Darryl Strawberry may sign with the Red Sox, Page 4.
WIRE
Rodman's Bulls rolling, Page 4
SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1996
SECTION B
Sad tale brought to an end
My first contact with Joe Harrington came two years before my association with this newspaper.
Matt Flickner / NAMBAN
The former Colorado men's basketball coach was seated several rows below me at the 1993 NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.
Going to a Final Four game is like watching celebrities walk into the auditorium before the Grammy Awards. From former Seton Hall men's basketball coach P.J.
Carlington to NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they're all there. Because I was a young, impressionable freshman at the time, being there was like heaven.
SPORTS EDITOR
But then Harrington strolled into the section I was seated in. He stopped almost immediately by a Super-
dome usher who asked to see his ticket stub, making sure he wasn't trying to sit in a better seat than he paid for.
I was amazed. The same usher failed to stop Kansas coach Roy Williams, former Iowa center Acie Earl and former Iowa State coach Johnny Orr from sitting in my section. Why? Because outside of the Big Eight Conference, nobody knows who Harrison is.
Quietly, he spent the last five-plus seasons trying to build a basketball program that has never really amounted to anything — ever.
A check of this year's Buffalo men's basketball media guide confirms it. In the 94 seasons that Colorado has fielded a team, the Buffaloes have played in either the National Invitational Tournament or NCAA Tournament a whopping 12 times.
Harrington and the Buffaloes made the NIT twice in his tenure in Boulder. The last time Colorado made it to the NCAA Tournament was 1969.
It is easy to see why Harrington left when he did. After a 5-3 start, the Buffaloes slipped into a six-game losing streak, including losses in each of their first three conference games. Rather than suffering through the rest of the season and then either resigning or getting fired, he took care of things ahead of time.
Until Colorado football coach Rick Neuheisel and the Buffalo football team came along, compiling a 10-2 season, a final Top 10 ranking and a victory in the Cotton Bowl. Neuheisel, who was in his first season as coach, essentially carried on a strong football tradition that has been present at Colorado for over 10 years.
Despite losing the school's all-time leading scorer, Donnie Boyce, Colorado was expected to challenge for the fifth or sixth spot in the conference this season. With the addition of freshman point guard Chancey Billups, the 1995 Colorado state MVP, Harrington looked to be ready to turn the corner.
So Harrington was more a victim of better athletics than his own ability. Add the fact that the Colorado women's basketball team consistently finishes in the Top 25 each season, and it would make even Phog Allen want to quit.
I liken Harrington's struggle to that of Kansas football coach Glen Mason, who after eight years has given the Jayhawks some national respect. It will take a bit longer for Kansas fans to realize his work and pack Memorial Stadium, however.
Although Mason's job wasn't in jeopardy by any means, he realized that an unbalanced support scale was not in his favor. The solution was to take the job at Georgia, but family concerns and loyalty to his players made Mason change his mind.
Thus ends the tale of the unknown coach. I only hope other schools will remember this incident and give good people enough time to succeed, because the quick fix never works.
Harrington's phone won't be ringing with offers for jobs anytime soon, and that is too bad. It took a lot of patience to stay with the Buffaloes as long as he did, but now there won't be many benefits.
Kansas junior guard Jerod Haase is hounded by a St. Peter's Jamar Hunter Monday night. The Jawkvays will be back in action Saturday afternoon at Colorado.
Williams understands Harrington's plight
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
If anyone knows about high expectations, Roy Williams does.
Most basketball predictors already have placed the Kansas men's basketball team in the NCAA Final Four. The coach has to put up with that pressure every day.
So Williams had an easy time empathizing with Joe Harrington, who resigned from the head coaching position at Colorado Tuesday.
With many preseason expectations and a 5-9 start, the grumblings from the media and fans got too loud for Harrington.
"You can hear that, it doesn't matter how thick your skin is," Williams said at his press conference Wednesday. "He was not having any fun, and that's a shame."
Williams and his Jayhawks will be the first opponent for the Harrington-less Buffaloes when they meet at 3:05 p.m. Saturday in Boulder, Colo.
Part of the reason for the high expectation at Colorado was the arrival of high school sensation Chauncey Billups. Like Jayhawk freshmen Paul Pierce and Ryan Robertson, the Denver native was named to last year's McDonald's All-American team. Billups also was the Colorado high school player of the year during three seasons.
