SPORTS SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016
EURO 2016
Roundup, 5E
Griffith aims to break the 10-second barrier in 100m By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NOT since Derrick Atkins’ sterling silver-medal performance at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, in 2007 has the Bahamas had a legitimate male sprinter on the international scene. This year, Adrian Griffith is hoping that he can be the next competitor to emerge on that level. “This is the best season that I’ve had ever,” Griffith said. “It’s just tapering up for the Olympics. That’s my main objective right now. So I’m trying to stay injury free so that I can compete in Rio.” So far this year, Griffith has produced the fastest time by any Bahamian of 10.11 seconds in the 100 metres and trails quarter-miler Demetrius Pinder, who has ran 20.45, compared to his 20.52. While Griffith, 31, has surpassed the qualifying standard of 10.16 for the Olympic Games
August 5-21 in Rio should have already de Janeiro, Brazil, joined him under he’s slightly off the the 10-second bartime of 20.50 for rier. But he’s conthe 200m. But the fident that he will former CC Sweeteventually get there. ing and Dickinson “I just have to foState standout said cus on a particular he knows that he can meet and I know run faster. that I can do it,” he “In the 100m, I projected. “I really know that 10.1 ain’t want to come home going to make it (out and run fast at NaADRIAN GRIFFITH of the rounds in the tionals. It’s in the Olympics),” he said. “I have to get new stadium, so I hope to really a little faster. As soon as my body go fast and run sub-10 in the 100m is well rested and I get ready for at home where it counts. a particular meet, I know that my “I’ve been training a lot and it’s times will drop. been a hectic three weeks. I’ve “So my main objective first is to had some knick-knacks, but my break this 10.1 barrier and then I body is healed up, so anything can work on my 200m. My 200m goes. I’m a competitor. I’m comhas really not been what I wanted ing home to compete, regardless it to be, but now I’m getting back of who is there.” there. Things are on the ball right In his last meet over the weeknow.” end at the Star Athletics Pro Meet Having been around when At- in Monte, Florida, Griffith ran kins was on the scene, Griffith 10.11 for seventh in the 100m and said he relished in the fact that he 20.52 for fifth place in the 200m,
despite getting a slight pull coming off the curve. “I’m going to see how it goes in the Nationals,” said Griffith, who indicated that he hopes that he can stay injuryfree. “I will see how it goes in the first two rounds in the Nationals in the 100m and then I will see how it goes for the 200m.” The good thing for Griffith is the fact that he has qualified for Rio this year. “That was the first thing for me to do,” said Griffith, who is coming off competing in seven meets in Europe. “Now I just want to drop my times and be prepared to run in the high-powered races so that I can compete with these guys in Rio. I don’t want to wait until I get to Rio and run in front of the 30-50,000 fans. “I am glad that I got the chance to do all of that when I went to Europe. Now I feel I’m better prepared to go through the call rooms and everything. Even though it wasn’t my best performances, I got the feel of it and so I
think I’m now ready for it.” In Rio, his ultimate goal is to advance through the rounds and eventually be in the final. It’s a tall order, he said. “It’s a 100 metres and just 100 metres,” he said. “Who ever crosses the finish line first wins, but there are seven other lanes. I want to get one of them. Any given day, it could be anyone’s day. I just hope that my day will come soon.” In addition to the sprints, Griffith is also hoping that the Bahamas will field a solid team to compete in the men’s 4 x 100m relay. “Earlier this year we’ve been trying to get things together, but it hasn’t turned out the way we expected it to,” Griffith said. “Some guys were dealing with some injuries and some were not yet ready to compete. “I know they’re waiting for the Nationals so that they can come home and compete and hopefully
SEE PAGE 3E
Ty’Nia Gaither gets set for Nationals By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunermedia.net
H
er collegiate career is over. Now Ty’Nia Gaither is hoping that she can make the transition to the next level, competing as a professional athlete. Gaither completed her senior year at the University of Southern California, placing fourth in the women’s 100 metres in 11.08 seconds and fifth in the 200m in 22.54 at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, over the weekend. The focus now is for Gaither to get ready for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Open Track and Field Championships, June 24-25 at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and solidify her spot on the team that will represent the Bahamas at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21. “I feel I’m in a very good position to come home for Nationals and compete at a very high level,” Gaither told The Tribune. “I want to be able to PR again when I come home. That is my goal. “I’m healthy and more focused than ever, so I am looking forward to competing at Nationals and then going on to compete at the Olympics.” Gaither, a 23-year-old 5-2 sprinter, has already qualified for both sprint events, surpassing the standards of 11.32 and 23.20 respec-
tively and she’s hoping that the women’s 4 x 100m relay team will also qualify and she can compete on that team as well. “As I continue to fine tune, I hope to see how my improvement can help me to compete at the Olympics,” Gaither said. “It’s exciting for me to be able to compete in the games in both events. “For the past few years, I’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries, but after tearing my hamstring last year and to be able to come back this year and excel at the level that I’ve done so, I’m very excited about my future.” Still sharp from just competing over the weekend, Gaither said there’s nothing much that she can do now to bring up her intensity because she faced some stiff competition during the NCAA Nationals. “I just feel as though it will come down to me taking care of my body, eating right, the small stuff like that,” she said. “I just want to make sure that my body is in tip-top shape so I can come home and do what I’ve been doing lately.” She will come having ran the second fastest time by a Bahamian so far this year in both the 100 and 200m behind Shaunae Miller, who has done 11.19 and 22.05. But the good thing is she should be the competitor to watch as Miller will only concentrate on the 400m. “I’m very grateful that the level of competition (at the NCAA Nationals) was what it was at this year,” Gaither said. “It will defi-
GOING PRO: Ty’Nia Gaither in action in the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, over the weekend. nitely prepare me for what is to come. Having to go up against some of the top women in the nation was a blessing for me. It just makes me want to work harder when I come home.”
She won’t have any shortage of competition as Gaither is expected to be challenged by competitors such as Anthonique Strachan, who is making her comeback after undergoing
surgery last year, veteran Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, who will be competing in her final Nationals and others like Carmiesha Cox, Lanece Clarke, Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson and Nivea Smith. Looking back at her collegiate experience, Gaither could only say that she was blessed. “I had many, many blessings,” she pointed out. “I’m just fortunate that I was in the position that I was in. I was pleased to have been coached by one of the best coaches in the nation. I’ve learned a lot on and off the track. I just consider myself to be blessed.” Gaither, who was born in Grand Bahama to parents Sabrina Johnson and Tony Gaither, attended Osceola High in Kissimmee, Florida, went on to compete for the University of Georgia before she transferred to USC. “Transferring from Georgia to USC was one of the greatest decisions that I made,” she said. “I was able to travel to a different part of the United States and took on a whole different lifestyle. But it helped me to grow and strengthened my aspirations to be great. “Having to leave everything I know on the East Coast to come to the West Coast, it really revealed my love for the sport. Just being a part of the USC programme was a blessing. Everything that we do came with hard work and it really revealed my love for the sport.” With the Olympics right around the corner, Gaither
‘THE WILL TO WIN’ BOXING SHOW ALL SET THE Champion Amateur Boxing Club is scheduled to host “The Will to Win” amateur boxing show at the Wulff Road Boxing Square on Saturday, June 25. The show will feature the Lion-Heart Amateur Boxing Club’s Cameron Sweeting against the Champion Amateur Boxing Club’s Daedae Eugene in the main event. The Meacher Major Pain Amateur Boxing Club will also be participating. All amateur boxers and boxing clubs are welcome to take part. Food and soft drinks will be on sale. said she is hoping that she can get to run in another meet after the Nationals before she goes to Rio. Once that’s done, she will concentrate on her future as a pro athlete. “I love this sport more than anything else,” she said. “I want to go pro and to continue to do what I love.”
Free college info session for aspiring student athletes By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EVERY year around this time, thousands of Bahamian students leave high school and they start looking at the possibility of where they will continue their education at the collegiate level in the US and Canada. On Thursday night, starting at 6:30pm in the Golden Gates Native Baptist Church, Dr Simeon Hinsey will conduct a free col-
WARRIORS VS. CAVALIERS GAME 6 @ 9PM THURSDAY, JUNE 16
lege information session where he will outline to parents, coaches and students the requirements needed to get prepared for college through athletics. Hinsey, who left the Bahamas at the age of 15 to pursue his education, will attempt to answer the following questions and more: How do I acquire an athletic scholarship? What do I need to be doing in order to get college coaches to recognise me? What is the NCAA eligibility centre? What is the NAIA eligibility centre? How do I sign up for those things? What is the links between academics and athletics? Is it important that I do well in school? “If you do get an athletic scholarship, what does the life of a student-athlete look like,” he said. “So I will be talking to them about all of those stuff and just try to provide this information so that I don’t get a call from somebody when their child is a freshman or sophomore at COB asking ‘how can you help my son or daughter.’ “I might have to say ‘I’m sorry, but it’s a little bit too late.’ That’s the purpose of it, but it’s also for me to start to get back into the community so that they can know who I am and to know that they have a Bahamian out there who made it and wants to give back to this country.”
Hinsey will be participating in the clinic with host Bahamian entrepreneur Monique Hinsey, who is his sister-in-law. Hinsey made the transition from playing basketball at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, Arkansas to coaching the women’s basketball team at John Brown University. He said he wants to encourage everybody that if he can do it, they can do it too. “I feel like in order to be successful in life, you have to be able to serve people and help them become successful,” he said. “If you can do that, you will be successful yourself.” The college info will also be the introduction to Hinsey’s newly formed International Youth Education & Sports Foundation, Inc. (iYES Foundation). “My wife actually came up with the name,” said Hinsey of Stephanie, whom he met in college and produced two boys - Sammy, 8 and Seth, 4 - from their union. “We want to play off the whole idea of the iphone. “This generation is the I generation. Everything is I this and I that. So we thought it would be a cool way to play off that, but it incorporates the entire world. I just decided that we have to do this.”
Hinsey, son of Rev Alonzo and Jessie Hinsey, said he intends to fully launch the foundation in August. Its goal, according to him, is to help as many Bahamians as possible to get into colleges and universities in the US. Monique Hinsey, founder of Global College Access and Mission: College Bound, which was instrumental in securing more than $16 million in scholarships for Bahamian students, said she’s excited about what’s going to take place. “We have a team from Texas Southern who called and said they see what we’re doing and we will be in town, so we will come,” she said. “They are going to be in the house as well and they will be doing some recruiting.” Texas Southern, according to Hinsey, already has an agreement with the Ministry of Education where they provide a number of scholarships to deserving Bahamians. Additionally, Central State freshman Iesha Lockhart, who is maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, will be delivering an address on the “Life of a Student Athlete.” Having watched Simeon Hinsey’s development over the years, Monique Hinsey said she reached out to him to come home and assist in the camp so that they can get more student athletes off to school.
PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 15, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘Our Shining Stars’ are nominated for top collegiate honours at BAAA Gala Awards
SHINING STARS OF 2015: Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) annual awards ceremony, to be held under the patronage of local track and field icon Keith Parker, is all set to be hosted June 26 at the British Colonial Hilton under the theme “Shining Stars of 2015.” The event will recognise 156 of the country’s top athletes of 2015, including the All-Bahamian scholars, national team ambassadors and top performers. BAAAs First Vice President, Tonique Williams, said the organisation was intent on shifting the way it honoured the dedication and production of its athletes. An overhaul of the event included hosting in June rather than December and using a true awards show format accompanied by a cocktail reception and silent auction in lieu of a traditional dinner banquet. In addition to recognising the athletes, the federation will also recognise affiliates and partners whose service and contributions have been important to the success of Team Bahamas. Presentations will also be made to Bahamas Association of Certified Officials’ official of the year and to the coach of the year. The awards ceremony will directly follow the conclusion of the BAAA Senior National Trials June 24-25.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 15, 2016, PAGE 3
Warriors still confident of winning 2nd straight title By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, California (AP) — Stephen Curry sat on the bench and buried his head in his hand. Fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson wrapped a towel around his face. This was misery for the Warriors and their fired-up fans, who made for the exits early during Monday’s 112-97 NBA Finals loss to the Cavaliers that sent the series back to Cleveland for a Game 6 on Thursday night. They wanted so badly to do it for Draymond Green, do it for each other, and for their home crowd this time. Instead, Golden State is going to Ohio again. One flight the Warriors surely would have preferred not to take at this road-weary stage of another extra-long season, but it will be well worth it if they hoist a second straight trophy when these NBA Finals finally end. Their “Strength in Numbers” mantra was tested once more in a game that mattered so much. The Warriors lost at home for only the second time this postseason and fourth overall. Yet there’s no panic now for the defending champions after LeBron James and the Cavs forced at least one more game in what has become quite the testy rematch. The Warriors lead the series 3-2 and still have the upper hand. “We’re all disappointed. We want to win,” guard Shaun Livingston said. “With the stakes being what they are right now, obviously it’s a gut punch. But it’s the finals. It’s not going to be easy. They’re not going to lay down. It doesn’t matter who’s on the court. We’ve got to play.” Golden State will get a boost having emotional leader and AllStar forward Green back after he sat out Game 5 serving a suspension for a Game 4 swipe at James’ groin. Fans chanted “Free Draymond! Free Dray-mond!” and large cutouts of his face waved from all corners of Oracle Arena as he watched from a baseball suite next door in the Oakland Coliseum.
‘I’M TRYING TO STAY INJURY FREE SO I CAN COMPETE IN RIO’ FROM PAGE 1E
SPLASH BROTHERS: Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry, left, and Klay Thompson speak at a news conference after Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. The Cavaliers won 112-97. (AP) “You want to win here more than anything for your fans. They deserve to see us win, but you just suck it up and move on,” Thompson said. “We’re still in a great position.” While Green returns for Game 6, the Warriors might be down big man Andrew Bogut. The 7-foot centre sprained his left knee early in the third quarter Monday and was scheduled for an MRI exam yesterday before the team travelled. Bogut has been an imposing presence with his shot-blocking ability, but the Warriors have some depth at the position and often use a centre-by-committee approach with Festus Ezeli and Marreese Speights among others like Anderson Varejao getting regular opportunities to contribute. “If there’s a chance he’s out Thursday, our bigs are just going to have to step up. Been doing it all year,” Thompson said.
