2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006
NEW YORK
Yankees manager Joe
Yankees to fire manager after loss
Tore will be fired and replaced by Lou Piniella following another early exit from the playoffs, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.
eliminated from the first round of the AI playoffs, losing to Detroit 8-3 in Game 4. It was the second straight year New York lost in the opening round.
According to sources the Daily News did not identify, Torre is expected to be fired unless he resigns first — or team officials can talk owner George Steinbrenner out of making the move.
On Saturday, the Yankees were
The Yankees have won the World Series four times under Torre, most recently in 2000. They had a record $200 million payroll this year and matched the New York Mets for the best record in the regular season.
Wizards'hopeful for MLS playoff bid
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
The Wizards defeated Chivas USA 2-1 Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium to give their playoff hopes a boost.
The Wizards improved to 10-13-8 with 38 points and hold a three-point lead over the Red Bulls for the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference pending the outcome of New York's game against the Colorado Rapids later Saturday night.
If the Red Bulls lose or tie, the Wizards would only need to draw New York next Saturday to make the Major League Soccer playoffs.
Chivas fell to 10-9-12 with 42
The Wizards took an early lead on a goal by Dave van den Bergh in the 50th minute.
points
The two teams then traded penalty-kick goals. Chivas drew even on a penalty kick in the 71st minute by Claudio Suarez.
The Wizards regained the lead and got the game-winner three minutes later on a penalty kick by Jose Burciaga Jr. after Josh Wolff was tripped down in the Chivas penalty box.
Associated Press
>> 'HORN BORN, 'HAWK BRED
Tigers' success makes KU woes worse
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Kansas football broke even after six games. Not good, but not bad either. That is half way to a bowl game, after all. But something is making the situation much worse for Kansas fans. The Missouri Tigers are still undefeated.
Six victories, no losses. I really hate to say it, but I'm impressed with Missouri, and jealous. If a few things had gone differently, Kansas could be in the same situation as its border rival; challenging for the Big 12 North title, on its way to a prestigious bowl game, voted into the top 25 and on the shoulders of a great young quarterback.
Maybe all of that will come next year for Kansas, if it ever finds a way to win close games. But this year belongs to Missouri.
I didn't want to admit to it until I saw Missouri beat Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. The Tigers came ready to play, going up 24-0 with back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns. But Tech scored three straight times to come within three by the third quarter, stealing all the momentum and putting immense pressure on Missouri.
Under the pressure, Missouri scored two touchdowns, shutting down Tech's offense and winning 37-21. The Tigers were resilient and got the job done during the fourth quarter, otherwise known as crunch time. Kansas on the other hand couldn't score a touchdown in the fourth quarter or pick up one yard on third down to put Texas A&M away, and the game wasn't even on the road. Missouri is clearly the better team.
For the Jayhawks, the next five games — Oklahoma State, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, and Kansas State — will be especially important. Each is winnable. The Jayhawks should earn bowl eligibility by the end of this stretch. But if they don't, they face a must-win game against the Tigers. That probably means they can forget about a bowl game.
Could Kansas defeat Missouri on the road if it can't win at least three of those five games? Not likely. Would Missouri lose a game against its arch rival, who needs a victory for bowl eligibility? Missouri sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel probably won't let that happen.
Daniel is good but he isn't the next Brad Smith; he's already better. This season he has completed 64 percent of his passes, thrown for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns, and has a passer rating of 143.7. He's smart, with only four interceptions, the same as Kansas quarterback Kerry Meier against Toledo. He has also only been sacked five times. That's nearly flawless play.
Mangino has had Missouri's number the past three seasons, and his teams tend to improve toward the end of the year. The game is seemingly within reach. But no matter how brilliant Mangino's game plan or how much better Kansas becomes, winning in Columbia, Mo. will be tough to do this year.
Robinett is an Austin, Texas, senior in journalism.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
SOFTBALL
'Hawks end fall play
BY BETTY KASPAF
As the softball team finished its fall season, coach Tracy Bunge knows the team has a lot to work on before the spring season begins. Kansas finished the Big Red Fall Classic in Lincoln 2-2 and its fall schedule 9-3.
ing the Jayhawks the winning run. Kansas held the Creighton effort in the bottom of the inning.
On Sunday, the jayhaws faced Colorado State and defeated the Rams 5-1. Kansas had nine hits against CSU. Sophomore outfielder Dougie McCaulley went 3-4 at the
"I was pleased with our overall performance pitching-wise," Bunge said. "Offensively, I really thought we were pretty inconsistent but I attribute a lot of that to
"We are pleased with a lot of things with the team, but we know that we have a lot of work to do during the offseason."
our youth and inexperience and I think that we are going to get a lot better from now and next spring offensively."
TRACY BUNGE KU coach
Kansas finished the tournament against host Nebraska. The Huskers beat the Jayhawks 3-0. Freshman in fielder Amanda Jobe accounted for Kansas' only two hits, going 2-2. Kansas' defense
On the first day of competition, Kansas faced Creighton twice, splitting with them.
plate against CSU.
In the second game, Kansas battled Creighton to 12 innings, finally defeating them 4-3. Sophomore middle infielder Stevie Crisosto scored on an attempt to steal home and the Creighton catcher was called for obstruction at the plate, giv
In the first match-up, the Blue Jays topped the Jayhawks 2-0. Senior pitcher Kassie Humphreys gave up five hits and had nine strikeouts. Kansas had five hits during the game.
The team will begin off-season training on Monday.
“If we would have been totally satisfied as a coaching staff with how we played, this weekend in particular, I think we all would have been surprised,” Bunge said. “We are pleased with the effort, we are pleased with a lot of things with the team, but we know that we have a lot of work to do during the offseason.”
Kansan sportswriter Betty Kaspar can be contacted at bkaspar@kansan.com.
was a little inconsistent during the game, tallying four errors.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
athletics calendar
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
Volleyball vs. Kansas State, 7 p.m., Horeisi Family Athletics Center
Swimming & Diving. Big 12 Relays, all day, Lincoln, Neb.
FRIDAY Soccer, at Iowa State, 7 p.m., Ames, Iowa
Late Night in the Phog. 6:45 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
SATURDAY
Football vs. Oklahoma
State, 1 p.m., Memorial
Stadium
Swimming & Diving,
Nebraska-Omaha/South
Dakota State, 11 a.m.,
Omaha, Neb.
Volleyball vs. Baylor, 7 p.m., Horesi Family Athletics Center
Cross Country, NCAA Pre-Nationals, TBA, Terre Haute, ind.
Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle Supersonics, 1 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
SUNDAY Soccer, at Missouri, 1 p.m., Columbia, Mo.
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