Glazer: He-Could-Go-All-The-Way! The Donald Makes His Move

Posted on July 22, 2015 by admin

9182cf50-f75d-0132-f409-0e18518aac2fMost experts seem to think Hillary Clinton is unbeatable!

We’ve heard that before. She has the magic of the CLINTON name and her husband BILL is still the most popular presidential name of all.

On top of which, the Clinton’s remind us of better times in America. That’s all, it’s simple. So they remain the sentimental favorites to gain back the White House.

But hold on!

Is it possible that DONALD TRUMP could beat her?

OMG.The Donald is the leading Republican candidate, according to the polls. How can that be folks?

Trump says hero John McCain is not a hero at all.

Trump says McCain was merely captured by the enemy. So he’s a survivor not a hero.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 75 Comments

Steele: Has the KC Star Ceased to be Ridiculous?

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Rich Steele

Margaret_Sanger_anniversary_96_yearsFor the last few days at least, the Kansas City Star has not sent out in its daily email blast an article scolding Kansas Governor Sam Brownback for some imagined offense…

Had someone told the editors their Brownback mania was making them look ridiculous?

Then on Wednesday – shock of all shockers – the Star published an article, by Judy Thomas no less, that paints Brownback in a favorable light for demanding an investigation of Planned Parenthood‘s sale of aborted baby parts.

Other than the use of the word “fetuses” to describe babies whole enough to have viable body parts, the article “Kansas and Missouri call for investigation of Planned Parenthood amid questions about aborted fetuses” was refreshingly free of the Star’s usual diabolical spin on this issue. Continue reading →

Posted in Rich Steele | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Starbeams: USS Kansas City, Cordish, Pussy Galore, Apple Watch & KKK

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Kelly Urich

usskansascityKansas City is about to have a Navy Ship.  The USS Kansas City photo debuted at Kauffman Stadium Monday night.  All of the new stuff on the ship will be built by the Cordish Company.

                                                      *******

A “Cat Cafe” is coming to St. Louis.  It’s described as a place where people can sip tea or coffee while hanging with their furry, feline friends…while you contemplate why your parents didn’t use birth control.

                                                     ******* Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Glazer: At Long Last, Cain is Able

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Craig Glazer

images-1The Kansas City Royals are the best team in the American League…

And maybe in all of baseball.

Just halfway through the season they have a more than 20 game jump on .500. They haven’t been 20 games over .500 since 1989, 26 years ago. Damn.

The club is likely to win over 100 games for the 2nd time in its history.

Courtesy of hotter bats and a defense that’s out of this world. They’re a pleasure to watch.

But what this club has lacked since the Brett era has been a true superstar player.

An everyday guy who could carry a team when needed – a player who was a strong .300 hitter, with power and that drives in important runs.

They FINALLY FOUND HIM and his name is Lorenzo Cain. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Leftridge: Trade Deadline Approaches; Starting Pitching Targets

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Brandon Leftridge
Apr 7, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) pitches during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Cuetoooooooooo

First, let me preface this piece with a few facts.

  • The Royals are a good team.
  • The Royals actually might be a VERY good team.
  • The Royals are in first place of the American League Central and have been for most of the season.
  • The Royals have the best record in ALL of the American League, and have for most of the season.
  • The Royals are 19 games above .500, their best mark this late in the season since 1879. At that time, they were known as the Pennsylvania Spider Fuckers, and Cap Anson’s dad was catcher.
  • This last thing is not a fact.

Nevertheless, the Royals are good and, holy shit, it’s mid July. That means that there isn’t a whole lot of season left, and that also means that they need to shore up any shortcomings. And the thing is? Despite their record, and how amazing this team seems to be at times, there are definite shortcomings. Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Donnelly: Sporting KC Hottest Team in MLS on Back of Practice Keeper

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Matthew Donnelly

melia-tim0302_0481Even though Sporting Kansas City is sitting at 6th in the Western Conference with 30 points, they’re the hottest team in MLS right now…

The boys in blue have lost just twice in all competitions since April 18th, and three of their mainstays – Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Benny Feilhaber – were just named to the All Star team.

