SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016
DUKE’s Frank Jackson and Michigan State’s Lourawls Nairn Jr (11) reach for the ball during the first half of an NCAA game in Durham, N.C. (AP)
Early season struggles for Bahamians in NCAA By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net t has been an early season struggle for several Bahamian players and their respective programmes in NCAA Division I basketball. While playing at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said his team’s early season struggles were due to a difficult schedule and a lack of practice time. With increased time on the practice floor, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr and the Spartans have won their last two games as the Spartans began a five-game home-
I
DUKE’S FRANK JACKSON, right, drives to the basket as Michigan State’s Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) defends during the first half. (AP)
stand. Nairn finished with four points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals in the Spartans’ 77-57 win over Youngstown State Tuesday night to improve to 6-4. It was the fourth game this season that Nairn finished with at least seven assists. As a team the Spartans dished out 28 assists on 34 made baskets. “Practice means a lot to all of them to be honest with you, maybe more valuable to the freshmen of course. But even the upperclassmen because you know, I’m seeing a little more comfort and understanding from a lot of them,” Izzo
SEE PAGE 4
ROOSEVELT AND ABEL HELP HURRICANES GET TO TOP OF THE POLLS By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ROOSEVELT Whylly and Abel Joseph have led the Holland College Hurricanes men’s basketball programme to the top of the polls headed into the Winter Holiday break. The Hurricanes are ranked number in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, a position they retained since moving into the top spot early last month. The Hurricanes are 7-0 and been particularly dominant in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) scoring an average of 97 points per game and outscoring their opponents by nearly
25 points per game. In their most recent double header, the Hurricanes topped the Mount Allison Mounties and Crandall Chargers this past weekend. They defeated the Mounties (91-68) powered by Whylly’s double double – a season high 32 points and 12 rebounds. In his most efficient game of the season, he shot 13-20 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. He also added three assists and a blocked shot. Joseph scored 16 off the bench and added five rebounds. Holland actually trailed at the half, before taking a five point into the fourth quarter. In the final frame they outscored Mount Allison 28-10 for the final margin.
In a more closely contested game, the Hurricanes emerged with a 98-87 win over the Crandall Chargers. They led wire to wire, including a 51-41 halftime lead. Whylly had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block while Joseph had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. They return to the court in 2017 when they host the UKC Blue Devils on January 7 at the Holland College Centre for Community Engagement. Joseph, in a reserve role, is second on the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game. He is shooting 55 per cent from the field, 45 per cent from thee with 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists
per game. Whylly is averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 54 percent shooting from the field, 43 per cent from three and adding 3.3 assists per game. Last season, Whylly helped lead the Hurricanes to a bronze-medal finish in the CCAA National Tournament and was named to the AllTournament First Team. The Hurricanes will be the hosts of CCAA Men’s Basketball Championships this year. Jackson Jacob and his Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks maintained the No.3 spot in the poll. They ended the break with a two
SEE PAGE 4
NFL PICKS
Week 14 - Pages 2, 3
BAD SEASON FOR BULLARD, BUTLER AND THE BOBCATS By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN collegiate football players Michael Bullard and Dwight Butler recently concluded a disappointing season for their Peru State Bobcats. The Bobcats finished 5-6 overall and 1-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I. Bullard, the sophomore cornerback and starter for the second consecutive year, was hampered this season and played in just six games. He finished with 24 tackles and six passes defended on the year. His top outings of the season included four tackles and two passes defended against Avila and 10 tackles against Mid America Nazarene. In his freshman season with the Bobcats, he appeared in seven games and finished with seven tackles, four passes broken up and one interception. Butler, in his freshman season at wide recicver, caught just two passes for 12 yards. At the high school level, Bullard and Butler were members of the Rabun Gap Nacoochee High School programme that led the team to an historic 11-3 finish overall on the season. They led the Eagles to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship, Division III title game.
REGATTA TIME AGAIN: PLANS FOR BEST OF THE BEST 2017 WITH a successful inaugural Best of the Best regatta now history, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Tourism are already getting plans underway for the Best of the Best Regatta 2017. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism teamed up with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources and the Stars Sailors League (SSL) to put on the event held at Fort Montague Bay December 1-4. One hundred and fifty Bahamian Sailors competed in 18 traditional sloops – A, B and C classes, and 50-world class and Olympian star sailors also competed. The winners of the competition in the A,B, C classes were Bahamian sloops Tida Wave, Susan Chase and Whitty K respectively. Placing second in the respective categories were Lady Muriel, Ants Nest and Sacrifice.
PAGE 2, Thursday, December 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
THE EXPERTS’ VIEW - HOW THEY ARE FARING
WEEK 13
Naughty **Leo B *Sancheska AP Ricardo *Renaldo *includes two-game penalty **includes four-game penalty
9-6 11-4 10-5 8-7 12-3 8-7
SEASON 119-68-2 113-74-2 112-75-2 112-75-2 110-77-2 107-80-2
% .636 .604 .598 .598 .588 .572
WEEK 13 AWARDS The “Punchline That Won’t Go Away” Award presented by Donald Trump – Detroit Lions. The idea of the Lions being good seemed like a farce in week 1. It’s week 14 and they’re leading the NFC North. Calvin Johnson is still retired. The “Controversy To Distract Me From The Dolphins Misery On The Horizon” Award presented by real life problems – The College Football Playoff. How dare Team X not have a spot in the top four!? It’s nonsense! Team X’s résumé is easily better than Team Y. The committee is stupid. The “Least Surprising Thing Of The Season” Award presented by an impending FNM implosion – The impending Atlanta Falcons implosion. Everyone called it. I didn’t listen. We’re all worse off for it.
WEEK 14
barber vs. his hairline, JR Smith vs. Saturday nights/Sunday afternoon games, the Cleveland “get a new logo for god’s sakes” baseball team vs. the World Series loss hangover. BROWNS over Bengals
By SANCHESKA and RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporters rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs Renaldo: Thank NFL flex scheduling gods, there’s meaningful football on a Thursday night. Derek Carr took his offensive line to the Warriors/Pacers game and they got to witness Klay going off for 60 points. The entire Bay Area is on fire right now. The Chiefs are not the team to put an end to that. Although…their uniforms do sort of make them look like some extreme roided up version of firefighters (Not that NFL players use those). Do those exist? Before we get too caught up on praising the flex scheduling gods, let’s not forget that they gave us Niners/Bears last week and Jags/Vikings this week. RAIDERS over Chiefs SANNIE: Boy, the Raiders really been on a roll and since I am trying to be nice to Eddie, I will choose them. You better give me a win!! RAIDERS over Chiefs Washington Racial Slurs at Philadelphia Eagles Renaldo: One of Mike Florio’s headlines on Pro Football Talk was “Jay Gruden not happy after latest loss.” I need follow-ups on this story Florio. What’s the headline if they drop another game? It has to contain expletives right? If not that, at the very least something fairly obvious: “Washington football team clings to racially insensitive mascot” or “Team with the fewest points loses.” Washington should feel some way about it if Gruden wasn’t upset after a loss. RACIAL SLURS over Eagles SANNIE: Eagles because… well who likes racial slurs (other than racists). EAGLES over Racial Slurs
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Renaldo: RG3 is back! Maybe? Probably? Does anyone know? Does anyone really care? It at least makes the worst battle of Ohio in history slightly more intriguing than watching paint dry. There are so many other battles in Ohio to worry about - LeBron’s
SANNIE: Soooo the Browns really aren’t going to try and win at least ONE game. This is just sad. BENGALS over Browns Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Renaldo: Andrew Luck smells blood in the water. Which could be problematic for the Texans, because based on his cartoon monster themed voice, we’re not exactly certain that Andrew Luck doesn’t have the ability to morph into a shark at a moment’s notice. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Colts are now in the driver’s seat of the AFC South...at 6-6. This season just needs to be done. COLTS over Texans SANNIE: My girl Beyonce got seven Grammy nominations, we’re celebrating in Texas baby!! TEXANS over Colts Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans Renaldo: The Broncos recently hosted a workout for 12 players Tuesday which included two quarterbacks and three recicvers. It’s week 14. This is a bit like the equivalent to cramming for an exam the night before, but from the notes of a guy failing the class with an average worst than yours. No one wants his notes, there’s a reason these guys are free agents at this point. TITANS over Broncos SANNIE: Broncos won the Super Bowl, that should get me to believe in them for at least a year. BRONCOS over Titans. Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins Renaldo: It was fun while it lasted. For six weeks you made me care again Miami. After a 1-4 start it was the best I could have hoped for. If the run had to come to an end, of course it was going to come during Art Basel weekend. Miami was a little preoccupied. I’m not looking forward to watching this defence chase David Johnson around all afternoon. CARDINALS over Dolphins
Newton on the sideline for the Panthers last week, Cam needs to take that to the extreme. If not wearing a tie coats you a series Cam needs to find a way to take the remainder of the season off... because it’s done. Just come to the facility dressed as a tie mascot or something. PANTHERS over Chargers SANNIE: Jesus, If Cam can’t pull this one off, I am going to have to reevaluate some things. PANTHERS over Chargers
QUARTERBACK Derek Carr and the Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs tonight. (AP) SANNIE: Well, that streak for the Dolphins has ended but I still gat faith, even if just for Renaldo’s sake. DOLPHINS over Cardinals Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions Renaldo: I’m so proud of Starscream. Watching him finally become the leader of the Decepticons is a rewarding experience that I’ve been waiting on since I was 6-years-old. Who needs Megatron anyway? LIONS over Bears SANNIE: A bear vs a lion, I think the Lions have this one. LIONS over Bears Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills Renaldo: The Bills have the best point differential of any team non-playoff team. How are they not good? It makes no sense. Tyrod Taylor has $30 million guaranteed on the way in March...unless the Bills cut him beforehand. That’s motivation if I’ve ever heard it. BILLS over Steelers SANNIE: I will go with the Steelers because I like their logo better. STEELERS over Bills San Diego Chargers at Carolina Panthers Renaldo: Whatever the dress code violation was that kept Cam
Minnesota Vikings at Jacksonville Jaguars Renaldo: Mike Zimmer is coaching practice with a patch over his eye. I don’t care about anything else. VIKINGS over Jags SANNIE: Well, seeing that the Jags only won two games, this was an easy choice. VIKINGS over Jags New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers Renaldo: What’s the over/under on how many passes get completed this week? I’m capping it at 20. That number decreases by five if the Jets end up going with Christian Hackenburg. That may be the highlight of the Penn State season if he gets in the game. That College Football Playoff didn’t work out too well. NINERS over Jets SANNIE: Well the Jets suck so 49ers it is. NINERS over JETS Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams Renaldo: Everything about this game is “ew.” The Falcons are on their traditional slide and the Rams have lost their last three games by almost 50 points. There are rumours the Falcons might rest Julio Jones so there’s really no reason to watch this game. FALCONS over Rams SANNIE: Atlanta! Because every great reality show, eminates from there FALCONS over Rams New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Bucs Renaldo: Steal crab legs, steal the top draft slot...steal the division. BUCS over Saints
