MONDAY, JULY 3, 2017 SPORTS Sharp returns to Blackhawks, agrees to one-year deal CHICAGO: Patrick Sharp figured he into one of the most successful franchis- swept by Nashville in the opening series, those guys in the locker room - most of games a generation ago. would return to Chicago. He just wasn’t es along with Jonathan Toews and managing just three goals in 13 periods. them,” he said. There are some new “I remember wanting to go to the sure he would play for the Blackhawks Patrick Kane. Bowman promised big changes and he faces, of course. But there’s also some Blackhawks games and wanting to again. Sharp, a high-scoring winger who Sharp got dealt to Dallas in a salary has been busy. added comfort. After all, he’s back in watch the Blackhawks games, but unfor- helped them win three Stanley Cup cap move after the Blackhawks beat The Blackhawks re-acquired Brandon familiar surroundings, back with a fran- tunately a lot of them were blacked out championships before getting traded, Tampa Bay for the championship in Saad - a two-time champion in Chicago - chise that he helped become one of the growing up,” he said. “I think when the will once again suit up for Chicago next 2015. He has 277 goals and 322 assists in and parted with Niklas Hjalmarsson and league’s best. “I know I am coming back organization drafted Kaner and Toews - season. The 35-year-old veteran agreed 14 years with Philadelphia, Chicago and Artemi Panarin in a pair of surprising to a city that I played in for 10 years and and what they’ve done for hockey in the Saturday to a one-year contract that the Stars. But he had season-ending hip trades that added youth and contract a group of guys that I’m really good city of Chicago - I hope it’s never forgot- guarantees $800,000. He could earn an surgery in March after missing most of stability. They shook up their coaching friends with,” he said. “But at the same ten that these guys have really put additional $200,000 in incentives. December because of a concussion and staff, firing assistant Mike Kitchen and time, it is a transition. I’m switching Chicago hockey back on the map. And “I have a special place in my heart, finished with just eight goals and 10 adding former NHL defenseman Ulf teams. But I expect it to be a lot easier then it’s incredible that you can’t take a my family does as well, for the city,” he assists. Sharp described the hip problem Samuelsson and Don Granato to Joel with that comfort level.” couple steps now in Chicago without said. “We did have plans on returning - as a nagging issue. But he expects to be Quenneville’s staff. Besides bringing back Sharp, the someone wearing Blackhawks gear.” maybe not as a hockey player. But we “100 percent ready to go” for training Chicago also got hit with a huge loss Blackhawks agreed to one-year deals Bouma had 27 goals and 40 assists in definitely do want to live in that city at camp. “The recovery from the injury is in late June. Marian Hossa stunned the with forwards Tommy Wingels and six seasons with Calgary. Berube posted some point.” Sharp said he could have not an issue at all,” general manager NHL by announcing he plans to sit out Lance Bouma, and two-year contracts a 3-2-2 record with a 3.42 goals-against signed for more money elsewhere. But Stan Bowman said. next season because of severe side with goalie Jean-Francois Berube and average and .889 save percentage in 14 the lure of returning to the team where “We’re excited obviously for getting effects from medication to treat a pro- defenseman Jordan Oesterle. appearances with the New York he enjoyed his greatest success was too him back on the ice with the group gressive skin disorder, and it’s not clear if A suburban Chicago native, Wingels Islanders. Oesterle played in 25 games strong. Sharp spent 10 seasons with the here.” he will play again. had seven goals and five assists for the over three seasons for Edmonton. Blackhawks from 2005 to 2015 and had The Blackhawks won the Central Even so, Sharp sees no reason why San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators “I definitely like where we’re headed,” 511 points, including 239 goals. He Division last season with a 50-23-9 the Blackhawks can’t make another last season. Born in Evanston, he Bowman said. “I’m excited to get things scored more than 30 goals four times in record, finishing with the most points in championship run. recalled the Blackhawks drawing small going in the fall, and everyone can see that span and helped transform Chicago the Western Conference. But they got “I know the heart and character of crowds and refusing to televise home what the new look is.” — AP Richards uncertain about South Africa’s transformation plan LONDON: South Africa great Barry Richards having a go at each other.” has questioned whether the current policy of racial transformation will end with “merit ‘FAR ENOUGH ALONG THE LINE’ selection”. Richards’s globe-trotting career saw him The policy is designed to cope with the play for a multi-racial Rest of the World side legacy of apartheid, when largely only when South Africa’s 1970 tour of England white players such as Richards, the out- was cancelled and open for Hampshire standing opening batsman of the 1970s, alongside West Indies great Gordon were allowed to play for official South Greenidge. “From day one, when I came to Africa sides. But the policy and its imple- play county cricket and I first met Garry mentation have proved contentious amid Sobers, people like that, picking a team was suggestions that players have not always on merit, I’ve always been of that opinion,” been chosen on merit and that some white said Richards. cricketers, knowing their chances were in “Whether you can do that in the South some way restricted, have instead chosen African context... I think we’re now we’re far to pursue financially more lucrative careers enough along the line to say we can pick it with English county sides. (the South Africa team) on merit. Where it’s causing a problem is a little further down the line. “Then you’ve got this transforma- tion policy where an Indian player like Hashim (Amla) becomes different from a black player like (Kagiso) Rabada in terms of team selection. It’s a machination of poli- tics and sport, it’s always been a mix but GALLE: Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews (R) plays a shot as Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Peter Moor (L) looks on during the second one-day never been a great mix. international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle yesterday. — AFP “The transformation policy, I can see what they are trying to achieve, but whether they achieve the end goal of a CRICKET Barry Richards merit selection remains to be seen.” There are several South African players who have However, while transformation has seen effectively called time on their internation- the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Temba al careers in order to be classed as ‘home’ S Lanka beat Zimbabwe by Bavuma possibly get their international selections by counties under the so-called chances earlier than expected, both have ‘Kolpak’ rule. Hampshire alone have two in justified their selections in terms of per- fast bowler Kyle Abbott and top-order bats- formance. Richards, speaking ahead of men Rilee Rossouw. seven wickets in 2nd ODI next week’s first Test between England and Neither they nor any of the other cur- South Africa at Lord’s, accepted it was a rent ‘Kolpaks’ have specifically listed trans- contentious issue. “It’s a difficult one,” said formation as a reason for their decision but GALLE: Spinner Lakshan Sandakan took four Richards at an event staged by series spon- there are many who believe it played a wickets and his partner Hasaranga de Silva took SCOREBOARD sors Investec. part, just as South Africa-born batsman a hat-trick on debut as Sri Lanka thrashed “South Africa has come from a history of Kevin Pietersen said it was a factor in his Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the second one- GALLE, Sri Lanka: Scorecard from Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe second one day 50-over international at Galle yesterday. day international to level the five-match series what we know,” added Richards, whose move to represent England. “You can Zimbabwe Gunathilaka 1-0-9-1, Hasaranga 2.4-0-15-3. yesterday. own Test career was limited to just four understand, if you are a fringe player, Kyle H. Masakadza c and b Gunaratne 41 matches because of the apartheid-induced Abbott is 29, not an automatic selection, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews asked S. Mire c Dickwella b Pradeep 0 Sri Lanka sports boycott of South Africa. As of last ‘what do I do?’ ‘Should I go the Kolpak Zimbabwe to bat first and they were bowled out C. Ervine c Dickwella b Sandakan 22 N. Dickwella c and b Cremer 35 August, Cricket South Africa defined the route?’,” said Richards. “There are 17 rand to for a paltry 155 runs. Sandakan played a major S. Williams c Pradeep b Gunathilaka 13 M. Gunathilaka b Chatara 8 policy as one where national teams should the pound, it’s a temptation.