Roger Brown becomes popular with fans; attitude a big factor in his comeback
Roger Brown, KU's 6-10 junior post man, has become a favorite among Jayhawk basketball fans. The entrance of Brown into a game inevitably brings a roaring crowd reaction and his recent re-entry to the KU starting lineup has revitalized team enthusiasm.
Roger Brown
The history of Brown's varsity career at KU is interesting. Last year as a sophomore he found himself a starter teaming with
6-9 Dave Robisch in the Jayhawk double-post offense. However this year coach Ted Owens disregarded his traditional deliberate offensive style for a fast-breaking one and as a result Brown found himself sitting on the bench.
The bench was anything but helpful however and Brown's early season play became noticeably inconsistent and hesitant. But unlike many players Brown possesses a great attitude and refused to give up.
The results paid off and became noticeable when the Hawks hosted Nebraska Feb. 16. Brown entered the game with 12 minutes remaining in the opening half and the Cornhuskers holding a narrow lead over KU. By halftime he had scored eight points recorded an unbelievable 18 rebounds and the Jayhawks held a nine point advantage. KU went on to win, 100-87.
"I thought I should have been starting," he said, "but it was the coach's decision. It was kind of tough at first and I got down on myself a little bit but I just decided I had to get myself up and work harder."
No one is happier about Brown's comeback than Owens who attributed the big center's development to his attitude.
"Roger just needed to believe in himself and have the opportunity to play more," Owens said.
"He has done this and you can see the results."
Assistant coach Sam Miranda expressed similar sentiments.
He said, "Roger has a great attitude and this has allowed him to come back like he has."
Brown's confidence does not stop with himself as he believes next season will be the "year of the Javhawks."
"If we don't go all the way next year there has to be a problem somewhere," he said. "We only lose Chester (Lawrence) and we've got a real good freshman team."
it's got to help us," he said. "Everyone will be a year older and it should make a big difference."
Brown expressed disappointment at this year's results but felt the experience gained will be an asset to next season.
"With most everyone returning
He offered no excuses for not winning the Big Eight conference title this year.
"We just didn't play hard enough on the road," he said.
Baltimore heavy favorite to repeat
The Jayhawks will close out their season Saturday night with interstate rival and Big Eight champion Kansas State.
Oh, they know it did—from Manager Earl Weaver on down to the batboy, they've got the emotional and financial scars to remember it. But they are not letting it disturb their confidence that they can win the American League championship again, maybe as easily as they did in 1969.
12 KANSAN Mar. 6
1970
(Editor's note: The following is the first of a series of stories sizing up the 1970 major league baseball teams.)
"It will take a lot of injuries or a lot of bad luck for this club to
MIAMI, Fla. (UPI)—The Baltimore Orioles think and act as if their crushing defeat by the New York Mets in last year's World Series never happened.
The Royals received good news Thursday on Amos Otis, who is expected to be the regular centerfielder. Doctors said the kidney ailment which has kept the former New York Met out of practice the past four days appears to be over and Otis should be out of the hospital Friday and back in uniform Saturday.
One rookie will be in the starting lincup. Metro said he will open with Scott Northey, son of former major leaguer Ron Northey, in centerfield.
Royal open exhibition season today
lose," Weaver says as he surveys his talent-rich squad in a workout at Miami Stadium.
Manager Charlie Metro said Wally Bunker, who won 12 games last season, will pitch the first three innings. Nine game winner Bill Butler will work the middle three and 11-game winner Dick Drago will finish up.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (UPI)—The Kansas City Royals will use their three winningest starting pitchers of last season in their exhibition opener against the New York Yankees Friday.
And Weaver, realizing he's violating the first rule of the "managers' union" by being optimistic, is also the first to admit that the Orioles' being such heavy favorites to repeat puts him squarely on a spot.
SUA Board
The same terrific pitching is back. Mike Cuellar (23-11), Dave McNally (20-7) and Jim Palmer (16-4) are the top three.
Tornedoed by Mets
For catching, Weaver says he will generally platoon left-right again with Ellie Hendricks and Andy Etchebarren "unless one of them is hot." Clay Dalrymple is No. 3.
Backing them up are Curt Motton .303 and Merv Rettenmund .247. Weaver will carry six outfielders and the No. 6 job is the only one where a rookie might find a place on the squad. It's up for grabs among Dave May .242 and rookies Terry Crowley and Tom Shopay (drafted from the Yankees).
The Orioles were on the verge of being hailed as one of the great teams in modern baseball when they were suddenly torpedoed by the Mets. They had won the American League East Division by a whopping 19 games, and then crushed the West champions, the Minnesota Twins, in three straight games in the AL playoffs.
Applications
Outfield Is Set
The outfield remains set with Don Buford.291 in left, Paul Blair.284 and 26 homers in center, and Frank Robinson.308 with 32 homers and 100 RBI's in right.
During the winter, the Orioles' front office stood pat on the roster, making only one trading attempt, for a pitcher, and that fell through.
In the infield, it's Boog Powell 304 with 37 homers and 121 RBI's at first base, Dave Johnson 280 at second, Mark Belanger 287 at short, and the incomparable Brooks Robinson 234 at third.
And, as these "guys" tune up for the campaign, it's easy to see why they are 2 to -1 favorites in their divisions again. Name it and the Orioles have it — hitting, pitching, defense, depth.
Officer Interviews March 17 Board Interviews March 19
Applications Available SUA Office
We invite you to visit the Carriage Lamp Private Club.
We Offer:
Excellent Food
Dancing with live entertainment on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Inquire about our membership at the Carriage Lamp on the Malls, 23rd and Louisiana.
The
Carriage Lamp Restaurant