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SPORTS Wells takes title with record time SECTION E

by RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN student athletes continue to produce milestones on a weekly basis throughout the NCAA Division I Track and Field Indoor season. At the 4th Indoor Gorilla Classic in Pittsburg, Kansas, Sasha Wells etched her name in the Oral Roberts

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

record books with a programme record time of 8.48 secs to win the 60m hurdles. Wells originally set the record in the prelims and matched the time in the finals to take the title. Also for Oral Roberts, freshmen quartermiler Bradley Dormeus finished third in the 400m in 47.55 secs. He was also a member of the 4x400m relay team than ran 3:11.57 secs for

second place, the top time of any Summit League conference team this season. At the Don Kirby Elite in Albuquerque, New Mexico Charisma Taylor continued her stellar indoor season with three top ten finishes. She broke the Washington State Cougars’ freshman indoor record in the 60m hurdles, with a time of 8.30 secs. She finished 8th in the event. Taylor also

placed sixth overall in the triple jump at 41-feet 1/2 inches (12.51m) and 10th in the long jump at 19-0 ¾ (5.81m). Jyles Etienne continued to produce top finishes in the men’s high jump for the Indiana Hoosiers. He took first place with a clearance of height of 2.15m (7’ .5”). Doniesha Anderson was a member of the 4x400m team for the Florida Gators that

BAISS JUNIORS

SEE PAGE TWO

ran 3:31.64 secs that ranked No.5 in the NCAA and was No.8 All-Time in the programme’s record book. Several Bahamians were also in action at the Tiger Paw Invitational in South Carolina. Samson Colebrooke set a new personal record in the 60m and ran the third fastest time in Purdue Boilermakers history at 6.65 secs. The junior’s time

ties the 19th-fastest in the nation and earned him sixth-place in the race. The Houston Cougars’ Brianne Bethel moved up to No 1 in the American Athletic Conference in the 200m dash with a personal best time of 23.45 secs. Competing at the Howie Ryan Invitational, Texas Southern’s Alexis Gray won both the 60m (7.48) and 200m (24.08).

Double delight for Giants By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Giants sent a pair of teams to the BAISS basketball championships in the senior division as both top seeds eliminated the Kingsway Academy Saints. Senior Girls (1) St John’s College Giants – 57 (4) Kingsway Academy Saints – 7 Ten Giants scored in the rout led by a game-high 12 points from Calvinique Spence. Christianna Richarson scored ten, Laquan Sands scored nine, while Tianna Gordon and Sideya Hillaire each scored six. The Giants were overwhelming from the opening tip and built a 11-0 lead within the game’s first three minutes. Sands’ her third steal and layup of the quarter gave the Giants a 16-0 lead and an 18-0 advantage at the end of the first. The Saints finally got their first score of the game when they made a pair of free throws on their second possession of the second and trailed 31-4 at the half. Kingway got their first field goal of the game at the 2:31 mark in the third quarter The lead reached 40 on a Richardson score, 46-6 with just over a minute left in the third. The Giants will face the winner of the matchup between the SAC Big Red Machine and the Jordan Prince William Falcons. Senior Boys (1) St John’s College Giants – 65 (4) Kingsway Academy Saints – 57 The Giants Senior boys had a much more difficult time in their matchup

but outlasted the Saints down the stretch to advance. Immanuel Carey emerged from a scrum with a loose ball to give the Giants a 64-57 lead with less than 30 seconds left to play as a late fourth quarter surge staved off elimination. Tyrese Porter scored a game high 24 points, including nine in the fourth quarter to lead the Giants. Jordan Maycock had 19 points, including five three pointers and Carey finished with eight. Aston Webb led the Saints with 14 points, Dacoda Johnson had 11, and Jermain Adderley scored eight. The Giants took a 50-47 lead into a fourth quarter that featured five ties and six lead changes. Tied at 55, Porter converted a three point play to give the Giants the lead for good with 2:24 left to play. McCalister Smith scored for Kingsway but Porter responded with another layup to keep the Giants ahead. After a series of defensive stops, Carey’s layup would seal the win and the berth to the championship series. The Saints had an 8-6 lead early in the first before Porter’s layup tied it for the Giants. His free throws late in the quarter gave the Giants a 14-12 lead after one. In a high-scoring second quarter, Maycock made four of his five three pointers and the Giants led 35-33 at the half. Kingsway took their biggest lead of the game in the third when they took a four point lead on back to back jumpers from Webb. Careys late free throws gave St John’s the three point lead headed, 50-47 headed into the fourth. St John’s will face the winners of the opposite semifinal between the Temple Christian Suns and the Queen’s College Comets.

ROBERTS SHINES FOR SUN DEVILS By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JUST like hew did when he played for the University of South Florida, Justin Roberts is holding court with the men’s tennis team at Arizona State University. Over the weekend, the ASU Sun Devil played a double header with Roberts playing a key factor in the outcome. On Sunday, the Sun Devil finished up its Midwest road trip on a high note, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers, 4-2, at the IU Tennis Center. In that match, Roberts plated in the number three singles, but he didn’t have to complete his match against Zac Brodney of Indiana after his teammates had already secured the victory. At the time, Roberts was leading 5-4 in the third set. He won the first set 7-5, but lost to Brodney 6-4 in the second set. The match-up came two days after the Sun Devil

JUSTIN ROBERTS lost a 6-1 decision to the No 2 ranked Ohio State at the Varsity Tennis Center. In that match-up, Roberts got the only victory for Arizona State with a stunning 7-6 (7-4), 0-6, 1-0 (10-8) decision over Ohio State’s top-ranked Kyle Seeling. “It was a good match for me,” Roberts told The Tribune. “I think I started the year off playing slow, so it was good for me to feel my level back up there again.

“To play that well against the number two team in the country and against the number 13 player in the country and win was a good feeling. I feel I am getting back on the right track.” Head coach Matt Hill, who also coached Roberts at South Florida, was just as impressed with his performance. “I’m super proud of Justin to be able to finish SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

HONOURS DIVIDED BETWEEN COMETS AND SAC by RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE country’s top rivalry in high school sports continued on the basketball court as the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine and Queen’s College Comets split the pair BAISS sudden basketball junior division semifinals. Junior Girls (4) St Augustine’s Big Red Machine – 40 (1) Queen’s College Comets - 32 The first game of the afternoon produced our first upset when the fourthseeded Big Red Machine eliminated the Comets. Antonicia Moultrie led the Big Red Machine with 20 points, A’Jani Culmer scored eight while Shakimah Clarke and Orielle Johnson each finished with six. Denika Lightbourn led the Comets with a gamehigh 21 points. The Comets took an early 4-0 before six unanswered points from the Big Red Machine to take their first lead of the game. They led 8-5 at the end of the first. SAC took a 14-7 lead when Moultrie made

back-to-back three-pointers. The run continued when she dished an assist to Culmer for an easy layup and 10-0 on a Clarke score for an 11-point lead.

Lightbourn finally brought an end to the Giants run for QC when she split a pair at the line. SAC led 23-11 at the half. Lightbourn opened the

third with a driving layup, but the Big Red Machine had an answer for every score she would deliver in the quarter. She scored nine in the period but SAC

ACTION from the clashes between Queen’s College Comets and St Augustine’s Big Red Machine. continued to build on the to lead the Comets while lead and led 33-23 at the E Simmons had eight and M Pierre finished with end of the third. The Comets scored the seven. The Big Red Machine first four points of the fourth to pull within six, but scored the opening basket a Johnson jumper regained but the Comets trap led to an-point lead for SAC with six unanswered points. Simunder two minutes left to mons, with back to back play as they pulled away scores gave the Comets an 11-3 lead midway through late. They will advance to face the period. They limited the winner of the St John’s the Big Red Machine to just Giants versus Jordan Prince two field goals in the quarWilliam Falcons in the ter and took a 17-5 lead at the end of one and 22-12 at other semi-final. the half. Both teams struggled to Junior Boys score and the game slowed (1) Queen’s College to a halt in the third. Just Comets - 36 a single field goal and five (4) St Augustine’s Big Red points were scored between Machine - 17 the teams as the Comets The Comets’ top ranked took a 27-14 lead into the junior boys looked like the fourth. The Comets advance to division favourites they were all season in the lop- face the winner of today’s Kingsway Saints versus Falsided wire to wire win. J Munnings scored nine cons match-up.

KLAY FOR LAKERS? THE TRIBUNE

LACKLUSTER LAKERS

AFTER whiffing on acquiring New Orleans Pelicans All Star forward Anthony Davis, Lakers president Magic Johnson wasn’t happy with the way things went at the trade deadline. There are still big fish out there, and the team has now switched its focus to the off season free agency period. “That’s not going to change our plans this summer,” Johnson said Sunday, on ESPN.com. “It’s a great [free-agency] class, and we just want to get one of them.” Depending on what maneuvering certain super stars try to do, the impending free-agent class is shaping up to be a big one. Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and DeMarcus Cousins are among those who could be available, and the Lakers

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 3

THE

PRESS BOX AZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENIC

will certainly have the cap room to show interest to all. Klay Thompson is from Southern California and could want to return home once he hits free agency. Playing with James could also be a draw for a number of players regardless of position. The Lakers got a huge win in free agency this past offseason when LeBron signed a four-year deal. Unfortunately, his arrival has been lackluster up until this point, and recently he has missed time due to a groin injury, and a bad case of pouting. In addition to James,

mood swings, the young players on the roster haven’t lived up to their lofty expectations either. After Sunday’s humiliating loss to the young talented Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers are now 28-28 on the season and just 8-14 since Christmas. Mediocrity at its finest! In my opinion it’s painfully obvious, it will take another ‘star’ player for this Laker team to be competitive in the Western Conference, now and in the foreseeable future. Klay Thompson, come on over!

GOLDEN State Warriors guard Klay Thompson in aciton.

Photo: Nick Wass/AP

STRONG START AT FED CUP DAY one for Team Bahamas at the Junior Fed Cup in El Salvador was filled with a lot of excitement on Monday. Playing for the Bahamas in singles competition were Peyton Anderson and Gabrielle Simms. At the end of singles action The Bahamas would be tied 1 all with the top seed in pool D, Trinidad and Tobago. Gabrielle Simms fought hard in a 3 setter but lost 1-6, 6-2, 3-6 and Peyton Anderson won 7-6 (2) 3-6, 6-4 in a thriller of a match.

Peyton and Gabby teamed up for doubles but lost in a close and competitive 3 setter 6-4, 3-6, 7-10. Team Bahamas consisting of Peyton Anderson, Gabrielle Simms and Perjae Major will continue to compete for the opportunity to make the main draw competition. The team is captained by coach Marion Bain. The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association is proud of the match play by the ladies and wishes the team much success as the tournament progresses.

FOOTBALL SEASON STANDINGS The Bahamas Football Association’s regular season is now in full swing at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Center st the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Attached is the team standings as they are compiled: U13 Boys Atlantic Division Team W L Tie GF GA Diff Pts Baha Jr 14 0 1 62 10 52 43 Renegades Sharks 9 7 1 36 27 9 28 Bears FC 7 6 3 27 26 1 24 Tambearley Titans 6 5 4 32 31 1 22 Renegades Marlins 4 10 1 21 40 -19 13 FC Nassau Pirates 1 11 2 11 49 -38 5 Oceanic Division Western Warriors 10 2 3 41 14 27 33 Dynamos FC 7 6 3 26 24 2 24 Future Stars FC 7 6 0 39 21 18 21 United FC 4 7 4 17 26 -9 16 Renegades Barracudas 2 11 2 17 61 -44 8 U13 Girls United FC 5 0 0 22 1 21 15 Baha Jr 3 2 0 11 8 3 9 Dynamos FC 0 6 0 4 28 -24 0 U15 Boys Atlantic Division Western Warriors 10 0 0 62 0 62 30 Cavalier FC 3 6 1 10 47 -37 10 Renegades Marlins 3 5 1 20 35 -15 10 Bears FC 3 7 0 22 38 -16 9 Baha Jr 2 8 0 6 42 -36 6 Oceanic Division Dynamos FC 7 2 0 33 11 22 21 United FC 6 2 1 29 12 17 19 Renegades Sharks 5 3 1 32 11 21 16 Future Stars FC 2 8 0 15 33 -18 6 U18 Girls Atlantic Division Western Warriors 4 0 2 55 10 45 14 Cavalier FC 3 1 2 20 8 12 11 United Purple 1 3 2 6 10 -4 5 Baha Jr 1 5 0 21 28 -7 3 Oceanic Division Dynamos FC 5 0 0 32 1 31 15 Renegade FC 4 1 1 37 6 31 13 United White 1 3 1 7 30 -23 4 Bears FC 0 6 0 0 85 -85 0 U18 Boys Atlantic Division Bears FC 5 2 0 31 10 21 15 United Orange 3 4 0 13 20 -7 9 Baha Jr FC 1 5 0 8 29 -21 3 Cavalier FC 0 6 1 8 42 -34 1 Oceanic Division Renegade FC 7 0 1 39 13 26 22 Western Warriors 4 2 2 17 13 4 14 Future Stars FC 3 2 1 27 15 12 10 Dynamos FC 2 4 1 15 16 -1 7

ROBERTS SHINES FOR SUN DEVILS from page one

off his match,” Hill said. “That guy was the No 12 guy in the country and Justin had a little bit of a slow start to the season. It was a great match for him and he looked really good tonight.” The Sun Devils are now 3-4 for the season, but Roberts said they are just getting

started and he’s looking forward to bigger and brighter days ahead of them. “I wasn’t really playing that much, so I’ve been working very hard trying to get back into the sync of things,” he said. “I feel very optimistic about the rest of the season.” Roberts, 22, is currently playing between No 2-4 on the Sun Devil’s team. At

6-feet, the graduate student at ASU also play doubles. “I like it. It’s similar to the style of play that we had at South Florida,” he reflected. “I have different team-mates, but I’m one of the older guys on the team and I have a different role. “I am really enjoying it and I’m looking really helping this team to get to the NCAA Championships in May.”

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PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Osaka ditches coach Bajin NAOMI Osaka surprisingly split from coach Sascha Bajin, a little more than two weeks after she won the Australian Open for a second consecutive Grand Slam title and moved to No 1 in the WTA rankings. “Hey everyone, I will no longer be working together with Sascha,” Osaka posted on Twitter on Monday. “I thank him for his work and wish him all the best in the future.” Osaka’s agent confirmed to The Associated Press that Osaka would no longer be working with Bajin, the 2018 WTA Coach of the Year, but said there would be no further comment. Less than a half-hour after Osaka’s tweet, Bajin

responded to her on Twitter. He thanked her and wrote: “I wish you nothing but the best as well. What a ride that was. Thank you for letting me be part of this.” Osaka hired Bajin before the 2018 season. He previously worked with Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki. Osaka withdrew from this week’s Qatar Open, citing a back injury. The 21-year-old beat Petra Kvitova in three sets in the Australian Open final on Jan. 26. That added to her championship at the US Open last September, when she defeated Serena Williams in straight sets. Those back-to-back

NAOMI Osaka of Japan talking to her coach Sascha Bajin, left, during her semi-final match last month against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia. Photo: Tertius Pickard/AP victories made Osaka the first woman to win two major championships in a row since Williams picked up four straight in 2014-15.

Osaka became the youngest woman to make her debut at No 1 since Wozniacki at 20 in 2010 and the first tennis player from

Asia to reach the top of the women’s or men’s tennis rankings. She was born in Japan — her mother is Japanese,

her father is Haitian — and moved to the United States when she was three. She has dual citizenship and now is based in Florida.

INJURED OLADIPO FOCUSES ON FUTURE

INDIANA Pacers guard Victor Oladipo is taken off the court on a stretcher last month after he was injured against the Toronto Raptors. INDIANAPOLIS Associated Press VICTOR Oladipo’s season-ending injury occurred in the same area of his right knee that forced him to miss 11 games earlier this season. He is uncertain if the two are related. At this point, the star guard for the Indiana Pacers doesn’t really think it matters. For now, Oladipo remains in Miami, on crutches, working his way back into shape so he can return to Indianapolis before the end of this season after rupturing the quad tendon in his knee. “I can’t say it’s related, but I really wouldn’t know. I can’t really say it is related because I wouldn’t know that, either,” Oladipo said during a conference

call. “Sure, it might be connected but who knows. I’m not focused on the past because I have no control over that just like I have no control over the future.” There is no timetable for his return to the court. In his first public comments since hurting the knee on January 23, Oladipo acknowledged the soreness he felt in November and December was in the same general area as the more serious injury — just above the right knee. A few days before he went down, while scrambling back on defense against Toronto, Pacers fans openly questioned whether Oladipo was 100 percent and cited, in part, Oladipo’s statistical decline. He averaged 23.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals, all career bests, in 2017-18 when he made his first All-Star appearance

and was named the league’s Most Improved Player. This season he was averaging 18.8 points and 1.7 steals though his rebounding total increased to 5.6. He was selected to his second All-Star team following the injury. While Oladipo declined to draw a direct link between the initial pain and the ruptured quad tendon, he acknowledged the surgeons removed all “unnecessary things” in the right knee. “In the quad tendon area, yes, very similar. (I was) just doing the necessary things they felt was best to get stronger,” Oladipo said, describing his rehab regimen from the sore knee. “It was just a freak accident.” After beating Toronto on the night Oladipo was taken off the court on a stretcher, the Pacers lost their next four games — their longest skid in more than 12 months.

Photo: Michael Conroy/AP Oladipo told reporters Monday he was disappointed and felt as if he had let down his teammates. But Oladipo helped turn things around when he met with his teammates before they played at Miami on February 2. Indiana beat the Heat 95-88, the first victory in a five-game streak going into Monday’s home game against Charlotte. They’re still No 3 in the Eastern Conference standings and Oladipo still hopes to play an active role in the Pacers’ fate. “If I have my two cents or if I see something, I might text the players or coach,” he said. “But for the most part when they came and visited me in Miami, I told them what I thought they needed to hear. The team is very capable of doing special things without me.”

ROOT NOTCHES CENTURY AS ENGLAND BUILD 448-RUN LEAD GROS ISLET, St Lucia Associated Press

JOE Root scored a century as England manhandled a depleted West Indies attack to lead the dead rubber third test by 448 runs after three days on Monday. England, 123 runs up on the first innings, cruised from 19 without loss at the start of the day to 325-4 at stumps. Root was 111 not out, reaching his first half-century and century in eight innings, with the West Indies already having won the series 2-0. Beside Root was Ben Stokes, on 29 not out. Joe Denly added 69 for his first test fifty, and Jos Buttler 56. They were hardly threatened on a flattening pitch against an attack with lost allrounder Keemo Paul during the fourth over of the day. Paul, playing in

place of suspended captain Jason Holder, was chasing a Denly cover drive to the boundary when he pulled up lame. He strained his right quadricep and had to be taken away on a stretcher. This was while Darren Bravo was not fielding because of a finger injury. Paul’s absence was all the more obvious because he took a wicket with the first delivery of the day, a loosener which opener Rory Burns clipped straight to square leg. Alzarri Joseph took the catch, and also dismissed the other opener, Keaton Jennings, who took a deflection off his thigh pad on to his leg stump while on 23 off 99 balls. Root joined Denly and they led England through lunch at 108-2 until Denly, dropped on 12, was out also on his 99th ball. He hit 11 boundaries then nicked behind.

Root and Buttler took tea at 207-3. Buttler survived given out caught behind off Roston Chase, on video review. But as soon as the West Indies took the new ball, Buttler lost his off stump to Kemar Roach. Buttler made 56 from 115 balls in a stand of 107 with Root. Root’s first fifty came from 120 balls, and his confidence showed as the second fifty needed only 69 more balls. He brought up his 16th test century by hitting Joseph back down the ground. The century was bittersweet, however, because Root made 4, 22, 7 and 7 in the two previous tests in which England was thrashed, and 15 in the first innings. It’s up to him to decide how much time England wants to give itself over the next two days to bowl out a patched-up West Indies and earn a consolation win.

ENGLAND captain Joe Root plays a shot against West Indies during day three of the third cricket Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, St Lucia, yesterday. Photo: Ricardo Mazalan/AP

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 5

CHOICES, CHOICES... MURRAY PICKS NFL OVER BASEBALL

OKLAHOMA quarterback Kyler Murray pictured in December holding the Hesiman Trophy after winning the award in New York. MESA, Arizona Associated Press WHEN Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma last season, the Oakland Athletics knew there was a chance he might chose football over baseball. That is exactly what happened. On the day the A’s started spring training workouts, Murray said he will pursue a career in the NFL. “I am firmly and fully committing my life and time to becoming an NFL quarterback,” Murray tweeted. “Football has been my love and passion my entire life. I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100 percent of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships. I have started an extensive training program to further prepare myself for upcoming workouts and interviews. I eagerly await the opportunity to continue to prove to NFL decision makers that I am the franchise QB in this draft.”

Murray passed for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns last season as the Sooners landed a second straight College Football Playoff berth. He ran for 1,001 yards and another 12 scores, posting the secondbest passer efficiency rating in Bowl Subdivision history. He declared himself eligible for April’s NFL draft last month. He is not a prototypical NFL quarterback at just 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, but his skills make him an intriguing option. The A’s thought so, too. Murray was the ninth overall pick in last June’s baseball amateur draft, and the outfielder agreed to a minor league contract with Oakland for a $4.66 million signing bonus. The deal called for him to receive $1.5 million after approval last summer by Major League Baseball and $3.16 million on March 1. Murray must return six-sevenths of the money he received, or $1,285,714. While there is a provision for a team to get an extra draft pick in the following draft if it fails to sign a player selected prior

to the fourth round, there is no such provision for a player who signed and then decided not to play. Oakland had a locker with a No 73 jersey waiting for Murray at its facility in suburban Phoenix. “We took the best athlete on the board and who we thought was probably the best baseball player on the board, too,” Athletics general manager David Forst said. “We’ve known all along this was a possibility. We knew he had a great option in the NFL, so we’ve known for a while that there was a chance this was going to happen.” Murray showed off his skills taking batting practice at the Coliseum in an A’s uniform back in June, greeted by “WELCOME TO OAKLAND” on the big scoreboard with his photo. That was before he led the Sooners to the Big 12 Conference title behind his blazing speed and pinpoint throws. Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders played both football and baseball, but Jackson was a running back

Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP

OAKLAND Athletics draft pick Kyler Murray pictured in June. vice president of baseball and Sanders a cornerback. “Quarterback is a very operations. “To say somedemanding position, as body could or couldn’t, I’m is being a Major League not here to say that. Somebaseball player,” said Billy thing like that is something Beane, Oakland’s executive that is part of our private

Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP discussions.” A’s manager Bob Melvin added: “He’s one of those rare athletes, who I think any sport that he played, he’d probably excel at.”

