thursday, november 13, 2002
what we heard "I was surprised I got up from that." Men's basketball player Jeff Hawkins on colliding with teammate Jeff Graves off the bench
the university daily kansan 7A
Peña wins Manager of the Year
The Associated Press
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Tony Peña of the Kansas City Royals fell to his knees and cried with his family yesterday at the news of being selected U.S. baseball's American League Manager of the Year award.
The Dominican was an overwhelming choice for the AL award, receiving 24 first-place votes and 130 points to beat out the Minnesota Twins' Ron Gardenhire, who was second with four firsts and 44 points.
"When they told me, I got on my knees to thank God. Then I cried with my family," Peña said in a telephone interview from his home in the Caribbean country's second-largest city of Santiago. "There are no words to describe what I feel."
Peña
In his first full year as Royals manager,
Peña lead Kansas City to an 83-79 record in 2003, a stunning turnaround for a team that lost 100 games the year before. The Royals finished the past season in third place in the American League's central division.
Peña, 46, is the
first Royals manager to win the award and only the second Dominican to win it. Felipe Alou won the National League Manager of the Year award in 1994 with the Montreal Expos.
Peña took over the Royals in May 2002, winning 49 games and losing 77. The Royals' overall record was 62-100 in 2002.
During spring training this year, Pena passed out "We believe" T-shirts to his players and promised the Royals would compete until the end.
Pefia said the award showed that Latinos were becoming a force in all areas of the sport.
Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins was voted National League Manager of the Year.
"Dominicans, and all Latinos, are showing that we can take on large responsibilities in baseball," Peña said. "We know how to do more than throw hard or hit well."
Peña was the second member of his team to get top honors this week. Royals shortstop Angel Berroa, also Dominican, won AL Rookie of the Year on Monday in a close contest between Berroa and New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui.
Lack of seniors could hinder Arizona's chances in Pac-10
The Associated Press
As usual, Arizona has the talent to win the Pac-10 Conference for the second straight year. What the Wildcats don't have is a proven leader or any senior starters.
With graduated seniors Luke Walton, Jason Gardner and Rick Anderson carrying the load and winning 107 games in four years, no one else needed leadership skills. Some of the remaining players are a mix of quiet (Channing Frye), moody (Salim Stoudamire), low-profile (Isaiah Fox) and inexperienced (freshman Mustafa Shakur).
"We had great leadership the last two years," coach Lute Olson said. "We're still searching for that in a practice situation. Certainly if anyone had seen us in practice, they would not be picking us as the team to beat in the league."
Last season, Arizona was 28-4 and lost to Kansas in the NCAA tournaments West Regional final.
Gardner and Anderson's departures, the loss of recruit Ndudi Ebi to the NBA draft and redshirt freshman Chris Dunn's transfer. With walk-ons filling the open spots, any injuries could make Olson's rotation even tighter.
The Wildcats are down to just eight scholarship players because of Walton,
"We're suffering considerably as a result of that," he said. "We have very, very good athletes. It will be interesting to see how they do once we get some competition. I think potentially we are a very good team defensively."
Arizona, fourth in The Associated Press' preseason rankings, will be tested early, with games against No. 8 Florida, No. 12 Texas and No. 23 Marquette.
"There is no one team that is dominant in the conference," Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. "We all have reloaded."
Arizona's biggest challenge will come from No. 19 Stanford, which only lost point guard Julius Barnes after finishing second in the league last season and losing to Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
A key for Stanford is keeping sophomore point guard Chris Hernandez
Josh Childress, Justin Davis and Matt Lottich will anchor the offense as the top three returning scorers.
healthy. He broke his foot twice last season and Barnes proved an able replacement. But the Cardinals lack a solid backup for Hernandez this season.
"If we keep progressing, we have a chance to compete in each game. That would translate into a good year for us," coach Mike Montgomery said. "The key for us doesn't change — effort, playing together, knowing what we're doing, execution."
