3-POINT MATCH SET
Denver's Dale Ellis, the NBA's all-time leader in three-point field goals made, and
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Chicago's Steve Kerr, the all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage, will head a field of eight in the AT&T Shootout Feb. 8 in Cleveland.
Defending champion Tim Leger of Washington also will compete. Legler has not played this season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Completing the field will be Terry Mills of Detroit, Sam Perkins of Seattle, Glen Rice of Charlotte, John Stockton of Utah and Walt Williams of Toronto.
ST. LOUIS SHORTSTOP GETS BIG RAISE
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Royce Clayton agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.6 million — a $1 million raise — yester
day.
In 129 games last season Clayton hit .277 with six home runs, 36 RBI and 33 steals.
RODMAN SETTLES
The cameraman kicked by Dennis Rodman will not pursue an assault charge against the Chicago Bulls star after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement for $200,000.
Minneapolis police said yesterday that Eugene Amos had told them during the weekend he would not pursue charges because a settlement was being negotiated.
Andre Luger, Rodman's Minneapolis attorney.
yesterday confirmed the settlement, but would not discuss its terms.
Rodman kicked Amos in the groin during a game at the Target Center last Wednesday.
SECTION B
Kentucky star Anderson sidelined for season
LEXINGTON, KY. — Kentucky's Derek Anderson is lost for the season because of a knee injury, a blow to the third-ranked Wildcat's hopes for repeating as national champion.
The guard injured his right knee in the second half of the Wildcats' win against Auburn Saturday, ending the fifth-year senior's injury-plagued collegiate career.
Anderson is the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, averaging 18.6 points per game. He completely tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and will undergo surgery, school officials announced Monday night.
Anderson leads Kentucky in steals (2.1), three-point shooting (40.4 percent), free-throw shooting (80.6 percent) and is second in assists (3.7).
Kansas junior forward Raef LaFrentz and Connecticut's Jake Voskuhl make their descent after colliding under the basket Saturday during the Jayhawks' game against the Huskies. Kansas will take on Texas A&M tonight at 7:05 in Allen Field House.
Packer coach Holmgren named fans' coach of year
NEW ORLEANS — Mike Holmgren, who led the Green Bay Packers to their first Super Bowl in 29 years and tied a franchise record with 13 regular-season victories, was selected by fans as the Visa NFL Coach of the Year.
Holmgren got 12,280 of the 68,676 votes cast by fans on Internet web sites from October to early this month. Philadelphia's Ray Rhodes won last year.
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
"There are a lot of fine coaches in the NFL who did great coaching jobs this year," Holmgren said. "Winning this award is an indication of how fans around the country feel about our team."
Dom Capers of the NFC West champion Carolina Panthers placed second with 10,676 votes, and Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos, which led the AFC with 13 victories, ranked third with 10,212.
Hamelin underwent corrective eye surgery in October, and hit .292 in 19 games of winter ball in Puerto Rico.
Royals avoid arbitration, sign Hamelin for '97 season
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Royals signed first baseman and designated hitter Bob Hamelin to a $700,000, one-year contract yesterday and avoided salary arbitration.
Piazza signs for $15 million, Dodgers avoid arbitration
Hamelin, 29, was the 1994 American League Rookie of the Year after hitting .282 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI. But he slumped during the next two years, including a .225 average with nine home runs and 40 RBI in 1996.
The Royals exchanged arbitration figures with three other players, including pitchers Chris Haney and Doug Linton and outfielder Tom Goodwin.
LOS ANGELES — Catcher Mike Pliazza avoided an arbitration hearing with the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday by agreeing to a $15 million, two-year contract.
Earlier in the day, Piazza submitted a $7.65 million request, the highest ever asked for in salary arbitration.
The Dodgers countered with an offer of $6.1 million.
Piazza, 28, will earn $7 million this season and $8 million in 1998. He is eligible to become a free agent after the 1998 season.
All-Noast in each of his four Major League seasons, he earned $2.7 million last season — the final year of a $4.2 million, three-year contract.
The Associated Press
KU ready for Aggies
Starters will play injured
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas men's basketball team plays Texas A&M tonight at 7:05 in Allen Field House, history probably won't figure too heavily. The last time the Jayhawks played the Aggies, Lyndon Johnson was in office. Kansas defeated Texas A&M 78-52 on Dec. 16. 1967.
Thirty years later, Kansas is ranked No. 1 with a perfect 18-0 record (4-0 in the Big 12 Conference). The Aggies, however, have struggled this season, losing each of their four conference games while posting a 6-8 overall record. Texas A&M men's basketball
Texas A&M men's basketball coach Tony Barone knows his Aggies face an uphill battle.
"Kansas has no weaknesses," Barone said. "They are talented and experienced. It is a challenge and an opportunity for our kids."
The Aggies have slumped this season, losing seven consecutive games heading into tonight's matchup. Texas A&M is led by sophomore forward Calvin Davis and senior guard Tracey Anderson, who are each averaging 12 points per contest.
Although the Aggies appear to be over-matched, Barone is excited for the chance to play the Jayhawks.
"You don't get many chances to play a No. 1 ranked team," he said.
After surviving a scare against Connecticut Sunday in a 73-65 victory in Hartford, Conn., Kansas knows that Texas A&M will be eager to knock-off the undefeated Jayhawks.
