Barkley ‘Guarantees’ Gold Medal
The best basketball team in the world assembled on the court for the first time Monday in Chicago, and scoffed at the competition.
“If I told you we weren’t guaranteeing a gold medal, I’d be lying to you,” Karl Malone said after the U.S Olympic men’s basketball team had its first practice. “That’s the only reason we’re here.
“Go to anybody in this room, and they’re going to say we’ll win the gold medal. Anything else and I don’t think we’ll be welcome in our own country.”
So much for humility, but nothing else would be expected from a team that’s an absolute lock to win the gold medal game on Aug. 3. An upset would be front-page news around the globe, and no one on the U.S. team is even thinking that such a career-defining calamity could be possible.
“Obviously I think we’re going to win the gold medal, if I said we guarantee it - that’s irrelevant,” Charles Barkley said. “If you want to write guarantee, go ahead.”
Cuban boxers seek asylum
Just weeks before they would represent Cuba at the Olympics, two champion boxers applied for asylum in San Diego, becoming political rather than athletic symbols.
“This was a purely political decision,” said Al Rogers, a spokesman for the law firm representing Ramon Garbey and Joel Casamayor, both 22. “They very easily could have won the gold and then defected, but they chose not to fight Castro’s war.”
USAC turns down swimmer
A swimmer’s request for disciplinary action that could have placed him on the U.S. Olympic team in place of a rival was rejected in Colorado Springs, Colo., by the U.S. Olympic Committee in the first test of its new code of conduct.
Ron Karnaugh of Maplewood, N.J., had asked that the USOC take action against Greg Burgess for alcohol-related offenses in Jacksonville, Fla., last March.
But after 8 hours of interviews with Jacksonville police officers and the receipt of unsolicited letters from Florida prosecutors describing Burgess’ offenses as minor and adequately handled by the law, USOC executive director Dick Schultz told Karnaugh that no further action was warranted by the committee.
Brochure counsels prudence
A new brochure being distributed around the world urges visitors to Atlanta for the Olympics to avoid displaying large amounts of cash, to know their routes in advance and to travel in groups.
The federally sponsored brochures are printed in French and Spanish as well as English, and are being distributed through consulates and in public buildings here.
Christie will defend
Linford Christie, the 36-year-old British sprinter, said he will not only defend his 100-meter title, but also will challenge American star Michael Johnson in the 200 and run a leg of the 400 relay.
Christie said England’s emotional loss last week in the European soccer championships was a factor in his decision to compete.