Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Who's hot; who's not?The KU football depth chart is out. See page 3B.
Friday
August 21,1998
Section:
B
Page 1
The Royals want Kansas City residents to accept a New York lawyer's bid to buy the team.
Pro Baseball
SEE PAGE 5B
Kansas Basketball
Kansas has its eye on two Iowa high school basketball players. Both have planned visits to the campus.
SEE PAGE 3B
Contact the Kansan
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Sports Desk: (785) 864-4810
Sports Fax: (785) 864-0391
Commentary Wrestling is entertaining; boxing: a joke
By Tony Pacheco
Kansan sportswriter
It started innocently enough when my friend brought over a video game for my Nintendo 64.
Somehow I was talked into playing the master of all wrestling games. My friend could do moves that required strict button sequencing in a matter of seconds in order to execute these maneuvers with precision.
we played and played and played,
and I was hooked, not only on the game
but on the drama of what is now the
ever-so-popular Monday Night Nitro.
I was scared. I didn't know what
was happening to me. My fascination with Hollywood, Hogan, Macho Madness, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page and the rest of those jokers was growing every week.
Then it hit me. 1
had seen this circus
sideshow before.
But where? Was it at
the sidewalk sale
Tony
Pacheco
ttrenary @ kansan.com
at J.C. Penney? Was it at my grandma's house on Thanksgiving Day when my uncle put in the movie Gator Bait (always a family holiday favorite?)
No, it was in boxing.
I used to be a boxing fan, but now it's just a toke.
It was the show that Promoter Don King and boxers Hector "Macho" Camacho, Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Evander Hollyfield performed before their big matches.
Allow me to enlighten you with my reasons for switching from boxing to the wonderful realm of World Championship Wrestling.
We know that wrestling is fake. However, the curry is still out on boxing.
we know that wrestling is a joke, and everyone with the exception of the "Real Deal" Holyfield is a joker. For references, see the Riddick Bowe military flasto as well as the Viagra-sponsored bout between George Foreman and Larry Holmes.
Wrestling is much more entertaining and fun to watch. I've purchased pay-per-view boxing bouts three times for approximately $150 and received my money's worth only once—Holyfield-Tyson I. The other two times, we were privileged enough to see Tyson pummel Frank Bruno and have an all-you-can-eat meal out of Holyfield's ear.
combined time of the second and third main events was about four or five rounds.
What a bargain!
What to buy?
By comparison, on WCW pay-per-view they bring stars like Dennis Rodman a.k.a. Rodzilla, Karl Malone and Jay Leno. The price for the multi-hour display of showmanship is a whopping $30.
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I bought tickets to Monday Night Nitro a few months back for $12.50 to see all the big-time clowns and acrobats perform for a guaranteed three hours.
What a show. These guys aren't just wrestlers; they are entertainers, actors, comedians and full-time athletes. They give the crowd exactly what they want comedy, action and drama.
Boxing rarely delivers the same punch.
For all those who laugh at what I say, give it a chance. Watch at least a half an hour of WCW, and you'll see what I'm talking about. You'll be handing out diamond cutters, body slams and power bombs to your friends in no time. And if you don't believe me, get in the ring, and I'll snap into you like a Slim Jim. Oh yeah!
Pacheco is an Olathe senior in English.
The Kansas women's soccer team trying to earn their fist berth to the Big 12 tournament will look to seniors for leadership. Pictured left to right are Forward Jen Silvers, Midfielder Erin Hon, Midfielder Sarah Korpi and Defender Jackie Dowell. Photo by Dan Elavsky/KANSAN
Women's soccer kickstarts year
Four senior players set winning tradition
By Brad Hallier
Kansan sportswriter
And then there were four.
When varsity women's soccer began at Kansas in the fall of 1995, 14 freshmen were on the roster. As the 1998 season approaches, only four of those 14 have survived — seniors Erin Hon, Jen Silvers, Jackie Dowell and Sarah Korpi.
Why did these four elect to attend a school far away from home? And why did they decide to play for a school that was just beginning a team?
Dowell, a defender from Germantown, Md., who was the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player in '95 and '96, said she fell in love with the school during a recruiting trip that included a visit to Allen Field House for a men's basketball game.
"Ijust loved this place when I visited," Dowell said. "(Former Kansas coach) Laurie Walker pulled me and Erin out here because she had been our Olympic Development Program coach."
Korpi, a defender from Maple Grove, Minn., scored the first goal in Jayhawk soccer history Sept. 3, 1995, in a 5-loss at Evansville, Ind. She agreed with Dowell about falling for the University.
As the four seniors embark on their final season, there are two goals they set as freshmen that remain
"Lawrence is the perfect college town, and I like the way they support athletics here," Korpi said.
Dowell will be a team captain for the fourth consecutive season.
unachieved.
the first goal is to finish in the top six in the Big 12 Conference and qualify for the Big 12 Conference tournament. The second goal is to have the program's first winning record.
This year's conference tournament is Nov. 4-8 in San Antonio.
The 1995 and 1996 teams missed qualifying for the tournament, finishing seventh both seasons.
Last year's team was plagued by injuries and finished a disappointing 10th. The seniors said they hope this season will be different.
Hon, a midfielder from Serverna Park, Park,md., knows that the team has made strides since the inaugural campaign in '95.
"The big difference between our freshmen year and this year is leadership," Hon said. "Coming in as freshmen in a first year program, leaders weren't established. Now as seniors, we have the experience to lead the voucher players."
Hon was named the team's MVP in '95. She and Dowell are the only two players who have played in all 57 Kansas soccer games. Dowell is the only player who started every Kansas game.
"We've had to establish something in our four years," Silvers said. "We've started the traditions, and we want to leave a hard work ethic for years to come. We don't want new players to come here thinking this is going to be easy."
Silvers, a forward from Fairfax, Va. is the only player in the program's brief history to record two assists in one game Sept. 20, 1997.
Coach Dan Magner is looking for his four seniors to provide a lot of leader-
But that isn't the only thing Silvers wants to leave with the program.
PRESEASON TOP 20
soccer America's preseason women's top 20, with 97 final record.
| rank | team | rec | pts | pvs |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. | North Carolina | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| 2. | Santa Clara | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 3. | Notre Dame | 23 | 1 | 1 |
| 4. | Florida | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 5. | Connecticut | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| 6. | Virginia | 14 | 5 | 2 |
| 7. | Clemson | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| 8. | William & Mary | 20 | 5 | 0 |
| 9. | Hartford | 19 | 2 | 1 |
| **10. Nebraska** | | **18** | **4** | **0** |
| **11. Texas A&M** | | **18** | **3** | **0** |
| 12. Portland | | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| 13. Maryland | | 12 | 9 | 3 |
| 14. Duke | | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| 15. Harvard | | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 16. Michigan | | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| 17. Georgia | | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| 18. UCLA | | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| 19. Brigham Young | | 19 | 4 | 0 |
| 20. SMU | | 18 | 5 | 1 |
ship on a young, but experienced team
simpify young customers."
"Leadership from them will be a key," Magner said. "They've seen a lot of changes, and I know they have a burning desire for this team to be successful. I believe their maturity will help us both on and off the field."
The team will hold open tryouts this weekend at the Super Target Field behind Oliver Hall.
The first session will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday's session will be from 6 to 6 p.m. Tryouts will conclude Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Any interested student needs to bring proof of insurance and proof of a physical conducted within the past year.
Men's soccer sets lofty goals for fall season
By Dan Forguson
Kansan sportswriter
Goal No. 1: win the National Club Team Championship in November. Goal No. 2: have fun.
The Kansas men's soccer club team returns to Mount Crest this fall with two distinct goals.
often
in Gray, club president and team member, said the
team should improve.
team should help us "With all the talent and experience we are returning, we should be much better than last year," Gray said.
That should scare opponents.
The Jayhawks return 22 players from the team that won the regional club championship before losing to Arizona in the national quarterfinals.
Brendann Northcott, Olathe senior, anticipates a successful season.
"We expect some real good competition, which will help us later in the year," he said.
The club has held tryouts this week and will continue to have sessions late into next week.
Forty-four students are trying to earn a spot on the team.
Carl Eaton, third-year coach, said he was very pleased by the turnout this year.
please by the way we got some really fine young men trying out this year," Eaton said. "I've seen a lot of good character and positive peer pressure thus far."
Eaton said that because of the high turnout, the club will field an "A" and a "B" team.
"There is a beauty in having two teams," Eaton said. "We're trying to build a tradition at KU for men's soccer, and I think that fielding two teams will help us begin to do that."
help us begin to work. Jim Bovaird, who will be in charge of the club's "B" team, said that the difference in talent level between the two squads would be minimal.
"With the number of quality players that we have, the level of play will not drop that far," said Bovaird, Topea graduate student. "Our main focus is going to be on winning and having fun at the same time."
Although they are not a varsity team, men's soccer players want to make sure they are considered a club team only in name.
"If we had the support and facilities, who knows how good we could be," Gray said.
how good we would be. Eaton and Gray evaluate players for talent, attitude and commitment to the team. Eaton makes all the final personnel decisions.
"Everyone out here certainly has talent," Eaton said. "We want disciplined, committed, competitive players, but I think competition in itself breeds commitment."
The team has a long and grueling schedule that members said they hoped would prepare them for the regional tournament in October.
regional borderline The Jayhawks said that their best preparation and toughest test will come in mid-September when they travel to Utah to play club soccer powerhouses Weber State, Brigham Young and Utah in consecutive days.
The club also will face stiff competition from all of the Big 12 club teams.
the Big 12 club teams." Gray said. "All the schools have very competitive club teams who will give us good competition."
Although the team has set its goals high for the 1998-99 season, Eaton emphasized that the season would not be a complete failure if the team doesn't meet its goals.
goals.
"We want to build a soccer tradition here," Eaton said. "It might take a few years to reach our goals, but you've still got to aim high each year."
Washington, team set higher goals for this season
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan Sports writer
You'd think this would get old.
Marian Washington has been the Kansas women's basketball coach since before her players were born.
Her enthusiasm for the sport is balanced with a soothing aura that Nakia Sanford, senior forward/center, compares to a mother or father.
She's won 489 games at Kansas in two and a half decades, but the animated look on her rounded face as she speaks about her 26th team, tells you she might be able to do this for another 20 years.
"She's so calm during our games it makes us calm," Sanford said. "We feel very confident and comfortable with her."
That composed feeling is evident as soon as Washington opens her office door, extends her hand and welcomes you.
It's been a busy day for her already; she
just returned from a recruiting trip. She's been everywhere from Portland, Ore., to Washington, D.C., watching girls' high school basketball.
"It's going well," she said. "We're getting into the homes of the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country. The next step is to convince them to come visit us."
Washington then talks about last year's team.
She talks about how young they were, how nobody expected them to win 23 games or make the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. The smile gets bigger.
"In the back of my mind, I kept telling myself 'Marian, this is a building year,' she said. "What we did last year truly was a tremendous accomplishment."
But last year was last year, and Washington understands more will be expected from this year's team.
we're not going to be surprising anybody," she said. "We're going to have some
Washington: Just returned from a recruiting trip
She was convinced when her team won after being down 20 points with 10 minutes left against Texas.
"That has to go down as one of the most incredible games ever played in Allen Field House," she said. "The more we fought back, the more we saw we could win
very high goals for ourselves. We're always going to want to be in a position to vie for conference titles."
Washington knows her team can handle it. She had a hunch last season after the Jayhawks shook off a schedule that had them playing eight of their first 11 games away from Lawrence by winning eight of those games.
that game."
Then she talks about this season. She talks about how much easier this year will be. Washington is confident she can ask her three seniors and last year's leading scorer, guard/forward Lynn Pride ,how the team is progressing.
Suzi Raymant, senior guard/forward, said that there was no one leader and that the team worked together as a whole.
Now you see why Washington gets that smile on her face, and why her eyes get so big when she talks about her team.
"It's everybody's team, and everybody's responsibility," she said.
P
You see why 25 previous seasons do nothing to Washington's excitement about her 26th.
"The players we have here are exactly what we want," she said. "They truly have a great sense of work ethic, and they're not afraid of it."
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