02172026 SPORTS

SPORTS

Hugh Campbell Day 1 highlights

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic for senior boys teams in the island nation got off to a flying start yesterday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium and the intensity is only expected to mount as the action continues this week.

Here's a review of the games played so far:  Comets 37, Magics 29

In the feature game of the night, the Queen's College Comets turned the tricks on Government High to complete day one.

Javan Missick came up with a game high 14 points and seven rebounds, Rajon Louis had eight points and nine rebounds, Tayshawn Taylor had eight points as well with four assists, three steals and two rebounds and Kayden Deveaux added seven points with a pair of rebounds and steals.

Comets' head coach Ruben Mounts said they were just trying to shut off the rust and get back to playing Queen's College style of basketball.

"We had a lot of rust. The guys didn't have a lot of practice, so right now we're just playing off our talent," Mounts said. "We had a very good second half. They started to get their legs under them and they hit some very good shots and we started to play a lot better."

Aaron Brown scored nine, Taj Johnson had seven, John Joseph had six points and eight rebounds and Rayvon Burrell five and five rebounds.

Highlighted by three consecutive fast break slam dunks, including the final one at the buzzer from Missick, Queen's College surged ahead 8-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Government High got on the scoreboard with their first two baskets but, after falling behind 11-4, they didn't score again until they got a baseline jumper off the top of the rim for an 11-6 deficit. But Queen's College took a 13-6 lead into the half.

In the third, the Comets tightened up their defence and created a few fast break attempts to pull ahead for a 27-14 margin going into the fourth. The Cobras made a final run, but the Comets answered every challenge to clinch the win.

Giants 42, CC Sweeting 35

There's much to expect when you come into the tournament as one of the champions and with the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools' crown around their neck.

Deren Moultrie scored 10 points with 11 rebounds and Akai Miller also had 10 points in the win for St John's. Christopher Francis had nine points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists, Timothy Ferguson also had 10 points and Lavardo Dean chipped in with eight points, three assists and two rebounds.

But coach Baker didn't mince words as he noted that he wasn't impressed with the performance at all.

"We just came out our (BAISS) championship and we came into the Hugh Campbell Tournament playing very sloppily," he said. "I wasn't impressed at all. We have to go back and improve on our play." It was a bitter-sweet game for Baker as he also coached CC Sweeting so, while he was happy that his Giants won, he is rooting for the Cobras to play even better.

Bradley Lubin had a game high 12 points, Kaleb Jean-Baptiste had 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals and Tameko Dorsette chipped in with eight points in the loss.

The Cobras led 10-6 after the first quarter, but the Giants stormed back for a 19-15 advantage at the half.

The Cobras came for a slim 32-30 lead at the end of the third, but the Giants put the game away with a late flurry in the final three minutes.

Cheribin 50, Stingrays 21

They have not won a title or got to the pool final yet, but Teleos Christian Academy has always been a force to reckon with and they showed that in their opener of the tournament.

"I think the boys played very well. They worked hard in practice, so I'm glad that they were able to showcase their skills out here," said Teleos' head coach Roger Charlton.

Keanu Thurston led three players in double figures with a game high 17 points as Teleos Christian Academy stunned CV Bethel. Thurston also pulled down 12 rebounds to post a double-double, leading two other players in

ON THE REPLAY: The prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic for senior boys teams in the island

double digits. Jeidelove Archelus and Luke Adderley both had 10 points. Calvin Spence added eight points with a game high 15 rebounds.

Davaro Saunders, Michael Mackey, Torriano McPhee and Joshua Marshall all scored three for CV Bethel. McPhee added 13 rebounds and four block shots to his ledger.

The Stingrays, however, were simply out-played in every aspect of the game, including 53-31 on the boards, while commiting 10

got off to a flying start yesterday at the AF

more turnovers in the critical stats.

After being tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, Teleos Christian Academy surged ahead 25-11 at the half. They extended their lead to 35-15 at the third and cruised in the fourth.  Cougars 42, Greenville 38

The BAISS runners up Charles W Saunders got an all-around game from Laquanne Collins with 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals, three assists and a pair of steals as they held on

for the win. Daniel Munroe had 10 points, eight steals and seven rebounds, Shelton Nelson had eight points and 14 rebounds and Breon Poitier also had eight points with five steals, two assists and as many rebounds. Marvin Pratt led Greenville Preparatory Academy with 11 points, four steals, two assists and two rebounds. Akeem Storr and Kino Kelly both had eight points with six and five rebounds respectively.

Greenville opened the game with a 9-4 advantage

the 42-35 win over the CC

at the end of the first quarter, but that lead was short lived as Charles W Saunders surged back for a 18-13 margin at the break. The Cougars went up 32-20 at the end of the third and held on in the fourth.

TODAY 5pm - ISBET vs Jordan Prince Williams

6pm - RM Bailey vs Westminster

7pm - CI Gibson vs Patrick J Bethel

8pm - Anatol Rodgers vs St John's College

Kai Jones’ numbers ‘scream efficiency’

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

KAI Jones’ move to Europe has settled into something quietly remarkable as the 6’11” Bahamian big man has become one of the most efficient interior scorers in the 2025-26 EuroLeague while backing that up with defensive plays and energy minutes for Anadolu Efes Istanbul. His numbers don’t jump off the page in terms of volume, but they scream efficiency. Through mid-February, Jones has appeared in the

EuroLeague rotation in 25 games and is averaging roughly 13-14 minutes, 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, with a player-impact rating (PIR) near 6.9.  Jones has made 41 of 43 two-point attempts in EuroLeague play, a 2-point percentage of 95.3%, which sits at the top of the league leaderboard for two-point field-goal accuracy. That kind of efficiency is historic for a player getting regular minutes in Europe’s top competition.  His best single performance this season came in early February against Valencia where Jones, 25,

poured in a season-high 15 points with seven rebounds, added two steals and three blocks as Efes beat Valencia 107-90, a game that solidified how he can change the flow in limited minutes with high-efficiency finishes, rim protection and activity on the glass. That night was the reason club leadership moved to secure him with a two-year contract extension shortly after.

Team-wise Efes has had an up-and-down EuroLeague season thus far, sitting in the lower half of the table, fighting to climb back toward play-in contention. Efes currently has a record of 9-16.

Head coach Pablo Laso has leaned on role players like Jones to provide high-energy minutes and situational defence while the team hunts consistency.  Jones himself sounds comfortable with the move.

“Everything is going great. I’m glad I chose to come here, and the team is playing really well. This is an excellent club, and so far I’m enjoying it,” he said in a mid-season interview discussing the transition and his role. The season has not been loud. It has been efficient, controlled and now secured with long-term backing from his club.

Troy and Leonardo share the spotlight in their international marathon debut

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force and Just Run team-mates Troy Seymour and Leonardo Forbes shared some of the spotlight as they competed at the Publix Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon & Half Marathon on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Out of a total of 574 competitors in the six-kilometre run, Seymour crossed the finish line first overall, while Forbes trailed in third place as they both made their international debut.

While Seymour crossed the finish line in 24 minutes and 55 seconds, Forbes did it in 25.19 as he trailed second place finisher Oren Griffith Jr, the second place finisher in 25.05.

Having to manoeuvre through a large group of competitors ahead of him in the other events during the competition, Seymour said he wasn't able to mash the gas as he would have liked to. "We play. If I had to put it on a scale from 1-10, I would say it would have been a seven," Seymour said. "That was only because of the race organisers and not myself. "I was happy with my performance for the field of competitors that we had. I didn't get to run as fast as I would have liked to. The organisers put our race after the marathon and half marathon, so there were a lot of people to run through."

Having won a number of titles at home, Seymour said

he had quit running, but returned and was delighted to emerge as the overall champion.

"This has given me the encouragement to continue to train and go back on the international scene and compete again," Seymour said.

"Hopefully I can go to an event that gives me the best chance to compete and to see where I fit on the world stage."

Seymour, 31, said he was delighted to be a part of the 20-plus competitors from The Bahamas, who did the various aspects of the race, including the marathon, half marathon, 6K and 5K. Forbes, 31, said he was just as thrilled about his third place.

"Overall it was pretty good. The course and everything was fine. The route wasn't as organised as I thought it would have been with all of the races going on at the same time," he said. "But I was pleased."

Forbes, a 2011/12

CARIFTA 5,000 metre competitor in the under-20 division, said Seymour and Griffith Jr really forced him to go out and run.

"This has boosted my confidence and has forced me to train harder to perform on a higher platform," Forbes said.

"Just Run, the club that I am in, have been going to this event for the past 3-4 years.

"So I'm looking forward to competing with them again and hopefully getting better. I want to thank the Just Run family for making

everything possible for me to compete in the event." Forbes said he's now committed to competing more internationally with Just Run, a group headed by Jason Prabhu, who have been making their presence felt both on the local and international scene.

In achieving a hattrick with first overall, first in his age group and first as an international competitor, Seymour said he just scraped the tip of the iceberg.

Seymour noted that he's on a distance running journey to prove to the Bahamian coaches that there's just as much talent in longer races as there are in the glamorous events from 100-400m.

"It's shameful that most coaches discourage and disenfranchise athletes and potential athletes who are interested and/or gifted in the middle to long distances," he said.

"They go as far as to tell individuals that you won't make it or be any good as a distance athlete, you should do the 400m."

Relating to countless stories, Seymour said he's heard about distance athletes qualifying for scholarships abroad and their coaches went behind their back.

Instead, they work with the institution to secure and select a sprinter.

"Like other countries in our region and around the world, we can be great at more than one discipline," Seymour added. "And I'm out to prove it, one way or another."

Fredrick King and Racers

make push toward the postseason

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

FREDRICK King has developed into one of the most productive interior players in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, giving Murray State consistent scoring and rebounding as the Racers push toward the postseason.

The 21-year-old senior from Mangrove Cay, Andros, has elevated his role in his first year with the Murray State Racers after transferring from Creighton University.

Earlier this month, King earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honours following a two-game stretch where he averaged 16.5 points and a league-best 11.5 rebounds. That run included a 13-point, six-rebound performance in a win over UIC.

Through the most recent stretch of the season, Murray State sits at 18-8 overall and 10-5 in MVC play, positioning itself firmly in the upper half of the conference standings.

Under first-year head coach Ryan Miller, the Racers have played balanced basketball, leaning on interior defence and efficient half-court execution. King has been central to that identity.

On the season, King is averaging 13.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting above 64

per cent from the field. His field-goal percentage ranks among the most efficient in the conference, reflecting his ability to finish at the rim and convert second-chance opportunities.

He is also averaging close to two blocks per game, anchoring Murray State’s interior defence.

King’s path to this role has been gradual beginning his college career at Creighton University, where he spent three seasons developing within a deep rotation.

As a freshman and sophomore, his minutes were limited, but he showed flashes of productivity when given extended opportunities. In one start against Notre Dame during his time at Creighton, he recorded 14 points and four blocks, offering a glimpse of his potential impact.

After transferring to Murray State, King stepped into a larger role immediately. The system has allowed him to operate as a primary post presence rather than a situational contributor.

His rebounding numbers have climbed, and his scoring has become more consistent, particularly in conference play.

Following his recent recognition, King spoke about keeping his approach simple. He said his focus remains on “making the right play and finishing strong around the basket,” adding that rebounding is “about effort every possession.”

The 13-point, six-rebound game against UIC was not his highest output of the year, but it reflected his reliability. He finished efficiently inside, secured defensive rebounds in key stretches, and avoided unnecessary fouls. In another standout performance earlier this season, King had 16 points and 14 rebounds, demonstrating his ability to dominate the glass against physical frontcourts.

Local Sports Calendar

SOFTBALL ED KNOWLES

CLASSIC

THE National Sports Authority will keep the memory of the late Edron ‘Ed’ Knowles alive by hosting a Home Run Hitting Showcase at 6pm on Friday, February 20 in the Bankers Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The event will comprise of the top 20 home run hitters with the winner carting off $500 in cash prime and five cases of beers. Second place will take home $300 in cash and three cases of beers and third place will receive $200 and two cases of beers. The entry fee is $5.

TRACK

NPA TRACK CLASSIC

THE Noble Preparatory Academy Spartans’ third annual Track and Field Classic is scheduled for Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The event will begin at 10am and will feature competition on the track and the field in all age groups from under-7 to open. The registration deadline is Tuesday. The contact is info@npabahamas.com

SANDS ON TALKSPORTS

BAHAMIAN legend

Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC), will be the special guest of TalkSports, a radio show that covers the Caribbean.

Sands will speak on the show on Saturday, February 21, at noon and will be

live on all social media as he addresses NACAC, the governing body for track and field in the region.

CYCLING KING OF THE HILL

THE New Province Cycling Association has announced that its King of the Hill 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 22, at Fort Charlotte Hill, starting at 8am.

It’s the association’s first race for the year and challenges the competitors to get ready to conquer the hill. Forms are available at the Cycles Bike Store, or call 432-5568 or email president Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove at bammus1967@ gmail.com.

“Only the toughest riders will rise to the top,” according to the association. “Test your endurance. Dominate the climb. Claim the crown. Will you be the king?”

ATLANTIS COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

ATLANTIS will be branching out its athletic programme by introducing its Collegiate Baseball Series at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium from February 27 to March 1. The series will be played between Indiana State Sycamores and the Penn State Nittany Lions, two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One programmes. Tickets are currently on sale and will be 50% off for local residents using the code 242baseball at AtlantsBaseball.com.

Kids 12-and-under will be admitted free.

TRACK RED-LINE

FIELD AND RELAY

CARNIVAL

THE Red-Line Athlet-

ics Track Club, coming off its successful hosting of the Sonja Knowles Track Classic, will now prepare for their third annual Field Events and Relay Carnival at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The Carnival is scheduled for February 28 from 10am to 6pm with the long jump, triple jump, pole vault, discus, javelin and shot put and on March 1 from 1-6pm with the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 400, 4 x 800 metres and both the sprint and distance medley relays. The event is open to competitors from the under-7 to the open divisions.

BBSF FAMILY

FUN

RUN/WALK

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its Family Fun Run/Walk Race on Saturday, February 28, beginning at 6am at the Bahamas Baptist College, Jean Street.

The walk will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, turn onto Bernard Road and head west to Soldier Road, turn onto Soldier Road and head south to Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive and head east to Jean Street, turn onto Jean Street and back to the Bahamas Baptist College.

from the

but

prevents opponents from collapsing into the lane without consequence. His efficiency forces single coverage, and when double teams come, he has shown improved patience in finding cutters.

As the Racers approach the final weeks of MVC play, King’s senior

The run will leave Jean Street and head south to Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive and head east to Fox Hill Road, turn left onto Fox Hill Road and head south to Berard Road, turn onto Bernard Road and head west on Bernard Road and to Jean Street, turn left onto Jean Street and back to the Bahamas Baptist College.

The categories in both events are the under15, under-20, under-40, under-60, 60-and-over and 70-and-over for men and ladies. There will also be a category for Pastors/Ministers combined. The cost is $10 per person.

Trophies will be presented to the overall winners and medals distributed to the first three finishers in each category. There will also be a trophy for the church or organisation that brings the most participants. A free health screening will take place as well as there will be a special appearance by fitness guru Natasha ‘Downtown’ Brown and souse will also be on sale at a cost of $10 each.

GOLF

SCHOOL

CHAMPIONSHIP

THE Bahamas Golf Federation will hold its School Golf Championships March 2-6 at the Nine-Hole Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The registration starts at 8am and the fee is $15 per golfer. Interested persons can log onto www.

experience becomes increasingly important. He provides consistent rebounding, high-percentage scoring and rim protection without demanding excessive touches.

For a team chasing strong tournament positioning, that combination of efficiency and interior stability gives Murray State a dependable foundation heading into March Madness.

bahamasgolffederation.com for more information.

TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP THE Bahamas Triathlon Association, which postponed its National Championships on February 1 due to the inclement weather, will host its new date on Sunday, March 15 at Jaws Beach, starting at 7am. The competition will have the Olympic competition including a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40K bike ride and 10k run, a sprint (750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run) and relay for teams of 2-3 people for all ages.

By The Associated Press

Tennessee Lady Volunteers (16-7, 8-3 SEC) at Ole Miss Rebels (20-6, 7-4 SEC) Oxford, Mississippi; Tuesday, 7pm EST BOTTOM LINE: No. 22 Tennessee takes on No. 14 Ole Miss after Talaysia Cooper scored 29 points in Tennessee's 65-63 loss to the Texas Longhorns.

The Rebels are 11-0 in home games. Ole Miss is 0-3 in one-possession games.

The Lady Volunteers are 8-3 against conference opponents. Tennessee averages 77.0 points and has outscored opponents by 12.4 points per game. Ole Miss scores 76.8 points, 12.2 more per game than the 64.6 Tennessee gives up. Tennessee averages 9.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 5.4 more made shots on average than the 4.1 per game Ole Miss allows.

The Rebels and Lady Volunteers square off Tuesday for the first time in SEC play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cotie McMahon is averaging 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Rebels. Sira Thienou is averaging 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games.

Cooper is scoring 15.2 points per game with 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Lady Volunteers. Janiah Barker is averaging 12 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AWARENESS

WALK SAVE the date of Saturday, March 28, for the Special Olympics Bahamas Awareness Walk. It’s scheduled to start at 9am from the Western Esplanade and end at the Legends Walk of Fame outside of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. All groups/organisations are urged to contact Special Olympics Bahamas at 356-2433 to register to participate.

The highs and the lows of an eventful NBA All-Star weekend

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD, Cali-

fornia (AP) — If you still didn’t like the NBA’s newest All-Star Game format, you probably just don’t like AllStar games. That seemed to be the sports sphere's consensus after the U.S.-against-the-world,

round-robin tournament Sunday produced three thrilling mini-games and several impressive individual performances. Something about the setup compelled these stars to play their exhibition at a level much closer to real competition than usual.

“I think every team honestly wanted to win,” said Phoenix’s Devin

Booker, a member of the victorious Stars team.

That's no small statement about an event that had become sports shorthand for pointless midseason pseudo-competition — a charade that wasted fans' time and produced unwatchable TV while players simply tried to get it over with. That's precisely why the NBA implemented its

fourth format in four years, creating a World team and two teams of Americans to play 12-minute games.

To the surprise of those who assumed this event was irredeemable, it actually worked for most people.

"I’ve been asking for it, fans have been asking for it, media have been asking for it, (and) I feel that after today, I think you all can see the competition is there," Karl-Anthony Towns said. “I think that we all brought it today, brought a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it.”

An Americans-versus-everybody finale didn't materialise, however. Instead, the team of slightly younger Americans routed the team of slightly older Americans in an anticlimactic finale.

Even that finish had its entertaining points, though: “We’re definitely one-up on the uncs right now,” said a grinning Tyrese Maxey, who scored nine points in the final.

The NBA hasn't declared a format for next year's All-Star Game in Phoenix, and the World component has potential problems depending on how many international players are having All-Star-worthy seasons.

Several players, including LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, said they still want a return to the classic East vs. West format — you know, the one that produced enough bad games to force the NBA to try something different in the first place.

It's tough to imagine basketball in its current state producing an AllStar Game significantly better than this one, but not everything about the All-Star weekend at Intuit Dome was savoury.

The highs and lows of an eventful weekend in Inglewood: Dismal dunks

Just when the NBA might have its All-Star Game fixed, the Slam Dunk Contest was underwhelming

enough to prompt fan discussion on how to save a venerable competition that’s running out of steam. The event immortalised by the likes of Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant was mostly compelling for bad reasons this year, although Miami’s Keshad Johnson did well enough to join 3-Point Contest champion Damian Lillard in an all-Oakland sweep of the two marquee events at All-Star Saturday.

In the early round, Lakers centre Jaxson Hayes gave an effort that drew online criticism from his own fans. Orlando’s Jase Richardson took a horrifying fall onto his back and head when his arm hit the backboard on a 360-degree spin attempt. Richardson was OK, but the frightening moment underscored the dangers of this event.

Johnson won anticlimactically when San Antonio’s Carter Bryant couldn’t complete an impressive second dunk after scoring a perfect 50 on his first.

Can the NBA persuade star players to return to the contest? Can the dunkers rediscover the creativity that compelled Blake Griffin to jump over a car, Gerald Green to blow out a cupcake candle on the rim, Dwight Howard to put on a cape and Vince Carter to stick his whole arm in the hoop?

That's no slam dunk.

Kawhi's barrage Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in 12 minutes while leading his team to victory in Sunday's third mini-game. The seven-time All-Star went 11 of 13 with six 3-pointers, dazzling his fellow All-Stars and even prompting 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama to attempt to guard him out of desperation.

“That’s probably one of the most special quarters of basketball we’ve witnessed,” Booker said. If Leonard's team had put up more of a fight in the finale, he probably would have been the MVP instead

of Anthony Edwards. Leonard scored only one point, looking gassed along with his teammates in their third straight game.

“That’s what the home crowd wanted to see,” Leonard said. “I’m glad I was able to do something in that game.”

Dame's dominance

During his year away from the game due to injury, Lillard reminded the world why he's one of the greatest shooters of his generation with a stellar performance to win the 3-Point Contest for the third time. He joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players to do it.

The 35-year-old Portland guard held off Booker in the tremendously exciting final, winning 29-27 when Booker missed his final three shots.

Lillard tore his Achilles tendon last April, and his inclusion in this contest initially began as a joke he had with an NBA official — but the native Californian got the call, and he was healthy enough to shoot the lights out in Inglewood.

His performance was another example of an impressive comeback from that serious injury. Jayson Tatum, who also tore his Achilles tendon in last spring's playoffs, is back in practice with Boston's G League team.

After watching Lillard's performance, Stephen Curry announced he's going to compete in 2027, and he's hoping to be joined by his Splash Brother, Klay Thompson.

Afternoon hoops

The All-Star events Saturday and Sunday began at 2pm Pacific time because NBC is showing the Winter Olympics in prime time every night. That led to empty seats in Intuit Dome at the start of both events, although they eventually filled in. The early starts also muted the big-event feeling for fans and viewers who might have missed the show entirely if they didn't check the TV listings.

Michael Jordan’s Daytona 500 ring: Tyler Reddick’s one-lap lead delivers NASCAR’s biggest win

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer

DAYTONA BEACH,

Florida (AP) — Michael

Jordan, six-time NBA champion, is now a Daytona 500 winner, too.

Tyler Reddick won “The Great American Race” on Sunday with a last-lap pass at Daytona International Speedway that sent Jordan into a frantic celebration. The NBA Hall of Famer bear-hugged Reddick in victory lane and then jointly hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy with the 23XI Racing driver.

Jordan, who turns 63 today, will get a Daytona 500 ring for his birthday and made it known in victory lane he wears a size 13.

“It feels like I won a championship, but until I get my ring, I won’t even know,” Jordan said.

The moment captured the message team co-owner

Denny Hamlin — who finished 31st in Sunday's bid to become the third driver in history to win four Daytona 500s — delivered to 23XI employees in a team meeting ahead of NASCAR's season opener.

“He loves his race team,” Hamlin said, adding he reminded the team of the fulfillment they saw in Jordan when Reddick won at Talladega in 2024. "I was like ‘You know, you guys understand the responsibilities you have, that you have the power to bring joy to Michael Jordan. You have that power and nobody else can do it.’

“There's nothing else that can bring him the joy that seeing what his team can do and they took it to heart.” Reddick, in a Toyota, led only one lap Sunday: the one to the checkered flag. He was the 25th different driver to lead a lap for a new Daytona 500 record.

“Just incredible how it all played out. Just true Daytona madness,” Reddick said. “I’ve already lost my voice from screaming. Never thought I’d be Daytona 500 champion.”

Reddick, a 30-year-old from Corning, California, won for the ninth time in the Cup Series and first time since late in the 2024 season. Winless last year, Reddick was primarily focused on his infant son, who was found to have a tumour in his chest that affected his heart. Reddick opened last year with a runner-up finish in the Daytona 500.

He snapped the 38-race losing streak by finishing one place higher Sunday and winning to start a celebration that included multiple stars of NASCAR. It included Jordan, a global icon, and Hamlin, at 45 the oldest full-time driver in the Cup Series.

Reddick is teammates with Bubba Wallace, who went to victory lane in tears after leading a race-high 40 laps before finishing 10th. Jordan wrapped his arms around Wallace from behind and spoke closely into Wallace's ear in a brief speech of encouragement.

“I don’t want my emotions to take away from the monumental day they just accomplished. Happy birthday, MJ. That’s a massive birthday present,” Wallace said. “I thought this was our week, the best 500 I’ve ever had, and come up short, sucks.

“Led a lot of laps, lap leader, I believe. It was a good day for us, but damn. Try again next year.”

Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, was involved in the final caution when he and teammate Christopher Bell collided

with nine laps remaining. It set up the final push to the finish over the final four laps.

Elliott grabbed the lead at the start of the final lap when Carson Hocevar was spun off the track. Reddick made a huge surge with an assist from teammate Riley Herbst, made contact with Elliott that caused Elliott to crash, then sailed past to give Jordan a victory in NASCAR's biggest event of the year.

“It's stuff you dream of as a kid,” said Reddick. "Now, I definitely didn't look into the future and know that I would drive for Michael Jordan. But to be able to have someone like Michael Jordan believe in me enough, someone like Denny Hamlin.

“I'm just trying to do my best to live on the promises that I made to them and vice versa.”

Jordan was the face of the December federal antitrust lawsuit that NASCAR settled on the ninth day of trial. The settlement changed the revenue-sharing model in the United States' top motorsports series.

Jordan watched the win from a suite overlooking the superspeedway built by the France family — NASCAR founders and private owners — that he just beat in federal court. NASCAR chairman Jim France, who was personally a defendant in the suit, went to victory lane to congratulate the winners.

“I can’t even believe it. It was so gratifying,” Jordan said of the victory.

“You never know how these races are going to end. You just try to survive. We hung in there all day. Great strategy by the team, and we gave ourselves a chance at the end. Look, I’m ecstatic.”

The victory marked a Daytona sweep for three team owners heavily involved in the trial. Bob Jenkins, who joined 23XI in suing NASCAR, opened the weekend with a victory when Chandler Smith won the Truck Series opener on Friday night for Front Row Motorsports. Richard Childress, who testified on behalf of 23XI and Front Row and was the subject of disparaging text messages by since-departed NASCAR chairman Steve Phelps, was the winning team owner Saturday when Austin Hill won. Then it was time for Jordan and Hamlin, the

two front-facing litigants, as they got their first Daytona 500 victory together.

“All we do is win,” shrugged Hamlin, who called the trio of weekend winners “coincidence.”

Former race winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano finished second and third as Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford each placed a driver on the podium. Elliott wound up

fourth and sat dejected and in disbelief on the outside wall of the track after climbing from his car. “We ended up kind of getting gifted the lead ... and then at that point in time, you’re just

on defence. Man, that’s a really, really tough place to be, truthfully,” Elliott said. “Obviously looking back, you can run it through your mind 1,000 times, do you do something different?”

Mike Tyson sounds the alarm on US boxing, launching a Las Vegas amateur invitational

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) —

When Mike Tyson was developing as a young fighter in New York in 1980s, he had plenty of chances to test the skills that would one day make him the world's best and fiercest heavyweight.

Now Tyson looks at the state of boxing in the United States and doesn't like what he sees. The title of heavyweight champion has gone from among the most prestigious in sports to one that's nearly anonymous.

That's what drove the 59-year-old Hall-of-Famer to help launch the Mike Tyson Invitational on March 12-14 in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas. Tyson's team sought out the

nation's top amateur boxers to give them this forum to go against each other with the long-range goal of elevating boxing to where it used to stand as a conversation-driving sport.

“I was watching some of the amateur fights and I was wondering, ‘We don’t have enough boxing clubs,'” Tyson said Friday. “Before, when I was fighting, we could fight at the Ohio state fair. Then I'd go to Colorado the next two weeks and fight in the national tournament. That's what we need to be able to compete with the other countries. We need more competition.”

He is particularly concerned about boxing's future in the Olympics. Until the International Olympic Committee announced last March that boxing would be included

in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, there was doubt whether the sport's longtime presence in the quadrennial event would end.

Tyson's main focus is making boxing big again in the U.S. There is the occasional major event, such as the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford unified super middleweight title fight September 13 before 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

But those attention-grabbing bouts only temporarily push back on the notion that boxing is in trouble at the grassroots level.

“Listen, boxing is dying, and that is what's driving me,” Tyson said. “If I can be involved in any way in the uplifting and development of boxing, I'll be happy with that.”

That would include working with UFC CEO and President Dana White, who grew up loving boxing before building his mixed-martial arts empire.

Through TKO, the company at that owns the UFC and WWE, White is in a multiyear agreement with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Sela, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

The Alvarez-Crawford card was their first under this partnership. Tyson was among a number of former boxing greats and celebrities in attendance.

While the UFC is a one-man show, boxing is much more splintered with different sponsoring organisations and promoters competing against each other.

“I kind of like that organisation,” Tyson said of the UFC. “It's just one guy and we deal with everything. That might not work for boxing, but I like the idea. In the UFC, if they have one bad fight, the guy might not be in the fold. It's for entertainment. That's what it's about. In (boxing), if the guy stinks up the joint, they keep using him. So that has to be the criteria. Either you make exciting fights or you're not able to participate.” There was no lack of excitement when Tyson was putting together his career that resulted in a 50-7 record with 44 knockouts.

The self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” came as advertised, winning his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 in the first round.

His fights became a mustwatch event, and Tyson was all business entering the ring, once declaring,

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched.”

“We're all entertainers, trust me, especially fighters,” Tyson said.

“If you don't perform well, people give their opinion about you. You may not like it.

“My job was always to make the people happy as a fighter.”

Now he's searching for the next Mike Tyson — or, rather, Mike Tysons — who can bring spark to the sport. His invitational won't be a cure-all, but it could be a start.

“I was taught as a kid, boxing is about putting asses in seats,” Tyson said. “That's where greatness comes from.”

Real Madrid returns to Benfica for Champions League revenge mission with Mbappé back

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — With Kylian Mbappé back, Real Madrid returns to Portugal looking for some payback against José Mourinho's Benfica in the Champions League.

Three weeks after Mourinho's team stunned his former club in a 4-2 win that allowed Benfica to qualify and kept the Spanish giant from automatically reaching the round of 16, the teams meet again today at the Stadium of Light in the first round of the knockout stage.

“Benfica did not surprise me last time at all because I know what all of José Mourinho’s teams are like," Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said. "It’s a new match, nothing like the one three weeks ago. We’ve analysed it and we’re ready. I can’t ask for more from the players than what they have shown so far.”

Benfica got the goal it needed to qualify thanks

to a last-minute header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin against Madrid, allowing it to grab the 24th — and final — spot for the knockout stage on goal difference.

Mourinho said Madrid was “wounded,” and “a wounded king is dangerous.”

"We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League,” he said. The coach acknowledged that Madrid remained heavily favoured and it would take a near perfect series for Benfica to advance.

“I don’t think it takes a miracle for Benfica to eliminate Real Madrid," he added. "I think we need to be at our highest level. I don’t even say high, I mean maximum, almost bordering on perfection, which does not exist. But not a miracle."

Arbeloa praised his former coach, and said beating Benfica wouldn’t be about revenge.

“They have an incredible leader, and that’s their coach,” Arbeloa said. “Our goal isn’t to take revenge on Benfica, our goal is to win the Champions League, and beating Benfica is a step in that direction.”

The rematch highlights a knockout round that also includes defending champion Paris Saint-Germain against Monaco and Inter Milan, last year’s runner-up, facing Norwegian outsider Bodø/Glimt.

Mbappé returns

Mbappé, who already has 38 goals for Madrid this season, will be available after he missed the Spanish league match against Real Sociedad at the weekend because of a knee issue.

He has nine goals in his last six matches with Madrid, including both goals in the loss to Benfica.

"He is doing very well," Arbeloa said. “He has been dealing with these minor knee issues for quite some time this season. He is making a great effort every time he steps onto the field

and we have decided not to take risks so that he will be ready to start the match on Tuesday.”

Lackluster PSG

PSG dropped out of the top eight that automatically qualified for the last 16 after a 1-1 home draw against Newcastle in the last round of the league phase. PSG fell to 11th place.

On Friday, it lost at Rennes 3-1 in the French league for its third defeat of the year — and sixth this season.

Monaco, which finished 21st in the league phase,

beat Nantes 3-1 on Friday, but before that it had won only once in its last seven matches across all tournaments.

Inter boosted Inter heads to its match at Bodø/Glimt on Wednesday after six straight victories, including Saturday's last-minute 3-2 triumph over Juventus, a result that increased its Serie A lead. Inter won its first four games in the league phase but then lost three in a row before finishing off with an away victory at Borussia Dortmund that secured it

THE WEATHER REPORT

10th place.

Bodø/Glimt, in its first Champions League campaign, needed backto-back upset wins against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to make it to the knockout round in 23rd place. Other matchups

The other first legs today include Juventus visiting Galatasaray and Dortmund hosting Atalanta.

On Wednesday, Newcastle is at Qarabag, Olympiakos hosts Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico visits Club Brugge.

Mantas water polo teams make a splash in Florida

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Mantas Water Polo Club made another trip to Florida over the weekend, this time competing at the South Florida International water polo tournament where the under-16 team placed fourth and the under-14 co-ed team was fifth.

The teams, coached by Laszlo Borbely and Wandalee Burrows, competed against elite teams from across North America, including Canada, and as far as Georgia as they demonstrated resilience, skill and teamwork throughout the multi-day international competition.

To strengthen the squads, Bahamas Mantas Water Polo was joined by several guest athletes from Next Level Water Polo Club of Tampa, Florida, who helped round out the rosters for the tournament. The under-16 boys came out as one of the strongest in the tournament, sweeping their pool play with a 13-9 win over Loyola Puerto Rico, nipping the Brooklyn Hustle 11-10 and holding off the Orlando Thunder 10-9.

However, in the semifinal, they suffered a heartbreaking 13-12 loss to Saskatchewan from Canada.

The Bahamas Mantas played a thrilling match, but fell short.

The team ended up playing Georgia (the country) for the bronze and lost 15-7. Aaron Chung and Cyrus Hughes both scored a pair of goals, while Jack Marshburn, Jayden Smith and Caylen Brown came up with one apiece.

The Bahamas Mantas players were Asher Bastian - goalie, Jayden

Smith, Isaiah Colon, Jaylen Rahming, Caylen Brown, Dalane Phillips, Jacob Johnson, Jahmahl Wilson, Krishna Rolle and Cameron Carroll.The guest players from Next Level Water Polo out of Tampa, Florida, were

John Marshburn, Sebastian Troconis, Cyrus Hughes and Aaron Chung.The under14 co-ed team finished second in group play after losing to Rocky Mountain 14-11 and winning 10-7 over YPRO to advance to

the placement rounds. In their placement round, Bahamas Mantas lost 20-4 to the Gladiators, but they came back and knocked off the SLAP 11-4. They eventually lost 11-5 to the Orlando Thunder for fifth place as

Asher Bastian scored four goals and Krishna Rolle got the other.The Bahamas Mantas players on the roster were Asher Bastian - goalie, Krishna Rolle, Cameron Carroll, Taitum Smith, Khalie Kemp, Isaiah