SANNIE: I must be feeling really good, I’m going to choose the Bucs because its my brother’s favourite team. Just this once, also because I need a win. BUCS over Saints Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers Renaldo: The losses are mounting for the Seahawks. The Earl Thomas one is huge. Aaron Rodgers is going directly to that side of the field nearly every play. PACKERS over Seahawks SANNIE: Lets Go Wilson!!! Make Ciara proud. SEAHAWKS and Packers Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Renaldo: Losing Jason PierrePaul was a devastating blow to Giants pass rush, defence, morale...everything. There’s no reason to think the Giants can win this game, other than the fact that Odell Beckham knows this will be the most watched game for his team all season. There’s nothing more he likes than attention. To get that positive feedback, so much relies on the most erratic Jekyll or Hyde quarterback of all time, Eli. Manning has played the Cowboys 24 times, owning a 12-12 all-time record against Dallas. He won his first three starts at AT&T Stadium, but is 1-4 in his last seven appearances. I have no idea what we get this week but a good Odell is better for my entertainment. GIANTS over Cowboys SANNIE: Damn, the Cowboys have been doing well, must be that Beyonce effect. Good for them. COWBOYS over Giants Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots Renaldo: Gronk is out, Brady is banged up, some guy named Malcolm Mitchell is the new emerging receiver, and Joe Flacco apparently thinks his last name is Montana. These uniforms create a playoff feel all on their own. The Ravens just beat Jay Ajayi...who can stop them? RAVENS over Patriots SANNIE: Is Tom Brady playing again? Wasn’t he hurt or suspended or something? Either way, I still love him. PATS over Ravens
Tannehill needs breakout December to get Miami to playoffs By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill stepped into the pocket of a media throng near his locker yesterday and took questions, calmly completing every answer despite considerable pressure. NFL quarterbacks make their reputation at this time of year, and December is historically Tannehill’s worst month. That trend intensified Sunday, when he threw a season-high three interceptions in a 38-6 loss at Baltimore that ended the Miami Dolphins’ six-game winning streak and hurt their postseason prospects . For Tannehill bashers who enjoy pointing out he has yet to make the playoffs in five NFL seasons, the performance provided fresh ammunition. “It wasn’t good enough,” Tannehill said. “Across the board we weren’t good enough, and that includes me.”
That needs to change quickly, with the Dolphins (7-5) now a game behind in the race for the final AFC wild-card spot. With a home game looming Sunday against dangerous Arizona (5-6-1), Tannehill acknowledged it’s time to step up. “Usually teams play their best football in December,” he said. “That’s just the way it is. You want to improve every day, every week. Other teams are doing that as well. The best football should be played in December. Everyone has to raise their game.” Or spend the postseason at home, which is what the Dolphins have done since 2008. Tannehill has an 8-12 record in December, his worst for any month. In all other months he’s a combined 28-28. During Miami’s winning streak, Tannehill threw nine touchdown passes and only one interception. But he confessed to making bad decisions against the Ravens.
DOLPHINS quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) looks to pass in the first half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 27. December has historically been Ryan Tannehill’s worst month, and it’s off to a bad start again for the Miami Dolphins quarterback. (AP)
The drubbing undercut the argument Tannehill has blossomed under his latest mentor, first-year coach Adam Gase. Tannehill has a shot at his first winning season, thanks in part to an upgraded ground game, but he ranks only 19th in the NFL in passer rating, 20th in yards passing, and 28th in touchdown-interception ratio. Gase seems bullish on Tannehill as the team’s quarterback of the future. But the next four weeks could change that assessment. For now, teammates are firmly in Tannehill’s corner and quick to praise his durability. Despite being sacked 212 times in five seasons, he has started every game. “I’m very confident in my quarterback,” left tackle Branden Albert said. “The stuff he has been through since I’ve been here, and the toughness he has — so many times I’ve seen him get up and not flinch. “I’ll ride with him to the
end. You’ve got to give that guy respect. Nobody is perfect, but as long as you know he’s going to keep fighting, that’s all that matters.” The schedule’s favourable, with the next three opponents at .500 or below. But the Dolphins might need to sweep them to stay in the race. “You want to be in the situation where you’re playing meaningful games in December, and we’re here,” Tannehill said. “We didn’t put ourselves in the best position, but we’re in a good position.” Tannehill’s best previous shot at the playoffs came in 2013, when the Dolphins were poised to clinch a berth by winning one of their final two games, but lost both. What makes him think this year will be different? “I have belief in this team,” he said. “We have all the pieces we need. It’s just a matter of going out and playing well, starting this Sunday.”
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 8, 2016, PAGE 3
Finally, a winning week... Now to keep it going WEEK 13 was good to me. 12-3 good. With this, my second consecutive strong performance - and first winning week for the year - I have officially left last place behind ... and this time for good. Trust me! Now at 110-77-2 on the year, here is to my continued ascent of The Tribune competition standings. Oakland Raiders (10-2) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) Not only is the division lead on the line in this match-up, but a possible first round bye. With a noteworthy comeback last week against the Carolina Panthers, the Raiders certainly look as if they’re built to hold on to their division lead. On the other end of things, the Chiefs are no pushover, far from it. Despite having a defence ranked in the lower half of the league, and an at times flat offence, the Chiefs have managed to put together a tremendous year thus far. With a 4-1 record at Arrowhead so far this year, Kansas City are looking to
make their case for the division crown. RAIDERS Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-6) Steelers are playoff bound in my opinion. After dismantling the New York Giants, I can’t see the Steelers dropping one to the Bills. STEELERS Denver Broncos (8-4) @ Tennessee Titans (6-6) Let me just note it here: the actions of the Broncos front office has limited the potential of this team. While we all know that Peyton Manning of last year wasn’t the Peyton Manning that dominated the league for the last decade, we could see that he was more than serviceable enough to steer this team through to the Super Bowl. Without Manning now, this team is still good, but its inefficiencies on offence is starting to show. However, I do think the Broncos have enough to get it done this week. BRONCOS
Chicago Bears (3-9) @ Detroit Lions (8-4) The Lions are super for real, stay awake. LIONS
WEEK 14
NFL PICKS
BY RICARDO WELLS rwells@tribunemedia.net
New Orleans Saints (5-7) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) Tampa Bay are red hot, and that will not change this week. BUCCANEERS Washington Redskins (6-5-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) Both team are still mathematically in the wildcard race. Eagles are at home. EAGLES Arizona Cardinals (5-6-1) @ Miami Dolphins (7-5) Arizona are living by the mantra ‘one game at a time’ as they look to climb out of the abyss and into the playoff hunt.
Now that the floor has given way underneath that Dolphins ‘win streak hype’, the team is now looking to hold on to their playoff lives. The better team in this one will win out. CARDINALS San Diego Chargers (5-7) @ Carolina Panthers (4-8) Toss up. I am siding with the home team here. PANTHERS Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1) @ Cleveland Browns (0-12) I can’t be the only one hoping for a winless season for the Browns. BENGALS
Houston Texans (6-6) @ Indianpolis Colts (6-6) Look at this. Somebody come look at this stuff. The Colts with a win in this match-up will move into first place in the AFC South. I kid you not, first place. I hate the AFC South. COLTS Minnesota Vikings (6-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) The Jaguars can win this game. Of course they will not, but they could. VIKINGS
who is seriously interested in this game. Boy, oh boy. This one is going to be brutal to watch. 49ERS Seattle Seahawks (8-3-1) @ Green Bay Packers (6-6) This game once meant something. The Seahawks are the better team, but the Packers have under-performed so much this year, that it is really hard to gauge how bad they actually are. Watch for the upset, but I am rolling for the Seahawks. SEAHAWKS
Atlanta Falcons (7-5) @ Los Angeles Rams (4-8) Falcons are trying to hold off the surging Bucs. They need a win in this one. FALCONS
Dallas Cowboys (11-1) @ New York Giants (8-4) Thanks to the schedule makers. I am working this Sunday, so if this game was scheduled at 1pm, I would have missed it entirely. I want to see this one - and I will as it’s the Sunday night game. GIANTS
New York Jets (3-9) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-11) I dare you to find one person that is not a diehard fan of either of these two teams
Baltimore Ravens (7-5) @ New England Patriots (10-2) No Gronk, no problem! PATRIOTS
‘I’M STILL IN FIRST PLACE WITH FOUR WEEKS TO GO IN THE NFL SEASON OKAY, so I cooled off a bit last week - 9-6 is decent but still not up to my lofty standards. Maybe it was Ricardo Wells tapping in to my ‘short and sweet’ theory on his way to a 12-3 week that sapped some of my ‘mojo.’ Nonetheless, it’s a new week, I’m still in first place with four weeks to go in the NFL season, six games in front of the hard- charging second place Leo B, and I’m about to separate myself from the pack even more, again this week.
• Here’s who I like: THURSDAY CHIEFS SUNDAY STEELERS PANTHERS BENGALS LIONS COLTS VIKINGS CARDINALS REDSKINS BRONCOS 49ERS SEAHAWKS
WEEK 14
NFL PICKS BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’ ZENICA
FALCONS BUCS COWBOYS
ZELAYA
MONDAY PATRIOTS
LEO B’S PICKS THURSDAY CHIEFS SUNDAY COWBOYS PACKERS FALCONS BUCCANEERS 49ERS LIONS BENGALS
PANTHERS COLTS JAGUARS DOLPHINS REDSKINS TITANS STEELERS MONDAY PATRIOTS
Raiders visit Chiefs with AFC West, playoff implications By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Raiders and Chiefs are such bitter foes that not even a late-season game between losing teams with no hope of a division title or playoff berth would take away the importance of a matchup. Now, consider the stakes when they meet tonight. The Raiders are 10-2 and leading the AFC West, one of the surprise teams in the NFL, while the Chiefs are 9-3, with a win over Oakland already in their pocket. The winner of their prime-time matchup at
frosty Arrowhead Stadium will have the inside track on ending a lengthy division title drought, not to mention the potential for a first-round playoff bye and a home game in the second round. “We know the type of game it is, big game,” Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson said. “The Chiefs and Raiders have a long history against each other. You understand the importance and what you’re playing for, but you have to treat it like any other game.” Good luck with that. The Raiders are trying to win their seventh
straight for the first time since 1976, when they later beat the Vikings in the Super Bowl. And they’re trying to reach the 11-win plateau for the first time since 2002, a season that also ended in the Super Bowl with a loss to the Buccaneers. The Chiefs have won seven of their last eight, a stretch that began with a 26-10 win in Oakland on October 16, and have won four straight against their old AFL rivals. And while the Raiders are chasing their first division title since 2002 , the Chiefs are trying for their first since 2010 .
Significant stakes, to be sure. Just like in the 1960s, when the Raiders and Chiefs were often in contention. “We always have old players come in and talk to us and tell us how violent the games used to be, and how physical they used to be,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said, “and obviously, they talk about how the game’s changed and things like that, as all past players do. That’s really the main thing that sticks out — how violent and physical the games were. They would always talk about that.” There’s a good chance
Thursday night’s game looks similar. First, the Chiefs have ferocious linebacker Justin Houston back from the knee injury that sidelined him for the first matchup. And the Raiders counter with a defence led by Khalil Mack that shut out Buffalo for most of the second half last week, allowing Oakland to rally for a 3824 victory. Then, consider the weather: The forecast calls for temperatures in the teens at kickoff, with a wind chill that could dip into the single digits by the fourth quarter. It should make for an old-school matchup with stakes that couldn’t be much higher . “You have to get ready for the team. You can’t worry about all that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You spend all your energy studying the team and getting yourself to know the game plan. Anything short of that I think you’re short-changing yourself, if you’re worried about magnitudes and all that stuff.” As the Raiders and Chiefs prepare to meet for the 116th time, here are some key story lines: MACLIN IN THE SADDLE: Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has missed four games with a groin injury, but he’s been practicing the past couple of weeks and there’s optimism he’ll be available. “If that’s the case, it’ll be an awesome addition,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said. “Jeremy is a special player.” SERIES DOMINANCE: The Chiefs have won six of the last seven in the series, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is winless against Kansas City in three tries with the silver and black, and Smith is 8-1 against the Raiders in his
career. “I don’t know if you can lump them together,” Smith said. “You try to play the chess game here in the rematch: what is different, what can we change?” GIMMICKY? SURE: Del Rio took some heat from Chiefs fans for calling Smith’s play “gimmicky” after their first meeting, but he intended it as a compliment. The constant shifts, unorthodox lineups and fake handoffs kept getting Oakland out of position. “Those are effective plays. You can call it what you want,” Del Rio said. “If the word is something they don’t like, too bad.” DOUBLE TROUBLE: While Mack gets the attention on Oakland’s defence with sacks in seven straight games, and back-to-back games with strip-sacks and recoveries, linebacker Bruce Irvin also must be feared. He has sacks in three straight games. “We feed off each other’s energy,” Mack said. SHOTGUN SNAPS: After hurting his pinkie two weeks ago while taking a snap, Carr has not gone under centre. He worked exclusively out of the shotgun against Carolina, then the shotgun and pistol formations against Buffalo. “We worked a lot on it in the offseason,” Carr said of the pistol. “It’s cool to actually take it out there and use it.” TAY TRAIN : After missing the first meeting with Kansas City with turf toe, Latavius Murray will be counted on to give the Raiders a big boost. He has six touchdowns in the past four games. “Any way I can be a threat,” he said, “any way I can get the ball in my hands,” he added, “I want it.”
PAGE 4, Thursday, December 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
EARLY SEASON STRUGGLES FOR BAHAMIANS IN NCAA FROM PAGE 1
said. “Practice time is going to help everybody and luckily we’ve had a little more of it, but we have a lot more to do before we feel like we’re accomplishing anything. Practicing for two days doesn’t accomplish much, but we are making practice.”
The junior point guard is posting career highs across the board playing about 25 minutes per game, scoring 3.9 points, grabbing 3.1 rebounds and dishing five assists wile shooting 51 per cent from the field and 42 per cent from three. In the Northeastern Confer-
ence, Michael Carey and the Wagner Seahawks continue to reel after they dropped a 81-71 decision at home to Monmouth. Despite the loss, which dropped them to 2-5, Carey posted his first double double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Wagner led 42-40 at the half,
but was outscored 41-29 in the second half en route to the loss. For the senior guard, it was the 17th double double of his career. On the season Carey is averaging 13.1 points and nine rebounds per game. Another Bahamian player whose team continues to struggle
is Shaquille Cleare and his Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns dropped another early season matchup and fell to 4-4 with a 53-50 less to the Michigan Wolverines. Cleare, the senior forward, finished with six points and four rebounds in the loss.
MICHIGAN forward Moritz Wagner (13), of Germany, contests for a rebound with Texas forward Shaquille Cleare (32), of the Bahamas, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday. Michigan won 53-50. (AP)
ROOSEVELT AND ABEL HELP HURRICANES GET TO TOP OF THE POLLS FROM PAGE 1 game sweep over the King’s Eagles and lead the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) North division. The second year guard continues to build on last year’s MVP performance and remains one of the top scorers in the conference with a 52 point weekend. In game one, Jacob sank two free throws in the waning moments to propel the Ooks to a 79-78 win. He finished with 25 points, including 12 in the decisive fourth quarter. With seven seconds left to play, Jacob missed a jumper but grabbed his own rebound and was able to draw a foul on the follow. He went on to make both at the line to put NAIT ahead for good. In game two, NAIT dominated Kings 100-77, led by Jacob’s 27 points and six assists. In one of his better shooting performances, he shot 12-18 (3-5 from three). The Ooks bid to repeat as CCAA champions continues in 2017 when they return to the floor January 6 and face the No.6 ranked Medicine Hat Rattlers. Jacob is among the CCAA leaders in several offensive categories. He is currently the second leading scorer at 26.6 points per game and leads in total points scored with 319. He leads all players in field goals made (128), is fourth in both made free throws (47) and minutes played (408). The biggest leap in the poll came from the Niagara Knights who have moved all the way up to No.5 They opened the season at No.13, progressed to No.10 in week two, then No.9 before the four spot
ROOSEVELT WHYLLY in action. jump this week. The Knights feature a trio of Bahamian players Van Hutchinson Jr, Jordan Wilson and Kevin Cooper. The Knights ended the first semester with a 95-73 win over the Fanshawe Falcons. The win brought the Knights to 6-1 overall and second in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Western Conference. Hutchinson was a force with 25 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Wilson added two points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals while Cooper finished with two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot. After dropping their season opener, the Knights have won six games in a row to bring the semester to a close. It is the first time since the 2001-02 season that a Niagara team has put together a six game winning streak. When regular season play resumes on January 12, the Knights will host the Mo-
hawk Mountaineers. Hutchinson is averaging 13.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He posted 18 points and 10 rebounds against Sheridan and 24 points and seven rebounds at Mohawk. Wilson, the versatile forward, is averaging 6.7points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His best performances thus far have been six points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the opener and followed by a 13-point, eight-rebound performance. The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is the national governing body for organised sports at colleges in Canada. It was formed in 1974. The CCAA hosts 10 annual national championships. Its equivalent body for governing sports at universities is the Canada Interuniversity Sport. Some institutions are members of both bodies for different sports.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 8, 2016, PAGE 5
Spurs move to 13-0 on road with 105-91 win over Timberwolves By JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Basketball Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kawhi Leonard is getting used to his role as the San Antonio Spurs’ go-to guy. The Minnesota Timberwolves found out on Tuesday night just how unstoppable Leonard can be when he puts his foot on the gas. Leonard scored 31 points and the Spurs improved to 13-0 on the road this season with a 105-91 victory. Leonard hit 11 of 15 shots after not scoring at all in the first quarter and Patty Mills scored 15 points off the bench for the Spurs (184), who played without Tony Parker after he bruised his left knee against Milwaukee on Wednesday night. San Antonio overcame a slow start to shoot 52.7 percent. “Now I have game experience under my belt,” Leonard said. “That’s what you need to get better, get comfortable — see the ball go through the net in the game.” The Spurs moved past the 1969-70 New York Knicks to take sole possession of the second-best road start to begin a season in NBA history. The Golden State Warriors started 14-0 last year. “Maybe there’s just a little extra focus when we go into someone else’s arena,” Mills said. “It’s hard to put your finger on it.” Zach LaVine scored 25 points for the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and 14 rebounds, but shot just 3 of 16. “You have to eliminate all the ways in which you beat yourself first,” Wolves
Bucks the previous night, so coach Gregg Popovich pulled all five starters with 7:30 to play in the first quarter and a 12-3 deficit. The bench unit of Mills, Kyle Anderson, Dewayne Dedmon, David Lee and Jonathon Simmons energized the team with a 14-3 run to get them back in the game. “They’re all together,” Wiggins said. “If one person moves, the other person moves with them. It’s like they’re all tied together.”
SPURS forward Kawhi Leonard (2) works against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the second half of Tuesday’s game in Minneapolis. The Spurs won 105-91. (AP)
PARKER’S ABSENCE Parker was injured when he knocked knees with a Bucks defender in the third quarter. The Spurs said he was listed as day to day, but Popovich said after the game he was “probably 50-50” to play Thursday against Chicago. Rather than the elevate veteran Mills to the starting lineup, Popovich wanted to keep the second unit intact and so he gave Nico Laprovittola, a rookie from Argentina, his third career start. Laprovittola scored 10 points in 22 minutes. “We knew Tony was going to miss some games,” Popovich said of the team’s mindset going into the season. “To have another person that has the courage and the experience to play that position is important.”
coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So we have to understand that, we have to improve in that area.” With seven new faces on the roster and Tim Duncan no longer there, it’s been an adjustment for the Spurs this season. They haven’t been their usual precise selves, but here they are with the second-best record
UP NEXT Spurs: San Antonio heads to Chicago for a game against the Bulls tonight in Gasol’s first game there since he left for the Spurs in free agency. Timberwolves: Minnesota faces former coach Dwane Casey and the Raptors in Toronto on Thursday.
NBA CAPSULES KNICKS 126, CAVALIERS 94 NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James scored 25 points, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also surpassed 20, and the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the New York Knicks 126-94 last night. James had nothing to say Wednesday morning about Knicks President Phil Jackson and not much more about his decision to not stay with the team in a Donald Trump-branded hotel, but he and the Cavs made a loud statement at Madison Square Garden. It was their second straight win after a three-game skid, and they handed the Knicks their worst loss of the season. Irving led Cleveland with 28 points, and Love scored 21, 16 in the first quarter.
