38
filipino globe
palakasan
June 2008
Quake children get a
dose of Olympic spirit
The first batch of children invited
by Olympic organizers to Beijing
OLYMPICUPDATE
arrived at Capital Airport to
countdown continues
the warm hugs and smiles of
volunteers and workers.
In the following three days,
they will take part in scheduled
Olympic-themed activities, and
celebrate a Children’s Day.
These students, who came from
an earthquake-devastated middle
school in Sichuan province, are controversial Speedo LZR Racer
considered heroes for the bravery suit. Since the unique swimwear
they showed during the disaster and was promoted at the beginning of
for their courage as they face the the year, 38 new world records have
future. been set.
The Sichuan guests were joined by
seven other children from other parts Cuba in surprise win
of western China, including Inner Cuba sprung a mild surprise at the
Mongolia and Gansu. The seven Olympic qualifying tournament for
children were first invited in 2005 by Women by upsetting Belarus – last
organizers to take a look at Olympic year’s bronze medal winners at the
preparations in the capital. EuroBasket Women.
Three years later, they were invited Alberto Zabala’s Cubans, who
again to celebrate the joy that the struggled for long stretches against
Olympics bring. Chinese Taipei, clinched a place
Paul Pierce crashes through a double team in Game 4. This time, Kobe Bryant (below) is all for show.
Officials organized three days of in the quarter-finals with the 68-58
activities for the students, which victory and may have avoided hosts
include a trip to Tiananmen Square and Group C favourites Spain in the
to witness the early-morning flag process.
raising ceremony. If the Spanish beat Brazil next,
This one is for old
they will finish top of that pool
Japanese make splash and take on Belarus should Anatoli
Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima torpedoed Buyalski’s team hold off Chinese
his way into history by breaking the Taipei.
previous world record in the men’s Cuba would then take on Brazil.
200-meter breaststroke in the Japan
time’s sake, buddy
Open. Greening the Games
With a time of two minutes, 7.51 As Beijing prepares to host the
seconds, the 25-year-old broke the Olympics the city’s commitment
Celtics relive the past in a present-day epic they’re about to take
previous record by .99 seconds, to staging a “green” Olympics is
untouched after being set by coming under increasingly close
American Brendan Hansen two years scrutiny.
He’s not alone.
ago. China’s capital, through the
A rivalry between the league’s two
Also eclipsed were 50-meter and Olympic organizers, has undertaken
N
ow hear this: No team has
ever come back from a 1-3
deficit in the NBA Finals most storied franchises – with some
100-meter national breaststroke a programme to improve the urban
and won. The weight of history is of the game’s biggest names and
records as Kitajima in the warm-up environment, not just for the Games
stacked up in favor of a team that biggest moments - now has a rally
meet for the Beijing Olympics. but also for the future benefit of its
has mastered the art of living up to for the ages.
For those events, he donned the citizens.
its past, No team had ever overcome more
This was how the Boston Celtics of than a 15-point deficit after the first
old – Cous and Russell and Bird and quarter, and Elias Sports Bureau said
Hondo and the Chief – would do it. it was the largest comeback in the
Digging deep, they fought for every finals since 1971.
loose ball, scrapping with grit and One thing’s for sure, it will forever
guts, champions clad in green. be remembered in the annals of
These Celtics are no different. Celtics-Lakers lore.
And they are just one win from When the final horn sounded,
another NBA title. “Yeah,” Kevin Pierce, an LA kid playing in front
Garnett told AP. “I can taste it.” of family and friends, doubled over
In their comeback season, Boston in exhaustion and exuberance. The
saved its biggest one of all for the Celtics, the team he stuck with
finals.
The Celtics rallied from a 24-
I don’t want to
through 10 years, including a 24-
win season in 2006-07, had done the
point deficit and beat the Los
get overjoyed. I
impossible.
Angeles Lakers 97-91 night to take a “It’s definitely a great win, one that
commanding 3-1 lead in this history- want to go out you’re going to put up there in the
rich series and move within one
victory of a 17th championship that
there to try and
library and break back out one day
for your kids to watch,” Pierce said.
seemed impossible a year ago.
win Game 5
“But I want nothing more than that
“I don’t want to get overjoyed,” ring right now.”
Paul Pierce said. “I want to go out
PAUL PIERCE
Pierce scored 20 points, Garnett
there to try and win Game 5 on
Celtics veteran
had 16 and 11 rebounds and Ray
Beijing has spent over US$16 billion tackling its chronic pollution to create a
Father’s Day and then I’ll be able to Allen had 19, two coming on a
cleaner and greener city. The Games are being billed the ‘green’ Olympics.
breathe. I’m waiting to exhale.” reverse layup in the fourth quarter.
After knee surgery, Woods gets back in the swing of things for US Open
It’s US Open week. The big guns He played alone amid tight “I don’t think the time chipping and putting toward he wouldn’t show up, no matter
are trained on Torrey Pines and security, with no media or surgery affected anticipated pin placements at Torrey what the course was, no matter what
already, one of them has expectedly spectators allowed on the course. him at all,” Cox Pines, the first city-owned course to the crowd wants.”
dominated the action off the course. He stopped only when he saw a said. “He’s hitting host the US Open. Woods has been dominating at
Tiger Woods (right) has done it small group of people with cameras it really, really well Most of all, he looked fit. “He’s Torrey Pines dating to his days
in a different context. After knee waiting around the 18th green. right now.” got a whole career to worry about,” playing in the Junior World Golf
surgery two days after the Masters, Next time out, Woods scrambled Woods didn’t hit Cox said. “I don’t think he’s going Championships.
Woods played his first round of golf in and out of bunkers and crushed every fairway. He played mostly tee to mess it up. He pulled out of He has won the Buick Invitational
early last week, getting in 17-plus some drives. He didn’t appear to be to green, not bothering to putt out Memorial because he felt he wasn’t at Torrey Pines six times, including
holes riding in a cart. limping. on every hole. The three did spend ready, and if he wasn’t ready here, four straight.
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