1.   As much as everyone involved downplays a rift between the offense and the defense, it apparently exists and is growing.

2.   Katzenberg downplayed any rift with his former boss, Disney Chairman Michael D. Eisner.

3.   The interim prime minister, Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, tried to downplay rifts in his government.

4.   Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon is trying to downplay any rift between right fielder John Vander Wal and his replacement, newcomer Derek Bell.

5.   Dave Schnittger, a spokesman for Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, the education committee chairman, downplayed the rift.

6.   Howard downplayed the rift and vowed to pursue the reforms.

7.   In an interview with The Associated Press, Zoran Djindjic downplayed rifts within the opposition and fears of a civil war in Serbia, the main republic of Yugoslavia.

8.   Interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, tried to downplay rifts in his government and the CIA warned that the seeds for a renewed civil war were present.

9.   Bush downplayed rifts over the Middle East, insisting that the feedback to his plan had been favorable.

10.   Bush downplayed the rifts over the Middle East.