41.   Born played down the possibility of a sale today.

42.   Both groups played down the strains, saying they were trying to work cooperatively in a dangerous and stressful task.

43.   Bush played it down running for election, but his electoral support is rooted in anti-abortion politics.

44.   But although he played down the abortion issue by skipping it, when pressed he said he would take steps like this one against the practice.

45.   But Barkley played down concerns that the team would be too weary to fight against the Jazz.

46.   But board officials sought on Wednesday to play down that idea.

47.   But both generals play down the friction issue, calling the reports exaggerated and insisting that coordination between the two forces is good.

48.   But brokers played down the significance, noting that trading was very light.

49.   But European and Japanese leaders played down expectations that wealthy countries would act in concert to address the worsening global slump.

50.   But even as the leaders expressed confidence, U.S. and Russian officials played down expectations for the meeting.