• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

FREE PRE ss Page 12 Colby Free Press Friday, August 8, 2008 SSPORTPORT SS NFL Preseason China strides onto Olympic stage BEIJING (AP) _ Once-reclusive Already an economic jugger- The story presented in Friday’s flag-bearer. Chiefs’ Johnson, China commandeered the world naut, China is given a good chance ceremony sought to distill 5,000 Athletes from Japan, an old stage Friday, celebrating its first- of overtaking the U.S. atop the years of Chinese history — fea- foe and current economic rival of time role as Olympic host with a gold-medal standings with its le- turing everything from the Great China, were greeted coolly by the Croyle sharp in win stunning display of pageantry and gions of athletes trained intensely Wall to opera puppets to astro- crowd even though they waved pyrotechnics to open a Summer since childhood. One dramatic nauts, and highlighting achieve- tiny Chinese flags. But cheers CHICAGO (AP) — Larry drive of the second half when Games unrivaled for its mix of showdown will be in women’s ments in art, music and science. erupted for the next delegation, Johnson was having so much he threw an incompletion to fin- problems and promise. gymnastics, where the U.S. and Roughly 15,000 people were in Taiwan, which China considers a fun he didn’t want to leave the ish a drive that went nowhere. Now ascendant as a global Chinese teams are co-favorites; in the cast, all under the direction of breakaway province that should field. Considering how much He stumbled on the next pos- power, China welcomed scores of the pool, Chinese divers and U.S. Zhang Yimou, whose early films reunite with the mainland. time he missed, who could session, resulting in a 5-yard world leaders to an opening cer- swimmers are expected to domi- often often ran afoul of govern- The U.S. team — second-larg- blame him? loss, but redeemed himself after emony watched by 91,000 people nate. ment censors for their blunt por- est after China’s with nearly 600 Johnson showed glimpses of Rod Wilson intercepted Thig- at the eye-catching National Sta- The run-up to the games had trayals of China’s problems. members — was welcomed loudly, his old self, and Brodie Croyle pen, hitting Garrett Wolfe for a dium and a potential audience of 4 epic story lines — China invest- He produced some majestic and with many in crowd recognizing hinted at what might be. 25-yard touchdown that pulled billion worldwide. It was depicted ing $40 billion to build the needed ethereal imagery — at one point the basketball stars who brought Back from a broken foot, Chicago within 14-10. as the largest, costliest extrava- infrastructure, reeling from a cata- a huge, translucent globe emerged up the rear. Bush rose from his Johnson ran for a touchdown on “When I did play ... it was all ganza in Olympic history, book- strophic earthquake in Sichuan from the stadium floor, and acro- VIP seat to wave at the athletes, the opening drive and Croyle right,” Grossman said. ended by barrages of some 30,000 province in May, struggling right bats floated magically around it to nattily dressed in white trousers, made the most of limited time A 13-yard touchdown pass fireworks. up to Friday to diminish Beijing’s the accompaniment of the games’ blue blazers and white caps. to lead the Kansas City Chiefs from Caleb Hanie (9-for-16, To the beat of sparkling explo- stubborn smog. China’s detentions theme song, “One World, One The American flag-bearer was to a 24-20 victory over the Chi- 101 yards) to Brandon Rideau sions, the crowd counted down the of political activists, its crack- Dream.” 1500-meter runner Lopez Lo- cago Bears in the preseason gave the Bears a 17-14 lead final seconds before the show be- down on uprisings in Tibet and its The show’s script steered clear mong, one of the Lost Boys of opener Thursday night. with 23 seconds left in the third. gan. A sea of drummers — 2,008 economic ties to Sudan — home of modern politics — there were Sudan, who spent a decade of his “I didn’t want to come out be- After Kansas City’s Connor in all — pounded out rhythms of the war-torn Darfur region — no references to Chairman Mao youth in a refugee camp in Ke- cause I was having a lot of fun Barth kicked a 37-yard field with their hands, then acrobats on fueled relentless criticisms from and the class struggle, nor to the nya. He’s a member of the Team just running around,” Johnson goal, Gould put the Bears ahead wires gently wafted down into the human rights groups and calls for more recent conflicts and contro- Darfur coalition, representing ath- said. 20-17 with a 37-yarder before stadium as rockets shot up into the an Olympic boycott. versies. The ceremony was taped letes opposed to China’s support Johnson had just 18 yards Thigpen and Sippio connected night sky from its rim. Second-guessed for awarding for broadcast 12 hours later in the for Sudan. On Friday he avoided on eight carries, but there were on the winning pass. President Bush and Russian the games to Beijing, the Interna- United States. any criticism and said the Chinese enough familiar flashes to ease It was a good night for a Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tional Olympic Committee stood A record 204 delegations were “have been great putting all these lingering concerns. Chiefs team coming off a 4-12 were among the glittering roster firmly by its decision. It was time, set to parade their athletes through things together.” He burst through the mid- season. of notables who watched China the committee said, to bring the the stadium — superstars such as Abroad, human rights activists dle, past Brian Urlacher, for a Croyle, a third-year pro make this bold declaration that games to the homeland of 1.3 bil- basketball idols Kobe Bryant and were less generous. 7-yard gain on the second play with no wins as a starter, was it had arrived. Bush, rebuked lion people, a fifth of humanity. Yao Ming, as well as plucky un- “The Chinese government and from scrimmage and finished 6-for-10 and didn’t throw an in- by China after he raised human- The games, said IOC President derdogs from Iraq, Afghanistan the International Olympic Com- the drive with a 5-yard run. He terception. Damon Huard, who rights concerns this week, is the Jacques Rogge, “are a chance for and other embattled lands. The mittee have wasted a historic had 18 yards on eight carries, replaced him on the Chiefs’ first U.S. president to attend an the rest of the world to discover nations were marching not in the opportunity to use the Beijing meaning there certainly is room third series, made a case for the Olympics on foreign soil. what China really is.” traditional alphabetical order but Games to make real progress on for improvement. backup job while going 6-for-8 in a sequence based on the num- human rights in China,” said So- Croyle passed for 82 yards for 77 yards and a touchdown. ber of strokes it takes to write their phie Richardson of Human Rights over two possessions, and Ty- Thigpen was 8-of-16 for 113 names in Chinese. The exceptions Watch. ler Thigpen threw the winning yards. K-State extends were Greece, birthplace of the For Chinese dissidents who have 27-yard pass to Bobby Sippio “Just seeing everybody in the Olympics, which was given its dared to challenge the Communist with 1:08 left in the game. locker room afterward — ev- traditional place at the start, and Party’s monopoly on power, the Meanwhile, Chicago’s Kyle erybody is happier, everybody contract for coach the 639-member Chinese team, start of the Olympics meant tight- Orton fumbled, Rex Grossman is listening to music, everybody which lined up last with Yao as its er surveillance and restrictions. stumbled and neither estab- is talking, dancing, singing,” MANHATTAN (AP) — Kansas place and is right on course with lished himself as the leader in Croyle said. “It’s just night State football coach Ron Prince that plan.” Enroll a quarterback race that could and day when you win and you signed a five-year contract through Prince took over after the retire- extend into the season. Bears lose.” 2012, receiving a vote of confi- ment of Bill Snyder and led the Center-Pivot coach Lovie Smith had said The most encouraging sight dence from school administrators Wildcats to a bowl game in 2006. Corners in CRP SAFE he won’t rush his decision and for the Chiefs was having John- after the team struggled to a disap- But Kansas State lost four straight neither gave him reason to re- son in uniform. pointing finish last season. to finish 5-7 last season, includ- * Competitive rental consider. He missed most of training Prince’s base salary will be ing an embarrassing 73-31 defeat payments and signup “Both guys did some good camp last year in a contract dis- $143,000 with a total guaranteed at Nebraska, and many already incentives. things,” Smith said. “Our team pute after rushing for more than package of $1.1 million, which were wondering how much longer * No more hassling with isn’t ready to play the Colts yet. 1,700 yards in 2005 and 2006, includes compensation from en- Prince would last. We’ll go back to the practice and the second half of the sea- dorsements and personal appear- “I am very appreciative of the hard to farm areas.

Load more

  1

Copy Link