Sports
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, April 6, 1989
11
Colleagues need to stop the cheating KU's Mason says
The Associated Press
Five-year-old Patrick Mason quizzed his father with the frankness of the very young.
"Dad, are you a cheater?" he asked.
tact.
Sally Mason, alarmed by the same sordid stories regarding her husband his business associates that Patrick had heard, raised the same issue with a bit more
It was the sort of unflattering suspicion a guy might expect if he sold jewelry out of the trunk of a car or kept books for the mob. But Glen Mason belongs to what used to be a college football coach. He works a college football coach.
"I've been thinking about starting a new organization along the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous," Mason said. "We'll introduce ourselves like this: 'My name is Glen Mason and I am not a cheater.'"
Having your chosen profession fall into disrepute is one thing. Going 1-10 in your first year at a talent-starved program hurts, too. But the jixaptosition of the two has put Mason in a cloudy mood as he goes about his second spring practice as head coach at Kansas.
At least two of those 10 losses that are forever tethered to Mason's record came at the hands of Big Eight programs that were later convicted of cheating. Some of the talented athletes who overwhelmed Mason's undermanned Jayhawks had been forced from the NCAA knew it. But they were still playing because they had been given immunity in exchange for testimony.
What's more, Mason's still undermanned squad will face those same schools, coached by the same coaches, next year. The fact that they're on official NCAA probation won't count for a thing when the finally is taken of everybody's won-loss record
"I hesitate to talk about this because I was i-10, and I know some people will think I'm just looking for sympathy," Mason said. "But if you think the temptation isn't there to go ahead and cheat so you can play on the same level as everybody else, you're wrong."
"I know of at least five kids we didn't get in the last recruiting period), but if we had wanted to
wheel and deal, we might have got. Sometimes you're tempted because, God, it hurts on Saturday in the fall when you know you're not playing hard enough. You know it's sure is tempting to say, "Well, they are doing it so I might as well do it."
Mason did not take his family's worries personally.
"They're no different from anybody else who listens to television and reads newspapers and magazines. If you walk down practically any street in the country and ask people if they think college coaches cheat, most of them would say, yeah, more coaches cheat than don't cheat."
"That's the perception out there. And I resent that."
Mason, who turns 39 on Sunday, thinks there are more honest programs than the public is led to believe. But he also takes sharp issue when the heads of the NCAA and the College Football Association say they're "on top of the integrity issue."
"How would they have any idea about that? They were worried about the image of the sport," he said. "They've got to say that. The number of people who do in fact cheat is blown out of proportion. But cheaters are going to cheat Crooks are going to cheat Mafia guys guys lost their jobs because of cheating? Not one. Then who did the cheating?"
Having your wife and son ask if you run an honest program does not make for happy conversation.
"I just thank God I can tell them no, I don't cheat. I tell them, 'I'm 10, I'm a lousy coach, but I don't cheat.' I glad i am not to have to tie them or sit there and try to rationalize and say everybody else is doing it."
But if Mason does not cheat at Kansas, can he win? If he can't win, then what? There seems little doubt that losing is more serious than cheating when coaches are called to account.
"Fear is the greatest motivator there is," Mason said in a way that suggested there was much thought behind his words. "I fear for not being successful, but I don't fear for my job. I think the day they walk in and say, 'You ain't getting the job.' I'll just go do something else. There's so much I need and home to hard-working him. He's got some know-how and some drive and he's got some guts and he can stand the heat.
"I'll be fine."
After senecedine catcher Jeff Salyers drops a called third strike, Kansas' second baseman Steve Dowling attempts to run to first during doubleheader with Benedictine College. The Jayhawks won both games last night at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Freshmen shine as baseball squad takes 2 from Benedictine College
by Mike Considine Kansan sportswriter
Kansan sportswrite
Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham has not had many chances to play his freshmen this season.
Last night's doubleheader sweep of Benedictine College provided the opportunity. Preshmen Mike Gavin made the most of their playing time.
The Jayhawks defeated Benedict 8-7 and 8-2 at Hogland-Pinn Stadium. The wins raised Kunzell to 13-18. Benedict fell to 5-11.
"It was a good night for the two freshmen," Bingham said. "I've felt strongly all along that we have a lot of good young kids. We've played in a club and haven't necessarily done a great job."
Bingham said he was waiting to
play his younger players against non-NCAA Division 1 opponents. Benedictine is an NAIA school.
"We haven't had the opportunity to play them," he said. "All along we've played competition that is tough. And the games where we should have beat the other team easily, we haven't done it."
Kansas had a 4-0 lead over Benedictine after two innings of the first game. The Ravens led 1-0 after three innings in the nightcap, but Kansas scored eight runs in the innings in claims to win the victory.
In the second game, Massey, 1-0,
recorded the first complete game
victory for Kansas this season. It
was Massey's first start.
