PITCHER PROBLEM
Doctors treating JASON ISRINGHAUSEN are in the process of conducting a biopsy on an abnormal presence in the New York Mets pitcher's chest area.
Doctors confirmed that Isringhausen had something irregular in the area of one of his lungs and decided to go forward with a biopsy — the removal of tissue for examination.
Before a biopsy could be performed, doctors needed to pinpoint the location of the irregularity.
lseringhausen, 24, complained of flu-like symptoms during the weekend in Florida, where he was rehabilitating his broken right wrist.
CHICAGO PLAYER SUSPENDED BY BUDIG
TONY PHILLIPS of the Chicago White Sox was suspended for two days by American League president Gene Budig for actions leading to his ejection from an April 21 game.
Phillips appealed the suspension, which was scheduled to begin with last night's game against Texas. He will play until a hearing can be held.
KNICKS COACH
JEFF VAN GUNY can expect to sit down this summer with Knicks general manager Ernie Grunfeld and Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts and be presented with a contract extension offer.
New York's three-game sweep of Charlotte in the first round did not speed up the timetable for
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1997
giving an extension to the NBA's youngest head coach.
Van Gundy, 35, has one year left on a two-year contract that pays him $1 million a year. Checkettts said it was against his philosophy to allow a coach to go into his final year without an extension.
Van Gundy led the Knicks to a 57-win regular season.
Fast BREAKS
Fuzzy Zoeller contends reported joke not funny
SECTION B
NEW YORK — Fuzzy Zoeller disputed accounts of his joking exchange with an African-American friend about fried chicken and watermelon, but the four reporters at the scene defended the accuracy.
Zoeller took issue with reports filed by The Associated Press and three South Carolina newspapers after a conversation Monday between Zoeller and businessman Vic McBryde during the Thornblade Classic charity pro-am golf tournament in Greenville, S.C.
The outing was Zoeller's first since he referred to Tiger Woods as that little boy and said Woods should not serve fried chicken and collard greens at the Masters champions' dinner next year.
Monday's stories said that after McBryde yelled, "Hey, Fuzzy," from two holes away, Zoeller shouted back a remark about getting McBryde some fried chicken. The stories said that McBryde then told Zoeller not to forget the corn bread and that Zoeller replied, "How about some water-melon?"
Asked to clarify, Zoeller said, "He was on another fairway and yelled: 'Hey Fuzzy, we're having lunch later — fried chicken, collard greens and corn bread. You want to join us?」 yelled back: 'Don't forget the watermelon.' That all I said."
Ex-champ Riddick Bowe hangs up the boxing gloves
His retirement was announced by HBO, and Bowe now will work for the cable television network in a community service program.
NEW YORK — Riddick Bowe retired today, ending the career of the two-time heavyweight champion, who was battered in his last two fights.
Bowe took beatings in his last two fights with Andrew Golota but won both on disqualifications. The first bout ended in a chair-swinging riot at Madison Square Garden. He retired with a record of 40-1, with 32 knock-outs.
Following the two Golota fights, Bowe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves but left after 10 days of training at Parris Island, S.C.
Bowe, 29, will tour the country and participate in HBO-sponsored community activities aimed at motivating youngsters.
"Although my time inside the ring has come to an end, it's just the start of an exciting and important career for me," Bowe said in a statement released by HBO. "I am delighted to begin my new role in the HBO family."
Brown leaves Pacers is courted by college team
"I wasn't forced to leave. On the contrary, Donnie gave me every opportunity to stay." Brown said.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers coach Larry Brown resigned yesterday, following a season in which the team missed the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1989.
Even before Brown's resignation, speculation about a replacement focused on former Boston Celtics star and Indiana native Larry Bird.
He insisted that he was not fired by team president Donnie Walsh, who attended the news conference at Market Square Arena.
"As far as Larry Bird is concerned, he's a legend here," Brown said. "He wasn't a great player by accident. I think it's a no-brainer that he could be a great coach."
Brown already has spoken with representatives from the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
Pat Croce, owner of the 7Gers, has stated his interest in Brown, and reports out of Philadelphia indicate he will meet with Brown this week.
The Associated Press
Kansas second baseman Andy Judy throws to first for a double play after tagging out Benedictine's Jesus Osorio at second base. The Jay hawks went on to win the game 19-5 last night at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
'Hawks defeat Benedictine in practice-like matchup
By Harley V. Ratliff
Kansan sportswriter
if fans went to the Kansas baseball game last night for suspense and drama, then they probably left sometime after the national anthem to catch *Ellen*.
For the second time in two nights, the Jayhawks turned their competition into their personal hitting playground.
Kansas, behind 17 hits, hammered Benedictine College 19-5 last night at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium. During their last two victories, the Jayhawks offense has been outstanding, scoring 35 runs on 34 hits and dominating two overmatched pitching staffs.
"Benedictine was a much better team than yesterday," said Kansas coach Bobby Randall after the game. "The only thing they didn't do was throw strikes. They gave us a lot of runs because that put a lot of guys on base."
Despite a starting line-up chalked with newcomers, Kansas had no problem finding its offensive groove.
Three batters later, with the bases loaded, catcher Nick Frank roped a double to right-center scoring two runs.
"I just got a pitch down in the zone,
and I put it up in the air a little bit,
Juday said. "The wind probably got at some of it, but, hey, I'll take it."
The Jayhawks spent most of the first inning tormenting Ravens starting pitcher Dan Grimes. Kansas abused Grimes throughout his four innings of work, scoring 10 runs on 11 hits.
Kansas began the scoring spree with six quick runs in the first inning. After shortstop Joe Demarco singled and stole second, second baseman Andy Juday, behind the strength of gusty winds, sailed a shot over the left-field wall. The home run was the sophomore's eighth round-tripper of the season.
Kansas followed its six-run first with a three-run second. With a nine-run lead after two innings, the Jayhawks had plenty of cushion to rest starters and give valuable innings to back uns.
Fifteen Jayhawks stepped into the batter box while six pitchers took their turn on the mound. With the season's most important series this weekend against Kansas State, Randall said he was glad to get chance to improve depth and strengthen team confidence.
"This club needed a win," Randall said. "Over the last 10 games we have been on edge. This gave us a chance to loosen up. Going into K-State, everybody is rested and everybody is available."
The Jayhawks would add two more runs in the inning for a 6-0 lead.
Game Note: Justin Headley's double in the second inning broke the school record for career doubles with 63.
Men's golf loses regional bid
Tee time ends for Jayhawks
By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter
The season has ended for the Kansas men's golf team.
The Jayhawks will not compete in the Central Regionals on May 15 to 17, dashing hopes of a third-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
"I'm disappointed but not surprised," said Ross Randall, Kansas men's golf coach. "We beat some good teams this season, but we weren't as consistent as we wanted to be."
The Jayhawks finished fourth at the Big 12 Championships with a combined score of 902, one stroke away from Iowa State and third place. Kansas finished 21 strokes behind Oklahoma State, the tournament champion.
Kansas had a final chance to qualify for the Central Regionals at the Big 12 Conference Championships earlier this week.
Freshman Kansas golfer Ryan Vermeer said the team needed to place above key conference foes to extend their postseason.
"We needed to finish second or third at the Big 12 Championships and beat Iowa State and Nebraska both," Vermeer said. "When we lost to Iowa State, I knew our chances of advancing to the Central Regionals were slim to none. I expected this."
Seven at-large births were allocated to District V, the district to which Kansas belongs. Teams that were invited to the Central Regionals included Oklahoma State,
Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa
State, Arkansas State, Drake
and Tulsa.
nor Arkansas State defeated a nationally ranked opponent during the regular season.
The Jayhawks defeated nine nationally-ranked opponents during the season, but they lost one tournament against Drake and two against Arkansas State. Neither Drake
Kansas had hoped to earn the one of the last bids, but Drake and Arkansas State were able to hold off Kansas.
Kansas golfer Chris Thompson, a sophomore, was named the third District V individual golfer, but just the region's top-two golfers earned invitations to the Central Regionals. Thompson completed the season with three top-10 finishes, seven top-25 finishes and a stroke average of 73.79.
Two individual bids were given to Region V golfers, and again Kansas golfers did not make the cut.
Randall said the team's youth would become a strength next season, with only senior Kit Grove leaving the team.
"We're going to be young, but we're going to be young with experience," Randall said. "Our players have time to develop, and they will only get better next year."
Davis' ego belongs in California, not Kansas Recruit's announcement mocked'Hawks'tradition
I was just like many Jayhawk fans who were eagerly awaiting Baron Davis' decision.
Not because I was hoping he would attend Kansas, but rather that he would choose UCLA. At first, I didn't know why I hated him — I just did. But after his made-for-television announcement, I now know.
this pompous athlete toyed with us for weeks before finally setting the official date
of the announcement — originally scheduled for last week. But he pushed it back each day until Monday night, when he finally blessed us with his decision.
SPORTS COLUMNIST
Somehow, an 18-year-old high school senior set up a live broadcast in Fox's Hollywood studio before the Clippers-Jazz game. Somehow, he regularly arrived at the studio in a shiny limousine. Somehow, he expects me to care
Why should I? When there were just two hats left, signifying his remaining options, I was chanting "UCLA, UCLA." He picked up the Kansas hat, glanced at it and carelessly tossed it over his right shoulder to the dirty studio floor.
Maybe the egotistical Davis doesn't know it yet, but the Jayhawk is to be treated with respect — not thrown to the ground in an aura of cockiness. After all of the time and effort Roy Williams spent recruiting him, throwing the hat over his shoulder meant he threw away Roy's respect.
It's pretty sad when a young punk is showboating before he has even laced up a college sneaker. In one ill-conceived moment, he lost the respect of Kansas fans and amateur sports fans as a whole.
But I also question some of his reasons for choosing UCLA instead of Kansas.
"I'm going to college for four years," he said. "Right now, I'm definitely not leaving early."
Sure, he says that now, but will he be heading to the NBA before he graduates? Many basketball experts are predicting a one-year stint with the Bruins.
Also, his general motives for choosing UCLA seem to be off-base.
"Winning a national championship is my first goal as a freshman." Davis said.
Hey Baron — maybe your first goal should be making the starting lineup. You know, there is a little more competition for starting positions at UCLA than at Crossroads High School. You're not just going to tiptoe to stardom for the most prolific college program in the history basketball.
By simply staying in Los Angeles, Baron said he would start a trend of local athletes playing for UCLA—the hometown school.
Hey Baron — you are not that great of a player. Sure, 26.5 points and 7.3 assists per game in high school is good, but that means nothing in college. My stats weren't much different from Davis', but I wouldn't expect my performance to cause anyone to follow me to the University of Kansas.
UCLA coach Steve Lavin recruited Davis in hopes that he could bring the program back to the level it was on 30 years ago. But even Lavin seemed to miss the point of recruiting high-quality student athletes. He was bragging that none of this year's recruits were special admits to the university. Wow, for once a UCLA player didn't need the chancellor's permission to enroll. Guess what Steve, none of Kansas' players needed Chancellor Robert Hemenway's help either, but you didn't hear Rear bragging about that, did you? That's because it is a tradition at Kansas to recruit students first. athletes second.
While the self-centered Davis will be flaunting his ego for a season at UCLA, Kansas recruits will probably be here for all four years, hoping to bring four national championship banners to Allen Field House. But if they don't, at least they'll have a degree.
Hey, Baron — thanks for not choosing Kansas.
Comments? E-mail Dave at dbreiten@kansan.com