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/ SPORTS / TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
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In this Nov. 17, 2000 file photo, former Negro League baseball player Buck O'Neil, center, signs a baseball for fellow player Johnny Washington at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. Three and a half years after the death of museum founder and ambassador Buck O'Neil, the museum is finding itself on shaky financial ground.
BASEBALL HISTORY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANAS CITY, Mo. — The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a unique window into a vital chapter of American history that the late Buck O'Neil helped open 20 years ago, could be in trouble.
Museum in financial mess
What's more, the recession has cut deeply into donations. After posting its first loss two years ago of about $30,000, the museum is looking at what one staffer termed "a monster loss" that could approach a quarter of a million dollars when the final accounting for 2009 is complete. For a relatively small museum that has always depended on the kindness of others, $200,000 is seismic.
Attendance and revenues are down, and a decision by new management to distance itself from O'Neil has splintered many of its most loyal supporters.
Much of the revenue loss is
traceable to a drop in licensing revenue. No one is predicting the museum's imminent demise, but everyone agrees the trend must be reversed.
"For museums all over the country, dollars are becoming hard to find," said Greg Baker, who took over as executive director a little
more than a year ago. "We are challenged by that. We've got to raise money to keep going and if we don't, we'll end up closing our doors."
If it shuts down,the country will lose the
long and painful march toward equality.
O'Neil, atwo-two NegroLeagues batting champion and longtime
"We've got to raise money to keep going, and if we don't, we'll end up closing our doors."
"This place is cherished by too many people to let that happen," historian and filmmaker Ken Burns said. "It would be a cultural tragedy."
GREG BURNS
Executive Director, Negro Leagues
Baseball Museum
only museum dedicated exclusively to black baseball's unique contribution to American culture and the vital role those men played in the
manager of the Kansas City Monarchs died three and a-ha-lal years ago at 94. Extraordinarily charismatic, he crisscrossed the country the last 15 years of his eventful life, spinning entertaining tales of long gone African-American stars while making friends and raising money for the museum.
REED (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
on a basketball game a player can make.
Sophomore forward Marcus Morris said he hadn't had a chance to speak to Reed about the play, but said before Monday's practice that it was great defense at the end of regulation.
"Maybe, if he hadn't stolen that, we might have lost," Morris said. "That was just great by Tyrel of not giving up."
Self said Reed's slap came at at the most crucial part of the game, making it noteworthy. Though he said he didn't want to minimize the effect of Collins' game-sealing basket in overtime.
"At least we had a one point lead when Sherron did that," Self said. "So that was as big a play as anyone made the entire game."
— Edited by Jesse Rangel
FOLLOWING THE GAME LIVE
From ukbasketball, The Kansan's Basketball coverage on Twitter, as the Reed defensive play happened:
WOW. Tyrel Reed is the hero right now. What a huge play.
WOW. #kubball
8:23 PM Jan 30th (via @udkbasketball)
Go to www.twitter.com/udkbasketball for live, in-game com
mentary from The Kansan's Timp Dwyer.
TRACK (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
in political science to Duke Law School next fall.
Clearly, Bonds has had a very successful career at Kansas. With Saturday being the Jayhawks' final home meet of the indoor season, Bonds will compete only once more at home, during the 2010 outdoor season at the popular Kansas Relays on April 14 - 17.
The Relays will be a perfect opportunity for Kansas students and fans to send Bonds off with the proper recognition and congratulations she deserves. Until then, look for her to continue adding layers to her historic career while she competes away from home.
TENNIS (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Tennis Association Tournament. The ITA regional tournament showcases talented college players from around the country.
"When coach first told us I did not understand. Everyone was smiling and screaming, then they told me and I was so emotional." Khanevskaya said. "It was so unbelievable to be invited as a freshman."
Khanevskaya went 1-1 in doubles
with partner Erin Wilbert, a sophomore from Lafayette, La., and finished 3-5 in sineles.
"It feels great to go two years in a row," Morozova said. "All the players
Part of the reason the pair had such a smooth transition is a result of head coach Amy Hall-Holt and her previous experience with international players.
In the past five years of Hall-Holt's 13-year tenure the team has featured 10 international athletes.
"It is just contacts I have and results they have had for junior tournaments and rankings. And then sometimes it is word of
"It is becoming really popular in Russia, people are going crazy about tennis."
were really good and it is a really good experience to play against them."
--mouth by former players or current players," Hall-Holt said. "They also have people over there who help to get their information out."
"As a university, for me, KU is the best in America," Khanesvakava said.
Khanewskaya decided that she didn't want to play professionally in Russia despite winning the National Russian Tournament and coming in fourth at the Championship of Samara U18 Regional. She wanted to go to a university and play tennis while getting an education after finishing high school with a 4.0 GPA.
KATE MOROZOVA
Togliatte, Russia,
sophomore
There has been a lot of
attention on international tennis talent as some of the most recognizable names in professional tennis such as Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova have also come from Russia.
"It is becoming really popular in Russia, people are going crazy about tennis," Morozova said.
Kansas is also one of the few universities that will take students who do not score well on English proficiency tests. For foreign students there is an exam, which includes reading, writing, listening and speaking segments. Kansas focuses on high school GPA results or success in college preparatory courses instead
the transition.
"When Victoria came over she was a little lost, but she was not the first international player so the coaches knew how to help" Morozova said. "I helped her, too. I explained campus to her and the tournaments."
"I did not really speak any English when I came to Kansas, but Victoria had known some before and had an easier transition," Morozova said.
Even though the distance is difficult, Khanevskaya said her parents are proud of her for pursuing her academic and tennis career in
The team.
"I feel like I am not just another girl on the team, this is my second home."
VICTORIA KHANEVSKAYA Moscow, freshman
Lawrence.
which is experienced with diversity, helped the girls adjust to life on and off the court. Both girls also enrolled in English classes during their first semester to help
Only a semester in she already feels comfortable with the team and the University.
"The team always wants to support me. I feel like I am not just another
— Edited by Kristen Liszewski
girl on the team, this is my second home." Khanevskaya said. "I do not feel alone here."
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