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He knows how it sounds. And Bill Snyder knows because he's responsible for the story being told, and re-told.

If the legendary Kansas State coach doesn't call Jordy Nelson, then a walk-on defensive back, into his office following an uneventful freshman season and "suggest" a position change, if the legendary K-State coach doesn't, in his words, "realize" Nelson is better suited at wide receiver, this story -- which has almost become a fable by now -- doesn't have a happy ending, a resolution that might include the Riley County native being selected during the first day of this weekend's NFL Draft.

Nelson's agent can see it happening.

"He's solid second," Vann McElroy said. "He has the potential to sneak into the bottom of the first."

At worst, according to the mock drafts that overpopulate the Internet at this time of the year, he's a third-round choice.

Oklahoma State's Reynolds Stadium, known as a hitter's paradise, did not do much to wake up Wichita State's bats.

Maybe Sycamore Field will help. The 14th-ranked Shockers travel to Indiana State this weekend to face the Missouri Valley Conference's second-worst pitching staff.

Sounds like just what WSU (31-8, 9-3 MVC) needs. The Shockers managed just five hits in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to No. 13 Oklahoma State. They have been shut out twice in the past seven games and are hitting .226 in their past 10 games against NCAA Division I opponents.

"We better find our hitting shoes pretty quick," WSU coach Gene Stephenson said after Wednesday's loss. "We can't press. What we have to do is focus on the opportunity that's in front of us, and focus on getting a good pitch to hit and doing something with it."

Indiana State (12-24, 5-7) may boost WSU's confidence by the time the series wraps up Sunday. The Sycamores rank eighth in the Valley with a 6.50 ERA and opponents are hitting .308 against them. No. 1 starter Michael Manus opens with a 5.32 ERA and it gets worse from there.

An indication of how different Independent League baseball is from affiliated ball surfaced when the Wichita Wingnuts' spring training roster was released this week.

On it, a category of "Rank" is listed, indicating how many years of professional baseball a player has logged.

The ranks range from rookie to veteran, with Limited Service (LS) Nos. 1-5 in between. Only a select number of players from each rank can be included on a roster.

It's almost as complicated as it sounds, but Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp seems to have it figured out.

"You just need to know the facts that you're allowed four veterans (players with at least five years of professional experience)," Beauchamp said. "And we have to have four rookies if we go with a 22-man roster."

Whenever she walks out to the pitching circle for the Wichita State softball team, her presence has a calming effect through the rest of the team.

Every time WSU senior Ashly Bright pitches, Wichita State hitters know that one or two runs will usually be enough for a victory.

"We know when Ashly throws she has the potential to shut the opposing team out," WSU coach Mike Perniciaro said. "It's just great to know we've got the best pitcher in the Valley on our side."

Bright, a senior from Oklahoma City, has found success on every mound she has stepped on, clocking in on the radar with a 68 mph fastball, which would be the equivalent of mid-90s in baseball.

Bright has assaulted the Wichita State record books this season. She obliterated the school record of 247 strikeouts in a single season, breaking the mark with 17 games left in the season. Bright has 313 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings pitched while compiling a 17-15 record with a 1.85 ERA.

Wichita State is seeded second in both the men's and women's Missouri Valley Conference tennis tournaments.

That makes their position easy to explain. Each WSU team is trying to get to the final and avenge its only conference loss of the season.

Both tournaments begin today in Omaha. The WSU men play seventh-seeded Bradley (2-17) at 3 p.m.

The WSU men went 5-1 in the Valley, with a 5-2 loss to top-seeded Drake a week ago. Should they meet again, WSU director of tennis Chris Young says winning the doubles point is crucial. Drake won two of the three doubles matches, both handily, last week in Des Moines.

"We were a little disappointed with our doubles," he said. "That's where the match swung a little bit."

The series: 5 tonight; noon, Saturday; noon, Sunday

Probable rotations: WSU -- LH Rob Musgrave (5-1, 2.25); RH Aaron Shafer (6-2, 3.03); LH Anthony Capra (7-0, 1.65). ISU -- Michael Manus (1-6, 5.32); RH Matt Shelton (3-4, 5.51); RH Micah Spencer (2-3, 6.23)

• WSU has won eight consecutive games against the Sycamores. The Shockers have won nine straight in Terre Haute dating to 2002.

• WSU outscored the Sycamores 31-6 in three games last season. C Tyler Weber went 9 for 9 in the series with three home runs and seven RBIs.

• Indiana State LF Brady Shoemaker is second in the MVC with 47 RBIs. He is hitting .317 with an on-base percentage of .424 and five home runs. CF Chris Schmidt is hitting. 346 with 27 RBIs. He has stolen 13 bases in 15 attempts.

Long before A.J. Gebert was old enough to attend Kapaun Mount Carmel, his father regaled him with stories about legendary football and golf coach Ed Kriwiel.

His dad, Steve, had firsthand knowledge, having played football and golf for Kriwiel. Steve Gebert and his brothers Chris and Dan were a part of state golf and state football titles.

"My dad had nothing but fantastic words about the man," said A.J. Gebert, which is why he was adamant that he would attend Kapaun and play golf for Kriwiel.

Gebert got his wish last year, but in early December, Kriwiel died at the age of 81.

In memory of Kriwiel, the Kapaun golf team wears hats, golf shirts and windshirts on which the coach's initials are embroidered.

SOUTHEAST TRACK

Aarian Tipton is in her first season as a a sprinter at Southeast. The sophomore missed track last season after suffering a knee ligament injury during basketball. Now she's making up for lost time.

The 16-year-old runs the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as the 400 and 1600 relays.

The 400 relay finished second at the Kansas Relays.

Which do you like better, running on a relay team or as an individual?

El Dorado senior Laura Nightengale is taking on all comers in long distance running. She is the defending Class 4A champion in the 800-meter run and finished second last year in the 1600. She owns the school records in both races.

"I am really happy with how the season has been going," Nightengale said. "I was a little disappointed with my performance at the KU Relays, but I felt like I ran well in the mile. We'll see how everything turns out the rest of the year."

Nightengale finished sixth in the 800 and fifth in the 1600 at KU.

On paper, there appears to be a budding rivalry between Nightengale and Baldwin standout Heather Garcia. Nightengale edged Garcia last year at state in the 800, while Garcia returned the favor in the 1600.

Actually, the two are friends, running with each other on a relay last summer at the USATF national meet.

Bishop Carroll's tennis team took advantage of a depleted Kapaun Mount Carmel roster Thursday en route to finishing the regular season unbeaten.

The teams entered Thursday's matchup -- the final contest before Saturday's City League meet -- tied atop the league standings.

After Carroll took four of six singles matches and Kevin Klein and Jordan Keller won at No. 1 doubles, all the drama was gone.

"That's kind of the idea," Carroll coach Darren Huslig said. "It's big for us to gain a point on them going into Saturday."

Klein will try for his fourth league doubles championship Saturday.

Baseball

Northwest 17, West 1

And. Central 5, Clearwater 1

The annual Kansas Barnstorming Tour makes its Wichita stop tonight at Wichita East. The event is sold out. The tour pits Jayhawks seniors against a group of local players. Players will sign autographs at 6:30 p.m.; game time is 8.

• Brooks Middle School will celebrate its 50th anniversary May 1, including a 6 p.m. basketball game featuring alumni players.

Longtime coach Gordon Long will coach one of the teams. The 6 p.m. game is part of a night of events, including tours beginning at 5 p.m., guest speakers at 7:15 and a meet-and-greet session with past students and staff at 7:45 p.m. Call Brooks at 316-973-6450 for information.

• Larry Brown resigned as Philadelphia's executive vice president with the intent to pursue a coaching job at the NBA or college level.

• Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb which will keep him out for up to 10 weeks.

Johan Franzen scored two goals and had an assist to help Detroit build a three-goal cushion, and the Red Wings held on to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 Thursday night at Detroit in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Franzen's second goal early in the second put Detroit ahead 4-1, but Colorado pulled within a goal by the end of the period.

Detroit's Chris Osgood made 18 saves.

The Avs pulled Jose Theodore after he gave up four goals on 16 shots, then said they sent him to the team hotel because he was sick. Peter Budaj gave the Avs a chance to come back by stopping all 20 shots he faced.

Joe Louis Arena was buzzing when the puck dropped and a rivalry was renewed, then the Avs quieted the storied arena with the game's first goal when Paul Stastny scored midway through the first period.

Calendar

Space precludes us from running all listings. To see all listings, go to Kansas.com/sports and click on "Other Sports."

Baseball

• Deadline Today: The Department of Park & Recreation summer league, for boys ages 5-14 and girls ages 5-18; competitive baseball for boys 15-18. Call 316-268-4361 or visit www.wichita.gov.

• Deadline Saturday: Sedgwick County Hardball Champsionships for ages 9-12, May 2-4 at High Park, Derby. Fee $150. Call Les Richardson, 316-773-3054.

Baseball

The 10-year-old Dodgers won the Southwest Boys club preseason tournament April 4-6. Players are Connor Patterson, Kyle Turney, Sam Barker, Clayton Hicks, Alec Pendergrass, Shane Brock, Kyle Newlin, Garrett Haskins, Brody Kinney, Brandon Gleich and Desmond Martinez. Coaches are Casey Tajchman, Kevin Turney and Tim Barker.

• The 13-year old Sluggers Baseball Academy Red went undefeated to claim first place in the Kansas Top Gun tournament in Winfield. Team members are Cory Barbour, JC Baxley, Johnny Buchanan, Tyler Bugner, Colton Flax, Jared Gates, Collin Nitcher, Ty Redington, Lucas Schauer, Tyler Tilley and Grant Watkins. Coaches are John Buchanan, Greg Barbour, Tonto Baxley and John Redington.

• The Wichita Elite 10U went undefeated winning the Kansas Top Gun Championshiptournament in Winfield on April 19-20. Team members are Seth Davis, Jack Dewey, Christian Garcia, Kaleb Howell, Brett Huelsmann, Nick Johnston, Jake Karst, Logan McCollar, Justin Navrat, Brock Townsend, Eric Reid, Anthony Trujillo and Clayton Urban. Coaches are Tim Davis, Vince Garcia, Owen Johnston and Craig McCollar.

• The 7-year old Wichita Storm went undefeated winning the Hardball Classic at Westurban April 3-6. Team members are Blake Arst, Caden Bartlett, Braden Becker, Tyler Kahmann, Alex Karst, Kely Klinginsmith, Carsen Pracht, Kaden Ramos, Garrett Reed, Saige Rush, Ryan Setser and Cameron Shaddox. Coaches are Todd Bartlett, David Kahmann, Jeff Karst and Darren Pracht.

College baseball: Texas A&M International at Newman (DH), 5 p.m.

Track: Wichita State at Oregon Invitational

Tennis: Wichita State men and women at MVC Tournament in Omaha; Newman men and women at Heartland Conference Tournament in Austin

Boys golf: Hutchinson Invitational

Girls soccer: Manhattan at Heights, 5:30 p.m.

Spring Fling

Mary's Supper Club

April 5

Blind Draw: 1. Mike Durham-Dale Casey; 2. Danny Scott-Richard Pike; 3. Brian Byrnes-Jimmy Dinsmore; 4. Carmen-Robert Geer.

Gymnastics

Wine is fine in the afternoon.

But it might be a little more fun in the evening.

That's why organizers of the annual Midwest Winefest -- a celebration of all things wine that's now in its 13th year -- are moving the event's "grand tasting" forward a few hours.

Instead of running through the afternoon, the tasting will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Organizers are hoping that the evening hours will encourage people to make the Winefest a destination -- not just another thing to cram into a sunny spring afternoon.

After 40, maturity is supposed to set in.

Fortunately, the cast and crew of the annual comedy satire show "Gridiron" didn't get that memo.

This year's show, "Gridiron 2008: 40 Years of Magnificent Mediocrity," will continue the tradition of irreverent skewering of local and national news events.

It stars and is written by area journalists, including Bonnie Bing, Bucky Walters, Ted Woodward and emcee Randy Brown -- who's back after missing last year's show to recover from a serious motorcycle accident.

Gridiron's producer, Barney Byard, promises that Gridiron hasn't gotten any tamer with age.

Don't be concerned if you're unfamiliar with the south Asian dance called Manipuri. Even dance lovers in India often don't know much about it.

That's because Manipuri dance was founded in Manipur state, a valley hemmed in by the Himalaya Mountains in the far northeast of India. The region and its culture are remote.

But on Sunday, Wichitans can discover Manipuri dance when Manipuri Dance Visions from Los Angeles performs at the 20th Century Center. The concert is sponsored by the Wichita Indochinese Center, which over the past few years has presented troupes representing three of India's six classical dance styles.

Manipuri is a devotional dance and is still performed by worshippers at religious festivals. Manipuri Dance Visions will present four dances that convey in movement the creation stories and heroic figures of Hinduism.

Hinduism came to Manipur about 200 years ago when its king converted to it, said Sohini Ray, artistic director, choreographer and chief performer in Manipuri Dance Visions.

A generic thriller with a generic title, "Deception" is so predictable you could guess what happens next even if the trailer hadn't already given away just about every plot development.

Jonathan McQuarry (Ewan McGregor) is a gray, colorless CPA who moves from corporate headquarters to corporate headquarters, spending a week auditing the books before moving on to his next gig.

He's got a bad haircut, nerdy glasses, a closet full of identical bland suits and few social skills.

So when he's befriended by a slick executive of one of those companies, Jonathan responds like an abused dog who's finally found someone to scratch him behind the ears.

Wyatt Bose (Hugh Jackman) is everything Jonathan is not: dashing, personable and irresistible to women. Soon he sucks the dweeby accountant into his lush life -- including a secret club in which high-powered women with no time for romance have anonymous sex with the likes of Wyatt, and now Jonathan.

A lot has changed since Harold and Kumar last partied their way onto the big screen way back in '04, White Castle burgers in hand and sex on their minds.

Issues of politics and race have muscled their way to the cultural center stage, perhaps even outpacing recreational eating as a pastime in this election year. So studious Harold and stoner Kumar get with the spirit of the times in "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay," the uneven and too-long but occasionally hilarious sequel to "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle." The new film bounces between the raunchy and the relevant, the profane and the political, like Homer Simpson at a bake sale.

The story picks up not long after the end of "White Castle," with investment-banker Harold Lee (John Cho) and med-student friend Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) off to Amsterdam to win the heart of Maria (Paula Garces), the woman on whom Harold was crushing big time in the first film. But the would-be romantic European getaway is hijacked by events, as well as H&K's dorky stupidity.

First there's a confrontation with a TSA inspector in the security line, but that's just the appetizer for the banquet of troubles that greet them once onboard. Suffice it to say, it's enough to get them hauled off the plane, branded as terrorists and sent to detention at Guantanamo Bay. They flee, first to South Florida, then to Central Texas, in search of help in getting their reputations back.

As with "White Castle," much of the humor is about as sophisticated as a college kegger. Within the opening minutes, there's a brief, sex-related sight gag that no doubt will repulse as many viewers as it entertains. Their pal Neil Patrick Harris, once again playing the Bizarro version of himself, returns with an even bigger sexual appetite. And the whole men-in-prison scenario plays out like "Oz" meets "Beavis and Butt-head."

David Draiman, singer and lyricist for Disturbed, had specific instructions for his bandmates when it came time to start writing music for the band's soon-to-be-released fourth CD, "Indestructible."

He wanted the darkest, angriest and most gnarly music that guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren and bassist John Moyer could come up with. And Draiman said his bandmates were only too happy to oblige.

"That's exactly the mind-set they had," Draiman said. "They fed me with exactly what I wanted to be fed with."

The rock band will play a sold-out concert Sunday at the Cotillion.

For "Indestructible," which arrives in stores June 3, Draiman had plenty of real-life ammunition to feed off as he wrote lyrics for the CD.

Tina Fey is a limited actress who probably will never escape her inner geek -- at least we hope she won't. There's something about her combination of smarts, goofiness and integrity that keeps us coming back long after Hollywood's latest bimbos have worn out their welcome.

Fey is the main reason to see "Baby Mama," a film from the "Saturday Night Live" crowd that pairs her with Amy Poehler for a comedy about motherhood.

Fey plays Kate, a successful and single career woman who has risen to the vice presidency of a national chain of natural food groceries. But at 37, Kate hears her biological clock ticking.

"Some women got pregnant," she laments. "I got promotions."

When her efforts to conceive meet with failure ("I don't like the look of your uterus," her OB/GYN observes unhelpfully), Kate decides to take extraordinary steps. Through the very expensive services of a surrogate facilitator (Sigourney Weaver) she hooks up with Angie. One look tells us that Angie (Poehler) is a gum-snapping citizen of white-trash nation -- but she's willing to rent out her womb for a chunk of cash.

• Tina Fey takes a break from "30 Rock" to try leading lady on for size in "Baby Mama" as a successful professional who hires a surrogate (Amy Poehler) to have her child. Looks like a fairly predictable "Odd Couple" type of story, but we'll take Tina any day, any way.

• "Deception" stars Ewan McGregor as an accountant living a boring and lonely life until he meets a dashing lawyer (Hugh Jackman), who introduces him to a mysterious sex club. But the unassuming accountant is soon caught up in a woman's disappearance and a heist worth millions. Looks like a run-of-the-mill thriller with a run-of-the-mill title. Yawn.

