Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
Packed like sardines...
The record for largest crowd at Allen Fieldhouse is 17,228 against Kansas State in 1955. Crowds larger than capacity were allowed until the mid '80s. Today's capacity is 16,300.
Inside: College Insider.com named the Texas A&M men's basketball coaching staff "Best Dressed Staff" in the nation, while Aggie coach Melvin Watkins was named "Best Dressed" coach in the Big 12 Conference.
SEE PAGE 2B
Inside: Softball and three-on-three soccer seasons are coming up for intramurals.
ATM
For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
SEE PAGE 2B
Sports Columnist
Allan Davis
sports@kansan.com
ScareCrows' fans are real losers in sale
Kansas students who happen to be fans of professional hockey are about to lose one of their two local options to see a pro game.
Kansas City Blades fans needn't worry. The Blades, who play in the International Hockey League, aren't going anywhere.
On the other hand, the Topeka ScareCrows of the Central Hockey League are definitely disappearing from the professional hockey ranks. The 'Crows owner, New York attorney Jonathan Fleisig, said he was losing too much money and sold the Topeka team to Northwest Sports, owned by William "Butch" Johnson, of Hayward, Wis., Johnson plans to keep the team in Topeka, but it will be an amateur team in the United States Hockey League next year.
Topeka-area hockey fans claim that Fleisig also violated their trust — when he was making the deal to sell the 'Crows, Fleisig was insisting no transfer of the team was forthcoming.
That's where the controversy begins. By selling the ScareCrows to someone who will make them an amateur team, Fleisig seems to have violated an agreement with the CHL for the ScareCrows to play in the league in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
The CHL, like the ScareCrows' fans, didn't approve of what Fleisig did, but what could they do?
Kansas State guard Larry Reid disrupts senior Eric Chenowith's shot attempt as fellow senior Kenny Gregory looks on. Chenowith and Gregory, along with Luke Axtell, will be the focal point of Senior Day and the Jayhawks' final home game Sunday against Missouri. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
In mid-February, Bill Shuck, general manager of the Wichita Thunder, presently in fifth place in the Western Division and well behind the fourth-place ScareCrows, said the league was contemplating forcing the ScareCrows out of the league and barring them from the playoffs. If that happened, the Thunder would be in the playoffs — not the 'Crows.
A CHL spokesperson denied that the league was considering that option.
However, on Feb. 20, just a week later, the CHL booted the Topeka franchise out of the league, terminating their participation in the rest of the season.
The CHL claimed that the ScareCrows and the Border City Bandits (Texarkana, Texas) had failed to meet numerous financial obligations to the league. The CHL also contended that Topeka had violated their agreement with the CHL by deciding to withdraw from the league after fulfilling only three years of a five-year agreement.
The Bandits went belly-up, but the 'Crows decided to fight
Fleisig contends that finances had nothing to do with the 'Crows getting ejected. He said that the failure of the Border City franchise left the league with 11 teams and the CHL decided it was easier to manage the league with an even number of teams. So the ScareCrows were kicked out because they weren't going to be in the league next year, anyway.
One of Fleisig's Topeka representatives said Fleisig does not deny failing to meet certain financial obligations. However, he contended that Fleisig stopped making his payments because the CHL breached the contract first by failing to enforce the league's salary cap, putting the small-city franchises — including Topeka — at a disadvantage. Sound familiar, baseball fans?
The ScareCrows went to court to get some relief and won, if only temporarily. Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Conklin issued a temporary restraining order forbidding the CHL from kicking the ScareCrows out of the league or preventing them from playing in the playoffs if they qualify.
Hockey is notorious for its on-the-rink fights, but a pretty nasty off-the-ice scrap is shaping up in Topeka. Judge Conklin will hear arguments in the case on Monday, but the CHL's Topeka lawyer is trying to move the case to federal court because of the conflict's inter-state nature.
And, the fans are angry. Topea fans not only have been venting their frustration at the CHL, they are also disgusted with Fleisig for balling out, and they showed their frustration by staying home. The ScareCrows' attendance plummeted after Fleisig announced the sale of the franchise.