"People were saying, 'Billups can save Joe's job,' and that's ridiculous," Williams said.
The expectations, however, didn't stop with Billups. Martie Moore, the Atlantic Coast Conference 1993 rookie of the year, transferred to Colorado last season. After sitting out last season under NCAA transfer rules, Moore became eligible this year.
"The expectations for our program was at an all-time high, but in the last couple of weeks, it has dropped off," Harrington said after he announced his resignation Tuesday. "I think it's a good program, but I think it will be better with me not coaching."
The Buffaloes opened their season 3-1 but then lost six in a row, including Tuesday night's loss to Southern Utah. They're also 0-3 in the Big Eight Conference.
Despite the disappointment, it appears that Harrington was not forced to resign. He said that his resignation was the best thing for himself and for Colorado.
Harrington will remain at Colorado, working on special development projects until June 30.
"I felt it was the right time and the right thing to do," said Bill Marolt, Colorado athletic director. "I disappointed that we haven't come farther along this year."
Williams said he hoped the next few days of practice would prepare the Jayhawks for what they might face Saturday.
In an attempt to right the Buffaloees' path, Colorado assistant Ricardo Patton will assume the head coaching duties until the season's end. Marlot intends to begin a nationwide search for a permanent head coach immediately, but it seems that the program is in good hands with Patton for the remainder of the season.
"From what Joe's told me, he's really a fine, fine person," Williams said. "I wish him good luck but not until after Saturday. I'm not that nice of a guy."
"I think we're going to need it because we'll be playing a very enthused team," Williamus said. "It will be unusual to go out there and not have Joe down there ranting and raving."
Kansas inks new coach
Lienhard to contribute pro pitching experience
By Dan Geiston
Kansan sportswriter
The merry-go-round of Kansas baseball coaches may finally be over after an assistant coaching vacancy was filled yesterday.
Steve Lienhard, who had a six-year professional baseball career, was named by Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall as the Jayhawks restricted-earnings coach. He will have the same duties as other assistants and receive a part-time salary.
"Steve is a proven winner who brings in a lot of Big Eight and professional baseball experience," Randall said. "I believe Steve will fit right in with what we are trying to do with this program."
Lienhard fills the spot that opened up after Mike Boddicker abruptly quit after two months on the job. Boddicker took over for Jim Clement, who resigned at the end of last year.
Lienhard pitched at Alabama State from 1983 to 1987 and helped lead the team to three College World Series appearances. His best season was 1987, when he went 9-3, helping the Cowboys to a College World Series runner-up finish.
In 1987, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 28th round and stayed with them until 1991. He spent 1991 and 1992 with the Milwaukee Brewers farm system, never advancing past the Double A level. He was a minor league coach for the Giants from 1992 to 1994 and was a replacement player for the Texas Rangers during 1995 spring training.
After spending so much time on the road, Lienhard was looking for a job that would keep him close to his home in Wichita.
Lienhard applied for the job in the fall and was one of the final candidates.
"It was hard for me to keep leaving home for three or four months at a time and not spending time with my family," he said. "I had been looking for a Division I coaching position for some time, and this fits me."
Lienhard said that Randall called him personally to tell him that Boddicker was hired for the position.
"He said he liked my resume, and even invited me to work some camps. I was really impressed with that," Lienhard said.
Lienhard said that he would offer experience, especially in the pitching department to the team. Kansas pitching coach is ninth-year mainstay Wilson Kilmer.
Lienhard said he would meet and work with the team this weekend at the clinics they would run.
"Coach Randall hired me because I was the best coach that was available," he said. "This is a good situation for me, and I'd love to stay here for a long time."
Sampson persists despite knee injury
By Evan Blackwell Kansas sportswriter
Charisse Sampson deals with the pain in her left knee every day. She has for almost two seasons.
Sampson, a senior guard with the Kansas women's basketball team, endures the daily discomfort associated with the two major knee surgeries she has had in the past five months.
"I wouldn't say the pain is severe, but there is puffiness and mild pain," Sampson said. "I deal with it and go on."
Sampson said she originally injured her knee last season, and played with the pain for most of the year.
