16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Wednesday, September 6, 2017 SPORTS

MOORE’S ISLAND DORM Moore’s Island National Sports

AcademyOne of the challenges facing ing ceremony to take place this projectmuch-publicized project which now on Sportshold Academy is brilliant. the sports arm of the Ministry month. was earmarked to be the first It was one of the good ideas of Youth, Sports and Culture, is Not a word has been given re- significant physical presence, former Prime Minister Perry continuing the development pro- garding the project thus far by heralding the era of the National Christie had. However, as with gram ignited by the previous ad- the new leadership in the sports Sports Academy. A lot had been so many other projects, he was ministration.Today, the focus is ministry. Clearly, based on the done already by the previous unable to provide the leadership the Moore’s Island aspect of the body of work still necessary to administration. The government that inspired follow-ups and National Sports Academy. bring the project to completion, had partnered with private indi- the process straight through to The project, inclusive of a September, unless construction viduals, putting in 50 percent of completion. The expectation is dormitory to house 40 student/ furiously gets underway again, the cost towards the dorm. high within the country’s sports athletes, a track, a soccer field, will not be the opening month The Ministry of Works had fraternity that the present gov- a beach volleyball/soccer facil- for the first phase of the National seen to the construction of the ernment will continue on with ity, tennis courts, a center for Sports Academy. track and it was at the stage the National Sports Academy. I community activities inclusive The Treasury is not budging whereby just a decision had to be strongly believe the interest is of rest rooms and a viewing as one would like, so financial made as to whether the running there. section, was on course, via the restraint is understandable. At area would be grass or synthetic. Much work has to be done schedule of the Ministry of the very least though, an update The early views led to a grass however. The Moore’s Island Sports for the official open- should be given regarding the running surface, but engineers project will launch the Nation- countered that decision because PERRY CHRISTIE MICHAEL PINTARD al Sports Academy. We are now of the lack of sufficient water in Former Prime Minister Minister of Sports in the fourth month of the new Moore’s Island to keep the track government. Hopefully word watered and ready for competi- cost effective. ministration had in the pipeline will be forthcoming soon about Sports tion. The last bit of information The Moore’s Island project something very similar to the the Moore’s Island National reaching me indicated that the represents a major capital work. Grand Bahama Sports Complex, Sports Academy phase. Ministry of Works and represen- The general public should be but with several additions. Fa- tatives of the construction team updated. The same is true in my cilities for swimming and beach • To respond to this column, Scope view, regarding the proposed volleyball/soccer are on the ar- were trying to come up with the kindly contact Fred Sturrup at By Fred Sturrup most feasible synthetic material sports complex planned for chitect’s plan. [email protected] or on that would be durable but still Central Abaco. The previous ad- The concept of a National WhatsApp at 727-6363). Minnesota center Fowles earns AP Player of the Year honors NEW YORK (AP) — Sylvia second-year player. “She will ta’s , San Anto- ond. Fowles had a stellar year to lead get better defensively and offen- nio’s and Washing- “Ever since the All-Star break Minnesota to the top seed in the sively. She will only get stronger ton’s Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. we started to play better,” Los WNBA play-offs. around the basket.” “I came in and continued what Angeles’ coach said. Her efforts earned her Asso- Other award winners include got me here. Being consistent “Odyssey (Sims) has helped us ciated Press WNBA Player of Los Angeles’ Alana Beard, the with my game and staying with- lately and Jantel (Lavender) get- the Year honors on Tuesday. defensive player of the year; in my element and not doing ting more minutes has helped as The award was chosen by the Dallas’ , rookie of anything I’d do outside my ele- well. When you know your top 15-member media panel that the year; and New York’s Sug- ment,” Gray said. seven are playing well that’s a votes for the weekly poll. ar Rodgers; sixth woman of the Fowles headlined the AP first- good start.” “It means a lot,” Fowles said year; Epiphanny Prince, come- team All-WNBA. Also on the The Lynx were followed by in a phone interview. “I think a back player of the year. Prince first team were Tina Charles, New York, Connecticut, Phoe- lot of people forget the work you missed most of last season while Skylar Diggins-Smith, Candace nix, Washington and Dallas. have to put in. Like I said before, recovering from an ACL injury. Parker and . Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, San by far this is probably the hardest She and Rodgers helped the Lib- The second team was Jones, Bre- Antonio and Indiana rounded job to keep up with the stats and erty to the third best record in the anna Stewart, , Brit- out the poll. playing good throughout the sea- league. tney Griner and . PLAYER OF THE WEEK son. I credit the other MVPs and Beard was the defensive anchor POWER POLL averaged 30.5 players of the year for helping for the Sparks, who were second The fin- points, seven rebounds and shot me up my game.” in points allowed, giving up just ished the season where they 63 percent from the field to Fowles averaged 18.9 points, 75.2 a game. started, atop the AP Power Poll. help the Mercury win both their 10.4 rebounds and shot 65.5 per- Gray, picked fourth by the The Sparks received 14 of the 15 games this week. Others receiv- cent from the field this season to Wings in the draft this past April, first place votes and held the top ing votes included: Minnesota’s help the Lynx earn a bye until the was joined on the all-rookie team spot for the final three weeks of Maya Moore and New York’s semifinals of the play-offs. She by teammate , Atlan- the season. Minnesota was sec- Tina Charles. received 14 of the 15 votes with AP HONORS – Minnesota earning the other Lynx center (34) one. It’s the second year that the looks to shoot against Indiana TSONGA AND POUILLE LEAD FRANCE IN AGAINST SERBIA AP is giving out awards for the Fever’s Jennifer Hamson (5) WNBA. during the first half of a WNBA PARIS (AP) — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and choice.” Connecticut’s Curt Miller was game Friday, August Lucas Pouille will lead France in singles Pierre-Hugues Herbert and chosen as the AP’s coach of the 18, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. play in the Davis Cup semi-finals against will play doubles at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in year, also receiving 14 of the 15 Serbia. Lille from Sept. 15-17. votes. He led the Sun to a fourth France captain Yannick Noah selected the The countries have not met since the 2010 place finish in the standings after The Sun were led by Jonquel 12th-ranked Tsonga and 20th-ranked Pouille final, which Serbia won 3-2. But the Serbs the team lost Jones, who won the AP’s most ahead of No. 22 Gael Monfils, who is named will be without , who is to an injury before the season improved player. Jones broke the as a reserve. skipping the rest of the season because of an started. The Sun lost five of their single-season rebounding mark Tsonga is 18-7 in career singles and Pouille injured right elbow. first six games before winning 17 becoming the first WNBA player is 3-1. “Djokovic pulling out is very good news to top 400 rebounds in a season. “Jo remains our No. 1, we spoke a few for the (France) team,” Noah said. “It’s cer- of the next 21. BACK HAND – Gael Monfils, of France, “I’m humbled because there She finished the year with 403 times on the phone,” Noah said. “He told me tain that we have much more of a chance.” he’s motivated for this semi.” France last reached the Davis Cup final in plays a shot to , of the wasn’t a lot of expectations on boards. United States, during their first-round this group,” Miller said. “Such a “She’s a very special elite re- Noah added that and 2014, losing to Switzerland. match at the Rogers Cup tennis tour- credit to those players, every ad- bounder and she’s only scratched , who were overlooked, were The winner will play Belgium or Australia nament in Montreal, Monday, August 7, versity we had, they responded.” the surface,” Miller said of his both “disappointed, but they understood my in the final. 2017.