BASELESS CLAIM
The NBA denounced a book's claim that heavy gambling losses by Isiah Thomas and James Edwards raised questions about point-shaving
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
during two Detroit Pistons games in 1989.
Jeffrey Mishkin, the league's chief legal officer, called the contention in the book Money Players "absolutely false." The NBA recently reopened an investigation into point-shaving in the LATE 1980s.
The book cites five primary unidentified sources — four of them gamblers — and quotes both former Pistons players denying any involvement.
KANSAS BASEBALL GAME CANCELED
The Kansas baseball game against Kansas State was canceled yesterday because of inclement weather. The game, which was supposed to be played in Manhattan, has not yet been rescheduled. The game was not planned to count toward Big 12 Conference standings for the Jayhawks and Wildcats.
NCAA INCENTIVE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1997
A $50 million incentive package being offered to the NCAA to relocate its headquarters in Indianapolis includes a $10 million grant from the Lilly Endowment and as much as $20 million from the state, local officials say.
It's the first time officials have confirmed details of the incentive package intended to attract the NCAA from its current headquarters in Overland
Park.
Local organizing group representative Edward West said Monday that Indianapolis was competing with Denver, Kansas City, Mo., and Dallas for the new headquarters. The NCAA is not expected to announce its choice until late May or early June.
Assistant basketball coach decides to stay at Kansas
Kansas men's basketball assistant coach Neil Dougherty has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching position at the University of New Orleans.
SECTION B
Dougherty, who has just completed his second year at Kansas, cited personal feelings as his reason for declining the offer at New Orleans.
"I don't know if there is a single reason for not accepting the job." Dougherty said. "Moving the family is always tough, but I didn't get a gut feeling for the job."
Although Dougherty has been contacted by other schools including Eastern Michigan, he said he is not presently considering any head coaching positions.
The position at New Orleans opened up when Tic Price resigned on March 27.
In other news, the late signing period for men's basketball begins today and will continue through May 15. The Jayhawks still are contending for several recruits.
Guard Bernard Smith, from Conroe, Texas, guard Khalid E-Alamin from Minneapolis, Minn., center Jeff Carey, from Camdenton, Mo., and forward Ryan Humphrey, from Tulsa, Okla., all have Kansas listed among their final school selections.
Kansan staff report Softball pitcher named Big 12 player of week
Kansas pitcher Sarah Workman was named Big 12 player of the week last night by Big 12 Conference officials.
Workman has gone 5-0 in the past week for the Jayhawks. Four games were against Big 12 opponents. Her record for the season is 19-10 with a 1.87 ERA overall and a 0.81 ERA in conference games. She also holds a 157-62 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
"She's pitching with a lot more confidence and she has a lot more confidence in the team behind her," Kansas head coach Tracy Bunge said. "She's been more aggressive in the past weeks and has really gone after hitters."
—Kansan staff report
The injury was suffered Thursday in the team's final spring scrimmage. Robertson was taken off the field on a cart after his legs were bent back during a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Tough tackle takes out Texas Tech tailback
Secondary revamped
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech starting tailback Clint Robertson is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic examination tomorrow to determine the extent of an injury to his right knee.
A 6-0, 179-pound sophomore from Dallas, Robertson underwent an MRI on Saturday. It showed an injury to the medial collateral ligament, the medial meniscus and a possible injury to the posterior cruciate ligament.
Natalie Steadman, Texas Tech's director of sports medicine, said tomorrow's exam should reveal the extent of the injury and determine possible treatment.
Robertson is the only player with experience at tailback from last season following the Byron Hanspard's departure to the NFL. Robertson registered the second-best kickoff return average in the Big 12 with nine returns for 222 yards for a 24.7-yard average.
—The Associated Press
"The action we take will determine the rehabilitation process and the length of time it will take to allow Clint back onto the field. At this point, we just aren't sure how long he will be out." Steadman said.
Cornerback Jason Harris, who will be a senior next season, prepares for the snap of the ball during football practice yesterday. Harris started 10 of 11 games last season, leading the team with 4 interceptions.
By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter
with a new coaching staff and defensive scheme, the Kansas secondary has renewed faith in its ability to defend against the pass.
The Jayhawks have installed more zone packages during spring practice while going to the man-to-man defense less frequently.
Cornerback Jason Harris, who will be a senior, said the schemes are a welcome change of pace.
"With the new system, it gives corners the freedom to make plays," Harris said. "We'll still play man-to-man, but we'll play more zone defenses and there won't be so much pressure on the safeties. Last year we played man-to-man so much that we became one-dimensional."
Kansas ranked 95th in total defense last season, including 98th in pass defense.
In 1996, opponents completed more than 54 percent of their pass attempts for 2,456 yards. They threw for 18 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions against the Jayhawks.
This season, the Jayhawks are returning all four starters from a year ago. They also return players who Dick Moseley, Kansas defensive backs coach, said will leave the secondary full of depth.
"Our older guys have done an excellent job filtering out the terminologies and techniques of the other defenses they've learned," Moseley said. "Our younger guys are getting better, too. They'll make the competition better at each position, which is never a bad thing."
Free safety Tony Blevins, who will be a senior, said the new coaching staff provided additional motivation for players who didn't start for former Kansas football coach Glen Mason.
"Now that we have a new coaching staff, everybody has a chance to prove themselves," Blevins said. "There'a a feeling excitement and anticipation, especially for guys who felt they had been slighted in the past by the other coaches. Hopefully that will make for better competition and a better team."
Moseley said learning a new defense was easier for a younger player to do than someone who had been at a school for three or four years.
Blevins said he had learned several defenses at Kansas.
The secondary was attacked last season for its play, along with the other positions on the defensive side of the ball.
"This defense hasn't been hard to adapt to," Blevins said. "Of course, this is my third defense in four years. It makes me get a better grasp of the game overall, and, since we've been playing different defenses and different styles, we can tell how they're going to attack us."
defensive side of the team Kansas was outscored 107-60 in the fourth
quarter last season, and lost six of its last seven games.
Harris said that the secondary's confidence dropped once the team started its late-season slide.
suture.
"Last year some of the losses were our fault, and part of our confidence was lost," Harris said. "This spring has given us new confidence that we'll be back. We have had a chance to run with the new defense and I like it. We believe in this system."
Despite cold weather, tennis team set to play
By Andy Rohrback Kansas sportswriter
There was just one problem with that plan, said Roland Thornquist, Kansas women's tennis head coach.
The team has five meets remaining, and four of them are at home. The first of those home meets is against Kansas State; it was scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the courts by Robinson Center.
The homestretch begins today for the Kansas women's tennis team, which is ranked No. 40.
"It looks like it's going to be 35 degrees. It's going to take a miracle to get us outside," he said.
To accommodate the chilly weather, the meet has been moved to Alvamar Tennis Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway, and the time changed to 7 tonight.
No. 1 doubles position, where Brooke Chiller, Warnambool, Australia, freshman, and Amy Trytek, Chicago senior, fell 9-7. Doubles play will be key in today's match, Thornqvist said.
The Jayhawks enter today's match coming off an 8-1 victory Saturday at Oklahoma. Kansas' only loss in that duel was in the
"K-State has always proven to be a very good doubles team," he said. "I think lately we have really stepped up our singles. We have yet to prove our doubles. K-State always comes ready to play when they play us," he said.
Kansas State's Yana Dorodnov and partner Lena Piliptcak represent the Wildcats at the No. 1 doubles spot. Dorodnov and Piliptcak will face Kansas' top duo of Brooke Chiller and Amy Trytek, who have suffered lately but are definitely able to win today, Thornqvist said.
"They're having a little trouble executing, like when they're moving, when they get the open shot," he said. "They are a very good doubles team — in my opinion one of the top two or three doubles teams in the league."
Eric B. Howell / KANSAN
Kansas junior Christie Sim returns a serve at the April 2 matches against Nebraska. The women's next match will be tomorrow at Robinson Courts.
It's an event that provides great moments and great stories year after year.
It's a tradition unlike any other. It's what golf is all about. It's one of those places, I imagine, that you can hear the ghosts. It's like Churchill Downs, Wrigley Field, Boston Garden, Allen Field House; any place where great athletes have been performing for many years.
Two years ago, Ben Crenshaw won
Tradition memories at Masters
The Masters.
the Masters four days after burying his long-time mentor and golf legend, Harvey Pennick.
SPORTS COLUMNIST
When Crenshaw sank his final putt on the 18th green he dropped his putter and broke into tears.
Last year, Greg Norman continued his
Masters (and Major Championship)
woes. He took a six shot lead into
Sunday's final round, only to col-
apse and shoot 78. He finished second
to Nick Faldo. Faldo shot 67 and
won the tournament by five strokes.
The Masters also plays favorites.
Former winners Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, and Byron Nelson all have bridges on the course named after them.
The bridges commemorate great moments during the championships each player won.
If a player wins the Masters, he receives a lifetime invitation to come back and try once again to conquer Amen Corner (holes 11, 12, and 13).
The piaque commemorates Palmers' many accomplishments at Augusta National, not the least of which being his four wins.
Arnold Palmer has a plaque affixed to a water fountain behind the 16th tee.
Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower once visited Augusta National and suggested a dam be built to make a fish pond. The pond was built soon after, exactly as he specified. It is now named "ike's Pond."
The Masters has been played 60 times. Of those 60 championships, 36 have been won by 10 men.
This year's field showcases seven of those 10 men. Jack Nicklaus, Palmer, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, and Crenshaw have won 21 Green Jackets among them.
But whether the tournament is decided on the 60th hole or the 72nd hole, the Masters is unrivaled in its tradition and class.
The tournament takes care of its winners and it takes care of the game of golf.
There is no golf course in the world that is better groomed. Visitors are challenged to find weeds on the course.
They simply can't be found.
And no where else in the world can an assembly of 84 men who want a green jacket so badly be found.
Only at the Masters.
Comments? E-mail John at sports@kansan.com