07162018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

Wimbledon, Page 5

MONDAY, JULY 16, 2018

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy after France defeated Croatia 4-2 to win the FIFA World Cup final yesterday in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

We are the champions!

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer MOSCOW (AP) — Sliding across the rain-soaked turf holding the World Cup trophy tight, teenager Kylian Mbappe and the rest of France’s players acted like the youthful bunch they are.

Nothing, not a Pussy Riot protest nor a postgame downpour that soaked Russian President Vladimir Putin, was going to stop the party.

The 19-year-old Mbappe became only the second teen after Pele to score in a World Cup final, helping France beat Croatia 4-2 yesterday.

“I don’t really realise yet what it is. The World Cup, it’s a lot,” forward Antoine Griezmann said. “I’m very proud of this team.”

Mbappe, 19, helps France beat Croatia 4-2 in World Cup final

FRANCE’s Kylian Mbappe holds the award for best young player at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the FIFA World Cup yesterday.

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Mbappe had just shown his electrifying speed in the 52nd minute when play was held up by four protesters who ran onto the field. Russian punk band Pussy Riot later took credit for the incident — watched from the VIP seats by Putin, whose government once jailed members of the activist group.

Putin was later on the field to award medals to the players in a ceremony soon drenched in rain and joy.

As thunder boomed and lightning cracked, FIFA president Gianni Infantino handed France captain

Hugo Lloris the gold-andmalachite World Cup trophy.

Gold confetti stuck to the soaked Les Bleus as they paraded the trophy around the Luzhniki Stadium, a final act of an enthralling tournament in which Croatia reached its first final while powers Brazil, Germany and Argentina went home early.

About 12 minutes after a protester gave Mbappe a double high-five on the field, Mbappe sent a rightfooted shot from 25 yards (metres) past goalkeeper Danijel Subasic. The goal

put France up 4-1, closing the door on Croatia who had been the better team until he came to life.

The only other teen to score in a World Cup final was Pele, who was 17 when Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 in 1958.

Mbappe, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in the French league, was born months after France won its only other World Cup title in 1998.

Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann, France’s two other key creative players,

SEE PAGE 2

Miller-Uibo surges back to win the 200m SAMUEL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo showed that she could rely on her six-foot, one-inch frame just as she does her speed.

After getting out to a sluggish start that left her in the middle of the pack coming off the curve, Miller-Uibo had enough real estate ahead of her as she reeled in English woman Dana Asher-Smith and American Jenna Prandini to propel herself to an impressive comeback victory in the women’s 200 metres at the Meeting International Mohammed VI de Rabit Diamond League meet on Friday with plenty room to spare.

The victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, was so impressive that Miller-Uibo’s time of 22.29 seconds out of lane six erased the meet record of 22.70 that was set by Jamaican Simone Facey in 2014.

Asher-Smith, who had taken command of the race off the curve, finished in 22.40 with Prandini clinching third place in 22.60.

“I am very happy about this victory, although I need to work on a few things, especially my start as it is not the best in the 200m,” said Miller-Uibo in a post race interview with the international press in the mixed zone. “I was here last year and I am glad to

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, of the Bahamas, smiles after winning the 200m in the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday.

(AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy) return because the atmosphere is amazing.”

Miler-Uibo said her 400m strength was what was able to pull her through after she admitted that her start wasn’t what she had anticipated. But against such a quality field of competitors, she was just thrilled that she was able to storm back for the win to remain undefeated this season.

The race also featured Murielle Ahoure, the IAAF World Championships’ 200m silver medallist in the Ivory Coast, who had to settle for fifth place in 22.70, the

same time as American Gabrielle Thomas, the fourth place finisher.

Nigeria’s Blessing OkagbareIghoteguonor, who has the world leading time of 22.04, was seventh in 23.42.

Miller-Uibo, 24, was the lone Bahamian competing in the meet, the ninth on the IAAF Diamond League.

In the process, she collected eight more points to push her total to 16 points for third place after she got her second victory to go along with her triumph in her only other meet in the 200m on

the Diamond League in Shanghai, China.

Marie-Josée Ta Lou, the IAAF World Championships’ double sprint medallist in the Ivory Coast, is out front with 19 points in three races with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson getting 17 points for the second place in the same three meets that Ta Lou competed in.

And having just competed in one race in the 400m in Eugene, Oregon, Miller-Uibo is now sitting in seventh place in the one-lap race standings with eight points.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser leads the field with 32 points, having won the 400m in four events on the Diamond League at Oslo, Stockholm, Paris and Switzerland.

The Bahamas has two other athletes in the running in their respective events. Steven Gardiner, who has posted a pair of victories in Doha, Qatar and Shanghai, China, is occupying second place in the men’s 400m and Abdalleleh Haroun of Qatar holds the lead with 27 points. Gardiner, 22, was the recent winner of the Bahamian Icon Award for Sports.

And Donald Thomas, 34, has already qualified for the final in the men’s high jump with a third place with 17 points in the four meets the event was hosted in Doha, Eugene, Oslo and Lausanne, Switzerland. He trails Qatar’s Olympic and world champion Mutaz Essa

SEE PAGE 3

‘SAMMY’ GARDINER DIES AT 72

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SAMUEL ‘Sammy’ Gardiner, remembered as one of the country’s top golfers turned executive in the Bahamas Golf GARDINER Federation, passed away on Friday in Florida. He was 72.

His younger brother, track and field coach Rupert Gardiner, said he recalled how the late Gardiner started out professionally as an educator and later an administrator in the Ministry of Tourism up to the time of his death. But he noted that many may not remember

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Monday, July 16, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Column: At World Cup final, Mbappe, just 19, joins Pele

By JOHN LEICESTER AP Sports Columnist MOSCOW (AP) — The ball skidded across the pristine Moscow pitch and time seemed to slow. This was Kylian Mbappe’s moment, at just 19, to become the youngest player since Pele to score in a World Cup final.

Did he hesitate? Did he wilt under the weight of hundreds of millions of eyes trained on TV screens around the world?

Mbappe doesn’t do doubt.

With a touch as delicate as anything seen at the Bolshoi, he simply nudged the ball forward, sizing up the goal. The natural shot with his right foot from the edge of Croatia’s box would have been to aim right.

Too easy. Mbappe doesn’t do easy.

Instead, as cool as can be, he aimed left.

Game over.

Against a Croatia team that refused to understand the meaning of “Give up,” with tough, physical players who grew up in the aftermath of the war that broke up the former Yugoslavia, it was clear when France had first a onegoal and then a two-goal lead that only a sledgehammer blow from Les Bleus would put the Croatians down for good.

And here’s the amazing thing: the truly special teenage talent who landed it, Mbappe, is just getting started. Just think: At the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022, France’s rough diamond will still be just 23. That is about the same age that Lionel Messi and

Cristiano Ronaldo were when they began their shared 10-year lock on the Ballon d’Or, football’s top individual trophy that sooner rather than later seems bound to have Mbappe’s name attached to it, too.

At the US-Canada-Mexico World Cup in 2026, Mbappe will be in his polished prime, at age 27.

Book tickets now.

Mbappe’s goal in the 65th minute made it 4-1 for France, effectively guaranteeing a second World Cup victory for Les Bleus to add to the first won by their greatest player, Zinedine Zidane, and his teammates in 1998. Mbappe wears the No. 10 jersey as Zidane did. That is Mbappe’s choice. And that says everything about his deep well of ambition and how high he is aiming.

Croatia did get a second goal in the 69th minute to keep the final stretch ticklish with uncertainty.

But it was clear after Mbappe’s goal that the match would end only one way: With the blocks of French fans in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium and the millions watching back in France erupting in a redwhite-and-blue frenzy of joy.

As well as the gold trophy and the second star Les Bleus will now forever be able to wear on their shirts, there’s much for the French to be proud of in this team.

Like the “black-blanc-beur” — black, white and Arab — team of 1998, it reflects modern France: multi-racial and made richer by its diversity.

“That is the France that we like: Different origins, but all united,” said striker Antoine Griezmann.

He scored France’s second goal, a

FRANCE’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates with the trophy after the final match between France and Croatia at the World Cup yesterday.

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) penalty kick that was preceded by a peel of thunder from the Russian night skies that later dumped a rain storm on the new world champions as they celebrated.

After scoring twice in Brazil’s 5-2 win against Sweden in the final of 1958, when he was just 17, Pele went on to win another two World Cups with Brazil.

No one is saying, not quite yet, that Mbappe will do likewise.

But one title, at his age, is a terrific start. With his talent and his impressively level head that so far, cross-fingers, isn’t showing any signs of swelling with his dizzying new fame, the possibilities are thrilling. And he makes football

look so fun. He beamed through the Marseillaise sung before referee Nestor Pitana blew the whistle to start the match. World Cup final nerves? Never!

Mbappe’s backstory is Hollywood stuff, too, and perhaps significant for France. Without wanting to put too much responsibility on his young shoulders, there’ll be many young French kids in tough neighbourhoods like the one where he grew up, in Bondy, in the northeastern outskirts of Paris, who will now have stars in their eyes and perhaps with a new appreciation of life’s possibilities.

“He is a source of pride and inspiration,” Mahmoud Bourassi, who runs a youth centre in Bondy, said just ahead of the final. “We’re a town that has been stigmatised, had fingers pointed at us, and today we’re getting media coverage and we have an exceptional kid.”

The final wasn’t even Mbappe’s best game at this World Cup that has made the 180 million euros ($210 million) that his club, Paris Saint-Germain, paid for him in 2017 look like a steal. Mbappe was most devastating in a 4-3 victory against Argentina where he scored twice, earned a penalty and showed off his blistering speed.

As well as lifting the World Cup, Mbappe also picked up the tournament’s individual award as the best young player. It was never a contest. He got a hug from French President Emmanuel Macron and a pat on the back from President Vladimir Putin.

And, still just a teen, looked completely at home.

FRANCE DEFEATS CROATIA 4-2 TO WIN 2ND WORLD CUP TITLE FROM PAGE 1 also scored. But it was Mbappe who put the match out of reach with a furious passage of play in the second half. In the 59th, a run from Mbappe started a play that ended up with Pogba on the edge of the penalty area. With his second attempt, the midfielder curled his shot beyond Subasic.

Griezmann scored from the penalty spot in the 38th minute fully four minutes after his corner kick was knocked out of play by Ivan Perisic’s arm. The referee ruled it handball only after a video review, just as the first thunders claps boomed around the stadium.

France took the lead in the 18th when Croatia’s tallest outfield player, 1.90-metre (6-foot-3) forward Mario Mandzukic, rose to meet Griezmann’s free kick with the top of his head. He deflected it past his own goalkeeper.

Perisic and Mandzukic both scored for Croatia, first to equalise in the 28th minute and later as a consolation goal in the 69th, embarrassing Lloris with a flicked shot as the France goalkeeper tried to dribble the ball out of his goalmouth. But the three-goal lead was too much for the red-and-whitecheckered squad that made a habit of coming back — and played three straight 120-minute games before the final.

to watch a broadcast on giant screens that Paris police closed the area more than two hours before kickoff.

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin touches the World Cup trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stands beside him at the end of the final match between France and Croatia yesterday at the World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. France won 4-2.

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek) “After the fourth goal came in, I started thinking it would be difficult to come from behind for the fourth or fifth time,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. After Mandzukic scored, “I started hoping again, but it is very difficult to come back against opposition as difficult as France.”

France coach Didier Deschamps became only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and a coach. He joined Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer, who capatained West Germany.

Deschamps, France’s captain 20 years ago, was lifted up by his players on the field and flung into the air several teams and caught.

The normally staid coach did a few skipping dance steps in the rain before stopping and laughing at himself.

It was that kind of unbridled evening for the French who won with an exuberance not often seen in a mostly efficient, controlled title run.

Back home in France, thousands of fans headed to the Eiffel Tower

PRESIDENTS’ CLUB Putin watched the game in a VIP section with the presidents of France and Croatia, Emmanuel Macron and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Macron paced nervously out of his seat during the video review, and kissed his Croatian counterpart on both cheeks to console her after the game. They joined the medal ceremony and both kissed the gold trophy before it got to Lloris.

FINAL GOALS Finally, goals returned to the World Cup final in regulation time.

The two previous finals were 0-0 after 90 minutes before being settled with a single goal deep into extra time.

Three goals in the first half was the most prolific since 1974, when West Germany went into the break 2-1 up against the Netherlands.

That was the final score.

The six-goal final was the most since England beat West Germany 4-2 in 1966. It also ensured the 2018 World Cup had only one scoreless game, when France last played at Luzhniki Stadium against Denmark.

World Cup 2018 results SUNDAY Finals

France

4

Mario Mandzukic 18’ (OG) Antoine Griezmann 38’ (P) Paul Pogba 59’ Kylian Mbappe 65’

2

Croatia Ivan Perisic 28’ Mario Mandzukic 69’

BELGIUM BEATS ENGLAND 2-0 FOR 3RD PLACE

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — For Belgium and England, the third-place match at the World Cup was more like a dress rehearsal for future finals.

At least they hope.

The Belgians earned their best World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 on Saturday in a match both saw as the start of a push for the European Championship title in 2020 or the World Cup in 2022.

“With this winning mentality you can win trophies,” said Eden Hazard, who scored Belgium’s second goal. “In two years, in four years, we will be better. We have young players. They are very good also in the team. They push all of us.”

Thomas Meunier and Hazard both scored at St Petersburg Stadium in a match between the two semi-final losers.

France and Croatia played in the final yesterday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The French beat Belgium on Tuesday in the semi-finals, while the Croats defeated England on Wednesday.

England matched its best World Cup result — fourth in 1990 — since winning the tournament for the only time in 1966. “Today shows there’s room for improvement. We’re not the finished article. We’re still learning.

We’re still getting better,” England striker Harry Kane said. “We don’t want to wait another 20-odd years to get into another major semi-final.”

Both Belgium and England were playing for the seventh time in 26 days, but the Belgians entered the match with an extra day of rest.

Meunier’s goal matched a World Cup record for Belgium by having 10 different players score in a tournament, something only done before by France in 1982 and Italy in 2006.

Meunier scored in the fourth minute, knocking a cross from Nacer Chadli past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Hazard added the other off a pass from Kevin De Bruyne in the 82nd. Toby Alderweireld denied England’s best chance of the game, sliding on the goal line to clear a shot from Eric Dier.

It was the second time England and Belgium met in this year’s tournament.

In the group stage, both teams had already qualified before Belgium’s 1-0 win in Kaliningrad.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, July 16, 2018, PAGE 3

FAIRELL SIGNS WITH A TEAM IN TOP LEAGUE IN FRANCE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS 2-0 IN REGIONAL QUALIFIER FOR LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEAM Bahamas is off to an impressive start against the best youth competition in the region in a bid to become the region’s qualifier for the Little League World Series.

The Under-12 team from the Freedom Farm Baseball League is 2-0 thus far at the Caribbean Regional qualifying tournament at the Quintin Hernandez Stadium in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.

Participating teams include defending Caribbean champions Los Bravos de Pontezuela (Santiago, Dominican Republis), Aruba Center (Santa Cruz, Aruba), Pabao (Willemstad, Curacao), Radames Lopez (Guayama, Puerto Rico A), Gino Vega (Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico B) and District 1 (St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands). Freedom Farm scored a 10-3 win over Sabana

THE Under-12 team from the Freedom Farm Baseball League representing the Bahamas at the Caribbean Regional qualifying tournament for the Little League World Series at the Quintin Hernandez Stadium in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.

Grande yesterday for their second win of the tournament. Tavano Baker got the win on the mound.

In game one, Freedom Farm defeated the team from the Dominican Republic 3-2. Cleve Sutherland gave the Farmers the go ahead run with his single in the bottom of the eighth inning with

two outs. Andru Arthur was the winning pitcher.

The Bahamas will face District 1 from USVI 10am today at Wifo Montalvo Stadium. Tomorrow, they face another Puerto Rican home team - Radames Lopez at the same venue. Freedom Farm will close out preliminary play

Wednesday against Pabao back at Quintin Hernandez.

The semi-final rounds follow on Thursday and the tournament concludes with the championship and consolation game on Friday.

The winner of the tournament will advance to play in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Each of the eight international regions - Asia-Pacific, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, EuropeAfrica, Japan, Latin America and Mexico - will contest their regional tournaments this month.

The United States Divisions take place in early August.

The Little League Baseball World Series is set for August 16-26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Over the course of 30 days, approximately 935 Little Leaguers age 10-16 from nearly 80 different baseball and softball teams around the world will compete to determine the seven World Series Champions for 2018.

ONE member of the Bahamas’ senior men’s national basketball team looks to make his progression to the top league in France a permanent one with his recent signing.

Jonathan AugustinFairell signed with Cholet Basket of the LNB French A Pro League for the upcoming 2018-19 season.

At the end of last season he signed with JDA Dijon of LNB French Pro A as the team began their playoff run last May. He was called up to replace Jacques Alingue and in two games with the club he averaged five points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

He averaged 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during the regular season for ADA Blois of the French Pro B League. He was also named to Eurobasket.com All-French ProB Honorable Mention and League Player of the Week twice.

Samuel ‘Sammy’ Gardiner dies at 72 FROM PAGE 1 that the late Gardiner was an accomplished basketball player and a former national champion in table tennis before he ventured into golf.

“You never take death easy,” said Gardiner, who remembered the passing of their other brother, another golfer James ‘Yogi’ Gardiner, who died about six years ago. “He was sick, so we were better prepared for this one than

we did before. The family is handling this okay. We expected it.”

Gardiner’s wife predeceased him about two years ago, but he leaves behind two children and five siblings, including four sisters.

Immediate past BGF president Glenn Archer said he will certainly miss his close friend, as will many others whom Gardiner interacted with on the golf courses, especially on the Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, which was known as the home of

local golf since it was constructed by businessman and former BGF president Craig Flowers.

“Once you gave Sammy something to do, you didn’t have to worry about it. You knew that he would have gotten the job done,” Archer said.

“He was a real hard worker who did his best to support me in everything that I set out to achieve during my presidency.”

Archer said he remembers when Gardiner first complained

of a back problem and after getting it checked out by the doctors, he decided that he would not play anymore, at least not competitively.

“So he decided to devote his time to assisting the federation in the executive capacity.

“He served with distinction,” Archer recalled. “He will be missed because he was a good golfer who enjoyed the game. But he was always there to help in whatever way he could.”

‘Three Ounce’ looks forward to CAC Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net COACH Quintin “Three Ounce’ Hall is looking forward to taking the men’s national basketball team to the Central American and Caribbean Games next week. He’s just waiting on the remainder of the players to come in this week to put their game plans into motion.

Hall, the junior men’s national basketball coach, has been elevated to head the men’s national basketball team in the aftermath of the team’s failure to advance to the second round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifier.

Bahamas Basketball Federation’s first vice president Mario Bowleg, who served as the head coach for the FIBA Qualifier, said they felt Hall was the best person to lead the tam in the transitional stage from the high level of competition to getting back on track at the regional level.

“Having officially retired as a coach, this is not the turnover as it relates to the coaching staff for the men’s national team,” Hall said.

“The men’s national team assistant coaches Norris Bain, Kevin Johnson and Wayde Watson all have other commitments and Quintin Hall, who wasn’t travelling with the junior national team this year, was given the opportunity to coach this team for the CAC Games.

“And for this tournament, we wanted to use more of the college and semi-pro players who are in the pipeline to make the transition to the men’s national team, we have

MEMBERS of the men’s senior national basketball team with the coaching staff as they prepare for the CAC Games. decided to mix them on the team with some players who are returning from the World Cup Qualifier team.”

With the CAC Games serving as a qualifier for the 2019 Pan American Games, Bowleg said he’s confident that the team assembled can go to Colombia and get the job done.

“We’ve discovered in the World Cup Qualifier that we will need this team to get in as least four scrimmage games before they go to Colombia,” Bowleg said.

“The scrimmage games are important to allow the coaches to see their rotation as they look at what the coaches do well in and what they don’t do well in.

“We’ve learned that in the World Cup and so this is going to be the first team that will implement that.

This team is going to open up against Mexico and then play Cuba and followed by the Dominican Republic.

Those are tough games we have to play. We don’t know if these countries will be sending their A, B or C teams, but we know we have to be ready.”

Hall said the hard part is practice and having all of the players in the camp.

“I’ve been around the national team for about three decades, so I can tell you that’s always the hard part, getting all of the players together so that you can execute your game plan,” said the Grand Bahamian native. “This is my first practice and we only have seven guys right now. We have some coming in on Tuesday and the others will come later.

Whenever they all get here, we want to make sure that they are prepared to go to Colombia and play hard and leave it all out on the court. That’s the way I expect all of my teams to play and this team will be no exception.”

Trevor Grant, who will assist Hall, said he’s delighted to be able to serve in this capacity.

“I’m glad that I can assist the programme as we try to move on,” said Grant, who was an adviser to Bowleg during the World Cup Qualifier. “I expect for us to go over there and win it all. The mindset of these guys we have here now is that they want to

work. They have two no nonsense coaches in me and Ounce. They never say never. We are trying to get into the heads of these guys that they need to be machines. We might go there as the underdogs, but we are going to go over there to destroy teams and the first team we want to destroy is Mexico.”

The Bahamas has been placed in Group B with Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Group A comprises of Colombia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

According to team manager Arthur Thompson Jr, the Bahamas will open up against Mexico on July 29, play Cuba on July 30 and wrap up pool play against the Dominican Republic on July 31.

Depending on the outcome of the games, Thompson Jr said they will advance to the playoffs on August 1. The bronze medal game is scheduled for August 2 and the championship game is set for August 3.

The team is made up of Eugene Bain, Daejour Adderley, Jacob Jackson, Shavano Cooper, Robert

Nortman, Rashad Mackey, Tavario Miller, Michael Bain Jr, Samuel Hunter, Kentwan Smith, Michael Carey Jr and Mark Saint Ford.

So far, Hunter, Nortman, Mackey, Cooper, Bain, Carey Jr and Bain Jr are in town and are excited about their chances.

“We have a young team that is willing to work hard,” said Nortman.

“It’s a fight that can play defence, so I know we are going to fight every game.

I’m really excited to help this young group and be one of the guys to help lead this team.”

Michael Bain, one of the players who has been inserted on a number of the national teams, said it’s always an honour when called upon to represent the country.

“We are still waiting on the rest of the guys to come. Once we get everybody in place, we feel that the new coaching staff will get us running up and down the court. As you can see, they are working us out very hard,” Bain Jr said. “We are probably going to get into transition more than before, so that should be our strength.”

Carey Jr, one of the most consistent members of the national team in the World Cup Qualifier, said he’s not concerned about any expectations for the team.

“We’re just going to go out there and play to the best of our abilities,” he said. “I think after we would have had everybody in and gone through our workout sessions, we will be able to make a better assessment of what we should look like when we go to Colombia.”

FAIRELL Augustin-Fairell appeared as a member of the Bahamian national team this year during the FIBA World Qualifiers.

In his debut for Team Bahamas, he finished with four points, two rebounds and two assists in a loss to the Dominican Republic.

Fairell spent last season with SPO Rouen Basket of the French Pro B League.

Duran International represents Fairell, who averaged a team-high 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season in 34 games for Rouen.

In his first year (2015-16) of professional basketball, Fairell played with Vienna in Austrian A Bundesliga, where in 42 games he averaged 14 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He finished second in the league in rebounds that season.

Fairell helped Vienna to win the Supercup and make it to the league semifinals. It was a successful season for Fairell, as he was selected to the Eurobasket. com All-Austrian League 2nd Team and to the league’s all-star game.

Prior to turning pro in 2015, Fairell played collegiate basketball with Murray State.

MillerUibo FROM PAGE 1 Barshim, who was unbeaten in three meets with 24 points and Danil Lysenko, one of the authorised neutral athletes, with 22 points.

Trevor Barry, who has appeared in one meet, is sitting in 13th spot in the men’s high jump with just three points.

Miller-Uibo and Gardiner, who both appeared in the final last year, will have to finish in the top seven to join Thomas in qualifying for another appearance in the final in Zurich and Brussels on August 30 and 31. Last year, Miller-Uibo won the 200/400 double, but Gardiner slipped coming out of his block and didn’t complete the men’s 400m.

PAGE 4, Monday, July 16, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Degenkolb masters cobblestones as Porte crashes out of Tour

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROUBAIX, France (AP) — Richie Porte sat on the pavement grasping his right shoulder and grimacing in pain. A fan helped Chris Froome get going after he tumbled onto grass lining the road.

Romain Bardet recovered from three punctured tires.

And they were only the highest-profile riders to face mishaps in the actionpacked cobblestoned Stage 9 of the Tour de France on Sunday.

Every cyclist who reached the finish was covered in dust — many with their jerseys torn to shreds from crashes.

Spanish rider Gorka Izaguirre had the unusual experience of his rear wheel buckling to the point that it looked like something out of a scrap heap.

John Degenkolb won a three-man sprint to take victory in a memorable stage, while overall contender Porte crashed out of the race.

Yellow-jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet crossed second and increased his overall lead to 43 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas, a teammate of Froome’s at Sky. Yves Lampaert of QuickStep finished third.

“It was a pretty hectic day,” Van Avermaet said after the dust settled.

Added Thomas, “It was just hard all day from kilometer zero. You’ve got to be in the right position but you also need the luck because it’s easy to puncture or get caught up in something.”

Froome, the four-time champion, crossed in the main pack, 27 seconds behind, overcoming a crash with 45 kilometers (28 miles) to go that saw him go over the top of teammate Gianni Moscon.

“I’m relieved to get through today and looking forward to getting into the mountains now where the real race for GC (general classification) will start,” Froome said.

Froome moved up to eighth overall, 1:42 behind Van Avermaet, who is not a threat in the mountains.

Porte, the BMC team leader, crashed out of the Tour 10 kilometers into the 156.5-kilometer (97-mile) leg — before any of the 15 cobblestone sections. He was later diagnosed with a fractured right clavicle.

Porte also crashed out of last year’s Tour in the ninth stage, on a mountain descent.

