09222016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

NFL PICKS

Week 3, Pages 2 & 3

Bahamians in World Baseball Classic Qualifier tonight By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net uited up for Team Great Britain, several Bahamian players are expected to open play tonight in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Great Britain takes on Israel 7pm Thursday at MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York in the final qualifier for the 2017 WBC. They will play their second game of the tournament 7pm Friday against an opponent to be determined and look to advance to Saturday’s semi-final. Brazil, Great Britain, Israel and Pakistan will compete over the course of the four-day contest to decide the 16th and final entry in the 2017 WBC. The winner of Sunday’s championship game will travel to Seoul, South Korea, next March and compete against host Korea, The Netherlands and Chinese Taipei in Pool B of the WBC 2017.

SEVERAL PLAYERS EXPECTED TO SUIT UP FOR TEAM BRITAIN All the games will be streamed live and free of charge on MLB. com. Veteran Bahamian players Antoan Richardson (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League) and Albert Cartwright (Ottawa, CanAm League) are in their second tenure with Great Britain. This time around they will be joined by a talented group of young Bahamian players including Ali Knowles (Garden City, Pescos League), Jasrado Chisholm (Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB), Kyle Simmons (Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB), Todd Isaacs (Cleveland Indians, MLB), Reshard Munroe (Cincinnati Reds, MLB), Byron Murray (San Francisco Giants, MLB) and Champ Stuart (New York Mets, MLB). Great Britain will be managed by Liam Carroll as the team bids to make its second appearance at the WBC. With Richardson and

Cartwright on the roster, Great Britain went 1-2 during the 2013 Qualifier played in Regensburg, Germany, where it made its debut in the WBC. As for why the Bahamas, with so many players available to make up a team, is not playing as a country, Bahamas Baseball Federation President Teddy Sweeting addressed the issue in a previous interview with The Tribune. He said they are working on developing a strong relationship with Major League Baseball with the view of granting the Bahamas the rights to be included in international play. “We have been in contact with them back and forth from the beginning of 2015, trying to see whether the Bahamas could have submitted a team in the preliminary rounds, which would then afford you, if you win your pool, the opportunity to play in the actual

World Baseball Classic,” Sweeting said. “We were advised that they will do some research and get back to us. When they came back, they advised us that the International Baseball Federation does the recommendation for all of the countries that are afforded the opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic.” When they did, Sweeting said the federation was informed that the Bahamas would not be granted permission due to its inactivity in international baseball. “We had set out a plan, which was to begin in 2015 when we, in collaboration with us sending a youth team to compete, didn’t compete because we were not properly registered,” Sweeting said. “So we did not attend in 2015. “This is now 2016 and we are now in preparation to sending a

under-16 youth team to Mexico to compete in the Pan Am qualifier for 2017. That looks very promising so that we can actually start the process of qualifying for the World Baseball Classic to be considered for the preliminary rounds.” Despite the ongoing feud with the Bahamas Baseball Association, Sweeting said the BBF is forging ahead with the view of getting its national teams prepared for the road to the World Baseball Classic. “Our goal now is to get a team prepared to compete next month, then prepare for the under-23 AU next year in 2017 and then in 2018 prepare to send a team to represent the country at the Central American and Caribbean Games,” Sweeting said. “If we do well in that, which is a qualifier for the Pan American Games, the following year, that would move us into 2019 and hopefully 2020 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan where baseball is added back.”

$1-Day Jr Tennis Clinic continues this weekend ON Saturday, The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) held a Junior Tennis Clinic at the National Tennis Centre, Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. The $1-Day Clinic was a success as kids ranging from four to 14 years were introduced and, in some cases, reintroduced to the rudiments of tennis.

Supervisor of the clinic, Barbara Carey organised the play and stay session. Coach Kevin Major led the children in various drills. Also on hand were some of the country’s top juniors - Afrika Smith, Donte Armbrister and Sierra Donaldson. These youngsters who are returning from an International Tennis Federation

(ITF) tour this summer were able to assist coach Major in instructing the kids on their forehands and backhands. Kristen Major and Dentry Mortimer also took the time to assist with the younger kids. “Some of the children at the clinic never held a tennis racquet before so this initiative by the BLTA will surely produce

some new talent to the sport. “Many of the kids expressed the sentiment that they always wanted to play tennis. The sport is seen as very exciting. The young boys and girls at the clinic took great delight when they had an opportunity to play ‘one on one’ with their junior instructors,” said a press release. The $1-Day Jr Tennis Clinic

will continue 9am to 10:30am this Saturday at the NTC. Kids aged five to 14 years old are invited. All kids who are interested in tennis and want to get a start are kindly invited to come and be a part of this clinic. The BLTA continues its efforts to grow tennis in The Bahamas. The future looks bright for this vibrant sport.

Beach soccer and the Bahamas are a perfect match By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AS the build up for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 continues, local stakeholders continue to promote the country and the upcoming historic event to the international beach soccer community. Bahamas Football Association President Anton Sealey and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson spoke about the event in a series of interviews with Beach Soccer Worldwide during the latest World Cup Qualifier in Jesolo, Italy. In an event expected to revolutionise the sport in the country, 16 teams from around the world will be taking part in the tournament hosted April 27 to May 7, 2017 at the new beach soccer stadium, currently under construction near the Nassau side of the Paradise Island Bridge. The new beach soccer facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge has an expected completion date of November this year. “Bahamians are naturally a very passionate people and we get

passionate about the things that we love. I think you will see that once this game is introduced to them fully and at the World Cup level they will get behind it and support it very enthusiastically,” Sealey said. “Naturally, once the kids [home] and the clubs [home] see the level of play, the skill involved, the organisation involved, it will naturally give us an initial boost. The challenge for the administrators in the BFA is to maintain the obvious passion that we know will come with this game and the obvious interest that will accrue once they have witnessed this level of play. People will automatically be turned on to the game and the challenge for the administration is to maintain that enthusiasm and excitement. We know that competitions such as this always raises the level of excitement and interest. You will find people coming out who have never come to a beach soccer match or any football match in the past.” Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and Poland advanced to the tournament at the qualifier in Italy, joining Tahiti and the Bahamas as teams that have qualified thus far.

Over the next few months, the remaining 10 teams will be determined in five additional qualifiers. “The matches I saw were very physical and I think that is the aspect of the game the Bahamas’ team will have to work on over the next few months to give a quality showing at the World Cup,” Sealey said. The focus of the discussion centred on the Bahamas’ role as hosts. “For those who are coming into the Bahamas for the first time, one of the things they will be immediately impressed with is the warmth and friendliness of our people. That’s our business, our number one industry is tourism so we take it very personal when visitors come to our country to make them feel welcome and make them want to return. I think that after this World Cup you will find that people who have visited us will definitely want to comeback,” Sealey said. “And for us as a country, having welcomed 15 nations in the world to our shores, the infrastructure left behind will be a legacy to future beach soccer players and soccer players on the whole. They will understand that this is their game,

the World Cup is their World Cup and they will take a personal interest and own the competition.” The Bahamas was prominently featured at the qualifier in Italy and according to Beach Soccer Worldwide, the branding associated with the tournament was viewed by over 250 million households globally. Additionally, there were over 150,000 viewers via the web live stream. Dr Johnson insisted that beach soccer and the Bahamas are a perfect match. “All around the world people are beginning to get excited about this. People have heard that we have the nicest beaches in the world and they will get to see that is probably true. What we have in beaches, what we have in charisma and what the sport brings to the country is a match made in heaven,” he said. “I think this is a new era for us and our tourism product. The world knows ‘It’s Better in the Bahamas’ but they don’t yet know what is better in the Bahamas. We have always had sun, sand and sea and we are now going to add sports to that profile. We have gone global, the five continents will be rep-

resented and the Bahamas will be the stage for this event.” The look and emblem of the event were unveiled at an official launch event in July. According to the Local Organising Committee, the emblem is intended to reflect the positive uplifting nature of the tournament and the local culture of the host country. The emblem uses the shape of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Official Trophy as the canvas and the vivid colours reflect the pristine landscape and culture of the host country. “The official emblem is a testament to the beauty of The Bahamas and the great appeal of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. We are delighted to unveil this iconic emblem along with the tournament’s official look, inviting beach soccer fans to join what promises to be an exciting and colourful event”, said Thierry Weil, FIFA marketing director. Official information on the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 can be found at fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup. You can follow Team Bahamas at https://www.facebook.com/ beachsoccer2017

PAGE 2, Thursday, September 22, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

WEEK 2 AWARDS The “C.R.E.A.M” Award presented by the Wu-Tang Clan - The Ministry of Tourism. Did we really just get into business with Daniel Snyder and the Washington Racial Slurs? Of all the teams in the NFL…those guys. The “Is This What You Left Me For” Award presented by Jennifer Aniston’s reaction to news of the Brangelina divorce – Carson Wentz. The Browns traded down and passed on Wentz. The Browns are also down to their third string quarterback after just two games, meanwhile Wentz is 2-0 and is the early leader for offensive rookie of the year. The “Abuse Of Power” Award presented by The scourge of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the jerks who wait through School Lane on their lame bicycles hiding behind cars just hoping for a gotcha moment to dish out a seatbelt ticket – The referees’ God-awful taunting call against Terrelle Pryor. Pryor spun the ball back to the official but it accidentally hit Ravens corner Lardarius Webb in the helmet. The “This Is Exactly Why We Retired” Award presented by Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders – Detroit Lions. The Lions were up 15-3 in the fourth quarter and faced first and goal from the one-yard line with an opportunity to put the game away. After penalties, it turned into first and goal from the 31, the Lions didn’t score and the Titans rallied with a pair of touchdowns to win. By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net WEEK 3

New England Patriots at Houston Texans SANNIE: Boy, this one is rough, Beyonce’s birthplace or Tom Brady…..I think I will go with the power of the Queen on this one. TEXANS over Patriots RENALDO: At some point someone has to tell Sannie that Brady’s not playing. I’m not investing any time in learning about Jacoby Brissett. We get it Bill Belichick, you can win with anyone. What if all these years Belichick has been passively progressive and his team of white skill position players finally has its crown jewel in place, a black quarterback. It confuses everyone. I was unsure about Brissett until I learned that Bill Parcells refers to him as “One Snap.” The name alone leads you to believe Brissett is actually good. There’s a chance the Patriots emerge from this with three legit quarterbacks and we still don’t know if the Texans have one on their roster. TEXANS over Pats Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars RENALDO: It’s as if the Jags were so afraid of people believing in them that they had to correct it immediately and come out of the gates at 0-2. Full disclosure, I was about to make a joke here about the Jaguars pedigree when I realised their recent quarterback history includes Mark Brunell, Byron Leftwich, and David Garrard. I can’t make fun of that when the Dolphins thought Jay Fiedler, Chad Henne and Ray Lucas would work. JAGS over Ravens

HOW THE EXPERTS FARED WEEK 2

SEASON

AP Sannie

9-7 13-3

22-10

Naughty Leo B

12-4

20-12

9-7

18-14

Ricardo

9-7

17-15

Renaldo

8-8

16-16

wrong with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offence.” The simplest answer is that they haven’t played the Lions yet. If there’s anyone that solves that problem… other than Olivia Munn… it’s the Lions defence. Also, get Randall Cobb more involved in the offence strictly for Big Blue Nation purposes. PACKERS over Lions SANNIE: I swear every time I see Clay Matthews I think about how much I miss Son’s of Anarchy. Why did it have to end? PACKERS over Lions Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers RENALDO: I said the phrase “Maybe Sam Bradford can actually make all the throws” at least 15 times during last week’s game. Were we all wrong about him? Were all the excuses not really excuses at all, but sound logic and reasoning? So maybe Sam Bradford is good. Will we all completely reverse field like Devin Hester on a punt return if Bradford folds up against the Panthers. Absolutely. PANTHERS over Vikings

SANNIE: I may not know a lot about football but I know that 2-0 is better than 0-2. RAVENS over Jags

SANNIE: Cam Newton is so easy to love. CAM NEWTON over Vikings

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers RENALDO: The big question this week that was on everyone’s mind “What’s

Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills RENALDO: How many coaches does Rex Ryan have to mow down before

22-10

he finally gets to Rob. Has a head coach ever fired his own brother? This is my sole focus on the Bills season right now. My God, imagine the Ryan family gatherings. CARDS over Bills SANNIE: The Cardinals beat the Bucs last week and made my brother upset, that in turn made me happy so I choose them. CARDS over Bills Washington Racial Slurs at New York Giants RENALDO: We may never hear “You Like That!?” ever again. At this point, every Racial Slurs fan is wondering whether they thought Kirk Cousins was the answer, or did they just want anyone other than RGIII. Offensive players are starting to complain because of Cousins’ erratic play thus far so he’s not allowed to have another sub par game. Not because of the team’s chemistry issues but because the entire football world will be fixated on this game and another edition of Beckham vs. Norman. GIANTS over Racial Slurs SANNIE: Renaldo had an entire rant about the “Washington Racial Slurs” yesterday morning, although I didn’t quite get all of what he was saying, apparently he doesn’t like them, so I don’t like them either. GIANTS over Racial Slurs

CARSON WENTZ and the Eagles face a real test against the Steelers this week. Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins RENALDO: I’m fine not beating a one legged Russell Wilson. I’m even fine being owned by Jimmy G and eventually losing to Brikset but under no circumstance do I stay on board with this team if they lose to the Cody Kessler. If the Dolphins can’t beat the Browns’ third string quarterback, a USC quarterback at that…then what’s the point of this whole thing. By that I don’t mean football, I mean life. FINS over Browns SANNIE: If the Dolphins don’t win this game, it will force me to have a conversation with Renaldo about his loyalty. DOLPHINS over Browns Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals RENALDO: DeMarcus Ware will be sidelined for a month and it remains to be seen how that will effect the Broncos defence. Von Miller is still pretty ridiculous though, so there’s always that. Aside from that pair, the Broncos have surrendered just three passing touchdowns in their last five games while getting five interceptions and 21 sacks. Those five games were against Cam, Big Ben, Brady and Luck. BENGALSover Broncos

SANNIE: Apparently the Broncos won the last Superbowl. I had no clue. So because I missed that, I have to root for them at least once. BRONCOS over Bengals Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans RENALDO: The Raiders defence has allowed 69 points in two games. At this point it doesn’t matter how well Carr, Cooper and Murray play, the Raiders have to win in spite of their defence. I’m not sure if the Titans can take advantage of this. If it takes a monumental comeback to get by Detroit, that extrapolates to losing by two touchdowns to normal teams. RAIDERS over Titans SANNIE: I don’t even think Eddie (the only Raider fan I know) is choosing the Raiders anymore. TITANS over Raiders Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Bucs RENALDO: Jameis will be fine. He has to curb his high interception total but I’ll take his decision making over the mundane brand of rub routes and screen football that has taken over the NFL. The Bucs biggest worry should be their defence, which has yet to force a turnover. On the other side the Rams have yet to score a touchdown this season. This isn’t what the city of Los Angeles signed up for. People in that city haven’t been this disappointed since Gods of Egypt. BUCS over Rams SANNIE: As much as this pains me, I have to go with the Bucs, even though I hope they secretly lose, but the Rams suck and no one on their team is cute. BUCS over Rams San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks RENALDO: If Blaine Gabbert’s backup quarterback was anyone but Colin Kaepernick, his job would be in jeopardy this week. Half of the niners drives have failed to register a single first down. That’s ineptidue of epic proportions. Gabbert’s lucky Kap is young black guy who thinks it’s not such a good idea for cops to continue shooting black people. With one of those behind him, Gabbert’s job is safe forever. The Seahawks have scored 15 points this season. The season is two games in. I don’t know what else we can say about that. SEAHAWKS over Niners SANNIE: Rusell Wilson. SEAHAWKS over Niners.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles RENALDO: This is the week where Carson Wentz will look like the rookie he is. He’ll still look better than anyone playing quarterback for the Browns. STEELERS over Eagles SANNIE: Let’s see, eenie, meenie, miney, mo. STEELERS over Eagles Jets at Chiefs RENALDO: Let’s all agree that Ryan Fitzpatrick never shows up again. It’s even less likely with an unhealthy Brandon Marshall listed as a game time decision. Jamal Charles is scheduled to be back this week, which is a bigger deal for my fantasy team than it is for actual football. CHIEFS over Jets SANNIE: Still waiting on someone to take me to New York. I mean my birthday is coming up. Maybe if they win, I can get some of that good karma. JETS over Chiefs San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts RENALDO: Everything outside of Philip Dorsett is an issue for the Colts. The front office promised the offensive line was improved – Luck was sacked five times last week. We heard the defence was improved – they’re surrendering 36.5 points per game (yes, I know the Broncos scored two defensive touchdowns but I needed this stat to be as close to 40 points per game as possible). Despite the epic collapse in week one, the Chargers’ offence has been rolling this season. The Colts have one major improvement to make this season, Dante Moncrief is out 4-6 weeks so they have no choice but to get the ball to Dorsett. COLTS over Chargers SANNIE: Chargers, only because I see the Colts haven’t won anything yet and I can’t take that chance. CHARGERS over Colts Bears at Cowboys RENALDO: Someone keeps thinking it’s a good idea to schedule the Bears to play in primetime. That’s not fair to anyone involved in this process. In “Jealous Ex Watch” – Dak Prescott has played so well so far that Tony Romo is starting to throw during pre game warmups. The massive Ezekiel Elliot bandwagon last a few members after slow start to the year but this game should get us back to max capacity. Also, Brian Hoyer starts for Chicago this week. Ew. COWBOYS over Bears SANNIE: Cowboys, because Beyonce. COWBOYS over Bears

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, September 22, 2016, PAGE 3

Working with the ‘short and sweet formula’ in Week 3 HERE we go, week three in the NFL and after a 12-4 week it seems I’m rounding into form. Wish I could say the same for some of the other ‘pigskin prognosticators’ around The Tribune newsroom, but it’s a new week and a clean NFL picks sheet, so here we go. The short and sweet formula seems to be working for me, so if it isn’t broken, I shall not fix it!

WEEK 3

NFL PICKS BY INIGO ‘NAUGHT Y’

LEO B’S WEEK 3 PICKS:

TONIGHT

Tonight TEXANS

TEXANS vs PATS No Brady, No Jimmy G it’s ‘rookie QB’ Jacoby Brissett. In most instances this would spell doom for most teams, not the Patriots, evil ‘Stith Lord Belichick’ will have the Pats ready to go, and I’m sure the Pats will make a game of it, but they won’t win it. The odds will catch up against them on the road. Despite JJ Watt being banged up, the Texans defence is still stout, and now the Texans have offence to match the defence. QB Brock Osweiler should have his way with a suspect Pats secondary, look for WRs DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller to shine on the road. TEXANS 27 - PATS 20

CARDINALS TITANS GIANTS FINS RAVENS PACKERS BRONCOS PANTHERS BUCS 49ERS JETS COLTS

SUNDAY’S GAMES RAVENS vs JAGS This should be an entertaining match up. I like the JAGS at home to get off their present two-game losing streak. I see Jags QB Blake Bortles improving his play and the Jags receiving corps finally coming to life. Look for WR’s Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns to shine. JAGS 23 RAVENS 20 (OT) SKINS vs GIANTS It gets worse in Washington. Giants move to 3-0 and 2-0 in the NFC East. Watch for my good friend Giants WR/KR Dwayne Harris to have a big game on special teams in between the rounds of ‘Norman vs OBJ 2’ GIANTS 31 REDSKINS 20 LIONS vs PACKERS Big NFC North rivalry here with lots of tradition. A big part of that tradition

ZENICAZELAYA

BROWNS QB Cody Kessler (5) looks to pass in the second half of an preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Kessler is playing sooner than expected because of injuries to Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown. He’ll make his first NFL start against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, who have knocked out QBs in their first two games. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) is the Packers winning at Lambeau Field, and that tradition continues on Sunday. PACKERS 31 LIONS 17 BROWNS vs FINS The Dolphins are the best 0-2 team in the NFL, and like their in-state counterparts the Jags, the Dolphins get their first win at home. Don’t get too excited though Dolphins fans, it’s only the Browns. DOLPHINS 24 BROWNS 20

VIKINGS vs PANTHERS All kind of defence in this one, and no AP (Adrian Peterson) for the Vikings, so all I can say is ‘CAM oh CAM’ in a yawner. Lots of field goals, kickers get the spotlight in this one. PANTHERS 12 VIKINGS 6 BRONCOS vs BENGALS Coin flip .... Bengals at home in this one, I think rookie growing pains catch up to Broncos rookie QB

Trevor Siemian this week. BENGALS 20 BRONCOS 13 CARDINALS vs BILLS Usually the Cards are horrible in 1pm East Coast games, they started to buck that trend last season and continue it this week in Buffalo. Too much confusion in Buffalo at the moment, Cards on the road. CARDS 27 - BILLS 20 RAIDERS vs TITANS The Raiders will be test-

STEELERS COWBOYS Monday Night SAINTS • Leo B is a regular contributor to The Press Box sports talk show on Kiss FM on Sundays and former pigskin prognosticator at another daily. Find out next week how he got on against The Tribune’s resident ‘experts’.

ed on the road in this one, but I think their Murray outshines the Titans Murray in the battle of backfields, allowing the Raiders to set up the passing game, an area which they have an advantage. RAIDERS 24 TITANS 16

JETS vs CHIEFS Hey I like the road teams this week, especially in this one. The Jets are very balanced on both sides of the ball, the Chiefs still fighting through the injury bug. Jets fly high on the road. JETS 24 - CHIEFS 20

49ers vs SEAHAWKS The Niners are competitive under head coach Chip Kelly, the Seahawks are coming off a loss to the Rams and are at home. 12th man saves the day for the ‘Hawks in this one. Seahawks 24 - 49ers 10

STEELERS vs EAGLES Carson Wentz gets his official welcome to the NFL from the ‘New Steel Curtain’ at home. STEELERS 31 EAGLES 20

RAMS vs BUCS The Rams on the road in this one, the Bucs will be no pushovers, but Rams RB Todd Gurley breaks out in this one, and the Rams steal one on the road. RAMS 23 - BUCS 17 CHARGERS vs COLTS I don’t know which one of these teams will show up. The Chargers seem to have the hot hand of the two, and it’s a week for the road dogs, so ‘Go Go Super Chargers.’ Plus the Colts just don’t look right! CHARGERS 27 COLTS 24 (OT)

BEARS vs COWBOYS Dak continues to impress, Zeke goes over 100 yards and Dez gets 2 touchdowns, all while the unheralded Dallas defence plays big at home. No Cutler for the Bears as well in this one. How ‘bout them Cowboys! COWBOYS 31 BEARS 23 MONDAY NIGHT FALCONS vs SAINTS NFC South shootout here, tons of points and fantasy ramifications in this one. Coin flip.....Saints at home on MNF. SAINTS 34 FALCONS 31 (OT)

Vikings will feel the pain missing injured Peterson THAT injuries are always the most important plot point of an NFL season is a certainty and this year is no different. With key losses to teams like Minnesota (Adrian Peterson) and New England (Jimmy Garoppolo), this infant season has taken another major swing. With Peterson done for most of the year, the Vikings, off to a 2-0 start, may just be done while the Pats are hoping rookie third string quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, can do enough to hold the team over for the next two games until the return of Tom Brady. Now the drama begins as the plot thickens for Week 3. Tonight’s Game Houston Texans (2-0) @ New England Patriots (2-0) Rumours has it there is a dark horse chance that Jimmy G could go tonight. Of course, he would have to play through a tremendous amount of pain, but that is what football is all about. The Texans have arguably the best front seven in the league and are relentless in pass rushing situation. It may make more sense for the Pats to keep Jimmy G out of this one, and not risk any further injury to the future starting quarterback. I am beholden to my team so this one is easy. PATRIOTS

WEEK 3

NFL PICKS

BY RICARDO WELLS rwells@tribunemedia.net

Arizona Cardinals (1-1) @ Buffalo Bills (0-2) I have been saying from day one, Rex Ryan is the problem in Dallas. His ego clouds his judgment and, most times, he get lost in himself. Last week, coaching against his former team, Rex allowed his want to get even with the Jets get in the way of a potential win. He moved away from the run game and got into an arms war. His quarterback was somewhat concussed, and couldn’t aid the team down the stretch. Rex will continue to doom his team. CARDINALS Cleveland Browns (0-2) @ Miami Dolphins (0-2) Cleveland have a lot of growing to do. They play the Dolphins close like they did the Ravens last week, but fall short in the second half in this one. DOLPHINS

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) The Jaguars are, in my opinion, the best 0-2 team in the league. Well, it’s close between them and the Saints. They shock the Ravens this weekend. JAGUARS Oakland Raiders (1-1) @ Tennessee Titans (1-1) West coast team travelling east for a 1pm kickoff ... recipe for a disaster for the Raiders. Except, they are the better team. RAIDERS Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Green Bay Packers (1-1) The Lions are shot at defensive back. Aaron Rodgers needs a get right game - here it is. PACKERS Denver Broncos (2-0) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) This one is so tough, but defence always wins out. BRONCOS