"I've been waiting for a start all year," said Massey, who has been hampered by tendinitis in his right elbow. "You know it's your own
game. You control your own destiny."
The right-hander from Oklahoma City limited the Ravens to five hits and struck out five in the second game.
"I finally got my fast ball back," Massey said. "I haven't had it for a long time — since last fall."
Moore had three hits and drove in six runs in six at-bats in last night's games. The Overland Park resident started both games after making his first start of the year against South West Missouri State.
"It was great," Moore said. "I was a little nervous in the beginning, but I'm just happy to be in there."
Moore, who was a New York Mets draft pick last summer, hit a home run against Southwest Missouri and another in the first game
last night.
The catcher's three-run home run gave Kansas a 7-4 lead in the fifth inning.
Benedictine tied the score with three runs in the top of the sixth. Right fielder Steve Shibley, who tied a school record with four hits, won the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
Center fielder Steve Dowling tied another Kansas record with two doubles in the first game.
In the second game, Moore's two-run double was the key hit of the Jayhawks' three-run fourth inning.
A pair of seniors contributed to Kansas' five-run fifth. Big Eight Conference Player-of-the-Week Jeff Mentel had an RBI single and Dan Bennelinghoff hit a two-run double.
Golf team hoping better weather will help to improve play
by Laurie Whitten
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas men's golf coach Ross Randall said the Jayhawks should show improvement today at the City Invitational in Nashville, Teen.
Kansas will compete among 18 teams, including Kentucky, Indiana, Stanford, Central Florida and Vanderbilt, in the 54-hole tournament which begins today and ends Saturday.
Kansas has competed in three tournaments since the season began, and its highest finish was eighth at the 2015 NCAA Tournament on March 17-19. Randall said that the
Jayhawks didn't play well earlier this season because bad weather had limited them to practicing indoors.
However, he said now that the team had been able to play outside the last few weeks, bad weather should no longer be an excuse.
"Our practices have been a lot better because the weather here has been good." Randall said. "We've been outside enough now to be prepared for tournaments like everyone else.
"This tournament in Nashville should be a good one, and it's being played on an excellent course called 'The Legend of Women's LPGA tour event there in
two weeks, so they're preparing for that, and the course should be in great shape."
Of the 18 teams competing, Randall said, the toughest would be Kentucky, Central Florida and Stanford. Kentucky is ranked 20th nationally, and Central Florida finished the Kentucky Invitational in third place.
Rudy Zupetze, a Minot, N.D., senior, said he didn't think the tournament would be as difficult as the first tournament Kansas played in this season. Florida Hawks did not place at the Florida State Invitational on Feb. 24-25.
"The field is supposed to have
some good teams and some not-so-
good teams," Zupetz said. "The field is
pretty pretty average.
"We haven't played very well so far this season, but we're looking to improve. Our first tournament was extremely tough. We hadn't been able to play outside during February, and we haven't played since course we'd seen all year. Now that we've been outside, I think we'll play better."
Sean Taynor, Garden City junior, said that his play had started to show improvement now that the weather was加热 up.
"It seems like the first three rounds I play every spring are poor."
Thayer said. "The faster you can get outside and practice, the faster you can improve your game. For myself, my qualifying rounds were pretty good last week, so I'm ready to get out there and play."
Thayer said he was looking forward to the tournament because he would be playing against Iowa State. He former teammates, for the first time.
Randall said that he had not known what Kansas' lineup for the tournament was going to be until Tuesday. John Ogden, a lawrence junior, had been in his last week and was having clinically playing. Randall said.
He said that a doctor examined Ogden on Tuesday and determined that Ogden's injury was not severe enough to keep him from competing.
"He pulled a muscle in his leg, and it was really hurting him." Randall said. "The doctor said it was OK for him to play, but it won't be easy for him when we have to play 36 holes on Friday."
Randall said he expected improved scores from senior John Sinovic, a 1983 All-American who, according to Randall, has had a slow start this season. Clay Dewsys, who is returning to the lineup for the first time since fall.
Wooden Award given to Elliott as top player
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Sean Elliott, called the "consumate team player" by his coach at Arizona, collected a distinguished individual honor yesterday when he beamed to the court at R. Wooden Award for 1989.
Elliott, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, finished third in the national balloting by sports writers and sportscasters last year, behind winner Danny Manning and Hersey Hawkins.
This year, Elliott edged out such stars as Danny Ferry of Duke, who also was among the five finalists for the 1988 Wooden Award. The other finalists this year were guards Sherman Hassan and Charles Smith Georgetown and center Stacey King of Oklahoma.
The winner was announced by Wooden himself during a luncheon at the sponsoring Los Angeles
Elliott received 1,781 points in the voting, with Ferry second at 1,721, followed by King with 855, with 486 and Douglas with 356.
Athletic Club
"Wow," Elliott said, temporari ly groping for words.
"I feels good; with all the great players out there, I don't think you are going to be able to probably several guys out there more deserving than I am."
"I think he's the consummate team player. He's at his best when his best is needed," Olson said of Ellott, who averaged 23.3 points a game this season and had 2,555 points in total in Abdul-Jabbar (then LeWalicor) as the Pacific 10's all-time leading scorer score.
But Arizona coach Lute Olson doesn't think so.
Relating that a Tucson high school is naming their gym "Sean Elliott Gymnasium," Olson said, "I told Sean that they usually name things after people who are dead ... or at least out of college.
Olson said Elliott certainly deserves the award in all regards.
"I think that indicates the respect he's earned. He's the best role model I've ever seen."
TENNIS TEAM WINS: The Kansas women's tennis team won its first match of the Big Eight Conference last weekend, defeating Kansas State 6-3.
"It was a nerve-raking match for us," Hayes said. "KState had a lot of people out there watching, and the wind was blowing pretty bad. But we got out of there with a victory, and now we can concentrate on the matches against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma this weekend."
Coach Eric Hayes said he was relieved that the match was over.
The Jayhawks will enter the two Big Eight matches at Alamar Racquet Club in Lawrence this weekend and the two Play will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
In No. 1 singles, freshman Eveline Hamers defeated Kansas State's Marijke Nel 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Hammers later teamed with freshman Pige Goins to defeat No. 1 doubles duo Rachel Kleckhett and Sara Hancock 6-4, 6-2.
Sports Briefs
Senior Susie Berglund won her No. 2 match against Schildkretz 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, ad freshman Elba Pinero and 4 player Valerian River 7-5, 6-2.
In No. 5 singles, Jayhaw Renee Raychaudhui defeated Teresa Burham 7.4, 6.2 and Kanaas' No. 6 Emmlpet 6.3, 6.2 and Amnika Empeltt 6.3, 6.2
HERSHISER'S STREAK OVER; Orel
Hershiser's record shutout streak ended in his first innning of the season last night when Cincinnati's Todd Benzinger an KBI single with two
Hershiser, who did not allow a run in his final six regular-season starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, had his streak stopped at 59 innings. Officially, his string will be over once he hits one in each season and over two seasons.
Barry Larkin in the Red's first with a single and took second on Hershiser's wild pickoff kick. Hershiser struck out Chris Sako and Eric Davis and walked Kal Daniels on four pitches before Benzinger, facing Hershiser for the first time ever, singled to right field on a 2-0 pitch.
Larkin scored easily ahead of Mike Marshall's shirt run. The crowd of about 20,000 on a 53-degree night responded with a standing ovation.
WSU COACH NAMED: Wiping away tears and battling a quivering voice, Mike Cohen said yesterday it was "a dream come true" being named Wichita State's new head basketball coach.
Hershiser returned to form for the next batter, getting Paul O'Neill on a grounder back to the mound.
Cohen apologized for being so emotional.
He noted his father died exactly four years ago to the day.
"It's amazing how one day's so bad and four years later it couldn't get any better," he said.
"I have always told the kids. If you're going to get emotional, do it over good times," he said.
Tom Shupie, WSU Athletic director, introduced Cohen, who had been Shocker chief assistant coach, as his search committee's choice at yesterdays meeting. Shupie said there was never any other serious candidate for the job.
Tartabull doubled with two outes in the ninth inning and scored on Pat Tabler's single last night, giving the Toronto Blue Jays a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I inherit a respected program," he said.
"Mike Cohen deserves this opportunity because he's earned it," Shupe said.
"Believe me that's a steal. It took us about two minutes to discuss that," Shupe said.
Cohen, 45, said he had "prepared for this moment for 25 years" by coaching at the college and high school levels.
He said Cohen's base salary would be $70,000 but that never was an issue in negotiations.
Eddie Fogle resigned March 29 as WSU head coach to coach to the top spot at Vanderbilt he recommended he brought to Wichita in 1986, to succeed him.
KC DEFEATS TORONTO: Danny
Kevin Seitzer grounded out and George Brett flipped out to start the ninth. Tartabul, who drove in the Royals' first run, doubled down the right-field line, and Tabler followed with a single to center off Todd Stottlemyre, who relieved Dave Sieb to start the inning.
Steb, who lost no-hitters with two outs in the ninth in his last two scores of 1988, gave up four hits, struck out and walked two. He did not allow a hit until Willie Wilson's leadoff single in the fourth.
Tom Gordon, in relief of Charlie Leibrandt, pitched $1\frac{3}{4}$ innings of hitless relief for his first major league victory.
Wilson stole second after his single, took third on Seitzer's fly and scored on Tartabull's single.
Stieb's 34 consecutive innings without a run were 21½ innings of Walter Johnson's American League record. And in the second game, Orel Hershiser's streak last season.
Jesse Barfield led off the fifth with a home run off Leibrandt to tie the game. Leibrandt gave up seven hits, scores, struck out three and walked four.