“It won’t be easy for him to get back in his mind,” teammate Van Avermaet said.

“The good thing is that his crash is not as bad as last year so he will recover faster.”

Rigoberto Uran, last year’s runner-up, and Mikel Landa, one of three leaders of the Movistar team, also each crashed and lost time.

Bardet, the French hope who finished on the podium the last two years, finished only seven seconds behind the main pack despite having to be paced back to the peloton three times.

Among the favorites in the overall standings apart from Froome: Alejandro Valverde is fifth (1:31 behind); Rafal Majka sixth (1:32); Jakob Fuglsang seventh (1:33); Adam Yates ninth (1:42); Landa 10th (1:42); Vincenzo Nibali 12th (1:48); Tom Dumoulin 15th (2:03); and Bardet 17th (2:32).

It was the first career victory at the Tour for Degenkolb, who rides for the Trek-Segafredo team.

The German rider won the Paris-Roubaix single-day classic, which covers much of the same course, in 2015.

THE PACK rides over the first cobblestone sector yesterday during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 156.5 kilometres (97.2 miles) with start in Arras and finish in Roubaix, France.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Degenkolb was the victim of a serious training accident in January 2016 when a car drove into oncoming traffic. Then he crashed in Paris-Roubaix this year and injured his knee. “You start doubting if you can still do it,” Degenkolb said. “That is the hardest part to don’t lose the trust in yourself and that you can still be up there. I am so happy that my wife and my family gave me the strength to do this to give it 100 percent and work hard. It is amazing.”

Degenkolb became the third rider to win both Paris-Roubaix and a cobbled stage at the Tour after Roger De Vlaeminck and Bernard Hinault.

His average speed over the stage was 45.9 kph overall and 39.8 kph on the cobbles.

The route starting in Arras contained the highest number of cobblestone sections since the 1980 Tour, with nearly 22 kilometers altogether.

While it wasn’t rainy and muddy like in April for the Paris-Roubaix race, the

heat and sun made it dry and dusty.

Others who crashed included: Dylan Groenewegen, the Dutch rider who won the previous two stages; Froome’s Sky teammates Egan Bernal and Michal Kwiatkowski; American hope Tejay van Garderen and Italian sprinter Sonny Colbrelli.

After the first rest day Monday, the Tour resumes in the Alps on Tuesday with a 158.5-kilometer (98.5mile) leg from Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand featuring four serious climbs.

JABARI PARKER AGREES TO $40 MILLION, 2-YEAR DEAL WITH BULLS

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Jabari Parker and the Chicago Bulls agreed Saturday to a $40 million, two-year contract, bringing the talented and oft-injured forward to his hometown team.

Agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed the deal shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks rescinded their qualifying offer. That made Parker an unrestricted free agent, clearing the way for him to join the rebuilding Bulls.

The 23-year-old Parker led Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy to four state championships and starred for one season at Duke before the Bucks drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2014.

The Bulls are banking on him to stay healthy after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee twice in four seasons with Milwaukee.

“Jabari is a 23-year-old player who is a natural fit with our young core, and is a proven scorer at the NBA level,” general manager Gar Forman said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming him back to his hometown.”

Parker has averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. His best season was in 2016-17 when he averaged 20.1 points in 51 games before tearing his ACL a second time. He played 31 games last year, averaging 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.

“Jabari and I felt it was in the best interest of both he and the team to rescind our qualifying

offer, making him an unrestricted free agent,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. “We appreciate everything Jabari has brought to our team and our community over the last four years and we wish him well.”

Bartelstein praised the Bucks for “working side-by-side with us.”

“From the moment the Bucks drafted Jabari with the No. 2 pick in the 2014 Draft, they have gone out of their way to treat Jabari as a member of the Bucks family, and this is another perfect example of doing exactly that, and we’re very appreciative,” he said.

Parker goes from playing alongside superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to trying to help the Bulls rise in the Eastern Conference after a 27-win season. He

figures to start at small forward, with Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine in the backcourt, Lauri Markkanen at power forward and either rookie Wendell Carter Jr. or veteran Robin Lopez at center.

The son of former NBA player Sonny Parker, Jabari Parker was one of the most highly touted prospects to come out of Illinois.

He played at the same high school as Derrick Rose, who was drafted by the Bulls with the No. 1 pick in 2008 and became the youngest MVP in league history three years later. Of course, knee injuries derailed his run in Chicago. And the Bulls are hoping Parker’s injuries are behind him.

Chicago also released guard Julyan Stone and forward Paul Zipser on Saturday.

DEMPS: RANDLE, PAYTON ADDITIONS MAKE THE PELICANS BETTER

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Whether the Pelicans are better off with Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton than they were with DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo remains to be seen.

All general manager Dell Demps could do on Friday, as he sat between his two new players, was offer assurances that New Orleans All-Star Anthony Davis was an ardent advocate for signing Randle and suggest that the “two-way” abilities of Payton and Randle give the Pelicans a promising opportunity to build on a formula that served them well late last season.

Before Cousins spurned New Orleans in favor of a one-year, reported $5.3 million deal to join defending champion Golden State this month, the Pelicans’ party line had been that they wanted Cousins back. But with Cousins still recovering from a serious injury, the Pelicans would not offer the maximum allowable contract for NBA free agents who are eight-year veterans: Five years and around $177 million. They tried to negotiate a shorter deal instead, to no avail.

Cousins, who turns 28 next month, was named a 2018 All-Star

before his injury in late January.

He averaged 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds in 48 games last season.

But Cousins also averaged five turnovers and regularly could be seen lingering near the basket after missed shots, expressing dissatisfaction with officiating while opponents raced five-on-four the other way.

After Cousins’ injury, the Pelicans improved defensively, played with a faster pace and went 21-13 to finish the regular season sixth in the Western Conference.

“Obviously we want to build off the success we had last year,” Demps said, emphasizing that Randle and Payton “are two-way players” who can “push the ball in transition.” In addition to talking up Randle’s and Payton’s defensive play, Demps highlighted their relative youth and repeatedly referred to them as “unselfish.”

The 6-foot-9 Randle, who turns 24 in November, averaged 16.1 points and eight rebounds in just 27 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He also led Los Angeles in assists seven times.

Demps said he heard from Davis the moment word spread that the Lakers had decided to let Randle go after agreeing to terms with LeBron James.

NEW Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, centre, poses for a photo at a news conference announcing the recent signings of Elfrid Payton, left, and Julius Randle, at their NBA training facility on Friday.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) “I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re on it,’” a grinning Demps recalled.

Randle said Davis also called him “like three times in a row to pretty much get the job done.”

Randle called Davis’ outreach a “very important” factor in his decision. “It’s their star player,” Randle said of Davis, whom he also knew because they both played in college at Kentucky. “So for him to see me fit in well to that plan A and a part of their future means a lot.”

Like Randle, the 23-year-old Payton is entering his fifth NBA season, having averaged 12.7 points and 6.2 assists last season Orlando and Phoenix.

Rondo, who will turn 33 next season, averaged 8.3 points and 8.2 rebounds last season. But his production spiked in the playoffs, when he averaged 10.3 points and 12.2 rebounds — and displayed a knack for finding Davis with lobs at the rim.

While the 6-4 Payton is a New Orleans native who played in college at Louisiana-Lafayette, he downplayed how much his Louisiana ties influenced his decision to sign with the Pelicans.

Demps said he had studied Payton since before the guard turned pro and “always felt like he was a great fit for our group, especially the way we want to play.”

MURPHY’S BIG HIT HELPS NATIONALS BEAT METS 6-1 NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner each hit a two-run single in Washington’s fiverun seventh inning, helping the Nationals beat the New York Mets 6-1 on Sunday.

Matt Adams added two hits and scored a run as Washington salvaged a split of its four-game set against New York. A preseason favorite to win the NL East and contend for a World Series championship, the disappointing Nationals hit the All-Star break with a 48-48 record, good for third in the division.

Jeremy Hellickson (4-1) pitched six crisp innings in his second straight win.

The veteran right-hander allowed one run and two hits, struck out six and walked two.

Jose Reyes drove in Michael Conforto with a fielder’s choice in the second, tying it at 1, but Washington grabbed control in the seventh.

Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon opened the inning with walks against Anthony Swarzak (0-2).

Tim Peterson then came in and surrendered singles to Adams and Murphy, who came off the bench to hit for Michael A. Taylor.

Jerry Blevins replaced Peterson with two out and runners on second and third. But he hit Wilmer Difo and Adam Eaton before Turner’s single gave Washington a 6-1 lead.

DEMARCO MURRAY RETIRES DeMarco Murray is retiring from the NFL. The 2014 Offensive Player of the Year made the announcement on ESPN on Friday, four months after being released by the Tennessee Titans.

Murray, 30, lost his job to Derrick Henry last season and was due to make $6.25 million in 2018 when the Titans let him go. He ran for 659 yards and six touchdowns last season, dealt with a knee injury late in the year, and missed the Titans’ final regular-season game and two playoff contests.

“I think you just wake up,” Murray said. “I’ve always heard the saying when you know, you know, and one day that day will come, and for me it was the last year or two. ... I’ve been constantly thinking about this. Working out still, in great shape, feel great and it’s time.

“I just woke up a couple weeks ago and it started to burn and burn and trigger and it got deeper, so this morning I decided to call it a career.”

LAKERS’ BALL TO UNDERGO KNEE SURGERY EL SEGUNDO, California (AP) — Lakers guard Lonzo Ball is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his left knee.

The team said Friday that it will provide an update on Ball’s condition after the surgery. He has a torn meniscus.

Ball, who was chosen by the Lakers with the second overall pick in last year’s draft, averaged 10.2 points and 7.2 assists during his first NBA season. He started 50 games.

He’s expected to compete with the recently signed Rajon Rondo during training camp this fall to be Los Angeles’ starting point guard. The 32-year-old Rondo agreed to a one-year deal worth $9 million this month to suit up alongside LeBron James.

General manager Rob Pelinka said this week that Ball will be fully healthy for training camp.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, July 16, 2018, PAGE 5

No doubt: Djokovic wins 4th Wimbledon, 1st Slam in 2 years

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic acknowledged that he was worried. His coach was, too.

Could Djokovic ever return to the top of tennis?

To the heights he’d already reached? Could he put aside the time lost to a painful right elbow that required surgery and the disappointment of poorfor-him results? Could he end a Grand Slam drought that lasted more than two years?

All of that fretting seemed misplaced last night. Back at his best, Djokovic became Wimbledon’s champion for the fourth time, grabbing a lead right away against a weary Kevin Anderson in the final and holding off a late challenge to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3).

“There were several moments where I was frustrated and questioning whether I can get back (to the) desired level or not.

But that makes this whole journey even more special for me,” Djokovic said.

“It’s easy to talk now and look back at it and be kind of grateful, but I really am grateful to go through this kind of, so to say, mixed emotions, turbulences as well, mentally, moments of doubt and disappointment and frustration, anger.”

It is Djokovic’s 13th major trophy, the fourthhighest total in the history of men’s tennis, trailing only Roger Federer’s 20, Rafael Nadal’s 17 and his childhood idol Pete Sampras’ 14. But it’s also Djokovic’s first since he completed a career Grand Slam at the 2016 French Open. “It was a long journey,” the 31-year-old from Serbia said. “I couldn’t pick a better place, to be honest, in the tennis world to peak and to make a comeback.”

A year ago at the All England Club, Djokovic quit during his quarter-final because of the elbow, then took the rest of 2017 off.

After the operation in February, Djokovic’s results were mediocre.

He realised later he tried to come back too soon. “I really was impatient,” he says now.

In April, he reunited with Marian Vajda, the man who had coached Djokovic for years before Boris Becker and Andre Agassi did. “I always had doubt,” Vajda said. “I was thinking really negative.”

They built “the new Novak,” as Vajda explained it.

Retooled his serve.

Made adjustments to other strokes.

Still, Djokovic was so dispirited by his upset loss at the French Open last month that he vowed, in the heat of the moment, to skip the grass-court circuit.

Good thing he didn’t stick to that.

Because he fell out of the top 20 for the first time in more than a decade, the No. 21 Djokovic is the lowest-ranked Wimbledon titlist since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

On Sunday, under a pale blue sky interrupted by only the occasional soft white puff of cloud, Djokovic looked far more like a guy who used to be No. 1.

“The first two sets,” said Anderson, who played college tennis at the University of Illinois, “Novak beat up on me pretty bad.”

Anderson could be excused for exhaustion. His semifinal was the secondlongest Grand Slam match in history, lasting more than 6½ hours until he edged John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set. And that followed another extended fifth set in his 13-11 upset of eighttime champion Federer in the quarterfinals.

Anderson also blamed some nerves.

This was, after all, the 22nd Grand Slam final for Djokovic, and the second for Anderson, the runnerup at last year’s US Open and aiming to become the first South African man to win Wimbledon.

He was so out of sorts, his strokes so off-the-mark, that Djokovic gathered eight of the first 10 games even though he only conjured up two winners. No need for more, because Anderson gifted him 15 unforced errors in that span.

“I didn’t really find my form the way I wanted to,” said Anderson, whose right elbow was massaged by a trainer after the first set.

BRANDON STONE

STONE WINS SCOTTISH OPEN, MISSES 1ST 59 ON EUROPEAN TOUR SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic lifts the trophy after winning the singles final match against Kevin Anderson of South Africa at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London yesterday.

(AP Photos/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning yesterday.

“Of course, my body didn’t feel great.”

It was so lopsided for the first hour-plus that spectators began pulling for Anderson, likely in the hopes of getting more tennis for their tickets, which carried a face value of 210 pounds (about $275).

Somehow, Anderson raised his game late and nearly managed to extend the match, five times standing just a point away from forcing a fourth set.

Djokovic held steady on each one, then was as superior in the tiebreaker as he was most of the afternoon.

“You can definitely see the improvements he’s made since coming back from injury,” Anderson said.

By the end, Djokovic’s new serve had saved all seven break points he

faced. His groundstrokes were a big reason he only made 13 unforced errors, while Anderson had 32.

When Anderson pushed a forehand return into the net to end it, Djokovic exhaled. After they shook hands, Djokovic performed his personal ritual of bending down to grab a couple of blades of grass and plopping them in his mouth, savoring the triumph.

He did the same after his Wimbledon titles in 2011, 2014 and 2015. One key difference on this day was the presence of two special guests: The doctor who performed the elbow surgery and Djokovic’s 3-year-old son, Stefan, who was in the stands for the trophy presentation.

Later, they met in a hallway, and Djokovic knelt down to hug his child. “It feels amazing,” Djokovic

said, “because for the first time in my life, I have someone screaming ‘Daddy! Daddy!’”

As much as Djokovic is known for his body-bending defence and unerring reads on opponents’ serves, he’s also someone who fills his matches with histrionics and exaggerated reactions, whether violently smacking the side of his shoe with his racket — as he did against Nadal in their thrilling fiveset semifinal that began Friday and ended Saturday — or tearing off his shirt to celebrate a victory.

This day was no different. Angered by fans making noise during points, he told the chair umpire to tell them to shut up, throwing a colourful word into the demand. He pointed to his ear after winning one point, as if to say: “Who are you cheering for now?!” He blew a kiss toward the stands after another.

But when he broke Anderson for the second time in three service games at the outset, Djokovic simply shook a clenched fist while calmly looking at his guest box above the scoreboard.

The bright yellow digits on there showed that Djokovic already led 4-1 after all of 18 minutes.

And we might as well have declared him the champion, right then and there.

KERBER TOPS WILLIAMS FOR 3RD GRAND SLAM TITLE

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — Angelique Kerber was not about to be overwhelmed by the setting or the stakes in this Wimbledon final. She knew exactly what to expect — and what to do — against Serena Williams.

Two years after losing to Williams with a title on the line at Centre Court, Kerber came through. So steady, so patient, so accurate throughout, she never really gave Williams much of a chance this time, putting together a 6-3, 6-3 victory Saturday for her first championship at the All England Club and third major overall.

“I think it’s the experience. You have to go through all the things — the good things, the bad things — and then you need to learn,” said Kerber, the first German to win Wimbledon since Steffi Graf in 1996.

“I know that against Serena, I have to play my best tennis, especially in the important moments,” said Kerber, who won the Australian Open and US Open in 2016, but was the runner-up to Williams at Wimbledon that season, “especially in the important moments.”

That’s just what she did.

“Angelique played really well,” Williams said. “She played out of her mind.”

Kerber made only five unforced errors the entire match, 19 fewer than Williams. Perhaps more impressive was this: She broke Williams in 4 of 9 service games.

In doing so, Kerber prevented Williams from claiming an eighth title at Wimbledon and 24th from all Grand Slam tournaments, which would have equalled Margaret Court’s record. As things stand, Williams holds the mark for the half-century of professional tennis, one ahead of Kerber’s idol, Graf.

SERENA WILLIAMS, of the United States, kneels at the net during her singles final match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber (holding trophy above) at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Williams gave birth only 10½ months ago, then was treated for blood clots . She wore special compression leggings as a precaution during Wimbledon, just the fourth tournament of her comeback.

After all the time away, Williams spoke about being impressed with herself for just reaching the final.

She also wanted to win, of course.

“To all the moms out there, I was playing for you today — and I tried,” said the 36-year-old American, her voice shaking during the trophy ceremony.

Kerber addressed Williams during the on-court interviews, saying: “You’re such an inspiration for everybody, for all of us. I’m sure you will have your next Grand Slam title soon. I’m really, really sure.”

The final started more than two hours late, because they had to wait for the end of Novak Djokovic’s five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in a men’s semi-final that was suspended the night before.

On Sunday, Djokovic played Kevin Anderson, who won his semi-final against John Isner 26-24 in the fifth set Friday night. Despite so much Grand Slam success, despite holding a 6-2 career edge against

Kerber entering the day, Williams played tightly right from the outset.

After taking the opening two points, she made four miscues in a row to get broken. That was part of a run in which she dropped 8 of 9 points. Williams was mostly her own undoing, too: She was responsible for the final’s initial six unforced errors. By the time the first set was over, the disparity was 14-3.

That’s not going to work against an opponent of Kerber’s quality.

Trying to sneak a ball by Kerber is something akin to trying to put one past a brick wall. There are no holes.

The left-hander scurried along the baseline, this way and that, using a combination of quickness and anticipation to track down what often appeared to be winners for Williams but were not enough to end a point. Kerber would bend real low, even putting a knee right on the grass to get a ball back.

And when she swung her racket, the measure was almost always true. Kerber is much more than a defender. She has added a more aggressive element to her game in recent years and worked to

improve her serve. “I’m still sure that we haven’t seen the best Angie,” said her coach, Wim Fissette. “The defense is one of her qualities, but she also knows now that she’s not going to win a Grand Slam with just defense, and that’s, for me, very important.”

Kerber was broken only once.

And she delivered a pair of downthe-line forehand passing winners to grab the last break of Williams she’d need, for a 4-2 edge in the second set. Kerber celebrated match point by covering her face and collapsing flat on her back, getting grass stains on her white outfit. She relished the moment she had dreamt about as a little kid, watching Graf on TV. After embracing Williams, she climbed into the stands to hug Fissette and her family.

Later, Kerber sipped champagne and collected the round, purple badge given to a champion to signify membership in the All England Club. She affixed the badge to her white T-shirt and laughed as she proudly played with it at the start of her news conference. “Winning here, it’s forever,” Kerber said. “Nobody can take the title away from me now.”

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer GULLANE, Scotland (AP) — Brandon Stone sank to his haunches, clasped his face and dropped his putter in despair after coming within inches of being the first player to shoot a round of 59 on the European Tour.

