Yearly Archives: 2011
Donnelly: Sporting Releases List of Protected Players Which Includes a Few Surprises
For the second year in a row, Major League Soccer is adding a new team for the upcoming season…
Last year, two expansion teams entered the league, the Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps. For 2012 the Montreal Impact will join MLS and populate their new squad with players from existing teams through an expansion draft. However they can take a maximum of one player off any given team. Current MLS teams can protect 11 players. So Sporting Kansas City had some tough decisions to make, and there were a few surprises to say the least.
Here is who Sporting KC decided to protect, along with a justification from Sporting’s PR department:
Glazer: Woe is Us, Bring Back Brodie or Let There be Ricky
The Kansas City Clown Show hit New England…
Quaterback Tyler Palko, just as he did in preseason, stunk. He can’t make the crossing throws 15 or 20 yards down field. Thus he got intercepted 400 times. As in the preseason he can move KC from the 20 to the other sides 40 or 30 but that’s about it. He has no pro ability.
Time to try Ricky baby…remember, "Oh Ricky your so fine, your so fine, Hey Ricky!"
And why not?
Donnelly: KC Rapper Tech N9ne’s ‘Lost Cities Tour’ Rocks The Midland
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Well, she’s done it again…
And she’s getting pretty good at it.
Not-so-new-anymore KCC photog Katie Grogan ventured out to be among the people – the Strange people to be exact – the ones that were blowing out the Midland over the weekend.
KC’s hip-hop high priest Tech N9ne was in charge as usual, and he was joined by many of the artists signed to his Strange Music label for a truly local affair. The occasion?
Hearne: Star Dodges Layoffs Bullet, Bags Readers Again for Turkey Day Issue
Happy holidays from the Kansas City Star…
A rising economic tide (small but real) coupled with an optimistic outlook for retail sales this holiday season appears to have enabled new Star publisher Mi-Ai Parrish to dodge the layoffs bullet this quarter and make Christmas 2011 that much the merrier for the 700 or so remaining newspaper staffers.
Despite 3rd quarter earnings by parent McClatchy company down 21 percent and ad revenue off 10 percent.
That said, things are looking up on the home front.
Leftridge: Weekend Recap; BCS Insanity, Sausage Scented Ladies and the Return of Thiggy
My father-in-law grew up in Oklahoma.
He went to both OU and OSU. Weird, huh?
Used to be, when I thought of Oklahoma, I though of SE Hinton novels. You know, the Outsiders, a violent teenage socioecomic drama where the Greasers fought the Soc’s, and Cherry Valance was forever conflicted.
Now I just think of my father-in-law, a proud Oklahoman who can root with candor for whichever of the two teams happens to be winning. Needless to say, this was a rough weekend for him.
Meanwhile, Justin Blackmon is dropping passes from his elderly quarterback and Landry Jones is gasping for air as his dwindling Heisman candidacy circles ‘round the porcelain poop-drop.
I knew the OU/Baylor game would be good. I called that. But I’m not stupid enough to pretend that I also pegged OU as the loser. Didn’t think there was any way in hell they’d lose to Baylor, despite RG3’s super-cyborg abilities.
But man… that Robert Griffin III kid is something else. He set records—500 yards through the air, Jesus H. Christ—and ultimately saved the last drive for his legs, beautiful redwoods of indisputable virtue.
I want the Chiefs to pick him in next year’s draft. It’s possible, by God, so make it happen Pioli.
Glazer: Scribe Mellows, Promises No More Threatening Comments
Well I spoke to KC Confidential publisher, and editor Hearne…
And he’s asked me not to respond with threatening intentions to some of the crazy and over-the-top comments from nut cases anymore. My friend Johnny Dare told me the same thing months ago.
"They’re mad little nobodies attacking you because it makes them feel better, so just don’t respond," Dare said.
I didn’t listen to Dare and others and tried to respond to each attack.
But there’s no winning.
Glazer: Get Ready for the Witch Hunts; Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
Now we’re into the children and sex scandal witch hunts era…
Trust me, there’ll be more – this is a great news grabber. Yes, the Penn State story with Jerry Sandusky seems to be tragically real. And it makes all of us sick. However, beware of the "burn’em at the stake" mentality that usually accompanies from these horrible events.
Yesterday came part two. Not to be upstaged, Bobby Davis has accused Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him over a 15 year period beginning when he was 12 or 13 (he’s 39 now). This was backed up by his half brother who was abused years ago as well.