The biggest change is at UCLA, where Ben Howland takes over from Steve Lavin, who had the Bruins on a roller-coaster ride during his seven seasons. Howland turned around teams at Pittsburgh and Northern Arizona, and he'll have the same challenge with the Bruins, who were 10-19 last season.
The Pac-10's other new coach is Washington State's Dick Bennett, who led Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000 before briefly retiring.
Injury terminates Gannon's season
The Associated Press
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Rich Gannon, last year's NFL MVP, will miss the rest of the season and have surgery on his right throwing shoulder.
The Oakland Raiders placed the quarterback on injured reserve yesterday.
The 37-year-old Gannon attempted to throw Tuesday for the first time since getting knocked out of Oakland's 17-10 loss to Kansas City on Oct. 20. He was able to raise his arm to throw, but couldn't release the ball, coach Bill Callahan said.
Gannon, a 16-year veteran, flew home to Minnesota yesterday to be examined by the same doctor who performed his shoulder surgery after his 1993 season with Washington. He missed all of the 1994 season and then was released by the Redskins.
Callahan wouldn't go as far as saying the torn labrum is a career-ending injury.
It's extremely tough to lose a player of this caliber," said Callahan, who hadn't yet told his team. "What he provides this team not only with his play, but his leadership and preparation, to have the MVP of the league miss almost half the season is disappointing. He feels bad. If there's anybody who wants to get back on the field, it's Rich Gannon."
Gannon was hurt in the first half against the Chiefs following two sacks by linebacker Shawn Barber and several other hard hits.
With backup Marques Tuiasosopo also out for the year with a knee injury, Rick Mirer will be the starter for the last seven games.
Gannon was 125-of-225 for 1,274 yards, six touchdowns and a completion percentage of 55.6 this season. He threw four interceptions and was sacked 17 times for a subpar 73.5 quarterback rating.
Chiefs not intimidated by Johnson
The Associated Press
The Chiefs, in turn, say, 'Who cares.'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chad Johnson is not backing away one inch from his guarantee that Cincinnati will beat the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs.
The Critics, in turn, say, Who cares?
"Guys, they do crazy things in this league," Chiefs safety Jerome Woods said yesterday. "But we're not going to let goes affect us any. That type of mess in one ear and out the other. We're going to focus on what we've got to do, go up to Cincinnati and play football."
In a teleconference yesterday with Kansas City media, Johnson was asked if he reretreated making his prediction.
"Of course not," the Bengals' wide receiver said. "Not at all. No. No regrets."
As soon as the Bengals (4-5) wrapped up a 34-27 victory over Houston last Sunday, Johnson repeatedly guaranteed that the Chiefs (9-0) would get their first loss of the season this week in Cincinnati.
Johnson said he made the bold remark not to stir up the Chiefs, but to rally his teammates.
"It's to get us fired up. I just put us out there," he said.
So far in his brief NFL career, Johnson is 1-of-2 in guaranteeing victory. He was on target last year with a prediction about beating Houston. But late that season, he falsely forecast the Bengals would beat the Cleveland Brownls.
But guaranteeing a victory over the league's only unbeaten club, a team that has swamped its last two opponents by a combined score of 79-25, might seem overly audacious.
Johnson leads the AFC with 807 yards receiving. The Chiefs took a close look
"It's all about us," Johnson said. "That's all it is, getting us right back where we want to be, getting this city turned back around, getting them back behind us and going on from there."
when he came out in the draft.
"We enjoyed meeting him. He can play," said Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil. "I'm impressed with him."
Vermeil is less impressed with his ability to read crystal balls.
"Most of the time, players who make that statement are young kids in the National Football League just sprouting their wings a little bit. Iignore it," he said. "I can't predict who's going to win Sunday. I don't know how a player who's been in the league a year and a half can predict it."
Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said yesterday that Johnson was "trying to draw attention to himself."
"And he doesn't need to do that. He's too fine a football player to do that," Lewis said. "But at some point in his life, somebody told him that was something cool to do. We'll get that out of him. ... He wasn't trying to offend anybody. He's just confident in his ability and in his team. And that's good."
Football
Hall expected to play Sunday, ankle injury may sideline Tait
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kick return spe-
KANSAS CITY, MO.-
clistian Dante Hall missed practice yesterday with a bruised shoulder, but he should be ready for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, Kansas City coach Dick Vermei said.
Hall hurt the shoulder last week in a 41-20 victory over Cleveland while gaining 159
return yards for the unbeaten Chiefs (9-0).
The shoulder was examined on Monday and doctors concluded he did not break any bones.
Vermeil also said offensive tackle John Tait would be listed as doubtful Sunday with a twisted ankle. He would be replaced by veteran Marcus Spears.
The Associated Press
isn't time we kicked big Baylor out cf the Big 12 yet?
Call 864-0500
Free for All
free Face Painting and Prizes!
Fall Foods: various plies, apple cider, caramel apples
Crafts & Games: pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin weight
game, apple gumdrop turkeys
free Face Painting and Prizes!
Fall Foods: various plies, apple cider, caramel apples
Crafts & Games: pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin weight
game, apple gumdrop turkeys
Hey Jeff Hawkins, you rocked the house. Plus, your hair looks better than it did last week.
That Wayne Simien kid has got potential.
For all of you who said that Keith Langford sucks: You can shove it now.
Holy crap, our little Kirk Hinrich is in a Converse commercial. How fun.
Kansas athletics calendar
tomorrow
saturday
Soccer vs Illinois St. 4 p.m., Audrey J. Walton Track-Soccer Field-Stadium, Columbia, Mo.
Cross Country at Midwest Regional Championship, Stillwater, Okla.
Football at Oklahoma State 1 p.m. Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla.
Volleyball at Iowa State 7 p.m. Ames, Iowa
sunday
Women's Basketball vs. St. Louis
Golden (stxh) 2 p.m. Allen Fieldhouse
Paulding is sole All-American from Big 12 in preseason poll
The Associated Press' 2003-04 preseason All-America team, selected yesterday, is listed below with school, year, height and averages from last season. A 72-member national media panel voted to determine the team:
■ Emeka Okafor, Connecticut, junior, 6-9,
11.2 score
Rickey Pauldain, Missouri, senior, 6-5,
17.4 pts, 5.5 rebs.
Jamee Nelson, Saint Joseph's, senior,
5.11, 19.7 ots, 5.1 rebs
**Ike Diogu, Arizona State, sophomore,**
6.8-19.0 tors, 7.8 rebs
Raymond Fellon, North Carolina, sophomore, 6-0, 12.9 pts, 6.7 ass.
Others receiving votes (in alphabetical order, with members of Big 12 Conference teams appearing in bold): Dee Brown, Illinois; Luol Deng, Duke; Chris Duhon, Duke; Andre Emmett, Texas Tech; Gerald Fitch, Kentucky; Luis Flores, Manhattan; Channing Frye, Arizona; Francisco Garcia, Louisville; Ryan Gomes, Providence; Ben Gordon, Connecticut; Chuck Hayes, Kentucky; Chris Hill, Michigan State; Julius Hodge, North Carolina State; Luke Jackson, Oregon; Arthur Johnson, Missouri; Keith Langford, Kansas; David Lee, Florida; Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati; Rashad McCants, North Carolina; J.J. Redick, Duke; Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State; Romain Sato, Xavier; Wayne Simien, Kansas; Blake Stepp, Gonzaga; Chris Thomas, Notre Dame; Ronny Turlaf, Gonzaga; Hakim Warrick, Syracuse; Bracey Wright, Indiana.
The Associated Press
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT FALL HARVEST & Pot Luck
Come and Celebrate the Fall Season!
Nontraditional students, bring your family and friends! Please bring your favorite fall food!
Saturday, November 15
2-4 p.m.
Stouffer Community Center
1630 Ellis Drive (Building 18, Apts. 5 and 6)
Email nontrads@ku.edu for more information
Sponsored by:
Stouffer Neighborhood Association
Oaks Non-Trad
Dept. of Student Housing -
Stouffer Place Residence Life Staff
KU Nontraditional Student Services
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