06272017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

Buddy named to NBA All-Rookie First Team

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BUDDY Hield’s stellar play during his rookie season was officially recognised by the NBA as the league began to dole out its end-of-year awards yesterday.

The Grand Bahama native and Sacramento Kings guard was named to the 2016-17 NBA AllRookie First Team yesterday.

Hield becomes the 16th player in Kings franchise history and the 11th during the Sacramento era to earn All-Rookie Team distinction, a list that includes teammate Willie Cauley-Stein (2015-16 AllRookie Second Team).

He is joined on the All-Rookie First Team by Joel Embiid and Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers), Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks) and Willy Hernangomez (New York Knicks).

He played 57 games with the

New Orleans Pelifan appreciation. Pricans before he was or to the trade, Hield traded to the Kings had a scoring high of in February. In 25 21 points in 57 games games for the Kings, with the Pelicans last Hield made 18 starts season. He equalled and averaged 15.1 or surpassed that mark points and 4.1 refour times since being bounds per game and traded to the Kings.

42 per cent shootWith the Pelicans, he ing from three-point first scored 21 points in range. On the seaa 102-95 January win son he averaged 10.6 over the Indiana Pacpoints, 3.3 rebounds ers. As a member of on 42 per cent shootthe Kings, Hield finHIELD (AP) ing from the field and ished with 21 points in 39 per cent from three-point range. the Kings’ 116-98 loss to the MilHe finished fourth in 3-point and waukee Bucks on March 22. Two free throw percentage, eighth in days later he set a then-career high field goal percentage and 11th in in scoring with 22 points in an 114rebounding among all rookies.

100 loss to the Golden State WarHield set a new career high scor- riors. ing mark for the third time in a This season marks the first time Kings uniform, on a night where since the annual honour was first he received his second KIA NBA presented 54 years ago that the Rookie of the Month award and NBA All-Rookie First Team inone the franchise dedicated to cludes four international players:

Saric (Croatia), Embiid (Cameroon), Hield (Bahamas) and Hernangomez (Spain).

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team included Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Marquese Chriss (Phoenix Suns), Brandon Ingram (LA Lakers) and Yogi Ferrell (Dallas Mavericks).

Hield is already foreshadowing improvements in 2017-18.

“My rookie season was cool, it was okay, I wasn’t satisfied with it. Many people might be satisfied with it, but I’m trying to build and make progress and try to get this franchise to the playoffs,” Hield said to James Ham of NBC Sports.

“I wear down, but there’s a drive to keep me going. Just knowing my struggles to get here, how long the process was of me getting to the NBA. That’s what keeps me going. I get tired, but I know where I came from and how hard it was to get here. I just can’t give up.”

‘Superman’ confident he will book trip to the IAAF Worlds

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

W

ith this being another banner year for track and field, Bahamian athletes are fine tuning for their participation in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

During the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Aliv National Open Championships over the weekend at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, many of the athletes attempted to book their trip to London for the championships, scheduled for August 5-13.

At least three national record holders in the jumps, who fell short of the qualifying standard, are to come back to Grand Bahama on Saturday, July 22 at the same complex to compete in the Blue Marlin Track Classic.

It’s a Last Chance Meet for those athletes who have yet to qualify to compete before the deadline of Sunday, July 23 for the IAAF to close the door on all qualifiers for the championships.

Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands has yet to surpass the qualifying standard of 55-feet, 11 ½-inches in the men’s triple jump, but he’s confident that he will eventually book his trip to London where he wants to redeem himself after he went down with an injury at the 2012 Olympic Games.

“When I saw Jamieson

Pratt go down with the injury, that made me so emotional,” said Sands, who was referring to the Olympics when he suffered a knee injury in the final of the triple jump and had to be transported to hospital for surgery.

Pratt, the son of triple jump coach Peter Pratt, was unable to complete the men’s triple jump after he sustained the injury. He was rushed to the Rand Memorial Hospital for treatment.

“I think that took a lot away from the competition because it brought back so many memories watching him hurting his wrist and his knee,” Sands reflected.

“I ran over to him and I just tried to make sure that he was okay.

“That took a lot of me. I got so emotional and tears came out of my eyes. I was there before and now to see one of the younger guys go through it, it was very emotional.”

Sands ended up clearing a best of 52- 111/2 inches as he retained his title over Kaiwan Culmer, who was second with 51- 111/4.

“I was injured for the last few weeks so I couldn’t get on the runaway and run because I strained the ligament in my foot,” Sands said. “So this week was the first time that I was able to run on my foot.

“I’m just getting back to jumping again and I just have to work a little more on my speed because I

SEE PAGE 11

LEEVAN ‘Superman’ Sands in action at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Aliv National Open Track and Field Championships at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

Photo: 10thYearSeniors

NAUGHTY

Column, Page 11

FOX LOOKING FORWARD TO PROSPECT OF PAIRING WITH HIELD, KINGS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas has been good to De’Aaron Fox. Fox had one of the best games of his brief collegiate career with the Kentucky Wildcats last season in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Showcase and is now looking forward to the prospect of pairing with Bahamian guard Buddy Hield in Sacramento.

Speaking to a group of international reporters during an online teleconference, powered by Cisco, Fox, the No.5 overall selection by the Sacramento Kings, said that the possibility of playing alongside Hield in the backcourt is the future for the Kings.

“Buddy is a tremendous competitor, he’s a great player, a great talent. When he got traded to Sacramento he started playing really well toward the end of the season,” Fox said. “I feel like I complement him well. He’s a great shooter, a scorer, I can distribute the ball and just help to bring a lot of firepower to the backcourt.”

In 25 games for the Kings last season, Hield made 18 starts and averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while he shot 42 per cent from three-point range.

At the Atlantis, Fox notched just the second triple-double in the history of Kentucky basketball with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a blowout win over Arizona State last November.

It marked the second time for Fox playing in the Bahamas after his participation in the Nike EYBL Exhibition game in August 2015.

With his speed, explosiveness and finishing ability, Fox has drawn comparisons to fellow Wildcat John Wall. Naturally, the comparisons have been drawn to Fox and Hield replicating the success that Wall and Bradley have had in Washington.

The immediate takeaway from Fox’s demeanour following the draft is his confidence as a floor general.

Fox was the third point guard taken and one of the first five taken in the first nine selections. The other four point guards included Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers), Lonzo Ball (Los Angeles Lakers), Frank Ntilika (New York Knicks) and Dennis Smith (Dallas Mavericks).

SEE PAGE 11

15th National Baseball Championships ‘was very successful’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net TEDDY Sweeting, president of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, said that while they would have liked to include Freedom Farm in the 15th Grand Bahama Port Authority National Championships, they still had a very competitive showdown.

“From all of the compliments over the weekend, it was very successful,” said Sweeting in summing up the three days of competition at the EMERA Baseball Stadium in Grand Bahama over the weekend.

“We put on a show of our young talent in this summer from every corner in respect to those who participated from Eleuthera,

the Community Baseball League, Grand Bahama Little League, Legacy and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau.”

However, Sweeting admitted that the absence of Freedom Farm Baseball League had an effect on the outcome of the tournament.

“We have to be honest with ourselves that anytime you don’t have Freedom Farm involved, it takes away from what you are doing,” he said.

“Whether it’s in support of their participation or the fans that they bring, every organisation in this country wants to beat them.

“I don’t care what the adults would say, but the kids want to play Freedom Farm players because they know that these young players are ready to play.

BBF President Teddy Sweeting presents the JBLN 11-12 team with their trophies.

“When they are not there, you have a level of misopportunities because of what they bring to the table. But whether or not they are there, the show must go on and we have been in discussions with them and they intend to be a part of everything that we do moving forward.”

With the talent on display from the coach pitch (7-8 years old) to the high school

division (16-18), Sweeting said they are happy with what they saw.

“We have a lot of plans now as we go back and meet and plan the way forward,” he said.

Although the federation has been embroiled with the Bahamas Baseball Association over who should have the rights as the governing body for the sport in the country, Sweeting said

they are committed to providing the opportunity for the young men in the country to play baseball.

“We have a lot of work that we want to see happen right now for the Family Islands as we develop,” he said.

“So we want to look at hosting the coach pitch, 9-10 and 11-12 divisions on their own.

“And then we want to come back and host the 13-14 up to the 25-over in which we separate the junior and senior nationals where we look at giving all of our players the opportunity to participate.”

Sweeting said the federation would continue to do whatever they can to ensure that the local baseball players get the opportunity to play baseball.

As for the dispute that led to the formation of the federation, Sweeting said they are always waiting to see what direction the BBA and the individuals they are aligned with are going to take to determine the future of international play.

But he reminded everyone that the federation was formed with a mandate to develop the sport and they will continue in that vain.

The nationals wrapped up on Sunday with the JBLN winning four of the five titles, inclusive of the Coach Pitch (7-8), Minor League (9-10), Major (1112) and Junior (13-15).

The only title they didn’t bring back to the capital was the high school division (16-18) that was won by the Grand Bahama Little League.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

WINNING BOATS IN BIMINI REGATTA

BAHAMAS YOUTH OLYMPIC REGATTA

AMERICA’S CUP VICTORY BRINGS RELIEF, AND ELATION FOR NEW ZEALANDERS

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — For thousands of New Zealanders who four years ago watched their sailing team crumble from a seemingly unbeatable position, a win in the America’s Cup brought as much relief as it did elation.

Emirates Team New Zealand clinched a 7-1 victory over Oracle Team USA, winning back a trophy the South Pacific nation last held a decade ago and helping erase memories of the team’s catastrophic 9-8 defeat to Oracle in 2013 in a match they once led 8-1.

Across the country, people set their alarms for 5am Tuesday to watch the racing in Bermuda.

Some families dragged their sleepy children, blankets and all, along to the local sailing club.

“My heart’s been racing something awful,” said Roger Foley, who watched the race with dozens of others at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Wellington. “It’s David and Goliath. We beat the biggest and the best in the world, so that’s just fabulous.”

John Floyd said the previous collapse was gnawing at his mind but this time the New Zealand team had out-prepared Oracle.

“I think they thought it through more carefully and they were smarter about the way they put the boat together,” he said. “I think as a team they worked together better.”

While sailing remains a niche sport in many countries, in New Zealand it’s become mainstream thanks to the nation’s long stretches of coastline, strong winds and the people’s love for water sports.

Dean Stanley, the father of Team New Zealand sailor Josh Junior, said his son started sailing at age five and owned his own boat at age eight.

“In Europe, it’s a wealthy person’s sport, but that’s not the case in New Zealand,” he said.

“Anyone can do it, and a lot of people do.”

Stanley said he spoke to his son on speakerphone after the win, but what with uncles, cousins and grandparents all whooping and yahooing and asking a thousand questions, it was hard for the sailor to say much.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Bill English posted a short video of himself celebrating the win at home: “We are so proud of you,” he wrote on Twitter.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman said it was too early to say where the next regatta would be held or if the government would contribute any money toward hosting it.

“The first thing is the celebration, these guys deserve a great welcome home,” he said. “Then there will be time for discussing what happens next.”

In the meantime, Foley had the same celebration plans as many other New Zealanders: a hearty breakfast.

RICHARDO FRODE sails his Optimist Dinghy to victory in the Green Fleet during Bahamas Youth Olympic Regatta.

Photos by Robert Dunkley

Gregory Lindsey takes top honours in Sunfish class TA THOMPSON/HO NASH JR HIGH SAILING PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS IN SPOTLIGHT GREGORY Lindsey dominated the Sunfish fleet in the Bahamas Youth Olympic Regatta earlier this month.

The event, hosted every year by the Bahamas National Sailing School with the support of Bahamas Olympic Committee, was held at Nassau Yacht Club “in fairly light and shifty wind conditions on the Saturday and steady, near perfect conditions on the Sunday,” according to a press release.

Lindsey won six out of the seven races in the series. Gabriel Newbold finished second and Vano Rahming third – all of whom are participants in the TA Thompson/HO Nash Junior High sailing programme. “Gregory has been a top sailor and lead person in this programme for over three years and now assists Bahamas National Sailing School as an instructor with its yearround programme.

“This regatta is one of the four major junior international class events (Optimist Dinghies, Sunfish and Lasers) held each year in The Bahamas, which usually attracts some 40 to 50 sailors from a number of Family Islands as well as Turks and Caicos. Unfortunately this year, due to school exams, many couldn’t make it so numbers were down to 29,” said the release.

In Optimist Green Fleet (our most junior sailors) Richardo Frode took top honours, with Henri Mott and David Zlicha placing second and third respectively. “These kids who are just eight to 10-years-old are sailing amazingly well for having just started less than a year ago. The Advanced Optimist fleet saw close racing between the

AFTER two days of very competitive sailing over the weekend, the 2017 Bimini Regatta came to a close on Saturday.

Participating boats were the San Sally, Flash, Unca John, Melva B, Revelation, Aliv Thunderbird and Dream Girl.

The results are as follows: First Place - Revelation, skippered by David Rolle Second Place - Flash, skippered by Denrick Miller Third Place - Melva B, skippered by Larry Bastian Fourth place - Unca John, skippered by Alburn Gibson Fifth place - Dream Girl, skippered by David Rolle Sixth place - San Sally, skippered by Richard Ross Seventh place - ALIV Thunderbird, owned

by Rev Philip McPhee

RIVALS HAMILTON, VETTEL CLASH AS RICCIARDO WINS CHAOTIC RACE

By JEROME PUGMIRE Associated Press

GREGORY LINDSEY receives his first-place trophy from Roy Colebrook, of the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

JOSHUA WEECH receives his Optimist Championship Fleet first-place trophy. top five sailors, all of whom are on Bahamas National

Sailing School’s international race team.”

OPTI Championship Fleet with winner Joshua Weech in the lead.

Joshua Weech (Nassau) in the end won overall, beating out the defending champion Isaac Fox (Long Island). Isaac was second and Morgan Grammatico (top female) was third.

“In the Laser Radial class, three of Nassau’s top junior sailors - Paul de Souza, Cochise Burrows and Spencer Cartwright battled it out as they have done now for over five years. Paul dominated the first day until Spencer found his groove and started to take control, but a bit too late. In the end Paul beat Spencer by one point to take fleet honours.

Spencer was second and Cochise was third.

“I am so pleased to see how well our government school sailors are performing these days in the Sunfish. Through coach Johnson’s efforts over the last two and-a-half years in bringing these students to sailing we are now seeing impressive results,” said Robert Dunkley.

“The students from TA Thompson and HO Nash as well as Centreville Primary (thanks to Ms Moss) attend sailing classes during school hours once per week. In addition, CV Bethel attended classes after school (thanks to Ms Carey and Mr Rolle). This is what our programme is all about – getting our youth in the greater community into sailing.

“Congratulations to all the sailors and a special thank you to Bahamas Olympic Committee for sponsoring this event, to Nassau Yacht Club for allowing us (BNSS) to use their facility and to all the parents who volunteered their time to make this event so successful.

• Summer Sailing Camp starts on July 11. To sign up now (for beginners and experienced sailors), just call 357-3959.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — As Daniel Ricciardo celebrated winning a hectic Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel clashed in a bitter incident that could shape the rest of an intriguing Formula One season.

Hamilton accused Vettel of “disrespectful” driving after the four-time champion pulled alongside Hamilton and appeared to deliberately swerve into him when they were behind the safety car approaching the midway point of a stop-start race.

“Ultimately what happened today was disrespectful. It’s not deserving of that reaction from someone you have respect for,” Hamilton said. “A multi-world champion should behave better than that. It’s what you expect in go karts. That’s not how you drive.”

Vettel, who is chasing a fifth world title to stop Hamilton winning a fourth, was given a 10-second time penalty for the incident. Hamilton, less angry in his media briefing than immediately after the race on television, maintained Vettel shunted him on purpose.

“It couldn’t be clearer. It’s clear as blue skies,” the British driver said. “Some people don’t like to own up to their own mistakes.”

After eight races of a seesaw season, Vettel’s Ferrari leads second-placed Hamilton’s Mercedes by 14 points — 153 vs. 139. They have won three each and — over the first seven races — both had spoken at length of their huge admiration for each other. But this is the first time they have been main rivals for the title, and the pressure is showing. “Today wasn’t fair play. Today was obviously a different Sebastian we’re seeing,” Hamilton said. “I like to think that I remain respectful and I’ll continue to do so. I want to win the championship the right way.”

Ricciardo secured his fifth career win, while Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas overtook 18-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll’s Williams in the closing metres to take 2nd. Vettel finished fourth, while Hamilton was fifth.

LANCE ARMSTRONG AND GOVERNMENT SPAR OVER UPCOMING TRIAL EVIDENCE

By JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Lance Armstrong’s $100 million fraud trial is months away, yet his fight with the government and former teammate-turned-rival Floyd Landis is heating up.

Armstrong wants to bar potential testimony and evidence from some of his most dogged critics, including the blistering US AntiDoping Agency report that led

to his downfall and former Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, who now stands as the only American to have officially won the race.

Landis, who tipped investigators to Armstrong’s cheating back in 2010, wants to prevent Armstrong from telling jurors about his own doping history and motivation to file a lawsuit that could put more than $20 million in his pocket.

Trial is scheduled for Novem-

ber in federal court in Washington, and lawyers for both sides recently filed a series of motions asking US District Judge Christopher Cooper to exclude some key evidence. Landis initially sued Armstrong in 2010, alleging Armstrong violated the cycling team’s US Postal Service contract by using performance-enhancing drugs. The government joined in 2013 after Armstrong admitted using steroids and other banned performance-enhancing drugs

and techniques to win the Tour de France seven times and become the world’s dominant bicycle racer from 1999-2005. The government wants to recover more than $30 million the Postal Service paid to sponsor Armstrong’s team and will seek triple damages.

Armstrong’s cheating was exposed and detailed in a 2012 US Anti-Doping Agency report that included sworn testimony from several of his former teammates.

He was stripped of his Tour de

France victories, banned from competition and has paid an estimated $20 million to settle various lawsuits.

Armstrong’s lawyers now call the USADA report “inadmissible hearsay” for the federal case and say it was written to satisfy the motives of an agency out to get him. They notably object to the report’s summation that Armstrong led the most “most sophisticated” doping programme in sports history.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 27, 2017, PAGE 11

A-grade for Lonzo Ball and the new-look Lakers WELL the NBA Draft has come and gone and NO, Paul George still isn’t a Laker!

Despite not making a blockbuster trade for George yet, ‘Magic’ Johnson (Lakers President) and Rob Pelinka (Lakers GM) have done a masterful job over the last few days.

Firstly, trading off young and still immature PG DeAngelo Russell - a former second round pick in 2014 - along with underachieving C Timofey Mosgov and his ‘albatross’ $64M contract, to the Brooklyn Nets. Acquiring All-Star C Brook Lopez and his expiring $22M contract, freeing up $78M in additional cap room, for the impending free agent shopping spree the team will be on in 2018.

Secondly, ‘Magic’ and ‘Rob’ added four young, quality players with good basketball pedigrees, that can contribute immediately to the rebuild in LA, possibly contending for a 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs.

So as all of that unfolds, let’s have a look at the newest quartet of Lakers and their draft grades.

Round 1, Pick 2 (No. 2 overall): Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA The Real Balls of Los Angeles is, well, real. The Lakers looked at Josh Jackson and De’Aaron Fox and came back to Ball.

Pound for pound as prospects, the three aren’t far apart, but when it comes to philosophical fit, Ball was

the clear choice.

‘Lonzo’ will benefit from Magic Johnson’s tutelage and Luke Walton’s uptempo offence and have a great opportunity to be a difference-maker.

As LA positions itself to sign stars in Free Agency ‘18, Ball’s development will be critical. I think he’s got the ‘it’ factor and should handle all that comes with stardom. ‘Lonzo’s’ game is eerily similar to former All Star PG Rod Strickland, except ‘Lonzo’ is way more athletic.

Grade: A

dealing down from No. 28 with Utah. The Jazz were likely concerned about the Spurs taking Tony Bradley at 29, and the Lakers were eager to cash in.

Hart is viewed around the league as an extremely safe pick who can contribute right away, as an experienced player who guards multiple positions, and makes winning plays. He gives LA another quality young player for its rebuild.

His game is very reminiscent of former Knicks guard John Starks.

Grade: A-

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

Round 1, Pick 27 (No. 27 overall): Kyle Kuzma, F, Utah The Lakers were said to be high on Kuzma all along, they seem to be ensnared of his blend of skill and shooting ability. He’s more athletic than several of the other stretch-forward prospects in this range, and has tremendous upside as a role player.

He’s not an especially proven prospect and didn’t shoot that well from three at Utah last season, but teams think he can figure it out. He reminds me of Sean Marion and Robert Horry, he’s a perfect fit for what LA is building.

Grade: B+ Round 1, Pick 30 (No. 30 overall): Josh Hart, G/F, Villanova Hart is a nice pickup for the Lakers, who also acquired the No. 42 pick after

LAKERS’ No.2 pick Lonzo Ball will benefit from Magic Johnson’s tutelage and Luke Walton’s uptempo offence and have a great opportunity to be a difference-maker in Los Angeles. (AP)

Round 2, Pick 12 (No. 42 overall via Jazz): Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana At No. 42, Bryant is a good value, especially considering his giant 7’6 wingspan. He joins a very crowded frontcourt, which includes first-round pick Kyle Kuzma, but Bryant could emerge as the better prospect. Regardless, he provides some nice depth for the Lakers off the bat, and a young physical presence protecting the rim.

Grade B+ Until next week, keep shooting, eventually they will start going in!

• 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

RIGHT - Tamara Myers, the national women’s triple jump champion, receives her trophy.

BOTTOM - Leevan Sands shares the spotlight on the podium with Kaiwan Culmer (left) and Ronald Ferguson.

FOX LOOKING FORWARD TO PROSPECT OF PAIRING WITH HIELD, KINGS FROM PAGE 9 The Kings are in the midst of a rebuild after trading All-Star Centre DeMarcus Cousins in February. The team finished with 32 wins, but it was an improvement on recent seasons. The last time the Kings reached the playoffs was in 2006 under head coach Rick Adelman.

Kentucky finished 32-6 and reached the Elite Eight last season and Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

“For me going into the NBA, I know it’s going to be tough to change a team, but for me, I wanted to come in and be able to affect the game right away,” Fox said. “A lot of people say I could be a franchisechanger, and that’s what I really want to be.”

SPORTS NOTES GOLF SYMPOSIUM THE Bahamas Golf Federation Ladies’ Division is set to hold its Phenomenal Women 1st Annual Golf Symposium and Tourna-

‘SUPERMAN’ CONFIDENT HE WILL BOOK AUGUST TRIP TO LONDON FROM PAGE 9 haven’t done any speed work in training over the past four weeks.

Anytime I tried to go, the next day I was limping.”

If he doesn’t get into another meet in the next few weeks, Sands said he will be back in Grand Bahama to compete in the Last Chance Meet to ensure that he books his ticket to London.

“Hopefully I can get the qualifying mark by the middle of next month,” Sands said. “I’m not concerned. I know what I have to do and I’m prepared to do what I have to do to get to London.”

Without any competition from the female competitors after arch-rival collegian Danielle Gibson sustained an injury in training following her final appearance in the NCAA Championships, Tamara Myers had to lineup to compete with the men.

She had to clear 46-3 ¼ to qualify for London, but only mustered a leap of 45-2 ¼. She too is confident that she will finally get a chance to get to compete in her first major senior international meet.

“I’ve been having a good season.

I’ve been very consistent. This has probably been my best season since I started triple jumping,” Myers said.

“But it came down to my landing. I got two jumps over the qualification ment this weekend.

The symposium will kick things off on Friday at 9am and continue 8am Saturday at the CHMI Building in the University of the Bahamas.

On Saturday, the tournament will take place at the Royal Blue Golf Course at the Baha Mar Resort, starting at 8am. The tournament fee is $150 for adults and

mark, but I fouled both of them.”

If she doesn’t outright qualify, Myers said she’s aware of another route that she can take to get into London.

If the 32 competitors scheduled to compete don’t all make the standard,

$75 for juniors, which includes greens fee, lunch and prizes.

Interested persons can contact Agatha Delancy at 445-4499 or Yvonne Shaw at 544-7486 or email: delancyagatha6@gmail.com TRACK LAST CHANCE MEET THE Blue Marlin Track Club is scheduled to host

the next top competitors who have done 14m or better would get in.

“So I’m hoping that if I don’t qualify, I can get an invite to go to London,” she said.

At the nationals, Myers did all that she could to qualify, including competing with the men.

“After I saw the start list, I realised at even if I had done the qualifying standard, it would not have been legal because I needed to compete against at least three more competitors,” Myers said.

“But there is a rule that even though there ain’t enough females, I could jump with the men, so I did it and it was effective, but unfortunately I fouled two of my jumps that were over the qualifying mark.”

While she takes a wait-and-see approach about her position for the trip to London, Myers said she will definitely take advantage of the Last Chance Meet to attempt to officially qualify.

Another jumper that fell short of the qualifying standard was Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart, who cleared 20-1 in the women’s long jump, but needs at least 22-1 3/4 to earn her berth in London.

She too is expected to compete in the Last Chance Meet, organised by Demaris Cash - a former quartermiler who now heads the Blue Marlin Track Club - in her bid to also qualify for another appearance at the World Championships.

their Last Chance Track and Field Classic on Saturday, July 22 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

The meet will begin at 6pm and will provide an opportunity for those athletes that have not yet qualified for the IAAF World Championships in London, England, to do so before the IAAF deadline on Sunday, July 23.

Athletes wishing to participate can register online at www.bluemarlintrackclassic.com or email info@ bluemarlintrackclassic.com or phone 327-8324.

Tickets for the meet are priced at $3 for children 12-and-under, $7 for bronze seats, $15 for silver and $25 for gold. Tickets can be purchased at Gizmos & Gadgets.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK WINS NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

By BRIAN MAHONEY Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Westbrook has been voted NBA MVP after setting a record with 42 triple-doubles last season.

Westbrook’s victory ended the first NBA Awards show, which included two wins apiece for the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks.

Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a tripledouble for the season, and he broke Robertson’s single-season record set when he had 41 tripledoubles in 1961-62.

The point guard beat out Houston’s James Harden and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard to succeed Stephen Curry, who had won the past two MVP awards.

Earlier, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon became the first player not picked in the first round to win NBA Rookie of the Year in the common draft era.

Brogdon was the No. 36 overall selection out of Virginia. The common draft era began in 1966.

“I think it’s an example for guys that are told they are too short, they are not athletic enough, they are not real point guards, they are not real shooting guards,” Brogdon said. “I just think it’s an important message for people to see, and it can be done. It just takes a lot.”

Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo won the Most Improved Player award.

Houston coach Mike D’Antoni won his second Coach of the Year award, and Eric Gordon was Sixth Man of the Year after setting a record for most 3-pointers off the bench in his first season as a reserve.

The NBA formerly gave out its individual awards at various points throughout the postseason before switching to the awards show this season and presenting them all at once in front of the league’s top players and stars from the entertainment world.

SPAIN WINS EUROBASKET, BEATING FRANCE IN FINAL (AP) — Sancho Lyttle scored 19 points and Alba Torrens added 18 to help Spain win the EuroBasket tournament on Sunday with a 71-55 victory over France.

The Spaniards were already assured a spot in the FIBA women’s basketball world cup next year as the host city.

The top five teams from the EuroBasket advance to the World Cup, but since Spain already had qualified the sixth-place team also earned a spot in the 2018 tournament.

Belgium finished third, beating Greece 78-45, to earn the country’s first bronze medal ever in the tournament.

Turkey topped Latvia 72-63 for the final two spots. It will be the first time that Latvia will ever compete in the World Cup. Latvia reached the fifth-place game with a wild one-point win over Italy in the consolation semi-finals.

The US clinched a spot by winning the Olympics last year. The remaining nine spots in the World Cup will be determined later this year.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, June 27, 2017

TIM TEBOW (AP)

TEBOW BEING PROMOTED TO METS’ AFFILIATE IN FLORIDA

By PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Tim Tebow is moving up and heading south — to some very familiar territory.

Tebow has been promoted to the New York Mets’ high Class A affiliate in St Lucie, Florida. The 29-yearold Tebow led the University of Florida to two national championships and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy during his stellar football career with the Gators.

Baseball has not been as easy for the 29-year-old outfielder. He hit just .220 with three homers and 23 RBIs with Class A Columbia — numbers that usually don’t lead to a promotion.

“For me, it’s not something I have to answer,” Tebow said. “There’s a lot smarter, wiser people than me that make those decisions. I just try and show up and play hard every day.”

General manager Sandy Alderson announced the move before the Mets’ 8-2 win at San Francisco on Sunday. He said Tebow’s performance had trended positively the past two or three weeks and the Mets thought it was a good time for his promotion.

“Clearly, it’s a step up,” Alderson said. “I certainly think he can handle it.”

Tebow was a smash hit with fans the past three months in the South Atlantic League. The Fireflies were second in the league with an average attendance of 5,230 heading into Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Kannapolis, and Tebow’s presence led to sellouts and big crowds at nearly every road stop.

Tebow got a loud ovation when he came to the plate for the first time Sunday with the bases loaded in the first inning. He then hit a hot shot right at the first baseman to end the inning.

He went 0 for 2 with a walk.

Next up is a more challenging level. Still, he’s happy to be headed back to the Sunshine State, where he still has family, friends and many, many supporters in Gator colors.

“I obviously love Florida so this is nice,” he said with a grin. “But the goal and focus is improving as a baseball player.”

Tebow’s first pro baseball stop had a storybook start with a home run in his first at-bat. He added another homer three games later, but he has been mostly inconsistent at the plate.

That’s baseball, Tebow said. He went 0 for 3 during Saturday’s win over Kannapolis, but drove in two runs.

“I know that my progress has led me to having three good at-bats, to bring in two guys,” he said. “As an athlete you can’t worry about those things. You have to focus on, ‘Am I seeing the pitches? What am I doing with them? Am I doing damage with them?’”

Tebow certainly looked comfortable in the Fireflies’ clubhouse, despite being a decade older than several of his teammates.

“We’ve said he’s just one of 25 guys,” Columbia president John Katz said. “At the end of the day, he really is. He wants to succeed. He puts in the work and hopefully, he’ll have continued success at a higher level.”

That’s Alderson’s wish, too, as Tebow continues a journey that he hopes ends at Citi Field in New York.

“I wouldn’t say he has excelled” at Columbia, Alderson said. “But at the same time, what he’s done there — given all the circumstances — justified the promotion.”

THE TRIBUNE

A Richardson, Mario Ford receive Lifetime Achievement awards

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — There was no greater feeling for retired professional baseball player Antoan Richardson than to be honoured on the biggest stage of the game in the country at the Bahamas Baseball Federation’s 15th Annual BTC National Baseball Championships.

Richardson was one of five persons presented with the Lifetime Achievement award during the official opening ceremonies of the three-day tournament at the EMERA Baseball Complex on Friday night.

The others were former players turned coaches, Bertram Murray Jr, Carl Nottage (from Grand Bahama) and Mario Ford and long-time chief statistician Bob Sumner, who was unable to make the trip to Grand Bahama.

“Anything you get in front of your Bahamian people and they show the appreciation for what you have done, it’s a little emotional for me,” Richardson said. “I got a little teary eyed because I’m proud to be a Bahamian and I’m proud to have represented our country at the highest level of the sport.

“But I’m more excited because I want to see more young men and even young women accomplish their dreams of being the best they can be. So it’s an honour for me to be here among the fans, the parents and the players of our future stars in the sport.”

It was Richardson’s first trip to the Nationals because every year it has been held he’s been making his strides on the pro scene as a journeyman through Major and Minor League baseball.

The 33-year-old outfielder was the sixth Bahamian to play in the Major League, playing with the Atlanta Braves in 2011, the New York Yankees in 2014 and again with the Texas Rangers in 2015 before he announced his retirement on March 7.

Richardson also played with eight different major league organisations, including: San Francisco Giants; Atlanta Braves (MLB Roster, 2011); Baltimore Orioles; Minnesota Twins; New York Yankees (MLB Roster, 2014); Texas Rangers (MLB Roster, 2015); Pittsburg Pirates; Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Back in the day, you never played the game because of the recognition. You played it because you love it. Then after all, everything else becomes automatic like the recognition,” he said.

“I got the opportunity to play in the Major League and to make my country and my family proud and so I was able to walk away with my head held high. When I come out here and I see these young players playing and how vibrant they are, it just solidifies my opportunity to be a role model for them to follow.”

Looking at the class of honourees, Richardson said they are the guys who are there in the trenches behind the scene making sure that the persons like himself receive the accolades.

“So anytime you can honour and appreciate them, you have to feel good because they are the unsung heroes,” he said. “So I am delighted to be here on the same stage with each of them.”

Richardson was also amazed to see the fantastic facility at the EMERA complex with the three fields and also the amount of talent that was on display.

His only wish was that Freedom Farm, where he got to hone his game during his early beginnings, was in the mix. Freedom Farm, headed by Greg Burrows Sr, has not played in the tournament for the last few years because of a dispute.

“We miss them. I would have loved to share this moment with them because they have been a big part of everything that I achieved,”

HONOUREE Mario Ford (centre) with MP Iram Lewis (far left) and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard.

HONOUREE Antoan Richardson (centre) gestures with Pintard (far left) and Lewis. he said. “I just hope that whatever the problem is, they can rectify and get back on board.”

Ford amazed For Ford, who continues to work diligently year after year with his community programme at Windsor Field, said this was an amazing experience. “I’m out there just working, helping the kids and so it’s good to know that your work has not gone unnoticed,” he said. “Somehow, someone saw me and they recognised me for what I have been doing.

“I just want to continue to work hard with these kids because I want to see them get the opportunity to go to the next level, something that I didn’t have growing up.”

Although he was one of the country’s most versatile players, Ford admitted that he didn’t get a chance to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers, former major leaguer Wentie Ford (deceased) and minor league Eddie Ford.

Ford said he didn’t have the opportunity that the majority of the players in the country are receiving to play professional baseball, but he’s still grateful that he can lend a helping hand in their success.

He also stressed that he was delighted to be included in the class of honourees that include Richardson.

“He’s just a wonderful person,” Ford said of Richardson. “We spent a lot of time together, we did a lot of things together and he spent some time with my kids, sharing his experience.”

Murray appreciative As one of the players who got his chance to perform from a junior to a college and pro player, Murray said it was his pleasure to return home and assist in the development of so many players at the Junior Baseball League of Nassau.

“I’m happy to see the young kids performing,” said Murray, who now heads the JBLN programme at the St Andrew’s Field of Dreams.

“Many persons have contributed to this. “I remember my first baseball coach Buck Fountain and persons like George Bethel, who assisted me. I love the game and I just love to be able to give back to the young players.”

During his era, Murray said he got the opportunity to play with and against Ford, whom he also recalled was always one of the better players in their age group and he tried to emulate a lot of things he did.

But he said there was no greater

feeling than to mix and rub shoulders with Richardson, whom he was so proud to see advance all the way to the Major League.

Nottage thrilled As a native from Nassau playing the sport, Nottage said as soon as he moved to Grand Bahama, he knew that he had to continue to support the game he loves.

“I’m very proud. We do it not for the honour, but when you get an opportunity like this, it makes you feel proud and to let you know that people have seen and appreciated the work that you have done,” he said.

Nottage has been a part of the Grand Bahama Little League programme for more than two decades and he said it’s a sport that he will continue to support because of the benefits that can be derived from it.

“When I found out that Antoan was also going to be honoured, it was a very good feeling because this was something that I’ve been trying to stress to the young players here that they have the opportunity to be able to do the same thing that he has done,” he stated.

Pintard inspired On hand to share in their success was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard, the Member of Parliament for Marco City in Grand Bahama.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing to be here to celebrate excellence,” he said. “When you have gifted Bahamians who have been on the international scene, it’s an inspiration to many Bahamians.

“It’s an inspiration to young Bahamians who get to emulate the persons who are being honoured because they get to see what they can become if they apply themselves.”

Pintard said it’s also inspirational to the adults who all have dreams and aspirations and, even though it might not be of the magnitude of the honourees, it motivates everyone to do a little more than they have and are doing.

“So I’m happy and privileged to meet these outstanding Bahamians who have represented us well,” he said. “It’s moments like these that tell us that the real colours of the flag matters the most.

“They have been holding up that flag for us and so it should help us to heal as a country coming out of a general election that had us divided.

“So if we can join together to celebrate the best in us, it all bodes well for the country.”

BASEBALL HONOUREES (l-r) Mario Ford, Antoan Richardson, Carl Nottage and Bertie Murray Jr. Photos: Derek Carroll

CHAMP STUART HAS 1ST MULTIHOME RUN GAME OF HIS CAREER

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAMP Stuart is highly regarded within the New York Mets organisation for his speed and baserunning abilities, but the 24 year old outfielder had a display of power at the plate for the Binghampton Rumble Ponies.

Stuart had the first multi home run game of his career as the Rumble Ponies closed out a two-game series against the Bowie Baysox. Stuart finished 2-4 with two home runs but even his outburst was not enough as the Rumble Ponies suffered the 5-4 loss.

After an early deficit, Stuart hit his first home run in the second inning, after Erick Salcedo committed a two-out throwing error which allowed Stuart to hit in the frame.

In the home half of the seventh, Stuart blasted his second two-run homer of the game over the left field fence, to trim the deficit.

Stuart became just the third Rumble Ponies player to record a multi-home run game following Dale Burdick and David Thompson.

Stuart currently leads the Double-A Eastern League with 20 stolen bases for the Binghampton Rumble Ponies and is third among players in all of the three Double-A leagues.

He currently stands behind Mauricio Dubon of the Biloxi Shuckers in the Southern League with 31 and the Arkansas Travelers’ Ian Miller who leads the Texas League with 23.

Through 50 games, Stuart hit .222 with 21 runs scored, 19 RBI an OPS of .675 and four home runs.

Stuart had a late surge in April where he was awarded the Eastern League Player of the Week Award.

After a brief adjustment period to Double-A, he settled in to become a standout, not just for the Rumble Ponies, but in the entire league.

Through a four-game stretch, he hit .455/.519/.909 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, five RBI, six runs, and five stolen bases to earn the award.

Stuart swiped 40 bases across two levels in 2016, and he told 12 Sports before this season that his goal was 100 stolen base attempts in 2017.

SPIETH HOLES BUNKER SHOT TO WIN TRAVELERS PLAYOFF

By PAT EATON-ROBB Associated Press CROMWELL, Conn.

(AP) — Jordan Spieth needed an extra hole, a little bit of luck and an amazing final shot to finish off a wire-towire victory in the Travelers Championship.

The two-time major champion holed out from 60 feet for birdie from a greenside bunker on the first hole of a playoff with Daniel Berger on Sunday at TPC River Highlands.

The 23-year-old Texan joined Tiger Woods as the only PGA Tour players in the era since World War II with 10 victories before the age of 24. Woods won 15 times before he turned 24.

“That was one for the ages,” said Spieth, also the winner at Pebble Beach in February.

Spieth held a one-stroke edge after each of the first three rounds. He closed with an even-par 70 to match Berger — who birdied three of the final six holes for a 67 — at 12-under 268. Berger, the Memphis winner two weeks ago before missing the cut last week at the US Open, just missed a 50-foot putt from off the 18th green left that would have forced a second playoff hole.