THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017 SPORTS

Froome extends Vuelta lead Lanka steps up security Another Teenage Schumacher as Lopez wins 11th stage after crowd trouble eyes Formula One career

CALAR ALTO: Chris Froome tightened his grip on the Vuelta a Espana yesterday COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will deploy unprecedented security for BERLIN: The Schumacher name could again be a staple fixture in the with an eye-catching second to Colombia’s Miguel Angel Lopez in the mountain- today’s fourth one-day international against India to prevent a Formula One calendar for the coming years with Ralph Schumacher’s son ous 11th stage. Astana rider Lopez secured the biggest win of his career when he repeat of crowd trouble which broke out following a humiliating David also eyeing a career in the fast lane. Michael and Ralph Schumacher burst clear of a breakaway group in the closing two kilometres of the challenging defeat for the home side, police said. Some 1,000 additional police claimed nearly a 100 Formula One wins between them until the German 187.5km ride from Lorca to the summit finish in Calar Alto. Froome, hoping to will be deployed at the 35,000-seat capacity Premadasa Stadium in brothers retired in 2012 and 2007 respectively. However, the add this to his triumph in this season’s Tour de France, crossed in sec- Colombo while CCTV cameras will be used to monitor the crowds, famous name is set to live on in Formula One with both of their ond, 14sec adrift, to retain the overall leader’s red jersey and police said in a statement. “Any spectator who throws any bottles or sons eyeing future careers. “I definitely want to be in Formula extend his lead to one minute and 19 seconds. Italy’s Vincenzo projectiles at the players will be immediately arrested,” they said. One-and hopefully end up in a very good team,” Ralph’s son Nibali took third, lifting him into second above Colombian David Schumacher, the nephew of seven-time world champi- Esteban Chaves in the overall standings. The big loser on the Large number of fans lobbed bottles and other missiles and disrupt- ed play for 32 minutes as Sri Lanka headed for their one-day inter- on Michael, told Sport Bild. The 15-year-old, whose father day’s ride in rain was Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, who started the Ralph won six Formula One races between 1997 and 2007, cur- national series defeat to India last Sunday. Soon after play resumed day 36sec behind Froome but ended it staring at a 4min rently races go-karts, but plans to compete in Formula Four next 45sec deficit, dropping him from third to 11th in the general at Pallekele with police evicting the rowdy supporters, India went year. “I have two role models-my father, of course, and my classification. Froome is aiming to become only the third man to onto to record a six-wicket win. Sri Lanka’s chief cricket selectors, uncle because he is the most successful driver of all win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year. —- AFP who resigned en masse on Tuesday, said they were heartbroken time with seven world titles,” said the teenager.—AFP when crowds turned against the team. —AFP

Matthew Stafford has more time, money to help Lions win

ALLEN PARK: Matthew Stafford has more more money to go around,” Quinn said. time, and money, to accomplish what the “And it’s my job and the scouting depart- Detroit Lions drafted him to do for the NFL ment’s job and our contract people’s job to franchise. The Lions gave the standout make everything fit and field the most quarterback a five-year extension worth competitive people that we can.” $135 million, keeping him under contract Lions receiver Golden Tate is thankful he through 2022. The franchise desperately will be able to keep catching passes from hopes he can return the investment and Stafford thanks to the new deal. “He’s help it have success in the playoffs that has proved that he is a top-tier quarterback,” been elusive. Tate said. “He is an elite quarterback. He’s Stafford’s contract surpassed what was tough as nails. ... He’s got the best arm in - briefly - the richest deal in the league. the league, in my opinion. His touch is Derek Carr signed a $125 million, five-year great, and it’s getting better.” deal with the Oakland Raiders. Detroit Stafford’s financial portfolio is getting drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and better, too. He is entering the last year of he has led the team’s transformation from his $53 million, three-year deal. After being league laughingstock to being relatively drafted out of Georgia, he got $41.7 million respectable. He guided them to the play- in guarantees as part of a six-year contract offs last season, for the third time in six worth $78 million. seasons, but has been unable to stop a What is Stafford going to buy with his playoff drought that has lasted a quarter latest contract? “A bunch of diapers,” he of a century. joked as his wife sat nearby, holding their And he hasn’t pushed the team any clos- 5-month-old twin daughters. After shoul- er to winning an NFL title for the first time der and knee injuries stunted Stafford’s first since 1957. “When I was drafted here, we two seasons, he has been healthy and were obviously coming off a 0-16 season durable enough to play in every game the and in a lot of ways needed some new past six years. breath and some direction,” Stafford said He won the 2011 AP NFL Comeback Tuesday. “And I was lucky and happy and Player of the Year award after throwing for honored to be a part of getting it from more than 5,000 yards and helping the Lions where it was then to where it is now. And end their 11-season drought of not appear- hopefully that exponential of a jump can ing in the playoffs. Back then, he helped the NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia & Montenegro during their first round Men’s Singles match on Day happen again, and we can go from where Lions become the first team in league histo- Two of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough we are now to where we really want to be ry to rally to win four games after being of New York City. — AFP and that’s hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.” down by at least 13 points, including a pair Detroit, though, will need more than the of 20-plus point comebacks. 29-year-old Stafford to be the best team in Despite the retirement of Calvin TENNIS the league. Lions manager Bob Quinn Johnson before last season, he helped insisted the lucrative deal doesn’t hurt the Detroit become the league’s first team to team’s chances of surrounding Stafford come back from fourth-quarter deficits to with enough talent to win. “Yeah, there’s win eight games in a season. — AP Nadal and Osaka shine as Rodgers, Packers rule rain causes US Open havoc

anew the NFC North NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal took his US Open first- ber one Karolina Pliskova, bidding to back up downed Spain’s Lara Arruaberrena 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 round record to 13-0 but Japanese teenager her lofty status with a maiden first Grand Slam in a match relocated from Court 17 to Ashe. The Naomi Osaka stole the headlines by knocking title, was able to make a winning start, courtesy Latvian won 12 of the last 14 points to seal the MINNESOTA: The Minnesota Vikings reno- eight straight victories until falling to the out defending champion Angelique Kerber as also of playing under the roof on Ashe. deal in a tie suspended at 3-1 in the final set five vated an offensive line that sputtered Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship torrential rain caused more than 50 matches to Czech 25-year-old Pliskova, the runner-up in hours earlier. through last season, seeking better balance game. “I still feel pretty young,” Rodgers be shelved Tuesday. As players ran for cover 2016, eased past Poland’s Magda Linette 6-2, 6-1 The Ashe programme Tuesday was being with their potentially dominant defense. said after that game. “I think I have a num- from drenched outside courts where just 90 on the back of eight aces and 29 winners. completed by US 15th seed Madison Keys facing The Detroit Lions brought in new blockers, ber of years left in me.”Here are some of the minutes of action was possible, and only three French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko Elie Mertens of Belgium. — AFP too, aiming to revive a dormant ground headlines around the division as matches completed, Osaka’s big-hitting game game and give franchise cornerstone September approaches: flourished under the roof of Arthur Ashe Matthew Stafford more support. Stadium. The Chicago Bears traded up for quar- STACKING THE SECONDARY The world number 46, born in Japan to a terback Mitchell Trubisky with the second Only one team in the NFL allowed more Haitian father and Japanese mother, won 6-3, 6- pick in the draft, solidifying a long-range passing yards last season than the Packers. 1 as sixth seed Kerber became the first US Open Australia proves fertile strategy. Ambitions and hopes are high, of Only two teams gave up more touchdowns women’s defending champion to lose in the first course, at this time of the year. The long- through the air. The priority for 2017, thus, round since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005. World term NFL optimism around the Great Lakes was obvious. Cornerback Kevin King and number one Nadal, meanwhile, began his cam- talent pool for NBA states inevitably took a bit of a hit on Aug. safety Josh Jones were their first two draft paign for a third US Open title with a 7-6 (8/6), 6- 3, though, when Aaron Rodgers made clear picks, and cornerback Davon House 2, 6-2 win over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. The 31- SYDNEY: If you ask Australian youngsters who “When they have guys that are prepared to his disinterest in retirement or departure returned as a free agent following a two- year-old Spaniard recovered from 3-5 down in their favourite basketball player is, US super- sacrifice for their teammates and put their team from the Green Bay Packers anytime soon . year stay in Jacksonville. the opening set against the 85th-ranked Lajovic, stars such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant are above the individual... I think that attracts all The NFC North competition sure can’t The goal was to build a bigger and who has never won a match in New York. “When likely responses, with the mere mention of the the NBA teams to look to those characteristics,” count on a reprieve from these twice-annu- stronger secondary, with hands-on, hard- I was down in the first set, I just tried to be there NBA creating a buzz. said Andrew Gaze, one of the first Australians to al matchups against one of the league’s press coverage at the line of scrimmage con- as he was playing well and controlling the But home-grown talent Ben Simmons play in the US college system. “It is great for our best . Asked if he could envision playing as sidered these days a defense’s best weapon points,” said French Open champion Nadal, who (Philadelphia 76ers), (San Antonio national team and it provides tremendous long as Tom Brady has with the New for disruption of an opponent’s passing is chasing a 16th major. Spurs), Dante Exum (Utah Jazz) and South inspiration for the youngsters coming through, England Patriots, on the day one of his few attack. With starting cornerbacks Damarious “But the end of the first set was very impor- Sudanese refugee Thon Maker (Milwaukee who know that if you play basketball in peers in the league turned 40, Rodgers left Randall and Quinten Rollins each entering tant. I got the break back and after that, every- Bucks) have swelled Aussie numbers in the Australia, there is clearly a pathway you can no doubt. their third seasons and fourth-year safety Ha thing changed.” Osaka, who surrendered a 5-1 world’s top league and heightened the hopes end up as an NBA player.” “I do think it’s realistic,” said Rodgers, Ha Clinton-Dix coming off his first Pro Bowl final-set lead on the same court in losing to of young Australians playing the game. The 1990s were a golden era for Australian who will be 34 on Dec. 2. “I hope it’s in this appearance, there’s plenty of potential for Madison Keys in the third round 12 months ago, “It definitely gives you something to aim for, basketball, with a handful of trailblazers, includ- locker room, though. That would mean it’s this group to improve. fired 22 winners as Kerber went tumbling out of knowing that they have started where you ing Gaze (Washington Bullets and San Antonio been at a high level.” the world’s top 10 as well as the tournament. started and they made it all the way to the top,” Spurs), Bradtke (Philadelphia 76ers) and Luc Engineering an eighth straight playoff BRADFORD PROTECTION PROGRAM “At 4-1, I was hoping I don’t do what I did last Austin Bradtke told AFP after a narrow win at a Longley, who won three championships with appearance for the Packers last season, After surpassing the Packers in 2015 to year,” said the 19-year-old Osaka, who admitted recent basketball carnival in suburban the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan, including a fifth division title in that span, finish 11-5 for the division title and start- suffering a brief flashback to her tearful loss to Melbourne. “Experiencing American basketball, playing in the NBA. Rodgers produced a vintage run of domi- ing last season 5-0, the Vikings careened Keys. Osaka will face either Sweden’s Rebecca and also the crowds and stuff, it looks really The Boomers reached the Atlanta Olympic nance following a 4-6 start by the team off-track because of some uncharacteris- Peterson or Denisa Allertova of the Czech enticing for a young player, that is where I am semi-finals in 1996 before losing a memorable that was marked by some rather ordinary tic lapses by the defense at critical Republic for a place in the last 32. keen to go,” added the 17-year-old, whose encounter to the USA “Dream Team” and took performances by his elite standard. moments, struggles by since-cut kicker “I just want to play good. I did that today and father Mark was among the earliest Australians fourth-place at Sydney four years later. He threw 21 touchdown passes, with Blair Walsh and a litany of injuries along so I want to carry that into the next match,” to play in the NBA. Standards during this period were also bol- one interception, to lead the Packers to the offensive line.—AP added the Japanese teenager, who secured her Once a far-flung dream for young hopefuls, stered by US talent looking for game time else- first career win over a top-10 player. technology is giving scouts greater access to where, said Marty Clarke, associate head coach international talent, while an elite junior program with Saint Mary’s College in California, where ‘NOT THE BEST DAY’ is putting promising Australians at the forefront Australians Mills and Milwaukee Bucks’ guard Kerber is the third top seed to go out in the of the game, with courts Down Under proving Matthew Dellavedova graduated. first round after number two Simona Halep and fertile ground for US recruiters. Australia’s nation- seventh-seeded Johanna Konta lost on Monday. al side “the Boomers” were earlier this month STRONG AT THE GRASSROOTS “She just went for it,” said 29-year-old Kerber. crowned FIBA Asia Cup champions despite field- “Partly because of the influence of the USA, “For sure, it was not the best day and not the ing a second-string side because their top inter- with import players going overseas and the best match for me.” national stars were unavailable. A record eight coaches going to coach elsewhere, the dis- US Open chiefs decided to cancel 44 singles Aussies (excluding Maker who was listed as tance between the USA and the rest of the matches and postpone the completion of 11 South Sudanese) were listed on NBA rosters at world certainly shrunk,” said Clarke, also a for- others until Wednesday because of the unrelent- the start of last season and hundreds of young mer Boomers assistant coach. ing rain. In total, only nine singles matches were men and women are now competing in the US While Australia’s National Basketball League due to be completed out of a scheduled 64. college system, with many progressing to profes- (NBL) struggled after the turn of the century as One man certain to finish under the roof on sional careers internationally. attendances dwindled, grassroots participation Tuesday night was Roger Federer, whose capture remained strong, producing a new generation of the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN ERA of talent. “Whereas people (once) played anoth- 2017 has taken his Slam count to 19. While no basketball nation can match the er sport and made a transition to basketball, Heis bidding for a record sixth crown in New athletism of the US, coaches say Australians these kids have been around these big stadi- York. The 36-year-old Swiss, who missed the have earned a reputation for selflessness and ums since they were babies,” Clarke added. 2016 US Open to rest a knee injury, takes on US being team players. Exum, Simmons, and Jonah Bolden, who teenager Frances Tiafoe under the lights, looking “I know that when we take kids to tours in was recently drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers, to take his first round record to 17-0. America, the main thing that we struggle with are all sons of former NBL imports. Federer defeated the world number 70 in is defending those super-athletic kids. “But The elite training program in Australia’s capi- straight sets in Miami this year but Tiafoe, the then down the other end (Americans) struggle tal Canberra can take much of the credit for pro- MINNESOTA: San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, left, celebrates with son of a Sierra Leone immigrant, illustrated his to defend our structure and our skill, and our ducing the country’s top talent. “We have got teammate Marquise Goodwin (11) after catching a 24-yard touchdown pass during growing reputation by seeing off world number decision-making,” said Melbourne Tigers coach- this hidden gem sitting in Canberra,” said the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings, six Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati. World num- ing director Nick Abdicevic. Basketball Australia chief Anthony Moore.—AFP Sunday, in Minneapolis. — AP