16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Wednesday, January 31, 2018 SPORTS Will Rutherford Synonymous with GB baseball “It’s all about making a con- He remains thoroughly devot- tribution to baseball. It’s not ed to the cause as is any, and about me at all. I wish only to much more so than many. Ruth- contribute to the development erford is a staple element of the of this fi ne sport.” incredibly vibrant Grand Baha- That was Willard Rutherford ma baseball landscape. in a nutshell as we chatted a bit There is another side to Ruth- on Tuesday about the opening erford that bodes well for the of the Grand Bahama Little game, as well. Known for being league. Rutherford received a a fundamental thinker, his qui- special honor on the occasion et suggestions had a lot to do of the beginning of the 2018 with the sport, nationally, going GB Little League schedule. back totally under the umbrella Going forward, the introducto- of the Bahamas Baseball Asso- ry phase of the game for young- ciation (BBA). sters aged 4-8, will be known Grand Bahama had been for as the Will Rutherford Tee-Ball over a decade, Bahamas Base- Division. ball Federation territory. When It is a fi tting tribute to some- that organization was dissolved one who has been quite adept at recently, in favor of acceptance instilling the skills of the game of the BBA as the parent body, of baseball into the very young. Rutherford was one of the si- Rutherford has indeed been a lent partners of compromise. giant of a baseball mentor in Personal pride and agendas Grand Bahama, in a most unas- were sacrifi ced in order for ev- suming fashion. ery Bahamian to have the op- Always available to put in the portunity to maximize whatev- hard work and the many hours it er degree of baseball talent fate took for the baseball leaders of provided. This could only hap- sport in Grand Bahama to craft pen by forming one body under what could arguably be called the auspices of the organization the widest body of quality base- endorsed by the International ball in the country, Rutherford Baseball Federation (IBF). has nevertheless shied away That body is the BBA. from the spotlight. Now. Rutherford is able to tell Over the years, he became his Tee-Ballers that they can re- profi cient at slipping behind the alistically dream of playing the scenes, away from the cameras. sport at any international lev- His objective has only been the el, all the way up to the World development of the scores of Baseball Classic that features young Grand Bahamians un- the best national teams from der his care. With his guidance nations throughout the world. as the foundation, a goodly Congratulations Will! amount of families in Grand Bahama are indebted to Ruth- • To respond to this column, erford for forging paths for the kindly contact Fred Sturrup advancement of their sons far at [email protected] or beyond the Tee-Ball stage. on WhatsApp at 727-6363.

“It’s all about making a con- tribution to baseball. It’s not about me at all. I wish only to contribute to the development of this fi ne sport.” ~ Will Rutherford SPORTS COPE S WILL RUTHERFORD – The great baseball legacy of Willard Rutherford continues to grow. The introductory segment of baseball in BY FRED STURRUP Grand Bahama is now called the Will Rutherford Tee-Ball Division PISTONS LAND GRIFFIN FROM CLIPPERS AS LA SHEDS ANOTHER STAR AUBURN HILLS, Mich. made it past the second round of Detroit is scuffl ing as well. The with 10,863 points. really, really hard to give up.” open the season, and then lost (AP) — The Detroit Pistons the play-offs. Pistons have lost eight straight. Griffi n gives Detroit’s front- Detroit’s season was looking nine of its next 11. dramatically shook their strug- Griffi n was not expected to “Needed a night to digest and court another standout along- promising until a late-Decem- “Blake is one of the best play- gling roster by acquiring one of play in Tuesday night’s home refl ect on what happened....” side Andre Drummond, but it ber injury to point guard Reg- ers ever to wear a Clippers’ jer- the NBA’s top players in Blake game against Cleveland, and Griffi n tweeted. “From being also represents a clear change gie Jackson. The Pistons have sey. We want to express our grat- Griffi n in a trade with the Los Stan Van Gundy — Detroit’s a (hashtag)1 pick, to Lob City, in course from the roster the stumbled while he’s been out itude and respect for everything Angeles Clippers. coach and team president — to six straight play-off appear- Pistons had assembled. Detroit with a sprained right ankle, and he has done for this team and the The deal for the fi ve-time All- said his status is uncertain for ances, I am so proud to have acquired Bradley in a trade with the team is facing the prospect city of Los Angeles,” said Law- Star forward was announced Thursday night against Mem- been part of the success of the Boston last off-season, but he’s of missing the play-offs in its rence Frank, Clippers ‘president early Tuesday, giving Detroit a phis. Clippers organization. LA has in the fi nal season of his con- fi rst season at its new downtown of basketball operations. “This player who has been the face of “Those guys are fl ying in here been my home since I start- tract. Harris has been impres- arena. was a very diffi cult decision, but the Clippers but whose career tonight, they’ll get physical to- ed in the league and I will be sive for the Pistons this season, Detroit’s next six games are at we ultimately felt it was appro- has been undercut by injuries. morrow, so I think from our end, forever grateful to the city for shooting a career-best 41 per- home, so the Pistons will have priate for the franchise.” Detroit sent forward Tobias we’ll be good,” Van Gundy said embracing me and supporting cent from three-point range. a chance to turn this season Paul’s replacement, Patrick Harris, guard Avery Bradley and Tuesday at Detroit’s practice me. To the fans, you have been Detroit did not give up Luke around — and an opportunity to Beverley, has missed the entire center Boban Marjanovic to Los facility in Auburn Hills. “But awesome every step of the way. Kennard or Stanley Johnson, the build for a future with both Grif- season after right knee surgery. Angeles, with the Clippers also I don’t know if we’ll be good Thank you for years of support. team’s fi rst-round picks in 2017 fi n and Drummond. Also missing time have been receiving draft picks. Detroit from their end. The players “Now I’m ready for the next and 2015. For the Clippers, moving Grif- DeAndre Jordan, Danilo Galli- also acquired forward Brice have 48 hours to report, but then chapter, getting to work and “For Blake, we probably fi n continues a makeover of a nari, Austin Rivers and Milos Johnson and center Willie Reed. they’ve got another 24 hours, helping the Detroit Pistons would have done a lot of things, franchise that has never made Teodosic. “We are serious about win- the organization, to get the make a run in the Eastern Con- but yeah, we didn’t want to to- it past the second round of the Yet owner Steve Ballmer re- ning, and this is a major move physical done. ... Now, if the 72 ference.” tally deplete our roster. Obvi- play-offs. mains optimistic. to improve our team,” Pistons’ hours expires with six minutes Last July, Griffi n agreed to a ously, they got our two leading The Clippers were one game “While change is hard, my owner Tom Gores said in a to go in the game, we’ll run him $171 million, fi ve-year deal, scorers, and a fi rst-round pick, above .500 going into Tuesday confi dence in our front offi ce, statement. “Blake Griffi n is one in there.” ending a brief fl irtation with free and Boban, who had started to night’s game against Portland. led by Lawrence Frank and Mi- of the NBA’s elite players, and The 28-year-old Griffi n is agency. He told his teammates, play very effectively for us,” They traded All-Star point guard chael Winger, along with the when you get an opportunity to averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 re- coach Doc Rivers and owner Van Gundy said. “We were con- Chris Paul to Houston last sum- sage counsel of Jerry West, has add that kind of talent, you take bounds and 5.4 assists in 33 Steve Ballmer, “I want my leg- cerned, quite honestly, with our mer. He had been credited with never been higher,” he said in it.” games this season, but the Clip- acy to be a Clipper.” ability to re-sign Avery anyway, bringing respectability to the a statement. “I believe today, For the Clippers, moving Grif- pers have been plagued by inju- The deal didn’t include a no- so we were exploring what we team that was once a laughing- more than ever, in our ultimate fi n is another step in a makeover ries and are ninth in the Western trade clause for the second-lead- could do with him at the trade stock. Without Paul, Los Ange- goal of winning an NBA cham- of a franchise that has never Conference standings. ing scorer in franchise history deadline. Tobias was obviously les won its fi rst four games to pionship.”