10A SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY JOURNAL
FRIDAY,AUGUST 18,2006
WHEN IT RAINS,IT POURS
Fan wants to rebound from subpar image
Being from St. Louis, I was the only Kansas fan in my entire high school. Naturally, all of my friends root for Missouri and love to make fun of KU whenever they get the chance. Lately, they have had way too many chances.
Kansas has been in the news for the wrong reasons too many times in the past year and a half. Allow me to briefly recap:
*Former KU basketball player J.R. Giddens was stabbed during a fight in May 2005 at the Moon Bar. Giddens, who was not 21 at the time, pleaded no contest to battery. Shortly afterward, he transferred to New Mexico.
*Former KU running back Bruce Ringwood was charged with assault in August 2005 after he got in a fight at a Kenny Chesney concert in Kansas City, Mo., that injured a Shawnee women. He then got in a roommate in March
BY B.J. RAINS
BY B.J. RAINS
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
BJRAINS@KANSAN.COM
2006 and was kicked off the football team by coach Mark Mangino.
*In October 2005, former softball player Jackie Vasquez sued KU softball coach Tracy Bunge for sexual harassment, alleging that Bunge ordered the softball team to shower in their uniforms after losing to Texas A&M in April 2005.
Vasquez claimed her scholarship was terminated and she was removed from the team because she reported the incident to the Athletics Department. Athletics officials say she was removed from the team because of misconduct regarding the
e-mail account of assistant coach lennifer Sewell.
*Junior basketball player Darnell Jackson was suspended nine games in November 2005 for accepting $5,000 worth of gifts from a Kansas booster. Jackson said he was unaware that the payments he received were illegal and repaid the money.
The biggest issue is the NCAA investigation involving numerous violations within the men's and women's basketball and football teams. Kansas imposed penalties on itself, but the NCAA could hand down additional penalties in five to seven weeks if it feels the self-imposed penalties were not severe enough.
As a Kansas fan, hearing all of this stuff makes me sick. I am tired of seeing Kansas in the news because of violations, fights, improper payments and everything else that has happened in the past 18 months.
Add consecutive first round losses to Bradley and Bucknell in the
NCAA Basketball Tournament, and it has been a tough time for Kansas fans during the past few years.
What we need is something that can help change what is being said about us. We need the football team to go out, win the Big 12 North and somehow find a way to make it into a BCS Bowl.
We need the basketball team, ranked No. 2 in the nation, to make it back to the Final Four and perhaps win a national championship to help quiet the whispers that we always choke come tournament time.
Many of the school's sports teams look to have promising season, so here's to hoping that one of them does something spectacular that will help return the word Kansas to what it once was: greatness.
Kansan sportswriter B.J. Rains can be contacted at bjrains@kansan.
com.
Edited by Catherine Odson
CLUB SPORTS
Baseball to add junior varsity team
BY KAYVON SARRAF
With one year of experience under its belt, the University of Kansas club baseball team intends to improve upon last year's success.
"We hope to have more people try out since we'll have two teams, and more people will get a chance to play baseball," B.J. Rains, club president, said.
After tying for the Mid Plains South Conference championship a season ago, the team plans to add a junior varsity team and play more games this season, highlighted by the hosting of the Econo Lodge Baseball Classic in the fall.
"There's no question the talent is there," Crain said. "Some of our reserves would start at most of the schools we played. We just need to play more games, and we'll be in great shape."
Adding a second team will give more talented players an opportunity to play. A deep talent pool was something the Jayhawks used to their advantage last season. Rains said all team members played at the high school level, with some playing as high as the junior college level.
More games are on tap for this
Josh Crain, Overland Park junior and winner of the Cy Young Award, which is given to the team's best pitcher, said the team's only downfall last season was experience.
"Going into last spring, we were kind of behind since we didn't do much in the fall," Rains said.
season. In addition to the eighteen team tournament to take place in Lawrence, the club scheduled several more games in the fall. The team will play exhibitions throughout the season to give itself a head start on spring league action.
"The JV team is a great idea. It means more at bats for everyone. That's why we're all here — to extend our careers," Crain said.
Kanss sportswriter Kayvon Sarraf can be contacted at ksarraf@ kansan.com.
All club members are required to help raise funds for the club. As a club sport, the team is self-sufficient financially. Last year, the team played host to a trivia night dinner. Rains said it was a big hit
Anyone interested in participating on the club baseball team should attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Student Recreation Fitness Center. For more information, e-mail Rains at stlku27@ku.edu or visit www.iayhawkclubbaseball.com.
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
Last year's roster could only hold 20 players, so some interested participants were unable to play. With a junior varsity team this season, the club intends to keep 40 players on the roster.
VOLLEYBALL
BY DREW DAVIDSON
The Jayhawk volleyball team will start its season Saturday night at the KU Alumni Scrimmage. The first match is set for 7 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center, and admission to the event is free.
Newcomers to engage alumni in first game
"If we can get some healthy competition in positions, that is going to raise everybody's level." Bechard said.
Uhart, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker who transferred to
The Jayhawks have 16 players on the roster who are all capable of competing and helping the team, Bechard said.
"It's a little bit of a dress rehearsal prior to the season," coach Ray Bechard said. "We're bringing back our most recent alumni, and we'll play a best three out of five match."
Kansas returns starter Emily Brown, preseason All Big 12, and Jana Correa, senior outside hitter.
Kansas fans will be able to see the eight newcomers on the team, including Natalie Uhart, preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, as well as the eight returning players.
The team looks to make its fourth-straight NCAA tournament appearance. Kansas finished eighth in the Big 12 last season, and was picked to finish seventh this season.
Kansas from Long Beach State, said she's ready to wear the Jayhawk uniform for the first time.
Alumni tentatively playing in the game include players from last year's team, Paula Caten and Josi Lima. Other alumni scheduled to attend are Danielle Geronymo, Abbie Jacobson, Molly LaMere, Laura Rohde, Molly Scavuzzo and Kylie Thomas.
"I'm really excited," she said. "It will be the first time my parents can come up and see me play in a long time, so they're really excited about it too."
the first regular season match will be Aug. 25 against Alabama A&M in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Crimson Tide Invitational.
Kansan sportswriter Drew Davidson can be contacted at ddavidsonkansan.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
》FOOTBALL
Ex-Charger looks to join Patriots
BY JIMMY GOLEN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Junior Seau is looking to join the New England Patriots, just three days after San Diego threw him a retirement party.
"Junior left a message for Chargers President Dean Spanos today alerting him
that he may sign a contract and play for the New England Patriots," the Chargers said Thursday in a statement. "If, in fact, he chooses to continue his playing career, we wish him good health and the best of luck this season. Junior's place in the Chargers Hall, of Fame awaits him when his career is over."
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