MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
7A
Mess at Mizzou: Arena renamed amidst controversy
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —
Fans, students and alumni were furious when the University of Missouri announced its new $75 million basketball arena was being named for a 22-year-old Wal-Mart heiress who attended another University.
is not ampiussell use
Just a few games into the first season at Paige Sports Arena, they've been vindicated. The
venue has a new name -- Mizzou Arena.
Billionaires Bill and Nancy Laurie, who received the naming rights after giving Missouri $25 million to help build the arena, gave them back to the school on Tuesday.
In March, they had named the building Paige Sports Arena, for their daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie.
Paige Laurie didn't attended Missouri; she is a graduate of the
University of Southern California, and was accused on national television last week of paying a friend to do her school work for her.
Even before the accusations of cheating, the name the Lauries picked for the arena sparked snickers on campus and howls of outrage from some alumni.
Scott Kampmeyer, a 1995 graduate and president of the Los Angeles-Orange County
alumni chapter, said Missouri graduates in California were embarrassed and angry at the name originally, and were glad now that it will change.
"They could've found someone who's done more for the University and athletic department than some girl who never even went to Mizzou," he said. "It gives you an image of a spoiled little rich girl whose daddy bought her a basketball arena."
The Lauries did not return messages Wednesday left at their Columbia home and at the offices of Paige Sports Entertainment, the company through which they own the NHL's St. Louis Blues, or with the Blues. Nancy Laurie is the daughter of the late Bud Walton, co-founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
March she would become the arena's namesake.
Paige Laurie has denied repeated requests for interviews since the announcement in
Kampmeyer said after the cheating allegations surfaced, some alumni contacted him, angry and planning to drop their memberships. He said the Lauries' giving up the naming rights should ease tensions.
"When they decided to relinquish the naming rights, I think that was a relief," Kampmeyer said. "It's kind of a tough time to be a Missouri sports fan now."
SOCCER
Smith gets Academic All-American honors
Kansas soccer junior forward Caroline Smith has been selected to the ESPN Academic All-America Second Team.
"It reflects her work ethic in both the classroom and on the soccer field," Kansas coach Mark Francis said. "Obviously, she has done a great job in both and we are very proud of her."
Smith led the Jayhawks this season in goals (11), assists (10) and points, while maintaining a 3.88 grade point average. Smith is a biology and psychology major.
She plans to attend medical school.
"It's a great honor to be recognized for my hard work in the classroom as well as on the field," Smith said. "It is also a
Athletics calendar
TODAY
Men's basketball vs. Nevada at home at 8 p.m.
1. MORROW
Women's basketball vs. Denver at home at 7 p.m.
THURSDAY
Women's basketball vs. Washburn
at home at 7 p.m.
tribute to how far we have come as a team for us to be receiving this type of national attention."
After three seasons at Kansas, Smith is the school's all-time leader in goals and points.
Kansas City's woes continue with loss
The soccer team enjoyed its most successful season in program history,winning its first Big 12 Conference championship.
Kansan staff reports
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nate Kaeding made up for missing two field goals in the finest possible way.
Kaeding booted a tiebreaking 43-yarder with 2:24 left, lifting San Diego past Kansas City 34-31 yesterday after a wild second half that saw Dante Hall drop the ball during a 77-year kickoff return and then hold onto it for an electrifying 96-yard touchdown runback.
Kaeding's kick gave the Chargers (8-3) their first win in Kansas City in eight tries and followed Donnie Edwards' interception of Trent Green's pass on the Chiefs 32.
Kansas City (3-8) seems headed for its worst season since 1988.
Hall, who took the NFL by
storm last year when he returned five kicks for touchdowns, was just a few steps away from turning the second-half kickoff into a touchdown when he dropped the ball. The Chargers recovered on the 5, and a few minutes later tied it at 17 on Kaeding's 25-yard field goal.
Then things got really wild.
Derrick Blaylock scooted 22 yards for a touchdown and a Kansas City lead that stayed at 23-17 when Lawrence Tynes missed the extra point.
Back came the Chargers, who have won five in a row and seven of eight, to forge a 23-23 tie when tight end Antonio Gates beat backup safety Willie Pile on an 18-yard touchdown pass.
After Kaeding's extra point made it 24-23, Hall brought the crowd to its feet by returning the
kickoff 96 yards for his first touchdown return of the year.
Hall went up the middle almost untouched and had to beat only Kaeding. He chugged across the goal line with 10 minutes left, then Green hit Eddie Kennison for the two-point conversion and the Chiefs led 31-24.
But the Chargers overcame four penalties, including one erasing a 51-yard gain by Gates, and tied it 31-31 on Drew Brees' 11-yard pass to his second-year tight end.
A moment later, Edwards intercepted Green's pass and Kaeding, who missed from 29 and 52 yards in the first half, made good.
much of the year by a groin injury, scored for the Chargers on runs of one and three yards in the first half. He made it 7-0 in the first quarter following Brees' 55-vard pass play to Eric Parker.
He then scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter after Brees hit Gates for 15 yards on third-and-15 and found Eric Parker for 17 on third-and-7 during a 65-vard march.
LaDainian Tomlinson, slowed
Brees was 28-for-37 for 378 yards.
Kaeding tied it 17-17 in the third quarter with a 25-yarder Eric Parker set up with a 38-yard run on a reverse.
Tony Gonzalez totaled 39 yards on two catches on the Chiefs' first scoring drive. Blaylock, who started for the injured Priest Holmes for the third straight game, scored on a five-yard run.
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