CLEVELAND CAVALIERS RULE THE NBA

LeBron James lifts the NBA Trophy

When the improbable, seemingly impossible, was done, when Cleveland’s championship was, at long, long last, won, LeBron James simply went to his knees and wept. There was nothing else to do.
Wept for the accomplishment, his Cleveland Cavaliers defeating the Golden State Warriors here Sunday, 93-89 in Game 7 to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 Finals deficit. Wept for the performance, 27 more points, 11 more assists and 11 more rebounds to cap a three-game stretch (averaging 36.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists while facing elimination) as great as any player, ever.

Wept, too, because of Cleveland, because of Akron, because of The Decision and because of The Return, because of the Drive, the Fumble, the Shot, because of Jose Mesa and Rocky Colavito, because the people and places back home made this bigger than him, bigger than a single team, bigger than it even should be, a basketball game understandably meaning so much to so many.
“Just knowing what our city has been through, Northeast Ohio has been through,” James said. “You could go back to the Earnest Byner fumble, [John] Elway going 99 yards …”
So many fans stuffed downtown Cleveland on Sunday to watch the game on outdoor televisions and street-side bars that clogged the whole joint up. The highway patrol eventually had to shut down the highway entrances into town. They had come because they believed that 52 years of losing in every sport in every imaginable way, might now, for once, end.

“Our fans, they ride or die,” James continued. “For us to be able to end this, end this drought, our fans deserve it. They deserve it. And it was for them.”
Spent physically, emotionally, mentally and historically, LeBron James wept because somehow, someway he led the Cavs through a pressure cooker here, fraught with tight nerves and tense moments, including a final quarter in the crucible, where the best basketball players in the world kept melting in the moment.
A little less than a week ago the Cavs came here for Game 5 with everyone expecting them to get closed out. Parade route planned, legacies written. Instead James started an epic run. He played nearly every minute of every game, point guard on offense, center on defense, delivering baskets and rebounds and passes … and blocks.

None was more epic or emphatic than a wipeout of an Andre Iguodala layup with 1:50 left, with the Warriors set to take the lead. It was a soaring, surging leap through time and space and generations of failure.
Not now, not ever, LeBron was saying, nearly slamming his forehead off the backboard. It was equal parts virtuoso and violent and reminded the wilting Warriors that nothing was coming easy, that Cleveland, capital of the sporting collapse, wouldn’t crumble. Bring it. Bring it on. No fear this time.
It was part of a legendary stretch of defense, shutting out the high-flying Warriors, completely scoreless, in the final 4:39 of the game. It was Cleveland forcing the NBA’s glory team into a rock fight to the finish.
“Such a force physically,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr marveled. “So powerful.”

STEVE CURRY EJECTED IN GAME 6

A frustrating and disappointing Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals for Stephen Curry ended in a stunning bit of history: the first ejection of the back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player's professional career, and the first ejection in a Finals game in 20 years.

With just under 4 1/2 minutes left, Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson rebounded a missed free throw by Warriors guard Klay Thompson, and passed the ball to LeBron James with the Cavaliers holding a 12-point lead. Curry, playing with five fouls, raced in to try to knock the ball loose; he did, but James leapt, regained possession, came down on Curry's back and went to the ground, resulting in a whistle and Curry's sixth personal foul, which would disqualify him from the game.
The MVP lost his mind upon realizing he'd been whistled, ripping his now-signature mouth guard out of his mouth and chucking it toward the sideline in anger ... and it hit a fan sitting court-side:

"Yeah, I've thrown my mouthpiece before. I usually aim at the scorer's table," Curry said after the game. "I was off-aim."
After calming down, Curry sought out the fan — later identified as Andrew Forbes, son of Cavs minority owner Nate Forbes — and apologized before heading off the floor and back into the locker room.
"I definitely didn't mean to throw it at a fan, but it happened," he said. "I went over and apologized to him because that's obviously not where I was trying to take my frustration out. But the last two fouls I had I thought were — I didn't think I fouled either Kyrie [Irving] or LeBron. That's just kind of my perception of the plays and I had a reaction to it."
Curry finished with 30 points on 8-for-20 shooting, including a 6-for-13 mark from the 3-point line, two rebounds, one assist, one steal and four turnovers in 35 minutes.
"It was obviously frustrating fouling out in the fourth quarter of a clinching game and not being out there with my teammates," he said. "So it got the best of me, but I'll be all right for next game."
Curry often acted as the Warriors' lone source of offense but made poor gambles defensively, battled foul trouble throughout and was ultimately outshined by LeBron, who dominated to the tune of 41 points for the second straight game, 11 assists, eight rebounds, four steals, three blocks and just one turnover in 42 1/2 minutes, leading the Cavaliers to a 115-101 win that evened the Finals at three games apiece, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 back at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday.
After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr came to his superstar's defense.
"He had every right to be upset," Kerr said, launching into an answer that will all but demand a fine from the league office. "You know, he's the MVP of the league. He gets six fouls called on him, three of them were absolutely ridiculous. You know, he steals the ball from Kyrie [Irving] clean at one point. LeBron flops on the last one, [referee] Jason Phillips falls for that, for a flop. That's the MVP of the league we're talking about, these touch fouls in the NBA Finals.
"Let me be clear: we did not lose because of the officiating," Kerr added. "They totally outplayed us, and Cleveland deserved to win. But those three — three of the six fouls were incredibly inappropriate calls for anybody, much less the MPV of the league."
Asked if he was OK with Curry's projectile-based frustration response, Kerr doubled down.
"Yeah, I'm happy he threw his mouthpiece," Kerr said. "He should be upset. It's the Finals. Everybody's competing out there. There's fouls on every play. I just think that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson — the way we run our offense, we're running and cutting through the lane, we're a rhythm offense — if they're going to let Cleveland grab and hold these guys constantly on their cuts, and then you're going to call these ticky-tack fouls on the MVP of the league to foul him out, I don't agree with that."
It remains to be seen what sort of discipline Curry will face from the NBA after throwing his mouthpiece and hitting a fan. Aaron Brooks, then of the Sacramento Kings, received a $25,000 fine for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands in November 2012; Enes Kanter, then of the Utah Jazz, received the same penalty for the same offense in December 2014.
The only similar recent incidents to result in suspension came when mouthguards were thrown in the direction of officials. That cost Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem one game back in the opening round of the 2006 playoffs. Ditto for Amir Johnson, then of the Toronto Raptors, in December 2012.
For his part, Kerr believes Curry will suit up for Game 7.
"I'm not concerned about that," he said.

ENGLAND DEFEATS WALES AT EURO'S

DANIEL STURRIDGE IN CELEBRATION MOOD

Daniel Sturridge’s injury-time goal was enough to give England victory; with four points, they are close to the second phase. With three points, Wales aren’t far off either.
England started well, pinning Wales inside their box, but found it difficult to create chances against a team sitting back and sitting deep.
Raheem Sterling missed badly after seven minutes, guiding a finish wide, but England could not create any serious chances after that, moving the ball too slowly.
Then, just before half-time, Wales won a free-kick 30 yards out and central.

Up stepped Gareth Bale, and his slammed a curler that Joe Hart ought to have saved but instead palmed into the corner.
Roy Hodgson needed to make changes at the break and he did, bringing on Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy for Sterling and Harry Kane; he was rewarded when Vardy equalized, swiveling in the box to finish from close range when Ashley Williams’ head squirted the ball directly to him.
Neither side created much thereafter, but England kept at it, and the perseverance of Sturridge and Dele Alli created a superbly taken winner.

CAN ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

Rev Sampson Supo Ayokunle CAN President

After weeks of political plottings, and allegations that the presidency was working towards installing a preferred candidate, the umbrella body of Christians in the country, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has a new president.
Rev. Samson Supo Ayokunle, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), emerged as the new CAN president, after the election held at the Ecumenical Center, Abuja on Monday.

He was announced winner, by the incumbent president of the organisation, Pastor Ayo oritsejafor.
Ayokunle emerged winner after polling 54 votes, against his opponent, Elder Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (MCCSW) who garnered 28 votes.
  

Courtesy: ripples nigeria

MASSIVE PURGE IN THE NIGERIA ARMY

Army sacks Generals, other senior officers in massive purge

The Nigerian Army on Friday announced that it had sacked “quite a number” of very high-ranking officers, adducing “service exigencies” as reason for the exercise.

A statement signed by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations, noted that the officers involved were mainly of the rank of Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the bulk of officers kicked out from service were those allegedly fingered in the $15 billion arms scandal and who are currently standing trial before regular courts in the country.

The statement from the Nigerian Army failed to mention the names of officers involved in the purge. It reads in part:

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.

“Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.

“Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.

“Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.

“Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Army invited Nigerians not to read the release out of context and admonished its men to remain apolitical and professional at all times.

Others allegedly had one or two roles to play in the procurement of army equipment and other logistics and may have been indicted by the Chief of Army Staff’s Committee that investigated arms, logistics and other procurements dating back to the tenure of former COAS, Generals Owoye Azazi, Abdurahman Dambazau, Azubuike Ihejirika and KTJ Minimah.

It was gathered that some of those affected include Major General MY Ibrahim, a former GOC 7 Division, Maiduguri, Major General Fatai Ali, a former Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, Major General Ilo, GOC 2  Division, Ibadan, Major General SD Aliyu, former DA China, Brig-General Lawson, Defence Adviser China, Brigadier General Mustapha Onoiveta, a  former ADC to  the late President Yar’Adua, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdusalami, Brigade Commander, Jos, Brigadier General Bello, Acting Director, Operations, and former ADC to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Col Ojogbane Adegbe.

Courtesy: ripples nigeria

HOW OBJ, OTHERS STOPPED PMB FROM NAMING LOOTERS.

How Obj, others stopped Buhari from naming looters

President Muhammadu Buhari had some weeks ago hinted he was going to name those who had looted the nation’s treasury on Democracy day.

This was to convince skeptical Nigerians that his government is fighting corruption.

However, the day came and went by, but Nigerians were not told the identity of those stealing away their common patrimony.

Though the government said it was constrained by legal exigencies, Ripples Nigeria gathered that there were also political exigencies involved that put a stop to the planned naming and shaming of the looters.

It was learnt that some political heavyweights waded in to analyse the collateral risks of such venture to the President.

Led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ripples Nigeria gathered that the politicians explained to Buhari that naming looters might set the nation on fire.

A source in the presidency said: “You know these looters have hangers-on and beneficiaries that are willing to die for them.

“The truth is that corruption is the biggest industry in this country. Now, if you name the looters, you are fighting an entrenched cabal and this government can do without such battle for now.”

He also noted that the mood of the nation is not disposed to naming looters, with many Nigerians complaining of cash crunch.

“You are aware some people have started saying we should bring back Jonathan and corruption because of hunger in the land.

“Nigerians don’t care about looting as long as some crumbs get to them. So, realising this, we had to tell the President he will set the nation ablaze by such gigantic move.”

Buhari, it was learnt, also received advice from Obasanjo to jettison the idea so as not to trigger off a mob action that government cannot handle.

“If you name looters, Nigerians will go after them and we might not be able to handle the mob action,” Obasanjo reportedly told the President.

It was further gathered that the anti-corruption agencies also advised against the move, opting instead that the figures of recovered loots should be released.

The EFCC and ICPC reportedly told the Presidency it was better to secretly recover loots from affected former government officials who are cooperative than name looters and risk serious resistance.

Courtesy: https://ripplesnigeria.com

ABACHA DID NOT LOOT - MAJ. AL-MUSTAPHA

 

Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has described the raging noise about Abacha’s loot by successive governments as a hoax and deliberate attempt by some powerful individuals to smear his name even in death.

Al-Mustapha who made the declaration at a media interaction at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, explained that the monies being talked about were kept in foreign accounts to stave off the threat of sanction against the then military government by the international community in order that Nigeria could remain afloat.

The decision to do this, he said, was taken after due consultations with the relevant stakeholders. “During the time of Abacha, sanctions were threatened upon Nigeria. And at the request of some notable Nigerians, including traditional rulers, key politicians, and businessmen from the North and South, some modalities were taken to allow some monies to be saved in some foreign accounts abroad so that when sanctions come, that money will be able to keep Nigeria afloat. At that time, Chief Tom Ikimi, was the foreign affairs minister.

“These stakeholders can still testify to what that money was meant for. And I can remember many of the big men who attended the Abuja meeting where this decision was taken. They were many that the council hall in the Villa could not contain them. There are many big men you can ask to get all these issues.

“The lodgments will show whether those monies were kept in his name before he became Head of State, and whether the monies were kept in his name after he became Head of State,” he added.
He accused those he described as untouchable Nigerians who Abacha had to deal with in the face of the mounting opposition against his government of being responsible for the smear campaign.

“Gen Abacaha is dead, but those on whose toes he had stepped upon decided to invest in smearing his name. In Nigeria, over the decades, there were some Nigerians who were bigger than the law, bigger than security agencies, bigger than government in Nigeria. But during Abacha’s tenure, in the course of trying to remove him from office violently, Abacha had to defend himself and he allowed the law to take its course. Some notable Nigerians were arrested, they were tried and they never took it in good faith. They have still not forgiven Abacha even at death,” he declared.

According to him, the establishment of PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund) still remains a good testimony of the vision and prudency Abacha brought into the management of the nation’s resources during his regime.

“A that time, oil was $7 yet policies were taken, including PTF so that Nigeria could grow. Little as I was then, I created PTF and it worked,” he said.

Al-Mustapha challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to explain to Nigeria what he did with over $7 billion left behind by the late Abacha.

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