07182017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017

Baroness predicts ‘best ever’ Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

B

efore it gets started today, Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland predicted that she’s looking forward to the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games being the best ever.

Scotland, who took office on April 1, 2016, was among the speakers who addressed the audience during the welcome press conference held yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on the eve of the start of the biggest multiple sports event

to be staged in the country. She joined Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Michael Pintard;, Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller, BTC’s interim CEO Dexter Cartwright and Lianne Roofe, a member of the Jamaica women’s beach volleyball team.

Scotland, who hails from Dominica, said it has been a long time for the games to come home after

Jamaica was the last country to host the Commonwealth Games in 1966.

“The Commonwealth Youth Games is symbolic of the unique strength and the focused areas for the Commonwealth,” she said.

“What I know we will see when these games start is the beauty and the vibrancy of our young people. “So I’m asking each and every person who will be participating in these games to give of their best and to show the world

how wonderful you are.”

Scotland said this is just the start of something, not the end.

“I hope we will go on and on.

This is the sixth games, this will not be the last, but you never know Bahamas, it may just be the best so far,” she projected.

Looking at the stage that was being erected for the official opening ceremonies tonight at the stadium, Martin could only lament that the “stage is set” for the games.

“The stage is set for a uniquely Caribbean celebration of the young sporting Commonwealth,” she said. “It has been a tremen-

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Judo athletes ready to rumble

NAUGHTY

Column, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES DAILY SCHEDULE THE schedule of events for the 6th Commonwealth Youth Games: TODAY Beach Volleyball at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility Court One 9am - Cameroon vs England (W) 9:50am - Australia vs Nigeria (W) 10:40pm - New Zealand vs Rwanda (W) Noon - Jamaica vs Scotland (W) 12:50pm - Bahamas vs England (W) 1:40pm - St Lucia vs Australia (W) Court Two 9am - Australia vs Nigeria (M) 9:50am - Republic of South Africa vs Scotland (M) 10:40am - Papua New Guinea vs Ghana (M) Noon - Jamaica vs England (M) 12:50pm - St Lucia vs Australia (M) 1:40pm - Bahamas vs Scotland (M) Judo at Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium 10am - Judo prelims and finals

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: National judo team members are scheduled to begin competition at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium today, starting at 10am with the preliminary rounds. Shown (l-r) are coach D’Arcy Rahming Jr, Amaralis Savon, coach, team members Karra Hanna (70kg), Mya Beneby (57kg), Daleon Sweeting (90kg), Davante Sweeting (60kg), Keyon Cumberbatch (90kg), Taliano Ferguson (73kg), Breanna Major (70kg) and Jasmine Russell (48kg) and federation president D’Arcy Rahming Sr.

‘IT’S A GREAT DEAL TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net KEVIN Major Jr, back home for the summer break from college, clearly remembers when he and Jonathan Taylor represented the Bahamas in 2008 at the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.

“It’s a great deal to be able to represent your country because games like those only come around once every so often,” said Major Jr about the sixth edition of the games that will begin today in the capital.

“So just to be able to play in it is an accolade within itself and just to experience other sports, other cultures in one week from a country that you may never get to go to.”

Major Jr, now 22, was 14 at the time and Taylor was 16. The duo both lost in the first round of singles and they also got ousted in the

same round in douAs a member of bles. But he said he the Trojans men’s had a lot of fun. “It’s tennis team, Major so fortunate that as a Jr compiled a 20-3 14-year-old, we had win-loss record in an umpire, linesmen singles in the regular and ball boys,” Maseason. jor said. “I know we However, he had got a lot out of the to miss the team’s experience.” playoffs due to an But Major Jr said injury. “Next year, it’s a big deal to be we should be able to competing at home. win our conference “Anytime you get title,” he projected. to play in front of “We had a pretty our home crowd, it’s good team this year, a big deal, especially but we missed it. I KEVIN MAJOR JR for me,” he said. “So think we will be betI hope the athletes ter next year.” on the team will take advantage of Major Jr said his rookie season this rare opportunity.” has been all that he expected and Almost a decade since he and more. “Playing at level is differTaylor carried the Bahamian flag ent. It’s a lot harder because you in men’s tennis, 22-year-old Major are playing against players who are Jr is now enrolled in college where much more aggressive,” he reflecthe just completed his freshman ed. “They are always fighting right year at Seminole State College. to the end.”

As he had just enrolled in college on an athletic scholarship, Major Jr had to skip the trip for the first round of the American Zone III Davis Cup tie where the Bahamas played in zone II in Bolivia in April, losing 4-1 to get relegated to zone III for 2018.

“I asked my coach to let me go, but he said I couldn’t,” Major Jr said. “It was quite disappointing making the team and not getting to compete. But hopefully I can play next year.”

Looking at the performances of the team, Major Jr said it’s obvious that the players have to be in tip-top shape in order to play the gruelling five set matches in Davis Cup. “We haven’t been there in a long time and the guys we played had a little more experience than us,” Major Jr stated. “We didn’t get beat by skills. The other guys were just a little more experienced. But next time for sure, I know we will do it.”

WEDNESDAY Aquatics at Betty Kelly Aquatics Centre 10am - Women’s 50m butterfly (W) 10:13am - Men’s 50m butterfly (M) 10:22am - Women’s 200m freestyle (W) 10:30am - 200m free (M) 10:40am - 100m back (W) 10am - 100m back (M) 10:45am - 200 breast (W) 11am - 200m breast (M) 11:15am - Men’s 1,500m freestyle (M) 5:30pm - 50m fly (W) 5:44pm - 50m fly (M) 5:58pm - 200m free (W) 6:07pm - 200m free (M) 6:26pm - 100m back (W) 6:41pm - 100m back (M) 7:06pm - 200 breast (W) 7:15pm - 200 breast (M) 7:25pm - 1,500m free (M) Beach volleyball at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility Court one 9am - Trinidad & Tobago vs Rwanda (W) 9:50am - Vanatu vs Scotland (W) 10:40am - St Lucia vs Nigeria (W) Court two 9am - New Zealand vs England (M) 9:50am - Trinidad & Tobago vs Ghana (M) 10:40am - St Lucia vs Nigeria (M) Beach soccer at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility 4:15pm - T&T vs Turks & Caicos (W) 5:30pm - T&T vs Antigua & Barbuda (M) 6:45pm - JA vs Bah (W)

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Vanderpool-Wallace Cartwright advances McPhee-McCuin: resumes her training to main draw of Iris Our ultimate goal is Ladies Trophy on the Olympic qualification ITF women’s circuit

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s most decorated and accomplished swimmer officially announced her return to a full-time commitment to the sport and will do so in new surroundings.

Arianna VanderpoolWallace took to social media to announce that her hiatus from the sport has officially come to an end as she resumes her training with the University of North Carolina State’s Wolfpack Elite.

