Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Senior Nights in sports usually consist of the following: flowers, thank yous and tears.
But during the Senior Night speech Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris gave last Wednesday, Paris, the three-time Big 12 Player of the Year, made a vow.
“We’re gonna win a national championship,” Paris said. “If we don’t — which is not even an option — I will pay back my scholarship because I didn’t do what I said I was going to do.”
Paris’ noble idea got the Brew thinking: What if others followed suit and returned money after insufficient performances in sports?
Bode Miller
No sporting event unites this country quite like the Olympics. And Miller couldn’t have been a bigger bonehead during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Not only did Miller, one of the United States’ best skiers, fail to win a single medal, but he also failed to grasp the magnitude of the Games.
“It’s been an awesome two weeks,” Miller told reporters. “I got to party and socialize at an Olympic level.”
Verdict: Miller should be forced to return all the money spent to support his training, as well as any money spent on booze.
David Beckham
Upon Los Angeles’ signing of Beckham, the sporting world instantly declared him the savior of soccer in the United States. Yet, Beckham has done little — if anything — to grow the sport.
Beckham is making 43 times the average league salary and is currently playing overseas with AC Milan.
Worse, reports are saying he may not return to the United States.
Verdict: Eh, I feel like the winner in this deal. Here’s to hoping Becks and his pampered wife stay overseas for good.
Kelvin Sampson
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice — shame on Kelvin Sampson.
Sampson started his moronic behavior at Oklahoma, where, according to an NCAA report, he made 577 impermissible phone calls.
Fine, everyone makes mistakes. But then Sampson repeated the behavior at Indiana.
He made 100 impermissible phone calls in his first year and resigned in less than two years at the school.
Verdict: Sampson should pay back his entire salary and should never be allowed to own a cell phone again.
Neifi Perez
Because I am a Kansas City Royals fan, this one’s personal. In 2001, the Royals traded eventual World Series MVP — and my favorite player — Jermaine Dye.
The Royals picked up Perez in the trade, which still may go down as one of the worst moves in Royals history — and that’s really saying something. Perez couldn’t hit and couldn’t really field, so the Royals let him go before the 2003 season.
Verdict: On second thought, spending time playing for some bad Kansas City teams is punishment enough.
— — Edited by Chris Hickerson
Brew: Chicago is the last great American ...
The city produced our president-elect, Michael Jordan and may play host to ...
Former volleyball star goes pro in France
Kansan volleyball player Emily Brown sets to play volleyball in France this ...
For the love of the game
Several one-time KU basketball players have missed out on the riches of ...
Play Like a Girl
Women's rugby players kick butt and form friendships
Q&A with KU Alumnus Luis Santos, Sr.
The Kansan spoke with Luis Santos, Sr. about his retirement and what ...
Brew: Royals wasting 'our time' with slogan
The Royals' new, cocky slogan backfires after seven-game losing streak.
Student atheletes preparing to give back
Rising coaching salaries leave Mangino behind
What these high-dollar salaries do to universities and student-athletes is interpreted differently ...
Talk back: The 2008 Olympic Games in ...
What students say vs. what we say.
Goble: Final weeks after the Final Four ...
Kansas’ victory proves time at University worthwhile.
Where will all the Jayhawks go?
As three Jayhawks hope to become first round picks in Thursday night's ...
Wiebe: Missing out on Beckham
People who intentionally boycotted David Beckham's debut on American soil missed out. ...
Morning Brew: Beckham's LA days short lived
The Galaxy's David Beckham is considering staying with current team, AC Milan.
Olympic Village would shed light on soccer ...
A lack of lighting on the Kansas soccer team’s field has been ...
Morning Brew: Famous for name, not game
Alabama State center is renowned for a 19-letter last name.
Wescoe Wit
Watch what you say on campus...
Coalitions offer their platforms to campus
ConnectKU, Students of Liberty, and United Students hope to appeal to students ...
Student finds void in KU merchandise
After several months and hundreds of dollars, Miller has turned his idea ...
How to throw a cheap Super Bowl ...
Follow these suggestions to get delicious party food on a budget.
Greene stays clean
Good For You, Bad For You: Texting ...
Sometimes it's hard to tell.
Blog: MLS Preview
Preseason rankings for the entire MLS
Professor Profile: Keith McMahon
Learn a little bit about Professor McMahon.
Jorgensen: Law, Paris among recent best
Eric Jorgensen lists some of the best athletes he has seen during ...
Abnormal arms, but ample ability
How one student aims to transform disability's definition.
The US lacks excitement when it comes ...
Though earning 108 gold medals in the past three Summer Olympics, America ...
Olympians to star on Saturday
Roadblocks to redemption
Jayhawk vaults into record books
A staggering tragedy
Friends and family look for answers while struggling to cope with an ...
Good for you, bad for you-make-up
Ever wonder about this?
Morning Brew: Royals fail to deliver in ...
American League Central has a tie-breaker for playoffs.
Morning Brew: Expose America to soccer's best
After a semester abroad, columnist Max Rothman thinks Americans just need exposure ...
Editorial: Contract buyout money better spent elsewhere
While the University struggles for money, KU Athletics has paid $11 million ...
Athletics pulls Vitaminwater flavors
Several flavors of the popular drink were noted in an NCAA statement ...
Boschee on the rebound
Basketball Preview: Nov. 8, 2007
The national title is up for grabs this year in college basketball. ...
An insider’s guide to Kansas City
The Kansan gives a few tips and hot spots to remember while ...
Dreaming of the Olympics
We may be excited for football season, but let's not forget the ...
Degrees of success: athletes after college
College athletes' payment is their degree. But what if they never get ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID