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SPORTS SECTION E

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

Tiger’s on par for a Hero comeback

2018 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS WILL NOT FEATURE A LOCAL PLAYER By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

season in Single A baseball with the Kane County Cougars in the Midwestern League’s Western Division. He played in just 29 games - hit .248 with, three stolen bases, slugging .358, an on-base percentage of .325, an OPS of .683, 12 RBI and one home run. His scouting report reads: “Chisholm makes hard contact consistently from the left side of the plate and has some loft in his swing. That can be dangerous, as the organisation does not want him to focus on power, believing it will come naturally as he develops. He does need to refine his pitch recognition and strike zone discipline, which will make him an even more effective hitter. He has all the tools to stick at shortstop longterm, with great hands and

THE 2018 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis will not feature a local player on the floor for the first time in several years, but one of the eight schools in the field still has a Bahamian connection in the administration. The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders, led by President Dr Sidney McPhee, will make another trip to the Bahamas for one of its sporting programmes. It will be the third time McPhee’s Blue Raiders have competed in the Bahamas following a pair of trips in 2015 for the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Summer of Thunder and the Bahamas Bowl. The remainder of the 2018 field will also include the Wisconsin Badgers (Big 10), Florida Gators (SEC), Virginia Cavaliers (ACC), Butler Bulldogs (Big East), Dayton Flyers (Atlantic 10), Stanford Cardinal (Pac 12) and Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12). Six of those teams were in last season’s NCAA Tournament, and five B4A participants in previous editions. Stanford appeared in 2012 and ultimately finished in fifth place with a 1-2 record. Butler, Oklahoma, Florida and Wisconsin all competed in the 2014 event. Wisconsin was the eventual champion when they defeated Buddy Hield and the Sooners in the title game. Butler finished in third place while Florida ended up sixth. McPhee was born in Mayaguana before he moved to Nassau and graduated from the former Highbury High School, now the RM Bailey Secondary School. As the president of the largest university in the state of Tennessee for nearly two decades, McPhee served on the NCAA Board of Directors and the NCAA Executive Committee. His list of accolades in the post includes growth at both the academic and athletic level for the institution. According to the MTSU website, “McPhee’s presidency, which began in 2001, also coincided with more than $700m in improvements in academic, athletic and campus facilities - either proposed, under construction or completed.

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BIG RETURN: Tiger Woods says he will be playing in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this week. (AP) By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

he third edition of the Hero World Challenge is set to tee off at the Albany resort in just a few days, once again featuring some of the top ranked golfers on the PGA Tour competing in the Bahamas. Pawan Munjal, chairman, managing director and CEO of Hero Motocorp, officially opened the week-long list of activities surrounding the event alongside host, Tiger Woods.

“Always a pleasure to be out here in these pristine conditions out there. I had a chance to play a little bit of golf yesterday, loved it. I wish I had played with [with Tiger] yesterday and I would be in a better position to tell you all how he’s playing,” Munjal said. “Hero is very happy to be associated with the Tiger Woods Foundation. Now it’s been four years. It sounds like such a long time. Since the time we came to the Bahamas, we’ve all had a great time here. It’s great to have Tiger make his comeback once again at the Hero World Challenge. When I talk about having Tiger back at

the event, when I look at the field, it’s a tremendous field. Only 18 pros play, but what a great mix of international pros. “The top-8 of the top-10 of the PGA Tour, and then we have five Europeans, we have a Japanese. Makes a great television show. Great for Hero, great for the event, great for golf.” The invitation-only event will feature an elite field of top-ranked golfers competing for a $3.5 million prize purse. The Hero World Challenge allows Woods - the 41-year-old golf icon who has been hampered by a fluctuating injury status - an

opportunity to return at his own event among a select field. “I’m just looking forward to getting through these four rounds and having an understanding, a better understanding of where I’m at. I don’t know where I’m at. What I mean by that is I don’t know how hard I can hit it, what shots can I play. It’s supposed to blow this weekend and if it blows 30 miles an hour, I’m going to have to hit some shots. I’m going to have to lean on a few and take something off of it, hit some shots, some creative ones. I may have to blast a

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MLB teams add Bahamian rookie prospects By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MAJOR League Baseball Clubs added players to their 40-man rosters to protect them from next month’s Rule 5 Draft and with that came an updated list of rookie prospects in each team’s pipeline. Kristian Robinson and Trent Deveaux were featured among the top prospects for their respective teams for the first time since they were signed during July’s International Signing period while Jazz Chisholm and Lucius Fox continue to progress further up the ranks. According to MLB scouting, to be eligible for the lists, a player must have rookie eligibility. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or

50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list. The MLB Players grades on a 20-80 scale for future tools - 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Robinson is listed as the No.20 rookie prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks with an overall grade of 45. His scouting grades include Hit:50, Power:55, Run:60, Arm:45 and Field:50. His scouting report suggests the 6’3” 190 pound 16-year-old projects as a premier outfielder with his progression through the minor leagues. “Robinson is a physical specimen

ROBINSON

DEVEAUX

with tools and upside. A terrific athlete, Robinson has plus speed and has shown an ability to get good reads and take good routes on defence. His arm is currently playable in centre, with some feeling he might eventually fit the profile of an athletic right fielder. That will certainly be true if he can tap into his raw power consistently as he develops. He needs to work on recognising

breaking and offspeed stuff in order to get there. Scouts love his makeup, giving him a good chance to be a breakout star from this international class.” Jazz Chisholm is ranked No.7 in the Diamonbacks pipeline, also with an overall grade of 45. His breakdown includes Hit: 50, Power: 40, Run: 50, Arm: 50, Field: 55. A torn meniscus cut short Chisholm’s debut

Ahoy! PM Thunderbird is eligible to sail, minister rules By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net FOLLOWING

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meeting of boat owners ahead of the 2nd Annual Best of The Best regatta, which kicks off in Montagu Bay on Thursday, December 7, the “PM Thunderbird” has been ruled eligible and will be sailing in its A-Class races. The ruling was handed down by Minister of Agriculture & Marine Resources Renward Wells during a special meeting held November 23 to settle the matter that has been ongoing for almost a year. Boat owners had concerns about the design eligibility of the “PM Thunderbird”, however, owner Rev Philip McPhee made a number of structural changes. The ruling by Minister Wells, however, only allows the boat to race in the Best of the Best regatta, and advised all owners that other regatta committees would have to make their own rulings provided the boat was in

THE “PM Thunderbird” has been ruled eligible and is expected to set sail in the A-Class races of the 2nd Annual Best of The Best Regatta in Montagu Bay on December 7. compliance with their rules. The minister’s ruling is final. Addressing the boat owners, Minister Wells reaffirmed his commitment as minister responsible

for regattas in The Bahamas to have the sport elevated to becoming the official national sport. However, he strongly encouraged the owners to focus less on

personalities and more on their mutual goals for the sport and its place in the Bahamian cultural and sporting identity. The minister pledged his commitment to settling a number of outstanding concerns presented by the sailors for the good of the sport and stated that he expects full participation from the boat owners in the upcoming clash. More than 54 boats from around The Bahamas are expected to compete in the A, B and C class races. The weekend will also be the backdrop for the Star Sailors League’s season finale with sailors in that style of sailing arriving from around the globe to the capital this week. At least 50 world class sailors will be here for that event which will also feature a number of Olympic gold medallists in action.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, November 29, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Column: Woods is back, but maybe not the guy on TV By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods couldn’t have scored more points with his two children than when he took them to Miami this summer to watch Barcelona in a friendly, and then arranged for them to meet Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the locker room. He described it as a surreal moment to watch his kids in awe of their soccer heroes, especially Messi, their favourite. It was a reminder of his own place in the world of sport when he said to daughter Sam, “Isn’t it neat to meet a living legend?” Sam’s reply: “Yeah. We live with one.” “I never thought my kids have understood what I’ve been able to do in the game because they always think I’m the ‘YouTube’ golfer,” Woods said yesterday. “They’ve never seen me in action.” His son, Charlie, was 4 when Woods won the Bridgestone Invitational for his 79th — and still his last — victory on the PGA Tour. “Most of the stuff they’ve seen has been on highlight packages,” Woods said. “I want them to see

COMEBACK FROM PAGE 1

know yet. I don’t know what the future entails in that regard because I’m still learning this body.” Woods had his fourth back surgery earlier this year and will return to the course after going through a rigorous rehabilitation programme. “I was telling a lot of my friends at home that I miss playing golf for fun. Go out there and hit and giggle and play for some denominations and have a good time. I hadn’t done that in two years. I play nine holes here and 18 holes here, and then I have to take three days off because my back was killing me. I hadn’t been able to play fun golf like that with my friends in such a long time, forget being competitive. “But this surgery was, it was about quality of life because I

what I’ve been able to do my entire career. I don’t know how long I’m going to be playing, but I want them to come to a few events. I want them to feel it. I want them to understand it a little bit more.” Woods is a YouTube sensation to more than just his own children. He might as well add PGA champion Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama and Daniel Berger to that list. They weren’t on the PGA Tour in 2013 when Woods last won a tournament. The list is even longer of players who don’t know the Woods that dominated his sport like no other. Thomas was 7 when he was at Valhalla for the 2000 PGA Championship and the great duel between Woods and Bob May that went to a three-hole playoff. Thomas recalls hearing the roar of the crowd when Woods made a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff, which Woods considers the most important putt he ever made. That was Woods at his best. That was the Woods that inspired a generation he now has to beat. That was mostly a memory. “I never played against that person,” Thomas said. “All I didn’t really have much. I’ve been in bed for about two years and hadn’t been able to do much.” In 2016, he finished 15th out of 17 entrants at -4, highlighted by a second round 65. “This is very different because I didn’t -- last year I was still struggling with a little bit of pain and I didn’t know -- I was able to hit some good shots, able to play, but in looking back on it now, I look on it as playing in slow mo but it was as hard as I could hit it. I didn’t realise how bad my back had become and how much I was flinching and just how slow I was. I didn’t realise it because it’s been a slow degrading process. I thought I had some speed, thought I was playing halfway decent, shot some good scores, but now I’ve looked back on it and man, I didn’t even have much at all,” Woods said. “Now to come out here and be able to do what I’ve been doing the last few weeks with the guys, it’s been a lot of fun. I played

know in terms of watching him actually play golf is what I’ve seen. Until you’re there and you stand and you watch the golf shots, you hear the sound it makes, you watch the putts, chips, then you really get an idea. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Thomas will get that opportunity Thursday in the Hero World Challenge when Woods plays for only the fourth time in two years. Woods called him a few weeks ago and asked Thomas if he’d like to be paired with him for the first round.

What should Thomas expect to see? Not even Woods knows, having not teed it up in competition since February 3 in Dubai. Patrick Reed talks endlessly about the three years between the summer of 1999 and the summer of 2001, when Woods won 23 of the 46 tournaments he played around the world, including five out of eight majors. “Not only did he beat people physically, he destroyed the guys in his group mentally. They completely unravelled,” Reed said. “Nowadays, that’s gone away. All of us got to know Tiger when he was going through injuries. We saw Tiger when he was his most vulnerable, when he was trying to play golf being injured. ... I would love to turn back that clock and pop out for the ‘99 to 2001 Tiger. Because I was growing up watching it. I’d love to play against it.” Reed is part of a generation that was inspired to play by watching Woods. In some respects, Woods trained the kids he now has to beat. Do they think their games now are good enough to take on Woods in his prime? “You’d be stupid to say you couldn’t because you’d be doubting yourself,” US Open champion

Brooks Koepka said. “He was very dominant. It’s very intimidating when a guy wins so much. It must have been depressing when he showed up. You’d have a 1-in-3 chance of winning. I watched it growing up. I knew exactly how good he was. I wish I could have played against him.” Assuming his health allows him to play a regular schedule, Woods would love that opportunity, too. “In an ideal world,” he said, “I would like to have them feel what some of my past guys had to go against all those years.” That’s a tall order, and Woods knows it. He often says that “Father Time remains undefeated.” He says the pain is gone after fusion surgery on his lower back. He appears to have freedom in his swing and power in his game. But he is not the same player on those video clips. He turns 42 at the end of the month. He has gone through four surgeries on his back, four on his knee. He has gone 30 starts over four years without winning. Can he ever be the guy on YouTube again? Can he be better? “That’s going to be hard,” he said with a smile. “I mean, I was pretty good.”

some great rounds with the guys at home. They’ve been fantastic, to be honest with you, because I’ve gotten to know a lot of them through the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cups and I’ve really become very close with a few of them. I played golf with Rory. I played golf with Berger, JT, Rickie, Dustin, and it was fun. It was fun to be able to do that again, which I hadn’t done in years.” Dustin Johnson, who has held the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking since winning the Genesis Open in February, headlines a field that also includes three of 2017’s major championship winners. They are US Open winner Brooks Koepka, The Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth and PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, who also won the PGA TOUR’s 2017 FedExCup title following the conclusion of the TOUR Championship on September 24.

World No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama will aim to defend his title against a field that features 16 of the top 24 players in the world. The Tiger Woods Foundation is the event’s primary charitable beneficiary, along with the Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation. “We started this event back in ‘99, and to be able to have as much success as we’ve had all these years from -- it’s a who’s who on the win list. Guys who have won major championships, Hall of Famer, FedExCup champions. We’ve had them all, and it’s been incredible the support we’ve gotten from the players over the years. “They’ve come here for the first time, they start realising what we’re trying to do for kids,” Woods said. “Our STEM programmes and what we’ve been able to accomplish so far, it’s been pretty remarkable. My staff has been incredible. Bill put together

these TGR Live events like this. They work countless hours, tireless to try and make this thing as seamless as possible and as great as it has been over the years. And I think that looking back on it, my dad and I had this idea of having this event and I just think that over these years that I think my dad would have been very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.” Woods and the remainder of the field will play in today’s Pro-Am before the event officially begins on Thursday and runs through December 3. Live television coverage of the Hero World Challenge will be provided by Golf Channel during all four rounds and by NBC during the third and fourth rounds. Good-any-day grounds tickets and a limited number of premium hospitality packages for the Hero World Challenge are available for purchase at HeroWorldChallenge.com

TIGER Woods smiles as he hits on the driving range before the final round at Hero World Challenge in Nassau on December 4, 2016. (AP)

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 29, 2017, PAGE 3

Tiger Woods says he’s on the ‘other side’ of pain, loving life By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods says he is on the “other side” of too many years relying on pain medication to cope with his back surgeries, which led to his arrest on a DUI charge six months ago that he attributed to a bad mix of prescription drugs. “I’m loving life now,” he said yesterday. Woods is making yet another return to competition this week at the Hero World Challenge, an 18-man event with no cut at Albany Golf Club. It’s his first tournament in 10 months and his first time competing since fusion surgery in April, the fourth operation on his back. Early indications are that Woods is in a much better spot than when he returned a year ago in the Bahamas. According to those who played with him in recent weeks, his swing looks faster and more fluid, and Woods appears to be happy and healthy. Woods reached a low point on Memorial Day when he was arrested in the middle of the night after Florida police found his car parked awkwardly on the side of the road about 15 miles from his home, with Woods asleep behind the wheel, the engine running and a blinker on. Toxicology reports revealed that Woods had two painkillers (Vicodin and Dilaudid), a sleep drug (Ambien), an anti-anxiety drug (Xanax) and the active ingredient for marijuana in his system. He went through an in-patient treatment programme to deal with prescription medication, and last month pleaded

“I DIDN’T REALISE HOW BAD MY BACK HAD BECOME AND HOW MUCH I WAS FLINCHING AND JUST HOW SLOW I WAS. I DIDN’T REALISE IT BECAUSE IT’S BEEN A SLOW, DEGRADING PROCESS. I THOUGHT I HAD SOME SPEED, THOUGHT I WAS PLAYING HALFWAY DECENT, SHOT SOME GOOD SCORES, BUT NOW I’VE LOOKED BACK ON IT AND MAN, I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE MUCH AT ALL. I’M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THROUGH THESE FOUR ROUNDS AND HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING - A BETTER UNDERSTANDING - OF WHERE I’M AT.” guilty to a reckless driving charge that allowed him to avoid jail time. “I’ve come out the other side and I feel fantastic,” Woods said. “A lot of friends have helped me. I didn’t realise how bad my back was. Now that I’m feeling the way I’m feeling, it’s just hard to imagine that I was living the way I was living with my foot not working, my leg not working and then the hours of not being able to sleep at all because of the pain.” Woods attributed the Memorial Day arrest to “trying to go away from the pain.” “I was trying to sleep, which I hadn’t done in a very long time because of the things I’ve been dealing with,” he said. “So as my back improved, I’ve been able to start sleeping again because I don’t have the nerve pain going down my leg. I don’t have my leg twitching all over the place. I don’t have these issues anymore.” Woods hasn’t won since the 2013 Bridgestone

Invitational, his 79th title on the PGA Tour that leaves him three short of tying Sam Snead’s record. That might have been the last time he had reasonable health. There were small signs of back pain a week later at the PGA Championship, and what followed were three surgeries and a stopand-start schedule. Woods had his first back surgery, a microdiscectomy, a week before the 2014 Masters. Since then, there have been four occasions where he returned either from back surgery or from taking time off to let his injuries heal. The fourth surgery was to fuse two discs in his lower back. That was more about the quality of life than trying to win a golf tournament. The fact that Woods is even playing his holiday exhibition just over seven months after surgery, and six months after that embarrassing arrest, feels like a bonus. “I missed playing golf for fun,” Woods said. “I hadn’t

THOMAS WINS $10 MILLION FROM FEDEX CUP AND FORGETS ABOUT IT By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas walked away with the richest payoff in golf when he was runner-up at the Tour Championship and captured the FedEx Cup. With the $10 million bonus, he made $10,945,000 that day. And then he forgot all about it. Thomas said he was at the Presidents Cup the following week when Kevin Chappell said to him, “You get it yet?” Thomas didn’t know what he was talking about. “He said, ‘Did you get the bonus?’ I never even thought about it,” Thomas said. “I asked my dad to look and was like, ‘Oh, there it is.’” What does a 24-year-old do with such a bonus? “I maybe got a little nicer bottle of wine at dinner a couple of times,” Thomas said. But he was generous with others. When he arrived at Albany Golf Club for the Hero World Challenge, Thomas gave caddie Jimmy Johnson a small white box. Inside was a Rolex Pearlmaster watch. “I just wanted to do something to thank the team,” Thomas said. “He’s done a lot, and he continues to do a lot. I wanted to show that with something for him.” Engraved on the watch was a message: “Thanks for a great 2016-17. JT.” MASTERS SETUP: Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley found his first replacement. Jim Hyler is taking over as chairman of the competition committees and rules committee for the Masters. That’s the role that Ridley held for 10 years until Billy Payne retired as club chairman and picked Ridley as his replacement. “Having handled this important assignment for many years, I am aware

JUSTIN Thomas holds the trophy after winning the Fedex Cup after the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on September 24. (AP) of its necessary qualifications and, therefore, very proud to name Jim as my successor,” Ridley said. “He is uniquely qualified to serve the tournament in this position, given his background and previous experience assisting in the successful conduct of our competition.” Hyler and Ridley are both former USGA presidents. WAITING GAME: Patrick Reed’s wife has been reminding him to concentrate on his golf this week at the Hero World Challenge. And she’s the one at home in Houston days away from giving birth. Reed and his wife, Justine, are expecting their second child. The due date is today. “It’s kind of a waiting game,” Reed said. “I’m really excited. Can’t wait for him to be here.” Reed, a member of the PGA Tour and the European Tour, is not one to miss golf tournaments. He already has played 32 official events this year, not including the Presidents Cup. He hasn’t taken more than two weeks off all year, and he didn’t see any need to miss this one with his wife not due to give birth until Wednesday. “She keeps reminding me that there’s golf to be played,” Reed said. “As of right now, she’s the same as she was nine months