“After a year away from competitive swimming I have made the decision to go back to full-time swimming,” she said in a Face-

book post. “I’ve learned so much about myself as well as the sport, since I had the opportunity to stay very much involved while I was working with the Auburn swimming and diving programme. I have so much respect for coach Brett Hawke as well as the entire staff over in Auburn.

For personal reasons however, I just could not stay in Auburn and be mentally healthy there. I have decided to continue my career training with NC State Wolfpack Elite.”

In May, Vanderpool-Wallace signed on as the director of operators for the Auburn Tigers’ swimming and diving teams.

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BAHAMIAN Kerrie Cartwright, playing on the International Tennis Federation women’s circuit, advanced to the main draw of the Iris Ladies Trophy in the $15,000 Brussels.

Cartwright pulled off a 6-2, 6-1 win over Daria Kuczer of Poland on Monday in the final round of the qualifying segment.

Kuczer is ranked at No. 881 on the women’s tennis association’s tour.

The draw for the main draw has not yet been released. It was Cartwright’s first appearance in a main

CARTWRIGHT draw tournament on the circuit. The tournament will wrap up on Sunday.

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE a 5th place finish at this year’s Women’s Centrobasket Championships, national team head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said the ultimate goal of the programme remains qualification for the 2020 Olympics.

A shorthanded Team Bahamas, with limited preparation time, finished 1-4 at the tournament with a win over Guatemala in their final game. “It challenged me, allowed me to assess some things, taught me how to be creative and put stuff

in with limited time, I didn’t have a lot of time with the team. People would be surprised how much time we had together,” McPhee-McCuin said.

“Just going through the adversity makes you quit or have more resilience, for me it gave me more resilience to challenge myself and hopefully get the Bahamas to where we want to go and that’s the Olympics.”

The USVI, Puerto Rico and Mexico finished as the top three teams in the tournament and will advance to the AmeriCup 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 18, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

NCAA BASKETBALL: CORNISH TO DEBUT FOR SEAWOLVES THIS FALL

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AN NCAA Division I programme will be the next step in the progression of the basketball career of Jaron Cornish.

This fall, Cornish is expected to debut for the Stony Brook Seawolves as a junior college transfer, highlighting the programme’s 2017 recruiting class.

“We are very excited to add Jaron to our basketball family,” said Seawolves head coach Jeff Boals. “He is a great addition to our team and the Stony Brook community. He will add great depth to our guard spot after graduating three starters from this year’s team.”

Cornish transfers to Stony Brook after completing two NJCAA seasons with the Broward College Seahawks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

As a sophomore, he averaged 18.7 points and 4.5 assists per game on 42 per cent from three-point range.

While leading his team in nearly every offensive category, Cornish was also one of the top players in the NJCAA and ranked in the top 50 Division I JUCO players in the nation in free throws made, made free throws per game, total points, steals and points per game. Cornish tallied 11 20-plus point games last season.

Seahawks head coach Bob Starkman said Stony Brook is getting a great player: “He is one of the nicest, hardest working players I’ve ever coached. He has done everything I’ve asked and it has paid off for him.”

During his Seahawk career, Cornish produced 800 points, 199 rebounds, 216 assists, 118 steals and 37 blocks. This year, Cornish started 30 of 31 games played and led the Seahawks in field goals (187), field goal attempts (408), threepointers (60), three-point attempts (143), three-point

JARON CORNISH

“HE IS A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM AND THE STONY BROOK COMMUNITY. HE WILL ADD GREAT DEPTH TO OUR GUARD SPOT AFTER GRADUATING THREE STARTERS FROM THIS YEAR’S TEAM.” - Jeff Boals percentage (42.0), points (581), assists (139) and steals (61). In the NJCAA Division 1 statistics, Cornish finished 21st in free throws (147), 26th in free throws per game (4.7), 40th in points, 46th in steals and 50th in points per game (18.7).

Cornish finished second in the NJCAA Region 8 statistics in free throws per game (4.7), fifth in free throws, fifth in points, sixth in points per game, sixth in field goals, sixth in steals, seventh in steals per game (2.0), 10th in assists, 11th in field goals per game (6.0), 12th in three-point field goal percentage, 13th in assists per game (4.5), 18th in three-pointers, 21st in threepointers per game (1.9), 26th in blocks (22), 33rd in blocks per game (0.7), 35th in free

throw percentage (69.7), 37th in games played and 50th in field goal percentage (45.8).

As a freshman, Cornish was selected to the Southern Conference All-Academic team. He started 10 of 31 games played, contributing 219 points, 83 rebounds, 77 assists, 57 steals and 15 blocks. Cornish finished fifth in the NJCAA Region 8 statistics in steals, eighth in steals per game (1.8), 27th in games played, 33rd in assists, 34th in assists per game (2.5), 41st in blocks and 47th in blocks per game (0.5).

Cornish capped his career by being named first team All-Southern Conference.

His contributions helped the Seahawks win the 2017 Southern Conference Tournament and advanced to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament for the first time since 2011.

Cornish, a native of Abaco, rose to national prominence with head coach Wayne Adderley’s Agape teams which reached a Hugh Campbell Final Four for the first time in school history in 2013.

From there, he spent his final two years of high school at Champagnat Catholic High School in Hialeah, Florida. Alongside fellow Bahamians Nashad Mackey and Oswald Parker, he helped lead the Lions to statewide recognition.

Cornish averaged 17.5 points, six assists and five rebounds per game as a senior as the Lions finished the season at 26-2 and lost in the Regional Semi-finals of the Florida High School Boys FHSAA basketball tournament. He was also named to the Miami Herald’s AllDade first-team.

Stony Brook finished the 2017 season with an 1814 record and, in the post season, lost in the opening round of the CBI. In 2016, they reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2017, PAGE 3

As NFL training camps open this weekend, let’s kick things off in the AFC North TRAINING camps open this weekend and early next week, across the NFL. The most glorious time on the sports calendar is finally upon us. And as we creep closer and closer to KICK OFF SUNDAY 2017, over the coming weeks I will preview each division in the NFL as the teams head into training camp, bringing you up close with the hottest camp battles while keeping you informed of the latest breaking news and transactions.

• We kick things off this week with the AFC NORTH, with the AFC SOUTH on deck for next week’s column: BALTIMORE RAVENS Training camp report dates: rookies (July 19) and veterans (July 26).

Location: Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Hottest position battle in camp Offensive Line: The Ravens will field a legitimate competition in the middle of their offensive line. With O lineman Jeremy Zuttah’s trade to the 49ers, Baltimore will allow Ryan Jensen and John Urschel to battle for the starting job, after the duo took most of the reps this offseason.

With right tackle also up in the air after the freeagency loss of Rickey Wagner, Baltimore’s line will be a hotspot for competition all camp long.