If the CHL prevails, the real losers will not be Fleisig and the ScareCrows. The real losers will-be the Topeka- and Lawrence-area hockey fans, including season ticket holders who may get nothing for their money.
Davis is a Topeka graduate student in Journalism.
Seniors to say goodbye
By Chris Wristen sports@kanson.com Kanson sportswriter
Dozens of campers lined the Allen Fieldhouse concourse for nine days so far, waiting eagerly for the Kansas-Missouri game at 1 p.m. Sunday, but nobody is more excited for the game than Kenny Gregory.
Gregory, a senior forward for No. 10 Kansas, will be honored before and after the game as part of the Senior Night festivities. He and fellow seniors Luke Axelt and Eric Chenowith will be playing their final home game as Javhaws.
"I'm going to be real pumped up," Gregory said. "It's not a sad moment, but it's the ending to a chapter of my life. It's going to be really emotional, but I promise I won't cry like most people do."
Although Gregory promised not to shed any tears, weeping traditionally plays a role in the post-game senior speeches. Chenowith didn't make any promises regarding his emotions, but he did share some insight into the content of his speech.
"It's going to be a great day." Chenowith said. "I'm going to thank the fans. So many of those people have prayed for my mother's recovery (from breast cancer). Many of those people have cheered for me, so it's going to be a good day for me to say thank you."
Before giving thanks, Chenowith said that he wanted to help his team earn a revenge victory against the Tigers. Missouri beat Kansas 75-66 on Jan. 29 in Columbia, Mo. Chenowith said ending his home career with a win against the Tigers would be perfect, especially considering conference tournament positioning was still in limbo. A Kansas win would lock up the No.2 seed, but a loss could put the 'Hawks in fourth place.
"It'd be a great way to go, with a win," Chenwith said. "I would love to beat them at home because No. 1, it's my last game in the fieldhouse; No. 2, it'll keep us in the race for the Big 12 Conference title and give us a better seed in the tournament. My family's going to be here, too, so there's going to be a lot of emphasis to win that game."
Kansas has won 17 straight Senior Day games, dating back to 1976 when Nebraska edged the Jayhawks 62-58. A high seed in the NCAA Tournament is at stake as well, but more than that, Gregory is concerned about building momentum heading into the postseason.
"So far we've won three in a row; hopefully we'll get number four." Gregory said. "It will help our confidence a lot come tournament time."
Those three wins came against Colorado at home and on the road at Nebraska and Kansas State. Chenowith said those wins, matched with sophomore forward Drew Gooden's return from a wrist injury, had the Jayhawks on a roll and their confidence on the rise again.
"we beat Nebraska, and we beat K-State on the road — those are two good road
wins," Chenowith said. "We didn't win by 20, but we got solid wins and that helps us because it builds our confidence. We know we can go into a hostile environment and win."
They won't face a hostile environment on Sunday, though. For one final time, the seniors will play their arch-rival in their home turf.
BOX SCORE
No. 10 Kansas vs. Missouri
- Edited by Melissa Cooley
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
When/Where: 1 p.m. Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse
Records: Kansas 225, 11.4. Missouri 18-10, 9.6.
Series: Kansas leads 152-90
Coaches: Roy Williams — 351-87, 13th year. Quin
Snyder — 36-23, second year.
TV/Radio: CBS, 105.9 FM, 980 AM.
Snow hinders baseball team
By Ryan Malaschock
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas coach Bobby Randall reclined back in his chair and groaned because of the ache in his back yesterday. That's what hours of shoveling snow from a baseball field will do to a baseball coach.
Kansas' last three home openers against Rockhurst, Creighton and Baker were canceled because of snow. Kansas worked outside yesterday, attempting to move as much snow from Hogland Ballpark's field to avoid canceling this weekend's matchup with co-leader No. 12 Oklahoma State..
Randall said the cancellations hampered his ability to give playing time to players who needed it.
"The most frustrating thing is that I've got a lot of guys who need to get out there in a game," Randall said. "A lot of pitchers are throwing well in the bulpen — Grant Williams, Randy Stramn, Jeff Davis, Dan Oson and Eric Thompson."
"The canceled games were games that we could have been in and got some experience, and there's nothing like game experience."
Last seas o n,
K a n s a s
had played
14 games
by March
2, five at
Hogl and
Ballpark.
This year's
snow has caused Kansas (6-4, 0-3) to cancel three home games, and has prevented the team from frequent outdoor practice. As of yesterday, Kansas had practiced four times at Hogland Ballpark.
Although the weather puts Kansas at a disadvantage early in the season, junior third baseman Ryan Klocksien said the indoor practice time in Anschutz Sports Pavilion allowed the team to focus on the basics of baseball.
"It's hard to not be outside, but we get a lot done at Anschutz," Klocksen said. "It's good for us because we get back to our fundamentals inside, and I think we need that after the Oklahoma series."
Should Hoglund Ballpark be ready for action this weekend, Kansas will run into the hottest team in the Big 12. Oklahoma State (10-2, 3-0) swept Missouri last weekend in their home-opening series. Oklahoma State has the Big 12's best team ERA.
Kansas heads into the weekend recovering from a three-game sweep in its Big 12 season-opening series at Oklahoma. Randall said the team needed to improve in several aspects to prepare for the Cowboys.
"Truthfully, we weren't that far away at Oklahoma, and we felt like we should have won at least a game," Randall said. "We need to improve on everything, but especially we need to do a better job hitting with two strikes and hitting in the clutch."
The Oklahoma State series is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday and a 1 p.m. doubleheader Monday.
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
Russell attributes success to coaches
Bv Michael Sudhalter
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Scott Russell's status as world-class athlete for the Kansas track and field team has been a gradual climb against one opponent — himself.
Russell has broken his personal record in the weight throw on several occasions as the season has progressed. Most recently, Russell had a throw of 75-10, which was 2 feet, 4 inches better than his former best at the Big 12 Championships in Lincoln, Neb., last weekend. He attributes much of his success to the new coaching staff, especially throws coach Doug Reynolds.
"Coach Reynolds helped me improve my technique, and I've been able to add more muscle than in the past," Russell said, "Coach Reynolds has brought in a new upbeat attitude for the team."
Reynolds said he was fortunate to coach an athlete as talented as Russell. Russell's throw stood as a world best for this year until Southern Methodist weight thrower Libor Charfreitag topped it with a 78-10 throw in the Western Athletic Conference championships last Saturday.
"Scott Russell is one of the most talented athletes that I've ever seen," Reynolds said. "He is the best doubler of the javelin and weight throw events in history."
"He had to do some re-learning of some technical things," Reynolds said. "I gave him the bricks, and he makes the wall."
Russell, who hails from Windsor, Ontario, chose Kansas because his high school coach had a connection with members of the Jayhawks staff. The 6-foot-9, 270-pound senior was also recruited for basketball by Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan and Marquette. While he enjoys both sports, Russell chose to pursue track because of his commitment to the sport.
Reynolds said that Russell has worked to improve his technique throughout the course of the season.
"Track is something I've always done while basketball was always in my family." Russell said.
Russell, who competes in the javelin, shot put and discus throw, said that he appreciated the variety of the different events.
Kansas senior Scott Russell glides through his approach in the weight throw at the Kansas Indoor Invitational earlier this year. Russell has continued to better his career record, including setting a big 12 Conference and a short-lived world record last weekend. Photo by Nick Kruga/KANSAN
"It kind of gives me a change in training since I am competing in more than one event."Russell said.
Some of Russell's teammates said they realized that the senior brought many things to the team.
"Russell is great to train with and he always works hard," said junior teammate Ryan Speers. "He is also a great leader and fun to be around."
While Russell knows that a first place finish in the weight throw at the NCAA competition is possible, he knows that there will be some difficult competition.
"It will take a big throw to defeat Libor Charfreitag of SMU." Russell said. "He threw a 78 and is pushing a 79 or 80; it might take a 79-80 throw to win the competition."
"I really want to go into the rehabilitation
A double major in physical therapy and athletic training, Russell plans on attending graduate school after his days of college competition are finished.
of injuries; 'I'll probably go to grad school for physical therapy,' Russell said. "I also hope to continue competing and try to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens."
— Edited bv Svdnev Wallace
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