Leftridge: An Arrowhead by any Other Name and This Weekend’s Winners and Losers

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

In light of Nick Wright’s report about Todd Haley’s impending termination, and Bob Gretz’s report about naming rights for Arrowhead Stadium, I think that there’s really only one indisputable truth: Pioli and Haley aren’t going to be taking in any corporate trust retreats together anytime soon. It’s been reported by many sources—the local sports talk radio media, the national media, even that barista at the Starbucks on Main with the chain that loops between her septum piercing and her lip-ring—that they’re on the outs.

There aren’t enough little Dutch boys in all of Holland to stop the holes forming in the Chiefs’ dike. Unless the organization finds their own “Little Hero of Haarlem,” all credibility and sanity held loosely behind that wall threatens to drown everyone in the village below.

On this morning’s Chiefs’ preview show on KCTV, Rich Baldinger got into the act, stating that he thinks that there’s only one way Haley keeps his job past this season: by winning a playoff game.

Wait a minute… what’s that uproarious laughter I hear? The cacophony of a million Kansas City football fans who heard Baldinger say, “Chiefs” and “playoffs” in the same sentence? Specifically, in reference to “this year”?

Yeah, that doesn’t seem too likely.

What does seem likely, however, is that coach Todd Haley does get his pink slip in the not-too-distant future, not a matter of if, but when. Unless the Chiefs do something miraculous—you know, like win a playoff game this season.

It’s also a pretty foregone conclusion that everyone’s beloved Arrowhead Stadium will eventually become “Taco Via Stadium at Arrowhead Field,” or some similar, impersonal type of nonsense. In this day and age of corporate naming sovereignty, it’s a wonder this didn’t happen with the renovations, or hasn’t happened at some point in the past 10 years.

Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star reported that, “A team spokeswoman said the team has been involved in naming rights discussions since 2006 but that there is no deal in place, no announcement planned, and that neither is expected in the immediate future.” Doesn’t exactly sound like a harsh denial of the claim, does it? No, it just says, “Hey, we’re shopping it around, kicking some tires, all that jazz… hey wait, speaking of, do you think the Cajun restaurant Jazz might be interested in some of this hot  ‘naming rights’ action? Maybe somebody should call them.”

So get ready to enjoy your Sundays at “Beeman’s Mustache Cream Stadium,” Chiefs’ fans. On a positive note, maybe they’ll be able to lure in Bill Cowher with the promise of discounted mustache cream.

So the Chiefs’ had a bad newsweek—quite an accomplishment when your team doesn’t play—but they weren’t alone. Other notable losers this week?

Bernard Lightning Hopkins: The ageless, 46 year old wonder suddenly became… aged. Ok, to be fair, he hasn’t been great in a number of years, but he has been winning… somehow. That changed on Saturday night, however, when he was beaten by a much younger, much hungrier Chad Dawson. The fight wasn’t without its controversy, though, as it was stopped only after Hopkins was unable to continue. This sort of this happens when your opponent picks you up and body slams you to the canvas. Hopkins suffered a dislocated shoulder in the exchange and reportedly plans to dispute the TKO ruling.

So who won on this card? Easy.

Most of us will never participate in a professional boxing match. Almost certainly, none of us will do it age 52. Fewer of us still will do it at age 52 after spending 26 years in prison for a murder we didn’t commit. Well, Dewey Bozella did it on Saturday night, and he won in the process, beginning and ending (he says he will not fight again) a boxing career that has “Clint Eastwood is attached to direct” all over it.

Congratulations to you, Mr. Bozella. It’s wonderful to see people achieve their dreams.

And speaking of, the dreamlike season for the Kansas State Wildcats continued this weekend, first with a comeback road victory over Texas Tech on Saturday, and then a number 12 ranking in the AP poll on Sunday. The number 12 ranking is their highest since 2004, and with each passing week, the Cats are making it harder and harder to dismiss them as nothing but a fluke. Nobody has ever disputed Bill Snyder’s abilities, but he seems to be doing more with less, better than ever before.

It wasn’t all gas-station roses and Whitman’s Samplers on the gridiron this weekend, though. After a surprising upset win in Detroit, San Fran head coach Jim Harbaugh lifted his shirt to show his pasty, white fish-belly, ran across the field like a lunatic and apparently, had some words with Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz. The two had to be separated, lest one of them dislocate a shoulder while throwing a slap. There’s nothing funnier to me than two middle-aged football coaches going at it; I just can’t help but laugh. And as is usually the case, this simply succeeded in making both of them look like idiots. Look, you guys are both commandeering exciting, winning football teams… why not leave the posturing and grandstanding to the 60 minutes of regulation, okay?

And finally, let’s hear it for this weekend’s biggest winner, Nelson and the Cruz-ers. The Texas Rangers are making their second consecutive World Series appearance, the first time an AL team has back-to-backed since the New York Yankees did it in ’99 and 2000 (and ’98, for that matter… God was that a miserable era). A lot the Rangers’ ALCS  success was precipitated by the absolutely amazing performance of right fielder Nelson Cruz, who easily took home ALCS MVP honors after setting records for home runs (6) and RBI (13) in a playoff series. Way to go, Cruz and Co., and furthermore, way to go Leftridge. In October 10th’s piece previewing the playoffs, I correctly picked that the Rangers would win the series in 6.

It’s about time I got something right.
 

Posted in Sports | Tagged | 4 Comments

Glazer: Scribe Worries Chiefs May Play Themselves Out of Badly Needed Draft Pick

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

The Chiefs have had the worst good luck!

First they lose two of their best players to injury, then they get smashed through the entire preseason and first three regular season games. They were ranked as the worst team in the NFL. Two games later, they beat a pair of 0-3 teams, now everyone thinks all is well.

"Boy, if we can beat Oakland and maybe upset San Diego on Monday Night, beat Miami and Denver – win one more – yeah we are 6-10.

Oh, JOY!

Unfortunately, with all the injuries in the league, the Chiefs have now become almost average compared to many teams. They have gone from an F team to maybe a D plus or C-. And suddenly fans are saying stuff like, ‘We need to see more from Jackie Battle, D-Bowe, and THE FRANCHISE, Matt Cassel.’ And with no really strong defenses in the league- save maybe Baltimore – the Chiefs could be O.K. now.

What does all this mean?

Here’s what it means, this Chiefs now will play themselves out of contention for a first round top quarterback. There are at least one or two There are quality quarterbacks out there beside Andrew Luck of Stanford. My favorite is six foot seven inch Arizona State quarterback, Brock Osweiler. He may be the MAN. Tall, fast, smart, can make all the throws (big arm). His quarterback rating is now 142.8. Brock has 15 TD’s and has thrown for 1968 yards already. ASU is a very good team, at 4-2, losing only to top 15 teams like the Ducks.  ASU is a top 25 team because of Brock. Six foot seven wow. Gets the ball out quick.

That would be nice.

However it now looks like the team is out to save head coach Todd Haley.

So they know they need six, if not seven wins. That’s now possible. Oakland – a sure loss for the Chiefs, a much better team than ours – just lost its quarterback to injury yesterday. KC now has a chance to win there. Before they had no chance. They’ll likely lose at home to the Chargers. But on a Monday Night, with all that energy, who knows?

We will see at least two more wins against really bad teams like the Dolphins and maybe Denver here. And a 6-10 team likely will have no chance to draft any of the top three quarterbacks. We’ll still be stuck with Matt THE FRANCHISE. Meaning we will go nowhere.

As we now see, it’s all about the quarterback. Without a top guy, you’re just an OK team with no real hope of a Super Bowl.

I often hear, "Yeah, what about Baltimore in …"

But the game has changed. Can’t you see that?

It’s a league built for offense now. The rules heavily favor the offense. "Don’t touch the receiver after five yards. That hit was too hard, roughing the quarterback. A defenseless receiver is hit, pass interference. And on and on.

You can barely play defense anymore without a penalty. It’s insane.

So nobody will ever have a shut down defense anymore. The run just sets up the pass now. Balance is almost gone. In fact we are starting to look like Indoor football – THE ARENA LEAGUE – GOD FORBID.

