08212018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2018

DOLPHINS DONATION

SEE PAGE THREE

2018 CENTROBASKET WOMEN’S C HAMPIONSHIP

RIDDICK Bowe

FORMER WORLD CHAMP TO HELP DEVELOP BOXING IN THE BAHAMAS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER world heavyweight champion is prepared to lend his assistance to boxing development in the Bahamas.

Riddick Bowe and I Fight Promotions have announced their plans to provide a boost to the profile of the sport locally.

“I’ve done some things in the sport at the highest level and I’m looking to give back, whether it is training, promoting, however, I can help,” Bowe said, “My father is Bahamian.

I’m one of you guys.”

Chris Joy CEO of I Fight Promotions has also promoted events in other Caribbean islands and has now focused on the talent in the Bahamas.

“I have a very special interest in the Bahamas. I came here a few years ago and saw great talent in boxing. I know there are many Riddick Bowe’s out there with that talent, they just need the opportunity,” he said, “The best heavyweight boxer of Bahamian descent of all time, is Riddick. The only thing that was wrong is that his career was in the US. If his career had been here I would not have had the opportunity to stand here. Bowe hopes to come home to help out the boxing community here. For him, this is like coming home. It is our job to find the next Riddicik Bowe, the next world champion.”

Bouts Joy said he already has a list of pro fighters that are eager to stage bouts in the Bahamas, including the brother of boxing’s most recognised name.

“We have elite fighters from the Mayweather camp that have already agreed to fight. Justin Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather’s brother, has agreed to come here to fight and there will be others,” he said, “The goal is to make Bahamian boxing bigger and better.”

Local boxing icon and Champion Amateur Boxing Club Director Ray Minus Jr said the local boxing community will welcome Bowe’s assistance in rejuvenating the sport.

“Riddick Bowe has great ties in the Bahamas. His family is here, his roots are here in the Bahamas and so he is really one of us. For him SEE PAGE THREE

THE BAHAMAS in action against Puerto Rico at the 2018 Centrobasket Women’s Championship.

Bahamas beaten

by Puerto Rico

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TEAM Bahamas was on the receiving end of a 45 point rout in the opening game of the 2018 Centrobasket Women’s Championship.

The senior national women’s basketball team made their tournament debut in a 95-50 loss to the host country last night at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Leashja Grant led the Bahamas with a double double 24 points and 10 rebounds, Sha-Londa Neely scored seven and Ashley Moss finished with a teamhigh six assists.

Allison Gibson and Jazmon Gwathmey each scored 12 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for Puerto Rico.

Eight Puerto Rican players finished with at least eight points.

Tracey Lewis scored the opening basket and Grant followed with a score to give the Bahamas an early 4-0 lead, but Puerto Rico followed with a 15-0 run to pull ahead. Joette Fernander’s jumper stopped the Puerto Rico run

momentarily. The home team would go ahead by 20 points on a Marie Placido three-pointer for a 30-10 lead with just under one minute left in the opening quarter.

Puerto Rico’s dominance continued in the second as the opened the quarter on a 9-2 run. They allowed just seven points in the quarter and took a 46-17 lead into the half. Puerto Rico led 68-34 headed into the fourth quarter and were never threatened in the second half.

The tournament continues through August 24 – the top four finishers will qualify for the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2019.

The Bahamas is included in Group B along with Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Group A includes Guatemala, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic.

Mexico began Group B play last night with a 77-42 win over Costa Rica. The Bahamas faces Mexico today at 4pm, Costa Rica will follow against Puerto Rico at 6:40 and the night concludes with the Dominican Republic against Cuba.

SEE PAGE TWO

BAHAMAS TO HOST CARIBBEAN TIP OFF CLASSIC

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A NEW basketball initiative for high school boys teams called the Caribbean Tip Off Classic has been launched by the Bahamas Basketball Federation in conjunction with the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

Federation first vice president Mario Bowleg, accompanied by Steve Barnes and David Maron, made the official announcement on Monday at the Courtyard Hotel, represented by Samantha Frazier.

Scheduled for November 2-4, the inaugural event will be staged at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and will attract the best high school teams from the Bahamas, the United States and Canada.

Showcase “The Bahamas Basketball Federation to proud to have this showcase where we will be able to feature Bahamian basketball players, not only from the Bahamas, but also those that are playing with the teams in the United States and Canada,” Bowleg said.

Barnes, who serves as the organiser of the classic, said Caribbean Sports Travel, a group he brought to the Bahamas to provide avenues for a lot of sporting events to the country, is happy to include the Caribbean TipOff Classic on its agenda.

