SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019
Williams prevails by unanimous decision By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
A
fter losing his last fight by a split decision in the United States, Rashield Williams went to the Dominican Republic where he took his frustration out on his opponent in the third fight of his professional career with a four-round unanimous decision on Saturday night. “He was really tough,” Williams told The Tribune of his opponent from the Dominican Republic. “He was a really, really tough guy. I just had to pace myself and don’t look for the knockout. “I had to take him to school. So I hit him, moved, hit him, move. He was really strong and really big. I just used my boxing technique. I had him dizzy a few times off his feet, but he wouldn’t drop. He was actually off his feet, but he wouldn’t drop.” The win came after Williams got stopped by Javaune James in his last fight at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, on March 23. Williams, 29, made a successful pro debut on February 9 at the Restaurant Los Olividados in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, when he knocked out Carlos Monroy in the first round. Based on the outcome over the weekend, Williams felt it was a real fist fight. “All I used on him was my skills. I couldn’t depend on my power and strength because he was a really tough guy,” Williams reflected. “He was also very experienced, so I just depended on my skills and what my coach (Normal Wilson) taught me to do in those types of situations.” For Williams, there was no greater feeling than to be able to get back into the ring and redeem himself after his last showing. “I just finished this one, but I’m getting prepared to get back into the ring for another fight next month,” he said. “I don’t know who it is and where it will be, but I will be ready.
SEE PAGE 4
SEVERAL Bahamian student athletes have advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships following their performances at their respective regional qualifiers. The East Regional was hosted at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, while the West Regional was hosted by Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California. In order to advance to the final round, athletes had to finish among the top-12 (per region) in their respective events. The 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Final will be hosted by the University of Texas Longhorns in Austin, Texas, June 5-8. For the Purdue Boilermakers, Samson Colebrooke and Tamar Greene will both be headed to Austin for the final.
NORTH AND CENTRAL ANDROS IN WIN COLUMN By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE North and Central Andros team finally snapped the Temple Christian Academy Suns’ three-year reign as champions of the Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships. The three-day meet came to a close on Friday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Lanisha Rolle presenting the championship trophy to North and Central Andros. They scored a total of 246.50 points, compared to Temple Christian’s 181.50. Finishing in third place was Central Abaco, who came up with 155, one more than Cleveland Eneas. Hugh Campbell was fifth with 110. “We came back to redeem ourselves,” said Felicia Cartwright, coach of North and Central Andros, who had to settle for second place last year. “We worked hard in practice and we came out here and performed.” Cartwright said the competition this year was very fierce, but their squad stepped it up and performed very well. “We’re coming back for a repeat,”
SEE PAGE 4
NPBA ELECTIONS: ‘WE COULDN’T PROCEED WITH THE MEETING’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net RASHIELD WILLIAMS, of the Bahamas, took his frustration out on his Dominican Republic opponent in the third fight of his professional career with a four-round unanimous decision on Saturday night.
Athletes advance to NCAA Division I Outdoors By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PAGE 7
Both were members of the record-setting 4x100m team that won the East Regional quarterfinal. Their time of 38.75 seconds was the fastest time in Purdue history, a facility record and was the fifth-fastest time by any team in the NCAA this year. Purdue was initially disqualified following the race. However, after the officials’ review, the call was reversed and the team was reinstated. Individually, Colebrooke also qualified in the 200m and finished ninth overall after he ran an NCAA qualifying time of 20.46 in the quarterfinal. His new personal best time also made him the second-fastest Boilermaker in programme history. Colebrooke finished 16th in the 100m with a time of 10.27. He was also a member of the 4x400-metre relay team that advanced to the nationals with a time of 3:05.43. Following the 4x100m, Greene also qualified individually in the triple jump.
JYLES ETIENNE Green leaped 16m (52 feet, six inches) to finish fourth overall. He passed on his final two attempts once he secured the berth to nationals. Jyles Etienne of the Indiana Hoosiers advanced to Austin in the high jump. He finished 10th in
the field with a height of 2.19m (7 feet 2.25 inches). Etienne recorded his season’s best height at the Big Ten Championships where he cleared a height of 2.20m (7’ 2.5”).
SEE PAGE 4
EUGENE Horton will have to hold onto the presidency of the New Providence Basketball Association a little longer than he had anticipated. Horton was hoping to demit office on Saturday when the NPBA held its annual general meeting and election of officers at the Ministry of Education. But according to Horton, they didn’t have a quorum after only four of the 13 financial teams were represented. They needed at least seven representatives to make it official. As a result of the cancellation of the AGM and elections, Horton said they will now have to wait until Saturday, June 15, to complete the process. “It’s just a matter of the clubs getting together and making sure that they have their representative selected to attend the next meeting,” Horton said. “We had all of the candidates running for office present, but we couldn’t proceed with the meeting because the clubs were not represented.”
SEE PAGE 4
PAGE 2, Monday, May 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
TORONTO Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) holds up the trophy after the team’s 100-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals on Saturday in Toronto. The Raptors advanced to the NBA Finals. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Leonard scores 27, Raptors advance to first NBA Finals By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Lowry stole the ball and pushed it ahead, then waited for Kawhi Leonard to arrive before feeding his All-Star teammate for a thunderous one-handed slam over Giannis Antetokounmpo . “The building exploded after that dunk,” Leonard said. It sure did. Now imagine how it will sound when the NBA Finals come to Toronto for the first time next week. Leonard had 27 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Raptors into the finals for the first time with a 100-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. His big dunk with 6:46 to go in the fourth quarter was the final basket in a gamechanging 26-3 run that began late in the third. “It was kind of a momentum capper,” Lowry said. “We were on a run, and why not feed the big dog? Let the big dog eat.” The Raptors overcame a 15-point deficit to win the series in six games and will host the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. It will be the two-time defending champions against a Raptors team that will finally bring the NBA Finals outside the U.S. after entering the league in 1995. “They’re one of the greatest teams in history,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of the Warriors. “It will be a tall task, but we’ll try to figure it out.” Pascal Siakam scored 18 points, Lowry had 17 and Fred VanVleet 14 for the Raptors. Lowry held the game ball and picked up his children after the game, finally getting to the championship round after the Raptors kept falling short against Cleveland. “It’s taken a long time to get here in my career,” Lowry said. “I’ve run into one guy for a while.” Toronto was eliminated by LeBron James and the Cavaliers in three straight
of the second half. Leonard missed the free throw. ‘Antetokounmpo shot 5 for 10 at the free throw line. Raptors: Danny Green, who missed all three of his field goal attempts in 16 minutes in Game 5, had another rough night. Green shot 0 for 4 in 14 minutes. Leonard’s 17 rebounds were his most in any game this postseason. Lowry had eight assists. DRAKE WATCH Raptors fan and ‘global ambassador’ Drake sat in his regular seat adjacent to the Toronto bench. The rapper wore a black hoodie with ‘KAWHI ME A RIVER’ printed on the back.
TORONTO Raptors fans react after the team’s 100-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals outside Scotiabank Arena on Saturday in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) postseasons before shaking things up last summer with the acquisition of Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP who was acquired from San Antonio and has carried the Raptors in this postseason. “He’s the best player in the league and we’re happy he’s in Toronto,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said. Asked about Ujiri’s compliment, Leonard said he’s focused on different goals. “I just want to win,” he said. “I don’t care about being the best player. I want to be the best team.” Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, but the NBA’s top team in the regular season saw its bid for a first finals berth in 45 years come to a disappointing end with a fourth consecutive defeat. “Man, obviously when you’re up 2-0, that doesn’t mean nothing,” Antetokounmpo said. “You’ve got to learn how to come out
and close out games, especially after Game 3. We’ve got to get better as a team, and we’ve got to get better individually.” Even Nurse found his team’s turnaround hard to believe. “Beating this team four times in a row is almost mind boggling,” Nurse said. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said it hurt to see a great season end. “The roster that was put together for this season, as the season started going, you started feeling like it was special and could do special things, including advancing past tonight, but it didn’t happen,” Budenholzer said. Down 76-71 to start the fourth, the Raptors tied it with an 8-2 run while Leonard and Antetokounmpo were both on the bench. Serge Ibaka’s dunk with 10:32 to go tied it at 78. Antetokounmpo returned after a
timeout, but Leonard kept sitting. That didn’t matter to Toronto, with Siakam’s basket giving the Raptors an 80-78 lead, their first lead since it was 6-3. Toronto made 12 of 27 3-point attempts, including four of eight in the fourth quarter. Siakam, who missed a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter of Toronto’s double-overtime win in Game 3, hit one to make it 98-94. Leonard grabbed the rebound on the second and was fouled. He made both, putting the Raptors up 100-94 with 3.9 seconds to go. Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton each made a pair from long range as the Bucks shot 6 for 9 from 3-point range in the first and closed the quarter with 10 unanswered points to lead 31-18. Toronto shot 6 for 19 in the opening quarter, missing six straight twice in the first 12 minutes.
The Bucks extended their lead to 38-23 on a 3 by Ersan Ilyasova with 7:46 left until half. Toronto cut the gap to 46-43 on a 3 by VanVleet with 1:07 left in the second, but Eric Bledsoe answered with a 3 and Antetokounmpo split a pair at the line, giving the Bucks a 50-43 advantage at the intermission. The lead went back to 15 in the third before Leonard finished the period with a flourish. He had eight points in the final 2:01 and Toronto closed with a 10-0 run, cutting a 15-point deficit to 76-71. TIP-INS Bucks: Milwaukee shot 4 for 16 in the second but three of its made baskets were 3-pointers. The Bucks had six points in the paint in the first half. They finished with 28. Budenholzer was called for a technical foul on Milwaukee’s first possession
STREET PARTY Outside the downtown arena, fans flooded streets, bringing traffic to a standstill. One video posted on social media showed a group of fans partying on the roof of a Toronto city bus. Fans surrounded Marc Gasol’s car as he was driven out of the arena, and the centre rolled down his window to trade high fives with the crowd. BIRTHDAY BOY Toronto’ reserve Norman Powell scored nine points on his 26th birthday. Standing at the back of the room, Powell’s mother wished him a happy birthday at the end of her son’s press conference. FAMILIAR POSITION The last team to overcome an 0-2 deficit and win a conference finals was Oklahoma City, which beat San Antonio in six games in 2012 after losing the first two on the road. Ibaka played for that Thunder team, while Leonard was a Spurs rookie. UP NEXT The NBA Finals comes to Canada for the first time when the Raptors host the Warriors on Thursday night. Toronto swept Golden State in the regular season.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, May 27, 2019, PAGE 3
Jones posts double double as Sun win on opening night By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JONQUEL Jones began the 2019-20 WNBA regular season with a double double as the Connecticut Sun won on opening night. Jones finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the Sun’s 84-69 win over the Washington Mystics Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. She also added three blocked shots and two steals in just over 30 minutes. Connecticut went on a 13-2 run in the middle of the third quarter to take control. The Suns led 67-53 after three quarters and by double figures throughout the fourth quarter. The Sun will face the Mystics two more times in the regular season series, June 11 and June 29. “I see the bounceback in JJ’s game that she had in 2017,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said. “She’s just so active right now, but you also see the maturity and growth in her game... You hear her more vocal on the court than ever, and that’s really great to see.” During the offseason in Russia with UKMMC Ekatinburg, Jones played alongside teammates of Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Emma Meesseman (Washington Mystics) and Maria Vadeeva (Los Angeles Sparks). “You live and you learn. You try to do things to adjust and get better and I’ve learned what not to do. It wasn’t about gaining weight, I just wanted to be able to bang a little more with the post players. I didn’t realise that I lost a lot
SUN guard Layshia Clarendon shoots as Mystics forward Tianna Hawkins, left, defends on Saturday. (Sean D Elliot/The Day via AP) of my agility and quickness and stuff that really helped me stand out,” Jones told the Norwich Bulletin. “I have to make sure that I’m ready to play those long minutes. I was working hard, getting ready for this (the WNBA season). “It’s tough to go year-round, playing and playing. It’s tough on your body. I’m still young, but when I was younger, I didn’t really feel it. I feel it a little more. I was blessed that we had so many bodies (in Russia) that they rested people. At first, it was like, ‘Dang, I wish I was playing’ but when I thought about it, it made sense to get rest and get better in practice.“ CBS Sports’ award predictions tabbed Jones as the frontrunner for the WNBA MVP award. “Last season’s Sixth Woman of the Year, Jones
is primed for a dynamite 2019 season. After the Sun traded Chiney Ogwumike to the Sparks in the offseason, Jones will be back in the starting lineup alongside Alyssa Thomas, which is one of the most frightening frontcourt pairings in the league. An athletic, 6-6 centre, Jones has an elite offensive game due to her versatility. She’s an elite outside shooter - 46.7 per cent on over three attempts per game last season - but also more than capable scoring inside on either drives to the rim or post-ups. Now well established in the league, this feels like the season Jones takes things to another level. And it won’t hurt that she’s playing on a strong Sun team as well.” The Sun host the Indiana Fever at 7pm on Tuesday night.
IN this file photo, Los Angeles Rams’ Ndamukong Suh chases the action during NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the New England Patriots in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
SUH HEADED TO TAMPA BAY TO REPLACE GERALD MCCOY TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Ndamukong Suh is headed to Tampa Bay. Suh, who helped the Rams make the Super Bowl last season, has agreed to terms with the Buccaneers as a replacement for Gerald McCoy. McCoy was released last week after nine seasons with the Bucs, who selected him third overall in the 2010 draft — one spot after Suh was taken by the Detroit Lions. Comparisons between the defensive tackles began when they were rivals in college, with McCoy played at Oklahoma and Suh for Nebraska. Both have worn No. 93 as pros, McCoy is a six-time Pro Bowl selection with 54 1/2 sacks in 123 career games, while Suh’s a threetime All-Pro who’s been picked for the Pro Bowl five times and has 56 sacks in 142 games with the Lions, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams. They also established themselves among the best at their position in the NFL with contrasting styles, with Suh gaining a reputation as a dirty player because of several on-field incidents, McCoy often drawing
criticism from Tampa Bay fans who complained he was too nice to opponents. In 2011, Suh was suspended two games for stomping on former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Evan Smith, who’s now a teammate in Tampa Bay.
Suh made $14 million on a one-year contract last season in LA. He’ll make about $4 million less with the Bucs, who also freed up money to pay some of the club’s unsigned draft picks by dumping McCoy’s $13 million salary for 2019.
JONQUEL Jones scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on Saturday night in the Sun’s 84-69 win over the Washington Mystics at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. She also added three blocked shots and two steals in just over 30 minutes. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
PAGE 4, Monday, May 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
With Smith and Warner back, Australia primed for World Cup By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer STEVE Smith shadow batting in the team bus. Steve Smith shadow batting in the shower. Steve Smith shadow batting on the sand. Why would the head coach of the Australia cricket team risk feeding mental images like that to the Barmy Army via the British media ahead of the Cricket World Cup? Because Smith is back, his 12-month ban fully served. Because Smith is scoring runs. Time for head coach Justin Langer, Australia’s World Cup (and redemption) campaign director, to set a scene for the next act. So in response to recent questions about the return of ex-captain Smith and his former deputy David Warner just in time for Australia’s World Cup title defence, Langer has been trying to paint a picture of Smith being back to his idiosyncratic, fidgety ways rather than going over history. “We’re in the bus playing cards; he’s just shadow batting the whole time,” Langer says at a practice session in England. “He loves batting, he’s shadow batting on the sand. In the shower he’s shadow batting
— I’m not joking. He just loves batting. It’s great to have him back.” For the uninitiated, shadow batting is like shadow boxing — a batter repeatedly practicing shots without actually hitting a ball, just as a boxer would throw combinations of punches into thin air. He’s preparing for the hostile reception. There’s nothing new in that for Australian cricket teams in England, although the barbs from the so-called Barmy Army will no doubt be sharper and more pointed this time — with Smith and Warner as particular targets. “We know what we’re going to get. We’ll be ready for it,” Langer says. Smith and Warner have “worked through a really tough 12 months. They’ll be thicker skinned for it.” Langer, a hardy former test opener, took over as national coach in the wake of the ball-tampering saga in South Africa that resulted in lengthy bans for Smith, Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft and turned a blowtorch onto the Australian game. Smith allegedly didn’t do enough to stop the clumsy plan hatched between Warner and Bancroft to scratch the surface of the leather ball
NPBA ELECTIONS: ‘WE COULDN’T PROCEED WITH THE MEETING’ FROM PAGE 1 Horton’s first vice president James Price is moving up to replace his former president and will be challenged by Ricardo Smith, a former semi-pro executive. Both Price and Smith were coaches in the league. Horton said it’s unfortunate that the clubs didn’t show any interest in coming out for the AGM and the elections. “I would think that they would be interested in hearing how their money is being spent,” Horton said. “So I expected them to show up. But we didn’t have enough representatives to have the meeting and the elections.” Represented were the reigning champions Commonwealth Bank Giants,
the Pros, the Shockers and the Triple K Stampers. Mario Bowleg, the newly elected president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, was on hand to conduct the elections. Horton is the first vice president of the BBF. “I was disappointed not having the elections because I really wanted to get this behind me and allow the new administration to take over,” he said. “They need to get in and do what they have to do to start the process in getting the new season started. I want to make sure that they have a smooth transition, but these guys don’t seem to be interested.” Horton said it’s now up to the clubs to decide the fate of the NPBA on June 15 when the new date for the AGM and the election of officers takes place.
AUSTRALIAN cricketer David Warner celebrates his hundred during a one-day international cricket match between India and Australia. The 2019 Cricket World Cup starts in England on Friday, May 31. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) with sandpaper so that it was better for their team’s bowlers. After a painful period of rehabilitation, when the losses mounted up and the Australian cricket public’s
anger gradually subsided in the wake of the cheating scandal, Langer’s lineup got onto an eight-game winning roll to beat India and Pakistan in back-to-back ODI series in Asia — and that’s
before Smith and Warner returned. Warner re-entered on the back of some big innings in the Indian Premier League and Smith has regained his touch in warmup games against New Zealand and West Indies. As for Warner, Langer says: “Dave has got that look in his eye, he’s really hungry. He’s a great player ... so dynamic, he brings so much energy.” For all that, it’s far from a two-man team. Opener Aaron Finch, elevated to the captaincy last year, was part of Australia’s titlewinning run on home soil in 2015 and has regained the confidence that deserted him in 2018. Usman Khawaja has scored enough runs to add some intrigue as to who bats in what position at the top of the order. Khawaja is reportedly OK after a head knock in a warmup game against the West Indies, meaning Warner may have to bat at No. 3. Mitchell Starc, player of the tournament in 2015 when Australia won the World Cup for a fifth time, has slowly returned from injury and is ready to unleash his swinging yorker. He’ll be back to help Pat Cummins, who matured considerably as a
Student Athletes advance to NCAA Division I Outdoors FROM PAGE 1 The Liberty Flames’ Denzel Pratt will return to the NCAA championships for the second consecutive year. Pratt qualified for Austin on his very first attempt, 67.49m (221 feet, five inches). His final throw of 68.43m (224 feet, six inches) produced a fifth-place finish at the East Regional. This season, Pratt has won four of his six javelin competitions and won the ASUN title most recently. Donavon Storr also competed for Southeastern Louisiana at the East Regional. In the 200m, he ran a 21.26 to finish sixth in heat five, 38th overall. In the 400m, he finished eighth in heat one in 47.52, 40th overall. His 4x400m team finished 15th in a time of 3:08.81. Several Bahamians also competed at the West Regionals including the trio of Sasha Wells, Kayvon Stubbs and
Bradley Dormeus from Oral Roberts University. In the 100m hurdles, Wells finished 19th overall in a time of 13.59. In the opening round, she set a new personal best, and new school record of 13.39 en route to earning a spot in the quarterfinal. Stubbs was eighth in heat two with her time of 25.67 (+2.0), 46th overall. On the men’s side, Dormeus finished 8th in heat six of the 400m in 47.73. Charisma Taylor, of the Washington State Cougars, finished 26th overall in the triple jump with a mark of 12.50m (41 feet 0.25 inches) Texas Southern’s Alexis Gray finished seventh in heat three of the 200m in 24.05, 38th overall. Shakeem Smith and Dreshanae Rolle both competed for the University of Texas El-Paso in the 400m hurdles. Smith notched a 22nd-place finish with a time of 52.80 while Rolle finished 23rd in 1:00.16.
fast bowler with some extra responsibility in recent months. The pace bowling unit is missing veteran seamer Josh Hazlewood, who according to Langer hasn’t played enough cricket in the last few months, and Jhye Richardson, who failed to recover from an injury he sustained in the series win over Pakistan. Other pace alternatives are Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, and Kane Richardson, and there’s backup in the spin department from Adam Zampa and the recalled Nathan Lyon. The squad has had a month to get Smith and Warner reintegrated and work on a game plan, which will no doubt revolve around attacking with the bat, with the ball, and in the field, albeit with Langer’s insistence on humility and a more controlled aggression. Australia is fifth in the ODI world rankings, but it won the World Cup the last time it was held in England in 1999, and has triumphed in three of the four subsequent editions. “We’re just continuing the Australian way,” Langer says. “We’ve got such a proud history. We know what works. We just have to keep trusting that.”
Williams prevails by unanimous decision FROM PAGE 1 “I didn’t like how I lost my last fight. That bothered me. I don’t like stuff like that. I had to get back in the ring and prove that I am much better than that fight.” Fighting again in the 148pound division, Williams said he felt he was right in his element for the fight. “After my last fight was called off, I started eating and eating and so when they told me that I had to go to the Dominican Republic for this fight, I was at the right weight,” he said. With a little break from competition, Williams will be home for a week’s rest before he heads to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in his training site at the Contenders Boxing Gym, to resume his training for his next fight.
NORTH AND CENTRAL ANDROS IN WIN COLUMN FROM PAGE 1 said Cartwright as they look ahead to 2020. Alvin Marshall, who participated in the 400 and 800 metre races, as well as a part of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays and the long jump, led the charge for North and Central Andros. After falling short of clinching their fourth straight title, Temple Christian congratulated North and Central Andros for their outstanding performance. “We wanted to go for our fourth straight, but it didn’t happen,” said Keno Demeritte, one of Temple Christian’s coaches. “North and Central Andros did a very good job. They came down and performed very well.We brought a small team here, but we really put up a fight. Our kids really performed. They stepped up to the plate and we knew we were down going into the final day and tried to get back on top.” Alena Pinder, according to Demeritte, was their surprise athlete of the meet in the C girls division and Anthony Sweeting was their top performer in the A boys. Patron Frank Rahming, a long time national coach and former assistant director in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said he was quite thrilled that
the meet continued in his honour. “This is where the young athletes begin, so it’s real good,” he said. “They have a long way to go when you talk about the development of athletes, but this is what you really want to get the primary school athletes involved.” On hand was Minister Rolle, whose Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture organised the meet. She hosted a press conference to inform the media about the operation of the meet that attracted more than 30 teams from throughout the country. She noted that the event provided an opportunity for the country to come together. Not just the athletes, but she said the parents, coaches and other organisations like the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and the Bahamas Olympic Committee, all chipped in to make the event a success. So she said they will continue to host the meet to show the importance of discipline and commitment through sports in the country. During the meet, athletes got a treat as Olympic and world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo presented tennis shoes, spikes and caps through sponsor Adidas to deserving athletes.
While Miller-Uibo was not present, her parents, Shaun, the president of the Bahamas Coaches Association and May, the CEO of the BAAA, made the presentation. Rolle said it’s very important for the elite athletes to not only give back, but to stay in touch with the children because they were once there. “So the children will continue to dream, they will continue to aspire and they will know that they can reach those goals as well, so we have to keep in touch with them,” she said. “I would say Shaunae is keeping her fingers on the pulse with the children and the pulse on sports, so it’s a very great initiative and so I’m sure that the children are grateful.” Making an appearance at the meet was men’s double 200/400m national record holder Steven Gardiner. As they look forward to next year, Rolle said she’s very encouraged because sports is always electrifying and it binds people together from all walks of life. “This is a good thing for us,” said Rolle, about watching people come together and actually taking the time out to mix and mingle with each other. “I am certain that the ministry will continue to invest in our children, especially in this particular sport.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, May 27, 2019, PAGE 5
ATALANTA, INTER GET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTS ON WILD FINAL DAY
DRAKE reacts to a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
NBA FINALS ARE ALL SET: REIGNING WARRIORS VS NEWCOMER RAPTORS By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer THE first NBA game was in Toronto. And now, the NBA Finals are headed there. Finally. The NBA Finals are set after the Toronto Raptors won the Eastern Conference championship on Saturday night and earned the right to play the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors. For the Raptors, it’ll be the first time on this stage; for the Warriors, it’ll be an 11th trip to the finals and fifth in a row, as they look for a fourth crown in the last five seasons. Game 1 is Thursday night in Toronto, which will become the first city outside the US to play host to a finals game — a milestone that comes just about 73 years after Toronto was the site of the first game in NBA history. The Raptors weren’t around then: Toronto’s first NBA team was called the Huskies, a club that went 22-38 in its only season. The Raptors have been around since 1995, and in their 24th season they’re finally going to play for a ring. “They’re the champions,” Raptors star Kawhi Leonard said of the Warriors. “We’ve got to go in, have the mental focus, enjoy the moment and take the challenge.” While it is the first finals trip for the Raptors franchise, many
players on the team have been there. Leonard and Danny Green got there with San Antonio in 2013 and 2014, with Leonard winning MVP of the series against Miami five years ago. Serge Ibaka was with Oklahoma City for its appearance in 2012 and Raptors reserve Patrick McCaw was part of the Warriors for their title runs in each of the past two seasons. “We’re not satisfied,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said. “We want to win the championship.” For the Warriors, this has almost become an annual rite. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston have been part of each of these five runs to the finals by Golden State. Kevin Durant is going to his third in a row and fourth overall; if he wins Finals MVP — that would seem unlikely at this point, because he isn’t expected to play in Game 1 and it’s unknown if he’ll actually appear in the series at all because of a calf injury — he would join Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to win that trophy in three consecutive seasons. By the time Game 1 rolls around, the Warriors will have been off for 10 days. They scrimmaged Saturday to break up the monotony. “I think we try and be smart with it,” Iguodala said. “We got a few guys just trying to get back from injury and it’s given us some time
to get that rest and take advantage of it.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr has a chance at his ninth championship. He won five as a player, has three already as a coach and is going to the finals for the 10th time in his last 13 seasons in either of those roles. “It’s not like we’ve come to expect it, but we’re veterans of this experience and this run and our guys know how to finish games,” Kerr said. “They know how to win playoff series, and so there’s a sense of confidence going into every round. There’s still a sense of joy and accomplishment getting to the finals. It’s so hard to do.” For Leonard, it’ll be the first trip to the finals since he was MVP of the series in 2014. And it only continues to prove that his first year in Toronto was a success. Traded to the Raptors last summer by San Antonio — DeMar DeRozan was the big piece the Spurs got — Leonard, his health and whether he’d fit in in Toronto was one of the major storylines entering this season. Asked and answered. Leonard has averaged 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in the playoffs, had a 27-point, 17-rebound, seven-assist effort in the win over Milwaukee that clinched the East on Saturday, and had perhaps the biggest moment of this postseason when his buzzer-beater hit the rim four
times before dropping to beat Philadelphia in Game 7 of the second round. “He’s been great,” Kerr said. “Not surprising, though. He’s got his finals MVP a few years ago. “One of the best players in the league, so he’s been great,” added Kerr. Game 2 is in Toronto on June 2, followed by Games 3 and 4 at Oracle Arena on June 5 and June 7. Either Game 4 or Game 6 — on June 13, if it goes that far — will be the final time the Warriors call that building home. They’re leaving Oakland after this season for the brand-new Chase Center in San Francisco. The Raptors swept the season series, though there are plenty of reasons not to make too big a deal out of that. For starters, the teams haven’t played since December 12. And neither team was at full strength in either of those games — Durant scored 51 in a 131-128 loss at Toronto in a game in which the Warriors didn’t have Curry, Cousins or Green; the Raptors won by 20 at Oracle even without Leonard two weeks later. Regardless, it can now be said: Toronto and the Bay lay claim to the NBA’s two best teams this season. All that’s left to decide now is who’ll be hosting the championship parade and hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan survived a dramatic end to its Serie A campaign yesterday to secure a Champions League spot for next season, while Atalanta will make its debut in Europe’s top club competition. Leading 2-1 in the 89th minute against an Empoli team fighting relegation, Inter’s defence was in disarray as Danilo D’Ambrosio knocked an Empoli cross against his own crossbar, and soon after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was forced into a vital save. When Empoli’s goalkeeper went up for a corner and Inter counterattacked, Marcelo Brozovic scored from the halfway line into an empty net and Inter seemed secure. But more drama was to come as the video assistant referee ruled the goal out because Empoli’s keeper was fouled as he hurried back to his goal and had Keita Balde — the scorer of Inter’s first goal — sent off. Empoli charged forward again, forcing Hamdanovic to save a header in the eighth minute of injury time but Inter held on for a 2-1 win — with the second goal from Radja Nainggolan — to secure Champions League football for a second straight year. Four teams had been fighting for the last two Italian Champions League spots on Sunday. All won their games as Atalanta took third and Inter fourth, but none had it easy. Atalanta went a goal down to Sassuolo early on but fought back to win 3-1 after Sassuolo had Domenico Berardi sent off for his part in a brawl. AC Milan fluttered in and out of fourth position throughout the evening thanks to goals elsewhere and its struggles with SPAL in a 3-2 win sealed by two goals from Franck Kessie. However, Inter’s tenacity and Atalanta’s comeback meant that Milan had to settle for fifth — a point behind Inter and Atalanta — and the Europa League. Roma finished in sixth. It had started the day an outside contender and stayed that way despite an 89thminute goal from Diego Perotti securing a 2-1 win over Parma. That marked the 616th and last appearance in a Roma shirt for midfielder Daniele de Rossi, who leaves the club after 18 seasons. Next season Roma will be out of the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14, while Milan’s wait to return to the Champions League enters a sixth season.
Biggio hits first career HR, Jays beat Padres 10-1 By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays rookie Cavan Biggio grew up watching his Hall of Fame dad, Craig, hit home runs for the Houston Astros. On Sunday, father and son reversed roles. Biggio had three hits, including his first career home run, Lourdes Gurriel Jr had four hits and homered for the third straight game, and Toronto beat the San Diego Padres 10-1 yesterday to avoid a three-game sweep. With his famous father and more than 10 other friends and family watching from the stands, Biggio got his first hit with a ground ball single through the right side in the second. He hit a solo home run into the fourth deck off lefthander Matt Wisler in the fourth, then added an RBI single in Toronto’s four-run fifth. “I’ve always wanted to do what my dad did, ever since a young age, and finally
here we’ve kind of switched roles,” the younger Biggio said. “He’s in the seats now and I’m on the field. So that’s pretty cool because it’s everything I ever wanted.” Recalled from TripleA Buffallo Friday slog with Gurriel Jr, Biggio had started 0 for 6 before his single. “After I got that first hit, I felt like I could finally exhale and finally just play the game,” Biggio said. “It was a big relief.” Biggio’s big crowd was waiting for him as he left the clubhouse following the game, admiring a pair of souvenir balls from his milestone game. Toronto’s Justin Smoak hit two home runs, a tworun blast off Luis Perdomo in the fifth and a three-run drive off Adam Warren in the eighth. The homers were his 10th and 11th of the season. The Blue Jays, who came in having lost four straight and 10 of 12 at home, finished with a season-high 17 hits.
SAN Diego Padres’ Eric Hosmer is out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double as Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Cavan Biggio makes the tag in the fourth inning of their baseball game in Toronto yesterday. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP) Toronto rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr snapped an 0 for 14 slump with a double in the first. He finished 3 for 5, the second three-hit game of his brief career. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he got chills watching Gurriel Jr and Biggio go back-toback in the fourth. Biggio, Gurriel Jr and Guerrero Jr
combined to finish 10 for 13 with four RBIs. “It felt like that’s what’s coming here,” Montoyo said. “That’s the future.” Biggio also turned an unassisted double play in the seventh, catching Manuel Margot’s liner and stepping on second base to retire Austin Allen, who had strayed too far off the
bag. Gurriel Jr had the first four-hit game of his career. He singled and scored in the second, homered off Wisler immediately before Biggio’s blast in the fourth, doubled and scored in the fifth, and singled in the seventh. Right-hander Marcus Stroman (3-6) pitched five innings to win consecutive
starts for the first time this season. He allowed one run and five hits, walked one and struck out two. Wil Myers hit a leadoff homer off Stroman in the fifth, his 10th, but that was all for the Padres, who scored 19 runs and hit a team-record seven homers Saturday. It was the first home run off Stroman by a right-handed batter since Boston’s Xander Bogaerts hit one on July 15, 2018. “We kind of dug a hole we couldn’t dig ourselves out of,” manager Andy Green said. San Diego saw its fivegame winning streak snapped, and lost an interleague game for the first time this season. The Padres are 4-1 against AL opponents. Left-hander Robbie Erlin started for San Diego in place of rookie right-hander Chris Paddack, who was scratched because of a stiff neck. Paddack’s next start is expected to be Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Erlin (0-1) allowed one run and three hits in two innings.
16 19 14 Ge THE TRIBUNE –u 17 Dir 20 17 18 19 fro 21 22 20 21 He sec 21 22 23 im 24 25 22 Cu tw 24 Wa 24 25 26 27 be 25 Ca FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CAS pro letters in the highlighted squares to reveal 26 Fre 26 27 CARPE DIEM sen TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 3700 and leave your a 84915. Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone27 compan Ad tonight. or send your grid containing the answerup in t FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read down the
PAGE 6, Monday, May 27, 2019
17
JUDGE PARKER
18
B73 Entriesthe mustmystery be postmarked by January 4 letters in the highlighted squares to9BT. reveal word.
● The winner will be the first random correct entry
TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 3700 andNEED HELP? leave your answer and details, or 5text DX Call 0904 161 1609 for extra c 84915. Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Te NAmEin the shaded squares by posting tonight. or send your grid containing the answer B73 9BT. Entries must be postmarked by January 4 at the latest. SP: Spoke – 03 ADDrESS ● The winner will be the first random correct entry drawn from all entry routes NEED HELP? Call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clues! Calls cost £1.50 plus yo PoSTCoDE
NAmE
MARVIN
THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECO
Today’s answers: Beginner = 36; intermedia
ADDrESS
BLONDIE
CrossdoU
PoSTCoDE
Can you make two common five-letter words from the nine letters given, using each letter only once? you can – but only if one letter features in both in the squares the right. Today’s answers: Beginner =words 36; intermediate = 84;on advanced = 369. There’s at least one way to do it, and you have to have the right letter at the crossover – but which one is it? See if you can find the answer within our target time. If you need help, ring Can you make two common five-letter our clue-line below to find out the words from the nine letters given, crossover letter. solution tomorrow.
THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENgE
CrossdoUBT
using each letter only once? you can Target – but only if one letter features in bothtimes: Average: B C H L n 20 mins Good: 16 mins HAGAR THE HORRIBLE words in the squares on the right. STUCK? CALL FOR A CLUE Excellent: 12 mins There’s at least one way to do it,Yesterday’s and solution: 0901 322 5601 Halve your Target Time! you have to have the right letterPeony, at the PLanT *Calls cost 75p plus yo crossover – but which one is it? (across or down) network ac See if you can find the answer within our target time. If you need help, ring our clue-line below to find out the crossover letter. solution tomorrow. CAN you c The Target
TIGER
TarGeT
TH
o I r E C l E C N TarGeT THe aLPHa
Alphabeat
uses Target times: Average: number re words in – or black 20 mins Good: 16 mins the main Alphapuzz SOLUTION STUCK? CALL FOR A CLUE body of the alphab Excellent: 12 mins you have t Chambers 322 5607 Yesterday’s solution: 0901 322 5601 0901 21st grid too! u Both today’s words in a moment Halve your Target Time! letters and Peony, PLanT Century below the *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s (across or down) network access charge. Dictionary grid is ‘rot
B C H L n o s T U
CALVIN & HOBBES
(1999 edition)
o I r E C l E C N
HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a eachyou letter may CAN crack thebe used A The Targetword, once only. Each must contain Alphabeater? Each grid the uses centre letter represents and there must be atB a letter words in least number one nine-letter word. No – or black square.ending As in in “s”.C plurals or verb forms the main
Alphapuzzle, every letter of
symmetric words, it lo you turn th down. solu
yesterda Black sq
339, 10,911, 2
29, 34, 3 across: 37Rugged, 22 Kidded, O Oxygen, 4 Quay, 39Ep down: A Enhanced Myopic, A 11 Fury,1Kno Aqua, Mu Judged.
D body of Today’s the alphabet is used. But TarGeT havegood to complete the 17; very 26; excellent Chambers Good you E 34 (orgrid more). tomorrow. too! solution use the given 21st F letters and black squares Century yesTerday’s soLUTIon below the grid to start. The G adorn damn darn dart Dictionary admangrid is ‘rotationally dorm dormant dormy dory dramH (1999 in other dramasymmetrical’ drat dray –drayman I 22 Extra edition) dynamo 27 words, it looks the same if MandaTory matador you turn thenard page upside J monad mordant nomad 0907 HOW many words of four letters down. rand solution random tomorrow. randy road (Deduct or more can you make from the radon 5 t tardy toad toady today trad trodK 9 each extra letters shown here? In making a yard yesterday’s solution L Ful Black squares: 3, 4, 5, word, each letter may be used 29 0907 18124,2585 10, 11, 20, 27, 28,forM 12 0907 once only. Each must contain the Call 9, *Calls cos today’s 29, 34, Target 36, 40.solution N centre letter and there must be at *Calls costPlatform, 80p per minute plus your te across: Shoe, plus as your telephone company’s least one nine-letter word. No Best described network O 6 a number crossword, the task30 in Kakuro Rugged, Scampi, network Murky, access charge. plurals or verb forms ending in “s”. is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so P
DENNIS THE MENACE Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
Own,block Adjoin, the sum of Kidded, each horizontal equals the number to its
Plaza, Outcry, left, and theOxygen, sum of each vertical block equals Q the 6 number 36 Today’s TarGeT *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 PLay Quay, Ephemera. its top. No number may be used in the same block more Good 17; very good 26; excellenton R Kakuro than once. down: The difficulty level of the Conceptis Aplomb, 34 (or more). solution tomorrow. increases from Monday toToe, Sunday. Enhanced, Poem, S 16 15 Myopic, Aversion, Pyre, T yesTerday’s soLUTIon Fury, Knowable, Gladly, adman adorn damn darn dart 21 U 31 Aqua, Mug, Execrate,Saturday’s Saturday’s dorm dormant dormy dory dram Judged. V Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer drama drat dray drayman 6 Extra letter clues W 7 dynamo MandaTory matador monad mordant nard nomad 0907 181 2560 X radon rand random randy road (Deduct three minutes for Y 39 16 tardy toad toady today trad trod each extra clue letter heard) Z yard
Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 1
CRYPTIC PUZZLE Down 2 Word in the States for journey’s end (8) 3 Reduce speed, after a fashion (8) 4 Assimilate the sailor’s world? (6) 5 Vehicle to travel as freight (5) 6 Sense of anxiety possibly nags the third mate (5) 7 Only a small department, but totally efficient (5) 12 Shortly before some hesitancy is noted (3) 13 Appropriate piece of luggage (3) 14 Not perhaps in your cellar, but could be in mine (4,4) 15 Any crest may indicate it (8) 19 Reason to withdraw permit to fly (6) 20 Feature of insolent talk (5) 21 Nails badly finished off (5) 22 Sergeant-major has a knack of looking well turned out (5)
3
4
5
6
7
8 9 10 11 12
13
16
20
14
15
17 18 21
19
22
23
24 25 26 27
EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Distinguish hallmark (5) 8 Got into a bed made incorrectly (8) 9 Booked with prejudice (5) 10 Settles in a phlegmatic way? (6,2) 11 A journal whose days are numbered (5) 12 Marine backwater (3) 16 Parking, say, behind the club (6) 17 Near to a part-song (6) 18 Oval dish (3) 23 Heavens above! (5) 24 Arc light? (4-4) 25 Sort of a stew left over? (5) 26 He’s bound to better himself elsewhere (8) 27 Straitlaced guys? (5)
2
Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution
Yesterday’s Easy Solution
Across: 1 Contrition, 6 Slav, 10 Union, 11 Steersman, 12 Chastise, 13 Wrong, 15 Ironing, 17 Shampoo, 19 Harpies, 21 Askance, 22 Ultra, 24 Imprints, 27 The Red Sea, 28 Owned, 29 Ewer, 30 Pretty well. Down: 1 Club, 2 Neighbour, 3 Rings, 4 Tasting, 5 Openers, 7 Limbo, 8 Vine grower, 9 Drawback, 14 Silhouette, 16 Imitates, 18 Penitence, 20 Scissor, 21 Asphalt, 23 Theme, 25 Ivory, 26 Idol.
Across: 1 Predispose, 6 Till, 10 Flora, 11 Unconcern, 12 Juvenile, 13 Allow, 15 Triumph, 17 Shorten, 19 Nonstop, 21 Gesture, 22 Upper, 24 Enormous, 27 Formation, 28 Spell, 29 Rear, 30 Peeping Tom. Down: 1 Puff, 2 Evolution, 3 Image, 4 Prudish, 5 Success, 7 Ideal, 8 Long-winded, 9 Infamous, 14 Stand up for, 16 Material, 18 Truculent, 20 Preside, 21 Grown-up, 23 Parka, 25 Mason, 26 Slam.
Across 1 Stated on oath (5) 8 Jack, queen or king (4,4) 9 Expressionless (5) 10 Clandestine (8) 11 Travel by car (5) 12 Prowess (3) 16 Sequence (6) 17 Hostility (6) 18 Domesticated pig (3) 23 Take up (5) 24 Women-only gathering (3,5) 25 Insipid (5) 26 Misaligned (8) 27 Young eel (5)
Down 2 Uncontested victory (8) 3 To try to escape (3,3,2) 4 Oriental market (6) 5 Briskly self-assured (5) 6 Greater in number (5) 7 Love devotedly (5) 12 A forest tree (3) 13 Form of label (3) 14 Unexpected gain (8) 15 Take unawares (8) 19 A vent (6) 20 Hut (5) 21 Light meal (5) 22 Manservant (5)
Full solution
0907 181 2558
1
F
*Calls cost 80p per minute 21 plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
2
3
4
22
23
2
● Alternatively, for s
PLay More Crossword
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, May 27, 2019, PAGE 7
MANY HAPPY RETURNS FOR FEDERER AT 1ST FRENCH OPEN SINCE 2015 By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Roger Federer entered a refurbished Court Philippe Chatrier for his first French Open match since 2015, greeted by the sun peeking through the clouds and the full-throated support of spectators in their designer sunglasses, straw hats and sweaters tied over their shoulders. Were it permitted, perhaps some ticket-holders would have embraced Federer right then and there, delivering a kiss on each cheek, as if reunited with an old friend at a sidewalk cafe. Alas, the welcome was limited to wild applause and enthusiastic chants of his first name — “Roh-zher! Roh-zher!” — before and during a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Lorenzo Sonego of Italy yesterday. The match lasted a mere 101 minutes yet Federer found enough time and space to sprinkle in some tremendous shot-making. “The reception I got today was crazy. Was really nice to see a full stadium for a first round like this,” Federer said, comparing the atmosphere to that of a final. “I feel,” he said, “that the public missed me. And I missed them, as well.” His presence at the year’s second Grand Slam tournament was the highlight of Day 1, which included
ROGER Federer wipes his face during his first round match against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) losses by multiple major winners Venus Williams, Angelique Kerber and Svetlana Kuznetsova, along with victories for Sloane Stephens, Garbiñe Muguruza, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori. Kerber has been dealing with an injured foot and was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Anastasia Potapova. That was the opening match in the largely rebuilt main stadium, a structure of concrete and glass that is expected to have a retractable roof by the 2020 French Open and now features padded beige seats instead of plastic green ones. Across the way, 2016 champion Muguruza inaugurated the new 5,290-seat Court Simonne Mathieu, which is surrounded by
greenhouses displaying tropical plants, with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Taylor Townsend of the U.S. Later in that same spot, the 38-year-old Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam titlist and the 2002 runnerup in Paris, exited in the first round for the fourth time in the past seven years at Roland Garros. She was broken in seven of her nine service games during a 6-3, 6-3 loss to No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina. Federer, the owner of 20 Grand Slam titles, will turn 38 in August and, frankly, who knows how many more of these he has left? “Not getting any younger,” he noted. The guy certainly appeared delighted to make his return to a tournament
he won a decade ago, completing a career Grand Slam, but sat out each of the past three years. In 2016, he was sidelined by a back problem, ending his then-record streak of 65 consecutive appearances at majors. Federer then skipped the entire claycourt circuit in each of the past two seasons to focus on preparing for grass and hard courts. Not since a quarterfinal loss to Stan Wawrinka four years ago had Federer competed at Roland Garros, which is why he described himself Sunday as “quite tense at the start.” Didn’t seem that way, though. More like someone who never went away. He led the 73rd-ranked Sonego, who was making
his French Open debut, 4-0 after less than 15 minutes, then went up a set and 4-0 in the second after 40. “There are times when you recognise that he makes the difficult things look easy. It’s incredible,” Sonego said. “All you can do is hope he messes up now and then, because otherwise, it’s really hard.” Federer gave the folks what they wanted, providing a live-and-in-person highlight reel of his full and considerable repertoire. There was the ace at 121 mph (195 kph) to begin his first service game, and the ace at 110 mph (178 kph) to conclude it. The drop-volley winner on the run. The serve-andvolley putaway. The sprint for an up-the-line winner
off a delicate drop shot by Sonego that was so good, and so apparently hard to reach, that an Italian fan gushed, “Bravo! Bravo!” in praise of her countryman before Federer got to the ball. “In the important moments, he raises his level and turns into a computer,” Sonego said. “He never makes the wrong choice.” Really, the lone blip for Federer came when he double-faulted to get broken for the only time, eliciting an admonishing slap of racket strings from him — and a collective “Awwwww” of dismay from his thousands of admirers. That was part of a threegame, dozen-minute surge for Sonego, who got within 4-3 in the second set before ceding it. By the end, Federer had won the point on 25 of 30 trips to the net and put together a ratio of 36 winners to 15 unforced errors. While so much of the title speculation is focused on Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — both play today (Monday) — Federer enjoys the unusual-forhim position of lowered expectations. “It’s nice to be an outsider,” he said with an almost imperceptible shrug. “That’s how I feel, anyhow. Just see how it goes, you know. ... This is not a show I’m putting on; this is the truth: I really don’t know how far I can go in this event.”
PAGE 8, Monday, May 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE