4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 10.2006
FOOTBALL
NFL owners, union strike deal
By DAVE GOLDBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GRAPEVINE, Texas — NFL owners were willing to trade nearly a billion dollars for the certainty of a salary cap rather than risk life without one.
And they waited until the last minute to do it.
But the NFL's 32 divided owners finally agreed Wednesday evening to the union's proposal, including a revenue-sharing component that will cost owners nearly a billion dollars over the next six years.
The deal will carry the NFL through the 2011 season. Two low-revenue teams, Buffalo and Cincinnati, cast the only votes against.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said $850 million to $900 million in players' salary will be added over the life of the deal because of the revenue-sharing component, which the union fought for throughout on-again, off-again talks. The money will come from the teams that make the most in revenue beyond the television money that is already shared. Only the top 15 revenue teams in each year will be required to pay into that part of the salary pool.
Now the league's free agency period, put off twice by protracted negotiations, will start Saturday to give teams additional time to get under the newly elevated salary cap.
The spending limit for teams will be $102 million this year, $7.5 million more than it would have been without a deal, and 20 percent higher than the 2005 figure of $85.5 million. Still, some teams may have to cut players to get under the cap.
MLB
Khampha Bouapanhh/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds strikes out against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Hector Carrasco in spring training on Thursday.
Bonds not talking about steroid use
By JANIE McCAULEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEMPE, Ariz. — If the latest round of steroids accusations is bothering Barry Bonds, he's not letting on to it.
Boos coming his way from all directions, Bonds slowly stepped into the batter's box for his first spring training appearance in two years and struck out swinging on six pitches.
No home run form yet for the San Francisco star — though he did single sharply to right in his third-inning at-bat. After that, he called it a day, leaving the ballpark in the top of the fourth
inning.
Bonds, playing in an exhibition game against the AL Westwinning Los Angeles Angels, drew some cheers Thursday during the Giants' 6-5 loss, two days after the release of excerpts from an upcoming book detailing his alleged longtime steroids regimen.
"I don't worry about that stuff," he said during a 20-minute interview session at his locker back at Scottsdale Stadium. "We can react about baseball questions or we don't have
When asked afterward about the book, Bonds said, "Baseball or nothing."
a conversation. That's my reaction."
He noted his frame of mind is still strong — Bonds has become used to blocking out all sorts of distractions in recent years.
"I haven't shot anybody yet," a smiling Bonds said of his mind-set. "I haven't killed anyone or anything, gone psycho."
It helps that many fans still adore him.
"We love you, Barry!" one man screamed during Bonds' first at-bat against Angels right-hander Hector Carrasco, the slugger's first trip to the plate in an Arizona exhibition game since 2004. His single came off
Carrasco.
After missing the entire spring schedule and most of the regular season last year while recovering from knee surgery, Bonds decided to play Thursday. He rejoined the Giants in the morning after spending Wednesday at home in California for a child custody hearing.
He plans to play again Saturday as designated hitter in a game against Oakland in Phoenix and hopes to appear in the field Sunday at home against San Diego. Bonds feels "way better" than he did at this time last year and planned a rigorous workout for Friday.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Cheer
"There aren't a lot of serious injuries," Marchiony said. "But one is too many."
Mitch Creed, Overland Park sophomore, is a member of the cheerleading squad.
He said the squad was no- notified.
the trip to Dallas for the Big 12 women's tournament that they would not be able to do basket tosses and pyramids. Creed said there were many problems with the AACCA's ruling, and that if the
Cree said there were many problems with the AACCA's ruling,and that if the rule were here to stay rule were here to stay, he could foresee many issues in the future.
he could foresee many issues in the future.
He said an individual who is exceptional at these stunts could have no place in cheer any longer.
Someone who could have received a scholarship for their ability would no longer be able to showcase their talent to get that scholarship.
Creed said scholarships could be affected by any rule prohibiting tosse and pyramids.
If cheerleaders are limited to standing on the sideline, then any person could be capable of making a squad.
There was safety in those individuals' talents to perform those stunts, Creed said.
He said he thought that many squad members would be upset with any decision to outlaw these stunts.
"The sport can't expand when you keep putting limits on it," Creed said.
"You wouldn't be doing it if you weren't talented enough," Creed said.
Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
TWO GREAT PRICES GOOD MARCH 9 - 15
LOCATIONS
9th & Iowa 842-1473
6th & Montery 832-1860
Open 10am-11pm
30 PACK-A-RAMA!