SPORTS RAP A Kansan reader compares football fan support at Missouri and Kansas. Page G
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1995
SECTION B
Sports world has sold out
My column is not just a column anymore. It is now the Coors Light Column brought to you by the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colo., in cooperation with Block-buster Video and Gillette Series Razors — for the best a man can get.
The above companies are not really sponsoring my column, but if they did I would fit right in with the rest of the sports world.
Several years ago companies began to insist that their name and logo precede bowl game names. Cherished American traditions such as the the Orange Bowl, the Sugar Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl sold out. These once proud events have now become such monstrosi-
ties as the reealer Express Orange Bowl, the USF&G Sugar Bowl or the Blockbuster Bowl, of which I can't even remember the original name.
SPORTS COLUMNIST
Bowls aren't the only things that have sold out. If you check out a Penn State football game, your subconscious will be exposed to advertising on every play. There is a tiny little Nike swoosh on the left shoulder of the Nittany Lions' jerseys.
Penn State isn't the only one. The Denver Broncos have a Wilson Staff logo on their jerseys, centered just above the number.
There are tons of examples. Almost every major college and professional team has a shoe contract. Even some high school football teams in Texas have shoe contracts now. You would be hard pressed to find a professional or even a college team that is not paid to wear something.
Kansas is no different. Our football players have a Wilson symbol on their hip, wear Nike shoes and socks, drink Gatorade and eat PowerBars.
The Kansas women's soccer team even plays on SuperTarget Field, behind Oliver Hall.
When did Madison Avenue take control of our beloved sports world?
It may have all started back in 1985 when Jim McMahon wore that infamous adidas head band. I guess old Jim was an advertising visionary.
It just keeps getting worse, too. Now the worst of all the advertising advancements is upon us. If you weren't aware of it, the United States is now home to a major professional outdoor soccer league. Major League Soccer starts this April in 10 cities including Kansas City. I think it is great that Americans are getting another professional sport, especially in Kansas City. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
The problem with this new league is how much control advertisers have. Every time a team is named in a newspaper, its sponsor is listed in parentheses.
The Kansas City Wiz (adidas), for example. They were named by adidas, their uniforms and logos were designed by adidas, and it even seems as if their marketing is done by adidas.
Nike, Reebok and Puma all battled for the same control over other teams such as the Colorado Rapids (Puma), Tampa Bay Mutiny (Nike), the Los Angeles Galaxy (Nike) and the Dallas Burn (Nike).
Soccer fans will soon be watching these newly formed teams battle in 90-minute-long commercials for shoe companies.
Advertisers need to remember that these are sports. They are our American heritage. We must not let advertisers take control of the sports world, at least any more than they already have.
I understand the reasons for all of the advertising. These programs, both college and pro, need the money to offset the overwhelming operating costs.
This column has been brought to you by Blockbuster, reminding you to make it a Blockbuster night.
Kansas volleyball players converge to make a save in last night's match with Iowa State. The extra effort wasn't enough, however, as the Jayhawks were swept by the Cyclones.
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
'Hawks swept again
Last night wasn't exactly the way Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise wanted to celebrate her birthday.
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team, plagued by errors and a powerful Iowa State line up, lost at Allen Field House in three consecutive matches (15-6, 15-4 and 18-16) in front of 294 fans, which put a damper on Schonewise's celebration.
"This was the most frustrating match for me," Schonewise said. "We're just not playing with emotion."
The Cyclones (13-7 overall and 4-1 in the Big Eight Conference), who are in second place in the Big Eight, stormed out in the first and second games. Iowa State held the Jayhawks to 10 total points in the first two games.
"We opened the match out serving aggressive and playing steady and poised," Iowa State volleyball coach Jackie Nunez said.
"Between the second and third game, as a
KANSAS VOLLEYBALL
staff we didn't know what to say they were doing wrong." Schonewise said.
Kansas (6-14 overall and 1-6 in the Big Eight) came out in the third game and battled Iowa State. After being down 9-3, the Jayhawks regrouped and tied the game at 10. Following back and forth side wins Kansas gained a 14-12 lead. But the pesky Cyclones were able to inch their way back, surviving five game points, and win 18-16.
Although the Cyclones played almost flawlessly in games one and two, Nunez felt there was room for improvement.
"We had some unforced hitting errors and we're going to have to work on that," she said. On the Jayhawks' side of the net, sophmore middle blocker Maggie Mohrfeld led the team with eight kills and a .444 attack percentage.
Vaughn's new diet enriches game
Even after a steady performance, Mohrfeld left the court with a bad taste in her mouth.
"It's time for the team to regroup. We need to build intensity," Mohrfeld said. "We're playing great in practice, but when we get out there in the game we tighten up."
Kansas' next match will be against Nebraska on Wednesday at Allen Field House.
Bv Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
Jacque Vaughn has been trying to get losing out of his system.
After a loss to Virginia in the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season, Vaughn was haunted all summer.
"Something like that weighs heavily on the way I trained during the summer and the way I train now." Vaughn said.
So to get the loss out of his system, he lost weight. A new diet helped Vaughn lose about 13 pounds while he improved his bench press by about 15 pounds.
"If there's an edge, I'm trying to get it," Vaughn said. "I felt that this would be a way to improve my game over the course of the summer. It has not only in fundamentals but also mentally. I feel that when the fourth quarter comes around, my attrition is as good as anyone on the court."
Vaughn no longer eats red meat or fried food and consumes no more than 40 to 50 fat grams each day. He still eats fish, chicken and turkey.
"I don't drink pop," Vaughn said. "I haven't had a pizza in about six months. I haven't had a steak in about five months. I haven't had a chocolate cake for about five months. It's been something that I've stuck to. It feels great."
By sticking to the diet, Vaughn has less body fat than last year and weighs closer to 185 pounds than his listed weight of 195 pounds.
But Vaughn also is stronger than ever.
Kansas freshman guard Ryan Robertson (left) puts pressure on junior guard Jacque Vaughn during the Crimson and Blue scrimmage at "Late Night with Roy Williams." A new diet that eliminates red meat and food helped Vaughn trim down for the 1995-96 season.
"I'm probably in the best shape of my life." Vaughn said. "I feel faster than I've ever felt, but at the same time, I feel stronger than I've ever felt."
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Vaughn's diet contrasts with his return last season, when he had gained about 15 pounds.
"Last year I knew that I would be missing Calvin (Rayford) and there would be much more demand on me, so I gained the pounds because I figured during the course of the year I would lose them," Vaughn said. "This year I've got the support of guards behind me, and I can really go all out this year."
"Last year at the end of the year, I felt he was fresher than Jerod (Haase) was and he played a lot more minutes," Williams said. "Maybe the extra weight helped him. But he
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said that he thought Vaughn's tactic of gaining weight before last season may have helped him at the end of the season.
wanted to be a little quicker this year, so we'll find out if that's a better weight for him."
Although Williams told his players that he wanted them to get stronger during the offseason, he played no part in Vaughn's new diet.
"He's too intelligent," Williams said. "I'll let him figure out what he wants to do. I told everybody I wanted them to be stronger, and he made the decision to change his eating habits and the way he worked out."
To diet properly, Vaughn talked to a dietitian. But the idea for the diet originated
from former Kansas guard Scott Novosel. Novosel, a walk-on last season, was a vegetarian.
"Guys would heckle him all time on the road," Vaughn said. "But after they heckled him, I would go over and ask him about it. That's how I started thinking about it."
Kansas men's tennis has seen better tournaments
Men fare poorly in both singles and doubles, but women stay alive for title
By Dan Gelston Kansan sportwriter
Either by themselves or with a partner, members of the Kansas men's tennis team could not get the job done at the ITA All-American Championships yesterday in Austin, Texas.
Senior Victor Fimbres and sophomore Enrique Abaroa lost yesterday in the second round of doubles play to Ernesto Diaz
and Albin Polonyi of Boise State, 8-4. Polonyi was a state champion at Lawrence High School.
Abaroa also lost his only singles match, falling 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 to No. 77 Adam Alaily of Auburn in the qualifying round.
Eight wins were needed in the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. Fimbres came close, winning his first six matches before losing to No. 34 Cedric Kauffmann of Kentucky.
"Victor has really improved a lot," Kansas assistant coach Matt Knoll said. "He played great at times and was very solid. He's beginning to develop the consistency that he needs."
In opening round doubles play, senior Michael Isroff and sophomore Trent
Tucker lost to Blake Arrant and Eric Elek of Texas A&M. 8-5.
It marked the second time this season the two have played together, having done so earlier at the Tulsa Invitational. It has been an adjustment for Isroff, who saw long-time partner Reid Slattery leave Kansas for Southern California after his junior year.
"I played with Reid for three years and knew everything about him," Isroff said. "Now with Trent, I'm back to the basics. I've got to get a feel as to how he's going to react and his style of play."
The hunt for a championship October
Players from the Kansas women's tennis team fared better at the Riviera All-American Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
continues for Kansas junior Kylie Hunt. Hunt, a singles finalist at the National Clay Court Championships last month, swept through her three matches in the qualifying round to reach the main draw. She defeated Angela Lawrence of Pepperdine 7-6, 6-1, and will begin main play on Friday.
Hunt also will team with junior Jenny Atkerson for doubles play and try for their second consecutive grand slam championship. Last month, they won the Clay Court championships.
Atkerson and sophomore Christie Sim won their first round matches in qualifying play but both lost in the second round.
RESULTS: Match scores for the Kansas men's and women's tennis teams. Page 2.