SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, September 16, 1993
9
Seniors choose brains over bucks
Tom Leininger/ KANSAN
Players decline money to remain at KU for degrees
Kansas pitcher David Meyer, left, center fielder Darryl Monroe and pitcher Chris Corn all decided to return for their senior years at Kansas instead of signing major league contracts.
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
Education vs. professional baseball.
For a 21-year-old college baseball player, it is a tough decision to make. He could take the money and pursue a lifetime dream or stay in school and earn his degree.
Kansas baseball players Darryl Monroe, Chris Corn and David Meyer all were offered contracts from professional baseball teams, but they chose to stay at Kansas for their senior seasons.
"Those three really exemplify the type of athletes we try to produce in our program," Kansas coach Dave Bingham said. "To turn down that kind of money for a 21-year-old is amazing. If we've educated them to make strong decisions about their future, we've done our job."
All three were offered signing bonuses beyond the base salary for minor league players. All three said finishing their education was more important.
The Montreal Expos drafted Monroe in the 21st round and offered him $20,000 to sign a contract. He said no.
"I was disappointed that they didn't want to negotiate," Monroe said. "I thought since I had wanted to sign, they would have tried to."
Bingham said the three players were career-oriented, whether it be behind a desk or playing baseball.
"What has happened so many times in the past is the infatuation with getting to the major leagues is overwhelming." Bingham said.
Monroe's dream of improving and playing at a higher level of competition became a reality when he came to Kansas and played with Big Eight talent every day.
"You can improve every year you play, whether you play in college or in the pros," Monroe said. "I still have goals for things I haven't done yet at Kansas. I want to hit a few more doubles."
Confidence in the outfield also is something Monroe wants to work on this year, he said.
"Ever since I can remember, I've always seen it as a goal," Monroe said. "When you get the confidence that you can play with the best players in the country, that's 90 percent of the battle."
Monroe is not the only player with goals to reach before trying the major leagues.
Corn said he wanted to continue to work on his confidence on the mound. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 80th round and was offered a $25,000 signing bonus. He said no.
"I pretty much wanted $75,000," Corn said. "Then it would have been a tougher decision.
Van Smith, San Diego's scout for this
region, said he and other scouts had all three players on their draft lists. The Padres' philosophy for juniors interested in a professional career is to sign a contract as soon as possible, he said. But at Kansas, academics are another factor to consider.
"Everybody that I've talked to from Kansas is proud of their institution," Smith said. "But people should understand that if a kid signs after his junior year, he's not a communist."
Meyer was picked in the 44th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto offered a $67,000 signing bonus and to pay his tuition until he graduated. He said no.
"It was in my best interests to come back," Meyer said. "I needed to develop a consistent breaking ball. Kansas is much
more conducive to learning that pitch than the minor leagues."
Meyer said he went to many people for advice. Unlikely sources wanted him to take the money and play - his parents.
"My parents were pro-getting into the major leagues," Meyer said. "I had to convince them that I wasn't turning down an opportunity."
Bingham said he told all of them it was not enough money to give up school.
Meyer also went to Bingham for advice.
"It's going to be harder and harder for us to convince them to stay as the money gets larger," Bingham said. "I just tell them to make sure there is a career waiting for them, whether it be academics or athletics."
Chicago rally puts Royals 7 games out
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lance Johnson met a hitter's delight in the 11th inning last night—the bases were loaded and the infield drawn in.
The loss crippled the Royals' pennant hopes while Chicago maintained a 3/12 game lead in the AL West.
He nailed a two-run single, and the Chicago White Sox batted around, picking up four runs to beat Kansas City 10-6.
"We dug down and won two of three in the series and that's what we wanted to do and what we needed to do."
"It was a typical bases-loaded situation," Johnson said. "It's real easy to hit in that situation.
The White Sox now will fly to Oakland for three games and then play four against California before returning home to face second-place Texas.
"We left Chicago 3 1/2 games ahead, and we leave here 3 1/2 ahead," White Sox manager Gene Lamont said. "Kevin Appier beat us that first game, and we were looking at guys like Mike Magnante and David Cone. Magnante's record might not be that good, but he's been tough on us. Day-by-day, game-by-game, it gets tougher to catch us."
Kansas City fell to seven games behind with 17 left to play in the season. The Royals also will head to the West Coast to play Seattle and Oakland.
Tim Raines doubled, sending two more runs home in the 11th against Mark Gubicza (4-7).
Chicago reliever Roberto Hernandez (2-4) earned the victory, giving up two hits in 2-2-3 innings — his longest outing of the year.
Gubicza walked Frank Thomas who led off the 11th inning spree. Robin Ventura then singled and Steve Sax bunted the runners to second and third. Ellis Burks was intentionally walked, loading the bases, and Johnson followed with a single that bounced just past the glove of diving shortstop Greg Gagne. Raines doubled for his fourth hit of the game one out later.
