UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 4B
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1997
Poll shows popularity of NBA, college basketball declining
NEW YORK — The Chicago Bulls and the Kentucky Wildcats are the nation's most popular basketball teams, but the sport has lost popularity on both the professional and collegiate levels.
That's what was indicated by the annual Harris Poll on basketball released yesterday.
The Bulls are the most popular NBA team, as they were in 1993 and 1995, while Kentucky is the most popular college team for the second straight year, according to the findings of a nationwide survey of 1,004 adults surveyed between Dec. 12 and Dec. 16. There was no poll in 1994.
Chicago beat out the New York Knicks, who advanced from fourth in 1994. The Wildcats topped Duke, which was No. 1 in 1993.
The popularity of pro basketball dropped from 29 percent to 28 percent in 1996. It was 35 percent in 1992 and 1993. College basketball was down from 24 percent in 1995 to 21 percent. Its high was 28 percent in 1993.
The poll also showed that among those who follow both college and pro basketball, a 53-43 percent majority enjoyed college basketball more.
Vying for expansion teams, 9 cities make franchise bids
NEW YORK — Three Houston groups were first to make presentations yesterday as 11 groups from nine cities tried to convince the NHL they deserved expansion teams.
The winners will have to back up their promises with at least $75 million for the privilege of getting a franchise.
Chuck Watson, owner of the Houston Aeros of the International Hockey League, was first to go before the NHL executive committee at the start of a two-day session. He was followed by Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. A group headed by Gavin Maloof, whose family used to own the Rockets, also was expected to make a bid.
The timetable for a group from Columbus, Ohio, to make its pitch, followed by Hamilton, Ontario, and St. Paul, Minn.
Today, officials from Hampton Roads, Va.; Oklahoma City; Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta and Raleigh, N.C., will make presentations.
The league isn't expected to say who is in or out until at least March. That's when word might be given on when the teams will be added, although the NHL reportedly would like to get to 30 teams by 2000.
Leonard-Camacho match has been changed to March 1
NEW YORK — When it looked as if their fight had been knocked out, Sugar Ray Leonard and Hector Camacho kept trained, and their optimism paid off yesterday.
The bout will take place March 1 instead of Feb. 28 in Atlantic City, N.J. The Convention Center remains the site, but the promotion and pay-per-view distributors have changed. Leonard, 40, has been training since Dec. 8 in Chandier, Ariz., for what will be his first fight in a little more than six years. Camacho, 34, who has had 28 fights in six years, has been training since Dec. 27 at Clewiston, Fla.
Asked if there was any change in the purse structure, which never has been announced, Dillon said, "I don't speak about purses."
Leonard has held world titles in three other weight classes. In his last bout he was outpointed in 12 rounds by Terry Norris on Feb. 9, 1991, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Also remaining with the promotion is Mike Acr1, Camacho's promoter. Joining it is Caesar's Atlantic City as the site promoter and Vince McMahon's Titan Sports, which will handle the pay-per-view.
The Associated Press
1. 假设在正方形中任意放置四块小圆球，要求使这四个小圆球完全压在正方形的四条边上。
Baseball stronger in Big 12
Texas teams to add more competition
Only 11 teams; no North and South division; four new schools and the best conference in the nation — welcome to Big 12 Conference baseball.
By Harley Ratliff
Kansan sportswriter
With the arrival of Baylor, Texas,
Texas A&M and Texas Tech. the
once formidable Big Eight Conference baseball has become decidedly more imposing.
But is the introduction of the four new schools good for business?
Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall said the answer was simple.
"We want to be the best; that's our goal every year," Randall said. "And you get there by beating the best."
"I think it's terrific," he said.
"They bring a lot to the conference — great teams, great coaches and premier facilities."
Randall said that the inclusion of the four schools could only benefit the Kansas baseball program. By adding the teams to the conference, Kansas has the potential to reach its ultimate goal — excellence.
Cochell, coach of the University of Oklahoma baseball team, said he thought the introduction of the four schools would bring added
Randall's Big 12 coaching colleague Larry Cochell agreed.
Not only will the Texas schools bring plenty of talent to the table. Randall said, but they also make the Big 12 the best baseball conference in the nation.
"Saying the Big 12 is the best conference is subject to argument," he said. "But I'm entitled to my opinion, and in my opinion we are the best conference in the nation."
excitement to an already strong conference.
"It's all positive," Cochell said. "The adding of the new teams helps our status and makes our conference part of the elite. We'll be a much stronger conference. I'm excited."
Though the addition of the new teams may boost both competition and the league's status, maintaining winning records in the Big 12 could be more difficult than ever.
Texas Tech baseball coach Larry Hays said the key to success in the Big 12 was developing a program that could be consistently competitive.
"If you have a bad year in the Big
12, then you are going to get run over," Hays said. "The challenge is to make sure every year you have a solid ball club."
Heading into the 1997 season, every team but Colorado, which does not have and a baseball team, and Baylor had postseason playing experience. Texas, Texas Tech and Missouri made it to regionals, while Oklahoma State advanced to the College World Series.
Still, Hays was optimistic that his Red Raiders would be up to the challenge of the new conference.
Audience participation
"It'll be an enjoyable league, one that we can do well in," Hays said. "We're just going to have more good clubs in this conference."
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
Katie Donnally, Lawrence sophomore, informs visitors of the presence of strong KU tradition at Allen Field House last night. Donnally was a spectator at the men's basketball team's win against Iowa State, 80-67.
New coach adds to football staff
Another two coaches, Bill Salmon and Darrell Wyatt, were named to the Kansas football staff yesterday as head football coach Terry Allen continues to modify the football program.
Kansan staff report
Allen now has made seven appointments to his nine-man coaching staff.
Coaches who previously had been named to the Jayhawk staff include Mark Farley, Michael Garrison, Dick Moseley, Ardell Wiegandt and Del Wight, all of whom followed Allen from Northern Iowa.
Allen was in Lawrence yesterday but was not available for comment. Allen will
announce coaching positions for the new assistants at a later date.
Salmon served as wide-receivers coach at Northern Iowa for the last 14 seasons, the past eight under Allen. Salmon coached 11 all-conference selections and three All-Americans in his time with the Panthers.
As a student, Salmon was a three-year starter at quarterback for Northern Iowa from 1973 to 1975. He threw for 4,342 yards and compiled 5,731 yards in total offense during his collegiate career. Salmon earned third-team All-America honors as a senior and was drafted in the 10th round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1976.
Wyatt spent the 1996 season as wide-receivers coach at Baylor and was receivers coach in 1995 at Wyoming. He also served as receivers coach and passing-game coordinator at Sam Houston State from 1992 to 1994.
His coaching career started at Trinity Valley Junior College in Athens, Texas. Wyatt coached wide receivers and the secondary from 1989 to 1991 before leaving for Sam Houston State.
He started his college career as a wide receiver at Trinity Valley. After playing his first two seasons at Trinity Valley, he transferred to Kansas State, where he lettered as a wide receiver in 1988.
Vote will allow student athletes to work, play
After bitter debate, NCAA takes revolutionary steps
By Doug Tucker The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NCAA's Division I schools voted yesterday to allow athletes to hold part-time jobs, a revolutionary step that triggered more than an hour of bitter, confused debate.
The move is a radical departure for the NCAA, which earlier in the day put the finishing touches on a vast, new restructuring plan.
The debate on the part-time job measure took on a Keystone Kops appearance when the session was adjourned temporarily and experts huddled on what effect it would have on NCAA bylaws.
"Can we take a break for 15 minutes to get answers to questions?" one delegate asked from the floor.
"What questions?" responded Texas Tech's Bob Sweazy, chairman of the session.
"The questions you can't answer," came the reply.
Finally approved by a 169-150 vote, the measure lets Division I athletes hold part-time jobs any time during the academic year. But they can earn only the difference between the value of their scholarship and the full cost of attendance at their school, which can vary greatly from one institution to the next.
For example, if a football scholarship at Oklahoma is valued at $15,000 a year and the cost of attendance for an out-of-state student is set at $18,000, an out-of-state football player could earn up to $3,000.
Letting athletes work during the academic year is a big step for NCAA schools, which have always feared that such a thing would invite cheating as well as create an administrative nightmare.
Alabama president Andrew Sorensen spoke on the fear of abuse. Similar proposals were defeated at other conventions because delegates were concerned that rivals might inflate earnings to attract top prospects. Another argument against the idea was that some schools would gain an advantage because their locations would provide more job opportunities.
"Do you really want to start keeping time cards for your student-athletes at McDonald's?" asked one delegate.
Sorensen was applauded by many delegates at the end of his remarks. But a few moments later, so was Bridget Niland, a member of the student-athlete advisory committee who made an impassioned argument in favor.
"I have great reservations," said Sorensen, who failed in a bid to have the proposal put off until later. "At the beginning of the year, each of us university presidents sign a statement that guarantees unequivocally that our institutions are in control of all aspects of athletics."
"Consider the welfare of the student-athlete. Look at this legislation on the principle of honesty and trust, not fear of abuse," said Niland, who ran track and cross country at the University of Buffalo. "Give us the opportunity to work."
Division I schools, the major athletic programs, will no longer meet once a year under one roof with the smaller schools and vote individually on policy and rules.
While approved by the total of Division I schools, the measure actually was voted down 51-61 by Division I-A, the major powers. But as part of Division I, they also will adopt the new rule.
In contrast, the delegates coasted through a morning session and gave near-unanimous approval to the final pieces of a new structure of the NCAA itself.
The new federated system will take effect on Aug. 1. It will put college presidents and conferences in control.
"I feel very good about this," said Jim Delany, commissioner of the Big 10. "It's not easy to bring about change."
Delegates turned down an attempt to delay the Aug. 1 start-up date for the new system, which guarantees the major football conferences a voting majority in the new governing bodies.
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