P18 Layout 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 SPORTS Britain reach summit on Murray’s broad shoulders GHENT: Incredibly, improbably, Britain will the United States, France and Australia, when he won the competition for the first second singles. Again Murray needed to put after that Murray is due to become a father end the year as world champions of tennis Murray featured in all but one of them. time.Rafa Nadal had David Ferrer in 2011 in a triple shift. Ward did crucially beat John for the first time with wife Kim. The indica- after beating Belgium in the Davis Cup final, Take him out and perennial under- and 2009, while the current world number Isner in the first round win against the tions are that he will play, but after that, with but that grand title rests squarely on the achievers Britain would still be scrapping one Novak Djokovic had Viktor Troicki and United States in the March, but other than grand slams and an Olympics squeezed in, shoulders of one extraordinary player. The with the also-rans, as they were in 2010 Janko Tipsarevic in 2010. that it has been the ‘Murray Show’. Just as it not to mention the obligatory Masters Series 115-year-old event is held up as the sport’s when Leon Smith took over as Davis Cup has been since a World Group playoff events, Britain could have to take their most prestigious team competition, but captain and needed to beat Turkey to avoid ‘Murray Show’ against Croatia in September 2013. Murray chances without their talisman. never has one individual been so instru- falling into the fourth tier of the competi- Deprived of those two for company in has since been involved in 18 of Britain’s 21 “The timing is really what’s the issue mental in winning it as two-times grand tion. Admittedly, even before Murray fixed 2013, Djokovic was on the losing side in the winning rubbers. because the players, they put so much effort slam champion and Olympic gold medallist his sights on Davis Cup glory and commit- final against the Czech Republic despite It begs questions about the format, into the grand slams, the Davis Cup comes Andy Murray was this year. The 28-year-old ted 100 percent to the cause in 2013, winning two rubbers. Which makes Murray’s whether or not a team event can be so dom- immediately after them, you’re pretty tired Scot won all three of his matches in Ghent, Smith’s galvanising influence had already feat even more incredible. Against Belgium, inated by one player. Should Murray opt out at the end of the slams,” Murray, who has two singles and a doubles with brother begun to have an effect. The likes of James Britain’s second singles player, rookie Kyle next year, as Federer and Wawrinka did this played 104 matches this year, said after Jamie in between. The final scoreline could Ward and Dan Evans were edging Britain Edmund, was ranked 100 in the world. In year, Britain’s reign will be a short one. The beating David Goffin. just as well have been added to the record back towards the higher echelons, but to the semi-final, when Murray also won two gap behind him in Britain is a yawning one, “Most of the top players are going right books as ‘Dunblane 3 Belgium 1’. cut it in the World Group a country usually singles and the doubles with Jamie, 183rd- even if Slovenian-convert Aljaz Bedene gets through to the end of the majors. Slams are Of the 12 rubbers Britain won en route to needs one special player together with ranked Evans was the singles back-up. In clearance to represent his adopted country. stressful, they’re draining, physically and their first Davis Cup title for 79 years, a run some top-class back-up. Swiss Roger the quarter-finals against a talent-laden Britain kick off the defence of their title as mentally. I think that’s where the issue is a lit- that included wins over the heavyweights Federer had Stanislas Wawrinka last year French outfit, 156th-ranked Ward played top seeds at home to Japan in March, soon tle bit.” — Reuters Bryant to retire at end of season LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant has decided to to hang it up. ... I thought he probably had at by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the retire after this season, ending his 20-year career least another year, but this year isn’t over.” Lakers. Although he won the dunk contest at with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 37-year-old Bryant is the NBA’s highest-paid player this All-Star weekend as a rookie, his Lakers didn’t Bryant made the announcement in a post on season with a $25 million salary bestowed on become title contenders until coach Phil The Players’ Tribune on Sunday, writing a poem him by grateful Lakers owner Jim Buss despite Jackson arrived in 1999 and built a three-time titled “Dear Basketball.” his recent injury problems. champion around Kobe and Shaq. “My heart can take the pounding. My mind Bryant’s presence guarantees wild crowds Bryant made a fourth NBA Finals appearance can handle the grind. But my body knows it’s wherever the Lakers play. He has been tireless- in 2004 despite his preseason arrest for sexual time to say goodbye,” wrote Bryant, the third- ly devoted to the franchise, repeatedly declar- assault and subsequent legal proceedings that leading scorer in NBA history. “And that’s OK. I’m ing he would never play for another NBA team sometimes required him to fly from Colorado to ready to let you go. I want you to know now. So in his final seasons despite the Lakers’ whole- Los Angeles on game days. The assault case we both can savor every moment we have left sale rebuilding process following the disas- against Bryant was dropped in September 2004, together. The good and the bad. We have given trous 2012-13 season with Dwight Howard but his acknowledged poor behavior affected each other all that we have.” and Steve Nash. his reputation and endorsement deals for Bryant went straight from high school in sub- But Bryant’s departure will allow the years. urban Philadelphia to the Lakers in 1996, and he Lakers to split between the past and Bryant scored 81 points against earned five championship rings and 17 All-Star the future, with young prospects Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006, the sec- selections during two decades with the fran- Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and ond highest-scoring performance MEMPHIS: Philadelphia 76ers guard JaKarr Sampson (9) tries to control the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jeff Green (32) in the first half of an NBA basket- chise - the longest tenure with one team in NBA Jordan Clarkson taking on leading in NBA history behind Wilt ball game Sunday, in Memphis. — AP history. The top scorer in Lakers history also won roles rather than deferring to their Chamberlain’s 100-point game. two Olympic gold medals. superstar teammate. The Lakers struggled until Gasol But Bryant’s last three seasons have ended General manager Mitch Kupchak arrived via trade in 2008 and they Grizzlies send early due to injuries, and he played in only 41 has spent his entire career building appeared in the next three NBA games over the previous two years. He has rosters around Bryant, but the Finals, winning two. —AP struggled mightily in the first 15 games of this executive acknowledged season with mostly young teammates on a frustration with the 76ers to 18th rebuilding roster, making a career-worst 32 per- Lakers’ incredible cent of his shots and dealing with pain and struggles in exhaustion every day. Bryant’s final straight loss The Lakers (2-13) hosted the Indiana Pacers two sea- on Sunday night, and fans arriving at Staples sons. LOS ANGELES: Zach Randolph posted a Nets 87, Pistons 83 Center received a letter from Bryant in a black double-double while point Mike Conley Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and envelope embossed with gold. scored a game-high 20 points as the grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn to a “What you’ve done for me is far greater than Memphis Grizzlies defeated Philadelphia, come-from-behind victory over Detroit. anything I’ve done for you,” Bryant wrote. “I knew that each minute of each game I wore sending the 76ers to their 18th consecu- Brook Lopez shook off a horrid start to purple and gold. I honor it as I play today and tive loss this season. The 76ers tied the score 15 points for the Nets, including one for the rest of this season. My love for this city, NBAís mark for most losses to begin a clutch free throw with 29.8 seconds left. The this team and for each of you will never fade. season, set in 2009 by the New Jersey win was just the third in the last nine games Thank you for this incredible journey.” In recent Nets. It was Philadelphiaís 28th consecu- for the Nets and snapped a three-game los- months, Bryant repeatedly said he didn’t know tive defeat dating back to last season, the ing streak. The Pistons got 20 points and 18 whether he would play another season, clearly longest by a team in any major North rebounds from Andre Drummond. hoping for a rebound in his health and the American sport. Lakers’ fortunes. As has happened several times during Magic 110, Celtics 91 Neither has happened, and the ever-impa- the streak, the 76ers could not hold a Victor Oladipo had 19 points, eight tient Bryant didn’t wait any longer to decide his fourth-quarter lead.