MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2017 SPORTS

Ancelotti shows Hertha Australia back Lealiifano’s Lille lure Bielsa fans the middle finger leukaemia in remission back to France

SYDNEY: Wallabies back Christian Lealiifano has been told his LILLE: Iconic Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa, known as ‘el Loco’ for his intense BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Carlo Ancelotti could be in hot water with the leukaemia is in remission after he received a bone marrow ‘all in’ style, will be back in France as manager of Lille as of July, the newly bought German FA (DFB) after admitting showing the middle finger towards Hertha transplant last year. The 29-year-old inside centre, who has 19 out Ligue 1 club said yesterday. “Lille and the Argentine coach have signed a two Berlin fans who he claims spat at him. “Yes, I made the gesture after being spat test caps, was diagnosed with leukaemia last August, a diag- years deal which comes into effect in July,” Lille announced. Rumours had been at,” Bayern’s coach told broadcaster ARD. Hertha fans were enraged after Bayern nosis which rocked his team mates and prompted a number ripe that Bielsa, who handled Argentina and Chile before succes- equalised with a Robert Lewandowski goal in the 96th-minute at Berlin’s of them to shave their heads in a show of support. Lealiifano ful stints at Atletico Bilbao and Marseille, would join the strug- Olympic Stadium on Saturday to snatch a 1-1 draw which left the underwent two chemotherapy treatments and then a bone gling northerners who were French champions in 2011. Bielsa Bavarians eight points clear in the Bundesliga. The middle finger marrow transplant late last year after his sister proved to be a is known for cranking up the pressure and squeezing the most out of modest formations, taking Athletic Bilbao to a gesture happened as Ancelotti walked towards the players’ tun- match for donation. “The doctors said the transplant was a nel in Berlin. According to magazine Kicker, the DFB are poised Europa League final in 2012, and coming close to a French success and everything is looking good in there and the can- title with Marseille. He left Marseille in a blaze of fury one to investigate both Ancelotti and Hertha’s goalkeeper Rune cer isn’t showing up so I’m in remission at the moment but Jarstein, who kicked a ball which struck Bayern’s Xabi Alonso in game into the 2015-2016 season, before a two day stint at there is still a ways to go,” Lealiifano told the Canberra Times. Italian side Lazio. Lille are 14th in Ligue 1, and were disgust at the result. Hertha’s coach Pal Dardai later branded the “It’s a massive milestone today (on Saturday) because that’s six minutes of added time a ‘Bayern’s bonus’ and tempers frayed taken over three weeks ago by Luxembourg- the time frame they sort of give you, 100 days after the trans- Spanish businessman Gerard Lopez, a colourful on the pitch as Lewandowski equalised just seconds before the ref- plant gives you a rough idea of where you stand, so to be can- eree blew the final whistle. “We always fight until the end. It tycoon and former owner of Formula One cer-free is quite amazing and why I’ve got a big smile on my team Lotus. Earlier this week Lopez recruit- wasn’t my best goal and was my last ball contact of the face.” Lealiifano was named as co-captain of the ACT Brumbies game-you can’t get later than that,” admitted Lewandowski ed Franck Passi who was Bielsa’s assistant this season but is unlikely to play at all, with lock Sam Carter at Marseille, to oversee the rest of the who scored after 95 minutes, 59 seconds. — AFP leading the side on the field. —Reuters season. — AFP

