SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, October 7,1993
9
Jordan announces retirement from basketball
Claims 'pinnacle of career' has arrived
The Associated Press
DEERFIELD, Ill. — With no tears, just that trademark twinkle in his eyes, Michael Jordan retired yesterday from the game that he redefined but hinted that basketball may not have seen the last of him yet.
"I've reached the pinnacle of my career," Jordan said in an announcement that shocked fans and teammates alike. "I just feel that I don't have anything else for myself to prove."
At a news conference packed with hundreds of reporters at the Bulls' training center, Jordan said that he had lost the motivation to play and had thought about retiring after leading the Bulls to their third straight NBA championship in June.
The 30-year-old superstar said that the slaying of his father this summer was not the main reason behind his decision.
"I was pretty much decided at that particular time,
but I think what it made me realize was how short life is," he said.
"I guess the biggest positive thing I can take out of my father not being here today is that he saw my last basketball game. That meant a lot."
Jordan had been dogged in the last year by reports of excessive gambling, and a highly publicized book about the Bull that portrayed him as
Michael Jordan
a sometimes selfish player who looked down on most of his teammates.
He said that media scrutiny had not driven him from the game, but acknowledged that he wouldn't miss the spotlight.
Flanked by his wife, Juanita, and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Jordan looked relaxed and frequently flashed the coy smile that graces billboards and airwaves worldwide.
He still loves basketball and did not rule out a comeback, but said that he would never play for an NBA team other than the Bulls.
"I'm not making this a 'never' issue. I'm saying I don't have the drive right now," Jordan said. "Five years down the line, if the urge comes back, if the Bulls will have me and (commissioner) David Stern lets me back in the league, I may come back."
Stern, who attended the news conference, said that Jordan's departure "means that an era is closing, that certainly one of the greatest players to play the game is leaving."
Jordan's graceful athleticism seemed to defy gravity and generated a lot of copycats, but no player could match "Air" Jordan's accomplishments.
Jordan's departure follows the retirement last year of NBA greats Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
The NBA's three-time MVP won seven scoring titles, led the Bulls to three straight championships and had two Olympic gold medals.
In his nine years in Chicago, Jordan became the Bulls' all-time leading scorer and leaves a huge gap on the team that will be hard to fill.
Reinordd said that he used to think of Jordan as the Babe Ruth of basketball.
"I've now come to believe that Babe Ruth was the Michael Jordan of baseball," he said.
Retirement stuns coaches
Kansanstaffreport
NBA superstar Michael Jordan's announcement yesterday that he would retire stunned millions of people around the world, and Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams' reaction was no different.
"To say that I am shocked would be an understatement." Williams said. "Knowing Michael like I do makes me even more shocked, because I know how competitive he is."
Jordan announced yesterday during a news conference that he had nothing left to prove in the game of basketball.
Williams, who coached under Dean Smith at North Carolina from 1978 to 1988, recruited and had a hand in developing the skills of the man whom many would call the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan played under Smith and Williams from 1981 to 1984 and made the game-winning bucket as a freshman in the 1982 NCAA National Championship game, in which Smith's Tar Heels defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 63-62.
"I'm saddened because I think he is the greatest to ever play the game," Williams said. "Selfishly, I would like to watch him play more. Still, I support his decision because Michael is a true friend."
Kansas volleyball wins Big Eight home opener
Team's tallest player says career is over after injury
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas' first Big Eight volleyball victory last night against Kansas State was overshadowed by an announcement from senior Barb Bella.
Before the team's 15-9, 15-11, 16-15 victory, Bella told her teammates that she was declared medically disqualified for the rest of the season.
That made sophomore Jenny Larson's great play at middle and outside hitter that much more important, senior Cyndee Kanabel said.
"We're going to need her now that we lost Barb," Kanabel, a middle blocker, said. "I want her to have a lot more games like this to build up her confidence."
Kansas improved to 1-1 in the Big Eight and 11-6 overall. Kansas State fell to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in the Big Eight. Kansas' last match was a three-game loss to Oklahoma.
Walt said Larson's great play was instrumental in winning the match.
"Coming off a loss against Oklahoma, we needed a win." sophomore outside hitter Tracie Walt said.
Kansas went on to win the game 15-11.
Larson played a key role in the second game after K-State jumped out to a 6-2 lead. Kansas came back with three consecutive points, but a net violation by a Kansas player stopped the rally. The Jayhawks got the ball back with one of Larson's 15 kills in the match. Larson then served an ace to tie the score at 6-6.
"It seemed like whenever we needed a kill, she was there," Walt said. "She's been working on connecting on the quick hits, and I think it really helped tonight."
In game three, a Larson kill also stopped a K-State rally when Kansas was trailing 12-9. The Jayhawks came back to win that game 16-15.
"She's coming through when we need her," Kansas coach Frankie Albiz said. "She looked good in practice yesterday, so I decided to go with her."
Albizt said her team played well except in game three, when missed kills led to the K-State rally.
"K-State is better than last year," Albitz said. "I was glad that my team was calm, cool and collected."
While Kansas was preparing for K-State this week, Bella found out that an injury to her right shoulder, the same one she iceed after matches, would end her college career.
After the match, Walt said losing 6-foot-3-inch Bella was tough for the team.
"It makes our tallest player 5 feet 11 inches tall." Walt said. "She wanted to tell us first instead of Frankie."
Kanabel said the victory was good, but it would be tough in the future without Bella.
"It hurts emotionally, mentally, and it hurts our team," Kanabel said. "Now, maybe it can be something to pull our team together."
Holly McQueen / KANSAN
Sophomore Jenny Larson spikes the ball in a match against Kansas State. Larson had 15 kills and three service aces against the Wildcats last night at Allen Field House.
Olympic sports teams need football, basketball for funds.
By Kent Hohlfeld Kansan sportswriter
Basketball and football dominate the sports scene at most universities.
Kansas is no exception. These two sports teams, which are the main source of revenue for the Athletic Department, account for more than one-third of the department's projected budget income and expenditures for this year.
This fact has forced coaches of Olympic sports to budget their money carefully. Olympic sports are defined as those sports in which revenue does not meet expenses.
"All our Olympic sports are fully funded in the way of scholarships based on the NCAA limits," says Betty Stephenson, associate athletic director.
The shortfalls of the Olympic sports are met by money brought in by the revenue sports.
She said that there were a total of 18 varsity sports that were funded by the University. Only two of those, men's basketball and football, are self-sufficient. For its 1992-93 budget, the Kansas football team had just under $8 million. The Kansas volleyball team, on the other hand, had just under $160,000 in its budget.
"We really want the football and basketball teams to do well because that helps us also," said Jerry Waugh, women's golf coach.
He said that being on a tight budget forced coaches to get the most out of every dollar.
One way Waugh does this is by having one player use a roll-out bed on trips instead of reserving another room. He said the cost of an extra room could drain his budget, which was about $82,000 last year.
"We really can't afford to make any mistakes when it comes to budgeting," Waugh said.
He said that he thought his program had been treated fairly by the department. In his first year as coach, the program needed money to upgrade the program, and the University provided that money.
"They had to set some priorities for the team," Waugh said. "Those priorities were to make the program competitive in the conference."
Setting those priorities is part of Stephenson's job. She said that funding decisions were based on a variety of factors. First, the coaches submit a budget, which includes the amount of money they would like to have at their disposal. Items such as capital improvements are prioritized according to which items address safety needs.
Other factors, including the success of the program and how much money the program previously received from the department, are used before a final decision on the budget request is made.
Submitting a realistic budget to the department has been a key to success for swimming coach Gary Kempf. He said that he thought the department had given as much money as it could to the various programs.
The men's and women's swimming teams had a combined budget of about $400,000 in 1992-93.
"Olympic sport coaches need to be realistic," Kempf said. "I don't feel limited by our budget."
He said his team had been given what it needed to produce a winning program.
"If we don't produce a winner, it's certainly not from lack of support." Kempf said.
Kansan staff report
K-State will put 700 standing-
All reserved and general admission tickets for Saturday's Kansas-Kansas State game in Manhattan are sold out, including the temporary seats in the north end zone and on the south concourse.
Tickets for K-State game still available
The cost is $20 a ticket paid by cash. No phone orders will be accepted.
room-only tickets on sale at 8 a.m.
Friday at the Bramlage Coliseum
Ticket Office. Each person will be
allowed to purchase no more than
two tickets.
The AFAA Advantage
Certifications and Training
• Aerobics
• Weightroom
• Personal Trainers
• STEP REEBOK
• NEW! Fitness Practitioner
Fitness Educator
COMING TO:
NOV 6 - Overland Park
NOV 7 - Overland Park
NATURAL WAY
Natural Fiber Clothing & Body Care
820-822 Mass. St. Lawrence, Kansas 66044
(913) 841-0100
FAST FREE DELIVERY!
GET A 12" PIZZA FOR $1.89!!!
Get a 12" Pizza for $1.89 when you buy any Gumby's Pizza at our already incredibly low coupon price. Please mention ad when ordering (limit one per order)
*Additional toppings: 94e ea.
*Choice of crust: Original or Whole Wheat.
HOURS
Mon-Thur
11 am-2:30 am
Fri-Sat
11 am-3:30 am
Sun
Prices do not include sales tax coupons never collected
TIGER TAMER
12" 2 Item Pizza &2 Sodas $6.14
16" 2 Item Pizza & 2 Sodas
COWBOY CRUSHER
$8.26
841-5000
GUMBY MADNESS
Two 10" 2-Item Pizzas & 2 Sodas $7.99
COUCH POTATO
20" Pizza
20" Pizza $8.97
Additional toppings $1.18 each
Fast Free Delivery!
1.