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The University Daily Kansan
President Bush will attend the College World Series on June 8 in Omaha, Neb. He'll be the first president to attend the event since its inception in 1947.
Sports
Trivia question
Inside: Two-sport star Deion Sanders returned to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday.
SEE PAGE 11A
Inside: Cubs and Twins in the World Series? The baseball season has started with surprising division leaders.
WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
SEE PAGE 10A
Sports Columnist
Brian Hanni
sports@kansan.com
Columnist's predictions for summer announced
There are three certainties for summertime in Lawrence — the students are gone, the temperatures are hot and Kansan sports columns aren't available on a daily basis.
While your favorite paper on the hill still will come out once a week during the summer, there sadly won't be near as many columns to read during the next few months.
I'm guessing most of you will get by without your daily dose of sports commentaries, but for those of you who want something to keep your eyes on this summer, I've got a list of predictions that should do the trick.
So, until we meet again, here are 10 things to look for this summer from around the wide world of sports:
1) Tiger Woods' streak of four consecutive wins at a major will get snapped during the summer months.
I think his quest for the real grand slam of golf will come to a close on June 17 at the US Open. If Tiger does manage to win in Tulsa, Okla., then his incredible run of major titles will definitely fall at either the British Open or PGA Championship.
2) The NFL's greatest wide receiver of all time will be cut on June 1.
This should come as no surprise to most football fans, as Jerry Rice already has said farewell to his beloved 48er fans in the Bay City.
Look for "The San Francisco Treat" to catch on with the Seahawks, Lions or maybe even a move to nearby Oakland to play for the Raiders.
3) The Colorado Avalanche will win its second Stanley Cup title in six years, giving hockey legend Ray Bourque his first chance to kiss Lord Stanley's trophy.
The Avs will beat the defending champion New Jersey Devils in the NHL Finals.
4) In the NBA playoff race, the Philadelphia 76ers will take home the hardware by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs in a classic NBA Finals series.
Sixers coach Larry Brown and his often-disgruntled star Allen Iverson will share a long, sweet embrace after the big win.
5) The Minnesota Twins' bats will get as cold as Lake Minnitonka in the winter time, and the Twinkies will drop to third in the A.L. Central standings by the All-Star break.
The Cleveland Indians will take the top spot, and a resurgent Kansas City Royals club will climb into second place. I know that's a bold prediction, but hey, "You gotta love these guys!"
6) The NBA draft will feature two former Jayhawk players when commissioner David Stern gets behind the mike on June 27.
Eric Chenowith will be a late firstround pick, and Kenny Gregory will hear his name called in round two.
7) "Ichiro-mania" will continue to sweep the nation, and the Mariners rookie will be as big as godzilla back home in Japan.
Suzuki will slow down a bit in terms of production but will still be well on his way to Rookie of the Year honors.
Nanui is a Topenka junior in broadcast management
6) The Jayhawks will have a new athletics director come July 1, and he'll have a busy year ahead that could include several firings, retirings and hirings among the many Kansas coaches.
9) Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado will have more home runs at the end of May than Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. combined.
The Blue Jays' slugger doesn't hit 'em out every night, but he does already have two three-homer games on the season.
10) And finally, I predict that at least half of my summer predictions will come true.
Andrea Bulat, a junior javelin thrower at Kansas, is preparing for the final stretch of the outdoor track season. Bulat is No.13 in the NCAA in javelin. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Thrower hopes to qualify
Junior has two meets left to make NCAA tourney
By Michael Suddhalter sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Junior javelin thrower Andrea Bulat is the latest Canadian Jayhawk excelling for Kansas this year.
Just this past weekend at the Drake Relays, Bulat placed third in the javelin with a throw of 148.5. Bulat's success with the 'Hawks has been similar to that of another Canadian — Scott Russell.
Bulat went to the same high school in Windson, Ontario, as senior redshirt Russell. Bulat originally decided to attend Kansas because of the coaching staff and the success that Russell had enjoyed during his first season on Mount Oread. She chose Kansas over
Arkansas, Iowa and Wichita State.
"The new coaching staff is good, enthusiastic and fun but they still keep us disciplined," Bulat said.
Bulat competed at the NCAA Championships during her freshman and sophomore seasons in Boise, Idaho, and Durham, N.C. respectively. When the coaching staff changed this year, Bulat said she was able to adapt and improve under the new coaching styles.
The junior thrower also said throwing coach Doug Revnolds had helped her throwing.
Reynolds said Bulat had been one of the Jayhawks mainstays this season.
"I am a lot more powerful and explosive because of Coach Reynolds," Bulat said. "The weightifting is more demanding, and I am still working on my throwing technique."
"She is a leader by example and a consistent performer," Reynolds said. "This year, we haven't been in good conditions for women's lavelin."
Junior shot putter Jennifer Foster said Bulat was one of the most determined members of the track and field team.
"She is a very hard worker who has earned
where she is right now," Foster said. "She is passionate about her sport and is an awesome competitor in the meets."
But, who is ranked 13th in the women's jyolin NCAA standings, said she would have to throw farther in the Husker Invitational this weekend or the Big 12 Championships to qualify for this season's NCAA Outdoor Championships. She placed third at last year's Big 12 meet.
"I'll probably have to throw 49 meters to qualify," Bulat said. "I want to be an all-American this year."
A pre-physical therapy major, Bulat plans on attending physical therapy school on the west coast where she has several family members. She has considered competing at the next level of track and field. When she is not competing, Bulat engages in many hobbies, including the outdoors, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking and most recently, photography.
Bulat and the rest of the Kansas team will travel to Lincoln, Neb. on Friday for the 'Husker Invitational.'
— Edited by Sydney Wallace
'Hawks shut out Ichabods
Rv Down Pacev
sports@kansan.com
Kansan copyeditor
Bobby Randall had nothing but good things to say about Eric Thompson's first career start at Kansas.
The Edgerton senior pitched six scoreless innings and gave up five hits and no runs as Kansas beat Washburn 9-10 last night at Hodgkin Ballpark.
But don't look for Thompson to make anymore starts as a Jayhawk. None of Kansas' regular starters were available to pitch, so Randall sent Thompson to the mound, the coach said.
"He didn't get to pitch this weekend, and normally we're using him two, three times over the weekends, and he needed the work," Randall said. "I don't think he'll be a starter because I like him so much in the bullpen because he's so resilient and he comes back so quickly."
lesse Gremminger, senior outfielder, gets tagged out on his way to third during the joyhawks-Ichabods game. Kansas won 9-0 over Washburn last night at Hoglund Ballpark. Photo by Laurie Sisk/KANSAN.
Thompson, who entered the game with a 6.03 ERA, recorded a career-high five strikeouts in the game. He said that was unusual
But Thompson got big strikeouts when he needed them. Twice he struck out a batter and recorded the third out of an inning with runners in scoring position.
"I'm not a strikeout pitcher," he said. "I just let them hit it, put the ball in play and let the defense work behind me."
"Eric was ahead of the count, ahead of the count, ahead of the count, and when he needed a strikeout with men on base, he got it." Randall said.
Randall also was quick to praise reliever Grant Williams, who notched his first career save. The Fort Collins, Colo., junior, entered the game with a 3.38 ERA, allowed two hits and struck out three in three innings of work.
But great pitching can't win games alone, and the Jayhawks (20-9) overall and 5-22 in the Big 12 Conference) got enough offense to beat the Division II ichabodes (20-8).
Designated hitter Ryan Klocksien led Kansas with three hits, two RBI and one run scored.
"I was seeing the ball pretty well. I came out early and got some extra cuts," said Klockslen, who has a team-high .324 batting average.
The Jayhawks jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Kevin Wheeler walked,
Shaken from the hit to the leg, Washburn's pitcher, Matt Wilkens, walked Matt Trible and Wheeler scored, and the Jayhawks had a 1-0 lead. Dan Stucky hit into a fielder's choice and Del Chiaro scored before John Nelson ended the inning.
Brent Del Chiaro lined a single to left field and Casey Spain loaded the bases after he rocketed the ball back at the Ichabod pitcher — and it ricocheted off his leg.
The shutout was Kansas' first since March 14, when it beat Illinois-Chicago 3-0.
— Edited by Joshua Richards
Coach says women's golf has improved despite finish
By John Domoney sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
based on the Kansas women's golf team's second-straight last-place finish at the Big 12 Championship, it's easy to say the program is struggling to become a contender in the talent-rich Big 12.
But for second-year coach Nicole Hollingsworth, the conference championship cannot be used to judge a team that she thinks made tremendous strides toward becoming the type of program she envisions at Kansas.
"One tournament can't be the indicator of how our season went," said Hollingsworth. "We showed a lot of
improvement over last year, and a lot of people stepped up their play."
After a fall schedule that began with the Jayhawks finishing in 14th place
at the Baytree Intercollegiate on September 8-10 and in 12th place at the Big 12 Preview on October 2-3, Kansas was eager to improve and gear up for the second half of their season.
Although the spring success didn't culminate in a high finish at the Big 12 Championship, the Jayhawks look back at their season as being one of improvement
The spring schedule was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Islander Spring Invitational on February 19-20 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and a Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach, where Kansas defeated the College of Charleston in a head-to-head match.
Still, Kansas must find a way to become a major factor in the Big 12, and Hollingsworth said that her group of Jayhawks were going to find the
"Ifelt like overall our season was really good," said senior Ashely Bishop. "The team improved, and our scores were pretty good."
"The top teams know how to play at this level, and they understand you can't shoot in the 80s," Hollingsworth said.
Bishop satisfied with team's improvement
secret to success in the conference.
At the end of the season, the Jayhawks will lose two seniors, Ashely Bishop and Sarah Mahoney, who have been very valuable to Kansas and Hollingsworth.
Bishop leaves the program after a four-year career that saw her being named co-captain her senior year and gaining a spot on the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll in all of her semesters at Kansas.
The other co-captain, Sarah Mahoney, played for Kansas during her junior and senior year after she transferred from the University of San Francisco. Mahoney's season was highlighted by a hole-in-one at this year's Iowa Invitational on April 14-15.
As both players leave the program, they're confident that Kansas has a bright future.
"They're moving in the right direction," Bishop said. "Things seem to be a little more stable, and there's a good future for the players."
Much of that future will depend on this year's sophomore class, consisting of Jennifer Cassell, Tiffany Krugel, Heather Rose, and Kristin Schultz, who all will form the nucleus of the team next year.
Along with the loaded sophomore class, the Jayhawks also will return freshmen Jennifer Bawanan and Chrystal Thayer, who both showed promise this year.
All of this has Hollingsworth excited for next year's edition of the Javhawks.
"All of these players have improved their games drastically, and with steady improvement should have a good future," Hollingsworth said.
Edited by Joy Pilgreen