THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 SPORTS

BOSTON: In this April 21, 2014, file photo, Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego celebrates his victory in the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston. An Eritrean by birth, Keflezighi came to the United States to escape war and poverty in his African homeland. He did more than that: A year after the terrorist attacks shattered a scene of so much joy, Keflezighi became the first American man to win the world’s most prestigious marathon in more than three decades. — AP

Conti seeks to emulate Kauto

LONDON: is favorite to emu- from the all-cnquering Willie Mullins stable. was delivered by See More Business in around. “While he missed the rest of the sea- Smaller boats late former stablemate and land The seven-year-old earned his ticket to 1997.”It seems like an eternity ago,” Nicholls son and he’s been only fourth in his two runs successive editions of the King George VI Kempton with an impressive win in heavy recalled in The Daily Telegraph this week. this year, I’m convinced he’s still as good as Chase at Kempton tomorrow. ground at Clonmel. “It was our first, really big winner so it was ever,” he said. to get boost Paul Nicholl’s stable star underlined his However, Mullins, who won the race with a magic moment and the start of some really “His run in the Betfair last time out was wellbeing for the Boxing Day showcase in 2001, travels having been good things for us. I love the race.” Britain’s disappointing, but he blew for a long time in Hobart race when winning Haydock’s last served a dose of reality on his horse’s champion jumps trainer is not unduly afterwards which suggests we had left him month. In fourth that day was , chances of becoming the first Irish winner unconcerned about the drying ground for short. He has really started to blossom over SYDNEY: Smaller boats appear favored for this ’s eight-year-old who is seeking since two-time winner won his Silviniaco Conti. the last three weeks and I have him spot-on year’s Sydney to Hobart race handicap honors to go one better after taking second 12 second one in 2005. “Someone did (a news- “If it could be softer, that would be better for the King George. He’ll definitely run a due to forecast weather which makes a line hon- months ago. While Cue Card has yet to show paper article) on the King George and gave for him, but that’s only because it would massive race.” ors race record seem unlikely. his best this term, Nicholls’ runner is evident- 11 parameters and said you want to pass emphasise his stamina. He’s versatile as to While Nicholls’ is seeking a ninth King Cruising Yacht Club officials in Sydney, where ly as good as ever, and tops bookmaker’s seven or eight of them to win a King George,” ground, he’s won on good going many a George, Philip Hobbs is hoping either the race begins Friday, said Wednesday that the ante-post lists at a best priced 5-2. Mullins told The Guardian. time. “A bit of frost, a bit of drizzle and it’ll be Menorah or Wishfull Thinking will deliver his 117-boat fleet will be sailing into strong souther- Nicholls is also represented by , “Our fellow qualified on three.” Other testing enough. They always go a good gal- first. Menorah capitalised on a ring-rusty lies up to 30 knots (55kph/35mph) on the first last year’s third who tuned up with a Grade 2 notable entries include last month’s Paddy lop in the King George anyway. You have to Silviniaco Conti when beating him on his night. Skippers of the five 100-foot super maxis, win at Ascot on his first run of the season a Power runner-up Johns Spirit (25-1) and deal with the ground you’re served in these debut at Wetherby, but was subsequently including new American entry Comanche and month ago, and outsider Wonderful Charm. Dynaste (8-1) who was fifth in last year’s race. big races.” Tizzard is full of hope Cue Card can despatched with ease when the pair met defending champion Wild Oats XI, must judge Ireland’s sole raider is The first of Nicholls’ eight King George wins turn the tables on Silviniaco Conti this time again in the Betfair. — AFP how hard they can push their yachts and crews in the tough conditions. Winds forecast for later in the race are expect- ed to give the smaller, trailing boats a push up the fleet. Wild Oats won line honors for the seventh time last year, finishing the 628-nautical-mile race in 2 days, 6 hours, 7 minutes. The yacht also holds the race record of 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds set in 2012. The race begins in Sydney Harbor, heads south along the coast of New South Wales state and across Bass Strait to the island state of Tasmania and its capital city Hobart. “It’s certainly not a forecast for a record,” Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards said yesterday. “The record will get smashed one year, but I don’t think this will be the year.” Comanche skipper Ken Read says his recently- launched super maxi remains untested in the anticipated rough conditions. “The weather report is what you expect when you come here to the Hobart race,” Read said. “It is no surprise and we will all work our hardest to keep our Christmas dinners down, one would imagine, on that first night. But this is what we expect. “We will try and keep it in one piece. This is a completely untested boat at this stage. I am as curious as anybody as to how she will react.” In 1998, six sailors died and five yachts sank in a storm that hit the fleet early in the race. — AP Silviniaco Conti favorite for the King George VI Chase tomorrow. Christmas a rite of passage for Wizards, Pierce

MIAMI: For the third straight year, Paul Pierce will 30 years, are led by a point guard likely worthy of Gasol with the Bulls. And for the league’s biggest watch Michael Jordan on Christmas, Magic Johnson, awaken to play on Christmas in New York. The feel- some MVP buzz in John Wall, have no one among stars, playing is as annual a rite as caroling and egg all your favorite players, all the key matchups,” Pierce ing never gets old. Playing on Christmas Day — the the league’s top 25 scorers yet have six players aver- nog. If he plays Thursday, Kobe Bryant of the Los said. “And now being a part of it six, seven, eight traditional start of the NBA’s national broadcast aging double figures. And now for the first time Angeles Lakers will be taking the court on Christmas times, you’re kind of used to it, you kind of embrace schedule, and when fans seem to begin paying since 2008, the Wizards get to play on the league’s for the 16th time — just 17 points shy of getting to it, but you’re still up for it.” more attention to basketball as football winds down showcase day. 400 on the holiday. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade Moreover, it’s a chance for fans to see a — is still a big deal to players. Pierce is trying to “A lot of times, I’m opening presents with my kids is No. 2 on the active Christmas-scoring list, with 227 Washington team that they might see in April, May make sure that the Washington Wizards understand the day before because I’m gone on Christmas,” said points in nine appearances. and possibly beyond. Entering this week, only four the significance. Of the 14 players currently on the Pierce, who visited New York for a game against Wade insists that playing on Christmas is still a NBA teams had better records than the Wizards. Washington roster, eight have never played in a Brooklyn (when he was still with Boston) on Dec. 25 very big deal. “It’s the game you grew up watching,” Barring an all-out collapse, Washington will be put- Christmas game. Pierce has played in five, not in 2012, and was part of a home game with Brooklyn Wade said. “Christmas, it’s the game that you ting together a string of consecutive playoff appear- including two others that he missed because of on the holiday last year. “I think out of six or seven watched every year and dreamed about being in ances for the second time since the 1980s. It’s a team injury. “By Christmas, you should know what type of Christmas games, I think I’ve played at home one one day, the day that you knew everybody was with a mix of young talent and veteran savvy, which team you are,” Pierce said. “You should have an iden- time. We’ve been on the road pretty much the whole watching whatever game was on.” is exactly what Pierce envisioned months ago. tity. Around Christmas, this is the time you should be time. “Sometimes you get to be there and open This year, the Wizards — who visit the Knicks in Sure, there will be plenty of presents to open showing everybody, ‘This is who we are.’ You’re in it presents with your kids and enjoy the day with the start of the Christmas quintuple header — are today. Pierce thinks the biggest gifts for the Wizards or you’re out of it. This the time for the rest of the them. But they get to watch Daddy on TV and know the game that’s on, or one of them, anyway. are yet to come. “I knew I was coming to a team that league, the rest of the world to find out, this is who I’ll be coming home that night, so it’s fun.” Pierce will Wall has never played on Christmas, nor has was hungry, wants to win and wants to take the next we are.” Here’s who the Wizards are: A contender in actually be in New York for the fourth straight Washington’s other young guard, Bradley Beal. And step,” Pierce said. “A lot of these guys, they’ve the Eastern Conference. Christmas — he didn’t play when Boston visited the while every game on the NBA schedule is televised exceeded expectations ... and from the outside look- Off to a 19-7 start, the Wizards are proving Pierce Knicks in 2011, but was on the trip. Other players somewhere, Pierce knows that the exposure his ing in, you can say ‘Man, they look hungry.’ But you made the right decision when he raised eyebrows who also changed addresses this past offseason will young backcourt teammates will get on Thursday don’t know how much until you see them every day. this past summer by deciding to move to also be playing on Christmas, including LeBron might be like none other they’ve experienced. They don’t want to be good. They want to be Washington. They’re on pace for their best season in James and Kevin Love with the Cavaliers and Pau “You remember as a kid, oh, man, we get to great.”—AP