4B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY,MAY2,2003
Title IX issue fuels debate in Big 12
Bv Lorne Chan
By Lorne Chan
Daily Texan via U-Wire
University of Texas-Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — Title IX backers have argued that women's sports have been able to thrive without being detrimental to men's sports. Pete Stroer's collegiate career may say otherwise.
Strover was midway through his sophomore year in March 2001 at the University of Kansas, when his tennis team was given devastating news by its athletics director after a Jayhawk basketball game. They were told that because of budget problems, both the men's tennis and men's swimming teams would be dropped from the KU athletic program.
"The athletic director and his staff sat us down and just told us that we wouldn't be coming back next year." Stroer said.
It was crushing to all members, but they continued to play, sometimes refusing to wear Kansas
shirts at tournaments to show their disapproval of the University's actions.
"There were a couple months left, and we could have easily fallen apart, but we stayed together," Stroers said.
In an even greater show against the school ruling, the tennis team figured out a way to rectify the budget problems.
"I don't know if they were really telling us why the program was cut," Stroer said. "They told us it was for budgeting reasons, and we actually came up with the amount of money to fund the program, but they still wouldn't let it happen."
The facts pointed to the program cuts being a result of compliance with Title IX, to even out scholarships between men and women, as two men's sports were dropped but none on the women's side.
Upon hearing the news, Texas men's tennis coach Michael Center worked to recruit Stroer, who went
the 600 miles down 1-35 to attend Texas, finding a new home in Austin.
Shortly after Kansas dropped men's tennis, it became obvious that the budget was not the issue. Days after the announcement came to the tennis players, Kansas increased its football budget substantially, hiring a new football coach later that year. The moves came under fire by Kansas supporters, and a month after making the cuts, KU Athletics Director Bob Fredericks resigned.
The events that went on at Kansas have happened all over the nation as well as in the Big 12. There are now only three men's swimming teams remaining in the conference and eight men's tennis teams. A month after Kansas dropped men's tennis and men's swimming, Iowa State dropped its baseball and men's swimming programs. Even with the decline on the men's side, growth on the women's side
has been exponential.
Yet, there is also a divide between men's and women's tennis at Texas as well. While the women's team receives eight scholarships, the men receive 4.5 in a sport where at least six players play matches every tournament. Stroer is on a partial scholarship like many of his teammates, while freshman Macey Breece; the No. 6 on the women's team receives a full scholarship. Both teams understand the difference, and Center said there was no animosity between the men's and women's teams.
"I may choose to look at advantages over disadvantages, but Title IX gave me an opportunity, just as it has many of us, who would not have had that chance without it." Breece said. "I'm sure the guys would appreciate a full scholarship, but that's not everything to any of us, men's or women's. We're here to play."
Emporia State baseball looks to extend sweep
Bv Kellen Howell
The Columbia Chronicle via U-wire
Columbia College
CHICAGO — After sweeping Missouri Southern in a three-game series last week, the Emporia State baseball team is looking to take on Southwest Baptist in three games this weekend.
Coach Brian Embery emphasized the team's need to pitch effectively and to play with heart in order for the Hornets to play well and make certain they qualify for the MIAA postseason tournament.
"It is extremely important that we pitch well," Embery said.
SBU, while hanging around the bottom of conference at 6-20, will not be a pushover for Emporia State. Since beginning conference play, the Bearcats have been able to defeat Missouri Western, Pittsburg State and Missouri-Rolla, all teams that have gotten the better of ESU this season.
Senior pitcher Mark Funston, who is scheduled to pitch in the first game of the series today, said ESU must stay focused on the task at hand and keep in mind that SBU is able to win ballgames.
"These are the dangerous teams." Funston said. "They have nothing to lose. They're just going to come in here and play carefree."
The Hornets struggled at the start of the season, dropping eight of their first nine games. The team has turned its season around, moving into third place in the conference and beating some good teams.
Junior pitcher Mark Ward, who will throw in the third game of the series tomorrow, said the team's familiarity accounts for the turnaround.
"A lot of it is that we're playing together," Ward said. "Everybody is starting to understand everybody else's roles and knowing what each other can do and having confidence that the guy behind you can get the job done if you don't."
Team confidence should continue to play an important part of the Hornet's success, not only this weekend but for the remainder of the season and into the tournament should they qualify.
Senior shortstop Josh Stratman said the possibility of postseason play would keep the team driven.
"We all know that we have a chance to go on in the postseason," Stratman said. "I think just knowing that gives us a little drive to succeed, and having that in the back of our heads just makes us play a little bit harder every day."
ESU has the advantage of momentum over SBU. The Hornets have won seven of their last eight games and are currently riding a three-game winning streak, where they have outscored their opponents 29-17.
The Bearcats, however, have dropped five of their last six and have allowed twice as many runs as they have scored in that time, giving up 44 and scoring just 22.
Embery said momentum would definitely be important in this weekend's games and whatever lies ahead for the Hornets.
Red Sox complete sweep over Royals with 6-5 victory
BOSTON — Todd Walker's RBI in the eighth inning sent the Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals last night and a three-game sweep.
The Royals have dropped four straight and five of six after getting off to a franchise-best 17-4 start. Mike Sweeney, Carlos Beltran and Raul Ibanez homered for Kansas City.
Trot Nixon homered for the Red Sox, who won their fourth consecutive game and second in a row in their last at-bat. They rallied to overcome a 5-3 deficit with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Boston improved to 10-1 at home after losing the opener at Fenway Park.
Jeremy Giambi began the bottom of the eighth by drawing a walk from Jason Grimsley (1-2). Pinch-runner Damian Jackson stole second and went to third on Jason Varitek's sacrifice bunt.
Johnny Damon then grounded to first baseman Sweeney, who threw home to start a rundown on which Jackson was tagged out as Damon went to second.
Walker, who tripped in a run in the first inning, then lined a double to left that scored Damon.
Jason Shiell (1-0) pitched a scorless eighth for his first major league victory in seven appearances. Brandon Lyon worked a perfect ninth for his second save.
The Red Sox won 5-4 Wednesday with the help of three hit batsmen in the ninth.
and plate
umpire Larry
Poncino
warned both
teams.
Yesterday, there were three ejections by plate
umpire Phil Cuzzi — Boston starter Casey Fossum and manager Grady Little in the first, and Kansas City catcher Mike DiFelice in the eighth.
The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the first on Sweeney's sixth homer of the year after Beltran singled. Fossum threw the next pitch behind Ibanez and was ejected. Little was thrown out as he argued with Cuzzi.
The Red Sox tied it at 2 in the first when Damon reached on Sweene"s error and scored on Walker's triple. Manny Ramirez's sacrifice fly drove in Walker.
Boston made it 3-2 in the third when Damon singled, stole second and scored on Nomar Garciaparra's fly.
Steve Woodard, who replaced Fossum, allowed two singles in 41-3 innings before struggling in the sixth.
Joe Randa led off with a single and Beltran hit his third homer, putting Kansas City ahead 4-3. One out later, Ibanez's fifth homer made it 5-3 and Woodard was replaced by Mike Timlin.
In the sixth, Nixon, the first batter against Chris Wilson, led off with his second homer of the year. In the seventh, Garciaparra singled, advanced to third on Ramirez's single and scored on David Ortiz' 8 double-play grounder.
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