“In working with Mario with the Bahamas Basketball Federation over the years as the technical director and helping to assist with Bahamas basketball, what I’ve learnt in the last 5-6 years is that the community

SAMANTHA Frazier of Courtyard Hotel, David Maron, Mario Bowleg and Steve Barnes announce plans for the Caribbean Tip-Off. could really use somebody to organise for the community,” Barnes said.

“I know so much complaints of groups coming from the outside and they do their business and make a home. Our group believes in being home grown, development of the youth, development of the community, development of tourism, so our goal is to start off this showcase and let people see that we are doing top notch first class events.”

Barnes said this is the first of many things to come and they will be branching out to incorporate more of the sporting bodies like soccer and volleyball in the future.

Maron, who has run a national prep tournament in New England for more than 20 years, is collaborating with Barnes to ensure that the community benefits from a huge first class Bahamian community event.

“We wanted to make this

a Bahamian event where coaches from the US would attend and they would find the next DeAndre Ayton or Buddy Hield, who are under the radar right now, but would be able to play in the US. “If not that, someone who can give a D1 scholarship to a Bahamian kid,” Maron said.

Goal To accomplish their goal, Maron said they looked to securing some of the traditional high school powerhouses in the US, including Brewster Academy, which features Bahamian 6-10, 2-05-pound centre Kai Jones.

Along with Jones, Maron said they are hoping to attract six players in the top 150 in the 2019 High School class and two players in the top 150 in the 2020 class.

Putnam Science Academy from Connecticut that

featured 15 D1 players, as well as St Thomas More, which produced NBA player Andre Drummond, and Redemption Christian Academy are all scheduled to be here to participate from the United States.

Heading the list coming out of Canada will be Crestwood Prep, which featured Grand Bahamian Franco Miller Jr, who has signed to play with Ole Miss University next season. Romard Dean is also on Crestwood’s roster.

British Colombia Christian Academy, featuring Samuel Hunter, who just played on the men’s national basketball team, will also be coming in from Canada to play.

Additionally, there will be a team from Europe called the Helsinki Basketball Academy, which has produced some NBA players.

“Every game, a NBA team will be allowed to attend.

“I’ve gotten quite a bit of

interest from NBA teams who want to see the development of some of the kids,” Maron said.

“The way we are doing our match-up, we will have a Canadian team playing an American team.

“That game will feature a player who is talented enough for the NBA draft and could be playing in the NBA.” Each participating team, according to Maron, will play up to two to three games.

There will be at least seven games played each of the three days and the players will also get the opportunity to dine and socialise at the Junkanoo Beach and will be given opportunities for excursions such as jet-skiing and snorkeling.

Barnes said they intent to make the Caribbean Tip-Off Classic an annual event, but they want to make sure that the initial one is a tremendous success.

PAGE 2, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

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BAHAMAS BEATEN

BY PUERTO RICO FROM PAGE ONE FIBA Americas President Mr Usie Richards said of the event: “The Centrobasket Women’s Championship will be the official start of the road to the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2019, and we are pleased to announce Puerto Rico as the host of this 2018 edition.

“Puerto Rico’s recent success and future participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in September is proof of their commitment to the development of women’s basketball in the country and the region.

“We are more than confident that it will be a great and memorable event.”

In June, the Bahamas clinched the bronze medal at the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Cup Championships to qualify for the Centrobasket.

UB MINGOES FIND POSITIVES IN LOSS TO NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY JUSTIN SMITH hit seven three-pointers to lead the UB Mingoes with 27 points in the loss to The Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks 92-82 in Summer of Thunder action on Sunday at The Kendal Issacs gym.

The Mingoes got within single digits of the division one school twice in the fourth quarter but just ran out of time.

Smith said that despite the loss the team looks good for the regular season.

“The Lumberjacks play systematic basketball and we were able to get within single digits at one point,” he said.

“The teams we will see this season aren’t any better than them so as long as we play as a team and move the ball around we expect good things this upcoming season.”

Kemsy Sylvester also had 19 points for the Mingoes to go along with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Christoph McKensie also had nine points for The Mingoes. The bench was also impressive for the Mingoes with 45 points against The Lumberjacks.

The Mingoes also forced 23 turnovers that converted to 26 points to go along with 14 fast break points. The Lumberjacks however out-rebounded the Mingoes 55-27.

Smith, who is also team captain, said that with this being only the team’s third game of the preseason they are hopeful for the season.

“We learned that if we move the ball around we play better as a team,” he said.

“We got a lot of open shots once we moved the ball around the court.”

The Mingoes finished 0-3 in the pre-season warmup and will start the season with the Governor’s State Jaguars Tip-Off Classic October 26th and 27th in University Park, Illinois.

UB Mingoes forward applies heavy defence against Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks guard Cameron Shelton during Summer of Thunder action Sunday at The Kendal Issacs Gym. The Mingoes lost 92-82 in the third game of the Summer of Thunder series. The Mingoes finished 0-3 in the pre-season warmup and will start the season with the Governor’s State Jaguars Tip-Off Classic October 26th and 27th in University Park, Illinois.

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FORMER WORLD CHAMP TO HELP DEVELOP BOXING IN THE BAHAMAS FROM PAGE ONE

to go over and achieve so much and come back home to help boxing rise again in this country can be a great blessing,” he said, “I would like to thank him because boxing right now in the country is at a very low point and I don’t think anything can stop the great knowledge and achievement he has had in the sport from having an impact on local boxing.”

Belts A certified Hall of Famer, Bowe is known as the only Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion to have earned belts from all four main sanctioning bodies - WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. The controversial heavyweight faced some of the best fighters of his era, including Andrzej Golota, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Herbie “Dancing Destroyer” Hide, and Michael “Dynamite” Dokes. After more than 40 career fights, Bowe is one of five former heavyweight champions who never suffered a stoppage defeat.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018, PAGE 3

RANDY GREGORY AND HIS SECOND CHANCE I’VE seen substance abuse derail many a superstar athlete, even savagely cutting some down in their prime.

So when I see an athlete rebound from their addictions, and return to the playing field, focused and prepared to make the most of a second chance, I can only support their efforts.

Now, when it’s a Dallas Cowboy involved, it makes it even easier for me.

Such is the case with Cowboys DE Randy Gregory, ultra talented athlete, haunted by an addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Gregory missed last season, and most of the 2016 season, due to NFL suspensions for failed drug tests.

After a twenty month hiatus, Gregory finally returned to practice last week after being reinstated by the NFL. It was shocking how good he looked in practice, it looked as if he never left.

Gregory didn’t get to sack Andy Dalton or the other Bengals’ quarterbacks in last Saturday’s preseason game, but he did just about everything else that could have been asked of him on such short notice.

As Kevin Boilard of 247Sports noted, the Bengals went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the game.

Both drives ended with incompletions on third down.

Both of those incompletions were caused by pressure generated by Gregory.

THE

PRESS BOX AZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENIC

Against both the run and pass, Gregory made a point to never give up on a play.

He joined scrums.

He chased receivers.

He did everything in his power to impact the game until he heard a whistle.

You can’t teach or coach effort, and the time he spent away from the game seems to have done Gregory some good.

However stellar on field performances, does not equate to staying sober off of it.

Matured But it shows that he has matured, is focused with his head is in the right place.

Gregory is making the most of his comeback opportunity, and based on the way that the rest of the defence looks so far, it appears that his attitude is infectious.

Gregory opened up to the media in post game interviews, telling the Dallas Star - Telegram : “It feels real good, I don’t know how to explain it.

“I haven’t played in an

actual game in close to two years. Practice is one thing, but to actually get on the field with the guys felt good.”

Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garret, offered these remarks regarding Gregory’s performance in the game against the Bengals last Saturday night: “He looked quick and explosive.

“He looked like himself.

He is a really natural pass rusher with a lot of skills.

“Hopefully this will be a stepping stone for more action in the future.”

Despite not being ready to be a Week 1 starter, because he is just getting back to work on the practice field now, Gregory and the Cowboys still may have the NFL’s best defensive front.

And now what they have is a chance to be truly special on defence, allowing Randy Gregory to continue to show how special he is, in more ways than one.

I will root extra hard for Gregory this season, for his continued success on and off the field, whether it’s his fight against mammoth offensive linemen or stayDALLAS Cowboys DE Randy Gregory. (AP) ing sober.

MIAMI DOLPHINS DONATE YOUTH FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE relationship between the Bahamas and the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins continues to produce dividends for the country’s youth development in American football.

Longtime Miami Dolphins player and executive Nat Moore presented local football leagues with the first of four donations of youth football equipment yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

The Dolphins donated 48 footballs and 20 agility ladders to be dispersed among various programmes in the New Providence and the family islands. Both New Providence and Grand Bahama will receive 15 footballs and seven ladders apiece, Abaco will receive 12 footballs and four ladders while Exuma will receive six footballs and two ladders.

“Many years ago the Bahamas befriended me and the Miami Dolphins.

“We started a partnership dating back over 40 years, but one of the commitments I made my last time here was that I was going to do everything I can to help grow football for the youth in the Bahamas and to make it as safe as possible,” Moore said, “This is the first installment of a four-year plan to try and get as much equipment so that the kids

THE MIAMI Dolphins hosted a press conference yesterday at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium to make a donation of 48 footballs and 20 ladders to The Bahamas. Pictured from (L-R) are: Jayson Clarke, Bahamas Flag Football League President; Jeff Rodgers, Sports Tourism; Eldese Clarke, Sports Tourism; Nat Moore, Senior Vice President of Special Projects & Alumni Relations at Miami Dolphins Ltd.; Jeff Lloyd, Minister of Education; Tim Munnings, Director of Sports and Antonio Maycock, President of the Commonwealth American Football League. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff have first-rate equipment to learn and train with.

“The ladders are the number one tool for training young people in quickness and agility with their feet, whether it’s football or teaching them the basics.”

Moore, the Dolphins’ senior vice president of special projects

and alumni relations continues his philanthropic efforts, which has now extended to the Bahamas, with a focus on youth football development.

“It’s about what the game teaches you - perseverance, teamwork, integrity, trust, discipline, life lessons necessary for success - that’s

what it is all about. Football taught me that at an early age. Football paid my way to college and it gave me an opportunity to earn a living with the Miami Dolphins. Today I’m still earning a living with the Dolphins, not because of my football accolades, but because football gave me a chance to go to school and train my brain and gave me knowledge,” Moore said, “We want to create that opportunity for some of these young student-athletes in the Bahamas.”

Director of Sports Tim Munnings said the Dolphins organisation continues its commitment of community outreach to its loyal fanbase in the Bahamas.

“They have done great work with the youth, teaching them principles of American football.

We are pleased that they saw fit to recognise the need to assist youth development through this sporting equipment which will be delivered throughout the capital and various family islands,” he said, “Their facilities need assistance and this will go a great way towards those student-athletes being able to learn the sport.”

Commonwealth American Football League President, Antonio Maycock, said the goal behind the equipment drive is to reinvigorate the sport locally and create further educational opportunities.

“We hope to share the opportunities that football can present, one

of which is to pursue a career and another was to gain an education,” he said, “I share Mr. Moore’s story as I too was able to acquire an education through the sport of football so I know the benefits it creates,” he said, “Thank you so much for the equipment that will allow young people to develop those skills so they too will have their opportunity to improve and earn opportunities of their own when they present themselves.”

For the past few years the “Dan Marino and Friends Bahamas Weekend” has celebrated the partnership between the Dolphins and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in a community outreach effort.

The itinerary included a welcome reception on opening night, followed by golf and evening events on day two.

Day three included a youth football clinic at the stadium with approximately 200 local football enthusiasts, ranging from ages 6-18, in attendance.

The final events were a flag football tournament and exhibition between the visiting Dolphins Legends and the Bahamas All-Stars, comprised of former Commonwealth American Football League and Bahamas Flag Football players.

At halftime of the finale, the Dolphins group presented a $15,000 cheque to REACH Bahamas, a group aimed at raising autism awareness throughout the country.

CLASS OF ‘78 GET THE BIG RED MACHINE INTO GEAR

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT maybe a little too early to start talking about high school sports, but for the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, this is the best time to get some financial support for their dominating athletic programme.

On Saturday, vice principal Benedict Dorsett and Board Member Geno Nairn received a donation from the class of 1978, headed

by Algernon Cargill, Bahamas Swimming Federation president, to assist with the development of their famed sports ground, particularly the reconstruction of two softball fields.

“The board, headed by Paul McWeeney, has asked Michael Adderley and I to spearhead a fund raising to refurbish the sporting facilities here at SAC,” Nairn said. “We have a number of athletes training here and we want to avoid any serious injuries from using the track.

“We want to get the track resurfaced so that our

athletes continue their dominance as they have done in the BAISS (Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools) for the past 26 years.”

Nairn said they have targeted a goal of $500,000 to build two new softball fields at the southern end of the school’s ground, refurbish the track and create a soccer pitch inside of the track.

Donate “We need all SAC alumnus and anyone who wants to donate,” said Nairn, a former basketball player at SAC during the early 70s. “Nothing is too small to give back.

“SAC has been giving for a number of years and now we feel its time for SAC to receive from its graduates as well as its present students and friends of SAC to help us to make this dream a reality for our current and future students.”

In the next two weeks, Nairn said they hope to get the softball fields constructed so that the Big Red Machine

can perform on them when the BAISS softball season gets underway.

While the fields are now a priority, Nairn said they are still pressing forward with the construction of the multipurpose gymnasium that has been on the drawing board for decades.

He said the board is looking at making that a reality by 2020, but he said their goal is to complete the renovations to the sporting facilities by the end of this year.

Mynez Cargill-Sherman, who is on the Alumni Association’s committee to renovate the sporting grounds, said she’s thrilled and motivated by the gesture of the Class of 1978.

“Right now, I really want to make a plea for all SACers and the friends of SAC to come forth and help us to make this project a reality,” urged Mynez-Sherman, who graduated in the class of 1982.

“For years, we’ve heard the talk that SAC is going to do this and SAC is going to do that. But this year, we are definitely going to make

FROM left to right at the cheque presentation are Thyra Johnson, Brenda Albury, Mynez Cargill-Sherman, Gino Nairn, Algernon Cargill, Norma Hall-Miller, Benedict Dorsett, Brenda Johnson and Ingrid Tynes-Kerr. it happen. When you look at the facilities our athletes have to train on, they are not as good as they should be.”

Coaching Mynez-Sherman, who assists in coaching the girls’ softball teams, said the creation of the new softball fields and the refurbishment of the track will benefit the athletes tremendously.

Jason Edwards, the head of the Athletic Department, said he’s ecstatic about the news.

“I think it’s something, something that we have been waiting on for a while,” said

Edwards, a SAC alumni, who represented the Big Red Machine in a number of sporting disciplines, including track and field as a Carifta triple jumper.

“As all SACers do, we’re going to come together and push to make this happen and make sure that the legacy continues to develop at SAC. Besides the actual facilities, I also want to see future leaders in the sports world in this country and this is a good place to be home grown.”

As for the upcoming season, Edwards said their staff in the Athletic Department and all of those coaches, alumnus, parents and friends, who assist their teams, will be working towards another

successful year.

“We have some good things on the horizon,” mentioned Edwards, a 1998 graduate. “I think we will do what we’re supposes to do.”

Novio Sports, a multipurpose sports based group specialising in games and event coverage, is producing an intro-active website called sacbahamas.com that will enable the public to navigate the site and view the entire programme and to make payments by credit cards.

Valdez Williams, one of the principals in charge of Novio Sports, said they intend to ensure that the SAC website stands put just as the Big Red Machine has made its presence felt in sports.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

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Tuesday, August 21, 2018, PAGE 5

PUERTO RICO TEAM THAT ENDURED HURRICANE MARIA MAKES LLWS RUN

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — After a five-inning, 14 strikeout, no-hit performance, Roberto Joubert stepped off the mound and made his way toward the Puerto Rico dugout.

An emphatic roar filled Volunteer Stadium, as miniature Puerto Rican flags waved in tandem with fatheads of each player. The Puerto Rico faithful consisted of no more than 60 or 70 people, yet their passion could be felt throughout the 3,000-seat ballpark.

At the front of the crowd was Pedro Ortiz, whose son Devin is a reserve outfielder. Ortiz has watched this Radames Lopez Little League team from Guayama win championships together at every age level since they were 5, and on Monday he saw another happy moment, a 3-1 win over Panama in an elimination game.

But even he struggled to picture this scene 11 months ago.

“It’s been a really really really tough year,” Ortiz said.

“For us to be here after Hurricane Maria, we really didn’t know whether or not we were going to play baseball.”

Last September, Hurricane Maria smashed Guayama, a coastal town of around 40,000.

In the weeks that followed, the Ortiz family didn’t have a place to call home. Star catcher John Lopez had to scramble to rebuild his family’s fritter business. Because the island’s entire power grid was knocked out, pitcher Yadiel Delgado couldn’t contact his father in Florida for weeks.

Water For nearly a month, Guayama was forced to come to grips with its new reality, a tall task for any kid. As families searched for water, gas and other necessities, the Little Leaguers dedicated themselves to whipping their local baseball diamonds into shape.

By mid-October, they were finally ready, and a momentary distraction had arrived.

“The first goal was to bring some recreation to the kids, not to think about what happened at their houses,” manager Carlos Texidor said through an interpreter.

Communicating without a functioning power grid and traveling through debris proved to be difficult, and once the players arrived at practice, they had to cope with fields that were in anything but pristine condition. To make matters worse, they could only play during the day — which is generally avoided in the hot Caribbean climate — and had to share the fields with many neighbouring communities.

Yet practice after practice, the determined group of 11- and 12-year-olds kept showing up, and almost a year later, they’re the first team in Radames Lopez Little League’s rich history to make it to the Little League World Series.

“I learned don’t stop, just go ahead,” Delgado said through an interpreter. “Every time.”

The team has lost just twice this summer and went undefeated throughout the Caribbean Regional, scoring 51 runs in the process.

They will face another win-or-you’re-out game on Tuesday, and still have to string together three victories to get to the tournament final Sunday. Lopez said he isn’t ready for it all to end, at least not yet.

“I love to be here,” he said through an interpreter. “I’m really comfortable here and if it’s up to me, I want to stay here.”

He’s not the only one invested in the team.

In the midst of a breakout season, Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario has followed the story of his former league diligently.

The Guayama native video chats with coaches and players on a near-daily basis, and was on hand when Major League Baseball donated $75,000 to Little League International in April.

“I feel really proud for my guys and for Puerto Rico, and my city,” Rosario told The Associated Press in Minnesota last weekend. “I’m so happy for them.

“The coaches are my friends. Everybody over there is good people. They’re very close to me.”

When asked about their favourite part of this journey, Lopez, Delgado and the team’s ace, Eric Rodriguez were all in agreement. It wasn’t a particular game, play, or interaction with a major leaguer that stood out.

“Jugar,” each said. Or, in English, “to play.”

BUFFALO Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass during the first half of the team’ NFL football preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, Friday, in Cleveland.

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

BILLS ANNOUNCE ROOKIE QB ALLEN TO START AGAINST THE BENGALS

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Rookie quarterback Josh Allen moved one step closer to becoming the Buffalo Bills’ starter.

Coach Sean McDermott is providing the strong-armed, firstround draft pick his opportunity to win the job by naming him the starter in Buffalo’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The team announced the decision on its Twitter account Monday evening after Allen practised with the first-string offence earlier in the day.

The Bills provided no other details regarding the decision, and McDermott isn’t scheduled to address reporters until Friday.

Allen and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll are currently scheduled to speak to the media when the team returns to practice Wednesday.

Allen’s chance comes after he showed continued improvement working with the second- and third-stringers in Buffalo’s first two preseason games.

He went 9 of 19 for 116 yards and a touchdown in overseeing the third-string offense in a preseason-opening 28-23 loss to Carolina two weeks ago.

On Friday, he went 9 of 13 for 60 yards and a touchdown in leading the second-string offence on scoring drives — including two field goals — on each of his

“As of now, I’m looking to improve. I know there’s a lot of things to improve on and I’ll continue to do that.”

Josh Allen chosen among the top-10 picks, and is being counted upon to fill a job that’s been mostly unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season.

The question remained how much time Allen would require to polish his performance after he was knocked for being erratic at times during his three college seasons at Wyoming. three series in a 19-17 win at Cleveland.

Allen, on Friday, wasn’t prepared to say whether he’s made a case to earn a shot at starting.

“That’s not up to me. That’s completely up to the coaches,” he said.

“As of now, I’m looking to improve. I know there’s a lot of things to improve on and I’ll continue to do that.”

At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Allen represents the future after Buffalo traded up five spots to select him with the No. 7 pick to make him the third quarterback taken in the draft at that point.

The 22-year-old, who grew up in Central California, became the first quarterback Buffalo has ever

Competition McDermott took what he’s called a calculated approach in gradually developing Allen during an offseason-long quarterback competition rounded out by returning backup Nathan Peterman and offseason veteran free-agent addition AJ McCarron.

McCarron’s status is uncertain after he hurt his right throwing shoulder in the first quarter against Cleveland.

McCarron missed the past two practices, though he was spotted on Monday preparing to ride a stationary bike at the Bills facility on Monday.

In speaking before practice,

McDermott provided no indication he had made a decision to start Allen.

He merely said the quarterback rotation would continue without McCarron, and that it was Allen’s turn to practice with the starters.

Allen has stuck by McDermott’s cautious approach.

“You just got to trust the process. Coach always preaches that,” Allen said last week.

“I’m just trying to learn, trying to get better every day,” he added. “I’m trying to become the best quarterback that I can be.

It’s going to take time.”

Allen’s timeline sped up Friday in replacing McCarron, who was sacked once and hit several more times in failing to generate a first down during his four series with the starters.

On his first possession, Allen capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive by avoiding pressure and stepping up in the pocket to hit Rod Streater for a 2-yard touchdown on third down.

McCarron was considered the initial front-runner for the job.

He is the most experienced quarterback on the roster after spending his first four NFL seasons as Andy Dalton’s backup in Cincinnati before signing with the Bills in free agency in March.

Peterman has put up the best numbers of the three this preseason.

He’s completed 17 of 20 attempts for 232 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.

PETERSON SIGNS, KELLEY STILL REDSKINS’ TOP RUNNING BACK

By STEPHEN WHYNO, AP Sports Writer

A SLIMMED-DOWN Rob Kelley is likely to remain Washington’s top running back even though Adrian Peterson is joining the Redskins.

Amid four injuries in their backfield, the Redskins signed the 33-year-old fourtime All-Pro running back on Monday. But Kelley, the former “Fat Rob” who lost weight and added speed to his repertoire, should still be considered the front-runner to start Week 1 at the Arizona Cardinals.

Washington lost secondround pick Derrius Guice to a season-ending torn ACL, won’t have Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall for an extended period of time because of lower-leg injuries and waived undrafted free agent Martez Carter with an injury designation. That necessitated signing Peterson —a former standout at Oklahoma who played the majority of his career with the Vikings — and fellow running back De’Veon Smith, though coach Jay Gruden gave Kelley a vote of confidence on Sunday.

