14A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY,MAY9,2002
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Underdog rowing team hopes tides change soon
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
only Big 12 teams participating. Texas is in the South Region.
The Kansas rowing team will need to pull off some major upsets if it hopes to equal its sixth-place finish from a year ago at the Central Regionals.
The Jayhawks, who haven't been ranked all season, are heading into the Central Regionals on May 18 and 19 in Oak Ridge, Tenn., as underdogs.
"I really don't know how successful we are going to be," Kansas coach Rob Catloth said. "I mean success for us is going to be like how far we go up the ladder."
Between 25 and 30 of the best teams in the Midwest will compete against the Jayhawks at the regatta. Most of the teams are from the Big Ten Conference. Kansas and Kansas State are the
Catloth said the top four teams at the Central Regionals typically qualified for the NCAA championship. The winner of the event automatically qualified. The rest of the teams must rely on an at-large bid.
Catloth is unsure whether the Jayhawks have a chance at qualifying.
"It depends if we're on or off," Catloth said. "I really have no idea. We have a lot of young kids rowing and racing well."
Kansas second varsity eight-boat coxswain Lindsay Abbott said the team's confidence would be a key factor for the Jawhaws.
"There's been a lack of consistency because some of the boats have been switched around all season," the sophomore said. "We can't row as individuals but
as a team."
The Jayhawks had a rough start to their season, losing to Texas, Stanford and California. They also struggled at the Knecht Cup, which was the team's second race.
But the Jayhawks have turned their season around of late. Kansas defeated Kansas State to claim the Kansas Cup and took second at the Big 12 Invitational last week.
"How successful we are in at the Central Regions has a lot to do with our mental approach going into it," Abbott said. "We have to have confidence in ourselves and we need to incorporate all that we've learned at practice."
Contact Wasko at
contact Vaskar bwaske@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jenna Goepfert.
Griffey injures leg in practice
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr. had another ache yesterday a sore calf that turned purple after he got plunked in batting practice.
He also had peace of mind about how his angry comments this week have been received by hometown fans.
ments.
The Cincinnati Reds outfieldier criticized fans and the media in a diatribe Monday about how he's been treated since his homecoming in 2000. He cited a television station's poll and negative comments his family has heard at games.
There were several pro-Griffey banners at Cinergy Field the next night, and radio talk-show callers took up his cause during two days of rehashing his com-
"I think a lot of people understand where I was coming from," Griffey said after taking batting practice. "It wasn't like I was ripping every fan."
Griffey directed most of his criticism at a television station's unscientific poll asking which player should be benched when he's healthy enough to play again. Griffey was one of the four choices and was picked by 74 percent of those voting.
He hasn't played since he tore the patella tendon in his right knee on April 7. The Reds are hoping he'll be back sometime in the next few weeks.
"The timing of the poll is what set me off more than anything," he said. "If I was playing and not doing anything, then I could see it. But not having the chance to
defend myself and prove to people that I can play, that makes it tough.
"I haven't played in a month and here's a poll that says if he comes back, he should be sitting. My thing is, if it was Barry Bonds, would they do a poll? No."
After Griffey was hurt, the Reds moved into first place in the NL Central. Griffey said the focus should be on the teams performance, not on who should sit when he returns.
"I don't think anybody should be negative when you're in first place," Griffey said.
Unlike on Monday, when his words spilled out with an angry edge. Griffey was in a playful mood yesterday. He even had fun with his latest setback — a nasty bruise on his calf.