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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2002
COMMENTARY
Jonah Ballow
jballow@kansan.com
USA squad should have college stars
United States basketball has become a disgrace.
In the 2002 World Basketball Championships Wednesday, 12 players from the U.S. team destroyed the once dominant image of American basketball.
More people tuned in to American Idol to watch the next Britney Spears than watched some of the supposed best athletes on the earth.
Granted, I can't wait for the next lipsynching teeny bopper to take over MTV, but the World Games were played in our homeland. Not only was the tournament played in the United States, but in Indianapolis, where basketball is a way of life.
Many NBA players were unable to play for the team because of injuries and other personal reasons. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan were just a few players that would have made a monumental impact during the World Games. This year's team featured players that were not exactly future hall of famers, but they were certainly qualified enough to beat a team like Spain. Former Jayhawk Paul Pierce led the U.S. team with 19.3 points per game but showed one glaring problem in the three losses.
It has been 10 years since professional basketball players started participating in Olympic and world venues. The original dream team consisted of hall of fame players such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. This队 absolutely dominated the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Selfishness
This started a trend for each of the following U.S. basketball teams. Before this year's world championship, the U.S. team compiled a 53-0 record in international play since starting to use pro players. This streak was ended by Argentina. The U.S. team then lost to Yugoslavia and again to Spain. After being out-classed the team will actually have to qualify for a spot in the 2004 Athens Games.
Head coach George Karl solidified this belief with his comment after the loss to Spain.
"The money, the greed of the NBA, does that have any effect on our competitive nature? Yeah, you could write that," Karl said, according to ESPN.com.
After realizing our society is not interested in NBA basketball anymore, I wanted to figure a solution to this vexing problem.
The NBA has become a greedy, selfish, non team-oriented game, and this is the last time I want to see NBA players suit up to represent the United States.
Cottege basketball is fun and exciting because the players perform as a team. They care about wins and losses rather than points per game or dollar signs. The top college players in the United States should play for the U.S. basketball team
For example, senior Nick Collison was officially listed as a practice player/alternate for the team. Instead of an alternate on the team, Collision should have started on a squad full of All-American college players.
This team could even feature our own Kirk Hinrich, who is a future NBA lottery pick.
College players would be able to compete with the other countries that have developed teams with great passing and shooting skills in contrast to one-on-one play seen in the NBA. These athletes would also benefit from the experience of playing overseas and representing their country for a chance at grabbing the elusive gold medal.
Fans would get a chance to see the future lottery picks before they turn into selfish NBA players.
The change needs to be made immediately. Until college players such as Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich are representing the United States, fans should not be expected to support U.S. basketball.
Ballow is a Littleton, Colo., junior in journalism.
JARED SOARES/KANSAN
Phillips 66 and KU have teamed up to produce a special paint job for the No. 66 car that will race in the Nascar Busch Series event at the Kansas Speedway on Sept.28, Casey Mears, an up and coming driver, will man the wheel for the KU Car.
Driver Mears' first victory could be in Jayhawk blue
Racer felt it natural to paint Kansas colors on car for K.C. race
By Daniel Berk
Kansan correspondent
The University of Kansas family has adopted a new Jayhawk: racecar driver Casey Mears.
Mears races in the Busch Series, which is a step below the Winston Cup series.
He will attempt to get his first career victory Sept. 28 at the Kansas Speedway in the Mr. Goodencs 500. Instead of his traditional black and red colors on his Phillips 66 car, Mears will don the Jayhawk colors of crimson and blue
This is Mears' first year on the Rushk
"I am very excited about this," Mears said. "This is such a neat place, and I am looking forward to grabbing some students' attention when I race later this month."
circuit, but he has been racing since the age of four. After spending a year racing go-karts in 1991, Mears started competing in the SuperLites Off-Road Series in 1992 and posted several top-three finishes.
After that win, Mears continued to climb the ranks of driving as he began racing in the Indy Lights Championship series, where he raced for four years and finished the third season second in the points standings, trailing the leader by just 14 points.
After bouncing around in almost every circuit imaginable, Mears finally made the adjustment to NASCAR. He officially began racing last year when he participated in one Busch Series race.
Two years later, Mears began to compete in the Jim Russell USAC Triple Crown Pro Race Series Championship. In 1995 he captured the Triple Crown Championship.
This year he took on a full schedule and is 22nd in the points standinus.
"So far we are doing pretty good for the
situation we are in," Mears said. "We are involved in a new Dodge program and there are only two Dodge cars on the circuit. Overall, we are pretty happy but we just want to work and do better."
The idea of putting Kansas' colors and logos on the car came from Mears' primary sponsor. Phillips 66. Phillips 66 is also associated with the Big 12 and sponsors the conference's football championship game, basketball tournament and baseball tournament.
Chris Haid, public relations director for IMG Motorsports, said Casey Mears and the University of Kansas made sense.
"It was just a natural fit with the sharing of the Phillips 66 company." Haid said. "We will be at the home football game Sept. 21 showing off our support for the University, and hopefully that support will be returned at the race."
Mears has ties to plenty of famous people including his uncle, Rick Mears,
SEE RACECAR ON PAGE GB
Softball coach stressing basics in new season
By Steve Schmidt
Kansan staff writer
The Kansas softball team will try to fulfill big aspirations by working on the simple things — the fundamentals of the game.
"I've been very pleased with the level of effort, focus and energy in the three practices," said softball coach Tracy Bunge. "We're trying to really build a strong foundation by working on the little things first. I'm seeing some benefits to it. You can mess around as
Although the team has had three practices, not one ground ball has been hit or pop fly been caught off the end of a bat.
The coaching staff has been busy breaking down the action of making plays into smaller fragments which must be performed flawlessly for correct execution.
an athlete and get sloppy by not working on the fundamentals."
For example, outfielders concentrate not only on snagging a fly ball, but also focus on their movement, footwork and the angle that they approach the ball.
Bunge said this technique had proved to be beneficial. She has noticed improvements in all areas of her team, most notably the infielders' abilities to release the ball quicker once it reaches their gloves.
The coach has also been impressed with the effort displayed by her pitchers.
the trio of sophomore Serena Settlemier. junior Kara Pierce and senior Kirsten Milhoan, though she won't really see them in action until the preseason tournaments beginning later this month
"It's hard to say where they're at right now, but I'm pleased with what I'm seeing on the side." Bunge said.
What has probably grabbed most of the coach's attention has been the work ethics of Pierce and junior catcher Dani May. The returnees underwent a grueling training regiment over the summer and so far their diligence has paid off greatly, Bunge said. Contact Schmidt at sschmidt@kansan.com.
Women's basketball schedule released
By Doyle Murphy Kansas sportswriter
Although the Kansas women's basketball team knew what non-conference does it would face—and when and where
months ago, the Big 12 Conference portion of its schedule wasn't settled until last Tuesday.
The Jayhawks will open their Big 12 season at home against Kansas State on Jan. 8 in Allen Fieldhouse after facing 11 non-conference opponents.
The first of those foes are the Basketball Travelers and Fort Hays State University in exhibition play before opening the regular season against the University of Texas-El Paso. Leila Mengtic Guard
The Sweden-based Travelers' players will be familiar to at least one person when they come to the Fieldhouse on Nov. 13.
Junior guard Leila Menguc, Stockholm, Sweden, played against many of the Travelers' players both before coming to Kansas and during the offseason.
"I actually met all the players," Menguc said. "So personally, I'm really excited about that game. I want to kick some you-know-what."
Kansas' early season should help the team get off to a good start, sophomore guard and forward Blair Waltz said.
The teams on the Jayhawks' pre-Big 12 schedule combined to win just 42 percent of their games during the 2001-02 season.
The Jayhawks' Big 12 schedule is another story.
Oklahoma became the Big 12's first team to make it to the Final Four, and six
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 6B
Kansan file photo
Selena Scott drives toward the basket against the Oklahoma Sooners. The Jayhawks will open their season Jan. 8 at Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas State.
See the women's basketball schedule on page 6B.
Volleyball team set to short-circuit Shockers
By Jason Hwang
Kansan sportswriter
Wichita State's mascot is the Shocker but there's been little shocking about recent matches against the Kansas volleyball squad.
The Jayhawks have won six of their last seven games against the Shockers, whom they play at 7 tonight in the Heskett Center, since 1993 and have won five in a row — including a perfect 4-0 mark under coach Ray Bechard.
After road trips to Nebraska and New York, where they have faced three teams in two days for the past two weekends, fatigue could be a factor.
"As a team collectively, we have to preside whatever it is that's going to keep us from playing our very best," coach Ray Bechard said. "Whether it is jet lag, travel concerns or fatigue, it will be a challenge to put last weekend's concerns aside for the match."
Bickered said it had been a challenge to get through this stretch of road games
Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Michaels said it would be nice to play at home, but thought this road-stretch had its advantages.
as fatigue became more of an issue. But he thinks the freshness of the season still creates an eagerness to play, which overcomes the players' tiredness.
"Taking us away from that comfort zone at home makes us better," she said.
Freshman middle blocker Josiane Lima has been getting better away from home as well.
Lima, who transferred from University of Sant'anna in Sao Paulo, Brazil, recorded the killer on just five of 25 attacks in the opener against Creighton — but was named the Most Valuable Player in last weekend's Hofstra Tournament, which the lavhwaks won.
She led the Jayhawks in kills in victories against Morehead State and in the title game against Hofstra.
Contact Hwang at hjwang@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Melissa Shuman.
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