Yearly Archives: 2011
Tony: A Closer Look At Kansas City School Closings
A recent shutdown of more than two dozen Kansas City, Missouri Public schools was called "right-sizing." Which is kind of ironic given that everything associated with the plan has gone wrong.
It’s really just the latest foible in the history of a School District that has become the biggest embarrassment and determent to KCMO growth.
Recent headlines regarding The Southwest High School Campus have continued to scare white people from the suburbs and made it seem like the KCMSD is some kind of urban war zone. That’s not too far from reality but doesn’t take into account that this downward spiral has taken place over the course of a generation.
Student arson, violence and administrative turmoil are the current buzzwords regarding the so many headlines this week. But I’ve found yet another piece of local school District fail that’s worth identifying.
Car: Great Kansas City Auto Show; You Are There
Forget today’s annual Star front page Auto Show suck up…
The newspaper got the ad money, the readers get the puff piece. In the form of a bit of inconsequential reporting about some cars offering better mileage with gas prices rising.
Think of it as a journalistic rebate on the advertising, because there’s nothing new that passes for front page news.
I mean, really.
The reality is – but for a couple of already reported on electric cars – this year’s show is about like every year’s. Except for a handful of distractions for the kids to free up parents to be courted by the cars.
Let’s take a look….
Sounds Good: Tapes ‘N Tapes in Lawrence; Howard Iceberg & Titanics in KC This Weekend
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Okay, I have your weekend all mapped out for you…
It’s going to start off with a high energy, sweaty romp with a bunch of college kids. Nice, right? Next comes KU beating Mizzou‘s ass in their own house. Then we finish it all off with a trusty troubadour and a cocktail at the best looking bar in KC.
You’re welcome. All you have to do is show up….
Car: Stuff You Won’t Learn About at This Week’s KC Auto Show
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Here’s the deal…
Check back a little later and I’ll take you down the long and winding road of this year’s Auto Show at Bartle Hall. I’ll touch on the hotties, the notties, what to expect and the unexpected. But first, a few words from Speeding Ticket lawyer Casey Raskob from the April issue of Car and Driver. You know, a little news maybe you could use.
Starting with the "biggest truths about why and whom cops give tickets to."
""Realistically, when it comes to tickets, sports cars come first, then motorcycles," Raskob says. "Anything that makes speed obvious. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to get their attention; put a wing on your Civic.
"Rich guys go second.
Hearne: Pitch Editor Plants Mythical Schmooze on Tony
About this week’s Pitch cover story…
The one about blasphemous blogger Tony Botello. The dude here on KC Confidential the comments crowd can’t say enough kind words about. The writer who single-handedly reinvented the term "cup half full" where Kansas City is concerned.
That guy.
New, out-of-towner Pitch editor Joe Tone set aside the intense acrimony of Pitch writers like Nadia Pflaum and laid a massive, journalistic kiss on Mr.T. Nevermind the over-hyped "Exclusive!" splashed across the paper’s cover. I mean, really.
It’s not like’t Tone cornered Osama bin Laden, scored a phoner with the Unabomber or talked Star editor Mike Fannin into a one-on-one about his twin DUIs or assault conviction.
Jack Goes Confidential: Johnny Depp Voiced Fantasy Surprises For Kids, Adults
The second fantasy-adventure on the docket this weekend is RANGO…
It’s an animated fantasy tale of a displaced lizard-chameleon. A dude with a definite identity crisis who finds himself out of the restrictive confines of his terrarium and in a waterless western dessert (critter) town called Dirt.
Got all that?
There he discovers the hero inside him, becoming its new sheriff and trying to get to the bottom of the water shortage with all signs pointing to a corrupt local banker.
It’s difficult to properly describe RANGO. Suffice it to say it’s got both kid and adult appeal!
Jack Goes Confidential: Matt Damon Fantasy Thriller Leads K.C.’s Movie Weekend!
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Two new fantasy adventures on tap this weekend…
The first is a high concept romantic sci-fi fantasy thriller based on a short story by Philip K. Dick of TOTAL RECALL, MINORITY REPORT and BLADE RUNNER fame.
In THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU actor Matt Damon stars as an ambitious politician on the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate when he meets beautiful ballet dancer Emily Blunt. But the closer he gets to her the more interference he begins to experience from the forces of the Adjustment Bureau!
Who are these guys?
OTC: Is Bill Self Worth $7 Mill? / BYU’s Honor Code Is Insane
“KU under Self has won seven straight Big12 titles, 1 natioal title in 8 seasons. Can u imagine what Self is worth on open market? 7 mill a year?”Gary Bedore, writer for KUSports.com, Twitter
GH: Interesting query. Kansas wouldn’t trade Bill Self for Phil Jackson – but how much is he worth to their basketball program, the university’s image, Lawrence business owners and employees and the fan base’s positive psyche? He gets paid a ridiculous $3.1/year but that might cheap.
“(Roy Williams) was so thinned skinned. He became a different person after the first three years (at Kansas). He was a different human being. I’d take Bill Self any day of the week.”
Frank Boal, when asked if he preferred Roy or Bill as a basketball coach, 810 AM
GH: Self is a unique head coach in today’s millionaire coaching fraternity. He doesn’t act like he’s got $20 million in the bank. He still acts like he did when he was coaching Tulsa and calling into Steven St. John’s evening show in the early ‘90s. All you have to do is listen to one of Self’s Salty Iguana commercials to know he doesn’t hold his nose too high – despite his rock-star salary.
Frank Boal, when asked if he preferred Roy or Bill as a basketball coach, 810 AM
GH: Self is a unique head coach in today’s millionaire coaching fraternity. He doesn’t act like he’s got $20 million in the bank. He still acts like he did when he was coaching Tulsa and calling into Steven St. John’s evening show in the early ‘90s. All you have to do is listen to one of Self’s Salty Iguana commercials to know he doesn’t hold his nose too high – despite his rock-star salary.
Glazer: Why People Hate Me & The Secret of My Success
So some people out there don’t care for me…
That’s right? And some of you will say to that, who gives a flying f..k. That’s fair. But it may be of interest to others, so here’s the real dope:
When you climb out of the fishbowl, some of the other fish are going to get pissed off.
People tend to like others who mirror themselves and the way they see things or live their lives. Those kind of folks think they’re right and others are wrong. They have their point.
But when you fight the aging process and are winning to a certain extent, you can make fast enemies.
Add to that a high profile public presence and, ‘Oh brother’ now you’re an asshole.
Tony: Mark Lowrey Is The Official Pianist For The Mike Burke Campaign
Mark Lowrey is one of the most talented musicians in Kansas City. It’s no surprise that a Mayoral hopeful would want to be associated with his level of skill, versatility and — as Charlie Sheen has been saying lately — winning.
The musician/politician relationship is tenuous at best.
They’re two different fields but at the end of the day it’s all about getting the public to dig what you’re doing. So there’s probably a bit of a natural kinship.
Additionally, we should probably talk branding. It’s a struggle for politicos to find the right fit given that their enemies will look to nitpick at every opportunity and entertainers can’t risk alienating their audience.
Luckily, this Kansas City Mayoral race is exceptionally polite, respectful, and non-partisan. Therefore, this is probably the perfect time for musician like Lowrey to get involved.
Today: Comic Ralphie May Storms Out on Stanford’s Shows After Showdown at Channel 41
Make no mistake, pretty it was not…
Size XXL funny guy Ralphie May stormed out of Kansas City Tuesday, no-showing two sold out comedy shows at Stanford & Sons in The Legends. That following two days of ill health and ill-advised put downs of Stanford’s owner Craig Glazer.
"Well, shockingly I’ve worked with Ralphie for about 10 years and consider him a friend in the way that you can be friends with comedians," Glazer says.
On May’s Web site, he apologized to fans – but not Glazer – and vowed to return to Kansas City soon.
Here’s how it went down, drugs, threats of fisticuffs, insults and all…
Today: Soreal Design to Reopen in Uptown Shoppes
One of the KC’s hippest home furnishings and designer decor depots is mounting a comeback…
Soreal Design – housed in its 1980s and 1990s hey days in the historic Warwick Theatre at 3927 Main – is reopening in therecently rennovated Uptown Shoppes at 3600 Broadway in midtown. That according to Uptown Theater main man Larry Sells.
"Soreal Design is putting together a co-op for furniture, design and artwork," Sells says. "So we’ll rent 200, 300 and 400 square foot spaces to small up-and-coming dealers. And Soreal is one of the players."
Soreal closed years ago but much of its inventory, including its trademark art deco and pop culture art and furnishings remained in the old theater, as if frozen in time.
Until now…
OTC: ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb Goes Live W/ Cop Stop On WHB 810
While ESPN college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb was talking with WHB’s Soren Petro March 1st, Gottlieb noticed an Oklahoma State Trooper in his rearview mirror and was forced to pull over. Luckily, Gottlieb’s rental car was equipped with Bluetooth and the entire conversation was captured for the Kansas City audience. Here are some excerpts from Gottlieb’s crime, interrogation and escape. _______
“Hey, I just got pulled over.”
Doug Gottlieb, in a live on-air interview with Soren Petro Tuesday (3/1/11) afternoon as he was pulled over by an Oklahoma police officer , 810 AM
GH: Gottlieb showed almost no emotion as he relayed this news to Petro and his audience. I got the feeling this happens to Gottlieb about as often as he fills up his gas tank.
Doug Gottlieb, in a live on-air interview with Soren Petro Tuesday (3/1/11) afternoon as he was pulled over by an Oklahoma police officer , 810 AM
GH: Gottlieb showed almost no emotion as he relayed this news to Petro and his audience. I got the feeling this happens to Gottlieb about as often as he fills up his gas tank.
“Yeah, I know. I don’t care. The Fighting Illini is not a tourney team?”
Soren Petro, ignoring Gottlieb’s plight and continuing on with his interview, 810 AM
GH: Petro showed even less concern than Gottlieb that a cop’s lights were now flashing in DG’s mirror. Petro continued to pepper Gottlieb with tourney questions as the analyst readied his license for the officer. I mean, The Fighting Illini? I think that question can wait until March 2012.
Soren Petro, ignoring Gottlieb’s plight and continuing on with his interview, 810 AM
GH: Petro showed even less concern than Gottlieb that a cop’s lights were now flashing in DG’s mirror. Petro continued to pepper Gottlieb with tourney questions as the analyst readied his license for the officer. I mean, The Fighting Illini? I think that question can wait until March 2012.
STARBEAMS: Charlie Sheen, Charlie Sheen; KC Mosque Burning
Missouri is once again the meth capital of the nation, with nearly 2,000 lab seizures in 2010.
We could drop to second place this year depending on how long Charlie Sheen stays alive.
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Kansas City-based Midwest Research Institute changed its name today. This is the place where they invented the coating for M&Ms and even space suits for astronauts. The new name is shocking.
They’re calling it the Charlie Sheen Chemical Research Lab.
OTC: Jacob Pullen Working On Becoming K-State Legend
“Obviously, this is what legends are made of.”Stan Weber, commenting on the incredible play of Jacob Pullen over the second half of the Big 12 season, 810 AM
GH: Pullen’s legend hit the national stage last March when he went nuclear in the NCAA tourney. Everyone who saw Pullen exchange missiles with Xavier’s Jordan Crawford in the Cats’ 101-96 OT win in the Sweet 16 knew The Beard was someone to be feared. It is a large reason why he was a preseason All-American. He then played poorly against Duke in November and his season spiraled with bad losses, team drama and an ugly suspension. Then Pullen got a fortuitous bounce in the lane at Iowa State and hit a game-winning lay-up that began K-State’s season revival. Is Pullen a legend? He sure as hell looks like one. Read on.
“We’ve watched this (Kansas State) team be very mercurial and that’s because Jacob Pullen has been mercurial.”
