TUESDAY JANUARY 28, 2003
"I'll tell you right now. Sapp talks too much. That's who we are. That doesn't mean anything."
USAN*38
Tampa Bay's Keyshawn Johnson on team mate Warren Sapp
2B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Inside Sports
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2003
SPORTSCOMMENTARY
Ryan Copeland
reopeland@kansan.com
Ritual ruined by sharing ceremonies
The lonely jerseys hanging in the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse will finally have some company.
Before the season started, the athletics department announced that the requirements to have a jersey retired for Kansas basketball players would be curtailed. The old rules required a player be one or more of the following: Three-time Consensus All-American, Consensus Player of the Year. Final Four Most Valuable Player.
The new additions to these requirements allow a player to have their jersey retired for one or more of the following: First team Consensus All-American, two-time Consensus All-American, Academic All-American of the Year.
Doug Vance, associate athletic director, said the changes were made because too many great players in Jayhawk history weren't receiving appropriate recognition.
To have more than 100 years of Kansas basketball and only nine jerseys retired does seem a little ridiculous.
However, adding 12 new numbers seems a little extreme for one season. Some of the significance of having a jersey retired at a basketball Mecca, like Kansas, is lost when you share the ceremony with someone else.
Drew Gooden and Paul Pierce didn't have to worry about that, but Raef LaFrentz and Howard Engelman will share a ceremony, as will Angela Aycock and Tamecka Dixon.
Having your jersey retired is one of the most prestigious honors in all of sports. It signifies that you will forever be remembered as one of the best to ever play for that team. It should be a night for one player to cherish, not a night for two players who never played together to share.
From 1991, when KU began retiring jerseys, to 200 nine jerseys were retired. In the 2002-2003 season, 12 jerseys will be.
Go on. Say some significance isn't lost.
Groen. Saysome significance is lost. Vance said the scheduling was determined based on the availability of those players in the NBA and on the availability of the other players:
I would rather see Gooden back in the Fieldhouse after he has a couple of years to let his days as a Jayhawk sink in a little. At least wait until after he would have graduated had he not abandoned his team for the all-mighty green.
So thank you very much. University of Kansas Athletic Department. In doing a seemingly good thing, you have also reduced the significance of having a jersey retired. Spreading out the ceremonies honoring these great players would have helped to keep the importance of this ritual intact.
Copenhland is a St, Louis, Mo., senior in journalism.
With the NBA season in full swing, each Tuesday you will be filled in on what former fayhawks playing at the pro level are doing. If there are any players from Kansas basketball history you would like to see an update on, e-mail your requests to rgreene@kansan.com.
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportsswiftier
Paul Pierce — Boston Celtics
If you ask Paul Pierce, there's a good chance he would agree that last week was one of his bests as a pro and
maybe best ever. Not only did the Celtics go 3-1 despite the absence of Pierce's sidekick Antoine Walker, but Pierce also had his jersey retired in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters on Saturday. Pierce scored 30 or more points three times this week, including two 40-point outings. His only game under 30 points resulted in his first triple - double of the year, with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in a win Sunday against Orlando.
Drew Gooden — Memphis Grizzlies
The bad news.
The bad news is that the Grizzlies are back to their losing ways, falling in seven of their last nine games.
The good news though, is that Gooden has been inserted as Memphis' starting power forward with Pau Gasol moving to center.
The past week was rough to the Grizzlies' record but Gooden at least showed up to play his best against their most significant opponent. In Thursday's loss to Sacramento, Gooden recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds; his third NBA double-double.
Jacque Vaughn
— Orlando Magic
Vaughn had a lac- luster week for the most part. The Magic went 2-2 in four games.
but the good news for Vaughn is that he has now cemented the starting point guard job. On Tuesday, Vaughn had not
only his third consecutive double-digit scoring effort, but added 11 assists to go next to his 10 points.
Raef LaFrentz—Dallas Mavericks
Like all of his fellow Jayhawks with the exception of Pierce, it was a roller-coaster type of week for LaFrentz. His
team went 5-1 to improve it record to a league-best 34-9. LaFrentz was scoreless in seven minutes played in a win over Philadelphia on Thursday, but rebounded on Sunday afternoon to score 19 points in a loss to Portland.
The jazz are back to their early-season form, having lost three straight to end a week that began with a 106-103 win over New Jersey
Greg Ostertag — Utah Jazz
Ostertag had two solid outings, with six points and eight rebounds against the Clippers, then 10 points and 11 rebounds against the Spurs two nights later.
Scot Pollard—Sacramento Kings
Pollard still has yet to return from his lower-back fracture suffered early in the season.
A Reader's Request
Ryan Robertson, Kansas Guard, 1996- 1999
Robertson currently ranks 37th on the Kansas all-time scoring list with 1,055 points in his four seasons as a lavhawk.
After graduation, The Sacramento Kings selected Robertson in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, Robertson played a total of only 25 minutes for the Kings and in 2000 landed with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA.
Ryan Robertson
After only one season there Robertson went overseas and is now playing basketball professionally in Holland.
Kansas Athletics Calendar
Women's basketball vs. Nebraska, 7:05 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
TOMORROW
FRIDAY
Track, JayhawkInvitational, at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion
SATURDAY
Men's basketball at Nebraska, 1 p.m. in Lincoln.
For all of you that think that track-and-field does not rock, well it does. Why? Because we have streakers at the indoor meets.
Women's basketball vs. Texas Tech, 2:05 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
Tennis vs. Southwest Missouri State University. 1 p.m. at the Indian Creek Racquet Club in Overland Park.
Track, Jayhawk Invitational, at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion
Swimming and Diving at Arkansas, 1 p.m.
at Fayetteville, Ark.
SUNDAY
APTOP25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' men's basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 26, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
rank team rec pts pvs
1. Arizona (71) 15-1 1,799 1
2. Pittsburgh 15-1 1,697 2
3. Texas 13-2 1,639 4
4. Florida (1) 16-2 1,993 5
5. Duke 13-2 1,425 3
6. Oklahoma 13-3 1,370 7
7. Kentucky 15-3 1,357 8
8. Louisville 14-1 1,298 9
9. Oklahoma St. 16-1 1,189 13
10. Maryland 12-4 1,124 12
11. Notre Dame 16-3 962 16
12. Kansas 13-5 856 6
13. Illinois 14-3 832 18
14. Connecticut 12-3 827 11
15. Georgia 12-4 774 19
16. Creighton 6-1 575 19
17. Wake Forest 13-2 550 17
18. Marquette 13-3 532 20
19. Indiana 14-4 482 14
20. California 14-2 416 25
21. Mississippi St. 12-4 371 22
22. Oregon 14-4 343 23
23. Alabama 5-2 171 21
24. Syracuse 13-2 140 22
25. Missouri 11-4 126 21
Others receiving votes: Others receiving votes: Xavier, 123, Cincinnati 78, Saint Joseph's 68, Burlington 81, N.C. State 59, Michigan 41, Albany 40, Dayton 40, Purdue 33, Utah 17, Presto 51, St. Louis 14, Iowa 13, Gonzalez 11, Texas Tech 10, Kurt 7, Wyington 5, Mamphis 2, Mississippi 2, Manhattan 1, N.C. Willingham 1
图
The finest performance at the KU-MU-K-State track meet was the guy who did the 60 meter sprint naked down the straightaway. Good job, naked dude.
Hey, hey, Gatsby's back, taking KU by storm.
should be a complete embarrassment for anybody who's played for Kansas and anybody that will ever play for Kansas. You guys need to realize that you're representing something better than yourselves, so you better grow up and play some ball, boys.
All I need to know is, do the Crimson Girls need an equipment boy?
Hey, come to the Kansas Relays, and then you'll see more streaking. Weaver rocks!
should be a complete embarrassment for anybody who's played for Kansas and anybody that will ever play for Kansas. You guys need to realize that you're representing something better than yourselves, so you better grow up and play some ball, boys.
It's 2003 and Aaron Miles still looks like Rudy Huxtable.
should be a complete embarrassment for anybody who's played for Kansas and anybody that will ever play for Kansas. You guys need to realize that you're representing something better than yourselves, so you better grow up and play some ball, boys.
We scored about 10 points against Arizona in the second half after being up by 13. That
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Free forAll
I've never been more embarrassed to be a Kansas fan in my life.
guys get beat up. It makes me happy""
guys get beat up. It makes me happy""
Hey Hinrich, you need to grow up and start playing some ball. Arizona just kicked your little booty.
Heard on the Hill
What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial?
"The (Reebok)
"The (Reebok) one with the guy that kept tackling people, because I like to see corporate white
— Rachal Flaster, Overland Park senior
"All the Budweiser commercials because they were funny hilarious."
Mike Kopit, Olathe freshman
"The (H&R Block) Willie Nelson one where he says his face is burning. You just
don't picture Willie Nelson in a shaving commercial."
Steven Adkins, Olathe freshman
"The Budweiser one with the horses and zebra. That was pretty funny."
Dustin Allen, Topeka freshman
— Compiled by Jesse Newell
POLL
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- No, that's asking too much.
Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote
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