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/ SPORTS / FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok."
— Shaquille O'Neal
FACT OF THE DAY
Kansas and Texas are the last two Big 12 teams undefeated in conference play.
Source: Kansas Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: How many times has Texas beaten Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse in men's basketball?
A: None. The Jayhawks are 7-0.
Kansas Athletics
Sports as a sleep substitute
MORNING BREW
G ot anything to do between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.? Of course you don't.
Of course you don't. It's the first week of classes and very few of us are ready to fully recommit to normal sleeping habits after a 34-day respite from responsibility.
For the insomniac sports fan, there's usually little to watch at night with the exception of SportsCenter reruns and Bowflex infirmaries. That can make a perfectly entertaining night, especially if Chuck Norris is on the Bowflex ads, but fortunately this week has even more to offer.
Putting off sleep for sports is even more rewarding this week because of the Australian Open. I know, I know — it's tennis. You hate watching tennis. It's only exciting when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal play, so maybe when the finals roll around you'll consider watching, right? (That'll be 2 a.m. on Sunday, January 29, by the way.)
This Australian Open merits a little more attention because it could be historic; maybe even once-in-a-lifetime. As you may or may not have heard, Rafael Nadal is vying for his fourth-straight major title. Seeing as there are only four Grand Slam tournaments, that's a big deal.
It hasn't happened in 42 years, since
BY JOEL PETTERSON
jpetterson@kansan.com
diminutive Aussie Rod Laver won all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year. If he wins, Nadal's "Rafa Slam" (as many creativity-lacking commentators have called it) still won't be a "true" grand slam because it didn't happen within one calendar year. Laver himself essentially said, "Sure, Nadal's accomplishment would be cool, but not nearly as cool as what I did. So there." (Paraphrased, of course.)
But even if a 72-year-old Australian guy doesn't think it's all that great, it will still certainly be worth showing up to sylabus days a little bit groggy (or skipping them altogether, as I may or may not have done last year) to watch. Making it even more worthwhile is another person in the men's draw - Roger Federer, more commonly known as the greatest player of all time.
Even though Nadal can't complete his slam between January and December, he has won each of the first three during
Federer's time. That is probably one of the most impressive feats in sports history, no matter what Laver says.
And if that's not enough drama to keep you awake until the sun rises, there's still the women's side of the tournament, where you have Belgian stay-at-home-mom/professional tennis player Kim Clijsters, going for her second major title since getting bored with simply caring for her 2-year-old daughter and coming out of retirement.
Not to be outdone by Nadal, Venus Williams went for history as well by wearing 'the worst outfit ever seen on a tennis court'. Apparently it's inspired by Alice in Wonderland, which clearly goes hand-in-hand with tennis.
Edited by Tali David
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY No events scheduled
SATURDAY
Men's basketball
vs. Texas
3 p.m.
Women's swimming vs. South Dakota Northern Iowa 3 p.m.
SUNDAY
Women's basketball
vs. Oklahoma
12 p.m.
MONDAY No events scheduled
TUESDAY
Men's basketball at Boulder, Colo. 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Women's basketball at Columbia, Mo. 7 p.m.
THURSDAY No events scheduled
8W83
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TRACK & FIELD
Saves $225 on average
multi-item textbook orders
35%-45% cheaper than other online stores on average*
Hawks victorious over break
- B I N D U R S lowest price vs. average lowest price from each online store
* B I N D U R S lowest price with shipping vs. retail without shipping
gcalvert@kansan.com
BY GEOFFREY CALVERT
Sophomore shot putter Mason Finley led the Kansas track and field team to a victory in the KU-MU duel at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion on Jan. 14. The Jayhawks won over the Missouri Tigers 190-171.
Finley threw the shot put 20.71 meters (67 feet, 11.5 inches) and, breaking a school record set by Karl Salb in 1970, according to a press release from the Athletics Department. Finley's throw is the best in the world since the beginning of the year and stands as an "A" standard qualifying mark for
"It's a dream of mine. It won't be easy, but if I practice I'll have a shot," Finley said.
The Jayhawks were successful in most aspects of the competition, winning first place in 21 events, compared to 13 for Missouri. In the Bill Easton Classic on Jan. 8, the Jayhawks' first meet back from winter break, the team won 24 events.
Coach Stanley Redwine was pleased with the team's performance after the break.
said.
Jayhawk senior Jaci Perryman claimed first in the pole vault against Missouri by clearing 3.9 meters. Two of her teammates, freshman Demi Payne and junior Julia Cummings, tied for second. Perryman also won the pole vault at the Bill Easton Classic. Kansas was victorious in the pole vault on the men's side as well as senior Cooper Merrill cleared 5.10 meters.
The women's jumpers and sprinters had a memorable day with victories by sophomore Francine Simpson in the long jump, sophomore Andrea Geubelle in the triple jump, sophomore Denesha Morris in the 60 meters and 200 meters, and freshman Diamond Dixon in the 600 meters. Sophomore Rebecca Neville placed first in the 60-meter hurdles, and senior
Amanda Miller claimed a victory for the distance team in the 3,000 meters.
In the 400-meter race, senior Kendra Bradley won the women's race for the Jayhawks with a time of 56.72 seconds, while senior Keron Toussaint did the same for the men with 49.13 seconds.
On the men's side, the jumpers and distance earned victories from junior Nick Canton in the high jump, senior Jareb Stallbaumer in the triple jump, junior Donny Wasinger in the mile and senior Nick Caprario in the 3,000-meter.
The relay teams had an outstanding day, winning both races on the men's and women's side. The women's 4x800-meter relay team of juniors Shayla Wilson, Rebeka Stowe, Cori Christensen and sophomore Kyra Kilwein ran to victory in 9 minutes, 18.76 seconds, while the 4x400-meter relay team of Morris, Bradley, sophomore Taylor Washington and Dixon won with a time of 3:48.42.
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