09122016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

US OPEN

The Final, Page 7

Anfernee Seymour and Braves make team history By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANFERNEE SEYMOUR

ANFERNEE Seymour and the Rome Braves made team history by reaching the Class A (Full) South Atlantic League Championship series for the first time in 13 years. The Braves will take on the Lakewood BlueClaws in the championship series which begins 7:05pm tonight at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Georgia. Rome booked their berth to the series when they closed out the Charleston RiverDogs in the final game of the three game semi-finals with a 4-1 win Saturday night. They claimed the South Atlantic League Southern Division title

with the win. Max Fried struck out 11 over 7 2-3 innings. Lakewood swept Hagerstown in two games to win the Northern Division title on Friday. It will be the first time the Braves played in the championship series since their inaguaral season in 2003. The Braves won the title that season. This is the first time since 2012 that the Braves have been in the postseason when they won the Southern Division second-half title to advance to the division playoffs. A slow start to the season paced the Braves well behind the pack and, in the first half, they finished with just a 27-42, just good enough for sixth place in the Southern Division.

Seymour came on board for a torrid second half and the Braves went 43-27 the rest of the way. Braves manager Randy Ingle told Wayne Cavadi that the turnaround was due to the teams wealth of young talent reaching their potenential. “We have a lot of talent on this club, and a lot of young talent on this club,” Ingle said. “The youngest in the league by far. I was looking the other day, I think [Charleston] has one teenager over there and we have nine.” In 20 games with the Braves thus far, Seymour is hitting .243 with four RBI, an OBP of .278, an OPS of .535 with six stolen bases. Seymour was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Atlanta Braves in a three-player deal

Gardiner’s visit home By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

t was a return to Moore’s Island where it all got started for Olympian Steven Gardiner four years ago. Gardiner, the 20-yearold national 400 metre record holder, returned to his birthplace in Abaco last week following his appearance in the Diamond League Race the previous weekend in Zurich, Switzerland, where he finished in a two-way tie for fourth place in the men’s 400m with Nery Brenes of Croatia with 10 points. Gardiner, coming off his semifinal appearance in the men’s 400m and a bronze medallist on the men’s 4 x 400m relay at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last month, placed fifth in Zurich in 45.66 as American LaShawn Merritt ran away with the race in 44.64. Merritt, the bronze medallist in Rio, won the title with 50 points. His nearest rival was Grenada’s Bralon Taplin with 24. Isaac Makwala of Botswana was third with 20. Republic of South Africa’s Wayde van Nirkerk, who set a world record in picking up the gold in Rio, along with silver medallist Kirani James from Grenada, didn’t compete. Last week during his visit home, Gardiner headed over to Moore’s Island where he reunited with his first coach Anthony Williams. For the two years of his career, Williams had Gardiner running the 400m before he was turned over to George Cleare, who then converted him to the 400m. “It was a great joy to have him. He’s such a manly and humbled young man,” Williams said. “He came over and spent the day with us. He walked around town and had lunch with us. We all remembered how he was a little puny fellow and now he has grown up to be a man. “My wife was very excited to see him because he lived with us for the two years that we had him before he came to Nassau. So it was a great feeling for all of us on

the island to walk around with an Olympian and a bronze medallist.” During the visit, Gardiner was able to display the medal he won as a member of the men’s 4 x 400m relay team, running the fastest split on the third leg. The Bahamas team, comprising of Alonzo Russell, Michael Mathieu, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown and Stephen Newbold (who ran in the heats instead of Mathieu), finished behind the United States of America and Jamaica in Rio. During his Olympic debut, Gardiner also contested the men’s 400m, but fell short in the semi-final. He competed along with Russell and Brow, who both failed to get out of the first round. “I’m very impressed with his progress so far, but I know that he still has a long way to go,” Williams said. “I think this split of 43.7 on the relay will inspire him to do even better. I was impressed with his improvement and I know and I’m looking for some bigger and better things from him in the future.” Although he’s no longer a part of the programme, Williams is still grooming more athletes in Moore’s Island to replace him. “I think the athletes here will be even more determined to train harder and compete now that they have seen him,” Williams said. “They believe that if he can do it coming out of Moore’s Island, then they can do it too. Some of them were able to touch the medal he had around his neck and so they want to achieve the same goal that he has accomplished.” Williams was hoping that by now, the new facilities being built in Moore’s Island would have been completed. In conjunction with a private firm headed by Nick Dean, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was to assist the community of Moore’s Island with the construction of the facility that included a dormitory and a track and field surface. “The dormitory is under construction right now and we are hoping that it will be completed soon,” Williams said. “We have the new students coming in for the new school year and they are

which also saw the Braves acquire pitcher Michael Mader in exchange for relief pitcher Hunter Cervenka. He entered the Braves’ lists of prospects ranked at No.19, according to MLB.com’s 2016 Prospect Watch. He is ranked fourth among shortstops after No.1 overall prospect Dansby Swanson, No.2 Ozzie Albies and No.8 Kevin Maitan. Seymour was ranked No.8 in the Marlins farm system but goes to a Braves organisation known for its deep talent pool in the minors. In 124 games this year, Seymour hit .253 with 70 runs scored, 43 stolen bases and 30 RBI. He has recorded a slugging percentage of .300, an OBP of .293 and an OPS of .593 and 146 total bases.

NACAC CONSIDERS MORE AREA PERMIT MEETS FOR REGION By Michael Bascombe

STEVEN GARDINER with coach Anthony Williams in Moore’s Island. staying with me. A lot of them are in grade nine, which gives me more time to work with them rather than having them come in at grade 12. So I think it’s going

to be better for us.” In the meantime, Williams said the residents and the student-athletes are all pitching in to get the dormitory completed.

SANTO DOMINGO, September 10, 2016 – Track and field athletes in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) region will have an expanded calendar of events in 2017 as more Area Permit Meets (APM) are considered from a proposed calendar. The NACAC Board is meeting here this weekend and among agenda items will be the NACAC Calendar of events for 2017. Chair of the Competitions Committee, Pauline Davis-Thompson of the Bahamas, said that NACAC is answering the calls for more track and field competitions within the NACAC area and fans could expect to see more of their athletes competing at home or in a nearby territory. “Our athletes have been speaking to us loud and clear. They have been telling us we want to stay more in the region because it’s very exhausting going to Europe,” Davis-Thompson told GrenadaSports. “At least from the end of March to probably the end of June and then if they need to go to Europe then they go. We have heard our athletes. We have the best athletes in the world and we should showcase them in the NACAC region.” NACAC has already provisionally awarded Area Permit Meet (APM) status to the Penn Relays and the Drake Relays in the United States as well as in Martinique, Grenada and Puerto Rico.

