Cycling Cardinal
St. Louis — St. Louis second baseman Mark Grudzielanek heads for first en route to a triple in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. Grudzielanek hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats in the Cardinals’ 6-3 victory Wednesday over Milwaukee. Baseball on pages 4C-5C.
Softball
Kansas to entertain North Dakota State
Kansas University’s softball team will put a four-game win streak on the line when it plays host to North Dakota State in a doubleheader today.
Game time is 3 p.m. at Arrocha Ballpark.
North Dakota State took a 22-23 record into Wednesday’s twinbill at Missouri. The Bison are on a grueling 10-game five-day road swing.
Kansas (24-19 overall, 5-7 Big 12 Conference) will return to conference play this weekend when it travels to Lubbock, Texas, for a two-game series with Texas Tech.
Bowling
Lawrence’s Glass falls
Clarksville, Tenn. — Lawrence’s Bob Glass fell in the semifinal round of the PBA Senior Clarksville Open on Wednesday at Pinnacle Family Entertainment Center.
Glass lost to Tom Baker of Buffalo, N.Y., 2-1. Baker suffered a 2-0 loss to champion Dale Eagle, of Tavares, Fla., in the finals.
The reigning Senior Tour Player of the Year, Glass beat Wilbert Moorer, of Dover, Del., 3-1, in the Round of 16 and Keith Sharp, Maitland, Fla., 3-1, in the Round of Eight. Semifinal losers pocketed $3,000. Eagle earned $8,000, while Baker won $4,500.
Women’s basketball
CU coach confident
Boulder, Colo. — Kathy McConnell-Miller said Wednesday she wasn’t afraid to follow Ceal Barry’s successful two-decade stint as Colorado’s women’s basketball coach.
“I know what she’s done, and I’m ready to continue what Ceal Barry, a legend, has done,” McConnell-Miller said Wednesday as she was introduced as Colorado’s new coach.
“I’m comfortable that she is still around and would be a fool not to utilize her.”
Barry stepped down this spring after 22 years that included 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Former Kansas University track and field standout Charlie Gruber took time out of his preparation for the Athens Games to take part in an online chat Friday on KUsports.com. For the full transcript, go to kusports.com.
Football
Whittemore joins Arena2
Bill Whittemore is taking a stab at Arena football.
Whittemore, who set a Kansas University record with 18 touchdown passes last fall, has joined the Peoria, Ill., Pirates of Arena Football League 2.
“A couple of Arena coaches suggested he go try this thing in Peoria and get the experience and see if he likes it,” said his father, Bill Whittemore Sr. “He’s hanging out and learning a little bit about Arena ball.”
Whittemore joined the team as a third-string quarterback and was not activated for last week’s 33-30 loss to Green Bay in the regular-season finale. He is expected to suit up for today’s first-round playoff game at Oklahoma City.
“If the Arena2 season ends in time, he’d like to try to get back to Kansas and get back into grad school, if possible,” Whittemore Sr. said.
KU Basketball
Simien, Langford honored
Kansas University senior basketball players Wayne Simien and Keith Langford have been named to the John R. Wooden Award preseason All-America team. Other Big 12 Conference players on the preseason list are Oklahoma’s Kevin Bookout, Oklahoma State’s Joey Graham and John Lucas, and Texas’ P.J. Tucker.
Baseball
Maddux tries for 300th
San Francisco — Greg Maddux appeared relaxed all week, as if the major milestone he is about to add to his impeccable resume was just a distant thought.
At Coors Field, the humble and focused right-hander stopped to socialize with the clubhouse attendants and casually chatted up his Chicago teammates, seemingly his calm self even as he’s about to make history.
“I’m trying,” Maddux said with a smile Thursday as the Cubs wrapped up a series in Colorado. “What are you going to do? I guess I could worry and panic about it, but I’m not going to.”
Today, the four-time Cy Young Award winner will try for the second time to get his 300th career victory when the Cubs face San Francisco.
The 38-year-old Maddux, 299-170 and winner of 13 straight NL Gold Glove awards, would become the 22nd major-league pitcher to reach 300 victories.
Former Kansas University distance runner and current Olympian Charlie Gruber will participate in an online chat at 3 p.m. today at KUsports.com.
Gruber has qualified for the 1,500-meter run at the Athens Summer Olympics. Opening ceremonies will be a week from today, with Gruber not scheduled run until a week later on Aug. 20.
Visit KUsports.com to submit questions before the chat and to follow along once it begins.
Former Jayhawks
Patriots sign Stubblefield
Foxboro, Mass. — New England has signed yet another veteran to fit in with the younger players on coach Bill Belichick’s defense — Dana Stubblefield, the 1997 NFL defensive player of the year.