ago — still pregnant. She’s healthy. Baby’s healthy. Go out and play golf, and if I get the phone call, there will be a decision to make. “Until then, she’s trying to keep my head focused here, on the golf tournament and not at home.” MILESTONE FOR MICKELSON: Phil Mickelson was 23 and finishing up his first full year as a professional when he went to Japan for a pair of tournaments to end the 1993 season. He finished eighth in the Dunlop Phoenix and then was runner-up to Tom Lehman in the Casio World Open. That was enough for Mickelson to move into the top 50 in the world ranking for the first time. And he never left. This week marks 24 full years that Mickelson has been among the top 50 in the world. He is the only player to achieve that. Mickelson is No. 35 this week and will not play again until the third week of January at the CareerBuilder Challenge. Mickelson has never come close to falling out of the top 50 all these years. He ended 2015 at No. 34, slipped to No. 39 without playing the first few weeks, then tied for third in the California desert and three weeks later was runner-up at Pebble Beach. Still eluding Lefty: He has never reached No. 1.

TIGER Woods speaks during a press conference yesterday at the Albany Golf Club. Woods is playing in the Hero World Challenge which starts on Thursday, his first tournament since fusion surgery on his lower back in April. (AP Photo/Doug Ferguson) done that in two years. I played nine holes here and 18 holes here, and then I have to take three days off because my back was killing me.” Woods returned from a 15-month layoff a year ago at the Hero World Challenge, and while he finished 15th in the 18-man field, he made 24 birdies, raising hopes. He never spoke of being in pain last year, or even at Torrey Pines in January. He then flew to Dubai and withdrew after a 77, citing back spasms.

The difference this time, Woods said, is that he doesn’t feel pain, and he thinks now he can take on any shot. He said when he looks back on his performance last year in the Bahamas, it seems as though he were in slow motion. “I didn’t realise how bad my back had become and how much I was flinching and just how slow I was,” he said. “I didn’t realise it because it’s been a slow, degrading process. I thought I had some speed,

thought I was playing halfway decent, shot some good scores, but now I’ve looked back on it and man, I didn’t even have much at all.” He’s not sure what he has now. The tournament starts Thursday. It will be the first time since February 3 in Dubai that Woods has to count every shot. “I’m just looking forward to getting through these four rounds and having an understanding — a better understanding — of where I’m at,” he said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, November 29, 2017

NBA CAPSULES

downing the Miami Heat 108-97 on Tuesday night.

CAVALIERS 108, HEAT 97 CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Love scored 32 of his 38 points in the first half, LeBron James was ejected for the first time in his career and the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their longest winning streak since 2015 to nine games by

WIZARDS 92, TIMBERWOLVES 89 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Otto Porter Jr. hit a 22-foot jumper with 25 seconds remaining, lifting Washington to the victory. Washington trailed for nearly the entire fourth quarter. After Porter’s jumper, Minnesota had two

THE TRIBUNE shots at the other end but couldn’t convert. The Wizards got the ball back with 4.2 seconds remaining when the ball went out of bounds off Timberwolves forward Taj Gibson. Officials originally ruled that Minnesota maintained possession, but a review overturned the call and gave the ball to Washington. Porter led Washington with 22

points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16. Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Minnesota for his league-leading 18th double-double. BUCKS 112, KINGS 87 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 of his 32 points in the third quarter,

helping Milwaukee to the runaway road win. Eric Bledsoe had 21 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Bucks, who won for the second time in five games. Khris Middleton scored 12 points. Milwaukee led by as many as 36 and won despite not scoring a second-chance point. It was Antetokounmpo’s eighth 30-point game this season.

MICHIGAN State guard Miles Bridges, left, guard Lourawls Nairn Jr., centre and forward Gavin Schilling hold the PK80 trophy after defeating North Carolina in an NCAA college basketball game of the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday. Michigan State won 63-45. (AP Photos/Craig Mitchelldyer)

No. 4 Michigan State thumps No. 9 North Carolina 63-45 By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LOURAWLS “Tum Tum” Nairn and the No.3 ranked Michigan State Spartans looked like national championship contenders in a series of dominant performances en route to winning the “Victory Bracket” of the PK80 Invitational. The Spartans defeated No.9 North Carolina 63-45 in the tournament title game at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. It was the third preseason tournament title for the Spartans in the last five years. They previously won the 2013 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Brooklyn and the 2015 Wooden Legacy. It also snapped a seven game losing streak to UNC. Nairn finished with three points and three assists in

27 minutes. The Spartans limited the Tar Heels to just 25 per cent shooting from the field, a common theme throughout their three wins in the tournament. They opened with a 73-51 win over DePaul, followed by a 77-57 win over UConn before facing UNC. Their three opponents combined to shoot just 32 per cent from the field and 21 from three-point range. The Spartans went on an 11-2 run early to pull away and led 25-12 midway through the first half. They led 37-23 at the half. Nairn’s lone field goal came amid an early second half run that pushed the Spartans’ lead to as much as 21 at one point. The Spartans return to East Lansing where they will host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tomorrow night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

enough arm and range to perform well defensively. Finding a balance of discipline and aggressiveness at the plate will be key to his offensive growth. Trent Deveaux begins his career listed as the No. 25 prospect in the Los Angeles Angles organisation. His overall grade of 45 includes - Hit: 50, Power: 40, Run: 70, Arm: 50, and Field: 50. “He is a plus runner who the Angels think could warrant an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale once he starts to mature. He’ll need to

SUNS 104, BULLS 99 CHICAGO (AP) — Devin Booker scored 33 points, and Phoenix held on for the road win. Booker looked just fine after sitting out a game because of inflammation in his right big toe, nailing five 3-pointers and grabbing nine rebounds. T.J. Warren scored 25 for Phoenix, and Alex Len tied a career high with 18 rebounds. The Suns dominated on the glass 57-41 while snapping a threegame losing streak. The rebuilding Bulls are a league-worst 3-16 after dropping their sixth straight. Justin Holiday made six 3-pointers on his way to 25 points for Chicago. Kris Dunn added 24 points and eight assists.

2018 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS WILL NOT FEATURE A LOCAL FROM PAGE 1

MLB teams add Bahamian rookie prospects add strength, but he has the kind of 6-foot-2 frame that should add it easily, allowing him to eventually grow into some power. The Angels are already pleased with a better-than-expected approach at the plate. Once a shortstop, he’s moved to centre field, where he has the chance to be an outstanding defender with at least a Major League average arm,” his scouting report reads. “Deveaux’s ceiling is very high. His outstanding personality and plus makeup gives the Angels hope he can one day fulfil his enormous potential.”

JAZZ 106, NUGGETS 77 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Derrick Favors scored 24 points, and the Jazz put away the Nuggets with a dominant second half. Rookie Donovan Mitchell added 16 points as Utah matched a season high with its third straight victory. Jonas Jerebko had 15 and Ricky Rubio finished with 13 points. The Jazz outscored the Nuggets 58-28 in the second half. Gary Harris scored 14 of his 18 points for Denver in the first half, and Kenneth Faried had 11 points and eight rebounds.

PLAYER

MICHIGAN State guard Lourawls Nairn Jr, left, dribbles along the baseline toward North Carolina guard Andrew Platek during the first half of Sunday’s NCAA college basketball game in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament in Portland, Oregon.

FROM PAGE 1

Garrett Temple scored 18 for the Kings, and Buddy Hield added 13 points. Willie Cauley-Stein had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Lucius Fox is listed No.11 with the Tampa Bay Rays with a 50 grade including Hit: 50, Power: 40, Run: 70, Arm: 55 and Field: 55. Fox was assigned to the Stone Crabs at the Single A-Advanced level in July. In 30 games with the club, he hit .235 with a .608 OPS, .350 OBP, one home run, three stolen bases, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored. The 20-year-old shortstop spent the previous 77 games with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League at the Single A-Full level. For the Hot Rods, Fox hit a career-best .278

and ranked third in the Midwest League with 27 stolen bases. He also ranks second on the team with 45 runs scored, collected 27 RBI and totaled a .362 OBP and a .722 OPS with two runs. Fox was also featured in the annual showcase of Major League Baseball’s top minor league prospects during the midseason All-Star classic. He drove in one RBI, but his Futures World team fell one run short in their rally and a 7-6 loss to team USA at the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, “Fox is a top-flight athlete with plus-plus speed and three more

MTSU’s $147m `Science Building, a 250,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, opened in Fall 2014. Since his arrival, MTSU has been successful in raising admission standards, which resulted in an increase in enrollment of high-ability students. McPhee has overseen the addition of almost 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, two colleges (Behavioural and Health Sciences and University College) and 12 institutes and centres.” In his profile of Dr. McPhee, columnist Oswald Brown said: “McPhee was named Outstanding American University President of 2002 by the American Football Foundation. In 2003, he was listed by Nashville Post business magazine as one of Tennessee’s 100 Most Powerful Individuals and, in 2004, he was ranked by Business Tennessee magazine as one of the state’s Top 50 Most Powerful African Americans. He was honoured by the Nashville Business Journal with its Rutherford County Impact Award for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015. He also has been named Omega Citizen of the Year by the Pi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.” The annual Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis once again falls during the Thanksgiving holiday, scheduled to take place November 21-23, 2018. The 12-game, three-day tournament is regarded as one of the most challenging early-season tournaments. For more information, visit www.Battle4Atlantis.com

tools that should be at least solid. A switch-hitter with a line-drive stroke, he has the approach and the wheels to become a leadoff hitter and prolific basestealer. He won’t be a homer threat but he does have some strength and can drive some balls to the gaps,” it reads. “Fox’s range, quick hands and arm fit easily at shortstop. Some scouts don’t love his middleinfield actions and think he’ll fit better in center field, though the Rays, much like the Giants, believe he can stay at short, lauding his ability to learn quickly.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 29, 2017, PAGE 5

