Baseball is over

Football stories will be bountiful over the next week.

Rock Chalk
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KU wins again

A strong pitching performance and some timely hitting helped KU win again and set up a game against UNC.

David Nardowski continues his hot hitting by driving in 2 on a 2 out single in the 7th to gice KU a 4-1 lead.

Tony Thompson added some insurance with a solor shot in the eighth to make it 5-1. Tony also had 2 2B's.

Rock Chalk
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Live from the trolley

Celebrating KU's 16-0 beat down of Dartmouth.

Schaffer Hall with the complete game shutout.

Bats are hot.
Pen is rested.
Hawks are poised for a run in this tourney.

Rock Chalk
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do or die

After getting embarrassed yesterday KU has a real chance to stay alive against Dartmouth.
First pitch at noon.

Hungover in Omaha

Rock Chalk

This is an e-mail I got this morning

I think it is a huge mistake that Coastal Carolina is holding off on throwing their stud against us today. I hope we take that decision and shove it up their ass. I know they are ranked 15 and think they are pretty good, but the fact remains that they have only played one school this year that ranks in the top 25. Oh wait, I forgot, we played a top 25 team in conference almost every weekend. I hope we kick their ass.

Get your shit together

According to the voice of Coastal Carolina, KU will not be facing the ace of the staff although they are very talented, maybe this is the little break KU needs to do some damage in the tourney.

If you don't have season ticket for Kansas Football, you're dumb and also running out of time.

If you were just waiting for the OU and NU game you're SOL because single game tickets to those are gonna be nonexistent.

So you got 2 options.

1- buy season tickets, there is plenty of affordable packages (visit- kuathletics.com or call 1-800- 34 Hawks)

2- buy the Rock or Chalk package.
Rock will give you a ticket to Duke, Iowa St (Homecoming) and OU for 150

Chalk will give you a Duke, So Miss and NU ticket for 150

If you can't make every game this is perfect for you and every KU ass in the seats is one less OU fan and one less NU fan.

The NU game is the last time you'll ever see Darrell Stuckey, Jake Sharp, Kerry Meier and Todd Reesing and probably the last time you'll catch Briscoe.

So get on it. If you already have tickets, thanks for supporting KU football.

Rock Chalk
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The internet is interesting

http://www.geogreeting.com/view.html?yBymuUmrkvuUtkIrkGu#t

I didn't know you could do this, but its pretty cool.

Rock Chalk

At least we got some karma

While watching part of the Yankees - Rangers game last night, I noticed a young lad wearing a KU shirt in the 2nd row and I'm pretty sure this means the baseball team is going to have a nice little weekend.
Since I have idea who's pitching for KU and when this is about all we can off of.

Rock Chalk

Q and A with Logan

Logan Overman is a former KU catcher and avid fan of all KU sports. He was kind enough to take a couple minutes with State of the Union to answer some questions as KU prepares to make a run in the NCAA tourney.
Enjoy

What were the years of your playing career at KU?

I played for KU from the Fall of 1996 until the winter of 1998.

  As a honorable mention All Big 12 Academic Team you obviously studied some in school, was it easier for you to play during times where there weren't classes going on, ie- spring break or after graduation in the summer, etc?              

  Playing ball while school was in session was not a problem for me.  We worked hard to schedule a majority of our classes in the morning and made sure that at the very latest you were out of class by 2:00.  All of my professors were very supportive of athletes and did a wonderful job of working with us to accommodate our practice, game and travel schedules. The biggest adjustment to playing college baseball for a kid like me from Wichita, Kansas, was playing baseball all year.  Some of the guys from the South were used to that, but it was the first time in my life I had played year around.  There was never a break.  Even during the off season there were workouts, practices, throwing drills, bullpens to catch and meetings every day.  It was like having a full time job while in school.  It was a great experience and one that I was fortunate to have.   

As an alum of the KU baseball program, how excited are you with the team making their first Big Dance since 2006?

I am thrilled for Coach Price, the coaching staff and all of the current players.  We have a solid group of players this year and there is every indication that Coach Price is well on his way to fielding a team year in and year out that can compete at this level.  As I told Coach Price earlier this year, it is a joy to finally go out to the Hog and watch good baseball.   
Are there any players that you are impressed with on the current squad?          

   Of course, Tony Thompson is a complete stud and so much fun to watch at the plate.  However, although I may be biased, I have really enjoyed watching Buck Afenir over the last few seasons.  He is a great leader and one hell of a defensive catcher. (He also has some pop in his bat). 

With a young team, what should the fans expectations be for the tourney?

I think we should have high expectations for the tournament.  I can guarantee you that this team is not satisfied with just making the tournament.  They beat some very good teams this year and are more than capable of doing the same this weekend if they can get it rolling.  To make it past this weekend, they will have to make it past UNC which has a great squad.  However, all the number one seeds are great squads so it doesn't matter what region you are in, you have to play balls to the wall to advance.  I actually think that playing so poorly last weekend in Oklahoma City was a blessing in disguise.  This group is going to be fired up to play in Chapel Hill and I guarantee you that Coach Price will have them hitting on all cylinders.  There has been so much hype associated with the Big 12 this year, and unlike the past three years, I think a few teams from the Big 12 are Omaha bound this year.  There is no reason that one of those teams should not be the Jayhawks.

  Rock Chalk. (Logan put this- to save me time, I'm sure)   
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What's coming up

Tomorrow we'll have an interview with a former KU baseball player (legend) about the tourney and other random things related to the baseball program.

After baseball I already have a couple interesting football articles ready.

The summer circuit for football recruiting and camps is about to heat up so there will be some info there as well.

Let me know if there is anything you are interested in and I'll make it happen, especially if you are a season ticket holder for football.

Rock Chalk

Tourney Time

(would you love to drink whiskey with this guy, hell I know I would, bet it be classic)

Well this is certainly fun, right?
What's better than cheering on the baseball team to take your mind of the impending history making season in football, if you answered nothing you'd be correct.

Misc-
The turf at Memorial Stadium is being tore up as we speak. There are some rumors floating around that the Jayhawk will be bigger and the end zone designs will be different, maybe even like the design at the Insight Bowl. We'll have to wait and see.


Obviously KU is playing in the Chapel Hill (double elim.) bracket and starts against Coastal Carolina on Friday.
And I really like where the collective heads of the denizens are for the big dance, hey if we're gonna be in we might as well kick a little ass.

I'll try to figure out some stuff for this to post.

Rock Chalk

Goin Dancin!

Baseball team headed to Chapel Hill for NCAA tourney.
First appearance since 06.
Well played.

Rock Chalk
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Do you realize?

Shit is about to get real on Mt. Oread. Seriously TR5 is about to start carving up Big 12 D's. Cole's Block Party USA is ready to launch.
X is about to give the whole nation a free sample of his salty nuts.

Just in case you didn't realize- shit is bout to get real.

Rock Chalk
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Looking good

According to the latest projects from Rivals.com KU will be in Baseball's Big Dance.

Selection show is tomorrow at 11:30AM so stay tuned.

Rock Chalk
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Ugh and 3

Baseball squad gets punked by Baylor and goes 0-3 in the Big 12 tourney, now we just wait and see if we're going to the big dance otherwise its a long time til September 5th.

On a bright note Tony Thompson hit a grand slam today. He's gonna make $ playing baseball.

Rock Chalk
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Before you have a 3 day weekend here's some random goodies

Elijah Johnson will wear number 15 next year - no idea what Tyshawnia will do

Thomas Robinson will be wearing 0 - just like Drew Gooden

Xavier is wearing #1 and CJ is wearing #13 (am I the only one that is upset with how much hand CJ has in this sibling relationship- I'm hoping Xavier makes a ton of cash and CJ blows all of his MLB money on, well whatever he blows it on, it doesn't matter)

Memorial Stadium will have a new videoboard that is rumored to be 25% bigger than Missery's and in HD, but not sure if the HD will be up an running for this year, 2010 for sure.

The baseball team got rolled by Texas and now face Baylor and hoping they can go 1-2 in the conference tourney and still make the Big Dance.
Trust me I need them to make the Big Dance, last night I watched Too Fast Too Furious Tokyo Drift, it was horrible.

Have a nice weekend
Rock Chalk

An ode to the Phog- written by Matt Ross

The following is an entry to the CBS best arena competition as written by Jayhawk fan Matt Ross.

An ode to the Fieldhouse

Do you hear that? Wait.. shh.. listen.. you hear it?

It’s the whispers of James Naismith, Phog Allen, Adolph Rupp, and Dean Smith. The victory cries of Clyde Lovellette, Wilt Chamberlain, Jo Jo White and Danny Manning. The Ghosts of KU past still lingering to catch a game at the Mecca of college hoops. This is College Basketball. This is “Phog” Allen Fieldhouse.

It begins when you walk thru the doors of the historic building. The limestone facade elegantly depicting the wear of its 54 years. Named after the father of basketball coaching, it was Allen who led players named Smith and Rupp to victories on the court. Stepping across the Allen Fieldhouse threshold is like a taking a step back in time. A nostalgic rush unlike any other.

Was that Larry Brown running by? Look! There goes Paul Pierce!

Beyond the simple Crimson and Blue concourses lay the hallowed James Naismith Court. Dedicated to the inventor of the game and KU’s first coach, it’s a floor that has graced some of the best to ever play the game.

Your eyes slowly gaze up to see the bleachers adorning the court like an antique frame. If you close your eyes you can see the students packing in hours before a game. Readying their Daily Kansan Newspapers into funnels to house the copious amounts of confetti that will be displayed during player intros. You can feel the floor rumble as first tip nears. 4,000 plus students jumping in wild anticipation.. and whoosh! Just like that the game begins and it washes over you. This is no ordinary place. This is special.

You open your eyes and continue your gaze up the bleachers to the windows that adorn both ends of the court. The soft light filtering in creating majestic shadows that seems to be dancing. It puts a smile on your face to think that what you’re feeling are the same emotions that Bud Stallworth and Darnell Valentine must have felt in their day.

Finally your gaze takes you up to the rafters. Rafters adorned with KU greats. Including an NCAA record 19 first team All-Americans, 52 conference titles, 13 final fours and 5 national championships. Rafters that have looked over countless victories and KU legends. Rafters that somehow hold the old barn together when its inhabitants seemingly try to rip it apart with their cheers and chants.

After a deep breath and a moment your gaze drifts down, and there it is. A banner that seems to loom larger than life. A watch guard of sorts, a warning to those opponents who step foot on the sacred court:

“Pay Heed All Who Enter, Beware of the Phog”

Chills race down your spine as the slow, methodical and somewhat eerie chant rings through your ears.

“Rock... Chalk… Jayhawk… KU…"

It makes you shudder. Just then do you realize the magnitude of where you are. It’s more than just a Basketball Arena, It’s a temple. A shrine to times past and a reminder of the things that make College Basketball so special.

The intimate setting is unrivaled in its history and tradition, but the Fieldhouse is more than a museum. It is an ever evolving beacon on the College Basketball landscape. With every new coach, player and fan that graces its walls, a new history is written.

This place is College Basketball.

This is “Phog” Allen Fieldhouse.

KU loses to k-scum

This dude is the only guy I know that was happy about. But honestly we gave them the game, 3 errors and left 13 runners on base are you serious? Texas today at 3PM.

Rock Chalk

http://www.rockchalktalk.com/ (for some additional coverage on the team)

Thanks to everyone

We've had over 2,000 page views, which is just crazy to think about.

I really appreciate it. Tell a friend about it if you like it and you can click on one of the buttons in the right sidebar to be notified everytime there is a new post.



If you are new, feel free to check back often and if there is anything you'd like me to write about, leave a comment or e-mail me directly at ryanbauer9@gmail.com



thanks again.



Rock Chalk

Records were made to be broken

Since Todd Reesing already holds ever KU passing record ever and will
likely own the top 3 passing season in KU history after his Senior
campaign is done, let's take a look at some of the others who have a
chance to etch their names forever in Kansas football lore.

Jake (4.29- 40) Sharp is currently 13th in career rushing and is 52
yards behind 12th place and 104 yards from 11th place so he should
wind up somewhere in the top 10. Gale Sayers is at 5th on the list at
2,675 yards. So if Sharp had his first 1,000 yard season he could pass
Clark Green for 4th and have a shot at 3rd which is Laverne Smith with
3,074 yards.
if Sharp has a 1,200 yard season, that means we had a damn fine year
in Kansas football so let's hope that happens.

If Sharp was to go off for 1,200 yards he would also own the 4th most
prolific season rushing the ball as well.

Dezmon Briscoe already is the Career Touchdown Receptions leader with
22 and he looks to add to that while continuing his climb atop the all
time receiving yards list.
Briscoe is currently 94 yards behind Richard Estell for 3rd place and
would only need 364 yards to be the all time leader in yards receiving
passing Willie Vaughn.

Kerry Meier needs 5 TD receptions to tie Dexton Fields for 5th all
time and 8 to take over 2nd place all time behind Sir Briscoe.
Kerry is currently in 14th place in career receiving yards with 1,437
(39 yards behind 13th place) and 560 yards from 3rd place. So the
former QB could end up as the second best all time WR at KU, pretty
damn impressive. He would need 838 yards to claim second, which seems
very plausible.

Some other records that are out there that I can't wait to see fall.
KU has not had someone with 4 sacks in a game since Brandon Perkins
had 5 against La Tech in 2005.

KU has not had a player with 3 interceptions in a game since 1958.

KU has never had someone with 100 yards rushing and receiving.
(Sharp came close when he had 76 yards receiving and 181 yards rushing
last year against K-sucks and 107 yards receiving and 79 yards rushing
at Iowa State last year- so this could fall)

No one has caught 4 TD's in a game since 1989.

KU has never had 500 yards of passing in a game (can you believe it-
TR's gotta shoot for this)

KU has never had a Tight End with 100 yards receiving in a game. I
don't think think that will happen this year but I bet Tim Biere can
get a couple of games over 50 yards this year and catch his first TD.

Rock Chalk

New turf / Big 12 Baseball selections as selected by idiots

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/may/19/ku-install-new-fieldturf-memorial-stadium/

Why do we need new turf? maybe because we have been marching up and down on it for 2 years now, its worn down, but hey its not our fault no one can stop our crazy O!

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/may/19/kus-narodowski-named-big-12-newcomer-year/

Congrats to Nardo on being Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, that is cool. Tony Thomspon not being selected as Player of the Year is garbage, pretty simply.

Rock Chalk

Buck Afenir Big 12 Player of the Week

After dropping bombs on K-sucks and breaking purple hearts all weekend long the senior backstop has earner Big 12 Player of the Week honors.

He hit 2 run homers on Saturday and the Sabbath and probably did some other real cool shit to get the honor so that's cool.

Just keep that hot bat going and party in the conference tourney and he has a small chance to be my third favorite catcher ever at KU.

Rock Chalk
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KU signee clowns fools / misc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmYkH6WnkYY (royce woolridge)

Here's the schedule for the Big 12 Baseball tourney

*** WEDNESDAY ***
#4 K-State vs #5 Kansas ... 9 am
#1 Texas vs #8 Baylor ... 12.30 pm
#3 Mizzou vs #6 A&M ... 4 pm
#2 Oklahoma vs #7 Tech ... 7.30 pm

*** THURSDAY ***
#1 Texas vs #5 Kansas ... 3 pm
#4 K-State vs #8 Baylor ... 7.30 pm

*** FRIDAY ***
#3 Mizzou vs #7 Tech ... 3 pm
#2 Oklahoma vs #6 A&M ... 7.30 pm

*** SATURDAY ***
#5 Kansas vs #8 Baylor ... 9 am
#1 Texas vs #4 K-State ... 12.30 pm
#2 Oklahoma vs #3 Mizzou ... 4.00 pm
#6 A&M vs #7 Tech ... 7.30 pm

*** SUNDAY ***
Division 1 vs Division 2 ... 1 pm on FSN --------------------


Also per the amazing invention that is Twitter, we know that Cole Aldrich is flat out working his ass off to try and get another ring, and that is something I can get behind.

Rock Chalk

K-st still sucks at life, their fans should die

What a great day if you were a Senior at the University of Kansas and a member of the baseball team.
You not only got a degree that will give you a substantial advantage over the rest of society but you also beat your in state rival and won the season series over the mildcats. And to make matters sweeter you 10 run rule them in the 7th like it little league.
(I hate K-sucks fans- seriously they show up like they are worth a shit and have a chance at winning- gimme a break. And wearing "EMAW" every man a wildcat shirts, what the hell does that mean? Maybe its a thinly veiled reference to the fact that their entire fan base loves doing animals)

Senior's Buck Afneir hit his second 2 run shot in as many days and fellow senior Nick Faunce went 4-4 to close their careers at Hoglund Ballpark. Tony Thompson increased his grip on Big 12 player of the year by hitting a double, scoring 3 runs and knocking his KU tying 18th HR, a 2 run shot.

On to the Big 12 tourney.
Rock Chalk
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Baseball- Skutt is in the house

Friday didn't go so well for our baseball Hawks as they lost to the mildcats 4-1 and since the KcStar decided not to bring the paper today I have no clue where that leaves us in the Big 12.

Saturday's game has gotten off to a great start with KU up 4-1 in the third and knocking out k-sucks starter in the 3rd before he retired a single batter. Buck Afneir helped the cause as the Senior hit a 2 run bomb in the 4th to push the lead out to 7-1.

KU marched out a VJ and Angela Skutt Catholic High Skyhawk and he (Walz) gets off to a strong start and strikes out 7 in the first 3 innings and 12 through 5 innings for a new career high in K's.

Bullpen finishes it out and KU wins 9-3. Now let's go give the Seniors a day they'll never forget and win the series.

Rock Chalk

For additional info on this weekends tilt with the mildcats-

http://www.examiner.com/x-4261-Kansas-Jayhawks-Examiner

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Moosh graduates - Hysteria ensues

for baseball coverage this weekend, check out-----

http://www.examiner.com/x-4261-Kansas-Jayhawks-Examiner

So Sunday marks the end of having a Bauer at KU every year for the past 9 years. Moosh is graduating which makes me think that the days of her throwing hot dogs at people are over, but I doubt it.

I'm super proud of her, she's gotten good grades, hasn't been arrested and I think that's about it, and she might have even enjoyed college more than me, but that's debateable.

Anyway, per her request here's a blog all about all 5-5, 36 pounds of her as it relates to KU, with a touch of sentimental.

per Megs e-mail "You could probably do a whole blog about all the sporting events we went to because my friends don't understand the importance of KU football (although they like basketball) and your friends are gay and would rather watch the games on TV than pay for the experience. "

So there you have it.

some of the memorable experiences for me with Megan -

Driving to Ames, IA- getting a 10 dollar parking ticket for being in a "snow route" when it was 75 degrees out, hey no one say people from Iowa are smart.

So we're sitting there getting the business and I'm thinking this blows and I'd rather head home then watch another 30 minutes of us getting tagged by ISU, but blind faith Megan says we should stay and then Jake Sharp has the greatest quarter / half of his KU career and we win, and it was glorious. Plus I had a beer and a banana on the way there, which was fun for me.

The mizzou game in November we watched at Megan's on her plasma, which apparently is standard for most college students now, I spent all my money on beer and chipotle so I wouldn't know.

We started the morning with a full blow crisis since Megan is the only college student that doesn't have a bottle opener.

So we decided that we should get Rudy's because the last time we watched mizzou on that TV while eating Rudy's they lost and chase daniels heisman hopes were flushed like a turd. So Rudy's and 6 oz. Corona's because no beer from MO.

That game was so clutch, and I'm always a little extra happy for her when we beat Mizz because some people she went to HS with have learning disabilities and went to MU for college or post HS learnin'. I'll always remember Megan telling me that I had to switch between offense and defense and all these little superstitious things to ensure victory, which obviously happened.

"Orange bowl and it being freezing but we won a BCS bowl game" - Megan

it wasn't even cold, but I have a lot more "insulation" than she does. Normally I never let anyone wear my stocking caps because I have sensitive ears, kind of like that retard from Something About Mary, but Megan got to wear the poofy ball stocking cap for that game, so that was interesting, well that and Baadte lecturing my sister about not needing a new car and then his wife got a new car later, I digress.

The game obviously was a lot of fun for me and everyone else. I'm not sure what to say about it, because I really don't remember a lot about it, except that I was really focused. Unfortunately for Megan she was there with my Mom but it was a free trip so it couldn't have been that bad, but if Megan is cold it makes everything worse for her.

The Insight Bowl this year was a blast, I made Megan travel how I travel, cheap hotel, always be drinking and don't stay for long.

So we left at 6AM, had a drink in the same KCI bar that I had a beer with Blondie before the Orange Bowl. Had a drink on the flight.

Got there, went directly to a bar and had lunch.

Then to another bar, where some dork made a coke/ vodka drink for us, idiot.

And in Tempe there are no bars with darts, just as an FYI.

Hit another bar and then head to the game, stand in a long line with all KU people.

Realize that

(just got a call while typing this that Megan is at The Wheel paying for beer in quarters, only in college)

Realize that we are in the players family line and so I make a joke about Steve Reesing being there since he was on a KC radio show earlier in the year, then this smokin Cougar who asks if I like "number 5" well I though the jersey was a dead giveaway but I'm kind of drunk so I'm moving slow, turns out its Debbie Reesing.

She falls in love with Megan is like playing with her hair and shit and I'm thinking she's going to set her up with Todd, but no. So Megan and Debbie become BFF's and Debbie is telling her how hot she is (and if you know Megan she loves compliments, like can't get enough, its probably because I used to beat the shit out of her when she was little) so long story short they talk a ton and a interject a bit and then Debbie takes us into the stadium and says we are with her, so the tickets we purchased we didn't need because we got in for free.

This senior year Moosh has had the opportunity to hang out / be buddies with the "important" players- her words not mine- and through her "connections" we've gotten a lot of good info for said blog.

She wants me to mention she is BFF's with the future of KU football.

I'm wrapping this up-

Before the Texas football game we went to West for Schooners and darts, and had 193950 (dad) tell us that Schooners were a dumb idea because the beer would get warm, but not if you drink them fast old man. he just didn't know we we're on our 2nd and 3rd schooners when he showed up at 10AM. whoops

And Megan would like for everyone to know that watching the National Championship at Allen Field House was her idea, see this chick loves recognition, fuck.

Anyways, its been a pretty enjoyable and mostly devoid of drama trip for kid sister and this weekend she graduates from The University of Kansas.

Congrats to her

Rock Chalk

1,768 yards short

That's what Joc Crawford was on his prediction of 2,000 yards last year.
And no he has been officially kicked off the team.
Good times.

Toben Opurum better be lifting weights every second he's not sleeping or in class.
Rock Chalk
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Jayhawk Baseball

So I've partnered, in a sense, with this web-site to give you the readers, the legions of fans, some better baseball coverage.

I'm going to try and remember to post a link in each baseball blog we have until the end of the season.
Enjoy

http://www.examiner.com/x-4261-Kansas-Jayhawks-Examiner

Rock Chalk

faster than you

Jake Sharp ran a 4.29 - 40 yard dash during the spring, I'm not sure what that means but it seems important.

misc-
Daniel Porter, who has been briefly discussed is scheduled to be on the KU football team in the fall as a RB.
Its not official because since he "signed" after the signing period he's not legally bound to KU.


Rock Chalk

Great read about a tough Jayhawk

http://www.kansascity.com/166/story/1191567.html

What a great story, I really enjoyed, and thought some of you might as well, really easy to root for this Jayhawk.

KU’s Ridenhour hasn’t let hemophilia keep him off the mound
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star


Freshman pitcher Lee Ridenhour, who has hemophilia, was drafted by the Twins but decided to go to Kansas.

LAWRENCE When Kansas pitcher Lee Ridenhour was a boy, his parents steered him toward piano and art lessons.
“We tried to channel him away from sports,” said his father, Bob Ridenhour. “But it was always back to sports.”
Lee, who was born with hemophilia, a serious bleeding disorder, didn’t want to be held back. Still, he knew he was different. As an adolescent, he felt older than his classmates, more cautious.
“If people were messing around wrestling, it was like, ‘I’m not gonna do that,’ ” Ridenhour said. “I just kind of avoided situations to get hurt, basically.”
Everywhere except the pitching mound. Out there on that island, Ridenhour has been bold, carefree, a risk-taker. His success at Shawnee Mission West and now during his freshman year at KU have challenged the prevailing view of hemophiliacs — that they are fragile and shouldn’t participate in sports. Ridenhour, the Jayhawks’ Sunday starter for most of this surprising KU season, has a 5-2 record and a 4.09 ERA in 72 2/3 innings.
Kids with hemophilia often struggle with self-esteem, but Ridenhour overflows confidence. Earlier this season, he gave up three hits during eight scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over perennial power Wichita State, and after the game, said the Shockers were a program in decline.
Last Wednesday, in the rematch at Wichita State, Ridenhour got the ball again. He would have to back up his words in front of thousands of rowdy Shockers fans — and he did, gaining another win in an 8-3 KU victory with all the pressure on his big right arm.
“I couldn’t do it,” Bob Ridenhour said. “My knees would be shaking so much I’d pass out.”
It goes both ways. Bob played rugby as a young man, something that Lee could never consider doing. But Lee has developed the right demeanor to be a pitcher.
“He has always wanted to be the person that counts, that it depends on,” Bob said. “He’d want to be that person who takes the free throw at the end of the game. Some of it comes from having hemophilia. He’s had to do things he probably shouldn’t be doing. But he says, ‘I’m gonna do it.’”
• • •
Lee Ridenhour would rather be the quarterback slinging the ball around during a 2-minute drill than the free-throw shooter his father mentioned.
“He always wanted to be a quarterback,” Bob said. “That was his dream.”
In the halls at SM West, where the hulking pitching star blended in all too easily, Ridenhour would hear the same suggestion each year when football season came around.
“They’d say, ‘Lee, go out for quarterback this year,’ ” Lee said. “I’d be like, ‘Nah, don’t really want to.’ ”
Lee wanted to, of course. He even tried to convince Bob that he could play wide receiver, giving up on the QB dream. But deep down, Lee knew he couldn’t risk it. Since the second day of his life, when blood tests revealed that he had hemophilia, Lee had become a skilled assessor of risk. Football, with just one concussion or hit in the wrong place, could end his hopes of pitching a baseball at the highest level.
Baseball had been there for Ridenhour all along, even when it seemed he may never be able to live like a normal boy. As a 5-year-old, he suffered a spinal bleed that had his parents worried he would be paralyzed. A catheter was inserted in his chest so that he could easily receive treatments. No wonder Ridenhour’s parents signed him up for piano.

“We lived in fear as he was growing up,” Bob said.
By age 8, Ridenhour had convinced his parents to let him play baseball. He would play with the catheter until he was 12, and he became very self-conscious. Most of his friends didn’t understand what hemophilia was.
“They’d be like, ‘Oh, if you get cut, are you going to bleed to death?’ ” Ridenhour said.
Hemophilia prevents a carrier from healing because the blood clot that forms to heal an injury eventually breaks. When it breaks, the bleeding continues. Hemophilia most often affects a carrier’s joints.
Some children only get treatment when they are injured, but if Ridenhour was going to play baseball competitively, he’d have to do it three times a week.
At age 12, he began administering IV treatments to himself, and the catheter was removed. That transition was crucial for Ridenhour, who would have to learn responsibility. For the rest of his pitching career, he’ll give himself a shot the morning of a start.
Through it all, Ridenhour maintained a fighting spirit.
“For a long time I didn’t tell people,” Ridenhour said, “and it got to the point where I didn’t really care. Someone asked me, ‘Well, if I punched you, what would happen?’ I said, ‘Well, I guess I’d punch you right back.’ I never let it interfere.”
• • •
The Kansas program is having its best season since 2006 — the Jayhawks are 35-18 and 13-11 in the Big 12 entering this weekend’s series against Kansas State — but it’s hard to know what would have happened if Ridenhour hadn’t followed through on his commitment.
Ridenhour was drafted in the 31st round by the Minnesota Twins in the amateur draft last June. He took his decision all the way to the Aug. 15 deadline before opting to enjoy the college experience for at least three years.
“In the minor leagues, if you’re thrown right in the thick of it, chances are you’re not going to make it,” Bob said. “Ninety-five percent aren’t going to make it.”
Lee had come too far to risk flaming out in the minor leagues without taking the time to learn how to get elite-level hitters out. He has done enough of that in the Big 12 to show the KU coaches his ceiling.
“He could be one of the premier arms in the conference,” KU pitching coach Ryan Graves said. “From a mind-set standpoint and competitive standpoint, that stuff’s already there.”
Ridenhour’s mind has become his greatest asset. He’s not bothered by obstacles because he’s already hurdled so many. This weekend, a group of kids from the Ridenhours’ support group, the Midwest Hemophilia Association, are expected to attend one of the KU-K-State games in Lawrence.
“A lot of kids really look up to him,” Bob said. “A lot of them feel … what’s the word … not worthy. They have self-doubts.”
Luckily for Lee Ridenhour, he had an outlet.
“If he didn’t have baseball,” Bob said, “I think he would have been very frustrated. It was his escape from the real world.”

twitter is fun?

Xavier_Henry Can't wait to start rock chalkin'. Lets get it goin.

23 minutes ago from web


This was tweeted earlier today, and I freaking love it.
Rock Chalk

10,000 and 100

Those are just some sick numbers.

10,000 Yards and 100 Passing TD's AND in just 3 years.

That's what Todd Reesing will be gunning for when he steps on the field
September 5th and begins to lead KU to their first ever Big 12 North Title.

*10K*

The 10,000 yards is actually going to be very attainable with Todd only
needing 2,422 yards he could get that during the OU or Tech game. But I
guess that's what happens when you have 2 years like he has had. He's
already the all-time leader in passing yards and with every completion to
Meier and Briscoe he'll be distancing himself from everybody else.

How doable is this: 100% - Reason being he has put up some silly numbers to
this point and this is very much in reach. Plus the fact that Briscoe and
Meier are back and J. Wilson looks more ready than ever to be a big WR,
he'll have plenty of gamebreakers to throw to.

If Bradley McDougald delivers on his emense potential in the slot at
6-2 195 he could be a real load. And also Tim Biere looked to be a
bigger part of the passing game during the Spring so that's just
another option for TR5.

*100 TD's***

This is going to be a little harder to reach in my opinion. However should
KU do what they are setting out to do and that is WIN THE NORTH, then this
should happen too.

So far TR5 has 68 TD's through the air, so for all you math majors he needs
32 more.

What will help-
The WR's as mentioned above.

The OL should be more solid this year then it was last year so he should
have more time to find said WR's and should get hit less, which is a huge
bonus.

The NON-CON - with no "swing" game TR should be able to get a good start on
this goal.

The North is weak- Nebraska has a good defense, Iowa State, K-st and Missery
do not. Plus when playing Tech, he won't be down 21 2 minutes into the game
and I'm sure TR is looking to redeem himself in that game.

Is 100 TD's Doable? - I'd put this at 80% just because, but I really do
believe that it will happen.

I just watched the first half of the KU-MU game from last year and I now
feel even more confident about TR putting up a whole mess of TD's this year,
reason being. He had at least 3 INT's in the redzone that were mostly a
product of the line not blocking and the receivers not having enough time to
get open. Just saying.

If TR5 has a year like he did last year in terms on Yards and TD's he will be in the top 5 in NCAA all time in TD's and in the top 10-15 in yards. Even more reason to Win the North and get that extra game so TR5 will forever be logged in the record books.

This year will be a chance for TR to just really nail down his spot in KU
history, and if he hits both of these marks it'll be impossible to hold him
out of the Ring of Honor and for a 5-8 QB that ain't bad.

Rock Chalk

Roster changes

As if you couldn't tell I'm ready for football / bored-
Below are the following changes from the Spring Game roster to the most current roster (note- Freshmen were added to this roster)

- No David Lewisby
Who is he, I don't know but he was over 300 pounds on OL so at the very least he would be a heck of a practice player for our young D-linemen to go against in practice.
Hopefully this is a misprint. Although he is a walk on so that may have something to do with it.

Kale Pick has switched from number 19 to 7.

Daymond Patterson has switched from number 28 to 15.

Tanner Hawkinson is still listed at 260 pounds but is in reality closer to 280 right now and should be playing at 290 in the fall.

Ben Lueken and Joc Crawford are both still on the roster but's let wait and see on those two.

There are 7 players listed at or above 300 pounds with Darius Parish leading at 341 and Big John Williams at 338 pounds.

Some notable numbers for freshmen-
Prinz Kande #4 -safety
Christian Matthews #12- QB

Bradley McDougald #24 -WR (also is 6-2 195 and will be playing in the slot- giddiness ensues)

Toben Opurum #35- RB (do you remember a recent big back that wore 35)

Julian Jones #47 -LB (could contend for snaps in 09)

Quinton Woods #55 (should be a starter at DE)

Chris Omigie #83 - WR
Erick McGriff #88 - WR

I think the thing that is most noteworthy is that none of the weights have been updated it doesn't seem like at least.

Overall from looking at the new roster its different than years before.
I look at the D-line and the O-line and see great depth and talent. That'll be especially important for the D-line against the spread, we can just send waves of guys at both the DT and DE spot.

There's a lot of athleticism in the secondary and the WR spots.

We're thin at LB and RB but stacked at QB.

Should be a fun fall.
Rock Chalk
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Border War Win

Preston Land stepped up big again against Missery with a 2 run single to give KU a lead they would never relinquish in a 7-4 win over the Slavers.
A win by KU today (Sunday) would put KU ahead of MU in the standings. Since the Big 12 Baseball standings are based off percentage points and they're 6 teams real close to each other at the top its too hard to figure out where KU will end up.
But taking 2 of 3 from Missery would be a good start to being in the top 3 at least.
Rock Chalk
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enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN5a9TRm660

Now that the women's softball season is over we are one step closer to sports that really matter.


Rock Chalk

Football Recruiting heating up

It looks like the coaches are out on the road and if the last couple of years are any indication the boys are gonna be hitting it hard, REAL hard.

As you should know, the class is already off to a helluva start getting a quick DT, an explosive WR and a dynamic too good to pass up CB from Lousiana.

Its too early to tell who will wind up on campus in the fall of 2010 but I'd guess they'll be really talented.

Just for an appetizer here are some names to keep an eye on---

Tyler Gabbert - QB (younger brother of the kid at missery)

Donovan Vestal- DE - out of Texas- see the Spring Game write up for the meeting he and I had.

Justin McCay- WR/LB from Bishop Meige

Joseph Randle- RB- Wichita and younger brother of Jon Randle- yes the one that broke the big run courtesy of the spin move against K-sucks

Anthony Gatti- OL- from St Louis- I watched his film and thought, "he's mean"

Rock Chalk
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Rise up

Below is a comment that was left after the write up of 09 Hoops recruits. Its in response to the the alleged fact that Elijah Johnson has a 46.5 inch vertical. And while I've never measured his jumps, I did see him do a 360 between his legs in a game, so I know he's got hops and has been called the best athlete in the 09 class (the whole nation, not just that signed with KU) so it could be. If it is true, he would be in some really special company, see below.

Rock Chalk




Phoggy said...
46.5 vertical? If true and this kid makes it to the league, he would have the highest vertical leap in NBA history!!
1. Spud Webb - 46 inches *
2. Michael Jordan - 44 inches *
3. Lebron James - 44 inches *
4. Dee Brown - 44 inches *
5. Harold Miner - 44 inches *
6. Shawn Kemp - 44 inches
7. Vince Carter - 43 inches *
8. Steve Francis - 43 inches
9. Nate Robinson - 43.5 inches *
10. Dominque Wilkins - 42 inches *
11. Jordan Farmar - 42 inches
12. Dr J. Erving - 41 inches *
13. Allen Iverson - 41 inches
14. Rudy Gay - 40 inches
15. Larry Nance - 40 inches
16. Josh Smith - 39.5 inches *
17. Gerald Green - 39 inches *
18. Kobe Bryant - 38 inches
19. Desmond Mason - 38 inches *
20. Dwight Howard - 38 inches *
21. Ralph Sampson - 36 inches

others
22. Shaq - 32 inches
23. Magic Johnson - 30 inches
24. Karl Malone - 28 inches
April 26, 2009 3:24 PM

* = won a dunk contest (just for fun)

Rock Chalk

How fast can we get to the bus

Before the bullets start flying? Because when your in the Ta, shit gets real.
I have a buddy that once got kicked in the head by a mexican who turned out to be white guy.

Anyway, our little baseball buddies are continuing to beat fools down, smoke chumps and clown punks.

Tony Thompson is doing his best to get me to man crush on him. Pounding out 4 RBI's and a HR. Plus the guy mans the hot corner like a champ.

Beating the Shocks will help with in state recruiting and also gives us some momentum going to the shitbox of a city to play those slave lovin ass clowns.

Let's go ass maul Missery this weekend.

Rock Chalk
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OH SHIT!

Just had a chance to talk to JNA Advertising who happens to be in the same building as one of my clients.

Anywho, I got to see the new football poster.
"History Awaits"

Its bad ass.

There will also be some new radio spots featuring Sharpie, TR5, Stuckey and blog fave Kerry Fucking Meier.
I don't want to spoil them for y'all but they are unreal, like crash the car exciting.
(SPOILER ALERT- basically the concept is that each player says what the doubters said- ie: I'm too small, too slow, etc. And then the player basically tells them to pound sand)
And there is also a new TV ad that is real sick, I'm guessing I didn't get to see the finished product just the story board of it.

Anyway go ahead and chalk my excitement at an all time high.

Its going to be a real fun year.
Rock Chalk
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Because we gotta find something to do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOge8njtsQ

courtesy of Micah Brown

Rock Chalk

A return to the polls

The baseball team fresh off taking 2 of 3 from #9 OU are back in the Baseball America Top 25 checking in at 23.

They still have pivotal 2 pivotal series against Missery and ksucks that will determine their fate in the conference and the big dance as they try to get back to the tourney for the first time since 2006.

KU now has 8 wins against teams in the top 10.

Also, Tony Thompson was rated as the 10th best 3rd baseball by Rivals.com and then hit two 3-run HR's and 2 doubles in a loss to OU on Sunday.
(Late Monday Thompson was named Big 12 Player of the Week)

The Hawks have pitched well and hit well if they can clean up their gloves they look like a squad that could make a run.

Rock Chalk
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2010 Hoops Recruits

KU already has a verbal commitment from 6-3 Royce Woolridge from Phoenix.
Royce is the son of former NBA player Orlando Woolridge (Showtime Laker era)

He's a scorer and a half, the kid can put the ball in the cup, he's
got a real nice drive drive game and can stroke it from the perimeter
as well as anybody. He is still growing so the chances of him being
6-5 or taller are really good. (In an interview that he did after
committing last May he said a doctor told him his growth plates were
still open and he could be as tall as 6-8, let's hope so)

Royce is currently rated as the 88th best prospect in his class
although its safe to say that when the end of the summer rankings are
released he'll be much higher. He hurt his back last summer and didn't
participate in many AAU events and whenever you do that your ranking
suffers greatly.

This weekend at the Jayhawk Invitational, Royce averaged 25 points
without the help of his jumper, had his jumper been falling like it
normally does he would have been putting up about 35 a game. He was
named to the all tourney team. (although he got his J going late, when
he hit 6 trey's in one game)

Who is KU in on / Targeting-

PG- Ray McCallum from Detroit
His dad is the head coach at Detroit Mercy, so you've got a kid who's
6-1 and a coaches kid who can handle the ball and lead a team.
He is said to be very high on KU and has even had KU as the leader for
sometime, his recruitment reminds me of Johnson's from this years
class.
He attended Late Night in the Phog last year and reportedly had a
blast (which is always funny because no kid has ever said my trip
sucked balls)

SF- Harrison Barnes from Ames, IA
6-7 - 206lbs
Most likely the best player in the class of 2010. He can score from
anywhere on the floor and has arms that are apparently as long as some
guy that's 5-10".
His top 4 from where I sit are KU, Puke, UNC and Iowa St.
I think Iowa St is a very very long shot and that it'll come down to
KU or Puke with a lot of people thinking Puke leads.

Others to keep an eye on
PG - Brendan Knight - #2 player according to Rivals

C/ PF- Josh Smith - 6-10
Consensus top 5 talent and a big fan of Danny Manning.

Once the summer circuit heats up we'll have a much better idea of who
KU is after and who is into KU.
This time last year I had no idea who Thomas Robinson was and he blew
up and was a 5 Star recruit and the first pledge of Self's 09 class.

Rock Chalk

Weekend tidbits

There was someone associated with the Hoops squad (Larry Hare- assistant AD/ Equipment) at Jefferson's and he was telling his buddies that they bring recruits there (Jefferson's) all the time and that they will have a student get there about 6 hours before hand to save a seat for the recruit.
That's how you get silly talent.

Royce Woolridge is having a nice little weekend at the Jayhawk Invitational AAU tourney. He has consistently put down 25 points a game even though one of the real strenghts of his game, his outside shot, has been off. If he was hitting from the perimeter like he normally does he's droppin 40/game.
As the only commit to the 2010 class, it looks like Bill Self is at it again.

The main target for Self in 2010 is Harrison Barnes from Ames, IA. He's a 6-7 Small Forward who reminds some of Kevin Durant. Below are the following messages I got about him when he squared off against Royce on Friday night.

-it looks like some dudes made a jersey for Barnes
-Barnes = athlete
-barnes has a smooth jumper
- barnes arms are longer than I am tall
(Thanks to 3rd team all stater Jess Criswell whose always 1st team in our hearts)

Cole, Twins and Withey have all reported that they have gained 10 plus pounds of muscle since the year ended and everyone on the team is really getting after it.

Kudos to Pierce and Hinrich for playing well in the best playoff series I can remember.
And good luck to Chalmers in game 7 tomorrow. Chalmers has 9 steals in the last 2 games, and that's baller.

I'm going to join this Twitter thing or whatever the hell it is because I got a reference that I can get some info on KU players- so if its worth sharing you'll see it here.

Rock Chalk
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2 in a Row

Hawks baseball wins 9-5 on Saturday and has positioned themselves to sweep their 2nd top 10 of the season.

KU also assured themselves the series win over #9 OU.

Rock Chalk
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Baseball team knocks off top 10 team- Friday

Thanks to two 2-run shots in the first inning the Fighting Ritch Price's beat #9 OU in Norman on Friday 5-4.
KU is up early in the game on Saturday and hopefully they can pull through and take the series.
Rock Chalk
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