SPORTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 Els to skip Dubai event Photo of the day

SHANGHAI: Former world number one is also a member of the US PGA Tour, said for this tour They’ve given me honorary Ernie Els has described as “farcical” the he understood why the European Tour membership and all that but the way European Tour’s increased playing wanted to coax its top players into con- they’re going is not the right direction. demands and will register his disap- testing more of the big-money Asian “You could always play both tours. proval by skipping next week’s flagship tournaments. You’ve had Luke Donald and Rory season-ending event in Dubai. “I can see (the tour’s point of view) McIlroy win both money lists. “Now we The South African is annoyed at the but it’s crazy,” he said. “I’ve been playing have to make a decision where we never tour’s new regulation that its members both tours since 1994 and it’s been no used to do that. Guys are not going to must play two of the three events lead- problem but for some reason now the keep doing that. We’ve got families and ing into Dubai to be eligible for the $8 European Tour expect us to play a full schedules to keep.” million season finale. schedule. The two-out-of-three rule that has Els, a four-times major champion who “We used to play seven events and riled Els refers to the recent BMW Masters in Shanghai, the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament that ended in Shanghai on Sunday, and this week’s Turkish Airlines Open. Els’s comments, made while sign- ing tournament flags at the HSBC Champions tournament at the weekend, demonstrate the conundrum faced by the European Tour, which is struggling to keep up with the richer PGA Tour as more and more non-American players choose to play primarily in the United States. World number two Adam Scott, the Masters champion from Australia, quietly relinquished his European Tour member- ship a few years ago and now plays almost exclusively in the U.S. and his homeland. Competitors perform during Red Bull Flugtag at Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar on November 1, At 44, Els, twice British Open and US 2013. — www.redbull.com Open champion, may not represent the future of the European Tour, but he has been the non-European face of the tour for the past two decades and it could be Heat scorch Wizards CHINA: Ernie Els of South Africa tees off in this file photo. — AFP an embarrassment for the tour if he is not present for the DP World Tour has been a member of the European Tour you could keep your card in Europe. Now Championship starting on Nov. 14. for nearly two decades, is clearly hurt you have to play more than in America. Els is 14th on the tour’s Race to Dubai MIAMI: LeBron James scored 25 points and Chris Bosh the first quarter, are healthy again after an injury-wrecked that the tour does not seem bothered (That is) the direction they’re going in. I standings. The top 60 players after this added 24 as Miami beat winless Washington 103-93 on 2012-13 and showing the early promise of a team that can about whether he plays in Dubai. “I don’t just think it’s the wrong one. week’s Turkish Airlines Open qualify for Sunday night to end a rare two-game slide. contend for its first playoff berth since 2004. think they really care,” Els said wearily “I’m going to have to look at my Dubai. The tour, however, is unlikely to Dwyane Wade scored 20 points for Miami, which hasn’t Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the when asked how the tour had reacted to schedule. I was there for the growth of ever lose its top European players - near- dropped three straight regular-season games since Jan. 10- Knicks, who have dropped two straight after a season- the news that their most celebrated vet- this tour, 22 years, and now they’ve mak- ly all of whom covet Ryder Cup selection. 13, 2012. The Heat (2-2) had 32 assists on 37 field goals, opening victory and drew some loud boos in the first half eran member would not play in Dubai. ing it almost impossible for me to But the balancing act of trying to get the including on all nine of their baskets in the third quarter. while appearing to be standing still on defense. “Why would they make a decision like remain playing the tour. top players to compete regularly, with- Including playoffs, the Heat are now 100 games over .500 at Anthony shot just 8 of 21. Metta World Peace added 17 that and expect guys to play? It’s farcical. “All the good things I’ve done for this out driving them off the tour altogether, home since the