SEE PAGE 3

In Brussels, Donald Thomas 7th overall in high jump By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE quarter-miler Shaunae Miller shut down her season and opted not to compete because of a contractual breakdown, high jumper Donald Thomas took advantage of the opportunity on Friday to compete in the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damm in Brussels, Belgium. Thomas, 32, came seventh in the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.26 metres or 7-feet, 5-inches as American Erik Kynard went on to post the win with 2.32m (7-7 1/4), beating out Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar on the countback to secure the Diamond League Race title in the process. Kynard finished with 20 points and earned $50,000, inclusive of $10,000 for the event win and

another $40,000 for the Diamind League title. Thomas, however, was not eligible to contend for the Diamond League Race title as he didn’t participate in as many of the seven meets in the series over the year. Miller, fresh off her dive across the finish line to win the Olympic Games’ gold medal over American Allyson Felix, had a chance to also pull off the double feat in Brussels as she trailed Jamaican Stephanie Ann McPherson by just one point going into the final race. But Miller’s manager, Claude Bryan, confirmed to The Tribune last Tuesday that the national 200m record holder will skip the final IAAF Diamond League Meeting. “Kindly note. We were unable to come to terms with the Brussels Diamond League so unfortunately Shaunae Miller will not be

DONALD THOMAS competing in the Belgium capital,” Bryan confirmed with The Tribune.

“Her season has effectively ended and she hopes for a healthy and successful 2017.” Bryan said it was fiscal in nature when pressed about the decision for Miller not to compete. In her absence, McPherson eventually clinched the Diamond League Race title and a purse of $40,000, although she lost the race in third place behind Caster Semenya from the Republic of South Africa and American Courtney Okolo in that order. The week before in Zurich, Switzerland, Semenya added the Diamond League Race 800m title to her Olympic crown. McPherson, who didn’t have a great showing at the Olympics, ended up taking the 400m title over American Natasha Hastings in the absence of Miller, who was considered a sure bet to win, if she had competed.

A week before, men’s national record holder Steven Gardiner completed the men’s 400m series in Zurich tied for fourth place with Nery Brenes of Croatia with 10 points. Gardiner, 20, placed fifth in Zurich in 45.66 as Merritt ran away with the race in 44.64. The other six meetings for their series were the same as the men’s high jump in Doha, Rabat, Rome, Birmingham, Monte-Carlo and Lausanne. American LaShawn Merritt, the bronze medallist in Rio, won the title with 50 points. His nearest rival was Grenada’s Bralon Taplin with 24. Isaac Makwala of Botswana was third with 20. Republic of South Africa’s Wayde van Nirkerk, who set a world record in picking up the gold in Rio, along with silver medallist Kirani James from Grenada, didn’t compete.

PAGE 2, Monday, September 12, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

NEW PROVIDENCE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION REGULAR SEASON

ON THE REPLAY: The Lady Stingers got the win over the COB Caribs 21-14 as the New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday night. Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune

Lady Stingers defeat COB Caribs, 21-14 THE ladies’ division took the spotlight over the weekend in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex as the New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season. • Here’s a summary of the games played: Lady Stingers 21, COB Caribs 14 On Saturday night, the defending champions Stingers endured a slugfest to eventually top the hapless College of the Bahamas

Lady Caribs in five innings via the 10-run rule. Vonetta Nairn went 3-for-5 with three runs and four runs batted in to lead the offensive attack for the Lady Stingers. Lashonda Bethel went 2-for5 with four runs and two RBI. Lashanta Greenslade helped out as she went 2-for-4, scoring a run and driving in two. Versatile Keisha Pratt picked up the win on the mound, while Charity Rolle suffered the loss. For the Lady Caribs, Daria Cambridge went 1-for-3, scored

two runs and added two RBI. Sunshine Auto Wildcats 10, Bommer G Operators 0 Sunshine Auto made this one look so easy as they also stopped the Lady Operators in abbreviated fashion. Mechelle Moss had a perfect 3-for-3 night, scoring two runs with a RBI and Donette Edwards went 1-for-2 with two RBI. The winning pitcher was Mary ‘Cruise’ Sweeting and the losing pitcher was Brittany Clarke. For

the Lady Operators, Shatyna Stuart was 1-for-2. Johnson Lady Truckers 15, COB Caribs 5 This was another easy win for the Lady Truckers in the lone game played on Thursday night. Melinda Bastian went 2-for-3 and scored two runs with two RBI to lead the offensive attack for the Lady Truckers. Marissa Burrows went 2-for-3 and also scored two runs with a pair of RBI. Marvell Miller was the winning

pitcher and Charity Rolle got tagged with the loss. For the Lady Caribs, Eddiesha Laing went 1-for-2 and she scored two runs with two RBI in a losing effort. The men’s feature game was not played as the C & S Hitmen won by default over the Sports Centre Dorsey Park Boys. The NPSA is slated to put on another double header, starting 7pm Tuesday. A double header will also be played on Thursday and Saturday nights.

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Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 3

Bahamians should learn not to shoot the messenger IF enough of us speak, someone is bound to hear. If enough of us speak, someone will listen. If enough of us speak, someone will be influenced. If enough of us speak, lives can be changed. Let me be the first to state my amazement over the local reaction to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to take part in the singing of the American national anthem during pre-game festivities in protest of the systematic racism faced by minorities in the US. My amazement is not over the support he’s getting from local circles, it comes with the lack of support local athletes and/or activists receive when addressing problems that are all too real to us, right here in the Bahamas. Why has the social commentary and reasoning been so mixed? If political stances do have a place in sports, why haven’t our local athletes that have stood up and spoken out on national issues received more support? We can all agree that athletes, through their various fields of play and competition, should address social inequalities and unfairness. We can all agree that their social clout makes them more than men and woman who suit up when scheduled, entertain us while performing, and soon

FOURTH QUARTER PRESS

“THE POINTS RAISED BY BOTH ARE MATTERS THAT WE ALL FEEL, ALL SEE AND MOSTLY, ALL UNDERSTAND BUT WHEN WALTIEA ROLLE SPOKE, ALL WE HEARD WAS HER CLAIMS RELATED TO JONQUEL JONES, AND WHEN DERRICK ATKINS SPOKE, ALL WE HEARD WAS HIS BLUNT CLASSIFICATION OF BUDDY HIELD.”

BY RICARDO WELLSedia.net rwells@tribunem

DERRICK ATKINS

WALTIEA ROLLE

after, fade away without any social commentary. Since this is the case, why hasn’t the action of Waltiea Rolle and Derrick Atkins been celebrated? While they weren’t standing up or speaking out for an issue as “woke” and “social conscious” as systematic injustices faced by minorities in a Caucasian-centric society like America, lending their voices to basic injustices faced by athletes in the Bahamas should be

viewed as a great metric. In recent months, these two outstanding athletes have stood in protest over the actions of local athletic organisations and how political influences have driven their actions. Rolle, the country’s first female basketball player to be drafted to the WNBA, took exception to the country’s move to celebrate Jonquel Jones, the most recent player to achieve the feat whilst overlooking her com-

pletely. In a three paragraph rant on Facebook a couple of months back, Rolle seethed over how she “bussed” her butt to represent the Bahamas and put it on the basketball map - to no applause or adulation. Similarly, Atkins took exception to the treatment of recent first round NBA draft pick Buddy Hield. Noting that he, like several other local standouts, deserved like treatment for their efforts but never received it. Where is that good old “stand up for what is right” argument? Instead, these two particular athletes are being viewed as bitter, jealous and out-of-touch performers. The points raised by both are matters that we all feel, all see and mostly, all understand - but when Rolle spoke, all we heard was her claims related to Jonquel Jones, and when Atkins spoke, all we heard was his

blunt classification of Buddy. Why have we remained quiet over their claims that inaction within these organisations are slowing the growth of sports? Why have we glossed over their points that the manner in which we celebrate our athletic greats spurn many at the price of cheering a few? In reality Kaepernick’s actions have propelled many of us to take a second look at how minorities are treated in the US and precisely how the media has opted to cover the topic, a lot more than we have in the past. Why haven’t we stopped to ponder the actions of our two athletes the way we have in regard to Kaepernick? Instead, we have allowed the messenger to drown the message. At times, it leads me to believe that the old plantation mentality is still alive and well. The old “if it is

foreign, then it’s better” moniker still reigns true. For the life of me, I can’t wrap my head around the idea that we, as Bahamians, could be so aware of stances and protests all over the world, but can find neither the need nor passion to support one right here on our doorsteps. Yes, black-lives matter, but so do quality sporting programmes for youth in the Bahamas. Yes, the rights of women do matter, but so does the growth of Family Island sporting programmes. I guess we have spent so long viewing our athletic greats as just our family, friends and neighbours; and thus, unable to accept how important their words and actions actually are. Maybe it is time we all take a step back and analyse how we view ourselves. • Fourth Quarter Press appears every Monday in The Tribune.

NACAC CONSIDERS MORE AREA PERMIT MEETS FOR REGION FROM PAGE 1

KNIGHTS TO BE: Photo Caption: Keith Vassell, Kevin Cooper, Jordan Wilson, Van Hutchinson Jr, Geno Bullard

Cooper, Hutchinson Jr and Wilson to join Knights basketball programme next fall By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE latest group of players from Noble Preparatory School are in their transition period to Niagara College as they prepare to continue their athletic and scholastic careers at the institution in Ontario, Canada. Kevin Cooper, Van Hutchinson Jr and Jordan Wilson will join the Knights men’s basketball programme next fall and head coach Keith Vassell said the entire organisation was eager for the new additions. “I think there’s a lot of excitement about the upcoming season. I think that being able to replace Marako [Lundy], Delroy [Grandison] and Tenerro [Ferguson] was a really difficult task as a coach. But it’s amazing that you have so many talented players that come in so academically prepared. Athletically they have the skills to impact not just our team, but our league and they will help us to bounce back from losing high calibre players. I think the sky is the limit. I think we will have a very strong go at the championship this year and these guys will be very important players for us.” The Knights programme has featured several Bahamian players in recent history, including

Rashad Morley and most recently Lundy, Ferguson and Grandison who graduated at the end of last season. Lundy, Ferguson and Grandison led the Knights to the OCAA semi-finals last season. After battling injuries for much of the 2014-15 season, Lundy returned to miss only one game in the 2015-16 campaign and led the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game. Grandison came on late towards the end of the year and averaged 12.4 points. Ferguson was again a key contributor off the bench scoring 6.1 points per game. After battling injuries for much of 2014-15 season, Lundy returned to miss only one game in the 2015-16 campaign and lead the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game. Grandison came on late towards the end of the year and averaged 12.4 points. Ferguson was again a key contributor off the bench scoring 6.1 points per game. “I can’t explain the impact the Bahamian players have had. Our programme three years ago was second to last place, this year if the ball bounced in the opposite direction a few times we could have been a championship team,” Vassell said. “The Bahamian players have been stellar and it’s something that I want to continue to make

sure is something that is a part of our programme and we hope for that to continue with these guys.” “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m very excited and happy for this new journey,” Wilson, a former junior national team member, said. Cooper, a former student at Kingsway Academy, recently completed the post graduate programme at NPA. The 6’7″ post player said he is ready to step in and have an immediate impact. “Coach [Geno] Bullard prepared me for this moment. I know which direction I’m going in with the path I chose now it’s just up to me to make things happen,” he said. “I’m prepared, I talked to a few of the players, I talked to the coach, I’m just ready to get to work.” Hutchinson, who played for Bullard at the high school level for the Westminster Diplomats, the CR Walker Knights and a year Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa Junior College, said the transition back to the NPA programme was seamless. “Through all the decisions I made, right or wrong, I knew this was always home. Coach always had my back with any decision I made so it was easy come back and it was probably a decision I should have made from the get

go.” In addition to being the founder and the president of the NPA, Geno Bullard is also the international recruiter for the entire Caribbean region for Niagara College. NPA has academic ties with Ridley, Niagara and Brock University. “As students at NPA you don’t know what the future holds so you have to be ready, you have to trust the process in guiding you. It’s not just about being great at sports, which these guys will be because they are prepared, but it’s about being great in all areas of what it takes to be a student athlete at the collegiate level. It’s knowing time management and how to handle the workload. This is what universities want, students they can invest in that they know will produce great returns,” he said. “Having a full scope of being on the ground and being a part of those institutions I fully understand what is demanded by a prep school, a college or a university and I am able to impart that knowledge to these kids and their parents. It is all about creating a total package – a student that is confident in his education, confident in his athletic ability and to able to present his self in a professional manner.” Bullard and NPA transitioned 42 students into Niagara College for the Fall 2016 semester.

She insisted that NACAC is trying to provide more athletic competitions for the athletes and fans in the region. She noted the growing talent pool within NACAC and the decision to grant more APMs is welcomed. “We are not trying to take anything away from Europe. What we are saying is that we want our athletes to compete in our region too and so we are willing to work together to achieve a one common goal because at the end of the day we are IAAF.” Davis-Thompson, who won 200 metres and 4x100m Olympic gold medals in 2000 at the age of 34, believes the athletes’ decision to compete in the region will inspire the young talents. “This will also inspire our young athletes who could compete with them at home. When I was a young kid I was able to compete with the great Merlene Ottey and Grace Jackson and others and that inspired me to do great things. “And so I think with our athletes competing in the region it will inspire our NACAC young athletes in waiting to go on to do great things,” she said. Davis-Thompson said NACAC has been canvassing and building support for the athletes. The Rio Olympic medallists also received special NACAC t-shirts. She also praised the NACAC president Victor Lopez for his passion to develop track and field in the NACAC region. “We have a great leader in Victor Lopez, as a former coach and athlete, and pretty much we have a very good team in the NACAC Board and we know what’s best for our athletes and we are working diligently and meticulously to make sure that becomes a reality.” She said the NACAC representatives on the IAAF Council have been agitating and pushing the region’s agenda. NACAC is represented by Lopez of Puerto Rico, DavisThompson of the Bahamas, Alberto Juantorena of Cuba, Stephanie Hightower of the United States and Abby Hoffman of Canada.

PAGE 4, Monday, September 12, 2016

Diego Costa’s acrobatics earn Chelsea 2-2 draw at Swansea SWANSEA, Wales (AP) — Two goals, a yellow card, accused of diving, and repeatedly kicked, shoved and goaded. Just a typical all-action match for Diego Costa. The Spain striker capped a bustling display by scoring from an 81st-minute overhead kick to earn Chelsea a 2-2 draw at Swansea in the English Premier League yesterday. Costa, who also put Chelsea ahead at Liberty Stadium, is looking back to his best this season with four goals from four games, having struggled for form for much of last season. He is proving a nightmare to handle for defenders — as Swansea centre backs Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez would attest. They constantly fouled the hot-headed Costa, who stood up to the physical challenge and gave it back in return, and Amat in particular was fortunate not to get sent off for repeat fouling in a niggly but enthralling game. “From the first to the 94th minute, he took a lot of kicks,” Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said. “It’s incredible the defender finished the match.” Costa’s acrobatics salvaged a point for Chelsea after two defensive blunders in a three-minute span almost gifted Swansea a victory. Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a 59th-minute penalty down the middle after being tripped by Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a rare attack by the home

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FIFA OPENS BRIBERY CASE AGAINST BLATTER AND TWO OTHERS By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

CHELSEA’S DIEGO COSTA, right, celebrates scoring during his team’s English Premier League soccer match against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales, yesterday. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) side. Then Leroy Fer dispossessed Gary Cahill, perhaps illegally after appearing to kick the Chelsea defender’s heels from behind, and poked in a shot that squirmed through the legs of Courtois and over the line. Cahill said he went to see referee Andre Marriner after the game about the incident. “Clear, clear foul,” Cahill said.

“You could be sat on the moon, the top of the stand, anywhere in the stadium, you can see that’s a clear foul for me.” “Huge disappointment because we had control most of the game,” Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said. “Their two goals came from our mistakes.” The result leaves Manchester City as the only team with a 100 per cent record after four games.

Chelsea is in second place on 10 points. Costa, who has scored more Premier League goals against Swansea (seven) than any other opposition team he has faced, got booked for the third time this season for fouling Fernandez in one of their many tussles. He might have received a second yellow card for falling to the ground as Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz

Fabianski came out to challenge him midway through the second half. “Diego Costa’s work is reflected in this game,” Azpilicueta said. “When he is scoring goals, we are doing the right things.” David Luiz, signed by Chelsea for 32 million pounds ($42 million) on the final day of the transfer window, was a substitute and didn’t come off the bench.

Rookies Leicester and Rostov mixing it with cream of Europe By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer THE closest Leicester got to a European trip in recent years was crossing the Welsh border to play Swansea in the Premier League. Now, as the unlikely English champions, they’ll be visiting Belgium, Portugal and Denmark — and if all goes well, even more countries — for matches in their first-ever campaign in the Champions League. Leicester is one of two newcomers in Europe’s elite club competition this season, along with Rostov following its second-place finish in the Russian league. Both teams were fighting relegation in their respective domestic leagues just two seasons ago, yet now they are mixing it with the cream of the continent. LEICESTER In its 132-year history, Leicester has only had four seasons of European competition — the last coming in 2000 in the now-defunct UEFA Cup after winning the English League Cup. That was Leicester’s last piece of major silverware before shocking the sporting world by winning the Premier League last season. The intervening 16-year period was a bumpy ride for the central English club, which bobbed up and down between England’s top two divisions — and even spent a season in the third tier in 2008-09 — and also drifted close to financial ruin before being taken over by a Thai consortium in 2010. The team, known as the Foxes, returned to the Premier League in 2014 and two years later they are the champions, completing the ultimate fairytale journey. There’s been something of a championship-winning hangover at Leicester, though, and the Champions League campaign, which starts at Club Brugge on Wednesday, will offer some respite after a sobering start to the Premier League title defense. Having lost just three league games last season, Claudio Ranieri’s team has lost two of its opening four matches this season and the manner of the defeats will be a concern. An opening-day 2-1 loss at promoted Hull and Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Liverpool highlighted how much the team is missing N’Golo Kante, the France midfielder sold to Chelsea in the offseason. Often it felt like Kante covered the ground of two players last season, offering

LEICESTER’s team manager Claudio Ranieri and player Wes Morgan lift the trophy as Leicester City celebrate becoming the English Premier League soccer champions at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, on May 7. Leicester is one of two newcomers in Europe’s elite club competition, the Champions League, this season, along with Rostov following its secondplace finish in the Russian league. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) excellent protection to a defence containing journeymen and even cast-offs. With Kante gone, Leicester’s solidity has disappeared and the side looks open. Liverpool could easily have scored more than four goals at Anfield. “We have to clear our minds,” Ranieri said, “and understand that in football we have to be strong, determined, aggressive and reactive.” It’s not all doom and gloom for Leicester, however. The club ended up being one of English football’s biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, breaking its transfer record twice to sign strikers Ahmed Musa, then Islam Slimani. The squad is now much deeper and stronger, while Ranieri managed to limit the major outgoings to just Kante, meaning key players Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are still on board. In a sense, the pressure is off Leicester this season and it should just enjoy the Champions League campaign, especially considering its benign draw that will see the team also play FC Copenhagen and FC Porto. A couple of wins at its King Power stadium fortress and a

place in the knockout stage could beckon. “Once again, I say we are underdogs,” said Ranieri, who is embarking on a sixth Champions League campaign with a sixth different club. And that’s just how they like it in Leicester. ROSTOV Rostov almost “did a Leicester” last season in Russia, falling just short in its title challenge a year after narrowly escaping relegation. Rostov finished second, two points behind CSKA Moscow, to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League and then beat famous European clubs Anderlecht and Ajax to make the group stage. The unheralded provincial side is breaking new ground, with its only previous experience of European competition being a brief one — a loss in the Europa League playoffs in 2014. On that occasion, Rostov was excluded, then reinstated, from competition following a legal battle over financial issues, one of many episodes in a turbulent last few years.

It was close to financial abyss in 2015 as the country’s recession hit Rostov’s owners, the regional government. One coach, Igor Gamula, was suspended after saying the club had “enough dark-skinned players” and would not sign another. Then his successor, Kurban Berdyev, led Rostov on its unlikely title challenge only to quit for a better-paid job at Spartak Moscow. Spartak promptly changed its mind on hiring Berdyev and he is back at Rostov, listed as a “vicepresident/coach.” One of his former assistants is the head coach, on paper at least, but Berdyev is likely to call the shots when it comes to Champions League tactics. He has experience of upsetting European giants, having beaten Barcelona away while Rubin Kazan coach. Meanwhile, a section of Rostov’s Olimp 2 Stadium will be closed for its first home game in the Champions League because of racist behaviour by fans during the playoff win over Ajax. The draw hasn’t been kind to Rostov, which will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven in Group D.

GENEVA (AP) — Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is now facing a bribery case, and one of his former vice presidents was fined more than $1 million in a separate investigation into kickbacks. The FIFA ethics committee said Friday it opened formal proceedings against Blatter, former secretary general Jerome Valcke and former finance director Markus Kattner over million-dollar payments in their contracts — some of which were approved by other senior FIFA officials. On a busy day for FIFA prosecutors and judges, former vice president Jeffrey Webb was later fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.02 million) and banned from soccer for life in another bribery case. The record fine imposed by FIFA was surprising. A life ban for the Cayman Islands banker — once North America’s top soccer official and a one-time possible successor to Blatter — was expected after he pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court last November to charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. FIFA revealed in June, after Kattner was fired, that he, Blatter and Valcke agreed to pay themselves bonuses worth tens of millions of dollars from World Cup profits. Lawyers acting for soccer’s governing body described evidence suggesting “a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves.” Ethics prosecutors said Friday their investigation relates to bribery and corruption, accepting gifts and conflicts of interest for all three men, plus a breach of confidentiality by Kattner. The case involves “salaries and bonuses paid to Mr Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as well as other provisions included in the contracts of these three individuals,” the statement said. Blatter received a 12 million Swiss franc ($12 million) bonus after the successful 2014 World Cup in Brazil and would have been due another 12 million Swiss francs for completing his 201519 presidential term, the contracts reveal. Valcke was awarded a $10 million World Cup bonus for 2014 and was due $11 million from the 2018 tournament in Russia. Kattner’s contract was redrafted in May 2015, days after the US and Swiss federal investigations were revealed by police raids on Zurich’s Baur au Lac hotel. The contract was extended through 2023 with extra clauses guaranteeing termination pay and indemnification for legal fees and restitution claims. “These two provisions appear to violate mandatory Swiss law,” FIFA said in June. Blatter and Valcke are already serving ethics bans and face criminal proceedings by Swiss federal prosecutors as part of a wider investigation of corruption implicating FIFA and leading soccer officials. The 80-year-old Blatter is awaiting the verdict from a Court of Arbitration for Sport panel in his appeal against a six-year ban for conflict of interest. That case relates to a $2 million payment he authorised in 2011 for Michel Platini, the former UEFA president who also served as a FIFA vice president.

