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New Brunswick’s Willie O’Ree says having Bruins retire jersey an honor

Sport News

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January 19, 2022

New Brunswick’s Willie O’Ree says having Bruins retire jersey an honor

Willie O’Ree has experienced many honors during his lifetime, from breaking the NHL’s color barrier in 1958 with the Boston Bruins to being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

But the 86-year-old says having his No. 22 jersey retired in Boston on Tuesday will rank right up there near the top.

“It was something that I’ve never dreamed of,” O’Ree said in a phone interview Monday. “I was very fortunate to be called up to the Bruins in 1958 and played with them ’60 and ’61. And then all of a sudden, to find out that my jersey is going to be retired and to hang in the rafters there with the local icons and legends that are up there at the present time — it’s just simply amazing.”

“I knew my heart would be with the Bruins forever.”#NHLBruins | #Willie22 pic.twitter.com/PSBw5LZpoP

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 19, 2022

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O’Ree became the NHL’s first Black player on Jan. 18, 1958, when he suited up against the Montreal Canadiens. He’s the 12th player in Bruins history to have his number raised to the rafters.

He had planned to be in attendance for Boston’s game against Carolina on Tuesday, but persisting concerns about the pandemic changed those plans. He participated virtually from his home in San Diego.

“I was disappointed, he said. “I have a lot of friends in the Boston area and fans that I’ve known over the years. With the virus going on, we just felt that for our own safety that we were not going to make the trip.”

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Willie O’Ree, known best for being the first black player in the National Hockey League, is shown in Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton, N.B., on Thursday, June 22, 2017.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

O’Ree, who is originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick, played two games for the Bruins during the 1957-58 season, spent the next two seasons in the minors, and came back to Boston for 43 more during the 1960-61 season, notching four goals and 10 assists over his 45 total games. He was traded to the Canadiens in 1961, but never made it back to the NHL level.

Coinciding with Tuesday’s ceremony, the NHL’s Black Hockey History museum is in Boston this week. It’ll make its way to 28 cities in the U.S. and O’Ree’s native Canada this season — the most cities it’s visited yet. It was at the Bruins’ training facility Sunday and will stop at TD Garden prior to Tuesday night’s game.

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The 525-square-foot museum highlights trailblazers and history makers like O’Ree, along with the league’s founders and Stanley Cup champions. It also looks ahead to the next generation of young stars, NHL officials, broadcasters and women in the game.

O’Ree has focused on the future of the NHL since his retirement from the sport. And since 1998, he has worked for the NHL as a diversity ambassador, working to foster more inclusion and combat the racism that still exists in league.

Willie O’Ree, known best for being the first black player in the National Hockey League, is shown in Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton, N.B., on Thursday, June 22, 2017. When Willie O’Ree donned a Boston Bruins jersey and jumped onto the ice at the Montreal Forum on Jan. 18, 1958 he had no idea he was making history and paving the way for players-of-colour to follow.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

O’Ree previously said that while he felt embraced by his teammates in Boston, his short time in the NHL wasn’t untouched by the racism that permeated the Jim Crow era in the U.S. at that time.

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“When I broke in with the Bruins in 1958, I heard the racial remarks and the racial slurs from fans in the stands and players on the opposition,” O’Ree said. “But it didn’t really bother me. And I have to thank my older brother, who was not only my brother and my friend, but he was my mentor and taught me a lot that I would need to know. He says, ‘Willie. If people can accept you for the individual that you are, this is. That’s their problem. Just go out and work hard and stay focused on what you what you want to do.’ And basically, that’s what I did.”

O’Ree said he’s proud of the work he’s done speaking with young people at hockey clinics in the hopes of diversifying the sport he loves.

“I just want to be remembered as not only as the first Black player to play in the NHL, but just an individual that wanted to be involved with boys and girls and help them set goals for themselves and help them work toward their goals and feel good about themselves and like themselves,” he said. “I think that’s very important.”

Click to play video: 'NHL hopes to improve its lack of diversity decades after colour barrier broken'

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NHL hopes to improve its lack of diversity decades after colour barrier broken

A quick break from day jobs could lead a player at the Latin American Amateur Championship to the Masters

Golf

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January 19, 2022

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A quick break from day jobs could lead a player at the Latin American Amateur Championship to the Masters

7:32 AM ET

Paolo UggettiESPN

LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic — Before he boarded a plane from his home country of Bolivia to the 2022 Latin American Amateur Championship, Camilo Avila was making the rounds in his delivery car, dropping off empanadas and other Colombian snacks, while letting his customers know that he wasn’t going to be around the following week.

Avila, who played golf at the University of Texas at Arlington, made the decision a few years ago to be realistic about his future, give up his golf dream and find a day job. As a broadcasting major, he spent some time calling soccer games, jumping around from local radio station to station, from internship to internship, hoping something would stick. The COVID-19 pandemic solidified his reality: In Bolivia, he was unlikely to find a permanent broadcasting job.

+ How to watch the Latin America Amateur Championship on ESPN

“One day, I turned to my mom and asked her how hard she thought it would be to make empanadas, croquetas and petacones,” the 25-year-old Avila said. “She told me it was hard work, but I could do it.”

So Avila got to cooking and freezing the Colombian snacks, selling them through social media and delivering them himself around Santa Cruz in Bolivia. Now, the business has grown; Avila has his regulars, and he has made his way back to golf, including developing a routine that allows him to fit the sport around his entrepreneurship.

“While the corn cooks and cools, I can’t do anything, so I go practice in the mornings,” Avila said. “And in the afternoon, I map out my deliveries to finish close to the club so I can go play after I’m done.”

All that work has led to Avila’s second LAAC appearance, which begins Thursday at Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course (11 a.m. ET, ESPN2). Avila is not the only one here who has to think about more than his score this week; the winner gets an automatic bid to the Masters, The Open and U.S. Amateur. While this event brings together some of Latin America’s best young talent, it also acts as a destination for those amateurs who have lives outside the sport they have to balance.

“I try to practice every day, but it’s hard,” Marcel Olivares, a 51-year-old Dominican amateur and former tennis professional who runs a travel packages business out of Punta Cana airport. “But when there’s a tournament like this, I try to get ready and invest more time.”

Alejandro Villavicencio is a 42-year-old businessman from Guatemala who had a five-year professional stint. He jokes that he’s able to play only as much golf as his wife allows. Her family owns a restaurant chain, Los Ranchos, that Villavicencio helps run. Villavicencio also has a telecommunications business that services phone towers. So, when courses shut down during the pandemic, he immediately went to his warehouse, took out a patch of turf from a provider and set up a putting green on his balcony.

“At the very least, I was sharpening my putting game,” Villavicencio said.

Between both jobs, and his kids playing soccer and golf, he hasn’t had much time to devote to practicing. On a good week he’s able to practice Fridays and play Saturdays.

“It gets complicated, dividing the time for work, family and golf,” he said.

Panama’s Omar Tejeira Jaen — the second-highest ranked player in the field this week — has found a unique balance. On Monday, as he got in from Panama, he grabbed lunch and answered emails for his company, an online concierge service for six countries in Latin America.

This is Tejeira Jaen’s first LAAC, but it’s not his first time at Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course. The 31-year-old played here when he was a professional before suffering a cervical injury that ended his pro career. He’s still playing golf, but now, he’s having to fit in range sessions and nine-hole rounds around his work day — not just at home, but at this tournament, too.

As the head of a newer company, Tejeira Jaen said that once he signs his scorecard and gets a meal, he’ll dive into work mode, check emails and monitor his business. It’s his reality, but accepting it has allowed him to develop a strategy that has helped him on the course, too. Before, the challenge was not letting the stress of staying pro, winning money or gaining sponsorships get in the way. Now, it’s ensuring he can flip his focus from golf to work and vice versa effectively.

“I think having to create those mental boundaries has been a benefit to me,” Tejeira said. “When I’m on the course, it makes you feel that you can separate things, you can separate bad shots from good, good holes from bad.”

Despite the differences in jobs and approaches, what keeps some of these players on the course is an itch they can’t help but scratch, one that goes beyond winning and losing. After being a professional for some time or trying to be, some have found a renewed romance with the game once they are away from the pressure of high-stakes competition. Don’t get them wrong, they still want to do well in this tournament. But the joy and satisfaction comes from the path they take to get here more than any single result.

“I can tell you, once I stopped playing pro and started playing amateur, combining work with golf, I think for me, personally, it has been an enriching experience,” Tejeira Jaen said. “I think I am 10 times the player I was as a professional.”

Avila, in particular, gets emotional trying to explain the realization he came to during the pandemic. The sensation he was getting from playing again, from realizing the privilege he had to play, opened his eyes.

“I found out how important it is in my life because it’s my safe space,” Avila said. “I told people in Bolivia, my family, you have no idea how badly I need this week. Golf is everything.”

Under-19 World Cup – Captain Yash Dhull and five others test positive for Covid-19 and miss India match against Ireland

Cricket

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January 19, 2022

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Under-19 World Cup – Captain Yash Dhull and five others test positive for Covid-19 and miss India match against Ireland

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Shaik Rasheed, Aaradhya Yadav, Vasu Vats, Manav Parakh and Siddarth Yadav are the others to have sat out the game

A BCCI statement* detailing the medical status of the players said that while Sidharth had returned a positive RT-PCR test, Dhull, Aaradhya and Rasheed have returned positive Rapid Antigen Tests so far, while Parakh and Vats have shown symptoms of Covid-19, but have returned negative Rapid Antigen Tests; their RT-PCR results are awaited.

The BCCI “is monitoring the situation closely and is in touch with the management and the coaching group,” the statement, which came in late on Wednesday evening, said. “The players will remain in isolation but will be under the constant supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.”

Nishant Sindhu was named captain of the team for the match in the absence of the captain and his deputy. India had just 11 fit players for the game after the six went into isolation.

India, who won their first match, against South Africa, by 45 runs, next play Uganda on Saturday, January 22.

Before the competition, the BCCI had announced five travelling reserves: Rishit Reddy, Uday Saharan, Ansh Gosai, Amrit Raj Upadhyay and PM Singh Rathore.

The tournament playing conditions state that if a match cannot be held on schedule [or is abandoned on the day of the match] because of Covid-19-related reasons, the event technical committee will try to find a way to reschedule the game, but the rescheduling will only be done “within reason and without unreasonably impacting on the participating teams or on the staging of other matches”.

At the Under-19 World Cup, the bubbles are being managed in such a way that the wellbeing of the young players – both physical and mental – is taken care of. The ICC is taking cognisance of the fact that it is a long tournament, added with the fact that the young players have not been in such situations before. There will also be mental-health professionals available to the teams as it was during the men’s T20 World Cup last year.

* The story was updated after the BCCI issued a press statement.

Editor’s Desk: Who is Hamilton’s silent treatment aimed at?

F1

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January 19, 2022

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Editor’s Desk: Who is Hamilton’s silent treatment aimed at?

With nothing yet to be heard from Lewis Hamilton, as he has gone AWOL during the Formula 1 offseason, one cannot help but wonder if there is more to the story than his Abu Dhabi nightmare.

Yes, the ‘Silent One’ is yet another aspect of Sir Lewis’ armoury as we have witnessed before. Thus for a driver of his caliber to go into hibernation after his high profile loss of the 2021 World Championship, it’s no surprise that so much is written about him as all guess, speculate, analyze and even predict what is going on in his mind.

One can understand Hamilton’s pain in losing the 2021 F1 championship, losing it in the way that he did will make it even harder to accept, but why act in this manner? Why this deafening silence? And what or who is really irking Hamilton?

First the “Why”

One thing that strikes me these days is how much headline space Lewis Hamilton has occupied across various media outlets, with a significance absence of news covering the driver who deservedly won the 2021 F1 World Championship, Max Verstappen.

One would expect Verstappen’s news and quotes to be pouring around all over the place, with the Dutchman presumably the media’s darling in the wake of his Championship triumph, which was the case for some time after the season was over, but then the Hamilton frenzy took over, especially when the FIA announced March 18 as the deadline for revealing the outcome of the investigation they launched into the events of the Abu Dhabi 2021 season finale.

Now, Hamilton has become quite savvy in the way he plays the image and PR game over his long years of racing in F1, which is not something you can hold against him as this has given him the F1 superstar status that no other driver has been able to achieve, aside from Michael Schumacher perhaps.

