Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 37

2D Page edited by Keri Peelkpeelpnj.com Sunday, July 17, 2011 Pensacola News Journal pnj.com TARAFEST Tarafest offers support to paralyzed Pine Forest grad Former standout athlete continues to gain motivation from well-wishers at annual fundraiser "I can't put this into words. I don't just say this as a figure of speech (Tarafest) keeps me going. TARA BLACKWELL Pine Forest grad who sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury ft i '71 41-Yx Without the same use of her right arm, BlackwelL adjusted to using her left arm. Despite the inability, to grip tight with her hands she continues to produce paintings that were displayed at Tarafest. She can use a laptop computer and moves around on a motor ized wheelchair.

4 "Here is what keeps me so hopeful. Of the 165 people who had this (stem cell), procedure, all of them have made progress," said Patsy: Blackwell, Tara's mother. "They said it was a two-year study. Tara has always been willing to be that guinea pig. She has said if it doesn't help me, it will help them! learn how to help the next-person." Tara said she will continue pushing to improve her physical condition.

The, Kennedy Krieger Center in Baltimore is able to provider intense therapy. "I always leave there feel-, ing very accomplished. It is very rewarding," she said. It's what the annual Taraf-; est event enables to occur. Bill Vilona bvilona9pnj.com The party had already started by mid-afternoon Saturday, complete with a band on stage and Tara Blackwell surrounded by the first wave of friends.

Blackwell, well-tanned and wearing a newly purchased silver-sequinned top, looked around Live Nightclub and placed perspective on what this event meant. "It's the best day of the year for me, every year," said Blackwell, 26, a Pine Forest High graduate, who sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury six years ago while a softball player at Troy University. Each year, friends, family and well-wishers have come together for Tarafest, a one-day fund-raising party at various locations in Pensacola. The one Saturday was the first held at the spacious Live club on Pensacola Boulevard. The nasty weather outside didn't deter any enthusiasm for the event.

"The other day when I was shopping for my outfit, I said dure performed by California doctors in Ecuador last August. She was told it may take two years before progression is experienced. The surgery went fine, Blackwell said, but it caused a regression from her four previous years of progress. "So it was a setback mentally and physically," said Blackwell, also a former cheerleader, who sustained her injury at Troy between games with Belmont University in Nashville, while performing assisted backflips. "I was able to accept it for whatever it is and whatever it will be.

And just like when I had my injury, all I could do was move forward to get anywhere. So that is what I have been working on. I have been doing as much as I can to move forward." this is like getting ready for my wedding day, once a year," said Blackwell, who was a standout infielder in high school and two seasons for the Troy Trojans. "I have that day once a year. I can't put this into words.

I don't just say this as a figure of speech (Tarafest) keeps me going." Blackwell, who has been in a wheelchair since the injury, will head to Baltimore at the end of September to receive tests and therapy at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where physicians and therapists work at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. It's one of the few places in the U.S. where spinal cord specialists are available. The past 11 months have tested Blackwell's willpower. She had a stem cell proce v.

Lynn "Bootsie" Sauers has a laugh with her niece, Tara Blackwell, on Saturday during Tarafest at Live Nightclub, john blackiejblackiepnj.com WORLD CUP 5 North Koreans fail steroids test at Women's World Cup "We are confronted with a very, very bad case of doping and it hurts." The last doping case Km Blatter Associated Press FRANKFURT, Germany -A total of five North Korea players have tested positive for steroids at the women's World Cup, soccer's biggest doping scandal at a major tournament in 17 years. FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Saturday that after two players were caught during the tournament this month, FIFA tested the rest of the North Korean squad and found three more positive results. "This is a shock," Blatter said at a news conference. the steroids were accidentally taken with traditional Chinese medicines based on musk deer glands to treat players who had been struck by lightning on June 8 during a training camp. The case will be taken up by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

Defenders Song Jong Sun and Jong Pok Sim tested positive for steroids after North Korea's first two group games and were suspended for the last match. The team was eliminated in the first round after losses to the United States and Sweden and a draw with Colombia. The names of the three other players would only be made public at a later stage, FIFA said. The gland in question comes from musk deer living in a large swathe of Asia from Siberia to North Korea. The hairy 4-centimeter gland is usually cut open extract a liquid that is used for medical purposes.

