UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, May 1, 1997
3B
Kansas should be praised
it's easy to criticize the Kansas Athletic Department.
Ticket prices keep going up, food prices are out of control, the football team has a horrendous graduation rate and I know that I have seen cockroaches in Allen Field House.
But praise
But praise should come as easy as criticism. And in the case of Title IX, Kansas deserves praise because it has done what it takes to equalize college athletics.
SPORTS
EDITOR
The Kansas Athletic Department has made a commitment to give women's athlet
ics as much support as men's
Oh, I know there are groups of men who sit around talking about what a terrible waste of time and money it is to give women equal representation
But those are the same guys who still question the whole suffrage thing.
The reality is that women deserve the same opportunities as men and Kansas has done its part to make that happen.
When Title IX was amended in 1974 to insist that women get the same athletic opportunities as men, athletic departments freaked.
It meant complete restructuring.
Scholarships had to be created and women's sports had to be brought up to the varsity level and financed accordingly.
Kansas was no different. In the last 25 years, Kansas has been forced to phase out sports like wrestling and has brought in sports like soccer and rowing.
It did this for two reasons.
First, the University needed the money from certain men's sports to finance women's sports.
Second, in order to balance the number of male and female participants, some men's sports had to go.
Phase out men's junior varsity basketball team and phase in soccer. That was the only way to make sure women got equal representation.
And with the direction of Athletic Director Bob Frederick, Kansas has played the game well.
While most universities say they are trying to give women the same opportunity, they do nothing.
Kansas pays basketball coaches Marian Washington and Roy Williams the same salary. Many schools do not do that.
And Kansas is doing something many schools are taking their time to get around to — trying to offer the same amount of scholarship money for both men and women.
Kansas has been able to keep sports like tennis and golf for both men and women. Not all schools can say that.
The University is in the midst of a five-year plan to make sure that both
Within the next three years, both sports will be fully outfitted.
Of course, all of this costs money that can be hard to come by.
men's and women's sports get the same amount of scholarships.
But Kansas has something other schools don't — a successful athletics program.
Success on the football field, basketball court, and even the baseball diamond have brought in huge amounts of revenue that have allowed Kansas the freedom to spend on women's programs.
Excluding men's basketball and football, last year the Athletic Department spent $2,646,365 on women's sports. It spent $1,618,467 on men's sports.
The department has not only shown it cares about women's sports, but it has begun to outspend the men.
Not many universities are willing to make the same sacrifice.
Title IX is a law and it must be complied with. But often, unless someone files a lawsuit, universities are not forced to comply.
Kansas, without lawsuits, has shown it is doing what it can to comply.
So despite the cockroaches, give the Athletic Department a pat on the back for doing something right for a change.
Comments? E-mail Spencer at sports@kansan.com
"I wish I was a little bit taller — I wish I was a baller."
Wanted: basketball position for a flat-footed short guy
With two Kansas men's basketball scholarships available, I share these feelings with rapper Skee-Lo in his song I wish.
SPORTS COLUMNIST
After Baron Davis' decision to attend UCLA, it looks as if Kansas will not fill its two open scholarships. That means the doors are open for me to show the team that I deserve a spot on the roster.
It's interesting that
Kansas, one of the top basketball programs in the country, did not end up with one of the three most highly regarded high school recruits: Davis, Bernard Smith and Khalid El-Amin. All three players once were interested in coming here.
Right now it looks like the Jayhawks will have 12 players on next year's roster. The roster includes eight underclassmen, one transfer and three high school recruits. If Raef Lafrentz and Paul Pierce bolt for the pro, Kansas will have only
10 players on its roster. Just enough for a scrimmage. Last year the team carried 14 players.
My guess is that the Jayhawks will be looking for one or two practice players at tryouts before the season begins in the fall.
I'll be readv.
Despite being as tall as Spud Webb and having the vertical of Will Perdue, I'm dedicating my free time this summer to improving my basketball fundamentals.
I reached my athletic peak at 11. So you won't see me faking the funk on a nasty dunk, because I can barely touch the net.
Instead, I'll practice dribbling with my left hand, making the drop step and properly squaring my shoulders on the jump shot. Maybe I'll incorporate a rebounding and outlet-pass drill in my routine.
Wait a second, what are I talking about? A 5-foot-6, slow但quick, Will Perdue jumping small forward
And I can't forget the bounce pass.
Young kids don't make enough bounce passes today. They prefer the baseball pass or the overhead toss. It's sad, because nothing is more exciting in basketball then making a bounce-pass assist. Just the way Maurice Cheeks used to feed bounce passes to Andrew Toney and Dr. J., finishing off the Philadelphia 76ers' fast breaks.
who wouldn't be able to guard the Gatorade cooler. I don't think that's what the team needs. Besides, I'm not ready to make such a commitment. Although I could light up the bench with my towel-waving abilities, I still need to work on my high-fiving skills.
I know Kansas does not need my basketball services.
But the Jayhawks also don't need Davis, El-Amin or Smith for the team to be great next year.
That doesn't mean I didn't want them to play at Kansas — I did. But I'm not upset because they chose other schools. Talented players can make a team better, but their backs aren't big enough to carry a team.
Kansas has the best coach and one of the best programs in the country. The Jayhawks will win a lot games next year with or without LaFrentz and Pierce.
I'm not worried. Kansas will be all right with new recruits Kenny Gregory, Eric Chenowith, and Jeff Carey, along with Louisiana State transfer Lester Earl and the returning Jawhaws.
So I guess I'm going to forget about my basketball game this summer and keep on dreaming.
"I wish I was a little bit taller — I
was a baller."
Comments? E-mail Adam at sports@kansan.com
Today's Birthday (May 1)
HOROSCOPES
Do great things this year with help from your friends. A secret leads to true love in May. Save every spare cent in June and July. Go on an excursion in September. Take the trip of a lifetime in January. Friends come through in March. Rely on an older person who knows in April.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is a 6.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is a 7.
Not enough money? No problem. If you want to go out to lunch but you cannot afford the restaurants, take a picnic in the park with food brought from home.
Is there anything you are supposed to have done? It may not be due until tomorrow, but that still does not give you much time. Go shopping for gifts in the morning.
Gemini (May 21-June 21)Today is a 4.
It would be a mistake to assume you are smarter than a Pisces. You are more verbal. Pisces is the sign of the genius. You should always listen to Pisceans with respect.
Cancer (June 22-July 22) - Today is an 8.
thing new. With support from a friend this morning, push yourself into a new lifestyle. Your adventure may be mental rather than physical.
You may be tempted to try some-
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) - Today is a 4.
If you are going to make a deal concerning your work, do it first thing this morning. Later this afternoon, conditions change and things are more likely to go wrong.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -
Today is a 9.
It looks like the spotlight is on you. Let everybody know what needs to be done. If there are big
decisions pending, urge people to choose quickly. The earlier the better.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) - Today is a 3.
You are busy. Not only are there difficult chores on your agenda, but a mild state of confusion has come. Do not quit your job, but you could start looking for a better one.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) - Today is a 9.
It does not get much better than this. If you have been thinking about getting married, do not wait a moment longer. Make or
renew the commitment.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
- Today is a 3.
You could spend this day at home in bed. If you have any sick time, it is not a bad idea. If you are not really sick, call it preventative medicine.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -
Today is an 8.
Not only are you in love, but you are also imaginative. Make a creative suggestion early this morning. Later in the afternoon, you will feel a bit more inhibited.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18) the
It is a good time to buy real estate, if you can scrape together the down payment. Be available for a friend whose dreams seem to be falling apart.
Today is a 5.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is an 8.
Your intuition is excellent this morning. Later in the day, complexities arise, making the game more interesting. Focus on completion tonight and for the next few weeks.
PS: See you at MayFest!
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