8A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021
NBA PLAYOFFS
Japanese newspaper calls for
Tokyo Olympics to be canceled
■ International Olympic Committee still plans to open the Games on July 23
By Stephen Wade and
Kantaro Komiya
Associated Press
TOKYO — Japan’s
Asahi Shimbun newspaper
on Wednesday, May 26 called
for the Tokyo Olympics to
be canceled with the games
set to open in less than two
months.
It is the fi rst of Japan’s
major newspapers to make
the move and joins some
regional newspapers that
have recently added to the
growing opposition to holding
the Olympics.
Coming out against the
Olympics could be signifi cant
since the newspaper, like
many in Japan, is a sponsor of
the postponed Tokyo Games
that are scheduled to open
on July 23. Asahi is typically
liberal-leaning and often op-
poses the ruling party led by
Prime Minister Yoshihide
Suga.
“We cannot think it’s
rational to host the Olympics
in the city this summer,” the
newspaper said in its edito-
rial under a headline that
read: “We Demand PM Suga
Decide Cancellation.”
“Distrust and backlash
against the reckless national
government, Tokyo govern-
ment and stakeholders in the
Olympics are nothing but es-
calating,” the editorial added.
“We demand Prime Minister
Suga to calmly evaluate the
circumstances and decide the
cancellation of the summer
event.”
Asahi has a morning cir-
culation reported at 5.16 mil-
lion, and 1.55 million for its
evening edition. It is second
in circulation behind Yomiuri
Shimbun, and subsequently
is the second largest circulat-
ing newspaper in the world
behind Yomiuri.
Despite the editorial, there
is no indication the Interna-
tional Olympic Committee
or local organizers have any
plans to pull the plug on the
games. But opposition is
mounting with only a tiny
percentage of Japanese people
now vaccinated.
Tokyo organizing commit-
tee CEO Toshiro Muto said
Wednesday he was aware of
Carl Court/Getty Images-TNS
A boat sails past the Olympic rings in Tokyo.
the editorial, but offered little
response.
Asahi is one of about 70
local Olympic sponsors that
have chipped in almost $3.5
billion to the organizing com-
mittee budget. It is also one of
a half dozen newspapers that
are sponsors.
“Of course, different press
organizations have differ-
ent views. And that’s very
natural,” Muto said, adding
local partners, or sponsors,
continued to offer “support.”
Senior IOC member
Richard Pound said in an
interview with Japan’s JiJi
Press last week that the fi nal
deadline to call off the Olym-
pics was still a month away.
“Before the end of June, you
really need to know, yes or no,”
JiJi quoted Pound as saying.
The British Medical
Journal called last month for
a hard look at going forward
with the Olympics. Local
medical offi cials have also
been skeptical, and billionaire
businessman Masayoshi Son
suggested over the weekend
that the IOC was forcing the
Olympics on Japan.
“Right now, more than
80% of the nation’s people
want the Olympics postponed
or canceled,” said Son, the
founder and CEO of SoftBank
Group Corp. who also owns
the SoftBank Hawks baseball
team.
“Who is forcing this to
go ahead, and under what
rights?” Son added.
Asahi also criticized the
IOC, calling it “self-righteous”
and also lambasted IOC vice
president John Coates. Last
week, Coates was asked if the
Olympics would be held if a
state of emergency were in
force.
“Absolutely, yes,” he replied.
The newspaper said there
was a “huge gap” between
Coates’ words and the senti-
ments “of the people.”
“Despite its overgrown size
and excessive commercialism
and many other problems, the
Olympics have been sup-
ported because of empathy for
its ideals. ... But what is the
reality now?” Asahi asked.
On Tuesday, the Japanese
government said a warning
by the United States to avoid
travel to Japan would have
no impact on holding the
Olympics.
Japan has offi cially spent
$15.4 billion to organize the
Olympics, and government
audits suggest it might be
much larger. The IOC gets
billions from selling broadcast
rights, which amounts to
about 75% of its income.
Public opinion polls in
Japan show between 60-80%
want the Olympics canceled
because of the COVID-19
pandemic, and an online
petition asking the games be
canceled has gained 400,000
signatures in a few weeks.
Tokyo, Osaka and other re-
gions of the country are under
a state of emergency that is
likely to be extended past its
May 31 expiration.
Organizers and the IOC, of-
ten citing the authority of the
World Health Organization,
say the games can be held
safely with 15,000 Olympic
and Paralympic athletes en-
tering Japan, joined by tens of
thousands of judges, offi cials,
sponsors, broadcasters and
media.
Fans from abroad have
already been banned, and
organizers are to announce
next month if any fans at all
will be allowed into Olympic
venues.
Lakers top Suns
to even series
By David Brandt
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Lakers were reel-
ing late in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. The
Phoenix Suns had made a big run, their home crowd
was in a frenzy and the defending NBA champions were
in danger of going down two games to none in the fi rst
round.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis weren’t about to
let that happen.
James made a turnaround 18-foot jumper, Davis
followed with a 3-pointer and the Lakers held on for a
hard-fought 109-102 win over the Suns in Game 2 of the
playoff series.
“This was a must win,” Davis said. “We all came out
with that mindset and we were able to get the job done.”
It was a big bounce-back game for the Lakers, and
especially Davis, who struggled in Game 1 and took per-
sonal responsibility for the team’s 99-90 loss on Sunday.
His crucial 3-pointer with 2:15 left on Tuesday put Los
Angeles up 98-92 and ended a late Suns rally.
Davis made 18 of 21 free throws and added 10
rebounds and seven assists. James added 23 points and
nine assists.
“Those are two of the top fi ve players in the NBA,”
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We have a formula
where those guys carry a big load, especially at crunch
time.”
James said he wasn’t surprised Davis bounced back
quickly. He said the Lakers made it a point to get him
involved as much as possible.
“Get him the ball early, often and always,” James said.
“It’s that simple.”
Game 3 is today in Los Angeles and the Lakers sud-
denly have a lot of momentum.
“That’s what I came here for,” James said. “To be able
to play a playoff game in front of the Lakers faithful.”
The Lakers had a 63-48 lead after a 10-1 run to open
the third quarter. James splashed home a 3-pointer to
start the scoring and Los Angeles looked like it might
put this one away comfortably.
But the Suns slowly clawed their way back. Cam
Johnson made two 3-pointers late in the third quarter,
including one at the buzzer, to pull Phoenix within 79-72
heading to the fourth.
Jae Crowder made a 3-pointer from the corner and
was fouled, converting the free throw for a four-point
play that pulled the Suns within 84-83 with 8:09 left in
the fourth. Crowder had missed his fi rst 11 3-pointers in
the series before that attempt.
Deandre Ayton’s dunk off an offensive rebound with
six minutes left put the Suns up 88-86, which was their
fi rst lead since the opening minutes. But they couldn’t
hold on, struggling to guard James and Davis in the
fi nal minutes.
Is it time to dress
up your ride?
NBA PLAYOFFS
Dallas takes 2-0 lead over Clippers
them a little too much confi dence. It’s up to us
to shut that down.”
LOS ANGELES — A familiar face sat
Leonard added, “Just got to stay focused
behind the Dallas Mavericks’ bench. Dirk
and keep an eye on the prize. We got to play
Nowitzki, who led the franchise to its only
defense. Too many easy baskets out there for
championship in 2011 during his 21 seasons, Dallas.”
came to see his old franchise that hasn’t won
Game 3 is Friday, May 28 in Dallas, where
a playoff series since its title.
the Mavs will have several thousand more
Led by Luka Doncic, this edition is looking fans on hand than were allowed at Staples
pretty good.
Center.
“I certainly believe him being there tonight
“I’m not concerned,” fi rst-year Clippers
was a lucky charm for us,” Mavs coach Rick
coach Tyronn Lue said. “They won two games
Carlisle said.
on our home fl oor and now we got to return
Doncic scored 39 points, Tim Hardaway
the favor.”
Jr. added 28 and the Mavs again outshot the
The Clippers threw just about every body
NBA’s best 3-point team in a 127-121 victory they had at Doncic in an effort to slow the
over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday
player that burned them with a triple-double
night to take a 2-0 lead in the fi rst-round
in Game 1. But once again, the All-Star got
playoff series.
plenty of help from his supporting cast.
“We can’t rest,” Hardaway said. “We know
“To this point, we’ve been very focused and
what they’re capable of.”
very
determined. We’ve just got to make sure
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and
that
continues,”
Carlisle said. “The challenge
Maxi Kleber had 13. Hardaway hit a playoff
is
always,
when
you win a game or two games
career-high six 3-pointers and Doncic had
in
a
playoff
series,
how do you measure up
fi ve as fi fth-seeded Dallas was 18 of 34 from
against
the
human
nature curve where a lot
long-range. The Mavs made 17 3-pointers in
of
teams
will
have
letdowns?”
winning Game 1 on Saturday.
The Clippers, who led the league with
“The mentality was, go out there, play ag-
41%
3-point shooting, went 13 of 33 from
gressive, have fun,” Doncic said.
long range. They regained their touch in the
The fourth-seeded Clippers were led by
fourth, when they made fi ve and twice cut
Kawhi Leonard, who scored 30 of his 41 in
the fi rst half. Paul George had 28 points and their defi cit to four points, but Josh Richard-
son made four straight free throws over the
12 rebounds.
fi nal 21 seconds to preserve the victory.
“I’m pretty sure everyone expected us to
George was just 1 of 7 from long range. The
win this,” George said. “They’re playing free
and with confi dence and I think we’re giving Clippers made 11 3-pointers in Game 1.
By Beth Harris
AP Sports Writer
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