---
BIG CONTRACT
GARY SHEFFIELD agreed yesterday to the largest contract package in baseball history, a 861 million, six-year extension with the Florida Marlins.
The contract runs from 1998 through 2003.
In terms of total money, it surpasses the $55
SPORTS
million, five-year contract Albert Belle signed with the Chicago White Sox
Sheffield, 28, hit .314 last season with 42 home runs and 120 RBI.
The Marlins also will give Sheffield a $2.5 million salary advance on Jan. 6, 1998 — $500,000 for each of the first five seasons of the new contract.
WELCOMING PARTY FOR NEW COACH
People will have the opportunity to meet Kansas football coach TERRY ALLEN and the new coaching staff next week. The Lawrence Convention and Visitors
Bureau is holding a welcoming party at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Brazilian Room in the Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive. It is open to the public.
MCCALL FALL
THURSDAY. APRIL 3,1997
Former heavyweight champion OLIVER MCCALL was sent to a mental hospital during the weekend after his wife took out an emergency-custody order against him.
McCall was evaluated by a mental health expert, who testified Saturday night that McCall
was mentally ill and in need of hospitalization. He was sent to the Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Danville, Va.
In February, McCall broke into tears during a WBC title fight against Lennox Lewis. McCall's $3,075,500 purse is being held in a New Jersey bank pending an investigation into why he stopped throwing punches and defending himself in the fourth round.
SECTION B
USA Today/CNN Top 25
The Top 25 teams in the final USA Today/CNN college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses.
rank team rec pts prv
1.Arizona (30) 25-9 750 13
2.Kentucky 35-5 719 4
3.Minnesota 31-4 675 3
4.North Carolina 28-7 653 5
**5.Kansas** 34-2 642 1
6.Utah 29-4 994 2
7.UCLA 24-8 551 7
8.Clemson 23-10 437 12
9.Wake Forest 24-7 432 9
10.Louisville 26-9 394 25
11.Duke 24-9 387 8
12.Stanford 22-8 365 21
**13.Iowa State** 22-9 356 17
14.South Carolina 24-8 320 6
15.Providence 24-12 300 —
16.Cincinnati 26-8 295 1
17 St.Joseph's 26-7 183 15
18.California 25-9 242 —
19.New Mexico 25-8 179 11
**20.Texas** 18-12 174 —
21.Coll. of Charleston 29-3 167 18
22.Xavier, Ohio 23-6 142 14
23.Boston College 22-9 98 20
24.Michigan 23-11 92 —
**25.Colorado** 22-10 81 —
Other teams receiving votes: Iowa 67, Villanova 67, Tennessee-Chattanooga 60, Illinois 39, Georgia 38, Tulsa 35, Maryland 26, Purdue 21, Florida State 17, Marquette 12, Coppin 9, Rhode Island 1, Temple 7, Mississippi 5, Wisconsin 3, N.C.Charlotte 2, Oklahoma 2, Princeton 2, Hawaii 1, Illinois State 1, Indiana 1
I-70 overpass to be named the 'George Brett Bridge'
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Only George Brett could stop Kansas City traffic like this.
A highway overpass near Kauffman Stadium will be closed for a half-hour Monday morning as the stretch of road is christened the "George Brett Bridge."
The ex-Royal is scheduled to help local radio disc jockey David Lawrence unveil a sign informing motorists that they are crossing Inten state 70 on the George Brett Bridge.
"I've always been a fan of George," said Lawrence, the morning disc jockey on WDAFAM. "That's no secret to my listeners. The bridge is a testament to his continuing popularity."
Lawrence was behind the drive to persuade the Missouri Department of Transportation to rename the Blue Ridge Cutoff overpass near the Truman Sports Complex for the Royals legend.
Kansas' Michelle Hubler slips by Wichita State second baseman Barb Dungan at Jay hawk Field. Hubler was called safe after the play, and the Jayhawks went on to win yes terday's game 7-1.
