THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ERIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2009
2B SPORTS
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I've dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little. My three years here have been three of the best years of my life. There's no need to cut this experience short."
— Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford announcing his decision to return to school for at least one season.
FACT OF THE DAY
Sam Bradford's decision to return to school marks the first time in history that the top three vote-getters in the Heisman will return the following season. Texas' Colt McCoy (2nd) and Florida's Tim Tebow (3rd) announced last week that they would return to their respective schools.
si.com
BEWARE OF "THE BLOG"
"Blog" Allen: Case Keefer breaks down the matchups in Saturday's contest against Colorado and offers a final score prediction.
The Jay Report: Keefer and
taylor Bern
discuss
Tyshawn T-
ler's emergence as Kansas' third scorer
and Brady Morningstar's role
on the team
COMMENTARY
Philly victories bittersweet for Morris
Marcus Morris thinks he is a jinx.
He lived in Philadelphia for the first 19 years of his life and never saw one of the city's four professional sports teams win a championship. Then three months after moving to Lawrence, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series.
"I was real disappointed about missing the parade," Morris said,
"because Ive never been to one"
Now, Marcus and his twin brother Markieff are bracing for the reality that they might
Morris
missanother championship parade. The Philadelphia Eagles are two victories away from winning the Super Bowl.
They play on the road against
the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the NFC Championship and a spot in the Super Bowl. Do you even have to ask how Marcus sees this playing out?
"I think it's just our year. The Phillies won. It's just the Eagles' time to win this year." Marcus said. "Philly spirit."
Not so fast, Marcus. Surely, he heard the old coaching mantra of "take it one game at a time" from Kansas coach Bill Sell once or twice. Before handing the Lombardi Trophy to the Eagles, who will they have to beat for it?
It will be whichever team wins the AFC Championship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
"I like the Ravens" Marcus said. "The Ravens' defense is playing real good."
To Marcus, the Eagles winning the Super Bowl would mean more than just his hometown team prevailing. It would serve as more ammunition to use against teammates such as Chicago natives Sherron Collins and Mario Little when they talk down on Philadelphia.
"Sherron and Mario just talked about how Philly never wins anything and Chicago always wins," Marcus said. "When we won one, it kind of shut them up a bit."
That babbie has subsided a little since the Phillies' triumph, though.
Marcus, who often wears a Phillies World Series hat he bought while home during winter break, can't wait to see how Collins and Little will react if the City of Brotherly Love wins its second championship in three months.
But Little is prepared for his comeback. He'll just point out where Donovan McNabb, the
Eagles' quarterback and one of Marcus' favorite players, is from
"If Philly does win, it doesn't matter to me because Donovan McNabb is from the Chi." Little said. "Till just throw that in there."
The whole situation seems somewhat bittersweet for Marcus and Markieff. Even if the Eagles win, Little will still claim Chicago bragging rights and the twins won't be able to attend the parade.
"As soon as I leave, all of a sudden the Phillies and Eagles start winning," Marcus said. "And whenever I've been there for 19 years, they've never won anything."
Edited by Liz Schubauer
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
Track Missouri, all day Lawrence
SATURDAY
Swimming & Diving
Nebraska, 2 p.m.
Lincoln, Neb.
Men's basketball
Colorado, 2:30 p.m.
Boulder, Colo.
Women's basketball Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Lawrence
SUNDAY (No events)
MONDAY
Men's basketball
Texas A&M, B p.m.
Lawrence
TUESDAY (No events)
THE FRIDAY GRIDLOCK
| | Best Christmas present ever? | New Year's resolution? | Best movie of 2008? | Biggest story of 2008? | Super Bowl pick? | Who is college football's true champion? |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Jeff Withey, freshman center men's basketball | A bike | I didn't have one this year | Batman, for sure | I guess me transferring | My Chargers are out so I have to go with Philadelphia | Florida deserved it |
| Sade Morris, junior guard women's basketball | iPod | I don't make them because I can never keep them | Tyler Perry’s "The Family that Preys" | Barack Obama becoming president | Steelers | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Clark Campbell, swimming coach | Go-Kart | I don't do New Year's Resolutions but I have goals | Valkyrie | The economy | Steelers | Florida |
| Reggie Carter, junior sprinter track and field | My first bike | To be more patient | Iron Man | Obama becoming president | Eagles all day | Utah, they were undefeated |
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