Biggest offseason addition - WR Jeremy Maclin: There are plenty of questions to be answered at wide receiver too, but the addition of Maclin does wonders for this position group. Expected to start in the slot, the former Eagles and Chiefs star will function as the centrepiece of the passing game with Breshad Perriman and Mike

Wallace out wide. If the team can milk a breakout season from Perriman, the Ravens have a chance to make up for the loss of TE Dennis Pita.

Plainly put, if not for the signing of Maclin, we’d point to this pass-catching group as a burning concern.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark Who will replace Tavon Young at cornerback?

In the wake of Young suffering a season-ending knee injury, the Ravens are searching for a starter in the slot. With Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith locked into outside roles, look for Lardarius Webb, Brandon Boykin and second-year cover man Maurice Canady to compete for the nickel role.

Canady impressed during the offseason, with coordinator Dean Pees saying in June: “The guy makes plays. That is the whole bottom line on defence.”

First-rounder Marlon Humphrey adds depth, but the future starter, however Humphrey isn’t expected to play a major role out of the gate.

The safety duo of Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson should be one of the AFC’s best.

CINCINNATI BENGALS Training camp report dates: rookies (July 25) and veterans (July 27).

Location: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Hottest position battle in camp Jeremy Hill versus Joe Mixon.

Mixon has drawn rave reviews so far so it’s fair to ask how long this battle will last.

With Giovani Bernard still recovering from a November ACL tear, it’s likely the Bengals will use a combination of Mixon and Hill to open the campaign, but Cincinnati went into the

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

offseason determined to find an upgrade over Hill, who is coming off an inconsistent 2016.

I have Mixon as the starter on opening day.

Biggest offseason addition - Newcomer to watch -WR John Ross: Like the Panthers in the NFC South, the Bengals used the draft to massively upgrade their speed on offence.

Mixon gives the team a devastating runner who can double as a legitimate passcatching asset, while Ross blew people away with 4.22 40 speed. Shoulder surgery could delay his participation for camp, but Ross promises to be a weapon across from Pro Bowler A.J. Green.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark -Will the O-line mesh?

Quarterback Andy Dalton was unmercifully banged around last season to the tune of 41 sacks.

(Only Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor took more 42), an ominous stat for a Bengals line that proceeded to lose reliable guard Kevin Zeitler and Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth in free

agency.

With disappointing 2015 first-rounder Cedric Ogbuehi slotted to take over the blind-side role and upand-down Jake Fisher on the right bookend, the Bengals have more questions than answers up front.

CLEVELAND BROWNS Training camp report dates: rookies (July 23) and veterans (July 26).

Location: Browns Training Complex in Berea, Ohio.

Hottest position battle in camp Cody Kessler vs. Brock Osweiler vs. DeShone Kizer.

The Browns have a quarterback situation. I’m shocked and awed Osweiler is still on the roster, but I don’t expect him to make the team let alone win the starting job.

Look for Kizer, who has a legitimate shot to start sooner than later, if he impresses coach Hue Jackson.

Biggest offseason addition - Newcomer to watch: DE Myles Garrett The roster-churning

Browns have a million “newcomers” every season, but Garrett is something different. A rare physical freak, the first overall pick in April’s draft gives Cleveland a player to be a cornerstone on defence for years to come.

As long as the left foot sprain, sustained in minicamp, doesn’t delay his launch, Garrett will hit camp as the immediate focal point for the defence.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - Will this defence be any different?

The addition of coordinator Gregg Williams has produced its share of juicy quotes out of Cleveland. “He tells us that we have been losing here for a reason, and he is here to change it,” cornerback Joe Haden said.

Williams has enjoyed success in the NFL but his scheme fell apart with the Rams last season.

While the Browns have intriguing pieces -- Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey -- in the front seven, the secondary is a major concern.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS Training camp report date: rookies and veterans (July 27).

Location: Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Hottest position battle in camp The Steelers have come close to the Super Bowl for the last half a dozen years or so, because of a Ben Roethlisberger-led offence littered with star power.

Beyond Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, the receiving corps -- led by the all world Antonio Brown -- is ready to light up the scoreboard and stat sheet. Martavius Bryant returning from his year-long suspension. Bryant is a front-runner to start alongside Brown, but it will

be interesting to see how the rest of the pecking order shakes out with Sammie Coates and second-rounder JuJu Smith-Schuster.

This Steeler offence will score in bunches on a weekly basis.

Biggest offseason addition - Newcomer to watch: OLB T.J. Watt. It’s unclear how big a role Watt will have with the Steelers’ defence as a rookie, but the surname alone will guarantee plenty of buzz for the pass-rushing prospect and brother of J.J. With the Wisconsin product slotted for snaps behind Bud Dupree and James Harrison, the Steelers have a player they can get creative with right away in 2017. Pittsburgh rarely rushes along defensive rookies, but this could be an exception.

BIGGEST Camp Question Mark - Where is the mind at?

In spite of Pittsburgh’s questions in the secondary, the Steelers truly believe they can take down the Patriots?

This is arguably the most talented roster in the conference -- maybe the NFL -but like with the Packers in the NFC, it has become the norm to wonder how Pittsburgh will unravel come January. Teams don’t think this way, trained instead to take a week-by-week approach to the challenges ahead. But if you look at it objectively over the past five seasons or so, the Steelers have crashed and burnt at the worst possible moments.

Until next week, play hard and go home...

• 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

DONNA WINS 15K SWEEPSTAKES PACKAGE TO IAAF LONDON WORLDS DONNA Smith won big with a 15k Sweepstakes package to the IAAF World Championships London 2017. The London World Championships is scheduled for August 4-13, 2017 in London, Great Britain.

For the second time the IAAF World Relays organisation launched the Sweepstakes initiative which sends one lucky winner and a companion to the IAAF World Championships.

The Sweepstakes is held at every edition of the IAAF World Relays.

In 2015, the first sweepstakes was held with Shaun Miller, father of Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller winning the lucky ticket. In that year the IAAF World Championships was held in Beijing, China.

Smith, the winner of this year’s raffle, expressed her excitement about winning.

“You must be joking?” she asked after a moment of silence.

She admitted purchas-

LEFT: IAAF World Relays executives get set for their sweepstake drawing. Shown (l-r) are Natasha Adderley, Lionel Haven, BAAA president Rosamunde Carey, Keith Parker, chairman, Drumeco Archer, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Avis Munroe. RIGHT: Keith Parker pulls the lucky ticket as BAAA public relations officer Philip Gray looks on.

ing the ticket only to make a contribution with no knowledge of the prize.

The premier package provides airfare, ground

transportation, event tickets, accommodation and a cash award of two thousand dollars to the lucky winner.

Over the course of the Games, Smith and a guest will be able to watch Team Bahamas compete.

This should be an ex-

citing time as Team Bahamas is expected to win several medals with top performances coming from Shaunae Miller, who

will be contesting both the 200m and 400m events and Steven Gardiner, who has been performing well all season.

Sands Beer Cup to be awarded to golfer with most net points EARLIER in the year the Bahamas Golf Federation and the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company announced a new event called the Sands Beer Cup. The Cup, which is being specially designed by Sands Beer, will be awarded to the golfer with the most net stapleford points over his/her best six rounds of golf in the designated BGF tournaments during 2017.

Additionally, prizes will be awarded to the winners and runners-up in each division.

The series of tournaments started with the Grand Bahama

Open in March and was followed by the National Amateur Championships in May. One event was held in Exuma in June and the next event on the calendar is the Lyford Cay Classic on July 21.

This will be followed by the Paradise Island Open in September and will conclude with the Albany Championship in October.

So far, at least 80 golfers have participated in at least one event.

The Bahamas Golf Federation is pleased to release the current leaderboard as of June 30, 2017.

After seven rounds of golf, the leaderboard was calculated based

on the best four of the seven net rounds played.

• The top 12 golfers in the Sands Beer Cup race are: 1. Richard Gibson Jr- 145 pts 2. Marvin Bethell - 140 2. Ural Pratt - 140 2. Victor Skinner - 140 5. George Swann - 139 6. Ted Adderley - 135 6. Jeff Morasco - 135 8. Oswald Moore - 133 9. Allan Gardner - 132 9. Nolan Johnson - 132 9. Vincent DeGregory - 132 9. Ambrose Gouthro - 132

Richard Gibson Jr also leads in the Regular Division with 145 followed by Nolan Johnson and Oren Butler with 132 and 130, respectively.

Ural Pratt leads the Mid-Amateur Division with 140. Peter McIntosh is second with 129 and Thibaud Halewyck is third with 128.

In the Senior Division, George Swann is on top with 139, Ted Adderley is second with 135 and third is Ken Basden with 128. Marvin Bethell and Victor Skinner are tied at the top of the Super Seniors Division with 140 followed by

Jeff Morasco with 135.

The Ladies’ Division is led by Inecia Rolle with 127. Second is Nyah Singh with 120 and third is Adrian Von Echardstein with 115.

The Gross Division is also led

by Richard Gibson Jr with 137 points followed by Oren Butler with 130 and Peter McIntosh 123.

Golfers need to play a minimum of six rounds to qualify to win the Cup or a Division. There are still four rounds left to be played so players can use the last four rounds to reach the minimum or improve on some of their earlier scores.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 18, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES DAILY SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY Beach soccer at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility 8pm - St Lucia vs Bahamas (M) Boxing at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium 1pm - Men’s 52kg, 60kg, 69kg, 81kg and women’s 60kg 6pm – Men’s 49kg, 64kg and 75kg Cycling at Clifton Heritage Park 9am – women’s time trials 10:30am – men’s time trials Rugby 7s at Queen’s Elizabeth Sports Centre 9am - 5:50 pm – men and women matches

SHOWN (l-r) are Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth secretary general to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Michael Pintard, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Louise Martin, Commonwealth Games Federation president, Wellington Miller, Commonwealth Youth Games committee chairman and Dexter Cartwright, Interim CEO at BTC. Photo: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

Tennis at National Tennis Centre 8am – boys and girls singles first round matches.

4pm - mixed doubles first round matches.

Baroness predicts the ‘best ever’ Commonwealth Youth Games FROM PAGE 1 dous team effort with many different government and sporting agencies all pulling together.

“Everyone is committed to supporting the athletes, promoting an inclusive and positive youth agenda and making the most of this opportunity to showcase the Bahamas to the world.”

She thanked the Bahamas Government, the Commonwealth Games Bahamas and the hundreds of athletes, many of which will be competing in their first major international event.

“Live this experience and cherish it,” Martin told the 1,000-plus athletes who will be participating from more

than 60 countries. “You have to have fun as well. If you don’t have fun, it’s no point in participating.”

Martin said what she has seen at the sports complex, which will host the majority of the events, along with the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility, it’s second to none.

She commended the Bahamas for taking on the task of hosting the games just last year after St Lucia withdrew because of financial reasons.

“It’s a tribute to these small countries who want to do it,” said Martin, noting that they try to make it affordable to manage without having to go bankrupt.

Martin, however, said it would be quite disappointing if the Bahamian people

don’t come out and support the games. So we encourage everybody to invite as many people as they can to attend.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and the Bahamas Government, Pintard said he’s delighted to be able to welcome the countries and athletes to the Bahamas.

“Sports is a powerful way for young people from around the globe to share their culture, even though they are engaged in fierce competition,” he stressed.

“This is as much a cultural event as it is a sporting event. We know certainly that in international terms, one of the fastest growing segments of national economies is the creative industries.”

Miller, who doubles as the chairman of the organising committee, said in a few days all of their hard work will be done as the games come to a close.

“The journey of preparation has been long, but certainly worth the effort because the journey was about the young and upand-coming athletes of our Commonwealth nations,” he said.

“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for each athlete, coach and parent that had also taken this journey.”

Roofe said it’s a great feeling to have the games in the Caribbean for the first time and the first time since her country hosted the only Commonwealth Games in the region.

She said this provides a grand opportunity to expose the Caribbean at large to the world and they are all looking forward to having a great time in the Bahamas.

In his address, Cartwright said BTC is proud to invest $250,000 in the games.

“The Bahamas has opened its arms to welcome hundreds of young athletes from almost 70 countries,” said Cartwright, who is in his new role after replacing Leon Williams this month.

“These games are particularly special for BTC as our sister company Flow Sports holds the official worldwide broadcast rights for this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games.”

Cartwright said customers throughout the Baha-

mas and the region will be able to view the games live, courtesy of the Flow Sports Network.

Flow Sports and BTC in conjunction with ZNS will provide a simulcast comprising of an extensive fiveday coverage across multiple sporting disciplines.

“With this level of coverage, the talents of our athletes will be on display and also the beautiful islands of The Bahamas,” Cartwright stressed.

Six days of intense competition will begin today and continue through Sunday with 96 gold medals contested in nine sports, inclusive of athletics, aquatics (swimming), beach football (soccer), cycling (road), judo, rugby sevens, tennis and beach volleyball.

SWIMMER ARIANNA VANDERPOOLWALLACE RESUMES HER TRAINING FROM PAGE 1

She also starred for the Tigers as a competitor during her amateur career where she was an 18-time All-American at Auburn, won 10 Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles and double NCAA titles in the 50m and 100m free in 2011.

“Thank you to everyone behind the scenes that has supported me through everything. It was not an easy decision, returning to the sport as well as deciding to leave Auburn. I am very grateful that Coach Todd DeSorbo and the NC State crew have accepted me with open arms. I am incredibly excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds,” she said.

The 27-year-old, who also represented the Bahamas at 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2007 Pan American Games and 2006 and 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, was scheduled to participate in the FINA World Championships this summer, but she opted not to make the trip.

At the CAC Games, she picked up four gold medals in the women’s 50m and 100m free as well as both the 50m and 100m butterflies, setting the records of the

game in the 100m free and 50m fly.

And at the Commonwealth Games as the flag bearer, she produced a silver in the 50m fly but was fourth in the 50m free and fifth in the 100m free.

In 2008, Vanderpool-Wallace became the youngest Bahamian ever to qualify for an Olympic Games when she earned the right to travel with the team to Beijing, China, just days before her 18th birthday.

In her Olympic debut, she finished 28th in the 100m free (55.61) and 24th in the 50m free (25.40).

At the London 2012 Olympics, she gained national acclaim when she became the first Bahamian swimmer to advance to an Olympic final and swam to an 8th place finish (24.69) in her specialty, the 50m freestyle.

In the Rio 2016 Olympics last summer, Vanderpool-Wallace was fourth in her 50m freestyle heat in 24.80 seconds, ninth overall and one spot shy of advancing to the final. After opting not to contest the 100m butterfly, she competed in the 100m freestyle where she was seventh in her heat in 54.56 for 18th place overall.

Following the Rio Olympics, she expressed her uncertainty

about the future of her career.

“For now I don’t know where my career is going to go, I’m just taking it day by day,” she told The Tribune. “I don’t have any plans for competing in the near future.

Just looking at getting in shape and staying healthy this fall. If I don’t compete again for the Bahamas I hope that I have inspired another generation to surpass me and take the Bahamas to even new heights whether it be in swimming, as any type of athlete or in life.”

She made her unofficial return to the pool in her first race since the Olympics at the recent Bahamas Swimming Federation RBC Nationals Championships last month.

Vanderpool-Wallace still holds the Bahamas national record in the women’s 50 metres (24.31), 100m free (53.73), 50m fly (25.53), 100m fly (58.87) and 200m fly (2:21.67).

She also shares the 200m free, 400m free, 800m free, 200m medley and 400m medley relay records with a combination of swimmers, including Alicia Lightbourne, Ashley Butler, Ariel Weech, Alana Dillette, Teisha Lightbourne, Jenna Chaplin and McKayla Lightbourn.

ARIANNA VANDERPOOL-WALLACE, of the Bahamas, wears her gold medal earned in the 50m freestyle final at the Pan Am Games on Friday, July 17, 2015, in Toronto.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

McPhee-McCuin: Our ultimate goal is Olympic qualification FROM PAGE 1 Under McPhee-McCuin’s leadership, the Bahamas finished with the gold medal at the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championship and will automatically qualify for the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Columbia.

Many members of that team were unavailable for this year’s Centrobasket tournament, including Shanae Armbrister, the MVP from CBC 2015, WNBA All-Star Jonquel Jones and Ashley Moss.

The Bahamas opened with a 6156 loss to Mexico, followed by a 64-48 loss to Jamaica and a 63-56 loss to the USVI and a 69-42 loss

to Puerto Rico before the win in the tournament finale.

Leashja Grant led the Bahamas and averaged a double double with 15.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Phylicia Kelly scored 9.6 points per game, Valarie Nesbitt scored 7.2 points and dished 2.8 assissts per game while Sha-Londa Neely averaged 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Neely, who also plays under McPhee-McCuin at the NCAA level as a member of the University of Jacksonville Dolphins, said her play in the tournament gives her confidence moving forward.

“This one helped me to get back to my toughness, my fighting and being strong offensively

and defensively, she said. “The only difference is now I have to pull back on certain things they will call like going over the back and the hand checks because they will call those. Other than that it helped me to bring my toughness back.”

The sophomore forward said the team played inspired on the final night of competition.

“In our final game we had more energy, it wasn’t flat. We stayed together. Most people would quit and stop playing hard but we kept going. We talked on the defensive end which was a major key because that’s what we were missing the first few games.

“Offensively we started to make

shots, found ways to get inside and utilise the bigs. We were down by double digits in all the previous games, but instead of that ‘not this again’ feeling we had a ‘not today’ feeling, it was the last game so everyone gave what they had and that’s what helped us to pull that one out.”

When the Bahamas Basketball Federation chose to revamp its national team programme and its coaching staff, its intention was to bring greater focus and organisation in the sport for the country on the international stage.

Since McPhee-McCuin took over at the helm, the women’s programme finished fifth at the 2014 CBC and won gold at the 2015

CBC. She noted that 2014 presented a fresh start in women’s basketball in the Bahamas and looks forward to the teams fulfilling their potential through the programme’s 20/20 vision.

“It is time to leave behind any negative experiences of the past.

My plan is for us to be professional and visionary in all that we do as a team going forward,” she said. “Let’s all get to work so that we can represent our Bahamas proudly. The 20/20 Vision indicates our ability to see sharply and clearly our vision to have the Bahamas women’s basketball team represented in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 18, 2017, PAGE 5

4 RIDERS BID FOR VICTORY AT UNPREDICTABLE TOUR

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press LE PUY-EN-VELAY, France (AP) — The battle for victory will go down to the wire at the Tour de France.

With just six stages left before the three-week race reaches the Champs-Elysees, only 29 seconds separate the top four riders in the general classification.

Defending champion and three-time winner Chris Froome has an 18-second lead over Fabio Aru of Italy. Frenchman Romain Bardet, the runner-up to Froome last year, is 23 seconds back from the leader, in third place. In fourth, is Colombian Rigoberto Uran.

It’s an unusual situation ahead of an intense final week of racing that includes two Alpine stages in high altitude and a short time trial.

“It’s the hardest fought battle in terms of Tours de France I’ve done before,” Froome said during yesterday’s rest day. “I’m just grateful I’m on the right side of those gaps.”

Froome has the strongest team and remains the favourite to win in Paris, despite some rare signs of weakness.

He endured a bad day in the Pyrenees during a gruelling stage to the ski station of Peyragudes, when he lost the overall lead to Aru after wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey for seven days. But the Team Sky leader recovered in style two days later, when Aru was trapped at the back of the peloton in Rodez.

On a windy day in the south of France, Froome and his teammates showed their superiority by riding at the front when the peloton stretched out and managed to put 24 seconds into their leader’s closest rival.

Froome’s main asset in the final stretch will be the strength of his teammates. Expect them to ride at the front in the mountains and to set a punishingly fast tempo - all designed to prevent others from attacking. If Froome is in form, he will be untouchable.

The collective strength of the Sky Team was

the coveted leader’s jersey, he did not panic while Bardet, Uran and Aru failed to join forces at the front. “I think Chris was strong because he was calm. The temptation can be to go too hard too quickly, you panic a little bit, go really, really deep to get on too quickly and of course you just explode,” Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford said.

Froome’s rivals have now to find a way to unsettle and isolate him in the Alps before Saturday’s time trial in Marseille, where the British rider will have the upper hand in the race against the clock.

• Here is a look at the other contenders ahead of today’s Stage 16 that will lead the peloton to the gateway to the Alps in Romanssur-Isere: BRITAIN’S CHRIS FROOME, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, passes over a bridge during the 15th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 189.5 kilometres (117.8 miles) with start in Laissac-Severac l’Eglise and finish in Le Puy-enVelay, France, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena) on display Sunday when Froome was forced to change his rear wheel in the final 40 kilometres and got dropped.

“I was just standing there on the side of the road with my teammate Michal Kwiatkowski, trying to change wheels. I thought it was potentially game over for me,” Froome said.

But Kwiatkowski quickly handed over his wheel and Froome was helped back to the front by teammates Sergio Henao, Vasil Kiryienka and Mikel Nieve, erasing a 45-second gap.

Mikel Landa, who looks strong enough to be a leader in another team, was riding at the front but waited for Froome to catch up and the pair worked together to finish with the main contenders.

Froome has also showed great composure and calm when in trouble. In danger of losing

FABIO ARU Aru was the big winner in Peyragudes, where he took the yellow jersey for the first time after Froome cracked in the last 500 meters of the stage. But he could not build on the momentum and was isolated in the finale of the Rodez stage, handing overall lead back to Froome after only two days in yellow.

ROMAIN BARDET Bardet has made no mistake so far in his bid to become the first Frenchman in 32 years to win cycling’s biggest race. The 26-yearold climbing specialist finished runner-up to Froome last year and wants to move one step higher on the podium.

RIGOBERTO URAN Twice a runner-up at the Giro, the Colombian from Cannondale-Drapac is now a serious contender for the overall win in France. An excellent climber with good downhill skills, Uran has taken advantage of the very mountainous route in 2017. He made headlines during the first week when he won a stage in Chambery despite riding on a faulty bike, unable to change gears for the final 23 kilometers.

IAAF PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDS FREDERICKS IN PAYMENT PROBE MONACO (AP) — Four-time Olympic medallist Frank Fredericks has been suspended from duty by track and field’s governing body, the IAAF, while he is investigated for alleged corruption suspected of being linked to the 2016 Olympics hosting vote.

The independent Athletics Integrity Unit said yesterday that its request for an interim ban on Fredericks, a former sprinter from Namibia, was granted by the IAAF disciplinary panel.

Fredericks, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, is separately being investigated by the IOC ethics commission over a near-$300,000 payment he received on October 2, 2009 — the same day Rio de Janeiro won the 2016 Olympic hosting vote in a four-city contest.

French daily Le Monde alleged in March that the payment came from a Brazilian businessman and was channelled through a sports marketing company created by Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack. Both Diacks are implicated

by French prosecutors in a corruption case that includes extorting money from athletes to cover up doping.

Fredericks denies wrongdoing, claiming the money was for contracted consultancy work. He pre-

A MAY 8, 1999 file photo of Frank Fredericks of Namibia celebrating his victory in the 200-metre final in the IAAF Japan Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan. Track and field’s governing body, the IAAF, has provisionally suspended its Council member Frank Fredericks yesterday, while he is investigated for alleged corruption suspected of being linked to the 2016 Olympics hosting vote.

(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) viously offered to step aside from his IOC work and his IAAF duties except his seat on the ruling Council.

“I am not prepared to voluntarily consent not to undertake my duties in respect of the position I hold as IAAF Council Member,”

Fredericks wrote to the disciplinary panel.

However, he did agree to avoid attending a meeting in London next month on the sidelines of the August 4-13 world championships.

Fredericks plans to contest the suspension at a hearing, the integrity unit says.

In its published interim ruling, the IAAF disciplinary panel said Fredericks had the presumption of innocence while under investigation. Still, the panel chairman noted that “Fredericks has not, in the answers and explanations he has provided to date, disturbed the prima facie case of matters warranting investigation.”

Those matters include “whether there was any connection between the Payment and the IOC vote to award the 2016 summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro,” the IAAF panel said.

Fredericks was seen as a rising star in Olympic circles until the case was reported. He had to resign as chairman of the IOC panel evaluating the bids of Los Angeles and Paris to host the 2024 Olympics, and agreed not to take part in that hosting decision due in September. The 49-year-old official won silver medals in 100 and 200 metres at both the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

HAMILTON SEIZES ON VETTEL PUNCTURE TO CUT F1 LEAD TO 1 POINT

By ROB HARRIS Associated Press SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Just like his tire, Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead was shredded at the British Grand Prix.

A 20-point lead was slashed to a single point by Lewis Hamilton after the Mercedes driver led from start to finish to cruise to a fourth win of the season as Vettel capitulated halfway through the season.

Vettel was never in realistic contention for victory on Sunday, but he was still third entering the penultimate lap — a finish that would have ensured 10 points still separated him from Hamilton. But Silverstone witnessed a remarkable collapse, a final twist on an afternoon of thrilling racing.

A front-left blowout on Vettel’s Ferrari sent rubber remnants of the tire flying across the track as the four-time world champion crawled back into the pits for repairs just in time.

It ensured Vettel was still able to finish seventh and collect the points that kept him top heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 30.

“It could have been a bit better for sure, but a disaster? I don’t think so,” Vettel said. “I don’t think there is anyone particularly to blame.”

MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack in Silverstone, England, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Troublingly for Ferrari, Vettel’s tire trouble struck a lap after teammate Kimi Raikkonen’s car also experienced a puncture as he was set for second. It allowed Valtteri Bottas to complete a Mercedes one-two with Hamilton as Raikkonen completed the podium.

“I don’t wish any misfortune on anyone,” Hamilton said. “But we didn’t have any issues.”

Unlike the last two races when Hamilton lost ground in the championship.

There was a faulty head rest in Azerbaijan that contributed to Hamilton finishing fifth, followed by a five-place grid penalty for an unauthorised gearbox

in Austria where he was fourth.

Now Hamilton is back on top of the podium, for a record-equalling fifth time at his home race.

“Obviously the pendulum has swung this weekend,” Hamilton said. “That is only good for Formula One and good for the fans with the close battle we continue to have.”

Hamilton wasn’t on the podium for long. Soon he was among the fans who roared him to glory, vaulting out of the pit line and crowd-surfing.

The celebration carried a pointed message to critics of his failure to attend a showcase of the sport in central London that was

attended by the 19 other drivers. Unlike in Trafalgar Square, there certainly weren’t any jeers of Hamilton’s name at Silverstone as he joined Jim Clark and Alain Prost as five-time winners of the race.

“There is no reason to question my preparations,” Hamilton said. “(There was) so much negativity trying to pull the weekend down but obviously it had no effect ... the fans were out-and-out loving and supporting all weekend.”

