Issuu

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

US OPEN, Page 5

Team Bahamas all set for League of Nations By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net fter watching the success of its beach soccer programme take off over the last few years, the Bahamas Football Association will now switch its attention back to its once vibrant grass soccer programme. The first step back to prominence will begin this weekend when the federation sends the men’s national soccer team off to Belize today to participate in the first game of the CONCACAF League of Nations. It’s a new national team competition platform designed to maximise the quality, quantity and frequency of competitive matches for all member associations and they are based on a league structure in which the national teams of the Confederation’s 41 member associations will be included. The teams will be divided into three different leagues – based on their sporting level – with a champion to be crowned at the end of each edition. Over the next six months, the Bahamas will eventually play a total of four matches, two of which will be at home. However, they will begin the League of Nations on the road this weekend and Larry Minns, the ambassador for football in the island nation, who has been selected as the manager of Team Bahamas, said they are ready for the journey. “This gives the smaller countries to bridge the gap against the bigger countries,” Minns said. “Normally we would go for 3-4 days and play a match and it’s over. This Nation’s Cup is every year. So it gives the smaller countries a chance to develop.” Team Bahamas will play Antigua and Barbuda in October and then they will play Anguilla, both here at home. Next year, the Bahamas will play their fourth game on the road in Guadeloupe against Dominica, who unfortunately won’t be able to host the game because of the effects of a hurricane. Team Bahamas will have a relatively young team, coached by Dion Godet, but Minns said they have some veterans who they will lean on to steer the ship as they play in the series of games. Making up the team, comprising of at least eight players who are playing overseas, are Chadwick Russell, 19, Mario Johnson, 16, Ian Lowe, 15, Valin Bodie, 23, Lesly St Fleur, 29, Marcel Joseph, 21, Terry Delancy, 24, Johnathan Miller, 20, Troy Pinder, 21, Isaiah Collie,

A DAY ON THE LINKS FOR 1ST GENERATION UB STUDENTS INAUGURAL PRESIDENT’S GOLF CLASSIC AND SPA DAY AT BAHA MAR

LESLY ST FLEUR

JOHNATHAN MILLER

DUANE BENEBY

TERRY DELANCY

IAN LOWE

ETHAN WILLIE

21, Jaelin Williams, 20, Duane Beneby, 25, Chris Rahming, 19 and Ethan Willie, 19. Beneby, making his third appearance on the men’s national soccer team, said the tournament is good for Team Bahamas because they haven’t played a game since 2015 when they faced Bermuda in the World Cup qualifier. “We’re looking at four matches over the next four-five months so that is really great for us,” Bodie stated. “I don’t think in our history of playing soccer that we would have played that much games in such a short space of time. So it’s giving us a lot of chances to get a lot more exposure, a lot more experience. This is a really young

team with the average age being about 21 with the oldest player being 28 and the youngest at 15.” Beneby, however, said they have a solid core of players that should represent the Bahamas very well and put up a good performance in Belize. “We have a handful of veterans, but the majority of the players are very young,” he said. “Some of their nerves might be on them, but we have a good mixture of veterans and youth to be able to pull us through and give a good representation of the country.” Bodie said they are looking at developing this team in a four-year programme, which should pay off dividends for them down the road

for the growth of football in the Bahamas. “For the past four years, we haven’t had a game,” Bodie said. “So we usually play a game, wait for four years and play another game. But this brings more growth to the sport. “Personally, I like how the federation is using the younger players but, at the same time, they are bringing in the more experienced players to help us out. It’s going to be important for us to grow up fast, not just for us, but for the country.” With players like Sturrup and St Fleur, the team captain, Bodie said

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas (UB) has forged a partnership with the Baha Mar Resort Foundation to host a day on the links to raise funding for first-generation university students and grow the university’s endowment as it strengthens connections with alumni, donors and friends. The University Endowment is to realise the vision of the University of The Bahamas for all time in the future. The inaugural UB President’s Golf Classic and Spa Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 3 at the Royal Blue Tavern Golf Course and the Caribbean’s first and only ESPA. Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice president of government and community relations, expressed his support of the partnership with UB and the upcoming fundraiser. “The pillars of the Baha Mar Resort Foundation are culture, community and conservation. We are dedicated to positively contributing to the future of young Bahamians and delighted to partner with University of The Bahamas for the UB President’s Golf Classic and Spa Day,” said Mr Sands. “We think that this is an excellent opportunity for partnership between the Baha Mar Resort Foundation and UB. We want to extend our sincere congratulations to the University for a very successful fundraiser and are excited to welcome everyone at Baha Mar’s Royal Blue Golf Course and ESPA on November 3. We also congratulate University of The Bahamas for executing this initiative and we look forward to a long term partnership for a number of these classics in the future,” he added. Dr Rodney D Smith, president of the University of The Bahamas, underscored the high value placed on preparing UB students for better lives in a global society through diverse cultural, educational and research-driven experiences. “We are creating a campus that is more diverse

SEE PAGE 3

Vincent Strachan elected president of BABF again By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOR the second time in four months, Vincent Strachan has been elected as the new president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation. This time, he did it with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) representative present. After the elections held in April were null and void because AIBA indicated that they had not given the federation consent, nor did they have a representative present, the elections were recalled and held at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture on Friday. While the elections were conducted by Roy Colebrook, a vice president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, AIBA was represented by Steven Jones from the Jamaica Amateur Boxing Federation

Strachan, who won the presidency post 7-3 over Ikenna Johnson during the initial elections held at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, won for the second time, beating Johnson and Ronn Rodgers. While he wasn’t surprised that the initial elections were null and void, Strachan said he expected the final outcome of the second elections. He won with five votes, Johnson had two and Rodgers finished with one. This is not Strachan’s first rodeo, having previously served as president from 1994-96, secretary in the late 70s for five years and as vice president on two occasions. Sherwin Johnson is the first vice president, collecting three votes to beat out Nathaniel Knowles and Dr Kent Bazard, who both had two votes. Pat Strachan won 6-0 over Jeannie

NEWLY elected president Vincent Strachan shakes hands with outgoing president Wellington Miller as Pat Strachan and Quincy Pratt look on. Minus for secretary general. Wellington Smith also won 6-0 over Dianne Miller for treasurer and the assistant secretary/treasurer is Anstisa Knowles from Lowe Sound, Andros. “It went as well as expected without a hitch. It was perfect,” said Strachan, who was accompanied by

Pat ‘the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan and Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt at a post election press conference yesterday at the Bahamas Olympic Committee office. “From the first election and even after, we were preparing to develop our core of officials and

coaches. We would also go ahead in preparing the best boxers we have for the Caribbean Games that is in December.” Additionally, Strachan said they have received an invitation from the Trinidad & Tobago Amateur Boxing Association to participate in their national tournament November 8-12. “So we are basically planning and, at the same time, I am looking to taking some of our local coaches and officials there for a brief course,” he said as he charted the way forward. “Normally they do these things at these events, so it would be good for us to take advantage of this, especially our Family Island persons, who need the development in their skills and broadening their horizons.” According to outgoing president Wellington Miller, Jones had to send in his report to AIBA and Strachan has to make an official

report so that the elections can be ratified. At the same time, Miller said he’s surely glad that the elections are now over and done with. “I think with the people elected, they will do a great job,” said Miller, who has vowed to continue to support the new administration.“Boxing is still the sport that I love. It has caused me to go around the world and I will never desert it, but I will be assisting from behind the scenes in whatever capacity that they need me to contribute.” Pat Strachan, who had indicated from the completion of the first election that Vincent Strachan was still the best man to run the organisation, said he’s happy to be able to work with him again. “Vincent has led this organisation before and so

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Top cyclists in the win column

RESULTS: BAHAMAS CYCLING FEDERATION’S NATIONAL TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THE BAHAMAS Cycling Federation hosted its National Time Trial Championship (22 miles) out west over the weekend. Overall Winners 1st - Lee Farmer (00:51:16) 2nd - Lorin Sawyer (00:52:25) 3rd - Kelly Kramp (00:57:17) Female Antoniece ‘Lilly’ Simmons (1:18:14) Junior Felix Neely (1:02:30) Senior 2 1st - Neil Morada (00:59:53) 2nd - Ragil Cordova (1:00:56) 3rd - Simone Bertaldo (1:00:59) 4th - Giles Sawyer (1:02:56) Masters 1st - Kenton Roker (00:59:17) 2nd - Jared Johnson (1:00:18) 3rd - Justin Pinder (1:02:00) 4th - Cassidy Sawyer (1:02:57) 5th - Mark Davies (1:03:10)

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, PAGE 3

Kaepernick’s Nike deal prompts flurry of debate By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer AN endorsement deal between Nike and Colin Kaepernick prompted a flood of debate Tuesday as sports fans reacted to the apparel giant backing an athlete known mainly for starting a wave of protests among NFL players of police brutality, racial inequality and other social issues. The deal unveiled by Nike and the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was a trending topic on Twitter and other social networks, with some fans urging a boycott of the company’s clothes and sneakers — even burning and cutting out the signature swoosh logos on their gear. Others pushed back, saying the backlash against Nike showed the polarizing debate has morphed well beyond whether NFL players should be allowed to demonstrate for social causes while the national anthem plays in stadiums before games. The league itself weighed in Tuesday afternoon with an executive saying the social issues Kaepernick has raised are valid. “We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful, positive change in our communities,” said Jocelyn Moore, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs. “The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action.”

