2003 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series
The 2003 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series took place at Bill Clarke Field in Princeton, New Jersey on May 10 and 11, 2003. The series matched the regular season champions of each of the league's two divisions. Princeton, the winner of the series, claimed their fourth title and the Ivy League's automatic berth in the 2003 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. It was Princeton's eighth appearance in the Championship Series, all of which were consecutive.


2003 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series
Harvard made their sixth appearance in the series, and faced Princeton for the sixth time in eight years. Harvard won in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002.


2003 Iwate gubernatorial election
Iwate Prefecture held a gubernatorial election on April 13, 2003. Incumbent governor Hiroya Masuda was re-elected.


2003 Iwate gubernatorial election, Sources
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2003 J&S Cup
The 2003 J&S Cup was a Tier II event on the 2003 WTA Tour that run from April 28 - May 4, 2003. It was held in Warsaw, Poland, and was the 8th year that the event was staged. Amélie Mauresmo of France won her first Warsaw title and first overall of the year.


2003 J&S Cup, Finals, Doubles
Liezel Huber /  Magdalena Maleeva defeated  Eleni Daniilidou /  Gisela Dulko, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2


2003 J&S Cup – Doubles
Jelena Kostanić and Henrieta Nagyová were the defending champions, but they both chose not to compete that year.


2003 J&S Cup – Doubles
Liezel Huber and Magdalena Maleeva won in the final 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 against Eleni Daniilidou and Francesca Schiavone.


2003 J&S Cup – Singles
Elena Bovina was the defending champion, but chose not to participate that year. Amélie Mauresmo won in the final against Venus Williams 6-7(6–8), 6–0, 3–0, retired due to straining an abdominal muscle.


2003 J.League Cup
The J.League Cup 2003, officially the Yamasaki Nabisco Cup 2003, was the 1st edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the 11th edition under the current J.League Cup format. The championship started on March 8, and finished on November 3, 2003.


2003 J.League Cup
Teams from the J1 took part in the tournament. Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse were given a bye to the quarter-final due to their qualification for the AFC Champions League. The rest of 14 teams started from the group stage, where they're divided into four groups. The group winners of each group qualifies for the quarter-final along with the runners-up of group A and B, and the two teams which qualified for the AFC Champions League.


2003 J.League Cup Final
2003 J.League Cup Final was the 11th final of the J.League Cup competition. The final was played at National Stadium in Tokyo on November 3, 2003. Urawa Reds won the championship.


2003 J.League Division 1
The 2003 season was the 11th season since the establishment of the J.League. The league began on March 15 and ended on November 29.


2003 J.League Division 1, Clubs
Following sixteen clubs participated in J.League Division 1 during 2003 season. Of these clubs, Oita Trinita and Cerezo Osaka were newly promoted from Division 2.


2003 J.League Division 1, Format
In the 2003 season, the league was conducted split-season format, 1st Stage and 2nd Stage. In each stage, sixteen clubs played in a single round-robin format, a total of 15 games per club (per stage). A club received 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs were ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:


2003 J.League Division 1, Format
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. The club that finished at the top of the table is declared stage champion and qualifies for the Suntory Championship. The first stage winner, hosts the first leg in the championship series. If a single club wins both stages, the club is declared the season champions and championship series will not be held. Two bottom-placed clubs are relegated to J2.


2003 J.League Division 1, Suntory Championship
In 2003, Suntory Championship was again not held because Yokohama F. Marinos had won both the first and the second stage and thus were automatically declared 2003 J.League Champions.


2003 J.League Division 1, Attendance figures
Updated to games played on November 29, 2003Source: J.League Division 1: , Notes:† Team played previous season in J2.


2003 J.League Division 1, Awards, Best Eleven
* The number in brackets denotes the number of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.


2003 J.League Division 2
The 2003 J. League Division 2 season was the 32nd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 5th season since the establishment of J2 League.


2003 J.League Division 2
In this season, twelve clubs competed in the quadruple round-robin format. The top two received promotion to the J. League Division 1. There were no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.


2003 J.League Division 2, Participating clubs
Following twelve clubs played in J. League Division 2 during 2003 season. Of these clubs, Consadole Sapporo and Sanfrecce Hiroshima were relegated from Division 1 last year.


2003 J.League Division 2, League format
Twelve clubs will play in quadruple round-robin format, a total of 44 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:


2003 J.League Division 2, League format
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top two clubs are promoted to J1.


2003 J.League Division 2, Attendance figures
Updated to games played on November 23, 2003Source: Notes:† Team played previous season in J1.


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open
The 2003 JPMorgan Chase Open was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts that was part of the Tier II Series of the 2004 WTA Tour. It was the 30th edition of the tournament and took place in Carson, California, United States, from August 4 through August 10, 2003. First-seeded Kim Clijsters won the singles title and earned $97,000 first-prize money. As a result of her win Clijsters became the world No. 1 ranked player for the first time in her career and the first female player to do so without winning a Grand Slam tournament.


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open, Finals, Doubles
Mary Pierce /  Rennae Stubbs defeated  Elena Bovina /  Els Callens, 6–3, 6–3


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open – Doubles
Kim Clijsters and Jelena Dokic were the defending champions, but both players decided to focus on the singles tournament only.


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open – Doubles
Wildcards Mary Pierce and Rennae Stubbs won the title by defeating Elena Bovina and Els Callens 6–3, 6–3 in the final.


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open – Singles
Chanda Rubin was the defending champion, but was forced to withdraw due to a right shoulder tendonitis. However, she recovered in time to compete in the doubles tournament, losing in the first round.


2003 JPMorgan Chase Open – Singles
Kim Clijsters won the title by defeating Lindsay Davenport 6–1, 3–6, 6–1 in the final. This victory allowed Clijsters to reach the World No. 1 ranking, ending the 57-week reign of Serena Williams.


2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season
The 2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League and the 1st under head coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars failed to improve upon their 6–10 regular season record in 2002 and failed to make the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. An 0–8 record in road games eliminated any chance of postseason play.


2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season
Oddly, despite being in existence since 1995, this season marked the first time that the Jaguars played the San Diego Chargers. This is due to old NFL scheduling formulas in place prior to 2002; the Jaguars had played the Chargers’ division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs four times; the Denver Broncos three times and the Oakland Raiders twice (though not since 1997).


2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season
Week 3 was Mark Brunell’s last game as a Jaguar, as he was benched forcing rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich to take his spot for the rest of the season. Brunell left the team at the end of the season.


2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season
Jacksonville defeated New Orleans 20–19 in the week 16 game despite the River City Relay, a play that has gone down in NFL lore.


2003 Jacksonville Jaguars season, Offseason, Acquisitions
During free agency, the Jaguars signed former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas and former indianapolis Colts linebacker Mike Peterson.


2003 Jacksonville mayoral election
The Jacksonville mayoral election of 2003 took place on May 13, 2003. The two candidates to advance to the runoff were Republican millionaire John Peyton, and Democratic former Sheriff of Jacksonville Nat Glover. John Peyton won the election.


2003 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation
The 2003 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation (Chinese: 2003年度十大勁歌金曲頒獎典禮) was held on January 2004. It is part of the Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation series held in Hong Kong.


2003 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation, Corruption incident
In 2003 Hong Kong's anti-corruption unit ICAC launched an investigation on TVB as a number of people have been bribing the music industry to win awards. Some of the individuals arrested include Juno Mak, and his father, Clement Mak, who was the chairman of CCT Telecom. Probes were launched after murmurings that TV execs, music company bosses & a singer & his father were involved in backroom dealings that gave music awards not according to merit but on personal connections. Juno was booed by the public when accepting the award. Juno, his father and other industry figures including EEG chairman Albert Yeung were arrested at some stage.


2003 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation, Top 10 song awards
The top 10 songs (十大勁歌金曲) of 2003 are as follows.


2003 Japan Football League
The 2003 Japan Football League (Japanese: 第5回日本フットボールリーグ, Hepburn: Dai Go-kai Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) was the fifth season of the Japan Football League, the third tier of the Japanese football league system.


2003 Japan Football League, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals won the championship.


2003 Japan Football League, Promotion and relegation
Due to the Jatco team disbanding, the Regional League promotion series winner Thespa Kusatsu were promoted automatically. Runner-up Gunma Horikoshi were set to play Kyoto BAMB 1993 in the promotion and relegation series.


2003 Japan Football League, Promotion and relegation
Gunma Horikoshi won the series at 8–2 aggregate score and earned promotion to JFL. Kyoto BAMB 1993 were relegated to Kansai regional league.


2003 Japan Golf Tour
The 2003 Japan Golf Tour season was played from 19 December 2002 to 7 December 2003. The season consisted of 29 official money events in Japan, as well as the four majors and the three World Golf Championships.


2003 Japan Golf Tour, Tournament results
The following table shows all the official money events in Japan for the 2003 season. The number in parentheses after each winner's name is the number of Japan Golf Tour events he had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Japan Golf Tour members.


2003 Japan Series
The 2003 Japan Series was the 54th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason championship series. It matched the Pacific League champion Fukuoka Daiei Hawks against the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers. The home team won every game in the series, and three games ended with sayonara victories, including back-to-back games with the Tigers at home in Koshien Stadium. In the end, the Hawks would prevail in the seventh game at the Fukuoka Dome.


2003 Japan Series, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
The Hawks were looking for their second championship in five years (they defeated the Chunichi Dragons in 1999, four games to one), and this was their third appearance in that span. Despite the team's youth, slugger and manager Sadaharu Oh whipped the young team into shape in the previous seasons. Daiei had the best offense in the league, led by Nobuhiko Matsunaka, Kenji Johjima, and Tadahito Iguchi, with speedsters Munenori Kawasaki and Arihito Muramatsu setting up the sluggers with their speed. The Hawks also had four hitters with 100 or more runs batted in and the team batted a league record .297.


2003 Japan Series, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Pitching-wise, the Hawks boasted the best young rotation in the league, with 20-game winner Kazumi Saitoh leading the charge. Toshiya Sugiuchi and Rookie of the Year Tsuyoshi Wada were also key cogs in the Hawks' pennant-winning season. While sometimes shaky, Takayuki Shinohara was pegged the team's closer, and he was helped by a veteran set of relievers.


2003 Japan Series, Hanshin Tigers
On the other side, the Tigers were looking for their first Japan Series championship since 1985, and only their second in the team's long and storied history. This was their fourth appearance in the Japan Series, and their first since 1985.


2003 Japan Series, Hanshin Tigers
The Tigers had a 20-game winner of their own in Kei Igawa leading the starting rotation. Igawa also had help in the person of veteran Hideki Irabu, who was in his first year back from major league stints with the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers. Foreign lefty Trey Moore was also a key figure in the Tigers' rotation. In the bullpen another foreign lefty, Jeff Williams, led a solid bullpen, as his 25 saves led the team.


2003 Japan Series, Hanshin Tigers
The Tigers also benefited from having a manager of their own in Senichi Hoshino, who led an odd mix of veterans and youth. Makoto Imaoka and Norihiro Akahoshi led the team at the top of the order with their speed, while Tomoaki Kanemoto, Shinjiro Hiyama, and Katsumi Hirosawa made sure plenty of baseballs left the park.


2003 Japan Series, Background and Series Hype
Hanshin fans, known for their almost fanatical devotion to their team, were looking to help their team lift the so-called "Curse of the Colonel", an incident in which a local Kentucky Fried Chicken's Colonel Sanders was thrown into the Dotonbori Canal by fans celebrating the team clinching the Central League Pennant (the Colonel was believed to look like MVP Randy Bass), but was not found the next day (the colonel statue would not be found until 2009). Hanshin had finished fourth or lower in the Central League in 15 of the last 18 years, and so the 2003 season was truly a Cinderella Season for the team.


2003 Japan Series, Background and Series Hype
Another element adding to the hype was that 2003 was the first time that the league had seen two 20-game winners: Kazumi Saitoh for Daiei, and Kei Igawa for Hanshin. The two would eventually be named co-winners of the Sawamura Award.


2003 Japan Series, Background and Series Hype
The managers also added to the series drama. First of all, this was a rematch of the 1999 Japan Series from a managerial standpoint. Senichi Hoshino was the manager of the Chunichi Dragons four years prior, and was defeated by Oh's Hawks in 5 games to win their first Japan Series title since 1964. Secondly, news leaked prior to Game 1 that Hoshino intended to retire after the Series due to health concerns (Hoshino had been sick for many a game during the 2003 season).


