TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2014 SPORTS Michael Sam bravely comes out, now what?

NEW YORK: Michael Sam could’ve taken the - well, LOT OF CRITICISM er room knows what a macho world that can be, in time it’s still a man’s-man game. To call somebody not the easy, but certainly the easier - way out by “The reality is: Michael Sam is going to open him- where distasteful - even hurtful - words are thrown a (gay slur) is still so commonplace.” staying mum on his sexual orientation, at least self up to a lot of criticism and a lot of challenges,” around with shocking frequency. Imagine what Sam might face on the field, in a until after the NFL draft. said former NFL offensive lineman Frank Garcia, now sport where it’s not all that unusual for a player to Instead, one of the nation’s top college football a sports radio show host in Charlotte. BULLIED AND HARASSED exact his own version of justice with a low blow or a players bravely decided to speak now, to tell the “Those are challenges most gay people have to Just ask Jonathan Martin, the offensive lineman dirty block. But there’s some encouraging signs, as world he is gay at a time when NFL teams are grad- go through, but when you are dealing with alpha who walked away from the Miami Dolphins this past well. Sam came out in August to his teammates and ing the guys they’ll be picking in a couple of males and some meatheads in an NFL locker room, season, claiming he had been bullied and harassed coaches at Missouri, and it sure didn’t seem to have months. it’s amplified. And there are some guys who have daily by teammate Richie Incognito and others. any negative impact on the Tigers. They went 12-2, This is not Jason Collins, as courageous as he strong religious beliefs too, so he’s going to be Eight NFL executives and coaches, interviewed by won the SEC East Division title, and defeated was, coming out at the end of his NBA career. This judged. He’s going to face some things that are SI.com and given anonymity so they could give their Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Sam, a 6-foot-2, is a young man just getting started as a profession- going to be very difficult to overcome.” true opinions, revealed the daunting challenges that 255-pound defensive end, led the conference in al, after leading Missouri to one of the best seasons We’ve already gotten more than a glimpse at Sam set himself up for by coming out ahead of the sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (19). in school history. Finally, we’ll get to see how this what Sam will face. At last year’s Super Bowl, San draft. Before he spoke, the Southeastern Conference “Michael is a great example of just how impor- plays out, an openly gay player lining up in Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver made a fool of defensive player of the year was projected as a mid- tant it is to be respectful of others, he’s taught a lot America’s most popular sport. Finally, we’ll get to himself when jokingly asked by comedian Artie to late-round draft pick. Now, according to everyone of people here firsthand that it doesn’t matter what see what barriers we’ve broken down and, more Lange if he would ever pursue a gay man. interviewed by SI.com, his stock will certainly plum- your background is, or your personal orientation, important, what hurdles remain when someone “Ain’t got no gay people on the team,” Culliver met. “I just know with this going on this is going to we’re all on the same team and we all support each acknowledges they are gay, then competes with said. “They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t drop him down,” said a veteran NFL scout. “Do you other,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “If Michael doesn’t and against guys who may be repelled by the be with that sweet stuff.” A few years ago, I broached want to be the team to, quote-unquote, break that have the support of his teammates like he did this notion of having a relationship with another man. the idea of having an openly gay teammate to sever- barrier?” past year, I don’t think there’s any way he has the Because of Sam, it will be easier for the next guy. al players in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse. One type of season he put together.” And the guy after that. But for all the progress this freely conceded he would be uncomfortable dress- MAN’S-MAN GAME Let’s hope there’s another team, another group of country has made in gay rights, there will surely be ing or showering in front of someone he knew was A player personnel assistant added, “I don’t think players that feels the same way, that judges Sam by plenty of ugliness in the weeks and months and gay, and I’ve long suspected he was not alone in that football is ready for it just yet. In the coming decade what he can do on a football field. Nothing more. years to come. attitude. Anyone who has ever been in a sports lock- or two, it’s going to be acceptable, but at this point Nothing less. It’s time. — AP Italy, Australia, Germany into Fed Cup semi-finals

PARIS: Italy kept their Fed Cup title defence on track Sunday, downing the United States to join Australia and Germany in the semi-finals of the women’s tennis competition. Karin Knapp claimed the decisive third point for Italy, giving them an unbeatable 3-0 lead with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over American Alison Riske. The holders won’t know their opponents for the April 19-20 semi-finals until late yesterday, after rain in Seville forced decisive matches in Spain’s clash with the Czech Republic to be pushed back with the hosts holding a 1-0 lead. Both Italy and the United States were without their top players for the Kuwait Shooting Club board members and representatives from ministries during tie on an indoor hard court in Cleveland, Ohio. the press conference. Italy, seeking a fifth Fed Cup in nine years, were without Sara Errani and Flavia Pennetta, while the United States were without injured stars Serena Kuwait gears up for Williams and Sloane Stephens. But Knapp, ranked 40th in the world, came through with two victories. She opened the tie with shooting tourney a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over Christina McHale on By Abellatif Sharaa Saturday, when Camila Giorgi crushed US teen 6-2, 6-1. In the meaningless doubles KUWAIT: President of the Arab and match, Keys and teamed up to beat Kuwait Shooting Federation, Engr Duaij and 6-2, 6-3 and Khalaf Al-Otaibi said HH the Amir Third prevent the whitewash, giving Italy a final 3-1 tri- PARIS: French Fed Cup team celebrates after winning the first round tennis tie against International Shooting Tournament umph. US captain Mary Joe Fernandez opted to Switzerland at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium. France won 3-2. — AFP which will start on March 7 at Sheikh substitute Riske for Keys in Sunday’s reverse singles, Sabah Al-Ahmad Shooting Olympic hoping her more aggressive style would prove trou- gles win when seeing off FedCup newcomer the reverse singles in Bratislava. Shooting Complex will be distinguished blesome for the Italian. Victoria Kan 6-2, 6-3 in Sunday’s opening rubber to Kerber had already beaten Daniela Hantuchova and different from the previous two tour- Instead, Knapp broke Riske seven times, and secure an unassailable 3-0 lead. Ashleigh Barty and 7-6 (11/9), 6-1 in the second of Saturday’s two sin- naments. This time the tournament will while the Italian’s nerves got the better of her in her sealed a 4-0 clean sweep over the gles, after Andrea Petkovic had saved a match point see three competitions shotgun, rifle and first two chances to serve for the match, she fin- Russians with an emphatic 6-1, 6-3 doubles win en route to a 1-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 win over Cibulkova. sporting, as all events will be under the ished it off in style with a love game punctuated by over Irina Khromacheva and Valeria Solovyeva. “It was tough, so I was just trying to play point-by- patronage of HH the Amir. a service winner on her first match point. “We’re still in it, so we have a chance to win it,” point. I think I played well, I moved well, I mixed it Engr Al-Otaibi was speaking during a “I got a little bit nervous,” Knapp admitted. “I got Stosur said of Australia’s prospects of claiming the up well, sometimes aggressive, sometimes defen- press conference held Sunday evening in Duaij Al-Otaibi a little bit of emotion. At the end, the last game, I title for the first time since 1974. First though they sive, and I’m so happy that we’re now through,” served again better. I think this was the key.” In will have to overcome Germany, waiting for them in Kerber said. Slovakia picked up their point courtesy the presence of KSSC vice chairman Shooting Confederation and ISSF Vice- Mohammad Karam, Secretary General Hobart, Australia ensured their place in the next the semis. The Germans, who were last crowned of Jana Cepelova and Magdalena Rybarikova’s 4-6, president, in organizing international round for the first time in 21 years with a crushing champions in 1992, qualified 3-1 after Angelique 6-3, 10-7 doubles win over Julia Goerges and Anna- Obaid Al-Osaimi, Treasurer Essa Bu-Taiban, and regional tournaments that received Assistant Secretary Engr Mohammad Al- Samantha Stosur-inspired 4-0 defeat of Russia. The Kerber defeated Slovakia’s runner- Lena Groenefeld. This is the first time Germany have praise from all. 2011 US Open champion added to her Saturday sin- up Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in the first of graced the last four since 1995. — AFP Ghurba as well as representatives