Texsox Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I couldn't believe my eyes. At the 23 mile mark of the marathon the lead runner was knocked off the couorse by some bizzar Irish protestor Link Stefano Baldini of Italy took the lead two miles from the finish to win the gold medal and American Meb Keflezighi took a stunning silver Sunday in an Olympic marathon disrupted by a costumed intruder who grabbed the race leader with about three miles to go. Vanderlei Lima of Brazil, whose lead had been slowly shrinking, was pushed to the curb by a man dressed in green beret, red kilt and knee-high green socks. Lima was able to get back into the race, but he lost several more seconds and eventually was overtaken by Baldini. Lima, who took the bronze, drew big cheers from the crowd at the finish line in Panthinaiko Stadium -- the beautiful marble structure that was the site of the first modern Olympics 108 years ago. He smiled broadly, spread his arms like wings and weaved from side to side as he crossed the line. Keflezighi, who emigrated from the war-torn African nation of Eritrea at age 10, is the first American to medal in the men's marathon since Frank Shorter's silver in 1976. Deena Kastor won the bronze in the women's marathon a week ago, marking the first time the United States had medaled in both of the sport's epic endurance competition. Baldini, 33, finished in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 54 seconds. He waved his hands in celebration, then dropped to his knees in exhaustion after his final lap on the narrow track inside the stadium. Baldini is the former European marathon champion and two-time world marathon silver medalist. Keflezighi, the American record holder at 10,000 meters, showed little emotion, crossing himself and putting up a No. 1 sign with his finger to the television. Lima pulled away from the pack a little over halfway through the competition, which -- over difficult and often steep terrain -- traced the ancient route that gives the race its name. Lima, a two-time Pan American champion who was 47th in the 1996 Olympic marathon, stretched the lead to as much as 46 seconds before Baldini, Keflezighi and Kenyan Paul Tergat began to narrow the gap. As the runners went through the streets of Athens, to the cheers of flag-waving onlookers, the intruder came from the runner's left and pushed him to the side, all the way to the curb and into the crowd. Police quickly went after the intruder, one officer leaping from a bicycle, as Lima pushed himself free and kept running. The intruder had a piece of paper attached to his back bearing the message: "The Grand Prix Priest Israel Fulfillment of Prophecy Says the Bible." Police identified him as Cornelius Horan, an Irish citizen. In July 2003, Horan, in a costume similar to Sunday's, ran onto the track at the British Grand Prix in the middle of the race and stayed there for more than 20 seconds, forcing racers to swerve around him. He was carrying a sign that said, "read the Bible -- the Bible is always right." Lima's lead had already been diminishing before the incident. Afterward, Baldini and then Keflezighi passed Lima not far from the stadium. As the race began in the now-suburb of Marathon, the sun set over the Acropolis cast a rose-colored hue on the horseshoe-shaped stadium, which was about three-quarters full. The runners followed the steep, difficult course over which, legend says, Pheidippides carried the news in 490 B.C. that the Greeks had defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. "Be joyful. We win!" Pheidippides shouted. Then he dropped dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palehosefan Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I don't know whats worse for Christians like myself. The Devil or people like that or Deion Sanders that just annoy and piss people off so much that they wouldn't ever listen to what they have to say. :banghead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I missed it. I was in Church. :lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted August 29, 2004 Author Share Posted August 29, 2004 Remember the nut that always was at telecasts with the multi-colored wig and a John 3:16 sign? I think he wound up in jail for something or other a while back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasox24 Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 I remember seeing clips of that guy standing in the middle of that race track. What a dumbass... :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiff Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Remember the nut that always was at telecasts with the multi-colored wig and a John 3:16 sign? I think he wound up in jail for something or other a while back. Yeah he took a hotel maid hostage or something. They had a story on sportscenter about it a few months ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Here he is: What a moron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Here he is: What a moron. I remember watching that last year, drivers like Aussie Mark Webber were "this close" to hitting him. :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssHatSoxFan Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Yeah he took a hotel maid hostage or something. They had a story on sportscenter about it a few months ago. yeah the guy went to trial figuring it would help his publicity instead he has 3 consecutive life sentences i believe where if he had pleade no contest he wouldve been out of jail already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 And the guy isn't even going to jail. What BS. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040830/D84PIB001.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Brazil is looking for a duplicate gold for their marathoner. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/tra...tory?id=1871108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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