4B
Wednesday, February 19, 1997
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Lack of class pervades sports
The Jayhawks didn't beat the Tigers with talent alone. Sure, Kansas is a much better team. But they've got class, something that most Missouri players are sorely lacking. Among those players are Jason "Til foul your grandmother" Sutherland and Derek Grimm, who decided in the last couple of minutes of the game that he had no future in basketball and tried some boxing. Guys like Jacque Vaughn and Jerod Haase have more class in their little pinkies than the whole Missouri squad ever will have.
If you are a real college basketball fan and haven't yet sent a thank you note to the ACC officials in the Wake Forest-North Carolina State game, don't forget. Their poor officiating cost Wake their No. 2 ranking, most notably with the blown call on the final three-point shot that won the game instead of sending it into overtime.
Last week, former Royals outfielder Danny Tartaball turned down a $2 million contract from the Phillies that had more than $300,000 in incentives. The only other offer he has received was from Cincinnati for $500,000 with
SPORTS COLUMNIST
no incentive
bonuses. That
makes sense
b e c a u s e ,
um...well, obvi-
o...s l y
because...okay,
I'm stumped.
Watch as many Bulls games as you can this season. Granted, it's not easy to like a dominating team like the Bulls unless you're from Chicago.
But this may be the final season for the greatest basketball player and maybe the best player ever in any sport - Michael Jordan. Enjoy the show, because the closing credits will be rolling soon.
"I can't figure out why some people think that the concept of problematic players is new to sports, especially baseball. In the wake of Albert Belle's repeated tirades and Baltimore designated spitter Roberto Alomar's shower of emotion, it seemed that there were no precedents for these incidents.
Belle looks like an angel (not the Anaheim variety) compared to Ty Cobb, who, although he may be the game's greatest player, made enemies of teammates and foes alike with his malicious personality. Ted Williams, two-time American League MVP and the last man to hit .400 (.406 in 1941), also lost control once, spitting toward fans and throwing his bat in anger after a heckler threw a hot dog at him. Such incidents have been, and will be, around forever. The difference is, when guys like Cobb and Williams did it, there may have been a small story in the newspaper about it. With Belle and Alomar, we get to see close-ups and slow-motion replays of it on a zillion channels for weeks after it happens. Isn't technology wonderful?
- Top Five pitcher responses after learning that Belle and Frank Thomas are now in the same lineum:
1. Can't we walk them both?
2. Is that really legal
3. My elbow bursitis is flaring up again.
4. How much am I getting paid for this?
5. Oh @#%$!
Kansas City Star columnist Joe Posanski wrote last week that the Chiefs should acquire quarterback Bernie Kosar until they develop their own quarterback. If the pickings are that slim, why not give Randall Cunningham a call? Or ex-Chief Dave Krieg? Cunningham has been out of football for awhile, but there's no doubt that he has some mobility in the pocket. Krieg still has something left in the arm that helped Steve Largent into the Hall of Fame and he can throw a swing pass just as good as the next guy. Bernie Kosar can...well, he can think of fake-spike goal-line plays that will fool the jets.
Have you noticed that:
1. Tiger Woods is now a more popular name than John Smith or Bob Williams?
2. Keith Obermann of SportsCenter sold out to Boston Market?
3. Raef spelled backwards is fear.
4. This is the first column I have written without mentioning the Oakland A's or Mark McGwire? Ooops, nevermind.
Comments? E-mail Matt at mwoodruff@kansan.com
HOROSCOPES
Today's Birthday (Feb. 19) The work you do this year can greatly improve your confidence. You get a starring role in March. Use money that comes in April to hire professional help. The summer is uneventful, but August could be hectic.
Artes (March 21-April 19) - Today is an 8. Get out this afternoon and do something physically strenuous. Call a friend or two and ask them to join you. Your luck will be excellent this evening — in both romance and partnership. Spicy foods, like buffalo wings, could add to the enjoyment of your night.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) - Today is a 5. Gathering with folks who share your point of view is more fun than arguing with somebody who doesn't, especially if that one's almost as stubborn as you are. Compromise with another tough cookie so negotiations don't take all day. Save time to play with your friends.
Gemini (May 21 June 21) - Today is an 8. Use your intuition to be truly effective. You'll be prodded to
notice things that you might normally overlook. If you can figure out what needs to be done and do it, you will win. If you can't figure it out, go ahead and ask. You will still make a good impression.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)- Today is a 6. The major battle today is between the nice guys and those who want to push them around. The bullies have the advantage in some areas, and you have it in others. Practice being more confident, aggressive and self-assured.
You've got nothing to lose and lots to win.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) - Today is a 7. Keep remembering to respect other people's feelings. Modify your enthusiasm with compassion. If you need a little extra money to carry out your dreams, approach the subject with a wealthy person. Being respectful will make a big difference.
Virge (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Today is a 1. When you stop letting yourself get pushed around, you may find out what's really going on. Your critical friend may be bothered
by a personal matter that has nothing to do with you. Meanwhile, finish up something that's overdue and you'll sleep better tonight.
Libra (Sept, 23-Oct, 23) - Today is an 8. It's time to take on more of that authority you so richly deserve. If you really want a promotion, consult the person in your group who usually says the least. Ask for a private appraisal of your work. You will get an earful. Find a congenial group to party with tonight.
**Scorpio** (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) - Today is a 7. You're fighting something you haven't conquered in yourself. You're going to have to come to peace with this demon eventually, so why not now? Face it squately, and pray for a miracle. Later, be with a friend who never pushes you to do anything.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today is an 8. If your job involves teaching, talking, sales, advertising or promotion of any kind, you will be fantastic. Remember, however, to be careful of other people's feeling. There are still a lot of wimps in high positions of authority.
Capiliform (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).
Today is a 6. People with lofty schemes are storming your citadel, bent either on winning you to their side or just dominating you completely. They may have overlooked a major point, such as how much their ideas are going to cost.
You get to be the voice of reality.
Aquartus (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7. It might look like your project is well on its way to success. Don't overlook the human interest angle, though. Avoid the mistake of thinking that gentle people don't have power. Financially, be careful. You will have a tendency to spend too freely.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is a 5. You must wonder how some people get such a high opinion of themselves, when they're missing half of what's going on. It's like they're operating on only five cylinders. Your sixth is the one they want to know about.
The following is a message that the University Daily Kansan sport's desk has received via e-mail. If you have anything you would like to say, e-mail the sports desk at sports@kansan.com and we will print it.
TALKING BACK
In response to Spencer Duncan's column that ticket prices are too high:
I am writing in response to your commentary about the underhanded way in which the athletic department raised student ticket prices for next season, especially the comment about pushing students out, because last night at the Colorado game, that's exactly what happened.
Three of my friends and I went down to the game at 6 p.m. We realized that this would be a really big game, and that going an hour before tip-off we would be getting seats pretty high up. What we didn't realize is that "high up" meant back up to the top of the hill. After spending almost 45 minutes on both ends of the field house with no less than four ushers actively searching up and down the rows for us, we still couldn't find more than one seat for the four of us. Needless to say, we all went home and watched the game on TV in seats we knew we had waiting for us.
I've put up with all of things for KU basketball sitting up so high the game looks just like it does on TV, getting trampled trying to get in because 2,000 people are forced to go through one door and having to break our group
down into pairs just so we can find places to sit. But this is more than I'm going to stand for. The Athletic Department has my money, but I didn't get a seat. And there were still students coming down the hill when we were heading home. The department sold us tickets that we weren't able to use, and now next year when this happens, they'll have even more of our money, with the same thing likely to happen.
I guess this really doesn't surprise me. The department sells tickets to students in their package and then gets even more money for the same tickets when someone doesn't turn in their coupons on time. They get paid twice for the same ticket, which may not even get the ticketholder a seat. Then they raise the prices even more. I believe the terms "price gouging", "overselling," and "highway robbery" apply here.
The students of this university deserve some apologies, some explanations and some refunds. Uncounted numbers of people, including national sports media and the athletes themselves, have stated that KU has the best fans in all of college basketball, but if this is how our nationally recognized fan base is going to be treated, we're not going to be around for long. Remember, we'll be alumni someday, and we're going to remember this when the athletic department starts coming to us for their salaries.
Jared Grillot Parsons senior
Patronize Your Kansan Advertisers
Kansan Classifieds Get the Results You want
NEW! IMPROVED!
- The newly expanded Watkins Pharmacy has online claims processing for many insurance plans. As your prescription is filled, our computer gets immediate details on your eligibility and co-pay.
- Our new prescription counseling area allows more privacy for asking
- Our new prescription counseling area allows more privacy for asking your medication questions.
- Your Watkins Pharmacists honor prescriptions from your hometown physician or your Watkins physician.
- Our prices are usually lower than off campus.
Call us for price quotes at 864-9512.
Pharmacy Hours
Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm
Friday 8am-6pm
Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm
Sunday 12:30pm-4:30pm
//www.ukans.edu/home/watkins
864-9500
NIKE.SPORTS.KANSAS.YOU.
Love sports? Know your campus?
WANT THE CHANCE TO BE NIKE'S STUDENT REP AT KANSAS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR?
IF YOU'RE A SOPHOMORE OR JUNIOR, AND THINK YOU'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE, NIKE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. JUST E-MAIL US AT SPORTS.PAGE@NIKE.COM FOR MORE INFO
TONIGHT! KU Puts Its BIG 12 Lead On The Line! #14 KU WOMEN VS. MISSOURI
KANSAS WOMEN'S HOOPS!
7. 00pm
1ST 500 FANS GET COACH & PLAYER TRADING CARDS, SPONSORED BY.
KU STUDENTS FREE WITH KUID!
"Your're kidding me!"
"You mean to tell me that I need a date for the party?"
Look no further than the Mr. Engineer Contest
Presented to you by the Society of Women Engineers
February 21
Burge Union in the Frontier Room
3:30 p.m.