Page:
10A
Survive and Advance
Big 12 Tournament scores: No. 8
Baylor 86, No. 9 Colorado 84
(OT); No. 5 Oklahoma State 71,
No. 12 Texas Tech 59; No. 10
Kansas State 62, No. 7 Nebraska
58; No. 5 Missouri 77, No. 12
Texas A&M 62.
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
Inside: Bobby Knight could be the next Texas Tech coach.
SEE PAGE 8A
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2001
Inside: Kansas track coach Stanley Redwine heads to his alma mater as the Jayhawks compete at NCAs at Arkansas.
SEE PAGE 7A
Sports Columnist
For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
Sarah Warren
sports@kansan.com
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Athletes abuse their status fellow students
Mashed potatoes night is a big deal at Mrs. E's.
So, like almost everybody on the hill last Thursday night I filed into the cafeteria and got into line at the Main Dish — the sight of the coveted mashed potatoes.
As my boyfriend and I neared to the front of the line, we were directly followed by a football player and our friend Eva and about 15 other people behind her.
Warren is in an Overland Park junior in Journalism and Spanish.
Just as I was about to order my mashed potatoes, about 10 football players surrounded their teammate, bunching up so that they all fit into line in front of poor, hungry Eva. By the time Eva got to our table, we had all finished eating — she had waited for 30 minutes for a helping of mashed potatoes that she should had gotten 25 minutes earlier.
This is minor example — but a good one — of how some athletes on this campus abuse their status as Division I jocks. I know I could go into the entire Yacht Club incident last year, but I'm not even going to touch that.
You see, it's not really their fault that they abuse their status, because if anyone checks out the sports page regularly, at least once a month, if not once a week, there's an example of a professional athlete behaving badly.
Rae Carruth gave us two years of good examples with his murder trial. For those of you who don't remember, the professional football player was charged — along with two accomplices — with the shooting of Cherica Adams, his pregnant girlfriend, on Nov. 16, 1999, in Charlotte, N.C. Adams died a month after the shooting, while her son Chancellor is still alive, although ravaged with cerebral palsy. On Jan. 22, Carruth was sentenced to 18 years, 11 months for his role in the murder.
But, as John Rocker proves, not just football players get in trouble. What a good ol' boy of summer this baseball player turns out to be. The former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher was suspended for 28 days after he made disparaging comments about minorities, homosexuals and foreigners in a Sports Illustrated interview.
And then there's Jennifer Capriati. The tennis star went through a selfdescribed "teenage rebellion" a few years back, and consequently, had subsequent run-ins with the law. She was arrested for shoplifting and drug possession after a sour season in 1993.
However, unlike Carruth and Rocker, Capriati has the ignorance of youth to blame — she was only 17 at the time. "Yes, I made mistakes by rebelling, by acting out in confused ways," Capriati said in a 1999 Associated Press story. "But it was all due to the fact I was very young, and I was experiencing my adolescence. Most of you know how hard that can be. When you do it in front of the world, it is even harder."
Now, cutting in line for mashed potatoes isn't at all in the same ballpark as, say, murder, drug possession or racist comments, but it is something that unsets people.
Be mature and good examples for those in the pros. Heck, we all know they could use some good role models.
I know several students on the hill that have complained of the blatant cutting in line — but those students don't have a column, and I do. Therefore, I thought that maybe it was time to ask for it to stop. I had witnessed the cutting before, but I had just put up with it, because it's something that always happens, although it's ridiculous that it does. I mean, guys, I know you were hungry, but so were the 15 people behind you that night.
Athletes protest team cuts
Sam Blackard, Independence, Kan., senior, left, signs a petition for Mitch Loper, freshman swimmer. Loper collected signatures yesterday on Jayhawk Boulevard for a petition protesting the Athletic Department's decision to eliminate men's tennis and swimming and diving teams. The swim team plans to present the petitions to Chancellor Robert Hemenway tomorrow after a march from Robinson Center to the chancellor's residence at 9:15 a.m. photo by J. E. Wilson/KANSAN
Swim team seeks 15,000 signatures from KU students
By Brandon Stinnett sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Casualties of the Athletics Department's recent budget cuts are now fighting back.
