Bring out the sticks Posted 5/2/2008 10:06:17 AM Inspired by the recent success of the Baker men's golf team (They snagged 2nd at conference), I've decided it's time to get back out on the links. Since I will be hopping between Lawrence, Baldwin and Overland Park this summer, I've taken it upon myself to compose a list of my top 5 area golf courses. If you are one of my friends, professors, or a current member of the Kansas men's basketball team, feel free to make us a tee-time. 1. Alvamar (Lawrence, Ks) Alvamar is a beautiful course located at 1809 Crossgate Drive. It's a little pricy, but when you're used to the Baldwin City Sands, you quickly forget about the green's fee. This would be a good course to play with your pops, rich friend or NBA-bound KU hoops player. I will be waiting for your call, Mario. 2. St. Andrews (Overland Park, Ks) Located at 11099 W 135th St, St. Andrews is a well-kept course that features some recently re-designed greens. Don't be daunted by the long par 5 to open the course, it gets easier. The pro is a great guy and their clubhouse makes a money cheeseburger. 3. Overland Park Golf Course (Overland Park, Ks) Located at 12501 Quivira, the O.P. links have a north course, south course and executive nine. The executive nine is my favorite of the three--it's a little longer but has two beautiful lakes and is smack dab in the middle of a very upscale neighborhood. You have to take a cart to play it, though, because it's located on the other side of the street. So if your wallet is as thick as say, an aspiring sports writer, you might want to stick to the north/south. 4. Sycamore Ridge (Spring Hill, Ks) It's a little bit of a trek (21731 Clubhouse Drive Spring Hill, Kansas 66083), but it's a nice course if you're looking for something different. The green's fees are fairly reasonable and the course is relatively easy. If you're looking for a course that gives Joe Mediocre a chance to break 80, this would be a good choice. 5. Eagle Bend (Lawrence, Ks) Located 1250 E. 902 Road, right underneath Clinton Lake, Eagle Bend is a scenic, fun course for folks who do not want to spend "Alvamar" money. My buddies and I went a couple weekends ago and had a blast. Once your round is done you can always jet across the way to the lake and spend the rest of your day on the water. (1) Comments

Run run run Posted 4/17/2008 5:54:18 PM Several Baker track stars will participate in the famed Kansas Relays this weekend in Lawrence. An event that has featured runners like Olympic medalists Maurice Green and Justin Gatlin (pre and post doping Gatlin), the Kansas relays are always entertaining. I'm heading down Hwy 59 by 1 p.m. tomorrow to ensure I make it to the stadium in time for the 100 meter dash. Baker sophomore Kome Okiomah is slated to run against some Big 12 guys in the early afternoon and I wouldn't miss it for anything. I can't wait to see my boy Kome smoke some K-Staters and Jayhawks. The event lasts through the weekend, I hope to see you all there. (1) Comments

N.A.I.A. -- Not As Inferior Anymore Posted 4/6/2008 3:22:04 AM The title says it all. The Baker men's soccer team traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, tonight to square off against a tough NCAA division one opponent in Drake University. Drake, who missed out on the division one national tournament by one game, expected an easy game. In fact, one of their assistant coaches recently told coach Houser on a recruiting trip that a player they were scouting would fit well at "our level." At the half, our NAIA Baker boys led the division one powerhouse 1-0. While the final score was 2-1 in Drake's favor, I noticed several of their starters played nearly 75 minutes of action. Our team made several changes, making game flow and continuity a challenge. Nevertheless, the team put on an extremely good show. After the game, one of the Drake parents told me how impressed he was with our side. Kudos to the entire men's soccer team (and the women for their win over Grandview College) on a good spring road trip. N.A.I.A.- Not As Inferior Anymore. (0) Comments

Baker Baseball Posted 3/25/2008 11:53:33 PM The temperature is warmer, the birds are singing and Baker is playing baseball. So why on earth is everyone still indoors? While we've struggled the past four games, it is important to remember that Baker baseball has played Lindenwood and Mo. Valley-- two squads that could give the Royals a run for their money (sadly). We're 5-9 and far from being out of the playoff hunt. Vidal Nuno and lefty Joseph O'Donnell are throwing good heat to match the weather, and we've already had a couple guys honored as HAAC players of the week. So it's time to do what Baker does best. Grab some friends, grab some beer (they're one in the same in Baldwin City) and come out loud and proud to help the team put a streak together. (0) Comments

Soccer balls to class? Posted 3/5/2008 2:01:59 PM No, the soccer team is not crazy. If you have seen members of the Baker soccer program toting soccer balls to class, dinner, etc... you are not alone. By orders of new head coach Nate Houser, the teams have been instructed to constantly have a soccer ball at their feet (although I've seen more in backpacks than being dribbled) for the rest of the semester. The goal is to have each player able to juggle the ball 100 times on both feet by the end of the spring. What happens if someone is caught without their ball, you ask? These players become the target in a game called "butts up." While I do not have time to explain the intricacies of the game, this is the gist: A target player bends over with his backside facing a gauntlet of teammates who are all equipped with a ball. Upon command, the teammates will fire the ball as hard as they want (normally as hard as they can) at the target's butt. There is generally a distance of roughly six to eight yards between the target and the firing squad. Ok, so maybe the soccer team is crazy. (0) Comments

Clemens v. McNamee...I'll take Andy Posted 2/24/2008 5:48:20 PM If the Lone Ranger was on steroids, Tonto would know about it. Same logic applies to all the greats—Batman and Robin, Damon and Affleck, Jordan and Barkley. Hell, if Laverne was juicing, Shirley would lead the intervention. And this is what makes Andy Pettitte’s testimony to the House Committee on Oversight so devastating to Roger Clemens’ case. Anyone who knows baseball knows that Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte’s relationship mirror those listed above. Not only did they share a bullpen and battery mate, they also hired the same trainer and agent. On roughly 27 road trips a year, they ordered room service to the same hotel room where they presumably griped about George Steinbrenner and the pressures of being a New York Yankee from neighboring Sealy Posturepedics. As Mark Dewar, Sports Editor of the Johnson County Sun puts it, these two—“were boys.” Couple this with wife Debbie Clemens admitting to taking HGH and Mike Stanton’s claims to have seen the would-be hall of famer spontaneously bleeding from the buttocks, and the Rocket’s story is about as plausible as a Kurt Cobain revival tour. As a lifelong Clemens fan, it saddens me to acknowledge the improbability of Rodge’s assertions. When it comes to his testimony, I feel like the 90 year-old billionaire married to the 22 year -old Playboy Playmate of the Month. My heart wants to believe it’s real, but my head knows it’s not. Trouble is, I don’t believe Brian McNamee either. Call me old fashioned but I tend to distrust former cops who happen to deal drugs on the side. Worse still is that McNamee refuses to recognize that he was indeed a drug dealer. In the Feb. 13 hearing, Rep. Christopher Shays told McNamee that “(He) was a drug dealer. (He) was dealing in drugs.” Objecting, Einstein replied that was the Congressman’s “opinion.” McNamee, who admitted to lying to the Mitchell investigators, has been equally wacky in his defense. Weeks after the controversy was well under way, he suddenly claims to have syringes and wipes with Clemens’ DNA on them from when he allegedly injected him with steroids. How convenient! I’m no lawyer or anything, but that seems like evidence one might have wanted to have ready when the investigators first came knocking. Shame on me for being surprised, however, this is the same guy who misled clients into thinking his P.H.D. was attained in the classroom, when in actuality it was done on his basement computer. So the question is who to believe—the look-to-be liar with everything to lose, or the idiot liar? Smart money is on neither. Subsequently, in a case that already has drugs, I’m willing to throw in gambling and wager my weekend beer money on whatever Andy Pettitte says. Now, if only we could find some sex in this backwards story to complete the triple play… (0) Comments

Three in a row! Posted 2/19/2008 11:11:23 PM How about those 'Cats! A tale of two seasons, the Baker men's basketball team has finally found its stride. Just two weeks ago, the 'Cats were 4-20, and visions of Jim Mora's press conference immediately crossed the mind. "Playoffs! You want to talk about playoffs?!" But just nine days later, Rick Weaver has his team on a three game winning streak, and the postseason is a definite possibility. In fact, if Baker wins out, and Avila loses just one more game, the 'Cats are in. And man will they have some momentum. Against Lindenwood, Benedictine and Culver-Stockton, the boys played exciting inside-out basketball. Heath Baird has been unconscious, draining threes in crucial moments down the stretch. Aaron Toren has shown he can bang with the best of the bigs in the conference, tallying double-doubles in 4 of his last 6 games. Thursday's game against Mo. Valley has big-time implications. With postseason dreams on the line, the 'Cats need a packed house for support--so go out and watch some good hoops this week. (0) Comments

Coach Koch's Departure Posted 2/10/2008 10:21:29 PM Alan Koch, the Baker Men's soccer coach for the past two years, recently accepted a job at Simon Fraser University. Numerous different reactions and words have been flying around campus, so being one of his players, I'll give you mine. Coach Koch is a good soccer coach. He has helped our program immensely, especially through recruiting. He is also a fine tactician, and having played pro, he knows how the game is meant to be played. I also admire the class and professionalism he showed every day he wore Baker Orange. Do I feel deserted? Maybe, a little. I suppose frustration is a better word. Last year we climbed as high as 15th in the NAIA national polls, and we are ranked going into next year. When he first came in, he told us older guys that we were going to win a national championship together. And frankly, he was half-right. All of the pieces are in place to win a national title, we will just be doing it without his tutelage. Having said that, I can't blame him for leaving. It is his dream ( and understandably so) to coach at his alma mater. He will be closer to his family and friends, and he is inheriting a program that went to the final four last season. They are returning something like 9 of their starters as well. (not to mention he's getting quite the raise) Despite all this, he looked me in the eyes and told me it was one of the hardest decisions he has made in his life. And I believe him. He was devoted to this program, and I wish him all the luck. Except when we get Simon Fraser in the national title game, when, of course, I wish him no luck whatsoever. As for the new situation... Let me start off by saying I think Nate Houser is going to do a bang-up job with the men's soccer team. We are all, and I feel like I'm able to speak on behalf of most of the team, extremely excited to play for him. He too, has professional playing experience, and he knows the program inside and out. He is going to bring something special to the men's team having played here-- and if anyone bleeds Baker Orange, it's Coach Houser. Most of the concern, on the players side, is that it is going to be extremely difficult to manage the stress of being the head coach for both the men and the women. Our athletic director told us it will not be an issue, and cited William Jewell as an example of a program where the system works. He also assured us he will be hiring a graduate assistant to help Nate with the pressures of coaching two collegiate teams. The above, not Nate Houser's hiring, not Alan Koch's leaving, is what I (and the rest of the team) have a problem with. William Jewell's assistant coach is Jefferson Roblee. For those of you who do not know, Roblee is an incredibly established coach--a Kansas City soccer icon. He (head) coached in the Premier Development League for several years with the Kansas City Brass, a team that has produced 18 professionals during his tenure. He also has coached his KC Pace club to numerous state titles, and is an active coach in the Olympic Development Program. Finally, he served as the catalyst for initiating the Kansas City Wizards junior program which produced 4 State Cup champions in their first year alone. And we're getting a graduate assistant. Not to knock whoever is hired, but the reason WJC has been so successful with only one head coach is because of the strength in their assistant staff. If there is a situation where Nate has to be with the girls, we all would feel much more comfortable being left alone with a Jefferson Roblee than someone who could have played with us last season. (0) Comments

Getting Started Posted 2/6/2008 6:08:42 PM Hey everyone. For my first blog, I thought I would tell you a little about myself. I love sports. All of them. In high school I played soccer, basketball and golf, but am an avid football and baseball fan as well. Growing up in Kansas City, I am hopelessly devoted to Chiefs football.(tragic, I know) I am also a die-hard Mizzou Tigers fan, so if you bring up the 2007 BCS, I will likely cry and/or strike you. At Baker, I play on the Men's soccer team and am a regular columnist and feature writer for the Baker Orange. If you are within 10 miles of the University and happen to listen to 89.7, you also might hear me doing some play by play on the radio. I covered the Baldwin High School football team last fall and was fortunate enough to be up in the box every step of the way during their magical trip to the state semi-finals. Mad props to my BullDogs. That's all for now, thanks for reading. I will post again later this week. (1) Comments

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General Comments Mistletoe Posted 2/25/2008 6:41:17 AM Hi Christopher! So wonderful to see a REAL person. :o) Don't let those spammers get to you and enjoy your blogging! Welcome! Please login to post a comment.