SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesdav, November 4. 1992
11
Men's basketball team reacts to AIDS issue
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
Magic Johnson retired for good from playing professional basketball yesterday, sparking new discussion about the growing issue of how AIDS affects basketball.
Johnson, who originally announced his retirement from basketball about a year ago after discovering that he had missed several games, decided to return for last one season.
But players throughout the NBA expressed concern about playing against Johnson because of any possible risks that contact with him might bring.
Kansas men's basketball players had different reactions to news about Johnson's retirement, but agreed that controversy surrounding the issue would continue.
Kansas junior forward Richard Scott said that he understood some of the professional players' concerns.
"Basically if it were me, I wouldn't want to play against him either," he said. "It's a life threatening disease, so I wouldn't want to catch it just because he was playing basketball with me. I wouldn't want to put my life on the line to see another person plav."
Senior guard Rex Walters, however,
had a different opinion.
"If you were to ask me to play pickup with Magic Johnson, I would, there's no question," he said. "I think what people should do is get all the facts and find out how the virus can be transmitted. A lot of players are probably ignorant about it.
"Anything can happen. I may be totally ignorant on the issue too, but it's a dangerous thing."
"Basically, if it
were me, I wouldn't want to play against him either"
Richard Scott Kansas junior forward
Senior guard Adonis Jordan said that if he had to decide to let Johnson play, he did not know whether he would side with Johnson or with the players who did not want to be on the court with him.
"I can see him from both sides," Jordan said. "As far as he being a player and him loving the game, I can understand why he would want to keep on playing. But then you look on the other hand, where you see the guys worrying about it during a game. I kind of go 50-50 on it. It's a tough call."
College basketball and the NBA both have rules that acknowledge the growing problem of AIDS.
The laceration rule, or the HIV rule, will be put into effect this season in college basketball. The rule states that "aggressive treatment of lacerations should be taken and that athletes should not return to the game without medical approval."
Players who are cut and are openly bleeding during a game must leave the game until the team's doctor approves their return.
John Erickson, Director of Basketball Operations for the Big Eight Conference, said that the new rule would be difficult to enforce in its first year and would probably be modified.
"It's going to be a very difficult thing for people to administer and accept during the heat of the game," Erickson said. "No one is questioning the intent of the rule. It was a foregone conclusion that this is an national problem that needs to be dealt with.
"There is a lot of concern about the application of the new rule because there are many complications with it. What about blood on uniforms? What constitutes a laceration?"
"There's going to be undue pressure put on referees this season, but we do want to provide a safe environment for everyone involved in the game. At the same time we don't want to do so carelessly. We don't want to take away from the popularity of the
game."
The HIV rule was proposed on Oct.9 by the NCAA consul, which supersedes the NCAA rule committee, Erickson said that the rule would stand for this season unless changes were made.
Walters said the rule would help, but it would not solve the problem.
"Guys are going to get cut during a game," he said. "Half the time when a guy gets cut you're not going to see it until a couple of times up and down the court. And during that couple of times, you take the ball to the basket once, you're going to make contact with someone.
Jayhawks face Tigers tonight
Now where you're going to make contact, I don't know, so it could come into effect even with that rule. There's still a chance that something could happen."
Volleyball teams' postseason options ride on final conference competitions
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team faces the Missouri Tigers tonight in Allen Field House in a match that will help determine the team's chances and options for postseason play.
Chances for the Jayhaws to compete in the Big Eight Tournament in late November look slim, as the team has only one conference victory. Only the top four teams are selected.
But the team still has a chance to compete in the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament in early December and could be a possible host for the tournament if it wins tonight's match and defeats Kansas State next week.
"The Big Eight Tournament is really a long shot," said Kansas coach Frankie Albiz. "But either Missouri, K-State or we will be hosting the NIVT in early December, which we would like to be a part of."
The NIVT invites 20 teams ranked from No. 20 to 40 in the nation.
To enter the Big Eight Tournament, not only do the 'Hawks need to win the remainder of their four matches, but the current top conference teams need to lose at least one of their remaining matches.
Albitz said that her team, which is now 17-13, and 1-7 in conference play, was doing better at this point in the season, regardless of its record.
"I watched the tape of us against
Missouri yesterday, and although their team has gotten better, most of the trouble in that match was our own errors," she said.
"I think that when we struggled it was more of a mental attitude problem rather than physical skills. We're working on that now and trying to stay more positive. I think we got on a losing streak and just couldn't handle it very well."
The Jayhawks are on a six-game conference losing streak. They last defeated a conference opponent on Sept. 30 against K-State.
Kansas junior middle blocker Barb Bella said that the team needed to forget about the previous losses and the losing streak.
"I think we have a lot of critical games coming up," she said. "We can't dwell on the past."
Bella said that after watching the film of the Oct. 14 match against Missouri, which the Tigers won 3-0, the team discovered and learned about the errors that were made.
"I think we were giving them too much open court with our blocking." Bella said. "We've been working on that a lot."
"It's between us and Missouri on who might host the tournament, so tomorrow's match is very important. If we do well the rest of the season, our chances for post-season play are right up there."
Tonight's match begins at 8 p.m. in the field house.
Patrick Tompkins / KANSAN
Kim DeHoff, senior, and Tracie Watt, freshman, allow a Colorado spike to get by them. Kansas plays Missouri at 8 tonight at Allen Field House in attempt to revive the Jayhawks' chances for postseason competition.
Jayhawks boost national football image with record-breaking TV appearances
By Christoph Fuhrmans
Special to the Kansan
Senior fullback Monte Cozzens (33), goes after the fumble he jostled from Oklahoma State. With victories like Saturdays against the Cowboys, Kansas has attracted national attention and encouraged ABC and ESPN to telewise the game.
Colorado will challenge a Big Eight championship contender in a regionally televised game on ABC-TV on Nov. 14. Most people would think that the Buffaloes' opponent would be a traditional powerhouse like Nebraska or Oklahoma.
Because of Kansas' success, the Jayhawks will play their record fourth game on national television this season. The other three games were the Oct. 10 Kansas State game on the Prime Sports Network, the Sept. 24 game against California on ESPN and this Saturday's game against Nebraska, also on ESPN.
But this year. it's Kansas.
Kansas and Colorado athletic department officials say they are excited about another chance to play on national television.
"It means more money for the conference," said Dave Plati, assistant athletic director for Colorado. "It's a breath of fresh air for the conference to have another team emerge and challenge the big three."
Doug Vance, Kansas assistant athletic director, said, "We're excited about the game. It means a lot to our program."
Vance also said the televised games would benefit recruiting and enhance the team's image.
The televised Kansas-Colorado game also will be a record for the Big Eight Conference. It will be the 17th Big Eight game on national television,
giving the conference 24 exposures. The record had been 13 games with 16 exposures. An exposure counts for each Big Eight team that plays in a televised game.
Gay said. "Now that we have the chance, we need to look good."
The increased national coverage of the football team has affected some
"We like the chance to appear on television," senior wide receiver Matt
Kansas approaches this weekend's game against Nebraska with 7-1 over all record and 4-0 in the Big Eight.
BRIEFS
Knee injury sidelines Jayhawks' fullback for Saturday's contest against Nebraska
The Associated Press
Kansas fullback Monte Cozzens, the team's second-leading rusher, will not play in the Jayhawks' game against Nebraska Saturday because of a knee injury, officials said.
Cozzens, who has rushed for 533 yards this season, had exploratory arthroscopic surgery Monday.
Kansas coach Glen Mason said the surgery proved the injury was not as serious as once thought.
"With the use of a brace, within a week he should be back," Mason said.
Cozzons was listed as probable for Kansas' game with Colorado on Nov. 14.
Sophomore fullback Chris Powell will start in place of Cozzens against Nebraska.
Colorado sophomore quarterback Stewart returns to starting role against Oklahoma The Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. — Sophomore quarterback Kordell Stewart will reclaim his starting role on Saturday when No. 16 Colorado entertains Oklahoma State.
Following Tuesday's practice, coach Bill McCartney said Stewart's health appeared to be improving. Stewart, who injured his ankle two weeks ago against Kansas State, sat out the first half of last week's 82-7 loss to Nebraska.
"The ankle is still tender, but I thought he moved well," McCartney said.
Freshman Koy Detmer started at quarterback for the Buffaloes against Nebraska, and Stewart came in late in the third quarter.