2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2007
COMMENTARY
Self will keep Kansas strong
L itt your heads up, layhawk fans. It's time to move on and do so knowing that our program is in good hands.
BY KAYVON SARRAF
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
KARRAFE@KANSAN.COM
Unlike some programs who had a successful season, ala Wisconsin, Kansas will be back. Bill Self is in the midst of a run that does not appear to be ending anytime soon. Success in college basketball is all about recruiting, and Self is one of the best in the business when it comes to luring top talent to campus
Despite his 0-4 Elite Eight record, which Las Vegas has set the over/under at 63.5 for the number of times this will be mentioned by the national media in the following year (bet the over). Self has shown that he knows how to sell the Kansas basket ball product to high schoolers.
Despite having no seniors and little playing time available on paper. Self is bringing in another McDonald's American in big man Cole Aldrich
next season. Self also landed local product Tyrel Reed, who received scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and Stanford, in addition to heavy interest from North Carolina. Tune into ESPN at 7 tonight to see Aldrich in action with the rest of college basketball's future stars in the McDonald's All-American game.
Next year's squad has a chance to be one of the most exciting to ever lace them up at Allen Fieldhouse. Despite the likely departure of Brandon Rush (he declared for the draft out of high school and publicly admitted he
THE WRANGLER
wanted to leave after his freshman season), the 2007-2008 Jayhawks have a chance to resemble the 2003-2004 Illinois team that Self put together with a backcourt of Sherron Collins, Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers. That backcourt would be lightning quick and have a chance to run and gun as much as the 2001-2002 Jayhawks who went 16-0 in a strong Big 12 Conference and started Aaron Miles, jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich.
The only concern with such a squaw would be the loss of Rushs rebounding at the small forward position. What the squaw would lack in size it could overcome with speed and quickness. The 2002 squad had no trouble rebounding despite starting the 6-foot-3 inch Hinrich at small forward. Another concern could be defending a true wing like Arron Afallo or Corey Brewer, but so few of these players exist in college basketball today.
Despite the losses of Rush and possibly Darrell Arthur (he's not ready, but the NBA drills based on potential, and Arthur oozes it), Kansas appears to be a top-five team entering next season. Self will finally have his plan in place to coach a team like the one he put together at Illinois before bolting to Kansas, which featured Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head. The post rotation will go a solid four deep and expect someone like Rodrick Stewart, Brady Morningstar, Jeremy Case or Reed to emerge as a solid role player off the bench on the perimeter.
While this may not have been Self's season, his time in March will eventually come. While Florida fans will soak up their repeat trip to the Final Four, they will be sweating out the possible loss of Billy Donovan to Kentucky. Ohio State better enjoy its one dance in the spotlight because the Buckeyes will likely lose Greg Oden and Mike Conley next season. Kansas fans may not be in Atlanta this year, but they can be assured that as long as Self is at the helm, the Jayhawks will cut down nets and put up banners.
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
Edited by Carissa Pedigo
>> MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
In this photo released by Fight Entertainment Group, South Korean's 26-year old Hong Man Choi, right, compares hand size with Brock Lennar of South Dakota, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Tuesday, March 27, 2007, during an announcement of a pay-per-view mixed arts fight
Bob Riba Jr / Associated Press
UFC purchases biggest rival
Acquisition of Pride FC opens door for marquee fights
NEW YORK - The majority owners of Ultimate Fighting Championship have agreed to buy their biggest mixed martial arts rival. Pride Fighting Championships, in a deal that will establish megafights among the outfits' titleholders and possibly attract huge pay-per view audiences.
Company executives declined to comment on the sales price, but a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertita will purchase the Japan-based Pride for less than $70 million. The person was not authorized to speak to reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The deal was completed Tuesday and was announced during a news conference in Tokyo, where Lorenzo Fertitta has been negotiating with Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the majority owner and chief executive of Dream Stage Entertainment Inc., Pride's owner.
"We have been talking to Pride.
for probably about 11 months," Lorenzo Fertitta said. "It's been a long, drawn out process but we finally we were able to put the two brands together."
To buy the company, the brothers created a new entity called Pride FC Worldwide Holdings LLC. The newly formed company will take over Pride assets, including its trademarks, video library and valuable roster of fighters, from Dream Stage. The Fertitta brothers, who own Las Vegas-based Zuffa LLC, the parent company of UFC, intend to keep the well-known Pride name and promote fights under that brand.
The acquisition marks a new phase in the brothers' quest to dominate the burgeoning world of mixed martial arts since they bought the struggling UFC in 2001.
"We will be able to literally put on the fights that everyone wants to see," Lorenzo Fertitta said. "It will allow us to put on some of the biggest fights ever."
“This is really going to change the face of MMA.” Lorenzo Fertitta said. “Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer. I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL.”
brothers to broker the biggest MMA fights possible in the near future, increasing their influence in the sports entertainment business.
The deal allows the Fertitta
The sale gives Pride more financial backing to expand the business internationally after suffering a recent financial blow.
In the past, there has been at least one case in which Pride and UFC couldn't hammer out a deal to put their top fighters in the ring together. With Pride in their pocket, the Fertitta brothers intend to ensure that never happens again.
Major sponsor Fuji Television Network Inc. dropped Pride in June after a tabloid linked Pride to the Japanese mob — something Sakakibara has denied vigorously. To help bolster Pride, the company staged two pay-per-view fights in Las Vegas. Neither was a financial success. The fights gained exposure for Pride but lost money, making the sale of Pride more likely.
Athletics calendar
TODAY
Softball vs. Missouri State, 3 p.m. Springfield, Mo.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
- Tennis vs. Baylor, 6 p.m.,
Waco, Texas
Baseball vs. Missouri, 1 p.m., Columbia, Mo.
Softball
Baseball vs. Missouri, 6 p.m.
Softball vs. Baylor, 2 p.m.
Rowing vs. Tulsa/Drake, 2
SUNDAY
Lubbock, Texas
Columbia, Mo.
p. m., Kansas River
Tennis vs. Texas Tech, 10 a.m., Lubbock, Texas
Softball vs. Baylor, noon,
Baseball vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. Columbia Mo.
Columbia, Mo.
The Students' Jeweler
HIC
Denve
Marsh
after 1
false in
lence
Thank You 'Hawks for an exciting season!
Do ment said judge recog
From the staff at Hurst Fine Diamonds
Hurst
FINE DIAMONDS
THE LIVE
WEDN
NF
K Fred the
M night
Highl authe
she ie
>> N
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
785-749-5552 | www.hurstdiamonds.com | Pine Ridge Plaza 3140 Iowa St. (Next to Bath & Body Works)
SINCE1908
Cub
Cine
read
by a
hur
reli
mo
.
.
4