So if they’re crushing it so hard, how come they’re 6th?

It’s because they’ve played only 17 games, three fewer than West-leading Seattle who is sitting at 32 points.

Yep, just two points separates sixth from first.  And with a win Saturday against Montreal at Sporting Park, KC can take the lead in the West with two games in hand.

How is Sporting doing it?  Especially with Dom Dwyer, last season’s leading goal scorer, sitting at just 5 goals thus far?  I’ll tell you how: goalkeeper Tim Melia. Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew_Donnelly | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Ant-Man’ Downsizes Marvel Mirth To Fit Rudd

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Jack Poessiger

ant-manWill the superhero gravy train ever run out of steam?

Not as long as fans worldwide keep supporting these bigger-then-life creations and franchises.

And while ANT-MAN  is no IRON MAN, it certainly another notch in Disney’s comic book, action-fantasy universe. Here Mouse House subsidiary Marvel Studios serves up the screen adaptation of what is probably a (probably) lesser known superhero.

ANT-MAN is a shrinking outing along the lines of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN. Well, up to a point as the casting and direction (Peyton Reed) of the sci-fi adventure has brought credibility, timing and a sense of humor to the project which never really takes itself too serious.

Shawnee Mission West alumni Paul Rudd stars in the title role playing Scott Lang, a petty crook and ex-con who is now recruited by research scientist doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to safeguard the mystery of shrinking technology from evildoers with demented visions for the process—or something like that. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: Amy Schumer’s ‘Trainwreck’ Fires On All Cylinders

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Jack Poessiger

judd_apatow_72429They say timing is everything…

And this may just be Amy Schumer’s time.

Her new slightly subversive romantic comedy TRAINWRECK is fresh, smart, honest and right on target. And that she actually wrote the screenplay and co-produced the movie didn’t hurt.

Amy KNEW what she was doing.

But there is another element to TRAINWRECK. It’s the directing for which one of today’s hottest comediennes turned to R-rated yuk-meister Judd Apatow co-produced the picture with Schumer. Schumer plus Apatow makes for a sure bet for laughs. Or as her dad (Colin Quinn) told her years earlier, “Monogamy isn’t realistic.”

TRAIN WRECK recollects many of Schumer’s OWN dating disasters and delivers them to the big screen with an honest, no-filter, take-no-prisoner frankness. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Glazer: Life in the Fast Lane’s the Place For Me

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Craig Glazer

jordancarverfootballsmAs you enter uour 50’s you begin to wonder, “Did I do everything in life I wanted to do?”

That answer is different for each of us.

I was talking with Hearne about this last week, and I find it interesting that many of my friends – within 10 years of my age – are still saving and building for their futures. Thats actually pretty common.

And I always wonder, “Don’t they know the future is NOW.”

Now’s the time to enjoy your life! Like Janis Joplin said, get it while you can!

For example the night before I flew to LA to work my script and hang with that hot cheerleader in the pic, Black Barbie made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

So I didn’t! Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 34 Comments

New Jack City: All Hail The Filipino Kansas City Star

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Jack Poessiger

Unknown-7I’ve been making a lot of telephone calls to the Philippines of late…

To check on a mail order bride, maybe? For a clandestine bank account? Or possibly arranging a trip to that exotic destination for a client?

None of the above.

Nope, all of my calls have been to 1-877-962-7827.

Give that number a try and you’ll get the KANSAS CITY STAR’s foreign desk—AKA the newspaper’s outsourced call center.

And so why am I calling three times or more a week?

Because the delivery of the newspaper to my house was missed three times so far this week—and it’s only Friday.

So like a good soldier I followed instructions and phoned in before 8:00 a.m.

Each time I was told that the paper would be redelivered later that morning.

However each time it was NOT! Continue reading →

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Hearne: Is the KC Star Business Section About to Become Road Kill?

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

CouponNut-380-4Heard on the street: that the Kansas City Star will soon eliminate its business section…

Could happen.

Since ace business reporter Kevin Collison bailed a year ago – and was not replaced –  and what was left of the Business Tuesday insert went south, there hasn’t been a whole  lot of business news emanating from 18th and Grand.

