Friday, July 4, 2008
President Bush will attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, the White House said yesterday. The announcement quashed any talk of a presidential boycott over China's violent crackdown after anti-government riots and protests in Tibet.
The White House had been reluctant to confirm Bush's plans for the opening event, although there was no doubt he would attend the Games. While other world leaders have talked of boycotting the Aug. 8 Opening Ceremonies, Bush's aides have signaled for weeks he was unlikely to do so.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush will travel to South Korea, Thailand and China in August and will attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Games with first lady Laura Bush. The specific dates of travel were not released.
· COURTS: Former track star Tim Montgomery pleaded guilty yesterday in Norfolk to distributing heroin, averting a trial set for next week.
He appeared briefly in U.S. District Court, answering "Yes, sir," as District Judge Jerome B. Friedman asked if he understood his plea to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin.
The former 100-meter world record holder was arrested in April and has been held without bond after a judge declared him a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Montgomery, 33, was sentenced in May to nearly four years in prison for his role in a New York-based check-kiting conspiracy.
He faces a minimum of five years in prison on the heroin charges at his sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 10. He also faces up to a $2 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.
· HOCKEY: Just as the New York Rangers ushered in the Markus Naslund era, they turned out the lights on the Jaromir Jagr show.
Naslund, the longtime Vancouver Canucks captain, agreed to terms with New York on a two-year deal worth $8 million.
In making the announcement, Rangers General Manager Glen Sather said he couldn't wait any longer for Jagr to make up his mind on what it would take to keep him in a Blueshirt, so he went in a different direction. . . .
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Marc-André Fleury to a seven-year, $35 million contract, the third long-term deal inked with one of their younger players in two days.
· PRO BASKETBALL: Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets have reached a contract agreement that could keep the all-star guard with the team for at least the next four seasons. . . .
Sophia Young had 20 points and 12 rebounds, including a three-point play with 5.5 seconds left to give the San Antonio Silver Stars a 68-67 victory over the visiting Sacramento Monarchs. . . .
In Atlanta, Sancho Lyttle had 15 points and 18 rebounds to help the Houston Comets hold off a late rally and beat the winless Dream, 72-65. . . .
Lauren Jackson scored 23 of her season-high 33 points in the first half to lead the Seattle Storm to an 84-71 win over the visiting New York Liberty. . . .
Seimone Augustus scored a season-high 29 points and the Minnesota Lynx pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Sparks in Los Angeles, 88-70.
· SOCCER: In MLS, Nick Rimando stopped Brian Mullan's shot from inside the penalty box in the 84th minute, preserving host Real Salt Lake's 0-0 tie with the Houston Dynamo.
-- From News Services
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