Home|Sports|Bain finishes second in doublesSports

He and his partner lost to the second-seeded team at the regionals

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 5, 2022 236 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) Gold Rush sophomore Jacobi Bain and his doubles partner Nereo Suarez had to settle for a runner-up position in men’s doubles at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Gulf ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Regional Championships at the XULA Tennis Center over the weekend.

The top-seeded duo lost to second-seeded Texas A&M-Texarkana’s team of Alejandro Oviedo and Mauricio Trevino Velasco.

The first set was won 6-1 by the Texas A&M’s duo, but the Bahamian collegiate tennis player and his partner made a push in the second set, winning 6-4 to even the match at a set apiece.

In the end, they suffered the loss, 6-1, 4-6 and 10-7. Bain and Suarez will have to wait to be considered for an at-large bid for the ITA Cup, set for October 13-16 in Rome, Georgia. Bain and former doubles partner Juan Ramirez earned an at-large bid a year ago after placing second at the regionals.

Oviedo and Velasco earned an automatic bid for winning the tournament on Sunday.

To get to the final, the Gold Rush duo took down the Blue Mountain College (BMC) Toppers’ duo of Justin Van Amerongen and Rick Sakamoto, 8-1.

Bain was set to play in the singles championship as the fourth seed on Sunday against his teammate, third-seeded Mathieu Strauss. Bain was sick so Strauss picked up a walkover victory.

To get to the championship, Bain took down eighth-seeded Van Amerongen on Saturday, winning in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-2.

Bain had a 20-7 win/loss record last season in singles and was 26-9 in doubles. He was awarded the NAIA South Region Rookie Award for his efforts.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Sydney Clarke, a junior, was set to be in action at the Mercer Fall Classic in Macon, Georgia, last weekend. That tournament was postponed because of the passing of Hurricane Ian. She gets another chance to play this weekend, taking part in the Samford round robin tournament in Homewood, Alabama.

Elana Mackey and the Mars Hill Lions team were set to be in action against North Greenville University yesterday. That meeting was postponed. Mackey got her season underway last week Wednesday. Her Lions took down Johnson C. Smith College, 7-0.

In singles, Mackey took down Taylor Proffett, 6-1 and 6-0. In doubles, she and doubles partner Amanda Kadiri edged Proffett and Maykayla Ramos, 7-6.

The Lions return to action against Lees-McRae College at the Hart Tennis Complex in Mars Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bain-finishes-second-in-doubles/

 Home|Sports|Majority of field revealed for Hero World ChallengeSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 5, 2022 261 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The majority of the field for the 2022 Hero World Challenge, a PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour event, was announced by host Tiger Woods yesterday. It features mostly top 20 golfers, according to the World Golf Rankings. Additionally, there are three tournament exemption slots up for grabs that will be announced at a later date.

The tournament is set for November 28 to December 4 at the Albany Golf Course in south western New Providence. This will be the seventh year that the tournament is held in The Bahamas.

Woods, who has battled injuries in the latter part of his career, is not listed as one of the 17 players who are set to play. However, it was not stated that the 46-year-old has not ruled himself out of playing this year.

The field is led by American Scottie Scheffler, who is the number one ranked golfer in the world as of August 28. He is also this year’s Masters Champion. Making the trip back to The Bahamas to defend his title is Norwegian Viktor Hovland. There are 16 PGA Tour winners, who have won a total of 87 events, committed to playing at Albany.

Rounding out the 17 confirmed players are Xander Schauffele (5th), Jon Rahm (6th), Justin Thomas (7th), Collin Morikawa (8th), Will Zalatoris (9th), Matt Fitzpatrick (10th), Sam Burns (12th), Jordan Spieth (13th), Tony Finau (14th), Billy Horschel (15), Hideki Matsuyama (16th), Cameron Young (17th), Sungjae Im (18th), Max Homa (20th), and Tom Kim (21st). World rankings are in brackets.

Thomas is the PGA Championship winner while Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Open winner. There are five players on the list making their tournament debuts – Zalatoris, Young, Im, Homa and Kim.

Hovland came from behind to win the 2021 Hero World Challenge. He was six strokes behind the third-round leader, Morikawa. He hit back-to-back eagle shot on holes 14 and 15 on the final day of competition to aid in his comeback attempt and give him the title in his first year at the tournament. Hovland finished 18-under par while Scheffler finished one stroke behind him in second. Hovland joined Rahm as the only first-time participants to win the tournament since it moved to Albany in 2015. Rahm did it in 2018.

Last year’s tournament was very competitive, and returned from a one-year hiatus in 2020 due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a different leader at the end of each of the four rounds last year.

At last year’s tournament, Woods made his first public appearance since the car accident in February 2021 that severely injured him. The last time he played in the tournament was in 2019.

Proceeds from the 2022 Hero World Challenge will benefit the TGR Foundation, the Tavistock Foundation and the Bahamas Youth Foundation.

https://thenassauguardian.com/majority-of-field-revealed-for-hero-world-challenge/

Sports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailOctober 5, 2022 165 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Striker Marlon Barnes might have started the action off for the University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes in the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) season opener against the Renegades FC, but it was Ronaldo Green who sealed the deal.

Greene scored a hat trick plus one to lead the Mingoes to a 5-3 season-opening win over the Renegades FC on Friday night at the Roscow A.L. Davies Field.

The Renegades struck first in the 30th minute of the game to go up 1-0 early. Barnes responded with a brilliant goal just under a minute later, tying the match 1-1.

The Renegades were able to connect in the 38th minute, taking the lead again at 2-1.

The Mingoes were not going to stop pressing, and two minutes later, Green struck again, evening the score at 2-2 heading into halftime.

Green came out strong in the second half, scoring in the 47th and 48th minutes to put the Mingoes up 4-2.

For security, Green scored again in the 60th minute of the game after a Renegades’ penalty kick in the 59th minute.

The Mingoes scored an emphatic win, 5-3, winning the first game of the regular season.

Green said the win makes a huge statement to the league. “I think everyone was doubting us at the start of the season during the preseason games and this game shows that we are here to play,” he said. “We are here to make a statement and win this season.”

Mingoes’ Assistant Head Coach Alex Thompson said this match was huge for the program, as it was a big win over a strong side. “The team that we played is a good team and one that you cannot take lightly as they are well coached and they are very good going forward,” he said.

The performance, he said, also solidifies Green as the best player in the league on the best up-and-coming team. “He had four goals today and could have had a few more and a few more assists,” he said. “The win also says that we have support around him and players who are slowly but surely learning their roles. As the season goes on and the guys mature more in the system, I think you will see a better team.”

The Mingoes play Cavalier FC at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Roscow A.L. Davies Field and then the Baha Juniors FC at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the same venue. 

https://thenassauguardian.com/mingoes-defeat-renegades-in-bfa-season-opener/

SYDNEY Clarke in action for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers women’s tennis team.

As of Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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SYDNEY CLARKE

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SYDNEY Clarke is eager to get her junior fall season started with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers women’s tennis team.

#Clarke, who closed out her sophomore year in May by being named to the Conference USA All-Conference Singles Second Team, is set to begin playing for the Blazers September 16-18 in the Austin Peay Hidden Duals in Clarkesville, Tennessee.

#“Things are looking good, preparation wise,” said Clarke, a right-handed player. “Pre-season has been going very well. We have been getting in a lot of practices getting prepared and equipped for what is ahead of us.”

#After coming home this summer to play for the Bahamas in the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Fed Cup, Clarke said she’s hoping that the experience gained will help her as she continues her tenure for the Blazers.

#“I just want to continue doing better and get better,” stated Clarke, who won the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s December Invitational to win the top spot on the national team.

#“I’m really hoping for a very successful fall. My spring season has been pretty good. So I’m really going to push myself so that I can do better than I did in the spring.”

#Already, Clarke said the coaching staff, headed by Mark Tjia, assisted by Paula Baird, expect her to improve on her game and take more of a leading role as the number two player in singles and No.1 in doubles for the Blazers.

#“They expect for me to be more professional on the court and to be more of a leader on the team,” she stated. “I expect to be more calm and composed and be able to fight right to the end in every match that I play. If I can do that, I have a chance to do very well for the team.”

#Clarke, a 20-year-old graduate of Windsor Academy after transferring from CR Walker Secondary High, said there’s a lot of pressure, but she’s confident that she can handle it.

#“Playing these matches in the fall should really help me in the spring next year,” Clarke said. “So I want to be able to take advantage of these opportunities to be able to improve my game.”

#Once the fall season starts next weekend, Clarke said they should be playing in a series of matches just about every weekend until the end of October.

#As for her classes at UAB, Clarke said she switched her major to mass communication with a minor in broadcasting with marketing on the side. She said her classes have already been intense since she returned to school, but she’s looking forward to the year ahead of her.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/07/sydney-clarke-eager-get-her-junior-fall-season-und/?fbclid=IwAR0LiE5Zdwk7WXmo1ft4jc6mL1xlMklmBOyFmVqE5HJ_-0a_IfXdMcqKN1c

As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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Tour de Clifton Pier

SOME of the winners of the New Providence Cycling Association’s Tour de Clifton Pier. The first was the short road race and the other was the individual time trials with Felix Neely, Allan Adderley, Barron Musgrove Jr and Tomas Knowles emerging victorious.

#THE New Providence Cycling Association hosted its Tour de Clifton Pier on Sunday with two stage races held around the Clifton Pier area.

#The first was the short road race and the other was the individual time trials with Felix Neely, Allan Adderley, Barron Musgrove Jr and Tomas Knowles emerging as some of the winners.

#Neely took the title in the men’s short stage race with Kevin Daley second, Wess Albury third, Patrick Paul fourth, Jeff Tynes fifth, Giles Sawyer sixth, Jay Major seventh and Wayne Price eighth.

#Allan Adderley was the male masters winner ahead of Kenton Roker and Wayne Price, who was tied for second.

#In the junior boys 15-17 category, Barron Musgrove Jr captured the title, while Thomas Knowles got the junior boys’ 12-14 title over Nathaniel Adderley. Theddus Knowles won the junior boys 9-11 title with Anthony Knowles coming in second.

#In the time trial that covered one lap over a 5.83 mile course, Felix Neely took the tape in 14 minutes and 50 seconds.

#Kevin Daley was second in 15 mins.39 and Wess Albury was third in 15 mins.55 secs.

#The other finishers in order were Patrick Paul, fourth in 16 mins.02 secs; Giles Albury, fifth in 16 mins.33 secs; Jeff Tynes, sixth in 16 mins. 52 secs; Barron Musgrove, seventh in 16 mins.51 secs; Wayne Price, eighth in 17.04mins; Jay Major, eighth in 17 mins.24 secs and Allan Adderley, ninth in 23mins.

#The juniors competed in a 5.83 miles course with Thomas Knowles taking the 12-14 category in 21 mins.51 secs over Nathaniel Knowles, who did 25 mins. 20 secs for second.

#And in the 5.83 miles race for junior boys 9-11 years, Anthony Knowles got first place in 22 mins. 20 secs and Thaddeus Knowles had to settle for second place in 23 mins.50 secs.

#BCA’s president and race organiser said they were pleased with the turnout for the event, despite the fact that they had to deal with some delays in closing out a long season.

#“We had to reschedule and postpone some events because of the weather, COVID-19 protocols and the likes,” he said. “But we continue to build on our programmes here in New Providence. “We are looking at starting a BMX and mountain bike season during the month of January and February so that we can offer another aspect of cycling here in New Providence because we find that the space on the road is getting smaller and smaller so some traffic to contend with.”

#On behalf of the NPCA, Musgrove congratulated all of the cyclists for making the event a success. He noted that the association will reintroduce the mountain bike and BMX obstacle course race in about two weeks before they end the year with their road race.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/npca-hosts-its-tour-de-clifton-pier/?news

Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Adelaide 36ers Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Phoenix Suns opened their 2022-23 NBA preseason on the wrong end of a shocking result to a non-NBA opponent.

#Deandre Ayton finished with 22 points and six rebounds but the Sun suffered a 134-124 loss to the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League, Sunday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

#Ayton shot 11-14 from the field in just over 22 minutes.

#It’s the first time an NBA team lost an international exhibition game since 2016 and the first time within the last 10 years. It was also the first time an NBA team has lost to a NBL team.

#“It’s just preseason,” Ayton said. “We’re still learning at the end of the day. It’s unacceptable but at the same time we’re just getting back and we’re trying to polish up some things to get ourselves better.”

#The Suns were favoured by approximately 30 points.

#Ayton discussed his approach to the preseason opener.

#“Just getting in the mix, getting the looks you’re comfortable with, getting to your spots, I’m just learning. Being patient, I’m still a little shaky on this being patient,” Ayton said. “They threw some doubles at me where I didn’t expect to be doubled so early but it’s cool to learn everything like knowing where the help side is coming from. I’m usually just quick to go into my moves, especially when my back is turned for spin moves. Still have the little guards coming in and taking the ball from me, I just have to be patient, ball fake, tell guys to cut through and just go to work after that.”

#The Suns finished with an NBA best and new franchise record of 64-18. The no.1 overall seed in the Western Conference, they were upset in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks in seven games.

#Despite the setback, Ayton said the focus of the roster remains the same, the chase of the franchise’s first NBA title.

#The Suns return four of five starters from the past two seasons and that starting lineup had an efficiency rating of +11 in their 22 minutes on the floor.

#The 36ers led by as much as 16 points before the Sun trimmed the deficit to a one possession game with just under six minutes left to go in the fourth quarter.

#“We have been playing with each other for a while, we just started picking up our pace, doing everything with intent, being a little bit more accountable in a way but [in these exhibition games] we only have so much time. The ball started to move a lot more,” Ayton said when asked about the difference between the two halves. “We were finishing shots in the open corner and when we got that ball moving it’s hard to stop our offence.”

#The Suns continue the preseason when they travel to California to face the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5.

#Phoenix will open the regular season at home against the Dallas Mavericks on October 19.

#In his fourth season, Ayton averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#After signing a new four-year $133 million contract this offseason to remain with the Suns, Ayton said he looks to improve and take his game to new levels this season.

#“Just trying to be aggressive and do some of the things I’ve been working on in the offseason,” Ayton said.

#“Just to see where I’m at, getting to the rim and finding spots where I’m comfortable at on the floor. And just being available for my teammates when they’re ready to make quick decisions.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/deandre-ayton-and-suns-lose-preseason-opener/?news

As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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Antoan Richardson

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#ACCORDING to Bahamian baseball pioneer Antoan Richardson, the continued success of Bahamian players with the Great Britain Baseball programme should intensify efforts for The Bahamas to field its own independent senior national team.

#Richardson, the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants, said that watching Bahamian players lead the charge for Great Britain to its first World Baseball Classic appearance last month, should prompt stakeholders to take decisive action.

#“It’s like mixed emotions, I’m excited for all of the players that got a chance to play on that stage and now get a chance to potentially play in the WBC but on the other side of it, it’s heart wrecking to know that we as a country don’t have a team. It’s just really important now to figure out how to make that happen,” Richardson said.

#“It’s just been way too long, I think since I was a teenager we have been talking about being better at the politics around baseball and 20 years later we are still having some of the same conversations. I just think we have to do a better job of getting together, and figuring this thing out so that the next time we have this conversation we are excited about the Bahamian team and not necessarily the Great Britain team. But I’m definitely excited for all the young players who got a chance to experience that and now get to go to the classic.”

#It was the third time Bahamians have been a part of a Great Britain roster at the WBC Qualifiers. Richardson and Albert Cartwright were the first to join the roster when Great Britain made its debut at the 2013 Qualifiers in Regensburg, Germany. The team finished 1-2.

#At the 2017 Qualifiers in Brooklyn, New York, Richardson and Cartwright were joined by Ali Knowles, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr, Kyle Simmons, Todd Isaacs, Reshard Munroe, Byron Murray and Champ Stuart. That team finished just one game shy of WBC qualification when they suffered a 9-1 loss in the final.

#This year at the 2022 Qualifiers, it was Anfernee Seymour, D’Shawn Knowles, Tahnaj Thomas, Chavez Fernander, Ural Forbes and Cartwright making the transition to first base coach that led Great Britain to an undefeated record in Regensburg, Germany.

#Bahamian players are eligible to compete for Great Britain once their parents were born in the Bahamas while it was still a British colony, prior to Independence.

#Great Britain is currently ranked no.23 in the world by the World Baseball/Softball Confederation (WBSC) while The Bahamas is ranked at no.80. To achieve a higher ranking and gain eligibility for international events, The Bahamas is required to gain points by competing in regional Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE) events. COPABE is the governing body for baseball in the Americas.

#The path toward gaining those points begins in earnest when The Bahamas hosts the Caribbean Cup December 4-11 at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. The Caribbean Cup will feature The Bahamas joining visiting teams from the US Virgin Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Colombia, Aruba, Peru, and Cuba, all vying for a spot at the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for next year in El Salvador.

#According to the WBSC, the last international tournament for The Bahamas was the 2018 U18 men’s baseball World Cup Qualifier for the Americas in Panama. The last senior men’s national team to compete was at the 2009 World Baseball Challenge in British Colombia, Canada.

#Richardson also said the country’s continued influx of talent available for these tournaments and headed into the professional ranks, warrants continued support and infrastructure to help transition those players along their respective career paths.

#“My personal hope is that we just get a little bit more guys into the major leagues and then we get a little bit more players developing at a higher level,” Richardson said.

#“It’s how we invest into the futures of these young players and giving them all the resources they need to get to the major leagues.”

#Sebastian Walcott and Janero Miller were recently listed among the top 20 International Prospects for the class of 2023 by MLB Pipeline. The Bahamas is one of only three countries with multiple players listed in the top 50. Walcott was ranked no.8 while Miller, was ranked at no.16. It was also the second consecutive year a Bahamian was ranked in the top 10. San Francisco Giants infielder Ryan Reckley was ranked no.9 in the class of 2022.

#“Every year we seem to be pushing out new talent and that’s exciting. Baseball has come a long way in the last 15 years in The Bahamas. To be able to witness it, to see the genesis of where it is now and think to where it can be is really exciting,” Richardson said.

#“I really want to encourage the federations and the people in charge to kind of get behind this thing and get the right people in the room and start talking about how we can be better for our baseball community because there’s a lot of talent that we need to support.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/richardson-talks-national-team-baseball-youth-move/?news

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/charlton-wilson-inducted-howard-hall-fame/?news

DAVID Charlton and Kenneth Wilson in action for Howard University.

As of Tuesday, October 4, 2022

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DAVID CHARLTON, standing third from left, with some of the other inductees into Howard University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemeddia.net

#It’s very rare that you hear or see two Bahamians competing in the same sport and excelling at the same time in college.

#For Grand Bahamian arch-rivals and close friends, David Charlton and Kenneth Wilson shared that bond together again as they were inducted in Howard University’s 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame class with other members of the Bison men’s 4 x 400 metre teams that won NCAA All-American honours in 1982 and captured the Penn Relays in 1983.

David Charlton with his award flanked by his wife and his daughter, Laura and Devynne Charlton.

#Their team also joined the list of Bison inductees that included the 1961 CIAA Men’s Golf championship team as well as the 1995 wrestling team in a ceremony on Friday at Howard University in Greenbelt, Maryland.

#A total of 24 athletes, an administrator and two coaches, along with nine other persons receiving the Buffalo Soldier award, were also inducted during the ceremony at the Martin’s Crosswinds.

#While Charlton was the pop off man for the relay team, Wilson came out on the first exchange on the second leg.

#Together, they helped to push the Bison team out front and during their tenure at Howard University, they only lost one relay.

#For Charlton, who returned to Howard University for the ceremony, he said it’s always good when one could be recognised for their accomplishments while they are still alive.

#“I appreciate Howard Athletic Department for recognising us,” Charlton said.

#“I believe going to Howard was the correct choice. I got a degree in engineering and coach Moultrie made sure that all of the athletes he coached graduated.

#“He went beyond the call of duty to ensure that we stayed in school and was eligible both academically and athletically because of the small setting of the university’s track and field team.”

#Although he didn’t get to attend the ceremony, Wilson said he was very humble to receive the award. “All we as Bahamians want to do is set the stage for other Bahamians who follow in our footsteps,” Wilson said. “We want to be good examples for the schools that we attended.”

#Calling it a “fantastic” tenure at Howard, Wilson said he enjoyed competing with Charlton.

#“David was my homeboy from Freeport. We both came up through coach Errol Bodie, so I would like to give thanks to him. He chose this school for us,” said Wilson.

#“At the time, we had so many schools that came to Grand Bahama to recruit us, but coach Bodie wanted us to go to Howard University. We were very grateful for that. Having David there as my homeboy was an honour. We were friends from childhood and we are still friends up to this day.”

#Charlton is now a coach of the Star Trackers Club, which has produced a number of star athletes, including his own daughter, Olympic 100m hurdler Devynne Charlton, who is coming off a sensational season winning the silver medal at both the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games as well as a bronze at the NACAC Championships.

#Charlton, who is in partnership with his wife Laura at Prescription Parlour, said he’s honoured to have been inducted with Wilson, a public servant employee who also assists T-Bird Flyers Track Club’s coach Foster Dorsett in coaching his sons, Ken Wilson III, a 10-year-old at St Cecilia’s and Joshua Wilson, who attends Galilee Academy.

#“With him being there was a great asset,” said Charlton of teaming up with Wilson.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/04/charlton-wilson-inducted-howard-hall-fame/?news

 Home|Business|Heat wrap up training camp in The BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 3, 2022 424 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Miami Heat completed a five-day training camp with an open practice in front of local basketball fans on Saturday in the Grand Ballroom at Baha Mar.

The five-day camp began on Tuesday with closed practices through Friday. The team also got the youth involved with its Jr. Heat clinic.

For team captain and veteran Udonis Haslem, this is his final year as a player in the NBA. He said it was a dream come to The Bahamas to start off his final year in The Bahamas.

“It was a great week,” Haslem said. “We got some work in. There was a little bit of rain. It held up pretty good. The young guys went out on the water slides while the older ones were able to get in some golf. It was a good balance of hard work and a mental break. There was a little solitude where you can go to your room and be by yourself, and tap in, or whatever. We had everything here that we needed to be successful and get a good start to the season.”

FTX Digital Markets, a partner of the Heat, facilitated the trip. The Heat also held training camps in The Bahamas in 2013 and 2016. Making the trip to The Bahamas this year were star players Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, among others.

Haslem, who was at the first two training camps here, came suited up for the open practice session but did not go through the drills. However, he was vocal. At 42 years old and entering his 20th season, he said that some small injuries come with the age. As local fans watched and cheered them on as they went through fast break drills, half-court set plays and a full-court mini game, Haslem said that the atmosphere felt like a home game.

“When we come to The Bahamas it is so much love. They know our backgrounds, our history, my history with the Heat. They know my history of coming to The Bahamas and just spending time with the locals and hanging out under the dock (bridge). Also, doing the local things and enjoying the city and being a regular person, not separate myself, and always being able to be touched by the people, is something I embrace. They embraced me and I embraced them – its a match made in Heaven for both of us,” Haslem said.

Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for FTX Digital Markets Valdez Russell spoke about the community efforts by the Heat.

“Young people experienced an incredible opportunity as they participated in the Jr. Heat clinics,” Russell said. “The clinic’s coaching staff spoke highly of the talent they saw and expressed optimism about future collaborations in The Bahamas. At FTX, we recognize and commend individuals who give of their time and talent to harness and nurture Bahamian student-athletes.”

Haslem said their main goal this season is to win an NBA title. They lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals last season – one game away from advancing to the NBA Championship.

“We always have championship expectations. We do not come into a season thinking about anything else. We understand there is a long way to go before we get there. There are steps we have to take, and we have continued to bank that equity to stay healthy. Championship is always the goal for us. We don’t come with any other expectation – we don’t like to waste our time,” Haslem stated.

Russell stated that FTX Digital Markets will continue to do their part in collaborating with international partners and local stakeholders in developing sports in The Bahamas.

In the 2021-2022 season, the Heat finished with a 53-29 win/loss record. The team, which is coached by Erik Spoelstra, secured the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, but lost to the number two seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Heat left The Bahamas on Saturday afternoon after its open practice session. They returned to Miami to get their preseason underway. They will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 p.m. at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/heat-wrap-up-training-camp-in-the-bahamas/

 Home|Sports|Quartet of young Bahamians to sail in BrazilSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailOctober 4, 2022 124 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The 2022 Optimist South American Championships gets underway on Saturday October 8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and four Bahamians will be traveling there this week to compete.

The Fidelity Bahamas Optimist National Championships wrapped up this past weekend in Montagu Bay, and a quartet of the same sailors who competed at that event will represent The Bahamas in Rio de Janeiro.

Team Bahamas comprises 14-year-old Eliza Denning, 15-year-old Zane Munro and 12-year-old Patrick Tomlinson who all train with the Lyford Cay Sailing Club, and 14-year-old Norman Cartwright who sails with the Bahamas National Sailing School. Tomlinson won the national title, finishing first among the local sailors at the optimist nationals this past weekend.

These extremely accomplished young sailors are all ranked high in the junior national sailing rankings and have all recently taken part in other international sailing events including the Optimist World Championships in Bodrum, Turkey and the Optimist European Championships in Sønderborg, Denmark.

The week-long major international junior sailing event is held annually at different venues around the South American continent, and this year the young participants will experience sailing out of the waters surrounding the spectacular Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club. The event is open to the top optimist sailors from around the world with an age restriction of 8-15 years old.

There will be 21 nations represented at the South American Championships with 165 sailors currently registered on the entry list. Competition is expected to be stiff, but Team Bahamas is an incredible group of sailors who are extremely dedicated and passionate about their sport. All four are extremely proud to be representing The Bahamas in the international arena again this year.

The Optimist National Championships wrapped up this past weekend and was sponsored by Fidelity Bank. The Nassau Yacht Club hosted the event and is also hosting the Optimist North American Championships (OPTINAMs) in November which is expected to bring hundreds of young sailors from all over the world to The Bahamas. It is set to be the largest sailing event ever hosted in The Bahamas.

https://thenassauguardian.com/quartet-of-young-bahamians-to-sail-in-brazil/