14B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY,AUGUST 19,2002
Most students unaware of possible baseball strike
COMMENTARY
Jessica Tims jtims@kansan.com
I searched Mt. Oread yesterday for students willing to talk to me for a Q and A, I was working on for today's sports section. My question, "What are your thoughts about the major league baseball labor dispute?"
I took on the task of searching campus for baseball fans, thinking it would be easy. Instead, it turned into one of the hardest duties of my short journalistic career.
"So what do you think about the possibility of pro-baseball players going on strike?" I asked a student
walking lavhawk Boulevard.
"I didn't know that there was going to be a strike," he replied with a very confused look. "Wasn't there just a strike a couple of years ago?"
Thinking this person must live in a remote area where Sunflower Broadband cannot deliver him ESPN, I quickly moved on to my next unsuspecting victim.
I am more cautious this time, asking first. "Are you a baseball fan?"
This time I receive a mediocre, "I
oues."
Hopeful, I continue. "Do you think the labor disputes will be settled? Or will there be a strike on the thirtieth
"Oh, I guess don't know much about baseball."
"Are you a pro baseball fan? I asked every student I passed walking up and down Jayhawk Boulevard and in both the Kansas and Burge unions with very little success.
I found only three baseball fans. Three people that cared that baseball may come to an early end this season. Three people who even knew a strike was possible.
No one seemed to care that our
nation's pastime may come to an end. This revelation made my inquiry change quickly. Where did all the baseball fans go?
n The first and most obvious answer to this question would be at home watching the game with their other baseball fan friends or at the ball park watching their favorite team in person.
I know there had to be some Cubbie fans on Waveland Avenue waiting for a homer to fly over the wall at Wrigley.
There have got to be some baseball fans in front of their computer screens making triads for their online fantasy league.
■ And maybe, just maybe the real die hard baseball fans were convened together trying concoct a plan to avoid the strike.
Where the fans are, I may never know for sure. But what I do know, is if the players chose to strike next Friday, the three fans I did find said there may even fewer baseball lovers next season.
Tims is an Arma sonior in Journalism. She is associate sports editor.
New recruits seek to propel Kansas women's basketball
by Doyle Murphy
Kansan Staff Writer
Kansas women's basketball fans need to start doing their homework now. That's the only way to accurately keep up with all the new faces on the team's roster this season.
They have to if the Jayhawks hope to improve on a dismal 2001-2002 season. Kansas won only five games last season and was 0-16 in the Big 12.
The Jayhawks are hoping to offset the loss of their top two scorers, KC Hilgenkamp and Selena Scott, with the addition of seven freshmen and sophomore transfer Aquanita Burras. Coach Marian Washington said the freshmen and Burras could be counted on right away because the Jayhawks return no seniors.
"I think it's pretty clear that this freshmen class has the opportunity to contribute early on," Washington said.
"I think the bottom line is we just haven't had the players to compete." Washington said. "I think the class
we have this season and the class we hope to bring in next season is a big sten in the right direction."
Crystal Kemp, a guard from Topeka, and Ebony Haliburton, a forward from Kansas City. Mo., lend a local flavor to the freshmen class.
Also among the class are guard Erica Hallman; the Kentucky Miss Basketball award winner, forward/center Tamara Ransburg; forward Alicia Rhymes; forward Nichelle Roberts; and forward Seneca Jones.
Burras transferred to Kansas after a year at Central Arizona. Washing-ton hopes Burras develops into one of the team's top shooters.
Washington acknowledged the inexperience of the Jayhawks, but she said it's a problem the team can overcome.
"I don't know how you can replace experience, but if you have young players with the right attitude a lot of times you can compensate," Washington said.
Not all the Jayhawks will be learning the ropes this fall. Washington said she expects junior guard Leila Mengic to shoulder many of the leadership responsibilities.
Sophomore guard/forward Blair Waltz also has experience and should be a major contributor.
The Jayhawks will get their first test when they open the exhibition season at 7 p.m., Nov. 13 at home against the basketball Travelers.
Other exhibitions will be announced. They will play host to the University of Texas El Paso at 2 p.m., Nov. 24 to kick off the regular season.
Tim Eatman rejoins Washington on the bench this season as an assistant after a year as head coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Eatman replaced Maggie Miahood, who is concentrating on administrative duties for the team.
Contact Murphy at dmurphy@kansan.com. This story was edited by Ryan Malashock.
Heard on the Hill
"I think they are over paid as it is, and I think they are ruining the game of baseball. They are driving ticket prices up. The players and the coaches will have to get together, and that is the only way to prevent the strike."
David Koepsel, Wichita junior
"Yeah it will happen the players want too much money. If the players take less money, the strike could be prevented." Jeff DeBite, lola junior
"Because the players are too greedy. It is the one professional sport in the US that does not have a salary cap and players still want more money, they won't play for less. It's all about money, and they don't want to play."
Jarred Brooks, Ottawa sophomore
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