Kansas.com: Sports

Oklahoma wants big finish

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:39 CDT

Oklahoma safety Nic Harris wasn't thinking about the Gainesville, Fla., gospel radio station when he mentioned WTLG.

The inspiration is there just the same.

"Win the last game," Harris said.

It's a figurative and literal imperative. Winning the last game roughly translates to not looking beyond the next opponent. "You treat the next game like it's your last game," Harris said. "So, August 30 is our last game."

But the acronym is derived from the gut-punch Oklahoma felt while walking off the field for the final time in four of the past five years -- all in Bowl Championship Series contests.

25 years later: Brett's pine tar homer memorable

ANDALE GROSS — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:44 CDT

George Brett says he's surprised that people still make a big deal out of his 1983 "pine tar" home run at Yankee Stadium.

The Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer's ninth-inning blast was taken away after umpires ruled the pine tar on Brett's bat extended too far up the shaft. Brett erupted from the dugout in one of baseball's all-time tirades.

The Royals protested the call, it was later overturned, and the two teams finished the game weeks later. The Royals won 5-4.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the incident, and Brett still can't believe that for all his years in baseball -- he won batting titles in three different decades -- the pine tar at-bat is the one fans know best.

"I am so surprised that you play 20 years in the major leagues and you accomplish some things, and that's the one at-bat you're remembered for," Brett said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

Freeman has new targets

JEFFREY MARTIN — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

Year three for Josh Freeman is one of change.

The K-State junior quarterback is tending to the little things, such as progressions, footwork and reads. He watches film of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, seeking nuances he can call his own.

And after the departure of All-American receiver Jordy Nelson to the NFL, the onus of sustaining the Wildcats' aerial assault falls on Freeman's powerful but streamlined right arm. He's down to 240 pounds after weighing a muscular 270 last summer, before he threw for a school-record 499 times and 3,353 yards last season.

"It's his time," K-State coach Ron Prince said. "It's his team."

Freeman reflected Tuesday at Big 12 media days on his last two seasons, especially when he was thrust into the starting lineup as a freshman. He took over at QB for the Wildcats' final eight games in 2006, when they finished 7-6 with a Texas Bowl loss. K-State dropped to 5-7 last season, but Freeman did help the Wildcats to a second straight victory over a top-10 Texas team, this time on the road.

Teams look to emulate KU's success

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

Mark Mangino talked about focusing on the task at hand, keeping it simple and sawing wood, reciting something of a lullaby for Kansas fans worried that the 2008 Jayhawks would need to order new helmets for inflated heads after a 12-1 season.

Mangino may have reaped many benefits from a football season previously thought impossible in Lawrence -- a $2.3 million contract extension among them -- but he at least sounded like the same master motivator on Tuesday at Big 12 media days.

For the second season in a row, Mangino will point to his team's schedule for motivation. In 2007, the Jayhawks rallied against criticism that they were feasting on cupcakes to move up in the polls. In 2008, with Big 12 South powers Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech back on the slate, they have the schedule to launch themselves into the national spotlight for good.

"We want to be able to play against all the best teams in our league," Mangino said. "And be able to beat them. That's the test for our program. We will never truly get over the hump in my eyes until we're able to defeat those teams as well."

The best teachers are always coming up with new tests for their pupils, and Mangino has issued a big one to his Jayhawks, who could have grown fat and happy after beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. KU gets Texas Tech and Texas at Memorial Stadium and travels to Oklahoma. The Jayhawks are 0-6 against those three schools under Mangino, but haven't played them since 2005.

Pricey seating at WSU

RICK PLUMLEE — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:41 CDT

For $4,260, you can have a courtside seat at Wichita State basketball games this season.

With Koch Arena set to be sold out for a fourth straight year, the Shockers have joined many of their peers in the Missouri Valley Conference in selling seats right on top of the action.

"It's an opportunity for folks to obtain premium seats in a situation where we're sold out," WSU athletic director Eric Sexton said Tuesday. "It sure makes sense to me."

It also stands to make the athletic department an additional $96,000, if all 24 courtside seats are sold.

The cost for one seat is a $4,000 donation to WSU's athletic scholarship fund, plus $260 for the price of a season ticket. The seats will be at six of the 10 tables along the court with the middle four tables still reserved for media.

Sioux Falls lefty to play for Shockers

JONATHAN LONG — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:48 CDT

The reputation of Wichita State's baseball team enticed Aaron LaBrie. A visit sold him on becoming a Shocker.

LaBrie, a left-handed pitcher from Sioux Falls, S.D., committed to Wichita State on Friday while playing in the Great Plains Tournament of Champions held at Eck Stadium.

"I've always liked the school because the program was always one of the best out there," said LaBrie, who had never visited Wichita before last weekend. "Everyone seemed really nice and laid back. It's just the type of atmosphere and people that I want to be around."

The senior-to-be at Washington High was 9-2 last season with a 1.36 ERA. A groundball pitcher, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder works well with runners on base and has an 85-88 mph fastball.

WSU beat out South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

Pelini's first assignment at Nebraska: Stopping others

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:42 CDT

Looking for defense

Calling Nebraska's 2007 defense bad would be a compliment. This was record-book woeful as 2007 opponents scored more points (455) and averaged more yards per game (477) than any in school history.

"There was no particular game that stands out," defensive end Barry Turner said. "There was a sickness you felt after every loss."

Defense is why Nebraska has a new coach and approach for 2008.

Bo Pelini returns to the scene of some of the most impressive work of his career as a college and NFL assistant coach. As Nebraska's coordinator in 2003, he shaped a defense that set positive schools records for interceptions and takeaways, helping the Cornhuskers to their most successful season since 2001.

Bishop adds Amateur title to list

SCOTT PASKE — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Cameron Bishop never won an individual golf title during his career at Wichita State, a fact he'll readily admit.

These days, it seems he can't lose.

Bishop battled for control of the Kansas Amateur final with Kansas junior Patrick Roth for 25 holes Sunday. Then Bishop birdied four holes in a five-hole stretch and went on to win 4 and 3 in the 98th edition of the match-play championship at Wichita Country Club.

Bishop, 24, earned his third Kansas Golf Association title in two months. He also captured Wichita's match-play title last week.

"This is definitely the best summer I've had since I've been playing," said Bishop, a Tulsa native. "I put a lot of work into it and it's paid off at the right time."

Wingnuts run out of chances

JEFFREY LUTZ — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Extra innings failed to give the Wingnuts the fresh start they were looking for in a 3-2 loss to Sioux City on Sunday.

Wichita, probably already reluctant to get its hopes up after squandering several scoring opportunities in regulation, saw them dashed again in the 10th.

Trailing by two with the tying runs in scoring position and no outs, the Wingnuts were able to score just one run.

The two-run home run by Sioux City's Alex Llanos in the top of the 10th stood up in the Explorers' 3-2 win at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

After two straight one-run victories, Wichita has lost two straight in the same fashion. The Wingnuts have the next two days off for the American Association All-Star break.

KC caps rare series win in Chicago

BOB DUTTON — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Esteban German's bat, Jose Guillen's arm and maybe the law of averages. Start there Sunday afternoon when breaking down the Kansas City Royals' 8-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Having All-Star closer Joakim Soria around at the end didn't hurt either.

When Soria finished rolling through the White Sox in the ninth inning, the Royals could claim their first winning series at U.S. Cellular Field since Sept. 19-21, 2003.

"We started hot in the game," German said, "but they came back. Then we came back this time. It was a good day."

German provided the game-winning hit with a two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning against left-hander Matt Thornton. Guillen protected that one-run lead by throwing out A.J. Pierzynski at the plate in the Chicago eighth.

Kansas Amateur finalists at home

SCOTT PASKE — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:51 CDT

Cameron Bishop and Patrick Roth have intimate knowledge of Wichita Country Club, albeit in different forms.

One will likely have a greater fondness for the century-old club after today's Kansas Amateur final.

Bishop, a former Wichita State golfer, and Roth, a junior at Kansas, passed quarterfinal and semifinal tests Saturday and advanced to the 36-hole championship match. Bishop outlasted Wichita native and Missouri State sophomore Jack Courington in 19 holes to get to the final. Roth, from Prairie Village, defeated Wichita's Aaron Sheaks 2 and 1 in the other semifinal.

Bishop, who played the Wichita Country Club course numerous times during his college career, made just one birdie against Courington. But it helped him overcome a three-hole deficit in the final five holes. Courington had a chance to win the match at No. 18, but lipped out a 2-foot par putt that sent their duel to an extra hole.

"I had my hat off, ready to shake his hand," the 24-year-old Bishop said. "I didn't expect that."

Neugent's discovery better than gold

JONATHAN LONG — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:39 CDT

Ron Neugent's determination and grit made him an Olympic swimmer almost three decades ago.

They also helped him correct the 1980 U.S. Olympic team being omitted from the list of recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor -- the highest civilian award presented by Congress.

More than a year ago, the Wichita orthodontist prepared to submit a photo of himself with President Jimmy Carter as part of an Eagle contest of personal photos with world leaders. Neugent and all team members, including Wichita basketball players Lynette Woodard and Darnell Valentine, received the medal from Carter after the United States boycotted the Moscow Games because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.

While writing a caption for the photo, Neugent needed to know more about the medal he showed to young swimmers during talks.

That's when he made a startling discovery.

NBA gives Gray a summer look

ANDY SAMUELSON — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:44 CDT

Taj Gray isn't much of a gambler.

Sure he's played a few hands of blackjack during his stay in Las Vegas this week. But the Wichita native's real bet has been on a basketball court.

Gray is one of a couple hundred aspiring players hoping to parlay success at the NBA Summer League into a possible contract come fall.

"There are a lot of guys out here working hard trying to get an opportunity," Gray said. "You have to be ready when your opportunity comes.

"I feel like I do as much as I can when I'm out there, and I'm satisfied when I walk off the court."

Sheaks sneaks along

SCOTT PASKE — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

Aaron Sheaks sounded truly awed by what he witnessed during his third-round match Friday in the Kansas Amateur against Wichita State senior Ty Sanders.

"When I was in college, nobody hit it that far. Nobody," said Sheaks, who lettered for Kansas' golf team in 1992. "Ty is one of the most solid ball-strikers I've seen. It just makes a different sound when it comes off his club."

Sheaks, a 37-year-old from Wichita, has plenty of game, too. And after outlasting Sanders in a 21-hole match at Wichita Country Club, Sheaks showed the six-day championship isn't just for guys who pay a lot for car insurance.

Sheaks advanced to today's quarterfinals along with six college golfers and 24-year-old Cameron Bishop, who finished his Wichita State career in 2007. Sheaks will play Kansas State sophomore Kyle Smell of Overland Park in the opening match at 7:30 a.m.

The remaining competitors also include Wichita's Jack Courington. The Missouri State sophomore defeated two Kansas State golfers, including No. 2 seed Ross Geubelle of Lakin.

Weekends are made for bull rides

JONATHAN LONG — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:56 CDT

It's not quite a Dark Knight type of change, but Justin Jacobucci takes on a different style of life once he leaves the office.

From Monday to Friday the Derby resident spends his time working as a graphic design artist. On the weekend those office clothes get thrown to the side for jeans and 10 gallon hats.

Standard cowboy apparel.

Jacobucci, a bull rider, is one of the many participants in this week's Pretty Prairie Rodeo.

"I tell people at work what I do on the weekends and they give me funny looks," said Jacobucci, originally from Brighton, Colo. "My bosses tell me just don't mess up my hands. You can break your legs, but we need your hands."

Pearson powers a victory

JEFFREY LUTZ — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

Stephen Pearson put up numbers on Friday night that made up for the game he missed on Thursday.

A night after being benched by manager Kash Beauchamp in the midst of a slump, Pearson drove in runs in his first five at-bats with two homers, two doubles and a fielder's choice, then helped bring home two more in the 11th to tie the score.

Felipe Del Rosario ended the game with a bases-loaded line-drive single in the 11th, but it was Pearson's night. He single-handedly carried Wichita's offense and led the Wingnuts to an 8-7 win over Sioux City at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

"Kash benched me yesterday because I haven't been doing too good," Pearson said. "He just wanted to kind of get a fire under me. It was a little bit of that, but I've been trying to make some adjustments."

In his first start in right field this season, Pearson, the usual first baseman for the Wingnuts, had a game that will probably result in him asking to stay in right.

Volunteers drive rodeo

JOANNA CHADWICK — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:38 CDT

About three hours before Pretty Prairie's rodeo, billed as Kansas' Largest Night Rodeo, even began, Mike Hedrick was rushing around the area outside the grandstand. There were only a few people there, as an hour still remained before the gates opened.

Two fire trucks watered down the dirt at the entryway while Steven Dent, a contestant from Mullen, Neb., oiled his gloves while sitting in the shade of a beer stand.

Hedrick, who had just driven in from Hutchinson, stuffed the programs with the day's schedule, which he'd picked up on his way to Pretty Prairie. He then hurried home to change and returned in time to take tickets at the pony rides on the west side of the grandstand.

Certainly a busy time, but it was just another day at the rodeo for Hedrick, a 34-year volunteer.

"I'm under the gun," he said as he walked quickly to a trailer where he could work in relative cool conditions. "I've been in charge of programs for three to four years, so I know the routine. But for the first three days of the rodeo, we don't know the schedule, so we have to get the programs ready (right before the show). It can make it a little hairy getting everything ready by the times the gates open."

Carlson suprises Kemmer in match play

SCOTT PASKE — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:38 CDT

Almost one-third of the remaining Kansas Amateur competitors have strong ties to Wichita, either growing up, attending school or raising family here.

Not all of the locals survived Thursday's first round of match play at Wichita Country Club, however, including No. 1 seed and qualifying medalist Dodge Kemmer.

University of Missouri student Drew Carlson pulled off that surprise in the opening match. After making it through a 10-man playoff for the final match-play spot Wednesday evening, Carlson rolled out of bed early Thursday and edged Kemmer 2 and 1 to advance to this morning's second round.

"Today, I was so tired and I just thought well, this is supposed to be fun," said Carlson, who lives in Mission Hills. "Dodge is a very nice person and a good player, so I knew if anything, I was going to learn something."

Kemmer, who helped Stanford finish second in the NCAA Championships this spring, became the second medalist in three years to exit match play in the first round at the state amateur. Kansas State golfer Joe Ida earned the No. 1 seed in 2006 at Garden City before losing to Don Kuehn.

Kemmer shoots 66 in bogey-free round

SCOTT PASKE — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

Success can come in different ways during the early rounds of the Kansas Amateur.

There was Dodge Kemmer's method on Wednesday -- the 20-year-old Wichitan shot a bogey-free 66 and earned medalist honors by one shot in stroke-play qualifying.

And there was Drew Carlson's way -- the University of Missouri student from Mission Hills birdied the first playoff hole to edge nine other golfers for the final berth in the match-play bracket.

Kemmer, a Stanford senior, and Carlson will meet at 7:30 a.m. today to start the 64-man, match-play competition at Wichita Country Club. The head-to-head portion of the championship will be conducted the next four days and conclude with Sunday's 36-hole final.

Kemmer, who first played in the state amateur as a 13-year-old, earned the No. 1 seed with a 36-hole total of 3-under-par 139. He edged Kansas State sophomore Ross Geubelle, a Lakin native who shot 68 in the second round and set the early target at 140.

KU Relays site in question after 2009

RICK PLUMLEE — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

When Mark Kostek threw the javelin for Kansas in the mid-1970s, he mowed the grass southwest of Allen Fieldhouse so he would have a place to work out.

That area is also the proposed site for relocating the track outside of Memorial Stadium, hopefully by 2010. The bigger issue is that the Kansas Relays' home past 2009 is in doubt.

"It's so premature," KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Wednesday. "Now, we are talking about it. There are plans, but we can't do it without the funds."

Projected costs are $6 to $8 million to build a track-and-field facility that would include a stadium of no more than 10,000 seats.

"As a former KU guy, from a sentimental standpoint, I would be sorry to see the Relays give up Memorial Stadium," said Kostek, now an associate athletic director at Drake and the former meet director for the Drake Relays. "But from a track-and-field standpoint, I think this is a great opportunity.