TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013 SPORTS

Stoke’s Walters slams Isinbayeva shocked by Venus passes opening EPL fixture schedule attacks in hometown test in Auckland Classic LONDON: Stoke City forward Jon Walters has criticized the Premier MOSCOW: Russia’s double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva yesterday League’s jam-packed year-end fixture schedule after his side had to play AUCKLAND: Former world number one Venus Williams battled into the second round said she was devastated and shocked by two deadly attacks that have rocked her two away games in four days. Matches come thick and fast in England hometown of Volgograd in southern Russia. “It is hard for me to talk now,” of the Auckland Classic yesterday with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) win over Czech wildcard Andrea during the festive period, but whereas some clubs benefited from back- Hlavackova. The seven-time Grand Slam champion began Isinbayeva sid. “None of my family or loved ones suffered. But I feel ter- to-back home games, a number of teams had to play away from home confidently but could not dominate Hlavackova, ranked rible, simply terrible.” Isinbayeva, who enthralled Russia with her vic- twice. West Bromwich Albion travelled to Tottenham Hotspur and then 134 in the world, even though she never looked like losing tory in the World Athletics Championships in Moscow this sum- West Ham United on December 26 and 28, while Southampton had to the match. “I knew it was going to be tough and I was really mer, is probably the most famous living resident of the city. The visit Cardiff City and Everton. Stoke’s fans, meanwhile, had to make a 700- glad to close it out,” she said. Williams, now ranked 47, is athletics star was born in Volgograd in 1982 to a Russian moth- mile round trip to take in the 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Thursday seeking to rejoin the game’s elite after two years marred by er and father of Dagestan origin. She still trains in the city and Sunday’s 3-0 reverse at Tottenham Hotspur. “Got to say fair play to all auto-immune disease and injury, At 33, she is the oldest under the guidance of her coach since childhood, Yevgeny the Stoke fans who travelled to both away games at Christmas time and player at the Auckland tournament, a warm-up event for Trofimov. Volgograd is primarily known as the site of the never stopped singing! #hardcore,” Walters wrote on Twitter. “Also a big next month’s Australian Open. The American, who won her World War II Battle of Stalingrad, seen as a turning point in well done to whoever sorted out the fixtures over this period! It was nice last Grand Slam in 2008, produced a mixed display in her first the conflict which paved the way for the defeat of Nazi for every team who were at home on the 26th to be home again on the match of the season, committing 43 unforced errors in the 98- Germany by the USSR. At least 14 people were 28th/29th. “That’s a fair way of doing things for fans and players alike who minute clash. But her trademark booming serve clicked killed yesterday in a bombing that have to travel length and breadth of the country at Christmas time!!” This straight into gear as she fired down four aces, with her destroyed a packed trolleybus in season, Premier League clubs have been obliged to play four times in the vast experience showing as she closed out the second Volgograd, a day after 17 people died in a space of 12 days over the Christmas period, prompting complaints from set tie-breaker 7-1. Williams will meet Austria’s Yvonne suicide strike on the city’s main train sta- managers. — AFP Meusburger in the next round. — AFP tion.— AFP

American baseball players thriving in Venezuela

CARACAS: It’s about six weeks before pitchers and For players accustomed to the small crowds of ping mall. What they see of Venezuela is mostly what on the field you have to tune it all out,” said Omar catchers report to spring training in the US, but in minor league stadiums back home, the frequently sold passes the bus window on long road trips between Vizquel, one of Venezuela’s best contributions to the Venezuela, the nation’s fiercely competitive profession- out Estadio Universitario in Caracas can be daunting. games. Their families? Only on Skype. “You have to be big leagues. The former Cleveland Indians shortstop al league is in full swing, and it’s drawn the biggest Abundant servings of rum and whiskey and a nerve- smart,” said Tony DeFrancesco, a coach for the Houston helped manage the Leones this season to prepare for contingent of American players in decades. In the land rattling cacophony of drums pump up the 25,000 Astros’ AAA team who is making his managerial debut his debut as an infield coach with the Detroit Tigers. of Hugo Chavez, a place in many ways hostile to screaming fans who hang on every pitch. “It’s Friday in Venezuela with La Guaira. “I enjoy running, cycling But for those who roll with the punches, Venezuela Americans owing to its reputation for rampant crime, a night football every game, all the game,” said Jamie and mountain climbing, but I just can’t do it by myself is a showcase for second chances and the pursuit of crumbling economy and an anti-capitalist govern- Romak, a 28-year-old outfielder for La Guaira who here.” dreams. Take Retherford. Last May, he was given a 50- ment, hitters and hurlers from across the US are thriv- played for the St Louis Cardinal’s AAA team in While the Americans are insulated from the worst game suspension after testing positive for an amphet- ing as they try to impress big league scouts who flock Memphis, Tennessee. “You can have an eight run lead, of Venezuela’s economic woes, in the almost three amine, which he says he used to get going after long here for the winter season. blink your eyes twice and suddenly it’s a one-run months since the season started they’ve seen prices bus journeys. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut all ties with It’s not just about working on mechanics. Many game.” jump and store shelves go bare of basic goods as infla- its former minor league all-star, and he ended up with come for the paycheck. While Venezuela’s eight profes- Not everyone loves the experience. In addition to tion soared above 50 percent and the nation’s currency the RedHawks, a team not affiliated with major league sional teams no longer can compete with major league the challenges of playing abroad, from unfamiliar food plunged to a tenth of its official value in a flourishing baseball, earning barely enough to support his family. salaries as they did during the oil-fueled economic to a foreign language, Venezuela presents its own set black market. Players cut from the roster sometime In Venezuela he’s proven he still has some magic, boom of the 1960s, when Pete Rose wore a Caracas of daily problems. Foremost is security. Bodyguards have to wait a week to find a flight out because batting .322 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. More than Leones jersey right after his rookie of the year season, lurk near the dugout, keeping a close eye on Venezuelans trying to skirt rigid currency controls have 5,000 followers on Twitter attest to his popularity they still pay from $10,000 to $20,000 a month, which Venezuelan big leaguers whose million-dollar con- bought up all the tickets. Then there was the home run among Venezuelan fans, who call him “El Conejo,” the can be two to three times what most players make in tracts make them prime kidnapping targets. Nobody derby at the All Star game, which abruptly ended after Rabbit, as much for his protruding teeth as for the luck the US minor leagues. wants to become the next Wilson Ramos, the one batter due to a nationwide power outage. provided by his hot bat. Fawning female fans approach “Diapers aren’t cheap,” said CJ Retherford, a 28-year- Washington Nationals catcher who was abducted in Venezuela’s politics are also a potential distraction. him for autographs when he leaves his Caracas hotel, old Arizona native who made $3,000 a month last sea- 2011 at gunpoint outside his family’s home in Valencia. This year’s season kicked off days after Chavez’s succes- but he says the star treatment was more intense in the son for the RedHawks of the sister cities of Fargo, North He was rescued two days later after a nationwide man- sor, President Nicolas Maduro, expelled the top US smaller city of Barquisimeto, where he played last sea- Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. He now plays third hunt. diplomat in the country, and anti American graffiti son for the Cardinals. “I’d go to the mall and it was pic- base for the Tiburones, or Sharks, from the city of La The American players for La Guaira and rival Leones dominates a wall next to the Caracas stadium’s parking ture, picture, picture,” says Retherford, brandishing a Guaira outside Caracas - one of the nine “imports” the live a few blocks away from the ballpark at a five-star lot: “Not a dollar more for the capitalists.” “You can’t let new tattoo with a rabbit hiding behind baby blocks league allows each team to hire. hotel, rarely venturing farther than the attached shop- the political situation affect your game. When you’re spelling his 1-year-old son’s name.—AP Penguins fly past Blue Jackets Sharks down Ducks to tighten Pacific race

COLUMBUS: James Neal scored three times and had including two in overtime. Jonathan Bernier made 41 two assists, and Sidney Crosby scored the go-ahead saves as Carolina outshot Toronto 43-27. goal and set up two other tallies to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on JETS 2, AVALANCHE 1, OT Sunday night. Chris Kunitz added his 21st goal and Blake Wheeler scored at 4:58 of overtime, and two assists, and Jeff Zatkoff made 25 saves for the Winnipeg beat slumping Colorado. Al Montoya Penguins, who have won all four meetings with stopped 33 shots, and Andrew Ladd also scored for Columbus this season. Neal scored twice on the power Winnipeg. Wheeler won it for the Jets when he shoved play, including his third goal of the night and 14th of the puck