06092016 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016

NBA FINALS

Warriors lose, Pg 8

Minister addresses ‘Sports In Paradise’ initiative

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE “Sports In Paradise” initiative took centre stage for Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson as he addressed the impact his ministry will have on his administration’s budget.

In his contribution to the 2016/17 Budget Debate yesterday, Dr Johnson addressed several issues in the local sporting community which will be affected by the budget, most notably, the improvement to infrastructure and the country’s role as an elite sports hosting venue.

He highlighted an allocation of $2 million for facility improvement to upgrade and complete venues around the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and an additional $1.4 million to the Elite Athlete Subvention Programme.

“My ministry will expand sporting facilities and upgrade them

in several areas to mark year in Bahamian make them acceptable sports as the country to meet international continues to solidify its standards, allowing us position as a regional to continue to attract leader in sports tourmore events,” Dr Johnism. son said. “The National “Sports in Paradise is Sports Authority, the taking great shape and legislative authority we are becoming the board for the QE Sports destination of choice,” Park, will embark on a he said. “We will host series of refurbishments the Caribbean Amateur to the surrounding venGolf Championships ues. The Kendal Isaacs next month where two Gymnasium will have a of our local icons of the brand new maple floor, sport will be honoured.

JOHNSON which will be complet“We hosted the ed by this month. There will also IAAF World Relays in consecube upgraded concession stands, tive years and they will return upgraded lighting, new shot in 2017. Because of the success clock, upgraded locker rooms, of that event, interest in hosting new seating and other amenities. other events have exploded exWhen completed this will raise ponentially. We hosted the Chris the standard of our facilities and Brown Invitational, we will host we will be able to host anything the Caribbean Island Swimming anywhere. The entire area will be Championships and Grand Bahamore attractive to both local and ma is currently preparing to host international patrons.”

International Flag Football World Dr Johnson called 2017 a land- Championships this September.

The interest in the Bahamas as a sports destination extends beyond this year. In April 2017 the Bahamas will host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup which will feature 16 teams playing over 10 days of competition. The Bahamas will be entered as hosts, we think we have a chance to win.”

Another major event added to the calendar for 2017 will be the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Last week, the Local Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games Association, along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology held a press conference to update the plans for the biggest multisporting event to be hosted in the Bahamas.

“The Commonwealth Youth Games, the largest sporting event held in the region, will consist of nine sporting events. Shortly thereafter we want to see if we can reintroduce the Bahamas Games in those same nine events.

Records already reflect a positive economic impact from the World Relays, and it can easily be projected that these others will surpass the $25 million impact,” Dr Johnson said. “It’s also noteworthy that our ministry has AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) which makes sure we have a seat at the table where major sports are happening,” he said. “Discussions are underway with MLB and NFL with both entities looking to host events in the Bahamas.

He added the developments must be made if the Bahamas is to continue into the business of sports. “Very few countries can ever say they have the ability to host the LPGA, PGA, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the IAAF World Relays, along with NCAA sanctioned basketball and football in the same year. You can’t say we are not well on our way as a ministry. We look forward to leading the way in making the Bahamas a leader in Sports in Paradise.”

‘Battle of the Stars’ showdown

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

U

nder the theme “Battle of the Stars,” the BAAAs officially launched its campaign to rally the public behind the most important weekend on the local track and field calendar.

The BAAAs is scheduled to host its Junior Nationals June 22-23 at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium, followed by the Senior Nationals June 24-25 in the new TAR stadium. The weekend will culminate on June 26 with a gala awards ceremony at the British Colonial Hilton.

Billed as the ultimate track and field showdown of the year, Bahamians will get an opportunity to witness their future national team members compete on home soil as Team Bahamas athletics begins to take shape.

Rosamunde Carey, the president of the BAAAs, said the weekend will feature a number of intriguing matchups highlighted by the men’s 400m and women’s 200m. “It is going to be an exciting weekend full of activities. The theme ‘Battle of the Stars’ is most appropriate as we expect fierce competitions, duels and in some events even up to competitors who will take it to the wire. The competition will be so stiff in some events it will be impossible to predict the outcome in advance. You just have to be there to witness it for yourself. This trend

follows through in both the junior and senior competitions. Every Bahamian who loves a good show should be present,” she said. “We are pleased that most of our elite and junior athletes are exhibiting good health and fitness as they compete. We continue to pray for them all, that they remain healthy and compete to their full potential for the rest of the season. The stage is set, the athletes are preparing at home and abroad. Let the countdown to this amazing week of activities begin.”

Tickets for both meets are available at a cost of $7 for adults, $5 for children and $15 for VIP seating. Starting times for the Junior Nationals will be 5:30pm on both afternoons while the Senior Nationals will have start times of 5:30pm on day one and 4:30pm on day two.

The BAAAs pledged to provide a family atmosphere for the meets.

“The competition will be fierce on and off the track as our entertainment with bands and junkanoo will have their time at centre stage. Moreover as we continue to establish relations, we have launched a healthy competition with service clubs. More details will be forthcoming with this exercise as we look at ways to swell crowd support, appeal with international cuisine, culture and more.

In other words we are creating a family environment of clean, healthy and exciting entertainment, a festival of sorts. We are happy to work with the NSA to bring this all to fruition,”

ROSAMUNDE CAREY, president of the BAAAs. Carey said. “Events of this magnitude are very costly to the BAAAs and as we endeavour to be innovative and think outside of the box as it were. There are still corporate packages for partnership of the event that are available. As we scout for partners, you are also welcome to call the BAAA office to engage us if our programming sparks interest and aligns with your strategic plan as an organisation.”

Frank “Pancho” Rahming, chairman of the competitions committee, said each age group will receive adequate time in the spotlight as athletes showcase their skills and vie for roster spots on various national teams.

“This year the decision was made to combine the events, however, in com-

FRANK “Pancho” Rahming, chairman of the competitions committee. bining them, we also continue to meet the IAAF recommendation that their member federations host separate nationals, providing each age group their spotlight during competition,” he said. “The Junior Nationals event has been rescheduled from the initial announced date of June 9-10. The change was made

to assist the federation with planning and hosting other events which will impact both senior and junior athletes, assisting the Family Island athletes who will be able to participate in all events planned for the weekend without having to plan additional travelling.”

Athletes look forward to qualification in the IAAF World Junior Championships, the marquee junior competition of 2016.

“As in previous years, the Junior Nationals will provide the association with more information on the condition and preparedness of our athletes vying for a spot on teams for the various international junior events scheduled for this summer including the IAAF World Juniors, scheduled for July 19-24 in Poland and other various

area competitions,” Rahming said. “Immediately after this competition, selectors will begin the process of putting the junior national team in place. You will understand the urgency of this, as there will only be three weeks between the Nationals and World Juniors, hence a short window for national coaches to work with selected athletes and organising relay teams.”

Of course the Senior Nationals takes on an additional level of fanfare and importance in an Olympic year. “The Senior Nationals will be, as in former years, the association’s final major local competition for the year. You will note that it coincides with senior nationals for the majority of the area federations as well as federations in other IAAF regions. The IAAF takes a break from its Diamond League and other major competitions between the third week in June and the first full week in July to allow for federations to host their nationals,” Rahming said.

“Our Senior Nationals will also allow the federation to note the fitness of athletes who have already qualified for the international events, and provide the opportunity for others who have not met standards. We all know that this is an Olympic year and all senior athletes’ focus is on achieving the Olympic standard. Other area international events include the NACAC U-23 Championships July 15-17 in San Salvador, El Salvador.”

40-member team named for 16th CUT Championships

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ONE of the first national teams to be named for an upcoming busy summer for Bahamian track and field at the international level, the Bahamas Union of Teachers set forth a mandate for its team to make event history.

CAVALIERS VS. WARRIORS GAME 4 @ 9PM FRIDAY, JUNE 10

The BUT, in conjunction with the BAAAs named a 40-member team yesterday scheduled to represent the Bahamas at the 16th Caribbean Union of Teachers Track and Field Championships, July 15-16 in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Following last week’s trials, the team was officially ratified this week, with competition just over a month away.

John Musgrove, Secretary General of the BUT, said his organisation is excited about the prospects of this team.

“The executive team has selected this team along with the assistance of the BAAAs for these games. In our opinion the trials have been fair and the teams have been selected after much discourse. It is our hope and prayer that this team will be the team that brings back the first victory for the Bahamas at this meet,” he said, “There were several athletes that won events but were not selected but the number of team members was capped at 40 and we have confidence in the selection committee that the best team was put forth to represent the Bahamas.”

The championships was a result of the

CUT’s recognition of the need to provide the young athletes aged 8-15 years with some regional competition. There was also recognition by the CUT that sports has a significant role to play in the regional integration process.

The CUT’s biennial championships was first organised in Barbados in 1986.

Co-head coach Luther Rolle said they are excited about the prospects for the team this summer. He noted that there are a number of competitors who participated in the championships before and there are others who are making their debut.

According to its website www.cutgames. org the games are a series of events, expected to bring together approximately 700 of the best athletes between the ages of 8-15, along with coaches, from 23 countries in the region, in the spirit of Caribbean unity and friendly competition.

The mission statement of the CUT suggests it is an organisation devoted to unity and co-operation between both the youth and teachers of the Caribbean. The CUT Games are held with the intent of promoting this message A bring together athletes

coaches in the spirit of friendly competition.

BAAAs President, Rosamude Carey, said the event is vital for the development of the sport in the region because of its role in showcasing the skillset of youth athletes at an elite level.

“The BAAAs is pleased to have been able to render technical assistance to the BUT for the CUT games. This is not a BAAAs event, it is a BUT event and the BUT has sole rights to the event so I would like to thank the BUT for allowing us to be apart of this venture,” she said, “This augers well for the federation because with Age Group CAC no longer being an event we are pleased that the CUT Games gives our youth athletes a competition where they can showcase their gifts and talents.

Having watched the trials and having been apart of the process we have no doubt that this team is the best team to represent the country and the BUT and will no doubt fulfill the mandate of bringing back the championship from Tortola.”

• SEE TEAM BAHAMAS, PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Thursday, June 9, 2016

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Thursday, June 9, 2016, PAGE 3

George Cleare expected to be the head coach of our Olympic team

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations sends in its team for ratification by the Bahamas Olympic Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games, it’s expected that George Cleare will be pegged as the head coach.

The BAAA, or the governing body for the particular sport, makes their recommendation on the management team to the BOC who is left to make the final selection for events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, which fall under their jurisdiction.

Cleare, back home since November after completing a sting as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia, is coaching national 400m record holder Steven Gardiner, who has already qualified, and potential team members Lanece Clarke and Andretti Bain.

As he waits for the final approval from the BOC, Cleare is busy assisting the BAAA in getting all four relay teams – men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metres – qualified to compete in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the games are held August 4-21.

“When we want to talk about being serious about our relay teams making the finals and winning medals, it (qualification) has to be done the year prior to the games,” Cleare said.

“With our scenario where the majority of our athletes train in different parts of the United States or in Jamaica, we don’t have the luxury of having them all home. We usually only have everybody home when they

TRAINING DAY: Coach George Cleare shows national 400 metre record holder Steven Gardiner his time during a training session. come for the trials.”

What the BAAA is going through now, in terms of trying to get all of the teams qualified, Cleare said it should have been done from last year. But he put those responsibilities on the previous administration, headed by Mike Sands, and not on the newly elected board, now headed

by Rosamunde Carey, who only took office in November.

“With the new administration just coming in, we can’t put the blame on them because it’s very hard to qualify a team early in the year when a lot of athletes are not in the shape that they want to be in, espe-

cially the developmental athletes,” Cleare said.

“Right now our men’s 4 x 4 team has already qualified, but that’s because they are one of the best teams in the world. During the era of the ‘Golden Girls’, we never had to take them to a qualifier because anytime they stepped on the track at an international event they were good enough to qualify for the following year.”

Cleare said the goal is for the Bahamas to place all four teams in a lane in Rio, but he’s hoping that when they head to London, England for the 2017 IAAF World Championships, qualifying won’t be an issue for the Bahamas’ relay teams. “We should have

Jones: ‘We’re still young, still hopeful for the season’

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LIKE most highly touted rookies, Jonquel Jones is facing an adjustment period in her rookie season of WNBA basketball.

A 1-7 start for her Connecticut Sun certainly has not helped the process.

“In college we won a lot of games, but this isn’t college. This is another level.

Our team is young, our team has a lot of people that we feel can do a lot of great stuff we just have to click on all levels,” Jones said following the Sun’s 8677 loss to the Indiana Fever.

“In the WNBA you have to bring everything every night. I think that’s something we’re definitely struggling with right now and we’ll continue to get better .

We’re still young, we’re still hopeful for the season. We have a lot of things we want to accomplish.”

Connecticut has lost its last six and is off to the worst start in franchise history. They fell to 1-7 for the first time since 2001 - when they were the Orlando Miracle - with the loss to the Fever.

Despite the slow start, Jones said the Sun fanbase has never wavered.

JONQUEL JONES “Win or lose they’re here.

Win or lose they support us.

We could never fully show them how appreciative we are except for winning games and right now we’re not doing that but we really appreciate them. I have watched a lot of games in a lot of different places,” he said.

On the season Jones is averaging 10.9 minutes, 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1

blocks per game.

She posted a career high 10 points in an 93-81 loss to the Seattle Storm on May 28.

Jones and her fellow first round draft picks continue to struggle for playing time early in the season.

The Sun will seek their second win of the season on Friday (June 10) against the Seattle Storm.

While Jones is looking to focus on improving this season, she still also seeks improvement for the state of Bahamian basketball.

Her ultimate vision is for Bahamian basketball to change the structure of its recruiting practices as more countries produce elite prospects.

“We have to develop people that are willing to come back to the Bahamas and work with the youth.

That’s one of the places we are struggling right now.

We have people like Coach [Moon] McPhee but he’s a rarity. You have to have people willing to invest in the youth and bring them up the right way,” she said.

“Eventually people won’t have to do what I did and do what Buddy did. They will be able to stay there and develop their skills and the Bahamas can become a hub for basketball.”

TEAM BAHAMAS NAMED FOR CUT CHAMPIONSHIPS Team Bahamas CUT Games 2016 Roster: UNDER-9 Girls Darvinique Dean Azarria Marshall Danielle Whylly Keely Deveaux

U-9 Boys Kion Burrows Jaden Clarke Tyler Frazier Demian Brice U-11 Girls Nya Wright Greer Levarity Hailey Robinson Maylente Clarke

U-11 Boys Phillip Gray Jr William Heastie Ryan Fergsuon Rohan Culmer

U-13 Girls Troynell Miller Adasha Davis Reshae Dean Shaunece Miller Leshae Sands

U-13 Boys Deangelo McKencize Antonio Bethel Ahmad Evans Mateo Smith Ryan Reckely Otto Laing

U-15 Girls Megan Moiss Jaida Knowles Danah Lafleur Demasvia Dames Carnitra Mackey

U-15 Boys Nathan Moss Kendal Culmer Ethan Hanna Tyler Missick Latrell Taylor Joseph Daxson

OPEN Indea Cartwright Kendal Maycock

a concept to say this is the way we will go, this is the style of baton passing that we will be using and this is the method that we think will have us consistently running fast and we can build on it so every year we can get better and better,” he projected.

“But until such time, we have to be the best that we can be. I think our athletes are rounding into shape and if everybody is healthy, a big part of what is happening in Rio, especially with the relays, will be with the help of our athletes. So we just have to hope that everybody is healthy and ready to go once we get to the games in August.”

Right now, the men’s

quartermile team has their tickets booked and the women’s quartermile team is right in contention for one of the top 16 spots.

However, both the men and women sprint relay teams have to secure their tickets by running in a meet with more than three different countries entered and the BAAA is working on that process at the conclusion of the National Open Track and Field Championships, scheduled for June 24-25.

“In terms of the makeup of the teams, the trials will basically decide, based on their finish at the trials, how we will set up the team and who will be a part of those squads and who will be available to travel with the squads,” Cleare said.

“As you know, some of our athletes will already have a schedule put in place for them to travel and compete in meets before they go to Rio, but I hope we can get everybody involved in doing what is right to

help Team Bahamas to do what is right to get over the hump.”

With Cleare taking advantage of the facilities at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium through his High Performance Management Team, he’s hoping that the athletes will get a chance to get together following the nationals here at home before they head to Rio. “I also heard that there are some things in the making for the team to travel to a camp before the games, but I’m not privy to what is going to be done,” he said.

“Right now, I am taking advantage of the warm weather that we have here.

“I brought my athletes in and we are trying to find ways to improve on our performances from last year.”

Only time will tell, once he’s selected as the team’s head coach, how well the Bahamas will do in Rio whether it’s in the individual events or the relay teams.

PAGE 4,Thursday, June 9, 2016

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Inciarte, Teheran lead Braves to 4-2 win against Padres

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — For one game at least, the Atlanta Braves didn’t look like the worst team in the majors.

Ender Inciarte finished a home run shy of the cycle and scored twice, Julio Teheran backed himself with an RBI single and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 yesterday to stop a six-game losing streak.

The Braves, who have the worst record in the majors at 17-42, denied the Padres what would have been their first series sweep this season.

Atlanta needed a boost after a ninth-inning collapse Tuesday night and the trade of utilityman Kelly Johnson to the New York Mets earlier in the day.

“To say he came up big would probably be an understatement for where we were bullpen-wise, position-player wise after the trade,” interim manager Brian Snitker said. “That couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“Today we really, really needed him,” Snitker said. “It was almost like, I remember back in the day, ‘Give me a couple of runs and I’ll take you for a ride’ type thing. It was important for us to get a win. It’s good to get a win on the road trip.

Obviously we would have liked to have more, but this was really huge.”

Atlanta was swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers before losing the first two against the Padres.

Teheran (2-6) allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked one. Arodys Vizcaino, who took the loss Tuesday night, pitched the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances.

a home run. They appealed, but the call stood.

Atlanta took a 2-0 lead in the first against lefty Drew Pomeranz (5-6), who has developed into the Padres’ best pitcher. Inciarte and Chase d’Armaud singled and Freeman hit a sacrifice fly. Nick Markakis hit a RBI single.

The Braves made it 3-0 in the fourth when Teheran helped his cause with an RBI single. It brought in Daniel Castro, who singled and advanced on a wild pitch.

Both of Myers’ home runs were off Teheran. He homered an estimated 427 feet off the scoreboard on the facade of the second deck in left field leading off the fourth. Myers’ second homer, estimated at 402 feet, hit off the second balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left field corner. They were his 11th and 12th.

“I’m seeing the ball well right now,” Myers said. “A lot of it has to do with what I’m working on with my load, just getting my foot in the air early. Right now I just want to keep riding that out as long as I can.”

Pomeranz allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one.

UP NEXT

PADRES left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. robs Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman of a home run as he catches the ball over left field wall in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 8, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) “The goal was to go as deep as I can and I’m glad I was able to go eight,” Teheran said.

Padres manager Andy Green was impressed with Teheran.

“He’s been successful all

year long. I know his record doesn’t indicate that but he’s one of the better pitchers in the league,” Green said.

Wil Myers homered twice for the Padres, last in the NL West at 25-36.

Batting leadoff, Inciarte singled and scored in the first, doubled in the second, struck out in the fourth and tripled and scored in the sixth.

Padres left fielder Melvin Upton Jr made a leaping

catch to rob Freddie Freeman of a home run leading off the fifth. On Thursday night, Freeman tripled off the top of the left-field wall but the Braves thought the ball went off a fan’s glove and should have been ruled

Braves: After a day off Thursday, RHP Bud Norris (1-7, 5.28) is scheduled to start the opener of a home series against the Chicago Cubs, who will counter with RHP Jason Hammel (7-1, 2.14) Padres: After a day off, the Padres open a series at Colorado, with RHP Andrew Cashner (3-5, 4.78) scheduled to start against Jon Gray (4-2, 5.33), who beat the Padres 10-3 in San Diego on Sunday.

RANGERS SLUGGER HAMILTON HAS ACL RECONSTRUCTION IN LEFT KNEE

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton had extensive surgery on his left knee yesterday, including reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.

The Rangers said Dr Walt Lowe also repaired meniscus and articular cartilage in that knee during the scheduled procedure in Houston, where Hamilton will begin rehabilitation in the next

few days.

It was the third time since September the 35-year-old Hamilton had surgery on his left knee. He had tried cortisone shots along with a stem cell and platelet-rich plasma injection during spring training, but played in one game for Double-A Frisco on April 30 before being recalled from his rehab assignment because of more soreness. He then went to Lowe, a knee specialist, for another opinion.

Hamilton was a five-time AllStar and the 2010 AL MVP in

his five seasons with the Rangers from 2008-12 before leaving as a free agent and signed a $125 million, five-year contract with the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels.

The Angels traded Hamilton back to Texas last year, agreeing to pay the Rangers for all of his $24 million salary this season and $22 million of the $24 million the outfielder is due in 2017, the last year of that contract.

Hamilton played only 50 games last season after the Rangers reacquired him when coming back

from shoulder surgery. He hit .253 with eight homers and 25 RBIs. There was then knee surgery in September, and another operation in October before Hamilton returned for the end of the regular season and the playoffs.

While he felt better after a cortisone shot in January, he was bothered by swelling in the knee after getting to Arizona for spring training, then tried the plasma injection.

When Hamilton was ailing in spring training, the Rangers

signed free agent Ian Desmond, a shortstop his entire career with the Washington Nationals. Desmond was expected to play left field, which is where he started before becoming their everyday centre fielder.

Ryan Rua has been the primary left fielder since Desmond switched to centre. Nomar Mazara was the AL rookie of the month for both April and May filing in for injured right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who could be close to his return from his second DL stint of the season.

Dickerson homers twice, Rays beat Arizona 6-3

By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer

TAMPA Bay Rays Steve Pearce hits an RBI single in the sixth inning of yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. (AP)

PHOENIX (AP) — Corey Dickerson was 1 for 17 in June, then came out of his slump yesterday.

Dickerson had three hits, two of them home runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays completed a 10-game trip with a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It was the kind of performance the Rays envisioned when they acquired Dickerson from Colorado in the offseason.

“It’s big to feel like yourself again,” he said, “to feel like your swing’s back, you’re driving the ball to all fields definitely feels good.

It makes you relax a little more and realise it’s still there. It’s just you’ve got to be yourself.”

Desmond Jennings also homered for the Rays, who took two of three in Arizona to win consecutive series for only the second time this season.

Rickie Weeks Jr hit a home run for the Diamondbacks.

Jake Odorizzi (3-3) went five innings and got the victory, thanks to a tworun sixth that put the Rays

ahead 4-3. He allowed three runs and five hits, struck out eight and walked three.

Tampa Bay went 5-5 on its trip, finishing with series wins over Minnesota and Arizona. The Rays were swept by the Royals in a three-game series that started the trip.

“It wasn’t a very fun series in Kansas City. We found every way to lose,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “And the next six all games (actually seven), we found a lot of ways to win.”

Archie Bradley (2-2) allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

“It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t my best,” he said.

“Fighting myself early on.

I knew it was going to be a battle all day, so I was just trying to minimize the damage and give us a chance to stay in the game.

Arizona loaded the bases with no outs against Alex Colome in the ninth with the heart of the Diamondbacks order coming to the plate. But Paul Goldschmidt struck out and David Peralta bounced into a double play.

“That just kind of shows the type of pitcher he’s

evolved into,” Cash said, “because don’t know if he’s capable of getting through that last year.”

Colome earned his 17th save in as many tries this season and fifth in Tampa Bay’s last six games.

“We couldn’t have set it up any better in the ninth,” Arizona manager Chip Hale said. “Those are the guys you want up there. It just didn’t work today.”

Dickerson entered the game batting .189 for the season, with three hits in his last 30 at bats. He said he simply quit trying to overthink what was wrong.

“I did everything I used to do back when I played with the Rockies,” he said.

“I decided to just be me — don’t manipulate my stance, don’t manipulate my hands, don’t do anything different.

Just go up there and think about seeing the baseball and let my natural ability take over.”

Jennings wrapped up a big series with third home run of the season, a solo drive with two outs in the sixth, tied the score 3-3.

Tim Beckham followed with a triple, Curt Casali walked and reliever Jake Barrett gave up an RBI

single to pinch-hitter Steve Pearce. Dickerson’s second home run, off Tyler Clippard in the seventh, gave Tampa Bay a 5-3 lead.

It was the fourth multihomer game of Dickerson’s career.

Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the third.

HOME WOES Arizona fell to 10-22 at Chase Field, the worst home record in the major leagues.

The Diamondbacks have won just two series at home and lost seven. A four-game set with St. Louis was split.

Arizona’s 16-14 road record is tied for fourth-best in the NL. TRAINER’S ROOM Rays: Second baseman Logan Forsythe (hairline fracture, left shoulder blade) was to make his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Durham tonight.

Diamondbacks: LHP Shelby Miller (right index finger sprain) will make a rehab start for Class A Visalia tonight.

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Thursday, June 9, 2016, PAGE 5

Sharapova suspended for 2 years for failed drug test

By CHRIS LEHOURITES and HOWARD FENDRICH AP Sports Writers PARIS (AP) — Maria Sharapova was suspended yesterday for two years for failing a drug test, labelled “the sole author of her own misfortune” because she hid regular pre-match use of a newly banned substance from anti-doping authorities and members of her own entourage.

The tennis star said she would appeal what she called “an unfairly harsh” punishment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ban, handed down by a three-person Tennis AntiDoping Program tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation, is backdated to January 26, when Sharapova last played.

She tested positive for meldonium that day after losing to Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The panel said various elements of Sharapova’s case “inevitably lead to the conclusion” that she took the substance “for the purpose of enhancing her performance.”

Sharapova, who faced up to a four-year suspension, loses all ranking points and prize money she earned in Melbourne.

More significantly, if her suspension withstands an appeal and runs through January 25, 2018, the 29-year-old Russian will wind up missing this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a total of eight Grand Slam tournaments during what might have been prime competitive years.

It certainly throws into doubt the on-court future of a former No. 1-ranked

player and owner of five Grand Slam titles who is one of the most well-known and — thanks to a wide array of endorsements — highest-earning athletes in the world.

She is one of 10 women in tennis history with a career Grand Slam — at least one title from each of the sport’s four most important tournaments. Sharapova was the 2004 Wimbledon champion at age 17; No. 1 in the rankings at 18; US Open champion at 19; Australian Open champion at 20. An operation to her right shoulder in 2008 took her off the tour for months, and her ranking dropped outside the top 100. But she worked her way back, and in 2012, won the French Open, then added a second title in Paris two years later.

Now comes a dark chapter to the story of someone who was 9 years old when her father moved her from Russia to Florida to pursue a tennis career.

Sharapova was provisionally suspended in early March; shortly afterward, she announced at a news conference in Los Angeles that she had failed a doping test for meldonium in January. She did not mention, as the panel’s 33-page ruling does, that she also failed an out-of-competition test for the same drug in February.

Sharapova’s defence: She was not aware that the World Anti-Doping Agency barred athletes from using meldonium, also known as mildronate, as of January 1. The panel’s ruling, in a nutshell: She should have been aware — and would have been, had she followed proper protocols.

One bit of good news for Sharapova yesterday:

MARIA SHARAPOVA arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala, celebrating the opening of “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” in New York, on May 2. (AP)

Sportswear giant Nike announced it “will continue to partner” with her, adding: “We hope to see Maria back on court.” In March, Nike said it would suspend its business relationship with Sharapova while an investigation was ongoing.

Sharapova said she was first prescribed the Latvianmade drug, typically used for heart conditions, for medical reasons in 2006, part of a Russian doctor’s “medicinal and nutritional regime which at the outset comprised about 18 medications and supplements,” according to the panel’s findings.

By 2010, that doctor’s list of recommended substances grew to 30, the ruling said. She left his care in 2013.

In 2012, Sharapova reduced her pill intake, but continued with meldonium, the panel found.

Meldonium — not approved for use in the United States or European Union — increases blood flow, which improves exercise capacity by carrying more oxygen to the muscles.

“The manner of its use, on match days and when undertaking intensive training, is only consistent with an intention to boost her energy levels,” the ruling said. “It may be that she genuinely believed that mildronate had some general beneficial effect on her health but the manner in which the medication was taken, its concealment from the anti-doping authorities, her failure to disclose it even to her own team, and the lack of any medical justification must inevitably lead to the conclusion that she took mildronate for the purpose of enhancing her

performance.”

The panel, which held a two-day hearing last month, found that only Sharapova’s manager, Max Eisenbud of IMG, and her father knew she was taking the drug then.

In what Wednesday’s report refers to as “the evident implausibility of his account,” Eisenbud said he would check Sharapova’s list of medications against WADA’s list of prohibited substances during an annual Caribbean vacation after the season ended, but he did not take that same trip in 2015 and, therefore, did not do his usual crosscheck.

“The idea that a professional manager, entrusted

by IMG with the management of one of its leading global sporting stars, would so casually and ineptly have checked whether his player was complying with the anti-doping (programme), a matter critical to the player’s professional career and her commercial success, is unbelievable,” the tribunal wrote.

Sharapova also did not note her use of mildronate on any of the seven doping control forms she turned in from October 22, 2014, to January 26, 2016, the panel found. “She must have known that taking a medication before a match, particularly one not currently prescribed by a doctor, was of considerable significance,” the decision said.

“This was a deliberate decision, not a mistake.”

Keeping her use of meldonium secret from her team and anti-doping authorities constituted “a very serious breach of her duty to comply with the rules,” the panel ruled.

OREGON LOOKS TO DEFEND TITLES AT NCAA TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — Oregon’s NCAA outdoor championship sweep for both the men’s and women’s track teams last year was unprecedented.

So it follows that the Ducks would like to add to their history with a dual repeat. But it’s not going to be easy.

“We need our stars to be stars and we need our stars-in-waiting to show up,” Oregon coach Robert Johnson said.

Despite the home-track advantage at Oregon’s Hayward Field, the Ducks aren’t atop the rankings heading into the championship meet, which opened yesterday and runs through Saturday.

Oregon’s men — two-time defending champions — are ranked No. 4 behind top-ranked Texas A&M, LSU and Florida. The Ducks have 17 entries in 12 events.

Favourite LSU’s 10 entries on the men’s side are loaded in the 100, 200, 400, 110-meter hurdles and the relays.

The Ducks have never won three straight men’s outdoor titles.

Oregon’s women are ranked sixth, behind Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, LSU and Texas A&M. “This is what everybody shoots for,” Razorbacks coach Lance Harter said. “It’s even-steven.

No matter what anybody’s done throughout the course of the season, now it’s a matter of who can do it on a given day.”

FORMAT: It’s the second straight season that the championships have been divided by days. Most of the men’s events take place on Wednesday and Friday, while the women compete today and Saturday.

Events for the decathlon are part of the first two days, while the heptathlon events are set for Friday and Saturday.

It’s the fourth straight year the championship has been set at Hayward Field, which will also host the Olympic Trials in July.

BACK TO THE TRACK: Devon Allen, receiver on Oregon’s football team and rising star in the hurdles, made a splash at the NCAA championships as a freshman. His time of 13.16 seconds set a meet record, best-

ing Olympic gold medallist Aries Merritt’s mark of 13.21 set in 2006 for Tennessee. Allen was the first freshman to win the national title in the event since San Jose State’s Dedy Cooper in 1976.

Last year he was sidelined — from both the track and football teams — because of a knee injury.

“It’s exactly the reason I came here. We’re the best in the nation in both sports; We played in the national championship (in football) the same year we won the national championship in track,” Allen said. “This is the best I could have done — college sportswise. I’m really happy to be here and everything seems to be working out.”

OLYMPIC DREAMS: The season isn’t over for many of the athletes, who will try to make the US Olympic team for Rio next month at the Olympic Trials — which are also being held at Hayward Field. Oregon’s Allen is among those hopefuls, as is Texas sprinter Courtney Okolo, a threetime NCAA champion in the 400 meters.

Earlier this year, Okolo became the first college sprinter to go under 50 seconds in the race with a 49.71, the second-fastest time in the world this year.

“I look at everything as a stepping stone to the Olympic Trials,” Okolo said Tuesday.

ONE TO WATCH: Keep an eye on Arkansas’ Jarrion Lawson, who is taking part in the 100 and 200 metres as well as the long jump and the 4x100 relay. If Lawson does well in all his events, Arkansas could be in position for an 11th overall outdoor title.

Lawson a three-time national champion, while also holding the school record in the 100. He finished third in the event at the outdoors last year. He’s also coming off a title in the long jump at the NCAA indoor championships.

Arkansas won eight straight NCAA men’s outdoor titles from 1992-1999.

AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FOOTBALL THING: The Ducks unveiled their new Nike-designed track uniforms, giving a nod to their 1960s heyday with a tie-dye pattern and the silhouettes of the programme greats Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman.

OKLAHOMA State’s Nick Miller competes in the hammer throw yesterday during the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon. (AP) Bowerman, the co-founder of Nike, coached the “Men of Oregon” to NCAA titles in 1962,

1964 and 1965. Pre won seven individual NCAA titles for the Ducks before representing the

United States in the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was killed in a car accident in 1975 at the age of 24.

PAGE 6,Thursday, June 9, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, June 9, 2016, PAGE 7

Copa America: Colombia advances with 2-1 win over Paraguay

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer PASADENA, California (AP) — Although James Rodriguez still has an injured shoulder, it didn’t prevent him from lifting Colombia into the Copa America quarterfinals.

Rodriguez scored a goal and set up another in the first 30 minutes, and Colombia clinched a berth in the next round with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday night.

Colombia became the first team to secure advancement to the knockout stage of the tournament with stellar goaltending from David Ospina and another dynamic performance from Rodriguez, who shook off a shoulder problem that made his availability a gametime decision at the Rose Bowl.

The Real Madrid midfielder propelled Colombia to its second win in two matches, following the 2-0 victory over the United States last week in which Rodriguez was injured.

“With (Rodriguez) being such a great star with so much transcendence and desire, we had to be very prudent, but we never wrote him off,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said through a translator.

“Not until this morning did we realise he was well and he could

play. We’re lucky he recuperated quite well.”

Victor Ayala scored Paraguay’s first goal of the Copa America in the 71st minute on a long shot past Ospina, who still made a handful of jaw-dropping saves to keep Los Cafeteros in control.

Despite a few defensive struggles, the world’s third-ranked team has lived up to its billing so far stateside with a fluid, attacking game built around Rodriguez.

After Carlos Bacca scored on a header from Rodriguez’s corner kick in the 12th minute, Rodriguez found the net with an exceptional shot after a long scramble in the box in the 30th minute.

Paraguay was much better in the second half, but Ospina stopped everything except Ayala’s exceptional long strike.

“We got the result we wanted, and that always gives us great confidence in what we’re doing,” Pekerman said. “It’s clear to me that we had a great first half, and Paraguay had a great second half.

We had to up our game. Paraguay made us quite uncomfortable.”

Colombia wraps up group play against Costa Rica in Houston on Saturday, while Paraguay travels to Philadelphia to face the Americans. Paraguay must beat the home team to stay in contention

for advancement.

“It took us a little while to get going,” Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz said through a translator.

“I think we respected them a little too much. ... Our team needs to remember what we did in the second half, because we can do it again (against the US).”

Paraguay will have to win this weekend without midfielder Oscar Romero, who was sent off with his second yellow card in the 81st minute. Diaz was furious with Brazilian referee Heber Lopes’ decision.

“We hope the refs don’t make as many mistakes as they did today,” Diaz said. “Romero is one of the better players of the tournament.”

Paraguay tested Colombia’s defence throughout an entertaining game, but La Albirroja don’t have a player with the skills of Rodriguez — or the reflexes of James’ brother-in-law, Ospina.

After Bacca put Colombia ahead with another goal in his strong run of recent play, Rodriguez showed off his skill with his team-leading 16th goal for Los Cafeteros. Surrounded by defenders, Edwin Cardona tipped the ball outside to the charging star, and Rodriguez slotted a pinpoint shot into the far corner of the net.

COLOMBIA’S RODRIGUEZ, top, shoots under pressure by Paraguay’s Bruno Valdez during the second half of the Copa America Centenario Group A soccer match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Tuesday night. Colombia won 2-1.

(AP)

Ospina, the Arsenal backup, made a fingertip save in firsthalf injury time to deflect Dario Lezcano’s short free kick off the crossbar. He was even better in the second half with a flying, onehanded deflection of a header in traffic.

But Ospina could do nothing against Ayala, who trimmed Colombia’s lead and made the final minutes uncomfortable.

Paraguay’s task became tougher when Romero was sent off in the 81st minute, getting his second yellow card in three minutes after a defensive sequence in which he pulled roughly on Rodriguez’s jersey and wrapped both arms around Guillermo Celis.

“I think we respected them a little too much,” Diaz said. “We were very close to tying up the game. (The players) are actually quite angry and disappointed, because there was such a difference between the first half and the second half.”

The Rose Bowl crowd of 42,766 was dominated by yellow-clad fans from Los Angeles’ vibrant Colombian community and beyond. They gathered in Arroyo Seco several hours before kickoff for food, music and a celebration of a serious championship-contending team.

