OPINION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDITORIAL BOARD
www.kansan.com
Fans prepare: Kansas is a multiple-sport campus
There's something different about Memorial Stadium this year, and it is not just an energized football team.
energized football team. Football coach Mark Mangino commented on the improved student section in Friday's The University Daily Kansan. While students are more vocal and enthusiastic, the atmosphere is not yet up to par with that of Allen Fieldhouse.
On Sept. 4, the football and men's basketball teams played their first games on the same day. Thousands of fans showed up for the season opening football victory against Tulsa, and the basketball team started a 4-0 weekend tour as fans watched an exclusive feed on the MegaVision screen. But as much as Kansas fans may have been anticipating the games, having both seasons start on the same day presented an interesting situation: Would one outshine the other?
It is no secret that at this University, basketball has in recent history reigned supreme. Despite the storied history of Jayhawk football, the program suffers from a lack of fan respect during the past few years. Though much of this is attributed to being the stepchild of basketball, a large part is due to a general disregard for the traditions and legends of the program.
The fieldhouse is a college basketball monument, but how many students and alumni know that Memorial Stadium is the oldest stadium west of the Mississippi River and that Phog Allen was instrumental in its construction? The names of our basketball greats are memorized and memorialized by many KU students, but do they
know about Ray Evans, the only man to have jerseys retired for both basketball and football?
Our rivalry with Missouri, the second longest in the nation, was made possible through football back in 1898. Most students and fans only know Gale Sayers' name through the movie Brian's Song, a disservice to both Sayers and the program he played for.
Yet basketball overshadows everything else, a condition nobody could argue with. After all the court is named after the man who invented the sport and is buried but a few miles away. Four national title banners hang in a building that honors the creator of modern coaching.
BEELER'S VIEW
But on a campus with such fervent passion for sports, with so many fans both graduated and still in training, surely two sports can survive and engage equal amounts of respect. The basketball players are greeted with aplomb while walking through campus, but can the same be said for the gridiron warriors?
Players for both teams deserve accolades. None of this is to say that basketball should suffer or be diminished, but simply that while the football team rebounds the students and the Athletic Department should both reconsider how Kansas should be seen by the rest of the college sports world.
Other schools around the nation display their passion both in the beginning of the fall and the middle of winter. Kansas should be on that list of schools whose students display a knowledge and respect for the history and the game, regardless of the shape or size of the ball in play.
Free for All
Call 864-0500
图
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
ing and have the cool car and butler and all, but we all know he lacks Snakeman's charm and wit. Come on.
Is it sad that my roommate wants to buy me a cat because I haven't dated in seven months?
takes exactly one hour and seven minutes to walk from 6th and Kasold to 31st and Iowa. Yeah, put something on it.
OK, so I just saw a girl with cat ears and a tail, and I think that she and Wolf Man need to get in a fight. Think about it: Wolf Man versus Cat Girl.
Hey now, Batman may be better look
图
My roommate just got rear-end by a lady on a bicycle. Go on, picture it. It was funny.
length, or reject all submissions. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 200 words and guest columns should not exceed 650 words. To submit a letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the document to opinion@kansan.com with your name, hometown, year in school or position and phone number.
What is it with Kansas drivers? It's rainy, your wipers' are on, put your lights on. It's sunset, put your lights on. What is this attraction to head-lights Kansas drivers all seem to have?
TALK TO US
Henry C. Jackson
editor
684-4810 or hjackson@kansan.com
Donovan Atkinson and Andrew Vaupel managing editors
864-4810 or datkinson@kanan.com and ava朋@kanan.com
Anna Clovis and Samia Khan opinion editors 884-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Justin Roberts business manager 864-4388 or advertising@tansan.com
Malcolm Gibson
general manager and news adviser
864.7067 or mgibson@kansan.com
Stephanie Graham
retail sales manager
864-4358 or advertising@kansan.com
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Leura rose Barr, Ty Bewran, Ryan Good, Anna Gregory, Jan Joseph, Phoebe Kally Hollowell, Jawid Kimmel, Stephanie Lovett, Taylor Price, Neal Rosar, Ryan Scarrow, John Tran, Anne Wetmatter and Michelle Wood
The Kanean welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to
For any questions, call Anna Clovis or Sama Khan at kbn-8492 or email@kansan.com. General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
**Maximum Length:**
600 word limit
**Include:**
Author's name
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
**Also:**
The Kansan will not print guest columns that attach another columnist.
200 Word Include
Nate Beeler/KRT Campus
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
200 word limit
include:
Author's name and telephone number
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
SUBMIT TO
E-mail:
opinion@kansan.com
Hard copy:
Kansan newroom
111 Suffer-Flint
BEEER'04
KRT CAMPUS
The Candidates REFINE their MESSAGES
Republican ire shadowed issues
After the close of the Republican National Convention, it's time to offer some advice.
some advice.
The Republican Party needs to follow the fair and balanced advice of Bill O'Reilly. Shut up. Stop the negative campaigning. Stop trying to scare Americans into voting republican. Stop exploiting Sept. 11 for political gain. It's time to discuss the issues voters should know about instead.
The convention marked the culmination of months of planning by party leaders. It was also one of the most negative political weeks in recent memory. Every day was marked by messages of hate, fear and attacks on John Kerry and other democrats.
In a surprising turn of events, the Republican National Convention invited Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) to deliver the keynote address. Miller spoke of the democrats' "manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief." He stated that John Kerry's proposals would leave America armed with "only spitballs," and that under his leadership the U.S. would surely lose the war on terror.
GUEST COLUMN
Miller explained his anger about Kerry calling American Troops "occupiers rather than liberators," despite the fact that Bush himself has, on more than one occasion, referred to the occupation of Iraq by American troops.
Moderate republican and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke on Aug. 31. He opened his speech by comparing his movie True Lies to the Democratic convention. Regarding the economy, Schwarzenegger conceded that it had "hit a few bumps," but quickly recanted by calling critics of the economy "girlie men." Schwarzenegger's reliance on movies and inappropriate slang to convey his point was out of place in a national setting.
RYAN GOOD
opinion@kansan.com
For three days in New York, instead of talking about jobs and the economy — the real issues Americans care about — we heard anger and insults from the republicans. They can't talk about their record because it's a record of failure.
national setting.
Vice President Dick Cheney drove home the point that supporting American troops was a number one priority. "The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States represent the very best of America," Cheney stated, directly before criticizing John Kerry's war record.
If the men and women in uniform are so important, why did Cheney spend a large portion of his speech criticizing a former soldier? It doesn't make sense. With comments like this, Cheney showed that he could flip-flop just as he, Bush and other republicans claim Kerry does, saying one thing and contradicting it with another.
The convention closed with Bush attacking Kerry's plan for balancing the federal budget, claiming that Kerry would increase taxes by billions of dollars.
However, Bush also criticized Kerry for wanting to cut funding to the war on terror. Bush argued that it is wrong for Kerry to want to spend money, and it is wrong for Kerry to want to save money. Similar contradictions were repeated throughout Bush's speech and throughout the entire convention.
Out of fairness, the republicans did offer other messages in addition to liberal bashing. For example, they told us Americans should be living in fear.
The republicans with their rants would have voters believe that unless Bush is re-elected, every single American will be the victim of terrorism.
The Democratic Party is by no means perfect. A portion of the Democratic National Convention was dedicated to criticizing Bush and the Grand Ol' Republican Party, but that wasn't all the democrats had to say.
For three days in New York, instead of talking about jobs and the economy the real issues Americans care about
After all their incessant talking and yelling and repetitive messages, I hope republicans will shut up long enough to discuss the real issues everyone seems to be avioding. Only then can America make a truly informed decision.
the real issues America cares about -- the republicans filled our ears with anger and messages of fear. They can't talk about their record because it's a record of failure.
Good is an Overland Park junior in journalism and chemistry. He is a member of the Kansan Editorial Board.
Editor's note: Kevin Ward was featured in a profile in Friday's sports section: "Golfer Ward discusses turning pro." Ward requested an opportunity to respond to they way readers might have interpreted comments attributed to him.
People are misquoted and misrepresent everyday in newspaper's throughout the world. After reading "Golfer Ward discusses turning professional" I feel misquoted and misrepresented in the following ways:
Dear editor,
School: Now that I am in the last year of my class work at the University I've begun to focus on my life after college.
Currently my GPA rests well above a 3.0 and I look forward to graduating in the spring.
MONI
I do care about school but the weight of my worry about being successful in the classroom has lessened, as it does for many seniors, knowing that graduation is around the corner. My focus is shifting to the future for me, as it is for many other seniors.
Ward's comments don't reflect intended meaning
CONTINU
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
CO
The qu audien betwee
Equipment: In regards to the equipment that I do get for free: All of these benefits come from playing at a top level division one program that has been successful in years past.
"You bored, member
These perks are not out of the ordinary for any division one athlete at a major school.
Wichita State: I look up to my former coach at Wichita State, Grier Jones, as well as respect the players that play on the Shockers' golf team. During my time at school there I was never happy with the environment and for this reason I realized it was not the place for me.
However, as a senior and a successful member of the team, I have received more equipment than I used to as a freshman.
of the place for me
One of the main reasons I attend.
The ished, attenti Brown of the
"The head
The Orche
Holid
The
Leisri
Justini
solois
The follow Tang
ed Wichita State in the first place was because of Coach Jones and his rising golf program, which has qualified for the NCAA Championships the last two years.
pr
no
On private clubs excluding minorities and women: I think everyone should the have the opportunity to join country clubs regardless of their race or sex.
I do enjoy playing a fast-paced round of golf, but that doesn't mean courses should discriminate.
men to fi
Ada
Sep
"W and who try," McC hor
CONT
M is a Arm izec
Kevin Ward
Leawood senior
Member of Kansas golf team
The Kansen welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
Please refer to the Talk to us section for letter and guest column guidelines. Submissions can be mailed to The University Daily Kansan, 111 Stauffar-Flint, Lawrence, Kan., 6045 or e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com.