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The Kansas baseball team returns home to battle Creighton after 15 games on the road. PAGE 7B
sports commentary
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The University Daily Kansan
Friday, February 20, 2004
Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
To bleed crimson and blue
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN COURTSIDE AND REALITY—Oh, he's hot now.
He's told his players a thousand times to take care of that dang ball, but they've already committed seven turnovers in the first 30 minutes.
Unacceptable. They'll never make it back to the tournament playing like this, he says knowingly. If only these guys had half the intensity that he does. They just don't care—that's the dang problem. He can't do anymore. He's yelled himself hoarse (almost), slammed his fist into his palm and even stomped his foot a few times. But these guys just keep going like they can't even hear him, even though he knows they can.
hear him, even though I asked.
And how about those officials? Where did they get these bums. He wouldn't hire a one of them as the night janitor at any of his three companies. He tells them so.
Yeah, you heard me, you moron
That brightens his mood a little, and he shares a few high fives with the dozens of assistant coaches sitting around him. Their laughter and shared hostility toward those idiots bolsters his confidence. He's really going to let that official — you know, the one that hated him ever since that whole backcourt violation thing a few years ago — have it the next time he misses a three-seconds-in-the-lane call. Johnson has been camping out in there, at least four and a half to five seconds every time. He can't believe these idiots miss that call so often. Don't even get him started about players palming the ball these days.
Relax and enjoy the ball game?
Relax and enjoy the meet. He's here to do a job. After all, he didn't pay thousands of dollars for a courtside soapbox just to get the "free" booze in the Naismith Lounge. People think dedication means camping out on air mattresses for a week and jumping up and down whenever the opponents shoot free throws. Wrong. Dedication is intensity on every play, every call, every missed call.
True, nobody knows the game quite like he does, but you would think the other fans would have learned something from all the wisdom he's been spitting out for years. They can hear him, too, you know.
He wouldn't expect them to pick up the subtle nuances, such as waiting for the few seconds of relative silence between fight songs and crowd noise to shout at officials and 18 year olds. But they should at least learn the value red-faced, spitting rage when trvying to get your point across.
Jangit, Simien. You've got to make those free throws!
He's been sitting in these seats for a while now. They're better than the ones he got from his father when the old man left him his season tickets along with the family businesses and a trust fund. He was finally able to move down to the front row when the so-called true fans wouldn't show their support by coughing up the extra $5,000.
He would have paid another thousand to be close enough to help coach his beloved Jayhawks and keep those idiot refs in check. That's dedication.
He's part of the new Allen Fieldhouse crowd; just ask the Athletics Department. How else will Kansas stay competitive? It takes big business and big money to be big time. Everyone knows that.
He's just supporting his team in the modern world of college sports. How dare anyone challenge his loyalty? He gives not only his money, but also his voice and insights at every Kansas game
Doyle Murphy is a Baldwin City senior in journalism.
Why aren't the Jayhawks running this season? They've got the best athletes in basketball; you've got to play to your personnel.
Three seconds in the lane, you idiot!
He even followed Kansas to the Final Four the last two years. He can't believe that Roy Williams shook his hand then stabbed him in the back and went to North Carolina. Someone should question his loyalty.Not that he's bitter. He's too busy dishing out the tough love that goes so unappreciated these days.
Victory focus for'Hawks
Kansas won't let past losses affect game against Iowa State
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
The first stop on the Jayhawk's brief revenge tour will return the team to Allen Fieldhouse, where they will face off against the Iowa State Cyclones tomorrow night.
In Ames, Iowa, on Jan. 31, Kansas played one of its worst second halves of the season, leading to its first Big 12 Conference loss of the year. The Jayhawks blew an eight-point halftime lead, allowed 47 points in the second half and lost 68-61. The loss at Iowa State (14-8 overall, 5-6 Big 12) started a downward spiral that has consisted of three consecutive conference road losses and has placed Kansas in third place in the conference standings. Kansas (16-6, 8-3) is only two games behind conference kingpin Oklahoma State in the standings, but the Jayhawks more than likely have to run the table for a shot at the crown.
"Regardless, we go into every game with that mentality that we're not going to lose," junior guard Keith Langford said. "That's just how I think. I don't care who we're playing. If you don't think like that, then you shouldn't be playing basketball on my team."
The Cyclones are hoping that their Mr. Hyde side will show again in Lawrence. After knocking off Kansas, the Cyclones dropped their next three games by an average margin of 25.6 points. That stretch included a 31-point pummeling from Kansas State. Then, Iowa State rebounded with a 78-77 victory against then No. 11 ranked Texas. For an Iowa State team that has shown such inconsistency, the Jayhawks are not worried, no matter which Cyclones squad shows up.
But Cyclones' freshman guard Curtis Stinson could be a cause of worry.
Stinson led Iowa State with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting with Kansas, and guard play will once again be critical for the Cyclones to succeed. On Jan. 31, alongside Stinson, senior guard Jake Sullivan canned five three-pointers. Such prolific three-point shooting could present problems for Kansas, which has struggled with perimeter defense recently, allowing eight threes in each of their losses last week.
A positive for the Jayhawks will be the return of senior forward Jeff Graves to the lineup. Bill Self benched Graves last
SEE VICTORY ON PAGE 8B
PROBABLE STARTERS
Iowa State
(14-8 overall, 5-6 Big 12 Conference)
Pos. Name Sr. PPG RPG
F Jackson Vroman Sr. 12.7 9.7
F Jared Human Jr. 11.3 6.1
G Jake Sullivan Sr. 14.5 1.9
G Curtis Stinson Fr. 15.4 6.3
G Will Blalock Fr. 8.3 2.6
Top Reserves
G Marcus Jefferson Sr. 6.0 3.9
F Damion Staple Jr. 4.8 3.1
Kansas
(16.6 Overall & 3 Bin 12 Conference)
| Pos. | Name | Yr. | PPG | RPG |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| F | David Padgett | Fr. | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| F | Wayne Simien | Jr. | 16.8 | 9.2 |
| G | J.R. Giddens | Fr. | 10.0 | 3.5 |
| G | Keith Langford | Jr. | 16.0 | 4.5 |
| G | Rearen Miles | Jr. | 9.3 | 4.1 |
**Top Reserves**
Top Reserves G Mike Lee Jr. 5.5 2.8 F Jeff Graves Sr. 5.4 4.5
Eric Braem/Kansan
Kansas guard Aaron Miles prepared to shoot past Iowa State forward Jared Homan. Miles had three points, but dished out 11 assists Saturday. The Jayhawks play the Cyclones tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Forget basketball: Crumpets is in New sport dominates Allen Fieldhouse lawn with energy, humor
Greg Boege, a student at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, raised his Wiffle Ball bat as he prepared to serve the ball during a game of Field Crumpets last Sunday in front of Allen Fieldhouse.
By Ron Knox
rknox@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
On the lawn of Allen Fieldhouse last Sunday, Rob Winnie dove toward the ball, trying to block what would have been the game-winning shot.
been the games we had in the game. The Lawrence resident stood up from the dive with his hand cut open from the ice. The brutal lawn battered many of the players with its jagged ice and slick mud, but they played on, pouncing on shots and diving for stray balls.
The ball they're diving after had a big happy face printed on its yellow surface. Everyone calls it Smiley.
And the players swung fat, short Wiffle Ball bats, the kind uncoordinated children use to hack at balls cradled by wobbly poles.
"This is crumpets," game inventor Robbie Overton said before the first match. "You just have to see it to understand."
Maybe even that isn't enough. From afar, the game of crumpets appears equally childish and dangerous, as adults swing kids' sports equipment wildly at one another, falling face-first on icy grass.
"We know it looks funny," said Overton, a Leawood senior. "We embrace that part of it sometimes."
But looks can be deceiving. For as silly as the young sport may look to outsiders, a sport is a sport, and even its simplistic rules and modest history can't stop it from gaining fans at the University of Kansas and across the country.
Crumpeteers call their ever-changing teams names like "Princess Carriage" and "Are You Gimp Too?" They make fun of each other and crack jokes all game long
"We know it's kind of comical." Overton said.
ton said.
As Smiley ricocheted from Wiffle Ball bat to Wiffle Ball bat, one swift swing blasted the smiling face through an invisible box. Arms raised in the air, the crumpeers stood victorious.
***
On the walkway in front of Allen Fieldhouse last Sunday, Overton and his crumpeter girlfriend, Melissa Hambleton, dropped an overfull gym bag on the half-icy concrete.
BEE CRUMPETS ON PAGE RR
'Hawks try to rebound from loss skid
By Jonathan Kealing
jkealing@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Looks can be observed. The Jayhawks play the Aggies Saturday at 8 p.m.at Allen Fieldhouse following the men's rematch against Iowa State.
On paper, the Texas A&M women's basketball team looks to be a relatively easy opponent for the University of Kansas.
The Aggies are fresh off a 59-56 defeat to No.eight Kansas State on Wednesday.
Looks can be deceiving.
A & M, who currently resides in the cellar of the Big 12, led the top-of-the-Big 12 Wildcats by 10 points at half time and led by as many as 13 points in the game.
"We played good enough on defense to win," Texas A & M head coach Gary Blair said. "But when you
Ransburg
make the mistakes we did in the final minute, you deserve to lose."
Kansas lost their two games with Kansas State by an average of 29.5 points.
points. Kansas, which is in the throes of a four-game losing streak, just suffered a 15-point loss to Iowa State at home.
15-point loss to Iowa The Jayhawks were unable to create any sort of perimeter defense in the game against the Cyclones.
"It wasn't a pretty three, it was like,
'Oh I can't believe it went in,'" sophomore forward Tamara Ransburg said.
Iowa State connected12 of 29 shots from beyond the three-point line.
That seemed to typify the Jayhawks'
night.
After the game, the team seemed ready to focus on the upcoming battle with A & M.
"We just need to regroup and forget about this game," sophomore guard Erica Hallman said. "We've got to get a win."
If the Jayhawks want to win, they're going to have to contain one of the Big 12 top guards, A & M senior Toccara Williams.
She has played a full 40 minutes in five
SEE 'HAWKS ON PAGE 8B
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TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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