Home|Sports|Contract talks break downSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 22, 2023 101 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Less than a week after changing his Indiana Pacers’ jersey number from 24 to 7, Bahamian professional basketball player Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield is in limbo as contract extension negotiations between himself and the Pacers has stalled, according to reports late Wednesday. That means that the Grand Bahama native and his team have begun dialogue on finding a potential trade destination.

It is not written in stone that he will be traded as the two sides can still come to an agreement. For now, Hield is with the Pacers and is set to make $18.5 million this year, which can go as high as $19.2 million through bonuses.

The specifics of the contract extension offered by the Pacers are unknown, but what is known is that Hield did not accept the extension. He is eligible for an extension of up to four years. The 30-year-old signed a four-year $94 million contract with the Sacramento Kings in 2020 before being traded to the Pacers in February 2022. This is Hield’s final year on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. With the way the game is being played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) nowadays, requiring more focus on the long ball, it is believed that Hield could find a suitor quickly.

The Pacers are stacked at the guard position this season with the likes of starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell and the recently signed Bruce Brown.

As for which team wants to grab Hield, that is not known, but the Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be a potential landing spot for the Bahamian. Hield was drafted with the sixth pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016 and was traded to the Kings before the season ended. He spent four seasons with the Kings before he was traded to the Pacers.

Hield had a good season, recording a franchise record and career high for made three-pointers with 288. His previous season-high of 282 was done in the 2020-21 season. Those 288 made three-pointers this past season ranked him at number two in the league behind the Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson, the son of Bahamian retired basketball player Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, who had 301.

The veteran fell just 12 made three-pointers short of the elusive 300-made three-point shots club that was entered into by Thompson this year. Thompson joined teammate Stephen Curry and the Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden in that club.

The Grand Bahama native averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his 80 games played this season. He started at the two-guard spot in 73 of those 80 games. Hield was able to post a career-high of 1.2 steals per game. He shot 45.8 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from deep, which was his best clip from deep since the 2018-2019 season.

The Pacers had a promising season but they struggled in the second half of the season. They finished with a 35-47 win/loss record, five games off the pace from advancing to the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. They finished 11th overall.

 Home|Sports|Bain looking for improved play against GrenadaSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 22, 2023 27 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas senior women’s national soccer team will have a short turnaround after being taken down 6-1 at home at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Wednesday. They will now head to St. George’s, Grenada, for a rematch against Grenada on Sunday. Team Bahamas Head Coach Ricqea Bain is looking for a better result.

Both teams will be playing their second game in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League – on the ‘Road to the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Women’s Gold Cup’.

Bain will be looking to get a win although they are the underdogs heading into the match.

“I am hoping to see us win. We are always looking to win. We are looking to put our names out there. We are coming. It is just like the women’s world cup, the younger teams were able to challenge teams like the United States of America. It may not be tomorrow, but we will build and be better every time,” Bain said.

The team was able to get some rest in yesterday before they head to Grenada today. Bain will go over tactics, address where they went wrong and try and implement those changes before the game on Sunday. Two of the things that Bain will be looking to ensure her players do is drop back quicker and to look at Grenada’s movement off the ball.

Goalkeeper for The Bahamas Melina McClure said she is looking to have a better game on Sunday.

“We can learn from the mistakes we made in the match and develop more defensively. We are looking for better ways to get into the attacking third and finish those opportunities we had created in the match. There is a lot we can take away from this going forward,” McClure said.

Bain said they will look at the film and observe some of the good things that they did.

“We are going to look at the good things that we did and not dwell so much on the negative things. We will look at those positives and look to do more of it. We had some moments where we had a lot of possession time, so we need to build off that and shoot toward the goal,” Bain said.

Grenada Head Coach Jake Rennie got his first win as the man in charge of the team on Wednesday. He is also looking for them to get another win.

“It is going to be a much better game knowing that we are back home. The ladies are heading back motivated. This game will be much different. Trust me, it will be a different game,” Rennie said.

Grenada’s defender Malia Ramdhanny scored a goal on Wednesday from a free kick.

“I am hoping to keep the back line organized. I also want to ensure that we can pass the ball around because I know we can do that now that we know how they play,” Ramdhanny said.

It is an important game for both teams but the pressure is on The Bahamas to leave Grenada with a win and get three points before they play a home and away series against the U.S. Virgin Islands in League C Group C action on October 29 on the road and December 3 at home.

 Home|Sports|Mingoes drop season opener to MAU, 5-1Sports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 22, 2023 24 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

DORAL, Florida – The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes men’s soccer team ended the first half against Millennia Atlantic University (MAU) in a 0-0 tie at Doral Meadow Park in Doral, Florida, but the second half was a different story. The Macaws from MAU came out strong and scored in the first minute of the second half and never relented en route to a 5-1 win over the Mingoes.

The Macaws scored in the 46th minute of the match and never yielded after that point.

The lone Mingoes’ score came off a solo goal from Peter Julmis in the 55th minute of the match. Julmis took the ball from about midfield and charged for a clean strike into the bottom corner. After the score, Julmis appeared to hype up the team a bit.

“I didn’t really feel excited like the way I normally feel after scoring a goal because I felt like we as a team weren’t playing our best football,” he said. “Overall, I felt like it gave us a little momentum. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough but I’m looking forward to Friday’s game.”

The Mingoes possessed the ball for considerably more time than the Macaws and had several shots on goal in the first half. Mingoes’ goalkeeper Antonio Beckford also had three brilliant saves in the first half. They will play the Macaws again on Friday, at 11 a.m. at the same venue.

“The Macaws won the tactical battle in the second half and some of that is on me,” said Head Coach Alex Thompson. “They made a key change in their attack and we made a key change in our defense and that change was exploited. Arguably their best player came on in the second half and changed the game and we lost one of our players to an injury which forced us to adjust. They just exploited that.”

Midfielder Junior Kelly left the match with hamstring issues in about the 55th minute and that presented a change in the dynamics of the game.

The Macaws scored in the 46th, 51st, 59th, 78th and 87th minutes of the match.

As of Friday, September 22, 2023

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#HISTORY was made with the introduction of the Para-Karate Division at the inaugural Bahamas Elite Karate Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.

#This tournament was the brainchild of sensei Leonardo Jones, the lead instructor at L.E.A.D Karate Academy who has several students with disabilities in his classes.

#The Para-Karate division allowed individuals with disabilities who participate in the sport of martial arts to showcase their abilities rather than their disability.

#All competitors who participated in this division walked away with a first (1st) place medal, after receiving the opportunity to capture the crowd by demonstrating their katas.

#“Karate in the Bahamas is officially for everyone no matter the age, gender or functionality. The platform is here thanks to sensei Jones.

#“Honorary mention has been extended to Domo Arigato Masters, Master Elrick McKinney, Master Marcus “Shadow” Rolle, Master Ronald “Smokey” Martin.

#“And sensei Gamal Newry for the part they have played in sensei Jones’ training history,” according to a press release.

#For more information about the L.E.A.D Karate Academy and how you can become a part of any class, contact sensei Jones at 242- 813-6332 or via email at:

#leadkarateacademy@ gmail.com

As of Friday, September 22, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THIRD baseman BJ Murray Jr, one of the few Bahamians left in minor league baseball action, and the Tennessee Smokies are one game from advancing to the Double-A championship series.

#Murray Jr and the Smokies, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, took game one of their best-of-three playoff series against the Cincinnati Reds’ af liate Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday at the AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a 3-1 victory.

#In that game, Murray Jr, batting second in the line-up, went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run batted in (RBI) and a run scored for a .667 average.

#Game two of the series was scheduled for last night. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be played tonight.

#“We are trying to win. We are trying to nish this series off as quickly as possible,” said Murray Jr as he geared up for last night’s game. “We are trying to finish this team off as quickly as possible. We definitely have the team to do it.”

#The 23-year-old Murray Jr, who was drafted in round 15 with the 454th pick overall by the Cubs in the 2021 Major League Draft, said they are a position to clinch a berth into the league final.

#“The team is looking good, and we are very confident that we can win this series,” said Murray Jr, who switch hits as a batter, but throws with his right hand.

#The 5-foot, 10-inch Murray Jr, who in 452 at-bats has produced 119 hits with 16 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 74 RBI and 71 runs for an .263 average, admitted that he could perform a whole lot better.

#“Baseball is a hard game, so I could improve in every aspect,” he stated. “There’s no one specific area that I want to get better at. I want to get better at everything.”

Youngsters taking part in the training camp

As of Friday, September 22, 2023

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#By Brent Stubbs

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Here to celebrate the 60th birthday of her mother Laura Charlton this weekend, Bahamian national women’s 100 metres hurdles record holder Devynne Charlton and her American training partner Masai Russell hosted a free, one-day camp for girls.

#More than 20 young girls participated in the event yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The idea wasn’t conceived until Charlton and Russell both arrived in town on Wednesday and their father David Charlton suggested they host the camp.

#The wheels started spinning in motion.

#“It’s been on my mind for a while to do something like this and so it was a no brainer,” Charlton said. “I was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of young ladies who showed up in such a short notice.”

#Once her schedule permits, Charlton said she would de nitely like to be back to put on a camp on a bigger scale and hopefully with more promotion and even extending it to the sprints so they can draw a larger crowd.

#Russell, who came to town to support the Charltons in the birthday celebrations, said she jumped at the idea of assisting the hurdlers in the camp because it showed the impact that they have had on their lives.

#“These girls are taking in all of the information. They are great athletes. We’re doing it for free. We’re not doing it for anything else. We are doing it for the love of the sport. So whatever we can do for the kids is just great.”

#From what she’s seen, Russell said she was more than impressed because the girls possessed more skills than she did when she was their age.

#Charlton said from the athleticism that they showed, she too was rather impressed. “When I was their age, we had maybe two or three of us consistently training for the hurdles, but now I’m coming out and I’m seeing hurdlers at just about every track meet with three or four heats,” she reflected.

#“It speaks to what me and the other ladies have done for the sport because more young ladies are coming out to participate.”

#Dave Charlton, a former 400 metre hurdler, said it was something that came in the spur of the moment when the two athletes arrived in town.

#He noted that they are excited about sharing with some of the future hurdlers for the Bahamas. “It’s rare that you have two world-class athletes, who are top 10 in the world, to be able to share with these youngsters,” said Charlton, the founder and head coach of Star Trackers Track Club. “I’m very proud of my daughter Devynne and her friend Masai, who are two very talented ladies.”

#Laura Charlton said it was “good to see the professional athletes come back and give back and touch and feel and be among the younger athletes to inspire them and encourage them.”

#She said this only reminds the younger girls that these athletes were once where they are and they can only inspire them to become as great or even greater than they are.

#As she celebrates her 60 years or six perfect 10 birthdays this weekend, she said she was elated that

#they got a chance to host the clinic and she could only wish them all the best.

#She noted that her younger daughter Anthaya and her oldest daughter Lauren will also be in town for the celebrations.

#Darvinique Dean, one of the rising talented hurdlers who is coming off a great season, said it was an honour to be a part of the camp because it provided her with an opportunity to work on her technique going into next season.

#“They are great role models for me. I watched them a lot and I’m glad that Devynne came back and showed us how she does it so we can be great too,” said the 15-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College and a member of Red-Line Athletics Track Club.

#One of the coaches on hand was former hurdler Neketa Sears Knowles, who just formed the Speed Capacity Maximised Track Club last year. She brought along two of her members to gain some of the knowledge being passed on.

#“This is excellent. I was not going to allow them to miss this opportunity,” she said. “To have two world- class athletes here doing a free clinic, you couldn’t beat that. The exposure is important and to have this opportunity to learn from them, I wasn’t going to let them miss this.”

#As training partners in Kentucky at the University of Kentucky under the supervision of Bahamian head coach ‘Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene, it was more like a match made in heaven. “We’ve been training together for four years now and I couldn’t ask for no better training partner,” Charlton said. “We came here on vacation and decided to do this at the last minute. But I think it’s very signi cant to have two world class hurdlers come here and have a clinic at the same time is pretty cool.”

#To be her training partner is something that Russell said she cherishes just as much.

#“We’ve been training together for four years, but it really took off last year and now we are seeing the great things we are doing together,” Russell pointed out.

#“To see someone who you work closely with doing some amazing things and then to do some funs things like this is just amazing.”

#Both competitors are eager to see how well they can progress up the ladder on the global stage after the season they enjoyed this year.

#“I’m trending upwards. I was fourth at the World Championships this year so the only place left is to get a medal,” Charlton said. “We talked about it, Our goal is to be on the podium.”

#After she made her first World Championship after she completed her tenure at Kentucky, Russell said she’s following in the footsteps of Charlton.

#“I saw her do the Olympics. I saw her do the World Championships for the past two years, so it’s just good to have a mentor like this to look up to and to talk to. We’re both going to get a medal next year. I’m not even going to doubt that.”

#Charlton, 27, is a silver medallist at the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games last year. She has produced a lifetime best of 12.44, the Bahamian national record. She also ran 23.61 in the 200m (2305 wind-aided).

#Russell, 23, was the NCAA Indoor Championship runner-up and the NCAA Outdoor Championship champion. She has a personal best of 12.36 (12.32 wind-aided) and she has also ran 54.66 in the 400m hurdles, in addi- tion to 11.54 in the 100m, 23.26 in the 200m and 56.26 in the 400m.

#They both competed together on the global stage this year in Budapest, Hungary, where Charlton got fourth in the final, while Russell advanced to the semi final but didn’t get to complete her race.

#Russell was also in the relay pool for the United States team at the championships.

PLAY ACTION: The Bahamas women’s national soccer team lost 6-1 to Grenada last night in their opening game of the Concacaf Gold Cup at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Thursday, September 21, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas’ senior women’s national football team went down 6-1 to Grenada in game one of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women’s Road to Gold Cup.

#Team Bahamas got their feet wet for the first time in three decades on home soil at the Thomas A Robinson stadium last night against the away team, who returned to the international level for their second consecutive year.

#The home team’s relatively young club applied strong defensive pressure in the first half but the experience of Grenada trumped them in the second period, leading to their first loss of the competition.

#Ricqea Bain, head coach of the senior women’s national team, talked about the way they played in their first time back on the soccer scene after 30 years.

#“We started the game a little nervous. This is our first international match as a senior team, we began the knock the ball around, [and] knock the nerves off. Unfortunately, the other team was able to secure the match but we were able to score our first international goal,” she said.

#The head coach added that despite the loss the team made some strides in executing passes through the midfield, finishing a goal and are looking not only to score more goals in Grenada but also work on development.

#Team Grenada has been preparing for their second appearance in the Concacaf competition since February and they showcased their experience in the opening game.

#The now 1-0 team was the first to strike in the initial half. Within the first 12 minutes of game one, Grenada’s Nia Thompson launched the ball to the back of the net to connect on her first of two goals in the game.

#Shortly before the culmination of the first half, Demitra Mcclure of Team Bahamas retaliated at the 44:00 segment of the game. She got the step on her defender and darted the ball past Grenada’s goalkeeper Keoana Salandy to follow up a goal scored by Grenada’s forward Roneisha Frank. Mcclure scored the lone goal for the home team and made the score 2-1 going into the break.

#Jake Rennie, head coach of Grenada, talked about the difference in gameplay between the two teams in the first and second half.

#“I think we could have done much better but then again it is our first game in a long time. It was okay we were able to come out 2-1 in the first half and the second half was much better, we changed the pace of the game, moved the ball around a little, got chances we scored and took it away from The Bahamas,” Rennie said.

#Although the coach was happy with the win he felt his team came out a bit flat to start the game, but they picked it up in the second half.

#In the second half, the visiting Group C team scored the majority of their goals toward the tail end of the game.

#Thompson collected her second goal of the game at the 74:00 juncture to push the Grenada lead to 3-1. A mere two minutes later, Brianna Capron was issued a red card for a hard foul to a Grenada player at the 76:00 mark.

#The away team remained unphased and midfielder Malia Ramdhanny got in on the scoring action three minutes later and advanced the score to 4-1. With the clock winding down, Team Bahamas’ chances to score dwindled while Grenada kept the momentum going.

#Game one wrapped up with the latter earning two more goals from midfielder Ronniellia Bubb and forward Abigail Williams in the game’s final moments.

#Despite the tough opening game loss, Team Bahamas will have the chance to redeem themselves in their away match against Grenada 4pm this Sunday, September 24.

#The senior women’s team is playing out of League C and Group C along with Grenada and the US Virgin Islands.

#The group’s winner will advance to play the victor of Group B to determine which lone team will advance to the Gold Cup.

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: The Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation team commuted to Aruba yesterday for the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships set for September 21-25.

As of Thursday, September 21, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#DESPITE some challenges ahead of their travels, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation’s (BBWFF) 14-member team has now journeyed to Aruba to compete at the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships.

#With some fresh faces in the contingent, Team Bahamas is hoping to bring home some hardware after competing against 40 other countries at the championships from September 21-25.

#Leonardo “Nardo” Dean, the team manager, is confident in Team Bahamas’ ability to perform this time around after they withdrew from the competition in 2022 due to lack of funding.

#“I am here along with pretty much a new team and new athletes.

#“But we have veteran Stephen Robinson leading the athletes.

#“Whenever they hear The Bahamas is coming to the CACs they know it is going to be problems because we have been regional leaders for years and we continue to do so,” Dean said.

#Team Bahamas features members, including veteran Godfrey Stephen Robinson, Reginald Delancy and Orick Nesbitt for men’s bodybuilding. Briceton Anderson will compete in men’s fitness and Kareem Brancaccio in men’s fit model, Ricardo Gibson in men’s physique (Class C), Judah Forbes in men’s physique (Class D), Brandon Bastian in men’s physique (Class F), Anthon Moxey in men’s classic physique (Class B), and Andrew Gibson in men’s classic physique (Class C). Anderson will also get into competition in men’s physique Class B.

#For the women, veteran Dorcas Cox will compete in the women’s body fitness (figure). Additionally, Denica Thompson and Andrecka Dames in Class B for women’s wellness and Ivanique Kemp in the same category for Class D.

#With the majority of the national bodybuilding team being first-timers they are excited to compete for The Bahamas at the bodybuilding championships.

#Anderson, who is competing in men’s fitness and physique, talked about his expectations.

#“I am really excited and privileged. First of all I must thank the executive team for giving me the privilege to be here and I am honoured to represent the country and I am looking for no less than two medals,” he said.

#Among the veterans are Robinson, Nesbitt, Forbes, and Cox.

#Nesbitt said he is simply excited to represent the country.

#“I am excited to go to Aruba and represent The Bahamas and do bodybuilding and heavyweight and hopefully bring back the gold,” he said.

#National bodybuilding champion Robinson has made his return to the sport following his last stint in 2016 and he is ready for the 50th Bodybuilding championships.

#“This is a pleasure being back on the team since 2016… last time I made the top six this time I am in a heavier division but I am hoping to get back in the top six once I get to the top six then I will take it from there in trying to secure gold, silver, or bronze,” he said.

#The Bahamas’ return to the CAC Bodybuilding Championships will commence tomorrow at the Aruba Marriott Resort Stellaris Casino at Palm Beach, Aruba. The competition will end for the fourteen athletes next week Monday.

 Home|Sports|Grenada blasts The BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 21, 2023 33 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas senior women’s national football team was in action last night after a long hiatus, but fell 6-1 to Grenada in the opening of the ‘Road to the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Women’s Gold Cup’ at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

It was a close game in the first half, as Grenada led 2-1 in the CONCACAF Nations League match going into the break, but a four-goal haul in the second half was the difference in the game. Head Coach for The Bahamas Ricqea Bain was happy to see the women show flashes of what they could do.

“We got to pass the ball around to get the nerves off. Unfortunately, the other team was able to secure the match. We were able to find the back of the net. We have been working for four months and was able to build out of the back, pass to the midfield and finish for a goal,” Bain said.

The Bahamas started the game off looking strong as they got the jitters out of their system. After having possession in the 12th minute, The Bahamas gave the ball away in the midfield and Nia Thompson got the ball for Grenada and got past the last Bahamian defender. Thompson was one-on-one against the Bahamian goalkeeper Melina McClure and found the back of the net to put the visitors up 1-0.

Grenada’s captain Roneisha Frank got past McClure in the 35th minute and got a wide open goal as she tapped the ball in with her left foot to put Grenada up 2-0.

Just before halftime, Bahamian Demitra McClure saw an opening in Grenada’s goal and exploited it with a well-placed shot that went over Grenada’s goalkeeper Keona Salandy and into the back of the net to cut into Grenada’s lead, 2-1, in the 44th minute. 

After a scoreless 29 minutes to start the second half that saw The Bahamas trying to tie the game and Grenada looking to shake off a pesky Bahamian side, Thompson scored her second goal of the game in the 74th minute to put Grenada up 3-1. Two minutes later, Thompson was going for her hat trick but Brianna Capron brought her down at the top of the 18-yard box. Capron was whistled for a foul and given a red card to set up a free kick in dangerous territory. Grenada’s defender Malia Ramdhanny said she came into the game wanting to get on the scoresheet. She took the free kick and scored to put Grenada up 4-1.

Forced to play with 10 players on the field after the red card, Grenada took advantage and scored two more goals to win 6-1 to take the full three points after the first game.

Grenada’s Head Coach Jake Rennie said he was not surprised that they won but he was expecting a 4-0 margin.

“We are happy for the win but we started off slow. The Bahamas played well in the first half and put pressure on us. I was not satisfied with the way we started the game. We could have done much better. Not knowing what we were up against had an effect on the way we started. We were able to play much better in the second half. We changed the pace of the game and moved the ball around, got chances to score and took it away from The Bahamas,” Rennie said.

The two teams face each other again on Sunday at the Kirani James Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada. That match will start at 4 p.m.