January 6
[ 2007-03-06 08:07 ]
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| After the attack Nancy
Kerrigan fell to the ground sobbing "Why
me?" |
| 1994: Mystery assailant attacks top US
skater |
England have
An unknown man brandishing
a metal crowbar has attacked American figure-skater Nancy Kerrigan.
The 24-year-old skater was forced to withdraw from the US national
championships in Detroit after the incident, which left her with severe
bruising to her right knee.
The competition was expected to decide who would represent the United
States in the forthcoming winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, next
month. But that now hangs in the balance.
Normally the top two finishers in these championships would qualify for
the Olympics, although the US Figure Skating Association does have some
discretion in the electoral process.
The attack happened as Ms Kerrigan, who won a bronze medal in the 1992
Olympics, was leaving the ice after a practice session at Cobo Hall,
Detroit.
An eye-witness said: "Before she could say anything, a guy ran by,
crouched down, whacked her on the knee and kept running.
"Nancy just dropped and started screaming and sobbing."
Ms Kerrigan's agent, Jerry Solomon said: "Nancy sustained quite a blow,
physically and mentally.
"This could really affect her mental approach which is so important on
the ice."
Police investigating the incident have been told by witnesses that the
attacker had been video-taping Ms Kerrigan as she skated before he struck.
It is understood that he was wearing official credentials around his
neck but detectives still have no identification.
The attack comes just eight months after tennis player Monica Seles was
stabbed by a spectator with a kitchen knife as she played on a court in
Hamburg, Germany. |
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| The Sex Pistols signed
up with A&M records in March 1977 |
|
1977: EMI fires Sex Pistols | Artificially
1969:
The The music publisher EMI has ended its contract with the Sex
Pistols punk rock group because of their notorious behaviour in public.
In a statement, the company said: "EMI feels it is unable to promote
this group's records in view of the adverse publicity generated over the
past two months."
The move follows the group's appearance on ITV's Today programme six
weeks ago in which they used strong language.
Reports that they had sworn at Heathrow Airport staff and spat at each
other while waiting to board a plane for the Netherlands yesterday proved
to be the final straw.
EMI broke the news to Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren by telephone this
morning. But he denied the contract had been ended by mutual agreement.
In Amsterdam preparing for a series of concerts and recordings, he told
the BBC: "That's rubbish. I haven't signed a single paper - as far as I'm
concerned, we're still on EMI."
The four-man band - Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Sid
Vicious - had only served three months of the two-year contract, worth
?0,000, and published one album - Anarchy in the UK.
EMI has also come under pressure to drop the group from the
Conservative MP for Christchurch and Lymington, Robert Adley.
Last night, he wrote to the managing director, Sir John Read, saying:
"Surely a group of your size and reputation could forgo the doubtful
privilege of sponsoring trash like the Sex Pistols."
Asked whether he would sign up another punk rock group, Sir John told
the BBC: "Certainly. I am told there is a demand for this style of music
and provided we can have groups that don't attract the adverse publicity
this group has had, we'll certainly want to be in it." |
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| Vocabulary:
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brandish: to wave or flourish (a weapon, for example)
menacingly（揮舞）
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