Monday, September 21, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Ripken ends 2,632-game iron-man record
Associated Press
BALTIMORE — The Streak is over.
After 16 years and 2,632 consecutive games, Cal Ripken took himself out of the Baltimore Orioles' starting lineup last night and did not play ending the most amazing iron-man record in sports history with just one week left in the season.
"I think the time is right," Ripken told manager Ray Miller.
The 38-year-old third baseman said he was not hurt. But with the Orioles out of playoff contention and playing their final home game against the New York Yankees, Ripken decided to end the string that began on May 30, 1982.
The end came during a magical season that has featured the historic home-run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, a perfect game by David Wells and the Yankees' pursuit of the American League record for victories.
"What Cal did is so unbelievable. That's one record I do think that will be around for a generation," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said.
Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox played his 327th straight game yesterday, the next-longest string in the majors.
There had been recent talk that Ripken would volunteer to end the streak, which broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 straight games. Rookie Ryan Minor started in his place.
One out into the game, when it became evident that Ripken would not be playing, all of the Yankees walked to the top step of the dugout and applauded.
Ripken emerged from the Orioles dugout, tipped his hat toward the Yankees and stepped back down to the bench. With the sellout crowd standing and cheering, Ripken came out again and bowed to his fans.
Ripken pulled himself a week before finishing his 16th straight season of playing every game.
On Sept. 6, 1995, Ripken passed the record set by Gehrig, who was forced from the game by a rare muscular disorder that later became known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
There were plenty of close calls that almost brought the streak to an end.
The scariest moment came in the middle of the 1997 season, when back spams nearly forced Ripken to sit out a game in Anaheim. But he played in pain, hit the game-winning home run and kept the streak intact through the end of the season.
Commentary
Sunday afternoon habit ruined by fantasy football
Writing these columns is really beginning to interfere with my long-standing tradition of watching football every Sunday after noon.
I used to religiously dedicate countless hours of my only day off to the NFL. It didn't matter what game was on or who was playing, I was watching.
Now, with the burden of providing sports fans across campus with a weekly dose of athletic analysis, I have found myself drawn to the dark side of professional football.
It is called fantasy football. And I am an addict.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain.
Fantasy football is played by drafting a predetermined number of real NFL players and pitting them against another team in your particular league.
Points are accumulated when a player on your team scores a touchdown or kicks a field goal in an actual NFL game. If your team scores more points collectively than your opponent that week, you win.
This obsession with winning a make-believe game against a nonexistent team has drawn me in.
In no longer care about what team wins each week, or which teams are headed for the playoffs. It doesn't matter to me anymore.
Now all I care about is fantasy football.
I have become obsessed with the individual performances of my players, and it
has severely skewed my outlook of the sport.
I find myself rooting for the opposing team's quarterback to get hurt or hoping its wide receiver will drop a sure touchdown pass. I will
Kevin Wilson opinionkansan.com
even cheer against my favorite NFL team if one of my players is on the other side of the ball.
In three short weeks, I have gone from a curious bystander to an overly dedicated fantasy football general manager. Magazines containing nothing but fantasy football statistics clutter my coffee table and fantasy football Web sites
have been added to my list of favorite places to visit.
So far, the Barnstormers, named in honor of the Arena Football team located in Des Moines, Iowa, have had an up-and-down season
Every day I call my managing partner Dan to discuss trade options and roster moves. Each night I dream of injury reports and highlight reels. Fantasy football dominates my free time and provides me with a competitive outlet.
Our team is leading the league in scoring, paced by the NFL leader in touchdowns, Terrell Davis. But because of some unlucky bounces in Week 1, we find our record at a less than desirable 1-1.
There are still plenty of Sundays left to climb to the top of the fantasy football heap and plenty of games remaining to keep me busy scouring the statistics.
But I don't have the time to write anymore about it because it looks like Davis is about to score yet another touchdown for the Barnstormers. — I mean, the Broncos.
Wilson is an Des Moines, Iowa, senior in journalism.
Soccer team earns first win away from home this season
Goalkeeper Fecke blocks seven shots in Kansas shutout
By Brad Hallier Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawks dropped to 3-4 on the season with a 1-0 loss to host
The Kansas soccer team finally ended its road woes this weekend, but it couldn't quite earn a sweep.
James Madison in the championship game of the MJU/Sheraton Four Points Tournament in Harrisonburg, Va.
James Madison, from the Colonial Athletic Association, improved to 4-2 with its 1-0 win in yesterday's championship game. The Dukes scored in the 12th minute on a goal by forward Lisa Cioffo to give them the championship. The Dukes dominated the match, outshooting Kansas 29-4.
"We played well for short windows of time," Kansas coach Dan Magner said. "James Madison had
a majority of the play and shots on our goal, which we were able to absorb except one time."
Friday, the Jayhawks defeated the Arizona Wildcats 1-0 in the first semifinal.
The win was the team's first away from home this season.
Magner said that Friday's win was not only a big win for the soccer program, but a big win for the Big 12 Conference.
"We came out and played well from the opening kickoff," he said. "We had more of the play early on through hard work and pressure. We were organized defensively and we didn't allow them to attack often. Arizona is a solid team, and it's an excellent victory for us, and good for the Big 12 to earn a win over a Pac-10 team. It was a hard-fought victory over a tough opponent."
The lone goal Friday came when substitute forward Lindsey Horner headed in a goal from six yards out after a corner kick in the 40th minute. The assist went to midfielder Melissa Downing.
"It was funny in that Lindsey had just came into the game before the corner," Magner said. "The substitution worked out well for us."
Magner said that Arizona put a lot of pressure on the Jayhawks in the second half, but the Kansas defense
"Overall, I'm pleased with the outcome of the weekend,and we are looking forward to getting after it this weekend."
Dan Magner
Kansas soccer coach
held its own. Goalkeeper Jen Fecke
recorded seven saves in the shutout.
"It was a big field and an outstanding surface," Magner said. "Both teams could pass and move, and players relied on skill rather than a lot of fouling.
"Overall, I'm pleased with the outcome of the weekend, and we are looking forward to getting after it this weekend."
Unlike many of its previous contests, Kansas wasn't involved in a physical match with a lot of fouls. The two teams combined for only 14 fouls.
r the Jayhawks return home this week to host the inaugural Kansas Tournament. Drury and Western Illinois open the tournament at 2 p.m. Friday and the Jayhawks take on Central Oklahoma at 4 p.m. The tournament concludes Sunday.
Application Deadline October 28,1998
For more information, call Kansas Baseball at 864-7907.
HOURS
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign 841-PLAY USED & New Sports Equipment 1029 Massachusetts
DIAMOND CREW
their free time helping a great team be better.
The Diamond Crew is a group of women who assist the Kansas Baseball team in recruiting and game day activities. We are looking for women of any age who are full-time students at KU, have a knowledge of baseball, and would like to spend some of
Mon.-Thurs.
11:00am - 2:30 am
Thurs. - Sat.
11:00 am - 3:30 am
Sunday
11:00 am - 2:00 am
1445 W. 23rd
VISA
841-5000
Get a Small Cheese Pizza for $1.89 WITH ANY PURCHASE
When you buy any Gumby's Pizza at our already
When you buy any Gumby's Pizza at our already incredibly low coupon price. Please mention ad when ordering. (limit one per order). Add toppings: 67 e each. GUMBYS Pizza
BLOWOUT
Please, recycle your Kansan
X-large (16"）
2 Topping Pizza
FOR $8.41 or
2 FOR $14.90
CARRY-OUT
ADDITIONAL TOPPING $1/PIZZA
Special
MASSIVE GUMBY 20" Massive
20" Massive
1 Topping Pizza
X-Large (16")
1 Topping Pizza
FOR $6.31
FOR $6.31
FOR $9.99
ADDITIONAL TOPPING
GULFONS PIZZA
$4.99
CARRY OUT ONLY GUMBY'S Pizza
ABOVE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TAX. OFFER MAY EXPIRE WITHOUT NOTICE.
75¢ Domestic Beers and $1.50 Domestic Jars