8A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY,MAY 5,2003
Royals CONTINUES FROM PAGE 12A
"Our goal is to bring value to our customers and bring the Royals at a minimum cost," he said. "It's a positive step."
After the Royals began the season 9-0, and eventually 17-4, Sunflower was bombarded with thousands of calls and e-mails.
"As their record improved we saw much customer interest, and we were able to work out a more favorable deal," Knorr said.
Sunflower will become one of the four major cable providers to offer the network, which was started after last season when the Royals' contract with Fox Sports Net expired.
"When the Fox Sports deal ran out they offered to show less games and pay less money," said
Neil Hartwell, spokesman for the network. "We didn't want to go backwards."
The other cable providers, Time Warner, Everest and Unite, are all located in the Kansas City metro area.
Hartwell said their two main goals were to build a larger fan base and provide more money for the Royals organization.
"The number one thing people ask for is to field a competitive team," he said. "We are in the smallest market in baseball, and signing new contracts can hopefully lead to more revenue to help the organization compete."
Local sports bars are benefiting from the new deal. Previously, they were unable to show the games of one of the hottest — and most surprising — teams in baseball.
"People are much happier
now, there was a lot of grumbling before," said James Newman, manager of Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Massachusetts St. "There wasn't much I could do except say I'm sorry."
The NBA and NHL playoffs make it hard to see exactly how many people are going to watch the Royals, but Newman said there were people there to watch the games.
Meanwhile, Hartwell beieve this is just the beginning for `\ne` network.
"We hope to keep growing the network, get as many fans to see the games as possible," he said.
"I wish they had it at the beginning of the season." he said. "But better late than never."
A complete list of televised games is at www.royals.mlb.com.
— Edited by Ryan Wood
Hornets coach dismissed
NEW ORLEANS — Paul Silas was fired as coach of the New Orleans Hornets yesterday after five seasons in which he set the franchise record for victories.
"The decision was made for me. It was a little surprising, but they have the right to make their own decisions," Silas said. "We had a good ride, and I appreciate the opportunity they gave me."
Silas took the Hornets to the playoffs each of the past four seasons, but they never advanced beyond the second round.
The Hornets went 47-35 this season, finishing third in the Central Division. They were knocked out of the playoffs Friday night, eliminated in the first round in six games by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Associated Press
The third and final game of the series had everything. In the top of the ninth inning the two teams encountered a 45-minute rain delay. After the delay the teams had to go to 11 innings to decide a winner.
Silas was popular among fans and players with the Hornets. Starting point guard Baron Davis
Silas said he received a phone call yesterday from team co-owner Ray Wooldridge, who said the Hornets would not renew his contract.
Silas said he was glad the Hornets told him of their decision so quickly, so he would have time to look for a coaching job elsewhere for next season.The only other NBA team without a coach right now is the Toronto Raptors, who fired Lenny Wilkens right after the regular season ended.
He leaves with an overall mark of 208-155 with the Hornets, who
and others said after their final game that they wanted Silas to return next year.
Most players were out of town or unreachable Sunday.
Texas began their comeback in the sixth, scoring one run and then another in the eighth inning.
"We would like to thank Paul and his staff for all their efforts and hard work during their coaching tenure and with them the very best in their future opportunities," team majority owner George Shinn said.
In the ninth inning, junior pitcher Ryan Knippschild retired the first batter and then allowed a double. After the double, Kansas made a pitching change and then the game was stopped because of lightning.
moved from Charlotte to New Orleans after last season.
Kansas added another run in the third inning when Spanish reached on an error and Price scored.
The Hornets said in a news release that Silas' coaching staff also would not return next season.
"Street was the MVP of the College World Series last year and he showed it today," Price said. "I think the difference in this game was that their pitching was absolutely dominant."
Silas and Shinn worked on a contract extension before this season, but were unable to reach an agreement. Once the season started, Shinn and Silas said they would stop negotiating until it was over.
lead as the Jayhawks scored 2 runs in the top of the first. Baty struck again, this time for a single that gave senior center fielder Lance Hayes the opportunity to score. With one out senior left fielder Casey Spanish singled, which scored freshman infielder Ritchie Price.
Kansas' only run came in the third inning when Tribble singled and scored Baty after he had singled. Texas tied the score in the fifth and then scored 4 runs in the last two innings, making the final score 5-1.
Hawks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12A
Silas was earning about $1.5 million per season.
Kansas again took an early
The past season was the team's first since moving from Charlotte, where the owners became notorious for letting go popular players, such as Alonzo Mourning, for financial reasons. They said it was difficult to remain financially competitive because of Charlotte's outdated arena, which had only 12 luxury suites
Silas said as recently the final playoff game on Friday that he loved New Orleans and was optimistic something could be worked out.
"We had an opportunity to win, but at the same time they showed why they are the national champs," Price said. "Big-time players make bigtime plays, and those guys did."
Street picked up his second victory of the series, this time throwing five innings, allowing only two hits and striking out six batters.
With the two defeats, Kansas dropped to 33-21 on the season and 8-13 in conference play. Kansas will play face Washburn tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
to tie the game, then neither team could manage a run in the tenth. Texas then took the lead for good in the top of the 11th inning, when the Longhorns scored 2 runs, making the final score 5-3.
After the delay, Texas scored
- Edited by Ryan Wood
Spur edges Timberwolf to win NBA MVP award
The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan edged Kevin Garnett to win the NBA MVP award for the second straight season yesterday
The San Antonio Spurs forward claimed
60 of the 119 first-place votes for 962 points. Garnett, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, got 43 first-place votes and 871 points.
"I think I was pretty solid, as I was last year," said Duncan, a sixth-year pro. "I think our team did a lot better."
He averaged 23.3 points, 12.9
rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.92 blocked shots, leading the Spurs to a 60-22 record.
Duncan is the eighth player to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons, the last being Michael Jordan in 1991-92.
"I never would have imagined to be anywhere close to that list," Duncan said. "It's definitely an honor."
Garnett, the MVP of this season's All-Star game, averaged 23 points, 13.4 rebounds and six assists. His Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division — behind San Antonio and Dallas — and lost to the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant of the Lakers finished third in the MVP voting
with eight first-place votes and 496 points.
During the regular season, Duncan ranked seventh in the league in both scoring and fieldgoal percentage and third in both rebounding and blocked shots.
Despite a less-than-stellar supporting cast, he has the Spurs in position to challenge for another NBA championship.
"He's not one of the flashier guys, he's not one of the guys everybody talks about all the time," teammate David Robinson said yesterday. "But when you watch his game, you just can't deny that he's the most effective player on the court."