KAREEM HUNT GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE CLEVELAND Associated Press

THE Cleveland Browns’ signing of Kareem Hunt once again shines a spotlight somewhere other than the team’s on-field performance. Hunt, who was released 2½ months ago by Kansas City after a video surfaced showing the star running back pushing and kicking a woman, signed with Cleveland on Monday. Hunt was placed on the NFL’s commissioner’s exempt list hours before the Chiefs released him, a move that drew public support after he was seen in a physical altercation with the woman last February during an argument in the lobby of a downtown hotel where he stayed. He was in his second season with Kansas City and was one of the team’s best players. He led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017. The Browns are now giving the 23-year-old, who is from Cleveland, a chance to restart his career, though he still could be suspended by the league under its personal conduct policy for the incident and two others that surfaced after he was released by the Chiefs. Hunt has not been charged with a crime. An NFL investigation is ongoing. And the Browns, coming off a tumultuous 7-8-1 season that followed an 0-16 record in 2017 — with a new coach after Hue

Jackson was fired midseason in 2018 — are creating headlines by giving a player a second chance even as the NFL has not yet decided Hunt’s status. Browns general manager John Dorsey drafted Hunt while working for Kansas City and said their relationship was an “important part of this decision-making process”. “But we then did extensive due diligence with many individuals, including clinical professionals, to have a better understanding of the person he is today and whether it was prudent to sign him,” said Dorsey, who was Kansas City’s GM from 2013-16. “There were two important factors: One is that Kareem took full responsibility for his egregious actions and showed true remorse and secondly, just as importantly, he is undergoing and is committed to necessary professional treatment and a plan that has been clearly laid out.” Dorsey went on to say the Browns “fully understand and respect the complexity of questions and issues in signing a player with Kareem’s history and do not condone his actions. Given what we know about Kareem through our extensive research, we believe he deserves a second chance but certainly with the understanding that he has to go through critical and essential steps to become a performing member of

this organisation, aside from what the NFL determines from their ongoing investigation.” Dorsey added that the Browns have given Hunt “detailed plans with expectations laid out that he understands and must follow”. He said any similar incident will not be tolerated. In a statement released by the team, Hunt expressed remorse and thanked the Browns for giving him an opportunity. “First off, I would like to once again apologise for my actions last year,” Hunt said. “What I did was wrong and inexcusable. That is not the man I was raised to be, and I’ve learned a great deal from that experience and certainly should have been more truthful about it after the fact. I’m extremely grateful that John Dorsey, Dee and Jimmy Haslam and the Cleveland Browns organisation are granting me the opportunity to earn their trust and represent their organisation in the best way possible on and off the field. “I am committed to following the necessary steps to learn and to be a better and healthier person from this situation. I also understand the expectations that the Browns have clearly laid out and that I have to earn my way back to the NFL. I’m a work in progress as a person, but I’m committed to taking advantage of the support systems that I have in

KAREEM Hunt pictured in November playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP place to become the best and healthier version of myself.” Hunt’s incident is one of the more high-profile assault cases to plague the league in recent years. In 2014, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was captured on video punching and knocking out his then-fiancee in an elevator. He was released by the team and never returned to the NFL. The Browns likely will receive backlash for their decision to sign Hunt.

Cleveland recently hired Freddie Kitchens as its coach. Kitchens served as the team’s interim offensive coordinator for the final eight games, and his strong connection with rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield was one of the main reasons he got the job. Hunt, of course, could wind up with a suspension for a portion of the 2019 season. A player who is placed on the exempt list may not practice or attend games, but with the team’s permission he may be

present at its facility on “a reasonable basis for meetings, individual workouts, therapy and rehabilitation, and other permitted nonfootball activities.” If and when he is able to play, Hunt could have a major role with the Browns, who have backfield depth. Nick Chubb ran for 996 yards as a rookie last season and the team has Duke Johnson, a versatile back who also is one of the team’s best receivers. Johnson signed a three-year, $15.6m contract in June.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 7

RAMSEY TO SIGN FOR JUVENTUS

Sorry look for Sarri as Chelsea stumble LONDON Associated Press THE squad has been publicly undermined. There’s been grumbling about the lack of contact from the owner. And the team was just handed its biggest loss in 28 years. Maurizio Sarri’s reign at Chelsea already looks like it’s approaching the end, and he’s not even completed a season. “My job,” Sarri said after Sunday’s humiliating 6-0 loss at Manchester City, “is always at risk.” Such is the life of a Chelsea manager, at the whims of one of the most impatient owners in the Premier League. Signing a three-year contract — as Sarri did — means little when you are working for Roman Abramovich and there’s a risk you won’t qualify for the Champions League. Winning the Premier League counted for little when Antonio Conte

finished fifth a year later. Even lifting the FA Cup couldn’t save Conte from being replaced by Sarri for this season. Now Chelsea is even worse off, slumping to sixth place after another poor showing on the road. The loss at City wasn’t just a blip but part of a worrying trend for this erratic boost-andbust club, where success is often the forerunner for an implosion. Three weeks ago, Sarri tried berating his players to the media after a 2-0 loss at Arsenal. “It appears this group of players is extremely difficult to motivate,” Sarri said. They proved him right 11 days later with a 4-0 loss at Bournemouth, a team in the bottom half of the standings. That seems to be a greater embarrassment than Sunday at the Etihad Stadium — a stark reversal after Chelsea ended City’s unbeaten start with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December.

CHELSEA manager Maurizio Sarri, right, reacts during the match against Manchester City. Photo: Jon Super/AP The one place Sarri could remarked Sunday, “I never two goals in four games, find some sympathy on hear from him.” Higuain has some way to go The Russian billionaire, to prove he is the solution. Sunday is from City mancurrently denied a Britager Pep Guardiola. So often Eden Hazard has Just as Guardiola’s ish visa, gave the coach the been deployed as the False philosophy was being dis- players he needed to adapt Nine. With the winger agitatmissed as unsuitable for the Sarri-ball system to the ing for a move, and one full England back then, so now Premier League, reshaping season remaining on his conis the much-vaunted Sarri- the team with imports from tract, Chelsea has a fight on ball the former Napoli Napoli. its hands keeping the team’s The first arrival was mid- one world-class player. coach has imported to England. Much like Guardiola’s fielder Jorginho, one of When Abramovich looks style, Sarri’s tactics rely on the key cogs in that Napoli across London, the Rusfree-flowing ball movement team. Sarri also landed sian will see how Mauricio fused with constant running Mateo Kovacic from Real Pochettino — often out of Madrid. But the Italian has necessity because of a lack and relentless attacking. “People don’t understand never settled on his midfield. of transfer funds — has proInserting Jorginho into moted youngsters to the first how difficult the first year can be,” Guardiola said, the team has disrupted team and excelled. Tottenreflecting on City scraping N’Golo Kante, taking the ham is now ten points ahead into third place in 2017. “In 2017 player of the year’s of Chelsea in third place my first year, we could not defensive midfield shield despite not making a single role. Sarri also can’t decide signing in the last year. play in the way I wanted.” between Kovacic and Ross Sound familiar? Pochettino and Sarri have “I didn’t see my football,” Barkley. something in common: NeiSarri has been reu- ther has won a trophy as a Sarri complained at City. “We need to understand nited with striker Gonzalo manager. Sarri can end his Higuain, on loan from trophy drought in two weeks the reason, it’s not easy.” with Alvaro in the League Cup final. Just Not what Abramovich Juventus, Morata sent to Atletico one problem — the oppowants to hear. Although, as Sarri Madrid last month. With nent is Manchester City.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 61° F/16° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

A morning shower; partly sunny

Mainly clear with a shower late

An afternoon shower in spots

Partly sunny with a few showers

Delightful with plenty of sunshine

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 81°

Low: 70°

High: 79° Low: 68°

High: 78° Low: 68°

High: 80° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

84° F

71° F

87°-63° F

80°-69° F

83°-70° F

85°-66° F

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 58° F/14° C

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

almanac

ABACO

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 72° F/22° C

10-20 knots

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 64° F/18° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 68° F/20° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 79° F/26° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 83° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 72° F/22° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 2.21” Normal year to date ..................................... 1.97”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

WOLVES LEVEL LATE AGAINST NEWCASTLE WOLVERHAMPTON’S stoppage-time equaliser hurt Newcastle’s hopes of survival when they drew 1-1 in the English Premier League yesterday. Defender Willy Boly headed home four minutes into injury time for Wolves, getting above Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to meet Adam Traore’s looping cross. It’s the 14th time Wolves have scored in the last ten minutes this season. Wolves started brightly, but Newcastle settled into the game, and Isaac Hayden’s first goal in 17 months looked to have won it for the visitors and quietened the home crowd.

uV inDex toDay

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

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

12:30 a.m. 12:41 p.m.

2.4 2.1

6:49 a.m. 6:59 p.m.

0.4 0.0

Wednesday 1:26 a.m. 1:39 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:51 a.m. 7:55 p.m.

0.4 0.0

Thursday

2:28 a.m. 2:43 p.m.

2.6 2.0

8:57 a.m. 0.3 8:57 p.m. -0.1

Friday

3:31 a.m. 3:49 p.m.

2.8 2.2

10:02 a.m. 0.1 10:00 p.m. -0.3

Saturday

4:32 a.m. 4:52 p.m.

3.0 2.3

11:03 a.m. -0.1 11:02 p.m. -0.6

Sunday

5:30 a.m. 5:51 p.m.

3.2 2.5

11:59 a.m. -0.4 ---------

Monday

6:25 a.m. 6:47 p.m.