Despite the knee, Sampson started all 31 games for the Jayhawks last season, averaging almost 30 minutes a game. She was second on the team in scoring at 15.8 points a game. During the offseason the injury got progressively worse.
By the end of the summer, Sampson's doctors decided surgery was necessary. She had surgery Aug. 31, and the doctors discovered she had suffered a lateral meniscus tear in the knee.
"It got to the point this past summer where I was being so cautious that I couldn't even jump off it anymore." Sampson said.
Sampson sat out for almost two months, but returned in time to practice with the team before the season. During practice, Sampson aggravated the injury and was forced to undergo a second surgery
in early November.
K ans as women's basketball coach Marian Washington said that it looked like Sampson, who had already been chosen the Big Fight Conference Presseason Player of the Year, would not be able to play.
Charlise Sampson
"It was a serious situation we were in." Washington said.
Sampson was able to start the season for the Jayhawks, but her knee wasn't close to 100 percent healed.
Sampson resisted redhairing, although she knew missing the sea.
son might be necessary.
"I had to put mind over matter. I didn't want to lose this year," Sampson said. "I knew I could still contribute."
The Jayhawks had until the seventh game of the season against Penn State to decide on Sampson's status without effecting her eligibility.
"She wanted to play, and I thought as long as the trainers and doctors were encouraging, I would go ahead and let her play," Washington said.
Despite playing with her knee functioning only about 80 percent, Sampson is still second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points a game, and leads the team in rebounding at 7.1 a game.
Junior guard Tamecka Dixon said
having Sampson even at 80 percent has been a lift for the Jayhawks.
"Charise is a great leader for us," Dixon said. "It's definitely a confidence booster to have her out on the floor with us."
Washington said there was no secret why Sampson still has been able to post strong numbers.
"Charisse at 80 percent is better than a lot of players at 100 percent," Washington said.
Kansas is now in second place in the Big Eight, and has high hopes for the post season. Sampson said that optimism definitely effected her decision to play this season.
"That was a big factor in my decision," Sampson said. "I think we can go really far if we stay together as a team."
Camby feeling fine after Sunday's collapse
The Associated Press
WORCESTER, Mass. — Doctors still don't know why Marcus Camby collapsed, but tests have ruled out heart trouble, and the top player for No. 1 Massachusetts is expected to be released from the hospital today.
There was no evidence of a brain tumor or stroke, and tests for drugs and toxic substances were negative, said Gerald Steinberg, chief medical officer of University of Massachusetts Medical Center, in a statement yesterday.
Camby collapsed after warming up for Sunday's game against St.
Bonaventure at Olean, N.Y. He was unresponsive for 10 minutes before being taken to Olean General Hospital, where extensive tests were done. He was transferred Monday to UMass Medical Center for additional testing.
Doctors are awaiting test results, and by the end of the week enough information should exist for Camby, his doctors and coach John Calipari to discuss when he might resume playing.
"What happened is of importance," Steinberg said, but it is also important to assess whether such an episode might happen again, and
"We are able to rule out at this time a cardiac or cardiovascular cause of the event Marcus suffered with a high degree of confidence. We have also ruled out a number of possible neurological sources of the event, which is best described as a prolonged period of altered consciousness."
whether Marcus is in any increased danger because of his role as a student athlete.
On Monday, Clapp and team physician James Ralph said it
When Camby left Olean, he said he felt fine.
Team doctors said Camby had been taking cough medicine for a chest cold before his collapse. His mother suggested he might not have eaten enough that day but Daniel Clapp, a UMass physician, said that combination would not have caused the incident.
Steinberg said Camby, 21, was in excellent physical condition, and based on a review of test results from Olean and Worcester, would be released today.
UMass won Sunday's game 65-52, improving its record to 14-0. It played its second game without Camby yesterday evening at home against Rhode Island.
would be at least 10-14 days before Camby plays.
"He may come back in five days," Calipari said. "He may come back in two months. "The doctors will make a decision with Marcus when he will be able to play."
Caliparl said Tuesday he did not know when Camby would return.
The Minutemen's next game is Saturday at Duquesne.
Camby, a junior and a likely NBA lottery pick this year if he enters the draft, is averaging 20.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
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