THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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MLB
Sweeney looks for active season
Royals need team leader to beef up offense
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Mike Sweeney, whose back problems caused him to miss 146 games over the last three seasons, reported to spring training yesterday, expressing optimism that he can play a full season.
Sweeney, who reported two days before the Kansas City Royals' first full-squad workout, ran and played tost before pronouncing that his back was fine.
"I feel great," said Sweeney, who sat out the last 42 games of the 2004 season because of a herniated disc in his neck. "I feel 100 percent. This is the first time that
“I.
I'm hoping, now that I'm a little older, that I'm a little more wiser and I'll ease myself into activities."
Mike Sweeney Kansas City Royals designated hitter
I've felt that way in a long while."
I've felt that way in a long while." Sweeney, who hired former Royals' strength and conditioning coach Chris Mihlfeld as his personal trainer for the off-season, said his training had included new exercises to help strengthen his back.
"The last three or four winters, when I was running and taking ground balls, I'd get some kind of soreness in my back, but not this winter," Sweeney said.
But Sweeney, the team captain, said he wouldn't tax his back by trying to do too much too early in spring training.
"I'm hoping, now that I'm a little older, that I'm a little more wiser and I'll ease myself into activities," he said.
The Royals need Sweeney on the field to bolster an anemic offense whose on-base percentage .322) and batting average (.259) were 12th in the American League and whose slugging percentage (.397) was last.
Sweeney, a four-time AL All-Star selection, hit .287 with 22 home runs and 79 RBIs last season. A career .305 hitter, Sweeney has not hit .300 the past two
years. After setting a club record with 144 RIBs in 2005, Sweeney failed to drive in more than 99 runs the past four seasons.
"I do know I'm a big part of the lineup." Sweeney said. "The big key for my success is being healthy. Health and success go hand-in-hand. As much as my back hurt, my heart ached more being out of the lineup."
After winning 85 games in 2003 and leading the Central Division until late August, Kansas City had an AL-worst 58-104 record last year.
"I think there is going to be a little more hunger this year after 104 losses," Sweeney said.
"I know periodicals are not picking us to be so hot," he added. "We're in the business of overachieving." Royals Notes
- Kansas City announced
that an arbitrator had determined the club would not have to pay outfielder Roscoe Crosby the additional $750,000 in bonuses he was seeking.
Right-hander Kyle Snyder left spring training to attend the funeral of his grandmother tomorrow in West Palm Beach, Fla. Snyder, who missed last season after having shoulder surgery, said he would return to workouts Saturday.
Besides Sweeney, third baseman Chris Truby and outfielders Brian Hunter and Terrence Long also arrived at camp yesterday.
♦ The Royals again dodged rain to get in a full workout for the pitchers and catchers.
- Reliever Mike MacDougal and starter Brian Anderson drew praises from pitching coach Guy Hansen after each threw 45 pitches off the mound.
Senior Night CONTINUED GRADE PAGE 1B
The Jayhawls would not die quietly on Senior Night, though.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Burras said she felt as though she could take on the entire Bavlor team during the first half.
Outside of Burras, Kansas only scored seven points in the half, but the effort of the 5-foot-9 guard in her final game kept the Jayhawks within striking distance at the break, 32-22. Baylor seized control coming out of halftime and opened up with a 12-4 run that extended the advantage to 44-26 at the 16:29 mark. The 18-point lead tied the largest margin of the game.
Junior guard Erica Hallman
A Hallman floater from the lane plus a free throw brought the Bears within 12. An offensive rebound and put-back by junior forward Crystal Kemp made it 10. Another Hallman jumper from the sideline brought it to eight. Finally, Burras knifed through the Baylor defense to cut the lead to only six.
But that was as close as Kansas would ever get. The Bears pounded the ball inside to its dominant post players and leading scorers, Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon, to end Kansas' hopes and finish out the victory.
Blackmon led Baylor with 20 points and Young added 18 to
dominate the block. Both caused fits down low for the Kansas post players. Freshman forward Taylor McIntosh expended all five fouls in trying to slow down the tandem, and freshman forward Jamie Boyd was whistled for four.
took over where Burras left off,
scoring 17 points after the break.
"She is a difficult match-up."
Henrickson said of Blackmon.
"She can hit a high-post jumper, and she can get some separation."
While Baylor won the game inside, Kansas could not get the ball to Kemp, who took scored just seven points. Part two of the Sunflower Showdown takes place Saturday, when Kansas takes on rival Kansas State at 5 p.m. in Manhattan.
— Edited by Kendall Dix
"It's like any dream," Thomas said. "Once you attain it, you feel that all your hard work and prayers have been answered."
The Nets viewed him as the sharp-shooting guard they needed and signed him to a second 10-day contract.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
He continued to excel and recently received a contract extension for the remainder of the season.
Dream
He scored a career-high 14 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and increased his playing time to nearly 21 minutes a game.
Since getting the call to join the Nets, Thomas has scored an average of 5.9 points a game to go along with 2.2 rebounds per contest.
