FOOTBALL | Page 3 Kane and Son shine as Spurs hit six past Everton

Monday, December 24, 2018 CRICKET Rabia II 17, 1440 AH Ashwin doubt as GULF TIMES Shastri demands openers step up SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Qatar beat Jordan 2-0 Steyn has Pakistan in his sights as SA wickets record looms

Qatar’s Almoez Ali (right) celebrates with a teammate after scoring against Jordan in a friendly match ahead of next month’s Asian Cup in the UAE. Qatar won 2-0 with Ahmed Aalaeldin also scoring. The match was played behind closed doors. Qatar have three more friendlies lined up before they head to the UAE for the continental tournament. Picture on right shows a glimpse of the action from yesterday’s match.

FOOTBALL/ LIGUE 1

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn.

Reuters Pretoria

Mbappe fi res PSG irebrand fast bowler Dale Steyn will seek to become South Africa’s greatest wicket-taker in Tests when they take on Pakistan in the fi rst match of a three-game series at Centurion ParkF in Pretoria on Wednesday. Steyn is level with former all-rounder Shaun Pol- lock on 421 Test wickets and, having played only six Tests in the last three years due to injury, has been left past Nantes as tantalisingly close to capturing the outright top spot on the list for some time. With injuries to seamers Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, Steyn is likely to be given the new ball against Pakistan along with Kagiso Rabada on what is expected to be a lively wicket in Pretoria. He will test the visiting batsman having returned to his express pace of old in recent limited-overs Monaco lose again contests, where he impressed against Australia last month. Captain Faf du Plessis told reporters this week that ‘I’M VERY HAPPY BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE TEAM’ Steyn was the country’s greatest fast bowler and sug- gested that while the 2019 Cricket World Cup might AFP be his limited-overs swansong, he still had a good few Paris years of Test cricket in him. “Test matches are what really drive me to perform,” Steyn recently told South African online publication ylian Mbappe grabbed the winner Sport24. “If I can carry on playing Test cricket for as as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nantes long as possible that will be great. 1-0 to go into the winter break un- “There is a plenty of T20 cricket going on at the mo- beaten in Ligue 1, as Thierry Henry’s ment because that is where the money is at but I think KMonaco suff ered defeat by rock-bottom Gu- that people will always know that Test cricket is the ingamp yesterday. real deal. I love the red-ball game.” World Cup star Mbappe stole in at the far The loss of Philander in particular will add extra post in the 67th minute for his 13th league workload for Steyn, who is by far the most experienced goal of the season, making him France’s top seamer in the team, though the world’s leading Test scorer with Neymar away on holidays in Bra- bowler, Rabada, could be the main threat. zil. Coach Ottis Gibson and Du Plessis will have to de- PSG coach Thomas Tuchel can also go on cide whether to play three seamers, with Duanne Ol- holiday relaxed with his club on 47 points, as ivier in line for a sixth test appearance, and spinner second-placed Lille, 13 points adrift, lost 2-1 Keshav Maharaj, allowing them to fi eld an extra bats- at home to Toulouse. man, or hand a fi rst cap to Dane Paterson. “I’m very happy because we can see the The latter option would give the team a long tail progress of the team,” said Tuchel. “You can with Rabada having to bat at number seven, a role he feel the energy, it’s a good thing to build on has never played before. next year.” With Neymar away, Angel Di There was a welcome return to form for stalwart Maria was in the line-up and came closest to stroke-maker Hashim Amla in domestic four-day making it 2-0, forcing a fi ne save from Nantes cricket this week, with just a single half-century in his goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu, who then last 12 test innings having raised some questions about watched the Argentine hit the crossbar from the future of the 35-year-old. the rebound. Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian His excellent record against Pakistan, with two Meanwhile, third-placed Lyon drew 1-1 Mbappe shows his joy after scoring against hundreds and eight half-centuries in 21 innings, at fourth-placed Montpellier after open- Nantes (FCN) at the Parc des Princes stadium should give him confi dence, as will his runs in Pretoria ing the scoring thanks to their captain Nabil in Paris. where he averages 75.58 after 18 visits to the crease. Fekir before a great header from Ruben Agui- Pakistan, who have won only one Test series out of lar gave the surprise-package southerners a 10 at home and away against South Africa, will have share of the spoils. been buoyed up by their three-day run-out against an Henry’s Monaco were dreadful and the Invitational XI in the build-up to the fi rst Test, where former Arsenal striker spat on the ground Azhar Ali and Babar Azam made hundreds. after Nolan Roux of Guingamp made fools of They have been well beaten on their previous two the Monaco defence to make it 2-0. only positive thing about this evening.” “Until tonight, I thought we didn’t need Strasbourg paid homage to the victims of visits to Pretoria though, losing by seven wickets in “I’m not going to have a good holiday,” be- Monaco were champions in 2017 but now new players, but we do,” Vasilyev told Ca- a terror attack that killed fi ve people on De- 2007 and an innings and 18 runs fi ve years ago. moaned Henry. “Now you have to work and have 13 points from 18 matches, just two nal+. “It’s diffi cult to analyse right now as cember 11 in their fi rst home game since as Leading fast bowler Mohamed Abbas has also been make do with what you have. more than Guingamp, and vice-president I’m upset like the supporters. I understand they won 2-0 against Nice. Meanwhile, Mar- rated as having only a 50 % chance of playing in the “It’s necessary to work and work. There are Vadim Vasilyev said the club needs to dip into the disappointment, it’s up to us to act and seille, in sixth, drew 1-1 at Angers and fi fth- Test as he recovers from a shoulder injury picked up still a lot of points to play for and that’s the the January transfer market. draw the right conclusions.” placed Saint-Etienne beat Dijon 3-0. in October. Gulf Times 2 Monday, December 24, 2018 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Ashwin doubt as Allrounder Jadeja fi t for Shastri demands third Test

Reuters for the pain. “In the lead-up Melbourne to the Perth Test, the manage- ment and Jadeja were of the opinion that the intensity of his ndian all-rounder Ravin- bowling in the nets could have dra Jadeja will be available been higher. For this reason, he openers step up for the Boxing Day Test was not considered for selec- match against Australia af- tion,” the BCCI said. Iter recovering from a shoulder “Jadeja’s left shoulder has Ashwin was sidelined with an abdominal strain for the second Test in Perth and problem, the Board of Control continued to improve and he is for Cricket in India (BCCI) said now available for the third Test was sorely missed as Australia, led by off -spinner Nathan Lyon, won by 146 runs yesterday. of the series in Melbourne,” Jadeja missed the second Test BCCI said in a statement. in Perth after symptoms of an The visitors opted for a four- injury sustained during this prong pace attack in Perth and year’s one-day international suffered a 146-run loss that series against the West Indies levelled the four-match series returned during India’s tour 1-1. Virat Kohli-led India had match in Sydney last month won the opening Test in Ad- and he was given an injection elaide by 31 runs.

West Indies captain Brathwaite rails at Bangladesh umpires

Dhaka: West Indies Twenty20 a no-ball,” Brathwaite said skipper Carlos Brathwaite after the game. blasted the match umpires for Brathwaite went to the match giving “50-50 decisions” to referee after Thursday’s Bangladesh even though his 36-run defeat in the second side won the third Twenty20 match as he felt close deci- international to wrap up the sions throughout the series series. went against his side. West Indies, who won Sat- “I didn’t think the 50/50 urday’s match by 50 runs, decisions were going in our were victims of an erroneous favour. Those decisions went no-ball call that could not be for Bangladesh,” he said. overturned by review and “I never ever want to accuse Braithwaite was critical of the someone of cheating. I will umpiring throughout the tour stop short of that. They are though he insisted he was not professionals as well. alleging “cheating”. “I didn’t accuse them of In the fourth over of the cheating but I made my point Bangladesh innings, Bangla- clear to the match referee desh umpire Tanvir Ahmed that every 50-50 decision in called a no-ball against West the ODI series and T20 series Indies paceman Oshane Tho- up to that point went against mas when batsman Liton Das us.” spooned a catch to Shimron In the second match, the Hetmyer at mid-off . same Bangladeshi umpire A television replay showed called Brathwaite for a wide the delivery had been legal, when Bangladesh skipper and Brathwaite and his team- Shakib Al Hasan clearly edged mates were furious after the ball and wicketkeeper seeing the big screen images Shai Hope took a catch. in the Dhaka stadium. Shakib, who was then on 20, Brathwaite asked for a review went on to score 42 off 26 and ran to the boundary for balls, guiding Bangladesh to India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (L) talks to his Australian counterpart Nathan Lyon during a ‘meet the fans’ event in Melbourne yesterday. talks with match referee Jeff 211-5 before his 5-21 complet- Crowe, halting the game for ed a series-levelling win. AFP racing the clock to be ready for number three Cheteshwar Pu- There is no guarantee that cerned, he is an absolute gentle- around 10 minutes. In the decisive third and final Melbourne the crunch Boxing Day Test in jara is fi ne form, eff ectively car- Rahul and Vijay will retain their man,” he said. The match off icials had to one-day international, the Melbourne, where the stakes are rying their team during the Ad- places with in-form Mayank Shastri also denied India’s uphold the decision despite a umpires ruled West Indies morale had taken a hit by los- high in the four-Test series. elaide and Perth games. Agarwal called up to the squad clear mistake as the rules do captain Rovman Powell out But the opening pair of KL as a replacement for injured ing in Perth after their tense ce spinner Ravichan- “As far as Ashwin is con- not allow a review against an when it should have been a dran Ashwin remains cerned, we are going to take a Rahul and Murali Vijay have young opener Prithvi Shaw, who victory in Adelaide — their fi rst on-field no-ball call. no-ball as Bangladesh illegally an injury doubt for the look and evaluate over the next struggled for runs and Shastri has been ruled out of the series. Test win on Australian soil in a West Indies, who made 190, had six fielders on the leg third Test against Aus- 48 hours,” Shastri said. said that needed to change. Superstar captain Kohli scored decade. were charged up after the side. Atralia, India coach Ravi Shastri Experienced batsman Rohit “It’s a big concern,” he said a battling century in Perth but “Absolutely not. 1-1 in a se- incident and bowled out Brathwaite, who did not said yesterday as he demanded Sharma, who also missed Perth when asked about the failure of he came under criticism for his ries in Australia and we know Bangladesh for 140 in 17 overs play the game, went on the his opening batsmen step up to after hurting his lower back, is the openers to get a big score. sledging and heated exchanges we had our chances in Perth as with medium-pacer Keemo field with drinks after the ease pressure on Virat Kohli. fi t again. “It’s obvious and that re- with Australian counterpart well. They’re ready,” he said. Paul picking up 5-15. Powell dismissal and became Ashwin was sidelined with “He has made a very good sponsibility and accountability Tim Paine. “It’s not often that we’ve “The rule is that if a no-ball is involved in an argument with an abdominal strain for the sec- improvement but then again we has to be taken by the top or- His animated wicket celebra- been in a position where we’ve called it cannot be reviewed the umpires. ond Test in Perth and was sorely have got to see how he pulls up der. They’ve got the experience, tions were also frowned upon, won one (on an overseas tour). or reversed. But if it isn’t Bangladesh won the preced- missed as Australia, led by off - tomorrow. But he looks good as they’ve got the exposure over but Shastri said he didn’t have a It’s 1-1. The boys know what called, it can be reversed ing Test and ODI series 2-0 spinner Nathan Lyon, won by of today,” said Shastri. these last few years to get out problem with his skipper. they can do, what they’re capa- checking the video. and 2-1 respectively. 146 runs to level the series 1-1. India go into the Melbourne there and deliver. It’s about how “What’s wrong with his be- ble of and the potential that lies “Everyone saw that it was not Shastri revealed Ashwin is showdown with Kohli and strong you are in the mind.” haviour? As far as we are con- ahead.”

BOTTOMLINE Aussie opener Finch says fi nger would need to be cut off to miss Boxing Day

Reuters around the lounge room and waving them around. Melbourne It feels OK. “If anything changes in the next couple of days, we’ll have to sit down and chat about that but, at ustralia opening batsman Aaron Finch has this stage, it’s still business as usual and I plan to declared himself fi t for the Boxing Day fi eld at slip and do whatever else is needed.” Test against India in Melbourne and said After twin failures in the fi rst Test defeat in Ad- his injured fi nger would need to be cut off elaide, Finch scored 50 in the fi rst innings in Perth Ato prevent him from playing in front of his home in a vital 112-run opening partnership with Victoria state’s fans. team mate Marcus Harris. Finch’s right index fi nger suff ered a nasty blow The rookie opening pair then shored up their when he was struck in the glove by a Mohamed places in the squad with a 59-run stand in Austral- Shami delivery in the second test in Perth, forc- ia’s second innings. ing him to retire hurt during Australia’s second in- Compared to India, who have injuries nagging nings. both their top spinners, and major form concerns He came back to face only one more delivery be- over both their opening batsmen, Australia head fore being caught behind off the same bowler but into the Wednesday’s Boxing Day Test in a relative it mattered little as Tim Paine’s Australia went on state of calm. to claim a rousing 146-run win to level the four- Australia are unlikely to tweak their attack for match series at 1-1. the MCG, and only middle order batsman Peter As a one-day specialist, Victoria batsman Finch Handscomb is really sweating on his place after has played to huge crowds at the MCG, including managing only 68 runs from his four innings. the World Cup triumph against New Zealand in Seam-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could 2015. But Finch has yet to savour a Boxing Day test replace Handscomb and off er support for Austral- at the ground, one of the game’s biggest carnivals. ia’s pacemen on a drop-in wicket that did little for “With a Boxing Day Test, being from Victoria, the bowlers in a dull draw against England last year. it’s going to have to be cut off (to not play),” Finch But selectors would be replacing one out-of- joked to reporters at the MCG before training yes- form player with another. terday. Marsh has managed scores of 11, 21, 30 and six “It’s going to be a catch and bat today and reas- from his last four innings for Western Australia in sess, but it feels like it’s improved 100 per cent over the Sheffi eld Shield, and was dismissed for three the last couple of days. on Thursday in his last knock in the local ‘Big Bash’ “I got sent some new bats, so I’ve been walking Twenty20 competition. File photo of Aaron Finch getting his finger examined after he was hit by Mohamed Shami in the second Test match at Perth. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TOTTENHAM SHINE TO HIT EVERTON FOR SIX Son Heung-min and Harry Kane score doubles with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen also on target at Goodison Park

AFP Liverpool

ottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is a wanted man by thrash- Ting Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park yesterday to close to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. Spurs have had to cope with the unwanted attention of Po- chettino being linked with the Manchester United job follow- ing Jose Mourinho’s sacking this week. But they showed no signs of being distracted as they roared back from a goal down thanks to doubles from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen also on target. Fatigue may yet still derail Tot- tenham’s bid to win a fi rst trophy under Pochettino with Spurs still involved in four competitions. But with Liverpool facing Ar- senal and Manchester City in a top of the table clash in their next three games over the fes- tive period, Tottenham have the opportunity to haul themselves into a three-way title race if they maintain the standards set at Goodison. “I think everyone is talking about Liverpool and Man City, but we are just doing well as we normally do,” said Kane. “We’ve had a great week, we’ve got games coming up thick and fast but games we can win.” Kane had chipped into the side-netting and Jordan Pickford produced a fi ne save to deny Eng- Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane (right) scores their sixth goal during the English Premier League match against Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool yesterday. (Reuters) land team-mate Kieran Trippier in the early stages. But Spurs looked as if they “We dominated the game from denied Son a second but Alli Both teams face the least rest Three minutes later Everton’s It was announced this week But it was Everton who struck could score with almost every the start, we created so many charged into the box to sweep time of any Premier League deficit was back to two as Gylfi that the South Korean will go to fi rst in a wildly open contest attack and were soon on level chances, so we were unlucky to home the rebound to turn the side over the festive period Sigurdsson dribbled across the the Asian Cup in January despite when Theo Walcott stabbed terms with the aid of a Pickford be 1-0 down,” said Son. game around. with another three games to whole Tottenham defence be- already representing his coun- home at the near post from Do- error. “But we bounced back, showed Kane is now just one goal be- come between now and New fore firing back across Hugo try at the World Cup and Asian minic Calvert-Lewin’s cross. The England number one our character and our mentality. hind Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang Year’s Day. Lloris. Games this year. Marco Silva’s men could even rushed from his goal but only We are happy to get three points in the race for the Premier League However, there was no let up Yet, any hope of a fi ghtback And Son showed why he will have been 2-0 up had Calvert- succeeded in getting in the way here.” golden boot and showed his pred- in the pace of the game after was extinguished just after the be missed by his club in January Lewin not been penalised for of his own defender Kurt Zouma atory instincts to side-foot into the break as Eriksen produced hour mark when Son’s fi ne con- once more with an inch-perfect a push on Davinson Sanchez and Son took advantage with a TOTTENHAM BLITZ an empty net after Trippier’s fi ne a technically perfect controlled trol cushioned Erik Lamela’s pass cross for Kane to slide in for his when heading home moments wonderful fi nish from a narrow Once back on level terms, Spurs free-kick came back off the post volley from the edge of the box to before he fi nished through the second of the afternoon 16 min- later. angle. were relentless as Pickford three minutes before half-time. make it 4-1. legs of Pickford. utes from time.

LA LIGA SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Gerrard concerned Sevilla lose ground despite despite Rangers snatching draw against Leganes late show to beat St Johnstone Agencies ATHLETIC BILBAO’S ADURIZ Madrid SCORES JAW-DROPPING AFP PENALTY Glasgow Struggling Athletic Bilbao’s vet- evilla lost ground at the eran striker Aritz Aduriz took the top of La Liga yester- art of the audacious penalty to teven Gerrard believes day despite Wissam Ben another level as he gave his side his players didn’t do the Yedder’s late equaliser the lead against Real Valladolid Rangers shirt “any jus- rescuingS them a point against on Saturday. tice” in a laboured fi rst- “I made my feelings clear at struggling Leganes. With Bilbao mired in what looks halfS performance before bounc- half-time, made some changes to Mikel Vesga’s header looked like being a battle against relega- ing back thanks to two Alfredo the 11 and to be fair to the players set to earn Leganes a valuable tion the 37-year-old showed no Morelos goals to beat St John- they played with more bravery, victory in their fi ght against rel- nerves as he took a one-step run- stone 2-1 yesterday. belief and character and gone out egation but Yedder sneaked in to up and held his non-kicking foot The Colombian took his tally there and performed like Rang- score in the 91st minute and earn still as he passed the ball from the for the season to 19 with the win- ers players in the second-half,” Sevilla a 1-1 draw. spot into the corner on the stroke ner two minutes from time as added Gerrard. The visitors were the ones cel- of halftime. Rangers closed to within a point “But we shouldn’t have to ebrating at the fi nal whistle but The goal was not enough to behind Scottish Premiership work that hard to win at places they head into the winter break give Bilbao the win though, as leaders Celtic, who have a game like this with all due respect.” two points behind Atletico Ma- Oscar Plano levelled for the visi- in hand. Middleton’s measured cross drid and fi ve adrift of leaders tors in stoppage time, leaving the Gerrard’s men had won just picked out Morelos to head home Barcelona. Basque side hovering one point one of their previous four games the equaliser 25 minutes from The gap could easily have above the drop zone. to fall four points behind their time. been greater. Leganes twice hit “Aduriz’s penalty is some- Glasgow rivals with the two sides Only Zander Clark in the St the woodwork, the second time thing unprecedented, I have set to meet at Ibrox on December Johnstone goal then kept the just moments before Ben Yedder never seen anything like it 29. hosts level as he denied Daniel equalised at the other end. in all my years in football,” Another tough afternoon Candeias and Kyle Laff erty twice But they have now won two said former Spain and Ath- looked on the cards for the visi- with stunning saves. and drawn three of their last letic Bilbao defender Andoni tors at McDiarmid Park when However, Clark was helpless fi ve games, an encouraging run Goikoetxea on radio station Matty Kennedy’s rising drive when Morelos met James Tav- that has put four points between Onda Cero. gave St Johnstone the lead on the ernier’s cross to score to spark them and the relegation places. Aduriz, the oldest player to stroke of half-time. wild scenes of celebration from Sevilla had been top almost have scored for the Spanish na- “The fi rst 45 minutes I wasn’t the players and fans, but not exactly a month ago and even if tional team, is no stranger to happy, far from it. It was a poor their manager who remained few would see Pablo Machin’s cheeky penalties. performance, we were awful,” stoney faced on the sidelines. side as genuine title challeng- Leganes’ defender Unai Bustinza (left) vies for the ball with Sevilla’s forward Wissam Ben Yedder during Earlier this month, when Gerrard told BT Sport. “I’m still thinking about the ers, this was a match they would the La Liga match in Leganes, Spain, yesterday. (AFP) Athletic had not won a game “We didn’t have one player out fi rst-half,” said Gerrard when have hoped to win. since the opening day of the there that was doing the shirt asked why he didn’t celebrate. Key absentees like Ever Banega the corner. the post as well for Sevilla and it cini scored a 94th-minute win- season and were drawing 0-0 any justice, so I certainly wasn’t “I’m thinking big picture and Pablo Sarabia were missed Twice they were denied a sec- was his cross that supplied the ner for Valencia against Huesca. with Girona in stoppage time, happy.” where we can take this squad and while a rain-soaked Butarque ond by the woodwork, each time equaliser in the fi rst minute of Huesca, who are bottom of the striker converted a penalty Gerrard introduced Glenn players. To be fair we are quite made playing conditions diffi cult. from headers, as Dimitrios Sio- added time. Yedder nipped in at the table, had pulled level after in the style of former Czech Middleton for Eros Grezda at bare today in terms of numbers, Leganes were ahead after fi ve vas and then Youssef En-Nesyri the back post and, completely Juan Hernandez’s penalty can- player Antonin Panenka, calm- half-time and the change helped but that fi rst-half concerned minutes as Vesga rose high to watched eff orts crash against the unmarked, made no mistake. celled out Dani Parejo’s opener ly chipping the ball down the turn the game as Rangers im- me because what we asked of meet Allan Nyom’s chipped ball crossbar. There was late drama earlier at Mestalla. Piccini’s goal moves middle of the goal to snatch proved dramatically in the sec- them before the game just clearly into the area, and fl icked it into Roque Mesa had nodded onto yesterday too as Cristiano Pic- Valencia up to eighth. victory. ond period. wasn’t there.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, December 24, 2018 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Qatar Airways ‘offi cial matchday presenter’ during Bayern’s exciting win over Leipzig

atar Airways, as Offi - was invited to watch the match Matchday Presenter during the the highly-anticipated 2022 FIFA cial Matchday Present- at the Allianz Arena from the match in Munich. World Cup Qatar.” er (MDP), participated Qatar Airways lounge and was “Our ongoing sponsorship of Qatar Airways is one of the in the celebrations as given the opportunity to test Bayern Munich and other global world’s fastest-growing airlines, BayernQ Munich registered an ex- their dribbling skills at half-time sporting events, such as the 2022 with a modern fl eet of more than citing 1-0 victory over Bundes- alongside Bayern legend Ivica FIFA World Cup, is also further 200 aircraft fl ying to business liga rivals, Liepzig, at Munich’s Olic. The winner also won a pair evidence of our commitment to and leisure destinations across Allianz Arena on Wednesday. of return travel tickets from the supporting events that not only six continents. As part of its role as MDP airline’s German gateway cities showcase excellence in sport, Qatar Airways was named and Offi cial Airline Partner to to any Qatar Airways destination but which champion sport as ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the Bundesliga champions, the worldwide. a means of bringing people to- the 2018 World Airline Awards, award-winning airline ran a Qatar Airways Group Chief gether. managed by international air ‘Dribble like a Pro’ Instagram Executive Akbar al-Baker said, “We are now looking forward transport rating organisation competition where users could “As Offi cial Airline Partner to to welcoming the Bayern squad Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best sketch the dribble path of a foot- Bundesliga champions Bayern during their winter training Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline ball to score a goal. Munich, we are delighted to have camp in Doha in January, as well in the Middle East’ and ‘World’s Bayern legend Ivica Olic (second from left) with winner of the Dribble like a Pro competition during the The winner, from Germany, had the opportunity to act as as continuing the count-down to Best First Class Airline Lounge’. Bundesliga game between Bayern Munich and Leipzig in Munich on Wednesday.

BUNDESLIGA CHANGE Leverkusen sack coach Herrlich, hire Late Wolfsburg Dutchman Bosz

DPA “Heiko Herrlich gave our team Berlin important impulses last year af- ter a very diffi cult season prior to that and led us back to the in- ayer Leverkusen have ternational scene,” Leverkusen winner seals sacked coach Heiko sports director Rudi Voller said Herrlich after a year and in a statement. a half, replacing him “Until recently we were deter- Bwith Dutchman Peter Bosz, the mined to stick with him as head Bundesliga club said yesterday. coach and turn the corner. The 47-year-old Herrlich, “But unfortunately we can- who had taken over in 2017, left not deny the fact that there is despite the team’s 3-1 win on currently a stagnation in the fi ve-goal thriller Saturday against Hertha Berlin team’s development. We are in that lifted them to ninth place. an unsatisfactory position at Bosz had briefl y coached the halfway mark and we con- Gerhardt winner helps Wolfsburg extend unbeaten run at struggling Augsburg Borussia Dortmund last year af- sidered a change of coach as ter spells at several Dutch clubs, necessary.” AFP including Ajax Amsterdam, and a The 55-year-old Bosz led Ajax Berlin stint in Israel in 2016. to the 2017 Europa League fi nal, He will take over on Jan. 4 which they lost to Manchester when the team meet up after the United, before joining Dort- olfsburg extended winter break ahead of the season mund. But a bad run until De- their unbeaten run restart on Jan. 18, and has signed cember 2017 led to his departure to six matches and a contract to 2020. that month. climbed to fi fth in Wthe Bundesliga table yesterday after Yannick Gerhardt’s late FOCUS goal sealed a thrilling 3-2 win at strugglers Augsburg. The Bavarian hosts, who are just a point from the relegation Inter Milan suspend places, had come from two goals down to equalise before mid- fi elder Gerhardt popped up with Nainggolan for the winner a minute from time. When Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels sent the ball down disciplinary reasons the right wing, Gerhardt timed his run perfectly into the box to meet Renato Steff en’s cross and guide the ball past despair- ing Augsburg stopper Andreas Luthe in pouring rain. His goal secured a third straight win from Wolfsburg’s three games in the last seven days, following 2-0 victories against both Nuremberg and Stuttgart, as Gerhardt revealed his extra reason to be pleased with his winner. “It was pretty late and you have to say Augsburg played very well in the second half,” Gerhardt told Sky. “I thought I’d have a go with a Wolfsburg’s Yannick Gerhardt (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the Bundesliga match against Augsburg in run and the boys had teased me Augsburg, Germany, yesterday. (AFP) before the game for being slow, so I was glad to put in a sprint.” 2-0 half-time lead. Manuel Baum made changes at fi nal half hour before Gerhardt On Saturday, defending It was however heartbreak- French midfi elder Josuha Gui- the break. struck. champions Bayern Munich ing for Augsburg fans hoping for lavogui tapped home unmarked at Rani Khedira, younger broth- Wolfsburg go into the Bun- moved up to second place, six a pre-Christmas gift of a fi rst the far post on 33 minutes before er of Germany’s 2014 World Cup desliga’s winter break four points behind Dortmund, with league win since the end of Oc- Brazilian right-back William’s winner Sami Khedira, pulled a points from the Champions an impressive 3-0 win at Ein- tober. shot from outside the area nestled goal back four minutes into the League places, but trail lead- tracht Frankfurt as evergreen Because Bruno Labbadia- in the bottom right corner four second half before replacement ers Borussia Dortmund, who Franck Ribery, 35, scored twice coached Wolfsburg were ulti- minutes from half-time. Sergio Cordova equalised with a won 2-1 at home to Borussia to fuel hopes of a contract ex- mately made to work by plucky Augsburg showed heart by brilliant header after a Jonathan Moenchengladbach on Friday, tension with his current deal to Augsburg, having cruised into a fi ghting back as their coach Schmid cross to set up a tense by 14 points. expire in June. Inter Milan’s Radja Nainggolan (right). (AFP)

SERIE A Reuters He missed Inter’s first two Milan league matches of the season through injury but scored on his debut in a 3-0 win over Bo- nter Milan midfi elder Radja logna. Mandzukic on target as Juve pile misery on Roma Nainggolan was suspended He suff ered another injury in by his club for disciplinary the 1-0 derby win over AC Milan AFP tures on December 26 and 29, before paus- reasons yesterday, capping and, although he quickly recov- ing for three weeks. Ian unhappy year which also saw ered, it fl ared up again during Milan “We haven’t won anything yet,” added the Belgian call time on his inter- the Champions League defeat at Allegri. “The important thing is to be a few national career after missing the Tottenham Hotspur when he was ario Mandzukic scored the only points ahead of Napoli on the 29th of De- World Cup. substituted before halftime. goal for Juventus to dump fur- cember.” Inter’s decision means that Nainggolan was dropped and ther hurt on crisis club Roma Juve — who have only dropped points Nainggolan, who was also dropped fi ned by Roma in January after and keep the champions un- against Genoa — travel to Atalanta and host by AS Roma at the start of this posting an Instagram video of Mbeaten and on track for an eighth straight Sampdoria in their fi nal two matches before year, will miss Wednesday’s match himself drinking and smoking at Italian league title. the end of the year. when third-placed Inter host sec- a New Year’s Party. The Croatian World Cup runner-up Roma, after fi nishing third last season, ond-placed Napoli in Serie A. After returning to the side, he headed in the winner 34 minutes into the are now 25 points behind Juventus and drop “FC Internazionale Milano can helped Roma to reach the Cham- match in Turin to put Juventus back eight to 10th after their eighth defeat in as many confi rm that Radja Nainggolan pions League semi-fi nals but points clear of Napoli. trips to the Allianz Stadium. They have won has been temporarily suspended there was more disappointment The defeat could have been harsher but just twice in the league since the end of from football activity for disci- when he was left out of Belgium’s for Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen deny- September. plinary reasons,” said the club in World Cup squad by coach Rob- ing Cristiano Ronaldo, with Douglas Costa Napoli are way behind Juve but consolidat- a statement, without giving fur- erto Martinez. having a late goal ruled out following a vid- ed second place when Raul Albiol headed his ther details. That prompted Nainggolan to eo assistant referee check because of a foul fi rst goal of the season from a Dries Mertens Italian media said Nainggo- end his international career and in the build-up. corner against to beat struggling SPAL. lan had arrived late for a training blame Martinez’s decision on a “We are doing good things, we have “Thinking of Juventus is likely to demo- session. personality clash. reached the Champions League last sixteen tivate us,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti. The combative 30-year-old was Nainggolan was also upset at and we’re winter champions,” said coach “We have to think about ourselves be- signed from Roma in the summer the way he was treated by Roma, Massimiliano Allegri, referring to the name cause this team can do more, we have room Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic (right), Wojciech Szczesny (second from right) and for 38mn euros ($43.19mn) plus saying in an interview this month given to teams top before Christmas. for improvement and I say it after today’s Leonardo Bonucci (second from left) celebrate after their Serie A win over Roma in Nicolo Zaniolo but has not made that he was “bitter” that the club Serie A is however holding a round of fi x- match, which was not amazing.” Turin, Italy, on Saturday. (Reuters) the expected impact. had wanted to sell him. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA Jerebko shines in Warriors win, Bryant lift s Wizards ‘He had several plays that got the crowd into it with his hustle. He gave us a huge lift’

AFP Los Angeles

onas Jerebko was an unlikely catalyst as the two-time de- fending NBA champions Golden State held off the Dallas Maver- icksJ 120-116 in Oakland, California, on Saturday. On a team that features the superstar quartet of Stephen Curry, Kevin Du- rant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, it was Sweden’s Jerebko receiv- ing a massive ovation as he departed in the fourth quarter having scored 23 points in 21 minutes with three assists and six rebounds. Durant led the Warriors with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but Jerebko’s relentless energy was crucial to the Warriors victory. “He shot the ball really well, but he got a lot of off ensive boards, too,” War- riors coach Steve Kerr said. “He had several plays that got the crowd into it with his hustle. He gave us a huge lift.” Jerebko scored nine points in the fourth quarter - contributing a tip-in, a dunk and a three-pointer as the War- riors powered to a 111-96 lead. He was back on the bench as Golden State saw their lead cut to one point. Dallas forward Harrison Barnes’ three-pointer with 33.5 seconds left bounced off the rim and Durant drained a three-pointer to seal the win. The victory saw the Warriors, who have struggled to fi nd the same domi- nance they displayed in their past two championship seasons, improve to 22- 11, just a shade off the Western Confer- ence lead shared at 21-10 by the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver had a one-game lead heading into the day, but suff ered their biggest defeat of the season in a 132-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Danilo Galli- nari and Tobias Harris scored 21 points apiece for the Clippers, who snapped the Nuggets’ four-game winning streak. “I just thought our tempo set the tone,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Our pace tonight, maybe as good as Golden State Warriors forward Jonas Jerebko shoots the basketball against Dallas Mavericks centre DeAndre Jordan during the second-half at Oracle Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports I’ve seen. We never stopped.” Serbian forward Nikola Jokic led the double and an historic night for centre a career-high 31 points. It was just the beating the league-leading Raptors Antonio Spurs 108-101 with the help Nuggets with 19 points before he was Thomas Bryant propelled the Wash- seventh game in NBA history in which 126-101. The Raptors arrived in Phila- of 39 points from reigning NBAMost RESULTS tossed in the third quarter when he ington Wizards to a 149-146 victory a player made at least 14 baskets with- delphia minus three of their top players Valuable Player James Harden. received two quick technicals for argu- over the Phoenix Suns in a triple-over- out a miss and the fi rst since Gary Pay- in all-star Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka Houston used a big third quarter to Miami 94-87 Milwaukee ing a foul call. Jamal Murray added 18 time thriller. ton did it almost 24 years ago. “He was and Jonas Valanciunas, and the Sixers take a 17-point lead, but San Antonio Philadelphia 126-101 Toronto points and Monte Morris chipped in Beal’s 40 points included 10 in the the MVP of the game,” Beal said of Bry- took full advantage. battled back to lead 97-96 with 3:03 Utah 106-107 Oklahoma 15 for the Nuggets, who hadn’t lost by third overtime. He added 15 assists and ant. “Everybody wants to talk about Joel Embiid scored 27 points and remaining. more than 10 points this season. 11 rebounds for his fi rst triple-double - my triple-double... TB was by far the pulled down 11 rebounds. Ben Sim- Undaunted, the Rockets kept fi ring Houston 108-101 San Antonio It came down to the wire in Salt reaching double digits in three key sta- MVP tonight.” mons added 26 points with 12 re- from three-point range, retaking the Washington 149-146 Phoenix Lake City, where Paul George scored 43 tistical categories. bounds and eight assists, while Jimmy lead on a three-pointer from Harden Golden State 120-116 Dallas points to lead the Thunder in a 107-106 Bryant connected on all 14 of his 76ERS DOWN RAPTORS Butler contributed 12 points, seven re- and pulling away for the victory de- Clippers 132-111 Denver victory over the Utah Jazz. shots from the fi eld and three of three Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers bounds, seven assists and three steals. spite the absence of injured point Bradley Beal’s fi rst career triple- from the free throw line on the way to wore down injury-depleted Toronto, The Houston Rockets held off the San guard Chris Paul.

FOCUS ‘I’d take legacy over money’

He’s still more than a year ers’ 112-104 win. Davis was the away from free agency, but game’s leading scorer with 30 Nets’ Atkinson fi ned $25K aft er ejection questions are swirling around points. Earlier this week, some the future of Anthony Davis. league general managers Reuters Will the New Orleans Pelicans said comments that James New York trade their 25-year-old super- made expressing a desire to star? Will he re-sign with the play with Davis in Los Angeles Pelicans since they can off er were a form of tampering. rooklyn Nets coach Kenny him the most money at $239 James added his comments Atkinson said his peace on million? Or are the Los Ange- about that on Friday night. He Friday night to offi cials in les Lakers concentrating on said that he, of course, would the team’s 114-106 home clearing cap space for him? want to play with the NBA’s lossB to the Indiana Pacers, but that Davis, speaking Friday night best. “Come on guys, it’s not will leave him $25,000 poorer after to Yahoo! Sports after the rocket science. It’s not rocket the NBA fi ned him for his actions Lakers beat the Pelicans, science,” James told report- on Saturday. answered at least one of the ers. “I would love to play Atkinson was cited for ver- questions. When it comes with a lot of great players. bally abusing game offi cials time for him to sign his next That’s just who I am. People and failing to leave the court in contract, money won’t be the get caught up in bunches a timely manner after he was biggest factor, he said. sometimes and they wish they ejected after receiving a techni- “I’d take legacy over money,” could control what you say. cal foul with 1:09 left in the game Davis said. “I want to have a And they can’t control me, at at Barclays Center. legacy. All my people that look all. And I play by the rules.” Trailing by fi ve late in the up to me, the younger kids, I game, the Nets did not get a foul want them to know about AD’s call on their off ensive end of the legacy. Championships, the fl oor, but Rodions Kurucs was things I do in the community, called for a foul on the Pacers’ being a good teammate, play- Darren Collison at the other end. ing hard. All that stuff matters Atkinson bolted onto the fl oor the most to me. Don’t get me and was ejected after confront- wrong, money is amazing. But ing referee Tony Brothers. I think in that sense, money or “We’ve just got to be mentally legacy, I think my legacy will stronger, and I’ve got to be men- win that battle every time.” tally stronger, fi ghting through If Davis indicates after this those situations,” Atkinson said season that he doesn’t plan after the game of his ejection. to re-sign with the Pelicans, “Just frustration on my part. I the team could explore trad- have to coach myself. I don’t love ing him to get something in that scene out there. That’s not Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson is restrained by point guard Spencer Dinwiddie (right) during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pac- return. If he’s traded, he could what I’m there for. I’m not here ers at Barclays Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports sign a five-year, $190 million to make a show. “So I apologize contract extension. As a free for that. That’s not who I am. But Democratic Republic of Congo Petit and his father to the United during surgery. “The Dikembe “During the delicate surgery, agent, his contract in 2020 it happens in this league some- who came to Los Angeles with States earlier in December so Mutombo Foundation is sad to Matadi suff ered a rare and un- would cap at four years for times with the emotion and in- the help of former NBA star that doctors could remove the share the news of the passing of predictable genetic reaction to $139 million, according to NBC tensity of the game.” Dikembe Mutombo for surgery tumor. But in an Instagram post Matadi Sela Petit,” the post said, anesthesia,” the statement said. Sports. to remove a tumor from his face on Saturday the foundation said adding that the boy had “won “Despite the diligent eff orts of Yahoo! also reported that CONGOLESE BOY HELPED BY has died. the boy had died at Cedars-Sinai everyone’s heart with his open his medical caregivers, Matadi Davis and LeBron James ate MUTOMBO DIES Mutombo and his founda- Medical Center on Friday night and friendly attitude” since his did not recover and he passed dinner together after the Lak- An eight-year-old boy from the tion helped bring Matadi Sela after a reaction to anaesthesia arrival in the United States. away.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, December 24, 2018 SPORT

NFL SPOTLIGHT Redskins’ safety Swearinger fl ays Ravens stun Chargers, defensive co-ordinator

Reuters Titans rip Redskins to New York ashington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger called out the playcalling of his defensive co- ordinator, Greg Manusky, after the team’s 25- 16 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. W“I felt like we should have been more aggressive,” Swearinger told reporters after the costly defeat. “I feel boost playoff hopes like on the third down and six, third down and seven, we’re playing a backup quarterback, why would you put us ‘We had to get this win. It’s a huge win to keep our playoff hopes alive’ in man-to-man? We are our best on defense when we look at the quarterback. When you go one high on a backup quarterback, that’s easy, man. It’ll go backside every time. “I feel like if we look at the quarterback with all this time we’ve got on the back end, man, we can dominate every team, every week. I’m not the defensive co-ordina- tor, though.” With an injury forcing Titans quarterback Marcus Mar- iota from the game in the second quarter, the Redskins had a golden chance to gain ground in the NFC East race against backup Blaine Gabbert. But Gabbert led Tennessee to a come-from-behind victory, connecting with MyCole Pruitt for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 4:30 remaining to put the Titans ahead 19-16. Now the Redskins (7-8) can be eliminated from playoff contention if the Philadelphia Eagles win or if the Minne- sota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks win Sunday. “We aren’t supposed to lose this game, with the talent we have on defense, to a backup quarterback,” Swearinger said. “You can say we didn’t make the plays as players. Yeah, we didn’t make enough. But when we’re in the game at the end we should be in something that we can see the quarterback, man. See the quarterback. And make plays. We weren’t able to see the quarterback but on a couple times. It is what it is. Keep grinding.” “I’m not giving no excuses on my play,” he added. “I missed a few tackles, but I feel with a lot of these play- makers we have on this team, you should try to get your players involved. We got a lot of talent on this team. When I look at fi lm on other teams, I always see nickel [defensive backs] blitzing, always see safeties blitzing. ... It’s frus- trating. I don’t know what to say about it.” Swearinger’s comments came after Redskins coach Jay Gruden held his postgame news conference. For his part, fellow Redskins defender Jonathan Allen supported Manusky after the game. “Greg manuski coached a great game,” he tweeted.

LEWAN, NORMAN GET HEATED AFTER TITANS’ WIN Tennessee Titans off ensive lineman Taylor Lewan and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman got into Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (left) is pressured by Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa in the third quarter at StubHub Center. The Ravens defeated the Chargers it on the sideline after the Titans 25-16 win on Saturday. 22-10. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports As Lewan approached the Washington sideline after the game, Norman threw his helmet at him and began walking AFP “We had to get this win. It’s a Rivers, whose 27-game streak Washington fell to 7-8 and must at halftime. Washington’s Dus- toward the 6-7, 309-pound Lewan. Los Angeles huge win to keep our playoff hopes with a touchdown pass ended, beat reigning Super Bowl champi- tin Hopkins added a 40-yard fi eld Lewan responded by using a mocking version of a bow- alive,” said Ravens safety Eric threw a fi nal interception to end on Philadelphia next week to have goal in the third quarter, Succop and-arrow gesture that Norman sometimes uses. Weddle, who likes Baltimore’s LA’s last hope. At 11-4, the Charg- any playoff hopes. answered for the Titans from 33 Norman continued to go after Lewan, yelling at him altimore’s NFL-best de- chances as a Super Bowl threat. ers have already clinched a playoff The Titans lost Mariota to a yards early in the fourth quarter as the bigger player turned his body away and eventually fensive unit sparked an “Why not? If we get in the tour- spot but with the LA loss, Kansas right shoulder injury after he was and Hopkins followed with a 46- walked away as the 6-foot, 200-pound Norman was re- upset of the Los Angeles nament we have as good a shot as City needs only a win Sunday at sacked in the closing seconds of yard fi eld goal for a 16-12 Redskins strained. Afterward, Lewan said he approached Norman Chargers on Saturday but anybody. I know nobody wants to Seattle to claim the AFC West di- the fi rst half, the dynamic mobile lead. That’s when Gabbert moved because he felt the corner tried to injure Titans running theB Tennessee Titans stayed level see us.” vision crown. run-pass threat sidelined after Tennessee 75 yards in seven plays, back Derrick Henry late in the game. with the Ravens in the playoff Justin Tucker’s third fi eld goal, Tucker fi eld goals from 24 and being slammed to the turf, forcing a march capped by his touchdown “I’m not worried about Josh Norman, man. I’m an of- chase by beating Washington. a 56-yarder, boosted Baltimore’s 35 yards against a 38-yarder by Gabbert to take charge. toss that with a Succop conversion fensive lineman; he’s a DB,” said Lewan in the locker room. Baltimore’s Tavon Young re- lead to 16-10 but the Charg- LA’s Mike Badgley gave the Ravens Gabbert completed 7-of-11 lifted the Titans ahead 19-16 with “I don’t even know who that is.” turned a fumble 62 yards for a ers were driving for a go-ahead a 6-3 halftime lead. In the third passes for 101 yards and a 2-yard 4:30 to play. “I was pissed – he was trying to hurt Derrick Henry clinching touchdown to spark the touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored on touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt Washington’s Adrian Peterson during that four-minute (drive). That’s not the way foot- Ravens over the host Chargers quarter only to be undone by Bal- Melvin Gordon’s 1-yard touch- in the fourth quarter that put Ten- ran 26 times for 119 yards and ball is supposed to be played, man. It’s not our fault you’re 22-10 while Tennessee’s Blaine timore’s defenders, who have al- down run but Baltimore reclaimed nessee ahead to stay. became, at 33, the oldest 1,000- not relevant anymore.” Gabbert, replacing injured starter lowed the fewest yards and points the lead 13-10 on Lamar Jackson’s “It was a lot of fun just getting yard rusher in an NFL season He accused Norman of going low when hitting Marcus Mariota, threw a touch- in the NFL this season. 68-yard touchdown pass to Mark back on the fi eld with the guys,” since Washington’s John Riggins Henry and for losing his cool on the field. “He tackled down pass to power the host Ti- Ravens linebacker Patrick On- Andrews. Gabbert said. “Everybody just in 1984. It was his eighth career him, and it was like a temper tantrum,” said Lewan. “I tans over the Washington Red- wuasor knocked the ball from the worked their tails off and we were 1,000-yard season, and fi rst since was trying to get Derrick up, and he’s throwing a his- skins 25-16. grasp of Chargers tight end Anto- TITANS OUTLAST REDSKINS able to get the win. It was a must- 2015 and it moved him to eighth on sy-fit, going low at him and stuff like that.” Henry ran Baltimore and Tennessee each nio Gates and Baltimore corner- At Nashville, the Titans forced win game. We’re still alive.” the all-time NFL run yardage list. the ball 21 times for 84 yards and a score and seemed improved to 9-6, the Ravens back Young grabbed the loose ball two Washington turnovers in the Tennessee’s Ryan Succop unbothered by Norman’s antics. “Whatever he was clinging to the last American and returned it to create the fi nal closing minutes, the last a 56-yard kicked a 42-yard fi eld goal on the RESULTS trying to do, he was trying to do,” said Henry. “If he Conference playoff spot thanks to victory margin. interception return by Malcolm fi nal play of the second quar- Tennessee 25-16 Washington was, it didn’t work.” a tie-breaker edge. Chargers quarterback Philip Butler on the game’s fi nal play. ter to lift the Titans within 10-9 Baltimore 22-10 Chargers Norman didn’t speak to reporters after the game.

NHL Leafs slam Rangers with four goals in 3rd period Reuters this season to trim the lead to 3-2. the 200th of his NHL career, making Toronto Marner scored at 12:53, breaking in him the fi fth player in league history RESULTS alone with a nifty move to restore the to reach the milestone before his 22nd two-goal margin. birthday. The others are Wayne Gretz- Boston 5-2 Nashville itch Marner had two goals The Rangers crept within one again ky, Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk Columbus 4-3 Philadelphia and an assist in the third on Kreider’s 16th goal of the season at and Ron Francis. Stamkos scored at Montreal 4-3 Las Vegas period and the Toronto 16:19. Marner added his 12th goal of the 17:09 of the fi rst period to tie the score Maple Leafs held on to de- season into an empty net at 19:40. To- at 1-1 and got an insurance goal at 15:03 Los Angeles 3-2 San Jose Mfeat the visiting New York Rangers 5-3 ronto’s Tyler Ennis left the game with of the third, his 20th of the season. St. Louis 3-1 Calgary Saturday night. an ankle injury and did not return. Kucherov tied the score at 2-2 at Arizona 6-4 Colorado Patrick Marleau, Morgan Rielly and 13:00 of the second period, stealing Buff alo 3-0 Anaheim Andreas Johnsson also scored for the LIGHTNING MAKE THEIR POINTS the puck from Edmonton’s Jesse Pulju- Maple Leafs, who scored four times in AGAIN, WHIP OILERS jarvi just inside the Lightning blue line Toronto 5-3 Rangers the third period en route to their third Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson and racing the length of the ice to beat Washington 4-0 Ottawa win in a row. John Tavares and Johns- each scored twice as the Tampa Bay Koskinen with a snap shot to the glove Pittsburgh 3-0 Carolina son each added two assists. Lightning extended their points streak side. The Lightning took the lead 1:32 Kevin Hayes and Neal Pionk each with a 6-3 victory against the host Ed- later as Miller set up in front of the net Dallas 2-1 Minnesota had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, monton Oilers on Saturday night. and beat Koskinen after taking a pass Winnipeg 1-0 Vancouver and Chris Kreider added a goal. Nikita Kucherov added a goal and from Erik Cernak. Tampa Bay 6-3 Edmonton Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik An- four assists and J.T. Miller also scored Tampa Bay took a 3-2 lead into the dersen made 25 saves. Alexandar Geor- for the Lightning, who are 11-0-1 in third period and extended it when The Jets (24-10-2) swept their three- giev stopped 31 shots for New York. their past 12 games, the longest points Johnson scored at 4:17 off assists from game season series with the Canucks Marleau notched his 10th goal this streak in the NHL this season. Tampa Brayden Point and Kucherov. Johnson and have now won 11 of their past 13 season with a defl ection from the left Bay wrapped up its four-game Western also scored at 18:35 of the third, again games overall. Winnipeg has beaten circle of Rielly’s point shot at 2:58 of Canada trip by going 3-0-1. off assists from Point and Kucherov, to the Canucks in 12 of the teams’ past 13 the fi rst period. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasi- cap the scoring. meetings. The Maple Leafs held a 15-10 advan- levskiy made 25 saves. The Canucks suff ered only the third tage in shots on goal after one period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Chias- STREAKING JETS RIDE G BROSSOIT loss in their past nine outings. The Maple Leafs killed off Marleau’s son and Leon Draisaitl scored for the PAST CANUCKS Vancouver goaltender Jacob Mark- holding penalty assessed at 1:10 of the Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (right) is greeted by forward John Tavares Oilers, who have lost three straight Mark Scheifele’s goal with 1:32 left in strom posted 23 saves on 24 shots. He second period, then went on the power after scoring against New York Rangers in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. after going 8-1-1 in their previous 10 the third period gave the visiting Win- suff ered his fi rst loss in seven games. play at 6:10 when Rangers defenseman PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports games. They dropped to 9-5-1 under nipeg Jets a 1-0 victory over the Van- The Canucks outshot the Jets 29-17 Adam McQuaid received two minor coach Ken Hitchcock. couver Canucks on Saturday night. in the fi rst 40 minutes, including 17-7 penalties – holding and cross-check- from the right point for his fi fth goal third period on Johnsson’s eighth goal Mikko Koskinen made 39 saves in Winnipeg goaltender Laurent Bros- in the second period, but could not ing. The Rangers survived the four- this season after a cross-ice pass from this season. Rielly shot in his 12th goal suff ering his fi rst defeat in eight deci- soit made 40 saves for the fi rst shut- beat a steady Brossoit, 25, who is in his minute short-handed situation. Jimmy Vesey. The Maple Leafs led in this season from the left circle at 5:26 sions at Rogers Place this season. out of his career. He has won eight of fi rst season as Winnipeg’s backup after The Rangers tied the score at 15:00 shots on goal 25-20 after two periods. of the third to put Toronto ahead 3-1. Connor McDavid assisted on all the nine games that he has started this four seasons in the Edmonton organi- of the second when Pionk wired a shot Toronto took a 2-1 lead at 1:37 of the Hayes retaliated at 6:34 for his 10th three Edmonton goals. The fi rst was season. sation. Gulf Times Monday, December 24, 2018 7 SPORT

NBA SKIING Shiff rin youngest woman to reach 50 Anatomy of a Miami World Cup wins

AFP Courchevel, France

merican Mikaela Shif- Heat game plan that frin became the young- est woman to win 50 World Cup ski races ‘The problem for them is him as your withA victory in the slalom in the French Alps on Saturday. best player may not be good enough The 2014 Olympic cham- pion, who led after the fi rst run for you to be a postseason participant’ in Courchevel, fi nished 0.29sec has stalled ahead of Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and 0.37sec ahead of Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter in third place. It capped an impressive 24 hours after she had won the gi- ant slalom in blizzard-like con- ditions on Friday. Despite her achievement Shif- frin said she was not driven by setting records after becoming the fi rst woman to secure a half century of race victories before Mikaela Shiff rin celebrates on her 24th birthday, which she will the podium after winning the celebrate in March. FIS Alpine World Cup Women “It’s not really my motivation Slalom in Courchevel, French to break records, my big motiva- Alps. (AFP) tion is to ski very well,” she said. “Today everybody was asking holds the record for both men about 50 and I was really trying and women with 86 career suc- to focus just on skiing, making cesses. the best turns that I could,” she Shiff rin’s fellow US racer added. Shiff rin praised the ef- Lindsey Vonn has the most fe- forts of others in achieving the male wins with 82 victories landmark. across all fi ve alpine disciplines. “If you asked me 10 or fi ve Vonn is expected to return to the years ago I would never think I circuit early in 2019 after recov- would be in this position. It’s a ering from injury. lot of hard work from my team, At the age that Shiff rin is now, my coaches, for me,” she said. Vonn had only triumphed on 13 “I have a lot of support and occasions and Stenmark 44. I’m really grateful for that. That The Colorado native joins re- brought me to this place with 50 tired Austrian Marlies Schild victories,” Shiff rin added. with a record 35 slalom World Hansdotter predicts further Cup titles. success for Shiff rin. Shiff rin leads the overall “She can beat all the records standings on 889 points after possible. To have won everything 13 out of the 38 events, twice as she has won at 23 is so impres- many as the combined points of sive,” she said. both Vlhova in second place and Shiff rin won Friday’s giant Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel slalom by overcoming a 0.08sec in third. defi cit and the severe conditions. She can continue her already Victory on Saturday was her illustrious career by adding a fourth consecutive win in the fourth World Championship ti- French resort. tle to her name in Are, Sweden in Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark February.

Miami Heat guards Rodney McGrudder (left) and Goran Dragic chat during a time out against the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on on December 4, 2018, (Miami Herald/TNS) 5 lifters suspended after London 2012 retests

By Ira Winderman able to make the move.” “I really like Bam Adebayo. I ally only one of those guys el- those other guys, but when you Five weightlifters, including two Olympic champions, have been Sun Sentinel For Anthony, it was almost as think he appears to be a piece. I evated. Justise Winslow, he’s look at their roster, I don’t know provisionally suspended after retests of their samples from the if Riley stands exposed, not for a love Josh Richardson,” Anthony improved, but I wouldn’t say there is a team that’s vying for 2012 London Olympics came back positive for doping, the Interna- lack of talent development – he said. “I can understand why you he’s elevated. Dragic, he’s deal- the postseason that doesn’t tional Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said. reg Anthony knows is a fan of several of the Heat’s don’t want to give up Josh Rich- ing with injuries, he’s not the have a 20-point scorer.” Ukraine’s Oleksiy Torokhtiy could now be stripped of the Olympic how Pat Riley thinks, young pieces – but for the rare ardson, because he’s their best player he was a year ago. The Anthony said he appreciates title he won in the 105-kg category in London while Azerbaijan’s having lived all four of time not having a Magic John- player right now, we can make problem is nobody else has el- what Riley is attempting to do. Bulgaria-born Valentin Hristov could lose his bronze medal from the seasons of the Pat son, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that argument. The problem for evated on the roster other than He just doesn’t know if the cur- the 56-kg category. GRiley coaching experience with Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, now them is him as your best player Richardson.” rent mix makes that possible, “The International Olympic Committee is responsible to decide the New York Knicks. only a retiring Dwyane Wade. may not be good enough for you To Anthony, the best out- without a Paul George to put about any consequences relating to the athletes’ participation in And, no, the TNT analyst “The roster is set up if they can to be a postseason participant.” come from the current pre- into play, as Indiana had. the 2012 London Olympic Games,” the IWF said. said, this Miami Heat team does somehow make the right move,” Anthony said in a perfect dicament might be to acquire “The issue for him is you can “In all cases where it is determined that an Anti-Doping Rule Viola- not look like a Pat Riley team. said Anthony, who also appears world the Heat should protect B-level personnel and develop go get Jimmy Butler, but if I tion was committed, the responsibility to conduct results manage- For all the grit, grind and on NBA TV programming. Richardson to have as a No. 2 to that into A-list talent. He cited, ain’t got anybody to pair Jimmy ment will be transferred to the IWF in terms of consequences growth on Riley’s Knicks teams “Because I don’t even think an A-list addition. But he said to as an example, what the Indiana Butler with, we’re going to be a extending beyond the athletes’ Olympic Games participation.” that featured players such as they can just pull it off in free accomplish that, the Heat need Pacers have done with Victor notch better, but we’re still not Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Nurudinov, who came fourth in the 105kg in Anthony, Charles Oakley, An- agency. I think it would have to to further develop assets. Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and going to be good enough,” An- London, Armenia’s Melanie Daluzyan and Belarus’s Mikalai No- thony Mason, John Starks, be trades. Make a move and get “I think what’s happened Myles Turner. thony said. vikau were also suspended after the International Olympic Com- Derek Harper, Charlie Ward and somebody in there that has a is some of these other guys “You look at Indiana – com- “The game plan they had was mittee’s (IOC) re-analysis discovered adverse analytical findings, Monty Williams, there was, An- next-level talent. Because right haven’t done what they ex- parable rosters, except their a good one, it just has not mate- the IWF said in a statement. thony said, another undeniable now, they’ve got good pieces but pected, that Josh Richardson’s best players are better,” Antho- rialized. Goran Dragic is not the Nurudinov won the Olympic title in Rio in 2016 as well as the world asset. they don’t have pieces that are done,” he said. ny said. “Oladipo has risen to a player he was when they brought title in Poland in 2013 and the gold medal at the Asian Games in “Who else was on those going to allow them to compete.” “Josh Richardson has become level to where you could say he him there. Tyler Johnson, James Jakarta this year. teams?” he off ered, hardly re- The Heat had an opportu- this. He wasn’t this two years was an All-NBA performer last Johnson, Justise Winslow, they Weightlifting, which featured at the first modern Olympics in 1896, quiring a response. “He had nity to pitch for such a piece, but ago. And so the thought proc- year, and their younger guys have not developed at a level is under fire over widespread doping off ences and the IOC has Patrick Ewing. there appeared to be an unwill- ess was (Dion) Waiters, (Goran) continue to improve. So the dif- that would allow them to get to threatened to remove it from the Paris 2024 Games if it fails to “What he has now is a com- ingness to ultimately part with Dragic, Tyler Johnson, James ference to me between them and a point where somebody is at- improve its record. plementary team absent a star. components such as Josh Ri- Johnson, Justise Winslow, if those kinds of teams right now tracted to then. Hassan White- The sport remains on probation. He’s always had the comple- chardson and Bam Adebayo for two of these guys elevated, they is they don’t have that next- side you could argue has taken The IWF has adopted a tougher anti-doping policy this year under mentary part, and he’s always Jimmy Butler, who instead was could deal to get an A-list guy level talent on the roster. They a step back. Now the problem which repeat-off ender nations can be banned outright from the had a star. He doesn’t have a dealt by the Minnesota Timber- without giving up their best. have everybody else like a team for them is the guys they were Olympics. star right now. He hasn’t been wolves to the Philadelphia 76ers. “The problem for them is re- like Indiana has. They’ve got counting on to develop.”

FOCUS BASKETBALL ‘WADA integrity requires Russia ban’ Al Gharafa, Al Sadd AFP the data extraction was required post big wins New York to be certifi ed under Russian law.” The data could exonerate By Sports Reporter 10 minutes, leaving Al Rayyan Russia or incriminate the Mos- Doha with a near-impossible task. And he attorney for Rus- cow lab and Russian doping that indeed proved the case as Al sian doping scandal program as well as corroborat- Gharafa went on to seal the match whistleblower Grigory ing Rodchenkov’s testimony. l Gharafa led from the with a great deal of comfort. Rodchenkov said on WADA offi cials have said they start to post a convinc- For Al Rayyan, Aioune Ndoye TSaturday that restoring Russia want to review the data and Rus- ing 79-61 win over Al was the top-scorer with 19, to World Anti-Doping Agency sians retest any samples WADA Rayyan in the Qatar while Geron Johnson had 12. compliance after being denied wishes by June 30 2019 as part Men’sA League at the Al Gharafa In the second match of the key lab data would destroy WA- of the reinstatement deal. Wal- Sports Club yesterday. day, Al Sadd thrashed Qatar DA’s integrity. den also commented on a new Franklin Session top-scored Sports Club 91-72 with Dominic The move came a day after bill introduced Friday by US with 33 points, while Nicholas James and Andreja Milutinovic the Canada-based sport doping lawmakers that would criminal- Stover contributed 23 and cap- contributing 24 apiece. watchdogs announced a fi ve- ize international sports doping tain Nedim Muslic chipped in Qatar Sports Club had a bril- member panel would return conspiracies that impact major with 15 for the winners. liant run in the second quarter from Moscow empty-handed international competitions. The Session, who was on the court during which they scored 24 after not being allowed to re- “(WADA president) Craig Rodchenkov, whose testi- conditional release from the ban bill was named for Rodchenkov, for the entire duration of the points to get within one point of trieve data from a suspended Reedie is Nero, playing his fi d- mony unveiled the elaborate in September but one of the re- the former Moscow lab director. game, scored 18 points from the Al Sadd (37-36). Russian Anti-Doping Agency dle while Russia burns clean Russian doping scheme for the quirements was full access to Penalties will include fi nes three-point mark and also pro- But Al Sadd overcame that (RUSADA) laboratory. sports to the ground,” attorney 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, data at the Moscow lab and that of up to $1 million or imprison- vided seven assists. shock with a brilliant 29-point The data had been required Jim Walden said. “The time for is in hiding in the United States did not happen this week as a ment of up to 10 years, depend- Al Gharafa led 19-13 after the run in the third session for a 66- to complete Russia’s controver- half measures and appeasement in the wake of death threats af- WADA team had expected be- ing on the violation. It also pro- fi rst quarter and 39-33 after the 53 lead which decisively turned sial September reinstatement to must fi nally come to an end. If ter the Russians were punished, cause, in the words of a WADA vides for restitution to victims second before coming up with a the match in their favour. sports by WADA after revela- RUSADA is not now banned, the including a ban from this year’s statement, “an issue raised by of such conspiracies and for 25-pont eff ort in the third. For Al Rayyan, Aaron Roun- tions of a state-backed doping last measure of WADA’s integ- Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. the Russian authorities that the protection of whistleblowers That gave them a massive 64- tree scored 23 points while Adel program. rity will vanish.” WADA gave the Russians a team’s equipment to be used for from retaliation. 51 advantage going into the fi nal al-Shouti had 14.

Monday, December 24, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET FOCUS Boxer Stevenson Test sensation, overnight out of coma, says millionaire: it’s been girlfriend

AFP Montreal

ormer light- quite a year for Curran heavyweight world champion Adonis Steven- He may look like he should still be playing for the colts but after bursting on to the Test scene in the sonF has come out of a coma three weeks after summer England’s tyro has pocketed a lucrative IPL contract to crown his 2018 a knockout loss to Ole- ksandr Gvozdyk, the By Barney Ronay fi ghter’s girlfriend said The Guardian Saturday. Simone ‘Sisi’ God, is- sued a statement via ast year my kids went to social media saying the do some holiday cricket fi ghter was awake. training at Surrey’s “Despite recent re- practice ground at New ports being leaked to me- LMalden. When they came back dia, I wanted to clarify I asked my wife if she’d found that Adonis is awake,” the right place, and she said, oh God said. “He is heal- yeah, I got a bit lost but there ing from his injury in the was a very nice boy who was private company of his having his foot massaged and family and his dedicated I asked him where to go and he medical team.” got up and showed us the right Boxing promoter Yvon place, we had a bit of a chat Michel said on Thursday he was lovely, very nice, very that Stevenson was still polite. in a medically induced While she was saying this coma and on life support. I could see over her shoulder “He still needs me- my two young sons gripped chanical assistance to with mute horror, wincing with breathe, and he has not the kind of shock, mortifi ca- regained consciousness,” tion and social anxiety only a Michel said. “When we well-meaning parent can infl ict. visit him, we cannot stay Mum, the older one said fi nally. with him for long, and the That wasn’t a very nice polite doctors do not venture boy. That was SAM CURRAN. an opinion on what lies Fast-forward a year and Sam ahead.” Curran is still by all accounts God’s statement gave a very nice young man. Back no indication of when then he was already on his way Stevenson emerged from to becoming a domestic star a coma. A spokesman too, projected by the T20 Blast for University Hospital across the subscription screens of Quebec, contacted by of the pre-converted. AFP, said he was unable From the start he has always to confi rm Stevenson’s been popular with kids in a way condition. players such as Joe Root (only Michel posted on ever an old person’s idea of a Twitter Saturday say- hip young thing) and the more ing “Great News” adding frightening Ben Stokes never Sam Curran plays a typically daring shot during England’s Test series win in Sri Lanka. (Reuters) that he had spoken with really were. Perhaps because at a God and “things have Disneyfi ed 5ft 9in, and with that against cricket’s dominant a week, maybe two, they’ll make quite fi t this moneyball-ish have the perfect brain for win- nament on another continent. evolved enormously”. agreeable scowl of derring-do as superpower to recommend him. you a star. model. For all the obvious tal- ning. He’s fi ve inches shorter A decade on, the ECB contin- Stevenson, a 41-year- he glides in to bowl his left-arm On the back of which he has The auction itself has gone ent, he is still all promise, all than Stokes, bowls eight miles ues to parade its own complete old Canadian fi ghter of fl oaters, he still looks like one been whisked up through the from a piece of celebrity theatre clear blue sky. Curran has not an hour slower and bats four inability to grasp this new force. Haitian descent, was himself. troposphere, powered by noth- to a hard-nosed, data-fed game been an obvious star of domes- places lower. But he will end up Even the over-workshopped helped to the dressing As of this week Curran is ing more than his own talent – of high-stakes talent poker. tic T20. He runs to the wicket with better Test numbers than marketing weirdness that is room after losing the something else too. At Tues- and he’s out there now, fl oating Dale Steyn couldn’t get a gig with furious intent, like a man Stokes, will average 40 with the “The Hundred tournament” is World Boxing Council day’s Indian Premier League in his tin can, high above the this year. But there was a con- about to destroy a garden shed bat and under 30 with the ball. still a year and a half away. crown in his 10th title de- auction he was sold to Kings XI world, English cricket’s own tract for Varun Chakravarthy, with his bare hands, then deliv- In the meantime the IPL will What the Curran supremacy fence over fi ve years. Punjab for £800,000, a sen- 21st-century boy. a 27-year-old unknown who ers swerving, skiddy things, make a global star of him in shows us is that this sport can After unbeaten sational piece of business that Those who object to the bowls seven diff erent types of bowling aged 20 like a busted, a way English cricket simply still produce stars, that the for- 31-year-old Gvozdyk makes him, as of this week, the IPL’s brashness miss the basic furiously aggressive mystery golden-arm late-career Ian can’t, reaching across into our mat and the talent is there; and fi nished him off with a wealthiest, most empowered romance of all this. It is more spin. And also for Prayas Ray Botham. He will at least once own back garden like next door’s that with some ruthless clear crushing right hand that 20-year-old England cricketer obvious in India, where cricket Barman, a gangly 16-year-old get carted all over the Punjab by rampant fl owering vine. thinking, the foresight to forgo left Stevenson leaning ever. It is a fascinating move spreads into the streets of the lad who sends down weird dip- some vast, sweating power- It is a very welcome pol- blanket pay-TV and make crick- awkwardly against the in many ways, fi rst because it cities and villages, then cata- ping fi zzing ripping leg-breaks, hitter with forearms like great lination, but also a source of et visible to the masses, this ropes, Stevenson was shows the best of the IPL, the pults its stars up and on to the and whose entire life to this dangling cured hams. frustration. can all be made to work. Even if, taken by ambulance to a league’s transformative power, screens in every barber shop point appears to have been But he can really bat, not just It is a decade since the 2009 for now, English cricket’s fi rst nearby hospital. the way it works as an instant and roadside bar, a process that geared around the margins of as a wafty late-order chancer, edition of the IPL in South 20-year-old millionaire will still Doctors aid he suff ered star factory. brings to mind the golden age of Big T20 cricket, glossing and fi - but as a cold, innovative, clean- Africa, the year that really made be better known there than here “severe traumatic brain Curran doesn’t play white- baseball, or the studio system of nessing that fi rst moment under striking fi nisher. And above all the IPL, an astonishing display – global star in Mohali, still just injury” that required ball cricket for England. He has the old Hollywood days. Put a the lights. Curran is a triumph of pure will, of will and competence to stage a very nice young man in New neurosurgery. just a single home Test series hundred down and buy a car. In The Curran signing doesn’t a cricketer who just seems to a successful Indian cricket tour- Malden.

BOXING SPOTLIGHT Harrison tops Charlo in shocker Schumi always in our thoughts, says Mercedes for WBC super welterweight title motorsport chief

AFP interview. DPA New York “He knows I won that Munich fi ght,” Charlo said. The fi ght was the fi rst ony Harrison de- of a twin bill that featured ercedes motorsport chief throned World Box- Charlo’s twin brother, Jer- Toto Wolff says his thoughts ing Council super mall Charlo, who retained his are always with Formula One welterweight world WBC interim middlweight great Michael Schumach- Tchampion Jermell Charlo title with a unanimous deci- erM, who suff ered severe head injuries in a with a controversial unani- sion over late substitute Matt skiing accident fi ve years ago. mous decision Saturday that Korobov. “Michael is always present in my per- brought jeers from the Bar- sonal life and at Mercedes. We are always clays Center crowd in Brook- “I showed thinking of him,” Wolff said in an inter- lyn. championship view with Germany’s Bild am Sonntag Previously unbeaten composure. I didn’t newspaper. Charlo was the aggres- have to do much. I “For me, he is the most outstanding sor throughout, but neither used my jab. I used racing driver of all time, an incredible fi ghter landed any devastat- my ring generalship. I personality. We all at Mercedes miss him ing blows and the judges gave kept him at bay,” Tony a lot as a consultant and a mentor.” the all-American showdown Harrison said Schumacher turns 50 on January 3 to Harrison by scores of 116- as he continues his rehabilitation at his 112, 115-113 and 115-113. Jermall Charlo won by adopted Swiss home following his ski ac- “You know they took that scores of 119-108, 116-112 cident near Meribel, France on December fi ght from me,” said Char- and 116-112, coming on 29, 2013. lo, who fell to 31-1 with 15 strong on the later rounds There have been few updates on his knockouts. “I was there, and pummelling Korobov in health in line with his family’s wish to pushing the action the whole a decisive 12th to improve to protect his privacy. time. He was moving around Tony Harrison (right) punches Jermell Charlo during their WBC Super Welterweight 28-0 with 21 wins inside the From 2010 until his fi nal retirement at just going to the jab, one or Championship bout at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn on Saturday. (AFP) distance. the end of 2012, the German seven-time mula 1,” Wolff said. two punches. He didn’t win Korobov, who stepped up Formula One champion drove for Mer- “He helped established the structures that fi ght.” insisted there should be no said. “I showed champion- ship. I kept him at bay.” from the undercard after cedes. He won fi ve of his titles with Fer- (at the team) in the period from 2010 to But the new champion, doubt about the outcome. ship composure. I didn’t Harrison was off ering a re- intended opponent Willie rari between 2000 and 2004. 2012. “When we talk about wishing good who improved to 28-2 with “I grinded. I grinded, I have to do much. I used my match when the disbelieving Monroe Jr. failed a drugs test, “Michael is one of the founding fathers health for ourselves and our families at 21 wins inside the distance, grinded and I grinded,” he jab. I used my ring general- Charlo muscled into his ring fell to 28-2. of the current success of Mercedes in For- Christmas, I include him in this.”