KANSAS GOLF A 12th-place finish disappoints the men's team. Page 3B BASEBALL The 1995 playoffs begin. Page 4B
SPORTS VERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1995
SECTION B
'Hero' tags hurt fans, athletes
One of my favorite television commercials is for Upper Deck trading cards. It shows great sports moments featuring Joe Montana, Ken Griffey Jr. and Reggie Jackson while the announcer speaks about heroes.
"For that one moment, we want to be just like them. And that is why we love them," the speaker says.
O. J. Simpson is a hero to many Americans. They have shown their love for him during his football career and during his arrest and murder trial.
I think there is a difference between being a
Simpson was found not guilty yesterday. But is he still a hero?
between being a
nero on the football field and a hero in the real world. Athletes are protected from outside scrutiny when they are working in stadiums and arenas.
Most athletes lose that hero status when they leave the locker room.
But some fans keep attaching the hero tag to
ASSOCIATE
SPORTS
EDITOR
Like other sports fans, I have heroes. When the police were chasing Simpson and fans were cheering as they had on Sunday afternoons, I thought about how I would react if that was one of my favorite players.
Kansas coaches tied to Buffaloes
What if George Brett, Danny Manning or Neil Smith was in that Bronco? Would I have reacted in the same way? Probably not.
That assumption is wrong.
Brett is a great baseball player. His 4-for-4 night in Game 3 of the 1985 American League Championship Series is worth being included in the Upper Deck commercial. He is one of my sports heroes but not one of my personal ones.
them. The athletes can do no harm in most people's eyes.
Brett is just a sports hero because I don't know him well. I only met him once, at spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., in 1981. My father and I said hello and asked for his autograph. That's it.
One of my true-life heroes is the man who took me to that game and to many others when I was young — my father. Needless to say, I think I know my dad better than I
Although Brett seems to be a nice guy off the field with his family, I don't know for sure if that is true. The same can be said for Simpson. A jury thought Simpson didn't kill his ex-wife and another man.
I hope they have judged him on his character outside of football stadiums. That is the real issue in sports today. Society and the media label athletes as role models. Some athletes embrace the idea, but others dismiss it.
Like it or not, they are role models. That means you, Charles Barkley.
As a child, I wanted to be like Brett. I learned to hit left-handed and throw right-handed, just like George did. No one could do better in my eyes than No. 5, especially in 1985, the Royals' magical World Championship season.
What I think about yesterday's verdict is irrelevant. Just remember that Simpson and other great athletes are still sports heroes, but they are like you and me. They must answer to the same authorities and peers.
But in the three years since Brett's retirement, I've realized my hero worship of Brett was wrong. Athletes are held accountable for their actions in games. By the same respect, they should report to the proper authorities regarding their actions in society.
And that is the way they should be honored and remembered — as humans.
Frei rose, who has been locked out of the Baseball Hall of Fame because he was convicted of gambling, was a hero to some people. His story is an excellent example of how athletes can be seen as guilty on the field and in society.
Hankwitz and Gibbs concentrate on upcoming game in old neighborhood
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan sportswriter
On a cold, stormy evening last year, Kansas football coach Glen Mason was driving home from Columbia, Mo., after the Jayhawks 31-14 victory.
During the trip, he received a call on his car phone concerning Colorado football coach Bill McCartney's retirement.
"After that game I knew I was going to make some changes to my staff," Mason said. "Right then and there the first guy that came to mind
was Mike Hankwitz."
At the time, Hankwitz was Colorado's defensive coordinator. One of the first suggestions he made
upon arriving at Kansas this year had to do with a fellow Buffalo.
"The first thing that he said to me was, I'd like you to hire David Gibbs," Mason said.
Mason had
known about Gibbs already because of his father Alex, who he had coached with at Ohio State. The elder Gibbs is now coaching for the Denver Broncos and the Kansas
Mike Hankwitz
secondary coach is hoping to follow in his father's footsteps.
Hankwitz is not related to a coach but has worked with two respected ones — McCartney and Mason.
"They're both very strong leaders. They're not just head coaches by delegation and just handle the administrative," Hankwitz said.
Both Gibbs and Hankwitz have fond memories of Boulder. Hankwitz spent 10 years with the Buffaloes and played a role in turning their program around. Gibbs graduated from Colorado in 1900 after lettering four seasons at cornerback.
Both also were involved in Colorado's 1990 national championship.
Although the pair seems to have found a home in Kansas, they certainly haven't been forgotten in Colorado.
David Gibbs
"Hank and I were good friends last year. Hank's a great coach, very organized and computer oriented." Colorado football coach Rick
asked to stay.
This weekend
when Kansas faces
Colorado,
Hankwitz will
be returning to Boulder for the first time as the opponent. Gibbs, however, has been there before.
"I went to Oklahoma for two years, played against them for two
Gibbs admits that Colorado has a special place in his heart, but he is more concerned with the task at hand.
years," Gibbs said. "I don't have any problem facing them. They're friends of mine, but game day is game day."
"Mike has put everything into his job the previous four weeks," he said.
As for the role the two coaches will play in this week's game, Mason doesn't foresee any drastic changes.
"I'm an alum, and I'm a Colorado fan. But, I'm a Jawhawk right now," Gibbs said. "We'll be friends before the game; we'll be friends after the game. But during the game my No. 1 goal is to do whatever I can do to make this team victorious."
Carol Thobae / KAMBAN
Allison Adams, middle, works out with her Kansas women's rowing teammates every morning at Clinton Lake. She returned to Kansas as a graduate student to participate on the varsity squad after graduating last year with a 3.78 grade point average.
Grad student returns to crew
Adams notes rowing academic traditions
By Erin Johnson Kansan sportswriter
For some students, the decision to return to college and become a graduate student might be a difficult one. For Allison Adams, however, that decision was made easier this year with the addition of women's rowing to varsity athletic programs at Kansas.
"When I found out they were going to have a varsity team, it influenced me," Adams said. "It's something I wanted to try, and the additional education is also important. Hopefully it'll make me a better prospect to an employer."
Adams was one of three club rowers last year who were named academic all-americans. She graduated in May with a 3.78 grade point average.
Kansas women's rowing coach Rob Catloth said strong academics was a rowing tradition stemming from the Cambridge and Oxford schools.
"This is a sport where people do well in school," Catloth said. "I think the neocle
who are good in academics learn how to schedule themselves and balance their time. If you're able to perform in the classroom, then you're able to perform in the water."
Adams said she started making lists and prioritizing what she needed to do in order to help relieve the stress that 15 hours of class and four hours of rowing practice a day can cause.
"A lot of time I wish there were more hours in the day, but sometimes you just have to cancel out the things that aren't as important in the day," she said. "Rowing, and just exercising in general, helps me relax and put everything in perspective."
Adams' brother, Scott, rowed for the Kansas men's club team for three years. After watching him compete, she became interested in rowing her sophomore year. After playing basketball and volleyball for Hutchinson High School, Adams wanted to try a sport where she could practice outside.
"I really like the teamwork," she said. "I just like the extra motivation they give you. You're not working for yourself, you're working for everyone else."
experience, she hopes her teammates will consider her a leader this year.
Adams said that with several years of
Catloth said he considered Adams to be one of the heavyweight division leaders.
one of the heavyweight division leaders. Being involved with sports in high school and college has made Adams realize the impact they've had on her.
"You meet so many people when you do sports," she said. "It builds up your confidence so much. I don't think anything else compares to sports in that way. There is a lot of variety in most sports where anything can happen. Rowing is such a repetition, but there's still that competition that I like to have."
"He's been a really good coach for me," she said. "He taught me that if you work hard enough, things will fall in place for you. He's always been a coach who won't let you give up or get discouraged.
For Adams, Catloth and rowing may be the main reason her decision to return to Kansas for graduate school was so easy
"Right now I'm just concentrating on this year. I'd love it if some great opportunity landed in my lap with rowing, but I'm not exactly sure what that would be. I'd like to be a part of it in some way. Maybe not as a rower but at least as a spectator."
Volleyball team eager for match with Nebraska
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
Don't be fooled — the Nebraska volleyball team isn't perfect.
In fact, the Cornhuskers, who the Jayhawks play tonight, have lost three Big Eight Conference matches.
Three losses in the last 11 years, that is.
Nebraska, ranked No.1 in the nation, has compiled a 133-3 record since round-robin conference play began in 1983.
"Nebraska is strong from top to bottom," Kansas volleyball coach and former Cornhusker All-American Karen Schonewise said.
Although tonight's match in Lincoln, Neb., may seem like a David and Goliath showdown, the Jayhawks will not lay down for the Cornhuskers.
"We'll need to serve well to take away their offense and play well on defense," Schonewise said. "I fully expect an improved defensive effort."
The Cornhuskers are led by two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Allison Weston. The senior outside hitter/middle blocker has a team-leading 4.4 kills a game average. She also leads the team with a .431 hitting percentage.
"Allison is a complete player and has the capability to lead a team to the national title." Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit said. "She plays well all the time, but in critical situations she plays especially well."
Although the Jayhawks have not beaten Nebraska since the Big Eight began play, the Cornhuskers aren't overlooking Kansas.
"If you look at our tradition, we never take anyone lightly," Pettit said. "I coached Karen Schonewise, so I know that any team she coaches is going to play hard."
Kansas, 5-10 overall and 0-2 in the Big Eight, is fresh off a close loss to Missouri on Saturday night. In search of their first conference win, the Jayhawks will try to rebound tonight.
"We're really excited to be playing the No.1 ranked team in America," Schonewise said.
The Jayhawks are led by sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Kendra Kahler, who had 16 kills and 16 digs in the loss to Missouri. Senior middle blocker Jenny Larson also contributed 16 kills and 8 digs against the Tigers.
"I've been pleased with the way our offense has been playing," Schonewise said.
Schonewise said that the Jayhawks will need to serve particularly well to counter some of Nebraska's offense.
Shoulder injury sets Pollard back
Bv Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
Scot Pollard is finally out of the big man's shadow.
It's hard to believe that the 6-foot-10 junior center of the Kansas men's basketball team could be in anybody's shadow, considering his size and his outgoing personality.
Now that 7-1 center Greg Ostertag has gone to the NBA, Pollard has a new blonde hairdo and the chance to become the big presence on the court.
After averaging more minutes and more points a game than Ostertag last season, Pollard will finally start.
But he was overshadowed — by a player with more size and a louder personality.
Enter one problem: Pollard had surgery on his right shoulder during the offseason to prevent a future dislocation.
Because of the surgery, Pollard has spent most of the offseason trying to rehabilitate his shoulder instead of making himself stronger and improving his basketball skills.
The problem may be more in Pollard's mind than in the minds of his coaches and
teammates. Without Ostertag or another proven back-up for Pollard, he will be relied on more than most centers of recent Kansas teams. Based on past performances, the team can rely on Pollard and he has every right to start.
"I want to prove to myself that I deserve to start," Pollard said. "I want to feel like I've done everything I can. I need somebody there to push me."
That is not how Pollard sees it, however.
Pollard no longer has Ostergt to push him, but that doesn't mean he isn't challenged everyday. Pollard must deal with the pain until his shoulder regains its full strength and mentally wrestle with being weaker than he was before surgery.
"I feel like I have a lot of extra pressure, because I still feel I'm not 100 percent yet," Pollard said. "When I'm playing or after a long day of working out, it'll hurt. That's the pain of weakness. The trainer told me that as it gets stronger, the pain will go down, and it has gone down since school's started."
Pollard's shoulder rehabilitation is almost complete. Kansas assistant trainer Mark Cairns said that the only thing Pollard did differently than the other players
"He's playing full speed. He's conditioning full speed," Cairns said. "The doctor is no longer worried about him."
was shoulder exercises with Cairns twice a week.
Caims said Pollard would be doing these exercises until he quit playing basketball.
Cairns said that Pollard had loose ligaments in his shoulder which caused the shoulder to pop in and out of its joint during practices and games. Pollard's shoulder injury even bothered him when he slept. He had surgery so it would be less likely for his shoulder to become dislocated.
"I wanted to be 100 percent all summer and then start working into the season," Pollard said.
Pollard agreed to have surgery, essentially picking his poison. Instead of risking missing part of the season, he chose to miss much of the offseason.
Although Pollard was not able to work hard during the offseason to prepare for the challenge of a starting role, he should be ready for the season.
"They said I'll be 100 percent by the time we start playing games," he said. "I want to be as strong as I can be."
File Photo / KANSAN
Kansas junior center Scot Pollard had offseason shoulder surgery that did not allow him to build his strength or improve his basketball skills.