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SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Ryan Wood rwood@kansan.com
KU Coach nods 'yes'; joins legion of evil dolls
Roy Williams sold his soul.
The guy's won 401 games. He's gone to three Final Fours, had four 30-win seasons and sent several players to the NBA.
He's done it all with class. But he absolutely crossed the line on this one.
When the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation's marketing department approached Williams with the idea of making him into a bobblehead doll, the veteran coach did the unthinkable. He said OK.
Williams is now molded onto a piece of plastic with a spring for a neck. He joins an army of nodders, all with one goal: world domination.
There's the Jesus Christ bobblehead, spreading the gospel of the ever-growing bobblehead empire.
There's also Royals outfielder Carlos Beltran, holding some sort of white grenade with red stitching, ready to destroy any anti-nodder activists that tick him off.
And of course, Wizards' goalkeeper Tony Meola, telling the world that bobbleheads are number one.
Williams is joining the fight for bobblehead supremacy on Earth. The bad news is, it's becoming reality.
They must be stopped.
For now, Williams is the only member of the current KU family to turn on the human race.
But it makes me wonder: what Jay-hawk will join the dark side next?
The marketing department claims it hasn't brainstormed the next Jayhawk to give in, but the possibilities are endless. Such as:
Mark Mangino, football coach — A carefully-crafted nodder, with Mangino's head buried in his hands, bobbing from side to side after another bad loss.
Ray Bechard, volleyball coach - Similar to Meola, Bechard, bobbing head and all, is telling the NCAA tournament selection committee that they're number one — with a different finger, of course.
Jonas Weatherbie, former quarterback — Keys in one hand, beer in the other. Weatherbie's head bobs up and down when asked "Are you really driving yourself home?"
Al Bohl, athletics director — Complete with a bobble-jaw, Bohl talks your ear off, trying to sell you that old rust-bucket Yugo he calls the football team. This bobble-jaw doll really talks! (Two AA batteries and a healthy donation to the Williams Fund required).
Andrew Davison, former cornerback—A bobblehead with a larger spring, to support the gigantic head on his shoulders. Probably won't fit through many doorways.
I'm only touching the tip of this gigantic sword. Beware of others.
According to the marketing department's Mike Harman, Roy's bobblehead is available for $30 at www.kustore.com and through promotions with First National Bank. If they sell like expected, we will all soon be bowing to the Roy nodder and his army of elinky-necks. No matter what they try to tell you.
"Terminator style?" Harman said, not taking me seriously. "No, I don't see that happening."
Oh, how naively Harman's mind works. Bobbleheads have been around for decades. They've watched our patterns, they know our weaknesses and they're ready to strike.
And now, Roy Williams is supporting their movement. He sold his soul.
Wood is a Lee's Summit, Mo., senior in journalism.
Submitted Art
Construction is almost complete for the new Student Recreation Fitness Center, featured above in an artist's rendering. The new center will be located directly south of Watkins Memorial Health Center and will be accessible 18 hours a day for students. Some of the new features include a 45-foot-high climbing wall and in indoor track that will be suspended above the gymnasium.
New athletic centers are intended to benefit students and student athletes alike
By Joey Berlin
Kansan sportswriter
jberlin.kansan.com
University of Kansas students and student athletes are awaiting completion of construction of new sports and workout facilities that will upgrade the University's current recreation and athletic workout venues.
Students have been awaiting the completion of construction of the new Student Recreation Fitness Center since Spring 1999, when they voted for the campus fee that would fund its construction.
The new facility, located directly south of Watkins Memorial Health Center, will offer a number of advantages over its predecessor, Robinson Center. Many students complained about Robinson's inaccessible business hours, but Mary Chappell, Recreation Services director, said things would be different at the new center.
“It's just a different feel, a different way in which recreation is presented," Chappell said. "When you walk in, the whole area is dedicated to you as a student, and to recreation activities."
Mary Chappell Recreation Services director
"The biggest draw will be that it's accessible 18 hours a day for recreation." Chappell said.
In addition, no classes will take place in the main workout areas during that time,giving students free rein to use the available equipment. Chappell said.
"The cardiovascular area is going to be huge compared to Robinson" she said.
Other areas of the center will be similarly impressive. Chappell said the martial arts program would have its own area, and an indoor track would be suspended above the gymnasium. Other features will include official-size racquetball courts, one squash court and a three-dimensional, 45-foot-high climbing wall. The facility's basketball courts will be high-school size, at 50-by-84 feet. Robinson's basketball courts are junior high size.
"It's just a different feel, a different way in which recreation is presented," Chappell said. "When you walk in, the whole area is dedicated to you as a student, and to recreation activities."
Work on the center is scheduled for completion as soon as July, or as late as early September.
Student athletes will soon have a new place to workout, too. The two-story Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center is under construction at the northwest corner of Anschutz
Sports Pavilion.
Brad Nachtigal, director of facilities, said construction on the center was on schedule and about two months away from completion.
The 42,000-square-foot center will feature a cardiovascular area, weight equipment and a locker room. Los Angeles residents Dana and Sue Anderson donated $4 million of the funds for the $8 million complex.
"By helping build a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, the Anderson family will assist us in our continuing efforts to attract and retain excellent athletes," Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway said in a statement posted on kuathletics.com. "The Andersons' remarkable generosity will be appreciated by all of KU's many student-athletes and coaches," he said.
— Edited by Leah Shaffer
Young softball team prepares for season
By Steve Schmidt
sschmidt@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team is less than a month away from regular season play after spending hours in the batting cage and fielding ground balls.
The squad finished its "fall ball" presseason schedule in October with an 8-3-1 record against primarily local competition.
But a lot has changed in the last four months in the Kansas clubhouse.
Senior Kirsten Milhoan and sophomore Serena Settlemier work on pitching techniques in Anschutz Sports Pavallion. The Jayhawks open their season with Mississippi on Feb.7 at the Central Florida Tourney.
Jared Soares/Kansan
When the layhawks go south for a preconference tournament in St. Augustine, Fla., on Feb. 7, they will be without the services of sophomore pitcher Serena Settlemier. She will undergo surgery on her right throwing wrist that will most likely sideline her for the whole season.
Pitching woes aside, the team should be well stocked in both the outfield and the infield. Bunge said several outfielders, including freshmen Ashley Goodrich and Heather Stanley, have adjusted to the outfield nicely after serving as infielders in high school.
"I'm 99 percent sure she's out for the year." Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said.
That means Bunge will look to junior Kara Pierce and senior Kirsten Milhoan to carry the team on the pitching mound as a two-person rotation. Juniors Mel Wallach and Leah Mountain will serve as backups.
"Having a pitching staff of two is doable at the collegiate level, but it's going to be tough on them physically." Bunge said.
The coach said she wasn't sure how she was going to fill the gap left by the departure of last year's seniors Christi Musser, Shelly Musser and Leah Tabb.
us." Bunge said, "Whoever ends up starting in the outfield has big some shoes to fill."
"Outfield was a big question mark for
The infield is another spot were an influx of freshman talent has added
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 8B
Swimmers and divers capture Lincoln meet
By Jason Hwang
jhwang@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawks defeated Nebraska (172.5-127.5) and Louisville (248.5-38.5) last Saturday in Linecol, Neb., improving their record in dual meets to 7-4.
Sophomore Aly Colver captured the 100 and 200-meter freestyle titles with times of 52.96 seconds and 1:53.59.
Kansas took first place in 10 out of 16 events in Lincoln.
Senior Beth Schryer finished first in the 1000-meter freestyle and broke her season record with a time of 10:19.74. She also finished first in the 500-meter freestyle with a 5:04.88.
"We were pleased with the way the meet went for us," coach Clark Campbell said. "Nebraska swam exceptionally well to give us a fight. I thought there were a couple of events that could have went our way, but in the end this was an excellent step forward."
In the 200-meter breaststroke, sophomore Miranda Isaac won the race with a time of 2:24.26. In the 100-meter butterfly, freshman Lindsey Urbatchka placed first with a 59.30 finish. Senior Gwen Haley won both the 200-meter butterfly and the 400-meter individual medley with times of 2:04.31 and 4:26.82, respectively.
In relay action, the Jayhawks won both the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 200-meter medley relay.
In diving, senior Patti Stringham finished fourth in the three-meter event with a
score of 244.65, and sixth place in the one-meter flight with a 229.80 score. Senior Kristi Misejka placed fifth on the one-meter board with a score of 234.45 and sixth with 239.55 points in the three-meter.
"After training for 17 straight days, the team was swimming well for how tired we were going into Saturday." Schryer said.
The Jajhawks' next meet is at home this Saturday versus Colorado State in the Robinson Natorium.
— Edited by Andrew Ward
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