Perhaps recuperating with two-day holidays in Greece is now the blueprint for Hamilton in his quest for a fourth world title.

“I don’t understand why

the British hero was being beaten up before his home grand prix,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said. “l think that made him even more determined.”

There was also an unexpected second-place finish after Bottas made up seven places following a fiveplace penalty for a gearbox change like Hamilton’s a week earlier. As Bottas surged up the order there was an exhilarating battle with Vettel for third that the Finnish driver won on lap 44 of 51.

There was also combative racing early on between Vettel and Max Verstappen as they initially fought for third in a wheelto-wheel challenge. “He wants to play bumper cars or something,” Verstappen complained over the team radio as Vettel attempted to overtake him on the inside after 14 of 51 laps.

Thanks to Vettel’s misfortune, Verstappen was able to finish fourth, having provided much early entertainment, while Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo was fifth.

“At the beginning I knew I was quite a bit slower than Seb so I just did my best to stay in front and have some fun,” Verstappen said. “It was the only thing I could do and luckily he didn’t manage to pass me on track, after that little battle my race became a bit lonely.”

UEFA CHARGES CELTIC, LINFIELD OVER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DISORDER NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has opened disciplinary cases against Celtic and Linfield after disorder at a Champions League qualifying match, including against a Celtic forward who was the target of bottle-throwing by home fans in Belfast.

Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths is charged with “provoking spectators (after the end of the match),” UEFA said yesterday.

After Celtic’s 2-0 win last Friday at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland’s national stadium, Griffiths took a scarf in Celtic’s green and white colours and tied it to a goalpost.

Griffiths had been shown a yellow card for timewasting in the second half of the game. The Scotland forward delayed taking a corner to show the referee some missiles that narrowly missed him, including a glass bottle and several coins.

UEFA said it charged Linfield with fans throwing objects and running on the pitch.

The yellow card for Griffiths will not be revoked, UEFA said.

UEFA’s disciplinary panel will judge the cases on Thursday, one day after the return match of the second qualifying round tie in Glasgow.

The first leg in Belfast had been moved back to Friday to avoid possible religious tensions with July 12 events in Northern Ireland commemorating a historic battle between Protestant and Catholic forces.

Celtic has long ties with the Catholic community and Linfield traditionally draws support from the Protestant community.

MEXICO BEATS CURACAO 2-0 TO WIN CONCACAF GROUP C SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A subpar effort in its previous match only added to the anxiety Mexico was feeling in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Playing without several stars and their head coach, El Tri leaned on emotion and determination to remain unbeaten in the 14th edition of the Gold Cup. Angel Sepulveda and Edson Alvarez scored and Mexico held on to beat Curacao 2-0 on Sunday night at the Alamodome to win Group C and continue its bid for a fourth championship in five Gold Cups.

Mexico advanced to face Honduras in the quarterfinals Thursday night in Glendale, Arizona.

Playing without stars such as Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Mexico turned to its younger talent and they produced in front of a partisan crowd of 44,232.

The defending champions had a surprisingly tough match against Curacao, which was competing in the Gold Cup for the first time. “I told the players we deserved to be here and we put Curacao on the map,” Curacao coach Remko Bicentini said.

Coming off a scoreless draw against Jamaica on Thursday night in Denver, Mexico was able to overcome a gritty effort by Curacao to finish 2-0-1 in Group C. “It was a very complicated match for us,” said defender Cesar Montes, in his debut with Mexico’s national team. “The reality is you have to respect every team. The majority of these guys play in Europe, in Holland, and they’re a tough matchup.”

After dominating the opening minutes, Mexico escaped two early scares by Curacao’s Gino Van Kessel.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, July 18, 2017, PAGE 7

FEDERER UP TO ATP NO. 3 AFTER WIMBLEDON, MUGURUZA WTA NO. 5

By HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer’s eighth Wimbledon title pushed him back up to No. 3 in the ATP rankings yesterday after he ended last season at No. 16.

And, because he sat out the last half of 2016, his points will only continue to accumulate, making a return to No. 1 a real possibility.

“I’m playing for titles at this stage of my career.

Rankings, not so much, unless I’m as close as I am right now,” said the 35-year-old Federer, who also clinched a berth in the season-ending ATP Finals, held in London on November 12-19. So I just have to check the situation, if it’s worth it to run after it or not.”

Garbine Muguruza’s first championship at the All England Club returned her to the WTA’s top 10 at No. 5, a rise of 10 spots, while runner-up Venus Williams goes from No. 11 to No. 9.

Karolina Pliskova be-

came the 23rd woman to be ranked No. 1, a debut for her that was guaranteed last week, based on results at Wimbledon. She had been No. 3, and swaps positions with former No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

Serena Williams has not competed since January because she is pregnant. By losing rankings points she earned last year, including a title at Wimbledon and runner-up finish at the French Open, she went from No. 4 to No. 15 on Monday — leaving her out of the top 10 for the first time since April 1, 2012.

The rankings count points from the preceding 52 weeks, which is why Pliskova is able to take over at No. 1 despite losing in the second round at the All England Club.

Pliskova, a 25-year-old from the Czech Republic, has never won a Grand Slam title — she’s not the first player to top the rankings without that achievement on her resumé — although she was the runner-up to Kerber at last year’s US

Open and a semifinalist at Roland Garros last month.

Kerber lost in the first round at the French Open, then the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Simona Halep had a chance to be No. 1 this week but lost to Johanna Konta in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. So Halep continues at No. 2, with Konta going from No. 7 to No. 4.

Federer’s placement is his highest since he was No. 3 in August 2016, at the start of his half-year hiatus from the tour. He has spent a total of 302 weeks as the ATP’s No. 1 player in his career, a record.

One of Federer’s coaches, Severin Luthi, was asked about aiming to return to the top spot. “If it comes, for sure, it’s amazing,” Luthi said. “But for him, (winning majors is) more important.”

Andy Murray held onto No. 1 despite losing in the quarter-finals of his title defence at the All England Club, ahead of No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who lost in the fourth round of Wimbledon

THE 2017 Wimbledon singles champions, Spain’s Garbine Muguruza and Roger Federer of Switzerland, pose with their trophies at the Champions Dinner at The Guildhall in London yesterday.

(Thomas Lovelock/AELTC, Pool via AP) after winning the French Open.

Novak Djokovic re-

mained at No. 4, while Stan Wawrinka dropped two spots to No. 5 after a first-

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 73° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Times of sun and clouds

Variable clouds, a t‑storm in spots

Times of clouds and sun

Partly sunny

High: 93°

Low: 79°

High: 94° Low: 82°

High: 93° Low: 81°

High: 92° Low: 81°

High: 93° Low: 82°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

109° F

86° F

109°-87° F

111°-89° F

108°-89° F

106°-88° F

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

4‑8 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

KEY WEST

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

3:13 a.m.

4:01 p.m.

2.7 3.1

9:33 a.m. 0.0 10:26 p.m. 0.5

Wednesday 4:16 a.m.

5:02 p.m.

2.7 3.3

10:33 a.m. ‑0.1 11:30 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

5:19 a.m.

6:02 p.m.

2.7 3.5

11:33 a.m. ‑0.3 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Friday

6:20 a.m.

6:58 p.m.

2.8 3.7

12:30 a.m. 0.1 12:31 p.m. ‑0.4

Saturday

7:18 a.m.

7:53 p.m.

2.9 3.8

1:27 a.m. ‑0.1 1:28 p.m. ‑0.5

Sunday

8:14 a.m.

8:45 p.m.

3.0 3.8

2:21 a.m. ‑0.3 2:23 p.m. ‑0.5

Monday

9:08 a.m.

9:36 p.m.

3.1 3.7

3:12 a.m. ‑0.3 3:17 p.m. ‑0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:31 a.m.

8:01 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:58 a.m.

3:12 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Jul. 23

Jul. 30

Aug. 7

Aug. 14

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

6‑12 knots

S

7‑14 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 93° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.03” Year to date ............................................... 15.39” Normal year to date ................................... 16.93”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

uV inDex toDay

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

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

N

round exit.

Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic stayed at No. 6.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 82° F/28° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 89° F/32° 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

L

FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

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

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

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 18, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

OJ SIMPSON FACES GOOD CHANCE AT PAROLE IN NEVADA ROBBERY

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson, the former football star, TV pitchman and now Nevada prison inmate No. 1027820, will have a lot going for him when he asks state parole board members this week to release him after serving more than eight years for an ill-fated bid to retrieve sports memorabilia.

Now 70, Simpson will have history in his favour and a clean record behind bars as he approaches the nine-year minimum of his 33-year sentence for armed robbery and assault with a weapon.

Plus, the parole board sided with him once before.

No one at his Thursday hearing is expected to oppose releasing him in October — not his victim, not even the former prosecutor who persuaded a jury in Las Vegas to convict Simpson in 2008.

“Assuming that he’s behaved himself in prison, I don’t think it will be out of line for him to get parole,” said David Roger, the retired Clark County district attorney.

Four other men who went with Simpson to a hotel room to retrieve from two memorabilia dealers sports collectibles and personal items that the former football star said belonged to him took plea deals in the heist and received probation.

Two of those men testified that they carried guns. Another who stood trial with Simpson was convicted and served 27 months before the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Simpson’s fame tainted the jury.

Simpson’s conviction was upheld.

Prison life was a stunning fall for a charismatic celebrity whose storybook career as an electrifying running back dubbed “The Juice” won him the Heisman Trophy as the best college player in 1968 and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

He became a sports commentator, Hollywood movie actor, car rental company spokesman and one of the world’s most famous people even before his Los Angeles “trial of the century,” when he was acquitted in the killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Simpson, appeared grayer and heavier than most remembered him when he was last seen, four years ago.

He will appear Thursday by videoconference from the Lovelock Correctional Center, to be quizzed by four state parole commissioners in Carson City, a twohour drive away.

Two other members of the board will monitor the hearing, said David Smith, a parole hearing examiner.

The commissioners will have a parole hearing report that has not been made public, plus guidelines and worksheets that would appear to favour Simpson. It plans to make its written risk assessment public after a decision.

They will consider his age, whether his conviction was for a violent crime (it was), his prior criminal history (he had none) and his plans after release, Smith said.

Nevada has about 13,500 prison inmates, and the governor-appointed Board of Parole Commissioners has averaged about 8,300 annual hearings for the past four years. The rate of inmates who are granted parole in discretionary hearings held as they approach their minimum sentence, like Simpson’s, averages about 82 per cent.

The same four board members also have experience with Simpson, having granted him parole in July 2013 on some charges — kidnapping, robbery and burglary — stemming from the 2007 armed confrontation. The board’s decision left Simpson with four years to serve before reaching his minimum time behind bars.

Board members Connie Bisbee, Tony Corda, Adam Endel and Susan Jackson noted at the time that Simpson had a “positive institutional record,” with no disciplinary actions behind bars.

Simpson’s lawyer, friends and prison officials say that hasn’t changed.

“He’s really been a positive force in there. He’s done a lot of good for a lot of people,” said Tom Scotto, a friend from Florida whose wedding Simpson was in Las Vegas to attend the weekend of the robbery.

Scotto said he visits or talks with Simpson every few months.

Simpson leads a Baptist prayer

IN this May 15, 2013 file photo, O.J. Simpson returns to the witness stand to testify after a break during an evidentiary hearing in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas. Simpson, the former football star, TV pitchman and now Nevada prison inmate, will have a lot going for him when he appears before state parole board members on Thursday, seeking his release after more than eight years for an ill-fated bid to retrieve sports memorabilia.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) group, mentors inmates, works in the gym, coaches sports teams

and serves as commissioner of the prison yard softball league, Scotto

said.

Scotto will be among the 15 people with Simpson in a small conference room at the prison, along with Simpson’s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne, daughter Arnelle Simpson and sister Shirley Baker.

A parole case worker, two prison guards and a small pool of media also were expected, along with Bruce Fromong, one of the memorabilia dealers who was robbed.

Fromong said he will attend as a victim of the crime but will be “trying to be good for O.J.” He said he suffered four heart attacks and severe financial losses as a result of the robbery but later forgave Simpson.

The other collectibles broker, Alfred Beardsley, died in 2015.

Andy Caldwell, a retired Las Vegas police detective who investigated the Simpson case, will be at the prison but won’t be in the room.

“I don’t want to offer an opinion,” said Caldwell, now a Christian minister in Mill City, Oregon.

“I’m just curious to see how everything unfolds.”

In a nod to Simpson’s celebrity, officials will let the proceedings be streamed live, and the board plans a same-day ruling. A decision usually takes several days.

Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and longtime Simpson case analyst, predicted a “tsunami” of public attention if Simpson wins release.

“If this is the ordinary case, he will be paroled,” Levenson said.

“But O.J. is never the ordinary case.”

Al Lasso, a Las Vegas defence attorney who has followed the case but does not represent Simpson, said any other defendant in a similar case probably would have gotten probation, not prison.

“I think he spent more than enough time in prison for a robbery in which he didn’t even have a gun himself,” Lasso said.

But Michael Shapiro, a New York defense lawyer who provided commentary during Simpson’s conviction in Las Vegas in 2008 and his acquittal in Los Angeles in 1995, said freedom was no certainty.

“The judge believed he got away with murder,” Shapiro said.

“That’s the elephant in the room.

If the parole authorities feel the same way, he could be in trouble.”