THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 SPORTS Phil Mickelson splits with long-time caddie

LOS ANGELES: Phil Mickelson, a five- relationship,” Mickelson said. “Our deci- 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013. tionships don’t often last that long. I will congratulate him.” Mickelson showed he time major winner and three-time sion is not based on a single incident. We Mickelson’s younger brother Tim, who always be grateful that I was around to can still contend in majors, finishing sec- Masters champion, announced Tuesday just feel it’s the right time for a change.” filled in for a day when Mackay was sick witness so much of Phil’s career.” ond to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson last July he has split with caddie Jim “Bones” Mickelson has not won a title since at a World Golf Championships event in Mickelson’s success made Mackay’s in a British Open thriller. Now he must do Mackay after working together for 25 the 2013 British Open, his fifth major Mexico earlier this year, will take over as dream come true. “When Phil hired me in so without Mackay. “My relationship and years and 41 professional triumphs. crown after the 2005 PGA Championship the caddie for “Lefty” for the remainder of 1992, I had one dream: to caddie in a history with Bones far exceeds golf,” The 47-year-old lefthander and the and the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters. the season starting with his next event, Ryder Cup. Last year, at Hazeltine, Phil Mickelson said, saying he looks to for- bagman he met at 1992 US Open section- Denying him a career Grand Slam is a the PGA Greenbrier Classic on July 6-9. played in his 11th straight Ryder Cup. It ward to “sharing life and friendship” for- al qualifying in Memphis parted ways as US Open triumph and Mickelson with- “After an amazing 25-year run, Phil was so cool to have a front-row seat,” ever. Mickelson won his first PGA event friends, each releasing a statement saying drew from last week’s edition of the event and I have mutually decided to go our Mackay said. “I wish Phil nothing but the in 1991 at Tucson, Arizona, as an amateur as much. “After 25 very rewarding and to attend his daughter’s graduation. separate ways,” said Mackay, who this best. His game is still at an elite level, and before meeting Mackay, the only one of memorable years, Bones and I have mutu- Mickelson has finished as a US Open run- year has been recovering from a double when he wins in the future (definitely his 42 career tour titles to come without ally decided to end our player-caddie ner-up a record six times, including 1999, knee replacement. “Player-caddie rela- the Masters), I will be among the first to “Bones” on his bag. — AFP

CRICKET Greats lament ‘sad day’ as Kohli topples Kumble

NEW DELHI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar ences between Virat and Anil. But it is a really analyser than @anilkumble 1074 on Indn hori- lamented a “sad day” after Anil Kumble stepped sad day for Indian cricket,” Gavaskar told NDTV. zon (we are) ignorant really!” down as India coach over a rift with captain Virat “India have won everything since the time Kumble, 46, had already appeared headed for Kohli, leaving the hotseat vacant once again. Anil took over,” he added. “I can’t see Anil doing the exit after the Board of Control for Cricket in Kumble said Tuesday his position was “unten- much wrong in one year. Differences (can) hap- India (BCCI) advertised for a new coach last able” after Kohli questioned his leadership style pen in any team but see the results.” month, although he was an automatic candi- and told the Indian board he had reservations India suffered a humiliating defeat to date. Former India opener Virender Sehwag and about the spin legend extending his one-year Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final on Australia’s Tom Moody are reported to be among stay. Since Duncan Fletcher left in March 2015, Sunday, but Kumble also helped them reclaim the possible replacements for Kumble, whose India, currently the world’s top Test team, have the number-one Test ranking and maintained an contract ran out after the Champions Trophy. struggled for stability with Ravi Shastri and unblemished record in five Test series. PHILADELPHIA: In this March 29, 2017, file photo, Atlanta Hawks’ Dwight Howard pre- Sanjay Bangar both taking on temporary roles Former India captain and coach Bishan Singh KING KUMBLE pares to shoot a free throw during the team’s NBA basketball game against the before Kumble’s reign. Bedi also signalled his disappointment, tweet- Sehwag, who seems to be the frontrunner Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte “I have very little knowledge about the differ- ing: “If there’s more intelligent/committed Crkt for the job, believes it would be tough for any- Hornets have reached an agreement to acquire center Howard from the Hawks. — AP one to match Kumble’s success as coach. “The way this Indian team has performed BASKETBALL under his coaching, I doubt whether anybody else will be able to replicate his success,” Sehwag told UC News, an online data provider. Atlanta Hawks send center “I don’t know about his coaching style but as a player, as an individual and as a senior he is Dwight Howard to Hornets just brilliant,” said Sehwag, who played under Kumble’s Test captaincy. Sambit Bal, editor in ATLANTA: Dwight Howard’s Atlanta eliminated in the first round for the first chief of ESPNCricinfo.com, said the manner of homecoming was short-lived. The Hawks time since 2014. Following the season, Kumble’s exit set an unwelcome precedent for sent Howard and the No. 31 overall pick in coach Mike Budenholzer resigned his addi- Indian cricket. “I think that sets a bad precedent today’s NBA draft to Charlotte for center tional role as president of basketball opera- really... it’s really a case where the BCCI has Miles Plumlee, shooting guard Marco tions and Wes Wilcox stepped down as backed the captain over the coach,” he said. “The Belinelli and the 41st pick, getting the deal general manager. The Howard trade is the message is sent out to the next coach: fall into completed late Tuesday night. first deal for new Hawks GM Travis Schlenk, line or else,” added Bal. Howard, an eight-time All-Star and who faces the difficult challenge of re-sign- A three-man panel of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav three-time NBA Defensive Player of the ing free-agent forward Paul Millsap. Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who picked Kumble in Year, will be playing for his third team in “It is extremely important for our organi- June last year, will deliberate over Kumble’s three seasons following a disappointing zation that we maintain our flexibility and replacement. As well as Sehwag and Moody, one-year return to his Atlanta hometown. this trade helps us achieve that critical reports say other candidates are Englishman “We are excited to add a player of goal,” Schlenk said. “We appreciate the con- Richard Pybus, who has coached Pakistan and Dwight’s stature to our roster,” Charlotte tributions that Dwight made on the court Bangladesh, former India manager Lalchand general manager Rich Cho said. “He has and in the greater Atlanta community this Rajput and ex-paceman Dodda Ganesh. been a very talented player, an elite past season.” Howard, 31, is due to earn An Indian Express column said the pressures rebounder and rim protector as well as a $23.5 million each of the next two seasons. of modern cricket demanded a “strong chain of physical presence since the moment he Plumlee, 28, still has three years remaining entered the league. Howard’s best seasons on his contract at $12.5 million per season. LONDON: This photograph taken on May 26, 2017 shows India’s head coach Anil Kumble command”. “Giving veto powers to the captain came alongside coach Steve Clifford and Belinelli, 31, is set to earn $6.6 million in attending a practice session at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on May 26, 2017 ahead of the and players over coaches sits at odds with the we believe their familiarity will make an the final year of his deal. start of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament. Batting great Sunil Gavaskar direction cricket is moving in,” the column said. immediate impact for the Hornets this Michael Jordan’s Hornets have been lamented a “sad day” yesterday after Anil Kumble stepped down as India coach over a rift with “Indian cricket has once again endorsed that upcoming season.” Clifford was an assistant attempting to land a star player for quite captain Virat Kohli, leaving the hotseat vacant once again. —AFP captain is more important than a coach,” it added. —AFP with Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers some time and Howard potentially gives during Howard’s stints with those teams. them that if he can return to playing at a “I’m excited about working with Dwight high level. Point guard Kemba Walker has again,” Clifford said. “He brings a defensive developed into an All-Star, but Nicolas Cavaliers in chaos after GM mindset, shot blocking ability and a level of Batum struggled last season after being physicality that will be a huge asset for us. handed a $120 million, five-year contract - We look forward to him continuing his the largest ever given to a Hornets player. leaves on eve of pivotal summer career here in Charlotte.” The trade also satisfies the Hornets’ Howard signed a three-year, $70.5 mil- search for a true center since losing Al CLEVELAND: Nothing ever seems good enough lion deal with Atlanta and then sat out the Jefferson to free agency last summer. They having James and All-Star guard Kyrie Irving on reciprocation. When Atlanta and Orlando asked per- fourth quarter in two of six playoff games had hoped that Roy Hibbert would fill the for Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Not a champi- the roster to build around and Gilbert’s deep mission to speak with Griffin about their open GM onship. Not three straight appearances in the NBA in the Hawks’ first-round loss to role of a rim protector, but injuries slowed pockets, he pulled off the blockbuster trade for positions during the playoffs, Gilbert denied it, Washington. Howard’s averages with the him down and he was eventually traded to Finals. Not a rapt fan base. Not being forgiven by Kevin Love, fired coach David Blatt and replaced depriving Griffin from some options in case things LeBron James. He’s demanding. A fearless, risk- Hawks - 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds - Milwaukee in a midseason deal that him with Tyronn Lue. He also plugged holes didn’t work out in Cleveland and stripping him of were close to his production in his last of brought Plumlee to Charlotte. Plumlee taking, casino-owning gambler. Those attributes with veterans such as Richard Jefferson, whatever leverage he had. have made him a billionaire businessman, a three seasons with Houston in 2015-16. wasn’t much of a contributor last season for Channing Frye and Kyle Korver. Griffin had fretted over the Cavaliers’ mad- Still, he finished the season unhappy about Charlotte and he was beset by injuries. The tough boss to please and the reason why the No, not everything worked out. Griffin, dening inconsistency in the second half of the Cavaliers are in a current state of chaos. Following his diminished role in the playoffs, when he Hornets traded away their first-round draft though, nurtured a championship culture and regular season, but the team found its stride in averaged eight points and 10.7 rebounds. pick in 2016 to acquire Belinelli after losing a loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals helped deliver Cleveland its first title since 1964. the playoffs and swept Indiana and Toronto in and facing a pivotal offseason for his franchise, “It was very difficult. I want to play,” Courtney Lee and Jeremy Lin in free James may have carried the Cavaliers. Griffin the first two rounds. Cleveland then took down Howard said after the season. “I want to be agency. Belinelli played in 74 games last Gilbert decided Monday to part ways with gener- built them. There were growing signs in recent top seed Boston in five games to win its third al manager David Griffin, the architect of the on the floor. I want to make an impact. You season and averaged 10.5 points per game months that Griffin’s run as GM would end after straight Eastern Conference title and earn a third can’t do it on the bench.” The Hawks were on 42.9 percent shooting. — AP most successful run in team history. three seasons. First off, Gilbert has never signed matchup with the Warriors. Gilbert, who has gone through four GMs in any of his previous GMs to an extension, elect- Afterward, before the Cavaliers were pre- 12 years in Cleveland, made the risky move as ing to move on to the next person in his chain of sented with their silver conference trophy, the Cavaliers are trying to revamp their roster command once their contracts expired. Griffin had to be talked into joining the players ATHLETICS while James’ free-agency clock is ticking down Unlike Lue, Griffin did not receive a contract on the podium. Watching the video now, it’s as toward next summer when his contract expires. extension last summer as Cleveland basked in if Griffin knows his fate. “We’ve been blessed There’s confusion in Cleveland. the glow of its championship. Griffin was among with incredible ownership that was willing to Kenya faces change of the lowest paid top executives in the league, do whatever it took to keep this group togeth- WHAT ELSE IS NEW? and while he didn’t publicly complain about his er, and to add to this group,” Griffin told TNT’s guard in London trials This is a team that has flourished amid disor- salary, the fact that he wasn’t rewarded by Ernie Johnson. “They love each other like broth- der, and the Cavaliers are in disarray again days Gilbert was a large crack in a foundation that ers and that’s what we were trying to create NAIROBI: Kenya’s reigning athletics world final against his old rival, Ferguson Rotich. after having their title snatched by Kevin Durant was splitting apart quickly. Griffin did all he could from the beginning.” It’s someone else’s turn to champions face a tough challenge from a The race will also feature two teenagers- and the Warriors. Just last week, Gilbert had said to please Gilbert, but there didn’t seem to be much keep it going.— AP crop of young runners as the country pre- Kipyegon Bett and Willy Tarbei who scored he was happy with the direction of the team and pares to choose the team to defend their title stunning victories in the Shanghai didn’t envision sweeping changes. But he and in London. Athletes will gather in Nairobi Diamond League and at the Racers Grand Griffin’s vision for the future didn’t align and they tomorrow and Saturday for national trials Prix in Jamaica in May and early June. mutually agreed to separate. “We are now at a ahead of the August world athletics champi- Tarbei, a former 800m World Under-18 point where the fit is not right for us to continue onships, two years after Kenya’s victory in champion and regular training mate of with one another,” Griffin said in a statement Beijing with 16 medals, including seven golds. Rudisha, handed the world record-holder that sounded like something he might say about While Kenya’s track team has been his second defeat of the season at the a player being released. known to peak for the big occasion, as evi- Usain Bolt invitational meeting in Kingston The timing of Griffin’s exit couldn’t be worse. denced in Beijing, a shake-up among the on June 11. Kenyan athletes remain on the The Cavaliers are preparing for today’s draft team, race fatigue and ongoing concerns watchlist by the World Anti-Doping Agency without any picks and they are reportedly over doping will loom large over the trials. (WADA), which means the runners have exploring trades to land either Paul George or Reigning world champions Ezekiel come under a lot of scrutiny from Athletics Jimmy Butler in an attempt to add another All- Kemboi, Asbel Kiprop and David Rudisha Kenya (AK) and the International Star and close the gap on Golden State. are hoping to make the team, but have Federations of Athletics Federations. And they may need to placate James, who struggled to hold up against a new crop of Top athletes, including javelin world praised Griffin while seeming to take a swipe at Kenyan runners this season. champion Julius Yego have complained Gilbert late Monday on Twitter . After mending “The season is only two-and-a-half that the authorities are paying too much their relationship following a messy split in 2010, months old but from the results we have attention to the issue of doping at the James and Gilbert may have more work to do. seen so far we are likely to be seeing a tran- expense of the athletes’ training pro- “If no one appreciated you Griff I did, and sitional change in Kenyan athletics,” says grammes. But AK chief Jackson Tuwei hopefully all the people of Cleveland!” James veteran athletics journalist Peter Njenga. warned that the athletes seeking selection posted. “Thanks for what u did for the team for 3 “Kemboi has won the world title for four to the world championships must meet yrs! We got us 1(trophy).” consecutive years, and from the way he ran several requirements, including attending On Tuesday, Gilbert met with former All-Star at the Rome Diamond League, finishing anti-doping seminars organised by the guard Chauncey Billups about a job in 17th, shows he’s past his prime. Kenya Anti-Doping Agency.. Cleveland’s front office, a person familiar with “Rudisha, likewise, at 28 is not growing “We are not yet out of the woods on this the talks told the AP on condition of anonymity. younger either. He has had his time and he issue of doping. Therefore the seminars are Billups, who has known Gilbert for years, does is struggling to get back to his old form” not optional. There are important condi- not have any executive experience so it’s unlike- said Njenga. Rudisha, the two-time 800m tions required for each athlete to meet ly he would replace Griffin. It’s more likely Billups world and Olympic champion had asked to before the entries to the world champi- would serve as an operations president and PHOENIX: In this May 9, 2016, file photo, Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi smiles as she speaks be exempted from competing at the trials onships in London,” Tuwei said. “Each ath- serve alongside a new GM. during a news conference at the team’s basketball media day, in Phoenix. Still thriving at 35, a and qualify on a wildcard, but his request lete is required to be tested three times Griffin’s impact on the Cavaliers can’t be case could be made that the Phoenix Mercury guard is the greatest player in women’s basket- was turned down by Athletics Kenya, and before taking part in the world champi- understated. While he did have the luxury of ball history. —AP he is set to compete in Friday’s first semi- onships.” —AFP