2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006
STUCKEY (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
"I'm reading a novel in class right now called, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," and my eyes were on God," Stuckey said. "Like, why is this happening?"
Stuckey said the injury dealt with his lower body, but he didn't know it was serious at first. It didn't swell up initially, but he knew it was bad when he had difficulty walking.
His injury became even more aggravating when the season began. As fans wondered when and if Stuckey would play this season, his teammates were struggling to control opponents' passing attacks.
He said he had mixed feelings because he thought he could improve Kansas' pass defense, but he didn't know for sure because he
had yet to play a game. Each game he sat out made him miss playing even more.
"My whole reason for coming here was I wanted to grow with you." Stuckey said.
Stuckey, who attended Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., said Kansas was the No. 1 school on his list. Part of that, though, was because Kansas was the first school willing to offer him a scholarship.
"Being from Kansas City, Kan. and Wyandotte County, I believe nobody wanted to be the first one to make an offer," Stuckey said. "We just had the No. 1 homicide rate in the nation last year. It's not something you want to brag about."
Once Kansas made its offer to Stuckey, he said about 15 schools
- five of which were from the Big 12
- came forth with offers. However,
  he stuck to his commitment to
Kansas. He said he liked Kansas
because he could play there without
being compared to past players and
still make a name for himself.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn
Shroyer can be contacted at
sshroyer@kansan.com.
Now that Stuckey is finally getting on the field, he's sure to be the subject of even more fans' conversations. He's just glad he no longer has to hear them.
Edited by Jacky Carter
》 MLB
Mets, Cardinals to fight for World Series title
MIKE FITZPATRICK ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — The New York Mets sailed through the season, while the St. Louis Cardinals squeaked into the playoffs.
All that matters now, however,
are the next nine days.
After finishing 13 1/2 games apart this year, the Mets and Cardinals will play for a pennant when the best-of-seven NL championship series begins tonight with Tom Glavine on the mound for New York against a rejuvenated Jeff Weaver.
"I think we can compete with anybody and we're just going to go out there and prove it," St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols said. "It doesn't matter how bad or how good you look in the paper. You need to go out there and prove it when you cross that line 8 o'clock tomorrow."
Both teams are all banged up. The Mets have been missing injured pitches Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez since the postseason began, and left fielder Cliff Floyd is hobbled by an ailing Achilles' tendon.
St. Louis should have All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen back in Game 1 after he received a cortisone shot for his surgically repaired left shoulder. But center fielder Jim Edmonds has been fighting the effects of a concussion, and the pitching staff lacks injured closer Jason Isringhausen and starter Mark Mulder.
Yet plenty of stars are still at full strength, including Pujols.
Much of the talk as the teams worked out Tuesday at Shea Stadium centered on whether New York's depleted pitching staff could contain the reigning MVP — and whether the Mets would pitch to him at all.
"Yes, and carefully," Glavine said. "So much of it depends on the situation of the game.
"He's really no different than anybody else — you have to be aggressive," the 40-year-old lefty added. "Sooner or later, we're going to have to pitch to him before the series is over. He's not going to walk every time he comes up there, I can assure you of that."
But with Rolen and Edmonds hurting, St. Louis' lineup looks less than imposing aside from Pujols, who batted .331 with 49 homers and 137 RBs this year. It would seem the smartest strategy for the Mets might be to force someone else to try and beat them.
"It's tough for one guy to win a seven-game series for a team." New York third baseman David Wright said. "You have to keep him from the RBI situations."
Puiols hit a key home run in the first round against San Diego, a series the Cardinals (83-78) won impressively in four games after going 3-9 to end the season and nearly squandering their big NL Central lead.
quote, when you deal with really dangerous hitters — it's about competition, not cowards. You raise competitors, not cowards. I really like that."
"If you want to walk him, walk him. The guys that hit behind him have made that strategy not pay off enough to where managers say, this is not good." St. Louis skipper Tony La Russa said. "My favorite
La Russa has his Cardinals in the NLCS for the third straight season and fifth time in seven years overall — a run that began with a loss to the wild-card Mets in 2000. St. Louis is 1-3 in its last four NLCS appearances and is still looking for its first World Series championship since 1982.
The Mets went on to lose the Subway Series in 2000 to the cross-town Yankees, already eliminated from this year's postseason.
So after a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series, the Mets (97-65) own the Big Apple in October for a change. And even without Martinez and Hernandez, the NL East champions are favored by some to win their first World Series title since 1986.
The reasons for that are New York's deep bullpen and a balanced, relentless lineup that starts with speedy Jose Reyes getting on base for sluggers Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Wright.
"It's tough to see some guys get hurt. But what are you going to do, roll over and quit? You might as well keep fighting. We've come so far", said Delgado, who batted 429 with a homer and several clutch hits against the Dodgers — the first playoff series of his 14-year career.
"Unorthodox in baseball means absolutely nothing. Just win, and label it however you want."
1
Yankees manager to retain position
NEW YORK — Joe Torre will remain as manager of the New York Yankees, finally getting the word from owner George Steinbrenner after the team's surprise elimination from the playoffs last weekend.
"I'm just pleased I am able to stay on and do this," Torre said.
Torre spoke with Steinbrenner on the telephone Tuesday, shortly before he walked into the interview room at Yankee Stadium and made the announcement.
Basketball player dies after collapse
TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo basketball player Haris Charalambous died after collapsing during conditioning practice.
The cause of death was not immediately known.
arrived. The 21-year-old backup center was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, university spokesman Lawrence Burns said.
Trainers performed CPKr on Charalambous until paramedics
3
Quarterback wants to play after sprain
LOUISVILLE, Ky. quarterback PRIEN
Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm said that his surgically repaired right thumb feels so good he's optimistic he'll play Saturday when the No. 7 Cardinals host Cincinnati.
Brohm had surgery on Sept. 17, a day after he sprained his thumb in Louisville's 31-7 victory over Miami (Fla.). Doctors had originally said Brohm would be out up to six weeks, but Brohm said he's progressed enough that he could return against the Bearcats.
4
Miami quarterback to be first-stringer
DAVIE, Fla. — There's no mystery this week. Joey Harrington will remain as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback.
Dolphins coach Nick Saban said that when his team opens practice for next Sunday's visit to the New York Jets, Harrington will be the first-stringer.
5 Ex-manager for Marlins applies for Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO, III. — Joe Girardi considered a leading candidate for the Chicago Cubs' managing job interviewed for the position.
The Florida Marlins fired Girardi last week. He guided them to a 78-84 record and kept them in contention for a playoff spot until late September.
Associated Press
athletics calendar
TODAY
Volleyball vs. Kansas State, 7 p.m., Horejsi Family Athletics Center
FRIDAY
lied a .200 hit percentage and
17 kills in the sweep by Colorado.
Player to watch: Kansas State outside hitter Sandy Werner
tited as a leader in the Wildcats last Big 12 Conference match against the Colorado Buffaloes. Warner tal-
Soccer, at Iowa State, 7 p.m. Ames, Iowa
Werner
Swimming & Diving, Big 12 Relays, all day, Lincoln, Neb.
Swimming & Diving. Nebraska-Omaha/South Dakota State, 11 a.m., Omaha, Neb.
Late Night in the Phog, 6x9 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
SATURDAY
Volleyball vs. Baylor, 7 p.m., Horejsi Family Athletics Center
FOOTBALL vs. Oklahoma State, 1 p.m., Memorial Stadium
Cross Country, NCAA Pre-Nationals, TBA, Terre Haute, Ind.
SUNDAY
SOCER Soccer, at Missouri, 1 p.m., Columbia, Mo.
Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle Supersonics, 1 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
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4:30-5:30pm Panel Discussion
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