SUPERBOWL: Brady selected as starting quarterback. See page 5A. OY, MATE: Learn Aussie football rules. See page 5A.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31.2002
Kate Eichten
keichten@kansan.com
Some women need a lesson on appropriate game etiquette
On more than one occasion, I have witnessed girls donning high-heeled boots, black pants and tight shirts. No, I'm not at the Hawk on a Thursday night. I'm attending a men's basketball game.
Apparently these girls are confused as to where they are. Not to mention the fact that they are attending these games for all the wrong reasons.
No wonder women are stereotyped when it comes to sports — look at some of these girls who attend the games. Now I realize that I myself am a girl, but I know what is acceptable or comfortable and what is not when it comes to sporting events. I know what to wear to be a part of the student section. I know when and what to yell at the appropriate times. And most importantly, I understand the rules of the game.
JOHN NOWAK/KANSAN
Second, good fans know the appropriate times to cheer. They know the rules of the game and can boo when needed, or become more enthusiastic about a big play.
number of a good tan, number of a good tan, Number one, they wear Kansas attire. Especially at the Missouri game; the "sea of blue" looked fantastic from where I was sitting.
First of all, I would like to point out the qualities of a good fan, female or male.
Third, they religiously watch Sports Center, and know the facts about their favorite teams and players that average people would not. They are sports fans at all times, not just at the game of the week.
On the other hand, there are people in the stands who don't deserve to be there. Here are examples of bad fans that I have seen.
Sports fans exhibit these behaviors no matter where they are.
Senior swimmer Molly O'Connor leads a busy lifestyle but always makes time for swimming. O'Connor is one of the swimming and diving team captains.
Second — this one is to all the girls who stalk the players — don't scream out phrases such as "I love you" when your favorite player steps onto the court.
First, I have seen a number of girls who think they're at the bars rather than at a Kansas game. They might think it's cute to wear tight clothing and boots, but seriously girls — don't any of you own a pair of Nikes? Dig out a Kansas T-shirt and support our school that way. The players aren't going to look at you up in the stands regardless of what you're wearing. Trust me, there is no need to dress like this at a basketball game. If you have to take off your shoes during the game because your feet hurt, you've made a poor decision in footwear.
And even if they could, do you think they're going to respond back? I find it ridiculous when I hear girls around me squeal with delight not because Boschee hit a three, or Collison completed a play, but because they're "soooo cute" or "hot," or whatever the adjective of the moment is.
Finally, know the game. Know the basic rules, the players, positions and any other key point to the game. This goes for any sporting event that any girl chooses to attend. I'll bet there is a handful of girls at these games that don't know the difference between a double-double and a double shot.
If you don't know the game — or are merely coming to see your crush on the team — save it. Watch the game at home and give up your seats for the real fans. Until then, you're wasting space.
Eichten is a Topeka sophomore in journalism.
Contact her at keichten@kansan.com.
They can't hear you!
Swimmer stays busy, prepares for final meet
By Ali Brox
Kansan sportswriter
Molly O'Connor is always supposed to be somewhere.
She only has a few moments to make it from practice at Robinson Center to weights at Anschutz Sports Pavilion. And then there's the engineering club meeting that she should go to, but time is precious.
Life is a balancing act for the senior who is majoring in civil engineering.
"It's really hard to balance your time," O'Connor said. "You have to be pretty dedicated to do it. You go to class all day, then you have practice, then you have to study. It's constant, like you're always trying to make a deadline."
O'Connor moved to Ohio from Vermont when she was in the fifth grade. Her mother thought swimming at the local YMCA would be a good way for the 10-year-old to make some new friends, so she signed her daughter up - without even asking.
"My mom basically made me start swimming," O'Connor said. "She said, 'You're joining the swim team."
"Personally, I just want to finish on a good note and swim my best times.I want to leave with a good memory of swimming and have my best meet be my final meet." Molly O'Conno Ohio,senio
O'Connor knew she wanted to go far away from home for college, so after the questionnaire came from Kansas, she made the trip to Lawrence and O'Connor was sold.
"I came on a trip to see what it was like and I ended up liking it," O'Connor said.
O'Connor is one of three captains on the swimming and diving team. According to coach Cathy Burgess, that only seems natural.
"Molly is a naturally chosen leader among her peers," Burgess said. "People look to her to lead. She's an engineering student and academically she's always on top."
O'Connor is looking forward to her final home meet on Feb. 2. Her parents, John and Nancy, will both be in attendance.
"I'm really excited because both my mom and dad are going to be here," O'Connor said. "Plus, it's the last one, and it's always fun to swim at home."
O'Connor wants her swimming career to end positively for both the team and individually.
"For team goals, I want us to have our best year at conference that
we've ever had and place the highest," O'Connor said. "Personally, I just want to finish on a good note and swim my best times. I want to leave with a good memory of swimming and have my last meet be my best meet."
O'Connor still plans to be at the pool next fall. Although she won't be competing, she hopes to help out with the team while finishing her degree.
"Molly is one of our most consistent trainers in the pool," Burgess said. "She's been consistent for us all four years."
Contact Brox at abrox@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
Aussie-rules football offers different game than U.S. version
By Jeremy Krashin Kansan sportswriter
"I can almost guarantee they would be on the field immediately," said Kirk Kirkpatrick, Power member, of anyone who would decide to join.
The Kansas City Power, a member of the United States Australian Rules Football League, would like to give students at the University of Kansas the opportunity to find out what it takes to compete in an Australian-rules football team.
The league consists of teams from St. Louis, Cincinnati, Nashville, Tenn., and Chicago. However, the Power has competed against teams from all over the countrv.
Australian-rules football players range from ages 18 to 50 and vary in both height and weight.
"There is a place in this game for big guys and small alike," said Kirkpatrick. "There are positions for all different sizes of people."
In the past, the players paid for most of the expenses themselves. Two new sponsors are paying travel costs this year, but players will still pay for all other expenses.
Andrew Gauci, Melbourne, Australia senior, said Australian-rules football was his country's biggest sport. He said the players could only run three steps without dribbling the round ball and scored points by kicking the ball — which is slightly smaller than a rugby ball through two posts.
"It's as big in Australia as basketball is here at KU," Gauci said.
The Power is in need of players, Kirkpatrick said.
Sam Hopkins, Prairie Village freshman, said he had been exposed to the game before.
"It is similar to ultimate frisbee," Hopkins said. "Also, you can pass by using a hand ball, which is when you hold the ball with one hand and punch it to a team member."
Games and practices are played at Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo. Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Kirkpatrick at (816) 588-7702 or www.kcpower.com.
Contact Krashin at sports@kansan.com. This story was edited by Kyle Ramsey.
Jayhawks hope to rebound from losing skid
By Ryan Wood
Kansan sportswriter
For the Kansas women's basketball team, everything seems to be going wrong as it is stuck in the rut of a nine-game losing streak.
The injury bug has grabbed two key players this season.
First it was freshman guard Blair Waltz, who missed four Big 12 Conference games with a stress fracture in her right foot.
But injured players aren't the only thing plaguing the team this year — shooting and rebounding have been spotty as well. When the team is shooting well, it's not rebounding well. When the team's rebounding well, the shooting turns dismal.
Now, just as Waltz is getting healthy, Sharonne Spencer became the next victim. The sophomore forward bowed out early in the second half of Tuesday night's game against No. 17 Colorado after suffering a knee injury.
And when both are going well, as in the case of the Jan. 23 game against Kansas State, the opponent is just too talented to overthrow.
Coach Marian Washington has said time after time that this year's squad lacks the tools to succeed when not all the cylinders are running.
Against Oklahoma State last Saturday, the jayhawks (5-17 overall, 0-9 in the Big 12) were killed on the glass. The Cowgirls out-rebounded Kansas 48-26, including 20 on the offensive end. It was the fourth time this season that Kansas had been out-rebounded by more than 20
boards.
"We let them out-muscle us," said Nikki White following Saturday's 25-point loss. "Maybe we underestimated how strong they were. I'm not sure."
The rebounding got significantly better Tuesday night at Colorado, but Kansas was still out-rebounded 46-39 by the Buffaloes. While senior centers White, 6-foot-3, and Kristin Geoffroy, 6-6, had the height to match up with Colorado, they still combined for just seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Keila Beachem, considerably shorter at 6-0, led the 'Hawks with 10.
Even though it wasn't perfect, rebounding turned out to be Kansas' strong point as the Jayhawks had another off shooting night. In the first half of Tuesday's 80-41 loss, the Jayhawks scored just 12 points on 19.4 percent shooting.
The Jayhawks, with five of their seven remaining regular season games coming against Top 25 teams, return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they travel to No.4 Oklahoma.
Contact Wood at rwood@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
Sophomore forward Keila Beachem struggles for a rebound during a game against Oklahoma State. The lady Jayhawks' record is 5-17 overall and 0-9 in the Big 12 Conference.
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