Kansas City had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on Hubie Brooks' one-out sacrifice fly off of Hernandez. The White Sox had taken the lead in the top of the ninth on Burks' RBI single against AL saves' leader Jeff Montgomery.
Kids' game places 'red light'on player
Chicago jumped ahead 5-3 in the fifth when Thomas doubled home Joey Cora for his 75th base hit of the year, breaking the club record of 74 set by Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1920.
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
This is no laughing matter.
The Kansas football team has been hit with a rash of injuries on the field this season, and now the injury bug is stinging them in the classroom, too.
Jones' status for Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium against Utah is unknown. He has not practiced the last two days.
Starting left tackle Rod Jones hurt his shoulder in Theater and Film 105, Improvisation, Tuesday while playing the children's game "red light, green light."
"In my job you've got to keep asking questions," Kansas coach Glen Mason said. "When it was first told to me, I said 'He did what?' I thought it was some type of theatrical act, but as I kept asking questions, it came down to 'He was playing red light, green light.'"
The Jayhawks' coach has had bad experiences with the "red light, green light" game before.
Mason, who has a master's degree in education from Ball State, taught a physical education class to play "red light, green light" while he was completing a student teaching requirement for a bachelor's degree at Ohio State. It was an experience he has not forgotten.
"I thought I did a heck of a job, but my observer at Ohio State University ripped me about what I did and being so aggressive yelling 'red light' and scarring that kid," Mason said. "Since that day, I hate that game 'red light, green light.' Thate it even worse now because I might lose a player for a week because of it."
Mason yelled out "red light" so loud that one child in the class started to cry.
Injuries limit effectiveness of linebackers
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas linebacker corps earned recognition in the preseason by The Sporting News as the sixth-best group in the country.
The ranking was based on the hard-working and overachieving ability the group displayed last season when it led the Big Eight Conference in rushing defense.
However, two of the players the publication noted in giving the Jayhawk linebackers a high ranking missed the first two games of the season because of injuries.
Juniors Don Davis and Steve Harvey returned from their injuries last week at Michigan State, and they hope to help the Jayhawk linebackers live up to their advance billing.
Davis was out four weeks after he sprained his right knee during two a-day workouts in August. Harvey ruptured his right Achilles tendon in April while jogging across the field during a spring practice workout.
Holly McQueen / KANSAN
Both players originally were expected to be out for a longer period of time. For Davis it was supposed to be six to eight weeks.
"I never accepted that I would miss six to eight weeks like the doctors told the coaches," Davis said. "It wasn't too much of a surprise because I saw myself playing against Michigan State."
Team doctors told Kansas coach Glen Mason after the injury occurred that Harvey would miss at least six to 12 months. Mason said he was surprised when Harvey returned to action five months after the injury.
"I counted him out. I mean it, he would not play this year," Mason said. "The medical staff said they wouldn't know anything on him until game six, which in my mind was too late."
Harvey was not cleared to practice at the beginning of fall practice, but healed quickly, and the medical staff gave him the clearance to play last week against the Snartans.
"I was surprised that I healed fast, but I expected I'd be out six months," Harvey said.
Junior linebacker Don Davis catches a pass during a team practice at Memorial Stadium.
Mason said both players looked "awfully rusty" in their season debates against the Spartans.
"Steve looked like he's been out of action for nine months," he said. "There were a couple of plays where he missed tackles near the line of scrimmage that he'd usually make."
Davis played fairly well for his ability. Mason said, but was sloppy because of the preseason practice he missed.
Both players said they were not limited by their injuries in their return to action last week.
"I don't even feel the brace," Davis said. "It's a small, mobile brace that really doesn't limit me at all as long as I don't allow it to limit me."
Harvey said he felt rusty but was getting more work in practices this week.
"I'm getting more practice repetitions and contact work now," Harvey said. "I really didn't feel or seemed bothered by the injury out there on the field."
Junior linebacker Steve Haney works on his quickness in a practice drill at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks practiced yesterday in preparation for Saturday's game.
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Live Bands New Light Show DJ
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$2.00 32 oz Big Cup Refill
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Then Step Over To The Other Side
Upcoming Bands:
• 5 Nimble Pilots Sept. 24, 25
• The Hollow Men Oct. 1-3
Quincy Magoos
1517 Lane
232-9800
The University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Pre Law Society 3rd Annual
Pre-Law Forum
Tuesday, September 21
Panel Discussions: 9-12p mr.
Kansas Room (Union)
Low Floor:
12:00 noon Wednesday.
Regional representatives will be available to
answer questions.
Free to all student and staff.
For information call 664-4371.
Paid for by Student Senate