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sports
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2017
After 8 Kansas Relays, Bakers run last races
▶ SHAUN GOODWIN
@ShaunGoodwinUDK
After racing in the Kansas Relays for eight consecutive years, twin sisters Nashia and Malika Baker found it difficult to turn their backs on the track for the last time.
"It feels very surreal," Malika said, with a sad tone to her voice.
Nashia and Malika, who originally lived in Fort Benning, Georgia, moved to Lansing at a young age and attended Lansing High School for all four years. Living just
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ply because they were better and more athletic.
I think about my days on the blacktop whenever I hear any analyst or even casual fan gripe about the "Hack-a-Shaq" rule, which more realistically has become "Hack-a-DeAndre" or "Hack-a-Roberson."
But, of course, once that happened, the older kids would change a small rule to either give them a slight advantage or to hinder the play of my overly athletic friends.
Ridiculous, right? Just because the older kids were not as good at something they would change the rules.
player who is getting fouled (imagine you're Andre Roberson and you see the Houston Rockets bench laughing at your back-to-back missed free throws in the playoffs, ouch), and it's utilized by fantastic coaches like Gregg Popovich and Terry Stotts.
But, to say that they should change the rule is
Every time I hear Jeff Van Gundy whine and moan about this "hacking" rule, I cringe. Don't get me wrong, I don't like watching it, it slows down the game like crazy, but in the playoffs when winning is the only thing that matters, I'd love to see my team use it.
It is your job as an NBA basketball player, and it's the second easiest shot behind the layup. I don't want to hear the "my hands are too big" excuse or the "he's great in practice, but it's different in a game."
happening to you? Get better at free throws.
In this case, absolutely hate the player (the one that's garbage at free throws that is, not the smart one fouling them), not the game.
It's not different; it's one repetitive motion that you have all day every single day to work on. Don't change the rule, get better.
ing ball magnet.
Other than the two free bases he was awarded, Karre also laced a single to center field that plated two additional runs, giving him a total of four RBIs in the game.
Another player who made the trip home was right-handed starting pitcher Sean Rackoski, who claims Chandler, Arizona, as his hometown.
The 6-foot-7 hurler pitched five strong innings while allowing one earned run, although two additional runs crossed the plate as a result of Kansas errors. Rackoski was credited with the win, his fourth of the year.
Kansas coach
Sophomore left fielder Devin Foyle and senior first baseman Marcus Wheeler were the other Kansas players with hometown fans in the bleachers. Foyle, from Fountain Hills, and Wheeler, from Phoenix, combined for
Sophomore right-hander Blake Goldsberry entered in relief to begin the sixth inning, and he locked down the Antelopes for the remainder of the game. He allowed just one run on two hits, but, perhaps more importantly, he saved Price from having to dig deep into his bullpen for a midweek matchup.
RELEASE. We had a chance to blow the game wide open and just left too many guys on base."
As of late, Kansas has been on a tear, as it has taken down both Big 12 and non-conference opponents with ease in the month of April. The Jayhawks began the month with a series win over the Texas Longhorns, and have been hot ever since. Currently, Kansas has won 10 of its last 15 games, including two consecutive Big 12 series wins.
The Jayhawks continue their two-game midweek series against Grand Canyon on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
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