08302017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

Team Bahamas 4th at Goodwill Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

n their third appearance at the Goodwill Games, the Bahamas’ swim team produced its best showing as the 36-member team returned from Georgetown, Guyana, with a fourth place finish.

Marvin Johnson led the attack with a total of nine individual gold medals in the boys’ 9-10 division as he touched the wall in first in the 50 and 100 metre backstroke, 200m individual medley, 50, 100 and 200m freestyle, 50 and 100m butterfly and 50m breaststroke, setting records in the 50m breast, 50m fly and both the 50 and 100m free.

Also during the two-day meet from August 18-20, Derron Laing won gold in the boys’ 15-17 100m back, 50m fly, 200m free, 50m back and 100m fly and silver in the 50 and 100m free.

Dedrie Higgs won gold in the girls’ 11-12 50m free with a record and 100m free, silver in the 50 and 100m free and bronze in the 50m fly. Leylah Knowles won a gold in the girls’ 9-10 50m breast and silver in the 100m breast.

Zoe Williams struck gold in the girls’ eight-and-under 100m free, 50m breast and 100m IM and silver in the 50m free and 50m fly.

Keianna Moss won gold in the girls’ 11-12 100m back, silver in the 50 and 100m free and bronze in the 50m breast and 200m IM. Kristofer Smith got a gold in the boys’ 15-17 100m free, silver in the

I

Swimmers make island nation proud

and 50m breast.

Treston Ferguson won silver in the boys’ 100 and 200m free.

And a bronze medal also came from Ayden Bain in the boys’ eight-and-under 50m free, 50m fly and 100m IM, Ebonie Taylor in the

IT didn’t turn out the way Tureano ‘Reno’ Johnson anticipated, but he felt he gave it his all against Sergiy ‘The Technician’ Derevyanchenko in the International Boxing Federation’s middleweight elimination bout.

Johnson, 33, was denied another chance to fight for the IBO world title when he got stopped in the last of their 12-round main event bout at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, on Friday night.

“My preparation for this fight was a very good one, coaching and the way that it was all managed,” he said.

“But once you get into the ring, you have to change your game plan. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t able to adjust.

“But all in all, it was a great learning experience for me. My opponent did some things to me that haven’t been done to me before in a fight, so this was definitely a good learning experience for me. But I will bounce back from this no doubt.”

The loss dropped Johnson’s win-loss record to 20-2 with 14 knockouts, while Derevyanchenko remained undefeated at 11-0 with 9 KO. “It wasn’t a matter of what I did, but it was a matter of what I didn’t do,” Johnson said. “I didn’t adjust. The next time that I have an opponent, who likes to hold, we will have to look at how we adjust to an opponent like that.

“When we have an opponent who likes to do a lot of spinning around, we will learn to adjust to that.

We’re going to rebuild our whole fight and capitalise on things that we didn’t do.

We will incorporate some

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE 2

SEE PAGE 3

‘RENO’ VOWS TO ‘BOUNCE BACK’ AFTER LOSS TO ‘THE TECHNICIAN’

ATHLETES SET TO TAKE SPOTLIGHT AT GALA AWARDS BANQUET

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

energy I had in my body, as much as my body could of-

NORMALLY there is a parade to celebrate the accomplishments of our athletes at the Olympic Games and the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Championship teams following their medal-winning performances.

However, there won’t be any motorcade or islandhopping for the team that competed at the World Championships in London, England, where Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo came up with a silver and bronze medal respectively.

Instead, Timothy Munnings, director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, confirmed that the government will recognise the athletes and all those athletes and teams who performed exceptionally well in all of their sporting events this year at a gala awards banquet.

The year-ending banquet will take place on Saturday, November 25, in the Crown Ballroom at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

While they won’t be taken through the streets in a national motorcade, Munnings said the government’s incentive policy remains in place with Gardiner earning a pay cheque of $30,000 for winning the silver medal in the men’s 400m and Miller-Uibo will get $15,000 for her bronze in the women’s 200m.

SEE PAGE 3

SEE PAGE 3

“My opponent did some things to me that haven’t been done to me before in a fight, so this was definitely a good learning experience for me. But I will bounce back from this no doubt.” of the good things and improve on the bad things.”

While Derevyanchenko, a 31-year-old Russian born fighter out of the Ukraine, controlled the majority of the early rounds, Johnson managed to get back into the fight in the later rounds.

That set up what came down to an all-out brawl in the final round as the winner was assured the number one spot for the IBF middleweight title shot.

“I knew I was down on the card, so I was going for broke,” said Johnson about his intended slugfest with Derevyanchenko. “I said either it was him or it was me, but one of us was going down.

“Unfortunately, the

MUNNINGS: ATHLETES’ SUBVENTION PROGRAMME UNDER REVIEW

girls’ 13-14 50m breast and Gigi Eneas in the girls’ 13-14 100m back and 100m free.

The Bahamas also got relay gold in the boys’ 15-17 400m medley,

‘It was a great learning experience for me’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Tennis, Page 5

DURING the time that he served as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Neville Wisdom implemented a subvention programme by the government to assist our elite athletes with their training expenses.

Since it was introduced following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the programme has been extended and Timothy Munnings, the director of sports in the ministry, has confirmed that there are over 100 athletes currently benefitting from a budget of about $1.4 million in the subvention programme.

Some of those who are receiving subventions are also enrolled in colleges in the United States of America. But Munnings said the programme needs to reevaluated before they can continue to proceed in the manner that it is currently being operated.

“Athletics has the bulk of it,” Munnings said. “But the government assists athletes in basketball, golf, judo, bodybuilding, boxing, volleyball, cycling, tennis, swimming and track and field.

“All of those sports have athletes who are receiving funding from the govern-

HIGH POINT WINNERS for Team Bahamas (l-r) Marvin Johnson, Derron Laing, Keianna Moss and Zoe Williams.

Photo by Alcindor Bonamy 200m IM and 200m free.

Triston Hepburn got a gold in the boys’ eight-and-under 50m breast.

Amauri Bonamy won silver in the boys’ 9-10 100m breast and bronze in the 50m free, 50m back

US OPEN

TUREANO JOHNSON was denied another chance to fight for the IBO world title when he got stopped in the last of a 12-round main event bout against Sergiy ‘The Technician’ Derevyanchenko at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, on Friday night. knockout ended up on my end. I went in there to leave it all in the ring. You’re not going to get a little bit of ac-

tion from me. You’re going to get all of the action.

“I’m going to give it my all. I think I gave all of the

PAGE 2, Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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PULSE Boys and Girls Club takes the spotlight in Orlando karate challenge PULSE Boys and Girls Club - a community-based programme in the Farm Road Community as a Salem Union Baptist Church outreach programme - took a team to compete in the Tong Doo Soo Karate Challenge in Orlando earlier this month.

The team was made up of the following with their performances listed: Danel Jean Jules - 1st place in fighting, 2nd place in kata Davidson Normilien - 2nd place in fighting and 3rd place in kata Micheal Pritchard 2nd Place in kata Joshua Woodside 4th place in fighting “I am very impressed with our team’s performance. These children have worked hard and it paid off,” said sensei Elnathan Rolle, the programme director.

“It was their first time leaving the Bahamas and competing internationally, so the exposure is very important to their overall development.

“That’s one of the things we have always kept in mind about this programme, we drill into our students the importance of education, being respectful, and putting God first and providing the op-

PULSE Boys and Girls Club team members can be seen at the Tong Doo Soo Karate Challenge in Orlando. portunity for them to travel.”

Rolle said they have seen a lot of success with their programme at Salem Union Baptist Church

over the past three years and that’s what has kept them motivated to continue to reach out to inner-city youth.

“As we use karate as a discipline while providing the opportunity for them to develop and be mentored,” he said. “This trip

would not have been possible without our sponsors such as Butler’s Bargain Mart, Sonic Express and Specialise Dentistry.”

Swimmers bring home medals as Bahamas ends up 4th overall at the Goodwill Games FROM PAGE 1 9-10 boys’ 200m free, boys’ 1517 200m free, boys’ 9-10 400m free, girls’ 13-14 400m free, boys’ 15-17 400m free.

Relay silver medals came from the boys’ 9-10 400m medley, girls’ 11-12 400m medley, girls’ 13-14 400m medley, boys’ 8-and-under medley, girls’ 11-12 400m free and girls 13-14 200m free. And the boys’ 8-and-under picked up a bronze in the 200m free relay.

At the end of the two-day competition, the Bahamas got four out of the 10 high point divisional trophies as Zoe Williams won the girls’ 8-and-under, Marvin Johnson took the boys’ 9-10, Keianna Moss won the girls’ 11-12 and Derron Laing took the boys’ 1527.

“It went very well. We did very well,” said Shirley Mireault, who coached the team for the third consecutive year that the Bahamas has competed in the meet.

“We didn’t have a full team. We didn’t have our 13-14 boys’ relay and we only had two girls in the 15-17. We could have gotten more

TEAM BAHAMAS produced its best showing in their third appearance at the Goodwill Games in Georgetown, Guyana.

The 36-member team returned home with medals, trophies and a fourth place finish. points if we had a full team.”

With the swimmers having had to pay their own way to the games,

Mireault said they applied and received for full membership and will be preparing to host the event

in its seventh year in the competition.

Last year, the games was held in

St Lucia and the year before it was in Trinidad & Tobago.

Next year the games will be held in Barbados and Mireault said they are anticipating a full team and hopefully they can continue to improve on their overall and individual performances.

However, she said once swimmers are eligible for the CARIFTA Swim Championships, they won’t be allowed to compete in the Games.

But she said they are looking at the possibility of having those swimmers who made the team, but don’t make the final, to be allowed to compete in the Games.

During the trip, Mireault said they were able to get some sponsorship and that enabled the team to go on a tour. They had about six swimmers from Abaco and at least 12 from Grand Bahama.

“We did well and some kids had to cancel out with about three weeks out,” she said. “We had some swimmers who were affected by the yellow fever vaccine.

We could have avoided taking it because nobody checked it when we got there.”

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017, PAGE 3

JONES GRABS 22 REBOUNDS AS SUN BEAT MYSTICS 86-76 WASHINGTON (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 26 points, Jonquel Jones grabbed 22 rebounds and the Connecticut Sun beat the Washington Mystics 8676 last night.

Thomas was nine of 20 from the field and had 10 rebounds. Jones also scored 14 points and passed for six assists for the playoff-bound Sun (21-11).

Jasmine Thomas scored 20 points and Shekinna Stricklen had 12 points and three steals.

In her third game back from an extended injury absence, Washington’s Elena Delle Donne scored 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The Mystics (17-15) have lost three consecutive games.

Connecticut took the game over with a 22-point third quarter and was 22 of 30 from the free-throw line. The Sun held the Mystics to 36.4 per cent shooting.

Grand Bahamian scores 14, dishes out 6 assists for playoffbound Connecticut

ATHLETES GET SET TO BE RECOGNISED AT GALA AWARDS BANQUET FROM PAGE 1 She will collect another $5,000 for making it to the final in the women’s 400m where she finished fourth. “We will celebrate them on November 25th,” Munnings said. “We will recognise all of the teams and the athletes, as we can, who performed so well this year.

“I don’t see an individual celebration happening right now for the athletes. Nothing has been planned. At this point, we are

aiming at a major celebrations for everybody on November 25.”

During the course of the year, Munnings said there were a lot of athletes and teams that excelled, but they didn’t get the recognition that they deserved for their accomplishments.

“We think the sports awards is a great opportunity to recognise the athletes and the teams that went out there performing,” he said. “We just had Joanna Evans win two medals at the World Uni-

versity Games. There’s no celebrations planned for her, but she’s certainly one that should receive some recognition come the end of the year.”

Across the board, Munnings said there have been so many outstanding performances in water polo, judo and basketball.

“If we do that for everybody, we will be partying all year,” he said.

“We wanted to receive the World Championship team this year, but they were so fragmented in their

TUREANO JOHNSON VOWS TO ‘BOUNCE BACK’ AFTER LOSS TO ‘THE TECHNICIAN’ FROM PAGE 1 fer. I gave it my all.”

Under the management of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions since September 2015, Johnson first got an opportunity to fight for the world title when he won over Irishman Eamonn O’Kane on October 17, 2015.

With the win, he became the mandatory No.1 contender and was set to face Gennady Golovkin, the IBF, World Boxing Council and co-World Boxing Association champion.

But he suffered a severe shoulder injury in the bout and further damaged his rotator cuff. The injuries required surgery and Johnson did not fight again until he returned for a secondround knockout win against Fabiano Pena on March 23.

“It was a learning experience, but I’m still in the top 10 of the IBF contender, so I’m not out of it,” he said. “I think they are considering putting me back in the top five.

“So I’m getting in shape over here in Florida, trying to get back in the ring as early as November. I am in Sheraton Town, training

TUREANO JOHNSON has been denied another chance to fight for the IBO world title. with Antonio Bendacutt before I go to Atlanta to continue to train.”

With just one fight coming off the surgery, Johnson said it showed in his performance in the ring.

“I must say, it was very

difficult being out of the ring for such a long period of time and only having one fight,” he said. “It did show on Friday night how long and how painful it is to be out of the ring for so long.

“But a lot of things played into the results on Friday night and we definitely can’t have that happen again.

The injuries couldn’t be avoided, but the doctors in the Bahamas did a tremendous job on the surgery.”

Despite the loss, Johnson said he’s healthy and his body is in great shape and his spirit has not been dampened, so he’s just waiting on God’s plans for him moving forward.

“I am just grateful to the Bahamian community at large for coming out and supporting me,” he said.

“The Ministry of Tourism and people physically coming out and assisting me.

I’ve never seen this before.

“I’m going to get my shot again. If it’s not the IBF, it’s going to be one of the other titles. But very soon, no doubt, I will become a world champion. I wasn’t 100 per cent on Friday night. That was a fight for me to win. But I’m going to win the world title very soon.”

MUNNINGS: ATHLETES’ SUBVENTION PROGRAMME IS BEING REVIEWED FROM PAGE 1 ment through the athletes’ subvention programme.”

The payment for the athletes range from $12,000 per year to $34,000 per year, but Munnings said his ministry is in the process of reviewing the whole process.

“There are many athletes who are past eligible to be getting the subvention,” Munnings said. “Until some athletes are removed or reduced, it kind of interferes with new persons coming on or those who are on getting an increase.

“We are relying on the various federations to give us some assistance in making their recommendations of who should be

coming on and who should be reduced. To bring persons on, in some cases, some persons have to come off.”

Munnings said they are working to bring some clarity to the existing programme or come up with a new programme, which he said is fully subscribed.

“My aim is to have some conclusion by the end of September,” said Munnings, who declined to indicate who will make up the committee to oversee the new programme that the ministry intends to implement.

“There will probably still be a very broad consultative approach to it because we want to get some feedback from the federations and there will be some dialogue or open discussion on it before it is implemented or launched.”

return that it was very difficult to plan that.”

Munnings, however, said the government intends to join in any celebrations that will take place in Murphy Town, Abaco or Moore’s Island for Gardiner where he was born and trained respectively.

As for Miller-Uibo, Munnings said she’s still competing as she has another Diamond League Final on Friday when she runs in the women’s 200m in Brussels, Belgium, which makes it even more

difficult to plan anything.

“By the time she settles in, we will be so close to the year-ending sports awards, so we decided that we will just make it one big celebration for all of our athletes and teams who performed so well this year,” Munnings said.

He noted that a planning committee is in the process of working out the details for the year-ending awards celebrations and once they have been set, they will be released to the public.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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NFL 2017: Patriots remain power of weak new-look AFC East

By DENNIS WASZAK JR Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The only real question in the AFC East is how early in the season the New England Patriots will clinch the division.

Bill Belichick’s bunch is again the clear choice, even with Tom Brady losing favourite receiver Julian Edelman for the season with a knee injury.

New England has won the AFC East eight straight years, and 13 of the last 14 — with the only stumble coming in 2008, when Brady tore knee ligaments in the season opener.

But don’t think for a second the defending Super Bowl champions are taking anything for granted, even with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets entering the season with major flaws.

“We start off every year kind of the same and Bill will put us through the wringer and have all different things that we need to do as a team and build upon,” safety Devin McCourty said. “Since I’ve been here, I would say that’s one thing we’ve never really had to struggle with coming from him.”

The loss of Edelman, who has caught 356 passes over the last four years, will certainly hurt the Patriots’ high-powered offence. But New England has enough talented pass catchers to replace him with tight end

Rob Gronkowski healthy again and newcomer Brandin Cooks joining Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, and Malcolm Mitchell in the receiving corps. “The team will have to move on and we’ll have to compete in this season without him,” Belichick said of Edelman.

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is, so we’ll have to figure that out.”

• Here are a few things to know about the AFC East: THIS IS 40: Brady remains the constant for the Patriots, and he has thrived despite an always-changing cast of characters on the roster.

But he’s now a year older, having turned 40 earlier this month . And it will be intriguing to see if Brady can keep up his prolific production — and do so without Edelman. He’s feeling good, though, and that’s a good sign for New England. And a bad one for opponents, who have to wonder if he’ll ever slow down. “I feel like my routine is better than it’s ever been,” Brady said. “When you’re younger, you don’t know what to do. After 17 years, going into my 18th year, I know what to do. I know how to prepare. I’m never sore. I could practice every day. I could practice twice a day if they’d let us do that, but that’s not the way it goes anymore. It’s just fun being out here competing.”

NEW England Patriots (12) quarterback Tom Brady smiles as he looks to pass during a joint practice with the Houston Texans.

(AP Photo/Chris Jackson) CUTLER’S COMEBACK: Jay Cutler retired after last season and was set to be an analyst for Fox’s NFL broadcasts. But Ryan Tannehill was lost for the season and Cutler stepped out of the booth and back into the huddle to be Miami’s quarterback .

The move made lots of sense for the Dolphins, who are hoping Cutler will have the same kind of success as in 2015 when Miami coach Adam Gase was Chicago’s offensive coordinator. Cutler’s familiarity with Gase and the Dolphins’ playbook, along with a budding star in wide receiver DeVante Parker, could make for a seamless transition.

“He’s excited to get back in the building with Gase,” guard Jermon Bushrod said. “He wasn’t ready to fully hang it up yet and I feel him. I understand where he’s coming from.

The broadcasting thing would have been a cool gig for him, but he still has some football left.”

BUFFALO STANCE: The Bills overhauled their roster this offseason with new general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott beginning a process they hope ends the franchise’s 17year playoff drought. That likely won’t happen this year with the trades of top receiver Sammy Watkins (to the Rams) and starting cornerback Ronald Darby (to the Eagles) on the same day earlier this month a sure sign the focus is on the future.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is back, but his status beyond this season is uncertain, and he sustained a concussion last weekend.

The Bills added Jordan Matthews in the Darby trade, but of the eight players who caught a TD pass

last year, only two return: tight end Charles Clay, with four, and running back LeSean McCoy, with one. “We have to put a positive line,” Taylor said. “It’s a win-now league. And as a team, we have to refocus, do whatever it takes to win games.”

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?: Much like the Bills, the Jets are in full rebuilding mode after general manager Mike Maccagnan cleared out several big names with big contracts: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold and David Harris.

What’s left for coach Todd Bowles’ team is a roster filled with fresh faces and inexperience — and that has some wondering if the Jets will even win a game this season.

Their dismal quarterback situation, with 38-year-old Josh McCown expected to start over youngsters Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, has only added to the grim projections.

“One thing I’ve been sticking to and saying to a lot of people here and a lot of people who ask me about it, you know, I’m trusting the process,” said Pro Bowl defensive end Leonard Williams. “I’m trying to focus on the guys that we have here and not the guys that we don’t.”

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Jets.

McCown, starters could play in Jets’ pre-season finale

By DENNIS WASZAK JR Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — It could be all hands on deck for the New York Jets’ pre-season finale.

Coach Todd Bowles said all of his healthy players could be available to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night — and that includes quarterbacks Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg.

Bowles wouldn’t reveal his plans for the game, but he also didn’t rule out playing all three quarterbacks.

“Football is football,” Bowles said during a conference call. “It doesn’t matter who we play. Everybody is available to play. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the quarterback, the punter, the snapper, and I’ll play them as I see fit.”

On Monday, the coach announced that McCown would be the Jets’ starter in Week 1 at Buffalo on September 10. Many teams typically rest their starters in the final pre-season game to protect them from injuries while giving roster-bubble players a chance to make one last impression. But Bowles left open the possibility that he could have some of his top

NEW York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) sacks New York Jets’ Christian Hackenberg (5) during Saturday’s preseason game.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) players see some action.

“We need to do some things, so we’ll work on them,” Bowles said.

“If I decide to play or not play them, that will be my decision.”

McCown has played only the opening series of the pre-season, leading New York to a touchdown against Tennessee. It would be unusual for a team to have its starting quarterback get such little work

in the preseason. But Bowles and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates cited the 38-year-old McCown’s NFL experience and extensive snaps in offseason workouts and the beginning of training camp as reasons to feel confident that he’ll be ready for the season opener.

“I don’t think of anything as far as Josh playing,” Bowles said of the risk-reward factor of possibly

playing McCown. “I think of it as a team standpoint. If the team needs to work on something, we work on it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for Thursday, whether it’s next week, whether it’s two weeks from now, it doesn’t matter. If we need to work on stuff, we work on it.”

McCown also wasn’t concerned about the lack of game action in the pre-season.

“I’ll be ready to go,” the quarterback said Monday. “We’re getting good work in practice throughout the week. Today, and tomorrow will be good days and I’ll be ready to go.”

The Jets used the pre-season to get long looks at both Hackenberg and Petty — and to see if either could challenge McCown for the starting job.

Hackenberg had a few positive moments during the summer but doesn’t yet appear to be a viable starting candidate.

Petty was mostly solid in the last two games, but he is recovering from a sprained left knee suffered in the game against the Giants last Saturday. Bowles said he practiced yesterday.

“I feel optimistic about him,” the coach said of Petty’s chances of playing against the Eagles.

DOLPHINS’ LANDRY: OK WITH GOING INTO SEASON WITHOUT NEW DEAL

By STEVEN WINE Associated Press DAVIE, Florida (AP) — While the Miami Dolphins say receiver Jarvis Landry is a big part of their plans this season, questions about next year remain.

This week coach Adam Gash quashed speculation that Landry, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, might soon be traded. Gase said there’s “no chance” that will happen, and shared that message privately with Landry.

“Coach Gase did an amazing job,” the two-time Pro Bowl receiver said yesterday. “He called me in and he just talked to me, explained to me the situation and everything that’s going on, and that that’s false (speculation). That’s all I really needed to hear from him.”

There’s no indication, however, that the Dolphins have offered Landry the contract extension he seeks to ensure his long-term future.

He reiterated that his deadline for negotiations is September 10, when the season begins. That means if there’s no deal by then — which is unlikely — he could become a free agent in 2018.

Landry said he would be at peace starting his fourth NFL season without a new deal. He took part in the team’s entire offseason programme, even voluntary workouts he could have skipped to make a statement. “One of the reasons I showed up to OTAs was because I know that I’m the leader of this team, and for me to get this team to where we need to be, I have to be here,” he said.

He acknowledged the potential financial repercussions of risking injury by playing this season without an extension.

“That’s something that comes with it,” he said.

“But at the same time, I’m not going to rush guys’ timing. Whenever it happens, it happens for me.”

Landry’s 288 career catches are tied with the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr for the most by any player after three years. He was Ryan Tannehill’s favourite receiver, but it’s uncertain whether he’ll be as busy playing with Jay Cutler.

The Dolphins’ new quarterback has favoured DeVante Parker so far in preseason practice and games, and they connected on a 50-yard completion during yesterday’s workout.

BENGALS’ LEWIS DEFENDS SUSPENDED BURFICT, SAYS HE’S CHANGED

By JOE KAY Associated Press CINCINNATI (AP) — Coach Marvin Lewis defended the hit by Vontaze Burfict that caused the NFL to suspend him for five games and insisted that the Bengals linebacker has changed his ways on the field to conform to the league’s emphasis on player safety.

Lewis said there’s nothing wrong with how Burfict levelled Chiefs running back Anthony Sherman during a preseason game, resulting in the linebacker’s latest suspension.

“In my opinion, Vontaze has changed,” Lewis said yesterday. “He’s learned.

He’s a 250-pound man, but he hits like dynamite. I mean, it’s like being hit by a cement truck. That’s just the way he plays. That’s why he’s the player he is.”

The hit wasn’t penalised during the game, but the NFL can impose fines and suspensions after reviewing video of games.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy pointed out in an email to The Associated

Press that the league’s rulebook bans “unnecessary contact” against players who aren’t in position to defend themselves. Also, the rules prohibit “unnecessary roughness” against a player who isn’t involved in a play.

Sherman was coming out of the backfield but wasn’t the intended receiver when Burfict levelled him with a hit high to his chest as the pass went down the field.

Burfict has appealed the suspension. If it’s upheld, the Bengals will open without their top defensive player for the second straight season because of an egregious hit. Burfict missed the first three games last season while serving an NFL suspension for his hit to Antonio Brown’s head during a 2015 playoff loss to the Steelers.

The league cited Burfict’s history of egregious hits when it suspended him for last season. He came into the NFL with a reputation for losing his cool in the heat of the moment. The playmaker went undrafted in 2012 because of his long history of on-field issues at Arizona State.

CINCINNATI Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict, top, celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass by Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and scoring a touchdown in the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) He repeatedly got personal fouls in his early seasons in Cincinnati, despite the coaching staff urging him to change the way he

plays. His worst moment came in the Bengals’ firstround playoff game against the Steelers in the 2015 season.

Burfict hit Brown in the head after an incomplete pass, moving the Steelers in range for a game-winning field goal. Cornerback

Adam “Pacman” Jones bumped an official during an on-field verbal altercation after Burfict’s hit, drawing another 15-yard penalty.

The Steelers made a 26yard field goal with 14 seconds left for an 18-16 win, taking advantage of one of the greatest meltdowns in NFL playoff history. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1990, the sixth-longest streak of futility in league history.

Jones also is suspended to start the season, getting sidelined for one game because of his offseason conviction on a misdemeanor charge.

The Bengals went 1-2 during Burfict’s three-game suspension last season, losing in Pittsburgh and at home to Denver. Vincent Rey filled in for those three games at Burfict’s spot and is expected to do so again.

“Coach Paulie (Guenther) says, ‘Who’s a starter in here?’ and the whole defence stands up,” Rey said.

“He’s always saying everybody has to be ready. Someone’s going to have to play meaningful snaps for us.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 30, 2017, PAGE 5

Kerber goes from champion to 1st-round loser at rainy US Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The question was rather simple after Angelique Kerber became only the second defending US Open champion in the professional era to lose in the first round.

The surprisingly lopsided 6-3, 6-1 loss to 45th-ranked Naomi Osaka of Japan under the closed roof in Arthur Ashe Stadium at a rainy Flushing Meadows yesterday was former No. 1 Kerber’s latest in a long list of disappointing performances in 2017, so she was asked what she thinks went wrong this season. She sighed, shrugged her shoulders and began to answer: “I don’t know.”

Moments later, her eyes darting around the room, she added, “This year is a completely different year.”

Talk about an understatement. In 2016, Kerber broke through to the top of tennis in a spectacular way. A player with only one previous Grand Slam semi-final appearance reached the first three major title matches of her career, winning two of them: She stunned Serena Williams in the Australian Open final, lost to Williams in the Wimbledon final, and then beat Karolina Pliskova in the US Open final to rise atop the WTA rankings for the first time.

Her follow-up has been quite a flop. Kerber, a 29-year-old German, hasn’t won any title of any sort this season. She is only 25-18 overall, 0-9 against opponents ranked in the top 20, and Monday’s loss assured her of falling out of the top 10 for the first time since October 2015. At Grand Slam tournaments she is 6-4, including another firstround loss in May at the French Open, where she became that tournament’s

NAOMI OSAKA, of Japan, reacts after scoring a point against Angelique Kerber. first No. 1 seed to lose so early.

“I know that I’m strong and I know that I will come back stronger, for sure. I know that I will not (be) giving up,” said Kerber, the first defending champion to lose in the US Open’s first round since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.

Showers showed up before noon Tuesday and led to the postponements of dozens of matches. The only court used in the afternoon and evening was Ashe, thanks to the retractable cover constructed ahead of last year’s tournament.

Pliskova, who is seeded No. 1, easily advanced by beating Magda Linette 6-2, 6-1, French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko got past Lara Arruabarrena 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in a match that started on Court 17 then was moved indoors at Ashe, and No. 23 Barbora Strycova defeated Misaki Doi 6-1, 6-3. Yet another seeded woman was eliminated when No. 28 Lesia Tsurenko lost to Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 6-1.

At night in Ashe, No. 15 Madison Keys was to face Elise Mertens of Belgium.

The only men’s matches completed were at Ashe, where No. 1 Rafael Nadal

ANGELIQUE KERBER, of Germany, returns a shot from Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the first round of the US Open yesterday.

(AP Photos/Frank Franklin II) overcame a first-set hiccup before overpowering Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-2. Nadal’s possible semi-final foe and chief rival for the title, Roger Federer, was to face 19-year-old American Frances Tiafoe at night.

Kerber’s exit further thins the women’s bracket, which was missing 23-time major champion Serena Williams to begin with because she is expecting a baby. Three of the top seven seeded women were gone before dinnertime on Day 2, with No. 6 Kerber joining Monday’s losers, No. 2 Simona Halep — beaten by Maria Sharapova in her first Grand Slam match since a 15-month doping suspension — and No. 7 Johanna Konta.

While Kerber’s quick departure was stunning in and of itself, that Osaka would be the one to do it might not be quite so remarkable,

COURT attendants squeegee water off Court Four during a rain delay in the first round of the US Open tennis tournament yesterday in New York.

(AP Photo/Michael Noble)

ETHIOPIA SHUTS DOWN DRUGSTORE SELLING BANNED SUBSTANCES

By ELIAS MESERET Associated Press ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – A drugstore in Ethiopia that was selling banned substances to athletes across the road from the country’s main track stadium has been shut down pending an investigation, anti-doping authorities said yesterday.

Ethiopia’s Anti-Doping Office confirmed that the pharmacy was offering the blood-boosting substance EPO after a preliminary investigation. The store was shut down for three months pending a full probe, the office said, and the head of the pharmacy had his pharmaceutical license revoked for six months.

The preliminary investigation, carried out by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Sport, came in response to an undercover report by British newspaper The Guardian and German broadcaster ARD. They said their journalists found EPO was easily available at the pharma-

cy, which was offering the substance while the national athletics championships took place across the road at the Ethiopian National Stadium in May. “Based on the media report, the Ministry conducted an investigation and has found out that the banned substance was found inside the pharmacy,” the antidoping office said.

Although authorities said they discovered athletes had acquired EPO from the pharmacy, they didn’t name any of them. There were no positive doping tests reported from the national championships.

The news puts Ethiopia in the anti-doping spotlight once again after it was ordered by the IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency to carry out more doping tests on its top athletes last year.

There are fears that banned substances are easily available in Ethiopia, just like East African neighbour Kenya, which has been hit by a big spike in dop-

ing over the last five years.

That, coupled with weak anti-doping controls from authorities, has seriously undermined the distancerunning success of the two countries.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation initially dismissed the allegations by The Guardian and ARD as “vague and unsubstantiated.”

Ethiopian Anti-Doping Office director Mekonnen Yidersal told The Associated Press yesterday that the shutting of the store for three months was just a “preliminary” measure, and said other stores were under suspicion.

“More serious measures against this specific business and others found in the same act will be taken,” he said. “We are carrying out a thorough investigation to this effect.”

Ethiopian law allows criminal trials and jail sentences against people, including athletes guilty of breaching anti-doping rules.

even if she is just 19 and never won before against a top-10 woman.

Osaka is comfortable around the grounds at Flushing Meadows, where she has been spending time, and even occasionally practicing, since she was a kid: She was born in Osaka, Japan, so represents that country, but moved to the US when she was 3, has dual citizenship, and used to live on Long Island. “The site,” Osaka said, “feels really familiar to me.”

She nearly upended Keys in the US Open’s third round last year, leading 5-1 in the third set before losing in a tiebreaker, a collapse on her mind in the latter stages Tuesday.

This time, Osaka held steady, using her powerful baseline game to bully Kerber. Osaka accumulated a 22-9 edge in winners, broke in half of Kerber’s eight service games and saved

RAFAEL Nadal reacts after winning the first set yesterday against Dusan Lajovic. all four break points she faced.“It was not my day,” Kerber summed up. “Completely not my day.”

Hasn’t been her year, either.

SPORTS NOTES TENNIS ARMBRISTER IN ACTION DONTE Armbrister is the lone Bahamian player participating in the Panama ITF tournament this week.

Yesterday, Armbrister lost in his singles match 6-2, 6-1, but he won his doubles match 4-6, 6-1, 13-11 partnering with Esteban Gutierrez of Panama. The duo will play again today in the quarter-final round against the tournament’s 4th seeded team of Gonzalez and Bastidas of Venezuela.

TENNIS AID CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS The 25th annual AID Clay Court Championships wrapped up at the Gym Tennis Club in Winton Meadows with the final two titles decided on Saturday.

Stephen Thompson clinched the Jr Veterans singles crown with a three-set win over Devlin Fisher, while Gerry Kanuka and Paul McCann defeated Vince Andrews and Stephen Thompson for the Jr Veterans doubles title.

Six divisions were contested during the twoweek tournament and the other four champions were: Ladies Jr Vets singles – Marion Bain Men’s Open singles – William Fountain Men’s Open doubles – Shannon Francis and Philip Major Jr Mixed Doubles – Philp Major Jr and Nikkita Fountain Following the last match on Saturday, attractive crystal trophies and other prizes were presented to all finalists

by Shirlene Watson, wife of AID president and managing director, Harold Watson, who also confirmed AID’s continued sponsorship of the event in the future.

say (7) 24 Low car THE TRIBUNE low-grad 22 25 Gamblin topping 25 26 Impetuo 27 Police a stuffin

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, August 30, 2017, PAGE 7

WNBA PLAYOFF PICTURE STILL MUDDLED, SPARKS SIT ATOP AP POLL

By DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is headed into the final week of the regular season and there are a few playoff spots still up for grabs. Postseason seeding is also still undecided with several teams jockeying for position.

Los Angeles and Minnesota have clinched the top two seeds. The Sparks though only sit a half-game behind the Lynx for homecourt advantage throughout the postseason and have the tiebreaker. The Sparks also were a unanimous choice atop The Associated Press WNBA power poll yesterday.

New York and Connecticut have first-round byes, but also are a half-game apart from each other for the three and four seeds.

The teams split their four games during the regular season and the Liberty most likely would have the second tiebreaker of record against .500 or better teams.

Washington, Phoenix, Dallas and Seattle round out the playoff field for now.

The Storm and Wings still need a win or two to get in.

POWER POLL: Los Angeles solidified its spot at No. 1 with a win over Minnesota on Sunday.

1. Los Angeles (24-8): The Sparks have continued to improve their defence throughout the season and are looking good in their quest to repeat as champions.

2. Minnesota (24-7): Rebekkah Brunson returned from an ankle injury, but Lynx are still missing Lindsay Whalen. The point guard remains sidelined with a broken bone in her hand.

3. New York (20-12): Eight straight victories have pushed the Liberty to third in the power poll.

4. Connecticut (20-11): The schedule isn’t kind with road games in Washington, Phoenix and Los Angeles to close out the season.

5. Washington (17-14): The good news is Elena Delle Donne is back from

translated into many wins.

12. Indiana (9-23): The Fever are in an unfamiliar role of trying to play spoiler.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Storm at Sky, Sunday. Seattle hopes to have already clinched a playoff spot by the time the game tips off.

LOS Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker, right, blocks a shot by New York Liberty’s Epiphanny Prince during the second half of a WNBA game in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Jae C Hong) a thumb injury. Bad news is the Mystics lost consecutive games with her on the court.

6. Phoenix (16-16): A big win in Seattle may have clinched a first-round home game in the playoffs.

7. Dallas (15-17): The

Wings just need one more win or loss by Chicago to secure a postseason berth.

8. Seattle (14-18): The initial boost from a coaching change seems to have worn off.

9. Chicago (12-19): At least if the Sky don’t make

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Patchy clouds with a shower

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Partly sunny with a stray shower

High: 92°

Low: 79°

High: 92° Low: 79°

High: 93° Low: 81°

High: 92° Low: 81°

High: 92° Low: 79°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

113° F

93° F

111°-91° F

111°-91° F

110°-92° F

109°-92° F

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: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

4-8 knots

S

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

3-6 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 81° F/27° C

E

W S

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WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 81° F/27° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

2:49 a.m.

3:29 p.m.

2.4 2.8

9:01 a.m.

9:58 p.m.

Thursday

3:47 a.m.

4:25 p.m.

2.4 2.9

9:57 a.m. 1.1 10:54 p.m. 1.3

Friday

4:43 a.m.

5:17 p.m.

2.4 3.0

10:51 a.m. 1.0 11:44 p.m. 1.1

Saturday

5:35 a.m.

6:04 p.m.

2.6 3.1

11:42 a.m. 0.9 ---------

Sunday

6:22 a.m.

6:48 p.m.

2.7 3.2

12:30 a.m. 1.0 12:29 p.m. 0.7

Monday

7:05 a.m.

7:29 p.m.

2.9 3.3

1:11 a.m.

1:13 p.m.

0.8 0.6

Tuesday

7:47 a.m.

8:09 p.m.

3.0 3.4

1:50 a.m.

1:56 p.m.

0.6 0.5

1.1 1.3

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:50 a.m.

7:31 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:41 p.m.

1:04 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Sep. 6

Sep. 13

Sep. 20

Sep. 27

CAT ISLAND

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High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

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7-14 knots

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

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 93° F/34° C Low .................................................... 80° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 89° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 76° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 24.33” Normal year to date ................................... 24.70”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

HELPERS: Seattle’s Sue Bird is three assists away from passing Ticha Penicheiro for the most in WNBA history. Bird had a chance to set the mark at home against Phoenix, needing only six assists at that point, but she finished with three.

the playoffs they’ll have two picks in the draft lottery.

9. Atlanta (12-20): The team finally won a few games in August, but it’s too little too late.

11. San Antonio (7-23): Stars continue to play teams tough even though it hasn’t

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tina Charles, Liberty. Charles averaged 18.3 points, eight rebounds and two steals to help the Liberty win all three of their games this week and continue their torrid play.

Other players receiving votes include Los Angeles’ Nneka Oguwmike and Alana Beard as well as Atlanta’s Layshia Clarendon.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

N

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 82° F/28° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 83° F/28° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 87° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 90° F/32° C Low: 83° F/28° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

S

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7-14 knots

7-14 knots

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

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 3-6 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots E at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots

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

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

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

PAGE 8, Wednesday, August 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

WEST Indies Shai Hope celebrates after scoring the winning runs during day five of the second cricket Test match between England and West Indies at Headingley yesterday.

West Indies chases down 322 in remarkable win over England LEEDS, England (AP) — West Indies chased down 322 on the final day for a remarkable victory against all expectations in the second test against England yesterday.

Shai Hope carried West Indies home at Headingley with a personal milestone as he became the first man in more than 500 first-class games at the Leeds ground to make a century in both innings.

He was 118 not out in the second innings as West Indies made 322-5, winning by five wickets at the very end of the final session of the match when all three results were still possible.

Jermaine Blackwood helped Hope take the team to victory with a breezy 41 off 45 balls and opener Kraigg Brathwaite did much of the tough early work against the new ball for his 95.

West Indies last won a test in England 17 years ago, but more than just ending that dire run in England,

this was one of the team’s most memorable triumphs anywhere.

It was an astonishing turnaround after West Indies lost the first test by an innings and 209 runs inside three days.

In that humiliation at Edgbaston, the tourists lost 19 wickets in a day and weren’t given a hope at Headingley.

Yesterday, the West Indians got 317 of the 322 runs they needed on the final day. They also made the second-highest fourthinnings total ever at Headingley to win a test.

Illustrating the scale of the achievement, only Don Bradman’s Australia team in 1948 — a team known as ‘The Invincibles’ — have made more runs in the fourth innings to win a test in Leeds.

The victory levelled the West Indies’ three-match series against England at 1-1, with a huge boost for a West Indian team desperate for some good news.

WEST Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite edges a catch to England’s Ben Stokes.

(Nigel French/PA via AP)

Villa starting from scratch in return to Spain national team

By TALES AZZONI Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Forget about his past success with Spain’s national team.

David Villa knows he will have to prove himself again.

Three years after his last match with Spain, the veteran striker was the surprise name in the list of players called up by coach Julen Lopetegui for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Italy on Saturday.

The 35-year-old New York City FC striker, who played for Spain in the last three World Cups, said it feels like he is starting from scratch.

“It’s been three years since I’ve been here, so I have to earn the right to play again,” Villa said yesterday.

“What happened in the past doesn’t mean anything right now. Hopefully I’ll train well this week and the coach can see that I’m able to help.”

Spain hosts Italy in Madrid in one of the mostanticipated games in European qualifying, with the winner moving into good position to secure a spot in next year’s World Cup in

MLS All-Stars’ David Villa reacts during the MLS All-Star Game against Real Madrid in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Nam Y Huh) Russia. Both teams have been neck-to-neck so far, with five wins each in addition to the draw between them in Turin last year.

Only the group winner will automatically qualify.

Spain plays at Liechtenstein next Tuesday.

Villa’s last game with Spain was at the 2014 World Cup, when the team

was eliminated after disappointing performances in the group stage.

“My role is the same as before,” Villa said. “I’m here to add. I’m just another player in the squad and I’ll be giving everything I have to try to help the team defeat Italy. I’ll do whatever is asked of me on and off the field. I want to help any

way possible. It’s been fantastic to be here. It won’t be a disappointment if I don’t get to play.”

Villa said he never officially retired from Spain following the 2014 World Cup, as many believed. He said that he was misinterpreted when he said that it would be hard to play again for the national team after

moving to Major League Soccer, where he wouldn’t be playing for eight months every year.

He said he always tried to keep “reinventing himself” while in the United States, where he plays only 30-40 games a season instead of the 60-70 that he used to play in Europe.

“I’ve always said that I remained hopeful of returning,” Villa said at Spain’s training centre in Madrid. “But I was realistic and I knew that it would be difficult considering all the quality forwards that were available to play for Spain.”

Villa, who has 97 international appearances and is Spain’s all-time record scorer with 59 goals, was called up by Lopetegui thanks in part to the absence of Diego Costa, who is without a club after leaving Chelsea.

“He is an example of how you should never lose hope,” Spain defender Marc Bartra said of Villa.

“He gave a lot to the national team in the past and we were lucky to watch him play. He is playing well again and what matters now is the present.

And here we are, enjoying watching him again.”

EDEN HAZARD (AP)

EDEN HAZARD JOINED BY YOUNGER BROTHER KYLIAN AT CHELSEA LONDON (AP) — Eden Hazard will be joined at Premier League champion Chelsea by his younger brother Kylian.

The London club says the 22-year-old Kylian Hazard signed yesterday for the development squad, making it unlikely the attacking midfielder will play alongside Eden imminently in the senior Chelsea team.

Kylian Hazard, who began his career in Belgium, joined Chelsea from Hungarian club Ujpest.