NFL
The focus of the owners' meetings in Grapevine, Texas shifts to stadiums. Page 3
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Equality does exist in sports
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1995
KANSAS FOOTBALL
SECTION B
The sports world is the perfect place.
It is the only place in our society where rewards truly are based on performance. It is the only true peer acceptance.
Edmee Rodriguez / KANSAN
equal opportunity employer in our society.
Great work is rewarded by great pay, and great people are recognized by their great achievements.
SPORTS COLUMNIST
The beauty is that this happens regardless of race, creed or color. It is the only place in society where
If the rest of society was like the sports world, it would be a better place to live.
racism will not prevent advancement.
African Americans, Latin Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans all stand side by side in sports, and only their batting averages or shooting percentages separate them.
My point is that it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what color your skin is or who you worship. In sports, all that matters is that you can catch the ball or hit one over the wall.
This is why I hate the idea of tarnishing the sports world with cries of racism.
With the exception of Marge Schott and the Simpson trial, there were few instances that would be classified as racist, until the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians made it to the World Series. But the Braves aren't being derogatory; they are too busy being world champions
On the other hand, the Washington Redskins could be seen as derogatory, but how they are playing now is more insulting.
On the same note, for the people who thought my column on mascots was irresponsible, one-sided journalism, I have two things to say to you.
First, I have a First Amendment right to say what I want, as do you.
Second, my grandfather was Cherokee Indian, which makes me more of a Native American than most people offended by the mascots.
As far as the rest of the sports world goes, I have a few comments:
Their lucky streak may end right after Thanksgiving dinner in Dallas, but they still will be in the AFC Championship game, and maybe the Super Bowl, if Marcus Allen can play entire games in the playoffs.
I thought ex-Raider Todd Christiansen was the worst announcer for a Chiefs game, but I was wrong. I thought Ross Perot had entered the booth on Sunday, but it was merely everyone's favorite analyst, Jerry Glanville. He never should have left Houston.
"It is better to be lucky than good, and the Kansas City Chiefs have proved that. They got another lucky break this weekend when San Diego Chargers running back Natrone Means pulled his groin in Sunday's game against Miami. His injury should make it an easier win this weekend.
I think that once a city loses a sports franchise, it should not be allowed to get one back. This rule definitely would prevent the decline of the NFL.
The Denver Nuggets may be 0-3, but they are a much stronger team than they were last year. Denver will be the surprise of the NBA Western Conference.
Regardless of what happened on Saturday night, Evander Holyfield is a great fighter. He is the last fighter we will see who both won and lost on pure heart, and a weak heart at that.
Kansas 22, Nebraska 20. Now wouldn't that be ironic?
Olivie Austin to a Lawrence senior in journalism.
Kansas junior running back Mark Sanders (in black) is one of seven players that have been confined to the Javhawk bench for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Kansas collecting wins and injuries
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan sportswriter
Many players on the No. 10 Kansas football team have been working their whole lives to experience a dream season such as this.
But the team's 8-1 record also makes this year difficult for a certain faction of players.
"It's been very hard," Kansas junior defensive back Tony Blevins said. "It seems like that's what we've been working toward since we got here. Finally, we're having a real successful season. It just happens to be the season when you're not playing."
After fall drills, Blevins was redshirted because he hadn't fully recovered from last year's season-ending knee injury. Now, while the team is having a season for the record books, Blevins and other injured Jayhawks are forced to watch from afar and wonder about what could have been.
"It's tough, especially on game days," Blevins said. "It's kind of bittersweet. I'm happy for the guys, and I'm always there rooting them on. But at the end of the game, when we beat a good team like Colorado or Oklahoma, it's kind of tough to swallow."
There are six Jayhawks out for the year, including Blevins, senior outside linebacker Ronnie Ward, sophomore defensive back Avery Randle, sophomore defensive back Charles Davis, junior running back Mark Sanders and sophomore defensive end Lamar Sharpe.
"I've never really been a spectator in my life. I've always been involved in some type of way," said Sharpe, who is out with a knee injury. "It's kind of hard to sit back and watch. And yet, I know I'll be back."
Although the players haven't been able to practice with their teammates, they have been rehabilitating and trying to keep in shape. In addition to logging time in the weight room, the players have stayed involved during the games as well.
Ward, who has a shoulder injury, has been observing his replacement, junior outside linebacker Chris Jones, to see what blocking schemes teams have been using against him, while Blevins has been watching the defensive backs to pick up what opposing teams are doing. When he sees something, Blevins passes it on to his teammates during the course of the game.
The Jayhawks' success came as a surprise to many people outside of the program because of the abundance of injuries, but it certainly came as no surprise to the players who were with the team in the spring.
"I knew we had a lot of experience offensively," Ward said. "Defensively, we're young, but we have a great system. I learned that during spring practices. If it worked against our offense, then it would work against any offense."
Perhaps that's what keeps the injured players coming back day after day, just knowing that there will be many talented players returning
next year.
Although senior linebacker Keith Rodgers, senior linebacker Dick Holt and senior defensive back Dorian Brew won't be returning, the players who missed this season will be. And when they do, opposing teams had better beware.
"This is the most successful season I've seen Kansas have, and we have a lot of guys coming back," Blevins said. "Basically, what we do is look to next year because that's all we have. It motivates you."
Kansas defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz agreed and said that he had mixed emotions about this season's rash of injuries.
"Anybody would like to have experienced players back and good players back," Hankwitz said. "But we don't have them, so rather than worry about what we don't have, we just move ahead. Certainly it's encouraging for next year that we get some some good players coming back. I guess that's the plus side of it, if there's a plus side to injuries."
Jayhawk brawn has brains,too
Kansan staff report
Not only are Kansas senior punter Darrin Simmons and junior tight end Jim Moore experiencing success on the field this season, but they are getting the job done off the field as well.
Yesterday, the 1995 Phillips 66 Academic All-Big Eight Conference Football Honor Roll was released, and the Jayhawks were represented by Simmons and Moore.
"We go out and recruit guys that have a sincere desire to get a college education," Kansas football coach Glen Mason said. "Those guys deserve that credit. Some of the greatest work goes on behind the scenes with some of the guys that work just to get through college and earn a college degree.
"Darrin and Jimmy, they take care of themselves."
Simmons is majoring in sports management and has a grade point average of 3.56. Moore, who is also majoring in sports management, has a 3.06 GPA.
To qualify, players must be regular competitors with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Honorable mention Jayhawks include senior wide receiver Ryan Foy (3.44, civil engineering), junior quarterback Ben Rutz (3.28, communication studies) and freshman tight end Brian Gray (3.21, biology).
"You've got a guy that scores a touchdown on Saturday afternoon and 50,000 people stand up and cheer. Heck, that came easy to him. He'd do it if no one was there," Mason said. "The same guy might get a 'C' on an English test — which is a far greater achievement — no one stands up and cheers."
Tennis star savors spirit of Kansas
Kansan sportswriter
By Dan Gelston
It has been said that Tommy Lasorda bleeds Dodger blue because of his longtime affiliation with the Los Angeles Doggers as a player, coach and manager.
So a few years ago, it might have been understandable to see Kansas women's tennis player Christie Sim bleed purple and white — the colors of Kansas State University.
After all, her parents went there and her older sister was a key contributor to the Wildcat tennis team for four years.
But despite the flood of K-State paraphernalia while growing up, the sophomore decided to trade the purple she was accustomed to for the crimson and blue of Kansas.
"There was something about Kansas that really appealed to me," Sim said. "I liked the women on the team and the closeness they seemed to have. I liked what I saw."
kansas women's tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher also liked what he saw. Sim was a state champion in 1992 and 1993
for Shawnee Mission South and was named Kansas player of the year in 1993, which led to heavy recruitment by collegiate tennis powers Arizona and Arizona State, Indiana, Notre Dame and, of course, Kansas and K-State.
Despite nearly being swayed to go to Notre Dame, Sim decided to stay close to home.
"We were fortunate to get a Kansas kid to stay in Kansas," Merzbacher said. "The players that come here do because they are really interested in improving. Everybody that comes here improves, and Christie is no exception."
Sim's progress was hindered last year, though, when she was forced to miss the Big Eight Conference season because of a stress fracture in her left femur. Although Sim was not sure how she suffered the injury, she kept feeling pain, and doctors confirmed the injury.
"I didn't want to be on the sidelines," she said. "It was hard to watch and sit there knowing I couldn't compete."
That success, as well as a full recovery.
Sim was able to compete at the end of the season and compiled a 21-11 record.
"I had everything going for me," Sim said. "My concentration level was high, and I was just really determined."
"The Big Eight Indoors was a tennis clinic," Mertzbach said. "She beat a lot of good players badly. It really helped to establish her as a national presence."
Sim's strengths start with her unreadable lefthand serve. She is the team's only lefty, which is a rarity among tennis players
has carried into the fall tournament season. In October, Sim won the Big Eight Indoor Championship.
"When I practice with some of the girls on the team, they can never figure it out," she said. "They've gotten used to it, but I think it definitely helps in match play."
As for her expectations for the spring season, Sim expects nothing but the continued success she has achieved throughout her career.
"Teamwise, we're very deep. We have some good, young players," she said. "Personally, I want to get myself ready for the nationalists and the NCAAs. I think that's a realistic goal for me."
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Kansas sophomore Christie Sim decided to become a Jahewkah despite offers from several other colleges.
Kansas women's basketball takes Pride in recruiting class
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team has reason to hold its head a little higher because yesterday it gained pride.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marlan Washington announced yesterday the signing of Lynn Pride, a highly-touted prep star from Arlington, Texas.
"Lynn is one of the premiere players in the country," Washington said. "She has all the potential in the world. We are very fortunate to have her join our program."
Pride, who is now in her senior year at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game last season.
Pride has been recognized as a preseason All-American by Street & Smith's magazine, USA Today and BlueStar Recruiting Report.
"She's the best prospect in the state of Texas, and she continues the Kansas tradition in Texas that Marian (Washington) started with the signing of Angela Aycock," New York Daily News sportswriter Dick Weiss said.
Washington said that she foresaw Pride playing the shooting guard or forward position in the years to come.
"She will play the three and four spot for us initially, but we see her developing into the No.3 position." Washington said.
Although she was recruited by Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Georgia, Texas Tech and Southern California, Pride decided to become a Jayhawk.
Pride said Charmaine Johnson, her high school basketball coach, played an important
"I chose Kansas for one, because of the coaching staff." Pride said. "They made me feel really comfortable. The players also had some influence in my decision."
"I acted as her advisor. I told her to look at the conference, look at the coach and look at the stability of the program," Johnson said.
role in her college selection.
Johnson said that the Jayhawks won't be disappointed with their recruit.
"Lynn brings a great work ethic to practice. At 6-2, she's a very versatile player." Johnson said. "For me, she plays the power forward, but she has the versatility to play other positions."
Other early signees for the Jayhawks include Heather Fletcher of Wichita and Casey Pruit of Jonesboro, Ark.