11302017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

NFL

Picks, Page 3

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Hero World Challenge tees off today

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he 2017 Hero World Challenge tees off today with several compelling storylines to follow including the defending champion’s bid to repeat, the return of an icon and a beach themed wedding for one first-time participant.

The invitation-only event hosted at the Albany resort will feature an elite field of topranked golfers competing for a

T

$3.5 million prize purse. World No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama of Japan will aim to defend his title.

“It is one of my goals is to be invited to this tournament, and obviously to be able to win last year, it’s a great event and I’m glad I’m here,” he said.

“Last year I won this tournament, I really started playing really well, but my last win was in August and since then I haven’t been playing too well. Hopefully, I can turn that around this week and play well.”

Dustin Johnson, who has held the No. 1 position in the Official

World Golf Ranking since winning the Genesis Open in February, headlines a field that also includes three of 2017’s major championship winners. They are US Open winner Brooks Koepka, The Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who also won the PGA TOUR’s 2017 FedExCup title following the conclusion of the TOUR Championship on September 24.

“This week’s a pretty easy week for everybody. I think it’s an easy week for Tiger [Woods] as it is for anybody else versus other

weeks; not as many people, the golf course doesn’t beat you up, as challenging. But you can start to see it’s actually, I think, pretty important, these kind of end-ofthe-year tournaments to kind of set a precedent for next year,” Speith said.

Woods makes another muchanticipated return to the course following his rehabilitation from back surgery.

“My driver feels good, I feel like I’m hitting it well. You know, we were talking about it yesterday while we were out there playing that it’s kind of hard to hit the

irons the right number because a lot of balls are sitting down. The fairways are a little bit longer than normal because of the rain and obviously the hurricane certainly affected the density of it,” Woods said. “It’s been a very long time and I’m really looking forward to getting out there and playing with Justin [Thomas] and having a good time.”

Tommy Fleetwood enters the event with two international victories this season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the

SEE PAGE 2

Focus more on how long Tiger Woods lasts more than his score

TRAVIS MUNNINGS SCORES CAREER HIGH 31 POINTS

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — One year later, the scene hadn’t change.

Jordan Spieth paused on the 17th green and looked across the water to the adjacent fairway at Albany Golf Club as Tiger Woods hit his shot to the ninth green, just like he did last year at the Hero World Challenge.

Curiosity is just as high over another return from injury for Woods and how he will fare after a long layoff.

What’s different about the expectations for this comeback — his fifth since he first had back surgery in the spring of 2014 — is they are more about how long Woods will last than what kind of scores he posts.

“He seems more confident this year the way he’s walking and talking,” Spieth said yesterday in a whisper, having lost his voice to illness.

“He seemed more excited at the Presidents Cup before he was even swinging, more anxious.

And it seemed to really bother him that he was following doctor’s orders, like he really wanted to get going. So once he was given the go, I think it was exciting for him.

“So we’re all very interested, as we should be, in

SEE PAGE 2

TIGER Woods tries to drive the 7th green yesterday during the pro-am for the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas. Woods is playing for the first time since back surgery in April.

(AP Photo/Doug Ferguson)

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TRAVIS Munnings was pegged as a Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team and his early season numbers have lived up to those expectations thus far.

The junior forward had a career game over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with a career high 31 points in a 104-46 victory for his Louisiana Munroe Warhawks over NAIA Division I Independent Rust College.

Munnings shot 14-18 from the field, including 3-4 from three-point range and also added nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The 58-point margin of victory was the third largest in school history.

“I thought this was a good comeback game after a very disappointing performance last week by our team against Northwestern State (76-61 loss),” ULM head coach Keith Richard said. “Obviously, the competition wasn’t as good today, but we didn’t need it to be to work on some things that were a problem for us last week. We needed to play with a sense

SEE PAGE 6

Saunders to part ways with Florida State Seminoles

Pages 4 & 5

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING a disappointing season for the entire Florida State Seminoles football programme, Mavin Saunders announced his intention to transfer to another school for his final year of eligibility.

