6B
Thursday, September 28,1995
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Editor's Note: Today marks the long-awaited premiere of of "Sports Rap," the Kansan's weekly outlet for readers who want a chance to be heard. We welcome any and all feedback on sports topics. Information about how to submit letters can be found below.
Mason's popularity not as big as some think
This letter is in response to the article written by Matt Irwin in the Sept. 22 edition of the University Daily Kansan. Mr. Irwin's article, which was entitled "TCU game was not a true test," made several points. One was that there is now forming a bandwagon of Orange Bowl deluded Mason-praisers. His second point is that TCU was not a real test for KU because it played unemotionally in the first quarter. Yet another point was that we should not praise the defense because it allowed too many big plays, and the offense alone was responsible for the KU victory. Finally, Mr. Irwin states that the only true test for the Jayhawks awaits them in Boulder on Oct. 7. I have a few problems with these points.
Maybe I'm not hanging out in the same circles as Matt, but I haven't heard anyone talking about a national championship. Except for the few drunken souls who threw oranges onto the field during the Thursday night game (and I think that was done more for ESPN that anything else). I think that Jayhawk fans are being level-headed about this early season success. In fact, judging by the number of fans in attendance at the TCU game, I would say the KU fans are maybe being too level-headed, if not pessimistic. Regardless, fans seem to be anything but deluded. We've been in the Big Eight Conference for too long to not know Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma await us.
SPORTS RAP
I also have not heard any 'Glen Mason for President' chants. Mason has not changed his style much since one season ago when some people were hoping that Michigan State would offer him a job. I have been impressed by his willingness this season to mix it up with the pass on occasion, but I still have complaints. This season may prolong his association with KU, but I do not expect to see any bronze tributes to his prowess as a head coach being erected on the Campanile in the near future. His team, however, is 4-0.
The jayhawks are undefeated, and this success should not be trivialized. To go 4-0 in Division-I college football is never an easy feat. Ask Notre Dame. Saying that TCU was not a worthy
opponent and that a victory over them is not an accomplishment is simply depriving the KU football team of deserved credit. TCU is a quality team. It has a talented quarterback and a strong running game, and having played lack-huseredly in the first quarter does not make the team a creampuff opponent. Maybe it played that way because KU did not let it get into the game. Emotion is a big part of football. I am happy to see KU playing with it for a change.
Our defense was one part of that emotional squad that was big against TCU. It is true that our secondary is suspect and that we gave up some big plays, but the bottom line is reflected on the scoreboard. KU's defense kept the Frogs out of the end zone, and that is what counts. I do not want to take anything away from the offense, because it had a great game, especially the running backs. The defense, however, deserves as much credit as anyone (and more than our special teams).
Finally, to say that KU's first real test is against the Buffaloes on Oct. 7 is misleading. Of course it will be a tough game, since Colorado is ranked fourth in the nation. If this is the first real test for the Jayhawks, then the first real test for the Chiefs will come on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys. Colorado is not the first real test. Every game is a test, and KU has played admirably.
The Jayhawk football team has not played flawlessly. It has made mistakes and will probably not finish the season undefeated. It is, however, undefeated at this moment. Let's enjoy it and give the team due credit.
level of talent was so low. The unidentified friend felt he was a better player than them four years ago. He is still a better player now, even after four years of neglecting his body.
I would like to commend each and every walk-on for dedicating time and making the effort to compete. Be proud that you gave it your best shot. I would like to personally congratulate the few who were selected and wish them luck on the squad.
Well, Mr. Austin, I happen to be one of those walk-ons. From first-hand knowledge, your friend was wrong. Tremendous talent is at those tryouts. More important than the talent, however, was the dedication and effort of each competitor. The competition was fierce, as nearly 60 walk-oncs competed for what would be around five or six spots on the fall squad. The competition spanned two days, lasting four hours on Sunday evening and three hours on Monday evening. Each participant sacrificed time for a chance to make the 1995-96 Jayhawk baseball team.
Where was your friend during all of this? He was watching from the stands. Maybe you should have helped him off his pedestal and encouraged him to try out for the team.
I am writing in response to Chris Austin's column in the Sept. 26 issue of the University Daily Kansan, which discusses the athletic dreams of us all. I agree with Austin's encouragement of students to become active, because many students today are out of shape. Athletics provide a "release valve" for the pressures which burden students today. It is also widely known that exercise promotes good health.
Jeff Morton
Fairway senior
As for Chris' friend, look me up. We'll go play catch, lift weights, do plyometrics and run. Then, next August, we'll both walk-on to the baseball team, and who knows — maybe our dreams will be realized.
Walk-ons deserve a little respect
However, my agreement with Austin abruptly halts at this point. In his article, Austin talks about a friend who once dreamed of playing professional baseball only to finally understand that his childhood aspirations would never be realized. Apparently, this friend watched the walk-on try-outs for the KU baseball team over the weekend, and he was amazed that everyone was so young and that the
Belle Plaine sophomore and walk-on No.401
Charlie Green
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Cross-country runner recovers from anorexia
Vanderbilt junior returns to school, Olympic hopes after fight with disorder
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Whitney Spannuth of Vanderbilt thought that eating less was what a cross-country runner did. She could control her body weight and run faster.
Her theory worked for nearly two years before it fell apart, as eating disorders nearly ended her Olympic dreams.
"Sometimes I just wonder how I got there," said Spannuth, of Johnson City, Tenn. "It scares me how close I came to losing everything."
Trying to eat less became sort of a dinnertime competition among teammates. A daily meal consisted of half a bagel, a salad with no-fat dressing and a plain baked potato.
"My thoughts were, 'If I eat less than them, I'll run faster than they will,' Spannmuth said.
My thoughts were, "I'll run faster than they will," Spannuth said. She qualified for the U.S. National team and competed in the World Cross Country Meet in Budapest, Hungary. The warning signs hit when the 5-foot-6 Spannuth dropped to 112 pounds.
"I started having problems my sophomore year around our second cross-country meet," said Spannuth, now a junior. "All of a sudden, within a week's time, I couldn't finish races; I had no energy."
"My doctor pulled me into his office and said 'Basically, you have the blood of someone from a Third World country — someone who doesn't eat.' That's the first time I realized it had anything to do with food," she said.
Spannuth, her doctor and coach Paul Arcennaux drew up a contract of what she could and couldn't do at certain weights; The deal simply aggravated Spannuth's anorexia.
"My biggest fear shifted to fear of losing control of eating," she said.
Spannthd dropped to 102 pounds before deciding to get better. She started eating three meals a day and went to 133 pounds despite binging and purging and mass quantities of laxatives after each meal.
"It's a defense mechanism of your body," she said. "It says, 'Finally you're feeding me. I'd better get as much food as I can just in case you starve me again." . .
Spannuth's parents and Arcenaux convinced her to leave Vanderbilt last January and tackle her eating problems. She entered an eating disorders clinic in Cincinnati then returned to Vanderbilt this fall.
Now she's more confident and feels her self healing, Spannuth, unable to run a routine two miles without losing her breath in the summer, now runs 13 miles with no pain.
Spannuth won Vanderbilt's Invitational 5-meter cross country race in 18 minutes, 28 seconds last week. She nearly qualified for the Olympic trials as a freshman and is refocused on the future.
NBC closes big deal to televise next two Olympics
"I've come to realize that's still within my reach. I can race well again — things just have to fall back into place," she said.
2000, 2002 games go to network for record money
The Associated Press
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — NBC's record $1.25 billion contract for U.S. television rights to the Olympics in 2000 and 2002 was formally signed yesterday.
in a deal announced last month, NBC will pay $705 million for exclusive rights to the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia, and $545 million for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Both are records by huge margins.
The contracts were signed during a ceremony at the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne. Among those signing were NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol and officials of the IOC, the Sydney and Salt Lake organizing committees and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Olympic Games The local organizing committees will each receive about 60 percent of the TV rights fees for their Games. The rest of the revenue is
Big Bucks
The record contract for NBC to cover the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia and the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City cost the network $705 million for the exclusive rights for each event, making the total for both $1.25 billion.
Local organizing committees will receive about 60 percent of the TV fees for each of the Games.
NBC will give each organizing committee $10 million in promotional money, enlarging the grand total to $1.27 billion.
shared by the the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees (IOC)
Under the terms of the deal, NBC will supply each organizing committee with about. $10 million in promotional support, driving the total value of the package to at least $1.27 billion.
James M. Jesse, Attorney 865-LAWS For all your legal needs.
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