Sports
August 7, 2011 12:00 AM
Kansas' top athletes: Allen, Cromwell, Willard, Valentine, Francis, Hadl, Mills, Spani, Nieder, Wecker
Lucius Allen with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Courtesy photo
UCLA coach John Wooden, right, wearing eyeglasses, celebrates with his players, from left, Mike Lynn, Lucius Allen, Mike Warren and Lew Alcindor after the Bruins beat North Carolina, 78-55, to win the NCAA championship final at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, Ca., March 23, 1968. It is the second straight national collegiate basketball title for the Bruins. (AP Photo)
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Lucius Allen of the Seattle Supersonics starts to fall as he controls the ball on a drive past Hal Greer of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of game in Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 8, 1969. Allen lost the ball out of bounds. (AP Photo/RBK)
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Sam Francis
Courtesy photo
Lucius Allen, front, of the Los Angeles Lakers.
AP
Gary Spani
File photo
Former Olympian Billy Mills takes his turn carrying the flame during the Olympic torch relay Thursday, June 17, 2004, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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Sam Francis
Courtesy photo
Lucious Allen of the Kings.
File photo
Gary Spani
File photo
U.S. Olympic champion Billy Mills
Courtesy photo
U.S. Olympic champion Billy Mills
File photo
Lucius Allen, left, shoots for the Los Angeles Lakers.
File photo
Nolan Cromwell
Courtesy photo
Billy Mills
File photo
Sam Francis
Courtesy photo
Nolan Cromwell
Courtesy photo
U.S. Olympic champion Billy Mills
File photo
Sam Francis
Courtesy photo
Los Angeles Rams defenders Nolan Cromwell (21) and Pat Thomas (27) arrive too late to prevent Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Lynn Swann from making one of his patented leaping pass receptions. Action came on Sunday during Super Bowl XIV in Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 21, 1980 in Pasadena, Calif. Steelers; aided by a Swann touchdown reception, beat Rams, 31-19. (AP Photo)
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Oct. 23, 1964 -- Billy Mills is shown with the gold medal he won in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Summer Olymics in Tokyo.UPI
UPI
Sam Francis
Courtesy photo
Los Angeles Rams defenders Nolan Cromwell (21) and Pat Thomas (27) arrive too late to prevent Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Lynn Swann from making one of his patented leaping pass receptions. Action came on Sunday during Super Bowl XIV in Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 21, 1980 in Pasadena, Calif. Steelers; aided by a Swann touchdown reception, beat Rams, 31-19. (AP Photo)
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With Oscar Robertson of the Milwaukee Bucks setting a pick, Lucius Allen drives for the corner in April 26, 1971 game against the Baltimore Bullets. Kevin Lughery chases Allen while Jack Martin moves in to pick up Allen. Milwaukee won 102-83 to take a 2-0 lead in the National Basketball Association's best of 7 championship series. (AP Photo)
AP
** FILE ** Mohamed Gamoudi (615) of Tunisia tries to squeeze his arm ahead of Billy Mills (722) as Mills went on to win the 10,000-meter Olympic race in Tokyo, in this Oct. 14, 1964 file photo. The South Dakota native surged past two favorites to set a record, a win that Runner's World Magazine calls the "best out-of-nowhere performance." (AP Photo/File)
AP
John Hadl
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Washington Redskins wide receiver Charlie Brown (87) leaps between Los Angeles Rams defenders Vince Newsome (22) and Nolan Cromwell (21) to bring down a Joe Thiesmann pass for a 48-yard reception in the second quarter of game at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 2, 1984. Brown finished the day with 6 catches for 171 yards. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma)
AP
Los Angeles Lakers Lucius Allen, left, runs into stiff opposition as he drives for the basket against the New York Nets, Sunday, March 13, 1977, Uniondale, N.Y. Blocking Allens attempt is Nets Jan Van Breda Kolff (20) in the first quarter at the Nassau Coliseum. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
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Bill Nieder
Courtesy photo
Shown in photo is John Hadl, (21), of Los Angeles Rams shown in August 1973. (AP Photo)
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FILE - In this August 1983 file photo, Dallas Cowboys' Ron Springs, right, reaches out toward Los Angeles Rams' Nolan Cromwell, left, during an NFL football game in Anaheim Calif. (AP Photo/File)
AP
UCLA star basketball player Lucius Allen arrives in Los Angeles on May 29, 1968. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
AP
Bill Nieder
File photo
John Hadl, above, quarterback of the San Diego Chargers shown Oct. 14, 1965, was chosen as the Associated Press offensive player of the week in the American Football League. Hadl tossed 3 touchdown passes and completed 18 of 29 passes to lead his team to a 34-3 win over the Buffalo Bills. (AP Photo)
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Nolan Cromwell
Courtesy photo
UCLA basketball player Lucius Allen posing for a picture in Januray, 1968. (AP Photo)
AP
Bill Nieder
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Kansas City's right Safety Johnny Robinson uses battering ram tactics to knock San Diego's Mike Garrett out of bounds at the Kansas City nine yard line in Kansas City, Oct. 10, 1971. Garrett had taken a hand-off from quarterback John Hadl. The Chiefs won the game, 31-10. (AP Photo/William Straeter)
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Nolan Cromwell
Courtesy photo
Lucius Allen of the Sacramento Kings, top.
AP
Gary Spani
File photo
Billy Mills, the unlikely hero of the 1964 Tokyo Games who won the 10,000-meters, sits outside a downtown Denver hotel Tuesday, July 4, 2006, while taking a break from helping out at the North American Indigenous Games. Mills, who lives near Sacramento, Calif., was on hand to help out with the more than 7,000 athletes from 23 states and 11 Canadian provinces who are competing in 16 sports at the event. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Darnell Valentine, Heights High basketball player.
File photo
Darnell Valentine, center, watches intently from the bench.
File photo
Former Heights and KU star Darnell Valentine photographed during a visit to Wichita May 29, 2003.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Kansas' Darnell Valentine, center, looks for an opening against North Carolina.
File photo
Kansas State's Kendra Wecker (53) drives up court against pressure from Nebraska's Kiera Hardy (21). K-State beat Nebraska 74-59 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas, January 15, 2005.
Photo by Peter Aiken/WireImage.com
Darnell Valentine playing basketball for the Portland Trail Blazers.Scanned from archive print dated December 4, 1981.
File photo
** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITONS NOV. 10-11 **FILE** Boxers Jess Willard, top, and Jack Johnson, appear in a heavyweight championship bout, in Havana, Cuba, April 5, 1915. Willard knocked out Johnson in the 26th round (old count) to win bout and title from Johnson. Johnson's largely unknown 1911 musings to a French sports magazine, including candid observations on racism likely never intended for American readers, have been translated to English in their entirety for the first time in the new autobiography "My Life & Battles." (AP Photo, File)
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USA's Billy Mills (722) winner of the 10,000-meter Olympic race at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Oct. 14, 1964. (AP Photo)
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San Antonio Silver Stars' Kendra Wecker (53) shoots past Washington Mystics' Nakia Sanford (43) during basketball game play, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006 at the Verizon Center in Washington. (AP Photo/Linda Spillers)
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Darnell Valentine drives past a defender on December 22, 1979.
File photo
Kendra Wecker of Marysville, All State girls team.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Marine Lt. Billy Mills of Coffeyville, Kans., throws his arms into the air as he hits the finish line to win a gold medal for the U.S. Oct. 14, 1964, in the Olympic 10,000 meter run in Tokyo. Mills, who was considered far out of his class in the event against one of the best fields ever assembled, outsprinted world record holder Ron Clark of Australia, to win in a time of 28 minutes, 24.4 seconds. It was the first time an American ever won this Olympic event. (AP Photo)
AP
San Antonio Silver Stars' Kendra Wecker shoots over Phoenix Mercury Cappie Pondexter (23) during the fourth quarter of women's basketball action in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 31, 2006. Wecker was the Silver Stars high point scorer for the game. The Silver Stars defeated the Mercury 82-76. (AP Photo/Will Powers)
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Former Heights and KU standout Darnell Valentine is retired from the NBA.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Portland Trail Blazers Darnell Valentine (14) comes under heavy defense by Los Angeles Lakers Norm Nixon during first-half action in Game 5 of their Western Conference NBA Semifinals, Tuesday, May 3, 1983, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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U.S. Marine Lt. Billy Mills pulls off a stunning upset by winning the 10,000 meters Olympic race in Tokyo Oct. 14, 1964. Mills set an Olympic record 0f 28:24:4, and was the only American ever to win the event. (AP Photo)
AP
Washington Mystics' Nikki Blue, right, looks to get the ball away from San Antonio Silver Stars' Kendra Wecker during the first half of a WNBA basketball exhibition game Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Larry W. Smith)
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Darnell Valentine shares a laugh with KU coach Roy Williams before a pick-up game Friday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Portland Trail Blazers guard Darnell Valentine (14) drives toward the basket past teammate Calvin Natt, right, and Los Angeles Lakers Jamaal Wilkes (52) and Magic Johnson (32) during first period action in the second game of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at the Forum, Tuesday, April 26, 1983, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
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Billy Mills, a University of Kansas track great and an Olympic gold medalist in 1964, attends the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kansas. (Mike Ransdell/Kansas City Star/MCT)
MCT
Kansas State senior Kendra Wecker addresses the crowd as her jersey number is retired at Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Lindsey Bauman)
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Gary Spani
File photo
Kansas' Darnell Valentine thhrows a pass to a teammate.
File photo
U.S. Olympic champion Billy Mills
Courtesy photo
Kansas State forward Kendra Wecker puts up a shot in a game against Texas A&M on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. Although regarded as one of the best players in the game, it is unlikely Wecker will receive much national recognition unless No. 20 Kansas State can make it into the Final Four. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Former Heights and KU star Darnell Valentine photographed during a visit to Wichita May 29, 2003.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Wichita Heights' Darnell Valentine, right, dribbles past an opponent.
File photo
Oct. 14, 1964 -- The winners in the 10,000 meter run solute the crowd after receiving their medals at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Thhey are Mohamed Galamoudi of Tunisia, silver medal; Billy Mills of the United States, gold medal; and Ron Clarke of Australia, bronze medal. It was the first time an American had won the event.
UPI
Kansas State forward Kendra Wecker, right, is trailed by Nebraska forward Elena Diaz after Wecker stole the ball Jan. 15, 2005, at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. Although regarded as one of the best players in the game, it is unlikely Wecker will receive much national recognition unless 20th-ranked Kansas State can make it into the Final Four. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Darnell Valentine
Wichita Eagle file photo
Darnell Valentine, right, fights for a loose ball.
Courtesy photo
Gary Spani
File photo
Kansas State foward Kendra Wecker (53) drives to the basket in the final minutes of the 79-58 win over Missouri in Big 12 Conference play in Dallas, Wednesday, March 10, 2004. Wecker scored a game high 25 points. (AP Photo/ Tim Sharp)
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Darnell Valentine (14) of the Portland Trailblazers maneuvers around Brad Davis (15) of the Dallas Mavericks, April 18, 1985, Dallas, Tex. Valentine was looking for some room to shoot in the first period of Thursdays NBA Playoff game. (AP Photo/David Breslauer)
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Kansas' Darnell Valentine, center, looks to pass the ball to a teammate.
File photo
Gary Spani
File photo
Jess Willard
Courtesy photo
Darnell Valentine, right, and his former coach Ted Owens stand at mid-court at Allen Field House during a ceremony to retire Valentine's jersey.
Wichita Eagle file photo
Darnell Valentine and his teammates cheer after winning the Big Eight championship. The button pinned to Valentine's jersey reads "Happy Valentine's Day."
File photo
Kansas State's Kendra Wecker, left, holds up San Antonio Silver Stars jersey with WNBA President Donna Orender after the Silver Stars selected her as their first round pick, fourth overall in the WNBA draft Saturday, April 16, 2005, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
AP
Bill Nieder
Courtesy photo
Kansas State Women's basketball players Nicole Ohlde, Kendra Wecker and Laurie Koehn. Jill jarsulic photo
Wichita Eagle file photo
Darnell Valentine, Heights High basketball player.Scanned from archive print dated March 3, 1976
File photo
Billy Mills
Courtesy photo
Jess Willard
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