DYKSTRA MAY RETURN
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
LENNY DYKSTRA, still unable to play because of back surgery last year, isn't ruling out the possibility of returning to the Philadelphia Phillies this season.
SPORTS
the lower back through a smaller than-normal area.
Doctors operated on his back July 15. Dykstra said the operation had been a success and his back was healing and doing fine. But he said he had different pain now related to the recovery process.
BOSTON PLAYER AWARDED $2.5 MILLION
Boston knuckle-ball pitcher TIM WAKEFIELD became the first player to win in salary arbitration this winter when he was awarded $2.5 million by arbitrator James
Duff, rather than the $1.55 million offered by the Red Sox.
Wakefield, a 28 year-old right hander, led Boston in wins last season with a 5.44 AER.
After leading the New York Yankees to their first World Series title in 18 years, manager JOE TORRE was rewarded yesterday with a $2 million, two-year contract extension through 1999. Torre is due to receive $550,000 this season
YANKEES' MANAGER
Torre is due to receive $2,085 as part of a $1.05 million, two-year contract.
Torre took over from Buck
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1996
he took over from back Showalter on Nov. 12, 1995, in the 20th change of managers since Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973. Torre, 56, played or managed 4,268 games before making his first World Series appearance last fall.
SECTION B
LaFrentz won't consider leaving Jayhawks for NBA
Kansas junior forward Raef LaFrentz, whose dominating play in the last few weeks has made him an All-America candidate, says he won't consider leaving school for the NBA until after the season.
LaFrentz said he hadn't thought about turning pro a year early. Speculation about his future has increased, especially with LaFrentz's play in the last eight games since starting center Scot Pollard developed a stress fracture in his left foot.
LaFrentz has averaged 23.1 points and 10.3 rebounds for the Jayhawks during Pollard's absence.
"There will be a decision to be made, but I'm thinking more about the things I need to do today to make (Kansas) better," LaFrentz said. "There's nothing I'd rather be doing than playing basketball at Kansas right now."
For the season, LaFrentz is averaging 19 points and nine rebounds, both career highs. They also are the highest averages ever for a Jayhawk under coach Roy Williams.
Former trapeze artist sets new record in pole vault
—Kansan staff report
She brushed the bar on the record leap, improving her mark of 14-9 set this month at the Victorian state championships.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Australia's Emma George, a former trapeze artist in the circus, broke her own record in the women's pole vault last night, soaring 14-11 at the Melbourne Grand Prix meet.
She failed at three later attempts to reach 15-3.
George, a 22-year-old former sprinter and long jumper who has been competing in the pole vault for a little more than two years, also holds the world indoor record.
Christie did just enough to pull away and win in 10.2 seconds. Countryman Darren Campbell was second in 10.26 and Australia's Steve Brimacombe was third in 10.42.
Former Olympic gold medalist Linford Christie of Britain, approaching his 37th birthday, won the 100-meter dash in front of a crowd of 12,000.
Jack Pierce of the United States won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.54 ahead of Britain's Tony Jarrett (13.62) and Australia's Kyle Vander-Kupy (13.68).
Proposal would guarantee viewers free Olympics on TV
BRUSSELS, Belgium — The head of the Olympic movement has promised the Games will be yours for free.
"Everybody has the right to see the Olympics without paying," IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said yesterday before discussing legislative proposals in the European Union to guarantee that important sporting events would have to be broadcast free of charge.
In Europe, the IOC awarded the rights for the Winter and Summer Olympics up to 2008 to the EBU public broadcasters consortium for $1.44 billion, despite a much higher bid from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
The Olympic broadcast rights already have been signed through the year 2008, granting the IOC financial security for the next decade.
Global broadcast rights revenues for the 1980 Moscow Games totaled $101 million. In 2008, the IOC already has secured $1.4 billion.
NBC has wrapped up the U.S. market for the five games from 2000 to 2008 for $3.5 billion.
The EBU has settled on $1.442 billion for the same period and in Australia, Seven Network obtained the rights to the games of 2002 to 2008 for $141 million.
Celebration of seniors
The Associated Press
Victory on special day would cinch conference
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
For some, the circumstances surrounding the Kansas-Kansas State men's basketball game at 3:05 p.m. tomorrow in Allen Field House are more than just optimal.
They're unhappy. "You couldn't script it any better," Kansas guard Ryan Robertson said. "A chance to win the conference outright on senior day, against Kansas State."
The Wildcats enter tomorrow's game tied with Texas &M for last place in the Big 12 Conference. They have yet to win an away conference game. Their only conference wins were against Oklahoma and Nebraska in Manhattan.
Offensive leaders for K-State include guard/forward Mark Young and guard Ayome May, who are averaging 13 and 11.4 points a game, respectively.
Despite the statistical David and Goliath matchup the game may appear to be, K-State was able to take the jawahows down to the wire when the teams met on Jan. 4. Kansas, however, was able to hold off a late Wildcat run and win 62-59 in Bramalea Coliseum.
After his past experience with the Wildcats, Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn said the Jayhawks wouldn't be taking K-State lightly.
Tomorrow's game will mark the final home appearance by seniors Steve Branstrom, Jerod Haase, Scot Pollard, Steve Ransom, Vaughn and B.J. Williams.
"It's been a great rivalry." Vaughn said. "We know they're not going to concede the game."
Sentiment is expected to play a large part in the game.
Sentinel is expected to play a very emotional game, and I think the underclassmen want us to go out with a win," Vaughn said. "The seniors definitely want to put 100 percent effort into it."
With six seniors on the Jayhawk roster, one question that keeps popping up is who is Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams going to start?
Rov Williams said he didn't know yet.
etudier at a press conference.
"Three o'clock" the reporter said.
"What time does the game start?" Roy Williams asked a reporter yesterday at a press conference.
"Then everybody will find out at three o'clock," Williams said. "Scot will start, though."
Williams said he was afraid that the game might get overlooked amount the sentimental atmosphere.
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
"That's part of my biggest concern," Williams said. "I'm hoping the players remember how Kansas State played us last time."
Williams also was fearful that he might get a little choked up during the goodbye speeches by the seniors following the game. Off to the court, when they're talking, it's
"If you see me walking off the court when they're talking, it's because of Roy's not tough enough to handle it.
because of Roy's honesty and generosity. "I've got the best group of kids in America," Williams said. "Other coaches can say that, but no one can say it with the conviction that Roy Williams does."
Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn tries to work his way around a Missouri defender in Monday night's game. The Jayhawks will face Kansas State at 3:05 p.m. tomorrow at Allen Field House.
Women strive to keep Big 12 lead
Kansas' Nakia Sanford attempts to outreach a Missouri player for a rebound during the Jayhawks' game with the Tigers Wednesday night in Allen Field House. The Jayhawks will travel to Manhattan tomorrow to take on the Kansas State Wildcats.
Tvler Wirken / KANSAN
By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawks have a one-game advantage over No.9 Texas with three regular season games remaining. While the team refuses to look too far ahead, thoughts of becoming conference champions are inevitable to some players this late in the season.
The No. 12 Kansas women's basketball team will try to protect its Big 12 Conference lead when it plays Kansas State at 7.p.m. tomorrow in Manhattan.
same play. "I think it's a tremendous honor to even have the chance to win the firstever Big 12 title," guard Tamecka Dixon said. "We won the last Big Eight title, so we just want to keep our winning ways going this year."
Kansas will enter tomorrow's game trying to accomplish something no team has been capable of doing this year: defeating K-State on its home court. The Wildcats are a perfect 11-0 at Bramlage Coliseum this season.
"I think we can go in there with a little less pressure, but we'd really like to stay ahead of everyone in the standings," said Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington. "There's no one else in the conference who's beaten them at home, so they must be doing a lot of things right."
Kansas guard Angie Halbleib said the Jayhawks would work to win their last Big 12 regular-season road game.
"They're going to be a tough team to beat on their home court," Halbleib said. "We're going to be focused, so hopefully we can go in there and sneak out with a win. We're not going to go in there and take them lightly."
Kansas defeated K-State at Allen Field House 70-54 in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 4.
Leading K-State is forward Andria
Dixon said the key to containing Jones was to go straight at her when playing offense.
Jones, who averages 19.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. She scored 17 points and added four rebounds in the first meeting.
"We're going to make her work at both ends of the court," Dixon said. "We want to force her to play defense, and hopefully we'll wear her down."
"it's a very competitive conference for the women because there are no easy games, especially on the road. It would probably be something that I'd put right up there with the other experiences in my life, but it won't be the end of the world if we don't win it, either."
After Wednesday night's 70-60 victory against Missouri, Washington commented on what winning the inaugural Big 12 regular-season title would mean to her.
Women's basketball
Kansas State (15-8 overall, 8-5 in the Big 12) Probable Starters
G Jenny Coalson, 5-11, So.
G Missy Decker, 5-10, Sr.
F Andria Jones, 6-1, Sr.
F Nicky Ramage, 6-1, Fr.
C Kayla Hester, 6-0, Sr.
Kansas (20-4 overall, 11-2 in the Big 12) Probable Starters
G Tamecka Dixon, 5-9, Sr.
G Angle Halbleib, 5-10, Sr.
F Lynn Pride, 6-2, Fr.
F Jennifer Trapp, 6-1, Sr.
C Nakia Sanford, 6-3, So.
Time: 7 p.m. tomorrow
Place: Bramlag Coliseum in Manhattan
Radio: KJHK-FM, 90.7
Senior Day inspires odd adulations
For some reason, this year's Senior Day at tomorrow's game game has made people get freaky. Like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest freaky.
As sports editor, I am a target for every weirdo with an idea. This week, the weirdos have come out of the closet with grand schemes on how to make this year's Senior Day special.
To begin, a Lawrence attorney is
promoting tossing flowers onto the court as the seniors are introduced. OK, not all that crazy. Word on the street is that way back in the days (a.k.a. before I got here) this was a common practice.
Why it stopped,
I have no idea.
Maybe it had
something to do
Either way, the Athletic Department is promoting this. Just hope no one throws roses with thorns. Kansas doesn't need another injury.
with Kansans thinking ragged was a flower. Or maybe it was because the people in row 50 were getting upset at the people in row 100 who couldn't throw their flowers far enough.
Another idea thrown at me came from a student. He said he heard this idea from Hank Bouch, a local radio guru. The idea: We all should dress up in suits, ties, dresses, etc. to show our respect.
Please.
Please.
Who really wants to sit at 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in Allen Field House watching rival Kansas State get spanked while having to worry about spilling mustard on your tie or keeping your legs crossed.
It probably would be more supportive for students to paint their faces red and blue and slap I LOVE THE SENIORS on their butts.
One guy called and said — no joke — that we should retire all the senior's jerseys tomorrow. Even Steve Ransom and Joel Branstrom's.
Another person suggested that people bring written letters to the game expressing our love for the team.
The weirdest call of all came from a nameless woman who works for the University of Kansas. She was upset about the poster we ran Monday on point guard Jacque Vaughn. The conversation went something like this.
Woman: I can't believe you printed a poster with Jacque Vaughn on it!
Me: O.K.
Woman: He's not that good.
Me: O.K.
Woman: Have you seen his stats?
He hasn't done that much for the team. How can you say he is an All-American?
Me: Uh,Uh.
Meet O. G.
Woman: I think this is a slap in the face to the rest of the team. They deserve some recognition.
Then I hung up.
Pay attention. First of all, we have done seven posters this year, only one of them on Vaughn. Second, Vaughn is a four-year starter and the point guard of the No. 1 team in the country. He has more than 1,000 points and 300 assists in his career. He will be drafted and could have bolted last season. He is a good student and, some might argue, a role model.
When Vaughn is introduced tomorrow for the very last time at the field house, ask yourself: Would you really prefer that he be in another uniform?
There are a lot of people out there with some weird ideas. But, hey, keep those ideas coming.
Now I have to go find my flower.
Comments? E-mail Spencer at
sports@kansan.com
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