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HEALTH TRAVEL VISA HALTED FOR LOCALS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net BEGINNING on Monday, citizens and residents of The Bahamas will no longer need a travel health visa to come home from abroad, Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper announced yesterday. He said despite this change, testing requirements will remain in place and visitors with citizenship in other jurisdictions will still need a travel health visa to enter the country. The move was welcomed by Health
Minister Dr Michael Darville. He told reporters following a tour of Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre that due to “so much complications” with the visa application process, the government decided to do away with the requirement for Bahamians. Mr Cooper said revoking the requirement was a campaign promise by the Progressive Liberal Party now fulfilled. The health visa was implemented in November 2020 and had a fee attached in order to be obtained. SEE PAGE FOUR
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness as of yesterday rolled out the first phase of its COVID-19 booster shot campaign, meaning people 60 and older can now receive a third jab, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville. The first phase is for people 60 and older who received Pfizer or AstraZeneca second doses six months ago and the
MITCHELL TURNS ON ‘SLOW’ CIVIL SERVANTS FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell has lamented the slow response of certain civil servants to instructions given by the new government. Mr Mitchell, who is also the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, made the remarks yesterday, saying the government system’s response is like a “slow march into hell”. SEE PAGE THREE
Johnson & Johnson oneshot jab two months ago. The announcement came as the minister also announced The Bahamas would remove travel restrictions on African countries imposed last month after the Omicron variant was identified there. Dr Darville said the decision to remove the restrictions on the African nations came due to the “pervasiveness of the Omicron variant” and its purported milder nature. SEE PAGE FOUR
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
... AS PHASED BOOSTER ROLLOUT IS UNDERWAY By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
FRONT PORCH: WHAT’S OUR APPETITE FOR A REPUBLIC?
CHRISTMAS TREE IS ON POINT WHITLEY Albury dances during the ceremony marking the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rawson Square last night. See PAGE TWO for more photographs. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
BAIN ORDERED TO PAY BACK WOMAN’S $60K By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Supreme Court has ordered Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain to pay $64,000 to a woman after finding he did not invest or return the money she wanted him to hold in a trust for her for three years. In deciding the case, Justice Cheryl GrantThompson found that a witness Mr Bain brought
LINCOLN BAIN was not credible after the man testified that he had forged Mr Bain’s signature on the agreements
solidifying the transaction between Mr Bain and the plaintiff. “I am of the view that the allegation of forgery was a story that was made up in an attempt to discredit the documents produced by the plaintiff,” she noted. Zinnia Rolle, the plaintiff, claimed two agreements were breached, one dated April 20, 2010 and another executed on April 23, 2010.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FIVE
WHITE MAY STAND FOR DEPUTY ROLE
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ST Anne’s MP Adrian White says he is considering running for deputy leader of the Free National Movement. The FNM, which elected Marco City MP Michael Pintard as its leader at a one-day convention in late November, will host a convention in February 2022 to elect people for a range of other posts, including deputy leader and chairman of the party. SEE PAGE THREE
STATESIDE - GAME’S BEGUN BEFORE VOTES ARE CAST
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Thursday, December 9, 2021
MINISTERS at the National Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rawson Square last night. Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
THE LIGHTS IN RAWSON SQUARE GO ON FOR CHRISTMAS
SAMANTHA Sands singing during the ceremony last night.
POLICE PROBE FATAL SHOOTING By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
POLICE on New Providence are investigating the country’s latest homicide after a man was shot dead on Tuesday. In a crime report issued yesterday, police said shortly before 9pm on Tuesday, officers were dispatched to a shooting incident that occurred on Spence Street. “While (en) route to the scene, they observed a truck being driven (at) a high rate of speed. The officers stopped the vehicle and observed a male in the (truck’s) bed suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” police said. “Investigations revealed
that the male was on Spence Street along with others, when a small vehicle approached them and an occupant discharged a firearm which struck him about the body several times.” An investigation is ongoing. This killing comes after a teen was fatally shot in the Pinder’s Point area in Grand Bahama on Friday. Police said a 17-yearold boy was conducting mechanical work in the area. The victim walked across the street when a man with a firearm approached him and discharged several rounds of ammunition in his direction, shooting him multiple times in his body. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 3
Mitchell turns on ‘slow’ civil servants from page one “It takes a year and a Sunday to move a pen from here to there,” Mr Mitchell said. “It takes months to get bills paid, to get people on the payroll and to make sure they are adequately compensated in time for Christmas. “A creaking government administration which, so far, refuses to bend to the will of the new administration. “You can be forgiven for being totally paranoid or conspiratorial in that three months into the administration, you ask yourself why if an instruction is
given, that instruction cannot be carried out with dispatch. Instead, it just seems to be a slow march into hell.” Addressing the state of the country’s economic status as Christmas approaches, Mr Mitchell said: “It’s Minnis’ fault. “As Christmas Day grows closer and closer, the reality of economic hardship and distress becomes more real in the public imagination. All the theories espoused while we were on the campaign mean nothing if there is not a chicken in every pot on Christmas Day. Or put another way, if there’s no money on the ground.
“How did we get here? We got here in part because the FNM, under Hubert Minnis, put us in a set of stupid, short-sighted policies which led us to the graveyard of twice the national debt in four years and a debt-to-GDP ratio of almost 100 percent. “We joke about it, but ‘IMF’ – It’s Minnis’ Fault. He came to office with a messianic complex and pretty soon sent Simon Wilson, the man who knew how to pay the bills and keep the creditors at bay, they sent him home packing, with false allegations of wrongdoing.” Mr Mitchell pointed out the countless ways in which
many Bahamian people are hurting and expressed empathy towards them. “When I wake up each morning I’m assured to meet scores of emails, impossible to answer (all), with the missed phone calls saying that they need a job, there’s no food to eat, the rent needs to be paid, the school fees are overdue and the mortgage is behind,” he said. “Yet in the face of all this desperation, we have banks in our country, flushed with money, paying no interest and spitting out dividend cheques to their shareholders like there is no tomorrow. “This is the fundamental
irony of life in The Bahamas today – rich country, poor government. Land of plenty, but too many have no food to eat. Surrounded by wealth and majesty, but the mortgage is overdue.” Still the member of Parliament for Fox Hill remains optimistic that circumstances will turn around for many. “Ninety days into the Davis government with 57 months to go before the general election, the children of Israel are not beginning to say, ‘It looks a lot like Christmas’ but instead, ‘Let’s go back to Egypt,’” he said. “I, of course, have remained optimistic. This
will be solved in a little while, so we ask people to hold on.” Looking at the state of Grand Bahama, Mr Mitchell said the recent fire at the International Bazaar paints a clear picture of how bad things are on that island. “The burning of the International Bazaar in Freeport, shows you how far Freeport has fallen and the Grand Bahama Port Authority does nothing,” he continued. “Yet the people there chose to vote FNM. Obie Wilchcombe and Ginger Moxey, have a huge task to bring this sad city back from under FNM control.”
‘CONFUSION’ OVER CARNIVAL OPENING By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said his successor, Philip “Brave” Davis, and Health Minister Dr Michael Darville are at odds and contradicting each other over the Christmas Carnival. Joseph Alberts, manager and coordinator of Midways by McCafferty Enterprises, told reporters this week his group had received permission from the Prime Minister to bring and operate its yearly amusement park. However, Dr Darville on Tuesday said health officials are still reviewing the event’s requirements for operation, saying approval has not been given to date. He said the group still has some outstanding matters to address.
Yesterday, Dr Minnis accused Mr Davis of behaving like a dictator who is ignoring the Ministry of Health. “The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health are speaking two different languages,” Dr Minnis told reporters at the House of Assembly. “Obviously the Minister of Health is unaware that the approval had already been given and it had to be given a long time ago in order for the mobilisation of equipment and supplies to commence. “So one has to ask the question. The Prime Minister really is acting dictatorial because his minister don’t know. One has to ask the question whether or not his other Cabinet ministers knew and if the other Cabinet ministers knew what it meant is that they basically pushed the Minister of Health aside because he obviously don’t know
what’s going on, it’s already been approved. “So the Prime Minister is acting not only as a dictator but as the ultimate, most competent authority moving forward. So these are matters and it places the Minister of Health in a very, very precarious position but the Prime Minister must answer when was the approval given and has approval also been given not only for New Providence, but for the remainder of the Family Islands? The Prime Minister is acting ultra vires. The Prime Minister is acting independent of the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health. He is acting as the ultimate dictator that makes all decisions. Has he fired the Minister of Health and not officially informed him yet?” Mr Alberts told this newspaper carnival operators are preparing to open tomorrow.
THE CHRISTMAS Carnival rides being set up this week.
Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS LIKELY NOT READY FOR JANUARY 11 By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THREE public primary schools will likely not be ready for students when hybrid instruction with face-to-face learning resumes on January 11. According to Education, Technical and Vocational Training Minister Glenys Hanna Martin yesterday, these schools include: Sybil
Strachan Primary, CW Sawyer Primary and Ridgeland Primary School. However, education officials are working along with the Ministry of Works to identify alternative locations for students of those schools to participate when schools open next year. The ministry is also awaiting the results of an analysis from a survey on learning deficits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
minister said once this is received next week, her ministry will better know how to formulate strategies moving forward. “I am advised that at least three public schools will likely not be ready and I will speak further to that at another time because the Ministry of Works is working with the Ministry of Education to see how the work can be accelerated,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.
“Those three schools will be challenged to be open in January, but I will update the nation further on that. “If those schools are not ready, the Ministry of Works is completing the identification of alternate locations for face-to-face learning for those schools. So, we expect those children if those schools are not ready to still participate in face-to-face in person learning on the 11th of January.”
WHITE MAY STAND FOR DEPUTY ROLE from page one
FNM insiders say St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright is one of the favourites for the deputy leader position. Mr Cartwright has not yet publicly announced if he is running for the post, though he has previously said he is considering it. Some in the party believe the Davis administration’s revelations about contracts awarded by the Beaches & Parks Authority under his tenure could damage his pathway, but it is not clear if he has suffered internally from the matter. Mr White, a firsttime parliamentarian and leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly, said yesterday: “There are some good leaders in the Senate and the House and also within the executive council within the party. I definitely will be willing to serve if there is a need and if it seems that is in the best interest of the party.” Mr White said he probably won’t make a final decision until about December 20. “I want to consider everything and make a decision,” he said. “I just want what’s best for the party.” He said some in the FNM have pushed him to vie for the role. “I appreciate members when they make that suggestion to me,”
he said. “I take that as encouragement about the work I’ve been doing
so far in the House and the party. “I’m happy people
would consider me for deputy leader, it says I’m doing the right thing.”
She said although there will be no end-of-term examinations this year, grades attained this term will be taken into account into scores next year.
“This is merely a deferment and the grades attained will be fully integrated and accounted for in the assessments reports when they are issued next
PAGE 4, Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Health travel visa halted for locals from page one
“Our administration promised a review of all of the contracts associated with (The) Bahamas travel health visa,” Mr Cooper told House of Assembly members yesterday. “I am pleased to report that that review has been done and continues and renegotiations are underway with respect to all of our partners. “Further, members would recall that the Progressive Liberal Party never felt that this Bahamas travel health visa should apply to Bahamian citizens and permanent residents who call The Bahamas home. “It was both a financial and regulatory burden on Bahamians and we
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper. vowed to stop it. Shortly after we came to office, we assessed the programme and eliminated the fees for Bahamian citizens and residents and eliminated the visa altogether for interisland travel. “The visa was left in place for visitors along with the attending fees. After assessing the programme, we are pleased
to announce that as of Monday, December 13, 2021, Bahamians and residents will no longer be required to obtain a health travel visa to enter their beautiful home. “The PLP promised to end the travel health visa for Bahamians and residents that was implemented by the previous administration and we are doing just
NO EVIDENCE OF OMICRON HERE YET By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
PAN American Health Organization officials say while there is no evidence the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is currently in The Bahamas, the country should not wait until it arrives but instead use preventative tools to stop its potential spread. During its weekly webinar yesterday, PAHO addressed the Omicron variant and measures to prevent it. On Sunday, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said the country should not be caught lacking as it did in the case of the arrival of the Delta variant, but instead be proactive. Dr Sands said if the Omicron variant is not in The Bahamas, its arrival is not far away. PAHO official Dr Jairo Andres Mendez Rico commended The Bahamas for its aggressive send-off of samples and confirmed there is no detection of the Omicron variant in the country. “The Bahamas has been very active in shipping samples for sequencing to either of the laboratories,” he said. “That has allowed us to follow what variants are actually circulating. “So far, the Delta variant is circulating, not only in The Bahamas, but also in all of the Caribbean region and in the Americas. Regarding Omicron, we don’t have any evidence of detection or circulating in The Bahamas. “We don’t have any information to say this variant (Omicron) is more dangerous. In fact, most of the cases so far have been
detected in mild states. We need more evidence regarding clinical facts which will be collected during the next few weeks.” Dr Mendez Rico gave a general timeline for samples to be processed and reminded that while variants might differ, the COVID-19 virus is still the same. “The complete sequencing and characterisation process may take between one and two weeks to be completed,” he said. “It is a very specialised process that cannot be conducted in all laboratories. “It is important to remember that regardless of the variant, the virus is still the same. The transmission mechanisms are still the same and therefore all the public health measures implemented to control the spread are still the most efficient tools. “It is important to always have in mind that regardless of the variant, all the public health measures already implemented to limit the spread of the virus, including social distancing and the use of masks in closed public places and vaccines to reduce the risk of severe disease.” Dr Rico said the public health measures are extremely efficient and therefore should be maintained and enforced. “We don’t have to wait for Omicron to be detected to do what we have to do,” he said. “We have the tools to avoid the spread of the virus and we have to use them.” Over the last week, there were over 782,655 new COVID-19 infections and 10,950 COVID-related deaths reported in the Americas. Some countries in the Caribbean continue
to experience jumps in COVID cases, hospitalisations, and deaths. Other, smaller islands like the Cayman Islands are also witnessing increases in COVID infections. The Bahamas, however, is experiencing minimal cases, according to the national COVID-19 dashboard. PAHO’s director, Dr Carissa Etienne said it is just a matter of time before Omicron spreads to more countries. “PAHO is monitoring the spread of the Omicron variant in our region,” she said. “Omicron has already been detected in several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the United States, although it’s just a matter of time before the variant circulates in more countries. “The arrival of a new variant doesn’t necessarily mean that things will be worse, but it does mean that we must be extra-vigilant in the short-term.” Research is ongoing to better understand Omicron’s behaviour and the potential risks for the region. “In the meantime, we must not forget that we are already dealing with the Delta variant, which is highly transmissible,” she said. “That’s why it’s important that countries continue to leverage the full package of public health measures that have proven effective against this virus, including hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing. And that people get vaccinated when it’s their turn.” PAHO reports that to date, 55 percent of the citizens of the Caribbean region have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
that. This administration plans to take its promises to the Bahamian people seriously. “I want to stress further that the testing requirements will remain in place for all travellers.” The Exuma and Ragged Island MP said there had been recent technical issues with the health visa digital platform, adding Cable Bahamas — the government’s data host — has been asked to create the proper contingency plan moving forward. “On December 5 and again on December 6, the processing of The Bahamas tourism health visa platform experienced interruptions and delays for a short period on each day. This was reportedly due to power outages and other technical glitches at Cable
Bahamas that serves as the government data host. This was most unacceptable and regrettable. “We, therefore, apologise to the travelling public for this inconvenience. I have asked that our service providers put in place the appropriate redundancy so that this does not recur.” The minister said while the testing protocols are under review by the Ministry of Health, tourism officials have been consulted in order to ensure a balanced approach that protects citizens and the industry. He went on to emphasise the health visa has been a helpful tool in information gathering and marketing. “We emphasise that the travel health travel visa will remain in place for tourists and visitors - travellers
from abroad who are not Bahamians or residents of The Bahamas - for the foreseeable future. “We believe that this provides a level of protection for the health and safety of all in The Bahamas by vetting the authenticity of documents by the travel health visa programme well in advance of travel. “The visa has allowed us to gather key data for analysis and marketing, and the means to better communicate events that may impact travel. “We foreshadow further, that the manual immigration landing card will be eliminated in due course. We are satisfied that once this process is also digitised, it will create a further convenience to our tourists and foreign business travellers,” Mr Cooper said.
PHASED BOOSTER ROLLOUT UNDERWAY from page one
The second phase of the booster campaign will include health workers and the armed forces. The campaign was rolled out as officials continue to target achieving 200,000 fully vaccinated people by year’s end. A meeting was also planned yesterday to finalise new testing protocols aimed at mitigating the importation of the COVID19 into the country, Dr Darville said. “Last week, there were some 3,300 vaccine doses administered at our vaccination centres,” the Tall Pines MP said at Parliament yesterday. “These numbers reflect a slow trend of persons seeking to be vaccinated for the first time. “We are happy to advise this morning (yesterday) that beginning today, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will be offered as booster doses. “The booster dose will be administered to those who received Pfizer or AstraZeneca, six months after the second dose, and Johnson & Johnson two months after the initial dose. “The first phase of the booster shot rollout will be for persons 60 years and older, thank God, who are fully vaccinated, and the second phase will include healthcare providers, frontline workers, uniform branch personnel followed by all eligible citizens and residents over the age of 18 years. “This is great news Bahamas and we encourage everybody who qualifies to capitalise on this vaccine opportunity.” He noted the country’s low virus infection numbers and hospitalisations, adding people should not let their guards down. Despite this positive turn of events, the minister said officials remained concerned about the number of deaths due to the virus.
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville yesterday. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff “As we ramp up our vaccination efforts, we remain hopeful that we will reach our projected target of 200,000 vaccinated Bahamians and residents by the end of the year. The increased vaccination of our citizens (and) residents will certainly reduce the severity of the impact of the virus and make it easier for us to keep our economy open and enable us to continue our lives with some degree of normalcy. “As of yesterday, December 7, 2021, there were 13 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in The Bahamas to 22,859. Currently, there are 14 COVID-19 patients in the hospital in New Providence and unfortunately, two persons remain in intensive care in Nassau. “I am happy to report that there were no cases of COVID-19 hospitalisations on Grand Bahama. These numbers that I speak about are some of the lowest that we have seen all year. “Another encouraging sign is that the test positivity rate has been
trending below the five percent benchmark set in place by the World Health Organisation. “But what remains a great concern for all of us in the forefront is the number of deaths now pegged at 705 and an additional 36 deaths under investigation.” He continued: “With a total of 322 active cases recorded across the country, the pandemic continues to impact our healthcare system. The new Omicron variant labelled by the World Health Organization as being more transmissible than the Delta variant has already spread to some 40 countries around the world and is moving closer and closer to our shores. “Given the pervasiveness of the Omicron variant, and the purported milder nature, The Bahamas will remove associated travel restrictions imposed on African countries last weekend. “Having said that, we cannot afford to let our guard down and active discussions are ongoing with our partners at the Ministry of Tourism, Aviation Investments, in order for us to strengthen our travel requirements for entry into the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.” Additionally, in anticipation of a fourth COVID-19 wave, Dr Darville said plans were in the works to strengthen the capacity to manage patients. This will be done through the recruitment of additional healthcare workers and the introduction of medicines to prevent persons positive with COVID from being hospitalised. Officials also plan to increase the number of contact tracers and continue the free testing pilot programmes in communities with outbreaks while software solutions are being tested before rolling out free COVID-19 testing across the country early next year.
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THE TRIBUNE
BAIN ORDERED TO PAY WOMAN BACK $60K
from page one
According to the judgement, Ms Rolle rented from Mr Bain, who was the president and partial owner of a company on Mackey Street, “an emporium which operated in the sale of women’s retail, wholesale shoes, apparels and other consumer items.” Mr Bain, who was a candidate for Pinewood in the September general election, is the first defendant in the matter and Bani Shoe Warehouse is listed as the second defendant. Ms Rolle said she paid Mr Bain “$40,000 for investment purposes to be held in a trust for a period of three years at a 10 percent interest rate per annum.” According to the judgement, Mr Bain agreed that he had received $40,000 from the plaintiff, but he claimed the money was to buy the Kid’s Shoe Department Store from Bani Shoes Warehouse Company Limited. He did not, however, produce any agreement verifying this and said the document had been destroyed in a fire. In fact, he claimed he did not sign any trust agreements and that his signatures on documents the plaintiff produced were forged. During cross-examination, Mr Bain claimed because he knew he didn’t sign the documents, he began tracking down former employees of the company who had information about what happened. According to the judgement, Mr Bain claimed during the trial: “I was calling around different people. But (Keno) was the one who had the same number, same email, so I got him easier. And so, when I got him I told him what was going on. And he told me, he said he had something to tell me. And that is when he confided in me. I then in turn told him that this is serious. And I told him that I may be pressing charges. And he said, he understand. And I brought him to see the lawyer, my lawyer who told him that it could be fraud charges involved.” Keno Symonette, the witness, alleged during the trial that he signed Mr Bain’s signature on three agreements during a fire that happened at the Bani Shoe Loft in 2010. He claimed Ms
Rolle invited him to sign Mr Bain’s signature “as close as possible to the actual signature.” He claimed Ms Rolle was distraught and depressed by the fire at the loft and wanted Mr Bain’s signature for insurance purposes. Justice Grant-Thompson rejected his forgery claim. She wrote: “Whilst I did wonder why Mr Keno Symonette would openly admit to a criminal offence in the face of the court, I did not find Mr Symonette to be a believable witness; the nature of his evidence and his demeanour lacked credibility. I note there was no claim the plaintiff was involved in this alleged forgery. It is crucial in law that she should have been involved in some way. Mr Symonette attempted before me to sign Mr Lincoln Bain’s name. It was a poor and not convincing attempt which did not even come close to Mr Bain’s signature. “Mr Symonette was invited to sign Mr Lincoln Bain’s signature three times. He was allowed to refresh his memory from Mr Bain’s signature and he patently failed to do so on all three occasions. By contrast, when I compared Mr Bain’s signature on the agreements to Mr Symonette’s attempt to sign for Mr Bain in the presence of the court, I found the signatures to be totally different to the extent that they could be compared to day and night. “Whereas Mr Bain’s signature on those documents were almost a replica of each other, I do not accept that Mr Symonette was the penman on any of these material occasions. His purported signature of Mr Lincoln Bain’s did not match the signatures on the agreements nor the witness statements, and they appeared to be nothing more than vain attempts made by the witness in the witness stand. I found by the completion of Mr Symonette’s evidence, both in content and demeanour, that he was lacking in credibility.” Justice Grant-Thompson accepted the legitimacy of the agreements Ms Bain exhibited in the case and entered judgment against Mr Bain in the amount outlined in the plaintiff’s statement of claim. She wrote: “The plaintiff denied ever having a conversation with Mr Keno Symonette. I found her a believable witness. She said that she only recalled seeing Symonette around Bani Shoe Warehouse
when she went there for her businesses. She maintained clearly and emphatically that all of her agreements were signed by the (first) defendant Mr Lincoln Bain in the office of her then lawyer, Mr Willie Moss, and witnessed by Ms Butterfield of his office. “The third agreement was signed and sealed at the Bani business establishment, Market Street. This agreement was separate from the other two with Mr Lincoln Bain. However, Mr Lincoln Bain signed and sealed for Bani Shoe Warehouse Company Limited. She did not just aver to these various agreements, but she produced them on the record before me. “The action of forging the signature of the first defendant allegedly done by Mr Keno Symonette is a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. In my view the response by any reasonable right-minded individual who was entered into an agreement without their knowledge for an amount in excess of $40,000 dollars would be to immediately report this action to the police. Due to the severity of this offence there is no limitation period and the first defendant could have reported this matter to the police the instant it was brought to his attention. The first defendant did not do so and as far as I am aware has still not done so to date.” She noted that for the reasons set out in her judgement, the forgery claim is dismissed. “Summary judgement is hereby granted to the plaintiff and the defendant ordered to pay the value of her filed claim in the amount of $64,000.00. (On the recovery of $40,000 with interest calculated at 10 percent up to 23 April, 2010)…I also grant $3,143 to be paid by the second defendant.” Contacted yesterday, Mr Bain said his lawyers will appeal the ruling. “The lawyers just got that,” he told The Tribune. “They are definitely going to appeal that, they totally disagree. That is an old matter from sometime in 2010…We don’t want to comment on it because it is going through the courts and the lawyers are reviewing it now…This is a civil matter like all business people have. “We totally disagree with the judgment and we are going to appeal.”
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 5
JANUARY 27 FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
LOCAL government elections are expected to be held on January 27, Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said yesterday, as he urged people with a heart for their communities to offer themselves for office. The last elections were scheduled to be held in June 2020, but were delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Local government elections are held every three years. “The last elections were scheduled to be held in June of 2020,” Mr Sweeting said. “However, due to the global pandemic adjustments had to be made. “As a result of the issuance of the Emergency Powers Orders, provisions were made for the suspension of local government elections. “Unfortunately, any procedure to the extension of holding the local government elections after expiration of the orders were void. “Legislative amendments were made by tabling and passing the COVID-19 Pandemic Special Provisions Bill 2021, which provided for the necessary 90 days allocation to properly facilitate hosting the local government election.” He continued: “Provisions can now be made to accommodate the local government election process. “With that being said elections will now be held on January 27, 2022. “I encourage persons to get involved in the process to ensure that not only the most popular individuals are elected, but that the best persons are elected.” The local government elections are held under the provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
DARVILLE: I’LL SPEAK TO SANDILANDS FOR THOSE IN NEED By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said he would speak to administrators at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to see if something can be done to help individuals who are in dire need of admission to the facility. While speaking on the sidelines of the Governor General’s visit to the facility, the minister was asked about Sandiland’s moratorium on admissions and whether there is a view to change it to allow for new admissions. Dr Darville answered: “That question is a difficult question for me to answer. I would have to speak to the administrator because I really do not know the capacity and what the bed arrangements presently are at the facility, but is a concern because there are people out there who need services at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre. But because of the pandemic it’s important for us to execute proper protocols at the facility to prevent the possibility of transmission in person-to-person spread. “So I would speak to (the) administration to see exactly if some of those
protocols could be looked into so that we could be able to help more individuals that are in dire need for admission.” It was noted the team at Sandilands has, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, vaccinated patients and now has an overall vaccination rate among patients of 57 percent. The geriatric hospital management team has worked also on
vaccination rates among patients in this age group and today geriatrics have a 90.2 percent vaccination rate. Dr Darville also said there is a lot more work to do to address mental health in the country. Thus, he is committed to begin to look at the Mental Health Act which he described as a “dated piece of legislation that needs immediate attention”.
During the visit Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith made a call to break the stigma around mental health. “The time has now come for us as a nation to bring the stigma of mental (health issues) to an end. We must stop the discrimination against those with mental health (issues) and instead provide them with the same care, the same compassion and the same dignity that
we give our family members who suffer with any
other common illness,” he said.
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PAGE 6, Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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Bain case admission deserves a full investigation Slow government SOME remarkable scenes played out in court recenlty – where Lincoln Bain, leader of the Coalition of Independents in the election – was ordered to pay $64,000 to a woman who wanted him to hold it in a trust for her for three years. He neither invested it nor returned it. But the curious part came when Mr Bain denied that he had signed any trust agreements and claimed the signatures on documents were forged. He even produced a witness, Keno Symonette. Mr Symonette told the court that he signed three agreements with Mr Bain’s signature. A fire had taken place at the Bani Shoe Loft and he said the woman, Zinnia Rolle, was desperate to get Mr Bain’s signature for insurance purposes. The judge, Justice Cheryl GrantThompson, seemed taken aback by this – and suspicious whether Mr Symonette was telling the truth. She wrote: “Whilst I did wonder why Mr Keno Symonette would openly admit to a criminal offence in the face of the court, I did not find Mr Symonette to be a believable witness.” So doubtful was Justice GrantThompson that she put Mr Symonette to the test – and challenged him to sign Mr Bain’s signature again. Despite three attempts, the signatures were described by Justice Grant-Thompson as “totally different to the extent that they could be compared to day and night”. He even had a chance to look at Mr Bain’s signature before trying – and still no good. So there is a choice here – either Mr Symonette has just admitted in court under oath to faking someone’s signature and effectively defrauding them of thousands of dollars, an offence that could see him sent to prison, or he’s lying and has committed perjury. Imagine going to court as a witness and confessing to a crime with which you are not charged. It is, as we say, remarkable. Mr Bain, for his part, says his lawyers will appeal the ruling, saying: “We totally disagree with the judgement and we are going to appeal.” Even so, Mr Symonette’s statements raise the prospect of criminal behaviour, either fraud or perjury depending on whether he is telling the truth or not. It is time for the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Commissioner of Police to investigate, and then speak up as to what they will do about that.
Foreign Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell is unhappy. The government system, he says, is like a “slow march into hell”. He might well find agreement there from citizens waiting forever to get a response from government, like the long waits for permits and renewals, for example. But Mr Mitchell’s ire is also focused on other ways of getting things done, it seems. “It takes a year and a Sunday to move a pen from here to there,” he says. “It takes months to get bills paid, to get people on the payroll and to make sure they are adequately compensated in time for Christmas.” He talks of waking up to “scores of emails” each day with people telling him “they need a job, there’s no food to eat, the rent needs to be paid, the school fees are overdue and the mortgage is behind”. Interesting that he is concerned about how long it takes to get people on the payroll, because we were under the impression there was a recruitment freeze in the public sector. On November 17, State Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said: “There is a hold on hiring at this time until we make an analysis based on the audit of where we need to build capacity. We can’t just hire and not know where to put people. We have to make sure we’re placing people in positions that are available and that are necessary to move the public service forward.” That’s just three weeks ago – so who is Mr Mitchell trying to get added to the payroll and why is he complaining about how long it takes when a hiring freeze is in place? He goes on to blame it all on the Minnis administration, of course, complaining of “a creaking government administration which, so far, refuses to bend to the will of the new administration”. We think he will find that Mrs GloverRolle is a part of his own administration, so perhaps he should ask her when he can add people to the payroll again. We would also hope that the recruitment process doesn’t depend on who is asking for help in an email, but on hiring the right person for the job. If not, that might explain some of the long delays citizens face themselves when dealing with government.
The FNM and our money EDITOR, The Tribune DEBATE on Supplementary Budget through May, 2022… yet again input of so many of the MPs, clearly shows their personal lack of information and facts and really reality. The Opposition postures as if they were Not Government from May, 2017 through to September 16, 2021. Incredibly, basically patting itself on the back, in their mindset positive, but refusing to take full responsibility of the mess we are in. GDP Ratio now in excess of 100% and they, the Opposition suggest they did well? Boy, the new leader of the Opposition, is going to be interesting in his presentations, well theatrics, but, sir, please if you do not understand that Taxes levied on the business sector, are never paid by the business, but by us - Mr, Mrs and Ms
consumer… 100%. This simply means add 1-2-1020% Corporate direct Tax, up goes inflation and costs. The average wage in The Bahamas is not conducive to Income Tax… take a hotel worker – they rely not on their basic wage but totally on their share of gratuity, which makes up probably 80-90% of their take home… threefour children dependents - financing a car if lucky enough have a mortgage, a payment monthly and for 15-20 years… if their home is over $250k, liable to some Property Tax (of course few pay that). What opposition leader is the average annual saving of a hotel worker? Is there even a need to discuss Income Tax, as only the upper end of the social sector has enough spare money to contribute. Appreciate Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had to
be present for the recent ceremony in Barbados becoming a Republic, but the Budget debate was in full swing, without the Minister of Finance present – why? Where was he at this important juncture? Some reports he was in Miami, won’t go further except surely as Minister responsible for Finance, his place was solely and only in The House of Assembly, not in Miami. Let’s see how the now Opposition handled owed Taxes from $67m they deducted and exempted payment of more than 50 percent of that to $35-36m! Audit report indicates there is a difference in unaccountable of $1 billion – billion, Editor, and the Opposition smiles and suggests they were good stewards? T HUGGINS, Nassau, December 2, 2021
Should FNM play roulette with Killarney? EDITOR, The Tribune. IT HASN’T been two weeks since Marco City MP Michael Pintard’s ascent to the top post of the Official Opposition Free National Movement (FNM) and there are already calls for Dr Hubert Minnis to stand down in Killarney – one of just seven seats the FNM was able to retain on September 16. When Pintard was officially sworn in as FNM leader on November 29 at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre, Minnis was a notable noshow, which ended up fueling speculation that he is unhappy with his current political role within the party. East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson and Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis both showed political maturity by supporting Pintard at his swearing-in ceremony. By their thoughtful gesture, both have demonstrated a willingness to work alongside Pintard for the betterment of the FNM and The Bahamas. Assuming Minnis had no emergency to attend to, his absence,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net at least to FNM critics, is being seen as him being a possible thorn in the side of the Pintard regime. Minnis must be given the benefit of the doubt that he will support the new FNM leader. To the best of my knowledge, Pintard was loyal to Minnis while he was FNM leader. As for the former FNM leader abdicating Killarney, which would pave the way for a by-election, the FNM mustn’t heed the calls for such a move, as it would be tantamount to playing the dangerous game of Russian roulette. Minnis tried the Russian roulette strategy already, by calling for an early general election some eight months before it was constitutionally due, and it backfired in spectacular fashion. Minnis barely won Killarney, as his popularity has plummeted, owing to the COVID-19 lockdowns and the sharp rise
in unemployment in 2020. There’s no guarantee that the FNM will win in a by-election in Killarney. Furthermore, a by-election might unfortunately be dubbed a referendum on Pintard. An FNM loss in Killarney would be, if nothing else, demoralising. FNMs calling for Minnis to resign have a short memory. It was just nine years ago – in 2012 – when then FNM Leader Hubert Ingraham resigned from his North Abaco seat, paving the way for a by-election win for the Progressive Liberal Party and its candidate Renardo Curry. Minnis staying put would, at the very least, ensure that the political haemorrhaging is stopped. Admittedly, this is an unusual, awkward situation for the FNM, with a former leader having to now take orders from a former underling. But if Minnis is willing to swallow his ego, assuming he has one, he can work harmoniously with Pintard. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. December 7, 2021.
When can we get the boosters? EDITOR, The Tribune. DESPITE this administration’s promises, we still have no firm details to when we can expect to be able to sign up for these potential life-savers. This is despite the best practice advice that the current
vaccines lose their efficiency after six months. Many of us are beyond that time period and being older, are the most at risk of hospitalisation or dying. Can the current Minister forget his Socialist principles for once and make
these shots available for those willing to take them, rather than pander to the “refusniks” who prefer to listen to ignorance and rumour? AEQUITAS Nassau, December 8, 2021.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 7
Suspect on murder charge By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AN Eight Mile Rock man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday with murder. Jaycee Jeffery Simmons, 23, of Pinedale, Eight Mile Rock, appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown where he was accused of causing the death of Charles Taylor Jr on October 26.
Taylor was at a local night spot when he and two others were shot. Police Sergeant Garth McIntosh appeared as the prosecutor in yesterday’s arraignment. Simmons was also charged with two counts of attempted murder. He is accused of attempting to kill Cosmel Samuels and Curtis Missick. Simmons, who was not represented by an attorney,
was not required to enter a plea to the charges. His case was adjourned to April 4, 2022. He was denied bail. In a separate case, a 28-year-old Eight Mile Rock resident was arraigned in connection with the murder of a juvenile last week. Elpetio Keith Thompson, of Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, appeared before Magistrate Brown charged
with one count of abetment to murder. It is alleged that on December 3, at Pinder’s Point, the accused purposely aided a man in the murder of 17-year-old Kevin Johnson. Thompson was not represented by an attorney. He was not required to enter a plea to the charge. His case was adjourned to April 4, 2022.
MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO STEAL CAR PART By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 54-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on one count of attempted stealing. Police arrested Marko Smith after they say he tried to steal the clip and bumper of Desmond Hepburn’s Nissan Note, valued at $250, on December 7. During yesterday’s hearing, Smith admitted trying
to steal the car’s clip, but said he had no intentions of also taking the car’s bumper. “I was starting to go with the clip, but then they caught me,” he told the court. However, the prosecution said officers believed he tried to steal the car bumper as well since it was attached to the clip, which was found in Smith’s pocket. Smith insisted this was not the case, saying he didn’t want the car’s bumper. Magistrate Kelly
recorded a not guilty plea. She granted the defendant $2,000 bail with one or two sureties despite objections from prosecution. Magistrate Kelly ordered him to report to the Grove Police Station on Mondays and Fridays before 6pm. She requested Smith be outfitted with an ankle monitoring device as part of his conditions and adjourned his case to February 2. Also appearing on similar offences yesterday was 28-year-old Derico Bowe.
Bowe was charged with stealing after police said he stole a grill and one pair of headlights from Kyle Albury’s black Nissan Cube, valued at over $2,000, on May 18. The 28-year-old denied the offence at his hearing before Magistrate Shaka Serville. Bowe was granted at $2,500 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to report to the Grove Police Station on Saturdays before 7pm.
MAN DENIES INDECENT ASSAULT THREE ACCUSED OF DISORDER By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A 40-YEAR-OLD man who denied exposing himself in front of a woman’s ten-year-old daughter was yesterday denied bail before his trial. Jason Eneas was arrested after he was allegedly found naked in the girl’s bedroom on December 5. It is also alleged he touched the minor’s stomach while in the bedroom. He pleaded not guilty to indecent assault during his second appearance before Magistrate Kendra Kelly yesterday. Prosecutor Vernon Pyfrom asked the court for bail to be denied given the serious nature of the offence and the “tender” age of the complainant.
He also argued Eneas had antecedents and was recently released from prison after serving a twoyear sentence. However, Eneas countered it was his first time being charged in court for such an offence and again denied committing the act. “I’ve never been charged with this type of case in my life… I could understand if it was grievous (harm) or something I was already charged with, but I never been caught up in these types of things,” he said. However, Magistrate Kelly said based on the nature of the offence, she was not inclined to grant bail. Eneas was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned to February 2 for trial. He has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net TWO men and a woman who denied disorderly behaviour in the presence of a police officer last week were granted bail. Javon Johnson, 22; Rodney Smith Jr, 31, and Raynash Davis, 26, were arrested after they were accused of acting in a disorderly manner to the annoyance of a police corporal on December 3. Johnson is further accused of resisting arrest and using obscene language the same day, while Smith and Davis are accused of obstructing a police corporal while acting in execution of his duties. The trio pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux
yesterday and the matter was adjourned to February 18 for trial. Bail was also granted at $1,500 each with one surety. David Thurston, 33, also appeared before Magistrate Turnquest-Deveaux, facing one count each of disorderly behaviour and obscene language. Police said Thurston acted in a disorderly manner and used obscene language while at the Southern Police Station on December 3. Thurston, who pleaded guilty, was placed on two months’ probation for each count. He was also ordered to write an apology to police. The magistrate warned Thurston if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be sentenced to one month in prison on each count.
TWO ACCUSED OF November CAUSING HARM By DENISE MAYCOCK 26, at Freeport, Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO men were charged with causing harm yesterday. Javon Knowles, 38, and David Wallace-Whitfield, 35, both of Freeport appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown in Grand Bahama. It is alleged that on
the accused caused harm to Riesha Dean. Paul Wallace-Whitfield represented both Knowles and Wallace-Whitfield. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge. Knowles and WallaceWhitfield were granted $2,500 signed bail with one surety. The matter was adjourned to March 10.
PAGE 8, Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
WHERE’S OUR APPETITE FOR MOVING TOWARDS
A REPUBLIC?
“The change is daunting. The capacity for ordinary persons to manage that change is sometimes questionable but if we somehow hold onto each other, we can make that journey.” – Prime Minister Mia Motley on Barbados becoming a republic
ON one of his trips to a Family Island to discuss independence for The Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling was confronted by an older lady who accepted the country should become a sovereign nation. But she added a warning cum proviso: “We’re going to keep the Queen though!?” Becoming a republic and removing the British monarch as head of state would have been a bridge too far for many Bahamians. It may have significantly reduced support for independence. Dr Derek O’Brien is a Reader in Public Law at Oxford Brookes University, “a public research university in Oxford, England.” He has written extensively on Caribbean constitutional law. In a May 2016 article published on Constitutionnet, Dr O’Brien traces the constitutional roots and impetus toward republican status for a number of Caribbean states. Dominica was one of the last countries in the region to gain independence. It did so as a republic. All of the other independent countries in the region were constitutional monarchies at independence. The Dominica case is intriguing. Why was it the only former British colony to become a republic at independence in November 1978? The country had been colonized by both the United
Kingdom and France. Since independence, Dominica has enjoyed certain ties with France and a number of Francophone nations. Its decision to immediately become a republic deserves greater study. Dr O’Brien details why the British colonies retained the Crown. He observed: “Such loyalty to the British Crown requires an explanation, especially in a region that had been so ravaged by the experience of slavery and where the majority of its citizens were direct descendants of those former slaves.” Dr O’Brien argues the loyalty to the Crown is traced to the slavery era. As was the case in The Bahamas, many former slaves in the region mistakenly believed that Queen Victoria played a pivotal role in emancipation. As noted previously in this column, the historic irony is that though Victoria was praised by slaves for emancipation, it was actually King William IV who signed the
declaration of Emancipation. Still, Victoria was viewed a liberation symbol. The emancipation of slaves was not mostly about these ancestors being benevolently freed. The larger, more compelling narrative is that of centuries of struggle and resistance, including by Bahamian freedom fighters over generations. A late parent often recalled that her father, among a number of other Bahamians of his generation, refused to allow her and her siblings to attend the annual Empire Day on Fort Charlotte. The older man bristled at Bahamian children lining up obsequiously to pay obeisance and fealty to the British monarch and empire that had enslaved their ancestors. Yet there were many others happy to participate in the pomp and ceremonies presided over by the British Governor and mandarins. Colonial administrators utilized Emancipation Day to encourage loyalty to Britain and the Crown. They also utilized coronations, royal visits, jubilees and other occasions “as a way of reinforcing veneration of the Crown,” even after Victoria’s death.
IDENTITY University of Maryland Senior Lecturer Anne Spry Russ’ “research interests include the nature of identity and culture in the modern British Empire, with an emphasis on imperial identity in the twentieth-century Caribbean and British Isles.” She writes: “From at least the turn of the nineteenth century imperial propaganda…helped to develop in
West Indians habits of mind that created strong ties of loyalty to the British monarchy”, with “the British monarchy [becoming] part of the fabric of everyday life” in the Caribbean. Deeply aware of the popularity of the Crown, the Caribbean’s political directorate, with notable exception in Guyana, pledged loyalty to the Crown. This included Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, which achieved independence respectively on August 6 and 31, 1962, just over a decade before The Bahamas. But, as Dr O’Brien notes: “Attitudes amongst political leaders towards retaining the Crown as head of state have, however, shifted significantly since the independence era.” Except, it seems, for one or two states, including The Bahamas, where neither of the major political parties appears to have any appetite for our becoming a republic. In Barbados, both of the major parties supported the country becoming a republic. The move toward republican status was achieved through a vote of parliament. It did not require a referendum, though the majority of Barbadians supported the change. In Jamaica, both the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party favour becoming a republic, but a referendum is required. Becoming a republic will require a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and a referendum with the majority of Jamaicans approving the change. Yet as Dr O’Brien opined: “Despite consensus among Jamaica’s political parties about the desirability of replacing the monarchy with a republican form of government, the need for popular approval in a referendum may ultimately thwart the initiative.” In The Bahamas, the road to independence was more complex and fraught than many may now recall. The Hon. Arthur Hanna and other progressives wanted an independence date earlier than the more conservative Sir Lynden. Many in the country were fearful of breaking from Great Britain, including some who were a part of a separatist movement on Abaco, which wanted to remain a part of the United Kingdom. The Abaco secessionist movement is another story. One small chapter was a visit by an FNM
delegation pleading with Abaconians to remain a part of The Bahamas. A crowd in which many were hostile to independence was addressed by Sir Arthur Foulkes and the late historian and politician Dr Paul Albury. Together, the two men argued forcefully for Abaco remaining a part of The Bahamas.
SOVEREIGNTY
Progressives in the new Free National Movement, who had fought alongside Mr Hanna for majority rule and independence, were concerned about sovereignty under an increasingly autocratic Pindling, though they were philosophically for independence. In a conservative Bahamas, with quite a number still believing in the racial superiority of the British metropole and the white oligarchy, there was worry that the black majority could not govern the country. Today, the British Monarch remains head of state in just 15 nations: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the United Kingdom. A number of observers have noted The Bahamas will inevitably become a republic. But death is also an inevitably, which could take a long time and is often fraught with pain and great difficulty. It was reported that at the recent UN Climate Change Summit, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis invited Prince Charles, the heir to the British Throne and Prince William, the next in line after his father, to attend our 50th independence anniversary celebrations. What signal does this send? What is the symbolism of inviting two heirs to the British Crown to attend our 50th anniversary of sovereignty? Mr Davis watched as Barbados at its 55th independence anniversary became a republic and inaugurated a Barbadian head of state. What was he thinking as he watched this momentous event for Barbados and the Caribbean? What was he thinking when he invited Princes Charles and William? What messages does this send to the Bahamian
people, the Caribbean and the world? The ceremony in Bridgetown, Barbados, was about more than pomp and circumstance. Prime Minister Motley has launched Barbados on a new democratic journey: the repurposing and revitalization of their nationhood. They are moving toward greater political maturation and responsibility, constitutional change and the forging of a greater democratic ethos and mindset. A newspaper in the UK observed: “Papua New Guinea is thought to be one of the least likely to make the move [toward a republic] as it is said to be ‘the one part of the world where the Queen is, effectively, an elected monarch’, as it appointed her head of state after gaining independence from Australia in 1975.”
STAGNANCY Is it possible that The Bahamas may become a republic even after Papua New Guinea? There is a stagnancy in our democracy. We are regressing in a number of areas, including the quality of those serving in parliament and frontline politics. Despite this stagnancy and regression on a number of levels, there seems to be scant interest by political and opinion leaders and others to begin to make the case to the Bahamian people about eventually moving toward a republic. There is no appetite in the populace for change. But good leaders cultivate the appetite and impetus for change. Neither political party even seems to have a philosophy or position on our becoming a republic. Few commentators seem to even understand the reasons and rationale for becoming a republic. When we “inevitably” become a republic, it may not be because of strongly held convictions by the political directorate and a majority of the populace. It may be because it would look too embarrassing not to be a republic, and embarrassing for the British Crown. It may require British officials whispering in our ears: “It really is time to go!” This column is part of an ongoing series on democratic change and renewal in The Bahamas.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 9
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE GAME’S ALREADY BEGUN BEFORE THE FIRST VOTES ARE CAST THESE days, it often seems like the United States actually has four major political parties, not just the two-party duopoly which has prevailed for much of the past 100 years. While there have been exceptions like Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader in 2000, third-party candidates have rarely influenced national election results in recent decades. Nader’s quixotic Reform Party won three million votes in 2000 and many Democrats still blame him for siphoning off enough liberal votes to ensure Republican George W Bush’s victory that year over Al Gore. Perot had set the third-party standard eight years earlier, helping Democrat Bill Clinton to prevail by winning 20 million generally conservative votes in the general election and 19 percent of the overall vote. Now, though, we have the spectacle of both the Republicans and the Democrats trying to cope with intra-party fractures that result from dissatisfaction with the relatively “centrist” course espoused by mainstream party leadership. The party that prevails in 2024 and perhaps even next year will most likely have best mollified its radical wing. The Democrats are wrestling with their “progressive” wing, which has grown increasingly critical of the Biden administration for not pushing hard enough on societal reforms designed to strengthen the so-called “safety net” under the working poor and indigent in the US. The Republicans, who may have thought they were due a respite after the Tea Party insurgency over a decade ago, now face an even more formidable one in the committed support enjoyed by Donald Trump. GOP leaders clearly want Trump to go away. But he won’t. This is nowhere as apparent as it has recently become in Georgia, where just 11 months ago the Democrats snatched two
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
HE may no longer be president but the figure of Donald Trump looms large on the political scene in a number of races. Senate seats from Repub- came within a whisker of energy to increasing minorlican incumbents in a victory both stunned the ity voter registration all over stunning result that deliv- nation and cemented her the country, but especially in ered majority control of the place in the Pantheon of her home state. Her organiUS Senate to Joe Biden’s current Democratic politi- sation’s efforts brought party. Now, the Peach State cal leaders. There was much nearly 800,000 new voters about her. onto Georgia rolls. Such sucis looking like the bell- speculation wether in next year’s pivotal Would the 2020 presidential cess was clearly one of the nominee, Joe Biden, choose significant factors in GeorUS elections. It all started three years her as his running mate? gia’s two Senate elections ago. Stacey Abrams, a Would she contest one of early this year. Democratic dynamic black woman who the two Georgia seats in the underdogs won both seats, held trailblazing positions US Senate that was open and the Dems won a slim but almost totally unexpected in the Georgia legislature, last year? In the end, Abrams did control of the Senate. ran for governor of the Now we have Abrams state in 2018. Her Repub- neither, explaining she lican opponent was the wanted executive positions as the almost certain then-Secretary of State, with real responsibilities. It Democratic gubernatorial Brian Kemp. As Secretary has now become clear she of state, one of Kemp’s still wants to be governor responsibilities was to over- of Georgia. She announced see an election in which he last week she would run again for the state’s highest was a candidate. Kemp did not recuse him- office, still seeking to be the self, as many advised him to first black female state govdo in the face of a transpar- ernor in US history. After losing the 2018 ent conflict of interest, but he did win a very close elec- election to Kemp, Abrams tion. The fact that Abrams turned her considerable
FAMILY AFFAIRS CNN fired its exceedingly popular 9pm talk show host Chris Cuomo over the weekend, finally agreeing with mounting public opinion that Cuomo had crossed ethical lines too often in his efforts to help his older brother, beleaguered and now-former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo. The brothers are sons of former long-term New York governor Mario Cuomo, and represented perhaps America’s most prominent contemporary political family dynasty. With the near-total disappearance from the national American political scene of such family dynasties as the Rockefellers, Kennedys,
Tafts, Clintons, Bushes and now the Cuomos, it’s getting harder to identify family political enterprises. Indeed, the most wellknown one still standing is probably the Cheneys, where former Vice President Dick Cheney’s congresswoman daughter Liz has pushed her political chips all-in on a strategy of denouncing Trump and trying to lead the Republican Party away from him. Are Americans tiring of political royalty? Maybe it’s a temporary casualty of all the populist doggerel so prominent in the Trump administration. Perhaps the latest generation of America’s royal political families
didn’t measure up to their predecessors in public life. But whatever the reasons for this apparent dynastic demise, it’s worth noting that former Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of a former Arkansas governor, is in a very strong position running for her father’s old position. She has garnered Trump’s enthusiastic endorsement. And she has already driven two betterqualified, more experienced Republican opponents from the race. Both are now running for positions which would be subordinate to hers if she becomes governor, as is now widely expected.
candidate. Incumbent Kemp is running for reelection. But guess what? He is opposed, by none other than one of the two GOP senators who lost their re-election bids in January of this year: David Perdue, a retired millionaire businessman. How would the Republicans allow such a potentially destructive primary election competition? The answer is the former US President. Trump lost Georgia last year to Biden, who was also a clear beneficiary of Abrams’ voter registration prowess. Trump tried in several ways to get that result overturned, at one point urging Kemp to somehow find for him the nearly 12,000 votes necessary to change the result. Kemp refused, declaring there was no legal way to do so. Trump, who had supported Kemp against Abrams in 2018, felt betrayed and vowed retribution. It has now appeared in the form of Perdue, whom Trump has been publicly urging to enter the race for months. So now, six months before the Republican primary election, a bitter internecine GOP fight is shaping up. It looks like the state Republican party is going to stick with Kemp, while Trump will continue to urge his “Make America Great Again base” to support Perdue. The MAGA base is strong in Georgia. Exit polls in January revealed Trump’s steady criticism of Georgia state GOP leaders for not skewing the election his way persuaded at least some of his supporters to not vote in the crucial Senate races. Should Kemp prevail and again become the Republican nominee, many wonder if the Trump base won’t stay
home again. Abrams is expected to run unopposed in the Democratic primary. If the Republicans cannot unite behind a candidate, she will win. Meanwhile, long-time Trump ally and former football star Hershel Walker is favoured for the Republican Senate nomination against long-time civil rights activist and incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock, who was elected in January to complete an unexpired term and now faces reelection just two years later. While the state party may not run a candidate against Walker, his lack of experience may work against his election bid. And given the looming fight over the governor nomination, some Republican voters may sour on this Trump favourite. Trump is also in the Georgia news for other reasons. In Atlanta, the Fulton County District Attorney is still investigating, among other things, Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2. On that call, later released by multiple news organizations, Trump tried to bully Raffensperger to cook the election books in his favour. Raffensperger has now written a book in which he says Trump was threatening him in an effort to coerce him to break the law. The DA has pledged to file criminal charges if they are warranted. It seems quite likely Trump will dominate Georgia news for the next year. The question many are asking is whether this will be good or not for the Republican Party in the 2022 elections. If he splits the party, Trump could easily cost the GOP several elections they would otherwise almost certainly win.
PAGE 10, Thursday, December 9, 2021
CALIFORNIA PLANS TO BE ABORTION SANCTUARY
WITH more than two dozen states poised to ban abortion if the US Supreme Court gives them the OK next year, California clinics and their allies in the state Legislature yesterday revealed a plan to make the state a “sanctuary” for those seeking reproductive care, including possibly paying for travel, lodging and procedures for people from other states. The California Future of Abortion Council, made up of more than 40 abortion providers and advocacy groups, released a list of 45 recommendations for the state to consider if the high court overturns Roe v. Wade — the 48-year-old decision that forbids states from outlawing abortion. Some of the state’s most important policymakers helped write the laws, including Toni Atkins, the San Diego Democrat who leads the state Senate and attended multiple meetings.
COVID CASES SPIKE EVEN AS US HITS 200M VACCINATIONS THE number of Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 200 million yesterday amid a dispiriting holiday-season spike in cases and hospitalisations that has hit even New England, one of the most highly inoculated corners of the country. New cases in the US climbed from an average of nearly 95,000 a day on Nov. 22 to almost 119,000 a day this week, and hospitalisations are up 25 percent from a month ago. The increases are due almost entirely to the delta variant, though the omicron mutation has been detected in about 20 states and is sure to spread even more.
THE TRIBUNE
‘Potter failed Daunte Wright’ MINNEAPOLIS Associated Press
A SUBURBAN Minneapolis police officer who said she mistakenly drew her gun instead of her Taser when she fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright went on trial on manslaughter charges yesterday, with a prosecutor saying Kim Potter had been trained how to avoid such deadly mix-ups but still got it wrong. Potter’s lawyer, though, argued that she made an error, saying, “Police officers are human beings.” And he appeared to cast blame on Wright, saying all the 20-year-old had to do that day was surrender. Potter, 49, killed Wright during a traffic stop April 11 in Brooklyn Center in a shooting that was recorded by her body camera. The white officer resigned two days later. Wright’s mother, Katie Bryant, testified about the moment she saw her son lying in his car after he’d been shot. She said she tried to contact him through a video call after losing an earlier phone connection, and that a woman answered and screamed, “They shot him!” and pointed the phone toward the driver’s seat. “And my son was laying
there. He was unresponsive and he looked dead,” Bryant said through tears. A mostly white jury was seated last week in the case, which sparked angry demonstrations outside the Brooklyn Center police station last spring as former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was on trial just ten miles away for killing George Floyd. Defence attorney Paul Engh told jurors that Potter made a mistake when she grabbed the wrong weapon and shot Wright after he tried to drive away from a traffic stop while she and other officers were trying to arrest him. Engh said all police had reason to believe that Wright might have a gun and that all he had to do was surrender. And he said Potter “had to do what she had to do to prevent a death to a fellow officer” who had reached inside Wright’s car and was at risk of being dragged if Wright drove away. Prosecutor Erin Eldridge earlier told jurors that Potter violated her extensive training — including on the risks of firing the wrong weapon — and “betrayed a 20-year-old kid”. “This is exactly what she had been trained for years to prevent,” Eldridge said. “But on April 11, she
A LONE demonstrator sits on a cement barrier with a Daunte Wright poster outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. Photo: Jim Mone/AP betrayed her badge and she failed Daunte Wright.” “We trust them to know wrong from right, and left from right,” Eldridge said. “This case is about an officer who knew not to get it dead wrong, but she failed to get it right.” Potter, who has told the court she will testify, was training a new officer when they pulled Wright over for having expired license plate tags and an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. When they found that Wright had an outstanding warrant, they tried to arrest him but he got back into his car instead of cooperating. Potter’s body-camera video recorded her shouting “Taser, Taser, Taser” and “I’ll tase you” before she fired once with her handgun. Eldridge played extended body-camera video from the shooting for the jury, including the moments right after Potter shot Wright. Her camera recorded her saying “(expletive) I just shot him” and “I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun.” After his car rolls away, it shows Potter sink to the curb and sit down, further exclaiming “Oh my God.” Defense attorneys argued in pretrial filings that her immediate reaction bolsters their argument that the shooting was a tragic accident. The officer that Potter was training that day, Anthony Luckey, testified that during the stop, he smelled marijuana and saw marijuana residue on the
car’s console. He also said Wright didn’t have a license and produced an expired proof of insurance that was under another person’s name. Earlier, Potter’s defence attorney said Luckey discovered there was a warrant for Wright’s arrest on a weapons charge, which led the officer to believe that there was a “substantial chance” that Wright had a gun in the car — he was unarmed — and a restraining order against Wright. Engh said officers then had no choice but to arrest Wright. “A court of law directed him to arrest him!” Engh shouted while pounding on the courtroom lectern. He told jurors it wasn’t about expired tags by that point, and that officers also had to make sure the woman in Wright’s car was OK because of the restraining order. He said this was standard police work and that Potter made an error. “We are in a human business. Police officers are human beings. And that’s what occurred,” Engh said. But defence attorneys also have asserted that Potter was within her rights to use deadly force if she had consciously chosen to do so because Wright’s actions endangered other officers. Prosecutors say Potter had been trained on Taser use several times during her 26-year police career, including twice in the six months that preceded the shooting. They say Potter’s training explicitly warns officers about confusing a
handgun with a Taser and directs them “to learn the differences between their Taser and firearm to avoid such confusion”. Eldridge told jurors that officers are required to carry their Taser on their non-dominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left. Officers can choose to position their Tasers in their duty belts so they can either draw it from across their body with their dominant hand or draw it with their nondominant hand. Potter had hers positioned in a “straight draw” position, so she would draw it with her left hand. “The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser,” Eldridge said. The prosecutor told jurors they would hear about several policies that she says Potter violated, including one that says flight from an officer is not a good cause to use a Taser. A jury of 14 people, including two white alternates, will hear the case. Nine of the 12 jurors likely to deliberate are white, one is Black and two are Asian. The most serious charge against Potter requires prosecutors to prove recklessness, while the lesser requires them to prove culpable negligence. Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of just over seven years on the first-degree manslaughter count and four years on the second-degree one.
PFIZER SAYS COVID BOOSTER OFFERS PROTECTION AGAINST OMICRON PFIZER said yesterday that a booster of its COVID-19 vaccine may offer important protection against the new omicron variant even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while two doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off omicron. For people who haven’t yet had a booster, the companies said two doses still should prevent severe disease or death. Health authorities in the US and other countries have urged eligible people to get a third dose even before these results.
“Go and get your third boost as soon as possible,” Dr Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, told The Associated Press. “This is comforting and a very positive message that we now have a plan that will induce immunity that is likely to protect from infection, symptomatic illness and severe disease from now across the entire winter season.” President Joe Biden said the Pfizer booster finding is “very encouraging” although he cautioned, “that’s the lab report. There’s more studies going on”. Pfizer and BioNTech tested blood samples taken a month after a booster and found people harbored levels of omicron-neutralising antibodies that were similar to amounts
proven protective against earlier variants after two doses. For the lab tests, researchers grew samples of so-called “pseudoviruses” that hold the worrisome new mutations. Scientists don’t yet know how big a threat the omicron variant really is. Currently the extra-contagious delta variant is responsible for most of the COVID-19 cases in the US and other countries. But the omicron variant, discovered late last month, carries an unusually large number of mutations and scientists are racing to learn how easily it spreads, whether it causes illness that is more serious or milder than other coronavirus types — and how much it might evade the protection of prior vaccinations.
SPORTS PAGE 12
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
‘It’s a big week for baseball’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he Bahamas Baseball Association is gearing up for one of its busiest weeks ever with the staging of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE) executive meeting and awards banquet at Breezes Bahamas Resort & Spa next week. According to BBA secretary general Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting, following the meeting, COCABE will be making some special announcements. It’s the first time that the Bahamas will hold such a prestigious meeting. “Never before in our history have we had an opportunity to have this type of leadership come to the Bahamas to hold their executive meeting,” Sweeting said. “During their meeting, they will be discussing their plans for 2022.” Among the list of executives expected here to participate in the events are George R de
Lira, president of the year and the Bahamas Caribbean Baseball Conhas had its share of federation (COCABE); accomplishments that Melvin Mora, former the BBA hopes would MLB Player and presinot go un-noticed among dent of the Caribbean the leaders of the sport Baseball Development in the region. Commission; Rodolfo “Baseball is moving Puentes, the technical at a very fast pace and director for Caribbean we’re excited to see all Baseball Confederation, of the hard work that has Luis Daniel del-Risco, been accomplished by SWEETING the president of the so many people, he said. Cuba Baseball Federa“They are now beginning tion, president of the Umpires to see the fruits of their labour.” and Scores for Caribbean Baseball While the BBA will be hosting Confederation and umpire instruc- COCABE at Breezes, San Frantor for WBSC and COPABE and cisco Giants’ first baseball coach Ramsey Betorina, the executive Antoan Richardson will be hostdirector of the Caribbean Baseball ing an event and the week will Confederation. conclude with the festivities surAt the end of their meeting, rounding the fourth edition of the COCABE will hold an awards Don’t Blink Home Run Derby banquet at Breezes where they will being organised by Todd Isaacs be presenting an array of awards Jr and Lucius Fox on Saturday, for all of the top achievements that December 18, at the Atlantis took place in 2021. resort on Paradise Island. Without going into any details, While Atlantis serves as the title Sweeting said it has been a banner sponsor for the first time this year,
other stakeholders are REV, International Elite Baseball Academy and California based nonprofit Magical Builders. Magical Builders is a non-profit corporation that has managed the construction and renovation of dozens of charitable facilities. Miami Marlins infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr, the first overall pick in the draft, will headline a list of local pro players that include Warren Saunders (New York Mets), Ian Lewis (Miami Marlins), D’Shawn Knowles (Los Angeles Angels), Keithron Moss (Texas Rangers), DJ Collie (Webber University), Ellison Hanna (Hood College - Assistant Coach), D’Vaughn Knowles (New York Yankees), James Rolle (Baltimore Orioles) and Dax Stubbs (Baltimore Orioles). Among the international players will be headlined by Rookie of the Year prospect, Wander Franco Tampa Bay Rays. He will be joined
SEE PAGE 13
Tiger Woods looks to compete next week By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer TEN months after his right leg was badly damaged in a car crash, Tiger Woods is returning to competition next week with 12-year-old son Charlie in the PNC Championship. “Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the PNC Championship with my son Charlie,” Woods tweeted. “I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud.” It will be his first competition, even in a tournament Woods described last week as the “hit-and-giggle” variety that he can play, since he and his son tied for seventh a year ago in the unofficial event that pairs family members. The tournament was holding a spot for Woods, and he fuelled speculation he might play the December 18-19 event at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club Orlando when he took full swings with driver on Saturday and Sunday during his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “We have been liaising with Tiger and his team for some time and are delighted that he has now decided to make his return to competitive golf at the PNC Championship,” said Alastair Johnston of IMG, the executive chairman of the event. Woods was driving to a Los Angeles course for a television shoot on February 23 when police say he was driving about 85 mph along a winding, coastal suburban road. The SUV crashed through a median and plunged down a hill. Doctors said he shattered the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilised by a rod in the tibia. A combination of screws and pins were used to stabilise additional injuries in the ankle and foot. Woods said last week that amputation was considered. He declined to discuss specifics of the crash, saying only “you can read about all that there in the police report.” The PNC Championship was formerly known as the
NFL Picks, Page 17
KUZMA’S THREE LIFTS WIZARDS OVER PISTONS 119-116 IN OVERTIME DETROIT (AP) — Kyle Kuzma hit a 3 with 0.6 seconds left in overtime and the Washington Wizards handed the Detroit Pistons their 10th straight loss, 119116 last night. Kuzma scored 26 points and Bradley Beal added 25 for the Wizards, who blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter. Jeremi Grant scored 28 points for the Pistons, who haven’t won since beating the Indiana Pacers 97-89 on November 17. The 10-game skid matches Detroit’s longest since a 13-game slide from November 15 to December 9, 2014. They also lost 10 straight from February 24 to March 14, 2015. Washington led by 13 with 7:14 left, but Frank Jackson’s 3-pointer pulled the Pistons within 104-102 with 1:46 to play. Grant later hit two free throws to tie it. JAZZ 136, TIMBERWOLVES 104 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points and sharp-shooting Utah beat Minnesota for its fifth straight win. Mitchell made 14 of 23 shots and Utah connected for 25 3-pointers, two shy of their season high set last Friday against Boston. Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 points and five rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points — all from deep — off the bench for Utah.
SEE PAGE 15
PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILDER JIMMY NORIUS AND HIS WIFE MOVE TO ITALY Father-Son Challenge until it changed the title to be more inclusive of family members. For the first time in its 24 years, the tournament has a current No. 1 player in the field, Nelly Korda, who will be playing with her father Petr, a former Australian Open tennis champion. Lee Trevino is playing again and has never missed the tournament since it began in 1995. Justin Thomas returns as the defending champion with his father, Mike, a longtime PGA professional. Still, this becomes all about Woods inside the ropes, hitting shots that count toward a score. A year ago, it was his last event before a fifth back surgery, not as serious as the previous ones. Toward the end of the second round, he was not hitting some tee shots because his son played from a forward tee and was getting it out there farther than Woods could have hit it. Fans are returning to the Florida course, and it already is close to a sellout because organisers limit ticket sales to preserve the intimate nature of the event. The next question will be when Woods, who shares the career PGA Tour record with 82 victories, will play in an official event. He had said last week that was a long way off, dousing hopes of a return by suggesting his leg
SEE PAGE 14
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
TIGER Woods during a practice session at the Albany Golf Club, on the sidelines on day three of the Hero World Challenge Golf PGA Tour, on Saturday, December 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
BAHAMIAN professional bodybuilder Jimmy Norius and his wife Serena, who is hoping to follow in his footsteps by earning her pro card, have moved to Florence, Italy, where they hope to continue their sporting careers. The duo left town over the weekend and have now settled down into their new home and are now making the adjustment to their environment. “We both agreed that this was the best move for us, in terms of the culture, the food and the cost of living, plus Italy is Europe, so it is so much easier for us to be able to train and compete,” Norius said in an interview from their apartment as they observed a national holiday yesterday. “And the quality of life in Italy is something that everybody has. But in the Bahamas, the quality of life is something that you have to pay for. In Italy, it’s just so much easier to enjoy life. The level of equality versus inequality isn’t that much.” Norius has learned that in Italy, education is free and so is healthcare, which makes it so much easier for both of them to make the smooth transition from the Bahamas. But he’s even more enthused about what he can achieve as an athlete in Italy. “I know a lot of the IFBB pro shows are held in Spain,
SEE PAGE 14
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Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 13
7th Bahamas Bowl: Blue Raiders and Rockets ‘energised’ about Nassau trip By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net MIDDLE Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said despite the fact that their Blue Raiders players are immersed in their final exams this week, they are really excited about making the trip here next week to compete in the seventh Bahamas Bowl college football game against the Toledo Rockets. Stockstill said that while his coaching staff has been busy with their recruitment process, the players have been practicing since last week and can‘t wait to make the trip here this weekend in preparation for the game at noon on Friday, December 17, at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. “We are really excited, our players are energised, they are excited about attending this game and playing a really good Toledo football game,” Stockstill said during a media session via Skype yesterday. The Blue Raiders will represent Conference USA in their ninth bowl game of the FBS (I-A) era and the 13th bowl game in school history. However, this will be the second trip to the Bahamas for Middle Tennessee, having made their first bowl appearance in 2015 when they fell to Western Michigan, 45-31. The game will air nationally on ESPN and be broadcast on Bowl Season Radio. Both teams will be competing for The Prime Minister’s Trophy, awarded to the winner of the contest, which will see the first time that the two teams will clash against each other. Wirth the logistics and everything surrounding COVID-19, Stockstill said his Blue Raiders have a pretty good feel of what to expect when they arrive. He noted that they are looking forward to their stay at Atlantis before it’s down to business at the stadium. The Blue Raiders are coming in with a 6-6 winloss record, having won four of their last six, much of which Stockstill attributes to their abilities to overcome all of the adversities that they faced during the regular season. “We went through four quarterbacks, who had injuries and some other things,” he said. “We never really found a rhythm, at least a rhythm offensively.
BBA
FROM PAGE 12 by Triston Casas (Boston Red Sox), MJ Melendez (Kansas City Royals), Akil Baddoo (Detroit TIgers), Dylan Carson (St Louis Cardinals), Jeremiah Jackson (Los Angeles Angels), Marcus Wilson (Seattle Mariners), Justin Wylie (New Jersey Jackals), Zack Veen (Colorado Rockies) and Dalton Combs (San Francisco Giants). Team Isaacs will include several first time local participants, including the most recent members of the last international signing and MLB draft class. BJ Murray (Chicago Cubs), Kristin Munroe (Los Angeles Angels), Andre Arthur (Miami Marlins), Adari Grant (St. Louis Cardinals) and Stephen Adderley (Miami Marlins) will all make their derby debut. The group also includes veteran Anfernee Seymour (Kane County Cougars) and minor leaguers Chavez Young (Toronto Blue Jays), Everette Cooper (Houston Cougars), Trent Deveaux (Los Angeles Angels), and Davonn Mackey (Oakland Athletics). Former Don’t Blink champion Lewis Brinson of the Miami Marlins will highlight the international group for Team Isaacs. The group also includes Miguel Rojas (Miami
We were 3-4 after the Virginia Tech game and we had about 13 players out for those two weeks because of injuries and some other health issues. “That hurt us a little bit. Sounds like an excuse, but it’s not, it’s a fact. We just played a little bit better defensively. We had our continuity within our offence and injury standpoint. Those last five games at the end, we played a little bit better than we played the middle five.” Comparing this year’s team to the one that represented Middle Tennessee in 2015, Stockstill said the previous team threw the ball a lot more, racking up over 4,000 yards that year. That’s the big difference offensively. And defensively, he said this year’s team is much more mature than the previous team and although they are not as explosive, if they can run the ball a little better than they have been doing, they should have a great game. Toledo looking to launch a rocket Jason Candle, the head coach for Toledo, said after making their debut here in 2018, they are eager to take on this unique chance to once again experience the hospitality that they enjoyed from the Bahamian people, even though the final outcome of their games was not what they anticipated. “What a fantastic week we had and we look forward to try and duplicate that and have another great week with this football team here,” said Candle in his press session from Salem, Ohio. The Rockets, representing the Mid-American Conference, will come to the Bahamas having won four of their last five games, which according to Candle, showed Toledo’s resilience. They finished the season at 7-5, which according to Candle, was a major reason why they feel they will have a great game here next week. “Three conference losses by a total of eight points, I think when those things happen, you have a couple of choices,” Candle said. “You can fold and go one way or you rally together and go a totally different direction. “Our staff did a good job, making sure we stayed the course and our leaders did a good job of doing what they say they will do and they brought this football
“BASEBALL IS MOVING AT A VERY FAST PACE AND WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY SO MANY PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR”
— BBA secretary general Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting Marlins), Will Benson (Cleveland Guardians), Dominic Smith (New York Mets), Khalil Lee (New York Mets), Richie Palacios (Cleveland Guardians), Josh Palacios (Toronto Blue Jays), Christian Koss (Colorado Rockies), Nick Gordon, and Mason Wynn (St. Louis Cardinals). On Friday December 17, the participating players will host the annual kids’ clinic at the Atlantis resort in Paradise Harbour for aspiring student-athletes. “It’s s big week for baseball,” Sweeting said. “So we’re excited about what’s happening in baseball right now.”
BLUE Raiders’ football coach Rick Stockstill.
ROCKETS’ football head coach Jason Candle.
team through some tough moments.” With the bowl game coming so early, especially when teams are in their recruitment mode, Candle said it has been a major adjustment trying to juggle the preparation of getting the team ready to come to the Bahamas at the same time. “We’ll be crazy after everything everybody’s been through over the last year and-a-half to take anything for granted,” Candle said in reference to COVID-19, bringing all sporting bodies to a standstill before some protocols were put in place to resume
activities. “We’re not going to take this opportunity lightly. We’re going to treat this and respect this opportunity in great detail and we’re going to go down (to the Bahamas) and put our best foot forward and try to win the football game.” According to Chris Pika, the Bahamas Bowl director of communications, both teams will arrive in the Bahamas on Monday. They will engage in a press conference on Wednesday at noon and the big game will follow at noon on Friday, which will be free of charge to all Bahamians in attendance.
PAGE 14, Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
TIGER
FROM PAGE 12 wouldn’t allow him to practice as much, he was at peace with that and “I’ve made the climb enough times.” He also said he hadn’t reached a point of deciding whether to complete a full comeback from his latest injuries. “I’ll play a round here or there, a little hit and giggle, I can do something like that,” he said. “To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eyeopening, but at least I’m able to do it again. That’s something that for a while there it didn’t look like I was going to. Now I’m able to participate in the sport of golf. “Now, to what level? I do not know that.” The first level is with his son at his side in a 36-hole event where he doesn’t have to hit every shot and can ride in a cart. But the score will count, and that hasn’t happened since the PNC Championship last year.
TIGER Woods during a practice session at the Albany Golf Club, on the sidelines of day three of the Hero World Challenge Golf PGA Tour, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Column: Reviewing the year based on every club in the bag By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The value of one shot was a place in history, another was worth $15 million in the bank. One drive introduced a young Scotsman on the world stage, one fairway metal helped to make a young American a major champion. All were shots that shaped the year in golf. What follows is a review based on every club in the bag. And in perpetual honour of Arnold Palmer and his beloved shootout at Bay Hill, this bag isn’t limited to 14 clubs: DRIVER Bryson DeChambeau gets attention for cutting off most of the lake on the par-5 sixth hole at Bay Hill, and thrusting both arms in the air like a strongman. The best shot hit with a driver was three weeks later at the WGC-Dell Match Play.
Robert MacIntrye of Scotland came to the 371yard 18th hole at Austin Country Club needing to win the hole to advance out of group play. He hit a bullet onto the green 3 feet from the cup, right next to the feet of Dustin Johnson’s caddie. 3-WOOD Daniel Berger was tied for the lead on the par-5 18th of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am when he laced a 3-wood onto the green to 30 feet. He holed the eagle putt for a twoshot victory and was on his way. By the end of his year, Berger was a Ryder Cup player. 7-WOOD Nelly Korda won her first major and moved to No. 1 in the world with a powerful performance in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. And that power was never more evident than on the par-5 fifth hole at Atlanta Athletic Club. She hit 7-wood that stopped a foot away for
eagle that gave Korda the lead for good. 3-IRON Harris English was one shot behind on the downhill, par-5 closing hole at Kapalua in the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions. From a downhill lie, he hit 3-iron from 268 yards to 10 feet. That set up his birdie to tie Joaquin Niemann, and English beat him with a birdie on the first extra hole. English might be the best reminder that the best way to raise one’s profile is by winning. He won twice this year and was part of his first Ryder Cup team. 4-IRON Justin Thomas has a short history of big shots on par 5s, and this was a big stage. Thomas and Jordan Spieth were all square against Viktor Hovland and Bernd Wiesberger in Saturday foursomes at the Ryder Cup. On the 569-yard 16th hole, Thomas hit 4-iron to 8 feet that Spieth converted
NORIUS FROM PAGE 12
Malta, Portugal and Italy and so competing, it will be a lot cheaper,” he said. “From Italy to Spain, you can get an airline ticket for about $50. For me to get from the Bahamas to Spain to compete, I would have to spend over $3,000. “And as far as the gym membership is concerned, you would have to pay about $220 per month to train, but in Italy, you are only spending about $10-20 per month. “Everything in preparing me for a show is going to be much cheaper than it would be if I was doing it in the Bahamas.” It’s not been a full week since they have settled in and taken in what he called the “breathtaking” environment with the vineyards and olive gardens on the horizon, but Norius said it has been “quiet and stress-free” so far. “Even though it’s cold, it still feels good,” said Norius, who noted that the rooms in their apartment are heated. “It’s just so amazing to be here. I went into the store and bought a gallon of water for 30 cents and got a big bottle of olive oil for about three euros. And it’s quality stuff. “Living in the Bahamas, you have to pay for a quality of life, but in Italy, a quality of life is given to everybody regardless of their socio-economic status.” While his main focus is going to be on increasing his Italian language, thanks to the assistance from Serena, Norius said he has to adjust to the weather, which is extremely cold at this time of the year.
JIMMY Norius and his wife Serena in Italy. “After I get my residency permit, I will try to get some employment here because I want to be able to train young children with their athletic programme,” said Norius, who intends to set up a home-based gymnasium whenever he doesn’t engage in any of the facilities to train in. “I’m going to spread the word around in the community that I will be offering my service to help develop athletes like I did when I worked on some of our pro athletes like Steven Gardiner in Moore’s Island, Abaco with Nick Dean, Leevan Sands with his therapy on his knee, Jamal Wilson his therapy on his knee as well and even boxer Tureano Johnson when he was rehabbing his shoulder.” As a former track athlete, who now specialises in bodybuilding, Norius said he’s eager to share his expertise with the Italians as a physical fitness instructor. Serena, an Italian native, said she’s glad to be home with her husband. She said like he did when he introduced her to the sport, she’s looking forward to him preparing her to continue her career, in her
quest to become a pro bodybuilder as well. “I am very excited for Jimmy because now he can see with his own eyes what I’ve been telling him about how cheap the organic food is here to help with our diet and nutrition,” Serena Norius said. “Now he will see how well he can enjoy going into the foodstore and buy high quality food for cheap.” She said she will work with him to launch his physical fitness profession with the young people, but at the same time, he will be ensuring that she gets the necessary training for her to make her debut on stage in front of her family and friends in a bodybuilding show very soon. “I won’t forget the Bahamas and Florida where I had some very good performances,” she said. “But by June, I want to be able to compete in my first meet in Italy. So we’re working on making sure that I am ready for that.” By April and hopefully acclimatised to Italy, Norius said he hopes to get on stage in his first pro show in either Spain or Malta. Whenever he does, Norius said he will continue to represent the 242 to the best of his ability,
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA, of Japan, and Xander Schauffele, right, congratulate themselves after their eagles on the 15th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament on Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) for eagle, and they went on to a 2-up victory. 5-IRON The Masters was wide open on Saturday afternoon when Hideki Matsuyama hit 5-iron that never left the path of the flag on the par-5 15th, landed softly and rolled out to 5 feet for eagle. That gave him the despite the fact that he will do it as a resident of Italy. “I will be a Bahamian regardless. I still consider the Bahamas to be the best in the world per capita, so I will continue to carry the Bahamian flag wherever I go,” he said. “I’m leaping out by faith to make it better for me in the future. “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual and I know that even when Jesus was on earth, he had to migrate from Nazareth to Egypt,” he said. “Joseph had to migrate at one point, Moses had to migrate, Lot and Abraham both had to migrate for a better way of life.” Stating that “when God opens a door for you,” one should take it because “sometimes you only have one chance.” He said he could be a forerunner for others in the sport to step in fate to make a difference in their career. “I would encourage any athlete who gets an opportunity to go to another part of the world to train and compete to do so,” Norius said. “God didn’t just bless us with the Bahamas, but the world as well. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullest therefore, so it’s best to travel the world and see what they have to offer as you embrace their culture and way of life. Allow destiny to take you where you have never been before and when you need to go.” Three years ago, he said he never envisioned that he would make this move. But after meeting his wife, he said Serena showed him that there was more to life than just the Bahamas and he’s ready to embrace it as he continues his professional bodybuilding journey.
lead for the first time, and it started an eagle-birdiebirdie run that sent him to a four-shot lead and ultimately a green jacket. 6-IRON Patrick Cantlay had a one-shot lead over Jon Rahm playing the par-5 18th hole at East Lake with no less than $15 million riding on the outcome. From the fairway, he smoked a 6-iron from 218 yards to 12 feet — the closest of anyone all day at the Tour Championship — that set up birdie to become the FedEx Cup champion. 7-IRON Sam Burns twice failed to convert 54-hole leads in his pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory. His last challenge at the Valspar Championship was the 16th hole. From 186 yards, he had a 6-iron until caddie Travis Perkins felt the wind die and called him off. Burns instead hammered 7-iron to 18 feet for birdie, sending him to his first title. 8-IRON Collin Morikawa was coming off two birdies and was in the lead at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai when he found a bunker off the tee. With an 8-iron, he hit a high fade to shape it around the water to 12 feet. That set up a par that kept up his momentum, and he finished off a victory that made him the first American to become the European Tour’s No. 1 player. 9-IRON Sergio Garcia already had beaten Lee Westwood in the opening session of the Match Play and then faced him in a playoff two days later to try to win the group. On the 161-yard fourth hole, Garcia hit 9-iron just beyond the pin and it trickled back into the cup for an ace. That prompted Westwood to say: “Well, 28 years on tour and I thought I had seen everything. I hadn’t!” PITCHING WEDGE DeChambeau is swinging faster and hitting it farther, and it’s not just the driver. On the par-3 eighth hole at Torrey Pines in the final round of the US Open, he hit pitching wedge from 175 yards, slightly uphill at
sea level, that came within inches of falling for a holein-one. The tap-in birdie gave him the lead for the first time. Ultimately, he couldn’t hold on. GAP WEDGE Max Homa’s hopes of winning at Riviera looked lost when his tee shot on No. 10 in a playoff settled at the base of a tree, while Tony Finau was 7 feet away for birdie. Homa hooded a gap wedge to get some spin, somehow bumped it up the hill to the front of the green and escaped with par to stay in the playoff. He won with a par on the next hole. Along with the incredible shot, this was among the feel-good wins of the year — an LA kid, winning at Riviera, getting the trophy from Tiger Woods. “I don’t know if I can do anything cooler in golf than this,” he said. 52-DEGREE WEDGE The return of Spieth this year also brought back his short-game magic, none more memorable than the opening foursomes session with Thomas at the Ryder Cup. The ball was buried in deep grass on the side of a steep slope left of the par-3 17th. Spieth opened the face of a 52-degree wedge and swung so hard that the ball shot straight up in the air, and his momentum sent him racing down the hill to the edge of Lake Michigan. The ball came down 6 feet away. Thomas missed the par putt. No matter. It was the shot everyone wanted to see that day. SAND WEDGE Xander Schauffele had the Tokyo Olympics in mind all summer, and he came to the final hole of Kasumigaseki Country Club with a one-shot lead. He hit into the trees on the right and had no choice but to chip back to the fairway. From 98 yards, he hit sand wedge about 15 feet behind the hole and watched it spin back to 4 feet. He made the par for the gold medal. LOB WEDGE Phil Mickelson had a one-shot lead in the final round of the PGA Championship when he put his tee shot in the front bunker on the par-3 fifth hole at Kiawah Island. Always skilled with a lob wedge, he blasted out perfectly and it trickled into the cup for a birdie surprise, widening his lead and sending the 50-year-old into the record book as golf’s oldest major champion. PUTTER The clinching birdie putt for Jon Rahm in the US Open was the 18-footer on the final hole at Torrey Pines. The winning putt? That might have been on the hole before. Rahm was one shot behind Louis Oosthuizen when he rolled in a sharp-breaking 25-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead. Behind him, Oosthuizen bogeyed the 17th and Rahm was on his way.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 15
Barcelona out of the Champions League, snow extends group stage By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer BARCELONA’s 17-year streak of advancing to the Champions League knockout rounds each season ended yesterday with an exit from the group stage that failed to finish on time because of snow in Italy. Barcelona fell to a 3-0 loss at Bayern Munich that dumped the five-time European champion into a dismal — and deserved — third place in Group E. Bayern’s perfect six straight wins started with a 3-0 win at Camp Nou in September, and a repeat result at home let Benfica rise above Barcelona — and into the round of 16 draw on Monday — by beating Dynamo Kyiv 2-0. Only 15 of the 16-team lineup in the knockout stage were known on Wednesday night. The Atalanta-Villarreal game to decide who will finish runner-up in Group F was postponed by heavy snow in the northern Italian
city of Bergamo. The group was already won by Manchester United before it drew 1-1 Wednesday with last-place Young Boys at Old Trafford. UEFA later asked Atalanta and Villarreal to try again on Thursday. A grim evening for Spanish sides saw Sevilla join Barcelona in being eliminated, failing to advance from the wide-open Group G where all four teams kicked off in contention. Lille, the team lowestranked by UEFA in the group stage, seized top spot by beating Wolfsburg 3-1 in Germany. Canada forward Jonathan David scored the second goal for Lille. Salzburg beat Sevilla 1-0 to advance to the round of 16 as runner-up. The consolation for third-place Sevilla is a switch across to the second-tier Europa League where it is the record sixtime title-holder. Defending champion Chelsea and Juventus had already sealed their roundof-16 places from Group H
but first place in the group was in play Wednesday. Chelsea was stunned by Zenit St Petersburg’s leveler deep into stoppage time for a 3-3 draw in Russia that let Juventus secure top spot with a 1-0 win at home to Malmo. Juventus will be in the pot of seeded teams with the other group winners in Monday’s draw, where the unseeded pot now includes Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. ROUND-OF-16 DRAW The round-of-16 draw is on Monday at 1100 GMT at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. There are restrictions in the draw. Teams that already played each other in the group stage and teams from the same country cannot be drawn together. Pot 1 has Manchester City, Liverpool, Ajax, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Lille and Juventus. Pot 2 has Paris SaintGermain, Atlético Madrid,
SNOW falls over the pitch prior to the Champions League, group F soccer match between Atalanta and Villareal, at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, Italy, yesterday. (SpadaLaPresse via AP) Eight teams that placed winners advancing to the Sporting Lisbon, Inter Milan, Benfica, Atalanta third in Champions League competition’s round of 16 in or Villarreal, Salzburg and groups enter a separate March. draw on Monday for the Chelsea. The third-place teams First-leg games are Europa League knock- are Leipzig, Porto, Borusplayed over two midweeks out playoffs in February. sia Dortmund, Sheriff, from February 15-23 and They will play two-leg Barcelona, Atalanta or Vilreturn games are from series against runners-up in larreal, Sevilla and Zenit St. Europa League groups with Petersburg. March 8-16.
NBA
FROM PAGE 12 Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 22 points, while Anthony Edwards scored 18. The Timberwolves have lost four straight. HEAT 113, BUCKS 104 MIAMI (AP) — Caleb Martin scored a career-high 28 points and Miami beat Milwaukee. Starting for the injured Jimmy Butler, Martin shot 9 of 12 from the field, including 6 for 8 on 3-pointers, as the Heat tied a franchise record with 22 3s against the defending NBA champions. Kyle Lowry had 22 points and 13 assists and Max Strus scored all 16 of his points in the fourth quarter for Miami, which snapped a three-game home losing streak. Jrue Holiday scored 27 points and Khris Middleton finished with 20 for the Bucks. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points as Miami limited him to 4-of-13 shooting from the field. The Heat took the lead for good with nine straight points in the final 55 seconds of the third. ROCKETS 114, NETS 104 HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Gordon scored 21 points before being ejected in the fourth quarter and Garrison Mathews added 19 as Houston extended its winning streak to seven games with a victory over shorthanded Brooklyn. The Rockets’ streak comes after they dropped their previous 15 games, and it’s the first time Houston has won seven straight since winning eight in a row in November 2019. James Harden had 25 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Nets on a night when NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge both sat out for rest. It was Harden’s second visit to Houston since he was traded in January during his ninth season with the Rockets. The Rockets led by 17 to start the fourth quarter and the Nets cut the deficit to four before Houston pulled away. 76ERS 110, HORNETS 106 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joel Embiid had 32 points, Seth Curry added 23 points and eight assists, and Philadelphia beat Charlotte for the second time in three nights. Tobias Harris added 18 points in a rematch of a game the 76ers won 127-124 in overtime Monday night on the same court. Gordon Hayward had a season-high 31 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who played without five rotational players, including last year’s NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball due to NBA health and safety protocols.
WASHINGTON Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) is greeted by teammate guard Bradley Beal (3) after hitting a 3-point basket in the closing seconds during overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons yesterday in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) MAVERICKS 104, Kelly Oubre Jr., who had straight game, rallying from its four-game win streak ejected late in the fourth GRIZZLIES 96 35 points in Charlotte’s loss a 13-point deficit to beat snapped. quarter. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Monday night, finished with injury-depleted Toronto. Lonzo Ball added 19 Desmond Bane finished 22 points and 10 rebounds Toronto’s Justin Cham- points and Nikola Vuce- — Luka Doncic scored 26 with 14 points. but finished just 3 of 12 pagnie thought he had vic had 18 points and 12 points, Kristaps Porzingis NUGGETS 120, from beyond the arc and tipped in Fred VanVleet’s rebounds, but shot 8 for 23 added 19 and Dallas used a PELICANS 114, OT fourth-quarter rally to end missed a free throw that missed shot at the buzzer from the field. NEW ORLEANS (AP) would have made it a one- to give the Raptors the win The Bulls played their a three-game skid. — Nikola Jokic scored 11 Reggie Bullock added 15 of his season-high 39 points possession game with 7 but, after a wild celebration second game since leading seconds left. at center court, the referees scorer DeMar DeRozan for the Mavericks, who sur- in overtime to go with his PACERS 122, ruled Champagnie’s shot was placed in the NBA’s passed 100 points for only 11 assists and 11 rebounds, KNICKS 102 had come too late. health and safety protocol the second time in the past and Denver outlasted misINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Thunder, who won for COVID-19. Chicago six games. take-prone New Orleans. Jaren Jackson Jr. led — Chris Duarte scored 23 Monday at Detroit to snap guards Coby White, Matt Jokic had five points in points, Myles Turner had an eight-game losing streak, Thomas and Javonte Green Memphis with 26 points, the final 1:29 of regulation 22 and Indiana beat New overcame a double-digit are sidelined for the same while Dillon Brooks added to help the Nuggets erase a 15 points before being five-point deficit. York. deficit for the second game reason. Duarte, a rookie shooting in a row. Oklahoma City guard, eclipsed his 13.1- fought back from 18 down point scoring average with to beat the Pistons. 14 in the first quarter, when Luguentz Dort scored 22 the Pacers seized control points for Oklahoma City. with a 15-2 run. Indiana Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 outscored New York in points, Pascal Siakam had each of the first three 23 and VanVleet scored quarters to lead 96-76 and 14 of his 19 in the fourth mainatined a double-digit quarter as the Raptors lost lead from midway through for the first time in three the second quarter until the games. Toronto is 4-9 at final buzzer. home. Each of the Pacers startCAVALIERS 115, ers scored in double figures, BULLS 92 with Malcolm Brogdon CLEVELAND (AP) — getting 16 points and Caris Darius Garland scored 24 LeVert 15. Duarte and points and rookie power LeVert each had six assists. forward Evan Mobley Domantas Sabonis had 21 had 16 points and nine points and 11 rebounds. rebounds to send Cleveland RJ Barrett led the Knicks past Chicago. with 19 points. Julius Garland also had six Randle had 18 points and assists as the Cavaliers eight rebounds. won for the fifth time in THUNDER 110, seven games, earning their RAPTORS 109 most lopsided home vicTORONTO (AP) — tory of the season. Mobley, Mike Muscala made a the third overall draft pick, go-ahead 3-pointer with shot 8 of 11 from the field nine seconds remaining, and had a season-high five Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blocked shots and two scored 16 of his 26 points steals. in the third quarter, and Zach LaVine scored 23 Oklahoma City held on points with nine assists late to win its second for Chicago, which had
PAGE 16, Thursday, December 9, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Warner’s eventful 94 has Australia in the lead in 1st Ashes test By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — David Warner had a big reprieve off a no-ball, was dropped in the slips, was hit in the ribs and narrowly avoided being run out. It was a tough way to reach 94, getting potentially within one shot of a 25th test century. The veteran opener shared partnerships of 156 with Marnus Labsuchagne and 23 with Steve Smith to help give Australia a 46-run first innings lead in the first Ashes test against England. He was still there when Australia reached 193-3 at tea on Day 2 in reply to England’s 147. Labuschagne was out for 74 in a rare bright spot for England left-arm spinner Jack Leach and Smith only added 12 before he was caught behind off fast bowler Mark Wood just before the interval. Warner’s survival and Ben Stokes’ delivery stride were the two main talking points today. Warner was on 17 when he was beaten by star allrounder Stokes, bowling his first over in a test match since March. But Warner was recalled when the third umpire checked TV replays and determined it was a no-ball. TV broadcaster Channel 7 showed Stokes had also overstepped the crease on his previous three deliveries and not been called by the umpires. The Ashes broadcaster later revealed Stokes had overstepped the front crease 14 times in the opening session on Day 2 and had only been called twice for a no-ball. Cricket Australia said a technology problem at the Gabba meant that the third umpire, Paul Wilson, couldn’t review TV replays of every delivery to check if bowlers were over-stepping the crease, leaving it to the on-field umpires to make the calls. Before a change in the rules last year, it was standard practice for onfield umpires to signal a no-ball immediately when a bowler over-stepped. Stokes didn’t bowl in the second session today,
AUSTRALIA’s David Warner is bowled off a no ball by England’s Ben Stokes, right, during day two of the first Ashes cricket test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, today. (AP Photos/Tertius Pickard)
AUSTRALIA’S MITCHELL STARC, right, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Jos Buttler during day one of the first Ashes cricket test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday.
when Australia added 80 runs for the loss of two wickets. Warner had a run of chances. He was on 48 soon after the lunch interval when he edged Ollie Robinson to second slip, where Rory Burns put down a catch. He was on 60 when Haseeb Hameed bungled a run-out chance from close range with Warner scrambling to get back into his crease. Labuschagne wasn’t so lucky. After dominating
the bowling attack and hitting six boundaries and two sixes off 116 balls, he played a loose cut shot to Leach and was caught at point by Wood. Leach had been punished by the Australian batsmen in his first six overs but jagged an important wicket for England. He had figures of 1-62 from eight overs. Wood returned 1-35 off 13 and Robinson, who dismissed Marcus Harris (3) in the first session, had 1-30 off 14.
AUSTRALIA’s Pat Cummins gestures after taking five wickets during day one of the first Ashes cricket test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday.
SAJID’S BOWLING LEADS PAKISTAN PAST BANGLADESH IN 2ND TEST DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Offspinner Sajid Khan ended with a match haul of 12-128 as Pakistan broke Bangladesh’s stubborn resistance to secure an innings and eight-run victory in the rain-hit second and final test yesterday. Bangladesh was forced to follow-on after being wrapped up for 87 in the first innings and was bowled out for 205. With the light gradually fading, Bangladesh’s last-wicket pair of Taijul Islam and Ebadot Hossain resisted for 34 balls to raise a hope of salvaging the test. But Sajid broke the partnership, dismissing Taijul leg-before to help Pakistan win the game. Sajid claimed 4-86 to follow up his opening 8-42, the fourth-best total by a Pakastani bowler in an innings. “The team, the captain trusted me to do the job,” Sajid said. “The plan was to go for the win, and we tried to keep it tight and bowl on one spot. The entire team gets credit for their effort.” Pakistan declared its first innings at 300-4 after only 63.2 overs were possible in the first three days because of rain and bad light. The third day was entirely washed out and only 6.2 overs were possible on Day 2. Resuming on 76-7, Bangladesh was quickly dismissed for 87 and Babar Azam forced the follow-on. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-31) and Hasan Ali (2-37) then got into act with the new ball, leaving Bangladesh 25-4. But Bangladesh raised a bit hope as Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das combined for 73 runs in 25 overs before Sajid rattled the stump of Liton for 45. Shakib Al Hasan joined Mushfiqur Rahim and added 49 runs before the latter was run out for 48 after trying for a risky single. Shakib and Mehidy Hasan then frustrated the Pakistani attack and Babar came to bowl, getting the breakthrough with his offspin as Mehidy went for sweep and was trapped leg-before. A quick delivery from Sajid then broke the stump of Shakib. Shakib was his side’s top second-inning scorer with 63, becoming only the sixth player to complete a double of 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in tests.
Serena Williams won’t play Australian Open MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Not long after Serena Williams’ name was absent from the entry list for the Australian Open, she confirmed the obvious: the seven-time champion won’t play the 2022 edition of the seasonopening major in January. The 40-year-old Williams hasn’t played since retiring from her first-round match at Wimbledon with a right hamstring injury and her ranking has slipped to No. 41. She won the last of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles at the 2017 Australian Open, and was beaten in the semifinals this year by Naomi Osaka in straight sets. The Australian Open’s website yesterday said the seven-time women’s singles champion would not compete in Melbourne “following advice from her medical team.” “While this is never an easy decision to make, I am not where I need to be physically to compete,” Williams told the website. “Melbourne is one of my favourite cities to visit and I look forward to playing at the AO every year. I will miss seeing the fans, but am excited to return and compete at my highest level.”
UNITED States’ Serena Williams makes a forehand return to compatriot Danielle Collins during a tuneup event ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday, February 5. Not long after Serena Williams’ name was absent from the entry list for the Australian Open, she confirmed the obvious: the seven-time champion won’t play the 2022 edition of the seasonopening major in January. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) Novak Djokovic was on the men’s entry list at No. 1 in a further indication
that he’ll be playing at Melbourne Park beginning January 17 despite
Australia’s strict regulations requiring all players, officials and fans to be fully
vaccinated for COVID-19. Djokovic has declined to comment on his vaccination
status in recent months, although he was included last week on the Serbian team for the ATP Cup which starts January 1 in Sydney. The nine-time Australian Open champion is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal is also entered for the Australian Open, which starts January 17, but Federer is skipping the tournament as he continues his recovery from surgery. Daniil Medvedev, who ended Djokovic’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam with a victory in the US Open final, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev are listed above No. 6 Nadal, who is not playing for Spain at the ATP Cup. Ash Barty tops the women’s entry list and will continue her quest to end a long drought for Australian women at the tournament. No Australian woman has won the singles title since Chris O’Neil in 1978. On Monday, Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, said she will take a mental break from tennis and sit out the start of next season, including the Australian Open.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 9, 2021, PAGE 17
Steelers vs Vikings mystery clash By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer THERE’S a mystery show on TV in prime time tonight: Pittsburgh versus Minnesota. There’s no way to figure out these two teams. The Vikings (5-7) go from on the rise in a victory over NFC power Green Bay to heading into the abyss after a loss to previously winless Detroit. The Steelers (6-5-1) can’t get out of their own way on both sides of the ball at times, then knock off AFC North leader Baltimore. Each of them remain in the playoff chase, though. Each needs a star player — Steelers linebacker/ edge rusher T.J. Watt and Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson — to carry them. “He’s a game wrecker,” Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick says of Watt, who was precisely that against the Ravens. “He’s a guy that’s going to go out there and cause havoc. Just the energy that he plays with, the passion he plays with. “I wouldn’t call it the anger, but when he’s out there, he’s angry.”
Jefferson is more smooth. He’ll need to be particularly impactful this week with sidekick Adam Thielen hobbled by a sprained ankle. “As long as we don’t get the ‘W,’ it doesn’t matter what type of game I have,” Jefferson said. “If I have a career game, record-setting game, it doesn’t matter. If we don’t come out with the ‘W,’ it’s pointless.” According to FanDuel SportsBook, the Steelers, ranked 14th in the AP Pro32, are a 3-point underdog at the No. 22 ranked Vikings. Pro Picks expects a huge game from both Watt and Jefferson, but in the end ... VIKINGS, 27-20 KNOCKOUT POOL: The Chiefs kept folks alive with their win over Denver, and Pro Picks has three strong possibilities remaining for this week: Seattle, Green Bay and, with the Giants so underwhelming and banged up, the CHARGERS. No. 27 (tie) New York Giants (plus 10 1/2) at No. 12 Los Angeles Chargers New York has uncertainty at quarterback, and can’t score regardless.
