MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016 SPORTS ‘Goliath squashes David’: Israelis slam Blatt’s firing JERUSALEM: Israelis yesterday harshly crit- congratulate him. They eventually lost to icized the firing of local hero David Blatt as the ascendant Golden State Warriors and coach of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, call- their star Steph Curry. ing him the victim of superstar LeBron Blatt was not always so lauded in Israel, James’s influence over the team. One where he was for a time seen by some as sports commentator even compared an outsider since he was born in the United Israelis’ hate of James to their hate of States. He relocated to the country more Islamist movement Hamas. than three decades ago, volunteered on a The 2014 hiring of Blatt, an Israeli citizen kibbutz, performed his mandatory military who led powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv to a service and married an Israeli woman. European title, gave Israelis a jolt of pride. Skeptical Israelis embraced him as a coach When the Cavaliers played in last year’s after his success on the court. NBA finals, many stayed up late to watch Blatt also had success as a coach in the games. But a rift between Blatt and Russia and was named Euroleague coach of James, the Cavaliers star player who many the year. But there were apparently trou- rank among the greatest ever, reportedly bles from the start in Cleveland, with US led to his downfall, with the team announc- media reports saying James did not suffi- ing Friday that they were firing him despite ciently respect Blatt. The rift appeared to having one of the league’s best records. play out in public at times, with James “LeBron James is now the most hated admitting to overriding his coach and call- person in Israel,” Sharon Davidovitch, a ing his own plays. sports journalist for Israeli news site Ynet Still, his firing came as a shock both in and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said. He Israel and the US, as the Cavaliers led their said the decision to move on from Blatt was Eastern Conference with a 30-11 record at correct since the players and coach appar- the time. Cavaliers general manager David ently did not get along, but noted that Griffin said he was “measuring more than Israeli fans were taking the decision hard. wins and losses.” “I’m focusing on a bigger “It’s a little bit joking and a little bit true: picture and I’m really trying to decide-are These days I can only compare the Israeli we working toward a championship, are we hate for LeBron James to the hate for building a championship culture?” he said. Hamas,” he said, speaking of the Palestinian James denied any involvement in the deci- Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip sion and said he was “caught off guard” by and which calls for Israel’s destruction. the move.—AFP Israeli newspapers gave the firing front- page treatment yesterday. One said “Goliath eliminates David,” referring to James and Blatt. A cartoon on the back cover of Yedioth Ahronoth showed Blatt walking away from the locker CLEVELAND: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at room with a box of belongings as James Quicken Loans Arena. — AP photos uncorks champagne behind his back. For The Jerusalem Post, Blatt’s firing meant “the dream came to an abrupt end.” Cavs gored by Bulls as Trouble from the start Basketball is the second most-popular sport after football, but Israelis rarely have success in the NBA, the world’s biggest bas- Tyronn fails on debut ketball league. When the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA finals last season in Blatt’s first year as coach, Israeli Prime CLEVELAND: Tyronn Lue didn’t make much Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called to David Blatt of a difference in his coaching debut for Cleveland as Pau Gasol scored 25 points, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 96-83 win over the Cavaliers on Saturday night. Lue was pro- Al-Sabah Annual Shooting moted Friday, when the Cavaliers fired David Blatt despite him taking the team to the NBA Tournament concludes Finals last season and currently leading the Eastern Conference. The coaching swap By Abdellatif Sharaa March with the participation of 45 coun- didn’t have any immediate impact on the tries. Al-Otaibi said 80 shooters partici- Bulls, who outhustled the Cavs to loose balls KUWAIT: The late Sheikh Fahad Al- pated in this tournament from the club, and won for just the third time in nine Salem Al-Sabah Annual Shooting National Guard and Saad Al-Abdallah games. Tournament concluded Saturday at Olympic Shooting Academy. Jimmy Butler scored 20 points, Nikola Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Results of the tournament are as follows: Mirotic added 17 and Taj Gibson 15 for Shooting Complex with a ceremony Air pistol - men: Chicago, which opened a 17-point lead in attended by the tournament patronizer Ahmad Anwar Al-Ahmad, Saad Mane Al- the third quarter and never let the Cavs get Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al- Ajmi, Suhail Al-Shimmari Sabah, Information Minister, State Air rifle - men: closer than eight in the fourth. LeBron James Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Abdallah Al-Harby, Mohammad Adel, just missed his first triple-double this season, Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Suleiman Al-Asousi. finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds and Sheikh Mubarak Fahad Al-Salem Al- Air pistol - women: nine assists. J.R. Smith added 18 points. Sabah, President of Arab and Kuwait Athari Qurban, Israa Dashti, Mariam Shooting Federations Eng Duaij Khalaf Ahmad. SUNS 98, HAWKS 95 Al-Otaibi, Secretary General of Arab and Air rifle - women: Archie Goodwin hit a 3-pointer from atop Kuwait Shooting Federations Obaid Heba Irzouqi, Mariam Irzouqi, Duaa Al- the arc with 0.1 seconds left and Phoenix Mnahi Al-Osaimi and KSSF Board mem- Thuwaikhi beat Atlanta to end a six-game losing streak. bers Adnan Nasser Al-Ibrahim and Eng 50m rifle - prone -men: Goodwin led the Suns with 24 points, and CLEVELAND: Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue answers questions during a news confer- Hussam Al-Roumi, the tournament Khalid Ibrahim, Torki Al-Shimmari, Phoenix won for the second time in 17 ence before an NBA basketball game between the Chicago Bulls and the Cavaliers. enjoyed large participation by Kuwait Mishref Al-Daihani games. Tyson Chandler tied a Suns record shooters competing in the 10m air pistol 50m - 3 position - men: with 27 rebounds, including 17 in the first George had 24 of his 34 points in the second from the free-throw line. Charlotte only shot and rifle and archery. Abdallah Al-Harby, Mohammad Adel, half, and also had 13 points and a season- half for the Pacers, who have lost two 34 percent from the field but made 32 of 37 Eng Duaij, Al-Otaibi, in his speech, Khalid Ibrahim high five assists. Kent Bazemore led the straight and five of six. Jordan Hill had 17 free throws as a team. PJ Hairston chipped in welcomed the guests and thanked 50m pistol - men Hawks with 21 points. Bazemore hit a tying points and 13 rebounds, Monta Ellis scored with a season-high 20 points and 10 Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al- Ali Al-Mutairi, Mideth Al-Sahly, Abdallah 3-pointer with 47.4 seconds left, but 16 and rookie Myles Turner added 11 points rebounds for the Hornets, who beat the Sabah for the annual patronage of this Al-Mulla Chandler’s tip-in with 24.6 seconds remain- and five blocks. Knicks for the fifth straight time at home dear tournament, he also thanked 50m rifle - prone - women: ing gave the Suns a 95-93 lead. Bazemore despite being without five players, including Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah Mariam Irzouqi, Heba Irzouqi, Amal Al- tied it again 5 seconds later, setting up TRAIL BLAZERS 121, LAKERS 103 three starters. Derrick Williams led the Knicks and the late Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem fam- Asem Goodwin’s 3. Alex Len had 16 points and 12 Damian Lillard had 36 points and the Trail with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Kristaps ily, for attending the closing ceremony Compound Archery - men Blazers beat Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant’s Porzingis had 13 points. and handing the cups and prizes to the Ahmad Al-Shatti, Amer Al-Hajiri, Salem rebounds for Phoenix, while P.J. Tucker scored 16 points and Devin Booker had 15. last game in Portland. CJ McCollum added 28 winners, as this tournament comes Al-Saeed points and the Blazers led by as many as 27 PELICANS 116, BUCKS 99 shortly before organizing HH the Amir Olympic archery - men: TIMBERWOVLES 106, GRIZZLIES 101 points in the first half on the way to their Ryan Anderson scored 23 points and tied Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad International Abdallah Taha, Faisal Al-Rashidi, Bader eighth straight victory over the Lakers. a season-high with six 3-pointers, leading Grand Prix to be held from 1st-8th Al-Mutairi Shabazz Muhammad scored 25 points and Minnesota snapped Memphis’ four-game D’Angelo Russell came off the bench with 21 hot-shooting New Orleans to a win over winning streak. Ricky Rubio had 15 points, 12 points for the Lakers, who dropped their Milwaukee. New Orleans trailed 71-69 after assists and six rebounds and Andrew sixth straight game. But all eyes were on Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton scored 14 Wiggins scored 19 points for the Bryant, a Portland nemesis dating back to points in the first 9 minutes of the third quar- Timberwolves, who beat a team with a win- the 2000 Western Conference finals, who fin- ter, but the Pelicans responded with a 31-14 ning record for the first time since Nov.