12062016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

Falcons fly high to get past the Blue Waves JORDAN PRINCE WILLIAMS SENIOR BOYS EARN 68-52 VICTORY OVER ST ANNE’S By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ordan Prince Williams Falcons showed St Anne’s Blue Waves why they are the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) senior boys defending basketball champions. Yesterday, the Falcons flew into the Blue Waves territory and used their high-flying attack to pull off a 68-52 victory to remain undefeated at 4-0. With the loss, the Blue Waves dropped to 3-2. Although he came off the bench with the rest of the starters in the second quarter, Adam Johnson was a game changer on both ends of the court as he finished with 13 points, including a couple of slam dunks. Frantwion Newton, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, led Jordan Prince Williams’ attack with 14 points. Sherman Martin contributed 11 and both Wilfred Ferguson and Koy Martin, who had three three-pointers, helped out with nine each.

ABOVE THE RIM: Adam Johnson’s two-handed dunk lifted the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons - the defending BAISS champions - for the win against the St Anne’s Blue Waves yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune “I was just trying to see what they were going to throw at us,” said Jordan Prince Williams’ coach Ernest Saunders. “I expected more. They are a good team and they put up a fight.” Up 21-19 midway in the second quarter, Saunders brought in his starters and they “outhustled” the

Blue Waves on a 7-3 spurt, which was sparked by Adam Johnson’s two-handed dunk, to go up 28-22 at the half and they never looked back. “We still have a little more work to do on the defensive and offensive ends and we will be where we need to be,” Saunders said. “When I go back and look at the

video, I will see where and what we need to work on and hopefully we will sort it out.” For St Anne’s, Ashton Knowles, who had a strong start with eight points in the first quarter, paced the Blue Waves with a game high

NAUGHTY

My Cowboys, Pg 3

STANDING OVATION FOR BUDDY HIELD IN OKLAHOMA By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net IT is not often that you see a home crowd give a standing ovation to an opposing player, but that is exactly the reception Buddy Hield received when he returned to Oklahoma as a professional. Hield recovered from his recent struggles and scored 16 points in 15 minutes of his New Orleans Pelicans’ 101-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Sunday night. It was one of Hield’s most efficient performances of his rookie season thus far as he shot 50 per cent from the field (6-12), 57 per cent from the three-point line (4-7) and added four rebounds. Hield returned to the friendly confines of a state where he starred at the University of Oklahoma for four years and won virtually every award imaginable, including the Naismith, Wooden and Oscar Robertson awards.

SEE PAGE 5

BAHAMAS BOWL ADDS ANOTHER Call on corporate Bahamas to sponsor sloops CHAPTER TO BUDDING RIVALRY SEE PAGE 2

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the local sailing sloops getting a big boost over the weekend with the successful staging of the first Best-of-the-Best Regatta in Montagu Bay, one local sailing enthusiast is calling on corporate Bahamas to get more involved in sponsoring the boats to make the sport more viable for the owners and sailors. While the newly formed telephone company Aliv came on board just in time to sponsor the Thunderbird for the regatta, James Wallace said he’s hoping that others will reach out to the sailing community to get involved as the sport continues to grow. “Sloop sailing in the Bahamas has been sponsored by a number of individuals for a number of years,” he said. “But the sport is growing to the level where corporate Bahamas needs to fully participate and get involved by getting value for their money by advertising on these sloops while they are racing. “They go from island to island doing these Family Island regattas and homecomings, so it is a great opportunity for corporate Bahamas to get involved by putting their logos on sails and boats and help to enhance and keep the sport going.” Depending on the level of involvement they want to commit

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

costly it is to maintain the boats, he said if a sail on an A class is broken, the boat owner will have to find at least $3,000 to replace it, if they can’t get it repaired. The B class would be around $2,500, while the C class expense could be about $1,500. That only depends on the size of the sail, which varies according to what the boat owner or skipper wants to use

THE 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will add another chapter to the budding rivalry between the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Eastern Michigan Eagles. When the teams meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 1pm on December 23, it will be their third meeting in three years. Old Dominion has the edge in the head-to-head matchup thus far. In 2014 they scored a 17-3 victory, followed by a 38-34 win last season. Monarchs’ head coach Bobby Wilder said that despite his teams two wins, the nature of each game dictates the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl is in for yet another thrilling finish. “We have had two very competitive, hard fought, clean competitive football games against them. Both

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 5

ALIV came on board just in time to sponsor the Thunderbird for the Best-of-the-Best Regatta in Montagu Bay. Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS to, he said they can purchase the sail and have their logo designed on it, or they can put a sticker on the hull of the boat. In making that kind of contribution, he said they will in turn assist the boat owners, who have to provide a stipend for their crew members whenever they travel to compete. Wallace said it’s a costly venture for the boat owners, who spend roughly $100,000 to build an A class boat, $60,000 for a B class

and about 25-30,000 for a C class. “To maintain these boats, you have to spend about $20,000 a year for an A class boat,” he said. “These are actually wooden hulls that they build, prepared and paint to make them look like a metal finish. They do a fantastic job, but it’s certainly a dedication and love of the sport for the boat owners as to why they invest so much money into it.” Just to give you an idea of how

PAGE 2, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

ON THE REPLAY: The Jordan Prince Williams Falcons - the defending BAISS champions - defeated the St Anne’s Blue Waves yesterday. Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

JORDAN PRINCE WILLIAMS SENIOR BOYS EARN 68-52 VICTORY OVER ST ANNE’S FROM PAGE 1

17 points. Derryn Johnson had 11, Clayton Miller seven, Michael Wallace five and both Aaron Jordan and Malik Newbold added four each. “I think we went away from what was working for us,” said St Anne’s first year coach Paul. “We didn’t press as much as we should have until the fourth quarter and that got us back into the game. “But if we had stuck with what was working for us in the past few games, it would have been a totally different game. Our defence was our biggest problem. We didn’t play defence like we are capable of doing and it cost us.”

Paul said they just simply have to “practice” and in their next game, they will be back. “They are the defending champions,” he said. “We needed to play a team like that so that we can really see where we are and what we need to work on.” After falling behind 9-4 in the first quarter, the Falcons got a layup from Norton and a jumper from Wilfred Ferguson to trim the deficit to 9-8. A pair of free throws from Mateo Taylor pushed them ahead 10-9. That, however, was short lived as Ashton Knowles, who had five in the Blue Waves’ early run, completed a three-point play to put St

Anne’s back up top 12-10. With 20 seconds, Aaron Jordan canned a three-pointer to extend their lead to 15-10 at the end of the period. Wilfred Ferguson got two consecutive layups to bring the Falcons within one (15-14). But Duran Marshall missed an attempted dunk on a 2-on-1 play for St Anne’s. However, he got fouled and converted the pair of charity shots to push the Blue Waves to a 17-14 advantage. That was when coach Saunders went to the bench and started to insert his starters, starting with Adam Johnson. Koy Martin was the benefactor as he got open to hit his first three-pointer to tie the

score at 17. Once Adam Johnson got on the scoreboard with his jumper, the Falcons went up 21-19 and they went on to post the 28-22 lead at the half and they were never threatened. With the combination of Frantwion Newton, Koy Martin, Adam Johnson, the Falcons extended their lead to 28-19 and they held on a 28-22 lead at the half after Clayton Miller canned a buzzer beating three-pointer for the Bluewaves. In the third quarter, Jordan Prince Williams used a couple of spurts, the first to go up 38-25 and then 51-32 before they held on

for a 55-34 margin as Frantwion Newton and Sherman Martin got a dunk and a jumper respectively as they went on a full court press. St Anne’s lost Duran Marshall to five fouls early in the fourth as Frantwion Newton hit both free throws for a 57-35 lead. Back-toback layups from Adam Johnson and Newton extended their lead to 61-39. The Blue Waves managed to draw closer as Malik Newbold hit two free throws and Ashton Knowles canned a three-pointer for a 63-47 deficit. But the Falcons stayed ahead as they continued to press the ball to hold on for the win.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 3

My 11-1, playoff berth-clinching Cowboys ‘America’s Team’ again MY Dallas Cowboys, sorry my 11-1, playoff berth clinching Dallas Cowboys are ‘America’s Team’ again. And the uproarious debates around office water coolers starts now.... Whether you agree or disagree, the numbers don’t lie. America and the world, for that matter, love watching the Cowboys play. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys I make a living off of ‘ratings’ and know their importance. And, according to my friend and ‘brother in blue’ Cowboys.com beat writer David Helman, so does the NFL and network television. (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) At halftime of Sunday night’s game between Carolina and Seattle, NBC announced it will be flexing the December 18 meeting between Dallas and Tampa Bay into the night slot, replacing the matchup of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. That means three of the Cowboys’ final four regular season games will be seen by a national audience. They’re already slated for Sunday Night Football next weekend, as they’ll travel to New York to face the Giants in primetime. Their Week 16 matchup against Detroit is also slated for Monday Night Football. Adding the Tampa game to the equation, the Cowboys are now slated to play five nationally televised games in a row – dating back to the Thanksgiving Day game against Washington. They’re also now set to play six night games – which means their noon kickoff against Philadelphia in Week 17 can no longer be flexed. None of this is surprising,

SPORTING

MISCHIEF

& MAYHEM

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENIC

AZELAYA

given the type of ratings the Cowboys draw – especially in the middle of an 11-game winning streak. The Cowboys’ win against the Redskins on Thanksgiving was the highest-rated regular season game in Fox history. Their games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay were also among the highest-rated games of the season. It also doesn’t hurt that the Buccaneers are on a streak of their own, winning their last four games – including victories against playoff contenders Kansas City and Seattle. That makes for must-see TV, considering Tampa Bay has a chance to grab a playoff berth, while Dallas holds the opportunity to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. There you have it, the Cowboys are must see TV, with the ratings to prove it. It is further proof the Cowboys are once again ‘America’s Team’ and in short order the ‘Bahamas Team’. Yes, as usual the no conscience possessing ‘bandwagon jumpers’ are ditching their ‘Seahawks’ ‘Panthers’ and ‘Broncos’ paraphernalia, eagerly awaiting their new Cowboys gear to arrive at ‘X-Press It’ so they can jump on board and brag about their lifelong love and loyalty to the ‘Star’ at nauseam .... ‘real’ Cowboys fans brace yourselves and get your ‘barf bags’ ready, ‘dis ga be long!!

How ‘Bout Them Dolphins.... Not so much! Yes ‘Dolfans’ I’m laughing at you, again! I knew at some point your teams improbable six-game winning streak would come to an end. In fact, I knew it would be against the Ravens, that’s why I called it in my picks. The Dolphins were ripe for the picking. Their sixgame winning streak, as unexpected as it was, was also impressive. Winning six straight games in the NFL is noteworthy, it’s not as easy as it looks in today’s NFL. (Unless you’re the Dallas Cowboys). However, the record will also show it was against weaker opponents. Now after Sunday’s sobering defeat in Baltimore to the Ravens 38-6, the ‘Fins are at a crossroads, now out of the sixth playoff spot, sitting in seventh trying to get back in. I eagerly await ‘cold weather’ road games and heart-wrenching Dolphins losses, all while ‘DolFans’ explode in their usual rants, throwing the team and coaches that they’ve been praising for the last six weeks completely under the bus, all while blaming the schedule makers, the league and others of conspiring against them. Hurry up and get over it ‘Dolfans’ your team isn’t going to make the playoffs,

SAUNDERS AND SEMINOLES ACCEPT BID TO PLAY IN THE CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net FOR the second consecutive year, Mavin Saunders will appear in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. Saunders and his No.10 Florida State Seminoles accepted a bid to the Capital One Orange Bowl where they will face the No.6 Michigan Wolverines, 8pm December 30 in Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida. Last season, Saunders and the Seminoles suffered a 38-24 loss to fellow Bahamian Alex Cooper and the Houston Cougars in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. After an up and down 2016, the Seminoles finished the regular season on a strong note, placing them second in the ACC and in line for a New Year’s Six Bowl. The Seminoles have won four consecutive games including a regular season ending 31-13 win over instate rival, the No.15 Florida Gators. They finished the regular season at 9-3. “It’s going to be a great reward,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It’s two brand names across the country. It’s going to be great to play for the third time. Two brand name teams that don’t get to schedule very much, but it’s great that we get to meet in a big time bowl game. That’s what makes college football so great.” The Wolverines, led by Hiesman trophy candidate Jabril Peppers, were touted as a national championship contender for much of the season, but faltered within the last month. After a nine-game win streak to start the season, they stumbled late with losses in two of their last three games, including a

MAVIN SAUNDERS 14-13 loss to Iowa and 30-27 loss to Ohio State. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to play a football game against a great opponent on national television. I always remember everybody watching the Orange Bowl, most of the country. People who like football anyway, they’ll be tuned in,” Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “It’s a tremendous field, a tremendous place to play. I love the renovations they’ve done with the stadium, an incredible (job by Stephen) Ross down there. We know Florida State’s a fine team (as always), it’ll be a great atmosphere. The white pony and the spear ... everything about it. I think it’ll be a great matchup and we’ll be excited to practice and get better and get prepared and get ready for a football fight at the Orange Bowl.” Saunders, the redshirt sophomore tight end who appeared in eight games, had his best statistical finish of his career with 10 receptions for 182 yards. His numbers increased from his freshman season

when he finished with six catches for 52 yards. This season he had several career high outings as he become a greater part of the offence in two tight end sets alongside with follow sophomore Ryan Izzo. Saunders finished with three catches for 74 yards - both career highs - in the Seminoles’ 37-35 loss to the unranked North Carolina Tar Heels on October 1 in Doak Campball Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. He also finished with two catches for 44 yards in a 4514 win over the Syracuse Orange on November 19 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Earlier this season, Fisher said he expected the redshirt sophomore and Bimini native to become an even greater part of the game plan as FSU implements more double tight end sets. “Mavin is getting better and better. He’s really grinding, he’s getting better and better and doing better. He has a chance to be a really good player, he just needs to keep working,” he said.

COWBOYS quarterback Dak Prescott walks off the field after last Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. The Cowboys won 17-15. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) even though it looked like they would, that’s football though, from the ‘pent-

house’ to the ‘outhouse’ all in one day. Let the conspiracy theo-

rists and mud-slinging begin....you and your stink fish first ‘Dolfans’ !!!

PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 6, 2016

SUSAN CHASE crew members celebrate their win in the B Class.

THE RESULTS • HERE’S a look at how the boats finished in points for the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government’s inaugural Best of the Best Regatta in Montagu Bay over the weekend: A CLASS Boats Tida Wave Lady Muriel Original Courageous Red Stripe Running Tide

Race 1 1st 2nd 5th 3rd 4th

Race 2 1st 4th 2nd 3rd 5th

Race 3 3rd 1st 3rd 5th 4th

Total points 14 10 8 7 5

1st 3rd 2nd 4th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

1st 2nd DNF 3rd

12 8 5 4

1st 4th 2nd 8th

1st 2nd 5th 3rd

2nd 1st 6th 3rd

23 20 15 13

B CLASS New Susan Chase Ant’s Nest Queen Drucilla Barbarian C CLASS Sacrifice Whitty K Aliv Thunderbird Crazy Partner

Sunday’s Championship

THE TRIBUNE

TIDA WAVE leads the pack in the A Class race, sailing on for the win. Photos: Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services

Call on corporate Bahamas to sponsor sloops FROM PAGE 1 for a particular race. Although it was indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government provided the best cash prizes to the winners of the Best of the Best Regatta over the weekend, Wallace said it’s only a drop in the bucket when one considers the money that is spent to get the boats and the crews to the regatta to compete. “The boat owners and the sailing community need the support of corporate Bahamas to take on some of the responsibilities and they get return on their investment in the form of advertisement,” he said. Currently there are three sailing associations in New Providence and he urged corporate Bahamas to seek out any of them or even the Regatta Desk at the Ministry of Agriculture to find the particular boat they would like to assist.

Wallace, however, urged them to be very specific when making the contact and state exactly which boat they would like to support. “Even when the boats are racing in the regattas, they can come out and watch the races and make the contacts with the boat of their choice,” Wallace said. “So if someone is interested in making contact with any of the boats, they can come out to the King Eric Regatta in January and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Best of the Best Regatta that will now continue in December.” For those persons interested in knowing, the three local sailing associations in New Providence are the Nassau Sailing Association, headed by James as the commodore, the Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailors Association, headed by commodore Stafford Armbrister and the Commonwealth Sailors Association, headed by Gerard Moxey.

On all of the Family Islands, Wallace said there are associations that have been formed and if persons are interested, they can contact the Family Island administrators or visit the various islands to make their inquiries. “We are calling on corporate Bahamas to help us maintain a vibrant sport that has been with us for more than 65 years in the form of sloop sailing,” Wallace said. “Before that, it was the way that several Bahamian families were fed because they were work boats that people used to make their living to and from the islands.” While he made it clear that he’s not a boat owner, so as not to get people to believe that he’s making a pitch for himself, Wallace said he only sails on B class Ant’s Nest that is owned by Lee Armbrister; the A class Ed Sky, which is owned by Joseph Brown and the C Class Irene Good Night, which is owned by Louie Hart.

A CLASS 1. Running Tide 2. Lady Muriel 3. Original Courageous B CLASS 1. New Susan Chase 2. Ant’s Nest 3. Queen Drucilla C CLASS 1. Whitty K 2. Sacrifice 3. Aliv Thunderbird

ON THE HIGH SEAS: Sacrifice was the C Class winner in the inaugural Best-of-the-Best Regatta Photos: Patrick Hanna/ BIS

ONSHORE ACTIVITIES: Vendors and spectators enjoy the inaugural Best of the Best Regatta - four days of competition ended on Sunday night - on the Montagu Bay foreshore. Photos: Shawn Hanna/The Tribune

THE TRIBUNE

BUDDY

FROM PAGE 1 From the moment he checked in to the game, with 1:40 left to play in the second quarter, the crowd cheered as if they were there to see Hield and not their hometown Thunder. “It was crazy. That’s why I shot that air ball so early I was like ‘man these people love me out here’ I have so much respect for the people of Oklahoma. This is home for me. Every time I come back they embrace me well and I had a lot of jitters,” he said. “Like I said I shot that air ball early but I had to make it up to them. It was a good confidence booster for me and I really appreciate the fans down here for sure.” Hield brought his trademark heroics late in the game scoring 13 of his 16 in the fourth quarter as the Pelicans rallied. His pair of threes brought New Orleans within four (94-90) but the Thunder outscored them 7-2 to close the game out. Hield, the No.6 overall pick in June’s draft, has recently seen a decline in his minutes, including five games in the last 10 where he played less than 10 minutes. He was also shooting just 24 per cent from beyond the arch. On how much he needed

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 5 a performance like this to break out of his recent slump, Hield said: “Really bad. Just to go forward with my confidence to keep growing and seeing the ball go through the net like my regular self. I still have to turn the table and not to look back from here. The comfort level was good, [after that airball] I was thinking ‘man is this going to be like this the rest of the season’ but the people, the fans embraced me well, there’s just something about Oklahoma. Every time I come to Oklahoma I try to see as much as I can see, friends, coaches, the basketball team, they’re all family to me.” It was his first time scoring in double figures since an 18-point outing in a 12699 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on November 12. “I’m still trying to get used to the flow. My teammates always try to give me the confidence to do what I do best, which is shoot the ball. It’s a roller coaster but I’m just happy I was able to make a few shots,” he said. “I feel like when your coach is giving you confidence and your teammates give you confidence to shoot the ball, I feel like it’s easier. Everything just started clicking for me and I just got in a rhythm.” Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry called Hield’s performance on both ends of the floor a step in the right direction. “He played well, he

struggled early on but like we told him you have to believe and trust in your shot and he stayed with it. I think he rushed a couple but you comeback and you want to play well in front for the people that love you most and I thought he did a great job of calming himself down and making plays,” he said. “I thought he did a great job on the defensive end also. He tried really hard and it’s just another step in the maturation process for him. He’s a great kid, he’s going to do everything you ask him to do, he wants to be good and he will be one day. He’s got to continue to work to get better.” Hield played nearly the entire fourth quarter except for a brief moment when Gentry brought him to the bench to settle him down. “I just told him to relax. I think it happens a lot. He’s overthinking the game right now. Whereas at Oklahoma, he caught and shot it or caught it and dribbled it to the basket. He’s got to get to the point of understanding that he can do that at this level also,” he said. “But like I said, it’s a learning process. The more he’s out there, the more experience he gets, the better off he’s going to be. I thought he did a good job tonight. First shot I was a little ... [laughs]. But I think that’s a testament to the confidence that he has in himself that he can shoot the other ones.”

Grizzlies outlast Pelicans, 110-108 in double overtime By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Marc Gasol had 28 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation, to go with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 110-108 in double overtime last night. Gasol blocked two shots, including one by Terrence Jones that could have given

the Pelicans the lead in the final seconds of the first overtime. Troy Daniels hit seven 3s and finished with 29 points for Memphis, while Andrew Harrison scored 12 points, including a game-tying 3 with 14 seconds left in the first overtime. Anthony Davis had 28 points and 17 rebounds for New Orleans. Langtson Galloway hit six 3s and scored a season-high 26 points, but missed a corner 3 that could have won it as second extra period ended.

GRIZZLIES guard Wade Baldwin IV (4) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) in the first half of last night’s game in New Orleans. Hield scored eight points with an assist and two rebounds in 24 minutes. (AP)

BAHAMAS BOWL ADDS ANOTHER CHAPTER TO BUDDING EAGLES-MONARCHS RIVALRY FROM PAGE 1 games have gone down to the wire. In 2014 we were playing in the rain and it was windy so it was only 10-3 in the fourth quarter and we scored a late touchdown to win 17-3 but it was really a one score game. Last year we trailed late 34-31, and we scored right around two minutes to go and we had to stop them on a two-minute drill. You’re talking about two games that have gone down to the wire,” he said. “I think the people of the Bahamas are going to see an incredible game I would certainly be welcome to continuing this series. It is pretty remarkable, this is the third year we’ve played and we’re in

different conferences.” With its previous editions, the Bahamas Bowl has developed a reputation for high-powered offences and late fourth quarter lead shifting plays. Western Kentucky edged Central Michigan 49-48 in a game decided by a Hail Mary and failed two point conversion, followed by Western Michigan’s 45-31 win over Middle Tennessee which featured six touchdowns of 40 yards or more. “I’ve watched both of the previous games from start to finish. I remember watching the Western Kentucky - Central Michigan game with my family and we all jumped off the couch when Central cut the lead and lined up and went for two. Last year’s game was

a very good game so I’m hoping for the third straight year and give the people of the Bahamas a competitive game,” Wilder said. “If the game’s we’ve played have been any indication, its going to be competitive.” The Monarchs (9-3 overall, 7-1 in Conference USA play) will make their firstever bowl appearance. Wilder is in his eighth season (66-30 record overall) at the school, and has been the school’s only head coach since restarting the programme in 2009. The Monarchs will come into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl with a five-game win streak and wins in eight of the last nine games. Eagles head coach Chris Creighton said his team is eager to finally get over

the hump against the Monarchs. ‘They’re so good. They’re very well coached. They built it the right way and they keep getting better. They’re not a one hit wonder and that starts with the class of their head coach,” he said. “They beat us in our first game last year at home. We were ahead by 14 points twice and they came back and beat us. The games have been close and they have gotten the better of us so what a neat opportunity for us to play a third time at this venue.” The Eagles (7-6 overall, 4-4 in MAC play) are in their first bowl appearance since the 1987 California Bowl. Creighton is in his third season (10-26 record over-

all) at the school, and his 20th season as a college head coach (149-72 record overall). The Eagles tied the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) mark for biggest turnarounds in 2016, improving from a one-win season in 2015 to seven victories this season. “I think it’s a testament to who our guys are. A record never defines you. If you’re losing it doesn’t make you a loser and if you win it doesn’t make you a winner. I think it’s who you are on the inside, what you believe and how you respond. Our guys have had this winning attitude in them and fortunately it came together and we were able to get the results everybody on the outside looks at and what we

