BARCELONA: Notebook; Archer Given a 2d Shot At Winning First Medal

Richard (Butch) Johnson is a professional competing in the Olympics. But he doesn't worry about shoe contracts and he's more than happy to live in the Olympic Village with seven other athletes.

Johnson is a professional archer.

"Well, there really is no such thing as professional archery. All it means is that you shoot for money," he said. "You don't make a lot of money, you definitely have to have a regular job. My best year I made $15,000."

Johnson had originally intended to compete on the 1976 Olympic team. But in 1975, after qualifying, the international governing body of archery stripped him of his amateur status for competing in a world championship tournament that was not sanctioned by the organization.

Instead of fighting the ruling, Johnson exchanged his recurve bow for a compound bow and began shooting for money. The recurve bow has top and bottom limbs that curve outward, away from the archer, making it more difficult to pull back; the compound bow used by professionals arcs back like a traditional bow and, with its weights and pulleys, is easier to pull back.

A ruling by the sport's international federation two years ago gave amnesty to athletes who had competed professionally. But He Wore His Trunks

Many boxers have been disqualified for many things, but Ali Kazemi of Iran found a new way to be eliminated: He was bounced from the Olympics after showing up in the ring for his light-heavyweight fight against Asghar Muhammad of Pakistan without his gloves.

Kazemi motioned for his coach to get some gloves, but the coach ran in and out of the arena several times without any luck. After five minutes, boxing officials disqualified Kazemi.

Bench Penalty

BARCELONA, Spain, July 29 (AP) -- The United States Olympic baseball team was fined $600 today for having too many people in its dugout.

The International Baseball Association, which oversees the Olympic tournament, said the United States violated a restriction allowing no more than 20 players and five team officials on the field and in the dugout.

An I.B.A. ruling said the team was in violation because business manager Mike Gaski was in the dugout during Tuesday's game against Italy.

Coach Ron Fraser had said the fine was levied because Larry Bird was also in the dugout. Bird sat in the bleachers for a few innings, but retreated to the dugout when surrounded by autograph seekers. Aouita Ailing

BARCELONA, Spain, July 29 (AP) -- Said Aouita, the star middle-distance runner who is entered in the men's 1,500 meters, may miss the Games because of a leg injury.

"There is a strong possibility that he is not coming," said a member of Morocco's national Olympic committee. "But we don't have official confirmation yet."

Aouita, who holds world records in the 1,500 and the 5,000, won a gold medal in the 5,000 in 1984 and a bronze in the 800 in 1988. Beer and Steroids

BARCELONA, Spain, July 29 (Reuters) -- Astrid Strauss, a German swimmer who tested positive for steroids two months ago, will be asked to drink copious amounts of beer to see whether alcohol makes her body produce abnormal amounts of steroids.

Strauss, whose suspension cost her a place on the German Olympic team, has taken court action to have the suspension lifted, arguing she has a rare medical condition that produces testosterone.

She said the positive test resulted from a party at which she had drunk eight to nine beers.

Source Citation:Rhoden, William C. "BARCELONA: Notebook; Archer Given a 2d Shot At Winning First Medal.(Sports Desk)." The New York Times (July 30, 1992): NA. Academic OneFile. Gale. BROWARD COUNTY LIBRARY. 31 Aug. 2009
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