TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2004
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7A
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Another historic season in store for Kansas fans
Imagine or remember.
You've been sitting at Late Night in the Phog for almost four hours when Coach Bill Self's image is projected onto four large video screens in the uppermost corners of Allen Fieldhouse. You've waited through the pre-scrimmage entertainment — Dallas Mavericks mascot, Mavs Man's acrobatic dunk show, T-shirts nearly decapitating fans as they shoot from those cannon things, a hokey group hypnotist, enough dancing to make Jack Flanigan's jealous, and skits. Self explains how special this upcoming season will be. He told us how "jacked" he was to coach this team and how this may be the best team in the country. The crowd of more than 15,500, going nuts the entire time, has waited since last March for this night, for the start of the biggest attraction in Lawrence — Kansas men's basketball.
Call me what you want, but I admit that I was taken aback by Self and the video. A wave of emotion overcame me as I realized — and I do this every year as I sit in the Fieldhouse for the first time each season — how
After Self's speech and a video that chronicled Kansas teams past and present, not only did I have goose bumps, but I could honestly say that I got a bit choked up about all of it.
truly special it is to be a Kansas student and experience firsthand how incredible it is to witness the every growing accomplishments of Kansas basketball.
JACK WEINSTEIN
iweinstein@kansan.com
The video was a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Fieldhouse that opened its doors in 1955. In those 50 years and the 57 years leading up to 1955, Kansas basketball became a tradition rivaled only by few in the history of college basketball.
KU's win total is third all-time behind Kentucky and North Carolina, coincidentally teams that were coached by Kansas alumnae and Phog Allen disciples Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith. The 'Hawks have four national titles, its two NCAA titles is tied for sixth all-time. KU has won an astonishing 47 conference championships. The list goes on.
But the greatest thing about Kansas basketball is that a new historic chapter is written every year. Students have the luxury of watching one of the best programs in all of college basketball. I'm sure many take this for granted at times, myself included. We may not always realize that most teams don't go to back-to-back Final Fours and an Elite Eight in a three-year period. Although we expect this type of performance from our basketball team, it doesn't mean we can't acknowledge how amazing it is.
The Kansas players and coaches may say that Late Night is an event for the fans, to showcase this year's team to those who will cheer for them and I agree that's true to some extent, but I am going to expand on that.
Late Night is also an event where the fans can show their appreciation for their team, by showing up and giving their support. Waiting for hours before entering the Fieldhouse and hours before the scrimmage began, fans of all ages demonstrated their love for and dedication to Kansas basketball. In Lawrence basketball is much more than a winter sport. It's a way of life. As long as there is a team playing at Allen Fieldhouse, there will always be 16,300 people that would do anything to see it and that's something special.
Weinstein is an Overland Park senior in English.
Filen Amendola/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Teammate Doug Mientkiewicz congratulates the Boston Red Sox's Johnny Damon after Damon scored the game-winning run against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series yesterday in Boston. The Sox won 5-4.
Red Sox still in the game
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON — After the game that seemed like it would never end. Boston's season goes on.
David Ortiz hit the 472nd pitch of the game with two outs in the 14th inning last night to cap a second straight amazing comeback and give the Red Sox a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees and send the AL championship series back to New York.
Boston had been three outs from a humiliating sweep in Game 4 before Ortiz's two-run
Now, after a 5:49 game that was the longest by time in postseason history, the Red Sox are just one victory from climbing out of a 3-0 deficit and forcing an anything-can-happen Game 7.
homer in the 12th inning ended a 5-hour, 2-minute marathon at 1:22 a.m. yesterday.
Boston was six outs from elimination in this one before Ortiz's leadoff homer off Tom Gordon and Jason Varitek's sacrifice fly off Mariano Rivera in the two-run eighth.
Johnny Damon walked with one out in the 14th to start the winning rally and Manny Ramirez walked with two outs. Ortiz then fouled off eight two-strike pitches.
Alan Embree and winner Tim Wakefield combined for eight shutout innings after the Yankees scored four runs off starter Pedro Martinez.
Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke,
Bronson Arroyo, Myer Myers.
Astros take series lead
After Brandon Backe and Woody Williams dueled in the greatest games of their careers — and among the best in postseason history — Kent launched a three-run homer in the ninth inning last night that lifted the Astros over St. Louis 3-0 for a 3-2 edge in the NL championship series.
HOUSTON — On a night when pitching suddenly took over the NL playoffs, someone was bound to get a hit. Fortunately for the Houston Astros, Jeff Kent stepped up.
Each team had only one hit until the final inning. But that quickly changed when Carlos Beltran opened the ninth with a single off Jason Isrenghausen.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Half of the Red Sox ran to greet Damon coming home; the others met Ortiz halfway to second base. Raising his arm in triumph, as he did the night before, he leaped for joy.
Beltran stole second with one out, prompting an intentional walk to Lance Berkman. Kent then swung, flipping his bat after he connected.
Backe, who started the season in the minors, allowed one single in eight innings and Brad Lidge worked a perfect ninth for a combined one-hitter.
Now, Game 6 will be back in St. Louis tomorrow, with Matt Morris starting for St. Louis. Roger Clemens may pitch on three days' rest for the Astros -- manager Phil Garner had not yet confirmed his choice.
Kent tossed off his helmet as he headed home and said, "One more, one more."
He was right, because one more victory will put Houston in the World Series for the first time ever.
David Phillip/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe reacts after striking out St. Louis Cardinals' John Marby to end the eighth inning during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series in Houston yesterday.
kansan.com
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Don't Miss the North American debut tour of.
Prague Philharmonia
Prague Philharmonia Tuesday, October 19 - 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating the international "Year of Czech
Program:
Dvorák's Concerto in
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David Denton Yorkshire Post
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"Kick it old school"
2004 FALL kickball
CLASSIC LR LAWRENCE PARKS & RECREATION
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23
CLINTON LAKE SOFTBALL COMPLEX
FIRST KICK AT NOON
COST $75 PER TEAM
This is a coed, double-elimination tournament. Teams must have an equal number of men and women (maximum 10/minimum 8) on the playing field but all players on the roster may kick. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place teams.
Register at the Community Building, 115 W. 15th St., or online at www.lprd.org.
Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 20. For more information, contact the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department Adult Sports Division at 832-7920.
Rock Chalk Sidewalk Sale Oct 20-22
- KU Men's, Ladies & Youth Apparel
- Hooded Sweatshirts
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* Stationary Supplies
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* Huge savings inside, too
ALL YOU CAN CARRY "SALE BOOKS" $19.95
Up to 70% off selected items
Jayhawk Bookstore...at the top of Naismith Hill voted Best Bookstore by KU Students 1420 Crescent Rd.