Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 16, 1991
9
Jayhawks on verge of taking Big Eight title
By Mark Spencer
Kansan sportswriter
An avalanche start in the Big Eight Conference race title has left the Kansas men's and women's tennis teams with their eyes on the prize.
"With three matches to go, we're in good position," Kansas women's tennis coach Michael Center said. "For now, it's up to us to compete."
After sweeping Nebraska and Iowa State during the weekend, the women's team has a 4-0 record in the Big Eight with 29 championship points. The men are 3-0 with 22 points.
In the Big Eight tournament at the end of the year, all the teams' No. 1 singles players compete against each other on their home court to earn eight points for their team.
The Jayhawks earn a championship point with each singles and doubles match won during league play.
The points earned decreases by one for each according to the order of finish. The second place finisher has three points, the third earns six and so on.
The No. 2 through No. 8 singles
players follow the same format
The last time the men won the Big Eight was 1988. The women have not. Critically, they are.
However, both teams expect to add nine championship points to their total today when they play host to the Allen Field House tennis courts.
"They're very non-competitive in this conference, but it's not their fault." Perelman explained. "Their athletic department has decided to de-emphasize tennis. They have no scholarships."
Page Goins, Tulsa, Okla., junior, practices at the Allen Field House tennis courts. The men's and women's tennis teams will play Missouri at 1 p.m. today.
The men's and women's doubles teams will play on the six field house courts at t.p.m. with singles matches afterward.
Javhawk Notes:
In the recent Volo TennisCollege team rankings, the Kansas men's team is ranked 15th. Kansas senior Craig Wiley shares the 52nd ranking with Virginia Commonwealth's Luciano D'Andrea. Wiley and senior Chris Walker are
get a chance to avenge her lone conference loss to Oklahoma State's Caroline Delisle on Saturday when the Cowgirls visit Lawrence.
ranked seventh in doubles
Phelps ends 20 years of coaching with Irish
The Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Six weeks after ending one of his worst seasons at Notre Dame, Digger Phelps ended college basketball coaching career.
Phelps ended months of speculation yesterday when he announced his departure from Notre Dame after 20 years of coaching the Irish to some memorable victories but never to a national championship.
"For the last two decades it has never been a job," Phelps said at a news conference on campus. "Every day, even with the ups and downs, like Christmas Day, where you opened up the present you wanted most."
Last season was anything but a present. The Irish, hit by a rash of injuries, fell to 12-20. He was Phelp's worst season since Notre Dame went 6-20 in 1971-72, his first season with the Irish.
Phelps, who led Notre Dame to 14 NCAA tournament appearances but reached the Final Four only in 1978, offered no regrets and gave no indication that the pressures of a losing season drove him to sten down.
"It's time to move into the next decade," said the 49-year-old Phelps.
adding that he would not take another Division I coaching job but was leaving open his NBA options.
The search for a successor has not begun officially, said associate athletic director Roger Valderesi, but it is expected that Xavier's Pete Gilenan, a former assistant under Phils, will become a leading candidate. Seton Hook and his son Duke's Mike Krzewzki already have said they are not interested.
"If there is any interest in Pete Gillen, I'm sure not Dame will use the proper channels and contact me first." Xavier athletic director Jeff Eppert are planning for next season with Pete Gillen as our basketball coach.
The Rev. E. William Beauchamp, Notre Dame's vice president for athletics, said in a statement, "Over the years his teams have provided lasting moments, which the university's alumni and fans will long remember."
Phelps, who had a 393-197 record at Notre Dame and a 419-200 head coaching record including one season at Fordham, said his immediate plans were to spend more time on his hobby of painting.
Phelps' son Rick, sports editor of
the university of Toledo student newspaper, the Collegian, yesterday wrote that his father said 10 years ago that he did not plan to be coaching at the age of 50 because there were other things that he wanted to do in life.
Phelps turns 50 July 4. His son wrote that he planned to spend time with a soon-to-be-born first grandchild.
Phelps leaves with more wins and losses than any other Irish basketball coach.
In 1999-91, the Irish opened with two victories but then dropped seven in a row. Hobbled with injuries, Notre Dame took on a schedule that included 11 games against ranked teams, seven against Top 10 teams. As the losses mounted, Phelps was regularly booed at home games.
Four-day Kansas Relays marks 66th year of event
"It was tough breaks, one right after another," said guard Tim Singleton as the season drew to a close. In Phelps' first season, Notre Dame suffered its most humiliating loss: 49-29 to Indiana. But he quickly revived the program and two seasons later, in 1974. Notre Dame broke UCLA's 88-game NCAA-record winning streak with a 71-70 victory.
By Rick C. Honish
Kansan sportswriter
When the gun sounds at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Memorial Stadium, the 66th Annual Kansas Relays will begin.
The first event will be the Jim Bausch Decathlon, a two-day event that begins at 10 a.m. with the 100-meter dash.
The women's heptathlon also gets
with the 100-meter hurdles at 10:30.
The decathlon and heptathlon will continue through the afternoon. Final events for the two competitions will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, concluding with the men's 1,500-meter run at 5:05 p.m.
John Brandt, professor of speech and hearing, will start the decathlon and bentathlon for the 19th year.
Brandt said he started many races
during the track season but looked forward to the relays.
"I am an old track guy, and this is my way of giving something back," he said.
The remaining events will begin at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. A 10,000-meter road race, open to anyone who registers, will begin on 7 April in Memorial Stadium. The racers will be divided into six are categories.
Kansas Relays manager David Kaiser said he expected more than 2,600 athletes to participate in the four-day meet.
High school athletes representing nearly 100 schools in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado will participate in the relays. Kaiser said that many of the athletes were state champions in their events.
better and they are entering with higher marks," he said. "It has pushed the whole field up."
More than 40 universities and colleges will be represented at the NCAA golf championship rival's Nebraska, K-State, Missouri and the Iowa State women's team.
"The high schools are running
Kaiser said that almost every event would have at least one exemplary athlete. More than 50 collegiate teams will be available on status will compete at the relays.
"With all these people coming in, the level of competition is going to be awesome," he said.
He attributed the higher level of competition to the fact that the Olympic trials were coming up.
"This is one of the first meets where you can qualify for the trials," he said.
Boston Marathon winner beats injury
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Ibrahim Hussein thought an injury that forced him to drop out of last year's Boston Marathon after 20 miles might end his outstanding career. Yesterday, he resurrected it.
In his first marathon since last year's disappointment, the Kenyan won the Boston race in a slow but steady 2 hours, 11 minutes, 6 seconds. That was 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Abebe Mekonnen of Ethiopia.
Hussein, 32, first won the race in 1988, but was fourth in 1989 when Mekonnen won. He suffered an injury to his left Achilles' tendon last year.
haven't competed at all. I had an Achilles problem. I thought my career was over," he said yesterday. He took four months off on his doctor's advice then resumed training.
'Since I ran here last year, I
"Not competing a lot helped me a lot, because I felt strong." he said. "I didn't expect to win this time because I have not competed in a long time. I wanted to prove to myself that I am still competitive and can still win."
Mekonnen tried to compete with Douglas Wakihari of Kenya, the pre-race favorite. By the time he arrived, he had not have it on this day, it was too late.
Hussein, who stayed with the lead
pack throughout the race before pulling away, was too far ahead for Mekonnen to catch up to him.
"He didn't go with the first group because he thought that Wakihiuri was in good shape." Mekonen's interpreter said. "Wakihiuri was the favorite, and he wants to watch him and go with him.
"Everybody knew where they were going to finish," he said. "I'm the only one who didn't believe what the
"He (Mekonen) blames himself." Hussein joked that runners read writers' predictions for the outcome of the race in the newspapers and did not have to wait until it actually ended.
press wrote, and that's why I won."
Hussein won the Honolulu Marathon in 1985, 1986 and 1987. The last victory came just six weeks after he captured the New York City Marathon in 1984 and won victory in 1988 and a second place finish at Honolulu in December 1989.
The winning time was much slower than Hussein's personal best of 2:08:43 when he beat Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania by one second in the closest Boston Marathon in history.
"I was the wolf her fusself"
"I was the reader self," he added.
"I was praying for somebody to come and run with me to push the pace."
Vikings kicker Igwebuike given acquittal
The Associated Press
"Finally I got a chance to tell my side of the story in court — what the truth was," the teary-eyed NFL kicker said outside the court while puffing a victory cigar. "When your body somebody else hands ... I was in hell."
TAMPA, Fla. - Minnesota Vikings kicker Donald Inglewike was acquired yesterday of masterminding a failed effort to smuggle more than $1 million worth of heroin from native Nigeria to the United States.
Igweubiwe, 32, threw both fists in the air and broke into tears, hugging his attorney as the verdict was announced.
He said he planned to go back to
He could have faced up to 120 years in a federal prison and $6 million in fines if convicted of conspiracy and drug importation.
Assistant U. Attorney Todd Foster refused to comment on the verdict, as did the 12 jurors, who had days before clearing the defendant.
Defense attorney Frank Winkles said contradictions and the use of unreliable informants undermined the prosecution's case.
Minnesota and train for next season.
"I want to kick again. I'm going back to play." said tiwuhebk
"Finally in the end, when everything was said and done, the government's case was so full of contradictions." Winkles said. "The type of they were relying on nobody would rely on people like that."
The verdict followed a two-week trial that focused on the relationship between Igwebuke and two Nigerian officials who were guilty to their roles in the scheme.
Softball victories keep streak alive
Kansan sportswriter
By Lana Smith
The Kansas softball team faces Creighton at 4 p.m. today in Omaha, Neb.
The Jayhawks are on a six-game winning streak after defeating Washburn, Oklahoma and Kearney State last week.
Kansas coach Kalum Haack said that the team needed to get as many victories as it could so that the Jayhawks would have a good seeding in the Big Eight Conference tournament in May.
Freshman catcher Monica Gormley said that the Jayhawks' goal was to win the Big Eight tournament, and in the meantime Kansas must work to blow away every team it plays.
The Jayhawks started two-a-day practices yesterday despite their victories against Oklahoma and Arkansas State during the weekend.
Haack said that 'the two-a-days were started because he was not pleased with Kansas' hitting. He also said the team seemed to lack
the enthusiasm to win.
Junior shortstop Christy Arter, burn was named the Big Eight player of the week after going 14 for 20 with 10 runs scored and 9 assists as in many attempts against Oklahoma and Kearney State.
Arterburn's performance raised her average to .636.
Freshman pitcher Stephani Williams was named the Big Eight pitcher of the week.
She went 3-0, including two victories against Oklahoma during the weekend. One of Williams' victories was a no-hitter, as she faced one batter over the minimum.
In 19 innings last week, she allowed only six hits, had 15 strikeouts and no earned runs.
The Jayhawks (26-9) are looking to lengthen their six-game winning, streak today against Creighton (23-15).
Men's soccer club earns third title
Bv Rick C. Honish
For the third year in a row, the Kansas men's soccer club has won the Big Eight Conference tournament.
Kansas won its third title in a grueling game against Neb-
bula. Stalker Watery
Kansan sportswriter
It was the fifth game in two days for Kansas, and goalie Scott Schaffer said fatigue became a factor in the game.
"From my spot in the goal, I could see both teams' legs going out," he said. "I got worried for a white that I have enough energy to pull through."
Regulation time ended with the score knotted at zero, and the first of 24 minutes was taken.
Senior Mark Plakorus said that his fear of defeat subsided about four minutes into the first overtime period.
Nebraska attempted to score on an eight-yard free kick, but Kansas blocked the attempt and won the game.
"We finally scored on a goal by Marc Moreano," he said. "I thought we would win after that."
Schaffer attributed Kansas' victory to the number of shots on goal.
But Kansas was not in the clear yet.
Nebraska had one shot left during the second endzone. Plakorus said,
Shaffer said the team got the burst of energy it needed to win from Mitsubishi.
"We had about nine shots to Nebraska's five," he said. "Our shots were being taken from further out, too."
Sports briefs
"We took that momentum and pulled it out," he said.
Prior to the championship game, Kansas had faced Colorado, K-State, Iowa State and Missouri.
With the score tied at zero and with only about five minutes remaining, junior Chris Robertson found a passage through the defense and knocked in the winning goal for Kansas.
In the semifinal game against Missouri, Kansas faced elimination late in the game.
Kansas will wrap up its season this weekend at Wichita State, where it will play in a 22-team tournament.
Jayhawks to take swing at Emporia State tonight
The Kansas baseball team, fresh off a record-setting 28-3 pasting of Graceland College on Sunday, plays host to the Emporia State Hornetts at 7 tonight at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Kansas travels to Creighton tomorrow and to Oklahoma for a four-game Big Eight series this weekend.
The Jayhawks, 25-17 overall and 6-6 in the Big Eight Conference, have won four straight and complete a five-game home stand tonight.
The Jayhawks are in four place in the Big Eight and trail the third-seeded St. Louis. The hona State, 6-2, and Missouri, 8-4, are in first and second place respic-
The status of Kansas catcher Garry Schmidt and first baseman Nie Jmierie is uncertain for tonight's and tomorrow's games.
Giants' Kevin Mitchell suspended for two games
tively.
Both players are expected to play against Oklahoma.
Niemeyer twisted an ankle in Saturday's game against Hiddim-Simmons University. Schmidt pulled a hamstring and the Jayhawks out of Graceland.
The suspension is set to begin today, when the Giants play Los Angeles. Mitchell could delay the commission by filing an appeal with Appeal.
day for his role in a brawl April 10 at San Diego.
NEW YORK — Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants was suspended for two games and fined an additional $1 million. The League president Bill Wester-
"We're going to make a decision in the morning," said Mitchell's agent, Joe Srobе.
Mitchell, whose five home runs lead the major leagues, was brushed back by Padres pitcher Bruce Hurst in the fourth inning of the April 10 game after hitting a home run in his first at-bat. Mitchell was restrained from going after Hurley following the brushback pitch but charged the mound when the next pitch bounced and hit him in the foot.
From staff and wire reports