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Volume: 119 No.28, December 31, 2021

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ROLLE’S CONCERN AT LACK OF INQUESTS Commissioner concedes absence of hearings on police killings is problem

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the near two-year absence of inquests into police-involved killings is unacceptable, a sentiment Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle echoed during a press conference yesterday.

Commissioner Rolle revealed there have been 13 police involved killings this year. That is the highest in recent memory. Commissioner Rolle could not recall another year when more

killings were recorded.

The Bahamas has one of the highest per capita rates of police involved killings in the world, with 11 recorded in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Initially, COVID-19 caused delays in inquests last year. Officials spent months waiting for plexiglass barriers to be erected throughout courtrooms to ensure compliance with health and physical distancing protocols. Later, former Coroner Jeanine WeechGomez was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice,

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he is not considering a serious shutdown of economic activity in the country despite record increases of COVID-19 cases.

“As I’ve said, many Bahamians are earning their first steady pay cheques in a long time,

SEE PAGE THREE

THE country recorded 119 homicides so far in 2021, a 75 percent increase when compared with the 68 that occurred during the same period in 2020.

There were 103 murders in New Providence, 13 in Grand Bahama and three in the Family Islands,

according to Police Commissioner Paul Rolle yesterday.

The nation also saw a 19 percent increase in crimes against the person, he said, when compared with the same timeframe last year.

Commissioner Rolle gave the new crime statistics yesterday during a press briefing at the Office of the SEE PAGE THREE

- SEE PAGE SEVEN

NO TOUGH WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2022? MEASURES ON DAVIS’ PLAY SHEET

SEE PAGE FOUR

MURDER TOLL FOR YEAR STANDS AT 119

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

NAUGHTY’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

SMUGGLERS’ ACCUSATION INVESTIGATED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

COLOURFUL rainbow dresses like this one from Wish are predicted to be a big fashion trend in 2022 as women seek to engage in some ‘dopamine dressing’. See the Weekend section for more (Image/Wish.com)

ROBBERY ‘RULED OUT’ IN GRIFFIN SLAYING

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE motive behind businessman Leon Griffin’s murder does not appear to be armed robbery, Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday.

As police continue to investigate the fatal shooting of former Cabinet minister Melanie Griffin’s husband, Commissioner Rolle further revealed a

LEON GRIFFIN man has been assisting authorities with information regarding the death.

The former Bahamas Taxicab Union president

was shot in the head outside his home at Winton Meadows on December 23. Mrs Griffin found him slumped over in his vehicle shortly before 8pm.

At the time police said while the incident could have been motivated by a robbery, the motive could not be officially determined.

However, yesterday as he spoke on various matters during the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing,

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle said the Royal Bahamas Police Force is investigating a claim that an officer was allegedly involved in a $25 million cocaine operation.

Police arrested two Venezuelan men at the Crooked Island Airport on Wednesday, December 22.

Officers became suspicious when they heard the sound SEE PAGE THREE

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS! THE TRIBUNE WILL RETURN TO NEWSSTANDS ON TUESDAY

PAGE 2, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

MEDICAL-GRADE MASKS DISTRIBUTED

THE GOVERNMENT began the process of distributing medical-grade masks yesterday with NEMA giving them to clinics and vaccine sites.

PHOTOS from Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ Facebook page.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 3

Rolle’s concern at lack of inquests COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle speaks yesterday. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff FROM PAGE ONE

causing further delays as officials waited to replace her.

Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux was named acting coroner in September.

Commissioner Rolle said yesterday he has appointed an internal committee in the Royal Bahamas Police Force to look into police killings as a result of the delay in court inquests.

“Any killing,” Mr Davis said yesterday, “whether by police or otherwise is troubling and requires the proper investigation to determine the circumstances under which that killing may have occurred and allowing the chips to fall where they may.

It is not acceptable that you have killings and the

timeline and the investigations follow to be as long as it is because it impacts memory, memory fades, details are lost and it does not help in solving the issues.

“So, yes, we are concerned and we are going to be talking with the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General to see how we can address these issues because it does go to the root of confidence in the force and one of the best tools for effective policing is the confidence of the general public.”

Commissioner Rolle said there were seven police involved shootings in December, two of which have been fatal. He said there have been 21 such shootings for the year.

Yesterday, he said the

public should encourage authorities to make sure inquests take place, adding he believes two, not just one coroner responsible for police cases, is necessary.

“We have not had a coroner’s inquest for well over a year or thereabouts,” he said.

“What I have done realising this because when these incidents happen, just like murders or any killing, the family has an interest in knowing what happened. What I have done is to appoint my own committee within the Royal Bahamas Police Force which is comprised of Deputy Commissioner Fernander, Assistant Commissioner Leamond Deleveaux, Assistant Commissioner Zhivargo Dames and Father Steven

Davies and I have mandated them to look at every one of those police involved killings.

“We have five files right now that I had some concerns with and we begin with those based on information that I’ve been getting from members of the public. I’ve asked them to review those files and once they are completed then I will make my recommendation to the coroner.

“If you are familiar with the Coroner’s Act it gives the coroner certain powers whether they are either satisfied that the action was justified or not justified and then it goes on to the Attorney General.

The pressure is on me, I feel it and I am trying to do this because I want the Bahamian people to know

that I’m not gonna be covering nothing. Whatever the information is we are going to make it available to the members of the public.”

Asked if 13 killings is the most ever in a single year, Commissioner Rolle said: “I think at one point it might’ve been like 12…I don’t just want to concentrate on the fact that it was police killings, because you got 13 killings, 13 attempts to kill police.

“These are 13 idiots who are crazy enough to pull (a) gun on my officers and the officers are not going to sit by and let someone shoot them.

“And that’s why I continue to tell people, you know your family has illegal guns, tell them turn those guns in.”

ROBBERY ‘RULED OUT’ IN GRIFFIN SLAYING FROM PAGE ONE Commissioner Rolle said new details had come to light during investigations.

“We are continuing to investigate the murder with Leon Griffin,” he said when asked about the incident.

“I don’t believe that armed robbery… what is developing now does not appear to be armed robbery, but I can say that we are following significant leads.

“We have a young man in custody now, well not in custody, but who is giving us some information.”

Asked if it appeared that Mr Griffin was targeted, the Commissioner said: “I will leave my answer right there. It doesn’t appear to be armed robbery, okay. I don’t want to speculate because at the end of the day we want to solve this and put it before the court.”

Following the shocking death, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he would use all of the country’s resources to bring a resolution to this “heinous” crime.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the brutal homicide of Leon Griffin, the husband of my colleague and friend in front of their home tonight. I express my condolences to Melanie, his children and the wider family,” he said in a statement released shortly after Mr Griffin’s murder.

“I ask for our supporters and all citizens across the length and

LEON Griffin was shot outside his home at Winton Meadows on December 23.

breadth of our country to pray for the repose of his soul, to pray for Melanie and the family.

“I pledge to use all the resources of the state to resolve this heinous crime,” Mr Davis said.

Several high-profile members of the Progressive Liberal Party visited the Griffin home on Roberts

Street on the night of the murder, including former Prime Minister Perry Christie, former Labour Minister Shane Gibson, and Minister of State for Education Zane Lightbourne, along with other party members and government officials.

Mr Davis was in quarantine at

the time due to exposure to a positive COVID-19 case.

The murder came four months after Mr Griffin’s business associate Biswajit Pati was shot dead on August 12.

A 24-year-old man was charged in connection with Pati’s death later that month.

SMUGGLERS’ ACCUSATION INVESTIGATED FROM PAGE ONE

of an aircraft hovering around the island’s airport after 11.45pm.

When they were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, the men, Luis Andres Perez, 29, and Jaime Digiacomo, 64, said that a police officer was involved in the matter.

They questioned why police did not report the

involvement of a certain high-ranking officer who they claimed was supposed to receive the drugs and later take the plane.

Speaking through an interpreter, Digiacomo told the court that when they landed, the police officer in question was waiting to receive the shipment and was supposed to take them to a speedboat that would

later travel to the Dominican Republic.

He also named the officer as being the chief of police of Crooked Island.

The men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to supply; drug possession with intent to supply; conspiracy to import drugs with intent to supply and drug importation.

The men have been sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Asked about the matter yesterday, Commissioner Rolle said no officer has been arrested.

“We are doing some investigations,” he said.

“The officer was implicated and I’ve given instructions to have full investigations.”

Asked if the officer is on

leave, he said: “He is not on leave. He ain’ gotta be on leave for me to do my investigations.

“He would be on leave if I find him at fault, he would have to answer.

“The chips will fall where they may. I just hope that he’s not involved, but the investigations are ongoing and we’ll see where it goes.”

MURDER TOLL FOR THE YEAR AT 119

FROM PAGE ONE Prime Minister.

“Preliminary figures indicate that during the month of December, crimes against the person decreased by 24 percent and crimes against the property decreased by four percent when compared to December 2020,” the Commissioner said.

“However, year to date crimes against the person increased overall by 19 percent when compared with this period of last year. There was no change in crime against property year to date.

“We have investigated 119 incidents of homicides thus far in 2021 compared with 68 in 2020.

There were 103 murders in New Providence, 13 in Grand Bahama and three in the Family Islands.”

He continued: “For the month of December 2021, we recorded 12 homicides. Fatal gunshots remain the leading cause of death.”

Regarding crimes of a sexual nature, the Commissioner pleaded for women to not walk alone in dimly lit areas.

“Recently we recorded four sexual offence matters, including two incest, one indecent assault and one rape of females all here in New Providence.

“In the rape matter, a 29-year-old woman was walking in the area of Carmichael Primary (School) when she was attacked and sexually assaulted.

“I cannot express enough to encourage young women and old alike not to walk in dark areas alone. This occurred around 5am in the morning.

“The reality is that no one is safe to do so regardless of your place.”

Commissioner Rolle also said that nationwide police recorded 34 armed robberies in December.

“The majority of these occurred in or around residences and others at business establishments and (on) streets as persons were arriving home or getting into their vehicles. These were where the majority of these armed robbery incidents took place and I want to again encourage persons to be aware of your surroundings. When you are going home make sure that you’re not being followed by persons who may wish to have ill intent,” he said.

PAGE 4, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

NO TOUGH MEASURES ON DAVIS’ PLAY SHEET FROM PAGE ONE many fragile small Bahamian-owned businesses are just starting to recover, and as a country we are taking important steps to economic recovery,” he said during a press conference at his office yesterday.

“So blunt instruments like shutting our borders or prolonged, nationwide lockdowns are off the table. Instead, our COVID policy is focused on giving Bahamians support to reduce their risks and on expanding our hospital capacity to accommodate any increase in hospitalisations.”

Mr Davis’ comments came a day after acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Philip Swann said the country recorded its highest number of positive cases last week, 970 cases.

Despite the high infection rates, health officials are pleased that hospitalisation rates are remaining relatively low in line with global trends suggesting the Omicron variant manifests more mildly than earlier strains of the virus.

The government announced restrictions on gatherings and sizes of crowds last week. Some have since complained about double standards, noting that hotels are not affected by the rules. “A lot of Bahamians have asked why the big hotel properties are allowed to have outdoor New Year’s Eve events,” Mr Davis said.

“These questions are more than fair, and indeed, I share the frustrations and concerns. Our health protocols are designed to reduce transmission

risk while still supporting economic activity. Often, those twin goals are in contradiction with each other. It’s not an easy balancing act, and you may think we get some of these decisions wrong. But the primary health goal is to slow transmission among Bahamians, to protect our people, and to protect our hospitals from the coming onslaught of cases.

“With that in mind, we are asking the hotels to take steps to protect Bahamian staff, and we are asking Bahamians to reconsider attending these events. These hotels are full – and their guests are going to socialise on New Year’s Eve. It may be safer to be outside at a concert instead of inside at bars, nightclubs, and the casino.

I hope that is the case – I don’t want anyone to get sick in The Bahamas. This is the world we live in now; full hotels are fantastic news for our economy, but bringing people together increases risks.

Mr Davis also said the National Emergency Management Agency began distributing medical grade masks yesterday to clinics

and vaccine sites. Wider distribution will continue in the days ahead, he said.

He also spoke of the importance of being vaccinated.

“If you’ve had COVID19 in the past but you are not vaccinated, please know that prior infection is not protection against the Omicron variant, you can become reinfected and you can transmit the virus. “. . .Omicron is so transmissible that nearly all of us are likely to be exposed to the virus in the coming weeks and months. And the question is – how ready will your body be to fight off the virus? If you are vaccinated and especially if you are vaccinated and boosted, you have given yourself an excellent chance at experiencing the virus as an inconvenience instead of as a severe disease.”

Mr Davis said US Centers for Disease Control Director Rochelle Walensky recently said that people who are not vaccinated are 10 times more likely to contract the virus and 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19.

207 NEW CASES OF COVID-19

TWO hundred and seven cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the nation’s confirmed virus toll to 24,476.

The bulk of the new cases—192—were in New Providence.

Health officials also confirmed one more COVID-19 death. The deceased was a 72-year-old Grand Bahama man who died on December 19. His death pushed the nation’s toll to 717.

Meanwhile, 23 people are in hospital with COVID-19, with one of those patients in the intensive care unit.

The country currently has 1,773 active cases.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaking yesterday.

PHOTO: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff

CPSA VOICES CONCERN OVER MASS GATHERINGS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

WITH hotels allowed to continue with plans to host events in the upcoming days, the vice president of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association said more information is needed about these gatherings and the conditions in which they are happening.

“CPSA would be concerned over any mass gathering where persons may not be adhering to social distancing, sanitisation requirements,” Dr John Dillett said.

“We would want for persons to be very safe and that would go for persons who are in hotels or in other mass gatherings as well. I’m not totally sure of what the protocols might be in terms of whether or not persons have to be vaccinated to attend hotels or what other security measures they’re taking in place,” he told The Tribune when asked about hotel activities.

“I think we would need more information in terms of what type of situations and conditions that are happening.

“Obviously again any mass gathering where unvaccinated persons might be gathering, social distancing is not being adhered to could potentially be a super spreader event regardless of whether it’s in a hotel or some other institution or venue.

“So we would be concerned regardless of where it’s being held but more importantly whether or not persons are vaccinated. Are they adhering to social distancing guidelines?

Is there appropriate sanitisation in place as well? Those would be things that we’re most concerned about.”

His comments come after Health Minister Dr Darville said officials are in discussions with hotel operators when previously quizzed on mass gatherings at these venues.

“With our hotels, you must realise the majority of them are practically full and there has to be some activity for their guests, including the restaurants,” he said.

“We are in deep communication with them because we are in the middle of a pandemic and we have the Omicron variant here and we know it’s highly, highly transmissible and so they are working along with the government,

but I want to say again that the rules as it relates to mass gatherings apply across the board.”

The government announced restrictions on gatherings and sizes of crowds last week.

Some have since complained about double standards, noting that hotels are not affected by the rules.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis addressed these concerns.

“A lot of Bahamians have asked why the big hotel properties are allowed to have outdoor New Year’s Eve events,” Mr Davis said.

“These questions are more than fair, and indeed, I share the frustrations and concerns.

Our health protocols are designed to reduce transmission risk while still supporting economic activity.

“Often, those twin goals are in contradiction with each other. It’s not an easy balancing act, and you may think we get some of these decisions wrong. But the primary health goal is to slow transmission among Bahamians, to protect our people, and to protect our hospitals from the coming onslaught of cases.

“With that in mind, we are asking the hotels to take steps to protect Bahamian staff, and we are asking Bahamians to reconsider attending these events.

“These hotels are full – and their guests are going to socialize on New Year’s Eve. It may be safer to be outside at a concert instead of inside at bars, nightclubs, and the casino. I hope that is the case – I don’t want anyone to get sick in The Bahamas. This is the world we live in now – full hotels are fantastic news for our economy, but bringing people together increases risks.”

Asked about the issue earlier this week, National Security Wayne Munroe said: “Well if a hotel is running it’s facility, they’re able to run their facility.

“A mass event would be one that requires a temporary license from the commissioner of police.

“If I have a bar in the hotel, that’s an amenity of the hotel just how restaurants are permitted to operate. So it’s just the ad hoc events that are being targeted. Nobody has cancelled the hotel licenses to do what they have to do.”

VACCINATIONS IN PROGRESS AT SUSAN J WALLACE CENTRE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

VACCINATIONS on Grand Bahama are in progress at the Susan J Wallace Centre and people who are immuno-compromised are encouraged to get vaccinated.

The centre is administering the extended dose and booster shot of Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

The country has entered its fourth wave, with cases of the Omicron variant suspected to be in the country. Last week, the country recorded 970 COVID-19 cases, including one day with 330 cases, the highest total in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

Vaccinations are available Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am to noon and from 1pm to 3pm.

A hospital official said persons are coming in for the shot. The centre will close today for the holiday.

“For those that are highly at risk, persons that are immune-compromised we are encouraging them to

get a booster,” advised Dr Freeman Lockhart during a Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Zoom meeting last month.

“We encourage boosters because there has been a significant drop off in the number of persons accessing the vaccine,” he said back in November.

He said that vaccines have expiry dates on them.

“To avoid vaccines expiring, we find boosters will be offered to the general populace sooner rather than later.”

Dr Lockhart also urged people to continue to wear masks and observe public health guidelines.

According to an official announcement released

by Grand Bahama Health Services on December 13, persons eligible to receive the extended dose are those with active cancer or who have ended treatment within the last 12 months.

Others eligible persons include: those who have had an organ transplant, chronic dialysis, HIV with a current CD4 count of less than 200 cells/ul or detectable viral load; persons who were on active treatment

causing significant immunosuppression; or had immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the past six months; received the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson and Johnson vaccines 1-3 before requesting the extended dose.

Persons eligible to receive the booster dose must be 18 years and older, and six months have passed since the second Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine; or two months have passed since the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Eligible persons for the extended dose or the booster shot are asked to make their appointment at vax.gov.bs. All vaccine recipients are asked to report to the vaccination centre 15 minutes before their appointment time and bring along their yellow COVID-19 vaccine card. Walk-ins are also welcomed.

People that have received their first round of vaccines are advised that they will be accommodated for the extended dose or booster shot during a scheduled time to be announced.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 5

Minnis denies encouraging the govt to investigate Parks and Beaches

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has denied his successor’s claim that he encouraged the Davis administration to investigate the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority because he was concerned about how it was operated.

The authority recently terminated all current contracts after external investigators found numerous lapses in the institution’s functioning and internal controls.

St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, one of the favourites to become the new deputy leader of the Free National Movement, chaired the authority under the Minnis administration.

During a press conference yesterday, Mr Davis said: “(Dr Minnis) never raised any matter with me personally about his concerns.

“A member of my team did indicate to me that the Prime Minister was concerned about what happened at Beaches and Parks and I ought to investigate it but that did not prompt what happened with our investigations.

I am advised through a member of my team that he may have.

“Now whether he did or not I’m not aware, but I trust what my member told me.”

His comment came in response from a question

from a reporter about the issue.

However, Dr Minnis denied this yesterday, insisting that deference to new FNM leader Michael Pintard is the only reason he has not defended the operations of BPPPBA under his administration.

He said: “At first the rumours were that I had spoken to Brave Davis about this, now he (is) saying I spoke to someone else, presumably a

“At first the rumours were that I had spoken to Brave Davis about this, now he (is) saying I spoke to someone else, presumably a Cabinet minister, senator or someone.

They need to stop starting political mischief.”

Dr Hubert Minnis Cabinet minister, senator or someone. They need to stop starting political mischief. I have intentionally said nothing about this because my leader said they don’t want me involved, that they will deal with it.

“I’ve stayed out of it, but if they want me to get in it I can get in it and bust they backside.

“I’ve complied with my leader but if they pull me into it I would get into

it because I will defend myself and the policies we had. Some of the things I will say they will not like me to say. And they should name the person who gave him the information.

“All I would say if they pull me into this is ‘oh happy day, they messing with the wrong one’.”

K Christie and Co Chartered Accountants conducted the operational review of the BPPPBA. The probe found the authority went tens of millions of dollars over budget despite there not being any “real needs on the ground” for this overspend; they also found inconsistencies in signatures on contracts; and VAT returns were not filed, among other lapses.

In response to the report, Mr Cartwright released a short statement earlier this month defending his tenure.

“I note the contents of the distributed report.

On assuming office as executive chairman of the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority in August of 2017, and throughout my tenure, established procedures were followed.

Notably the report indicates that ‘most contracts adhered to the documentation requirements of the authority.’

“I look forward to the completion of the government’s assessment on this matter at which point I will respond accordingly.”

Man shot in the hand during car chase with police POLICE said a man was shot in the hand during a car chase in Grand Bahama on Wednesday.

The car was being pursued by police after officers saw its occupants open fire on another vehicle.

Police said shortly after 6pm, a team of officers from the Predator Unit were conducting routine patrols on Warren J Levarity Highway when they heard the sound of gunshots.

“The officers then observed the occupants of a silver coloured Nissan Note vehicle discharging a firearm in the direction of a black Charger vehicle,” police said in a crime report.

The officers pursued the car and the occupants of the Nissan fired in the direction of the police car, the RBPF said.

Police said the officers were in fear for their lives and discharged their service weapons in the direction of the Nissan.

The pursuit continued and ended in the area of South Bahamia where the Nissan crashed into bushes. Police said the occupants fled the vehicle and a high-powered weapon was found inside the car.

Two men were found when police searched nearby bushes. Police said during the pursuit, one of the suspects was shot in the right hand. He was taken to hospital where he is listed in serious, but stable condition.

Meanwhile, one of the men in the Charger reported that he was shot in the right leg by one

of the occupants of the Nissan. The victim was taken to hospital where his condition is listed as serious, but stable.

Police are also investigating a shooting that took place in New Providence on Wednesday.

Sometime after 9pm, police were informed of a shooting incident that occurred on Morley Street. Investigations revealed that

the occupants of a small Japanese vehicle were travelling along Morley Street, when they heard the sound of gunshots.

Moments later one of the passengers, a man, realised that he had been shot in his right hand.

He was then taken to hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Investigations are continuing.

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

923 POLICE OFFICERS PROMOTED THIS MONTH

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 920 Royal Bahamas Police Force officers of all ranks received promotions this month.

Police Commissioner Paul Rolle yesterday provided a breakdown of those promotions in response to a question from The Tribune about the awards to officers.

Last week, Police Press Liaison Audley Peters confirmed promotion letters had been handed out.

“We had a Deputy Commissioner, let’s start at the top, right, and two Assistant Commissioners,” Commissioner Rolle said of the promotional exercise during the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing.

“It’s Deputy Commissioner, let me make it straight because I hear people saying senior deputy, it’s deputy. We

have two Deputy Commissioners and Clayton Fernander, I put him responsible for crime, (to) assist me with crime and Mackey, Deputy Commissioner (Loretta) Mackey, will focus on discipline, the internal discipline of the force so (the) two of them work in tandem.

“We had 25 Chief Superintendents, two Assistant Commissioners, which is, you have seen Bernard Bonamy Jr and Mrs Dellareece Ferguson. Bonamy has responsibility for Family Island operations, Family Island policing, which is very big and Mrs Ferguson has responsibility for HR and training, which is also a huge feat and, like I said, also the 25 Chief Superintendents.

“There were 60 Superintendents, 87 Assistant Superintendents and 98 Inspectors and 325 Sergeants and 325 Corporals and I need another hundred constables to go in training, okay.”

Based on his breakdown, there were about 923 officers promoted.

Back in October, Commissioner Rolle suggested that promotions were in the pipeline.

Speaking on the Royal Bahamas Police Force programme “Cop Talk”, Commissioner Rolle was asked about promotions.

At the time he said: “All of my police officers, colleagues, just to say thank you—not yet. I heard some rumblings about some things, but we’re not ready yet— soon.

“I know several of you are anxiously waiting for your promotions.”

He continued: “Let them know that I spoke with the Minister of Public Service this morning and I believe he’s watching.

“I kinda said to them, to nudge them to get my stuff, so we can move forward, but I know, tell them we’re gonna have a good Christmas.

“I believe that.”

PAGE 6, Friday, December 31, 2021

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Devastating Colorado fires cap a year of climate disasters in 2021 ALONGSIDE a lingering global pandemic, the year 2021 was filled with climate disasters, some so intense they surprised even the scientists who study them.

Extreme rainstorms turned to raging flash floods that swept through mountain towns in Europe, killing over 200 people.

Across Asia, excessive rainfall inundated wide areas and flooded subway stations in China.

Heat waves shattered records in the Pacific Northwest, Europe and the Arctic. Wildfires swept through communities in California, Canada, Greece and Australia.

The area around Boulder, Colorado, was so unusually dry on Dec. 30, 2021, that a powerful wind storm sent grass fires racing through neighbourhoods in Superior and Louisville, burning hundreds of homes in a matter of hours.

Officials said the winds were so strong, there was little firefighters could do but evacuate homes and businesses in the fires’ paths.

In the U.S. alone, damage from the biggest climate and weather disasters is expected to total well over US$100 billion in 2021.

Many of these extreme weather events have been linked to humancaused climate change, and they offer a glimpse of what to expect in a rapidly warming world.

In the U.S., something in particular stood out: a sharp national precipitation divide, with one side of the country too wet, the other too dry.

As a climate scientist, I study the impact of global warming on precipitation and the water cycle.

Here’s what happened with precipitation in the U.S. in 2021 and why we’re likely to see similar scenarios in the future.

The east-west weather divide The eastern U.S. weathered storm after storm in 2021. Record rainfall in Tennessee triggered deadly flash flooding in August. The remnants of Hurricane Ida merged with another front days after the hurricane hit Louisiana and became so intense they set rainfall records and flooded subway stations and basement apartments in New York and Pennsylvania, with devastating consequences. Severe storms hit several states with deadly tornadoes in December.

Almost the entire West, meanwhile, was in some stage of drought, helping to fuel wildfires that swept through forests and towns.

This kind of east-west weather divide can be enhanced by La Niña, a periodical phenomenon fuelled by Pacific Ocean temperatures that tends to leave the Southwest drier than normal and the North and much of the eastern half of the U.S. wetter.

But something else is going on: Global warming fuels both dryness and extreme rainfall.

Three impacts of global warming on rainfall Three things in particular happen to precipitation when the planet warms.

1) Global warming increases evaporation, leading to more drying of land and plants and also more overall precipitation.

Higher temperature increases evaporation from Earth’s surface, drying out vegetation and soils, which can fuel wildfires.

It also increases the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture at a rate of about 7% per degree Celsius that the planet warms. With more moisture evaporating, global precipitation is expected to increase, but this increase is not uniform.

2) Global warming leads to more intense precipitation.

With higher temperature, more moisture is needed to reach the condensation level to form precipitation.

As a result, light precipitation will be less common.

But with more moisture in the atmosphere, when storm systems do develop, the increased humidity leads to heavier rainfall events.

In addition, storm systems are fueled by latent heat – the energy released into the atmosphere when water vapor condenses to liquid water.

Increased moisture in the atmosphere also enhances latent heat in storm systems, increasing their intensity.

Research shows that both the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events has increased since the 1950s over most land areas.

3) Global warming tends to make wet places wetter and dry places drier.

Precipitation is not distributed evenly over the planet because of the global atmosphere circulation pattern.

This global circulation brings moisture to places where winds come together, such as the tropical regions where we find most of the world’s rainforests, and away from places where winds diverge, such as the midlatitudes where most world’s deserts are located.

Assuming no significant changes in global wind patterns, increases in evaporation and moisture will mean more moisture is transported from dry areas to wet areas and into the storm tracks at higher latitudes.

Global warming could also potentially change the global circulation pattern, causing a shift in the world’s wet and dry regions.

Mountains, moisture and the east-west divide These dynamics are also affected by local conditions, such as the shape of the land, the types of plants on it and the presence of major water bodies.

The western U.S., with the exception of the West Coast, is dry in part because it lies in the rain shadow of mountains. The westerly wind from the Pacific Ocean is forced upward by the mountain ranges in the West. As it moves up, the air cools and precipitation forms on the windward side of the mountains.

By the time the wind reaches the leeward side of the mountains, the moisture has already rained out. As the wind descends the mountains, the air warms up, further reducing the relative humidity.

Higher temperature in areas like these where the moisture supply is already limited means less humidity in the air, leading to less rain. Higher temperature and less precipitation would also reduce snow packs in the mountains and cause earlier melt in spring.

All these changes are likely to increase aridity in the West.

The eastern U.S., on the other hand, receives abundant moisture from the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico carried by the easterly trade wind.

With abundant moisture supply, increasing temperature means more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to more precipitation and stronger storms.

This is what years of precipitation records show and what is projected for future precipitation based on climate models.

Both show a decrease in annual precipitation in the West, likely meaning more long periods of drought, and an increase in the East with global warming.

• This article is by Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton, for theconversation.com.

ALTAR servers make their way to a memorial service for Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday. Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial equality and LGBT rights died Sunday at the age of 90.

(AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) Jamaal Rolle is on holiday

There is a bright light within us EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHAT makes humanity so special? Yes, special.

We are agents of destruction and creation too. We look at our universe often in a survivalist manner, applying the rules of Darwinism to much that we do.

The survival of the fittest, only the strong survive and yet we show many moments of charity, pity and love to others less strong, more in peril than ourselves.

A lowly animal that would have died due to its lacking front legs, is cared for and nurtured by another.

That little animal not only survives but also becomes an inspiration to others.

Think of all the people who have some form

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

of physical or mental handicaps, neighbour’s who do not see, hear, are deformed in some way.

They too could and would perish if not for the helping hand and charity of others, their families, friends and strangers with an open heart and mind.

How can we create and turn the tide of destruction away from us and our fellow humans?

Look at our world, a place where the media points out the difficulties of life, war, hatred and suffering.

Yes, there is a great deal of destruction, and yet there is a bright light among and within us that leads us to do good,

stretch out our hands to others in need, to build instead of destroy. Our spirit, our soul may have a strong spiritual essence to it, a ever growing conscience perhaps. Whatever this light maybe, it calls us to better ourselves and achieve good things.

The New Year is upon us. A new beginning in time, and within our minds to change and better ourselves. Please make that change benefit others also. The needy, ill, hospitalised, poor and war torn individuals of our world look for a helping hand. Please give it with a smile on your face and a bright light that shines from your heart.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario.

December 29, 2021.

Are political parties ‘not for profit entities’?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

YES, carnival.....accepted the “tradition” party in-office has a business arrangement with the Carnival Company, but does the political party have a Business Licence? Has it a VAT Tin number?

May I propose in future this needs to be discontinued and simply the carnival would donate whatever they would normally share with the political party to a local recognised NGO who serves the poor. The licenses, exemptions are of the State why should they be giving such to a political party?

If the answer to these questions is ‘No’ then legally Finance should not have given, nor did have the authority to give. a comfort letter of Duty casual importation exemption of the carnival, or any other tax exemptions.

Are the principle political parties not registered, might be presuming much, Not For Profit Entities?

Showing a letter from Finance to the previous Government party means zilch.... if that party was registered as a ‘Not for profit’.

M THOMPSON Nassau, December 26, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 7

23 officers test positive for COVID-19

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle.

COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle revealed that currently 23 police officers have recently tested positive for the coronavirus, including three in Grand Bahama.

The police chief gave a breakdown of the infections at a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

“The Grove Police Station recorded the highest number with nine incidents followed

Naughty’s New Year’s resolutions REMEMBER all the jokes we made about having that 2021 vision board as the hellscape that was 2020 exited and the new year rolled in, and how we all had the perfect resolutions for 2021 after a hellacious 2020?

How lost were we thinking 2021 would be so much different and better then 2020.

This past year hasn’t been much better, and honestly like 2020, it felt like 2021 would never end.

Thankfully at midnight it all does.

Make way for a New Year, 2022, and all the New Year’s resolutions that come along with it. (This should be very interesting).

At first New Year’s resolutions were considered very serious by many, but slowly over time, they have turned into the source of great hilarity.

There are many people that make memes and jokes out of New Year’s resolutions, (I’m one) and spread them among friends for a laugh, you know spreading the holiday cheer.

Hopefully we won’t go into 2022 with eyes wide shut, hoping for the best, etc.

Sadly due to the antics of ‘20 and ‘21 I’m meeting ‘22 with all the wisdom and sarcasm it deserves.

I’m not getting fooled again and I’m holding back no punches.

Tomorrow is the accepted time to make your regular annual New Year’s resolutions, and next week is the expected time you can begin paving the road to hell with them.

I’m sure I will see many

of your New Year’s resolutions all over social media at some point over the next couple of days.

So it’s only fair that you see mine.

Here are my Ten New Year’s Resolutions for 2022, buckle up!

‘NAUGHTY’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS’ 1. To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time or run for parliament.

2. To quit all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.

3. To not bore my wife with the same old excuses for not helping around the house. I will do better and think of some new more original excuses.

4. To be more optimistic by keeping my cup halffull with Jack Daniels.

5. To exercise more self-control, even though I already have a rule not to drink anything stronger than beer before breakfast.

6. To take up a new hobby such as procrastination.

7. To stop blaming my farts on the dog.

8. To save money for a rainy day. That way I can shop online instead of having to go to an actual store.

9. To stop drinking orange juice after I’ve just brushed my teeth.

10. To help all my friends gain ten pounds so I look skinnier through your the year. BONUS 11. To scrap my New Year’s resolutions, as soon as some of you start paying more attention to my resolutions than your own.

Now please bear in mind, before you get all worked up making New Year’s resolutions and attempting to keep them, that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

New Year’s resolutions aren’t a life-changing event.

If your life sucked last year, it’s probably going to suck tomorrow.

Now that we’ve gotten that dose of reality out of the way, focus on this moving forward into the new year of 2022.

“No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” - Buddha Happy New Years everyone, all the best to you and yours in 2022.

Death Notice For Lauessa Samantha Pintard, 45 affectionately called “Lulu” a resident of #17 Forbes Street, died at her residence on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

She is survived by her common-law-husband: Phillip Burrows; 1 son: Justin Burrows; 1 daughter: Phillippa Burrows; father: Lawrence Pintard; 3 sisters: Tiana Miller, Gia McIntosh & LauRena Pintard; brothers: Lawvallo, Stephan, Brandon, Lamon & Lawren Pintard; 2 uncles: Anthony & Clifford Forbes; 1 aunt: Monique Lockhart; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives & friends.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

by the Criminal Investigation Department with five. Three in headquarters and three in the Crime Scene Investigation Unit respectively,” he told the media.

“All of these units have an extremely high interaction with members of the public. We also have an additional 31 officers in quarantine. All of the officers in quarantine have been vaccinated.

To date, we have over 2,000 police officers and 600 reserves who are vaccinated.”

The Commissioner also spoke about the challenges of responding to events over the holiday

weekend which took place despite them being denied requests to operate. “…With a significant rise in new cases over the past week, the COVID Enforcement Unit conducted some 400 checks of business establishments and restaurants.

“We were particularly challenged over the holiday weekend when persons took the liberties to breach denied requests to hold events.

“Officers from the Grove station and CID responded mainly to these incidents.”

PAGE 8, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Deeper integration of CARICOM countries cannot wait T

HE destruction by tornadoes of Kentucky, a south-eastern State of the United States of America (US), on December 12, has lessons for the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as 2022 dawns amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and weakened economies.

One of the lessons is that those member states of CARICOM that continue to insist on CARICOM remaining “a community of sovereign states”, each pursuing separate policies – sometimes to the detriment of each other – are marching down the road to perdition, as the facts of their situation substantiate.

Many of the sovereign states of CARICOM

would not be solvent if it weren’t for the official development assistance they receive. Their sovereignty is constrained by the extent of their financial and economic dependence for which they pay a price. Curiously, some of them prefer to pay a price to external powers, than to pool their individual sovereignty into a common autonomous authority with their CARICOM partners in order to

build greater strength and resilience.

Why should people in other US States, such as Texas or New York, care about the devastation of Kentucky? After all, Kentucky’s representatives in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, fiercely resist the US federal government.

They want to maintain power in Kentucky’s governor and legislature, just like some governments

Graveside Service For Magdalene Mather, 53

a resident of #197A Silver Palm Way Freeport and formerly of High Rock will be held at The High Rock Public Cemetery, High Rock, Grand Bahama on Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at 10:00 am. Officiating will be Fr Rudolph Cooper.

She is predeceased by her parents: Wilbert and Grettel Mather; siblings: Duane and Claramae Mather; pet: Champi (Stoonkus).

Memories will forever linger in the hearts of her son: Remiko Mather; granddaughter: Royce “Roycie” Mather; sisters: Estella (Archie) White, Donna (Michael) Sears, Rosebella Mather and Cindy (Franklyn) Garland; brothers: Ken (Ernestine) Mather, Leroy Mather, Tyrone Mather and Joseph (Lanishca) Mather; nieces: Kenya (Ernest) Louis, Kenderia Mather, Dania (Marco) Glinton, Danera (Jayward) Wilson, Vanna (Sheldon) Knowles, Tazia and Natasha White, Brianique Mather, Mickael Sears, Damien (Carlton) Nixon, Diamondz Higgs, Laria Mather, Aaliyah Mather, Alicia Mather and Kelseigh Mather; nephews: Kendrick (Shaniqua) Cooper, Devon (Petria) Sears, Devin, Senio (Tellishia) Sears, Jarad Knowles, Jamaal Garland and Kellion Mather; grandnieces: Azhalique Woods, Mackayla and Kellie Glinton, Jayda Wilson, Savanna Knowles, Ke’Ajah Louis, Kendra Cooper, Kenova Mather, Tinasha & Shaniah Sears, Jewel, and Tahlia White; grandnephews: Marco Jr. and Malacai Glinton, Jaylen Wilson, Kenyon Louis, Kendrick Cooper Jr., Stefhan Knowles, Khyan Jest, Devaunte Sears, Carlton Jr. and Carlos Nixon, Kemani Cartwright, Kairo Wallace and Zion Davis; uncles: Nehemiah “Flash” (Deborah) Hield Sr. and Percy (Ethlyn) Hield; grand aunt: Anna Russell of Crown Haven, Abaco; grand uncle: William Cooper; first cousins: Allan (Donna), Atwell, Betty, Rusty (Ruthamae) Newman, Omerit Sr. (Cathy) Hield, Nehemiah (Beatrice) Hield, Alvin (Portia) Hield, Carl and Dykery Hield, Francelita Marshall, Estella Gibson, Min. Targina (Gregory) Sands, Nikia, Alvin, Marco and Brenton Hield, Estella (Keith) Rigby, Deidre Pinder, Gershon Hield, Godfrey Jr., Marsha, Don (Debra) Murphy & Marlon (Sherecka) Murphy, Karla (Joereco) Knowles, Sabrina (Clayton) Clarke, Keisha (Jermaine) Turnquest, Carolinda (Keith) Hepburn, Marilyn (Ian) McPhee, Donnella (Edison) Mackey, Arnette, Ashley, Charles & Charlotte Hield, Edith Bodie, Dwayne and Charlotte Swan and Portia Hanchell, Kenneth & Georgina Russell, Henry & Beverly Cooper, Pastor Carla Ligtbourne, Howard Roberts, Kevamae Roberts, Corey & Marsha Cooper, Bishop Clifton & Apostle Carolyn Cooper, Rev’d Rudolph & Malachi Roberts, Families of the late Rev. Arnold & Gelita Pinder Sr. and the late Rosetta Kemp, Saran Burrows, Eudell, Evelyn, Victor & Kayla Roberts, Donavon Bowe, Lashanda Bain, Harry & Telisa Rolle, Eric & Rachel Higgs and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Yager Funeral Home & Crematorium, Queens Highway, Freeport on (TODAY) Friday from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m.

of CARICOM countries insist on their “sovereignty”.

Kentucky is a state within the Union of 50 states that comprise the US. If the US federal government does not use national resources to aid Kentucky to rebuild, the State will fall into unemployment, poverty and crime. It would eventually become a failed state.

People would flee to find livelihoods elsewhere and investors would shift their money to functioning economies. The Federal Government could not allow Kentucky to fail, not even with the likes of Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul favouring state power over federal authority. If Kentucky were left to fend for itself, it would become a weak link in the US chain, making the country vulnerable and exposing it to security threats.

The Federal Government rallied to provide immediate relief to Kentucky, and to committing huge sums of money to its rebuilding and recovery, because the United States is one nation. It is not a group of sovereign states. If the US were just a community of independent states, as are the members of CARICOM, it would not be the world’s greatest economic and military power. Instead, 50 states would exist – some stronger and better resourced than others, but each of them much weaker individually than they are as a single nation, and certainly none of them a force in the world.

In fashioning their independence, the original 13 countries (then British colonies) debated a union with a strong federal government or a collection of independent and disparate States.

They settled on a strong Federal government precisely because they recognised that only by joining their collective resources would they be sufficiently strong to resist England, France, Spain and other European powers that would have kept them dependent and in thrall.

From the beginnings of CARICOM, governments, haunted by the collapse of the West Indies Federation

A CAR sits in the debris of a destroyed house in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, on Dec. 12, two days after a monstrous tornado carved its way through the area. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)

caused by ambitious and manipulative local politicians determined to be big fish in small bowls resisted the Union that would have reduced their vulnerabilities, enhanced their resilience, and made them economically stronger.

Success What is striking about the years 2020 and 2021 is that the greatest success of the ‘sovereign’ states of the Caribbean Community came from joint institutions and collective action.

No country in CARICOM would have battled COVID-19 without the Caribbean Public Health Agency; none would have responded quickly enough to natural disasters without the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency; and none would have mobilized insurance relief without the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility or the emergency resources of the Caribbean Development Bank.

As it is, despite the help of regional agencies, almost all of them now have large debt burdens and recovery will be long and hard, except for Guyana with the addition of considerable oil and gas wealth to its traditional resources of agriculture and precious metals.

Recently, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, talking to the private sector in his country, declared that “Regional integration and other ‘fancy talk’ cannot be taken seriously unless the current (trade) barriers are removed”. He is right about that. CARICOM claims to be a Common Market, yet the countries have erected trade barriers against themselves, while opening their markets to the European Union and the United Kingdom with little trade benefits in return. After almost 50 years of existence, CARICOM is still not a Common Market and is far away from a Customs Union. The much vaunted ‘single market and economy’ has become a fading aspiration.

But, it is not only trade barriers that should be torn down. CARICOM and its purposes need to be reconsidered, reworked and redirected. No one should be satisfied with its current condition; all should be ready to revamp it.

It is most likely the case that CARICOM governments are still not ready for the more perfect union that could help to insulate each CARICOM country from the severe challenges that lie ahead in 2022 and beyond.

However, if the last two decades have proven anything, it is that individual sovereignty is not the answer to the economic progress or resilience of the member states of CARICOM. Like Kentucky, they lack the financial and resource capacity for effective resilience.

In this connection, the CARICOM Treaty needs revision now. The mistakes of its last revision should not be repeated. Implementation machinery must be established to oversee the completion of a Common Market, including freedom of movement of all people just as there is freedom of movement of capital.

There should also be clear compensatory mechanisms for those states that dismantle protectionist policies. Countries that cannot sign up to these necessary actions should not delay the integration of others; they should step aside and consider joining later.

If CARICOM is to be meaningful to the lives of its member countries, deeper integration cannot wait.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own).

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 9

Sharing and caring isn’t hard – and makes life oh so much better IN the groove, everything feels fast and right and perfect. You want to stay in the groove as long as you can because you are getting everything out of that boat’s performance that you possibly can.

I

N sailing, there is something called the groove. It is not a place, well, technically, it is, but it is more a feeling. It’s when the wind is in your face, the sails are set and trimmed perfectly, main and jib in tight, going upwind heeling at 30-35 degrees, water rushing under you and the boat feels like it is powering itself, just flying along, which is really an oxymoron because the one thing sailing is not is fast.

But in the groove, everything feels fast and right and perfect. You want to stay in the groove as long as you can because you are getting everything out of that boat’s performance that you possibly can. You focus intently, yet contentedly, feeling the rhythm of the movement, sails out to starboard, wind coming steady and then suddenly, the sound of outboard engines gets louder and a powerboat zooms along

the port side, crosses your bow and the groove, the perfect timing of wheel and will, of hull and happiness, of sail and wind, is lost.

You lost your groove, not for lack of performance or concentration or know-how or desire but to poor sportsmanship.

One gesture of poor sportsmanship is a thief of time and the destroyer of the pursuit of perfection.

It’s not just boating. It’s hunting, fishing, football.

But whereas on the field, the greedy get caught and punished, on the open waters or internal bays and lakes and harbours of The Bahamas – and there are hundreds – there is

little to stop the rude from spoiling the day for the rest. No referee yelling “Unnecessary roughness, five-yard penalty, first down” rewarding the offended team. No one calling a penalty for holding or premature start.

It’s our waters and we are supposed to police them ourselves which means we are supposed to be good sports. We are not supposed to be using oversized rigs in a fishing tournament or running jet skis near swimmers. We are not supposed to take more from the sea nor shoot in the air more than we need to eat. We are not supposed to flick the rooster tail of a fast boat,

drenching a small dinghy because we are bigger than they are.

And though they are our waters and occupy nearly 9/10 of The Bahamas, we cannot expect the Defence Force - already overtasked with protecting borders and managing human and contraband smuggling - to stop a vessel because it displaced us from our groove.

All of this may sound like a bunch of hoo-hah, like, why are you even talking about this on the day before a new year when there are so many more important things we need to be discussing? That’s a very good question. And here is the answer. Because good sportsmanship is at the basis of everything we do when we get it right. It goes beyond courtesy.

It is the examples that fill us with hope. It is the head of the US Senate Harry Reid, who passed away this week, telling

a young Barack Obama, still in his first term, to run for the highest office in the land instead of fearing that he will someday compete with him for position or surpass him.

Good sportsmanship is what makes one hungry brother cut a piece of chicken in half to share with his brother and then

“. . . good sportsmanship is at the basis of everything we do when we get it right. It goes beyond courtesy.” give all of it to him. It’s sharing and caring and not cutting in front of someone in a line or pulling out at a traffic stop and going around several cars stopped at a light so you can turn left on red. It’s not doing the wrong thing

and pretending it is right or okay or maybe no one will notice.

People do notice. So even though it sounds trivial, with all the world wishing for an end to COVID and a return to normalcy, I wish for a world of gentler, better behaviour in 2022.

Because when we all treat each other like the next person’s time and rights and needs are as important as ours, we can deal with whatever comes our way.

Maybe we thought the tough times brought on by COVID gave us an excuse to behave more rudely than usual because I have never seen a year of worse behaviour and that is the year I want to say goodbye to.

May 2022 be a year of better sportsmanship and kinder moments for all of us and yes, may it also be a year when the new normal doesn’t feel so not normal.

Smoove talking Those we lost in 2021 M B eing home this week has had its advantages like happening into an Ellen DeGeneres show and seeing The Bahamas. Ellen was apparently on vacation, who knows, maybe in The Bahamas, and the show was hosted by Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who had JB Smoove as one of his guests.

Smoove, who must be one of the most likeable as well as talented men in the entertainment world today, was showing video of his shark diving in The Bahamas with Stuart Cove and Beneath the Waves.

Unfortunately, he did not mention either

of them, but time was not on his side in the interview. Smoove was part of the celeb cast for a one-hour episode of Shark Week in 2021 filmed off the southwest coast of New Providence. I was an invited guest on the same vessel the day after he was aboard along with Brad Paisley for the filming. And what was so cool about Smoove’s sharing his experience was his excitement, his recall of the types of sharks he saw and his description of everyone, including the man who stood straight and tall, arms crossed, on the bottom of the ocean floor, guarding the actor, comedian and man with the Smoove moves.

Burrows-McKinney, Diana Symony late mother-in-law ette, and a very special young man used to thumb through named Patrick who left an unfillable the obituaries every gaping hole.

Thursday and pronounce, ‘People There were so many more, nearly dying who never died before.’ You five and a half million worldwide, couldn’t argue with that. But this year, more than 700 in The Bahamas from along with the tragedy of deaths from COVID alone. All the more reason to COVID or diseases exacerbated by treasure each day, soak in the sun, the it, we lost so many special people – breeze, the beauty that is The Bahaphotographer Roland Rose, civic and mas where we are among the luckiest hospitality leader J Barrie Farrington, J BARRIE people on the entire planet to be able Pastor Timothy Stewart, King of the Farrington to wake up each day in this place.

Waterfront Lundy Robinson, sisters And call or visit a friend or someone who lost their lives caring for others at you respect. After all, people dying the beginning of the pandemic Nurse Sher- who never died before. My late mother-inrlyn Charlton-Bain and Custodian Marion law, she had a point.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ISRAEL APPROVES FOURTH VACCINE DOSE FOR MOST VULNERABLE

By AUDREY HOROWITZ Associated Press

TEL AVIV (AP) — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, an official said Thursday, becoming one of the first countries to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant.

Nachman Ash, the director general of the Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press conference, saying the doses would initially be given to those with weakened immune systems.

“We will continue to track the data on a daily basis and we will see if we need to broaden this recommendation to more of the population,” he said.

The Sheba Medical Center later said it would begin administering the fourth dose to heart transplant patients early on Friday. Israel launched trials of the fourth dose at the centre earlier this week, administering it to some 150 medical personnel who had gotten a booster in August.

Israel was among the first countries to roll out

GROUND crew move pallets of a shipment of Pfizer’s antiviral COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, on arrival at Ben Gurion International airport near Tel Aviv, Thursday.

(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine a year ago and began rolling out boosters last summer. But it still saw a wave of infections blamed on the delta variant, and officials have warned of another driven by the fastspreading omicron.

Around two-thirds of Israel’s population of nearly 9.5 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and some 4.2 million Israelis have received all three doses, according to the latest Health Ministry figures.

“Israel will lead the way in administering a fourth vaccine (dose) to the Israeli people,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

“Israel’s strategy for overcoming omicron is clear: The greater the wave, the

greater the protection we will need to overcome it.”

Earlier Thursday, Israel received its first shipment of pills that treat the worst effects of the virus.

It’s among of the first countries to receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid, a pill that can

be taken at home to ward off the most severe symptoms of the coronavirus.

All the previously authorised drugs require an IV or injection.

Israeli media reported that the first shipment consists of 20,000 doses, with more expected as Pfizer ramps up production.

Israel currently has more than 22,000 active patients, including more than 90 who are seriously ill. At least 8,243 people have died from COVID-19 in Israel since the start of the pandemic.

Last week, Chile announced that it would start offering a fourth dose in February. Chile has reported almost 86% of its population fully vaccinated, making it the country with the highest level of immunisation against the coronavirus in Latin America.

Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

PAGE 10, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

WIND-WHIPPED WILDFIRES IN COLORADO FORCE TWO TOWNS TO EVACUATE

IN this image provided by The White House, President Joe Biden speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone from his private residence in Wilmington, Del., Thursday. (Adam Schultz/The White House via AP)

By PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press/ Report for America DENVER (AP) — Thousands of residents in two communities near Denver were ordered to evacuate Thursday because of a wind-fueled wildfire that engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies.

The city of Louisville, which has a population of about 21,000, was ordered to evacuate after residents in Superior, which has 13,000 residents, were told to leave. The neighbouring towns are roughly 20 miles (32 kilometres) northwest of Denver.

The blaze was one of several that started in the area Thursday, at least some sparked by downed power lines, as winds gusted up to 105 mph (169 kph), according to the National Weather Service.

Videos taken by residents showed buildings on fire, though officials had yet to provide any information. They were scheduled to speak at a news briefing Thursday evening Six people who were injured in the fires were being treated at UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said.

A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down.

Colorado’s Front Range, where most of the state’s population lives, had an extremely dry and mild fall, and winter so far has continued to be mostly dry.

Snow was expected Friday in the region though.

One video captured by a bystander outside a Superior Costco store showed an apocalyptic scene with winds whipping through barren trees in the parking lot surrounded by gray skies, a hazy sun and small fires scattered across the ground.

Leah Angstman and her husband saw similar dark skies while returning to their Louisville home from Denver International Airport after being away for the holidays. As they were sitting on the bus going toward Boulder, Angstman recalled instantly leaving clear blue skies and entering clouds of brown and yellow smoke.

“The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press.

The visibility was so poor that the bus had to pull over and they waited a half-hour until a regional transit authority van escorted them to a turnaround on the highway. There she saw four separate fires burning in bushes across the freeway, she said.

“The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes,” she said.

Angstman later ended up evacuating, getting in a car with her husband and driving northeast without knowing where they would end up.

Vignesh Kasinath, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, evacuated from a neighborhood in Superior with his wife and her parents. Kasinath said the family was overwhelmed because of the sudden evacuation warning and anxious from the chaos while trying to leave.

“It’s only because I am active on Twitter I came to know about this,” said Kasinath, who said he did not receive an official evacuation notice from authorities.

Biden, Putin talk nearly an hour as alarm rises over Ukraine

By AAMER MADHANI AND VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over Russia’s troop buildup near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that’s recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser said Biden reaffirmed the U.S. threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties.

“It would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Yuri Ushakov.

He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.

Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month, ahead of scheduled talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials set for Jan. 10 in Geneva.

White House officials said that the call began at 3:35 p.m. EST and concluded 50 minutes later, after midnight in Moscow.

There was no immediate readout from either side.

Russia has made clear it wants a written commitment that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance’s military equipment will not be positioned in former Soviet states, demands that the Biden administration has made clear are non-starters.

Troops The White House said ahead of the call that Biden would tell Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Kremlin officials have turned up the volume on its demands for new guarantees from the U.S. and NATO. Those demands are to be discussed during the talks in Geneva, but it remains unclear what, if anything, Biden would be willing to offer Putin in exchange for defusing the crisis.

Draft security documents Moscow submitted demand that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open

A UKRAINIAN female soldier takes a rest near a fighting position on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday. Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Thursday about the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andriy Dubchak) to any qualifying country.

They agreed, however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.

The security proposal

by Moscow has raised the question of whether Putin is making unrealistic demands in the expectation of a Western rejection that would give him a pretext to invade.

Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in the Clinton administration, said the Biden administration could engage on some elements of Russia’s draft document if Moscow is serious about talks.

Key NATO members have made clear there is no appetite for expanding the alliance in the near future.

The U.S. and allies could also be receptive to language in the Russians’ draft document calling for establishing new consultative mechanisms, such as the NATO-Russia Council and a hotline between NATO and Russia.

“The draft treaty’s proposed bar on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia is an overreach, but some measures to limit military exercises and activities on a reciprocal basis might be possible,” Pifer, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, wrote in an analysis for the Washington think tank.

Biden planned to tell Putin that for there to be “real progress” in the talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the call.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Biden and Putin, who met in Geneva in June to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, are not expected to take part in the January talks.

In the Dec. 7 video call, the White House said, Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy.

Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.

Missiles Last week, Russia testfired Zircon hypersonic missiles, a provocative move that Peskov said was meant to help make Russia’s push for security guarantees “more convincing.” The test was the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines.

U.S. intelligence earlier this month determined that Russian planning was underway for a possible military offensive that could begin as soon as early 2022, but that Putin had yet to determine whether to move forward with it.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, said Thursday his country believes there is no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion.

“Our experts say that the Russian Federation just physically can’t mount a big invasion of our territory,” Danilov said. “There is a time period needed for preparations.”

The U.S. military has flown surveillance flights in Ukrainian airspace

this week, including a flight Thursday by an Air Force E-8C JSTARS aircraft, according to Chuck Pritchard, a spokesman for U.S. European Command.

That plane is equipped to provide intelligence on ground forces.

Pritchard said such flights are conducted with European allies “routinely” and the missions this week were “not in response to any specific event.”

Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet in the days after the Geneva talks, as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim.

At the same time, Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its “aggressive” course “on the threshold of our home.”

As Biden prepared for the talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Past military incursions

by Putin loom large.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and

seized the territory from Ukraine.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea was one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage.

The U.S.-Russia relationship was badly damaged near the end of President George W. Bush’s administration after Russia’s 2008 invasion of its neighbour Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, spoke to Putin from his home near Wilmington.

The White House distributed a photo of the president speaking to the Russian leader from a desk lined with family photos.

Telegram Ahead of the call, Putin sent a telegram to Biden with New Year’s and Christmas wishes, which was posted on the Kremlin site on Thursday, along with other holiday messages to world leaders.

“I am convinced that in the development of our agreements reached during the June summit in Geneva and subsequent contacts that we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and in consideration of each other’s national interests,” Putin wrote. ___ Vladimir Isachenkov reported from Moscow.

Associated Press writers Dasha Litvinova in Moscow, Robert Burns in Washington and Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

SPORTS PAGE 11

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021

Knowles-Tener gets ready for NFL Draft

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE NBA postponed another game for virus-related reasons yesterday, raising the total to 11 pushed back so far this season while two more head coaches entered the league’s health and safety protocols.

Golden State’s game at Denver was postponed because the Nuggets — through a combination of injuries and a newly discovered outbreak of the virus — did not have the league-minimum eight players available to start the contest.

Had they played, the Nuggets would have also been without head coach Michael Malone. He went into the protocols yesterday, as did Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers. The 76ers were using assistant coach Dan Burke in Rivers’ place for their game Thursday against Brooklyn.

Rivers and Malone join the Los Angeles Lakers’ Frank Vogel, Chicago’s Billy Donovan, Phoenix’s Monty Williams, Portland’s

By TERESA M WALKER AP Pro Football Writer

SEE PAGE 12

tackles, one sack, five quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

He was also recently profiled by NFL Draft Diamonds as he looks to boost his recruitment in the upcoming months in preparation for the 2022 Draft.

“Strict training and diet habits. But most importantly I’m going to enjoy the process. I’m looking forward to it,” he said of his preparation over the next few months.

“Unlike a lot of guys my size, I have unusual quickness that most guys wouldn’t expect from me.

That’s the first thing I hear everytime. “I’m always looking to do my job then make the play.”

He listed Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald as his favourite player to learn

DEFENSIVE tackle Rondre Knowles-Tener has his sights set on the National Football League. He was recently profiled by NFL Draft Diamonds as he looks to boost his recruitment in the upcoming months in preparation for the 2022 Draft. from and detailed what he thinks he can provide for an organisation.

“Studied hours on end of his game film and workouts. By far my favourite player to watch, I always learn something when watching him,” KnowlesTener said.

“Going forward first and foremost my goal is to make an active roster of a team, to then being a contributor and maybe even more someday. “Every team needs a guy like me.

In the words of one of my coaches, ‘Team needs

soldiers not rebels. Soldiers take orders and execute.

Rebels run around and shoot stuff.’ I’m a soldier.”

Coming out of high school at Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Virginia, Knowles-Tener originally committed to the East Carolina Pirates but eventually chose to join the programme at James Madison. After struggling to earn playing time in his first two seasons with the James Madison Dukes, Knowles-Tener decided to leave the programme and transfer to the Cavs.

In his first season with UVA, he finished with 21 tackles with three sacks, two fumble recoveries, two quarterback hurries and one blocked kick.

As a junior, he became a force on the defensive line and led the team with seven sacks.

In addition to his career high sack numbers as a junior, he also reached several other career high marks this season with 41 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss (54 yards), and a team-leading four quarterback hurries.

Chauncey Billups and Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault as head coaches in the protocols.

Also in the protocols: around 120 players, along with an untold number of other staffers from around the league — including assistant coaches, broadcasters, referees, media relations personnel, stat crew members, athletic trainers and more.

“This is mentally exhausting,” said Portland assistant Scott Brooks, who is filling in for Billups during his protocols stint.

For some teams, there was progress Thursday.

Toronto, which has been decimated by the virus in recent weeks, had most of its players back for practice.

“I clean things a lot more. I wear my mask a lot more. I stay in my office by myelf all the time,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.

“I go home when practice is over. There’s all kinds of things that I try to do.”

Toronto guard Fred VanVleet was among the Raptors back on the floor, after recovering from

76ERS head coach Doc Rivers calls to his players during the first half against the Celtics.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) COVID-19 for a second time. VanVleet’s tale this time wasn’t particularly different from many — not all, but many — players who have spoken about their virus experience in recent weeks, with the majority saying their symptoms weren’t particularly difficult to get through.

The league believes that is at least in part because of most players, 97 percent at last count, choosing to have been vaccinated and 65 percent of players having

received a booster shot.

Every NBA head coach is also fully vaccinated.

“This was different, different experience, different symptoms, different severity,” VanVleet said.

“Obviously, it’ll probably take some time for me to work myself back, but it feels much more doable than it did last year. Hopefully the worst is behind me, personally. I can’t speak for anybody else but it wasn’t too bad this time around.”

When VanVleet returns to the court in Toronto tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, only 1,000 fans will be allowed there to see him.

Officials in Ontario said they are capping crowd sizes for indoor venues at 1,000 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less, in response to virus outbreaks. It is not clear how long that rule will be in place.

The Raptors, along with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, had recently seen their attendance capped at 50 percent because of virus

COVID-19 FORCES ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT TO A HALT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

concerns. “I think it’s really a thing we don’t know much about,” Nurse said, speaking broadly about the virus and before the new attendance rule for Ontario

BAHAMIAN student athletes were looking to return from the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) winter break and resume their basketball seasons next week, but the COVID19 pandemic has forced the conference to postpone all competition.

The AUS announced that it will pause all competition until at least January 19, 2022, due to recent public health restrictions in various Canadian provinces.

The season was expected to resume Friday, January 7 for the winter semester.

“The health and well-being of our studentathletes is our main concern as we navigate this latest wave of COVID-19, and we understand that providing them with meaningful competition is part of that,” says AUS executive director,

SEE PAGE 13

SEE PAGE 12

Nuggets vs Warriors postponed, Rivers, Malone enter NBA protocols

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

TITANS FACE SURGING DOLPHINS IN BID FOR AFC SOUTH CROWN NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — The Tennessee Titans know exactly what’s on the line Sunday. Stop the Miami Dolphins’ historic ride and clinch their second straight AFC South title — no matter what Indianapolis does.

This franchise hasn’t strung together division titles since the dawn of the AFL in 1960 when the thenHouston Oilers won the Eastern Division for the first three seasons.

The Titans also would clinch a third straight playoff berth, something this team has done only once before during the Oilers’ “Run & Shoot” days.

The Titans (10-5) are so close they can taste it with a road game in Houston remaining. “You know we’re starving,” said Titans defensive lineman Teair

A

fter he completed his collegiate eligibility, Rondre Knowles-Tener now has his sights set on the National Football League and that journey began in earnest with a showcase of some of the best prospects from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programmes.

The 6’1”, 305-pound defensive tackle finished with 2.5 sacks at the FCS National Bowl in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The FCS National Bowl, presented by East Preps LLC, is an annual postseason all-star game featuring the best players from FCS or NCAA Division I-AA programmes.

The inaugural FCS National Bowl was played in December 2014 at FIU Stadium and moved to Daytona Beach Stadium in Daytona Beach in 2016.

According to the organisation, “the game gives NFL and CFL scouts a chance to view and get to know some of the best players from smaller schools over the bowl weekend.

The FCS National Bowl is coached by pro coaches.

All 32 NFL teams receive and review the FCS National Bowl film as the game and practice film are distributed directly to all NFL teams by NFL Films.”

East Preps also created the first pro day and combine for Division II and Division III players.

Knowles-Tener played his final season for the University of Virginia-Wise Cavaliers as a nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme.

The Grand Bahama native was named to the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Players Watch List. He finished with 22

PAGE 15

PAGE 12, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Lockout hurts Braves’ chance to cash in on championship

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — World Series champions for the first time in 26 years, the Atlanta Braves were all set to cash in.

With young stars like Ronald Acuña Jr, to go along with a swanky ballpark and surrounding entertainment district, they had everything in place.

Then a storm rolled in, and they had to pull a tarp over some of their party plans.

Perhaps no team was hurt more than Atlanta when Major League Baseball locked out its players on December 2. The move put the start of the 2022 season in jeopardy and scrubbed Acuña and company from the Braves’ business plans — for now.

The afterglow of a championship, especially the end of a drought like the one Atlanta experienced, is traditionally quite lucrative for teams, going beyond merchandise and ticket sales to strengthening relationships with partners and finalising

new sponsorship deals.

But baseball’s labour strife increases the difficulty for the Braves when it comes to making the most of the opportunity.

“A lot of it is kind of using that moment to grow your fan base and just elevate the way people think about your organisation and perceive it,” said Brian Gainor, the vice president of innovation for 4FRONT, a sports marketing firm.

Messages were left by the AP seeking comment from Atlanta. There was no response, but the franchise has been keeping some heady company since the final out of its fourth World Series title.

The Braves hosted Chelsea FC from soccer’s Premier League in a meeting of champions in early December. Mascots from each club palled around on the field at Truist Park and posed for pictures with The Commissioner’s Trophy and Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League trophy.

“Wouldn’t have been a trip to Atlanta without visiting the champs,” Chelsea

FC tweeted from its US account.

It was a savvy business connection for each club.

Chelsea has more than 100 million followers combined on its social media channels, while Atlanta has a multistate following in the US — particularly in the South — that dates to the days when its games were broadcast on TBS. The stop was part of a tour for the Champions League trophy that also included “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” New York’s Empire State Building, a Chicago Bulls home game and Space Center Houston — part of Chelsea’s effort to turn its title into substantive business growth.

“US fans love winners.

They love US winners.

They love international winners. Same with international fans,” Gainor said. “So it really is the best opportunity you’re ever going to have to capture the attention of fans around the world, but you’ve got to have a plan there to monetise those fans.”

ATLANTA Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr runs to first base after hitting a double during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, in Atlanta.

(AP Photo/John Bazemore) The best teams start plan- champions over the past 2020 playoffs in a bubble in ning for championships couple years — will have Canada, and Amalie Arena long before they win it all, to contend with COVID-19 was mostly empty for much Gainor said, and they take when it comes to its busi- of last season because of a multiyear approach that ness plans for its title. pandemic restrictions. rallies every part of the Social media content The pandemic has forced organisation to the effort. and experiential marketing some teams to take a more Communication, both inter- are two effective monetary creative approach, espenally and externally, also is drivers for newly crowned cially with their content. key. teams, but access to players With restrictions on player Hendrick Automotive has been tightly controlled access, they have turned Group attributed dramatic because of the pandemic. their focus to their fans and increases in its website “The challenge that you communities. They also traffic to its sponsorship have with all your content have been holding virtual of Kyle Larson, culminat- right now is the ability to events. ing with his first NASCAR be with your players and “It forced them to create Cup Series championship film your players and create a new playbook or go in November. The success content with your players about things in a new way,” prompted the company to because of the protocols Gainor said. activate or increase its mar- that are in place,” Tampa “If it wasn’t for COVID, keting efforts in some US Bay Lightning CEO Steve a lot of teams would still be markets.

Griggs told the AP. celebrating championships Whenever baseball Tampa Bay won the Stan- doing things the way that finalises a new labour ley Cup each of the past they’ve always done it,” he deal, Atlanta — like all two years. But it played the said.

Seager retires after 11 seasons with Mariners

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Seager announced his retirement Wednesday after 11 seasons in the majors, all with the Seattle Mariners.

Always one to eschew social media, Seager made his decision known through a short statement posted by his wife, Julie, on her Twitter account.

“Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It’s been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life,” the statement says.

The 34-year-old Seager became a free agent after the season when Seattle opted not to exercise a club option on his contract. Rather than test the open market and with the uncertainty created by the ongoing lockout, Seager chose to call it a career.

Seager’s retirement is a bit surprising considering he was coming off one of his best seasons. He hit a career-high 35 home runs and had a career-best 101 RBIs last season as Seattle made a late run into playoff contention only to fall short in the final days.

DOLPHINS FROM PAGE 11

Tart said. “We’re trying to just claw at it any way we can. ... Everybody is hungry as possible to lock the division up.”

The Dolphins (8-7) are the NFL’s first team ever to lose seven consecutive games, then reel off seven straight victories to revive their playoff hopes.

Their latest came Monday night with a 20-3 win in New Orleans, and now they have another road trip on a short week.

Veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts said the Dolphins are only focused on the Titans.

“It’s not just the younger guys, it’s the veterans like myself too,” Roberts said.

“Hone in what we have in front of us, and what we have in front of us is the Tennessee Titans. We’re just all zoned in on that,” he added.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Seager’s 35 homers in his final season are the second-most behind David Ortiz’s 38 with Boston in 2016.

“Kyle showed up to play, and to win, each and every day of his career,” Mariners’ Chairman John Stanton said in a statement. “While the rest of the lineup might fluctuate, his teammates and manager knew he’d take the field each night, and he’d give all that his body had to give.

His example and passion influenced a generation of Mariners players.”

Seager was tearfully removed from Seattle’s final game on October 3 in the ninth inning after the Mariners had been eliminated from the playoff race.

“That was pretty special for me. That was a real moment,” Seager said after the season finale.

“Obviously, you know this moment is gonna happen.

You think about it, you think about how you’re going to feel but you can’t prepare for that. That was really special.”

Seager was the “other” player the Mariners selected out of North Carolina in the 2009 amateur draft. He was a third-round

SEATTLE Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager waves to fans after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on October 3 in Seattle. Seager announced his retirement on Wednesday after 11 seasons in the majors, all with the Mariners.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) selection by Seattle while again an All-Star but he most of the attention was was an anchor in the middle placed on No. 2 overall pick of Seattle’s batting order Dustin Ackley. for his entire career and a Ackley’s career never standout presence defenmatched his draft position. sively at third base.

Seager ended up becoming He finished his career one of the best players in with a .251 batting average, franchise history.

252 homers and 807 RBIs. Seager was an All-Star Of the 1,480 games played, and Gold Glove winner he started 1,412 at third by 2014 and was rewarded base. with a $100 million, sevenSeager ranks fourth in year contract after that franchise history in games, season. Seager was never hits, home runs and RBIs.

As he got further in his career, younger teammates raved about Seager taking on a more veteran role and showing them the ins and outs of the game. When Seager was removed from the season finale, teammates were shedding tears.

“I’ve tried to help the younger guys and I want everybody to do well,” Seager said in October.

“I want the Mariners to do well. ... So when you have guys getting choked up and start talking about the impact that I’ve had, it means a lot to me. It really does.”

The lone entry missing on Seager’s career résumé is a playoff appearance with the Mariners. Seattle went through some awful seasons during Seager’s career, finishing with a winning record only four times in 11 seasons.

Seager was asked at the end of the season what he wanted his legacy to be for his time in Seattle.

“I want to be somebody that came to work every single day,” Seager said.

“Absolutely did his best.

Competed. And not only tried to help myself but help others. Tried to help everybody get better and make this team better off.”

This could be a playoff preview with the Titans currently holding the AFC’s No. 2 seed and Miami in the third and final wild-card spot with a trio of teams at 8-7 ready to pounce.

Tennessee still has a chance at the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye if Kansas City (10-5) slips.

The Titans are healing up after not having the left half of their offensive line in last week’s 20-17 comeback victory over the 49ers. They’ve also won two of three.

“It’s in our hands, and we can control it,” left guard Rodger Saffold said.

RYAN’S EXPRESS If Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill beats the team that drafted him with the eighth pick overall in 2012 on Sunday, he will become the franchise’s winningest quarterback in his first three seasons with the team. He is tied with George Blanda (1960-62) with 28 regular-season wins.

Tannehill, who was traded by Miami to Tennessee in March 2019, has started every game since Week 7 of 2019. He’s a big reason why the Titans are 28-13 (68.3 percent) in those games. Only Kansas City and Green Bay, both 33-8 (80.5 percent) and Baltimore (29-12, 70.7 percent) have been better in that span.

STEPPING UP This will be only the third game since October with the Dolphins facing a team that will enter the matchup with a better record than Miami.

Baltimore was 6-2 when it faced 2-7 Miami on November 11, and Carolina was 5-6 when it met the 4-7 Dolphins on November 28.

NO COMPARISON Much has been made of how Miami’s offensive line hasn’t always been particularly great at protecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has been

after missing the past two games, one with an injured shoulder and the last on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Left tackle Taylor Lewan also should be back after missing the 49ers’ win with a back issue and his own stint on the COVID19 list, and starting right guard Nate Davis was removed Thursday from the COVID-19 list.

WHITHER THE WEATHER The previous time these teams met was Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s debut, and it wound up the longest game in NFL history at 7 hours, 8 minutes because of two weather delays on a steamy day September 9, 2018, in Miami Gardens.

A cold front will be dropping the temps from the 70s on Saturday to freezing by kickoff Sunday.

“Put some thermals on, put a hoodie on and get out there,” Miami coach Brian Flores said.

sacked 35 times in his first 21 games with the Dolphins.

By comparison, that has been elite protection to what Tannehill got in his Miami days. He was sacked a whopping 59 times in his first 21 appearances with the Dolphins.

The Titans rank 10th with 37 sacks and are one of only two NFL teams with three players having at least 7 1/2 sacks each.

PROTECT TANNEHILL Miami leads the NFL with 45 sacks, and 33 of those have come in this winning streak. That’s four off the team record of 49 last tied in 2005.

Keeping Tannehill upright has been a problem for Tennessee with a revolving door of injuries on its offensive line.

Only Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (47) has been sacked more than Tannehill (45) this season. But Saffold should be back

COVID-19 FROM PAGE 11

Phil Currie. “While pausing the AUS schedule is a necessary decision given our current reality, we are confident that under the guidance of our provincial health authorities we will return to the field of play and finish the 2021-22 season in a way that is safe for everyone.”

When the fall semester concluded play last month, Shamar Burrows and the Dalhousie Tigers maintained their No.6 spot in the national rankings.

The Tigers improved to 7-2 with an 81-65 win over the Acadia Axemen to increase their lead in the standings of the Atlantic University Sport Conference.

Burrows averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game through the fall semester.

Qyemah Gibson continues his stair climb this season and recently won Male Athlete of the Week for the St Mary’s Huskies for the week of November, 22-28. The Huskies are 5-4 on the season.

Gibson, a third year forward, led the Huskies with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and added two assists and a block in a 92-90 overtime loss to the DiAngelo Woodside and the Cape Breton Capers to conclude the fall semester. Woodside finished with six points and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes.

Gibson is ranked top 10 in the AUS in points scored (173, second), points per game (19.2, fifth), field goals made (66, second), three-pointers made (third, 3rd), total rebounds (71, third), rebounds per game (7.9, sixth), blocks (10, third), minutes (340, first) and minutes per game (37.8, first).

Woodside is averaging 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for the 3-6 Capers. The regular season is expected to conclude Saturday, February 19.

The 2021 AUS championships will be hosted

by AUS conference office at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, February 25-27.

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 13

Joel Embiid and 76ers spoil Durant’s return to Nets’ lineup NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 34 points and the Philadelphia 76ers spoiled Kevin Durant’s return to the lineup by beating the Brooklyn Nets 110-102 last night.

Durant had 33 points in his first game in two weeks, having missed three games in health and safety protocols. He picked up right where he left off, having averaged 39.7 points in the three games before that.

But Embiid converted a tiebreaking three-point play with 3:14 remaining, and Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry hit 3-pointers to send

the 76ers to their third straight victory. Embiid clinched it with a follow shot while being fouled.

He and Durant then both received technical fouls and the centre was jawing with the Nets as the game ended, waving his arm to send them off the floor.

James Harden had 33 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for the Nets, continuing his strong stretch since returning from a threegame absence in health and safety protocols.

Maxey added five 3-pointers and 25 points, while Curry scored 17 points for the 76ers, They were

led by assistant coach Dan Burke after Doc Rivers was placed in health and safety protocols earlier yesterday.

BUCKS 136, M MAGIC 118 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points, Jrue Holiday had 25 and Khris Middleton 22 to help Milwaukee beat Orlando for its fifth straight victory.

Antetokounmpo also has 12 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins had 15 points off the bench for the Bucks. Franz Wagner scored 20 points for Orlando.

WIZARDS 110, CAVALIERS 93 WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal had 29 points and 10 assists in his return from the NBA’s health and safety protocols and Washington beat Cleveland.

Beal, in his first game action in 12 days, shot 13 of 23 from the floor in 34 minutes.

Washington (18-17) avoided falling below .500 for the first time this season.

Kyle Kuzma had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.

Kevin Love had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.

BOOKER SURPASSES 10,000 POINTS FOR CAREER, SUNS BEAT THUNDER

By JACK THOMPSON Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker joined some heady company Wednesday night.

The Phoenix guard scored 38 points, surpassing 10,000 for his career, and the Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-97 to end a two-game losing streak and tie for the NBA lead.

Booker was 12 of 24 from the floor, going 6 of 12 from 3-point range. He also had seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Booker — at 25 years, 60 days — became the seventh-youngest NBA player to reach 10,000 points. The others are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“It means a lot,” Booker said. “Truly grateful to be in this position. I have a lot of praise for my coaches for trusting a young kid and letting me play through mistakes because everybody doesn’t get that opportunity.”

The Suns rebounded from home losses to Golden State and Memphis to pull even with the Warriors atop the league standings at 27-7.

Both teams were without several key players and their head coaches.

Suns starters Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder and coach Monty Williams each missed their second straight game.

The Thunder played without guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right ankle soreness) and fellow starters Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Josh

Giddey, who were already on the health and safety protocols list. Coach Mark Daigneault missed his second straight game.

Oklahoma City trailed by 10 points after the first quarter but came back to take the lead in the third quarter.

The Suns outscored the Thunder 30-16 in the final period, with Booker leading the way with nine points.

“We kind of knew it was going to be like that against a hungry team with guys who were excited to have an opportunity,” said acting Suns coach Kevin Young, filling in for Williams.

“The thing you love about Book is he’s a fierce competitor and he’s fearless,” Young said. “He made some huge shots tonight and to get that milestone, that’s just what he does.”

Ty Jerome, filling Gilgeous-Alexander’s spot, scored a career-high 24 points for the Thunder, who lost at Sacramento on Tuesday. Aaron Wiggins had 22 points and a teamhigh eight rebounds.

“I was really proud of our guys,” acting Thunder coach Mike Wilks said.

“Five, six minutes left, and it was a two-possession game. We made it a game which is hard to do against a high-level team on the road.” “(Jerome) was huge,” Wiggins said. “His leadership was definitely a huge factor in us being able to compete.”

Oklahoma City was 7 of 35 (20 percent) from 3-point range. Guards Jerome and Luguentz Dort were a combined 1 for 13 from long distance.

NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKSWEEK 17 LAST WEEK:13-3 SEASON: 162-77-1 I HOPE you all had a Merry Christmas.

After going 13-3 for the week and officially clinching the NFL PICKS TITLE for the fourth year in a row over my colleague from AP Sports Barry Wilner, along with all the other local ‘Pig Skin Prognosticators’.

Dynasty status achieved working on GOAT next.

• Here’s who I like this week, Happy New Year’s everyone.

SUNDAY 1:00 PM Giants vs Bears Bears win off the home cooking.

BEARS 24 - Giants 17 Jaguars vs Patriots No long talks ….

PATRIOTS 34 - Jags 10 Rams vs Ravens Lamar Jackson returns for the Ravens … I still like the Rams.

RAMS 24 - Ravens 23 Bucs vs Jets Do I even need to …..

BUCS 34 - Jets 10 Falcons vs Bills Bills big at home over the Dirty Birds.

BILLS 37 - Falcons 20 Chiefs vs Bengals Chiefs in a wild one.

CHIEFS 38 - Bengals 31 Dolphins vs Titans All good things must come to an end, COVID

PHOENIX Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots a 3-pointer over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ty Jerome, middle, centre Mike Muscala (33) and guard Aaron Wiggins (21) during the second half on Wednesday night in Phoenix. The Suns won 115-97.

(AP Photo/Ross DFranklin) “We felt we had some the health and safety pro“Chris is a great guy,” good looks tonight, qual- tocols list. That game was a Wilks said before the ity looks,” Wilks said. “We 113-101 Suns victory. game. “I see how he is just didn’t get them to go Also sidelined on the with his family, in his comdown.”

Thunder’s COVID-19 munity. The time I got to For the Suns, JaVale list are forwards Darius spend with him was invaluMcGee and Cameron Bazley, and Alexsej Poku- able. We check in on one Payne each scored 16 sevski and guard Tre Mann. another. He’s one of my points, with McGee adding Those players scored 69 of favourites and one of the eight rebounds and Payne the Thunder’s 101 points best point guards to ever a team-high seven assists. last week. do it.

Cam Johnson finished with Centre Isaiah Roby, forTIP-INS 12 points, and Jalen Smith ward Paul Watson Jr and Thunder: Giddey was had 11 points and a career- Jerome, none of whom named Western Conferhigh 14 rebounds. played six days ago, start ence Rookie of the Month “We’re figuring things in place of the sidelined for games in October/ out, but we didn’t want to trio. Derrick Favors, who November. He started 20 lose three in a row, espe- was rested last Thursday, games and averaged 10.4 cially after the last one played in Wednesday’s points, 5.8 assists and 7.2 (last-second loss to Mem- game. Watson had 11 rebounds. phis), that was tough on points and Roby 10 before Suns: Their 27-7 start is us,” Booker said. “We just he fouled out. the second best in franchise have to move this train OLD FRIENDS history through 34 games. on.”

Wilks, who played briefly The 2004-05 team started SHUFFLING THE for the Thunder before 30-4.

DECK becoming an assistant, NEXT Since the Thunder grew close to Chris Paul Thunder: Host New played in Phoenix last when the Phoenix point York tonight.

Thursday night, they have guard was with Oklahoma Suns: play at Boston had five players placed on City two seasons ago. today.

FROM PAGE 11 was announced. “I’m really, really a lot on the side of ‘I don’t think anybody knows how to stay away from it, how to catch it, how not to catch it, how to whatever, where they got it from, what happens.’

I think everybody’s in a guessing game on all that stuff. And I just to do the best I can, as we all should.”

Entering yesterday, the NBA has seen 558 players — already a single-season record — take the court this season, largely because teams have had to sign dozens of replacements to hardship contracts just to get through the periods of roster depletion caused by time missed with the virus.

That number is certain to rise in the coming days.

“It’s mindboggling,” Brooks said.

“There’s so many good players in the world. It’s just tough to make it. It’s tough to make it. “There’s 30 teams ... these guys don’t even know those players and they’re making an impact.

“They play hard and they know how to play. They’re going to be NBA players.

They just have to find the right spot.”

The Nuggets-Warriors game was the second to be pushed back by the NBA in as many days for virusrelated reasons, the other being Wednesday when Miami — with players in the protocols and injured — did not have the leaguemandated eight available players for its scheduled game at San Antonio.

The Heat have used 15 players this season and right now, no more than five of those are available to play. They signed three replacement players yesterday and were closing in on other deals, including one with former Miami point guard Mario Chalmers — who started on the team’s NBA championship teams in 2012 and 2013.

Chalmers last played for Miami in November 2015, and last played in the NBA for Memphis in April 2018.

“I’m ready,” Chalmers said as he was finalising his flight plans to Houston, where he plans to meet up with the Heat.

“I think this is more emotion than anything, showing that I’ve been really working behind the scenes and not just talking about it. I definitely feel good enough to help the team win.”

AP PRO PICKS: What teams will go full-out for victory?

This week Pro Picks will push what some term as “meaningless” contests to the side and concentrate on the games that don’t fall into that category. But we’ll still make a choice for every matchup – it’s our obligation.

GAME DAL at NYG NYJ at NE MIA at BUF GB at CHI TEN at HOU

won’t bail out the fish this week.

TITANS 24 - Dolphins 20 Raiders vs Colts No Wentz at QB for the Colts …. No problem double serving of RB Jonathan Taylor.

COLTS 31 - Raiders 23 Eagles vs Washington The Eagles continue their push to possibly making the playoffs, the WFT has packed it in after getting drubbed by my Cowboys 56-14 last week.

EAGLES 27 - WFT 17 SUNDAY 4:00 PM Broncos vs Chargers The Chargers win this one simply because injuries are killing the Broncos.

CHARGERS 27 Broncos 13 Texans vs 49ers 49ers take no chances here with a playoff birth up for grabs.

NINERS 24 - Texans 17 Lions vs Seahawks

NUGGETS VS WARRIORS POSTPONED

STORYLINE

PICK

Cowboys may not win NFC Least but have been presentable recently

DAL 27-16

Fitting way to conclude the Tom Brady-less season in Patriots Land

NYJ 16-12

What a memorable turnaround for Miami as it seeks a playoff spot, but ...

BUF 26-19

Almost as good as winning Super Bowl for Pack would be sending Bears home

GB 23-14

Derrick Henry reminds some of Earl Campbell, he’ll run wild in Earl’s old spot

TEN 30-16

JAC at IND

Trevor Lawrence hasn’t arrived yet in North Florida ... all Colts here

WAS at PHI

Two picks here depending on Washington’s QB situation, with Alex Smith ...

NO at CAR

With slight chance at NFC’s top seed and lone bye, New Orleans stays serious

IND 41-15 WAS 22-16* NO 26-20

SEA at SF

With slight chance at NFC’s top seed and lone bye, Seattle stays serious

SEA 27-16

ARI at LAR

No Jared Goff for LA, maybe no Kyler Murray for Arizona ... winner advances

ARI 18-16

PIT at CLE

Mike Tomlin chooses rest rather than extending Cleveland’s playoff drought

CLE 26-19

BAL at CIN

Ravens have begun to look dangerous again, Baltimore clinches a wild card

BAL 28-17

ATL at TB

Brady and the Bucs also are looking dangerous at the right time

TB 30-20

This would have been the Best Bet if the game meant anything

MIN 31-17

LV at DEN

We’re still trying to figure out how the Raiders lost to the Dolphins

DEN 24-21

LAC at KC

NFL’s best team and reigning champion can go through the motions here

MIN at DET

KC 21-20

*PHILADELPHIA 16-13 (without Alex Smith)

The Seahawks lost to the Bears at home last week... why not two in a row.

LIONS 27 - Seahawks 26 Cardinals vs Cowboys The Cowboys go for their fifth win in a row at home, looking to keep a hold of the second seed in

the NFC. The Cardinals are reeling also.

COWBOYS 37 Cardinals 30 Panthers vs Saints Snoozer here ….zzzzzzzzz SAINTS 24 Panthers 20

SUNDAY 8:20 PM Vikings vs Packers The Vikings will be fighting for their playoff lives - the injured pinky toe of Aaron Rodgers becomes a factor. Vikings in the upset.

VIKINGS 27 Packers 26

(Last chance for my Cowboys to get the No.1 seed in the NFC so you know I’m pulling hard) MONDAY - 8:20 PM Browns vs Steelers The Browns stay alive in Pittsburgh.

Browns 23 - Steelers 20

PAGE 14, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

ENGLAND CRICKET COACH MUST ISOLATE, WILL MISS 4TH ASHES TEST MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — England cricket coach Chris Silverwood will be absent for the fourth Ashes test against Australia after a COVID-19 outbreak in the England team’s camp grew to seven confirmed cases.

Silverwood needs to isolate following a positive test for the coronavirus among a family member of the touring party. There was no indication that Silverwood has the virus. He will have to isolate for 10 days — along with his family — in Melbourne, where the third test was played. The fourth test starts in Sydney on January 5.

England lost the third test, and with it the series, as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match Ashes.

England said the positive test for what it termed “one family member” happened on Wednesday. A further round of PCR tests was expected to be administered yesterday.

England’s touring party has recorded seven positive cases — three

support staff and four family members — since a PCR testing regime was implemented on Monday.

Later Thursday, Cricket Australia announced that former Australia player David Boon, scheduled to be the match referee for the Sydney test, had tested positive for COVID-19 and will be replaced by Steve Bernard.

CA said it was anticipated that Boon would return to the role for the fifth test in Hobart starting on January 14. He has no symptoms and is fully vaccinated with a booster, a statement said.

The players are due to fly to Sydney today ahead of the fourth test.

Cricket Australia is confident the Sydney test can go ahead as planned, despite rising case numbers in the city and the outbreak in England’s camp.

Both teams will fly to Sydney on a chartered flight this morning, and have an entire hotel complex booked out for them in the city’s eastern suburbs to minimise risk of contracting the virus.

ENGLAND’S JOE ROOT, centre, talks with Stuart Broad and head coach Chris Silverwood, right, before the start of their cricket test match against Australia in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India wins in Centurion to lead series 1-0 in South Africa CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — India won the first test in South Africa by 113 runs, closing out victory on the final day yesterday by taking the last three wickets in two overs right after lunch.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered the win and a series lead by dismissing Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in the space of two balls. South Africa was all out for 191 in its second innings while chasing a daunting target of 305.

India became only the third team after England and Australia to beat South Africa in a test at SuperSport Par. In addition, it gave topranked India a precious 1-0 lead in its quest to finally win a test series in South Africa on its eighth attempt.

“It’s always a difficult place, South Africa, but we were clinical with bat, ball and in the field,” said India captain Virat Kohli, who led a team that lost by 135 runs in Centurion on the way to losing the series in 2018.

Ashwin’s game-clinching two wickets in the last over were the only wickets by a slow bowler in the entire test.

The real key to India’s victory was its fast bowlers, who out-performed the South African attack on a pitch where the Proteas usually have the pace to dominate opponents.

India quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami had three wickets each in that final innings.

Bumrah, seemingly fully recovered from an ankle injury earlier in the test, struck a crucial blow with the first wicket of the day

INDIA’s bowler Jasprit Bumrah reacts after successfully appealing LBW to dismiss South Africa’s captain Dean Elgar, during the fifth day of the Test Cricket match between South Africa and India at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) when he forced out South Africa captain Dean Elgar lbw for 77.

That ended Elgar’s 156ball stay at the crease and, with him gone, India quickly worked its way through South Africa’s middle and lower order.

South Africa started the day 94-4 and India raced to victory, taking the last five wickets for only 30 runs in the space of eight overs.

Temba Bavuma was stranded on 35 not out.

India also managed to win with the best part of two sessions to spare

despite the entire second day of the test being washed out by rain, a testament to the efficiency of its bowling attack.

“We had a lot of belief in our bowling unit to get the job done,” Kohli said.

“We spoke about it in the change room. The way these guys bowl together, it’s just a hallmark of our team.”

India was in control of the test almost throughout after posting 327 all out batting first with 123 from opener KL Rahul, the only batsmen to really get to

grips with the Centurion surface.

India’s pace attack of Bumrah, Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur then went to work and gave India a 130-run first-innings lead and a match-winning advantage by subduing the Proteas batting lineup and bowling them out for 197 in their first innings.

“With bat in hand, we let ourselves down quite a lot,” Elgar said, adding the Proteas would need to “have a little sit-down and strategise.”

South Africa will also have to find a long-term replacement for wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock. De Kock was already set to miss the rest of the series for the birth of his first child but made a surprise announcement a few hours after the end of the test in Centurion that he was retiring from test cricket with immediate effect at the age of just 29.

The second test of the three-match series is in Johannesburg, another fast-bowler friendly venue, and starts on Monday.

FORMER FRENCH OPEN FINALIST TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has tested positive for COVID-19, casting doubt on her place in the Australian Open beginning January 17.

The 30-year-old Russian confirmed she has the coronavirus and is isolating after arriving in Australia on Tuesday. “I was fully vaccinated and was preparing for the start of the season in Dubai,” Pavlyuchenkova said on social media yesterday. “But we live in a very difficult and unpredictable time. Right now I am in complete isolation, in a special hotel and following all the protocols under the supervision of doctors.

“Now it’s important to take care of yourself and the health of others. I’ll be back on court when it’s safe for everyone.”

Pavlyuchenkova is coming off one of her best seasons.

After making her first Grand Slam final in June — a loss to Barbora Krejcikova at Roland Garros — Pavlyuchenkova is now ranked a career-high 11th. She led Russia to the Billie Jean Cup, formerly the Fed Cup, in November, and in August teamed with Andrey Rublev to win mixed doubles gold for Russia at the Tokyo Olympics.

Pavlyuchenkova, whose best result at Melbourne Park is reaching the quarterfinals in 2017, 2019 and 2020, is still searching for her first major singles title.

The opening event of the women’s season is the WTA 500 in Adelaide, starting on Sunday.

Quinton de Kock quits test cricket at age 29

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer SOUTH Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock retired from test cricket yesterday in a shock move announced just a few hours after he played in the defeat to India in the first test in Centurion.

In a statement, the 29-year-old de Kock said he made his decision in order to have more time to spend with his family. De Kock and his wife Sasha are expecting their first child in the coming days.

“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily,” de Kock said. “I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what needs to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that.

“My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during

this new and exciting chapter of our lives.”

De Kock said he was still “fully committed” to playing limited-overs cricket for South Africa and signed off his statement with: “See you in the ODIs and T20s.”

His move seemingly took Cricket South Africa by surprise, too. Its CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, said: “It’s sad to lose a player of Quinton’s calibre at what we still see as the prime of his career.”

De Kock made his debut against Australia in 2014 and played 54 tests, sometimes balancing the responsibility of opening the batting and keeping wicket, and later leading the team as captain. He made six test centuries with his best score, 141 not out against West Indies this year, underlining the fact that he was still one of South Africa’s leading batters. His test average is 38.82.

He took 221 catches in tests, with 11 stumpings.

De Kock had spoken previously of the toll test

SOUTH Africa’s Quinton de Kock wears a black armband in honour of the late Desmond Tutu, during the Test Cricket match between South Africa India at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, on Sunday. Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBT rights and retired Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, has died, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday. He was 90.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) cricket had taken on his matches and training ses- effect of being in those corpersonal life, especially sions and not allowed to be onavirus bio-bubbles.

De Kock also made headin the pandemic era when with family and loved ones.

He took a break from all lines at the Twenty20 World players must often stay in bio-bubbles during long cricket at the start of this Cup in October when he series, not allowed to leave year for mental health rea- refused to play in a game team hotels except for sons, citing the “unsettling” after Cricket South Africa

ordered all its players to take a knee for the Black Lives Matter movement.

De Kock apologised and took a knee in later games but said he felt forcing players to perform the antiracism gesture undermined its significance.

South Africa lost the first test against India by 113 runs earlier yesterday to go 1-0 down in the threetest series. De Kock was already set to miss the rest of the series for the birth of his child but had given no public indication that he was about to quit test cricket for good.

“I love test cricket and I love representing my country and all that it comes with,” he said in his statement. “I’ve enjoyed the ups and the downs, the celebrations and even the disappointments, but now I’ve found something that I love even more. “In life, you can buy almost everything except for time, and right now, it’s time to do right by the people that mean the most to me.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 31, 2021, PAGE 15

Shaunae Miller-Uibo Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of Year

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH another sterling 400-metre gold medal performance at the COVID-19 delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games a year later, Shaunae Miller-Uibo was in vintage form as she got her name stamped on another Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of the Year.

In duplicating her dramatic feat when she dove across the line in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to edge out American Allyson Felix for her first gold medal, Miller-Uibo left nothing for chance as she obliterated the field in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, August 6, 2021.

On leaving her impression as well in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) and Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ national record books, Miller-Uibo prevailed over a number of top-notch performances turned in by basketball standout Jonquel Jones, swimmer Joanna Evans, hurdler Devynne Charlton and tennis star Sydney Clarke, just to name a few in the final voting process.

With her 6-foot, 1-inch frame extended around the one-lap track at the Olympic Stadium, MillerUibo stood tall as her 48.36 clocking was so fast that both Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino (49.20) and Felix (49.46) could only go along for the ride in her NACAC dominance.

Coming off her stunning defeat at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar behind the now doping related suspended Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain for her second silver medal, Miller-Uibo saved her best for her second finals appearance in the same Olympics, avenging her disappointment in the 200m when she was forced to jog across the finish line with a slight hamstring pull.

Denied her second bid to become the first Bahamian woman to earn the 200/400m at any of the global marquee events, Miller-Uibo stood atop the medal dais as the national anthem was played during the ceremonies, a feat achieved only by Tonique Williams with her back-toback triumphs at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

It’s the second Female Athlete of the Year award for the 27-year-old MillerUibo, who earned the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Senior Female of the Year honours on November 20 at the Baha Mar Convention

Center. And for the second time, Miller-Uibo was listed as one of the top 10 nominees for the sport’s governing body World Athletes’ epic Female Athlete of the Year.

However, she could only watch as Jamaica’s sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah posted a pair of worldleading marks to win both the World Championships; 100 and 200m, while adding another as a member of their victorious 4 x 100m relay.

Jonquel Jones back in grand style In a performance upstaged only by the record-breaking gold medal performance from Miller-Uibo, Jonquel Jones returned from her relaxing at home in Grand Bahama for the bottled 2020 Women’s National Basketball Association season in a bubble at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to produce a phenomenal 2021 season for the Connecticut Sun. As the runner-up to The Tribune’s year-ending selection, the 27-year-old 6-6 centre emerged as the unanimous 2021 WNBA MVP after she helped the Sun to close out the season with a 14-game winning streak for a league-leading 26–6 win-loss record.

While she ended up averaging a career high in points and assists with averages of 19.4 points 11.2 rebounds 2.8 assist and 1.3 steals, Jones’ performance wasn’t enough to propel Connecticut all the way to the top as they fell short 3-1 in the championship series to the Chicago Sky. As a fitting tribute to her season, Jones also made WNBA All-Defensive First Team and nearly won DPOY as well. With winning MVP Jones became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP, Sixth Women of the Year and the WNBA Most Improved Player Award.

With some unfinished business to take care of, Jones has extended her tremendous scoring and rebounding skills in the EuroLeague with the UMMC Ekaterinburg Foxes where she’s averaging 16.7 points, nine rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. And with the best efficiency rating among all players at 22.5, she is also in the conversation for another MVP honour on a team roster that is loaded with WNBA stars such as Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky) and Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky).

Prior to the completion of the WNBA season, Jones got in some national

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo has been selected as The Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of the Year.

JONQUEL JONES

JOANNA EVANS

DEVYNNE CHARLTON

SYDNEY CLARKE

duties for her adopted home of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifier where she finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds in an 80-64 win over North Macedonia and a career high 44 points and 22 rebounds in her team’s 87-81 win over Belgium.

Joanna Evans makes splash in the pool Two years after graduating from the University of Texas in 2019, Joanna Evans continues to sizzle as she produced a banner year to earn the 2021 Swammy Award for the Central American and Caribbean Female Swimmer of the Year.

In holding onto the third place finish in The Tribune’s voting process, the Grand Bahamian native competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 2021 FINA World Championships, and the 2021 International Swimming League regular and playoff seasons.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Evans placed 13th in the 400 metre freestyle in 4:07.50, just missing the national record of

4:07.33 that she set in May 2021 at the Longhorn Elite Invite.

Evans, at 24-years-old, went on to place 18th in the prelims of the 200 metre freestyle, posting a 1:58.40, just 0.37 off her own 2018 national record.

The 5-foot, 11-inch Evans was a vital member of the DC Trident during the 2021 ISL regular season and playoffs. As the ISL is a very sprint-oriented competition venue, many teams find themselves lacking in middle-distance specialists.

Evans, however, stepped up for the Trident in the 200 and 400 freestyles, lowering the Bahamian national record in the 200 freestyle first in Match 1 with a 1:56.63.

Later, in Match 4, Evans brought the record down to 1:56.37, which she followed up with a 1:55.70 from the ISL “death match” (Naples Match 11) that saw DC win its first-ever ISL match and earn a spot in the semifinals.

And in Playoff Match 1, Evans posted a 1:55.43, and a week later a 1:54.98 in Playoff Match 3. In Playoff Match 5, Evans lowered

the record once again to a 1:54.36, the record that stands today.

Evans similarly lowered the Bahamian national record in the 400 SCM freestyle multiple times during the 2021 ISL season, first posting a 4:04.48 in the regular season Match 1 in Naples, breaking the national record in the 200 freestyle at the halfway mark in 2:00.75.

When she did compete in the individual 200 freestyle the following day, Evans lowered the record to a 1:56.63. In Match 4, she also dropped her in the 400m to 4:03.38 before lowering it again to 4:02.12 in Match 5.

And in the “death match” in Match 11 in Naples, Evans won the 400 freestyle by more than two seconds in her winning time of 4:00.14.

Evans, competing along with Izaak Bastian, Lilly Higgs and Lamar Taylor, closed out her season at the 15th edition of the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships a few weeks ago in Abu Dhabi.

She became just the second Bahamian swimmer ever to advance to a short course world championships final following in the footsteps of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, who won bronze in the 50 freestyle at the 2011 version of the meet.

In Abu Dhabi, Evans advanced to the final in both the 200 and 400 freestyles, finishing 8th in the 200 freestyle and 7th in the 400 freestyle, while missing out on lowering her national records in each final.

Devynne Charlton back in form at fourth While qualified for her second appearance at the Olympics, Devynne Charlton, who sat out the first opportunity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 with a back injury, made good of her official debut in Tokyo.

As one of two representatives in the event, Charlton

reached the final where she fell short clearing the 10 flights of 2-9 high hurdles in the 100m race in 12.74 in another NACAC sweep.

Olympic record holder Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.37) captured the first gold for Puerto Rico over American world record holder Kendra Harrison (12.52) with Jamaica’s Megan Tapper (12.55) getting the bronze.

It was a remarkable comeback year for Charlton, who was reunited with her former Purdue University Boilermaker coach Bahamian Roland ‘Lonnie’ Greene as he took over as the head coach of the University of Kentucky.

Former national record holder Pedrya Seymour, making her second appearance at the Olympics, finished ranked at No.16 in the standings after she placed eighth overall in her semi-final race in Tokyo in 13.09.

Sydney Clarke swings into fifth place With the return of the Giorgio Baldacci Open Tennis Tournament after a year’s break because of COVID-19, Sydney Clarke retained her women’s title in a depleted field of competitors over the weekend at the National Tennis Centre. Playing in just two matches, top seed Clarke was also unblemished in a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over collegian Sierra Donaldson in the semi-finals and 6-2, 6-0 over No.2 seed Elana Mackey in the final.

Home from college like her counterparts, Clarke did her charitable gestures for the second straight year in securing food items for the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel before she concentrated on her duties on the court.

The former CR Walker standout who went on to Windsor High and the Albany Tennis Academy before she enrolled at the University of Arlington at Birmingham, also played with Mackey and Sierra with player/captain Kerrie Cartwright on the Bahamas’ team at the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Fed Cup. Clarke, now 20, posted a 2-1 win-loss record behind Cartwright’s perfect 3-0 mark as the Bahamas placed third in the Americas Zone II draw with a 2-0 decision over El Salvador in Panama City in June.

By virtue of their top two positions in Giorgio Baldacci, both Clarke and Mackey have booked their tickets as members of the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup that is expected to be played at a venue and date yet to be confirmed by the International Tennis Federation.

Man City rises above December chaos, on course for EPL title

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer CHAOS has reigned in the Premier League in December, with COVID19 outbreaks decimating squads, forcing the postponement of 17 games and fuelling talk of a pause in play that never materialised.

Manchester City has risen above it all.

Seven straight victories.

An eight-point lead. A 10-match winning streak.

Such is City’s sudden dominance of the league that one of its rivals appears to be waving the white flag.

“We have seven COVID cases, we have five or six players out for six or more weeks,” said Thomas Tuchel, the manager of second-place Chelsea. “How should we compete in a title race?”

While Tuchel was grumbling about his misfortune minutes after seeing Chelsea concede a stoppage-time goal to draw 1-1 with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, City — playing just 5 miles (8 kilometres)

further west of London — was seeing out a 1-0 win at Brentford to complete a perfect month of 21 points.

TV cameras panned to City substitutes Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, two of the team’s in-form players who had been given a rest and were sitting alongside each other in the dugout having clearly been told they wouldn’t be coming on. Indeed, City manager Pep Guardiola didn’t make a single substitution, having rotated his starting lineup that contained a completely fresh attacking trio of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus.

What luxury. Especially at a time when some teams have requested postponements because they couldn’t call up the minimum number of players required — 13 plus a goalkeeper.

And that just might be the difference. The best and most expensively assembled squad in the league — managed by possibly the world’s top coach — has coped best with the most gruelling period of the season,

MANCHESTER City’s head coach Pep Guardiola watches during the English Premier League soccer match against Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium in London on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Ian Walton) when fixtures come thick had some games in hand — and fast and English soccer to first place and a lead of attracts more eyeballs than 15 points. ever because every other Fast forward a year and big European league is on a City was third, five points winter break. behind leader Chelsea, It was in December last after its 2-0 home loss to year that City began a Crystal Palace on October 21-match winning run in all 30. Ten straight wins later, competitions that lifted the City is eight points clear team from a mid-table posi- of Chelsea and nine ahead tion in the Premier League of third-place Liverpool, — albeit because the team whose 1-0 loss at injury-hit

Leicester on Tuesday was another late Christmas present for Guardiola. Liverpool has a game in hand on both City and Chelsea.

City has a great opportunity to expand the gap, too. Chelsea and Liverpool meet on Sunday, so one or both of the teams are sure to drop points. By then, City will have played Arsenal.

While Chelsea has a defensive crisis with Ben Chilwell (knee) out for the season and Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen and Reece James also out injured, Liverpool will lose its two star forwards — Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal) — to the African Cup of Nations following the Chelsea game.

City will also be deprived of Mahrez, who will play in the tournament for Algeria, but can still boast such an array of attacking options that the club was happy to sanction the sale of Spain forward Ferran Torres to Barcelona this week for an initial 55 million euros ($66 million).

Amid a widespread rush to label City as the hot favourite for another league title, Guardiola wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

“We are on a good run, but it’s the end of December,” he said after the Brentford game. “There are many games to go. We are eight points in front but there are 54 still to play for and many tough games still to play.

“I’m not going to believe anyone who says it’s already done. The teams we have with (us) — Chelsea and Liverpool — are more than exceptional.”

City has managed to avoid being affected by too many COVID-19 cases among its playing staff, at least publicly anyway.

The team even has the fixture schedule on its side, having already played away to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Leicester in the league this season.

Heading into January, the champions have done the hard yards. A sixth league title in 11 seasons is already in sight.

PAGE 16, Friday, December 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

FOR NCAA, YEAR OF UPHEAVAL LEADS TO NEED FOR TRANSFORMATION

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer FROM court losses to political pressure to questions about how — and if — athletes should be compensated, the NCAA and college sports have faced all sorts of potential existential threats for more than 100 years.

The difference in 2021 was volume. It was as if a century’s worth of issues fell on college sports all at once.

Lawmakers took aim at the NCAA, undercutting its ability to govern.

The Supreme Court issued a scathing rebuke of the so-called collegiate model.

Internally, a new era of athlete empowerment was clumsily ushered in with all sorts of unintended consequences. Another wave of conference realignment swept through college sports, causing disruptions and distrust among its leaders.

“I think it is unquestionably an unprecedented potential crisis the NCAA is facing today,” said Gabe Feldman, the director of Tulane University’s sports law programme.

If 2021 was about upheaval in college sports, 2022 will be largely defined by reform. College sports leaders will attempt to redefine the NCAA. The goal is to shift power away from the national governing body to conferences and schools, while still maintaining the association; To be more accommodating to the wide-ranging goals and needs of a wildly diverse membership, while still remaining tethered through competition.

“I see value in the national association,” Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “I see value in the big tent. But we’re challenged in new ways.”

Sankey has been appointed co-chairperson of the NCAA’s Division I Transformation Committee, along with Ohio University athletic director Julie Cromer.

That group will begin its work in earnest after the NCAA convention in late January, when a new pared-down constitution is expected to be ratified by membership. That will open the door for each of the NCAA’s three divisions to

SOUTHEASTERN Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey. (AP) create a unique governance structure.

For Divisions II and III that will mean little change. In Division I, which is comprised of 350 schools that compete in the NCAA’s biggest championship events — such as the March Madness basketball tournaments — the transformation could be radical.

“What does that mean about the structure and governance? What does it mean about enforcement?

What does it mean about how we think about eligibility? What does it mean about NIL? You could go on and on and on down the list,” said Baylor President

Linda Livingstone, a former college basketball player who has become deeply involved in the NCAA. NIL is shorthand for name, image and likeness.

After decades of prohibiting athletes from earning money from their fame, the NCAA loosened those restrictions close to the point of total deregulation this past summer.

For the vast majority of athletes, the endorsement deals have produced modest financial gains with little attention paid.

According to data compiled

by Opendorse, a company that works with schools on various NIL issues, the

average NIL compensation for Division I athletes between July 1 and November 30 was approximately $250 per month.

Other deals have been far more lucrative, made national headlines, and in some cases, seem to flaunt rules that still prohibit pay for play or recruiting inducements.

The NCAA has pleaded with Congress to pass federal NIL legislation to override dozens of state laws that have forced a patchwork of rules and seemingly no enforcement.

Congressional help appears nowhere in sight, and the lawmakers who seem most motivated to get involved in college athletics do not want to stop at NIL. A restructuring or reimagining of the NCAA and its top division is in many ways a chance for the leaders of college sports to prove to lawmakers, judges, athletes and — to some extent — each other that college sports can manage its own house.

“There’s a desire to have federal intervention so that the NCAA can protect college sports,” Feldman said.

“But I think there’s also a

desire from Congress to see a plan to protect college sports before intervening.”

Sankey, Livingstone and others who will be part of the transformation committee say they enter the process with open minds, ready to share ideas and facilitate solutions that can gather consensus.

Things could get testy.

Core questions need to be asked about what schools should be in Division I. Is there a need for a new division that provides even more autonomy and power to the wealthiest schools and conferences?

And if so, will smaller schools be squeezed out of the marquee championship events by shrinking access or the inability to keep up as the most powerful schools play by their own rules? Or both?

There is concern the powerful will grab more power, the wealthy will claim more of the revenue. Those at the top of the college sports food chain insist that is not the goal.

“But we’re challenged.

We have to acknowledge our reality,” Sankey said.

“How do we function differently?”

Tagovailoa leads Terps past Virginia Tech in Pinstripe Bowl

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Taulia Tagovailoa raised the MVP trophy over his head as confetti fluttered around him and could only think, not of his nearflawless dominance in the Bronx, but of the words of his Maryland coach.

The best is ahead.

Tagovailoa threw touchdown passes of 70 and 32 yards to Darryl Jones, Tarheeb Still returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown, and the sudden scores sparked Maryland to a 54-10 rout of Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday.

The game belonged to Tagovailoa, an Alabama transfer and the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was 20 of 24 for 265 yards, and the two TD passes brought his season total to 26, which tied Maryland’s single-season record.

“I hope it quiets some of the critics and he gets some of the respect he deserves as a quarterback,” coach Mike Locksley said. “We wouldn’t be in this situation we’re in with a winning season without Taulia.”

Locksley preached patience in the form of

his mantra, the best is ahead. Tagovailoa, who had already announced he would return to the Terps next season, showed enough flashes of greatness in New York to hint the future may be bright.

The game’s MVP, Tagovailoa helped the Terrapins (7-6) get the better of the Hokies at Yankee Stadium — and even on TV. Brent Pry was hired last month as Virginia Tech’s coach — J.C. Price served as interim coach — and went on ESPN during the game to hype the 2022 season. Pry boasted, “ We are gonna play a great brand of defence. “Seconds later, Tagovailoa connected with Jones for the deep play and a 14-3 lead. Pry was good-naturedly roasted on social media, and Maryland even tweeted the clip with a grimacing face emoji.

Price compared trying to stop the Terps to “plowing snow uphill.”

“One game is not going to define who those guys are in the locker room,” he said.

Pry must have grimaced when Tagovailoa hit Jones again in the third quarter for a 34-10 lead that helped send the Terps to their first bowl win since 2010. Jones, a senior wide receiver, had

never caught a touchdown pass over his first 40 games.

He had two and finished with 111 yards receiving against the Hokies (6-7).

“I’ll be telling this story for I don’t know how many years,” Jones said.

Antwain Littleton II added a 4-yard rushing TD for Maryland and Joseph Petrino answered the Hokies’ lone touchdown with a 44-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first half for a 24-10 lead.

Roman Hemby scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter.

The Hokies’ signature “Enter Sandman “ song rang out before the game — the Metallica classic was usually played near the end of games at Yankee Stadium — and had fans and players jumping on another chilly Pinstripe Bowl game day.

Still silenced them moments later with the longest punt return in Maryland history, a sizzling run that finished down Virginia Tech’s sideline.

“I would have been a fool not to return it,” Still said.

The Terrapins never let up, playing nothing like a team that lost six of seven in one stretch. Virginia Tech QB Connor Blumrick fumbled in the fourth quarter

and Greg Rose scooped the loose ball and ran 11 yards for a touchdown and a 47-10 lead.

Coby McDonald capped the scoring with a 20-yard run that made it 54-10 and wrapped Locksley’s first bowl win over seven seasons and two programmes.

GO BOWLING Five bowl games had been wiped out because of COVID-19 before the Pinstripe Bowl, and other bowls had to replace teams for the same reason. New York Yankees President Randy Levine praised Virginia Tech and Maryland for being “extraordinarily careful” with their health protocols. “I’m happy our game didn’t get cancelled.

You see our team was ready,” Locksley said.

YANKEE CONNECTION The Hokies have a special bond with the Yankees following the April 16, 2007 shooting on the Virginia Tech campus that left 32 dead. The Yankees made a $1 million donation to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund and followed up the next season with an exhibition game against Virginia Tech on the Blacksburg campus. The Yankees wore caps in the Hokies’ orange and maroon, their “NY”

MARYLAND defensive back Tarheeb Still reacts during the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger) emblem on the front and a “VT” logo on the side.

The Hokies returned the favour in the Pinstripe Bowl and wore the interlocking “NY” on their helmets.

The winner of the Pinstripe Bowl receives the George M Steinbrenner Trophy. “He’s here in spirit.

This game is all about him,” Levine said of the late Yankees owner.

THE TAKEAWAY Virginia Tech finished with its second straight losing season and has not won a bowl game since 2016 (losing four straight).

Blumrick’s 3-yard run in the second quarter was the Hokies’ only TD. Tagovailoa finished tied with Scott Milanovich in

1983 for Maryland’s passing TD record. Maryland set a Pinstripe Bowl record for points since the game’s debut in 2010.

ROLL CALL The announced attendance of 29,653 was the first time it dipped below 36,000 in 11 Pinstripe Bowl games at Yankee Stadium, although the Yankees said they were extremely pleased with the size of the crowd considering recent news regarding COVID-19.

UP NEXT The Hokies play their first game under Pry on September 3 at Old Dominion.

Maryland is set to open September 3 against Buffalo.

Oklahoma tops Oregon 47-32 in Alamo Bowl ANTONIO (AP) — Bob Stoops and Oklahoma were winners together again, just like old times.

Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns, Caleb Williams passed for three more scores and the 14th-ranked Sooners rode a dominant first half to a 47-32 win over No. 15 Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday night.

The victory marked a brief and happy reunion for the coach and school he led to a national championship and 10 Big 12 titles from 1999-2016. Stoops was called off a golf course to come out of retirement to coach the bowl game after the abrupt departure of Lincoln Riley for Southern California. “I’ve been out of it, came back,” Stoops said. “It was fun. More than anything, I appreciate the young people, the guys in the programme, embraced me, were all in, and worked hard.”

Stoops earned career win No. 191 and boosted his bowl record to 10-9. Getting the latest victory was maybe the easiest part in all this.

Just as important were the tasks of steadying the programme overall after Riley’s bolt west turned the programme upside down. And he had to build a stable bridge to the new era under incoming coach Brent Venables, his former Oklahoma assistant who has spent the past nine seasons at Clemson.

“They’re getting a guy with passion, a guy that loves the game,” Stoops said. “A winner.”

And the coach who once earned the nickname Big Game Bob also turned into Big Hug Bob when he got to embrace son and Sooners receiver Drake Stoops after a second-quarter touchdown catch. Drake walked on at Oklahoma in 2018 after Bob had retired.

Oklahoma (11-2) raced out to a 30-3 lead as Brooks and Williams sliced up the Oregon defence. Brooks had 127 yards on just 10 carries in the first half with scoring runs of 16 and 29 yards, and another 40-yard run that set up Williams’ first touchdown pass to Drake Stoops.

Williams’ 55-yard TD pass to Marvin Mims Jr hit

OKLAHOMA running back Kennedy Brooks (26) celebrates a touchdown against Oregon with Tyrese Robinson (52) during the first half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game on Wednesday night in San Antonio.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay) the receiver perfectly in stride behind two Ducks defenders who were two steps late. Brooks then punched in the final score of the half.

The Sooners were so dominant at that point they looked like some of Stoops’ old teams of bulldozing running backs, defence and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks.

But Oregon (10-4) didn’t quit and made a game of it in the second half.

The Ducks scored three

touchdowns in the third quarter, two coming on long throws by quarterback Anthony Brown, to get within 44-25 by the start of the fourth. Brown finished with 306 yards passing and Travis Dye rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown for Oregon.

Oregon was led by assistant coach Bryan McClendon, elevated to interim head coach for the bowl game after Mario Cristobal left for Miami.

Oregon has hired Georgia

defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who will take over the Ducks after the College Football Playoff.

“It hurts,” McClendon said. “As well as we played in the second half, it’s not a consolation prize.”

BIG PICTURE Oklahoma: Riley’s sudden departure and several players bolting early for the NFL or transferring had the programme’s fan base in a bit of a panic.

Venables was at the game and was around the team during bowl practices. He should have a keen handle on where the Sooners are headed next season.

Venables’ biggest job is building a potential future with Williams, who hasn’t said definitively whether he plans to stay with the Sooners next year.

Williams did not settle the issue after the game. He called the last few weeks a “rollercoaster” and said he will be taking a vacation with his family.

“Oklahoma chose the right guy to come in here,” Williams said of Venables.

Oregon: The Ducks put up a fight in the second half but it was too late. Lanning,

who will be a first-time head coach when he takes over after the CFP, will at least know he inherits a team that won’t quit. Lanning is leaving a national-title contender and has said Oregon should be one as well. The Ducks have played in the Pac-12 title game the last three seasons.

NO HELMET, NO SCORE Oklahoma’s Mario Williams was all smiles as he waltzed into the end zone by himself with his helmet off and hair flying in the second quarter. The only problem was, that’s against the rules. Williams was ruled down on the Oregon 33 as soon as Ducks safety Avan Dickerson had grabbed his facemask and pulled the helmet off. The Oklahoma drive instead ended with a 40-yard field gold from Patrick Brkic for a 9-3 Sooners lead.

UP NEXT Oklahoma opens the 2022 season under Venables against Texas-El Paso on September 3.

Oregon plays its first game with Lanning as head coach September 3 against Georgia.