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Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 5

Behind Wilson, Seattle rallies for 12-10 victory over Miami By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — Another fourth quarter comeback for Russell Wilson. This time with an added degree of difficulty. Hobbled by an ankle injury, Wilson pulled off another late rally, throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin with 31 seconds left and giving the Seattle Seahawks a 12-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. “We looked after him a little bit. We weren’t sure what he could do,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We didn’t want to tax him too much.” Seattle had no choice but to rely on Wilson on a day the expected NFC contenders looked flawed offensively and buckled defensively in the fourth quarter. Seattle yielded an 86-yard touchdown drive to Ryan Tannehill that gave the Dolphins a 10-6 lead with 4:08 remaining. That’s when Wilson went to work, playing on a right ankle that twisted badly in the third quarter as he was sacked by Nda-

NFL CAPSULES RAIDERS 35, SAINTS 34 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oakland gambled with a 2-point conversion that Derek Carr converted with a pass to Michael Crabtree for the winning points with 47 seconds left. Carr hit Seth Roberts for a 10yard touchdown setting up the gutsy call by second-year Raiders coach Jack Del Rio. Oakland had to overcome a 14-point second-half deficit and a 424-yard, four-touchdown performance by Drew Brees. It also had to sweat out rookie kicker Wil Lutz’s last-second field goal attempt from 61 yards, which narrowly missed wide left as the Superdome crowd briefly erupted before realizing the kick was no good. Brees eclipsed 400 yards passing for the 14th time in his career, tying Peyton Manning for the most such performances in NFL history. BENGALS 23, JETS 22 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Mike Nugent kicked a 47-yard field goal with 54 seconds left, lifting the Bengals over the Jets. Andy Dalton threw for 366 yards and a touchdown to A.J. Green, who caught 12 passes for 180 yards to help the Bengals beat the Jets for the first time in 10 meetings in New Jersey. Josh Shaw sealed the victory with an interception of Ryan Fitzpatrick in the closing seconds, helping Cincinnati improve to 7-7 in openers under coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals won despite Dalton being sacked a careerhigh seven times, including 2 1/2 by Leonard Williams and two by Steve McLendon. Nick Folk kicked a go-ahead 23-yard field goal with 3:23 re-

mukong Suh. Seattle converted fourth-and-1 early in the drive on a 7-yard run by Christine Michael, but the big play was Wilson finding Baldwin for 22 yards on a crossing route on fourth-and-4 near midfield. Four plays later, Wilson hit Baldwin in the corner of the end zone to give Seattle the lead — and finally exhale after a tougherthan-expected opener. “There’s a feeling of familiarity. (Wilson’s) been there before. He’s come through,” Seattle cornerback Richards Sherman said. “... There is confidence. You believe in your guys.” Wilson’s 19th fourth quarter or overtime comeback ruined Adam Gase’s debut as coach in Miami. The Dolphins were stymied by Seattle’s defense for three quarters before putting together an impressive drive to take the lead. Miami had just 145 yards total offense until that drive. Tannehill hit Jarvis Landry for 28 yards and Damien Williams for 29 to reach the Seattle 2. Two plays later, Tannehill bulled across the goal line on a designed draw.

maining, but Dalton marched the Bengals (1-0) downfield for the winning drive. The first missed extra point in Folk’s career and a blocked 22-yard attempt came back to haunt the Jets (0-1). EAGLES 29, BROWNS 10 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Carson Wentz had 278 yards passing and two touchdowns in a stellar NFL debut and the Eagles beat Robert Griffin III and the Browns. Promoted from No. 3 quarterback to starter just eight days ago, the No. 2 overall pick from North Dakota State looked like a franchise player. Wentz played mistake-free football despite missing the last three preseason games with injured ribs. He finished 22 of 37 with a 101.0 passer rating. A new quarterback (Griffin) and new coach (Hue Jackson) couldn’t help the Browns (0-1) avoid losing their opener for the 12th straight season. Wentz threw a 19-yard TD pass to Jordan Matthews on the opening drive and tossed a perfect 35yard TD pass down the right side to Nelson Agholor for a 22-10 lead in the third quarter. BUCCANEERS 31, FALCONS 24 ATLANTA (AP) — Jameis Winston bounced back from an early interception to throw four touchdown passes, and Tampa Bay claimed a winning record for the first since 2012 by opening the season with a victory over the Falcons. Winston began his second year as a pro by going 23 of 33 for 281 yards, using just about every weapon at his disposal in the matchup between NFC South rivals. He hooked up with receiver Mike Evans, running back Charles Sims III and tight ends Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and Brandon Myers on scoring plays.

DOLPHINS QB Ryan Tannehill is sacked by Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark (55) yesterday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) MIAMI’S VICE: Tannehill was 16 of 29 for 186 yards, but Miami twice drove inside the Seattle 20 and failed to come away with points. “I thought our defense did a great job, had us in the position that we were in,” Gase said. “I was just more irritated with the fact that we couldn’t help them on the other side of the ball.”

The Falcons grabbed a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter after Winston’s pass for Vincent Jackson was picked off by Desmond Trufant, who returned it 13 yards to the Tampa Bay 9. There was a mix-up between the quarterback and receiver, as Jackson broke outside while Winston’s threw to the inside. VIKINGS 25, TITANS 16 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Eric Kendricks returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter and Danielle Hunter scored a 24-yard TD off a fumble return and the Vikings beat the Titans. The Vikings wound up forcing three turnovers in the span of just under seven minutes and also had two sacks. The defending NFC North champs needed the help from their defense in scoring 25 straight points after being shut out in the first half and Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s 2015 rushing leader, being smothered. Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer did his best to hide his starter at quarterback after the Vikings lost Teddy Bridgewater to a major knee injury Aug. 30, and after they traded their 2017 first-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Sam Bradford . PACKERS 27, JAGUARS 23 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading the Packers to a victory against the Jaguars. Rodgers looked every bit like, well, a two-time league MVP. He extended plays with his feet, escaped sacks and had precision accuracy all over the field. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 199 yards, with TD passes to Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams. He was sacked once for no yards and didn’t turn it over.

ANKLE DAMAGE: Wilson was hobbled after he was sacked by Suh for a 13-yard loss. As he was going down, Suh clipped the back of Wilson’s foot and caused the foot and ankle to turn awkwardly. Wilson limped through the possession before getting examined on the sideline and having his foot and ankle taped. He finished 27 of 43 for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception. “I was telling some of the coaches and some of the trainers that when I’m 43, 44, 45 years old and I’m still playing, that’s probably what I’ll look like out there.” MISSED IT: Miami missed on three great scoring chances. On fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 17 in the first quarter, Tannehill tried to draw the Seahawks offside before handing off to Arian Foster, who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. On their next series, Kenny Stills got free behind Seattle’s secondary only to drop what would have been a sure touchdown. And in the third quarter, Andrew Franks’ 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Cassius Marsh.

He helped the Packers win their second opener in the last five years. This one came on a sweltering, late-summer day that left some players cramping and others completely exhausted. RAVENS 13, BILLS 7 BALTIMORE (AP) — The Ravens used a touchdown pass by Joe Flacco, two field goals and a throwback defensive performance to beat the Bills. Against former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, now Buffalo’s head coach, the Ravens limited the Bills to 160 yards and sacked former teammate Tyrod Taylor twice. That’s how Baltimore played defense under Ryan from 19992008, and that’s how it won the 2012 Super Bowl. Returning from a knee injury that ended his season last November, Flacco went 23 for 34 for 258 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to newcomer Mike Wallace in the second quarter that put the Ravens ahead for good. That, plus field goals of 50 and 37 yards by Justin Tucker, was enough for Baltimore’s first season-opening victory since 2012. TEXANS 23, BEARS 14 HOUSTON (AP) — Brock Osweiler threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns in his debut with Houston to lead the Texans and their revamped offense win over the Bears. Osweiler, who signed to a $72 million contract from Denver in the offseason, was helped by an offense filled with playmakers. He completed passes to eight different receivers, led by rookie first-round pick Will Fuller, who became the first player in franchise history to have 100 yards receiving in a debut with 107 and a touchdown. DeAndre Hopkins added 54 yards and a score and running

ANTHEM ATTENTION: Foster, Stills, Michael Thomas and Jelani Jenkins all took a knee on the Miami sideline just before the national anthem began. The four held their hands over their hearts as the anthem played and stood immediately at its conclusion. The Dolphins released a statement saying they encourage players and staff to stand during the anthem, but recognise an “individual’s right to reflect during the anthem in different ways.” “I felt that the platform we have in the NFL can be used to spread awareness to certain things,” Foster said. “That’s what it was about, to continue a conversation about social injustices and systematic racism that still plagues our country.” On the opposite sideline, Seahawks players and coaches locked arm in arm. That included defensive back Jeremy Lane, who sat during the national anthem in the preseason finale in Oakland in a sign of support for San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

back Lamar Miller had 106 yards rushing in his first game with the Texans. Osweiler’s day started with a hiccup when he threw an interception on the first drive, but soon got going and looked comfortable after that. LIONS 39, COLTS 35 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater just wanted a second chance Sunday. Matthew Stafford ensured he got it — and Prater delivered with a 43-yard field goal that gave the Lions a wild 39-35 victory at Indianapolis. Just four minutes earlier, after Stafford had broken a 28-28 tie with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Theo Riddick, Prater pushed the extra point wide right. So it was 34-28, opening the door for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to pull off another comeback. CHIEFS 33, CHARGERS 27 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith dived for a touchdown on the first possession of overtime, completing the Kansas City Chiefs’ frantic rally from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the San Diego Chargers 3327 in their season opener Sunday. Smith threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, the second a back-shoulder fade to Jeremy Maclin with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter that trimmed the Chiefs’ deficit to 2717. Cairo Santos kicked a 33-yard field goal a few minutes later, and after forcing a three-andout, Spencer Ware finished off a four-play drive with a touchdown plunge to knot it at 27. Kansas City needed 10 plays to march 75 yards in overtime, and Smith finished off the biggest comeback in franchise history with his keeper from the 2-yard line on third-and-goal.

ORTIZ HITS 3-RUN HOMER AS RED SOX OUTSLUG BLUE JAYS 11-8 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS By IAN HARRISON Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — David Ortiz hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez also connected, and the Boston Red Sox outslugged Toronto 11-8 Sunday, reclaiming a two-game lead over the Blue Jays in the AL East. Ortiz put Boston up 10-8 with a drive off Joaquin Benoit. It was his 41st career home run at Rogers Centre, his highest total at any road stadium. With his 535th career homer, Ortiz moved past Jimmie Foxx into sole possession of 18th place on baseball’s career list. He also increased his RBI total to 110, the most by a player age 40 or above since Dave Winfield had 108 for Toronto in 1992. Edwin Encarnacion homered twice and Troy Tulowitzki hit his third career grand slam, but the Blue Jays couldn’t force a tie in the standings. Toronto continues to lead the wildcard race. Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts singled against Bo Schultz (0-1) before Benoit came on to face Ortiz, who swung and missed the first pitch but connected on the second. Ortiz hit a tying grand slam off Benoit, then with Detroit, in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS at Fenway Park. Boston went on to win 6-5. Robbie Ross Jr. (3-2) got two outs for the win. Craig Kimbrel, the ninth Boston pitcher, worked the ninth for his 25th save. Toronto also used nine pitchers. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons

ton’s Brock Holt tried to steal home but was thrown out by reliever Aaron Loup. TRAINER’S ROOM Red Sox: Holt appeared to injure his right shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt in the fifth. He was checked by the trainer and stayed in.

BOSTON RED SOX designated hitter David Ortiz. (AP) was ejected in the ninth after the umpires ruled Russell Martin’s double into the right field corner, initially ruled fair, had landed foul. Toronto challenged, but the call was confirmed. Martin later struck out. Encarnacion hit a solo home run off Clay Buchholz in the first, singled and scored in the third, and then hit a tworun shot off Heath Hembree in the fourth. It was his fourth multihomer game of the season and No. 25 for his career. Encarnacion has 39 home runs and leads the AL with 115 RBIs. After Martin walked on four pitches with the bases loaded in the fourth, Tulowitzki hammered Buchholz’s first pitch for his 23rd home run. Boston tied it at 6 and chased Sanchez on a two-out, two-run single by Bogaerts in the fourth, but Toronto answered with Encarnacion’s second homer in the bottom half. After Ramirez cut it to 8-7 with a drive to deep center in the fifth, Bos-

Urena helps Marlins beat Dodgers 3-0 MIAMI (AP) — Jose Urena got off to a fast start and finished with the best start of his career. Urena pitched 8 2/3 innings of fourhit ball, leading the Miami Marlins to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. “When you get quick outs early in the game, that helps you more and you can get more deep in the game,” Urena said. “You just have to be aggressive and go after the hitters.” Urena (4-6) retired the first 14 batters he faced. “We hadn’t seen that curve ball all year,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He had depth on that and the movement was good. It was a pretty stress-free game for him.” He struck out four and walked none while throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes. It was by far the longest appearance of his 45 major league games. “You’ve got to give Urena credit, the kid threw the ball well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It doesn’t matter how well we’re swinging or what happened yesterday, he threw the ball well. He did his job.”

PAGE 6, Monday, September 12, 2016

Kerber wins US Open for second major title of breakthrough year By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Early in what would become a tight test of a US Open final, Angelique Kerber sprinted forward to somehow reach a drop shot and scoop a down-the-line winner that landed in a corner of the court. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd roared, and Kerber celebrated by raising her right hand and wagging her index finger in the air, as if to remind opponent Karolina Pliskova — and everyone else — “I’m No. 1!” Yes, she is. And a twotime Grand Slam champion, too. Kerber won her first US Open title and the second major trophy of an out-ofnowhere breakthrough season, taking five of the last six games to beat a fading Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday. “It means a lot to me. When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to one day be the No. 1 player in the world, to win Grand Slams,” said the 28-year-old Kerber, who will move up one spot from No. 2 and replace Serena Williams atop the WTA rankings today. “I mean, all the dreams came true this year.” Never a Grand Slam finalist before 2016, Kerber beat Williams for the Australian Open title in January, then was the runner-up to her at Wimbledon in July. Adding the championship at Flushing Meadows was further

proof that all of the changes Kerber has made are paying off. The better fitness, via extra time in the gym and longer, more intense practice sessions; an improved serve and a new willingness to attack during points, rather than mainly counterpunching, via instruction from coach Torben Beltz; a more positive attitude on court, via help from a mental coach. “Of course, now everybody will try to beat me and have nothing to lose,” Kerber said. “I will try to take this challenge.” On Saturday, the No. 2-seeded Kerber trailed by a break at 3-1 in the third set before coming back against the 10th-seeded Pliskova, who hadn’t been past the third round at a major until this tournament. “It didn’t look good,” Beltz said about the deficit. “But I think that’s also her strength. Because ... if she sees she still has a chance, she’s grabbing it and she goes for it.” Kerber is the first woman from Germany to win the US Open — and the first to get to No. 1 — since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf, who got in touch via text message before the final. It was Pliskova who guaranteed Kerber’s ascension in the rankings by beating Williams in the semi-finals, ending her streak of 186 consecutive weeks at the top, which began in February 2013 and equalled Graf’s mark. Kerber, who collected

ANGELIQUE KERBER, of Germany, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, to win the singles final of the US Open tennis tournament on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) $3.5 million in prize money Saturday, lost to Pliskova the last time they met, just three weeks ago in the final of a hard-court tournament in Cincinnati. But at the outset of this final, it was Kerber who was in charge. Her defence is exemplary, scrambling along the baseline to put her racket on seemingly every ball, crouching so low that her knees would come close to scraping the ground. As she does against most

opponents, Kerber would make Pliskova swing two, three, four extra times to try to end a point. And Pliskova was troubled by that in the early going, making 17 unforced errors in the first set alone, 14 more than Kerber. By the conclusion of the 2-hour, 7-minute final, Pliskova totaled 47 unforced errors, 30 more than Kerber. “With Angie, you cannot wait for mistakes,” Pliskova said. “She doesn’t give you

anything.” Kerber won the toss and elected to receive, perhaps for two reasons: Her serve remains the biggest question mark in a game otherwise full of answers, and it made sense to force Pliskova to deal with an early test of nerves. Either way, the decision worked: Pliskova double-faulted on the match’s first point and got broken from the get-go. But Pliskova hung in there. And after frittering away her first four break points, she converted her fifth with a lob-volley winner that curled over Kerber and alit right by the baseline. Suddenly up 4-3 in the set, Pliskova turned to her coach up in the stands and yelled, pumping her fists. Now it was a match, filled with terrific points, tense moments and plenty of emotion. Pliskova served out the second set — the only one dropped by Kerber all tournament — and spiked a ball. Kerber got broken early in the third and bounced her racket off the court. Moments later, she trailed 3-1. But this was Kerber’s turn to show some mettle, breaking back to 3-all and again to end it. She dropped on her back after the last point, then climbed into the stands to begin the celebration with her coach and others. “I mean, definitely, I would say now that she deserves to be No. 1,” Pliskova said. “And after years (when) Serena was there, I think it’s a nice change.”

ELAINE THOMPSON, of Jamaica, centre, wins the 100 metres, beating Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, left, and Carina Horn of South Africa at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event, at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on Friday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Morris joins exclusive 5-metre club at Van Damme By RAF CASERT AP Sports Writer BRUSSELS (AP) — It is the way the bar trembles. One moment, it falls and robs you of an Olympic gold medal. On Friday, it stayed up and Sandi Morris joined the very exclusive 5-metre pole vaulting club. In the highlight of the Van Damme Memorial meeting, it came to the last woman standing, and the bar at a height only Russian great Yelena Isinbayeva and American Jenny Suhr had reached. With 40,000 fans at the King Baudouin Stadium cheering, grit, speed and agility only got Morris this far up — she touched the bar, again, and thought that just like at the Rio Games, it would fall and leave her crestfallen once more. “I brushed it and I hit the mat and I just thought it was going to fall,” she said. Instead though, “the crowd went wild and I looked up and it was still there.” With her new US outdoor mark, and an age of 24, Morris made clear she is the future of women’s pole

vaulting. If only she had an Olympic title to go with it. At the Rio Games, though, Morris had a brush with the bar just as close and if it would have stayed up, it would have been gold. Instead, the Olympic title went to Greece’s Katerina Stefanidi, the Greek she beat on Friday. To cap the memorable night, Morris tried three times at 5.07 metres to break Isinbayeva’s world record, the Russian she had idolised during her youth. She fell short. But she has plenty of time to try again. “It is a good thing that I didn’t break the world record tonight since I have next year to go for,” Morris said. “If you automatically achieve all your goals right off the bat, what will you have to go for? It gives me a lot of motivation for next season.” In earlier action, Elaine Thompson extended her sprinting dominance through her last race of the season, with the double Olympic champion beating rival Dafne Schippers in the 100 metres. In a battle between the

SANDI MORRIS, of the US, reacts after clearing the bar in the women’s pole vault at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics meeting on Friday. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) two dominant sprinters of the past two seasons, it was no contest. The Jamaican shot out of the blocks and never let Schippers close to finish in 10.72 seconds. It was her third-best time of the season but still better than any other woman this year. “Now I can finally go back home,” Thompson said after her intense season. “If I have to summarise it in one word: Wonderful.” Schippers, who complained of sore hamstrings, finished well behind in

10.97. After her habitual slow start she never came close to closing the gap on Thompson. The Jamaican won the 100 and 200 at the Rio Games while Schippers finished 5th in the 100 and was runner-up in the 200. Besides Morris, the biggest cheer of the night at the King Baudouin was for an eight-year-old achievement. The Belgian 2008 women’s Olympic 4x100 relay team was officially handed its gold medals after crossing the line at the Beijing

Games in second place behind Russia. The team moved up to gold this year after a Russian runner was caught doping in a retest. In a stirring ceremony before some 40,000 fans, the four runners were finally handed their new medals by former IOC President Jacques Rogge, who was still in office at the Beijing Games. Kim Gevaert, Elodie Ouedraogo, Hanna Marien and Olivia Borlee were all dressed in fitting golden tops as they received the biggest prize of their careers. Only Borlee is still competing. In the 400, South Africa’s Caster Semenya proved her versatility. She became the 800 Olympic champion in Rio last month, but at the closing Diamond League meeting she won the onelap race with a stunning kick over the final straight. With 150 metres to go, Semenya seemed totally out of the race, but she started clawing back one runner after another, and with a dip at the line she set a personal best of 50.40 seconds, to beat Courtney Okolo of

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DUSTIN JOHNSON POLISHES OFF A DOMINANT VICTORY By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer CARMEL, Ind. (AP) — Dustin Johnson knows as well as anyone that no matter how good he is and how well he plays, something can always go wrong in golf. Just not this week at the BMW Championship. Not this year, really. An awesome talent, Johnson is starting to pile up the victories to prove it. He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to regain control Sunday, left Paul Casey feeling helpless by matching his eagle putt late in the round and sailed home to a 5-under 67 for a three-shot victory at Crooked Stick. “Ran into a buzz saw,” Casey said after a 67 to finish runner-up in a FedEx Cup playoff event for the second straight week. “That was something special the last two days, and I did everything I could. So I’m holding my head up very high.” Johnson, though, it at another level right now. Known for so many years as the guy who couldn’t catch a break in the biggest events, he won for the third time in eight starts dating to his first major at the US Open. And this might have been his most complete performance. Powerful off the tee, relentless with the putter, dialed with his wedges, there was no stopping him. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in every part of my game,” Johnson said. He just doesn’t have much to say about it, mainly because he doesn’t need to. Casey’s last hope came on the par-5 15th when he rolled in a 25-foot eagle putt to get within one shot. That lasted as long as it took Johnson to line up his 18-foot eagle putt and pour it in to restore his three-shot margin. He finished at 23-under 265 and went over $9 million in earnings for the year, along with taking the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup to the finale in two weeks at East Lake for the Tour Championship. The consolation for Casey, along with $1,836,000 for his two runner-up finishes, was the No. 5 seed at the Tour Championship in two weeks. That means he only has to win at East Lake to capture the $10 million bonus. Rickie Fowler won’t have any chance at all. Fowler, who started the week at No. 22 in the FedEx Cup , closed with a 71 and finished 59th at Crooked Stick. He was bumped out of the top 10 by the smallest margin in the 10-year history of the FedEx Cup — 0.57 points behind Charl Schwartzel, who closed with a 64. The timing is particularly bad for Fowler because Davis Love III makes three of his captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup on Monday, with another one right after the Tour Championship. Fowler won’t have another chance to audition, though he might get picked on Monday, anyway. the United States by .11 seconds. Exhausted, Semenya crumpled to the ground, saying the intensity of the 400 was incomparable to the more tactical 800. “This is a suicide,” she said. “It is crazy.” Still, Semenya showed that a 400-800 double might be possible at next year’s London world championships.

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Monday, September 12, 2016, PAGE 7

Wawrinka tops Djokovic for 1st US Open title, 3rd Grand Slam By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Pointing to his temple after winning the biggest of points, Stan Wawrinka wore Novak Djokovic down and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 yesterday for his first US Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall. The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest US Open men’s champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. Yet he already had gained the upper hand by the time No. 1 Djokovic clutched at his upper left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth set. From there, Djokovic briefly began conceding points, showing little of the fight he’s so famous for. Trailing 3-1 in the fourth set, Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time

other than a changeover. He removed both shoes and socks so a trainer could help him out with what appeared to be blisters on toes. Wawrinka complained to the chair umpire about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologised. When they resumed, Djokovic earned three break points, but Wawrinka held for 4-1. That continued a pattern that carried throughout: Djokovic, as good a returner as there is in the game — now, certainly, and perhaps ever — managed to convert only 3 of 17 break chances. Djokovic started limping later and received more toe treatment at the changeover before he served down 5-2 in the fourth. Wawrinka has won only five of 24 career meetings against Djokovic, but has now beaten the 12-time major champion on the way to each of his own Grand Slam

titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarter-finals and 2015 French Open final. Before this matchup, Djokovic praised Wawrinka as “a big-match player,” and, boy, is he ever. Wasn’t always, though: Playing in the shadow of his farmore-accomplished Swiss countryman and good pal, Roger Federer, Wawrinka needed until his 35th appearance at a major, at age 28, just to get to the semifinals for the first time. But look at Wawrinka now. He has now won 11 tournament finals in a row. He is 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, beating the No. 1-ranked player each time. And he did it Sunday against Djokovic, whose French Open title in June completed a career Grand Slam and made him only the third man — and first in nearly a half-century — to win four consecutive major

tournaments. Earlier Sunday, Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic won the women’s doubles title for their third Grand Slam trophy as a pair. They beat the top-seeded French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Mattek-Sands is the first American to win women’s doubles at Flushing Meadows since 2011, when Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond did it. The final was played on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Mattek-Sands wore kneehigh socks and a left wrist band with the same redand-white-striped, starspangled design she did while teaming with Jack Sock to win a gold medal in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last month. “To have this result here has been amazing,” Mattek-

STAN WAWRINKA, of Switzerland, kisses the trophy after beating Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, to win the singles final of the US Open tennis tournament last night in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Sands told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd during the trophy ceremony, her eyes welling with tears and her

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 87° F/31° C low: 75° F/24° C

Tampa

Tuesday

Wednesday

THursday

FrIday

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun with a stray t‑storm

High: 86°

Low: 76°

High: 90° Low: 77°

High: 90° Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 79°

AccuWeather RealFeel

100° F

84° F

106°-89° F

110°-91° F

109°-91° F

106°-89° F

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

almanac

aBaCO

High: 84° F/29° C low: 81° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

High: 87° F/31° C low: 77° F/25° C

10‑20 knots

FT. lauderdale

FreepOrT

High: 87° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

W S

WesT palm BeaCH

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 89° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 76° F/24° C

mIamI

High: 88° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

6‑12 knots

Key WesT

High: 87° F/31° C low: 78° F/26° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 76° F/24° C

High: 84° F/29° C low: 81° F/27° C

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

4:39 a.m. 5:12 p.m.

2.6 3.2

10:44 a.m. 0.7 11:34 p.m. 0.7

Tuesday

5:34 a.m. 6:03 p.m.

2.8 3.4

11:39 a.m. 0.5 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Wednesday 6:25 a.m. 6:51 p.m.

3.1 3.5

12:22 a.m. 0.5 12:31 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

7:13 a.m. 7:38 p.m.

3.3 3.7

1:08 a.m. 1:22 p.m.

0.3 0.2

Friday

8:01 a.m. 8:24 p.m.

3.6 3.7

1:52 a.m. 2:11 p.m.

0.1 0.0

Saturday

8:49 a.m. 9:11 p.m.

3.8 3.7

2:37 a.m. 0.0 3:01 p.m. ‑0.1

Sunday

9:38 a.m. 9:59 p.m.

3.9 3.7

3:22 a.m. ‑0.1 3:52 p.m. ‑0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:55 a.m. 7:17 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:15 p.m. 2:39 a.m.

Full

last

new

First

sep. 16

sep. 23

sep. 30

Oct. 9

CaT Island

High: 86° F/30° C low: 81° F/27° C

4‑8 knots

6‑12 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 .................................................... 79° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.01” Year to date ............................................... 31.28” Normal year to date ................................... 26.48”

eleuTHera

nassau

voice choking on her words. “It’s a special day today here for everybody in New York.”

andrOs

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 86° F/30° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

mayaGuana High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

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

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns raGGed Island High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

GreaT InaGua High: 89° F/32° C low: 82° F/28° C

N E

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

7‑14 knots

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

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS SE at 10‑20 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 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 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 3 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 83° F 82° F 87° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F