8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas' March 3 game against Texas Tech will be the last time Russell Robinson will hear the majority of 16,300 fans yell "New York, New York" when his hometown is announced. Darnell Jackson's breakout season as a star for Kansas will be closer to ending. For center Sasha Kaun, guards Rodrick Stewart and Jeremy Case, who have shown flashes of brilliance at times this season, the clock is winding down.
BY BRYAN WHEELER
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
BWHEELER@KANSAN.COM
Saturday's game against Colorade is one of three remaining home games for the men's basketball team. For the seniors, it is one of their last bouts in the "Phog." For most of these seniors, it may be the height of their basketball careers as players
Jackson is the only senior who is projected to be drafted by an NBA team. Every player in this senior class needs to feel a heightened sense of urgency.
It is the seniors who are most seasoned for leadership. Whether it's
late in a game and someone needs to step up to win a close game, or during practice when the team is slacking in performance, it is the seniors who need to assert themselves more than anyone. Coach Bill Self knows this more than anyone.
"The reality for the seniors is, 'Hey, it is coming to an end' and there should be more of a sense of urgency. I hope that's the case," Self said on Feb. 7 in a press conference. "I don't know if I feel it every day in practice yet, but it's going to get to that point soon."
This is the first senior class of Bill Self's 15-year career that is made up of his recruits. Before this season, Self had not coached at one school
long enough to have a recruiting class of seniors that was his. Self could not have sounded more optimistic about the position his seniors were in before the start of the season.
"I think we are blessed this year in that we have five guys that are great leaders," said Self on media day, Oct. 12. "They want to go out as being recognized as one of the most winning (recruiting) classes."
If Kansas were to win the Big 12 regular season, it would be the fourth time for these seniors. If Kansas were to win the Big 12 Championship, it would be their third straight tournament crown. With Kansas' loss to Texas on Monday, the Jayhawks are
now in a three-way tie for first place and these accomplishments may be in jeopardy.
As Kaun, Robinson, Case, Stewart and Jackson run through the tunnel into the "Phog" Saturday afternoon for their third to last time, they need to know that their time as Kansas basketball players will be ending soo
"I hope to try and go out with a bang, so I am going to work and play hard every game," Robinson said on media day.
These seniors should look to the
Jayhawk football team's 2007 roster and its 12 seniors, who came home victorious in the Orange Bowl this year. It is time for the sense of urgency Self talked about. It is their last go-around and there would be no better way to go out than on top.
Edited by Samuel Lamb
MLB
Clemens testifies about steroid controversy
BY JOSEPH WHITE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — In the Roger Clemens primary, the Republicans nominated the Rocket. The Democrats went with the other guy.
That was the feeling on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the day after the seven-time Cy Young Award winner defended himself before Congress. Showing that even baseball isn't exempt from America's Red State Blue State divide, questions such as "How did Roger do?" were often followed with something like: "Why are the two parties bickering over this?"
"Of all the things to become partisan over," Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, said Thursday, "this was the wrong one."
Cummings was among those who strongly questioned Clemens' credibility in testimony involving the pitcher's former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, during Wednesday's 4½-hour hearing held by the House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Republicans, for the most part, saved their searing comments for McNamee, who was repeatedly called a "drug dealer" by Rep.
members did go out of their way to be accusatory without having all of the facts.
"It is hard for me to discern who
"Of all the things to become partisan over, this was the wrong one."
REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS Maryland Democrat
Christopher Shays of Connecticut.
was not telling the truth and who was. Both men denied the other one's claim. I saw the questioning kind of divided, with some on the Republican side calling Mr. McNamee a liar
"I thought the tone of the hearing was a little askew," said Rep. Diane Watson, a California Democrat. "I told Mr. Clemens that I didn't think it was going to be a court trial or an inquisition, but I think some of the
and on some of the Democratic side really questioning Clemens, and so I don't think we got anywhere on that."
Theories abounded over why the sides couldn't see eve to eve.
Richard Emery, one of McNamee's
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, right, sits at the witness table with his former personal trainer Brian McMamee, left, and Mitchell report attorney Charles Scheeler, center, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, during the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on drug use in baseball.
lawyers, said that some Republicans treated his client harshly because of Clemens' friendship with the Bush family. Emery predicted the pitcher will be pardoned by President Bush should Clemens be indicted or convicted of anything related to the hearing.
"It would be the easiest thing in the world for George W. Bush, given the corrupt proclivities of his administration, to say Roger Clemens is an American hero, Roger Clemens helped children," said Emery, an attorney who has worked for liberal causes. "It's my belief they have some reason to believe they can get a pardon."
Not surprisingly, Clemens' camp and the GOP — saw things differently.
"Richard Emery just has to quit smoking his own dope," said Rusty Hardin, one of Clemens's attorneys.
As for a pardon from a president? "I'm not aware of Mr. Clemens having been charged with anything," White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said.
A spokesman for Rep. Darrell Isaa of California said the hearing's partisan tone evolved because Republican members felt the hearing was overly focused on Clemens instead of the broader concerns raised in the Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball.
"It's clear Democrats had expected a government-funded, TV show trial, and now they're whining that Republicans didn't want to play," said the spokesman, Frederick Hill. "The hearing was supposed to be about
But a spectacle it was, much like the 2005 hearing that featured Mark McGwire and his oft-repeated statement: "I'm not hear to talk about the past." That hearing damaged McGwire's reputation immeasurably, but it is also spurred baseball into stricter penalties and more frequent testing for performance-enhancing drugs.
The ramifications from Wednesday's hearing might not be known a while. McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens
the Mitchell Report. The Democrats are at fault for focusing on individual wrongdoing instead of the validity of the Mitchell Report."
Said Isaa: "We're not supposed to have these kinds of spectacles."
"In all of my years of watching politics, I'm never seen a good witness before Congress," Hardin said. "If there are members of that committee that think they're adverse to you, and when you have the chairman adverse to you, you're not going to appear good. The average citizen is not a good witness before (the bright lights). This guy is the greatest pitcher of all time, and that's what he is good at."
As for Clemens' reputation, even one of his lawyers conceded the pitcher might have not have given an All-Star performance.
said he has never used either. Since both were under oath, one or both could face charges stemming from making false statements or obstructing.
BARTONline
Online College Courses
Having trouble getting your class schedule to work?
Need to add a class?
9-week and 17-week sessions starting soon. Most general education courses transfer to Kansas Regent schools.
Dropped a class?
www.bartonline.org Online college courses offered by Barton County Community College
Find our schedule online!
During the hearing, some congressmen questioned whether the committee should be focused on other pressing matters. That also was a sentiment expressed at spring training, which began in Florida and Arizona on the same day as the hearing.
"It's all hearsay. Everybody is all pointing fingers." San Francisco Giants reliever Steve Kline said of Clemens. "I pity the guy. Half the guys admitted it and they're not getting persecuted. It's just bad for baseball.
"Who cares about what happened in 1987? It's over. Who cares about Congress? We've got gasoline prices that are off the charts and they're worried about steroids. Maybe this gets people's minds off the war, Everybody's got skeletons in their closet. If you did it, admit it. If he didn't do it, I see why he's fighting his (tail) off," he said.