SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
NAUGHTY
Cowboys, Page 3
National Sports Academy to be launched this fall By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
A
nother new target date has been set for the much maligned National Sports Academy Programme. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said the venture will come to fruition this fall with the launch of its first two locations - at The College of the Bahamas in November and on Moore’s Island in December. Speaking at the ceremony of recognition for Team Bahamas’ performance at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Dr Johnson outlined his ministry’s preparation ahead of the launch. “I just came from Abaco, where
we have started a track in Cooper’s Town. We are laying a major facility in Central Abaco, Marsh Harbour and putting down a small track in Sandy Point. The highlight is that Moore’s JOHNSON Island will get the first national sports academy that will be open in December of this year. It will come with dormitories, track, soccer pitches, sports science, sports medicine, new coaches all on Moore’s Island in the Abacos in this year,” he said. “You will also hear on November 10 of this year that we
are going to open up the National Sports Academy at the University/College of the Bahamas. I want to pre-empt our young athletes whose career is just about to boom. I’m going to recruit people like Pauline [Davis-Thompson], Chris [Brown] and Debbie [Ferguson-McKenzie] to come to the sports academy, but our young athletes will be the beneficiaries of a real national sports programme.” In July, Dr Johnson announced he will not seek re-election for the Carmichael constituency but boasted of his ministry’s development during his tenure. “No one, no institution, no ministry and no minster has done more for the development of sports than this little ministry and this little minster. We have pulled
17 international events over the last three years, all have come in on time and under budget and we have five more to go,” he said. “I heard them say I’m retiring, I didn’t say I’m retiring, but you’ll find out.” In March, Dr Johnson outlined the impact of the NSA Programme and anticipated its launch would be in September. A group, including Director of Sports Tim Munnings, Rupert Gardiner, Kim Rolle from the University/College of the Bahamas and others toured facilities and observed practices from others around the region in preparation for the NSA. “This will be a way to get our athletes to stay home and train. We push out about $1 million for our athletes abroad and we can
put that into our athletes training here at home.” He added in the House of Assembly: “The gap we have after high school is also an academic issue. The first NSA location will be at COB because many students will be taking college prep courses and other things to further their education as they train.” Dr Johnson said the “master plan” of the ministry will see the expansion shift from COB to the Family Islands. The country has been awarded the honour as hosts of the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and Dr Johnson said it is an opportunity to force the improvement of infrastructure in the family islands to coincide with the
SEE PAGE 3
REGATTA TIME: Kelly Kemp of H20, Rev Dr Philip McPhee, of Bowe’s Electric Thunderbird and Jed Munroe, of the Courageous, talk about the Rock Sound and Best of the Best regattas.
Sailors look to secure berths in Best of the Best By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net TWO C Class boats will secure their berths at the third annual Rock Sound Regatta this weekend in Eleuthera for the Best of the Best Regatta in Montagu Bay in December. Rev Dr Philip McPhee, consultant at the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, confirmed the latter. “About 30 years ago, me and the late King Eric Gibson went down to Rock Sound and we discovered that the harbour, in my opinion, might be the best for C Class sailing in the Bahamas,” McPhee said. “It has been a hidden secret for all these many years and we went down there and we had two
successful regattas. This year, we look for it being another success with 12 of the top C Class boats going down to compete.” The boats lined up to compete this weekend are the Dream Girl, Lethal Weapon, Lady Eunice, Whiplash, Golden Girl, San Sally, Sweet Island Gal, King and Knights, the new Bowe’s Electric Thunderbird, Catch the Cat, Fugitive and Sacrifice. At the conclusion of the regatta, held in honour once again for the Bahamian icon Gibson, McPhee said two boats would get a chance to clinch the final two spots. The boats will get a chance to compete in at least three races with the chance for a fourth one through the sponsorship of Damian Gomez, the Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera.
“Damian Gomez has certainly been a MP that has supported his constituency,” McPhee said. “Every regatta in Eleuthera, he personally gives a tremendous amount of money to ensure the success of that regatta. He makes sure and gets the support of his area and I want to say that I am proud of how he put his support behind the regattas.” Eight of the boats have already clinched their berth in the Best of the Best Regatta in December by winning one of the regattas that has already been held during the course of the year. “You have to win a regatta to get in. You can’t just come and get in,” McPhee said. “All of the boats that are already in have won a regatta. If they win, they are in, if they don’t win, they will be out and they will have to
stay out. You can’t buy, creep or crawl in. That’s why the Best of the Best Regatta is starting to draw a lot of attention because only the best of the best boats will be competing.” Those boats already in are Lethal Weapon, Sweet Island Gal, King and Knights, Bowe’s Electric Thunderbird, Sacrifice, Bulla Reg, Crazy Partner and Whitty K. Kelly Kemp of H2O out of Black Point, Exuma, said they are excited about competing in the Rock Sound Regatta because they have a point to prove. “I’m looking forward to this Best of the Best. That’s why I’m going into Rock Sound this weekend because H2O is the best C Class boat out there and we haven’t qualified yet,” Kemp said. “So I want to prove to the
rest of the field that I am the best of the best and I deserve to be in that field.” Kemp said the Best of the Best would be determined by three boat builders, including Buzzy Rolle from Exuma and Mark Knowles out of Long Island. The other boat builder is Van Ferguson from Black Point, Exuma, who built H2O, so Kemp has some added incentive to go after. “I’m going to show them that boats built in Black Point, Exuma, are the best of the best,” Kemp said. “They are the slow boats. They can’t beat me. Bring the light or the heavy breeze. I will be number one.” But Richard Ross, the owner of San Sally, objected to Kemp’s claim.
SEE PAGE 3
In WNBA, Jonquel Jones’ ‘long-term future is so bright’ By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net HEADED into the season finale, the Connecticut Sun were already eliminated from playoff contention, but Bahamian rookie forward Jonquel Jones gave the Sun front office reasons to be optimistic about the team’s future. Jones scored a season high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Suns’ 87-78 win over the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center in Washington DC on Sunday. Curt Miller, Sun head coach and general manager, said Jones has an opportunity to be a special player in the WNBA for years to come. “Her long-term future is so bright. She has a chance to be a
star in this league,” he told the Norwich Bulletin. “She can score in a variety of ways, she affects the game at the defensive end around the rim, she’s a good rebounder. She’s got a complete game. Now she’s just got to get stronger.” Jones finished her rookie campaign averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shot in just over 14 minutes per game. She shot 53 per cent from the field and 33 per cent from three-point range. In November, Jones will prepare to continue her pro career as she ventures into the Korean Basketball League after being drafted No.5 by Woori Bank Hansae Chuncheon for the 2016-2017 on July 10 in Seoul, South Korea. Miller said he expects the versatile Grand Bahamian native to return to the Sun as an improved
JONQUEL JONES in action.
player. “We’re really excited about her future and look forward to her going and getting better in her international play, and coming back even stronger in year two,” Miller said. The DC area provided familiar confines for Jones to cap her season after her stellar collegiate career at George Washington and a high school career at Riverdale Baptist in Maryland. “GW has a special place in my heart, it’s where I was for four years, and I have teammates and people that really care a lot about me, and I feel the same way about them too,” Jones said. “It’s always special to come to D.C. and see all of them and have a big game.” The Sun finished the season at 14-20 and are back in the WNBA, however, they traded their No. 1
pick in 2017 to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Jones. She surpassed her previous season high of 20 and it was her sixth double-digit scoring game of the season and her third consecutive. “This is our job. Just like any job you have to come in prepared no matter what the circumstances. I get paid to do this, and I love doing it so why not be ready when it’s time to play?” she said. “We started off rough with our chemistry because we had a lot of new pieces. We had four rookies including me. So we just had a lot of things that we had to get better at and had to get used to each other, so I think after that was settled, we really started to play the type of basketball we were capable of playing. And I think that’s going to transfer over to next season for sure.”
PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Truckers roll over Caribs, 13-6 THE New Providence Softball Association played one game at the Banker’s Field, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, on Saturday night. The Lady Johnson Truckers knocked off the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs, 13-6. Latonya Bowleg went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and scored three times to lead the Truckers. Shevette Taylor was 2-for4 with three runs scored, Marissa Burrows was 2-for3 with two runs scored and Nicara Curtis was 2-for-4 with two RBI. For the Lady Caribs, Helena Curry was 3-for-4 with a run scored, Odessa Johnson was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Paulamae Adderley was 1-for-2 with a RBI and two runs scored. Marvelle Miller was the winning pitcher and Charity Rolle got tagged with the loss. C & S Hitmen 7, BTC Warriors 5 C&S got a 2-for-4 production with a run scored from Alcott Forbes and Keiron Munroe went 1-for4 and a RBI in their win on Thursday night. For BTC Warriors, Richard Bain went 1-for-4, scoring two runs with two RBI and Sherman Ferguson was 1-for-1 with a run scored and a RBI. The Hitmen’s winning pitcher was Alcott Forbes and the Warriors’ losing pitcher was Deval Storr. The NPSA won’t resume action until Saturday night when the Truckers take on the Hitmen.
ON THE REPLAY: The Lady Johnson Truckers defeated the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs 13-6 in New Providence Softball Association regular season action at the Banker’s Field, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, on Saturday night. Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, PAGE 3
Cowboy nation rides in defence of the defence IF not for a total mental lapse by wide receiver Terrance Williams in week one, my Dallas Cowboys could have been 2-0 in this young NFL season. I will gladly take our present 1-1 record all things considered. Sadly, one of the biggest reasons for Cowboys’ success so far has been lost in the hype surrounding Tony Romo’s injuries, Dak Prescott’s phenomenal play in relief of Romo, Dez Bryant’s resurgence and Ezekiel Elliott getting better and better and more impressive with every carry (despite the two fumbles on Sunday.) Still can’t figure out what or who I’m referring to Dallas Cowboys fans, and football fans in general? Still nothing? How ‘bout the Cowboys defence! A motley crew of no names and alleged draft busts with an affection for the “whacky tobaccy” and libations. Rife with suspensions for substance abuse and injuries, this gang of the walking wounded has bent but not broken, and now seems to be rising to the occasion, thriving off defending their end zone fearlessly in the clutch, creating sacks and turnovers, all while holding the explosive offences of the Giants and Redskins to 20 and 23 points respectively in the first two weeks of the season. In Sunday’s game, the Cowboys defence stood tall in the third quarter, holding the Redskins to six points in three key trips to the red zone, keeping the game close and winnable for the Cowboys in the long run. Safety Barry Church’s crucial end zone interception of Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (Kirk didn’t like that, but I sure did) swung the momentum of the game in the Cowboys favour for good, and rattled Cousins the rest of the game into poor clock management decisions and
throws, in addition to costly penalties on the offensive line. If all of this third quarter defensive bravado wasn’t enough, the Cowboys defensive unit proceeded to shut out the Redskins in the fourth quarter. Including twice in the final two minutes and 40 seconds of the game. Defensive Co-ordinator Rod Marinelli must be commended for making it work with the bare bones minimum. The bright spot is that this defensive unit has held down the fort for the first two weeks of the season, and the cavalry (suspended starters defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory) are now only two weeks from returning, which will only make the unit stronger and bolster the Cowboys anaemic pass rush. Until then, the 18thranked over all defence in the league (18th vs the pass,12th vs the rush and 17th in points allowed) must continue to be the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL, preforming to a high level despite not being ‘respected’ one iota! Considering three years ago this was the absolute worst defence in the entire NFL, and the world for that matter, the Cowboy nation need not be critical of the defence and look to blame them for everything, especially the losses. Instead, the Cowboy nation should pay attention to the defence moving forward, the way we are enthralled with the offence and its success. If you keep an eye on the defence you might see linebackers Sean Lee and Justin Durant shut down the run, cornerbacks Brandon Carr, Morris Clayborne and Orlando Scandrick play big against the pass and safeties, Barry Church and Byron Jones, create turnovers and eliminate other teams tight ends from being a factor in the passing game.
