FRIDAY MAY 2, 2003
"No one ever talks about Iowa State until he does something like this." Iowa State senior Heather Kuhl on Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy's recent problems
2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Inside Sports
Jonah Ballow
jballow@kansan.com
The funny question to ask here: What would have happened if another infamous coach had been caught doing the same thing? Say — Bobby Knight.
Off-the-court shenanigans affect schools
This is a 47-year-old man going to college parties after his team has lost games and taking part in behavior that is not only harmful to Iowa State but to his family.
In college athletics, the coaching standards are much different than in professional sports.
The press would absolutely have a field day if Knight had been caught at a college party although it's hard to imagine this scenario.
This week reports came out about Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy making appearances at college parties, drinking beer and kissing female students.
Yesterday, another college coach came to the forefront of sports news. Alabama football coach Mike Price reportedly attended a topless bar in Florida and spent hundreds of dollars. The night before, a young woman in Price's hotel room charged more than $1,000 in food and drinks to his bill.
First, Iowa State should fire Eustachy as soon as possible even though he claims to have a drinking problem that is to blame for his poor judgment.
Sorry, Larry, I don't buy it.
Secondly, while Price may have not used his best judgment, he should not be fired. If every man who went to a strip club were fired, there would be a huge line at the unemployment office.
Are all coaches held to the same standards? This question is hard to answer but is important to consider.
The difference between the two situations is that Eustachy went to these parties during the season, after a game against a conference rival, and represented his university in a disrespectful manner.
Both these coaches need to understand that every bad moral decision they make will come under high scrutiny because they represent something more than just a team.
In college, the coaches are a part of a university that is essentially a community. The coach is directly placed with the name of the college and his actions will either reflect the institute in either a positive or negative light.
The futures of these two coaches are up in the air, but one thing is for certain, every college coach in the nation should examine if his or her actions could damage their universities' credibility.
Ballow is a Littleton, Colo., junior in journalism.
Texas to adjust after Ford's exit
FRIDAY,MAY2,2003
The Associated Press
AUSTIN - All-American point guard T.J. Ford is leaving for the NBA after leading Texas to its first Final Four appearance since 1946 as a sophomore.
Expected to be a lottery pick in the June 26 NBA draft, the 5-foot-10 Ford won the Naismith and Wooden awards as national college basketball player of the year.
"It's been a real tough decision," Ford said yesterday at a news conference, sitting beside coach Rick Barnes. "I will be in the NBA draft and forgo my final two years."
He led the Longhorns in scoring, assists and steals this season, after leading the nation in assists as a freshman. His 527 career assists rank second in Texas history.
Ford had an injury scare two weeks ago when he spent four hours in an emergency room after falling during a pickup game on campus. Ford downplayed the injury as a "spill" and the medical treatment as precautionary but did not disclose details.
Texas lost to eventual national champion Syracuse in the NCAA tournament semifinals.
During the season, Ford said he was "110 percent" sure he would return for his junior year. But soon after the season ended, he made it clear he would consider leaving for the NBA, telling reporters at the team banquet he wanted to leave his options open.
With Ford, Texas figured to be among the favorites for the 2004 national title. Now it's unclear how strong the Longhorns will be.
Texas returns starters James Thomas, Royal Ivey and Brandon Mouton, and key reserves Brian Boddicker and Symill Harris, all seniors. Replacing Ford at point guard would likely fall to Kenton Paulino, who rarely played last season as a freshman, or junior-college transfer Edgar Moreno.
Sooner arrested on drug charges
The Associated Press
Junior Jabahri Brown was booked into the Cleveland County Jail on complaints of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Lt. Tom Easley.
NORMAN, Okla. — Two University of Oklahoma basketball players were arrested yesterday, one on drug complaints, Norman police said.
Both charges are misdemeanors,
Easley said.
Brown and redshirt freshman Matt
Gipson were taken into custody about 10:15 a.m. by officers serving outstanding traffic warrants on Gipson, Easley said.
Brown, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound center, played in 32 of the Sooners' 34 games, starting 21 and leading the team in blocked shots with 41. He averaged 6.3 points per game and was the third leading rebounder with 5.5 per game.
Gipson came to the door and was cooperative. Easley said, then the officers noticed something else.
Gipson, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound swing player, played 91 minutes in 17 games off the bench, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.
"In plain view, officers observed a substance they believed to be marijuana and also a device used to roll cigarettes," Easley said.
Brown was being held on $2,000 bond and Easley said charges are expected to be presented to the district attorney today.
Gipson was taken to Norman municipal court to meet his attorney and pay fines for traffic warrants, Easley said.
Heat's Mourning may be cleared to return to NBA
MIAMI — Alonzo Mourning expects doctors to soon clear him to play next season after missing the past year because of kidney disease, his agent said yesterday.
The approval for the Miami Heat star should come in the next few weeks, agent Jeffrey Wechsler said.
"When he gets the OK from the doctors,he'll be clear to play next season." he said.
Mourning told Sporting News Radio on Tuesday that doctors were encouraged by the improvement, saying they had given him the "thumbs-up to possibly go out there and play the game again."
The 33-year-old Mourning was diagnosed in October 2000 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease that can eventually require a transplant. He played in just the final 13 games for the Miami Heat in the 2000-01 season, but appeared in 75 games the following season and made the All-Star team for the seventh time.
Last September, shortly before training camp. Mourning was advised by doctors to skip the 2002-03 season because test results indicated his condition had worsened.
Mourning said his preference would be to return to the Heat, with whom he has averaged 19.8 points per game in his seven seasons.
The Associated Press
Eustachy fights for trust; fans rally in his support
The Associated Press
AMES, Iowa — Suspended basketball coach Larry Eustachy will fight to keep his job at Iowa State and is confident he could regain his credibility.
"It's the only way I know how," Eustachy said yesterday on ESPN Radio. "You preach that and you teach that. I just believe that I'm the best person for this situation. Until I'm told that I'm not, I'm going to fight for it."
Eustachy spoke with ESPN Radio one day after revealing he was being treated for alcoholism and learning that athletic director Bruce Van De Velde had recommended that he be fired.
"There's a lot of people that were let down," Eustachy said. "I'd like to make them proud again. Most particular, there's a bunch of players that were counting on me and are counting on me and would like to see us put it all together.
Van De Velde's action followed newspaper reports that Eustachy had partied with college students in Columbia, Mo., and Manhattan. Photos from the Missouri party show Eustachy holding a beer can while kissing and being kissed by young women on the cheek.
"I know my wife and my family, my parents and everybody would really like to have me show everybody what can happen as a sober person. So I'm sitting here with my hat in my hands and as sincere as I can be."
Eustachy, who was suspended with pay, has until Monday to appeal Van De Velde's recommendation.
Asked if his firing was warranted,
Eustachy replied, "I'm not sure if I'm the one to judge that. I can only tell you how I feel and what I'd like to have happen."
About 50 Iowa State students gathered yesterday in front of Beardshear Hall, which houses the university's top administrative offices, to show their support for Eustachy.
They cheered as players Jackson Vroman and Jared Homan walked up.
"I came here to play basketball for Larry Eustachy," said Vroman, a junior forward. "I don't know if I'll be around here if he doesn't coach."
Van De Velde said Eustachy brought "profound embarrassment" to the university and violated a good behavior clause in his contract.
Doug Gross, one of Eustachy's attorneys, said he was still gathering information and no appeal had been filed.
"We think the contract provides him with protection," Gross said. "We're just trying to assess what their proposal is. Any relevant statutes, rules or laws will be part of the analysis."
Eustachy's contract allows him to permit Van De Velde's decision to Tahira K. Hira, an assistant to university President Gregory Geoffroy. Hira then would conduct a hearing and decide whether to uphold Van De Velde's recommendation.
Her decision could be appealed to Geoffroy.
A hearing must be held within 20 days of an appeal unless both sides agree to a different time.
POLL
kansan.com What does the Uni- versity of Kansas
need in an athletics director?
Afundraiser
Someone who treats all sports fairly
Most important is a person who has a good relationship with Mark Mangino and Bill Self
An AD who knows where the money is — football and basketball
Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote.
TODAY
Kansas Athletics Calendar
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City, Okla.
TOMORROW
Baseball vs. Texas, 7 p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
Baseball vs. Texas, 2 p.m., Hoglund Ball-pi
Rowing, Big 12 Regatta, all day
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma
City, Okla.
Track at Ward Haylett Invitational, all day, Manhattan
SUNDAY
Baseball vs. Texas, 1 p.m., Hogland Ballpark
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City, Okla.
KANSASTRACK
Track and field to compete at invitational in Nebraska
The men's and women's track and field teams will compete in Lincoln, Neb., tomorrow in the Ward Haylett Invitational.
Field events begin at 11 a.m., and run ning events start at 1:30 p.m. The final event is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
This will be the Jayhawks' first trip to Lincoln during the outdoor season, but some athletes will return later season when the Nebraska will host the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Midwest Regional May 30-31. Twenty-four Kansas athletes have qualified to participate in one or more events.
Team members will also compete today at the Cardinal Invitational hosted by Stanford.
-Chris Wintering
Free for All
To the person driving around town with the Dallas Stars flags hanging out of their car: Yeah, you're the only one here who cares about hockey.
Is it just me or are Jeff Graves and Jeff Hawkins Dr. Evil and Mini Me?
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