It wasn’t all bad for the South African golfer.

Stone’s 10-under 60 secured a four-shot victory at the Scottish Open yesterday, earning him a third professional title of his career — the first outside his native country — and the bonus prize of a qualifying spot in next week’s British Open just up the east coast at Carnoustie.

He left the Gullane links with a slight sense of regret, though.

Stone’s approach to the 18th green skipped on and came to rest about 8 feet from the hole. As he walked up to the green, he looked at a scoreboard for the first time all day, totted up the birdies — and eagle — that he’d made and then looked at his caddy, Teagan Moore.

“He went, ‘Yeah, we’ve got a shot at a 59,’” Stone said.

He let his caddy read the line — “This is completely up to you,” Stone told him — and the putt looked like it was going to roll into the cup, only for it to curl just left. Stone slumped almost to his knees, put both hands to his face, then stared at the ball for some time.

“I rolled it over his mark,” Stone said of his caddy, “but he did criticise my pace so he is probably right. Didn’t hold its line, but we’ll take it.”

That elusive sub-60 round in 46 years of European Tour play will have to wait for another tournament. It was officially the 19th round of 60 on the tour — 18 players have achieved the feat, with Darren Clarke doing so twice.

There have officially been nine sub-60 rounds on the PGA Tour, with one of them being a 58 — by Jim Furyk at the Travelers Championship in 2016.

For the No. 371-ranked Stone, it was a return to form after a disappointing season. He had missed the cut at nine of his previous 16 events and recorded only two finishes inside the top 60 in 20 starts since October.

His previous wins both came in South Africa, at the BMW SA Open in 2016 and Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2017.

Stone rolled in four birdies on the front nine, then more on Nos. 10, 12, 14 and 15. He curled in a 40-foot eagle putt at No. 16, virtually guaranteeing him the win and leaving him needing one birdie on his final two holes for a 59.

On No. 17, he left a long putt short before more agony at the last.

Stone’s run of back-nine birdies allowed him to pull clear of Eddie Pepperell, who led for much of the final round after picking up six strokes in his first 10 holes.

He shot 64 to finish alone in second place, one clear of Luke List (64), 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman (65) and unheralded Swede Jens Dantorp (68).

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, July 16, 2018, PAGE 7

Pacquiao wins 60th career fight with 7th-round KO

By EILEEN NG Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Manny Pacquiao won by knockout for the first time in nine years to claim the World Boxing Association welterweight title, and made a proclamation.

“This is it. I am back in boxing,” the 39-year-old Pacquiao said after his seventh-round knockout of Lucas Matthysse yesterday.

“I am not done. I’m still there.”

It was Pacquiao’s first bout since a contentious loss last year to Jeff Horn in Australia, and since parting ways with longtime trainer Freddie Roach to work with Buboy Fernandez.

“It’s just a matter of time.

You have to rest and get it back and that’s what I did.”

Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) knocked Matthysse down onto one knee in the third and fifth rounds. He knocked the Argentine down again in the seventh, and Matthysse spat out his mouthpiece, causing a

frenzy among Pacquiao fans in the stadium. “I am not boasting but ... I think he’s hurting from my punches,” said Pacquiao, who hadn’t won by knockout since 2009. “Every punch that I throw, he’s hurt. I think he’s scared of my punches.”

Matthysse, who won 36 out of 39 matches by knockout, said Pacquiao was a “great fighter, a great legend,” adding that he planned to take a break.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attended the fight, the biggest in the country since the 1975 heavyweight clash between Muhammad Ali and Australian Joe Bugner.

“I would like to congratulate Senator Manny Pacquiao for giving us pride and bringing the Filipino nation together once more,” said Duterte, who flew to Malaysia for the bout ahead of an official visit.

Duterte said in a statement that Pacquiao has proven himself again as

MANNY PACQUIAO, of the Philippines, left, celebrates after defeating Lucas Matthysse of Argentina during their WBA World welterweight title bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Yam G-Jun) waved flags and chanted “Manny, Manny” throughout the match. Pacquiao’s rise to fame from an impoverished rural childhood to become one of the world’s

“one of the greatest boxers of all time” and that the win will cement his legacy in the sport.

Scores of screaming Filipino fans in the stadium

wealthiest sportsmen over his 23-year career has made him a national hero.

Pacquaio said he will return to his work as a senator for now but won’t be

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny and breezy

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny and delightful

High: 89°

Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 79°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

99° F

86° F

99°-85° F

100°-84° F

98°-83° F

98°-86° F

ORLANDO

TAMPA

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

N

almanac

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ABACO

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High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

S

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6‑12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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WEST PALM BEACH

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uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

3‑6 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 27.80” Normal year to date ................................... 16.76”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

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KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 82° F/28° C

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:15 a.m.

11:39 p.m.

3.1 3.5

5:13 a.m. ‑0.4 5:24 p.m. ‑0.2

Tuesday

12:12 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.1 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:06 a.m. ‑0.3 6:23 p.m. 0.0

Wednesday 12:33 a.m.

1:11 p.m.

3.2 3.0

7:00 a.m. ‑0.1 7:25 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

1:29 a.m.

2:12 p.m.

3.0 3.0

7:54 a.m.

8:28 p.m.

0.0 0.5

Friday

2:27 a.m.

3:12 p.m.

2.7 2.9

8:49 a.m.

9:33 p.m.

0.2 0.7

Saturday

3:26 a.m.

4:11 p.m.

2.5 2.9

9:45 a.m. 0.3 10:35 p.m. 0.8

Sunday

4:24 a.m.

5:06 p.m.

2.4 2.9

10:38 a.m. 0.4 11:33 p.m. 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:30 a.m.

8:02 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:16 a.m.

11:14 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Jul. 19

Jul. 27

Aug. 4

Aug. 11

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

4‑8 knots

S

7‑14 knots

ANDROS

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

hanging up the gloves just yet.

“I am addicted to boxing.

I really love to fight and bring honour to my country,” he said. “That’s my heart’s desire.”

Horn, who lost his WBO welterweight title to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas last month, was quick to respond to Pacquiao’s victory.

“Congratulations Manny Pacquiao,” Horn posted on Instagram. “Rematch?”

In the other title fights, Filipino Jhack Tepora had a knockout win over Edivaldo Oretga of Mexico for the interim WBA featherweight title.

Venezuela’s Carlos Canizales defended his WBA world light flyweight title against China’s Lu Bin, who had been aiming to become the first boxer to win a major world title in just two career fights.

South African Moruti Mthalane got a unanimous decision against Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem to capture the IBF flyweight title.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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

H

E

W

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8‑16 knots

8‑16 knots

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

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS SE at 6‑12 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 7 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

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