Does media influence how decisions are made within collegiate athletics? Did the media play a role in the reshuffling of conferences a few years back? Those questions were brought up during Wednesday nights Landon Lecture series at Kansas State University.

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby joined ESPN President John Skipper former University of Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds and Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz on the stage at McCain Auditorium for the lecture.

Bowlsby commented that in his three decades in the business he has never had a media partner tell him what to do.

“I think they express their opinions and we express ours, and there’s some pushing and shoving that’s involved,” Bowlsby said. “Indeed they really are partnerships. I don’t ever have to ask John Skipper if he cares about the education of our student athletes because he understands that side of the business, and so does his staff.”

“To say that they’re ever in a situation were they are barking orders or driving the agenda is just not accurate. It really is a partnership.”

Whether or not the media had a role in the conference reshuffling three years ago is far from accurate Skipper made clear. He explained that when the reshuffling occurred ESPN actually ended up having to spend more money.

“When the Big 12 became ten schools, this was with Bob’s predecessor, we agreed to pay the same money for ten schools as twelve schools. That was not a desirable financial outcome for us but it helped keep the conference together which was a desirable outcome,” Skipper said.”We were engaged in the discussion but that wasn’t a good move for us, and by the way when those schools moved to another conference we paid those conferences more money.”

Skipper said that at ESPN they like to maintain the status quo and compared it to musical chairs,”Everybody has a seat right now. I’d like to stay seated, and I’d like everybody to stay seated because we like the traditional rivalries, we like what happens in these conferences, we love our relationships with the Big 12 and the Big 10, the PAC 12, the SEC and the ACC.”

In reality the media does play a big role in collegiate athletics because of the exposure it gives and the revenue it creates. ESPN partners with 35 conferences and this year alone covered approximately 1,700 basketball games and 400 football games.

 

DETROIT (AP) – Ian Kinsler homered and drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning to lift the Detroit Tigers over the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Wednesday.

Max Scherzer pitched eight scoreless innings for the Tigers, but Joe Nathan blew his first save chance since signing with Detroit in the offseason.

Kinsler, acquired from Texas for Prince Fielder in a November blockbuster trade, homered in the fourth and won the game with a line drive to left-center field off Tim Collins (0-1).

Detroit benefited from two replay overturns at first base. The second enabled Al Alburquerque (1-0) to get out of the top of the 10th.

DETROIT (AP) – Instant replay is a hit so far at Comerica Park.

The Detroit Tigers benefited from a pair of reviews that overturned calls at first base in Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

In the sixth inning, Tyler Collins of the Tigers was initially called out at first, giving Kansas City a 4-6-3 double play. The play was reviewed and Collins was ruled safe, although Detroit didn’t score that inning.

In the 10th, Kansas City’s Norichika Aoki was called safe at first, and it looked like the Royals would have first and third with two outs and the game tied.

But upon further review, the throw barely beat Aoki. He was called out to end the threat.

The Junction City Lady Jays opened their soccer season with a 5-0 win Tuesday night at Arkansas City.

Grace Gradnigoz scored three goals for Junction City, while Leandre Martinez and Cassidy Meadows both scored one goal apiece for the Lady Jays.

Junction City will host Wichita West Thursday evening at Al Simpler Stadium.

The Junction City Brigade summer collegiate baseball team will open their season Friday, June 6 at Rathert Field against the Topeka Golden Giants.

The Brigade will have their first nine games at home, three against the Golden Giants, followed by three games with the Midwest Athletics, and three against the Topeka Senators.

Junction City will play a 36-game regular season schedule, and will play in the new Mid-Plains League. Rathert Field will also serve as the site for the for the League’s All-Star game vs. the U.S. Military All Stars July 65, and for the Mid-Plains League Summer Classic Postseason Tournament July 16 – 20.

 

Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — On Feb. 18, things looked bleak for Great Bend High School’s football program. Coach Bo Black, after 13 seasons and 82 wins, decided to leave the Panthers and become the head coach at rival Hays High School.

But less than a month and a half later, Great Bend has its next head coach. Tony Crough slides in to take over the program after spending this past season as the defensive coordinator.

Crough served as defensive coordinator at Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, for six years prior to coming to Great Bend. He helped lead the Owls to a state championship in 2011.

Before his time in Arlington, Crough made coaching stops in Desoto, Texas, and Andover.

Crough went to high school in Garden City and played football at Fort Hays State University from 1999 to 2003 where he was a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker for the Tigers.

In addition to his coaching duties, Crough will teach physical education classes at the high school.

Black’s 82 wins rank him second in school history, behind only Harry Kline who won 99 games. Black will take over for Ryan Cornelson at Hays High, who left the Indians for the vacant Hutchinson football job in early January.

Three members of the 2013-2014 Junction City Lady Jay basketball team have received Centennial League recognition.

Senior Kori Kamm and sophomore Kealee Rains both received Honorable Mention when the all Conference teams were announced.

Senior Bre Waterman was named to the All Defensive team.

Our Kite’s Royals Bus Trip from 1420 KJCK is set for Saturday, May 3^rd when Kansas City hosts the Detroit Tigers.

We’ll depart from the parking lot east of Junction City’s downtown Heritage Park at 2:15 p.m. arriving at “The K” with plenty of time for you to enjoy the stadium attractions and the ballgame.

We’ve priced it right at $45 dollars including Coach Bus transportation and ticket to the game.  Payment by cash, check or credit card here at our 1030 Southwind studios gets you signed up for our 6th Annual Kite’s Royals Bus trip May 3rd from 1420 KJCK.

Kansas State’s centerfielder Ross Kivett earned his second Big 12 Player of the Week honor this season thanks in part to his ability’s at the plate.

Kivett either led or tied for the lead in nine different Big 12 offensive categories last week. He hit three doubles, a triple, a home run, and seven RBI in four games last week, leading the big 12 in batting average, hits, RBI, runs scored (7), total bases (18), on-base percentage (.600), and slugging percentage(1.059). He also tied for the conference lead in doubles (3) and triples (1).

Last week he became the first player to hit for the cycle in nearly 17 years at Kansas State.

Kivett is the third player to earn the honor this year, along with Nate Griep and Mitch Meyer.

The Wildcats will be in action again on Tuesday in Papillion, Nebraska for a contest against Omaha at Werner Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The Junction City High School sports schedule for Tuesday April 1 finds:

—The varsity boys tennis team competing in a 14-team invitational at Washburn Rural High School.

–The boys j-v golf team playing in an 8-team tournament at Topeka Western Hills Golf Course.

–And the varsity and junior-varsity soccer teams competing at Arkansas City.