WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 01/31/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]

Coming up on News 7,
A K-mart worker in Henry County allegedly calls-in a bomb threat to avoid going to work.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And Senator John Kerry is named the Democratic presidential nominee, at least in Lexington.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
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[ENG#=2]

Tonight in sports, the Panthers Ricky Manning talks Super Bowl pigskins, VMI picks up another Big South win on the hardwood,
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[VO-NAT]

while Virginia falls to 2 and 5 in the ACC with a loss at Wake Forest.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
Despite abundant sunshine, high temperatures were well below normal today. We'll warm things up slighly for your Sunday, but another round of winter weather could be on its way to start off the workweek. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[ENG#=3]
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[SOT 18:09]
[IN Q=I think the only way]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=or a live boy]
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[VO-NAT :09]
Thousands pack the campus of Washington and Lee University today to see which Democrat STUDENTS predict will face President George Bush in the fall.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

[Mock-Con]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC-1:47:20]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=4]

It's a University with a rich history and a knack for predicting presidential nominees. Nearly 90- percent of Washington and Lee's student body participated in this year's Mock Convention. Jennifer Wishon was there and has the results.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=The Democratic National Convention]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-James Carville/Mock Convention Speaker; :14]
[SUPER=01-Anne Idsal/Speaker Chair; :29]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:00]
[RUNS=2:04]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Lexington]
((((NATS OF CONVENTION)) The Democratic National Convention may be six months away, but Delegates from 50 states and 5 U-S territories joined one raging Cajun to predict who'll battle President Bush for the White House.
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[SOT 20:08]
[IN Q=We need a president]
((JAMES CARVILLE))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=and less act... applause]
Political Consultant James Carville was completely partisan as his keynote speech rocked the student run Convention.
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[SOT 42:11]
[IN Q=I saw him in the war]
((ANNE IDSAL/SPEAKER CHAIR: I SAW HIM IN THE WAR ROOM, IT'S A DOCUMENTARY MY FRESHMAN YEAR IN A POLITICS CLASS AND WHEN WE HAD TO COME DOWN AND DECIDE WHO WE WERE GOING TO HAVE AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE WHO CAME TO MIND WAS JAMES CARVILLE.))
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[OUT Q=was James Carville]

((QUICK NATS OF APPLAUSE))

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[SOT 47:59]
[IN Q=The great state of]
((THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE GOLDEN STATE, THE MOST POPULOUS IN THE UNION WHERE WE PREFER ACTORS IN OUR STATE CAPITAL, WHERE A BUDGETARY CRISIS MEANS THE GOVERNOR IS FIRED AND WHERE MY GOVERNOR CAN BEAT UP YOUR GOVERNOR.))
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[OUT Q=beat up your governor]
Students had fun with the process, but their antics were the result of lots of hard work.
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[SOT 1:04:49]
[IN Q=The Mock Convention]
((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: THE MOCK CONVENTION HAS PRODUCED 17 CORRECT PREDICTIONS OUT OF 22 ATTEMPTS AND STUDENTS SAY THEIR SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO MONTHS OF RESEARCH.))
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[OUT Q=months of research]
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[SOT 44:12]
[IN Q=People have made]
((ANNE IDSAL: PEOPLE HAVE MADE CONTACTS WITHIN PARTY GOVERNMENT, WITHIN THE STATES, ON THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL AND FROM THAT POINT ON PEOPLE ARE JUST KEEPING YOU RIGHT IN THE CIRCLE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.))
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[OUT Q=what's going on]
And in the end, the student's research overwhelmingly pointed to one candidate.
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[SOT 1:02:23]
[IN Q=The Massaschusets delegation]
((THE MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATION GIVES ALL 121 OF OUR DELEGATES TO THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SENATOR JOHN KERRY. APPLAUSE ))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=John Kerry... applause]
((NATS OF APPLAUSE UNDER VIDEO OF CONFETTI FALLING.))
[Runs= 03]
John Kerry took about 56 percent of the vote. Governor Howard Dean was a distant second followed by Senator John Edwards. Virginia resident James Carville was pleased with the process.
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[SOT 36:49]
[IN Q=This is a school]
((JAMES CARVILLE))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=in the room]
Students will now have to wait until July to see if their hard work wins W & L another vote of confidence. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Lexington.))

