Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesdav November 18,1998
2
Commentary
Coach's quitting questionable; soccer fields need drain systems
With no hot topic engulfing me this week, there are several issues I would like to bring up.
First, one reader asked me to get into women's coach Dan Magner's resignation. While that is not precisely my territory, here is my take.
Without a doubt, the season was a disappointment. The 'Hawks lost a number of close games, and probably a few games that they should have won. Certainly, only winning one Big 12 match was a disappointment, even if it was against Missouri.
I really don't think he resigned. Why would he? A source close to the program said he hadn't mentioned the possibility to the team or the other coaches. Further, he didn't leave to go to a job that was already set up. It just didn't make sense to quit. I think he was pushed, rather than going willingly.
However, this was Magner's first recruiting class, and he managed to bring in some quality players for the future. Some, like freshman creator Lindsay Kennedy, managed to make an immediate impact. With a roster filled with underclassmen and only losing a few players to graduation, the team has promise for next year.
Further, if you look at the results, you will notice that the team's decline coincides precisely with the loss of SuperTarget Field for a few weeks due to the monsoon season that hit us in early-to-mid October. As the reader who asked me to mention this noted, "How does the Athletic Department expect him to succeed without investing money in the program?" Installation of an adequate drainage system for SuperTarget Field should have come before the firing of Marner.
While we're on the issue of fields in bad conditions, or the lack of fields, can
anyone tell me why we can't have at least one set of goals up permanently?
As much as I enjoy playing with cones and shirts as posts and flags, there are enough recreational soccer players here to warrant a few sets of goals, maybe even with decent fields of some sort.
When the issue has come up before with Recreation Services, usually in the
Sam
Pierron
sports@kansan.com
middle of an argument about our ejection from one field or another, the claim has always been that they need to keep fields as nice as possible for intermurals, and that soccer players will play in any conditions if there are goals up, whereas most people playing football just play touch football wherever there's a little bit of space.
Well, they are right to say that, but that isn't a particularly good reason for not having goals up. The worst damage done to the fields at Shenk Complex this year was not done by any athletes, but by the guy who decided to mow soaked grass with a several-ton tractor, making neat trenches every six yards or so that will stay with the fields for a good long time.
I don't blame Recreation Services director Jason Krone for this, as I know he has a thankless job to begin with, let alone dealing with fields with 15 percent slopes and no drainage. Maybe the University almost cares about these fields now; they finally got rid of the cricket pitch, didn't they?
There is a serious push in some corridors of the University to build a new
athletic center. Perhaps we need to establish some decent standard of outdoor facilities before building a new indoor center.
Finally, Bruce Arena's debut as U.S. National Team coach, which took place last week against Australia in San Jose, didn't give too many clues as to the future of the program
The Aussies sent their under-23 team, without most of their best youth players, who were playing with the European clubs (Leeds United's Harry Kewell, for example).
The Americans, similarly, played a team entirely composed of Major League Soccer players, giving several players their first national team appearance.
Among those players making their first appearance were Chicago defender C.J. Brown and two of his Fire teammates, goalkeeper Zach Thornton and midfielder Chris Armas, who was cleared to play only two days before the game because of a question of eligibility.
The game itself ended in a 0-0 draw on a bad pitch in awful conditions. The Arena used a 3-5-2 instead of his standard 4-4-2, but this had more to do with the lack of a true right back on the roster than any long-term tactical switch, I think. Wizards defender and Olathe East graduate Scott Vermillion will surely get a call-up in the next few games to try out at this spot.
Hardly an auspicious debut, but Arena is in this for the long haul. The next World Cup is four years away, and he will need all four years to select and mold a team.
Comments, questions? E-mail me at spieron@ukans.edu.
Pierron is an Oatlie senior in political science and international studies.
Southwest Missouri to move past losses
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For almost any basketball team, it should have been a great year.
The Associated Press
Southwest Missouri State's Lady Bears reeled off a dozen straight wins to open the 1997-98 season. They went on to post a 24-6 record, finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference at 14-4 and win the team's seventh invitation in the last eight years to the NCAA Division I championship tournament.
What's more, the Lady Bears' loyal fans, the ones who filled Southwest Missouri's 8,846-seat Hammons Student Center to capacity almost every home game, quickly found a new superstar in Jackie Stiles.
The freshman from Glaiflin High School, who had set her state's all-time peak scoring
record for both boys and girls, took up in Springfield where she had left off in Claflin, averaging more than 20 points a game. By season's end, she had been named to two freshman All-America teams, made the Missouri Valley Conference's
Still, Stiles said she got sick to her stomach every time she thought of last season. The Lady Bears first-round loss to Notre Dame at the NCAA tournament, after losing the Missouri Valley Conference title to Drake in the championship game, wasn't how the 19-year-old expected things to end.
first team, was voted its top freshman and had won its player of the week award a record-setting three times.
"That was very devastating," she said of the season-ending losses. "We never, ever want to let that happen again."
That's how Stiles sees it, too. Then, after
that, she sees a serious run for an NCAA title.
With that goal in mind, the Lady Bears began non-conference play by beating Davidson 120-65 in the opening round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament, a game in which Stiles tied the team record with 41 points. The Lady Bears and Stiles both stumbled two nights later, however, losing a second-round game to Indiana 63-60 after Stiles, who scored 18, missed a free throw that would have tied the game with two seconds left.
"We never, ever want to let that happen again."
The Lady Bears are favored by coaches and sportswriters to win the conference for the first time since Drake ended the SMS seven-year title run in 1966-97.
The key to the Lady Bears' expectations this year is Stiles, who Burnett says is twice the player she was last year, a pronouncement that makes her soft-spoken superstar stammer in embarrassment.
Burnett said that wouldn't mean that Stiles will average 40 points a game this year if he
Jackie Stiles SW Missouri State player
teammates simply gave her the ball all the time.
But the 5-foot-6 presence of Stiles will be felt, Burnett says, in the way she has improved as a playmaker, passer and defensive player.
What's more, she has a veteran team backing her up, with four starters returning from last year. And Burnett has answered critics, who said last year's Lady Bears were too short to win a title, by recruiting 6-5 Dzena Kadic and 6-3 Ann Cavey, both freshman centers.
The biggest of last year's starters, 6-foot senior Rohonda Reed, is also back.
But clearly the expectations of stardom fall heaviest on the modest sophomore from Kansas who is being touted around the SMS campus as a likely All-American.
The number one shooter on our team is certainly jackie Stiles, Burnett said. "And she'll end up being the best passer in the country and the best defensive player before she's through."
Garage Sale
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
OUI/Traffic Criminal Defense
For free consultation call
Rick Frydman, Attorney
701 Tennessee 843-4023
Good home wanted for German Shepherd Malamute mix. 2 yr old male house trained. If interested, call 832-9045.
3 ft. tall fridge needs new home. Would be sufficient for a dorm or a beer fridge in an apt. Please call 843-5638.
Star Wars and G.I. Joe figure collections. Lando Callaroosian, Ewoks, Cobra Commander and Lange. Call Chris 331-3814
Bio 150 or 152 textbook for $15, Chemistry goggles for $2, call 832-8017
FOR SALE
Couch- $15
832-8017
TRAFFIC-DUI'S PERSONAL INJURY
Fake ID's & alcohol offenses divorce, criminal & civil matters
The law offices of DONALD G. STRUCHE
Donald G. Struche
16 East 13th
842-5116
Free Initial Consultation
Selling VCR. $75.
13" TV $49 and Style
writer printer 1200
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Various used logo golf balls. $7 a dozen. Call 840-0927.
1950-1980 Topps Baseball cards. Ranging in condition,
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I do have some stars.
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Sprint PCS CMB 1101 $80 or best offer.Jill at 841-0696
Plush chair-$15 832-8017
Soloflex muscle machine.
Complete with attach-
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SPORTING GOODS
Women's 18 spd. MT bike Shimano gears, women's seat, blue-green color. $150 paid, want $40 or best offer.
Call 841-2716.
HOME FURNISHINGS
Couch, sectional, nice,
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TV cart $5.
832-2069
AUTO SALES
1985 Nissan 300ZX,
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1991 Camaro 5.0L 5 spd. excellent condition, security system. $4200 OBO. Call at 832-2506.
1986 Merkur XR4Ti, 103,000 mi., leather, PW, PL, many new parts, $1,400/offer (913) 262-6401
STEREO EQUIPMENT
Two Rockford 12" Subs in box with Sony XM-1002 HX Amp. Less than year old. Excellent cond.Call for price.842-7481.
1992 Ford Thunderbird LX, blue, nice car.
$6295. 785-594-6713,
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86 Sensor AT $8,800
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Avg. Int. Rate 12%
Other prices & terms avail
ADEM
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91 Camy LE, 52k, 1 owner $7,972
89 Legend LS, 89k 1 owner $7,784
Aucura Integral GS, 52k 1 owner
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HAND PICKED QT'S
ROOMMATES WANTED
ADADEMY
841-0102
Female roommate needed immediately! $228/mo. & 1/3 electricity, W/D, On KU bus route. Nice area.
Call 838-9861.
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Roommate wanted for nice 2 bdrm. townhome, m/f, pool,
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avail. Jan. $295/mo.
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COMPUTERS
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Intel PII-300-$1339
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Large selection $14.99 & lower.
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Game Boy 331-0080
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6 students. Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center. 1 blk n. of Kansas Union, 3 hrs./
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1, 2 & 3 BR apts.
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Sublease 4 bdm townhome,
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Jan.-Aug. Sublease for a nice, 1 bdm apt. Tired of your current apt.？Want to live in a very spacious, nice, 1 bdm apt. on bus route & within walking distance to campus? Please call 331-3131 as soon as possible.
January Availability
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New 2 bdmr. 2 bath duplex. Laundry room, oversized one car garage with storage and opener. Appliances included. Easy access to KU, KC, and Topeka. $625.842-1985 or 691-7115.
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