SPORTS
2006
THURSDAY, APRIL 13.2006
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Wacker
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Both venues force the players to adapt to new surroundings, affecting how they'll approach the game on offense and defense. How many points do you think most basketball players would score if they had to shoot on 14-foot hoops half of the time?
Kids don't grow up playing in their backyards pretending they're kicking 47-yard field goals as time expires or practicing how to foul the worst free-throw shooter on the opposing team in the last minute of regulation.
They pretend they're batting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded. With baseball, a kid doesn't need to be seven feet tall or be able to run a 4.3 second 40-yard dash.
The teams will even serenade you as you stretch.
Kids:
In the end, professional sports are all about the fans. And baseball is the most fan-friendly sport.
Fat or skinny, short or taut, baseball affords every kid a real shot at making it big if he has the right work ethic. Just ask Babe Ruth.
Unlike professional basketball, where any fan in the bottom section of the arena is too rich to show up on time, and professional football, where most teams don't have the common courtesy to keep their fans warm during the game, baseball treats its fans like royalty.
The game has a built-in break in the middle of the seventh inning so fans can have a nice, invigorating stretch, without having to risk missing any of the action.
Fans:
So there you have it: my foolproof theorem which should prove to you, once and for all, why baseball is the greatest sport on Earth.
That is if you could only forget that little steroid problem.
Wacker is a Chesterfield, Mo., senior in journalism. He is Kansan.com editor.
Rain, rain, go away
Carlos Osorio/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baseball fan Connor Wahl of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., waits next to the Chicago White Sox dugout for a free ball during a rainstorm after the White Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-3. All the players went into the clubhouse because of the rain.
Coach's contract extended
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHITA — Wichita State rewarded Mark Turgeon with a big raise and a 10-year contract extension for leading the Shockers to the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 1981.
The contract, signed Tuesday, provides a base salary of $750,000 per year, raising Turingen's annual salary by $290,000 and making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference.
It supersedes an extension he signed last year, which ran through 2010.
"It's a sizable increase, that's for sure," said Athletic Director Jim Schaus, who confirmed the contract numbers first published Tuesday on The Wichita Eagle's Web site.
"I think it's indicative of our willingness to make a long-term commitment."
Turgeon announced Monday that he was staying at Wichita State.
The Omaha World-Herald has reported that Creighton's Dana Altman's base salary is between $700,000 and $800,000, but Creighton is a private school and does not have to disclose salaries.
Turgeon, 41, led Wichita State to a 26-9 record and the Valley regular-season conference title last season.
Turgeon's contract does not include extra money he can make through incentives, speaking engagements, camps and broadcast media packages.
The length of the contract Senus offered was a factor in Turgeon's decision to sign the extension, the coach said Tuesday.
The Shockers beat Seton Hall and Tennessee before falling to surprise Final Four team George Mason in the
regional semifinals.
"There's a lot of scrutiny on coaches these days, and it's yearround. Any time you can get security through a contract, it's nice," Turgeon said.
Assistant coaches Tad Boyle, Poon Williamson and Mike Rohn also will be rewarded for the Shockers' success, with each receiving a $10,000 annual raise, and Schaus said the athletic department would continue to look for ways to boost the basketball budget.
"Those are things we want to do for him." Schaus said. "As Mark's program has grown, we have continued to make a strong commitment to Mark and his program."
Quarterback
Kerry Meier (Redshirt freshman, 6-foot-3.210)
FOR — Coach Mangino said that, so far this spring, Meier had been taking all the snaps with the first team, which consisted of approximately 65-70 percent of the plays. His mobility could aid him in Kansas' offensive system. When the Jayhawks reached bowl games in 2003 and 2005 under coach Mark Mangino, both quarterbacks — Bill Whittemore and Jason Swanson — were able to scramble and make plays with their feet. Meier also comes from a football family. His older brother, Shad, played tight end for Kansas State and is now with the New Orleans Saints. Dylan, another older brother, is at Kansas State and started six games at quarterback for the Wildcats in 2004 before missing much of last season with an injury.
AGAINST — Goal-to-go plays. Meier showed this flaw during the spring practice in Topeka a week ago when Aqib Talbil picked off his pass in a goal line situation. Meier said that had been a problem even back in his high school playing days, but that he was willing to work on it so he could get past it.
PREDICTION — It is fairly obvious, based on Mangino's comments, that this is the No. 1 guy on the depth chart.
Adam Barmann (Senior, 6-foot-4.210)
FOR- Experience. Barmann has been the starter for the Jayhawks in the past. He started two games last season and eight games his sophomore year. He also has all the physical tools to be a starting quarterback in the Big 12.
AGAINST — Mental ability to run a football team. He has been known to make poor in-game decisions during crucial moments. He had a breakout game his freshman year against Texas A&M (294 passing yards and 4 touchdowns) but has yet to live up to expectations since then. Barmann lacks the mobility Meier and Reeing have, which has proven to be a key factor for a quarterback to have success with Mangino.
**MASSACHUSETTS**
PREDICTION — A veteran who has been around the offense for four years, Barmann should be a solid backup to the young Meier.
Todd Reissing (Freshman, 5-foot, 11, 190)
FOR — Graduated high school a semester early so he could practice with the team during spring drills. That will give him invaluable experience on the field. Reesing had a stellar high school career, winning 4A Player of the Year in Texas. He threw for 41 touchdowns and 5 interceptions his senior year at Lake Travis High School in Austin. Reesing is also a mobile quarterback that rushed for 750 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
AGAINST — Size. This has been the biggest question mark surrounding Reesing — whether his size will limit his abilities at the collegiate level. Both Meier and Barmann have the more stereotypical quarterback build. Reesing will also have to adjust mentally in order to recognize defenses, which are more complex in college.
PREDICTION — No. 3 as of now, but incoming freshman Tyler Lawrence may compete with him for the No. 3 spot. Lawrence, though, is a mystery, since he is still in high school.