SPORTS NOTES
run scored. Spurgeon Johnson was the winning pitcher and Steven Robinson suffered the loss. Original Crusaders 23, Home Boys 22: David Gardiner went 3-for-6 with a home run, five RBI and four runs scored to lead the Crusaders. Greg Gardiner was the winning pitcher and Sidney Thomas was tagged with the loss. Da Boyz 12, Dozer Pros 11: Alvin Lightbourne was the winning pitcher and Alfred Munnings suffered the loss. KC Construction 24, Doc’s Stallions 13: Rodney Albury had a perfect 4-for-4 day with two RBI and three runs in the win. Frank Martin was the
SOFTBALL NPOTSA ACTION THE New Providence Old Timers Softball League continued its regular season in the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds over the weekend. • Here’s a summary of the games played: Coors Light 15, KC Construction 5: Dwayne Dean went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and scored twice to lead Coors to victory. Gaye Knowles was the winning pitcher and Johnny Armbrister was tagged with the loss. GT Sharks 7, Lone Rebels 4: Eddie Russell went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a
SPORTING
MISCHIEF
& MAYHEM BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’
ZENICAZELAYA
COWBOYS cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) breaks up a pass intended for Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson (18) in the end zone during Sunday’s game. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) No, this is not a legendary defence, nor will it ever be, and it will continue to have its moments. This unit has issues, nobody is denying that. However, it is also a resilient bunch of nobodies, comfortable in their own skin and confident in their abilities, who expect to be criticised any second. Instead the Cowboys defence needs to hear the cheers, not the jeers from their fans, in the stands or online. So this week it’s time to make some noise on both
winning pitcher and Ian Graham got the los. Home Boys 20, Dozer Pros 16: Ivan Francis went 3-for-5 with a home run, seven RBI and three runs scored in the win. Sidney Thomas was the winning pitcher and Danny Stubbs got the loss. SOFTBALL BAISS ACTION THE Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools kicked off their 2016/17 sporting calendar yesterday with softball games played in both the senior boys and junior girls’ divisions. The league is slated to continue at 4pm today at the various schools with games being played in the senior girls and junior boys’ divisions.
SAILORS LOOK TO SECURE BEST OF BEST BERTHS FROM PAGE 1 “San Sally is all the way from San Salvador, the beast from the east,” he said. “We’re going to Rock Sound because we have to win this regatta to get into the Best of the Best. We are going to win this one and then go to San Salvador and chill until the Best of the Best is held.” Ross said they’re not concerned about any of their rivals because they are all
“small fries.” Samantha Campbell and Travis Bowleg are the chairperson and co-chairman of the regatta, which will be held Friday-Sunday. There are a number of exciting events being planned on the ground during the regatta. The boats will leave at 1pm Thursday for Rock Sound. In Wednesday’s Sports, McPhee will provide more insight on the Best of the Best Regatta.
NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY SET FOR FALL LAUNCH FROM PAGE 1 NSA programme. “We have identified the spaces on five islands that we will develop - Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, and Exuma. The master plan is in place, the land has been secured,” he said. “The Bahamas Youth Games is coming next summer. These islands will have similar facilities, equipment, coaching and finally management. “The Bahamas Youth Games will be an opportunity for us to test our
abilities as hosts and give our athletes an opportunity to compete at a high level and qualify for those teams. We know that even with this present economy this ministry is moving along making things happen.” Since he has come into office as minister in May 2012, the National Sports Academy has often been a talking point for Dr Johnson and an integral part of his platform. In May 2013, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that his administration “will begin the process
“RIFE WITH SUSPENSIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND INJURIES, THIS GANG OF THE WALKING WOUNDED HAS BENT BUT NOT BROKEN, AND NOW SEEMS TO BE RISING TO THE OCCASION, THRIVING OFF DEFENDING THEIR END ZONE FEARLESSLY IN THE CLUTCH, CREATING SACKS AND TURNOVERS.”
to invest some $10 million in the construction” of multipurpose sporting facilities in the family islands similar to those in New Providence and Grand Bahama, giving young athletes in those islands more opportunities to develop in competitive sports. The formation of the National Sports Academies has also been at the focal point of each budget debate following the success of the “Golden Knights” at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
sides of the ball, Cowboy nation. Dak may be the future, but it’s the defence that keeps him on the field and giving the offence the opportunities to be heroes. So in case you don’t know it, or haven’t had a chance to use it in relation to the Cowboys recently, it goes like this ...
“DEFENCE ... DEFENCE ... DEFENCE”... and put some respect on it when you say it! Remember the old saying “defence wins championships”. Whether they are no names or not as a unit doesn’t matter, only that they get the job done when
it counts! “How ‘bout them Cowboys.” • Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net
PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Best of the best go head-to-head in BGDSA All-Star extravaganza
PLAY BALL: It was an exciting weekend of softball as the best of the best in the Bahamas Government Departmental Softball Association went head-to-head in an All-Star game at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, PAGE 5
LADY TRUCKERS UPSET VIXENS, DEFENDERS STOP INTRUDERS THE New Providence Volleyball Association opened its 2016/17 Night League season with a lot of excitement, clean rivalry, upsets and celebration at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Sunday. In the women’s division, the Johnson Lady Truckers pulled off an upset on opening day by
handing the perennial queens Scottsdale Vixens - a 3-0 set loss, 25-21, 25-10, 25-19. The top scorer for the Truckers was Kelsie Johnson with 12 points, including seven kills and five aces. Ann Adderley added three points on three kills and Mechelle Moss had five points on five service aces.
In a losing effort, the top scorer for the Vixens was Melinda Bastian with seven points (six kills and a block) and teammate Latondra Brown contributed four points on four kills. In the men’s division, the Defenders defeated the Intruders 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-17). The top scorer for the Defend-
ers was Jamaal ‘Swaggaholic’ Ferguson with 23 points (19 kills and three service aces). He was followed by Je’Vaughn Saunders with 11 points on 11 kills. In a losing effort, the top scorer for the Intruders was Prince Wilson with 18 points, inclusive of 15 kills, a block and two service aces. Dellan Brown finished with
12 points on 12 kills. The league is scheduled to resume action on Wednesday with two games on tap. In the ladies’ opener at 7:30pm Central Gas Lady Panthers face the College of the Bahamas Lady Caribs and, in the men’s feature contest at 9pm, the Technicians take on the Warhawks.
New Providence Volleyball Association’s developmental programme takes spotlight
OVER THE NET: The New Providence Volleyball Association continued its developmental programme at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Saturday. The programme, held 3-6pm every Saturday at the gym, is organised by Jason Saunders, assisted by Je’Vaughn Saunders and Shedrack Forbes. It’s designed for boys and girls of all ages, who Saunders hopes will eventually move up to participate in the NPVA Night League, which got started at the gym on Sunday. Photos by Shawn Hanna/The Tribune
PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
From top to bottom, teams already feeling pain in NFL By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer FROM the top of the NFL to the bottom of the heap, teams are already feeling the pain. From injuries. Key performers are dropping like they’ve been through two months of the season, not two weeks. The latest: Adrian Peterson, Jimmy Garoppolo, DeMarcus Ware, Josh McCown, Danny Woodhead, Jonathan Stewart and Arian Foster. The Patriots, perhaps the league’s best team, appear to be down to their third QB. The Browns, possibly the NFL’s worst team, are working on No. 3, rookie Cody Kessler. Most worrisome, though, is Peterson, the 2012 league MVP and Minnesota’s cornerstone on offence who has a torn meniscus in his right knee. He has remarkable recovery skills — Peterson tore the ACL in his left knee in the second-to-last game of the 2011 season, then played all of 2012 and rushed for more than 2,000 yards. But this is four years later, it’s the other knee and he was unable to put pressure on his leg as he hobbled off the field. Then Peterson needed help getting to the locker room. He was on crutches after the game, wearing a brace on his right leg. Coach Mike Zimmer said yesterday that the team is “exploring all options.” Usually, a torn meniscus requires several weeks of rehab before a player can return to the field. Garoppolo hardly is a star, with two pro starts on his résumé. But he sure was doing a nice imitation of
PATRIOTS QB Jimmy Garoppolo (10) receives attention after an injury in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
VIKINGS running back Adrian Peterson leaves US Bank Stadium on crutches after Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 17-14. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) Tom Brady while the fourtime Super Bowl champion is serving his four-game “Deflategate” suspension. Now Jimmy G’s immediate future is in doubt after taking a monstrous hit from Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso on a second-quarter pass play. Garoppolo barely was able to move his shoulder as he walked off the field. As usual, Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn’t supplying much info on his thirdyear quarterback, saying only the team will take a day-to-day approach.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett finished off the win. “This game is a 100 per cent injury rate,” Patriots receiver Julian Edelman said. “It’s football and everyone’s just gotta do their job a little bit better.” Cleveland lost starting quarterback Robert Griffin III last week with a shoulder problem. Now McCown is plagued by the same kind of hurt, though he finished Sunday’s 25-20 loss to Baltimore. Unable to lift his left arm after the game, McCown said he planned to
play next week at Miami. Sorry: On Monday, Browns coach Hue Jackson said the sprained shoulder meant Kessler would start instead of McCown at Miami. “We’ll find out a lot about him this weekend,” Jackson said of Kessler, a thirdround draftee in April. Denver’s superb defence isn’t anchored by the 34-year-old Ware, but he’s an important component. The linebacker/pass rush specialist broke his right forearm against Indianapolis. No one in Denver was
sure if Ware would require surgery, could heal without it or might even be able to play with the injury. Losing Ware isn’t a deal breaker for the Broncos, but the defending champions recognise their defence must stay strong and deep for them to contend again. Of the three significant injuries to running backs, Woodhead’s seems to be the worst. The versatile Chargers sparkplug was taken off the sideline on a cart with an apparent right knee issue. In their opener, the Chargers lost top wideout Keenan Allen for the year. Philip Rivers could be without two of his most dependable sidekicks, although it’s helped San Diego that 2015 first-round pick Melvin Gordon has emerged at running back. Miami’s Foster went down with a groin injury. He already was struggling with a hamstring issue and is coming off surgery to repair his Achilles tendon. Stewart, Carolina’s work-