BEST BET: CHARGERS, 24-9 No. 24 Atlanta (plus 2 1/2) at No. 26 Carolina Somehow, both teams are on the fringes of the NFC playoffs. Atlanta will stay there. UPSET SPECIAL: FALCONS, 23-21 No. 10 Los Angeles Rams (plus 2 1/2) at No. 1 Arizona , Monday night Supremacy in the NFC West, with Arizona in position to clinch a playoff berth. CARDINALS, 23-20 No. 27 (tie) Chicago (plus 12 1/2) at No. 2 Green Bay The Packers, fresh from a bye, should have an easier
time securing their postseason spot. PACKERS, 31-16 No. 9 Buffalo (plus 3) at No. 3 Tampa Bay Coming off the ugliest of losses, can the Bills rebound? Not here. BUCCANEERS, 26-20 No. 8 Dallas (minus 4) at No. 16 Washington It’s difficult to fathom how well Washington’s D has played minus its best player, Chase Young. COWBOYS, 22-21 No. 15 San Francisco (plus 1) at No. 13 Cincinnati Both clubs need a turnaround from sloppy defeats. We think Cincinnati gets it. BENGALS, 27-24
NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKS - WEEK 14 LAST WEEK: 10-4
GIANTS VS CHARGERS Chargers at home, no need to labour the point. CHARGERS 27 - Giants 17
SEASON: 128-65-1 TEAMS ON BYE: PATRIOTS, COLTS, DOLPHINS, EAGLES
SUNDAY 4:25 PM LIONS VS BRONCOS Lions going for two straight ... not happening though. BRONCOS 24 - Lions 20
THURSDAY 8:20PM STEELERS VS VIKINGS The Steelers tied with the Lions, the Vikings lost to the Lions. STEELERS 23 - Vikings 20 SUNDAY 1:00PM COWBOYS VS WASHINGTON The Cowboys silence all the doubters with a big road win in the division. COWBOYS 31 - WFT 23 JAGUARS VS TITANS Titans get right at home. TITANS 24 - Jags 17 SEAHAWKS VS TEXANS It’s fantasy football playoffs on the horizon, so now here comes Russell Wilson. SEAHAWKS 24 - Texans 20
49ERS VS BENGALS Coin flip - Niners in the upset 49ERS 31 - Bengals 30 RAIDERS VS CHIEFS CHIEFS at home in a tight one. CHIEFS 27 - Raiders 23 SAINTS VS JETS RB Alvin Kamara returns for the Saints, enough to help them squeak one out on the road. SAINTS 20 - Jets 13 FALCONS VS PANTHERS This one could go either way - injuries have hit the Panthers harder so FALCONS 24 - Panthers 23 RAVENS VS BROWNS Ravens grind out a tough road win in the division. With no late game theatrics. RAVENS 23 - Browns 20
BILLS VS BUCCANEERS The Bills seem to be free falling after a hot start. BUCCANEERS 27 - Bills 24 SUNDAY NIGHT 8:20 PM BEARS VS PACKERS Packers at home in a fun one. PACKERS 31 - Bears 23 MONDAY NIGHT 8:20 PM RAMS VS CARDINALS The Rams can only beat weaker opponents it seems. CARDINALS 34 - Rams 30
Patriots throw fewest passes in an NFL game since 1974 By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer MAC Jones and the New England Patriots played a style of game more reminiscent of a triple-option service academy than the modern NFL. Jones threw just three passes on a windy Monday night in Buffalo for the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a halfcentury as the Patriots beat the Bills 14-10. The Patriots relied on the ground game as 40 mph wind gusts forcing the emphasis to be placed on running the ball, with 46 runs compared with just the three passes. The last time a team threw that little in a game came September 29, 1974, on another windy day in Buffalo. Joe Ferguson threw only two passes — both incomplete — that day for the Bills in a 16-12 victory over the New York Jets. O.J. Simpson ran the ball 31 times for 117 yards and Joe Namath went 2 for 18 with three interceptions for the Jets. There was only one other game in the last 70
years when a team threw three or fewer passes, with Kansas City having three in a 24-10 win over the Oakland Raiders in 1968. This was the eighth time in the Super Bowl era that a team threw five or fewer passes in a game, according to Sportradar, with those teams going 7-0-1. The last team to do it was also the Patriots, in the infamous 3-0 Snowplow Game win over Miami in 1982. TOP OF THE MOUNTAN If the season ended now, the top seeds for the playoffs would be Arizona (10-2) in the NFC and New England (9-4) in the AFC. Both the Cardinals and Patriots missed the playoffs last season, with Arizona finishing 8-8 and New England at 7-9. The last time both top seeds were coming off non-playoff seasons was in 1992, when San Francisco (14-2) took the spot in the NFC and Pittsburgh (11-5) in the AFC. Neither the 49ers nor Steelers made the Super Bowl that season, with San Francisco losing to Dallas in the NFC title game and
TAMPA Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady. (AP) Pittsburgh to Buffalo in the divisional round. ROAD WARRIORS The Cardinals have gotten into this position by being the NFL’s best road team. Arizona’s 33-22 win at Chicago last week improved the Cardinals to 7-0 on the road, with all the victories coming by at least 10 points. The last team to win its first seven road games by double digits was the 1968 Cowboys, who went 7-0 on the road that season. The road success ended in the playoffs when Dallas lost its first game 31-20 at Cleveland when the sites were predetermined by division. The only other team to win seven straight road
games by double digits in the same season was the 1984 Super Bowl champion 49ers, who went undefeated on the road but won the opener at Detroit by just three points. TOM TERRIFIC Tom Brady is doing things at age 44 that he has never done before. Brady had his sixth game this season with at least four TD passes, surpassing the five he had in 2007 for the most in a season in his career. This is the sixth time in NFL history a QB has thrown for at least four TD passes six times in a season, with the other five all winning the MVP: Aaron Rodgers (seven in 2020), Patrick Mahomes (seven in 2018), Peyton Manning (nine in 2013), Manning (six in 2004) and Dan Marino (six in 1984). Two of Brady’s TDs last week went to Rob Gronkowski, giving the pair 90 in the regular season in their careers. That surpassed Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (89 TDs) for second-most in NFL history. Only Manning and Marvin Harrison (112) have more.
No. 6 (tie) Baltimore (plus 3) at No. 17 Cleveland Baltimore is banged up and Cleveland is rested. Still, the Ravens are better. RAVENS, 27-24 No. 18 Las Vegas (plus 9 1-2) at No. 5 Kansas City While the Chiefs have resurrected their season, the Raiders are stumbling. But the spread is too high. CHIEFS, 23-16 No. 31 Jacksonville (plus 8 1/2) at No. 6 (tie) Tennessee We can’t see the Titans losing to yet another weak team, and they come off a bye. TITANS, 30-17 No. 23 New Orleans (minus 5) at No. 29 New York Jets Man, do the Saints miss Jameis Winston. SAINTS, 17-13
No. 30 Detroit (plus 8) at No. 20 Denver Two wins in a row for the Lions? Not quite. BRONCOS, 24-17 No. 25 Seattle (minus 7 1/2) at No. 32 Houston Two wins in a row for the Seahawks? Definitely, and with ease. SEAHAWKS, 30-10 ___ 2021 RECORD Last Week: Straight up: 9-5. Against spread: 9-5. Season: Straight up: 123-70-1. Against spread: 110-81-2. Best Bet: Straight up: 7-5-1. Against spread: 9-4. Upset Special: Straight up: 11-1. Against spread: 11-1.
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Stephen Curry closes in on 3s record as Warriors top Blazers By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 22 points and moved within nine 3-pointers of tying Ray Allen’s career record, and the Golden State Warriors held off the injury-depleted Portland Trail Blazers 104-94 last night. The reigning NBA scoring champion shot 6 of 17 from beyond the arc, missing his initial four 3-point tries before connecting at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. Curry went 4 of 12 in the first half as Golden State held a 47-45 edge at the break. Norman Powell scored 26 points but went 1 of 7 from deep, and the Blazers were just 8 for 30 from long range. Star guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum sat out because of injuries. “Strange,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. “I don’t think we’ve ever faced Portland without both of
them, so they’re in a tough space right now.” Curry is closing in on Allen’s mark of 2,973 regular-season 3s made from 1996-2014. Kerr fully expected Curry to shoot as many times as he could from deep to try to get this done for the home fans at Chase Center before the team hits the road for five games. “I feel like it will be special no matter what because I’ll make it special and it will be an amazing experience for me and my teammates,” Curry said this week. Draymond Green had 10 rebounds, eight asissts and five points, and Jordan Poole scored eight of his 20 points in the third quarter as Golden State started to pull away. Jusuf Nurkic had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six assists before fouling out late. Nassir Little scored 18 points for the Blazers, making all five of his firsthalf shots.
LOYAL LILLARD Earlier in the day, Lillard reiterated he doesn’t want to be traded by the Blazers. “It’s the truth,” he said while heading into the locker room after warmups. Not that anyone was surprised he still feels so strongly about staying put with Portland. “He’s said it numerous times,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “He’s a Trail Blazer, period. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, he’s not going anywhere. He believes in what we’re doing here. That says a lot, because we’ve been going through a ton, on the floor and off the floor, we’ve been going through it a little bit. He’s the type of player and superstar that every team wants to have. ... I thought it was beautiful.” RESPECT FOR STEPH Billups noted that the moment Curry crosses midcourt “he’s got a bullseye on him” as a threat to shoot. “I just think he’s just the greatest combo guard to
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) attempts a 3-point basket during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco, last night. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) ever play the game,” Bil- and Anfernee Simons below 50% shooting in 27 lups said. (sprained right ankle) also straight games dating to last TIP-INS missed the game. ... Port- season. Trail Blazers: Lillard sat land has lost 12 of its last 14 UP NEXT out to rest and protect an on the Warriors’ home floor. Trail Blazers: Host Minabdominal injury while ... The Blazers dropped to nesota on Sunday in the first McCollum is sidelined 1-11 on the road. of four meetings between indefinitely after being Warriors: Green was hit the teams this season. diagnosed with a collapsed with a technical at the 7:42 Warriors: At Phillie on right lung. ... Cody Zeller mark of the first. ... Golden Saturday night having won (bruised right quadriceps) State has held opponents to the last two vs. the 76ers.
Frenzy Part II? What to expect when MLB roster freeze lifts By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer THE ink was hardly dry on Corey Seager’s $325 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers last week when baseball’s historically hurried free agency period crashed to a halt. Hard to imagine anything competing with last Wednesday’s spending spree, when teams combined to commit a record $1.4 billion in the hours before baseball tumbled into its first labor stoppage in 26 years. But when the lockout ends, the frenzy for the game’s remaining free agents should be entertaining, too. There are 141 major league free agents waiting for a freeze on roster transactions to lift once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Progress on a CBA isn’t expected until at least the weeks before pitchers and catchers are set to report, meaning another mad dash is probably in store for teams trying to fill out their rosters ahead of spring training. Here’s what to look for when the hot stove reignites: IN SHORT SUPPLY This year’s free agent class was headlined by a star quintet of shortstops, but three of them signed big-money deals last week — Seager, Marcus Semien (Rangers) and Javier Báez (Tigers). Carlos Correa and Trevor Story remain, with Andrelton Simmons also available for suitors who might miss out. Correa, the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star, was considered the top player on the market entering the offseason and is certain to get the biggest deal after the lockout. The 27-year-old batted .279 with 26 homers, 92 RBIs and an .850 OPS for Houston in 2021, perhaps shaking some concerns about his durability by playing 148 games — his first time with at least 111 since 2016. Two targets loom for Correa — Seager’s $325 million deal was the biggest
ATLANTA Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) bats during a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on September 15. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) signed this offseason, and homers, 83 RBIs and an Francisco Lindor’s $341 .896 OPS. million, 10-year contract Drafted by Atlanta in with the Mets is the record 2007, the 32-year-old seems payday for a shortstop. like a prime candidate to Correa is looking for a follow friend and mentor deep-pocketed team ready Chipper Jones in being to make a last-minute splash a lifelong Brave. If that before spring training. Con- doesn’t happen, it’s not veniently, the Yankees top hard to picture nearly every the list of clubs that need big-market team trying to a shortstop. General man- take a run at the five-time ager Brian Cashman has All-Star. heaped praise on Correa, UNIVERSAL saying last month that negaDEMAND? tive fan reaction tied to the It’s expected — but not sign-stealing scandal was certain — that the National “not going to enter my cal- League will adopt the desculus” and that Correa was ignated hitter as part of the “clearly not afraid.” new collective bargaining The 29-year-old Story agreement. Several players has played six stellar sea- stand to benefit by waiting sons with the Colorado to sign until that change is Rockies and hit .251 with official. 24 homers and 75 RBIs in Nick Castellanos should 2021, surprisingly remain- get the biggest payday of ing in Denver all season the group. The 29-yearinstead of being traded to old hit .309 with 34 homers a contender. He could get and 100 RBIs for Cincinsomething similar to Báez’s nati in 2021, but his outfield $140 million, six-year deal defense is just OK. Kyle with Detroit. Schwarber, who hit 32 Simmons won the last homers for Washington and of his four Gold Gloves in Boston last year, has a simi2018 and batted just .223 lar profile. with three homers for MinNelson Cruz struggled nesota last year. after a midseason trade to BRAVES OR Tampa Bay last year, but NEW WORLD? the 41-year-old still hit 32 Freddie Freeman remains homers and should get an a free agent despite his everyday job. World Series apparently tight ties with MVP Jorge Soler also the World Series champion remains available. Braves. The 2020 MVP is IN LIMBO coming off another stellar Justin Verlander has been season, hitting .300 with 31 left in an odd situation after
agreeing to a $25 million, one-year deal with a conditional $25 million player option to return to Houston. The two-time Cy Young Award winner agreed to the deal two weeks before the lockout, but the Astros never announced they had finalized his contract. The 38-year-old technically remains on the market, although there hasn’t been any indication he won’t end up back with Houston. Righties Nick Martinez and Jordan Lyles are in similar positions. Martinez, coming off a strong season in Japan, was close to an agreement with San Diego but couldn’t get it completed before the owners locked out the players Dec. 2. Lyles, meanwhile, had a deal with Baltimore but was unable to get his physical done in time. SEIYA LATER Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki was posted by NPB’s Hiroshima Toya Carp on Nov. 22, and his 30-day window to sign with a major league team was paused by the shutdown. He’ll have 20 days to find a deal once rosters unfreeze, and agent Joel Wolfe told Japanese media last week that between eight and 15 teams have expressed interest. Another potential obstacle: spring training in Japan starts Feb. 1. BEST OF THE REST Kris Bryant could fit onto nearly any roster because of his versatility — he played more games in the outfield than at third base for the first time this season, including 19 appearances in center. ... LHP Carlos Rodón didn’t get a qualifying offer from the White Sox despite finishing fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2021, meaning teams won’t sacrifice a draft pick if they sign him. ... LHP Clayton Kershaw also wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the Dodgers, although that was more a courtesy to the 33-year-old. He’s expected to return to Los Angeles if he plays next year. ... Other names of note: OF Michael Conforto, 1B Anthony Rizzo, RHP Kenley Jansen, OF and NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario.
EVEN AMID BOYCOTT, IOC STILL HIT WITH PENG SHUAI QUESTIONS By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer IOC President Thomas Bach can’t escape repeated questions about Peng Shuai and issues raised by two video calls the IOC has had with her. The calls were aimed at conveying a message that Peng was safe despite being absent from public view after the three-time Olympic tennis player accused a top Chinese politician of sexual assault almost six weeks ago. The questions keep coming, even overshadowing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics called by the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Lithuania. Bach has acknowledged that Peng’s situation is “fragile.” He is in the midst of three days of executive board meetings in Switzerland focused on the opening of the Games in Beijing on February 4. But many of the questions at the daily press briefings are about Peng. “You have to respect this human being,” Bach said yesterday. “And in such a fragile situation (that) Peng Shuai is in, you have to make all the efforts to build trust. To engage in a human relationship. And this, as you can appreciate, is not easy in a video call.” Bach said the IOC initiated both calls with Chinese sports officials. He said the IOC was open to more calls and did not rule out an “independent” party being involved. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova was suggested to Bach. Bach said Peng’s wishes had to be respected, and he said she has asked for privacy. No transcript of the calls was provided by the IOC, and Bach has never mentioned her sexual assault allegations against former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhang Gaoli. “Why don’t you respect Peng Shuai in this and let her decide where her
CHINA’s Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan’s Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on January 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) priorities are,” Bach said. He said that other parties were involved in the first two calls including what he termed a “native Chinese on the call.” He was thought to be referring to IOC member from China, Li Lingwei, “In the running of the calls we all were having the same impression that we could not feel her being under pressure,” Bach said. “For the rest we can only report what she reported in the call.” “Many people are saying there are suspicions here and there,” Bach added. “It’s very easy to have suspicions. Suspicions you can have always and about everything.” Teng Biao, a Chinaborn human rights lawyer living in the United States, said it’s clear that Peng is not free to speak. “Of course, Peng Shuai is not safe,” Teng said in a recent interview on CNN. “What we know (through videos) is she’s still alive, she’s still in China. But she is definitely not safe, not well, and she’s totally controlled by the Chinese authorities and nobody knows where she is being detained. “And so the athletes, if they go to China – nobody can guarantee their safety. Beijing doesn’t care about sports, what they care (about) — it’s political monopoly. So the No. 1 priority for Beijing is to maintain its one-party rule.”
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