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
The first game of the 2003 Japan Series set the stage for one of the most exciting series in recent memory. The first game was a matchup of matching 20-game winners: Igawa for Hanshin, and Saitoh for Daiei. Saitoh got out of a jam in the first, and Igawa struck out Hiroshi Shibahara and Munenori Kawasaki in his half of the first. The game would turn into an exciting back-and-forth affair.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
Daiei would score the first run of the series in the next inning, with a walk to Pedro Valdés and a single by Julio Zuleta setting up Arihito Muramatsu, who laced a single up the middle to score Valdes. Daiei almost scored again in the 3rd, when Kawasaki beat out a line drive that bounced off Igawa's glove and ricocheted to 2nd base. Hanshin almost had Kawasaki, but the speedy Hawks 3rd baseman dove into first head-first to beat the throw. Tadahito Iguchi then lined an Igawa offering down the 3rd base line and into left field for a double. Nobuhiko Matsunaka caught a bad break though, as he smoked a liner to 3rd, but it was caught and Kawasaki was doubled up to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
Hanshin got on the board and took the lead in the 4th when, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Akihiro Yano took the stage. Saitoh tried to run Yano up and in with a pitch, but Yano connected and knocked it into deep right-center for a 2-run triple, putting Hanshin up, 2–1. Daiei responded in the bottom of the inning, with star catcher Kenji Johjima crushing a high Igawa pitch into the left-field stands and pulling Daiei even, 2–2. Valdes then singled up the middle, Zuleta was hit with a pitch, and Muramatsu singled up the middle to load the bases with nobody out. The light-hitting Yusuke Torigoe then came up, and he lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left, which put Daiei ahead again, 3–2.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
Hanshin would pull even again in the 6th on a throwing error from Johjima, allowing the runner to advance to third. Arias then came up and singled the runner on 3rd home to tie the score for a 3rd time, 3–3. As was the theme in the game, Hanshin had a chance to break the deadlock and bust the game open after a walk, but Yano grounded into a 5–4–3 double play to end the inning. Igawa was replaced by Jerrod Riggan in the bottom of the 6th, and Riggan was touched up immediately for a run when Iguchi singled home Shibahara.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
Saitoh stayed in for the start of the 7th but walked Atsushi Fujimoto and slugger Tomoaki Kanemoto with 2 down. Saitoh was finished for the day, as he was replaced by Yoshida. Hiyama came up and singled in Fujimoto to tie the game up once again, 4–4. Hanshin would threaten again in their half of the 9th, getting Makoto Imaoka to 2nd, but Hawks reliever Takayuki Shinohara snuffed out the threat by getting Kanemoto to foul out.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 1
That set the stage for the Hawks half of the 9th inning. Yuya Andoh walked Matsunaka and Johjima singled through the right side to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Andoh struck out Valdes for the 2nd out to set the stage for first-year foreigner Zuleta. Zuleta lifted and Andoh pitch to left-center, and it landed just out of the reach of the center fielder to give the Hawks the 5–4 sayonara victory and a 1–0 lead in the series.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
Riding the momentum from the sayonara victory the previous night, the Hawks took the field and crushed the Tigers and their starting pitcher, Hideki Irabu. Toshiya Sugiuchi started for the Hawks, and like Saitoh the night before, got into a small bit of trouble in the first. Imaoka singled his way on, then was sacrificed to 2nd by Norihiro Akahoshi, but Kanemoto struck out, and Hiyama flew out to right. Similarly, Kawasaki singled his way on and stole second, but Matsunaka grounded to first to end the home half of the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
Daiei broke the game open in the 2nd. With one out, Valdes, Zuleta, and Muramatsu all singled their way on. Veteran shortstop Yusuke Torigoe, not known for his bat, doubled them all home as he put Daiei out in front, 3–0. Shibahara singled Torigoe to 3rd, but was caught stealing. With 2 down, Kawasaki kept the inning alive by tripling in Torigoe. Mercifully, Iguchi grounded out to end the four-run second. That would be all Daiei would need in the game.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
Johjima would keep up the Hawks number-one offensive attack by hitting his second home run of the series, a solo shot, in the bottom of the 3rd. The very next inning, Muramatsu singled and Torigoe walked, which would end Irabu's bad outing. Makoto Yoshino would take over for him, and Shibahara immediately sacrificed Muramatsu and Torigoe to 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Yoshino would load the bases with a walk to Kawasaki, but again, Matsunaka could not come through in the clutch, grounding back to Yoshino to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
Still leading 5–0 in the 7th, new pitcher Takehito Kanazawa gave up singles to Matsunaka and Valdes, then helplessly watched as Zuleta crushed his first home run of the series, a three-run blast that propelled Daiei to an 8–0 lead. To make matters worse, Torigoe walked, then Shibahara drove Torigoe in for the fourth run of the inning. Kawasaki then got in on the hit parade by tripling in Shibahara for the 5th and final run of the inning and a 10–0 lead.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
Sugiuchi was on cruise control after the first inning, throwing eight shutout innings and only surrendering four hits in that span.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 2
The Hawks would end the scoring in the 8th inning, tacking on three more thanks to a throwing error by Kanazawa, and a three-run home run from Valdes. Rookie Nagisa Arakaki would mop up for Daiei in the 9th to end the game. Daiei took a commanding two games to none lead in the series. Little did the Hawks know that the series was just beginning, as the next three would be taking place at Koshien Stadium.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
Returning home, the Tigers were in a must-win situation, as the Hawks potentially could take a 3–0 series lead. Trey Moore started for the Tigers, while Daiei countered with lefty Tsuyoshi Wada, who won 14 games during his rookie campaign. The left-handed Moore started the game by throwing the first pitch of the game over Shibahara's head. Shibahara would strike out, but the Hawks got their revenge by driving in the first run of the game, as Matsunaka drove in Kawasaki after he and Iguchi singled. Daiei almost had more, but Iguchi was cut down at home on an infield grounder by Johjima, and Valdes struck out to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
In the bottom of the 3rd against Wada, Moore helped his own cause by singling his way on, but nothing came of it. Kanemoto made sure that his team pulled even the very next inning though, as he took a low Wada fastball and deposited it into the right-center field stands, sending the Hanshin faithful into a frenzy. Kanemoto's solo shot tied the game, 1–1.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
Already a pitcher's duel, Moore and Wada matched zeroes, with both teams threatening at times. Daiei had a chance in the 6th with 1 out, but Iguchi flew out to the warning track in left, and Matsunaka weakly grounded out to the catcher. In the 7th, the Hawks had Valdes and 2nd and Muramatsu at 1st on a controversial hit-batsman call (Hoshino-kantoku argued that the ball hit the knob of Muramatsu's bat). Wada was pinch-hit for by Ohmichi with runners on 2nd and 3rd after Torigoe sacrificed, but Moore got Ohmichi to ground out to 2nd to end the threat.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
Katsunori Okamoto took over for Wada and struck out the side in the 7th, and wiggled out of a jam in the 8th. On the other side, Yoshino took over in the 9th after Moore was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the previous inning. Yoshino struck out Valdes, then Johjima was caught stealing to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
Okamoto got the first out of the 9th, then turned it over to Shinohara for the lefty-on-lefty matchups. He induced a flyout with Akahoshi, then got Kanemoto on a check swing, in which Kanemoto was convinced he did not go around.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 3
In the 10th inning, Yoshino stayed out on the mound and worked a 1-2-3 inning, in which Shinohara was allowed to bat, but struck out. The decision to not pinch-hit would come back to haunt Oh-kantoku as Shinohara started the inning well by striking out Hirosawa, but Arias then walked, and Hiyama singled, sending Arias to 3rd. Yano was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Fujimoto. He lifted a high sacrifice fly to center to score Arias and give Hanshin the 2–1 sayonara victory, and also make the series 2 games to 1 in favor of Daiei.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
With a chance to tie the series at 2 games apiece, Hanshin sent the ace, Igawa, to the mound on short rest. Igawa took a pounding in Game 1, but in Game 4 he was hungry to win one for his team. Brandon Knight was called on to answer for the Hawks.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
In the first inning, controversy ensued with an apparent safe call when Akahoshi attempted to steal 2nd. Replays showed that the Hanshin outfielder was clearly out, but he was called safe by the 2nd base umpire. After Kanemoto walked (Knight's 2nd walk of the inning), Hiyama doubled home both Akahoshi and Kanemoto to put Hanshin on top quickly, 2–0. After a strikeout, Hiyama was driven in by Kataoka for a 3–0 lead.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
Matsunaka flashed some of his power in the top of the 2nd inning by crushing a letter-high Igawa slider to the back screen in center field. Knight then settled down for Daiei, as the game stayed close until the 6th inning. Kanemoto took a Watanabe pitch and hit a home run even further than Matsunaka's blast, which padded the Hanshin lead to 4–1.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
In the 7th, Matsunaka led off with a double to left, then Johjima quickly drove him home with a double to left to cut the Tigers' lead in half, 4–2. After Fujimoto made a great diving play to save a run (but no out was recorded), Torigoe brought Johjima in anyway with a bloop single to cut Hanshin's lead to 4–3. Igawa then loaded the bases after hitting Muramatsu on the elbow with a pitch. Andoh was brought in to get the pitch-hitter, but Andoh issued a bases-loaded walk to tie the game.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
Andoh's control problems persisted in the 8th, as he walked Matsunaka to start the inning, but a great diving play by Fujimoto started a 6–4–3 double play to put 2 away in the inning. However, the Hawks would rally, with Valdes singling, Shibahara walking, and Torigoe reaching on a swinging bunt and he also performed head-first slide into first base to beat the throw.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
With the bases loaded and 2 out, utility-man Mitsuru Honma grounded a pitch back to Andoh, but it bounced off him, and he couldn't come up with the ball in time to get Honma, giving the Hawks a 5–4 lead, after starting the game so poorly. The previous game's hero Yoshiro came in and got the third out to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
With the specter of a 1–3 deficit in the series looming over their heads, Hanshin once again rallied, as Kanemoto walked to start the inning, then stole second after Hiyama struck out. On a 1–2 count, George Arias came through with a base hit to left field, scoring Kanemoto and tying the game up again at five.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
Daiei threatened in the 9th with one out. With a runner on first and Iguchi batting, Riggan was called for a balk, and then sacrificed the runner to 3rd. Riggan was replaced by Jeff Williams, who walked Matsunaka, but the runner on third was cut down at home on a Johjima grounder, and then Valdes struck out. Arakaki worked a scoreless 9th to send the game to extra innings for the 2nd straight night.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 4
Williams struck out two of the three batters he faced in his half of the 10th, which was perfect. With one down in the bottom of the 10th inning, Arakaki left a slider over the middle of the plate, and Kanemoto golfed it into the right-field stands for his 2nd home run of the game, pulling the Tigers even in the series with a 6–5 win.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
With a chance to push themselves to the brink of their first Japan Series championship in 18 years, Hanshin took the field for the third straight day. Hoshino-kantoku sent Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi to the mound against Hawks Game 1 starter, Kazumi Saitoh.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
In the first inning, Kanemoto picked up right where he left off the previous night, hitting his 4th home run of the series and homering for the 3rd game in a row with 2 down. In the ensuing inning, Daiei vaulted into the lead with an opposite-field home run from Valdes that hit the foul pole in left and gave Daiei a 2–1 lead. Shimoyanagi did settle down and got the next three Hawks in order.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
Hanshin threatened in the 2nd when Arias singled his way on, but a strike'-em-out, throw-'em-out double play and another strikeout of Yano ended the threat. Daiei had something of their own going in the 3rd, but the Hawks themselves had a runner cut down at 2nd. Daiei would threaten again in the 6th with a runner on 2nd, but Shimoyanagi struck out Johjima to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
In Hanshin's half of the 6th, singles from Imaoka and Akahoshi and a walk to Kanemoto loaded the bases with 2 out. Hiyama came up and laced a single to left, scoring both Imaoka and Akahoshi and giving Hanshin a 3–2 lead. For the third straight day, Yoshino came on in relief in the 7th. He would get Valdes swinging, but was relieved by Riggan after giving up a single to Shibahara. Riggan got Zuleta to pop out and struck out Honma to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
In the 8th, a scary moment happened for the Hawks. With one on, Akahoshi laid down a sacrifice bunt to try to advance Shuta to 2nd. Shinohara threw to 2nd to try to get Shuta, but the Tigers runner collided with Kawasaki, who was covering. Kawasaki was carried out on a stretcher. Shinohara, with Shuta on 3rd and nobody out, managed to get a groundout and a fly out to short left field, not enough to score Shuta. Okamoto took over and walked Arias intentionally to bring up Okihara. He struck out looking to leave the bases loaded.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 5
Williams was brought on in the 9th to slam the door on the Hawks and send the series back to Fukuoka with the Tigers leading, 3–2. The foreign sidearmer did just that, striking out Valdes and Shibahara to end the game 3–2, and put the Tigers ahead in the series, 3–2. Hanshin was just one win away from their first Japan Series title in 18 years.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 6
With Daiei needing a win to extend the series, they went to Game 2 starter Sugiuchi. Irabu took the mound for the Tigers to turn the pitching matchup into a rematch of Game 2. Unfortunately, it was a case of deja vu for Irabu and the Tigers. In the very first inning, Irabu gave up a 2-run home run to Tadahito Iguchi, who was having a quiet series up to that point. Daiei led 2–0, and threatened to add more, but Irabu struck out Valdes to end the inning. The Hawks would threaten again in the 2nd with Torigoe reaching on a fielder's choice and subsequently stealing second, but Muramatsu popped out to end the threat.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 6
Hanshin threatened themselves in the 3rd putting a runner on 2nd, but Imaoka grounded out to end the inning. After Kawasaki reached after getting hit with a pitch and stole second, Iguchi hit a high chopper that Fujimoto misplayed, which allowed Kawasaki to score and extend Daiei's lead to 3–0. Irabu was replaced with Fukuhara, who surrendered a double to Matsunaka and walked Johjima, but got out of the jam.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 6
In the 4th, Hanshin would score their only run of the day, when Shinjiro Hiyama crushed a Sugiuchi pitch that he left middle-in into the right-field stands to cut Daiei's lead to 3–1.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 6
Daiei would strike again in the 6th when Zuleta singled, and Shibahara barely missed a home run by doubling high off the wall. An off-balance throw from the outfield allowed Zuleta to score easily and give Daiei the 4–1 lead. They almost added another run in their Lucky 7 thanks again to the efforts of Kawasaki, who rifled a Fukuhara pitch off his hip, then sliding head-first into first to beat the throw. Kawasaki then stole second easily, but was stranded at third when Iguchi grounded out and Matsunaka struck out at the hands of Yoshino.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 6
Ishige took over for Yoshino in the 8th, but was greeted by Pedro Valdés, who hit his third home run of the series, a solo shot that put the Hawks ahead 5–1. That would end the scoring, as the Tigers could not score off Okamoto in the 9th despite getting Akahoshi to 3rd. The series was tied, with a deciding 7th game coming the next day at the same venue. The home team had won every game in the series so far. Could Hanshin turn it around and win the series?


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
The starting pitchers for the deciding Game 7 were a rematch of Game 3: Trey Moore for the Tigers, Tsuyoshi Wada for the Hawks. The Tigers threatened in the first on a hit by Imaoka and a throwing error by Wada, but Arias grounded into a 4–6–3 double play to end the Tigers threat. Unlike Hanshin, Daiei made the most of their chance in the first inning, as Muramatsu singled and Kawasaki walked.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
Iguchi got the former two to 2nd and 3rd on a fielder's choice, and Matsunaka made the most of his chance by singling in both runners to stake the Hawks to a 2–0 lead off Moore, who put up 8 innings of one-run ball in his first appearance. Moore stopped the threat by striking out Johjima and Valdes to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
In their half of the 3rd, the Hawks once again flashed their offensive prowess and put the game and the series away. With Kawasaki on second, it brought up Iguchi, whose bat had heated up in the last game. The Hawks shortstop got a pitch to hit and didn't miss, sending it to the bleachers and giving the Hawks a 4–0 lead. The next batter was Johjima, who also got in on the fun, hitting a home run himself and extending Daiei's lead to 5–0. It was the 3rd inning, and already the Hawks had their 2nd Japan Series championship in 5 years within reach.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
Wada had barely any trouble until the 5th inning, when Kentaro Sekimoto hit a home run of his own into the bleachers to put Hanshin on the board, 5–1. Hanshin threatened further, with Imaoka and Akahoshi singling. Kanemoto lited a high fly ball to center, but it ended up being a long flyout. Hiyama came up with a chance to turn the tables and pull Hanshin closer, but he was called out on strikes to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
In the 6th, Johjima hit his 2nd home run of the game and 4th of the series off Riggan. Daiei was thoroughly in command, 6–1. The Hawks would threaten again in the 7th, but a bad sacrifice bunt by Muramatsu led to Torigoe being called out at 3rd after he doubled. Muramatsu reached, and he reached 2nd on a Kawasaki sacrifice, then Muramatsu stole 3rd. Iguchi hit a little flare to 2nd, but it was caught by Imaoka to end the inning.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
With 2 out, pinch-hitter Katsumi Hirosawa was called on to try to start a rally. He did pull Hanshin one run closer with a solo home run, but it was too little, too late. Wada struck out Okihara for a complete game and to end the series, 4 games to 3 in favor of Daiei.


2003 Japan Series, Game Summaries, Game 7
Toshiya Sugiuchi was named the MVP of the series. In two starts, he was 2–0, giving up only one run in 16 innings of work.


2003 Japan Series, Cultural References
The Japanese variety show Gaki no Tsukai referenced this series when the comedy duo Downtown (Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada) bet on who would win the Japan Series. Hamada chose Hanshin, while Matsumoto chose Daiei. Hamada lost the bet, and he was forced into one of the duo's infamous batsu (punishment) games.


2003 Japan national football team
This page records the details of the Japan national football team in 2003.


2003 Japan women's national football team
This page records the details of the Japan women's national football team in 2003.


2003 Japanese Formula 3 Championship
The 2003 Japanese Formula 3 Championship was the 25th edition of the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. It began on 22 March at Suzuka and ended on 19 October at Motegi. Australian driver James Courtney took the championship title, winning 13 from 20 races.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix
The 2003 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the 2003 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 12 October 2003 at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan. It was the sixteenth and final round of the 2003 Formula One season, as well as the 29th Japanese Grand Prix. The 53-lap race was won by Rubens Barrichello driving for Ferrari after starting from pole position. Kimi Räikkönen, who started the race from eighth position, finished second in a McLaren car, with David Coulthard third in the other McLaren.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix
Barrichello's win saw Ferrari clinch their 13th Constructors Championship title, the team's fifth title in a row, with Barrichello's team-mate Michael Schumacher finishing eighth to secure his record-breaking 6th World Driver's Championship surpassing the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957. This was also Schumacher's fourth consecutive World Driver's title.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix
This event also notably marked the last race for cars using launch control and fully-automatic gearboxes, since their reintroduction at the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix. The FIA banned these two electronic driver aid systems ahead of the 2004 season.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix, Report, Background
Heading into the final race of the season, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was leading the World Driver's Championship standings with 92 points; McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen was second on 83 points, 9 points behind Schumacher. A maximum of 10 points were available, which meant that Räikkönen could still win the title. Schumacher only needed an eighth-place finish to become Driver's Champion even if Räikkönen won the race. Räikkönen needed to win and Schumacher not to score a single point in order for him to become Driver's Champion.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix, Report, Background
There was one driver change heading into the race. Having been a driver for the BAR-Honda team for most of the season, Jacques Villeneuve pulled out of the Grand Prix after asking to be released by the team and was replaced by the team's test driver Takuma Sato. Sato had been confirmed as a driver for the team for the 2004 season in the days running up to the race and would drive alongside Jenson Button.


2003 Japanese Grand Prix, Report, Friday drivers
The 3 teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship had the right to drive a third car on Friday that were involved in additional training. These drivers did not compete in qualifying or the race.


2003 Japanese Super Cup
2003 Japanese Super Cup was the Japanese Super Cup competition. The match was played at National Stadium in Tokyo on March 1, 2003. Júbilo Iwata won the championship.


2003 Japanese general election
General elections were held in Japan on November 9, 2003. Incumbent Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of the Liberal Democrat Party won the election but with a reduced majority. The main opposition Democratic Party made considerable gains, winning 177 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives, its largest share ever. Other traditional parties like the Communist Party and the Social Democrat Party lost a significant numbers of seats, making a two-party system a possibility in later Japanese politics.


2003 Japanese general election, Background
On October 11, 2003, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives of the Diet after he was re-elected as the Liberal Democrat Party chief on September 20. The dissolution was based on Article 7 of the Constitution of Japan, which can be interpreted as saying that the Prime Minister has the power to dissolve the lower house after so advising the Emperor. The election was the first since Koizumi was named Prime Minister in April 2001. The major participants were the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) and the Democrat Party (DPJ).


2003 Japanese general election, Background
The LDP retains strong support in rural areas and among older voters due to heavy subsidies in agriculture, while the DPJ has had greater support among youth and in urban areas. However, this has tended to favor the LDP, because sparsely populated rural districts have disproportionate weight in Japan's electoral system.


2003 Japanese general election, Background
Some of the issues facing candidates were: the ongoing economic recession; reform of the public pension system; the extent of Japan's support of the U.S. in Iraq; Japan's relationship with North Korea; and the privatization of the postal service and Tokyo-area highways.


2003 Japanese general election, Background
The last general election of the Lower House took place in June 2000 when Yoshiro Mori was Prime Minister.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
National newspapers concluded that the election benefitted the Democrat Party (DPJ) more so than the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP). The DPJ actually garnered the plurality of votes and gained 40 more seats, making it the largest opposition party with a total lower-house membership of 177. Among those in the ruling coalition, only the New Kōmeitō made gains, bringing its total lower-house membership to 34 from 31 members before the election.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
Since Prime Minister Koizumi was unable to gain more seats for the LDP based upon his high approval ratings — around 60% — some experts believe the election has left Koizumi a weakened Prime Minister while others point out that several of the Non-partisans were really of LDP, most notably 'Kato Koichi' and LDP had in fact maintained the number of seats.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
The LDP performed well in rural areas while the DPJ performed well in urban areas. The turnout was 59.86%, the second lowest since 1945. The average age of new members of the house was 51.03, 3.2 years younger than in the previous election. Among new members, 302 were born after 1945. After the election, the total number of women in the lower-house decreased to 34 from 35 before the election.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
Poll data collected early in the election season and in exit polls highlight the role of swing voters, who accounted for 18% of the total vote. According to Asahi Shimbun, more than half of swing voters voted for the DPJ. These exit polls produced highly contradictory preliminary reports. There was a case where DPJ was predicted to capture up to 230 seats, more than 50 above the actual result.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
The Liberal Democrat Party failed to achieve an absolute majority by itself, requiring it to maintain its coalition with New Kōmeitō and the New Conservative Party. Senior politicians in the LDP attribute the results to disenfranchisement among traditional supporters of the LDP, resulting in an increased dependency on the coalition. Some politicians in the LDP are concerned about the influence of the New Kōmeitō (NK) on LDP policy because of the dependency.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
Some experts believe the Democrat Party has emerged an effective opposition party to the entrenched Liberal Democrat Party. During the campaign, the DPJ produced an itemized policy manifesto — a first in post-war Japanese elections — and publicized a "shadow cabinet" (with Naoto Kan as Prime Minister), which is usually created by political parties during election season in the United Kingdom, for example. The DPJ also criticized the reforms proposed by Koizumi and the LDP's sluggishness in their implementation, as well as the LDP's position on Iraq while steering clear on other foreign issues.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
Smaller parties performed poorly. The Social Democrat Party lost 3 seats, bringing their lower-house membership to 6, while the Japanese Communist Party lost 11 seats, bringing their total membership to 9 from 20 before the election. Both parties thus lack the ability to propose a law alone since that requires minimum of 10 members. The New Conservative Party lost 5 seats, lowering their total to 4 seats from 9 seats, and merged with the LDP shortly after the election. The Japanese Communist Party blamed the negative results on the media, which they claimed focused on the LDP and DPJ.


2003 Japanese general election, Results
Although the LDP failed to secure a simple majority, due to their coalition with the NK, on November 19, the Diet appointed Junichiro Koizumi the Prime Minister in its short special session (which elect the prime minister) and, within a month, the LDP regained a majority by absorbing the Conservative Party.


2003 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2003 Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the 2003 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 April 2003 at Suzuka. The meeting was overshadowed by the death of Daijiro Kato in the MotoGP race, after he crashed at 130R and hit the barrier at high speed in the ensuing Casio Triangle. Since the accident, Suzuka has failed to reappear on the calendar, with the Japanese Grand Prix moving to Twin Ring Motegi, the previous home of the Pacific Grand Prix.


2003 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoGP classification
After the Friday timed sessions Norifumi Abe, who was already competing in the event as a wild card entry, was designated as the replacement rider for the injured Marco Melandri.


2003 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (motoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round one has concluded.


2003 Jelajah Malaysia
The 2003 Jelajah Malaysia, a cycling stage race that took place in Malaysia. It was held from 6 to 15 October 2003. There were ten stages. In fact, the race was sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale as a 2.2 category race.


2003 Jelajah Malaysia
Hidenori Nodera of Japan won the race, followed by Wawan Setyobudi of Indonesia second overall.


2003 Jersey by-elections, Senatorial by Election
A by election for Senator took place on February 26, 2003.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election occurred in Nigeria on April 19, 2003. The ANPP nominee Ibrahim Saminu Turaki won the election, defeating Mohammed Alkali of the PDP.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election
Ibrahim Saminu Turaki emerged ANPP candidate. He picked Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia as his running mate. Mohammed Alkali was the PDP candidate with Ahmed Adulhamid Madori as his running mate.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election, Electoral system
The Governor of Jigawa State is elected using the plurality voting system.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election, Primary election, ANPP primary
The ANPP primary election was won by Ibrahim Saminu Turaki. He picked Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia as his running mate.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election, Primary election, PDP primary
The PDP primary election was won by Mohammed Alkali. He picked Ahmed Adulhamid Madori as his running mate.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election, Results
A total number of 5 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.


