Category Archives: Sports
OTC: It’s Not Frank Martin’s Salary Miami Can’t Handle, It’s His Mouth
“The search for Miami’s new basketball coach has apparently been narrowed down to a few finalists, and one name missing from that list is Kansas State’s Frank Martin, the Miami Herald reported Saturday. … The Herald reported Saturday that some Miami trustees lobbied for Martin but there were no indications he has been interviewed.”Cole Manbeck, TheMercury.com
GH: The non-recruitment of Frank Martin by the University of Miami continues to be one of the oddest “non-stories” in college basketball this off-season. Read on.
“I love it here. I’ve never had any other options but to be at K-State this year. And I haven’t had any desire but to be at K-State this year.”
Frank Martin, in a story written by Doug Tucker of the AP
GH: Okay, that’s pretty clear. Frank wants to stay in Manhattan where he is happy and by the way, he’s never even had another option. Well, maybe not. Read on.
Frank Martin, in a story written by Doug Tucker of the AP
GH: Okay, that’s pretty clear. Frank wants to stay in Manhattan where he is happy and by the way, he’s never even had another option. Well, maybe not. Read on.
OTC: Masters Goes Bad For Rory & Female Reporter
“Rory McIlroy is too good not to bounce back. But that trainwreck on Amen Corner is going to leave a nasty scar. 1 you can’t sandblast off.”Jim Rome, after the 21-year-old McIlroy went Greg Norman circa 1995 on the backside at Augusta and blew his 4-stroke Sunday lead into an 80 and finished tied for 15th, Twitter
GH: Rory’s meltdown was Chernobyl-like..only quicker. One moment he’s leading The Masters and the next he’s in some side yard along an Augusta cabin sizing up his second shot from a place we have never seen before. You had to feel for the kid as his wheels came off and his chance at the jacket disintegrated with his swing. He only imploded for three holes, but it seemed like 10. I agree with Rome, he’ll bounce back and have a great career. But no one will forget his ugly fall from the leader board.
“Lots of junior prom putts for Tiger yesterday…all lip, no hole.”
JFish26, on Tiger Woods’ close-but-no-jacket Sunday at Augusta, Message board on KUsports.com
OTC: CBS’ Gary Parrish Links Frank Martin To Miami
“If (Miami) will finally commit to seriously funding its basketball program, Miami can, in the span of a week, go from losing a coach who never had a winning record in the ACC to landing a coach who has done nothing but win in the Big 12. Yes, Miami can have Kansas State’s Frank Martin. All Miami has to do is secure the funds and make the call.”Gary Parrish, college columnist, CBSsports.com
GH: The rumors and speculation around Martin leaving KSU for Miami have been swirling ever since Mike Alden made his odd choice of plucking Frank Haith from the Hurricanes. Martin didn’t squash these rumors with his interview with Tim Brando. Parrish’s column today adds even more heat to this growing flame. Read on.
OTC: Alex Gordon Goes From Goat To Great In 1st Week
“This has got to be it. This is his time. He knows it. … His confidence right now is probably as high as its ever been since I’ve been here. We’re getting him looser with his upper body, doing pretty much a solid month of drill work, just the tension out of his upper body and really focusing him being more consistent in his approach. His hands are working better. His swing is much better. Now it’s just going to be seeing how consistent he can be once the game starts.”Kevin Seitzer, Royals hitting coach, on Alex Gordon prior to the start of the season, Lincoln Journal Star
GH: Gordon could not of had a much worse outing on opening day when he went 0-5 with three Ks and struck out in his final at bat with the game on the line. Almost everyone, including me, had given up on the one-time top prospect from Nebraska. His second game wasn’t much better, again striking out with men in scoring position. But then something happened. He started to hit. He started to look comfortable. Tuesday night against the White Sox he looked down right cocky at the plate! Read on.
