Utah Ready with Olympics Due in One Year

This Thursday begins the one year countdown to the February 8, 2002 Opening Ceremonies to the 2002 Winter Olympics being held in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee will mark the date by announcing the route of the Olympic torch and festivities will include a performance by skater Michelle Kwan.

'Mormon' Olympics Just a Year Away

With the Opening Ceremonies to the 2002 Winter Games just one year away today (Thursday), the Denver Rocky Mountain News offered 3 and 1/3 pages in its Sunday Sports section on several aspects of the games. Topics include the readiness of the venues, tips on getting to games, comments on the bid scandal, and what to expect from "The Mormon Presence".

Mad dog unleashed

Mark Madsen, 25, selected in the first-round 2000 NBA draft, is happy to be a Laker. He's getting more court time now that NBA Most Valuable Player Shaquille O'Neal has missed the past five games due to a sprained arch. On Jan. 31 he played 33 minutes and scored 15 points during the Lakers' game against Minnesota.

Move Over Romney: Canadian Mormon Bullock Helped Save Olympics

Just over two years ago, the Salt Lake City Olympic bribery scandal was in full flame, threatening the future of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Fast forward to today, and the picture is much rosier. Sponsors are lining up, ticket sales are brisk and the aura of optimism about the Games seems to be growing every day. While all of the reasons aren't obvious, it's clear that two Mormon boys have done a pretty good job of breathing life into the 2002 Games. One of these Mormons, Mitt Romney, is well-known and has been in the news a lot since he was officially appointed C.E.O. of the Organizing Committee on February 11, 1999. It seems that Fraser Bullock, the other member of the turn-around team, is still somewhat of an unknown. That's about to change.

Tim Howells' Jazz Saga

The fans in Utah love their Utah Jazz. They celebrate each exhilarating win and mourn each devastating loss. Unlike major sports cities that can claim teams from the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL, the sports faithful in Utah have only the Jazz to fulfill their high-energy sports dreams. Given the relative scarcity of big-time athletes, it's not surprising that Jazz fans are very serious about their basketball team. Tim Howells, season ticket holder since the Jazz came to Utah, is one of those big-time Utah Jazz fans.

Cleveland Gives His Converts a Reason to Believe

Maybe it's his charismatic personality. Perhaps it's his previous experience as an LDS missionary, searching for believers while knocking on doors in England. Whatever the reason, the head coach for the BYU men's basketball team, Steve Cleveland, is converting the masses. After a long spell of fan inactivity, Coach Cleveland has given the Cougar faithful a reason to believe.

RM Starts Pro Baseball Career in Minors Next Week

Three years after returning from an LDS mission to the Philippines, Doug Dent has received a new call, and heads to Mobile, Alabama Saturday. Dent will throw his 90 mph fastball for the Mobile BayBears, a double-A team in the San Diego Padres organization.

Madsen Benefits With Shaq Out, Bateman Playing in XFL

LDS NBA rookie Mark Madsen got a lot of playing time last week, as did two of the three other Mormons in the NBA and former BYU offensive lineman Eric Bateman also got playing time for the first time in years, returning to football in the new XFL after waiting for years as an NFL free agent. Meanwhile, the Mormons on the PGA tour all played in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Bruce Summerhays opened the Senior PGA tour playing in the Royal Caribbean Classic.

Perfect Record Vaults Cougars to No. 4 Ranking

After traveling to Southern California and knocking off sixth-ranked USC and 11th-ranked Cal State Northridge in a pair of three-game matches last week, the BYU men's volleyball team climbed from its eight-place ranking to No. 4 in this week's USAToday/AVCA Coaches Top-15 poll. BYU, now a perfect 5-0, remains just one of two undefeated teams in the top-15. Top-ranked Stanford is 6-0, while No. 2 UCLA is 5-3 on the season and third-ranked Long Beach State has posted a 5-1 mark.

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