The Jayhawks will bring a battered team onto the court tonight. Three starters, senior guard Jacque Vaughn (knee), senior center Scot Pollard (ankle) and sophomore forward Paul Pierce (thigh), are hampered by nagging
Kansas men's basketball trainer Mark Cairns said that Vaughn, Pollard and Pierce are expected to play tonight.
the Jayhawks is junior guard Billy Thomas, who has scored 23 points in Kansas' last two games, including eight points in the UConn game. Thomas, however, said he hasn't changed anything about his game.
injuries.
Hitting his mid-season stride for
"I really don't feel any different," Thomas said. "I like shooting the ball and when I get an opportunity to shoot it, I'm going to seize the moment."
The game will be aired on the Javhawk TV Network.
Sprinter broadcasts games in spare time
By Matt Woodruff
Kansas sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
Maybe you've seen him, a flash of crimson and blue, sprinting around the track at Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
Or maybe you've seen him in the weight room, working with a new dedication to his sport for what will be his final season.
"I'm having fun with it, and it's something different to do," said Hill, a broadcast journalism major. "I can't really see myself sitting around in an office after school is over."
Besides being a spinner for the Kansas track and field team, senior Nathan Hill broadcasts men's and women's basketball games for KJHK.
Or maybe, if you haven't seen him, you've heard him on the radio.
Despite the extra work he has been doing outside of track, he is more dedicated to training than ever before, Hill said.
Kansas track coach Gary Schwartz wouldn't argue with Hill's assessment of the past few months.
his career, Schwartz said. Schwartz said he had looked to Hill for leadership since the team lost several key performers for academic reasons, among them sprinters David Cooksey and All-American Brian Martin.
"He's had the best fall (season) of his career." Schwartz said.
Despite the added challenge, Hill said his goals and the goals of the team, which include a top-five finish in both the indoor and outdoor Big Twelve Championships and qualifying for nationals, would remain the same.
"Hill will be one of the guys that will have to step up and carry the weight in the quarter events, in the 200 and 400," Schwartz said.
"Baylor has some really good quarter-milers, and Texas has some great sprinters," he said. "I think that anyone who makes the finals in the 400 will probably be All-American."
"Some doors have been opened, and I think we have other people that are ready to step up," he said.
Hill said that the competition would be intense in the new conference with the arrival of several strong teams from Texas.
Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
The senior has experience achieving lofty goals.
In 1993, Hill, along with current teammates, junior Marc Romito and senior Marc Scheid and former teammate Cooksey, was a part of Blue Valley North's state champion track team.
Hill was a senior that year. Instead of the challenge of new opponents, the team was adapting to a new coach, Joe Amos.
"It was my last year, and we had a new coach," Hill said. "But in our first meeting, we set a goal to be champs, and we all knew that we had the talent to do it."
Nathan Hill, senior sprinter, shows his stance in Anschutz Pavilion. Besides being a sprinter for the men's track and field team, Hill also broadcasts basketball games for KJHK.
"This is the last chance to hit all of my goals," he said. "There is a lot of talent on the team, and we're remaining optimistic."
Forward ruled guilty by NCAA
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansas art writer
Kansan sportswriter
Raymant will return to the court Feb. 1, when Kansas takes on the Cornhuskers in Nebraska.
After the NCAA found sophomore forward Suzi Raymant in violation of the NCAA amateurism regulations yesterday, the organization ruled that she will be eligible for the remainder of the season — after she sits out of the Jayhawks' next three games.
Janelle Martin, Kansas compliance director, said that the athletic department had received a letter last week from the NCAA stating that Raymant would be investigated for playing in the Australian Women's National Basketball League before Raymant attended Kansas.
Raymant had played for the Dandenong Rangers. She did not earn a salary, but she was reimbursed for various travel expenses while she played for the team, Martin said.
Suzl Raymant
Kansas coach Marian Washington has made no comments about the situation. The NCAA has passed judgment on similar cases across the country this season.
According to
NCAA regulations, all players participating in the Australian league are in violation of rules pertaining to the status of amateur athletes. Martin said that as many as 12 women players across the country were being, or had been, investigated.
The NCAI suspended three players, none at Kansas, before the season began and has continued to investigate any player who was involved with the league.
At the University of Oregon, two players were suspended before the season for playing in the Australian league. The NCAA has handled punishments on a case-by-case basis.
Senior center Renae Fegent was forced to miss the Ducks' first four games this season. Her housing and transportation expenses were paid for when she played for the Canberra Capitals before attending Oregon in 1994.
O'Brien was suspended by the NCAA for the entire 1996-1997 season and must forfeit a year of eligibility. She had housing and transportation expenses paid for when she played for the Melbourne Tigers in 1995.
The NCAA gave Fengent's teammate, sophomore forward Natasha O'Brien, a more severe penalty.
O'Brien also received a $3,000 stipend for living expenses. She was required to repay the entire amount of the stipend to charity.
Oregon women's basketball coach Jody Runge looked for a reduction of O'Brien's penalties through an appeal to the NCAA, but no decision has been announced.
"I feel very badly for these kids," Runge said. "We reported this immediately and have tried to deal in good faith with the NCAA by self-reporting any possible infractions."
Although the Australian league considers itself an amateur league, the NCAA considers it to be a semi-professional one.
"The professional status of the Australian basketball league was only recently established by the NCAA," Oregon Faculty Representative Jim O'Fallon said. "This reflects a difference in philosophies between the two countries as this is considered standard practice for amateur athletes in Australia."