Sports

KRYK: California governor rejects Trump's hope for a quick return to sports – Toronto Sun

Published

5 years ago

April 4, 2020

Harry Miller

U.S. president holds conference call with pro-sport leaders

Everyone wants to know: When will sports return?

“Soon,” U.S. President Donald Trump promised Saturday at his daily afternoon news conference in the White House.

Not soon, countered the governor of California.

On a news-filled afternoon regarding when sports might return, we did get bright-eyed optimism from Trump. But also stark contradictions. And pessimism.

Whereas Trump gave us all — including pro-sports leaders — a pep talk of hope, California Gov. Gavin Newsom countered with a sobering dose of reality. In basketball lingo, Trump leapt to power-dunk a big ball of hope, but Newsom slapped that garbage outta there.

Trump confirmed reports from earlier Saturday that he had spoken by phone with pro-sport commissioners such as the NFL’s Roger Goodell, the NHL’s Gary Bettman, Major League Baseball’s Rob Manfred, the NBA’s Adam Silver, Major League Soccer’s Don Garber, the PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan, the LPGA’s Michael Whan and the WNBA’s Cathy Engelbert.

“These are all the great leaders of sport. They’ve got to get back. They can’t do this,” Trump said, referring to how their pro-sport business models all have been shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. “Their sports weren’t designed for it. The whole concept of our nation wasn’t designed for it. We’re going to have to get back. We’re going to have to get back soon, very soon.

“We’re going to open our country again. We have a big decision to make at a certain time. I said it from the beginning: The cure can’t be worse than the problem itself. And we cannot let that happen. We have an incredible country … At a certain point, some hard decisions are going to have to be made … We’ve got to get our country open.”

Trump furthermore promised at his press briefing that stadiums and arenas will be packed again, with the same numbers of seats filled as before — and not with capacities, say, halved to keep people six or more feet apart.

“Absolutely, I want fans back in the arenas. Whenever we’re ready,” he said. “As soon as we can, obviously. And the fans want to be back too. They want to see basketball and baseball and football and hockey. They want to see their sports. And they want to go out onto their golf courses and breathe nice, clean, beautiful, fresh air.

“I can’t tell you a date, but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later … Eventually, people are going to be able to occupy their seats in arenas, next to each other, like we have for all of my life, and all of your life.”

But at other times at his news conference, Trump echoed his top medical advisers in saying it’s too early both to return to life-as-normal now, or even predicting a date for that. He just kept saying “soon, in my opinion.”

Same with youth sports, he said.

Trump was asked how his son with the First Lady, Melania Trump — Barron — is coping with isolation. The president brought up how his 14-year-old misses playing his favourite sport.

“He’s a good athlete, and he loves soccer. He’s like everyone else — everything’s shut down. He’s in his room. He’s happy. But he’s not as happy as he could be. He’d like to be playing sports.

“Let’s see what happens. But we have to get back. We have to get back, remember that. And we have to get back soon.”

Cross-continent an hour or two earlier, at his own daily briefing for Californians, Newsom was told about Trump’s conference call with sport leaders, on which the president reportedly said he believes the NFL regular season will start as scheduled in September.

The governor crashed the president’s party of optimism with these detailed, logical-sounding — but it must also be said, deflating — comments:

“I’m not anticipating that happening in this state,” Newsom said of NFL football being playing in September by his state’s teams, the San Franisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

“Let me tell you why. We’ve all seen the headlines the last couple of days in Asia, where they were opening up certain businesses, and now they’re starting to roll back those openings because they’re starting to see some spread. There’s a boomerang.

“One has to be very cautious here. One has to be careful not to over-promise … I’m not here to second-guess anybody. But I am here to say this. Our decision on that basis, at least here in the state of California, will be determined by the facts, will be determined by the health experts, will be determined by our capacity to meet this moment, bend the curve and have the appropriate community surveillance and testing to confidently determine whether that’s appropriate.

“And right now I’m just focused on the immediate. But that’s not something I anticipate happening in the next few months.”

Same thing applies to other pro sports besides the NFL, Newsom suggested.

“As long as we’re still in a place where, when a single individual tests positive for the virus that you have to quarantine every single person who was in contact with them — in any shape, form or fashion — then I don’t think you can begin to think about reopening a team sport. Because we’re going to have positive cases for a very long time.”

Anyone else have that same, ruinous, gut-punched feeling you only get when the sports team you live and die with loses on the last play?

But keep the faith, people. Somehow. Keep it.

JoKryk@postmedia.com

@JohnKryk

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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