SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, February 8, 1994
9
Jordan courts a career on the diamond
Bulls legend signs contract for Sox tryout
By Matt Siegel
Kansan sportswriter
As spring training approaches, one new, highly-recognizable face will be among the hopefuls trying to make the Chicago White Sox's roster. Yesterday, Michael Jordan announced that he had signed a contract with the White Sox's Triple A affiliate, the
Nashville Sounds.
Jerry Reinsdorf, head of the Chicago Bulls and the White Sox, met with a group of reporters yesterday before speaking last night at the Lied Center. He spoke about the business aspects of baseball in as part of the J.A. Vickers Sr. Memorial Lecture series.
"Michael likes challenges," Reinsdorf said. "He likes to do what people say he can't do. He had run out of challenges. Winning three championships in a row hadn't been done in 25 years. Winning a fourth championship wasn't another plateau, and he felt that he could win another scoring title in his sleep."
But how will a player who has not played competitive baseball since high school fight against major-league
pitching? Reinsdorf said that although it was highly unlikely that Jordan would make the team, it simply would come down to whether Jordan was better than who he was competing against.
Reinsdorf said that Jordan would report to spring-training camp in Sarasota, Fla., next week to handle the media onslaught. Jordan would take a few days off once the team reports to let other players have the spotlight, he said.
The spotlight was something that Jordan grew accustomed to during his career with the Bulls. He led the Bulls to three consecutive NBA titles and led the league in scoring for seven consecutive seasons.
Reinsdorf, who called Jordan the
Babe Ruth of basketball and later had said that perhaps Babe Ruth was the Michael Jordan of baseball, said that Jordan signing a minor-league contract wasn't a publicity stunt.
"What kind of marketability or ticket sales would you generate by having a player who can't play?" Reinsdorf said. "If he is going to come up and hit .100, nobody is going to watch him play. The only special consideration was giving a guy a chance who hadn't played in 13 years. It's unlikely that anybody else could call up and say, 'Hey I played high-school baseball, and I'm 31-years-old now, and I'd like to play.'"
And although Jordan faces a difficult task in making the White Sox roster, Reinord said if anybody could
pull it off,it would be Jordan.
"He has unbelievable physical skills," Reinsdorf said. "But what sets him apart is his tremendous will to win. You have to kill him to stop him. It's a long shot for him to make the club, but then again, he's Michael Jordan."
Reindorf said that Jordan's presence would not be a major disturbance during tryouts because most of the White Sox players are familiar with Jordan, who took batting practice in Comiskey Park in 1991. Jordan's tryout also would not be a problem because of his leadership capabilities, he said.
"Last spring in the NBA finals we were up on Phoenix 2-0 and coming back to our place," Reinsdorf said.
"We expected to wrap it up, but instead we lost two out of three on our floor. Now we're getting ready to go back to Phoenix, and everybody's heads are dragging because it's really hard to win an NBA championship on the other guy's court.
"The charter is getting ready to leave, and here comes Michael smoking a big cigar. I asked him what the cigar was for. He said it was a victory cigar, and he was smoking it early."
Reindorf laughed while recalling the memory and then continued.
Scott uncertain after reinjuring his left shoulder
"The plane took off, and I watched Michael," Reinsdorf said. "He spent 10 minutes with each player and then got a card game going. By the time we landed in Phoenix, the Suns never had a chance."
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
'One play in the Kansas game against Nebraska on Sunday looked innocent enough, but it may have put Kansas senior forward Richard Scott's consecutive game streak in jeopardy.
In the first half of the Jayhawks 94-87 victory, Scott was working for position under the basket against Nebraska freshman forward Mikkil
Moore. Then Moore brought his right arm down on Scott's outstretched left arm. The blow reinjured the arm, which Scott had injured on Jan. 24 during practice, and forced Scott out of the game
"The guy hit me pretty good," Scott said. "But it's all part of the game."
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he had no choice but to take Scott out of the game.
"It was tough for me," Williams said. "Here's a guy that's been busting his tail for a long time. I asked him, 'Are you all right?' and he said yes. Then I made the decision that he was fibbing. I can read him, and I saw the pain."
Scott has played in 126 consecutive games in his college career. Only nine other Kansas players have played in more games, but Williams said there may come a time when he would have to sit Scott on the bench.
In Scott's absence at forward, freshman B.J. Williams and sophomore Sean Pearson were asked to step in. B.J. Williams had eight points and four rebounds, while Pearson had 13 points and two rebounds.
"Richard and I had sat down ourselves and talked about it," Williams said. "We asked, 'Is 75 percent of Richard Scott better than B.J. or Sean
in the lineup?"
Scott was averaging 14.3 points and 4.9 rebounds a game before playing the Cornhuskers. Pearson said he and B.J. Williams could not play as physically as Scott did underneath.
"When we go in there, we're not as strong as Richard," Pearson said. "We just have to use the speed we have. It might be a little bit of a disadvantage on defense, but hopefully we'll have the advantage on offense."
Junior center Greg Ostertag said Scott always wanted to be in the game.
"It's going to be hard to get Richard out of the game," Ostertag said. "He's going to have to get a broken leg or something."
Scott said he would get rest and work this week on rehabilitation, but rest did not mean sitting out of practice. He said he still would run to stay in shape.
Although Scott is reluctant to leave any game, he said he knew what was best for the team.
"I don't want to get out there playing 70 or 75 percent when B.J. Williams is playing 100 percent," Scott said, "B.J. is playing the best basketball of his life right now. If I'm going to hurt the team, I'm not going to play."
Even though Scott said he was hopeful about his recovery, Roy Williams said the team now knew the seriousness of the injury.
"I think right now it's settled in on them that Richard is not going to come back from this thing easily," Roy Williams said. "I really believe that until today they thought he'd be okay. Watching him come off there and knowing his shoulder is hurting was tough for me and tough for the kids."
With Scott trying new rehabilitation exercises, Roy Williams said, this week will be important.
"Hopefully it will continue to improve," he said. "But there will come that point when he'll have to sit out."
AP Top 25
The Kansas men dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 after losing at Missouri last month and defeating Nebraska Sunday, North Carolina, which defeated Duke last week at home, reached the No. 1 ranking for the second time this season.
| | Record | Pts | K什 | Pts |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. North Carolina (60) | 19-3 | 1,617 | 1 | 2 |
| 2. Duke (3) | 16-2 | 1,486 | 1 | 4 |
| 3. Kentucky | 15-2 | 1,481 | 1 | 4 |
| 4. Kentucky | 18-3 | 1,369 | 7 | 1 |
| 5. Kansas | 20-3 | 1,270 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. Connecticut | 19-2 | 1,259 | 5 | 5 |
| 7. Louisville | 18-2 | 1,251 | 9 | 1 |
| 8. Temple (1) | 16-2 | 1,205 | 10 | 1 |
| 9. Tennessee | 15-2 | 1,067 | 8 | 1 |
| 10. Purdue | 18-3 | 955 | 8 | 1 |
| 11. Michigan | 15-4 | 955 | 13 | 1 |
| 12. Indiana | 14-4 | 938 | 14 | 1 |
| 13. Massachusetts | 17-4 | 903 | 11 | 1 |
| 14. Syracuse | 15-3 | 795 | 15 | 1 |
| 15. Missouri | 16-2 | 689 | 20 | 1 |
| 16. Missouri | 16-2 | 629 | 19 | 1 |
| 17. St. Louis | 18-1 | 584 | 18 | 1 |
| 18. California | 14-4 | 518 | 19 | 1 |
| 19. Ala.-Birmingham | 17-3 | 459 | 17 | 2 |
| 20. Florida | 18-3 | 436 | 14 | 2 |
| 21. Wisconsin | 14-4 | 364 | 16 | 1 |
| 22. Marquette | 15-5 | 268 | 11 | 2 |
| 23. Miami | 15-7 | 105 | 11 | 2 |
| 24. Illinois | 12-5 | 105 | 11 | 2 |
| 25. Xavier, Ohio | 16-3 | 71 | — | — |
Other receiving votes: Cincinnati 48, New Mexico St. 46, Maryland St. 41, Boston College St. 31, Ohio State St. 31, Georgia Tech 29, Pennsylvania St. 18, Pittsburgh 12, Virginia 10, Wearington 10, New Mexico B. Deaf 7, Mississippi 7, Stanford 7, Brigham Young 5, Alamea 4, Bradley 4, Wentzky 4, Evansville 5, Washington St. 3, Murray St. 2, Nebraska 2, Florida St. 1.
AP Top 25
| | Record | Pts. | Pv. |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Penn State (62) | 18.0 | 176 | 1 |
| 2. Tennessee (9) | 20.1 | 1,711 | 2 |
| 3. North Carolina | 19.1 | 1,605 | 3 |
| 4. Southern Cal | 16.1 | 1,541 | 5 |
| 5. Colorado | 18.3 | 1,459 | 7 |
| 6. Connecticut | 18.2 | 1,298 | 9 |
| 7. Texas Tech | 17.2 | 1,260 | 4 |
| 8. Georgia | 14.3 | 1,277 | 8 |
| 9. Virginia | 18.2 | 1,255 | 10 |
| 10. Kansas | 18.3 | 1,087 | 6 |
| 11. Purdue | 17.3 | 1,046 | 12 |
| 12. Vanderbilt | 17.3 | 1,033 | 11 |
| 13. Louisiana Tech | 17.3 | 970 | 13 |
| 14. Stanford | 13.5 | 845 | 14 |
| 15. Washington | 15.3 | 729 | 17 |
| 16. Florida international | 15.3 | 716 | 16 |
| 17. Rutgers | 14.3 | 557 | 19 |
| 18. Seton Hall | 14.3 | 476 | 18 |
| 19. Auburn | 15.5 | 408 | 20 |
| 20. Albany | 15.5 | 385 | 21 |
| 21. Boise State | 15.3 | 368 | 22 |
| 22. Montana | 16.3 | 237 | 23 |
| 23. Toledo | 16.1 | 252 | — |
| 24. Western Kentucky | 15.5 | 144 | 25 |
| 25. Texas A&M | 15.5 | 123 | — |
The Kansas women dropped four spots in the poll to No. 10 after losing two games on the road in a span of three days. The Jahwahhs lost Friday at Colorado and Sunday at Missouri.
Source: The Associated Press
Others received votes: City St. 118; Southern Mats. u7; LNJ V. 45; Nilion 43; Pondre 39; Mississippi 73; Texas 77; MSW 80; San 38; San DL 31; West昌 22; Georgia 15; Oregon 14; Indiana 12; Minnesota 12; Boiling Green 13; Clemenon 10; Nemo Dam 10; Midtn. 18; Pittston 8; Santa Crea 8; NW Louisiana 7; Alambringham 8; Maryland 5; Stephen F. Austin 4; George Washington 3; Daltonia St. 3; Creighton 2; Siena 2; Arkansas 1; Joseph 8.
Source: The Associated Press
Kansas senior catcher Kent Mahon prepares to throw the ball during last night's practice. The team will open the season Friday against North Carolina State in the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.
Jennie Zeiner/ KANSAN
Baseball team steps to plate
By Andrew Gilman Kansan sportswriter
The year is 1994, but the goals for the Kansas baseball team haven't changed.
"Our goals have always been the same," said senior designated hitter Kent Mahon. "To win the Big Eight Conference and to win the College World Series. We didn't meet those goals last year, but they're the same this year."
The Jayhawks will try to return to the College World Series when they open their season Friday against North Carolina State and Tennessee at the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee. Fla.
Kansas also will play Central Florida on Saturday. The Jayhawks then will play in either the consolation game or the final on Sunday.
The other three teams all played in the NCAA tournament last year, and both Central Florida and Tennessee won their respective conferences.
The four-team tournament boasts some quality competition.
"I want to put a competitive team out there," Bingham said.
But KU coach Dave Bingham said he was more concerned with his own club's performance.
Igou had a .345 batting percentage last year in 60 games and knocked in 54 runs. Monroe is a career .343 hitter during his three-year career at Kansas, and Oelschlager hit .388 as a freshman at Arizona but suffered through an injury-plagued year in 1992.
The Jayhawks will boast a strong hitting team, anchored by three returning outfielders; seniors Darryl Monroe and Ron Oelschlager, and junior Josh Igou.
"It's going to be a lot of fun in the outfield," Igou said. "We all understand and know what each of us can do. We know each other real well."
"If there's one part of the team that could anchor the rest, it would be the outfield," Bingham said. "Those three guys give us something that we can base our team on."
Although he put up some impressive numbers, Igou said he would be looking to help the team, and not himself, this season.
"My concern is to win the College World Series," igou said. "I don't like setting individual goals. The team is more important. The day players start playing for themselves is the day they start hurting the team."
The Jayhawks have been practicing for more
than three weeks and are ready to get the season under way.
Mahon, who spent time last year as catcher and designated hitter, only will be hitting this year. Mahon returns after coming off of a successful rehabilitation of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
"This week everyone is ready to go," Mahon said. "Everyone was upbeat the first week of practice, but we got restless during that second week. We just want to go out and play our best game."
"As of yesterday the doctors said I was ready to go," Mahon said. "I think now I'll be able to concentrate on my hitting."
The Jayhawks will use this weekend's tournament to gauge how good the team is.
"Winning is not everything." Igou said in reference to this weekend. "I think we play very good. Win or lose, I don't know. We'll do what we can do."
Bingham also was confident in the team.
Bingham also was confident in the team.
"I think anytime you put us on the field, we play the type of game that will allow us to win, Bingham said. 'We'll use this weekend to see where we're at, but we're planning on winning.'"
Tigers stalk first place in conference
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 5 Kansas may have the higher ranking in the polls, but there's a quiet little team in Columbia, Mo., that has risen above its humiliation in Arkansas earlier this season.
The No. 15 Missouri Tigers, blown out by the Razorbacks when Arkansas was No. 2, won on the road in Oklahoma Saturday — their fourth league road victory in a 7-0 conference start.
Guard Melvin Booker and center
Jevon Crudup finally seem to be playing up to potential. Barring a total collapse, venableable coach Norm Stewart will have another Big Eight trophy to put behind glass at the Hearnes Center.
Missouri beat Oklahoma 104-94 Saturday.
Missouri has a three-point shooter to give Booker a choice between distributing the ball inside or outside. Guard Mark Atkins hit seven three-pointers and scored 24 points for Missouri, 16-2 overall.
Atkins' biggest 3-pointer came with
Crudup scored 25 points and had 15 rebounds.
Kansas State, 14-6 overall and 3-5 in
2:09 to play and the score tied at 89. He worked off a screen and hit the long jumper to give the Tigers the lead for good, 92-89, and was fouled on the play. He missed the free throw, but Crudup came down with the rebound and Missouri stretched its lead to five.
In other games Saturday, Colorado gave the bewildered Kansas State Wildcats a 67-11 loss, and Oklahoma State defeated Iowa State 79-66.
the conference, is foundering. The Wildcats blew a 12-point lead to Colorado on Saturday, prompting some intense internal discussions.
Colorado, 10-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play, was led by guard Donnie Boyce, who had been suspended for Tuesday's game at Iowa State for skipping class. Boyce returned to score 30 points, including 19 in the second half.
In Ames, Iowa State dropped into last place in the conference with its loss to Oklahoma State.