UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 18, 1993
13B
Kauffman's death may signal salary limits, cutbacks for club
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ewing Kauffman was not so much the owner of the Kansas City Royals as he was their rich, tender-hearted uncle.
Blow the tuition money in Vegas? Not to worry. Uncle Ewing will cover your loss.
Squander millions again last year on unproductive free agents? Not to worry. Despite constant frustration, Kauffman kept opening his checkbook every winter. He shelled out another $20 million or so in December for pitcher David Cone and shortstop Gret Game.
Thanks to their late owner's vast fortune and undying love for his team and town, the money-losing, small-market Royals have been flexing financial muscle with the stoutest heavyweights in the game. Everything they did, they did first class.
Kauffman left a careful plan for orderly succession when he died Aug. 1 and did as much as he could to ensure the Royals would stay in Kansas City. He also left the team with a $39.7 million payroll, fourth-highest among 28 major club chains.
Fans have reason to wonder whether they have seen the end of the Koch brothers' campaign.
"We're going to have to start looking
at decreasing the payroll," General Manager Herk Robinson said. "How much, I don't know. You don't want to credit or discredit this to Mr.K's passing, but we have to come to grips with that situation.
"I don't think there will be any noticeable change." Robinson added. "There were some things on the horizon that may be carried out to one degree or another regardless of whether Mr. Kauffman had been here or not.
"Our payroll has gotten higher and higher over the years. Had Mr. K remained, I think we would have had to take a good, hard look at that situation and probably discontinued the escalation."
Mostly because of free agent flings, the Royals' payroll has been jumping $3 million or $4 million every year for several years, Robinson said.
Aboard of directors is now in charge of the team, headed by Kauffman's wife, Muriel, and Mike Herman, chief
financial adviser to the Kauffman Foundation and the man who represented the Royals at the owners meeting in Wisconsin last week.
But as for now, the payroll will be downsized.
Eventually, according to Kauffman's long-range plan, a local owner will be found after baseball comes up with a revenue-sharing plan and resolves the television issue.
"But we're not talking about reducing the way some clubs have done." Robinson said. "We're going to care to be a little more careful. But it unlikely we will be involved in unrestricted free-agent signings."
Robinson insists the downsizing would be necessary regardless of the ownership situation.
"We're going to have $8 million less income next year than this year because of the television contract. So, theoretically, whatever our losses were, we're going to have a loss of $8 million with the same payroll," he said.
"I'm not saying we're going to decrease the payroll by $8 million. If Mr. K were still alive, we would recognize the growth we have had over the years in salaries and the fact we will have a minimum of $8 million less income next year."
Chiefs receiver makes comeback
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wide receiver Michael Young was about ready to give it up.
He questioned whether he could make a comeback from back surgery that limited him to three games with the Denver Broncos last year.
Frustrated with his progress, he called his wife during training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs and told her that if things didn't improve quickly, the Chiefs' opening pre-season game at Green Bay would be his last.
In that first game, he caught two passes for 45 yards. And last week against Buffalo, he caught three more passes for 33 yards, making him the Chiefs leading receiver. It gave him renewed hope.
"I could not do the things that I could do before," he said.
"I had lost my explosiveness and some of the things instinctively that I did in the past that made me successful.
In one point during training camp, I honestly thought it was probably in my best interest not to play anymore," said Young. 31, who played four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and four with the Broncos before signing in the spring with the Chiefs as a free agent.
"I was very concerned, and I could just see the concern on the coaches' faces wondering if I was ever going to be able to get back physically where I was before the surgery."
Young said he had some hope after the Green Bay game but he knew he still had a long way to go.
The Chiefs have a youthful corps of wide receivers and looked to Young for his experience.
"Michael knows how to get open, particularly in zone coverage," said Coach Marty Schottenheimer. "He has the ability to anticipate exactly where people are going to be in the zone and find the soft spot in that defense. He's a possession-type receiver, but he's excellent."
young has been at his best in big games, such as the 1989 AFC championship in which he helped the Broncos to the Super Bowl with a 70-yard touchdown catch and a 53-yard reception that set up another touchdown.
"I think that's one of the reasons the Chiefs were interested in me and guys like Marcus Allen," he said. "They want people who have been in those types of games. There's no doubt this team is going to get to the playoffs, and they want guys you can count on the stretch."
The toughest part was coming into a situation trying to be perfect and not make a mistake
Sports Quotes of the Week
That's not how you play the game. I'm glad to get this out of the way." — Joe Montana after his debut for the Kansas City Chiefs in an exhibition loss to Buffalo, 30-7.
"To tell the truth, it wouldn't mean doodle, except I still remember Buffalo and everyone does, too. We got out of this what we wanted. The only unfortunate thing was blowing the lead at the end." — Houston coach Jack Pardee, after the Oilers, who led New Orleans 28-16 late in an exhibition game, lost 37-28.
to gain back the measure of trustfulness I expect from a top flight veteran." — New York Mets manager Dallas Green after pitcher Bret Saberhagen admitted to spraying bleach on two reporters.
"He's going to have to work hard
"Would it be better if Moses weren't as old as heis? I'd have to say yes, but I believe he still
"It it's the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me golfwise. Obviously, I have a little bit better time talking about it than Greg would." — Bob Tway, heading into the 1993 PGA Championship, on the 1986 tournament when he beat Greg Norman on a last-hole bunker shot.
has some good basketball left, that
needs somebody for us to consider."
he's somebody for us to consider." — Philadelphia general manager Jim Lynam on the signing of Moses Malone.
"I think I will remember a lot about James smiling a lot. He was a smiler and a hugger." — Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, on the death of James Jordan, the father of superstar Michael Jordan.
The Associated Press Compiled by Vincent Cinisomo
Huskers, Buffs picked to lead Big Eight pack
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nebraska is a heavy favorite among reporters to repeat as Big Eight football champion this year.
The Huskers were the top pick of 72 of 89 reporters who voted in the league's summer poll, while second-place Colorado received 25 first-place votes. Nebraska compiled a total of 757 points to 698 for Colorado.
The Big Eight said the poll has been correct in picking the conference champion 29 times since it was started in 1946.
Other teams and their total points: 4.
Kansas, 473; 5. Oklahoma State, 348;
6. Missouri, 278; 7. Kansas State, 228;
8. Iowa State, 172.
The only other first-place ballot went to Oklahoma, which received a total of 574 points and was picked to finish third.
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