2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,636,657. Total number of votes cast was 1,205,518, while number of valid votes was 1,109,536. Rejected votes were 95,982.


2003 Johan Cruyff Shield
The eighth edition of the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch: Johan Cruijff Schaal) was held on 10 August 2003 between 2002–03 Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven and 2002–03 KNVB Cup winners FC Utrecht. PSV won the match 3–1.


2003 Jordanian general election
General elections were held in Jordan on 17 June 2003. They were the fourth contest held after the political liberalization started in 1989 and the first elections to take place since 1997. The number of voters who cast their ballots constituted almost 58.8 percent of registered voters, a record high in the last years, who total 2,325,496 of the country's 5.4 million citizens. The Kingdom's most prominent tribal representatives carried a large majority of the seats. The highest turnout, 86 percent, was registered in Karak, while the lowest ratio of voters, 44.62 percent, was in Amman.


2003 Jordanian general election, Political Climate in the Region
The elections were first scheduled for November 2001, but were delayed due to political instability in the region. In fact, the second Intifada started on 28 September 2000 and King Abdullah found it adequate to defer the parliamentary elections, the Jordanian constitution allows the monarch to postpone the elections for a maximum of two years. The parliament was also solved by a Royal Decree in 2001.


2003 Jordanian general election, Election law
Elections Seats Scheme of 2003 was established under Election Law No.34 of 2001. It added six seats to women, lowered the voting age from 19 to 18, resized electoral districts raising their number from 20 to 45, and re-approved the one-person one-vote electoral system. Many parties and political figures found this law unfair. The law reserves special ethnical quotas for Circassians, Chechens and Christians, the parliamentary seat distribution is shown in the following table:


2003 Jordanian general election, Women Participation
A special quota system has been created to ensure women would be elected to the lower chamber, six seats were assigned at national level, i.e. the six women with the highest percentage nationwide won the six reserved seats. Many women ran for the elections, but none won a seat over the special quota.


2003 Jordanian general election, Parties and Candidates
In 2003 elections, there were 765 candidates competing for the 110 seats. The major opposition party, the Islamic Action Front did not boycott the elections, as did other opposition parties. Most candidates were independents of various tendencies, both non-partisans and tribal leaders.


2003 Jordanian general election, Assembly of Senators
The number of Senators cannot be more than half of deputies, therefore 55 senators were constitutionally appointed by the king. Zaid al-Rifai was appointed as Spokesman of the House and 4 women were included in the upper house.


2003 Jordanian local elections
Local elections were held in Jordan on 27 August 2003 to elect municipal and local councils.


2003 Junior League World Series
The 2003 Junior League World Series took place from August 10–16 in Taylor, Michigan, United States. La Mirada, California defeated Santiago, Panama in the championship game.


2003 K League
The 2003 K League was the 21st season of the K League. It kicked off on March 23, and was finished on 16 November.


2003 K2 League
The K2 League 2003 season was the first season of the K2 League which operates its season in two stages, with the winners of each stage to the post-season championship playoffs.


2003 K2 League
In the event of the same team winning both stages, there will be no playoff.


2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. Ahmed Makarfi of the PDP defeated five other candidates by polling 1,143,890 popular votes, ANPP's Suleiman Hunkuyi was closest contender with 668,446 votes.


2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election
Ahmed Makarfi defeated Samaila Yakawada and others at the PDPprimary election to get the party's nomination. He retained Stephen Rijo Shekari as his running mate.


2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election, Electoral system
The Governor of Kaduna State is elected using the plurality voting system.


2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election, Results
A total of six candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. The PDP candidate won, defeating ANPP's Alh. Suleiman Hunkuyi, and four other minor party candidates.


2003 Kaduna State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 2,620,999. However, only about 77.02% (i.e. 2,018,689) of registered voters participated in the exercise.


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2
League tables for teams participating in Kakkonen, the third tier of the Finnish Soccer League system, in 2003.


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Promotion Playoff
IFK Mariehamn won on away goals and were promoted to Division 1


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Promotion Playoff
MP won 4–3 on aggregate and were promoted to Division 1


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Division One/Division Two Playoff
P-Iirot won 4–1 on aggregate and were promoted to Division 1. GBK were relegated to Division 2


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Division One/Division Two Playoff
FC Kuusankoski won 5–2 on aggregate and remain in Division 1. PS Kemi remain in Division 2


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Relegation Playoff
Kiffen won 8–1 on aggregate and remain in Division 2.


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Relegation Playoff
Huima won 5–2 on aggregate and were promoted to Division 2.


2003 Kakkonen – Finnish League Division 2, League tables 2003, Relegation Playoff
MaPS won 3–2 on aggregate and remain in Division 2.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England, and to date has been the last Kangaroo Tour. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain for the Ashes. Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by Darren Lockyer, Australia continued its dominance, winning all of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973 but the 3-0 scoreline didn't show how close the series really was as Australia had to come from behind to win every test.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Touring squad
The Australian team was again coached by Chris Anderson who was making his 4th Kangaroo tour. As Gorden Tallis had retired from representative football a month before, the team was captained by the newly appointed Darren Lockyer.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Pre-Ashes matches
France XIII:  Julien Gerin, Dimitri Pilo, Sylvain Houles, Teddy Sadaoui, Frédéric Zitter, Frédéric Banquet, Julien Rinaldi, Olivier Pramil, Cederic Gay, Jérôme Guisset (c), Daniel Dumas, Jamal Fakir, John Vaigata. Res - Artie Shead, Pierre Sabatie, Abderazak El Khalouki, Marc Faumuina. Coach - Gilles Dumas


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Pre-Ashes matches
Australia:  Anthony Minichiello, Luke Lewis, Shannon Hegarty, Michael De Vere, Matt Sing, Craig Wing, Craig Gower, Petero Civoniceva, Michael Crocker, Robbie Kearns (c), Willie Mason, Trent Waterhouse, Phil Bailey. Res - Joel Clinton, Shane Webcke, Richard Villasanti, Brett Kimmorley


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Pre-Ashes matches
England A:  Shaun Briscoe, Mark Calderwood, Martin Gleeson, Martin Aspinwall, Ade Gardner, Chris Thorman, Rob Burrow, Andy Lynch, Matt Diskin, Rob Parker, Danny Tickle, Lee Radford, Sean O'Loughlin (c). Res - Danny McGuire, Mick Higham, Danny Sculthorpe, Gareth Hock. Coach - John Kear


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Pre-Ashes matches
Australia:  Darren Lockyer (c), Matt Sing, Shannon Hegarty, Michael De Vere, Luke Lewis, Craig Gower, Brett Kimmorley, Joel Clinton, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Craig Fitzgibbon, Steve Simpson, Luke Ricketson. Res - Michael Crocker, Trent Waterhouse, Willie Mason, Robbie Kearns


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Pre-Ashes matches
Australia played a non-test international against Wales in Bridgend. The Kangaroos won 76-4, crossing for 11 tries.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series
Australia were to contest Great Britain for the Ashes for the last time in 2003 in what was styled the Think! Road Safety Test series. The Australian Rugby League and Rugby Football League agreed beforehand that the best-of-three series would be officiated by British referees Steve Ganson and Russell Smith for the 1st and 3rd tests, and by Australian referee Tim Mander for the 2nd test. The series was broadcast on television by Sky Sports with commentary by Eddie Hemmings, Mike Stephenson, Shaun McRae, Bill Arthur and Chris Warren. Australian McRae had actually toured with the 1990 Kangaroos as a team trainer.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
Great Britain kicked off and Australian front rower Robbie Kearns, taking the very first hit-up of the match was struck high by his opposite number Adrian Morley, who was promptly sent off, leaving his team to play the entire match with only twelve men. It was a record for the fastest ever sending off in rugby league history.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
In the eleventh minute Australia had reached the opposition's end of the field and after playing the ball right in front of the try line, Gower and Lockyer strung long passes together to get it out to the right wing where Phil Bailey dived over in the corner. The video referee David Campbell ruled that Bailey had grounded the ball before his feet were pulled into touch and he was awarded his first international try.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
With first choice goal-kicker Fitzgibbon taken from the field suffering concussion in the lead-up to the try, the conversion attempt was made by Gower who missed, so the Kangaroos led 0-4. Great Britain later got the ball down to Australia's end and equalised with a similar try, with international debutant Carney diving over in the right-hand corner just before the eighteen-minute mark. Sean Long's conversion attempt was also missed so the scores were level at 4-4.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
In the thirty-first minute, the Australians had almost reached Great Britain's try line where on the fifth tackle Lockyer at first receiver put a short kick in behind the defense for Waterhouse to grab onto and fall over the line. The video referee was called upon to check for off-side but the try was awarded. Gower's second conversion attempt was also missed so Australia led 4-8 and this remained the score until half-time.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
Nearly five minutes into the second half a brawl erupted between Brian Carney and Michael Crocker and in the aftermath Crocker was sent to the sin bin. A few minutes later, following a handling error by Lockyer close to the centre of his own try-line, Great Britain were awarded a scrum feed. From the scrum win the ball was moved out to left centre Keith Senior who dived over in the fiftieth minute to equalise the scores again. Long kicked the conversion successfully so the home side lead 10-8.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
This lead was extended with a penalty kick by Long making it 12-8. Australia later made their way down to Great Britain's end of the field and on the last tackle Brett Kimmorley from dummy-half ran up to the defensive line then threw a long cut out pass left to his halves partner Craig Gower to run through a gap and dive over the try-line untouched, equalising the score once again. With Fitzgibbon back on the field the conversion was successful so Australia were leading 12-14 with thirty minutes remaining.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
From the ensuing kick-off Gower knocked on and from the resulting possession right in front of Australia's try-line, Great Britain, after keeping the ball alive got it out to right winger Carney who dove over in the corner again. The video referee checked that the ball was put down properly before Carney's legs were pulled into touch and he was awarded the try, re-gaining the lead for Great Britain.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 1st Test
Paul Deacon with his first conversion attempt for Great Britain kicked the goal from the sideline successfully, so the home side were leading 18-14 with less than ten minutes of the match remaining. Then in the seventy-fifth minute the Kangaroos were a few metres into Great Britain's half of the field and on the last tackle. They swung the ball out to the left where Craig Wing made a break and passed it back inside for Darren Lockyer coming up in support to run the remaining fifteen metres and score untouched under the posts. Fitzgibbon's conversion was successful so Australia were leading 18-20. When taking a goal-line drop out, Andy Farrell kicked it out on the full resulting in a penalty to Australia right in front of the uprights. Fitzgibbon kicked the goal in the final minute so the full-time score was 18-22.


2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, Ashes series, 2nd Test
For his high tackle in the 1st Test, Great Britain front rower Adrian Morley avoided suspension, only incurring a fine of £2,000 from a three-man international judiciary panel consisting of Queensland Rugby League chairman John McDonald, Rugby Football League representative Deryck Fox and chairman, Judge Peter Charlesworth.


2003 Kano State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Kano State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. ANPP candidate Ibrahim Shekarau won the election, defeating PDP Rabiu Kwankwaso and 5 other candidates.


2003 Kano State gubernatorial election, Results
Ibrahim Shekarau from the ANPP won the election. 7 candidates contested in the election.


2003 Kano State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 4,000,430, total votes cast was 2,313,527, valid votes was 2,197,405 and rejected votes was 116,122.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2003 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League, the 44th overall and the third under head coach Dick Vermeil.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The season resulted in a 13–3 winning record, beginning with a nine-game winning streak—the franchise's best start in their 40-year history. The Chiefs won the AFC West and clinched the second seed in the playoffs to end a five-season playoff drought. Kansas City lost in an offensive shootout at home in the AFC Divisional Playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts 38–31, a game noted for involving no punts from either team's kicking squad.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The season is best remembered for the Chiefs' record-breaking offense. On December 28, running back Priest Holmes broke Marshall Faulk's single-season rushing touchdown record by scoring his 27th rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Trent Green threw for 4,000 yards and kick returner Dante Hall returned four kicks for touchdowns. However, the Chiefs' defense would prove to be too big a weakness, as they failed to stop the Colts in the 2003-04 playoffs. The Chiefs offensive line from the season has frequently been considered one of the best offensive lines in NFL history. Two members of the offensive line, Will Shields and Willie Roaf, have been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with the tight end from the team, Tony Gonzalez.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, 2003 NFL Draft
The Chiefs originally had the 16th pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Vermeil was intent on selecting a defensive player, but felt that there were no defensive players available with their pick, and traded the pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 27th pick, as well as the Steelers third and sixth-round picks. With the 27th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected running back Larry Johnson from Penn State.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season
After beginning the 2003 season 9–0, the Chiefs finished the regular season with a record of 13–3. The Chiefs' offense topped the NFL in almost all statistical categories and Kansas City became favorites to win Super Bowl XXXVIII.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season
The Chiefs clinched their first AFC West title since 1997 with a 45–17 win against the Detroit Lions, as QB Trent Green became the first player in team history to register a "perfect" 158.3 passer rating in a game.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season
Kansas City concluded its 13–3 regular season with a 31–3 victory vs. Chicago (December 28), marking a perfect 8–0 a record at home and the club's 13th consecutive regular-season victory at Arrowhead Stadium. In that win, Priest Holmes set a trio of TD records. He finished the season with 27 rushing scores, establishing NFL single-season records for both rushing TDs and total TDs. Holmes (61) also bypassed WR Otis Taylor (60) for the most career TDs scored by a player in Chiefs history.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season
The Chief's five-win improvement from the previous season tied as the best mark in franchise history. Kansas City became the first AFC team to lead the NFL in scoring in consecutive seasons since San Diego in 1981–1982 as the club produced a franchise-best 484 points. The team also led the NFL with a +19 turnover differential.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season
Nine Chiefs players received Pro Bowl recognition, the third-highest total in team history, while the club's six offensive Pro Bowlers marked the most in club annals.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 1 vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs hosted San Diego and raced to a 24-0 lead behind two Priest Holmes rushing scores and a Trent Green touchdown to Johnnie Morton. Drew Brees  of the Chargers was intercepted twice in the 27-14 Chiefs win.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers scored first on a Chad Scott interception, but after leading 10-0 Pittsburgh was torched by Dante Hall’s 100-yard kick return score. Priest Holmes ran in three touchdowns while Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox was intercepted three times in a 41-20 Chiefs win.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 3 at Houston Texans
The Chiefs made their first trip to Houston since September 1996, now playing in Reliant Stadium next door to the Astrodome. Kansas City's aggregate winning streak against Houston NFL teams reached five as Houston was hammered 42-14 despite two Trent Green interceptions. The Chiefs rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 4 at Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens held the Chiefs to 265 yards of offense and out-rushed them 202 yards (Jamal Lewis accounted for 115 yards and the tying touchdown in the final six minutes) to 129, but Dante Hall raced in the winning score (17-10 Chiefs) on the kickoff following Lewis’ score and Kyle Boller was intercepted at the Chiefs 2-yard line in the final minute. Ex-Raven Priest Holmes had 25 touches (22 carries and four catches) for a combined 103 yards.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 5 vs. Denver Broncos
Dante Hall’s signature touchdown came in the fourth quarter with the 4-0 Chiefs trailing 23-17 against the 4-0 Broncos. In the final nine minutes, he caught a punt, was chased back to his three-yard line, then cut left, and stormed past the Denver punt coverage unit to score. Jason Elam missed a Broncos field goal attempt but Priest Holmes fumbled at the Broncos eight-yard line. Jake Plummer advanced the Broncos to their 28 but went no further.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 5 vs. Denver Broncos
The Chief's 24-23 win came despite being outgained in yardage 468-262 and despite two turnovers to one by Denver.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 6 at Green Bay Packers
This edition of the rematch series from the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game became one of the most competitive games of the season. The Packers raced to a 14-0 lead before two Trent Green touchdowns tied the game. The Packers scored seventeen straight points in the second and third quarters but early in the fourth Priest Holmes scored. Brett Favre was then intercepted by Jerome Woods at the Chiefs 21 and Woods scored. Exchanges of field goals (Morten Anderson’s 31-yard kick came with one second left) left the game tied 31-31.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 6 at Green Bay Packers
The Chiefs in overtime called eight straight Holmes rushes before trying a 48-yard field goal; the kick was blocked by Cletidus Hunt. On the Packers possession Ahman Green was immediately stopped by Woods and Woods forced the fumble recovered at the Chiefs 49; Trent Green then unloaded deep to Eddie Kennison and Kennison scored, thus ending a 40-34 Chiefs triumph.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 8 vs. Buffalo Bills
Despite 124 rushing yards from Travis Henry and getting a safety on a Kansas City punt, the Bills were humiliated 38-5. Drew Bledsoe was intercepted three times and Alex Van Pelt two more while Trent Green had two touchdowns and 273 yards.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 10 vs. Cleveland Browns
Trent Green had 368 yards and three touchdowns, Priest Holmes added two scores on the ground, and the Browns were limited to 199 yards of offense in a 41-20 Chiefs win.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 11 at Cincinnati Bengals
An undefeated season (attending Miami's overtime win over the Ravens members of the 1972 Dolphins kept a close watch on this game) would not transpire as the Bengals surged to their fifth win, fulfilling a pregame prediction by Chad Johnson (seven catches, 74 yards) of a Bengals win. Jon Kitna’s 77-yard strike to Peter Warrick effectively ended the 24-19 Bengals upset despite a late Trent Green score.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 12 vs. Oakland Raiders
The 3-7 Raiders refused to go quietly as they erased a 21-7 Chiefs lead. Jerry Rice scored for the first time all season but the Chiefs broke a 24-24 tie on Morten Anderson’s field goal with four seconds left.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 13 at San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs reached eleven wins leading wire to wire at Qualcomm Stadium despite two Trent Green interceptions to go with two Green touchdowns. Priest Holmes exploded to 162 rushing yards and two scores.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 14 at Denver Broncos
The Chiefs suffered their second loss of the season 45-27. The game lead tied or changed six times in the first three quarters but after taking a 24-21 lead the Broncos added 21 more points. Clinton Portis ran in five touchdowns for Denver.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 15 vs. Detroit Lions
The 4-9 Lions were crushed 45-17 as Trent Green threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns while Priest Holmes added three scores of his own. It was Steve Mariucci’s only career loss to the Chiefs. This is Detroit's most recent visit to Kansas City; the Lions return there in 2023.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 16 at Minnesota Vikings
Having clinched the AFC West the Chiefs were vying for a playoff bye. The top conference seed slipped away in this Saturday game as the Vikings forced four Chiefs turnovers, raced to a 31-0 lead, and didn't look back despite a three-touchdown barrage by 10:05 to go in the fourth. Despite the 45-20 loss, the Chiefs gained on a playoff bye on Denver's win over the Colts the next day.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Game summaries, Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears
With New England's shutout win over the Bills the previous day the Chiefs could only secure a playoff bye as the second conference seed. They did so 31-3 on three rushing scores while the 7-9 Bears used three quarterbacks who combined for two interceptions.


2003 Kansas City Chiefs season, Postseason, Game summaries
This offensive shootout became the second game without a punt in NFL playoff history, and first since the Buffalo Bills played the San Francisco 49ers in 1992. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while Edgerrin James ran for a career postseason high 125 yards and two scores. On the Kansas City side, Dante Hall caught a touchdown and returned a kickoff for another; and Priest Holmes, who set the regular-season rushing touchdown record, rushed for 176 yards, caught 5 passes for 32 yards, and scored twice. Kansas City quarterback Trent Green threw for 212 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 18 yards in his first career postseason game. The Chiefs defense failed to stop the Colt's offense. Kansas City's defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was asked to resign the following week.


2003 Kansas City Royals season
The 2003 Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing third in the American League Central, with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses. It was the only winning season for the franchise between 1994 and 2013.


2003 Kansas City Royals season
2003 was a hopeful and promising winning season ("We Believe" was the slogan) for the Royals, and the team spent 93 days in first place in the AL Central. But the team faded down the stretch, falling out of first place for the last time on August 31, and missed the playoffs.


2003 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2003 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2003 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


2003 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


2003 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


2003 Kansas City Wizards season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003 Kansas City mayoral election
The 2003 Kansas City mayoral election was held February 25 and March 31, 2003 to elect the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Kay Barnes.


2003 Kansas Jayhawks football team
The 2003 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. They participated as members of the Big 12 Conference in the North Division. They were coached by head coach Mark Mangino and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.


2003 Kansas Jayhawks football team
On November 15, the Jayhawks played a game against Oklahoma State, who were coached by future Jayhawks head coach Les Miles.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Bill Snyder. The Wildcats played their home games in KSU Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11–4, and a Big 12 Conference record of 6–2. They notched a stunning 35–7 victory over the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game. With their first conference championship since 1934, they earned a berth in one of the Bowl Championship Series bowl games, the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, where they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes, 35–28. The Wildcats played 15 games, most in school history.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
During the 2002 and 2003 seasons teams were allowed to schedule 12 games as well as a kickoff game. As a result, Kansas State became only the second team in the modern era to play a 15-game schedule. The first was the 1996 BYU Cougars.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
Running back Darren Sproles led the nation in rushing, and the Wildcats scored 549 points, good for third all-time at Kansas State.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team
This remains the only season in college football history in which Kansas State, Kansas, and Missouri all played in a bowl game in the same season.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team, Game summaries, at Nebraska
The Wildcats clinched a share of the Big 12 North title by winning in Lincoln for the first time since 1968. Kansas State also handed the Cornhuskers their worst defeat at Memorial Stadium since 1958.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Darren Sproles ran for a school-record 273 yards in the win over Missouri. Sproles also broke the single-season rushing record for the second consecutive year.


2003 Kansas State Wildcats football team, Game summaries, vs. Oklahoma (Big 12 Championship Game)
Kansas State manhandled the #1 Sooners at Arrowhead Stadium to win their first conference title since 1934.


2003 Karbala bombings
The 2003 Karbala bombings consisted of four suicide attacks on the coalition military barracks in Karbala, Iraq, 110 kilometres (68 mi) south of Baghdad on December 27, 2003.


2003 Karbala bombings
The attackers targeted two coalition bases and a downtown Iraqi police station where U.S. military police were stationed. All of the attacks occurred within a 20-minute span.


2003 Karbala bombings, The attacks
Bulgarian guards at the perimeter of their forward base at the University of Karbala shot the suicide bomber as the gasoline tanker bore down on the front entrance. Nevertheless, the bomb exploded about 50 feet (15 m) from the base's main building, killing four Bulgarian soldiers and wounding 27 others, one of whom died from his injuries on the next day. The Bulgarian Army chief of staff, Nikola Kolev, said that they expected attacks because Karbala had been suspiciously peaceful.


2003 Karbala bombings, The attacks
In the attack on the Thai Army camp the bomber killed two Thai soldiers and wounded five others when he rammed his vehicle into the walls. The Thais were confident enough about their security that they planned to send 200 Thai civilians to visit their troops.


2003 Karbala bombings, The attacks
In the double attack on the police station seven Iraqi policemen and five civilians were killed. Five American soldiers were among the wounded.


2003 Karl Schäfer Memorial
The 2003 Karl Schäfer Memorial (also known as the Vienna Cup) took place from October 15 through 19, 2003. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, and ice dancing.


2003 Katherine by-election
A by-election for the seat of Katherine in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly was held on 4 October 2003. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Country Liberal Party (CLP) member Mike Reed, a former Deputy Chief Minister. The seat had been held by Reed since its creation in 1987.


2003 Katherine by-election
The CLP selected Fay Miller, the owner of Red Gum Tourist Park, as its candidate. The Labor candidate was Sharon Hillen, while three independent candidates contested, including the mayor of Katherine, Jim Forscutt.


2003 Katsina State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Katsina State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. PDP candidate Umaru Musa Yar'Adua won the election, defeating ANPP Nura Khalil and 5 other candidates.


2003 Katsina State gubernatorial election, Results
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua from the PDP won the election. 7 candidates contested in the election.


2003 Katsina State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 2,567,245, total votes cast was 1,721,067, valid votes was 1,636,824 and rejected votes was 84,243.


2003 Kazakhstan Premier League
The 2003 Kazakhstan Premier League was the 12th season of the Kazakhstan Premier League, the highest football league competition in Kazakhstan, and took place between 12 April and 3 November.


2003 Kazakhstan Premier League, Teams
There were 5 promoted teams to the Premier League for this season, Ekibastuzets, Batys, Dostyk, Taraz and Zhetysu. The Premier League was expanded to 17 teams before the season started and to 19 teams for the 2004 season, this mean no teams were relegated before or after the season. Before the start of the season Vostok Altyn were renamed Vostok and Dostyk became Ordabasy.


2003 Kazakhstan Premier League, Teams
Due to failure to comply with UEFA regulations, no teams qualified for any UEFA competition.


2003 Kebbi State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Kebbi State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. ANPP candidate Adamu Aliero won the election, defeating PDP Saidu Samaila Sambawa and 2 other candidates.


2003 Kebbi State gubernatorial election, Results
Adamu Aliero from the ANPP won the election. 4 candidates contested in the election.


2003 Kebbi State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,343,549, total votes cast was 886,324, valid votes was 802,509 and rejected votes was 83,815.


2003 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
The 2003 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented the Kent State University during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Kent State competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), and played their home games at Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes were led by fifth-year head coach Dean Pees, who resigned following the conclusion of the season.


2003 Kentucky Derby
The 2003 Kentucky Derby was the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 3, 2003 and was won by longshot Funny Cide. There were 148,530 in attendance.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Contenders
Sportswriter Steve Haskin called the 2003 Derby contenders a "perplexing group". The horses with the best form at age two (Vindication, Toccet, and Sky Mesa) all got injured while preparing for the Derby and ultimately missed the race. Instead, later developing colts dominated the final major preps in March and April. The clear favorite was Empire Maker, who had won both the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. Empire Maker was at 6–5 on the morning line but drifted out to 5-2 by post-time based on concerns about a bruise to his right front hoof in the final days of training.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Contenders
Peace Rules was the second choice at odds of 6-1 after winning the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. Both horses were trained by Bobby Frankel, a Hall of Fame inductee who had never won a Triple Crown event. Other leading contenders included Buddy Gil (Santa Anita Derby), Ten Most Wanted (Illinois Derby), and Scrimshaw (Lexington Stakes).


2003 Kentucky Derby, Contenders
Funny Cide was a moderate longshot at odds of 13–1. Bred in New York, Funny Cide won all three starts at age two in restricted stakes company and was named the New York bred champion two-year-old colt or gelding. When moved to open stakes company at age three, he ran fifth in the Holy Bull Stakes to Offlee Wild, second to Peace Rules in the Louisiana Derby and second to Empire Maker in the Wood Memorial.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Contenders
Sir Cherokee was originally entered but was scratched by the track veterinarian.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Full results
Brancusi, Peace Rules and Eye of the Tiger went to the early lead and set moderately-fast fractions of 22.78 seconds for the first quarter mile and 46.23 for the first half. Funny Cide was bumped at the start but moved into tracking position going around the first turn while Empire Maker rated in eighth place. Peace Rules went to the lead on the far turn while Funny Cide moved into second and Empire Maker into third.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Full results
Turning into the stretch, jockey José A. Santos went to the whip and Funny Cide opened a clear lead, then held on to win by 1 3⁄4 lengths. Empire Maker finished a head in front of stablemate Peace Rules for second. The time of 2:01.19 was the 10th fastest running in Derby history.


2003 Kentucky Derby, Full results
The race set a number of firsts. Funny Cide was the first gelding to win the race since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. It was the first time a New York-bred had won the Kentucky Derby. It was the first win for Santos in seven attempts, and the first for trainer Barclay Tagg. It was also the first major win for Funny Cide's owners, six friends from upper New York state who named their outfit Sackatoga Stable after their hometown Sackett's Harbor and favorite racetrack, Saratoga. "We are a three-horse stable", said one of the partners, Jackson Knowlton. "We are the little guys in the game. Everyone who dreams in this game, who owns two or five horses, look at what you can accomplish. Little did we know."


2003 Kentucky Derby, Full results
Times: 1⁄4 mile – 22.78; 1⁄2 mile – 46.23; 3⁄4 mile – 1:10.48; mile – 1:35.75; final – 2:01.19. Splits for each quarter-mile: (22.78) (23.45) (24.25) (25.27) (25.44)


2003 Kentucky Derby, Controversy
On the Thursday after the race, the Miami Herald published a photo that supposedly showed Santos holding a "buzzer" (a device that administers an electric shock to horses, intended to make them run faster). The story became national news and prompted a meeting of the Churchill Downs' stewards. In the photo, there was a dark area between Santos' hand and the whip. The Associated Press subsequently published another photo that clearly showed Santos held no such device: the dark area in the original photo may have been the green silks of the runner-up Empire Maker. Santos was officially cleared a few days later. "I'm thankful this nightmare is over", he said. "A week ago was the happiest moment of my life, and then this photograph came along and nearly ruined my life."


2003 Kentucky Derby, Subsequent racing careers
Several horses went on to record Grade I wins after the Derby:


2003 Kentucky Wildcats football team
The 2003 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team participated as members of the Southeastern Conference in the Eastern Division. They played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. The team was coached by Rich Brooks.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election
The 2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held to elect the Governor of Kentucky on November 4, 2003. Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher defeated Democrat Ben Chandler and became the first Republican governor of Kentucky in 32 years.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, Democratic primary, Campaign
Incumbent Democratic Governor Paul E. Patton was term limited from seeking a third term of office and was facing investigations after admitting to an affair. This led to the other Democratic candidates distancing themselves from him. State Attorney General Ben Chandler won the primary narrowly defeating the Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives Jody Richards, whose running mate was Tony Miller. He had led in the polls for several months before the primary.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, Democratic primary, Campaign
Earlier businessman Bruce Lunsford had dropped out of the primary after Chandler launched adverts talking of abuse at nursing homes run by Lunsford's company. Lunsford had spent 8 million dollars of his own money during the primary campaign and after his withdrawal backed Richards against Chandler and said he would vote against Chandler in the general election if he won the primary.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, Republican primary, Campaign
Physician and former Air Force pilot Ernie Fletcher won the Republican primary easily. Earlier Fletcher had to replace his running mate for lieutenant governor, Hunter Bates, as he did not meet the residency requirements. Fletcher was backed by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and led in most polls before the primary.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, General election, Campaign
Fletcher tried to link Chandler with the scandals that incumbent governor Patton's administration had been racked with. However Chandler attempted to distance himself from the governor, calling for him to resign and describing himself as a maverick.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, General election, Campaign
Chandler meanwhile attacked President George Bush for his handling of the economy and linked Fletcher with his policies. Nevertheless, Fletcher was assisted late in the campaign by President Bush, who made five visits to Kentucky to support him. Fletcher led in the polls throughout the campaign and towards the end pulled out a lead of 7 to 9 percent over Chandler.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, General election, Campaign
Just before the election the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed lawsuits for some residents of largely Democratic districts in West Louisville to try to get an injunction to stop Republicans from putting challengers in their precincts. Kentucky law allowed challengers to be stationed in precincts to question whether voters were eligible but the ACLU claimed they were targeting black voters and could intimidate people. However a judge refused to issue the injunction and allowed the challengers to go ahead.


2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election, General election, Campaign
Exit polls showed that Fletcher got a quarter of Democrats to support him as well as a majority of independents. Male voters backed Fletcher over Chandler by 59% to 41%, while women split almost equally. They also showed that 18% of voters used their votes to express opposition to the incumbent governor Paul Patton.


2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal
The 2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal was a tribunal set up  on 15 October 2003 to investigate the conduct of appellate judges of the Court of Appeal of Kenya following the 2003 Ringera Judiciary Report.


2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal, Terms of reference
President Mwai Kibaki established a tribunal which was to investigate the conduct the following judges:


2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal, Terms of reference
The tribunal was to investigate the allegations that the judges were involved in corruption, unethical practices and absence of integrity in the performance of the functions of their office make a report with recommendations to the president.


2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal, Terms of reference
The judges were suspended from exercising the functions of their office during the tribunal's investigation. The decisions of the tribunal were appealed and some of the judges reinstated. The tribunal was also sued by some of the judges who were being investigated.


2003 Kenya Appeal Judges Tribunal, Membership
The tribunal was to be supported by Mbuthi Gathenji as assisting counsel and Margaret Nzioka as secretary. The two court clerks attached to the tribunal were Michael Mkala Maghanga and Stephen Ngugi.


2003 Kenya Puisne Judges Tribunal
The 2003 Kenya Puisne Judges Tribunal was a Tribunal setup on 10 December 2003 to investigate the Conduct Of Puisne Judges of the High Court of Kenya following the 2003 Ringera Judiciary Report.


2003 Kenya Puisne Judges Tribunal, Terms of Reference
President Mwai Kibaki established a tribunal which was to investigate the conduct the following judges:


2003 Kenya Puisne Judges Tribunal, Terms of Reference
The tribunal was to investigate the allegations that the said Puisne Judges have been involved in corruption, unethical practices and absence of integrity in the performance of the functions of their office a report with recommendations to the President.


2003 Kenya Puisne Judges Tribunal, Terms of Reference
In the meantime, the Judges were to stand suspended from exercising the functions of their office.


2003 Kettering Borough Council election
Elections for Kettering Borough Council, which covers the Borough of Kettering, were held on 1 May 2003 and were won by the Conservatives, gaining overall control from Labour.


2003 Kettering Borough Council election, Summary Results
The overall results, using average ward votes for the total number of votes cast, were as follows:


2003 Kettering Borough Council election, Council Before 2003 Elections
Before the elections held on 1 May 2003, the composition of Kettering Borough Council was as follows:


2003 Kids' Choice Awards
The 16th Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards was held on April 12, 2003, hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. The award show was held in the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, California. This was the last time O'Donnell would host the awards. By this point, she had hosted the awards seven times in a row. The announcers were Daran Norris and Susanne Blakeslee from The Fairly OddParents, who used their Cosmo and Wanda voices, respectively, for the event.


2003 Kids' Choice Awards
Justin Timberlake highlighted the show by performing his hit "Rock Your Body". Later, B2K performed a "That Girl"/"Girlfriend" medley with Marques Houston.


2003 Kids' Choice Awards, Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first, in bold. Other nominees are in alphabetical order.


2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship
The 2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 109th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship began on 25 July 2003 and ended on 2 November 2003.


2003 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship
On 2 November 2003, O'Loughlin Gaels won the title after a 2-12 to 2-10 defeat of Young Irelands in a final replay at Nowlan Park. It was their second championship title overall and their first title in two championship seasons.


2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The 2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was a horse race held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 26 July 2003. It was the 53rd King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.


2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The winner was Aga Khan's Alamshar, a three-year-old bay colt trained in Ireland by John Oxx and ridden by Johnny Murtagh. Alamshar's victory was the first in the race for his jockey and trainer and the second for the Aga Khan after Shergar (1981).


2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, The race
The race attracted a field of twelve runners: ten from the United Kingdom, one from Ireland and one from South Africa. There were no challengers from continental Europe. The Godolphin stable fielded three runners: Sulamani, the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and the Dubai Sheema Classic, Leadership the winner of the Gran Premio di Milano and Grandera the winner of the Singapore Airlines International Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.


2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, The race
The other British trained runners included Nayef (Champion Stakes, Dubai Sheema Classic, International Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes), Kris Kin (Epsom Derby), Falbrav (Japan Cup, Eclipse Stakes), Warrsan (Coronation Cup) and the  St Leger Stakes winners Millenary and Bollin Eric. The South African trainer Mike de Kock sent Victory Moon, a horse who had been campaigned successfully in Dubai, winning the UAE Derby. The only Irish runner was Alamshar who had finished third to Kris Kin in the Epom Derby before defeating Dalakhani in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. Nayef headed the betting at odds of 3/1 ahead of Kris Kin (7/2), Sulamani (9/2) and Alamshar (13/2).


2003 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, The race
Izdiham, who was acting as a pacemaker for Nayef, took the early lead with Alamshar racing in second. Nayef, Bollin Eric, Victory Moon and Leadership were just behind while Falbrav raced apart from the others on the far side of the course. Alamshar overtook the pacemaker on the turn into the straight and quickly opened up a clear advantage. The Irish colt was never seriously challenged and won by three and a half length from the fast-finishing Sulamani with Kris Kin two lengths back in third. The next three places were filled by Bollin Eric, Falbrav and Warrsan.


2003 King Taco 500
The 2003 King Taco 500 was to have been the nineteenth and final round of the 2003 CART World Series season on November 9, 2003 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. However, the event was canceled because of a series of large wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains north of the speedway.


2003 King Taco 500
The wildfire, which was dubbed the Old Fire, started on October 25, was just one of many in the Southern California region at the time. Because of concerns about the air quality, spectator and driver safety and worries that safety equipment and volunteers needed for the race would be occupied in fighting the fires, the race was initially postponed on October 28. When attempts to find a date to reschedule the event failed, the race was officially cancelled on October 29. A scheduled NASCAR Winston West Series support race was also cancelled. Points leader Paul Tracy had already clinched the season championship following the previous race at Surfers Paradise.


2003 King's Cup, Venue
All matches held at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand


2003 Kiribati parliamentary election
Early parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on 9 May 2003, with a second round on 14 May. The result was a victory for Protect the Maneaba, which won 24 of the 40 elected seats.


2003 Kiribati parliamentary election, Background
Parliamentary elections in 2002 and presidential elections in February 2003 had led to a government being formed by President Teburoro Tito. However, the government fell on 24 March 2003 after losing a budget vote in the House of Assembly on its first day of sitting. Tito took the matter to the Kiribati Court of Appeal, but lost, paving the way for fresh elections.


2003 Kiribati parliamentary election, Aftermath
Fresh presidential elections were held on 7 July and won by Anote Tong, who defeated his brother Harry Tong.


2003 Kisima Music Awards
The 2003 Kisima Music Awards signalled a revitalisation of the scheme. They were held in a customised "Kisima Dome" and hosted by radio presenters Bernard Otieno and Pinky Ghelani.