horse back, was hurt in the Super Bowl and it damaged the Panthers’ attack in February. Although coach Ron Rivera claims his team is deep at the position, Stewart is a mainstay. If his hamstring injury is a major one, it’s a blow to the NFC champs. As Edelman said, injuries are unavoidable in pro football. Often, the healthiest team when winter hits winds up playing for and probably walking off with the Lombardi Trophy. Most troubling, though, is when the injury bug hits so soon. Many a team’s talented roster has been torn asunder by a lack of health, including Baltimore and Dallas a year ago. It’s important, yet difficult, to avoid thinking that if September is so hurtful, what will the rest of the schedule be like? But the approach has to be a positive one, even when untested quarterbacks are calling signals and Hall of Fame-calibre running backs are hobbled.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, PAGE 7
Same number, new sport: Tebow works out at Mets camp By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow arrived at the New York Mets’ minor league clubhouse yesterday morning, finding an orange-and-blue jersey with No. 15 on the back swaying in his locker. He was asked if that worked. “Heck, yeah,” Tebow replied. It’s the same colour scheme he wore as a national champion and Heisman Trophy winner at Florida, and the same number he wore with the Gators and throughout his less-than-storied years as an NFL quarterback. And now he’s wearing it again as he tries to find a place in baseball, going through his first workout with the Mets’ instructional league squad on Monday. He showed some power, hitting three balls in batting practice off the chain-link fence in right-centre — better than just about everyone else did. He showed some rust, popping up a half-dozen pitches in that same BP session. And he showed a need for work, after one of his throws sailed well over someone’s head and nearly onto an adjacent field during a simple game of catch. “It was a lot of fun,” Tebow
said. “It was great. It was great to be on a team. It was great to just go through a warmup and go through drills, just have fun, take BP, get to know all the guys, try to remember as many names as possible.” Predictably, it was also a circus atmosphere. Hundreds of fans — many wearing Tebow jerseys, some even wearing now-on-sale Mets shirts with Tebow’s name — showed up; a worker at the Mets’ complex said instructional league workouts last year drew maybe a couple dozen people, tops. A news helicopter circled over the field where Tebow worked for more than an hour. He got a huge cheer from fans for executing his first official drill, one where he learned how to take a lead off first base. “Never been here before,” said Sarah Dale, a waitress who works an overnight shift and now says she’ll be a Mets fan. “I’m here for Tim Tebow. ... He’s a people person. Everyone loves him.” Less than a month ago, Tebow was in his native Philippines, working with special-needs and ill children — one of his longtime passions. He’s now one of 58 players on the Mets’ instructional league roster, and at 29 he’s also four years older than any other
invitee. Two of the players on the roster won’t even turn 18 until next year. Tebow’s last time playing true organised baseball was in his junior year of high school, when he batted nearly .500 for Nease High near Jacksonville, Florida. Tebow worked out for scouts in Los Angeles last month and not long afterward the Mets signed him to a deal that included a $100,000 bonus. “A lot of people would say, ‘Well, it puts a chip on your shoulder,’” Tebow said. “I mean, I guess I have a little chip. You want to prove people right. Not really the naysayers, it’s more that I want to prove the coaches right, the Mets organisation, my teammates, play with my teammates and try to be the best baseball player I can — more importantly, the best person I can.” Tebow last appeared in an NFL regular-season game during the 2012 season. He was in camp with the New England Patriots in 2013 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015, and started workouts with the thought of seriously trying baseball a few months ago. He said if the Patriots — who are without Tom Brady for two more games and now have Jimmy Garoppolo dealing with an in-
TIM TEBOW prepares for batting practice yesterday at the New York Mets’ complex in Port St Lucie, Florida. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback got to the complex early Monday and started his first workout as part of their instructional league team. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
jury — or any other football team came calling, now they’d get a quick answer. “I’m part of the Mets family,” Tebow said. The Mets say Tebow will be part of daily workouts through Thursday. He’ll be excused Friday and Saturday for his college football analyst duties with the SEC Network, and the instructional roster has a day off Sunday. But Tebow said he plans to work out Friday before leaving for his TV job, saying he’ll probably wind up being gone from camp for only about 24 hours. He’s serious about this pursuit, and insisted that getting to the major leagues is his goal. “It was one of the hardest decisions of my life to choose football over baseball,” Tebow said. “There were a lot of times at Florida where I thought about going out and starting baseball. And then over the course of the last few years it’s something I’ve thought about a bunch. “My first sporting activity, I played for the White Sox at Normandy Baseball Park. I didn’t want to put down a bat since.” The bat — a 34½-inch, 33-ounce maple one, to be precise — is back in his hands again.
