THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
SPORTS
13B
THE TRUTH
Don't cry for Clarett
Bright lights, fans that adore your every move, fame and a potential fortune lie at the end of a tunnel for a select and lucky group of college athletes.
But the temptations that exist on the dark side of college athletics can seduce even the most mentally strong player. For Maurice Clarett, bad decisions that began as a college football athlete have sent him down a self-destructive path, one that is leading further away from the football field.
Clarett was arrested early Wednesday when he failed to pull over after a traffic violation and led police on a chase through Columbus, Ohio. Police found three loaded handguns, a loaded AK-47 and a bullet-resistant vest in Clarett's possession.
It was his second arrest in the last eight months. He was arrested in January on charges of armed robbery. It was another sad chapter in a novel that should have had a much more promising story line.
As a freshman at Ohio State, Clarett starred at running back and led the Buckeyes to the national championship in 2002. But he was suspended the following year after university officials learned he had received thousands of dollars worth of special benefits.
Clarett's story is a cautionary tale that should be used as a deterrent in every college locker room in America.
His story is one that can happen to athletes when they decide to ignore the student-athlete label and focus on the athlete portion of their title.
Clarett came to college looking for a free pass and today his football career will never amount to what it could have. Growing up in Ohio, he was frequently mentioned as the football equivalent of another
BY DEJUAN ATWAY
KANSAN COLUMNIST
DATWAY KANSAN.COM
famous Ohio native, LeBron James. Now, all they have in common is an area code.
I won't cry for Clarett and neither should you; he has had plenty of opportunities. Even after dropping out of college, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2005, but was cut after he showed up to training camp out of shape and with little motivation to improve his conditioning.
Even here at Kansas, the trappings of athletics and that "I'm an athlete and I am entitled to this" mentality can tear down the biggest stars, including former basketball players J.R. Giddens and Lester Earl.
Clarett's story proves that super stardom is not guaranteed and every athlete should have a backup plan.
What will happen when the lights diminish and all the fans disappear? Athletes should say they went to college and left with something more than just a ball in one hand. Hopefully they will leave with a college degree in the other.
Edited by Elyse Weidner
U.S. basketball takes on world
>> 'HORN BORN,'HAWK BRED
Basketball's version of the FIFA World Cup — the FIBA World Championship in Japan — is coming this Friday.
U. S. basketball has not won the event, which is every four years, since 1994. In 2002, the team finished in a dismal sixth place. Even after that wake-up call, it still finished only third at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
But the NBA tends to breed a selfish brand of basketball player, one who relies on one-on-one match-ups to use his skills and athleticism to his advantage. To make up for their disadvantages, international players fill roles and use structured basketball to rise above the pure talent of the USA players. This style resembles the NCAA more than the NBA.
With by far the most extensive talent pool to choose from, why should the U.S. ever lose at the game it created, developed and traditionally dominated? This country should surpass all others in basketball, more than any other worldwide sport.
So what did U.S. basketball do? It hired arguably the best college coach in America — Mike Krzyezewski of Duke — to make sure every player was on board with a new, unselfish outlook. It also recruited Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Elton Brand, Chris Paul and even former Jayhawks Kirk Hinrich and Paul
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
KANSAN COLUMNIST
TROBINETT@KANSAN.COM
Pierce, among others. Pierce won't play in this event because of an injury, but he should be available for the 2008 Olympics.
Krzyzewski seems to have tamed these superstars in spite of their large eggs. The game plan requires each player to come in when instructed, do their part, then leave to give someone else a chance to contribute. That means no one should be taking 90 shots like Allen Iverson did during the 2004 Olympics.
The strategy seems to be paying off so far. The U.S. has been warming up in the weeks leading up to the event, defeating Puerto Rico 114-69, China 119-73 and Brazil 90-86. While the Brazil game was close, it proved the team could handle adversity.
Hinrich scored 14 points in that game, including a three-point shot to end the third quarter, which Brazil had dominated. His shot put the U.S. up by a single point heading into the fourth quarter. Then in the last minute, still up by only one, James did what he does best, driving
the baseline for a basket. In the final seconds, Joe Johnson stole the ball from Brazil, was fouled and made a free throw that sealed the game.
During the world championship, the U.S. will be tested like it was against Brazil. Even though it was only a four-point victory, different players proved they could each contribute clutch plays at important moments of the game on both ends of the floor.
This year's group is the closest thing resembling a "Dream Team" since 1992. The talent of the players and their new "team" mindset should make for fun basketball.
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
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What the heck is going on at the Yacht Club??!!
Do they really have a pool table*, washers, steel darts, retro arcade and Silver Strike Bowling?
Are They Crazy Wednesdays
- 2L Domestic Towers $11.00? $9.00?
SLASHED $5.00
● 3L Domestic Towers $15.00?? $11.00??
30 wings served til 1am!
SLASHED $7.50
DJ music 10pm til close!!
Mondays, We Go South of the Border
- $. 75 hard shell
$ . 85 soft shell
$2.50 Corona & Corona Light and Jose Cuervo Margaritas
Yacht Club Unplugged Thursday
- Live acoustic music starting at 9:00pm till 1am!!
- Bands and times may vary
- $2.00 Boulevard Wheat Draws
- $1.50 Single Wells
U B Tha DJ Saturday
- Bring your friends and your iPods Put together a 45 minute playlist and we will plug you in!
It all starts at 10:00pm till close
$2.50 buys you Long Islands, Long Beaches, Bloody Mary's
- $3.00 Jell- Shots too
*Coming mid summer