MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014 SPORTS N Zealand sweat Photo of the day on Nonu, Kaino and yellow cards

SYDNEY: All Blacks coach oped a reputation over the years for is sweating over the fitness of Ma’a Nonu judging the fine line between legality and for next week’s Rugby and illegality in the tackle area, suggest- Championship test against Australia but ed momentum played a major role in the as big a concern is why his team is get- officiating of that part of the game. ting penalised so much at the break- “Probably the team that has the down. momentum perhaps gets the rub of the Inside centre Nonu injured his shoul- green,” the flanker said in the post-match der and blindside flanker Kaino hurt his press conference. “When you are under elbow during Saturday’s 12-12 draw with the pump you are guilty of trying to the Wallabies at the Olympic Stadium force things a little bit rather than back- and are doubts for next weekend’s return ing our defence and some decisions at Eden Park in Auckland. went against us because we were on the Uppermost in Hansen’s mind, though, back foot. was the yellow cards doled out to prop “We need to be a little bit smarter at Wyatt Crockett and by times especially when we’re under the South African referee Jaco Peyper for pump that we don’t give the ref an offenses committed at the breakdown. opportunity to make the decisions to Hansen said after the match that his make it worse.” team needed to address the number of Hansen, as gracious in defeat as he cards they had been conceding and was mischievous in the run-up to the returned to the theme yesterday. match, was not surprised by a strong “If we’re not getting continuity and performance by the Wallabies and said the referee’s penalising you, it’s difficult on Saturday night the Australians were to get a dominant platform,” he told always tough opponents - even at a chil- reporters at the team hotel. “So we’ve got dren’s games like marbles. to go away and look at some of that stuff, “They’ll have confidence in their game work out if we were in the wrong and, if and they’re all playing for each other,” he Sang Hyun Yun performs in Yang Pyeong, South Korea. — www.redbull.com we were in the right, work out what we added yesterday. “Australia teams are were doing to make him think we were always tough to play, you get those in the wrong. weather conditions and it makes for a “But there’s no point losing sleep over tough night.” it because you’re playing sport and some The draw prevented New Zealand Rose hears cheers as days you’re not going to get the result from taking outright the record for the you want. “So you’ve got to be a big boy most consecutive test wins, which they and take it on the chin and move on.” currently share at 17 matches with the 1965-69 All Blacks and South Africa side Reputation of 1997-98. “There’s only three teams in US beat Brazil 95-78 The All Blacks were put into a position the history of tier one nations that have where they were conceding yellow cards won 17 games in a row so that’s a mas- and penalties because of the amount of sive achievement in itself,” Hansen said. CHICAGO: The roars for Derrick Rose started showed up in Bulls No. 1 jerseys - he’s No. 6 for throws as the crowd chanted “MVP! MVP!” pressure they were under from the “Disappointing that we didn’t get to 18 with the pregame introductions and did not the U.S. They gave him a deafening ovation and Moments later, he blew a wide-open tomahawk Wallabies’ attack at times. but pleasing that we gutsed out a draw, I fade until the final buzzer. The Chicago Bulls chanted “MVP! MVP!” during the introductions dunk, sending a groan through the arena, and Captain Richie McCaw, who has devel- suppose.” — Reuters superstar was back on his court, back in his ele- and went wild again as he grabbed the micro- he also headed to the locker room with a cut ment. phone for a heartfelt address to the crowd near his left eye with about 5 1/2 minutes left in Rose showed some of his old explosiveness, before the opening tip. He referenced the vio- the half. Brazil, meanwhile got within 35-33 on a fellow Chicago product Anthony Davis scored 20 lence in Chicago and said this game was “huge basket by Splitter with 4:27 left. But the US led points, and the US beat Brazil 95-78 on Saturday for the city.” 45-37 at the half after Rose raced up the court night in a tuneup for the World Cup of The US might not have as much star power as for a floater at the buzzer to the crowd’s delight Basketball. With deafening cheers rocking the it has in the past, particularly with MVP Kevin after two free throws by Nene. arena, Rose looked like an MVP at times even if Durant and others withdrawing and Paul George Rose had them roaring again when he beat he only had seven points. He also seemed happy suffering a gruesome leg injury. Even so, the US Neto and switched to his left hand in midair on a to defer to his teammates in his first appearance was looking good with a 29-15 lead through the drive with just over 3:30 left in the third, making at the United Center since his latest season-end- first quarter. it 64-53. “Playing against this competition, I was ing knee injury. Rose really didn’t go hard to the rim until ear- just trying to get my wind back,” Rose said. “I am “I think everybody’s excited,” Rose said. “It was ly in the second, when he beat Raul Neto with a going hard at practice and pushing myself every cool. At the same time, I can’t get big-headed crossover and got fouled. He made 1 of 2 free day.” — AP about it or anything like that. I’ve just got to keep poised.” What he needs to be is the player he was - or close to it -before the knee injuries started to pile up. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a torn meniscus in his right knee two of the past three seasons derailed a rocket- ing rise from the city’s South Side to the No. 1 pick in the draft and stardom with his home- town team. The Bulls are counting on Rose to MINNEAPOLIS: Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels, right, breaks up a pass lead them back to contention in the Eastern intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brittan Golden during the second half of an Conference after they added some key pieces, NFL preseason football game, Saturday, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 30-28. — AP including Pau Gasol. “For Derrick, there are so many positives for this,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, a US assistant. “He shakes the rust Bridgewater, Vikings rally off. He has a tremendous amount of pride. It’s something that he wants to do and believes that past Cardinals 30-28 he should do. I think this will be great prepara- tion for the season.” MINNEAPOLIS: Teddy Bridgewater gave Most of the second-stringers were in the giddy fans chanting his first name a for the Cardinals by the time Rudolph Five-point lead pair of go-ahead touchdown throws to was sprinting down the field. Three of Davis, who like Rose grew up on Chicago’s cheer for in the fourth quarter, giving the their projected starters on defense didn’t South Side, dominated down the stretch, and Minnesota Vikings a 30-28 victory over play: linebackers John Abraham and the US pulled away after Brazil kept it close for the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night. Kevin Minter (pectoral) and free safety three quarters. With a five-point lead going into Bridgewater floated a back-shoulder Tyrann Mathieu (knee). Abraham didn’t the fourth, the US went on a 14-2 run to break fade pass from 2 yards out to Rodney join the team until this week, due to per- open a 68-63 game. Klay Thompson nailed a 3-pointer to start it, Smith with 18 seconds remaining for the sonal reasons the Cardinals have not and Davis took over. He hit two free throws and lead, after the Cardinals had gone ahead detailed. blocked a shot by Larry Taylor, leading to a on a bizarre fourth-down score about a They held out three starters on three-point play for James Harden. Davis then minute earlier. offense, too, with wide receiver Michael threw down an alley-oop dunk to make it a 15- On that final drive, Bridgewater com- Floyd (groin), guard Jonathan Cooper point game, and after Leandro Barbosa scored pleted six of seven passes for 77 yards. (toe) and center Lyle Sendlein (calf) kept for Brazil, he nailed a jumper. Harden (18 points) The first-round draft pick from Louisville, on the sideline. Backup tackle Max Starks finished the run with two free throws, making it who finished 16 for 20 for 177 yards, limped off with a left ankle injury and 82-65. Tiago Splitter scored 16 for Brazil. Fans found Allen Reisner for a short touch- didn’t return. started chanting, “We want Rose!” with their down and Jarius Wright for the 2-point For the first time since training camp favorite player watching from the sideline as the conversion with 7:57 left. started, the Cardinals actually breathed US pulled away. They got their wish when he Ryan Lindley threw three straight some fresh air while they tuned up for checked back in with 5:20 left and let out yet CHICAGO: Brazil’s Marcelo Huertas tries to pass the ball to Nene Hilario, of the Washington incompletions from the 6 for the the regular season. After playing their another loud roar, although coach Mike Wizards, past the defense of United States’ Rudy Gay (8), of the Sacramento Kings, Derrick Cardinals and dropped the shotgun snap exhibition opener and holding every Krzyzewski insisted he wasn’t catering to the Rose (6), of the Chicago Bulls, and Stephen Curry (4), of the Golden State Warriors, during the on fourth-and-goal. In the scrap for the practice inside at their covered home sta- crowd. That’s how it was all night for Rose. Fans first half of an exhibition basketball game Saturday, in Chicago. — AP ball, center John Estes got down on his dium just outside of sultry Phoenix, they knees and batted it behind him. Zach finally left the air conditioning. The tem- Bauman scooped it up and ran in for the perature at kickoff was 85 degrees, score. Drew Stanton threw a scoring pass steamy for Minnesota but a cold front for Britain’s Brook wins to basketball-player-turned-tight-end the Arizona desert in August. Darren Fells for the Cardinals in the sec- Carson Palmer led the Cardinals on a ond quarter. Kyle Rudolph had four 93-yard drive to start the game, and IBF welterweight title catches for 89 yards and a scoring toss Jonathan Dwyer ran