Hamilton’s absence may have many reasons, but one of them for sure is simply a PR game, creating mystery around him, hence diverting the media’s focus from Verstappen towards him. Max may have won the Championship, but Lewis will win the PR game which will make a decent consolation prize. For a driver who has worked hard on building his image in and out of F1, that is quite a big deal.

Now the “What or Who”

Hamilton is upset, and one would be surprised if he weren’t. After all, a multiple champion like him doesn’t know how to take defeat very well, because that is not how champions are wired. They are programmed to be ruthless winners, gunning for victory at any price, which is what makes them so great. Nothing wrong with that.

But now the question is, what or who is Hamilton angry at?

Toto Wolff has been furious ever since that evening under the Yas Marina floodlights, claiming that Hamilton was “robbed” of the championship, and that his star driver was “disillusioned” with the sport, raising all sorts of unsuccessful post-race protests, threatening with appeals then backing off, claiming he will hold the FIA accountable to the outcome of their investigation, not attending the FIA award giving Gala “in support of Lewis”, and the list goes on.

Hamilton was silent all the time, with all the speculation around his future based on whatever Wolff was saying.

So what if the Wolff fury was a smokescreen covering up the real problem and why Hamilton was upset?

If you recall the radio communication between Hamilton and Bono just before the safety car period ended in Abu Dhabi, the Briton was livid for not being given a new set of tyres like Red Bull did with Verstappen. That made him a sitting duck for his rival and he knew it. All his skill and driving prowess would not do him any good with the guy chasing him being Max, something many of the sport’s pundits agreed on.

It is not the first time Mercedes have put Hamilton in a situation where they take a risk on strategy to “maintain track position”, with him questioning it over the team radio, but ultimately ends up employing all his skills to nurse ailing tyres to the finish line fending off the competition.

But in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes were asking too much of their ace, as he couldn’t do anything with one lap, and while the manner in which he kept attacking Verstappen after the Red Bull driver overtook him was admirable, it was unfortunately futile, with the price being that eighth Drivers’ Championship.

Having said that, could it be that Lewis is actually angry at his team, and all Wolff’s shenanigans were a diversion from an internal issue between the team and their star driver?

Let’s be honest here, because Lewis cannot be mad at the hapless Nicholas Latifi for crashing, and despite Michael Masi spectacularly messing up, there was no malice there, so any justified anger against the Race Director should have faded by now.

He can’t be angry at Verstappen as well, the Dutchman giving him more reasons to be angry with over the course of the season, but was basically doing his job to perfection after Red Bull nailed the strategy call.

Mercedes didn’t as track position was their only hope. Hamilton did question tactics and, in retrospect, could be fed up with being put at a disadvantage during a race due to Mercedes (conservative?) pitwall calls with the latest incident – at Yas Marina – proving costly, and that’s were the issue lies.

Will Hamilton continue?

I believe he will. He won’t bow out on a low, and as always he finds strength in adversity, Brazil 2021 being a fresh example of this, and he will definitely come back to try and win his eighth title. Otherwise he won’t be the Hamilton we all know and that would actually be disappointing to everyone, especially his fans.

With the date of revealing the outcome of the FIA investigation being just before Bahrain’s 2022 season opener, the question remains is that how and when will Lewis announce that he will continue/stop racing in 2022 and beyond?

Going back to the “PR Game” I mentioned earlier, I have no doubt that Lewis will be timing his announcement with the aim to drive more publicity towards him at the start of the new season, channeling Toto Wolff’s mischievousness to his benefit.

Eagles seek another record as alternate players start against — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Football

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January 19, 2022

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Eagles seek another record as alternate players start against — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Group D table toppers, Super Eagles of Nigeria, will be aiming for another record in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations when they file out against Guinea-Bissau this evening in Garoua, Cameroon.

The host country, Cameroon, dropped two points on Monday when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde, leaving the Super Eagles as the only team in the tournament with the possibility of winning all three group matches if they beat Guinea-Bissau this evening. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroun finished top of their group with seven points.

Interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, declared yesterday that the Eagles will ‘finish the job’ on a high note.
While the Super Eagles are topping the table with six points, Guinea-Bissau has one point.

Eguavoen said at a pre-match conference yesterday that though he respects every team in the tournament, the Eagles will approach the game with all seriousness.

“It is special topping the table. I did it in 2006 when I led the Super Eagles to Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, and it will be great if we can do it here. I am not going to take the credit alone.

“The level of this tournament is high, but it depends on the strategy you deploy into the game,” he said.

Eguavoen said some of the players, who have not played any part in the competition so far will get the chance to show what they can do.

Players like Daniel Akpeyi, Peter Olayinka, Henry Onyekuru, Francis Uzoho, John Noble, Tyronne Ebuehi, Frank Onyeka, Jamilu Collins and Olisa Ndah are yet to feature in the tournament.

Eguavoen spoke on his relationship with the player, both former and present squad. “I am enjoying the support of players who played under me in the past, and I am also enjoying my working relationship with the present squad. But when it is time to bite, I bite. You have to give the young generation of players respect and demand for something from them in return. We are in the technology world.

Bam Adebayo returns from thumb surgery, helps seal Miami Heat win over Toronto Raptors

Basketball

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January 19, 2022

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Bam Adebayo returns from thumb surgery, helps seal Miami Heat win over Toronto Raptors

MIAMI — Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo scored 14 points and helped seal a 104-99 win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night in his first game back after missing six weeks due to thumb surgery.

Tyler Herro poured in 23 points, while Jimmy Butler earned a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds — the last of those coming as time was expiring, when Fred VanVleet‘s 3-point try missed.

“We’re just blessed to have a team like this,” Adebayo said. “Everybody buys in. Everybody wants to compete. And everybody wants to get the job done.”

Adebayo played 32 minutes, shooting 4 for 12 and grabbing nine rebounds. He also drained two free throws with 8.5 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

“You can see his energy out there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after his team pulled into a virtual tie with Chicago for first in the Eastern Conference. “He makes us different.”

“I’m just happy Jimmy got the triple-double and we got the win,” said Adebayo, who ended up playing 32 minutes in his return and wore a wrap to protect his repaired thumb.

VanVleet finished with 22 points for Toronto, which got 23 from Chris Boucher and 18 points and 10 rebounds from Pascal Siakam. Scottie Barnes scored 16 points, OG Anunoby scored 14 and former Heat forward Precious Achiuwa grabbed 15 rebounds for Toronto.

Siakam scored off a turnover with 1:48 left to get Toronto within 99-96, but PJ Tucker made a corner 3 with 20 seconds left — off Butler’s 10th assist — to help Miami hold on.

Toronto basically used a six-man rotation, with those players getting between 34 and 42 minutes. The only other Raptor who got minutes was Justin Champagnie, who played 9:07 before leaving with a dislocated finger.

“We played as tough as we could,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “I didn’t see anything that was changing. We were battling from start to finish. … That one could have went either way. It was a hell of an effort by our guys.”

The game was expected to be the first time that Heat guard Kyle Lowry faced the Raptors since leaving Toronto for Miami this past season. Lowry helped Toronto win the 2019 NBA title on his way to claiming to the unofficial moniker of GROAT — the Greatest Raptor Of All-Time.

Lowry missed the game for personal reasons.

“I wanted to see him, obviously,” Nurse said. “I guess I don’t know how I feel about it. I think that you go in here and you always want to compete against the best players. I was kind of looking forward to seeing what that was going to be like.”

Lowry missed a pretty good one.

There were 22 lead changes and 10 ties in the first 35 minutes, knotting the teams at 75 late in the third. Herro scored the last five points of the third quarter, then had the first bucket of the fourth to put Miami up by seven.

The Heat wouldn’t trail again. Anunoby made a 3-pointer with 6:57 left to get Toronto within two, but Miami scored the next seven points in a span of 59 seconds — a basket by Adebayo, a corner 3 from Max Strus and a driving layup by Caleb Martin for a 98-89 lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Bam back, Butler gets triple-double, Heat top Raps

Sport News

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January 18, 2022

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Bam back, Butler gets triple-double, Heat top Raps

MIAMI (AP) — The final rebound of the game fell into Jimmy Butler’s hands just a moment or two before the final buzzer, and Bam Adebayo started celebrating for two reasons.

One, he knew Butler had just gotten a triple-double.

Two, the Miami Heat had just won his comeback game.

Tyler Herro scored 23 points, Adebayo scored 14 in his first game coming off a six-week absence following thumb surgery and the Miami Heat held off the Toronto Raptors 104-99 on Monday night.

“We’re just blessed to have a team like this,” Adebayo said. “Everybody buys in. Everybody wants to compete. And everybody wants to get the job done.”

Adebayo played 32 minutes, shooting 4 for 12 and grabbing nine rebounds.

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“You can see his energy out there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after his team pulled into a virtual tie with Chicago for first in the Eastern Conference. “He makes us different.”

Butler finished with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds — the last of those coming as time was expiring, when Fred VanVleet’s 3-point try missed. It was Butler’s ninth triple-double with the Heat, tying LeBron James for the most in team regular-season history.

Chris Boucher scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Toronto. VanVleet finished with 22, and Pascal Siakam added 18 points and 10 assists for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 16 points, OG Anunoby scored 14 and former Heat forward Precious Achiuwa grabbed 15 rebounds for Toronto.

Siakam scored off a turnover with 1:48 left to get Toronto within 99-96, but PJ Tucker made a corner 3 with 20 seconds left — off Butler’s 10th assist — to help Miami hold on.

Tech Draft: Farewell to the Jounce damper

F1

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January 18, 2022

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TECH DRAFT: FAREWELL TO THE JOUNCE DAMPER

Tech Draft’s second edition for 2022 explains a Formula 1 car component called the J-Damper mentioned in the previous issue, in response to readers’ inquiry about the device that will be banned in F1 from 2022 onwards.

In recent years the use of this ingenious device has been widespread by teams, and a necessity, so let’s have a layman’s look at what the J-damper is, the purpose it serves, and the reasons why it has been banned.

In the mid 2000’s it appears as though it was McLaren who at first included the concept of inertia or mass dampening of suspension movement in their R&D programme, although there is conjecture that it was indeed Renault, who inevitably took the concept further in their resultant and well documented Mass Damper system that ultimately was included on their race chassis, that is until its abolition.

What is a J-Damper?

In the typical McLaren fashion of the time, the device was given a coded title, the J-damper. J for “jounce”, a combination of the word’s “jump” and “bounce”, of which the device was designed to control.

The J damper is often alternatively referred to as an inertia damper, or to those of us F1 Tech junkies, a mass damper. Rather than being a device that controls the acceleration of one of the degrees of freedom in suspension movement through the traditional methods of dissipating heat energy by forcing hydraulic fluid through valving, the J-damper dampens axial acceleration through the exchange of kinetic energy.

Simplistically, rather than acting as a plunger, the damper shaft is a ball screw that spins a flywheel or weight as the shaft is accelerated, and the resultant energy system is inertial, as opposed to thermodynamic.

That is all straight forward so far, but the next step is understanding why a mass or inertial dampening system can be more beneficial to an F1’s suspension system in comparison to the more orthodox methods, and a lot more complex to understand in totality.

Why is it used on an F1 car?

In my mind, the simplest and most efficient manner to explain the benefits of the J-damper is the following. Even in the simplest of spring/hydraulic suspensions systems, when a race car moves over a bump, it will always oscillate to some degree, and the aim of the damper system is negating that oscillation as best as possible. It’s important to acknowledge that the car’s mass and geometrical properties will also define its inherent or natural oscillation frequency.

These oscillations are evil. They not only detrimentally affect the tyre contact patch, the most important mechanical grip consideration, but also attitudinal control of the aerodynamic platform.

In conjunction with the use of the more traditional damper, the J-damper through its nature of dampening kinetic energy, provides control of suspension movement acceleration in a manner more attuned and sensitive to the car’s natural frequency, negating the oscillations to a greater degree, almost in a predictive or active fashion, but critically in a manner far more sensitive to the suspension system accelerations due to tyre wall movement. The latter allows far greater and a more finite control of the tyre contact patch.

It was once again in the mid 2000’s that Renault had adapted the principle of mass or intertial dampening systems that took the concept even further than individual degrees of suspension freedom, and developed a system that controlled center of gravity migration and aerodynamic platform attitudinal control in a broader sense, in a far greater passive manner.

However, the Renault Mass Damper system was ultimately outlawed on the basis that a satellite sprung mass of several kilos located in the extremity of an F1 car, with the potential to become a significant accelerated projectile in the event of an accident, was a risk worth mitigating, along with the possible ambiguity that the system could be understood to be a moveable aerodynamic device, which of course was and still is illegal.

But, the use of the J-damper to control individual axial accelerations in the suspension system was still legal, and has been widely used ever since because of their obvious benefits.

The J-damper is now officially dead in F1

Clause 10.2 of the 2022 FIA F1 Technical Regulations once again bans the use of mass or inertial dampers in suspension systems.

Due to a complete lack of information from the authorities as to why, one can only suppose that the reasons are related to the generic “dumbing down” of F1, under the guise of controlling costs.

The reality is that J-dampers are bespoke, and certainly not off the shelf items and consequently the unit cost to manufacture high. Nevertheless, isn’t mostly everything in F1 from year to year generally so?

Delving further into article 10.2, article 10.2.6 to be precise, makes for an interesting find. Article 10.2.6 states the following:

On each axle, the state of its suspension system must be uniquely defined by the rotation, and angular velocity of its two rockers. Inertial and hysteresis effects are acceptable provided they are incidental.

In addition, the following systems or configurations are not permitted:

Any response of the suspension elements to body accelerations and/or angular acceleration of the rockers (e.g. any inerters, mass dampers, acceleration-sensitive valves in the dampers).

As I read it, I realized that, not only is the J/mass/inertia damper banned, but also the rake/floor stalling device employed by Mercedes in 2021 is as well.

So, as we look forward to the 2022 season, and the major changes it brings, so too we look forward to the plethora of more minor, subtle and lesser known ones associated with them.

We won’t underrate Guinea Bissau, Eguavoen assures Nigerians | The Guardian Nigeria News

Football

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January 18, 2022

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We won’t underrate Guinea Bissau, Eguavoen assures Nigerians | The Guardian Nigeria News

Super Eagles Head Coach, Augustine Owen Eguavoen, says his already-qualified team has no reason to look down on their opponents or approach the game in a carefree manner when they take to the pitch of Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau tomorrow.

Nigeria has eased into the round of 16 as group leaders, with a match to spare, courtesy of wins over Egypt and Sudan in their two matches and the combination of other results, notably Egypt’s defeat of Guinea Bissau on Saturday.

Yet, Eguavoen says his team will deduct nothing from their consolidated one-match-at-a-time and win-all strategy adopted for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, even as there is no serious pressure going into that final group phase encounter.

“It is important for us to sustain the winning mentality while we keep our heads on our shoulders. Just as I told the boys after the match against Egypt, we are yet to win anything here except points. Guinea Bissau need the three points because they have only one so far and we must be prepared for a massive fight.

“If we let down our guard, we could be punished, and that would not be good for the team’s psychology. We will go for the three points.”

Guinea Bissau drew 0-0 with Sudan in their first match, losing a penalty awarded to them late in the game, and then fell to a Mohamed Salah goal in a match they gave their all and even felt they should have been awarded an equaliser that was cancelled late in the encounter.

“With a little more luck, they could have beaten Sudan and could have drawn with Egypt. That is the kind of opposition we face on Wednesday. Nobody will tell me they’re pushovers,” added Eguavoen.

Eguavoen, 56, is the only man to have coached Nigeria to win all three matches in the group phase of the AFCON since the country started participating at this level since 1963. He was head coach when the Eagles defeated Ghana 1-0, Zimbabwe 2-0 and Senegal 2-1 at the Al Masry Stadium, Port Said to sweep the stakes at the 2006 finals.

In 14 previous matches across three stints, the 1994 AFCON winner and two-time FIFA World Cup defender had left the field victorious in 12 matches, losing only two – the 0-1 defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in the semi final of the 2006 finals and a 2012 AFCON qualifier in Guinea that was embroiled in circumstances of uncertainty, which the team lost by the odd goal.

As he surveyed his boys at training on Sunday morning and thereafter entertained questions from the media, the former defender smiled easily at a suggestion that his team could end up playing hosts Cameroun in the final match, as he also was involved as a player in the 1988 final against the Camerounians in Morocco that Nigeria lost by a lone goal, and the bronze medal match of the 1992 edition that the Super Eagles won 2-1.

“That is still a long way off. We are focused on the match against Guinea Bissau. One game at a time.”

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Kenyan official Peter Waweru Kamaku as referee for tomorrow’s encounter. The 39–year-old has a doctorate degree in Pure Mathematics and is a university lecturer. He will be assisted by compatriot Gilbert Cheruiyot (assistant referee 1), Mozambican Arsenio Maringule (assistant referee 2) and Moroccan Redouane Jiyed (fourth official).

The match commissioner will be Youssouf Guedi Guirreh from Djibouti.

Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving won’t reconsider COVID-19 vaccine stance in wake of Kevin Durant injury

Basketball

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January 18, 2022

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Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving won’t reconsider COVID-19 vaccine stance in wake of Kevin Durant injury

CLEVELAND — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made clear Monday that his stance regarding the COVID-19 vaccine will not change in the wake of Kevin Durant‘s knee injury that is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.

Irving is unvaccinated and therefore ineligible to play at home because of a local mandate that all professional athletes playing in New York City’s public venues be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Nets originally decided before the regular season began that they would not accommodate Irving as a part-time member of the roster, but reversed course last month after a COVID-19 outbreak decimated the roster.

Irving said that no injury or other circumstance would compel him to change his mind, emphasizing repeatedly that he stands “rooted” in his decision.

“That’s what I think comes into a lot of this culture and basketball and sport and entertainment,” Irving said following Brooklyn’s 114-107 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “You bring in teams and you bring in situations. Kev’s going to heal, Kev’s going to be OK, and we’re going to have to deal with that as his teammates. But in terms of where I am with my life outside of this, I stay rooted in my decision. And that’s just what it is.

“It’s not going to be swayed just because of one thing in this NBA life. That somehow it’s brought to my attention as being more important than what’s going on in the real world. It’s just not happening for me. Again, I respect everyone else’s decision, I’m not going to ever try to convince anyone of anything or any of that, I’m just standing rooted in what I believe in. And though we’re dealing with this right now with Kev, I just know that I’m protected by the organization, I’m protected by my teammates, I’m protected by all the doctors I’ve talked to. And I just stand rooted.”

Irving scored a team-high 27 points on Monday. It was just his fourth game back this season with the Nets, who have been dealing with injuries — and other distractions — since acquiring James Harden to play with Irving and Durant.

During his postgame interview, Irving said he’s bothered that his decision is being questioned and that it’s almost always framed in the context of his profession — not his personal life.

He said at one point, “I’m not bringing science into a basketball game” and reiterated a sentiment he has often expressed: “My message has always been I respect what everyone else is doing with their bodies, I respect what everyone else is doing in terms of their livelihoods and I’m here to support, but what’s going on with me is I’m taking it one day at a time, that’s it.”

When pressed during a back-and-forth, Irving was told that there are millions of people who are interested in his status because of the ramifications on his playing time.

“That’s what I’m saying,” Irving said. “You’re bringing my vaccination status into a basketball game, and I live my life, the majority of the time, when I’m away from this. So when I say I’m not getting vaccinated and I’m making a choice with my life, somehow it gets mixed into, ‘Well, what about the basketball?’ When it’s like no, bro. We live in a real world. It’s great to be able to do this. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I love being with my teammates. I love playing on the Nets, but I’ve already been away enough time to think about this, to process it, to be able to make this decision, stand strong, understand that people are gonna agree and some people are gonna disagree.

“The circumstances that are at hand, I’m praying that they get changed and we’re able to do things differently and that’s not just for me — that’s for all those that are dealing with being unvaccinated and getting fired from work on a day-to-day basis. It’s not just about me. That’s been my message this whole time. So though I feel your feeling and emotion for asking that question, it’s just like, sometimes it feels a little disrespectful. I’m not just a basketball player, bro. Millions of fans. I appreciate all of it, but it’s not just about the game.”

After being told that he’s one of the most famous unvaccinated people in the country, Irving responded, “That sounds crazy to me … but I’m not the only one.”

“Fame is socially created, bro,” Irving said. “I hear what you’re saying. … Like being the most famous unvaccinated player, what does that even mean? I don’t even know what that means at home.”

Irving was told that in the short term, that meant that he couldn’t play in home games, which is why there is both a lot of interest in his status and some frustration within the Nets fan base.

“I respect that, bro,” Irving responded. “I respect that.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.