basketball
EXTRA
Oregon Daily Emerald
The independent campus newspaper for the University of Oregon
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER.
Johnson promises his best
celebration yet this Sunday
BY JOE KAY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chad Johnson tucked the “Terrible
Towel” into the neckline of his shirt,
letting it hang like a yellow bib.
“I was eating lunch and I just didn’t
want to get my shirt dirty,” the former
Oregon State player said mischievously.
No, the least-bashful Bengal wasn’t
getting ready to bash the next oppo
nent — he has grown beyond that. But
the receiver did have a little tease
Wednesday for those thousands of
fans who will show up Sunday waving
their towels in Pittsburgh.
He’s planning to entertain them with
his best touchdown celebration yet.
“That is the Steel City, isn’t it?”
Johnson said. “The first time we
played them, we all know we lost. We
had some mistakes that we made early
in the game. As far as I’m concerned,
we have some things to iron out.”
In a tone that amounted to a wink,
he continued: “The key word is: Iron
out. Everybody remember the key
word: Iron.”
Heading into what amounts to a
showdown for the AFC North title,
Johnson isn’t deviating from his rou
tine of having a little fun with the next
opponent. The higher the stakes, the
bigger the stage, after all.
Johnson added the “Terrible Towel”
to his locker following a 42-29 victory
Sunday over Baltimore, and made sure
to pull it out and tuck it in when the
cameras approached Wednesday.
Nothing against Pittsburgh.
He praised the Steelers’ players and
coaches on Wednesday, and conceded
that the Bengals need to beat them for
their self-confidence as well as their
playoff chances. They’ve lost to Jack
sonville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis,
the three best teams on their schedule
so far.
“As far as the rest of the schedule, I
don’t see any teams that would put us
in that mold of ‘We are the real deal,”’
Johnson said. “Until we beat
somebody who has been consistently
winning like they have. ”
Until then, all he can do is have
some fun.
“1 don’t like everybody to think
about it being a big game,” he said,
grinning. “It’s just another team in the
way of what we’re trying to accom
plish, and that’s getting to the playoffs.
“And, therefore, I’m going to guar
antee ... that I won’t be stopped this
Sunday, either.”
Basketball: Hibbert and Green lead Hoyas
Continued from page 9
“I’m going to tip my hat to Vander
bilt and we’ll go back to work and get
ready for Georgetown and the next
one,” Kent said.
Like the Ducks, Georgetown enters
the contest following a loss to Vander
bilt. The Hoyas fell 68-61 at home
against the Commodores last Saturday.
The second half, as it was against
Vanderbilt, has been the nemesis for
the Hoyas. They were outscored 39-25
against the Commodores after taking a
seven-poim ieaa into me DreaK.
Georgetown has been out
scored 104-93 in the second half this
season but has owned the first half,
outscoring its opponents 113-79.
The Hoyas, led by 7-foot-2 sopho
more Roy Hibbert, will present chal
lenges for the Ducks inside. Hibbert
is averaging a team-high 16.3 points
per game.
Complementing Hibbert inside is
another sophomore — 6-foot-9 for
ward Jeff Green — who is second in
scoring with 10.3 points per game
and averages a team-high 7.3
rebounds per game.
Georgetown, under coach John
Thompson III — son of basketball leg
end John Thompson, Jr. — defeated
Navy 72-49 to open the season
and James Madison 73-66 before
falling to Vanderbilt.
“Oregon poses a very big test, and
that’s an understatement,” Thompson
III said. “They’re veteran team and
they play well at home. ”
landrews@dailyemerald. com
Wushu: Routine rule change will benefit Dang
Continued from page 9
event. His performance placed him
solidly in the top five male entrants and
scored him a spot in Hanoi.
The only male representative from
the western United States, Dang differs
from the rest of his teammates in an
other way: He is self-trained. Dang ac
knowledges that not having a coach
makes succeeding in wushu more dif
ficult, but the added challenge suits his
personality well.
“I learned the hard way, and I’m
that much better for it,” Dang said.
Learning the hard way includes a
rigorous training program, featuring
cross-training and other activities to
build fast-twitch muscle and increase
stamina. Top physical condition is nec
essary for wushu because some of the
aspects of the routines, especially the
jumps, are dangerous. Knee injuries
are common and most athletes retire
from the sport around the age of 25.
The greatest challenge of Dang’s ca
reer awaits him at the World Champi
onships and marks the culmination of
12 years in the sport. .
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportuni
ty. If you asked me four years ago,
would I be here, I would have said no,”
Dang said. “I’ve wanted it so bad.”
Dang will be facing not only other
amateurs from around the world but
professional teams as well, predomi
nantly from east Asian countries such
as China and Japan.
“I’m the underdog, but I’ve got
nothing to lose,” Dang said.
A rule change at this year’s World
Championships could work in Dang’s
favor. Instead of requiring all athletes to
complete compulsory routines, com
petitors will now be able to craft their
own, suited to their ownstrengths and
style. Dang prides himself on his inten
sity and the cleanliness of his routines.
“Others concentrate on the flashy
moves and don’t work on core move
ments,” Dang said. “Core technique —
that’s my advantage.”
n
To place an ad, call (541) 346-4343 or stop by Room 300 EMU
E-mail: dassads@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition: www.dailyemerald.com
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union, RO. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
The Other Coast
by Adrian Raeside
Want to reach the UO Community?
Call 346-4343
Advertise in the ODE Classifieds
105 TYPING/EDITING SERVICES
EXPERT THESIS/DISSERTATION
Editor, Grad School approved
since 1974! Papers, resumes.
ON CAMPUS! ROBIN, 344-0759
120 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
No Plans? Game Demos Most
Weekends at Emerald City Com
ics, 770 E 13th, 345-2568
Need some extra cash?
Sell your winter gear in the Oregon
Daily Emerald Classifieds. Call 346
4343 'or place your ad online at
www.dailyemerald.com.
125 FURNITURE/APPLIANCES
$97
QUEEN SIZE P1LL0WT0P
New Mattresses &!
Guaranteed L_
1EE DELIVERY
AMERICAN MATTRESS
MANUFACTURING
4075 West 11th *343-2690
Open 7 Days a Week
Lookin j
for a new place to fellowship?
The Spiritual Directory can help.
Check it out every Friday