08042017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2017

BRENT STUBBS IN LONDON PG3

STEVEN GARDINER: A 400 METRES MEDAL WOULD TOP MY YEAR OFF

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net LONDON: Steven Gardiner feels he’s in the right company at the right time to join fellow Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo as a medallist at one of the major international track and field meets.

While Miller-Uibo returns as the athlete to watch on the 24-member team representing the Bahamas at the 16th IAAF World Championships, Gardiner has assumed the role of leader of the pack on the men’s side.

“It feels good. This is my first time competing in London and so I’m here to do my best and to represent my country,” said Gardiner, who will be the second Bahamian in action at these games when he runs in the heats of the men’s 400 metres on Saturday.

“It’s been good so far. A lot of wind, but at least the rain has held up and it’s becoming a lot warmer right now.”

As this is his third international championships – he burst onto the senior circuit after he closed out his junior career as a 200m specialty – Gardiner said he’s just looking forward to going out on the track and performing to the best of his ability.

“This year so far, I’ve had an amazing season. I got a new coach so I’m just taking things differently,” he said.

“Everything has changed.

It’s so different, so I’m just looking at going out there and doing my best.

“Me and coach have a very good relationship. We actually have some very good conversations, which is good. I’m in a new environment, new coach and everyone is happy for me, including my management and agent. So I just have to go out there and do what I do best and that is to run.”

The holder of the Bahamian national record at 44.26 seconds said he’s feeling so good about his progression this year that he’s looking to dip under the 44-second barrier.

“The field has always been stacked, but everybody is not going to be at their best all the time, so this time I know it’s going to be me at my best,” he projected. “So I’m looking forward to going out there to compete.”

Predicting a time for his performance, Gardiner said he’s expecting to go 43 seconds because “I’ve been

“I’m going for my own (medal) here. It doesn’t matter what colour. I’ve never been to a final, but if I can get into the final, I know the medal will come.

It will top my year off.”

Steven Gardiner having some great practices so far. I’m almost there at 43, so why not go for it?”

And while everybody has expressed their concerns about whether or not he can take the pressure of running the gruelling three rounds, Gardiner said he’s more ready than he’s ever been.

“I think I’e gotten better because for the past three weeks, I wasn’t on the circuit. I was actually at practice doing the rounds,” he pointed out.

“One day I would have a broken 400, like a 3, 2 or broken 500. Then one day I went out and did a 400- in practice. So it’s been going real well.

“For the rounds, I think I will manage because there’s only one round per day and there’s a day in between the semi-final and the final. So I will be able to manage it.”

Now under the same management with MillerUibo, Gardiner said they both have the same thing in common.

“We do the same event and we’re both fast and we get along very good,” he insisted.

The only difference is the fact that Miller-Uibo has an individual medal, having won the gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Gardiner is still searching for his first one.

“I’m going for my own here,” he claimed. “It doesn’t matter what colour.

SEE PAGE E2

BAHAMIAN quarter-milers Shanuae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner share a moment together at training in London. Photo: Stanley Mitchell

ON YOUR MARKS: The IAAF World Championships gets underway today at the Olympic Stadium in London. Warren Fraser was scheduled to be the first Bahamian athlete on the blocks in the men’s 100 metres. (AP)

BAHAMAS FIFTH AT CARIBBEAN AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE 2017 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships continued at The Links Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas remains in fifth place in the race for the Arthur Zadie Trophy.

After three rounds the Bahamas has posted a total of 1,419. The men’s team is tied for fifth with a total score of 913 in the Hoerman Cup and

the ladies team is also fifth with 506 in the George Teale Cup. On the ladies’ side Tankea Sandiford shot an 85 for the second consecutive day and fell to 13th place with a total score of 250 (+37).

Inecia Rolle had her worst round so far with an 87 for a total score of 256 (+43) for 17th place.

Puerto Rico leads the field with a score of 1,314, the Dominican Republic is close behind at 1,316, Trinidad and To-

bago are fourth with 1,399 and Barbados is fourth at 1,404.

On the Hoerman’s Cup side, Devaughn Robinson shot the best round of any Bahamian player with his round three performance.

He shot a 71 yesterday and moved up five spots into the sixth position. He shot identical rounds of 75 in the first two rounds for a total of 221 (+8). Oren Butler shot 78 after opening rounds of 75 and 77 for a total score of 230 (+17) for 23rd place.

After he shot a 73 on day one, Richard Gibson Jr continues to fall in the standings after his 81 in round three yesterday. His total score of 232 has him in 26th place. Paul Tsavoussis also struggled in round three with a score of 82 for a score of 238 (+25). Steven Kemp also shot his best round of the championships and the second best effort of any Bahamian player on day three with a 75. His score of 238 (+25) is also ranked no. 36 in the field with Tsavoussis. Lynford Mill-

er also had his lowest score of any round thus far with an 82 for a score of 253 (+40).

It sets the stage for another close finish between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico – the two teams went down to the final day in the 2016 event hosted in the Bahamas at the Ocean Club Resort.

It was also a close finish between the two countries for the top spot as the Dominican Republic came back on the final day to nip Puerto Rico, denying them in their bid to carry

home both titles.

Puerto Rico, however, held onto the ladies’ crown and emerged as the winner of the Arthur Zadie Trophy, which is presented to the overall champions of the two divisions combined.

In that edition, out of a field of eight teams in the men’s division, the Bahamas Hoerman Cup team finished seventh with a total of 1,222. Only seven teams participated in the ladies’ division with the Bahamas finished sixth with 655.

PAGE 2, Friday, August 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

FROM PAGE 1E

TEAM BAHAMAS PREPARES FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

ATHLETES get in some practice before the big event gets underway. Clockwise from top left: Warren Fraser works on his start with head coach Dianne WoodsideJohnson; Bianca Stuart; Tynia Gaither taking a stroll; Devynne Charton and Carmeisha Cox share a moment; Head coach Dianne Woodside-Johnson and relay coordinator Rupert Gardiner overlook the women’s 4 x 100m relay practice.

Photos: BAAA PR

I’ve never been to a final, but if I can get into the final, I know the medal will come.

It will top my year off.”

And after tasting victory when he and Miller-Uibo ran the first two legs of the mixed relay at the third IAAF World Relays, helping Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu join them on the podium, Gardiner said he’d like to have that same feeling with his teammates in the men’s 4x400m relay on the final night of competition here.

“We’re looking good,” he said. “Everybody is just waiting.”

In the meantime, Gardiner said his concentration is on his 400m this weekend.

Miller-Uibo, who will follow Gardiner when he attempts the 200-400 double, said she’s really excited for Gardiner because of what he’s been doing this year and this is now the time for him to really put it all together.

STEVEN GARDINER: A 400 METRES MEDAL WOULD TOP MY YEAR OFF “He’s looking good,” she stated. “I think he will do very well.”

Miller-Uibo said she really wants to see Gardiner put his race together to get on the podium.

She admitted that it’s going to be an interesting event to watch as world record holder Wayde van Niekerk from the Republic of South Africa will be looking to duplicate his feat from the Olympics last year in Rio. The other event, she said, that will hold her interest is the men’s 100m where Jamaican Usain Bolt competes in his final World Championships.

But after having seen all of that, MillerUibo said she will remain focus on her goals: trying to become the first female to complete the 200-400m double when she swings into action on Monday.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 4, 2017, PAGE 3

A THREE MEDAL PREDICTION FOR TEAM BAHAMAS LONDON: By the time you read this, the 16th International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Championships will be underway with a lot of expectations of the 24-member team in England.

The games were due to get started with the opening ceremonies just before the first night of competition.

Warren Fraser was scheduled to be first on the starting blocks for Team Bahamas in the men’s 100 metres. Fraser will be out to bring some respectability back to the men’s sprinting crop after the positive testing of one of the members of the men’s 4 x 100m team that competed at the 3rd IAAF World Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in April.

The Bahamas has not seen any success in the men’s century since national record holder Derrick Atkins sped to silver behind American Tyson Gay and ahead of Jamaican Asafa Powell in Osaka, Japan in 2007.

Following Fraser, national record holder Steven Gardiner will be out to prove that, after changing

coaches and moving into a new environment, he’s ready to claim a place as a medallist in the individual 400m on the men’s side.

After that, Shanuae Miller-Uibo will be out looking to add not just one, but two medals to the gold she secured at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Miller-Uibo has the track world buzzing as one of the top athletes to watch at these games. She’s being spoken about along with Jamaican legend Usain Bolt and Republic of South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, both of whom are chasing some lofty goals of their own.

Competing next week will be Donald Thomas, who many are hoping to see return to the form that led to his triumph as the world champion in the men’s high jump in Osaka.

A year ago, Devynne Charlton was on pace to becoming an international star before she was hit by the injury bug at the start of the outdoor season. But she’s back and, if her performance at the NCAA’s is any indication, look for

THE TRIBUNE’S Brent Stubbs in London for the IAAF World Championships. her to have a breakout meet, similar to what Pedrya Seymour did in Rio last year.

Outside shots of getting into at least a final are the other competitors, including TyNia Gaither and Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 200m, along with Teray Smith in the men’s half-lap race.

And don’t forget veteran Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart in the women’s long jump and Ta-

mara Myers in the women’s triple jump. The duo were given an invite, along with Fraser, to compete in their respective events although they didn’t make the standard.

To me, the most interesting events to watch for the Bahamas will be the relays.

The Bahamas has all four teams entered and it will come down to who coordinator Rupert Gardiner

sends to the starting line-up and in what order.

Right now, I will make a prediction of the Bahamas coming out with three medals. I won’t say which events and what colours, that’s as far as I’ll go.

These are the World Championships where the top athletes come to compete, with the added incentive of hefty cash prizes.

And so it’s not going to

be a walk in the park, so to speak.

If anything, it will come down to who makes the necessary adjustments to the change in weather as we are expecting all four seasons in one day.

So it’s time for the games to start. I’m off to get started on covering what we hope will be a great showing by Team Bahamas in London.

OUTGOING HIGH COMMISSIONER LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING INVOLVED IN SPORTS BACK HOME

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONDON: After spending the past four “wonderful” years of as the Bahamas High Commissioner to London, Ed Bethel said his only regret is that he will miss the 16th International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Championships.

Bethel, who took office at the Bahama House on No.10 Chesterfield Street on December 17, 2012, demitted office on July 31 and is leaving England today, the same day that the championships get underway at the Olympic Stadium.

“It was an absolute honour to have served my country in London as High Commissioner and to represent the Bahamas, as non-representative to the European Union and other countries,” Bethel said.

“It’s been the most wonderful time of my life. I made some impact on our country and now I’m looking forward to going home to relax for a while and then think about what my next chapter will be.”

An ardent traveller and writer – with a background in journalism at the Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation (ZNS) – Bethel said he’s looking forward to meeting and encouraging people of all ages

in the Bahamas.

Normally whenever national teams travel to England, one of the stops they do is at Bahamas House, which the team did at the 2012 Olympic Games under Pul Farquharson, who was serving at the time as the British High Commissioner.

Bethel said he’s disappointed that he didn’t get to entertain this year’s team.

“I thought I would be here for the IAAF Championships. I’ve never seen a World Championships, but unfortunately we are not in office,” he said.

“My time has come to an end.

The games open on the day that we depart.

“I would have stayed over if we were not leaving on that date. If I had a little more contact with the authorities at home as to when things were going to happen, we night have stayed on a little longer.

But we sail out the same time that the championships get underway.”

As the 24-member team gets set to compete over the next nine days as Bethel and his wife, Dawn, set sail back to the Bahamas, he wished Team Bahamas every success.

“I pray that they get the gold and that there will be a lot of good stories coming from the team,” he insisted. “I wish that I was here to cheer them on. I really wish that.

“But I know there’s the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium will be used over the years and I haven’t been to that one yet.

“I was away when it was opened.

But I’m looking forward to being involved and I’m willing to help if I’m asked to help.

“I don’t want to impose myself on anybody.”

As the first junior champion in high school sports in the 800 metres, Bethel said he clearly remembers when he attended St John’s College and he defeated former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Kendal Nottage from Government High.

“That was in 1954. I’m bragging about myself,” said Bethel of his former days.

Looking at the performances of the athletes today, Bethel said it’s so sad that the current athletes coming to Europe to compete or those who are on professional contracts are not given the proper protocol from the government.

“I don’t know why that is so, but with me going back home, I will be able to let the BAAA and the sporting leaders know when these athletes compete here that we need to encourage them,” he said.

Bethel said most people only know the Bahamas High Commission office when they need help, but they should inform them when they are competing do that

ED BETHEL has just stepped down as Bahamas High Commissioner after four ‘wonderful’ years. they can support them with a Bahamian group in the stands.

“So hopefully when I get home, I can spread the word,” he said.

“It’s not just about running, jumping and throwing. It’s life. Sports is life. No education is complete without sports.”

Bethel, 78, said he and his wife of 30 years had a good group of talented, professional staff that he will leave behind for Commission-

er of Police Elliston Greenslade, who is expected to replace him.

“The most memorable experience of me and my wife is that we have made many wonderful friends around the world and we cherish our days here and we will always love this place,” he stressed.

“It was an experience beyond measure and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

SPONSOR HELPS ONEIL WILLIAMS GO THE DISTANCE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NATIONALLY renowned distance runner Oneil Williams received timely assistance from a corporate sponsor as he readies himself for major international competition in 2018.

The Island Game Foundation presented Williams with a sponsorship of $5000 to assist with his training in preparation for the Commonwealth Games and the IAAF Half Marathon Championships.

Williams has spoken out on numerous occasions about his struggles with funding and the little attention distance running programmes receives in the country.

“I’ve been an athlete for the last 15 years and I’ve represented the Bahamas on numerous occasions,” he said. “The sponsorship will greatly help me. I reached out and Island Games was grateful enough to help me on this venture. The sponsorship will help toward me

“The sponsorship will greatly help me. I reached out and Island Games was grateful enough to help me on this venture. The sponsorship will help toward me achieving my goals in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games and the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.”

Distance runner Oneil Williams achieving my goals in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games and the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.”

In an effort to further his craft, Williams has taken his training to Kapsabet, Kenya in recent years, an expensive but necessary venture.

“I train in Kenya, I’ve been there for the last five years with little support and the support I

am getting now will go a long way in everything I do - competition, travel, diet and living conditions,” the 34-year-old distance runner said.

The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships is scheduled for March 24, 2018 in Valencia, Spain. The qualifying standard is 1:06.00 between the qualifying period of April 23, 2017 to January 31, 2018.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for April 4-15, 2018 in the Gold Coast, Australia.

In June, Williams told The Tribune he abandoned his plans to continue to run the distance races on the track because of a lack of support and set his sights on competing in the half and full marathon.

“If I had more time to train, I definitely would have qualified for World Champs,” Williams said. “I believe if I can get the financial support, I can accomplish the standard.

“I feel good right now. I know I’m at a crossroad, but I am hoping something will work out for me. The last marathon runner we had out there was 20-30 years ago, so I’m hoping to change that.”

He most recently participated in the 2017 Asics Stockholm Marathon “I only had three and-a-half months to prepare for the marathon, which you need six months to a year to get fully prepared for a marathon,” Williams said.

“I was on national record pace until I hit the 40k (kilometre mark) and then I hit the wall.”

He was timed in 2:09:24 secs up to that point, but was unable to finish the gruelling 26.2 mile race.

The qualifying standard for the upcoming Commonwealth Games is 2:19:00 secs.

Williams said he decided to transition from track to running the marathon because of a lack of support.

“I’m not getting any support from the government nor the BAAA (Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations), so all of my travel expenses and everything is being supplied by my family, friends and persons in the community who want to see me succeed,” he told The Tribune, “I wasn’t getting any support, but then I realised the potential in getting some money if I ran a marathon to help subsidise my training.

“That was the reason why I switched. If I can get the support, I definitely would try to qualify for the half marathon.”

PAGE 4, Friday, August 4, 2017

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DOLPHINS QB RYAN TANNEHILL REINJURES LEFT KNEE IN PRACTICE NFL

By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill reinjured his left knee in practice Thursday when it buckled as he scrambled and fell without being hit.

Tannehill walked slowly off the field accompanied by trainers. He underwent an MRI, but results weren’t definitive regarding the extent of the injury, and further assessment was expected Friday.

“You see your quarterback go down, you think the worst,” tight end MarQueis Gray said. “He’s in all of our prayers, and we hope he’s back on the field.”

Tannehill missed last season’s final four games, including a playoff loss at Pittsburgh, after spraining two ligaments in the same knee. He decided against surgery and took part in all offseason drills.

He was wearing a brace when his knee gave out near the right sideline while running full speed to escape tackle Ndamukong Suh. Tannehill stayed on the ground at least 15 seconds surrounded by teammates before rising and leaving the field.

“I saw him buckle and go down. There was no contact on the play,” offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said. “The initial reaction is, ‘OK, next man up.’ That’s football. It’s going to happen somewhere in this season.

The game doesn’t stop.

You go on to the next play. And then, obviously, my personal thing is, ‘Boy, I sure hope it isn’t serious.’”

The injury occurred during the seventh practice of training camp.

Matt Moore, an 11thyear veteran, went 2-2 as a starter replacing Tannehill last year and remains the backup.

“There’s a reason we have Matt Moore here,” Christensen said. “We hope he never has to play, and if he does, he’ll be ready.”

The Dolphins were already without 1,000yard rusher Jay Ajayi, sidelined since Monday by a concussion. Their top lineman, center Mike Pouncey, has seen extremely limited activity as he returns from hip surgery.

The Dolphins spent several weeks after last season assessing the extent of Tannehill’s ACL and MCL sprains before ruling out surgery, which could have jeopardised his availability for the start of this season. Tannehill rehabilitated the partially torn ligaments, underwent stem cell treatments and has been saying since May he felt 100 percent.

“Dealing with an injury like that for the first time, it was a tough process for me,” Tannehill said last week after the first practice of training camp.

“But the building, everyone around me, really supported me throughout that whole process. I’m glad to be back out here and feeling really healthy again.”

If Tannehill’s injury leaves the Dolphins in the market to sign another quarterback for depth, candidates include Colin Kaepernick, who parted ways with the San Francisco 49ers in March and remains unsigned. His decision last season to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality prompted national debate.

Last week, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he hoped Kaepernick wasn’t being punished by teams for his politics.

“I know that a lot has been written about it, but you know owners or coaches — they’ll do anything it takes to win,” Ross said. “And if they think he can help them win, I would hope they would sign him.”

Friday, August 4, 2017, PAGE 5

BOLT, FARAH HEADLINE THE FIRST DAY OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — The stadium will be packed Friday for the opening of the world championships — and not only to catch a glimpse of Usain Bolt.

After all, this is Mo Farah’s house.

While Bolt races in an early heat of the 100 metres, the British longdistance runner will chase after the night’s only medal in the 10,000.

He’s dominated the event, winning two straight world titles to go with two more Olympic golds, including the 2012 London Games.

Both Bolt and Farah are moving on after the season — Bolt is calling it quits, and Farah, also racing in the 5,000 at these championships, will swap out the shorter races for the marathon.

During training Thursday, Fa-

rah took some time to soak in the scene, taking videos of the stadium and posing for photos.

“I just need to concentrate on my race and do what I do best,” Farah said as he left the track.

What he does best is win — a trait he shares with Bolt.

The Jamaican great is trying to go out in style with another world title.

The road seems set up for Bolt, too. His biggest challenger, Andre De Grasse of Canada, pulled out of the worlds because of a hamstring injury.

That leaves Americans Justin Gatlin — the old guard — and Christian Coleman — the new generation — to spoil the party. The final is Saturday.

“The void that Usain will leave, it’s not going to be a vacant void, but a void of excitement to be able to see who’s going to fill in after that,” Gatlin said.

BRITAIN’S Mo Farah smiles during a training session before the World Athletics Championships in London, Thursday, and (below) takes a selfie in the stadium.

(AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

Things to keep an eye on during Day 1 of the championships: FOR SUHR: The women’s pole vault starts with a qualification round. Katerina Stefanidi of Greece will be the favourite after winning Olympic gold in Brazil last August. She will be tested by American Jenn Suhr, who won the event at the 2012 London Olympics.

LONG & SHORT OF IT: Sidelined by an injury, Greg Rutherford of Britain won’t defend his world long jump title as qualifications begin. Jeff Henderson of the United States is the reigning Olympic champion, while Olympic silver medalist Luvo Manyonga of South Africa has the top mark this season.

CASTER & COMPANY: Olympic 800-metre champion Caster Semenya will compete in the opening round of the 1,500 metres. The South African runner has long been embroiled in the controversial de-

bate in track and field over women with very high levels of testosterone being allowed to compete. American Jenny Simpson, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, sidestepped the issue. “According to the rules, she’s allowed to toe the line and so I’m going to try to beat her,” Simpson said.

HULK GOES FOR REPEAT: Robert Harting sure made an impression on his trip down the track at the London Olympics. He tore off his shirt and flexed his muscles, Incredible Hulk style, and ran down Lane 9, clearing every hurdle along the way. Not bad for a discus thrower. The German returns to the site of his showy Olympic triumph.

Prelims are Friday, and Harting is seeking his fourth world title. His main competition is expected to come from Piotr Malachowski of Poland. Malachowski and Harting have combined to win the last four world titles.

DE GRASSE DELAYED: INJURY DERAILS SHOWDOWN WITH BOLT

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) — Hardly a week goes by without someone mentioning Usain Bolt and his playful finger wag toward the Canadian sprinter.

It was a point of pride for Andre De Grasse — the Jamaican great acknowledging his presence at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Even more to the point: It was a potential sign of things to come, even if De Grasse’s bright future won’t be on display this week at the World Championships.

The rematch between De Grasse and Bolt was ruined when the Canadian pulled out with a hamstring injury. It would have been De Grasse’s last chance to push Bolt, who is retiring after the meet, and a chance to cement his spot as the heir apparent in the sprint game.