• Speaking of hazy, those pot-smoking dorks return in "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay." When we last saw the dudes, they finally made it to White Castle and were headed to Amsterdam to meet the girl of Harold's dreams. But now they get suspected of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong aboard their flight. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

• For indie fans, film festival favorite "Under the Same Moon" looks like a heartwarming, uplifting tale about a young Mexican mother working illegally in America while her mother takes care of her young son in Mexico. When the grandmother dies, the boy embarks on a journey to be reunited with his mother, sneaking across the border with the help of a well-meaning couple.

• And "Iron Man" opens Thursday with Robert Downey Jr. as wealthy industrialist Tony Stark, who is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, and ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil. Based on the Marvel comic, the movie has been buzzed about for months on the Internet.

Prominent Kansas photographer Larry Schwarm will unveil "Greensburg After the Storm" today and Saturday at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University.

The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 10.

A reception from 7-9 p.m. Saturday will feature comments from Schwarm, as well as an appearance by Greensburg Mayor John Janssen, music by the Greensburg High School vocal ensemble, wine and refreshments.

Admission is $7 for nonmembers, free for museum members. RSVPs should be made to 316-978-3664 or ulrich@wichita.edu.

Schwarm, who grew up in Greensburg, also will give a talk at noon today and again at 6 p.m. June 5 at the Ulrich. Today's talk will be in the Beren Gallery; the talk on June 5 will be at the McKnight Art Center.

BYTIMOTHY FINN

These days, Kid Rock is as rock as he has ever been.

His latest album, "Rock 'n' Roll Jesus," is a mix of classic rock, hard rock, Southern rock, heartland rock, country rock -- plus a country ballad or two.

Resemblances to his first and best-selling album, "Devil Without a Cause," are minor and rare: not much rap-rock and even less macho-pimp braggadocio (and not as much low brow wit, either). Just lots of heavy riffs and party anthems.

In 2008, Kid Rock, 37, has stepped away from his alter egos. He is more interested in showing off the music and performers he grew up with -- the sounds influenced by Bob Seger, Peter Wolf, AC/DC, Skynyrd, Warren Zevon, Hank Jr., Run-DMC.

Star Jones Reynolds, who worked so hard to secure corporate backers to pay for her over-the-top November 2004 wedding to Al Reynolds in exchange for plugging the companies' products, is divorcing Al.

Syndicated celebrity show "Entertainment Tonight" says Star, 46, quietly filed divorce papers on March 26 in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan. Sadly, notes "ET," the papers are sealed.

"Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce," Star tells "ET."

"The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace."

A slice of J.Lo

The Betty Angulo Memorial Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church kicks off a new season on Sunday with a performance by Richard Elliott, principal organist at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

Here's what you need to know about the concert:

1) Elliott accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on its weekly radio and TV broadcast, "Music and the Spoken Word." He's performed on 15 recordings with the choir. This year, his second solo CD will be released on the Klavier label.

2) Elliott's program will include Handel's Concerto in F, Op. 4, No. 5; Bach's Fantasia and Fugue in G minor; Clair de lune by Claude Debussy; and Fountain Reverie by Percy Fletcher.

3) This is the second season for the organ series, which was made possible through a gift left to the church by longtime member Betty Angulo. Sunday's concert will be the first major event on the church's new 4-manual Rogers console, which was just dedicated last month.

Motorcyclists looking for a midweek pit stop can find one every Wednesday at Neighbors Bar and Restaurant, 2150 Amidon.

"Bike Nights" featuring barbecue, entertainment and outdoor seating will be held from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays in the restaurant's parking lot, weather permitting.

Neighbors is located in Twin Lakes Shopping Center.

Sunny day

Food from 10 local restaurants will be sampled during the Sunflower Community Action organization's annual food festival Saturday.

The Wichita Gem & Mineral Show will take place today through Sunday at the Cessna Activity Center, 2744 George Washington Blvd. The family-friendly event attracts thousands of visitors over three days. Here are three reasons to check it out:

1) This year's show is focusing on gemstones. An exhibit of popular gemstones in an array of color from around the world will be presented by McMullen Jewelry. And Leslie Kinder of Melange Custom Jewelry will talk about how to identify gemstones and determine their value.

2) Vendors from across the United States will be on hand to sell finished products, as well as materials for working with rocks, minerals and fossils.

3) Children can sort through a pile of rocks to look for gems amd observe while rocks are polished and hand-crafted.

4) A program at 3 p.m. Saturday will focus on how meteorites impact Earth and another one at 2 p.m. Sunday will look at unique meteorites in Kansas. Both are being presented by the Kansas Meteorite Society. A 108-pound pallasite found near Greensburg will be on display.