6B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY,AUG.20,2001
Cubs inspire dreams hopes of anxious fans
Cubs lovers divided on teams chance at the World Series
By Ryan Greene Kansan sportswriter
As a Chicago Cubs fan, Adam Spore had a summer unlike any other in his life. Behind the left field bleachers just outside Wrigley Field, Spore lived out a childhood dream.
"We spent a lot of time on Waveland Avenue this summer waiting for home run balls," Spore, Geneva, Ill. sophomore, said. "It was a blast. The excitement we saw this summer is a type that has not been seen before. This is the most excited I have been about Cubs baseball in my lifetime."
Spore has been a Cubs fan since he was in diapers, and the summer that his team has had in 2001 has him very excited about this fall and the end of the Major League Baseball season. But Spore is concerned about keeping up with the Cubs' race in the National League Central after having spent the summer in Geneva.
"I will most likely use the Internet as well as WGN," he said.
WGN, a Chicago-based station that is nationally syndicated, broadcasts about 80 Cubs games and 80 White Sox games a summer.
This has been a dream summer for the Cubs.
Statistically, Sammy Sosa is expected to surpass career highs in every major category except home runs. As of Aug. 15, Sosa was batting .308 with 43 home runs, 115 RBIs and 99 runs scored.
The team has pulled off this feat with a roster filled with mostly cast-offs and aging talent,
such as Rondell White, Jeff Fassero, Tom Gordon and Michael Tucker.
Second-year manager Don Baylor has been the glue holding everything together. However, Baylor has been constantly criticized in Chicago, in the papers and over the airwaves for sticking with older veterans and not playing young top prospects such as Corey Patterson, Carlos Zambrano and Roosevelt Brown.
Trades just before the deadline last month set this Cubs summer apart from less memorable ones.
When the Cubs were originally shunned by Fred McGriff, who refused to nix his no-trade clause with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the team went ahead and acquired Michael Tucker, Tucker, who began his career with the Kansas City Royals, had been a hot prospect his entire career, but never reached his full potential.
About two weeks after that deal, Fred McGriff canceled his no-trade clause and joined the Cubs just in time for a 3-game series with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs pulled off a steal in acquiring McGriff, trading two minor leaguers, Manny Aybar and Jason Smith. Fred McGriff could be the most important key in the stretch run because of his ability to give Sammy Sosa some protection at the third spot in the batting order.
MacPhail then pulled off a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire David Weathers, a 31-year old right-handed reliever to aid a tiring bullpen comprised of crafty veterans, as well as a young flame-thrower named Kyle Farnsworth, a native of Wichita.
Fans around Chicago give different predictions about how far the Cubs can take it this year. Some believe this is a team of destiny, and with all the deals MacPhail pulled off, it is headed
"It was a blast. The excitement
we saw this summer is a type that has not been seen before. This
is the most excited I have been about Cubs baseball in my lifetime."
Adam Spore Geneva, ill. sophomore
to its first World Series since 1908. Others, however, think the pitching staff will not be able to hold up and will fold, resulting in either an early entry from the playoffs or no play-off appearance at all.
"This team is not a team of destiny. They just have a great pitching staff, the Crime Dog (Fred McGriff) is helping in the cleanup spot and the team made some awesome trade deadline moves." Spore said.
He also said he believed that the bat of Fred McGriff would determine how far the Cubs go into the post-season.
This summer has indeed been magical on the North Side of Chicago. Fans like Spore are hoping that this is the team with the instinct, pitching and timely hitting to finish the summer with a parade down Michigan Avenue.
Green can be reached at 864-4810 or sports@kansan.com
Morale: Team looks for fresh start
CONTINUED FROM 1B
In addition to interviews, the players have been encouraged to play basketball and dodge ball together, anything to keep them interacting away from the football field.
Players have also been watching game films with different position coaches and players. The new perspective was intended to supply a more complete understanding of the game.
"I was watching some films with Marcus Rogers," running back Reggie Duncan said. "He just pointed out some things that they do that I can look for."
With UCLA and Wyoming on the non-conference schedule, the 'Hawks will need all the help they can get to avoid their fifth-straight losing season. Further complicating the situation is that this year's team will feature a new quarterback, running back, two offensive linemen and as many as six newcomers starting on defense, as well as a new offensive scheme.
"Everything's different about this team." said senior receiver Harrison Hill, a four-year starter. "We've got the new coaches, a new offense. It's just totally different around here."
Hill and the receiving corps make up the one known commodity on the Kansas squad. Hill and fellow seniors Roger Ross and Termaine Fulton combined for eight receiving touchdowns and nearly 65 percent of the team's catches last season.
“Our receivers will be our strength,” Allen said. “And we'll figure out a way to get them the ball.”
Who will be distributing the ball is still in question.
Sophomore Zach Dyer, who emerged from spring as the No.1 quarterback, still has the job, but redshirt freshman Mario Kinsey continues to challenge.
Both are athletic quarterbacks who will be as dangerous with their legs as they are with their arms.
Allen has said he would like a solid No.1 starter by the beginning of conference play.As for other positions,he would like to at least have a clear top two by the start of classes Thursday.
Whether it's Dyer or Kinssey call signals, Reggie Duncan will line up as tailback.
Duncan emerged last year as a freshman against Colorado, taking over for an injured David Winbush to rush for 44 yards on a touchdown-scoring drive, including the score from six yards out. He finished the season fourth on the team with 207 yards.
With a secure starting role, Duncan said he feels more comfortable than last year. He also said he is in the best shape of his life, demonstrated by a 40-yard run on the first play from scrimmage on Saturday morning.
Up front, Kansas will have to replace two linemen on both offense and defense. Ervin Holloman and Dwyer return in the middle on defense, but
LAURIF SISK/XANSAN
Sophomore running back Reggie Duncan works through drills Thursday afternoon at practice. Duncan returns to the Jayhawks after averaging 3.8 vards per carry last season.
both ends will have to be replaced.
The defense must recover from a late-season collapse which saw the squad surrender an average of more than 530 yards in losses to Texas Tech, Nebraska, Texas and Iowa State.
Not yet two weeks into practice, Allen said his team has a number of kninks to work out.
With all the talk of change at Kansas, one constant remains, the pressure on Allen to lead his team to a winning season.
With a new athletics director who carries a reputation for revamping football programs, Allen's fifth season at the helm could be filled with pressure.
"The only pressure I feel are the expectations we put on ourselves to be successful," he said.
Briggeman can be reached at 864-4810 or sports@kansan.com