4B the university daily kansan
sports
tuesday, february 10, 2004
COWBOYS: Kansas falls in Big 12
For the Cowboys, the man of the evening was Lucas. The Baylor transfer scored a team high 21 points, but more importantly, spread the ball around, allowing all five Oklahoma State starters to score in double figures.
Despite a deafening crowd, the Jayhawks did not use the atmosphere as an excuse.
"We play in front of big crowds all the time," Langford said. "It's just the same story, different day. That's part of basketball."
Despite a warm welcome during introductions, Self's return to the
arena he once coached and played in was bitter. The Jayhawks have now fallen behind in the three horse race for the Big 12's regular season crown. The Cowboys are now alone atop the conference standings at 8-1, with Texas right behind at 7-1. Kansas' 7-2 mark kept it a game ahead of Texas Tech.
"We're not out of it," Self said. "But we're going to have to be awfully impressive the rest of the way."
— Edited by Amanda Kim Stairrett
Kit Leffler/Kansan
Coach Bill Self looked on during the conclusion of Kansas' loss to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys defeated the Jayhawks in Stillwater, Okla., 80-60. Oklahoma State took sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference with a 8-1 record, 18-2 overall.
SELF: Giddens. Case return home
The Jayhawks' trip to Oklahoma also marked a homecoming of sorts for two Jayhawk freshmen. Freshman forward J.R. Giddens and freshman guard Jeremy Case both grew up in Oklahoma.
Giddens scored 12 points connecting on four three-pointers, and Case added two points and one assist.
Self said the two were excited to come home, but there wasn't much either could have done after the Cowboys' hot start.
"We would have tried anything," Self said. "They wouldn't let us play with six, but we would've tried that, too."
— Edited by Amanda Kim Stairrett
Freshman center David Padaett tanles with Oklahoma State's Daniel Bobik during first half action. The Cowboys clipped the Jayhawks at Oklahoma state.
Dogs compete for star-studded crowd at top show
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — His barks bouncing all around the arena, Josh looked eager to get going. And with a lick of a fan's face and guided by his lucky leash, the big, black Newfoundland bounded back onto the green carpet at Madison Square Garden.
Moments later, handler Michelle Ostermiller was kissing his slobbering muzzle, the crowd was cheering and it was official: an early win yesterday at Westminster, then a victory at night marked him as a favorite at America's most prestigious dog show.
"People are drawn to him because he's a real dog," coowner Peggy Helming said. "He's got a heart as big as he is."
With actresses Delta Burke and Glenn Close among the fanciers in attendance, there figured to plenty of competition among the 2,624 entries. And a lot of it might come from the nation's No.1 show dog, a perky Norfolk terrier named Coco.
"It's insane, it's chaotic backstage," said Burke, currently in the Broadway show "Thoroughly Modern Millie."
Josh was a repeat winner in the working group, assuring him a spot in the final seven. Plus, he'll have this factor in his favor tonight when the top dog is chosen: the judge who picked him in the group last year is the best in show judge this time.
To win, though, he'll have to beat out Coco, a 5-year-old from England. She's already won 54 best in show titles, including the widely televised AKC/Eukanuba event in Long Beach, Calif.
Exceptionally sprite with a fast gait, Coco breezed in best of
breed. Show chairman Thomas Bradley congratulated handler Beth Sweigart with a kiss, and Coco later won the terrier group.
"She thinks she is an excellent dog. She is asking to win," Sweigart said.
Over the years, terriers have dominated this all-champion event for purebreds, with a Kerry blue terrier named Mick winning last February. Coco was aiming to do the same at this 128th Westminster show.
A primed Pekingese called Les and a standard poodle named Mikimoto on Fifth also repeated in best of breed, and advanced to group judging Monday night.
The dogs came in 162 breeds and varieties, in all shapes and sizes. There were 79 different kinds of Dachshunds but only one American water spaniel, there were canines that took part
in recent sled dog races and others that visited hospital patients last weekend.
"They are show dogs, sure, but they are regular dogs, too," said David Freil, co-host of USA Network's coverage. "They sleep on our couches and steal food off our counters."
Josh clearly was the most popular last year after he turned around to watch himself on the video board. He sounded his presence this time, and even judge Ruth Zimmerman laughed — in Westminster parlance, he's "very vocal" because show people frown on saying a dog barks a lot, fearing it makes them appear too unruly.
At 155 pounds, the 4-year-old Josh weighs a lot more than Ostermiller. She kept telling him. "slow, slow" when he romped around the ring and, no surprise,
she emerged with his black hair all over her ice blue suit.
"He's just letting you know he's there." Ostermiller said.
All in all, a fine performance that ended a two-month retirement to compete.
"That's hard to beat," praised rival handle Karen Mammano.
Like a lot of show people, Ostermiller and Helming have their own set of superstitions and lucky charms. They also have things to avoid — no handler wears a No. 13 armband at Westminster.
Ostermiller took out her lead, commonly called the leash, from a plastic bag to use one more time. She also followed tradition by matching the color of her wash-cloth, used to tidy Josh's mouth, with her outfit.
Helming wanted No. 5 for the show ring, yet instead wound up
with 17. No problem, because when Helming and her dog checked into her hotel across the Garden, guess what room she got? Yep, No.555.
"So. we're OK," she said.
Mammano always uses three rubber bands to hold her armband and comb in place. She's also particular about what she wears.
Sweigart only grooms her aspiring best in show with a special "Coco brush," featuring a picture of a Norfolk terrier on the back. Others use lucky pennies, pendant and play toys, while some rely on routines with a more personal touch.
Handler Hiram Stewart, guiding Les the Pekingese, preferred a positive talk with his pooch before big events.
"I tell him he's the king." Stewart said.