Saunders made the announcement via Twitter on Monday and effectively ended his tenure with the programme.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank coach Fisher and his coaching staff for giving me a

chance to play at such The 6’6”, 258-pound a great university. I tight end finished his truly enjoyed my time sophomore season here in Tallahassee,” with 10 receptions for he said“After much 182 yards - both career thought I have decided highs. As a redshirt to transfer and play freshman he totalled six my final season of elireceptions for 52 yards. gibility. I appreciate all Saunders rose to the support over the prominence in the Tallast three and-a-half lahassee community years. I will always be a for his work off the SAUNDERS Seminole.” field. Andwas one of Saunders has not recorded a 11 players named to the Allstate reception thus far in his junior American Football Coaches season and his Seminole stats for Association Good Works Team. his career include 16 receptions Saunders was nominated for for 234 yards. the honour in July based on his

contributions to the surrounding community in Tallahassee, Florida, as a volunteer mentor at Riley Elementary School.

He was also named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honour Roll.

According to a release issued by the organisation: “The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognises incredible stories of selflessness and community service and honours their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others. “The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be

SEE PAGE 6

PAGE 2, Thursday, November 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Focus more on how long Tiger lasts more than his score FROM PAGE 1 how it goes for him this week — and obviously, hoping that’s the start.”

The start of his latest comeback is today against an 18-man field that features eight of the top nine players in the world. It’s the first time every shot counts for Woods since a 77 in the Dubai Desert Classic on Feb 3.

That was his seventh round in his return. He withdrew the next day, citing back spasms, and had a fourth back surgery in April to fuse two disks in his lower back. Woods reports some stiffness and not as much range in motion. But he says he has no pain.

The hype about this return has been fueled by friendly rounds over the last few weeks.

Justin Thomas, the PGA Tour player of the year who will be paired with Woods today, said fans will be “shocked at how good his game looks.” Rickie Fowler made a casual reference to how far Woods was driving

HERO WORLD FROM PAGE 1

the HNA Open de France. In addition to qualifying for the event, an added bonus to the weekend’s activities is his plans to marry his fiancé Clare Craig.

“So we talked about when we knew that I could get into the tournament

it past him. Brad Faxon, who played with Woods and Dustin Johnson last Friday in a round with President Donald Trump, said Woods looked at ease and held nothing back in his swing, especially with the driver.

Woods had to keep score in his pro-am round yesterday, and that included a 2 on the 350-yard seventh hole when he drove the green with a breeze at his back and holed a 20-foot putt for eagle.

The tournament is unofficial, though it offers world ranking points. Woods is at No. 1,199 in the world, and even if he finishes last, he’ll move up more than 200 spots into the top 1,000.

That still seems odd for a guy who spent 683 weeks at No. 1 in the world.

What enthuses Woods is playing again.

“It’s been a very long time, and I’m really looking forward to getting out there and playing with Justin and having a good time,” Woods said.

After that, it will be time to reassess. “I just really

before like the final deadline had been in, we sort of said -- me and Clare said that if we got into the tournament, it would be a great place to get married. So I’m actually getting married on Tuesday here, so missing the tournament wasn’t really an option,” he said. “[We’re getting married] On the beach. Actually, I think she’s deciding that

JORDAN Spieth tees off on the 17th hole during the pro-am for the Hero World Challenge yesterday. Spieth is among the new generation that Tiger Woods now has to try to beat.

(AP Photos/Doug Ferguson)

JUSTIN Thomas hits along the 12th hole during the pro-am for the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at the Albany Golf Club. The PGA Tour Player of the Year is playing the first round of the Hero World Challenge with Tiger Woods.

want to be able to complete this week, play all four days and give myself a chance on that back nine on Sunday to win this thing,” said Woods, whose last victory was more than four years ago at Firestone in the Bridgestone Invitational.

He lasted only three starts when he came back from his first back surgery in the summer of 2014.

He lasted two starts after he returned at the end of

2014, and then after playing all four majors in 2015, he had a pair of back surgeries. And when he returned from those last year in the Bahamas, he lasted only three events. “My physio was certainly working overtime last year after every day and even in the morning, trying to get me ready to go,” Woods said.

Woods said the reason his comeback last year was over so quickly was due

primarily to the rough at Torrey Pines and not realising his disk was in bad shape. He said the deceleration in his swing when he hit out of the rough made the injury worse. That’s why there’s so much emphasis on his health. He looks built to last, or at least last a little longer. And this is the ideal spot for Woods to return. There is no cut.

Woods is guaranteed four rounds. Interest is high.

Pressure is not. “I think it’s an easy week for Tiger as it is for anybody else versus other weeks — not as many people, the golf course doesn’t beat you up,” Spieth said.

“But you can start to see it’s actually, I think, pretty important, these end-ofthe-year tournaments to kind of set a precedent for next year.”

That especially holds true for Woods.

today. She was looking at like two or three different options again. Again, so that’s not really my choice but I will be there. Wherever she tells me to be, I will be there.”

It will be Fleetwood’s first year competing at the event.

“I hadn’t really thought about it at all. I hadn’t considered it because I didn’t

really know I was in line for it. So yeah, it’s just great,” he said. “Great to get into the event, it’s a great way to end the year. For me it’s the last tournament I’ll play this year. But yeah, it’s always kind of a nice little thing to have in mind as a goal just watching that world ranking knowing that I could end up in the event and get to Albany. Great to be here.”

The Tiger Woods Foundation is the event’s primary charitable beneficiary, along with the Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation.

Live television coverage of the Hero World Challenge will be provided

by Golf Channel during all four rounds and by NBC during the third and fourth rounds. Good-anyday grounds tickets and a

limited number of premium hospitality packages for the Hero World Challenge are available for purchase at HeroWorldChallenge.com .

Tommy Fleetwood – Southport, England

11:54 AM Henrik Stenson – Gothenburg, Sweden Alex Noren – Stockholm, Sweden

12:05 PM Justin Thomas – Louisville, KY Tiger Woods – Jupiter, FL

12:16PM - Dustin Johnson – Jupiter, FL Brooks Koepka – West Palm Beach, FL

12:27 PM Kevin Kisner – Aiken, SC Rickie Fowler – Murrieta, CA

12:38 PM Matt Kuchar – Sea Island, GA Jordan Spieth – Dallas, TX

BAHAMAS CHESS FEDERATION EXECUTIVES

donate chess sets to Univerisity of Bahamas Chess Club. (l-r) Mr. Patrick Abaga (UB), Mr. Valentine Cox (Chess Federation), Mr. Darvin Toussaint (UB) Ms. Rusha Butler (UB), Dr. Eslyn Jones (UB), Ms. Christalle Demeritte (UB), Mr. Freeman Davis (Chess Federation), Mrs. Randaneisha Hanna (UB)

Day One Tee Times 11:10AM - Hideki Matsuyama – Sendai, Japan Francesco Molinari – Turin, Italy 11:21AM - Charley Hoffman – Rancho Santa Fe, CA Kevin Chappell – Fresno, CA

11:32AM Patrick Reed – Houston, TX Daniel Berger – Jupiter, FL 11:43AM - Justin Rose – London, England

DECEMBER 22, 2017 | 12:30 P.M. ET - THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM

2017 BAHAMAS BOWL MATCHUP VS.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! AT THE THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM BOX OFFICE OR ONLINE AT NSA-BAHAMAS.COM

UAB BLAZERS

OHIO BOBCATS

[ 8-4 ]

[ 8-4 ]

For more info, contact the Stadium Box Office at 325-0376

ABOUT THE UAB BLAZERS

ABOUT THE OHIO BOBCATS

The Blazers, under head coach Bill Clark, come into the Bahamas Bowl with six victories in their last eight games to finish second in Conference USA’s West Division. UAB won all six home games, and the six C-USA victories were also the most in the Blazers’ history. The Blazers average 29.6 points per game, and UAB has scored 30 or more points six times. UAB averaged 190.2 rushing yards per game, led by true freshman running back Spencer Brown, who broke the school record for freshman rushing yards with 1,292.

Redshirt junior quarterback A.J. Erdely tied a school record with 13 rushing touchdowns, which is also the most by a Blazer QB, and he has accounted for 29 touchdowns (13 rushing, 16 passing).

The Bobcats, under head coach Frank Solich, come into the Bahamas Bowl with four victories in the last six games as Ohio finished second in the MAC East Division. The Bobcats average 38.9 points per game and set a school record with 467 points scored, and Ohio has scored 40 or more points in six games. Ohio has averaged 244.2 rushing yards per game behind redshirt junior running back A.J. Ouellette (980 yards) and sophomore quarterback Nathan Rourke (882 yards). Rourke has five 100-yard rushing games, and Ouellette has four 100-yard efforts. Rourke holds the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 21 (second in FBS), and his 37 total touchdowns responsible for is one away from tying the Ohio season record.

He also has thrown for 2,018 passing yards and 15 TDs.

UAB has been strong on defense, especially in stopping runners behind the line of scrimmage. The Blazers have 81 tackles for loss and have posted four or more in each game this season. UAB has 14 interceptions, including 10 in the last seven games, and have posted five multi-interception games.

Redshirt senior cornerback Darious Williams has five interceptions and is second in FBS in passes defensed with 20 (1.7 per game). Redshirt senior linebacker Tevin Crews led the team with 95 tackles, and redshirt junior defensive lineman Stacy Keely led the Blazers with four sacks.

On defense, the Bobcats have held opponents to 25.8 points per game. Ohio has been strong against the run as the Bobcats’ opponents have averaged only 111.4 yards per game. Redshirt senior linebacker Quentin Poling leads the team with 102 tackles, including 47 solo stops, 12.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He also leads the team with 5.5 sacks, part of the Bobcats’ 28 overall. Redshirt senior linebacker Chad Moore paces the Bobcats with three interceptions. Redshirt senior cornerback Bradd Ellis has 18 pass breakups, which ties the school record and ranks in the top three in FBS in the category.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 30, 2017, PAGE 3

Tonight, Eagles watch Washington-Dallas game with eagerness

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer

WHAT once looked like a showdown in the NFC East now is a matter of survival for Dallas and Washington.

A Redskins victory or tie clinches the division for what has been the league’s team of the year, the Eagles.

Yes, not even into December and folks in Philly could be celebrating — even if that means rooting for the despised team from the nation’s capital.

Dallas still is without suspended running back Zeke Elliott, and the offence has stagnated in his absence.

The Cowboys really need a healthy Sean Lee at linebacker, too.

Yes, with suspensions and injuries, these teams barely resemble how they began the schedule.

“Sometimes we have to trust it,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins says of playing while surrounded by fill-ins.

“We have to go and just play and believe that, however new this player is, he’s got to make the play and he’s got a jersey and a number, and he can do it,” he said.

Dallas, ranked 18th in the AP Pro32, is a onepoint favourite over No. 17 Washington.

All those missing players for the visitors make them impossible to select.

COWBOYS, 24-20 KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIP Time to go back to the Cleveland’s opponent theory. That would be the CHARGERS this week.

No. 23 Houston (plus 7 1-2) at No. 11 Tennessee Too many points to give Texans, who could spring surprise.

BEST BET: TITANS, 22-17 No. 12 Detroit (plus 3) at No. 14 Baltimore Lions keep wild-card hopes going, hurt Baltimore’s chances.

UPSET SPECIAL: LIONS, 23-13 No. 7 Carolina (plus 4) at No. 6 New Orleans Looked at this for upset special.

PANTHERS, 31-30 No. 32 Cleveland (plus 13 1-2) at No. 13 Los Angeles Chargers Didn’t even remotely consider this for upset.

CHARGERS, 30-6

No. 1 Philadelphia (minus 5 1-2) at No. 9 Seattle It must be a special year for Eagles if they are favored so strongly at Seattle.

