SPORTS

t h e j e r u s a l e m p o s t S u n d ay, a u g u s t 9 , 2 015

11

Chelsea held by Swansea at Stamford Bridge

United beats Spurs courtesy of Walker own goal New boys Bournemouth suffer home defeat by Villa

Aussies stun All Blacks in Rugby Championship

Australia stunned world champions New Zealand 27-19 to
claim a first Rugby Championship title in the fourth year of the
competition and a welcome boost ahead of the World Cup on
Saturday.
Nic White came off the bench to score a penalty and a converted try which settled a contest that had see-sawed back and
forth for the best part of 70 minutes, giving the Wallabies a first
win over the All Blacks since they won the final Tri-Nations in
2011.
Prop Sekope Kepu and winger Adam Ashley-Cooper also
crossed for the Australians, who will win back the Bledisloe
Cup for the first time since 2002 if they can beat their neighbors in Auckland next week.
New Zealand winger Nehe Milner-Skudder scored two tries
on debut and flyhalf Dan Carter kicked three penalties, but it
was not enough to prevent the All Blacks falling to only a third
defeat since winning the World Cup in 2011.
You dont just say youve won once in quite a long time
and youve done something special,Australia coach Michael
Cheika said, trying to dampen down expectations.
Its nice for the lads, but its an abridged Rugby Championship so its only the three games. We want to test ourselves
over more games.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw suffered only his 15th defeat
in the black shirt as he made his 141st appearance for his country, matching Irishman Brian ODriscolls record tally.
I think Australia played exceptionally well tonight and thoroughly deserved the win, said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Were hurting. It still sucks even if it doesnt happen that often.
Reuters

By Ian Chadband

LONDON (Reuters) Chelsea

was embroiled in familiar Premier League high drama as the
champions were reduced to 10
men and held 2-2 by Swansea
City on Saturday in an entertaining start to the defense of
their title at their home fortress.
The new season had earlier
kicked off in unique fashion
with a 22nd minute own goal
by Tottenham Hotspurs Kyle
Walker giving Manchester United a 1-0 victory in an undistinguished season opener at Old
Trafford.
Never before had the competition begun with a player putting
the ball into his own net, but
the days late fixture at Stamford Bridge also featured an own
goal, plus much, much more.
The rich entertainment
included Chelsea goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois being sent off
and the danger of that rarest of
events manager Jose Mourinho losing a home match to
inspired opponents.
The games involving the big
guns, neither of whom were
near their best, bookended a
tough afternoon for the unfancied newcomers with Watford
pegged back to a 2-2 draw at
Everton after twice leading
and Norwich City losing 3-1 at
home to Crystal Palace.
Bournemouth, the romantics favorite after its extraordinary six-year march from
near-bankruptcy to the Premier
League, had its fairytale rudely
interrupted at a vibrant, emotional Dean Court as Aston
Villa defeated them 1-0 in their
first-ever match in the top flight
in 125 years.

Sports shorts

McIlroy at Whistling Straits to prepare for PGA

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney shoots a free kick during the Reds 1-0 victory against the feisty Tottenham Hotspur
to start off their Premier League campaign yesterday at Old Trafford. (Reuters)
Six minutes after Oscar had
put Chelsea ahead with a 23rd
minute free kick, Swanseas new
signing Andre Ayew equalized
only for the host to restore its
lead within 92 seconds thanks
to a big, looping deflection off
luckless defender Federico Fernandez from a Willian cross.
The own goal, which left goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski hopelessly stranded, seemed to have
settled Chelsea only for Swansea to roar forward again, with
Jefferson Montero in wonderful
form, following the break.
After Bafetimbi Gomis beat
the offside trap in the 55th, he
was hacked down by Courtois
on the edge of the penalty area.
Referee Michael Oliver showed
the Belgian keeper a red card and
Gomis got up to slot the penalty
past his replacement in goal,

new signing Asmir Begovic.

As Swansea sniffed a similar
sensation to when it beat Manchester United in last seasons
opening game, Gomis even
had a goal disallowed for offside
amid thrilling combat.
The marquee match of the
day had seen Tottenham dominate early on until Walkers
own goal enabled United, with
five expensive debutants in its
ranks, to take the points even
though it only had one shot
on target.
A late attacking flurry from
Spurs was repelled by the hosts
new Argentine keeper Sergio
Romero.
Romero, replacing David De
Gea, dropped because Van Gaal
felt his mind would not be on
the job amid speculation over
his possible transfer to Real

Madrid, made three late saves.

Spurs had been firmly in control until Nabil Bentaleb carelessly gave away possession in
midfield allowing United to
rampage down the right flank.
Ashley Youngs cross looked
to have put Wayne Rooney in
at point blank range only for
Walker to dash back madly to
rescue the situation before his
attempt to rob the United captain saw him nudge the ball
into the corner of his own net.
Watford, back in the top
flight for the first time in eight
years with another new manager, Quique Sanchez Flores, and
a completely revamped lineup, enjoyed a thrilling return
at Goodison with Mexican
Miguel Layun scoring his first
goal for the club in the 14th
minute.

After Ross Barkley had equalized with a dazzling effort,

Odion Ighalo put the visitors
ahead with seven minutes
remaining before Arouna Kone
equalized two minutes later.
Bournemouth, playing in the
smallest ground ever to stage
Premier League football, saw its
party pooped by Rudy Gestede,
Villas new signing from Blackburn Rovers who headed home
a 72nd minute winner.

results
Saturdays results: Bournemouth 0,
Aston Villa 1; Chelsea 2, Swansea City
2; Everton 2, Watford 2; Leicester City
4, Sunderland 2; Manchester United 1,
Tottenham Hotspur 0; Norwich City 1,
Crystal Palace 3.
Sunday on TV: Arsenal vs West Ham
United / Newcastle vs Southampton (live
on Sport 1 at 3:20 p.m.); Stoke City vs Liverpool (live on Sport 1 at 5:50 p.m.)

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy arrived at Whistling Straits for

a practice round on Saturday as he bids to return to competitive golf from an ankle injury and defend his PGA
Championship title at the links-style venue next week.
Reuters exclusively reported on Monday that the fourtimes major champion had scheduled a practice round at
the site for Saturday, a report that turned out to be accurate even though it was denied by the golfers publicist.
The Northern Irishman, out of action since he ruptured
a ligament in his left ankle while playing soccer with
friends on July 4, does not have to commit to the tournament, which starts on Thursday, until his official tee time
for the opening round.
McIlroy has been grouped with Masters and US Open
champion Jordan Spieth and British Open winner Zach
Johnson for the first two rounds of the years final major at
Whistling Straits in Kohler,Wisconsin.
Should he tee off as expected on Thursday, it would be
just 40 days since he suffered an injury that some medical
experts said might take about three months to heal.
It also would be seven-and-a-half weeks since he tied for
ninth in the US Open at Chambers Bay and would give the
PGA Championship a huge boost as he and Spieth share
top billing.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman withdrew from the
July 9-12 Scottish Open after suffering the ankle injury and
was unable to defend his British Open title the following
week at St. Andrews.

Reuters

Vibrant England finds perfect Blatt adept at rolling with the punches
blend to win Ashes with gusto
cricket
NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) Englands
comprehensive Ashes victory over Australia was
built on a purposeful and well-drilled team
that combined the perfect blend of youth and
experience.
Series draws against West Indies and New Zealand showed glimpses of promise but also worrying inconsistencies which suggested stalwarts
like Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Matt Prior
and Kevin Pietersen had not been adequately
replaced.
The vibrant cricket that won back the Ashes,
however, proved that the new team has come
of age.
Alastair Cook adopted a more aggressive
approach as captain, James Anderson and Stuart Broad led the pace attack, while Joe Root
and Ben Stokes provided the youthful energy to
deliver at key moments of the series.
Although he did not make a century in the
first four tests, Cook is back to his best at the top
of the order, a calming presence for the players
around him.
Anderson produced an inspired spell at Edgbaston, taking advantage of favorable conditions to complete figures of 6-47 which set up an
eight-wicket win.
Englands leading wicket-taker was ruled out
of the fourth test with a side injury, but Broad
assumed responsibility, bowling an inspired
spell on the first morning at Trent Bridge to
complete career-best figures of 8-15 and skittle
the Australians for 60.
Root, 24, confirmed himself to be a batsman
of the highest class.
His composed 134 set up the first test victory
in Cardiff and it was the Yorkshire right-hander
who capitalized on Broads heroics with a fluent innings of 130 to lay the platform for the
series-clinching win.
Stokes, who batted superbly in the first test
against New Zealand, was subdued against Australia before springing to life with the ball at the
perfect moment on the second afternoon at
Trent Bridge.
Chris Rogers and David Warner were compiling a patient opening partnership that could
have dragged Australia back into the match
when the firebrand all-rounder put his hand up.
Three quick wickets before tea and a magnificent catch to dismiss Steve Smith turned the
game firmly back Englands way.
Other players made cameo contributions to
the triumph.
Ian Bell, under pressure for his place and promoted to number three, made two half-centuries at Edgbaston, the second guiding England

commentary
By MATTHEW AXEL

I
Mark Wood celebrates the wicket of
Australias Nathan Lyon, sparking wild
celebrations on the pitch and around the
ground as England regained the Ashes at a
euphoric Trent Bridge yesterday. (Reuters)
calmly to a modest victory target of 121.
Moeen Ali proved once again what a useful
weapon he is at number eight in the order, a
quickfire 38 on Friday lifting his team after Australia grabbed five early wickets.
Jos Buttler had a disappointing series with
the bat but kept wicket well, taking a couple
of superb diving catches at key moments and
energizing the team.
Mark Wood and Steven Finn also contributed
with the ball.
Finn bowled a superb spell at Edgbaston
to complete figures of 6-79 and confirm his
re-emergence as a test bowler while the livewire Wood claimed three wickets in the second
innings at Trent Bridge and had the honor of
delivering the ball that sealed the Ashes.
Jonny Bairstow scored a fluent 74 at Trent
Bridge after being recalled in place of Gary
Balance and the only England player to fail to
make a significant contribution was opener
Adam Lyth.
He endured a difficult series and must be
under pressure after failing to get past fifty,
although there are few alternatives and he will
surely get another chance at The Oval to cement
his place as Cooks long-term partner.

n a video from 2013 that went viral, Coach

David Blatt has had enough.
Shut the f--k up! Blatt yells, then turns
his attention back to his sketch-pad to lay
out the rest of his game plan. No one on his
Maccabi Tel Aviv team dares to interrupt
him again.
In another video from May 2015, after his
Cleveland Cavaliers had just beaten the
Atlanta Hawks, Blatt puts his arm around
Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, clenches his
shoulder, and whispers, Proud of you,
man.
Later in that same game, he sits next to a
moody-looking James Jones and does the
same. The two share a smile.
David Blatt was the Greg Popovich of
Europe. Having plowed through the European circuit, he was highly respected and
feared. It was a reputation he had to leave
behind in 2014 when he departed for a new
coaching career, thousands of miles away.
Now, after the Cavs put up a legitimate
fight against the Golden State Warriors in
the NBA Finals (they lost in six games), it
seems Blatt has finally rebuilt that clout and
the club is heading into the new NBA season as the bookmakers favorites to win the
championship,
To do so, he had to become a different
sort of leader.
Take, for instance, the pivotal Game 4 of the
Eastern Conference semifinals against the Chicago Bulls, when Blatt called a timeout. With
just 1.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a tied game, he decided that LeBron
James would serve as an in-bounder.
LeBron scratched out that play.
Just give me the ball, he said. Were

UNDER A microscope throughout his

first season in the NBA, Cleveland
Cavaliers Israeli-American coach David
Blatt weathered the storm and came
within two games of a title. (Reuters)
either going to go into overtime or Im
going to win it for us now.
James hit the off-balanced fadeaway shot
from the corner and the Cavs tied the bestof-seven series 2-2 and went on to win the
next seven games before running into the
Warriors.
While many people blasted Blatt for a timeout blunder just minutes before the
game-winning shot as well as his initial call
on the final play, the 56-year-old Israeli-American coach stuck to his team-first message and
deftly deflected the mounting criticism.
Minus the profanity, lots of NBA coaches
represent the old David Blatt: That insufferable bastard that was screaming at players
during timeouts and sending them back to
the locker room back in Tel Aviv, recalls one
sour fan on I Go Hard Now, a basketball and
entertainment blog.
Some disparage Blatt for since falling prey
to the superstar effect, which essentially
means that coaches defer authority to certain players whom they know the NBA prioritizes like LeBron.
One of the reasons LeBron James came
back to Cleveland was for the amount of
control he could have over the team, wrote
Brett Pollakoff in an article for NBC Sports.
And it appears as though hes taken over
the play-calling duties from his coach even
if Blatt is trying desperately to make it seem
as though hes still in command.
Jove Tse, a religious Cavaliers fan as well as
an economics major at Case Western
Reserve University, is well of aware of the
paradigm, but hates hearing it be used to

discredit Blatt. He heard a lot of that talk in

the gym of his local Jewish Community
Center, where he used to work.
Yes, the structure of the NBA lends itself
to being a players market, said Jove. If a
superstar says give me the ball, you give
him the ball, for sure. But to say that LeBron
is the coach and Blatt doesnt do anything
thats a misconception.
Pundits often claim that if LeBron was not
such a natural leader himself, the team
would crumble under his reign, and Blatt
wouldnt be able to do a thing about it.
But its not the shared power between
LeBron and Blatt that drove the Cavaliers
success this year, Jove argues: Rather, its the
overarching mentality from which that
dynamic manifests.
Whether its a superstar or a nobody,
Blatts ultimate goal is the same: empowering the player in whatever way he can.
Kobe Bryant once said, Friends are temporary, but banners are forever.
Yet it wasnt winning alone that was on
Blatts mind when he opted to let point
guard Matthew Dellavedova, who few
would have recommended putting on the
court even for 10 minutes, play entire
games in the Finals against Golden State. It
was a sense of a community, unconditional
trust and good, old-fashioned faith.
With All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love
sidelined with injuries, the Cavaliers were
clenching onto their moral for dear life. For
the Cavs to have any hope of winning, Blatt
needed to ensure a sense of team spirit that
each and every player felt like a valuable asset.
Apparently, it worked. The Cavaliers went
from being an offensive powerhouse to a
defensive machine that shut down a typically
unbeatable offense and took an 2-1 lead in
the series before the Warriors buckled down.
Dellavedova exploded in the second half
of Game 3, scoring 24 points, and delivered
a number of clutch plays that made Steven
Curry look like a D-leaguer. Even after tying
the series two nights later, the Golden State
MVP felt somewhat intimidated.
I have to be more aggressive in those situations and not allow that secondary
defender to come, Curry told a reporter
after the game.
By all metrics, the Golden State Warriors
should have dominated the series. The Cavs
fought all the way to Game 6 a huge, bittersweet accomplishment.
While LeBron is, deservingly, given much of
the credit, plenty is owed to the bold philosophy of a great coach. Most coaches would
have taken a more forceful route if they were
expected to win a championship game in the
first year their team was assembled. Blatt
nearly accomplished that, all the while allowing his players to grow, the fruits of which he
will be hoping to reap in 2015/16.