VIKINGS running back Adrian Peterson runs against the Chargers in a game in Minneapolis on November 4, 2007. Peterson set the NFL’s all-time single-game rushing record with 296 yards. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings (2-0) @ Carolina Panthers (1-1) No AP, Cam all the way. PANTHERS Washington Redskins (0-2) @ New York Giants (2-0) The Giants have a triple threat of quality receivers. Norman can’t cover them all. GIANTS Los Angeles Rams (1-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) All the way out on this limb. All the way with the Rams. RAMS

San Francisco 49ers (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1) Will the real Seahawks please stand up? SEAHAWKS New York Jets (1-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) These teams are virtually the same top to bottom. I think the Jets get it done on the road. JETS San Diego Chargers (1-1) @ Indianpolis Colts (0-2) The Colts can’t go 0-3, right? I mean the chances of that is just insane. COLTS

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) The Steelers are really good on both sides of the ball. STEELERS Chicago Bears (0-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1) Chicago are about to begin a freefall of historic proportions. COWBOYS Monday Night’s Game Atlanta Falcons (1-1) @ New Orleans Saints (0-2) The other really good 0-2 team I mentioned earlier. SAINTS

PAGE 4, Thursday, September 22, 2016

United ends losing run, set up Mourinho vs Guardiola in cup By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Get ready for Jose Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola, part II. Manchester United ended a run of three straight losses by capitalizing on two goalkeeper mistakes to beat third-tier Northampton 3-1 in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. The reward wasn’t kind for United: A match against Manchester City in the last 16 next month and a renewal of the Mourinho-Guardiola rivalry that has been transferred from Spain to the north of England this season. While Guardiola’s City was winning its ninth successive game of the season by beating Swansea 2-1 away, United labored again and needed a helping hand from Northampton’s errorprone goalkeeper and its strong bench to end the first blip of Mourinho’s tenure. Northampton goalkeeper Adam Smith was penalized for picking up a back pass and United scored from the resulting free kick, Michael Carrick lashing home a shot after Wayne Rooney’s attempt was blocked. United was pegged back by a penalty and then took the lead against through Ander Herrera in the 68th minute before Smith dallied over a clearance and was dispossessed by substitute Marcus Rashford, who scored into an empty net. “I think the team was in control from the beginning,” Mourinho said. “The game could and should have been easier.”

• Here’s a look at the other results on Wednesday that wrapped up the third round of England’s second-tier cup competition: WEST HAM 1, ACCRINGTON 0 Struggling West Ham required a free kick by Dimitri Payet six minutes into injury time to overcome the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. The France midfielder curled his shot over the wall and into the net, earning his team a home match against London rival Chelsea in the Olympic Stadium. Accrington, which is in 11th place in the fourth tier, stifled West Ham comfortably before Payet’s late intervention. West Ham has lost four of its five matches in the Premier League, including the last two with 4-2 scorelines.

NORTHAMPTON Town’s Kenji Gorre, right, and Manchester United’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah run towards the ball during the English League Cup third round soccer match at Sixfields Stadium, Northampton, England, yesterday. (David Davies/PA via AP) Rooney was one of the few regulars to start for United and was handed a rare chance to lead the attack in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Rooney missed a good early chance and finished the game on the right wing after Ibrahimovic and Rashford were thrown on by Mourinho, with United drawing 1-1 at that stage. A victory over lowerleague opposition will serve as only brief respite

for Mourinho, who will be back under scrutiny if United loses to Leicester on Saturday after successive losses to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford in the space of nine days. Gael Clichy and Aleix Garcia were the second-half scorers for a much-changed Man City side, which kept up its 100 percent start under Guardiola. Amid City’s nine-game winning run was an eye-catching 2-1 win at United.

Vincent Kompany started for City in his first game of the season after a thigh injury, but left the field seconds after Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled a goal back for Swansea in injury time. Kompany, City’s club captain, has been out since May 4. “The doctors are speaking with him and seeing what’s up,” Guardiola said. “Hopefully, it will not be a big problem. We’re going to wait for the results from the doctors.”

TOTTENHAM 5, GILLINGHAM 0 Vincent Janssen scored his first goal for Tottenham and Christian Eriksen netted twice in an easy win for Spurs against the third-tier visitors. There were also goals for Josh Onomah — his first senior strike — and Erik Lamela late on as Tottenham secured a last-16 match at Liverpool. ALSO Hull beat Stoke 2-1 thanks to Markus Henriksen’s injury-time winner, Southampton defeated Crystal Palace 2-0, Sunderland came from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1, and Bristol City won 2-1 at Fulham.

THE TRIBUNE

MESSI HURT IN 1-1 DRAW, MADRID MISSES RECORD BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona lost Lionel Messi to injury and a chance to beat a title rival on Wednesday, when it was held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league. Messi gingerly walked off the Camp Nou pitch in the 58th minute, just moments before Atletico substitutes Angel Correa and Fernando Torres went on and linked up to equalize. The defending champions said Messi will be sidelined for three weeks with a groin strain. “With Leo Messi out, football loses, we all lose,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “We now have to look for different solutions. Of course we are stronger with Messi, but we are still strong enough.” The night couldn’t have started better for Barcelona, after seeing Real Madrid’s hopes of breaking its Spanish league record for consecutive wins dashed by a 1-1 draw with Villarreal. Barcelona was in control after Ivan Rakitic broke through Atletico’s staunch defense in the 41st with a header from Andres Iniesta’s cross. But the match quickly changed course when Messi came up lame following a sprint to fight for a ball with Diego Godin.

BALOTELLI STRIKES TWICE AS NICE TOTTI SHOWING NO SIGNS OF AGE ROUTS MONACO 4-0 TO GO TOP AS 40TH BIRTHDAY APPROACHES PARIS (AP) — Anyone who thinks Mario Balotelli is not committed to his new club Nice should watch a replay of Wednesday’s 4-0 home win against Monaco, and listen to the fans chanting his name when he came off late in the second half after scoring twice. The Italian striker has scored four goals in two league games since joining on a free transfer after an unhappy spell in England with Liverpool. “La-la-la-la-la-la-la, Su-per Ma-rio” the Nice fans at the Allianz Riviera sang over and over when he was taken off 12 minutes from the end. As well as being involved in a physical altercation with Monaco defender Jemerson, squaring up to the Brazilian defender in the first half, he worked hard for his teammates. They have clearly taken to the controversial player once tipped for greatness after breaking into the Inter Milan side as a lightning-quick 17-year-old. “He must keep going like this, he’ll get back to the highest level if he stays professional in every way,” Nice coach Lucien Favre said. “After many difficult years, the

way he recovers (physically) is going to be decisive in getting back to the top. Step by step, we will help him.” He was mobbed after both of his goals, the first an excellent solo effort, the second a clinical finish. So much for the Balotelli criticized for being lazy in training by former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool’s former stalwart defender Jamie Carragher openly mocked his move to Nice, saying on Twitter that even a free transfer was paying “over the odds” for Balotelli. Yet he has galvanized Nice, which sits top of the league, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. LYON 5, MONTPELLIER 1 Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso had an argument with Montpellier goalkeper Geoffrey Jourdren at halftime and smashed a goal past him from 25 meters in the second half. Montpellier led early on through midfielder Morgan Sanson but crumbled after defender Morgan Poaty was red-carded for a lunge on Tolisso.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS

By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press MILAN (AP) — It might be just days before his 40th birthday but Roma forward Francesco Totti is showing no signs of slowing down. On Wednesday, Totti was handed his first start in almost exactly a year and he helped his side to a 4-0 win over newly-promoted Crotone. Totti, who will celebrate his landmark birthday next Tuesday, did not get on the scoresheet himself but he lit up the Stadio Olimpico early in the second half with a splendid long-range pass for Roma’s third of the night. The former Italy international sent the ball with pinpoint accuracy to Edin Dzeko, who lifted it over the onrushing goalkeeper. Stephan El Shaarawy and Mohamed Salah had netted in the first half and Dzeko doubled his tally in the 57th minute, shortly before Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Raffaele Palladino’s penalty. “You saw up front a change, in being more clinical — finishing off the chances

the team creates,” Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. “Totti is good physically. I knew the match would be difficult, that they would defend well, and he always manages to create something out of nothing. I want the team to absorb that from him, to use him as an example of anticipating plays.” Totti, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, has spent his whole career at Roma and is likely to retire when his contract expires at the end of the season. Roma moved up to third, two points behind league leader Juventus and one below Napoli. • Here’s what else happened in Serie A: JUVENTUS 4, CAGLIARI 0 Crisis, what crisis? Juventus bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 win over Cagliari to move back to the top of Serie A after Napoli could only draw at Genoa. Juventus lost its perfect start to the season on Sunday as Inter Milan came from behind to win 2-1 — a result which came days after a goalless draw against Sevilla in the Champions League.

Arenado, Marquez lift Rockies to 11-1 victory over Cardinals By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a win before a pitch was even thrown when reserve outfielder Jose Martinez captured a playful, pregame staredown with Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez. Too bad for the Cardinals that didn’t count in the standings. They sure could’ve used it. Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Rockies slowed the Cardinals’ playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday. The Cardinals, who had won four straight, entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later. Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1. It’s a pitch that simply caught too much of the plate. “Stayed straight,” starter

Luke Weaver said. “For it to flatten out at such a big moment right there is disappointing.” Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined. The Cardinals had some early momentum when that standoff went their way just after the anthem. • Here’s how it unfolded: Estevez and Martinez stood near their dugouts — with their baseball cap over their heart — and refused to back down until the other moved first. Estevez blinked first and made a winner of Martinez, who celebrated before retreating to the dugout. Estevez said manager Walt Weiss pulled him in out of fear of being ejected. “It’s not fun to have one less bullpen guy,” Estevez explained. Martinez was going to see this thing through to the end — no matter the consequences. “The umpire asked me,

‘Why you do that?’ I’m like, ‘When you’re a rookie and a big league guy asks you to stand up there, I stand up there,’” said Martinez, who had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. “The most important thing is we have fun and the fans enjoyed it.” This was a memorable day for Marquez (1-0), who made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three. At 21 years, 212 days, Marquez was the secondyoungest pitcher in Rockies’ history to earn his first win, the team announced. The youngest was Jamey Wright (21-206). “A great pitching performance from the kid today,” Weiss said. “It’s easy — easy velocity. Very effortless.” The hard-throwing Marquez was acquired in January as part of the deal that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez pitched a majority of the season for Double-A Hartford, where he was chosen as the pitcher of the year in the Eastern League. Marquez worked his way out of several dicey situations against the best road

team in baseball. He allowed his only run in the second, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a double and later scored on Kolten Wong’s sacrifice fly. The Cardinals took two of three from Colorado during a series in which their starting pitchers were brilliant at the plate. Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Weaver went a combined 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBIs. Weaver had a single in his only plate appearance. DJ LeMahieu got two hits and drove in two runs to raise his average to .351. He holds a slight lead over Washington’s Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race. TRAINER’S ROOM Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is hoping to take live batting practice Friday at Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs series. ... C Yadier Molina had the day off. Rockies: Third base coach Stu Cole sat out another day after being hit in the head by a ball that caromed off another during batting practice Tuesday.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, September 22, 2016, PAGE 5

Bosh: I had clots, Heat doctors thought my career was over By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Chris Bosh was dealing with more than one blood clot earlier this year, and said yesterday that he felt written off when Miami Heat team doctors advised him that the situation would likely be career-ending. It’s the first time Bosh has said there was more than the one known clot that was found in his calf in February and ended this past season. Bosh made his revelations in the first chapter of a documentary that he’s releasing through former Heat teammate LeBron James’ “Uninterrupted” digital platform, with more episodes being planned for release every two or three days until the season begins. Bosh said he was diagnosed with the clot in his calf on February 11 after arriving in Toronto. He returned to a hospital there more than once in the next 24 hours or so for bloodwork and additional tests, including a CT scan. “Clots were found, again,” Bosh said. “My initial thoughts from it were, first of all, you have to be

kidding. Secondly, this isn’t real.” Bosh said that he then returned to Miami after the All-Star break and met with doctors. His 2014-15 season was also cut short at the All-Star break because of a clot that was found in one of his lungs. “They told me that my season’s over. My career is probably over. This just happened, this is just how it is,” Bosh said, referring what followed after this year’s finding of clots. “I felt right away that I was written off. ... If a doctor tells me, ‘Hey, that’s it and this is how it is’ and I don’t buy that, I think that I have the right to disagree with you. I know inside me I have a lot of talent and a lot of ability. And I have it. I know it have it.” Bosh has now spoken about his saga with James’ platform twice, after a long podcast last week and now with the video called “Rebuilt,” a documentary chronicling what Bosh has gone through with his clot issues in each of the last two seasons. Also yesterday, in an interview with James’ longtime manager Maverick Carter that was

HEAT forward Chris Bosh (1) reacts to a call during a game against the Dallas Mavericks in February. Bosh was dealing with more than one blood clot earlier this year, and said yesterday that he felt written off when Miami Heat team doctors advised him that the situation would likely be career-ending. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

streamed on Facebook and designed to promote the video series, Bosh said he remains in good spirits and confident that his situation will work itself out. “We’re just in the process of making sure that I can get back on the court,” Bosh said. Bosh has been back in Miami for several days after spending some of his summer in Los Angeles, and it’s still unknown if he will be cleared for training camp that starts in the Bahamas next week. At minimum, Bosh would need to pass physical exams before that clearance gets granted. In the podcast last week, Bosh discussed a regimen of taking bloodthinners that is utilised by NHL player Tomas Fleischmann, who he connected with through their agents this summer. Fleischmann was told that his career was over when he was diagnosed with having multiple clots, but has played for several years while on bloodthinners — either taken in pill form or through injections. Typically, athletes in contact sports are advised to not participate when on bloodthinners be-

cause of the increased chance of internal bleeding and other complications. Bosh wants to play this season, and is owed about $76 million for the next three seasons whether he plays or not. The Heat have not been able to comment specifically about Bosh’s medical status, though Heat President Pat Riley said over the summer that the team is open to having the AllStar forward return. And recently, Heat managing general partner Micky Arison tweeted at Bosh saying that he would see him in training camp. “If he was on any kind of preventive therapy and had another clot, then that is very problematic,” Dr Robert Myerburg, a professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said Wednesday. “If he was not, then just the fact that he had the second one certainly increases the risk. But in terms of the strategy that’s proposed, I have no experience with it. It’s an unusual strategy. And basically, he and the team have to make a decision of risk versus benefit.”

WADA HEAD REEDIE LOOKS TO HEAL RIFTS WITH OLYMPIC OFFICIALS By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — After months of barbs and sparring between Olympic and anti-doping officials, World Anti-Doping Agency president Craig Reedie expects an end to public conflict. The rift has widened since July, when a WADA-commissioned report detailed a state-backed doping programme in Russia for the 2014 Sochi Olympics and across summer and winter sports. The International Olympic Committee’s leadership rejected WADA’s call to ban all Russian

teams from the Rio de Janeiro Games, and the agency has since seemed to have fewer allies in world sports. Reedie told The Associated Press yesterday he sensed a truce after two days of WADAhosted meetings with Olympic officials that “worked beyond my expectations.” “Any public criticism that there has been, certainly from our side and I am sure now from the Olympic movement side, will stop,” said the WADA president, who was also an IOC executive board member in the tense lead-in to Rio. WADA’s role in anti-doping will be debated at an Olympic summit in Lausanne on October

8, and IOC President Thomas Bach has called upon his members to bring fresh ideas. Still, asked if WADA was under threat, Reedie says: “I would be very surprised. Why would it be?” “We have been under pressure and strain because of cheating in the biggest country in the world,” Reedie said. “It shook the IOC, it shook the (international sports federations), it shook us. We move on.” The Russian evidence in Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren’s investigation will be revisited, likely within weeks, when his final report is published. Late October is once more the

target for publication, despite McLaren saying last week it was “several months” away as he analyzes evidence of corruption at the Sochi Olympics and in Russian winter sports and soccer. WADA director general Olivier Niggli told The AP on Wednesday that he spoke with McLaren over the weekend and confirmed the original deadline. “It might be early November. This is not prolonging by several months,” Niggli said. That timetable would allow WADA to digest the report’s impact before November 19-20 meetings of its foundation board and executive committee in Glas-

J Brissett would make Patriots history as first black QB to start By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — From his den in Huntsville, Alabama, Onree Jackson will quietly root to see Jacoby Brissett under centre when he watches New England host Houston tonight. Almost 50 years have passed, but Jackson still remembers his excitement when he was drafted out of Alabama A&M in 1969 by the Boston Patriots — the franchise’s first black quarterback. Back then, the team hailed his potential to be “the Willie Mays of pro football.” But he never played in a regular-season NFL game. Now, Brissett could establish a footnote for a franchise born in a city with a complicated racial past, its first African-American player to start at quarterback. While the Patriots have been racially progressive in other ways, the New York Giants are the only other NFL team to have never started an African-American quarterback. Brissett’s opportunity comes because of two unusual factors. Tom Brady, the team’s cornerstone, is suspended four games for his role in using underinflated footballs in the playoffs in 2015. And Brady’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, has a shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful for tonight. While none have started a regular-season game, the Patriots have drafted eight African-American quarterbacks. Rohan Davey played the most, appearing in seven games from 2000 to 2004. The potential distinction shows how much things have changed in 50 years. “When I got there, there was a baseball player with the Red Sox and he said in the paper, ‘You know they’re not going to have an N-word quarterback here in Boston,’” Jackson, 69, recalled in an interview with The Associated Press. “It was funny to him, I think, because they had a picture of him laughing in the papers,” Jackson said. “I had a shot, and I didn’t make it under their rules.” Boston’s professional

PATRIOTS QB Jacoby Brissett speaks with members of the media in the team’s locker room following NFL football practice on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) teams — like the city’s neighbourhoods — had different reactions to the civil rights movement and the integration of professional sports. While the Celtics and Bruins broke barriers in pro basketball and hockey, the Red Sox were the last Major League Baseball team to field a black player. Pumpsie Green took the field at Fenway Park in 1959 — more than a decade after Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers and even after Willie O’Ree took the ice for Boston in the all-white NHL. The Red Sox gave both Robinson and Mays tryouts in the 1940s before opting not to sign them. Meanwhile, the Patriots neither led nor trailed the pack on such issues. Jackson was drafted by Rommie Loudd, the AFL’s first black assistant coach before he joined the Patriots in 1966. He moved to the team’s front office and became its personnel director in 1969, one of the first black personnel directors in the NFL. Jackson said he thought everything was fine until he drew consistent ire from then-coach Clive Rush, who told Jackson: “Joe wouldn’t do that.” “He was talking about Namath,” Jackson said.

“Me being who I am, and where I was from and all, I just accepted that and went on.” Jackson was waived after a few months. Rush told the Frederick Daily Leader at the time that Jackson “was behind three other quarterbacks.” “As I’ve grown older, I can see little signs that said, ‘You aren’t going to make it because you’re a black quarterback.’ That’s the way I interpreted it, anyway,” Jackson said. Rush was fired after a losing season in 1969 and 1-6 start in 1970. New England has never had a black head coach. Romeo Crennel, who is now the Texans’ defensive coordinator, held that job in New England before he was head coach in Cleveland and Kansas City. Bobby Grier, who is black, was an assistant coach with the Patriots who rose to be vice president of player personnel from 1997-2000. Richard Johnson, curator of the Boston Sports Museum, said while the quarterback milestone would be unintentional, there has never been talk of race influencing the Pats’ personnel decisions. “Under Bill Belichick, the best player has always played,” Johnson said.

Richard Lapchick, who has pushed for diversity across college and professional sports from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, said the Patriots under owner Robert Kraft have consistently pushed for inclusion in several ways. “They were working in the community on gender violence prevention in the early 1990s, 20 years before Ray Rice or even before OJ,” Lapchick said. The Patriots were also one of the first teams to help NFL players finish their degrees. Josh Johnson, who is black and one of three Giants quarterbacks, was surprised when told his team could be the last to cross this particular racial benchmark. “It shows progress,” he said. “That’s all you want to see, progress. Good luck to (Brissett), I hope he goes out and takes advantage of it. Opportunities come far and few.” Though it didn’t work out for Jackson, he said he’s proud to have played a part toward seeing a day when no one notices who is or isn’t under centre. “It’s a pride thing now,” he said. “I’m proud of what happened. Though I didn’t make it, it was kind of a foot in the door type-thing.”

gow, Scotland. Reedie chaired a meeting of the WADA executive Wednesday that included two IOC board members — Ugur Erdener of Turkey and Gian Franco Kasper of Switzerland — plus the Olympic body’s medical director, Richard Budgett. Erdener and Budgett declined to comment to The AP after the meeting. While WADA has seemed under attack by the Olympic family, it has been the victim of a cyberattack on its database of athletes’ private medical records. WADA has said hackers linked to Russia are responsible for the leaks of dozens of athletes’ data which began last week.

THE STANDINGS

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, September 22, 2016, PAGE 7

TAURASI, MERCURY ADVANCE IN WNBA PLAYOFFS TO FACE LIBERTY

McCoughtry scores 37, Dream beats Storm in WNBA 1st round ATLANTA (AP) — Angel McCoughtry scored 37 points and the Atlanta Dream beat the Seattle Storm 94-85 last night in a single-elimination WNBA playoff game. McCoughtry scored seven straight points — on a 3-pointer, bank shot and pull-up jumper — to cap Atlanta’s 19-5 run to start the fourth for an 85-71 lead. She collided with Breanna Stewart on Seattle’s next possession and stayed on the ground before being helped to the bench by the Atlanta staff. She later returned. Bria Holmes added 21 points for Atlanta, which will face the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Atlanta was without its second leading scorer Tiffany Hayes, who was serving a one-game suspension after picking up her seventh technical foul. The Dream’s second leading rebounder, Sancho Lyttle, did not play due to a foot injury. McCoughtry, who picked up her fourth foul early in the third, made two free throws with 1:11 left in the quarter to give Atlanta a 66-64 lead — its first since 21-

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored 20 points, DeWanna Bonner had 11 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 89-78 last night in a singleelimination game of the WNBA playoffs. Tamika Catchings, who played in her final game, and the entire Indiana team knelt with their arms intertwined during the national anthem. Two members of the Mercury, Kelsey Bone and Mistie Bass, also took a knee. Briann January made a reverse layup with 2:39 remaining to pull Indiana to 77-72 and she drew an offensive foul on Taurasi on the other end. Erlana Larkins had a putback on Indiana’s next possession to cap a 10-1 run to make it 77-74. But Phoenix answered with a 6-1 run — on free throws by Taurasi, Penny Taylor and Bonner — for an 83-75 lead. Brittney Griner added 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for Phoenix, which will play at New York on Saturday.

DREAM’S ANGEL MCCOUGHTRY, centre, surrounded by teammates, scored 37 points and the Atlanta Dream beat the Seattle Storm 94-85 last night in a single-elimination WNBA playoff game. (AP) in the first half and Loyd scored 12 as Seattle held a 45-37 halftime lead. Prior to the game, Atlanta forward Elizabeth Williams was

20. Jewell Loyd scored 24 points and Stewart added 19 points in their first career playoff games for Seattle. Stewart had 15 points

named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player. The game was played at Georgia Tech, where the Dream will play for the next two seasons.

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 90° F/32° C low: 74° F/23° C

Tampa

FrIday

saTurday

sunday

mOnday

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy with a stray shower

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny with a stray shower

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

High: 90°

Low: 76°

High: 90° Low: 76°

High: 90° Low: 75°

High: 89° Low: 75°

High: 88° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

112° F

87° F

113°-90° F

111°-88° F

111°-87° F

109°-84° F

High: 91° F/33° 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.

almanac

aBaCO

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C

3‑6 knots

High: 90° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C

3‑6 knots

FT. lauderdale

FreepOrT

High: 89° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C

W S

WesT palm BeaCH

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 88° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

mIamI

High: 91° F/33° C low: 77° F/25° C

3‑6 knots

Key WesT

High: 89° F/32° C low: 79° F/26° C

eleuTHera

nassau

High: 90° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 79° F/26° C

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

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

Tuesday

5:59 a.m. 6:24 p.m.

3.0 3.3

12:06 p.m. 0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Wednesday 6:49 a.m. 7:10 p.m.

3.1 3.3

12:41 a.m. 0.4 12:56 p.m. 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:59 a.m. 7:06 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 12:58 p.m.

last

new

First

Full

sep. 23

sep. 30

Oct. 9

Oct. 16

CaT Island

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

3‑6 knots

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 ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 76° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 70° F/21° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.02” Year to date ............................................... 32.41” Normal year to date ................................... 27.72”

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

andrOs

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 88° F/31° C low: 77° F/25° C

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° 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: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

GreaT InaGua High: 88° F/31° C low: 80° 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: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS E at 3‑6 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots E at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots ESE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NNE at 3‑6 Knots E at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 3‑6 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet

VISIBILITY 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 83° F 83° F 87° F 87° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 87° F 87° F 81° F 81° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F