THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008
SPORTS
OLYMPICS
7B
France snubs opening ceremony
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested Tuesday that a boycott of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was a possibility — the first world leader to raise the prospect of punishing China over its ongoing crackdown in Tibet.
The United States, Britain and Germany all condemned China for using force against Tibetan protesters, but they stopped short of threatening to boycott the games or the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.
China, meanwhile, showed no sign of letting up on its crack-down. At least two people were killed in a clash between protesters and police in an area of western China that borders on Tibet
"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet."
state media and human rights groups reported Tuesday.
The clashes were the latest in most sustained uprising against Chinese rule in almost two decades.
criticism in France for his relative silence on the issue, couched his comments cautiously: He made it clear that skipping the ceremony was one of several possible French responses to the violence in Tibet.
Chinese rule in almost two decades a challenge that has put China's human rights record in the international spotlight, embarrassing and frustrating a Communist leadership that had hoped for a smooth run-up to the Olympic Games.
Asked whether he supported a boycott, Sarkozy said he could "not
China's response has also pushed human rights campaigners and governments to re-examine their approach to the Olympics.
"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible," he said in southwest France.
NICOLAS SARKOZY President of France
close the door to any possibility."
Sarkozy, who had faced rising
His aides confirmed that Sarkozy was talking only about the opening ceremony. His ministers have repeatedly said France does not support a
boycott of the games.
The timing of Sarkozy's comments appeared aimed at persuading other world leaders to join him. He travels Wednesday to Britain, host of the 2012 Olympics, and European Union foreign ministers meet Friday.
British officials have ruled out a boycott, saying the government believes close cooperation with China is the best way to influence it.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke by telephone last week with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and
has said he would meet in May with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Brown's office said he will attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics as planned.
President Bush has long planned to attend the Beijing Olympics, and the White House said the crackdown in Tibet is not cause for him to cancel.
"We want everyone to refrain from violence. We believe that China should respect minority cultures, in particular in this case, the Tibetan culture," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Because Bush has a good relationship with Chinese President Hu Jintao, he "is also able to speak very frankly about our concerns about human rights and democracy," she added.
Sarkozy's "deafening silence" on the issue, while Paris-based media freedom group Reporters Without Borders urged an opening ceremony boycott by heads of state other VIPs.
The idea has found support among many French people, with a recent poll suggesting 53 percent of respondents said they were "rather favorable" to the idea of Sarkozy shunning the opening ceremony.
Reporters Without Borders' research director Jean-François Julliard said his group welcomed Sarkozy's comments. He added
"We believe that China should respect minority cultures, in particular in this case, the Tibetan culture."
DANA PERINO White House press secretary
Even if Sarkozy fails to convince other leaders, he stands to reap political benefits from his position. The French leader, a conservative who pledged to make fighting for human rights around the world a hallmark of his presidency, has come under domestic pressure to speak out against the violence in Tibet.
Asked if she could rule out a possible boycott by Bush, Perino said: "I would say at this point I have no change in our position."
Last weekend, an opposition Socialist leader lashed out at
opening ceremony boycott idea "is interesting." The president of the EU Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, also said politicians should consider staying away from the ceremony if the violence continues.
that to his knowledge, the French leader was the first to go so far in the boycott discussion.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he didn't see the Beijing Games as a political event and disagreed with the idea of a boycott. A German government spokesman echoed that comment, saying a boycott would "distract" from efforts to find a political solution to the crisis.
SOCCER
Pamphlet ignites racial tension
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BERLIN — Prosecutors accused the head of Germany's top far-right party Tuesday of publishing a pamphlet before the 2006 World Cup that questioned whether nonwhite players should be on the national soccer team.
Prosecutor Simone Herbeth said in a statement that Udo Voigt, head of the National Democratic Party, or NPD, was charged with incitement and defamation over the pamphlets. NPD spokesman Klaus Beier and Frank Scherdt, a leading member, also were charged, Herbeth said.
The flyers showed the traditional white German jersey with the No. 25 — worn at the time by black defender Patrick Owomoyela. They read: "White, not just a jersey color! For a real NATIONAL team!"
Herbeth said the picture "called into question whether this player, as well as other nonwhite skinned players, were worthy of representing Germany as national players."
Prosecutors charge the party later printed another series of pamphlets showing 10 white and one black player in German national jerseys under the question "German National Team 2010?"
Owomoyela, who has a German mother, plays for Werder Bremen but is no longer a member of the German national squad.
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
game yet."
"I knew it was going to be a blast," Aldrich said. "I knew it was going to be jaw dropping and all that. But I didn't know it was going to be this fun."
Kansas' resident Minnesota got his first taste of the NCAA tournament against Portland State, playing 10 minutes and scoring two points. He followed that up with two points in three minutes against UNLV.
With the graduation of senior center Sasha Kaun and Jackson, and the possible defection of sophomore forward Darell Arthur to the NBA, Aldrich will no doubt play more minutes next season.
But right now, Aldrich doesn't want this ride to end.
HEADING HOME?
"When I get on the floor, I try to give everything," Aldrich said, "I try to score whenever I can, I try to block a few shots... Well, I try to block every shot."
Chase Buford stood on the court of five-year old Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., on Friday. Except Buford, a freshman walk-on, wasn't able to be himself. On this day, Buford was Rene Rougeau, UNLV's 6-foot-6 starting power guard. His job? Emulate UNLV's 6-foot-6 starting guard and give Kansas' starters a good look at UNLV's offense.
Here's life for Buford during Kansas' tournament run:
Eat, sleep, bang your 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame against Jackson, Kaun and Arthur at practice, and then take a seat three rows behind the Kansas bench with fellow walkons Brennan Bechard and Brad Witherspoon while your team plays its way to the Sweet 16.
And why not? Buford's attempting to equal the feat that his father, R.C. Buford, accomplished 20 years ago: Being a part of a Jayhawk national championship. R.C. was an assistant coach for the 1988 National Champions.
"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm a part of something this special," Buford said. "I'm having a blast."
Buford's heading to Detroit this weekend, back to the same city where his father's 1988 team clinched its Final Four berth.
Buford said his dad had kept the stories about 1988 to a minimum
The coincidences don't end in Detroit, though. If the Jayhawks find a way to win two games this weekend. Buford will be heading back to his hometown, San Antonio, the site of this year's Final Four.
"He has talked about some parallels," Buford said.
right now, I'm doing my best not to think about it. We got to worry about Detroit. We got a tough task in Detroit."
"Id be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind," Buford said. "I'd love for us to get back there, but
SHOOTERS ALIKE
Conner Teahan and Tyrel Reed eyed the television screen inside Kansas' Qwest Center locker room, and focused on the closing seconds of Western Kentucky's first-round upset against Drake.
As the seconds ticked down. Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers slipped open and released a guarded three-pointer from 25 feet. Swish. Game Over. Cue up "One Shining Moment" music.
Teahan and Reed just watched. They won't be making any buzzer beating three-pointers this March. Maybe someday.
"With the class right now, it's not like I expected to be playing," Teahan said.
Teahan and Reed have a lot in common. They played AAU basketball together. Both are Kansas natives who grew up Jayhawk fans - Teahan in Leawood and Reed in Burlington. And both possess shooting strokes that any father would gladly bestow on his son. Teahan is 12-20 from three-point range in limited minutes, and Reed has made 11 of his 24 three-point attempts despite battling nagging ankle problems.
But you wouldn't know it by listening to them talk after Kansas clinched a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. "This is why I came here. Just to be able to be in the NCAA tournament, be a No.I seed and be going to the Sweet Sixteen," Teahan said.
Teahan and Reed have been buried at the end of Kansas' deep bench since conference play began.
"Just being out there, being able to play a little bit, getting used to the atmosphere, it really helps freshman," Reed said.
The flashbulbs popped, and the cameras rolled as the Jayhawks modestly celebrated their victory against UNLV. Aldrich, Reed, Teahan, and Buford stayed off to the side, away from the lenses and away from the notepads and recorders.
HAWKS IN WAITING
"Seeing how all this works is very important," Self said. "I think it's important to play in the NCAA tournament, so you get a better feel for later when you're going to called on to help lead the team."
This March is just a test drive, and coach Bill Self said the freshman will experience things that will help when the spotlight is on them.
But these freshman will eventually become sophomores, and those cameras will be pointed at them.
Edited by Russell Davies
NYSTROM (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
gers and toes. Instead, I saw many older couples. I think the athletics department roped them in with promises of "Everybody Loves Raymond" re-runs at halftime on the Jambroton. There were also a lot of fathers at the game with their daughters and I thought that was
a good idea. I made a resolution to do the same some day.
Although I was disappointed in the turnout of Kansas fans, Evansville shockingly brought a (relatively) large contingent. I
Although I was disappointed in the turnout of Kansas fans, Evansville shockingly brought a (relatively) large contingent. I estimated only a 3-to-1 advantage for KU fans.
traveled to the game and showed up bare-chested with paint on their faces and bodies, and wearing weird hats. They were boisterous and obnoxious, and I felt bad for our players because no one was painted for them or obnoxious for them or crazy for them.
estimated only a 3-to-1 advantage for KU fans. This was profoundly sad for me. Evansville even had a group of male students who had
The fieldhouse, usually so intimidating and full of electricity, just seemed like a big, cold, quiet building on this night. If the library was full, students could have lounged near the rafters and done their
studies with little sound interruption save for when the band decided to belt it out. The lack of fans was jarring for someone who had
never seen an event staged there at less than full capacity. To juxtapose the obsession with the men's program with the indifference about the women's program inside one building was either fascinating or depressing, and I couldn't decide which. The athletics department has tried to get creative to increase attendance in the past at women's games. Here is my suggestion to guarantee double the fans next year: a game of HORSE at halftime between two members of the men's team. Tap into this town's true passion.
As for the game, Kansas jumped all over Evansville, winning 82-60. The Jayhawks were better than I had expected and I wished I had seen more games over the past five years. They probably deserved my support. They certainly needed it more than the other tenant of the building.
— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
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