8A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005
SPORTS
MLB
Red Sox GM refuses contract extension
BY JIMMY GOLEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein resigned Monday, surprising Boston and the baseball world just one year after helping the franchise win its first World Series championship since 1918.
"In my time as general manager, I gave my entire heart and soul to the organization," Epstein said in a statement. "During the process leading up to today's decision, I came to the conclusion that I can no longer do so. In the end, my choice is the right one not only for me but for the Red Sox."
Epstein will continue working for a few days to assist in the transition and prepare for the offseason. The Boston Herald, which first reported the news on its Web site, said the Yale graduate has told associates that he might leave baseball, or at least take a year off.
The Dodgers, Phillies and Devil Rays have GM openings, but none has a $120 million payroll to match the one Epstein was given in Boston.
The 31-year-old Epstein was reportedly offered about $4.5 million for a three-year extension — quadruple his previous salary. But it was still short of the $2.5 million a year the Red Sox offered Oakland's Billy Beane in 2002 before making Epstein the youngest GM in baseball history.
Although Epstein and team president Larry Lucchino haggled over money, the Herald
said Epstein also went through "agonizing soul-searching" over office politics and his relationship with his mentor. The Herald said published reports that contained inside information about their relationship, "slanted too much in Lucchino's favor," helped convince Epstein there had been a breach of trust.
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling told The Associated Press he was disappointed but had seen indications the move might be coming.
"You don't get better losing a guy like Theo," said Schilling, who joined the Red Sox after Epstein ate Thanksgiving dinner with him and convinced him to accept a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"It's obviously going to be an incredibly unpopular decision with the players. But we'll show up in spring training and get ready for the season and try to win another World Series. It's not like we're going to have a sit-down."
Epstein grew up only blocks from Fenway Park and worked for Lucchino with the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres. A lifelong Red Sox fan, Epstein was brought to Boston to be the assistant GM and promoted to his dream job in 2002, about five weeks before his 29th birthday.
"Growing up in the shadow of Fenway Park, I never dreamed of having the chance to work for my hometown team during such an historic period," Epstein said, thanking owners John Henry and Tom Werner for the opportunity.
Steelers rally over Ravens
BY ALAN ROBINSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — Nothing comes easy in the Ravens-Steelers rivalry, no matter the records or which team is healthy and which is hurting.
Jeff Reed kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining after Ben Roethlisberger opened each half with touchdown passes to rookie tight end Heath Miller, and the Steelers held off the depleted Baltimore Ravens 20-19 Monday night to tighten up the AFC North race.
The Ravens (2-5), already in danger of falling out of the division race, were without the last two NFL Defensive Players of the Year, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and, seemingly, much chance of ending what now is a seven-game road losing streak, but hung around to the end of a surprisingly close game.
The Ravens, two-touchdown underdogs, took a 19-17 lead after an uncharacteristic botched play by Pittsburgh's special teams, a failed punt attempt in which wookie Greg
NFL
Warren's snap to Chris Gardocki deflected off upback Sean Morey and resulted in Gardocki's incomplete pass.
That gave the Ravens the ball at the Steelers 45 with 5 1/2 minutes to play and a chance to steal a victory in a stadium where they haven't won since 2001. Matt Stover followed with his four field goal, a 47-yarder with 3:21 remaining that gave the Ravens their first lead — and, to the crowd of 64,178, brought back memories of a similar 23-17 upset set to Jacksonville at Heinz Field only two weeks before.
But Roethlisberger then hit Antwaan Randle El for 14 yards and Quincy Morgan for 23 yards, and Jerome Bettis had an 11-yard run on the drive that led to Reed's goahead field goal.
Baltimore had one more chance to win it, but Anthony Wright's fourth-and-6 pass from his own 47 fell at Chester Taylor's feet and the Steelers ran out the clock.
The Steelers are 11-0 in Monday night home games under coach Bill
Gene Puskar/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baltimore Ravens Chester Taylor leaps into the endzone past Pittsburgh Steelers defenders Troy Polamalu, left, and Ike Taylor, right, during the first quarter Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Steelers held on for a 20-19 victory. Cowher and Roethlisberger is 18-1 Baltimore, winless on the road as a regular-season starter.
Baltimore, seemingly in turmoil without its injured stars, was in trouble at the start as the Steelers drove 79 yards on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead.
Baltimore, winless on the road for 350 days, couldn't have liked this, down 7-0 away from home against their biggest rivals before an offense that hadn't scored a touchdown in seven quarters got the ball.
Scary
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
"Brandon shows some things some times, and then he can negate everything he does in a play." Self said.
Freshman forward Julian Wright, who continued to practice with the big men, struggled to match up against sophomores Darnell Jackson and Sasha
Kaun, but Wright said he wasn't frustrated.
"Coach Self mostly wants to use me at the four, and the hardest thing is getting the defensive principals down," Wright said. "But I'm getting the hang of things now, I'm tired of getting pushed around."
"It's kind of a catch-22 with him right now of where to play him." Self said. "When he gets more comfortable, then we will do more things to help him."
Self said that unlike last year, the leading scorer could change every game. This year. Self said the opponents' style of play would dictate who scores for the Jayhawks.
Self said that it was tough to decide where Wright should play because he could play on the wing or in the post.
slows down and you get to the free throw line, I think C.J. will get the most opportunities to score, but Sasha was pretty good, too." Self said. "And Russell has probably been our perimeter player thus far. On nights that other teams play zone, though, I can see Micah being our leader scorer. It really just depends."
"I think in a game where it
Colorado
— Edited by Theresa Montaño
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
Texas quarterback Vince Young and Iowa State wide receiver Todd Blythe were honored as Big 12 Offensive Players of the Week.
Blythe caught eight passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns in Iowa State's victory against Texas A&M. Young accounted for 506 yards of total offense and had three touchdowns in Texas' 47-28 victory against Oklahoma State.
Mason Crosby, Colorado place-kicker, was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.
The Defensive Player of the Week was given to Texas Tech safety Dwayne Slay. Slay had a career high 18 tackles and a sack and led the Red Raider defense in shutting out the Bears 28-0.
Besides hitting the game winning field goal against Kansas State from 50 yards out, Crosby also hit a 52-yard field goal and a 42-yard field goal.
Edited by Ty Beaver
Wrong
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
"I was coming the entire day; it was just that you had to control your rush," Keith said. "We just had to be smart about our rushes and just situational."
ing quarterbacks. Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said Keith was successful because he played with a chip on his shoulder.
Keith said he wanted to prove to others that he was not just a pass rusher, but that he could also stop the run. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he may not have the size of the traditional defensive lineman, but his speed is what NFL scouts look for, has helped him get constant pressure on oppos-
"Charlton is really playing intense. He seems like a guy on a mission," Mangino said. "He wants to prove to himself and maybe to a lot of people that he really is a bona fide Division I player and can be very good at this level."
Keith originally played for the University of Minnesota, but he left the program after his freshman year. He led the team in sacks as a freshman who took a redshirt. Keith then attended Minnesota
"I think at one time when he left the University of Minnesota that there was some talk that he wasn't good enough to play at this level," Mangino said. "I think he has proven all the doubters wrong. I think he has fortitude and he is just bent on proving all the doubters wrong and he has done that."
Keith said the biggest difference for him at Kansas was that he felt like he was part of a family.
"Every day I come out here and see those guys who have barely known me for a couple of months
or say a year-and-a-half and I have bonded with these guys like I have known them my entire life or have played with them for five six years." Keith said. "We just have a sense of closeness, we all stick together."
Keith said he enjoyed his time at Minnesota but that the program just wasn't for him. Wherever he lines up, Keith knows that his performance now will determine his football future.
"I just come out and play hard," Keith said. "I got a lot to play for right now."
- Edited by Erick R. Schmidt
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Kronos Quartet
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Program:
WORLD PREMIERE of
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Violin extravaganza described as "STOMP meets Riverdance."
Other works will include Jorn Zorn's Cat-O'-Nine-Tuils, Sigur Rós' Dreams of Angels, and Steve Reich's Triple Quartet.
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