UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, April 9, 1997
3B
Sports figures inspire predictions
By Matt Woodruff
Kansan sportswriter
Yesterday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins were in first place, the St. Louis Cardinals were in last and Jay Bell had as many home runs as Albert Belle. Hmm, it must be a young season. The following are a few observations from the goings-on in the first week of big league action:
As I expected, the Florida Marlins are in sole possession of the National League East for the first time in the history of the five-year franchise. But, as I didn't expect, the reason is not Gary Sheffield and Louis Bonilla. Louis Castillo and Edgar Rentaria are not only playing great defense, but they're swinging hot hats. If they keep it up, Florida will stay on top all year.
My player-of-the-week awards go to:
National League - Rickey Henderson. Despite thinking he wouldn't start the season for the San Diego Padres after the team signed Greg Vaughn, Henderson has reached base in 12 of his 16 plate appearances and has scored seven runs, second in the majors to Larry Walker's eight. Henderson, 38, is apparently out to prove that he still
is capable of dominating games the way he used to with the A's and the Yankees. If he puts up numbers similar to his 125 walks and 110 runs scored last season, Henderson will be in position to become baseball's all-time leader in steals, runs scored and walks. Perhaps the most telling number, though, is that when Henderson had at least three plate appearances, the Padres were 4-0. When he didn't, they were 0-2. If he gets three a game for the rest of the season, he will score 130 runs, and the Padres will win the World Series. If he doesn't, the Padres won't even win their division.
American League - Ken Griffey Jr. Even though the Seattle Mariners are a disappointing 2-3, Junior started off the season by belting five home runs in his first five games. The way he's crushing the ball, I'm thinking that someone must have put one of those "Hit it here, Junior" signs on the Hale-Bopp Comet. If he can keep from breaking an arm on the Kingdome wall this season, he may finally topple Roger Maris' single-season home-run record.
now I'm beginning to realize that although he played short-stop like he was wearing two gloves, the team simply can't afford to take a consistent bat out of the lineup.
Some thoughts about the Royals:
1. At the beginning of the season, I thought Jose Offerman should be the odd man out in the Royals team. But
SPORTS WRITER
2. If Johnny Damon wants to crack into the starting lineup, he
needs to have a breakout year and prove that he's an offensive threat. Maybe he should grow sideburns. It worked for Brady Anderson.
3. Most of the players on the Royals' offense and the starting pitching staff know how to spell contender. But do the relievers?
People who throw giveaway baseballs on the playing field are absolutely hilarious. They really crack me up. Their comical genius ranks right up there with people who think that jogging onto the playing field for three seconds, being tackled by angry security guards and spending a night in jail
is well worth it. Don't you wish these idiots would sit down and have another $6 beer?
Steve Bono may prove that hard work and dedication aren't the best way to succeed. Despite not bothering to show for the Chiefs' mini-camp last season and apparently packing things in halfway through the season, Bono (who signed with the Green Bay Packers last week) may be making a trip to the Super Bowl next season. Doesn't it seem a little unfair that he will more than likely get there before Derrick Thomas?
■ On the subject of the Chiefs, I'm betting that they don't have the guts to sign Andre Rison. Although he may be the answer to their desperate need for a go-to receiver, his reputation may scare off Carl Peterson.
Anyone who saw Dennis Rodman's movie during the weekend needs to get a job and learn the value of the dollar. If you spent five or six bucks to catch Rodman's new hair color and see the alwaysimpressive acting of co-star Jean Claude Van Damme of your own free will, it's obvious that the money you spent wasn't your own
Comments? You can e-mail Matt
at mwoodruff.kansan.com.
Indians'pitcher rape case to jury
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — A jury must decide if Jose Mesa trapped two women in a terrifying web of rape and abuse or if the Cleveland pitcher was targeted by prosecutors in a morality play against a pro athlete.
"I is it fair for these folks to ask you to believe their fiction writing?" defense lawyer Gerald Messerman asked the jury, which was expected to start deliberations today.
After the judge dropped a felony assault charge Monday, Mesa's lawyer suddenly rested his case without calling any witnesses. The jury of six men and six women then heard closing arguments on the sixth day of the trial.
Assistant prosecutor Mike Nolan characterized Mesa, the Indians' star bullein closer, as a deprived man who lured two 26-year-old women to a motel because he wanted to have his way with them.
"The game plan obviously was to get one or more women to a hotel room that night," Nolan said. "And he did it. He accomplished his mission."
Messerman asked jurors not to judge Mesa because he went to a bar
on a Saturday night.
"This is not a morality play, a chance to comment on the sexual practices of other people," Messerman said. "Do not convict Jose Mesa because he is a professional athlete."
Cuyahoga County Judge Thomas Curran dropped a felony assault charge carrying a two- to eight-year prison term, saying the state didn't prove Mesa intended to hurt one of the women by forcing open a door in a motel bathroom and striking her in the mouth.
The judge also ruled that the jury could consider whether Mesa was guilty of the reduced charge of gross sexual imposition, instead of rape. Curran said that an Ohio law expanding the definition of rape to include penetration other than intercourse may trivialize the crime.
Mesa's wife, Mirla, sat next to Indians' general manager John Hart during closing arguments. The trial, which began March 31, has kept Mesa from joining the Indians for the start of the season.
Mesa had 85 saves the last two seasons and was on the mound when Cleveland clinched its first AL championship in 41 years in 1905.
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