Defensively, the Warriors must find a way to keep James and Kyrie Irving from going off the way they did Monday, with each scoring 41 points. Not that the always-confident Warriors are overly concerned. They are a group that bounced back from every rare loss during a record-setting, 73-win regular season. Golden State is 14-1 following a defeat. “We’re in the same place we were last year, up 3-2 heading back to Cleveland. If you told me this before the series, I would have taken it,” coach Steve Kerr said. “So we’re in a good spot. We’re disappointed we didn’t win tonight, but, like I said, they outplayed us. They deserved the win. And we’ll go back to Cleveland and we’ll play a better game for sure.” Golden State doesn’t have much further to fall after shooting a postseason-low 36.4 per cent — its
first game below a 40 per cent clip — despite getting 37 points from Thompson with six 3-pointers and Curry’s 25 with five 3s. “You tip your hat to them. They had a great night,” Curry said. The Warriors are trying to close out the fifth championship in franchise history and third since moving out West from Philadelphia in 1962-63. Each of the last two since coming to the Bay Area have been clinched on the road — the first title in 40 years last June and also in 1975, when the Warriors won at Washington with a four-game sweep of the Bullets. “It (stinks) that it happened tonight with the opportunity we had in front of us to close out a series at home in front of our home fans, and it’s a tough feeling,” Thompson said. “But you work hard in the series early to put ourselves in this position again on Thursday, and we’ll be ready.”
qualify (for the Olympics in the 100m and 200m). Once Nationals is over, we will try to get in a quality meet to run as a team.” Griffith said it’s obvious that there’s no shortage of sprinters for the BAAA to consider for the team, but they just have to come together as a unit. “The 4 x 100m is not like the 4 x 400m,” he pointed out. “You can’t expect us to come together two or three days before a meet and run fast. We have the foot speed, but some teams have been working 2-4 years in advance. “Every time it comes to us, it’s a last minute thing. We have the potential to do it, but we have to come together and do it. We have to work together and put all of the egos aside and put in some work.” Not putting the blame on the new administration because they just got into office in November but, moving forward, Griffith said he would suggest to the BAAA to put the team together at least a year in advance so that they can be properly ready. “I’m kind of jealous and happy of the men’s 4 x 4 guys, but it’s kind of easier for them to go to the meets and compete,” Griffith noted. “ But the 4 x 1 guys need the work. We need to come together and look at the whole picture and look at how best for us to get the stick around.”
PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 15, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Brazil acting president, IOC head inspect Olympic Park By FELIPE DANA Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s interim president and the head of the International Olympic Committee reiterated yesterday their confidence Rio de Janeiro will manage to host a successful games in fewer than two months’ time, despite the litany of problems besetting the country. Speaking to journalists during a chaotic visit to the Olympic Park that saw the two men tour the facilities separately, interim President Michel Temer and IOC president Thomas Bach shrugged off questions about Brazil’s ability to play host to the mega sporting event amid the worst recession in decades, an outbreak of the Zika virus and the ongoing political crisis that saw former Vice President Temer temporarily replace President Dilma Rousseff after she was impeached and suspended. The visit was Temer’s first to the Olympic Park, in Rio’s western Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood, since assuming the presidency, and it is expected to be Bach’s final visit ahead of the August 5-21 games, which have also seen lacklustre ticket sales and worries about whether the readiness of a promised — and crucial — metro extension as well as the velodrome. The two men toured the grounds separately, with Temer flanked by Rio’s telegenic mayor, Eduardo Paes, who’s widely seen as a rising star in Temer’s Democratic Movement, or PMDB, party, and both groups beset by hordes of journalists. The 75-year-old leader pledged that the financial crisis that has hit Rio state’s coffers particularly hard wouldn’t affect the games, adding that the national government would step in with additional funding, if needed. “We will all collaborate, not just with words, but
BRAZIL’s interim President Michel Temer, left, talks to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes as they visit the Olympic Aquatics Stadium at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. In recent weeks Temer has stepped up his pledges of support for the Olympic Games, which have been beset by a series of problems including the ongoing political crisis, Brazil’s worst recession in decades and an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in infants. (AP) in meeting the financial needs,” he said, adding, “We will do that with the absolute conviction that we are creating something extraordinary for Brazil and for the world.” Asked how much money the national government will contribute to the games, Temer said, “I don’t have those numbers yet but by the beginning of next week we’ll have those numbers.” Temer also brushed off questions about whether the political crisis — which could potentially see the final vote over Rousseff’s fate take place during games time — could pose any problem for the games, saying, “The people of the world won’t be worried about this.” Asked whether he would
want Rousseff to be on hand for the opening ceremony, Temer responded, “It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t have any objection.” Bach, the IOC president who has repeatedly voiced his confidence in Brazil despite the maelstrom of problems, repeated his position. “After this meeting with President Temer today, I am even more confident it will be a great Olympic games,” he said. Later, at a meeting with students at the headquarters of Rio’s Olympic games, Bach acknowledged Brazil was in the throes of problems on multiple fronts. “From the outside, we see deep divisions in this country, whether it’s political, social, financial, it’s all about divisions and contro-
BRAZIL’s interim President Michel Temer, right, talks to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes as they visit Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. (AP) versy,” Bach said, adding that he saw the potential for
the Olympics to heal those wounds. “Brazil needs now
something which is unifying the country.”
