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Monday, November 16, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
SportsMonday
Stephen Wade/Special to the KANSAM
Basketball coach Larry Brown
Bingham's fear of the media has gradually disappeared
By DAVID BOYCE
Staff writer
Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham doesn't have to deal with the media as much as Larry Brown or Bob Valesente, but even if he did, he says he could handle it.
"After all the years I've been coaching, I don't really worry about being misquoted," Bingham said. "But there was a time when I was younger that I wanted everything quoted perfectly."
Bingham's first experience with the press was in 1975. He was a young baseball coach, just out of college, in a small town in western Kansas, and he had to deal with a young reporter.
"I was young and he was young and he tried to sensationalize everything." Bingham said.
At the time, he said, he was overwhelmed by the power of the press and the affect it had on the community.
"I wanted everything exactly right, and when it wasn't, I was upset," he said. "Even in a small town, it could be tough." He coached a lot of people.
He says he doesn't worry about the press as much anymore, although he does.
"A writer who wants to create a problem can, whether he quotes you right or not." Bingham said. "Just write a few phrases in a few words can change a story."
Bingham said he was most worried about how a reporter represented
things up and forcing a story that's not there, then I probably will not talk with that reporter again," he said.
For example, Bingham doesn't like it when reporters create an issue from a quote he gives them.
"When a reporter starts making
"If the writer represents my thoughts, then I do any kind of my work," he said.
Bingham said he was also disturbed when questioned about player personnel and who should play.
He said he would have no problem with a reporter writing that his baseball team played poorly, didn't look at the looked bad, if those were the facts.
"But if a reporter starts questioning the players I play, then I will not attack them."
Soccer team sunk by coach's goal
By ROBERT WHITMAN Staff writer
When the Iowa State men's soccer coach needed a lift on the field, he looked to the bench and found . . . himself.
It was just the lift the Cyclones needed yesterday to defeat Kansas 2-1 in the semifinals of the Ed Chartrand Memorial Soccer tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
the top of the penalty box making the score 2-1.
The winning goal was scored by Iowa State forward Peter Curtis, the team's coach. Curtis, who has played for a semi-professional team in England, is a graduate student at Iowa State. He also played for four years at Alderson-Broadadus (W. Va.) College, an NAIA school, as a fullback.
Curtis entered the game about 10 minutes into the second half. Five minutes later he scored a goal from
Kansas coach Glenn Shirtliffe said the goal was of a quality seen only in professional games. Curtis shot a pass from the left wing with his left foot that went into the top right-hand corner of the net.
"It was the sort of goal that there was no way any (goalie) could have stopped it short of taking him down before he shot it," Shirtlife said.
Former semi-professional players like Curtis shouldn't be allowed onto the field in a university club soccer game, Shirtliffe said.
"I have a problem with (coaches)
who think the best way to help their
team is to take off their sweatpants
(and play)," he said. "It's somewhat
ironic that we have coaches flirting
with delusions of grandeur. It was
Peter who won the game for them."
Curtis said his role was divided equally as a player and as a coach. He said he did not enter the game until the second half because he was bothered by a groin muscle pull.
"I was a fullback (at Alderson-Broadus). Only when I came to Iowa State and took over coaching of the soccer club did I play forward," he said. "They needed somebody to score goals."
Kansas had advanced to the semifinals by winning their four-team division Saturday. The Jayhawks tied Nebraska-Omaha 1-1 and defeated Kansas State 2-0. Kansas was also awarded a 1-0 victory by forfeit over Northern Iowa, which had been scheduled to play in the tournament, but failed to show up.
The media brings different styles from Brown and Val
By ELAINE SUNG
Two highly visible coaches at the University of Kansas deal with the media nearly everyday, but they do it with different styles.
Staff writer
KU football coach Bob Valesente has been hounded by the media all season. He chooses to ignore the rumors that question how much longer he will be at KU.
But flying rumors about the departure of KU men's basketball coach Larry Brown create a situation that Brown finds hard to put aside.
One thing Brown would like to see is more responsibility on the part of writers, who, he said, sometimes write articles or columns without getting to know the team or bothering to see the team practice.
Brown said, "I've been here five days, and it gets old after a while. I can't deal with the rumors, because the press will write or say what they want. The rumors came, and usually without a lot of substance.
Like Brown, Valenteste has heard rumors about his job. But, despite the growing speculation on how long he will remain at KU, Valenteste blocks out the rumors and only focuses on what he is doing now.
"It's troublesome, but I have to deal with it. You just hope that you'll be able to find a solution."
It also bothers Brown a great deal when he is misquoted or when his words are taken out of context. To him, honesty in a writer is an important factor, since many people read and believe what they read.
"You have to accept the good with the bad, be able to bite the bullet and continue to be the athlete or coach that you want to become." Valesente said. "You develop a strong belief in what you're doing and you have to do the job as well as you possibly can."
"There may be improvements that are not seen," Valesente said. "We're laying a foundation to build a total program here. I can't distracted by whatever is printed. I can't concern myself about what is said on our record. As long as they are true facts, that's the way it is."
"I had a coach once tell me that you shouldn't get concerned with what they (the press) write, but I can't be like that," Brown said. "It's important to me. I do care what's written about me."
But Brown said his own situation was different. Despite repeated statements that he was happy and would not leave KU, the press continued to speculate about Brown's departure when his contract expired.
"I wouldn't change my philosophy, or you'll be second-guessing yourself. We have to stay consistent in what we're doing. You have to believe in what you're doing."
"I don't think the press coverage hurt or helped in Danny's case. Only Danny knew what he was going to do," Brown said. "Danny definitely considered leaving. He had that option."
rumors in his five years of coaching at Kansas, but speculation run full tilt last spring when his four-year contract expired. Both the press and the public wondered if Brown would leave Kansas, esther said, that forward Damien Manning, then a junior, would leave KU early for a career in the NBA.
Most of the press coverage of the football team has been critical, at times even cynical. But Valesente said the adversity of the situation was one both athletes and coaches had to learn to handle.
KUID KUID KUID KUID KUID
Football coach Bob Valesente
Brown has weathered many
"They bring it up every year,"
"I want them to report the way they see it, rather than paint a sugar-coated picture." Valesente said. "The press both inside and outside the area has been outstanding."
"I judge the press by the way they treat me, really on an individual basis," Brown said. "It doesn't necessarily mean they have to print nice things. There are some people I have a lot of faith and a lot of respect for."
Jeff Klein/Special to the KANSAN
He said there were many honest writers, but that in general he did not trust the press, especially after the war. He told me he and said about him over the years.
Honesty and objectivity is also what Walesente wants when he deals with the press. In his second year as football coach at KU, he described the relationship between the press and the team as positive. He said that, so far, the press was giving fair treatment to the team.
"The bottom line is, I want people to be honest. I don't want them to champion our causes. I don't want them to be fans, but I want them to be objective."
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