Fran Fraschilla, college basketball TV analyst, 810 AM
Tracy: KCMO Ad Agency Bangs Taxpayer-Funded Juco for $120k for New Logo
Bernstein-Rein Advertising has donated dozens of branding campaigns to local charities over the years…
Good for them. So why are they hitting up Johnson County taxpayers for $120,000 to “rebrand” our crown jewel, Johnson County Community College? My question to Bob Bernstein, our venerated dean of advertising is –where’s the love, bro?
I know, I know, times are tough.
And you took a hit on the mess known as West Village just off the Plaza. It stands as a monument to extravagant architecture, runaway budgets and staredowns between local businessmen. It went into foreclosure and probably lost millions in that pissing match with J.E. Dunn Construction. But why not donate your services to Juco?
Look, everybody knows Juco’s sunflower logo sucks.
STARBEAMS: KC Auto Show; Arkansas Earthquake and KFC Chicken Run
You know the economy is struggling when most people attending this week’s auto show will have to hitchhike.
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Greenbrier, Arkansas registered a 4.7 earthquake Monday morning. That’s connected to the New Madrid Fault line and was the biggest quake they’ve felt since 1969.
It was strong enough to knock several cousins off each other.
Tony: The Fate City’s Most Worthless Local Constituencies
It’s a fact of life that everyone wants something from City Hall.
It’s the place where people feel entitled to bring their pipe dreams and ask the taxpayers to foot the bill. In this setting, essential City Services like trash pickup and infrastructure must share time with even the most frivolous local demands.
Now that we’re heading into a new epoch of local government it’s important to re-evaluate all of the people standing in line for City money and hope for a changing political climate that will make silly demands hard to meet.
While we can all agree that cops need to be paid and streets must be maintained, over the past four years some of the demands on this town have just been stupid but embattled politicos felt obligated to meet them because of so much antipathy regarding all of their other work.
So today, let’s take a look at a few "feel-good" local constituencies and how they draw money from broke-ass KC only because some people perceive that their cause is just and not just another special interest.
Glazer: They Used To Be Giants, The 2011 Academy Awards
I walked the Red Carpet twice…
For the first time in 1989 and again in 1990. I was a guest of actor Sonny Landham in ’89 – I’d just gotten out of prison. Landham co-starred in 48 Hours and Predator as well as appearing in 50 other films. My writing partner at the time, Robert Roy Pool, walked it with us. He had written the script for my my film "Outlaws" (which became The King of Sting) as well as OUTBREAK with Dustin Hoffman.
At the time I thought it would be the first of many times for me at the Academy Awards. I’d just completed the film CHAMPIONS FOREVER with Muhammad Ali, we just missed being nominated for best feature documentary (it should have been). Little did I know that I would sit next to the Italians that would win the same award for Cinema Paradisio.
Painful.
OTC: Bill Grigsby Gone @ 89 But Far From Forgotten
“There’s not a person I know in my life I can compare him to. He was like no other. His energy was remarkable. The fact that he was ageless is an example to us all. He still wanted to contribute any way he could, no matter what birthday he was celebrating.”Mitch Holthus, on the passing of Bill Grigsby, the well-known Kansas City sportscaster and spokesperson, Kansas City Star
“Every city and town in America has a Bill Grigsby. And no other place on earth but Kansas City has a Bill Grigsby. That’s about the only way I know how to tell you about my old friend, who died Saturday.”
Joe Posnanski, Kansas City Star
GH: Like a lot of JoPo’s columns, he lost me early in his Grigsby tribute. I agree with Holthus, I think Grigsby was as rare a personality as I have ever come across. Unlike JoPo, I don’t think every town has a Grigsby. Or was JoPo trying to tell us every town doesn’t have a Grigsby like Grigsby but sorta kinda? Sometimes JoPo’s attempts to be cute are a detriment to his work’s readability.
Joe Posnanski, Kansas City Star
GH: Like a lot of JoPo’s columns, he lost me early in his Grigsby tribute. I agree with Holthus, I think Grigsby was as rare a personality as I have ever come across. Unlike JoPo, I don’t think every town has a Grigsby. Or was JoPo trying to tell us every town doesn’t have a Grigsby like Grigsby but sorta kinda? Sometimes JoPo’s attempts to be cute are a detriment to his work’s readability.