[College-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC-50:01]
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[ENG#=1]

It was a battle of wits today at Virginia Military Institute.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
The College Bowl that brought the school national attention some 40-years ago has returned. Cadet Chase Porter was at a basketball competition when he got the idea for an academic tournament. Some time later he was visiting the V-M-I museum and saw a picture of the 1965 College Bowl team and that's when he decided to revive the program. About a hundred students turned out today to see what it was all about.
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[SOT 7:11:46]
[IN Q=I'm really pleased with the]
((CHASE PORTER/COLLEGE BOWL ORGANIZER: I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH THE TURN OUT OF THE CORPS. I KNEW INITIALLY WHEN I HAD THE VISION FOR THE PROGRAM THAT CADETS WOULD WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND I REALLY WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE CADETS THAT THEY COULD ENJOY AND EXPAND THEIR ACADEMIC HORIZONS AT THE SAME TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Chase Porter/College Bowl Organizer;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=at the same time]
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[VO-NAT]
Five teams of four competed in the double- elimination tournament. The teams were named after the cadets who played on the 1965 team. The strongest players will form a V-M-I team and compete against other schools next month in Knoxville Tennessee. Porter says he hopes the tradition will continue.
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[I-81]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]
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A Staunton legislator says western Virginians shouldn't be asked to pay extra to improve Interstate-81.
He's introducing legislation that would prohibit any tolls along the highway.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]

Republican Delegate Chris Saxman says Virginia already pays more to the federal government for transportation than the state gets back.
He says Virginians lose about ten cents for every dollar they send to Washington.
Saxman says if the federal government wants to use I-81 to test the separation of cars and trucks, it should pick up the tab.
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[SOT ::]
[IN Q=WE'RE ALREADY A DONOR STATE]
((DEL. CHRIS SAXMAN/R-STAUNTON: WE'RE ALREADY A DONOR STATE IN VIRGINIA. WE ONLY GET BACK NINETY AND A HALF CENTS OF THE FEDERAL GAS TAX DOLLARS WE SEND TO WASHINGTON AND TO HAVE THEM ASK US TO HAVE A TOLL FOR A FEDERAL PROJECT IS SOMEWHAT DOUBLE TAXATION.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Chris Saxman/(R) Staunton]
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[OUT Q=IS SOMEWHAT DOUBLE TAXATION.]
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[VO-NAT]

Saxman also wants to limit any pilot project on I-81 to a section of no more than 85 miles.
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[Horse-Center]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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The Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County could be getting some help in paying off its debts.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./November 28th;]
Yesterday, the State Senate passed a bill that would allow the County, Lexington, and Buena Vista to raise the tax on hotel rooms by two percent. The Horse Center must pay off nearly 16 million dollars in bonds. In last year's budget, state funding for the Horse Center began to diminish, and is scheduled to be eliminated by 2008. The bill will now goes to the House of Delegates.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Still to come on the newscast, a department store employee is charged for making a bomb threat at the store where she was working...
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[VO-NAT]
and also, more international flights to Virginia are cancelled because of a threat of terrorism.
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[1st-Wx]

[Halifax-Drugs]

(MINI OPEN)

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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The leader of a major drug ring in Halifax County will spend the next three years in prison.
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[TAKE JEFFRESS FS] 24-year-old Charles Edward Jeffress, a-k-a "Dave", was the so-called ringleader of a major drug operation in the Clay's Mill community. Through a plea agreement, Jeffress took responsibility for distributing up to one-point-five kilos of crack-cocaine.

He was sentenced yesterday to serve 72-months in a federal penitentiary.
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[Threat-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
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An employee is accused of calling a bomb threat into a Henry County K-Mart.
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[TAKE TREJO FS] The Sheriff's office says 21-year old Brandi Nichole Trejo of Ridgeway reported finding a note in a restroom at the store on Greensboro Road Tuesday. The note apparently stated that a bomb was in the building and would go off the next day.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A search of the store turned up no bomb. Trejo was arrested. She faces a felony charge of threatening to bomb a building. The Sheriff's Office says Trejo wrote the note hoping the store would close so she wouldn't have to go to work.

