January 28, 2007

Julie Andrews honored at SAG Awards

LOS ANGELES - From her 1953 Broadway debut to voicing the queen in "Shrek 2," Julie Andrews watched as her career of more than 50 years was highlighted Sunday night when she received the Screen Actors Guild's lifetime achievement award.

Andrews remains a working actor at 71. She will reprise her role in "Shrek 3" this summer, already having gained a younger audience of fans from her role as a queen in "The Princess Diaries" and its sequel.

Dick Van Dyke, Andrews' co-star in "Mary Poppins," presented the award. They shared a big hug onstage.

"I never quite got over being a little bit tongue-tied in Julie's presence," he said. "That beauty ... that voice could tune a piano."

Andrews received a standing ovation from an audience that included her husband of nearly 37 years, Blake Edwards, whom Andrews called "my main squeeze."

"I have one very tiny complaint," she said. "When he directs me in a love scene, he says, `That was fine, but I know you can do better.'"

Andrews came to fame on stage and radio in her native England. She won an Oscar for "Mary Poppins," and was nominated for "The Sound of Music" and "Victor/Victoria," directed by Edwards.

"My career has just been blessed by good fortune," she said. "What about all those delicious leading men? You have given me an evening I shall just treasure my entire life."

N.C. State 64, Boston College 46

RALEIGH, N.C. - It was an emotional weekend for North Carolina State coach Kay Yow.

The Wolfpack's 64-46 victory over Boston College on Sunday was the coach's 698th and capped "Hoops for Hope" -- a weekend honoring her second fight in 20 years against breast cancer.

She returned to the bench on Thursday in the Wolfpack's 71-60 win over Virginia after missing two months to undergo treatments.

Everyone on the court Sunday was encouraged to "Think Pink" by the N.C. State administration, symbolizing support for all NCAA coaches battling cancer.

Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher and new Wolfpack football coach Tom O'Brien sat courtside, wearing pink wristbands. Every N.C. State and Boston College player wore pink shoelaces. Every coach wore a pink top or jacket. Officials used pink whistles.

N.C. State donated $43,820 in proceeds at halftime to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for cancer research. Yow signed the ceremonial check.

"This game was very emotional for me, with everything it means," Yow said. "'Hoops For Hope' is exactly that. It's all about hope."

Boston College knew N.C. State's two days of Wolfpack player reunions, an alumni game, fundraising and social events would make for a different game.

"We knew it was going to be emotional," Boston College coach Cathy Inglese said. "We told the team, 'This could be a two-edged sword. Let's get out there and use all this atmosphere and play our best.' But we didn't."

Gillian Goring, who missed N.C. State's first six games as she recovered from offseason back surgery, had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. It was her career high for points and matched her career high on the boards.

"When I think about coach Yow and how she's been fighting, all my nagging little injuries and complaints seem like nothing compared to her problems," Goring said.

Boston College missed its first six shots and had 10 turnovers within the game's opening 13 minutes.

Goring scored six of N.C. State's first eight points to pace the Wolfpack to a 34-23 halftime lead.

Boston's College's Kathrin Ress, Kindyll Dorsey and Mickel Picco each had three fouls by halftime, mostly from trying to stop the 6-foot-7 Goring in the paint.

"We were forced to try all sorts of combinations of players," Inglese said. "We've never had to try a configuration in practice with two starting posts (Ress and Dorsey) on the bench."

Goring scored 14 points in the first half, hitting six of her first 11 shots from the field. Ashley Key added 11 points and four assists for the Wolfpack (15-7, 4-3 ACC).

"I'm not downplaying what this game means as an ACC game," Yow said. "When I see us trying hard and playing well like that, it really gives me a lift."

Ress committed her fourth foul just 1:08 into the second half and played just 24 minutes. She ended up with 17 points to lead the Eagles (11-10, 1-6).

N.C. State took its biggest lead, 54-29, after Goring hit a field goal with 8:44 to play. Boston College went on a 12-2 run while Goring was out of the game, but the Eagles never got closer than 54-41 in the final 8:32.

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