No trick plays here: Boise State star marries cheerleader fiancee, prays to end prejudiceGood for them. It was just shameful what those people did -- threatening them. I thought Johnson said it best, (paraphrasing:) "The sad thing is, most of the people sending the threats are probably the same ones who root for me on the field."BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Before Boise State running back Ian Johnson married the girl he proposed to on national television, the couple prayed to end prejudice.
Johnson and Chrissy Popadics, the cheerleader he proposed to after scoring the winning points in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma, were married Saturday in a traditional ceremony at Cathedral of the Rockies First United Methodist Church.
Johnson, who is black, has said he received phone calls and about 30 letters, including personal threats from people who objected to his plans to marry his white fiancee. Johnson has not described the threats, and it is unclear where they came from.
The ceremony began with the prayer and ended with the couple jumping over a broom -- an African tradition signifying the couple jumping into a new life together.
As they drove away in a stretch limousine, Johnson kissed his new wife and said, "Let's play ball," the Idaho Statesman reported.
Johnson ran for a 2-point conversion on a "Statue of Liberty" to give the underdog Broncos a 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. Boise State finished the season 13-0 and No. 5 in the AP Top 25.
Blessings to both of you with your new marriage.
Extra security planned for Iraq's football fans
WIN OR LOSE, CELEBRATEThat's the spirit.War-weary Iraqis said they were planning big celebrations despite the danger and regardless of the outcome.
Some have already begun decorating their cars and homes in Iraq's colours and national flags, a rare sign of unity in a nation fractured by sectarian violence between majority Shi'te Muslims and Sunni Arabs.
Haji Abu Hasan has decorated his car with flags and pictures of the Iraqi team, which includes Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish players.
"Even if we lose the match, we are so proud of our team," Hasan said.
"They could unify the Iraqi people, and that's where politicians failed."
Mohsin Kadim, 34, said Sadr City, a sprawling Shi'ite slum in northeastern Baghdad, would hold one of the biggest parties.
"We will go celebrating even if we are attacked by nuclear weapons," Kadim said.
Here's to an Iraqi victory!
The Iraqi team are on an emotional rollercoaster after reaching their first Asian Cup final as it took a bloody toll back home where at least 50 celebrating fans were killed.I hope they win. What a wonderful thing that would be -- a victory in the Asian Cup. No matter how small it may seem to non-Iraqis or even non-football fans, it's a bright spot in their dark world.Iraq shocked the more fancied South Korea 4-3 in a penalty shootout after it was scoreless after extra time on Wednesday to put them on the brink of their greatest footballing achievement.
They had only got as far as the semi-finals in 1976 and lost in their last three consecutive quarter-finals at the Asian Cup, but now travel to Jakarta for an all-Arab final with Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
"Everyone is happy and we have reason to be happy because this victory brings us to the final and we deserved that," said Iraq's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who has been in charge for less than two months.
"My boys have worked very hard."
An emotional Vieira said the victory was for "the people of Iraq because they deserve it".
Thousands of Iraqis wearing team jerseys and waving national flags poured on to the streets of Baghdad cheering and firing assault rifles wildly into the air after the match to celebrate a rare moment of shared joy.
But the jubilation didn't last long.
Two massive car bombs were detonated in the Iraqi capital by insurgents, killing at least 50 people and wounding 90.
Best of luck to the team.
Posting has been light the past several weeks while I finish up classes and prepare for the big move so here's a footie post to prove I'm not completely M.I.A.
Q:Do you really think you can challenge for the title next season?I love this guy's confidence.Cesc Fabregas: Definitely. We are Arsenal. We are one of the most important teams in Europe. Definitely we have to be fighting for the title because it would not be Arsenal if we are not doing this.
Translated into American: "Damn right we're gonna take it. I mean, c'mon, dude. We're freakin' Arsenal."
Or, "when it's convenient for a Republican to be a Republican"
Court dismisses challenge to domestic spyingThat's all I'm gonna cite from the article. It keeps going on the same line.
3-judge panel splits along party lines over Bush’s surveillance programCINCINNATI - A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging President Bush’s domestic spying program, saying the plaintiffs had no standing to sue.
In a 2-1 decision, two Republican appointees on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against allowing the lawsuit. A Democratic appointee judge disagreed, saying it was clear to him that the post-9/11 warrantless surveillance program aimed at uncovering terrorist activity violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.
What's the deal with this "Republican appointed judges said this" and "Democratic appointee said that" crap?
Not having a legal standing is just what it is.
It's only convenient to have an (R) after your name when you're no longer supporting the President's Iraq policy.
Political expediancy and all that jazz.
Grant of Executive ClemencyEat it, Plame.A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
WHEREAS Lewis Libby was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the case United States v. Libby, Crim. No. 05-394 (RBW), for which a sentence of 30 months' imprisonment, 2 years' supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $400 was imposed on June 22, 2007;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, pursuant to my powers under Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, do hereby commute the prison terms imposed by the sentence upon the said Lewis Libby to expire immediately, leaving intact and in effect the two-year term of supervised release, with all its conditions, and all other components of the sentence.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Update: Suggestion from Ace:
Suggestion: Bush should have reduced the fine to a more reasonable $50,000, which just so happens to be how much Sandy Berger was fined for stealing and destroying classified documents and lying about it to investigators (he wasn't charged for the latter, but subsequent revelations has made it clear he did just that).Making the fine $50,000 would have been more in line with Libby's transgressions, and it would have made it harder for Democrats to argue against it. The penalty -- no jail time, $50,000, probation -- would have been so similar to Berger's that one could scarcely mention it without also mentioning Berger.
Dubya's reasoning can be found here.