SPORTS
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, September 26, 1991
11
Runner perseveres despite injury
CROSS COUNTRY
By Jeff Kobs
Kansan Sportswriter
Everytime senior cross country runner Cathy Palacios runs, she must overcome one obstacle her competition does not have.
"She doesn't look to look for sympathy at all or even hardly talk about it. *Kansas Coach Gary Schwartz* said,
And she would rather they didn't know about it. Until she fell sept. 14 during the Ilayah Wiinvitational at Rim Rock Farm, most of her own team members did not even know.
Palacios, the team captain and onlyseni, has continued to run for the Jayhawks this season, despite having a hairline fracture in her left ankle.
"I'm planning on running at all of the meets," Palacios said. "I'm not too good at siting out."
Palacios, from Riverside, Illinois, said the origin of the injury is some- what of a mystery.
"It might have happened last cross country season." she said.
She said that during indoor track season she had a recurring ankle problem.
Palacios said she finally went to see a doctor during her summer training at home.
- rays showed a hairline fracture in the ankle.
  weeks off during July and just baked and smoked.
Lawrence Magee, physician of sports medicine at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said athletes suffering from stress fractures still couldcompute if their condition allowed it.
He said as long as athletes could tolerate the pain and discomfort and still compete effectively, they could continue to perform, but for only a
"Sooner or later, they must give it a break," he said.
Magee said bones were not dead tissues and they continue to mend, but they can't keep up with the wear.
limited time.
"To beal this type of fracture, the forces causing it must be removed," he said.
Magee said a stress fracture was not a complete break like an acute fracture. He said they were usually hairline fractures caused by ongoing overuse or abuse.
Palacios said she was using prescription pain killers, ibuprofen and icaring her daily.
"Stress fractures can convert to an acute or complete fracture," he said. "It all depends on the location. If it was high risk, we wouldn't let them use it."
"I doankle exercises every night," she said. "It has it 'good day' and had days."
**it's good days and bad days.**
Swartz said she continued to work and train
he is worried and she is needed to work and train with the rest of the team.
*She does the same amount of training, but we
have to make adjustments at times," he said. "It's an ankle problem she has to live with. It's going to stay a nuisance."
Palacios has ignored the nuisance so far.
She finished second at the opening meet at Southern Illinois and despite her fall at the Jayhawk Invite, she was still a strong contender.
Palacios said she didn't want to let the team down, especially since she was a senior and a team captain.
"I know we can do real well this year," she said. "I want to keep pushing for that."
Freshman runner Kristy Kloster said she was impressed with Palacios' determination.
"She's a real inspiration," she said. "She's being careful, but working so hard to get through."
Schwartz said some runners would give up and quit if bothered with such an injury.
"It's a real credit to her mental toughness," he said. "I have great faith in Caty. When the time comes, I will."
Second-string player gets respect from coach, team
FOOTBALL
The Associated Press
Kansas back-up quarterback Bate Florell has earned his prize of locker room nicknames: Nasty Nate, Crazy LEGs, Harry Connick Jr.
Harry Connick Jr.?
"Some of us shoot some jazz on the side. We've done a couple of videos," he said. "I also do some imitations."
Florell's appearance for the Jayhawks in Saturday's 54-14 victory over New Mexico State also has helped the sophomore earn nods of approval from his teammates and coach Glen Mason.
After a Saturday's game, Mason said he was proud of Fiorell's performance and regretted not getting him into the game against games against Toledo and Tulsa.
"I was upset that I didn't put him in because, one, he deserved to play; and, two, I like to give the second one a chance to play as I can," Mason said.
Florell isn't content with backup status.
"I'm a competitive person. I want to start," he said. He "in go every week thinking I'm going to be the starter player." (Hillary) is going to go down or out.
Florell also competed in basketball and baseball while at Chicago's Sullivan High School. As a senior, he was drafted as a pitcher in the ninth round. But the offer wasn't sweet enough to hire him from plans to attend college.
"I've seen guys that have gone into the minor league and then got hurt and they have nothing to show for it." he said. "I just really didn't think it was."
worth it. I
wasn't a
first-round
pick, and
I was n't
offered first-
r o u n d
money.
"I' ve always been devoted to getting an education."
he said, "That was first and foremost for me. Being from the inner city of Chicago, I realized that you survive through your education."
Florell still is considering playing baseball in the future but, for now, is focused on a different kind.
