Tuesday, September 8, 1998
Here's hoping Donnell Bennett's 115-yard rushing performance in Sunday's season opener puts a definitive end to any talk about Lawrence Phillips.
The Chiefs' official position on the troubled running back - and "troubled" is putting it mildly - is that he is not in their plans.
Still, Kansas City has left itself a smidge of wiggle room, an opening for future conversations.
That, in and of itself, is frightening.
And so, as a public service, we hereby remind Carl Peterson and Marty Schottenheimer about the kind of character this Phillips guy has.
Perhaps they've forgotten about the horrific struggle Topeka resident Kate McEwen allegedly endured as Phillips' "girlfriend" and University of Nebraska classmate.
The following excerpts were taken from a petition filed by McEwen in 1996 at the Circuit Court of Jackson County (and if talks with Phillips heat up at all, may we suggest you keep your doors locked):
"Phillips became angry and pushed plaintiff against the wall with such force and violence that her head hit the wall and made a hole in the wall. Defendant Phillips then grabbed plaintiff by the neck and strangled and choked her."
"Phillips got a kitchen knife and showed it to plaintiff stating, 'Take it, and then we'll see who gets out of here alive.' "
"Plaintiff was in great fear for her life and attempted to take refuge in a locked bathroom. Defendant Phillips burst through the closed bathroom door and proceeded to hit plaintiff in the head with his fist, knocking her to the ground. Defendant Phillips then kicked plaintiff in the chest with great force and violence, grabbed her by the hair and neck and drug plaintiff 'caveman style' from the bathroom, through the apartment, out into the hall and down three flights of stairs. At the bottom of the steps, Phillips slammed plaintiff's head against the wall repeatedly while she was frantically screaming and crying for help."
Good grief, is an effective running game that important?
"I can't speak for Kate," said Victor Bergman, an attorney for McEwen who lives in Kansas City. "But speaking for me, I was greatly relieved when the Chiefs made the decision not to bring him in.
"That's not a person I want to root for."
Amen.
Forget the mystery surrounding E. Miles Prentice's ownership group and financial wherewithal.
The real question about the guy is what the doggone "E." stands for.
The answer: Eugene.
Not even his local spokesman is sure just why Prentice prefers to go by his middle name.
"Maybe he felt like Eugene wasn't the right image," said Michael Grimaldi of Corporate Communications Group.
"But I'm not sure Miles is any better."
Ouch.
At last check, attorneys for the NCAA and attorneys for hundreds of plaintiffs were quibbling about minor details.
About $1 million or more.
Plaintiffs in the historic restricted-earnings case, who are entitled to legal fees under federal antitrust laws, filed a motion in June asking for $7.4 million in legal expenses.
Seems the NCAA's hired legal team, predictably, has challenged several of the plaintiffs' requests and asked for elaboration.
Actual dollar figures weren't exchanged, plaintiffs attorney Dennis Cross said, but the gulf between the two sides exceeds seven figures.
The two sides exchanged barbs during a recent, and lengthy, conference call. How long did it last?
As attorney Cross deadpanned about the four-hour session, "Are you sure you want to know?"
For all we know, "Joe Drozda" could be some beer-guzzling buffoon who happens to have a computer.
But the guy, in his The Tailgater's Handbook, ranks K-State the eighth-best tailgating school in the country.
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Section: SPORTS
Page: C2
By STEVE ROCK
All content © 1998 THE KANSAS CITY STAR and may not be republished without permission.
Send comments or questions to NewsLibrary
All archives are stored on a SAVE (tm) newspaper library system from MediaStream Inc., a Knight-Ridder Inc. company.
