30”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

8:26 a.m.

8:51 p.m.

2.4 3.0

2:37 a.m. -0.1 2:30 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 9:07 a.m.

9:30 p.m.

2.3 3.0

3:18 a.m. -0.1 3:09 p.m. -0.1

Thursday

9:47 a.m.

10:09 p.m.

2.3 2.9

3:58 a.m.

3:48 p.m.

0.0 0.0

Friday

10:28 a.m.

10:48 p.m.

2.2 2.8

4:39 a.m.

4:27 p.m.

0.0 0.1

Saturday

11:09 a.m.

11:29 p.m.

2.1 2.7

5:19 a.m.

5:07 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Sunday

11:53 a.m.

-----

2.1 -----

6:01 a.m.

5:51 p.m.

0.3 0.4

Monday

12:11 a.m.

12:40 p.m.

2.6 2.1

6:44 a.m.

6:38 p.m.

0.4 0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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7-14 knots

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8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

uV inDex toDay

6:21 a.m.

7:54 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

8:05 p.m.

6:30 a.m.

Full

Last

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First

May 29

Jun. 6

Jun. 13

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CAT ISLAND

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three Sporting Lisbon players who played in the Portuguese Cup final — Rui Patricio, Bruno Fernandes and Gelson Martins.

Portugal heads to the World Cup trying to add to its European title from two years ago in France.

Coach Fernando Santos is taking 13 players to Russia who helped the team win its first major title at Euro 2016.

Portugal has two other warm-up matches scheduled: against Belgium on Saturday and Algeria on June 7.

Santos’ men will start their World Cup campaign against Spain on June 15 in Sochi.

Their other Group B matches will be against Morocco and Iran.

Tunisia is in Group G and will debut against England on June 18. It then plays against Belgium and Panama.

Tunisia’s other warmup matches will be against Turkey and Spain.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8-16 knots

8-16 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SSE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F 85° F 85° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 81° F 81° F 77° F 77° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

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(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 29, 2018

THE TRIBUNE