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MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WORLD CUP
Soccer fans cheer on hometown player in KC
BEN CARROLL
sports@kansan.com
Parking was scarce, traffic was brutal and finding a place to stand was nearly impossible.
Those problems, however, seemed like the least of everybody's worries Tuesday afternoon after the USA was eliminated from the 2014 World Cup after 120 minutes of soccer resulting in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in Rio de Janeiro.
The crowd was showing support for
Nick Johnson, a recent University graduate from Lawrence, said he not only went to the same high school as Besler in Overland Park but also played on the same soccer field as him and was taught the game of soccer by the same coach, Alex Aiman, during high school.
the home country team and for one of their hometown players. Matt Besler
Johnson said he enjoyed watching the Blue Valley West graduate play on the international stage.
"It's awesome. He's a beast," Johnson
said. "Where else in the world are you going to see a Kansas kid play like this on the international level? It's amazing."
Even though the U.S. made it to the round of 16 for the second consecutive time in the FIFA World Cup, this loss especially stung fans.
Bradley Ivey, from Kansas City, Kan., was sporting red, white and blue face paint, a blue cut-off and an American flag as a cape to show his support for the U.S. team. He said that the event turned out bigger than he anticipated.
At times, lvey said he had to move in all different directions just to find his way around people.
"It's hard to kind of move around. I had to go from front to back to find my friends," Ivey said. "I had to move in between so many people. Knowing how many people are here and to see how much they support their country is awesome."
Ivey said he decided to go with the flag as one of his props because he was so excited for the game and to get out and show his support and patriotism.
"I've had an American flag on my back the whole day. I'm just repping my United States," Ivey said. "My friend had two flags in his house and he said, 'let's go USA.' After he said that, I said, 'let's go,' and I tied the flag around my neck and started saluting everyone I walked by."
— Edited by Tom DeHart and Emma LeGault
COMMENTARY
Tarik Black benefited Jayhawks during season
Jayhawks have never been fond of tigers. Nevertheless when Tarik Black, a transfer from the University of Memphis, arrived on scene in Lawrence last summer he was quickly accepted by the Jayhawk faithful and promptly assimilated to the Kansas basketball way of life.
Black's journey to Kansas was all about possibilities. A chance at success on the court and the opportunity to further his academic pursuits led him to make the switch and spend his last year of eligibility with the Jayhawks.
By NCAA rule, transfer athletes must wait a year before playing at a new school, but because Black had just received his undergraduate degree from Memphis he was able to start competing right away.
Some may forget, but until freshman phenom Joel Embiid burst into the spotlight. Black was the starting center for Kansas.
Although his starting spot was eventually given to younger talent. Black remained a solid contributor off the bench, averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 69 percent from the field. Black resumed the starting role following Embilid's back injury late in the season and led the team in rebounds in three of its last six games while also leading the team in scoring in the final game of the year.
In his lone year at Kansas, Black made as big of an impact on Kansas basketball history as any player has. In addition to being a meaningful
contributor to a team that brought the basketball program its tenth straight conference title, Black had a way of bringing the fans to their feet unlike any player I've ever seen. It seemed as if every time the crowd in Allen Fieldhouse got a little bored or worried that the lead wasn't quite enough Black would fly into the paint and nearly rip the rim down with a high-flying dunk. These slams
would almost always be followed by screams and cheers that blew the roof off and a hasty timeout called by the opponent's coach.
The most memorable of these moments occurred in the home game against Texas. As time wound down in the Fieldhouse, a fast break occurred for the Jayhawks. Black received a quick pass from Conner Frankamp and took off fifteen feet from the rim. What lasted only a moment seemed like an eternity as Black soared through the air and threw a dunk down on Texas' Cameron Ridley - one of the few players in the Big 12 bigger than Black. The play caught all of the spectators by surprise, including the bench, who appeared on SportsCenter that evening for its wild reaction.
James Naismith once said "be strong in body, clean in mind; lofty in ideals." During Black's eloquent senior night speech I saw a man whose life reflected this sentiment in such a way that would make the great game's creator smile. Fans will miss Black's vibrant attitude, perpetual leadership and passion for life that was evident every time he stepped out onto the court or on campus. On behalf of Jayhawk fans everywhere I would like to thank him for his service to his team and his school as well as wish him the best of luck in his future wherever it may take him. Once a Jayhawk, always a Jayhawk — even if you used to be a Tiger.
Edited by Kaitlyn Klein