2B - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS IN BRIEF
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2001
HOROSCOPES
Today's Birthday (Dec. 12).
Pluto, the planet symbolizing transformation, is in your sign. This could explain why you're looking at so many things differently this year. Money and investments, for example. What's important and what's not. What's the truth and what's a lie. What's right and what's wrong. This is good for you, and for all of us.
Aries (March 21-April 19). Today is a 7. You're doing OK, but a friend of yours could get into a world of hurt. He's the one clashing with authority for a change. Be understanding, but let him fight his own battles.
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Today is a 7. You can share your partner's frustration without getting too deeply involved. Somebody has to maintain objectivity, and it might as well be you. You have the best chance of success.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Today is a 6. Do the planning now, and take care of whatever grunt work is left to be done. Everything is lined up for a major assault tomorrow. Focus on supporting a strong partner.
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Today is a 7. Your sweetheart (or a close loved one) has recently suffered a setback. You've often asked this person for advice or comfort when you were down. Now, it's the other way around. Be there.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Today is a 6.
Here's the final score: The good guys win.
Liberty, justice and truth will prevail. If that's the side you're on, have faith. If it's not, you'd better reassess your position.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22). Today is a 6.
There are so many things vying for your attention that it's hard to concentrate. The first thing you need to do is reschedule the stuff that doesn't need to be done right away. Delegate all the stuff you didn't want to do. Then, turn off your phone.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct 22). Today is a 6. Work could interfere with your social life. You may have to postpone a date until another time. Perhaps later tonight will be OK. Put practical matters first, and be flexible.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21). Today is a 5.
An idea, gadget or new recipe could fail
flat. Don't invite people over to try it until
you're sure it's as good as it looks in the picture.
In other words, take nothing for granted.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today is a 6. You can avoid a major expense by going over your notes one more time. Odds are good that something you're thinking of buying isn't a good deal or isn't necessary. Think about it.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today is a 7.
Don't loan money to a stranger. Make it a gift instead, and ask for a gift in return.
That's only fair. If justice is your goal, you'll prosper. If something else is your goal, you'll lose.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Today is a 7.
Your love is still strong, but getting the message across could become difficult. It's hard to move thoughts, people or things between here and there. Be patient. You'll know when the time is right.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Today is a 6.
You may have the greatest idea in the universe, but if you present it at the wrong time, it'll go nowhere. First, listen to what the top brass has in mind. If there's something about that plan you don't like, bring it up in private.
NFL
Denver linebacker says ex-Bronco could be recipient of cheap shots
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite what Denver linebacker John Mobley says, Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil insists he is not worried about any "cheap shots" being thrown at Eddie Kennison this week.
"I think (Denver coach) Mike Shanahan runs too classy an organization to get into that stuff," Vermeil said yesterday. "I'd never believe that's a reflection of Mike Shanahan."
Kennison, who signed with the Chiefs two weeks ago, apparently left some bitterness behind in Denver. The veteran wide receiver retired from the NFL just 16 hours before a Broncos game on Nov. 11.
Then he rescinded his announcement but got cut by the Broncos, who play the Chiefs in Kansas City this Sunday. Denver beat the Chiefs 20-6 on Oct. 7 in Denver.
Mobley told reporters in Denver Monday "it'll be interesting" if Kennison plays against his old team
"I don't think he'll suit up against us, because I know him," Mobley said. "He'll find an excuse now or later in the week."
Kennison, who played for Vermil for two years in St. Louis, left the Broncos amid a turbulent time
for his family, including his father's illness. In his first game with the Chiefs last week, he played only briefly.
"Knowing the way our defense felt about that situation, I think there could be a lot of cheap shots if he gets out on that field." Mobley said.
Vermeil said Kennison could see limited action regardless of what Mobley says. He was added to the roster to help shore up what has been an undeendable wide receiver corps.
"Eddie Kennison is the least of my concerns in regard to Sunday and how we play." Vermeil said. "Maybe some time you ought to sit down and talk to Eddie about the whole thing. I don't know how you'd react if your father had a heart attack. I'm confident we've been helping him become the player he can be."
The Chiefs are Kennison's fifth team in six seasons in the NFL.
"I'm not saying Eddie hasn't had some problems." Vermeil said.
"But they've had some other guys on that roster who've had some problems. Some guys suspended from the league and all that kind of stuff. Now, what does that make them? I think they'd show more class in evaluating their own people. I really do."
Hall of Famers criticize BCS
The Associated Press
"I always wanted to play for the mythical championship. I liked the old system," former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said. "I don't know if the BCS is good. The mythical national championship was fine with me."
NEW YORK — Two of the coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame yesterday criticized the BCS system , which will crown a national champion after Miami and Nebraska meet in the Rose Bowl.
Switzer's .857 winning percentage is fourth best in NCAA Division I history. He also won three of those multihybrid championships, in 1974, 1975 and 1985.
Switzer was among 16 coaches and players honored yesterday. The other coaches were Bill Yeoman and Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association.
Yeoman coached at Houston from 1962-86, posting a record of 160-108-8 and, like Switzer, preferred college football's former championship system.
"I think we've got to redefine the purpose of college football," he said. "If it's for nothing but money,
then why go to school? If we do it for the way it all started, then the bowls system was fine. I thought it was great if there was controversy at the end and three or four sets of alumni were running around, claiming they were No. 1. It keeps them interested."
Teaff, who coached from 1960-92 at McMurry, Angelo State and Baylor, heads the coaches association, whose poll is used as part of the BCS formula. The coaches are also committed to voting the Rose Bowl game winner No. 1, and Teaff said the system did what it was supposed to do.
"What's it's done is created a lot of interest in the game," Teaff said. "I can't remember a time in history when five, six, maybe seven schools had a chance to play for the national championship. It's almost like a playoff if you think about it. Every game was so extremely important.
Yeoman said he opposed a playoff for the national title.
"Look at the Final Four teams in the NCAA basketball tournament and see how much school they missed," he said. "I liked the system the way it was. I thought it was good for football."
Little League toughens standards
The Associated Press
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Call it the Danny Almonte Rule.
Burned by last summer's scandal at the Little League World Series, officials are asking local teams for more proof of players' age and residence before they're allowed to participate in the international tournament.
Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League Baseball Inc., announced yesterday changes in the way Little League will verify player eligibility.
Players will have to provide a government-issued birth certificate that was issued no more than 30 days after birth. If a player can't provide such documentation, then additional proof of age, such as hospital records, will be required.
Each team in the international tournament will have to show proof of player eligibility when the tournament begins and again at the regional level, the last step before the World Series.
volunteers in our program," Keener said.
"I must underscore that these new standards and procedures will still rely on the integrity and the honesty of the more than 1.25 million adult
The changes were prompted by the rise and fall of the Rolando Paulino Little League team from the Bronx, N.Y. —nicknamed the "Baby Bombers" after Almonte then a no-hitter on national television to lead the team to the Little League World Series.
Almonte then became the darling of major leaguers after throwing the first no-hitter in 44 years in his team's Series game against the Apopka, Fla., team that would finish second at the tournament.
"We believe that the Bronx case is an isolated incident ... that the overwhelming majority of the volunteers in the Little League program are people of the highest integrity and honesty." Keener said.
During the Bronx team's run, Almonte, manager Alberto Gonzalez and league founder Rolando Paulino repeatedly denied that Almonte was too old to play in the tournament, which only allows players who are 12 or younger. Whenever questioned, they produced documents that showed Almonte as being 12.
A Sports Illustrated reporter in the Dominican Republic found another birth certificate showing that Almonte was 14 years old — a document the Dominican government later verified.
NFL Football players becoming more involved in politics
WASHINGTON — Players from the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles have formed political action committees to raise money for the Senate campaign of former NFL offensive lineman Ed Cunningham.
They hope the PACs generate interest in politics among teammates and lead to other team PACs. They see the PACs as a way for players to make contacts they can tap when their playing days are finished.
"As players we want to have a voice," said Redskins defensive end Dorian Boose, an organizer of his team's PAC and a client of Cunningham, who is now an agent. "We live here, too. We may be in a position where we make a lot of money, but our world is important to us and we want to be a part of that."
Offensive lineman John Welbourn formed the Eagles' PAC, which includes 15 teammates. Welbourn also is a Cunningham client.
The players are learning what Hollywood already knows, said Larry Noble, director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group.
"They are waking up to the idea that money buys access," Noble said. "Fame can get them in the door, but like everyone else, money works better than fame."
The Redskins' PAC, dubbed the Players Political Action Committee, held its first fund-raiser last week at The Rock, a Washington sports bar. Barroom conversations ranged from NFL happenings to Cunningham's platform.
"I'm not big on the political scene, to be honest with you," defensive end Otis Leverette said. "My past experience with the average politician has not been very good."
GAMBLING
Wealthy racetrack may start catering to the lesser half
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Rich people in seersucker suits and floral dresses still come here to watch the thoroughbreds, evoking the Gilded Age glamour that the Vanderbilts and the Whitneys brought to Saratoga Race Course more than a century ago.
But now there are worries that a far less genteel style of gambling is coming to this resort town: video poker and video slot machines.
A state law approved in October authorizes video gambling terminals at several New York tracks. It allows Saratoga County officials to decide if they want to bring the machines to Saratoga Spring's harness track, Saratoga Equine Sports Center.A vote could come in January.
Saratoga gained a reputation during the 19th century as a playground for the rich. It still attracts those of wealth and breeding, but the upper crust now represents a smaller segment of those playing the horses.
While shorts and jeans are common, many visitors still dress up in a manner evoking the track's moneyed past. Women wearing floral dresses and big straw hats sip champagne at the clubhouse, where jackets for men are required.
The concern is that video gambling will attract a different breed of gambler — people placing rapid-fire bets on a screen instead of taking part in the social scene at the track.
Marianne Barker, who owns a souvenir shop and a cafe, said "I think if you walk through the crowds at the Saratoga Race Course, you'll see people-watchers. They're not gambling. It's a social event."
The Associated Press