The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- US lawmakers' resolution calls for pardoning boxer
- Choi congratulates Toms for rebounding with win
- Azinger, 4 others bow out of Senior PGA
| US lawmakers' resolution calls for pardoning boxer Posted: 24 May 2011 05:42 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP): U.S. lawmakers John McCain and Peter King, who lost their last attempt to win a presidential pardon for first black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, are looking for a rematch. The pair reintroduced a congressional resolution on Tuesday urging President Barack Obama to pardon Johnson, who was imprisoned nearly a century ago because of his romantic ties with a white woman. A similar resolution passed both houses of Congress in 2009, but the president gave it a TKO by refusing to act on it. Although Obama didn't comment publicly on the effort, the Justice Department told McCain and King that its general policy is not to process posthumous pardon requests. In a statement, McCain said he and King were reintroducing the resolution "to send a clear message to rectify this unacceptable historical injustice." "A full pardon would not only shed light on the achievements of an athlete who was forced into the shadows of bigotry and prejudice, but also allow future generations to grasp fully what Jack Johnson accomplished against great odds," McCain said. The White House declined to comment on the resolution. King and McCain have both sparred in the ring and are lifelong boxing fans. In a telephone interview, King said he hadn't talked to the White House but that perhaps he and McCain could sit down with Obama to make a personal appeal. He said there's a lot of symbolism of a white politician - McCain, the Republicans' presidential nominee in 2008 - losing a race to the first black president, and then asking that president to issue a pardon to the first black heavyweight champion. King conceded that he didn't know if the effort would have any more success this time. "I just believe in doing this," he said. "We owe it to the sport of boxing and the memory of Jack Johnson to pursue this. It transcends sports. This is a sad moment in history that has to be corrected. John and I think, just keep trying. The president may look at it differently now." The resolution, which references the 2009 congressional vote calling for the pardon, says a pardon should be issued "to expunge a racially motivated abuse of the prosecutorial authority of the federal government from the annals of criminal justice in the United States; and in recognition of the athletic and cultural contributions of Jack Johnson to society." Johnson inflamed white sensibilities with his flamboyant lifestyle and relationships with white women. Racial resentment boiled over after he defeated James J. Jeffries in the "Fight of the Century" 100 years ago last summer. Three years later, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. In their efforts to prosecute Johnson, authorities first targeted Johnson's relationship with Lucille Cameron, who later became his wife, but she refused to cooperate. They then found another white witness, Belle Schreiber, to testify against him. Johnson fled the country after his conviction, but he agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Choi congratulates Toms for rebounding with win Posted: 24 May 2011 05:39 PM PDT IRVING, Texas (AP): K.J. Choi is happy for the way David Toms rebounded from losing their playoff at The Players Championship to winning at Colonial a week later. "I first want to congratulate David for his performance last week after what he went through," Choi said Tuesday after a practice round at the Byron Nelson Championship. "I'm not surprised at all that David pulled it off." Choi became the Players' champion when Toms missed a short par putt on the extra hole at TPC Sawgrass less than two weeks ago. Choi didn't play at Hogan's Alley last week, where Toms opened with consecutive rounds of 62s. Toms blew a seven-stroke lead in the third round, but came back for his 13th career win that was his first since January 2006. The 44-year-old Toms is taking a planned two-week break after playing four consecutive tournaments and isn't playing the Nelson. "It was that one shot, that one putt that David missed," Choi said. "I don't think he won last week by chance. I mean it was definitely due." Choi, who now lives in the Dallas area, returned Monday from South Korea, after the 41-year-old South Korean announced plans there for the K.J. Choi Invitational tournament in October. The tournament is something he has wanted to do since first being invited by Jack Nicklaus to play at Memorial in 1999. He remembers how impressed he was with how Memorial was set up and also how local citizens and volunteers were part of the charitable event. "Ever since then I thought to myself that if I ever had the opportunity to have a tournament on my own, this is what I want to emulate," he said. "And I want to give back to the community by holding the tournament. I just want it to be a special event for the people." Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Azinger, 4 others bow out of Senior PGA Posted: 24 May 2011 05:32 PM PDT LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP): Paul Azinger, who captained the U.S. to an emotional Ryder Cup win at Valhalla Golf Club in 2008, has withdrawn from this week's Senior PGA Championship at the same course. Azinger announced his decision on Tuesday, two days before the start of the senior major. Tournament officials did not know why he was withdrawing. Joey Sindelar (back), Andy Bean (family illness), Kentucky native Russ Cochran (wrist) and Blaine McCallister (family illness) also dropped out. McCallister had replaced Fred Couples, who withdrew on Monday because of back problems. Taking the spots of those five players were Matt Seitz, Trevor Dodds and PGA Club Professionals Dave Kendall, Mark Keating and Mark Johnson. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan