WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2003
"Forget putting him in the ring. It's almost cruel now."
s = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
38
Fight promoter Bob Arum about Mike Tyson
Inside Sports
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Jessica Scott iscott@kansan.com
People across America know about Kansas basketball and the aura surrounding The Team of the University of Kansas. But, after having the opportunity to closely observe the ins and outs of this program, I've developed an overwhelming feeling: jayhawk fans suck.
Jayhawk fans: fair weather or true blue?
Sorry guys, but it's the truth. We're pathetic.
For a long time I thought Kansas had the greatest fans in the country. The media fusses over students camping out, painting their chests and worshipping Roy for five straight months. While those facts may lead one to believe the hype about Jayhawk fans, when it comes down to it, we cannot even compare to "true" college basketball fans from other universities.
I started to realize this in New York City during the Preseason NIT Tournament. As I watched Kansas lose its first game to North Carolina, I was shocked by the lack of fan support. And after Kansas lost its second game to Florida, I could practically see people taking the first exit off Jayhawk highway.
While I know thousands of people who follow the Hawks are loyal, energetic and insightful basketball fans, my experiences following the team for The University Daily Kansan have exposed me to the minority of sub-par Kansas supporters.
The truth is most students go to games only during freshman year, when they can walk to games and camp out easily. But when it comes time to move out of the residence halls, going to games is just too much of a hassle for a lot of students. It's not as easy to get tickets, let alone get a decent seat. Going to games is just too much work.
This fact was apparent to me during the Kansas State game when I heard some of the stupidest comments being yelled from a kid in the student section who looked about 16. After Kirk Hinrich got fouled, he yelled, "Don't EVER touch my schoolmate like that again!"
What? Why would someone yell that?
The kids who yell insulting comments at opposing players really make me embarrassed to be a Kansas fan. FYI buddy: Even the 12th guy on the bench would tear you apart. You know you would trade places with a Division I athlete in a second, so please just stick to intramurals and keep your mouth shut.
The good overwhelmingly outweigh the bad when it comes to Kansas fans. But, the idiotic fans will always scream stupid comments, the rich season-ticket holders will never stand up, and the blue-hairs will continue to file out in herds with five minutes remaining in the game.
Maybe watching the game on television isn't so bad after all.
Scott is a Haven junior in journalism
Speedway pushes for two races
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One way or another, there will be more fans in the seats for Winston Cup action at Kansas Speedway in 2004.
The track in Kansas City, Kan., joined by government and civic groups on both sides of the state line, is pushing hard for a second Cup date when NASCAR reshuffles its schedule for 2004.
But if a second date doesn't materialize, track president Jeff Boerger said, the 2-year-old speedway will expand again after this season. Kansas Speedway added 1,500 seats in the offseason after its second straight sellout year, bringing
NASCAR
"We could go, if the market would let us, to 150,000. We have the infrastructure in place for that." Boerger said Monday.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2003
has already sold out its 2003 season-ticket package.
its capacity to
Last week, he and other officials presented the track's case to its parent company, Daytona, Fla.-based International Speedway Corp.
"Who knows when there's going to be another opportunity to get another race?" said Steve Kelly, the Kansas Department of Commerce's director of business development and a member of the "Project Blitz" team trying to land a
NASCAR's realignment could include moving races between tracks but likely won't involve additional dates. That means older tracks could lose their Cup dates.
second race
Selling out the track's first two Winston Cup races hasn't been a problem.
Attanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway both have been mentioned as candidates to have Cup races taken away. Each of those tracks has two Cup dates each year, and Lowe's also hosts the Winston all-star event.
The season-ticket package at Kansas Speedway sold out in January 45 days earlier than the sellout date in 2001.
Missouri guard enters not guilty plea
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri junior guard Ricky Clemons pleaded not guilty yesterday to a felony charge of choking a woman and refusing to let her leave his apartment.
Boone County Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler accepted Clemons' plea and said a trial date would be set later. The court has a March 3 session to set dates for coming trials.
The hearing lasted about two minutes
Boone County Prosecutor Kevin Crane told the judge that
and neither Clemons nor defense attorney Wally Bley commented to a crowd of reporters and photographers after leaving the courthouse.
Clemons
Clemons voluntarily submitted to a saliva sample before yesterday's hearing but did not elaborate.
Jessica Bunge, 20, of St. Clair, Mo. alleged that Clemons choked her and prevented her from leaving his Columbia apartment the night of Jan. 16.
Clemons was charged with second-degree domestic assault, a felony, and was suspended from the basketball team for one game.
In a separate civil petition for a protective order granted earlier this month, Bunge alleged that the Jan. 16 incident was not the first time Clemons had assaulted her.
Play-by-play announcers for the University of Kansas radio station KJHK 90.7 FM, John Grimmett and Todd Panula, invite you to listen in as they call tonight's men's basketball game against the Colorado Buffaloes live from Allen Fieldhouse. Below Grimmett and Panula bring your expectations for the game.
The Jayhawks enter tonight's game looking for their 105th all-time victory against the Buffaloes of Colorado.
KJHK
The Buffs are looking for all-time victory number 40. That's right — the series record between these two schools stands at 104-39.
Although the Buffalooes (15-8 overall, 5-5 Big 12 Conference) upset the sixth-ranked Jayhawks 60-59 in Boulder less than a month ago, Kansas fans should not be worried. Colorado hasn't left Allen Fieldhouse with a victory since Feb. 10, 1983.
The Jayhawks (19-5, 9-1) have also won 32 of the last 34 games between
the two schools
Kansas has Wayne Simien back and is again a contender for the NCAA National Championship.
Without Simien in the lineup Colorado may have had an opportunity, but with him a defeat is extremely likely.
Look for Simien to be the difference in the game and the reason the Hawks return to dominance.
— John Grimmett, KJHK
Colorado has proven itself to be a contender within the Big 12. It has recorded victories over Texas and Kansas.
Those victories came in Boulder, but tonight the Buffaloes will play in the hostile environment of Allen Fieldhouse.
For the Buffaloes to win, they have to have huge games from their star players. Michael Morandais leads the team scoring 17.4 points per game and will have to live up to that for an upset victory.
KJHK's game coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. on 90.7 FM.
David Harrison will have to dominate on the inside which will become even more difficult with the return of Simien.
Defense is the ultimate key for Colorado in the end, as shutting down Kirk Hinrich was the main reason for the Buff's victory earlier in the season.
Kansas knows what they have to do to win. They have to come out fast and furious.
As long as Kirk Hinrich comes out firing, takes good shots and the 'Hawks pound the inside with their rotation of Collison, Simien and Graves, there should be no doubt that Kansas will chalk up another victory.
Todd Panula, KJHK
Kansas Athletics Calendar
Men's basketball vs. Colorado, Allen Fieldhouse, 6:30 p.m.
Big 12 Swimming Championships, Austin,
Texas, all day
Texas, all day
Baseball vs. Eastern Michigan, Hoglund Ballpark, 3 p.m.
*Softball vs. Cal Poly, 5:45 p.m.
*Softball vs. University of California, Santa Barbara, 8:00 p.m.
Women's Basketball at Nebraska, Lincoln,
Neb. 7:05 p.m.
Big 12 Swimming Championships, Austin.
SATURDAY
TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Big 12 Swimming Championships, Austin,
Texas, all day
*Softball vs. Brigham Young University,
3:30 p.m.
Tennis vs. Denver, Albuquerque, N.M., 1
n.m.
*Softball vs. Utah; 1:15 p.m.
SUNDAY
Tennis vs. New Mexico, Albuquerque,
N.M. noon
- Softball vs. San Diego State, 1:15 p.m.
Baseball vs. Eastern Michigan, Hoglund
Ballpark, 10:30 a.m.
Baseball vs. Eastern Michigan, Hoglund Ballpark, 1 p.m.
Mon's basketball at Oklahoma, Norman,
Okla. 3 p.m.
POLI
kansan.com Now that the Kansas baseball team has
"Games played in the Softball by the Beach Invitational, Santa Barbara, Calif."
knocked off then-No.6 Louisiana State and is ranked No.21,will you attend more baseball games at Hoglund?
I wasn't a fan then, I am not a fan now.
They have piqued my interest. I will go to a few games.
I love baseball and would have gone anyway.
I will start going if they continue to prove themselves.
I love Kansas sports and would have gone anyway.
Log on to www.hansan.com to cast your vote
KANSAS BASEBALL NCAA names third baseman National Hitter of the Week
Kansas' Travis Metcalf was named NCAA baseball's National Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association and the Big 12 Conference player of the week.
The third baseman batted. 588 (10-for-17) and had five extra-base hits in Kansas' four victories last week.
"I was thrilled with his performance this past week and I couldn't be more proud of that young man," said Kansas coach Ritch Price.
Metcalf blasted three home runs in four games last week, including one in each of Kansas's last two victories against Louisiana State. He led the Jayhawks in hits with 10, batting average with a.588, home runs, and RBI with 10, recording at least two base hits in all four games, including a pair of three-hit games against the Tigers.
Metcalf's first hit of the 2003 season was a 3-run swing to left field which gave the Jayhawks a 4-run lead against Western Illinois on Feb.12. He also followed Casey Spanish's blast against LSU with a homer of his own, giving Kansas back-to-back home runs for the first time since May 2000.
Metcalf is the second Kansas player to win the both awards in three weeks; junior Ryan Baty was awarded Hitter of the Week on Feb. 3 and Big 12 player of the week Feb. 11. This is the first time that two Kansas players have named Big 12 player of the week in the same season.
Kansan staff report
PRO BASEBALL
Kansas City Royals player loses arbitration hearing
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Carlos Beltran, who lost his arbitration hearing last week, reported yesterday to the Kansas City Royals' camp amid speculation he could be traded before the March 31 season opener.
Beltran, who led the Royals with 29 home runs, 105 RBI, 114 runs and 35 stolen bases last season, sought $6.95 million in arbitration. The three-judge panel selected the Royals' figure of $6 million.
Beltran made $3.5 million last year.
VIVA
— The Associated Press
MARDI GRAS WEEK
Wed, Feb 26
Texas A&M vs. KU @ 6:30
Spring Break Giveaway!
Grand Prize:
Underwater Camera
Other Prizes:
Tanning Packages &
Tommy Bahama
Gift Certificate
Tues, March 4
FAT TUESDAY
Beads
Contests
Great Drink Specials All
Night
It can only happen @ The Hawk
1340 Ohio·843-9273
Meet the Author...
William Stafford (1814-1900)
was born in Hutchinson,
Kansas and received BA &
MA degress from KU. A noted
peacifist, he is one of America's
greatest modem poets.
Kim Stafford,
director of the Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon, is author of a dozen books of poetry and prose. February 24th 4:00 - 6:00pm Reading followed by Reception & Booksigning (selected works by both authors will be available)
785-864-4431
onsadbook@ku.edu
Kansas Union, Level 2
Jayhawks.com
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