Less than one week after Bob Frederick, athletics director, announced the elimination of the men's swimming and diving and men's tennis programs, the athletes are taking action.
Twenty-two members of the swimming and diving team spent yesterday spread out around campus asking students to sign a petition against the program cuts. The team is seeking 15,000 signatures to raise student awareness and to send a message to the Athletics Department.
Freshman swimmer Mitch Loper stood outside Watson Library soliciting signatures from students walking to and from class. Loper said he had collected 548 signatures.
"Most of the students are disappointed," he said. "I would guess that 90 percent of the people I've asked had signed, and 5 percent of people who didn't sign were just in a hurry to get to class. Most people have been very supportive."
Loper said members of both teams were shocked by the initial announcement made by Frederick during a meeting Sunday afternoon. But now they're prepared to challenge the decision.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the room," Loper said. "Now we have recuperated, and we're fighting back because it isn't
fair. They are pumping more money into the football program next year."
Cutting the two programs will save the department $600,000 next year and $3.6 million during the next five years. The move will free up money to pay for salary increases for Kansas football coaches.
The football program accounts for nearly
20 percent of the University's athletic budget despite losing money in recent years. And in the next five years the football program's budget is expected to jump from $4.4 million to $6.74 million.
Rebecca Erickson, Edwardsville senior, who signed the petition, said increasing the football budget is not fair to the teams that were cut.
"Get rid of the scholarships for the football towel boys and give them back to the tennis team." Erickson said.
But not all students sympathize with the cut programs' cause. Mike Hirschbring, Glen Rock, N.J., senior, said athletic downsizing is part of life.
"I think sometimes things like this have to happen," Hirschberg said. "Let's face it, football and basketball are the money makers for the school. Unfortunately, cuts like these have to happen."
Hirschbig said the football team needed more funding to become competitive.
"Look at K-State," he said. "It has taken a while to get their football team back on top. You have to spend money to make money."
The men's tennis and swimming and diving teams have planned a peaceful protest at 9:15 tomorrow morning. Members of both teams plan to start outside Robinson Center and march through campus to Chancellor Robert Hemenway's home. Loper said the march won't be the teams' last effort to lash out against the cuts.
"We are definitely fighting this out to the end," he said.
- Edited by Joshua Richards
Iowa State looms, but 'Cats come first
By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Although No. 9 Kansas opens Big 12 Conference tournament play at 6 tonight against Kansas State, the Jayhawks have been doing a lot of talking about a team that they're not even guaranteed to play — Iowa State.
The No. 7 Cyclones beat Kansas (23-5 overall and 12-4 in the Big 12) both times the teams played this season and have won the last five meetings. That domination was enough to get sophomore forward Drew Gooden's attention.
"Iowa State ... Iowa State," said Gooden, when asked who he wanted to play. "I'm 0-4 against Iowa State. Little things like that. My only two home losses are against Iowa State. Kirk (Hinrich) and Nick (Collison) haven't beaten an Iowa school since they've been here, so that's bragging rights for them. We want to see Iowa State."
Before the Jayhawks can concern themselves with Iowa State's prospectus, they'll have to prepare for their third meeting with K-State (11-17, 3-11) this season.
Kansas has won the last 21 games between the two teams, including both meetings this season. They also hold an 11-6 advantage against the 'Cats in Kemper Arena. Regardless of that success, sophomore point guard Kirk Hinrich said he wasn't allowing his teammates to look past the Wildcats
"I'd love to play Iowa State, but we can't really think about that right now," Hinrich said. "We have to beat two good teams before that. We're going to worry about ourselves and getting ourselves ready to play."
Kansas hasn't played since Sunday when it beat Missouri in Senior Day. Meanwhile, the Wildcats may be tired after playing a
Axtell out for post-season
Luke Atkell's collegiate career ended against Missouri on Sunday.
The senior forward's lingering back problems have forced Atkell to the sidelines for post-season play.
"This is a big loss for us as a team, but an even bigger blow to Luke," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "He has tried very hard to play, but his year has just been one problem after another."
Atxell played in 19 of 28 games this season and averaged 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds. In his career at Kansas, he played in 39 games and averaged 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Axtell's back was not the only body part to hamper him this season. He missed Kansas' first four games because of a sprained left ankle suffered in a Nov. 7 practice after coming down on a teammate's foot. On Dec. 11, he sprained his ankle in practice and missed two games.
— Shawn Linenberger
tight game against Nebraska last night. K-State emerged victorious, 62-58, and were led by Larry Reid's 21 points.
"I think he's going to have that program turned around where they're going to be in the top half of the conference," Hinrich said. "Before, it seemed like K-State was a game where you know that's going to be a win."
Hinrich said that the Wildcats were much improved from last year's team — a fact he attributed to K-State coach Jim Wooldridge.
The Cats would love nothing more than to deliver a major upset against Kansas. History shows that it's not likely, but if the Jayhawks look past the Wildcats, then the highly anticipated rematch with Iowa State will never happen.
- Edited by Joshua Richards
Kansas senior center Eric Chenowith dunks the ball over Missouri forward Tajudeen Soyowe. The Jayhawks will play Kansas State tonight in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Because the 'Hawks were seeded second, they received a bye in the first round of the tournament.
Photo by Matt Daugherty /KANSAN
Border rivals to face off in three-game series
Ryan Malashock
Ryan Malashock
sports@kansan.com
Kansan Sportswriter
The baseball version of the Kansas- Missouri Border War is set for this weekend.
The Jayhawks (7-7 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12 Conference) and Tigers (5-7-1, 1-5) will battle tonight at 6 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark. The two teams will then travel to Columbia, Mo., for games tomorrow and Sunday at Simmons Field.
Kansas started the season hot, going 6-1, but has slumped ever since. The Jayhawks have lost six out of their last seven games and share last place in the Big 12 Conference.
Senior shortstop John Nelson said the Missouri series should be an opportunity for the Jayhawks to get
back on track.
"After losing two series, especially, I think this weekend is really important," Nelson said. "They're a good team, and there's a lot of rivalry between us. A lot of pride goes on between Missouri and KU, and I think that will really help us win this series."
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri made this weekend's series special.
"This is a big-time rivalry, and when you go into Missouri, they let you know that you're a 'chickenhawk,'" Randall said. "It isn't as intense as basketball or football, but it's big."
Although the rivalry gives the series added importance, Randall also said Kansas would approach this weekend the same as any other Big 12 weekend
"Every one of these conference games carries a lot of weight." Randall said.
Missouri heads into this weekend coming off a 9-8 victory against Wichita State. Like Kansas, Missouri is 1-5 in the Big 12 and needs a few wins to climb out of the Conference cellar.
Kansas will send senior Pete Smart to the mound in game one tonight against Missouri junior Drew Endicott. Yesterday, Smart was named Big 12 copitcher of the week for his performance against Oklahoma State last weekend.
Randall said he was extremely pleased with Smart's performance this season, but that he was more concerned with getting junior pitcher Justin Wilcher back into the lineup. Wilcher experienced soreness in his arm last week, and the Kansas coaching staff held him out of the rotation
Randall also stressed the importance of the bullpen's improvement.
against Oklahoma State. His availability for this weekend is uncertain.
"We're missing Justin right now, and if he can pitch, we're going to pitch him Sunday," Randall said. "We also need to get our bullpen going this weekend. Doug Lantz has done a lot of good things in practice this week, so he should be ready when we need him."
- Edited by Melissa Cooley
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday: Kansas — Pete Smart (30, 4.2) ERA 1a)
Saturday: Kansas — James Wright (2.2, 5.66)
Saturday: Kansas — Jake Wright (2.2, 5.66)
■ Sunday: Kansas — Justin Wither (1.3, 3.0) or
Dug Lantz (0.1, 6.32, 4 saves) vs. Missouri, Mitch
Kirk
4