start of the 2010-11 season - 127-27. points, but the Knicks were too far behind by the time they In my view it’s an absolute joke.” Els, who tour and a lot of other guys have done will continue. — Reuters Bradley Beal scored 19 points for the Wizards. Marcin found any offense. Gortat finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for Washington (0-3). Miami’s last three-game slide was against LAKERS 105, HAWKS 103 Japan glimpses rays of Boston in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, a series the Xavier Henry scored 18 points and Pau Gasol hit two Heat won in seven games. tiebreaking free throws with 6 seconds remaining for Los Angeles, which lost all of a 21-point lead. hope in All Blacks defeat PISTONS 87, CELTICS 77 Henry started at forward for the first time as a Laker and Josh Smith and Andre Drummond scored 15 points each the 19th time in 137 NBA games. He was 5 of 11 from the TOKYO: For , their comfortable win over Japan on development. “Currently we have a few players playing Super as Detroit kept Boston and first-year coach Brad Stevens field. Gasol finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Saturday will become a mere statistic in their fabled history, Rugby, and we would like more. It’s the same with the ITM Cup. winless. The Pistons (2-1) trailed 65-63 early in the fourth Steve Nash had 13 points and six assists and Nick Young We would like more players playing ITM Cup,” said Scott even if some will deride the All Blacks for not choosing stiffer quarter but went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good added 13 points. competition to warm up for their European tour. Wisemantel, the technical director who stood in on Saturday as and win their second home game in as many tries. Kyle Korver led Atlanta with 22 points, converting all six For Japan, though, the 54-6 loss was far more significant, coach for Eddie Jones, who suffered a stroke in October. evidence that the wheels of progress, backed by a professional “The level of has improved, it’s just that week in Drummond added 12 rebounds and Brandon Jennings had 3-point attempts, but he missed a 21-footer from the right environment and infusion of international expertise, were week out competitive rugby our players need.” The appoint- 14 points in his Detroit debut. baseline as time ran out. Hawks point guard Jeff Teague turning in a country that will host the 2019 World Cup. ment of former Wallabies coach Jones last year represented a Rookie Kelly Olynyk scored 15 points and Jordan had 14 points and six assists after missing his first five shots. Their previous two test encounters with the All Blacks, both continuation of a policy that began in 2007 when the Japanese Crawford added 13 for the Celtics (0-3). Jennings missed Two nights after shooting only 37 percent from the field at World Cups, had been lopsided defeats of 83-7 in 2011 and Rugby Football Union (JRFU) appointed its first national coach most of the preseason and the first two games because of a and blowing a 15-point lead against San Antonio, Los 145-17 in 1995 - the latter one of the lowest points in the histo- from overseas in former All Black . fractured jaw caused by a wisdom tooth. Jennings came to Angeles shot 42.7 percent. — AP ry of Japanese rugby. A similar defeat on Saturday for the Kirwan and Jones have not only provided the JFRU with Detroit during the offseason in a sign-and-trade deal with ‘Brave Blossoms’, currently ranked 15th in the world, would some needed clout in the international rugby community but Milwaukee. have been highly detrimental to their build up towards the have helped infuse the national team with a high level of tech- NBA results/standings 2015 World Cup, not to mention the even more important nical expertise.That was especially evident in the Japanese MAGIC 107, NETS 86 tournament four years later. scrum on Saturday, which surprisingly pushed back the New Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 12 rebounds as Detroit 87, Boston 77; Miami 103, Washington 93; As it was, though, Saturday’s tenacious and combative per- Zealand pack on a few occasions and were clinical at the line- Orlando routed Brooklyn in Jason Kidd’s coaching debut. Orlando 107, Brooklyn 86; Oklahoma City 103, Phoenix formance against the toughest of teams greatly excited a out where they also contested the opposition’s throw. Magic rookie Victor Oladipo scored 19 points, 14 in the sec- 96; Minnesota 109, NY Knicks 100; LA Lakers 105, 21,000 crowd at Tokyo’s Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium and Australian Wisemantel credited the improved performance ond half, as Orlando won back-to-back games for the first Atlanta 103. proved a point or two. “New Zealand is undoubtedly the best to the tutelage of scrum coach Marc Dal Maso, a former France time since Dec. 19, 2012. Andrew Nicholson added 17 Eastern Conference team in the world,” said general manager Kensuke Iwabuchi. hooker and one of a number of foreign advisors drafted in by points and 11 rebounds for the Magic (2-2), who beat New Atlantic Division “But we wanted to show ourselves and our fans that they are Jones. One of the biggest problems facing Japan has always Orleans 110-90 at home last Friday night. W L PCT GB no longer a presence above the clouds, but a team to beat.” been that of stature, with the country producing plenty of Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points. Paul Pierce was Philadelphia 3 0 1.000 - Apart from anything else, it showed Japan’s win in June against pacy backs but few players with the sort of physique necessary the only other Net to score in double figures with 16 points Toronto 2 1 .667 1 Wales, albeit an inexperienced Welsh side without its British to compete up front and increasingly in the midfield in test and he grabbed seven rebounds. The Nets (1-2), who shot NY Knicks 1 2 .333 2 and Irish Lions, was no fluke. Many credit the progress in rugby. Imports have helped - the back row on Saturday was Brooklyn 1 2 .333 2 Japanese rugby to the establishment a decade ago of Top made up of players who qualified for Japan by residency - but 38.2 percent for the game, and were outscored 66-48 in the Boston 0 3 0 3 League, a semi-professional competition which has drawn there has also been progress on developing homegrown hulks second half. Central Division coaching staff and top players from around the world. All and the tight five that played against the world champions Indiana 3 0 1.000 - Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Jerome Kaino as well as were all Japanese born and bred. THUNDER 103, SUNS 96 Detroit 2 1 .667 1 Springbok Jaque Fourie are among those who have been If official statistics are to be trusted the combined weight of Kevin Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds and Russell Milwaukee 1 2 .333 2 drawn to Japan by generous salaries. the Japanese starting front row on Saturday was 335 kilos, 10 Westbrook had 21 points and seven assists in his return Chicago 1 2 .333 2 The Top League has undoubtedly raised the level of rugby kilos heavier than that of the New Zealand trio. from a knee injury for Oklahoma City. Cleveland 1 2 .333 2 and there have been early signs of a trade going the other way A competitive scrum is hugely important for Japan as the Serge Ibaka added nine points and 10 rebounds for Southeast Division with scrumhalf and hooker signing backs have so often spent large portions of tests against top Oklahoma City (2-1), which won its fifth straight home Miami 2 2 .500 - for teams. nations starved of the ball as their forwards struggle. Japan will opener and defeated Phoenix (2-1) for the 11th straight Orlando 2 2 .500 - The hope is that a two-way interraction between imports have another chance to test its scrum on Saturday when they time. The Suns last beat Oklahoma City in December 2010. Atlanta 1 2 .333 0.5 and exports to Super Rugby and New Zealand’s National face Scotland at Murrayfield, just the sort of fixture they will Westbrook, sidelined for six months after first tearing the Charlotte 1 2 .333 0.5 Provincial Championship (ITM Cup) will provide Japan with the have to start winning if they are to fulfil their ambition of get- lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second game Washington 0 3 0 1.5 constant exposure to top level rugby that is key to further ting into the top eight in the world by 2019. —Reuters of the NBA playoffs, then having a medical setback, Western Conference Northwest Division returned three to five weeks ahead of the team’s previously Minnesota 3 0 1.000 - Williams guns for fifth Melbourne Cup announced timetable. Portland 2 1 .667 1 Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points and added a career-best Oklahoma City 2 1 .667 1 MELBOURNE: Local property magnate trainer Hickmott and only Mourayan draw- ing strength of foreign-prepared entrants 14 assists for Phoenix, which opened the season with home Denver 0 2 0 2.5 and racing enthusiast Lloyd Williams’ pres- ing outside barrier 10, the tycoon’s power- and happily adopted a siege mentality wins over Portland and Utah. The Suns stayed with Utah 0 3 0 3 ence looms large over today’s running of ful bid has proved controversial, with hyped up by local media. Oklahoma City thanks to 14-of-37 3-point shooting, com- Pacific Division the A$6 million ($5.66 million) Melbourne English trainer Ed Dunlop raising concerns Australian racing has also been hit by a pared to 2 of 18 for the Thunder. LA Clippers 2 1 .667 - Cup, with his six entrants hogging a quar- that the race could be manipulated. string of corruption scandals in recent Phoenix 2 1 .667 - ter of the field of “the race that stops a “I hope Mr. Williams isn’t allowed to years and last year’s race was tarnished TIMBERWOLVES 109, KNICKS 100 Golden State 2 1 .667 - nation”. boss this race,” Dunlop, who has entered when stewards allowed jockey and former LA Lakers 2 2 .500 0.5 The 73-year-old owner clinched his eight-year-old gelding Red Cadeaux for a winner Damien Oliver to ride despite Kevin Love had 34 points, 15 rebounds and five assists and Kevin Martin scored 30 points as Minnesota improved Sacramento 1 2 .333 1 fourth Melbourne Cup last year on the third tilt, told local media. being embroiled in an illegal betting Southwest Division back of the Robert Hickmott-trained “It is not ideal, let’s not beat about the probe. to 3-0 for the first time in 12 years. Houston 3 0 1.000 - Green Moon but his hunger for Australia’s bush. We are drawn wide. I think the most Having served a 10-month ban for Minnesota took a huge lead after a 40-point first quarter, San Antonio 2 1 .667 1 richest and most famous thoroughbred interesting thing is Lloyd Williams’ horses placing a bet on a rival horse, Oliver then pulled away after the Knicks trimmed it to two in the Dallas 2 1 .667 1 returns to ride on the Gai Waterhouse- closing minutes to move halfway to matching the 2001-02 trained Fiorente which most agencies had Memphis 1 2 .333 2 team that set the franchise record by winning its first six. New Orleans 1 2 .333 2 installed as a 7-1 favourite on the eve of The Timberwolves, averaging a whopping 37.3 points in the race. Runner-up last year, Fiorente was Waterhouse’s third second-placing after Te Akau Nick in 1993 and Nothin Leica Dane in 1995. “It’s probably made me keener and hungrier than ever,” Oliver said of his ban, which pundits criticised as lightweight for not precluding him from Australia’s richest spring racing season. “I’m very keen to reward Gai and hope- fully share in her first Melbourne Cup.” Of the nine foreign-prepared entrants, Mount Athos is rated the strongest chance to win and give trainer Luca Cumani a maiden Melbourne Cup after runner-up finishes with Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer the Lloyd Williams feeds a horse in this file photo. following year. The powerful Godolphin stable, also chasing a first Cup triumph trophy shows little sign of abating. are all very well drawn.” The reclusive after 15 fruitless years, has entered a single Green Moon, who defied 22-1 odds Williams hit back at Dunlop’s ‘team orders’ challenger in Saeed Bin Suroor-trained and a field of quality European stayers to comments yesterday, describing them as Royal Empire, a five-year stallion to be rid- win the gruelling two-mile handicap, “extremely poor manners”. den by former winner Kerrin McEvoy. returns to Flemington Racecourse to bid “Twelve months ago this Friday, I put Former England striker Michael Owen for back-to-back Cups, but the seven-year- plans in place for eight horses to be aimed has also flown to Melbourne as part-own- old stallion is among the less fancied of at the Melbourne Cup and six have made er of the Tom Dascombe-trained Brown Williams’ sextet. it,” Williams, known for his meticulous Panther. Australia’s holy grail of racing has Sea Moon, Fawkner and Seville are all management of his horses, told The never fallen into English hands, and Owen highly backed to win, with Masked Marvel Australian newspaper. was guarded about the chances of the six- and Mourayan rated rough chances to “Racing is like business, you have got year-old stallion breaking the drought. “To salute in front of an expected crowd of to have a plan.” Dunlop’s comments have be the first would be a huge honour. (But) more than 100,000. touched a raw nerve with Australia’s racing we’re not getting too carried away,” he MIAMI: As Washington Wizards’ John Wall (2) falls backwards, trying to make a shot as Miami Heat’s Mario With all prepared by Williams’ trusted community, which has bemoaned the ris- said. — Reuters Chalmers (15) looks for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP