12062017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

OLYMPICS

IOC, Page 8

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Schmidt, Boening surge to top of standings

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HIGHLY decorated Olympian Robert Schmidt and his Brazilian teammate Henry Raul Boening came into the fifth Star Sailors League Final sitting in 22nd place in the standings, but after the first day of competition, they surged to the top of the list.

In the first two races held on day one of the week-long competition yesterday on the eastern end of Montagu Bay, the Brazilians came through with a second and third place to collect five points for first place.

Schmidt has won two Olympic gold and silver and one bronze in five games, in addition to clinching a SSL event title in 2012. He’s hoping to improve on his third

place finish in his last impressive appearance here in 2015.

The Poland team of Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki, ranked 16th coming into the finals, is in second place with six points after producing a fourth and second place. Kusznierewicz is a second place finisher here in 2012 and third in 2013.

Americans Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih, who were ranked at No.7, got off to a great start, winning the first race, but slipped to sixth in the second race to close out the day in third place with seven points. Mendelblatt won the SSL final title here in 2014 after taking third place the year before in 2013.

In fourth place is the wild card team of Paul Goodison of the United Kingdom and Frithjof Kleen of Germany with seven points as well with their third and fourth respectively.

And after coming in seventh in the first race, the fourth ranked French team of Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot captured the final race to post their total of eight points to round out the top five.

The American top ranked team of Augie Diaz and Austin Sperry had their share of difficulties with a 12th and 24th place finish for their total of 36 points for 20th place.

A total of 25 teams, inclusive of 10 of the top ranked teams and 15 wild card entries as well

as two America’s Cup winners, six Olympic gold medallists, four Olympic silver medallists, 13 Olympic bronze medallists, 28 world champions in star class, 11 world champions in Olympic class, three Louis Vuitton Cup winners, two Volvo Ocean Race winners and 11 SSL event winners, are all expected to be competing here.

After four days of racing, the competitors will go into the knockout stages. Single races will decide who survives and who is heading for the dock. The last four teams will contest a thrilling final race - the first to finish will be the winner of the 2017 SSL Finals and take home the lion’s share of the $200,000 prize purse.

The competitors were entertained at Government House by

SEE PAGE 3

Stampers destroy Eagles Nest, Rockets beat Pros

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

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pair of blowouts highlighted play in New Providence Basketball Association action at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

In Division I, the Rockets defeated the Island Game Pros and in Division II the Triple K Stampers defeated the Leno Eagles Nest.

The Rockets outscored the Pros by at least seven points in every quarter en route to the 82-45 win.

Eugene Bain led five Rockets in double figures with 18 points and six rebounds. Selvyn McKenzie and Lerecus Armbrister each finished with 11 points while Quentin Demeritte and Rashad Saunders each scored 10.

Derrick Ferguson scored 13 to lead the Pros.

They took a 23-14 lead in the first quarter and the lead reached double figures early in the second when Demetri Mackey made a pair at the line. Bain’s jumper with 34 seconds left in the period gave the Rockets their biggest lead of the half with a 16-point advantage as they took a 43-27 at the half. Tomeko Moxey’s three pushed the lead over 20 for the first time and made the score 53-32 with just over a minute into the third and they took a 66-43 lead into the fourth. The Pros scored just two points in the fourth quarter on a Lance Rolle layup and the lead ballooned to as much as 37.

The Rockets scored 44 points in the paint, 14

SEE PAGE 3

ON THE REPLAY: Triple K Stampers (Division II) routed Leno Eagles Nest 116-89 and the Rockets defeated Island Game Pros 82-45 in New Providence Basketball Association action at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THURSDAY SPORTS Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

FR MARCIAN PETERS CLASSIC BEGINS ON THURSDAY

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE premier junior basketball tournament in the country returns this week.

The Father Marcian Peters Basketball Classic is all set to host its 32nd edition at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium December 7-16.

A total of 42 teams spread across six divisions have registered for the tournament thus far with more capable of being added as registration closes today.

The primary and junior boys have the highest concentration of teams with 11 entrants in each division.

Eight teams are entered in the intermediate boys, five teams in the primary girls, four in the junior girls and another three in the intermediate girls’ division.

Games will run from 3:30pm to 9pm on weekdays and an amended schedule will be disseminated for weekend games.

Following a hiatus for the 2015 edition, the tournament had a successful return last year.

The Woodcock Hurricanes (primary girls), Kingsway Academy Saints (primary boys), SC McPherson Sharks (junior girls), Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins (junior boys), Harbour Island Cougars (senior girls) and CC Sweeting Cobras (intermediate boys) emerged as champions in their respective divisions as the tournament returned to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s schedule.

An entertaining championship day featured several close finishes, with the six games decided by an average margin of 3.8 points per game. Woodcock took a 24-21 win over the St Cecilia’s Strikers (PG), the Saints won 19-18 win over the Harbour Island Cougars (PB), the Sharks took a 14-12 win over the HO Nash Lions (JG), and the Cougars outlasted the Teleos Cherubims, 13-12 (SG).

In the junior boys’ title game, the Mystic Marlins pulled away late for a 33-23 win over the DW Davis Royals and the intermediate boys closed out play with the CC Sweeting Cobras’ 31-25 win over the Jordan Prince William Falcons.

There is a plethora of pre-season and mid-season tournaments for senior boys and the Father Marcian tournament is one of the few venues for the other divisions to be showcased.

SEE PAGE 3

Boat owners agree not to sail with PM Thunderbird

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH his PM Thunderbird received permission from the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Renward Wells

Page 3

to sail in the Best of the Best Regatta this weekend, a number of the A Class boats said they won’t be at the starting line this weekend if Rev Dr Philip McPhee sails his boat.

The Best of the Best Regatta is scheduled for Friday to Sunday in Montagu Bay when the local sloop sailing boats will be a part of the Star Sailors League Finals that is currently underway.

According to Sydney Forbes, chairman of the committee appointed for the inspection of the PM Thunderbird, they had two meetings with the boat owners who have agreed that they will not sail if the PM Thunderbird sails.

“They have said that because a committee that was selected and formed by the ministry made their report to the ministry and they wished the ministry would respect

THE “PM Thunderbird” has received permission to set sail in the 2nd Annual Best of The Best Regatta in Montagu Bay but boat owners have agreed not to race if it does. the report from the committee,” Forbes said.

“We had seven members on the committee who agreed

unanimously and signed the agreement that the PM Thunderbird was not worthy to sail. We have since had a meeting with the

minister and we told him why we arrived at the decision that we made.”

Forbes, who made it emphatically clear that he doesn’t own a boat, was representing the Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailors Association (BBOSA) and elected as chairman of the committee.

The other members were Captain James Wallace of the Nassau Sailing Association (NSA), Gerrad Moxey of the Commonwealth Sailing Association (CSA), Danny Strachan of the National Family Island Regatta Committee (NFLRC), Stefan Knowles of the Long Island Sailing Club (LISC), Jason Knowles, a boat owners representative and Stafford Armbrister, who was appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Wednesday, December 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

COLUMN: PGA TOUR GETS A NEW VERSION OF TIGERMANIA

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The latest comeback by Tiger Woods, this one following a 10-month absence from a fourth back surgery in three years, was sure to cause some disruption in the workforce with the weekday television coverage.

That included the commissioner’s office at the PGA Tour.

“I would consider myself to be among the highly distracted as Tiger played his first round,” Jay Monahan said yesterday.

Monahan was at the Hero World Challenge the day before it began and stayed for the pro-am dinner, where he said Woods spoke from the heart about his foundation, thanked the other 17 players for coming and reminded them they had a chance to compete against a player at No. 1,199 in the world ranking.

“That broke up the room,” Monahan said with a laugh.

Indeed, it’s rare for a player to tie for ninth and move up 531 spots in the world ranking — Woods now is all the way up to No. 668 — but such were the circumstances. The field featured eight of the top 10 in the world, and it included one guy who had earned ranking points at only two tournaments over the last two years.

There’s no way to go but up.

That’s what Monahan took away from the holiday exhibition, only he wasn’t talking about the world ranking.

“We had such a strong year with great, young players stepping forward,” he said. “You add Tiger back in the mix, and we all go away from it with a lot of excitement.”

How much Woods is in the mix remains to be seen, although this was as strong

as he has looked in four years. Next up is figuring out a schedule that Woods said would be geared around the four majors. He hasn’t played all four since 2015, and he hasn’t made the cut in all of them since 2013.

Most of the young players at Albany Golf Club — Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger — know more about the legend of Woods than what it’s like to have him at tournaments.