He completed two of four passes for 63 yards Saturday, including a 49-yard connection to junior wide receiver Jared Johnson in his attempt him at a rival Chicago high school.
"That play was a highlight," Florell said. "Matt and I work hard together. We started out in an all-star game in college, but it was the best of friends since we came out here."
"He's the guy I like to throw to all the time because I have so much respect for him ... the way he conducts himself on and off the field."
Respect is something Florell thinks he also has earned for himself.
"It's hard to say because I'm not in a starting situation, but I think the guys have a certain amount of respect for me. You've have as much respect as backup means.
*I'm comfortable out there and they're comfortable with me," he said.
Asterling shot
Chris Sterling, Boulder, Colo., senior, goes for a slam playing basketball outside Oliver Hall. Sterling was taking advantage of mild temperatures yesterday afternoon. The high today is expected to reach the low 70s.
Oakland powers past Royals despite fall from AL grace
The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Athletics tried to play yea-
tions in Kansas City like it meant something—even if it didn’t.
Rickey Henderson and Mike Gallego homered as Oakland beat the Royals 8-4 on the afternoon after the three-time AL champion A's were eliminated from the West Division race.
"I felt like a nine o'clock 'B' game in spring training," Gallego said. "You just try and go out there and not get into it." He got past the second imminent, you realize second place is still at stake, and we have to finish as high as we can."
The A's reign ended Tuesday night with a 5-4 loss to Kansas that dropped Oakland 12 games behind Detroit.
"You're talking to a guy who gets nervous even in spring training," A's manager Tony La Russa said. "You push it'a game in the postseason. When it was hot, you could hear the bass drum and you as I would've been if the game was for first place.
Yesterday's game was really the first meaningless game for the A's since 1987.
"The A's stand for something, and it's important to
push in these last 10 games as hard as you can."
"This was my last opportunity to do something this year at the Coliseum," said Welch, who had not won since Aug. 22. "That was enough reason to get me focused. But it's times like these where the competition itself keeps you going. I enjoy just playing the ballgame."
The game was not exactly uneventful. Royals starter Mike Bodderick was hit in the right kneecap by a line drive off the bat of Henderson and left after just one batter.
"I don't think I'll miss a turn," Boddicker said. "I-real-
ly does' hurt too hard. Tony Phillips got me earlier this
day."
Bob Welch (12-12) allowed five hits in 8-3 innings, struck out a season-high eight and walked four as he entered the final round.
Mark Davis (5-2) then relieved and gaveup six runs — twounearned — in six innings.
Dennis Eckersley got two outs for his 42nd save in 50 chances.
"Some days, it's just good to get it over with," Royals manager Ha McRae said.
One streak will end in match of top teams
The Associated Press
A long winning streak will end Saturday when top-ranked Florida State meets No. 3 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The Seminoles have a nine-game winning streak, the nation's longest. Michigan and Miami are next with eight in a row.
Florida State has yet to be tested. It won its first three games against Brigham Young University, Tulane Michigan or Michigan by a combined score of 149-30.
"This could be the game of the year in college football," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "This is the kind of game that everybody wants to be part of. High rankings, big stadium, national TV. It's all there."
Michigan, on the other hand, defeated Notre Dame 24-14 two weeks ago.
Both teams have balanced offenses and aggressive defenses.
Michigan's attack features quarterback Elvis Grbac, running back Ricky Powers and receiver Desmond Howard, who has scored six of the team's eight touchdowns this season.
Florida State's offensive leaders are tailback Amp Lee, fullback Edgar Bennett and quarterback Case Wesley, the nation's stop-trained passer. The Seminoles also have a deep group of receivers.
In its victory against Norte Dame, Michigan's defense limited the Fighting Irish to 78 yards on the ground and held them scoreless for the final 22 minutes. But the task will be even more difficult against Florida State, which may have the most versatile offense in the country.
The teams have played once before. Michigan won 20-18 in 1986 at Ann Arbor. The oddamakers expect another game. Florida State is a 1/2 factor favorite.
Wheat Meet will benefit cancer study
By David Mitchel
Kansan Sportswriter
The 11th annual Wheat Meet will begin at 9a.m. Saturday.
The Jayhawk football team has the weekend off, but Memorial Stadium will not be empty Saturday.
Chi Omega sorority and Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity sponsored the track meet last fall and raised $8,550 for cancer research.
The meet features nine running events, both individual and relays, as well as discus, shot put and jumping events.
Entries can be made at a sign-up table in front of Wescoe Hall this week. Individual competitors can sign up for $10.
Lymn L DeanDm, a member of Chi Omega, said it would cost $80 this year for an organized living group and team in the track and field events.
Proceeds from entrance fees and T-shirt sales will benefit cancer research at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
DeMond, Leawood sophomore,
said event winners will receive
free T-shirts, and prizes will be
given away throughout the day.
Jennifer Gottschalk, Hutchinson senior, was the chairperson of the event last year. She said this season she eclipsed the $8,250 last year.
Last year's figure was lower than previous years because of the abundance of greek philanthropists who weekend, Gottschalk said.
Lisa Starcke, head of this year's Wheat Meet, said that 15 fraternities and three sororites were scheduled to compete Saturday.
Organizers said they hoped more individual competitors would participate this year.
"It's fun," Gottschalk said. "It's neat for people who ran track in high school but don't get to compete anymore."
Starcke said the project was on target to raise $3,000 from participation fees and T-shirt sales.
In addition to the projected $3,000, money is being raised through charitable donations as well as through admission charged to a Sunday party hosted by the meet sponsors, she said.
The Associated Press
Could Connors defeat Seles?
NEWYORK -- Eighteen years after Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs, a Hollywood promoter is hoping to stage a second Battle of the Sexes.
David Krieff would like to pit Monica Seles, the 17-year-old winner of three Grand Slam events this year, against 39-year-old Jimmy Connors, who reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
The plan is to offer a $1 million winner-take-all pot and stage the event at Cae s ars * Palace in Las Vegas* in March. Kri eff's company, Destiny
JimmvConnors
Productions, would produce the matchfor pay-per-viewtelevision.
"Nobody is hotter than Jimmy and Monica," said Krieff, who has produced a number of celebrity tennis tournaments. "Vitas Gergulaitis has proposed that the 100th-ranked man can beat the No. 1 ranked woman. This will show that women can play the theory and we're willing to put the cash on the line to let the world find out."
Krieff said the rules of tennis would be allowed to give Connors just one serve and have Seles play on an easy side. Krieff hoped he had to have a deal next week.
Ray Benton, Connors' agent, said,
"There have been conversations but to
date no substantive negotiations."
Two Braves charged with drunk driving
ATLANTA—The Atlanta Bellens sent Brian Hunter and Keith Mitchell for physical examinations yesterday after they were arrested in separate drunken driving incidents but did not immediately indicate if the rookies would be disciplined.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Atlanta police said Mitchell, 23, a reserve outfielder, was charged with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and not wearing a helmet. A median on I-78-85 in downtown Atlanta about
5:15 a.m.yesterday
He was released about 8:30 a.m. on $1,043 bond, police said.
In suburban Cobb County, authorities said reserve first baseman Hunter, 23, was charged, after an accident at 4 a.m., with driver influence andfluence and influence with an improper lane change.
Chiefs re-sign veteran defensive end
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City
Chiefs re-signed veteran defensive end Mike Balk twenties for the second time this season.
The Chiefs said that they waived cornerback Anthony Parker to make room for Bell.
Bell, an 11-year veteran, was cut Aug. 26 in the final roster reduction. He was re-signed Aug. 29 and then cut again Sent. 7
Bell, 34, was the second overall pick in the 1979 draft. He has 404 tackles, 106 fumble recoveries and 28 points.
Parker was signed Sept. 11 to the Chiefs' practice team and was activated Sept. 15. He
Former NFL star finds niche at Tabor
"If I can teach these kids something, then I've done something positive. I never thought
HILLSBORO - Ruck Upchurch, one of the top punt returners in National Football League history, has found a niche as an assistant coach at tiny Tauro College.
And even though the Tabor Bluejays got off to a rough start with a 69-0 loss to Friends last week, Uphurch said he was enthusiastic about his job at the Mennonite Brethren school.
I'd coach at this level, but I thought I'd take the opportunity and see how I like it," Upchurch said.
Upchurch gained 3,008 yards on punt returns with the Denver Broncos from 1975-83, second in career punt return yards only to the 3,317 yards by Billy Johnson of Houston, Atlanta and Cleveland, fourth most touchdowns on punt returns with eight in a career, four in a season and two in a game.
He coaches wide receivers and special teams and handles the school's sports ministry program.