6B
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, February 8. 1996
SPORTS RAP
Uncut, unfiltered and uncensored. All letters from actual sports section readers.
Free agency isn't key to Cowboys' success
OK. Enough is enough. Now that bashing the Cowboys has suddenly become more fashionable than wearing North Face jackets in Kansas, how about hearing another side of the story. A fellow student recently wrote that the Cowboys are the best team that money can buy, which echoes the sentiment of seemingly the entire nation. Do you people really believe that Dallas has bettered itself through free agency?
The sad truth is that many of you do. Let's take a look at the best team of all time, the 1992-1993 Dallas team. Now take that team and subtract 1995 All-Pro linebacker Ken Norton; wide receivers Alvin Harper and Kelvin Martin, who also lead the league in kicks returned for touchdowns; All-Pro linemen Stepnoski and Gogan; defensive back James Washington, who had an interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Super Bowl; Kenneth Gant and Horton. Add Deion, who was signed only because of the fact that the team's other starting defensive back, Kevin Smith, was out for the season, and what do you get? A team that barely won its third Super Bowlin four years.
The fact of the matter is that other teams, such as the Chiefs, need free agents because they can't develop players on their own. Instead they try to recycle once-great players. And the organization isn't bright enough to manage a team, although deft organizations, such as Dallas and San Francisco, develop players until they can no longer afford those players, so poorly run organizations can pick them up without any effort. A prime example is Larry Brown, Super Bowl XXX MVP. Dallas drafted him in the 12th round, and now he is a free agent whose future in Dallas looks bleak.
I am sorry that Kansas City
drafted Todd Blackledge, Percy Snow, Paul Palmer, Christian Okoye, Matt Blundin and the like. I am also equally sorry that the Chiefs tried to resurrect the careers of Dave Krieg, Steve DeBerg, Joe Montana, Marcus Allen and Mark Collins instead of building a future. But don't blame the Cowboys for trying to keep what is their. Hey, you guys can have their trash. Oh wait, you already have Lin Elliot.
I am sure that Matt Irwin will continue to write with his beloved Redskins in mind and Bill Petulla with his Eagles and Steelers. (Oh yeah, Erickson can write another worthless article on "camping") but at least the voice of America's Team has been heard.
Justin Willett Leawood Senior
Pure fact: Cowboys are the best
As the battle lines were formed and sides were chosen for Super Bowl XXX, I noticed Cowboy rooters were outnumbered. For you, who are Steelers fans because you hate "America's team," let me clear some misconceptions, if the Steeler-friendly staff (i.e. Pennsylvania native Bill Petula) will print them.
1) Fact: Dallas is cocky. If you had won three of the last four Super Bowls, you would be cocky too.
2) Fact: Dallas has flashy players. Whether anything is wrong with being flashy is debatable. Guys like Nate Newton, Jay Novachek and Daryl Johnson are as blue collar as any Steeler. For the Chief's fans who jumped on the "America's Hated Team" bandwagon because of flashy
Cowboys: I don't see Charles Haley showboating like Neil Smith when he gets a sack.
3) Fact: Delon Sanders is a prime time player. He may have given up a fiveyard slant, an almost impossible route to defend for a touchdown, but Barry Switzer credits him for the two big interceptions because his coverage allowed Dallas to overload the opposite side.
4) Fact: Emmitt Smith celebrated after scoring a touchdown with five minutes left in Super Bowl XXX. What could he be thinking?
5) Fact: The Dallas Cowboys are one of the greatest football teams, and as Michael Irvin said, it ain't over yet. So, as my Cowboy pride wells up at another Super Bowl crown, I can say one thing (this one's for you Bill): 'How' 'bout them Cowboys!'
Chris Waters Lawrence Junior
Students not given 'leftover' seating
In the Feb. 2, 1996, edition of the Kansan, associate sports editor Bill Petulla suggested that we KU students get only the "leoftower" seats in Allen Field House. This might come as a shock to Mr. Petulla, but compared with other big-time men's basketball programs, including Duke, Jayhawk students like myself have the best opportunity to see a game in the "only" place to watch college basketball — Allen Field House.
It is true that our seats are not at mid-court, in constant camera range, as student seating is at Duke. However, it is equally true that we Jayhawk students get about 40 percent, or 6,300 seats, of the total seating at Allen Field House, as opposed to Duke where students get 14 percent, or 1,200 seats. That is a lot of leftovers! In other words, 22 percent of the KU student body is permitted to purchase tickets, whereas only 13 percent of Duke students can attend games. I'm sure the Athletic Department would move us into camera range if we would give up 4,000 student seats. (Fourteen percent of
16,300 seats is only 2,300 student seats.)
In fact, KU leads the way in terms of allotment of student seating among big-time programs as well. Michigan only provides students with 22 percent of student seating. Kentucky only 29 percent, North Carolina just 33 percent. The average student allotment in the Atlantic Coast Conference is only 27 percent of capacity. Also, at most of these schools students must pick up their tickets one game at a time — and then camp out!
Any astute person (thereby eliminating Billy Packer) who was in Allen Field House for the UCLA game (or any Kansas State or Missouri game) would know that "You can't find fans like this anywhere." So, Mr. Petulla, before you start demanding change in student seating in Allen Field House maybe you better do your homework. It sounds to me like we've all got it pretty good in Allen.
Kristel Thalmann Barnes senior
P. S. Mr. Petulla, if you want to see the best of college basketball from "mid-court" in Allen Field House I'll look for you this Friday at 7 p.m. as the KU women's basketball team takes on Iowa State.
Letters can be mailed or hand delivered to room 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. For any additional information stop by the newsroom or contact sports editor Tom Erickson or associate sports editor Bill Petulla at 864-4810.
Weekends
Johnny's Tavern
February 9-March 16.
Fri.-Sat. February, 9-10: Fast Johnny
Fri.-Sat. February, 16-17: Baby Jason and the Spankers
Fri.-Sat. March, 1-2: Smoot Mahooti
Fri.-Sat. March, 8-9: Neon Blue
Fri.-Sat. March, 15-16: Broken English
Media Source
On Sale Now!
At Memorial Hall:
February 23, 8pm: Oasis
March 25, 7:30 pm: Foo Fighters with special guest: That Dog
At Municipal Auditorium:
March 16, 7:30pm: Red Hot Chili Peppers with special guests:
Toadies & Spacehog
1