Printed Letters: January 8, 2017

To the elected officials of Grand Junction: Do you honestly think that the voters of Grand Junction are going to approve a quarter-cent sales tax to fund a sports arena? Get real! The people of Grand Junction don’t want a sports arena that is only going to be used maybe four to six months a year the rest of the time sit idle and be considered a “white elephant” while costing the taxpayers money for the time it is not being used.

Printed Letters: January 8, 2017

To the elected officials of Grand Junction: Do you honestly think that the voters of Grand Junction are going to approve a quarter-cent sales tax to fund a sports arena? Get real! The people of Grand Junction don’t want a sports arena that is only going to be used maybe four to six months a year the rest of the time sit idle and be considered a “white elephant” while costing the taxpayers money for the time it is not being used.

US skier Mikaela Shiffrin leads WCup slalom after 1st run

Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin led a women’s World Cup slalom after the opening leg Sunday, five days after the American had failed to a finish a slalom run for the first time in four years. Shiffrin built a 0.17-second lead over Wendy Holdener of Switzerland, with Frida Hansdotter of Sweden 0.38 back in third.

US skier Mikaela Shiffrin leads WCup slalom after 1st run

Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin led a women’s World Cup slalom after the opening leg Sunday, five days after the American had failed to a finish a slalom run for the first time in four years. Shiffrin built a 0.17-second lead over Wendy Holdener of Switzerland, with Frida Hansdotter of Sweden 0.38 back in third.

Legends enthralled by Kokkinakis’ body

Tennis: Tanasi Kokkinakis considered calling it quits during his 15-month injury lay off, but now he’s back in the winner’s circle in Brisbane, pairing with Jordan Thompson to claim the men’s doubles final. The Aussie played just one competitive match in 2016 – a loss to Portugal’s Gastao Elias at the Rio Olympics – after injury ravaged his entire year.

Legends enthralled by Kokkinakis’ body

Tennis: Tanasi Kokkinakis considered calling it quits during his 15-month injury lay off, but now he’s back in the winner’s circle in Brisbane, pairing with Jordan Thompson to claim the men’s doubles final. The Aussie played just one competitive match in 2016 – a loss to Portugal’s Gastao Elias at the Rio Olympics – after injury ravaged his entire year.

Hafeez recalled for ODI series against Australia

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been added to Pakistan’s squad as the 16th player for the five-match one-day international cricket series in Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board says coach Mickey Arthur and captain Azhar Ali had requested the selection committee to send Hafeez to Australia for the ODI series, starting on Jan. 13. Hafeez had been out of international cricket since the tour of England last year due to poor form and fitness problems, and missed Pakistan’s series against the West Indies and New Zealand.

Hafeez recalled for ODI series against Australia

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been added to Pakistan’s squad as the 16th player for the five-match one-day international cricket series in Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board says coach Mickey Arthur and captain Azhar Ali had requested the selection committee to send Hafeez to Australia for the ODI series, starting on Jan. 13. Hafeez had been out of international cricket since the tour of England last year due to poor form and fitness problems, and missed Pakistan’s series against the West Indies and New Zealand.

Sydney FC’s unbeaten streak in A-League reaches 14 matches

Sydney FC restored its first-place advantage to seven points in the A-League and remained unbeaten on the season through 14 rounds, defeating the Central Coast Mariners 3-2 on Sunday. Less than a week after Sydney coach Graham Arnold predicted his side was good enough to go unbeaten for the entire season, the Sky Blues nearly blew a two-goal lead at Gosford north of Sydney, home of the Mariners.

Sydney FC’s unbeaten streak in A-League reaches 14 matches

Sydney FC restored its first-place advantage to seven points in the A-League and remained unbeaten on the season through 14 rounds, defeating the Central Coast Mariners 3-2 on Sunday. Less than a week after Sydney coach Graham Arnold predicted his side was good enough to go unbeaten for the entire season, the Sky Blues nearly blew a two-goal lead at Gosford north of Sydney, home of the Mariners.

Steve McClaren praises Derby performance after West Brom win

Tom Ince and Darren Bent struck inside four second-half minutes to record the Rams’ first FA Cup victory over a higher tier side since 1986 and seal a 2-1 win. They cancelled out Matt Phillips’ opener to surprise the Premier League club and secure Derby’s first triumph over a top-flight team for eight years.

Steve McClaren praises Derby performance after West Brom win

Tom Ince and Darren Bent struck inside four second-half minutes to record the Rams’ first FA Cup victory over a higher tier side since 1986 and seal a 2-1 win. They cancelled out Matt Phillips’ opener to surprise the Premier League club and secure Derby’s first triumph over a top-flight team for eight years.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger impressed by Olivier Giroud’s leadership skills

Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud’s leadership qualities after his captain for the night snatched a late FA Cup winner for Arsenal at Preston. Giroud continued his recent scoring streak by netting his fourth in four games since returning to the starting line-up, sinking the impressive Championship side with a deflected 89th-minute effort in the third-round tie at Deepdale.

Millwall manager Neil Harris inspired an impressive 3-0 defeat of Premier League Bournemouth

Millwall manager Neil Harris insisted his team could have beaten Bournemouth by a greater margin than their 3-0 scoreline – but revealed he would swap their FA Cup upset for victory over rivals Charlton next week. A convincing performance against Premier League opposition, with goals from Steve Morison, Shaun Cummings and Shane Ferguson, secured the League One side’s place in the competition’s fourth round.

Millwall manager Neil Harris inspired an impressive 3-0 defeat of Premier League Bournemouth

Millwall manager Neil Harris insisted his team could have beaten Bournemouth by a greater margin than their 3-0 scoreline – but revealed he would swap their FA Cup upset for victory over rivals Charlton next week. A convincing performance against Premier League opposition, with goals from Steve Morison, Shaun Cummings and Shane Ferguson, secured the League One side’s place in the competition’s fourth round.

Anderson, Williamson power New Zealand to 6-0 against Bangladesh

New Zealand 194-4 beat Bangladesh 167-6 by 27 runs Third Twenty20 International in Mount Maunganui Scorecard Corey Anderson scored a blistering unbeaten knock of 94 while Kane Williamson contributed with a steady half-century as New Zealand defended 195 against Bangladesh comfortably by 27 runs in the third Twenty20 International in Mount Maunganui to seal the series 3-0. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first again.

Anderson, Williamson power New Zealand to 6-0 against Bangladesh

New Zealand 194-4 beat Bangladesh 167-6 by 27 runs Third Twenty20 International in Mount Maunganui Scorecard Corey Anderson scored a blistering unbeaten knock of 94 while Kane Williamson contributed with a steady half-century as New Zealand defended 195 against Bangladesh comfortably by 27 runs in the third Twenty20 International in Mount Maunganui to seal the series 3-0. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first again.

Idaho sinks Montana State 83-81 in OT with Blake’s tip-in

Brayon Blake scored the game-winner on a tip-in with 1.5 seconds left in overtime and Idaho beat Montana State 83-81 on Saturday night Idaho sinks Montana State 83-81 in OT with Blake’s tip-in Brayon Blake scored the game-winner on a tip-in with 1.5 seconds left in overtime and Idaho beat Montana State 83-81 on Saturday night Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2jgyiNJ MOSCOW, Idaho – Brayon Blake scored the game-winner on a tip-in with 1.5 seconds left in overtime and Idaho beat Montana State 83-81 on Saturday night. Pat Ingram drove across the lane in the final seconds and his layup came off the glass too hard, but Blake was there to put it back for the Vandals .

Boise State beats San Diego State 78-66

Zach Haney and James Reid scored 19 points each on Saturday night and Boise State beat San Diego State 78-66 to remain undefeated in Mountain West play Boise State beats San Diego State 78-66 Zach Haney and James Reid scored 19 points each on Saturday night and Boise State beat San Diego State 78-66 to remain undefeated in Mountain West play Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2jgNKJk San Diego State’s Trey Kell shoots past Boise State’s Zach Haney during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Boise State won 78-66.

Florida State improves to 3-0 in the ACC

But coach Leonard Hamilton and the Seminoles are trying to maintain their poise and keep their perspective in the midst of a historic start in Florida State history. Sophomore forward Terance Mann scored a career-high 22 points with nine rebounds to lead No.