In 11 NFL seasons, the 33-year-old defensive tackle, a Kansas University product, has played for San Francisco, Washington and Oakland, winning a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in 1994. He was with the Raiders last season after a second stint with the 49ers.
Last month, Stubblefield was one of three players fined three games’ salary for testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003.
Stubblefield has appeared before the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which has been at the center of a steroids controversy in several sports.
Baseball
White Sox add Alomar
Phoenix — Angered with Chicago’s inconsistency and refusing to concede the division title, White Sox general manager Ken Williams again is looking to Roberto Alomar for help.
The White Sox acquired Alomar from Arizona on Thursday, the second straight year Williams has traded for the 12-time All-Star second baseman for the stretch run. For Alomar, the White Sox gave the Diamondbacks a player to be named and cash.
Alomar, 36, batted .309 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 39 games for Arizona. He missed 56 games because of a broken right hand after being hit by a pitch on April 20 in Milwaukee.
Alomar, who will be reunited with his older brother, Sandy, is expected to be in Chicago for tonight’s home game against Cleveland.
Kevin Brown threw four-hit ball over eight shutout innings to beat Oakland’s Barry Zito, and newly signed John Olerud went 3-for-3 with a two-run double on his 36th birthday, leading the New York Yankees over the Athletics, 5-1. Baseball on pages 4C, 6C.
Former Kansas University distance runner and current Olympian Charlie Gruber will participate in an online chat on KUsports.com at 3 p.m. Friday.
Gruber has qualified for the 1,500-meter run at the Athens Summer Olympics. Opening ceremonies will be Aug. 13. Gruber won’t run until a week later on Aug. 20.
Click here to submit questions before the chat and to follow along once it begins.
KU Women’s Basketball
Jayhawks unveil schedule
Kansas University women’s basketball fans will have plenty of opportunities to watch the Jayhawks perform under first-year coach Bonnie Henrickson.
KU will have 18 home games during the 2004-2005 season. Henrickson will make her debut Nov. 9 in an exhibition against Fort Hays State.
The Jayhawks will play 11 teams that reached the postseason last year — including Minnesota, a team that reached the NCAA Final Four. KU will meet the Golden Gophers on Dec. 5 in Minneapolis.
The schedule still lacks one home date, which will be filled later. KU officials also expect to announce a multi-game television package. Click here to view the full schedule.
Football
Big Ten to utilize replays
Chicago — The Big Ten will use instant replay this fall, the first conference in the country to do so. If the one-year experiment goes well, other conferences are expected to adopt it.
Under the Big Ten’s system, a technical adviser will watch the game from the press box. If he sees something questionable, officials on the field will be notified via pager and play will be halted while the adviser reviews the call. The call for review must be made before the next play begins, or the opportunity passes.
The only video the adviser can use in his decision is that from the television feed. He’ll also have a digital video recorder — think TiVo — to review the play. In the few cases where a Big Ten game isn’t televised — 90 percent are — the conference will do its own video production for the adviser to use.
The call on the field can be overturned only if there is “indisputable video evidence.”
Kobe Bryant Case
Woman doubts role in trial
Denver — Kobe Bryant’s prosecutors said Wednesday he would be put on trial later this month, even as attorneys for the woman accusing the NBA player of rape suggested her participation is not a sure bet.
Attorney John Clune said his client would have to talk with prosecutors about whether she would go ahead with the criminal case. He said she feared the release of court documents that referred to her sex life threatened her chance of getting a fair trial.
Asked if his client was considering dropping out of the case, Clune told the Associated Press: “That’s something she and prosecutors will have to discuss in the immediate future. The DA’s office will have to make that decision on what they want to do.”
Prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said prosecutors had been told the woman still would participate even after the transcripts were released earlier this week.
“Nothing has changed with our plans of going forward with the prosecution of this case,” she said. “The impression I got was that the victim needs to have strong resolve.”
Baseball
Former Jayhawk shines
Spokane, Wash. — Former Kansas University baseball player Travis Metcalf of the Spokane Indians went 1-for-2 and scored a run Tuesday in the Eastern Division All-Stars’ 6-4 victory over the West in Class A Northwest League All-Star game at Avista Stadium. An 11th-round pick of the Texas Rangers, Metcalf is hitting .259 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs.
Kansas University athletic department staffer Jay Hinrichs is one of five finalists for the athletic director’s job at Northern Colorado.
Hinrichs, KU’s associate athletic director for facilities planning, will interview for the post next week. The other finalists are UNC associate AD Mark Harlan, South Carolina associate AD Chris Massaro, Montana development director Jim O’Day and former Utah State AD Rance Pugmire.
Hinrichs was named to the facilities post in April after spending two years as director of the department’s Williams Fund. A KU graduate, Hinrichs spent 18 years in the front office of the Kansas City Royals.
Administration
Kansas adds another AD
Kansas University’s athletic department has added still another administrator.
Although no announcement has been made, Ben Kirtland is listed in the new KU football media guide as an associate athletic director for development.
According to his bio in the media guide, Kirtland will assist and support with fund raising, ticketing and the implementation of the newly launched priority points system.
Kirtland is a former hockey coach and developmental official at UConn where he worked with KU athletic director Lew Perkins. A former president of the Jimmy V Foundation, Kirtland has been a private consultant for the last four years, helping establish the Dale Earnhardt and the Hockey Coaches Care foundations.
The addition of Kirtland gives the KU athletic department nine people listed as associate ADs.
NFL
Jones inks four-year deal
The New York Jets announced Thursday that they had signed their four remaining draft picks — including Kansas University tackle Adrian Jones — but terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Friday a source close to the negotiations told the Journal-World that Jones had signed a four-year pact worth $1.2 million. The contract has escalators based on Jones’ playing time and the Jets’ performance that could boost the deal to $2.4 million.
Jones, a fourth-round pick, started training camp Friday as the backup to veteran left tackle Jason Fabini.
Golf
Pair of Jayhawks advance
Benton Harbor, Mich. — Kansas University golfer Kevin Ward and former Jayhawk Tyler Hall have advanced to the Sweet 16 at the prestigious Western Amateur Golf Tournament at Point O’Woods Golf Club.
Hall, a recent KU grad from Wayne, N.J., shot a 272, good for a tie for second in four rounds of stroke play. Aron Price was the medalist at 265.
Ward, a KU senior from Leawood, shot 280 to earn a share of 12th.
KU senior Andrew Price tied for 16th after rounds of 69-71-70-69, but lost in a playoff and did not advance to match play.
“They are playing great,” KU coach Ross Randall said of the Jayhawks. “Kevin has been on fire for several weeks now. I am really thrilled they made the Sweet 16 of the second-most prestigious amateur event in the country.”
Hall and KU’s Tyler Docking have qualified for the most prestigious amateur event — the U.S. Amateur.
Kansas University juniors Kim Clark and Megan Manthe were named to the 2004 Academic All-America Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field Team in the University Division, the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) announced Thursday.
Clark, a biochemistry major, was named to the 15-member first team after earning a 4.0 GPA. The Elkhorn, Neb., native was a part of the women’s 4×400-meter relay team that took 20th at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Manthe, who was named to the third team, also recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in biochemistry. The native of Anoka, Minn., helped guide the women’s cross country team to a fifth-place finish in the NCAA Midwest Regionals this past fall. She placed 17th individually at the meet.
Hockey
Player charged for punch
Vancouver, British Columbia — Canucks player Todd Bertuzzi was charged Thursday with assault for a sucker-punch that left Colorado’s Steve Moore with a broken neck and prompted widespread criticism of hockey violence.
The charges were announced by the criminal justice branch of the ministry of the attorney general after a four-month investigation.
Bertuzzi was ordered to appear in court July 9. If convicted, the 29-year-old player could face a penalty ranging from jail time to a guilty decision with no criminal record.
Moore was hospitalized after the March 8 attack with three fractured vertebrae, facial cuts, post-concussion symptoms and amnesia. Doctors said it wasn’t known when, or if, he would play again.
The NHL suspended Bertuzzi for the final 13 games of the regular season and Vancouver’s seven playoff games. The suspension cost Bertuzzi nearly $502,000, and the Canucks were fined $250,000.
College basketball
Knight staying at Tech
Lubbock, Texas — Scratch Bob Knight’s name off the list of candidates for the Ohio State coaching job.
The Texas Tech coach released a statement Thursday night saying he had been told that his alma mater wouldn’t be considering him.
“Last night, a friend of mine from Columbus called me to say that the athletic director had decided not to discuss the vacancy with me. Therefore, there was no need for me to consider it,” Knight said.
The Buckeyes are looking for a replacement for Jim O’Brien, who was fired on June 8 after athletic director Andy Geiger said O’Brien admitted he had given $6,000 to a recruit in 1999.
Knight agreed earlier this month to a three-year extension of his contract with the Red Raiders, which would keep him at Tech until 2009. Nonetheless, his name was linked because of his ties to the Buckeyes.
Kansas University athletic director Lew Perkins was expected to be released from Lawrence Memorial Hospital today after being hospitalized Sunday night for a bleeding ulcer.
“He’s doing fine,” associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Tuesday. “He has a couple of ulcers, but he’s going to be fine. He’ll be out of the hospital tomorrow.”
Senior associate athletic director Larry Keating is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the department while Perkins is out, said Marchiony, who added the AD should return to work by Monday.
“The question is whether he’s going to be in before then,” Marchiony said. “We’d like him to take the rest of the week off.”
Perkins, 59, was unable to attend Monday’s athletics awards dinner.
“He doesn’t like to miss that,” Marchiony said. “That’s one of things he puts on his calendar and doesn’t move. I know he’s not happy about missing that.”
Women’s basketball
Henrickson to speak at KUAC luncheon
Kansas University women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson will speak at the Kansas University Athletic Corporation Luncheon at noon Friday at the Holidome.
Henrickson, hired in March, was 158-62 in seven seasons at Virginia Tech.
Advanced tickets for the event are $15, and walk-in tickets are available for $17. Lunch is included. For information, call the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce at 865-4411.
College Football
Buffs won’t be charged
Denver — The state’s top prosecutor decided against criminal charges Tuesday in nine alleged sexual assaults involving Colorado football players, citing concerns about evidence and the reluctance of some women to pursue their cases.
Attorney General Ken Salazar said the decision from a special task force formed in late February was unanimous. Salazar said the investigation remained open and other potential charges concerning Colorado’s embattled program hadn’t been ruled out. Salazar, the university and a Board of Regents commission are investigating allegations the program uses sex and booze to lure recruits to the Boulder campus.
At least eight women have accused players or recruits of rape since 1997. No charges have been filed.
Facilities
Royals, Chiefs agree to extend stadium leases
Kansas City, Mo. — The Chiefs and Royals have approved extensions of their leases on the stadiums in the Truman Sports Complex, contingent on approval of a bi-state tax. The leases on Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, which now run through 2015, would be extended to 2030.
Efforts are under way to get the quarter-cent sales tax proposal on the November ballot in five metropolitan area counties. It must be approved in at least Jackson County, in Missouri, and Johnson County, in Kansas, to take effect. The tax, to last about 15 years, would raise an estimated $1.4 billion, money that would be used for renovation of the stadiums as well as for fine-arts projects.
Kansas University’s men’s golf team has accepted a bid to the NCAA Central Regional tournament May 20-22 at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.
Coach Ross Randall’s Jayhawks were seeded eighth in the 27-team field, which includes eight other Big 12 squads. Oklahoma State is the tournament’s No. 1 seed and Texas is seeded second. Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M also will participate.
The top 10 finishers in each of the three regional tournaments will be invited to participate in the NCAA Finals, which run June 1-4 at Cascades Golf Course, The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.
The top two individual finishers not part of the top 10 teams also will be invited to the NCAA Finals.
The annual Gale Sayers benefit golf tournament and memorabilia auction Friday at Alvamar Public raised approximately $26,000 for the Kansas University School of Education, school officials reported.
This was the 11th year that Sayers, a KU graduate and member of the college and pro football halls of fame, has staged the event that provides scholarship assistance for education students. Nearly 100 golfers participated.
Football
Ex-Jayhawk Amberg dies
John Amberg, a Kansas University football co-captain in 1950, died last week in Torrance, Calif., at the age of 75. Amberg played fullback and defensive back for the Jayhawks from 1948 to 1950. He also played two seasons in the NFL (1951-52) with the New York Giants. An obituary for Amberg appears on page 3B.
Bowling
Glass in 20th place
Sterling Heights, Mich. — Lawrence’s Bob Glass stood in 20th place Monday after the first day of competition in the PBA Senior U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes. The 205-man field will be reduced to the top 25 percent today and Wednesday.
Rowing
KU’s Olson honored
Beth Olson, a senior from Arlington, Texas, has been named oarswoman of the year on Kansas University’s rowing team. Other award winners were Amber Snyder (academics), Sara Kilbride (coxswain), Erin Hennessey (most improved), Elizabeth Hodges (service), Lindsey Miles (freshman), Rachel Chapman (most improved newcomer) and LeAnna Kemp (senior).
Officials reviewing fight
Honolulu — Hawaii and Houston officials are reviewing the fight between their football players in the Hawaii Bowl to determine if any disciplinary action is needed.
“We are going to take our time and review all the angles and video we have access to,” Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier said Friday. “There is no real timeline, and we will leave no stone left unturned.”
A nasty brawl, part of which is shown in photo above, broke out on the field just seconds after the Warriors (9-5) sealed a wild 54-48 triple-overtime victory over the Cougars (7-6) Thursday night.
For several minutes, players swung helmets, wrestled with each other and threw punches and kicks before the fight was broken up by coaches, security personnel and police. No major injuries were reported.
Football
Sayers earns press honor
Omaha, Neb. — Former Kansas University football standout Gale Sayers will be the Omaha Press Club’s next “Face on the Barroom Floor” when he is recognized Jan. 17 in a roast at the club.
The “Faces” are caricatures of newsmakers. Sayers will be the 94th honoree since 1971.
Longtime Omaha sportscaster Jack Payne will serve as emcee at the event. Roasters will include Tom Osborne, former head football coach of the University of Nebraska; Gale’s brother, Roger Sayers; attorney Don Fiedler, who played with Sayers at Omaha Central High School; Fred Abboud, former coach of the 1955 Midget football team that featured both Gale and Roger Sayers; and Richard Nared, a life-long friend of Sayers.
Sayers was a two-time All-America running back at KU. From 1965 to 1971, he played in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, earning rookie-of-the-year honors in 1965 when he scored a then-record 22 touchdowns. He led the NFC in rushing in 1966 and 1969 and was named All-Pro five times.
College basketball
Pitino returning to Rupp
Louisville, Ky. — Louisville coach Rick Pitino expects another hostile reception today when he returns to Rupp Arena for the second time as the leader of Kentucky’s fiercest rival.
Two years ago, the fans who revered Pitino when he coached the Wildcats from 1989 to 97 showered him with taunts and unveiled signs with vicious messages. By the end of the Wildcats’ 82-62 victory, the crowd was chanting “TUB-BEE! TUB-BEE!” in a salute to Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, Pitino’s former assistant.
Today, Pitino wants his 20th-ranked Cardinals (6-1) to embrace the chaotic atmosphere, not dread it.
“It’s easy playing at home, where everybody cheers for you,” Pitino said. “Going into that environment and executing in the toughest conditions, that’s fun.”
Rainout roundup
Rain a pain for local events
Tuesday’s wet weather forced a slew of local and regional sports cancellations. Here’s a look at the events that were canceled or postponed and any makeup information that has been settled:
Kansas University baseball at Creighton. Will not be rescheduled.
Lawrence High home tennis quad with Olathe South, SM West and Baldwin. Will be made up today without Baldwin.
Lawrence High home soccer against Olathe North. No makeup date set.
Free State home tennis quad with Shawnee Miege, Topeka Seaman and Winfield. No makeup date set.
Free State girls soccer at Olathe East. Rescheduled for May 1.
Free State softball at SM Northwest. No makeup date set.
NFL
Broncos sign McGlockton
Denver The Denver Broncos have signed defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, a starter with the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
McGlockton recorded 70 tackles, 41/2 sacks, 43 quarterback pressures and forced one fumble in 15 games for the Chiefs last season. The 6-foot-4-inch, 334-pound, McGlockton is entering his 10th season.
The Broncos on Tuesday also said the team re-signed restricted free agent offensive lineman K.C. Jones. Terms for both signings were not disclosed.
Jones was signed by Denver after the 1997 draft. He played was a reserve last year.
Williams promotes Jayhawk football
Kansas men’s basketball coach Roy Williams is helping promote KU football. Williams recently filmed a commercial on the field at Memorial Stadium, featuring Williams saying: “I’ll be here this fall. Will You?”
The promotion is a tie-in with Williams’ decision to return to Kansas for a 13th season and decline the coaching post at his alma mater, North Carolina. Earlier this summer, 16,300 fans visited the football stadium to watch Williams’ “I’m staying” press conference on the football video board.
Axtell scores seven in Big 12’s victory
Gmunden, Austria Kansas senior Luke Axtell scored seven points on 2-of-5 shooting as the Big 12 All-Stars beat Basket Swans, 87-79, Sunday. Axtell hit 1 of 3 three-point shots in the victory.
Jamaal Tinsley of Iowa State scored 13 points to lead the Big 12 (3-0) in scoring. Texas Tech’s Cliff Owens and Texas’ Chris Owens had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Bernard King of Texas A&M scored 12 points, Oklahoma’s Nolan Johnson 11 and Terry Black of Baylor 10. The All-Stars return to play on Tuesday when they travel to Oberwart, Austria, to take on Gunners B.C.
Meanwhile, in other KU basketball news, Josh Childress told Rivals 100 Hoops he will indeed visit KU for Late Night With Roy Williams on Oct. 13. The J-W reported Saturday Childress, 6-5 from Lakewood, Calif., and Jamal Sampson, 6-11 from Santa Ana, Calif., would attend Late Night.
