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SPORTS SECTION E

THE FINISH LINE

Column, See page 3

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018

Gold medal hopes for bodybuilders in Canada By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOUR men’s divisional champions from the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s Novice and Open Championships will be heading to Montreal, Canada, to compete in the IFBB Elite Pro this weekend. Accompanied by the federation’s honourees Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean as coach and

Wellington ‘Cat’ Sears as manager and international judge, the team will comprise of Gemo Smith and Terran Knowles, who will both compete in the men’s physique and Giovanni Farrington and Paul ‘Mighty Mouse’ Wilson. The competitors will go through the weigh-in today and the competition will be held at the Sheraton Congress Centre on Saturday and Sunday. Sears said the goal is for the four competitors to return home with four gold medals.

“We have an excellent strong team,” Sears said. “These competitors just competed in the nationals where they won their divisions in bodybuilding and physique. “We have a good coach and a manager in myself, so we’re looking forward to nothing else than four gold from them. We don’t want anything else. Anything else, they can keep it.” The Bahamas is expected to be among athletes competing from Canada, the United States, South

and Central America and the Caribbean. This will be the first time that the Bahamas will be participating in the event. “We feel pretty strong and we look very good,” Sears stressed. Sears will also make history as he will be the first Bahamian to serve as an international judge at the show. “I’m looking forward to that, but I really want to see how well this team performs,” Sears told Tribune Sports.

LaFleur to make pro debut in Africa By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net fter making an exhibition posing appearance at the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s Novice and Open Championships over the weekend at the Melia resort, Lorraine LaFleur is off to Africa to make her pro debut. One of the last four competitors to earn their pro card within the last few months, LaFleur will be the lone Bahamian participating in the Arnold Classic Africa 2018. Scheduled for the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, Gauteng, the Arnold Classic returns to Africa for the third year under the vision of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a number of activities to satisfy just about everybody’s appetite. LaFleur, a former national bodybuilding champion who made the successful transition to physique where she earned her pro card in Bogota, Colombia, earlier this year, said she’s looking forward to competing in Africa. “This is going to be my first time competing as a pro and I’m going all the way to Africa to do it, so it’s going to be very special,” said LaFleur, who has made the trek to the competition by herself. “This is something that I’ve been working on for the past few months. The nationals gave me a good chance to demonstrate to the public what to expect from me and so based on what I did, I think I’m ready.” Federation president Joel Stubbs, a former Mr Olympia competitor, spent some time working with LaFleur in getting her ready to compete in the competition. “I think she’s going to do very well,” Stubbs said. “She is a veteran bodybuilder who has competed in a number of international events, so she knows what to do in competitions like this.” The only difference, according to Stubbs, is that LaFleur will be competing against pro bodybuilders who do this for a living. So he said she will have to be prepared to face some stiff competition. “It’s not easy to compete in pro competitions, but as a pro, she has to learn to compete against the best in the world,” Stubbs stated. “I think she has the ability to compete with the other women on the stage. We will see how well she does.” LaFleur, whose teenage daughter Allyssa Fox is following in her footsteps as an amateur bodybuilder, said she spent the past two decades competing to get to this point and now she’s eager to go to Africa and make her presence felt. “This is my first pro show, but from what I heard and seen, I know that I can go there and be competitive,” LaFleur said. “I’m just going to go there and give it my best shot.” Stubbs said that is all that they could ask for from LaFleur, whom he said has endured a great deal of ups and downs to get her pro card. He said he’s confident that with the work she has put in, she will do very well.” The judging will take place today to determine what category LaFleur will be participating in when the competition gets underway on Saturday and wraps up on Sunday.

LORRAINE LaFleur is all set to make her pro debut as the lone Bahamian participating in the Arnold Classic Africa 2018.

MIAMI MARLINS SIGN UP ANFERNEE SEYMOUR By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ANFERNEE Seymour is back with the franchise where his pro baseball career began and has improved his play this season in his new surroundings. After being released by the Atlanta Braves (Florida Fire Frogs) on May 6, Seymour was signed by the Miami Marlins on May 10 and was subsequently assigned to the Jupiter Hammerheads. The Hammerheads are in first place in the standings of the Class A Advanced Florida State League. In five games with the club, Seymour is hitting .316 with an .876 OPS and .526 slugging percentage. Seymour recorded hits in four of his five games with the club, including yesterday’s 5-2 win over Fort Myers, the team’s third in a row. Hitting second in the lineup, he finished 1-5 and scored the team’s first run of the game. Fort Myers attempted a pick-off at first base, but Seymour’s crafty base running from third base allowed him to sneak home on the play to give the Hammerheads a 1-0 lead. He was batting .195/.242/.287 with 28strikeouts in 87 at bats with the Fire Frogs this season prior to his release. In his Hammerheads debut, Seymour opened 2-4 with a two-run home run in an 8-4 loss to Lucius Fox and the Charlotte Stone Crabs. He had another multiple hit game Wednesday when he went 2-3 in a 3-2 win over Fort Myers. Jupiter travels to Charlotte on Friday for a three-game series before returning home for three games against Daytona. Last season, Seymour’s year came to an abrupt end before he had an opportunity to suit up in the Offseason Arizona Fall League. He was suspended for “violation of team rules,” according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo and was removed from the roster of the Peoria Javelinas. He concluded his season with the Fire Frogs with his best month of the 2017 campaign. The then 23rdranked prospect hit .355 through 21 games and collected an OBP of .405 in the final full month of the year. He rose eight spots in the Braves prospect list over the course of the season. With the Fire Frogs, Seymour appeared in 78 games in the Florida State League. He hit .287 with 17 RBI, an OBP of .346, OPS of .711 scored 42 runs and stole 17 bases.

Strachan: Vincent best man to lead resurgence of boxing By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DESPITE some opposition to his election as the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Association, veteran boxing personality Pat ‘the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan feels that Vincent Strachan is the best man to lead the resurgence of the sport.  During the association’s annual general meeting and election of officers on Saturday, April 21, Vincent Strachan won 7-3 over incumbent assistant secretary Ikana Johnson to replace Wellington Miller, who opted not to seek another term in office. Michelle Minus, another potential candidate, had her application denied

and wasn’t able to participate in the process.  Pat Strachan, one of the most prolific boxers the country has ever seen, said he doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about and called on everybody to rally behind Vincent Strachan and help to revive the sport, which has seen a decline over the past year or so.  “I would like for all persons involved in boxing to let bygones be bygones and come on board and help support this new administration headed by Vincent Strachan,” Pat Strachan said. “We’re doing this for the amateur boxers. It’s nothing personal with us. I think we need to let bygones be bygones.  “Vincent has been around boxing for 40-plus years. He’s

VINCENT STRACHAN been president before and I think he has a contribution to make. I met with him and he has articulated a bold and aggressive

agenda for amateur boxing and for the country. So I want to encourage him. I know there were some things said by the persons who were running against him. But let’s put all this aside and work towards a common good for the sport.”  From where he sits looking in, Pat Strachan said the sport needs an infusion and a leader who is willing to get all of the factions together, including Ray Minus Jr, Stevie ‘the Heat’ Larrimore, Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt, Johnson, Minus and all other personalities with boxing at heart.  “There needs to be a unity in the sport of amateur boxing because there’s been a split for a while,” Pat Strachan noted. “I think once we can get everybody

back on board and support the new administration, we can see the sport take off and soar to new heights again.”  Other members of the board are Sherman Johnson as first vice president, veteran coach Locksley Johnson as second vice president, Alene Rodgers as secretary general, Wellington Smith as treasurer and Anstisa Knowles from Lowe Sound, Andros, as the assistant secretary/treasurer.  Pat Strachan recommended to Vincent Strachan to firstly “reach out to those persons who ran against him to offer an olive branch and to personally visit all of the clubs and with their trainers and ask for their support and give his support as they show a unified front.

PAGE 2, Friday, May 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

ISLAND Game Lady Spartans @ RBDF Commandos

PARADISE Games Wildcats @ Sports Center Swarm

BFFL playoff picture takes shape after Week 7

REBELS @ Commonwealth Bank Lions

BAMBOO Shack Lady Falcons @ Lady Marlins

WEEK 7 HIGHLIGHTS

FIDELITY Rams @ Seven Seas Predators

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PARON Avengers @ A Sure Win Warhawks

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 18, 2018, PAGE 3

Ayton expected to be franchise player wherever he goes in the NBA Draft I LIKE the position that Bahamian DeAndre Ayton finds himself in going into the National Basketball Association’s June Draft. Based on the order of picks determined on Tuesday night, Ayton can either remain in Arizona after he was one-and-done at Arizona State, if he goes No.1 by the Phoenix Suns, or he could end up joining Grand Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield with the Sacramento Kings, if selected with the second pick. If he drops to No.3, Ayton could find himself with the Atlanta Hawks. Awarded the fourth and fifth picks are the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. But don’t look for Ayton to go outside of the top three, even though this is considered a loaded class of NBA rookies.  From all indications and observations from around the league, Ayton should be contending with Duke Blue Devils’ forward Marvin Bagley III and or guard Luke Doncic, if he decides to come out of Europe for one of the top three spots.  The early prognostication is Ayton will go first and if he does, he will become the second Bahamian to be

drafted first overall, joining 6-10 Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, who was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in 1979 as the first foreign-born player to go No.1 Nowadays, Thompson broadcasts home games for the Los Angeles Lakers, whom he was traded to after he spent eight years in Portland and a half of a season with the Suns. He would go on to win backto-back NBA titles with the Lakers in 1987-88 before he retired in 1991.  More importantly, however, Thompson also gets to watch his son Klay Thompson as he follows in his father’s footsteps, having already won two titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and 2017 and could go for a third, if they can get past the Houston Rockets in the Western

Conference Final that is currently underway.  The 7-1, 250lb Ayton is described as a tailormade centre for the NBA, although he only decided to play one year in college. At 19 years of age, he is modelled after players like Hakeem Olajuwon, formerly of the Rockets and “the Admiral” David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.  Wherever he ends up, the expectations are high for him to step into the NBA and make an impact right away. Sure would be good if he could join Hield, the 24-year-old guard now in his third season in the NBA. Who knows what will happen? Hield was selected as the sixth pick by the Pelican Suns in 2016 out of Oklahoma State. But on February 20, 2017, he was traded to the Kings.

DEANDRE AYTON, of the Bahamas, sits on the stage before the NBA basketball draft lottery Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) We don’t expect that for Ayton. Wherever he goes, he’s expected to be a franchise player. We just have to wait and see whether it’s the first, second or third pick on June 21. The top pick to send him to Phoenix is fine where he could get developed in the post under their new head coach Igor Kokoskov. But it’s more intriguing to see a Bahamian duo playing alongside each other in Sacramento, coached by David Joerger. Both teams could benefit from Ayton’s ability

as they look to improve on their dismal showing this past season, finishing 15th and 12th respectively in the Western conference.  Congrats are in order  While some of the elite athletes like Steven Gardiner, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Donald Thomas were holding down the competition at some of the international meets, hurdler Devynne Charlton and Grand Bahamian sprinter Brianne Bethel were holding their own at

the collegiate conference meets.  With a pair of individual victories and a second place finish, Charlton, in her senior year at Purdue University, was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the meet. With two individual victories on meet recordbreaking performances, Bethel, a sophomore at the University of Houston, earned the American Athletic Conference Female Track Athlete of the meet crown.  The collegiate athletes will be back in action this weekend in their regional competition in their bid to advance to the NCAA Championships to close out their season.  Coming off their victories at the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Shanghai, China, Gardiner and Miller-Uibo will both be in action at the 3rd Adidas Boost Boston Games on the street before they head to Eugene, Oregon, next weekend for the Prefontaine Classic. Although this is not a banner year with any major competition on tap, the Bahamian track and field athletes have been holding their own.

ARIZONA’S DEANDRE AYTON, right, shakes hands with the Rev Jesse Jackson before the NBA basketball draft lottery on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

SPORTS NOTES TRACK SILVER LIGHTNING MEET POSTPONED THE Silver Lightning Track Meet that was scheduled for Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium has been postponed until further notice. The Silver Lightning Track Club apologised for any inconvenience caused. BOWLING CITY BOWLING LEAGUE THE semi-finals of City Bowling League competition concluded Wednesday night at Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Centre with the E & U Watercoolers overcoming

the powerful team of Asurewin Pocket Pleasers 3-1 and Ten Back Strikers sweeping Telco Enterprises 3-0 in a best-of-5 game series. E & U Watercoolers was led by a balanced attack with Bill Casale striking for a 193 average and Ural Pratt downing the pins for a 175 average during the four-game series. Driskell Rolle led Asurewin by toppling the pins for an outstanding 216 average followed by Alcondo Hepburn with a 185 average. Rolle also made history this season by finishing with an impressive 193 average, thus becoming the first female to reach the 190 average milestone in league play. A 201 average from Mario Brown and a 193

average from Yule Hoyte led Ten Back Strikers in a 3-0 sweep over Telco Enterprises despite a huge 254 average for 3 games from David Slatter and a 196 average from Johann Pyfrom. Ten Back Strikers will now take on the E & U Watercoolers for the championships next week. BASKETBALL NPWBA FINALS GAME two of the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association’s championship series will be played at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Saturday night. The Bommer G Operators took game one of the series 57-54 over the Cheetahs on Tuesday night as Ruthann Simms scored 19

points in 24 minutes, shooting 8-for-14 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. She also had four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Chrishanda Rahming, in 22:46 minutes, was the only other player in double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds. Sharell Cash helped out with eight, Shaniqua Thompson had six and Tracy Lewis, Garcia Hanna and Brienique Harrison all had four points. Harrison also pulled down a game high 12 rebounds. In a losing effort, Shantelle Rolle canned 14 points on 5-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from the foul line in 36:44 minutes with four steals, two block shots, two assists and a rebound. Tanea Bowleg added 13 points with seven rebounds,

RESULTS: JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE OF NASSAU PLAYOFFS

Briontae Riley had nine points and 11 rebounds, Australe Chelly had six points snd three rebounds,

Anastacia Moultrie had six points, 16 rebounds and five assists and Joseph Tanica chipped in with five points.

PAGE 4, Friday, May 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 18, 2018, PAGE 5

NCAA OPENS DOOR TO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN STATES WITH SPORTS BETS By RALPH D RUSSO AP College Sports Writer THE NCAA is opening a door for states with legalised sports gambling to host NCAA championship events and officials in Nevada are already set to get in the game as soon as they can. The governing body for college sports yesterday announced a “temporary” lifting of a ban that prevented events like college basketball’s NCAA Tournament from being hosted in states that accept wagers on single games. The move comes three days after the Supreme Court overturned a federal law that barred most states from allowing gambling on professional and college sporting events. “On Monday we contacted the Mountain West Conference, our NCAA colleagues, we also spoke with our local and regional leaders. It’s our intent to present competitive bids for national events, and we want to be aggressive in that space,” UNLV athletic director Desiree ReedFrancois said. “We know that Las Vegas as a community, we have a proven track record of success in hosting large scale events.” NCAA President Mark Emmert said the board of governors will consider permanently revising its policy at future meetings. But the NCAA said it will not change its rules that prohibit gambling on sports by athletes and all athletic department employees, including coaches. Emmert also is calling for federal regulations of

sports gambling, joining the NFL, NBA and other leagues. “Our highest priorities in any conversation about sports wagering are maintaining the integrity of competition and student-athlete wellbeing,” Emmert said in a statement. Emmert has said in the past he hoped lawmakers would make exceptions for college sports if sports gambling is allowed. “There might be a carve-out to eliminate college athletics from sports gambling similar to what we did with daily fantasy sports,” Emmert said during a college sports forum in December in New York. That would require state-by-state lobbying unless the federal government steps in to regulate. Lead1, an association of athletic directors for the 130 schools that play major college football, is pushing for regulation, too. “Eighty per cent of our athletic directors have indicated that they oppose college sports betting,” said former US Rep. Tom McMillen, who is the president of Lead1. “Our athletic directors are concerned not only about the vulnerability of young student-athletes to inducements of point shaving, but the increased compliance costs to keep their programs clean.” As for host sites, most of the NCAA’s major championship events are already booked through 2022, including all rounds of the men’s basketball tournament. Women’s basketball tournament sites are booked through 2020.

IN this March 18 file photo, the NCAA logo is displayed at centre court as work continues at The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, for the NCAA college basketball tournament. The NCAA is opening a door for states with legalised sports gambling to host NCAA championship events. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) By suspending its policy prohibiting states with legalised gambling from hosting championships, the NCAA can go forward with already determined sites regardless of what states do with gambling laws in the near future. If the NCAA permanently lifts the ban on states with legalise sports betting hosting NCAA-run events, the first and biggest beneficiary could be Nevada and more specifically Las Vegas. Las Vegas did submit bids to host in T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, a men’s basketball regional, the men’s hockey Frozen Four and the NCAA championship wrestling meet during bidding that covered 2019-22. NCAA officials allowed Las Vegas to bid as they considered the possibility of changes coming to gambling laws and association policies.

Expect Las Vegas, with UNLV as the host school, to try again for all those events, said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. Christenson said having gone through the process should be a benefit next time around. Christenson said he is also interested in the idea of possibly bringing the NCAA women’s basketball tournament to Las Vegas in a Sweet 16 format, where the final 16 teams in the tournament would be whittled down to a champion at one site. Lifting the NCAA’s ban also means UNLV and Mountain West rival Nevada would now be eligible to host NCAA events such as softball and baseball regionals at their home facilities. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to be able to have a championship experience in their own backyard,”

Reed-Francois said. “And I’m pretty enthused about that.” Las Vegas does host college sports such as the conference basketball tournaments for the Pac-12 and Mountain West and a football bowl game, but those are not NCAA-run. The College Football Playoff is also not an NCAA-run event, but the administrators are conference commissioners who tend to respect NCAA rules. Sites for the CFP championship game have been chosen through 2024, leaving two more championship sites to be determined in the 12-year contract that runs through the 2025 season. A new stadium is being built in Las Vegas for the Oakland Raiders and is expected to ready for 2020. That could also be a destination for an NCAA Final Four.

HARDEN, JAMES, DAVIS FINALISTS FOR NBA MVP AWARD NEW YORK (AP) — Houston’s James Harden, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Anthony Davis of New Orleans are the finalists for the NBA’s MVP award. Harden, who led the league in scoring, has twice been a runner-up for the award, including last year when Russell Westbrook won. James has won the MVP award four times. The three finalists for the individual awards were announced Wednesday. The winners will be announced on June 25 in Santa Monica, California during the NBA Awards show. Davis was also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, along with Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Philadelphia centre Joel Embiid. • The other finalists: ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Donovan Mitchell, Utah Ben Simmons, Philadelphia Jayson Tatum, Boston COACH OF THE YEAR Dwane Casey, Toronto Quin Snyder, Utah Brad Stevens, Boston SIXTH MAN Eric Gordon, Houston Fred VanVleet, Toronto Lou Williams, Clippers MOST IMPROVED PLAYER Clint Capela, Houston Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Victor Oladipo, Indiana

It happens every spring: LeBron James forced to carry Cavaliers By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James recovered quickly from his neck strain. There’s still too much stress on his back. He’s carrying the Cavaliers. It’s a springtime tradition. As has been the case for much of his 15-year career, James has had to perform at an extraordinary level throughout these playoffs, most recently in Cleveland’s Game 2 loss at Boston. Bouncing back after taking a blow to the jaw from Jayson Tatum’s shoulder that violently twisted his head and sent a chill down the spines of Cleveland fans, James finished with 42 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. It was not enough, however. His teammates failed him and the Cavs fell into a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference finals. Kevin Love (22 points, 15 rebounds) helped, so did Kyle Korver (four 3-pointers) and Tristan Thompson (8 points, 7 rebounds). But too many other Cavs ranged from mediocre to awful. If Cleveland is to even the series at home, that has to change starting in Game 3 on Saturday. “We have to ramp it up,” said J.R. Smith, who didn’t score in Game 2 and committed a critical flagrant foul. “We’re playing too slow. We’re making ‘Bron play hero ball, which is tough to do, especially in the Eastern Conference finals. We got to help him. With that said, we have to give him an opportunity to make him feel confident to give us the ball so we can make the right plays. We got to help him and he’s got to help us.” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said James “did everything” in practice Thursday, but the 33-year-old had left the floor by the time media members were allowed in for interviews. James was spotted in the fitness and training area inside the facility.

CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James heads off the court after the team’s 107-94 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Lue said the Cavs spent time breaking down video of the two losses. There was plenty to dissect. Cleveland has had puzzling defensive lapses, and Lue said there were up to nine instances in Game 2 alone where communication breakdowns led to easy baskets or open shots for the Celtics. On offense, Lue feels Smith and point guard George Hill, who have been outscored 72-12 in two games by Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, need to be more aggressive and attack the basket. Smith believes it’s simpler than that. “Make shots, that’s the only thing we can do,” said Smith, who is 2 for 17 and 0 for 7 on 3-pointers in the series. “I mean obviously we can do more on the defensive side, but our main focus is to make shots right now when we get it. If we don’t have them, try to make the next-best play. Right now ‘Bron and Kev are working overly hard, trying to carry us. We just got to step up and do our job.” But talking a good game is one thing, playing one is another. The Cavs don’t have time for speeches or excuses. With their season inching toward danger, results are all that matter.

Hill didn’t record an assist in 28 minutes in Game 1 and had three points in Game 2. He missed time in the opening round against Indiana with back spasms and has been puzzled by his drop-off after playing so well in Cleveland’s sweep over Toronto. “I’m trying to figure it out myself,” he said. “I think a little bit of just trying to be more involved offensively, trying to be more involved defensively, not waiting until a play is possibly called and things like that to go do it. I’ve just got to be more assertive, I’ve got to play with that edge like I did in the second series “There’s no one to blame but myself. You’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better?’” The Cavs know they need to be more physical after the Celtics took the fight to them in Boston. Lue raised some eyebrows following Game 2 when he described Boston’s players as “gooning up” the series. Lue explained he wasn’t being critical. “It’s not a bad thing to goon it up,” he said. “Like, they’re taking hard fouls, they’re being physical. They’re playing playoff basketball. So that’s all I meant by it.”

Thompson said he loves that Boston is playing “hard and chippy.” But he knows if the Cavs don’t ease the burden on James, this fight could be over sooner than expected. “Other guys have to contribute and other guys have to step up,” Tristan Thompson said. “Of course, it’s a huge luxury having LeBron on our team. At the same time, we have to be ready to play and we have to do our job.”

used. Use the given letter or letters — below the main grid — to start. Solution next Saturday. Difficulty: 8/10 Target: 25 mins Clue: Survey drink; it’s inadequate.

PACkS REFER THE TRIBUNE SEnSE SwIFT 17 21 25 9 23 6 14 TALkS THIRd 5 22 9 25 26 tHinKinG spaCe CHEEREd dESSERT 17 18 13 25 18 FOR YOuR CHANCE TO WIN £ The Sunshine has dRESSES been a firm favourite with readers of FOR YOuR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read the Express for many down The Sunshine Puzzle has been a firm favourite withPuzzle readers of the Express for many years. All you need to do is find the correct home for the listed words. We have ACRoSS PACIFIC homeyou forby the listed words. We have 4 9 21 years. 10 All you 21 need to do is find the correct helped ACRoSS 1 2 placing two. Here are the words that go into the grid: 1 Quiet strolls creating mess helped you by placing two. HereATTIC are the words thatPLASTIC go into the grid: 5 Do rather more than tan (6 1 Quiet strolls creating mess (8) PoSTmAn 9 25 23 1® 8 8 20 10 He 5 Do rather more than tan (6)vets fast rival ruining ELdER STAmPEd ATTIC annual celebration (7,8) 10 He vets fast rival ruining FLEET STRAndS 11 Gangster identifying secon 21 4ELdER15 16 ® tests your logic and word annual celebration (7,8) British street 10 Alphapuzzle with FLIES AnSwERInG 3 25 FLEET hesitation (7) 11 Gangster identifying second Each9 grid25number represents a GUARd APPoInTEd 5 JUDGE 17 PARKER 14power. 24 20 24 CARPE DIEM 12 Said visitor being believed letter. Every letter of the alphabet istoday’s full solution: noTES British street with FLIES CHEmICALS 21 24 13 13 Group of schoolchildren w used. Use the given letter or letters — PACkS hesitation (7) CondUCToR 8 17 14 10 14 0907 181 2566 GUARd hesitation given 11 flag (8) below the main grid — to start. REFER EXCESSIvE 12 Said visitor being believed (7) song, e.g., found For up to six extra letter clues: 15 Mournful 9 14 noTES moUnTAInS cathedral city (5) 26 3 21 14Solution 9 17next 6 Saturday. 13 Group of schoolchildren with 0907 181 2567 SEnSE PACkS 18 Award initially overwhelmi PoLLUTIon (Deduct two minutes for each clue SwIFT letter heard) 23 6 14 hesitation given flag (8) Difficulty: 8/10 Target: 25 mins Mark (5) TALkS 1 2REFER 4 26 it’s alternatively, PoSTPonES 15 Mournful song, e.g., found in needing directions, Clue: Survey drink; inadequate.for six extra letter clues direct to your 13 20 Doctor THIRd STRUCTURE mobile, text DSXALPHA to 84901. texts cost £1 25 26 SEnSE – he’d got soaked (8) cathedral city (5) tHinKinG spaCe For today’s solution call: 0907 181 2584 CHEEREd plus normal network operator rate. SUPERvISE 23 Constable in charge 6 7 8 9 SwIFT 10 11 12 13 18minute Award initially overwhelming 17 *Calls cost 80p per plus your telephone company’s network access charge. *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone dESSERT SURPRISES interrupting volunteer (7) v Mark (5) TALkS network access charge. company’s dRESSES 25 Royal, asleep, suffering re TRAdITIon 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 LAST SATURdAy’S SoLUTIon 18 20 Doctor needing directions, cold of ill health (7) PACIFIC M21 10 THIRd ACRoSS Draught, Codeine, Scarf, Permanent, Xebec, Sect, Source of water in tempor •The Express Bookshop stocks a wide selectionPLASTIC of puzzle books – he’d got soaked (8) 26Rune, across all crossword puzzle genres. To obtain our up to date list CHEEREd ution: dwelling – one Coati, about to be Sepal, Speculate, Surrender, Enter, Anew, Jaded, Disc, Italicise, 23 Constable in charge PoSTmAn please visit www.expressbookshop.com, call 01872 562310 or 8igid, Glazier 8 20 (clue), Velocity, Clay, Loving, used by man, kind (4-11) write to Express Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ. Gunboat, Retreat. down Deserts, Again, Gift, Topless, Drat, dESSERT STAmPEd interrupting volunteer (7)YouthCortége, roxies, Trill, Wiser, Odyssey. 27 leader 23 about to mee Please enclose an SAE for return. 24 Inelegant, Entitle, Alien, Auger, Porcelain, Pie, Shading, Diarist, Roe STRAndS dRESSES 25 Royal, asleep, suffering return 15 Various, 16 Indecent, the German over there (6) gel, Bier, Eighty, Fiasco, Alphapuzzle® ©2018 Acorn Editorial Ltd. All words appear in deer, Receipt, Inane, Silo, Scat. MARVIN AnSwERInG 28 Foot-shaped device damag ails, Lorry, Royalty. PACIFIC of ill health (7) Chambers Dictionary. toes here (4,4) APPoInTEd 9 25 24 26 Source of water in temporary PLASTIC BLONDIE CHEmICALS today’s full solution: THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENGE ® IN THE SUNDAY EXPrESS EvErY WEEK? dwelling – one about to be down TOUGH’ PoSTmAn ULTrA ALPHAPUZZLE 26 CondUCToR 10‘EXTrA 14 0907 181 2566 TodAy’S AnSwERS: BEGINNER = 28;used INTERMEDIATE 156; ADVANCED 203.half of them in sc by man,=kind (4-11) 1 Plan= for EXCESSIvE STAmPEd For up to six extra letter clues: European (6) 27 Youth leader about to meet moUnTAInS 9 17 6 2 Getting gymnastic actor ca 0907 181 2567 STRAndS the German over there (6) PoLLUTIon I messed up (9) (Deduct two minutes for each clue letter heard) AnSwERInG 28 Foot-shaped device damaged 27 making us 3 Bather out East 4 26 PoSTPonES alternatively, for six extra letter clues direct to your mensateaser: WIN The Tunnel: Vengeancetoes on DVD Fill the grid so that inhale and exhale (7) here (4,4) STRUCTURE textwords DSXALPHA to 84901. texts cost £1 Can you find mobile, 16 orAPPoInTEd more every column, row, and 4 Go into quarters on time w For today’s solution 0907 181 third 2584 containing only the five letters plus normal network operator rate. SUPERvISE Hard-hitting, award-winning drama The call: Tunnel, returns for a gripping series 3x3 square includes all CHEmICALS 12 13 hesitationTO (5)ENTER: Ca down *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. the digitsSURPRISES from 1 to 9. shown on the left? each word *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone The Tunnel: Vengeance. It arrives on DVD alongside The Tunnel: Series v must include company’s DXCRUS follow 6 Spiteful women I heard tak CondUCToR Level: moderate the letter innetwork the access charge. TRAdITIon 1 on Plan for22, half of them in school, 4 25 26 reflector 84915. stud (4-3)Calls co One – three boxLAST set fromSATURdAy’S Acorn Media (acorndvd.com) January 2018. Target: 24 mins SoLUTIon centre, in this case e, and EXCESSIvE 7 Parties held in Gravesend European (6) Take the online Draught, Mensa workout at www.mensa.org.uk or apply for a supervised test in your area, cost time £1.5 ACRoSS Codeine, Scarf, Permanent, Rune,IQXebec, Sect, must contain•The at least fourBookshop stocks a wide selection of puzzle books Express 8 Icab, sold hayTexts off, having yesterDay’s solution moUnTAInS email bookatest@mensa.org.uk or telephone 01902 772771. Mensa not acceptgymnastic hyphenated 2 does Getting actor acrossisall letters, but there nocrossword limit on puzzle genres. To obtain our up to date list Sepal, Speculate, Surrender, Enter, Anew, Jaded, Disc, Italicise, Coati, off (8) tonight. 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TIGER 4 Go into quarters on time with Conservative beginning of the word to the _ _ OTHER 17 Second SUPERvISE ● The winner hesitation (5) right to give a longer HOWshortened many words route of involving *Calls cost 80p perTHE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENGE minute plus your telephone company’s network accessword. charge. _ _ AMOUR SURPRISES words • Good:®20 routes LPHAPUZZLE INwords THE SUNDAY EXPrESS EvErY WEEK? road (8) or When completed the name of a fourtaking letters moreafter can th 6 Spiteful women I heard TodAy’S AnSwERS: BEGINNER = 28; INTERMEDIATE = 156; ADVANCED = 203. ds • Incredible: 26 words 19 make Engineers, 100, TRAdITIon from thejoining queC fondly remembered food item will NEED HELP? _ _ CAPERreflector stud (4-3) you LAST SATURdAy’S SoLUTIon For extra clues call: needing resthere? (7) letters shown e, belies, bell, belle, belles, bellies, bells, be read downwards. What is it? Calls cost £1.50 7 Parties held in Gravesend (5) ● The Express Bookshop stocks 21 Driver initially grabbed es, bills, bleb, bless, blesses, bliss, eels, 0901 322ACRoSS 5603 Draught, numerous books of Sudoku In making a word, each by Codeine, Scarf, Permanent, Rune, Xebec, Sect, 8 I sold hay off, havingletter time s, less, lessee, lessees, libel, libellee, puzzles (from £5.99) and the sheepdog making us crash SMALL CROSSWORD SATURDAY *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge. NAME may be used once Answer for Teaser 30/12/17: Coward, beware, seawater and cutwater. Infinite Sudoku CD Rom (£9.99). sells, sessile, sill, sillies, sills. 22 Interfere with decoration, Sepal, Speculate, Surrender, Enter, Anew, Jaded, Disc, Italicise, Coati, off (8) For Fill today’s full solution To order, please call only. Each must contain mensateaser: WIN The Tunnel: Vengeance on DVD the grid so that 01872 562310 or order online say (6) ** sES your chance to win,Cortége, call: 0907 181 2723* or text to 84902 9 DXMENSA Rice dish, e.g., reeked badly (8) ADDRESS Retreat. down Deserts, Again,ForGift, Topless, Drat, 0907 181 2575 call:every column,Gunboat, row, and at www.expressbookshop.com. the and 24centre Criminalletter finding iron left o *Calls cost 80preturns per minutefor plus telephone company’s charge and last 2.5 minutes. rs *Calls cost 80p3x3 per minute plus your telephone company’s is free. Hard-hitting, award-winning drama The Tunnel, a your gripping third seriesnetwork access square includes allnetwork access charge. UK delivery 14 Fashion – cost not extreme (8) there must be at least 25 Rushed about, hot, in US **Text cost £2 plus your usual network rate. Lines close at midnight on Friday, January 12. For full T&Cs see Inelegant, Entitle, Alien, Auger, Porcelain, Pie, Shading, Diarist, Roe the digits from 1 to 9. d The Tunnel: Vengeance. It arrives on DVD alongside The Tunnel: Series one word. No Something revealing I nine-letter www.express.co.uk/campaigns/terms/7. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390.16 By responding to promotions, offers farm (5) Level: moderate deer, Receipt, Inane, Scat.you agree thatonNorthern and competitions & Shell may2018. contact you by post, SMSmentioned and/or email with offers, goods One – three box set from Acorn Silo, Media (acorndvd.com) January 22, plurals(3-6) or verb forms Target: 24 mins before starter or services that may be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NSNOINFO’ to 84902. Take the online Mensa workout at www.mensa.org.uk or apply for a supervised IQ test in your area, 17 Second Conservativeending in “s”.

0 PAGE 12 6, Friday,9 May 18,9 2018 14

THE SUnSHInETHE PUZZLE CRUSAdER CRo SUnSHInE PUZZLE CRUSAdE

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● The Express Bookshop stocks 0901Hard-hitting, 322 5603 numerous books of Sudoku award-winning drama The returns for a gripping thirdSATURDAY series puzzles (from £5.99) and the Tunnel, SMALL CROSSWORD 13 seawater and 14cutwater. Answer for Teaser 30/12/17: 12 Coward, beware, Infinite Sudoku CD Rom (£9.99). The Tunnel: Vengeance. It arrives on DVD alongside The Tunnel: Series For today’s full solution To order, please call 01872 562310 or order online * ** Foron yourJanuary chance to win,2018. call: 0907 181 2723 call: 0907 at www.expressbookshop.com. 15 or text DXMENSA to 84902 One 181 – three2575 box set from Acorn Media (acorndvd.com) 22, *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and last 2.5 minutes. *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. UK delivery is free. *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

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**Text cost £2 plus your usual network rate. Lines close at midnight on Friday, January 12. For full T&Cs see Take the online Mensa workout at www.mensa.org.uk or apply for a supervised IQ test in your area, SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. By responding to promotions, offers www.express.co.uk/campaigns/terms/7. 17 18 To order the Rupert annual772771. for 2018 (no.82) at £9.99, please call 01872 562315, hyphenated 16 email bookatest@mensa.org.uk or telephone 01902 Mensa does not accept and or send a cheque/PO to Rupert Bear shop, PO Box 200,competitions Falmouth, TR11 you 4WJ agree that Northern & Shell may contact you by post, SMS and/or email with offers, goods or services be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NSNOINFO’ to 84902. words, and uses the Oxford Dictionary of English (Second Edition UKRevised) itsmay official reference. or online at www.classicrupertbearshop.com. delivery is free.asthat

Lisa Wild

Rupert sits on the saddle and shivers. *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 “Oh, dear, On I wish I could that tiny each rowsee place two letters 20 21 DENNISMandarin THE MENACE who gave me theattached thing!” heto the _ _ LODGE that can be says. Immediately the machine glides off 22 of the _ _ OTHER the iceberg,beginning the wings open outword and to the ACROSS 1 5 Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle 2 based on a 39x9 grid 4 as of 1 As soon Rupert findsright himself flyinganorthward to give longer word. HOW many words wide selection of puzzle books across with several given numbers. The object is to place the ● The Express Bookshop stocks a requested (2,6) just above the surface of the dark crosswordfour puzzle genres. To obtain our up to date list please visit When completed the sea. name numbers of a 1 to_ _9 inAMOUR letters or more can the empty row, 6 7squares so the each 8 9 all 10 6 Surety (4) call 01872 562310 or write to Express Gradually the air grows warmer and the each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number www.expressbookshop.com, 8 Leaves out (5) Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ. Please enclose an SAE for you make from the fondly food item will _ _ difficulty CAPER sky clears. Onceremembered more Rupert finds only once. The level of the Conceptis Sudoku return. 11 Sweet bay (6) 11 increases letters shown here? LAST SATURdAy’S SoLUTIon 12 Norway’s capital (4) be read it? from Monday to Sunday himself flying over downwards. land, mostly What is ACRoSS 1 Sri Lanka, Tack, 8 insect Waist, 11(3) Pedant, 146 Flying mountains and forests. “It’s an enormous making aUTC, word, each 12 Nods,In 14 Gel, 15 Stern, 16 17 Eden, 19 Feeler, 15 Keyboard 12 13 14 wall,” he says. “What a queer place.” 20 Tears,may 21 Mess, 22 Presumes. instrument (5)once letter be used Answer for Teaser 30/12/17: Coward, beware, seawater and cutwater. Suddenly a lot of odd-looking things down 1 Stand up to, 3 Awareness, 4 Kit, 162 Iced, To annoy (3) only. Each must contain 15 5 Stillness, 7 Apostle, 9 Andre, 10 Skewers, 13 Steer, streak towards him at a great rate. seat, O’er woods and* mountains he flies, 17 Sediment of wine (4) ** For your chance to win, call: 0907 181 2723 or text DXMENSA to 84902 18 Deem, 19 Far. 19 Boxing matches eet.” And funny creatures fill the skies. the centre letter and (6) © Express Newspapers 2018 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and last 2.5 minutes. 20 Unify (5) 16 17 18 /lmx To order the Rupert annual for 2018 (no.82) at £9.99, please call 01872 562315, there must 21 Flybe highat (4)least **Text costa cheque/PO £2 plustoyour network rate. LinesTR11 close or send Rupertusual Bear shop, PO Box 200, Falmouth, 4WJ at midnight on Friday, January 12. For full T&Cs see 22 Gifts (8) word. No or online at www.classicrupertbearshop.com. UK delivery is free. one nine-letter www.express.co.uk/campaigns/terms/7. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. By responding to promotions, offers and competitions you agree that Northern & Shell may contact you by post, SMS and/or 19 email with offers, goods plurals or verb forms e saddle and shivers. DOWN or services that may be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NSNOINFO’ to 84902. 1 “s”. Extremely I could see that tiny ending in 20 21 unpleasant (9) ave me the thing!” he 2 Watch face (4) *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 y the machine glides off 3 Home loans (9) 22 TODAY’S TARGET wings open out and 4 Nothing (3) Evaluators (9) 24; self flying northward Good 16;5 very good ● The Express Bookshop stocks a wide selection of puzzle books across 7 Unplaced horse (4-3) urface of the dark sea. all crossword puzzle genres. To obtain our up to date list please visit excellent 32 (or more). 9 Iron, say (5) www.expressbookshop.com, call 01872 562310 or write to Express grows warmer and the 10 Monday. __ May, politician (7) Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ. Please enclose an SAE for Solution ACROSS more Rupert finds 1 2 3 4 5 return. 13 Planet’s path (5) As soon as 1 LAST SATURdAy’S SoLUTIon 18 Public school (4) er land, mostly ACRoSS 1 Sri Lanka, 6 Tack, 8 Waist, 11 Pedant, 19 Tree type (3) requested (2,6) orests. “It’s an enormous YESTERDAY’S 12 Nods, 14 Gel, 15 Stern, 16 UTC, 17 Eden, 19 Feeler, 6 7 8 9 10 6 Surety (4) What a queer place.” 20 Tears, 21 Mess, 22 Presumes. SOLuTION For today’s solution 8 down Leaves (5) odd-looking things 1 Standout up to, 2 Iced, 3 Awareness, 4 Kit, call: 0907 181 2583 admire admirer aide 5 Stillness, 7 Apostle, 9 Andre, 10 Skewers, 13 Steer, 11 Sweet bay (6) im at a great rate. O’er woods and mountains he flies, *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone 11 And funny creatures fill the skies. Deem, 19 (4) Far. networkamid access charge. aimed company’s aired 12 Norway’s18capital Newspapers 2018 14 Flying insect (3) /lmx amide arid armed

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15 Keyboard instrument (5) 16 To annoy (3) 17 Sediment of wine (4) 19 Boxing matches (6) 20 Unify (5) 21 Fly high (4) 22 Gifts (8)

EASY PUZZLE

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*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use The Chambers Dictionary

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THE ALP

G 5

Call H 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution

I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

P 28 21

39 23 ■ 6

2 22

■

3325

2527 2814 ■ 24 7

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use The Chambers Dictionary

■

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 18, 2018, PAGE 7

Nadal has high praise for Shapovalov after beating teenager By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Seventime champion Rafael Nadal methodically wore down Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-1 yesterday to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals and gain revenge against the Canadian teenager. The 19-year-old Shapovalov stunned Nadal in the third round in Montreal last year to deny the Spanish player a chance to regain the No. 1 spot. Nadal is also attempting to win the top spot back this week. He’ll replace Roger Federer if he wins an eighth Rome title. In a match between two left-handers, Shapovalov saved eight break points in his opening two service games before finally dropping his serve midway through the first set. “He was really serving big and I had some mistakes with the return,” Nadal said. “It was not a comfortable match against

a lefty who serves big and goes for his shots. “He’s good in all aspects. The only thing he needs is a little bit more time.” Shapovalov was stretched to three sets in his opening two matches, against 15thseeded Tomas Berdych and Robin Haase, and reached the semi-finals of last week’s Madrid Open. “I didn’t feel completely dead out there but I felt like I could’ve been fresher,” Shapovalov said. Nadal, who hasn’t won the Italian Open since 2013, next faces Fabio Fognini, who beat Peter Gojowczyk 6-4, 6-4. Fognini slammed his racket midway through the second set and received a warning from the umpire but otherwise held his composure to follow up an impressive win over Dominic Thiem. Four-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic reached his first quarterfinal of the year with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Alberto Ramos-Vinolas.

RAFAEL Nadal (left) returns the ball to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open tennis tournament yesterday. (AP Photos/Alessandra Tarantino) 6-2. In the women’s tournament, Simona Halep’s hold on the No. 1 ranking received a boost when American Madison Keys withdrew from their last-16 match due to a rib injury. Halep now needs to progress further than No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki to stay in top spot. Wozniacki faced 15th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova in a late match. The winner will play Anett Kontaveit, who

Defending champion Alexander Zverev needed eight match points before completing a 7-5, 7-6 (11) win over Kyle Edmund. Zverev will next play ninth-seeded David Goffin, who was leading 6-2, 4-5 when Juan Martin del Potro retired because of a groin injury. Fourth-seeded Marin Cilic defeated Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 and will meet Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-7 (3),

ousted 1999 champion Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 (3) for her second win over the American in two weeks. Last year, Halep rolled her ankle in the final and lost a lead and the championship to Elina Svitolina. Halep next plays US Open champion Sloane Stephens or seventh-seeded Caroline Garcia. Svitolina overcame a poor start to beat 14thseeded Daria Kasatkina 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 70° F/21° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

High: 84°

Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 84° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

91° F

73° F

88°-75° F

90°-76° F

92°-78° F

92°-80° F

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° 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: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7‑14 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 82° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

10‑20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

6‑12 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 84° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 71° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 89° F/32° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 15.88” Normal year to date ..................................... 7.41”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

10:48 a.m. 11:18 p.m.

