07202018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018

Fed Cup team 2-0 after 2-1 win over T&T

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

he Bahamas women’s national tennis team moved to 2-0 in the Americas Zone II Fed Cup play yesterday after coming from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Team Bahamas, coached by Marvin Rolle, opened play on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Bolivia. In yesterday’s matches on the outdoor clay courts at the National Tennis Centre, Team Bahamas came away with an identical 2-1 decision over Trinidad & Tobago and is now on the verge of advancing to the playoffs for promotion to Group One. Danielle Thompson lost her opening singles 6-3, 6-2 to Brenna Stampfli yesterday before Kerrie Cartwright evened the second match at 1-1 before her opponent Yolande Leacock was forced to retire. Leacock had given Trinidad & Tobago a 1-0 lead with her 6-4 win, but Cartwright tied it up with a 6-2 decision.

With Cartwright taking the advantage in the first game with

SEE PAGE 2

DEANDRE Ayton returned to the place where his basketball dreams first began.

Ayton made an appearance at the 31st Jeff Rodgers Basketball camp yesterday to interact with scores of enthusiastic campers eager to greet the No.1 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

One day after the Thompson family and Leevan Sands visited the camp, Ayton told the campers of his basketball journey.

“I remember being here, I knew nothing about the game then, but I was inspired by guys like Klay Thompson who came to the camp when I sat where you are now,” Ayton said.

“I had no idea where basketball would take me, but I listened to everyone who was willing to teach me and I was dedicated to the craft. This camp gave me the first opportunity and I’m grateful for that.

I just want you guys to be inspired as well and take advantage of every opportunity in front of you.”

Ayton was discovered locally at the Jeff Rodgers

BAHAMAS Fed Cup members (l-r) Simone Pratt, Danielle Thompson, coach Marvin Rolle, Sierra Donaldson and Kerrie Cartwright.

camp in 2011 before he headed to Balboa City School in San Diego, California. He eventually transferred to Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

“At the Jeff Rodgers Camp I didn’t think I fell in love with the game right there. My mom just wanted me out of the house during the summer. That’s when I really got exposed, that’s when the opportunities started, but it’s just great.

When I came to the United States, I knew what hard work was,” Ayton said on draft night.

Ayton used his platform on draft night to talk about the improvements he hopes to make in opportunities for other young Bahamian basketball players and displayed the lining of his jacket which paid homage to his multicultural heritage.

“I want to bring to The Bahamas, they don’t have to leave home to think that they have an opportunity. We can bring the opportunity to them. I can help bring the opportunity to them. We can just start schools, we can start better basketball opportunities to really have more exposure.

SEE PAGE 2

THE run for the Bahamas and Freedom Farm Baseball League came to an end in the semi-finals at the Caribbean Regional Qualifier for the Little League World Series.

Freedom Farm suffered a 3-0 loss to the tournament’s number one seed – Radames Lopez Little League of Puerto Rico – yesterday at the Quintin Hernandez Park in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.

Andru Arthur had 10 strikeouts on the mound for Freedom Farm in the loss.

They will now face Aruba for the bronze medal at 10am today.

SEE PAGE 2

TEAM NAMED FOR CONCACAF GIRLS’ U-15 CHAMPIONSHIP THE Bahamas Football Association has released the names of the players selected to represent the Bahamas at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football 2018 CONCACAF Girls’ Under15 Championship.

The tournament, scheduled for August 6-13 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, will be the largest ever for female participants and will feature a record number of CONCACAF Member Associations as well as two invited teams from UEFA. Team Bahamas, managed

by Daria Adderley and coached by Kevin Davies, will comprise of the following players: Shabrea Davis, Kendi Outten, Chante Bain, Takiyah Holbert, Kaitlyn Davies, Angel Williams, Charlotte Fernie, Gabrielle Simms, Julia Raine, Paige Smith, Chane Rodriquez, Hadassah Knowles, Amelia

SEE PAGE 3

DEANDRE Ayton visited the 31st Jeff Rodgers Basketball camp yesterday to interact with scores of enthusiastic campers eager to greet the No.1 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

Photo: 10th Year Seniors

Team Bahamas set for USA Water Polo Junior Olympics SAEQUAN Miller, Gabriel Sastre, Alexander Turnquest, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield, Gabriel Encinar, Damian Gomez and Thor Sasso have all been afforded the opportunity to travel to San Jose, California, to compete in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.

The players are accompanied by Bahamas head water polo coach Laszlo Borbely. This is the largest water polo tournament in the US with over 400 teams competing in the four-day event. The athletes were selected earlier this spring to join with the North Houston Storm water polo team in the Southwest Zone Junior Olympics Qualifier tournament.

Miller, Sastre, Turnquest and Wallace-Whitfield all competed with the U-18 Storm team that won the silver medal in the qualifier which seeded them in the Under-18 championship bracket at the JO tournament.

The tournament starts on Saturday, July 21 and the Under-18

FREEDOM FARM FALLS 3-0 IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES QUALIFIER

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Ayton headlines camp

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

OPEN, Page 4

BAHAMAS national team water polo players (l-r) Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield, Alexander Turnquest, Damian Gomez, Saequan Miller, Gabriel Encinar and Thor Sasso. Missing is Gabriel Sastre.

Storm team will take on the 8th ranked LA Premier.

Encinar, Gomez, Sasso, Sastre, Turnquest and Wallace-Whitfield

are on the Under-16 boys that also placed in the Southwest Zone Qualifier, which placed them in the U-16 Classic bracket.

Thomas Illing also competed in the Houston tournament. However, he was unable to attend the Junior Olympics this year.

The U-16 Storm will take on the 5th seeded North San Diego Stars in their first game on Saturday.

While in California, the boys will attend an expo being held

by USA Water Polo. This expo will feature presentations on the path to college water polo, being a triple impact competitor, elevating your game and a mental skills clinic. Additionally, there will be a college coach meet and greet for rising grade 12 players.

Bahamas Water Polo senior captain Saequan Miller was recently awarded a college scholarship to play water polo for Salem University.

The Houston Storm is under the direction of head coach Edwin Barrera. The athletes wish to thank their friends and family who supported their fundraising efforts to attend this prestigious tournament.

MINOR LEAGUER CHISHOLM PROMOTED TO SINGLE A ADVANCED

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT has been a week of highlights for Bahamian minor league baseball players featuring promotions and career days at the plate for several players.

Jazz Chisholm was promoted to Single A-Advanced and Anferee Seymour made a successful return from the disabled list – just a few of the standout accomplishments across the minor leagues.

Chisholm was assigned to the Visalia Rawhide of the California League yesterday.

In his final game with the Kane County Cougars, Chisholm - the No.3 prospect in the Arizona

SEE PAGE 2

PAGE 2, Friday, July 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

No.1 NBA Draft pick Ayton headlines the 31st Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp FROM PAGE 1 Instead of coming to the United States or going overseas, we’ll just be at home and start our own trend,” he said.

When the Phoenix Suns selected Ayton with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, it represented an historic moment for Ayton, the franchise and The

Bahamas. With Ayton’s selection, The Bahamas joined the United States, Canada, Nigeria and Australia as the only countries with multiple No 1 overall NBA Draft picks. It also represented the first No 1 pick made by the Suns in franchise history and the first No 1 pick from the University of Arizona. Ayton also previously participated in

Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global 2016 in Toronto, Canada and joins Andrea Bargnani (Italy, BWB Europe 2003, 1st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft) as the highest drafted former Basketball Without Borders campers ever.

He was the ninth consecutive college freshman to be selected with the first overall pick. During

his lone season at Arizona, Ayton led the NCAA with 24 double doubles - a PAC-12 freshman record. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 61.6 per cent from the field, and was the “Karl Malone Power Forward” of the year consensus First Team All-American.

Ayton was one of only four players in the nation to average

the aforementioned double double.

He was also Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, All-Defensive Team selection and Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament.

Indeed, he was the first player in conference history to win all awards.

DEANDRE Ayton interacts with campers yesterday at the 31st Jeff Rodgers Basketball camp. Scores of enthusiastic youth were eager to greet the No.1 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

Photos: 10th Year Seniors

CHISHOLM from PAGE 1

Diamondbacks organisation - hit two home runs and set career highs with five hits and five RBIs to lead his team to a 13-4 win over Dayton last Monday.

He finished 5-6 and also tied his career best with four runs.

The 20-year-old shortstop had been 1-21 with eight strikeouts in the last five games. He is currently tied for second in the Midwest League with 15 home runs.

A torn meniscus cut short Chisholm’s 2017 season in Single-A baseball with the Cougars in the Midwestern League’s Western Division.

Last year, he played in just 29 games - hit .248 with, three stolen bases, slugging .358, an on-base percentage

FED CUP from PAGE 1

Leacock serving, the Trinidadian was unable to finish the match after she fell down and reportedly hurt her knee as Cartwright was awarded the win to move the Bahamas into the 1-1 tie.

It came down to the doubles where Cartwright came back and teamed up with Grand Bahamian Simone Pratt. They went on to win 6-4, 6-3 over Anneliese Rose and Stampfli to secure the 2-1 victory for the Bahamas, who moved to 2-0 in the standings in Pool B of Group II. The Bahamas has one more match left against Bermuda, who is winless so far in the tournament, before they prepare for the playoffs and a chance to get promoted to Group One for 2019.

Rolle, fresh off leading the men’s Davis Cup team

of .325, an OPS of .683, 12 RBI and one home run.

“It gave me a way different perspective of the game,” Chisholm said to the Kane County Chronicle when he referenced the injury. “I used to give it all I can, and now, I’m trying to push the limit of that. I’m not just giving it all I can, I’m giving it all I can give...

It showed me that it’s baseball, it’s not you. It gave me way more love and respect for the game.

“In 2018, my goal and my plan is to get in the majors by the end of the year,” Chisholm said in the offseason. “It has been a grind to get where I’m at. So I just have to continue to put my all in everything I do and just grind to represent the 242 the right way.”

Also in the Single A-Advanced play, Seymour returned from the seven

to a promotion in Group II for next year, said after they were tied at 1-1 in singles, a decision was made to go with the combo of Cartwright and Pratt after Thompson complained of cramping up a bit in the second set of her singles.

“Kerrie and Simone played well,” Rolle said.

“We were down in the first set, but they came back strong and won. Then they pulled it out in the second.

So the Bahamas did very well today. Tomorrow we have Bermuda. I think once we beat Bermuda, we will come out No.1 in the group and we will play the No.1 team in the other group.”

The other pool is comprised of Peru, Cuba and Uruguay. Peru has won all two of their matches against Cuba and Uruguay to clinch the top spot. Should the Bahamas beat Bermuda, they will advance to play Peru. The winner of that match would automatically clinch a berth in Zone One

day disabled list with the Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League.

Seymour hit leadoff and finished 3-5 with one homerun, one RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored.

In the top of the third inning, Seymour homered on a line drive to right field and returned with a double to right field.

After being released by the Atlanta Braves (Florida Fire Frogs) on May 6, Seymour was signed by the Miami Marlins on May 10 and was subsequently assigned to the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Since the assignment to the Hammerheads, Seymour has hit .280 through 33 games with 11 RBI, 14 stolen bases, three home runs and scored 15 runs.

Last season, Seymour’s year came to an abrupt end before he had an

opportunity to suit up in the Offseason Arizona Fall League. He was suspended for “violation of team rules,” according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo and was removed from the roster of the Peoria Javelinas.

He concluded last season with the Orlando Fire Frogs with his best month of the 2017 campaign. With the Fire Frogs, Seymour appeared in 78 games in the Florida State League.

He hit .287 with 17 RBI, an OBP of .346, OPS of .711 scored 42 runs and stole 17 bases. Despite playing in just 78 of the team’s 118 games, he ranked fourth on the team in hits (84), fourth in triples and second in stolen bases.

It has been a struggle at the plate for much of the season for Champ Stuart and the Binghampton

Rumble Ponies in the Double-A Eastern League.

Stuart broke out of that slump this week and opened a three-game series against Portland 3-4 with one home run, three RBI, one stolen base and three runs scored.

Chavez Young continues his ride in the Toronto Blue Jays organisation with the Lansing Lugnuts in the Single-A Midwest League.

Young finished 4-5 at the plate and scored three runs on Monday. Through 84 games this season, Young is hitting .291 with 96 hits and 39 RBI. He also has an .805 OPS, slugging .455 with 22 stolen bases, 59 runs scored, 150 total bases, 25 doubles, seven triples and five home runs. Young has the Midwest league lead in doubles, tied for second in triples and tied for second in runs scored.

FED Cup team members in Ecuador (l-r) Danielle Thompson, Sierra Donaldson, captain Marvin Rolle, Simone Pratt and Kerrie Cartwright proudly display the national flag. for 2019. Team Bahamas opened play on Wednesday with Thompson and Cartwright winning their singles.

However, the team of Pratt and Sierra Donaldson, the other member of the team, lost in doubles.

Once they’re done with the Fed Cup, the team, with the exception of Donaldson, will head to Colombia

to participate in the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games that got started yesterday.

Rolle will coach the men’s team of Philip Major Jr, Kevin Major Jr and brothers Spencer and Baker Newman.

Thompson, Cartwright and Pratt will play on the ladies’ team that will be

coached by Larikah Russell. Tennis will be a part of the Bahamian delegation at the games that will include men’s basketball, men’s softball, track and field, swimming, sailing, judo, fencing and boxing.