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 87° F/31° C low: 73° F/23° C

Tampa

FrIday

saTurday

sunday

mOnday

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Mostly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Mostly sunny

High: 89°

Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 75°

High: 87° Low: 75°

High: 88° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

109° F

84° F

110°-87° F

106°-88° F

104°-87° F

108°-87° F

High: 89° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C

almanac

E

W

aBaCO

S

N

High: 83° F/28° C low: 78° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

S

High: 86° F/30° C low: 75° F/24° C

8‑16 knots

FT. lauderdale

FreepOrT

High: 87° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

E S

E

W

WesT palm BeaCH

W

High: 85° F/29° C low: 75° F/24° C

mIamI

High: 87° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

6‑12 knots

Key WesT

High: 85° F/29° C low: 78° F/26° C

nassau

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

N

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:13 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.6 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:09 a.m. ‑0.2 6:13 p.m. 0.0

Friday

12:34 a.m.

1:08 p.m.

3.0 2.5

7:00 a.m. ‑0.1 7:09 p.m. 0.2

Saturday

1:26 a.m.

2:05 p.m.

2.8 2.4

7:52 a.m.

8:07 p.m.

0.1 0.3

Sunday

2:19 a.m.

3:01 p.m.

2.6 2.4

8:43 a.m.

9:06 p.m.

0.1 0.4

Monday

3:12 a.m.

3:56 p.m.

2.4 2.5

9:33 a.m. 0.2 10:04 p.m. 0.5

Tuesday

4:05 a.m.

4:47 p.m.

2.3 2.5

10:21 a.m. 0.2 11:00 p.m. 0.4

Wednesday 4:55 a.m.

5:34 p.m.

2.3 2.6

11:06 a.m. 0.2 11:50 p.m. 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:19 a.m.

7:59 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:50 a.m. none

First

Full

last

new

Jun. 12

Jun. 20

Jun. 27

Jul. 4

CaT Island

E

W

High: 86° F/30° C low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W S

4‑8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 93° F/34° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.20” Year to date ............................................... 16.24” Normal year to date ................................... 10.07”

eleuTHera

High: 89° F/32° C low: 78° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

andrOs

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 85° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 88° F/31° C low: 78° F/26° C

E

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map H

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

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.

N

N

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 86° F/30° C low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

mayaGuana High: 86° F/30° C low: 79° F/26° C

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

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns

tonight’s lows.

raGGed Island High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

GreaT InaGua High: 88° F/31° C low: 79° F/26° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 85° F/29° C low: 80° F/27° C

S

S

4‑8 knots

3‑6 knots

marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr

Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS SW at 8‑16 Knots WNW at 4‑8 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SW at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots WSW at 3‑6 Knots WSW at 8‑16 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots NNE at 3‑6 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 7‑14 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SW at 3‑6 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet

VISIBILITY 3 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 80° F 80° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 84° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 79° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F

PAGE 8, Thursday, June 9, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

CAVALIERS forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals last night in Cleveland. (AP)

LeBron scores 32, Cavs wallop Warriors 120-90 in Game 3

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 32 points, Kyrie Irving added 30 and the Cleveland Cavaliers, pushed for 48 minutes by a delirious, championship-starved crowd, hammered the Golden State Warriors 120-90 in Game 3 last night to pull within 2-1 in the NBA Finals.

On their home floor, where they have been dominant all postseason, the Cavs pulled their season from the brink of disaster following back-to-back blowout losses in the Bay Area.

“Coaching staff gave us a great game plan and we executed it for 48 minutes,” James said.

They did it without starting forward Kevin Love, little help from their bench and by keeping Stephen Curry penned in.

The league’s MVP was mostly MIA, scoring 19 points — two in the first half — on 6-of-13 shooting.

Harrison Barnes scored 18 and Klay Thompson 10 for Golden State, which had won seven straight over Cleveland — the first two finals games by a combined 48 points — and came back to the birthplace of rock and roll looking to party like they did after winning the title in Quicken Loans Arena last year.

The Cavs, though, have made this a series after it appeared the Warriors were on the fast track to another crown.

James had called it “do or die” for Cleveland.

Well, done and living.

“We’ve got to give the same effort on Friday,” James said. “It started defensively and it trickled down to the offensive side.”

Irving bounced back from two rough games out West, J.R. Smith made five 3-pointers and Tristan Thompson did the dirty work inside, getting 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who improved to 8-0 at home and can even the series with a win in Game 4 on Friday night.

The Cavs hardly missed Love, still suffering from a concussion sustained in Game 2. He wanted to play, but Love is still in the NBA’s concussion protocol and has not yet been cleared to return by league and team doctors.

Coach Tyronn Lue started veteran Richard Jefferson and moved James into Love’s power forward spot, giving the Cavs a smaller lineup better equipped to run with the Warriors.

The 35-year-old Jefferson gave the Cavs a huge boost in 33 minutes, scoring nine points with eight rebounds.

Leading by eight at halftime, Cleveland took control in the third quarter when James and Irving combined on a play that symbolised the Cavs’ resurrection.

Crawling on his hands and knees after a loose ball near midcourt, James got to his feet and whipped a pass to Irving on the left side. Irving returned a lob to James, who leaped high and flushed it with his right hand, a basket that seemed to erase all that went wrong for the Cavs in California.

Before taking the floor, James and the Cavs huddled in the hallway outside their locker room and prayed.

James then gave his teammates some instructions.

“Follow my lead from the beginning!” he screamed. “And do your job!”

The Cavs listened, scoring the game’s first nine points and opening a 20-point lead in the first quarter. With their season on the line, this was the response Cleveland had to have, but the Cavs fell back into bad habits in the second quarter, rushing shots and not moving the ball.

The Warriors took advantage, outscoring the Cavs 27-18 to pull within 51-43 at halftime.

CLEVELAND Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland last night. (AP)