2B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
quote of the day
"The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again."
— James Earl Jones in "Field of Dreams"
fact of the day
If the Kansas City Royals finish in last place in the American League Central division this season — as of Sunday they were two games behind the fourth place Detroit Tigers
BaseballReference.com
it will be the fifth consecutive season the Royals have finished dead last.
trivia of the day
Q: When was the last time the Kansas City Royals won at least 90 games in a season?
A: 1989. The Royals finished 92-70 in 1989, good enough for second place in the American League West.
ku sports schedule
Today
Women's golf: Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, first day (Lawrence)
Tuesdav
Women's golf: Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, final day (Lawrence)
Wednesday
Wednesday
Volleyball: Nebraska, 7 p.m.
(Lincoln, Neb.)
Friday
Women's soccer: Nebraska,
4:30 p.m. (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tennis: Jayhawk Invitational,
first day (Lawrence)
Royals' late winning streak gives hope
The last few days have been bliss for Royals fans, at least the ones who didn't forget about the team after the 13-game losing
streak in May; the game-changing pop up lost in the sun by Tony Pena, whose sunglasses hadn't yet arrived in the mail; Alberto Callaspo's DUI; lose Guillen saying he doesn't care about the fans, almost getting into
a fight with a fan and saying hed rather play on the road than at home; or the 7-20 August record.
Sigh.
Anyway, the Royals have won eight of their last 10 games. They're 13-7 so far this month. For most teams, so-so. For Kansas City, heaven.
This hasn't happened in recent years either. The Royals have gone a combined 33-50 in September the last three seasons. When you're that bad, you look for positive signs anywhere.
And this is one. It might be luck. It might be the fact that Kansas City got four of those wins against the dismal Mariners and two against the almost as bad As. But it might not be.
Players who've disappointed all year are finally clicking. Mark Teahen, back at third base, looks comfortable again and is hitting around .400 with good power numbers this month. Zack Greinke should finish the year with an ERA under 3.90, the first home-grown Royals starter to do that since Jose Rosado (whoa). And Guillen is hot again.
fans have reason to hope. For now, they can forget about all the bad stuff. And there's lots of it.
So in some ways, Kansas City
Just three weeks ago, general manager Dayton Moore told The Kansas City Star held make major changes in the off-season. The team really hasn't improved defensively and lacks speed and power.
But fans should worry about all that later. They should brag about this hot stretch and go.
excited if the Royals' luck continues the next few games.
And though Kansas City is still miles away from the playoffs and might still be at least a couple years away from being a team on the rise, fans can also take solace in this The
Royals don't have Tyler Thigpen.
BLING BLING
The Jayhawks got their championship rings on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse. They're big and diamond encrusted with a blue "KU" in the middle.
Any fan would do just about anything to own one. Although it's unlikely, someday a fan could.
Authentic championship rings go on sale on eBay all the time. Right now, there are seven available – three from USC and one each from Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee and Youngstown State. They range in cost from $3,250 to $7,550.
The only way for an authentic ring to go on sale is if someone who received one - a player, coach or possibly a manager - gives his up.
So, if you really want a ring, hope that a player gets tired of looking at his championship bling, check eBay religiously in a few years and be prepared to spend a fortune.
Edited by Ramsey Cox
Craig, Debby and Mary - Pharmaceutical Sales Team
As a sales person with Lilly, you will have opportunity. The opportunity to join one of Business Week's Top 50 Places to Launch Your Career. And to succeed at an over 130-year-old company with a rich pipeline of best-in-class products that heal and improve lives with more than $18.5 billion in sales. Choose Lilly and make your future, and that of others. a better one.
Every action has a reaction. A thought that sparks curiosity. A step that leads to discovery. An opportunity to improve the lives of millions. Make Lilly your next big move and fully realize the power of choice.
Where: The International Room-Kansas Union
When: September 23, 2008
What: Information Session
Why. We will be providing information about a free class to be held Monday nights beginning October 6,2008 through November 10,2008.
Who: Eli Lilly and YOU
Free refreshments provided.
For more information, please contact University Career Services.
Be connected. Be inspired. Be a catalyst.
Visit lilly.com/careers
LLY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Zebra crossing
Sophomore receiver Dezmon Briscoe runs into the referee while being tackled during the fourth quarter against Sam Houston State. Kansas defeated Sam Houston State 38-14 Saturday night.
Weston White/KANSAN
KICK THE KANSAN: WEEK FIVE
Pick games. Beat the Kansan staff. Get your name in the paper.
This week's games:
1. No.25 Fresno State at UCLA (predict score)
2. Minnesota at No. 14 Ohio State
3. Maryland at No. 20 Clemson
4. Virginia at Duke
5. Colorado at Florida State
6. Purdue at Notre Dame
7. Oregon at Washington State
8. No. 8 Alabama at No. 3 Georgia
9. No. 22 Illinois at No. 12 Penn State
10. Virginia Tech at Nebraska
1) Only KU students are eligible.
Name:
E-mail:
Year in school:
Hometown:
1) Only no students are eligible.
2) Give your name, e-mail, year in school and hometown.
3) Beat the Kansan's best prognosticator and get your name in the paper.
4) Beat all your peers and get your picture and picks in the paper next to the Kansan staff.
5) To break ties, pick the score of the designated game.
Either submit your picks to KickTheKansan@kansan.com or to the Kansan business office, located at the West side of Staufer-Flint Hall, which is between Wescoe Hall and Watson Library.
WEEK FOUR RESULTS
In an off week for Kansan staff, 10 staff members were a combined 59-41, only one Kick the Kansan entrant managed to finish with less than three losses.
That honor goes to Sam Cruse, Davenport, Iowa, junior, who finished 8-2.
The best the Kansan could offer was four staffers with 7-3 records.
His only mistakes were picking West Virginia to win in Boulder and Florida State over Wake Forest.
Cruse correctly picked North Carolina State to beat early-season Cinderella East Carolina, and he also predicted a Louisville victory over Kansas State on Wednesday night.
In honor of Cruse's victorious
week, here is a quick peek at his hometown. Davenport is one of the Quad States located on the border of Iowa and Illinois along with Bettendorf, East Moline and Rock Island.
It also is home to the Palmer College of Chiropractic, which is known as the birthplace of chiropractic medicine and wellness technique.
HUMANITIES LECTURE SERIES 2008-2009
This event is free and open to the public. No tickets required.
785-864-4798 * www.hallcenter.ku.edu
THE 2008 ELECTION: WHAT'S AT STAKE
Susan Estrich
Sept. 23, 2008 | Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union | 7:30 p.m.
Susan Estrich, one of the nation's leading legal scholars, is Robert Kingsley Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of Southern California. Known for her quick wit and humor as a commentator on Fox News, Estrich was one of the first women to run a national presidential campaign, the first female president of The Harvard Law Review and the youngest woman to be tenured at Harvard Law School.
KU HALL CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES The University of Kansas
This series is co-sponsored by Kansas Public Radio. Partial funding for the Humanities Lecture Series is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities' 2000 Challenge Grant.
e
1