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 15, 2016, PAGE 5
Joy for Iceland on their Euro 2016 debut A GOAL from Birkir Bjarnason earned Iceland a shock 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal yesterday at the European Championship in France as the tiny nation made its debut at a major football tournament. Iceland managed only four shots to Portugal’s 25 and was second best for most of the Group F game in St Etienne. They trailed to a first half strike by Nani but showed resilience throughout and took advantage of Portugal’s profligacy in front of goal. Bjarnason equalised in the 50th minute with Bjarnason’s curling volley at the far post against the run of the play, moments after Ronaldo missed a chance to make it 2-0 when he shot wide. “We should have scored more goals, there is no secret about that,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. “We are to blame for that. Then there was this move. We knew they could play long balls and that they had good crossers. They were very pragmatic.” With a population of 330,000, Iceland is the smallest nation ever to play at a European Championship. They defied the odds to reach the tournament by finishing second in their qualifying group behind the Czech Republic and above Turkey and the Netherlands, defeating the Dutch twice. “So many things are happening for the first time to Iceland,” the team’s co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. “This is another first-time achievement. It was fantastic to play here. It was like playing at home, the fans were fantastic.” Nani put Portugal in front with a clinical finish from close range on a day when Ronaldo equalled Luis Figo’s Portugal record of 127 caps but lacked his usual composure and accuracy. “It’s down to teamwork,” Hallgrimsson said of Iceland’s success against the Real Madrid star. “You can’t put one player
ICELAND’s Birkir Bjarnason celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal yesterday during the Euro 2016 Group F soccer match against Portugal at Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, France. (AP) to stop a guy like Ronaldo. It has to be a team effort, closing the areas. There were a lot of players responsible for Ronaldo tonight.” After a tight start, Portugal won the midfield battle and Nani turned Portugal’s dominance of possession into a goal when he collected a cross from the right by Andre Gomes and steered the ball home at the near post in the 31st minute. They wasted many good chances before and after as their movement off the ball and quick passing forced Iceland’s midfielders to keep chasing the ball. Shortly after half time, Ronaldo shot wide while unmarked from the edge of the box and then, in one of Iceland’s rare attacks, Vieirinha lost track of Bjarnason at the far post and the winger volleyed home a cross from Johann Gudmundsson. Ronaldo criticised his opponents. “I thought they’d won the Euros the way they celebrated at the end, it was unbelievable,” he said. “When they don’t try to play and just defend, defend, defend this in my opinion shows a small mentality and are not going to do anything in the competition.” Hungary top Group F as the first round of matches came to a finish by beating Austria 2-0 in Bordeaux. Adam Szalai
gave Hungary the lead with his first goal in 12 appearances and substitute Zoltan Stieber added the other after Austria were reduced to 10 men when Aleksandar Dragovic was shown a second yellow card. Gabor Kiraly, the 40-year-old Hungary goalkeeper, became the oldest player to play in the tournament and helped his team with several good stops. By playing yesterday, Kiraly surpassed the previous record set by Lothar Matthaus by almost a year. Kiraly is 40 years and 75 days, while Matthaus was 39 years and 91 days when Germany played Portugal at Euro 2000. It was the first European Championship match for Hungary in 44 years and the first tournament the country has qualified for since the 1986 World Cup. Austria were favoured to win after going through qualification unbeaten and finishing at the top of their group, eight points above Russia. But Szalai scored in the 62nd minute after playing a one-two with Laszlo Kleinheisler and three minutes later Dragovic was sent off with a second yellow card. Stieber made it 2-0 three minutes from the end, bursting down the right flank from inside his own half and lifting a long ball over the onrushing Robert Almer.
RUSSIA WILL BE DISQUALIFIED IF THERE IS MORE VIOLENCE BY THE TEAM’S FANS INSIDE STADIUMS RUSSIA will be disqualified from the European Championship if there is more violence by the team’s fans inside stadiums in France. A UEFA disciplinary panel ruled yesterday after Russians charged at a section of England supporters after the team’s opening match in Marseille on Saturday. Russia will be expelled from the tournament if its fans attack rival supporters or stadium security staff at its two remaining Group B matches, or later at Euro 2016 if the team advances. Russia’s “disqualification is suspended until the end of the tournament,” UEFA, European football’s governing body, said. “Such suspension will be lifted if incidents of a similar nature (crowd disturbances) happen inside the stadium at any of the remaining matches of the Russian team during the tournament.” Russia play Slovakia in Lille today and Wales in Toulouse on Monday. Russia coach Leonid Slutsky said he was sure his team’s fans would behave themselves today. “We are sure (our fans) will not do the same, they will not give any reasons to disqualify our team,” Slutsky said. “We are sure we are not going to be kicked out. There is not going to be any injustice.”
Slutsky called the threat of expulsion a “dangerous situation” for his team. “We have addressed our supporters and asked them to behave within the framework of rules,” the coach said. “We need their support. They supported us very well during the England game.” Russia, also charged over fan racism towards black England players and fireworks being set off during the game, have been fined 150,000 euros ($169,000) by UEFA. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said there will be no appeal against the UEFA decision as a formal protest would make “no sense.” The incidents with Russian hooligans come two years before the country hosts the 2018 World Cup in 11 cities. Mutko is head of tournament’s Russian organising committee and a member of the FIFA ruling council. UEFA can punish soccer bodies only for the actions of their ticketed fans in and around stadiums. England’s soccer body faced no disciplinary case after Saturday’s match, though UEFA’s executive committee warned both federations it had separate power to disqualify either for a repeat of violence.
BRAZIL FIRE COACH DUNGA AFTER COPA AMERICA EXIT BRAZIL’S football confederation fired national coach Dunga yesterday in the wake of the team’s elimination from the Copa America in the United States. The confederation announced Dunga’s dismissal in a brief statement, adding that the search for a new coach has begun. Gilmar Rinaldi, the team’s general manager, was also fired Brazil failed to get past the Copa America group stage after drawing 0-0 with Ecuador, beating Haiti 7-1 and losing 1-0 to Peru on Sunday. According to local media, the favourite to replace the 53-yearold Dunga is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, known as Tite, who is currently the coach of Brazilian league champion Corinthians. Dunga was the captain of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning team, and previously coached the national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He was dismissed after Brazil lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals to the Netherlands. Mexico will avoid tournament favourites Argentina in the quarter-finals after a late equaliser against Venezuela gave them top spot in Group C on Monday night. Jesus Manuel “Tecatito” Corona missed a number of chances as ‘El Tri’ trailed fellow quali-
QUARTER-FINALS Thursday, June 16 United States v Ecuador Friday, June 17 Peru v Colombia Saturday, June 18 Argentina v Venezuela Mexico v Chile or Panama fiers Venezuela by a goal but the 23-year-old finally captialised on one in the 80th minute, taking on five defenders and firing in a shot from 10 yards. It was the first goal Venezuela had conceded in the tournament. By winning their group, Mexico avoided a match with Lionel Messi and Argentina, who are headed for an easier matchup with Venezuela. Mexico will face either Chile or Panama, who played last night. Mexico defeated Uruguay 3-1 and Jamaica 2-0 earlier. Venezuela had surprised Mexico with an early goal, Jose Manuel Velazquez volleying in Christian Santos’ headed pass after 10 minutes. Mexico are on a 22-game unbeaten streak, its longest ever, and has nine wins and a draw since coach Juan Carlos Osorio took over for interim coach Ri-
cardo Ferretti last fall. The team has scored 16 goals and allowed just two since. Uruguay ended their miserable camoaign on a winning note with Abel Hernandez, a Je-Vaughn Watson own goal, and Mathias Corujo giving them a 3-0 victory over Jamaica on Monday night to end a five-game Copa America winless streak. Both teams were already out of contention for the knockout stages after losing their first two games. Jamaica were the only team to not score a goal in the tournament. Even with little at stake, Lionel Messi was expected to play in Argentina’s final group game last night against Bolivia in Seattle. Argentina manager Gerardo Martino was coy on Monday as to whether Messi would be on the field from the start, or if he would play another supporting role off the bench as he manages a back injury. He looked healthy in his limited role on Friday against Panama. Messi played just 29 minutes and managed to score a hat trick in the 5-0 victory that clinched Argentina’s passage to the next round. Chile and Panama were meeting to decide the runners up spot in Group D.
EURO 2016 AT A GLANCE
Kick offs Bahamian time All matches televised live on ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN Deportes Friday, June 10 Group A: France 2 (Giroud, Payet) Romania 1 (Stancu) Saturday, June 11 Group A: Albania 0 Switzerland 1 (Schar) Group B: Wales 2 (Bale, Robson-Kanu) Slovakia 1 (Duda) Group B: England 1 (Dier) Russia 1 (Berezuktski) Sunday, June 12 Group D: Turkey 0 Croatia 1 (Modric) Group C: Poland 1 (Milik) Northern Ireland 0 Group C: Germany 2 (Mustafi, Schweinsteiger) Ukraine 0 Monday, June 13 Group D: Spain 1 (Pique) Czech Republic 0 Group E: Ireland 1 (Hoolahan) Sweden 1 (Clark og) Group E: Belgium 0 Italy 2 (Giaccherini, Pelle) Tuesday, June 14 Group F: Austria 0 Hungary 2 (Szalai, Stieber) Group F: Portugal 1 (Nani) Iceland 1 (Bjarnason) Wednesday, June 15 Group B: Russia v Slovakia (9am) Group A: Romania v Switzerland (noon) Group A: France v Albania (3pm) Thursday, June 16 Group B: England v Wales (9am) Group C: Ukraine v Northern Ireland (noon) Group C: Germany v Poland (3pm) Friday, June 17 Group E: Italy v Sweden (9am) Group D: Czech Republic v Croatia (noon) Group D: Spain v Turkey (3pm) Saturday, June 18 Group E: Belgium v Ireland (9am) Group F: Iceland v Hungary (noon) Group F: Portugal v Austria (3pm) Sunday, June 19 Group A: France v Switzerland (3pm) Group A: Romania v Albania (3pm) Monday, June 20 Group A: Slovakia v England (3pm) Group A: Russia v Wales (3pm) Tuesday, June 21 Group C: Northern Ireland v Germany (noon) Group C: Ukraine v Poland (noon) Group D: Croatia v Spain (3pm) Group D: Czech Republic v Turkey (3pm) Wednesday, June 22 Group F: Hungary v Portugal (noon) Group F: Iceland v Austria (noon) Group E: Sweden v Belgium (3pm) Group E: Italy v Ireland (3pm)
STANDINGS GROUP A France Switzerland Albania Romania
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 1 0 0
D 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 0 1
F 2 1 0 1
A 1 0 1 2
Pts 3 3 0 0
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 0 0 0
D 0 1 1 0
L 0 0 0 1
F 2 1 1 1
A 1 1 1 2
Pts 3 1 1 0
Germany Poland N Ireland Ukraine
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 1 0 0
D 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 1 1
F 2 1 0 0
A 0 0 1 2
Pts 3 3 0 0
GROUP D Croatia Spain Czech Rep Turkey
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 1 0 0
D 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 1 1
F 1 1 0 0
A 0 0 1 1
Pts 3 3 0 0
GROUP E Italy Ireland Sweden Belgium
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 0 0 0
D 0 1 1 0
L 0 0 0 1
F 2 1 1 0
A 0 1 1 2
Pts 3 1 1 0
GROUP F Hungary Iceland Portugal Austria
P 1 1 1 1
W 1 0 0 0
D 0 1 1 0
L 0 0 0 1
F 2 1 1 0
A 0 1 1 2
Pts 3 1 1 0
GROUP B
Wales England Russia Slovakia GROUP C
• 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw • Top two teams in each group plus the four third-place teams with the best records qualify for the knockout stages Leading goalscorers 1: Giroud (France), Payet (France), Stancu (Romania), Schar (Switzerland), Bale (Wales), Robson-Kanu (Wales), Duda (Slovakia), Dier (England), Berezutski (Russia), Modric (Croatia), Milik (Poland), Mustafi (Germany), Schweinsteiger (Germany), Pique (Spain), Hoolahan (Ireland), Giaccherini (Italy), Pelle (Italy), Szalai (Hungary), Stieber (Hungary), Nani (Portugal), Bjarnason (Iceland). ROUND OF LAST 16 Saturday, June 25 1 Group A second v Group C second (9am) 2 Group B winner v Group A, C or D third (noon) 3 Group D winner v Group B, E or F third (3pm) Sunday, June 26 4 Group A winner v Group C, D or E third (9am) 5 Group C winner v Group A, B or F third (noon) 6 Group F winner v Group E second (3pm) Monday, June 27 7 Group E winner v Group D second (noon) 8 Group B second v Group F second (3pm) QUARTER-FINALS Thursday, June 30 A Winner (1) v Winner (3) (3pm) Friday, July 1 B Winner (2) v Winner (6) (3pm) Saturday, July 2 C Winner (5) v Winner (7) (3pm) Sunday, July 3 D Winner (4) v Winner (8) (3pm) SEMI-FINALS Wednesday, July 6 Winner A v Winner B (3pm) Thursday, July 7 Winner C v Winner D (3pm) FINAL Sunday, July 10 At Saint-Denis, Paris (3pm)
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, June 15, 2016, PAGE 7
Sharapova appeals to CAS in MURRAY STRUGGLES doping case, ruling by July 18 TO DEFEAT MAHUT LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Maria Sharapova appealed her two-year doping ban to the highest court in sports yesterday, and an expedited ruling will be issued next month ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Sharapova filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to overturn or reduce the suspension imposed by the International Tennis Federation last week. The Russian tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January, taking it before each match at that tournament even though the substance was banned at the start of 2016. CAS said both sides agreed to an “expedited procedure” that will allow the court to issue its ruling by July 18, at the latest. So if the suspension is thrown out, Sharapova would be eligible to compete at the Rio Games, which open August 5. CAS said it hasn’t decided whether to hold a hearing. Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player, announced last week she would appeal her suspension. An independent three-person panel appointed by the ITF said Sharapova did not intend to cheat because she
LONDON (AP) — Top seed Andy Murray struggled to a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (1) victory over Nicolas Mahut of France to begin the defence of his title at the Queen’s Club yesterday. Second seed Stan Wawrinka lost to Spanish lefthander Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 7-6 (3), but there were victories for fifth seed Croat Marin Cilic, who rallied to beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, who outlasted American Sam Querrey 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1). Third seeded Canadian Milos Raonic, watched by John McEnroe who is coaching him during the grasscourt season, surrendered the first set to Australian Nick Kyrgios in a tiebreaker but took the second 6-4 before the match was suspended due to darkness. Murray fought off a set point before securing the opening set on his third set point, and then held off a further challenge when Ma-
SHARAPOVA (AP) didn’t know meldonium was banned, but that she bore “sole responsibility” and “very significant fault” for the positive test. The panel also said various elements of Sharapova’s case “inevitably lead to the conclusion” that she took the substance “for the purpose of enhancing her performance.” “Maria looks forward to CAS hearing her appeal and hopes she’ll be able to play again,” said Sharapova’s lawyer, John Haggerty. “The ITF tribunal concluded she had no intent to do anything wrong and she thinks a two-year suspension is unfairly harsh.” Sharapova was provisionally suspended by the ITF in early March, shortly before she announced at a news conference in LA that she failed
a doping test. Sharapova said then she was not aware that the World Anti-Doping Agency barred athletes from using meldonium, also known as mildronate, as of January 1. In addition to testing positive at the Australian Open, the ITF said, she also failed a test for meldonium in an out-of-competition control in Moscow on February 2. The 29-year-old Sharapova’s ban is due to end January 25, 2018, which would keep her out of eight Grand Slam tournaments, along with the Olympics. Sharapova said she first was prescribed the Latvian-made drug, typically used for heart conditions, for medical reasons in 2006. She could have been barred from competing for up to four years.
THe WeaTHer repOrT
5-Day Forecast
TOday
OrlandO
High: 92° F/33° C low: 75° F/24° C
Tampa
THursday
FrIday
saTurday
sunday
Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots
Partly cloudy, a shower; humid
Partly sunny with a shower or two
Humid with partial sunshine
Partly sunny with a shower; humid
Humid with times of sun and clouds
High: 90°
Low: 76°
High: 90° Low: 77°
High: 91° Low: 78°
High: 90° Low: 77°
High: 90° Low: 77°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
113° F
89° F
113°-90° F
115°-92° F
114°-92° F
112°-88° F
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
aBaCO
S
N
High: 85° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C
4‑8 knots
S
High: 90° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C
4‑8 knots
FT. lauderdale
FreepOrT
High: 90° F/32° C low: 78° F/26° C
E
W S
E
W
WesT palm BeaCH
N
High: 89° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C
mIamI
High: 91° F/33° C low: 77° F/25° C
3‑6 knots
Key WesT
High: 88° F/31° C low: 79° F/26° C
nassau
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016
High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
N
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
4:55 a.m. 5:34 p.m.
2.3 2.6
11:06 a.m. 0.2 11:50 p.m. 0.4
Thursday
5:43 a.m. 6:19 p.m.
2.3 2.7
11:50 a.m. 0.1 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
Friday
6:29 a.m. 7:01 p.m.
2.3 2.9
12:37 a.m. 0.3 12:32 p.m. 0.0
Saturday
7:12 a.m. 7:41 p.m.
2.3 3.0
1:21 a.m. 1:13 p.m.
0.2 0.0
Sunday
7:55 a.m. 8:21 p.m.
2.4 3.1
2:03 a.m. 1:53 p.m.
0.1 0.0
Monday
8:36 a.m. 9:00 p.m.
2.4 3.1
2:44 a.m. 0.1 2:33 p.m. ‑0.1
Tuesday
9:17 a.m. 9:40 p.m.
2.4 3.2
3:24 a.m. 0.0 3:14 p.m. ‑0.1
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:20 a.m. 8:01 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
3:59 p.m. 3:05 a.m.
Full
last
new
First
Jun. 20
Jun. 27
Jul. 4
Jul. 11
CaT Island
E
W
High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C
N
S
E
W S
4‑8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 89° F/32° C Last year’s low ................................... 79° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 17.25” Normal year to date ................................... 10.98”
eleuTHera
High: 90° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C
6‑12 knots
andrOs
san salVadOr
GreaT eXuma
High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C
High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C
N
High: 89° F/32° C low: 80° F/27° C
E
W S
lOnG Island
insurance management tracking map
High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C
4‑8 knots
mayaGuana High: 88° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and
CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns
tonight’s lows.
raGGed Island High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C
High: 86° F/30° C low: 81° F/27° C
GreaT InaGua High: 90° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C
N
N E
W
E
W
H
uV inDex toDay
TOnIGHT
High: 88° F/31° C low: 78° F/26° C
hut served for the second set at 5-3. “It was a good win,” said Murray. “Nicolas is a very good grass court player, coming off winning an event just yesterday. So he’s confident and has played a lot on the grass. “I haven’t really hit many balls on the grass the last few days, and the balls that I have hit there’s been very little, limited movement not being able to play any points really at all. So to get a win against a player as good as him on grass, not loads of preparation, is a good win.” Wawrinka is working with 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek during the grass-court season, and their partnership got off to a rocky start as Verdasco broke serve in the opening game and took control of the set with a second break to lead 4-1. In a match that was delayed by rain, the second set went with serve until Verdasco clinched victory in the tiebreaker.
S
S
6‑12 knots
3‑6 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 S at 4‑8 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots
WAVES 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 0‑1 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 80° F 80° F 86° F 88° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F
PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 15, 2016
THE TRIBUNE