Lebron Delivers on Promise, Leads Cavaliers to NBA Title

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Tuesday, June 21, 2016 NBA Ramadan 16, 1437 AH LeBron delivers on GULF TIMES promise, leads Cavaliers to title SPORT Page 6 CROATIA VS SPAIN 10PM Eyes on troublesome fans as Croatia meet Spain Although Spain have already qualified, they want to win the group and meet a third-placed team in the last 16

Croatia’s midfielder Ivan Rakitic (right) arrives to attend a training session in Deauville, France. (AFP) Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque speaks to his players during a training session at Complexe Sportif Marcel Gaillard in Saint Martin de Re, France. (Reuters)

Reuters expected to make an announcement on After the teams returned to the pitch, haviour from fans. “We lost our pace when play was hold our own against them. We have to Bordeaux its probe into their behaviour later yes- Croatia’s players felt their concentra- Three of Spain’s followers were ar- suspended because of our supporters,” impose ourselves and make them worry terday. tion had been disturbed, which con- rested in Nice for carrying neo-Nazi midfi elder Ivan Rakitic told reporters. about us.” UEFA opened disciplinary proceed- tributed to the Czechs scoring a late banners, and another three for trying On Sunday he preferred to talk about That will be more diffi cult if Croatia’s hen Croatia meet Spain in ings after Croatia fans threw fl ares equaliser with a penalty. to bring fl ares into the stadium ahead of the pleasure and apprehension of fac- infl uential playmaker Luka Modric is their fi nal Euro 2016 group and ran on to the pitch during their That means instead of already hav- the match against Turkey. ing friends and teammates from Bar- unfi t, as expected, placing even greater match today there will be opening Group D game, a 1-0 win ing qualifi ed for the last 16 along with The Croatian FA’s security offi cer celona in the Spain team, like Andres importance on Rakitic’s role. as much scrutiny of devel- against Turkey. Spain, Croatia still require a point from said on Saturday they had told UEFA Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Although Spain have already quali- Wopments in the stands as on the pitch. Then Friday’s 2-2 draw with the today’s game, adding to the tension of and the police there would be a planned “I’ve spoken to them a bit,” he told fi ed, they want to win the group and The wilder element of the Croatian Czech Republic was halted with four the occasion. demonstration near the end of the a news conference. “We know it’s go- meet a third-placed team in the last 16. supporters have caused trouble at both minutes to play when supporters again The Spaniards, however, have not Czech game and they have further in- ing to be tough because we are aware of Losing to Croatia would mean coming of the country’s games so far and Eu- threw fl ares and fought among them- been blameless in a tournament which formation about today’s match, which their individual and team quality. second and facing Italy, the winners of ropean soccer’s ruling body UEFA was selves. has seen several incidents of bad be- they will pass to the authorities. “But we have to show that we can Group E.

NORTHERN IRELAND VS GERMANY 7PM Mueller steels Germany for Northern Ireland scrap AFP without question that we’re favourites a fi rst major tournament success since Paris against Northern Ireland. I would take a the 1982 World Cup in Spain and for- tough win and tolerate what is written.” ward Jamie Ward says it has given his With Goetze having been withdrawn side belief that they can hustle the Ger- homas Mueller has defended after 66 minutes against Poland in mans out of their stride. Germany’s misfi ring forwards Paris, Gomez could be handed his fi rst “We know what Germany are all about ahead of their pivotal fi nal Euro start of the tournament in place of the and they have some of the best players in 2016 Group C game against under-performing Bayern forward. the world,” said the Nottingham Forest NorthernT Ireland today. player. “We respect them, but do not fear The world champions opened their ‘WE DON’T FEAR THEM’ them. Our game is all about working hard campaign with a scratchy 2-0 win over Jerome Boateng is expected to keep his and not giving people time on the ball. Ukraine and then drew 0-0 with Po- place at centre-back despite a bruised That might be diff erent to what Germany land, leaving them needing at least a hip, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is have experienced before. point from their last pool match in Paris again likely to start on the bench as he “We know we will not dominate pos- to be sure of a place in the next round. builds up fi tness following a knee liga- session. Our strength is pressing and Mario Goetze, who has been de- ment injury. making life diffi cult for our opponents.” ployed as a ‘false nine’, is still to fi nd Regardless of Poland’s result against Coach O’Neill made fi ve changes for the net, while playmaker Mesut Ozil eliminated Ukraine in Marseille, the win over Ukraine and must decide has been criticised by former Germany Northern Ireland need to win at Parc whether to restore Kyle Laff erty — his midfi elder Mehmet Scholl, but Mueller des Princes if they are to secure one of top scorer in qualifying — to the start- cites the defensive tactics his team have the two automatic qualifying spots. ing XI after Conor Washington took his faced as a mitigating factor. Germany’s striker Mario Goetze (left) warms up with his teammates during a training session in Paris yesterday. (AFP) But with three points in the bag al- place in Lyon. “They (Northern Ireland) will put ready following Thursday’s 2-0 win The Irish Football Association has a lot of players around their own pen- you have to be realistic.” football” over winning. “You have rarely been impressed over Ukraine, Michael O’Neill’s side requested permission for Northern Ire- alty area and when 11 players defend Former Germany captain Michael Mueller, Germany’s top scorer at the with our results, apart from the 7-1 could qualify as one of the four best land’s players to wear black armbands together, it is never a walk in the park,” Ballack has taken Goetze and fellow 2014 World Cup, is also yet to get off against Brazil (in the World Cup semi- third-place sides even if they lose. in memory of 62-year-old supporter said the Bayern Munich star. striker Mario Gomez to task over their the mark in France, but he believes that fi nals),” he told reporters. The win in Lyon, courtesy of second- Robert Rainey, who died after report- “I do not expect that it’ll be a shoot- shortcomings in attack and has accused criticism of the team’s displays to date “We expect a good performance, half goals by Gareth McAuley and Ni- edly suff ering a heart attack during the ing fest for us. I wish it would be, but Loew’s side of prioritising “beautiful has been excessive. but we can’t guarantee the result. It’s all McGinn, earned Northern Ireland game against Ukraine. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 EURO 2016

UKRAINE VS POLAND 7PM CZECH REPUBLIC VS TURKEY 10PM Turkey hope Poland wary of to seize last chance wounded Ukraine against Czechs

Reuters and in a good position to make Lille the last 16. Spain, who have already quali- as they eye last 16 fi ed for the knockout stages with urkey have left it late two wins in their fi rst two games, to bid for a place in face a Croatia side looking for the Poland have not beaten Ukraine in their last five meetings the knockout stage of win that would guarantee their Euro 2016 but defender progression in the tournament. TGokhan Gonul believes they still The Czech Republic and Reuters Marseille have a chance, if they can beat a Turkey claimed away victo- buoyant Czech side in their fi nal ries against one another in a Group D game today. topsy-turvy qualifying group oland, bidding to reach the Eu- “There is a thing the Turk- that the Czechs won, with Ice- ropean Championship knockout ish national team always does, land coming second and the stages for the fi rst time, will take which is chasing the game until Turks qualifying directly as the nothing for granted when they the last minute,” the 31-year-old best third-placed team, while a Pface neighbours Ukraine in their fi nal defender said. much-fancied Netherlands side Euro 2016 Group C match today. “Again we have left it until the missed out altogether. Ukraine lost their fi rst two games and last game, maybe we don’t have “Turkey are a very strong side, cannot progress but Poland, second in much of a chance this time, but they have a lot of good play- the standings after beating Northern we will still do our very best and ers who play for top teams,” said Ireland 1-0 in their opening match, will hopefully, with the help of some Czech forward Tomas Necid. reach the last 16 if they overcome their luck, we can defeat the Czech “As a team, they have good co-hosts of Euro 2012. Republic and go through.” link-up play and plenty of fl air.” “Third matches tend to be diff er- The Czechs, though, are full The Czechs will be missing ent from the fi rst two,” Poland assistant of confi dence after fi ghting back their fl air player, Tomas Rosicky, coach Hubert Malowiejski told reporters. from two goals down to draw who has been ruled out of the “I don’t agree Ukraine play for noth- with Croatia on Friday. tournament with a thigh injury ing. They play for honour what is impor- Turkey, by contrast, were sustained in their remarkable tant for them. We are prepared for very lacking in bite when they lost comeback from two goals down dangerous opponent full of Shakhtar, 1-0 to Croatia in their opening to draw 2-2 with Croatia. Dynamo Kiev and Sevilla players.” game before being given a foot- The Czechs have two players, Poland have not beaten Ukraine in their balling lesson in a 3-0 drubbing Tomas Sivok and David Lim- last fi ve meetings, including two defeats by reigning European champions bersky, who risk suspension for in 2014 World Cup qualifying, and they Spain. the knockout stages if they get may be without fi rst-choice goalkeeper Aside from scoring their fi rst another yellow card, while the Wojciech Szczesny again due to a thigh goal of the tournament in Lens, Turks have fi ve — Burak Yilmaz, injury. Turkey would need other results Cenk Tosun, Hakan Balta, Ozan “We don’t know yet whether he will to go their way even if they do Tufan and Volkan Sen — who will be fi t for Ukraine or not. Our specialists win, while victory for the Czechs need to stay on the right side of work with him but nothing can be de- would put them on four points Scottish referee William Collum. clared at the moment,” Malowiejski said. Lukasz Fabianski, who deputised for Szczesny in Poland’s 0-0 draw against Germany, will replace him again if he fails to recover, and he is confi dent about his team’s organisation. “Why are we playing better in defence than before? One of the reasons is the fact that we have lot of information about the opponents from our information bank and thanks to that, we know better how to neutralise them,” Fabianski said. Ukraine lost 2-0 to both Germany and Northern Ireland, the latter defeat com- ing as a bitter disappointment against a team ranked six places below them. “We understand the fans and we are very sorry,” defender Olexandr Kucher said. “Now we have to win their respect back in the game against Poland. Of course, this match has no tournament meaning for us but we have to fi nally show some positive football and get a result. This is most important so far. We will fi ght for our prestige.” Ukraine midfi elder Ruslan Rotan was at a loss to explain the poor performance Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak and Robert Lewandowski take part in a training session at Centre Robert-Louis Dreyfus in Marseille, against Northern Ireland. France, yesterday. (Reuters) In this June 17, 2016, picture, Czech Republic’s forward Tomas Necid “It is diffi cult to say now because we (right) celebrates with teammates Milan Badelj and Milan Skoda after are full of emotions at the moment. The round of 16 is defi nitely a bad result for look forward,” he said. our honour, for the honour of the whole scoring against Croatia in Saint-Etienne. Czechs are full of confidence fact that we failed to progress to the us, as we wanted more. But we have to “We have to play the next game for country.” after fighting back from two goals down to draw with Croatia. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Hummels charmed by Northern Ireland’s underdogs

AFP week, Northern Ireland — who repre- “We didn’t know that much about Paris Germany coach Loew struck down

ermany’s Mats Hummels by sore throat admitted yesterday that he has been charmed by North- Germany coach Joachim Loew ern Ireland’s exploits at Euro was unable to attend his side’s G2016, but he is determined to deny scheduled press conference them a fairytale victory in Paris. yesterday due to a sore throat, The two teams face off at Parc des a German Football Association Princes in their fi nal Group C game to- (DFB) spokesman said. day, with world champions Germany “Joachim Loew has a sore requiring a point to secure a place in the throat,” Jens Grittner told report- last 16. ers at Parc des Princes in Paris, Hummels could fi nd himself up where Germany play Northern against Conor Washington, who was Ireland in their final Euro 2016 working as a postman as recently as Group C game today. 2012, and the Borussia Dortmund “He apologises for today. He centre-back said that he was familiar wants to concentrate completely with the Queens Park Rangers striker’s on tomorrow’s game.” background. Germany require a point against “I heard that story. I love stories like Northern Ireland to guarantee a place in the last 16, while their opponents that,” he told Germany’s pre-match must win if they are to secure one of the two automatic qualifying spots. media conference. The top two countries in each group will qualify, along with the best four third- “We know they live off the emo- place teams. tions and are supported by their fans. I think one-tenth of Northern Ireland is present here. sent a country with a population of only Northern Ireland, which is not a big “It’s more diffi cult for us. We can’t 1.8 million people — are just a point be- surprise,” he said. transport eight million people here! hind Germany going into the game. “I don’t think I’ve played them be- But that just shows how much emotion Michael O’Neill’s men need to win to fore, but British teams are often similar. there is.” secure one of the two automatic quali- We played Scotland and the Republic of Another Northern Irish striker to fying berths, but a draw or even a defeat Ireland in the qualifi ers. have captured the imagination is Will In this June 16, 2016, picture, a Northern Ireland fan with a mask of Northern Ireland’s forward Will Grigg awaits the start of could be enough to take them into the “We saw how strong these teams can Grigg, whose ‘Will Grigg’s on Fire!’ the Euro 2016 Group C match against Ukraine at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais near Lyon. (AFP) last 16 as one of the four best third- be — mentally and physically strong, chant has become one of the sound- place teams. and passionate. tracks to the tournament despite the a YouTube prank in which a group of heard about the fi refi ghters’ call. I love Asked if he could sing the song, Hummels conceded that he knew very “We know they could get the confi - fact he is yet to play. Northern Irish fans supposedly called that story. Hummels replied: “I’m maybe the little about Northern Irish football prior dence to beat us if we let them. We have The chant, sung to the tune of the a fi re station to report that Wigan Ath- “I’ll maybe try to give him my jersey. worst singer in this team, so I won’t do to the tournament, but he said that he and to try to be the better team from the 1996 club anthem ‘Freed from De- letic striker Grigg was in fl ames. I don’t want them to score, but I’m a that.” his team-mates would be fully briefed by beginning so they don’t start believing sire’ by Italian singer Gala, spawned An approving Hummels said: “I’ve great fan of his.” Having beaten Ukraine 2-0 in mid- the time kick-off comes around. they can win it.” Gulf Times Tuesday, June 21, 2016 3 EURO 2016

SPOTLIGHT Cut-up pitch, ripped shirts, burst ball fail Flop show: Strikers quality test

Reuters Lille fail to lit up the Euro hile France and Switzerland largely got what they wanted Wwith a 0-0 draw at Euro 2016 The 24-team format was expected to give Europe’s finest poachers a chance to boost their goal on Sunday, it was a night of shame for ground staff and sports manufacturers. scoring stats to claim the golden boot. Yet the opening 10 days of the competition have seen Four Swiss players had to change ripped shirts, the Adidas match ball, sold the continent’s minnows shine with the big guns relying on late goals to dig them out of trouble outside for 140 euros ($158), burst and a cut-up pitch at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, that had to be patched up by grounds- men at halftime, sent players sliding. The Lille pitch, beneath a retractable roof, still has to host an Italy-Ireland clash tomor- row, a last-16 fixture and a quarter-final. “It was better in Marseille but it was annoying. I don’t know who is responsible. We’re only in the group stage and having a pitch in that state already is not a good thing,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. Switzerland counterpart Vladimir Petkovic said the pitch had definitely af- fected the quality of the game. “I really hope they’re able to dry the pitch because it doesn’t hold up well, but it was the same for both sides so we can’t complain,” he said. Petkovic was less critical of his side’s Puma-made shirts. “If a shirt is pulled occasionally they can come apart at the seams. There were four and a maybe a fifth one at the end. If you pull shirts they do break,” he said. Goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Yann Sommer, whose shirt was not ripped, said the kit damage was more down to the nature of the match. “It can happen. It means it was a fight on the pitch, with lots of duels. A jersey can fail. Of course today we had a lot. I can’t say we have to change because Puma is great,” he concluded. Puma, meanwhile, said it had traced a problem with ripped shirts for the Swiss team to a defective batch of material used only in a limited number of home jerseys for the team. Germany-based Puma said analysis of the jerseys showed there was one batch of material where yarns had been damaged during production, making the garment weaker. “Puma has checked the inventory of all jerseys of all Puma teams and can assure that such an unfortunate (From Left) Sweden striker incident does not happen again,” it said in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Poland’s a statement yesterday. Robert Lewandowski and Alongside Switzerland, Puma also pro- Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal vides the kits for Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia. Rival manufacturer Adidas, who pro- AFP Mr Marmite, the three-time World this wasn’t the way I wanted to break Bayern Munich’s deadly duo two years since scoring the winning vides kit to nine of the 24 teams com- Paris Player of the Year’s ability to divide this record,” said a disconsolate Ron- Lewandowski and Mueller’s quiet goal in Rio. peting in France, said suppliers usually fans into lovers and haters was in aldo. At least Ronaldo has threatened start has gone under the radar al- Unusually, England boast of argu- provide three shirts per player, per game. full show after the Real Madrid star to make his mark. The 31-year-old though, in contrast to Portugal and ably the strongest array of striking “The standard usage for these shirts hey scored a combined 203 was frustrated in his attempt to be- has now had 20 shots on goal with- Sweden, Poland and Germany look talent on show in France. will be a player wears one in the first half, goals last season, but super- come the fi rst player to score in four out scoring in France, more than nine comfortably on track to make the last Yet, the man expected to spear- another in the second half with a third be- star strikers Cristiano Ron- separate European championships other countries. 16. Neither even threatened to break head Roy Hodgson’s attack, Kane, ing saved as a spare, should it be needed aldo, Robert Lewandowski, against Austria on Saturday. Bottom of that list are Ibrahimov- the deadlock when they faced off in a has failed to hit the heights of his 25- on the pitch, or utilised as a giveaway TZlatan Ibrahimovic, Thomas Mueller Three weeks on from scoring the ic’s Sweden, who haven’t mustered 0-0 draw in Paris on Thursday. goal season with Tottenham Hotspur item,” spokesperson Katja Schreiber said. and Harry Kane have yet to fi nd the winning penalty as Real saw off lo- a single shot on target in two games. Yet, Poland coach Adam Nawalka that won him the Premier League’s “Every shirt worn during the tour- net at Euro 2016. cals rivals Atletico Madrid to win the The Manchester United target was praised Lewandowski’s contribution golden boot. nament will carry unique match day A new, extended 24-team format Champions League, Ronaldo hit the typically not shy in talking himself in teeing up strike partner Arkadiusz Hodgson said Kane was “a little customisation, hence the need to provide was expected to give Europe’s fi nest post from the spot. Social media was up before the tournament. Milik. “He is working for the team bit tired” after he was hooked off shirts on a match-by-match basis.” poachers the opportunity to boost awash with people revelling in Ron- After hitting 50 goals in his fare- even though he hasn’t scored a goal at half-time against Wales, making Asked if it was possible for a player to their goal-scoring stats in a bat- aldo’s misfortune. well season at Paris Saint-Germain, in the last match and tonight,” Naw- way for Jamie Vardy and Daniel Stur- run out of shirts during a game, Schreiber tle royale to claim the tournament’s Yet, one devoted follower was left Ibrahimovic summed up his time alka said. ridge, who both scored to turn a 1-0 referred back to football’s European golden boot. in tears of joy after securing a selfi e in the French capital by saying he World champions Germany’s lack half-time defi cit into a vital win. governing body. Yet the opening 10 days of the with his hero on the pitch at full- “came like a king, left like a legend”. of a striker solution threatens their Running out of steam is not a new “This is a process that is put in place competition have seen the conti- time. It was meant to have been a Yet, he has not written his legend chances of success with World Cup experience for Kane. by UEFA ... although federations have nent’s minnows shine with the big doubly historic night for the world’s into the Euros history books as he too fi nal hero Mario Goetze also failing to After a breakout campaign last a standard approach to utilising these guns relying on late goals to dig them highest paid athlete as he broke the has failed to build on his six goals in impress. “Sometimes you’re the dog, season, he was expected to shine jerseys, they can be used in any way out of trouble. legendary Luis Figo’s record of Por- Euro 2004, 2008 and 2012 to become sometimes you’re the tree,” Goetze at the under-21 Euros last year, but required during the course of 90 Ronaldo’s troubles have as ever tugal appearances with his 128th cap. the fi rst man to score in four separate explained of his fall from national failed to fi nd the net as England minutes,” she said. taken centrestage. Football’s own “Obviously I’m a bit sad, because editions of the competition. hero to press punching bag in the crashed out at the group stage.

BOTTOMLINE Pogba does his best to liven up a dull French side

By Owen Gibson in Paris tering performers into life. given licence to maraud forward and edge the match at times lacked. The Guardian None more so than Pogba, the 23-year- crashed the ball on to the crossbar from The jollity of the crowd, left to make old considered key to French hopes be- 25 yards with his left foot. their own entertainment after the fore the tournament but slated for an Desperation oozing from every intensity faded, gave way to a more fa- his should have been a breather indiff erent performance against Romania pore, he could have scored four in miliar unease. for France, a chance to exhale and then dropped against Albania. the opening 20 minutes—three for Pogba, and France, could have done before the serious business of Vladimir Petkovic, the Swiss coach, his own side and once against them in with that early goal. Instead, the game the knockout stages gets un- had been only too happy to ratchet a scramble that nearly ended with an fell into a similar pattern to their fi rst Tderway in this bloated format. things up in the build-up, specifi cally own-goal. two—awaiting a game-changing Instead, the hosts came to Lille la- referencing the media pressure that fol- Shorn of the fi rst night nerves that intervention with voluble support giv- bouring under a crotchety atmosphere lowed an alleged gesture made by Pogba seemed to affl ict him in Paris last Fri- ing way to muttered concern. as the French side, media and public to the press box after he helped France day, Pogba looked more like the star of With Payet on the bench, and the continue their tetchy dance—as if wait- to a late 2-0 victory over Albania as a his own video game that he often ap- Swiss gaining in confi dence, posses- ing for permission to cut loose and en- second-half substitute. pears like in Serie A. sion and tempo, they began to crave joy their own party. As is the modern way, a backlash Yet, that edge of desperation also the introduction of the West Ham man. And it was one they were unable to against the backlash began on social manifested itself in indiscipline—early When he fi nally appeared, he became shift despite earning the point that media, leaving Pogba circuitously back in the second half he carelessly gave the the focal point. means they qualify on top of their group. in favour with the public. ball away to Xherdan Shaqiri in an area That might yet suit Pogba. If the Some of their play remained ragged, “Let’s go get it!” Pogba had tweeted that could have led to worse punish- pressure on him to become the heart- like their opponent’s red shirts, yet there beforehand, and he began like a man ment than a corner. beat of this side has been perhaps were just enough intermittent signs of possessed, his long limbs eating up the He also gave away fouls and grappled unfair, he has not helped himself. life to suggest things may yet click. Not ground. with the again-impressive Granit Xha- Before the tournament he spoke of least for Paul Pogba, who has already Gliding around the pitch on the left of ka, tearing his shirt from his back. his desire to be a legend on a par with gone from hero to zero and back in an a midfi eld three, he had the crowd very Pogba failed to get forward enough in Pele and Maradona. otherwise becalmed group stage. much on his side within the opening the second half as his infl uence waned. But if his mini-group-stage drama If Dimitri Payet had already emerged quarter of an hour. As the tournament enters the results in a rebooted Pogba operating as the breakout hit of a France side Deschamps said he was the “life- business end amid a fug of mathemati- anywhere near his best, with expecta- struggling to hit their groove, this was force” and the “heart and soul” of the cal formulae, Deschamps will have to tions lowered and pressure lifted, Des- the opportunity for those still stutter- French performance during that fi rst fi nd a way to combine the coveted Ju- champs will not be complaining. ing to prove their worth. half, underlining his confi dence in “a ventus midfi elder and Payet if France are He spoke afterwards of the need Payet was rested as Didier Des- player of huge potential”. to sparkle. “to be able to let go in matches”, to champs rang the changes in midfi eld Having already come close with two Despite the appalling playing sur- cut loose while maintaining defensive and up front, rotating fi ve players in an attempts – one almost fumbled into the face, cutting up rough after bad weather discipline. attempt to maintain freshness, avoid top corner by Yann Sommer and an- and too many rock concerts at the Stade For France and for Pogba, the tourna- suspensions and fi re some of his splut- other drawing a smart save—Pogba was Pierre Mauroy, Pogba played with an ment starts now. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 FOOTBALL

COPA AMERICA SEMI-FINAL Tight matches show 24-team Euro format is Mission Impossible: working: UEFA

Reuters Paris

he decision to increase the number US aim for shock win of teams for Euro 2016 has been Tjustified with nearly all sides still able to qualify for the knockout stages and games proving closer than in previ- ous tournaments, a senior UEFA off icial said yesterday. Europe’s soccer governing body opted eight years ago to expand the European over Messi’s Argentina Championship from 16 to 24 teams as it sought to give a chance for some of the continent’s smaller nations to make it to ‘We don’t need to talk up Argentina any bigger than they are. Two years ago we had Ronaldo the elite competition. With the final group games concluding against us in Manaus. And we led them 2-1 until the 96th minute. No one gave us a chance. tomorrow, only one fixture for the final We left Portugal behind, we left Ghana behind. Anything is possible in knockout games’ 16 will be decided beforehand, leaving everything to play for in the upcoming matches. AFP Privately, however, Klinsmann will Albania, for example, who finished third Houston be attempting to solve the in a group featuring the hosts and Swit- puzzle caused by the suspensions zerland on Sunday, will have to remain in of infl uential midfi elder Jermaine France until tomorrow before they know urgen Klinsmann is daring to Jones, wide player Alejandro Bedoya whether they will advance or not. dream that the United States and the Hamburg-bound striker “It’s been a positive surprise,” Giorgio can pull off mission improbable Bobby Wood. Marchetti, UEFA’s director of competitions, Jin the Copa America Centenario All three have played a pivotal role told reporters. “We have had so far a tight semi-fi nals tomorrow as the hosts in the US campaign, with Wood pro- and intense competition. All the groups face a Lionel Messi-inspired Argenti- viding the speed and thrust in are open to any solution with even all four na closing in on a long-awaited tour- attack which has created the space nament triumph. for veteran Clint Dempsey to thrive, teams able to qualify and (in some cases) Klinsmann has already met his and Jones a towering presence in the even able to get first position.” pre-tournament goal of reaching the heart of midfi eld. On paper Marchetti is probably right. last four after helping his side navi- Although Klinsmann has urged his After two-thirds of the way through the gate a challenging group phase and team to shed their underdog mental- group stage, few games have been one- an awkward quarter-fi nal against in- ity, insisting he wants them to be bold sided. One-goal margins or draws have form Ecuador. against more heralded opponents, a made up the bulk of game results and But despite a raft of suspensions gung-ho approach against Argentina some 13 goals after the 87th minute have which will decimate his fi rst choice could be disastrous. shown sides battling to the dying seconds. starting line-up at Houston, Klins- When the relentless US pressing The so-called smaller teams have mann is bullishly talking up his team’s dropped off in the second half against shown they can hold their own. Iceland chances as they prepare to take on the Ecuador in the quarter-fi nals, have held Portugal and Hungary, Albania might of Argentina. the South Americans created took France to within minutes of a 0-0 The German World Cup winner chance after chance only to be let draw, Northern Ireland beat Ukraine and cites his team’s impressive record down by poor fi nishing. nobody has made fools of themselves. in recent friendlies, which has Argentina, who have amassed 14 included away wins over Germany goals in four games, are unlikely to be “From a competition perspective it is and the Netherlands, and their as profl igate. Messi, superb in Sat- maybe the best we’ve had,” Marchetti said. performances in the 2014 World urday’s 4-1 quarter-fi nal demolition “As you know there were a lot of question Cup as reasons to believe. of Venezuela, where he scored once marks about the format, but as we saw in “There’s no reason at all why we to join Gabriel Batistuta as Argen- the qualifiers, during which the competition can’t win Copa America,” Klinsmann tina’s record international goalscorer was better than expected, we are having an said on Sunday. “We travelled the with 54 goals, cautions that facing open and competitive tournament.” world the last few years to very diffi cult the hosts on home turf may not be as But critics say a lot of small and middle- friendly games all over Europe and in straightforward as it seems. ranking teams are playing in a similar Mexico and we came away with wins.” “We’re on the right track, but it way by packing their defence and using In Brazil two years ago, Klins- will be very diffi cult playing in front spoiling tactics against their more illustri- mann’s side helped eliminate a Cris- of the American crowd. Physically ous opponents. tiano Ronaldo-led Portugal and they are a very strong team and they Compared to the two previous tourna- highly-rated Ghana before qualify- can do a lot of damage if they are al- ments, where 60 and 57 goals were ing with Germany in the World Cup’s lowed to play,” warned Messi. scored after 24 games, teams have only ‘Group of Death’. Yet it is hard to see anything oth- “We don’t need to talk up Argentina er than an Argentina victory which found the back of the net 47 times. any bigger than they are. Two years would leave Gerardo Martino’s side Marchetti said that while every soccer ago we had Mr Ronaldo against us in 90 minutes away from ending a 23- fan wanted to see goals, there was less Manaus. And we led them 2-1 until the Argentina captain year wait for a major title. interest and excitement if games finished 96th minute,” Lionel Messi Messi and his teammates have suf- by three or four-goal margins. Klinsmann said of his team’s fi rst fered agonising losses in the fi nals of “Yes, less goals, but for me if more round World Cup match which fi n- last year’s Copa America in Chile and goals means more matches ending in ished in a 2-2 draw. the 2014 World Cup against Germany. 4-0 or 3-0, then the interest is not really “We surprised a lot of people... “It is clear that I want to win some- there,” he said. “Personally, I’ve found No one gave us a chance to get out of thing with my country and I want to these 0-0s and 1-0s very exciting with the group in Brazil. We left Portugal do everything I can to make that hap- teams fighting to the end. With the pat- behind, we left Ghana behind. Any- pen,” said the Barcelona superstar. tern of late goals changing games in the thing is possible in knockout games. Copa America SF Fixtures last minute, this is one of the successes of You’re 50-50 with whoever you play the tournament.” against,” he added. “Dream big... why Playing Tomorrow: US vs Argentina not? This is about two more games.” Playing Thursday: Colombia vs Chile

FOCUS Albania’s last-16 hopes still alive in debut tournament Reuters As in their opening two games, Albania were Lyon well organised at the back and disciplined in midfi eld. Roared on by their noisy fans, many of whom were wearing traditional cone- fi rst-half header by striker Armando shaped white caps, the Albanians missed a su- Sadiku gave Albania a 1-0 win over perb chance in the 23rd minute when left wing Romania at Euro 2016 on Sunday and Ermir Lenjani skied his close-range shot with kept alive their hopes of reaching the the goal at his mercy. Aknockout stages of their fi rst major tournament. The sweeping move which carved open The result of a pulsating clash left the Alba- Romania’s defence was a sign of things to come nians third in Group A on three points behind as Ledian Memushaj tested Romania keeper France and Switzerland, meaning that they are Ciprian Tatarusanu after a dazzling solo run in contention to fi nish as one of the best four and Migjen Basha fi red wildly over the bar third-placed teams who will progress to the from 18 metres. last 16. It also eliminated a toothless Romanian Then came Albania’s fi rst goal at a tourna- side who fi nished bottom on one point. ment in the 43rd minute when Sadiku headed A lack of cutting edge made them easy prey for superbly into the far corner from a tight angle the competition’s rank outsiders, who thrived in after a cross from the right by Memushaj. an intense atmosphere in Lyon’s new stadium. The second half produced the same pattern “In the fi rst two games we didn’t collect any as Romania’s sporadic attacks kept breaking points when we deserved more but tonight we down in the last third of the pitch while Al- reaped the rewards of an excellent perform- bania looked dangerous every time they came ance against a good team,” Albania’s Italian forward purposefully. coach Gianni De Biasi told a news conference. Memushaj almost got a second goal after “We missed a few chances but I am happy be- producing a good save by Tatarusanu while cause it’s not easy to play a match in which substitute Florin Andone rattled the crossbar only a win will do.” with a fi erce shot at the other end as Romania Man-of-the-match Arlind Ajeti said: “We launched a late onslaught. will hope till the very end that these three Mergim Mavraj and Andi Lila came close for points will be suffi cient to see us through to the Albania in the dying minutes as the Romanians knockout stages. ran out of steam and ideas. Either way, we made history fi rst by reach- Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu said the ing the European Championship and then by current Albanian side were a diff erent prospect winning our fi rst three points. I am so proud to from those he had known in the past. be a part of this team.” “This is not the Albanian team I knew when Romania made a bright start and their crisp I was young, as 21 of their 23 players ply their passing kept the Albanians on the back foot trade abroad,” the 66-year-old Iordanescu in the opening 20 minutes but they were re- said. “It’s a painful loss but I can’t blame the stricted to long-range eff orts and a Bogdan players for lack of commitment because they Stancu volley which was saved by goalkeeper tried hard. We just didn’t take the chances we Etrit Berisha. had in a good start to the game.” Albania players celebrate their 1-0 win over Romania in Sunday's Euro 2016 Group A match at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Lyon. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, June 21, 2016 5 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT India thrash Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level T20 series Zimbabwe make 99 for nine as India seamers Barinder Sran and Jasprit Bumrah share seven wickets

AFP Harare

ndia bounced back from their chasten- ing defeat to Zimbabwe over the weekend to thump the hosts by 10 wickets in the second Twenty20 international at Harare ISports Club yesterday and level the three- match series at 1-1. Zimbabwe’s unexpected two-run vic- tory in Saturday’s opener had suggested they might have turned a corner after a hopeless performance in the one-day series, in which Barinder Sran, returned with they were whitewashed 3-0. But yesterday best bowling figures for they reverted to type with another feeble bat- India on T20I debut with a ting performance, scoring 99 for nine as In- four-wicket haul. (AFP) dia seamers Barinder Sran and Jasprit Bumrah shared seven wickets. In reply, India’s openers KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh took advantage of a couple of dropped catches to knock off the target in just 13.1 overs. “Obviously (Saturday) defeat was hurting, but we discussed a few points of what we needed to do, and I think we imple- mented them really well today,” said Singh. Zimbabwe’s batsmen had led the way in victory, but yesterday they never got going as Sran picked up four wickets in seven deliver- ies to reduce the hosts to 28 for four. Bumrah did the damage at the back of the innings, as he dismissed top scorer Peter Moor for 31 and danger man Elton Chigumbura for eight to record fi gures of 3 for 11. Sran fi nished with 4 for 10 from his four overs - the second best fi gures by a bowler on Twenty20 international debut. “The shot selection is something that myself and Lance Klusener are forever trying to correct,” said Zimbabwe interim coach Makhaya Ntini, who confi rmed he was interested in taking the job on a full-time basis. Indian batsman Mandeep Singh plays a shot during the second Twenty20 match against “We need to give them the understanding Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club yesterday. (AFP) that you don’t win a game or score a hundred from one shot. If someone gets out before by the bowlers was well complimented by the N. Madziva b Bumrah 1 you, you need to be the one who takes charge fi elders. “Bowling was backed by some good D. Tiripano not out 11 of the game and correct the mistake that the fi elding, I emphasised that we hard to run T. Muzarabani not out 0 other one has made.” harder than we did in the last game. In the Extras (4lb, 4w, 1nb) 9 Faced with such a meagre target India’s shorter format, it is very important,” he said. Total (9 wkts, 20 overs) 99 openers had time to play themselves in, but it Home skipper Graeme Cremer said after Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Chibhabha), 2-26 did not take long for the boundaries to start scoring just 99 Zimbabwe were out of the (Masakadza), 3-28 (Sikandar Raza), 4-28 fl owing. Singh was dropped twice in his in- game. “We started slowly and lost wickets at (Mutombodzi), 5-57 (Waller), 6-75 (Moor), 7-81 nings, and went on to fi nish unbeaten on crucial times. It is disappointing after mak- (Chigumbura), 8-83 (Madziva), 9-91 (Cremer) 52 while Rahul was 47 not out. “The wicket ing a good start to the series. The pitch mis- Bowling: Sran 4-0-10-4, Kulkarni 4-0-32-1, Patel wasn’t easy for shot-making because the ball behaved a bit but getting bowled out for 99, 4-0-23-0, Chahal 4-1-19-1, Bumrah 4-0-11-3 was keeping low a little,” said Singh. just not good enough. Final on Wednesday, “At the start I was trying to hit hard, be- we still excited, we still believe we can win the INDIA INNINGS cause I generally play aggressively, but I series,” he said. KL Rahul not out 47 watched Rahul and he asked me to calm down The series decider takes place at the same Mandeep Singh not out 52 a little and try to time the ball. Slowly I con- venue tomorrow. Extras (3w, 1nb) 4 trolled the nerves and then I was fi ne.” Total (0 wkts, 13.1 overs) 103 Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was SCOREBOARD Did not bat: Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, pleased with the way his bowlers performed. ZIMBABWE INNINGS Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Axar Patel, “It is a big victory. The bowlers started it C. Chibhabha c Rayudu b Sran 10 Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Barinder Sran, all,important to start well and they bowled at H. Masakadza b Sran 10 Yuzvendra Chahal right length. I was a bit worried that it was the P. Moor c Patel b Bumrah 31 Bowling: Tiripano 3-0-11-0, Madziva 2.1-0-19-0, third match on the same wicket and we would Sikandar Raza c Rahul b Sran 1 Muzarabani 2-0-17-0, Cremer 3-0-24-0, Chibhab- have also batted if we had won the toss,” said T. Mutombodzi lbw b Sran 0 ha 2-0-23-0, Sikandar Raza 1-0-9-0 Dhoni at the post-match presentation cer- M. Waller c Patel b Chahal 14 Toss: Zimbabwe emony. E. Chigumbura b Bumrah 8 Result: India won by 10 wickets The Indian captain said that the good show G. Cremer c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4 Series: Three-match series is tied 1-1

ROUND-UP Mathews shocked by Eranga heart scare Rain washes out Australia-South Africa ODI

Nottingham, United King- “He was warming up – and Agencies dom: Sri Lanka captain Angelo just before we went on the Bridgetown, Barbados Mathews has spoken of the fi eld, he said ‘something shock he felt when Shaminda happened to me, can you Eranga suff ered a heart scare touch my heart because it ustralia will face West Indies in a virtual semi- in Ireland. is beating fast?’” fi nal after rain ruined their ODI tri-series clash On Saturday Eranga come with South Africa in Barbados. Heavy show- out to face the final ball of Sri fast?’,” Mathews told reporters ers hit Kensington Oval in the morning but playA started as scheduled on Sunday, when Steve Smith Lanka’s innings in the second at Trent Bridge yesterday. “I felt one-day international against something unusual, so I quickly opted to bowl fi rst. Ireland in Malahide, but he did called the physio (who) went Players were forced off the fi eld after just one over, not bowl after feeling unwell in for the doctor with him. It was with the Proteas 8-0, and play never resumed, with the the interval and being taken to a shocking incident. He’s (still) contest eventually abandoned at 8.20am AEST. The a Dublin hospital with what was undergoing those tests (for) an covers were on for three-and-a-half hours and left a later confirmed as an elevated elevated heartbeat.” dangerous wet patch on the pitch when they were even- heartbeat. Last year’s World Cup saw tually peeled off . The umpires eventually gave up hope Sri Lanka won the fixture by Sri Lanka thrash England by of a result after two pitch inspections, the latter coin- 136 runs for a 2-0 series win nine wickets in Wellington. But ciding with a fresh downpour. Offi cials scheduled an- over the Irish that set them Eoin Morgan’s men have im- other inspection but with the covers fi rmly in place they up nicely for a five-match ODI proved greatly as a white-ball gave up hope before then. series against England starting side since the World Cup and Smith’s team will return to the venue for a must-win at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge earlier this year made it to the game against West Indies today. Australia will fi nish ground today. But a miserable final of the World Twenty20 in third on the table and miss the series decider, which weekend for Eranga was com- India, where they were beaten starts next Sunday, if they lose to the hosts. “We have to pounded when the Internation- in a last-over thriller by the win one more of our last two games and that’ll basically al Cricket Council announced West Indies. put us in the fi nal. We’d like to wrap that up tomorrow on Sunday that he would miss “I don’t know if it’s a spring- against South Africa,” Smith said ahead of the clash with the England series in any event board, but it’s certainly a huge the Proteas. The game was AB de Villiers’ 200th ODI for after being found to have an confidence-booster,” said South Africa but he failed to face a single ball. illegal bowling action. England limited-overs captain Australia recalled allrounder Glenn Maxwell plus The nature of Eranga’s Morgan. Hopes are growing pacemen Starc and Scott Boland at the expense of Travis illness is similar to that which that Morgan’s team will be able Head, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa. It was West Indies team captain Jason Holder stretches during a practice session at the Kensington Oval stadium in forced the early retirement of to put up an improved showing Boland’s fi rst game on the tour, while Proteas veteran Bridgetown, Barbados yesterday. Hosts West Indies play Australia today. (AFP) England batsman James Taylor in front of their own support- Morne Morkel was also making his fi rst appearance in in April, although there is no ers at the 2019 World Cup in the tri-series. would be a day-night aff air, pending trials of the pink a bowler want? It’s challenging for both batsmen and suggestion that Eranga’s heart England. ball. The 26-year-old, who picked up fi ve wickets play- bowlers. If we can maintain the dryness, I’m sure it will problem could end his career. “There’s a bit more expecta- SHAMI IN THE PINK OVER CONDITIONS ing for Mohun Bagan in the day-night fi nal, said South reverse. It did (reverse), I noticed.” For Mathews, Eranga’s illness tion on us as a side, and it’s FOR DAY-NIGHT TESTS Asian conditions favoured swing with the pink ball, Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha echoed Shami’s was a bolt from the blue. important to relish that expec- India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has off ered posi- which was an exciting prospect. sentiments but said pace would prove challenging for “He was warming up – and tation,” the Irishman added. tive feedback on the pink ball in Indian conditions, after “With red or white balls, there was some visibility batsmen. “Every ball is swinging a bit either way which just before we went on the “We’re still at the beginning of it was used on an experimental basis during a domestic problem as it took (on) the colour of grass,” he was quot- was never the case with the red (ball).The visibility is field, he said ‘something hap- building for what we hope will game at Eden Gardens. ed as saying by the Press Trust of India. “Defi nitely I will perfect,” Saha told PTI. pened to me, can you touch be a successful campaign in In April, India’s cricket board decided that one game prefer this (pink) ball, this is much better. The biggest “But batsmen will have problem if a pacer consist- my heart because it is beating the 2019 World Cup.” of an upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand plus point is (the swing) under lights, what else does ently bowls at 140km per hour.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 NBA

SPOTLIGHT LeBron delivers on promise, leads Cavaliers to NBA title Facing elimination in each of their previous two games, James carried the Cavs back from the brink as they became only the third team to force a Game Seven after falling behind 3-1 in the championship round

Reuters Cleveland

eBron James powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93- 89 victory over the Golden LState Warriors on Sunday in an electrifying Game Seven to complete an improbable comeback unlike any seen before and capture their fi rst NBA championship. With the win over the top-seeded Warriors, who celebrated a champi- onship on Cleveland’s home court last year, the Cavaliers became the fi rst team to rally from a 3-1 series defi cit in the best-of-seven NBA Finals and win the title. “I’ve had the goal for two years since I came back to bring a champi- onship to the city,” said an emotional LeBron James weeps for joy as he and and Kevin Love celebrate after defeating James, who returned to the Cavaliers the Golden State Warriors. in 2014 after a four-year stint with Mi- ami that included a pair of NBA cham- lost three consecutive games. dealing with a balky back. pionships. “It wasn’t easy what we accom- “Just an incredible run that obvi- “I gave it everything that I had. I plished, and it’s not an easy pill to ously didn’t end the way we wanted poured my heart, my blood, my sweat swallow what we didn’t accomplish,” it to,” said Warriors head coach Steve and my tears into this game.” said two-time league MVP Stephen Kerr. “It’s been an incredible two-year When the fi nal buzzer sounded to Curry, who had 17 points in the loss. run. We’re disappointed that it didn’t end what was the closest game of the “So got to just take the good with the go our way at the end, but that’s life.” Finals, an emotional James dropped to bad.” After a record smashing regular When the Warriors raced out to a the fl oor before he was mobbed by his season the Warriors could not cap off 3-1 series lead the Cavs were left for teammates. the campaign with a second successive dead by many impartial observers who James led Cleveland in the cham- title, unable to deliver the knockout expected the Golden State to run away pionship-clinching win with a triple- punch after going up 3-1 in the best- with the series. double as he recorded 27 points, 11 re- of-season series. But with their backs against the bounds and 11 assists en route to being The Warriors were ultimately un- wall, a Cavaliers team that once seem named the Most Valuable Player of the done in the series by the disappearance overmatched never gave up in their NBA Finals for a third time. of their high-octane off ense, a suspen- quest for a maiden NBA title. The win ends decades of heart- sion to defensive stalwart Draymond “I knew what we were capable of, break for the city of Cleveland, which Green, a season-ending injury to rim- even being down 3-1 versus the great- had not won a professional sports protecting center Andrew Bogut and est regular season team ever,” said championship since the 1964 Cleve- defensive specialist Andre Iguodala James. land Browns of the National Football League. For James, the win not only marks his third NBA title, but it will go Cleveland Cavaliers Factbox down as the single greatest achieve- ment of his storied career as it ful- * NBA titles: One (2016) was named the league’s Rookie of fi ls his promise to deliver a title to his * The franchise joined the National the Year. home state of Ohio. Basketball Association in 1970 as * Cleveland were the first team to “I came back for a reason. I came an expansion team along with the draft a Canadian player with the back to bring a championship to our Buff alo Braves and Portland Trail first overall draft pick when they city,” said James, who was in tears as Blazers. selected Anthony Bennett in 2013. he wrapped his arms around the Larry * The NBA instituted what is com- * James eventually led the O’Brien Championship Trophy. monly known as the “Stepien Rule,” Cavaliers to five consecutive playoff “I knew what I was capable of do- due to Ted Stepien’s propensity for berths, including a trip to the NBA ing. I knew what I learned in the last trading away high draft picks dur- Finals in 2007, but he infamously couple years that I was gone, and I ing a disastrous three-year tenure left Cleveland as a free agent in knew I had the right ingredients and as owner of the Cavaliers in the 2010 to sign with the Miami Heat, the right blueprint to help this fran- early 1980s. where he went on to win two cham- chise get back to a place that we’ve * Cavaliers are the team that were pionships. never been.” on the wrong end of “The Shot,” the * James rejoined the Cavaliers in The back-and-forth game lived up name of a wildly famous series-win- 2014 as a much tougher and more to its billing as it was tight throughout ning basket hit by Michael Jordan determined competitor than the and included 20 lead changes while no in the 1989 Eastern Conference player who had left in 2010 and team was able to pull ahead by more quarter-finals that is one of the brought the team back to relevance than eight points. most replayed NBA plays in history. after four consecutive losing Facing elimination in each of their * Franchise had a 26-game losing seasons. previous two games, James carried streak during the 2010-11 NBA * 2015-16 regular season record: the Cavs back from the brink as they season that tied the record for 57-25 became only the third team to force a longest losing streak in major North * Road to the 2016 NBA title: Won Game Seven after falling behind 3-1 in American professional sports. Central Division; Beat Detroit 4-0 in the championship round. * The team used the first pick in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals; For the Warriors, who had a 2003 NBA Draft to select LeBron Beat Atlanta 4-0 in conference record 73 wins during the 82- James, who averaged 20.9 points, semi-finals; Beat Toronto 4-2 in game regular season, Sunday’s Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) gestures as he is named the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP following the 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per conference final; Beat Golden State defeat marked the first time since 93-89 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals in Oakland on Sunday. PICTURE: Cary game in his debut campaign and 4-3 in NBA Finals. November 2013 that they have Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

BOTTOMLINE James validates greatness by winning title

Reuters above don’t put you in situations that “What’s going through my mind is I’m Oakland, California you can’t handle,” said James. ready to get back to Cleveland. I can’t “I just kept that same positive at- wait to get off that plane and hold that titude. Instead of saying why me, I said trophy up and see all our fans at the ter- eBron James may be the self- this is what He wants me to do. And, uh, minal,” said James. proclaimed “King” but after Cleveland – this is for you!” “And I know they’re going to be delivering an NBA title to long- When the fi nal buzzer sounded in ready. So I can’t wait to give the emo- Lsuff ering Cleveland on Sunday Oakland, it kicked off a wave of cel- tion back to them. I’m looking forward the best player of his generation will for- ebrations in Cleveland, where count- to it. That’s all.” James was voted the ever be considered royalty by Cavaliers less Cavaliers supporters were sporting unanimous winner of the Bill Russell fans. James’s No. 23 jersey. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award In what may ultimately prove to be It was a far cry from 2010 when James after averaging 29.7 points per game, 11.3 the greatest achievement of an already spurned his home state for Miami in rebounds and 8.9 assists in the best-of- storied career, James led Cleveland back an ill-advised television special that seven championship series. from the brink of defeat to the greatest skewed his public image and saw Cava- It marked his third Finals MVP award, comeback in NBA Finals history on Sun- liers fans burn his replica jerseys in the as he also took the award in 2012 and day. For James, who returned to Cleve- Cleveland streets. 2013 with Miami, and put him in se- land in 2014 after spending the previous While some fans did not forgive James lect company with Michael Jordan (six), four years with the Miami Heat, the win when he announced two years ago that Shaquille O’Neal (three), Tim Duncan gave him his third NBA championship he was “coming home,” his ability to de- (three) and Magic Johnson (three) as the and fulfi lled a promise to deliver a title to liver the city its fi rst pro sports champi- only players who have won at least three his home state of Ohio. onship since the 1964 Cleveland Browns Finals MVP awards. To capture the against-all-odds of the National Football League may “Right now it’s just excitement. It’s championship, James had to steer the surely win them over. not even relief,” said James. “It’s just ex- Cavaliers back from a 3-1 Finals defi - Winning a title for his hometown team citement for us as a team, as a franchise, cit. In each of the 32 prior instances, the proved an emotional moment for LeB- as a city, as a community. team facing such a defi cit had lost the Fi- ron, who dropped to the fl oor at the fi nal “To be able to continue to build up our nals and only two forced a Game Seven. buzzer and was left with tears rolling down city, to continue to be an inspiration to “I don’t know why the man above his face as he cradled the glittering Larry our city, it means everything. I’m happy LeBron James tries to get past Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. give me the hardest road, but... the man O’Brien Championship Trophy. to be a part of it.” Gulf Times Tuesday, June 21, 2016 7 NBA

SPOTLIGHT Stephen Curry comes up short down the stretch It has been a physically painful postseason for Curry almost from the start

By Carl Steward fore. Didn’t do it tonight.” East Bay Times It looked like the Warriors were primed for a big fi nish when Curry canned his long 3-pointer from well be- tephen Curry made hundreds of yond the top of the key to tie the score, miraculous shots on his way to and backcourt mate Klay Thompson fol- his second straight MVP award. lowed with a long 2-point shot that put But in the fi nal accounting of Golden State ahead 85-83. Curry missed hisS season, he missed his last fi ve, and on a layup try, but Draymond Green re- it will likely torment him and the War- bounded it back in, and the Warriors riors forever. were up 87-83 with 5:37 to go. But it The man who made a record 402 went sour from there. 3-pointers in the regular season was Curry did get open for a long 3-point- 0 for 4 from beyond the arc down the er with 4:06 to play and the score 89- stretch in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, 89. But it missed badly, and as it turned and Curry didn’t score a single point out, he wouldn’t get another look that against the Cleveland Cavaliers after good again. Both teams had several tries tying the score at 83-83 with his last 3 for the go-ahead until Irving fi red over of the year – with 6:57 to play. Curry for what proved to be the game- The championship was there to win, winner. but Curry, obviously diminished physi- “I haven’t seen the play, I don’t know cally throughout this series, couldn’t how close I was to him,” Curry said. “I will his body to pull it out. Along with tried to reach at the ball, stay in front of the misses, he was the defender on him, make it a tough shot. It was a tough what turned out to be Kyrie Irving’s step-back that he just stepped up and tiebreaking 3-pointer with 53 seconds made. It doesn’t matter how good or left. bad defense I played, he made the shot. Then, at the other end of the fl oor, So credit to him. He stepped up and took he couldn’t break down defender Kevin advantage of the moment. It was not a Love and tossed up an errant 3-point good feeling turning around and seeing shot with 30.7 second remaining that it go in.” all but sealed the deal for the Cavaliers’ As for Love defending him at the comeback run to the NBA champion- other end – something that would have ship. seemed wholly unlikely if Curry were It has been a physically painful fully healthy, the point guard was hon- postseason for Curry almost from the est. start, but what kicked in the wake of “I was searching for a 3 and rushed the Warriors’ crushing 93-89 defeat and didn’t take what was there, which was the mental and emotional pain of was probably better to go around him his own on-court inadequacies. He sat and try to get into the paint,” he said. for several minutes at his locker with “That’s basically it.” his face in his hands, and when he fi - As he has throughout the postseason nally gathered himself to address the after subpar games, Curry refused to use media afterward, he took the long walk injuries to his ankle, knee and elbow as to the interview room still wearing his an excuse. uniform. “I’ve always said if I’m out there Once at the mike, Curry pulled no playing, hurt or not hurt, it doesn’t punches in saying he felt he let his team Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 on Sunday. matter,” he said. “It’s what the results down in a big way. are. And that stays true to today. I need “I mean, a lot of it was kind of my- to force the issue that way. was a mere 4 of 14 from 3-point range. while the Warriors tied the score, they “I didn’t play effi cient,” he said. “I to get healthier, but there are no ex- self leading the charge and settling (for “I really just settled too much. That’s He had two assists and committed four never led again. had some good moments, but I didn’t do cuses for what happened on the fl oor. I 3-pointers) too much,” he said. “At something that is tough to swallow with turnovers, including a costly behind- Curry had said on the eve of the de- enough to help my team win, especially was out there, ready to play. I had some home in the fourth quarter, I felt like the opportunity we had in front of us.” the-back throwaway with the Warriors ciding game that he needed to play the down the stretch. It will haunt me for a good games, I had some bad games, and we could go for the dagger punch and Curry, who led the NBA in scoring leading by 87-86 with 5:16 to go. Series best game of his career to carry the War- while because it means a lot to try and that’s it. I didn’t really put any pressure on the at 30.1 points a game, scored only 17 in MVP LeBron James subsequently came riors to the title. Afterward, he said he lead my team and do what I need to do “I won’t get injured celebrating to- defense getting to the paint and trying Game 7. He made only 6 of 19 shots, and down the fl oor and hit a 3-pointer, and wasn’t even close. on the court and big stages. Done it be- night, I can tell you that much.”

BOTTOMLINE King James back where he rightfully belongs

By Marek Warszawski does to elevate James while diminishing Curry, The Fresno Bee Thompson, et al. Most of it is a bunch of hooey. Legacy, according to the folks at Merriam- ave a seat on that throne, LeBron Webster, is defi ned as “something (such as prop- James. You’re still the King. erty and money) that is received from someone Even better, you’re bringing an who died.” NBA championship back to your title- When I saw him in the locker room after the starvedH hometown of Cleveland. game, Curry was still breathing. So forget that one. In an epic Game 7 that will be remembered as There’s also a second defi nition: “something long as Russell vs Chamberlain or Magic vs Bird, that happened in the past or that comes from James, Kyrie Irving and the Cavs capped the most someone in the past.” remarkable comeback in NBA Finals history by If legacies are about the past, it makes abso- stifl ing the Warriors 93-89 on their home fl oor. lutely no sense to try and defi ne someone’s legacy No team had ever gotten off the canvas from a from the perspective of the present. Yet many 3-1 Finals defi cit. Cleveland did it while winning in the media stumble over themselves to do that twice at Oracle Arena, which went from deafen- very thing. It’s called a #hottake. ing loud to stunned silence during a tense, jittery Discussions about an athlete’s legacy ought Sunday evening. to wait until years after retirement, allowing the “I’m home,” James said during the postgame passage of time to grant much-needed perspec- ceremony, tears fl owing down his cheeks. “I’m tive. But in an age of 24-hour sports talk and home, and this is what I came home for. I’m at a 140-character opinions, who has time for that? loss for words. This is unbelievable.” No question James’ legacy gets enhanced by Following a series marked by blowouts from winning another title, his third in seven tries. both sides, basketball fans fi nally got the epic Over the last three games, with Cleveland facing they richly deserved. The game featured 21 lead elimination in each one, he averaged 36.3 points, changes and 11 ties. 11.6 rebounds and 9.7 assists. Golden State’s last points, a Klay Thompson That’s indescribably good, Best Player in the layup off an assist from Draymond Green, tied World-type stuff . But there will always be those, the score 89-89 with 4:39 remaining. either with an agenda or an axe to grind, who will The Warriors did not score again and fi nished fi nd a way to diminish those accomplishments. with only 13 fourth-quarter points. Golden State Those people certainly don’t live in Cleveland. shot 26.3 percent (5 of 19) over the fi nal 12 min- Putting historical touches on Golden State’s utes. season is a trickier matter, mainly due to the im- Kind of ironic that a record 73-win regular sea- mensity of the collapse. son that featured so much uncanny, never-seen- In the biggest game of their careers, neither before shooting accuracy ended with a barrage of Splash Brother shot well. Curry, who went 6 of bricks. 19, said Saturday he needed to play the best game Two plays down the stretch, both made by of his career. Not hardly. Thompson (6 of 17) Cleveland, will stand out from the rest in the wasn’t much better, missing open shots he nor- highlight reel. The fi rst was a remarkable block mally swishes with his eyes closed. by James on an Andre Iguodala layup attempt in There will be a few nagging questions: Why which the Finals MVP (who else?) appeared to did Kerr start Festus Ezeli in the third quarter, a materialise out of nowhere. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) speaks to media with his children Lebron James Jr. and Zhuri James present following the 93-89 move that evaporated Golden State’s seven-point The second was Irving’s shake-and-bake victory against the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals on Sunday. Picture: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports halftime lead? Why did Curry spend the fi rst 2:55 three-pointer, in the face of regular-season MVP of the fourth on the bench? Why is Anderson Stephen Curry, with 53 seconds left that broke It was not the ending the Warriors – and cer- that we messed around, but this is why every team,” Green said. Varejao even issued a uniform? the game’s fi nal tie. tainly the growing bandwagon of Warriors fans game counts. Game 5 was really the key. That was Perhaps, but no one will ever confuse the 2015- No satisfactory answers are forthcoming. Another enduring image will be Curry, trying – envisioned. the turning point of the whole series. We didn’t 16 Warriors with one of the greatest squads ever Just because the Warriors lost Game 7 on their in vain to answer Irving’s three, barely grazing “We’re stunned,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We play well enough to win.” assembled. home fl oor doesn’t mean the season was a com- the side of the rim after being unable to shake free thought we were going to win. I was extremely Green, the only Warriors player to turn in a Not after what transpired these last three plete failure. (I’ll never subscribe to that philoso- of Kevin Love. confi dent coming into tonight, especially hav- Game 7-worthy performance (32 points, 15 re- games. Winners get to write history, while losers phy – it was simply too much fun to watch.) But Yes, Kevin Love. Who played a whale of a game ing Draymond back from the suspension from bounds, nine assists), credited Cleveland while are relegated to the dustbin of it. Golden State’s one-year reign atop the NBA has (14 rebounds) after being an afterthought the en- (Game) 5 and now Game 7 at home. sounding a defi ant tone. You’ll undoubtedly hear a lot of talk Mon- ended. tire series. “But this is why you can’t mess around. Not “This won’t be the last you hear from this day about legacies, and what this championship Give the King back his crown. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 SPORT

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Dibaba’s coach arrested in Spain WADA chief hints at in doping probe

AFP door 800m champion Abu- Barcelona baker Kaki Khamis and 2008 Beijing Olympics 800m silver medallist Ismael Ahmed Is- panish police on Mon- mael, both from Sudan, 2012 precedent-setting day arrested Somali London Olympics 1500m track coach Jama Aden, champion Taoufi k Makhloufi whose Ethiopian pro- of Algeria, 2012 world jun- tegeS Genzebe Dibaba is the ior 1500m champion Hamza current world 1500m champi- Driouch, a Moroccan-born on, as part of an investigation Qatari, and 2013 world indoor into drug traffi cking. 1500m champion Ayanleh The dawn arrest came at a Souleiman of Djibouti. ban against Russia hotel in the Catalonian town of But Aden has also courted Sabadell occupied by a group controversy, with Driouch of athletes coached by Aden, handed a two-year ban for in- ‘In order to curb state-wide doping countries must commit to a cultural change’ sources close to the investiga- consistencies in his biological tion told AFP. passport and French runner A physiotherapist was also Laila Traby also being banned arrested and the two were after testing positive for Sir Craig Reedie, President of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), speaks at a charged with having admin- blood-boosting EPO. media symposium at Lord’s cricket ground in London yesterday. (AFP) istered athletes with banned Driouch at fi rst claimed substances, sources added. Aden had doped him, but later Six doctors from world ath- retracted his allegations. letics’ governing body, the Dibaba, sister of running IAAF, and offi cials from the legend Tirunesh, has seen Spanish Anti-Doping Agency her pre-Rio Olympic plans were also present to carry out hampered by a toe injury that doping controls on some ath- has recently ruled her out of letes. Aden has a proven track meetings in Eugene, Oslo and record of nurturing some of Stockholm. The 25-year-old the best middle-distance world record holder is the big runners. favourite to strike gold in the Aside from Dibaba, he has women’s 1500m at the August coached two-time world in- 5-21 Rio Games.

CYCLING Bardet to lead AG2R in Tour de France

AFP “Romain (Bardet) will be the Paris sole leader but we can’t close the door on other riders. In the overall standings he doesn’t rench rider Romain want to jump the gun and put Bardet, runner-up himself under pressure. But if in the Criterium du he is as strong as in the Dau- FDauphiné, will lead phiné I’m not worried while the AG2R team in the Tour de acknowledging that there are France from July 2-24, team other criteria in the Tour.” general manager Vincent Lav- Bardet fi nished sixth in the enu said yesterday. 2014 Tour de France and ninth Bardet, 25, will be backed up in 2015. Gougeard returns after by Italian newcomer Domenico a week off following a fall on Pozzovivo, Belgian Jan Bake- the Dauphiné, which was won lants and French riders Mikael by Sky’s British rider Chris total ban on the country but he 1984 Los Angeles Games when Cherel, Cyril Gautier, Alexis Froome, Tour de France win- Reuters I wouldn’t compete in Olympics under London told Reuters: “If it comes back Eastern bloc countries boycott- Gougeard and Alexis Vuiller- ner in 2013 and 2015. like that, we have to say some- ed. WADA offi cials attending neutral fl ag: Russian coach moz. The two remaining riders The door remains open for thing serious.” a special symposium at Lord’s in the nine-man team will be Jean-Christophe Péraud, sec- orld Anti-Doping “In the coming weeks, we will cricket ground in central London Russian athletics coach Yury It would be “absurd” if Russian named after various national ond in the 2014 Tour de France, Agency (WADA) learn the outcomes of our inde- on drugs in sport said there was a Borzakovsky said on Monday doping whistleblower Yulia championships next Sunday. but fi ghting for fi tness after a chiefs said yesterday pendent McClaren investiga- real need to restore trust in sport he would not compete under a Stepanova was allowed to “The team were success- fall on the Giro. they would call for tion. in Rio on behalf of the athletes. neutral flag at the Rio Olympics compete at the Rio Olympics ful and steady in recent years “He had a diffi cult Tour W‘serious’ action against Russia “If his report indicates trans- “It is clear that, in order to and the Tour, as it is designed, of Switzerland, but fi nished in August should the Rus- while clean Russian athletes are before the Rio Olympics in Au- gressions of any kind, then there curb state-wide doping, wher- sian team not take part in the barred from the Games, R-Sport should suit us,” said Lavenu. correctly. We’ll talk after the gust if a new investigation next will be a precedent-setting op- ever it maybe in the world, coun- games. “I am a patriot of my agency quoted Russian Sports “Like most teams, we’re hop- French championships. But month shows evidence of wide- portunity to demonstrate our tries must commit to a cultural country. I would only compete Minister Vitaly Mutko as saying. ing for the jackpot of a stage there’s no question of forcing spread state-sponsored doping. collective commitment to clean- change and that change can only under Russian flag,” Borzako- Stepanova, an 800m runner win. him to race the Tour.” The Russian team has already ing up sport. The world will be come about by the decision- vsky said at an athletics event described as “a courageous been suspended from the ath- watching.” makers using their powers to full in the central Russian region athlete” by the World Anti- letics events in Rio because of The International Olympic eff ect,” Reedie said. of Chuvashia. “Every athlete Doping Agency (WADA), went doping allegations in track and Committee (IOC) is due to dis- His views on a tough line are has his own right to decide. In into hiding after revealing fi eld. cuss Russian’s athletics suspen- clearly held across WADA. Asked case someone wants to - he details of widespread cheating But WADA has set up another sion, which has been imposed if a call for an overall ban on Rus- is welcome to. If the (Russian in Russian athletics. The IAAF investigation under Canadian by the sport’s governing body sia for Rio was inevitable if the athletics) federation allows - said on Friday Stepanova could law professor Richard McLaren (IAAF), at a special summit in McLaren report is damning, in- let him compete. But for me be allowed to compete at the to probe allegations of state- Switzerland today. coming WADA Director General personally - I would never do it.” Rio Games as an independent backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympic chiefs are also ex- Olivier Niggli told Reuters: “We The Russian track and field athlete. Winter Olympics. pected to look at reports that the will have to be very fi rm if there team has been suspended from The president of the Russian WADA president Craig Reedie country put in place a complex is evidence.” athletics events in Rio because Olympic Committee, Alexander said the McLaren investigation system to beat drug-testing at WADA confi rmed that it was of doping allegations. The sus- Zhukov, has left Moscow for would make its fi ndings public its own Winter Games in Sochi already working with swim- pension leaves open the pos- talks with the leadership of the before July 15 at the latest. two years ago. ming’s world governing body sibility that some athletes could International Olympic Commit- If it shows evidence of wide- The IOC has indicated that it FINA on an investigation into compete as individuals if they tee, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry spread state-run cheating across will support the athletics’ ban, doping allegations made against can demonstrate they haven’t Peskov said yesterday. The many sports, the British offi cial the fi rst time Russia, which fi n- Russia and China. used performance enhancing IOC will meet today to discuss said it would be a moment for a ished second behind the United The organisation has recently drugs. Menawhile Russia says Russia’s ban by the Interna- ‘precedent-setting opportunity.’ States in the track and fi eld appointed its fi rst in-house in- doping whistleblower compet- tional Association of Athletics Reedie would not confi rm that medals’ table at the 2012 London vestigator to follow up allega- ing at Rio would be “absurd” Federations. WADA would defi nitely call for a Games, will be absent since the tions of cheating.

BASKETBALL Qatar Falcons triumph in Filipino cagefest

By Sports Reporter won over NDC PGW Ajman Du- Cajayon was also picked as Doha bai to claim the third spot in the part of the Mythical Five Awar- two-day tournament. dees with other star players from “It was an exciting four-na- other teams including Elmer atar Falcons defeated tion matches among top Filipino Fabula of FAEC-Dammam in FAEC Dammam 102- ball clubs in the Gulf region and the guard position, Christopher 86 to win 2016 PIDC- we look forward for a similar Guerrero of JK Sports-JBL Abu GCC All-Filipino successful feat in the future,” Dhabi and Mathew Carney of ChampionshipQ Cup. said Pat Carido, SBP Qatar Of- FAEC Dammam in the forward The all-star selection of Qa- fi cial and president of host Pinoy position and Falcon’s Rodel Mal- tar PIBAQ Falcon led through- Basketball of Qatar and tourna- lari as center. out the game with double-digit ment over-all director. To the delight of the huge Fili- edge and the closest diff erence The tournament served as a pino crowd who jam-packed the that visiting Filipino squad from major highlight of the 118th In- sports event, organisers have Dammam, Saudi Arabia was dependence Day celebration of given away three Ooredoo Mini seven points in the heat of the the large Filipino community in iPads apart from two round- games in the second half. Qatar. trip tickets to Efren Buenafe and Tournament’s most valuabale Aside from Cajayon, who re- Morino Jabon. player Ronnie Cajayon was un- ceived a one round-trip ticket, The 2016 PIDC GCC All-Fil- stoppable with his Stephen Cur- former Philippine Basketball As- ipino Championship Cup was ry-like nine of 13 conversions in sociation, Alaska Aces standout brought by Qatar Basketball the rainbow territory carrying Nino Gelig who was picked as Federation in co-operation with his team to well-deserved vic- Finals MVP was awarded similar the Philippine embassy in Qatar tory with highest 34 points. one round trip ticket from Phil- and United Filipino Organisa- Abu Dhabi’s Jazzvile JK Sports ippine Airlines. tions in Qatar (UFOQ). Ronnie Cajayon was adjudged the most valuable player of the tournament. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 21, 2016 9 SPORT

MLB FOCUS Springboks must cut out mistakes, Contreras homers says Coetzee

Reuters to make good decisions and, Port Elizabeth when it is on to have a go, we will have a go. We must make sure we have some good kicks ttention to detail will be in return to put the pressure in fi rst at-bat, Cubs key for South Africa as back on them. coach Allister Coetzee “We have seen the Irish warned his players to score tries through some good eliminateA errors in the third test kicks. We must make sure that against Ireland on Saturday. we handle those kicks and our “There are things that we aerial skills could improve.” need to iron out and get right. South Africa kept the se- sweep Pirates Things in terms of our de- ries alive after a rousing 32-26 tail that let us down,” said the comeback victory in the sec- Springbok coach on Monday as ond test at Ellis Park on Sat- ‘It’s incredible. I don’t have the words to explain it’ his side began preparations for urday. Ireland won the series the decider against the tourists opener at Newlands 26-20, with the series tied 1-1. their only ever test victory in “If you talk about our exits South Africa. we score a try and get points. “Any test match is a battle Then we would somehow mess of attrition and that is what we up the return kick-off on to us. have to prepare ourselves for Or we make a little bit of a sys- here in Port Elizabeth. It is go- tem error. So we are keen to get ing to be very tight and close in it right in Port Elizabeth,” he the fi rst half and we need to be told a press conference. a bit more accurate’” Coetzee “The team need the patience added.

Wallabies back leaders to make the right calls Wallabies captain Stephen Moore will continue to turn down kicks at goal in favour of going for tries if he thinks it is in the best inter- ests of the team, despite last weekend’s defeat to England. Australia spurned a series of kickable penalties in the second half in Melbourne on Saturday and paid the price when they failed to breach the English line, running out 23-7 losers to go 2-0 down in the three-test series. “All those decisions are made in the context of the game, the coaching team has input into that and we talk about it during the week,” Moore told reporters. “In every game you make the deci- sion you think is best for the team and we’re going to keep doing that.” Defence coach Nathan Grey pointed out that Australia’s only try in Melbourne came from a catch-and-drive after a kick to the corner and said Michael Cheika’s staff would continue to back the on-field leadership. “Choosing to take those kicks to the corner, you know, we scored a try from a rolling maul, we were able to do that really well,” he said. “So if we do that and take the points, we’re having a diff erent conversation. It’s just a matter of identifying what to do at the right time in the game and we’ll always back our leaders to make those right decisions.” England’s victory saw the Six Nations champions leapfrog the Wallabies into second place in the world rankings behind New Zealand. Australia face England in the third and final test in Sydney on Saturday and prop James Slipper said avoiding the ignominy of a series whitewash was motivation enough for the Wallabies. “They’ve come here to do well which they have and what better way to do it than a whitewash for them,” he said. “For us, obviously our goal is not to let that happen Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks delivers a pitch during the second inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago. PICTURE: Chicago Tribune/TNS and we’re going out there this weekend to make sure it doesn’t.” Despite giving up 62 points in the two tests against England, By Paul Skrbina again soon after, when Contreras “The moment he arrives at the It was the third time Hen- drove him home. Moore thought major changes in tactics and personnel would not Chicago Tribune became the fourth Cub to homer plate, like he is defensively ... dricks fanned McCutchen. As the Cubs are wont to do, be required to turn around their fortunes. in the game. you’re really going to like this The strikeout line began with they answered. Rizzo added his Contreras briefl y admired whole thing.” Gregory Polano and McCutch- third RBI in the seventh. Bryant yle Hendricks added the beauty before rounding the A night after reaching Wave- en in the fi rst, both via swings. then scored on a fi elder’s choice some more K’s to his bases. He was met by an embrace land Avenue with a 448-foot Three more Pirates struck out to make it 8-4. name Sunday. from fellow rookie Albert Almo- shot, Bryant hit one into the in the second, and four times Rizzo, Heyward and Baez all Spain stun Samoa to qualify for Rio A career-best 12 ra Jr. in the dugout before taking basket in left to lead off the third Hendricks ended innings with fi nished with three hits in the Ignacio Martin scored a last-gasp try to fire Spain to a stunning Kstrikeouts, to be precise. a curtain call. against Pirates rookie Jameson strikeouts – two looking and two 14-hit attack. 22-19 upset of top seeds Samoa in Monaco and secure the 12th Willson Contreras added his “I was ready to hit the fi rst Taillon. Rizzo followed, marking swinging. and final qualifying spot for the men’s rugby sevens tourna- fi rst career home run in his fi rst pitch,” said Contreras, who the second consecutive game, The lone run off Hendricks RESULTS ment at the Rio Olympics. career at-bat, when he pinch hit bolted to the bullpen to warm and ninth overall, the duo went was Josh Harrison’s home run Atlanta 6 NY Mets 0 Spanish players wept in joy after pulling off the shock at the for Hendricks in the sixth and up some relief pitchers after his back-to-back. with two outs in the third, after Cleveland 3 Chicago W Sox 2 Olympic repechage tournament on Sunday and the unheralded deposited the fi rst pitch he saw cameo. That power surge pushed the Hendricks had struck out Star- (10 innings) Europeans will now compete with global powers Fiji and New from A.J. Schugel over the wall “It’s incredible. I don’t have Cubs’ lead to 4-0. Addison Rus- ling Marte and Jung Ho Kang to Miami 3 Colorado 0 Zealand when the format makes its Games debut. in center fi eld. the words to explain it.” sell added the Cubs’ fi fth homer open the inning. San Francisco 5 Tampa Bay 1 “I am still trying to take it in,” Spain player Angel Lopez said. In the end, the Cubs swept a Contreras’ home run, a two- of the game in a four-run sev- “He was really, really good,” Arizona 5 Philadelphia 1 “This is a dream for us. We are going to be Olympians. We be- three-game series from the Pi- run shot, gave the Cubs a 6-1 enth to make it 10-4. Maddon said. Boston 2 Seattle 1 lieved that we are good enough, but wow, this is pretty special.” rates with a 10-5 victory in front lead and followed long balls by After the Pirates’ Andrew “Other than (Harrison’s home Baltimore 11 Toronto 6 Samoa had upset world series champions Fiji at the Paris of 41,024 on Father’s Day night Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony McCutchen center fi elder was run), I don’t even know if he did Houston 6 Cincinnati 0 Sevens last month and were heavy favourites to take the final at Wrigley Field. Rizzo. Baez belted his in the sec- caught looking at strike three make a mistake.” Minnesota 7 NY Yankees 4 berth with the shock loss to Spain leaving their coach Damian Hendricks left to a standing ond, the fi rst of his three hits. to end the top of the fi fth, the The Pirates struck the Cubs Kansas City 2 Detroit 1 McGrath inconsolable. ovation after striking out catcher “(Baez is) making signifi cant 11th of Hendricks’ strikeouts, bullpen for three runs in the sev- (13 innings) “I am at a loss for words right now as all our hard work is Jason Stallings to end the sixth. strides already in just not going he stood bemused in the right- enth to pull within 6-4. Three Texas 5 St. Louis 4 snatched away at the death,” the English former rugby league Hendricks allowed one run on up and swinging out of control handed batter’s box while shed- Cubs relievers were summoned LA Angels 2 Oakland 0 professional tweeted. seven hits with no walks. like three pitches every at-bat,” ding his helmet, batting gloves during the inning, when Marte LA Dodgers 2 Milwaukee 1 “Thanks to so many people for your unwavering support.” The Wrigley crowd unravelled Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. and a shin guard. tripled home two and Kang San Diego 6 Washington 3

RUGBY Jones ‘completely unavailable’ to coach Lions

AFP now and 2019, Eddie’s focus is on Sydney the World Cup and nothing will Hansen says Cheika has let Jones ‘bully’ him change that.” Jones said he believed Eng- All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has advised not reflect his personal feelings toward Cheika. ictorious England chief land would be represented by “at Michael Cheika to stop letting Eddie Jones “bully” “I want to see him do well, I like the bloke, but I Eddie Jones said yester- least” 15 players when the Lions him as the Wallabies leader looks to avoid a series don’t want to see him do well against us,” he said. day he was “completely select their squad next year for whitewash against England this weekend. “So as soon as we beat him 3-0, they can win every unavailable” to coach a series that clashes with Eng- The normally feisty Cheika has so far avoided Test.” Vthe British and Irish Lions next land’s scheduled tour of Argen- trading barbs with his compatriot Jones, a former year on their tour of New Zealand. tina in June. teammate of the Australian coach at Sydney’s Fresh from the Six Nations “I’d be hopeful of missing at Randwick Rugby club. champions series-clinching least 15,” he said. “If we can get Hansen said it had been “interesting” watching 23-7 win over the Wallabies in 15 in the Lions squad we’ll have Cheika’s demeanour in the lead-up to the two Test Melbourne there have been re- had a good Six Nations and good losses in Brisbane and Melbourne which handed newed calls for him to become November Tests.” England an unprecedented series win in Australia. the fi rst Australian to take charge Jones added that he expected “Cheika’s not come back, he’s let Eddie have a of the Lions. team changes as England go after free rein to the point where it seems like he’s But Jones, the fi rst foreigner a 3-0 series clean-sweep against actually allowed Eddie to bully him in the media,” to coach England, emphati- Australia in Sydney on Satur- Hansen said in comments reported by Fairfax New cally ruled out being at the helm day, with openside fl anker James Zealand. against the All Blacks. Haskell struggling with a sore “I don’t know if that’s because they know each “I signed a four-year contract foot and winger Jack Nowell un- other that well, that there’s a pecking order from to make England the best team in dergoing concussion protocols. old days. I don’t know. But that’s gone onto the the world and I’m going to spend “There’ll be a few changes,” park, hasn’t it?” every minute I have doing that,” he said. “When I looked at the Cheika’s men have plummeted in form since their he told reporters after England team on Saturday there were stunning run to last year’s World Cup final and secured an unbeatable 2-0 lead in Rugby Football Union chief want to do it and we want him to some guys there with only 80 must regroup in Sydney to avoid finishing the the best-of-three series against executive Ian Ritchie said he had stay to coach England,” Ritchie minutes in them. They’ve been England series with a 3-0 defeat. Australia. “If I took the Lions job advised the Lions’ committee told reporters following the Mel- up since June last year and some Jones said after England’s 23-7 second Test win in I’d have to spend anything from that Jones would be concentrat- bourne Test. are starting to show some signs Melbourne that he wanted a whitewash but it did six to 12 months not doing that.” ing on England. “Eddie does not “Both us of feel that, between of battle weariness.” Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 TENNIS

SPOTLIGHT Bencic seeks training time amid ‘Champagne on ice’ for Eastbourne rain Eastbourne, United King- dom: Defending champion Belinda Bencic missed out on training time yesterday despite rain letting up at the Wimbledon, says Murray Eastbourne International as organisers failed to cover any of the training courts. The overnight and morning rain ‘It’s been a good three months or so, and I need to try to keep that up between now and year end’ which soaked Devonshire Park did little to help the courts, left to the elements on a chilly day of 15 Celsius temperatures. “I was hoping for today but doesn’t look good,” said Swiss Bencic, who won the title a year ago over Agnieszka Radwanska. “When they don’t cover the courts, we have no chance to practise. I guess it’s the same for everyone, but still it’s a little bit of a disad- vantage.” Local off icials had no immediate explanation as to why practise courts were left uncovered while match courts were protected at the public park. The 19-year-old Bencic, ranked eighth, is keen to get stuck into her final week before the June 27 start of Wimbledon after slightly injuring her leg in a slipping fall last week in Birmingham which forced her to retire in the first round. Bencic is currently playing Andy Murray completed the perfect only her third event after warm-up for Wimbledon when he missing the clay season with defeated Milos Raonic on Sunday to back problems. retain the Queen’s title and lift the She reached the semi-finals trophy for a record fifth time. (AFP) on grass in the Netherlands earlier this month. “Everyone has injuries at some point of their career, so I’m not the first person to get an injury. Obviously the other girls have also had a little something. This (the back) was my first or second serious injury, I just take it as a part of the job. It’s nothing special.” AFP 15 meetings, including this year’s Australian and Djokovic on the Rome clay in May. “I’m pretty sure and he will head straight to Wimbledon for a prac- The third seed was waiting London French Open fi nals, Murray believes the return to I wouldn’t have done that before,” Murray said. tice session today. “It’s obviously good preparation for a second-round opponent his camp of coach Ivan Lendl this week can make “It’s a sign things are going the right direction to win the event right beforehand, but I still have after a bye as Heather Watson the diff erence in the grass-court Grand Slam. the last few months. I’m giving myself chances eight days until my fi rst match at Wimbledon, so faced 2013 Elena Vesnina. ndy Murray warned Novak Djokovic he And, asked what he would do with the large bot- every week right now and winning a lot of matches. there’s time to make things better and there’s also Bencic expresses no worries has the champagne on ice as the Queen’s tle of champagne given to him by Queen’s offi cials, It’s been a good three months or so, and I need to time to mess things up,” he said. as she returns to full-time ten- Club history-maker plots to end the Murray issued a statement of intent to Djokovic. try to keep that up between now and the end of the “If I have fi ve rubbish days of practice and don’t nis with Wimbledon bearing world number one’s reign as Wimbledon “I’ll take it home, I guess, and hopefully maybe year. That’s the goal.” put everything into it and concentrate on what down. champion.A Murray completed the perfect warm- have something to celebrate in a few weeks. Yeah, Since claiming his fi rst ever ATP Tour match I’m trying to do and get better, then I can go into “Why would I feel pressure? up for Wimbledon when the world number two de- keep it for after Wimbledon,” he said. win at Queen’s in 2005, the venue has retained a Wimbledon feeling rubbish. It’s been great, but Of course it’s ranking points, feated Milos Raonic 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday While Djokovic has been resting following the special place in Murray’s heart and he was visibly I’m aware that I need to stay on it these next seven but every week someone is to retain the Queen’s title and lift the trophy for a long-awaited completion of his career Grand Slam moved by surpassing four-time champions John days. If I do that, then I’ll put myself in a good po- defending points somewhere. record fi fth time. at Roland Garros, Murray has been honing his McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and Lleyton sition.” It’s just a normal situation. I With Wimbledon getting under way on June 27, grass-court game and getting reacquainted with Hewitt. “It’s a tournament that obviously means a Murray does at least plan to spend a day or two don’t feel any pressure and Murray looks well placed to emulate his historic Lendl, who proved an invaluable presence when lot to me. It’s been my most successful tournament with wife Kim and baby Sophia before the Wim- have no expectations be- 2013 triumph at the All England Club. the Scot defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon and by far,” he said. “To be the fi rst player to win fi ve bledon whirlwind. “I’ll take a couple of off -days cause I haven’t played a lot of But the 29-year-old knows he is likely to have to US Open fi nals. times, it’s not an easy tournament to win. It always next week because I need it,” he said. “Most of matches lately. I’m just trying defeat Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon for the Murray is also encouraged by reaching four fi - has a great fi eld and the players I have beaten in the the time it’s just being around the family, go for a to get the matches in and just last two years, to earn the third Grand Slam of his nals in his last four tournaments, a run that has fi nals have been top players.” walk with the dogs, do normal stuff away from the keep going. I’m so glad to be career. Despite losing to Djokovic in 13 of their past brought him two titles including his victory over Murray won’t be resting on his laurels however court. I’m looking forward to it.” back on the courts, so that’s the most important.” Top seed Radwanska is ROUND-UP also looking for training time amid the weather chaos. The Pole who won the title on the south coast eight years ago, said that she has barely had time for any outdoor practise Wozniacki tunes up aft er long injury layoff but is counting on better weather forecast for much of Agencies Thompson. Hewitt, who hung up his racquet at the week. Eastbourne, Great Britain the Australian Open in January, capping a legen- “It’s only one day like this. A dary 18-year career, owns an 8-6 doubles record couple of times I just finished at Wimbledon. five minutes before the rain. ormer No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is starting His fi rst appearance came in 1999, reaching the I’m hoping it will be much bet- to fi nd her footing after a long injury layoff third round with Roger Federer. Thompson, who ter than the last week.” Due that forced her to miss the entire clay court broke into the Top 100 in singles last month, is to the weather, off icials rear- season - including the French Open. making his Wimbledon debut. The Aussies are one ranged the day’s programme, FSpeaking to wtatennis.com website at the Aegon of six doubles teams to receive wild card entry into limiting their hopes to six International after her fi rst round win over Alize the main draw, including Kyle Edmund and fellow first-round matches. Cornet, Wozniacki felt things were starting to fall Brit James Ward, along with 2012 doubles cham- into place following a pre-tournament practice pion Jonathan Marray and Canada’s Adil Shamas- with good friend and World No. 3 Agnieszka Rad- din. Hewitt will also lend his expert services in the wanska. commentary booth for the BBC. “I feel like I’m getting closer to where I want to be,” the Dane said. “I had a really good two hour SERENA WILLIAMS HEADS practice with Aga yesterday; that made me feel UNCHANGED WOMEN’S TOP 10 good and like I know what I need to do. Birming- Serena Williams stays top of an unchanged leading ham wasn’t the best place to get rhythm because 10 in the women’s tennis rankings released by the we kept going on and off the court due to rain. It WTA. Williams remains on 8,330 points, ahead was nice to get here knowing the weather is usually of number two Garbine Muguruza on 5,766, with better here than anywhere else in the UK.” only minor points changes in the top 10 a week Wozniacki refl ected on her long absence from ahead of Wimbledon. the tour, one that led her to a highly scheduled pe- Top 10: 1. (1) Serena Williams, United States, 8,330 riod of rest, relaxation, and a return to the piano, a points; 2. (2) Garbine Muguruza, Spain, 6,766; 3. (3) former childhood pursuit. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland, 6,080; 4. (4) Angel- “I used to play when I was younger, and I used to ique Kerber, Germany, 5,330; 5. (5) Simona Halep, play some concerts as well. I just thought, ‘I have Romania, 4,372; 6. (6) Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 4,191; some time off , and it’s good for the brain as well.’ 7. (7) Roberta Vinci, Italy, 3,405; 8. (8) Belinda Bencic, “I was good. Right now, I’m not very good, but Switzerland, 3,190; 9. (9) Venus Williams, United States, then you keep improving every time because you Former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki 3,116; 10.(10) Timea Bacsinszky, Switzerland, 2,800 start remembering things. I’m still getting there. I have a piano at home, and every time I’m home I’ll YOUZHNY WINS FIRST ROUND get lessons. I bought a keyboard for when I’m on MATCH AT NOTTINGHAM OPEN the road, but I decided I had too much luggage, but Former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny won an maybe next trip!” ATP main draw opening match for only the fi fth time this year at the Nottingham Open yesterday. ROBSON SAYS SHE WILL Youzhny beat Teymuraz Gabashvili of Ukraine BE FIT FOR WIMBLEDON 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. British wildcard Laura Robson says she will be fi t Youzhny is trying to extend a 17-year pro career for Wimbledon despite pulling out of Eastbourne Wells in March this year, her fi rst WTA Tour event the wrist injury. She has been awarded a wildcard in which he won the last of his 10 titles in 2013. with a thigh injury. since August 2015. The Australia-born player had for this year’s Wimbledon, which begins on Mon- He won only nine matches on tour last year and The 22-year-old former British number one was wrist surgery in April 2014 and as consequence day, 27 June. decided to regain his confi dence and form on the forced to retire from her qualifying match against was sidelined for more than a year. minor challenger tour, where he won three straight American Madison Brengle on Sunday. But yester- She then had further surgery towards the end of HEWITT GETS WIMBLEDON events in Southeast Asia in January to lift his rank- day she tweeted: “Getting solid treatment on my 2015, which led to her missing the 2016 Austral- DOUBLES WILD CARD ing into the 70s. leg and will be all good for Wimbledon.” ian Open in January. The 2008 Wimbledon junior The competitive fi re still burns strong for Lleyton Coming off a quarterfi nal run in Stuttgart, the Robson is currently ranked 308 in the world champion achieved a career-high ranking of 27 Hewitt. The former World No. 1 and 2002 Wim- latest win was his sixth this season. Other fi rst- after missing much of 2014 and 2015 with a wrist in 2013, having reached the last 16 of Wimbledon bledon champion will return to the All England round winners included Evgeny Donskoy, Adrian Belinda Bencic problem. She fi nally returned to action at Indian that year and the US Open in 2012, before suff ering Club to play doubles alongside countryman Jordan Mannarino and Daniel Evans. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 21, 2016 11 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Williams equal F1 pit stop record

The Williams Formula One were logged to thousandths team equalled the record for of a second. the sport’s fastest pit stop in Williams’ speed in the pits has Sunday’s European Grand Prix. been outstanding this year The British outfit changed and they have been the fastest the tyres on Brazilian Felipe team at every race following Mercedes want a Massa’s car in 1.92 seconds, a deliberate plan to improve equaling the previous best their form. on record set by the Red Bull “I was surprised in the first team at the 2013 United States race that we had such a quick Grand Prix, according to pit-stop,” said Massa. statistics gathered for the DHL “We even lost time because Fastest Pit Stop Award. it was quicker than you ex- Red Bull turned around Aus- pected, but then I was ready re-think on radio tralian Mark Webber in 1.923 to have a good one, because seconds at the American the team is doing such a race, when pit-stop timings good job.” ban in Formula 1 LPGA ‘I think we want to see drivers racing each other. The cars are very complicated and Kim wins Meijer obviously very sophisticated technology-wise. I think we need to look at the rules’ Classic in a playoff

AFP New York

im Sei-Young (right) continued her superb play in playoff s by de- feating Carlota Cig- andaK Sunday on the fi rst extra hole to earn her second victory of the season at the Meijer LPGA Classic. The 23-year-old South Korean improved to 3-0 in play- Ciganda, from Spain, parred off s after closing with a three- the fi nal fi ve holes in a bogey- under 68 to claim her fi fth career free round. USLPGA Tour crown. She remained winless on the Both her previous playoff tour and picked up her fourth wins came in 2015. runner-up fi nish. Kim managed to shake off a “One person has to win and bogey on 18 which set the stage if you can’t win, second is the for the playoff in Belmont, best,” Ciganda said. Michigan. “I set my goal of no “I’ll keep trying and just keep bogeys and the last one I missed playing golf.” with a bogey,” Kim said. South Korea’s Chun In-Gee, “But I bounced back so it was who was tied for the third-round good work. I did well today.” lead with defending champion Kim and Spain’s Ciganda fi n- Lexi Thompson, had a 71 to fi n- ished regulation tied at 17-un- ish third at 15 under. der par 267. Ciganda shot a fi nal She bogeyed two of the first round four-under 67. four holes. Thompson, who Kim rolled in a birdie on the played through the pain of a playoff hole after fi nding the tall sore back, shot a 72 to tie for grass on her drive. fourth with top-ranked Lydia Ciganda’s second shot sailed Ko at 14 under. over the green while Kim landed Ko, of New Zealand, shot a 68. her approach three feet from the Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, pin. Ciganda fi nished with a bo- third last week after winning her gey. “It was 109 yards to the pin. previous three tournaments, tied I did it, it worked,” said Kim. for 18th at seven under after a 68.

Australian Scott Hend dreams of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the qualifying session for the European Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit. Olympics after Thai triumph AFP “You can do two things. You can either “All they can tell me is there is a before, which kind of led him on the right Baku make the technology much less compli- switch error, wrong switch posi- path,” said Wolff . Australia’s Scott Hend said number one Jason Day as golf cated - and I don’t think this is the right tion, so I am looking at every single He said the problems cost Hamilton at he hoped to seize his chance returns to the Games after a direction — or maybe adjust the regula- switch thinking, am I being an least two-tenths of a second per lap. to play at an Olympics after 112-year absence. ercedes team chief Toto Wolff tion so you are able to communicate more idiot here? Have I done something “It was just one switch change, but moving into the Rio qualifica- “There are three more weeks has called for a re-think on with the driver in case of a problem, but it wrong? And I hadn’t” you need to fi nd that out — and you are at tion picture with victory at the for the Olympic qualifying and the radio communications is how it is.” 350kph in the car, playing around with the Queen’s Cup in Thailand. my next big goal is to play well ban that robbed Lewis Ham- Making the most of Hamilton’s prob- Mercedes explained later that the steering wheel... it’s a complex matter. The Australian veteran leap- in the BMW International this Milton of a chance to fi ght for a podium fi n- lems – he started 10th after an error- problem was caused by ‘de-rating’, which “I don’t think it’s down to homework.” frogged compatriot Marcus week to get into The (British) ish in Sunday’s European Grand Prix. strewn qualifying session – Rosberg happens when there is a lower than max- Hamilton was left hoping for the best. Fraser to 74th in the world Open,” he said, according to His Mercedes team-mate and cham- cruised to his fi fth win of the season and imum electrical deployment from the “They said it will work itself out... and rankings from 87th after an Asian Tour press release. pionship leader Nico Rosberg won the 19th of his career. hybrid part of the power unit. it did with eight laps to go,” he said. Sunday’s Asian Tour win in “I am 43 this year, who knows race, but both drivers had problems with After fi nishing fi fth, the defending “The settings were wrong because we Rosberg said: “It wasn’t easy because Koh Samui, putting him in line how much longer I can play incorrect engine settings. three-time world champion is now 24 had a messy Friday and couldn’t confi g- of the clampdown on radio communica- for a spot at the Olympics in although I’m getting better Starting from pole, Rosberg was able to points behind Rosberg in the title race. ure it in the way we should have done,” tion, so they couldn’t tell us specifi cally August. Fraser dropped from with age. fi x his issue relatively swiftly, but Hamil- Asked how it felt in the car during Wolff added. what it was. 76th to 80th. It’ll be nice to play in the Olym- ton struggled for 12 laps. those 12 laps, he said: “Dangerous.... I “So it was pre-set in the wrong way and “I felt the issue out on track, with the Hend is only the fourth-ranked pics and be one of the first few “I think we want to see drivers racing am just looking at my steering wheel for a it happened a little bit earlier on Lewis’s engine down on power, so I looked at my Australian, but the withdraw- Australians to play in it since each other,” he said. “The cars are very large portion of the lap - all the way down car. I think it was three laps earlier.” steering wheel and fi gured ‘it must be als of compatriots Adam Scott golf’s re-inclusion,” he said. complicated and obviously very sophis- the straight just looking at my wheel. Hamilton spent much of the race try- that one, so take it off ’ and it worked! through scheduling issues and “It’s all these diff erent things ticated technology-wise. I think we need “All they can tell me is there is a switch ing to resolve his problem with his engi- “They said it was a problem with the Marc Leishman, who cited fears that you chalk up in your to look at the rules. error, wrong switch position, so I am neer telling him repeatedly that he could mode, but which mode? There are so over the Zika virus, have put career and when you are “It’s not that I’m complaining. It’s the looking at every single switch thinking, not give advice. many... I thought about it and fi gured him in line to make the Aussie finished, you just sit back and same for everybody and I think the Fer- am I being an idiot here? Have I done “Nico was in a more fortunate situ- that that was the one.” Lucky for Rosberg two-man team alongside world say this is what I did.” rari had the same issue. something wrong? And I hadn’t.” ation in that he did a switch change just for unlucky for Hamilton.

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Driving a Ford GT, Sebastien Bourdais, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller takes victory in LM GTE Pro category. Victory comes exactly 50 years on Ford wins Le Mans, recreates history from Ford’s 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966

By Sports Reporter victory comes 395 days after the car “It’s a big deal to come back here 50 The No. 66 Ford GT, raced by Billy Doha turned a wheel for the fi rst time on May years after the Ford win in 1966,” said Johnson (US), Stefan Mücke (GER) 20, 2015, at Calabogie Motorsports Park Hand. “We said we wanted to win but and Olivier Pla (FRA) was in conten- in Canada. A Herculean eff ort from the to actually do it is huge. This team has tion for a top result during the race’s he No. 68 Ford GT of Sébastien Ford Chip Ganassi team has trans- come so far in a short space of time. infancy but a small electrical problem Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (US) formed the car into a Le Mans winner in They all worked hard, right through put paid to their attack. Such is the and Dirk Müller (GER) crossed just over one year. Christmas and New Year and gave us a pace of the Le Mans 24 Hours, one ex- the fi nish line at Le Mans at three “Building a new car and racing it at race car that we can race hard. We drove tra moment in the pits is all it takes to To’clock on Sunday, as the overall GT win- Le Mans is a monumental task,” com- like it was a sprint race for 24 hours. I’ve be out of the running. ner of the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours. The mented Mark Fields, president and won a lot of races and this is a big one. The No. 67 Ford GT of Marino Fran- No. 69 Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe (AUS), chief executive offi cer, Ford Motor I’m honoured to be part of this pro- chitti (GB), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Scott Dixon (NZ) and Richard Westbrook Company. “We took it on and we con- gramme. I’m a red, white and blue guy Harry Tincknell (GB) suff ered from a (GB) joined the winners on the podium quered the biggest challenge in sport- so to be part of the Ford family, where gearbox issue at the start of the race so after scoring third place. The Nos. 66 and scar racing: the Le Mans 24 Hours. It they treat you like their own, is a great they had to play catch up for the full 24 67 Ford GTs fi nished in fourth and ninth has been incredible to share this event place to be.” hours, coming home in ninth place. places, respectively. with our dealers, owners, employees, This victory is particularly sweet for With his 175th victory as a team “This is an historic moment for the sponsors and guests who are all burst- Bourdais who was born within sight owner, Chip Ganassi becomes the only Ford Motor Company,” said Bill Ford, ing with pride at being part of the Ford of Tertre Rouge. The Frenchman had owner in history to win the Indiana- executive chairman, Ford Motor Com- family. Every manufacturer in the GTE competed at Le Mans 10 times previ- polis 500, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, pany. “We dared to dream that we could Pro class fought with everything they ously but this is his fi rst win. Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Se- return to Le Mans, 50 years after the had in the best competitive spirit, and “It’s an unbelievable feeling to be bring and Le Mans 24 Hours. incredible 1966 win, and take on the we are thrilled to have played our part able to make this happen,” said Bourda- The No. 66 Ford GT earns maxi- toughest competition in the world. in this incredible race.” is. “There was so much eff ort, so much mum FIA World Endurance Champi- The pride we all felt when the Ford After a titanic battle with the No. emotion, and to be the one that wins onship points from this event, which GT crossed the line at Le Mans is in- 82 Ferrari, the No. 68 Ford GT took the trophy to give to the Ford family and fires up the competition for the re- describable. The team that designed, The No. 68 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT crosses the finish line to win the the lead for the fi nal time in the 20th everyone involved is very special. Eve- mainder of the WEC season. The built and raced the Ford GT has worked 2016 World Endurance Championship Le Mans 24 hours (LM GTE Pro category). hour of the race. Hand was behind the rything aligned for us today — the his- IMSA Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team tirelessly to bring us to this result and wheel on the three occasions that the tory, the Ferrari/Ford battle, 50 years is flying high all the way back to the I am proud of each and every one of that of innovation, determination and ry again and I couldn’t be more proud.” Ford passed the Ferrari, rekindling a on and the Ford family being here. To US for the next round of the Weath- them. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing true teamwork. We cherish our history First unveiled to the media at Le 50-year-old rivalry between the two come out on top of all that is an amaz- erTech SportsCar Championship at team demonstrated the spirit of Ford, and heritage, but today we made histo- Mans last year, the Ford GT’s Le Mans car manufacturers. ing feeling.” Watkins Glen on July 3.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 GULF TIMES GOLF

SPOTLIGHT DETAILS USGA keen to explain handling of Johnson wins fi rst Johnson penalty

Reuters wanted to make him aware of that Oakmont so that he could strategically make decisions that he needed to make for the balance of the round.” he United States Golf Fortunately for Johnson, the major title amid Association (USGA) de- one-shot penalty only served to fended its management reduce his margin of victory to of a penalty controver- three shots. Tsy with new champion Dustin The USGA were criticised for Johnson in the fi nal round of the waiting until the 12th tee to in- US Open on Sunday. form Johnson that there may Johnson was penalised a stroke be a penalty assessed with Hall after the USGA deemed the play- bringing the organisation’s sen- rules controversy er was responsible for making his ior director of rules Thomas ball move on the fi fth green, even Pagel off the course to view the though a walking offi cial with the possible infraction. ‘I’m playing against the course. I can’t control what anyone else does. So I just tried to American’s group absolved the “I was out as a rover shadow- player of any wrongdoing. ing the last few groups and re- hit golf shots, tried to hit it on the correct side of the hole, and two-putt’ When Johnson reached the 12th ceived a message from one of our tee, Jeff Hall, USGA managing di- staff who saw the video, came in rector of rules and competition, to review that video, certainly visited the 31-year-old to inform was concerned,” Hall said. him that he could be assessed a “Thomas being our lead rules penalty and that the matter would expert, I wanted him to look at it be discussed after the round. as well. By the time we were able “We were concerned about to do that, Dustin had already what we saw and felt obligated to played through the front nine. have a conversation with Dustin “We agreed that we were con- about it, and the 12th tee pre- cerned about what we saw and sented the best opportunity to do felt obligated to have a conver- that,” Hall said. sation with Dustin about it, and “We had that conversation with the 12th tee presented the best Dustin. We told him that what we opportunity to do that.” saw was a concern but we also Johnson was involved in a simi- asked him a couple of questions.” lar situation at a major tourna- Hall asked Johnson if there ment six years ago and would have was something else that could been all too aware of the conse- have caused the ball to move but quences of any dropped shots. the player was adamant he had In the fi nal round of the 2010 not grounded his club and did PGA Championship, Johnson not cause his ball to move. held a one-shot lead going to the However, Hall and his fellow fi nal hole. He initially appeared committee members felt John- to have bogeyed the hole, which son’s putter was grounded near would have put him into a three- the ball as he took his practice hole playoff with Bubba Watson swings. “The grounding of the and Martin Kaymer. putter near the ball and the ball’s However, he received a two- immediate movement after the stroke penalty for grounding his club had been grounded, we put club in a bunker on the last, drop- Dustin on notice,” Hall said. ping him to a tie for fi fth place. “We just wanted him to realise Kaymer eventually went on to that we were concerned and we win the playoff .

Dustin Johnson of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the US Open as Shane Lowry (C) of Ireland and Amateur Jon Rahm (L) of Spain look on. ANGUISH

Reuters his putter to acknowledge the loud roars He denied having caused the move- form like this, I think it shows what kind Oakmont from the crowd before being embraced by ment and the offi cial accompanying the of golfer I am,” said the 31-year-old. “I’ve his caddie. pairing decided not to levy a penalty. knocked on the door a bunch of times. To Lowry gutted at “Feels good, feels really good, feels well After being informed on the 12th tee fi nally get that major win, it’s huge.” ong-hitting American Dustin deserved,” an emotional Johnson said af- by a US Golf Association offi cial that he American world number two Spieth Johnson, seeking major redemption ter fi nishing three shots in front of fellow might be penalised after the round, John- fi nished a disappointing title defence blowing chance after several near-misses in recent Americans Jim Furyk (66) and Scott Piercy son ran up a three-putt bogey at the 14th with a 75 for a nine-over total of 289. years, won the 116th US Open on (69), and Ireland’s Shane Lowry (76). but otherwise displayed nerves of steel as Reuters LSunday amid high drama and initial uncer- Lowry had been four ahead after the he negotiated the closing stretch. Final Round Scores Oakmonth tainty over his victory margin. weather-delayed third round was com- He rolled in a 10-footer to save par at In pursuit of his first grand slam pleted earlier on Sunday but he struggled the 16th and thunderous roars of “DJ, DJ, Collated final round scores, played at crown, the world number six played in the conditions while piling up seven DJ” rang out as the crowd gave vocal sup- par-70 Oakmont Country Club (USA hane Lowry (right) was clutch golf under intense pressure at bogeys. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities port to the tournament leader in his bid unless stated) left to rue the major that brutally difficult Oakmont Country that I didn’t quite get done, so this one’s for a fi rst major victory after a series of got away on Sunday after Club, finishing in style as he sank a defi nitely really sweet,” said Johnson.”I heartbreaks in the past. 276 - Dustin Johnson 67 69 71 69 Sblowing a four-stroke short birdie putt at the last. knew I was swinging well, and I just kept Johnson had previously recorded 11 279 - Jim Furyk 71 68 74 66, Shane lead at the US Open, and while Having negotiated the fi nal seven holes thinking, it’s just me and the course. top-10s in the majors without winning, Lowry (IRL) 68 70 65 76, Scott Piercy the Irishman learned a valuable under notice that he might be penalised “I’m playing against the course. I can’t including two-runner-up spots, and he 68 70 72 69 lesson from a chaotic fi nal round for a rules infraction on the fi fth green, control what anyone else does. So I just missed a three-foot putt at the fi nal hole 280 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 68 70 72 70, at Oakmont Country Club he despite being cleared by another offi cial tried to hit golf shots, tried to hit it on the to hand last year’s U.S. Open at Cham- Branden Grace (RSA) 73 70 66 71 doesn’t know what it is yet. at the time, he was docked a shot after correct side of the hole, and two-putt.” bers Bay to Jordan Spieth. 281 - Kevin Na 75 68 69 69 “Bitterly disappointed, stand- the round’s completion, with his score The rules controversy was sparked On Sunday, however, Johnson was re- 282 - Jason Day (AUS) 76 69 66 71, ing here. It’s not easy to get your- amended to a closing 69 for a four-under when Johnson’s ball moved slightly as the markably composed in the circumstances Zach Johnson 71 69 71 71 self in a position I got myself in winning total of 276. American was preparing to attempt his and made several clutch putts on a day 286 - Adam Scott (AUS) 71 69 72 74, today,” said Lowry, who closed After sinking the fi nal putt to clinch his par putt at the fi fth hole, shortly after his when the entire fi eld struggled on greens Graeme McDowell (NIR) 72 71 71 72, with a six-over 76 to fi nish tied on the treacherous greens of 10th PGA Tour victory, Johnson pumped birdie attempt there from fi ve feet broke running lightning-fast. 287 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 76 68 69 for second, three strokes behind Oakmont but on Sunday he put his right fi st in delight, and then lifted left and slid past the cup. “After last year, to come back and per- winner Dustin Johnson. himself under pressure. “It was there for the taking “I just kept on hitting it 25, 30, and I didn’t take it.” 35 feet (from the cup).On these BOTTOMLINE The burly 29-year-old from greens, it’s tricky. Kept leaving Clara in County Off aly had birdied myself a lot of work to do,” he said. two of his last four holes for a fi ve- “It caught up with me on 14. under-par 65 when the marathon Really bad streak there, obvi- third round was fi nally completed ously on 15 and 16 as well... the earlier in the day to tighten his grip more I think about it, the more on the championship. upset I get.” Dustin sheds nearly-man label He lost the lead after carding Lowry said he was not thrown three bogeys on the front nine off by the confusion over wheth- AFP a little three-footer to fi nish.” but was still neck-and-neck er Johnson would be docked a Oakmont With his brother Austin car- with Johnson at four-under un- stroke after the round for an in- rying his bag, Johnson didn’t til dropping three shots in three cident on the fi fth green where have to look far to fi nd someone holes from the 14th. his ball moved as he prepared to ustin Johnson to celebrate with. Lowry left approach shots hit his par putt, despite the on- shrugged off a litany of “He’s my best friend. So to short on 14 and 15 and his putter site offi cial no off ence. major championship have somebody you really enjoy also let him down as he posted “We were told walking on disappointment and being out there with you, it defi - three successive bogeys. 12,” he said about the possibility potentialD controversy to capture nitely makes things a lot better,” “You can only learn from your Johnson would be penalized. the US Open on Sunday, ridding Johnson said.”To have my broth- mistakes,” he said.”I always say “No, it didn’t aff ect the way I himself of one of the most un- er out there with me, it’s been it’s only a mistake if you don’t played,” added Lowry, who had wanted tags in golf. awesome the past 2 1/2 years. It’s learn from it. called a one-stroke penalty on “I feel lighter,” Johnson said just getting better.” “I’m sure I learned a lot from himself a day earlier when his after shedding the weight of that today and I don’t know what it ball moved as he addressed it. “best golfer never to win a major” A GREAT ROAD is yet, but when I’m in that po- “If anything, I credit Dustin for label. “I’ve been in this situation Austin Johnson is part of the sition again, and I know I will playing the way he played on the time and time again. For me to fi - support system that has helped be, I’ll handle it probably a lit- way in, having that hanging over nally get it done on Sunday in a ma- Johnson bounce back from tur- tle bit better.” him, because I probably would jor, it’s a huge monkey off my back.” bulent times in 2014, when he Lowry, looking for his fi rst ma- have wanted to know straighta- Johnson came into the week “stepped away” from the PGA jor title, had shown good touches way, if it was me,” he said. with 11 top-10 fi nishes in major Tour amid reports he’d been championships. suspended for a failed drug test. At the 2010 PGA Champion- The tour said Johnson’s ab- ship at Whistling Straits, he was Dustin Johnson of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy. sence was voluntary, and while What they said... penalized a shot on the fi nal hole he later denied testing positive for grounding his club in a haz- But in the glow of a storming tling Straits, where he grounded penalized, so I just went about for recreational drugs he did ac- “The story of my week is just I handled it quite well, and ard, missing a spot in a playoff . victory — wrested from third- his club in a pebbly patch of sand my business,” Johnson said. knowledge excessive alcohol use. playing the easy holes poorly. unfortunately, came up a little He had led the US Open that round leader Shane Lowry and that he thought was a waste area Instead, Johnson fi nally got He’s pointed to partner Pauli- That’s what’s tough to swallow bit short.” — Sergio Garcia year at Pebble Beach through earned in the shadow of another rather than a bunker, the rules his magic major moment at the na Gretzky and their young son — you do all this work on this 54 holes but ultimately fi nished rules controversy — the normal- controversy that blew up Sun- 72nd hole, splitting the fairway Tatum with helping him fi nd course, and it was the easy lit- “Being there and seeing the eighth. Last year, he three-putt- ly laconic Johnson let his emo- day had special resonance. with his drive, and following balance in his life. tle iron/wedge holes that tore group fighting back and ed the 72nd hole at Chambers tions show. Johnson was up by just one with a fi ne approach to set up “I’ve got a great support me apart.” — Jordan Spieth forth there coming down the Bay to hand Jordan Spieth the US “After last year, to come back Sunday when he learned US Golf just the second birdie of the day system with Paulina, my son stretch, it was pretty awesome Open crown. this year and perform like this Association offi cials were re- at the 18th. “It was a very nice Tatum, my family, my team “It’s been a while since I’ve to watch, be there firsthand All week Johnson insisted he’d — I think it shows what kind considering a ruling at the fi fth way to fi nish. Maybe one of the that’s around me, a great sup- been in a major four rounds and be in the moment.” moved on from Chambers Bay, of golfer I am,” said the world green, and he could be penal- best shots I ever hit, especially port system. So it’s been a great out there in contention. — Andrew Landry, the 624th- that last year’s disappointment number six, who notched his ized a shot for causing his ball to under the circumstance,” he said road,” Johnson said. There’s a lot of nerves, but I ranked American who led and the ones that came before 10th PGA Tour title. move as he prepared to putt. of his six-iron into the green. “I’m defi nitely a stronger per- really enjoyed it. I think that after the first round. didn’t haunt him. After his experience at Whis- “I felt like I wasn’t going to be “I was very happy to see I had son coming out the other side.”