Baillou and Buccaneers in friendly

FRIENDLY: Baillou and Buccaneers played a friendly match at the Winton Rugby Centre on Saturday after the teams were scheduled to meet in the Nassau Cup. Baillou forfeited the match to leave them level in the competition standings with Buccaneers with 1-2 win-loss records. Cuckoos lead the way after winning both their matches. There are two games to play. Photos: Katie Roach

wanted as well. It became a crazy momentum that we built along with that,” Creighton said. “Even as soon as a year ago folks probably didn’t think this was possible. In the months January and February, our football team was walking through snow 5:30 in the morning when no one was thinking about football. This has been a process for a couple years. The depth of commitment by our guys to be able to overcome what hasn’t been done in such a long time. It’s something I’ll never forget. For guys to be living this right now is one of the reasons you do what you do.” Eastern Michigan is led on offence by redshirt junior quarterback Brogan Roback, who passed for 2,394 yards and 16 touchdowns to go with five 300-yard passing games. The offensive line combined to allow the 12th-fewest sacks in the nation, as well as the secondfewest tackles for loss. Redshirt sophomore running back Ian Eriksen rushed for 741 yards and nine touchdown, while junior wide receiver Sergio Bailey II caught 55 passes for 799 yards and six TDs. Defensively, the Eagles forced 23 turnovers, good for 20th in the nation and second in the MAC. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kyle Rachwal led EMU with 101 tackles, while redshirt senior defensive lineman Pat O’Connor had eight sacks. ODU has the top rushing offence in C-USA, averaging 199.1 yards per game behind junior running back Ray Lawry, who ran for 1,112 yards (102.0 yards per game), six 100yard rushing games and 11 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jeremy Cox rushed for 685 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior quarterback David Washington threw for 2,648 yards and 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Senior wide receiver Zach Pascal, who caught 63 passes for 893 yards and eight TDs, has caught a pass in 48 consecutive games, tied for the longest current streak in FBS. The Monarchs had the second-best scoring defence in the conference, holding opponents to an average of 27.8 yards per game and led C-USA in turnover margin at +13, thanks to 12 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions against a league-low nine turnovers on offence. The defence also recorded 34 sacks, second in the conference. Sophomore defensive end Oshane Ximines had 7.5 sacks while junior defensive end Bunmi Rotimi added seven. Senior cornerback Aaron Young led the team with three interceptions.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 6, 2016, PAGE 7

Sepp Blatter loses appeal at CAS against 6-year FIFA ban By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Sepp Blatter lost his appeal against a sixyear ban by FIFA yesterday, and now has more serious legal cases lined up against him. Blatter said in a statement it was “difficult” to accept the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s verdict, but that “the way the case progressed, no other verdict could be expected.” The former FIFA president, who was banned for approving a $2 million payment to Michel Platini in 2011, said he will accept the decision. He could have pursued a further appeal at Switzerland’s supreme court. “I have experienced much in my 41 years in FIFA. I mostly learned that you can win in sport, but you can also lose,” Blatter said. “Nevertheless I look back with gratitude to all the years, in which I was able to realise my ideals for football and serve FIFA.” The verdict ends Blatter’s hopes of becoming honorary president of the soccer body he left in disgrace in February. He must also pay FIFA a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($49,500). Still, his legal problems are far

from over. “The payment Blatter faces a sepaamounted to an undue rate FIFA ethics invesgift as it had no contigation into suspected tractual basis,” CAS bribery linked to mulsaid in a statement. ti-million dollar boBlatter said Monday nuses in top executives’ it was “incomprehencontracts. Swiss prossible” that his version ecutors also opened was not accepted “in criminal proceedings spite of my testimony against Blatter for the to the contrary and the Platini payment, and a testimony given by othsale of World Cup teler witnesses. BLATTER (AP) evision rights. However, that explaHe is also a stated nation of a salary deal target of American federal pros- has now been doubted by three ecutors in their sprawling inves- sets of judges at FIFA and CAS. tigation of corruption linked to The FIFA ethics committee international soccer officials, and investigated after the payment an expected witness in a separate emerged in September 2015 durSwiss probe of German organis- ing the wider Swiss federal probe ers of the 2006 World Cup. of FIFA. Blatter denies any wrongdoing. Blatter and Platini — whose The three-member CAS panel FIFA presidential bid was stalled, was judging whether Blatter was then ended, by the case — were guilty of unethically offering a banned from soccer duty for eight cash gift and conflict of interest years last December. The FIFA with Platini, who was a FIFA vice appeal committee cut two years president in 2011. from both men’s bans as “approBlatter and Platini both said the priate recognition” for their long $2 million was uncontracted sal- service. ary based on a verbal agreement After a separate CAS appeal more than a decade earlier. From hearing, Platini’s ban was reduced 1999 to 2002, the former France in May to four years, ensuring he great was the newly elected Blat- lost the UEFA presidency. ter’s presidential adviser. When Blatter’s case came to

