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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 08 > Entry
Finding brick a special feat for gymnast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Olympic gymnast and newlywed Blaine Wilson returned to Centennial Olympic Park downtown Tuesday in search of a very special snapshot.
The now 34-year-old silver medalist was on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team during the 1996 Summer Games here.
His new wife, Aliane Baquerot, also competed in ‘96 as a rhythmic gymnast.
“She’s never been able to find her Olympic brick here,” Wilson told Buzz. “I found it for her and took a picture and sent it to her. She got a little emotional.”
Wilson concedes Atlanta has changed a lot since he competed here. “A lot of things have moved around and the skyline is different. But the aura I get walking in Centennial Olympic Park is exactly the same. It’s still really exciting.”
Wilson, who announced his retirement from the sport this spring, was in town Tuesday to promote the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars Oct. 17 at Philips Arena. Other gymnasts participating include his wife, Shawn Johnson, Chellsie Memmel, Shannon Miller and Paul Hamm.
He was also the guest of honor Tuesday at West Clayton Elementary School in College Park as part of the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers school assembly program.
The tatted-up jock dazzled the small fry by doing a back flip and walking across the assembly on his hands.
“It’s so much harder for kids to stay active now,” Wilson explained. “Recess is no longer mandatory in a lot of school systems and kids tend to sit around playing video games or hanging out on Facebook. When I was a kid, I was playing football in the street, getting all scraped up.”
Wilson says he’s enjoying his time on the 37-city superstars tour.
“I don’t have to worry about scores or judges,” he said. “I’m happy!”
Earlier this year, Wilson was toying with one last Olympic run, but he called his father from the floor during what turned out to be Wilson’s final competition.
“My dad asked, ‘Why are you calling me from the floor?!’ ” Wilson recalled. “I just told him, ‘I think I’m retired.’ It was just too taxing. He said, ‘Well, let’s get out of here then!’ “
For superstars tickets: www.gymnasticssuperstars.com.
NE-YO VISITS TYRA
Atlanta R&B singer-superstar songwriter Ne-Yo has the No. 3 album in the country (“The Year of the Gentleman”), a Grammy in his new multimillion-dollar penthouse (featured recently on VH1) and still, apparently, a few things to complain about. At 1 p.m. today on “The Tyra Banks Show,” he discusses:
• The music industry: “It’s kind of sad the way the music industry is now. Back in the day it was about your talent. It was about your accomplishments. Nowadays it’s about what celebrity you’re dating or what drug you’re doing or how many times you get arrested in a year — that’s what a lot of the press is making people pay attention to.”
• The press (or more specifically, his lack of): “I’m on my third album; I won a Grammy with my second album. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back, but these are a lot of really big accomplishments but you’ve never seen me on the cover of Vibe magazine, People magazine, Rolling Stone. I’ve heard that when somebody says ‘Ne-Yo is a great singer, Ne-Yo is a great songwriter, there’s nothing else to say about him.’ I’m like why is that not enough?”
• And that ill-fated tour with R. Kelly: “This is my personal opinion — I feel the reason he kicked me off the tour is maybe he was thinking I was stealing a little bit of his shine. Which I was not trying to do. My intent was not to outshine nobody. It was nothing like that; I actually tried to go to him and thank him for letting me get on the tour and his security people shoo’d me off like I was an annoying fan. It was a lot.”
STORK REPORT
It’s a girl!
Former “American Idol” contestant Paris Bennett has given birth to a daughter named Egypt.
Bennett was in labor for five hours before her 5-pound, 15-ounce baby was born Monday in Minneapolis.
The first-time mother is reportedly doing well.
In a news release, the 20-year-old says she’s “so excited to finally see my little angel.” Bennett adds, “Man, does she have lungs on her. I guess she’s gearing up to be the next American Idol.” See Idol Buzz.
Bennett is scheduled to release her first Christmas CD, “A Royal Christmas,” on Oct. 14. Little Egypt’s great-grandmother is Grammy-winning Fayetteville singer Ann Nesby.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Paul Hogan is 69. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 65. Author R.L. Stine (“Goosebumps”) is 65. Actress Sigourney Weaver is 59. Singer Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is 58. Comedian Darrell Hammond (“Saturday Night Live”) is 53. Actress Emily Procter (“CSI: Miami”) is 40. Actor Matt Damon is 38. Actor Nick Cannon (“Drumline”) is 28. Actor Angus T. Jones (“Two and a Half Men”) is 15.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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