from Al-Otaibi said it is expected to have concerned state ministries. Al-Otaibi said 26 countries participating from Africa, this tournament will qualify winners to the Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand, in youth Olympic games to be held in China, addition to other countries who will Walker hangs on to as 45 countries already expressed their send shooters to specially participate in wish to participate bringing the number this particular event. He said that the of shooters to 600, compared with last President of ASC instructed that a year’s tournament in which 33 countries preparatory camp be held for participat- were present. ing shooters under the supervision of win at Pebble Beach He said many countries were motivat- international coaches, as a support from ed to participate because the tourna- him to Arab and Asian shooters. He said PEBBLE BEACH: Jimmy Walker did it the hard way, than ecstatic, admitting that trying to protect a big ment holds the name of HH the Amir the mission of Kuwait Shooting Club is almost squandering a huge lead before registering lead was an unnerving experience. “It’s a different with its outstanding shooters who made to strengthen relations between Kuwait a nervous one-stroke victory to continue his hot feeling when you’ve got a lead like that,” he said. several achievements at the Olympic and and other countries in the field of the start to the season at the $6.6 million Pebble Beach “You know pars are going to be good enough. I international levels, in addition to Kuwait shooting sport while working on devel- National Pro-Am on Sunday. just struggled a bit with the speed of some of shooters who are well known around the oping the technical and administrative Walker began the day with a six-stroke lead but those greens and some of the chipping.” About the world. He said Kuwait Shooting Club was aspects. Al-Otaibi thanked representa- he made hard work of it with consecutive bogeys tournament-winning putt, he said: “I was thinking very active, under the leadership of its tive of government ministries and at the 12th and 13th holes that opened the door to good set-up, keep your head down, don’t watch President Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al- authorities for their support to make this his rivals at Pebble Beach. the putt, make a good stroke. I think I peeked on Sabah, who is President of the Asian tournament a success. He steadied the ship down the stretch for the 17 and so learned from it.” most part, hitting a series of precise shots, before a three-putt bogey at the penultimate hole left him NECK SETBACK with a tenuous one-stroke lead going to the par- He may seem like an overnight success, but in Li Na: I can do better five 18th. But Walker managed a nervous par, sink- reality he has steadily progressed since 2008, when ing a five-footer to stagger across the finish line he finished 192nd on the FedEx Cup standings. DOHA: Li Na, the Chinese star who won her (Rodriguez, her coach) helped me a lot to with the victory after running his first putt past the Three years earlier, he badly hurt his neck dur- second Grand Slam title last month and will do that. I’m feeling much stronger when hole. “I hate three-putting,” Walker told the Golf ing a practice swing, an injury that was diagnosed earn a world number two ranking this problems come up and I can be free of Channel. “I had a couple but managed not to do it as a bulged disc and caused him to miss most of week, believes the best is yet to come. them. It makes my tennis life much easier.” on the last hole. I made a really good putt. the 2005 season. The 31-year-old has top seed status at Li has also analysed the benefits as well “I tried to blank everything out that was going That setback no doubt delayed his emergence this week’s Qatar Open, the $2,440,000 as the difficulties of reaching mature years, on, tried to go about it as businesslike as possible.” as a big-time player, but he has improved his rank- event which is her first since her Australian and thinks she can turn this knowledge to He carded a two-over 74 to finish at 11-under-par ing every year since, and last season finished 26th Open triumph two weeks ago. her advantage. 276, with fellow Americans Dustin Johnson (66) on the list despite not winning. “I don’t think this is the best moment of “When you turn 30 people say you are and Jim Renner (67) equal second on 10 under par. He finally broke through in his 188th start to my career - the year is only just beginning. old. For me I was really happy because now It was Walker’s third victory in eight starts at the win the opening event of the 2013-14 “wrap- I can’t just say I did well in the first one,” Li I am healthy and feeling stronger than start of the season - a feat achieved since 1995 around” season last October. insisted, referring to the Melbourne suc- before. only by Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and David Walker said that victory taught him the impor- cess. “There’s another ten months in the “Age doesn’t mean anything. It’s a ques- Duval, according to the PGA Tour. The 35-year-old tance of staying on an emotional even keel - some- year. She added: “It’s only February, so I tion of how you handle it, how you use it. from Oklahoma collected nearly $1.2 million to thing he needed to draw on Sunday as the lead PEBBLE BEACH: Jimmy Walker poses with the can’t say it’s the best yet. The future may be With age you get so much more experience increase his lead on the PGA Tour money list with seeped away. He seemed to be cruising to victory trophy after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach better. There are many more months in the which you can use. “I take care of myself more than $3.6 million and his lead in the FedEx when he made a 10-foot birdie at the 11th hole to National Pro-Am at the Pebble Beach Golf year. I am confident I can still do well, so I better. You can see I never got injuries - Cup points standings. Walker was relieved rather take a six-stroke lead. —Reuters Links. — AFP want to prove what I can do.” except when I fell over! Otherwise I never What makes Li feel confident of continu- got an injury. ing to do well is that her feelings after win- “I have learned how to do things to WADA to speed up doping probe ning the Australian Open are unlike those avoid that. I have learned many things, for after winning her first Grand Slam title, at instance what I should eat and what I can’t the in Paris nearly three years eat. I don’t want to lose energy. NAIROBI: A team from the World Anti-Doping to what we anticipated to do,” the taskforce vice- tigations. ago. “It feels much, much different,” she “I like spicy food but during a tourna- Agency (WADA) is in Kenya to try to speed up chair, Njeri Onyango, told AFP. Kenya has been under pressure to act on the said. “It feels much better than my first big ment I don’t eat that because it’s not always investigations into doping which have stalled “We have only interviewed three out of the issue of doping since a German television inves- win. After Melbourne I was feeling not good for your stomach. I don’t really like due to lack of funds. nearly 30 athletes who have been suspended tigation in 2013 alleged that banned drugs excited like the first one (Paris). That’s pasta, but I actually will eat that because it The WADA officials are due to meet with the due to drug-related offences. We have not even including the blood booster EPO were readily because I know what happens. I have been gives more energy.” Kenyan sports minister, Hassan Wario, and the done any investigations into rugby, football and available. feeling much more relaxed.” Li will begin tomorrow against either members of a 12-member special taskforce that volleyball which are the big Kenyan sports,” she Since January 2012, increased tests have net- Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who is also was appointed by the government last said. ted 17 Kenyan cheats. While none of them have INFORMED APPROACH a former French Open champion and simi- November to investigate allegations of wide- “We also need to go back to the training been big-name record breakers, the findings This different feeling has made possible larly a 30-plus aged player, or Magdalena spread doping among Kenyan athletes. camps in Iten and Eldoret, and also visit the ran- have contradicted previous assertions from a different, more informed approach which Rybarikova, a good all-court player from The taskforce, which was given two months dom-testing centres to see the efficiency of the Athletics Kenya that its runners are spotless. Li believes may produce her best tennis Slovakia who is pushing to get inside the to complete the investigations and submit their anti-doping measures being carried out,” she The allegations have cast a shadow over again in the future - and, with average luck, top 30. If she survives that, she could well report to the government, has threatened to added. Kenya, famed for its record-breaking runners further big successes. face Sloane Stephens, the ambitious 20- wind up its work due to financial constraints, The commission says it has spent 4.5 million who hold world records from the 800m through “After the second one (Grand Slam title) year-old American who has already broken having conducted just 23 days of investigations. shillings ($55,000) and needed a further 18 mil- to the marathon and where running is a major I started training hard straight away. Carlos into the world’s top 20. —AFP “What we have done is very little compared lion shillings ($208,000) to complete their inves- source of national pride and, in some communi-