Today in History-January 6

英语自学网

　　After the attack Nancy Kerrigan fell to the ground sobbing "Why me?"
        　　1994: Mystery assailant attacks top US skater
        　　England have
        　　An unknown manbrandishinga 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.
        　　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."
        　　Vocabulary:
        　　brandish: to wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly(挥舞)