friday, february 27, 2004
the university daily kansan
sports
11A
Tennis looks for first victory of season at UNLV
By Rahul Sharma
rsharma@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Today, the Kansas women's tennis team travels to Las Vegas as the Jayhawks will be compete in the UNLV Spring Invitational.
The tournament is a three-day event with some of the top programs in the country. Teams include No. 14 Fresno State, No. 27 Tulane, No. 35 Oklahoma State, Washington State, Boston College, Northern Arizona and host UNLV.
"I think being (0-4) has really hit home with the girls and they realize that they are much more talented than that."
Amy Hall Tennis coach
In addition to teams, standout players competing include freshman Julie Smekodub of Tulane,
who is currently the 20th ranked singles player in the nation. Smekodub is also ranked 14th in doubles along with teammate Jonku Kuhn
Jenny Kuhn.
Senior Emily Haylock and freshman Brittany Brown have been consistent performers for the Jayhawks this season. The team has had its share of difficulties, especially in singles competition.
for leadership from the girls," coach Amy Hall said. "I want them to play with confidence, energy and rely on the skills that they know they have."
Kansas is coming off a tough loss against Tulsa and is eager to get back on the courts this week.
"We have reevalutaeed things and mentally I think we have made a small breakthrough," Hall said.
Kansas is capable of knocking off whomever it plays, but the Jayhawks have a bit more to play for than just competing, Hall said.
"This weekend, I am looking
"I think being (0-4) has really hit home with the girls and they realize that they are much more talented than that," Hall said. "We have to be better and we will."
Kansas looks for its first victory of the season as it take on UNLV at 2 p.m. today.
Edited by Nikki Nugent
Bonds angered by accusation
The Associated Press
Barry Bonds teed off on Turk Wendell for accusing him of using steroids.
A day after the Colorado reliever said it was "clear just seeing his body" that Bonds was taking steroids, the San Francisco Giants slugger said the remark should've been made directly to him—not a reporter.
"If you've got something to say, say it to my face," Bonds said Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz. "You got something to say, you come to my face and say it and we'll deal with each other. Don't talk through the media like you're some tough guy."
On Tuesday in Tucson, Wendell criticized Bonds to The Denver Post.
Bonds, who has always denied using steroids, appeared in December before a grand jury probing a supplements lab accused of illegally distributing steroids to athletes. His trainer, Greg Anderson, was among four men charged this month. All the men have pleaded innocent and no athletes have been charged.
"If my personal trainer, me, Turk Wendell, got indicted for that, there's no one in the world who wouldn't think that I wasn't taking steroids," Wendell said. "I mean, what, because he's Barry Bonds, no one's going to say that? I mean, obviously he did it. (His trainer) admitted to giving
"If you've got something to say, say it to my face."
Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants
Another top slugger, Manny Ramirez, reported to Boston's spring training camp in Fort Myers, Fla., with his customary smile and public silence.
steroids to baseball players. He just doesn't want to say his name. You don't have to. It's clear just seeing his body."
Ramirez is expected to bat fourth again for Boston, nearly was traded to Texas for Alex Rodriguez, but the deal fell through in December. Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who would have been sent to the Chicago White Sox, said after reporting Tuesday that he felt hurt by Boston's actions.
"He looked great. He's hugging everybody," Kevin Millar said. "Manny was Manny, and in the (batting) cages he looked awesome. Everything was fine."
"These guys are professionals," Trot Nixon said. "They know they have a job to do. They're not going to disrespect the organization, their teammates, especially themselves. These guys are going to continue to have MVP-type years, as they normally have."
"I'd like to get something done," he said. "I'm going to leave my emotions out of it. I'm going to keep my opinion out of the papers and wait and see what happens ... It sounds like I'm in their plans, and to me that's flattering."
In Phoenix, Oakland's Eric Chavez insisted his unsettled contract situation won't be a distraction this spring. The Gold Glove third baseman is signed through this season, and he wants a longterm deal to stay with the Athletics.
Valdimir Guerrero, who did switch teams, reported for his first spring training with the Anaheim Angels, who signed him to a $70 million, five-year contract.
with the way the team handled his contract after the 2002 season, when the White Sox invoked a diminished-skills clause in his previous agreement.
In Tucson, Ariz., Frank Thomas said he still doesn't agree
"I think it was embarrassing. I told people I was the first player ever last year to have a guaranteed contract taken away," said Thomas, who wound up re-signing. "I was bitter about it, but you know what? I got over it."
Showing no sign of the back injury that limited him to 112 games with Montreal last season, Guerrero was swinging the bat smoothly and mostly making solid contact in Tempe, Ariz.
"It feels good. I've been working on my back, so everything's OK," the 28-year-old outfielder said through an interpreter.
ATHENS, Greece — As Greek organizers sought to reassure the world the Athens Games will be safe; anti-Olympic activists fire-bombed two government vehicles Thursday to coincide with a major meeting of IOC officials.
Firebombing on eve of Olympic meeting
Two environment ministry trucks were set ablaze by cooking gas canisters soaked in gasoline, causing an estimated $37,000 in damages, fire officials said.
A group calling itself "Phevos and Athena" — the names of the Olympic mascots — said in a call to an Athens newspaper the attack was tied to the meetings of the IOC and the Association of National Olympic Committees.
The Associated Press
The attack was in the western suburb of Ilion, about 6 miles from the central Athens hotel where the Olympic meetings are taking place.
"This is a welcome message to the members of the International Olympic Committee," the caller told the Athens newspaper.
In a speech to delegates from 202 national Olympic committees, Athens organizing chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said protecting the games in Greece's "paramount concern."
"The Greek state and our allies are working together to create a seamless security web to ensure
"The Greek state and our allies are working together to create a seamless security web to ensure the games are safe as well as historic."
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki Athens organizing chief
the games are safe as well as historic." she said.
The Aug. 13-29 Olympics are the first Summer Games since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Greece has budgeted more that $800 million for security, more than three times what was spent to make the 2000 Sydney Games safe.
International terrorism is not the only worry. Self-proclaimed local anarchist groups have carried out hundreds of arson attacks in recent years, a trend that is causing concern as the games approach.
Although Athens has made up much of the time it lost to delays, a number of construction problems remain.
"Less than six months before the games, we can only repeat that there is still a lot to do," said Denis Oswald, the IOC coordinator for Athens.
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