[Flights-Cancelled]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[WRITER=myr]
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Several flights to the U-S, including Virginia, are being canceled this weekend amid the possibility of new terrorist threats.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London]
British Airways and Air France are canceling at least seven flights over the next two days because of security concerns. Air France canceled two Paris-to-Washington flights, and British Airways is canceling five flights, including ones between London's Heathrow Airport and Dulles Airport.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I think they]
((I THINK THEY ARE JUST BEING CAREFUL..THAN NOT BE.))
[SUPER=01-Rob Pittman/British Airways Passenger;]
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[OUT Q=than not be]
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[VO-NAT]
Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security said it remains concerned about al-Qaida's desire to target aviation, and said flights from London and Paris may be targets.
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Up ahead on the newscast, there's a threat of winter weather once again for early next week. Brent will be along with the forecast in just a few minutes.
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[VO-NAT]
but before that, a local publishing company is hoping that its newest release will end up being its first success story.
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[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=Biz Review ]
[GRAPHIC=Business Review]
[ENG=1]
Several companies in the region lay off hundreds of workers, and at least one New River Valley company is creating new jobs. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
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[SUPER=03-Danville/1996; :08]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :24]
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[SUPER=03-Giles Co.; :53]
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[SUPER=01-Billy Obenchain/Vinton Town Council; 1:23]
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[OUT Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
(( [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] Another southside plant is closing its doors. The Masonite Plant in Danville is closing on March 26 after more than 30 years of operations. All 172 employees are being laid off because the company says there is a lack of demand for its wood fiber products. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] More layoffs in the Roanoke Valley as well. Atlantic Mutual let go of 70 employees as a part of restructuring. This round of layoffs is the fourth in two years, and a spokesman says the layoffs may not be over. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] A Blacksburg company is telling its workers to brace for layoffs in March. Federal Mogul says it doesn't know how many workers will be let go, but a plant official says the layoffs will be "large for the size of the plant." Federal-Mogul currently employs more than 430 workers. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] One of the New River Valley's largest employers is bringing new jobs to Giles county. Celanese Acetate is expaning its Narrows facility and creating 55 new positions. A 10 million dollar investment will generate jobs for chemists, engineers, and technicians. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] Colonial Downs has rolled the dice on a site for its off track betting parlor. The company will start building on this eight acre lot in March. At least one member of Vinton's town council says the parlor will benefit the community.
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[SOT@21:56:30:03]
[IN Q=From the Colonial Downs..]
((BILLY OBENCHAIN/VINTON TOWN COUNCIL: FROM THE COLONIAL DOWNS FACILITY WE ESTIMATE TO SEE 175-190 THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN TAX REVENUE. GOOD THING ABOUT THAT THE TOWN OF VINTON DIDN'T HAVE TO FRONT OR PUT UP ONE PENNY TO GET THIS COMPANY HERE.))
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[OUT Q=.. this company here.]

For News 7, I'm Donald Graham and that's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))

[Redemption]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC-30:43]
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[ENG#=2]

A local publishing house released, what they hope will be, their first big hit today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/January 11;]
Redemption, by Geraldine Hughes, is a book about the child molestation charges against Michael Jackson ten years ago.

A Radford publishing house, Branch and Vine, published the book. Business partners James Armentrout and Steven Macon were in the middle of editing Redemption when the latest charges against Jackson surfaced. THAT sparked a world- wide interest in the book. The author has already been interviewed by many major news networks and there's also talk of a movie deal.
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[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
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Coming up, more bad news for the Virginia Tech football program, Virginia falls on the ACC road again, and
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[VO-NAT]

we'll meet former Appalachian League baseball player Ricky Manning, who will play on pro football's largest stage in tomorrow's Super Bowl with the Carolina Panthers.
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[S-Council]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
[ENG#=]

As if the news for the Virginia Tech football program couldn't get any worse, this afternoon it did. On the heels of the Marcus Vick investigation, prize recruit Rod Council of Charlotte is in trouble with the law as well. The West Charlotte High School star cornerback is accused of stealing 16 thousand dollars worth of computer equipment from the high school. He is in jail under 15 thousand dollars bond. National signing day is Wednesday when Council is expected to sign his letter of intent with the Hokies.

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-162]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
[ENG#=1]

A week off apparently didn't help what ails the Virginia Cavaliers who suffered another double digit loss on the road in the ACC today at Wake Forest.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Winston-Salem, NC/Cavaliers vs. Demon Deacons; :00]

Pete Gillen watched his team get off to another slow start in this one.
Wake did not however. Justin Gray lit things up from downtown in the first half finishing with 26 points for the Deacs.
Elton Brown put in 24 for Virginia including these two on the fadeaway in the lane, but Virginia trailed by 17 at the half.
In the second half, the Cavs got to within 14, but Taron Downey throws it up for Trent Strickland for the jam.
[SUPER=33-Virginia/78/Wake Forest/91/;]

Wake Forest is in the money beating UVA 91-78 in a game that wasn't that close.
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[S-UNC]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-156 TC15104]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
[ENG#=2]

Clemson broke a four game losing skid in a big way this afternoon at home, getting the best of 12th ranked North Carolina.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Clemson, SC/Raycom-JP; :00]

Clemson hit 11 of 13 from behind the arc on their way to a 9 point win. The Tigers Shawan Robinson scored a career high 24 points. The Tarheels have not won a conference road
[SUPER=33-North Carolina/72/Clemson/81/;]
game this season as Clemson took out UNC 81-72.
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[S-VMI]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-155 TC14551]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]
[ENG#=3]

The Virginia Tech men take on Syracuse tonight at the Carrier Dome. Earlier this afternoon, the Tech ladies took out the Orange 75-60. Bonnie Henrickson's team shot 50 percent. Ieva Kublina scored 23 points while Dawn Chriss and Kerri Gardin put in 14 apiece in the win.
[TAKE VMI #6112]
VMI won it second straight Big South game this afternoon, knocking off Winthrop at Cameron Hall.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/Eagles vs. Keydets; :00]

Bart Bellairs was working the sidelines as usual today in Lexington.
Early on Richard Little spots up and knocks down the triple from the left wing. He tallied 8 points and 8 assists.
Radee Skipworth was the big gun for the Keydets.
[SUPER=33-Winthrop/61/VMI/68/;]
The senior led the way with 26 points including these two in the paint. VMI won it over Winthrop 68 to 61.
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[S-Ricky]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-153 5952TC]
[GRAPHIC=SUPER BOWL]
[ENG#=4]
It's a rarity that a first year player ever makes it to the Super Bowl - much less has a chance to star in the big game. But Mike Stevens says that's just the case for a member of the Carolina Panthers.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRTS AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/NFC Championship Game; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Fox/Panthers Head Coach; :22]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Manning/Panthers Rookie Cornerback; :35]
[SUPER=03-Houston, TX; :45]
[SUPER=@mike1; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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(( Ricky Manning, Junior is a five foot nine inch rookie out of UCLA - who has preferred to hit opponents instead of hitting the wall. Unlike most first year players who struggle while making the transition from college - Manning has gotten better as the season has stretched on. ((JOHN FOX:)) ((RICKY MANNING:)) The site of the big game Reliant Stadium will provide Manning with the biggest stage of his young career. Not bad for a left hander who played for Elizabethton in the Appalachian league in the summer of 2001. ((RICKY MANNING:)) Manning had three interceptions in the regular season - but he had three in the NFC championship game alone. But he says he'll be shocked if Tom Brady doesn't come right at him.)) ((RICKY MANNING:)) ((MIKE STEVENS:))

[S-Hall]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-158 TC20325]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
[ENG#=1]

John Elway won two Super Bowls in his career. Today he headlines the NFL's Hall of Fame class of 2004.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]

Elway is the winningest quarterback in league history with 148 wins. The first choice in the 1983 draft, Elway was the NFL MVP 4 years later. He'll be inducted this summer along with Vikings lineman Carl Eller, Bob Brown, a 6 time Pro Bowl tackle, and Barry Sanders, number 3 on the all time rushing list. Sanders rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first ten seasons.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Barry Sanders/NFL Hall of Famer; :04]
[SUPER=01-John Elway/NFL Hall of Famer; :19]
[RUNS=:36]
[OUT Q=way to try to win."]
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