But unlike Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim came out immediately and said it was bullshit.That Davis had lied before and was just in it for the money.
Know what, I tend to believe Boeheim.
Today: Happy Holidays, KC Confidential Christmas Bash @ Jardine’s a Go!
I don’t want to rush the Holiday Spirit but…
This just in: the annual KC Confidential Christmas Wilding is slated for Monday December 12th at Jardine’s. That’s right from 5:30 p.m. until ? (alias 9:30 p.m), the staff, friends, foes and confused minions of KC Confidential are invited to kick out the jams – or not – at Kansas City’s top jazz club just off the Plaza. Recently remodeled and revamped, I might add.
Not that we’ll be pounding down jazz that night.
Think of it as Black Monday.
Hearne: What Lies Ahead for Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel on His DUI Bust
Right now, the focus is on money and sports…
But the unasked and unanswered question facing Gary Pinkel on his DUI bust this week is very much about what lies ahead – not in the court of public opinion – but in the court of law. To that end, let’s take a look at what the Mizzou football coach is likely to be facing, according to "The Missouri DUI Guide" at missouridwi.pro.
"ISSUE ONE: The Missouri Implied Consent Proceeding: Under Missouri’s implied consent law, any person who operates a motor vehicle is deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of the person’s breath, blood, saliva or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol or drug content of the person’s if the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe that they have committed a DWI.
Leftridge: What to Watch This Weekend; Double-Dose of Bears & Retro Beat-Down
The year: 2007. The site: a cold and icy Arrowhead Stadium. The participants: Kansas, led by their diminutive gunslinger Todd Reesing, and Mizzou, led by their… well, diminutive gunslinger Chase Daniel.
Take yourself back, if you will, to a moment in time long since forgotten. Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” featuring Jay-Z was riding high on the music charts, and movie fans the world over were flocking to see “Pirates of the Caribbean: How Many of These Fucking Things Can There Be?”
Going into the game, the Jayhawks were 11-0 and ranked second in the polls behind LSU; Missouri had lost previously in the season to the Sooners and were 10-1, ranked third behind their border adversary.
If you were a Kansas fan, I’m sorry.
Starbeams: Top 5 Excuse for Drunk Driving from MU Coach Gary Pinkel
MIZZOU coach Gary Pinkel was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He loses his salary for a year and won’t coach this weekend’s game against Texas Tech.
TOP 5 EXCUSES FROM GARY PINKEL:
#5. Are you kidding me? Everyone is drunk in Boone county!
#4. I’ve never really had Thanksgiving off.
#3. Thought SEC conference had something to do with Triple SEC.
Glazer: Scribe Scratches His Hairy Mop & Hatches Another Slate of Gimmies
What now is clearly another wasted three years for the Chiefs now needs fixing…
The Chiefs haven’t really had anything since Marty Ball but let’s skip the crying towel actio and get on with this week’s. They look nice and juicy, so lets see…
COLLEGE:
OKLAHOMA STATE -27 OVER Iowa State
WISCONSIN -8 (tease) over Illinois
Car: Honk If You Love Jesus; Top 12 Gay Cars (Don’t Even Ask How Many I’ve Owned)
Don’t take this the wrong way, but…
Between the rancor over Craig Glazer‘s new, sizzling hot Lotus Evora – and the thumping I’ve taken over trading my earth-saving Toyota Prius for an ever-so-humble Fiat 500 – it got me to thinking. Because ever since Fiat’s J Lo TV spots began running during Chiefs games, all I’ve heard is how unmanly the little bugger is.
And clearly, the dudes who like to knock the Fiat most are Mini Cooper worshippers.
That despite the fact that the Mini lists for $5,000 more, has several inches less rear legroom and has 50 percent less trunk space. Yeah, the Fiat’s a bit slower, but it rides better, handles about the same and gets better mileage.
But back to the "manly man" stuff…
If the Mini’s so damn macho, why is it that nearly half its drivers are chicks?
And who exactly is buying all those Union Jack decals atop the Mini’s roof? Could it be women and gay car buyers? Which got me to thinking; am I driving a chick magnet – as some have implied – or a gay-mobile?
Exactly which cars are considered "gay" and are most popular with gay car buyers?
As Greg Hall likes to say, read on…
Donnelly: JMU Head Soccer Coach Talks About What Makes MLS ROY CJ Sapong So Special
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Last week it was announced that Sporting KC’s CJ Sapong was named the MLS Rookie of the Year...
