SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, September 23. 1992
9
Injured runner ready to go home
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
Jeremy McClain is ready to go home after spending 21 days at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
McClain, Kansas cross country runner, who was hit by a car Sept. 2, said he finally would be leaving on Saturday.
"I'm really tired of this place," McClain said. "I can't wait to get home."
McClain, Overland Park sophomore, was hit three weeks ago while crossing the intersection at 23rd and Louisiana streets. He was taken by helicopter to the Med Center because of the severity of his injuries.
breathing problems and was put on a respirator. He was in intensive care
McClain the left leg was broken in several places. He later developed
for two weeks,
and was listed in
critical condition
before
being upgraded
to serious
condition. He no
longer is in
intensive care
and now is list-
ed in fair condition.
Jeremy McClain
He said that he
let much better now, and that he was happy with the support from his coach and teammates.
"Coach Schwartz has been in to see me a couple of times, and he stayed for a while each time." McClain said.
"And the whole team gaveme a Gameboy. I'm feeling good. I've got my breathing back, and I'm not on LV, anymore."
McClain, a civil engineering major, said he had dropped his classes this fall but would continue his education in the spring semester.
"I'm definitely returning next semester," he said. "I have another surgery on my leg coming up in four weeks, and I've already missed three weeks, so I really had no choice."
McClain, whose hobby is music,
said he would be spending more time
listening and playing music than
he had in the past.
"I'm going to spend a lot of time with my keyboard," he said. "It's just a hobby, but I enjoy all types of music. I can play a lot of stuff by the Beatles.
and I also like the Samples."
"He sounded really good," Ladd McClain said. "He was joking around and acting like he always has."
McClain has two brothers that also are cross country runners. Ladd McClain is a senior, and Shane McClain is Jeremy's twin. Ladd McClain said he was happy to hear his brother in good spirits.
Coach Schwartz said that Jeremy McClain was one of the toughest people he had ever known.
"He is so tough that he will take whatever he can do to the fullest," Schwartz said. "His toughness has to do with his endurance. Part of that endurance comes from his the sport, but some of it is from his own personality. He is also very intelligent. He's a real fighter."
Senior defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, No. 71, lines up against offensive opponent during practice. Kansas is preparing for tomorrow's game against California.
The Kansas men's cross country team placed 14th in the ICAA Division 1 poll released by leading team make up the top 15:
NCAA Poll
Votes received
1. Arkansas 450
2. Wisconsin 424
3. Arizona 408
4. Providence 387
5. Iowa State 371
6. Notre Dame 355
7. South Florida 337
8. Michigan 301
9. Washington 291
10. Brigham Young 233
    North CarolinaSt. 233
11. Villanova 224
12. Penin State 207
14. Kansas **143**
15. Dartmouth 130
Cross country team falls to 14th place in national rankings
The Kansas men's cross country team fell one spot to 14 in the NCAA national championship.
Kansan staff report
Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said still being ranked ahead of Air Force, No. 19, was a good sign for the program.
The Jayhawks, who finished third behind No. 1 Arkansas and No. 19 Air Force in the Jayhawk invitational Sept. 12, were ranked No. 13 when the first poll came out Sept. 8.
"I think that is indicative of where our program is," he said. "I'm glad we're in the poll because it's good for the program."
The Jayhawks are getting ready to compete at the next team meet, the
Mason focuses on wins fans key in on numbers
By David Bartkoski Kansan sportswriter
Kansas coach Glen Mason main- nains that the only important statistic for his team is its 3-0 record.
But football fans, coaches and media from across the country are finding greater interest in other Kansas statistics.
The offense leads the country it scoring and is fourth in total yardage with 50.3 points and 490 yards a game
Kansas is also 13th in scoring defense and second in total defense, giving up less than 200 yards a game.
People from all over the country have been dialing Mason's phone number because of the team's numbers.
The big numbers on offense and defense, he said, did not result from a complicated set of plays.
"I've been doing a lot of call-in shows," he said. "I was on 'The Pete Rose Show.' The 'Pete Rose Show,' can you believe that?"
Assistant coach Golden Ruel said that players took pride in doing well but that their focus was to be successful as a team.
"The biggest key of the whole deal is when you execute and are fundamentally sound," he said.
Former Kansas coach Dan Farnbrough, who coached the Jayhawks to their last bowl game in 1881, said he thought one of the keys to this year's success was the team's zest for the game.
"I don't think I've ever seen a football team team that enjoys the game so much," he said.
All great teams are built around great defenses, said Fambrough, who was an assistant coach on the Kansas squad that went to the Orange Bowl in 1969.
"We had players like Boby Douglass and John Riggins on the offense," he said. "Our defense had been able to get them out, were gbggetp guys gave the ball."
The 1992 Jayhawks have already scored more points, 151, than Fambrough's 1982 squad, which scored 150 points in 11 games.
"The coaches don't like to hear this," he said. "But I think we are capable of playing with any team in the country."
He also praised junior kicker Dum
Eichlöfer senior quarterback Chip
Gilbert.
Eichloff has the fourth best scoring average in the country, and Hillary is 11th in total offense.
"Eichloff the best I've ever seen," he said, "I don't think I've ever seen someone with so much ability at the position. Hilleary has worked hard ever since he's been here. He'll play when he's a little bit hurt, and that impresses other players on the team."
After Saturday's game, Hillary said agame's outcome was the only important statistic.
Ruel said Kansas would look at one thing at the beginning of next year.
"If the scores are high, they're high," he said. "But a Wand an Lare the same things."
"The most important statistic is the one published after January 1," he said. "All the statistics right now are mere indications we have something good."
The Associated Press
Gretzky suffers back injury; his future remains uncertain
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Wayne Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time leading scorer, will be out indefinitely with a back injury, a doctor announced yesterday.
Robert Watkins of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic would not say how long Gretzky would be out, but he did say surgery was not being considered. Gretzky was released yesterday from Centinela Hospital Medical Center after receiving treatment on his allying back.
Several hours before a news conference where Gretzky was scheduled to appear. Kings owner Bruce
McNall addressed the media.
McNall could not comment on Gretzky's immediate future, saying he had not yet spoken with doctors. McNall said if Gretzky's back problems were serious enough to force him to retire, the Kings' team captain would not have been released from the hospital yesterday.
"But again, I haven't met with the doctors," McNall said. "I will do that, and make sure there is no surprise." Gretzky checked into the hospital Sept. 16 with what was announced as a strained upper back. Instead of returning to the Kings' training camp at Blue Jay, Calif., Gretzky remained at the hospital until yesterday.
Ronald Kvitne, the Kings' team physician, said the problem was unrelated to lower back problems which hampered Gretzky the last few years. Gretzky underwent extensive testing on his back while hospitalized.
Last season, Gretzky scored a career-low 31 goals and had 90 assists while playing in 74 of his team's 80 regular-season games. He missed five of those games to with his sick father, who was suffering from an aneurysm.
Gretzky had left camp Sept. 13 to be with his wife, actress Janet Jones, who gave birth to their third child the following day. He checked into the hospital two days after that.
Royals blank Mariners
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chris Haney pitched at two-hitter for his first American League shutout, and Brian McRae had an inside-the-park home run in Kansas City blanked Seattle 3-0 last night.
Johnson struck out every Royal at least once while recordist his eighth
Haney (2-1) struck out six and walked one. The left-hander, acquired from Montreal in a four-played deug. Aug. 29, had a 4.23 ERA in his first four starts for the Royals.
Dave Valle led off the third inning with a single for the Mariners. Haney had retired 19 straight batters before Henry Cotto singled with one out in the ninth.
The Mariners, whose 23-53 road record is the worst in the major leagues, lost their 12th consecutive on the road. They wasted a five-hit, 12-strikeout effort by Randy Johnson (11-14).
10-strikeout game of the year. It was Johnson's sixth complete game and boosted his strikeout total to 215, the best in the major leagues.
George Brett went 0 for 4 for the Royals. He needs 11 hits to reach 3,000
The Royals, who also shut out the Mariners 3-0 Monday night, recorded their first consecutive shutouts since Aug. 6-7, 1991.
Bob Melvin led off the Kansas City second with a single, and dim Eisenreich grounded into a force play. McRae followed with a line drive into right-center that Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner converged on. Buhner crashed into Griffey's leg, the ball rolled to the wall and Griffey rolled around in pain.
McRae, the Royals fastest player, easily circled the bases for his third career inside-the-parker and his second this season. Griffey remained in the game.
George Brett is getting closer to reaching the 3,000 career hit mark:
TOTAL
Closing in on 3,000
Brett reached a fielder's choice in the third inning, went to third on Gregg Jefferies' double and scored on Mike MacFarlane's sacrifice飞.
Chiefs' running back serves jail time
The Associated Press
BRIEFS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Running back Bill Jones is spending his nights in jail and his days practicing for Kansas City's game Monday night against the Los Angeles Raiders.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer did not say yesterday whether the Chiefs are contemplating disciplinary action against Jones, who starts as a blocking back in Kansas City's two-back set.
Jones, 26, pleaded guilty Sept. 24, 1991, to leaving the scene of an accident on Interstate 70, near Kansas City. He was suspended for last year's season opener before going to trial, where he drew a sentence of two years probation.
He left the jail Saturday and flew to Houston to play in the Chiefs' 23-20 overtime loss to the Oilers. He returned to jail Sunday night.
Clippers, Knicks and Magic make deals
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The long-anticipated three-way trade between the New York Knucks, the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic was made yesterday when Stanley Roberts waived a no-trade clause.
The Clippers got the 7-foot Roberts from Orlando as well as point guard Mark Jackson and a 1995 second-round draft pick from the Knicks. The Knicks got three former Clippers—forward Charles Smith and guards Doc Rivers and Bo Kimble.
The Magic, which signed overall No. 1 pick Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $40 million deal, got two first-round draft picks — the Clippers' in 1993 or 1994 and the Knicks' in 1993. Roberts held the trade up for more than three weeks while deciding whether to waive the no-trade clause included in the five-year, $14.4 million deal he signed this summer.
Nebraska will help with player's bills The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and three Omaha community leaders yesterday announced a fund to help pay for former Cornhusker running back Scott Baldwin's expenses as he menaces him in a gunshot wound
Baldwin, left paralyzed from the chest down when he was shot by an Omaha police officer Sept. 5, is at the Immunuel Medical Center.
Baldwin was shot as he struggled with two female police officers who were trying to arrest him. He was naked and trying to break through the glass door of an apartment building, police said. Baldwin, who had been found not responsible by reason of insanity in the January beating of a Lincoln woman, had stopped taking an antidepressant medication days before the shooting, Osborne had said.
Tyson wants to appeal conviction
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — The attorney for Mike Tyson wants to present the boxer's appeal for a new trial in an oral argument before the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Alan Dershowitz, who represents Tyson, said Monday that the significant legal issues raised in Tyson's rape conviction appeal deserved a full airing before a three-member appellate panel of Indiana's second highest court.
Tyson, the 26-year-old former heavyweight champion, is serving a six-year prison sentence for assaulting Desiree Washington, then an 18-year-old Miss Black America beauty pageant contestant, in an Indianapolis hotel room on July 19. 1991.
Tyson's attorneys have failed in their attempts to have the boxer freed on bond pending resolution of his appeal. He has been an inmate at the Indiana Youth Center in Plainfield since March 26.