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(06/17/04 1:22am)
In a spiral of change, another familiar face has left the Hoosier basketball program. \nIU associate head coach John Treloar has accepted an assistant coaching position at Louisiana State University under long-time friend and Tigers coach John Brady.\n"Growing up in the south, growing up following SEC basketball as a kid and so forth, it was something that was interesting for me," Treloar said.\nCoach Brady made the announcement at a Monday press conference by Brady, but a trip down to Baton Rouge by Treloar and his wife Sunday sealed the deal.\n"My wife went down, and that was the final piece," he said. "Coach Brady, myself and (Athletics Director) Skip Bertman had spoken before that point. But my wife had a chance to see the area."\nTreloar begins his coaching duties at LSU July 1. \nTreloar has spent the past seven years at IU, serving as an assistant to Bobby Knight and associate head coach to Mike Davis. \n"John Treloar brings a wealth of background to our program in terms of being a basketball coach," Brady said during Monday's press conference. \nHe also spent eight years as a coach in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), and also coached overseas in Germany during the 1980s. \nEarlier this year, Treloar interviewed with Southern Mississippi and Southern Methodist for their head coaching positions, but was not selected for either.\nTreloar said the move to the purple and gold wasn't something that he had planned.\nThe Clinton, Miss., native doesn't look at LSU as a stepping stone, but more as another experience. \n"I think having a chance in a different conference than the Big Ten will certainly help me. You get a chance to compete against a lot of new people, new coaches, athletic directors and so forth," he said.\nTreloar's exit south comes at a rebuilding time for the IU men's basketball program. After missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years, many Hoosier faithful questioned Davis' ability to lead the Hoosiers. But Treloar said there was nothing that IU did to cause him to leave.\n"(My experience at IU) was nothing but positive," he said. "I had the chance to work under coach Knight and learn under him. I worked under coach Davis, which was a great experience, and I had the chance to work with some great kids through my years here at Indiana."\nFor Treloar, the road to LSU began accidentally. \nDavis had contacted Brady about one of his assistant coaches, and the conversation eventually turned to Treloar -- Brady's college teammate at Belhaven College. \nTreloar and Brady then touched base and began catching up, and the pair began talking about Treloar coaching at LSU. \nTreloar looks back at his time at IU without harsh feelings. \n"Certainly the national championship run, competing in the national championship game. It's something not a lot of coaches and players have a chance to do," he said. "The experience of competing with all the IU players I've competed with, I have nothing but the fondest of memories." \nTreloar's departure comes just days after former Utah interim head coach Kerry Rupp was hired by Davis as an assistant coach. \nTreloar returned from Louisiana Tuesday afternoon and had yet to speak with Davis, but is assured that he has the coach's support.\n"I think coach Davis supports (me), just like he does any of his players," Treloar said. "I think he is supportive as I am of him, as he is of all his players."\nTreloar said he will still cheer for the Hoosiers except under one condition.\n"IU has a great basketball program, but there's only one time I won't be pulling for the Hoosiers -- and that's when LSU plays Indiana in the NCAA Tournament."\n-- Contact Editor in Chief Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
(06/11/04 3:16am)
The committee for the new IU athletic director isn't wasting any time in getting the word out. IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley released an advertisement specifying all qualifications and has called for submissions of nominations or applications. A deadline has been set for July 16, with the position being chosen in August. \nIncluded in the advertisement is a Web site address applicants can refer for more information on the athletic department and qualifications for the position. The address for the Web site is www.indiana.edu/~adsearch.\nAmongst the qualifications listed in the advertisement include a genuine commitment to academic and intercollegiate athletic excellence, and experience in fiscal planning and budget management.
(06/03/04 2:04am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- If there was one nap that David Letterman was glad he never had the chance to take, it was on Sunday. \nRain dominated the day, delaying the start of the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 for two hours and nine minutes past its scheduled 11 a.m. start, thus delaying Buddy Rice's saturated run to the finish line.\nOnce the race got started though, Rice showed the field and the spectators why he was on the pole, sitting in the lead for the first 13 laps before being overtaken by Alex Barron. \nThe clouds once again dictated the pace of the race, as the yellow caution flag was waved on Lap 22 when the skies opened on parts of the speedway, but the red flag waved on Lap 28, halting the race for an hour and 47 minutes leaving Rice in fourth place under the second caution flag of the day. \nLetterman, like most of the other fans in attendance, was unsure about the future of the race, with speculation circling the Indianapolis Motor Speedway about a possible postponement until Monday.\n"First, I just thought, well good, I can go back to the hotel and sleep -- that was my first thought," Letterman said. "And then I thought what kind of arrangements do I have to undo to come back tomorrow. And then we're sitting in the motor home, and Kenny Brack says, 'I hear race cars' and they had started the race. So we came back out and here we go."\nOnly the 1926 and 2001 Indy 500's have been restarted on the same day after a rain delay.\nLetterman wasn't the only one thinking Monday would be the conclusion of the race.\n"The team's watching the radar, and they're getting reports every 10 minutes of so from our weather station. So, we're going to try to play this as we wanted to," Rice said during the rain delay. "It just sucks, that's all. At this rate, it's going to to take so long to dry the track and do everything,"\nFrom that point on, six more yellow flags interrupted the race, with five being waved as a result of crashes. \nFifty-six of the rain shortened 180 laps were run under caution, with the second to last yellow coming on lap 132 and ending on lap 136. From there on out, under a green flag and cloud cover, the 23 cars left battled it out, knowing the next yellow due to rain would be the end of the 2004 Indy 500.\nRice held the lead position for only two laps under green before the weather turned bad once again. When rain was reported, the yellow flag came out on Lap 174, and didn't go back in its holding spot high above the finish line, as hopes of the skies drying up vanished with every lap.\nRice stayed in first place, following the pace car around for the next seven laps, leading him to his first Indy 500 championship. \nOnly 22 of the starting 33 cars finished the race, with all the accidents staying within the first 136 laps, leaving the final 44 laps to clean racing. \nRice drank his traditional bottle of milk after leading for 91 of the 180 laps. \nRice and his team pulled off the three of the biggest wins in May. He won the pole, his pit crew won the 2004 Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Competition on Carb Day, May 27, and then the granddaddy of them all -- the Indy 500.\n"There is no question about it, it was a dream month," 1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal said. \nStaying awake for the race worked to Letterman's advantage, but he would have like to have seen the rain hold off for Rice.\n"Well, I mean, you know, I'm a little disappointed for Buddy because he could have won it on 200 no problem," Letterman said. "But it was a lovely thing. He deserved to win. There was no question about the win -- he was going to win it from the first green flag. A tremendous job on his part. I couldn't be happier."\n-- Contact Editor in Chief Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu. Staff writer Stacie Vasko contributed to this article.
(05/03/04 6:33am)
The students have spoken.\nDuring Friday's closed-door meeting between student-group representatives, a consensus was reached.\n"Under the terms given to us now, the athletic fee is not in our best interest," IU Student Association President Tyson Chastain said. "The general consensus from the student's view point is an athletic fee is not explained well enough for the student population to understand why it's just the students." During the course of the discussion in the 6 p.m. private meeting between the groups, Chastain said the overwhelming majority is wondering why the students are the ones responsible for coming up with the money. \n"The students understand the short term, they do understand the $2 million deficit and the problems that can be associated with that, and they do support IU athletics," Chastain said. "But the one question they have is, why us? Why just us? And why is it just the students that are considered in this? We are part of this community, why can't we work together? Why can't we work with the alumni and the administration to take care of this?"\nResidence Housing Association President John Palmer said the group he represents is still against the $30 addition, but RHA still knows there is work to be done on the situation.\n"Our stance at this point is that we're in opposition of the fee," Palmer said. "However, yes, we do understand that there's a need to do something about this problem. We feel that we're in a place where we can come up with a short-term solution to be resolved for next Friday, but at the same time, we really need to start looking at some long-term options. \n"A $2 million deficit doesn't happen over night, it's a long-term thing. Therefore solving that problem is also going to be a long term issue."\nThe two meetings Friday gave the student groups the chance to discuss the proposed $30 athletic fee to be voted on at the IU trustees' meeting in Bloomington May 6 and 7. \nThe public forum was not as successful as IUSA would have liked it to be since only two members of the public attended, but under the circumstances -- Friday night before finals week -- Chastain said the group was understanding. \nMost of what was needed to be worked out was done so in the earlier meeting. \nIUSA received an e-mail Wednesday morning from Athletic Director Terry Clapacs stating its proposed alternative to the student athletic fee would be insufficient. The Committee to Review the Alternatives for the Athletic Fee proposed to increase ticket prices across the board for men's basketball, meaning the student's, faculty's and the public's tickets would increase in price.\nClapacs told the groups in the e-mail any proposal containing money from faculty and the public would not be accepted and that the money must come from the students one way or another.\nOne main issue seeming to revolve with the student groups is working together with the administration and athletics department on the athletic fee issue. \nPalmer reiterated the need for all parties involved to work together.\n"We all need to be working together towards a common goal," he said. "The athletics department needs to be working with the students and working with the faculty and the staff and the rest of the University." \nChastain the students are looking to help the situation, but not in the form of an additional $30. \n"They're ready to help out the athletics department, but the athletics fee is not the answer," he said.\nA letter was drafted through the meetings Friday and is ready to be delivered to the trustees this weekend. \nFriday's meeting gave the groups involved a way to voice their opinions on behalf of the students they represent.\n"A lot of people provided their input saying why is this? Why is that? Do we have answers for this? Or do we have more questions for this?" Chastain said. "So the general consensus is, why students? If we can't have these questions, how can we justify to say that students support this if they don't have the answers."\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(04/30/04 6:06am)
In the shadow of the May 6 and 7 IU trustees meeting in Bloomington, the IU Student Association will hold a pair of meetings tonight to address the alternative proposals to the $30 student athletic fee.\nAt 6 p.m., student leaders representing 15 of the most influential student groups on campus will convene and discuss the findings of the Committee to Review the Alternatives for the Athletic Fee. The meeting will be an informative gathering from IUSA to see where the student organizations should go, IUSA President Tyson Chastain said. \nThe committee was informed Wednesday morning by e-mail that its proposal to increase ticket prices across the board for men's basketball would not be sufficient. The committee set out to take the weight of the majority of the student fee off the student body's shoulders and spread it out among three different potential ticket holders: students, faculty and the public. \nAccording to the IUSA, the e-mail, which was sent from Athletics Director Terry Clapacs to the committee, said any proposal containing money from faculty and the public would not be accepted and that the money must come from the students one way or another.\nIUSA said Clapacs made it very clear it was not his decision and the news was given to him.\nClapacs has not returned repeated attempts to contact him.\nAt 8 p.m. tonight, an open forum will take place in the Dogwood Room at the Indiana Memorial Union and is open to the public to discuss the fee and its possible alternatives. \nIUSA is hoping to have a drafted letter to send to the trustees ready to be discussed at the open forum, Chastain said.\n"This is something that students need to be informed on," Chastain said. "We're just a medium for that."\nIUSA Vice President Jesse Laffen said the forum is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in the proposed fee and its alternatives.\n"We've been talking to students throughout the whole thing," Laffen said. "We want to get a cemented viewpoint. (The forum) is open to anyone who has an interest in having a $30 fee levied against students."\nMost of the student body will have a representative at the meeting. \nThe Black Student Union, College Republicans, College Democrats, Residence Halls Association, the Student Alumni Association, the IU Student Foundation, IUSA, the Women's Student Association, the Graduate and Professional Student Organization as well as the Interfraternity Council have all committed to attend the early evening gathering. \nAlso invited were the Student Athletic Board, the Student Recreational Sports Association, IU Dance Marathon, Union Board and Panhellenic Council, but IUSA has not heard yet if they will be in attendance. \n"I don't think (the fee is) going to be taking care of the problem," RHA President John Palmer said. "I feel like generally athletics doesn't have a good handle on what's going on here. It's not the fact that IU athletics is losing money, it's that they aren't establishing a fan base."\nGraduate student Jesse Nelson, moderator for the Graduate Professional Student Organization, said his group still stands behind the decision to not support the athletic fee.\n"We're definitely against the student fee proposal," Nelson said. "We're looking at ways that the situation can be remedied. I think a way that asks various members of the campus to play a part in the athletic situation is the best way. But to have it based solely on students, I don't think is right."\nNelson is one of three student representatives on the athletic fee review committee.\nAccording to Chastain, another one of the three student members, the committee came up with two proposals: the across-the-board solution for men's basketball tickets and a second proposal to raise student athletic tickets $5 each and public and faculty tickets $2 each. The committee chose the former as its primary proposal. \nThroughout the brainstorming, the committee was given two main constraints, Laffen said. One was that the money had to be on the table, which means the committee could not propose non-moneymaking ideas. The second was that approximately $1.1 million had to be reached through the proposed means of fundraising. \nThe committee, formed at President Adam W. Herbert's request to look for other options to the $30 fee, is headed by School of Public and Environmental Affairs Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kurt Zorn.\nChastain said the committee was allowed to work with tickets and, if any organization had funding to throw into proposals, the committee could accept that as well.\n"I'd like to see what the administration is going to do," Chastain said. "Are we going to have time to talk about this?" \nPalmer said he feels whatever happens with the athletic fee, at least this time the trustees' decision will be an informed one.\n"I think ultimately it's up to the trustees to make the right decisions," he said. "Students can voice their opinions and make them know how they feel. I've e-mailed each of the trustees and let them know how I feel. It's important for us to make sure our voices are being heard. I think it's one important reason why the student groups are getting involved. \n"However, the students are feeling we are making sure the administration is hearing that. If they go with the fee, they will go ahead knowing the students' opinion."\n-- Contact senior writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(04/16/04 6:00am)
Broken records and America's most famous Little 500 team headlined Thursday night's Team Pursuit in a battle of the Independents versus the Greeks.\nThe finals of what is the last Little 500 series event included what could be a preview of the front stretch come race weekend.\nTeter women held off pole sitter Kappa Kappa Gamma for the women's Team Pursuit title with a time of 8 minutes and 3.86 seconds -- breaking the record Teter set in their preliminary run of 8:04.75, which bettered Alpha Chi Omega's 1998 record of 8:05.38.\nIn the men's final, behind the chanting of Cut-ters from the team's faithful circling the track, Cutters defeated Phi Gamma Delta to take home the men's title. \n"I'm hurting a lot," Cutters senior Jason Fowler said minutes after his team won. "It was the most painful nine minutes and 16 seconds of my life ... from right after the first lap it was pretty painful."\nCutters crossed the finish line in 9:14.54 -- over a second and a half faster than Phi Gamma Delta, who took 9:16.05 to finish its 15 laps.\n"We were going neck and neck with them the whole time," Fowler said.\nTeter, who has emerged as a favorite in the April 23 women's race, was led by iron-woman senior Bri Kovac, who led her team for most of the 12 laps Thursday night, leading them to victory and the record.\n"We were really excited," Kovac said. "Our goal was we wanted to break it with all four, and we did it, so we're really happy,"\nKovac said communicating on the track was a key to cutting the distance between them and the strong Kappa team. \n"I think we have tried and been working on communicating while we're riding," Kovac said. "I think this time, especially, we talked a lot better than we did the last time, so I think our communication was a big factor."\nKappa was without junior Meredith Horner, who suffered an asthma attack during the teams preliminary run. She was rushed to the hospital but returned to the track with her team for the finals. \nHorner said she is excited for next week's race.\n"I'm really looking forward to it," Horner said. "It's something that I've been thinking about all year, since last year, so hopefully, it'll go our way."\nWith the races less than two weeks away and the series events completed, teams are now looking forward to winding down their workouts in preparation for the big day.\n"Now that the series events are over, we're focused on the race," Fowler said. "We'll probably get in one more hard workout his weekend and start to taper, start doing strategy and start thinking about the race and get more and more focused, and just get ready for next Saturday."\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(04/02/04 6:21am)
As riders stride closer the Little 500 races in late April, the preparation for the big day continues.\nThe third installment of the Little 500 series events will take place tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nMiss-N-Out offers riders an opportunity to experience pack riding at a fast pace, simulating race-day conditions. \n"Miss-N-Outs, as part of the series events, helps create a competitive atmosphere for the Little 500 race," Alpha Phi senior Lauren Claytor said. \nRiders are divided into groups of six to eight per heat and are seeded according to their Individual Time Trial times. The event is compared to musical chairs, as riders circle the track dropping the last rider every time the group passes the Start/Finish line. This is done until there are either two or three riders left in the heat. Riders advance from preliminaries to quarterfinals to semifinals to the final. The winner receives points toward the Series Events Championship.\n"Miss-N-Out is all about strategy," Kappa Alpha Theta junior Nicole Vincent said. "That becomes important during the race. It's like a 40-meter dash on a bike over and over again."\nDefending her women's title this year is Kappa Kappa Gamma junior Meredith Horner. The St. Louis, Mo., native has had a solid spring so far, helping her team qualify for the pole position and finishing ninth in ITTs. \nLast year's men's champion, John Grant of Gafombi, graduated last spring. The highest returning finisher from the 2003 Miss-N-Out is senior Dodds House rider Craig Luekens. \nThe event has no bearing on how riders are going to finish in the race, Claytor said, but it gives riders good pre-race experience.\nThis year, fast times among riders, especially the women's riders, have been abundant. Track records were broken in both qualifications and ITTs. A combination of track conditions, damp weather -- ideal for racing -- and improved riders have been the cause of the lowered times.\n"The track conditions have been really good. The track has been wet and fast," Claytor said. "Rider's in general are getting stronger and are more well-prepared."\nAccording to the IU Student Foundation's Web site, there is not a track record for this event since times are not kept.\n"It's the event that's most like Little 5," Sincere Cycling senior Eric Butterbaugh said. "It's a lot of fun. It's the first series event where you get to bump elbows with some of the guys."\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/29/04 5:54am)
Within an hour and 45 minutes, a 15-year-old record was broken -- twice.\nWhen the cinder cleared and the Mongooses stopped rolling, Kappa Kappa Gamma ended qualifications holding not only the pole position for the 2004 Women's Little 500 race, but the new qualifications track record with a time of 2:37.5, breaking a newly-minted record.\nLess than two hours before Kappa set its mark in the books, Alpha Gamma Delta broke Kappa Alpha Theta's 1989 record of 2:40.1 with a time of 2:38.3 -- 1.7 seconds faster.\nKappa's finish was 2.6 seconds faster than Theta's old record and and .8 seconds faster than AGD's. \n"It was neat," Kappa senior Alison Edwards said of breaking the record. "It was a pretty cool experience. We never thought that was going to happen, but it was a nice surprise."\nThe front row of this year's race features three of the elite teams in the women's field. With Kappa sitting on the pole and AGD following them in second, defending champions Kappa Alpha Theta rounded out the front row in third with a qualifying time of 2:42.9.\nTeter Women had a strong showing, finishing fourth in 2:43.7, just ahead of Delta Zeta -- 2:45.4 and Roadrunners -- 2:46.1, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to complete the second row. \nMother Nature played games all morning, showing all her faces, which had an impact on quals.\nThe rain Friday night and light drizzle Saturday morning caused the track to harden, which allowed for the riders to move faster over the cinder track.\n"The track conditions were really good on Saturday," Team Athena senior Anna Schwartz said. "The track was solid and real packed down and held together really nicely."\nThe lack of sun made for ideal weather conditions, AGD senior Corey Bitzer said.\n"It wasn't sunny. There was no wind. It was not cold. It was the ideal conditions," she said. \nSchwartz said the deep field and experience of the riders added to the fast times. But, Edwards said, it is not only the field, but women in general, that are the cause of the lower times.\n"Women in general are getting faster," she said. "They are learning how to push their bodies to the limit"\nAll 32 teams that attempted to qualify made the field, which can hold a maximum of 33. This year's field has the most teams since 1999, when the same number of teams qualified for the race.\nEven though many riders say qualifications is not a good prediction of the race because it is only a sprinting event, Kappa and AGD established themselves as two of the fastest teams in the field. AGD had three of the four fastest laps during qualifications, with defending Individual Time Trial champion Bitzer leading the way riding the fastest lap of the day in 36 seconds -- even followed by Kappa junior Meredith Horner, who ran her lap in 36.64 seconds. Bitzer's teammate, senior Kimberly Trocio, clocked the fastest second lap in 41 seconds even, again followed by a Kappa rider. Junior Kelsey Cooper followed Trocio in second place on the second lap with a 41.365 lap.\nOnce again on the third lap, it was AGD-Kappa in a one-two order for fastest times. AGD senior Viki Hunziker rode a 40 second third lap, a half-second behind Kappa senior Alison Edwards. \nHowever, in the fourth lap, Kappa secured the fastest time when senior Jessica Groth clocked a 38.958 lap to secure the pole position and the track record.\nBitzer, who rode laps one and four for AGD, said it was tough riding two laps.\n"It was a lot different than I expected," she said. "My legs felt a little more tight than in practice."\nFive new teams qualified for this year's race, headlined by Bella Veloce, which qualified 15th -- the best placing of the new teams.\n"Being a new team, nobody knows what to expect from us," Bella Veloce junior Jamie Baldwin said. "But we know what to expect of ourselves and each other. We just really respect all of the other teams, and it is an honor to compete against such amazing athletes."\nBut for now, Kappa is on top, not only of the pack, but in the record books. But they won't let that go to their heads.\n"We're not letting this make us feel complacent," she said. "We're still working very hard. The big picture is the race."\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/29/04 5:48am)
Three riders were singled out by the IU Student Foundation Saturday as finalists for the 2004 Little 500 men's TIAA-CREF MVP award.\nSenior Tom Meersman from Alpha Tau Omega and senior Jason Fowler and freshman David Caughlin from Cutters were announced as a few of the leading candidates for the award during a press conference during qualifications.\nThe award is open to all men's riders in the Little 500.\n"It would be an honor (to win)," Fowler said. "It's a great award they're giving us the opportunity to have and to continue our cycling career beyond college, beyond the Little 500."\nTeammate Caughlin echoed Fowler's sentiment.\n"I think it's an amazing opportunity that there's so much talent in the entire field of riders, and given the opportunity to go out there and get out a good race day performance and move on to the next level," he said.\nIUSF Director Jonathon Purvis was joined by IUSF Race Director Rob Rhamy, senior Brooke Mitchell and Vice President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Buddy McAtee in announcing the MVP candidates as well as the new MVP award.\nThe award, re-named the TIAA-CREF MVP award, will be handed out to one men's rider from the Little 500 field. The recipient of the award will be given the opportunity to train with former professional cyclist Jonathan Vaughters and his Under 23 cycling team. Whomever is chosen for the award will have the opportunity to train and compete with Vaughters' team, Rhamy said.\n"The team will travel the nation and do a lot of the pro circuit," he said. "It's basically a stepping stone for any amateur cyclist to try to make the next step to the professional level."\nMcAtee joined with the IUSF to re-affirm the IMS's relationship with the Little 500. \n"We're really excited to be a part of (the Little 500)," said McAtte, a 1978 IU grad. "We're going to be supporting it fully this year."\nThe IMS will bring the Little 500 riders to the Indy 500 Festival Parade and allow them to go around the track.\nMitchell was on hand as an example of the IUSF scholarship program.\nShe is a recipient of two different IUSF scholarships -- a three-year recipient of the Working Student Scholarship and the 9/11 Scholarship. \nA women's MVP award will also be presented, however, the IUSF does not have a relationship with a women's professional team to present an award comparable to the men's MVP award, Rhamy said.\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/26/04 6:05am)
The time has arrived.\nLittle 500 teams will hit the track for the first time of the 2004 season Saturday for qualifications. \nStarting at 8 a.m., teams will attempt to qualify for the field of 33 for the 53rd running of the men's race and 17th running of the women's race. \nEven though qualifications isn't the start to the Little 500 series events, it is the first time riders will have the opportunity to ride on the track in a race situation. \n"I'm real excited," junior Meredith Horner of Kappa Kappa Gamma said. "It's really exciting, just getting the season under way. It's a really good starting point for teams to see where they stand." \nEven though the field for this year's qualifications is smaller than last year's, both the men's and women's riders agree it is balanced.\n"It's good; it's strong" Teter rider senior Bri Kovac said. "There is not one clear, dominate team."\nOn the men's side, senior Jeff Haller of Sigma Chi said there are only a couple of teams that really stand out from the bunch, but otherwise it is a solid field.\n"I think it's similar to last year," he said. "There are about 10 or so strong teams, and one or two of those stand out."\nWith the women's race getting older and more exposure year by year, Horner thinks this year could be one of the best ever.\n"It is probably the strongest field in years," she said.\nOn both sides of the track, the perennial powerhouses await their chance to sprint in the first row. \nLast year's men's pole sitter, Fiji, will start off the 2004 qualifications as the first team to circle the track at 8 a.m. Fiji finished ninth in last year's race. \nGafombi, the 2003 men's champions, did not field a team for this year's race.\nReigning women's champions Kappa Alpha Theta makes its first attempt at 2:45 p.m. Last year's pole sitter, Phi Mu, gets its chance to repeat at 12:40 p.m. Quals begins Theta's quest for their its Little 500 title -- they won their fourth last year.\nA new addition to this year's field is IU Men's Soccer, comprised of members of the 2003 NCAA champions.\nQualifying times were chosen by the teams.\nQualifications features four laps, one cycled by each member of the respective team. The team with the fastest combined four-lap time holds the pole position. The rest of the field is then filled in by fastest times. \nTeams are given two chances during their assigned times to qualify.\nIf they fault on their first assigned attempt, they are given a time shortly after for their second attempt. If the teams then fail again, they are sent home and asked to return with an assigned time after all assigned times have gone.\nHaller said the key to qualifying is exchanges.\n"I think the biggest thing is practicing exchanges and accelerating after exchanges," he said. "So much of quals relies on good exchanges."\nThe winner of the TIAA-CREF MVP award -- to be named after the men's Little 500 race on April 24 -- will train with former professional cyclist Jonathan Vaughters on one of the nation's top developmental teams for riders under the age of 23. \n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/26/04 5:54am)
After four long months of meetings and anticipation, the IU Student Foundation Appeals Board unanimously decided Wednesday evening to allow the former Pi Kappa Phi cycling team to ride in the Little 500 as deactivated members on an independent team.\nWith the decision of the six members of the board, the Sincere Cycling team was officially formed.\n"We're so excited," senior Eric Butterbaugh said. "We're so pleased with the outcome. It's just a nice thing to have off our shoulders. We've been worrying about it for a while."\nThe decision was made during a hearing that included presentations by IUSF Assistant Director Rob Rhamy and the former Pi Kappa Phi team. The hour-and-a-half long hearing was the culmination of events stemming from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity being placed on campus activities restriction by the Interfraternity Council in mid October after the Pi Kapps sent a pledge to the hospital with a .5 blood alcohol content, Butterbaugh said.\nThe restriction banned the fraternity from participating in all IFC-sponsored events. Upon learning of their fate last October, the five members of the Pi Kapps' cycling team met with Rhamy to discuss their options. Pi Kapps left that meeting feeling assured they would be allowed to ride in the 2004 race, Butterbaugh said.\n Pi Kapps received notification from Rhamy March 4 that the team's eligibility to ride in the race was denied. \nBut the team kept on training, even traveling to Florida for winter break, and never broke routine.\nThe team having been put in limbo for so long was one reason board member and Riders Council President junior Bri Kovac supported Pi Kapps.\n"The ultimate decision was based on Pi Kapps' being treated unfairly," she said. "The decision was made after people were made aware of it. There was a lack of communication between IUSF, the dean and Pi Kapps. (The board) thought that within this situation there was definitely extenuating circumstances."\nThe original rejection was caused by rule D 3 of section II of the Little 500 Rules of Eligibility, stating: "If a student participated in the immediate previous year and was a member of an IU Greek social unit and has since deactivated, de-pledged or has attained alumni status from the chapter and is still eligible to participate, then he/she must sit out one year in order to claim a new affiliation with another team."\nPi Kapps argued against this rule, stating that in previous years, teams were allowed to deactivate and ride under a different team during the same year. \nButterbaugh and teammates Ryan McCall, Spencer Kruse, Dave Madsen and Justin Butler have submitted their letters of deactivation to their national chapter's CEO, who has promised to expedite the process to have the team completely deactivated by race day -- a stipulation handed down by IUSF.\nRhamy said he had wanted Pi Kapps to ride from day one of the situation.\n"We always want to make sure the riders are able to participate in the race," Rhamy said. "In this case, that is exactly what happened. They got a hearing and won a unanimous vote."\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said if the decision supports University rules, then he is behind it.\n"As long as (the decision is) not violating a campus decision, I'm in support of it," he said.\nFor Madsen, the battle Sincere Cycling has gone through will make them tougher on the track.\n"I think it made us strong because when you go through something really tough like this, you can go through anything.\n"I'm just happy that this decision was finally in our favor," he said, "and I think it is the right decision."\n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(02/26/04 6:14am)
Big Ten football officials will have life a little easier next season. \nThe use of experimental replay during Big Ten football games has been approved by the NCAA Division 1 Championships/ Competition Cabinet, following recommendations made by the NCAA Football Rules Committee.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo has supported the idea of replay since he first came into the league in 2002. \n"I was in favor of it," DiNardo said. "I'm glad (the Big Ten) did it. I've been in favor of it right from the beginning."\nThe recommendation will only be used in games between Big Ten teams, according to an NCAA press release. Non-Big Ten teams will have the option to use the replay system when they visit Big Ten stadiums. \nThe addition of technology to the college game gives DiNardo some comfort.\n"I think what they're going to do is overturn some really blatant misses," he said of the officials.\nThe experimental replay differs from the NFL-style replay fans are accustomed to with the main difference being the lack of referee intervention. On-field officials will not be reviewing nor overturning calls.\nA technical advisor, assigned to every league game by the conference, will be the only person able to use the video replay and make a decision of the reviewed plays. The replays will be provided by the Big Ten's television partners. \nBut, the advisor will not be allowed to "communicate with network personnel to request replays of specific plays or to request shots from specific camera angles," according to the release. \nThe only feed the technical advisor will be allowed to use will be the network's video feed.\nHoosier quarterback junior Matt LoVecchio thinks the replay will make the officiating more efficient.\n"Sometimes in a close game with a few close plays, it could be the difference between winning and losing," LoVecchio said.\nBig Ten officials have come under scrutiny over the last few years because of blown calls and poor officiating. Coaches have spoken out against the referees -- most notably Penn State's Joe Paterno. \nBut IU freshman safety Will Meyers thinks the experimental replay might affect the way the game is officiated.\n"I think it's probably a good thing," he said. "Anytime you can get something right."\nBut Meyers did show some concern over the possible negative effects of replay but said it is good for college football.\n"The one negative is that it stops the flow of the game," Meyers said. "It definitely helps college football, but it all comes down to whether or not we make the plays."\nWhen it comes to coaching, DiNardo doesn't forecast any change in his style of coaching or his game plan.\n"I don't see any impact on my coaching style," he said. \nBringing replay to the Big Ten will pay for itself if plays do, in fact get overturned, DiNardo said.\n"If it allows the league to overturn one bad call, then it's worth it," he said.
(02/24/04 6:10am)
Get the running shoes ready, and start training. \nThe 2004 Little Fifty will take place Sunday, April 18, the IU Student Foundation has announced. \nBecause of the success the inaugural race garnered last year, IUSF has placed the race as the kickoff for Little 500 week festivities, moving it a week closer to Little 500, compared to last year.\n"I think the date of this year's race will bring more attention to the event since it's kicking off Little 500 weekend," said Runners Council member and Mercury team member senior Andrew Elliott. \nThe race will be Olympic themed, with each team having their own flag.\nThe race is 50 laps, run at the 400-meter Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex -- totalling 12.5 miles.\nLast year's race had over 2,000 people in attendance, a number the IUSF Steering Committee is hoping to increase this year. \nThe field can hold a maximum of 25 four-member teams in both the men's and women's races. Last year, there were 23 men's teams and 21 women's teams. \nAccording to Little Fifty Steering Committee member senior Emily Diefendorf, a few changes have been made to this year's race.\n"We hope to diversify the race by only allowing one team per housing unit and greek house," she said. \nTeams from dorms will be able to enter one team per floor. This was done, said Diefendorf, so as many students can participate that want to. \nSince the race is a philanthropic event, each team will be paired up with a local philanthropy. The IUSF will donate $250 to the winning teams' philanthropic pair. \nIUSF is holding a call-out meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in Psychology 100. \n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(01/30/04 6:05am)
In an attempt to explain the lingering financial woes the IU athletic department faces, athletic director Terry Clapacs said Thursday that the deficit is a $2 million structural problem. \nIn addition to the deficit, IU President Adam Herbert called the athletic facilities "unacceptable."\n"We don't come close to being comparable to (other) Big Ten institutions," he said. \nThe budget admission comes in the wake of two years of reports that the deficit is a year-to-year problem, which would have occurred regardless of who ran the department.\n"I don't think we should look at athletics at a year-by-year basis," Clapacs said. "If we look at it over a five-year period, I think we have structural problems that need to be addressed."\nAs possible solutions to the deficit, Clapacs suggested Thursday the addition of a student athletic fee and tapping former Hoosier athletes for donations.\nClapacs succeeded former athletic director Michael McNeely 10 months ago after revelations of the department's $3.2 million deficit emerged in November 2002. \nDuring his term, the deficit has decreased to approximately $1.79 million according to the 2002-2003 Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act report.\nThis year, Clapacs declined to fill four permanent positions and eliminated eight hourly positions of event staff and grounds crew. The department also began outsourcing medical care, food service and ushering and has begun investigating the outsourcing of the Varsity Shop, all in an attempt to cut down on expenses. \nIn a presentation to the Trustees, Clapacs discussed the lack of revenue coming into the department. He said it's mainly because of the Hoosiers' struggling football program. \n"Football drives the success of the athletic department," Clapacs said.\nIU finished the 2003 season at 2-10, one place above cellar-dwellar Illinois. It was the ninth consecutive losing season for the Hoosiers. \nThe department's $34,109,460 budget is the tenth largest in the Big Ten out of 11 schools, followed only by Northwestern at $30,655,496. The budget covers 24 varsity sports -- 10 less than conference leading Ohio State, which has 34. \nThe Hoosiers sit at the bottom of the Big Ten in football ticket revenue, a major concern for Clapacs.\nWith head football Coach Gerry DiNardo having nearly a full roster of scholarships, the tide is hoping to be turned with Hoosier football. In the meantime, Clapacs has had to divulge other possibilities to make up the deficit. \nOne remedy he suggested was a student athletic fee, which would be tacked on to tuition.\nTrustee Cora Breckinridge refuted the idea via teleconference.\nShe said students should not be given another raise of tuition, regardless of who it will benefit. \nClapacs cited the $1,000 tuition raise as one of the problems for the athletic department's deficit. The Varsity Club, he said, supplies the athletic department with the money for athletic scholarships, and with the tuition increase, it is becoming harder for the Varsity Club to support the scholarships.\nWhen tuition increases, the Varsity Club can no longer cover scholarship costs, Clapacs said. \nAnother way to increase revenue to the athletic department, Clapacs suggested, is to tap former Hoosier athletes for donations. \nFormer Hoosier and current Kansas City quarterback Trent Green donated money to renovate the football locker room last summer. \nPresident Adam Herbert commented on his alma mater, University of Southern California, and how former football players come back to support the Trojans on a regular basis. \nHe said IU needs to reach back and stay in contact with former athletes, not only on a general, department-wide level, but within the specific sports. He said former players could help greatly in the recruiting process, which could lead to better teams and more victories, meaning more fans in the seats and more money to the department. \nThe process is a domino effect.\nHerbert went on to say that there are Division-II schools better than IU in terms of athletic facilities. "That's unacceptable," he said.\nHerbert noted that the IU weightroom in Assembly Hall was sub-par compared to the competition. \nClapacs commented that another way to bring money into the department was an Internet possibility. He went on to hint that by making the department's Web site, www.iuhoosiers.com , a pay site, more money could be brought into the department. \n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(01/14/04 6:03am)
The swimming world lost one of its greatest men last week when James "Doc" Counsilman died in his sleep early Jan. 4 because of complications after his 25 year battle with Parkinson's disease. \nFor the last six and a half years, Counsilman spent his time at Meadowood Retirement Community, where Marjorie, his wife of 60 years, said he became a prisoner in his own body because of the disease. \n"He had a wonderful career," Marjorie said. "I got to share all of that. I don't know how anyone could have been more fulfilled (with their life). He was obsessed with competitive swimming."\nHeralded as one of the greatest swimming minds in the world, Counsilman was revered not only because of his impeccable accomplishments, but his breakthrough research as well.\nCounsilman's 1968 book, "The Science of Swimming", which has become known as the bible of competitive swimming, has been published in over 20 languages worldwide. His research, although controversial, revolutionized swimming and is still highly looked upon today, a book that U.S. Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said every swim coach should read.\n"Any swim coach today of any age who has not read "Doc" Counsilman's "The Science of Swimming" cannot be taken seriously as a swim coach," he said.\nDuring his 33 years as the IU men's swimming coach, Counsilman solidified his place among the world's best coaches -- if not the world's best.\nIn his first year at IU, 1957, Counsilman's men finished fourth in both the Big Ten and the NCAA. But it wasn't long before success came the way of the Hoosiers. Beginning in 1961, Counsilman coached IU to 20 consecutive Big Ten championships, and during that span, the Hoosiers rattled off six consecutive NCAA Championships between 1968 and 1973. \nLeaving IU in 1990, Counsilman went off into the sunset with 23 total Big Ten titles, the six NCAA titles, two national coach of the year awards, 177 Big Ten individual championships, 18 undefeated seasons and a 285-41 overall record. \nHe coached over 400 All-Americans during his time at IU. \n"He was the greatest swimming coach ever, and no one would argue that point," IU swimming coach Ray Looze said. \nBut, Counsilman's success wasn't limited to the collegiate level. \nAs coach of the 1964 and 1976 U.S. Olympic swimming teams, Counsilman showed American swimming was a force to be reckoned with. \nHis 1964 Tokyo team won nine of 11 gold medals, and 12 years later in Montreal, Counsilman coached his team to 12 of 13 gold medals, records which display the sheer dominance that the Americans exercised during Counsilman's reign as coach. Headlining his 1976 national team was arguably the greatest American swimmer ever -- Mark Spitz. \nOf the 60 Olympians Counsilman coached, 48 of them were medalists, with 17 gold medal winners, 18 silver and 13 bronze to go along with the five gold medal winning relay teams. \nAccording to Wieglus, the impact that Counsilman left on American swimming is still apparent today.\n"What Doc Counsilman did in so many ways was to legitimize swimming as a sport. His work as a coach, scientist and motivational leader brought recognition to swimming," Wielgus said.\nHowever respected Counsilman was in the United States, he was equally respected around the world on the Olympic and international level, Wieglus said.\nIn 1979, at the age of 58, Counsilman swam the English Channel in 13 hours and seven minutes. \nThe older Counsilman got, the more respected he became around the world. \nOn top of being a world class swimming coach, Counsilman was a father of four and a husband. All four Counsilman children became swimmers, Marjorie said.\nCounsilman left behind a sport that he touched in so many ways, and his legacy will forever be held, at least here at IU. In 1996, IU opened the Counsilman/Billingsley Aquatic Center, the IU swim team's home pool. \nWieglus compared the impact on swimming Councilman had to the impact that John Wooden and Adolph Rupp had on college basketball. \n"He's the patron saint of swim coaches," Wieglus said. \nMarjorie said he was becoming memorialized even before his death because of his condition during the last six and a half years. \n"He was a very committed person to his sport," she said. "He did everything he could to educated himself."\nFor Marjorie, looking back on "Doc's'" life, he had the perfect package to be as successful as he was. \n"He had a combination of the right attributes," she said. "There are certain things that coaches have to have, and he had more of them than many people do."\nA memorial service is being planned for April. \n-- Contact sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(11/21/03 6:44am)
ALLAS -- I never knew JFK. \nI never voted for JFK. \nI was never one of his constituents. \nI wasn't even born until 20 years after his death. \nBut the second I stepped foot on the corner of Elm and Houston in downtown Dallas, I knew I was a part of history.\nThe movies and the pictures can show you the story, but actually being there tells the story. As my friends and I made our way through the halls of what is now the Dallas County Administration Building, once known as the Texas School Book Depository, I could start to feel a calm settling over them. But it wasn't a cool and collected calm. It was a frozen-in-the-moment calm. Silence blanketed the group. Not because words couldn't be spoken within the building, but because no words were needed. \nFor those of us who chose to further our dive into history and visit the infamous sixth floor, now a museum, a firsthand history lesson was awaiting us.\nStepping off that elevator was like entering a different dimension. It brought us back to the early '60s: a time of love, rock and roll, the Cold War and peace. \nGasps could be heard and mouths stood open as each of us made our way through the exhibit, making sure we didn't miss a word, a sound, a picture. \nFor us, college students in 2003, 40 years ago seems like an eternity. This was our way of absorbing ourselves in the past.\nAs we moved our way through the maze of photographs and maps, it hit us -- the glass-enclosed southeast corner of the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository. Everything was set up as it was 40 years ago.\nBoxes were still stacked, the tape was drying out, but the perch upon which Lee Harvey Oswald took aim at our 35th President was still there. One box for him to sit on and two to steady the gun. \nSeeing everything in person put it all in a different perspective. \nLooking out of the window next to the one out of which Oswald shot, we peered over Dealey Plaza. \nCuriosity sparked my interest and I asked the tour guide where, exactly, JFK was shot. \n"Follow that little red car…," he said as the group sat attentively watching the car travel down Elm Street. "BAM! That's where it happened."\nAnd from that moment on, I had my own memory of where JFK was assassinated. \nAs we moved on to the rest of the exhibit, I could tell everyone was thinking about what just happened. For the rest of our visit, I wasn't able to look at the split-second frame-by-frame enlarged photographs in the same way. My mind kept triggering the tour guide's words. \n"BAM! That's where it happened." \nAs we moved through the rest of the exhibit, those words were hard to lose. Everything was part of it. Everything was there including the hats of the detectives who questioned Oswald and the 13 video recorders the museum has collected that filmed the assassination. \nEverything was there. And now we were. \nAt times it was hard to fathom that I was on the most famous sixth floor ever. \nWe were visiting Dallas for a journalism conference, and knew we couldn't miss this piece of history. Seeing this firsthand not only helped us become better people, but it helped us become better journalists. Certain places have an everlasting effect on a person, and now, for the rest of our lives, whenever JFK comes up, we can relate.\nLeaving the floor, I signed a memory book. Coming in, I didn't have any memories, but leaving, I had formulated my own. I now understand what my parents mean when they talk about where they were when JFK got shot. I know now, because I was there.
(10/22/03 6:32am)
The IU Athletic Department's deficit stands at $1.79 million, a decrease of $1.41 million from last year, according to the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act submitted to the NCAA Oct. 15.\nThe 25 page filed report, narrowed down to 11 pages open to the public, is a compilation of data comparing men's and women's sports financial and non-financial aspects.\nBetween July 1, 2002 and June 30 of this year -- the dates the report covers -- the department's expenses totaled $35,980,976. The biggest portion of that comes from football, which spent about $7 million but brought in about $13 million.\nThe largest amount of revenue from last year belongs to the men's basketball team, which made almost $10 million along with spending almost $3 million. \nPart of finding a balanced budget comes to football program's budget which, according to Associate Athletic Director of Budgets Paul Sullivan, takes so much by itself to run. \nThe football team's revenue increased $2.3 million from 2001-02 to 2002-03, while their expenses have remained about the same. \nThe report is mandatory by the U.S. Department of Education because IU is co-educational and participates in Federal student financial aid programs. However, the main reason for the report is to collect gender equity statistics.\nStatistics in the report show that the men's program brings in more than twice the amount that the women's program brings in, mostly due to football and men's basketball, which combined totals 67.9 percent of athletic department's total revenue. \nRevenue, according to the report includes ticket sales, student activity fees, postseason compensation, concessions, radio and television, sponsorships, royalties and sports camp among others. \nIncurring one of the highest operating expenses is track and field and cross country, which are grouped together. The men's team, which includes "total number of participants" of cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams, spends $210,950 and the women's team spends $225,406. These expenses are "attributable to home, away, neutral-site intercollegiate athletic contests, including team travel, lodging, and meals; uniforms and equipment; and officials." Per person, the teams are among the bottom of the athletic department with IU spending $1,551 per men's runner and $1,682 per women's runner.\nThe highest per player expenses belongs to men's and women's basketball which spends $16,752 and $16,008 respectively. \nOut of the total $5,663,977 spent on athletically related student aid, $3,270,376 is awarded to male athletes and $2,393,601 is awarded to female athletes. \nOne of the most staggering statistics in the report shows that men's teams collect $23,316,072 of revenue attributable to specific teams compared to $216,171 by women's team. In other words, the men's teams bring in 99.1 percent of total revenue attributable to specific teams. \nHead coaches salaries also show a large difference between genders. Men's team's head coaches show an average salary of $97,787 for full-time employees, and an average salary of $88,008 per total head coaches. FTE women's teams' coaches average $66,576 and $64,016 per total head coaches. The differences between men's and women's teams assistant coaches are equal across the board with men's teams assistant coaches equaling $75,928 and women's teams assistant coaches bringing home $35,632.\nMen's teams have zero women head or assistant coaches, compared to women's teams who have 14 men in head coaching or assistant coaches.\nOf the more 38,000 students at IU, 771 are athletes, both men and women.\nAccording to the report, IU's total expenses as indicated on IU's financial statement equals $1,866,816,000 of which the athletic department's expenses equals approximately .02 percent. \n-- Contact Sports editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(10/17/03 7:00am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- During her time at IU, Wendy Chioji never rode in the Little 500. \nUntil 1993 she never considered herself a cyclist. But this week, Chioji and 25 other cyclists, all cancer survivors, are riding across America as part of the Tour of Hope.\nThursday morning, 2,000 miles into their journey from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., Chioji found herself on stage at Conseco Fieldhouse joining five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and fellow Tour of Hope rider Steven Friedman. \nThe Tour of Hope, sponsored by Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, is an eight-day bike ride to raise awareness about cancer research throughout the country. The 3,000-mile trek is broken into two three-hour shifts of about 60 miles each, Chioji said. Armstrong began the ride with them in L.A., and has joined them sporadically throughout the week, so far only in New Mexico and Illinois. He will finish the ride with the group on Oct. 18 as they ride into Washington D.C. \n"The kickoff was really inspirational for me," Armstrong said. "I flew from L.A. back to Austin and was about to go to New York, but I felt the urge to go back with them in the middle of nowhere." \nSo Armstrong joined them in the middle of New Mexico.\nHe said he is impressed with what they are doing, and what they have done already. The group is ahead of schedule with rides occurring at all times -- day and night.\n"It's just an interesting group of people that are doing something they probably shouldn't be doing," Armstrong said.\nFriedman, also a survivor of testicular cancer, said having Armstrong join them at times is great.\n"The whole team is strong, sharing the load," he said. "We have some incredibly strong riders on our team. It's such an honor to have Lance with us."\nChioji, who is a newscaster at WESH-TV in Orlando, graduated in 1983 from the School of Journalism. She is an alumna of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with high distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, as No. 35 in a class of 1,114 students. \nComing to Indiana brought back memories, she said, but this is a chance for her to make new memories.\n"It's a fantastic adventure," she said. "I loved seeing the exit for 46. It's been fantastic." \nIn the crowd was a group of her former sorority sisters, who she pointed out during her time at the podium. \nAlways a Hoosier at heart, Chioji praised IU for the education and experience it gave her.\n"I got the greatest education at IU," she said. "I got a broadbased education. A lot of experiences. It helped tremendously. It gave me a great foundation to build on."\nIt was a decade ago that Chioji began cycling. Ten years after she attended her last Little 500. \n"I attended every Little 500," she said. "I did my part in partying the Little 500."\nBeing a newscaster gave Chioji the opportunity to share her story with her viewers. With cooperation from her station, she put together an online journal chronicling her fight with cancer. She is a two-year survivor of stage-two breast cancer. \nWith the journal and the Tour of Hope, Chioji hopes that cancers patients are getting the message that cancer is fightable.\n"I think we are getting our message across that cancer is not a death sentence. It's an opportunity to live better, like Lance."\nBeing an hour from Bloomington wasn't just special for Chioji, but for Armstrong as well. He was the grand marshall of the 1997 Little 500. When asked if he would ever return to the annual springtime event, Armstrong said it usually coincides with the Tour de France.\n"The timing isn't good now," he said. "Then I had the year off. Certainly I couldn't do another April for a year or two. But after that, I would love to come back. More than be a grand marshall, I would like to get on one of the teams."\nBesides Armstrong, the crowd was treated to a special appearance by Pacers star Reggie Miller who presented Armstrong with a yellow No. 5 Pacers jersey. Yellow is significant because Armstong wins a yellow jersey with every stage victory during the Tour de France. He wore the jersey the rest of the day. In response, Armstrong presented Miller with a United States Postal Service Cycling Team jersey.
(10/17/03 6:58am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- During her time at IU, Wendy Chioji never rode in the Little 500. \nUntil 1993 she never considered herself a cyclist. But this week, Chioji and 25 other cyclists, all cancer survivors, are riding across America as part of the Tour of Hope.\nThursday morning, 2,000 miles into their journey from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., Chioji found herself on stage at Conseco Fieldhouse joining five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and fellow Tour of Hope rider Steven Friedman. \nThe Tour of Hope, sponsored by Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, is an eight-day bike ride to raise awareness about cancer research throughout the country. The 3,000-mile trek is broken into two three-hour shifts of about 60 miles each, Chioji said. Armstrong began the ride with them in L.A., and has joined them sporadically throughout the week, so far only in New Mexico and Illinois. He will finish the ride with the group on Oct. 18 as they ride into Washington D.C. \n"The kickoff was really inspirational for me," Armstrong said. "I flew from L.A. back to Austin and was about to go to New York, but I felt the urge to go back with them in the middle of nowhere." \nSo Armstrong joined them in the middle of New Mexico.\nHe said he is impressed with what they are doing, and what they have done already. The group is ahead of schedule with rides occurring at all times -- day and night.\n"It's just an interesting group of people that are doing something they probably shouldn't be doing," Armstrong said.\nFriedman, also a survivor of testicular cancer, said having Armstrong join them at times is great.\n"The whole team is strong, sharing the load," he said. "We have some incredibly strong riders on our team. It's such an honor to have Lance with us."\nChioji, who is a newscaster at WESH-TV in Orlando, graduated in 1983 from the School of Journalism. She is an alumna of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with high distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, as No. 35 in a class of 1,114 students. \nComing to Indiana brought back memories, she said, but this is a chance for her to make new memories.\n"It's a fantastic adventure," she said. "I loved seeing the exit for 46. It's been fantastic." \nIn the crowd was a group of her former sorority sisters, who she pointed out during her time at the podium. \nAlways a Hoosier at heart, Chioji praised IU for the education and experience it gave her.\n"I got the greatest education at IU," she said. "I got a broadbased education. A lot of experiences. It helped tremendously. It gave me a great foundation to build on."\nIt was a decade ago that Chioji began cycling. Ten years after she attended her last Little 500. \n"I attended every Little 500," she said. "I did my part in partying the Little 500."\nBeing a newscaster gave Chioji the opportunity to share her story with her viewers. With cooperation from her station, she put together an online journal chronicling her fight with cancer. She is a two-year survivor of stage-two breast cancer. \nWith the journal and the Tour of Hope, Chioji hopes that cancers patients are getting the message that cancer is fightable.\n"I think we are getting our message across that cancer is not a death sentence. It's an opportunity to live better, like Lance."\nBeing an hour from Bloomington wasn't just special for Chioji, but for Armstrong as well. He was the grand marshall of the 1997 Little 500. When asked if he would ever return to the annual springtime event, Armstrong said it usually coincides with the Tour de France.\n"The timing isn't good now," he said. "Then I had the year off. Certainly I couldn't do another April for a year or two. But after that, I would love to come back. More than be a grand marshall, I would like to get on one of the teams."\nBesides Armstrong, the crowd was treated to a special appearance by Pacers star Reggie Miller who presented Armstrong with a yellow No. 5 Pacers jersey. Yellow is significant because Armstong wins a yellow jersey with every stage victory during the Tour de France. He wore the jersey the rest of the day. In response, Armstrong presented Miller with a United States Postal Service Cycling Team jersey.
(09/08/03 6:26am)
One of 'The Greatest,' most flamboyant, outspoken athletes of the 20th century was humbled this past weekend by a man half his size. \nMuhammad Ali visited Bloomington to join His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama in the opening ceremonies of The Chamtse Ling, an interdenominational temple built by the Tibetan Cultural Center.\nJoined by daughter Hana, this was the first meeting between Ali, a Muslim, and His Holiness, a Budhist. \n"He was humbled to meet the Dalai Lama," Hana said. \nShe explained how her father is an advocate of peace and a supporter of the Dalai Lama's beliefs in peace -- a conviction he began to show in 1966, when he declared himself ineligible for the military draft based on his Islamic principles. His decision caused a major backlash against Ali across the nation as well as in the boxing world. \nAli, "a very spiritual man," according to Hana, was excited for the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama. The meeting took place at the conclusion of the ceremonies on Sunday.\nBecause of his illness, Ali did not speak to the thousands of people who packed the Tibetan Cultural Center.\nThe 61-year-old, who displayed visible signs of his battle with Parkison's disease, received a standing ovation when he was introduced during the morning portion of the ceremony.\nAli's fame has spread across oceans and mountains to countries all over the globe. It even spread to Tibet, and the Dalai Lama expressed his enjoyment in meeting 'The Greatest.' \n"It has been a great pleasure for me to see Muhammad Ali in person," said His Holiness. "I have seen his boxing matches. In my own case, if I were to step into the ring, I would be knocked down with the first punch."\nThe two walked hand-in-hand onto the stage in the beginning of the day, a sign that could be read as two men of two very different religions forming a connection. But for the three-time defending heavy weight champion and the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, their lives have been dedicated to their respective religions.\n"My father is a firm believer in Islam," Hana said. "He believes we are good people inside. Many people thought (he and the Dalai Lama) would clash because of their religious beliefs."\nThe two did not clash, as they were warmly receptive to each other all day long with hugs and numerous gifts.\nAli's fighting days did not seem too far behind him during the afternoon ceremony. When introduced by two Bloomington high school students, Ali did his signature shadow boxing, which garnered applause from the audience.\nDespite participating in such a violent sport, Ali's message about faith and religion is peaceful.\n"Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams all have different names, but they all contain water," Hana Ali said on behalf of her father. "So, too, different religions all contain truth."\nHana spoke for Ali because his disease limits his speaking abilities said close friend and President of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville Michael J. Fox.\nHana, the seventh of nine children, joined her father in the trip to Bloomington. She has also co-authored a book titled More Than a Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Presented Through His Daugther's Eyes. It was a book of poetry that Hana wrote about her him. She recently moved to Michigan to be closer to Ali so they can work on a second book about spirituality. \nAli's fans were not far behind his spiritual message Sunday. At one point, fans towards the back of the tent could be heard starting the chant, "Ali, Ali."\n"He's a living legend," Hana said.\nGrowing up with him as her father and now having sister Laila as a top professional women's boxer, Hana sometimes falls below the spotlight, but that does not bother her.\n"We were raised humbled," she said. "We were taught that fame isn't everything. There are a lot of famous people, and you can't get caught up with all the fame. Fame isn't everything."\nIn a time when professional athletes are making headlines for a wide variety of reasons, Hana considers her father a hero. \nAli has won numerous athletic honors, such as being named the Best Athlete of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated, but he was also named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2000, for his work in the mission of the United Nations -- helping people worldwide.\n"You don't see many heroes," Hana said. "But my father is a hero."\n-- The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact Sports Editor Josh Weinfuss at jweinfuss@indiana.edu.
