2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY. APRIL 5. 2005
CLARIFICATION
- A caption on the front page of the sports section yesterday contained an error. In the cutline accompanying the rowing story, junior rower Alexis Boston and senior rower Rachel Chapman were listed out of order. Chapman was on the left and Boston on the right.
TODAY
- Softball vs. UMKC, 3 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
* Swimming at world championship trials, all day, Indianapolis
- TOMORROW
- Baseball vs. Wichita State, 7 p.m., Hogland Ballpark
* Swimming at world championship trials, all day,
Indianaapolis
- THURSDAY
- Tennis vs. Tulsa, 11 a.m., Robinson Gymnasium
* Track at Texas, all day, Austin, Texas
THURSDAY
◆ Track at Texas, all day, Austin, Texas
FRIDAY
★ Baseball at Oklahoma, 7 p.m., Norman, Okla.
★ Men's golf vs. North Carolina and North Carolina State, all day, Holly Springs, N.C.
★ Track at Texas, all day, Austin, Texas
SATURDAY
- Baseball at Oklahoma, 2 p.m., Norman, Okla.
- Men's golf vs. North Carolina and North Carolina State, all day, Holly Springs, N.C.
- Rowing at Kansas State, TBA, Manhattan
- Softball at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m., Stillwater, Okla.
- Track at Mt. SAC relays, all day, Walnut, Calif.
- Women's golf at Purdue, all day, West Lafayette, Ind
- Women's golf at Purdue, all day, West Lafayette, Ind.
INTRAMURAL SCORES
SUNDAY
3-ON-3-SOCCER
SUNDAY
3-ON-3-SOCCER
♦ Men's
Fiji 1 tied DU 3      7-7
SAE 1 def. 10th Floor  4-1
♦ Women's
Kappa Delta Green def. Sigma Kappa 2    7-0
♦ Co-Recreational
Grasskickers def. Title IX     5-2
Wolverines def. Oliver 6       10-1
BASEBALL
Baseball coach to converse with students during lunch
Kansas baseball coach Ritch Price will hang out in the Kansas Union this afternoon.
Initiated by the Kansas Marketing Department, Price, following what other Kansas coaches have done in the past, Price will get together with students to talk about Kansas baseball, coaching or just the national pastime itself.
Irisha Gresnick, Kansas Union Programs adviser, said the events gave coaches a chance to interact with the students on an individual basis.
Free pizza and pop will be provided for those who attend the 12:30 session by the Union Programs.
Price will be in the Hawk's Nest on the first floor of the Kansas Union to talk with any and all students, staff and the Lawrence community.
RACING
Alissa Bauer
Ferrari fails to get top spots in Sunday's Formula One race
SAKHIR, Bahrain — For only the second time this century, Ferrari went scoreless in a Formula One race when neither of its cars finished among the top eight at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday
Michael Schumacher didn't finish for the first time since 2001 because of a mechanical failure, and Rubens Barrichello was ninth after a forgetful weekend that included two gearbox changes, an engine change and a car that stopped just after qualifying 15th.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso is looking impressive and Renault is dominating like the old Ferraris, taking their third straight race of the young season.
Alonso led virtually from start to finish after winning the pole position for the second consecutive race. It was his third career victory, and the Spaniard leads the drivers' standings with two victories and a third this season.
WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT
Double-double possible for coach
BY TOM WITHERS
INDIANAPOLIS — Back in Tickfaw, La., there's a street named after the little girl with big dreams. Suitably, it's called Kim Mulkey Drive.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Avenue or Boulevard just wouldn't have made sense.
Not for the hometown kid who never missed a school day in 12 years.
Only a drive would befit the tomboy who played Little League baseball against boys; the valedictorian who led her high school to four straight state titles, her college to two NCAA championships and won an Olympic gold medal.
Over in Hammond, La., where she went to school, there's a monument outside City Hall in her honor.
Tonight, Mulkey-Robertson, who in less than five years has transformed the Lady Bears from Big 12 doormats into national contenders, has a chance to pull off an unprecedented double-double.
Baylor University may have one for Kim Mulkey-Robertson one day, too.
A win over Michigan State would make her the first women's coach to win a championship as a player and coach.
First. Mulkey-Robertson has
"She's won a whole bunch," Baylor guard Chelsea Whitaker said. "I think one of her first championships was like when I was born, so i kind of tease her about that. But she was one of the pioneers of this game."
Long before she made Baylor the warm-and-fuzzy success story of this year's tournament, the 42-year-old Mulkey-Robertson had already made a name for herself in women's college basketball.
never settled for second-best in anything.
As Louisiana Tech's fiery 5-foot-4 point guard, she led the Lady Techsters to a 130-6 record and back-to-back NCAA titles.
It was at Louisiana Tech, playing under the legendary Leon Barmore, where the coaching bug bit. After graduating with honors, she stayed for another 15 years as an assistant before going to Baylor.
In 2000, she inherited a program that went 7-20 the previous season and had little reason to hope the future would be any brighter. But while others forecasted gloom, Mulkey-Robertson envisioned success.
She led the Lady Bears to a 21-9 record her first season, vaulting Baylor from 12th in the powerful Big 12 to sixth and earning the
But now, the mother of two known for her fashion smarts and for occasionally joining her players in drills has Baylor one victory away from winning it all.
school its first NCAA berth. Last season, a trip to the round of 16 ended with a controversial loss to Tennessee.
Ask her five starters to describe Mulkey-Robertson in one word and a portrait quickly emerges.
"Tenacious," Steffanie Blackmon said. "Intense," Chameka Scott said. "Intense," Abiola Wabara said. "Intense," Sophia Young said.
Mulkey-Robertson traces her desire to her early childhood — even before that. She was never the biggest or the fastest or the prettiest, but she had an inner strength and work ethic that always gave her a chance.
"Intense," Whitaker said, who had learned to feed off her coach's fervor. "It drives us a lot, because if it doesn't drive us then we'll be sitting next to her."
On the sideline during a game, Multey-Roberston is in perpetual motion. One second, she's stalking officials. The next, she's demanding defense from her team.
"I think you're born with it," she said. "I was brought up in a family of middle income, self-employed parents that provided for their children,
As a child raised in the south during the 1960s, she witnessed the civil rights struggle, a time that had an effect in shaping the woman she is today.
did not spoil them and were very proud of them."
Mulkey-Robertson credits her parents' choice to have her attend an integrated school in developing her social skills and tolerance.
"It was absolutely the greatest decision they ever made for me," she said.
Mulkey-Robertson has never failed at anything. With some of her best years still ahead, she has already been inducted into six different Halls of Fame and attained a lifetime worth of successes.
These days, that's how Baylor fans feel about her arrival.
Nothing, though, warms her more than sharing them. On Sunday night, with her children at her side, Mulkey-Robertson watched as Baylor fans, still recovering from the tragic shooting death of a men's player two years ago, celebrated an improbable comeback win over LSU in the semifinals.
"That's the most enjoyable moment for me, just to watch those people experience something for the first time," she said. "That brings a smile to my face."
WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT
Balance key for Spartan success
BY MICHAEL MAROT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan State will take its gang of five over a couple of blue-chip players any day.
After all, this season has proven the Spartans can win in unconventional ways — without All-Americans, without dominant inside players, even defeating the nation's most established women's programs by rallying from seemingly impossible deficits.
At Michigan State, it's all about teamwork.
"You see teams with one or two All-Americans and that team loses," Kristin Haynie said. "That's what makes this team great. If someone has a bad game, someone else can step up."
"Y
Adhering to coach Joanne P. McCallie's deep-rooted philosophy is what has led the Spartans out of their mediocre past and onto the brink of their first national title. Michigan State (33-3) faces Baylor (32-3) tonight in a matchup of first-time finalists.
As usual, the Spartans have reached the title game with a slightly different script.
McCallie seemingly has all the pieces in place.
ou see teams with one or two AllAmericans, and that teams loses. That's what makes this team great. If someone has a bad game, someone else can step it up."
"We're not a bunch of all-stars," center Kelli Rohrig said. "But we have so many great players, I think we just complement each other so well."
While Baylor relies primarily on its All-America tandem of Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon, Michigan State beats opponents with balance.
Kristin Haynie Michigan State basketball player
Four starters average double figures although none scores more than 15 points per game. Two other players are scoring nearly eight points per game. It's Basketball 101 at East Lansing, Mich.
Haynie is the fleet point guard
and the school's career record-holder for steals (341). She was named most outstanding player of the Kansas City Region and the Big Ten tournament, and she averages 10.6 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Junior guard Lindsay Bowen is Michigan State's career leader with 224 3-pointers. She scores 13.6 points and delivered the outlet pass Sunday that sealed the Spartans 68-64 semifinal victory over Tennessee.
Forward Liz Shimek ranks 10th in Spartans history in scoring, averages 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Roehrig provides inside power and has teamed with Haynie to win more games (91) than any other senior class. Roehrig averages 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, and scored the go-ahead basket with 35 seconds left against Tennessee.
While sophomore guard Victoria Lucas-Perry is the fifth wheel, scoring just 7.4 points, it was her seven straight points that saved the Spartans in their closing rally against Tennessee.
But in an era where individuality is revered, success has helped McCallie make simpler points.
"That's the beauty of having such a balanced team."
"You can't just focus on one or two players because two or three others will beat you," Bowen said.
After finishing ninth in the Big Ten in each of her first two seasons at Michigan State, the Spartans improved to fourth in 2002-03 and 2003-04, then shared the regular-season title this season before winning their first conference tournament.
Players believe the key to this year's tournament run began last summer when the Spartans took a team camping trip to Shimek's grandparents' farm in northern Michigan.
"During that 3 1/2-hour ride to her farm, we bonded," Haynie said. "We had a great time, and I think that's what started the chemistry on this team."
When they returned, Michigan State had a new philosophy.
"It put things into perspective and showed us how lucky everyone is on our team," Roehrig said.
Opponents with better players and stronger reputations also appreciated Michigan State's concept. Tennessee coach Pat Summit praised the Spartans for their composure Sunday night, and Baylor players know they too will be facing a different kind of opponent Tuesday.
"If you scout those players you don't leave a gym and go, wow, they leap out of the gym," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said. "But you leave a gym and go, I would like to have two players like that on my team. They know how to win."
The Spartans couldn't ask for any better compliment.
"You see, in the guys' games, a lot of guys want to go one-on-one," Bowen said. "In girls' games, it really is team ball — and this team is willing to do whatever it takes to win."
Poll shows fans upset with players' salaries
BASEBALL
WASHINGTON — For all the talk about steroids, as baseball begins its new season more Americans think players' high salaries are the sport's biggest problem, according to an Associated Press-AOL poll released yesterday.
The average major leaguer's salary was $2.3 million last year. While that was a slight decline from the previous year, it's twice what it was 10 years ago.
"Baseball players definitely get overpaid," said Cynthia Walker, a pharmacist from Seattle who sees a link with steroid use. "It gives them a competitive edge to be better and they're in better position to ask for big salaries."
Salaries were named as baseball's "biggest problem" by 33 percent of those surveyed, followed by steroids at 27 percent and the cost of going to a game at 22 percent, according to the telephone poll done for the AP and AOL Sports by Iosos-Public Affairs.
"The economics of baseball are the big problem," said Fay Vincent, former baseball commissioner. "The big clubs make a lot of money and the little clubs don't."
Baseball has no cap on team salaries and its owners don't pool money from local television revenues.
Seventy percent said they didn't think a player found to have used steroids or other performanceenhancing drugs should be elected to the Hall of Fame.
About 40 percent of those surveyed described themselves as baseball fans, down from more than six in 10 at the height of the home run chase in 1998 between Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs.
— Will Lester/The Associated Press
Ever thought of Joining a Sorority? Interested in Greek life at KU?
Come to our Informational Session:
It's never too late to find out more...
- Thursday, April 7th
- 3-5 pm
- 4th Floor, Kansas Union, Jayhawk Walk
Information about chapters currently recruiting will be available. Or, come to find out more about our 2005 Fall Formal recruitment
Any questions, please call Colleen or Katie at 785-864-4643 or emails us at kusororityrecruitment@hotmail.com
---