Posted on 08/29/2004 8:59:20 AM PDT by Brainhose
Olympic gold hero accuses Bush Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals in athletics in a record-breaking career, condemned Bush for using the presence of Iraqi and Afghan teams in Athens in a television advertisement to boost his chances of re-election. Criticising Bush for linking his foreign policy with the two countries being allowed to compete here, Lewis said: 'I felt that was disingenuous. It is funny that we boycotted the 1980 Games [in Moscow] in support of Afghanistan, and now we're bombing Afghanistan,' he told the Athens News yesterday. 'Of course, we've invaded Iraq and are in there and are using it for political gain. It bewilders me, and I understand why the Iraqi players are offended. 'To support the players or the community is fine, but for political gain I disagree.' Iraq's footballers, who unexpectedly reached the semi-finals here, made clear last week they disliked the advertisement and regarded American soldiers in Iraq as occupiers rather than liberators. Bush was planning to visit the Greek capital and attend yesterday's football final if Iraq had been involved, but they lost in the semi-finals last week. He was also criti cised for misusing without permission Olympic symbols, which are protected emblems. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, yesterday cancelled plans to stay in Athens for tonight's Olympic closing ceremony amid fears that protesters might wreck his visit. Just hours before he was due to board a flight for Greece, Powell changed his plans, explaining that 'urgent responsibilities' had intervened. Informing his Greek counterpart Petros Molyviatis, the US envoy said while Athens deserved a gold medal 'for hosting amazing and secure Games' pressing work obligations would prevent him seeing the Games out. Meanwhile, Britain's Olympic boxing hero Amir Khan has turned down the chance to become an instant millionaire by deciding to remain as an amateur fighter for at least the next two years, The Observer has learnt. The 17-year-old,whose performances in Athens have prompted comparisons to his hero Muhammad Ali, has rejected several multi-million pound deals from boxing promoters keen to capitalise on his series of stunning displays. The Bolton teenager, who fights for the gold medal at lunchtime today, has told friends that he wishes to remain an amateur at least until the Commonwealth Games and Boxing World Championships in 2006. He has also indicated a desire to compete in Beijing in four years' time. However, he is set to sign an agreement with the leading British promoter Frank Warren who will stage and market Khan's fights once he turns professional. Warren had wanted Khan to turn professional right away but has now agreed to wait until he is ready. Khan, virtually unknown at the start of the Olympics, has been the stand-out performer at the Peristeri Hall in Athens, bewildering his opponents with fast feet and fast hands. But Khan also proved that he has determination when he defeated Kazakhstan's Serik Yeleuov in the semi-finals after being behind at the halfway stage. A win today will make him the youngest Olympic boxing champion since the American legend Floyd Patterson won gold in 1952. But standing in the way of the gold medal is the toughest fight of Khan's career. His opponent, the Cuban Mario Kindelan, is the reigning Olympic champion and reckoned to be one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. The two boxers have met before, in a pre-Olympic test event earlier this year, and Kindelan was a clear winner on the scoreboard. When asked his thoughts about his opponent in the final Khan said: 'I don't really care, I know I can do the same to this opponent as the last one.'
America's biggest Olympic hero yesterday accused George Bush of exploiting the Athens Games for his own political advantage in the run-up to the presidential election.
He's so gay!
Carl Lewis?? Isn't he about two hundred years old by now? I remember him from the California Relays back in the fifties. Senile old fool.
Even Eddie Murphy, back in his Saturday Night Live days, had the good sense to realize that Carl Lewis is nothing but an egotistical, self-aggrandizing jackass!
-Toonces
My mistake; I was thinking of someone else. At any rate, Lewis is old news and should just STFU.
"Lewis ended the interview, noting that he was late for his shift at the 13th Street Taco Bell.'Working the drive-through is an important position, and I don't want to be late."
Carl Lewis has the right to speak out, and we have the right to ignore him!
Nothing funny about that degenerate Jimmah Carter and his being one of the founding fathers of modern day terror.
Carl Lewis thought that he was the best thing since sliced bread. It quickly became apparent that no one else thought so. Carl's opinion isn't worth a sheet of toilet paper.
YAWN at Lewis
Yep. Light in his running shoes, and even lighter in the brain cell department.
Fat Chance!
A black gay guy opposed to Bush? Who'd a thunk that?
Why do they call him a "hero"? He's an olympic champion. But that doesn't necessarily make him a hero.
We can ignore or rebut. We have the choice in America. We should remember, though, why it is we have that choice.
And in closing... KHAAAAAAN!!!
"It is funny that we boycotted the 1980 Games [in Moscow] in support of Afghanistan, and now we're bombing Afghanistan,' he told the Athens News yesterday."
Huh?
I know you're supposed to die to be eligible for a Darwin Award - but doesn't brain dead count?
Silly rabbit, you're a hero these days if you denounce the President.
It's funny indeed. This DemocRAT plantation twit should have recalled that it was Jiminy Karter who spearheaded the boycott. Like the empty-headed Hollywood elite, this athlete needs to concentrate on non-political issues.
No, we're not "bombing" Afghanistan. We did, however, free Afghanistan from the Taliban terrorist-fanatics, for which the Afghan people are incredibly grateful.
Typical spoiled athlete. Say Carl, want to discuss industrial production, GDP growth, Hegel, geopolitics or anything to show that you are something other than an athletic Matt Damon / Ben Affleck? These spoiled brats think they know it all when all they know is adoring fans and their one talent. Now, with Ben Affleck I don't know what that is (perhaps writing Good Will Hunting?) Why the media gives these idiot sauvants time to air their uneducated views is beyond me.
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