4B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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SPORTS
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER9.2002
Chiefs' 42-year-old kicker shows signs of aging
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Maybe time's catching up with the oldest player in the NFL.
Forty-two-year-old kicker Morten Andersen pulled a hamstring on his plant leg while warming up for Kansas City's game at the New York Jets on Sunday. Even though he went ahead and booted three field goals — extending his streak to 23 in a row — the Chiefs are pulling "guys off the street" in case Andersen can't be ready for this week's game at San Diego, coach
Dick Vermeil said Monday.
The biggest concern may be kickoffs. Anderson couldn't get much distance on his Sunday. Punter Dan Stryzinski kicked off once and did not do particularly well.
"It's possible Morten could kick field goals and we'd have somebody else do the kickoffs," Vermell said.
"He still has good strength in the leg. But we're still bringing four kickers in (Tuesday), four guys off the street, to take a look at and see if we have to go in that direction."
Special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr, said one of the four was Michael Husted, who was in Kansas City's minicamp last year.
Bringing in a temporary replacement kicker would not be an easy decision for the Chiefs (3-2).
"The negative of going in that direction is we have to release somebody off the 53-man roster." Vermeil said. "That always makes it tough because you don't know if you'll get the guy back. And if you only want the guy temporary, to lose a player for a temporary basis fill-in really hurts your football team's development. There's a lot going on in regard to that."
The Chiefs
will probably wait until late in the week to make a decision on whether to bring in a temporary kicker.
"It's not like a running back pulling a hamstring, or his kicking leg. We'll just have to play it by ear." Vermel said.
In obvious discomfort, Andersen kicked field goals of 36,40 and 27 yards Sunday.
"He's been doing it long enough to do it right," Vermeil said.
Hes said he's not concerned that Andersen's age might make him slower to heal.
"I don't think the age factor will be any different with him than if it was a 25-year-old guy. If you pull a hamstring, you pull a hamstring. How serious the pull is what determines the recovery time."
Also hobbled is safety Greg Wesley, who has made four interceptions in the past two weeks.
He aggravated a deep shoulder bruise he sustained the week before while tackling Miami's Ricky Williams.
By the end of the Jets game, the Chiefs were down to their thirdteam safety, Shaunard Harts, because backup Kyle West was also nicked up.
"Greg was not in as much pain today as yesterday," Vermeil said. "X-rays were negative. Shaunard Harts played well. He stayed within the scheme and did not get out of position. He would probably play this week if needed."
Following attack, Royals coach moved back to bullpen
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The most famous first base coach in the major leagues has a new job.
Tom Gamboa, who won universal sympathy when he was attacked by two White Sox fans during a game in Chicago, has been ordered to return to his old job as Kansas City's bullpen coach.
Gamboa said he still hasn't been given a reason for the change. But Royals' general manager Allard Baird said it has nothing to do with the bizarre episode in Comiskey Park last month that made Gamboa the talk of not only baseAall, but an entire nation that
seems increasingly beset by random violence.
"Looking at it from the outside, I can see where people might wonder if the Chicago incident had something to do with this," Baird said. "But I can assure you it did not."
"Tom has experience in all different areas of the game and we felt he could upgrade the continuity in the bullpen."
A 34-year-old Chicago man, William Ligue Jr., and his 15-year-old son are facing felony charges in the attack.
Kansas City was batting in the ninth inning when the shirtless father and son jumped out of the stands and blindsided Gamboa in
the coaching box.
They knocked Gamboa to the ground and pummeling him until Royals players stormed out of the dugout.
Throughout the next week, Gamboa, 54, appeared on national news shows such as NBCs "Today."
He even joked that he was a "no-man guy having his 15 minutes of fame."
Now, against his wishes, he's changing jobs.
"I was a little surprised when Allard told me where I was going," Gamboa told The Associated Press.
"But I'm a team player. I told Allard, 'You caught me by surprise but if that's what you want me to do, I'll be more than happy to do it.'"
John Mizerock, who was a finalist for the Royals' manager job that went to Tony Pena, will be moving out of the bullpen to become third base coach. Luis Silverio, a longtime member of the Royals' scouting and front office staff, will take Gamboa's place at first base.
Gamboa was hired by Tony Muser, who was fired as Royals
manager last April.
"I think anybody would prefer to be more involved in the action," Gamboa said. "But I love working for Tony Pena. He has such enthusiasm and passion for the game. I would do anything he asked of me.
"I assume there's a logical reason for it."
Gamboa, in the meantime, is enjoying a golf and fishing vacation and giving thanks that the hearing has almost fully returned in his right ear. He plans to be in Chicago for a wedding in November and said the Cook County prosecutor's office told him it would try to schedule the trials during that week for his convenience.
His experience, he said, has made him more aware of things like the recent sniper attacks in the Washington D.C. area.
"I try to comprehend the whys and wherefores of such things and such people," he said. "I can't do it."
He's also a lot more appreciative of security people.
"The fans at any event are always going to outnumber the security personnel," he said.
"Those last games of the season, I made a point to seek out the security guys and tell them, 'Thanks for being here, I don't take you people for granted anymore.'"
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