The Gazette

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Basheer Abdullah ran out of his corner, steaming like a madman after light-heavyweight Jeffery Spencer, his top fighter at Fort Carson, lost a narrow decision to Sijoula Shabazz.

"I don't know what they love about that kid!" Abdullah screamed last week near a table of judges, in reference to Shabazz. "That kid isn't going to win any medals for us!"

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- For years, Chuck Delich was Air Force hockey on the ice and then behind the bench. In many ways, the longtime academy supporter still is.

For years, the banner recognizing the 1977 graduate on the south wall of Cadet Ice Arena was the only one hanging because it takes a national honor to qualify. Defenseman Eric Ehn joined him in 2008 followed by blue-liner Greg Flynn, goalie Andrew Volkening and forward Jacques Lamoureux.

Delich, 56, is glad to see more banners hanging, though he jokes being the only black and white image makes him feel old. But it also makes his induction at Saturday's Air Force Academy Hall of Fame ceremony a symbolic recognition of his teammates in the small black and white photos in the rink's Wall of Fame.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Six of the 15 top-level sponsorship agreements held by the U.S. Olympic Committee are scheduled to expire after the 2012 London Games, while all but two of the 11 second-tier deals held by the Colorado Springs-based organization also will run out next August.

The International Olympic Committee is aiming for renewals with Acer, General Electric and McDonald's via a partnership that benefits the USOC, and the USOC is negotiating renewals with high-dollar givers Anheuser-Busch, AT&T and BP. Also under negotiation for renewal with the USOC are lower-level providers 24 Hour Fitness, Adecco, Allstate, Citi, Deloitte, Hilton, TD Ameritrade, Tyson Foods and United Airlines.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Two-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast Peter Vidmar and retired Paralympic track and field athlete Aimee Mullins were named chef de missions Thursday by the U.S. Olympic Committee to act as liaisons during the Olympics and Paralympics next year in London.

The NBA's leading scorer walks slowly into the Oklahoma City Thunder locker room, his eyes fixed on an open black leather Bible with his name engraved on the cover.

A pack of reporters awaits him, but he remains embedded in Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, a book in the New Testament. He reads carefully in front of his locker for several minutes, marking favored passages with a light blue highlight pen.

Shortly after reading the command, "Find your strength in the Lord, in his mighty power," Kevin Durant closes his Bible and lifts his eyes to the reporters.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- As a child, Rick Santorum gasped in disbelief at Bob Beamon's record-setting long jump at the 1968 Olympics. Three years ago, he stared in amazement as Michael Phelps swam to a record eight gold medals. He recently caught his own case of Olympic fever.

The former Pennsylvania senator liked what he saw at the Olympic Training Center, on a tour with U.S. Olympic Committee chief of sport operations Mike English and Colorado Springs modern pentathlete Eli Bremer before a county GOP dinner at the Antlers Hilton.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Zach Railey has sailed on the sport's biggest stage. His sister, Paige, has come within an eyelash of doing the same. Both know that the bar has been raised, that expectations have been enhanced, that they must bring everything they've got, with little room for error.

"Our goal is to go to the Olympics," Zach said. "And to win Olympic medals."

They're considered favorites for the 2012 London Games, rounded into shape last month during a four-day camp at the Olympic Training Center that prepared them for European races serving as qualifiers for events to determine the 16-person U.S. Olympic team.