Football Wedding Threatened

Fiesta Bowl star Ian Johnson says he's hired wedding security because of racist threats July 25, 2007

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- The Boise State running back who scored the winning points in the Fiesta Bowl, then proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on national television, says he has hired security for their wedding because of racial threats.

Ian Johnson, who is black, and Chrissy Popadics, who is white, are due to be married Saturday in Boise. Since his Jan. 1 proposal, Johnson said, he has received phone calls, letters and some personal threats from people who object to their marriage plans.

"You take it for what it is -- the less educated, the less willing to change," Johnson, 21, of San Dimas, Calif., told the Idaho Statesman for its Tuesday editions. "But we're not acting like we're naive to all the stuff that's going on. We know what's been said. We're going to make sure we're safe at all times. It's an amazing day for us, and we'd hate to have it ruined by someone."

"It's really sad because a lot of people that are probably doing it are the same people who were cheering me on," Johnson said.

A Boise State football spokesman, Todd Miles, said Tuesday that Johnson hoped to put the matter behind him and did not want to discuss it further. Popadics' family said she was not available.

At the Fiesta Bowl, Johnson used a "Statue of Liberty" play to score the winning two-point conversion as underdog Boise State beat the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in overtime. The Broncos ended their season 13-0.

Yahoo Newss link: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-boisestate-johnson&prov=ap&type=lgns







Okay, seriously, I thought the U.S. was on a different page here, but apparently I was wrong. Yes, I know that racism is an ongoing problem with many people, but to go so far as to harass anyone as described in this newscast... I am ashamed to admit that I live in a country with people who are so insecure with themselves that they have to resort to ridiculing and harassing what they clearly don't understand or agree with. Why can't people just let others be, regardless of what they think? It's a shame also that this couple feels that they have to watch their back with every step they take, including their wedding, which should be a carefree and joyous event, yet it will be uptight with security watching everything. I just had to post this because it really ticked me off.

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