2B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
INSIDE SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13,2004
Moving on up
Nomadic outfielder hits home
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS - Reggie Sanders, who's playing for his seventh team in seven seasons, has no trouble landing with a winner.
with a winner.
The St. Louis Cardinals left fielder has made it to the postseason for the fifth time and with his fourth team.
"I think a lot of it has to do with timing, being able to look at certain teams, and having the opportunity to pick." Sanders said yesterday.
Two of those teams, the 2001 World Champion Diamondbacks and 2002 World Series runner-up Giants, eliminated the Cardinals in the playoffs.
And now he'll try to help put St. Louis in the World Series for the first time in 17 seasons.
"What he brings to a clubhouse is great," teammate Larry Walker said. "I can't figure out why he doesn't stick with a team longer than he does."
The biggest reason is a succession of one-year contracts, along with two trades, although the Cardinals gave him a chance to plant roots with a two-year, $6 million contract in December.
And he's well-regarded by the team for his easy going disposition that has helped keep the team loose for the NLCS.
December.
Another reason is he's never been the big stick in the attack. Sanders has decent power and good speed, and he's the first player in major league history to hit 20 homers for six teams, but he's never driven in 100 runs. He's batted .300 only once.
Perhaps that's because he has so much experience in this situation.
Sanders hasn't been a productive player in the postseason, entering the NLCS opener against the Houston Astros on Wednesday night with a .192 career average. he has five homers and 13 RBIs.
Still, his homer in Game 4 against the Dodgers was one of the key hits in a clinching 6-2 victory.
"You have more media and the following is much greater," Sanders said. "What I've learned is you have to negate all of that and you just have to go out and do what you've got to do — treat it as a regular series. The emotions that come with the postseason can overwhelm you as a player."
as a player.
Sanders, 36, said it used to affect him more. He was 2-for-16 in the 1995 NLCS with the Reds and was 1-for-16 as recently as the 2002 NLCS.
"Of course, each time you go through it, it gets easier and easier," Sanders said.
Like most of the Cardinals, Sanders puts little stock in the Astros' 10-8 series advantage.
Houston was the only team in the NL with a winning record against St. Louis, although three of the games came right before the Cardinals clinched the Central on Sept. 18 and a later three-game sweep in Houston came while the Cardinals were coasting to the finish.
ing to the finish.
"For us, we really have to be in tune with what we've done all year long, and that's play good baseball, and not really be too caught up in what they've done to get here."
Nathan Smith, Lawrence sophomore, climbs the wall in the Student Fitness Recreation Center. Smith is a member of the KU climbing club. "Really it's all about enjoying the outdoors and hanging out with friends," he said.
Kansas athletics calendar
TOMORROW
Swimming vs. Texas at home at 6 p.m.
Today
Volleyball at Iowa State at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Soccer at Oklahoma State at 7 p.m.
Tennis at Notre Dame, all day.
Cross country at Indiana, all day.
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Danielle Hillix or Joe Bant at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
FOOTBALL
Jayhawk, Sooner showdown televised by FoxSports Oct. 23
The Oct. 23 football game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners is scheduled for noon in Norman, Okla., and will be broadcast by FoxSports Net, Mason Logan, Kansas Athletics Department, said. The game between Kansas and Oklahoma is one of three Big 12 Conference telecasts scheduled for Oct. 23.
Oct. 23.
■ FSN, Kansas at Oklahoma, noon
■ ABC, Oklahoma State at Missouri,
2:30 p.m.
- **TBS, Texas at Texas Tech, 6 p.m.**
- "Kansas staff reports"
Former Missouri football star faces possible fine, jail time
Kettering Smith, 25, was stopped by a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy who saw his truck weaving in a Dayton suburb. He told the deputy he had consumed five beers, and he swayed while walking during a sobriety test, according to the arrest report.
KETTERING, Ohio — Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Justin Smith pleaded not guilty yesterday to a driving under the influence charge.
A breath test found he had a blood alcohol level of 0.152, nearly double the state's legal limit, the report said.
Under the instructions Smith was arrested last week. His attorney entered a written plea in Kettering Municipal Court.
Smith faces a maximum six months in jail and $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor charge.
Smith was the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft. The former Missouri star set a team rookie record for sacks with 8 1/2 that year, but his total has declined during the past two years.
The Associated Press
Sooners want revenge on wounded 'Cats
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NORMAN, Okla. — Revenge isn't the word No. 2 Oklahoma is using this week heading into a rematch against Kansas State. Try preparation.
The Sooners were thoroughly beaten the last time they faced the Wildcats and the loss is still grating on their minds. But don't count on vengeance becoming too big a part of their vocabulary this week.
"I'm never much on that and I think our players understand that, too," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "There's been a lot of people who want revenge on us or other people. Revenge doesn't do much."
"I think it gets down to execution, your focus, your intensity, your respect for the other team and being prepared to play."
Oklahoma was cruising along with 12 straight victories and rampant national championship talk as it headed into the Big 12 championship game against the Wildcats last season.
Perhaps the Sooners could have forgotten about it if they'd gone on to beat LSU and win the national title. Instead, LSU used Kansas State's formula and sent the Sooners home with two straight losses.
snap at the national state That didn't stop Kansas State from relentlessly attacking a hobbled Jason White and unleashing tailback Darren Sproles for 235 rushing yards, including a 60-yard touchdown run in a 35-7 victory.
Math whizzes had even figured out that a loss wouldn't cost the Sooners a shot at the national title.
raight losses. So instead of celebrating, Oklahoma
spent the offseason watching films of the losses and looking for ways to get better.
better.
For Sooners players, those images overshadow the fact that Kansas State (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) has struggled so far this season.
this season.
But the Sooners (5-0, 2-0) aren't spending too much time looking backward. They're focused on not letting it happen again.
This year's game will have some similarities, but many differences.
Once again, Oklahoma comes in on a roll and the Wildcats have three blemishes on their record. Stoops will again face former mentor Bill Snyder, and White and Sproles return as the most recognizable offensive stars.
But the differences start there. No conference title will be at stake and the stars
game will be at Kansas State's home stadium instead of a somewhat-neutral Kansas City site.
More importantly, the Sooners now have the country's fourth-leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, at running back and the Wildcats are without departed veteran quarterback Ell Roberson.
Roberson.
Also, the Wildcats haven't had time to rebound from their losses and build momentum heading into the game. They'll instead be looking to turn their season around.
"More than anything, they have our attention and we recognize them as a strong opponent, a team that is very capable and a team that beat us a year ago." Stoops said.
season around And one last thing: Oklahoma has a really big reason not to overlook the Wildcats this time.
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