SBP eyeing favorable draw to reach world cup knockout stage–and maybe Olympics
Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Japan, Jordan, South Korea and New Zealand are the other Asian countries taking part and will be shooting to bag the second slot for the region in the 2020 Games in Tokyo where the Japanese earned automatic entry being the hosts.Team USA, the top-ranked team in the world, is favored to rule the China event, which will be held in eight cities in the Mainland until Sept. 15.And SBP and Gilas coach Yeng Guiao made it no secret that they would want to avoid being bracketed with the Americans in the first round.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title MOST READ Mendoza, Lee lead MercedesTrophy golf champions Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award View comments Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history LATEST STORIES And then there’s another objective which the draw could also determine for the Philippines.“Remember, the top Asian team [will] qualify for the Tokyo Olympics [next year],” Panlilio added. “I believe this is a far objective, too.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsFor the second straight edition since being out of the global stage for more than four decades, the Philippines will be playing against the best in the world, and will this time shoot to win more than just one game and possibly make it to the next round.In Spain in 2014, Gilas Pilipinas, which also had Andray Blatche as a naturalized player, squeezed out an 81-79 overtime victory over Senegal, a non-bearing game that was played late in its group schedule but one which reverberated back in the country since it was the Filipinos’ first group win in more than 40 years. Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Rogue cops marked as Gamboa’s targets in his appointment as PNP chief Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra The Philippines will be trying to hit two birds with one stone when it campaigns for the second straight time in the Fiba World Cup starting Aug. 31.“We wish to get to a grouping where we [will] have a great chance to advance [to the second round],” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio told the Inquirer in an overseas call from Shenzhen, China, where the draw for the 32-team spectacle will be held Saturday afternoon.ADVERTISEMENT Eugenie Bouchard’s bid for Australian Open spot ends in qualifying Croatia and Greece, which were both ranked in the top 10 in Spain, were the first two foes of the Philippines in Seville and survived a scare from Gilas Pilipinas.When the Filipinos set out this time, they will be shooting to win at least two games, thus the powers-that-be in the national cage scene are hoping and praying that Gilas lands in a favorable group that would make those two wins realizable.“We might need to win two games [to advance],” Panlilio said.As of the end of February, the Philippines is ranked 31st in the world, with Australia the top-ranked Asian team that will be playing in China.Of the eight Asian teams playing in the Worlds, Iran and China are the only other teams ranked higher than the Filipinos in the region.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
The remains of the late Major David Livingstone M. Bropleh were laid to rest at the Brewerville Cemetery last Thursday, December 19.Major Bropleh died on October 18, 2013 in Ghana. He was born on April 29, 1949.The funeral was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Parish on Bushrod Island, Monrovia.Official clergies were Rev. Fr. Robert B. Korti, Parish Priest, and Rev. Fr. Dominic Y. Sumo, Associate Pastor.Among many of the friends and sympathizers were representatives from the Liberia Football Association, St. Joseph’s Warriors. NDPL, Friends of Bropleh, (UMARCO Compound), Mantus Caucus, The Church and the family.On behalf of former St. Joseph’s Warriors players, Jonathan Armah Baxter, (who played for Warriors in the 1987-88 season), recounted the deceased’s love for football and stressed how his death meant to those Major Bropleh invested into.Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood, whose father, the late Walter Pelham played and coached St. Joseph’s Warriors, recounted her family’s relationship with the deceased.Among sympathizers present were Associate Justice Kabina Ja’neh, George Dweh, and Security Adviser to the President of Liberia, H. Boima Fahnbulleh and Josiah N. Johnson.Meanawhile, Widow Nancy Bropleh has expressed the family’s appreciation to all those who made it their duty to mourn with them in their time of distress, and expressed God’s loving kindness to all.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
…did not follow financial model that guaranteed minimal increases…as Govt opposed increase; to review legal optionsWhile the Government is digging its heels in when it comes to impending increases in tolls to use the Berbice Bridge, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has weighed in on the saga by calling the Government out for precipitating the toll increases.Opposition Leader Bharrat JagdeoAccording to the Party on Tuesday, a formula for minor increases was supposed to be in place – increases that would have lessened the impact on commuters. Instead, however, the Party noted that Government abandoned this formula and even tinkered with it.“Had the Coalition Government pursued the financial model used by the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, there would have been no proposed increases of this magnitude. The Bridge was built around a financial model that did not envisage such massive increases in tolls.“Rather, minimal increases were envisaged – followed by a steep decline in tolls – until the Berbice Bridge was handed over to the State,” the Party continued. “Since July 2018, the PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, questioned whether the current Administration tinkered with the financial model. To date, this question remains unanswered.”The PPP stated that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson would have in his possession the financial model and contract documents for the Berbice Bridge. The Party called for these to be released.Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson“The Minister, instead, is trying to absolve himself of responsibility by claiming that there is a confidentiality clause preventing the documents’ release – there is none. It was the Coalition Government that promised a reduction in tolls, but the incompetence which has marked almost all of its actions, has come back to haunt the Administration,” the Party said on Tuesday.The PPP also pointed out that the Chairman of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI), Dr Surendra Persaud and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), is a supporter of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party of which Patterson is an executive member.“Blaming the PPP seems to be a tactic of the AFC – Minister Patterson, as campaign manager for the AFC, seems to have forgotten that the AFC is part of the current Government. The PPP is categorically opposed to any increase in tolls at the Berbice Bridge. We do not support an increase in the tolls, particularly given what is happening in Berbice – loss of thousands of jobs in the sugar industry and other sectors – as a result of the policies of the APNU/AFC Coalition Government.“The Government should take measures to prevent the increase in tolls, given the hardship policies it has imposed on our people. If there is any move by the APNU/AFC Coalition Government to sign a toll order to bring into effect the proposed increases, the People’s Progressive Party commits to reversing the increase after the 2020 General and Regional Elections.”Legal optionsEarlier on Tuesday, the Public Infrastructure Minister had called a hasty press conference after the news of the increase broke. When asked about the agreement, Patterson had claimed that a confidentiality clause was in effect.Patterson informed the press that all options to stop the increases would be considered. These options ran the gamut from amending the Berbice Bridge agreement to an injunction to stating that “if the Minister of Public Security says it’s a vital and important service and says declare an order to keep it open, we’ll do that.”Patterson indicated that he has been written to by associations representing Berbice businesses. The Minister related that they have asked that the increases not be passed down to them. And according to the Minister, Government’s position is, it is against the increases.Patterson said that at a recent meeting with the BBCI officials, he was informed of their debt and the fact that they were not making enough money to upkeep the bridge. According to the minister, he gave the company the Government’s offer; which was to take over maintenance of the pontoons for the remaining nine years of the agreement.Patterson related that he tried to negotiate a lower rate of return than the one the company is entitled to by contract. He claimed that he also requested that a detailed proposal containing a breakdown of their reported $6 billion debt be sent.This proposal, according to Patterson, would have been sent to the Finance Minister, since he was only empowered to speak to certain aspects of the agreement. The Minister claimed that BBCI did not send this information.Jagdeo has previously pointed out that the financial model would have seen tolls rising just enough to repay the debt, after which the tolls would have been significantly reduced. This model was not used by the Government, as requests from BBCI for increases were refused.Failing this, the Opposition Leader had also suggested that Government buying out the shares from the stakeholders was the only feasible way to prevent the impact of increases on commuters.
“We were very impressed with the possibilities that this city holds for the Games and the Olympic movement,” said Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive officer. He added the focus around the downtown lakefront would offer an “unparalleled” experience for athletes and spectators. Chicago is competing with Los Angeles to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, and the USOC will decide April 14. The IOC won’t pick a host city until 2009, and other bidders are expected to include Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rome and Tokyo. A lot was left to the imagination of U.S. Olympic Committee officials who toured Chicago Wednesday, assessing possible 2016 Summer Olympics venue sites on a cold, gray day. They got a bird’s-eye view of a proposed athletes’ village, marked by orange balloons, from a high-rise hotel. And the footprint of a proposed 80,000-seat stadium was marked out in a snow-covered park with the flags of the countries represented in the International Olympic Committee. Hunter suspended Detroit Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter was suspended 10 games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday after testing positive for phentermine, a banned substance primarily used for weight loss. “I’m as shocked as anyone,” Hunter said. “It was a diet pill – we’ve all taken stuff and nothing ever happens.” Hunter said the pill was prescribed for his wife Ivy. “We do that at our house – if I’ve got a head cold, I might grab one of her pills,” he said. “It was just a bonehead mistake on my part.” 
Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony became a father Wednesday afternoon when his fiancee, actress La La Vazquez, gave birth to a son, Kiyan (pronounced kai-ann). Lewis to Browns Free-agent running back Jamal Lewis agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, a person within the NFL said. Lewis was released last week in a salary-cap move by Baltimore, which elected not to pay their career rushing leader a $5 million roster bonus. He’ll join the Browns, Baltimore’s AFC North rival, who were last in the league in rushing in 2006. Daniel Graham is the latest addition to the Denver Broncos, as the former New England tight end signed a five-year, $30 million deal that includes $15 million in guaranteed money. The Atlanta Falcons have talked to 35-year-old receiver Joe Horn, who was cut last week by their NFC South rivals in New Orleans. ESPN.com quoted unnamed team sources as saying the Falcons reached agreement with the outspoken receiver, but the Falcons denied it. Green Bay released 36-year-old fullback William Henderson. Nominees tabbed Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Doug Flutie are among those making their first appearance on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. Other first timers include Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, a two-time Bednarik Award winner as national defensive player of the year, UCLA offensive lineman Randy Cross and Penn State running back Curt Warner. Woods to host Tiger Woods joined elite company as one of only three players to host a PGA Tour event during their careers. But this wasn’t about taking his place with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Woods was more interested in the dozen children seated to the side of a packed lounge in the National Press Club, where Woods and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced plans for the AT&T National that returns of golf to the nation’s capital. Owner in Vegas Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle traveled to Las Vegas to meet with the mayor and discuss the possibility of relocating the team there. Burkle, who lives in Los Angeles, led a delegation in talks with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, a Penguins spokesman said. Briefly LSU women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman, who twice took the Lady Tigers to the Final Four after taking over as head coach in 2004, unexpectedly announced her resignation. Olympic medal-winning sprinters Marion Jones and Obadele Thompson were married in a small ceremony outside of Raleigh, N.C., the service’s minister said. A right rib injury forced Elena Dementieva to withdraw from the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells. She joins No. 2 Justine Henin, No. 3 Amelie Mauresmo and No. 5 Kim Clijsters on the list of top names missing from the 96-player field. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
