THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY KANSAS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
SPORTS
9A
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I fish better with a lit cigar. Some people fish better with talent."
— Nick Lyons
FACT OF THE DAY
Senior quarterback Todd Reesing was a Rivals.com three-star recruit when he came to Kansas as part of its 2006 recruiting class.
— Rivals.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: What were Kansas' other three senior captains — Kerry Meier, Darrell Stuckey and Jake Sharp — rated as recruits?
A: All three were three-star recruits per Rivals.com.
Rivals.com
FISHING REPORT
CLINTON RESERVOIR:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reported Sept. 17:
White bass are fair, 0.5-1.5 pounds. Anglers are catching fish trolling crankbaits in main lake. Or casting jigs and crankbaits into surfacing fish chasing shad.
Crappie are fair. 0.5-1 pound. Some are being caught over brush piles on minnows or jigs in about 12 feet below surface.
Channel catfish are good. 1-4 pounds. Some are being caught using worms, liver, stinkbait and spoons over baited areas.
Stephen Montemayor
NFL needs real sports analysts
MORNING BREW
Watching opening weekend, I noticed some of the commentators were as star-studded as the players on the field. For instance, former quarterbacks Rich Gannon and Troy Akman are heard commentating regularly, Gannon doing most of the Chiefs games and Akman mostly Cowboys. If you know your history, then you know they are covering their former teams.
The broadcaster's booth is now the retirement home for former NFL stars.
This brings up three issues. The first issue relates to analyst partiality. Second, are the retired athletes talented enough to take jobs from people whose entire careers depend on this position? And lastly, are lesser known players losing their jobs solely because of their lack of star power?
As a professional broadcaster, journalist or anything media related, you are supposed to be as objective and unbiased as possible. When we hear Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan pick the Giants or Terry Bradshaw pick the Steeleers to win the Super Bowl, how can we as fans trust their true knowledge as "experts"? It's frustrating and unfair to the viewer to do little research and root for the same team every year. From the pregame shows on CBS and FOX to "Football Night in America," we watch games sandwiched by these opinions rather than analysis.
In exchange for the seemingly endless number of players reporting or commentating, there is someone losing a job. My biggest concern is how the multimillion-dollar retiree gets the job when someone who spent his whole life trying to get one of these positions has to settle for less.
Thankfully, there are some former NFL players you would never guess had been athletes because they act professionally and don't play favorites (John Madden, Cris Collinsworth).
I've seen great like Mike Patrick and Dick Engberg to use their
distinctive voices somewhere that isn't football on Sunday. Would the NCAA allow a former college star to take Dick Vitale's spot? No way. Sometimes the voice makes all the difference — but the NFL doesn't think so. These men have a passion for the game and can captivate the viewer in any game. Mike Golic, Mike Greenberg and Steve Young were about as exciting as sawdust while calling the Monday night game. Just because they have the name doesn't mean they have the talent.
Out of all the names mentioned and the ones that were not, is there any coincidence in their familiarity? Where are professional football duds trying to make a living as sportscasters?
Former Washington Redskins running back Brian Mitchell was fired from his radio gig for being critical of his former team. He was truer to his job than most of the players we see today because he told it like it was. If a guy spends a few unsuccessful years in the league then calls it quits only to excel at broadcasting, we still may never see him because he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring or a bust
in Canton.
It's unfair to the fans and the players when announcers have their own agendas and don't give proper analysis to the games. It's unfair to dominate pregame and postgame shows with only former stars and to take jobs from those who are potentially more qualified.
No matter where the games are played, the booth should be a neutral site.
— Edited by Samantha Foster
Follow Kansan writer Corey Thibodeaux at twitter.com/ c_thibodeaux
FOOTBALL
The outcome of Kansas' first home football game - a 49-3 victory against Northern Colorado on Sept. 5 - this season was far from in doubt once the fourth quarter began, prompting many fans to exit Memorial Stadium early.
KU plans to give away gifts to fans at games
ics hopes to change that by rewarding fans that stick around for the duration of the game. Prizes will be given away to five fans that catch the game's entirety.
This Saturday Kansas Athlet-
Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said he didn't want to be specific about the prizes but mentioned that they will include electronics and gift cards.
been terrific," Marchiony said. "It's outstanding and has been for a while. The next stage is to try and get them to stay for the whole game."
"The student support has
Marchiony said that fans selected for prizes will be able to pick them up at the fan appreciation booth. He also said that this is the first time such a promotion has been attempted.
— Stephen Montemayor
wanted to spend more time with his family.
Iba, the nephew of legendary Oklahoma State coach Henry Iba, compiled a 252-154 record in his 14 years at Pittsburg State and a 478-357 record in 29 years of college coaching.
TONIGHT ON KJHK'S
'FRIDAY NIGHT
LIGHTS'
Before Pittsburg State, Iba coached for seven seasons at
Baylor University, eight years at Houston Baptist and was Hall of Famer Donald Haskins' only assistant at Texas-El Paso.
BASKETBALL Pittsburg State coach to retire after this season
Bob Harris (play-by-play voice of the Duke Blue Devils on the ISP, Sports Network) will be on "Friday Night Lights" on Friday, Sept. 18. The show airs 7 to 8 p.m. on 90.7 FM and at kjhk.org.
Pittsburg State Athletic Director Chuck Broyles sa the school will not begin an immediate search for Iba's replacement.
Associated Press
Soccer:
San Diego, 5 p.m.
Lawrence
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State basketball coach Gene Iba said he will retire after the upcoming season.
Iba said on Wednesday that he
Swimming:
Alumni Meet, 4
p.m., Lawrence
Soccer:
South Dakota St,
1 p.m.
SATURDAY
Football:
Duke, 11 a.m.,
Lawrence
SUNDAY
ATHLETICS New audit to look into Perkins' transactions
The audit for the state Board of Regents was released Thursday. It examined nine entities affiliated with the university and their transactions from July 2003 through June 2009.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A new audit says University of Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins was paid by a vendor for the athletic department.
The audit did not name the company or say how much Perkins had received.
But it recommended that the relationship be "independently evaluated for appropriateness."
Associated Press
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