3.3 2.8

12:01 a.m. -0.8 12:52 p.m. -0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

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

Moonrise Moonset

11:34 a.m. none

First

Full

Last

New

Feb. 12

Feb. 19

Feb. 26

Mar. 6

CAT ISLAND

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

7-14 knots

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

AARON Ramsey will leave English Premier League club Arsenal to join Italian champion Juventus for next season. Juventus says Ramsey will join in July on a fouryear contract and that registering the midfielder will incur costs of $4m. Ramsey has been at Arsenal since 2008 and his contract expires at the end of the season, allowing him to secure his move in advance to Italy.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8-16 knots

10-20 knots

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

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

WINDS SE at 8-16 Knots NNW at 10-20 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots NNW at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots S at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots SSW at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots SSE at 8-16 Knots N at 15-25 Knots E at 7-14 Knots WSW at 4-8 Knots E at 10-20 Knots S at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SSW at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots WNW at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots W at 6-12 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 74° F 74° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 75° F 75° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 74° F 74° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

On the right track AUSTIN, Texas Associated Press INDYCAR heads into 2019 with everything going in the right direction. The series has a new long-term sponsor in Japanese communications giant NTT. Tyre manufacturer Firestone has extended its supplier deal for five more years. A new broadcast deal with NBC is set to launch. On the track, an already deep driver pool keeps adding veteran and rookie talent. And the series has added a new stop in Texas while bringing back an old favorite in California. IndyCar has even been exploring a return to Australia and possibly adding another international event to the American openwheel series. For long-time driver and 2004 series champion Tony Kanaan of AJ Foyt Racing,

all signs point to a spectacular season that will open with Scott Dixon defending his fifth championship. “Since I’ve been around ... this is the best year I’ve ever seen,” Kanaan said Monday. “By a long shot.” The 17-race season starts March 10 in St Petersburg, Florida, before making its debut two weeks later at the Circuit of the Americas. The series was in Austin, Texas, for its preseason media day Monday, and for two days of testing on the 3.4 mile (5.5 kilometer) road course that was built for Formula One and has been hosting that series’ US Grand Prix since 2012. The contract with NTT settles the title sponsorship after two years of trying to replace Verizon, which pulled out after a five-year partnership. The new broadcast rights deal moves the crown jewel of

the season, the Indianapolis 500, away from ABC for the first time in 53 years and puts the entire series on one network with a promise of more consistent and broader exposure. The new deal puts eight races on NBC and the other nine on its cable sports network, NBCSN. “I was climbing the ladder when this thing was falling apart,” said 2012 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport. “(Now) there’s so much momentum in this sport: the class of competition, the caliber of teams, the support of sponsors. It’s pretty awesome to see this sport where it should be.” The new race in Texas and the return to Laguna Seca in Monterrey, California, for the season finale gives IndyCar a taste for new fans and old.

The Texas track had long coveted hosting IndyCar but had been frozen out by a geographic exclusivity clause the series had for years with Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Circuit of the Americas President Bobby Epstein has vowed that his track will make a splashy debut for the March 24 race and has said he wants it to have the second-largest purse behind the Indianapolis 500, including a $100,000 bonus if the pole winner also wins the race. This year’s Indianapolis 500 will be the 50th anniversary of Mario Andretti’s sole victory there. And it will see former Formula One champion Fernando Alonso return in his quest to claim auto racing’s Triple Crown of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and

the Indy 500. Alonso made a strong bid to win in 2017 before a late-race engine failure. Andretti’s son, Michael, failed to win in Indy, and grandson Marco Andretti said Friday a victory this year would be the perfect way to mark the anniversary. “I want to win any Indy 500, but if there was one to pick, it would be this one,” Marco Andretti said. “I would cry. IndyCar has a handful of drivers with Formula One experience and is adding more. Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson, who lost his seat at his old F1 Sauber team, joined Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Ericsson is already eyeing his first start at the Indy 500. “I spoke with Alonso about it. He said, ‘You will love it, it’s an amazing experience,’” Ericsson said.

Carlin’s Max Chilton, who made the switch from F1 in 2015, predicted Ericsson will be fine on the road courses but will have to adjust to the ovals. “It’s very daunting. F1 cornering speed is quicker. IndyCar (on ovals) is crazy fast and the walls are right there,” Chilton said. “He’ll be fine.” • Reigning Indy Lights champion Patricio O’Ward of Mexico said he had left new team Harding-Steinbrenner Racing and will be looking for a new seat for 2019. O’Ward didn’t give a reason but said the team had agreed to let him out of his contract. Teammate Colton Herta said he didn’t know why O’Ward left. “The news came as a bit of shock to me. It’s tough. We pushed each other,” Herta said. “He’s a good driver. He’ll find something else.”