around left end from Matt Cassel as the Vikings kept their untouched for the score. Vikings coach CARSON: Kell Brook waited years for a world title ing Porter (24-1-1) to find a consistent range in his sively, getting carried on his cornermen’s shoulders first team in for the whole first half, and Mike Zimmer looked perturbed after that shot, honing his skills through numerous injuries and first defeat. Brook won 117-111 and 116-112 on two after the final bell. Brook landed 36 percent of his 441 Bridgewater and the backups picked up possession, but his defense bounced postponements. When the English welterweight American judges’ cards, while English judge Dave punches, while Porter connected with just 25 per- where they left off. back a bit later. Chris Crocker started the finally got in the ring with a champion, the patient Parris scored it a 114-114 draw. The Associated Press cent of his 626 shots. Brook thoroughly outjabbed Cassel was sharp in his only series last game at strong safety, the position most challenger had a perfect plan. saw it 115-113 for Brook. Omar Figueroa also Porter, who threw 308 more power punches, but week against Oakland, and this time over unsettled in that group. Brook won a majority decision over Shawn Porter stopped Daniel Estrada early in the ninth round to landed a much lower percentage. Porter, who never a bigger sample size he was just as good, Palmer played two series and finished on Saturday night, claiming Porter’s IBF 147-pound defend his WBC lightweight title belt in an entertain- landed his vicious left hook consistently, wasn’t sur- going 12 for 16 for 153 yards with one 4 for 8 for 91 yards. Stanton went 6 for 8 title. “Since I was 9 years old, I’ve been training to be a ing action fight, and Anthony Dirrell claimed Sakio prised by the decision in his first bout since a domi- touchdown and no turnovers. Cassel for 81 yards, and Lindley played the champion,” said Brook, who collapsed to the ring in Bika’s WBC 168-pound title with a messy rematch vic- nant defense against Paulie Malignaggi in April. even ran three times for 30 yards when whole second half at quarterback after joy after the decision was announced. “I looked tory. But the star was Brook, who had been waiting “I thought that I was effective with my attack, but nobody was open but the middle of the rookie Logan Thomas drew rave reviews scrappy, but I did what I have to do.” nearly two years for his shot at the IBF belt. Three he was ready,” Porter said. “I’m not giving any excuses. field was. for his second-half performance last week Brook (33-0) claimed the welterweight belt in just bouts against former champion Devon Alexander fell I want the rematch. I’ll find him where he’s at, and I’ll His go-to target was Rudolph, the against Houston. Running back Adrian his second fight outside Britain, outboxing the through before he received the mandatory title shot take it from him.” Brook is much more interested in a tight end who has returned for his fourth Peterson was the only Vikings regular American champion with a smart game plan and at Porter, who beat Alexander last year. Brook had a lucrative matchup with fellow British champion Amir year much richer, a little slimmer and who didn’t play. Joe Banyard, who also consistent elusiveness at the outdoor StubHub canny game plan from the start, keeping Porter at Khan, who tweeted his congratulations to Brook poised for a breakout season in the new had a 44-yard kickoff return, carried six Center south of Los Angeles. Brook joined elite com- bay with his superior reach and landing well-timed moments after the fight ended. scheme under offensive coordinator Norv times for 64 yards. Adam Thielen had four pany with the win: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny shots when Porter attempted to force the action. “Shawn Porter is a true champion, but I think Turner. After failing to hang on to a high receptions for 54 yards with Bridgewater Pacquiao hold the other three major welterweight Both fighters were cut early on by accidental head- Khan can get in queue now,” Brook said. “I think that throw in the back corner of the end zone in the second half. Blair Walsh made three titles. “I dealt with business,” Brook said. “It’s an unbe- butts, but the injuries didn’t appear to affect them. the British public needs to see this fight against on third-and-goal at the end of the first of four field goals for the Vikings, failing lievable feeling, and I can’t get my head around it.” Brook became more assertive in the later rounds, Khan.” Dirrell (27-0-1), a lymphoma survivor from With a small coterie of English fans cheering his stalking Porter to the ropes while landing cleaner Flint, Michigan, claimed his first world title in a slop- drive, Rudolph finished the second pos- on a 51-yard attempt when it bounced moves, Brook stayed outside the champion’s power punches. The Englishman connected with several big py, flop-filled rematch with Bika (32-6-3), a Cameroon session with a 51-yard catch and run into off the left upright. He also missed an range and held inside when necessary, never allow- shots in a dominant 11th round and finished impres- native fighting out of Australia. —AP the end zone. extra point. — AP