KU lends 2008 basketball championship trophy to speaker of Kansas House

Kansas' Sherron Collins hoists the trophy on Monday, April 7, 2008 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Topeka — Kansas University officials have loaned the 2008 men’s basketball championship trophy to House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson.

“Knowing Speaker O’Neal is a Jayhawk and strong supporter of KU, Provost (Richard) Lariviere offered to let him display the trophy in his office,” said KU spokesman Jack Martin.

“We thought it would be a nice way to lighten things up for the basketball fans in the Statehouse, given the very difficult decisions legislators are having to make on the budget,” Martin added.

The provost took the trophy to O’Neal’s office on Wednesday, the day lawmakers started their wrap-up session, facing a $328 million budget deficit and proposing to make further cuts to education, health and social services.

The trophy is expected to stay in O’Neal’s office behind the House chamber through May 13, Martin said.

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jhawk613 (anonymous) says...

In other news...a van with Memphis plates is seen speeding away from Topeka with what looks to be a trophy in the rear window.

April 30, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

liljayhawker15 (anonymous) says...

dont scratch it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 30, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jayhawkboogeyman (anonymous) says...

This is so stupid. The provost is leaving KU this summer and displaying our trophy at the legislator's office isn't going to help anything. The trophy is an artifact of Kansas lore, not a novelty prize to loan out to politicians. They should just be content to watch the highlights on youtube like the rest of us... or actually do their job to fix the budget instead of wasting time with crap like this.

April 30, 2009 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I don't understand how it's a waste of time to have a trophy sitting in your office. I have a framed picture of Eaton Hall sitting in my office, in fact just now I looked at it for the first time this week, maybe even this month. I guess that's a waste of time too.

April 30, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Hawktacular (anonymous) says...

They should have gone with the Orange Bowl trophy. Vibrant and the citrus smell might serve as a swift kick in the pants. Get crackin'!

April 30, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

TKELuke (anonymous) says...

I would like to schedule some time to have the trophy in my office. Our economy has been through a lot and it would really make me feel better to rub my teams national championship trophy in the face of all the Mizery fans her at work :)

April 30, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RockChalkGuy (anonymous) says...

Everyone in my company has had to endure a 20% pay cut. Send that puppy over my way for a little morale booster.

April 30, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

osagefire209 (anonymous) says...

Keep the trophy where it means something to people and not the dam house because of the budget problems. If its going to a house then it needs to go to the Allen Field house center court.

April 30, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

plasticJHawk ~

Get back to work! :)

****

TKELuke ~

That is one of the few things I don't miss about living in the Kansas City area - the Mizery fans >:-(

****

I wonder if they will display a reasonable facsimile in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics during the championship trophy’s absence, which if so, leads one to ask why didn’t they just send the reasonable facsimile to Statehouse instead?

April 30, 2009 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

vmwskywalk (anonymous) says...

I would certainly love to have the NC trophy in my office. I do have a framed piece of Naismith Court on the wall. I think they would go well together. Add my name to the borrow list.

April 30, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Well, the museum is closed during the AFH renovations until the fall ...

This does seem really, really weird ... but I'm gonna guess if anything happens to it, this joker will get a visit from Big Poppa Lew and a baseball bat.

April 30, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Thanks for the info, sven!

Big Poppa Lew might fit said individual with some cement shoes to help him sleep with the fishes better...

April 30, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

not_important (anonymous) says...

sevenyearhawk noted it correctly. The Fieldhouse and Booth Hall are closed down for the near future. It would just collect dust during the next few months with no one getting to see it, so sending it down the road for a month isn't a big deal. If it isn't secure in the House Speaker's office, I don't know where it would be safe.

I'm really surprised the money gatherers in the athletic department haven't run with this idea while the hall is closed. They could be bringing in some nice extra cash having people bid to host the trophy for a day (with a lower level athletic rep accompanying it to keep an eye on it and a hefty penalty if someone did damage it while it was out) since it isn't on public display right now. Almost like the Stanley Cup getting to go with each member of the winning organization for a day.

April 30, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Jfanallways (anonymous) says...

i think it was a message . . . "your looking to make budget cuts? well i will be sending you a little reminder of why ku will not be on that list. best of luck!
what if they cut a hole in the middle of the court and put down a clear plate of plexiglass and put our nc trophies in the jayhawks heart!

April 30, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Quote from the Lexington Herald Leader,

"According to an unnamed source rumored to be a guy in a parking garage who took a chicken sandwich for this interview going only by 'Deep Wes', UK head Basketball Coach John Calipari, after spending half of his 30 million dollar contract on an undisclosed eBay item, and after renting a Wildkitty RV, will take a tour of the eastern side of the United States, visiting recruits."

NOTE: this quote was for entertainment only . The above quote was never said, and probably never even thought.

April 30, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

drgnslayr (anonymous) says...

Geez... sounds like a huge mistake. As much debt as the state is in they are likely to sell it on ebay...

April 30, 2009 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Pitthawk34 (anonymous) says...

In related news, I heard Kansas State University will be lending their Blue Ribbon award trophy for winning the collegiate national hog contest in late May.

April 30, 2009 at 8:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

TaTownHawkFanBase (anonymous) says...

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

April 30, 2009 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | )

actorman (anonymous) says...

TaTown's comment = homophobic bigotry from a complete moron

not_important, I like your idea. Anything to bring in extra money to the KU athletic coffers. As far as letting it stay in the House Speaker's office because of the "difficult decisions" he has to make, all I can say is, poor baby. Somehow I think all the people whose lives will be drastically affected by the cuts in education, health and social services would be in much more dire need of a pick-me-up than some legislator who doesn't have to give up anything.

April 30, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

I see that others agreed with me and TaTown's comment was removed. But let's be fair: perhaps he's not just a homophobic idiot, perhaps he's 8 years old and hasn't learned any better.

April 30, 2009 at 9:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Oh, jeez, don't give them the trophy! They will sell anything to try to balance the budget in this depression.

April 30, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )