WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 SPORTS

Kiwis win thriller on incorrect Swede in Cup trials

HAMILTON: Three days into qualifying and “completely rubbish” on the Swedish Kiwis enough room. was pretty tight, but we were happy behind two-time defending champion races and there’s already a controversy catamaran, which is crewed mostly by “We were a bit shocked when the with the outcome,” Burling added. “Like Oracle Team USA. in the America’s Cup. A thrilling show- Australians. Turns out their protestations blue light came on,” he said. There were any sport, you’ve got to play to the whis- Struggling Land Rover BAR has three down between two of the top chal- were spot on. In a statement, Richard stunned looks on the crewmembers’ tle.” It was one of the most exciting points, followed by Artemis, SoftBank lengers turned on a penalty Monday, Slater, the chief umpire for the inde- faces after the finish. America’s Cup races in years. Artemis Team Japan and Groupama Team France leaving one crew fighting to keep its 50- pendent America’s Cup Race Slater said that as the boats were also was penalized for being over the with two points apiece. foot foiling catamaran from tipping over, Management, said officials “have had a approaching the gate mark, “our job is to start line early. Still, there were nine lead One challenger will be eliminated and the other crew dumbfounded. discussion, we have looked at other evi- be certain that Artemis Racing were changes on the seven-leg course. after the second round robin, which A few hours later, the chief umpire dence, information and data, and I think keeping clear, and we weren’t at that Artemis and New Zealand don’t have wraps up Saturday. Ainslie would be in released a statement saying the officials if we were to go back in time and make time certain they were keeping clear.” to wait for a rematch. They face off again real trouble if not for bringing in two blew the call. Emirates Team New that call, we would green that call and Emirates Team New Zealand skipper in the opening race of the second round bonus points earned during preliminary Zealand beat Artemis Racing after the not penalize Artemis.” Peter Burling said the Kiwis were looking robin today. regattas. This is the first time the defend- Swedish team was penalized turning Once a call is made, it can’t be to set up a port-starboard at the mark, Earlier Monday, British sailing star er has sailed against challengers in the onto the last leg Monday on Bermuda’s changed. “It was obviously a pretty good but didn’t expect it to be so close. Ben Ainslie, who leads Land Rover BAR, preliminaries. If Oracle wins the quali- Great Sound. Artemis was flagged for a race, such an epic battle, really, the Coming in at high speed, Burling lost his fourth straight race. Land Rover fiers, it will carry a one-point bonus into port-starboard violation and had to slow whole way around,” said Artemis skipper dropped the catamaran off its foils and BAR had a bad mark rounding halfway the first-of-seven America’s Cup match just as it approached the finish line after Nathan Outteridge, an Aussie. “I’m sure buried the starboard bow in the water to through the race and Groupama Team beginning June 17. After the round a short reach across the wind, allowing Pete and the boys enjoyed it as much as slow down. “We were pretty lucky we France went flying past and won by 53 robins, Oracle will practice on its own the Kiwis to win. we did, probably a bit more at the end didn’t end up on our side,” he said. “At 40 seconds. New Zealand finished the first while the challengers sail their semifi- There were protestations of “no way” there.” Outteridge felt Artemis gave the knots, you need room.” “We thought it round robin with four points, one nals and finals.—AP

BASKETBALL Like Shaun Livingston, JaVale McGee perfect fit on Warriors OAKLAND: JaVale McGee practices 3-point- as a passer in that situation literally feel the ers from all around the arch, just in case. He most confidence that if I just get it anywhere sits with assistant coach Jarron Collins and a up there, he’ll go get it, and usually he does.” laptop to study film, long after practice and With great efficiency, too. his shooting workouts are complete. The 7-footer’s rugged professional path EFFICIENT has landed him at seemingly the perfect stop: In Game 3 against the Spurs, McGee in the Bay Area with the NBA’s best. scored a postseason-best 16 points, all in the Just don’t call him a journeyman. first half to get Golden State going as Zaza “I’ve never considered myself a journey- Pachulia sat out with a bruised heel. He man in the first place,” McGee said after a made all seven of his shots in Game 2 of a practice this weekend. “Whatever y’all want to first-round win against Portland, shooting 18 call me y’all can call me. The number of teams for 23 in all in the four-game sweep of the I’ve been on was in like one year. I’ve been Trail Blazers. with three teams in two years.” “That’s my whole thing, I just try to be effi- Yet McGee must not look far to find some- cient out there,” McGee said. “I don’t try to do one else who has learned to thrive as a well- too much. I just try to do what’s necessary for traveled NBA role player. Just a quick glance a me in the minutes that I’m out there.” couple of lockers down to where Shaun Livingston has unselfishly dealt with a dimin- Livingston dresses at Oracle Arena, defying ished role, a rotation change late in the sea- the odds yet again this season as a regular son that altered when he’s used, and then a reserve contributing to another Warriors hand injury in the first round of the playoffs. championship chase, is all it takes. In February 2007 with the Clippers, Livingston McGee has never made it this far, an NBA tore three major ligaments in his knee - the Finals first-timer when Golden State hosts anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medi- defending champion Cleveland in Game 1 on al collateral as well as his lateral meniscus, PITTSBURGH: Conor Sheary #43 of the is defended by Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators in Game One of the Thursday night. Livingston never should have then required extensive surgery. Though the 2017 NHL Final at PPG Paints Arena on Monday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. — AFP made it this far, and here he is back to the injury could have ended his career at age 21, final round seeking his second title in three he still believed he would play again. First he seasons - and 10 years after a devastating had to walk again. NHL injury that could have sidelined him for good. “Shaun, that story isn’t really the same Doctors thought they might have to ampu- now. He’s become a staple of this franchise, tate his left leg. he’s helped us win a title, he’s done some Guentzel’s lifts Penguins Fourteen teams between them, over 21 great things here,” Draymond Green said. “For combined seasons. Each has found a great JaVale, it’s still fresh, to where I think it’s a groove in Golden State’s rotation, called upon great situation for him. He’s finally been put in to take pressure off the big stars while main- a position where he can do what he do. He’s by Predators 5-3 in Game 1 taining the highest level. finally come to an organization, a first-class “We just kind of follow suit, but it’s up to organization, that has embraced him for him PITTSBURGH: This is what the Pittsburgh Nashville was better from the opening faceoff like a repeat of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference everybody to come in and lock in on the and not tried to make him something that Penguins do. They find a way. but Pittsburgh managed to build a quick 3-0 lead finals against Ottawa, when the Penguins poured details. It’s the playoffs,” Livingston said. he’s not. I think that has been pretty special, Even on nights when they blow a three-goal anyway thanks to a fortunate bounce and some in four goals in the first period of a 7-0 rout. “Obviously the stars help, they get all the just seeing his growth over the course of the lead, they go an entire period (and then some) quick thinking by Penguins video coordinator Nashville, unlike the Senators, didn’t bail. They headlines deservedly so, but the small things, year, how he’s been able to thrive. ... It’s spe- without registering a single shot and the opponent Andy Saucier. Part of his job title is to alert coach haven’t at any point during their remarkable run. the details, that’s what we lock in at and cial to see when you take the path that is fresher, quicker and, for long stretches, demon- Mike Sullivan when to challenge a call. The Why start now? that’s how we win ballgames.” McGee has dis- they’ve taken to get to this moment.” strably better. Maybe it’s mystique. Maybe it’s luck. moment came 12:47 into the first when P.K. Ellis scored the first goal by a Predator in a covered the ideal place to shine as an alley- McGee will have to help keep Cleveland’s Maybe it’s a bit of both. What makes the defending Subban sent a slap shot by Murray that appeared Stanley Cup Final 8:21 into the second and oop specialist in a pass-happy offense, and Tristan Thompson off the boards. His team- Stanley Cup champions different from the 29 to give the Predators the lead. Nashville kept Rinne downright bored at the other even Stephen Curry admits it’s so easy to tar- mates know he’s up to the task. “It just speaks other clubs chasing them isn’t the way they domi- Sullivan used his coach’s challenge, arguing end. Pittsburgh didn’t manage a shot on net in the get the sure-handed big man perhaps the to his kind of character and perseverance and nate when they play well. It’s their ability to sur- Nashville forward Filip Forsberg was offside. A second period, the first time it’s happened in a Warriors do so too often at times. “We almost work ethic and his belief in himself that when vive when they don’t. On nights like Monday in lengthy review indicated Forsberg’s right skate was playoff game in franchise history - and the first get in trouble because we try to do it too he’s out there on the floor he deserves to be Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, when a brief early in the air as he brought the puck into a zone, a no- such period by any team in a Final game since the much even if it’s not there, because he has out there on the floor, he belongs and can flurry led to a baffling lull only to end how so many no. “The impact of that moment and then the chain NHL began tracking shots on goal in 1958. the ability to catch it really anywhere around make an impact,” Curry said. “When he games have ended for the Penguins over the last of events that happened after that with the penalty Nashville kept coming. Sissons beat Murray the rim, around the backboard,” Curry showed up here, he understood the opportu- two springs: with the bigger number on the score- kills I think changed the course of the game,” 10:06 into the third and Gaudreau tied it just after a acknowledged. “You kind of see it develop- nity and he’s taken full advantage of it. It’s board next to their name and the guys on the oth- Laviolette said. fruitless Pittsburgh power play. No matter. The ing when he gets a free lane to the rim, and great to see.” —AP er bench wondering how Pittsburgh got away. The decision gave the Penguins all the wiggle Penguins have become chameleons under Again. Rookie Jake Guentzel fired a shot by room they needed to take charge. Malkin scored Sullivan. They can win with both firepower and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne with 3:17 left in regulation on a 5-on-3 15:32 into the first, Sheary’s first of the precision. Guentzel slipped one by Rinne with 3:17 to put the Penguins head to stay in a flat-out weird playoffs made it 2-0 just 65 seconds later and when to go in regulation and Bonino added an empty 5-3 victory. “None of us in our dressing room is Bonino’s innocent centering pass smacked off netter to give Pittsburgh early control of the series. fooled by the score tonight,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm’s left knee “We didn’t do a great job of (shooting), but we Sullivan said. and by Rinne just 17 seconds before the end of the made them count,” Crosby said. “But it was a good Game 2 is tonight in Pittsburgh. The Penguins period, Pittsburgh was in full command. It looked finish there to get that one from Jake.” — AP were outshot 26-12 and went 37 minutes without managing to get one puck on Rinne, the best goalie in the playoffs and the main reason the Predators are on their sport’s biggest stage for the NHL’s international plan first time. And yet it didn’t matter. When Guentzel ended an eight-game goalless includes China but not Olympics drought and Nick Bonino picked up his second goal on an empty-netter , the Penguins were in PITTSBURGH: The NHL is heading to Asia “We have an expectation that none of our control as they try to become the first team since next season. Just not the Olympics. players are going,” he said. “But I don’t want to Detroit in 1998 to win back-to-back Cups. “It’s not Commissioner Gary Bettman emphatically get into the gymnastics involved in what that textbook,” said Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, reasserted the league will not take a break means. There’s no reason to pick that fight who picked up two assists. “We’ve got some things next February to participate in the 2018 right now.” PHILADELPHIA: In this Feb 27, 2017, file photo, Golden State Warriors’ JaVale McGee we need to improve on.” Winter Games in South Korea next February. The league is hardly abandoning efforts to plays during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers The Penguins will have the luxury of doing it The league previously announced it would expand its global footprint. The league will in Philadelphia.—AP with the lead. Conor Sheary scored his first of the skip going to Pyeongchang earlier this spring, host events on three continents during the playoffs and Evgeni Malkin collected his eighth . a point Bettman bluntly reiterated on Monday 2017-18 season. The Vancouver Canucks and The Penguins won despite putting just 12 shots on just hours before Pittsburgh and Nashville met Los Angeles Kings will play a pair of exhibition goal. Matt Murray finished with 23 saves for the in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. games in China in September. Ottawa and Betts a winner as Penguins, who used the first coach’s challenge in “(We’ve seen) a number of comments from Colorado will meet in a regular season game Final history to wipe out an early Nashville goal the (International Federation) and in Stockholm in November and Tampa will and held on despite their astonishing shot player reps suggesting it was still an open host to the All-Star game for the second time Vikings edge Rhinos drought. “I think at the end of the day we’re up 1-0,” issue, it is not and has not been,” Bettman said. next January. Bonino said. “We had a good first, we had a terrible IIHF President Rene Fasel said the governing The Canucks and Kings will play in second and we were terrible in the third. I don’t body was touching base with the NHL Players’ Shanghai on Sept. 21 and in Beijing on Sept. LEEDS: Denis Betts’ nerves may have been coach for seven years. “I had the ‘here we go think it’s Xs and Os. We’ve got to work harder, com- Association two or three times per week, hop- 23. Beijing will welcome the world for the cut to ribbons as the pendulum swung this again’ feeling. We just needed to win this tight pete a little harder, but we got some timely goals.” ing to work out a solution. Lee Hee-beom, 2022 Winter Olympics, yet Bettman said the way and that during Widnes Vikings’ clash one. Leeds are a pretty good side. “They had Ryan Ellis, Colton Sissons and Frederick head of the Pyeongchang Organizing commit- topic of NHL players tagging along never with Leeds Rhinos on Monday. no Danny Maguire but not many more (play- Gaudreau scored for the Predators. Rinne stopped tee, said in London earlier this month he was came up. However, the Widnes coach was in the end ers missing), so this is a fantastic win for us. just seven shots. “It was a different game,” Rinne “ready to cooperate” with the NHL to make “I think the focus is more about long-term able to celebrate his team pulling off an “Ryan Ince is a great finisher-he just loves said. “I can’t remember facing that kind of game sure the best players in the world could partic- developing the sport, not what happens for almighty upset with a fine 28-20 victory. scoring tries. “He just puts the blinkers on and before.” ipate in the games as they’ve done in every two weeks in 2022,” Bettman said. Other take- Bottom-of-the-table Vikings earned only goes for it. “He’s a product of the system the The Penguins had all of three days to get ready Winter Olympics since 1998. aways from Bettman’s annual state-of-the- their second Super League victory of the sea- RFL told us to forget five years ago. We kept for the final following a draining slog through the Nope. league address: son-their first since they edged out St Helens on with it and we’re doing bringing local Eastern Conference that included a pair of Game 7 While saying the NHL is not “anti-Olympics,” 16-14 on April 21 — with a dramatic triumph players through.” victories, the second a double-overtime thriller Bettman said league owners are no longer VEGAS BABY over third-placed Leeds. The lead changed His Leeds counterpart Brian McDermott against Ottawa last Thursday. interested in having their arenas go dark in The expansion Las Vegas Knights will have hands three times in the final 10 minutes as said he could have no complaints about the Maybe, but the Penguins looked a step behind the middle of winter while some of their best 72 hours - and not the initially announced 48 - both teams went hammer and tongs but outcome. “I have to give Widnes massive at the outset. The Predators, who crashed the NHL’s employees traveled to the other side of the to review each team’s protected list. Deputy Betts’ players outgunned their high-flying credit. Denis Betts has asked for a reaction biggest stage for the first time behind Rinne and a world, particularly if the International Olympic Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is “very opponents six scores to four, with Ryan Ince from his players and he got one,” said group of talented defenseman, were hardly intimi- Committee wants no part of picking up the pleased” with the city’s response to the arrival and Corey Thompson both bagging braces. McDermott. At the other end of the table, dated by the stakes, the crowd or the defending insurance cost. of its first major professional sports franchise. The former Wigan and Great Britain star sec- Castleford Tigers ensured they stayed two champions, trying to become the first repeat win- Bettman said the league “never negotiated” ond row forward admitted Monday’s clash points clear at the top of the tree with a dom- ner since Detroit in 1998. All the guys from with the IOC, saying the league didn’t have UNDER REVIEW wasn’t good for the heart but the final result inant 38-0 victory at Leigh Centurions. “Smashville” have to show for it is their first deficit “the appetite to continue participation.” There are no plans to expand what is cov- made it all worth it. Former Brisbane Broncos man Greg Eden of the playoffs on a night a fan threw a catfish onto Some players, like Washington star ered by the newly introduced coach’s chal- “It was one of those bizarre situations stole the show as he ran in a scorching four- the ice to try and give the Predators a taste of Alexander Ovechkin, have indicated they will lenge but Bettman said the league is thinking where I was feeling a bit aggrieved in some of try haul, which included a five-minute hat- home. “I thought our guys played a great game,” play for their home countries regardless of about using a clock to limit the window on the things we’d done or not done to close the trick, but Castleford head coach Daryl Powell Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. “We hate the whether the league takes a break or not. when coaches can alert officials they want a game out-and then we score two tries,” said was most enthused with his side’s defensive score. We hate the result but we’ll move forward.” Bettman doesn’t see that happening. play reviewed.—AP the 47-year-old, who has been Vikings head prowess. —AFP