THe WeaTHer repOrT
5-Day Forecast
TOday
OrlandO
High: 89° F/32° C low: 74° F/23° C
Tampa
TOnIGHT
Wednesday
THursday
FrIday
saTurday
Partly sunny with a stray t‑shower
Partly cloudy with a shower
Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots
Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots
Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots
Partly sunny with a stray t‑shower
High: 90°
Low: 77°
High: 90° Low: 77°
High: 90° Low: 77°
High: 90° Low: 77°
High: 90° Low: 76°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
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112° F
89° F
111°-88° F
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112°-90° F
High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
aBaCO
S
N
High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C
4‑8 knots
S
WesT palm BeaCH High: 89° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C
3‑6 knots
FT. lauderdale E
W
FreepOrT
High: 89° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C
N
S
E
W
High: 88° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C
mIamI
High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C
3‑6 knots
Key WesT
High: 90° F/32° C low: 80° F/27° C
eleuTHera
nassau
High: 90° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C
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 Today
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
11:21 a.m. 11:42 p.m.
3.9 3.3
4:58 a.m. ‑0.1 5:39 p.m. 0.1
Wednesday 12:17 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑
3.7 ‑‑‑‑‑
5:51 a.m. 6:38 p.m.
0.0 0.3
Thursday
12:40 a.m. 1:17 p.m.
3.1 3.6
6:48 a.m. 7:41 p.m.
0.2 0.4
Friday
1:42 a.m. 2:22 p.m.
3.0 3.5
7:51 a.m. 8:48 p.m.
0.3 0.5
Saturday
2:50 a.m. 3:29 p.m.
2.9 3.4
8:58 a.m. 9:55 p.m.
0.4 0.6
Sunday
3:59 a.m. 4:33 p.m.
2.9 3.3
10:06 a.m. 0.5 10:58 p.m. 0.5
Monday
5:03 a.m. 5:32 p.m.
2.9 3.3
11:09 a.m. 0.5 11:53 p.m. 0.5
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:58 a.m. 7:08 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
10:28 p.m. 10:53 a.m.
last
new
First
Full
sep. 23
sep. 30
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
CaT Island
E
W
High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
N
S
E
W
4‑8 knots
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 ................................................... 92° F/33° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 94° F/35° C Last year’s low ................................... 79° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 31.79” Normal year to date ................................... 27.48”
uV inDex toDay
andrOs
san salVadOr
GreaT eXuma
High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C
N
High: 89° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C
E
W S
lOnG Island
insurance management tracking map
High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
4‑8 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
High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
GreaT InaGua High: 88° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
7‑14 knots
6‑12 knots
marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr
Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:
WINDS S at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 3‑6 Knots ESE at 3‑6 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots
WAVES 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet
VISIBILITY 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 86° F 86° F 87° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 87° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F
PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller visits The Tribune and Radio House
A HAPPY DAY: The Rio Olympics 400 metre gold medallist, our very own Shaunae Miller, mixed and mingled with media members during her visit to The Tribune and Radio House on Friday. Photos by Shawn Hanna/The Tribune