LIQUOR BAN BACK IN ILOILO CITY
To recall, Treñas ended the restriction on alcoholic beverages on June 15, saying the move would gradually ease the city to the “new normal” and slowly revive the local economy./PN ILOILO City – Starting today, the sale and consumption of liquor in this southern city will be prohibited once again. “Let us not make it hard for our medical frontliners to manage the cases because if they all get tired there will be no one left to save us from this adversity,” said Treñas. In Executive Order (EO) No. 113 issued yesterday morning, Treñas cited recommendations from different sectors he consulted. Establishments providing for essential goods shall be allowed to accept persons above 70 years of age during the first hour of operations. Succeeding operating hours shall be dedicated for all other patrons. “This [liquor ban] lessens unnecessary social gatherings which will be of great help for us to contain the virus,” said Treñas. “In Manila, hospitals are getting full and medical frontliners are getting tired,” the mayor pointed out during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. As of Aug. 3, Iloilo City has a total of 104 confirmed cases. Of the 104, 57 were active while 42 already recovered and five died. Thus, he reinstated the prohibition for two weeks. RESTRICTION TO MOVEMENT Mayor Jerry Treñas does not want the city to be falling into a “dire” situation similar to Metro Manila – the country’s original epicenter of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Under the EO entitled “Safety Guidelines for Iloilo City,” the city mayor also ordered all persons and establishments, whether public or private, to observe the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew from Aug. 4 to 18. He urged Ilonggos: “Cooperate with us by following all our health protocols.” Meanwhile, those 70 years old and older and those aged below 21 years are not allowed to leave their houses except to buy or secure essential goods such as food, and medicine, or to seek medical attention at hospitals or clinics. The EO likewise reiterated the implementation of health standards like strict physical distancing and provision of hand sanitizers or alcohol and among others in all establishments here. Under the EO, all employees aged 55 years old and above are allowed to avail themselves of work from home arrangement. BUYING FRENZYA store personnel loads boxes of alcoholic beverages into this man’s pedicab on Ortiz Street, Iloilo City on Monday, a day before the city government reinstated a two-week prohibition on the sale and consumption of liquor. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN
The Dawson County Sheriff’s department is reporting that a woman was gunned down in front of a fire station while fleeing from her husband.The incident occurred around 7:00 pm Monday in Dawson, Georgia.Jeff Johnson of the Dawson County Sheriff department, told the media that they received a call from the victim just before she pulled into a fire station with her husband in hot pursuit.The victim pulled into the station with her children ages 5 and 8 but did not have a chance to get out of the vehicle. Moments after they pulled into the stations, the husband approached the vehicle and shot the victim.Fire Chief Danny Thompson reported that the incident happened so quickly that there was nothing any of the fire fighters could do.The victim was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her husband surrendered at the scene and was taken into custody.Neither child was injured during the incident and have since been placed in the state’s care.Authorities have not released the names of those involved.
AS preparations continue for the historic hosting of the 13th edition of the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships under the auspices of the Caribbean Cycling Federation (CCF), Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has been boosted by the support of another corporate partner.On Friday afternoon, GCF president Horace Burrowes was presented with 30 cones that would be used to mark the turn back point of the race route in Bartica, which would be hosting the event from August 10 to 11 next, in association with the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) and National Sports Commission.Crystal Kallu, Administrative Assistant of Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., in handing over the items to Burrowes stated that they have been very supportive of sports and the development of young people and they had no hesitation in partnering with the GCF to bring off this event – the first time Guyana would be hosting same.“It is an absolute pleasure for Industrial Safety Supplies to be making this contribution to this championship which we are told would be attracting about 20 nations. The safety of the riders is of importance and therefore we trust that our contribution would go some distance in ensuring a safe and enjoyable championship for all the cyclists, male and female.”President Burrowes in response, thanked Ms Kallu and Manager of Industrial Safety Supplies, Hemant Narine, for coming on board without hesitation and promised that the cones would not only serve to ensure a well-run Junior Caribbean Championship but that the items would also help to enhance races that would be held locally.“The GCF would like to express sincere gratitude to you for this contribution. It is true that Guyana would be hosting thos championship for the first time in our history and we therefore want it to be the best ever in the history of the CCF. We can assure you that your partnership has taken us a step closer in achieving this objective.”
A MAN-of-the-match performance from Orison Sealy propelled Barbina XI to a seven-wicket victory against Sebai XI in a friendly hardball clash, organised by Sebai Sports Club on Sunday at Sebai Recreational Ground, in Sebai Village, Port Kaituma, Region One. Barbina XI of Mabaruma won the toss and opted to bowl first in front of a large crowd and under a clear sky. The home team’s batsmen had to face testing bowling on a lively pitch and fast outfield. With opening batsman Danny Benjamin leading the charge, the home team managed to post 95-6 in their allotted overs.Benjamin made a fluent 33, while Devon Benjamin added 16, Randolph Benjamin 13 not out and Sherlon Rodrigues nine, retired hurt.Owen James, who picked up 2-15 off two overs, led the visitors. Sealy, Adrian Hernandez, Elwin De Souza and Ozell Campbell supported with one wicket each.Needing to score at 6.4 runs per over, Barbina XI were able to quickly chase down the score. Sealy proved destructive against the home team’s bowling attack. He belted shots in all directions to finish with six sixes and one four in a top score of 55.Ainsworth Pritchard supported with a well-calculated 16 at the top of the innings, while Anthony Brown made 11 quick runs towards the end to seal the win (96-3) off 10.5 overs.Randolph Benjamin finished with 2-32 from 2.5 overs, while Kenneth Benjamin took 1-16 from three overs.Barbina XI will hope to continue their winning ways when they host Sebai XI this weekend in a return clash.Sebai Sports Club would like to extend gratitude to Mr Colin Croal for sponsoring the winners’ trophy.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Published on February 27, 2018 at 10:40 pm Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham Tiana Mangakahia moved from Meadowbrook, Australia, to Hutchinson, Kansas, to play basketball.But there was a problem.Mangakahia had signed an amateur contract while playing in Australia, something she said wasn’t “anything big.” Still, it threw her eligibility into question. The head coach at Hutchinson Community College, John Ontejs, said she wasn’t eligible according to NJCAA rules.Ontejs and Athletic Director Josh Gooch were going through Mangakahia’s paperwork when they discovered the issue. The two met with Mangakahia and broke the news. She’d have to sit for two years.“That was probably the harder year, my second year,” Mangakahia said. “Just because I had to do it all over again.”AdvertisementThis is placeholder textStill, Mangakahia persisted, and now, after two of the hardest years of her life, she is the starting point guard for Syracuse (22-7, 10-6 Atlantic Coast). Mangakahia’s transcendent court vision and passing drew D-I eyes despite her sitting on the bench for two years. It’s those traits, the essence of a pure point guard, that made Mangakahia the ACC single-season assists record-holder. And it’s those traits that have coaches at SU saying Mangakahia, a junior-college transfer, has the foundation to become the best point guard in the country.“That’s what your goal should be,” said SU assistant coach and former WNBA guard Tammi Reiss. “That’s what you’re working towards. She has the talent, she has the skill level. It’s those intangible things she needs to grow her game.”No one, not even Mangakahia, is quite sure where she gets her court vision from.Mangakahia remembers being good at basketball as a child, playing competitive pick-up games with her older brothers. She thinks that helped her vision and passing, but she’s not sure. She also remembers Christmas-time pick-up games with extended family, where her uncle displayed passing that wowed Mangakahia. She joked that maybe it’s genetic.“Just natural instinct, I guess,” she said.Codie Yan | Staff PhotographerShe parlayed her passing ability into a chance to train at the Australian Institute of Sport, the nation’s sports development academy, Mangakahia said. During her time there, Mangakahia practiced on the women’s team while the likes of current NBA players Ben Simmons and Dante Exum played for the men’s side.After two years at AIS, Mangakahia played point guard for the Australian under-19 national team, leading her country to a bronze finish at the 2013 FIBA World Championships in Lithuania. Then, she returned home from Eastern Europe, playing a season with the Townsville Fire in the Australian Women’s National Basketball League. Eventually, she moved on to Hutchinson, following her friend and current professional basketball player, Kalani Purcell.She couldn’t play in games, but Mangakahia practiced with the team, leading the scout team and challenging other players in practice, Ontejs said. There were days she struggled, but Ontejs and his staff pushed her just like any other player.“When we got her here and recognized and realized the situation,” Ontejs said, “we weren’t going to bail on it.”Come gamedays, Mangakahia took on the role of player-coach. From the bench, she focused on reading the defense, picking up little nuances and developing ways to exploit them. When teammates came off the floor, Ontejs said, Mangakahia almost always had a tip or bit of advice for someone to help expose a defense.Even though she wasn’t playing, she still directed her teammates. But simply showing some leadership and coaching prowess wasn’t enough to reel in a D-I offer. Luckily for Mangakahia, junior colleges play in preseason jamborees, essentially weekend tournaments packed with scrimmages, that pose no eligibility issues.The jamborees and her coaches’ advocacy focused Syracuse’s attention on Mangakahia, who finished her junior college career ranked the No. 1 junior-college recruit by espnW HoopGurlz.“It made me go to bed very comfortably at night knowing you have a very good point guard,” Reiss said.And so, despite not playing for two years and having potential eligibility problems, the offers rolled in. Oklahoma State and Nebraska were in the running, but Syracuse always stood out to Mangakahia. Partially because of the play style and due to the coaching staff, but also because SU head coach Quentin Hillsman promised her that if she got her paperwork in order, they would do everything possible to get her eligible.Kevin Camelo | Digital Design EditorMangakahia needed a litany of documents due to her international and junior-college status. That included records from Hutchinson all the way to under-nine basketball registration, which no one in Australia keeps, Mangakahia said. Her parents managed to hunt down all the documents, though, and after Syracuse’s compliance office looked everything over and deemed it a possibility, Reiss said, it was time to go to the NCAA for an eligibility waiver.A waiting game ensued, and the unknown filled Mangakahia’s mind. The main concern surrounded how many years of eligibility she’d get. Eventually, in the summer of 2017, Mangakahia sat in the Stevenson Educational Center on SU’s South Campus. The team’s director of program management and development, Cedric Solice, walked by.“You know you got three years of eligibility?” Solice asked.After two years of waiting, Mangakahia could finally play. At Hutchinson, she couldn’t be a player, so she learned to lead from the side. At Syracuse, she’s had to focus on playing, refining her skills with every game.Mangakahia’s vision allows her to make unexpected plays. Sometimes her own teammates are caught off guard. Against Pittsburgh on Feb. 19, Mangakahia hit Gabrielle Cooper going to the rim, but Cooper missed the layup. After the play, Mangakahia said, Cooper apologized, saying she expected Mangakahia to shoot.But teammates are adjusting. With just less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter against Duke on Feb. 15, Mangakahia came off a ball screen to her right and whipped a pass to Isis Young in the corner for a wide open 3. About five seconds before the screen, the two made eye contact.“She’ll make a decision, go, and then she’ll distribute the basketball,” Reiss said.Earlier in the season, after No. 4 Louisville came to the Carrier Dome and scraped by Syracuse, 84-77, UofL head coach Jeff Walz heaped praise on SU’s point guard.“If you’re a basketball fan in this city and you don’t come out to watch her, shame on you,” Walz said postgame. “I have no idea why there’s not 5,000 people, 6,000 in this place watching that kid play.”Codie Yan | Staff PhotographerSo far, Mangakahia’s skill has been enough to take SU to a 22-7 record and has the Orange feeling comfortable about its NCAA tournament chances, but Reiss wants more. She wants Mangakahia to be both a player and a leader.As a point guard, Mangakahia is expected to take charge, something she hasn’t done much this year. New to the team and admittedly not that vocal, Mangakahia acknowledged that being the leader isn’t easy. Reiss said she’s gotten better, even claiming Mangakahia is a top-tier point guard in the country.“That’s a point guard,” Reiss said. “That kid reminds me of Dawn Staley and Ticha Penicheiro as far as the vision, the passing with the swagger to her game. A real point guard, a pure point guard.”But, Reiss said, there are things Mangakahia needs to improve to ascend from good to the best point guard in the country: decision making, 3-point shooting, athleticism and leadership.The shooting, Reiss said, opens up the entire offensive game. Reiss cited Brittney Sykes’ 3-point shot as the thing that made her unguardable, and said the same applies to Mangakahia.She also needs to emphasize time in the weight room and dedicate herself to conditioning, Reiss said. Early in the season, Mangakahia held her hands on her sides, gasping for breath as her face flushed after sprinting up and down the court in Hillsman’s high-octane system. As the season has progressed, she’s gotten back into game shape, she said.“She has to become an unbelievable athlete,” Reiss said. “‘I can play 40 minutes, I can go balls to the wall, I’m strong, I’m fast, I’m agile, I’m quick.’”The decision-making comes with time and film study. It’s a tedious but necessary process. Each day, the coaching staff tries to impress upon Mangakahia the importance of making the right play, not the flashy one. Mangakahia persevered at Hutchinson, and she seems destined to prevail at Syracuse.When smart play, shooting and athleticism all come together, Reiss said, is when Mangakahia will be the leader, not just because she’s the point guard, but because she’s the best player on the floor in every game she plays.“When she leads by example,” Reiss said, “when no one can beat her in anything we do, now you follow her.” Comments
No. 4-seed Syracuse (9-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) faces No. 5-seed North Carolina (7-6, 1-3) on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the ACC tournament play-in game. The Orange ended the regular season with a 18-9 drubbing of Navy and the Tar Heels sunk to 1-3 in conference play with a loss at Notre Dame.Here’s what to know about the matchup.All-time series: 18-8, Syracuse leads.The last time they played: The Orange ground out a 12-9 victory over North Carolina last weekend to finish .500 in ACC play. Through one half, SU and UNC scored seven apiece. Then, Syracuse pulled away, shutting out the Tar Heels in the third quarter while scoring four goals of its own. The North Carolina report: The Tar Heels finished the regular season last in the ACC, going 1-3 with the lone win coming against Duke. UNC scores at a top-20 rate and allows 10.08 goals per game. AdvertisementThis is placeholder textWhat’s hamstrung North Carolina the most is struggles to win faceoffs, currently winning fewer than half (49.4 percent). Their top faceoff man, Zachary Tucci, is just above 50 percent, currently (144-of-287).Tucci’s main struggle, along with most of North Carolina’s, is rooted in youth. The Tar Heels goalie and faceoff specialist are both true-freshmen. While UNC’s talent showed in a win against Duke, the Tar Heels have largely struggled against superior competition. How Syracuse beats UNC: Win faceoffs and control the ball.This recipe has been working for Syracuse since an ugly, turnover-heavy loss at Notre Dame in late March. Since then, John Desko has preached how SU needs to make possessions count and maximize the number it was getting.The quickest path to more possessions is winning more faceoffs, something the Orange didn’t struggle to do against the Tar Heels first time around. If the Orange do that Thursday, it will be in good shape.Once the ball gets to the offense, Syracuse can ride with a top attack line that recently combined for 17 points against Navy. Playing from behind the cage to space out the offense, the Orange should look to methodically break down the Tar Heels through spacing, deliberate passing and smart shooting.Stat to know: 1086 days — It’s been nearly three years since Syracuse last won an ACC tournament game. The last time was May 1, 2016, when the Orange downed Duke, 14-8, in the title game.Player to watch: Tanner Cook, junior midfielder, No. 77After beating Navy, when looking ahead to a rematch with the Tar Heels, John Desko mentioned Cook, the Tar Heels left-handed Canadian. He noted Cook scored two goals against Notre Dame after going nearly silent through much of the second half of the season. In Cook, the Tar Heels might have a new offensive element. Comments Published on April 22, 2019 at 7:20 pm Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham
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Arsenal leapt back above Chelsea into third spot on Saturday but the Champions League challenge of Everton is all but over after they fell prey to Paolo Di Canio’s Black Cats. At the bottom, QPR and Reading look doomed after they lost to fellow strugglers Stoke and Norwich respectively, while Wigan also find themselves falling into deeper trouble.Premier League resultsHaving seen Chelsea leave Fulham with a 3-0 win in midweek, Arsenal knew they too had to come away from Craven Cottage with a positive result, and after an early red card for Steve Sidwell the Gunners limped to a 1-0 triumph. A first-half goal from Per Mertesacker earned Arsene Wenger’s men a fifth win in their last six league outings, lifting them five points clear of Tottenham, although Olivier Giroud was also sent off late on.Wenger made a tough call prior to kick-off, selecting Tomas Rosicky ahead of Jack Wilshere in midfield, but Arsenal had the ball in the net after only two minutes – rightly flagged offside against Theo Walcott.The Gunners’ task then became significantly easier when Sidwell – just back from suspension – lunged in on Mikel Arteta’s standing leg to receive a red card in the 12th minute. Not that the dismissal made an immediate impact, with Dimitar Berbatov wasting a glorious chance for Fulham moments later.Arsenal’s best opportunity of the first 40 minutes came when Giroud drove low across Mark Schwarzer only to see the ball rebound off the far post. However, a breakthrough arrived on the stroke of half-time when Laurent Koscielny nodded across goal for Mertesacker to touch home from close range. Wenger might have been disappointed that his men failed to kick on and make the game comfortable in the second half, with Fulham threatening an equaliser when Stanislav Manolev found the net 14 minutes from time – only to be correctly judged offside.Giroud was then harshly dismissed in the final minute of normal time when he rolled his foot over the top of the ball, but Arsenal’s European ambitions remain on track.Everton had the chance to move above Spurs into fifth – within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea – with victory at Sunderland, but Di Canio’s men have been revived under his guidance and claimed a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light. Stephane Sessegnon helped the Black Cats move six points clear of the bottom three, while Everton will surely have to realign their targets to a Europa League spot.A buoyant atmosphere greeted Di Canio for his first home game in charge, and the noise only rose when Sessegnon sent a shot swerving out of Tim Howard’s reach moments before half-time.David Moyes threw on Nikica Jelavic at half-time in attempt to get back into the game, but Sunderland clung on despite the best efforts of Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar. At the bottom of the table, QPR are almost certainly going to be relegated after Stoke won 2-0 to claim their first win since February 9 at Loftus Road. Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters were on the scoresheet to lift Stoke six points clear of safety, while QPR remain ten adrift with only 12 points to play for.Former QPR man Crouch got the opener when he converted from close range after Cameron Jerome’s cutback. Prior to that moment Harry Redknapp thought Adel Taarabt had won a penalty but referee Chris Foy rightly only awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.Redknapp took off Taarabt and Andros Townsend in an attempt to breathe life into his team, but they faded as an attacking threat after the introductions of Jamie Mackie and Jay Bothroyd. The game was sealed by Walters’ 77th-minute penalty, awarded for a Clint Hill tug on Crouch.Wigan failed to lift themselves out of trouble as the FA Cup finalists went down 2-0 at West Ham. Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan helped the Hammers into the top half of the table.Jarvis initially appeared to have played the role of creator as Nolan wheeled away claiming the opener, but upon review it seemed the former Wolves man’s cross went in without a touch from his colleague. Roberto Martinez will be left frustrated after his team were again the better side – as they were at Manchester City in midweek – but games are running out for the Latics to turn performances into goals after Nolan this time claimed his 100th career goal with ten minutes remaining.Bottom club Reading will surely be planning for life in the Championship next year after they lost 2-1 to Norwich at Carrow Road. Like QPR, the result leaves the Royals open to relegation if Aston Villa win their next fixture.Norwich, who stretch their cushion to seven points, scored twice in two second-half minutes not long after half-time, Ryan Bennett netting the first before Elliott Bennett capitalised on Alex McCarthy’s misjudgement for the second. Reading found a 72nd-minute reply through Garath McClearly, but they finished the game with nothing.Newcastle will hope not to be dragged into trouble after they drew with West Brom 1-1 at the Hawthorns. Yoan Gouffran’s strike was cancelled out by Billy Jones as the Magpies moved six points clear of the bottom three with four games left to play.Gouffran scored with the game’s first chance after eight minutes, heading home Papiss Cisse’s cross to answer Alan Shearer’s criticism of the club’s French imports following the derby loss to Sunderland. However, Jones equalised midway through the second half. Elsewhere, Swansea and Southampton drew 0-0 at the Liberty Stadium in a relatively meaningless game for both teams. Saints should be safe on 39 points, and arguably should have won it in the first half through Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has offered 5 000 school kits to less privileged children in his homeland, Ivory Coast, to facilitate their return to school in the new academic session.The former captain of the country’s national team made the donation through his foundation which bears his name – Didier Drogba Foundation.The kits include note and textbooks, bags, writing materials, mathematics sets, water bottles and toiletries, which will be distributed to selected families, according to the foundation’s secretariat in Abidjan.The construction of a £3 million hospital for the underprivileged was launched in Ivory Coast by the 36-year-old striker in 2012. It is the first of five health facilities the player announced to build across the West African country.Drogba also inaugurated his underwear line early this year known as Drogba & Co, promising to return the sum of €1 from every sale to his foundation, which focuses on health and educational activities in Ivory Coast.
Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error One thing the Clippers have had issues with in recent postseasons is maintaining a sense of urgency. They blew Game 5 in Oklahoma City two years ago when they thought they had it won, then lost the series in Game 6 at Staples Center. They fell apart in Game 6 at Staples Center this past season when they relaxed with a big lead, then lost Game 7 at Houston.Both were Western Conference semifinal series, meaning each time a chance to advance to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history was lost.The Clippers currently lead the Portland Trail Blazers 2-0 in their first-round series, which resumes Saturday in Portland. Power forward Blake Griffin believes his team will continue playing with desperation because it has not forgotten what’s happened in the past.“I think it’s in all of our minds,” he said Thursday. “Some guys, obviously, weren’t here. But for the guys that were, the guys that went through it, I think it’s hard to forget something like that and I don’t think you should. Best defenseA lot has been made about how strong the Clippers’ defense has been. At the moment, they appear at the top of their game. According to Griffin, this is the best defense he has seen in six seasons with the team.“Yeah, I mean, I think we’ve really bought into the whole trust thing,” he said. “I think it shows a little bit on the court – just running guys off, next guy is there and the next guy has that guys’ back and the next guy has that guys’ back.”The Clippers held the Trail Blazers to 39.8 percent shooting in a 115-95 Game 1 victory and to 34.1 percent in Wednesday’s 102-81 win.Redick’s sore heelShooting guard J.J. Redick bruised his left heel on April 12 against Memphis. It’s still bothering him, Rivers said.“Yeah, it definitely has an impact, I think with his movement, for sure,” he said. “I think as the game goes on I’m trying to figure out how to rest him.”Rivers said he wasn’t sure if giving him a longer rest than usual in Game 1 helped.“I actually thought he didn’t move that well coming back in, so we may adjust that,” he said.Redick scored 17 points in Game 1 on 8-of-12 shooting, he scored 17 on 7 of 15 in Game 2. He played 26 1/2 minutes and 28 1/2 minutes, respectively. He averaged 28 minutes during the season.Rivers on PrinceRivers was bummed out about the death of Prince on Thursday at age 57.“Yeah, it’s really sad,” he said. “Him and Michael (Jackson) were my two guys and to lose them both this early is just crazy to me. Growing up, it was Prince or Michael. Sometimes, you had to take sides.”Rivers said he saw Prince “two or three times” in concert.
“That’s kind of how you learn from it and get kind of better. … Each year we’ve lost in kind of a different way and if there is one thing we’ve done and we know how to do is, it’s lose. So we’re not going to do the same things that we’ve done in the past. I think this year we’ve kind of embraced that, of not being a team that does what, quote en quote, losers do.”Coach Doc Rivers scoffed at the notion his team is playing with urgency because of past postseason failings.“I always say everybody fails in the playoffs if you don’t win it,” he said. “You call it failing, we call it growing and just trying to get better.”Playing all-out should be automatic, Rivers suggested.“You can’t not have an urgency about you,” he said. “We try to get our guys to understand single-possession, 48 minutes are the keys to winning in the playoffs. There are games where I think we do that, then there are games that we don’t. But if we want to be great, we have to learn how to do it all the time.”
Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error Lonzo Ball praised his controversial father, LaVar Ball, in a letter to the Players’ Tribune on Friday. The Father’s Day tribute addressed why many of the same attributes that have sparked criticism of LaVar in the media have been a positive influence on Lonzo. The former UCLA point guard published the letter two days after a Foot Locker commercial starring Lonzo, among other top prospects for the June 22 NBA draft, poked fun at LaVar. Lonzo makes it clear that there is much more to his father than the mercurial persona that has produced an unceasing series of outlandish statements in the media. Lonzo acknowledges some of his father’s flaws in the letter, but states that he wouldn’t be on the brink of beginning a career in the NBA had LaVar not guided him along the way. “One of the things I admire most about you is that you don’t really care what other people think,” Lonzo said. “People can have whatever opinions they want about who you are as a person, but they’ll never have all the facts. They’ll never know you like I do.” Read the entire letter here.