FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2006
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7A
TODAY
**Softball** vs. Stephen F. Austin, 9 a.m.
Golden Hurricane Classic, Tulsa, Okla.
**Softball** vs. Northern Iowa, 11 a.m.
Golden Hurricane Classic, Tulsa, Okla.
**Baseball** vs. Western Illinois, 3 p.m.
Hooldum Ballpark
o.com
SATURDAY
Baseball with. Western Illinois, 1 p.m.
Hootdun Ballpark
**Softball vs. Nebraska** 1 p.m., Golden
Hurricane classic, Tuska, Okla.
Softball vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m.,
Men's basketball vs. Kansas State, 3 nm. Manhattan
Golden Hurricane Classic, Tulsa, Okla
Track at Iowa State Last Chance, All day. Ames, Iowa
Player to watch: CJ Giles. Giles was
an impressive rebounder coming off the bench against Colorado. If Kansas can outrebound Kansas State and beat Kansas State, it will be guaranteed at least a share of the Bin 12 Conference
Giles
title. Giles will need to step up for that to happen.
SUNDAY
**Softball** vs. Tusla, 1 p.M., Golden Hurricane Classic, Tusla, Oka.
**Baseball** vs. Western Illinois, 1 p.m.
Houston Ballpark
Tennis vs. Texas Tech, 10 a.m., Robinson Couss
TUESDAY
- Women's basketball, Big 12 Tournament, TBA, Dallas, Texas
WEDNESDAY
Softball vs. Missouri State, 2 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Baseball vs. Baker, 3 p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
Softball vs. Missouri State, 4 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
**Women's basketball, Big 12 Tournament, TBA, Dallas, Texas**
THURSDAY
**Women's swimming**, Zone diving, All david. Columbia, Mo.
Women's basketball, Big 12 Tournament, TBA, Dallas, Texas
DOWN THE HALL
After 60 years, Max shines once again
"There's nothing better than going to a ball game and sitting next to your buddy," Bob Davis said. "And I've been sitting next to the same buddy for 22 years."
The words from Davis, play-by-play announcer for the Jayhawk Radio Network, don't even begin to describe the scene in Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday night. Yeah, 22 years is a long time to call a game with one guy. But Davis was not the only guy Max Falkenstien has sat with. Max was broadcasting Kansas basketball games for 38 years before Davis.
The evening was great all-around for Kansas. It contained a 75-54 Kansas victory against Colorado, four senior-night speeches, and a 46-43 Texas A&M triumph against Texas that put the Jayhawks back in a first place conference tie with the Longhorns. But even with all that fun going on, Max was the
TIM HALL
thall@kansan.com
best. It was his night all the way.
Just try to fathom for one minute Max's career.
He was there in the days of Hoch Auditorium, where the Jayhawks played from 1927 to 1955. He was here when Phog Allen, the man whom Allen Fieldhouse is named after, was still coaching. He was here when the fieldhouse opened in 1955 and has broadcast every men's game there. Ever. He was here through names like Lovellette, Chamberlain, Bridges, Jo Jo, Wesley, Stallworth, Robisch, Manning, LaFrentz, Vaughn, Collison, and Hinrich. Sixty years.
For 60 years, Max sat down at press row and called Kansas basketball and football games. He struck gold with one of the best jobs on the planet. He went to KU games with a "buddy" and got paid for it. It doesn't get any better than that. And it doesn't get any better than Wednesday night either.
The halftime ceremony when Max's jersey was dropped from the rafters will go down as one of the most memorable moments in Allen Fieldhouse history. I give credit to Max for holding back tears. It was hard enough for me to keep from bowling from the stands.
Being an aspiring sports broadcaster myself made that presentation that much more special to me. To be able to see how good of a friendship Bob and Max have is a wonderful thing. Those two were able to go to every KU basketball game and football game together for 22 years.
"In 22 years of broadcasting
we never had a disagreement," Max said. "We had thousands of laughs, a few tears, great victories, crushing defeats. I'll miss Bob Davis."
It put a smile on my face to hear Max say those things. To work with your good friend for that long and to go watch basketball and football and get paid for it, well that's the life. It makes me want to do it even more.
So the legend will step down and retire after 60 years at KU. It's a number that I still can't comprehend. His name is now hanging in glory in the rafters in Allen Fieldhouse with all the other greats, where it belongs. The broadcasts just won't be the same without you, Max. Though we'll miss you, I wish you the best. And just for you, I'll end this column the same way you ended your speech: Go 'Hawks!'
Hall is a Woodbridge, Va. senior in journalism.
SOCCER
First game gives opportunity to new starters
MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
On Saturday, the Kansas soccer team will be exposed to something it hasn't seen in the first three weeks of practice: a game with the correct numbers of players.
"Practice has been going well so far, but we barely have enough numbers to scrimmage," junior defender Holly Gault said.
Spring practices started on Feb.13, but the Jayhawks had been working out with a new weight coach multiple days of the week before then.
Kansas lost five starters from last season's squad, and its lack of depth during practices has only brought more excitement for Saturday's game against Minnesota at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. It will be the Jayhawks' first of five games during the spring season.
Spring practices started on Feb. 13, but the Jayhawks had been working out with a new weight coach multiple days of
the week before then.
Kansas' opponent is also a young team, featuring 14 freshmen and three sophomores. The Golden Gophers finished fifth in the Big 10 this season with a 9-8-2 overall record and 6-4-0 record in conference. They lost to Illinois in the first round of the Big 10 Tournament and did not qualify for the NCAA tournament. All but three of Minnesota's games were decided by one goal last fall, and the Gophers forced seven shut-outs.
"I don't know much about Minnesota, because we didn't play them last fall," coach Mark Francis said. "I just know the girls have
been training for three weeks and need to play someone else."
After bowing out in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament to Nebraska, Kansas did not receive a trip to the NCAA tournament after making it for two straight seasons.
Gone are five seniors, including all-time Kansas leading scorer Caroline Smith, Jessica Smith, Kimberly Kartoffa, Nicole Braman, and Erin Ferguson.
Although the seniors will be missed this spring, returning players include a defensive core of AllBig 12 first team selection junior Holly Gault, junior Nikki Alvarez, sophomore Afton Sauer, and freshman Jenny Murtaugh. Along with goalkeepers sophomore Colleen Quinn and freshman Julie Hanley, the defense teamed up to force eight shut-outs last fall.
Uncertainty about this spring's Kansas squad and Saturday's opponent aside, the Jayhawks are ready to play.
Also still with the Jayhawks are All-Big 12 Newcomer selections freshmen Jessica Bush and Missy Geha.
Francis said the team had played well in practice.
"It will be exciting to watch them play someone."
—Edited by Gabriella Souza
TRACK AND FIELD Saturdays's qualifier last shot at tournament
The Kansas track and field team will head to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday for the Cyclone National Track and Field Qualifier.
This meet will be the last opportunity for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships March 10-11 in Favetteville, Ark.
Iowa State, Oregon, TCU, Texas Tech, Kentucky and Arizona State are among the teams competing on Saturday. The Jayhawk men's team is ranked No. 11 on the trackwire.com Web site for this week. Senior thrower Sheldon Battle qualified in the shot put for the Indoor Championships in January at the Arkansas Invitational. Battle and sophomore Egor Agafonov qualified in the weight throw in February at the Husker Invitational. Senior mid-distance runner Benson Chesang ran a provisionally qualifying time in the 3000-meter run of 8:00.83 to qualify for the Championships as well. Other qualifiers were senior Charisse Bachus in the long jump, senior Aaron Thompson in the 60-meter hurdles and sophomore Colby Wissel in the 3000-meter run.
Evan Kafarakis
SOFTBALL Hawks face five teams on three-day road trip
The Kansas softball team (5-9) will set out for another stop on its month-long road trip this weekend at the Best Western Airport Festival in Tulsa, Okla. In the three-day event at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex, the Jayhawks will face five teams: Northern Iowa, Notre Dame, No. 17 Nebraska, Stephen F. Austin, and Tulsa. Kansas will end its tournament run with this road trip, the last of four. The Jayhawks are scheduled to play 60 regular season games this season. Only 22 of those are home games. Before coming home on March 8 against Missouri State, the team will be on the road for 20 games.
— Jonathan Anderson