2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY BAKY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
THE RANT
Sports continue to inspire, unite five years after Sept.11
Sometimes sports can be so much more than just a game. They can make us cheer, they can make us cry, and they can make us forget about our problems.
This was no more apparent than nearly five years ago, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Remember Mike Piazza hitting that home run in the eighth inning during the first baseball game since Sept. 11? That home run gave the New York Mets the victory and gave New York something to celebrate for the first time in weeks. The stadium erupted with cheers as he rounded the bases and showed that America was, in fact, ready for sports. We used sports to help us mourn the loss of thousands of lives.
Following the attacks, football players ran out onto fields carrying massive American flags as firefighters and policemen watched.
Athletes weren't the only heroes at those sporting events; those everyday people, whom wed taken for granted, were our heroes too.
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
KANSAN COLUMNIST
PCOLAIANI@KANSAN.COM
Former Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa, born and raised in the Dominican Republic, raced onto Wrigley Field holding an American flag. Sosa showed how much America meant to him and it was one of the kindest gestures ever performed by an athlete.
Remember every ballpark in the country singing "God Bless America" during the seventhinning stretch? Tears rolled down the cheeks of fans from Los Angeles to New York.
For the first time probably ever, America actually united behind the New York Yankees in their drive to the World Series. There were the clutch home-runs that kept the
Yankees' title hopes alive. There were the great defensive plays, especially the one by Derek Jeter against the Oakland As when he flipped the ball to catcher Jorge Posada, to get Jason Giambi at the plate, saving a victory.
All of these great plays were cheered by fans around the country. It didn't matter if you were a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals or even the Boston Red Sox. Everyone thought the Yankees deserved to win that year.
We were all united. Remember when President Bush arrived at Yankee Stadium during the World Series to throw out the first pitch? The crowd gave him a standing ovation and the cheers were even louder when he threw a perfect strike. No one cared about politics in that moment. Games later in the season would stop during Bush's speech declaring war on terrorism.
We used sports to show the terrorists and the rest of the world that we were not afraid. We crammed
into stadiums, filling them with thousands of Americans, confident an attack wouldn't happen.
The feeling of unity, unfortunately, has been lost. No one cheers for the Yankees anymore. The scene of thousands of fans waving American flags at sporting events is also gone. If President Bush were to arrive at a stadium to throw out the first pitch, there would not be raucous cheers, there would be mixed feelings.
This weekend — and especially on Monday — let us once again unite as Americans. Let us remember why we are able to watch these games: Because of those who are enduring dangers abroad so we can have freedom and safety at home.
Remember, we are all Americans.
Colaianni is a McLean, Va, senior in Journalism and Political Science.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
THURSDAY
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
Volleyball vs. Brigham Young, 7 p.m., Jayhawk Classic, Horejsi Family Athletics Center
Player to watch: Katie Martinicch, freshman setter, had a great outing against Maine Saturday at the Temple Classic in Philadelphia. She led the Jayhawk offense with eight digs and 37 assists.
Martincich
FRIDAY
Soccer vs. Alabama 5 p.m., UAB Nike Classic, Birmingham, Ala.
SATURDAY
Volleyball vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m., Jayhawk Classic, Horesei Family Athletics
Cross Country, Kansas State Wildcat Invitational, TBA, Manhattan, Kan.
Football vs. Louisiana Monroe, 6 p.m., Memorial Stadium
Men's Golf, Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate, TBA, Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course, Sugar Grove, Ill.
Soccer vs. Duke, noon, UAB Nike Classic, Birmingham, Ala.
SUNDAY
Men's Golf, Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate, TBA, Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course, Sugar Grove, III.
U. S. OPEN
Sharapova moves on to the semifinals
BY HOWARD FENDRICH ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Her shots sparkling as much as her silver sneakers, Maria Sharapova gritted her way to yet another Grand Slam semifinal.
Sharapova defeated 27th-seeded Tatiana Golovin 7-6 (4), 7-6 (0) in a U.S. Open quarterfinal that lasted more than two hours Wednesday night, setting up a showdown with No. 1 Amelie Mmaresmo.
"She's the one to beat right now," Sharapova said. "I feel like I have nothing to lose."
Sharapova's victory came in straight sets, but it was anything but easy. She played for long stretches, even resorting to a left-handed shot to keep a point going.
the second.
She was broken in each of her first two service games, and fought off two set points while trailing 6-5 in the opener. Then she overcame a concentration lapse after a trainer attended to Golovin for a big blister on the bottom of her right foot, and recovered again after getting broken while serving for the match at 5-3 in
Sharapova's father, Yuri, kept a close eye on all the proceedings. He appeared to signal Sharapova at one point by pulling a banana out of his bag; shortly thereafter, she pulled out a piece of fruit and ate it.
"Is it a coincidence? Probably" she said.
The first set alone lasted 1:18, more than Mauresmo's entire 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 12 Dinara Safina. Sharapova ended any suspense by shutting out Golovin in the second tiebreaker.
"I think I just kind of lost my focus," Golovin said. "She hit a couple of good shots and I was never really able to get back into it."
The other semifinal will be No. 2 Justine Hinten-Hardenne against No. 19 Jelena Jankovic.
Henin-Hardenne beat Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-4. Davenport's loss meant that for the first year in the Open era, which began in 1968, no American woman reached any Grand Slam semifinal.
Davenport exited her 16th U.S.
Open with a quarterfinal loss to
Henin-Hardenne and a quick walk off court. There was no on-court interview. No glance around the stadium. No moment of soaking it all in. No opportunity for a prolonged "Thank you and goodbye" from the fans of the sort many lavished on Andre Assgi.
Then again, who's to say how many more U.S. Opens are left for Davenport? She's certainly unsure.
Davenport, at 30 the oldest female quarter-finalist, first broached the possibility of retirement more than two years ago, but she also knows she's capable of playing well enough to contend on tour. So she answered simply, "I don't know," when asked whether she'll be back at the Open.
"I still feel like I would have beaten most players today," Davenport said.
Henin-Hardenne won in a match between two women who used to be ranked No.1 and have won this tournament.
"I'm just out here still playing, still trying to figure things out, still enjoy it, still being successful," the 10th-seeded Davenport said.
Your car doesn't run on books?
Recycling Tip #201
We see it as one of 130 million cell phones that will be thrown away this year containing lead, cadmium and mercury, which threaten our health and environment if not disposed of properly.
You know it as the old Nokia 5165 you carried for emergencies and will soon be replaced.
Recycle your old technology!
Source: www.recyclemycellphone.org
Take a study break, go recycle. Visit www.LawrenceRecycles.org
City of Lawrence
LAWRENCE WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING
832-3030
VOLLEYBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
In the past, Kansas has struggled against BYU, with an all-time record of 0-3. Most recently, Kansas lost 3-1 at BYU in 2005.
After BYU. Kansas will take on Arkansas at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Arkansas (6-0) comes to Lawrence after winning the Arkansas Invitational last weekend, with three players named to the all-tournament team.
Dentita Koleva, outside hitter for the Razorbacks, leads the team with 3.79 kills per game and has recorded a double-double in all six games.
After the Jayhawk Classic, Kansas will play at No.1 Nebraska on Wednesday Sept. 13, then host No.7 Texas on Saturday Sept. 16.
Kansan sportswriter Drew Davison can be contacted at ddavison@kansan.com.
Bechard said this weekend would be a great opportunity for fans to come see competitive volleyball because two talented teams are coming to Lawrence.
Edited by Travis Robinett
Fans in attendance will receive Jayhawk volleyball schedule magnets and posters.
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Emily Brown, junior opposite hitter/setter, spikes the ball towards UMKC's court during the Aug 29 game at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
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