“We’re not looking for a starter right now,” Gruden said. “We’ve got Rob inhouse, obviously Chris

WASHINGTON Redskins running back Rob Kelley.

Thompson, Kapri Bibbs has done a good job, Samaje I don’t think is going to be very long at all. So we’ve got four backs right there.”

On the first day of camp, Gruden was only sure of

one thing: that third-down back Chris Thompson would be on the roster and figure prominently in his return from a broken fibula.

Kelley, a 2016 undrafted free agent who emerged as

Washington’s No. 1 running back during his rookie year and started 2017 on top of the depth chart, cut his hair short, added more muscle and looks quicker to Gruden at a svelte 222 pounds.

“It was time for a change,” Kelley said of trimming his dreadlocks. “It was like a bold statement showing that I’m ready to change, rather than just coming in and talking about it how much I’m going to change and stuff like that. Just change within and the hair was just like a statement.”

Kelley got the first chance with the first-team offence in the Redskins’ second preseason game and is trying to focus on showing his best and not the competition for the starting role.

“Early on I thought about it a lot, but now I try not to think about it,” Kelley said.

“I don’t try and put too much on myself that potentially distracts me from actually getting better.”

When Guice looked like the starter, Kelley fielded questions about taking snaps at fullback and helping out on special teams. He was willing to do whatever it took to make the team, though the 25-year-old Tulane product didn’t rule out winning back the starting job he lost last season because of injuries.

“There’s competition whether you think it or not,” Kelley said. “I just make sure I go out there and I make a few plays that the catch the coaches’ eyes and stuff like that and put myself in a great position.”

He’s in a great position now by default, though Gruden also said Kelley has had a great training camp.

Kelley ran for just 17 yards on seven carries last week against the Jets and the bevvy of injuries created a need to bring in another running back.

“If something else happens, we’re going to be really, really, really thin, so we just want to make sure we’re covering all our bases right now,” Gruden said.

Kelley will have to keep competing to fend off Peterson for a bulk of the carries, but that’s a big step up from being on the roster bubble a month ago.

More competition is for the best for Kelley, who is no stranger to overcoming odds and winning a competition as an underdog.

“I think the hurdles just make me a better player,” Kelley said. “It’s the team’s job to keep on getting competition, to keep pushing the envelope, so it doesn’t make a difference (and I’ve) still got to work as hard as I can.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, August 21, 2018, PAGE 7

SIMONA HALEP WITHDRAWS FROM FINAL TUNE-UP FOR US OPEN

2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN RUNNER-UP TSONGA WITHDRAWS FROM US OPEN NEW YORK (AP) — Former top-10 player JoWilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the U.S. Open because of an injured left knee.

The Frenchman’s withdrawal was announced Monday by the U.S. Tennis Association.

He’ll be replaced in the field by James Duckworth of Australia.

It’s the third consecutive Grand Slam tournament Tsonga will miss.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Top-ranked Simona Halep has withdrawn from the Connecticut Open, citing a sore right Achilles tendon.

The Romanian was scheduled to play Tuesday in New Haven, but says in a statement her Achilles is sore from “two weeks of many matches and I need to recover in time for the U.S. Open.”

Halep won the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Aug. 12 and advanced to the finals in Cincinnati, losing in three sets Sunday to Kiki Bertens at the Western & Southern Open.

The New Haven tournament also lost American CoCo Vandeweghe to injury. She withdrew Sunday with a sore right ankle while leading in the third set of her first-round match with Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia.

Fourth seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic lost Monday to Ekatereina Makarova of Russia 6-1, 6-3.

Matches Tsonga has played only six matches in 2018, competing most recently at a tournament in France in February.

He has been ranked as high as No. 5 but is currently 64th.

Tsonga was the runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open.

Other players who have withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of injury include Elena Vesnina of Russia, CiCi Bellis of the United States and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia.

SIMONA HALEP, of Romania, reacts during a side change in a finals match against Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday in Mason, Ohio.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Times of clouds and sun

Partly cloudy

Clouds and sun

Partly sunny

A t‑storm in spots

A couple of showers around

High: 90°

Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

97° F

85° F

98°-86° F

98°-82° F

98°-85° F

97°-85° F

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° 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: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

4‑8 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 89° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

4‑8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 79° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/32° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 94° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.24” Year to date ............................................... 35.12” Normal year to date ................................... 23.08”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

6‑12 knots

S

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

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

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

4:50 a.m.

5:26 p.m.

2.4 3.0

10:59 a.m. 0.8 11:55 p.m. 1.0

Wednesday 5:42 a.m.

6:14 p.m.

