Sports Briefs

August 08, 2008 10:40 am

— Bush arrives in Beijing for Summer Olympics
BEIJING (AP) — President Bush flew to the Chinese capital Thursday, becoming the first U.S. president to attend Olympic Games on foreign soil.Bush arrived at night on the final stop in his three-country tour of Asia.
His visit comes amid an atmosphere of tension over Bush’s high-profile declaration in Thailand that it was time for the growing world power here to grant more freedom to its people.

Bobby Murcer Remembered
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — His rocking chair sat empty and motionless with his old New York Yankees jersey draped over it, but the spirit of beloved broadcaster Bobby Murcer lived on with his family, friends and colleagues.
Hundreds filled an Oklahoma City-area church for a stirring and often humorous tribute to Murcer, a five-time All-Star outfielder who died from brain cancer on July 12.
He was remembered in words by his son, an astronaut and a 13-year-old cancer survivor, and in video messages from Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Rich “Goose” Gossage and comedians Billy Crystal and Ray Romano.
Current Yankees Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte made the 225-mile trip from Arlington, Texas, where they were scheduled to play the Rangers later in the evening.

Petal school chief wants new stadium
PETAL, Miss. (AP) — Petal Schools Superintendent James Hutto says a new football stadium would be a priority for the school district.
Hutto says the stadium would be a part of a facility plan that has yet to be approved by the school board.
Petal football season tickets are hard to come by, which caused a couple of dozen folks to line up for a chance to get tickets more than 12 hours in advance.
Larry Watkins, Petal High School athletic director, says a new stadium should be completed in the next five years, but he would like to see it done before then.
Hutto says the location of the stadium is tentatively set at the soccer practice field across from the new softball complex.

17 plead guilty to hunting violations
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — Seventeen people have pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal mourning dove hunting in Harrison County last year.
Fines ranged from between $500 and $3,500.
They also were ordered Wednesday by U.S. Magistrate Robert H. Walker not to hunt migratory birds for one year.
Agents from the U.S. and Mississippi Fish and Wildlife services raided a field on September 22, 2007 and filed misdemeanor charges ranging from baiting a field to taking migratory birds over a baited field.

Saints cautious with injuries
More than a handful of projected starters stayed behind at Millsaps College when the Saints caught their Wednesday afternoon flight to Phoenix.
The players who didn't make the trip: Running back Deuce McAllister (knee), tight end Jeremy Shockey (leg), wide receiver Devery Henderson (hamstring), wide receiver Marques Colston (knee), defensive tackle Brian Young (knee), linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee), safety Josh Bullocks (knee) and cornerbacks Mike McKenzie (knee) and cornerback Tracy Porter (hamstring).