New Jersey has a 23-30 record, but with the addition of Thomas and All-Star Vince Carter, the team is showing signs of improvement. It still has a shot at the playoffs, because the Atlantic-Division-leading Boston Celtics are only 27-27.
"It itks first class to a higher level," Thomas said of playing in the NBA. "Right now, we're talking about finishing the year strong, and we'll talk about multi-year deals down the road."
After he played for teams like the Dakota Wizards of the CBA and the Greenville Groove of the NBDL, he was never discouraged.
Spending seven years working hard without a reward would cause many to give up, but Thomas is a different breed
"I never doubted myself, because I had a strong belief in God and faith in the ability that God blessed me with," Thomas said. "I just knew one day I'd get there."
It's hard to believe he stayed so positive, especially because he scored 49 points in a single game while in the NBDL, and no NBA team took notice.
He was also reunited with long-time friend and college teammate, Jacque Vaughn. This has been an added bonus for Thomas.
"That's been nice. It helped me transition into the NBA after playing in all the minor leagues," Thomas said. "He's been the crutch for me to lean on whenever I've needed anything."
Edited by Jennifer Voldness
All-stars
BASEBALL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
"I don't think recruiting a McDonald's All-Americans helps you win one game next year," Self said. "But it is great for the players and great for your program."
On the flip side, there is always a concern that a player will perform so well at the game and at practice leading up to the game, his draft stock will rise, making a jump straight to the NBA possible. But, Self said he was confident that Chalmers, Wright and Downs would play at Kansas next year. Self said he had mixed feelings about his recruits jumping to the NBA.
"You're probable saying 'OK, we'll have a hungrier kid when he gets here.' But if he does make it, then you got to say, I'm really happy for them." Self said.
and Aaron Miles were awarded McDonald's All-American honors, as many as were named just this year.
Three current Kansas players — J.R. Giddens, Wayne Simien
"It just shows what a great recruiting year this was and what we can do in the future." Chalmers said.
Chalmers said he talked to Self on Monday, and Self indicated that he expected Chalmers to make the team. He is the third player from Alaska to be selected to the McDonald's team. The other two, Carlos Boozer and Trajan Langdon, played at Duke.
Self said seeing three players who committed to the same school can raise anticipation for the coming season.
"It itups expectation on your program or your next team, like those guys should come in and deliver right of the bat," Self said.
- Edited by Kendall Dix
Replay
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Burda said the Big 12 was looking at the Big Ten model, the NFL model and a potential hybrid of the two, which would allow a technical advisor or a coach to decide if the play would be reviewed. Burda said a recommendation would be made to the conference during its spring meetings, May 23 to 27. The conference has until June 1 to have the system they wish to implement on file with the NCAA.
"Hopefully the conference looks at all the options, and I am sure they are going to make a
good decision." Mangino said.
Burda said was a problem figuring out a way to make the replay system work for games that were not televised.
"We are looking at a three-camera and a four-camera operation." Burda said.
The cost of implementing replay is expected to be high, and Burda said that the number of cameras they decide to use would determine how expensive it would be.
"Our low-ball estimate is about a half a million dollars to implement." Burda said.
Edited by Lori Bettes
Healthy Cardinals prepare for season
JUPITER, Fla. — For 66 years, George Kissell has been a fixture at St. Louis Cardinals spring training. Now, the team has a permanent reminder of his amazing longevity.
The Associated Press
Loyal employee honored by team
Before their first full-squad workout yesterday, the Cardinals unveiled a large brass plaque just outside the Roger Dean Stadium clubhouse honoring the senior field coordinator for player development, responsible over the years for tutoring the likes of Joe Torre and Todd Zeile along with countless minor leaguers. Kissell, 84, was surprised by a ceremony attended by this year's roster and even Bill DeWitt, the Cardinals' principal owner.
"You really want to get on the field and start playing with the guys," Eckstein said. "It's great to see everybody."
At least one of the newcomers appeared anxious, too.
"The first four days it's a nice way to get back into spring training, but there isn't a whole lot going on except pitchers throwing," La Russa said. "There's a lot of activity today."
Kissell was a college sophomore in 1940 when Branch Rickey signed him to his first professional contract, and he still lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Cardinals trained then. He's worked in many capacities with the Cardinals, including minor league managing, minor league and major league coaching and scouting.
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"Something like this is very touching," Kissell said. "I've always been a Cardinal. I'll never take the birds off my chest. This will go down as one of the greatest days of my life."
For the first time, manager Tony La Russa had all of the components on the field, and that was all of the excitement he needed. He's finally getting a good look at new shortstop David Eckstein and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, the products of a mostly low-key offseason for a team that did trade for 17-game winner Mark Mulder, and newly secure catcher Yadier Molina.
LAWRENCE
AUTOMOTIVE
DIAGNOSTICS
JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals began defense of their first NL pennant in 17 years with the first full-squad workout yesterday.
The Associated Press
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