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Glazer: ‘A List’ Comedy / Movie Star TJ Miller Headlines Stanford’s
Who’s the new young gun in comedy movies today?
TJ Miller that’s who. Miller has starred and co starred in NINE STRAIGHT "A" MOVIES. Well, A by today’s standards. He was co lead in CLOVER-FIELD (cameraman and talking through the entire picture), THE GOODS (with Jeremy Piven), GET HIM TO THE GREEK, YOGI BEAR( Park Ranger), GULLIVER’S TRAVELS, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, SHES OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, UNSTOPPABLE (WITH DENZEL), and in August he’s co starring with KC’s Paul Rudd in MY IDIOT BROTHER.
There’s more…
Donnelly: Ochocinco Better With His Hands, Not Offered Pro Contract; LIVESTRONG Stadium Porn
To absolutely no one’s surprise, Sporting Kansas City announced earlier this week that Chad Ochocinco would not be receiving a contract offer. They did, however, offer Chad the title of "honorary member." 
"Honorary member?" That’s kinda like Larry the Cable Guy getting an honorary degree from MIT.
So what does this mean?
A couple things.
It means Ochocinco’s soccer skills and soccer fitness are nowhere near the level required to play in the MLS, or most other pro leagues for that matter. Not even close. But we knew this, right? (No? You need to read my stuff more, it’s spot on.)…
Car: 2011 Ford Taurus Limited Delivers
I had the pleasure of driving a 2011 Ford Taurus Limited twice last week courtesy of Budget Car rental…
Then heading out on a pair of 400-plus mile trips. I’m here to report the Taurus kept me entertained, comfortable and safe.
Let’s take a closer look.
Curb appeal
The 2011 Taurus was my favorite at the Greater Kansas City Auto Show earlier this month.
Starstruck: Mellinger Shines but Sports Daily Still Lacking Teeth
New columnist Sam Mellinger is taking Sports Daily to new heights in terms of column writing. But the section remains largely toothless when it comes to coverage of local teams and sports news.
Yeah, they get the obvious stories like KU athletics director Lew Perkins fall from grace and the KU ticket ripoff. But aside from that the section sets forth a largely unquestioning approach to teams and managements not mired in obvious scandal or disarray.
For example, yesterday’s massive headline: "The Royals REINVIGORATED."
Please…
Today: Westport’s Loss is 39th Street’s Gain, Streetside to Remain Vacant…For Now
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It’s official; the courtship is o-v-e-r…
Now that Shawnee music emporium Vinyl Renaissance has announced intentions to open a second store on 39th Street in Midtown, the chances of ressurrecting the old Pennyland/Streetside location in Westport proper is deader than Liz Taylor.
"As far as Streetside Records goes…let sleeping dogs lie," reads VR’s Facebook post annoucing the new digs yesterday. "We’re all excited about the new store and look forward to seeing everyone on Record Store Day April 16!! Thanks to everyone for their patience and support."
Not that negotiations for Streetside’s space didn’t go down before it all fell apart…
OTC: Royals Are The Yankees Of Minor Leagues
“The Royals have been a punch line for going on two decades. Now, boasting baseball’s best farm system, they intend to get the last laugh. … The Royals – dare we say it – are the Yankees of the minor leagues.”Tim Keown, writer, ESPN the Magazine
“The Kansas City Royals are baseball’s version of a garage band with potential. … Disgruntled fans of the big league club, weary of the 90-plus-loss seasons, began following the farm system instead.”
Tim Keown, writer, ESPN the Magazine
GH: The Yankees of the minor leagues. Well, at least we’ve got that going for us this season. Plan your trips to Omaha and Northwest Arkansas now!
Tim Keown, writer, ESPN the Magazine
GH: The Yankees of the minor leagues. Well, at least we’ve got that going for us this season. Plan your trips to Omaha and Northwest Arkansas now!
Take .390: Royals New Bar & Grill Is Bacon Good
The Royals continue to allow the young talent in their farm system to simmer while we begin another summer of patience at The K. So how do you market a team in waiting to a starving fan base? With food! Glorious food! Mountains and gobs of heart-tugging grub. Have you ever people watched at The K? A large number of these fans are not there solely for a crack at a foul ball. Toby Cook, the Royals VP of Public Relations, invited the media on Tuesday to view Kauffman Stadium’s new .390 Bar & Grill and some of the eclectic fare that will be served in this more upscale lounge. Here are my notes from the event.
Glazer: Conan’s Grrrl Returns to Shawnee Mission East for Award
Sandhal Bergman is Kansas City’s only female Golden Globe winner…
She’ll be here May 6th to accept a lifetime achievement award from Shawnee Mission East, her high school. Bergman won the Golden Globe for Conan The Barbarian with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982. This is the second time Shawnee Mission East has given the award.
Sandhal moved to LA from New York in the late 70’s, after a Broadway career. She was in Pippin with Ben Vereen and All That Jazz. Bergman latter co starred in the film version of All That Jazz.
And Sandhal was one of the first "A List" movie stars to appear, well, naked
Tracy: Will KCMO Voters Shoot Themselves in the Foot on E-Tax Vote?
Checkmate: KCMO voters, Pat Gray’s pawns, are poised to trap themselves with the E-tax.
In chess, one seemingly simple, kneejerk move can lead to losing the game.
But when the tax formula is wrong, you have to FIX it! Or lose the game. It’s that simple.
KCMO voters will trudge to the polls one more time, Tuesday, April 5. And a NO vote would repeal once and for all the E-tax–the crack cocaine of the KCMO budget.
The big question: Will voters stop hating on Johnson County long enough to save the resale value on their homes? Will they wake up: their tax formula is horribly out of whack. Now they have only ONE CHANCE to force the City Council to fix it.
Today: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! New Pitch Owner Appears Poised to Kick Butt
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Remember that stuff I wrote about the Pitch and its many problems and woes?
Well, you can forget about that now, it’s time to move on. That’s exactly what’s about to happen, if my examination new Pitch owner SouthComm‘s alternative news weekly Nashville Scene is an indication of what’s in store for Kansas City. And more to the point, for the now-nervous wretches at Ink.
Oh yeah. Sources say the Kansas City Star owned Ink is shaking in its shoes, having taken the measure of SouthComm’s handiwork in Nashville. SouthComm may only be a four year-old firm, but its doings down south run circles around what Village Voice‘s Pitch has failed to accomplish here. Same goes for Ink, only different.
OTC: KSU Fans Also Revel In KU Failures / New Paint At Mizzou?
“I’m a K-State grad. When Kansas gets beat Kansas State fans are smiling more than usual. … You never lose that.”Gene Keady, former coach at Purdue, when asked by Shan Shariff about Kansas loss to VCU, 610 AM
GH: We dug deep into the psyche of Mizzou fans in yesterday’s OTC and their love for celebrating “Tiger Christmas” each spring when the Kansas basketball team loses to an inferior opponent in the NCAA tourney. Let us not forget the K-State fans who also revel in their rivals’ misfortunes. Even KSU old-timers like Keady still get wood from a Jayhawk catastrophe.
“Why can’t he find more players of high character? Why can’t Bill Self find those players?”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: No K-State grad in the local media takes more glee in a Kansas basketball defeat than KK. He fervently attempts to hide his hatred for the Crimson & Blue but losses like VCU are too delicious for him to stay silent. Kietzman played a mock promo for KU’s Final Four broadcasts that poked vicious fun at the Kansas team, fans and aura that surrounds Kansas basketball. While he tried to push the blame for the promo onto a faceless voiceover talent, this was pure KK. One thing you can say for Bob Fescoe that you’ll never say about Kietzman, Fescoe is too dumb to be fake.
Take 5: 610 Sports’ Shan To Take His Shariff Badge To Dallas
Shan Shariff is celebrating his 12-month anniversary at 610 Sports by taking a morning-drive gig in the big-hat city of Dallas. This Thursday, March 31st is Shariff’s final show at 610 Sports. Shariff declined to comment on his move to Dallas, simply asking to wait. “I would prefer to wait until both sides send out their releases this week,” said the mid-morning host at 610 Sports.Ryan Maguire, the Program Director at 610 Sports who hired Shariff, confirmed his pending departure. “I can confirm that Shan has resigned.,” stated Maguire. “His last day on the air will be this Thursday. He has accepted a job in another market. It was an opportunity that he wanted to go after and we allowed him to pursue it.”
Glazer: Time for Kansas City Sports Fans to Sober Up, Get a Life
What did we learn from yesterday’s KU Elite Eight debacle?
Follow sports for fun or money, not to win titles. Kansas City just isn’t – and never will be – title town. Face it, we live in the Midwest, players think it’s boring here. Our media is weak kneed. And the city is way too conservative – do-gooders to the max.
So we don’t win much and nobody outside of here really much gives a damn.
OTC: VCU Takes KU’s Trash Talk & Turns It Into Nylon
“The Jayhawks had developed a reputation as college basketball’s bad boys by getting into a pregame shoving match with Richmond and trash-talking with the Spiders in the tunnel the day before their 20-point victory in the Sweet 16.”Jason King, columnist, YahooSports.com
GH: The Spiders and VCU both call Richmond home. Let’s assume the Spiders were the ones who informed VCU’s Jamie Skeen that the Morris twins were “buttholes on the court.” Read on.
“They’re NBA talent, as everybody already knows. I respect both of them. I came in the game thinking that they were not so cool on the court and I thought they were some buttholes on the court — that’s what everybody told me, at least — but when I got on the court I found out they were really cool.”
Jamie Skeen, who led VCU with 26 points and 10 boards against KU, in his postgame presser, CBSsports.com
GH: Skeen was the best player on the floor Sunday. He drilled three after three to help build VCU’s first-half lead to 18. Was his effort fueled by the twins’ verbal swagger? Hell yeah. Kansas likes to talk and it usually works like it did against Richmond. VCU acted like the trash talking was nectar for their jump shots.
Jamie Skeen, who led VCU with 26 points and 10 boards against KU, in his postgame presser, CBSsports.com
GH: Skeen was the best player on the floor Sunday. He drilled three after three to help build VCU’s first-half lead to 18. Was his effort fueled by the twins’ verbal swagger? Hell yeah. Kansas likes to talk and it usually works like it did against Richmond. VCU acted like the trash talking was nectar for their jump shots.
Glazer: Humble Scribe Eats Humble Pie, Calls Out Bill Self as KU Crashes to Earth
So I was wrong, dead wrong…
KU Basketball is becoming the Chiefs of the 90’s. Good teams but early exits from the post season. However what saves Bill Self is the 2008 national title. The problem is KU is getting bounced every year by NOBODIES. Teams lucky to even be in the tournament.
Who the fuck was Bucknell? Who the fuck was Northern Iowa?
This year KU was the No. 1 seed. It had a simple, couldn’t-be-easier path to the Final Four. All they had to do was beat VCU. Who the fuck are they?
So Bill has to wear the "got beat who-the-fuck" tag now.
Car: The Curious Case of the Missing Fiat 500s
To paraphrase Paul Revere, The Fiats are coming, the Fiats are coming!
But while that’s undoubtedly the case, for many, if not most of the 500 souls who plunked down $500 deposits for a limited edition Prima Edizione model of the tiny Fiat 500, the question is, when?
In December, Fiat North America head Laura Soave told Prima buyers, "Delivery should occur in mid to late February…In the meantime, dealers are busy putting the finishing touches on our Studios."
Less true words seldom have been spoken…
Today: Death of a Legend, The KUDL Story
The Star lazily folded the news of legendary KUDL FM’s demise into a bit about 980 KMBZ simulcasting on KUDL’s signal…
For two reasons; the first being that Star reporter Aaron Barnhart could care less about radio – he’s a TV guy. Second, because the aging newshounds at the paper are mostly white males 50 and up and the simulcast story was a bigger deal to them than a women’s music station biting the dust.
They were wrong.
The death of a half century old station is far larger than a lateral move with a 14th rated station.
So KUDL goes away at 8 a.m. today, and word is KUDL’s Tanna Guthrie is planning a very special sendoff.
Hearne: The Rise & Fall of the KC Pitch, Part Deux
The current state of Kansas City "alt weekly" the Pitch?
It’s painfully obvious to pretty much anyone who’s been watching that print publications are fighting a losing battle. A battle for their lives. Which isn’t to say that the Kansas City Star, for example, is going to just blow away. At some point in time the stronger pubs will downsize themselves into a long-term model that affords profitability.
Oh, it won’t be pretty. Just as it hasn’t at 18th and Grand these past three years. It will get there though, and if the economy rights itself, they may even begin adding bodies. However in the long run, it’s just too costly to print and distribute hundreds of thousands of newspapers each day, and fewer and fewer people – younger people – have an appetite to hold a physical paper in their hands.
The problem, as most of you probably know, is nobody’s come close to figuring out how to make anywhere near the profits online that they’ve been making in print.
So those in the print pub biz, it’s beyond scary.
Today: What Not to Where While KU Takes Elite Eight Tube Ride
The premise, both simple and lame…
Typical newspaper pablum for the masses. Masterminded by the Lawrence Journal World, which took it upon itself to hatch an activity guide for folks who could care less about choking down KU‘s 10 day march to its stunning loss to VCU in the NCAA tournament.
Think of it as, clues for the clueless...
Donnelly: Sporting KC Loses In Chicago 3-2, Bravo Issued Questionable Red Card
Scrambling to piece together a lineup prior to Saturday’s contest at the Chicago Fire, Sporting KC boss Peter Vermes was forced to 
construct a starting XI unlike any other he’s used over the past few seasons. Between injuries and national team call-ups, SKC was without Julio Cesar (starting center back), Michael Harrington (starting right back), Shavar Thomas (defender), Luke Sassano (defender), Kei Kamara (starting forward), and Ryan Smith (forward).
Vermes did the best he could by sliding left back Roger Espinoza into the center of defense alongsde Matt Besler, and sticking underachieving Chance Myers at left back, with newbie Scott Lorenz at the right back spot. Also, Vermes used a 4-4-2 formation instead of the normal 4-3-3.
Recipe for disaster? Yeah, kind of…
