Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Thursday
April 15, 1999
Section:
B
Page 1
The Kansas track team's best athletes will be in California through Sunday competing at the Mt. SAC Relays
Kansas Rowing
SEE PAGE 3B
The Kansas women's rowing team is ranked 22nd in the nation and faces Kansas State Saturday in Manhattan.
Page 1
SEE PAGE 4B
College Basketball
The Associated Press' College Basketball Player of the Year Elton Brand will forgo his last two seasons at Duke and enter the NBA draft. SEE PAGE 5B
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Commentary
for a self-admitted football junkie, the months between January and August are often long and hard. There is always that terrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when the final whistle blows on the college/pro football season.
NFL draft eases sports cravings of football.junkie
Sure, college basketball makes the let-down a little less severe, but even that has now passed. And, as much as I love baseball, it just doesn't give me that warm, fuzzy feeling that a weekend worth of gridiron action does.
OK, so it's not really football, but, for the afflicted, it provides temporary relief from
that's what makes this Saturday so special.
The NFL Draft is finally here.
the shakes and sweats of pigskin withdraw. So on Saturday morning (assuming I can shake the usual Friday night haze), my roommates and I will be huddled around the television trying to soak in all we can.
Because a quick fix is sometimes better than none at all.
Harley
Ratlief
sports @ kansan.com
- For the hordes of rabid Kansas City Chiefs fans, this week-end will be an opener.
tunity to get a good feel for Gunther Cunningham and his new regime.
While a quarterback might not be the Chiefs' most pressing need, if Cade McNown is still available at the 14th pick, I wouldn't mind seeing the Chiefs snag the savvy UCLA lefty.
For the first time in what seems like an eternity, good ol' Marty won't be the ringleader of the infamous war room. However, judging from recent history, that might not be such a bad thing. The Chiefs, with the exception of Jerome Woods and Reggie Tongue, have notoriously struggled to add solid contributors on draft day. Even tight end Tony Gonzalez, who seemed like a can't miss pick, has struggled to improve.
Believe it or not, I really hope that Michael Bishop can work the same magic in the pros that he did in college.
Honestly.
Although all indications seem to point to the first pick in the draft being either Tim Couch or Akili Smith, you can't help but think that Texas running back Ricky Williams would look real good in a Browns uniform.
Speaking of Ricky Williams..
As good as Williams is, Mike Ditka's wild offer to mortgage the farm to trade up and pick the Heisman Trophy winner makes me wonder if Iron Mike has completely lost all of his marbles.
Sure, Williams likely will be a great NFL running back. Anyone who saw him play in college knows he is as good as the game has seen in a long time. But, one misstep, one wrong cut, one awkward tackle on the Superdome's unforgiving turf and Williams' most valuable asset — his legs
That's a risk that just isn't worth taking.
■ I think I saw Matt Blundin mowing vards yesterday
could be snot to pieces.
That's a risk that just isn't worth taking.
As much as I like to ream the Chicago Bears for their complete ineptitude — on and off the field — it would be nice to see Syracuse quarterback Donavan McNabb wearing the blue and orange. McNabb, a Windy City native, would bring some much-needed excitement to an increasingly dreary Soldier Field.
Of course, when Erik Kramer is your quarterback, even I could make things more interesting if they gave me a few snaps.
I'm pretty sure Trazelle Jenkins was manning the weed-eater for the Blundin Lawn Care Service.
Final Draft Thought: Does Mel Kiper Jr. not have the best job in America?
As annoying as Kiper is, you have to give him credit. He secured himself an occupation where all he does is watch college football, find out juicy gossip, and once a year, sit around for eight hours and talk about the NFL draft.
Maybe I can get an internship. You listening. Mel?
Rattif is a Norman, Okla., senior in journalism.
Kansas heptathlete Candy Mason is the reigning Big 12 Conference Indoor and Outdoor Performer of the Year. Mason hopes to make the 2000 Olympics and coach track after her competing days are through. Photo by Eric Sahrmann/Kansan
Heptathlete dreams of gold
By Mike Miller
By Mike Miller
sports@kansan.com
Vassar sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
She is just the third Kansas female track athlete to earn three All-America honors, and senior Candy Mason earned those honors the hard way.
"I worked my butt off," she said.
Growing up in Nevada, Mo., Mason became the first person from her family to compete in college athletics. None of her four older siblings played sports, but she found sports irresistible.
She competed in her first track meet at the age of 10, and spent her summers traveling and training for track.
She grew into a self-described "Amazon woman," 5-10-inch and 115 pounds by her senior year of high school.
A star athlete in high school, she convinced herself she would not be able to compete at the next level if she focused on
"I always get underestimated because of my size. It just helps motivate me." she said.
just one event.
She was wrong.
As a heptathlete, Mason competes in the shot put, long jump, high jump, javelin, 110-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash and the 800-meter run during a two-day period. Points are scored depending on how an athlete places in each event, and the points are added to determine who wins the competition.
"She's a one-lady track team,' said coach Gayle Schwartz. "When she came here, we knew she was a very good athlete, but the last two years she's just been awesome."
In that time Mason has established school records in the heptathlon and the pentathlon, as well as top five marks in the long jump, javelin and the pole vault. She held the pole-vault record until this season. She was named Big 12 Indoor Performer and the Outdoor Performer of the year in 1998.
"She's gone through her share of tough times — last
All the hard work has paid off, but she has had her share of injuries.
"I think you have to love pain do to the heathapthon. Candy reminds me of superman like that. She's just good at everything she tries." Branson said.
year and this year with her back. It's been tough on her," Schwartz said.
"Sometimes when I throw now, my thumb'll slip out of place when I throw. It's pretty creepy."
She's had a stress fracture in her shin, ripped tendons in her foot, dislocated her toe last year and fell on her neck during practice two weeks ago, causing her back to stiffen.
"She's great because she's one of the most determined athletes I've ever met. But she's way too skinny to throw the javelin the way she does."
Mason has managed to add 40
And that's just in college
"Once, before I came to Kansas, I broke my thumb, and it made it really hard to throw a shotput," she said.
Here pole-vaulting teammate Andrea Branson marvels at her all-around abilities, as well as her pain tolerance.
"And I love to eat. Sometimes I wonder how I lose any weight at all," she said.
Her appearance can deceive her opponents.
Other athletes, like shot put world-record holder John Godina, are more respectful.
During a meet last year, Mason was warming up in the same area as Godina. She threw after him, retrieved her shot, and headed for the back of the line.
Godina called out from the front and told Mason to go ahead of him.
Somewhat embarrassed, Mason wondered why.
Mason wondered why "You inspire me," he told her
See TRACK on page 3B
Tennis senior to represent Kansas team
By Melinda Weaver
sports@kansan.com
Kansas swriter
Powell was selected as one of 300 student athletes to participate in the third annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference.
As a senior on the Kansas men's tennis team, Kenny Powell has had to assume the leadership role, a position in which he has flourished.
Powell became eligible to apply for the honor by participating in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from each athletic team that acts as a liaison between student athletes and administrators.
The advisory committee meets once every
The advisory two weeks to discuss issues that are facing its members, not just as athletes but as students as well.
"So often, athletes feel like they don't have a voice in the adminis-
tative and scholastic decisions that affect them." Powell said. "SAAC gives us a voice."
SAAC also gives the athletes an opportunity to participate in outreach programs such as fund-raisers for the Cancer Society and the Rape Crisis Center.
Three SAAC representatives from Kansas submitted applications to the selection committee describing their academic achievement, community service and leadership accomplishments. The applicants also submitted essays identifying any barriers in their lives that they had overcome to become better leaders.
The purpose of the conference is to prepare a diverse group of student a' blutes to take an active leadership role on their campuses and in their communities.
The student-athletes will discuss issues facing their peers and better communication among student-athletes, administrators, faculty and communities.
This year's conference will be held May 31 June 3 at Disney's Wide World of Sports and Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme is "Today's Student Attendees, Tomorrow's Leaders."
"I'm looking forward to going and learning new ways to improve relations between the student athletes and the administration," Powell said. "Hopefully, I will be able to bring the ideas back to KU and help implement them in the future."
John Jefferson, director of student athletic life, said he believed Powell would represent the University well.
"Kenny is very outgoing and a good guy," Jefferson said. "I think he will represent us well and will be vocal when issues that affect our campus come up."
cum on campuses. Tennis coach Mark Riley said Powell's leadership skill was apparent when he dealt with his teammates.
"He leads with good communication," Riley said. "When the team has a problem, he gets everyone to talk about it and work it out. He also tries to accentuate the good and give pants on the back when they are deserved."
Edited by Kelli Roybern
Revamped women's soccer team storms through spring games
By Chris Wristen
cwristen@ukans.edu
Kansas sportwriter
What a difference the winter can make.
Just six months removed from a lastplace finish in the Big 12 Conference, the Kansas women's soccer team barely resembles its former model.
Three games into the spring season, the Jayhaws stand unblemished at 20-1. Their offense has been running full throttle, and a strong defensive effort has solidified field control, all contributing to one confident team.
"I think it's been great. We've really come together as a team this spring and we're winning games," sophomore midfielder Collee Colvin said. ("Confidence) has improved since we're winning a lot and putting goals in the back of the net."
Coach Mark Francis has been pleased with the attitude of his players as well.
"It's been real good, real positive. They're excited to just be playing outside of practice and against someone else." Francis said.
Although they are enjoying beating other opponents, practice is where much of the improvement has been made.
"They're working very hard in practice. I keep telling them the results are a direct correlation of what they've been doing on the practice field," Francis said.
After the team struggled in the fall season, there's one thing that stands out significantly about the team this spring—the big zero standing in the loss column.
"We've been working together better," Colvin said. "We're scoring more goals, so we have more confidence to shoot the ball."
"They're excited right now since they've played three games and haven't been beaten yet," Francis said. "They're being more offensive than in the past. In the fall they struggled to score goals and now they're having success in that area."
Also contributing to the team's high confidence is the growing familiarity with the new coach's system.
See TEAM on page 4B
The goal scoring has definitely been a positive for the players and they feel that each success has helped the team grow.
Sophomore forward Lindsey Horner puts a move on a St. Louis University soccer player. The Kansas women's soccer team is undefeated in three spring games. Photo by KANSANSTAFF