Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
The women's golf team struggles through the final round of the Big 12 Championship but is pleased with its finish.
SEE PAGE 3B
Tennis
Friday
April 23,1999
Section:
B
Page 1
The Kansas tennis teams will face tough conference rivals this weekend.
KANSAS TENNIS
SEE PAGE 4B
Soccer
What's brought on the turnaround in the women's soccer team's play?
SEE PAGE 5B
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Commentary
Sports world pauses play in Colorado after killings
The sports world in Denver stopped this week.
Following the shooting deaths of 15 area high school students by alleged gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the Rockies canceled games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Nuggets canceled Tuesday night's game. And the Avalanche postponed its first two NHL playoff games against San Jose.
When reports first came out of the school, students were saying the two accused were targeting athletes because the athletes had picked on the so-called "Trenchcoat Maffa."
For years, the captain or the quarterback has been the golden boy of the high school. "Jocks" get away with
things other kids can't fathom
What father doesn't dream of having a son grow up to play in the World Series? What mother doesn't dream of having a daughter play point guard in the WNBA finals?
Erin Thompson
sports@kansan.com
Because of the stigma that
comes with playing sports, the athletes in high school have been known to be some of the least sensitive students, known for picking on the less physically blessed of the school.
Tuesday, for the first time, the tide turned on the athletes, and they were the victims. But no matter the depth of the torment the "jocks" may have forced on the "Trenchcoat Mafia," what would ever possess an adolescent to possibly think the only answer was shooting fellow students.
Don't get me wrong, I played varsity sports in high school. I hung out with the varsity athletes. Some of my best friends play baseball at Division I schools now. So I know not all high school athletes take advantage of a system that has been warped in their direction for years.
The shootings have permeated the television the past week. Whether writing in the newsroom, trying to eat, sleep or do anything else, the tragedy in Colorado has preyed on my mind.
Should the sports teams have canceled their games, adding to the 15 minutes of fame Harris and Klebold were probably seeking through their suicide mission?
1. for one, agree with the decision to cancel the games.
In a sports world full of Lattrell Sprewells and Alan Iversons and players seeking millions, the move was a refreshing breath of humanity.
Explainting his move to postpone games, Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said, "We have to act like all these kids are our kids."
The Rockies have decided to wear a Columbine High School patch on their right sleeves for the remainder of the season.
When an event is able to reach the depths of professional athletics, you know it's unforgettable.
Trying to comprehend what makes it acceptable for teen-agers to think making bombs and having guns is an answer to social ostracism has made my head hurt this past week.
I just want to go back to a sports world full of smiling Sammy Sosas hitting home runs and debates about college basketball being a training ground for the NBA.
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?
Thompson is an Wichita senior in journalism.
Jayhawks versus Jayhawks
Tomorrow's scrimmage ends spring session for football team
By Michael Rigg
mtrigg@ukans.edu
Kansas writerwriter
Dress rehearsal finished. Exit stage right. It's over.
The Kansas football team takes the stage tomorrow at the annual spring scrimmage to mark the end of its spring session.
The scrimmage is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
The format for the spring game will stand far short of what Jayhawk fans will be seeing in the season opener against Notre Dame in August.
"It will be sort of a limited edition of things," Allen said. "I don't like to scrimage on Astro Turf, but we're at the conclusion of things, and we want to give it a pretty good go. So you won't see David Winchub getting 30 carriers."
Some of Winbush's and fellow running back Mitch Bowles' lack of activity tomorrow will be picked up by Henri Childs, Allen said.
"Last year, we spotted Henri and tried to get him as many chances as we could," Allen said. "We've been extremely impressed this spring as far as his mental capabilities and picking things up. He allows us to do several things with him."
For Childs, he wouldn't mind being the do-all man tomorrow. Allen said the multitalented back would get plays in at the fullback and receiver positions, as well. That is just fine with Childs.
"I think it's better than just one position, because you can never tell what I'm going to do." Childs said. "I can do it all."
Trying to keep Childs from doing it all tomorrow will be the job of linebacker Dariss Lomax and the rest of the defense. Kansas was ranked 107th nationally against the run last season, so Lomax said he will try to use tomorrow as a coming out party for the new, improved defense.
"We'll be strong defensively," Lomax said. "We'll put on a strong exhibition and give the fans something to cheer about."
The spring game will also give the Jayhawks a chance to show off a new winning attitude. Childs said the team bonded during the winter and has a new attitude this spring.
"Now we believe we're a winning team," Childs said. "I expect us to be one of the
top four teams in the Big 12 this season."
top four teams in the Big 12 this season.
Jayhawk fans will see the first steps toward that goal tomorrow.
Sparks - Goal
Spring Game Notes
Tomorrow will be the final competition between tight ends Jason Gulley and David Hurst until the fall. Hurst, who redshirted last season, is running neck-and neck with Gulley, who started the final seven games of 1998.
Allen said Hurst was the better receiver of the two, but Gulley was the better blocker. Hurst, meanwhile, said the competition can only make the team better.
"They're very competitive right now which is great," Allen said. "Right now, we would probably play them both."
"We just need to come in and make the plays when [Allen] gives us the opportunity," Hurst said. "Our receiving core is so strong, we have to be able to take pressure off them."
Allen said that defensive lineman Dion Johnson, offensive lineman Dameon Hunt, linebacker Chaz Murphy, tight end Shane McDermott and defensive backs Bilal Cook and Chad Coellner all were injured and would not play tomorrow.
But he also said that defensive back Tanner Hancock and wide receiver Byron Gasaway, who were injured earlier in spring practice, would play tomorrow.
Cost: Admission is free
Jason Williams/KANSAN
Kansas defensive back Jahnel Wright runs a defensive drill during practice. The Jayhawks are scheduled to play the spring game at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Photo by Jay Shepard/KANSAN
Kansas track team to face tough field at Drake Relays
By Mike Miller sports@kanson.com Kanson sportswriter
Steeped in tradition, the Drake Relays is in its ninth decade of existence and attracts the top college teams and athletes from around the world.
The men's and women's track teams travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in one of the nation's oldest and largest meets, the Drake Relays this weekend.
An estimated 8,651 athletes representing more than 751 teams will compete.
A split-squad last weekend — one at Mt. SAC, the other at Arkansas Invitational — gave the Jayhawks an opportunity to compete at two high-quality Schwartz coid.
"Texas, Drake and Mt. SAC, those are the big meets right now," said coach Gary Schwartz.
And the weekend paid dividends.
Though no athlete won at the Mt. SAC meet, located in Carmel, Calif., three Jayhawks established personal bests.
Thirteen Jayhawks placed in the top 10 at Arkansas, highlighted by freshman Andrea Bulat's win in the javelin.
"When you go to a big competition like that, you hope that it brings out the best in your athletes," Schwartz said.
Schwartz said that he expected more of the same this weekend because Drake tended to bring out the best in Kansas track teams.
Kansas athletes have won three outstanding-meet performances at the Drake Relays since 1952. Mile runner Wes Santee was honored twice, in '52 and '54, and mile runner Jim Ryan won the honor in '67.
Three-time event winners at Drake include Karl Salb, who won the shot put in '69 through
See TRACK on page 3B
Baseball looks for upset win this weekend at Texas A&M
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team, 11-30 overall and 4-20 in Big 12 play, takes to the road again this weekend for a three-game series with Texas A&M at College Station.
The No. 3 Aggies, 36-10 and 16-4, like so many Kansas opponents before them, are nationally ranked and are powered by an explosive offense and solid pitching.
The Jayhawks enter the series coming off of a win and with some momentum. But even while riding that momentum, the quality of Kansas' opponent remains the same.
"They're a very good baseball team," coach Bobby Randall said. "They've got great pitching, great hitting and great defense."
Despite the offensive firepower, the Aggies are headed in the opposite direction of the Jayhawks. This week, they were defeated 15-5 by the University of Houston.
The Aggies are led by hard hitters John Scheschuk and Dylan Holt. Scheschuk is hitting .368, has eight home runs, 10 doubles and 37 RBI, while Holt is not far behind with a .339 average and a team-leading 21 homeruns.
That score, coupled with the confidence the Jayhawks gained from their dramatic 10 inning victory against Rockhurst Wednesday night, has Kansas believing that it can beat A&M.
"We've had some pretty heavy at bats in recent games," Randall said. "That win took some of the pressure off, and maybe now the bats will be a little lighter and we can go down and steal one."
Randall said that the Jayhawks have the personnel to hold down the Aggie bats, but that they have to play flawlessly to get a win.
"We've got the guys that can hold the score down, and for us to beat them we have to play
'A' baseball and hope that's good enough, 'Randall said. "We really have to play 'A+'."
Several Jayhawks are nearing milestones as they head into the series with Texas A&M. Randall is one win shy of 400 for his career. If he manages to get it this weekend, he will become the fifth active coach in the Big 12 to reach the mark.
Also, senior hurler Chris Williams continues to climb the all-time appearance chart. Williams stands in sole possession of fifth place with 66 career appearances and needs only one more to tie Chris Corn for fourth at 67. Williams will start game one.
Wednesday's hero, Brandon O'Neal, who hit two home runs and was the winning pitcher, looks to keep a late season hot streak and a career-high 10 game hitting streak going at College Station.
Game One begins at 7 tonight.
Game Two, at 3 p.m. tomorrow,
will be broadcast live on FOX
Sports Southwest and may be
picked up by other FOX affiliates.
The Jayhawks are 0-2 this
year in televised games. Sunday's finale begins at 1 p.m.
— Edited by Matt Merkel-Hess