Thomas got a taste of it.

He is the FedEx Cup champion and PGA Tour player of the year after winning five times, including his first major at the PGA Championship. He started the new season by winning the CJ Cup in South Korea.

And when he sat down for a news conference, his first six questions were about Woods.

Thomas was paired with Woods for the first and final rounds, and while Woods had the largest gallery, there was rarely more than about 250 fans. It’s the Bahamas. So when Thomas was asked if he felt the effect of Woods on the golf course or in his news conference, he smiled.

“I would say more of the fact that I just won the FedEx Cup, player of the year, and all I get asked about is Tiger Woods,” he said. Thomas was not the least bit irritated, even though this was the 10th out 12 consecutive questions he fielded about Woods on that day.

“I thought it was bad the questions I got asked about Jordan,” Thomas said.

Golf wasn’t suffering without Woods, not inside the ropes.

Dating to when Woods had his first back surgery, Rory McIlroy won two majors in 2014; Spieth got halfway to the calendar Grand Slam in 2015; Dustin Johnson fulfilled his potential with his first major in

TIGER Woods drives from the tee of hole 18 during the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club last Thursday.

2016 and was voted player of the year. And this year brought the emergence of the 24-year-old Thomas.

None can draw attention to golf like Woods — not individually, maybe not collectively. That’s no surprise.

“The keen golf fans will know Tiger moved the needle and brought people in that might be sports fans, but not golf fans,” Henrik Stenson said. “But everyone who follows golf closely, I don’t think they’ve been home thinking, ‘Oh, this is not exciting anymore,’ when all the guys at the top have been winning.

It’s been a healthy couple of years, even though he’s not been on the scene. “I don’t think he can make it less good, having the old Tiger back and trying to charge through the field,” Stenson said. “It would make it even more exciting.”

There’s also the danger, especially in today’s social

media climate, to gush so much over Woods that it seems no one else is playing and tournaments that Woods doesn’t play are not worth watching.

This is nothing new. The PGA Tour has been facing questions like this for 20 years.

Monahan sees only an upside now.

“We have such a deep bench of young, international players, combined with a great group of veterans. All have accomplished a lot in their own right, week in and week out. The story lines will be strong,” Monahan said. “You take a strong PGA Tour and just make it stronger. And it doesn’t just apply when Tiger is playing. The fact he’s back is bringing more attention, more eyeballs, and that’s going to benefit everyone.

“It’s great to be back in that situation.”

TIGER Woods reacts on the second hole during the Hero World Challenge.

(AP Photos/Dante Carrer)

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 6, 2017, PAGE 3

Westbrook’s triple-double helps Thunder stop Jazz OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 34 points in his seventh triple-double of the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from 17 points down in the second half to defeat the Utah Jazz 100-94 on Tuesday night.

Westbrook finished with 14 assists and 13 rebounds.

Paul George scored 21 points, Steven Adams had 20 points and nine rebounds and Carmelo Anthony added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who won their third straight.

Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Joe Ingles added 16 for the Jazz, who had won six straight and scored at least 106 points in each game.

The Jazz led 47-39 at halftime, and they opened things up even more early in the third quarter. A driving layup by Alec Burks put the Jazz up 72-55 as the Thunder continued to misfire on open shots.

Westbrook closed out the third quarter strong and helped the Thunder cut Utah’s lead to 80-68 by the end of the period.

He scored 11 points in the quarter.

The Thunder finally took the lead on a layup by Westbrook with about four minutes remaining.

points and nine rebounds before leaving. The Wizards were coming off a 116-69 loss Monday night at Utah, the second-largest losing margin in franchise history.

OKLAHOMA City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots in front of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) WIZARDS 106, TRAIL BLAZERS 92 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Bradley Beal scored a career-high 51 points, and Washington bounced back from a demoralizing loss the night before to beat Portland.

Beal made 21 field goals, also a career high, and the Wizards led by as many as 23 points. He hit five 3-pointers.

Damian Lillard finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Blazers, who have

lost three straight at home after returning from a 4-1 trip. Portland was hurt midway through the final quarter when center Jusuf Nurkic limped off the court and to the locker room after appearing to injure his right ankle. He had 15

RAPTORS 126, SUNS 113 TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 10 assists, DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points and Toronto beat Phoenix, improving its NBA-best home record to 9-1.

Suns guard Devin Booker had to be carried off the floor by two teammates after suffering an apparent leg injury with 2:40 remaining and Phoenix trailing by 11. Booker froze in pain while playing defense and did not move as trainers came out to examine him.

Booker, who shook off a 2-for-11 start to score a season-high 46 points Monday in a win at Philadelphia, shot 0 for 7 in the first half Tuesday. He finished 4-for15 with 19 points, including 10 of 12 from the foul line.

Serge Ibaka scored 19 points and OG Anunoby matched his career high with 16 as Toronto won its fourth straight. The Raptors almost reached triple digits in three quarters Tuesday. Toronto led 97-79 heading to the fourth.

FR MARCIAN PETERS CLASSIC BEGINS ON THURSDAY

FROM PAGE 1

In 2014, division winners included Freedom Baptist (PG), Temple Christian (PB), Harbour Island (JG), Aquinas College (JB), CR Walker (SG) and Queen’s College (IB).

In 2013, Harbour Island All Age School captured three of the six contested divisions – junior boys, intermediate boys and junior girls. Temple Christian won primary boys, The Carlton Francis Shockers won the primary girls’ division and CR Walker won senior girls.

The tournament traditionally features scores of teams from the primary girls and boys, junior girls and boys, intermediate boys and senior girls. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s staff facilitates the event.

Father Marcian Peters, who passed away in 1981, was known as a national sporting icon for his contributions to basketball and softball as tools of social development. Today the tournament stands as the largest and most popular inter-school basketball event.

Tournament director in recent years, Scooter Reid, told the Tribune in previous interviews that immediate goals would include expanding the reach to have more girls’ teams.

“It is our intentions next tournament to have more girls play. Even though the games in the divisions for girls are good, we need to have more girls in the tournament. This was originally a girls tournament, so to have a decline in numbers in those divisions is a little disappointing,” he said. “So we would like to tell all the teams or as many as possible if they want to play they have to bring a girls team.”

Stampers destroy Eagles Nest, Rockets beat Pros

Schmidt, Boening surge to top of standings FROM PAGE 1 Governor General Marguerite Pindling during the official opening ceremonies on Monday night. On the weekend, they will interact with the local sloop sailors in Montagu in the Best of the Best Regatta.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Cuture Michael Pintard will be the keynote speaker at the opening of the regatta at 7pm on Friday. On Sunday at 6pm, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will take the spotlight when he addresses the closing ceremonies.

Also on Friday, the SSL will honour legendary Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles for his

accomplishment as the oldest Olympic gold medallist at 100 years of age.

For those interested, they can watch all of the action live with expert commentary from special studio guests. On the water, the latest in hi-tech camera technology, as well as Virtual Eye 3D Graphics, will provide thrilling viewing. Armchair sailors can also join the race with Virtual Regatta.

Fans can also keep following the races on the official website, Facebook Instagram and Twitter for the latest happenings on the SSL Finalists’ list, social events and more of the Star Sailors League major event of the year.

STAR sailors with Minister Renward Wells and Governor General Marguerite Pindling (top).

Boat owners agree not to sail with PM Thunderbird FROM PAGE 1 and Marine Resources as their representatives. After the completion of the inspection of the PM Thunderbird, Forbes said they discovered that there were some cosmetic works done to the boat, but it’s still in its original form as the Tanqueray, a boat that was banned from sailing in the National Family Island Regatta in 1979.

“The eligibility rule number one states that the boat must be Bahamian designed, Bahamian built and crewed by Bahamians,” Forbes said.

“There is correspondence that we have documented that showed that the boat was designed out of Miami, Florida.”

Forbes said that while they credit Dr McPhee for undergoing

some cosmetic work to the Tanqueray and changing its name to the PM Thunderbird, the hull of the boat has not changed.

“He changed four frames in the boat and the changing of those four frames did absolutely nothing to change the hull of the boat,” he said. “So we concluded that the boat we inspected was the same Tanqueray that was not allowed to sail for almost 30-something years.”

And if they had abandoned that rule, the criteria set by the ministry for the boats to compete in the regatta would then deny the PM Thunderbird the right to compete.

“They say that the boat must have won a regatta during the course of the year. That is the rule that they state that qualifies the boats to compete in the Best of the Best Regatta,” Forbes said.

“To get more boats involved this year, we understand that they are allowing all of the boats who sailed this year on the racing circuit from January to October to be eligible to sail. The PM Thunderbird has not sailed in any regatta, but yet the minister agrees that the boat should be allowed to sail.”

As a result of that decision, Forbes said the A class boats have agreed that they will not sail in the Best of the Best Regatta this weekend.

The Red Stripe, the Original and the New Courageous, Ed Sky, the Tida Wave are among the A class boats that have made it clear that they will not sail if the PM Thunderbird is allowed to sail.

“We understand that a committee was first formed by Dr McPhee, who gave the names to the commodore of the Best of the

Best,” Forbes said. “But when they found out that the committee was hand-picked, that was when the ministry decided to form the new committee, including myself that represents the major sailing bodies in the country.”

At a press conference, Wells did not address the controversy surrounding the PM Thunderbird, but he invited the public to come out and support the Best of the Best Regatta. “It’s going to be a cultural extravaganza as it was last year,” he said. “We’re seeking to improve on it and expand it and, at the end of the day, I think the Bahamian people are going to be justly proud.”

He said all of the local entertainers are expected to be on stage and will be performing a number of the late Ronnie Butler’s songs as a tribute to the legendary entertainer.

FROM PAGE 1 second chance points, 24 points off turnovers and 20 fast break points.

The Stampers took a 116-89 win over Eagle’s Nest led by Cameron Strachan’s monster double double - 29 points and 12 rebounds. Also for the Stampers, Michael Turnquest scored 24, Johnley Noel added 16 points and nine rebounds, Nathaniel Jean scored 11, Teashon Gibson scored 10 and Tamiko King added six points and 10 assists.

Troy Trembley led Eagles Nest with 17 points and nine rebounds, Bradley Altidor and Dewshone Murray each scored 13, Tyrell Butler added 12 points and Uriah Rolle chipped in with 10.

The Stampers raced out to a 23-13 lead in the first quarter with 2:48 left to play. They closed on a 9-2 run and trailed by just three when Butler made a three pointer with three seconds left to play for a 25-22 lead.

The Stampers blew the game open in the second quarter when they outscored Eagles Nest 36-19.

Trembley tied the game at 25 early in the second but the Stampers went on a 13-3 run to regain a 10-point lead. The lead reached 20 on a Turnquest layup (52-32) with 4:05 left to play. They led 61-41 at the half. Leno won their only quarter of the game 31-23 in the third - to trim the deficit to 12 headed into the fourth.

The Aliv Bucket Breezes took on the Breezes High Flyers and JD’s Seafood Shockers took on the Rhythm Rebels in last night’s matchups. However, results were unavailable up to press time.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, December 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 6, 2017, PAGE 5

Dolphins’ win over Denver bodes well for the future

By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer

DOLPHINS running back Kenyan Drake runs for a touchdown, against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil has been dispelling doubts lately, one block at a time.

Tunsil looks less like a bust and more like the firstround pick he was in 2016, which is one reason for the Dolphins’ recent offensive surge.

“He has been playing better,” coach Adam Gase said Monday. “His practice habits have gotten better every week, and you can really see what we have talent-wise.”

The Dolphins’ best game yet bodes well for 2018, even if it’s not enough to save this season. Tunsil was among a handful of young players whose stock soared Sunday in a 35-9 thrashing of Denver.

Playoff prospects remain bleak for Miami (5-7), but running back Kenyan Drake, cornerback Xavien Howard and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips had breakout performances, increasing the likelihood they’ll be part of the team’s future.

Tunsil helped pave the way for 367 yards — not eye-popping, but an improvement for a unit that ranked as the NFL’s worst for much of the season.

Miami’s three highest yardage totals have come in the past five games, and Tunsil is one reason.

“I’ve seen a different look in his eye as far as the light bulb going off and him understanding things as a whole,” Gase said.

Drake, a third-round pick in 2016, ran for 120 yards on 23 carries, both easily career highs, and caught

three passes for 21 yards.

He was tested with a heavy workload for the first time as a successor to Jay Ajayi, who was traded by Miami at the deadline.

“I think one time in high school I ran the ball like 25 times,” Drake said. “But other than that, I don’t think I’ve ever run the ball that much in my life.”

He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season, compared with Ajayi’s 3.4 for Miami.

“It was good to get Drake going a little bit,” Gase said.

“He had the safety one on one unblocked a couple of times, and made him miss and created some explosive plays.”

Howard, a second-round pick last year, had the first two interceptions of his career and returned one 30 yards for a touchdown.

He also had five passes

BRADY, PATRIOTS ON TOP IN THE LATEST AP PRO32 POLL

By SIMMI BUTTAR Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are back in a familiar spot at this point of the NFL season — playing their best football and preparing for another run at the Super Bowl.

The surging Patriots gained the top spot in the AP Pro32 poll yesterday, receiving nine of 12 first-place votes for 381 points in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Patriots (10-2) have won eight in a row and are closing in on yet another AFC East title. “The Patriots have come a long way since losing two of their first four games,” said Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “They look a lot like the 2014 version.”

The Minnesota Vikings, who also are 10-2 and on an eight-game winning streak, received two first-place votes and moved up a spot to No. 2.

“It’s time to acknowledge that the Vikings are a serious Super Bowl threat behind a fierce defence and a thirdstring quarterback playing at a Pro Bowl level,” said Ira Kaufman of SB Nation Radio.

The Philadelphia Eagles (10-2), who saw their ninegame winning streak snapped in a loss in Seattle, received the other first-place vote and dropped two spots to No. 3.

BUFFALO Bills running back LeSean McCoy, right, runs with the ball as New England Patriots strong safety Jordan Richards (37) makes a tackle in the second half on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) “Showdown with Rams looms,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said of Sunday’s game in Los Angeles between the first-place teams.

The Eagles are staying on the West Coast this week and are setting up camp in Orange County. Despite a 10-2 record and a seven-game winning streak, the Pittsburgh Steelers slipped a spot to No. 4.

The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, both 9-3 and leading their divisions, remained at Nos. 5 and 6.

The Seattle Seahawks, only a game behind the Rams in the NFC West, rose two places to No. 7 after beating the Eagles.

The Carolina Panthers slipped a spot to No. 8 after losing to the Saints.

The Panthers face another challenge in Week 14 as they host the Vikings.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, tied for first place in the AFC South at 8-4, each gained a spot and rounded out the top 10 in the rankings.

defended, and helped hold the Broncos’ two starting wideouts to four catches for 38 yards.

“It’s good to see him be aggressive and play confident,” Gase said.

Phillips, inconsistent since being drafted in the second round in 2015, led a dominant defensive effort with his first sack of the season, two quarterback hurries and two tackles for a loss. “I’m just learning the game,” Phillips said.

“The first two years it was all new to me pretty much.

I’m finally starting to get comfortable.”

The comfort level of Phillips and the other young Dolphins will be tested anew next Monday night, when their progress can be gauged against AFC East leader New England. The Patriots beat Miami 35-17 on November 26.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, December 6, 2017, PAGE 7

Man U, Basel, Roma, Juventus advance in Champions League

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press MANCHESTER United advanced to the Champions League knockout stage after rallying to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 yesterday to remain unbeaten at Old Trafford for a club recordequalling 40 successive games.

Basel joined United in the next phase from Group A by downing Benfica 2-0.

Paris Saint-Germain won Group B despite losing at Bayern Munich 3-1, the second straight loss for the French league leader.

Roma beat Qarabag 1-0 to top Group C ahead of already-qualified Chelsea.

The latter was held to 1-1 at home by Atletico Madrid, which was eliminated after reaching the final in two of the last four years.

England could have five teams in the last 16 for the first time if Liverpool advances today.

Last year’s runner-up, Juventus, had to wait until the last group game to qualify. Juve won at

Olympiakos 2-0 and joined group winner Barcelona, which beat Sporting Lisbon 2-0.

• Here is a look at what happened yesterday:

United won the group with three more points than Basel. CSKA was left with the Europa League, and Benfica completed a poor campaign without a single point.

GROUP A Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford scored in a 66-second span for United, which became the third English team to finish top of its group. Manchester City and Tottenham were already assured of first place heading into their final group games on Wednesday.

Lukaku volleyed in just his second goal since September for the 64th-minute equaliser, and strike partner Marcus Rashford drove home an angled winner to complete the comeback.

Vitinho gave the visitors a 1-0 lead seconds before halftime.

Basel forward Mohamed Elyounoussi headed in a cross by Michael Lang five minutes into the game and Dimitri Oberlin doubled the advantage with another header in the 65th.

on three. Anderlecht won in Glasgow 1-0 but Celtic finished third to take the Europa League place.

shot into his own net. Qarabag finished on the bottom.

GROUP D Juventus, a finalist in two of the last three seasons, secured its berth in the next phase courtesy of goals from Juan Cuadrado and Federico Bernardeschi.

Cuadrado lunged forward to meet a cross from Alex Sandro and beat Olympiakos goalkeeper Silvio Proto in the 15th minute.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri left striker Mario Mandzukic on the bench as he recovered from a calf injury, but the Bianconeri looked comfortable in low gear. The hosts tired toward the end of the game at Karaiskakis stadium, leaving Bernardeschi with little to do for the second goal in the 90th.

With Lionel Messi rested

by Barcelona for the first hour, forward Paco Alcacer took full advantage of the opportunity by scoring a header in the 59th. Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu added an own goal in stoppage time.

GROUP C Diego Perotti scored early in the second half for Roma against Qarabag.

The Chelsea-Atletico match in England still had a couple of more minutes to go after the final whistle in Rome. All of the Roma squad waited in front of their fans and, as soon as the big screen showed it was over, there were huge cheers from players and supporters.

Demoted to the Europa League, Atletico will miss the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in five years.

But even if Atletico had held onto the lead secured in the 56th minute by Saul Niguez, it would not have been enough to finish in the top two due to Roma’s victory.

Chelsea equalised to finish second in the 75th minute; defender Stefan Savic turned Eden Hazard’s

GROUP B PSG’s impressive attack extended its tournament record of 24 goals in the group stage with another one. Kylian Mbappe scored the record 25th in six games.

But it was not enough for PSG to win and rebound from a stunning 2-1 loss to promoted Strasbourg in the French league over the weekend. Robert Lewandowski got Bayern off to a flying start and Corentin Tolisso doubled Bayern’s lead before the break. The home side needed just two more in the second half to top the group, but Mbappe dented those hopes soon after the break when Edinson Cavani lifted the ball for the teen to head home.

Both sides finished with 15 points, well ahead of Celtic and Anderlecht, both

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny with a shower or two

Partly cloudy with a shower or two

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Variably cloudy, a shower or two

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Times of clouds and sun

High: 85°

Low: 72°

High: 84° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 83° Low: 67°

High: 78° Low: 66°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

92° F

80° F

96°-76° F

95°-82° F

89°-64° F

77°-63° 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: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

6‑12 knots

S

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C

6‑12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

6‑12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° 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

9:35 a.m.

10:01 p.m.

3.6 2.8

3:12 a.m. ‑0.8 4:05 p.m. ‑0.6

Thursday

10:29 a.m.

11:00 p.m.

3.4 2.7

4:08 a.m. ‑0.6 5:01 p.m. ‑0.5

Friday

11:26 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.2 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:07 a.m. ‑0.3 5:58 p.m. ‑0.3

Saturday

12:02 a.m.

12:26 p.m.

2.6 3.0

6:11 a.m. 0.0 6:57 p.m. ‑0.2

Sunday

1:07 a.m.

1:27 p.m.

2.6 2.8

7:17 a.m. 0.2 7:56 p.m. ‑0.1

Monday

2:11 a.m.

2:28 p.m.

2.6 2.6

8:25 a.m. 0.3 8:54 p.m. ‑0.1

Tuesday

3:13 a.m.

3:26 p.m.

2.6 2.4

9:30 a.m. 0.4 9:47 p.m. ‑0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:41 a.m.

5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

8:51 p.m.

9:35 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

Jan. 1

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

7‑14 knots

S

8‑16 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 ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 83° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 71° F/22° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 38.63” Normal year to date ................................... 38.67”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

ROMA’s Diego Perotti jumps to score his side’s first goal during the group C Champions League match against Qarabag at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, yesterday. (AP)

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

H

E

W

8‑16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8‑16 knots

10‑20 knots

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

Today: 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 6‑12 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 76° F 77° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, December 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

IOC: Russians can compete at Olympics, but without flag

By GRAHAM DUNBAR Associated Press LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Russian athletes will be allowed to stand on the medal podium at the Winter Olympics — just not with their anthem playing or their nation’s flag rising above them.

The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming games in South Korea after its lead investigator concluded members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games that “caused unprecedented damage to Olympism and to sports.”

Not welcome in Pyeongchang next year will be any sign of the Russian Olympic Committee or any member of its sports ministry, which was responsible for what investigators concluded was a top-to-bottom scheme of “manipulation and cheating” to ensure Russians could dope at the Olympics on their home turf and not get caught.

The IOC punishment did leave room for many Russians to compete under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia” or OAR. They would have to pass drug tests to prove they were clean and also did not benefit from the Sochi scheme.

If they win, the Olympic flag would be raised and the Olympic anthem played to honour their victories.

That is, if Russian President Vladimir Putin allows them to go to the February 9-25 games. He previously has said it would be humiliating for Russia to compete without its national symbols.

“An Olympic boycott has never achieved anything,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at a news

conference. “Secondly, I don’t see any reason for a boycott by the Russian athletes because we allow the clean athletes there to participate.”

Alexander Zhukov, the Russian Olympic Committee president who also was suspended from his IOC membership, told TV reporters in Lausanne that one key was preserving the name “Russia” in the team name.

“They’ll be called Russian athletes and not some kind of neutrals ... that’s very important,” Zhukov said.

If it was a victory to have the word “Russia” in the team name and invite some Russian athletes to compete, it came at a cost.

The IOC also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee until at least the start of the closing ceremony in South Korea.

In an embarrassment for Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, the IOC also banned Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko from the Olympics for life.

Mutko heads the organising committee of soccer’s next World Cup. As sports minister in 2014, he was deeply implicated in the Sochi doping plot by two IOC commissions and a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation.

“The IOC executive board has made its positon to the responsibility of Mr Mutko very clear,” said Bach, who would not comment if it was appropriate for soccer’s governing body FIFA to continue working with an official who is also president of Russia’s soccer federation.

At the State Kremlin Palace on December 1, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at a joint

IN this file photo, a man carries the Russian national flag past the burning Olympic cauldron at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

(AP Photo/Peter Delong) news conference with Mutko that the IOC’s decision would not affect the World Cup. That message was repeated yesterday

by FIFA in a statement which noted that its ethics and disciplinary committees could still open cases against Mutko and Russian soccer players implicated in doping cover-ups.

The IOC also imposed a fine of $15 million on the Russian Olympic Committee to pay for its two investigations into the case and toward future anti-doping work.

The sanctions could be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Any Russian athlete hoping to earn invitations to Pyeongchang will have to come through a stricterthan-usual testing regime and not have a doping violation on their record.

Invitations will be decided by an IOC panel chaired by former France Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron.

The IOC also will bar Russian officials who were team leaders at Sochi, and coaches or medial staff who have been linked to doping athletes.

The CEO of the Sochi Olympics, Dmitry Chernyshenko, also had his place on an Olympic panel

overseeing the 2022 Beijing Winter Games withdrawn by the IOC. Russia has repeatedly refused to accept that a state-sponsored doping programme existed. Such denials helped ensure bans on its track federation and anti-doping agency have not been lifted.

Instead, Russia blames Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Moscow and Sochi testing laboratories, as a rogue employee.

It wants the scientist extradited from the United States, where he is a protected witness.

The executive board reached its decision

Tuesday after a scheduled 4½-hour debate when it heard from a Russian delegation that included world figure skating champion Evgenia Medvedeva.

The delegation was led

by Zhukov, who was later suspended.

Two IOC commission leaders — appointed after WADA investigator Richard McLaren upheld Rodchenkov’s doping claims in July 2016 — also reported to the Olympic board.

The report by IOCappointed investigator Samuel Schmid, the former president of Switzerland who was asked to verify an “institutional conspiracy,” included a 50-page sworn affidavit from Rodchenkov, who was also a key witness for McLaren and an IOC disciplinary commission.

The chairman of that disciplinary panel, Swiss lawyer Denis Oswald, reported about prosecuting Russian athletes implicated in cheating at Sochi.

By Monday, 25 Russians had been disqualified from the Sochi Games and banned from the Olympics for life, and 11 medals were stripped.

One Russian was cleared.

Russia no longer leads the Sochi medals table.

Even before the IOC reallocates the stripped medals, the United States has the most total medals and Norway has the most golds. The banned Russian athletes have said they will appeal the Oswald judgments at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Any sanctions imposed by the IOC can also be challenged at CAS, and later at Switzerland’s supreme court, which can intervene if the legal process has been abused.