SEAHAWKS, 21-20 No. 3 (tie) Minnesota (plus 3) at No. 8 Atlanta Another terrific matchup for Week 13.

FALCONS, 21-17 No. 2 New England (minus 8) at No. 16 Buffalo Patriots closing in on another AFC East crown even with Brady taking physical beatings.

PATRIOTS, 27-16 No. 20 Cincinnati (plus 5 1-2) at No. 3 (tie) Pittsburgh, Monday night Steelers aren’t blowing out anyone right now.

STEELERS, 23-20 No. 27 Denver (pick-em) at No. 16 Miami Shield your eyes for this one — and not from the Florida sun.

DOLPHINS, 17-15

DALLAS Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) shakes hands with fans as he walks into the team’s clubhouse after a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Arlington, Texas, last week Thursday. Prescott and the Cowboys have already lost all realistic hope of defending their NFC East title. A loss to Washington tonight would officially hand the crown to Philadelphia with a month to go.

(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

No. 28 Indianapolis (plus 9 1-2) at No. 10 Jacksonville After last week’s stumble, Jaguars will have mean edge vs. Indy.

JAGUARS, 30-19 No. 15 Kansas City (minus 3) at No. 24 New York Jets Really worried about Chiefs, but they squeeze by here.

CHIEFS, 20-16 No. 21 (tie) Arizona (plus 7) at No. 5 Los Angeles Rams Breather in difficult stretch for NFC West leaders.

RAMS, 32-16 No. 30 New York Giants (plus 5 1-2) at No. 19 Oakland Long trip for Giants to get whipped, though Raiders are undermanned, too.

RAIDERS, 24-14 No. 31 San Francisco (plus 4 1-2) at No. 29 Chicago Joe Cool vs. Monsters of Midway? Not quite.

BEARS, 16-13 No. 25 Tampa Bay (OFF) at No. 21 Green Bay Packers could have won at Pittsburgh, will do so here.

PACKERS, 16-13

Week 13: NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKS SEASON STANDINGS • Here’s how we look going into Week 13: POSITION

LAST WEEK

SEASON

1. Clint J

14-2

115-60

2. Naughty 12-4 114-61 3. Santxo Z

13-3

113-62

3. Leo B

14-2

113-62

4. AP 14-2 110-65 5. Stevie J

13-3

102-73

NAUGHTY Thursday COWBOYS Sunday JAGS BEARS PACKERS TITANS PATRIOTS VIKINGS CHIEFS RAVENS DOLPHINS CHARGERS RAIDERS SAINTS RAMS EAGLES STEELERS

LEO B *REDSKINS VIKINGS PATS 49ERS PACKERS TITANS FINS JETS JAGZ LIONS CHARGERS RAIDERS SAINTS RAMS EAGLES STEELERS* SANTXO Z REDSKINS JAGS BEARS PACKERS TITANS PATRIOTS FALCONS CHIEFS RAVENS DOLPHINS CHARGERS RAIDERS

SAINTS RAMS EAGLES STEELERS STEVIE J Washington Minnesota Detroit New England San Francisco Green Bay Packers Jacksonville Jaguars Denver New York Jets Tennessee Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Carolina New York Giants Philadelphia Pittsburgh

SAN Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo prepares to make his first start for San Francisco (1-10) Sunday in Chicago. (AP)

PAGE 4, Thursday, November 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

ON THE REPLAY: Team Bahamas began the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers against one of the highest ranked teams in the region. However, the island nation was overwhelmed by a stacked Canadian team on the road. The Bahamas lost 93-69 to Team Canada at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on November 24.

Photos: 10thYearSeniors

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 30, 2017, PAGE 5

PLAYBACK: Team Bahamas finds itself in a 0-2 hole of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers after they dropped their second consecutive game of the first home-away series. The visiting US Virgin Islands got the better of the Bahamas in the rivalry once again with their 93-85 win at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on November 27.

Photos: FIBA.basketball

PAGE 6, Thursday, November 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

TRAVIS MUNNINGS SCORES CAREER HIGH 31 POINTS FROM PAGE 1 urgency, play harder and play more aggressively. We also wanted to play with a bigger lineup and we did a little bit of that today as well.”

Through six games this season, Munnings is averaging 15.3 points, six rebounds and two assists per outing. His offensive output has been more efficient, shooting 55 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from three-point range.

The Warhawks finished last in the Sun Belt a season ago, but Munnings’ development was a bright spot in a difficult season. He raised his scoring average by five points and became the go-to-player for ULM. As a freshman, the 6’6″ forward averaged 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds and increased those numbers to 13.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore, shooting 44 per cent from the field and 34 per cent from three. Munnings also showed more confidence in his three-point shot, after 15 made threes in his freshman season increased to 51 as a sophomore.

His rebounding numbers ranked third in the conference while his scoring numbers were 19th. Munnings led the Warhawks in scoring in 11 games and rebounding on 21 occasions. His 69 offensive rebounds also led the team. He also finished second on the team in 3-point field goals made (51), assists (67), steals (27) and minutes played (33.7 per game). He reached double figures in scoring in 26 games. Munnings closed out the regular season by scoring in double digits in 13-straight games and his previous career-high was 22 points at Little Rock. He also posted double-figure rebounds

in 10 games, including a career-high 13 boards on three occasions with seven double-doubles.

Munnings followed Sunday’s career best effort with 14 points and eight rebounds Tuesday night in a 65-52 win over Jackson. He shot 5-10 from the field and 3-5 from three point range.

“I’m really proud of my team, especially on the defensive end of the floor,” ULM head coach Richard said. “Defence and rebounding were points of emphasis for us heading into this game, and our guys responded to the challenge. I really felt like we played solid defence the whole game. I thought our guys played really hard and really tough too. We were worried about Jackson State’s offensive rebounding, so we played our bigger, stronger guys longer minutes. Our guys played with great effort the entire game.”

ULM returns to action on Saturday, December 2 at Stephen F Austin, with tipoff set for 3:30pm at WRJ Coliseum in Nacogdoches, Texas.

A school-record 16 home games highlight the ULM men’s basketball schedule this season.

The schedule features 11 games against opponents that appeared in the 2017 postseason, including three NCAA Tournament. In total, ULM will play 15 games against opponents that won 20 or more games last season.

“We’re still trying to figure out our playing rotation,” Richard said.

“We’re still searching for an identity, but that’s what the non-conference schedule is for. You learn a lot about your team during November and December, and hopefully, you win some games along the way.

Bulls’ Niko Mirotic accepts Portis apology over fight

By DAN HAYE S As soc iated pres s CHICAGO (AP) — Niko Mirotic accepted Bobby Portis’ apology yesterday, six weeks after their ugly altercation at practice led to a hospitalisation and a suspension.

Things remain awkward for the Chicago Bulls.

A day after he sat on the bench for the first time all season, Mirotic finally spoke publicly about the October 17 incident that left him hospitalised with two facial fractures and a concussion.

Portis served an eight-game suspension and Mirotic didn’t return to practice until Monday.

Mirotic, who has a no-trade clause, declined to comment when asked if he had requested a trade from the Bulls.

The two players were seen giving each other a fist bump during Tuesday night’s 104-99 home loss to Phoenix, but Mirotic suggested the interaction between the two players has been limited.

“Right now, we are on the same team and we are working to make it work,” Mirotic said.

“The only thing I can tell you.

I was always a good teammate so I was professional with everybody and I’ll continue to do that. If I’m here, it’s because I want to support the team. He’s a part of the team and I’m going to support him, too. Obviously, I’m going to give him hands like he’d give me hands, too.”

BULLS forward Nikola Mirotic (left) and Chicago’s Bobby Portis. (AP) Portis issued a public apology shortly after he received his suspension and acknowledged he would be open to the two working together.

“I’d welcome him in with open arms,” Portis said on November 13, the same day Mirotic started working out again with the team.

Mirotic said he had yet to inform Portis he had accepted his apology.