The recognition wasn’t all that much of a surprise given the season that CJ put together for KC. But remember when Sporting drafted the youngster with the 10th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft last winter? Almost universally, the pick was criticized by soccer people as a severe reach.
Most other teams didn’t even have Sapong on their boards, let alone in the top ten.
Car: Move Over J Lo, ‘Wicked’ Fiat Abarth Debuts at Los Angeles Auto Show
Stand down Mini Cooper chauvinists, your Fiat 500 bashing days are numbered….
Make fun of the J Lo ad spots if you want, even though there’s no arguing that the Mini has been a total chick car as well from the get-go. However, as of now the Fiat’s "manhood" can no longer be questioned. Not after the "small-but-wicked" Fiat 500 Abarth is announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
So read it and weep:
Sounds Good II: Tech N9ne @ The Midland & Demetri Martin @ The Uptown
Too much of a good thing? Nah…
Here’s a second installment of what to do this weekend, just to make things a little more interesting.
Saturday, November 19th
Tech N9ne at the Midland in KC
After releasing All 6’s and 7’s in June of this year, Tech N9ne’s album quickly shot up the charts, selling over 55,000 copies in its first week, and landing at #1 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart. It featured a bunch of guest performers including Snoop Dogg, Lil’ Wayne, Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, and others.
But he didn’t stop there.
Hearne: Unreported Truth; MU Coach Pinkel Backed Paterno, Blew Penn State Call
The mindless minions who rely on the print edition of the Kansas City Star for news were treated to this headline yesterday:
"Penn State News Disgusts Pinkel"
Unfortunately, what those readers are unaware of is, the Star‘s story was little more than a mulligan for the Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel. That after Pinkel blew it badly last week on St. Louis radio, where he was not only not disgusted by the Penn State nightmare, he effectively came down on the side of its fired and disgraced football coach Joe Paterno.
Where was this reported? On former Riverfront Times alt weekly main man Ray Hartman‘s blog, that’s where.
Hartman’s headline: "Gary Pinkel Cuts A Little Slack For Joe Paterno"
No tap-dancing there.
Glazer: Scribe Rips Off Shirt, Comes Clean on Rug, Puffs Out His Lotus, Commands Respect
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OK sports fans and Glazer haters here we go…
Let me start by saying these are things I did as Father Time moved in on my ass. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW MY ADVICE. It’s simply advice – take it or leave it.
This is not a ME story but a YOU story.
If you are a younger reader, these are things to consider down the road. If you are over 40 these are issues facing you right now. One thing to keep in mind, with modern medicine many of these options will change and become better.
Some of you are happy with the way you are, and that’s fine.
However if you have some vanity and want to battle the clock, HAVE AT IT!
Hearne: How the FFA Screwed KC & We Got Stuck w/ R. Crosby Kemper Jr.’s AFA
It’s like this; once upon a time the annual National FFA gangbang was one of KC’;s most prized possessions…
From it’s inception, each October for 70 years, thousands of blue-jacketed farm kids clod-hopped their way here, dropping tons of dough while behaving well. They were colorful, plentiful, magical even. That is, until 1998 when Louisville stole ’em – walked off with our tourism crown jewel – and they’ve been gone ever since.
KC politicos vowed to get ’em back, but nearly a generation has passed since the 37,000-strong blue-jacketed farm kids last roamed the Plaza and Downtown.
Leftridge: Tales From the Tweet: Penn State Perspectives, Ultimate Fighting & Javier’s Pee-Wee Love
So the big news over the past couple of weeks—obviously—has been the unfolding of events at Penn State. There have been hundreds of stories blogged, Tweeted and shared since the news first broke, and the fact of the matter is, I have nothing to add. I have no personal experiences to relate (and for this, I am grateful) and every thought that I’ve had regarding the situation has already been emoted by a plethora of others.
Twitter, unsurprisingly, played a large role in the dissemination of the story and allowed people around the world to share their thoughts, both well-articulated and ridiculous. Here were a handful of Tweets, both interesting and stupid.
@jcharles25 (Jamaal Charles, Chiefs RB)
“Took long enough for Paterno to get fired. Now he should be sent to jail along with his child molesting assistant coach!!!”
It’s always refreshing to hear an athlete with balls say what they think, whether you agree with them or not. I don’t know anyone who’s a fan of the whole, “man, whut a tuff situation for all them peoples.” If you’re going to take the time to tap our your 140 characters, make them count.
