THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 SPORTS

NFL cuts overtime to 10 minutes during regular season

CHICAGO: National Football League in Las Vegas, where the team is expect- won’t end in ties. Coaches’ concerns that at the $2.6 billion football stadium in where the line is,” the commissioner owners cut the overtime period from 15 ed to play the 2020 season. For all the too many players were exhausted and Inglewood, California. said. There is no set time limit on how minutes to 10 minutes during the regu- maneuvering, end zone celebration talk risking injuries at the end of the extra Tampa originally finished as runner- long such celebrations can continue. lar season, but also gave players plenty generated the most buzz. After years of period was the key factor in the deci- up in the bidding for 2020 - one reason But the league is placing an emphasis of leeway to celebrate after a touch- limiting how - and how much - players sion. Research suggests the number of why owners backed the move unani- on speeding up the pace of games. The down. The two moves are expected to could celebrate following touchdowns, games that will go into overtime and mously. The NFL also would have had to 40-second play clock will begin once an result in more tie games and much the league decided to loosen up its end up tied will climb slightly. Over the waive a rule that prohibits a Super Bowl official signals a touchdown and teams more elaborate end zone dance parties. rules, allowing players to again use the past five years, with the 15-minute peri- being played at a stadium before it has will have to snap the ball for their extra- “I always planned all my celebrations,” football as a prop, celebrate as a group od in use, the league has averaged hosted two full regular seasons. point play by the end of the clock. said Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders, and roll around or flap their arms like about one tie game each season. League officials will review celebra- already known for his flamboyant TD snow angels on the ground again if they Projections show that could climb to NO FUN LEAGUE tions during the preseason and antici- celebrations, including one that drew a choose. Even Commissioner Roger three. “We don’t think it will lead to Goodell said the moniker “No Fun pate providing guidance as the regular fine last season. “Now I can go a little Goodell said he was looking forward to more ties,” Goodell said. He noted a League” had been thrown around since season progresses. Former player Jon overboard without getting cussed out seeing what players would do with their number of coaches said they expect a he was an intern in the league office. Runyan, who is in charge of on-field dis- by the head coach.” At their regularly new-found freedom of expression. more aggressive approach to scoring The league, however, will continue to ciplinary actions, will decide the fines. scheduled spring meeting Tuesday, the Asked whether he celebrated the new with the shorter extra period. penalize any celebration deemed offen- Two other former players, Derrick owners also decided to shift the 2021 guidelines approved at Tuesday’s spring Rams owner Stan Kroenke said he sive or in bad taste, including those that Brooks and James Thrash will hear Super Bowl to Tampa from Los Angeles, meetings, Goodell just laughed. welcomed the decision to delay award- embarrass opponents or mimic the use appeals for players. where construction delays have pushed “I did,” he said. “I can’t tell you how.” ing the Super Bowl to Los Angeles by a of weapons. “I actually think it will be easier” for back the expected opening of the new year. “We want to be sure that we do If celebrations are deemed a viola- officials to determine which celebra- home for the Rams and Chargers. Those PLAYERS EXHAUSTED everything right, 100 percent,” he said tion by on-field officials, players could tions are appropriate, said Alberto teams will now host the league’s show- The shorter overtime period will be after the meetings. “To have the Super still be penalized under existing Riveron, the league’s new senior vice case event in 2022. used in the preseason and regular sea- Bowl, that’s the important thing.” unsportsmanlike conduct and taunting president for officiating. “But some Also approved at the meeting was son. Playoff games will also use 10- Unusually wet weather had already violations, as well as fined. things will still be open to interpreta- the Oakland Raiders lease for a stadium minute time blocks in overtime, but caused significant construction delays “Everybody has a different idea tion.” — AP Champagne back on ice as Button returns

MONTE CARLO: The champagne Jenson whose seat he is filling in the McLaren Button would normally have been drinking Honda team while the Spaniard races in this weekend will stay on ice, the Briton Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. said ahead of his comeback for McLaren “Yes, I will watch that race,” he said. “But Honda at this weekend’s Monaco Grand it’s not an attraction for me. I watched Prix. “This weekend I’ve got the opportuni- Fernando do his first laps and I was most ty to race the car. I was going to be here interested in the way he reacted to having anyway so instead of sitting around drink- the media all around him, like they do ing champagne I can actually do what I’m there. “I will be asking him about that when supposed to do-and race cars for a living,” he gets back.” the 37-year-old Button said. Button told reporters that he had no “I am in a very lucky position and, as I hesitation in deciding to accept McLaren’s said, it’s a very exciting position to be in. It’s offer to race for them in Alonso’s car in a challenge, but a good one.” Monaco. “I asked my dogs and they said we Button, who won the world champi- can do without you for a week or so. My onship in 2009, made light of the difficul- girlfriend said ‘you’ve got to do what you’ve ties he may face in driving this year’s new got to do’,” he said. “And I said yes... It was bigger, faster cars for the first time on one my decision. I could’ve said ‘no’ if I wanted of the tightest and most demanding cir- to, as we all can, because nobody wants a cuits in the world. racing driver who doesn’t want to drive.” “Obviously, my preparation could have Sunday’s 78-lap race around the classic been better if I’d had the opportunity to Mediterranean street circuit will be Button’s test the car in a proper test, but that’s not 306th start in Formula One. He won in the way Formula One works,” he said. Monaco in his 2009 championship-winning “You’ve got to be ready. I think fitness- year with the Brawn team. wise it’s not an issue. I’m sure the neck is He said he had not missed ‘the paddock’, going to be a bit sore after today, even but added: “It is great to be back and see so CLEVELAND: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics drives against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half during Game Four around Monaco, but we’ve got Friday off-so many old friends and team-mates and all of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio. — AFP a little bit of a rest. ‘Mike Muscles’, my the rest, but to be honest I don’t miss flying physio, is back for a one-off race, too, so three times a week and so on. he’s going to be rubbing me once again.” “It has been great to be in one place for BASKETBALL Button also relished poking a little fun at a while,” he said, adding that he hoped to two-time champion Fernando Alsono, be “reasonably competitive”. —AFP Irving, James lead the GOLF Poulter aiming to way as Cavs down Celtics LOS ANGELES: Kyrie Irving and LeBron James now is to get a win back in Boston.” “We played as well as we’d played in the combined for 76 points as the Cleveland Asked to give a reason for Boston’s second entire playoffs in the first half and then for var- sort out US Open spot Cavaliers battled to a 112-99 victory over the half problems, Celtics coach Brad Stevens had a ious reasons that didn’t happen in the second Boston Celtics on Tuesday to move within one simple answer: “Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. half. But they deserve credit. They were WENTWORTH: England’s Ian Poulter is Players performance and that has enabled game of a place in the NBA Finals. That’s the answer. Kyrie Irving was incredible. incredible.” — AFP aiming to cement his place in next month’s him to map out a plan for the next few The win gives Cleveland a 3-1 lead in the US Open with a win in the European PGA weeks. “I can’t emphasise how big a week it best-of-seven series and leaves them firmly on Championship which starts at Wentworth was,” he added. “From just a perspective of track for a third consecutive NBA Finals show- today. Poulter, ranked 81st in the world, planning, there wasn’t any planning I could down against the Golden State Warriors. Wallabies lock Mumm to hang needs to get into the top 60 of the rankings really do. Cleveland, stunned by Boston in Game 3 after by June 12 - or win this tournament - to “To take care of my playing rights over romping two blowout wins in the opening two up boots at end of season reserve his place at Erin Hills in the season’s there, to take care of moving the world games of the Eastern Conference series, looked MELBOURNE: Australia lock Dean Mumm, regular in Robbie Deans’s side but he gradual- second major or face heading to qualifying. ranking position and to be able to play a to be heading for another shock as the Celtics who enjoyed a ‘second coming’ for the ly fell out of favour and headed to Europe to The 41-year-old will have other chances string of events in Europe this summer was dominated the first half. Wallabies that took him to the 2015 World re-boot his career. to qualify but his confidence is high after something I really wanted to do. A few Boston powered into a 29-19 first quarter Cup final, will retire from professional rugby at He was embraced as a cult hero by Exeter finishing second at the Players weeks ago I couldn’t commit to that - now I lead and maintained their 10-point cushion the end of the season, the Australian Rugby fans and captained the club during a three- Championship a fortnight ago and he am in a position to.” through to half-time, leading 57-47 at the break. Union said yesterday. year stint in the English Premiership before wants to strike while the iron is hot. Masters champion Sergio Garcia and the But as tension among Cleveland’s home fans The New Zealand-born veteran of 57 tests returning home in 2015 to make an audacious That runners-up spot at Sawgrass injured world number two Rory McIlroy are mounted at the Quicken Loans Arena, it was left would bow out to focus on his philanthropic bid for a spot in ’s World Cup stopped a slump which had seen Poulter missing this week but Olympic gold medal- to Irving to ride to the rescue with a sensational, interests and other career paths, the ARU said squad. Earning his first test cap in nearly five fall to 204th in the rankings and gave him list Justin Rose, British Open champion momentum-changing display in the third quar- in a statement. years during the southern hemisphere’s hope that he can sort out his immediate Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett and world ter. Irving piled on 21 points in the third period Mumm will hike to the North Pole next Rugby Championship, Mumm would go on to future this week. number 13 Alex Noren are all on parade as Cleveland turned their 10-point half-time year to raise funds for Borne, a premature captain the Wallabies against Uruguay at the “I am hoping to win this week and then I along with defending champion Chris deficit into an 87-80 lead at the end of the third birth research charity, a cause close to he and World Cup and play every match of the tour- am in,” Poulter told reporters at Wentworth. Wood. The field will be playing a much- quarter. Irving eventually finished with 42 his family after his son Alfie was born a month nament. Mumm has also enjoyed a long and “All good things come from winning golf changed course which has been altered points. “Coming out at half-time, I just wanted to premature during the World Cup in Britain. successful career in , and current- tournaments so if I play well this week and I after being the subject of harsh criticism be aggressive and lead my guys and leave it all “I’ve had a great career in rugby and it’s ly sits on 124 caps in his second stint with the win then it takes care of that. from the players over the last few years. out there on the floor,” Irving said. given me so much but now I see it as an Sydney-based “US Open qualifying is a last resort and I Twenty-nine bunkers have been “We understand the goal out here and we opportunity to give back, as well as spend who are battling for a playoffs spot. am not sure if I will need that resort and I removed and four greens, the 8th, 11th, want to accomplish something bigger than our- some quality time with my family,” said 33- He will have a chance to add to his 57 caps am still not sure if I am going to go over 14th and 16th, have been rebuilt while selves. It’s going to take a full 48-minute game to year-old Mumm, whose grandfather Bill in June internationals against Fiji, Scotland and try and qualify. But I would like to care another five have been revamped. do it.” James, determined to bounce back after a earned an All Blacks cap. and Italy before the Rugby Championship of that this week - that’s the plan. Wood, who was nine-under par when poor 11-point haul in Game 3, then steadied the “(My wife) Sarah and I are really passionate starts in August. “I am in a really good frame of mind and winning last year, said: “It’s between one Cleveland nerves in the fourth quarter, bringing about the premature birth foundation, so I’m “Dean’s got a real plan for his life post when you are in a good frame of mind gen- and two shots easier a round. It’s a bit of a the Cavaliers home for the win as Boston’s brave looking forward to contributing whatever I rugby... but he has still got plenty of oppor- erally good things happen.” guess. I’d think you have to be 15-under par effort came up short. can to helping the cause.” tunity to leave a legacy in the gold jersey Poulter’s career was in a tailspin until his this year to have a chance.” —AFP James, who finished with 34 points, was A versatile player capable of slotting in the and I expect he will do everything he can to joined in double figures by Kevin Love, who back row, Mumm made his test debut against do that before he hangs up the boots,” scored 17 points with 17 rebounds and five Ireland in Melbourne in 2008 and became a Cheika said. — Reuters assists. James, Irving and Love were the only three Cavs players to make double digits.

‘THE KID IS SPECIAL’ But it was Irving who was the undeniable star of the show for his spellbinding third quarter masterpiece that transformed the game. “The kid is special,” James said. “He was just waiting for an opportunity to blossom. I’m just happy and blessed that when I decided to come back that I was able to help him blossom. “I’m just happy to be able to sit back, with four fouls, and see him do what he’s always been built to do. He was born for these moments.” Love meanwhile revealed that the Cavaliers had not panicked at half-time when they trailed by 10. “We’ve been in that position before,” Love said. “It’s just an effort all around. We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot of playoff minutes who’ve been in situations like that before. “But while I can sit here and say that, Kyrie Irving was very special tonight.” Boston, missing the injured Isaiah Thomas, had four players in double figures, with Avery Bradley scoring a leading 19 points. Game 5 takes place in Boston SYDNEY: In this March 21, 2009, file photo, Waratahs’ Dean Mumm, left, runs past the on Thursday. Irving said Cleveland would benefit Crusaders’ Brad Thorn during their Super 14 match in Sydney. Mumm will retire at the end of the 2017 season after 57 tests for the Wallabies and 112 Super Rugby IRVING: Ian Poulter of England hits a shot on the 18th tee during Round One of the from having been put under pressure by Boston matches for New South Wales, he said yesterday. — AP AT&T Byron Nelson at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. —AFP in Game 4. “We need to hit adversity in order to grow,” Irving said. “The only thing that matters