Gorzo’s gems net National League honors

_Each week, KUSports.com will get you caught up on Jayhawks both former and current getting some ink from outside of the area._MLB.com: Tom Gorzelanny named National League co-Player of the Week_Gorzo golden__: A day after walking off the mound to celebrate the first shutout of his short career, Tom Gorzelanny was rewarded for his two dominating performances last week by being named the National League’s co-Player of the Week. And all that did was give his manager another reason to continue lauding the large steps Gorzelanny has made in his first full season in the Majors.__”That was neat for him to receive that award, very deserved, obviously,” Tracy said. “His performance] a few days ago in Arizona was really good. The one [Sunday] was really special.”__Now with 11 wins, Gorzelanny has a very realistic shot at becoming the first Pirate since Todd Richie in 1999 to notch 15 season victories. That’s not the only mark the young left-hander is working toward. With probably eight starts left this season, Gorzelanny needs 49 2/3 innings — or just over an average of six innings in each of those starts — to reach the 200-inning plateau.__”One of the stigmas that I think he wants to get off of himself is his [lack of] resiliency, his stamina, etc.,” Tracy said. “He wants that stigma off of him. I admire him for that.”_Local Take: Most people don’t identify him immediately as a former Jayhawk, since he finished his college days up at Triton, a small junior college near his Evergreen Park, Ill., hometown. But Gorzo has had one heckuva year. If the young lefty keeps it up, he’s got some big money coming his way in a couple of years. He’s quietly had a great year…then again anyone having a great year for Pittsburgh usually does so in quiet fashion. Man, just imagine how many wins he could have if the Pirates had anything that resembled a consistent bullpen.[Seattle Times: Collison added to Team USA, Hinrich out_Sonics forward-center Nick Collison was added to the United States basketball team’s training-camp roster after former Kansas teammate Kirk Hinrich and two others pulled out on Monday.__Shane Battier and Greg Oden also pulled out, with Hinrich and Battier citing personal reasons. Oden, the No. 1 draft pick in June out of Ohio State, had his tonsils taken out last month.__Collison will join 15 others, including Sonics rookie Kevin Durant, in Las Vegas for practice starting Wednesday. The roster must be trimmed to 12 the day before the FIBA Americas tournament begins on Aug. 22.__Collison averaged career highs in points (9.6) and rebounds (8.1) for the Sonics last season.__He registered 18 double-doubles, including a 29-point, 21-rebound game at Phoenix on Jan. 9. Collison became the 10th player in team history to record a 20-20 game.__The Americans will train from Aug. 15-20 at a Las Vegas high school, scrimmaging against a select team of young NBA players. They face Venezuela in the opener of the 10-nation regional qualifying tournament, needing to finish in the top two to clinch a spot in the 2008 Olympics._Local Take: It’s funny, because plenty of Team USA fans (hard to believe they still exist) were clamoring for the likes of Hinrich and Battier, two more conservative players, following previous fumbles in international competition. This could cause some fan backlash, but it’s a great honor for Collison.San Francisco Chronicle: Moran Norris – No. 44 & 200_No. 44 & 200__: Fullback Moran Norris has switched jersey numbers, from 40 to 44. The more important number for him, though, is 200. Norris is one of five players on the team able to hoist 200-pound dumbbells in each hand from a bench-press position and the only non-lineman.__”Ever since I’ve been in high school, I’ve worked out with the linemen,” he said. “I was always strong, so I work with the linemen. We’re always pushing each other, especially B.Y. ( Bryant Young) and Marques Douglas.”__The other 49ers in the 200-pound dumbbell club are Larry Allen, Tony Wragge, Isaac Sopoaga and Young._Local Take: Man, can you believe this guy’s going into his seventh NFL season? Not bad for a KU product. Shoot, in today’s NFL, that’s not bad for anyone.Charlotte Observer: Hartwig shifting spots_The Panthers changed up their first-string offensive line for Monday morning’s practice. Rookie Ryan Kalil worked at center and Justin Hartwig moved to right guard.__ Hartwig had been working at center with Kalil as his backup. But this could be a sign of things to come because Jeremy Bridges, who has been working as the right guard, is suspended for the first two regular-season games.__Bridges worked with the second team Monday. Geoff Hangartner also is in the mix at right guard._Our Take: Another KU gridiron success story in the pro ranks. Even with the position shifts on the Carolina line, one thing is for sure – David Carr will be better protected with the Panthers than he ever was in Houston. Then again, there’s 31 NFL teams who could probably claim that.