2.5 3.0

11:49 a.m. 0.8 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Thursday

6:29 a.m.

6:57 p.m.

2.6 3.1

12:41 a.m. 0.9 12:35 p.m. 0.7

Friday

7:12 a.m.

7:36 p.m.

2.7 3.2

1:22 a.m.

1:18 p.m.

0.8 0.6

Saturday

7:52 a.m.

8:14 p.m.

2.8 3.3

2:00 a.m.

1:58 p.m.

0.7 0.6

Sunday

8:31 a.m.

8:50 p.m.

2.9 3.3

2:36 a.m.

2:37 p.m.

0.6 0.6

Monday

9:08 a.m.

9:26 p.m.

3.0 3.3

3:11 a.m.

3:16 p.m.

0.6 0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:46 a.m.

7:39 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:25 p.m.

2:37 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Aug. 26

Sep. 2

Sep. 9

Sep. 16

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

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

H

E

W

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

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

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N E

W

N E

W

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

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

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 87° F 87° F 87° F 87° F 80° F 80° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 82° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° 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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www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

KOHLI CENTURY LEAVES ENGLAND FACING BIG TASK TO WIN 3RD TEST

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — India captain Virat Kohli kept up his brilliant summer form by hitting 103 before setting England a worldrecord target of 521 to win the third test and clinch the series with two matches to spare.

Nine overs into its run chase, England reached 23-0 at stumps and still needed 498 runs to complete what would be a highly improbable victory at Trent Bridge.

The highest successful run chase in test history is 418, by West Indies against Australia in 2003.

England leads the five-match series 2-0.

Kohli has scored twice as many runs as any other player this series, with his 23rd test century adding to the 97 from the first innings to take his series average to 73.33. He made 149 in the first test at Edgbaston, and is in line to return to the top of the test batting rankings above Australia’s Steve Smith.

A day after taking 5-28, Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 52 off 52 balls before India declared on 352-7 late on day three. Cheteshwar Pujara, resuming overnight alongside Kohli with India on 124-2, earlier made 72 after being dropped on 40 by Alastair Cook in the slips.

Cook (9) and Keaton Jennings (13) survived a testing spell before the close to take the target below 500.

The pitch still looks good for batting, but India remains the heavy favorite.

“The pitch has quickened up a bit,” Pujara said.

“It is a lot quicker and there is a lot of deviation. On day four, it won’t be easy for them to bat.”

England’s faint chances of avoiding defeat in Nottingham were hit during the first session of the day when wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow broke a bone in the middle finger of his left hand attempting to take a catch.

Bairstow didn’t return to the field — Jos Buttler took over wicketkeeping duties — and England didn’t give an indication of whether Bairstow will be asked to bat in the team’s second innings.

“Although we are a long way behind,” England assistant coach Paul Farbrace said, “we showed real effort and it was important not to lose any wickets this evening.”

CRYSTAL Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt, left, duels for the ball with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park stadium. (AP)

LIVERPOOL WIN 2-0 AT CRYSTAL PALACE

LIVERPOOL’S SADIO MANE, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal. (AP)

LONDON (AP) — Mohamed Salah won a first-half penalty converted

by James Milner and also played in Sadio Mane for a late goal as Liverpool beat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-0 on Monday for their second straight win to open the Premier League season.

In a typical all-action display by Salah, the Egypt forward was also the player fouled by Aaron WanBissaka that earned the Palace right back a straight red card in the 75th minute because he was the last man.

The score was 1-0 at the time, Milner having slotted in the penalty on the stroke of halftime after Salah tumbled under a challenge from Mamadou Sakho.

Mane secured victory in the third minute of stoppage time when he ran onto a pass from his own half

by Salah, advanced half

the length of the field, and rounded the goalkeeper to shoot into an empty net at Selhurst Park.

Tough “It was a very tough game. We knew before the game it would be,” Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk said. “I don’t think the big teams ever win here comfortably. I think a welldeserved three points.”

Liverpool started the season with a 4-0 thrashing of West Ham and is living up to its billing as a potential threat to title favourites Manchester City, the defending champions.

“I’m not interested in sending a statement to Manchester City or anyone else,” manager Juergen Klopp said.

“I want to win football game and that’s what we did

tonight.”

Liverpool have yet to concede a goal and carry a constant threat with their front three of Salah — last season’s top scorer in the Premier League — Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Mane already has three goals this season.

The closest Palace came to scoring was when Andros Townsend curled a long-rage shot against the crossbar in the first half.

“I thought we pushed them very hard.

“We should have come in at 0-0 at halftime and the second half would have been even tougher,” Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.

“We gave them enough problems and we can consider ourselves unlucky to lose 2-0.”

Liverpool and City are two of six teams with the maximum six points.