THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Inside Sports
Sports
Wide receiver Termaine Fulton was one of many Jayhawks who was injured during practice this week.
SEE PAGE 5B
Brotherly love
Noel Elliott, a brother of the Spurs Sean Elliott, said he didn't think twice about donating one of his kidneys to Sean.
Thursday
August 19, 1999
Section:
B
Page 1
SEE PAGE 8B
Close call
K-State safety Jarrod Cooper said that he was luck to be able to walk after a car pinned his legs against a brick wall on July 31 in Aggieville.
SEE PAGE 11B
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WHAT DUNBAR DID
- Kimberly Dunbar, a former booster of the Notre Dame Quarterback Club, spent more than $35,000 on Notre Dame players between June 1995 and December 1997. Dunbar, who is serving a four-year sentence for embezzling more than $1.4 million from her former employer, bought gifts and trips for players, including those with whom she had personal relationships.
Among the notable beneficiaries:
Irish violations could affect game
- Derrick Mayes, a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers. In 1995, Dunbar took Mayes, whom she was dating at the time, to Las Vegas. According to court documents, she paid for his $1,836 ticket and spent $756 on a hotel room during the trip.
Before the June 14 court move, Mayes had denied
Before the June 4 court date, Moyers had denied admission to accepting the gifts at the hearing. He admitted to accepting the gifts at the hearing.
Jarvis Edison and Allen Rossum. In December 1997, Dunbar took Edison, with whom she has a child, Rossum and his girlfriend to Las Vegas on a $10,000 trip to see the Mike Tyson-Evanholy Holyfield fight.
Kansas may benefit from NCAA ruling
By Mike Miller sports@kansan.com Kansan scrippter
The NCAA's ruling on whether a booster of the Notre Dame football program gave financial help to players may not be announced until after the Aug. 28 football game against Kansas, and the probable probation outcome could be to the Jayhawks' advantage come game time.
Even if Notre Dame avoids harsh sanctions such as a ban from bowl games or national television, the likely decision of probation could make things easier on
Kansas.
As a preseason game, the Eddie Robinson Football Classic between Kansas and Notre Dame will garner loads of attention from the national media. The impending decision may loom over the game, adding pressure to Notre Dame and removing some of the focus on Kansas.
Notre Dame has been awaiting a decision since a meeting with the NCAA Infractions Committee on June 4. At that meeting, officials heard evidence that Kimberly Dunbar provided players, their families and friends with more than $35,000 in gifts and trips.
The NCAA's rules prohibit schools and their representatives from providing athletes or their relatives or friends a benefit not authorized by the NCAA.
Other harsh penalties besides bans might include a loss of scholarships or
recruiting restrictions. Even if the committee decides that the violations were major, Notre Dame could skirt serious punishment by receiving probation for five years.
Either way, the luck of the Irish seems to be running out.
When Notre Dame became aware of the situation, it contacted the NCAA to report the possible violations. Because of their assistance, officials hoped that the possible violations might not be viewed as major. NCAA enforcement officials agreed, recommending that the case should not be viewed as major.
But the infractions committee decided to review the case as a possible major violation anyway.
The Rev. E. William Beauchamp, executive vice-president of Notre Dame, issued a statement concerning the University's
stance:
"Ever since the university became aware, more than a year ago, of Mrs. Dunbar and her relationship with Notre Dame football players, we have investigated those relationships fully and made complete reports of our findings to the NCAA... We have disbanded not only the Quarterback Club, but also all fan organizations in all sports."
John Heisler, sports information director at Notre Dame, released the most recent statement on the subject in a prepared fax.
"We are not in a position to discuss this matter while it is an ongoing issue with the NCAA. The University does not expect to make any further public comment until the NCAA issues its ruling, whenever that may be," he said.
Big Mac, Sosa: chapter two is still a thriller
Kansas has not issued a statement regarding Notre Dame's situation.
- Edited by Matt James
Well. here we go again.
Before this season began, Mark McGwire consistently reminded us that 1988 was a year for the ages and never could be duplicated. But here we are heading in to the home stretch with Mac and Sammy leading the majors with 47 long balls each before yesterday's games.
Is anyone really shocked? Let's look at it for a second. Sammy still plays at homer-happy Wrigley. McGwire still has tree trunks for forearms. And both still get to face regularly whatever rag-arm the Marlins and Rockies
So after last weekend's head-to-head showdown in St. Louis (in which they crushed three homers each), both are on pace to finish in the mid 60s — short of last year's total but still better than a record that stood for 38 years. Anyone remember when Mike Schmidt used to lead the league with 40 home runs? Me neither.
No doubt, Major League Baseball would love to see a run at 70, and with this
latest barrage, it appears that they might seriously challenge that incredible number. The Cubs and Cardinals front offices have to be enjoying all the hoopla. Last weekends' head-to-head match-ups at Busch Stadium in St. Louis drew more than 145,000 fans. Not bad for two teams who are a combined 29 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Houston Astros. The Expos couldn't even get 14,000 fans to show up for Tony Gwynn's 3,000 hit.
Here's what I'm thinking: If this whole thing is so good for baseball, maybe everyone should get to help the sluggers out. The Cubs and Cardinals higher-ups should trade their injury-ridden pitching staffs to other National League teams. It's not as if the Cubs would miss that 5.36 team ERA, and Sammy has to be dreaming at hitting off of Steve "Let me place it on this tee for you" Trachsel.
in a way, baseball itself has already done a little something for the home-run race. When the umpires resigned earlier this season in an attempt to pressure baseball before next year's contract negotiations, baseball got to shed some inconsistent umpires that it wanted to let go but hadn't the authority to fire.
Minor league umpires jumped at the opportunity for a major-league job, even at the expense of some criticism from their co-workers. Their salaries will be at least $75,000 per year instead of no more than $17,000 for a full minor-league season. That sounds like an easy decision to me.
My point is, how many of those 25 rookie
umpires are going to ring Big Mac up on a
close pitch with half the world watching in
September? Media attention is the last thing
they are going to want.
So, mark your calendars for October 1, 2 and 3 — the last three days of the season — when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will go face-to-face once more in St. Louis. And don't be surprised if both are shooting for the record.
Remember, people, this is history. You may never witness it again - until next year, of course.
James is a Hugoton senior in journalism.
Pride, Johnson gain experience abroad
Pride plays for U.S., averages 13 points
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Kansas forward Jacklyn Johnson passes the ball. Johnson competed on the Big 12 All-Star team this summer in Scandinavia. The team included one player from each Big 12 school and offered Johnson the opportunity to play with those whom she will compete against this coming year. Kansan file photo
In her fourth summer playing with the U.S. Pan American Games team, Kansas' Lynn Pride continued to shine in international play as one of only two collegiate athletes on the team.
The U.S. women's basketball team has won a medal in every Pan Am Games since 1955, earning six golds, three silvers and two bronze, and the 1999 team upheld this tradition.
Pride averaged 13 points and seven rebounds per game for the U.S. team en route to its 85-59 victory against Brazil for the bronze medal.
The team consisted of seven former ABL or WNBA players, three athletes who graduated from college in 1999 and two college basketball players.
Qualified collegiate athletes tried out for the team May 19-24 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the USA Basketball Women's National Team Committee, a team of coaches from junior colleges, universities and professional teams, made the final selections based on the trvouts.
Only Pride and Edwina Brown were selected from the pool of applicants.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Lynn," said Marian Washington, Kansas women's basketball coach. "Lynn is going to experience one of the highest levels of competition in women's basketball. This will be a really positive experience for herself, her family and the University."
"She's the best collegiate player in the country," Fortner said. "She earned the right to be there. She plays hard on both ends of the floor. She has an amazing offensive game, and she has a very big presence on defense."
U. S. coach Nell Fortner sited Pride's versatility and all-court talents as top reasons for her selection.
The team began practicing on July 17 in preparation for its first game on July 30, and inexperience was a large contributor to the team's 4-3 record.
"I felt we were the second-best team there," Fortner said. "Cuba was definitely the best, and we gave them a good run for their money in the semifinals. They were a very young team internationally, and I was very pleased
with their progress."
Pride's best performance came in a 92-80 win against the Dominican Republic, when she led the team with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Pride also led scoring in the first loss to Cuba with a 15-point performance and scored in double figures in all but two competitions.
- Edited by Katrina Hull
Big 12 rival players unlikely teammates in All-Star games
By Melinda Weaver
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Until August, Kansas forward Jaclyn Johnson never would have thought she would have to call Kansas State's Nicky Ramage her teammate.
However, when a Big 12 Conference All-Star team featuring a player from each team in the conference traveled to play in Scandinavia, that is the situation in which the girls found themselves.
Against teams like the Tapiolan Honka TopCats and the Finnish National Team, Johnson didn't attempt to pass over Ramage, instead, she passed to her.
"It gave me a new perspective on the people I play against during the season," Johnson said. "We were all working together to try to accomplish the same thing. I thought there would be some animosity, but everyone got along great."
Oklahoma State coach Dick Halterman, who coached the All-Star team, said that he tried to ease the tension from the first day of practice, but that he did not find it to be much of a chore.
"I told them that we were going to be up-tempo, play man-to-man, put the ball in the air and have fun." Halterman said. "There was a lot of talent on that team, and I was amazed at all the phenomenal passes they made to each other and how well they worked together. We never had a problem with someone being too selfish and looking out only for themselves."
See JOHNSON on page 2B
Cornhuskers top preseason poll in volleyball; Kansas ranked 9th
By Shawn Hutchinson
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
The 1999 Big 12 Conference preseason volleyball poll has the familiar tinge of Big Red.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers, defending Big 12 Conference champions and 1998 NCAA Tournament national semifinalists, were picked to repeat as conference champions in a voting of the league's coaches released Tuesday by the conference office in Dallas.
The Cornhuskers received all 10 first-place votes in the poll.
The Jayhawks were a preseason pick to finish ninth of 11 teams in the Big 12 because Oklahoma State does not compete in volleyball.
Individual Nebraska players also received accolades. Nancy Meandering, a 6-1 junior outside hitter, was picked as the preseason favorite for player of the year, and teammate Laura Pilakowski was the preseason pick for freshman of the year. Three other Cornhuskers also received votes for the conference preseason team.
(Coaches weren't allowed to vote for their own teams).
Jayhawks coach Ray Bechard
"Historically, over the years, they've been the favorite, and they have quite a bit of tradition," he said.
said he wasn't surprised that Nebraska was the team that other Big 12 teams were shooting for this season.
Amanda Reves, a 6-foot-1 senior middle blocker, was the lone Jayhawk to receive votes for the preseason conference team. Reves is coming off a junior campaign that resulted in honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
See JAYHAWKS on page 3B
Kansas middle blocker Amanda Revs spikes the ball during a game last season. Reves was the only Jayhawk to receive votes for the preseason all-conference team. Kansas file photo
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