SPORTS SECTION E
BAAA
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017
Jr Nationals, Page 12
Woodside-Johnson to head IAAF Worlds team By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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he has held the distinction of being the first Bahamian female to serve on the coaching staff of an Olympic team. Now Diane WoodsideJohnson is going back to London, England, where she will add to her resumé - the first female to serve as head coach of an International Amateur Athletic Federation World Championship team. Woodside-Johnson has been selected by the Bahamas Coaches Association and ratified by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations to serve as the head coach for the team that will travel to the IAAF World Championships in London, England. While the team has not yet been officially selected by the BAAA,
Woodside-Johnson the head coach,” she will have a good idea lamented. “Just to of who will probbe a part of the enably be travelling to vironment of worldLondon August 5-13 class athletes again when the National is very important to Open Track and me. It’s an honour Field Championand a privilege to be ships is staged this there.” weekend. Woodside-JohnThe Nationals, son broke internaall set for Friday tional barriers for and Saturday at the Bahamas in 2011 the Grand Bahama WOODSIDE-JOHNSON when she served as Sports Complex, the first female aswill serve as the trials for the team, sistant coach at the IAAF World although there will be a few more Championships in Daegu, Korea. opportunities for athletes to attain That followed with her biggest feat the standard by the deadline of to date when she served as the feSunday, July 23. male coach of the athletic team at “I feel wonderful for the hon- the London Olympics in 2012. our. After years of working with “I think the Bahamas will do the athletes, who too have made extremely well at these champiit to this stage, it’s a wonderful op- onships,” Woodside-Johnson proportunity to be around them again jected. “We have two of the top and to mentor them at this stage as performers in the women’s and
men’s 400 metres in Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner and we hope they can continue on with their successes. “Of course we also have the 200 metres for women with a good crop of female sprinters who will be representing us at the championships and they should form the nucleus of our 4 x 100 metre relay team.” Although there are a number of athletes who have attained the qualifying standards so far, Woodside-Johnson said the trials would provide that opportunity for those who are close to attempt to join those that have qualified. “This weekend should prove to be very exciting because we should have some competitive athletes competing in events like the men’s 400m, the women’s 200 and 400m, the men’s 100m and the high jump for men,” she said. “Those should
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BAHAMIAN basketball star Jonquel Jones has been named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Jonquel Jones named WNBA Eastern Player of the Week JONQUEL Jones of the Connecticut Sun and Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks were yesterday named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week respectively, for games played June 12-18. Jones earned Player of the Week honours for the first time in her two WNBA seasons. In leading the Sun to a 2-0 week, Jones paced the Eastern Conference in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and blocks (2.5 bpg) and shared the lead in steals (2.0 spg). She also ranked sixth in scoring (17.5 ppg) and third in field goal percentage (.737, 14-of-19). The 6-6 forward/centre opened her week with 19 points, a gamehigh 12 rebounds and three assists in a 96-76 home win over the New York Liberty on June 14. Three days later, the former George Washington University star helped Connecticut hand the WNBAleading Minnesota Lynx its first loss of the season. In the Sun’s 9893 road victory, Jones finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and four steals as Connecti-
cut improved to 5-5 for the season with its fifth win in six games. Parker earned Player of the Week honours for the 19th time in her 10-year career. Behind the 6-4 forward/centre, the Sparks went 3-0 for the week and improved to 8-3 overall, the second-best record in the WNBA. Among West players, the two-time WNBA MVP was seventh in scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg). She also tied for second in blocks (2.0 bpg) and for third in assists (5.0 apg). Parker was eighth in three-point shooting (.417, 5-of-12) and made 13 of her 14 attempts from the free throw line (.929). On June 13, the former University of Tennessee standout tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Sparks defeated the Dallas Wings 97-87 in Los Ange-
les. Two days later, Parker contributed 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks to help guide the host Sparks past the San Antonio Stars 8075. Parker closed the week with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks as Los Angeles beat the Phoenix Mercury 90-59 on June 18 in a game that also saw Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi become the WNBA’s career scoring leader. Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas, Dallas’ Skylar Diggins-Smith, the Indiana Fever’s Tiffany Mitchell, Los Angeles’ Chelsea Gray and Nneka Ogwumike, New York’s Tina Charles and Shavonte Zellous, and the Washington Mystics’ Tayler Hill. Jones and the Sun have made
the most of a difficult early season schedule. Connecticut spent 17 of 19 days on the road and had to play Minnesota three times in the first 10 games. But they are sitting at .500. They started the season 0-4 and have won five of six despite missing starters Morgan Tuck — knee bruise — and Alex Bentley — EuroBasket tournament. Connecticut also has been without its top post reserve as Lynetta Kizer is dealing with a back issue. “We lost three close games early in the year by two points,” Connecticut coach Curt Miller said. “This young group is learning how to get to the finish line and learning how to win games close. More than anything they’ve just stuck together, believe and stayed in the system for what we wanted to accomplish.” The Sun moved up to seventh in The Associated Press WNBA power poll this week, their best ranking ever since the poll started last year. Connecticut visits New York on Friday for its lone game this week.
BBF SET TO HOST ANNUAL NATIONALS IN GRAND BAHAMA By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the rumbling over who holds and deserves the sanctioning rights for international baseball in the country, the Bahamas Baseball Federation is pressing on with its National Baseball Championships. The federation, which was embattled with the Bahamas Baseball Association over the governance of the sport, will host their 15th Annual Nationals in Grand Bahama at the EMERA Caribbean Baseball Complex. Teams from the Grand Bahama Amateur Baseball Association, Grand Bahama Little League, Legacy Baseball League, Eleuthera Junior Baseball League, North Abaco Baseball League and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau will make up this year’s package. Conspicuously missing once again is Freedom Farm. But while there has been a bigger issue to deal with, federation president Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting said they are still committed to providing the highest level of competition for the young players to participate in at the nationals. “There is a lot that has to unravel and to see exactly where baseball will be headed over the next year,” he said. “It’s difficult to speak on it because everybody is trying to see the benefits of what has transpired will bring to the sport. “We’ve had a lot of success at the structure of the federation with governance by the leagues. I think it’s a wait and see process of how the agreements will unfold by those who made those decisions.” Sweeting said he’s still looking for all of the factions to come together for the betterment of the sport because there’s nothing wrong with the growth and development of baseball in the country nationally. “The issue is internationally and trying to receive international benefits, international travel to these tournaments that are controlled from the governing body, the IABF,” he pointed out. “That is where it all lays. I know we had garnered the complete respect of inter-
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Donaldson wins opener, Armbrister suffers heartbreaker By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE Sierra Donaldson won her opening match in the girls’ singles, Donte Armbrister suffered a heartbreaking loss as the Bahamas began play at the JITIC Under-18 Regional Championships in Trinidad & Tobago. After getting a bye in the first round, No. 16 seed Donaldson went on to win her second round match with a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Osenvonve Nwokolo of Trinidad and Tobago. “At first I was nervous, but I had to overcome that so I could play my match and win my game,” Donaldson said. “The player I played was a tall and strong girl, so I had to use consistency and height to try to beat her. “She was a really hard hitter and she hit some lucky shots on
me, which caught me off guard. But I had to be quick on my feet so I could play.” Donaldson said she felt she played a much better match and had more intensity at the end to pull off the match. She was scheduled to play either No.1 seed Rut Galindo or Brendamaria Cuadra. Armbrister, also seeded at No.16 in the boys’ singles, lost 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4 to Mauricio Hernandez of Mexico. “I played a good match. It was different styles, a lot of variety of shots in the match,” he said. “It was different playing a server and volley player. I never played one before, but I think I adjusted very well in the match and I hope that I can away the experience to help me to play better in the future.” Armbrister is teaming up with Tomas Del Olmo. They were scheduled to play their first match yesterday against Edward Laquis
SHOWN (l-r) are Afrika Smith, Donte Armbrister and Sierra Donaldson. from Trinidad & Tobago and Curt Seifert from Barbados.
Afrika Smith, the other member of Team Bahamas, got a bye
in the first round. She was scheduled to play her first match yesterday against Claudia Cecilia Rosas Garcia, the No.13 seed from Mexico. However, no results were available up to press time. “At this moment, I feel like I’m ready to play whoever I have to play,” Smith said. “My frame of mind is just play her game, no matter what type of player she is. You’re not playing the player, but you’re playing the ball. “I’m ready to face whatever. I’m going out there with a positive mind that whatever I do, I will do my best and leave it all out there on the court.” Donaldson and Smith are combining as a team from the Bahamas to play in the girls’ doubles. Their first match is expected to be against the Trinidad & Tobago duo of Abigail Jones and Jade Tom Yew.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, June 21, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
BAHAMAS ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
FAST TRACK: Junior athletes compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Aliv National Junior Championships in the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium over the weekend. Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
Calling All High
SCHOOL STUDENTS
Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year. In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands. We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.
Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded
7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).
How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format. By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau. By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.
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here were several qualifiers over the weekend for this summer’s International Amateur Athletic Federation World Under-18 Championships, the Commonwealth Youth Games and the Junior Pan American/NACAC Championships as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations hosted its 2017 Aliv National Junior Championships. The two-day meet, held on Friday and Saturday in the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, comes be-
fore the BAAA heads to Grand Bahama this weekend to stage the 2017 Aliv National Open Championships at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex for athletes hoping to make the team that will travel in August to the IAAF World Championships in London, England. In addition, the IAAF World U-18 Championships is set for July 12-16 in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by the Commonwealth Youth Games here July 1621 and the Pan Am Jr Championships in Lima, Peru, July 21-23.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 21, 2017, PAGE 13
AP SOURCE: HAWKS SEND CENTRE DWIGHT HOWARD TO HORNETS By CHARLES ODUM Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Dwight Howard’s Atlanta homecoming was shortlived. The Charlotte Hornets have reached an agreement to acquire Howard from the Hawks. The Hawks are sending Howard and the No. 31 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft to Charlotte for centre Miles Plumlee, shooting guard Marco Belinelli and the 41st pick, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity yes-
terday because the trade is not yet official. Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, will be playing for his third team in three seasons following a disappointing one-year return to his Atlanta hometown. Howard signed a threeyear, $70.5 million deal with Atlanta and then sat out the fourth quarter in two of six playoff games in the Hawks’ first-round loss to Washington. Howard’s averages with the Hawks — 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds — were close to his production in his last of three seasons
with Houston in 2015-16. Still, he finished the season unhappy about his diminished role in the playoffs, when he averaged eight points and 10.7 rebounds. “It was very difficult. I want to play,” Howard said after the season. “I want to be on the floor. I want to make an impact. You can’t do it on the bench.” The Hawks were eliminated in the first round for the first time since 2014. Following the season, coach Mike Budenholzer resigned his additional role as president of basketball operations and Wes Wilcox stepped down as general manager.
The Howard trade is the first deal for new Hawks GM Travis Schlenk, who faces the difficult challenge of re-signing free-agent forward Paul Millsap. Howard, 31, is due to earn $23.5 million each of the next two seasons. Plumlee, 28, still has three years remaining on his contract at $12.5 million per season. Belinelli, 31, is set to earn $6.6 million in the final year of his deal. Howard has a history with Hornets coach Steve Clifford. Howard played under Clifford when Clifford was an assistant coach under Stan Van Gundy in Orlan-
do and an assistant coach under Mike D’Antoni in Los Angeles. Michael Jordan’s Hornets have been attempting to land a star player for quite some time and Howard potentially gives them that if he can return to playing at a high level. Point guard Kemba Walker has developed into an All-Star, but Nicolas Batum struggled last season after being handed a $120 million, five-year contract — the largest ever given to a Hornets player. The trade also satisfies the Hornets’ search for a true centre since losing Al Jefferson to free agency last
BAAA NATIONALS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE SPORTS NOTES BASKETBALL ATLANTIS CHAMPIONSHIPS THE 2017 Atlantis Interdepartmental Basketball Championships is all set for 6:30pm today at Betty Cole Park, starting with a showdown between the coaches and managers. That will be followed by a 3-pt shootout at 7:15pm. Following that, the AllStar game will be played at 7:30pm. The evening will conclude with the championship game between the Cove Knights and Banquet Bombers at 8:30pm.
summer. They had hoped that Roy Hibbert would fill the role of a rim protector, but injuries slowed him down and he was eventually traded to Milwaukee in a midseason deal that brought Plumlee to Charlotte. Plumlee wasn’t much of a contributor last season for Charlotte and he was beset by injuries. The Hornets traded away their first-round draft pick in 2016 to acquire Belinelli after losing Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin in free agency. Belinelli played in 74 games last season and averaged 10.5 points per game on 42.9 per cent shooting.
BIMINI REGATTA THE Bimini Regatta is scheduled for this weekend. All sloops are expected to be in Bimini on Thursday and the owners and sailors will participate in a Skippers’ Party. The races begin Friday and continue Saturday when champions will be announced at the closing-out ceremonies. ATHLETIC CLINIC THE College bound Students Athletic Clinic is set for 9am to 3pm on Friday, June 30 and 9am to noon on Saturday, July 1 at Kingsway Academy. The two-day clinic will have a hands-on athletic clinic to provide student athletes and families with the overview of the athletic high school college calendar.
Bahamas Table Tennis Federation now official member of the ITTF THE Bahamas Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) has officially become a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). On May 31, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas was one of four of the last countries and territories to obtain membership. Global membership is 226 countries, making table tennis the only sport on earth to have full global participation. The goal of the BTTF is to encourage, promote and control the sport of table
tennis throughout The Bahamas. The BTTF is partnering with the ITTF to offer coaching to the physical education teachers to introduce table tennis into school programmes. The ITTF is sending international course conductor Richard McAfee, of the US, to conduct the training and this is part of a yearlong Bahamas Table Tennis development programme funded by the International Table Tennis Federation. The course is scheduled for 9am to 4pm June 25-30.
In addition, a club coach course is set for 6-9pm June 28-29 - both will be held in the C R Walker Senior High School auditorium. The ITTF/BTTF will also be hiring a national development officer (NDO) for the Bahamas. The NDO will assist with the implementation, development and training for table tennis. Resumés can be sent to Shameka Fernander at sfernander@gmail.com You can find more information on https://www.facebook.com/tbttf/
PAGE 14, Wednesday, June 21, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
AGENT: TIGER WOODS IN A CLINIC FOR HANDLING PAIN MEDICATION By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press TIGER Woods has checked into a clinic to get help dealing with prescription medication for pain and a sleep disorder, and his agent is not sure how long he will stay. Mark Steinberg of Excel Sports Management said yesterday he could not disclose the location of the inpatient treatment. He said pain medication at times was the only way Woods could get up and moving during the toughest days of recovery following four back surgeries. “I’m proud of him,” Steinberg said. “He’s going to get himself right to be able to essentially lead a healthy lifestyle.” Woods was arrested on a DUI charge in the early hours of Memorial Day when police in Jupiter, Florida, found him asleep behind the wheel of his slightly damaged car, which was parked awkwardly to the side of the road about 15 miles from his house, headed the opposite direction. This is at least the second
time that Woods has sought in-patient treatment. He was in a Mississippi clinic for 45 days in early 2010 when his personal life collapsed over multiple extramarital affairs. Woods had his fourth knee surgery after winning the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines for his 14th major. Starting in 2013, however, his back has been the primary source of his injuries. He has had four surgeries on his back starting in the spring of 2014, the most recent fusion surgery two months ago. “He’s been in just immense pain for so very long that taking prescribed medication was a must just to be able to get up and move,” Steinberg said. But, he added, “I don’t think it’s fair to say there is an addiction.” When he was arrested, Woods’ speech was slurred and he was not sure where he was or where he was going. Woods told police he was on several prescriptions. He failed every field sobriety test, though he recorded a 0.00 on a breath test after he was taken to jail. Woods had said alcohol
was not involved. Woods also provided urine samples. The results of those tests are not available. Jupiter Police spokesman Adam Brown said Tuesday that toxicology results won’t be released because they are part of an active criminal investigation. Nicole Lunsford, a records specialist at the police department, said in an email that they were being withheld “per our town legal counsel.” An arrest affidavit listed four medications, including Vicodin, that Woods told police he was taking. In another police report that previously had been redacted, Woods told officers he had been taking Xanax, which treats anxiety and insomnia. “May 29 shook him up quite a bit, as it should,” Steinberg said. Asked if the arrest might turn out to be the best thing to happen to Woods, his longtime agent said: “It was such a somber experience and moment. Thank God that nobody was hurt. But to answer your question, only time will tell.”
TIGER WOODS prepares to sign copies of his new book at a book signing in New York in this March 20, 2017, file photo. Woods is receiving help to manage his medications. “I’m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder,” said Woods in a statement provided to The Associated Press on June 19. (AP)
BASEBALL CAPSULES CARDS 8, PHILLIES 1 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Yadier Molina and Tommy Pham both homered in a seven-run 11th inning to help the Cardinals beat the Phillies 8-1 on Tuesday night. Stephen Piscotty had a two-run double off Casey Fien after Edubray Ramos (0-5) started the inning with two walks. Molina and Pham followed with homers as the Cardinals had their biggest output of the season in an inning. ROCKIES 4, D-BACKS 3 DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning, and the surging Rockies rallied past the Diamondbacks in the opening game of their NL West showdown. Carlos Gonzalez homered and saved a run with a diving catch of David Peralta’s line drive in the fifth to help Colorado win its sixth straight. The NL West leaders extended their advantage over third-place Arizona to two games. ANGELS 8, YANKEES 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Cameron Maybin hit a tiebreaking home run off struggling reliever Tyler Clippard to spark a three-run seventh inning, and the Angels beat New York to extend the Yankees’ losing streak to seven games — their longest in a single season since April 2007. Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 24th home run and Gary Sanchez his 12th as New York climbed back from a 3-0 deficit.
RED SOX 8, ROYALS 3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Sale shut down the Royals while pitching into the ninth inning, and a rag-tag bunch of Red Sox filling in for injured starters pounded their way to a victory that moved them into first place in the AL East. Sale (9-3) gave up a homer to Mike Moustakas in the second and a two-run shot to Jorge Bonifacio in the ninth before departing two outs shy of his second consecutive complete game. NATIONALS 12, MARLINS 3 MIAMI (AP) — Bryce Harper started the scoring with a tworun single that extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and Gio Gonzalez pitched seven innings to help the Nationals beat the Marlins 12-3 on Tuesday night. Daniel Murphy had two RBIs and hit his 12th homer for the Nationals. Teammate Stephen Drew had three hits and three RBIs, and Ryan Zimmerman drove in three runs with a double and a single. RAYS 6, REDS 5 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Corey Dickerson went deep, Alex Cobb threw seven solid innings and the Rays beat the Reds. Dickerson had his 29th multihit game of the season with two hits. He drove in Tampa Bay’s first run with a third-inning single, then capped their scoring with his 16th home run in the fourth.
GIANTS 6, BRAVES 3 ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Slater hit a three-run homer after the Braves botched a potential double-play grounder, sparking the Giants to a victory over Atlanta that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Matt Moore (3-7) pitched seven strong innings for his first win in over a month, and the shaky Giants bullpen protected the lead.
ORIOLES 6, INDIANS 5 BALTIMORE (AP) — Manny Machado went 4 for 4, homered twice and drove in four runs to help the Orioles beat Cleveland and end the Indians’ six-game winning streak. After the Orioles rallied from a 5-2 deficit to pull even, Machado doubled off Bryan Shaw (1-2) in the seventh inning and scored on a double by Adam Jones.
PIRATES 7, BREWERS 3 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chad Kuhl got his first victory since April, Andrew McCutchen homered for the fifth time in seven games and the Pirates beat the Brewers. Jose Osuna’s three-run homer highlighted the Pirates’ six-run first inning. McCutchen’s two-run single and David Freese’s RBI hit accounted for the other runs, all scored before Zach Davies (7-4) recorded a second out.
RANGERS 6, BLUE JAYS 1 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Carlos Gomez homered in a fourrun first inning, Nick Martinez allowed two hits while taking a shutout into the seventh and the Rangers beat the Blue Jays. Adrian Beltre had a solo homer in the eighth for his 2,960th career hit as the Rangers (35-35) got back to .500 while the Blue Jays (34-36) dropped to 0-8 this season when trying to reach the break-even mark for the first time.
CUBS 4, PADRES 0 CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit another leadoff home run to help Mike Montgomery get his first win of the season in the Cubs’ victory over the Padres. Rizzo homered on the second pitch from Jhoulys Chacin (66) and was the third leading off in seven games since Rizzo was moved to the top of the order by manager Joe Maddon. In those seven games, he is 6 for 6 with a walk to open the first inning.
TWINS 9, WHITE SOX 7 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Miguel Sano and Kennys Vargas each hit a long home run to help the Twins bounce back from a demoralizing sweep by beating the White Sox. Sano hit his 17th homer and Vargas added a threerun shot as the Twins overcame a rough outing from Ervin Santana (9-4), who gave up six runs on 10 hits and struck out six in five innings. Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 21 tries.
BBF ALL SET TO HOST ANNUAL NATIONALS IN GRAND BAHAMA FROM PAGE 11 national baseball from the governing body and the international body because it looks at development and not the structure.” Through the BBF and its national tournaments, Sweeting said they have been able to accomplish their goal, while there are others who are waiting to see how their affiliation with the BBA will benefit them internationally moving forward. “We’re trying to put the chariot before the horse. The decision has to be made on whether these individuals will allow the membership or the leagues that provide the opportunities for the young men to play to lead them and govern them,” Sweeting stressed. “That’s the question. So until that is realised, we’re still in the same situation because you are allowing leadership to make the determination that they are going to lead you, but you have not had the opportunity to allow the leagues to make that determination.” Under the structure that currently exists, Sweeting said there’s no way that they
TEDDY SWEETING will be deterred from their commitment to continue to showcase the players in the national tournament. This year’s tournament is slated to begin 9am Friday in all of the divisions, inclusive of the Coach Pitch, Minor (9-10), Major (11-12), Junior (13-15) and High School (16-and-over). The opening ceremonies is scheduled for 7pm when the federation will honour retired Major Leaguer Antoan Richardson along with three others, including Mario Ford, who will all receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The tournament continues 9am Saturday and wraps up after the 9am session Sunday when the champions in all divisions will be crowned.
WOODSIDE-JOHNSON TO HEAD IAAF WORLDS TEAM FROM PAGE 11 be our most competitive events.” The events from the 100 to 400m should prove quite interesting because it’s from those performances that the BAAA intends to select its pool of competitors that Rupert Gardiner, the relay coordinator for London, should be able to work with at the championships, once all four 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m teams qualify. “I guess in consultation with the relay coordinator and the BAAA, we have to look at whatever meets we can send our teams to compete in so that they can officially qualify for London.” As the head coach for London, Woodside-Johnson brings a wealth of experience to the team as one of a handful of IAAF level five certified coaches in the country. Level five is the highest level of accomplishment as a coach. The former national and international 100m hurdles specialist has been coaching at her alma mater at St Augustine’s College with the Big Red Machine for more than 20 years. Together with her twin sister, Dawn Woodside-Johnson, they formed Club Monica Track Club in the BAAA to honour their mother, Monica Woodside, who never missed an event when her children competed. Woodside-Johnson, 48, is married and a mother of a daughter whom she hopes will eventually follow in her footsteps as a track athlete.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 21, 2017, PAGE 15
Navigating business, basketball awaits incoming NBA rookies By KYLE HIGHTOWER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Sixty NBA draft hopefuls will hear their names called Thursday night as members of the 2017 rookie class. For many of the top picks it will mark the start of the transition from college underclassman to instant millionaire. It is the ultimate finishing school. A journey that continues to evolve for NBA newcomers that has trended younger during the oneand-done era. Boston’s Jaylen Brown, San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray , and Golden State’s Patrick McCaw are fresh off that experience, having gotten an opportunity afforded few rookies: Adjusting to the NBA grind, the pressures of life as a wealthy pro athlete while being called upon to contribute for teams that made deep playoff runs. “I got a lot accomplished and learned a lot this year. I still have a long way to go,” said Brown, last year’s third overall pick. “I’m not satisfied, but I am OK with this year from a foundation standpoint. I’m just going forward. I definitely have a lot of room to grow.” But before a rookie even sees a basketball court, the first step for them is handling basic things like securing a place to live and setting up utilities — tasks often new to many 19-and 20-year-olds fresh out of college dorm life. While past rookies have enlisted close friends or family members to act as de facto assistants during their initial transition, many are taking even more ownership of their off the court responsibilities. In Brown’s case that meant leaning on a network of advisers he first built around him prior to beginning the draft process last year. The group included Cuonzo Martin, Brown’s coach at Cal, as well as fellow Cal alum Hashim Alauddeen, a founder of one of Oakland’s elite AAU teams. Thanks to Alauddeen the group also includes NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who Alauddeen worked for as director of basketball operations when Thomas was coach at Florida International. Brown has called them his “sounding board” and invaluable in helping him embrace the less glamorous side of professional basketball. It’s also helped that Brown has always been intrigued with business, having interned with a firm in the Bay Area while at Berkeley. An avid chess player, Brown surveyed the NBA landscape process like a chess board and ultimately decided to forgo hiring an agent to negotiate his first contract. It taught him about “maximising your value” and he adapted that on the court, where he worked his way into the Celtics’ playoff rotation and found himself guarding LeBron James in the Eastern Conference fi-
BOSTON Celtics’ Jaylen Brown dunks during a game against the New York Knicks. (AP Photos)
LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Andy Murray headed a list of highprofile departures in the first round at Queen’s yesterday, with the Wimbledon champion losing to a player who found out he was competing only on the morning of the match. Murray put in a sloppy and error-prone display in losing to 90th-ranked Jordan Thompson 7-6 (4), 6-2, joining Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic in getting eliminated on a day of shocks at the Wimbledon warmup event. They were the top three seeds. Thompson, who lost in the final round of qualifying on Sunday, stepped up to play Murray following the withdrawal early yes-
SAN Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray (5) goes up for a shot between Orlando Magic defenders during a game in Orlando.
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Patrick McCaw, right, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. nals. Though it’s something many rookies could have never imagined, Brown said because of the work he’s put in it all felt very plausible. “I probably would say, yeah, it sounds about right,” he said. McCaw was taken 38th overall in the second round last year by Milwaukee, then traded to Golden State on draft night. While he never expected to find himself on a championship contender this quickly, he stayed grounded by keeping in constant with his support network of his parents and five siblings. He consulted them almost daily. While his mom, Teresa, expressed some trepidation about him being on his own for the first time, landing on a roster full of 20-somethings helped immensely. It culminated in the playoffs when McCaw found himself playing in critical moments during the NBA finals. “At first, kind of nerve wracking,” McCaw said. “I just got comfortable, the guys have a lot of confidence in me to play my game and take the shots when they’re there. That’s
what I did.” It’s all in stark contrast to what rookies experienced even just a decade ago. Boston’s Gerald Green and current Celtics teammate Amir Johnson were two of the nine players selected out of high school in 2005. It was the largest group of high schoolers taken in any single class. “It’s a challenge,” said Green, now 31. “For me, I was coming out of high school and didn’t really know too much. Kid straight out of the ‘hood, don’t really have any money, now you’ve got some bread. So I kind of had to adjust to that.” Many in the 2005 class quickly became NBA journeymen. “When you’re out of college as a rookie it can be difficult, but I think if you can set yourself up with the right people...it can come out to be a good thing for you,” he said. Murray said Spurs veterans like Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green kept him grounded. “They all just give me advice, from the top guys all the way down,” Murray said. “It’s always good to have veteran guys who have been there and done that.” Brown, McCaw and Murray are all expected to get their first glimpse at the incoming NBA rookie class during Summer League play. It there’s any advice Brown said he has to impart it’s that everything — both on and off the court — requires effort. “I liked it like that,” he said. “I think a lot of rookies have (an expectation) of stuff being laid out for them, and that’s fine and everything. But I’m so happy the way the Celtics did it with me. I had to earn everything I got.”
lion). The cases are about the profits made from image rights, not salaries from their clubs. Real Madrid and Man United are not directly involved. Last week, Ronaldo was accused by a state prosecutor of four counts of tax fraud totalling 14.7 million euros ($16.5 million). He is under official investigation and will have to appear in the Pozuelo de Alarcon court No. 1 on July 31. A judge will then decide if they are grounds to charge him with a crime.
terday of Aljaz Bedene because of a wrist injury. Thompson played the match of his life — but was given a helping hand by the erratic Murray, the defending and five-time champion in west London. The Australian sealed victory with an ace down the middle. “Definitely the biggest win of my career,” Thompson said. It was Murray’s first loss at Queen’s since 2014, ended his 14-match winning run on grass dating to 2015, and is a setback to his preparation for Wimbledon, which starts on July 3. The second-seeded Wawrinka was beaten by big-serving Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (5), 7-5, with the
Spanish player sealing victory off a net cord from a sliced backhand return. Wawrinka, the runnerup to Rafael Nadal at the French Open, appeared to be struggling with a left knee injury in the second set. While Wawrinka’s exit wasn’t too much of a surprise, given Lopez’s recent form and liking for grass, the early departure of third-seeded Raonic in the first match on Centre Court certainly was. Last year’s runner-up at Queen’s and Wimbledon — both times to Murray — lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8) to No. 698-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis, who was playing only his sixth singles since November 2015 because of injury problems.
EIGHT-TIME CHAMPION FEDERER BOUNCES BACK HALLE, Germany (AP) — Roger Federer bounced back from his surprise first-round defeat in Stuttgart last week with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Yuichi Sugita of Japan in the opening round of the Gerry Weber Open yesterday. It was the Swiss great’s 1,100th career victory. Federer, who was upset by German veteran
RONALDO SUMMONED TO COURT, MOURINHO ACCUSED OF TAX FRAUD BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been summoned to appear before a Spanish judge, and Jose Mourinho could be next. Ronaldo and Mourinho are the latest members of the soccer elite to be accused of tax fraud in Spain. Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, among others, have already been convicted. On Tuesday, Ronaldo was told to appear in court on July 31, while Mourinho was accused by a state prosecutor of defrauding Spain’s Tax Office of 3.3 million euros ($3.7 mil-
ANDY MURRAY OUT ON DAY OF 1ST-ROUND SHOCKS AT QUEEN’S
Tommy Haas on his return from a two-month break last Wednesday, hit eight aces and converted five of his 13 break opportunities to beat the 66th-ranked Sugita in 52 minutes. Federer, an eight-time champion in Halle, continues his bid for his 16th grass-court title against Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who beat Slovakian quali-
fier Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-4. Kei Nishikori toiled for his opening grass-court victory of the year, beating Fernando Verdasco 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4. The thirdseeded Japanese player saved nine of the 10 break points he faced to win in under 2 1/2 hours for a second-round meeting against Karen Khachanov of Russia.