CAS in August, Platini testified on his behalf during a 14-hour hearing. It might not be the last court room Blatter sees. Blatter is suspected of bribery in a FIFA ethics case that was opened in September. It also implicates former secretary general Jerome Valcke and former finance director Markus Kattner, who were both fired by FIFA this year. The latest ethics investigation relates to alleged self-dealing in FIFA employment contracts that promised Blatter tens of millions of dollars in bonuses for each successful World Cup and completing a four-year mandate. The FIFA ethics committee and CAS have insisted on life bans in previous bribery cases. FIFA has not filed a criminal complaint over the bonus payments, the Zurich-based soccer body said Monday. Switzerland’s attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against Blatter for suspected financial mismanagement and embezzlement in the Platini payment, plus FIFA awarding World Cup television rights to the Caribbean in 2005 that seemed undervalued by at least $15 million.

Swiss prosecutors have also opened a case against Franz Beckenbauer and other 2006 World Cup organisers over a suspicious payment of 6.7 million euros ($7 million) through FIFA’s accounts in 2005. Blatter’s former righthand man Urs Linsi was formally made a suspect last month. United States federal investigators have said Blatter is a target in their probe of bribery, wire fraud and money laundering in international soccer. Several former FIFA vice presidents are among more than 40 soccer and marketing officials either indicted or who have made guilty pleas in a case that mostly involves commercial rights to non-FIFA tournaments and World Cup qualifying games in Latin America. However, Blatter could be a significant witness to explain suspected bribe payments totalling $10 million through FIFA accounts in 2008. US prosecutors said the money was to settle bribes for three FIFA voters, including American official Chuck Blazer, who supported South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup. The cases are expected to develop in the first half of 2017.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny

Partly cloudy

Times of clouds and sun

Clouds and sun with spotty showers

Mostly cloudy, a little rain; windy

High: 83°

Low: 71°

High: 82° Low: 70°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 67°

High: 78° Low: 68°

AccuWeather RealFeel

92° F

82° F

99°-81° F

99°-73° F

89°-65° F

77°-66° F

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 60° F/16° C

TAMPA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 65° F/18° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

ABACO

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

10-20 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

MIAMI

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 76° F/24° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 48.94” Normal year to date ................................... 38.78”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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

tiDes For nassau Low

Ht.(ft.)

12:16 p.m. -----

High

2.7 -----

6:02 a.m. 6:47 p.m.

0.5 0.2

Wednesday 12:56 a.m. 1:12 p.m.

2.4 2.6

7:04 a.m. 7:41 p.m.

0.5 0.1

Thursday

1:56 a.m. 2:12 p.m.

2.6 2.6

8:10 a.m. 0.4 8:37 p.m. -0.1

Friday

2:57 a.m. 3:13 p.m.

2.8 2.6

9:16 a.m. 0.2 9:34 p.m. -0.3

Saturday

3:57 a.m. 4:13 p.m.

3.0 2.7

10:19 a.m. 0.0 10:29 p.m. -0.6

Sunday

4:54 a.m. 5:11 p.m.

3.3 2.7

11:19 a.m. -0.3 11:24 p.m. -0.8

Monday

5:49 a.m. 6:07 p.m.

3.5 2.8

12:16 p.m. -0.5 ---------

Today

Ht.(ft.)

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:42 a.m. 5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:58 a.m. 11:50 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Dec. 7

Dec. 13

Dec. 20

Dec. 29

CAT ISLAND

uV inDex toDay

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

7-14 knots

ANDROS

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

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N E

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7-14 knots

8-16 knots

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

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

WINDS S at 8-16 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SSE at 7-14 Knots S at 4-8 Knots S at 10-20 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots SSE at 3-6 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 77° F 84° F 82° F 77° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 79° F 78° F 78° F