Doping officials have been concerned about such from the World Anti-Dop-? ing Agency were called in to confirm the breach of doping rules. "It was very complex," FIFA's chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak said. He added that the medical officer of the North Korea team provided a sample of the medicine to help their analysis. The musk gland extract, "it is not part of the world of doping," Dvorak said.i "It is really the first case in which this has been discovered." naturally occurring substances in recent years. During the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, FIFA's concerns focused on African plants that could give players an unfair advantage by providing energy boosts or helping to heal muscle injuries.

FIFA investigators who discovered evidence of doping in the North Korean samples were in uncharted territory as such steroids had not previously been encountered. Experts at a major event came at the men's 1994 World Cup in the United States, when Diego Maradona was kicked out after testing positive for stimulants. FIFA has already met with a North Korean delegation and heard arguments that Cup U.S. WOMEN'S WORLD CUP NOTES FAMILIAR FOE The U.S. will face Japan for the fourth time in 201 1 today, and for the third time in Women World Cup history.

Following are the teams' results in the tournament: UNITED STATES Date Opponent U.S. Goals Result 2-0 June 28 Korea Cheney. Buehler Colombia 3-0 July2 O'Reilly. Rapinoe. Lloyd Sweden Wambach July 10 Brazil 2-2 (5-3 PKs) Own goal, Wambach July 13 France 3-1 Cheney.

Wambach. Morgan JAPAN Date Opponent Result Japan Goals New Zealand 2-1 Nagasato. Miyama i i'h i i in i .1 mm 11 11 11.1,11 j. imimipmL 1 niummipii rVt nrtz-K Ni I tr June2Z 4-0 Sawa 3. Ohno July 14 Mexico England 2-01 July5 Augsburg July 9 1-0(QT)W Germany Maruyama I Kawasumi 2.

Sawa Sweden 3-1 July 13 Japan team members warm up Saturday on the eve of the final match of the Women's World Cup. USA will face Japan today for the World Cup championship in Frankfurt Germany, frank augsteinassociated press. Continued from 1D then made easy work of Sweden in the semifinals. But a final is much different than any other game. The pressure increases, and so do the nerves.

"It is the biggest match of my career," said Homare Sawa, who is playing.in her fifth World Cup. The Japanese have never beaten the Americans, with draws in 2000, 2003 and 2004 the best they've been able to manage in 25 games. They have three losses this year alone to the U.S., including that pair of defeats in warm-up games a month before the World Cup. But the victories over Germany and Sweden have given Japan confidence. Japan had never beaten Germany before the World Cup.

It hadn't had a lot of success against Sweden, either. "Why shouldn't we be confident?" Sawa asked. "If you look at that, we have plenty of chances tomorrow." The Americans will have a significant height advantage on Japan, with five of the expected starters taller than the 5-foot-7 Saki Kumagai, Japan's tallest player. But the Japanese had no problems challenging bigger and stronger Germany, getting whistled for four yellow cards the only yellows they've received this tournament. Japan's ball-handling skills are exquisite, drawing comparisons to Barcelona for its lightning quick passes and slick combination play.

"They have some good players, regardless how tall or short they are, and they do it together," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "Everybody praises them for the way they attack, keep possession. It's a pretty good way to defend. They are very organized, and get numbers behind the ball." Sundhage has tried to implement a more possession-oriented style with the Americans, wanting WANT TO WATCH? U.S.

ROSTER (PRO TEAM) GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence), Jill Loyden (magidack), Hope Solo (magidack). DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (out of contract), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (magidack), Becky Sauerbrunn (magidack). MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (magidack), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FQ, Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O'Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FQ, Megan Rapinoe (magidack). FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magidack). MATCHUP WITH JAPAN The U.S.

is 22-0-3 all-time against Japan, holding a 77-1 3 advantage in goals scored. Japan and the U.S. will be meeting in the Women's World Cup for the third time, having faced off in the inaugural event in 1991 and in 1995 in Sweden. The U.S. won 3-0 in 1991, and posted a 4-0 win In 1995.

Before the three encounters in 201 1, the U.S. had last faced Japan in 2008, playing the Asian power twice at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The U.S. came away with a 1-0 win on Aug. 9 in Qinhuangdao, followed by a 4-2 win on Aug.

18 in the semifinals in Beijing. QUICK HITS ON THE U.S. WOMEN The win against Brazil in the quarterfinals was the first time in Women's World Cup history a team had come back to win after falling behind in overtime. In fact, it is just the fourth instance in World Cup history, with the'rare feat accomplished three times before in the men's tournament. Rachel Buehler will be eligible to play against Japan after sitting out her suspension against France for the red card received against Brazil.

The U.S. is the only team to have advanced to the semifinals in every Women's World Cup. The122nd-minutegoalbyAbbyWambachinthequarterfinals was the latest strike in Women's World Cup history. Wambach's goal against France was her 12th in the Women's World Cup, tying her for third place all-time with Michelle Akers, behind Brazil's Marta (14) and Germany's Birgit Prinz (14). Wambach also tied Akers with 26 points in Women's World Cup play.

Wambach has three goals and one assist in 201 1, and is behind Mia Hamm (28) in the U.S. record books. Hope Solo earned her 100th cap against France. The penalty kick goal for Sweden in the 1 6th minute of the Group final ended U.S. goalie Solo's scoreless streak at 796 minutes.

That is the second-best stretch in team Kim Maslin-Kammerdeiner played 843 minutes without allowing a goal from 1988 to 1991. Four players have played every minute so far for the U.S.: Ali Krieger, Christie Rampone, Solo and Wambach. Japan (2-1 in group play) def. Germany, 1-0 (OT); def. Sweden, 3-1.

NOTE: The U.S. has won World Cup championships in 1991 and 1999. Japan has never appeared in the tournament final U.S. is 22-0-3 all-time in international play against Japan. WHAT: Women's World Cup championship.

WHO: U.S. vs. Japan. WHERE: Frankfurt, Germany. WHEN: 1:45 p.m.

TV: ESPN. PLAYOFF BRACKET RESULTS: U.S. (2-1 in group play) def Brazil, 2-2 tie (5-3 PKs); def. France, 3-1. what we take away from it.

"But against Japan, we want to do and play the way we've been training. We don't want it just to be a dogfight. We want it to be a game people can watch and be excited about." Japan is clearly driven by a greater purpose, hoping its success at the World Cup can provide some emotional relief for a nation still reeling from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. They display a banner reading "To our Friends Around the World Thank You for Your Support," after every game, and Sasaki inspired his players before the quarterfinal by showing them pictures of the devastation. "They're playing for something bigger and better than the game," U.S.

goalkeeper Hope Solo said. "When you're playing with so much emotion and so much heart, that's hard to play against." plays to develop through the midfield rather than simply sending long balls up to the forwards. But it remains a work in progress, and the U.S. resorted to its old ways after falling behind Sweden. It got bogged down in the mid-field against France until Sundhage brought Megan Rapinoe on, putting her on the left flank and moving Lauren Cheney inside.

The move gave the Americans more flow and creativity, perfectly illustrated by their third goal, when Rapinoe found a streaking Alex Mor gan with a cross that was placed perfectly behind the defense. "We are disappointed in the kind of soccer played the last few games. It's just not the kind of soccer we want to play," said Abby Wambach, who has scored on headers in each of the United States' last two games. "Sometimes games turn into what games turn into and you have to deal with what you've got and somehow find a way and figure it out. And that's what we did and that's something to be proud of and that's.