0Shares0000Gor Mahia’s Ephraim Guikan dribbles the ball past a Jeshi La Kujenga Uchumi opponent during their CECAFA Kagame Cup match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on July 13, 2018NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 13- Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia hit Zanzibar’s Jeshi la Kujenga Uchumi (JKU) 2-0 to claim the CECAFA Kagame Cup bronze medal at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday evening.Samule Onyango emerged from the dark to score the second goal in added time after new signing Francis Mustafa put the Kenyans ahead early in the second half as they replicated the same result they posted when they last met in the SportPesa Super Cup in May. With the win, Gor return home with a fattened purse of Sh1mn (10,000USD), but they still have a bitter taste in their moth after losing an opportunity of bagging their third piece of silverware this season.Head coach Dylan Kerr made sweeping changes to the squad from the one that lost by a similar margin to finalists Azam FC in the semi-finals.Innocent Wafula was handed the skipper’s armband while Shabaan Odhoji started in goal, his defense manned by Charles Momanyi, Joash Onyango and Philemon Otieno.Mustafa partnered upfront with Ephraim Guikan while Onyango who has found himself in the cold since a below par performance against Mathare United in April was handed a chance to redeem himself with a place in the starting team.The Gor Mahia team that started their CECAFA Kagame Cup match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on July 13, 2018Boniface Oluoch, Harun Shakava, Jack Tuyisenge and Godfrey Walusimbi were all rested while Francis Kahata, a huge subject of a much publicized transfer to Simba SC was not on the match day squad.It was a much relaxed approach from Gor who were playing the play-off with no pressure on their shoulders. They should have opened their account after quarter of an hour mark but Mustafa failed to beat the keeper one on one after being put through by Kevin Omondi.Mustafa had another opportunity after 10 minutes but once again, he failed to pull the trigger with a volley from inside the box.After the break, Gor stepped up and they needed seven minutes to break the deadlock, charging into the box to beat keeper Mohammed Abrahman. Onyango then completed the job later with a low shot from inside the box after being put through by Omondi.0Shares0000(Visited 5 times, 1 visits today)
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORE‘Mame,’ ‘Hello, Dolly!’ composer Jerry Herman dies at 88160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! SACRAMENTO – A day after the Senate failed to put his bond plan on the June ballot, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders pledged to work toward a November ballot measure, while observers said their efforts are likely to get tangled in election-year politics. Negotiations for a new bond measure are likely to intersect with those for the governor’s 2006-07 budget, which accelerate after he issues his revised budget in May. Then, if a measure is placed on the November ballot, the governor will find himself campaigning for the bond, possibly side-by-side with Democratic lawmakers, even as he fends off attacks from an aspiring Democratic governor. Still, Schwarzenegger remains optimistic, saying, “I see the glass half-full.” “As long as you’re ambitious and as long as you’re trying to fight for the people of California, this is OK that you sometimes don’t make it all the way,” Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference. “That you say, you know we’re going to have this year the infrastructure done. That I can guarantee you, we will have it done this year. We maybe haven’t been able to do it by June, but we will do it by November.” The governor’s failure comes at a time when he is badly in need of a fresh success to tout in his fall reelection campaign. His government reform package failed in last November’s special election, and he hasn’t had a visible success since mid-2004 when he reformed the workers’ compensation system. “It is 2006, and time is running out,” said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College. “We’re coming to the last reel of the movie, and it’s time for the hero to get out of the ditch.” Schwarzenegger’s likely Democratic opponents in the fall campaign – Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly – said the governor’s failure demonstrates a lack of leadership. Angelides said Schwarzenegger wasted time traveling to the Arnold Classic fitness expo earlier this month when he should have been negotiating, in addition to wasting all of last year on a special election that voters opposed. “I think voters are seeing each and every day that this governor just doesn’t have the competence and the credibility to govern,” Angelides said. “He doesn’t have the ability to do the hard work of moving this state forward.” The Westly campaign said the issue is likely to come up in the fall. “The collapse of this deal reflects a complete lack of confidence in the governor’s leadership abilities, among both Democrats and Republicans,” said Nick Velasquez, spokesman for the Westly campaign. “His inconsistent leadership and inability to deliver on his promises will be a major issue over the course of this campaign.” Schwarzenegger has proposed a 10-year, $222 billion strategic growth plan, with massive spending for public works like schools, freeways, public transit and levees, financed in part through $68 billion in bonds. He had hoped to get the first installment of the bonds on the June ballot. He had appeared to reach a deal with legislators late Wednesday to place $14 billion in education and levee bonds on the June ballot. The Assembly approved both bonds, but Senate president pro tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, adjourned the Senate before taking up the measures, allowing the midnight deadline to expire. Senate Republicans remained upset that the deal did not include money for water storage and dam projects in Northern California. They also preferred a pay-as-you-go approach, rather than borrowing so much through bonds. Perata, who has proposed his own infrastructure bond package, also was looking for a more comprehensive deal rather than just breaking out the education and levee pieces. Perata said he would reveal plans next week on how to move the bond issue forward. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu ez, D-Los Angeles, said the least the talks revealed was general agreement on education and levee issues, allowing future debate to focus on transportation, natural resources and water storage. “Democrats have been working day and night to forge an agreement with the governor and clearly he didn’t secure enough Republican votes to make that happen,” Nu ez said. “But nobody can say that Democrats stood on the sidelines and egged the governor because we didn’t do that.” The rejection left local civic leaders and transportation advocates disappointed, as they said the state’s infrastructure is badly in need of immediate rehabilitation. Mark Watts, executive director of Transportation California, said the failure means traffic will continue to worsen throughout the state. “Gridlock in Sacramento has once again trumped gridlock on our streets and highways,” Watts said. Staff Writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. harrison.sheppard@dailynews.com (916) 446-6723
smart causal Brown’s half-time antics, eight-goal thrillers… relive these Boxing Day classics Willian has been at Chelsea for five years predicted gameday Every current Premier League club’s best kit from the past decade Tottenham predicted XI to face Brighton with Mourinho expected to make big changes who plays? 1 NEW ERA How Liverpool could line up at Leicester with midfielder set for lengthy absence possible xi 
How Chelsea could line up against Southampton – what system will Lampard play? Tottenham v Brighton LIVE: talkSPORT commentary and team news for Boxing Day opener How Arsenal could line up in Arteta’s first official game in charge – Ozil return? Mourinho has long been linked with a move for Willian since taking charge of United and, according to the Daily Mail, United are now set to submit a £60million offer to Chelsea.Willian, 29, made just 20 starts in the Premier League last season but was still crowned Chelsea’s Players’ Player of the Year.The 29-year-old, who has 44 goals in 236 appearances for Chelsea since arriving from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013, is thought to be open to a move away.He was close to Mourinho during their time together at Chelsea and recently described United as “one of the best teams in the world.” How Man United could line up for Newcastle clash – will Pogba start? crackers Latest Premier League News Manchester United are planning to raid Chelsea this summer for Willian.Jose Mourinho was the man responsible for signing the Brazilian at Stamford Bridge and now wants to link up with him again at Old Trafford. Mourinho knows he must boost his attacking options this summer, having seen United blitzed by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title last season.City scored 38 more goals than United in 2017/18 as they finished 19 points ahead of their near neighbours.Mourinho has already signed defender Diogo Dalot for £17million, while a £52million deal for Brazil international midfielder Fred has been agreed.Now he is focusing on adding to his attack, and Willian is seemingly his main target. ALTERED 
BASKETBALL–The year 2015 was one to behold as far as success in sports is concerned in Uganda. She Cranes qualified for their first ever Netball World Cup since 1979 there was a haul of four medals at the All African Games and promotion to rugby Division 1A.Oh yes Ivan Byekwaso flexed his muscles to win a Mr Universe title while Solomon Mutai ran his legs off to claim bronze at World Athletics Championships.The biggest achievement however, was reserved for a sport that requires picking a ball and shooting hoops. Basketball.Ugandan basketball scaled enviable heights it had been craving for long when the men’s national team, the Silverbacks, took an enormous leap in the right direction by qualifying for the Afrobasket, the top African basketball championship, for the first time ever.It was no mean feat because, considered by Uganda’s standards then, the Afrobasket was unrivalled in prestige and that’s why if you could reduce the ambitions of men’s basketball to one prayer request at that time, qualifying to the coveted Afrobasket would probably fit the bill.However, Afrobasket 2015 turned out a damp squib of sorts for the Silverbacks. And the less talked about their frail performances at the continental showpiece in Tunisia, the better.Under Coach Mandy Juruni, they finished a derided 15th position, placing second last. Then, in Uganda’s group, they had an improbable task to surmount past three favourites that eventually made the semi-final bracket in hosts Tunisia, champions Nigeria and Fourth placed Senegal.A mix of inexperience and stage fright all rolled into one contributed greatly to Uganda’s capitulation. This was knitted to the fact that playing regular official games is only limited to competing in biennial tournaments that had deserted Uganda for so long.New dawnYet, Uganda’s latest successive qualification to the FIBA Afrobasket 2017, that is due September 8-16 in Senegal, and Tunisia provides grounds for optimism for the second time of attempt.“It was very tough. But now we have got expectations and when we get there, the level will be quite high, especially us facing three top teams in Africa,” Juruni said.“We don’t expect to go and win (Afrobasket), but we expect to do better.”On Tuesday, the City Oilers coach proclaimed he was guided by small criteria of “merit” and named nine local-based players with four other professionals for a training camp in Egypt.The same old faces that took part in 2015 edition dominated the 13-man squad.Captain Stephen Omony, Jimmy Enabu, Ben Komakech and Joseph Ikong will be making their second appearances. Syrus Kiviiri’s splendid form with resurgent Warriors got him a nod together with UCU Canons skipper Jonathan Egau and City Oilers’ duo of Jonah Otim and James Okello.Professionals A’darius Pegues, Stanely Ociiti, Samuel Kalwanyi and Robinson Odoch Opong made the cut while surprise inclusion Stanley Mugerwa completing the squad.With the custodians of the game- FUBA- crying foul over empty coffers, Juruni was forced to shelve plans of early preparations with the locally-based players. But the government made timely intervention with a shot in the arm of $120,000 (about Sh420 million) to enable the much-needed two-week camp.A 12-member contingent of was been off today by State minister for higher education Chrysestom Muyigo to Egypt. It consisted of nine players with national team manager Muhammad Santur, Coach Juruni and physio Ram Nyakana.The Egypt training camp in the city of Alexandria is scheduled to include three friendly games against local sides and there after proceeding to Dakar, Senegal, for real business.Drawn in Group B alongside 11-time champions Angola, Morrocco and Central African Rebublic, it promises to be tough challenge for Silverbacks if they are to come good on their noble target of bettering their 15th place finish.“I think that it is a tough group with multiple champions Angola in there. The real race is going to be between Central African Republic, Morocco and Uganda. I believe we can compete with them and if we do everything right, we can have an edge,” Captain Omony told FIBA.basketball.Comments
Click here if you’re unable to view the gallery on your mobile device.Klay Thompson subscribes. You can too for just 11 cents a day for 11 months + receive a free Warriors Championship book. Sign me up!OAKLAND – Sometimes, the Warriors doze off during a film session. This time, they leaped with joy.The reason? The Warriors watched Tiger Woods win the Masters in what marked his fifth of that tournament, his 15th major title and his first major victory since the 2008 U.S. Open. Once that …
Share Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn Pinterest While scouting corn fields this spring, some farmers in the eastern Corn Belt may have noticed strange looking corn plants with new growth that was yellow and leaves that were wrinkled randomly spread throughout their field. This a phenomenon is referred to as “Rapid Growth Syndrome.” In many areas of our sales footprint weather conditions were such that our agronomists and sales staff observed plants affected by Rapid Growth Syndrome. Corn plants are usually affected by this issue is in the V5 to V6 stages of growth. This phenomenon is usually associated with an abrupt change in weather. Twisted whorls can appear when corn plants shift from a period of slow growth (in cool, cloudy weather) to more rapid growth (warm, sunny weather).Symptoms of Rapid Growth Syndrome include bent-over plants and tightly wrapped whorls that keep younger leaves from emerging. Once younger leaves emerge, they are often yellow but turn green after a few days. In one area Seed Consultants’ staff observed corn plants with leaves that were notched or shredded due to similar rapid growth conditions. This issue seemed more wide spread in 2017 because more areas were affected periods of cooler wet weather followed by warm weather that promoted rapid growth.The important question is, “Does Rapid Growth Syndrome diminish corn yields?” According to Bob Nielsen in his article Wrapped and Twisted Whorls in Corn, “Yield effects from periods of twisted growth caused by weather-related causes are minimal, if any.” Growers who observed twisted whorls and notched or wrinkled leaves in their corn fields this spring should keep in mind that plants will recover from this phenomenon and yields will not be significantly affected.