Rams player released early from jail sentence
ST. LOUIS — Before Ford Vermell can get his first taste of NFL coaching in 14 years, he has a package to pick up: Lawrence Phillips.
A day before the St. Louis Rams' minicamp, Vermeil retrieved troubled running back Lawrence Phillips from a Lincoln, Neb., jail.
Phillips served 23 days of a 30-day sentence for violating his probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault in an attack on a former girlfriend at the University of Nebraska.
Phillips, the third Nebraska player from the 1994 national championship team to spend time behind bars, is being released early for good behavior.
Phillips' sentencing last month came one day after he pleaded innocent to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a party at an Omaha, Neb. hotel that police said got out of hand.
Phillips had off-season knee surgery, and Vermell said he was not sure how much the running back would be able to participate in the minicamp, which begins with a team meeting tonight.
Workouts are scheduled for Friday through Sunday. The minicamp is voluntary, but Vermell said every player under contract will attend.
The Associated Press
KU tops Shockers
By Matt Woodruff
Kansan sportswriter
After playing 33 games on the road before finally getting a chance to play at home, the Kansas softball coaches probably would have had the team play in a tornado.
Fortunately for the players and fans, that decision didn't have to be made and the rains gave way to sunshine in time for the team to play half of its originally scheduled doubleheader home opener against Wichita State yesterday.
Kansas won 7-1.
"We knew we had to start by four o'clock to at least get one game in," Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said. "At about 2:45 it was like, 'Oh my God, I think it's stopping,' and sure enough."
Kansas wasted no time getting out in front of the Shockers, putting up five runs in the second inning after leadoff hitter Sara Holland tripled and scored in the first inning.
Kansas used speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths, stealing four bases in the second inning with designated hitter Katie Malone swiping two.
Catcher Kristina Johnson supplied the power, crushing a two-run home run over Jayhawk Field's right field fence, 200 feet from home plate. It was Johnson's fifth homer of the season.
"That felt great," Johnson said. "It was the first one that I've hit the opposite way."
The second inning provided all of the runs that the team would need, as pitcher Sarah Workman gave up just six hits and one run in seven innings.
"She was dominant for the most part," Bunge said. "There are still a few mistake pitches though, that for her and for us to get to the next level, she needs to eliminate."
Kansas added another run in the seventh inning when right fielder Christy McPhail slapped an RBI single that scored third baseman Michelle Hubler.
Wichita State's only run came on an RBI single by Shocker shortstop Jennifer Bachman in the fifth inning.
The Shockers threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but Workman got third baseman Barb Dugan out with two outs and the bases loaded.
"I wasn't really wearing down," Workman said about her pitching at the end of
the game. "But it was kind of weird being here with all of the distractions. When we're on the road we don't know anybody and here it's different."
Kansas committed no errors and outfielders Holland and Aly Berry made diving catches to rob the Shockers of potential extra bases.
Bunge said that when the team played a complete game they were successful.
"We've been playing more solidly on defense, we've been getting good pitching, and we're getting good hitting," she said. "When you put all three parts of the game together it makes the coach smile and makes life a lot easier."
Coaches consult to win
Bv Tommv Gallagher
Kansan sportswriter
Going into its first spring practice on Tuesday, the Kansas football staff had gathered opinions and information from other Division I football programs, trying to improve its offensive and defensive schemes.
The Kansas football staff met with Brigham Young's offensive staff last weekend. It had already met with Vanderbilt's defensive staff earlier during the off-season.
New Kansas head football coach, Terry Allen, instructs starting quarterback contenders Zac Wegner (left), who will be a sophomore, and Akil Roberson, who will be a junior, at the first spring practice Tuesday afternoon. The team's first scrimmage will be Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
Vanderbilt was ranked 28th in total defense last year. The Commodores surrendered 318 yards per game while Kansas yielded more than 438 yards per game-95th in the country.
"Defensively, we thought (Vanderbilt) was one of the best teams in the country," Wiegand said. "They have done a tremendous job against some very good offenses, so we were eager to share some ideas with them."
Ardell Wiegand, Kansas defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, said exchanging ideas with another program helped both teams.
