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SPORTS / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We do not win championships with girls. We win with competitors."
Pat Summitt
FACT OF THE DAY
The women's basketball team is one of 18 unbeaten teams in the NCAA, sporting an 8-0 record.
-KU Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: When is the last time the Jayhawks were 8-0?
A: The 2005-06 when they started 12-0.
— KU Athletics
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Meyer steps down from Florida job
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer stepped down on Wednesday after his worst season as a head coach.
"I have been a Division I football coach for the last 25 years and, during that time, my primary focus has been making a difference in the lives of the young men I have been so fortunate to have coached and building championship programs," Meyer said in a statement. "At this time in my life, however, I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field.
"The decision to step down was a difficult one. But, after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I've been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports. I know how fortunate I am to be in a position to make this choice and to have a family that is as loving and supportive as my amazing wife and children have always been.
"My family has shared both the commitment and the sacrifice required to coach at this level for so long and I would not have enjoyed the success I have had without their support."
Meyer will coach the Gators in the Outback Bowl on Jan.1.
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
Speak freely, comment wisely
MORNING BREW
America has always known how to lay the hammer down with the power of words.
In response to the British Parliament's Stamp Act of 1765, founding father Samuel Adams said: "If our trade be taxed, why not our lands, or produce ... in short, everything we possess? They tax us without having legal representation."
You can basically envision Benjamin Franklin jumping and shouting "ohhh!" (perhaps later influencing fans of And1 streetball) after hearing that one.
Then there were the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858.
"But I cannot shake Judge Douglas' teeth loose from the Dred Scott decision. Like some obstinate animal (I mean no disrespect), that will hang on when he once got his teeth fixed, you may cut off a leg, or you may tear away an arm, still he will not relax his hold."
In more recent times, New York MCs Nas and Jay-Z have feuded over post-Biggie Smalls supremacy.
BY MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Soon after, he concluded his argument saying: "My friends, that ends the chapter. The Judge can take his half-hour."
Jay-Z sampled Nas' voice from "The World Is Yours" into his own song "Dead Presidents." Jay-Z later referred to his reasoning on the song "Takeover:" "So yeah I sampled your voice, you was usin' it wrong/ You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song." All three songs are great, but nonetheless fueled a feud of words that aren't so, well, mother approved.
The crowd must have been partying like it was 1776 after that one.
In today's internet-centric world, the rationale of Adams and Lincoln has been replaced with vicious and often unfounded exchange. You've seen it all over YouTube. One commenter makes a bold statement and is immediately
scorned by the next gagillion commenters. I'll spare you of verbatim with some alternatives. The commenter is incompetent and a nickname for Richard. The commenter should consider ending his life. The commenter may resemble a donkey, a cat or a female dog (and no these aren't cute and cozy animals here).
These online commenters, with their verbal fists miles, states or even countries away from the next commenter, also exist in the world of sports.
Boston Globe sports writer Dan Shaughnessy, nicknamed "Curly Haired Boyfriend" by spit-in-the-umpire's-face Carl Everett, seems to receive more hatred than appreciation for his work.
After boldly suggesting that the Red Sox should sign Derek Jeter (who has since rejoined the Yankees), commenters went off on the CHB.
One comment: "Dan Shaughnessy reminds me of an obnoxious little eight-year-old kid that spouts out anything that comes to mind just to hear his own voice and draw attention to himself. (I used to be that kid but I grew up)
Another: "It's official... the Geri-Curl activator has seeped into Dan's brain and has caused irreparable dammage!"
On KUSports.com, football reporter Matt Tait acknowledges that after the Missouri loss, the Jayhawks were outscored 103-24 in their final three games of the season
(against No. 9 Nebraska, No. 12 Oklahoma State and No. 15 Missouri). Tait argues that this was an improvement, considering that the Jayhawks were outscored 159-24 in the first three games of Big 12 play against lesser opponents (Baylor, Kansas State and Texas A&M). But forget Tait's accurate analysis or even giving Turner Gill time to build his own team. The article's very first commenter was ready to move on (despite an irrational claim and poor grammar).
He stated, "103-24 not that shows great improvement over the course of the season. Fire this clown now!"
Maybe it's because we're not in a boxing ring and instead in front of a computer screen. Maybe it's because it's easier to naysay and point fingers than logically defend. Either way, many readers of the internet world must grasp this concept: the commenting section is for insight, response and yes, even rebuttal. But show some class and explain your stance. Don't simply blurt profanities without reason or go off name-calling like a child.
These are mild examples, people. The Internet is littered with nonsensical, bigoted and vulgar comments.
Be thankful that Sammy Adams didn't just flip the British Parliament the bird.
— Edited by Clark Goble
Taller Panthers dominate,70-42
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — Reserve Dante Taylor scored a career-high 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double and led No. 3 Pittsburgh to a 70-42 victory over Delaware State on Wednesday night.
Taylor played just 15 minutes as coach Jamie Dixon went to his bench early. J.J. Moore, another reserve, scored 10 points. Ashton Gibbs had nine points as 11 players scored for the Panthers, who used their size to outbound the Hornets 41-18.
Pitt (10-0) has won 10 consecutive games to start the season for the seventh time in the past eight seasons. The Panthers have won 45 of their past 46 home games and are 82-1 against non-conference opponents at Petersen Events Center.
Jordan Lawson had 11 points for Delaware State (4-4), which had won its last two games. Desi Washington scored all nine of his points in the first half.
Pitt plays No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday at downtown Pittsburgh's
Consol Energy Center, which is considered a neutral site, in the SEC/Big East Invitational.
Taylor had nine points and seven rebounds in the first half as Pitt built a 34-19 lead by dominating the boards. Pitt's height advantage resulted in a 26-9 rebounding edge in the half when the Panthers took control after a sluggish opening five minutes.
The Hornets tied the score 7-7 about 4 minutes in but Delaware State missed its next 10 shots and shot 29.2 percent for the half. The drought enabled Pitt to take control with a 13-0 run over the next 8:45. The spurt began with a dunk by Taylor and featured several lay-ins and putbacks as Pitt dominated inside.
Delaware State, whose tallest player is 6-foot-7, had no match for the 6-9 Taylor, 6-9 Talib Zanna and 6-11 center Gary McGhee.
When Chad Wilson's 3-pointer pulled Delaware State within 23-16 with 3:44 left in the half, Dixon called a timeout. The Panthers regrouped and went on an 11-3 run to close the half.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
St. John's cruises to 71-52 victory
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Eugenia McPherson scored a career-high 20 points to lead No. 20 St. John's to a 71-52 win over Seton Hall on Wednesday night in the Big East opener for both teams.
Shenneika Smith added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Storm.
Trailing 5-4 early on, St. John's went on a 21-6 run over the next 8 minutes to take a 16-point lead with 6:27 left in the half. McPherson had eight points during the spurt, including consecutive 3-pointers that made it 23-11.
Nadirah McKenith followed those up with back-to-back steals. She threw a nifty bounce pass through three people to a streaking Smith, who converted it for an easy layup. McKenith then took the second steal the length of a floor for her own layup that gave St. John's a 27-11 advantage.
Centhya Hart had 12 points, making all six of her shots for the Red Storm.
nine the rest of the game
The Red Storm (8-1, 1-0) led by 12 at the half and Seton Hall (5-5, 0-1) could only get within
Seton Hall closed to 36-27 early in the second half, but St. John's scored six straight points to restore the double-digit lead and put the game away.
McPherson, who was only making 26 percent from behind the arc this season, hit her first four 3-pointers before finally missing one with just under 2 minutes left.
Terry Green scored 11 points and Taijay Ashmeade added 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pirates, who are guided by first-year coach Anne Donovan. The Hall of Famer led the New York Liberty to the WNBA Eastern Conference finals this past year before taking over Seton Hall.
Pirates leading scorer Kandice Green, who had 31 points and 23 rebounds against William and Mary on Sunday, was held to just four points on 1-for-12 shooting.
It was the Red Storm's seventh straight victory over the Pirates.
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
Women's Basketball
Michigan
6 p.m.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
FRIDAY
Volleyball NCAA Regional TBA Campus Sites
SATURDAY
Men's Basketball
Colorado State
5:30 p.m.
Sprint Center,
Kansas City, Mo.
Volleyball NCAA Regional TBA Campus Sites
SUNDAY
Women's Basketball
Alabama
2 p.m.
Lawrence
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks to play in "Champions Classic"
The Kansas men's basketball team, along with Kentucky, Michigan State and Duke will be participants in the Champions Classic for the next three seasons.
All games will be televised on ESPN, which announced the event Wednesday. The classic will run in a double-header format.
"I thought it was a great idea and I think it's great playing on neutral sites," coach Bill Self said in a release. "To come back to Madison Square Garden will be great with three other unbelievable programs. I'll bet each of these programs will sell whatever ticket allotment they have — four to 5,000."
Kansas' first game is against Kentucky on Nov. 15, 2011 and will be played in the same arena they just played Memphis in: Madison Square Garden in New York. Michigan plays Duke. Kansas plays Michigan State the following year on Nov. 13 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and finishes out the classic against Duke on Nov. 12, 2013, in Chicago's United Center.
— Corey Thibodeaux
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Fredette scores 28 BYU cruises to victory
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — Hometown hero Jimmer Fredette scored 26 points to lift No.18 BYU past Vermont 86-58 on Wednesday night.
A senior guard and AP preseason All-America who starred at Glens Falls High School, Fredette made his first three shots and led the Cougars in scoring for the eighth time in their nine victories to open the season.
Associated Press
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