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SPORTS
19
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Zach Straus/Kansan
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2003
Aramis Watson, Wichita senior, and Cory Xenos, Louisburg sophomore, stare intently at the television screen after the Chicago Bulls selected Kirk Hinrich as the seventh overall pick during the first round of the NBA Draft. Watson and Xenos watched the draft at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Massachusetts St., Thursday night.
NBADRAFT
Jayhawks earn high picks
Hinrich, Collison picked by professional teams as fans, residents react
By Saju Ng'alla
sngla@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Captain RibMan's Meat Market erupted with cheers as if Kirk Hinrich had just nailed a game-winning jumper. But this was no game.
These were cheers of triumph, congratulations and Jayhawk pride when the Chicago Bulls made Hinrich the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft Thursday night.
There was another round of applause when Nick Collison was drafted 12th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.
Rich Davis, owner of Meat Market, 811
New Hampshire St. said his bar was packed with Jayhawk fans who were excited to see how high Hinrich and Collison would go.
"They went nuts when Hinrich was selected," Davis said.
Mock drafts from nbadraft.net, espn.com and cnnsi.com incorrectly predicted former Texas guard T. J. Ford would be selected before Hinrich.
Jayhawk fans were not surprised when the Bulls made Kirk Hinrich the first point guard drafted.
Hinrich
"I knew Kirk would go higher because
T. J. Ford sucks," said Lauren Lynn, Coffeyville senior, as she sat with her friends at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Massachusetts St. "T. J. Ford is too weak, too small and has no shot."
As the seventh pick Hinrich will earn up to $1.8 million in his first season, according to the NBA scale salary structure.
Tina Daniels, Lawrence resident, said Hinrich was selected by the Bulls because they needed a solid point guard and Hinrich was more dependable than Ford.
The Bulls' starting point guard, Jay Williams, was injured in a motorcycle accident last month. The Associated Press reported Williams will not play next season and that his injuries could end his basketball career.
As the 12th pick, Collison will earn up
SEE PICKS ON PAGE 20
BASEBALL
'Believe' it: Royals fever infects fans, restaurants
By Saju Ng'alla
sngla@kansan.com
Kansan staff reporter
If you always dress in blue,you might have Royals fever. If you dream about the Royals winning the final game of the World Series, you have Royals fever.
The fever has spread because the Royals, 43-38 after last night's victory over the Cleveland Indians, are competing for first place in the American League Central for the first time in more than a decade.
"I have been so disappointed with them for so long, it is exciting see them now doing well," said April Giarla, Overland Park junior.
a Royals hat, T-shirt and jersey to show support. Long said she had been infected with the fever because she was proud the Royals were winning.
Excitement over the team has also boosted business in Lawrence's bars.
Lyndsey Long,
Overland Park junior,
said she bought
"People are coming an hour early to get the best seats to watch the game," said Rich Davis, owner of the Captain RibMan's Meat Market, 811 New Hampshire St.
Last Thursday Davis had to split his bar between Royals loyalists and people rooting for former Jayhawks in the NBA draft. The excitement over the Royals does not match the fervor for the KU men's basketball team, but it is close.
SEE FEVER ON PAGE 20