“To not have this opportunity is unimaginable to me but it is the reality I am faced with,” De Grasse said late Wednesday in a statement. “I am sad to miss this chance but I am young and will be back and better than ever in the near future.”

His future never looked brighter than at last year’s Olympics in the 200-metre semifinals. Those heats are supposed to be walk-inthe-park tune-ups for The World’s Fastest Man. But De Grasse made Bolt work for it. After nearly getting caught, then pulling away — much later than expected — Bolt glanced over, stared down the brazen 22-year-old Canadian, grinned and shook his finger at the youngster for pushing him so hard.

Bolt clearly hasn’t forgotten that race. When asked, earlier in the week, to predict who the next great sprinter would be, the world-record holder refused to mention De Grasse by name, though the reference to last year’s race in Rio was unmistakable.

“The last guy I said was going to be great disrespected me,” Bolt said.

Should De Grasse become the next sprint champion, he will remind nobody of Bolt. At 6-foot-5, Bolt is uncommonly tall

JAMAICA’S USAIN BOLT, right, gestures towards Canada’s Andre De Grasse after the finish of the men’s 200-metre semifinal during the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hardly a week goes by without someone mentioning Usain Bolt and his playful finger wag toward the Canadian sprinter at the Olympics. It was a point of pride for Andre De Grasse – the Jamaican great acknowledging his presence. Even more to the point: It was a potential sign of things to come. (AP)

“To not have this opportunity is unimaginable to me but it is the reality I am faced with. I am sad to miss this chance but I am young and will be back and better than ever in the near future.”

Andre De Grasse for a sprinter. De Grasse is eight inches shorter.

The 30-year-old Bolt loves soccer, Chicken McNuggets and clowning around. De Grasse prefers basketball, lists oxtail as his favourite food and is more reserved.

Bolt is conventionally trained on the track. De Grasse is a basketball player who went to the track on a whim.

He bumped into a friend on the bus in high school.

A speedy point guard at the time, De Grasse had no clue how he would do

in a track meet, but felt confident he could beat his friend.

They made a friendly wager — and De Grasse backed up his braggadocio. Wearing baggy basketball shorts and borrowed spikes, he started from a standing position instead of uncoiling from the blocks.

“Just kind of winged it,” De Grasse recalled of that day in 2012. “I ended up beating my friend and was totally shocked.”

In the stands that afternoon was Tony Sharpe, a Jamaican-born sprinter who captured an Olympic bronze medal in the 4x100 relay for Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

On the lookout for new talent for his speed academy, he did a double-take at De Grasse’s time — 10.9 seconds with no form at all.

“I was like, ‘Who is this kid?’” Sharpe said. “I said, ‘I think we have something here.’”

De Grasse trained with Sharpe and hit his stride after only a couple lessons.

A few weeks later, he won

the 100 meters at the Toronto International Track and Field Games. He was so new to how things worked that when they asked him to step onto the medal stand, De Grasse took the spot for the thirdplace finisher.

The presenters pointed him toward the top step, which is now the goal at every meet.

“I was like, ‘What are you all about, kid? What do you want your future to be?’” Sharpe said.

De Grasse’s arrival on the international scene began in 2015, when he tied for the 100-metre bronze medal at world championships in Beijing — a bit player in the scintillating showdown between Bolt and American rival Justin Gatlin.

A year later, De Grasse was hamming it up with Bolt in Brazil, though it wasn’t all fun and games.

Bolt was looking for the world record, maybe to even break the 19-second barrier in the 200, his signature race. He fell short, and among the reasons he

cited was De Grasse’s decision to push him the night before in the semifinals.

Asked this week if he has any relationship with De Grasse, Bolt brushed it off.

“I see him around. I say ‘hi.’ That’s it, I guess,” he said. “I don’t have his number or anything.”

De Grasse is well aware of what that moment meant for him: “It put me in the spotlight, you could say.”

But he isn’t fooling himself. There will never be another Usain Bolt. Still, someone has to win these races once Bolt is gone.

“I still have to become a lot faster to reach what he’s done,” he said. “But I feel like I’m on the right path.”

He can tell not only from the results on the track, but from some of the reactions off it — especially in his home country.

“The other day, someone was like, ‘Hey, you’re Andre De Grasse. Can I get a picture?’” he said. “I’m like, ‘Sure. But can we go outside the bathroom for the picture?’”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, August 4, 2017, PAGE 7

ARENADO’S BASES-LOADED WALK LIFTS ROCKIES OVER METS, 5-4

By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado has won games with his big swing, so getting a walk-off victory with the bat sitting on his shoulder was a first.

Arenado walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies beat the New York Mets 5-4 on Thursday.

It was the third time this season Arenado has given the Rockies a walk-off win, but it didn’t hold the same drama as his Father’s Day grand slam to complete a cycle and give the Rockies a win.

“I don’t walk, so it was a little different,” he said.

“Guys were a little thrown off.

“What do we do here?

Do we jump? But it was a great win.”

Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds homered for the Rockies, who maintained a 5 1/2 game lead over Milwaukee for the NL’s second wild card slot.

Mets reliever Hansel Robles, who got through the eighth in order, said through an interpreter that

he felt numbness in his pitching hand during the first at-bat of the ninth inning.

“I felt good at the beginning as the pitches started coming out,” he said.

“Then later on as I kept throwing more, I didn’t feel one hundred per cent any more, I felt that my hand wasn’t feeling quite right, I was feeling some pain.

“I feel like a little bit of numbness; I couldn’t really feel the ball.”

Robles said he didn’t consider asking out of the game.

“I was already there, so I just wanted to get out of the inning,” he said.

He began the inning by hitting Jonathan Lucroy.

After a sacrifice by Pat Valaika, Blackmon was intentionally walked and DJ LeMahieu loaded the bases with another walk.

“After he drilled me he kind of lost it,” Lucroy said.

“When you see a guy going like that you’ve got to be patient in the box and a lot of times they beat themselves, and that’s what he did.”

Robles (6-3) got Arenado down 0-2 but the All-Star third baseman worked the

count full. Robles’ sent his last pitch to the wall behind home plate, bringing in Lucroy with the winning run.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “I’ve never seen a walk off like that. I didn’t even go after it because the game is over.”

Arenado went to the plate looking to drive a ball but was happy to settle for a win.

“Anyone would want to hit a grand slam but at the same time I missed my pitch, the first pitch, and after that it was get the ball to the outfield,” he said.

Greg Holland (2-1) pitched the ninth for Colorado. Holland returned after missing two games after cutting his right index finger in his kitchen.

Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the third but Yoenis Cespedes homered and starter Rafael Montero’s run-scoring single in the fifth - his first career RBI - tied it at 2-2.

Blackmon hit his 25th homer in the fifth and Reynolds his 23rd in the sixth to give Colorado leads, but the Mets rallied after each home run to tie the game at 4-4.

COLORADO Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, left, is congratulated by first base coach Tony Diaz as Arenado touches first base after drawing a walk with the bases loaded to force in the winning run off New York Mets relief pitcher Hansel Robles. (AP) COLORADO Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, left, dives back into first base as New York Mets first baseman Jay Bruce applies the tag after fielding a pickoff throw. (AP)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny and breezy

A moonlit sky and breezy

Mostly sunny and breezy

Sunny intervals, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

High: 95°

Low: 81°

High: 94° Low: 80°

High: 93° Low: 80°

High: 93° Low: 80°

High: 93° Low: 79°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

106° F

86° F

105°-84° F

104°-85° F

103°-85° F

104°-84° F

High: 93° F/34° 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: 89° F/32° C Low: 83° F/28° C

7‑14 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 92° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

S

E

W

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 82° F/28° C

7‑14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 91° F/33° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 79° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 16.10” Normal year to date ................................... 20.28”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 95° F/35° C Low: 81° F/27° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 84° F/29° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

8‑16 knots

S

8‑16 knots

ANDROS

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

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

6:07 a.m.

6:39 p.m.

2.4 3.0

12:22 a.m. 0.9 12:14 p.m. 0.6

Saturday

6:53 a.m.

7:21 p.m.

2.5 3.1

1:06 a.m. 0.8 12:58 p.m. 0.5

Sunday

7:35 a.m.

8:00 p.m.

2.6 3.2

1:47 a.m.

1:40 p.m.

0.6 0.4

Monday

8:16 a.m.

8:39 p.m.

2.7 3.3

2:26 a.m.

2:21 p.m.

0.5 0.4

Tuesday

8:56 a.m.

9:17 p.m.

2.8 3.3

3:03 a.m.

3:02 p.m.

0.4 0.3

Wednesday 9:36 a.m.

9:55 p.m.

2.9 3.3

3:40 a.m.

3:43 p.m.

0.4 0.3

Thursday

3.0 3.3

4:18 a.m.

4:26 p.m.

0.3 0.4

10:18 a.m.

10:35 p.m.

sun

anD

Sunrise Sunset

moon

6:39 a.m.

7:53 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

5:38 p.m.

3:55 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Aug. 7

Aug. 14

Aug. 21

Aug. 29

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 83° F/28° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 90° F/32° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

S

S

10‑20 knots

10‑20 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 SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑8 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 85° F 89° F 89° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 87° F 87° F 87° F 87° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F

PAGE 8, Friday, August 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

NEYMAR SIGNS WITH PSG IN FOOTBALL’S LANDMARK WORLD-RECORD TRANSFER TRANSFERS

JOHAN CRUYFF Ajax to Barcelona in 1973 (then $2 million) The three-time Ballon d’Or winner made headlines when he joined the Catalan club to be reunited with coach Rinus Michels, in an era when international transfers were rare. The move paid off as Barcelona went on to win the Spanish title for the first time since 1960 that season, and the “Total Football” promoted by Michels and Cruyff became the club’s style of play. Cruyff returned to Barcelona as manager in 1988.

NEYMAR, pictured here celebrating a goal for Barcelona, has signed a five-year deal with French team Paris Saint-Germain. (AP)

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AND JOSEPH WILSON, Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Six years after taking over perennial underachievers Paris SaintGermain, the French club’s wealthy owners finally got what they wanted by hiring Neymar — a player they believe will bring them Champions League glory.

The Brazil star became the most expensive player in soccer history after completing his blockbuster transfer from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($262 million) on Thursday. By paying the release clause in his contract, PSG shattered the world transfer record to sign arguably one of the top three best attacking players in the game, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The previous transfer record had been set a year ago when Manchester United paid 105 million euros (then $116 million) to bring Paul Pogba back from Juventus.

Ironically, the 25-year-old Neymar signed a five-year contract with the French league side just five months after playing a decisive role as Barcelona produced a comeback that made Champions League history - at PSG’s expense.

Having lost their first leg match 4-0 in France, Barcelona was trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the 88th minute in Spain, only for Neymar to score twice in the final minutes before Sergi Roberto’s winner in added time sealed a humiliating exit from the Round of 16 for PSG. Next season, it will be different.

“Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings,” Neymar said in comments released by PSG. “I played four seasons in Europe and

have yet to win either prestigious competition.

Since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club in June 2011, PSG have spent several hundred million dollars on top-class players — including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani — in its effort to build a team capable of winning Europe’s top club competition.

But the big names were not enough to bring success on the continental stage, and PSG have yet to make it through the quarterfinals of PSG President Nasser Althe Champions League under Khelaifi, left, greets French its Qatari owners.

President Emmanuel Macron Maybe that’s about to as they attend a charity holiday change. programme event in Moisson, “I am extremely happy to east of Paris, France, yesterday. join Paris Saint-Germain,” French President Emmanuel Macron is welcoming the likely Neymar said.

“Since I arrived in Europe, arrival of Brazilian soccer star the club has always been one Neymar at Paris-Saint Germain of the most competitive and in a record $262 million deal. most ambitious. And the (Philippe Wojazer/ biggest challenge, what most Pool Photo via AP) motivated me to join my new teammates, is to help the club I feel ready to take the chal- to conquer the titles that their lenge. From today, I will do fans want.” everything I can to help my It’s a mission that is clearly new teammates, to open up shared by the club’s top mannew horizons for my club and agement. to bring happiness to its mil“Neymar Jr is today one of lions of supporters around the very best players in world the world.” football.

PSG would certainly wel“His winning mentalcome the kind of success that ity, strength of character Neymar enjoyed in Spain. and sense of leadership have In his four seasons there, made him into a great playNeymar scored 105 goals as er,” PSG president Nasser Barcelona won the Champi- Al-Khelaifi said. ons League, Club World Cup, “He will bring a very positwo Spanish league titles and tive energy to this club.

Copa del Rey three times.

“In six years, we have built Now he will look to emerge a very ambitious project that from the shadow of five-time has already taken us to the world player of the year Messi highest level of national and at Barcelona, becoming the European football. Today, biggest star in the French with the arrival of Neymar league in a team without the Jr, I am convinced that we track record of success to will come even closer, with match his former club. the support of our faithful While Barcelona have fans, to realising our greatest lifted the European Cup five dreams.” times and won the FIFA Club PSG’s announcement put World Cup three times, PSG an end to a saga that started

about two weeks ago with rumors of his possible transfer, though the club had already tried to lure him to the City of Light last summer.

Neymar is expected in Paris on Friday and will hold a news conference early in the afternoon, PSG said.

He might make his debut on Saturday when PSG starts its new league campaign against promoted Amiens at the Parc des Princes.

Not surprisingly, his transfer has not gone down well in Spain.

In a statement, Barcelona said “the club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case.”

The comment followed a claim by Spanish league president Javier Tebas on Wednesday that Neymar’s move would break Financial Fair Play rules introduced by UEFA, European soccer’s ruling body.

Barcelona did all it could to stop Neymar from leaving, and had vowed to complain to UEFA if his seemingly untouchable release clause was triggered.

The payment of the release clause was the second attempt Neymar’s representatives had made on Thursday to break his bond with Barcelona.

Earlier in the day, his lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo had tried to deposit the enormous sum at the Spanish league’s offices in Madrid, but he was turned away.

Tebas had told Spanish sports daily AS that he wouldn’t let the league act as an intermediary to an operation that he, like Barcelona, believed violated UEFA’s FFP rules.

He had called PSG a “state-supported club.” The club’s Qatari owners are closely linked to the energyrich ruling family.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER IMPLEMENTS VIDEO REPLAY

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer

TODAY, Major League Soccer. Tomorrow, the world.

Despite purists who believe the beautiful game should never be sullied by video replay, it has arrived and isn’t going anywhere. Major League Soccer will start using it for every match, even the postseason, starting Saturday.

The Video Assistant Referee, VAR for short, was showcased on an international level during this summer’s Confederations Cup in Russia and the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, with mixed results.

But MLS has been preparing for this moment for three years, determined to get it right.

“The idea is minimum interference for maximum benefit,” said veteran referee Howard Webb, who is overseeing the league’s implementation of video replay.

“We’re not trying to change the way the game is played. We’re trying to enhance it. We’re trying to make it fairer. We’re trying to make sure the outcomes are right.”

Australia’s top-flight A-League used a version of video review on trial earlier this year, and the South Korean KLeague Classic began working with it in July.

At least two other top-tier leagues will add a VAR soon. The German Bundesliga will debut video replay for the season opener between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen on Aug. 18. The Italian Serie A will also introduce its version after adding goal-line technology last season.

For now, all eyes are on MLS and how it rolls out the VAR protocol. The league has not publicly stated its investment in video review.

“We’ve seen some really big players — and make no mistake about it MLS is a big player in the global soccer world — make the decision to take it on board, and undoubtedly we will be watched by the leagues that haven’t made the decision as well as the leagues that are doing it,” Webb said. “We are confident with our extensive preparation that what they’ll see will encourage them to do the same thing.”

Webb serves as manager of video assistant referee operations for the Pro-

VIDEO review screens are shown before a video replay scrimmage, in Park City, Utah. Games were staged as part of the final training camp to gauge MLS referees’ competence in and comfort with video replay. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) fessional Referee Organization, which oversees on-field officials in the U.S. and Canada. He’s got the credentials: He was a Premier League referee from 2003-14, and also worked the Champions League and World Cup finals in 2010. He also served as director of referees for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

Soccer’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, approved trials of video technology in March 2016. Internationally, live experiments are taking place in about 20 competitions this year, including the recent Confederations Cup, considered a test for the 2018 World Cup. Implementation at the Confederations Cup drew criticism because of slow reviews that seemed to confuse players, coaches and fans. But FIFA concluded that video replay helped referees overturn six “game-changing decisions.”

Calls made in 29 additional “major incidents” were confirmed correct on review.

“What fans have been waiting for over so many years is finally happening. This is a milestone tournament. Video Assistant Refereeing is the future of modern football.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after seeing the VAR at work in early-round matches in Russia.

It is expected that the IFAB will add video replay to the laws of the game within the next two years, and any competition meeting the requirements will be able to use it.

For the MLS programme, a fifth member of the officiating crew — the Video Assistant Referee — will be at each MLS

stadium and will monitor all video feeds of the game that are available, focusing on “potential clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents” involving goals, penalty kicks, straight red cards and mistaken identity.

If a review is required, the VAR will alert the referee on the field, who will make a box gesture with his hands to indicate the VAR is examining a possible error. All final calls will lie with the head referee.

During 93 test games, the VAR checked 736 possible reviewable instances, resulting in just 28 reviews or about one every three games.

Real Salt Lake’s Brooks Lennon has seen VAR firsthand at the U-20 World Cup, where he was part of the U.S. team that advanced to the quarterfinals.

“There was one big call in the quarterfinal game where we had a goal scored against us and it was offside so they called it back,” Lennon said. “I think it’s good for the game and I think it will make right calls that are wrong.”

While MLS is considered something of a pioneer with the programme at the professional level, the NCAA successfully used video replay dozens of times last season. A rules change last year allowed video replay in three situations: goals, player identification for disciplinary reasons, and to identify players involved in fights. Schools are allowed to use whatever equipment they see fit.

The technology was used in the men’s College Cup final between Stanford and Wake Forest.

“So the first year we put it in, it was right there for the whole world to see in the men’s Division I final,” said Ken Andres, the NCAA’s secretary-rules editor.

“It was utilised to determine whether or not there was a goal. The ref determined on the field that there was no goal, (he) went to the video and the video was inconclusive. So the call of the field stands because we require indisputable visible evidence.”

Critics point mainly to issues involving communication because fans, players and coaches are unable to see what is going on while in the stadium. Some have suggested that video review be adapted to show what the refs are looking at on video scoreboards — like other leagues, including the NBA.

DIEGO MARADONA Barcelona to Napoli in 1984 (then $7.6 million) Napoli’s rise to prominence coincided with the arrival of Argentina genius Diego Maradona after club president Corrado Ferlaino broke the world transfer record. Maradona helped the club win two Serie A titles in three years and the UEFA Cup. But his stint in Italy had a bitter ending as Maradona left the club after testing positive for cocaine.

ROBERTO BAGGIO Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 (then $13.6 million) Juventus and Fiorentina fans were already bitter rivals before Baggio’s departure in 1990 added fuel to the flames. Baggio had been a fan favourite in Florence and a large section of the club’s hard-core fans took to the streets to voice their anger when it appeared certain their idol was heading to Turin. Dozens of people were injured in riots, but Baggio later said: “Deep in my heart I am always purple,” the colour of Fiorentina’s shirts.

ALAN SHEARER Blackburn to Newcastle in 1996 (then $23 million) Shearer was expected to join Manchester United following the 1996 European Championship, but Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan managed to convince the striker to sign for his hometown club after a lastminute meeting. Shearer won the Premier League title with Blackburn but could only help Newcastle become a runner-up in his 10 years with the club.

RONALDO Barcelona to Inter Milan in 1997 (then $30 million) After just one year at Barcelona, the Brazil great quickly adapted to the Italian style of play. His Inter years are among the best of his career, although his knee problems started in Italy and he only managed to win the UEFA Cup with the Nerazzurri.

LUIS FIGO Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 (then $56 million) A fan favourite after five years in Barcelona, Figo was viewed as a traitor for joining Madrid and faced a hostile reception every time he went back to play in Catalonia under his new colours. In 2002, as he attempted to take a corner, he was bombarded with various projectiles including a pig’s head. Figo won the 2002 Champions League and the Spanish league title in 2001 and 2003 with the capital club.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 (then $65 million) Madrid got what they paid for with Zidane, an outstanding player in a team of ‘galacticos’. He produced magnificent football week in week out, scoring arguably the best goal of his career — an exquisite volley — in Madrid’s 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final. The following season, he helped Madrid win the Spanish league.

CRISTIANO RONALDO Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 (then $130 million) A few weeks after signing Kaka for $86 million, Madrid pulverised the previous world record for a transfer when they hired Cristiano Ronaldo. Since then, the Portugal winger has proved his status as one of soccer’s all-time greats, winning the Champions League three times and averaging more than a goal a game for Madrid. More recently, his array of commercial deals has seen him embroiled in a Spanish court case centred on alleged tax fraud.

GARETH BALE Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 (then $132 million) Real Madrid’s second “galacticos” era peaked with the signing of Bale, who joined the current galaxy of stars — Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. In his first season, Bale scored in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid to help his new team become European champions for the 10th time.

PAUL POGBA Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 (then $116 million) Pogba left United on a free transfer in 2012 after his contract expired, but the club had to dig deep to bring him back after the midfielder won four Italian titles in four years at Juventus. United coach Jose Mourinho was hoping for major titles in Pogba’s first season, but had to settle for the Europa League and English League Cup.

NEYMAR Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain ($262 million) The Brazil forward’s move has shattered the world transfer record and given Paris Saint-Germain real hope of achieving its long-stated goal of winning the Champions League. After scoring 105 goals in four seasons with Barcelona, Neymar’s five-year contract with PSG should see him emerge from Lionel Messi’s shadow.