MESATRIAL
A judge has granted Cleveland Indians pitcher Jose Mesa a separate trial from his co-defendant on sex and weapons charges.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Curran ruled on the motion by Mesa's attorneys during a pretrial hearing.
Mesa's attorneys told the judge that David Blanzo, Mesa's co-defendant, intended to testify in his own defense against a weapons count. Mesa is scheduled for trial March 31, so the Indians don't know whether the reliever will be available for questioning. No Court Scotland.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
The team is expected to ask major league
baseball this week for permission to replace Mesa with another pitcher on the 25-man roster while he is on trial.
ST. LOUIS RAMS RELEASE PUNTER
The St. Louis Rams have released veteran punter Sean Landeta at his request. Landeta, 35, said Monday he was hoping to sign with another team. He asked to be
released after it became clear that Coach Dick Vermell and special teams coach Frank Gansz were looking for a younger kicker.
FREE-AGENT TALKS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997
Free-agent cornerback Cris Dishman began talks with the Washington Redskins after the Pittsburgh Steelers withdrew an offer that included a $2.5 million signing bonus.
The four-year offer included a salary of $300,000 this year. It would have cost the Steelers $925,000 against the salary cap this year.
Dishman, who played with Houston last year, met Tuesday with Redskins officials. Washington cor-
are also free agents, and the Steelers are looking at Carter.
Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson, also a free agent, met with Chicago Bears officials who are concerned about his right knee. A ligament was torn in the opener of the 1995 season.
SECTION B
Michigan University hires Kansas law firm to probe
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — The University of Michigan has hired an Overland Park law firm to investigate allegations of impropriety in its men's basketball program, University President Lee Bollinger said.
Bond, Schoeneck & King, which specializes in investigating programs facing potential NCAA sanctions, will investigate whether a Detroit man gave cash and gifts to players.
Bollinger said Monday that he and athletic director Joe Roberson have discussed the idea of retaining an independent organization to examine the allegations, and that hiring the firm was an appropriate step.
The university released a report earlier this month saying an unidentified booster was responsible for two minor violations of NCAA regulations and had been barred from further contact with Michigan athletics.
Last week, the Detroit Free Press, citing anonymous sources, said Eddie Martin had given players cash and other imperious gifts for years.
Martin has refused most interview requests, but he told The Detroit News in a recent interview that he gave food and gifts to young athletes because he likes to help kids.
Tommy Amaker new coach for Seton Hall basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — Tommy Amaker, the star playmaker for Duke who became an assistant coach with the Blue Devils, was hired today as Seton Hall's basketball coach, succeeding George Blaney.
Seton Hall President Robert Shearan had said he was seeking a coach committed to academic integrity and who has experienced success at the Division I level.
Seton Hall said Amaker's appointment is to be announced today at a news conference.
He played at Duke 1983-1987, going to the NCAA tournament all four years.
Amaker was an assistant coach at Duke for seven years before being promoted to associate coach two years ago.
Blaney was ousted after a 38-48 record in three seasons. He had losing records in his final two, finishing with a 10-18 mark this season.
He was an honorable mention All- American his senior year and received the Henry Iba Corinthian award for the nation's best defensive player in 1987.
CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. — A Virginia Tech track athlete testified that he was chased and beaten by a pack of football players and suffered a broken collarbone when a wide receiver hit him with a cane.
But in the first trial of a football player accused in the case, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs dismissed the attempted malicious wounding charge against the receiver, Angelo Harrison.
Track athlete says that football players beat him
Three football players testified that Harrison was not involved in the beating of spinner Hilliard Sumner. And three prosecution witnesses said it was too dark to identify who took part in the Aug. 31 attack on the Virginia Tech campus.
Harrison, who was charged with a felony, was suspended for about half the season. Six players charged with misdemeanor assault and battery were suspended for one game.
Several witnesses testified that Summer was chased after he interceded in a fight between another track athlete and a football player. The fight broke out after a dance at the student union and stemmed from a feud between the track and football teams.
Coach says other players also did well
—The Associated Press
By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter
Guard Angle Halbleib, the most prolific three-point shooter in Kansas women's basketball history, made the GTE Academic All-America team for the second-consecutive year.
She was a third-team selection.
Halbleib has a 3.82 cumulative grade point average, including a 4.00 GPA during the fall 1996 semester. She will graduate in May with a major in math education and a minor in physics.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said the academic accomplishments of other players, such as guard Tamecka Dixon and forward Jennifer Trapp, cannot be ignored.
"Tamecka is a Jayhawk scholar, and so is Jennifer," Washington said. "My players have done a great job in the classroom as well on the court. I don't think you can ask for anything more from these young women."
First Team
Halbleib holds Kansas career records for three-point shot attempts (658) and three-point shots made (238). She was the Jayhawks' second-leading scorer this season, averaging 11.9 points per game.
■ Kathleen Courtney, Holy Cross,
3.86 Mathematics
Another player from the Big 12 Conference, Iowa State forward Jayme Olsen, made the GTE Academic All-America team.
Olson was a first-team selection with a 3.90 GPA in psychology. She helped the Cyclones make their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, posting team-highs of 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds this
For the second-consecutive year, Kansas guard Angie Halbleib has made the GTE Academic All-America team. Halbleib has a 3.82 cumulative GPA and will graduate in May. Halbleib was the Jayhawks' second leading scorer this season, averaging 11.9 points per game.
Jennifer Howard, North Carolina State 4.0, Communications
Mary's, 3.94, Mathematics
Michelle Palmisano, Vanderbilt, 3.99, Biomedical and electrical engineering
Jayme Olson Iowa State 3.90 Psychology
Sheila Danker, New Hampshire, 3.38, Economics and political Science
Lisa Davies, Southwest Missouri State, 4.0, Communication science disorders
Angela Drake, Toledo, 3.64 Elementary education
Ashley Moore, Campbell, 4.O. Accounting
Carrie Templin, Kent, 3.92,
Speech pathology and audiology
Third Team
Kim Brandl, Southern
Methodist, 3.76, Liberal Arts
Angle Haibleb, Kansas, 3.82
Korie Hilde, Duquesne, 3.33,
Communications
Communications
Communications Heather Newlon. Memphis.
Heather Newton, Memphis 4.00, Pre-physical therapy
Michelle Ratay Northwestern 3.46 History
season.
"Jayne's a great representative for Iowa State, and someone we can all
Iowa State women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly said Olson was someone that other players should emulate.
be proud of," Fennelly said. "We know that she's the kind of person we can build a program around. I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish this year, so I'm looking forward to coaching Jayme for one more year."
North Carolina State forward Jennifer Howard was named the GTE Academic All-American of the Year. She will graduate in May and currently has a cumulative 4.00 GPA in
communications.
Vanderbilt guard Michelle Palmisano made the first team with a 3.99 cumulative GPA. She is majoring in biomedical and electrical engineering, and will also graduate in May.
She had 17 points, eight rebounds and five steals in a 51-44 defeat of Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night.
Vanderbilt women's basketball
coach Jim Foster said that some people often forget to mention the scholar in scholar-athlete.
"When you look at my team, they're a bunch of students who work hard at everything they do." Foster said. "They are very disciplined, and it shows up in the classroom and on the court. I'm just as proud about what they do for their teachers as what they have done for me."
'Hawks play through pain
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas men's basketball guard Jerod Haase has a nagging back injury. Haase's backcourt mate, Jacque Vaughn, is suffering from bronchitis. It likely would be in their best interest to rest their aches and pains.
But this is the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks have a date with Arizona at 6:55 p.m. on Friday in Birmingham, Ala. For now, rest and recuperation will have to be put on hold.
Fortunately for the Jayhawks, Haase's back is gradually improving, and Vaughn's illness likely will be reaching the end of its cycle.
"Jerod's back is better," Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said. "Jacque doesn't have his appetite back or his energy level back to where we want it to be. Hopefully, each day it will get better."
Haase's tender back is just one more in a list of aches he has endured this season. It was revealed on Feb. 5 that Haase has a broken scaphoid bone in his right hand.
Williams said both Haase and Vaughn practiced for one-half to two-thirds of practice Monday night.
Haase said the recent back injury shouldn't hinder his performance on Friday against third-round opponent, Arizona.
"It's been pretty good," Haase said. "I don't think it's anything that's going to affect me too much."
Williams said that despite Haase's string of injuries this season, his fortitude is crucial
Roy Williams men's basketball coach
"I think there's still some fuel left in his tank."
to the Jayhawks' title run.
Like Haase, Vaughn has opted to play through his aliment. Following last Saturday's game against Purdue, in which Vaughn played with a fever, he was asked what it would take for him to sit out.
"At the end of the game I want Jerod Haase on the court because he can guard anybody," Williams said. "I think there's still some fuel left in his tank."
The second-team All-American said Coach Williams would have had to chain him down in the locker room.
Despite his illness, Vaughn dished out nine assists and netted 12 points, including a three-pointer that put the Jayhawks back in the lead in the victory against the Boilermakers.
Bronchitis customarily takes seven to ten days before it's out of the body.
While seniors Vaughn and Haase recover from their ailments, sophomore forward Paul Pierce has come to center stage. Pierce has lead the Jayhawks in scoring in each of Kansas' five postseason games.
Tvler Wirken / KANSAN
"Somewhere it said, 'A baby will lead them.' Maybe that's what's happening right here," Williams said.
Center Scot Pollard dunks and forward Raef LaFrentz looks up as the Jayhawks add to their win against Jackson State in Kansas' first game of the NCAA tournament in Memphis, Tenn. Kansas will play at 6:55 p.m. Friday in Birmingham, Ala., against Arizona. Kansas will be making its fifth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
SAN DIEGO — Without so much as throwing one of his vaunted fastballs, Hideki Irabu apparently will return to Japan and sit out this big-league season.
Prima donna baseball player says he'll take Yankees or bust
"We're leaving Wednesday," agent Don Nomura said. Nomura said he and Irabu, whose fastball has been clocked at close to 100 mph, were booked on an All Nippon Airways flight to Tokyo.
The Associated Press
Last week, Nomura faxed a letter to all major league general managers, saying his client would sit out the season unless he was allowed to sign with the Yankees by today.
The San Diego Padres, who own Irabu's rights, don't anticipate a deal by today with the Yankees or anyone else.
Nor are they broken up about their failed attempt to land the right-hander described as the Nolan Ryan of Japan because of his 1,111 strikeouts in 1,101 2-3 innings spanning eight seasons.
Club president Larry Lucchino said the Padres would resolve the Irabu situation at their pace, not Nomura's.
San Diego obtained Irabu's rights in January as part of an arrangement with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League, but he has refused to negotiate with the Padres. Irabu said it was his childhood dream to pitch for the Yankees.
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