So let’s get a quarterback! And let’s at least look at Ricky Stanzi.

P.S. ANOTHER OUTSTANDING PICKS WEEK FOR THE GLAZE….Perfect in College..one pro loss….tops in America, I think….

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 33 Comments

Today: The Rat Race That is Shopping at Trader Joe’s

Posted on October 16, 2011 by admin

 

What’s the matter with Trader Joe’s?

Obviously, not everything. It’s doubtful the company that owns and operates equally cult-like, cut rate grocer Aldi would expand into the Kansas City market if things weren’t going pretty well. Yet while much has been said about Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck wine ( still selling for $1.99 in Tucson but a buck more in KC) and its generous return policy, little has been written or reported about the actual Trader Joe’s shopping experience.

"It’s hell," says 30-something Topeka mom Kimberly Gerlach, recruited to check out KC’s twin TJ’s. "It’s just hard to shop there."

Put another way, the shopping experience at both Trader Joe’s here is a cluster fuck.

Gerlach’s bottom line after back-to-back visits:

"I’d go there again for wine and produce, but that’s about it. I hate it, I hate the shopping experience. And I hate that bell they’re constantly ringing at the checkouts up front because they add to the chaos."

The primary problem: the constant bustle and kinetic shopping pace that pervades both stores.

"It’s noisy–it’s really noisy – irritating, actually," Gerlach says. "I don’t want to be in here very long. I want to get in and I want to get out. I mean, it’s nice to see things like chocolate-covered potato chips but…"

Wheeling a cart through Trader Joe’s at Ward Parkway is like playing adult bumper cars. The store’s are small compared to most supermarkets, and even with mid-level traffic, there’s simply no standing still and pondering your selections. Too many other shoppers are anxiuously whizzing by, anxious to jam into to the exact space you are occupying.

It’s uncanny, actually…

"It’s the most anonymous grocery shopping experience I’ve ever had," Gerlach says. "I mean, you’re so busy looking out for other people that you don’t even see people as fellow shoppers. You see them as obstacles. And I myself feel like an obstacle to others in their shopping experience.

"I go to grocery stores all the time and it isn’t this loud and I don’t feel like I’m in a race to the finish. Here, I feel like if I don’t laser in and scoop something off the shelf, I’m done for. I can’t stop to think about what I want to buy. I don’t like the atmosphere – it’s too hectic."

How hectic is? So much so that even a Trader Joe’s manager racing a massive dolly loaded to the gills and followed by another cart carrying TJ staffer barrels through a crowd of wary shoppers with the warning: "Gotta go, quick!"

"I don’t get to enjoy looking and shopping for food because I’m always in the way of someone else," Gerlach says. "And someone else is always in the way of me. I think even people who like the store will agree it’s a shitty shopping experience."

The wildest thing to go down at Trader Joe’s Ward Parkway to date?

"Frank Black, frontman for the Pixies was in," says TJ checkout dude Shawn. "He was at Knuckleheads one night and was just out shopping."

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 7 Comments

Glazer: Scribe Deals with Death and Moves On…

Posted on October 16, 2011 by admin

It’s hard to measure the value of simply being a good person in life…

Too often we give way too much weight in life for people who have a ton of money, fame or good fortune. This site is proof of that. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m person who wants to leave a mark in history. And that I also want to enjoy an exciting life.

However, I’ve never said this was the only way to go.

Two of the greatest men I know want none of that. They just want to be good husbands and fathers. And that’s not easy. My grandfather by marriage was the kind of man who truly would "give you the shirt off his back" if he cared about you. Ben Studna loved me and my brothers and gave us all he had to give. All that he could.

I was pleased but heartbroken to hold his hand and look into his eyes as the lights went out in his life.

I truly loved the man. He was crude – not a cool guy – short, bald and a jewish cowboy. A horse trader and later a used car man. He reminded me of Popeye. A tough man, but he was able to love us and my grandmother with all his heart.

Today I lost another man I had nothing but respect for.

John Trantham married my mother Rita Glazer a few years after her divorce from my real father, Stan. John gave my mother a wonderful life. They traveled together around the world. John and Rita loved each other, were loyal and best friends. My mom met John when he was a lifeguard at her pool as a child. Never thinking one day they would be husband and wife. John graduated college and went into government work. John became an agent for the brand new Central Intelligence Agency, yes the CIA. He was no James Bond, but lived overseas and stayed in the agency for nearly five years. Later he became a mortgage banker.

John stood by me during my indictments, signed my bonds and gave me advice – great advice. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Wver. He was such a class act.

I took John to see the doctor two weeks ago. He had struggled since my mother passed away in 2007. He turned 81, and was starting to look much older and slower. John still lived in his home in Prairie Village. He’d been there with my mom for three decades. Funny I just couldn’t imagine him passing away. His son called me a few hours ago to say John did not make it. I have to admit I was just as surprised to feel a tear run down my check.

My dear friend Debbie (Mermaid) called me to tell me that her father also had died today. It’s going to be a tough week for both of us.

Two good men who will be missed by many. Yes, they are hard to find.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 10 Comments

Glazer: Scribe Braces for Week Six Picks & Midget Invasion of Westport

Posted on October 14, 2011 by admin

The football season’s more than a third over…

The top teams are now pretty apparent. No matter, upsets happen all the time. And the point spread makes the road ahead tougher and tougher. If you’ve followed the scribe’s advice, Christmas should be paid for by now. So you you can quit now, while you’re ahead or throw caution to the wind and boldly ride into Week Six.

College  Picks:

Missouri

is a pretty good team with pretty bad luck and a pretty bad record at 2-3. But MU’s at home with a decent

Iowa State

team. In the meantime,

Oklahoma State

has turned into a bully but is still being overlooked as a finalist for the top spot. Let’s insure our wins as best we can. Texas looks like its fading. Let’s tease these two plus 6 to win. Remember we must win them both to win.

Missouri -9 1/2 over Iowa State

Oklahoma State -1 1/2 over Texas

*******

Alabama -20  over Mississippi 

LSU -11 over Tennessee this also on a tease with Alabama

*******

I like Stanford but want to drop the points down so…

Stanford – 15 over Washington State

Oklahoma State -1 1/2 over Texas tease them together…

I teased all of these games because some of these teams could cover the spread. Bu tif you don’t like the tease try this:

Oklahoma State -7 1/2 over Texas

 

Pro Football:

Detroit -4 over San Fran 49er’s

Green Bay – 9 over St. Louis Rams

New England -1 over Dallas, this on a tease with Green Bay

If you don’t like the tease:

New England -7 over Dallas

This week is harder so I used more teasers. 

 

Have a nice weekend try Westport Saturday afternoon for the Cancer Crawl and Midget invasion.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 12 Comments

Leftridge: Who Needs the Chiefs When You’ve Got a Game 6 if Necessary?

Posted on October 14, 2011 by admin

After improbable victories in two straight weeks, the Kansas City Chiefs’ bye-week could not have arrived at a more inopportune time. Instead of building off of an avalanche of momentum, players and coaches alike are left trying to fill the void that a Sunday conquest typically provides.

So, seeing as how idle hands are the devil’s playthings, how are young, rich, testosterone-laden men supposed to stay out of trouble?

I asked around (made stuff up), and was surprised by some of the answers I received.

Check it out.

Coach Todd Haley:

“I plan on doing some diving. You know, dumpster diving. Man, these Leawood cats throw away some pretty nice shit,” he said, wiping a dirt-caked hand across his sweaty brow. “Look!” he exclaimed, holding up a broken lava lamp, “this would be kickass in the basement.”

DE Tyson Jackson:

“I’m thinking ‘bout tryin’ one of them XXL Chalupas they sell over to the Taco Bell. Glenn (Dorsey) says they good, but I don’t know, man. I’ve never been to the Taco Bell.”

QB Matt Cassel:

“I’ve gotta take my wife to some really big antique store she’s been harping about,” Cassel said, fake-shooting himself in the temple with an imaginary pistol. “Wait—don’t tell her I did that shooting thing! Shit.”

CB Javier Arenas:

“Well, I know one night that I’m gonna have all of my buddies come over and stay the night. My mom’s gonna order us pizza and we’re gonna play Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64. I call all-time Wario. That dude is baaaad.”

RB Jackie Battle:

“I’m gonna work really hard at kinda staying invisible, you heard me? So that way, it’s like, outta mind, outta sight, you know? Coach can’t bench what coach can’t see,” Battle said, wearing a long trench coat, a low-pulled cap and an obviously fake mustache.

WR Jon Baldwin:

“I’ma stay at home, too. It’s relatively impossible to get your ass kicked by a teammate when you’re chillin’ at your crib,” Baldwin said with a shrug. “Note to self,” he continued, “don’t throw any parties where teammates are invited.”

So there you have it. Sounds like a lot of low-profile activity for our hometown Chiefs. And that’s a good thing, really. If you’re like Baldwin, or Battle, and plan at sitting home this weekend, here are some things to keep you occupied.

Friday, TBS, 7:05 PM CT

Brewers @ Cardinals

With the series tied, and Milwaukee hosting games 6 and 7, this feels like a must win for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, if you’re a Red Birds fan, the appeal to victory lands squarely on the shoulders of Jaime Garcia. So far this postseason, Garcia is sporting an ERA of 7.36 (13.50 in the NLCS). Positively terrible. On the other hand, Zack Greinke gets the start for the Brewers. He hasn’t been a whole hell of a lot better. In two postseason appearances, his ERA is a voluptuous 8.18. As surprising as it sounds, though, I wouldn’t necessarily anticipate this one being a slugfest. Both Gerinke and Garcia are talented pitchers, and talented pitchers typically find ways to avoid the dreaded trifecta of suck.

Saturday, FOX, 7:05 CT

Tigers @ Rangers (Game 6, if necessary)

Dude, who doesn’t love a good Game Six if necessary? The heightened tension, the buzz in the air. It’s one team’s chance to (possibly) take all and (maybe) advance to the World Series. This one figures to (potentially) be an epic battle between starting pitchers TBA and TBD. Who will “Burr” this duel? Find out by tuning in on Saturday night. (starters are actually penciled in as Scherzer (DET) and Holland (TEX), but these change things so frequently, it’s almost not worth mentioning)

In the event that there is no Game Six if necessary, feel free to watch 1983’s “Cujo” on AMC. Truly, a terrifying classic of American horror… You’ll never look at creepy homosexual children the same way again. 

****This just in: Game 6 IS necessary! Enjoy!****

Sunday, 12 CT

San Francisco 49ers (4-1) @ Detroit Lions (5-0)

The 49ers are 4-1, including two road wins. Man, no way are they this good. I just refuse to accept it.

And I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve only recently come around on the Lions. QB Matthew Stafford is fragile and Calvin Johnson has always been one of those ‘gargantuan-potential’ guys who couldn’t seem to string consecutive big games together. Boy, has that changed. “Megatron” has firmly asserted himself as the best receiver in the league and Stafford- who we always knew would be good if he stayed healthy- seems to be as fit as a fiddle.

San Francisco, meanwhile, is a solidly built team with a good defense and a great running back, but any expectations should be tempered with this simple realization: Alex Smith is their quarterback. Like my aversion to accepting the Lions’ abilities this season, I spent far too long defending Smith to people who eventually assumed I was either high or slightly brain damaged. I thought, ‘just give the guy a chance,’ after they’d sit him in order to play retreads like Troy Smith, David Carr, Shaun Hill and JT O’Sullivan. I’ve changed my mind. Look, unless rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh has worked some sort of magic spell—and I’m not necessarily discounting this mind you, only saying it’s unlikely—I think Alex Smith sucks toads and is still living on borrowed time.

All of that being said, I think the Lions win this pretty easily, I just wonder how the 49ers will rebound (…probably by winning the perennially god-awful NFC West with a 7-9 record).

Sunday, 12 CT

Buffalo Bills (4-1) @ New York Football Giants (3-2)

See above, basically.

I’m still having a hard time believing that the Bills are a 4-1 team. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s completion percentage this season is 65.7, up from his career average of 58.8. I don’t CARE that this is his first shot as a full-time, not-having-to-look-over-my-shoulder quarterback. I think he’s bound to come back down to earth—and although he may not crash and burn in the process, I also don’t see him ending the year with a 96.4 QB rating.

And the Giants? 3-2, but again, this feels flimsy. To be honest, I think that the Giants have been overrated since their 2007 Super Bowl victory. They’re the Dallas Cowboys of the… well, the NFC East. Perhaps some of these unrealistic expectations placed upon the team are due to their QB’s legendary last name, and nothing more. The bad news for New York fans is that ol’ Lazy-Eyed Manning just ain’t Peyton.  

I think the Giants win this– but not easily– and perhaps only off of some turnover or a special teams play. If this is the case, I’ll find myself still wondering next week how in the world the lowly Bills are 4-2.

So there you go, stuff to watch. Or you know, you could go out and enjoy this wonderful fall weather. Just sayin’.

Posted in Sports | Tagged | 6 Comments

Glazer: Forget What You Read on Arrowhead Pride, Wright is Right & Pioli is Wrong

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

So I’m driving home this afternoon, listening to my friend Nick Wright on 610 Sports….

And he’s explaining how a website called Arrowhead Pride interviewed Chiefs GM Scott Pioli about coach Todd Haley. The site had quoted Pioli as saying, "We never discussed firing Todd Haley after a loss to the Colts – never happened." 

Pioli clearly was talking about Nick’s comments earlier this week when he’d said if the Chiefs had lost to the lowly Colts, Haley would have been gone. Inside information.

Well, the Chiefs won two games against horrible teams.  Both games were close and the Chiefs trailed in each. It was a bit odd that they won them, but clearly you don’t fire Haley after he finally wins two in a row. Most players on the team like him and they’re playing their tails off for Todd to save his job and their’s. The team’s still a bottom feeder, but it’s playing with a purpose.

However, the truth is they have very little talent outside D-Bowe and Tamba Hali.

Do I believe Nick? YES!

As most of you know, I said Todd would be gone because the Chiefs would be a doormat. I said that right after the preseason. Nick felt the same way and he knows Haley much better than I do. I’ve only spent time with Todd once at Woodside for maybe an hour working out. I liked him. He seemed like a good guy and I wish him well.

Still when three years go by and your team is bad, you get fired.

I also happen to know he quit Woodside recently and his wife had not been getting along with Pioli’s.

Whereas they used to. Another indication of a pending separation.

Nick’s telling the truth. Scott is not.

He has to lie because he can’t fire Haley if the team wins some games. The bye week was the perfect time to dump Todd, if the Chiefs were 1-4 or 0-5.

"We have decided to go in another direction. We all appreciate what Todd Haley has done but…."

You’ve heard it all before. Kinda like "we are playing to get better." God, I’m so sick of all that.

As Nick put it, "Someone has to be the scapegoat for this mess and it’s not gonna be Scott. And that leaves Todd Haley."

I agree, it makes sense and Nick is not a liar – Todd is gone. It’s just a matter of when. Unless the Chiefs really do compete and win at least 6-8 games. That’s highly unlikley but anything’s possible in the NFL.

So for now, we’ll have to wait for the "different direction" speech from Scott and Clark Hunt.

In truth, Pioli’s more to blame for all this mess than Haley, but young Hunt doesn’t have the backbone to fire Pioli.. Not now anyway, Remember how long his dad Lamar put up with Jack Steadman’s antics? And Carl Peterson’s.

Maybe after five or six years of losing – if that’s the case – Hunt will grow a pair.

This team is not really any better than when Carl left. A couple of name stars, kinda – Charles, Hali, D Johnson, Bowe and Eric Berry. Cassell is a bust – it’s now clear he’s just average and will never take this team to a Super Bowl, Never.

So, yeah Haley will be fired, likely at the end of the season. But if the Chiefs lose to Oakland and the Chargers, he may go sooner – 2-5 and he’s out. We’ll see.

Haley already knows this and accepts it.