2011 Off The Couch NCAA Bracket Challenge Winners
The 2011 Off The Couch NCAA Bracket Challenge is complete! And it was almost as ugly as the championship game. Please read below for our top three winners. Please email me your mailing address so I can get you your gift certificates from Jardine’s Restaurant, Westport Flea Market, Waldo’s The Well and Stanford’s Comedy Club in The Legends at Village West.1) 1) Joe Mathieu: 216 points, 40 correct and Ohio State / $100 Jardines
2) 2) Eli Waterman: 211 points, 34 correct and UConn / $50 Westport Flea Market
3) 3) Red: 209 points, 38 correct and North Carolina / $25 The Well
OTC: Tim Brando Gets The Frank Martin/Miami Interview
"No one has called me, Tim. I’ve got a great job. I work with great people. … If people want to throw our name out there, I look at that as a compliment and I look at that as being lucky and fortunate that I’m in a good place right now and that people out there respect what we’ve done.”Frank Martin, answering Tim Brando’s questions on his interest in the Miami job, Tim Brando Radio Show
GH: I grabbed these quotes from a write up by Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital Journal. Brando somehow got the interview with Martin that every local radio, TV and print media outlet should have been clamoring to get. Maybe Martin rebuffed local requests for interviews and instead went with a more national voice to air his somewhat noncommittal comments. But this is an interview that we needed done by someone locally. Getting beat by a national guy is not attractive.
“Leaves door very open.”
Sam Mellinger, on Frank Martin’s comments on Brando’s show, Twitter
GH: It is easy to read something into Martin’s comments or read nothing at all. It all depends a=on your perspective. Read on.
Sam Mellinger, on Frank Martin’s comments on Brando’s show, Twitter
GH: It is easy to read something into Martin’s comments or read nothing at all. It all depends a=on your perspective. Read on.
OTC: Is Frank Haith Coming & Frank Martin Going?
“If Missouri really hired Frank Haith, Mike Alden better have the explanation of the century.”Pat Forde, of ESPN, on hearing Missouri will be naming Miami’s coach as their replacement for Mike Anderson, Twitter
GH: I went to bed thinking the Shaka Smart bidding between Mizzou and North Carolina State would be the story today. Instead, I woke to a funeral that has some guy named Frank Haith carrying Mike Alden’s casket all by himself down the Avenue of the Columns. Read on for the national media’s reaction.
“Mizzou hires Frank Haith. Rest of world giggles.Frank Haith is an anagram for worse hire than Quin Snyder. … I truly feel bad for Frank Haith. He doesn’t deserve today’s scorn. Mike Alden deserves every bit of it.”
Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports, Twitter
OTC: Alex Gordon Continues To Write Next Great Greek Tragedy
“Slicing, slicing, slicing… Foul!”Denny Matthews, on Alex Gordon’s ninth-inning walk-off three-run home run attempt landing just foul down the left-field line, Royals Radio
GH: I missed my first Royals’ opening day in six years yesterday. I followed the game from my desk on the radio via Denny Matthews and Bob Davis. A frustrating first half of the game had turned to hope in the ninth during my drive home. As Gordon came to the plate I recalled his first at bat in the bigs on Opening Day 2007 when he battled Curt Schilling with the bases loaded. You too?
“Gordon came this close to being the baseball hero. Instead, bupkis. A few feet the other way, and the tome of this column and the spirit of baseball fans all over town would have been filled with the kind of hope that Kansas City usually sees only from a distance.”
Sam Mellinger, Kansas City Star
GH: How cruel of the baseball gods to once again taunt us with dreams that quickly sour into nightmares.
Sam Mellinger, Kansas City Star
GH: How cruel of the baseball gods to once again taunt us with dreams that quickly sour into nightmares.