BASKETBALL III is NBA’s new dunk king

NEW ORLEANS: Glenn Robinson III is the “I wasn’t really concentrating on how NBA’s new dunk king, with an to many I made,” Gordon said. “It’s all about teammate , the Pacers’ just knocking down the shot. I never count- mascot and a Pacers cheerleader. ed in my head or anything. I just go out Robinson leaped over all three, snag- there and just shoot the ball.” ging the ball from George along the way Thompson was stunningly eliminated in before finishing with an emphatic, two- the first round, missing a final shot from the hand, reverse jam, giving him a perfect corner that could have put him through score - and the title - on his final dunk. ahead of Kemba Walker. Big men reigned Robinson edged out Phoenix’s Derrick supreme for a second straight year in the Jones Jr., who was done in by his failure to skills competition, with the 7-foot-3 complete his difficult first dunk of two in Porzingis beating Utah’s Gordon Hayward the final round. in the final round. Those vanquished in ear- Jones still managed a perfect score on lier rounds included guards of his second dunk, when he received a Washington and Isaiah Thomas of Boston, bounce-pass in the paint, put it between both because they couldn’t make their ini- his legs and threw down a left-handed jam. tial 3-pointers required to close out the But Robinson made sure it wasn’t enough. course before Hayward did, even though In the 3- contest, Houston’s Eric Hayward had trailed each of them drib- Gordon dethroned Golden State splash bling down the court by a considerable brother Klay Thompson. Kristaps Porzingis margin before hitting his clinching shots. of the won the Skills Porzingis emerged from the big-men’s Challenge. Both dunk finalists delighted division that included the Pelicans’ the crowd with soaring slams over team- Anthony Davis and Denver’s Nikola Jokic. mates and others that showcased the “It’s a good feeling that I’m able to explosive spring in their vertical leaps. showcase my skill with my size and show to Robinson had one dunk in which he the kids that you’re capable of doing that leap-frogged one man sitting on another’s even if you’re tall and lanky like me,” shoulders, grabbed the ball from the ele- Porzingis said. “I think a lot of kids now vated man’s hands and slamming it home. growing up will improve those perimeter Jones jumped over four teammates skills just seeing guys like - I don’t want to The final game between LA and Wlad El Bahr. including Devin Booker and Marquese mention myself, but big guys with perime- Chriss in the first round. He also drew roars ter skills that can do it.” from the crowd when he took a pass off the Porzingis and Hayward were neck-and- Wlad El Bahr win Red Bull reign side of the backboard from Booker with his neck until the end of the course, but right hand, put the ball between his legs to Porzingis hit his 3 first to end it. his left for a round-house jam. The three-round, head-to-head obsta- KUWAIT: The maiden Red Bull Reign 3-on-3 bas- The dunk that cost him was a bold one. cle-course competition tests dribbling, ketball tournament in Kuwait utterly pushed par- He tried to leap a friend and the Suns’ goril- passing, agility and shooting skills. ticipating teams to their sheer physical and mental la mascot, grab the ball on the way over, Earlier on Saturday, Rollie Massimino, limits, mostly during the final game between Wlad put it between his legs and then finish with who coached Villanova to the 1985 NCAA El Bahr who overcame a tough battle against Los a windmill. But he couldn’t get the dunk to championship, and were Andalus, by outscoring them 5-4. go down in his allotted three attempts. among the 14 finalists for this year’s The winning team played with harmony and DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Basketball Hall of Fame induction class. skill all day long until they scored the final bucket Clippers and of Orlando Others include NBA referee Hugh Evans, and grasped the trophy and the boarding pass to were unable to emerge from the first Connecticut star Rebecca Lobo, two-time Washington, where the Red Bull Reign’s World Final round. Jordan dunked over DJ turn tables NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, five- will take place. and Gordon dunked after receiving a time All-Star Sidney Moncrief, Baylor Friday was not just a normal day for all the par- bounce pass from a drone that had flown women’s coach Kim Mulkey, Kansas coach ticipants who amassed at Marina World’s Basketball over the court with the “Star Wars” theme Bill Self and two-time NBA champion coach music playing. Rudy Tomjanovich. courts after enduring a series of tough qualifying Previous finalists returning to the ballot games on the previous day - it was the final 3-on-3 FREE AGENCY include point guard Tim Hardaway, record- round out of which one team would qualify to the Eric Gordon got his win in New Orleans, setting high school coach Robert Hughes, World Final. where he played the previous five seasons Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet The local final witnessed surprising showers Red Bull Reign - Marina. before leaving last summer in free agency. McGraw, former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan right before the games were scheduled to start. Gordon’s score of 21 in a final-round and 10-time AAU national champion The teams lined up at the entrance waiting for the tiebreaker defeated Cleveland’s Kyrie Wayland Baptist University. sky to clear with eagerness to compete and defeat Irving, the 2013 winner who had 18. The Enshrinees will be announced at the one another. Sooner than expected, the rain pair had each finished with a score of 20 in Final Four on April 3. The induction cere- stopped and the first whistle announced the the final round, meaning they each had to monies in Springfield, Massachusetts are beginning of 75 hard games of fouls, missed buck- shoot 25 more balls to decide it. Sept. 7-9. — AP ets, dunks and unexpected cold wind. “We did not expect to win this great championship, but we did expect to advance towards the semifinals at least,” said Kareem Jaber, Wlad El Bahr team member. He continued: “The toughest game we played was the final; it was physically and mentally draining but absolutely worth it. We would like to tell the teams qualifying from other countries to watch out!” Wlad El Bahr’s Kareem Jaber, Ahmad Yassin, Essam Abdulsatar and Abdullah Khedr will compete in the World Final held in September at the Goodman League in Washignton, DC. Wlad El Bahr winning team of Red Bull Reign Kuwait. LeBron James talking a good game, still playing great

NEW ORLEANS: Older, wiser and more aware full advantage of his massive platform . each other when they were maybe a foot apart of the world, LeBron James isn’t afraid of letting This weekend, though, he is trying to take a in the back of the Superdome while trying to his views known on politics or social issues or break from any negativity and enjoy the find their assigned spots for a media session.’ even the business of basketball. It wasn’t moment. “Truly blessed,” James said. “This is a “This game, it’s for the fans,” said Westbrook, always that way. special time for me.” the two-time reigning All-Star MVP. But in his 14th season, with more NBA play- He’s not alone in that sort of thinking. For all It always is, though this All-Star weekend ing years in his rear-view mirror than left in the subplots - the -Russell has a younger feel. Today’s will be the first All- front of him, James doesn’t see much reason to Westbrook drama, ’s claim that the Star Game since 2005 - James’ first All-Star - stay silent these days. His voice is louder than Earth is flat and ’s All-Star nod where no player in the game will be older than ever when he deems it appropriate while his after some trying times in New York - none of 32. was 37 when he made his All- numbers remain as good as ever. It’s one of the the 24 players who’ll be on the floor Sunday Star farewell in Toronto last season, and reasons why he’ll again be the star attraction night will likely be thinking about anything Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was two months shy of yesterday night when he plays in the All-Star besides putting on a show. turning 42 when he played in the game for the Game for the 13th time. James’ two sons are hoping for a show, too. last time in 1989. “I’ve been vocal about a lot,” James said Not from their dad, so much - but rather from Anthony is the oldest All-Star, seven months Saturday. “That’s who I am. I’m a vocal guy. I’ve their favorites like Westbrook and Stephen older than James and eight months older than been vocal about a lot of things this year.” Curry. “LeBron Jr. wore 0 for the longest time Marc Gasol. They’re all 32. Whether it was his stance on the presiden- because he loves Russ,” James said. “Bryce wore “It’s pretty weird to be the veterans now tial election where he supported Hillary 30 because he likes Steph and likes to shoot when we were the young guys a few years Clinton, expressing his displeasure about Phil the ball from deep. I think that’s pretty cool.” ago, but that’s just the way the league is Jackson’s characterization of the people closest James’ arrival was the big news of All-Star going, man,” Durant said. “Teams are drafting to him, speaking directly to fans through video Saturday, largely because he missed Friday’s two or three 18-year-olds a year. ... The league messages or even saying his Cleveland events because of family obligations. Durant is getting younger and at some point we’re NEW ORLEANS: Glenn Robinson III holds up his trophy after winning Cavaliers need another playmaker to help with and Westbrook shared the floor for practice but going to be the old guys passing the torch to the contest during NBA All-Star Saturday Night events in New Orleans, their NBA title defense, James has been taking had minimal interaction - not even looking at the young guys.” — AP Saturday. —AP