University Daily Kansan / Thursday, December 6, 1990
Sports
13
Big trades revealed at baseball meetings
Ex-Royal Tabler signs with Blue Jays
The Associated Press
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Tony Fernandez, Joe Carter, Dr. McGriff and Roberto Alomar got traded in baseball's biggest deal in years, and the New York Mets finally caught Vince McMann at yesterday's winter meetings.
On the day when owners approved in principle a collision settlement that will cost $200 million, Toronto was put on a stunner at the winter meetings.
"We thought we'd give you an old-fashioned baseball trade," new Padres general manager Joe McIlvaire said. "We're trading four All-Stars. It was kind of a gutsy trade on both ends."
In a move that came so suddenly that it caused gasps when it was announced, the Blue Jayss sent Fernandez and McGriff to San Diego for Carter and Alomar in a deal for four of baseball's best players.
The effect: Carter, who has averaged more than 100 RBIs for five years, will move into an outfield that expects to lose free agent George Alomar, 22, will fill Toronto's search for an all-around baseman
MrGreff, with 105 home runs in the last three seasons, will take over first base, a position that might soon be vacant when Jack Clark becomes a free agent. Fernandez, 28, will replace Garry Templeton at shortstop.
The irony: at last year's meetings, Carter was traded by Cleveland for Sandy Alomar Jr., the eventual winner. The trade was traded with Alomar's brother.
Meanwhile, other dominoes began to tumble.
The San Francisco Giants, a day after signing Dave Righetti and shocking George Steinbrenner, traded reliever Steve Bedrosian to Minnesota. Pittsburgh's championship pie again got sliced as first baseman Sid Bream signed with Atlanta. That cleared the way for Franklin Stubbs, who was considering the Braves, to go to Milwaukee.
Bill Doran decided to stay at home in Cincinnati. But Pat Tatler, baseball's best bases-loaded hitter, left the Mets for Toronto.
The Mets, though, thought they had
to do something to replace Darryl Strawberry's 37 home runs and team-record 108 RBIs that he took to Los Angeles. So they dipped into the league since 1980 and gave Coleman a four-year contract worth $11.91 million.
Coleman, 29, stank an average of 91 bases in each of six years, all with St. Louis, and was successful 83 percent of the time. He was at his best against the Mets, safely stealing the first 57 times he tried against them.
The Pirates, the new National League East champions, know the feeling. They lost R.J. Reynolds recently and now Bream is going to Atlanta for three years and $5.5 million. Pittsburgh could also soon lose free agents Zane Smith, Wally Backman and Ted Power.
The Braves had offered a three-year, $5.4 million contract to Stubbs. Instead, Stubbs, who set a Houston record with 23 home runs by a left-fitter last season, got a three-year, $6 million deal from the Brewers.
Stubbs, mostly a first baseman,
will play right out a shot left open
with the ball in his hands.
Doran drew interest from several teams, particularly Los Angeles, before deciding on the Reds. He was traded to New York and traded from Houston to the Reds.
Doran got a three-year, $7.3 million contract to play second base. He probably will split time with Mariano Duncan.
The Giants, with a surplus or relievers after signing Righetti, sent Bedrosian to the Twins for a minor leaguer and a player to be named later. Bedrosian, 33 today, will give Minnesota a chance to move converted starter Rick Agulera from the bulpen into the rotation.
The Blue Jay's Padres trade came hours after Toronto lured Tabler from the Mets with a two-year, $1.6 million contract. Tabler, 32, is best suited for being a 500 hitter with the bases loaded — 40-for-80 lifetime in 10 seasons.
'90 football attendance increases
By Rob Wheat
Kansan sportswriter
Ed Young had been going to football games for four years, so he figured he wouldn't have to come early to get a good seat for this season's Kansas-Kansas State game.
For basketball games Young, Eudora senior, knew a fan had to arrive about three hours before the game to get a seat. For football games, however, he figured he had to be on his knees kickoff and sit near the fainn line.
When he arrived, he was even more amazed when he realized he would have to watch the game from the ton of the student section.
After a leisurely lunch, Young was surprised to find he had to park by Robinson Center, much farther away than he was used to.
Kansas drew an average of 24,360 people in 1987, but that figure increased the next year by more than 6,000 people.
age since football coach Glen Mason arrived at Kansas.
The K-State game was one of two times this season that attendance at Memorial Stadium reached more than 40,000 people. The figure contributed to an average attendance of 35,750 people, the highest aver-
This season there was an estimated attendance of 40,000 at the Colorado game, and at the K-State football team. At the stadium and 9,500 on the hill.
Fullback Roger Robben said that although the players usually did not notice attendance during the game, he was surprised to see so many fans watching Kansas play the Wildcats.
State, everyone was really loud and that really has a big psychological effect on us."
"I have never seen a bigger crowd than at that game," Young said. "They said there was under 10,000 on the hill, but you couldn't grass there. There were so many KSt state fans too. It was crazy.
"Usually we're concentrating really hard on the game, so sometimes we don't know when there is a bickle between us and you, when we were driving against K-
Robben said the crowd could have a negative effect on the team also. He said it was demoralizing for the Jayhawks when they saw more red than blue in the stands during the Nebraska game.
Athletic Director Bob Frederick said that although he was encouraged by the attendance figures, a staff member never because of promotional efforts.
Frederick said that selling more season tickets to alumni was the key to improving attendance revenue in the future.
"Kansas has 30,000 alumni in the Kansas City area alone so we must do a better job of having them support the team by buying season tickets," Frederick said. "We just had an athletic board meeting about this yesterday, making plans to get the ball rolling."
Frederick said he planned to send out renewal cards by the first week in February and then launch a
season-ticket campaign by April 1.
He said that because Memorial
Stadium could accommodate about
three times as many people as Allen
House, it was imperative that Kansas football generated larger crowds.
Kip Helt, marketing director for the athletic department, said that was exactly what he intended to do
"We will not stop until we get that stadium full." Helt said. "I know there has been progress with the program because sponsors are coming to us and wanting to be associated with Kansas football."
Helt said that although a great increase in attendance would require that the program continue to improve, he had a number of ideas to generate interest for next season.
"I can't tell you how excited I am about next season." Helt said. "We're seeing direction in the program, and I think eventually that will reflect in the showings at the gate."
Owners vote to pay $280 million in deal
The Associated Press
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Five years and two months after major league teams began a conspiracy against signing free agents, the clubs voted Tuesday to give players $280 million as compensation for their collision.
Fifteen players, including Gary Gaetti and Brett Butler, will become "new look" free agents in three or four days as part of the deal, which is expected to be approved today by the league Baseball Players Association.
"In essence, we can consider the collusion agreement concluded," said Chuck O'Connor, head of management's Players Relations Committee. "We don't have a definite document yet, there is still some language to work out, but we have points of agreement."
If the players approve it at their meeting in Orlando, Fla., the owners will pay $280 million as of Jan. 7. That's approximately $10.77 million
a team. It will be the largest payment in sports history from management to players. The union must then hire a consultant or dividing the money to individuals.
The settlement would bring to an end the three collision grievances filed by the union after the 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons. Arbitrators had awarded the union approximately $113 million in damages for 1986-88 but had yet to consider damages for 1989 and 1990.
In addition to Gaetti and Butler, other "new-look" free agents include Jack Clark, Chiid Davis, Jack Morris, Dave Smith, and Mike LaCoss.
The settlement agreement was reached by lawyers for both sides Oct. 26 and owners approved it yesterday by a 1/2 vote during a joint session of the National Legislature and National Leagues. The dissenting vote was cast by the Montreal Expos.
Sports briefs
Strong defense pulls JV past Kansas Weslevan
Junior varsity coach Mark Turgeon said he was impressed with Kansas' performance.
Forward Jeff Knobel led the Kansas junior varsity with 13 points Tuesday night as the team beat Kansas Wesleyan 73-50.
"We've been really good defensively," Turgon said. "We allowed 60, 53 and 50 in the first three games. We's been getting better every game."
Turgeon said he hoped for a similar improvement on offense.
"We jumped out to a 33-14 halftime lead, but we have to maintain that intensity to beat some of the teams on the schedule," he said.
Hurricanes' lineman tackles Outland Trophy
Russell Maryland, the anchor of the University of Miami's outstanding defensive line for four years, was named the winner of the Outland Trophy as college football's top interior lineman. yesterday
Colorado offensive guard Joe Garden and Clemson offense tackle Jack Stace Long were the other finalists in the 2013 College Basketball Writers Association of America.
Maryland, a 6-foot-2, 273-pound tackle from Chicago, had 96 tackles and 10.5 quarterback sacks for the Hurricanes this season.
He had 270 tackles and 20.5 sacks during his four years at Miami, and the Hurricanes had a 43-4 record including an 9-2 record this year.
A fifth year senior, Maryland chose to remain at Miami rather than turn pro when he was eligible last spring. He is considered to be among the top five prospects for the 1991 National Football League draft.
Maryland, who was named yesterday to the Associated Press All-Ocean Press he had no regrets about passing the NFL for a final year of college play.
"It's all worth it," he said of remaining in college. "This is what college football is all about."
From Kansan staff reports
Basketball now 'just a game' for Gueldner, enjoying time off from .Javhawks
Kansan sportswriter
By Derek Simmons
Background noise fades as Jeff Guelder zeroes on in the basket. Three slow dribbles. Dribble-catch, dribble-catch, dribble-catch. Guelder bends his knees, focuses and bends the free throw from his chest.
It's a shot that millions of people have seen. In the middle of Allen Field House with 15,000 silent fans waiting, arms raised, for the ball to hit. They are thrown down on their arms down - WHOOSH - spectators have seen this shot and counted on it.
The same shot — a quick-reLEASE no-jump chest pass toward the basket — made him the NCAA's first goal in this spring's Final Four in Denver.
This particular free throw, however, bounces off the rim and out, and Guelden's opponents in the city league game rebound. Nobody moans, nobody paces the floor out of bounds, and Guelden shrubs it off. Basketball isn't that important anymore. It's just a game.
Taking a break
Guelder never expected to play professional basketball, so he wasn't surprised when he wasn't picked in April's NRA draft
"I never really thought I'd get the opportunity," he said. "I'm no Danny Manning or anything. During the season from day one I told everybody I didn't want to play in the CBA or anything.
"I'm limited as far as physical ability, and I know that. I wouldn't trade my four years playing for anything, but it's time to move on."
Gueldner is in his fifth year at the University, taking it easy as he planned from his freshman year.
"People think I'm just a hanger-on with the basketball team," he said. "It was all my choice. Just like everybody else, I wanted to enjoy my last year of college and take it easy. At the time to work, there will be plenty of that. I just wanted to get my degree and enjoy life for a year."
Practice is one of a number of
Joseph J. Lies/Special to the KANSAN
Jeff Gueldner takes basketball less seriously this year
Joseph J. Lare/Special to the KANSAN
things Guelderne does not miss about playing. Aches and pains, living out of a suitcase and eating the same food during a road trip get old after a while.
The fame got tiring at times, the fans berserk.
"Everybody likes attention," he said, "but it can go too far. It bothers you when you're in a restaurant trying to eat with your girlfriend, and people barge in for autographs, but that didn't happen very often. Now most people don't even recognize me unless I'm with Mark (Randall, Kansas forward) or other people on the team. It was a lot of fun and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it's nice to be a normal student."
Spare-time activities
Guederuel has vices he indulges that fall into one of two categories: 1) music and 2) sports other than basketball.
In the second category, number softball, Nerf-style basketball and Wave-Rider The Wave-Rider Resisters but the rider sits instead of stands.
In the first category, count his 170 alphabetized compact discs. Alpine car stereo with CD player and a bigger bigger than many major appliances.
"Meetings and practices run your life when you play basketball," he said. "Now I can come home and flop on the couch if I want to. Mark comes home to get ready to practice, and I love it." Mark feels like he can just relax.
“It’s easy,” he said. “My mom got on it and rote it when she was out here in the summer. And it can pull a skier.”
Also in the realm of enjoying his final year is television watching.
Guelner didn’t dominate statistically in his four years with the Jayhawks as some of his more famishedmates did. That wasn’t his style.
Former teammate and current assistant coach Mark Turgeon describes Guelder as the ultimate man, and some of his statistics reflect that.
Team player
At the beginning of the 1990 season, Guelder was 17th on the Kansas all-time season assists list and 10th on the career assists list.
Turgeon also said Gueldner was tenacious on defense. Gueldner was eighth on the career steals list.
But most of Gueldner's statistical legacy is in the three-point field goals
In fact, Gueldner's 48.6 percentage for three-pointers led the nation his senior year.
He wasn't as surprised as the rest of the nation when he won the three-point shooting championship in the spring.
"Nobody had ever heard of me," he said. "But I knew that the format of the competition didn't allow you to be much of a jumper, and I'm not. And I had that almost 50 percent going for me. I was nervous at first, I was cameras and everything, but then I got focused and knew I could win."
Guelden's father, Gary Guelden,
couldn't bear to watch and had to
leave the room. His mother, Judy
Guelden, said she had confidence in him.
"He has great concentration," she said. "He made up his mind he was going to do it, so I wasn't all that surprised when he did."
Gueldner said he was realistic about his ability as a basketball player.
"I bothered me when people would say I couldn't jump, shoot or handle the ball," he said. "I'm a fundamental player." He shot, shooter, and I understand the game."
Randall, Gueldner's roommate since they met the summer before their freshman year in 1986, said that he was surprised by achievements underestimated.
Gueldner drives for a layup during one of many late-night practices.
"Everybody talks about 'Danny and the Miracles' when they talk about the championship year," Randal said. "Danny Manny was and is a great player, but the turning point in that season was when Jeff became a starter."
"I'll say this to anybody; Jeff Gueldner was the reason the national championship happened. He was the man who gave everybody around him better."
Life after basketball
Randall described Guelder as a heady, intelligent player. Those same adjectives, he said, describe Jeff Guelder the man.
"He makes good decisions," Randall said. "He is going to be successful, whatever he goes into."
Gueldner will graduate in the spring with a business degree and an emphasis in advertising, and he
"I hope I'll be good at that," he said. "I know basketball, and more important, I know Kansas basketball. I hope I'll be able to stay with it and maybe move up and do some more next year. It will help me stay
plans to look for a pop in the sports marketing field. He is slated to do color analysis of televised Kansas-Oklahoma State and Kansas-North Carolina State games for Creative Sports Marketing.
involved with basketball on some level."
For now, Gueldner is going to enjoy his free time and watch Kansas basketball from the stands.
"I know he doesn't miss practice and training," Randall said, "but I'm sure it's tough sitting in the stands. He's never had a period of his life with his feet up most of his time. He's still adjusting to being a normal student."