THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012
PAGE 21
BASKETBALL
Wesley to star as Chamberlain
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
Kansas men's basketball junior Justin Wesley will portray former Kansas basketball star Wilt Chamberlain in the upcoming locally produced film, "Jayhawkers." KU Athletics announced on July 18.
Kansas alum Kip Niven joins Wesley in the film, playing legendary Kansas coach Forrest "Phog" Allen. Niven, an experienced character actor, has had roles in films such as "Magnum Force," "Earthquake," and "The Only Good Indian."
"They told me it (the shoot) should take four or five weeks and they told me it may take five or eight takes of the same scene," Wesley said in a press release. "It will be pretty time consuming but it should be a lot of fun."
The story, written by KU Assistant Professor of Film Kevin Willmott and Lawrence Producer Scott Richardson, centers on the relationship between Allen and Chamberlain as Allen recruits Chamberlain to Kansas and the center becomes one of the most dominant players in Jayhawk history.
"I have watched a couple of interviews of Wilt and have seen some highlights of his game," Wesley said
in a press release. "I've asked some people around about his mannerisms or what he did when he played. I've picked up a couple of things
Wesley
but I won't reveal those yet."
Chamberlain
Actor Blake Robinson, who has had roles in television's "Oz" and "The Office", will play Kansas coach Dick Harp. Under the direction of Harp. Chamberlain led the 1957 Jayhawks to the National Championship game, where they lost in triple overtime.
Filming starts
Aug. 15 in Lawrence, the day after the basketball team returns from it's trip to Europe.
"It's an honor to be portraying one of the best players of all time, not only in Kansas history but in basketball history," Wesley said in a press release. "This is going to be a great experience and a once-in-a-lifetime deal and I'm happy to be doing it."
—Edited by Megan Hinman
BASEBALL
Bad pitching leads to Royal losses
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals' pitching rotation had a 7.38 ERA during a 3-7 homestand.The Royals have lost 15 of 20 and are only a half-game in front of the Minnesota Twins for last place in the AL Central.
Twins' designated hitter Ryan Doumit homered from both sides of the plate and drove in four runs to lead the Twins to a 7-5 victory over Kansas City on Sunday.
Doumit homered to lead off the second inning swinging left-handed. He opened the sixth with his ninth home run, batting right-handed against reliever Tim
Collins.
Doumit's big day spoiled the Royals debut of right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, acquired Friday in a trade with the Rockies for Jonathan Sanchez. Guthrie (3-10) yielded four runs on five hits and three walks in five innings.
Samuel Deduno (1-0) limited the Royals to one run and six singles over 61-3 innings for his first major league victory.
Billy Butler homered, his 19th, with Moustakas aboard in the eighth against Twins reliever Anthony Swarzak. Pinch-hitter Yuniesky Betancourt also connected in the Royals' two-run ninth.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAMILY
Garretts bring religious group to students, basketball team
MOLLY RYAN
editor@kansan.com
When Cynthia Garrett and her husband Roger Charles moved to Lawrence almost a year and a half ago, they had one thing on their mind: Kansas Basketball.
Garrett's only son, Christian Garrett, joined the University of Kansas basketball team in January 2011. While athletics brought Christian Garrett to Lawrence, Cynthia Garrett said she and Charles felt that they were brought to Lawrence to help the University in a different way. For nearly a year, they have opened up their home weekly to host a Bible study for KU students.
"The study really started with Christian asking Roger about the Bible and then going to practice and talking with his teammates about what Roger had shared with him;" Cynthia Garrett said. "One teammate in particular, Jordan [Juenemann] asked if he could start coming to study the Bible with Christian and Roger. So the two of them basically began their own little study in our home."
Juenemann and Christian began inviting friends and classmates. The group quickly grew from two to nearly 25 each week. Cynthia Garrett says she was thrilled with how the excitement spread about their Bible "homeschooling."
"There were some weeks where we had almost 60 students in our home, and I remember thinking we were going to have to start a church," Cynthia Garrett said.
For Samantha Wunderle, a junior from Mankato who regularly attends the Bible study, Charles and Cynthia Garrett have been more than just educators.
"Roger and Cynthia are always
there," Wunderle said. "If I have a question or need to talk, they are always open to helping me in whatever way they can. They are just people that I can always go to in Lawrence, which is great because all of my family is at least three hours away."
Cynthia has also partnered with Wayne Simien and Rev. Leo Barbee, who both have been reaching out to Christian students on campus for many years.
"We want young people to be bold and to not be embarrassed to be different and to be proud of their faith," Cynthia Garrett said. She credits Simien and Barbee, along with the good nature of KU students with her success as a mentor.
"There are a lot of good people here in Lawrence," she said. "I feel like we're a part of something greater here."
Edited by Allison Kohn