in the league, tied in the win column with the Warriors (18-3). The Timberwolves erased a seven-point deficit with less than a minute to play to beat Charlotte on Saturday night, but Leonard buried a pair of 3-pointers to end the threat Tuesday. TIP-INS Spurs: Manu Ginobili got
Brandon Jennings scored 16 points for the Knicks. He started for Derrick Rose, who missed his first game of the season with lower back pain. It was the first meeting since James was angered when Jackson referred to his friends and business partners as a “posse” last month in an ESPN interview. James refused to answer questions at the Cavs’ shootaround about Jackson, who watched the game from his usual seat a few rows back of center court. BUCKS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 107 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had his second triple-double of the season to lead Milwaukee past Portland. Antetokounmpo had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his seventh career triple-double — second-most in franchise history
the night off. ... LaMarcus Aldridge had just six points on 3-for-8 shooting and did not score until early in the third quarter. ... San Antonio shot just 29 percent and scored a season-low 19 points in the first quarter. Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins was quiet for the Wolves as well. He scored 11 points on 5-for-12 shoot-
— and is the only NBA player averaging at least 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals this season. ROCKETS 134, LAKERS 95 HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Gordon made a career-high eight 3-points and scored 26 points to help Houston rout Los Angeles. James Harden added 25 points in three quarters for the Rockets. They scored a season high and extended their winning streak to a season-best four games. Lou Williams led the Lakers with 24 points. They have lost four in a row, their longest skid of the season. HAWKS 103, HEAT 95 ATLANTA (AP) — Dwight Howard had 23 points and 17 rebounds, Paul Millsap added 21
ing. ... Thibodeau received a technical foul for arguing with officials in the second quarter. ... PG Kris Dunn played well with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting. LINE CHANGE The Spurs starters got off to a terrible start after a narrow victory over the
points and Atlanta beat Miami to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Hawks had lost 10 of 11 and had gone 14 days without a victory. Tyler Johnson scored a careerhigh 27 points for Miami, and Goran Dragic added 21. The Heat have lost three straight. HORNETS 87, PISTONS 77 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Nic Batum had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Charlotte. The Hornets won for the third time in four games despite being held to 38 points in the first half on 27 percent shooting. Marvin Williams returned to Charlotte’s starting lineup after missing the last six games with a hyperextended knee. He had 12 points and five rebounds.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
NETS 116, NUGGETS 111 Brook Lopez scored 24 points, Sean Kilpatrick had 22 and Brooklyn held off Denver. Brooklyn led by as many as 29 points midway through the third quarter, but Denver closed to 10399 on Kenneth Faried’s layup with 4:31 left. Bojan Bogdanovic and Kilpatrick each made two foul shots in the final 13 seconds to help secure the win for the Nets. Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 27 points and 15 rebounds. CELTICS 117, MAGIC 87 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Bradley scored 23 points to help Boston rout Orlando. Terry Rozier added 16 points, Jae Crowder had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Amir Johnson, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each had 13 points. D.J. Augustin scored 15 points for Orlando.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
KNICKS forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots over Cavaliers centre Tristan Thompson (13) in the first quarter of last night’s game at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP)
PAGE 6, Thursday, December 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 8, 2016, PAGE 7
Sevilla and FC Porto take last Champions League slots By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Sevilla and FC Porto grabbed the final two spots in the last 16 of the Champions League yesterday, while Juventus and Borussia Dortmund finished up with the debatable advantage of being group winners. A team that finishes top of its group will be drawn against a runner-up when the knockout stage begins — which usually offers a clear advantage. Not this year. With the likes of titleholder Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Paris SaintGermain hanging around as possible opponents in Monday’s draw, group winners will be wary. “When we reached the final in Berlin (in 2015) we had finished second in our group,” Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta said. “When we finished first last season we were eliminated (by Bayern Munich). “So it’s difficult to think rationally. The important thing in the Champions League is the draw. We’ll rely on destiny,” Marotta said before a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb made sure the Bianconeri would finish atop Group H.
GROUP E Bayer Leverkusen finally scored from a penalty this season, although it needed help from the opposing goalkeeper, in a 3-0 victory over Monaco. Both teams were already assured of advancing to the Round of 16 before the final group matches and Monaco fielded a youthful side missing many regulars. Monaco finished on 11 points, one more than Leverkusen, which for the first time ended a group stage undefeated. Meanwhile, Tottenham won at Wembley Stadium at the third attempt, beating CSKA Moscow 3-1 to secure third place and a consolation spot in the Europa League. Dele Alli and Harry Kane were on target as Tottenham won for only the second time in six games on its return to Europe’s elite competition after a five-year absence. GROUP F A late equaliser by substitute Marco Reus earned Borussia Dortmund a 2-2 draw against defending champion Real Madrid and first place in the group. Dortmund also set a groupstage record with 21 goals as it
stood since the late 1980s. Dortmund finished the group with 14 points, two more than Madrid. Legia Warsaw, which defeated Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in Poland, finished third with four points to qualify for the Europa League. Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless for the fourth straight time in the Champions League, again failing to become the first player to score 100 goals in European competitions. His current total is 98. GROUP G FC Porto breezed into the knockout phase with a 5-0 rout of Leicester, which had already secured top spot in the group on its competition debut. Porto’s emphatic victory over the much-changed English champions ensured it was not overtaken by FC Copenhagen, which beat Club Brugge 2-0 to finish with a Europa League place. Yacine Brahimi scored twice, including a penalty, while Jesus Corona, Yacine Brahimi and Diogo Jota also netted. Leicester finished two points ahead of Porto with 13 points from six games. In its Premier League title defence, Leicester has 13 points from 14 games to sit
CRISTIANO RONALDO (AP) stormed back from being 2-0 down. Karim Benzema had scored a goal in each half at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to give Madrid a convincing lead, but forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled the German side closer in the 61st and Reus netted the decisive equaliser in the 88th. Madrid was left with the consolation prize of matching the club’s 34-game unbeaten streak that had
two points above the relegation zone. GROUP H Gonzalo Higuain ended his scoring drought as Juventus beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 to win the group. Juventus had already qualified for the knockout stages, but the victory secured top spot ahead of Sevilla, which also advanced following a 0-0 draw with Lyon. Higuain blasted a strike into the top left corner from the edge of the area after being set up by Mario Lemina early in the second half. It was Higuain’s first goal since scoring on November 2 against Lyon. Higuain joined Juventus before the season from rival Napoli for an Italian-record 90 million euros ($100 million) after scoring 36 Italian-league goals last season to break a 66-year-old Serie A record. Defender Daniele Rugani added another for Juventus with a header from a corner taken by Miralem Pjanic. Juventus finished with 14 points, three ahead of Sevilla. Lyon has eight points and will play in the Europa League, while Dinamo lost all six matches.
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 74° F/23° C Low: 52° F/11° C
TAMPA
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Partly sunny with a shower in spots
Partly cloudy with a stray shower
Clouds and sun with a stray shower
Windy with a brief shower or two
Partly sunny with a shower or two
Partly sunny and breezy
High: 82°
Low: 68°
High: 80° Low: 68°
High: 79° Low: 69°
High: 81° Low: 71°
High: 83° Low: 72°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
96° F
77° F
86°-68° F
78°-67° F
85°-73° F
90°-76° F
High: 72° F/22° C Low: 53° F/12° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
4-8 knots
S
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 63° F/17° C
3-6 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 65° F/18° C
N E S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
W
uV inDex toDay
TONIGHT
High: 81° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C
MIAMI
High: 83° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C
6-12 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 ................................... 70° F/21° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 48.94” Normal year to date ................................... 38.85”
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
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KEY WEST
High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C
High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
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 ---------
Tuesday
6:42 a.m. 7:02 p.m.
3.6 2.8
12:18 a.m. -1.0 1:10 p.m. -0.7
Wednesday 7:35 a.m. 7:56 p.m.
3.6 2.8
1:11 a.m. -1.0 2:03 p.m. -0.8
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
N
S
E
W
4-8 knots
S
3-6 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
tiDes For nassau
6:43 a.m. 5:21 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
1:20 p.m. 12:48 a.m.
Full
Last
New
First
Dec. 13
Dec. 20
Dec. 29
Jan. 5
CAT ISLAND
E
W
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C
N
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
insurance management tracking map
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C
3-6 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° 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: 74° F/23° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C
N
N E
W
E
W
H
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
S
S
7-14 knots
8-16 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA
L
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 3-6 Knots NNW at 7-14 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots N at 6-12 Knots SSE at 3-6 Knots W at 3-6 Knots E at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots WNW at 4-8 Knots E at 4-8 Knots N at 8-16 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots WSW at 3-6 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots S at 3-6 Knots NNW at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots S at 3-6 Knots WNW at 4-8 Knots
WAVES 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet
VISIBILITY 5 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 76° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 83° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 78° F
PAGE 8, Thursday, December 8, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Djokovic, Becker splitting after three seasons, six major titles By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NOVAK Djokovic and coach Boris Becker are splitting up after three seasons — and a half-dozen Grand Slam titles — as a pair. Djokovic posted a statement on Facebook on Tuesday, saying the duo “jointly decided to end our cooperation.” “The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled, and I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment,” Djokovic’s posting said. “On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season. In this regard I will make all future decisions.” Of Djokovic’s 12 career major singles trophies — among men, trailing only Roger Federer with 17, and Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal with 14 apiece — half came while working with Becker. Djokovic also was the runner-up at three other Grand Slam tournaments during his time with Becker, meaning the Serb made it to the finals at nine of the 12 majors during their partnership. Becker also was around for Djokovic’s first French Open title in June, which allowed him to become the
NOVAK Djokovic (left) and his coach Boris Becker are splitting up after three seasons together. (AP) eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam — at least one championship at each of tennis’ four most important events — and the first in nearly a half-century to win four major tournaments in a row. At Roland Garros, Djokovic was asked about working with Becker, a six-time major champion as a player in the 1980s and 1990s and part of a recent wave of past stars who signed up to coach current stars. “The last couple of years, I had some great times with him,” Djokovic said, explaining that Becker taught him from a “psychological point of view, how to handle things on the tour, on and off the court.” “His contribution to the
team is definitely big, and so everything works in harmony so far,” Djokovic said at the time. “How long it is going to go for, we don’t know. We go year by year. ... So at the end of this year, we will see if he goes for another year.” After Djokovic’s triumph in Paris, his season went off course. He was upset in the third round at Wimbledon by Sam Querrey and in the first round at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics by Juan Martin del Potro, then lost the No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray last month, finishing 2016 at No. 2. With Becker in his corner, Djokovic finished 2014 and 2015 atop the ATP rankings.
DECEMBER 23, 2016 | 1 P.M. ET - THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM LIVE ON
2016 POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL MATCHUP
VS.
TICKETS START AT JUST $10! AT THE THOMAS A. ROBINSON NATIONAL STADIUM BOX OFFICE OR ONLINE AT NSA-BAHAMAS.COM
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES
OLD DOMINION MONARCHS
(7-5)
(9-3)
For more info, contact the Stadium Box Office at 325-0376
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Youth Football Leadership Clinic WHEN Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 WHERE Nassau’s Roscow A.L. Davies Field (near Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium) DETAILS • FREE to boys & girls, ages 7-13 • Registration: 2-3 pm Clinic: 3-4:30 pm
The clinic is conducted by coaches from USA Football, players/coaches from Eastern Michigan and Old Dominion, and representatives of the Commonwealth American Football League (CAFL). Each registered participant will receive a t-shirt and a game ticket voucher. Each participant’s parent or guardian must complete a event waiver prior to participation.