University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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n : I 29

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K.C. Royals When the race for the title finally ended in early October, the Kansas City Royals emerged the champions of the hotly- contested American League West. When the season began, they were red hot. The team batting average was the highest in the league, the pitching was consis- tent, and the defense was sound. But at midseason, the Royals blew a 1 3 game lead and it wasn ' t until the last few games of the year that the title was decided. The ensuing playoff for the American League crown against the New York Yankees ran to a fifth and deciding game in New York. And in the last of the ninth inning, a home run that barely cleared the fence, gave the victory to New York. For the young Royal ball team, it was their best showing ever and gave a hint of better things to come. 28

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Leon Russell On tour since spring, the niveous cowboy once again escorts his wife, donned in grassy green, onto the stage. It ' s KU ' s first concert of the year. With high expecta- tions from both sides of the footlights, the Leon and M ary Russell show is about to begin. Mary and Leon each sit at separate pianos and simul- taneously play along with nine other musicians. Elec- tronic twangs reverberate; exaggerated drum beats fly from the 1 0-foot speakers and hit the audience ' s ears with a 1 0-ton thrust. The audience gives Mary an encouraging round of applause as she begins to sing. Or scream, rather. She has stiff competition, and the poor acous- tics of Allen Field House don ' t help. But finally she reaches the right octave, and her voice can be heard over the instrumental apparatus. She impresses the audience by shifting her piercing screams into a powerful aria of blues and rock. Leon ' s low graspy voice harmonizes and, occasionally, a pleasing duet is attained. It it weren ' t for his solos, the familiar rock star of the past would have been forgotten. Leon ' s piano chords were drowned by the too blatant horns, and his voice was sucked up by Mary and the three supporting vocalists. The Leon and Mary Russell Show turns out to be an ostentatious showcase of mechanical monotony. Nevertheless, the audience, filling less than half the field house, sways and chants to whatever rhythm it can extract from the noise. Some dance and others stand clapping their hands above their heads. Lights flicker and feet stomp for an encore. The Leon and Mary Russell Show is about to end. The tour will continue, however, and along with it a hope that on some stage somewhere that yesteryear lus- ter will return. 30