Moore’s statement was paired with a detailed breakdown of things players and league executives have done together to learn about and address social issues, including community meetings, lobbying and financially supporting local programs. On Twitter, country music star John Rich posted a picture of one of his crew members holding the tops of a cut pair of Nike socks, with the caption: “Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions.” The tweet garnered about 10,000 retweets and 30,000 likes, plus thousands of critical comments. Rich, part of the duo Big & Rich and a former contestant of President Donald Trump’s reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice,” said he supported the right to protest but Nike lost his support when it endorsed Kaepernick. Mixed martial arts fighter Elias Theodorou, a UFC middleweight, tweeted a widely shared picture of the Nike logo with a meme that read: “Instead of throwing away your Nike gear give to one of the millions of homeless veterans you pretend to care about.” Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said: “I hope other corporations follow (Nike’s) example.” San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, tweeted: “Proud to be an @usnikefootball athlete. Stand for something or fall for anything. Few moments in history has that been more true!” Trump, a frequent critic of protesting NFL players,

FROM PAGE 1

IN this file photo, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, California. (AP) said Tuesday in an interview with the Daily Caller that he thinks it’s a “terrible message” for Nike to use Kaepernick in ads, but that it’s their decision whether to use the quarterback. “I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it,” Trump said, adding it’s “a message that shouldn’t be sent.” Trump said it’s ultimately a business decision for Nike. “In another way, it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it,” he said. Trump has loudly urged the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem, repeatedly diving into what has developed into one of the most contentious debates in sports. Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that was set to expire, but it was

renegotiated into a multiyear deal to make him one of the faces of Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign, according to a person familiar with the contract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Nike hasn’t officially announced the contract. The person said Nike will feature Kaepernick on several platforms, including billboards, television commercials and online ads. Nike also will create an apparel line for Kaepernick, including a signature shoe, and contribute to his Know Your Rights charity, the person said. The deal puts Kaepernick in the top bracket of NFL players with Nike. Nike also provides all NFL teams with game day uniforms and sideline apparel, a partnership that was extended in March to run through 2028. Last week, Kaepernick scored a legal victory in his grievance against the NFL and its 32 teams when an arbitrator allowed his

case to continue to trial. The quarterback claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests. His case hinges on whether owners worked together rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick. A similar grievance is still pending by former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, a Pro Bowl safety who joined in the protests. Meanwhile, the league and players union still haven’t resolved whether players will be punished this season if they choose to kneel or demonstrate during the national anthem. Owners approved a policy requiring players to stand if they are on the sideline during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” allowing them to stay off the field if they wish. But the league and union put that on hold after the Miami Dolphins faced backlash for classifying the protests as conduct potentially detrimental to the team — putting players at risk of fines or suspensions.

GOLF Classic organising committee members with Baha Mar Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations Robert Sands, University President Dr Rodney D Smith and Director of Development and Golf Classic Organizing Co-Chair Peter Mitchell pose following a press conference to announce the inaugural President’s Golf Classic and Spa Day on Saturday, November 3.

INAUGURAL PRESIDENT’S GOLF CLASSIC & SPA DAY FROM PAGE 1 and developing a comprehensive study abroad programme. A part of this diversity is exposing our students to a wider array of athletics, like sailing and golf. All of this is essential for the development of a first-class institution that will have national impact and it requires significant investment. For the university to grow in a consequential way, we must forge lasting publicprivate partnerships, and together we can build our national university. Baha Mar is one such partner,

CONCACAF: BAHAMAS ALL SET FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS

and they believe that an investment in education is one of the smartest for the development and success of our country,” Dr Smith noted. A vital catalyst for national development, UB has achieved significant milestones since its charter on November 10, 2016 as it grows to become a world-class institution. Cultivating an environment for philanthropy while raising the profile of the institution remains of paramount importance. Peter Mitchell, director of development and UB Golf Classic

organising co-chair, and his team are working to ensure the golf tournament is successful and the lives of students are transformed as a result. “We are sanctioned by the Bahamas Golf Federation and encourage all members to join us at the President’s Golf Classic and Spa Day. Additionally, we welcome the generous support of all UB alumni, friends and partners of this great institution. The tournament itself will be entertaining and engaging. We envision it to being an event which will build

new friendships and partnerships. Patrons can enjoy a challenging day at Baha Mar’s Royal Blue Golf Course or persons who do not necessarily play golf can relax and calm the spirit, the mind, body and soul at the Caribbean’s first and only ESPA,” he said. On the green, individuals or teams will compete for top prizes including a hole-in-one competition for a 2018 Five Series BMW. To register a team or for corporate sponsorship information call, 302-4013 or 302-4337 or email, ubgolfclassic@ub.edu.bs

they will be relying on their strength which is their defence and once they can hold their own, he feels that their offence will come through. And Rahming, who is home on a break from England, said based on the training that they have gone through in preparation for the games, they will do very well, despite being such a young team. “I think over the summer we have grown together,” he said. “We will be playing to our strength, which is our speed and defence. So if we play to our advantage, I feel we will do very well.” Although they have a number of players overseas, Rahming said they can assure the Bahamian public that they should “not sleep on us.” Garry Markham, the BFA’s technical director, said they have spent the past three months putting the team together and with this being the Bahamas’ first game in three years, it will be a challenge, but one that he’s confident that they will overcome. “We’re in an ironic position in that a lot of our guys are away in college and the beauty of that is that they are on scholarships and that is because they are playing soccer,” he said. “So bringing them back is a short-term process, but we have four games coming up and this one first will be a test. But they have been working hard and are fitness tough to do very well in Belize.” As a young team, the expectations are not as high as it would be if it was a more experienced team. But Markham said the good thing is that they will get to gel together from the bottom and move up to the top as a uniformed group, which is good for the Bahamas. Through this tournament, Markham said they hope to get better and the players are aware of that and once that all comes together, the Bahamas will be able to resurge to the top of the chart again. “You can’t deny the fact that beach soccer has really helped to boost the sport in the Bahamas,” Markham said. “But our aim now is to get grass soccer back and we hope this is a step in the right direction with this young team that we have assembled for the CONCACAF League of Nations. “We can compete on both beach and grass, but we want to get the whole nation to start playing football as a whole and we know that we will be able to achieve that, once we can get both playing at a high level on the international scene.”

Vincent Strachan elected president of BABF again FROM PAGE 1 he has the experience to lead the organisation again,” Strachan pointed out. “I am behind him 110 per cent and I hope that the members of the boxing fraternity will now accept the results of the elections and throw their support behind the president. “It was above board, conducted by the Bahamas Olympic Committee and so we need to throw this ‘me mentality’ out of the sport. It’s not about me or Vincent, but it’s about providing an opportunity

to help amateur boxing to make a comeback.” Under the new returning president, Strachan said they hope to take boxing to unprecedented heights over the next four years. “We need to become more unselfish in the sport of amateur boxing,” he said. “Persons in the sport need to support the president. We live in a small country. There is only so many fighters and for amateur boxing to move forward, we need everyone to get on board.” And Pratt, now sitting on the board for the first time as a director, said he’s happy that Strachan has been re-elected because

although there are some people who criticised him, they should look into their own closet. “I ran with Mr Strachan because he’s the best man for the job,” Pratt pointed out. “There are many reasons why I think he’s the best man for the job because he has amateur boxing at heart. He along with former president Wellington Miller are the men responsible for me being here today. These guys put their neck on the line for me and I believe this is the best team to take amateur boxing forward.” As they move forward, Pratt said he hopes that

they can create more boxing gyms in the communities throughout the country because it’s certainly a way to help save the lives of more of our young men. “Mr Strachan has the drive for this sport,” Pratt stated. “Everybody just needs to let him run the association for the next four years and if they have a problem when he does, they can come back and run in the next elections.” Pratt, a former amateur and professional boxer, said he has been trying to get his Eastside Amateur Boxing Club back up and running and all he’s looking forward

to is being provided with a building where he can house his club. Strachan said eventually they hope to influx the inner city with boxing clubs that will be named after some of the prominent amateur boxers and coaches who have made their contributions to the sport, including Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller. One of the things as they move forward, according to Strachan, is to take the sport back to its glory days when they carried full teams of 20 or more competitors to compete and so he’s urging the Family Islands to get their boxers ready so

that they can continue the legacy that the Bahamas has produced. “We will be setting our zones where we will have boxers competing for their zones among themselves,” he said. “Then we will set up the national amateur boxing championships where the winners will come together and compete. “It will be almost a week of activities because we will also have our general meeting, our tournament and we will close out with an honourary banquet where we honour boxers, coaches, officials, journalists and persons who supported the sport over the years as fans.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

JIM FURYK, left, US Ryder Cup team captain, listens to a question with his captain’s picks, from second from left, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods during a news conference. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

TIGER WOODS RETURNS TO THE RYDER CUP AS A WILD CARD By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, golf’s most prominent players for more than two decades, never realised the Ryder Cup would mean so much. For Woods, it’s the culmination of a comeback that began in January after a fourth surgery on his lower back. For Mickelson, more than setting a record by playing his 12th Ryder Cup, the 48-year-old gets what he believes will be his last chance to capture that gold trophy away from home. US captain Jim Furyk added them to his team Monday evening as wildcard selections, along with Bryson DeChambeau. Woods agreed to be a vice captain in late February, and he set a goal to be in Paris September 28-30 as a player. “It’s incredible, it really is, to look back at the

start of the year and now to have accomplished a goal like that,” Woods said. “To be a part of this team, and now to be a player is just ... beyond special.” Mickelson had qualified for every team since 1995, a streak that ended this year when he finished No. 10 in the standings. His 12th appearance breaks the Ryder Cup record held by Nick Faldo. Mickelson has only been on three winning teams — at Brookline in 1999, Valhalla in 2008 and two years ago at Hazeltine. His last time overseas was at Gleneagles, where he infamously closed out a losing press conference by questioning captain Tom Watson and the direction the PGA of America was taking the US team. That led to sweeping changes in the US structure, mainly by giving players a stronger voice. “This is mostly likely my last chance to go over to

Europe and to be a part of a winning US team in Europe. We haven’t done that in 25 years,” Mickelson said. “I set out this year on really a strong commitment and journey to get on the team. I got off to a great start this year. It’s been a really good year, and although I fell just shy of making it on points, it feels great to be a part of this team and serve this team in any way I can.” Furyk still has one more captain’s pick he will announce on Monday after the BMW Championship, and it might not be as easy as this one. “Not that it was an easy decision,” Furyk said with a smile. “But it could have been a lot more difficult.” Woods and Mickelson were logical choices. Woods briefly had the lead Sunday in the British Open until he tied for sixth, and he shot a career-best final round of 64 to finish second in the PGA Championship. Mickelson

won another World Golf Championship in March, though he hasn’t seriously contended since then. DeChambeau narrowly missed out on one of the eight automatic spots by missing the cut at the PGA Championship, and the 24-year-old Californian knew he had to show Furyk some form in the three weeks before the picks were announced. He won the first FedEx Cup playoff event by four shots. He won the next FedEx Cup playoff event by two shots. “I wanted to be a part of this experience so badly that I worked twice as hard,” DeChambeau said. “And it showed, and it paid off.” Tony Finau is believed to be the leading candidate for 12th and final spot. Furyk invited him as part of a small group that played Le Golf National on the weekend before the British Open. Finau tied a PGA

Championship record with 10 birdies in the second round while playing with Furyk. During the FedEx Cup playoffs, he was runner-up at one event and tied for fourth at the other. European captain Thomas Bjorn announces his wild-card selections today, with Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey among the likely picks. Still to be determined was whether former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs, gets a nod. The eight Americans who qualified on their own were Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed. Throw in Woods and Mickelson, and that gives the US team a lineup that has combined for 31 majors. That doesn’t mean as much in foursomes and

fourballs, on a European course before the singing and chanting of Europeans fans. “We’re heading over into foreign soil,” Furyk said. “It’s going to be an interesting crowd. They are boisterous, I have a lot of respect for them and we are looking for players that we thought would handle that situation well and would thrive, love the challenge. And naming these three players, that’s what we’ve done.” Woods will no longer be a vice captain, though Furyk said he would continue to lean on his advice. Woods was an assistant at Hazeltine and at the Presidents Cup last fall at Liberty National. Furyk picked former world No. 1 David Duval to replace Woods. Furyk also said Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar would fill out his lineup of vice captains, joining Davis Love III and Steve Stricker.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, PAGE 5

Defending champion Stephens knocked out of the US Open By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — First, there were four break points squandered, along with an early chance for the lead. Next, three more wasted. Pretty soon, Sloane Stephens’ run at a US Open repeat was lost too. The defending champion was eliminated yesterday, beaten by Anastasija Sevastova 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals. “I didn’t play the big points well, and you don’t win matches when you don’t take your opportunities,” Stephens said. Stephens beat Sevastova in the same round last year en route to her first Grand Slam title, but she missed numerous chances to grab an early lead in the rematch and could never get back into the match. Sevastova, the No. 19 seed from Latvia, will play either Serena Williams or 2016 US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova in her first Grand Slam semi-final. That’s further than it ever appeared Sevastova would get in tennis when she retired in May 2013, her body battered by muscular and back-related injuries. She returned nearly two years later and finally broke through on her third straight appearance in the US Open quarter-finals. “It was an amazing journey, this three, four years,” she said. Three-quarters of Arthur Ashe Stadium was in the sun on another day of more than 90-degree temperatures (32.2 degrees Celsius) in New York, and Stephens seemed to lack some of her usual sideline-to-sideline court coverage in the heat. Stephens said she had been battling a cold, but

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA, left, of Latvia, shakes hands with Sloane Stephens yesterday after their quarterfinals of the US Open tennis tournament. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) her biggest problem Tuesday might have been her serve. The No. 3 seed was broken five times in the 84-minute match. “Mentally, physically, I just wasn’t connecting,” Stephens said. “It just was a really tough day. The heat doesn’t make it any more fun.” Stephens, one of the best defenders in the game, squandered all seven break-point chances in the first set, missing out a chance for early momentum during a lengthy

third game of the match. She couldn’t convert four chances to break in that game that lasted 18 points, and Sevastova then quickly broke her for a 3-1 lead. Stephens then couldn’t convert three more chances in the next game, and never got another in the first set. Her frustration became apparent, whether she was gesturing to her coach, staring in annoyance at deep balls that bounced off the baseline, or just screaming out in general. “I’m trying!” she responded to a plea from

the crowd to pick it up in the second set. She did eventually get close, breaking Sevastova at love to cut it to 4-3 in the second set. But Sevastova broke right back during another lengthy game, this one lasting 14 points, and soon it was over — but not before Stephens made a pretty good run at becoming the first repeat champion since Williams won three in a row from 2012-14. “So the fact that I made it to the quarter-finals and played some really good

matches and I just competed as hard as I could, I mean, a lot to be proud of,” Stephens said. “And obviously defending a title is very hard, very difficult.” Williams could still give the US at least one women’s semifinalist after Stephens won an all-American final four last year. Pliskova is the last player to beat her in Flushing Meadows, a victory in the 2016 semi-finals before Williams missed the tournament last year, when she gave birth to her daughter.

2009 US Open champ del Potro, heat stop Isner in quarter-finals By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — John Isner doubled over and rested his elbows on his knees. He grimaced. He shook his head. He looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but where he was: Falling further and further behind against Juan Martin del Potro in muggy, energyrobbing heat at the US Open. Isner’s bid to become the first American man in a dozen years to get to the final four at Flushing Meadows ended yesterday with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss in Arthur Ashe Stadium to No. 3 seed del Potro, the Argentine who won the 2009 championship. The temperature, more than 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius), made things uncomfortable across the 3½-hour match. So did the humidity, at about 50 per cent. Those kinds of conditions were a problem for Roger Federer when he was upset by 55th-ranked John Millman a night earlier, and Isner had all kinds of trouble, too — certainly more than del Potro did. Things got so bad around the site that the tournament suspended junior matches for a few hours in the afternoon. The US Tennis Association invoked its new extreme heat policy, which allows men to take a 10-minute break after the third set, but that clearly didn’t help Isner, who quickly trailed 3-0 in the fourth. Del Potro said he took a shower and retaped his ankles during the rest period between sets. “And then I lay down on the table,” he added with a grin, “and I don’t want to come back again.” This has been something of a breakthrough season

INDIANS’ KIPNIS ON MOVE TO OUTFIELD: ‘I’VE GOT A JOB TO DO’

at age 33 for Isner, including two hard-court titles and a run to his first Grand Slam semi-final, which happened at Wimbledon in July. He followed that up by getting to the quarterfinals in New York for the first time since 2011; no man from the US has made it past this stage at this tournament since Andy Roddick in 2006, three years after he became the country’s most recent male champion at any major. But del Potro presented all sorts of problems. His serve is almost as imposing as Isner’s, while other elements of del Potro’s game — returns and, most notably, his thunderous forehand, which often clocks in at more than 100 mph (160 kph) — are superior. On this afternoon, del Potro played particularly clean tennis, making only 14 unforced errors, less than a third as many as Isner’s 52. And while Isner was playing before what could count as a home crowd, del Potro got all manner of support throughout, from the blue-and-white flags or soccer jerseys dotting the stands to the repeated singsong chants of his nickname, “delPo,” punctuated by clapping. Those choruses resonated in the arena after key points, such as each time del Potro erased one of Isner’s break chances, three in all. Still, it was Isner who struck first, closing the opening tiebreaker with a 132 mph (212 kph) ace down the middle. That was the first set dropped by del Potro in the tournament. He managed to take the next three, though, and now will face either defending champion and No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal or No. 9 Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals on Friday. Nadal-Thiem was

JUAN Martin del Potro, of Argentina, reacts after winning a set yesterday against John Isner in the quarter-finals of the US Open tennis tournament. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) scheduled for later last night. Nadal has won 11 of 16 past matchups against del Potro, including the past three, each at a Grand Slam tournament: in the semi-finals of last year’s US Open, the semi-finals of the French Open in June and a five-set thriller in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July. Del Potro vs. Isner pivoted early in the second set. Isner’s striped shirt and backward white hat were soaked with sweat. He

kept puffing his cheeks and taking deep breaths between points. He was looking up to his coaches a lot, too. Worst of all, Isner began to take some half-swings; when he pushed a forehand wide, he got broken to trail 3-1. At the changeover a game later, Isner plopped himself down in his seat. He pulled off his cap and tossed it aside. Same with his two wristbands. Yanked off his dripping shirt, balled it up, and discarded that, too, sitting

shirtless but with an iced towel around his neck. It was as if the heat suddenly hit him and hit him hard, as if the strength that would help him finish with 26 aces was gone and there was nothing left to give. He would continue, of course, and kept things close in the third set, but never truly threatened to prevent del Potro from reaching a sixth Grand Slam semi-final, third at the US Open. “An epic match,” del Potro called it. “We’re both tired in the end.”

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis has been in this position before. That’s the positive. That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it. Kipnis took fly balls in centre field yesterday as he transitioned from playing second base after the Indians acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson in a trade last week from the Toronto Blue Jays. Donaldson’s arrival — he’s currently on the disabled list with a calf injury — has caused an infield shift. Jose Ramirez is moving from third to second, dispatching Kipnis into the outfield. The former All-Star made a similar move last September, but those were different circumstances as Kipnis was coming off the disabled list and the Indians were thin in the outfield because of injuries. This time, Kipnis is being moved to accommodate a star who may help the Indians reach the World Series. And Kipnis has struggled all season. “I’m not going to make it about me this year,” Kipnis said before starting Tuesday’s game against Kansas City at second. “I understand what he can bring to the table and I’m hoping he does it. I’m excited for this team and this organisation. I understand where they’re coming from and I understand that I probably put us in this situation with not having the year I’m capable of having. “It’s a little bit of cause and effect. But I’ve got a job to do. I show up every day and work hard and if that means switching positions, I’m switching positions. I look forward to most challenges. I’m excited to get going.” Donaldson worked out with the Indians after playing one game for Triple-A Columbus. Donaldson was placed on the disabled list Monday so he could rehab in the minors, and he hit a grand slam in the Clippers’ final game. Donaldson will resume his rehab stint with DoubleA Akron. The 2015 AL MVP is eligible to be activated on September 11. Kipnis could get some playing time in centre before Donaldson is ready. He played 11 of Cleveland’s final 12 regular-season games there last year and started all five playoff games in the outfield. “I actually have some legs under me,” said Kipnis, who is batting .226 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. “Having some kind of starting point to fall back on now is nice. We’re not just starting from eight years scratch or something like that. Do I love it? No. But I don’t have to love it. That’s the part. I’ve got a job to do. It’s OK as long as all of our goals are the same and that’s to win a World Series for this city and this organisation, then you’re not really going to hear too many problems from me.” But unlike last year, Kipnis has to earn any playing time. Greg Allen has played in 70 games, and he’s better defensively than Kipnis. Indians manager Terry Francona explained to Kipnis that nothing will be given to him. “We feel like we’re a better team when Kip’s playing well,” Francona said. “I told him, ‘You have to be our best option out there. And I told Greg the same thing.’ It’s a little unsettling. It’s a guy — I’ve known Kip for six years now. He’s been a guy that we’ve depended on. Now, all of a sudden you’re having a conversation with him that’s probably not exactly what he wants to hear, so it’s not the funnest thing in the world.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, PAGE 7

Soccer’s new complex competition kicks off Thursday By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Soccer’s newest competition kicks off this week in Europe with few knowing all the details of a complex format. The UEFA Nations League certainly will get off to a good start: Germany hosts World Cup champion France on Thursday, England faces Spain on Saturday, Portugal plays Italy on Monday and Spain takes on Croatia on Tuesday. In simple terms, the competition involves all 55 European national teams, playing in small groups and separated into four tiers using promotion and relegation, and produces a champion at a mini-tournament next June. It will also award at least one place at the 2020 European Championship to one of the lowest-ranked teams on the continent. Because of the Nations League, traditional qualifying for Euro 2020 will start in March instead of the

usual September following a World Cup. UEFA believes all its member federations are getting something they like. Top-ranked nations want to play each other; the middle teams want winnable competitive games; low-ranked nations want hope of reaching major tournaments. The North American soccer region now has its own version, while UEFA also designed a global version for about 220 teams which FIFA already has plans to adopt.

EURO 2020 QUALIFYING The Nations League pushes back Euro 2020 qualifying into 2019, and affects the 10 groups to be drawn on December 2 in Dublin. Top-tier teams going to the Final Four must be in one of the five smaller groups of five teams. That clears their June schedule for the mini-tournament. The other five Euro 2020 qualifying groups have six teams, using all the FIFA dates to play 10 games from next March through November. The top two teams in each qualifying group automatically advance to Euro 2020. The remaining four places in the 24-team lineup will be decided in Nations League playoffs.

UEFA hopes promotion of group winners and relegation of last-place teams up and down the four Nations League tiers will keep it dynamic. GROUP STAGE Groups of three or four teams play home and away on the usual national-team match dates protected by FIFA. Teams in the top-two tiers — League A and B, each with four groups of three nations — still have dates free for friendlies against teams like Brazil and Argentina. Lower-ranked teams are all booked up in the fourteam groups of Leagues C and D.

DIDIER DESCHAMPS, coach of France’s soccer team. At least one League D team — possibly Azerbaijan, Belarus or Luxembourg, for instance — will qualify for Euro 2020.

WHAT IS THE NATIONS LEAGUE? A group stage involving 55 teams playing in four levels — Leagues A, B, C and D — from this week until November; a Final Four mini-tournament in June 2019 for the group winners of League A; playoffs in March 2020 in all four tiers to fill the last four Euro 2020 qualifying places. The last detail is the incentive for European soccer’s smaller teams.

WHY CREATE IT? Few people seemed to like international friendlies which “really don’t interest anybody,” then-UEFA president Michel Platini said when launching the Nations League in March 2014. Plus, the biennial format should be good for business. “These matches are relevant for every single market so you optimize in each market,” UEFA marketing director GuyLaurent Epstein has said.

FINAL FOUR The four group winners from League A advance to a Final Four to decide the Nations League champion. The semi-finals, thirdplace game and final will be played in one nation from June 5-9. The host will be the winner of the ItalyPoland-Portugal group.

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny with a shower or two

Partly cloudy with a shower or two

Periods of sun with a shower or two

A passing shower in the afternoon

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Abundant sunshine

High: 88°

Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 76°

High: 88° Low: 76°

High: 89° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

98° F

83° F

96°-86° F

98°-85° F

98°-86° F

99°-85° F

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: 86° F/30° C Low: 81° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7‑14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.11” Year to date ............................................... 38.50” Normal year to date ................................... 25.67”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

KEY WEST

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

ANDROS

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

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

3:58 a.m. 4:41 p.m.

2.8 3.5

10:11 a.m. 0.5 11:11 p.m. 0.7

Thursday

5:04 a.m. 5:42 p.m.

2.9 3.6

11:17 a.m. 0.3 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Friday

6:06 a.m. 6:39 p.m.

3.1 3.8

12:10 a.m. 0.5 12:18 p.m. 0.1

Saturday

7:03 a.m. 7:33 p.m.

3.3 3.8

1:05 a.m. 1:16 p.m.

Sunday

7:57 a.m. 8:23 p.m.

3.5 3.8

1:55 a.m. 0.0 2:11 p.m. ‑0.1

Monday

8:48 a.m. 9:13 p.m.

3.7 3.8

2:44 a.m. ‑0.1 3:04 p.m. ‑0.1

Tuesday

9:38 a.m. 10:01 p.m.

3.7 3.6

3:31 a.m. ‑0.1 3:55 p.m. 0.0

0.2 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:52 a.m. 7:25 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:17 a.m. 4:11 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Sep. 9

Sep. 16

Sep. 24

Oct. 2

CAT ISLAND

POTENTIAL LOSERS Top European clubs who liked to keep star players out of national team squads for friendlies are not delighted with extra competitive games on the calendar. Even if national teams are not desperate to win the Nations League, the threat of relegation should mean strong teams are fielded. Brazil, Argentina and other non-European nations also have fewer options for lucrative friendlies, especially in 2019.

EURO 2020 PLAYOFFS In March 2020, each Nations League tier will have a four-team playoff bracket with the winner advancing to Euro 2020. Playoffs will be for teams that failed to earn a direct

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

Euro 2020 entry through the qualifying groups. Playoff entries will go to Nations League group winners, or teams with the next-best record. The League A playoffs could be filled by League B teams because most top-tier teams will advance through the traditional qualifying format. The Euro 2020 draw will be in April, just a few weeks before the tournament begins in Rome.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

7‑14 knots

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

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS NE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 83° F 84° F 83° F

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

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

AUTO INSURANCE

MARINE INSURANCE

www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE

PRESS BOX Y T H G

WITH

U A N

LIVEN UP YOUR SUNDAY WITH SPORTING WIT AND WISDOM FROM KISS FM’S RESIDENT ’SPORTS JOCK’ NAUGHTY TUNE IN TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORT

EVERY SUNDAY - 10AM TO 1PM