OTC: Mizzou Gets Whitewashed By Painter & Twitter
“I’ve got sources telling me they’re not 100% sure, they’re 110% sure!”Eric Blumberg, sports anchor/reporter for Columbia’s KOMU, while talking to Nick Wright about 2:15 PM Wednesday, on how positive he was that Purdue’s Matt Painter had accepted the Missouri basketball coaching job, Twitter
GH: Blumberg was one of the first respectable voices in the media to make it known via Twitter that Painter was coming to Mizzou. I was at Sporting Kansas City’s stadium tour when I saw his tweet and mentioned to the people there it looked to be a done deal. When I heard Blumberg on Nick Wright’s show make his 110% guarantee, I could not believe what happened next. Read on.
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!
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 .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.
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.
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.”
OTC: Kansas Looks To Battle Richmond / Mizzou Coaching Search Buzz
“I kinda think Kansas might roll in this one. It’s more of a feeling I’m getting from Kansas than anything. … I will tell you that last night I picked Duke and BYU, so what do I know?”Jason King, of YahooSports.com, 610 AM
GH: Our last local team in The Dance and the only Big 12 team remaining takes on Richmond tonight at 6:27 PM (CT). Will they come hungry or play down to Richmond’s sleeper reputation? The experts are pretty certain the Jayhawks will not repeat the Northern Iowa loss in last year’s Sweet 16.
“I think Kansas just jams it inside (against Richmond).”
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN Radio
GH: Kansas will tower over the Spiders’, who are a poor rebounding team. I don’t see the Morris twins playing the game with their backs to the basket, though. That’s Thomas Robinson’s game. Look for the muscular T-Rob to have a big night in the paint.
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN Radio
GH: Kansas will tower over the Spiders’, who are a poor rebounding team. I don’t see the Morris twins playing the game with their backs to the basket, though. That’s Thomas Robinson’s game. Look for the muscular T-Rob to have a big night in the paint.
OTC: Mike Anderson Shows More Snake Than Hog In Leaving Mizzou
“It was handled as bad as it could have been handled on Mike Anderson’s side.”Gabe DeArmond, of PowerMizzou.com, on the head basketball coach’s departure from Mizzou to accept the Arkansas job, 810 AM
GH: DeArmond was a guest on Steven St. John’s and Nate Bukaty’s Thursday morning show and his commentary on what went down in Columbia Wednesday night regarding Anderson’s arrival at the airport and mysterious departure from Mizzou Arena was riveting radio. Apparently, Anderson chose the cowardly way out and bypassed speaking to the media after talking with his the Mizzou players.
“Media admitted (to Mizzou Arena after Anderson/players meeting). Cynics wonder if draw to divert so Anderson could get out. Wonder why he can’t/won’t face situation?”
Vahe Gregorian, of St. Louis Post Dispatch
GH: Anderson leaving Mizzou for Arkansas where he spent 17 years is understandable. His son called it “going home.” But why act like a snake the evening you make your departure official? He hid behind trucks at the airport, tried to lose reporters on his drive the arena and then snuck out of the building before facing the press. These are the same guys who throw a fit when a 17-year-old recruit changes his mind about signing a letter of intent. I lost a lot of respect for Coach Mike last night. Be a man and face the music. He chose to be a wimp and slither off into the night.
OTC: Media Struggles To Solve Whether Mike Anderson Stays Or Goes
“I have never covered a story where both sides are hearing such diametrically things. Anybody who tells you they know, they’re not telling the truth.”Gabe DeArmond, of PowerMizzou.com, on the fluidness of whether or not Mike Anderson is staying or going, in an interview with Steven St. John and Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: The Mike Anderson saga is now in its third year of whether he stays or goes from the Mizzou basketball program he revived after the Quin Snyder debacle. This courtship with Arkansas is easily the most serious of his past affairs. In the past few days reports have swung wildly back and forth that Anderson was gone to Arkansas and also that he had struck a deal to stay in Columbia. It somewhat mirrors his Tigers’ chaotic performances on the court the past two months.
“Overwhelmingly the Missouri fans who follow me on Twitter want him to go.”
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: Has Anderson tested the Mizzou faithful fan base one too many times? According to SSJ there may not be much of a home to return to if Anderson does decide to stay.
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: Has Anderson tested the Mizzou faithful fan base one too many times? According to SSJ there may not be much of a home to return to if Anderson does decide to stay.
OTC: Nick Wright Gets Inked & It Might Stain Him
“I say this, and I mean it: You could not speak English, and be scanning the radio dial in Kansas City, and you would stop on my show.”Nick Wright, Ink Magazine
GH: Dugan Arnett wrote a feature piece on 610 Sports afternoon sports talk host for The Kansas City Star’s alternative weekly, Ink Magazine. I think Dugan’s piece was fair but a bit confusing. He appears to waffle between whether or not Wright is delusional or credible. One thing rang clear in the story, Wright is high on Wright. Read on.
“As (Nick Wright) spoke, he was nursing a wine cooler and … he had just finished providing a detailed and unsolicited account of how intelligent he happens to be (“I crushed the SATs”), how regularly he is recognized around town (“a lot”) and how, had he not decided to pursue a career in radio, he would have almost certainly become a very successful doctor or lawyer (“I could have gone to Harvard, probably”), and now he was leaning forward in his seat and explaining that, when you really break it down, there isn’t a sane individual on this planet who could listen to his radio show and not conclude that it is, without question, the best sports-talk program in Kansas City.”
Dugan Arnett, writer, Ink Magazine
GH: Makes you wonder why this future Johnny Cochran/Doogie Howser settled for talking sports.
Dugan Arnett, writer, Ink Magazine
GH: Makes you wonder why this future Johnny Cochran/Doogie Howser settled for talking sports.
OTC: Kansas Rolls Into Alamo Looking Like Santa Anna
“The Kansas Jayhawks are in the Final Four in Houston. Just pack your bags and get ready to go.”Frank Boal, on the number of upsets that have left Kansas a seemingly easy road to Houston, TV 41
GH: Kansas fans may cringe to hear such bold talk but almost everyone expects KU to roll through San Antonio this weekend like they were Santa Anna at the Alamo.
“I think this year’s NIT bracket might be tougher than the road Kansas will face to the Final Four.”
Sean Callahan, of Rivals.com, Twitter
Sean Callahan, of Rivals.com, Twitter
“KU sure seems to play better against ‘name’ teams in the NCAAs which should prolly make KU fans worry a bit heading into this weekend.”
Gary Bedore, of LJW, Twitter
Gary Bedore, of LJW, Twitter
“Ohio St probably has to beat Kentucky, UNC & Duke to get to championship game. Kansas? Richmond, Florida State and Florida. What a difference!”
Dirk Chatelain, writer for Omaha World Herald, Twitter
Dirk Chatelain, writer for Omaha World Herald, Twitter
OTC: Frank Martin’s Need To Bully The Media Steps All Over Pullen’s Historic Night
“That’s what you wanted to see? Is that what you were trying to get outta him? Make him cry here in front of people?” Good question!”Frank Martin, to The Star’s Kellis Robinette, after Robinette asked Pullen to talk about his emotions after setting the all-time scoring record, tying his personal game high but being unable to win and advance, in K-State’s televised postgame presser following their loss to Wisconsin
GH: Frank the bully was front and center once again Saturday night. This time he couldn’t help steal the spotlight and moment from one of the greatest clutch players the Big 12 has ever known. Martin is either simply too immature to be the head of Kansas State basketball or simply too inexperienced in handling pressure in big-time sports. Saturday in Tucson he again looked very much like the out-of-control high school coach from which he so adamantly tries to distance himself.
“I think Frank Martin just overreacted. It was a good question. If Frank Martin wouldn’t have said anything, would people still be up in arms about it? I don’t think they would. I think Frank Martin saying something made an issue out of something that never should have been an issue.”
Robert Ford, who covered the K-State press conference in Tucson for 610 Sports
