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Show 8 Thursday June 14, 2007 SPORTS www.dailyutahchronicle.com 35£ Making a molehill out of the mtn. I can't predict how many fans of teams in the Mountain West Conference wish they were flies on the wall when the MWC tied the knot with the mtn. television network, but I don't think I'd be going TONY out on a limb if I PIZZA said, "A lot." At this point, it's not even clear if the people present in that conference room know what prompted the move. What is clear is that fans are getting hosed. The problem is, the only complexion that is bound to change with all this hooting and hollering is the shade of red on our screaming faces. Getting into bed with the mtn. network has made the situation almost as awkward as the atmosphere at the White House when Monica Lewinski showed up with a stained dress. The MWC has hired a lawyer to examine its contract terms with the mtn,, but if Kelly Crabb can't come up with an amicable solution to the television distribution problem in the Western U.S., fans can expect a long, frustrating road ahead when it comes to watching their favorite MWC teams play on TV. Right now, the only solution for fans is an exodus to the limited selection they have in digital television companies that offer the mtn.—namely, Comcast. Fans can scream till their heads fall off, and companies like Dish Network and DirecTV won't lend two seconds of their attention to Alecko Eskandarian races opponents on the Chinese National Team down the field last week in the RSL friendly win. RSL hopes to use the momentum to pull off another against FC Dallas tonight at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It will be RSL's first MLS season home game in over a month. Looking out for No. 1 RSL still searching for first win of the season Jon Gilbert the home team took control of the season series with a 2-1 victory. Now in the third meeting of the Real Salt Lake gets yet another season, RSL coach Jason Kreis and chance at making its first mark in his club understand that this game the win column tonight. RSL will means more than it originally apalso get its third and final shot of the peared when the 2007 schedule was season at beating FC Dallas at Rice- introduced. ^ccles Stadium. RSL is winless so far this year and The Hoops played RSL to a 2-2 needs to amend its losing ways if the draw in Salt Lake City on April 7. team plans to remain within striking Hot RSL's luck worsened when it distance of a playoff berth. visited Frisco, Texas, on May 20 and But the task at hand is formiSTAFF WRITER dable. FC Dallas has basically had RSL's number from the beginning, winning seven of the ten all-time meanings. The Hoops own the Western Conference's top spot, having won four out of their last six matches. Stout defense has been the recipe for any success RSL has had lately, achieving scoreless draws at Chicago and New England in its las customer requests because, frankly, markets within the MWC matter about as much as states such as Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada matter in a presidential election. It would be nice to include San Diego's voice in the big scheme of things—it is the largest metropolis area housing a school within the MWC—but anyone who has lived in San Diego knows the locals care about Aztec athletics about as much as Rosie O'Donnell worries about being perceived as annoying to the general public. Right now, if DirecTV or Dish Network felt obliged to pick up the mtn., they'd end up forking out a ton of money to pick up the floundering station, then they'd turn around and sell the mtn. to customers for $30. The fact of the matter is people living east of the Rocky Mountains have no desire to see the MWC in action. Aside from football and men's basketball, fans within the conference aren't much better. Not even the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac10 or Big East have attempted to put out a television network solely dedicated to its conference, and for good reason. This television network is bound to fail, and now the public discontent shared by the conference has almost certainly doomed the mtn. to See PIZZA Page 10 See RSL Page 10 Ute softball excited for fresh start with new head coach Mandeep Gill STAFF WRITER From the beginning of the 2007 season it seemed the U softball team was missing something, coming off a solid performance in 2005, the Utes had their eye on a conference championship in 2007. The return of many starters gave Utah the talent to compete, but the latest Utah softball season was a disappointment to say the least. The departure of head coach Mona Stevens, followed by the hiring of coach Angie Jacobs, was supposed to fill a void. Instead, it created one. After just one season at the helm, Jacobs left the program with a 2526-1 mark overall and 5-14 record in Mountain West action—leaving the Utes as dwellers in the Mountain West Conference basement. "This was a difficult season in many ways and I felt it was in my best interest, and in the best interest of the team, to move on and pursue something else," Jacobs said. The situation was also problematic for the players. "The morale last year was not a very good experience," Utah shortstop Staci Hemingway said. "Physically we had it last year, but mentally we did not." On May 24 the Utah softball See SOFTBALL Page 10 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTOPHER U Baseball: Will Cinderella make it to Disneyland? Matthew Andreason STAFF WRITER azza, selected in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft, has a lifetime batting average of .309 and is the all-time home run leader among catchers. But when viewing Hafner's path into the major leagues, it is clear Brossman will likely have to take a similar approach. Both were drafted in an early 30th round (Hafner in the 31st round), both were unheralded defensive players coming out of college, but more importantly, both could hit. "(Brossman's) a good hitter," Kinneberg said. "Possibly, in time, he could hit for power in the pros. Defensively he has some work to do. Much of that will depend on which What does former Ute baseball star Jay Brossman hope to have in common with annual Cy Young candidate Roy Oswalt, Cleveland Indians masher Travis Hafner and future Hall-of-Fame catcher Mike Piazza? Well, besides massive amounts of money, which would basically ensure financial security for his children's children's children, the former first-base standout is hoping for a shot at a good oldfashioned Cinderella story. Brossman—recently drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 36th round of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft— See BROSSMAN Page 10 will now begin a long and, more often than not, unsuccessful journey to the major leagues. "Odds are against him," said Utah baseball head coach Bill Kinneberg. "But odds are against even the firstround picks. He's got an opportunity now and hopefully he takes advantage of it." If Brossman is looking for inspirational stories to call upon, he need not look any further than the three aforementioned Major League stars. Oswalt, Hafner and Piazza were all low-round draft picks and each has worked his way above all expectations to become well known comTYLER COB*/The Dally Utah Oircalck modities in the major leagues. Oswalt, a 23rd-round pick in 1996, Jay Brossman, recently drafted by the Los has a career ERA of 3.07 and a total Angeles Angels of Anaheim, now faces the of 104 wins in just seven seasons. Pi- challenge of making it in the major leagues. Utah Players Drafted in the MLB in the past 18 years Year - RD (Pick) Name 2007-36(1,101) Jay Brossman IB Los Angeles Angels 2006- 12(373) Ryan Khoury SS Boston Red Sox Tyler Kmetko 2B Arizona Diamondbacks Matthew Claramella CF Boston Red Sox - 22 (670) Douglas Mackay RHP San Francisco Giants - 33 (998) Clayton Westmoreland RHP Florida Marlins 2003-35(1033) Sean Overholt RHP Chicago Cubs 2002-12(363) Jason Wylie P Chicago Cubs -17(519) DonnleSaba OF Arizona Diamondbacks -23(677) Nathan Weese IF Montreal Expos - 26 (792) Mitch Maio P St. Louis Cardinals 2001 -31 (929) Ryan Bailey P Anaheim Angels - 33 (984). "Chris Shelton C Pittsburgh Pirates -41 (1242) Travis Palmer P St. Louis Cardinals 2000 - 32 (956) Phillip Cullen P Seattle Mariners -37(1,107) 2004-13(395) Position Team 1999-26(803) Lance Ericksen P Houston Astros 1998-13(398) John Summers IB San Francisco Giants Nathan Forbush C Detroit Tigers -21 (627) 1997-16(477) Casey Child OF Anaheim Angels 1995-31 (850) Kelly Stratton OF Texas Rangers 1994-44(1221) Chris Arambula IB St. Louis Cardinals 1991-13(353) •Mike Edwards 3B Texas Rangers, Paul Barton P Toronto Blue Jays Craig Sudbury P Oakland Athletics -27(719) 1990-32(853) 'played in the major leagues JENNY HKlNS/IhiDellyOtehChrailitt PEQDtCORO/ThtOoilfVlohttnnklt Red Rocks get commitment from Junior Olympian The Utah gymnastics team gained a new Red Rock this week in hopes of helping to take the team to the next level this coming season. Stephanie McAllister, three-time member of the Junior Olympic National Team, verbally committed to the University of Utah. She plans to sign a letter of intent in November. McAllister is the 2007 Junior Olympic uneven bars champion and finished fourth overall in the competition. The U made a great case for itself when McAllister visited thp campus and got a feel for the university environment. "I loved everything about it," McAllister1 said. "There wasn't one thing that I could i complain about." McAllister studied at Wright's American Gymnastics in Greenwood, Ind. Along with the change in scenery, she is looking forward to the thrill of competing in front of a packed Huntsman Center. "It will be so much fun to be somewhere that has such an awesome fan base," McAllister said. Last season, Utah won its 23rd attendance: title in 26 years after averaging 11,297 fans per meet over six meets. The'Red Rocks are preparing for their season opener with three-time defending cham-; pion Georgia at the Huntsman Center on Jan. 11, "I'm an uplifting team leader," McAllister said. "I try to help other people stay positive." Jon Gilbert : |
