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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN—WEEKLY SUMMER EDITION
17
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
www.kansan.com
Relays director honored
Tim Weaver will manage national track team
By Joe Burke jburke@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A member of the University of Kansas track and field program has garnered national attention as the 2004 Summer Olympics approach.
Tim Weaver, meet director of the Kansas Relays, was selected as head manager of the USA Men's Team last week. The team will compete in the 2004 Team Athletics Challenge in Munich, Germany.
share with the athletes, coaches, volunteers, administrators and sponsors who have played such a major role in our recent successes," Weaver said.
"This appointment is a compliment I
Weaver
The meet is scheduled for Aug. 8 at Munich Olympic Stadium and will feature athletes from the United States, France and Germany. The scored competition will be the final tune-up for the U.S. team before the Athens games.
SEE WEAVER ON PAGE 19
Rec Center punch out
Derrick Voisey, St. Louis senior, works on the speed bag Monday afternoon at the Student Recreation Fitness Center. It was his first jab at it.
Last season hype dwindles with trade
I feel bad for Kansas City Royals fans. This year was supposed to be "The Year." The Royals were expected to capitalize from last season's surprise success that saw the team contend for its division, Angel Berroa capture American League Rookie of the Year and Tony Pena take home Manager of the Year. Baseball in the heartland was alive again. Or was it?
The Royals front office played into its fans' hopes during the off-season by resigning mid-season acquisition Brian Anderson to shore up the pitching staff while neglecting fan favorite and spark plug Jose Lima. They acquired two-time
American League MVP and full-time headcase Juan Gonzalez to atone for the loss of the even-keeled, steady and hard working Raul Ibanez. In addition to free agency, the Royals were welcoming back Mike Sweeney, whose disdain for defense is second only to his love for the Bible, Carlos Beltran and a cast of overachievers who were going to propel the Royals back to baseball respectability.
And it wasn't just the Royals tooting their own horn. Baseball pundits and publications were blowing the team up like a shock-and-awe campaign, calling the Royals a team to watch this year and
sports commentary
Fred A. Davis III
editor@kansan.com
even predicting them to win the AL Central. It was a 1985-like atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium all over again minus the big hair, bad music and
Member's Only jackets. Baseball in the heartland was definitely alive again.
Unfortunately for Royals fans, baseball's brief existence in the Heartland was on life-support and fading fast the entire time.
Owner David Glass and general manager Allard Baird decided that it was time to pull the plug on the Royals' season June 24 when they sent their best player, Carlos Beltran, to the Astros for a trio of guys with promising futures. Promising futures?
SEE DAVIS ON PAGE 19