THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015 SPORTS The Grand Slam bid is done; Spieth is not

WHISTLING STRAITS: Jordan Spieth three-putts that round. He took four equipped to do just that. His goal at St. majors in the same . “When did tations for 2015. “My goals for this year was on the 14th green and battling in putts on the eighth green in the final Andrews was to ignore what was at that start?” he said, already knowing the were to make the Presidents Cup team, conditions so severe the wind round. He also made a bunch of birdies stake and treat it like another major. Put answer. contend in at least one major and make approached 40 mph. “They pulled us off all week, and at the end of 72 holes, he the ball in play. Make putts. Get in con- No one ever talked about an the cut in all the majors,” he said. “In the course,” he said. Spieth wasn’t talk- needed one more. Simple as that. If tention. He said when it was over the American Slam until it was served up as 2013, they were tangible, specific goals I ing about St. Andrews. This was Sunday there was a hangover, it didn’t last long. historical significance never crossed his a consolation prize to Woods when his could shoot for. Right now, what’s big- at Whistling Straits, where he took a Spieth was playing golf in Dallas with mind even when he was tied for the shot at the Grand Slam ended in the ger than what we’ve done? We had a two-day scouting trip of the course that friends when his roommate mentioned lead with two holes to play. His wind and rain at Muirfield in 2002. chance to do something no one has will host the final major of the year. the “weirdest feeling” about watching approach to Whistling Straits isn’t much Woods made a strong run at the PGA done - win all four majors in a year.” Spieth was one shot away from mak- the Open. He told him that it seemed as different. Championship that year by making Part of the challenge is to finish ing the PGA Championship the most though Spieth had an off week at St. “I really don’t think it changes at all,” birdie on his last four holes, only to fin- strong. That’s what Spieth failed to do significant golf event since Tiger Woods Andrews, perhaps because he already Spieth said. “Like I said, the historical ish one shot behind Rich Beem. last season, when he finished out of the completed his sweep of the majors in had won the Masters and US Open. part never factored into my preparation Now the opportunity falls to Spieth. top 20 in six of his final seven events on 2001 at the Masters. The 22-year-old Maybe it was ingrained in everyone, or knowledge of the course or whatev- It’s still a chance to achieve something the PGA Tour. In his eyes, a new season Texan was trying to become the first Spieth included, that anything but a vic- er. All in all, I have the exact same feel- no one has ever done, though it feels starts this week at Bridgestone player to win them all in one season, tory at the British Open was not going ing. I may feel better. I knew what was hollow compared with what he was Invitational in Ohio, followed by the and he came closer than any of the oth- to be acceptable. at stake, and there was an added ele- chasing a month ago at the home of PGA Championship and then four FedEx er three greats - Arnold Palmer, Jack “We played good golf given every- ment to that off the course. Those were golf. Cup playoff events. “I would like to win Nicklaus and Woods - to getting the thing,” Spieth said. “It’s still good to play the questions everyone was asking. The Grand Slam is over. His season is one of these last six events,” he said. “I’d third leg of the Grand Slam at the British a major and lose by one shot. But that That’s what the crowd was saying as you not. Spieth knows what it’s like to adjust like to be in contention and close one of Open. was one shot from being the greatest go hole to hole in the practice round. goals during the course of the season, them out, stay focused on trying to win His three-putt on the 14th green at week of my life, instead of being on the ‘The Grand Slam is alive.’ just as he did as a rookie in 2013 when one of these six and forget about how St. Andrews, when the second round back burner. That’s what put it in per- “I wish they were still saying that,” he he started the year without a PGA Tour this year has gone. This is so new for us. resumed in wind so strong Spieth was spective for me.” said. “But since they aren’t, that might and finished it as the youngest It’s hard as a team for us to sit back and heard to say, “We never should have It was a memorable run, and now it’s ease the burden as far as practice.” He American (20) to play in the Presidents not want to soak in what’s happened.” A started,” is not what cost him a chance time to move on.Spieth already has laughed when asked about the Cup. lot has happened. And even in the final at the claret jug. He had four other shown at such a young age he is American Slam - winning the three US Looking back, he set modest expec- two months, there’s a lot left.—AP Miami lineman speaks of heatstroke ordeal

