11-SPORTS

Friday, December 15, 2017 THE FREEPORT NEWS 11 SPORTS http://thefreeportnews.com BOC takes nation into new sports era he decision by the Ba- a wealth of sports administration Johnson was a multiple Most hamas Olympic Com- exposure during his double-term Outstanding Performer. mittee to place a term as BOC president. Miller can preside over the limitT into its constitution for He made many high level re- development of more of such presidents has started a new era gional and international sports talent. Johnson was the last Ba- in Bahamian sports administra- contacts. He can now utilize hamian boxer to qualify for the Sports tion. his immense personal growth Olympics (2008) and he went on Having already completed two as a sports administrator to turn to become a prized professional. terms as the president of the around the amateur boxing pro- CABA has since been phased Bahamas Olympic Committee, gram in the nation. He is now out, but Miller is well positioned Wellington Miller could not le- fortified to bring a new vision to interact with boxing adminis- cope gitimately offer for a third term. S The constitution now speaks to It was under Miller that The Bahamas became el- just two presidency terms. Ac- cordingly, Romel Knowles, the evated to the top position in amateur boxing in the new BOC president will have Caribbean. The Bahamas won five championships to step aside if he is elected and during the 2000s decade and Tureano Johnson was serves a second term. A negative view would be a multiple Most Outstanding Performer. that the former presidents are to be out to pasture, away from the mainstream of the national for the sport, one of vibrancy. tration peers in the region, and sports program. A positive out- Miller through his connections to initiate exchange programs. look would recognize the youth- in the region can be a driving He can deliver on some activi- fulness in sports administration force, revitalizing amateur box- ties at that level and also locally. term of, for instance a Welling- ing in The Bahamas and wider Miller can now be the catalyst ton Miller, and hence, eight Caribbean/Latin American re- for an annual national boxing years down the road, a Romel gions. When he was active as championship. Once ago, the By Fred Sturrup Knowles. the amateur boxing president, founding executives staged na- It is different from 2008 when Miller contributed mightily to tional tournaments each year. the “Old Guard” group, after the the relevance of the Caribbean That aspect has been missing term or two, he could lead in re- ouster, slipped into the sunset. Amateur Boxing Association from amateur boxing for de- building what was once the best In this space yesterday the case (CABA). cades now. amateur boxing program on the was made that Miller still has a It was under Miller that The Miller has been asked to re- Caribbean. lot to give in sports administra- Bahamas became elevated to the main associated with the BOC, tion. Certainly he is much better top position in amateur boxing more so in the role of an advi- (To respond to this column, TUREANO JOHNSON — During the years when The Bahamas equipped to lead the Bahamas in the Caribbean. The Bahamas sor. He, however, is without the kindly contact Fred Sturrup at reigned as the best Caribbean country in amateur boxing, Turea- Boxing Federation than was the won five championships during huge burden of the BOC lead- [email protected] or on no Johnson was the Most Outstanding Performer multiple times. case eight years ago. He gained the 2000s decade and Tureano ership. Therefore, at least for a WhatsApp at 727-6363). Stakes high as streaking Steelers host Brady, Patriots

A chance to see how far the game on the road. WILL GRAVES Steelers have come over the past Not that they’re ready to think AP Sports Writer 11 months — and how far they that far ahead just yet. may still have to go — arrives That’s really not their thing. Sunday when the AFC North “It’s just if we worry about the PITTSBURGH (AP) — The champions host the Patriots (10- play-offs, we’ll go down there soul searching began the mo- 3). and we’ll get killed, honestly,” ment the And while Roethlisberger tries New England defensive back walked off the field last January to downplay the importance, Devin McCourty said. “This is at snowy Foxborough following Tomlin does not. too good of a football team to a painful three hours watching “It’s better to be in big games worry about anything else that Tom Brady and the New En- than ones that nobody is watch- surrounds the game, the impli- gland Patriots toy with them in ing,” Tomlin said. “We better be cations.” a one-sided 36-17 victory in the appreciative of this spot and not Some things to look for as AFC title game that didn’t even resist it in any way, but embrace New England tries to clinch a feel that close. ninth straight AFC East title While the Patriots moved on to it because this is what we’ve while Pittsburgh attempts to the Super Bowl and ultimately been fighting for since March.” clinch home-field advantage in another championship parade Or, you know, way before that. the play-offs for the first time through Boston, the Steelers The Steelers (11-2) haven’t since 2004. lurched into an off-season won- lost since Oct. 1 but have beat- GRONK’S BACK, BRITT dering what it was going to take en Brady just twice in 17 years ARRIVES: Tight end Rob to end nearly two decades of tor- and only once since 2004, a Gronkowski missed the loss ment at the hands of Brady, Bill 25-17 victory in 2011 that Ro- in Miami while serving a one- Belichick and New England’s ethlisberger jokingly admits he game suspension for elbowing seemingly endless string of role barely remembers. Maybe that’s Buffalo’s Tre’Davious White. because the sting of New En- players turned difference mak- Gronkowski, who went to high Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger jogs off the field after the AFC championship ers. gland’s dominance remains so school in the Pittsburgh suburbs, fresh. NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. The Steelers can finally Quarterback Ben Roethlisberg- has been a nightmare matchup talk about the Patriots. More than 10 months after a blowout loss to New England in the AFC cham- er openly pondered retirement The defending Super Bowl for the Steelers. Gronkowski pionship game, the Steelers believe they’re better equipped to handle the Super Bowl champions while simultaneously challeng- champions have won the past is averaging 99 yards receiv- this time around. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) ing the front office to upgrade four meetings by an average of ing and has scored eight touch- the talent around him. 15 points. And while New En- downs in five games against yards rushing (1,105 yards) and even on the other side of 40 and burgh’s defense struggled in Coach Mike Tomlin and de- gland’s early season defensive Pittsburgh. He won’t be the only touches (363) but is hardly the appears on his way to a third its first game without him last fensive coordinator Keith Butler hiccups resurfaced in a 27-20 downfield field threat in the line- only option at Roethlisberger’s Most Valuable Player award. week, giving up 38 points to set about revamping a second- setback to Miami on Monday up. The Patriots signed Kenny disposal. Antonio Brown is one The future Hall of Famer seems Baltimore. Tomlin will contin- ary that looked confused and night that ended an eight-game Britt this week from Cleveland. reception away from becoming to save his best for Pittsburgh. ue to mix and match at Shazi- overmatched as Brady picked it winning streak, the Patriots The 6-foot-3 Britt is averaging the first player in league -histo Brady has thrown 24 touch- er’s spot. He shuttled between apart. rarely let the failures of one 15.6 yards per catch during his ry with five straight 100-catch downs against three intercep- Arthur Moats and Roethlisberger opted to return week carry over into the next. career. seasons and Smith-Schuster and tions against the Steelers. The versus the Ravens, though L.J. for a 14th season. Pittsburgh They are 40-11 following a FULL STRENGTH: Pitts- Bryant provide legitimate down- most recent Pittsburgh player Fort could also get some more grabbed wide receiver JuJu loss since Brady took over in burgh running back Le’Veon field threats. to pick him off? Chris Hope in time going forward. Smith-Schuster in the second 2001. Bell carried the Steelers to the “Just more weapons, right 2005. “Shay is a special guy with a round of the draft and welcomed If anything, getting pushed AFC title game only to spend down the line,” Belichick said. REPLACING RYAN: Steel- lot of talent,” Tomlin said. “Not Martavis Bryant back from a around by the Dolphins provid- the majority of the game on the “They’re all explosive players. ers’ inside linebacker Ryan only physically but mentally and year-long suspension and signed ed New England with a bit of a sideline with a groin injury that Roethlisberger can use all of Shazier remains in the hospital from a leadership standpoint two-time Pro Bowl cornerback reality check. Another setback ended up requiring off-season them.” recovering from spinal stabili- communication. Just not a real- Joe Haden in August with an eye and their path through the post- surgery. Bell is healthy this time BRADY’S BUNCH: Brady zation surgery, his season and istic discussion to talk about one specifically on New England. season could include at least one around. He leads the NFL in remains at the top of his game perhaps his career over. Pitts- guy replacing him.” Sports unions unveil universal declaration of player rights WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaders freely and receive equal pay for equal will change the culture of sport. Sport Tony Clark of the Major League Base- we start in this process is the men and from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major work. The declaration was made Thurs- must now be run in partnership with the ball Players Association are part of the women who play sports did not choose League Baseball players associations day by the World Players Association, players and sport must act proactively group of more than 100 unions that re- to give up the basic human rights that helped unveil a universal declaration of which is affiliated with 100 organiza- to prevent and minimize and address leased the declaration. we would want for every worker.” player rights that is designed to estab- tions that represent 85,000 professional any adverse human rights impacts.” “The importance of the declaration The launch of the universal declara- lish a new approach to governing sports athletes. Executive directors DeMaurice Smith is actually philosophically bigger than tion of player rights comes on the heels and protecting athletes. “It will change the content and the of the NFL Players Association, Mi- just the issue of collective bargaining,” of and other NFL Among the 17 articles laid out in the terms under which sport is regulated,” chele Roberts of the National Basket- Smith said as the NFLPA hosted the players kneeling or sitting during the declaration are rights to unionize and said Brandon Schwab, the association’s ball Players Association, Don Fehr gathering of 40 union representatives. national anthem to protest racial in- collectively bargain, express opinions executive director. “And secondly it of the NHL Players’ Association and “It’s reminding everyone that where equality and police brutality.