Gophers basketball coach Clem Haskins was in earshot of the pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Haskins, who is an assistant coach and chief administrator of the U.S. men’s basketball team, was at the Omni Hotel, across the street from the park where the bomb exploded early Saturday morning.
Haskins said that among his first thoughts was that his sister, Sarah, and two of his children, Brent, 22, and Lori, 25, had planned an early morning stroll through the park to be a part of the festivities.
“Thank God they decided against that,” Haskins said Saturday. “They turned back because it was too crowded.”
Haskins said he and the rest of the Dream Team met later Saturday to discuss security matters.
“We’re the most visible target here,” Haskins said, referring to team stars such as Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. “Security has been air tight, and I see why.”
After the explosion, members of the team voted to stay at the Omni Hotel and to continue to compete in the Olympics.
“Everybody agreed we’re here to play,” Haskins said. “We’re not going to let this scare us.”
U.S. handball teameliminated at Olympics
The U.S. Olympic women’s handball team, which features former Gophers basketball standout Carol Peterka, lost 30-24 to Hungary on Sunday afternoon and was eliminated from medal contention.
Cline fails to qualifyfor long jump finals
Former Gophers long jumper Keita Cline, who competes for the British Virgin Islands, did not qualify for the Olympic long jump finals. He had a 23 foot, 4 inch leap in Sunday’s preliminaries but needed to surpass 26 feet to make the finals.
Roethlisberger to participate in area gymnastics tour
In the wake of his performance at the Olympics, former Gophers gymnast John Roethlisberger said he will keep training and performing gymnastics.
Late last week, it was announced that he will take part in a 30-city area tour, which will consist of a two-hour exhibition program at each city. The tour will reach the Target Center on Oct. 26.
Roethlisberger will be joined by the entire 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic team and other notables such as Kim Zmeskal and Kurt Thomas.

— This story contains information from the Associated Press