Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, February 6, 1990
Former KU basketball player returns to classes to finish psychology degree
Bv Mollv Reid
Kansan sportswriter
Calvin Thompson has hung up his high top, put his basketball in the back of the closet and traded it to the gym for hours in the library.
After a three-year academic hiatus, Thompson, a former Kansas basketball player, is back at his needles. He needs for his psychology degree.
"I decided to rearrange my priorities, and basketball is no longer on top." Thompson said. "You never know when your career is going to end and I want to move. You never know where time we can sit down and take some classes, I decided to do that."
Thompson said the time came
this fall after marriage and basketball changed his life.
He said he was married last summer, but preferred to keep his private life private.
Basketball, however, is Thompson's public life.
Thompson, in his four years at Kansas, accumulated a lengthy list of accomplishments, some of which remain in Kansas' record books.
During the 1983-86 seasons, Thompson became the fifth highest career scorer in Kansas history with 1,508 points. He was a member of the 1986 final four team and the NCAA midwest regional all-tournament team during the same year, and topped the records in 1985 with the highest free throw percentage, 91 percent. These are
just a few of the many honors he holds in Kansas' basketball history.
After his four years of eligibility at Kansas ended in 1968, the New York Knicks, the Chicago Bulls, the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs all allowed the forward a glimpse at the NBA, but only a glimpse. He was drafted by the Knicks and played in the Pacers' and Spurs' rookie camps. He also played with Michael Jordan in the Los Angeles summer league for Chicago. However, he never was offered a contract to play by any of the teams.
Calvin Thompson listens to a psvchology lecture in Wencoe Hall.
In between his tryouts with the Pacers and the Spurs, Thompson found a niche for himself in the league. He was a key co-association with the Tampa Bay Sizzlers.
After leaving San Antonio, Thompson also was offered a contract by the Houston Rockets, but he declined. He commented on the terms of the contract.
After two years, he left Topela to pursue a well-paid position on a French team in the European league. The job lasted 10 months. Thompson came back to try again in the NBA, but an injury knee caused him camp spilled his chance, placing him back in Topela this fall.
"I left France because I felt I had a legitimate chance of making the NBA. Then, I almost broke my ankle. So I had to take some time off and get back to work without 100 percent health. I decided to go back to the CBA."
“It’s different in Europe because they want you to be Superman,” he said. “The other players need to give the ball to the American.
Thompson's second stay in Topeka was short. He said he was surprised when the Stizlers won the regular season games this year.
"Things were going almost too good," he said: "Then — boom, things changed. Since I was the top paid (player) they decided to release me. It has been a lot of things in the media, but they are not true. I just got the short end of the stick."
Thompson said he had put the experience behind him and, after three years, is ready to concentrate on school.
Thompson said the transition of returning, to the University had been fairly easy. Many students have made him feel welcome back at Kansas, but the school experience has changed, he said.
"It's different," he said. "I took a lot of time off."
Joy Simpson-Zinn, Thompson's
former french teacher, said Thompson had always been a conscientious student, and he should have no trouble readjusting.
"It was a challenge for him to keep up, but he did," she said. "I would always use him as an example because he was such a good sport. He had a great sense of humor, and he was very respectful."
The challenge of balancing basketball and books no longer stands for Thompson, although he has given his dreams of playing in the NBA.
"While I was playing basketball I just did my work," he said. "I look at it differently. I can sit down and concentrate on being a student."
Thompson said he didn't want to burn out on basketball or school. He is taking 15 hours this semester, and he is not playing any competitive basketball while in Lawrence.
"I't tough not playing basketball and not working," he said, preparing me for after basketball. I have to go out there to work."
Mark Turtgeon, Thompson's former teammate, said the NBA was something Thompson had always wanted. It would be unlikely that the desire would subside.
Thompson said he wanted a degree for use in the distant future. He said he was interested in coaching after basketball because he enjoys the sport and he enjoys working with people.
"I'm glad he's getting his degree," Turgeon said. "He's a bright guy."
"It's all timing," he said. "I still believe I can play. I have played with (Michael) Jordan and some of the other guys. I can compete just a matter of time. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."
Thompson said he hoped people would try to.get to.know him instead of preconceiving who he is with his status as a basketball player.
"Not a lot of people know Calvin," Thompson said. "They know of me. When I first came to college, I was hesitant to get involved. People tend to think men don't have feelings, and I'm very sensitive. It's tough, though, because there are people out there who try to take advantage of different situations. They take your kindness for a weakness.
"When people see Calvin smiling or having fun, that's me. I like caring and helping others as much as caring and helping that is what life is all about."
Lindley slowly recovers from accident
Kansan sportswriter
By Paul Augeri
It's been one month to the day since Chris Lindley was severely injured after falling beneath the wheels of a moving train. For the former high basketball standout, the recovery process has been frustrating.
"I miss the little things you take for granted, like getting up and taking a drink of water," Lindley said. "I go from the wheelchair back to the bed, or from the wheelchair to the surgery table. And I miss not being home."
Because his left leg has not healed as quickly as doctors at the University of Alabama, Lindley expected, Lindley's physician said a prosthesis for his right foot would be
delayed until next week.
"There's been a bit of delay in getting him up and down," said John B. Redford, head of the department of rehabilitation medicine at the Med Center. "The left leg needs quite a bit of healing. The skin on the left腿 doesn't want too much weight (applied) to it."
Lindley, a former basketball player for Raytown-South High School in Raytown, Mo., had his right foot amputated after the accident and has had several skin graft operations on his injured left leg.
Despite the medical delay, Lindley said his spirits, were upbeat about thoughts of receiving the artificial foot.
"I am looking forward to it later." Lindley said. "My left leg is pretty weak. After the prosthesis, I'll be working with a brace on the left leg to regain. strength and flexibility. The skin is pretty tight around my knee."
Kansas coach Roy Williams said, "He's got a lot of hurdles to overcome between now and then. If it works out that he could play on the collegiate level, then we would make a decision at that time. I think he had stated it best, that it is something down the road."
Lindley said he wouldn't raise his hopes about playing competitively.
Lindley signed a national letter of intent in Fall 1989 to play basketball at Kansas. After the accident, Chancellor Gene A. Budig offered
Redford said that doctors at the Med Center would begin making the artificial foot later this week but that Lindley would not wear it until his left leg was deemed strong enough to support him.
aim a four-year institutional scholarship to attend the University. Lindley accepted the offer.
Lindley was transferred to the Med Center from Truman Medical Center on Thursday. After he returns to Raytown-South later this year, he said, he plans to exercise and get back into shape.
"The first day back in school I'm going to hit the weight room," he said. "Then I can run and start playing again. I'll get to work and then see what I can do."
Kansas City football recruits commit to KU
By Brent Mavcock
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas claimed two first-team all-metro football players from the Kansas City area when Chris Powell of Rockhurst High School and Rodney Garrin of Washington High School committed yesterday to attend KU.
Powell and Harris join five players who have committed to play for Kansas next year. They are: Sylvester Wright, MacKenzie High (Detroit); Allen High (Dallas); Asheikh Prestin, Asheikh Prestin (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); Steve Douglas, Schlagle (Kansas City); and Harold Lawrence, Lawrence High
Powell, 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, was a two-time, first-train all-state linebacker for Rockhurst, but is projected to play backal at Kansas his high school coach, Tony Sevarino. He was playing and 250 yards receiving for Rockhurst year and scored 40 touchdowns in his three-year career.
Washington coach Steve Harms said that Harris, 6,6, 210 pounds, had possibilities as a receiver at Kansas despite playing tight end and defensivereceptions for nine games and eight reception for 485 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
"Chris may not have been the best fullback or the best linebacker, but he was the best every down football player had at Rockhurst." Severino said.
Recruiting analyst Max Emfine- of the National High School Recruiting Service compared Powell, who was dawn-yard dash, to "a runaway train."
"We've never had a more physical
Severino said that Powell, who also was a two-time, first-team all-metro and two-time, first-team all-district choice, chose Kansas instead of Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
player than Rodney." Harms said.
"He has tremendous athletic ability,
and he is also a gifted receiver who is not afraid to go over the middle."
Harris, a first-team met-and all-league selection last year, was one of the top three recruits in the Kansas City area, Harms said. Harris considered Illinois, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Missouri before committing to Kansas.
The Jayhawks also received a commitment from George White of Allen, Texas, near Dallas. White, 6-0, 180 pounds, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and had one punt return for a touchdown. Allen High Coach Ken Purcell said that White, a firstteam all-district running back, rushed for more than 1,300 yards and had 15 touchdowns. White also caught 18 passes for 720 yards.
Purcell said that White chose Kansas instead of South Carolina, Texas and Georgia Tech. He also canceled a trip to Miami (Fla.).
Ashelki Preston, meanwhile, has committed to play for the Jayhawks. The 6-1, 175-pound quarterback chose Kansas because it was the only school that recruited him as a quarterback, Preston's coach Dan Marino said. Preston also was recruited by Purdue and Temple and canceled visits to Akron and Connecticut.
"The No. 1 factor was that Kansas runs the same kind of offense as he did in high school," Marino said. "He also worked out with (Kansas) tall army Sands over the summer and has gotten to be good friends with him."
Harold Harris, a 6-1, 190-pound running back from Lawrence High, chose Kansas for academic reasons, Lions coach Bill Freeman said.
"I think loyalty was a big part, but he is very interested in the engineering program," Freeman said. "He's not only a great football player, but a very conscientious student."
MU, KU top of AP poll
The Associated Press
Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas held their spots atop the Associated college basketball poll yesterdays. The team named its impressive three-week climb.
The Huskies (19-3), who are tied with Georgetown for first place in the Bills' conference, are to eight this week after debating rankings two weeks ago at No. 20.
Missouri and Kansas head for their Feb. 13 rematch with just one loss each. The Tigers (21-1) are No. 1 for the third straight week after knocking Kansas from its two-week hold on the first place. It received 81 first place votes and 1,672 points from the nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Kansas (22.1) had the other seven first-place votes and 1,361 points played right behind Missouri in the Bight with two conference victories.
Arkansas (19-2), which won a wild overtime game at Texas on Sunday to stay unbeaten in the Southwest and remain third with 1,438 points.
Duke, Georgetown and Syracuse each improved one place from last week after Michigan fell from fourth to seventh after losing to Purdue.
Duke (18-3), the leader in the Atlantic Coast Conference, beat Clemson and Notre Dame last week with 44 points, 27 more than Georgetown.
The Hoyas (17-2) won two conference games last week to stay even with Connecticut. Syracuse (16-3) stayed one game behind them and received 1,281 points.
Rec. Previous
1. Missouri (58) 21-1 1
2. Kansas (7) 22-1 2
3. Arkansas 19-2 3
4. Duke 18-3 5
5. Georgetown 17-3 6
6. Syracuse 16-3 7
7. Michigan 16-4 4
8. Connecticut 19-3 13
9. UNLV 16-4 12
10. Purdue 16-3 8
11. LSU 16-4 14
12. Illinois 16-4 11
13. Oklahoma 15-3 9
14. La Salle 16-1 15
15. Louisville 16-4 10
16. Georgia Tech 14-4 17
17. Minnesota 15-4 19
18. Oregon St. 17-3 21
19. UCLA 15-4 16
20. Loyola Marymount 17-4 20
21. Xavier, Ohio 17-2 23
22. Arizona 14-4 24,
23. Michigan St. 17-5 -
24. St. John's 17-6 18
25. Indiana 16-5 22
Others receiving votes: New
Mexico St. 18, Alabama B8, North
Carolina 58, Brigham Young 29, N.
Carolina St. 18, Texas 12, Idaho 6,
Clemson 5, Bali St. 4, Colorado St.
4, E. Tennessee St. 3, Providence
3, Holy Cross 2, Virginia 2
*First place votes in parentheses
Optimism keeps team kicking
By Brent Maycock
Kansan sportswriter
Before the Kansas men's soccer team ever got a chance to play last fall, Coach Glenn Shrilliffe received his graduate degree and moved to California.
Playing without a coach, the team ended the fall season with a record of 10-54. It finished second in the Jayhawk Fall Classic and third in the Edge Chartrand Memorial Tournament team also finished fourth in the National Associate Club Soccer Championship Association Tournament.
With a month and a half left before spring competition, the team still does not have a permanent coach, although John Weist, Lawrence senior, has taken over responsibility for coaching the team. Weist, presi-
dent of the women's co-captain, played under Shiriff Lee years. However, he said that the transition from player to player-coach had not been easy.
"It's hard to balance my time between playing and coaching." Weist said.
In his duties as coach, Weist must arrange games, run practices and decide which players will play.
The club has between 30-35 players who attend practices and has a traveling squad of 20 players. Weist said that about one-half of the players were underclassmen. However, they also have sophomore participants does not diminish the confidence of co-captain Dan Stoke, Lenexa junior.
"I choose the players based on who is playing well, who attends practices and who is committed to the club," Weist said.
Stoke said that a lot of talented players were returning from the fall team, but healthy players this year have been more. The team has been without in the past.
"I think we're young." Stoke said.
"But we have a future ahead of us. We are more capable of defending our titles."
"In the past we have had a problem with goals not being healthy," Stoke said. "But this semester, they are strong and healthy, and all of the players are excited."
Weist said that the team received $7,000 per fiscal year from the Student Senate but that members also must pay $40 each semester.
Kansas has not set up any games for the spring season, but Weist said that the team would face most of the Big Eight teams before the Big Eight Championships on April 14-15. The team also will defend its title at the Lasale Stumpfhauser-Wichita State University Tournament on April 21-22. Kansas is the defending champion of both events.
"The money goes toward hiring referees, buying equipment and uniforms, and covering tournament events, to be between $125-$155." Weist said.
Stoke said that Kansas would also play teams from Johnson County Community College, Avila College and -Cloud County Community College.
Weist said that the team was warming up for the spring season by playing in an indoor league in Lenexa. The team plays every Sunday night against men's teams in the Kansas City area.
KU SWIM TEAMS SWEEP MEET:
The Kansas men's and women's swim teams endured three days of Southern Illinois IV competition. Southern Illinois IV championship was
The men scored 1,035.50 points,
beating second-place Southern Illinois by 147 points. The women finished with 1,277 points, 463 in front of second-place Southern Illinois.
Kansas freshman Zhawn Stevens won the 200-yard individual medley in 1 minute, 52.63 seconds, and senior Scott Berry took first in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 16:04.40. Junior Jeff Stout won the 100 backstroke in 52.46 and the 200 backstroke in 1:54.05.
Sports briefs
Kansas freshmen Michelle Wilde and Suzanne Ryan also won multiple events. Wilde finished first in the 50-foot freestyle and 100 freestyle in 24.46 seconds and 52.35 seconds, respectively. Ryan topped the competition with a time of 2:09.60 in the 200 individual medley and 4:34.07 in the 400 individual medley. Ryan also won the 200 breaststroke in 2:24.29.
place in the 1,650 freestyle in 17:04.25.
Junior Barb Pranger won three events for the Javhawks.
Sophomore Kelly Redden won the 100 and 200 backstroke with times of 59.88 and 2:08:08. She also took first
Auburn, Ball State, Western Kentucky and the Southern Illinois Swim Club also competed in the men's meet. The women swam against Southern Illinois and Auburn. The Kansas junior varsity also was scored in both divisions.
"Maybe he just doesn't like me. Maybe he just doesn't want me back. He's leaving me no choice," Harris said in a copyright story in yesterday's edition of The Daily Athenaeum, the university newspaper.
HARRIS STILL UNDECIDED. West Virginia quarterback Major Harris denied that he made up his mind about turning professional and said that Coach Don Neblen could be the one to ultimately make the decision.
Harris, who has one season of eligibility remaining, termed as untrue reports that he had decided to turn pro and hire Los Angeles agent Ed Abrams. Harris said he would make an announcement next week if he decides to make himself available for the NFL draft in April.
"I don't have any money. I don't have an agent." Harris told the student newspaper.
Harris, who was ranked eighth nationally in passing and total offense last season averaging 259.9 yards a game, said that the media had been "one-sided" in reports that he would turn pro. He put some blame on Nehlen.
Boone will be paid $1.9 million and could make as much as $325,000 more with contract incentives.
BOONE RE-SIGNS WITH ROYALS:
The Kansas City Royals and catcher Bob Boone agreed yesterday to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for the 1980 season.
Boone, 42, and the Royals were scheduled for arbitration. Boone submitted a salary request for $2.05 million to the Royals had offered $1.5 million.
Boone made $883,001 last year after signing with the Royals as a free agent in November 1988.
Boone hit. 274 in 131 games with a home run and 45 RBI. He hit. 350 with men in scoring position, highest on the club.
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