UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, October 24, 1995
3B
PALCHER: Sports is love, religion is passion
Continued from Page 1B.
But we made a deal — he's not allowed to impersonate me."
Actually it's Ross Perot who is Palcher's pièce de résistance. Palch — who many say resembles the Texan with his outward curved ears and height — goes into aspiel with hands flaring, intoning Perot words such as "tax breaks" and "middle class."
Aside from impersonations, players and coaches agree that Palcher loosens the team up and always can make them laugh.
"There's nothing fun about practice, but he comes out and makes it fun out there," Kansas defensive tackle Kevin Kopp says. "Matt really livens the game up."
Palcher, who managed football for four years at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan., is in his seventh year of being a football manager. He's done just about everything there is to do with football — except play the game.
"Oh yeah, I played football once," Palcher says, "I played tailback."
Then he adds with a wry smile. "I ran out on the field, and the coach told me to get my tail back."
On commencement night for Bishop Ward High School
High School, a nervous Matt Palcher sits in the middle row of his graduating class. To the audience, the anxious look on his face seems to reflect new challenges, responsibilities and changes ahead.
But immediately following the ceremony the reason for his anxiety becomes clear. He is late for Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, pitting Palcher's beloved Chicago Bulls against the New York Knicks. Palcher grabs his parents and tears out of Memorial Hall.
"I'm a very big Bulls fans," says Palcher — who keeps a running count on the exact number of days before Chicago opens up its regular season.
"I've got a 'Da Bulls' license plate on my car. Not many people from this area have one of those." Palcher proudly adds.
After Chicago, Palch lives and dies with the Kansas City Royals. He admits that tuning in to the Royals is a post-dinner ritual.
"Matt always has been a sports fanatic," says Palcher's mother, Mary Palcher. Matt is the only child of Robert, a retired fork lift operator, and Mary Palcher.
Although sports are his love, religion is his passion. As a life-long member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kan., Palcher spends hours maintaining the church grounds and singing in the choir.
"Matt has always been very active in the church," Father Helidore Mejak says. "He helps youngsters, and we can always count on him when we need something."
When given a choice between watching the Chicago Bulls play Game 7 of the NBA finals or attending a weekly church service, Palcher would pick Mass.
"But I'd make sure I taped the Bulls game," he quickly adds.
At the start of Palcher's freshman year, senior football manager Hunter Lochman approached Palcher and started a conversation following a long Kansas football practice.
"Palch had been around for about two weeks, but he didn't speak to anyone," Lochman recalls. "So I went up and started talking to him, and it was like someone put a quarter in him."
As the two walked out, Lochman invited Palcher to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house.
Palcher has been returning ever since.
"Palch can relate to anyone," Delta Tau Delta member Doug Bodde says. "No matter what your interests are, he's always excited for them."
Palcher is known around the "Delt" house for his Top 10 lists. One list is "The Top 10
Another list Palcher invented is "The Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Not a Member of Delta Tau Delta." Reasons range from "rushing should only be done by fire trucks and running backs" to "pledge is a can of aerosol wood cleaner."
Reasons Kansas is Better than Kansas State." A Palcher reason: "We don't use artificial turf to just keep our cheerleaders from grazing."
The No. 1 reason? "Because I'm a dork." Palcher repeats loudly, poking fun at himself to make others laugh although they know the statement is false.
It's 12:30 a.m. on a weeknight when Matt Palcher finally realizes it's time to go to bed. Tonight he drove five miles to an off-campus apartment in west Lawrence and helped a friend with a homework assignment. But it's getting late, and he has to check off players at the team breakfast at dawn.
The Kansas football team knocked off then-No. 4 Colorado last weekend, and Palch is beaming.
"I didn't believe it. I didn't believe it until it was over," Palcher says. His excited voice sounds as if he had scored a touchdown rather than held the intercom cords for a coach.
Palch throws on his worn Jayhawk jacket and heads out into the cold night. Although he has to wake up early, he walks to his car with a little bounce in his step.
Alcher drives to his apartment and creeps through the door at the late hour. Three hats — Bulls, Royals and the Chicago Bears — hang alone on his bedroom wall. He has no trophies, plaques or awards for the hours he has spent working with the football team, mowing church lawns, catching every Royals inning or bringing laughter into other people's lives.
But tomorrow he'll be back standing all alone on the field, 6 yards deep in the end zone, catching kicks — with no complaints.
Indians are seeking success with the bat
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — World Series teams get an extra bat with the designated hitter when they reach the American League city. And if ever a pennant winner needed one, it's the Cleveland Indians.
The best offense in baseball has eight hits in two games against Atlanta and is batting a timid, 125 for the Series. The middle of the batting order is in a major league slump. No. 3 hitter Caerla Berga is 0-for-8.
Cleanup man Albert Belle — the first hitter in history with 50 home runs and 50 doubles in the same season — had one lonesome single in the first two games. Eddie Murray, who hit Cleveland's only home run, is batting. 167.
Paul Sorrento only can help. He returns to first base and becomes the Indians' extra bat with Murray in his accustomed designated-hitter spot.
"I'm excited to get in," said Sorrento, who hit .235 with 25 homers this season. "It was hard sitting on the bench in Atlanta. I knew going in that would happen, so it was no surprise."
Atlanta will use Ryan Klesko, the regular left fielder, as the designated hitter and plug Luis Polonia in left field as its extra bat. Polonia, who batted. 264 in 28 games after coming over from the New York Yankees, got the call over Mike Devereaux, the Most Valuable Player of the league championship, because he swings from the left side, and all of Cleveland's starters are righthanded.
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, who managed with the designated hitter
in Toronto, is familiar with the ramifications of the rule.
"I always thought it was a little bit of a National League advantage when you get the American League club playing without its favorite DH," Cox said. "They played all year with it. We don't, and in the National League, you've always got somebody on the bench who can DH. So I think it's a slight advantage for the National League."
The Braves did not get a lot of mileage from the designated hitter in the 1991 and 1992 World Series. Cox used Lonnie Smith in the role both years. He batted just. 154 and .167 and is best remembered for a seventh-game baserunning blunder that might have cost the Braves the '91 championship.
The first National League World Series designated hitter was Dan Driessen with Cincinnati in 1976. He batted .357 in the Reds four-game sweep of the Yankees. The best production for either league's designated hitter came in 1982, when Dane Iorg batted .529 for St. Louis.
Since the format of using the rule in games played in the American League park and not in the National League park began in 1986, the extra bat has been something of a non-factor, with American League designated hitters batting .220 and National League designated hitters hitting.195.
Still, the only hitter in the Indians lineup batting more than that right now is Manny Ramirez at. 286.
"We're not swinging the way we're capable of," manager Mike Hargrove said. "Except for a couple of games (in the postseason), we just haven't swung the bats well."
Here's a nagging question: Want to quit smoking?
But we won't nag you about it. We just want to help. It's hard to stop smoking. And it doesn't help when friends and family bug you about it.
Maybe you should try the "No-Nag, No-Guilt, Do-It-Your-Own-Way" Quitting Smoking Program. It's a positive approach based on what smokers said would help them quit.
To set up an appointment call Health Promotion at 864-9570 There is a $6 charge for the accompanying book.
NOW OPEN! SHOWOFFS
LEATHER
JEWELRY
12 E. 8TH
Boutique
BODY PIERCING STUDIO
LINGERIE
LAWRENCE, KS
(913) 838-3366
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH
summer camp with trucks
Tuesday October 24,1995 Woodruff Auditorium Kansas Union 6:30 PM featuring more than 90 minutes of live performances and behind the scenes footage
SPONSORED BY
tickets on sale now
$3.00
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass. 832-8228
Figdish
Wed. Oct. 25
Pol Dog
Pondering
Tickets are available at the SUA Box Office, Level 4. Call 864-3477 for more information.
Thurs. Oct. 26
Punkinhead
Boogle Shoes
Fri. Oct. 27
LARAMBLERS
STIR
Sat. Oct. 28 Big Sandy his Fly-Bite Boys