Daily Archives: September 16, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah The Utah Jazz open their season on October 20, just 36 days from today. With the clock ticking, we look at50 things for Jazz fans to be excited about leading up to the 2021-22 NBA season. Coming in at number 35, how Jazz players who played in the Olympics return to the court.

The Jazz had three Olympians travel to Tokyo to compete for medals and impressively, both Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles came home with the silver and bronze.

Miye Oni was impressive in his own right, helping Nigeria qualify for the Olympics while finding a spot in the rotation among several more proven NBA players.

Now the question becomes how do these Olympic Jazz players who had heavier loads during the offseason return to the NBA floor?

For Gobert and Ingles, the question may be one of exhaustion after each Jazzman played significant minutes during the runs to the medal rounds. Gobert played the 10th most minutes of any player in the Olympics while competing in all six outings.

Likewise, Ingles played in a full six games after reaching the medal rounds, and played a total of 185 minutes, the third-most of any player at the games.

How will those games, exhibition games, plus practice time and travel factor into their fatigue this season?

Additionally, how does the satisfaction of winning a bronze medal for Australia change Ingles outlook on his future as a professional basketball player heading into the final season of his contract? And, is Gobert motivated by falling just short of Olympic gold?

On the flip side, how might the experience of getting significant time while playing among fellow NBA players and against some of the best players boost Onis talent and confidence?

Oni averaged over 21 minutes per game during group play, and while the sample size was limited, averaged 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting an impressive 46 percent from the three-point line on 4.3 attempts per game.

With Georges Niang leaving the Jazz for the Philadelphia 76ers, the bench unit has lost its second-best three-point shooter behind Ingles. If Oni can keep up his hot shooting from the Olympics while continuing to develop his terrific 6-foot-6, with a 6-foot-9 wingspan frame, he could be a valuable 3-and-D option for the Jazz off the bench.

While all eyes will be on the Jazz progressing through the season, its the minutes and experience from the Olympics behind them that could change the outcome of the Jazz season.

With 35 days left to go, the Jazz three Olympic stars post-Tokyo play is one of the 50 storylines to monitor heading into opening night.

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35. Three Jazz Players After The Olympics - KSL Sports

Representing the U.S. in rugby sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, Kristi Kirshe 17 evades a tackle in a game against Australia. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Lee, KLC fotos.)

Div. III athletics are not commonly thought of as a breeding ground for Olympic athletes. But four Williams alums Joey Lye 09, Tala Abujbara 14, Will Hardy 10, and Kristi Kirshe 17 have broken the mold, appearing in this years Olympics in a variety of roles and for three different countries. From the Purple Valley to Tokyo, and after a year-long delay of the Games, these four alums have traversed a diverse array of paths to reach the pinnacle of their sports.

Joey Lye 09

Joey Lye 09, alongside the rest of the Canadian softball team, received her Olympic bronze medal standing on the Olympic podium in front of a near-empty stadium. Even though the stadium wasnt overflowing with spectators and cheers, that moment was an extremely special one for our program and country, she wrote in an email to the Record. I will forever remember the emotions of placing [teammate] Erika Polidoris medal around her neck and receiving mine from Jenn Salling in addition to sharing a big embrace with each of them.

Lye helped Canada bring home a bronze medal with a 3-2 win over Mexico. The typical exclusion of softball in the Olympic games it hadnt been in the games since 2008 and will not be in 2024 made this experience especially historic, despite the lack of spectators.

While we would have loved to share the experience with family and friends, we enjoyed the intimate experience of making history for our country with just us to witness it in person, she wrote. It was a special moment for our team that we will remember forever.

While Olympians could not bring family and friends to the Games, Lye noted that there was a sense of community in the Olympic Village. Despite [having to mask at all times], there were still many athletes out and about trading pins and sharing stories, she recalled. You could feel the energy and excitement, especially when we returned to the village from our trip to Fukushima where we played our first two games.

Lye also had the opportunity to meet up with fellow Ephs Kirshe and Abujbara, which proved to be her favorite moment off the field. It was pretty special to meet fellow Eph athletes and hear about the successes and obstacles they faced in order to be competing in Tokyo, she wrote.

The transition from college athletics to the international level is an adjustment, according to Lye. My nerves were probably the biggest thing I had to learn to control after having been so comfortable playing at Williams by the time I graduated, she wrote. Lots of attention has been given to the mental side of the game over the past 12 years.

[But] Williams prepared me by challenging me in every aspect physically, mentally, emotionally, and with time-management and balancing various responsibilities, Lye wrote. Stepping into the real world after graduation, I felt I could accomplish almost anything I set my mind to.

Tala Abujbara 14

Abujbara had never rowed before stepping foot on the Colleges campus. In a whirlwind 11 years, however, she learned to row, became the first Qatari woman to qualify for and compete in the Olympics in her sport, and achieved a goal she had set for herself many years before.

When Abujbara returned to her home country of Qatar after graduating from the College in 2014, she began training with the Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation. At the time, rowing was still relatively unknown in Qatar, according to Abujbara. Due to the lack of rowers in Qatar, she was forced to row in a single. I am a team sport athlete at heart, so to be training and competing alone for most of my journey has been the part I struggled with the most, she wrote to the Record.

The transition to individual rowing was challenging for Abujbara. Seemingly overnight, I went from winning consecutive NCAA championships in an eight [-person boat] to survival-rowing my way to the finish line in a single at the 2014 World Championships, a full 1.5 minutes behind all other competition, she told the Record. However, my experiences at Williams instilled a love for rowing and a passion for high-level sport which helped carry me through the challenges over the years.

Undeterred by these challenges, Abujbara had her eyes set on a greater goal: competing at the Olympics. Her plan was simple. She would finish her Masters program, compete at the Olympics, and then return to Qatar to start working. The pandemic and resulting postponement of the 2020 Olympics, however, presented significant obstacles to that plan, as she now had to balance training with working a full-time job.

Despite these obstacles, Abujbara managed to secure an Olympic qualification spot at a regatta last May. Earning the spot meant Abujbara would represent Qatar in the womens single sculls competition. It was a huge honor to represent my country and to be competing at the Olympics, she wrote. I went into the competition knowing that I was way out of medal contention, but I had my plan and my job to do.

Abujbara did just that, winning her final race with a 6.78-second margin of victory over Ugandas Kathleen Noble and finishing in 25th place in the womens single scull competition.

Like Lye, Abujbara also found community in the Olympic Village. Every single rower competing at the Olympics has been through inconceivable challenges to make it to the start line, she wrote. It was extremely inspiring to be in the midst of that and there was a great sense of sportsmanship and solidarity between us.

While at the Olympics, Abujbara created once-in-a-lifetime memories. Not only was she a flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies, but she also enjoyed meeting with Lye and Kirshe. We chatted about our sports careers during/after Williams and found a lot of common ground in our experience, she wrote.

Having returned home from Tokyo, Abujbara plans to take a step back from rowing and focus on other aspects of her life that she has had to sacrifice over the past few years.

Becoming an Olympian has taught me that achieving a big goal is great, but it is only truly worth it if you enjoy the process along the way, she wrote. I have no regrets and am so grateful for my journey, but I am now ready to spend less time relentlessly grinding away at the future and more time focusing on the present.

While her time representing Qatar in rowing may be drawing to a close, Abujbaras impact on womens sports in Qatar has just begun. Several young women have already reached out to me expressing their interest in taking up sport and asking for my advice, she wrote to the Record. If I could inspire even just a handful of girls to start participating in sports, then this was all worth it.

Will Hardy 10

Hardy took a slightly different route to the Tokyo Olympics than his fellow Ephs. Chosen by San Antonio Spurs and U.S. mens basketball head coach Gregg Popovich to be a member of his staff, Hardy stayed with the basketball team in a hotel away from the Olympic Village. It was a far different Olympic experience than people are familiar with, Hardy said. They really kept everything very separate to try to prevent any type of outbreak [of COVID].

As a coach, Hardy also had a different set of responsibilities and priorities from the other Ephs during his time in Tokyo. Hardys main role was briefing the U.S. mens basketball team on the various opponents that they faced on the way to their 16th gold medal. My responsibility was really making sure that everybody had the video they needed and preparing the scouting reports, Hardy said.

Hardy had taken on a similar role earlier in his career. After a successful playing career with the Colleges mens basketball team, Hardy worked as a video coordinator for the Spurs. It was there that Hardy grew close to Popovich, eventually rising up the ranks to become the Spurs assistant coach for five years and even joining Popovichs staff for the USA mens basketball team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

While Hardy left the Spurs to join the Boston Celtics this summer, the Olympics gave him the opportunity to have one last run with Popovich, his long-time mentor. It was kind of a couple-year commitment because [Popovich] was going to coach the [USA] team for that long and he wanted to have the same staff all the way through, Hardy said. He asked a couple years ago it was a pretty quick decision to say yes.

Like all the other teams, U.S. mens basketball had to face the ramifications of the year-long delay brought about by the pandemic. However, the process of assembling the team and preparing for competition remained largely unchanged.

I dont know if COVID and the delay affected our preparation super directly, because a lot of that preparation happens towards the end once you know whos in the tournament and then what the groups are, Hardy said. We dont know what the team would have been in 2020, in terms of the people that would have been on it, because the team isnt selected until much later.

U.S. mens basketball had a rough start, losing pre-tournament exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia and its opening game of the Olympics to France. As the most prominent team in one of the biggest sports at the Olympics, Hardy knew that there would be pressure to deliver results. Team USA basketball always draws a big audience, Hardy said. A lot of people [are] excited to see our guys play, and probably a lot of people [are] hoping to see our guys lose.

The lack of spectators at the games added a new element to the mix. To be in a building of that size without the noise is eerie at times, he said. Chandler Gym with no one in it would be weird to play a game [in].

Still, the team made the best of the strange circumstances, according to Hardy. In some ways, it really brings you back to the team dynamic because you have to create your own energy, he said. The bench is probably more animated than it would be in a regular game because theyre trying to carry some of that energy that a crowd would bring.

Despite their slow start, the team closed out the tournament with five consecutive wins, earning them their fourth consecutive gold medal. I think it just takes a little time for everybody to sort out how they best fit together, said Hardy. The guys are so competitive they just want to win. I think this group in particular was really fun to watch. They all put their own personal egos and all that stuff aside and just tried to figure out how they best fit together.

U.S. basketball is no stranger to Olympic gold medals. However, Hardy said that this years victory was especially sweet given the unforeseen challenges of competing during a pandemic. It was hard, I think, for a lot of reasons, Hardy said. There was the slow start, some guys had to leave the team with COVID, we had three guys come in the first day of the game from the [NBA] Finals, being away from your family for a month It was isolating in some ways, and I think everybody, really, just put their heads down and worked, he said.

Still barely 10 years out from his graduation, Hardy reflected upon how far he had come from his time at the College. Id be lying to you if I said I had a master plan while I was at Williams, he said. At 20 and 21 I was just trying to get an education, and I was enjoying college and being on a team and being in Williamstown, which was an experience I still look back on so fondly because it changed me and matured me in ways I never expected. Im not going to sit here and tell you I knew when I was 20, living in [Mark] Hopkins and eating at Greylock, that I was like, Im going to be a coach one day.

Kristi Kirshe 17

Throughout her time in college, Kirshe didnt give much thought to the possibility of an athletic career post-graduation. I figured that once I made the choice to go to Williams and play Division III soccer my life was going to be outside of purely athletics, she said. I thought my moment had passed already.

At the College, Kirshe was a consistent standout on the womens soccer team, earning two-time All-American honors and setting school records for all-time career goals and points. In fact, her rugby career did not start until nine months after her departure from the Purple Valley. Barely four years later, Kirshe was representing her country at the Olympics in womens rugby, a sport she had never even tried out until after graduating. It was quite a whirlwind of a process, Kirshe said.

After joining a local club in Boston, where she was working, Kirshe was quickly recruited to a regional academy team. Kirshe was scouted at her first tournament with the team at the U.S. rugby training center in California and called up to a national team camp soon afterward. I made my national team debut in January of 2019, 11 months after first going to a rugby practice, said Kirshe. Pretty crazy little timeline.

Some parts of her soccer experience, Kirshe said, served her well during the transition to a career in rugby. One of the big elements is just the fluidity of soccer and rugby, she said. Theyre not really start-stop sports, theyre sports where youre constantly kind of in motion.

Like the other Olympic athletes, Kirshe and U.S. womens rugby struggled with the adjustments required after the year-long delay. It was tough because we didnt have the same level of competitions and international games and all that kind of stuff that we would have in a normal year, so we spent a lot of time playing ourselves, practicing against ourselves, Kirshe said.

After the postponement, I didnt want to put too much weight on [the Olympics] because you never knew if it was actually going to happen, Kirshe added. But moments like the opening ceremonies and running out on the field for the first time were such special, surreal moments that Im just so thankful I got to experience.

The camaraderie of the Olympic experience was also a highlight. Being with all of Team USA and being around all these athletes that you grow up looking up to was a really special moment, Kirshe said. It was just such a dream come true.

When reflecting on her time as an Eph, Kirshe explained that the environment of athletics at the College prepared her well for Olympic rugby. When youre at Williams, your sport feels like the most important thing, Kirshe said. [The] environment is very similar, very professional. So that was actually a pretty easy transition for me because I was like, Yeah, I know how to do this. I know how to show up every day ready to play because I learned it all at Williams.

Not satisfied with just one Olympics appearance, Kirshe is training hard with an eye towards Paris 2024. For now, rugby is my full-time job, [my] full-time career, she said. So at this point, Im hoping to stay around until 2024.

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An Olympics like no other: Four alums reflect on their experiences in Tokyo - The Williams record

PHOENIX -- Amy Bockerstette will be taking her talents to the national stage next year.

Bockerstette, who has Down syndrome, was one of five golfers selected for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, which will be held next June at the Orange County National Golf Center in Orlando, Florida.

PGA Tour golfer Gary Woodland told Bockerstette she was selected to represent Special Olympics Arizona in a video Monday.

"Millions of people have been inspired by your positive attitude and the positive energy you share with everyone," Woodland said in the video. "I look forward to cheering you and your fellow athletes on as you compete and shine as one. I know you will continue to inspire us and make us all so proud. Amy, you got this."

The two first met in 2019, when Bockerstette played the famous No. 16 hole at TPC Scottsdale during that year's Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am. She parred the hole with Woodland and Matt Kuchar by her side, becoming a viral sensation in the process.

Bockerstette and Woodland continued to stay close. He credited her "I got this" mantra for helping him win the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach.

"I was so happy to see Gary invite me to go to Florida next year for the Special Olympics USA Games," Bockerstette told ESPN. "We are best friends. I am very excited to go to Disney, too!"

Bockerstette, who plays golf for Paradise Valley Community College, will be one of more than 200 Special Olympics athletes competing in the USA Games.

"Amy loves playing golf in Special Olympics and this will be her first opportunity to compete at the USA Games," Amy's father, Joe Bockerstette, told ESPN. "We're grateful to Special Olympics Arizona for facilitating Amy's introduction to Gary Woodland at the Phoenix Open in 2019 and it is special for her to receive the invitation to the USA Games from her friend, Gary. We are looking forward to a fun and challenging competition in Orlando."

Bockerstette became the first person with Down syndrome to play in a collegiate championship on any level in May, when she played in the NJCAA Division I women's golf national championship.

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Gary Woodland surprises friend Amy Bockerstette with Special Olympics USA Games selection - 'Amy, you got this' - ESPN

A wretched 24 hours for UK Athletics continued on Tuesday when CJ Ujahs B sample confirmed his positive drug test at the Tokyo Olympics. It now seems increasingly likely the Team GB mens 4x100m team will be stripped of their silver medal.

Separately UK Sport has admitted to having concerns about the crisis in British athletics, which led to several Team GB stars asking Sebastian Coe to save the sport in this country when they met him last week in Zurich.

That news, which was revealed on Monday night, has sent shockwaves through the sport and UK Sport has urged those athletes to come forward to air their grievances.

The suggestion that athletes may be considering leaving the worldclass programme is a concern and something we will discuss with the UK Athletics leadership team, a UK Sport statement said.

Furthermore, we are committed to an athlete-first approach within Olympic and Paralympic sport and would urge any athlete who has a grievance to speak up. There are various channels dedicated to supporting athletes on the World Class Programme, including independent advice through the British Athletes Commission.

That statement did not impress one participant in the meeting, who told the Guardian it was a load of rubbish. However UK Sport says it will review UKAs performance in Tokyo, where it won six medals, in the coming weeks.

It looks increasingly likely that the UKA medal haul will be reduced to five in the coming months after the International Testing Agency confirmed there were two banned substances in Ujahs B sample. The ITA confirmed they were the selective androgen receptor modulators ostarine and S-23, which are used to treat muscle wasting and bone health respectively. The case has now been referred to the court of arbitration for sport anti-doping division.

Unless Ujah is exonerated the British mens quartet which also included Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake will lose their silver medal.

The Cas ADD will consider the matter of the finding of an anti-doping rule violation and the disqualification of the mens 4x100 relay results of the Great Britain team, the ITA said.

Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules if an athlete of a relay team is found to have committed an antidoping rule violation, that team are automatically disqualified from the event in question, with all resulting consequences for the relay team, including the forfeiture of all titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money.

Once the matter is settled under the IOC ADR, the case will be referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit to follow up on sanctions beyond the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the ITA said.

Ujah has maintained his innocence and last month released a statement saying he was shocked and devastated by the outcome of the test. To be absolutely clear, I am not a cheat and I have never and would never knowingly take a banned substance. I love my sport and I know my responsibilities both as an athlete and as a teammate.

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Team GB set to lose 4x100m Olympic silver after second positive for Ujah - The Guardian

Its been a long fight, but NHL players are finally back at the Olympics. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid on the same team is a reason to tune in by itself, but if youre a Predators fan, youre not there to watch them. Of course, its a great side effect, but its more fun when you get to watch players from your favorite team play and, most importantly, win. So which players from the Predators will be headed to Bejing, and what can they bring to their countrys team?

Sweden is a country that I always find myself paying attention to in most Olympic sports for literally no good reason. I have zero connection to it, but the yellow screams, watch me. So I do. However, now Ill be even more invested with two of the biggest players on the Predators being put in the lineup.

We all know what Filip Forsberg is capable of on a line with capable players. With Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson, who is now a Los Angeles King but will most likely make the roster, he scored many points before that line fell off a cliff. The same way he scored a ton of points with Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund before the Laviolette line shuffle game began to infiltrate the lineup.

Forsberg brings size, speed, and creativity to Swedens top six. The line combinations remain to be seen but putting him with someone like Elias Lindholm and Arvidsson could be very beneficial for all of them.

The Swedish coaching staff could make many combinations, whether with Mika Zibanejad centering him and Lindholm or Nicklas Backstrom with him and Arvidsson. Either way, all that really matters is getting him a good center that can help drive the play along with him. One of the Predators' problems is that hes left to drive play for the first line when Duchene isnt there. Someone like Backstrom can really move the puck well, and hes not afraid to skate it up with speed and look for options after entering the zone.

The only thing that Forsberg needs to be worried about is scoring goals and creating for his line. Hes not going to be the star of the forwards like he is in Nashville, which hopefully relieves some of the pressure.

The final member of Team Sweden is the lovable and flamboyant 6-foot-4 defenseman, Mattias Ekholm. He could definitely be a leader on a Sweden team that slowly incorporates young players into the lineup. His inherently vociferous nature on the ice would make him an excellent captain or assistant captain material. As for his play, the second pair would be the most likely option considering the best defenseman in the worldVictor Hedmanand the once best defensemanErik Karlssonwill be on the first. One thing Im interested to see is who lines up next to him.

The immediate thought is John Klingberg of the Dallas Stars. Klingberg ended the Predators season in the first round of the 2018-19 playoffs, so it will most likely be a little bit odd at first for most, but once they hit stride, Im sure there will be no issues.

Gone are the days of players like Pekka Rinne and Mikko Koivu representing Finland in the NHL. Now, its time for a new and younger age led by Sebastian Aho, Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen, and Miro Heiskanen.

Mikael Granlund isnt one of the young players leading the team, but he will be a good veteran presence for said young guys. Hes an excellent passer, and Im extremely confident that he will provide some solid two-way play in a depth role. He will play with is unknown at this point, but Kasperi Kapanen, Roope Hintz, and maybe even Eeli Tolvanen, who Ill touch on in a moment.

Heres the biggest piece to the puzzle. Juuse Saros proved himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the league last season. He put up some Vezina-caliber numbers but was ultimately robbed of a finalist position because of Philipp Grubauer and the voters. He has always been a freak of nature.

Standing at a stout 5-foot-11, hes going to be looked at in a lower light compared to goalies that are over 6-foot. However, hes incredible with his lateral movement, and that's what truly puts him ahead of the competition. The one thing you wont have to worry about with Saros in net is his commitment. He plays every puck like its his last, and it results in a lot of saves.

Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins will most likely be going but in a backup role. Obviously, he still has to sign an NHL contract, and his age and injury history may be limiting his play. Its time for a younger and more recently prominent goaltender to take the spotlight on the world stage.

As I mentioned in the section with Granlund, there is a possibility that Tolvanen makes the roster. However, it would depend on a ton on how he starts the season. If he produces enough during the first two months, I could see it. There was a point in time during the 2020-21 season where Tolvanen could have been a Calder Trophy candidate if he didnt get hurt, so its entirely possible. However, a lot has to go right.

Another option is he is added as a depth player at even-strength, but hes played on the first powerplay unit. That situation eerily reminds me of what happened between the newest Predator Cody Glass and the Vegas Golden Knights. He was used on the top powerplay, but he wasnt given enough chances at even-strength to contribute anything at all. Of course, Tolvanen isnt going to be looked at to score a ton of points during the tournament, but having him as a reliable powerplay option and depth scoring presence could be good for team structure and overall confidence.

Switzerland is interesting. Theyve never been a hockey powerhouse, and the best player theyve boasted up to this point is who Im going to talk about here. Former Predators forward Kevin Fiala will be one of the better forwards on the team, but he isn't the best now.

The 31-year-old Predators captain Roman Josi will be the best player on the Switzerland roster. What is there to say about him that hasnt been said already? Hes a natural-born leader, and although he may not be the most vocal, he leads by example. He won the Norris Trophy in 2019-20, and hes always been an excellent source of offense for a team that has been notably unable to score points. His claim to fame is his excellent transition metrics. Outside of star Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, theres no other defenseman in his league in possession zone exits and entries.

Josi will be the go-to guy for the Switzerland team both in the offensive and defensive zone. Hes always been a slightly below-average defensive player (outside of his Norris year), but its certainly not egregious, and his offensive prowess can explain itself. Any time you tune into a game, theres always a reason to stick around when he's on the ice. Not only does he use his extremely smooth, Scott Niedermayer-Esque skating to open up lanes for himself, but the amount of defenders that he attracts is almost otherworldly.

The Switzerland team and coaching staff are getting a valiant leader that will do anything to win games. They may not be the most talented compared to the likes of Canada and the United States. Still, if we know anything about Josi after watching him for his entire career, hes going to compete at the highest level, and his team will follow.

The Predators will be well-represented in Beijing in 2022. New lines with familiar faces may be the key to some players breaking out of their shells and showing what they can truly do in a different system. Its all a matter of time before we see which countries take home the gold and which Predators players will come back to the league victorious.

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Which Nashville Predators might be headed to the Olympics? - On The Forecheck