For example, in today’s newspaper, what passes for its two page business section is little more than a random collection of syndicated stories and national news briefs. With little more than a singe local byline by reporter Mark Davis about Sprint duking it out with T-Mobile for No. 3 honors.

Worse yet, the lone business story on today’s front page about KC-based Hostess Brands “thriving under new ownership” – you know, Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs  and  Cupcakes – is a wire story originated by The Washington Post of all people.

As opposed to the Star’s depleted business reporting ranks here locally. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Glazer: The Snake is Gone! Ken Stabler Passes On

Posted on July 10, 2015 by admin

Kx0IymNpI made five Champions Forever documentaries…

Two were on Ali. and one of the ones I was working on the mid 1990’s was a NFL Quarterbacks film. The top five Quarterbacks of the previous era.

All of our films featured the best of their generation. I was supposed to interview all five quarterbacks for the film. It was the era that put the NFL over Major League Baseball as America’s game. And those quarterbacks were Len Dawson, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Joe Namath and of course Kenny ‘THE SNAKE’ Stabler.

Stabler died of cancer yesterday at age 69.

It hit me kinda hard.

I only met Stabler once for an interview at Tattoo’s restaurant and nightclub in Beverly Hills. It was during the 90’s and he agreed to meet about being in my movie.

I was excited to meet him. I’d hated him as a kid watching the Raiders and Stabler crush our Chiefs most of the time. In fact, Stabler admitted to me, “The Chiefs and us were the two best teams of the mid 60’s to the early 70’s. You guys shoulda been in more Super Bowls. I might have had a bit to do with that one.”

He smiled. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 33 Comments

Starbeams: BATS, Moose, Martha’s & Jared

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Kelly Urich

O8UVz64HThe New York Stock Exchange shut down due to a computer glitch on Wednesday, but thankfully, I was able to keep trading on Lenexa-based BATS Exchange.   Just kidding!  Does anyone have any money I can borrow?

                                        *******

The St. Louis Cardinals are joining forces with the Royals to urge fans to elect Carlos Martinez and Mike Moustakas to the All-Star Game.  So take that Israelis and Palestinians!

                                         *******

I just returned from vacation at Martha’s Vineyard where they wanted $33 for FIVE peaches.  I was so upset I almost drove my car off the Chappaquiddick bridge. Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | Tagged | 3 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: Gibberish-Spewing ‘MINIONS’ Short On Charm In Prequel

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Jürgen Poessiger

Unknown-3Universal’s MINIONS should—and probably will—storm the box office this weekend to the tune of $100 million-plus in north American ticket sales…

But will it hold up the way Pixar’s INSIDE OUT is performing?

I don’t think so.

So let’s get beyond the hype and ask why.

First off the story line for this prequel to the hugely popular DESPICABLE ME franchise is pretty thin.

This computer-generated movie starts out at the dawn of time as our little deviled egg-like characters evolve through the ages in search of new villains to serve.

A minions history lesson of sorts. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Paul Wilson: Knee Jerk Reaction to Confederate Flag, a Symbolic Scapegoat

Posted on July 10, 2015 by admin

images-1On June 17th Dylann Roof walked into Bible study at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston and shot and killed nine spiritual giants of that city…

In the hours following the shooting, we Americans did what we oft times do; attempted to apply a creamy balm of knee jerk reaction to the wound with hopes it would heal our pain.

The first application was the removal of the Confederate flag from anything and everything. We demanded it no longer be flown over the South Carolina capital building. Apple, Amazon, Wal-Mart and eBay banned the sale of products using the image, but continued to sell Nazi memorabilia. 

See where this is going?

All of this to offer faux white atonement for the Charleston murders. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 38 Comments

Leftridge: Hurry Back, Alex Gordon

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Brandon Leftridge

gordoninjuryIn a piece dated July 14, 2012—so, long before most casual fans has amassed significant and appropriate appreciation—I suggested in no uncertain terms that the success of this team rode squarely on the shoulders of the (then) oft-injured Lorenzo Cain. I spent far too many words extolling his virtues and saying that his career would be “…a true measure of Dayton Moore’s time in Kansas City.” This was all, however, based on his ability to stay healthy.

To that point, Cain’s professional playing time had been marred by nagging leg injuries. Hamstring pulls, sore groins, things of that nature. Though he had all the natural talent in the world, his existence had been cursed by fragility.

But then, something happened.

He spent time in the offseason learning how to run appropriately. He dedicated himself to self-preservation. And it paid off. He became, as I suggested, one of the most important players on the team. As a catalyst both at the plate and in the field, he became the most indispensable outfielder on the team.

Well, except for one guy. Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Jack City: Hello DOJ—Good Luck With The Airlines

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Jack Poessiger

skywayrobberThe Department of Justice is snooping on the airlines for possible collusion?

Say it ain’t so.

Code sharing, certain immunities, dynamic pricing, capacity control and airline alliances all can raise eyebrows—and SHOULD!

But isn’t it a little late for all of this?

With DELTA buying NORTHWEST, UNITED acquiring CONTINENTAL, USAIRWAYS picking up AMERICAN (but keeping the AA nameplate) and SOUTHWEST merging AIRTRAN into its fold, how could the DOJ not expect trouble ahead?

What were eight carriers just a few years back have been clipped down to just four winged powers.

Some routes have been doubled or tripled, while others have been eliminated all together resulting in fewer discounted seats and crowded planes. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Glazer: Can Sleepwalking Royals Go All the Way?

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Craig Glazer

imagesPlease don’t get upset with me…

Yes, I still believe the Kansas City Royals will win the division. And I think they can still win the American League Pennant. But if you’re seeing what I am, the Royals are falling down on offense again and starting to look like last year’s low-scoring, very little power team that had to invent runs.

Am I wrong?

Add in the starting pitching issues and our comfort level is getting less and less.

After a close call last night, the Royals remain in first by 4 1/2 games over the Twins.

Yesterday’s win was huge, because a loss would have left KC up by just 2 1/2 games as we near the All Star break. Meaning with any more losses, the Royals could have been up by just a game or two, which is not where we want to be, right?

So what’s the real issue here? Why can’t KC dominate?

I think its clear, both on offense and pitching.

This team has not found that guy who stirs the drink so to speak. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments

Hearne: Will the Next KC Sports Superstar Be a WWE Guy?

Posted on July 6, 2015 by admin

Screen Shot 2015-07-01 at 10.09.43 PMWondering who the next world class athlete from Kansas City will be?

Here’s a hint: You won’t learn about him from The Pitch or the Kansas City Star. That said, you’ve come to the right place.

Homegrown, hometown heroes are hard to come by around these parts.

The usual suspects are easily identified; director Robert Altman, golfer Tom Watson, actors Jean Harlow, Paul Rudd, Ed Asner, Don Cheadle and Chris Cooper, writer Calvin Trillin, comedians Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis, designer Kate Spade and musician Pat Metheny.

True Kansas Citians, one and all.

Unlike pseudo KC stars like George Brett, Walter Cronkite, Jesse James, Thomas Hart Benton, Melissa Etheridge, Walt Disney, Joyce Hall, Handsome Harley Race and Joan Crawford, who either moved here or were born in satellite cities. Local media lay claim to these names from time to time, but they’re not the real deal.

Enter Thomas Pestock, the rising WWE superstar known as Baron Corbin. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Steele: The Importance of Being Chelsea (@ UMKC)

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Rich Steele

Chelsea-ClintonUMKC hasn’t gotten this much national attention since the Bloch School was busted for goosing up its ratings…

The Star threw the doors open on that scandal. This latest one took the Washington Post.

I doubt if Star editors saw anything amiss with paying Chelsea Clinton, the 33 year-old heir to the Clinton crime syndicate, $65,000 to speak at a luncheon for 10 minutes.

They’re all in for the mom.

Yes, 10 minutes – it was in the contract.

True, Chelsea had to endure a withering 20 minute grilling from Kay Barnes on something or another, but Chelsea got to specify what kind of chair she sat in. She also dictated the temperature of the water that she would be drinking on stage. Continue reading →

Posted in Rich Steele | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments