Kansas.com: Sports

Kansas State knocks off No. 18 Dayton

KELLIS ROBINETT — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:40 CST

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The Kansas State basketball team defeated Dayton 83-75 on Sunday to take third place at the Rico Tip-Off.

By beating the 18th ranked Flyers, the Wildcats picked up their first nonconference victory over a ranked opponent since 2000.

Jacob Pullen led all scorers with 26 points, and backcourt teammate Denis Clemente added 21 in front of his friends and family.

KC beats Steelers in OT 27-24; Roethlisberger hurt

DOUG TUCKER — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:04 CST

When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and "Mr. Irrelevant" booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Nebraska ends Kansas State's season

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:48 CST

LINCOLN, Neb. — This was all or nothing for Kansas State because a Wildcats loss meant no division championship and no bowl game.

And the loss happened, 17-3 to surging Nebraska, which will meet Texas in the Big 12 title game.

But for Kansas State this season wasn’t for nothing. Although the Wildcats’ 6-6 record meant a mere a one-game improvement over last season, the feeling is vastly different, upbeat because of a program rejuvenated by Bill Snyder.

Texas races past Kansas

J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:42 CST

AUSTIN — With the nation watching, Kansas football coach Mark Mangino showed a softer side.

He walked onto the field to check on his injured players, even trying to help freshman running back Toben Opurum off the ground. He told a referee that he was “a good man.” He gave sophomore Daymond Patterson a big ol’ hug after a long punt return. You could have called it a Bear hug.

But no amount of love from Mangino, affectionately called “Bear” by old friends in Steel Country, could motivate KU to compete with No. 3 Texas, which demolished the Jayhawks 51-20 on Saturday night to move their losing streak to six.

Clemente rises beyond neighborhood

KELLIS ROBINETT — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:43 CST

TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico — In the center of Pajaros, the neighborhood where Denis Clemente grew up, there is a baseball field.

It is surrounded by chain-link fence and stadium lights. The field is as green as the tropical forests visible in the distance.

Nearby is a store with the words "farmacias plaza" on its front, a concrete restaurant without doors, and a string of low-income houses that for the most part have bars guarding their doors and windows.

Getting Mangino out may cost $6.6 million

J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:41 CST

AUSTIN — If the Kansas athletic department's investigation into coach Mark Mangino's treatment of football players results in the school firing Mangino for cause, that decision could spark a battle between the two parties for more than $6 million, according to Mangino's contract.

Mangino would be given a 21-day window after his firing to submit a written appeal of his termination to either KU chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little or athletic director Lew Perkins. The appeal would be reviewed by a three-person committee appointed by Gray-Little, comprised of faculty or professional staff employees, one selected by Gray-Little, one selected by Mangino and one agreed upon by both parties. Mangino would have the right to attend committee meetings and have legal counsel.

Two of the three committee members would have to rule in favor of the school to uphold the termination for cause. In that case, Mangino would be paid only what he is owed through the date of termination. But if the committee ruled in favor of Mangino, turning the termination for cause into a termination without cause, Mangino would be owed $6.6 million — the remainder of his contract ($2 million per year for three years plus a buyout in the range of $600,000). KU would also have the option of reinstating Mangino as coach.

Shootout sinks Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

PARK CITY — The urgent dispatch came over general manager Joel Lomurno's radio late in the third period: Winners in the Wichita Thunder's jersey auction were tardy reporting to the tunnel to line up for their prizes.

"That's because they're watching the game," responded Lomurno, the team's general manager.

Indeed, the Thunder and its newly discovered physical style are keeping fans in their seats these days.

Todd Haley takes scholastic approach to coaching

KENT BABB — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15 CST

It was years ago when Todd Haley got the book, before the pages were creased and stained with highlighter marks. He still consults it a few times a month, searching for a lost proverb, hunting for validation.

Where would he find it this time? In "The Art of War," where was there an explanation or reason for this?

It is last Sunday. The Chiefs are in Oakland and, as they have often this season, are struggling. Are trying to escape this battle with a rare victory. Trying to earn some of that validation that Haley has turned back more than 2,500 years to find. There is a fourth down, the fringe of a momentum shift, and Haley calls timeout an instant before the ball is snapped. The Raiders fumble, but it doesn't matter because the timeout nullifies the play. Assistant head coach Maurice Carthon chastises Haley, and Haley returns fire. While television cameras zoom in, the Chiefs' head coach and his top lieutenant engage in a verbal, R-rated spat.

Shocker volleyball slides to third seed

Eagle news services — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

Wichita State wrapped up the volleyball regular season with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-14) victory over Indiana State on Saturday night in Terre Haute, Ind.

The Shockers (23-5, 14-4 MVC) finished tied for second with Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears get the second seed in the MVC Tournament — and a first-round bye — on the strength of conference tiebreakers.

Emily Stockman and Sarah McGee each had 12 kills for WSU in Saturday's victory. Mary Elizabeth Hooper had 45 assists, and Melissa Granville had 13 digs.

Stephenson sets up for future decisions

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

Among the names on Wichita State's pitching staff are three seniors, a fourth-year junior and a draft-eligible sophomore.

What that means for the draft and the 2011 season is unsure, a condition baseball coaches are used to handling. The Shockers attempted to fortify their arms department by signing four pitchers (one of whom may also hit) during the fall signing period.

"Other than the seniors, you don't really know who's going to leave next spring," WSU coach Gene Stephenson said. "You're kind of rolling the dice."

Spartans roll into 3A final

BROOKS SEELEY — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30 CST

NORTON — Wichita Collegiate's third quarter Saturday showed exactly why its offense has struck fear into opponents this season.

In that period alone, the Spartans ran six plays for 240 yards, and four of the plays went for touchdowns on the way to a 56-21 win over Norton in the Class 3A semifinals.

Brett LeMaster's 78-yard touchdown run may sum up the Spartans' offensive domination the best.

Hanover wins 8-man II title

MATT BROWNING — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30 CST

NEWTON — For coaches that tried to develop a gameplan against the Hanover football team this season, it must have been a nightmare trying to figure out which of the Wildcats' running options to contain.

Whether it's Ethan Diederich on sweeps, Trevor Jueneman on runs up the middle or Jerod Diederich on the option, Hanover's running game comes at opponents in waves.

Saturday afternoon in the Eight Man Division II championship, Quivira Heights approach was to try and get in a shootout with Hanover.

Double standards out front

DAVID CRARY — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

NEW YORK — The vicious hair-pulling of an opponent was inexcusable. But prominent advocates of women's sports say that so, too, has been much of the commentary generated by the popular video of college soccer player Elizabeth Lambert's combative tactics in a recent game.

"Catfight" has been a term commonly used in cyberspace reactions to the video clip now seen by millions of people around the world. One Web site ran a poll: "Do you find violent women sexy?" Some bloggers — lapsing into old stereotypes — suggested Lambert's menstrual cycle was a factor.

"It's clearly sexist," said Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, as she assessed the overall reaction to Lambert's rough play in a Nov. 5 game between her New Mexico team and Brigham Young.

Stars lead way for Galaxy

TIM BOOTH — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

SEATTLE — Landon Donovan looked zoned out behind the table, microphone in his face, lights glaring into his eyes, talking about a season that's gone so right for himself and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Finally, he paused and almost asked permission to speak candidly. To really say why a Galaxy team that was so dysfunctional a year ago and this year was surrounded by distraction now finds itself playing Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final today.

' 'There are a few points that stand out to me. One was having (coach) Bruce (Arena) come in and just create stability, which we hadn't had for a while. And candidly, the second was David's reaction to everything that's gone on,'' Donovan said with David Beckham seated beside him. ''Life is about choices. He could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man and want this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are.''

Ottawa rallies for win

Eagle staff — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

Wichita Southeast product Clarence Anderson scored four touchdowns on 13 receptions and a school-record 291 yards receiving to lead No. 5 Ottawa to a dramatic, 40-34 come-from-behind win over No. 13 Hastings (Neb.) in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs on Saturday at Ottawa.

Trailing 34-6 midway through the third quarter, the Braves reeled off 34 unanswered points for the victory, with the game-winner coming on a 64-yard run by Andy Otto in the fourth quarter. Ottawa quarterback Ethan Haller threw for 415 yards and four touchdowns.

It was the first playoff win in school history.

Red Raiders rout OU

Associated Press — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

Taylor Potts threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns as Texas Tech beat Oklahoma 41-13 on Saturday at Lubbock, Texas, for its most lopsided win ever over the Sooners.

Baron Batch ran for 136 yards and two scores for the Red Raiders (7-4, 4-3 Big 12), who became bowl eligible for the 16th straight season.

Oklahoma (6-5, 4-3) has its most losses since going 7-5 in 1999. It was just the fifth victory in 17 meetings for Texas Tech against the Sooners, and the Red Raiders had never won by more than 10 points in the series.

Quinter finishes storybook run

MATT BROWNING — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30 CST

NEWTON — There were no words that could describe the way Quinter's Matt Bird felt.

Known for his offensive prowess as a wide receiver, Bird was asked by the Bulldogs' coaching staff to use his secure hands in a different way.

Clinging to a 28-26 lead and playing a soft zone defense Saturday in the 8-man Division I championship game, Quinter continued to watch Baileyville march down the field, moving closer to the endzone.

Respect grows for Martin

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

HOMESTEAD, Fla. —Mark Martin has lost to Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart — some of NASCAR's greatest drivers — in his frustrating bid for an elusive championship.

Standing in his way now? Jimmie Johnson, who takes a 108-point lead over Martin into today's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Barring a total collapse, Johnson will be the one to send Martin to a fifth runner-up finish in the standings. In doing so, Johnson will become the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive championships.

Rice transitioning from bust to star

DAVE CAMPBELL — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —Brett Favre was on the sideline between possessions during a recent game, quizzing his receivers about what type of coverage they faced.

That's when another snapshot of Sidney Rice's increasing confidence became apparent to Minnesota's ageless quarterback.

' 'He goes, 'I was wide open,' " Favre said, recalling Rice's response. ''I look at the picture on the sideline and I'm like, 'The guy was all over him.' "

Johnson, Finnegan are budding rivals

KRISTIE RIEKEN — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

HOUSTON — Houston star receiver Andre Johnson is pretty quiet, not talking much on the field or getting in the face of opponents.

That all changed the last time Johnson lined up against Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan. Johnson could be seen yelling and pointing at Finnegan and was fined $7,500 for taking him to the ground by the facemask during a scuffle after a play in the 34-31 Texans win.

This matchup between the pair of Pro Bowlers — the big receiver chosen in the first round from Miami and the smallish seventh-round pick out of tiny Samford — has become one to watch. The next round is Monday night when the Texans host the Titans.