05252016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016

‘A GREAT SUCCESS’

Women’s Football Day, 2E

Stage set for Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JEFFERY GIBSON

GIBSON ALL SET FOR HIS BIGGEST ‘HURDLE’ BEFORE RIO OLYMPICS Eugene, Oregon – Two athletes who came out of nowhere to earn their first major medals will be surrounded by four multiple medallists in the Prefontaine Classic men’s 400-metre hurdles on Saturday. The race features athletes who collectively are five of the six IAAF Diamond League winners and own at least one individual medal from each Olympics and World Championships for the last decade, as well as eight No. 1 world rankings from Track & Field News. Kenya’s Nicholas Bett and Jeffery Gibson, of the Bahamas, will be the focus of many curious eyes, coming in as the gold and bronze medallists from last summer’s World Championships in Beijing. Before last year, the best each had accomplished was a bronze medal - Bett at the African Championships, Gibson at the Commonwealth Games. Bett, 26, was among the most unlikely of gold medallists. He rocketed out of the blocks in lane 9 and held on for the win, lowering his PR by half a second to 47.79 with the victory. Gibson, 25, was third in Beijing, edging American Kerron Clement by 0.01 seconds. He had already collected gold last summer by winning the Pan-American Games. While Bett will be making his debut on US soil, Gibson has experienced success already at Hayward Field, running PRs twice in the NCAA Championships while at Oral Roberts (2011 regionals and 2013 final, taking 5th). This will undoubtedly be Gibson’s biggest race before the Olympics.

TAMARA SCAVELLA

JOMAR FARQUHARSON

TEREZ NAIRN

GEMO SMITH

NOVICE bodybuilders get in shape for the Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night.

he Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is getting ready to stage its Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night. The event returns to its rightful place on the calendar after it was staged during the federation’s National Bodybuilding Championships last year. The action kicks off at 7pm and is expected to be jampacked with excitement. “Last year, we didn’t finish the nationals until late the next morning,” said federation president Joel Stubbs. “This year, we decided that we will bring the novice back where it will be staged by itself. “We want to allow the novices and those who have never won the national title before to come back and get their night of fame, accolades and props in their accomplishments. We want to have an overall novice champion prior to them coming to the big league.” During the nationals last year, Stubbs said the more seasoned bodybuilders took the spotlight as they out-shined the novice ones and that discouraged some of the bodybuilders who were looking to stay around the sport. So far, there are about 20 bodybuilders who have confirmed their participation in the nationals. He noted that there are a few who have developed stage fright and have indicated that they may no longer compete this weekend. “We are looking at the possibility of having about 20-25 athletes compete,” Stubbs said. “We expect to have competitors compete in all of the divisions, including men’s physique and men’s bodybuilding.” With the event returning to its rightful place, Stubbs said they have been getting an overwhelming support from the newcomers and all of the gyms have been inquiring about purchasing tickets to come out and cheer on their favourite competitors. “We expect a full capacity of spectators,” Stubbs said. “The venue is expected to have a large crowd of spectators as we try to take the novice championship to the next level. “We want to encourage as many persons to come out and lend their support to these newcomers. They need as much support as possible because it’s not easy to grace the stage. They are going to be some of the bodybuilders who will be stepping up to take over when the more seasoned bodybuilders decide to step down.” Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean, who has been working with many of the bodybuilders, said they are looking forward to putting on a grand display of talent when the competitors step on the stage on Saturday night. He said they have gotten a lot of interest from competitors from the various gyms and so they are looking forward to having a wide range of competitors making their presence felt.

COLLEGE OF THE BAHAMAS SPORTS SUMMER CAMP ALL SET FOR JUNE 20 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOR another year, coordinator Sean ‘Bass’ Bastian will provide an avenue for youngsters to get a taste of a college ex-

CAVALIERS VS. RAPTORS GAME 5 @ 8:30PM TONIGHT

perience when they participate in the College of the Bahamas Athletic Department’s Sports Summer Camp. The camp is scheduled to run 9am to 2pm June 20 to July 15. It is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13. They will be taking part in basketball, soccer, track and field and swimming. “The camp promotes sportsmanship, leadership and team spirit,” Bastian said. “We have experienced coaching instructors who will be working the camp in the various disciplines.” In addition to sports, the campers will also be engaged in a number of field trips to Galleria Cinemas, Mario’s Bowling & Entertainment Palace and EduCulture Bahamas. “The camp’s real initiative is to have the campers on the campus of COB,” Bastian said. “Hopefully, if they grow up throughout the camp, they will be inspired to be a part of the University of the Bahamas Athletic Programme in the future.

“So we are really excited to have them on campus to have that college field and experience what it’s like to be a part of a college atmosphere right here in the Bahamas.” Since the inception of the camp about a decade ago, Bastian said he has seen a vast improvement in some of the campers as he watches them compete for their respective high schools in the various sporting disciplines. “We expect the campers to really improve on their fundamental skills and be exposed to the coaches in terms of what they have to offer,” Bastian said. “But the mere fact that they have four skills to get involved in, they can share their time to develop their whole motor skills. “Unlike the other camps who only focus on one skill, we do four. So at the end of the camp, your child should be fully developed as they will be allowed to develop in the four sporting disciplines. So I think it’s an excellent sporting camp and something

the parents should aspire to send their children to.” For those campers attending the camp, Bastian advised them to come fully prepared with the following: towels, swim cap and goggles, swim attire, water bottle, slippers for the pool area, sunscreen, sporting attire/sneakers daily, soap or shampoo for pool rinsing and lunch or purchased meal. He also advised the campers not to bring valuable items like electronic games and cell phones. They are also not to be disrespectful to instructors and other campers (no fighting or swearing), no running on the deck, no diving in the pool and they must not wear any jeans, except for when they are attending a field trip. The cost for the camp is $190 for the full month, $165 for three weeks, $135 for two weeks and $110 for one week. For those persons interested, they can contact the College of the Bahamas Athletic Department at 302-4349 or email sean.bastian@cob.edu.bs

PAGE 2E, Wednesday, May 25, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Women’s Football Day a great success

A DAY TO REMEMBER: Despite the heavy rain, the 2nd Annual Women’s Football Day was a great success over the weekend. Photos: bahamaslocal.com

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 25, 2016, PAGE 3E

WINNING TEAM: The winning Uno Mas team celebrates victory in the Boat Harbour Championship at Abaco Beach Resort.

UNO Mas wins second leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship THE UNO Mas team are celebrating after winning the second leg of the 2016 Bahamas Billfish Championship (BBC) in Abaco and earning a $5,000 bonus for a “grand slam”. The 69ft Bayliss Uno Mas wasted no time in finding the fish at the Boat Harbour Championship at Abaco Beach Resort, catching and releasing a grand slam - a Blue Marlin, two White Marlin and a Sailfish - on day one. They went on to release a White Marlin and a Sailfish on the second day and clinched victory by releasing three Blue Marlin and a White Marlin on day three.

Team earns $5,000 bonus for a ‘grand slam’ Brooks Smith, the owner of the Uno Mas, received the $5,000 grand slam bonus cheque. Sandrita, a 62ft Ocean, made the scoreboard on all three days as well releasing a Blue and a White Marlin on day one, a Blue Marlin on day two and two Blue Marlin on the last day. Sandra Fish caught two of those blues, earning her the award for top lady angler and was awarded a 14 carat gold blue marlin designed by Abaco Gold in Marsh

Harbour. BBC series leader, the 40ft Cabo Bamboo, released three blues and three sailfish to claim third place. Bamboo have 5,200 points after two legs of the series, 300 ahead of Sandrita with Uno Mas a further 100 points back. The Boat Harbour Championship overall released 28 Blue Marlin, 24 White Marlin and 10 Sailfish. The next leg of the series takes place in Marsh Harbour at the Abaco Beach Resort on

UNO MAS owner Brooks Smith receives the $5,000 grand slam bonus cheque from Jennifer Dudas, tournament director.

BEST-OF-3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ALL SET FOR BSC BASKETBALL LEAGUE

THE best-of-three championship series for the Baptist Sports Council’s 2016 Basketball League is all set. When the 19-and-under series gets underway on Saturday at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, Macedonia will take on Eagles Nest. And in the men’s series will be a showdown between Macedonia and Golden Gates. The 15-and-under series is just about completed with Macedonia holding a 2-0 lead over Eagles Nest. They will also complete their series on Saturday. • Here’s how the 19-andunder and men got into the finals: Eagles Nest 53, Good Samaritan 45: Janaldo Joseph scored 12 points and Recarno Nixon had 10 as the Eagles Nest completed their two-game sweep over the Good Samaritan in their 19-and-under series

on Tuesday. T’Shon Cornish, Lorenzo Archer, DeShone Murray and Taven McKenzie all added six in the win. LeVanti Roberts had a game high 22 and both Gary Williams and Neil Bowleg had eight in the loss.

Golden Gates 61, Eagles Nest 39: Chris Stuart scored 15 points, Randy Williams had nine and both Dwayne Murray and Samuel Johnson added eight as Golden Gates broke a 1-1 tie to seal their men’s playoff series at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Saturday. Recarno Nixon had 10 and Naldo Joseph added six in the loss. Eagles Nest 46, Golden Gates 37: Naldo Joseph came up with a game high 17 points, Lorenzo Archer had 10 and T’Shad Cornish added eight as they pulled even in their men’s best-

of-three playoff series at AF Adderley on Saturday. Randy Williams had nine and Dominique Beadle seven in the loss. Macedonia 56, God Squad 41: Delano Knowles pumped in 15 points, Patrick Brice had 10 and Davon Adderley eight in the win as they completed a sweep of their men’s bestof-three playoffs. Jason Cambridge was a one-man wrecking crew with a game high 16 in the loss. Macedonia 45, Mekkadish Ministries 36: Alexander Farrington scored a game high 17 points, Troy Marshall had seven and Davon Adderley six as Macedonia completed the sweep of their 19-andunder playoffs. Twin brothers Chadvaughn and Chadwin James led the losers with 10 and eight points respectively.

June 1 to 4. The $1m Marlin prize is still up for grabs to the angler that catches Blue Marlin that breaks the current Bahamas record of 1,119 pounds. All of the prior ‘granders’ have been caught during BBC tournaments. The opening night captains’ meeting and dinner was sponsored by AIG, Friday night’s cocktail party by Abaco Cays Realty, at which the premiere episode

of Anglers Journal TV was shown. Host and executive producer, John Brownlee, and his team were filming the BBC fishing action in Abaco for the upcoming season which airs July 3 on Destination America. Saturday night’s awards ceremony was held in the Anglers Restaurant at Abaco Beach Resort and sponsored by Angler Journal TV. The BBC tournament’s major sponsors included

AIG, Costa, ZF Marine, Vetus-Maxwell, Aqualuma, Roff’s, Starbrite, Huk Performance Fishing, Required Team Gear, Black Bart Lures, and Silver Airways, the official airline of the BBC. For information, results and standings, or to register for the remaining tournaments, visit www.bahamasbillfish.com, follow on Facebook (Bahamas Billfish Championship) or on Twitter @Bahamasbillfish.

PAGE 4E, Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Lowry, DeRozan lead Raptors to 105-99 win over Cavaliers By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — A series that once looked lopsided is now even. Kyle Lowry scored 35 points, including a driving layup in the final minute, and DeMar DeRozan had 32 as the Toronto Raptors evened the Eastern Conference Finals by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 in Game 4 on Monday night. DeMarre Carroll scored 11 points and Bismack Biyombo had 14 rebounds as Toronto improved to 8-2 at home this postseason and got back on level terms after big losses in Games 1 and 2. “We’ve been counted out, and we like that challenge,” DeRozan said. The next challenge for Toronto? Game 5 tonight in Cleveland, where the Raptors are 0-3 this season, losing by a combined 72 points. “We have to continue to make sure that when they punch, we punch back,” Lowry said. “And if they punch three times, we punch four times.” The Raptors are 2-6 on the road in the playoffs. After a 10-0 start to these playoffs, the Cavaliers are counting on home court advantage to help them reach their second straight Finals. “Going back home we have to play a lot better and I think we will,” LeBron James said. Cleveland lost consecutive playoff games to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time since dropping the final three games of the conference semi-finals to Boston in 2010. “We had a few defensive breakdowns that you can’t have down the stretch of a game, especially in the playoffs,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “They executed every time we made a mistake.” James scored 29 points and Kyrie Irving had 26 for the Cavaliers, who trailed by as many as 18 points. Channing Frye scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth

ronto’s four 3-pointers, as the Raptors opened a 57-41 halftime lead despite not shooting a single free throw in the first two quarters. It marked the first time a team led by 15 or more at halftime in a conference finals game without shooting a free throw since Game 2 of the 2001 East Finals between Milwaukee and Philadelphia. The Bucks made two of six from the line, the fewest ever made in an NBA playoff game at the time. DeRozan shot Toronto’s first free throws at 6:13 of the third after being tackled by Smith on a drive. The foul drought came after Raptors coach Dwane Casey was fined $25,000 for criticising the officials following Toronto’s Game 3 win. Fans cheered derisively when Matthew Dellavedova was called for Cleveland’s first foul of the game at 8:56 of the second.

TORONTO Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (left) scored 35 points and DeMar DeRozan had 32 as the Toronto Raptors evened the East Finals by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 in Game 4 on Monday night. (AP) quarter. Lowry scored nine in the fourth and DeRozan had 12, connecting on five of six shots. “It’s a cakewalk for me when (Lowry) gets going,” DeRozan said. “It opens up everything.” The Raptors led 78-69 to begin the fourth but Frye made consecutive 3-pointers as Cleveland opened the final quarter with an 8-0 run, cutting it to 78-77. The Cavaliers made their first 11 shots of the fourth quarter. “It wasn’t enough because we got off to a horrible first half once again in this building and you’re playing catch up the whole game,” James said. Frye’s errant 3-point attempt at 4:12 was Cleveland’s first miss of the fourth. DeRozan made two free throws at the other end and, after another miss by Frye,

Carroll made one of two to put Toronto up 99-96 with 3:23 to go. A long 3 by Irving made it 10199 with 2:00 left, but DeRozan answered with a driving bank shot at 1:33. Toronto got the ball back after Biyombo blocked J.R. Smith’s 3, and Biyombo kept the offensive possession alive by rebounding Lowry’s missed shot. After a timeout, Lowry let the shot clock wind down before driving for the decisive layup, making it 105-99 with 22 seconds to go. Toronto jumped out to a 13-5 lead as Cleveland missed eight of its first 10 shots. Following a timeout, the Cavs made five of their next six to cut the deficit but the Raptors led 27-24 after one quarter. Lowry scored 15 points in the second, making three of To-

NOT MUCH TO LOVE After shooting 3 for 19 in Game 3, Kevin Love shot 4 for 14 in Game 4. He finished with 10 points. Love did not play in the fourth after appearing to injure his left ankle when he stepped on referee David Guthrie late in the third. “It didn’t feel too great,” Love said. Lue said Love’s health was “no concern.” FAIR AND FOUL Cleveland didn’t shoot any free throws in the third quarter and had just two in the fourth. Twelve of Toronto’s 19 free throws came in the fourth. TIP-INS Cavaliers: James and Irving each had six assists. ... Cleveland shot 3 for 23 from 3-point range in the first half. The finished 13 for 41. . Cleveland’s Dahntay Jones served a one-game suspension for hitting Biyombo in the groin in Game 3. Raptors: Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas was active but did not play. He’s been out since spraining his right ankle in the third quarter of Game 3 against Miami on May 7. ... Toronto is 10-1 in the playoffs when holding opponents below 100 points.

THE TRIBUNE

ATLANTA, MIAMI, LOS ANGELES SELECTED TO HOST SUPER BOWLS CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — If you spend billions of dollars to build it, they will come. Three times over. The NFL awarded Super Bowls to Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles, three cities that made significant financial investments in new stadiums or recently upgraded an existing one. Atlanta will host the game in 2019, followed by Miami (2020) and Los Angeles (2021), it was announced yesterday at the NFL owners meetings. “I think if they find guys like me that are willing to do it, I think they want to show them that it is worthwhile,” Rams owner Stan Kroenke said. Atlanta will host its third Super Bowl, but the first at its new $1.4 billion stadium which opens in 2017. The previous two were at the Georgia Dome. Miami will have its record-setting 11th Super Bowl following a $450 million stadium renovation. Los Angeles, which gets the relocated Rams this season, has not had a Super Bowl in the area since 1993 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The game will be played at the new $2.6 billion stadium in Inglewood, California, which opens in 2019. Tampa Bay and New Orleans were also in the running to host a Super Bowl. The selection of Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles maintains the recent cycle of the league’s owners rewarding cities that have built new stadiums or renovated existing facilities with the lucrative financial reward of hosting a Super Bowl in return. Last year’s Super Bowl was played in Santa Clara, California, after the 49ers built a stadium. Minneapolis will host a Super Bowl in 2018 with a new stadium that opens this season. New York-New Jersey, Indianapolis, Dallas and Detroit all received Super Bowl bids in the past after spending millions on new stadiums. “It shows that the communities and the owners who are willing to make these investments and stick their necks out, if you will, that it is worthwhile and they believe in them long term,” Kroenke said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 25, 2016, PAGE 5E

Sailors’ nightmare in the Rio Olympics: plastic bags, trash By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — If you’re the head of world sailing, this is your worst Olympic nightmare. A sailor nears the finish line in Rio de Janeiro’s polluted Guanabara Bay, holding the lead with a coveted gold medal in sight. Suddenly, the boat loses speed. A plastic bag catches the rudder. Chasing boats overtake for all the medals, and millions on worldwide television watch a life-time dream being crushed. “We want an absolutely fair playing field; getting the rubbish out of the water,” Andy Hunt, the CEO of World Sailing — the sport’s governing body — told The Associated Press. “We don’t want to have any stories of sailors with plastic bags, or whatever it might be that in any way impacts performance.” Hunt met in Rio on Monday and Tuesday with city, state, and Olympic organising committee officials, pushing for what amounts to a superficial cleanup of Guanabara Bay. Rio state officials have acknowledged a real cleanup of Guanabara will take 20 years — organisers promised to do it for the Olympics — with the city still pouring at least half of its untreated sewage into its surrounding waters, including Guanabara. The massive bay is about 30 kilometres (20 miles) long and almost as wide in places. An independent study by The Associated Press has shown high levels of viruses and sometimes bacteria from human sewage in the waters where hundreds of sailors will compete when the Olympics open in 2 1/2 months. There has been one big improvement so far: the new Marina da Gloria. The new marina building is sparkling, and the water is clearer just months after a new sewage system was installed to stop brown, untreated sludge from being poured into the small harbor. “The water is cleaner, and there isn’t a smell,” Hunt said. At a test event a year ago, sailors complained about the stench, and shot videos of open sewage flows just metres (yards) from where boats were launched. “We’re going in the right direction,” Hunt added. “We remain cautiously optimistic.

STATE TV SAYS 14 RUSSIANS ON LIST FOR 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC DOPING By JAMES ELLINGWORTH Associated Press

BRAZILIAN athletes Samuel Albrecht and Isabel Swan practice in Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 3, 2015. Andy Hunt, the head of World Sailing, met with city, state, and Olympic organising committee officials yesterday, pushing for what amounts to a superficial cleanup of Guanabara Bay. Rio state officials have acknowledged a real cleanup of Guanabara will take 20 years, with the city still pouring at least half of its untreated sewage into its surrounding waters including Guanabara. “We don’t want to have any stories of sailors with plastic bags, or what every it might be, that in anyway impact performance,” said Hunt. (AP) It doesn’t mean we’re going to take off the pressure.” World Sailing, backed by the World Health Organisation and the International Olympic Committee, is not testing the water for viruses. World Sailing says the bacterial levels are below what would be considered dangerous for athletes. The WHO and IOC argue that viral testing lacks a clear standard for measuring risk, and therefore is not needed. World Sailing is attacking the problems it can see: spotting and collecting floating rubbish during the Olympic sailing events. Hunt said a helicopter would go up at 6am every morning and direct 11 rubbish collection boats below where to deploy. In addition, he said 17 socalled eco-barriers — fences across trash-filled streams that flow into Guanabara — will keep dead animals, bags, and household rubbish from entering the bay.

“Those eco-barriers have got be completed before the end of June, so there’s enough time to track the rubbish and then make sure it’s collected effectively for games time,” Hunt said. Though World Sailing says the water will be safe for hundreds of sailors, Hunt said teams are being briefed about how to stay healthy in Rio. “There are briefings for the teams to make sure they prepare in terms of hygiene,” Hunt said. He added that there would be “facilities to wash down clothing when they come off the boats, alcohol gels, anti-viral gels and so on that can help ensure that the athletes keep well through the competition.” Three Spanish sailors were robbed at gunpoint last week while they were training in Rio, including 2008 Olympic goldmedallist Fernando Echavarri. Hunt acknowledged that several other sailing teams had also been robbed in Rio in the last several years.

Hunt called it a “very, very scary experience.” The former head of the British Olympic Association, Hunt urged national Olympic committees to watch their athletes in Rio. “The National Olympic committees need to issue clear instructions and guidance, and protocols around what athletes and support staff can do during games times,” he said. Australia, for one, has told its athletes to stay out of Rio’s favelas — or slums. Many sailors will be staying in hotels near the sailing venue, rather than at the better-protected Athletes Village more than an hour away. “Like any city in a country like this,” Hunt said, “you need to be very aware of the environment you are operating in, and take every precaution yourself to prevent yourself from getting mugged. It’s doesn’t mean it’s right or acceptable, but it’s the reality.”

MOSCOW (AP) — Ten medallists from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including 2012 high jump champion Anna Chicherova, were among 14 Russians that tested positive in the reanalysis of their doping samples, state television reported yesterday. Match TV said 11 of the 14 athletes on its retest list are from track and field, including 4x100-metre relay gold medallist Yulia Chermoshanskaya. The others are two weightlifters and a rower. Separately, the Russian track federation said it would ban former dopers from the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in the hope of getting its team reinstated for the games. The IAAF suspended the track federation from global competition after a World AntiDoping Agency commission report detailed state-sponsored doping. “No potential participant in the Olympic Games who has been caught taking banned substances in previous years can be a member of the Russian national Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro,” the federation said in a statement. It said it took “such a tough decision with one aim - to do everything so that clean athletes could take part in the 2016 Olympic Games.” Two Russian gold medallists in race walking, Elena Lashmanova and Olga Kaniskina, would be affected by the new rule, as would former world champion walker Sergei Kirdyapkin, who was stripped of his 2012 Olympic gold for doping. All three were due to be eligible to compete in Rio. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, however, suggested exceptions could be made. “Each breach of the rules is obviously different,” he told reporters. “If there’s a young athlete who was 16 or 17, a minor breach, then you have to approach it rationally.” The IAAF will rule next month whether to maintain or lift its ban. If Chermoshanskaya is disqualified from the 2008 Games, the relay gold medal would pass to Belgium, with silver for Nigeria and bronze for Brazil. The list of 14 also includes Chicherova, who won the high jump bronze in Beijing before winning gold at the 2012 London Games. Silver medal winners whose doping retests reportedly came back positive are javelin thrower Maria Abakumova, 4x400 relay runners Anastasia Kapachinskaya and Tatiana Firova, and weightlifter Maria Shainova, the report said. Bronze medallists included Ekaterina Volkova in the 3,000 steeplechase, men’s 4x400 relay team member Denis Alexeyev, race walker Denis Nizhegorodov and weightlifter Nadezhda Yevstukhina.

FIFA fires finance director Kattner over bonus payments By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — FIFA has fired its finance director of the past 13 years, removing another fixture of the Sepp Blatter presidential era in another round of revelations about irregular million-dollar payments. Markus Kattner’s exit on Monday came after he spent several months in his highest profile role at the scandal-rocked world soccer body — as its interim top administrator promoting FIFA’s wish to change its tainted culture even as his links to other investigations added up. FIFA said Kattner was fired after an internal investigation said he allegedly broke his legal responsibilities to the organisation “in connection with his employment contract.” The 45-year-old German official was due payments worth millions of dollars over a six-year period from 2008-14 from additions to his contract, a person familiar with the FIFA investigation said Monday. The extra payments were known to then-President Blatter and then-secretary general Jerome Valcke, Kattner’s immediate boss in that period. “We don’t yet understand why these payments were made,” the person said on condition of anonymity as details of the investigation are confidential. “These contract provisions were not known widely and not to the appropriate officers at FIFA.” It is unclear if the contracted payments which came to light last week could form part of a wider

investigation of criminal mismanagement at FIFA conducted by Swiss federal prosecutors, who opened proceedings against Blatter last September. “We are not in a position to determine the legality of the contracts,” the person said, adding that “the appropriate authorities are aware of the issue.” United States federal prosecutors — who have indicted and taken guilty pleas from more than 40 soccer and marketing officials, plus marketing agencies, in a sprawling bribery probe — have said they are monitoring FIFA’s commitment to genuine reform under President Gianni Infantino, who was elected in February. FIFA’s ethics committee is likely now to open an investigation against Kattner, with charges of conflict of interest and disloyalty to FIFA among potential outcomes. An emailed request for comment from Kattner was not answered. Kattner joined FIFA as director of finance in 2003 from the McKinsey consultancy firm, where he worked with the former FIFA president’s nephew, Philippe Blatter, on a project advising the soccer body. In 2007, Kattner got the deputy secretary general title after Blatter hired Valcke for the top administrative job. Kattner was promoted in an interim role when Valcke was suspended last September for financial wrongdoing and then fired in January. “Markus Kattner has been dismissed from his position effective immediately,” FIFA said in a

MARKUS KATTNER (AP) statement Monday. “FIFA’s internal investigation uncovered breaches of his fiduciary responsibilities in connection with his employment contract.” FIFA has already announced that United Nations official Fatma Samoura of Senegal is due to start work next month as the new permanent secretary general. Kattner’s alleged wrongdoing came to light last Friday, the person with knowledge of the latest investigation said, one week after Samoura’s hiring was announced by Infantino. Kattner was at FIFA headquarters on Monday before his firing was announced. His exit is unconnected with the timing of Samoura’s hiring and expected arrival at FIFA, the person said. “This is based on documentary evidence that is information which emerged in the last three days,” the person said, stating that no whistleblower was involved in revealing the case. FIFA is being subjected to an internal investigation

led by lawyers it retained from US-based firm Quinn Emanuel, which is working separately from investigations by federal prosecutors in the US and Switzerland. As a central figure overseeing FIFA finances during most of Blatter’s presidency, Kattner and his finance department have been linked to the American and Swiss cases, and investigations of other officials by FIFA’s ethics committee. American prosecutors have focused on $10 million paid through FIFA accounts, at the request of South African organisers of the 2010 World Cup, as alleged bribes for senior officials to vote for that country’s successful hosting bid. Valcke has been implicated as the money went through the FIFA finance department he oversaw. South African officials have said the money was for soccer projects to support the African diaspora. FIFA previously suggested the cash transfers were known to long-time FIFA finance committee chairman Julio Grondona of Argentina. Grondona died in 2014. Michel Platini has said that his invoice requesting a $2 million payment for backdated salary from FIFA was sent to Kattner in 2010. The now-banned UEFA president got the money approved by Blatter in February 2011. In that case, Platini had a four-year ban confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport this month, and Blatter awaits an appeal at CAS to challenge his six-year ban for conflict of interest. They deny wrongdoing.

Kattner is also expected to be sought as a witness in German and Swiss investigations of unexplained payments between FIFA and German organisers of the 2006 World Cup, including soccer great Franz Becken-

bauer. When questioned at FIFA news conferences since October, Kattner has said he has been advised by FIFA not to comment on ongoing criminal and ethics cases.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS

PAGE 6E, Wednesday, May 25, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 25, 2016, PAGE 7E

Even before easy win, good day for Serena at French Open By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Even before Serena Williams quickly and easily seized control of her firstround match yesterday, things were shaping up rather well for her at the French Open. Williams’ bid for her 22nd Grand Slam title, which would equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record, began with a nothing-tosee-here 6-2, 6-0 victory over 77th-ranked Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia in all of 42 minutes. Not that she wished it had been more of a workout. “It was a little short for me, but I think in my career, if I don’t have it by now, I need to look into something different. So I’m OK — I’m OK with that,” said the top-seeded Williams, who took the last 10 games after a so-so start. What happened earlier on Day 3 was more surprising — and perhaps just as significant for the defending champion: Two of the top five seeded women exited the clay-court tournament. No. 3 Angelique Kerber, who upset Williams in the Australian Open final in January, lost to 58th-ranked Kiki Bertens of the

Netherlands 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. And No. 5 Victoria Azarenka, one of the only other two women who defeated Williams this season, bowed out in the first round, too, stopping because of an injured right knee while trailing 4-0 in the third set against 118th-ranked Karen Knapp of Italy. Williams could have faced Azarenka in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Kerber in the semi-finals. But Azarenka’s knee buckled in the sixth game of the second set, and she started grimacing and limping. After the first point of the next game, she went to the sideline and requested medical attention, which Knapp didn’t think was fair. “I don’t want to say anything bad about her,” Knapp said, “but we all know how she is.” Azarenka managed to pull out the second set, but she eventually decided not to continue. “I started to feel a sharp pain in my knee. I’ve had an injury there before, a while ago, but it hasn’t been a problem until today,” Azarenka said, explaining: “It got worse as the match went on.” Kerber, a lefty, got treatment for her left shoulder, which has been bothering her lately. “That was, for sure, not my best

39-2, with the only losses coming against Kerber and No. 7 Roberta Vinci, who ended the American’s try for a calendar-year Grand Slam at the 2015 US Open but is done in Paris after losing Monday. The rain that played havoc with the schedule over the first two days was nowhere to be found Tuesday, although the chill remained, and Williams wore leggings under her skirt and a zipped-up, long-sleeved top to shield her from temperatures that hovered around 60 degrees (15 Celsius). “I don’t like playing in cold weather,” said Williams, who compiled 25 winners and five unforced errors, “but everything felt pretty good.” Her older sister, No. 9 Venus, also won in straight sets, avoiding a second consecutive first-round Grand Slam loss — and a second consecutive first-round French Open loss. She spent a lot more time on court, needing nearly two hours to get past 82nd-ranked Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4). The top-seeded man, Novak Djokovic, was not tested at all, defeating 95th-ranked Yen-hsun Lu 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. And Rafael Nadal was so at ease in a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over

SERENA WILLIAMS, of the US, serves in her first round match of the French Open against Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova at Roland Garros stadium yesterday. (AP)

tennis,” she said. In the six major tournaments before this one, Williams went

100th-ranked Sam Groth that the nine-time French Open champion allowed himself a smile after a dazzling, back-to-the-net, through-the-legs passing shot winner. No. 2 Andy Murray was never that at peace during his struggle of a match, which was suspended because of darkness Monday night in the fourth set. Murray lost the opening two sets against 37-year-old Radek Stepanek, a qualifier from the Czech Republic who was the oldest man in the field, then twice was two points from losing while serving down 5-4 in the fifth on Tuesday. “Today was pretty, you know, stressful,” said Murray, who engaged in his usual mix of gesticulating and grousing. Stepanek, meanwhile, was having the time of his life, mixing confounding drop shots with net rushes, and motioning to the crowd for more support. In the end, though, Murray eked out a 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 win. He’ll be scheduled to play for a third consecutive day today. “Obviously being so close, it’s always tough to absorb,” Stepanek said, “but to play on such a stage, in front of such a crowd, it’s been a pleasure.”

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 88° F/31° C low: 65° F/18° C

Tampa

THursday

FrIday

saTurday

sunday

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

High: 88°

Low: 75°

High: 87° Low: 75°

High: 88° Low: 76°

High: 89° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

98° F

78° F

96°-79° F

101°-80° F

105°-86° F

111°-80° F

High: 90° F/32° C low: 69° F/21° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

aBaCO

High: 81° F/27° C low: 75° F/24° C

8‑16 knots

High: 85° F/29° C low: 74° F/23° C

8‑16 knots

FT. lauderdale

FreepOrT

High: 84° F/29° C low: 75° F/24° C

W S

WesT palm BeaCH

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 84° F/29° C low: 73° F/23° C

mIamI

High: 85° F/29° C low: 75° F/24° C

7‑14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 93° F/34° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 72° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 88° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 1.84” Year to date ............................................... 10.75” Normal year to date ..................................... 8.06”

eleuTHera

nassau

High: 88° F/31° C low: 75° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C low: 77° F/25° C

Key WesT

High: 86° F/30° C low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C low: 78° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

7‑14 knots

andrOs

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

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:03 a.m. 11:24 p.m.

2.3 2.9

5:07 a.m. 4:58 p.m.

0.0 0.1

Thursday

11:48 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.3 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:50 a.m. 5:44 p.m.

0.1 0.1

Friday

12:09 a.m. 12:38 p.m.

2.9 2.3

6:36 a.m. 6:35 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Saturday

12:58 a.m. 1:33 p.m.

