SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016
‘Tum Tum’ shines as a leader for Spartans By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LOURAWLS “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr has moved to the forefront as a leader for the Michigan State Spartans and in his upcoming junior year, head coach Tom Izzo expects him to have his greatest impact on the younger members of the programme. Following the Spartans’ first practice for the 2016-17 season, Izzo addressed a number of issues surrounding the team, highlighted by Nairn’s impact. “I think ‘Tum has been an unbelievable asset in a lot of different ways. Not only is he playing better, but he and Cassius (Winston) – there has been a bond there.
‘Tum’ has taken some guys have led the way. of those freshman unThat is why you never der his wing, just like want to forget them. Denzel (Valentine) Our current guys are did. Chemistry is – I appreciating it and I think you are going have seen big growth to hear from a lot of from our freshmen in people – it just keeps that area and I do give getting better here the ‘Tum’ a lot of credit. I last couple of years. think he has been inNot that it was ever credible.” bad, but it is reaching The Spartans ennew heights and that ter the season with is a positive,” he said. the No.3 recruiting LOURAWLS NAIRN “I think we have class in the country, built a damn good according to the final culture. And the culture is going rankings released in June by the to have its flaws and we are go- Recruiting Services Consensus Ining to go up and down a little bit dex. here and there. But, the culture The talented group of incoming is special and I think the guys are freshman includes five star swingbuying into it. I think our former men Miles Bridges and Joshua
Langford along with four star point guard Cassius Winston. Izzo was asked if one of his most highly touted incoming freshmen classes ever would cause fans to overlook Nairn this season. “I don’t know if overlooked would be a good word. I think he is appreciated by… It’ll be interesting the first time you interview Cassius to see what ‘Tum’ has done for him or even Miles or Josh (Langford). “So, that is part on the court, too. But, has his play been good? He is shooting it better. He is playing better. I think he played better because he is healthier,” he sai. “I think the biggest thing he has got to overcome now, believe it or not, is getting the confidence back. I
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‘Buddy Buckets’ welcomes All-Star 3-point challenge
NFL PICKS
Week 6, Pages 2 & 3
BAAA LAUNCHES ‘PROJECT QUICK RELIEF’ By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AS the restoration efforts for Hurricane Matthew continue throughout the Bahamas, one local sporting organisation has announced its effort to assist. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has established “Project Quick Relief,” a fund aimed at aiding persons in need on the affected islands. BAAAs president Rosamunde Carey began the fund with a donation of $500 and encourages all interested persons to deliver donations – whether monetary or essential supplies - to the BAAAs office at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium. BAAA public relations officer Phillip Gray said the federation saw fit to join the restoration effort immediately. “We wish to focus on monetary donations along with water, non-perishable food, clothing and athletic gear in excellent condition,” Gray said in a press release, “All checks should be made out to the fed-
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CHAMP STUART NAMED TO SCORPIONS ROSTER IN ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
NEW Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield interacts with children after a dedication ceremony for a NBA Cares Learn and Play Center at the Huangzhuang Migrant School in Beijing, China, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net hen the NBA announced that it was moving its 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Buddy Hield to leave his shooting mark on the weekend. While the Pelicans were in China taking on the Houston Rockets, Hield said he would welcome the challenge of competing in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest on All Star Weekend. “I want to be in the
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three-point shooting contest in New Orleans and if it’s possible I’d like to do it,” he said. “It’s a challenge to compete with Steph [Curry], Klay [Thompson] and all those guys. You’re competing with the best three-point shooters in the world.” The Golden State Warriors back court of Curry and Thompson have been the last two winners of the contest, winning in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Hield, the former Oklahoma Sooners guard drafted No.6 overall by the New Pelicans, was considered the top shooter in a recent NBA survey polling the league’s incoming rookie class.
Hield got nearly two thirds of the vote, 65.7 per cent, in response to the question. It was the most votes a player ever received for the best shooter question since Curry won 79 per cent of the vote in 2009. Known for his outside shooting, Hield’s senior season in Norman saw him average 25 points, 5.7 rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 50.1 per cent overall and 45.7 per cent from three-point range. In the preseason, Hield has averaged 17 points, 2.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 40 per cent from three, 53 per cent from the field. He finished score-
2ND ANNUAL RUN FOR POMPEY ON OCTOBER 29 THE second annual Run for Pompey, originally set for Georgetown, Exuma on October 8, has been rescheduled for October 29. “We made a decision on October 2 to reschedule because of the threat of Hurricane Matthew, not knowing what the impact of the storm would be on The Bahamas,” said Jeff Todd, race founder and director of communications for GIV Bahamas, the outreach arm of Grand Isle Villas. “Fortunately for Grand Isle, which is the host hotel, we are absolutely fine and in fact, we are open today. Everything has fallen into place for the event to be rescheduled for the end of this month, October 29. All of our sponsors have been notified, all of the entrants who are coming in from abroad are being notified, the official timing company was able to make it which
is critical for the quality of the events and our event patron Pauline Davis-Thompson was able to be with us that day. Now we will have more reason than ever to enjoy being together in a healthy, wholesome family environment with friends.” Todd said the organisers were also hoping that the rescheduled event would be a mini-boost to the Exuma economy following the closing of Sandals on property within walking distance of Grand Isle. Participants will have a choice of six options, a 2k ‘George Town Dash’ for youngsters or anyone who wants to take part, a 5k run/walk presented by BAF Financial with proceeds to go to cancer research, 10k half marathon for runners 16 and older, 42k marathon for 18 and older and a 50k ultra marathon, also for those 18 and older.
less in the finale in China, 0-4 from the field in 18 minutes. His numbers have improved since his Summer League performance in Las Vegas where he averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds through five games but struggled shooting at just 34 per cent from the field and 24 per cent from three-point range. In July, the NBA announced the decision to relocate its 2017 All Star Game from Charlotte to New Orleans due to the city’s controversial “bathroom law,” also known as HB2. New Orleans is slated to host the weekend during its midseason break February 17-19, 2017.
FORMER Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow may be grabbing all the headlines for the New York Mets in Fall League play, but Champ Stuart continues his rise in the organisation as well. Stuart was named to the roster of the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Offseason Arizona Fall League. The Scorpions have MLB affiliations with the Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. “Obviously it’s a privilege and honour to be here with the Mets. I’m just happy to be here, to put on a uniform again and be playing ball again. To play among the best in the minor leagues, it’s really fun right now,” Stuart told Adam Rubin of ESPN. The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in the minor leagues. In 2016 he had a season of several milestones includ-
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