CLEMSON, AUBURN, OKLAHOMA, WISCONSIN ARE PLAYOFF TOP 4 By RALPH D. RUSSO Associated Press CLEMSON, Auburn, Oklahoma and Wisconsin will enter championship weekend positioned to earn a playoff spot with just one more victory. But a potential AlabamaOhio State controversy looms. Clemson moved up to No. 1 in the final College Football Playoff rankings before the semi-finals are set by the selection committee on Sunday. Alabama fell from No. 1 to fifth in the new rankings last night after losing to Auburn, and Georgia was sixth. Miami slipped after taking its first loss of the season last week from No. 2 to seventh, just ahead of Ohio State at eighth. “It’s close separation from team No. 5 Alabama, six Georgia, seven Miami, eight Ohio State. Those teams are close,” said committee chairman Kirby Hocutt, the athletic director at Texas Tech. “Very little separation in the

committee’s eyes between teams five through eight.” Each of the top four teams plays a conference title game this Saturday against another highly ranked team, creating potential play-in playoff games. Clemson faces Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship; Auburn and Georgia play for the Southeastern Conference title; Wisconsin faces Ohio State for the Big Ten title; and Oklahoma faces No. 11 TCU for the Big 12 title. If the top four win out, the semi-finals likely would fall into place: Clemson would face Wisconsin in the Sugar Bowl semi-final on New Year’s Day by virtue of giving the top seed a regional advantage, and Auburn and Oklahoma would play in the Rose Bowl semifinal. It is likely Miami would jump into the top four by beating No. 1 Clemson and winning the ACC and same goes for Georgia if it can win a rematch against Auburn. The intrigue

would start if Oklahoma and/or Wisconsin lose. The selection committee could be faced with a choice between Alabama (11-1) and Ohio State (10-2). The Crimson Tide’s résumé has no wins against teams currently in the top 15 and it is done playing, but the Buckeyes have two losses by double digits, including a 31-point blowout at Iowa. Penn State is ninth and Southern California is the highest ranked Pac-12 team at No. 10. THE QUESTIONS What is a conference championship worth? That could be the deciding factor between Alabama and Ohio State if it comes down to those two schools. For those who want to try to read between the lines, Hocutt mentioned conference titles a few times Tuesday night. It is important to remember that the committee’s protocol states when teams are similar conference titles should be used as essentially a

tiebreaker. As of right now, Hocutt is saying the Buckeyes and Tide are close. It’s also important to remember that this stuff is subjective so be cautious about reading too much into anything. “I will be prepared and able to answer that question next Sunday,” Hocutt said when asked about whether Ohio State and Alabama were close enough so that a conference title could be the difference. Stay tuned. Can Clemson lose to Miami and get in? Looks like it, especially if Auburn wins the SEC, but it likely will require a loss by either Wisconsin or Oklahoma. Clemson’s résumé is heavy with victories against winning teams, including beating Auburn back in September. That could give the Tigers a trump card on Alabama, which just lost to Auburn. The only thing the other potential two-loss contenders, such as Ohio State, TCU or Southern

WISCONSIN’s Chikwe Obasih (34) celebrating after sacking the Purdue quarterback. (AP) California, would have on Clemson is a conference title. Would that be enough to drop the defending national champions all the way out of the top four? The Tigers might have some cushion. Does the committee hate UCF, the American Athletic Conference and Group of Five teams in general? Hate is a strong word. But UCF, the only other unbeaten team in FBS other than Wisconsin, moved up just one spot to No. 14 after beating USF (10-2)

Eagles, Patriots still top 2 in the latest AP Pro32 poll By SIMMI BUTTAR Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Carson Wentz has turned into one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount form a potent duo at running back, and Philadelphia’s stout defence features a tough front line. Wentz and company are looking down at the rest of the league at the moment. The Eagles maintained their top spot in the AP Pro 32 poll yesterday, receiving 11 of 12 first-place votes for 383 points in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL. Philadelphia (10-1) has won nine in a row. It can clinch the NFC East title with a win Sunday night at Seattle or a loss by Dallas on Thursday night against Washington. “Having outscored opponents by 160 points, the Eagles are chewing them up and spitting them out,” said Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. The New England Patriots (9-2), who have won seven in a row, received the other firstplace vote and remained No. 2. The league’s other two 9-2 teams, the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, are tied at No. 3. The Vikings have won seven in a row and the Steelers enter their Monday night game at Cincinnati on a six-game winning streak. “Mike Tomlin’s gritty group

PHILADELPHIA Eagles’ Carson Wentz looks to pass against the Chicago Bears on Sunday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) is determined to wrest the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed away from the Patriots and force the Brady Bunch to win at Heinz Field in January,” Ira Kaufman of SB Nation Radio said of the Steelers. The Los Angeles Rams inched up a spot to No. 5. They beat New Orleans 26-20 last weekend, snapping the Saints’ eight-game win streak. “The story of the day was the Rams defence, which passed a major test in refusing to be beaten by Drew Brees and a Saints offence that has been moving the ball at will,” said Jenny Vrentas of The Monday Morning Quarterback. The NFC South, the league’s most competitive division, has the next three teams in the poll. New Orleans slipped a spot to No. 6 after the loss in Los Angeles. The Carolina

Panthers remained at No. 7 heading into Sunday’s big game against the Saints at the Superdome in one of the top matchups of Week 13. The Atlanta Falcons moved up one to No. 8 and will try to extend their winning streak to four when they host the Vikings. “The offence is finally clicking. If the defence starts doing the same, watch out,” the Sporting News’ Alex Marvez said of the defending NFC champions. Seattle is next up at No. 9. The Seahawks trail the Rams by a game in the NFC West. “(Russell) Wilson carrying this team,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said of the Seahawks quarterback. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, tied for first in the AFC South at 7-4, are Nos. 10 and 11 respectively.

last week in a dramatic and thrilling game. Washington (10-2) and Stanford (9-3) both jumped the Knights. That ranking prompted this tweet from UCF athletic director Danny White: “You’ve got to be kidding me!!!” The Knights play Memphis, the committee’s 20th-ranked team, on Saturday for the AAC championship. The winner will get the Group of Five’s guaranteed spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game, but those teams are not even an afterthought in the playoff conversation.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 29, 2017, PAGE 7

Manchester United scores 4 goals IAAF LEAVES RUSSIA TRACK again to showcase attacking talent AND FIELD BAN IN PLACE By STEVE DOUGLAS Associated Press SO often lauded for its defensive strength, Manchester United issued another reminder of its attacking talent by scoring four goals in a Premier League game for the sixth time this season. On the receiving end this time was Watford, which had already been pummeled 6-0 by Manchester City — the team second-place United is striving to reel in. Ashley Young scored twice in the first half and Jesse Lingard ensured there would be no late fightback from Watford with a 60-metre solo goal to complete a 4-2 win at Vicarage Road yesterday. United had already scored four goals against West Ham, Swansea, Everton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle, showing that manager Jose Mourinho has no problem unleashing his attacking riches at

times. It’s in the big games, against United’s title rivals, that Mourinho keeps it tight and two of them are coming up: Arsenal away and then City at home. United is currently five points behind City, which plays Southampton in its game in hand on Wednesday, and looks to be the team best-positioned to challenge Pep Guardiola’s team. Tottenham might already be out of the title race. A 2-1 loss at Leicester was Spurs’ third loss in its last five games, and followed a disappointing home draw against West Bromwich Albion. The team is now 13 points adrift of City having played a game more. In other matches, Brighton and Crystal Palace drew 0-0 and Newcastle fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at manager-less West Bromwich Albion.

MONACO (AP) — Russia’s ban from international track and field was extended Sunday by the IAAF as key Russian sports and political figures continue to deny operating any doping system. Track’s world governing body unanimously accepted a recommendation from its Russia taskforce not to reinstate Russia. That is a blow to Russia’s chances of competing under its own flag at March’s world indoor championships in the British city of Birmingham. “It is our responsibility to create that landscape where there is trust,” IAAF president Sebastian Coe said. The current IAAF position of allowing some Russians to compete as socalled neutral athletes after reviews of their drug-testing history allows “separation where possible of the clean athletes from a tainted system,” Coe added. While the IAAF has been cautiously optimistic

MANCHESTER United’s Jesse Lingard celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goal yesterday against Watford at Vicarage Road stadium in Watford, England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Variable clouds with a few showers

Partly cloudy with a stray shower

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 83°

Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 84° Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

97° F

72° F

91°-72° F

88°-69° F

87°-71° F

87°-69° 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: 77° F/25° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 65° F/18° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

7-14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 69° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 83° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 67° F/19° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.19” Year to date ............................................... 35.21” Normal year to date ................................... 38.27”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

4-8 knots

ANDROS

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

3:33 a.m. 3:47 p.m.

2.7 2.6

9:49 a.m. 0.4 10:06 p.m. -0.1

Thursday

4:26 a.m. 4:41 p.m.

3.0 2.7

10:46 a.m. 0.1 10:56 p.m. -0.3

Friday

5:17 a.m. 5:33 p.m.

3.2 2.8

11:41 a.m. -0.1 11:45 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

6:08 a.m. 6:26 p.m.

3.5 2.8

12:34 p.m. -0.4 ---------

Sunday

6:58 a.m. 7:18 p.m.

3.6 2.9

12:35 a.m. -0.8 1:26 p.m. -0.6

Monday

7:49 a.m. 8:10 p.m.

3.7 2.9

1:26 a.m. -0.9 2:18 p.m. -0.7

Tuesday

8:41 a.m. 9:05 p.m.

3.7 2.8

2:18 a.m. -0.9 3:11 p.m. -0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:37 a.m. 5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:33 p.m. 2:11 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Dec. 3

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CAT ISLAND

about reforms to the Russian track federation, a key obstacle is the refusal of Russia’s sports and political leadership to admit any kind of doping programme existed. Russia’s national anti-doping agency also remains suspended. While reforms are under way within Russian sports bodies, “the broader question ... is whether they will be able to operate in a system which we can trust, and I think that is what needs to be addressed by Russian authorities,” the IAAF’s Russia taskforce head Rune Andersen said. The taskforce’s latest report on Russia, published Sunday, notes “extreme disappointment” at what it says is insufficient communication from the Russian authorities. The Russian government has repeatedly denied having any involvement in doping, and says there was only a smaller-scale plot by a group of rogue anti-doping employees.

4-8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6-12 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 NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NNW at 3-6 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NNE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NNE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NNW at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots WSW at 3-6 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots N at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 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 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 78° F 78° F 81° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 77° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F