2.8 2.4

7:26 a.m. 7:34 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Sunday

1:53 a.m. 2:33 p.m.

2.8 2.5

8:19 a.m. 8:38 p.m.

0.0 0.2

Monday

2:52 a.m. 3:35 p.m.

2.7 2.7

9:15 a.m. ‑0.1 9:45 p.m. 0.1

Tuesday

3:53 a.m. 4:36 p.m.

2.7 2.9

10:12 a.m. ‑0.2 10:50 p.m. 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:21 a.m. 7:52 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:08 p.m. 9:31 a.m.

last

new

First

Full

may 29

Jun. 4

Jun. 12

Jun. 20

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 83° F/28° C low: 77° F/25° C

High: 82° F/28° C low: 77° F/25° C

High: 85° F/29° C low: 76° F/24° C

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map

High: 83° F/28° C low: 78° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

mayaGuana High: 83° F/28° C low: 79° F/26° C

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

tiDes For nassau

CaT Island

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

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns

tonight’s lows.

raGGed Island High: 84° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C low: 77° F/25° C

GreaT InaGua High: 84° F/29° C low: 78° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

8‑16 knots

marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr

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

WINDS NE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NNE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots S at 8‑16 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots S at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots N at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots N at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots

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

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

WATER TEMPS. 79° F 79° F 86° F 86° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 84° F 80° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 82° F

PAGE 8E, Wednesday, May 25, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

BIG WEEKEND: Pictured at the Hook and Tackle Captain’s party are members of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism team led by Greg Rolle, (centre), senior director of sales, marketing and sports along with Bahamas Consul General Ricardo Treco and Mrs Treco.

Celebrating the 20th Fins Weekend PLANTATION, Florida – As part of its on-going partnership with the Miami Dolphins, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) participated in the 20th Fins Weekend. BMOT provided Bahamian inspired tropical décor, deserts and a live conch salad demonstration at the three-day event which comprised golf, fishing, a Hook and Tackle Captains party and fundraising. “As part of the BMOT’s fiveyear partnership with the Miami Dolphins, the Islands of The Bahamas is the official vacation destination for the Miami Dolphins fans, players and legends and its multi-islands brand is promoted to thousands annually at Sun Life Stadium. The organisation also conducts an annual weekend of events in The Bahamas including fishing, boating, golf, flag football match and community initiatives of football and cheerleading clinics for underprivileged children as well as supports a local Bahamian charity,” said Shane Russell,

sports manager at the BMOT. The leading annual fundraiser for the Miami Dolphins, the 20th Fins Weekend was held May 1921, at the Miami Beach Marina and attended by hundreds of persons including current and former NFL players, executives and fans of the Miami Dolphins and some of the most influential businesspersons in South Florida. The venue’s backdrop replicated Nassau’s historic parliament square and was decorated in the national colours of the Bahamas (gold, aquamarine and black) combined with the Miami Dolphins’ signature colours - orange and white. Bahamian conch vendor Edroy Brown, of Daddy Brown Conch Stand in Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama, provided a live demonstration of freshly made conch salad, which was a major hit with attendees. Guests also enjoyed Bahamian deserts of coconut tarts, benny and peanut cake and Bahamian made candies. The Islands of The Bahamas

THE LIVE demonstration of freshly made conch salad was a hit for attendees. Pictured are members of the BMOT team (l-r) - Shane Russell, Earnestine Moxyz, Detyruann Anderson (Edroy’s daughter), Donna Ash, Edroy Brown and Ahmad Williams. Photos courtesy of The Miami Dolphins also provided three popular prizes as part of the event’s silent auction programme, some of which raised thousands of dollars for the fund. Among them were a $7,000 bid for a 5-day, 4-night stay in an ocean deluxe suite at the Cove At Atlantis Resorts on Paradise Island and complimentary round-

trip airport transfers from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau on Triton Airways. A $3,500 bid secured a vacation getaway for a 5-day, 4night stay at Hooter’s Owl’s Nest Penthouse at The Abaco Beach Resort. An auction war resulting in one of the highest bids of the night

was for a trip to Bimini on board an 108 foot luxurious yacht with 4 day, 3 night accommodations at Resorts World Bimini, inclusive of fuel, dockage and crew, which was won with an $8,600 bid. “The Miami Dolphins embrace our responsibility to be involved proactively as a positive force in the community. Today was a great day as we recently held our 20th Fins Weekend to raise money that will go directly to City Year Miami mentoring programmes at two local schools in our backyard in Miami Gardens,” said Jason Jenkins, Miami Dolphins senior vice president of communications and community affairs. “We are so thankful for our fantastic partnership with the Islands of The Bahamas on this event. Our Friday night Hook & Tackle Captain’s Party featured beautiful decor, with every guest walking away with Bahamian deserts and conch salad! Such a great event that helped us raise much-needed funds to make an impact in our community, “ he said.