past goalie Semyon Varlamov with time tick- the season with 2:27 left - giving him a career-high five ing down in the extra period. Wheeler leads the team points. Brandon Dubinsky, Corey Tropp and Nikita with 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in December. He Nikitin scored for the Blue Jackets before their biggest has three multigoal games this month. Varlamov home crowd of the season, 18,871. Nikitin also had an made 35 saves, and Nathan MacKinnon scored for assist. Colorado, which has lost four straight - three after reg- ulation. SABRES 2, CAPITALS 1, SO Ryan Miller made 49 saves to carry Buffalo to a CANUCKS 2, FLAMES 0 shootout win over Washington. Drew Stafford netted Jannik Hansen scored the winning goal, and rookie Buffalo’s goal in regulation, and Steve Ott scored the goalie Eddie Lack made 18 saves to lead Vancouver Burgan Bank cardholders can lone shootout goal in the sixth round as the Sabres past Calgary. Vancouver took the lead in the final improved to 5-0-1 in their last six home games after minute of the first period on a terrific breakaway pass win chances to attend WCup starting 3-12-1 there. Miller stopped all six Washington from Henrik Sedin and an even better finish by the shootout attempts. Philipp Grubauer made 16 saves speedy Hansen. Lack (7-2-0), making his third consec- KUWAIT: Burgan Bank in association with will win tickets to attend the FIFA World Cup, for Washington, and Troy Brouwer scored the Capitals’ utive start with Roberto Luongo (lower body) on the VISA International brings the ultimate excite- by only using their cards outside Kuwait. only goal. Alex Ovechkin recorded 12 shots, but failed injured list, won his fifth straight and earned his sec- ment to its customers by guaranteeing Burgan Bank’s latest promotion is in-line with to earn a point. Washington had the first 12 shots on ond shutout. Mike Santorelli also scored for Vancouver chances to attend the FIFA World Cup that will its overall commitment to provide its cus- goal, and with 13:52 gone, Miller stopped Eric Fehr (23-11-6), 10-1-1 in its last 12. Calgary (14-19-6) fell to take place in Brazil during June 2014, by sim- tomers with exclusive benefits that go beyond from point-blank range to keep the Capitals off the 1-2 on its five-game homestand. — AP ply using their visa debit, credit or prepaid their banking needs. To find out more about board. Buffalo finally put a shot on Grubauer with 4:23 cards internationally during the months of Burgan Bank’s services as well as its latest pro- left in the first. Matt D’Agostini’s odd-angle snap shot January and February, 2014. Burgan Bank’s motions, customers are required to visit their was met with a loud cheer from the home crowd. NHL results/standings Visa Cardholders are now eligible to enter the nearest Burgan Bank branch or contact the draw and be one of the 5 lucky winners who call center on 1804080. SHARKS 3, DUCKS 1 Buffalo 2, Washington 1 (So); Florida 4, Montreal Bracken Kearns scored his first NHL goal, Logan 1; Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 3; St. Louis 3, Dallas 2 Couture netted his 100th, and San Jose broke Anaheim’s 10-game winning streak. Brent Burns (OT); Toronto 5, Carolina 2; NY Rangers 4, Tampa added a goal for the Sharks, who won their fourth DALLAS: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn Bay 3; Vancouver 2, Calgary 0; NY Islanders 5, straight. Antti Niemi stopped 30 shots in his 21st win (14) checks St Louis Blues center Vladimir Minnesota 4; Winnipeg 2, Colorado 1 (OT); San of the season. Patrick Maroon scored for the Ducks, Sobotka (17) in front of the Stars bench dur- Jose 3, Anaheim 1. who lost for the first time in December and missed a ing the first period of an NHL hockey game on chance for a club-record, seven-game winning streak Sunday, Dec 29, 2013. — AP Western Conference on the road. Frederik Anderson made 20 saves but lost Pacific Division for the second time in 11 games this season. Anaheim, assists in the New York Rangers victory over Tampa W L OTL GF GA PTS which entered the game as the NHL’s top team, also Bay. Lundqvist watched from the bench as backup Anaheim 28 8 5 131 103 61 had a 13-game point streak stopped. Burns has eight Cam Talbot started the previous three games, winning San Jose 25 8 6 128 98 56 points in his last seven games against the Ducks. The two, after Lundqvist struggled through a 1-4-2 stretch. Los Angeles 25 10 4 108 79 54 Sharks scored in the first 90 seconds of a game for the Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Benoit Pouliot also scored Vancouver 23 11 6 108 93 52 ninth time this season. for the Rangers, who had three power-play goals. Phoenix 19 10 9 116 117 47 Ryan McDonagh and Derick Brassard had two assists Calgary 14 19 6 95 122 34 each. Tampa Bay got goals from Tyler Johnson, Ondrej PANTHERS 4, CANADIENS 1 Edmonton 13 24 4 106 139 30 Brian Campbell, Aleksander Barkov and Dmitry Palat and Valtteri Filppula. The Rangers went up 4-2 on Central Division Kulikov all scored in Florida’s win over Montreal. Sean second-period power-play goals by Kreider and Chicago 27 7 7 157 115 61 Bergenheim added an empty-net goal with 17 sec- Pouliot. Riaz Choudhry to officiate onds left. Tom Gilbert had two assists. Kulikov’s goal St. Louis 26 7 5 137 92 57 was his first in 28 games. Scott Clemmensen stopped ISLANDERS 5, WILD 4 Colorado 23 11 4 109 97 50 21 shots for the Panthers, who broke a three-game Kyle Okposo scored twice midway through the Dallas 19 12 7 112 111 45 Under-19 Asia Cricket Cup losing streak and beat Montreal for the second time third period, and the New York Islanders overcame a Minnesota 20 16 5 96 107 45 this month. Clemmensen is 8-1 against the Canadiens. three-goal deficit to beat Minnesota. John Tavares, Cal Winnipeg 18 18 5 111 121 41 KUWAIT: Riaz Chaudhry, a senior cricket are both categorized as List - A (first class crick- Brandon Prust scored and Peter Budaj made 21 saves Clutterbuck and Thomas Hickey also scored for the Nashville 17 18 4 89 115 38 umpire, left Kuwait for UAE this morning to et in one day format). He has also umpired in for Montreal, which lost for the first time in three Islanders, who won for the third time in eight games. Eastern Conference officiate in Under-19 Asia Cricket Cup. The other major events organized in Asian region games. The Canadiens had two goals disallowed. Tavares missed Saturday night’s home game against Atlantic Division eight teams, most prestigious youth cricket by ICC and ACC namely ACC Trophy (Elite), ACC New Jersey because of an undisclosed injury. Ryan Boston 26 11 2 114 81 54 event in the region, is to be contested by T-20 Championship, ACC Under-19 Trophy, ICC BLUES 3, STARS 2, OT Suter, Jonas Brodin, Nino Niederreiter and Justin Tampa Bay 23 12 4 110 93 50 Asian test countries, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka WCQS-2 and ICC WCL-6. In ICC WCL events Kevin Shattenkirk scored a power-play goal 4:49 Fontaine had goals for the Wild, who have lost five Montreal 23 14 3 99 89 49 and Bangladesh alongside four associate Riaz enhanced his skill by getting opportunity into overtime, giving St Louis a victory over Dallas. straight. Okposo’s second goal, with 5:48 to play, Detroit 18 13 9 103 111 45 members of ICC Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nepal to umpire matches with legendary Simon Jaden Schwartz had a goal in his fifth straight game, capped a wild 2-minute span in which the Islanders Toronto 20 16 5 115 118 45 and hosts UAE. The matches of this premier Taufel and Tony Hill. and TJ Oshie also scored for the Blues, who improved took the lead, lost it and regained it. Brodin and Ottawa 16 18 7 115 134 39 event will be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and He has partnered umpires from India and to 12-0-1 against Central Division opponents. Brian Niederreiter scored in the first 3 minutes of the second Florida 15 20 5 95 128 35 Sharjah over next 10 days. Riaz the founding Pakistan in longer format of the game, ACC Elliott made 28 saves. Dallas overcame a 2-0 deficit period for a 3-0 Wild lead. Buffalo 11 24 4 71 110 26 member of Kuwait Cricket Umpires Panel (K- Fast Track Countries Tournament, where all the with second-period goals by Jamie Benn and Ryan Metropolitan Division CUP) is most extensively experienced umpire matches were of 3 days duration. Riaz is also Garbutt. Schwartz opened the scoring on a power MAPLE LEAFS 5, HURRICANES 2 Pittsburgh 29 11 1 130 94 59 and Match Referee in Kuwait and during his 12 an accredited Level-1 umpires’ educator and play at 2:41 of the first. St Louis scored off a Stars mis- Phil Kessel scored twice, reaching the 20-goal Washington 20 14 5 121 116 45 years international umpiring career has offici- has been instrumental in bring new blood in take at 5:12 of the second when Oshie picked up the plateau for the sixth straight season, to help Toronto Philadelphia 18 16 4 97 107 40 ated in numerous tournaments organized by K-CUP. Kuwait Cricket has produced some puck after Kevin Connauton whiffed on a pass in his top Carolina. The speedy Leafs forward could have had NY Rangers 19 19 2 94 108 40 International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian excellent umpires and this is evident from end. more, but he failed to score on two breakaways. New Jersey 16 16 8 95 102 40 Cricket Council (ACC). appointments in ICC / ACC events during Nikolai Kulemin, Paul Ranger and Dion Phaneuf, with Columbus 17 18 4 106 112 38 The major events to his credit are Euro-Asia recent years, to name few are Imran Mustafa, RANGERS 4, LIGHTNING 3 an empty-net goal with 8 seconds remaining, also Carolina 14 16 9 91 114 37 Cricket Series (April 2006) and ICC World John Soloman, Fareed Dalwai, Naresh D’Souza Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves in his first start in scored for Toronto. Nathan Gerbe and Justin Faulk had NY Islanders 12 21 7 102 135 31 Cricket League Division 2 (April 2011) which and Irfan Adil. four games, and Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two goals for Carolina (14-16-9), which has lost five straight