“You know, we are teammates,” Mirotic said. “On the same team. Fighting for the same team and we’re both going to do what we need to do to make it work. Yeah, I accept it. “I’m comfortable being on the team. I’ve had a lot of support from my teammates, from everybody. Right now, it’s on me to relax and enjoy playing basketball again.”

Coach Fred Hoiberg said Mirotic’s actions Wednesday were critical to helping the team get back on track.

The Bulls (3-16) have lost six straight games.

“I do think that’s an important first step,” Hoiberg said.

“Obviously, the first thing was getting back on the floor after the incident, to start getting himself back in shape. The next thing was to get back with the group, which he’s done here the past few days.

“It’s good to have Niko back out on the floor with the guys and another important step talking about it for the first time and then continuing trying to move past it.”

Mirotic will remain in Chicago while the team travels to Denver for tonight’s game.

Hoiberg said the earliest Mirotic would return to action is Monday when the Bulls host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Though he acknowledged his return is much closer than before, Mirotic also said he wouldn’t get ahead of himself as he focuses on conditioning.

Saunders to part ways with Florida State Seminoles FROM PAGE 1 invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl, where the entire team will also be recognised on the field at halftime.

“In addition, Allstate will honour Good Works Team players by creating special volunteer events in select markets throughout the season in conjunction

with its All Hands In programme, which encourages the college football community to come together and do good.”

The Seminoles lost their starting quarterback Deondre Francois in the opening game of the season and have relied on true freshman quarterback James Blackman to fill the void. Ranked No.3 to begin the season, the Seminoles are currently 5-6.

They will conclude the regular season on December 2 against

Louisiana-Munroe in a game that was originally postponed due to Hurricane Irma.

Saunders committed to Florida State during his junior season with the Kinkaid Falcons in Houston, Texas. He chose the Seminoles over Arkansas, Houston, Illinois, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Utah.

“There were a lot of positives about it,” Saunders said.

“It’s close to home, and that was a major factor in my decisionmaking process.”

At Kinkaid, Saunders was rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Scout, and a three-start recruit by Rivals.

He was ranked the No.3 tight end in the country and No.23 player in Texas (No. 187 player overall) by 247Sports, was rated the No. 7 tight end and No. 45 player in Texas by ESPN, ranked the No. 14 tight end and No. 32

player in Texas by Rivals and Scout’s No. 9 tight end prospect.

As a junior, he had 40 catches for 590 yards and six touchdowns and in his senior season he caught 35 receptions for 468 yards and eight touchdowns.

Saunders joined the Frank Rutherford Foundation Programme in Houston in 2009 as a basketball recruit and played the sport until his junior season when he made the transition to the gridiron.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, November 30, 2017, PAGE 7

Bottas has Hamilton in a spin at season-ending Abu Dhabi GP

By JEROME PUGMIRE Associated Press ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Performing celebratory spins around the track was about as emotional as it got for Valtteri Bottas, after he beat his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to win the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton joined the straight-faced Finnish driver in performing spins — known in Formula One as donuts — having already sealed his fourth world title before the season’s finale. The race offered little excitement, but there wasn’t much to fight over as the serious stuff had already been pretty much decided.

Sebastian Vettel joined them on the podium, finishing third — and second overall — in an anti-climax to a season that had promised so much for Ferrari as it hoped to win its first drivers’ title since 2007. As the three drivers soaked

each other with celebratory bottles on the podium, Hamilton used his to douse Vettel as the German driver tried to turn and protect himself. It seemed a triumphant and fitting image, victor over vanquished.

Vettel was already thinking of drowning his sorrows, perhaps understandably considering how his title challenge collapsed spectacularly following the summer break.

Starting from pole position for the second straight race Bottas secured the third win of his career — all since joining from Williams.

His 22nd career podium was his 13th with Mercedes.

Bottas placed third overall, 12 points behind Vettel and 58 behind Hamilton.

“Hopefully better next year,” Bottas said.

He has only been given a one-year extension to his Mercedes contract, having joined this year as an emergency replacement for 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg.

Having sealed the title, Hamilton had no need

Vettel’s fading hopes. The German driver’s challenge evaporated in the Asian heat between September and October.

Perfectly poised to regain the championship lead, he crashed out of the Singapore GP from pole position.

“It’s a bit different if you finish the race rather than if you don’t finish the first lap,” Vettel said with evident sarcasm.

Then, plagued by reliability issues unbefitting a team of Ferrari’s stature, he started last and finished fourth at the Malaysian GP. Bad luck struck again when he qualified third before retiring from the Japanese GP. “Mercedes has been more consistent,” Vettel said generously. “It’s a straight fight and they just did better.”

Continuing the sportsmanlike mood, Hamilton added: “Looking forward to another battle next year.”

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished the race in fifth while teammate Daniel Ricciardo retired, dropping

MERCEDES driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, spins his car after the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Luca Bruno) to chase Bottas too hard.

The 32-year-old British driver finished four seconds behind and did not get close enough to attack on a track he called among the worst for overtaking in F1.

“Never going to overtake unless he makes a massive mistake,” Hamilton said.

The race started at 5pm local time with the sun setting on the desert setting of the Yas Marina circuit and finished under floodlights.

Vettel, who won the last race in Brazil, finished about 20 seconds behind Bottas. “After three or four laps, I just couldn’t go any faster,” Vettel said.

Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen — the 2007 F1 champion — was fourth and also moved up to fourth in the standings.

Hamilton clinched the title — his third with Mercedes — in Mexico two races ago when he ended

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

ORLANDO

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 58° F/14° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly cloudy, a shower; breezy

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

High: 84°

Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 82° Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

87° F

67° F

87°-68° F

86°-70° F

85°-70° F

84°-71° 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: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

8-16 knots

S

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TODAY

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

7-14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° 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

4:26 a.m.

4:41 p.m.

3.0 2.7

10:46 a.m. 0.1 10:56 p.m. -0.3

Friday

5:17 a.m.

5:33 p.m.

3.2 2.8

11:41 a.m. -0.1 11:45 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

6:08 a.m.

6:26 p.m.

3.5 2.8

12:34 p.m. -0.4 ---------

Sunday

6:58 a.m.

7:18 p.m.

3.6 2.9

12:35 a.m. -0.8 1:26 p.m. -0.6

Monday

7:49 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

3.7 2.9

1:26 a.m. -0.9 2:18 p.m. -0.7

Tuesday

8:41 a.m.

9:05 p.m.

3.7 2.8

2:18 a.m. -0.9 3:11 p.m. -0.7

Wednesday 9:35 a.m.

10:01 p.m.

3.6 2.8

3:12 a.m. -0.8 4:05 p.m. -0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:37 a.m.

5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:15 p.m.

3:10 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Dec. 3

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

8-16 knots

S

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

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 71° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 69° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 82° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 3.39” Year to date ............................................... 38.60” Normal year to date ................................... 38.37”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

to fifth in the standings.

The other wins for Bottas this season came in Russia and in Austria — also from pole. Hamilton won nine races this year — having won 10 during the past two seasons and a career-best 11 in 2014. The lower total is due to Ferrari’s marked improvement this year.

“I don’t think it’s a shame to come second in the way that we did,” Vettel said.

“But it’s not what we want.”

Bottas made a clean start while Hamilton held off Vettel, who locked his left front tire angling into the first corner.

Vettel was the first of the trio to pit for new tires.

Bottas did one lap later, leaving Hamilton briefly in front.

At much the same time, Ricciardo retired, leaving his stranded Red Bull on a patch of grass as he hitched a lift on the back of a scooter. It was the third time in four races — and sixth this year — that the Australian driver has failed to finish. He is weighing up his Red Bull future.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

6-12 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: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots N at 7-14 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NW at 8-16 Knots NW at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots N at 7-14 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots N at 8-16 Knots N at 8-16 Knots NW at 6-12 Knots NNE at 7-14 Knots SW at 8-16 Knots W at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NW at 6-12 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 81° F 80° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 80° F 80° F

PAGE 8, Thursday, November 30, 2017

THE TRIBUNE