8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004
DEDICATION: Hayakawa loves his Bon Jovi
well and maybe that's why everyone takes care of me so well. They try to help me and try to be good teammates.
Q: What do you think about the United States from what you've seen of it?
A: I like it a lot because everybody is so independent and has a lot of respect. There is a lot of freedom — if a person cannot take care of responsibility, that person goes down, but if a person wants to take care of responsibility, then hard work can give a guy an opportunity to play baseball. In America I think a person has more of an opportunity to do something special compared to Japan.
Q: Was it hard to learn English?
G: Was I hard to learn English.
A: Yeah, I used to be frustrated to speak English, but since I've been here two years there is not as big of a language barrier between my teammates, my teachers and my friends. I used to have a big language barrier, many times I would have to ask 'What did you say?' or have to ask what something means. I also didn't understand what coach was teaching or talking about and I would have to depend on my friends.
Q: You requested to have Bon Jovi played while you warmed up to pitch. Why is that?
A: Because I had a best friend
A: I wanted to continue to play baseball. My father found Kansas — I don't know, somehow — he found a study abroad handbook and he found Kansas, which belongs to the Big 12 Conference, which is a pretty big conference, right? I just came here to give it my shot and tryout and walk on. I had confidence, but I didn't have any guarantee to make the team. I just wanted to try myself; I just wanted to put myself in a difficult situation and I want to see how I can manage difficult situations.
in Japan that gave me a Bon Jovi CD, which was the first time I listened to American music. I got so interested. I still like Bon Jovi.
G: Why did you decide to leave Janaan for Kansas?
Q: What's the best thing about being on the baseball team?
- Kucera is an Omaha, Neb., senior in journalism.
A: I can get the friends; it's been the best thing since I've been here. Also, I can see American baseball — like not many Japanese people can play baseball in American, like in the Big 12, in a big conference, and also I was the first Japanese guy to play up in Minnesota in the summer. I can get a very good experience.
Ryotaro Hayakawa walked on to the KU baseball team in 2002 and immediately impressed the coaches. Hayakawa said he coming here was a test of how he can handle difficult situations, including overcoming a language barrier.
FIELD: Home stadium lacks preferred amenities
CONTINUED FROM 1B
Both stadiums have the amenities that SuperTarget Field lacks, but the Athletics Department has not submitted a bid to host using either stadium.
Other than the lighting issue, SuperTarget Field has everything needed to host the first two rounds. The opening rounds receive little lype, and Kansas will be able to accommodate the visiting teams and fans.
The bigger obstacle lies in hosting a regional. Regional games bring larger crowds and demand from the media, especially if the game is televised. This creates a problem for Kansas because the soccer stadium does not have seating on both sides of the field or an adequate area for the press.
"I don't think the stadium will be a factor. We have the necessary facilities to host," Mehrtens said.
If the Jayhawks are not allowed to host, they would likely be sent to the closest host site, as was the case last year when they played the first two rounds at Missouri. But there is no assurance of even that. For example, Duke was sent to Texas A&M last year.
"If we're one of the highest seeds, the committee will probably do us some favors," Quisenberry said. "But they're funny sometimes. The team could be sent anywhere."
The NCAA soccer selection committee will conduct a selection show on Nov. 8 to announce the Jayhawks' seed and whether Kansas will host any tournament games. Quisenberry said the team was planning to watch the selection show on a satellite feed at Memorial Stadium.
- Edited by Janette Crawford
Experienced Leadership
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State Board of Education www.billwagnon.com
Paid for by Wagnon for State Board of Education Joan Wagnon, Treasurer
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