Teachers Get First-hand Training at Mcenroe Center

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Baha Mar is looking to expand the sporting opportunities available to young Bahamians, starting with the teachers who introduce them to sports.

Dozens of physical education teachers from government schools recently took part in a tennis training initiative at the John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar.

The teachers were introduced to the basics of tennis, including the rules, fundamentals, and how to use the facility, giving them the tools to introduce the sport to their students.

The initiative is part of a larger junior tennis pilot program that will bring red-ball tennis into PE classes at five government primary schools, reaching an estimated 3,500 students.

And the bigger idea is providing children with access to sports outside of the traditional core options, while creating a pathway from the school playing field to organized training and competition.

NBA

Klay Thompson’s move to the Miami Heat is more than a new chapter for the four-time NBA champion, it also puts him closer than ever to his Bahamian roots.

Thompson officially joined the Heat this week after agreeing to a two-year, $11.5 million contract following his buyout from the Dallas Mavericks. But during his introductory press conference, it was his connection to The Bahamas that stood out as one of the more personal aspects of the move.

Thompson said he has never before had the opportunity to live this close to his many relatives in The Bahamas, making Miami a particularly special destination for him.

Thompson’s father, Mychal Thompson, was born and raised in The Bahamas before moving to the United States, eventually becoming the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft and a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Klay has also had a direct connection with the Bahamas men’s national basketball team.

In 2024, while still with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson joined the Bahamian national team’s training camp ahead of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He was not cleared to play in the competition because of his previous commitment to USA Basketball, but his decision to train with the team was a significant moment for the program.

The possibility of playing for The Bahamas had been discussed publicly by Thompson before that.

In 2023, he said he would seriously consider representing his father’s home country, saying it would be special because his father never had the opportunity to play for The Bahamas.

Thompson’s support for the program has also been visible on the NBA floor.

During his time with Golden State, he was seen warming up in a Bahamas national team jersey ahead of a Warriors matchup with Miami, a moment that generated plenty of attention back home.

And now, after signing with the Heat, Thompson has again put that connection front and center. One of the first training videos circulating following his move to Miami showed the NBA veteran working out while wearing Bahamas basketball gear.

There is also a national-team connection within Thompson’s immediate family.

His older brother, Mychel Thompson, has represented The Bahamas as a player and has also been part of the national team’s coaching staff. Mychel played for The Bahamas during the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup qualification campaign, adding another layer to the family’s connection with Bahamian basketball.

So while Klay Thompson is heading to Miami to help the Heat chase another NBA championship, the move also brings him closer to a part of his identity that he has repeatedly embraced.

And now, for the first time in his NBA career, The Bahamas is just a short trip away.

Baseball

BJ Murray and Jazz Chisholm Jr. both came through with big offensive performances Tuesday night, but neither team could turn those contributions into a win.

With the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Murray was just a home run shy of the cycle, going three-for-five with a double, a triple, four RBIs, and a run scored.

Murray provided a big chunk of Iowa’s offense, including a two-run double, but the Cubs fell to the Omaha Storm Chasers, 9-6.

In the major leagues, Chisholm also came through late, delivering an RBI single in the eighth inning to pull the New York Yankees within one run of Houston.

But the Astros added an insurance run in the ninth and held on for the 9-7 victory.

A pair of strong offensive showings from Bahamian stars, just without the wins to show for them.