Bottom line, Nick Wright had the guts to call the Chiefs out early on. He was pulling for them until he saw the truth in Game One. They are terrible. With the injuries he wanted to "Suck for Luck," and he was right. You need a great quarterback to win the big ones today, it’s as simple as that. And we don’t have that guy.

Bottom line; Nick told the truth and Pioli didn’t.

And nobody on this team in the front office, has invested themselves in this city.

Haley came the closest. He at least tried. If he’d stayed, I think he would have gotten there because he has it in him.

Scott, I’m afraid, is just another Carl in a different suit. Good call Nick.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 15 Comments

Starbeams: Adios Skies, Peppercorn Duck & Hello Hasselhoff

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

 

In one of the biggest KC restaurant scene shake-ups ever, three longtime restaurants near Crown Center will close by year’s end. Benton’s Steakhouse, The Peppercorn Duck Club, and Skies will close when the Hyatt Regency Crown Center becomes a Sheraton. Skies will become a preferred customer lounge. It’s the city’s only revolving restaurant. Maybe it would have fared better if as the restaurant revolved, it went faster and faster and the floor dropped.

*******

 

A small plane with one person aboard made a belly landing Wednesday at Wheeler Downtown Airport. The pilot was unable to lower the landing gear, and rescue personnel were waiting and he walked away unharmed. 

Even so, it was still more dramatic than the season finale of LOST.

*******

The Ford Transit commercial van about to be manufactured at the Claycomo plant will be new to this country, but Europeans have loved it for decades. In fact, when you say “van” in Britain, people think of the Transit it’s so insanely popular there. People here just don’t get it;  we call it; THE DAVID HASSELHOFF EFFECT.

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Hearne: Massive Midget Convention to Descend on Westport This Weekend

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

 

Blame it on Darby O’Gill...

You know, from the movie Darby O’Gill and the Little People. Or was it Martin Luther King, Jr.? I forget but somewhere along the line, society decided that each and every splinter group should be granted however many exemptions from the English language – you know – as it is politely spoken.

In the name of political correctness.

In cases like the "N" word it was a capital idea. Less so in others. I mean, what’s wrong with referring to the characters in the new "Footloose" movie as crackers? They’re from Bomont, Georgia for goddsakes.

And so what if their great grandfathers ate hardtack during the Civil War? Let ’em burn a Confederate flag if they don’t like it.

Which brings us to a topic I’ve wrestled with for years in my writing career. Is it still OK to use the word "midget" when referring to small human beings?

Most of the ones I’ve interviewed over the years could care less about being called "little people" versus "midgets." I mean, it’s not like calling a full grown man or woman a "little person" is some sorta compliment. And the dictionary definition of "midget" reads: "an extremely small person having normal physical proportions."

That’s supposed to be bad? Let’s stamp out the word "fat" if we really wanna spare some feelings.

So I thought about it some more, while I was talking to Westporter Bill Nigro about the 300 midgets that are going to be holed up in the Quarterage Hotel this weekend. And it occured to me that it’s not called "little people wrestling," it’s called "midget wrestling." Right?

Then I googled "little people wrestling."

And to my chagrine I read that Hulk Hogan – the dude who helped kill off pro wrestling at Memorial Hall in KCK – is "mentoring" little people wrestlers on Tru TV. He’s even starting a "Little People Wrestling League."

WTF?

I don’t quite know how to break this to you, but 300 midgets and/or little people are descending on Westport this weekend. And chances are, after they finish their meetings Saturday – a bunch of ’em plan to bust out a party and hook up with the wildly drunk hotties at the Cancer Crawl.

Here’s the 411 on the wilding from Nigro:

"It’s a convention and they’re having it at the Quarterage," he says. "It’s kind of about networking on all their problems. Like, they’d like to get a doctor to locate in Kansas City that specializes in little people so they don’t have to go to Cincinnati."

Nigro says there’ll be entertainers and pro wrestlers in the assemblage and they plan to ride the trolly, so no telling where they may show up.

Local little guy Jeffrey White even asked Nigro "if I would paint the sidewalk yellow from the Quarterage up to Kelly’s," Nigro says. "But I haven’t quite figured out how to do that yet."

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 13 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: Get Ready to Cut ‘FOOTLOOSE,’ Y’all

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

Back in 1984 an unknown big city kid named Kevin Bacon moved to a small southern town where he confronted a dancing ban and a hellfire preacher…

It was in a pre-GLEE era that included dance flicks like FAME, DIRTY DANCING, FLASHDANCE and, of course, FOOTLOOSE.

Now 27 years later there’s a new FOOTLOOSE, and yes another dance restriction.

But this time not so much based on morals and religion but strictly in response to a deadly car crash that killed 4 high schoolers after a party.

Welcome to readin’, ridin’ and red-neckin’ in Bomont, Georgia!

This time Dennis Quaid steps in the preacher’s shoes. Andie McDowell sleep walks through the role of mom. And newcomer Kenny Wormald is bad boy Boston transplant Ren who’s now facing a heavy dose of southern culture shock—not to mention the preacher’s smokin’-hot troubled daughter Ariel played by Julianne Hough…

Whose jeans are so tight if she had a quarter in her back pocket, you’d be able to tell if it was heads or tails

Not a sequel. Not a prequel. But about as pure a remake as one could imagine.

As for the famous title song, it’s still there. TWICE! Both at the beginning and at the end of the movie—even though it’s been ‘countryfied’ this time around.

Hey, if you can get past some of the corny dialogue in the movie you may just enjoy FOOTLOOSE, for which I’m line dancing with a straw in my teeth with 2-1/2 out of 5 fingers tapping to the catchy beat.

 

Catch JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ AM & FM and 8:20 a.m. on 1160 RADIO BACH. Also anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged | 3 Comments

Donnelly: Vermes’ Job Hangs In Balance As Sporting Battle For Their Playoff Lives

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

Sporting Kansas City has two regular season games remaining, the first at LIVESTRONG Saturday against the New York Red Bulls...

And yes, without a doubt it’s the biggest game of the season. Here’s why:

Depending on how the boys in blue fare, SKC could finish as No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Or they could miss the playoffs altogether. Pressure, anyone?

You better believe it. And get this, not a single team in the Eastern Conference has clinched a playoff spot yet. Not. One. That’s right sports fans, in this long 34 game season that KC started on March 19th, not a damn thing has been decided…yet.

So it’s all on the line, including, in my opinion, head coach Peter Vermes’ job. 

As I’ve stated before, missing the playoffs would be a complete nightmare after the ups and downs that SKC has endured this season.  They started the season off horribly, plummeting to last place in the league due at least in part to the team’s endless, extended road trip while waiting for the stadium to be completed.

Then, like champions, they battled back, rounding into excellent form in the middle of the season, winning games and even ascending to first place in the east. They scored loads of goals through their uptempo and attacking style and became one of the teams no one wanted to face.

And they’ve largely maintained that form – granted with a hiccup here or there at times – but are still one of the better teams in all of MLS. The latest power rankings have Sporting listed at #3 behind LA and Seattle.

All this and they could still miss the playoffs?!  Yep.

Which is crazy to even write. I mean, this team deserves to be in the playoffs, right? Most fans I talk to have had Sporting penciled in the playoff bracket for weeks now.  Actually, scratch that, most wrote it in permanent marker.

Why, I don’t know.  Maybe it was the compelling story of worst to first. Or the euphoria of opening that gem, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.  Possibly a helluva lot of booze. I really don’t know.

Which is why at this point it would be devastatingly shocking were Sporting to miss out on the post season fun.

Which is also why Peter Vermes needs this team to do him a solid and win Saturday.  With a win, Sporting clinches a playoff spot and brings to reality the dream that most fans have been living for a month or longer.

Posted in Sporting_Kansas_City | Tagged | 1 Comment

Sounds Good: Buddy Guy@Knuckleheads, Roger Daltrey@Midland, Brett Dennen & Blind Pilot@Beaumont

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

After I sort of panned the Michael McDonald/ Boz Scaggs show last week, some commenters suggested I was perhaps an ageist. 

But I like what I like.  Which does include some old guy stuff like wide brimmed hats, bocce ball, and Buick LeSabres.

And as if that weren’t enough, look at this week’s lineup!  

So stand down, good sirs, stand down…

Thursday, October 13th

 

Buddy Guy at Knuckleheads in KC

What can I say about Buddy Guy?  Well, he’s a living legend for one.  He’s an electric guitar pioneer.  And he’s playing at a small-ish blues club, not some opera house or something, so I suggest you go.  You don’t have to take it from me, though, here’s what some other people have said about the man.

Eric Clapton: “Buddy Guy is by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive…if you see him in person, the way he plays is beyond anyone. Total freedom of spirit, I guess.”

Stevie Ray Vaughan: “Buddy just has this cool feel to everything he does. And when he sings, it’s just compounded. Girls fall over and sweat and die! Every once in a while I get the chance to play with Buddy, and he gets me every time, because we could try to go to Mars on guitars but then he’ll start singing, sing a couple of lines, and then stick the mike in front of me! What are you gonna do? What is a person gonna do?!”

Jimmy Page: “Buddy Guy is an absolute monster.”

Enough said. 

Friday, October 14th

Roger Daltrey at the Midland by AMC in KC

For this go around, Daltrey is performing The Who’s epic album Tommy in its entirety.  But it doesn’t stop there.  After that he and his band will roll through a bunch of other favorites, as well as (possibly) a Johnny Cash medley that they’ve been busting out lately. 

Reviews of the last few shows have been very enthusiastic, with high praise going to Daltrey’s band which consists of guitarists Frank Simes and Simon Townshed (Pete’s little brother), Loren Gold on synth, Joe Button on bass, and Scott Devours on drums.  Nothing, not even some black magic, can bring back Entwistle or Moon, and Pete is practically deaf at this point. 

But this looks to be the next best thing, and it feels like an authentic rock show swinging through town, rather than some over the hill act that can’t quite do it anymore looking to cash in on the nostalgia crowd.

Here’s the set list from October 8th at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis:
Overture
It’s A Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
1921
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Underture
Do You Think It’s Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
There’s a Doctor
Go to the Mirror
Tommy Can You Hear Me
Smash The Mirror
Sensation
Miracle Cure
Sally Simpson
I’m Free
Welcome
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
We’re Not Gonna Take It
I Can See For Miles
The Kids Are Alright
Behind Blue Eyes
Pictures of Lily
Days of Light
Gimme a Stone
Going Mobile
Johnny Cash Medley
Who Are You
My Generation
Young Man Blues
Water
Baba O’Riley
Without Your Love
Red Blue and Grey

 

Brett Dennen and Blind Pilot at the Beaumont in KC

Brett Dennen is a California kid who writes easy going folk pop songs.  He’s toured with the likes of Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Dave Matthews, if that tells you a little bit about the vibe.  His latest album, Loverboy, was released in early 2011, and was described by Allmusic‘s Steve Leggett:

"His songs feature long-lined melodies that unfold in a Bob Dylan-like rush of words and clever rhymes, often laid over subtle African pop rhythms that make him sound a bit like an even more mellowed-out Dave Matthews. He tackles big subjects like love and death and pain, but somehow manages to sound sunny and hopeful the whole way through."

Blind Pilot is from Portland, and their sound is a little more Americana/folksy than Dennen’s. They rolled through Lawrence a couple months ago, and put on a great show at the Bottleneck.  After that show I wrote: 

"The first thing that really jumped out at me was the three part harmonies on nearly every song.  Nice.  That and the very quiet yet tasteful song arrangements.   

For example, there was a squeeze box type thing on several songs that was just barely audible as an echo, making the listener strain a bit to really hear what was going on, forcing a kind of attention that more "out front" sounding acts can never seem to command. 

Same type thing in another song when one of the band members picked up a trumpet just to add that particular tone to the chords.  And same with the keyboard that just emanated a ghostly, soft sound that was almost easier to feel than hear."

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged | 5 Comments

Leftridge: Tales from the Tweet: Posnanski’s Pest, Bowe’s Beaus and Fielder’s Flagrant Fatness

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

Twitter was a bit dry over the past week and a half. Not dry like two British guys with monocles sitting in front of a fireplace with snifters full of brandy sharing bawdry limericks, but dry like two octogenarians making sweet, powdery love.

There were no fantastically inaccurate Nick Wright injury updates, Javier Arenas has been mum, and I’m guessing they cut off Jose Canseco’s internet service. I mean, come on, would you be surprised at all if you heard that he couldn’t pay his Comcast bill? I know I wouldn’t.

One thing that did manage to get a lot of Tweets was a renegade squirrel in St. Louis.

Brace yourself for the hilarity.
 

@jaysonst (Jayson Stark, ESPN baseball analyst, writer)
“There’s never been a greater postseason development than this: They’re holding a squirrel press conf today in St. Louis. Of course they are!”

“Squirrel not expected to address media during press conference in St. Louis. Shockingly, Bullwinkle Moose has also declined comment.”

“What’s the ground rule if a gapper hits that squirrel? I wouldn’t want to fight a squirrel for a baseball even in a postseason game.”

“Schumaker is out of the game. Squirrel now playing second base.”

 

@Buster_ESPN (Buster Olney, ESPN baseball analyst, writer)
“Where I grew up in Vermont, the squirrel would have already played an elimination game by now.”

So there’s a squirrel afoot in ol’ St. Louie, and apparently, its appearance has turned respected, intelligent baseball analysts into really bad comedy writers. Seriously, I like Jayson Stark, but his incessant Tweeting about something that wasn’t all that hilarious to begin with reminds me of the lame, fat kid in school who farts once by accident, gets a few laughs, and then spends the rest of the day trying to duplicate his earlier success. Eventually, he just shits his pants. Be careful, Jayson.

Meanwhile, another acclaimed sports writer was having his own rodent-related issues:

@JPosnanski (Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated)
“There’s a trap on my deck to catch the squirrel that has been waking me up at 4 a.m. I just saw him walk around it and laugh.”

“Good news: Trap caught squirrel. Bad news: It’s wrong squirrel. Worse news: There’s now a squirrel convention on my deck.”

A) It’s karma for leaving KC.
B) Honestly wondering how you differentiate squirrels.
C) Invite Kietzman over. He’ll stomp it to death with his A. Testoni loafers. If there’s one thing I know about that guy, it’s that he loves killing animals on his deck during a beautiful autumnal sunset.

Speaking of Kietz, what’s going on in his world?

@kkwhb (Kevin Kietzman, 810 am)
“KSU student section altering the KSU chant added extreme profanity. Terrible form. Needs to stop.”

Two things here—what’s the definition of ‘extreme’ profanity? Poopycockfuckshit? Because that’s pretty extreme. And two, who elected Kietzman “everyone’s dad”? I sure as poopycockfuckshit I didn’t.

Meanwhile, in former Royals news:

@Buster_ESPN
“Yuniesky Betancourt is wrecking the conventional wisdom that you can’t win with him at shortstop.”

Yeah he is! That’s my BOY! Saw that dude gettin’ a sandwich once. REPRESENT. (look, unlike some of the other posters on this site, my celebrity stories are virtually non-existent. I never massaged Sonny Liston’s bunions or had dinner at Spago with Sissy Spacek’s nephew’s gardener. No, I once saw Yuni in my apartment building getting some Mr. Goodcents and shook Bill Clinton’s sweaty, sausaged hand at Santa-Cali-Gon Days when I was 10. LET ME HAVE MY GLORY, DAMNIT)

And in royalty news:

@ESPNStatsInfo
“Prince Fielder’s HR traveled at a speed of 119.2 MPH off his bat. That is the highest speed for any HR hit in the year 2011.”

But not quite as fast as Prince’s power waddle to the buffet line at a wedding reception. You know the move… you’re not quite sure when you’re supposed to get up, so you kinda wait to see which tables are getting ready to make a move, but the DJ hasn’t said anything yet, so you’re tentative, but you stand slowly and push in your chair, and then BOOM! 390 pounds of flesh and fro plow you over like you were a bowling pin made of cotton. Damn, son. Stay outta his way when crab legs are involved.

Back in KC, the Chiefs got their second win on Sunday, thanks in no small part to the Herculean efforts of Mr. Dwayne T. Bowe (not sure if “T” is his middle initial, but it sounds right, so I’m running with it). Twitter blew up after his insane circus catch for a TD.
 

@mellinger (Sam Mellinger, Sports Columnist, KC Star)
“Honestly, catch of the year, right? At least so far? #Chiefs”

@SSJ_WHB (Steven St. John, 810 am)
“That was a simply SPECTACULAR catch by Bowe….Wow!”

@getnickwright (Nick Wright, 610 am)
“Dwayne freaking Bowe… Catch of the year in the NFL so far… #Chiefs”

Look, I was going to make a Bowe-ner joke here, but I won’t. I’m far too classy for that….

…okay, so I’m not. One might say that Dwayne really gave these guys a Bowe-ner.

@nate_bukaty  (810 am)
“Kevin Harlan just told us that Dwayne Bowe is one of the top 5 WRs in the NFL. Big words, but the numbers back him up.”

Yeah, as improbable as this would have sounded two years ago, he’s right. Time to lock him up now, but it ain’t gonna be cheap. While he still won’t command Larry Fitzgerald money, he figures to make a little more than Eddie Kennison in his last contract.

@SI_PeterKing (Peter King, writer, Sports Illustrated)
“The Eagles are sloppy and dumb.”

No, it’s sloppy and dumb that you’d say something so unbelievably pointless. Yes, the Eagles suck. But you’re a professional sports writer, douche-nozzle—and one who is handsomely compensated, I would suppose. And ‘sloppy and dumb’ is your insightful Tweet regarding the Eagles? Give me a break.
 

@bobfescoe (610 am)
“Todd Haley’s appearance has no implication on wins and losses but his look is not a good representation of the franchise”

And in the vain of ‘sloppy and dumb,’ this week’s #shutthefuckup Tweet goes to 610’s Bob Fescoe. Seriously, Bob? We’re concerned about Todd Haley’s appearance now? The Chiefs have employed felons, drug-dealers, wife-beaters and all around worthless pieces of crap, and we’re concerned with Haley’s beard? Look, Bill Belichick looks like he rolled a homeless dude for his hand-altered hoody. Jeff Fisher used to get frozen snot in his ‘stache. Andy Reid sweats out more cholesterol during a game than you or I will take in on any given weekend. That’s all sloppy. But you know who shouldn’t care? Anyone, as long as their team is winning.

Oh, and p.s. I like your highlights, guy. I thought those died 10 years ago when Justin Timberlake started demanding to be taken seriously, but I guess I was wrong.
 

And this concludes this week’s "Tales from the Tweet." Be sure to tune in next Wednesday to see if Canseco pawned enough to pay his cable bill.

Posted in Sports | Tagged | 7 Comments

Glazer: Scribe Tires of Being an ATM, Ponders Fine Line Between Money, Friendship

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

 

It’s a sad but true, but "Neither a borrower nor a lender be…" 

Like many of you good people – I know you’re out there – I’ve suffered from this lifestyle forever. Being the LENDER 99% of the time. I’ve been on the other end a couple times. Both have not been good, except with banks.

Hard to say why I’ve always been such a soft touch, as they say. Maybe I felt, ‘There but for the grace of God go I."  Or, "Gee if I don’t help so and so out, one day nobody will help me when I’m in need."

Or maybe it’s a combination of both.

Seems like I’ve always been the guy who could get things or who had a few extra bucks.

Even back in the college days. Nobody gave them to me, but that never mattered. Somehow I always had a nice ride, nice clothes, a decent pad and so on. Not crazy nice, just better than average. Like many of you do and maybe did. And my "friends" or better said, acquaintances, would seem to always need that $20.

"I’ll pay you back next Friday," they’d say. But Friday never came, and most of the time I just let it go. One day maybe that guy will help me out. But that almost never happened.

It was a bad habit I got into.

I know, there some of you out there whjo have lived or are living this life, too.  As time marched on, I guess the word got out to my other so-called friends, and the loans – gifts, really – got bigger and more frequent.

When I lived my "sting life" everyone I knew was borrowing dough from me. Even my partner Don Woodbeck. Hell, he got a bigger share than I usually did but was still always broke.

"Don, you went through 10 grand in five weeks!" I’d say.  Some poeple just never save a dime. Sure, I ‘d get a portion of the money back. Or something like, "Hey, let me get that lunch check."

Big deal, I still never learned my lesson.

Know what, that’s when people started to dislike me the most. I was seen as the guy who had stuff they needed – not dope – but money. My part time pals hated to ask for hand outs, but they did and often. Without so much as even a thank-you.

Ever hear this one; "Hey, he won’t miss it, big deal."  Or, "He can afford it."

The most horrible part of it all was, as time marched on, most of those friends went away.

When I needed help, nobody was there, except my grandpa Benny. Funny, he did more for me than anyone and never asked me for a damn thing, except my love. Boy, do I miss that old man. I think about him every day. Bennie flew to LA to bail me out of jail – big bucks. He helped pay my lawyer bills and sent me money in prison.

That sounds bad, but he was a true friend. See, Bennie was not even my real grandfather. He married my Mom’s mom and on her death bed swore he would look after me and my two younger brothers. He sure did, God bless his soul.

When things got good for me out in LA, the late 80’s early 90’s, I helped my girlfriends pay rent and loaned my down-on-their luck actor pals money. One day when I was walking the track near my gym, my pal and kinda dutch uncle Aaron Binder (now deceased), gave me a great piece of advice. He said, "I see you doing way too many handouts to people, Craig. They’re just using you. They don’t even know it, but at first they appreciate it – then they expect it. Then they resent you.

"You wanna see hate? Next time one of these friends asks for money, say NO. You’ll never hear from them again."

So a childhood friend, Rob called me from San Fran. I’d always helped him out – the guy was always down on his luck – $50 here, $100 there. I’d buy his meals when he was in town. It occured to me that Rob had offered me almost nothing ever. Sure, he was a voice on the phone that was always in my corner. Always happy to see me and he seemed to mean well. He just could never catch a break.

So like Aaron told me, I finally said, "No. Rob. I have to stop giving you money because it will never end." 

Didn’t hear from Rob for four years. We knew each other since third grade, lived close when we were boys, played ball on the same teams, his parents were good friends of mine. I even invited him to my wedding – never heard from him. All because I was no longer an ATM.

Aaron was right.

I’d like to tell you all that your humble scribe is much better now, but that’s not true.

I still give out concert tickets (not just Stanford’s but to rock shows, theater comedy shows, Las Vegas – you name it., And I’ve loaned out or given out way too much money. I just feel bad for all these people. It never went away. Sure, I know 99% of them would never help me out if the situations were reversed.

I also know people want to think I’m a jerk and only care about myself.

That’s not true in many big ways. Some of my true friends like Billy, Hearne and others know I do this and try and stop me from continuing. Oh, it’s ok to buy a girl a gift or help her out with a bill or two if she’s your gal. But all these others? NO.

And there are almost no thank-yous. They all feel I owe them somehow. I have buddies that I’ve given thousands of dollars in Chiefs, Royals and college ball tickets. And almost none of them have bought me even a lunch. It’s so weird.

And some of them have more bucks than me!

"Hey Craig, can you get me four tickets to the KU/MU bastketball game?"  I say, "No, I’m not connected to that." Or my comp tix come from radio or producers or agents and there are none to be had. Then I hear, "Oh, if you’re such a big deal you’d think you know someone who could get them."  And I go, "Dude, I’ve gotten you tickets to a ton of stuff before, I can’t always do it." And they come back with, "That was a while ago."  For the love of God.

SO NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED. 

I bring this all up, because it just happened again recently with a close girl friend who wanted free tickets for her dying parents. Contrary to what you want to believe about me, I do like to help out when I can. But there’s no magic Free Ticket Button. Often you have to call several people to try and get the tickets and it’s major pain in the ass. The other bad news is, the person I’m asking usually doesn’t even know my friend. They know me and now I owe them a favor.

Meanwhile, my friends could care less.

In 2004, I had lost a major club I owned, Johnny Dare’s. I was coming out of an expensive court case (my indictment from 2001), my mom had become quite ill and money was very tight. I had to make my Overland Park club nearly double its output to cover me and my family’s bills – even my brothers. Those were tough times. Nationwide my friends knew I was hurting. Only a handful called about it, and few offered any REAL help. Even the ones I’d helped before who were doing great now.

Some enjoyed seeing me twist in the wind, I’m sure of that.

A rich guy I met in prison loaned me 25 g’s when I got out. He was worth over $500 milliion. He was a good guy. I didn’t get on my feet for maybe two years and hadn’t paid him back. I did sign a note to him and a few years later I got in a lawsuit over it, and he got paid. So in effect, I had done to him what hundreds were doing to me; "Hey, he can afford it. I can’t"

I had tried to stay pals with him, but we didn’t. I always felt bad about that, because he did help me out. And I knew how it felt a thousand times over.

In the end we sink or swim on our own. YOU have to make it happen. A helping hand can’t be there forever.

So when you need a true friend, they will be there, behind you. Money doesn’t always matter but friendship always does.

I am blessed. I have several good friends. You can’t buy them, you have to earn them.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 77 Comments

Hearne: Quinton’s Arrives in Waldo Bearing MU-KU Olive Branch

Posted on October 11, 2011 by admin

Think of it as the local equivalent of peace breaking out in the Middle East…

Quinton’s Bar & Deli,  one of the most popular KU and MU college haunts has splashed down in the wilds of Waldo. That after 20 years of existance as a Lawrence legend specializing in – wait for it –  "bread bowls and bomb ass waitresses."

The joint’s practically infamous for having a staff of 60 to 70 college grrrl hotties who party there when they’re off duty. Making it something of a dude magnet and actually difficult to get in at times..

But Quinton’s also been going strong for about 15 years in MU Tiger Country. Complete with a dance club and kickass rooftop patio.

Now its upscale game is afoot in Waldo in the former home of Hannibal’s Waldo Bar.

"Doesn’t this look nice?" says landlord Joe Zwillenberg. "You know what I say, it’s the Cigar Box south without Al Latta. The food’s really good. And there are seven Quinton’s now but Lawrence is the original."

Speaking of Jayhawks, Zwillenberg is a card carrying board member of the Tiger Club of Kansas City.  Meaning he’d just as soon as run one over in his Porsche as honk at it. That said, he’s got no compunction whatsoever about co-owning a bar and deli with roots in KU Basketball Land.

In other words, when it comes to catering to area college football and basketball fans, Zwillo goes both ways.

"If you can’t beat ’em, get ’em to spend money at your place," he quips. "Besides, a lot of my friends are big KU alums and there’s a Quinton’s in Columbia, so we welcome everybody."

What’s more, there are enough TVs to handle all three area college team’s at the same time. That’s KU, MU and K-State, if you’re counting. Heck, enough even to dial in UMKC and Rockhurst. I digress…

And if you haven’t been to the Waldo Bar since Hannibal left the building, you’re in for an eye popping.

"We repainted everything and made all the booths look new," Zwillenberg says. "And we have marble tables everywhere and put in a new tile floor. We’re looking at being an upscale Peanut slash Cigar Bar where people can hang out and have a good time."

Quinton’s Waldo features DJs Friday and Saturday nights along with a its secret weapon…

"We have brought over the best bartender in the city, Kelly," Zwillenberg says. "I’m not going to say her last name, but she was a bartender in a Raytown bar for 10 years called Cuzzins. She’s the most energetic, bubbily bartender I’ve ever had working for me, and she has a huge following."

One last detail: a close second to Quinton’s bread bowls are its sandwiches, Zwillenberg says.

"All of ’em are great and they have eight ounces of meat – that’s a half pound of meat on each one."

As for battling it out with fellow MU dawgs Andy and Chris Lewellen – across the street at Lew’s and The Well – "I think we’re a good compliment to their businesses," Zwillenberg says. "We’re open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. And they close at 1 a.m., so from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. we’re busy."

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 14 Comments

Today: Star Owner Goes from Golden Boy to ‘Baghdad Bob’ & Captain of Titanic

Posted on October 11, 2011 by admin

Let’s take another look at Kansas City Star parent McClatchy head guy Gary Pruitt...

As my former colleagues at 18th and Grand hunker down and await another likely pre holiday bloodletting, yesterday’s column wondered aloud how Pruitt, having blundered so badly, has managed keep his job. He’s been doling out plank walks by the hundreds to journalists whose only crimes were working at a company he foolishly leveraged at the exact wrong time.

To be clear, layoffs would have come to the Star even if Knight-Ridder still owned the biz. But by Pruitt’s taking on such huge debt, the casualties have been far greater than they likely otherwise would have been. And piloting McClatchy’s stock from $63 to an all but worthless buck is no small feat.

Yet Pruitt still has his job. In what universe does that logic exist?

"Pruitt was always a golden boy in the eyes of the Wall Street analysts — even now they treat him with obvious respect even though it’s all gone to the crapper," says one prominant news exec. "I think the McClatchy family must love him like a son."

Just how golden was Pruitt in his pre Star hey days? Very.

Take the blowjob administered by American Journalism Review writer Susan Paterno in 2003:

"Pruitt presented himself at the Ritz as he often does, a modern Candide, always positive, always on message, always looking as though he stepped from the pages of a Ralph Lauren catalog, running a company as trim and fit and athletic as he is. He has a smile that probably broke a hundred hearts in high school and an endearing goofy charm, stumbling over Hegel and rattling off Rolling Stone lyrics in the same conversation, likening his Wall Street strategy to a Lenny Kravitz tune for analysts, talking as guilelessly about journalism as he does about redecorating his office from the dark wood paneling of the previous regime to a streamlined modern gray and blue, with matching Expressionist paintings and a light fixture that his mentor and predecessor Erwin Potts told him looks vaguely pornographic."

There’s more…

"At 46, Pruitt represents the future of journalism, a new game whose rules have changed considerably from the ’70s and ’80s…" Paterno panted. "Today, McClatchy papers are thoroughly modern and professionally designed newsgathering machines…"

Paterno’s yarn did contain insight into what would become Pruitt’s Achille’s Heel; his appetitite for acquiring other newspapers.

"Pruitt’s strategy is straightforward: Pay what it takes to acquire newspapers in growing regions, eschew all ‘national pretensions,’ as he has said, make the papers the best for their size, maintain the leading local Web site and boost advertising market share, all the while defusing unions, raising readership and tightly controlling expenses," Paterno wrote. " ‘A company our size either has to grow or die,’ says (former Star editor) David Zeeck, executive editor of the News Tribune in Tacoma, a midsize McClatchy daily. ‘It’s gonna eat or get eaten by somebody. Gary talks about that all the time. You’re either gonna be eaten or [be] an eater. We want to be an eater.’ "

Unfortunately for the Star and McClatchy stockholders, Pruitt ate too much at the exact wrong time.

Two years after buying Knight-Ridder and the Star, Pruitt made 24/7 Wall St.‘s list of "10 CEOs That Need to Leave."

"The company’s corporate governance section does show ‘an annual CEO review’ and we would suggest the company get on this…" 24/7 wrote, adding, "The problems will likely continue under a new head, but this company looks ripe for new blood to lead the day to day operations."

That same year, NewsBusters nicknamed Pruitt "Bagdad Bob."

"He was the Iraqi press spokesmen who caused much amusement in the West because of his unrealistically upbeat pronouncements when Iraq was invaded by the United States and its allies in 2003," NewsBusters wrote. "Among Baghdad Bob’s funnier announcements was his declaration that no Americans were in Baghdad at the same moment when American troops were patrolling the streets of that city just a few hundred yards from where he was holding that press conference.

"Well, the newspaper industry has its own Baghdad Bob in the form of McClatchy CEO, Gary Pruitt, who in early 2007 gave his own unrealistically upbeat reports to his company’s employees on the purchase of Knight-Ridder in 2006. That purchase quickly turned into an utter disaster as evidenced that the former Knight-Ridder flagship newspaper, the Miami Herald, is now being put up for sale by McClatchy."

CNBC’s Jim Cramer has called Pruitt "a walking disaster…a one-man black hole for shareholder value,"  further adding that, “If Gary Pruitt had been the captain of the Titanic, that would not have been an accident, hitting that iceberg.”

Yet five years into a steep slide that has cost thousands their jobs, Pruitt remains large and in charge.

At this point the only way McClatchy and the Star are likely to free themselves of Pruitt’s death grip is if the company is forced into bankruptcy, insiders suggest.

"And a whole new management regime comes in, like what has been happening with Journal Register company, which is in the hands of a hedge fund or some kind of private equity company…," the news exec adds. "That is what the end game is looking llike for these companies…(but)  bottom line, it is hard to see a sunny outcome."

Aside from whatever’s left of the Pruitt mythology – the cool, modern guy, who likes rock n roll and goes surfing – this much is clear: "He’s not Steve Jobs or Superman."

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 13 Comments

Glazer: Westport Claws Its Way Back from the Dead, Just in Time for Halloween

Posted on October 11, 2011 by admin

Even I was shoveling dirt on Westport just two years back…

However things have changed. Westport had its best summer in a decade, Bill Nigro tells me. And I believe him because I drive through it every week. I do radio there on Friday mornings and live just over the state line in Kansas, so I’m in and around Westport a lot.

How did Westport pull off the best summer in years in this economy? 

Well, some of it’s hot new spots are doing great. The Union, which replaced Blayney’s is on fire. They play alternative rock nightly and are packed on weekends. And Aaron Confessori’s trendy Westport Cafe has also been busy. That and some oldies but goodies like McCoy’s, along with its new joint across the street, the Beer Kitchen, which is jammed weekend nights.

"Crime is way, way down," Nigro says. "And Kelly’s deck took off huge this summer and fall with the record warm temperatures. Kelly’s third generation granddaughter, barmaid and beauty queen, Colleen Kelly has taken charge. She’s brought the college kids back and does radio spots now for Kelly’s. She is the new star of Westport."

Bill thinks Westport has the best trained security in KC. They’ve been down there for years, know all the people and know the job. Which makes them outstanding. I agree, things are much calmer and more fun today compared to just a few years back.

And at long last, the urban hip-hop crowds are nearly gone except for America’s Pub.

"When they go, it will all get even better," said one Westport staffer to me last Friday. "They bring 99% of the trouble – get them out of here."

Another factor in Westport’s comeback: the novelty of the cookie cutter Power & Light District has begun to wear thin.

Speaking of fun, this weekend will be like St. Patricks Day. Saturday is the Crawl For Cancer in Westport, more than 3,500 young people will invade party zone at 2 PM. Most are single hot females. Should be wild.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 13 Comments

Starbeams: The Top 5 Demands of the Occupy KC Movement

Posted on October 11, 2011 by admin

Today is the 25th day of the Occupy Wall Street protests.  And local members of the Occupy KC movement are still at Penn Valley Park.

THE TOP FIVE DEMANDS OF THE OCCUPY KC MOVEMENT:

#5.  Allow all KC’s homeless stay at the Helzberg Mansion.

#4.  The secret recipe for Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ sauce.

#3.  When an ATM machine says "temporarily out of order" everyone in the metro gets $5.

#2.  Proof that an alien baby isn’t growing inside KMBC 9 Meteorologist Erin Little.

#1.  Move the Federal Reserve Bank to the Edge of Hell.

 

Kelly Urich is the morning show host on The Point 99.7 FM

Posted in Starbeams | Tagged | 1 Comment

Glazer: Scribe Salutes Fallen Fellow ‘Bad Boy,’ The Raiders Al Davis

Posted on October 10, 2011 by admin

Nobody can argue that Raiders‘ boss Al Davis, along with men like Lamar Hunt, created the modern NFL..

Both men had teams in the first two Super Bowls. Both lost those games. Yet the Chiefs and Raiders would soon follow up those losses with Super Bowl victories. In fact it was the Vikings who fell to both teams just a few years apart.

And it’s no secret that Chiefs fans hated Al Davis who died this past weekend.

Davis wore black and was the head Raider. The Raiders dominated the Chiefs for the most part through the years under both Davis and Hunt. True, in the Marty Schottenheimer era the Chiefs came back and handled a lesser Raider group for nearly a decade.

TheChiefs  were also as the FIRST wild card team and defeated Oakland in 1969, sending KC to its first and only Super Bowl win in 1970. However that’s where our good fortunes mostly ended.

The Raiders have been far better than KC over the long haul.

The Oakland Raiders won three Super Bowls to our one. They lost two others to our one. Maybe more importantly, under Al Davis the Raiders won 15 Western Division titles to the Chiefs 7.

"Just win, baby" was Davis mantra and boy did they. The Raiders also dominated Monday Night Football. At one point they were 18-1-1 and had the best all time Monday Night Football record.

I hated the Raiders because they were usually the better team. I wanted to beat them so badly every year until the rivalry lost its meaning as both teams became average or worse by the late 90’s.

Al Davis did it one more time with our quarterback, Rich Gannon. They got to the Super Bowl again in 2003. The Chiefs have never been close since the Dawson era. We did make one AFC title game with Joe Montana in 1993, but got smashed by the Bills. And that was that.

So yeah we hate the Raiders and Al Davis.

But Al Davis was a rebel with a cause. He was a tough guy – on the outside anyways. He stole good players and cut every corner, but his teams were winners. We were the good guys in red and white and they were the bad guys in silver and black. They were the Outlaws, while we wore the white hats.

In the end though, the bad guys kinda won.

Davis did it with several different groups from Kenny Stabler and Daryl Lamonica to Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon. We only did it with Len Dawson. And that was it.

I never met Al Davis. Everyone I know that knew him, seemed to like him though. Even my pal actor Sonny Landham was a Raider fan. Sonny and I attended Chiefs/Raiders games in the 90’s when we were the better ball club. We saw them in KC and in LA (they were the LA Raiders at the time).

And my friend Marcus Allen hated Al because he cut Allen from the team and gave him to KC. Allen played his best football in Kansas City, but moved back to the LA area afterwords and has few to no ties to KC. Marcus still dislikes Al.

Still I can relate to Al Davis…

He was kinda an outlaw and wore dark sunglasses ala Jack Nicholson and me. Oh yeah, Davis was seen as the bad guy almost everywhere.

Sound familiar?

But Al got a ton done, was a sharp guy and maybe a little misunderstood. I don’t know if he was a lady’s man, but my guess is maybe he was in his younger days. He didn’t have my good looks, but he was kinda cool.

I hated him back in the day, but have learned to respect the man now.

"Just Win, Baby"sounds pretty good to me right now. Maybe it’s something KC should consider a bit more.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 6 Comments

Starbeams: KC ‘Occupy’ Rally, Jimmie Johnson Hits 435, NASCAR Bucks & Chiefs Channel Kardashian

Posted on October 10, 2011 by admin

About 300 people gathered Sunday in Penn Valley Park across from the Federal Reserve Bank to mark the 10th day of the “Occupy” movement spawned by Wall Street protesters.  It was led by  UMKC professors, liberals, libertarians and Ron Paul supporters. They sported signs with messages like, ““We are the other 99 percent." 

Some Kansas City Public School students were also there trying to determine what 99 percent means.

*******

Jimmie Johnson won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sunday at the Kansas Speedway. He said his hardest maneuver of the day was trying to exit The Legends to get on 435.

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$110 million dollars is dumped into the Kansas City economy when NASCAR comes to town.   Unfortunately, most of that money goes toward buying camouflage caps.

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The Chiefs beat the Colts 28-24 after trailing 17-0.  It was the most impressive come-from-behind I’ve seen since I Googled "Kim Kardashian Video."

 

Kelly Urich hosts the morning show on The Point, 99.7 FM
 

Posted in Starbeams | Tagged | 1 Comment