The Bahamas will be represented by a delegation of 60 athletes, 21 coaches and three team officials.

FREEDOM FARM from PAGE 1

Puerto Rico will go on face Curacao in today’s final at 1pm. Curacao defeated Aruba 5-2 in the other semi-final. The winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, next month.

Participating teams in the event include defending Caribbean champions Los Bravos de Pontezuela (Santiago, Dominican Republic), 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 earned the rights to represent the Bahamas after they were declared the winner of the Bahamas Baseball Association’s National Championships that was played recently at the Emera Baseball Stadium in Grand Bahama.

After opening the tournament with three consecutive wins, the Bahamas is now in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

In game one, Freedom Farm defeated the team from the Dominican Republic 3-2 and followed with a 10-3 win over Gino Vega LL. They improved to 3-0 with a dominant 13-2 win over District 1 LL of the US Virgin Islands. They suffered their first loss of the tournament in their earlier meeting against Radames Lopez LL 7-4 in the first game of a double header, followed by a 10-9 loss to Pabao. The Farmers then suffered a 4-3 loss on a walk-off hit from Aruba, but maintained fourth position in the standings and advanced to the semi-final.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 20, 2018, PAGE 3

Let’s get out and support Summer of Thunder IT’s the summer time and we’re finding out that more and more teams are travelling to represent the country at various international meets around the world.

At the same time, more and more teams are looking forward to coming to the Bahamas to bask in our sun, sand and sea and enjoy some friendly competition.

One of those disciplines doing its part to cater to the influx of the tourism economy is the Bahamas Basketball Federation through its Summer of Thunder basketball games for visiting collegiate division II and III teams from the United States and Canada.

The series got started in June and it was quite disappointing to see the turnout from the local community for the Truman State University, who played about three games at the Kendall Isaacs Gymnasium.

The Summer of Thunder series will pick back up in August as a few more teams will be coming to play in some exhibition games against local teams.

As usual, these teams travel with some of their fans and if it wasn’t for them, the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium would probably be empty. I know it’s the summer,

but we have to do a better job of catering to our guests. The dates for the remainder of the games, according to Eugene Horton, the public relations officer for the BBF, is from August 8-22 and will begin with teams from the University of Notre Dame, Alabama State University and the University of Kentucky.

Mark the dates down on your calendar and let’s see if we can get some more patrons in the stands.

These are some entertaining games as evident by the fact that rarely our local teams get to pull off an upset or come close to it.

Maybe by having some more people in the stands cheering for them, they can be a little more successful in winning a few, if not all of the games.

If each local player participating in the games could invite at least 3-5 people in their household, community or workplace to watch them play, we could definitely see the numbers in the spectators increase.

We just have to do a better job of promoting the things that we do to those that we come in contact with on a daily basis. Communication in everything we do is the key to our success.

Work commenced?

It was quite interesting to pass through the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and notice that there was some movement into the construction site of the new baseball stadium. Staff at Woslee Construction, who agree to an original cost of $21,351,507 to construct the stadium, could be seen on site, but when contacted for comments, a member of staff referred the matter to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Efforts to contact the new minister, Lanisha Rolle, were unsuccessful, but Director of Sports Timothy Munnings could not confirm or deny that after a year of inactivity, they are finally ready to get the much anticipated project completed. He said if that is the case, an official announcement could be expected to come shortly. That’s good news because it’s been too long watching the big white elephant just sitting there taking up space.

Farewell to Roach More and more we are quickly losing more personalities who have made their contributions in the sand of time to the landscape of sports in the Bahamas.

The latest to fit that description is Osmond ‘Ossie’ Roach, who at the age of 73 will be laid to rest in his hometown of Exuma on Saturday.

Before he returned to Exuma, Roach played an integral role in the Bahamas Swimming Federation behind the scenes, especially at the CARIFTA level.

If you didn’t know, Roach was also the father of three outstanding swimmers - Dorian, Cameron and Katie Roach - who all made their presence before they retired from the sport.

While Katie is now coaching, Dorian and Cameron represented the Bahamas in triathlon at the Commonwealth Games that was held in the Gold Coast, Australia in April, proving an athlete-coach combination as the second team to ever compete at that level.

Roach may have quietly slipped away, but he will be remembered for his contributions made to the swimming community. May his

soul rest in peace as is Everette Oswald ‘Elisah Obed’ Ferguson, the former World Boxing Council’s super welterweight champion.

The funeral service for the 66-year-old legend will be held on Saturday as well at 11am at Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries, Carmichael Road.

At the same time, it has been confirmed that funeral services for the late Samuel ‘Sammy’ Gardiner will be held on Saturday, July 28 at 10am at Zion Baptist Church on East and Shirley Street.

Gardiner, 72, was a former educator turned Ministry of Tourism executive. He played basketball, table tennis and golf where he made some valuable contributions not just as a player, but as an executive.

No word yet however has been released on the service for the late Arthur Clarke, 66, another former professional boxer who passed away on Independence Day. We will miss all those fallen heroes and offer our condolences on behalf of the sports team at The Tribune for all of the memories that we would have shared through the stories on their contributions to our country.

SEVEN SEAS PREDATORS – 2018 Bahamas Flag Football League men’s champions.

PREDATORS AND WILDCATS FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS!

THIS past weekend marked the end of the 2018 playing season for the Bahamas Flag Football League.

The season ended with two teams returning to prominence and taking home the coveted title of champions.

The women’s division saw the Paradise Game Wildcats crowned as champs over the Bet Vegas Casino Hawks

7-0 while the Seven Seas Predators dethroned the A Sure Win Warhawks 12-7.

In other news, the West All-Stars in both the men’s and women’s division would be victorious over the East All Stars 6-0 and 7-0 respectively and in the battle between the coaches versus referee’s game, the Coaches would win 12-7.

PARADISE GAME WILDCATS – 2018 Bahamas Flag Football League women’s champions.

CONCACAF from PAGE 1

Fernie, Rachel Rolle, Brianna Capron, Janeka Edy, Asia Williams and Damielle Gomez. Gabrielle Simms, Takiyah Holbert and Kendi Outten are from Grand Bahama.

“After months of training, the girls have come a long way since we started,” coach Davies said. “I have some very high expectations for the girls from what I’ve seen so far. I think we should make a very good showing. I don’t know anything about the other teams, so I don’t like to make predictions of sort.

But based on what I see with the girls that I have, I think the expectations is based on what I know the girls are capable of doing.”

The tournament, held every two years, will be the

third time for the Bahamas to participate and with teams like the United States and Mexico in the field, Davies said the Bahamas should be able to match up with their peers. “If it comes down to execution at the end of the day, I don’t think that their talent is that much better than us, if better at all,” he insisted. “I think it will just boil down to who executes the best on that day and makes the least amount of mistakes.”

The Bahamas has been placed in Group E of Division II, which comprises of the Cayman Islands, St Lucia and Guyana. There are four groups in Division II, which will all play for the top spot. However, in division one, there are three groups of four teams that will play for four spots in the playoffs.

Team Bahamas will work out on Tuesday, Wednesday

and Thursday from six to 7:30 pm and eight to 9:30am on Saturday before they leave town on August 4 and return on August 11.

They will play their first game in the tournament at 11am on August 6 against the Cayman Islands and St Lucia at the same time on August 7. After a day’s rest on August 8, the team will return to action on August 9 against Guyana at 11am.

CONCACAF returns to IMG following a successful Boys’ Under-15 Championship held there last year, which featured a record 39 teams from across the Confederation. This will mark the third time this CONCACAF competition has been held for U-15 girls.

The USA did not participate in the first tournament in 2014, but with many of the players currently with the U-17 Women’s National Team attempting to qualify

for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, won the competition in 2016 in Orlando.

The USA took all seven games at that tournament by shutout while compiling a 49-0 goal difference. The USA defeated Costa Rica 5-0 in the semi-final and Canada 2-0 in the championship game to take the regional title.

“This year’s Girls’ Under-15 Championship exemplifies CONCACAF’s commitment to providing access to world-class playing environments for more of our young players from across the region,” said CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio.

“We’re pleased to return to IMG Academy, and we’re especially excited to see so many young women from across the region get the chance to experience a top-level CONCACAF

competition. This event will be a positive influence for these girls in both their playing careers and young lives.”

As part of a big year of women’s soccer in CONCACAF that includes the CONCACAF Women’s Championship and the Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 Championship, the expanded Girls’ Under15 Championship will provide access to international football for over 500 girls from across the CONCACAF region, enhancing opportunity for long-term development and growth of the women’s game in the region.

In total, nearly 2,000 female athletes will participate in CONCACAF championships this year across the region. Centralised tournaments such as the Girls’ Under-15 Championship and regional

qualifying tournaments in the Caribbean and Central America are providing more football for more of CONCACAF’s women’s teams across all levels, assuring that the region’s women are well-served through the One CONCACAF philosophy of access to quality football for more CONCACAF athletes. The participating member associations, groups, schedule and format of the tournament will be announced in the near future. To ensure sporting balance and fully leverage this unique development opportunity for the full contingent of young CONCACAF and invited players, member associations will be divided into divisions. All will be guaranteed a minimum number of competitive matches during the week-long competition.

PAGE 4, Friday, July 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

JORDAN SPIETH, of the US plays out of a bunker on the 6th hole during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland.

(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

KISNER TAKES LEAD, CARNOUSTIE HOLDS ITS OWN AT BRITISH OPEN

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — The silver claret jug was on the first tee yesterday morning at Carnoustie, a trophy that Kevin Kisner knows all too well.

Kisner flew home from the British Open last year with Jordan Spieth, a flight that was delayed while waiting on Spieth to finish up his duties as the champion golfer of the year. Just last week, Kisner was on the plane with Spieth to Paris to see the Ryder Cup course, and Spieth had to bring the jug along to return it to the R&A when they arrived at this links along the North Sea. “And I’m staying with him this week, and he no longer has it,” Kisner said.

“He gave it back Monday.

It would be cool to return the favour.”

Kisner played like he was serious about that.

He made a long eagle putt on the par-5 sixth. He ran off three straight birdies on the back nine. Kisner finished with a 5-under 66 before some 60 players had even started the opening round, and nobody could catch him.

In what might be the easiest conditions of the week,

Kisner kept the ball in play and made just about everything. He took only 22 putts and had a one-shot lead, giving him little more than bragging rights in the house of stars where he is staying, with roommates that include five major champions and Rickie Fowler.

“The golf course is great for me,” Kisner said. “The conditions have been fine.

Going forward, you never know what you’re going to have in Scotland. I know the rain is coming in tomorrow. I don’t think the rain is going to affect how the golf course is playing in one day, but I have to just keep doing what I’m doing. If I have 22 puts the next three days, I bet I’ll have a pretty good shot.”

Carnoustie still managed to hold its own.

One shot behind was a collection of players with little history in golf’s biggest events, including Erik Van Rooyen and Zander Lombard of South Africa. Tony Finau had eight birdies to offset his share of mistakes to join them at 67.

Of the top seven on the leaderboard, none has won a major.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm powered their way to 69s, going for the green on short par 4s. Tiger Woods took out his driver one

time and shot 71, a round slowed by a short putt he missed and a pot bunker he couldn’t avoid.

“I played better than what the score indicates,” Woods said. “I had two 8-irons into both par 5s today, and I end up with par on both of those. If I just clean up those two holes and play them the way I’m supposed to play them with 8-iron in my hand, I think I’d probably have the best round in the afternoon wave.”

Almost. Eleven of the 31 players who broke par were in the afternoon side of the draw.

Even so, no one could really low. And those 31 players who broke par were separated by just four shots.

Three of Kisner’s housemates also were under par — PGA champion Justin Thomas (69), two-time major champion Zach Johnson (70) and Fowler (70).

Another is Spieth, who was in range of the lead until he made one mental error and two bad swings while dropping four shots over the last four holes for a 72 that didn’t do too much damage.

Even in gentle weather

by Scottish standards, Carnoustie served up its usual dose of craziness.

Padraig Harrington holed a short putt for par on the

opening hole and turned to leave when he saw a golf ball trundle onto the green.

It was the tee shot of US Open champion Brooks Koepka, who hit driver off the tee to set up an easy birdie.

That was as easy as it got for Koepka for the next two hours. He shot 41 on the front nine. And then he shot 31 on the back nine.

“The scores probably weren’t as low as we anticipated, but 1 over is not the worst,” Koepka said. “Definitely didn’t shoot myself out of it, which very easily could have happened.”

Sergio Garcia hit a drive that never stopped rolling on No. 10 until it dropped over the edge of Barry Burn.

The water was shallow enough for the former Masters champion to smash through a ball rock and water to get the club on the ball and escape without further damage.

Carnoustie was not kind to everyone.

Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1 player, managed only one birdie in his round of 76, his highest start in the Open since his debut at Turnberry in 2009.

Masters champion Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama, Bubba Watson and Garcia were all at 75 and

KEVIN KISNER, of the US, chips out of a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jon Super) now have to worry about just getting to the weekend.

On the longest day — from Sandy Lyle hitting the opening tee shot at 6:35am and the group including newcomer Bronson Burgoon finishing off the first round nearly 13 hours later — everyone had their own style of getting around the course reputed to be the toughest links in golf.

“Different players are going to have a different way to see how they’re going to play this golf course,” McIlroy said. “I know Tiger is out there

hitting a lot of irons off tees and doing it his own way.

No one’s going to argue with him — he did it like at Hoylake, and he was able to win there.”

There’s one difference, Woods said.

“Hoylake is flat. This is not,” Woods said. “And when Hideki hits a 3-wood 400 yards into a burn, you know it’s kind of quick. A couple of my 6-irons went about 240.

“It’s hard for people to understand it, but it’s just the nature of this golf course.”

COLUMN: WOODS CLOSE, BUT MISTAKES COST HIM AGAIN

By TIM DAHLBERG AP Sports Columnist CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — Some clouds came in and the wind started blowing — if just a bit — as Tiger Woods played the early holes yesterday, making what had been a warm, sunny day seem a little more like a British Open.

As if on cue, Woods’ game started looking a little more familiar, too.

A birdie on the first hole was just the start he needed.

Another on the fourth got even the normally reserved British golf fans cheering.

As he stood in the middle of the sixth fairway with an 8-iron in his hand for his second shot on the par 5, Woods seemed poised to leap onto the leaderboard.

And then — well, that story is starting to look a little familiar lately, too.

Two tee shots into bunkers on the back nine. A missed 3-footer on the 13th hole. An 8-iron on the par-5 14th that went straight into a pot bunker with a fried egg lie.

And when it was all added up, an even-par 71 on a day when Carnoustie was there for the taking.

Not terrible, by any stretch.

Certainly an improvement over the US

Open, where he shot a 78 in the first round and went on to miss the cut.

But it did nothing to change the state of Woods’ latest comeback, which remains stalled deep into the golf season. Just when he shows flashes of the greatness of the past, Woods follows it with the mediocrity of the moment.

And that may be the worst possible outcome anyone — especially Woods — wants to see at this time of year.

“I was right there,” Woods said. “I had an 8-iron to 6 and looking like I could really do something here. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite turn out that way, but part of this afternoon wave, I was one of the lower rounds.”

Yes, Woods was, though he was still five shots off the lead set early by Kevin Kisner. The luck of the draw does sometimes matter in golf — especially at the British Open — and Woods got the worst part with an afternoon tee time for his first round, and a morning time for today when rain is forecast.

Woods was also dealing with a stiff neck, something he wore a bandage called Kinesiology Tape for. But he showed no ill effects from it as he stormed into

TIGER WOODS, of the US, and his caddie Joe Lacava walk along the 7the fairway during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jon Super) contention only to fail to birdie No. 6 and then fall back with a series of miscues on the back nine.

It’s been a pattern for Woods all year long, one that will have to change if he’s going to make this his first major championship win in 10 years. He’s been prone to making mistakes when he can afford them least, just when his game starts to resemble that of the player who won 14 major championships over an 11-year stretch.

That kind of record used to intimidate his opponents

— and still does to some measure for players of a different generation. One of his playing partners Thursday was Russell Knox, a Scotsman who won the Irish Open two weeks ago and was playing with Woods for the first time.

Knox admitted he was in awe of Woods, something that may have caused him to struggle early on his way to a 73.

“He’s almost like a mythical figure,” Knox said.

Knox had a front-row ticket to watch the way Woods made his way

around Carnoustie in his 20th British Open, and liked what he saw.

“He hit it good. He plowed his way around, which I expected him to, and he was very conservative off the tee,” Knox said.

“It’s kind of fun to watch him do that, to be honest.”

Woods, who missed the last two British Opens while dealing with injury and personal issues, was as conservative as could be, hitting only one driver and one 3-wood on a links course playing so fast that balls could roll long

distances after hitting the ground.

It’s a style of golf Woods likes to play, and one he has been successful at. He’s won three Opens, the last in 2006 at Royal Liverpool, which was playing hard and fast, much like Carnoustie.

“I’ve just always enjoyed — this is how the game should be played,” Woods said. “It should be creative.

It should be played on the ground. You can utilise the ground as an ally. When we play home in the States, that’s not the case. Everything is going straight up in the air, but this is very different.

“It’s amazing the shots, the creativity. I mean, you can roll the ball 100 yards if you wanted to, or you can throw it straight up in the air. I like having those shot options.”

Assuming he makes the cut, Woods will have a lot more chances to explore those options. His game, for the most part, seems crisp and he knows as well as anyone what it takes to win an Open on a links golf course.

If he can somehow find a way to eliminate the mistakes that pop up at the worst times, it’s not inconceivable that he could break through at the age of 42 and win the Open once again.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 20, 2018, PAGE 5

Rowdy Tour fans tarnish win for Thomas atop Alpe d’Huez

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ALPE D’HUEZ, France (AP) — One of cycling’s big attractions is that fans don’t have to pay to watch — and they can get as close as they want to the riders.

The sport paid for that unlimited access Thursday when unruly spectators interrupted the most iconic climb of the Tour de France.

With fans pressing too close to an elite group of riders at the conclusion of the 21 hairpin bends up to Alpe d’Huez, top contender Vincenzo Nibali crashed into a police motorbike and later withdrew from the race, four-time champion Chris Froome received some undesired contact on his back, and yellow jersey holder Geraint Thomas was booed on the podium.

“If people don’t like Sky and want to boo, that’s fine. Boo all you like, but don’t affect the race,”

Thomas said. “Don’t touch the riders. Don’t spit at us.

Voice your opinions all you want but let us do the racing.”

Attitudes toward Sky soured when Froome was involved in an asthma drug case stemming from last year’s Spanish Vuelta — even though he was cleared of wrongdoing just days before the Tour started.

Froome is attempting to match the record of five Tour victories shared by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

Thomas sprinted away from Sky teammate Froome and a couple of other riders to win Stage 12, becoming the first rider in Tour history to win atop Huez in the yellow jersey.

Lance Armstrong won an individual time trial up Huez in 2004 while wearing yellow but that victory was later stripped for doping.

“Unbelievable. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would win up here,” Thomas said. “It’s one of those things that’s going to stay with me for the rest of my life.”

But Thomas acknowledged that Nibali’s crash took some of the luster away from his victory.

Thomas rode over Nibali’s rear wheel — when the Italian went down — but managed to stay upright.

Nibali, the 2014 champion got back up but finished seventh in the stage, then was taken to the local hospital for medical tests for a suspected back injury.

“He should have been fighting for victory,” Thomas said of Nibali. “It’s a bit of a downer on the day.”

Nibali said: “The road became narrower and there were no barriers.

There were two police motorbikes. When Froome accelerated, I followed him,

COLOMBIA’s Egan Arley Bernal Gomez, Britain’s Geraint Thomas, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and Britain’s Chris Froome climb alpe d’huez yesterday during the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 175.5 kilometres (109 miles) with start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice Les Arcs and Alpe d’Huez, France.

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

I was feeling good. Then we slowed down and I hit the ground.”

Nibali was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra and the Bahrain-Merida rider later tweeted that he was withdrawing from the Tour.

Tom Dumoulin crossed second, two seconds behind Thomas, and Romain Bardet came third, three seconds back.

Froome, who finished fourth, four seconds behind, refused to talk to reporters afterward. A fan who allegedly hit him during the stage was put in handcuffs

by French police.

“You expect professional athletes to play sport and entertain without being touched or impacted on by the crowd,” Sky general manager Dave Brailsford said. “Part of the joy of our sport is how close the crowd gets. But we have to bear in mind that if it impacts on the race, as it did with Nibali today, then that’s too much.”

Thomas extended his lead over Froome in the overall standings to 1 minute, 39 seconds. He’ll likely hold on to the yellow jersey for at least several more days as the Tour returns to flatter roads for Stages 13 and 14 before the climbs resume in the Massif Central and the Pyrenees.

With questions over which rider Sky is backing for victory, it was a bold demonstration of strength

by Thomas, who has been Froome’s loyal lieutenant for years. “In my eyes Froomey is still our leader,” Thomas said. “I’m just going to enjoy it now.”

Dumoulin is third overall, 1:50 behind, while Nibali recovered to hold on to fourth, 2:37 back, before withdrawing.

The last and most feared of the three stages in the

BRITAIN’S GERAINT THOMAS, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the twelfth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Alps this year, the 175.5-kilometer (109-mile) leg began in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and took the peloton over three grueling, beyond-category climbs.

Fans lined every corner of the climb to Huez, many of them amateur cyclists who tested their legs on the ascent a few hours before the professionals, while others had camped out for days.

As usual there were many rowdy fans on the “Dutch corner” located two-thirds of the way up.

Riders had to navigate their way through smoke in a variety of colors — red, blue and orange.

Before Huez, riders had already scaled the lengthy ascents to Col de la Madeleine and Col de la Croix-de-Fer (Pass of the Iron Cross) plus the shorter but spectacular Lacets de Montvernier — a miniature Huez featuring a photogenic series of 18 switchbacks.

Part of an early breakaway group, Dutch rider

Steven Kruijswijk launched a solo attack up the Col de la Croix-de-Fer and crossed the summit above the treeline with a six-minute lead over the peloton. But he was caught by Froome on the way up to Huez with 3.5 kilometers remaining.

“We didn’t expect Kruijswijk to attack so hard,” Thomas said. “They really took the race to us.”

Froome had attacked with four kilometers to go but couldn’t quite drop Thomas, Dumoulin and Bardet.

Rigoberto Uran, last year’s runner-up, withdrew before the stage began, having failed to recover from a crash on the cobblestones in Stage 9.

The mountainous route was a nightmare for muscular sprinters. Fernando Gaviria and Dylan Groenewegen, who each won two stages each in this year’s race, withdrew midway through, as did Andre Greipel.

The three-week race ends July 29 in Paris.

RED SOX, YANKEES HEADING FOR COMPELLING AL EAST FINISH

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Mookie Betts and the major leagueleading Red Sox are on pace for 100-plus wins. Same for Aaron Judge and the Yankees, and the World Series champion Astros, too.

The Orioles, White Sox and Royals are on track to lose more than 100.

It’s the haves and the have-nots as baseball returns after the AllStar break.

“There’s a few good teams out there that they’re going to make it interesting in the second half,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “That’s why you got to show up every day and keep playing.

We had a great first part of the season, but that doesn’t guarantee us anything in October, going to October.”

The Dodgers know all about October, and they are a World Series contender once again.

Especially with the addition of Manny Machado.

The NL West leaders got a head start on the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline by sending five prospects to Baltimore on Wednesday for Machado, an All-Star shortstop capable of powering Los Angeles to its first title in 30 years. “Any time you have a chance to add an impact

player in a tight division race that’s something you have to look at closely,” Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said.

The Indians bolstered their bullpen by acquiring All-Star closer Brad Hand and rookie Adam Cimber in a trade with San Diego on Thursday, sending catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the rebuilding Padres.

Machado might be the biggest star to switch teams this month, but there will be plenty of players on the move.

If the last-place Mets decide to rebuild, aces Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard could shake up the playoff race. Rangers lefthander Cole Hamels and Reds pitchers Raisel Iglesias and Matt Harvey — remember him? — also could be headed for new homes.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and Twins second baseman Brian Dozier could provide hitting help for a contender.

“Starting pitching is always big during the trade deadline, whether it’s me or somebody else who’s having a good year,” deGrom said.

The Padres also could ship out relievers Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen. They are the only team out of the conversation in the NL West, where the Dodgers’ lead over fourth-place San Francisco is just four games. The Cubs have the best record in the National

YANKEES outfielder Aaron Judge celebrates his solo home run with Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) during the first inning of the Major League Baseball All-star Game Tuesday night in Washington.

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) League after chasing Milwaukee for much of the first half, and the NL East looks like a three-team race.

Washington was supposed to be one of the haves this year, but it hasn’t worked out so far. The Nationals hit the break with a .500 record, looking up at the surprising Phillies and Braves.

But ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg, first baseman

Ryan Zimmerman and closer Sean Doolittle are set to return from injuries, and it looked as if Bryce Harper regained some of his swagger with his win in the All-Star Home Run Derby in his home ballpark.

While the NL features three tight division races, there is nothing like the duel in the AL East, or the crowded AL West for that matter.

The Red Sox and Yankees have baseball’s best two records, and one of them very well could be headed for the wild-card game.

The Astros are in prime position to become the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees from 1998-2000, but any stumble and the Mariners or surging Athletics could push Jose Altuve and Co. into a more precarious spot.

“We need to win games and need to continue to push and put pressure on our division, put pressure on the rest of the American League,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “We have to do what we’re capable of.”

There is a lot to love about Boston, too. Betts is making a case for the AL MVP award, and Chris Sale leads the strikeoutcrazy majors with a whopping 188 Ks. The Red Sox also have received surprising contributions from All-Star first baseman Mitch Moreland and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

Of course, the Yankees don’t look like they are going anywhere either, not with Judge anchoring a deep lineup and Luis Severino at the front of their rotation.

Expect the AL East rivals to be on the hunt for help at the non-waiver deadline, desperately hoping to avoid that dicey wildcard matchup.

AT THE BREAK, MARINERS IN POSITION TO END PLAYOFF DROUGHT

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — At some point it’s going to end.

The feeling of imminent failure among some Seattle fans is going to manifest on the field and this unexpected season is going to start crumbling until it’s just like each of the previous seasons since the Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001. It has to, right?

That feeling is what nearly two decades without postseason baseball has created in the Pacific Northwest. While there is genuine excitement for

what Seattle accomplished in the first 3½ months of the season there’s also a sense of dread among the most fatalistic fans who have seen promising seasons go south before, and it won’t go away until the Mariners officially end the longest current postseason drought in any of the four major pro sports.

Lucky for the doubters, this team is showing the type of resilience needed to do just that.

“I think the thing I’m most proud of, I guess, with this group is the ability for them to be as tight as they are,” Seattle manager Scott

Servais said. “I think there’s a special bond within our team and it plays out on the field.”

The Mariners are sitting at 58-39 and hold a threegame lead for the second wild-card spot heading into the second half of the season. What makes that remarkable is the Mariners have overcome enough obstacles thus far to derail most teams.

Five different starting position players have spent time on the disabled list and catcher Mike Zunino is currently on his second stint on the DL. Their bullpen has seen another four key arms

go down at various times all the way back to spring training, And that doesn’t take into consideration the 80-game suspension of second baseman Robinson Cano. Rather than disrupt what Seattle had going, Cano’s suspension seemed to galvanize the team. Seattle is 36-22 since Cano’s suspension started.

“I think just team chemistry carries a team further than a lot of people think and just when guys are all on the same page and fighting for one another ... that’s the big picture and it keeps everyone focused on that

instead of their own individual performances and stuff like that,” outfielder Mitch Haniger said.

Seattle’s success in the first half was based around beating the bad teams in the American League.

The Mariners were 51-22 against the rest of the AL not named the Red Sox, Astros or Yankees.

They are third in the AL in batting average, and fifth in both slugging and OPS. Their staff ERA is fifth and they’ve been one of the better defensive teams in the AL. Their flaw is what has made them so good so far.

They’ve been heavily reliant on being terrific in close games. Blowouts are foreign to Seattle and that lack of consistent offense could be a problem in the second half.

Edwin Diaz is on pace to challenge the single-season saves record with 36 at the break, but can’t be relied upon to be nearly perfect the rest of the way. Seattle’s 54 save opportunities are four more than anyone else in baseball. Of the three teams ahead of Seattle in the AL by record, Boston has faced 41 save opportunities, New York 37 and Houston 36.

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PAGE 6, Friday, July 20, 2018

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THE TRIBUNE

25

24

26

25

27 26 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CAS letters in the highlighted squares to reveal

26

27 TO ENTER: call 0904 161 3700 and leave FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read down the your to 84915. calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone c letters in the highlighted squares to reveal mystery at midnight tonight.the or send your gridword. containing

Sutton coldfield B73 9BT. entries must be postma TO ENTER: call 0904 161 3700 and leave your answer and details, or tex number. ● The winner will be the first random to 84915. calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access CARPE DIEM NEED HELP? call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra c at midnight tonight. or send your grid containing the answer in the shaded Sutton coldfield B73 9BT. entries must be postmarked by march 7 at the la Name number. ● The winner will be the first random correct entry drawn fro addreSS NEED HELP? call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clues! calls cost £1.50 plu

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BLONDIE

Today’s answers: Beginner– =but 24;only intermediate = 216; advanced = 58. if one letter features in both

words in the squares on the right.

There’s at least one way to do it, and you have to have the right letter at the crossover – but which one is it?

See if you can find the answer within Can you make two common five-letter our target time. If you need help, ring words from the nine letters given, our clue-line below to find out the using each letter only once? you can crossover letter. solution tomorrow.

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CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Metaphor, 5 Cold, 9 Capri, 10 Tristan, 11 Colour scheme, 13 Rotate, 14 Elopes, 17 Grave charges, 20 Editors, 21 Olive, 22 Sham, 23 Dear dear.

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*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390

EASY PUZZLE

Down 1 Broken china holds together somehow (5) 2 One may strain to improve it (3) 3 First ride on a new horse (4) 4 One of two that is returned to the right (6) 5 Held in apprehension? (8) 6 It provides humour for US city dweller (3,6) 7 Oriental of earnest disposition (7) 11 Elaborate metalwork to stop a bit of play (9) 13 Modified Russian fighter goes up with a bang! (8) 14 Generous gifts said to be from Swiss capital (7) 16 Underwear made from fibres (6) 19 Main area once a disaster (5) 20 Neat residence (4) 23 Look in the yellow pages (3)

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, July 20, 2018, PAGE 7

Dolphins anthem punishment includes suspensions

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer MIAMI Dolphins players who protest on the field during the national anthem could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued this week.

The “Proper Anthem Conduct” section is just one sentence in a nine-page discipline document provided to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the policy who insisted on anonymity because the document is not public. It classifies anthem protests under a large list of “conduct detrimental to the club,” all of which could lead to a paid or unpaid suspension, a fine or both.

Miami’s anthem policy comes after the NFL decided in May that teams would be fined if players didn’t stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” while on the field.

The league left it up to teams on how to punish players. None of the team policies have been made public.

The NFL rule forbids players from sitting or taking a knee if they are on the field or sidelines during the national anthem, but allows them to stay in the locker room if they wish.

The new league rules were challenged this month in a grievance by the players union.

The NFL declined to comment.

Team officials had no immediate comment.

“Players who are on the field during the Anthem performance must stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem,” says the 16th and final bullet point in the list of conduct considered detrimental, below riding motorcycles during the season and disparaging teammates, coaches or officials including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The NFLPA said earlier this month that the NFL policy, which the league imposed without consultation with the players union, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining

IN this September 11, 2017 file photo, from left, Miami Dolphins’ Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, and Kenny Stills, kneel during the singing of the national anthem before a game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.

(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) agreement and infringes on player rights. The filing will be heard by an independent arbitrator, an NFLPA spokesman said.

When the league announced the policy, Goodell called it a compromise aimed at putting the focus back on football after a tumultuous year in

which television ratings dipped nearly 10 per cent.

The union said when it filed the grievance that it proposed having its executive committee talk to the NFL instead of litigating. The union said the NFL agreed to those discussions.

In 2016, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick

began protesting police brutality, social injustice and racial inequality by kneeling during the national anthem and the demonstration spread to other players and teams. It became one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in sports. Critics led by President Donald Trump called

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partly sunny and breezy

Partly cloudy

Some sun with a shower or t‑storm

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

High: 90°

Low: 76°

High: 90° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

97° F

84° F

100°-84° F

99°-86° F

98°-85° F

97°-84° F

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° 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

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 82° F/28° C

7‑14 knots

S

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 79° F/26° 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 ................................... 81° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ............................................... 29.06” Normal year to date ................................... 17.40”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 85° F/29° C

uV inDex toDay

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

2:27 a.m.

3:12 p.m.

2.7 2.9

8:49 a.m.

9:33 p.m.

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

Monday

5:19 a.m.

5:57 p.m.

2.4 3.0

11:29 a.m. 0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Tuesday

6:09 a.m.

6:42 p.m.

2.4 3.0

12:24 a.m. 0.7 12:16 p.m. 0.4

Wednesday 6:55 a.m.

7:24 p.m.

2.4 3.1

1:10 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

0.6 0.3

Thursday

2.5 3.1

1:52 a.m.

1:41 p.m.

0.5 0.3

7:38 a.m.

8:04 p.m.

0.2 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:32 a.m.

8:01 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:08 p.m.

1:11 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Jul. 27

Aug. 4

Aug. 11

Aug. 18

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

8‑16 knots

S

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

the players unpatriotic and even said NFL owners should fire any player who refused to stand during the anthem. Some players countered that their actions were being misconstrued and that they are seeking social change rather than protesting the anthem itself.

Trump’s criticism led more than 200 players to protest during one weekend, and some kept it up throughout the season.

The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009.

“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem. We want people to stand,” Goodell said at the May meetings, when he dismissed concerns about the lack of union involvement by contending the league met with countless players over the past year.

“We’ve been very sensitive on making sure that we give players choices,” the commissioner added, “but we do believe that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

8‑16 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.

L

E

W

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

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° 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: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

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

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

VISIBILITY 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 82° F 82° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Friday, July 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

AP SOURCE: CELTICS RE-SIGN SMART TO 4-YEAR, $52 MILLION DEAL

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON Celtics’ Marcus Smart poses during NBA basketball media day.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics re-signed guard Marcus Smart yesterday, bringing him back for four more years after he found the market for a restricted free agent defensive specialist wasn’t as lucrative as he’d hoped.

A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press that Smart will be paid $52 million over the next four years.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team did not disclose the terms of the contract.

The Celtics scheduled an availability with Smart after announcing

the deal, then cancelled it an hour later, saying he had flu-like symptoms and was being treated at a hospital with IV fluids.

Smart averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game this season.

He returned from thumb surgery late in the first round of the playoffs and provided the defensive presence that was instrumental in the Celtics taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals.

LeBron James called Smart’s creativity on the court “uncanny” during their matchup and coach Brad Stevens said Smart was “as tough as tough as they come,”

making hustle plays on offence being disruptive on defence.

He also has been a locker-room favourite among his teammates for the past four seasons, bringing a needed edge and in-your-face style on the court.

Those intangibles aside, Smart entered the summer in limbo with Boston remaining mostly quiet as free agency began. The Celtics quickly agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with veteran big man Aron Baynes. The slow movement on Smart left open the possibility they might let him test the market and then decide whether to match any offers.

General manager Danny Ainge said immediately after the season

that fears of a luxury tax bill wouldn’t factor into the team’s decision of whether to bring back players.

But as the roster currently stands, Boston will be on the hook to be taxed next season.

Finances will continue to be an issue with Gordon Hayward signed to a four-year, $128 million deal, Kyrie Irving set to become a free agent after next season and several salary-friendly rookie contracts set to expire over the next few seasons.

Still, for now, the core of the team that won 55 games and was the surprise of the East even with Hayward sidelined last season is intact to try to make another run.

DEMARCUS COUSINS RELISHING FRESH START IN GOLDEN STATE

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press OAKLAND, California (AP) — DeMarcus Cousins spent his first eight seasons in the NBA chasing two things — peace and the playoffs.

After signing with Golden State as a free agent, the four-time AllStar centre has no doubts he’ll finally find both, and that those will help dispel the notion that he’s a bad teammate.

“Just a chance to play for a winning culture,” Cousins said yesterday. “I also have a chance to play with some of the most talented players of this era. Those two things alone, that pretty much sums it up.”

Looking relaxed while sitting on a stage next to Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Cousins was at ease during a news conference at the team’s practice facility.

Golden State’s fiery big man seems content in his new surroundings and wants the hardware to show for it.

“Every guy said let’s go get another championship,”

Cousins said. “They are a well-established team and they could have easily been like, ‘No, we don’t need him.’ But they were excited like a team that’s never accomplished anything.”

While his signing in Golden State drew mostly groans from around the NBA, Cousins didn’t need much persuading to join the two-time defending champions. He has never played in the postseason, is coming off Achilles surgery in January and didn’t attract much attention in free agency until signing a $5.3 million, one-year contract with Golden State.

From the Warriors’ side, it’s a case of the rich getting richer. They’ve won the championship three of the past four seasons with an attack heavy on perimeter shooting and defence.

In the 6-foot-7-inch, 270pound Cousins, they now have a dominant presence on the low block as well.

“It’s a different dimension,” Myers said. “It’s not something that we’ve ever had as far as a low-post threat since I’ve been here.

I’m excited. I hope he’s excited.”

Cousins averaged 25.2 points and career highs in rebounds (12.9), assists (5.4) and minutes (36.2) with New Orleans before getting hurt. He has been frustrated by the tediousness of rehab but is being cautious in his approach.

“I’m progressing weekly, which is a positive,” Cousins said. “As far as a timetable...to be determined. I have to be smart about it. I’m in a unique situation as well where I’m not needed right away.

Time is kind of on my side so I have a chance to get to 100 per cent.

“Making it to the playoffs won’t be an issue for this team obviously. Once the basketball part comes, everything else will take care of itself.”

A throng of media attended the news conference, flanked by 150 young fans who were taking part in a basketball camp held by Warriors. Cousins answered questions from two of the youngsters who were eager to know who his favourite players were growing up.

The 27-year-old with a quick temper and a history of piling up technical fouls

at a rapid rate showed a playful side when he joked about the possibility of fighting with new teammates Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, two players with whom he’s had on-court issues in the past.

“Might as well,” Cousins said as the crowd laughed.

Cousins turned serious at one point when asked about reports that he had been offered a new contract

by New Orleans before signing with Golden State.

“Only me and (Pelicans general manager) Dale Demps know what was said on the phone that night,” Cousins said. “We both know the truth and I’ll leave it at that.”

As for his new team, Cousins has assimilated quickly. He played with several members of the Warriors while winning a gold medal as part of Team USA during the 2016 Summer Olympics.

“Me and Draymond clicked right away,” Cousins said. “We’re two goofballs that like to joke around a lot. Same with KD and same thing with Steph (Curry). It’s a great group. I think we’ll mesh well.”

GOLDEN State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers, left, holds a jersey with DeMarcus Cousins during a media conference Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. Cousins signed a one-year, $5.3M deal with the defending champion Warriors.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot) Until he is medically cleared to play, Cousins will continue to rehab and learn coach Steve Kerr’s system.

He’ll also reach out to the Oakland community, something he made a quiet habit of while in Sacramento playing for the Kings.

“I get out in the ‘hoods,” Cousins said. “I want to go

to the worst, the grimiest places. That’s where I want to be.

“Those are usually the kids or the communities that kind of get left behind or forgotten about. I feel like I was in that situation at one point. That’s where my mindset is and that’s what I stand for.”

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