SECTION B VISIT SAMOA NEWS ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017 CLASSIFIEDS • CARTOONS • ALOHA BRIEFS & MORE ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ LeBron says he’d want Magic, C M Y K Jordan as his 3-on-3 teammates By DOUG FEINBERG of 3-on-3 activities.” With one 10-minute period, AP Basketball Writer The U.S. has been pushing the 3-on-3 is a lot quicker than LeBron James most likely 3-on-3 over the past few years its 5-on-5 counterpart. A game won’t be playing in the new and held a national tourna- can end even sooner if a team 3-on-3 competition at the 2020 ment last month. The winners scores 21 points in less than 10 Olympics. will head to the World Cup in minutes. If the game is tied after And it’s even less likely France later this month. 10 minutes, it goes into over- that Michael Jordan or Magic “The last few years, we have time with the first team scoring Johnson will participate. made a major push in 3-on-3 two points in OT wins. Those But a trio of MJ, Magic and basketball with our nationwide rules make a big difference in LeBron in a 3-on-3 tourna- Dew NBA 3X tour and several limiting the Americans’ depth, ment would be, let’s just say, international 3-on-3 competi- which they have used to over- formidable. tions. The Olympic stage will whelm opponents in traditional The Cleveland Cavaliers star provide these elite athletes with Olympic basketball games. didn’t hesitate when asked by the opportunity to further dem- The Associated Press who his onstrate their talents,” NBA dream teammates would be for Deputy Commissioner Mark the Tokyo Games. That’s right, Tatum said. Michael and Magic - the leaders NBA players grew up of the 1992 Dream Team. playing 3-on-3 and welcomed FILE - This Sept. 21, 1991 file photo When asked by the AP its addition, even if they don’t shows Michael Jordan, left, and Earvin which current players he’d love end up playing. “Magic” Johnson holding their uniforms to team with, James was a bit Draymond Green is one for the 1992 US Olympic Basketball more cautious. those players, and said one team in Chicago. Cleveland Cavaliers “I don’t know, I have to think reason he is in a favor of it is star LeBron James knows who his dream about it,” James said before because “guys can win that are teammates would be in a 3-on-3 compe- practice Sunday as he prepared not pro athletes.” tition at the 2020 Olympics _ Michael for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors Jordan and Magic Johnson. James didn’t While James said fans forward said “that could be think he would consider playing in the shouldn’t expect to see him really good. You see in these new Olympic event in the Tokyo Games, in the competition - it’s still other sports where they go com- but is happy it was added. unclear if the NBA will even pete in the Olympics but they (AP Photo/Ralf-Finn Hestoft, file) allow its players to compete - he have regular day jobs. I think is happy the new hoops tourna- that can be like that for 3-on-3. ment was added. So I think that can be great.” “It’s great for basketball,” he While the new event may said. “For us to be able to add not have NBA guys competing, another category to the Olym- count Breanna Stewart as one pics, another basketball cat- WNBA player who would love egory, I think it’s pretty great. the chance to play in both bas- I haven’t seen the full layout of ketball events if possible. how they plan on executing it ... “Sure, I’d love to do it,” are they going to use NBA guys, said Stewart, who won her first are they going to use college Olympic gold medal at the Rio guys. I’m not quite sure. Games. “Whenever I can put on C M “I’m not very good in a a USA Basketball jersey ... I’d Y K 3-on-3 thing. I’m more of a be happy to.” 5-on-5 guy. I stay out of the The U.S. has never won a 1-on-1 matchups during our men’s gold medal while playing practice, the 2-on-2 and the in the 3-on-3 World Cup, which 3-on-3s. So probably not. I began in 2012. Serbia has won probably won’t be a part of the the title twice and Qatar was the 3-on-3 matchup.” champion in 2014. The Ameri- The new Olympic event cans won the silver in 2016 after was added Friday by the Inter- finishing 14th in 2014. national Olympic Committee. The women won gold medals There will be eight men’s teams in 2012 and 2014 before settling and eight women’s teams com- for the bronze in 2016. peting. As far as what teams are “Definitely I would play in selected and how teams qualify, it again if offered the opportu- that’s still unclear. nity,” said Bria Hartley, who “They don’t want just the was part of the first title team basketball powers to compete in in 2012, pairing with fellow 3-on-3,” said USA Basketball WNBA players Chiney Ogwu- CEO Jim Tooley. “FIBA will mike, Skylar Diggins and Ann get together and figure out how Strother. “It was so much fun teams will qualify. They will and it’s so fast-paced.” definitely want to reward coun- The rules are made for up- tries that have been doing a lot tempo competition . Page B2 samoa news, Monday, June 12, 2017 Spain’s Rafael Nadal’s racket falls on the clay as he celebrates winning his tenth French Open title against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in three sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, during their men’s final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, June 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Fendrich on Tennis: Slam drought done, Nadal heads to grass PARIS (AP) -- Leave it to ever played. That’s for sure. forced him to withdraw from others to decide whether Rafael But not only here,” said Waw- the 2016 French Open after two Nadal is playing the best tennis rinka, a three-time major cham- matches. of his career as he comes off a pion, including at the 2015 “I love grass, everybody 10th French Open champion- French Open. “I think since the knows. ... So I hope that my ship, his 15th Grand Slam title beginning of the year, you can knees hold (up) well and I in all, and now turns his atten- see he’s playing more aggres- can have the preparation that tion to Wimbledon. sive, staying more close (to) the I really need and the prepara- Those sorts of comparisons (baseline). ... His level of play tion that I wanted,” Nadal said. do not interest him. is unbelievable.” “If that happens, why not? If I Never have. There’s no rest for the have pain on the knees, then I After a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 tour de weary: Play begins at the next know from experience that it’s force against Stan Wawrinka in major, Wimbledon, just three almost impossible. Because I the final at Roland Garros on weeks from Monday. need to feel strong, low and Sunday, capping two weeks of No. 1 Andy Murray is the powerful legs to play well in nearly flawless tennis on red defending champion. Roger Wimbledon.” clay - zero sets conceded; only Federer, who claimed his At least his game is back in 35 games dropped in seven record 18th major title by high gear after a lull: Nadal’s matches - Nadal was asked beating Nadal in the Australian victory at the French Open was whether he would rate himself Open final in January, will be his first at a major tournament as highly as ever right now. back in action after taking the since 2014. He shook his head. clay-court portion of the season A reporter wanted to know “I don’t know. I cannot off. Novak Djokovic will try to whether, during that time, say (yes); I cannot say not. get back on track after going Nadal harbored any doubts These two weeks have been through four Grand Slam tour- about returning to the heights a great level of tennis, is true. naments without successfully of his sport. But I already won two Roland defending any of the titles he “I have doubts every day. Garros, too, without losing a set won a year prior. The doubts, I think, are good, before this one, no? ... Probably And Nadal? Both he and because the doubts give you the I was playing good, too, no?” his uncle Toni, who is also his possibility to work with more Nadal said with a smile. “The coach, keep pointing to one key intensity, with being more only thing that I know is I am factor when it comes to how humble, and accepting that you playing well now. I am happy. he’ll fare at the All England need to keep working hard to I am enjoying every week, and Club. improve things,” he said. “So I want to continue. And I’m “When Rafael is good with for sure, I have doubts.