SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, February 10, 1994
11
GUEST COLUMNIST
Woman's view is new addition to sports page
As a faithful sports reader, chances are you opened the paper today, glanced through the sports page and saw the Kansan had hired a female - God forbid - sports columnist. Your initial reaction probably went something like, "Man, this ultra-liberal Kansan has gone and put a woman on the sports page. What in the H-E-double hockey sticks does a woman know about sports!"
Contrary to popular belief, there are females who do in fact know about sports, participate in sports, enthusiastically watch ESPN by choice and even go to Kansas basketball games at Allen Field House for reasons other than checking out the guys.
Sure, I'll admit the "social" opportunities available through sports are a nice benefit. But, watching freshman guard Jacque Vaughn connect for a game winning three-point shot in the waning seconds of the Indiana game in overtime no less $^{-}$ was by far more thrilling than the tall, broad shoulder, dark hairied guy over to my left in seat 7, row B, in the student section, on the second tier of the field house.
Anyway, as I was saying, what a person knows about sports has little, if anything, to do with age or gender. It's more a matter of personal experience.
A true love for sports and the desire to compete are things that must be introduced during childhood and learned and developed through the years. Unless, of course, your name is Greg Ostergay or Scot Pollard, and you're turning 6-foot in grade school—then your calling in life seems pretty much inevitable. Otherwise, with the exception of a few seemingly "custom made" athletes, most people aren't simply born with athletic interest and ability.
As for me, my introduction into the wide world of sports began about 22 years ago.
Only hours after I came home from the hospital, I literally had a ball placed in my hands. Coming into the world at a good 22 inches with nice-sized hands and a firm grip, my two older brothers made sure my hands palmed anything but a doll.
Needless to say, growing up on a farm in Kansas with two older brothers to follow around, my free time revolved around sports of all varieties. However, I was fortunate, my brothers were not the only ones who contributed to my young and growing love for sports.
My mom taught tennis and swimming lessons, so my brothers and I became spring and summer fanatics of the courts and the pool. My dad, a college football and baseball player, taught us a new sport every time the weather changed. Football in the fall, hockey in the winter when the ponds froze, baseball in the summer and basketball in the spring.
In high school, I played basketball, volleyball, softball and ran track. So sports were a part of my life virtually 365 days a year. This dedication and enjoyment paid for two years of college education at Butler Junior College. But did I want to play forever? didn't think so. So after the hardest decision of my life thus far, I threw in the towel and came to Kansas to get a degree in journalism.
Reflecting back on 22 years of running, jumping, throwing, racing, sliding, shooting, laughing and learning, I believe sports and team play can teach a person all they need to know about life. It's all there: good work ethics, dedication, feelings of accomplishment, leadership, teamwork, the fierce desire to compete, the rush of winning and the grace in accepting loss.
As athletes at Kansas can attest, it's amazing how character building a single season can be: preseason conditioning, bad practices, and incredible practices. Those pats on the back from the coach, marathon sprints and ecstatic fans.
I imagine every athlete has a story to tell about their entry into sports and their desire to continue playing. This semester I'll relay some of those stories to you with the hope you can appreciate it as much as the athletes do.
Through the years I've come to appreciate how sports have contributed to my life and the person I become. It makes me wonder about a career as a sportswriter or broadcaster.
When you love something this much, it's too hard to let go.
Naismith Memorial Gardens
Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery-Mauaoleum
The ground breaking ceremony for the the Naismith Memorial will be at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the entrance of the Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery- Mausoleum, 1517 E.15th St. James Naismith, who invented basketball, was the first coach at Kansas. Ironically, he has been the only coach at Kansas with a losing record.
Naismith legacy to be celebrated at local cemetery
By Robyn Wherritt Special to the Kansan
The University of Kansas continues its rich tradition of basketball by honoring the legacy of James Naismith.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Naismith Memorial will begin at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery-Mausoleum, 1517 E. 15th St.
Speakers and honored guests who are scheduled to appear include Jim Dodd, who is Naismith's grandson, and Bob Allen, the son of former Kansas coach F.C. "Phog" Allen.
Kansas coach Roy Williams, who often visits Naismith's grave, also is scheduled to speak.
Karnes spoke with fellow owners Richard Link and David Duffy. Soon, their dream began to grow. With financial assistance from the University and the Lawrence community, the memorial will include a garden, benches and ledgers that honor and commemorate not only Naismith's history, but all of Kansas basketball's former and current coaches as well as several distinguished former players.
"This memorial is a long-time dream for me," Karnes said. "It has been in the planning stages for five years. After 100 years of basketball, I believe it is long overdue."
The idea for the memorial began after three men purchased the cemetery in 1988. Frank Karnes, who is one of the owners and an avid Kansas sports fan, learned that Naishtm was buried in the cemetery. Karnes then decided he wanted to honor the "Father of Basketball."
ketball in 1891 in Springfield, Mass. Working as a physical education instructor at the School for Christian Workers, he was asked to develop a game that would occupy students' time between football and baseball seasons.
In 1898, Naimith brought the game to Lawrence, where it received some fine tuning. After starting with peach baskets as goals, basketball has evolved into today's fast-paced sport.
Naismith invented the game of bas
Naismith coached Kansas from 1898 to 1907 Ironically, his 55-60 career coaching record is the only losing record among all Kansas coaches.
Naismith preferred to be called the "Father of Basketball" rather than the first coach of basketball. He once told his successor and former student, Dr. F. C. "Phog" Allen, "You don't coach basketball, you just play it."
Karnes said the memorial was receiving an enormous amount of support from the basketball community. Naismith and Allen, and former Kansas players Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith all will be honored at the ceremony.
Rupp, who went on to coach at Kentucky where he finished with a 880-190 career record, will be represented tomorrow by his sister, Elizabeth Lawson.
Williams will attend on behalf of Smith, who cannot attend because of his coaching duties at North Carolina. The memorial will be dedicated on April30.
Practices, homework, substitute role keep freshman center Pollard busy
"I'm happy to see the life of Dr. James Naismith is going to be honored," Williams said. "I personally look forward to seeing it become a reality."
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
Every freshman must make changes in study habits and living arrangements in college.
But for Kansas freshman Scot Pollard, more homework is not the only thing on his mind.
"It seems like I'm always either studying or practicing," the 6-foot-11 center said. "It's tough. Time management is the toughest part."
The Kansas basketball team has only one day off from practice during the week. The team usually practices for three hours, but Pollard and other players arrive early to warm up.
After practice is finished, the studying begins for Pollard. However, he does not have to go to as many study halls now because of his 2.76 grade point average. The GPA may not seem like a great accomplishment, but with the class time that basketball players miss on the road during the season, it's not as easy as it looks.
In that regard, Pollard said that Kansas coach Roy Williams' program for freshmen was helpful.
"That's what Coach Williams does really well, dealing with the adjustments the freshmen have to make," he said. "You've got a required amount of tutoring hours and study hall hours. As you make the grades, then they don't make you go to study hall as much."
When Pollard made the move to Kansas from Kennendick, Wash., he knew that he would play. What he didn't know was that he
would be averaging almost as many minutes as junior center Greg Ostertag.
Kansas junior guard Calvin Rayford said the team did not lose anything with Pollard in the lineup in place of Ostertag.
"They're both good low-post players," Rayford said. "I can get them both the ball, and they know what to do with it."
Pollard is averaging 17.6 minutes a game.
He has averaged 6.8 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Ostertag has started every game this season, but Pollard is usually the first player off the bench.
"I knew Greg Ostertag would be the person in my spot," Pollard said. "I knew I wouldn't be playing the power forward position very much because Richard was there."
Ostertag's stamina has been a continual problem this season, and Pollard said he knew about that during recruiting. But it wasn't the only reason he came to Kansas.
"Of course they mention that because they want you to know you have a chance to play," he said. "All kids coming into college want to know if they're going to step on the court."
"A lot of coaches, when they come into your house, they just tell you what you want to hear about basketball," he said. "Anything I asked Coach Williams, he may have told me things I didn't want to hear, but at least he was honest with me."
When Williams came to visit Pollard, he told Pollard about what his playing time would be. Pollard said he respected Williams because of his honesty.
Williams said he was happy with the progression Pollard had made.
"He has adjusted well to the college game," Williams said. "He's got the size we need, and we will use his quickness."
Even though Kansas is without a healthy senior forward Richard Scott, Ostertag said the Jayhawks had many weapons in the front court. Scott has a nagging shoulder injury that prevents him from playing as much as usual.
"It's not like we're coming in and always looking to the inside," Ostertag said. "But they worry about me, Richard and Scot."
Speaking of pressure, Pollard's mother, Marlyn, came to see her son play against Nebraska on Saturday. He said it didn't phase him.
Pollard knows about embarrassing moments. While Williams was watching him on a recruiting trip, Pollard missed two consecutive dunks in a state playoff game and then fell flat on his back.
"I never really get nervous when people I know are in the stands," he said. "When coaches came to visit in high school I never really thought about it. I knew that if I started thinking about it, I'd try and impress people and do something stupid."
Making adjustments has been Pollard's challenge thus far in his college career, but he said the biggest challenge was not on the court.
"You've got to become more mentally tough," he said. "People think it's just the physical adjustment, that you have to put on weight and that kind of thing. If you're not mentally tough enough to deal with it, you'll just break down and quit."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Kansas freshman center Scot Pollard makes a move to the basket against Southern Methodist University junior center Kwame Brown.
Missouri 82,Colorado 70
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri senior guard Melvin Booker and freshman guard Kelly Thames cooled off a Colorado rally in the second half last night and led No. 15 Missouri, the Big Eight Conference leader, to an 82-70 victory.
Missouri, 17-2 overall and 8-0 in the conference, has won 12 straight at home. It was the 23rd straight loss in Columbia for Colorado, 10-10 and 2-6, which has lost 76 of 77 regular season conference road games. Missouri has not been 8-0 in the Big Eight since 1982.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Paul O'Liney hit back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 57-38 lead with almost 13 minutes left. But then Colorado junior guard Donnie Boyce's jumper triggered a Colorado run, and with 9:20 to play, Boyce cut the lead to 57-50 with another short jumper that stilled the crowd and got the full attention of the heavily favored Missouri players.
With 7:29 left, Booker canned a pair of free throws, then got the ball back a moment later and drilled a 3-pointer that restored Missouri's lead to 12, at 64-52.
Thames led the Tigers with 20 points. His three-point play gave Missouri a 69-56 lead with 5:05 to go.
Big Eight Basketball
Nebraska 76, Kansas State 68
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Nebraska sophomore forward Terrance Badgett tied a career high with 17 points, and Nebraska held Kansas State scoreless during the final three minutes to beat the Wildcats 76-68 yesterday in the Big Eight Conference.
Kansas State, 14-7 overall and 3-6 in the conference, held a 68-64 lead after K-State junior forward Deryl Cunningham hit a short jumper with 3:03 remaining.
But the Wildcats took four shots and turned the ball over twice in the final minutes of the game. Nebraska, 13-6 and 3-4, took the lead for good, 70-68, on a jumper by Nebraska sophomore guard Eric Strickland with 1:52 remaining.
The Cornhuskers trailed 48-41 at halftime but put together a 9-3 run to surge ahead 60-59 with 6:56 to play. Nebraska sophomore guard Jaron Boone scored seven points during the run.
Badgett nearly doubled his season average of 8.7 points per game.
Nebraska snapped a four game losing streak.
St. Louis 90, Iowa State 75
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis junior guard Scott Highmark scored 23 points and No. 17 St. Louis hit 123-pointers in a 90-75 victory against Iowa State on last night.
St. Louis, 19-1, has won five in a row, is 13-0 at home and has wrapped up a 14-0 non-conference schedule, its first unbeaten run ever. The Billikens had little trouble against Iowa State before a crowd of 16,453, fifth-largest in school history.
All five of the top crowds came this season as St. Louis has two more victories than in its previous two seasons. St. Louis led 9-8 before going on a 16-4 run midway through the first half. St. Louis junior guard H.Waldman had eight hits in the run and capped it with a 3-pointer, then a steal and lay-up to make it 25-12 with 6:08 to go.
St. Louis led by as many as 15 points in the first half on Highnams' 3-pointer with 4:08 left. A three-point play and a 3-pointer by junior guard Claggett in a span of 13 seconds put the Billkens up by 20 for the first time, 70-50, with 8:55 left.
Compiled from The Associated Press.