CORAL GABLES: Hunter Knighton once was becoming very hostile. A symptom of went a week without sleeping, afraid to heatstroke is irritability. And they couldn’t close his eyes because the nightmares get my hands off the bench to get me on were inevitable. Panic attacks were com- the cart. They said I had a death grip, fight- mon. Memories were hazy. Breathing was a ing people and stuff.” With every second, struggle. The dark, scary moments are still his condition seemed to worsen. Knighton in the recesses of his mind. But he’s about was breathing but not responding to para- to take another step toward escaping medics. His temperature was soaring to them for good. 109 degrees. Golden could see in the para- A year and a half removed from nearly medics’ faces that the situation was sud- dying on the Miami practice field because denly very critical. of heatstroke, Knighton returns to that “The enormity of what we were getting same field Thursday for the start of hit with became apparent,” Golden said. Hurricanes’ training camp. The offensive “What I saw, it’ll never be erased.” lineman - after undergoing intense reha- Knighton’s parents were summoned from bilitation on both the physical and psycho- the family’s Pennsylvania home. They were logical fronts - has been cleared for a full- first told he was having seizures. Soon they fledged return to the team, something that were told that the situation was turning became official just days ago after success- dire. They were there when Knighton woke fully completing one last round of tests. up. He thought 12 hours had passed. It was “It is definitely a big weight off my actually 12 days. He was in a coma, losing shoulders and I’m so thankful that God has 55 pounds in his sleep and unsure of what given me a second chance to showcase happened. what I can do.,” Knighton said. “Once I take “The worst memory of the hospital was the field, I’ll just have a lot of joy. But at the when I first woke up I couldn’t breathe,” same time, I still have a long way to go.” Knighton said. “I had the tube in there; it But after working with both doctors was like I was suffocating. Every breath I and other officials at Miami, as well as thought was going to be my last. I was being evaluated and treated at the Korey trapped in my body. Couldn’t talk. Couldn’t Stringer Institute in Connecticut - the facili- breathe. Everything was fuzzy. It felt like I ty named for the Minnesota Vikings line- was dying.” man who died of exertional heatstroke in These were dark days for Miami. A day August 2001 - Knighton is back in the after Knighton collapsed former game. Hurricanes standout JoJo Nicholas was That’s victory in itself. “I get emotional involved in a horrible car crash in Miami LAS VEGAS: In this May 2, 2015, file photo, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Manny Pacquiao, from just thinking about it,” Miami coach Al Beach and eventually died from his the Philippines. —AP Golden said. “Words can’t describe. ... What injuries. Golden was going from one hospi- he went through, everything he’s done to tal room to the other for those days, trying get back. He’s had the best care in the to console two grieving families while try- world. Everything in terms of his integra- ing to hold his emotions together. Mayweather returns to tion has been handled from the highest Months later, Golden’s wife would have levels. And it will be an incredible day to a serious health scare and needed hospi- have him out there again.” talization. By coincidence, she was placed Everything changed for Knighton on in the same room that Knighton had the ring for final fight the morning of Feb. 24, 2014. It was months earlier. around 70 degrees at 8 a.m. that morning “The irony,” Golden said. “Strange. It’s in South Florida, with a bit of cloud cover very strange.” Kelly Golden survived. So has LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. will return to “Floyd has been completely consistent and Olympics, winning a piece of the welterweight helping make conditions seem downright Knighton. Some would say he’s thrived. the ring for the first time since boxing’s richest hasn’t wavered a bit in saying this is his last title along the way. But he was then beaten by comfortable by Miami standards. Put sim- He’s bigger and stronger than ever. “I’m fight ever, facing Andre Berto on Sept. 12 in fight,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice Ortiz and would go on to lose back-to-back ply, for Miami, it wasn’t hot. As Knighton - expecting big things from him,” Miami what he has said will be his final fight. president and general manager for Showtime fights to Guerrero and Jesus Soto Karass. who unknowingly was trying to fight quarterback Brad Kaaya said. The welterweight title bout doesn’t figure to Sports. “He’s still arguably the best fighter in the Berto, who has rebounded to win his last two through the flu and dehydration during Knighton sat out 2013 because of be nearly as lucrative as Mayweather’s May 2 sport so it’s somewhat surprising for him to step fights, said he will prove his worth in his biggest that practice - would soon learn, the tem- shoulder surgery. He missed last season fight with Manny Pacquiao that earned him a away now but I’ve never heard him say anything fight ever. “Best believe that I plan to bring it to perature didn’t matter. because of the heatstroke, and said it was reported $220 million. But it will still be sold on other than this will be his last.” Floyd and I’m not concerned about what 48 oth- “A lot of people think of the typical often unbearable to not be able to help his pay-per-view, even though Mayweather will be Espinoza dismissed criticism that the fight er fighters have been unable to do,” he said. heatstroke as an older person in the house team - especially when the offensive line an overwhelming favorite to win for the 49th looks like a mismatch, saying there were compli- “Somebody is getting knocked out and it won’t or a baby locked in a car,” Knighton said. was decimated by injuries. time in as many fights as a pro. Berto, a 2004 cations trying to do a deal with Britain’s Amir be me.” “There’s a difference between that and These days, he chooses to think about Olympian, was once thought of as a rising star Khan and not a big pool of other fighters to If Mayweather beats Berto he would improve exertional heatstroke.” what he gained and not how his life was but has lost three of his last six fights. Two of choose from. He said Berto will be aggressive to 49-0, matching the perfect record set by He remembers completing two condi- nearly lost. His faith grew deeper in the last those losses were to Robert Guerrero and Victor against Mayweather, something Pacquiao was Rocky Marciano before he retired as heavy- tioning drills that morning. Teammates 18 months. He values family and friends Ortiz, fighters that Mayweather beat easily. not able or willing to be in their fight. “He’s one weight champion in 1956. There has been spec- remember him getting through as many as more. He became a better student, no “I always bring my A-game and this fight of those fighters who never fails to entertain,” ulation Mayweather would fight at least once eight. Knighton has no recollection of the small feat since when he first returned to against Andre Berto is no exception,” Espinoza said about Berto. “His biggest flaw is more to break the record, perhaps opening the others. He also has no recollection of school his brain was still so fogged that he Mayweather said in announcing the bout. “He’s a he’s probably too aggressive.” MGM’s new arena on the Las Vegas Strip next punching teammate Shane McDermott, likened a simple business class to rocket young, strong fighter who is hungry to take Mayweather waited until the last possible spring. Espinoza declined to say what he who was trying to help him onto a cart science. down the best. Forty-eight have tried before and moment to announce the fight, which will take thought the Berto fight would sell on pay-per- that would take him from the field to a “I definitely take things less for granted,” on September 12, I’m going to make it 49.” place at the MGM Grand arena where he won a view, coming on the heels of the record-setting waiting ambulance. Knighton said. “I appreciate being able to The fight is the last in a six-bout deal that unanimous decision over Pacquiao. The two 4.4 million buys of the Mayweather-Pacquiao “They took me over there,” Knighton play this game again. There’s no way I’m Mayweather has with the Showtime network, fighters will get together in Los Angeles on fight. It will, however, be cheaper, with a sug- said, gesturing to where some benches not playing. I’m a Miami Hurricane and I’m and Mayweather has said repeatedly he will Thursday to promote the bout, which is less than gested price of $74.95 compared to $99.95 for had been set up on the edge of the field. “I going to play.”—AP retire when the deal is finished. The 38-year-old six weeks away. Pacquiao. Espinoza said Mayweather has done retired once before, but came back to fight after Berto (30-3) won his first 27 fights as a pro nearly 10 million PPV buys in his first five fights taking a short break. after losing in the first round of the Athens on the Showtime contract. —AP Donovan first female coach with 200 wins in WNBA

UNCASVILLE: coach became the first woman to record 200 victories in the WNBA when her team rout- ed the San Antonio Stars 82-51 on Tuesday. Donovan is the fourth coach in WNBA history to reach the mile- stone. The others are San Antonio’s , and Mike Thibault. Donovan has coached five teams in more than a decade in the league. had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Sun (10-9). Connecticut also had a season-high 24 assists, led by Chelsea Gray’s career-best seven. In other games, had 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals as the beat the 83-61 for their third straight win. Jantel Lavender recorded her league-leading 11th double-double for Los Angeles with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Los Angeles had a season-high 12 steals. In Phoenix, DeWanna Bonner scored 25 points, capped by a contested 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer, to lift the Mercury over the Tulsa Shock 87-84. Phoenix struggled to run a final play after a timeout with 23 seconds left and again after a timeout with 5.2 left before getting the ball to Bonner near mid-court. She started right, went left above the key before taking a dribble back to the right and shooting over Karima Christmas. had 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks in just 23 min- Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton. utes as the defeated the 106-82.—AP Anne Donovan