6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009
KC's Bannister pitches the Royals to a 7-1 victory against Blue Jays
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brian Bannister gave up one hit over seven innings and Jose Guillen hit two homers to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Monday night.
The Blue lays entered the game leading the majors in runs, batting average and slugging percentage, but Bannister limited them to Adam Lind's first-inning single. Bannister walked six, including five of the first 14 batters he faced.
Bannister (2-0) has allowed one run and five hits in 13 innings in winning his two starts since being recalled April 22 from Triple-A Omaha. He retired 13 of the last 14 Blue Jays he faced.
Guillen, who had his 12th multihomer game, homered in the first
with Willie Bloomquist aboard,
and led off the fifth with his second of the season.
After walking the bases loaded in the third, Bannister retired Scott Rolen on a first.
pitch groundout.
Miguel Olivo, who struck out
Bloomquist's sacrifice fly in the sixth scored the final run.
Guillen, who had his 12th multihomer game, homered in the first with Willie Bloomquist aboard.
in all three of his at-bats Sunday, homered off Blue Jays left-hander David Perry in the fourth after Alberto Callaspo and Mike Aviles had singled.
whose ERA jumped to 7.01, has not pitched beyond 5 1-3 innings in his past four starts.
Perry (0-2) was pulled after five innings, allowing six runs and eight hits, three of them home runs, and three walks. Perry,
Notes: Callaspos singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
Rolen singled in the ninth off Kyle Farnsworth, the third Kansas City pitcher, for the only other Toronto hit.
He is 16-for-34 in that span. Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill went 0-for-4, snapping his hitting streak at 11 games.
Royals left-fielder David Delesus, who is in a 1-for-17 skid, and DH-1B Mike Jacobs, who is hitless in his past 14 at-bats, were held out of Kansas City's lineup.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Royal Joy Guillen right, celebrates his two-run home run with Wille Bloquemont in the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in Kansas City. M. Guillen had two home runs on the night.
NFL
Buccaneers draft former Kansas State quarterback
Josh Freeman was the 17th selection in the draft and the first quarterback taken by the Buccaneers in the first round since 1994
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 first-round draft pick Josh Freeman, center, poses with head coach Raheem Morris, left, and general manager Mark Dominik, after a news conference Monday in Tampa. Fla. Freeman was a quarterback at Kansas State.
BY FRED GOODALL
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Josh Freeman isn't offering any bold predictions, just a promise to do everything possible to be the player the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on to lead them back among the NFL's elite.
"I have no idea how it's going to work out. All I know is I'm going to do everything within my power to make the Buccaneers a better football team," the former Kansas State star said Monday.
The Bucs envision him developing into a franchise quarterback, but aren't necessarily expecting him to contribute right away.
"Whether that's playing this year, not playing this year, playing
a couple of years down the road being the man. Whatever it takes, whatever helps this team win, I'm ready to do."
Freeman was the 17th selection in the draft, the first quarter-back taken by the
Bucs in the first round since Trent Dilfer in 1994.
"Whatever it takes, whatever helps this team win, I'm ready to do."
The pick was not a hit with Bucs fans, who know little about Freeman because they rarely had an opportunity to watch his college
Tampa Bay has won with defense for so long that some fans can't fathom linking their hopes to a young, strong-armed passer.
games on television.
JOSH FREEMAN Tampa Bay quarterback
"I've been part of this organization for 14 years, and I got to start with it when (Derrick) Brooks and (Warren) Sapp stepped in the door. So I understand this town and how important defense is to it," said Mark Dominik.
Dominik took over as general manager in January and has made significant changes on both sides of the ball.
"The year before I got here is the last time we took a quarterback in the first round, so I knew that there was going to be some reservations about that consider-
big what this town is so used to. But I'm excited about what we did in terms of the direction and long-term plan for this franchise."
Freeman, one of three quarterbacks selected in the first round, is not fazed by the reaction. He feels he's every bit as
good, if not better, than Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez.
Although he didn't win as many games at Kansas State as Stafford with Georgia and Sanchez with
Southern California, Freeman believes he has the strongest arm of the three and that his size (6-foot-6, 248 pounds) and strength are assets, too.
I'm from a smaller school that maybe didn't have the national spotlight all time, didn't win as many games as the other guys. I expect a little bit of this. I but I hear here great fans
"You have to take it in stride" he said of criticism of the pick.
here. People respond to winning,
so I think if I go out and play well,
they'll have no complaints then."
"He's the long-term answer, there's no doubt about that."
The Bucs say they won't rush Freeman, who joins Byron Leftwich, Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Josh Johnson on the roster.
First-year coach Raheem Morris expects to take four of them to training camp.
Freeman is eager to begin learning the offense, adding that he doesn't have any preconceived notion about whether it would be more beneficial to him for the Bucs to play him right away or bring him along slowly.
"I think both situations have pros and cons," said Freeman, who's known Morris since the Bucs coach was defensive coordinator
RAHEEM MORRIS Tampa Bay coach
at Kansas State for one season in 2006 — the quarterback's freshman year.
"It's more than just knowing the playbook," Freeman said. "It's a matter of understanding the concepts and where exactly to go with
the ball.
"When the coaches feel like I'm ready, and that I'm the best option to go out on the field, then that's when I expect to do it. I don't expect to go out when there is a better option. And, I do expect to be the
best option. It's just a matter of time."
While Morris doesn't want to place limitations on Freeman, he also doesn't want to rush the 21-year-old's development.
It wouldn't be the first time, Freeman became the starter at Kansas State less than a month into his freshman season.
"He's the long-term answer, there's no doubt about that," the coach said. "But if he forces his will ... and becomes the best quarterback, there's a good chance you'll see him play."
"We didn't have a whole lot of talent around us, but every time he'd walk on the field you felt you had a chance to win with this guy leading you," Morris said.
SOCCER
Swine flu fears force CONCACAF to cancel end of under-17 championship
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and the United States had clinched spots in the semifinals of the tournament, being played in Tijuana. But after the Mexican government announced it was closing schools nationwide, CONCAFAF said Monday it would abandon the tournament "to safeguard the health of players, officials and fans."
NEW YORK — Concerns about swine flu prompted CONCACAF to cancel the rest of its under-17 soccer championship in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Health officials say 20 deaths in Mexico are confirmed to be from swine flu, which is also suspected of causing more than 100 other deaths there.
"Our primary concern is the safety of our athletes and all of the athletes that were involved in the tournament," said Neil Buetle, spokesman for U.S. Soccer. "If CONCACAF feels this is the best
The U.S. team, which had won all three of its group matches, was heading back to Bradenton, Fla., where the players and coaches are based.
decision to ensure the safety of all the athletes, we support that."
The semifinals of the U-17 tournament were scheduled for Wednesday in Tijuana, with the championship and third-place matches on Saturday. All four teams will advance to the U-17 World Cup, which is Oct. 24-Nov. 15 in Nigeria.
CONCACAF, soccer's governing body for the North and Central American and Caribbean regions, also postponed the second leg of its Champions League finals until May 12. Cruz Azul and Atlante FC, both Mexican teams, were to play Wednesday in Cancun for the title of CONCACAF's best club team.
Mexico City has been hit hardest by the swine flu epidemic, and many sports have already taken measures to help stem the outbreak. Three football games were played behind closed doors last weekend.
CONCACAF will decide Tuesday whether to proceed with its beach championship, scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday in Puerto Vallarta.
Atlante leads the two-game series 2-0 after winning in Mexico City last week.
and Cruz Azul had said it would do the same for this Saturday's game against Indios of Ciudad Juarez.
The Mexico City club played in an empty stadium Saturday at Pachuca, about 35 miles from the capital.
the outbreak develops," said a spokeswoman Monday at the Mexican Football Federation, who said she was not authorized to give her name. "There is no general policy yet, it all depends on the
"We are going to wait to see how
"If CONCACAF feels this is the best decision to ensure the safety of our athletes, we support that."
World Cup qualifying match June 10 in Mexico City. CONCACAF secretary general Chuck Blazer said it was too soon to know if that match will be rescheduled.
Mexico's national team, under new coach Javier Aguirre, has closed its training sessions this week at its center on the southside of the federal capital. Mexico is scheduled to host Trinidad and Tobago in a
NEIL BUETHE U.S. Soccer spokesman
A top baseball team moved its games this week to northern Mexico, and a weekend diving tournament — headed by leading Chinese divers — was held without any fans.
decision of the individual clubs."
A Canadian Tour golf event will take place as scheduled this week, though the San Luis Potosi Open
will be closed to fans and local caddies.
"We are taking every precaution with our players at San Luis Potosi and will watch the situation closely," said tour commissioner Richard Janes, who was in Mexico all last week.
Those precautions
those precautions include the use of bottled water only, hand sanitizer, the availability of medical practitioners, and the recommendation players stay at the club and host La Loma Resort and not travel into the town of San Luis Potosi.
"While we have seen 10 to 15 players withdraw, our players are all independent contractors and many are still arriving from Latin America, the United States and Canada, all eager to play," James said.
NFL
Former Chiefs coach dies of surgery complications
DALLAS—Former Kansas City Chiefs coach Frank Gansz, who spent much of his NFL and collegiate career working with special teams, died Monday at a Dallas hospital.
SMU spokesman Brad Sutton said Gansz developed complications after undergoing knee replacement surgery last week and died Monday afternoon. Gansz had been special teams coach for the Mustangs last year.
"In his over 30 years in foot ball, Frank was a tremendous coach, a beloved teacher and an outstanding person," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "He will be missed."
SMU coach June Jones said he was saddened by Gansz's death.
"Frank has been a second father to me for the past 30 years and he has touched the lives of many, both at SMU and throughout the National Football League," Jones said in a statement. "I was lucky to have known Frank, and not only was he a wonderful person, but he was a father to everyone he has ever coached. He will live on with us. My team will miss him as a coach and mentor, but most of all, I will miss him as my best friend."
Other steps included special teams coordinator for Jacksonville, Atlanta, St. Louis and Detroit, as well as stints at Philadelphia, Cincinnati and San Francisco. He was on the Rams' staff for their 2000 Super Bowl win.
Gansz, who was 70, coached for 38 years, 24 in the NFL. He was head coach of the Chiefs from 1987-88. He also was an assistant for the Chiefs twice before taking over the head coaching job.
Former NFL coach Dick Vermeil said in a story for Monday's online edition of The Dallas Morning News that the Rams wouldn't have won the Super Bowl without Gansz.
"He was the finest football coach I ever worked with," Vermeil said. "The quality of the human being matched his coaching skills. ... His vibrancy will live forever in the people that he touched."
.
The Altoona, Pa, native played college football for Navy. After serving as a pilot in the Air Force, he was on the coaching staff at the Air Force Academy, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Army, Navy and Colgate.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Jennifer; and son, Frank Jr., an assistant coach at UCLA.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Associated Press
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