Former coaches from Northern Iowa and friends of staff members helped in coordinating meetings at each school.
Kansas traveled west for some new offensive strategies.
Eighnam Young ranked 6th in total offense last season, averaging 478 yards a game. The Jayhawks ranked 68th while amassing 350 yards a game.
Bill Salmon, Kansas offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, said that the team could not be predictable on offense.
"We intend to pass a lot on first down this season," Salmon said. "We would like to be in a position where we have a second-and-two or second-and-three. We don't want to pass the ball just when it's third-and-long."
Kansas football coach Terry Allen said that the two days spent at Brigham Young strengthened many offensive beliefs he already had before the trip.
"We're not exactly like BYU, but we do a lot of similar things." Allen said. "The thing that has impressed me over the years is that BYU hasn't changed their offense in the past 15 years. We haven't changed an awful lot of what we do. That reinforced the fact that you adjust, but you stay with your base offense."
Leaving for NBA without degree is up to players not student body Choice LaFrentz, Pierce face not unusual for job hunters
X
The future of Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz is the buzz on campus, but unlike many Kansas basketball fans, I'm not going to worry about it.
I don't blame them if they declare themselves eligible for the NBA Draft.
"What about their education?" is a question that always comes up.
Sure, I'd like to watch them try to take Kansas to the Final Four next season. But if I was in their Nike's, I might leave too.
The answer is simple.
The purpose of getting a college degree is to get a job.
Leaving college early for the draft, when one has the potential and is ready, is really applying for a job to different sports organizations.
If the Los Angeles. Times said, "Adam, come write a sports column for us full time and we'll pay you lots of money for the next three years," I'd be like Casper the friendly ghost. I'd be gone.
I'd reach for my sunglasses, put on my Dr. J hat and grab my Earth, Wind & Fire CD's. But that's me.
No one should question students who decide to take a job in their field before they graduate.
Tiger Woods left school early. Michael Jordan left North Carolina early. I haven't heard many people saying they did the wrong thing.
Baseball players have gone to the pros right from high school for years and the wrongs or rights about that issue aren't discussed.
What would you do if you were offered an absurd amount of money to work in your major for a couple of years?
"Shouldn't players stay in school because of loyalty to the fans and the school?" is another popular question.
Some might take the opportunity, others would finish their education. It's a personal decision that shouldn't be judged by others.
44
It's a good one.
But the way I see it, players should be first loyal to themselves and their family.
Wake Forest center Tim Duncan stayed for his senior season and will be rewarded by being selected first overall.
Jacque Vaughn came back for his senior season and was a preseason All-American selection. But a wrist injury slowed the start of his senior year.
Vaughn is a likely first-round pick, but it will be interesting to see where he's drafted, and if staying for his senior year changed his draft stock.
But the decision is not mine, and my opinion won't affect Raef's or Paul's decision. It's not worth worrying about.
Lafrentz and Pierce would be better players after another year facing double teams and learning from Roy Williams. And, sure, leaving with a degree would be better than leaving 30 or 60 credits shy.
I love basketball, and I'm democratic.
I'm an advocate for underclassmen entering the NBA Drt0.
But I'm also an advocate for college athletes staying in school for four years.
4.
That does not make me a hypocrite
It's their life and their decision.
If LaFrentz or Pierce leave, I'll still root for the Jayhawks. And I'm still going to watch this year's NBA Draft.
I'll be watching NBA commissioner David Stern announce the first round picks while I sit next to the phone deciding whether or not I'm going to leave school early if the Los Angeles Times calls me.
Kansas basketball recruit Kenny Gregory impressed me with his athletic ability in the McDonald's slam dunk competition. And that's being kind.
Gregory, the McDonald's 1997 MVP, was second in the contest.
The 6-foot-4 Gregory, a Columbus, Ohio,native, looked like he was dunking on a nine-foot rim.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Gregory start as shooting guard sometime next season, but I still haven't seen him play defense.
Comments? E-mail Adam at sports@kansan.com