2B SPORTS
QUOTE OF THE DAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
"There is no use in your walking five miles to fish when you can depend on being as unsuccessful near home."
Mark Twain
FACT OF THE DAY
Twenty-four years ago today, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's hit record.
Realclearsports.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's seventh-inning hit Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays tied Lou Gehrig's Yankees record with 2,721 hits. Where does that put Pete on the all-time list?
A: Tied for 53rd with Gehrig as of Thursday afternoon.
MLB.com
FISHING REPORT
CLINTON RESERVOIR:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reported on Sept. 9 that:
White bass: Fair,
2-4.5 pounds. Anglers
are catching fish trolling
crankbaits in main lake
or casting jigs and
crankbaits into surfacing
fish chasing shad.
Crappie: Slow. 0.5-1 pound. Some being caught over brushpiles on minnows or iiqs.
Channel catfish:
Good. 1-4 pounds.
Worms, liver, stinkbait and spoons over baited areas have been effective.
— Stephen Montemayor
MORNING BREW
Women's tennis has promising future
A And so ends the best feel good story of the U.S. Open.
American tennis player Melanie Oudin stole the hearts of many fans the past couple weeks. She lost in the quarterfinals 6-2, 6-2 to Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the No.9 seed on Wednesday. Some could say Oudin beat expectations by getting so far, but it didn't make seeing her lose any easier.
The 17-year-old separated herself from the other female players on the tour this year by collecting a huge fan base after being virtually unknown. Her last three victories came after she was down one set. There are few players that have that capability. You'd be hard pressed to find them outside of Venus and Serena Williams.
The high-ranked women have been inconsistent and could not connect with fans because they lacked charisma. No. 1 player Dinara Safina is a prime example. She hasn't won a singles Grand Slam in her life and has only been to three finals. She has the skill set to win but her mentality is
lacking. She broke down in tears and asked her coach why she was being a "chicken" and playing so poorly earlier this year during the French Open finals. She lost the match.
To be fain, most of the top ranked women the past couple years haven't handled the pressure. Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic were both ranked number one at some point in 2008 and only have one Grand Slam win and a total of 30 weeks in the top spot between them.
If this is what becomes of the best players, I thought, tennis is in trouble. And when the Williams sisters retire, would I even want to watch women's tennis anymore?
Then America discovered young Oudin. She is the gleam
of hope not just Americans, but all tennis fans, have been waiting for. She came into the U.S Open firing, beating the fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva and then Maria Sharapova, both after losing the first set. Most players would pack it in but Oudin had a fire reminiscent of Lleyton Hewitt, shouting "Come on!" to pump herself up as well as the crowd. It was a marvel to watch.
It's refreshing to see a player with this kind of spunk and heart at such a young age. Oudin had the best quote I heard from the tournament regarding her unwillingness to back down from opponents: "Mentally I'm staying in there with them the whole time and I'm not giving up at all," she said. "So if they're going to beat me, they're going to beat me, because I'm not going to go anywhere."
It was tough to watch her lose. It was the first time she showed any negative emotion the whole tournament (the emotion could have also had to do with her parents' divorce story looming). But her opponent Wozniacki showed
some of the same toughness qualities our Oudin did, so it's hard to root against her. Plus, she is only 19, so this young generation is looking more and more promising.
Oudin's legacy can only get better from here as can women's tennis. I have a reason to watch even when Venus and Serena are gone. We all do.
- Edited by Abbey Strusz
Follow Corey Thibodeaux at twitter.com/ c_thibodeaux.
Sunday's starting quarterback spot up in the air
CHIEFS
BY JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel acts like he's ready to play. He hasn't missed a practice this week. He knows the game plan. He's said the right things, that he feels good enough to go.
Now, it's up to the coaches.
So does that mean Cassel will play Sunday against Baltimore? Too early to tell.
"As long as I'm able to walk and get out there, I will be ready to go." Cassel said Thursday. "It's up to them to pull me back."
Cassel sprained his left knee in
Kansas City's third preseason game Aug. 29. He returned to practice Monday and was on the field the past two days. Though he's getting
better every day,
Cassel's been limited in what drills
he can participate in,
leaving the coaches with a hazy plan against the Ravens and their rugged defense.
"I think this is something that
"I think this is something that will go down to the wire with the quarterback."
be trying to figure it out."
Cassel talks like he'll be able to play, given the chance. He's been wearing a brace since returning
will go down to the wire with the quarterback," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. "On game day, we'll still
TODD HALEY Chiefs coach
to practice and has gradually become involved in more drills. He's also eager to show everyone what he can do after signing a six-year, $63 million contract in the offseason.
"My knees feel pretty good, and I wouldn't be out there
whether I'm ready to go, and it's up to coach to determine whether I should play"
Haley's decision isn't just limited to Cassel. He still doesn't know if Brodie Croyle or Tyler Thigpen will start if Cassel not able to play.
if I wasn't up for the challenge",
Cassel said. "Ultimately, it's going to be up to the trainers to decide
Whoever it is, don't expect the game plan to change all that much.
"I don't think a whole bunch (of change) really for any of those guys," Haley said. "It might be a little more (shot)gun, a little less gun, or there might be different things you do for different guys. But other than that I think the game is, especially now ... it's Thursday and it's almost go time."
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
FRIDAY
Soccer
Denver, 2:30 p.m.
Colorado Springs,
Co.
Volleyball North Texas, 5 p.m. Fayetteville, Ark
Tennis
UNC-Wilmington
Tournament, All day
Wilmington, N.C.
SATURDAY
Cross Country
Missouri
Cross Country
Challenge,
Columbia, Mo.
Tennis
UNC-Wilmington
Tournament, All day
Wilmington, N.C.
Volleyball Jacksonville State 1 p.m. Fayetteville, Ark.
Volleyball Arkansas, 7 p.m. Fayetteville, Ark.
SUNDAY
Football
at Texas-El Paso,
6:30 p.m.
El Paso, Texas
Tennis
UNC-Wilmington
Tournament, All
day,
Wilmington, N.C.
Soccer
Colorado College,
3:30 p.m.
Colorado Springs,
Co.
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PGA
Rory Sabbatini shares lead in President's Cup
LEMONT, III. — Two days after being left off the Presidents Cup team, Rory Sabbatini had seven birds in a round of 5-under 66 to share the lead with Steve Marino in the BMW Championship.
Among those one shot behind was Marc Leishman, who qualified for the third playoff event by
Sabbatini has not finished in the top 30 since he won the Byron Nelson Championship in May. His game showed signs of returning Thursday in the sunshine of Cog Hill, where he got off to a solid start with hopes of advancing to the final event of the FedEx Cup.
Liberty Hall
642 Mass St • Lawrence Kansas
Sat Oct 24
Gogol Bordello
Apostle of Hustle
TWO SHOWS!
Oct 30 & Oct 31
Yonder Mountain
String Band
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St • Lawrence Ks
Sat Sep 19th
Autolux
w/Mini Mansions, Boo & Boo Too
Mon Sep 21
Ra Ra Riot
w/Maps & Ailas, Princeton
Sat Oct 3
She Wants Revenge
w/Kill Hannah, he Tender Bok
COMING SOON: Brooke White &
Michael Johns (of American Idol),
Dr. Dog, State Radio, Rebulation
the.bottleneck.kite
making an eagle on his final hole last week.
Associated Press
Tiger Woods opened with a 3-under 68 and was two shots behind. Steve Stricker had a three-putt bogey from 10 feet that slowed his momentum. He shot 72.
Last-place Royals sweep leading Tigers
ROYALS
BY DOUG TUCKER
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Gordon and Alberto Callaspo homered, leading the last-place Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Thursday for a surprising three-game sweep of the AL Central leaders.
It was the first three-game sweep of an American League team at home this season for the Royals. They've won four straight overall for the first time since June 12-16.
Zach Miner (6-5) gave up three runs and five hits in relief for the Tigers, who rolled into town Tuesday on a six-game winning streak, fresh off a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay.
Not only had the Royals dropped four in a row, they were missing injured pitchers Gil Meche and Brian Bannister and had lost 24 of their last 33 to Detroit at home.
But beginning with Bruce Chen on Tuesday night, the Royals proceeded to win with three straight spot starters.
Roman Colon (2-3) got the win with 11 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. Carlos Rosa pitched the ninth for his first major league save.
Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs for Kansas City, last in a division the Tigers lead by $ 5 \frac{1}{2} $ games over Minnesota.
Gordon's leadoff homer in the sixth tied it 4-all. Callaspo, who also had a sacrifice fly, hit a solo homer in the eighth for the Royals.
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