Author Archives: Hearne Christopher Jr.

Time for some navel-gazing… Following the Missouri Tigers stunning (and impressive) win at Georgia this past Saturday, it’s time to re-read some of those early season tea leaves. As well as look ahead to the Chiefs historic 6-0 (going on 7-0) … Continue reading →

Why do promoters insist on inflating and exaggerating attendance figures? If you stop and think about it, the answer’s somewhat obvious. Because size matters and smaller crowds can lend the perception that an event like last weekend’s New Age gang bang WaterFire … Continue reading →

Think of it, as a variation on the if you build, they will come concept… If you hype, they will believe…maybe even come. So it is with the brief history of WaterFire in Kansas City, one of the duller, more … Continue reading →

Holy crap, I’m trapped in Excelsior Springs and the bloom is off the rose… After staying at the historic Arlington in Hot Springs, Arkansas last spring I had a brainstorm. Flattering online photos aside, the Arlington was a dump – beautiful outside, … Continue reading →

There’s just no escaping the touchy issue of anonymous comments online… The latest: Pitch editor Scott Wilson‘s dissing of the Kansas City Star‘s new Facebook-only comments requirement. “How’s that new commenting system workin’ out for ya, KC Star?” Wilson’s headline … Continue reading →

Celebs who are notorious for being curt and often rude to local hero worshippers. Starting with George Brett, Tom Watson and Len Dawson to name but three. There are some nice guys, too. Channel 9 anchor Larry Moore and Johnny … Continue reading →

It’s time for even the skeptics to face facts… “The Chiefs are definitely in the Super Bowl mix,” asserts sports scribe Craig Glazer. “I mean they have Alex Smith at quarterback. Name an elite quarterback you’d rather have. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger? He’s … Continue reading →

Two years ago WaterOne in Johnson County made a deal with the devil… The utility agreed to allow HomeServe – a 20 year-old British plumbing repair and insurance company – to hawk its wares using the local water company’s letterhead … Continue reading →

Remember that expression, it’s deja vu all over again… Well, a mere seven months ago I wrote what amounted to an advance obituary on singer David Cook, the kid from Blue Springs who walked away five years ago with a million … Continue reading →

This just in from The Hollywood Reporter… Remember AMC Theatres new owner Wang Jianlin‘s ambitious new plans for an $8.2 billion movie studio complex, reported on here recently by Sir Paul Wilson? Fifty-eight year-old Wang is China’s richest tycoon. He’s also the dude … Continue reading →

He wanted to be Kansas City’s mayor (twice)… He also wanted to erect a London-sized fariis wheel along the banks of the Missouri River. Hey, Stan “The Man” Glazer wanted to do lotsa cool stuff over the course of his … Continue reading →

Bottoms up, Nebraska Furniture Mart is celebrating its 10th… That’s right, it’s time to celebrate. A decade has passed since the Omaha based retailer took Kansas City by storm, laying waste – some would suggest – to any number of … Continue reading →

All that glitters is not gold… Far from it, actually, which isn’t to say good looks don’t matter. One glimpse at that fancy-schmancy new Wendy’s fast food acropolis at 91st and Metcalf Saturday – on the hallowed former home of … Continue reading →

We all make mistakes, right? I’ve got a couple of doozies under my belt. Perhaps you’ve noticed. Not everyone however is wildly anxious to own up to the error of their ways. Take the University of Missouri athletics department. When … Continue reading →

OK, I lied… Dandy Don Fortune is not coming back – not that I know of anyway – not physically. For one thing, he’s older than God now and he didn’t exactly depart the Cowtown in grand style. Everyone from … Continue reading →

Raise your hand if you recognize the name Vahe Gregorian? Lemme see, one, two, three…that’s it? Truth be told, chances are if you’re a reader of KC Confidential you also keep an eye on the Kansas City Star and probably … Continue reading →

Let’s hear it for the unsung heroes of the comments section… In the five or so years KC Confidential’s been around we’ve come full circle with the comments crowd; early on they were celebrated. “I enjoy the comments more than the … Continue reading →

  Try this one on for size, courtesy of frequent comments section flyer Chuck Lowe. Lowe was admiring Dwight Sutherland’s piece taking former Greater Kansas City Chamber head dude Pete Levi to task for referring recently to the red ink stained glory days … Continue reading →

Apples and oranges, anyone? If there’s one thing my pal Kansas City Star business writer Kevin Collison could easily be convicted of it’s downtown boosterism. Think irrational exuberance with an exclamation point. Never mind, for example, that experts have painstakenly … Continue reading →