2.6 3.4

4:55 a.m. ‑0.5 4:54 p.m. ‑0.5

Saturday

11:44 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.6 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:50 a.m. ‑0.4 5:51 p.m. ‑0.3

Sunday

12:14 a.m. 12:46 p.m.

3.2 2.5

6:47 a.m. ‑0.3 6:52 p.m. ‑0.1

Monday

1:14 a.m. 1:51 p.m.

3.1 2.5

7:48 a.m. ‑0.1 7:59 p.m. 0.0

Tuesday

2:16 a.m. 2:58 p.m.

2.9 2.5

8:49 a.m. ‑0.1 9:08 p.m. 0.2

Wednesday 3:20 a.m. 4:02 p.m.

2.8 2.6

9:49 a.m. ‑0.1 10:16 p.m. 0.2

Thursday

2.7 2.8

10:46 a.m. ‑0.1 11:19 p.m. 0.1

4:21 a.m. 5:02 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

12‑25 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

uV inDex toDay

6:24 a.m. 7:49 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

9:28 a.m. 11:21 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

May 21

May 29

Jun. 6

Jun. 13

CAT ISLAND

She’ll next face former No. 1 Angelique Kerber, who routed Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-1, 6-1. This is the last major warmup for the French Open, which starts in 10 days. Jelena Ostapenko, preparing to defend her title at Roland Garros, rallied past Johanna Konta 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and will meet three-time Rome champion Maria Sharapova, who eliminated Daria Gavrilova 6-3, 6-4.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

12‑25 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

12‑25 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: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS SE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 15‑25 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 12‑25 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 15‑25 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 15‑25 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 15‑25 Knots SE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 15‑25 Knots

WAVES 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 4‑8 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑8 Feet 6‑10 Feet 6‑10 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet

VISIBILITY 3 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 3 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 3 Miles 3 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles

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

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years. NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Friday, May 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Premier League powerhouses Man United, Chelsea to face off in FA Cup final Saturday T

he eyes of the world will certainly be on Great Britain tomorrow as Prince Harry strikes a blow for love, diversity, Anglo-American relations, making the British royal family more socially relevant and, well, loved. It’s a tremendous story. Meghan Markle, biracial, divorced, an American TV star and completely charming, may do as much to expand the influence and allure of the royal family as did her deceased mother-in-law Princess Diana. So why is this story in the sports section? And where does the Blind Seer get off commenting on royal weddings? It’s just that Saturday also marks the occasion of one of the greatest national sporting competitions in the world. It’s the English Football Association’s annual FA Cup final. Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Chelsea will square off at Wembley Stadium in London in a much-anticipated match. The FA Cup is the closest thing in England to the American NCAA college basketball tournament, because of its potential for David versus Goliath upsets. In the American tournament this spring, the very top seeded team from the University of Virginia was defeated in the first round of the single-elimination tournament. In England, the underdog teams are often called “minnows,” and when one of them reaches the tourney’s later competition stages, it causes a sensation. Plays about such events have been staged in London’s West End. England is the home of soccer, and the FA Cup is open to any team from the top of the pyramid in the Premier League to the humblest club in the lowest organized level of the sport. The tournament was first played in 1871, and an amazing total of 737 teams entered the competition this year. It all began in August, with teams from the lowest levels scrapping to advance. After New

Year the higher-seeded teams joined the fray as the winnowing out process continued through nine months of competition. Now the final game is at hand. While there are certainly no minnows in this year’s final, Manchester United and Chelsea certainly do not appear to be evenly matched coming into the game. United finished a very respectable second place in this season’s already completed Premier League table, behind only record setting juggernaut and cross-town rival Manchester City. City was certainly this season’s Goliath, but it was eliminated from the FA Cup in a surprising upset in February by the underdog Wigan, a team based in the Manchester suburbs from a lower division which has often been better known for its fraternal rugby team’s prowess. On February 19, a date that will live in Wigan history forever, their soccer team beat mighty Manchester City 1-0 on its only shot of the match. The television game commentators were unable to conceal their shock. Opposing Man United in Saturday’s final is Chelsea, one of the many London area teams in the Premier League and last year’s Premier League champions. While Man United has one of the richest histories of any football (soccer) club in the world and is consistently rated among the most valuable franchises in any sport, Chelsea has come to the big table in worldwide sports more recently. While the Blues have an illustrious history of their own, their worldwide prominence is more a 21st Century phenomenon and is traceable to the purchase of the club less than 20 years ago by Russian oligarch Roman

MANCHESTER United and Jose Mourinho (left) are all set to square off against Chelsea and Antonio Conte in the English Football Association’s annual FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Abramovich. The Russian has poured money into the franchise and many trophies attest to the club’s success since he arrived. Chelsea finished a disappointing season in fifth place in the Premier League and suffered several embarrassing defeats by much lower-ranked teams. Rumours have swirled for months that Saturday’s FA Cup final match will be the last for the Chelsea manager Antonio Conte of Italy, who enjoyed great success in winning the league last year but has seen his team slip badly since New Year’s Day. Man United is under the direction of Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho who has won league titles in Spain and Italy at giant clubs before coming to England and winning many league and major cup trophies with the team he will oppose on Saturday. Mourinho was hired and fired twice by Abramovich, and may be Chelsea’s most successful all-time

manager. Now he faces his old club in one of the game’s biggest story lines. Both teams employ staggeringly expensive international superstars, but only Man United is likely to start several English players. Chelsea might feature one. The absence of home grown players in top English teams is a consistent controversy. But with many of the biggest clubs now owned by wealthy émigrés from Russia, the Middle East or the United States, it has been difficult to maintain the local flavour on the playing field. The owners all want the very best players their riches can buy, no matter where they come from. The betting line has strongly and consistently favoured Man United. The Reds come into the match in better form and are looking to cap a largely successful season. Chelsea, on the other hand, is stumbling into the match off a draw and a defeat by lower

rated teams in its final two regular league matches. The two teams traded onegoal home victories during the season, but there seems little realistic prospect of a memorable cup upset Saturday. The smart play is to go with form and play Man United to win the match. ******* Always accountable, the Seer recalls the results of the NCAA basketball tournament for loyal readers. In the semi-finals back in March, the Seer forecast upstart Loyola to shock Michigan, and to bet the underdog on total points. The Wolverines prevailed, but the teams did go under the total point spread. And Villanova rocked Kansas, as the Seer predicted, but the total points were greater than we forecast. Then Villanova won the title, as Seer saw. Overall, for 2018 the Seer is 5-4 for the NFL playoffs and NCAA tournament, with all bets against the spread.