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Off the Couch by Greg Hall Landmark columnist

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For more of Greg Hall, surf to www.kcconfidential.com

Media, fans wondering if the Royals will ever be good again

Posted 7-2-09

“Congratulations to the Minnesota Twins. Monday night, they lost to an older version of the Lansing Lugnuts. The Kansas City Royals, in the 16th year of their three-year rebuilding program, have won more than 77 games once since 1993. They are getting ‘better’ the same way noise pollution gets ‘better.’ You just get used to it. A local fast-food chain gives away soft drinks when the Royals steal a base. If the Royals gave away shots of bourbon after winning seasons, they'd be a baseball version of AA. Willie Bloomquist appears to be one of their better players. I'm not sure whether I just insulted Bloomquist, or the Royals.”
Jim Souhan, columnist, Minneapolis Star Tribune
GH: When I read this slap-in-the-face column in the Star Tribune, I thought to myself; ‘Maybe this is the kind of embarrassing jolt this squad needs to go on a 10-game winning streak.’ The KC Lugnuts promptly lost the next two games to the Twins in an avalanche of missed opportunities and Little League-like errors. Who was I kidding?

“If you’re a Royals fan, you have to be wondering if this Royals team will ever be any good. …The worst thing is, they don’t know how to fix it.”
Jack Harry, following the Royals latest defeat, a 5-1 loss to the Twins on Wednesday, KSHB TV 41
GH: I grabbed quotes from many members of the local media who have reluctantly all but given up on the hapless and slapless Lugnuts in Blue – once again even before the Fourth of July. Read on.

“This organization can’t figure out how to run a big league ball club.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“On one hand it (the national perception that the Royals are a perennial loser) hurts, but on the other hand who can we compare ourselves to? This is something that has been earned. We’re kind of on an island in Major League Baseball.”
Ryan Lefebvre, 610 AM
GH: Even the Beav is resigned to the fact this organization has earned its chain of embarrassment link by loss. I wonder if David Glass is really Jacob Marley? I see the resemblance, how about you?

“If I could put this (Royals) season in perspective, that’s where I’d be.”
Roger Twibell, after saying he’s lost so much interest in the Royals losing season that he chose to watch the USA/Brazil soccer match live and tape the Royals/Pirates game Sunday, 610 AM

“I kind of felt like I bailed out on the Royals, although I may have already bailed out of the season already.”
Josh Klingler, who also opted to watch the soccer match live over the Royals game Sunday, 610 AM

“This is almost a one-man team. Where would this team be without Greinke? It’s almost impossible to see how good he’s been on such a bad baseball team. Zack Greinke should be the All-Star game starter because the Royals are so bad. He should get more recognition for playing on such a bad team instead of less.”
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: If nothing else, Greinke deserves credit for the Hucklebuck. 

“The most frustrating thing about this season has been the lack of a consistent clutch hitter. You’ve got to get across to these players that they need to get the job done or we’ll find someone else who can. Putting the fat part of that bat on the ball should be their first and only goal when they step into that box.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM
GH: I love McFarlane’s takes on the Royals. I get the feeling these Royals players are pampered more than even Xavier and C.J.

“I’ve been on a lot of teams and in a lot of clubhouses and the character and attitude with these (Royals) is just off the charts.”
Kevin Seitzer, 610 AM
GH: Then let’s get some dirty, rotten bastards in that clubhouse who can HIT! We have all the milk-and-cookie Nancys we need.

“I just feel if these guys can get just a little bit of run, get some confidence in themselves… Nobody’s getting frustrated. Disappointed? Yeah. We want to win, off the charts. As far as the work ethic, these guys care. If there’s a fault it’s that they care too much and they’re trying too hard when we get men on base.”
Kevin Seitzer, 610 AM
GH: I like Seitzer and would love to see him succeed here. But his laughing and cheering for Tony Pena Jr.’s 12-pitch strikeout Tuesday night made me ill. He carried on like TPJ was a kid from the Special Olympics battling Bob Gibson in his prime. Every foul tip was cheered like a magnificent accomplishment. As I watched this unfold on my TV screen, one thought played in my head over and over, “My god we suck.”

“The Royals are at the bottom of the league year after year and the biggest reason is that the Royals don’t pay enough attention to on-base percentage. Until the Royals purposely go out and get some guys who get on base, they are not going to score enough runs to be competitive.”
Rany Jazayerli, 810 AM
GH: The Royals score less than their new super fan, Chris. Read on.

“56 hours in the car.”
Ryan Lefebvre, on Royals super fan, Chris, who drove from KC to Houston to Pittsburgh and back to KC last week, Royals TV
GH: If you watched any of the Royals’ recent road trip on television last week, you probably caught a glimpse or three of this young bespectacled Poindexter-looking character in the Royals cape/beach towel. Someone needs to do a feature story on this lovable freak of a Royals fan. He drove from Kansas City to Houston for the Astros series. Then, from Houston to Pittsburgh for the three games with the Pirates. He was next spotted at The K about 24 hours after the Pirates finale to watch the Twins/Royals home-stand opener. Looking at Chris and the open seats that surrounded him at each venue, I am guessing he made this sojourn by his lonesome. And just a wild hunch, I am going to assume being alone is not at all unfamiliar territory for him. What I believe we have here is the makings of the Royals’ version of McLovin’. Chris McLovin’ could be bigger than the Royals video board. There are always reasons to smile when it comes to baseball.

“A lot of Royals fans don’t like me saying this but I think (Trey Hillman) is going to be the Royals manager on opening day again next year. … Can I back up a little bit here? I think Trey will be the manager unless the Royals lose 95 or 100 games.”
Sam Mellinger, KC Star writer, 610 AM
GH: The Royals were 11-17 in May and 9-17 in June. 100 losses here we come.

“Dayton Moore’s job number-one should be and should have always been to rebuild the farm system. And I don’t think that has happened yet. It’s going to take some time. It’s hard to turn around a farm system in two years.”
Rany Jazayerli, 810 AM
GH: Injuries have hurt the Royals. But the players who have been out with injuries were not playing well and were contributing no more than their subpar subs. The Royals organization has less depth than Carl Henry.

“They said it was hands down the worst movie since The Love Guru – and these are teenage morons. So you know if it doesn’t humor them, it’s not good.”
Mike McFarlane, on what his group of high school baseball teams he helps coach thought of the movie, Year One, 810 AM
GH: I remember when I resembled that remark. A quick American Legion baseball story from 1972. Our best lefty starter was a hot-headed kid with a great arm and even better control. He had two amazing talents; 1) he used to win money betting kids he could knock birds off of telephone wires with a rock. 2) he could take a dump anywhere and at any time. Anyway, he gets in a fight at practice one steaming-hot July afternoon and our coach grabs him and sends him home early. After practice we head to the parking lot and I notice a crowd surrounding the coach’s Monte Carlo. There on the center of the car’s hood was a four-logged pile of freshly cut turds melting into the silver paint.

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Chris and Cowboy getting the scoop on wild Henry situation

Posted 6-30-09

Chris and Cowboy were left apologizing to their 610 audience on Monday afternoon after Carl Henry didn’t show for his well-hyped interview. The unlikely threesome made up for Monday’s malaise with a Tuesday to remember when Carl not only spent 15 minutes talking with C&C but also dropped bombs about Xavier and C.J possibly reneging on their commitment to Kansas and chasing after Coach Cal at Kentucky. Below are excerpts from Carl’s conversation with C&C.

“Let me clear this up, because Coach Self knows this ‘cuz I called him. Xavier, if it weren’t for his momma saying, ‘I would not go down to Kentucky,’ Xavier woulda been at Kentucky. He would have been at Kentucky if not for his mom saying, ‘I don’t want to move to Kentucky.’ So, Xavier said, ‘I’m gonna go to Kansas.’ Even though that’s what he wanted to do – go to Kentucky to play under Coach Cal, that’s what he wanted to do. I expressed this to Coach Self. Told them. Now, after all this been said, his mom don’t care where he goes. So guess what? The kid might have a change of mind.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Chris & Cowboy have been viewed as a ragtag duo whose radio show is unfit for prime time. These claims are not without warrant. But their work on the Carl Henry/j. Brady McCollough/Kansas story this week has been laudable. This kind of work, timely interviews and drop-everything-and-listen-to-this kind of content is what propelled 1510 into the behemoth sports station it has become as 810. Excellent work by the two guys whose show everyone was discussing Tuesday afternoon.

“I spoke with Carl Henry an hour and a half ago and he told me…”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK made this statement about 15 minutes after C&C aired their canned interview of Carl Henry. He basically stated some of the same comments Carl made on 610. He had no interview or comments from Carl to play on his show. He may have spoken to Carl but knowing KK, I need more proof than his word.

“That’s what I tell Coach Self. He has a change of mind, so what? So be it! He has a change of mind! Now, I have held everything together. I said, ‘Hey, you went on TV and told everybody you’re going to Kansas. Why not just go to Kansas? We shouldn’t have to be drug through this over and over and over.’ ”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Carl speaks with a bit of a Neilbonics accent. Read these quotes a couple of times and you will get the gist of his message. One being he probably had the same distaste for going to class during his years at KU that his son, Xavier, harbors.

“I was supposed to go on the radio with you guys (Monday) at four o’clock. Before four o’clock came, a guy called me says, ‘I just got through talking with your kids and they headed to Kentucky.’ My kids haven’t told me that. When I say we do things different, we don’t jump over and say this and that and then come back and say this and that. We all get together, have a meeting and then say, ‘Let’s go to the coach first, tell him and then we’ll go where we have to go and tell them where we going.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: One place I going when I done reading these quotes is to kiss my momma for sending my ass to school!

“Like I said, I haven’t even talked to my sons. Not even today. We home now and like I say, we have a meeting set up tonight where we gonna sit down and we gonna talk about this whole deal.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: This is the third or fourth Henry family meeting I’ve heard about where the goal was to finalize the sons’ college of choice. I am not holding my breath that the decisions from this meeting will carry any more merit than the others.

“I don’t know what they considering.”
Carl Henry, when asked by Cowboy if there is a chance the Henry brothers were considering enrolling at Kentucky, 610 AM
GH: No surprise here. This is the same dad who earlier in the interview told us “a guy” informed him his kids were going to Kentucky.

“When Coach Self came down here my oldest, C.J. said, ‘No matter what, I’m going to Kansas.’ That’s what he said. But a couple of weeks ago my youngest son tells me he wants to go to Kentucky. He said he’s thinking about it.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM

“I’m gonna tell you exactly what happened. John Wall (Kentucky recruit), they good friends. Those (Kentucky players) started talking to him and they changed his mind. That’s what happened. That’s what we came to figure out what happened. I talked to Xavier since and I’m telling him, ‘Hey man, I know they was your friends and stuff, man, but you can’t just change like that. You already gave a commitment. You already said you was coming. Now all of a sudden you don’t want to come no more? Just because guys, your friends, say this would be a great place? And you know, kids gonna do what kids do. I mean if that’s what he want to do… I mean if I’m not happy at a place, I’m not gonna play at a place.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Kids gonna do what kids gonna do. That slogan should be inscribed on the Oh Henry’s family crest.

“He can go anywhere he want to go.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Making it clear that Xavier is not bound by any signed commitment to Kansas.

“I do know this: Coach Cal hasn’t talked to him. No he has not. I reached out and called Coach Cal and asked him if he had a scholarship.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Carl did not elaborate on whether Coach Cal answered in the affirmative. I am going to guess Cal would find a scholarship in his Kentucky bag even if it meant selling Churchill Downs.

“I’m pissed off because the guy who wrote that story kind of betrayed my whole family. And kinda made us look bad like the kids are prima donnas and all I do is talk. If that what he has to do to sell papers, so be it. Sell papers that way. But he’ll never get another word from me.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: J. Brady McCollough is being painted as the bad guy by the Henrys. I don’t see JBM as the scorched-earth journalist that Carl believes him to be. Was his story negative? Yes. Did Carl supply the material to fuel the negative story? Much of it. Self has stated he has no problem with Brady but I wonder what kind of fallout he’ll receive from the Kansas faithful over this fiasco.

“She told me she told Coach Self, she’s out of it. She don’t care where they go.”
Carl Henry, on whether the boys’ mother is still against the brothers playing at Kentucky, 610 AM
GH: I just hope the boys inherited their mother’s knack of speaking without being heard.

“They never was a packaged deal. C.J. plays just as good as Xavier. You know, I don’t know. I don’t know. You know, I don’t know. C.J. can go anywhere he wants to go. The Yankees paying for his scholarship. I don’t know what he want to do.”
Carl Henry, 610 AM
GH: Will the Henrys eventually arrive in Lawrence? Will the boys split and play at KU and UK? Will the family meeting tonight reveal their ultimate destination? I don’t know, you know?

“What I would like to see is for Kansas to keep its integrity and not go begging to these kids.”
Caller, 810 AM

“Your coach believes; ‘Let’s go get the kid no matter if he likes Kansas or not.’ He’s going to fly down on a jet tonight and that’s not begging? If you believe it’s about the name on the front of the jersey and not on the back, your coach doesn’t agree with you.”
Kevin Kietzman, to a Kansas fan, 810 AM
GH: KK is seizing this opportunity to dig the Jayhawks as deep as his Wildcat claws can scratch. He is drawing blood and loving it.

“If he can’t appreciate the hallowed halls of Allen Fieldhouse then he can take his kids and go the hell home! I don’t care. I’m pissed and I don’t want them here. And that’s where I’m at.”
Caller, who described himself as a KU alum, 810 AM

“(Xavier) walks into the door (at Allen Fieldhouse) and scores 24 points in his first game; no one’s going to care.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“As we currently speak, Carl Henry is ignoring Bill Self’s phone calls.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Huh? How can KK make this kind of baseless statement? What’s that? He’s KK? Point taken.

“The alarm button has gone off for all of our fans. So we’ll just wait and see how it plays out. Because I really don’t know right now. I know we would really be excited to have them as part of our situation but if they feel like there’s a better spot for them, then I feel like we’ve done okay here too.”
Bill Self, in an interview with Channel 5, 810 AM

“I thought that Bill Self sounded like it was something that wasn’t going to happen.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: In the words of Carl Henry, I don’t know, you know?

“If they’re supposed to be with us, they’ll end up being with us. If they’re not supposed to be, they won’t. …Hopefully it works out.”
Bill Self, in an interview with Channel 5, 810 AM
GH: Tune in tomorrow.

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Carl Henry tries to claim much of the Star's story is 'false'

Posted 6-30-09

“All of that is false. I had a friend of mine in Kansas City read me a lot of what was printed and it’s false.”
Carl Henry, TheShiver.com
GH: Matt Scott posted Carl Henry’s response to J. Brady McCollough’s story on Xavier and C.J. Henry in Sunday’s Star on the ESPN-sponsored TheShiver.com. Just what “all of that” includes is up for debate. Is Carl saying McCollough made up his story? Fabricated the quotes? The Kansas City Star doesn’t work that way. Read on.  
“We had lunch. The tape recorder was sitting right in front of (Carl Henry) the entire time. He knew it was on. He knew he was being quoted. I was a little taken aback by some of the things he said, but they were said with a recorder there and never did he say, ‘You shouldn’t put that in there.’ There was nothing like that. So to me, I felt that I had full reign to use everything he said.”
L. Brady McCollough, 610 AM
GH: McCollough has covered the Jayhawk beat for The Star for two years. He is not a sensationalistic reporter who would want to burn an incoming basketball star like Xavier Henry and his brother, C.J. It makes no sense to believe his story is anything but valid.

“It’s almost like they don’t want us up there, and right now, my kids don’t want to go because of that article.”
Carl Henry, TheShiver.com
GH: Who is the ‘they” Carl is referring to? J. Brady McCollough and his tape recorder? His sons no longer want to play at Kansas because of a newspaper article? Yeah, these two are ready for the NBA. Or maybe Carl Senior is trying to talk his way out of the hole he’s dug for his kids.

“I have been totally shocked by the Kansas fans’ reaction to the story. I didn’t go down there to write a negative story. I still don’t feel like I wrote a negative story. I just felt like it was a real story. For anybody who read it in perspective, it is not a negative story.”
L. Brady McCollough, 610 AM
GH: Hold on, JBM. Please. This story shed a negative light on the Henrys from almost any perspective. Which part surprised JBM that his readers would take as negative? That Carl Senior ignored an incoming call from Bill Self? That Carl Senior said C.J. was as good as Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor? That Coach Self needed to be “on board?” That Xavier has no interest in attending class or joining his future teammates for summer workouts? JBM cannot be that naïve to think his story wouldn’t shake some rocks loose from their chalks.

“I was impressed with the kids. They work their butts off! They didn’t take any shortcuts in their workouts while I was down there. People say they came off as prima donnas in the story but I wasn’t trying to do that.”
L. Brady McCollough, 610 AM
GH: Chris and Cowboy scored big in getting McCollough on the air to discuss his side of this tale. But they allowed him to get away unchallenged with comments like this that simply should have been pressed. JBM painted these incoming freshman as driving a Range Rover, a Hummer – “Xavier needs the leg room,” and living in a plush condo with NBA-like amenities that C.J. paid for in cash. Where, oh where, would anyone get the idea from this story that these two are prima donnas?

“I apologize to anyone who is tuning in to hear our interview with Carl Henry. We called his cell phone several times and he didn’t answer. Now he’s turned his cell phone off because it’s going directly to voicemail. That’s not cool. We can’t control what people do but I apologize. It looks like Carl Henry is going to stand us up.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: This happens in live radio and was one of the reasons I hoped the interview was already in the can when the station started promoting it on 610 during Nick Wright’s morning show.

“My first thought is that as soon as we started promoting this interview, you know KU monitors our show, that Bill Self called Carl Henry and said, ‘Don’t do it. You’ve already caused enough damage.’ ”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: This out-of-the-crimson-and-blue comment floored me. How can Hamblin make a reach this far with no evidence of proof over the public air waves? He even made up a conversation that Self apparently had with Carl Senior. When 610 is wondering why people continue to refuse to take their station seriously, they need look no further than comments like this – which I heard Cowboy repeat during the five-o’clock hour.

“There is more separation between Kansas and the other schools this year than there was last year between North Carolina and everybody else. Kansas will be everybody’s pick to win the national championship.”
Mike DeCoursey, college basketball writer, on his expectations for KU basketball, 810 AM
GH: The Henrys arrival in Lawrence is one of the reasons so many pollsters are picking them as the runaway favorites. Let’s hope all this Carl Senior rhetoric is long forgotten come November…but I doubt that will be the case.  

“Marcus Morris has made tremendous improvements since last year. There were times when he was the best player on the court.”
Jason King, of yahoosports.com, on what he observed while watching KU scrimmage their alumni recently, 610 AM
GH: If Marcus improves that much, KU may need to schedule the Lakers.

"It doesn't affect me. It doesn't affect our players. Our job is to coach and to play and that's what we do."
Frank Martin, on KSU's recent scandals, KSHB TV 41

“I think Bill Snyder has more integrity than most people in his little finger. And I like Frank Martin a lot.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“Will a nine-win season make this go away for Bill Snyder?”
Soren Petro, 81o AM
GH: Yes.

“I think one of Ron Prince’s greatest weaknesses was that he didn’t know how to evaluate talent.”
Kevin Kietzman, on the former K-State football coach, 810 AM
GH: But he obviously knew how to negotiate a buyout.

“We’re gonna see Missouri football take a giant step back. K-State football is in complete and utter disarray -- complete and utter disarray. K-State basketball is mediocre at best with a coach who is mediocre at best. It just furthers KU’s stranglehold on athletic dominance of the local schools. …If you’re a Kansas fan, I don’t know if you could feel better about your position athletically in regard to the local schools.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM

“A lot of people think I’m anti-Jayhawk and that I hate KU. There’s probably a smidgen of truth to that. I grew up on the Missouri side and I can’t really be a Jayhawk fan.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM

“It pretty much came down to Northwest (Missouri State) and the Air Force Academy. But then I found out that at Air Force you pretty much gotta get up at 6:00 or 6:30 every morning. I really didn’t want to do that.”
LaRon Counsel, former running back at KC’s Center High School who scored 36 TDs for the NWMS Bearcats in 2008, 810 AM
GH: Let’s just say it’s probably a good thing for everyone that LaRon chose Maryville, MO over defending our country.

 

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Adventures of three guys named Henry about to begin at KU

Posted 6-29-09

J. Brady McCollough authored an interesting and timely story in the Sunday Kansas City Star about Xavier and C.J. Henry, the most highly-anticipated siblings in Kansas basketball history. The real focus of McCollough’s story for me was Carl Henry, the father of these two prize recruits. The college hoops season is still four months away but this threesome sounds like their eventual arrival on campus this August has all the makings of a ratings-busting reality show.

“Carl says both of his sons hope to be one-and-done at KU.”
J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star
GH: Everyone has Xavier pegged as a one-and-done recruit. No one I know of outside the Henry family has tabbed his older brother as a lock for the NBA – even after four years in college.

“I don’t like stepping on people’s toes, but I just know what I know. I watch them play, all the Kansas kids. I like these kids, (Sherron) Collins, (Tyshawn Taylor), they’re good kids, man. But they’re not better than C.J.”
Carl Henry, Kansas City Star
GH: If Carl truly doesn’t like to step on toes, it appears he doesn’t mind delivering a shot to the groin of the Jayhawks’ team chemistry. C.J. may be as good as Carl thinks. How would anyone know? He hasn’t played real competitive hoops in what, five years? What is obvious from this statement is that Carl expects not only Xavier to start next season but C.J. as well. You can bet this quote has been discussed plenty in Lawrence by players, coaches and fans.

“Everybody’s gotta be on board. The coach has got to be on board.”
Carl Henry, Kansas City Star
GH: This quote is a bit scary. Is it a threat? Does Carl think he has a deal with Self about playing time for C.J.? Unless C.J. is as good as Carl thinks (and that rarely is the case) he can expect to be very disappointed in C.J.’s court time. Kansas isn’t hurting for 6’3 guards who have been playing baseball for much of the past four years.

“I would hope they’d want to be here. I would rather them be here.”
Bill Self, KU’s head basketball coach, Kansas City Star
GH: I heard Self make a similar statement on camera while at a golf event. He is obviously unhappy that the Henrys have decided to skip the summer workouts in Lawrence and instead stay in OKC at C.J.’s luxurious condo. How tough is the transition from daddy’s world to Coach Self’s world going to be? I am going to guess the term “life altering” would apply.

“More and more college basketball coaches are jumping on rides like this one. At elite programs such as Kansas, they don’t really have a choice. Neither side is right or wrong. It’s just reality, and it’s not very romantic.”
J. Brady McCollough, writer, Kansas City Star
GH: Kansas fans are still hopeful that a Michael Beasley scandal will be uncovered in Manhattan. But at least Beasley came humble and said the right things – not to mention backed everything up with one of the greatest freshman season’s the Big 12 has ever witnessed. When recruits are as blatant about not having any interest in education as the Henrys, it has to make even Bob Davis cringe to see them in Crimson and Blue.

“You don’t have to take any classes.”
Xavier Henry, on why he looked into playing in Europe for a year instead of college hoops, Kansas City Star
GH: Xavier made it very clear in the story, as did Carl, that education is not high on his priority list. This is probably fine for an athlete of Xavier’s talents, but what if he’s the next JaRon Rush? What’s the fallback plan? Is going to class that much of a hassle for an 18-year-old?

“If he didn’t have to go to college he wouldn’t do it.”
Carl Henry, the father of Xavier and C.J., on Xavier’s disinterest in education, Kansas City Star
GH: Carl seems to be able to control everything his sons do except when it comes to academics. Read on.

“Jump rope a thousand in the morning like at 6 o’clock, push-ups in between your sets of jump rope. Or he’d make you do it at night. You could already be asleep, and he’d say, ‘You get that in today? No? It’s time.’ ”
C.J. Henry, Kansas City Star
GH: Imagine if, during their formative years, Carl would have worked in the same amount of emphasis on the books as he did conditioning. What is frightening to me about this story is that some kids might read it and think they too can jump rope their way past college.

“For Xavier, he needs the leg room.”
Carl Henry, explaining why his 18-year-old son drives a Hummer, Kansas City Star
GH: For all three Henrys to fit into the Hummer, they probably need the head room as well.

“I’ll bet you 100 you can’t.”
Xavier Henry, challenging his brother, C.J., to perform a jumping drill he had just accomplished, Kansas City Star
GH: What caught my eye here is the amount of the bet. 100 what? How much did you bet your brother when you were 18 and unemployed? And what were you driving?

“I’m ready to get up there and get everything started.”
Xavier Henry, Kansas City Star
GH: In this case, the “everything” that Xavier is referring to might be a whole lot more than the Henrys and Kansas bargained for.

Greghall24@yahoo.com or Twitter.com @ greghall24


http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/897/779315.jpg

 

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Fans' ire now spreading from Hillman to Glass and Moore

Posted 6-26-09

“It must be nice for David Glass to be sitting out there in the stands down in Houston enjoying the game just the way he likes it – with nobody messing with him because nobody knows who he is.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: David Glass and his son Dan were front row center in our homes during the Royals series in Houston. Seated just behind home plate, they were impossible to avoid via the center field camera.

“I have tried to get David Glass on. He just doesn’t do many interviews.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: David Glass will be 74 in September. He could run the Royals another five years or turn the club over to Dan as soon as next year. It is Dan who will determine this franchise’s future. Dan is who should be answering the tough questions about whether or not the team’s next 10 years will resemble the futility of their last two decades.

“I think so many fans have settled for mediocrity. If you were born after 1980, you’ve never seen good baseball (in Kansas City). Why settle for mediocrity? …For me, a lifelong Royals fan, it’s disappointing.”
Greg Schaum, Royals’ postgame host, 610 AM

“Is this (Royals) team going to come together in the next two years? I say no.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“Will Dayton Moore get this team to the postseason in five years? I would say, yes. But I don’t know if he’s got five years.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM

“I’m afraid (Moore) will be fired before the talent in (the minors) gets here.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: How far away does that 18-11 start look? The media and fans first focused their ire on Trey Hillman. It has now spread to Moore and the Glass family. Sounds like it’s time to fire the hitting or pitching coach.

“Steve Busby after a game once said, ‘We out-dumbed them.’ And that would very aptly describe what we are watching. …Houston’s defense, the first five innings of this game, has been laughable.”
Denny Mathews, after the Astros botched a rundown play allowing the Royals to take a 4-3 lead, Royals Radio
GH: One positive from Matthews’ current I-don’t-give-a-shit radio play-by-play is refreshing honesty. Matthews loves good defense and smart baseball almost as much as he enjoys skipping those trips to Tampa. The consistently inept play he is witnessing this season might rival anything this franchise has produced in its 40 years.

“No matter how high they try to grow the grass out there at The K -- and they probably have the highest grass in the league -- you could turn an ankle running around that grass -- the ball’s going to find those (poor defensive) guys.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: The former Royals center fielder apparently has knowledge that the Royals are intentionally allowing the grass at The K to reach new heights, in hopes it slows the ball down enough for a fielder to throw his body in front of it. Even the lawn mowers know we don’t have a chance.

“The times I saw (Aaron Crow) there was nothing that jumped out and grabbed me that told me that guy was going to be the Royals number-one draft pick. Maybe I just saw him on a bad day.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: Great. So you’re telling us that even our number-one draft pick will require The K to grow infield grass the height of Bethpage Black’s rough? There is more bad news, read on.

“There are definitive limitations in Mike Moustakas’ game. He’s 20-years old and he ain’t walking. He is what he is. I now believe he will not be an on-base machine. Right now I evaluate Mike Moustakas somewhere between Mike Jacobs… Mike Moustakas might be Mike Jacobs. I might be giving him too much credit. He might bomb out and never be Mike Jacobs.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: MooseTacos is one of the two (Eric Hosmer is the other) reasons down on the farm that all Royals fans can point to and dream about. If he’s the second coming of Mike Jacobs, we need to seriously consider lobbying the NFL to start their season in June.

“(Brayan Pena) may or may not have done it, but Frank (White) was pretty convinced that he was trying to see where (Pudge) Rodriguez set up.”
Ryan Lefebvre, on the heated exchange in the batter’s box between Pudge and Pena in the 8th inning Wednesday night, 810 AM
GH: Pena was definitely peeking back at the Astros’ catcher prior to the pitches – on multiple occasions. Frank White immediately recognized this and let the television audience know what all the commotion was about. The Royals Radio audience wasn’t as lucky. It wasn’t until the 11th inning that Bob Davis even mentioned the 8th inning incident and confessed to not knowing the cause of Pudge’s anger toward Pena. Just another reason White has been a valuable addition to the Royals telecast this season.

“I think half of it was that (Rodriguez) was mad at Pena and half of it he was mad at himself.”
Ryan Lefebvre, as Rodriguez continued to discuss the incident in the bottom of the inning with the Royals players while on first, second and third base, 810 AM
GH: The Beav knows his baseball but sometimes I wonder if he has forgotten most of it. Rodriguez, in my humble opinion, was not one bit upset with himself over having called for a pitch that Pena parked into the right field seats. He was pissed that Pena, who is a catcher and should know better, broke one of baseball’s most sacred unwritten rules: the batter doesn’t peek. Pudge was just doing his job in trying to protect his pitcher – and educate the young Royals’ catcher.

“You hear things (from Frank White) that you actually learn. That’s very rare from color people.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Clink may want to stick with the term “analyst” just to be safe.

“There were so many third-called strikes and the Royals didn’t adjust.”
Denny Matthews, after the Royals were caught looking seven times Thursday against Houston, Royals Radio

“I hated to strike out. I hated it! With two strikes you used to say, ‘This guy’s not going to strike me out anyway.’ For me, I’d rather hit a ground ball to the third basemen on a jam job than strike out. Take some pride. When I was down in spring training it’s one of the things I talked about – we’ve got to cut down on strikeouts.”
George Brett, 610 AM
GH: If the Royals are looking for a slogan to motivate this 2009 version of the home team, I submit Brett’s above statement: Take some pride. Danny Clinkscale made the comment the other day, “Nobody has any shame anymore.” How sad. How true.

Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter @ greghall24

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Why do so many of Petro's pompous statements go unchallenged?

Posted 6-24-09

“I never understood fans who resented Mike Sweeney’s salary or A-Rod making $27 million. Did you want all the money to go to the owners?”
Soren Petro, discussing why Donald Fehr was just a guy doing his job as the head of the MLB Players Union, 810 AM
GH: Petro often chastises fans who complain about the escalating salaries, ticket prices or huge profits professional teams reap. What Petro never discusses is that these salaries and profits come from Joe Fan – not some nameless, faceless TV contract or revenue sharing agreement. The dollars that make up those payments come from the price of a ticket, the cost to park your car, that $7.25 beer, that $30 t-shirt, that new Chevy truck you bought, and the case of Bud Light in your fridge. We pay the freight on those products and services to help fund outrageous sports salaries. Petro wants to debate whether or not A-Rod is worth $27 million a season? Please. Is anyone even allowed to disagree with Petro on his show? How and why some of his pompous statements go unchallenged is baffling.

“That game winning hit by LSU last night sounded like they had a microphone on the bat. I do not like the ping. I hate the ping.”
Blair Kerkhoff, college writer for The Kansas City Star, when asked why college baseball refuses to get rid of aluminum bats, 810 AM
GH: I saw my first aluminum bat my senior year of high school in 1973. It took me two years to finally try one at my coach’s urging during batting practice in 1975. I never chose wood over aluminum again. Wood bats are relics and should go the way of the wooden tennis racket and the wood driver. You want to complain about the ping? Have you heard the sounds coming out of every MLB scoreboard now? We have people dressed like sausages and condiments running around the field. I think we can handle the ping.

“It is totally different. It’s a totally different environment out there. They’re more focused on football. Scott (Pioli) is a no-nonsense kind of guy. He’s a guy who just wants to win and doesn’t care about all the other stuff. I think he wants the entire organization to focus like that.”
Deron Cherry, when asked by Soren Petro about the changes made in the Chiefs front office, 810 AM
GH: It sounded to me like the former Chiefs’ safety was comparing Pioli’s organization to how Carl Peterson ran the Chiefs. It would have been interesting to know if that was the case. But Petro, a well-known Peterson sympathizer, either refused or missed the opportunity to pursue this line of questioning.

 “It is a change. We get very little information now. We see very little. But hopefully, as they win and develop this team, things will be different and maybe they’ll open up a little more.”
Deron Cherry, 810 AM
GH: The morning show on 610 aired interviews the past few weeks with various members of the media who have covered both Todd Haley and Scott Pioli in the past. I’ll run Off The Couch columns on both in the near future. I was surprised by many of the comments and I think you’ll find them interesting as well. I came away thinking that we don’t really know Scott Todd yet.

“Time for the sports digital update, here’s Neal Jones.”
Roger Twibell, on Monday’s show, 610 AM
GH: Jones, who was fired from his afternoon-drive show by 610 earlier this year, was back reading sports updates on Twibell’s show Monday. Does this mean there is a chance the exiled Big Sexy could return to 610? They need him and he could use the venue. And it sure would make my job fun.

 “I think Gil Meche owns a home here but he doesn’t stay here during the winter. Other than that I don’t think there is one other (Royals) player who lives here.”
Al Fitzmorris, 610 AM
GH: I used to care if Royals players lived here but no more. Most of these guys are on their second or third team and are just marking time until their next trade or free agency.

“Short of Zack Greinke, nothing will bring more (trade value) than Gil Meche – and this team needs a lot.”
Soren Petro, promoting the trading of Meche for multiple young talent, 810 AM
GH: I wonder if Meche’s trade value has been damaged by Trey Hillman’s overuse of his former ace. Other teams are at least as wise as you and me.

“There’s one of those new sabermetric numbers, now I’m not a big sabermetric guy but one of them is called a WHIP – walks and hits per innings pitched.”
Ryan Lefebvre, Royals TV
GH: Sometimes I think the Beav is stuck in 1983. WHIP has been around for well over a decade. BTW, I love those sabermetric nerds. I sure as heck don’t have the patience to crunch all those numbers.

“(As a TV broadcaster) you’ve got to stay upbeat, you’ve got to stay with it. We’re homers, no doubt about it. But we just can’t be one-sided and go with the mood swing of the game. We just gotta stay focused on bringing the games to the fans.”
Frank White, on working as the Royals TV analyst, 610 AM
GH: White mentioned that he has lost interest in some games this season, especially in the losses in St. Louis. He talked frankly about the role of a home team’s broadcaster and how he needs to try and stay upbeat no matter the score or play on the field. He is also one of the few broadcasters to ever admit to the homer tag. I like Frank’s work more and more each game.

“When you take into account the way this course drains and the rowdiness of the crowds, don’t expect the U.S. Open to ever return to Bethpage Black.”
Jeff Passan, who covered the U.S. Open for yahoosports.com, 610 AM
GH: Passan ripped the New Yorkers for their bawdy behavior and lack of golf etiquette. I love the unconventional golf crowds at Bethpage and was sad to hear Passan’s report. It turns out Passan may be more of a stick-in-the-fairway than the PGA players. Read on.

“No, it (the crowd’s rowdiness) was not a problem in the least. I talked with Adam Scott about this yesterday and he said, ‘Look, at the end of the day we’re having a good time with it and people aren’t really crossing the line. They’re New York fans and sometimes they get enthusiastic. They’re going to cheer, they’re going to roar, and there’s nothing wrong with that.’ A lot of times golf fans get too stoic about things and I back him up 100% on that. It’s entertainment, it’s a spectacle. Get into it! I expect the U.S. Open to be back at Bethpage as soon as they can, probably around 2017.”
Dave Dusek, deputy editor of Golf.com and Si, on the rumored unruliness of the NY-area crowds at Bethpage Black, FoxSports Radio
GH: Dusek was covering the same event as Passan but came away with a completely different opinion of the Bethpage Black crowd. I like his better.

“Dan Dan the Tailor Man has got the Beroni suits. These are the ones that I wear.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: I was unsure is this was meant to entice us or warn us.

Greghall24@yahoo.com  and on Twitter @ greghall24

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Is Hillman managing in the big leagues or running Vacation Bible School??

Posted 6-22-09

"When the Royals lose, it’s the manager who takes most of the blame. When they win, Trey Hillman rarely gets the pat on the back.”
Karen Kornacki, KMBC TV 9
GH: What manager has Kornacki been watching? This is why Kornacki is the worst sports reporter in Kansas City. She will put a positive or apologetic spin on every story even if it means creating fiction to make the subject look more sympathetic. She apparently thinks she is doing her subject a favor. What she is not doing is her job – unless her job title no longer includes the title professional sports journalist.

“This season (Hillman) is different. He says the pressure and the expectations don’t weigh on him as much because he’s learning to rely on his faith in God.”
Karen Kornacki, KMBC TV 9
GH: Kornacki ran this feature on Hillman on Sunday night’s broadcast, just days after Hillman’s contentious dialogue with The Star’s Sam Mellinger and other members of the media after Thursday night’s loss to the Diamondbacks. Read on.

“If you guys want to create something else, create it. My approach is not gonna change. Speculate all you want. I don’t know. You guys want me to sit here and pull answers out of my back pocket. I don’t have all the answers. Is it frustrating? Yeah, it’s frustrating. These guys take a lot of pride in what they do. Regardless of what you write or how you spin it or what the fans think.”
Trey Hillman, to the media after Thursday’s loss, 810 AM
GH: Apparently, Hillman thinks it’s the media and the fans who are the guilty parties in his team’s slide. Kornacki’s report never touched on Hillman’s thin skin, a trait that many who cover the Royals’ skipper have mentioned.

“I haven’t been nearly as angry over the course of this part of the season, over the first quarter, as I was over the first quarter of the season last year.”
Trey Hillman, KMBC TV 9
GH: We are well past the first quarter of the 2009 season and dangerously close to the end of the season for any chance the Royals had for postseason play. Maybe it would help if Trey got a little angry with his underperforming players. 

“Trey studies the Word and he takes notes. He takes notes in these reporter’s notebooks. So far, he has 37 pages of verses that motivate him. He also keeps inspirational quotes that he reads to his players.”
Karen Kornacki, KMBC TV
GH: How many notes does he have on how to walk Albert Pujols?

“I know why I have better balance, because I have better balance in my prayer time and better balance in getting in God’s word. And a better accountability system with the men I’m around every day, our staff. …‘Talent is God given. Be thankful. Praise is man given. Be humble. Conceit is self given. Be careful.’ I’ve keyed on that one with every team I’ve ever managed.”
Trey Hillman, KMBC TV 9
GH: I am not a big fan of organized religion. In my opinion much of the pain and misery recorded in history can be traced back to one sect's version of God, Allah or Jobu being desecrated by another. I am even less a fan of people who bring their religious beliefs to the workplace for others to witness. A person in authority over employees at his job who attempts to motivate his/her charges with ‘the Word’ is way, way outside their rights as a boss. It is my opinion Hillman’s strong religious beliefs are having the opposite effect on the Royals that he intends.

“I saw one of my shortcomings last year… evidently I let the pressure of losing – even though we won more games than we had in recent years – I would let the pressure of losing ball games exude out of my being to the point where it had adverse effects on the clubhouse. That’s not my job. So that’s a leadership issue in my opinion.”
Trey Hillman, KMBC TV 9
GH: What baseball manager says things like, “…exude out of my being?” And what the heck is wrong with letting your frustration with losing carry over into the clubhouse? Did Hillman come from Japan or Disneyland?

“Now don’t misunderstand, Trey hates to lose.”
Karen Kornacki, KMBC TV
GH: Not nearly enough. His appearance in the Cardinals’ dugout before Friday’s game sure didn’t give me that impression. Read on.

“(Trey Hillman) was in the Cardinals’ dugout! Not on the dugout steps or nearby, but inside the opposition’s dugout. He gave Tony La Russa a bear hug from behind. It startled (La Russa).”
Greg Schaum, 610 AM
GH: I was waiting in a logjam of traffic exiting The K on Friday night when I heard Schaum and Robert Ford discussing how peculiar it was to see Hillman inside the Cardinals’ dugout prior to Friday’s game. I did not get Schaum’s quote verbatim but the above comment is close to what he described to his radio audience. This merely puts an exclamation point on Hillman being a nice guy who has no clue what is expected of him as a MLB manager. What message does Hillman’s presence in the Cardinals’ dugout send to his players? To the Cardinals? To La Russa? Here’s the message I got: “We are an inferior team that bows to your superiority. And we sure hope you like us. And ain’t it neat that I’m a big league manager? BFF, Trey.”

“We got beat handily the last three games but at least we put five runs on the board in each game.”
Trey Hillman, Fox
GH: This is a guy who hates to lose? He makes sure to point out that his team won more games in 2008 than in 2007 (when he wasn’t here) and then despite getting blown out at home, he makes sure you know his team scored five runs. Can you imagine Whitey Herzog or any manager with a pair uttering this embarrassing quote? If Hillman thinks the weather has gotten hot, he ain’t felt nothin’ yet. Royals’ fans deserve more than the Nippon Nun and a nightly ass kicking.

“I’m not so sure (these losses embarrass David Glass). He’s a lifelong Cardinals fan. Glass owns Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart is sort of an embarrassing company, except for the bottom line.”
Danny Clinkscale, to a caller who mentioned the Royals owner has to be embarrassed by the Royals play this past weekend, 810 AM
GH: How much longer can Glass stand being the owner of a team that is a perennial loser? Is he patient or simply interested in profit? His customers want to know.

“(David Glass) bought the franchise for $94 million and it’s worth what now, $250 million?”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“A very ‘energized’ press corps decides to not ask any questions at all of Trey Hillman.”
Danny Clinkscale, after broadcasting a portion of Sunday’s postgame press conference from The K, 810 AM
GH: Clinkscale’s comment was tongue-in-cheek as he playfully slapped the reporters who questioned Hillman after the Cardinals’ swept three from the Royals. My hope is that Hillman’s tough-guy attitude doesn’t scare the media that covers him but forces them to push him even harder for answers and reasons for his team’s dismal play.

“A contender and a pretender. The Royals can’t come up with a single win during one of their biggest weekends of the summer.”
Frank Boal, sizing up the Cardinals and the Royals after the series sweep by the Redbirds, Fox 4

“The sad part is the Royals did a horrible job of scouting (Albert) Pujols. They could have signed him for $50,000. He grew up in our backyard playing high school ball at Fort Osage and attending Maple Woods Community College. And the Royals just flat-out let him get away. Just another reason why this franchise has had one winning season in the past 15 years.”
Jack Harry, KSHB TV 41
GH: I would love to have the former Fort Osage Indian in a Royals uniform, but he was drafted in the 15th round. Every team in the league repeatedly missed on what some call the greatest right-handed hitter to ever play the game.

“I absolutely cannot stand when Soria comes in to all that music during a loss! Don’t play that music when Soria’s coming in during a loss!”
Greg Schaum, 980 AM
GH: The sound system blared Welcome to the Jungle and flames flashed across the video board as Soria entered Sunday afternoon despite the 5-12 deficit that also shared space on the scoreboard. In this jungle it appears those of us still paying attention are the monkey’s uncles.

(Email Greg at greghall24@yahoo.com)

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Halter tops just aren't what they used to be at Royals' games

Posted 6-17-09

“I remember halter top day. I think back in my day they were a little bit shorter.”
Frank White, after Royals TV showed a video clip of a female fan modeling the most modest “halter top” this side of Sister Irma’s wardrobe, Royals TV
GH: The fans voted Halter Top Day as the most popular Royals retro promotion. This is why the Royals revived this giveaway for their July 4th game this season. But anyone who remembers the halter tops of the 1970s is going to be very disappointed with the politically correct 2009 version. This top is nothing more than a tank top with a very modest neckline.

“That was a different time, Frank.”
Ryan Lefebvre, responding to White’s above comment, Royals TV

“Oh boy, was it!”
Frank White, delivering the best line of the season for the TV duo, Royals TV
GH: My hope is that the ladies who arrive at The K on the Fourth perform some on-site tailoring of their tank top and turn it into a more representative facsimile of what Frank remembers seeing from his perch at second base.

“The politically-correct halter top. Now you just have to make sure that you do Halter Top Day that it doesn’t coincide with some kind of protest the next day.”
Ryan Lefebvre, Royals TV
GH: Just one more reason to hate political correctness.

“Gil (Meche) is two pitches away from matching Roy Halladay, who had a 133-pitch outing… the most pitches in a start in the major leagues this year.”
Ryan Lefebvre, Royals TV

“Well, I was tired.”
Gil Meche, on why he struggled in the ninth, Royals TV

“I really wasn’t that concerned about pitch count to be honest with you.”
Trey Hillman, in the postgame press conference, KSHB TV 41
GH: The media, led by Soren Petro, did their job and drilled Hillman during the postgame presser on why he allowed Meche to pitch the ninth inning and accumulate 132 pitches during an easy 5-0 win over the hapless Diamondbacks. He answered the same questions so many times he managed to contradict himself about pitch counts. Read on.

“The other thing is I just need verification (from Meche) because it is a higher pitch count.”
Trey Hillman, 810 AM
GH: I am not a pitch count guy…BUT any manager who says he isn’t concerned about 132 pitches on a night as sweltering as this one, with one of your aces on the mound who is coming off a fairly recent injury is not thinking clearly. There was no reason – NONE – for Meche to go out for the ninth. A complete game shutout means squat in the standings. Meche was refusing to come out? So what? It was obvious to anyone with any baseball acumen that Meche was surviving on nothing but fumes during the ninth. If Meche suffers in his next start I hope Dayton Moore sends Hillman to the Double A Northern Arkansas farm club for a refresher course in humidity.

“I was in spring training for six weeks and I watched (Willie Bloomquist) play second base. I saw him play shortstop. I saw him play third base. And I saw him play all three outfield positions. And I thought, ‘What was Dayton thinking when he signed this guy? This guy can’t play a lick!’ Now he’s the MVP of this team.”
George Brett, 610 AM
GH: I enjoy watching Willie Bloo play as much as anyone. But him being the Royals MVP is a problem. When your utility man with no power is your team’s best player, you don’t have much of a team.

“I think that t-shirt is the best t-shirt they have ever given out. I can’t wait to get that t-shirt on Tuesday.”
Caller Josh, on the Greinke ace t-shirt giveaway at The K, 610 AM
GH: I like the idea of a T-shirt Tuesdays but I have yet to be impressed with the design of any of the shirts. The Greinke shirt looks about as boring (and cheap) as the others to me. I would like to challenge the Royals marketing department to get creative and amp up their efforts beyond mediocre.

“The Royals were never going to get to move to the National League. That was nothing more than a courtesy offer. I don’t think there was any way that Bud Selig was going to allow his (Milwaukee) team to get the short end of the stick on that deal. There was no way he was going to let those (Cubs and Cardinals) crowds not come to Milwaukee.”
Brian McRae, on the much discussed chance in the 90s that the Royals had to move to the National League Central, 810 AM

“Tyler Hansbrough doesn’t think he’ll be on the (draft) board at 12 for the Bobcats. If Tyler Hansbrough is a lottery pick in the NBA draft, it’s not a very good year. Tyler Hansbrough is not playing power forward in the NBA. He’s playing practice-guy-who-works-really-hard in the NBA.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, in response to reports that Hansbrough mentioned in a recent radio interview that he did not expect to be available for Charlotte’s 12th pick, 610 AM
GH: The website www.draftexpress.com projects Hansbrough as the 20th pick. The player who is scorching up the mock draft lists is Stephen Curry, the 6’3 shooting guard from Davidson, is projected to be the fifth overall pick.

“What do we do now? Seriously, what do we do now? The NBA finals are concluded. We’re kind of between seasons.”
Kevin Kietzman, on the June Swoon that besets Kansas City sports talk radio each summer when the Royals fade and the Chiefs are more than a month away from training camp, 810 AM
GH: This is the time of year the newspaper’s sports columnists head off on vacation and the sports talk radio guys search the web for odd daily topics to plunder. It might be time to dust off your CD collection or invest in satellite radio.

“Why wouldn’t Kansas City and Scott Pioli be interested in Plaxico Burress? I just think it’s a perfect scenario. The only thing he did was hurt himself. It’s not like he went out and hurt somebody else. I’m just looking for something that’s going to give this offense and Matt Cassel a chance to succeed. I’m all for it.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: He “hurt himself” by having a gun go off in his pants while seated at a night club. (Don’t you hate when that happens?) That’s not quite stubbing your toe on the chair leg. I do think Haley is much better equipped to handle Burris than Herm would have been.

“No. No.”
Nate Bukaty, when asked if the Chiefs should pursue signing Plaxico Burress, 810 AM

“I’m sure there are Chiefs fans out there that hear he is canceling practices and are infuriated.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, after Todd Haley called off the final two OTAs this week, 610 AM
GH: Haley’s reasoning for cutting the OTAs short was that he felt the players had made great progress and it was his way of “throwing them a bone” for their hard work. I don’t think Chiefs fans will find that infuriating in the least. I think they will find that encouraging.

“A friend of mine sent me the article on Todd Haley that was written by Kent Babb in The Kansas City Star. I just thought this was a fascinating story.”
Chris Stigall, morning host on 710 AM
GH: Babb continues to impress as one of the young talents in the Sports Daily. He has a chance to really shine over the next five years as he follows the Chiefs rebuilding process. Let’s hope the paper is around that long to chronicle his work.

“It seems like Pioli is looking more toward next year than this year.
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: A good GM has to look beyond the current season. But I think fans will be surprised at how competitive the Chiefs will be in year one of Scott Todd.

“Everything has to be perfect for (the Chiefs) to be a 10-win team this year.”
Kurtis Seaboldt, 810 AM
GH: It is too early to predict the number of wins for a team not yet in training camp. But I think they will be closer to 10 than to 2.

“Once again we (the Chiefs) are the underdog and like to tell everybody, the underdog comes out on top. Just like Tank Tyler – I’m the underdog.”
Tank Tyler, 810 AM

“These guys love to get on HBO and cuss. Brett Favre dropped the s-word. He said the caca word. Joe Buck really got a charge out of it when Brett Favre dropped the s-bomb.”
Steven St. John, on Favre’s interview on Joe Buck Live on HBO, 810 AM
GH: Favre’s shit shtick was pale in comparison to Artie Lange’s live act on Buck’s show. Read on.

“Joe, TMZ is your favorite website? What’s your second favorite, suckingcock.com?”
Artie Lange, a regular on Howard Stern, after Buck declared his affection for TMZ.com, HBO
GH: St. John tipped his morning show listeners to Lange’s irreverent act on Buck’s HBO show. Read about it and catch some video at globalgrind.com. Lange’s blast also made Buck proud by running in the NY Times as well. What did Buck expect from a Howard Stern sidekick appearing on live television?

“I’ll tell ya, a bran muffin, a cup of coffee and a heated driver’s seat – that could be a dangerous combination. That could be a disaster.”
Click and Clack, hosts of Car Talk, NPR

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

 

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Kietzman over the top in bashing of the New K; Maas makes stop on 610

Posted 6-16-09

“There are certain things out there (at The New K) that absolutely drive me crazy. …The worst feature of the ball park is the fence around it. It looks like a prison. I cannot overstate this! I hate, HATE that fence! The fence is awful. It is just awful! I don’t think Leavenworth would have that fence! I’m not kidding! You couldn’t have that in my neighborhood!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman and I differ greatly on our opinion of the New K. Kevin repeatedly refers to it as the “O-Kay.” I am guessing you also cannot build a sports complex in KK’s neighborhood. Read on.

“The exterior of the ball park is not even remotely landscaped. I can’t believe we’re this far into the season and they haven’t improved it. There’s just dirt and gravel around the stadium.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK made this statement in May, a month after opening day. To declare that the exterior of the stadium was not “even remotely landscaped” is false -- and yet another reason why both Kietzman’s critics and fans categorize him as unbelievable.  
“If Ewing Kauffman would have driven up on opening day, he would not have gone into the game. He would have had a crew out there fixing it.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Now I guess we are to believe KK is channeling Mr. K. Is everything now perfect at The New K? No, but the Kougar has only been open for 10 weeks. I’m willing to cut the construction crew some slack and I think Mr. K would have as well. 
“I just saw so many things (at The New K) that would kill Ewing Kauffman. I think he would have hated the video board. I think he would have thought it was too much.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman’s K-bashing is out of control. How can you knock the massive video board? What male has ever said, “That TV is just too damn big! It’s just too much!” I do hate that they refuse to replay any close plays or plays that show the Royals in a negative light. And as much as I detest some of the goofy video promotions, my wife and kids and many other semi-baseball fans love the corny commercials and that sweaty guy with the mic who screams at everybody to mow faster.

“The Crown Vision (at The K) is not Crown Vision. All it is, is selling advertising. Statistics are all jumbled and too hard to read. It’s nothing but ads.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: For a moment I thought Kietzman was describing the programming on WHB. Too hard to read? The font size on that board has to be 300! Whitlock may be correct; maybe KK is turning into Don Fortune.

“It doesn’t even feel like The New K if it’s not done.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Sure has felt new and fun to me every time I’ve been out there this season. Visiting teams and their broadcast crews continue to rave about the improvements made to our stadium. KK’s and Clinkscale’s continued bashing of the New K sounds personal to me. They wanted a downtown stadium so much they refuse to enjoy the great new ball yard on I-70.

“There are a couple of warehouse-like structures in the outfield. It’s the fans out there that have embraced this and made it a fun thing despite the (improvements).”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Warehouse-like structures? Was Danny expecting the Sydney Opera House? Of course it’s the fans that make the place fun. The positive vibes I’ve gotten sitting in both left and right field this season have me almost wish I was in back my 20s. And as the summer heats up, the scenery in those “warehouses” is going to reach torrid temps as well.

“What would Ewing Kauffman have done? This is not a bash David Glass thing. …(Kauffman) clearly said we are going to do everything better than everyone else. Everything he did was first class.”
Kevin Kietzman, who then went on to bash David Glass and state that his priority is to make a profit, 810 AM
GH: When did Kansas City become home to so many media naysayers? We now have a beautiful downtown arena, a downtown entertainment district that is fabulous and alive, a gorgeous, fun newly renovated baseball stadium and soon a football stadium to match. But a few loud voices with a mic or keyboard want to whine about what’s wrong with what we have. What a bunch of self-serving crap. KK, Clink and Nadia need to stay out of my way if they see me coming because I’m out enjoying life – I wouldn’t want to parade on their rain.

“I would love to move this show to Kansas City and show them how to do entertaining sports talk radio without having to dip down into the sewer.”
Danny Havel, host of The Boneyard, 92.7 FM in Salina
GH: Havel is a Chicago kid with a sports talk show in Salina. He follows the KC sports talk shows and was aghast at Nick Wright calling for Hillman’s job and KK blasting Aaron Crow for turning down the Washington Nationals millions. Can the Boneyard play outside of Salina? Let’s hope we get a chance to find out.

“I’m a big fan of the show. You guys are doing great!”
Bill Maas, in a guest appearance with Chris and Cowboy on his former radio station and afternoon-drive slot on 610 AM
GH: Maas was on 610 to promote the upcoming Chiefs Ambassador’s Golf Tournament at Staley Farms on June 24. I don’t think I’ve heard Billy Bob on the air since he and Pork Chop split up. He had some interesting comments about the Chiefs and their new coach. Read on.

“I don’t think there is any other way to do (run an NFL team). There is no such thing as democracy in football. It’s a dictatorship. It’s one way and it has to be one way. I think there are some really good things ahead for the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Bill Maas, when asked his opinion of Haley’s hard-line approach, 610 AM
GH: This may explain why Maas and JW didn’t quite become the radio success they envisioned after bolting from WHB. It’s pretty tough to have a successful dictatorship when you have Fidel Castro and Kim Jong II sharing the booth.

“You’re going to see small results right off the bat. And I think you’re going to be very surprised with some of the things you see this season.”
Bill Maas, 610 AM
GH: C&C didn’t ask Maas to elaborate and I wish they had. What kind of surprises are Chiefs fans in for this season? Winning would be a nice surprise.

“I don’t think it really matters (if Haley played in the NFL). I think this is going to be a great transition and I think this is going to be great for the Kansas City Chiefs).”
Bill Maas, 610 AM

“Pioli has a plan. He has a vision of what he wants to do.”
Bill Maas, 610 AM

“They are nowhere even close to being done putting all the pieces in place.”
Bill Maas, 610 AM
GH: Again, no follow queries up by C&C on what pieces Maas thinks might be headed our way. Maas held up his end of the interview but the guys hosting the show appeared star struck.

“That statement made didn’t shock anybody in the (Chiefs) locker room. These guys aren’t shocked. They knew what Larry Johnson is and is all about a long time ago.”
Bill Maas, on Larry Johnson’s comments on Chris and Cowboy’s evening show last January that he no longer wanted to be a Chief, 610 AM
GH: Larry Johnson has flown so far under the radar the past few months he would have to reach up to change the oil in his Maybach. Who thought he had any chance of being a Chiefs player in 2009? Not me – and yet he now appears to be in better standing with fans than Brian Waters. Tell me you saw that one coming.

“I think if you still want to be a figure this late in your career you still consider yourself a top offensive lineman in this league, (Waters) comes in (for all practice sessions). Me myself? I don’t know how you don’t go. I’d be there without question.”
Bill Maas, when asked to comment on Brian Waters skipping voluntary OTAs, 610 AM

“I think only (Waters’) teammates can answer that. I think only they know what Brian Waters is all about. I don’t see it personally all mixing together and coming out good.”
Bill Maas, when asked if Waters should still be considered a team leader, 610 AM

“Most media don’t know who the leader in the locker room is. …Only the players know who the leaders are. There is sometimes a big difference between the biggest star on the team and THE MAN in the locker room.”
Bill Maas, 610 AM
GH: Waters has taken a voluntary leave of his role as team leader. I think he will return to find the new team leaders did not wear Chiefs uniforms in 2008.

“I think it’s good all the way around. I really do. It’s good for the Falcons, it’s good for Tony …and I think it’s good for the Chiefs.”

Bill Maas, on the Tony Gonzalez trade, 610 AM

“I think one thing the Chiefs have lacked is a sense of direction.”
Bill Maas, 610 AM
GH: Talk about the Garmin calling the compass directionless! Maas’ life has lacked a sense of direction almost from the moment he became famous at Pitt. He is a talented broadcaster who apparently can’t stay focused on his professional goals without breaking the law in a very public and embarrassing way. This too was left out of C&C’s interview with the Peoria Perp. Some of Maas’ more memorable lines from his Fox NFl telecasts courtesy of blogspot.com:

“Those neck stingers sting!”
“That look will curl spaghetti around a fork without a spoon. ”
“More chatter than a dolphin by a fish bucket.”
“His hands are like cobras. ”
“All this talk of men in the box is not about Hannibal Lecter’s lunch pail.”
“The only grass that grows in the desert is called fairways!”

“If I miss it the first three times, I am not going to continue. I’m gonna just stick with football.”
Tank Tyler, when asked if he would be playing golf in an upcoming charity golf event, 810 AM

Greghall24@yahoo.com
Follow Greg at www.Twitter.com/greghall24

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Radio sports talker calls for firing of Royals manager

Posted 6-15-09

“Right now I think the (Royals’) season is slipping away on and off the field. …Off the field, what you can do is fire Trey Hillman, hire Frank White and the city cares again. It might not help, but we know it can’t hurt. Whether he’s technically doing a poor enough job to warrant firing is irrelevant. The Royals need to fire Trey Hillman.”
Nick Wright, opening his Friday, June 12th, morning show with this turn-up-the-volume declaration, 610 AM
GH: Is Wright tossing out this on-air grenade simply to be the first talking head to call for Hillman’s job and make some waves for his midday show? Or does the new kid on the dial really believe Hillman needs to go? Read on.

“I don’t know if any manager could have done better, but I do know that no manager could have done worse. When things go unspeakably bad, someone must be held accountable.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Sounds like Wright was reading from 610’s Program Managers’ scripts when they wacked D. A., Tim Grunhard, Marty Wall, Neal Jones and the others who were guilty of unspeakably bad ratings. BTW, anybody else out there trade D. A. for Roger Twibell straight up right now – no questions asked? I thought so.  

“Sometimes a job just does not work out and this job is not working out for Trey Hillman and the Royals.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Some will say that Wright’s timing is off – with the Royals piecing together a three-game winning streak over the weekend. Others will be less hard on Wright and point to the futile play of the Reds as the reason to declare Hillman’s issues unresolved. Read on.

“This has been a dreadful three-game series for Cincinnati. They have been, quite candidly, awful! The Cincinnati Reds have done absolutely zero in the three games in this series. The way the Reds have played, it would have been very difficult for the Royals not to sweep the series.”
Denny Matthews, as the Royals closed out their third win in a row Sunday over the Reds, Royals Radio
GH: Agreed – and when’s the last time Denny offered this much edgy in-game commentary? The Reds were 1.5 games out of first in the NLC when they arrived in KC. They are now only 2.5 back. Their play at The K was atrocious. Some local pundits think the ALC is the worst division in MLB. No way. 

“It’s still amazing to me in the industry that we’re in, the power of a win.”
Trey Hillman, after the Royals sweep of the Reds, 810 AM
GH: The heat is off Hillman after the Royals first series win in their last 10 series. But should it be?

“Are we going to see a change in Trey Hillman? Or are we going to see the continued inconsistencies?”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Clinkscale’s question is a good one because Hillman is anything but predictable.

“I suppose you could blame this on Dayton Moore. I suppose you could blame the players. But you’re not going to fire all 25 players. So you know what? The manager is next on the list. On top of this your manager seems snake bit. And he is defensive. And he is not proven. Fair or not, you fire him. And you know what? I think it’s fair.””
Nick Wright, 610 AM

“I haven’t really heard anybody calling for the man’s job but Nick did it this morning.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: It will interesting to see if Wright’s call for Hillman’s job is picked up by any other media outlets besides his radio station, KCSP. If not, does it even matter that he made the statement? Not much.

“I don’t point the finger at Trey Hillman for the reason this team is 7-23. I don’t think another manager could do any better.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM

“I don’t think Trey Hillman is good at his job. I don’t think he’s a good manager. I don’t think he’s going to get good at it. But you gain nothing by firing him this season. By firing him now you make him the scapegoat. There is very little accountability.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM

“Nick brought up Frank White’s name and I think that’s a bit preposterous. The only way you hire Frank White is if this team is ready to win.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: White’s extended time in the Royals TV booth has made him a popular choice with sports talk callers as Hillman’s replacement. I have never thought of White as a MLB manager. I think he’d make a good bench coach but I don’t see the leadership qualities in White that I think a good manager should possess. In my opinion he’s too passive and his pilot light has been on flicker for years.

“I don’t think Trey Hillman will be here next season. I think he is gone at the end of the season.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM

“I think he needs to be fired. He has seven or eight legitimate big leaguers on this team.”
Caller Jack, 610 AM
GH: Caller Jack meant his statement to be an indictment against Hillman. But if your 25-man roster only has eight legit big leaguers, you’re driving a bus at Indy with three flat tires.

“It’s almost embarrassing… Oh, screw it, it IS embarrassing to have Tony Pena, Jr., Luis Hernandez and Tug Hulett on your major league roster at the same time.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Every team has injuries, so blaming the dearth of talent on the Royals roster on bad luck doesn’t cut it. We know how bad TPJ is. From what I have seen of Hernandez, I would be confident in declaring him to be the worst Royals player to make it to the major leagues since, since, …I can’t think of a one. Especially one who combines Hernando’s inept hitting, poor bunting, 14-step throwing motion (with the accuracy of a North Korean nuke) and an understanding of the game akin to that of Robert DeNiro’s Bruce Pearson, in Bang The Drum Slowly.

“Dayton Moore turned down this (Royals GM) job a couple of times and according to reports, almost quit last year.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: It was rumored that Moore forced the Glass family to anti-up more cash to sign the talent he drafted in 2008. The Royals responded by spending about $12.5 million, the most ever by any MLB club in any draft. That talent is far from ready to help Hillman now – which is when he needs it to avoid the plight of the Royals last six managers – Wathan, McRae, Boone, Muser, Pena and Bell. Not quite your Murderer’s Row of skippers, eh?

“For Luke (Hochevar), I’ve always said it’s between the ears for him.”
Greg Schaum, after Hochevar’s amazing 80-pitch complete game victory over the Reds, 610 AM
GH: And have you got a close-up glimpse of Luke’s ears? Wow! We are not talking about old-man floppy ears that look like three-day-old road-kill. We are talking about big, pink, slabs of flesh that look like they weigh a pound or two apiece. Hochevar in Ferengi translates to “Lord and Master.” Luke’s new nickname for me is Quark.

“Kobe Bryant is in the discussion with Michael Jordan (as the greatest NBA player of all time) but people don’t want to say it. This guy is an absolute phenomenal basketball player.  This guy is an absolute joy to watch and he’s an all-time great.”
Mark Jackson, former NBA player and current analyst, prior to the Lakers 2009 title, 810 AM
GH: You don’t have to like Kobe, and I do not, but you have to respect his talent. He is now in my top-five all-time greatest NBA players -- Wilt, Kareem, Michael, Magic, Kobe. Sorry, Larry. My five favorite NBAers? Bird – a BB clinic every night. Dr. J -- OMG he didn’t just do that did he?!! Wilt – an alien dropped to earth three centuries before his time. Jordan – simply the greatest player to ever play the game. Pistol Pete – my all-time favorite athlete to watch perform (even more than Willie Mays). The things Maravich could do on a basketball court had never been done and have never been duplicated. That is a very bold statement and every word of it is true. He was that special.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

Follow Greg's OTC column on Twitter at greghall24

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Royals blow it late, seagulls don't help

Posted 6-12-09

“I just think it’s absurd that you hear an 18-year-old asking for $17 or $18 million dollars. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Harold Reynolds, MLB analyst for MLB Network, on the state of the MLB draft, 810 AM
GH: What is absurd is not that they ask but rather that MLB owners pay. If the Nationals give San Diego State pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg enough to sign (rumors are that Scott Boras is asking $50 million or five times the most ever received), he should be in their starting rotation by the 4th of July, win 4 out of every 5 starts and lead the team in autographs.

“We’re very aggressive. We’re always going to be aggressive. The first three players we selected are not going to be easy signs. We drafted them on ability, it wasn’t on sign-ability”
Dayton Moore, Royals GM, Fox 4
GH: If you remember the Allard Baird years (and I realize you may have attempted to perform a Men In Black Neuralizer on that era), he coined the term “sign-ability.” He always preached that sign-ability was just as important to the Royals’ draft as ability. You have to wonder how much Baird hates that the Glass family waited until they fired him to act like real MLB owners.

“He’ll look like a boob if he signs (with the Royals) for $1.9.”
Danny Clinkscale, after Crow turned down $3.5 million last year to sign with Washington, 810 AM

 “I can predict that some kind of financial arrangement has already been worked out (between Crow and the Royals).”
Jack Harry, responding to Clinkscale, 810 AM

“So if he doesn’t sign in a week, you’re wrong. …I fully expect (the negotiations) to go near the (August 18th) deadline.”
Danny Clinkscale, responding to Harry’s above comment, 810 AM
GH: I’m with Danny on this one. These top three picks will probably all go to the August deadline. 

“If someone were dangling $5 million dollars in front of me, I’m not sure I could wait two weeks for it.”
Kevin Kietzman, on college baseball players who are drafted prior to playing in the CWS in Omaha, 810 AM

“You’re kidding, right Kevin? …I wouldn’t even think about it. I can’t think of anything more non-competitive than ditching your teammates in the College World Series.”
Danny Clinkscale, responding to KK’s above statement, 810 AM
GH: Two things here; 1) Glad KK doesn’t play on my team 2) It was refreshing to hear Clinkscale question another bizarre statement by his boss.

“There is something inherently wrong with that person. I think there is something wrong with any 18 year old who is offered millions of dollars and says, ‘No.’ I think there is something inherently wrong with that person. I’m not talking about baseball – I’m talking about the human being. There is something wrong! They have a screw loose. I can’t say what it is but that’s not normal behavior.”
Kevin Kietzman, on Luke Hochevar and Aaron Crow bypassing millions of dollars to sit out a year before re-entering the MLB draft, 810 AM

“Seriously. I don’t want to be a bummer or a downer. I don’t want to badmouth the pick (of Aaron Crow).”
Kevin Kietzman, immediately after being a bummer and a downer and badmouthing the pick, 810 AM

“The Royals have lost every way imaginable this season but tonight was the most unbelievable loss of all. …Unbelievable.”
Frank Boal, after the Indians defeated the Royals in extra innings Thursday with the help of a walk-off single that clipped a seagull in flight, Fox 4
GH: The Royals probably lose even if the ball doesn’t knock Jonathon to the ground. But why are these dumb birds allowed to use the ball yard in Cleveland like it was theirs? The entire series these birds have been on the field as much as the players. Coco Crisp pointed his left hand at the birds and pantomimed shooting one after the game-winning ricochet. I’m sure his mug shot is already hanging in the PETA post office.

“Well, they hit it almost to me so I just out the glove up and fought off all the fans who were trying to get it. And I got lucky. This is an excellent seat for home run balls.”Larry Quesenberry, Indians fan who caught two home run balls Wednesday night in the fourth inning while seated in center field, Royals TV
GH: To catch two MLB home run balls in the same inning is the stuff of legend. I have caught one foul ball in my life. One. I was 14, attending an Omaha Royals game inside Rosenblatt Stadium. Snatched it barehanded while seated with my boss and coworkers that summer from Jolly Giant’s Grocery Store. The guy who owned the store thought I was going to be the next Brooks Robinson. Unfortunately, I was later discovered to hit like Mrs. Robinson.

“It’s a good glove. A Nolan Ryan glove.”
Larry Quesenberry, on the mitt he used to snare the two souvenirs, Royals TV
GH: Can you name your first glove’s signature? Of course you can! Mine was Hank Aaron. My older brother, Joe, had a Louie Aparicio glove that I adored with a really fat thumb and a perfectly formed pocket. I can still smell that sucker.

“If only (he) had been a step quicker. He’s going to think about that the rest of the game.”
Ryan Lefebvre, on the 30-something dad who was denied twice by the superior reach of Larry – much to the disappointment of his young son, Royals Radio
GH: The FoxSports camera showed the empty-handed little guy in tears as he watched Larry caress his two balls. I came away thinking Larry was kind of a jerk off.

“I can’t believe I’m old enough to say things like this, but there was no real Internet back then!”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: It’s all relative, isn’t it? Bukaty thinks the pre-Internet days date him. I remember the pre-color television era. Rolly Yost’s family got one of the first color sets (it was called a television “set” in those days – probably because you were never finished adjusting it and setting it up) in our school. He shocked us all one day in the third grade with the news that Herman Munster was actually green!

“It’s like everything else all these computer people do. It’ll be gone in six months.”
Pete Enich, on Twitter, 810 AM
GH: I think Atari said the same thing about Nintendo. BTW, you can follow me and my OTC on Twitter at greghall24.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Whitlock can't resist stealing hip-hop and racism from Tween Queen

Posted 6-11-09

Jenee Osterheldt, the Tween Queen columnist in The Star’s FYI section, wrote in her Sunday column about the controversy surrounding hip hop artist Jazzy Jeff. Depending on whose version of the story you subscribe to, Jazzy ended his performance at the Power & Light District early because he was forced to due to excessive volume or the white guys running the P&L suddenly realized he was a black hip hop dude halfway through his set. Everyone agrees he left early and was upset.

Tweeny’s column generated some juice in the media when she added racism to the story. This is when Jason Whitlock got interested. If a columnist at The Star is going to get some run from a racism/hip hop story, it’s going to be Big Sexy. He slapped a 1,200-word column on the front page of Wednesday’s Star just to add emphasis to that fact – and discredit his fellow columnist, Tween Queen. Here are some excerpts from that literary work OTC style. Enjoy.

“Forget about DJ Jazzy Jeff and loud music and the latest controversy at the Power & Light District. At most, they are symptoms of a larger problem at the P&L. More than likely, they’re a prime example of just how out of control celebrity egos can get.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: Translation: Jenee ain’t nuthin’. I am the truth, the way and the light when it comes to racism, hip hop and firsthand knowledge of out-of-control celebrity egos.

“But don’t get distracted by the opportunistic whining of a spoiled out-of-towner.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: Instead, spend 15 minutes reading the whining of a spoiled Cowtowner.

“I just happened to be in the district Saturday night when Jazzy Jeff cut his performance short and set off another P&L public-relations crisis.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: And thank the good Lord that Pork Chop was there to file the following report.

“I was a water-drinking designated driver at the P&L from 9 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. …We had one problem all night: The security staff at Shark Bar initially denied us entrance on the basis that I was inappropriately dressed. It was a ridiculous contention. I had on custom-made, black linen, crepe-weave shorts with a matching Tommy Bahama-style button-up shirt, black dress sandals and a black Kangol hat. I’ve worn the exact outfit or one similar to the best restaurants and clubs in Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: How many guys know what fabric their shorts are made of, let alone the weave? Custom made? No shock there. I have no hats that do not sport a logo. I am guessing a Kangol hat does not have a bill and comfortably accommodates a very swollen head.

“…my friends were upset and insulted. I was out with Russ Stewart, a manager of a popular Kansas City nightclub, and Troy McSwain, a Los Angeles-based custom-wardrobe designer. Like me, Russ and Troy are black and in their 40s.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: If you weren’t riveted by JW’s description of his custom-made outfit, surely you were entranced by his eclectic if aging posse.

“Troy is a world traveler. He designs clothes for some of America’s most famous athletes and entertainers. He was educated at the Naval Academy. He, his wife and two kids own a home in a California suburb. My point is we represent black, professional middle-aged America. …We shouldn’t be on the P&L’s 10 most wanted list.”
GH: Translation: JW’s buddy is making a killing selling him overpriced custom-made shorts made out of what must be the strongest linen this side of Superboy’s blanket.

“(We) were told my shorts were ‘sagging’ below my knees. Troy explained that he made the shorts to hang below the knees and the shorts were no longer than the Old Navy shorts worn by the club’s bouncer.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: If I’m a single guy out looking for some strange, I am not choosing my seamstress as my man friend for the evening. It might send the wrong signal…not that there’s anything wrong with that, Big Sexy.

“Then they were told that my shirt being untucked was a problem and that it was against club policy for my 23-inch white gold chain to hang outside my shirt. Eventually the manager relented and allowed us to go in if I would tuck my necklace inside my shirt.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: I applaud J-Dub for dropping a line in here about being stopped for having 23 inches hanging out. A speed-reading hottie might misread that line and check him out the next time he’s cruising the town w/o Troy Boy the Tailor.

“Once inside, we discovered all three of us were inappropriately dressed. We looked far too professional and classy. Seriously. That is not arrogance. The young, mostly white people inside the club dressed the way we did when we were young and financially strapped.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: Seriously. Poor classless white people who shop for off-the-rack cotton clothes at Dillard’s, Macy’s and god forbid Target, need to be eliminated from the earth…or at least Jason’s and Troy Boy’s custom eyesight. How many Star employees do you think buy their black-linen crepe-weave shorts from their personal tailor?

“We left, feeling insulted and unwanted. Given our age, life experience and multiple options, we didn’t leave angry.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: Life experiences? Multiple options? Not angry? A seamstress in tow? Was a trip to the Liberty Memorial next?

“The problem is there were too many of ya’ll at once.”
Travis O’Guin, Strange Music CEO, described by Whitlock as a “white conservative Republican,” Kansas City Star
GH: Too many male seamstresses?

 “There’s no truth to that at all. I’m going to personally call the manager at Shark Bar and find out what happened to you and your group Saturday night.”
Jon Stephens, president of the P&L, disputing O’Guin’s claim above, Kansas City Star
GH: I concur. I have seen a plethora of male seamstresses prancing about the P&LD, particularly on First Fridays.

“And I know why we eventually got let in. The manager figured out or Russ told him that I have a column in The Kansas City Star. While they were bickering about the appropriateness of my $500 outfit, I stood at the door shaking hands, chitchatting and posing for pictures with the other patrons waiting to enter.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: I need to get my white Dockers-wearing ass into one of those Kangaroo hats and I too might be able to start posing with the young shabbily-dressed white folk in the P&LD.

“It just isn’t fair. The overwhelming majority of Kansas Citians, especially young Kansas Citians, don’t have a similar platform to air their complaints.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: And, don’t forget, they dress like young, financially-strapped hobos.

“I love and socialize with all races and economic classes of people. I’m highly in tune with the challenges social diversity presents.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: Translation: If it means I might get lucky, my standards hang lower than my 23-inch chain and my black-lined crepe-weave shorts.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Some might say the Royals specialize in no-brainers

Posted 6-10-09

“Unlike the NFL draft, we (the manager and coaches) never go out and scout these kids. The coaching staff and the manager are not involved (in the draft) at all.”
Jamie Quirk, 610 AM
GH: I found this information stunning. Can you imagine an NFL or NBA coach having no input into the players his organization drafts? Maybe the Royals need to hire Marty Schottenheimer.

“I know Dayton and J.J. will take the best player available.”
Trey Hillman, trusting the Royals front office to pick him some winners in the draft, Royals Radio
GH: MLB doesn’t even take draft day off! The manager finds out like you and me who his team picked. Makes about as much sense as Katie Horner.

“I was really excited because I’ve been a Royals fan my whole life. …Hopefully, I’m up there sooner rather than later.”
Aaron Crow, the former Mizzou pitcher and Royals top draft choice, KSHB 41
GH: I like the pick, and not just because he has local ties. But I hope somewhere in this 50-round draft the Royals find a catcher, a shortstop and a heartbeat.

“It was really a no brainer for us when you looked at the power arms that were remaining on the (draft) board.”
Dayton Moore, KSHB 41
GH: Some might say the Royals specialize in executing no brainers.

“My thing about the (MLB) draft is that everybody is upset about where they (get drafted) except the guy who goes first. Everybody thinks they should have been drafted a little bit higher except the guy who goes first.”
Jaime Bluma, former Royals pitcher, 810 AM
GH: Sounds like baseball is pretty similar to the office.

“The attitude has been great and I know I continue to say that. These guys enjoy coming to the ball park and I enjoy being around them every day.”
Trey Hillman, Royals Radio
GH: It is now June 10th and the Royals have just one win this month. They are now in last place. It is time someone on this team stopped enjoying losing daily so much.

“This is a nightmare!”
Frank Boal, on the Royals recent losing skid, Fox 4

“Hopefully, Ryan (Lefebvre) will be back soon. I’m not Ryan – I’m a year younger and a lot grayer.”
Joel Goldberg, who replaced Lefebvre as the play-by-play TV voice midway through the opener in Cleveland, Royals TV
GH: No explanation was given for Lefebvre’s sudden departure but we can assume he just became ill. Goldberg did a nice job in relief. He’s comfortable, funny and likeable. If I were the Beav, I’d get well real soon. 

“Has anyone ever hit one (of the seagulls)?”
Shannon Hall, while watching the Royals/Indians game Tuesday with his dad
GH: The FoxSports camera focused on the seagulls flying about and strutting around the outfield. My son was intrigued. I told him to Google, “Randy Johnson, seagull and you tube.” He was impressed. You gotta love you tube.

“I apologize for my congestion. My squeak…”
Steve Stewart, play-by-play voice, Royals Radio
GH: Stewart was apologizing for the falsetto squeal that came out of his mouth on Mark DeRosa’s grand slam. Words cannot do justice to Stewart’s squeal but suffice it to say he could double for the Ned Beatty role in Deliverance. 

“It just comes down to executing, and the Royals just haven’t done a good job of executing.”
Frank White, TV analyst, after defensive lapses allowed Cleveland to erase a 0-4 deficit Tuesday, Royals TV
GH: The famous quote from John Mckay, the first Tampa Bay Bucs coach, when asked about his team’s execution – “I’m all for it.”

 “I wish we did, man…but we don’t.”
Greg Schaum, when a caller asked if 610 Sports had any bumper stickers, 610 AM
GH: 610 just had their best trends book in two years according to BottomLineComm.com. Coincidentally, 810 had their worst spring books. Somebody at Entercom needs to spend a couple of bucks marketing 610 Sports’ lineup to the KC audience.  

“Hey, I’m not saying I’m the GM, buddy!”
Kevin Kietzman, to a caller who reminded him that two years ago he was promoting that the Royals trade Greinke, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman once again got into it with a caller during the 5:00 hour. The caller called to speak to Danny Clinkscale. He disagreed with Clinkscale’s opinion that drafting college players was less risky than drafting high school talent. The caller was fed up with the Royals’ losing ways and said their recent college picks of Hochevar and Gordon hadn’t proven to be any great success. I didn’t think the caller was personally combative or argumentative. Heck, KK barely let the guy speak – loudly talking over him each time the caller attempted to make a point. Read on.

“We’re not going to sit here and argue with this jerk wad tonight!”
Kevin Kietzman, as he hung up on the caller who I am pretty sure did not identify himself as Caller Jerk Wad, 810 AM
GH: Maybe KK got a glimpse of the Arbitron trends right before Mr. Jerk Wad’s phone call.

“When I stepped in to defend you and got attacked myself…”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: No one on radio plays looser with the facts than KK – even the facts that just occurred on his radio show. There was no “attack” by this caller. He simply had an opposing viewpoint. He was in no way disrespectful toward KK or Clink. But it was entertaining radio.

“I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. He was picking a fight and I wasn’t in the mood. …He really made me mad. I’m sorry. What can I say?”
Kevin Kietzman, to another caller who chastised KK for not allowing the previous caller to speak and told Kietzman he owed the caller an apology, 810 AM
GH: I thoroughly enjoyed KK snapping during drive time. A few more calls from Mr. Jerk Wad and KK might regain his Arbitron ratings.

“That is how you jump into a car!”
Kobe puppet, TV commercial, as the Kobe puppet leaped up and over a speeding convertible driven by LeBron puppet, and ABC TV
GH: How long before we see a news report where some dumb ass gets mowed down by his buddy’s ride while trying to duplicate Kobe puppet’s death-defying leap?

“I didn’t want to have a kid, but I knew that I had put myself in that position. It took me a while to get used to it. … I’m a great dad. Whenever you get your child to watch TV, you’re doing something special.”
Dexton Fields, KU wide receiver, who told The Star he watches The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Married With Children with his 2 ½ year-old son, Kansas City Star
GH: Ahhh, those “special” moments a father spends with his infant son watching the antics of that role model for all dads, Al Bundy. It appears Alec Baldwin and Hulu have worked their magic on what’s left of Dexton’s brain.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Time for a Hillman Watch? And Whitlock quits on Chiefs

Posted 6-9-09

“I hope our fans don’t lose hope. …We’ve just got to hope our fans don’t lose faith.”
Trey Hillman, Royals Radio
GH: Hope is an interesting concept when it comes to sports teams and their fans. After the past month’s futile results, few Royals fans (besides the persistently optimistic Caller Jeff) believe this Royals club is pennant-race worthy. It could then be said that most of us with sight have given up hope for 2009. But hope is eternal. The question is; do we want to hope with Hillman or without him?

“Royals sputtering just before the summer months in a scene all-too-familiar to K.C. fans.”
Aram Tolegian, MLB columnist who ranks the Royals 23rd out of 30 teams as of June 1st, FoxSports.com
GH: Detroit is 9th and the ChiSox are 11th in his rankings. The Royals have dropped 21 of 27. Wow! That is the kind of performance that gets managers fired. Even managers like Hillman who appear to be flame retardant.

“I don’t think there is anything in Dayton Moore’s General Managerial makeup that is going to get (Hillman fired). I don’t think there is a Trey Hillman watch – or should be.”
Al Wallace, Fox 4 sports anchor, when asked if Hillman could be fired this season, 610 AM
GH: Is it too soon to fire Hillman? Yes. But it is also too soon for the Royals’ season to be over. If Hillman’s club repeats what they did in May this month (and they have had a worst first week in June than in May), he needs to go.

“That’s a difficult question. …They’re not going to make 25 changes so it’ll be interesting to see how this is handled.”
Jeff Montgomery, when asked if Trey Hillman could have done anything differently, KSHB 41
GH: Interesting indeed.

“As a player, one of my greatest fears was that if I made a mistake, I had to go back to the sidelines and see Marty Schottenheimer right in public view. And they’re going to show that (on TV).  I think that’s the same thing with baseball. Those guys go back to the dugout and there has to be some kind of (fear). Not just one-on-one conversations like we’ve seen what’s Trey’s doing. It has to be where you’re pointing in the guy’s face, yelling at him. You’ve got to do something that is going shake everybody up. Make the other players think, ‘I don’t want to be that guy.’”
Danan Hughes, 610 AM
GH: Trey appears to be a milk-and-cookies kind of guy, the likes of which Tony Muser detested. Is Hillman’s clubhouse--and team--too comfortable? Too soft? Too accepting of losing? Yes. Yes. Yes.

“We’re entering a dangerous part of the sports season, especially for the Royals. The Chiefs beginning those mandatory workouts and the Royals losing ways, maybe falling below the fold in the paper and dropping to story number two on the TV – we’re not quite there yet.”
Brad Porter, MetroSports
GH: Out of sight, out of revenue. George Brett’s big 4-F gripe was that this town hadn’t seen a winner in so long we lacked patience and were too quick to criticize. If the Royals continue to fade, the passionate pleas may morph into an apathetic shrug.

“I just don’t see a lineup working in concert.”
Ryan Lefebvre, 610 AM
GH: This is as close as Beaver has come to criticizing a Royals manager that I can recall. Hillman’s penchant for naming multiple lineups is overblown in my estimation. But his placement of hitters in the batting order, which is what I believe Beaver was alluding to, is mind boggling.

“To me, there is a core element on this (Royals) team that is making their $3 million and they’re happy. I don’t know if they can make money anywhere else.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: Twib Notes has either stepped up his game since the 610 shakeup or had a courage transplant. His takes have been decent of late. This comment above is not what you expect from a guy working just to support his golf habit.

“Once you lose that guy (Greinke), you’re going to lose the whole (Royals) team.”
Danan Hughes, after Greinke’s poor showing in Toronto on Friday, 610 AM
GH: Greinke was SHELLED on Friday night. Even the outs were shots that would have left fence dents. If we don’t have Zack Black’s starts to suck some oxygen from once a week, we can break out the fantasy football mags and start boning up for the draft.

“I still think he can win it and I still think he will win it.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, on Greinke’s chances of winning the Cy Young, 610 AM
GH: Hillman talked about hope earlier in this column. My hope is that Zack wins 20-plus this season and his first of many Cy Youngs. But his chances diminish with every Royals loss.

“Day-hey-ZEUS.”
Steve Stewart, Royals Radio
GH: Anybody else notice how Steve Stewart pronounces David’s surname? I like it. I just wish David played like the Say Hey Zeus.

“The Red Sox let (Roger Clemons) go and everybody thought he was done. He came here to Toronto and found new life.”
Steve Stewart, Royals Radio play-by-play
GH: Is that what they call steroids in Canada?

“Carne Asada burritos are good. I’m a person who likes to eat Mexican food but other than that, there is nothing else in my body.”
Adrian Gonzalez, Padres first baseman who leads the NL with 22 homers this season, Jim Rome Show

“Hi may I help you! …I’ll have a side of onion rings and a large peach tea!”
Ryan Lefebvre, radio ad for Gates BBQ, Royals Radio
GH: Beaver doing a Gates commercial is just wrong. I get this vision of Beav ordering at Gates and the loud counter creatures screaming at him until he runs from the building and into a nice safe Applebee’s. BTW: I hate that Gates charges for refills. A refill for that large peach tea will cost the Beav another 99 cents. I mentioned this to one of the counter creatures on State Line Road last week and she was not impressed.

“If secrecy and distance from the media are the keys to winning in the National Football League, our Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl contenders.”
Jason Whitlock, on Scott Todd’s secrecy and paranoia toward the media, Kansas City Star
GH: Does it matter that Scott Todd have chosen to make the media’s job difficult in covering the Chiefs? Opinions differ on this subject. Read on.

“I don’t think it’s that big a deal. I really don’t. I’m not as concerned about it.”
Roger Twibell, on the media being kept at arm’s length by the Chiefs, 610 AM
GH: Twib Notes isn’t really involved in covering the Chiefs like a reporter, beat writer or even a columnist. While it probably has little effect on his job, it does have an impact on how his station reports on the Chiefs.

“The access we get or don’t get, has nothing to do with what happens at 12 noon on Sunday.”
Al Wallace, 610 AM
GH: Wrong. It definitely can affect the number of people who buy tickets, beer and watch on television. Winning will take care of that – but only if the team suddenly becomes what they have not been in a long time – a winner. Why wouldn’t the Chiefs want the media to help them restore this city to Schottenheimer-like hysteria?

“Hey, if these guys are going to win football games, lock me out! Do what you’ve got to do.”
Al Wallace, 610 AM
GH: I think it’s a bit of an issue. The Chiefs are in the entertainment business. They need to sell a lot of very expensive tickets in a new stadium where the football product has been very bad of late. Treating your cheapest promotions department – the free media – like the enemy is a poor business decision. Lamar Hunt and his AFL brothers built this franchise and league like businessmen. I believe they would be flummoxed by Scott Todd’s media cold war.

“I went to my last Chiefs practice Saturday afternoon.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: So why should we care what Whitlock writes about the Chiefs for the next seven months? He is pulling a Brian Waters and going home to pout because the Chiefs told him they can get 22 guys across the street and down the block to cover them. Why not return and fight? Jason was lucky to be born during this time. One squirt from a riot-patrol’s firehouse in the ‘60s and he would have wet his pants and quit. His readers (and editor) should demand more from him.

“It was a waste of time.”
Jason Whitlock, on having to stand 100 yards from the action on the practice field, Kansas City Star
GH: Jason has turned soft, and that’s not a fat joke. He has more power to force the Chiefs to accept the media and their role than any person or entity in the local media. He should be embarrassed that he has chosen to waste it.

“And I suspect my stay in River Falls, Wis. during training camp will be very brief.”
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
GH: So Pork Chop is going to sit at home and write Chiefs’ columns off what he sees on TV, hears on the radio and reads on the web? Dude, I’ve got that beat covered.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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The Waters Watch is on

Posted 6-4-09

“I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with (Brian Waters) yet.”
Matt Cassel, the Chiefs new QB, when asked by reporters if Waters would make an appearance at Friday’s mandatory minicamp, Fox 4
GH: This might be the best deadpan line of the offseason.

“I guess it’s the question of the week. Hopefully he does come out for this weekend.”
Branden Albert, Chiefs offensive lineman, on the Waters watch, KSHB 41
GH: TV 41 showed a handful of local reporters sitting on the curb outside Yia’s Yia’s Restaurant in hopes of getting a glimpse of the MIA All Pro at the Chiefs First Downs for Down Syndrome fund-raising event. Waters did not show Wednesday night which adds to the speculation that he will be a no-show at Chiefs camp this weekend as well. We might need to get Dick Vermeil in here to tell Brian WaWa it’s time to take the diapers off, young man.

“These are farm ranch rabbits, basically raised in a closed environment and they are very, very tasty. …It looks like skinless chicken. You’ve got a lot of meat on a rabbit.”
Hen House Rep, on another riveting BTL segment, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman had promoted an in-studio appearance by Matt Cassel at around 3:30 pm on his Wednesday show. When I tuned in, KK and Elmer Fudd were discussing the best way to roast Bugs. Read on.

“Live radio does not always work.”
Kevin Kietzman, explaining that Matt Cassel had to cancel his in-studio appearance Wednesday afternoon, 810 AM
GH: Understandable, but KK didn’t give any specifics as to why Cassel canceled. With all the secrecy surrounding Scott Todd, I’m wondering if they didn’t pull the plug on Cassel’s in-studio appearance.

“Be there in person to watch history unfold. This will be one of the best seasons ever in KU football. …Reserve your place in history… History awaits, be there.”
David Lawrence, KU football radio commercial
GH: I am a bit too superstitious to want my team to air a promotion as brazen as KU’s. Wasn’t Mizzou supposed to have their best season ever last fall with their Heisman-candidate QB and all those NFL draft picks?  How many of those Chase Daniel poster schedules are still hanging in Columbia?

“(Phil) Steele bills his product as ‘the most accurate preseason magazine in the last 10 years!’ That doesn’t mean all of his picks are right. Nobody’s that good. In fact, one of his picks in this year’s magazine is outrageously off base; so off base most KU football fans likely will wait for the release of Lindy’s to begin digesting the outlooks of 2009 college football teams. Here goes: Steele picked Kansas to finish fourth in the Big 12 North. That’s right, fourth!”
Tom Keegan, sports columnist, Lawrence Journal World
GH: Kansas has what looks to be the best team in the North. But they have never won the North in the history of the Big 12. How can anyone look at KU’s conference schedule and be aghast at Steele’s prediction? When did Lawrence become Norman? Hint – it ain’t.

 “Kansas fans are going to go nuts over this! They are going to go nuts!”
Nate Bukaty, on Phil Steele’s preseason prediction that Kansas will finish fourth in the Big 12 North behind Nebraska, Colorado and K-State, 810 AM
GH: Unless Steele slipped in a comment about Bill Self or Xavier, I think the KU faithful will retain their sanity. Most KU fans think Phil Steele is a construction term.

“Memo to Steele: These aren’t the Jayhawks with block lettering on the sides of their helmets. These are the Trajan font Jayhawks. The Jayhawks of seniors Todd Reesing, Kerry Meier and Darrell Stuckey. Seniors have a way of making it happen and these guys have played like veterans since they stepped foot on campus. Sure, the schedule is particularly brutal, but fourth place? In the North?”
Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal World
GH: KU is a Reesing injury away from resembling that block-lettered-helmet edition of the Jayhawks. If the O-line doesn’t protect the toughest QB in the conference any better than they did in Lincoln last year, Todd Slight of Bod might not return from that early-season trip to Boulder.

“There’s just this realization that what we thought we had, we really don’t have.”
Kevin Kietzman, on the reality that is our Royals, 810 AM

“We just don’t want to see this thing go back to promotion-driven baseball and see people going out there just for the promotions.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: The Royals better HOPE the fans continue to come to The K this summer for the promotions. It is uncomfortably obvious they will once again not be visiting for the baseball.

“I’m a fan too and it’s tough watching me.”
Mark Teahen, 810 AM

“I don’t sense a gloom and doom attitude at all. They seem to be upbeat.”
Bob Davis, on his read of the Royals’ clubhouse, Royals Radio
GH: Davis either needs to get his sensor into the shop or ask these Royals players what the hell they have to be upbeat about. We need a Hal McRae-like Armageddon tantrum to take place in that “upbeat” clubhouse and cleanse the stench of losing from this squad. Wednesday night’s embarrassment in St. Petersburg was maybe the most humiliating performance by a Royals team in the past decade. And that my friend is saying a lot.

“I’m not a yeller and screamer. I think the best thing we can do right now is fight our rear ends off and try and stay positive.”
Trey Hillman, before Wednesday night’s loss to Tampa, Royals Radio
GH: As you will notice, the Royals players’ rear ends remain very much intact.

“To this we say, ‘We will beat you like a mule!’”
Royals radio commercial promoting the St. Louis Cardinals series at The K
GH: If only Michael Vick would have been beating mules instead of Rover! Apparently, mule beating is an accepted pastime in The Show-Me State. It is a bit puzzling though, that the family-friendly Royals would mention beating anything in their marketing blitz after the face-kicking parent brawl that occurred near the kid’s play area in the outfield plaza.  BTW, if it’s the Royals players who are schedule to administer this mule beating, I hope they have better luck hitting an ass than they do a fastball.

“Dayton Moore is a stud! People forget how many other teams were after him when the Royals got him (as their GM). Anybody who’s panicking right now, don’t call the show after the All-Star break when the Royals are in first place!”
Caller Jeff, 610 AM
GH: I believe Caller Jeff may have been kicked by that mule.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Who is the most plugged in media member covering the Chiefs?

Posted 6-3-09

“I know I am the most plugged-in person in Kansas City doing sports talk when it comes to the Chiefs.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Wright is the youngest and one of the newest sports talk hosts on the local scene. Is he the definitive source on radio for Chiefs news? Do you think anyone at 610 or 810 will question his self-appointment as the sports talker’s most plugged-in Chiefs source? How about all of them? The better question is now that King Carl has abdicated the throne, what member of the media has the inside scoop at One Arrowhead Drive? Word is even 101.1 FM, the Chiefs radio rights holder, no longer gets exclusive access to players and coaches but rather has to grab sound amidst a sea of other mics. Read on.

“I don’t know if I’m that well liked (by other members of the media), but I know I’m not very well respected by the other members of the media. So I try and stay away from (press conferences).”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Sounds like Nicky has some issues. Want to know what the media respects in their peers? Ratings. Readers. Viewers. Get enough of those and you’ll get all the respect you need. But Wright should not confuse his friendship with a few players as being “plugged in.” Who are the top three sources for Chiefs news in the local media? Here’s my current list (subject to change daily); 3. Bob Gretz: He’s not as linked as he was w/ CP in charge but he still knows the ropes better than most. 2. Kent Babb: Adam Teicher is too emotional (grumpy?) to get decent sources and stories. Babb has passed him as my favorite Star source for Chiefs news. 1. Mitch Holthus: Has that professional look and feel that opens more meaningful doors than guys who dress in backward baseball caps and parachute pants. Who’s the top radio guy on my list? WHB’s Todd Leabo. The sun-allergic Sooner is best at sizing up available information and coming to solid conclusions that are believable and entertaining. That said, the scoop of the Chiefs’ 2009 season still belongs to The Star’s Jason Whitlock and his unsubstantiated and unnamed-source story on Brian Waters’ one-on-one hallway feud with Todd Haley. If Pork Chop was receiving royalties off that one column, he might be able to pay off McClatchy’s debt.

“Let me tell you what I think happened.”
Kevin Kietzman, who went on the verbalize his rendition of the scenario and conversation in the hallway meeting between Waters and Haley that Jason Whitlock reported in his Star column months ago, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman, who has told us many times that he does not deal in speculation and that his show is grounded in journalistic legwork and cell phone calls, went absolutely Walt Disney on his Monday show. KK told his version of the Waters/Haley conversation complete with quotes and detailed dialogue from both men. He even had blocking and motive for his story with Haley heading to the john to take a leak when he was confronted by an angry Waters. Haley’s secretary also had a role and some lines in KK’s thriller. It was great fiction. For a moment I thought he was reading a JoPo column.

“They better hope Brian Waters is there (this weekend). They better hope Mike Vrabel is there. Because they’re going to have a hard time moving this team to the next level without those two guys.”
Kent Babb, 810 AM
GH: Do the Chiefs need Brian Waters? Hell, yes! Do they need Vrabel? Who knows?

“I think we’re cutting (Mike Vrabel) too much slack. I want Mike Vrabel in (practice)! …I think this shows a lack of dedication to winning. The message that gives Mike Vrabel’s new city is, ‘I got my rings in New England. I’m coming to Kansas City for a paycheck.’ And I hate that.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM

“To be honest with you, I don’t know how much (Mike Vrabel) would help even if he was around. I just don’t think Mike Vrabel’s impact is going to be all that prominent over there (in Kansas City).”
Jeff Chadiha, NFL columnist for ESPN.com, 810 AM

 “It’s going to be very hard for them to find the players to make that (Chiefs) defense good immediately.”
Jeff Chadiha, 810 AM
GH: We don’t have Gunther to blame anymore but we do have what looks to be some questionable offenses in the AFC West. Denver and Oakland especially look Royals like. 

“I don’t know. I ain’t sayin’ it! …I think I can do it.”
Glenn Dorsey, when asked why people think he can’t perform in the 3-4 defensive scheme, 610 AM
GH: Dorsey added that the Chiefs defense won’t be limited to playing only the 3-4. “There’s going to be a lot of moving around,” he said. “I’m excited about it.”

“You’re essentially asking a guy who’s driven a car his whole life to fly an airplane. It’s a huge gamble.”
Kent Babb, on Turk McBride being asked to switch from defensive end to linebacker, 810 AM

“I don’t see where Tamba Hali is going to be a difference maker at outside linebacker. It’s going to be a hard road for him.”
Jeff Chadiha, 810 AM

“Right now there are a lot of guys (on the Chiefs defense) who are round pegs in square holes.”
Kent Babb, Kansas City Star Chiefs beat writer, 810 AM
GH: There are a lot of talking heads questioning whether the Chiefs have the personnel to install and run the 3-4 defense. Can players learn to play standing rather than squatting? It isn’t all that complicated to play good defense. Once the ball is snapped, every defense pretty much looks the same anyway. The quicker, tougher dudes who can tackle usually do pretty well.

“Unlike my buddies at The Star, we were talking about this literally six months ago on my night time show.”
Nick Wright, on a number of Chiefs defensive linemen moving from down lineman to linebackers in the 3-4, 610 AM

“Brian Waters is a great guy but I’m hearing from some guys in the (Chiefs) organization that he can rub guys the wrong way. He has some chinks in his armor.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“I think (Haley) does (rub some guys the wrong way). But hey, it’s his team. It’s his way or the highway.”
Tyler Thigpen, Fox 4
GH: Let’s hope these two figure out how to rub Denver, Oakland and San Diego the wrong way after they’re done with their little stare down.

“We’ve just got to stick with it. We’ve got a lot of games left to play.”
Trey Hillman, on the Royals latest losing skid, KSHB 41
GH: This almost sounded like a threat to me.

“If (the Royals) go 2-7 on this road trip, I think it’s good night.”
Josh Klingler, 610 AM
GH: After watching the opener at Tampa on Tuesday, 2-7 might be a stretch.

“The key is relaxation. The key is breathing. And I don’t see much breathing going on.”
George Brett, on why the Royals hitters are so futile, 610 AM

“If I have to get into a restaurant, I’ll fire it on. Then I get to sit up front and half the time I don’t have to pay for anything.”
Curtis Leskanic, former Royals pitcher, when asked if he ever wears his Red Sox World Series ring, 810 AM

“It was like going from the bathroom to the castle.”
Curtis Leskanic, on being traded in midseason of 2004 from the last-place Royals to the eventual World Champion Red Sox, 810 AM
GH: Anybody else feel like we are once again sitting and staring at an empty roll of TP junior?

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Disappointing stretch brings increase in criticism of manager Trey Hillman

Posted 6-1-09

“I love the man (Trey Hillman) but he makes some preposterously bad decisions on the baseball field.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: I do not love the man Trey Hillman and I think his team’s swoon might be more than he will be able to correct.

“I’m the only guy in town who gets Trey Hillman! I get what he’s doing! I like Trey Hillman!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK and his ilk are a shrinking number.

“You gotta give the Royals credit, at least they stayed competitive until May this year.”
Caller on Sunday’s postgame show, spoken without the least hint of sarcasm, 810 AM

“I was listening to some of the conversation on Between The Lines; ‘Trey Hillman’s an idiot.’ The man is not an idiot. I vehemently disagree with a lot of his baseball philosophies but he is not an idiot.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: There is a wide gap between not-the-right-guy-for-the-job and idiot. Al Davis is an idiot…or at least senile. Hillman is just in over his head.

“I’ve been asking people for months, what is it you don’t like about Trey Hillman? I can’t get the reasons. And these are people I really respect!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman has been telling everyone who will listen, including George Brett, that he is the only person in the media who gets Trey Hillman. KK may finally be right about something.  

“It would probably drag me down.”
Trey Hillman, on why he doesn’t listen to local sports talk shows, 810 AM
GH: When I heard Hillman’s above remark, I immediately lowered my opinion of his ability to be a big league manager. Criticism comes with the job -- just like the big league salary, the fancy hotels and the constant ass-kissing from both media and fans. If Jack Harry and Kevin Kietzman can bring you down, you were never very far up.

“This is actually the first time since I’ve had this job that I watched the local network news.”
Trey Hillman, on viewing the George Brett interview on KSHB 41, 610 AM
GH: Okay, we get it, Hillman doesn’t pay attention to the local media. My question is why not? Is he not an invested member of our local area? Doesn’t he think our area schools, our local politics and our region’s arts play a role in his quality of life? How can a professional sports franchise like the Royals expect two million fans to spin through their turnstiles this season while the face of their organization readily admits to not caring a twit about this place we call home? I may be alone in this one but it bothers me that mercenaries now lead most professional sports teams.

“I read another quote today from Trey Hillman asking George if this was alcohol related.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK said he “read” this comment but Brett made this statement verbally on Twibell’s and Klinger’s show Tuesday morning on 610 – the same day KK said he read it. Unless somewhere out there someone transcribed this interview before 2 PM, KK fibbed because he didn’t want to say he listened to a clip of Twibell’s show. KK (and others) loves to hammer athletes and coaches for saying they don’t listen to the talk shows or read the paper – but he plays the same game when he pretends to not listen to the competition or read Internet babble.

“I think the message to the players is to not take it personal. It’s a business. It’s certainly not personal.”
Trey Hillman, on his criticism of his players for lack of focus, 810 AM
GH: Which is exactly how Hillman needs to view the criticism aimed at him.

“It is personal -- because you can get somebody’s butt fired if you keep (playing poorly). So it is personal.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM

“There were a couple of times I think (the media criticism) got personal, where it kind of upset my family. But I understand that. I understand radio. I understand television. I understand ratings. For the most part, the media has treated me as a professional. The relationships I've had with the players and the people around the Royals has been special. This has been a great experience and I'll always pull for the Royals. Always.”
Tony Muser, the day after he was fired as the Royals manager in April, 2002, MLB.com

“I played in New York and Chicago. The media scrutiny here is nil.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: But Brian, have you played in that media hornet’s nest known as Nippon, Japan?

“For years people thought the local media here was too easy.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: It is good to finally have shed that Don Fortune image of our town. I think the KC media is for the most part fair, hard working and competent. What I wish I saw more of in KC is true competition between the TV, radio and print media. Many criticize Jason Whitlock for hammering his former radio coworkers in his column. I find it a rare slice of truth from the media about the media. Wouldn’t you like to know what Soren Petro really thinks about his boss, Kietzman? Am I the only member of the local media who thinks Karen Kornacki has been stealing a paycheck from Channel 9 for more than 20 years? What does The Star’s editor, Mike Fannin really think about his star columnists, Whitlock and JoPo? I guess we’ll have to wait on these answers until Pork Chop gets fired or hired by all these media outlets.

“I’m getting to the age I don’t want to talk to these 25-year-old millionaires every day. I’m 66 years old.”
Jack Harry, on why he avoids working the Royals’ and Chiefs’ locker rooms, 810 AM
GH: Bad answer. What does Harry’s audience care about his age? Are we supposed to take this as an excuse? I don’t think Harry needs to be in the clubhouse to do his job – but it sure doesn’t have anything to do with how old he is – or how much money professional athletes make. Jack is wrong on this one – way wrong.

“(The Royals) are outgunned talent-wise. I can’t scream and yell about that. They are what they are. Now, I’ll have frustrations with decisions the organization has made. Previously they made a ton of bad ones and that’s how they got here.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: I’m getting fed up with the current Royals brass always getting a pass from experts like Soren who are willing to blame everything on the guys who are no longer in town. When Allard Baird was here it was Herk’s fault. When Herk was in power it was the hard-to-define board of directors who tied his hands. Now Hillman and Moore are simply paying for the mistakes made by Baird and Buddy. Meanwhile, it looks an awful lot like 2006 again here in Cowtown.

“I’d pay money to watch that (Greinke) kid pitch. It’s just dominating. They show the dugout (on television) and you see a lot of very good hitters shaking their heads.”
Mike McFarlane, former Royals catcher, 810 AM
GH: Greinke was only human Sunday but he still gave his club seven good innings and a chance to win the game. I think Zack is tougher at night than in day games. I used to chart Dwight Gooden’s starts and he seemed to always pitch best after dark. I heard a great Greinke story this weekend. The Reviving Baseball In the Inner City (RBI) organization approached Zack about donating an item for their fund-raising auction. He said, “Sure.” He pulled out one of his game jerseys and autographed it. He then had every player on the Royals autograph the jersey (which actually may have devalued the sucker). He then paid to sponsor two of Kansas City RBI teams. I sometimes wonder what is going on inside Greinke’s head but it is obvious what resides in his heart. I hope he wears Royals’ blue for a long, long time. 

“Hey, just because you have great hand-eye coordination, doesn’t mean you’re the brightest bulb in the room. I’ve seen George do some things over the years. We’re out at a restaurant one night and everybody is standing in line waiting to get in. Not George! Not George! He just walks in a back door and just sits down at a table. And I go, ‘Hey George! Get a grip!’”
Jim Wirken, local attorney and frequent guest and contributor on KMBZ, 980 AM
GH: Brett might have more stories about him floating around this city than any other local celebrity. I have run across Brett maybe four or five times in public and he has always been easy to talk to and more than hospitable. I have seen Tom Watson be a complete ass to a female fan who simply wanted his autograph at a basketball game and I have see him be warm and approachable to strangers inside a small Prairie Village café. I have watched Len Dawson strike up  a friendly conversation with a benchwarmer at a high school football game and I have seen him gruffly dismiss a retail clerk who was simply doing her job. These guys (and gals) are all human. They have good days and bad. It’s just that every time they step outside their door, the public awaits to record how they react in every circumstance. It makes you really admire those who manage to make it through their public life without stumbling.

“I still think the Indians are going to get their act together and contend. They’re too good not to.”
John Feinstein, 610 AM
GH: Bold statement. The Indians at one time looked like they were headed for a manager firing. I still thing the ALC is far better than most baseball analysts are willing to admit. Detroit, as Petro predicted two weeks ago, looks downright nasty.

“Why should I be (upset that steroids have put such a stigma on the game)? If steroids were around in my day, would I have taken them? Of course.”
Darryl Strawberry, Newsweek
GH: Strawberry had one of those unbelievable jaw-dropping effortless swings wrapped around a decathlon’s stud body. He needed a brain transplant much more than steroids.

“I give up.”
Caller’s immediate response to the Six-in-Ten game show question, “Name six people who work at 610 AM?”

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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MU-Illinois football rivalry seems to be on life support

Posted 5-29-09

“On the other side of the state, we have two more years (on the contract for the annual football game with Illinois in St. Louis). We’re going to continue to evaluate that and see if that’s something we want to continue to do.”
Mike Alden, Mizzou’s athletic director, 810 AM
GH: Steven St. John, aka MU Rock, interviewed Alden on his WHB morning show Thursday and I was happy I had tuned in. What I was not pleased with was that it appears MU is ready, willing and more than comfortable walking away from one of the highlight games of the non-conference schedule.  Many Big 12 and Big 10 football fans have come to look forward to this annual border war. Read on.

“We’re very pleased to announce this agreement.  Mizzou and Illinois enjoy such a passionate and competitive rivalry that I believe represents the best in college athletics.  We’re looking forward to bringing this event back to the great city of St. Louis.”
Mike Alden, in August of 2007 after the four-year contract was signed by both Illinois and Mizzou, stlsports.org
GH: Only two years later and Alden and Mizzou are talking like this series is DOA.

“Maybe taking a break from that (Illinois matchup) in St. Louis – not the one in Kansas City – and perhaps just doing some home and homes for a few years and analyze it from there. That’s something we’re looking at right now.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: This comment had me thinking maybe Alden had just soured on the venue and would be happy to continue playing the Illini in a home-and-home. But the more he talked, the more I realized it was Illinois that MU wants no part of no matter where they play. Read on.

“That one in St. Louis, we may be taking a break from that for a couple of years and substituting a BCS opponent.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: “Substituting a BCS opponent.” That sounds a lot like the MU/Illini series is on life support. Where is Mizzou going to find a more fitting, worthy and satisfying opponent? Playing against the Big 10 is what MU and the Big 12 need to do more of – not less. Unless Alden is talking to Iowa (and we know what happened last time the Hawkeyes were on the Tigers’ schedule), I have a feeling we’re not going to be impressed with the BCS substitute. It bothers me that Alden is comfortable with MU’s football program looking cowardly.

“This is a great series for our program and just as important for our fans. I was very impressed with the atmosphere in St. Louis when we played this game previously.  It was a big-time atmosphere that was an unforgettable experience for everyone in our program.”
Gary Pinkel, MU head coach, in August of 2007, stlsports.org
GH: Pinkel says it all with this two-year-old quote. This is an important game for MU’s football program and for their fans. I wish St. John would have pushed Alden on this subject and made him explain his reasons for wanting to end an important rivalry game in a heavily recruited NFL venue.

“I think the neutral site games have been great for both (Kansas and Missouri) teams and both communities. I’ll tell you, that matchup we’ve had at Arrowhead the last few years has been, I mean it’s been a home run! I just see that thing hopefully, getting bigger and better. I think that matchup in Kansas City has been terrific.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: The matchup with Illinois in St. Louis has been at least a triple. I think running from the Illinois series is a mistake MU will regret. A lot of St. Louis and Illinois high school kids looked forward to playing in the Dome each August.  

“We’re dwarfed by those (two conferences). I mean significantly dwarfed! Something has to be done about that revenue stream.”
Mike Alden, on the millions of dollars in revenue being generated by the Big 10 and SEC with their television packages, 810 AM
GH: Money governs all NCAA sports programs – especially the revenue producing sports like football and men’s basketball. The Big 12 doesn’t have its own TV network. Is this why Mizzou wants to stop playing Illinois? Is it no longer a fair fight?

“Time is of the essence, and I mean that. In the immediate future our board and our directors in the Big 12 and our leadership in the Big 12 are going to have to take the bull by the horns here. I know they will and move this forward to see what we can do to generate more revenue in whatever format that takes.”
Mike Alden, on the money woes affecting the Big 12, 810 AM
GH: I love college sports but hate that everything is now all about money. Every year it’s the same message no matter what school you root for – send us your money or we won’t be able to compete.

“The Academic Progress Rate (APR) is actually a better gauge (than graduation rates) as to how well your kids are doing academically. For us to lead the Big 12 in those areas, knowing how specific those measuring sticks are, says a lot about our academic staff, our faculty at Mizzou and certainly the way our student athletes adhere to their first core values.”
Mike Alden, Mizzou’s AD, on the announcement that MU’s athletic teams led the Big 12 in APR for the second year in a row and led the nation in 2008p/, 810 AM
GH: While Memphis deals with possible academic fraud due to new allegations about Derrick Rose’s grades, it is rewarding to hear Mizzou’s athletic program has put together back-to-back years of excellence.

“It’s almost immeasurable. You have six guys who have been drafted and another six signed as free agents. That’s unbelievable, and the message that sends to potential recruits, the fan base, the current players, all those people associated with Mizzou, I mean you can’t buy that kind of coverage.”
Mike Alden, on the positive vibe created around the MU football program after their success in the recent NFL draft, 810 AM
GH: I still hold out hope Chase Daniel will regain his deadly accuracy and make an NFL roster. He was too good for too long to not deserve a shot.

“It sends significant messages that Mizzou is a program that is committed to winning, and winning the right way academically and athletically.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: This might have been a veiled shot at the two schools to the west of Columbia. Mark Mangino has had some academic issues while at KU and KSU’s current “secret contract” debacle is a hot topic.

“Have I heard of those things happening before in college athletics? Yeah, maybe.”
Mike Alden, while discussing the K-State scandal and secret contract between Ron Prince and Paul Krause, 810 AM
GH: Yeah, maybe? Alden did not elaborate and unfortunately, St. John never pressed him.

“We don’t ever choose to go in that direction (of a secret contract with a coach). We’re a pretty transparent organization.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: Who would of thought MU and Alden; home of Ricky Clemons, the Head of State tapes, the Tropicana and Quin  – would now be the transparent organization with the above board moral code?

“This year sure has been a high-water mark for us – winning four conference championships.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: Mizzou also made it to the Big 12 championship game this academic year in football, basketball and baseball – capturing only the basketball crown.

“I would say the state of our (football) program is good, it’s really good – academically and socially. I would say we believe we are building a solid foundation for continued success. Our fan base has been terrific and very supportive for a long time, in particular the last several years. And we need them to keep coming to be able to help us economically.”
Mike Alden, 810 AM

“It’s a great (new video) board. We actually just took out the old video board that’s been at Faurot Field for the last 11 years. It’s gone. They’ve taken it away. The new board they are putting up in the north end (of the stadium). It’s three-and-a-half times the size of the old board. It’s all HD. It’s a phenomenal, a phenomenal addition to what we think is one of the finer college football stadiums in the country. It will be ready to go (for the home opener).”
Mike Alden, 810 AM
GH: It’s about time! Maybe the huge new HD video board will be the thing that lures the Tiger fans back into the stadium after halftime. I have never seen a college crowd so obsessed with the parking lot between halves.

“Missouri was held to three hits until Marla Sha-Sh-Shitz-a-burger hit a solo home run. (Chuckle) I’m sorry, Marla!”
Jack Harry, while playing highlights of Mizzou loss to Arizona State in the College Softball World Series, KSHB TV 41
GH: Harry couldn’t help chuckling over his Lenny-like mispronunciation of the former Raytown South grad, Marla Sweisberger’s, surname. And the way he made it sound like a large scale attack of diarrhea, neither could I.

greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Passan comment sound a bit like that of a Yahoo?

Posted 5-28-09

“I still think talent-wise they (The Royals) are probably still the best team in the division. I think one more bat and they are absolutely a contender.”
Jeff Passan, who was a guest Tuesday on Chris and Cowboy’s show, 610 AM
GH: Passan made this comment just before Greinke’s last start. Was I hearing things? Read on.

“I think what it boils down to is that Kansas City does have the best talent in the division and frankly should win it.”
Jeff Passan, 610 AM
GH: Passan added this caveat; that you simply can’t win it without a healthy Gil Meche. After seeing Detroit’s talent up close and watching the anemic Royals’ attack the past few weeks, Yahoo might want to check Passan’s Syracuse diploma for authenticity…and his eyesight.

“After watching Detroit, I don’t see how anybody’s going to beat them. I think Detroit without question is the class of this division.”
Jack Harry, 810 AM

“They need a bat. If they want to contend this year, they need to go out and get another bat.”
Jeff Passan, MLB writer for YahooSports.com, 610 AM
GH: Okay, sounds like Passan is either waffling or waking from his coma.

 “Some of what you’re seeing, a lot of what you’re seeing, just reflects the basic limitations of the roster.”
Jason Stark, ESPN MLB analyst, on the Royals inept offense, 810 AM
GH: Stark, a regular guest of Soren Petro’s, thinks the Royals are simply limited by their lack of talent. Passan thinks they have the best talent in the ALC. At least it makes listening more interesting.

 “I refuse to panic because the Royals are still losing games the way we expected them to lose and they’re still winning games the way we expected them to win.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: I was kind of expecting more in those series against Oakland and Baltimore…and all those May home games as well.

“If you’re playing big games in May and June, you’ve never proven yourself as a serious contender.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK makes some sense here. The Yankees and Red Sox aren’t basing their seasons on any games played in May and June. The Royals’ season on the other hand seems to hang in the balance nightly.

“Sure, he’ll be back. The thing Mike Aviles has going for him is that he costs $400,000. Those $400,000 players allow you to go out and spend $12 million on Jose Guillen and $10 million on Zack Greinke.”
Jeff Passan, when asked if Aviles has a chance to return to The K, 610 AM

“(Greinke) breezes through that third round (of hitters) and I think that’s an indication of the tenacity he has.”
Frank White, on how Greinke improves as the game goes on, 610 AM
GH: FoxSportsKC showed a stat Tuesday where hitters are batting .124 the third time they face Greinke in the same game. That stat is so backward it is difficult to even comprehend.

“They simply have too many games where they’re not competitive. The only difference I see in this (Royals) club and a lot of the 100-loss clubs is Zack Greinke. They look like the old Royals. Unless Greinke is pitching, they’re not even competitive. They look like the old Royals.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: I really think the Royals are far better than they have shown the past two weeks. Or should I have written, “I really hope…”

“He is a different cat.”
Josh Klingler, on Greinke, 610 AM
GH: The Z-cat goes again on Sunday afternoon at The K. Get your tickets now.

“The Royals’ defense has reached a tipping point where it is really starting to hurt the pitching staff. …I think getting a really good defensive shortstop would prevent some of the defensive breakdowns we’ve seen the past few weeks.”
Rany Jazayerli, 810 AM
GH: What the heck happened to Mark Teahen’s glove? And how did he go from the best base runner on the team to one of the worst? Odd things are going on with this guy.

“(The Royals) are probably going to get $100 million in revenue sharing next year. …I think this team should approach $100 million in payroll next season.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“They are going to make far more out of this stadium and attendance than they ever anticipated. They are going to have tons of money this off-season.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Is it a money thing? Can money solve the Royals’ woes? In the past the franchise lost Damon, Beltran, Dye and Ibanez because they were too cheap to keep them. I don’t see that kind of talent on this roster. And getting All-Star caliber free-agent players to come to KC will take more than money.

“That tobacco (Mike Jacobs) chews on TV isn’t setting a very good example for kids.”
Caller Dan, 610 AM

“How can Mike Jacobs play with that big wad in his mouth? How can that possibly help him to play ball.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“Jacobs is a grown man and he can do whatever he wants as long as it’s legal.”
Greg Schaum, 610 AM
GH: I’m with Schaum on this one. But the sheer size of Jacobs’ chaw may rival any I have ever witnessed. I’d like to know the exact recipe Jacobs uses to concoct that game-day cheek-full of Red Man.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Royals D gets an F

Posted 5-24-09

“The (Royals) defense has been borderline atrocious lately.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM

“This is just not a good defensive club – no matter how you want to slice it up. No matter what you want to do player-wise, (Hillman’s) not going to have a good defensive club out there. They’re not a good defensive club. (The number of) errors really don’t tell you how bad a defensive club this is.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: Officials scorers now require a player to almost literally kick a ball before they’ll score an obvious error as an error. MLB players’ fielding percentages are almost useless. BTW, if you did not see McRae as a Royals’ player, you missed what I believe to be the franchise’s best fielding outfielder. Amos was great. Beltran was flashy. B-Mc was simply better.

“The Royals defense has cost them more games maybe more than any team I have seen through a quarter of the season. It’s really hurting them. It’s really impacting them. It’s a couple of runs a night!”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“Defensively, you really can’t overcome that when you’re that bad.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: When I was learning the game of baseball, I immediately fell in love with the leather portion of this sport. Getting to a batted ball, fielding it cleanly and knowing what to do with it is something I have always considered basic skills. It pains me to watch men in major league uniforms consistently fail at all three of these defensive mainstays. But then again, I always took it for granted that any high school kid could be taught to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

“The Royals need to play the Royals.”
Caller, 810 AM

“As someone very high up in the Royals’ organization once told me, we’re all salesmen.”
Greg Schaum, after a caller mentioned all the positive comments Dayton Moore made about the team earlier in the week, 610 AM
GH: I was shopping at Home Depot when Schaum made this comment. I thought it so important, I went out to my truck and grabbed my trusty Olympus digital recorder to note his comment. You do not always get this type of insight from the voices on a franchise’s right’s holder station. Schaum didn’t dwell or expand on his comment. He merely let it hang for the educated to absorb.

“Some members of the media, even people on this station, have changed the way they are treating Trey Hillman.”
Greg Schaum, 610 AM
GH: Schaum mentioned this because he said he was unhappy that some people in the media have appeared to become cautious about criticizing Hillman since George Brett’s F4 tornado.  

“George Brett. That really worked.”
Danny Clinkscale, after the Royals lost their fourth of five games since the Brett F4, 810 AM

“I haven’t heard one guy in the dugout say, ‘Wow, this guy is just too nasty for us to get to.’ I guess that’s a positive.”
Trey Hillman, in a postgame interview in St. Louis after the 24th consecutive scoreless inning by his offense, 810 AM

“They talk about that we’re building something but I don’t see what we’re building. Where are we building anything?”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: Patience. Even the best teams will lose 70 games this year. The Royals’ offense cannot be as bad as it looks. They crushed the ball in Arizona. I am hoping that the heat of summer ignites their bats.

“I think they are going to be fine, Kevin. I really do. At some point this offense is going to click.”
Mike McFarlane, speaking to Kietzman, 810 AM

“Shortstop has been a real problem position for the past 15 years.”
Greg Schaum, 610 AM
GH: A caller recently brought up an idea he said his dad had – move Gordon to short when he comes on the DL and let Teahen stay at third. I’d like to see the Royals consider it. Gordon is probably close to as good defensively at short as Aviles and even as poorly as Alex has swung this season, he’s a much more potent offensive player than the Royals’ current options at short.

“When Alex (Gordon) comes back he will and should take over at third base.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM

“Now Mahay will have to face Pujols.”
Bob Davis, Royals Radio
GH: Luckily, the Royals pitchers rarely threw anything close enough to Pujols’ bat that he could knock out any other neon signs. Does Mahay remind anyone else of Jimmy Gobble? Throws left, hits every bat he faces? Gobble is somehow still on a major league roster. He gave up a granny and a three-run dong the other night in that Twins 20-3 win over the ChiSox.

“Behind closed doors, I got a feeling the guy’s not afraid to stomp on a few egos to right the ship. Those are the kind of guys I like to be around. He’s got that motor revving all the time.”
Mike McFarlane, on the leadership qualities he sees and admires in Mike Jacobs, 810 AM
GH: This is only Jacobs’ fourth full season in the Bigs. He’s a player Royals’ fans could get to know and love. I hope he’s here a long time. I also hope he hits 40 dongs a year for the next decade.

“It was good to soak up some big league atmosphere from the stands rather than from the dugout.”
Trey Hillman, who said he got to St. Louis in time Thursday night to purchase a ticket to the Cubs/Cardinals game and sit in the stands, Royals Radio
GH: When Hillman mentioned this to Bob Davis during their pregame interview, I smiled. This is something I would do if I were a big league manager. Interleague game, two teams you don’t see very often in a city you visit once a season. Cool. PS: This was the night Pujols knocked the neon “I” out of the BIG MAC sign with a homer to left. Hillman said he got there too late to witness the blast.  

“I love it! I think it’s great! Not only does it regenerate the fans but it regenerates the players.”
Trey Hillman, on MLB interleague play, Royals Radio
GH: Some seamheads like Bob Costas have acted like interleague play is the second coming of Eddie Gaedel. I happen to be about the same age as Costas and I love interleague play. I also like the DH. I like Camden Yards more than Fenway. I like that the players now throw the ball into the stands almost every time. (That almost NEVER happened before the 1994 strike). I like 30 teams instead of 16. What don’t I like about the modern game? I don’t like the ever shrinking strike zone, all the specialty bullpen pitchers, I HATE pitch counts, lefties who can’t (or are not allowed to) hit lefties, paying $18 online for a $9 ticket,  and the new ridiculously small size of the “souvenir” Pepsi at The K.

“If you’re not listening to the home broadcast, it’s a whole different game.”
Radio Commercial that plays often (as every Royals radio does) during Royals broadcasts
GH: After hammering Denny Matthews of late, he reminded me this weekend of why I have continued to listen to him for the past 40 years. He knows the game of baseball as well as any broadcaster I have ever heard -- and I have listened to baseball on the radio since Jack Buck was second chair to Harry in St. Louis. Matthews, when properly motivated and not distracted by his watch, is akin to listening to a professor holding a class in advanced baseball.

“They’ll host the All-Star game here in July.”
Bob Davis, on St. Louis playing host to the mid-summer classic this July, Royals Radio
GH: St. Louis in July? Can you say, “Hot! Jungle hot! Tarzan hot!”

greghall24@yahoo.com

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Is Hochevar a bust?

Posted 5-2409

“The Royals don’t have enough good players to win anything that really counts.”
Jack Harry, in his Sunday sportscast, KSHB 41
GH: After a 0-5 west-coast road trip, barely squeaking out a 2-2 split with the last-place Orioles, and losing 2 of 3 to cellar-dwelling Cleveland, Harry’s assessment of the Royals looks more right than wrong. I still hope he’s wrong.

“They cannot win this division without Gil Meche. I’ll make that statement.”
Soren Petron, 810 AM
GH: Meche is showing signs of fatigue and that’s not good. Greinke can only pitch every fifth game. Going 1-4 each week isn’t going to cut it.

“Without Soria they will not win this division.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Both Petro and KK made their statements as if they were dropping knowledge. Remove your opening-day starter or All-Star closer from any AL Central team and they’ll likely struggle to win 80 games.

“I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but the Royals are not, the Royals are NOT going to make a major deadline acquisition. I don’t see it happening.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Translation: Wright doesn’t think Dayton Moore and the Glass family are willing to roll their bankroll this season in an attempt to capture the AL Central. Their patience may be greater than yours and mine.

“Today is a perfect illustration why Royals’ manager Trey Hillman is constantly being second guessed. I’m sorry, but when you’ve got the best pitcher in all of baseball in a tight game and he’s healthy you do not pull him out after six innings.”
Jack Harry, KSHB 41
GH: Good to see Harry is refusing to be intimidated by Brett’s barrage. A popular postgame discussion on Thursday was whether Greinke should have come out and pitched the seventh. I think you’ve got to ride your big horse in a one-run game. Saving him for August or even 2010 makes no sense if he gets hit by a bus. The only thing managers can control is now but too many think they are Merlin.

“The number is probably closer to 120 (rather than 100).”
Rany Jazayerli, on the number of pitches where most pitchers will begin to experience possible damaging fatigue, 810 AM
GH: Greinke threw 103 pitches Thursday. When Hillman was asked if he considered sending him out for the seventh he replied, “Not really.” Isn’t considering all of his options what he’s paid to do?

“I 100% believe this ball club loves playing for Trey Hillman.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM
GH: That alone won’t allow a losing manager to keep his job. But it might be enough to aid a decision-challenged manager in winning enough games to keep it. 

“I think (Mike Aviles) needs to go back down to Triple A and prove he can hit down there. I never thought I’d say this but I’m in favor of Willie Bloomquist playing every day.”
Rany Jazayerli, 810 AM
GH: I agree. Aviles struck out on a very hittable middle-in pitch Wednesday night that probably would have allowed the Royals to win the Cleveland series. Hitting is all about confidence, and right now Aviles has zero. Let’s hope some is waiting for him in Omaha.

“Something tells me (Jose Guillen) would not react well to being anything but an everyday player.”
Rany Jazayerli, on Guillen’s faulty defense continuing to haunt the Royals, 810 AM
GH: I listened to an uncomfortable postgame interview with Guillen on Thursday spearheaded by WHB’s Jason Anderson. Guillen sounded guarded and then miffed that Anderson and other members of the media asked him the same question multiple ways. Mike Swanson, the Royals media liaison, stepped in and ended the interview before Guillen could blow. Keep this in mind if the Royals continue to slide.

“I think a bigger story (than Greinke) is that Gil Meche was signed to a long-term contract and is living up to that contract.”Victor Rojas, of the MLB Television Network, just prior to Meche’s last start, 810 AM
GH: No Royals story is bigger than Greinke. I understand what Rojas is saying, that the fact the Royals were willing to shell out premium salary for Meche is a huge step forward for a franchise renowned for their penny-pinching. But no, Greinke might be the story of the year in baseball.

“For us to be successful, it’s centered around our starting pitching. That’s the way this team’s been built. …That’s ultimately what’s going to keep us in this thing.”
Dayton Moore, Fox 4
GH: Or knock us out of it. An unsteady Meche and a deer-in-the-strike-zone Hochevar are not what the Royals’ fast start would call complimentary.

“I don’t expect (Soria) to come off when his time (on the DL) expires.”
Dayton Moore, saying he expects Soria to spend some time rehabbing in the minors after he is cleared to pitch again, Fox 4
GH: Just in case that Hochevar/Ponson stick missed your eye the first go ‘round, take a Soria to the solar plexus. I know injuries are part of the game but it sure seems like the Royals’ injuries are more deflating than other teams because we rarely have the depth to cope. BTW, Ponson is 1-5. Are we done with that experiment yet?

“I think our division is very good. I’m not buying into the notion that our division is down.”
Dayton Moore, Fox 4
GH: We better hope the AL Central is as weak as most experts are saying – because teams that commit four errors in a game. Miss cutoffs and forget how many outs there are do not beat good teams.

“I think at times we have overachieved and at times we have underachieved.”
Dayton Moore, Fox 4
GH: Translation: I have no idea what kind of team we have a fourth of the way into the season.

“I think (the Royals good start) is certainly a fun little story to follow. …It’s a long season. There’s four-and-a-half months left in the season. I think the Royals are going to be alright. …Kansas City is near and dear to my heart and I love the Royals – as one of 30 teams now because I am impartial.”
Victor Rojas, on the early-season success of the Royals, 810 AM
GH: Rojas is Cookie’s son and while an Overland Park kid, he now works back east and his perspective has more distance. I’m hoping his message of patience is correct.

“He’s just got to be Luke Hochevar. He’s just processing too much out there.”
Trey Hillman, after Hochevar’s second-straight bad start, KMBC 9
GH: Hochevar is a hot topic. Read on for more opinions and comments on the Royals tenuous fifth starter.

“I just gotta go out and be myself and pitch my game.”
Luke Hochevar, KMBC 9

“To be a successful pitcher at the major league level you’ve got to get command of your fastball – and (Hochevar) does not have that right now.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM

“You have to wonder about Hochevar’s future with this team because it just isn’t there.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“Three (poor starts) in a row and they have to be considering (demoting Hochevar).”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“He’s stubborn, he’s uncoachable – there was something in (Hillman’s) undertone (while commenting about Hochevar).”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Clinkscale’s comments surprised me. I didn’t have the same reaction to Hillman’s words, but if true, the Royals should have known that before they made him their number-one pick.

“Oo, Oo, goodness! (Hochevar) doesn’t look comfortable. To me, he looks very uncomfortable. … I’m just fearful of what might happen in St. Louis.”
Roger Twibell, on the prospect of Hochevar facing Albert Pujols and his Cardinals teammates in St. Louis this weekend, 610 AM

“We’ll find out what (Hochevar) is made of there (in St. Louis).”
George Brett, 610 AM

“Do I think Luke has outstanding stuff? I do. And I’m glad they’re going to stick with him. I think he just needs a chance to settle in and to know the Royals’ front office is behind him. Let him relax and get back to pitching free and easy and let that ball explode like it was in Triple A.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM

“Give the kid a chance. I love his arm and I love his makeup.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM

“I think Luke Hochevar put (his defense) to sleep and it took a while for them to wake up. Hochevar took the life out of this stadium. The best move of the day was the quick hook by Hillman.”
Danny Clinkscale, on why the Royals committed four errors on Sunday, 810 AM

“(Mike) Jacobs has a little Mike Hargrove (aka The Human Rain Delay) in him. It seems after every pitch he’ll step out of the batter’s box and fuss with both his batting gloves every time.”
Denny Matthews, Royals Radio
GH: Try this the next time you listen to Matthews call a Royals’ game. Count the number of times he mentions slow play, slow pace or anything that occurs in the game that might prevent him from hitting the parking lot by 9:45 pm. When the Royals loaded the bases in the ninth Wednesday in hopes of staging a rally against the Indians, it almost sounded to me that Matthews was perturbed.

“You will not convince me that (Jon) Wefald knew absolutely nothing.  He made an art of being uncomfortably involved in everything athletics related – to the point of it becoming a running joke.  It was as if Wefald fancied himself as the AD, but since he couldn’t hold both titles, he just put a body in the chair. Were (Wefald and Bob Krause) in tune?  I believe it is only a matter of time before details emerge that will paint a more-knowing Wefald than has been let on thus far.”
Curtis Kitchen, in his blog on810whb.com
GH: To suggest that Wefald is lying about what he knew and when he knew it, now that’s strong stuff. I don’t know what Wefald would gain from lying except maybe a few days of false innocence. I understand Kitchen’s reluctance to believe because of Wefald’s omnipresence around the athletic program. My take is that Wefald was more of a doting and trusting parent who was very easily fooled – by far more than this scam and by far more people than his good friend Krause.

“Justin Weber, 18, a college freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, couldn’t afford a hotel stay before the Folley Beach 10-Miler near Charleston, South Carolina, in November. A rainstorm kept him from camping outside. So Weber spent the night in a porta-potty. The cramped quarters didn’t hurt his race time: He won in 1:02.”
Runner’s World, June 2009
GH: I’ll never complain about the soft spot in my mattress again.

“I sat on the seat lid and leaned back against the wall. I actually got a good night’s sleep. The stall was clean, and I slept right by the beach, so it was soothing listening to the waves.”
Justin Weber, Runner’s World
GH: I don’t even like visiting the porta-potties the morning of a race let alone sleeping the night before in one. Score one for the younger generation that many believe are growing up too soft.

“How did we get zero deodorants and zero restaurants on the Plaza?”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, after listeners were unable to name even one item in each category during the duo’s favorite caller-driven quiz game, Six in Ten, 610 AM
GH: I am going to guess this was a rhetorical question by Cowboy.

greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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One day after interviewing Brett, Kietzman shows his gutless side

Posted 5-21-09

“George (Brett) said yesterday, ‘You know, when I see the kid I’ll apologize to him.’ Well that sounded a little hollow to me.”
Kevin Kietzman, referring to KSHB’s Justin Unell, the reporter who interviewed Brett at the Joe McGuff ALS charity golf tournament, 810 AM
GH: Here’s what sounded hollow to me, Kietzman ripping Brett the day after he was laughing and joking with him on the air and telling George, “This was nothing! This didn’t even leave a scratch on you!” This is why Kevin Kietzman has zero credibility with me as a reporter, a journalist and a man of character.

“I want to know when that apology (to Unell) happens. And I think (Brett) should probably learn his name and not refer to him as, ‘the kid.’”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: If KK is so inquisitive as to the answers to these queries, why didn’t he ask Brett himself when he had him on the air the day before? Instead, he once again plays tough guy the day after. There is a word that describes guys like KK. That word is gutless. Do you think that’s too harsh? I think it’s merely accurate.

“The first time I ever interviewed (Brett) he f-bombed me.”
Kevin Kietzman, making another point he failed to bring up when he spoke with Brett, 810 AM
GH: Here’s what happened the past two days: KK set up and ambushed George Brett. Yeah, big time. He invited Brett onto his Tuesday show so that he could shred him the following day when he brought the object of much of Brett’s media venom, Jack Harry, into the WHB studio. Kietzman has a long memory of those who have wronged him along his climb to sports talk fame. As I documented in an earlier OTC column, KK took Brett’s f-bomb on Monday personally. We now know he has carried the memory of another f-bomb from Brett for 20-some years. If there is one thing that KK hates more than KU, it’s anyone --  ANYONE -- who treats him with no respect or makes him look bad.

“I don’t classify either one of us as a name caller. At all. There is a lot of name calling. I’m sorry, when George says f-you and f-them, he’s name calling. He’s insulting.”
Kevin Kietzman, while talking to Jack Harry on his Wednesday show, 810 AM
GH: If you heard Kietzman’s interview with Brett, you have to be retching. KK treated Brett like he was his fluffer on Tuesday. On Wednesday he’s calling Brett “insulting.” G-u-t-l-e-s-s.

“Columnists in the paper write things and call people names. That’s name calling. I think there is a completely different level that I don’t stoop to and you (Harry) don’t stoop to. What I hope comes out of that is that people understand that.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: What people will understand from Kietzman’s treatment of Brett the past few days is that he will stoop to new lows to those who cross him…even legends.

“A little pop-up, right field, here comes DeJesus, HERE COMES THE THROW…and the Royals win it!”
Denny Matthews, play-by-play call of the walk-off game-winning sac fly off Willie Bloomquist’s bat Friday night to cap a five-run bottom-of-the-ninth rally against the Tribe, Royals Radio
GH: I watched this Royals rally on television but a friend heard Matthews’ call live on his way home from the game. (Yeah, he knows now he shouldn’t have left early.) When Matthews called Willie’s fly ball a “little pop-up,” my buddy’s heart sank, thinking DeJesus had no chance to tag up on the pop-up. I heard a replay of Matthews’ call the following day on Chris and Cowboy’s show. At best, Matthews’ call was inaccurate – DeJesus’ ball was a medium to deep fly to right.  At worst, it was inaccurate, insufficient and lacked history. This was one of the most thrilling Royals’ ninth-inning home rallies in the franchise’s first 40 years. It deserved a soundtrack worthy of the team’s effort. But Matthews continues to treat his work like work -- instead of art.

 

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George Brett responds, as do members of the media

Posted 5-20-09

“You know, it would have been a really nice gesture, since I’ve been around so long, and really don’t want any special treatment. Jack Harry, I have known him for a long time, if he would have called me up. Let me ask you if this would have been an appropriate thing to do, because I really don’t know. Somebody brought this up to me. They said, ‘Maybe Jack should have called you up and said, George do you really want me to air that or would you like to do a ‘do over?’’ What do you think?”
George Brett, while talking to Kevin Kietzman on Tuesday afternoon, the day after his F-bomb interview aired on Jack Harry’s KSHB TV 41, 810 AM
GH: This is an interesting discussion point. Would Jack Harry have aired similar video of his good friend, Tom Watson? Or Stormin’ Norman at a charity golf event ten years after he retired? I don’t think this one is as easy at first glance as most journalists might think. To those members of the media who frequent this column, have you ever squashed, hid, trimmed or “lost” a story or part of a story to avoid embarrassing a famous or friendly subject?

“We were out there having a wonderful time raising money for ALS, answering a lot of questions and then some guy comes up and he says, kind of, I don’t want to say baited me, but the way he asked the question was…”
George Brett, describing how the controversial interview with KSHB’s Justin Unell originated, 610 AM
GH: Hand it to Brett for showing up for his weekly spot on 610’s morning show, hosted by Roger Twibell and Josh Klingler. He could have hid on Tuesday but he was on 610 at 7 AM and Kietzman’s show at 2 PM. Not every jock would be as available after the Monday Brett experienced.

“He kinda just baited me a little bit, wanting me to say something bad about Trey Hillman.”
George Brett, 610 AM
GH: Brett started out not wanting to label Unell’s questioning as baiting him but he changed his tune a few sentences into his conversation. Not cool.

“I apologize for my language but I don’t know, I just snapped.”
George Brett, 610 AM “I get a call from Trey Hillman (Monday) night about ten o’clock and he says, ‘What the hell happened today?’ And he says, ‘Was it alcohol related?’ And I said, ‘No! It was like three o’clock in the afternoon!’”
George Brett, 610 AM
GH: I am posting this quote because I want Brett’s side of this documented – not because I believe him.

“If I hurt somebody’s feelings I apologize for that, but I guess you know now not to badmouth my Royals.”
George Brett, 610 AM

“Because he doesn’t know it.”
Josh Klingler, when asked by Twibell why Brett didn’t mention his name during his f-you media rant, 610 AM
GH: Klingler is funny and underrated. He has improved 610’s morning show to mediocre.

“I think George’s message got a tad bit lost in the beeps. I think if there wouldn’t have been so many beeps, we’d be talking about George coming to the defense of his franchise.”
Josh Klingler, 610 AM
GH: Kansas City’s not that concerned with bleeps or even Joe Fuckin’ Torre. Fans are talking about George coming to the defense of his franchise, beeps and all.

“Yeah, everybody’s entitled to their opinion but they’re not entitled to their opinion filled with obscenities with the cameras rolling.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: The media appear to be far more concerned with Brett’s language than the fans. Petro, who is an f-bomb Uzi, especially ripped Brett for his four-letter vocab. Read on.

“Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody says things they shouldn’t say. I’m the president of the club. But what (Brett) did was absolutely definitively wrong. George was 100% wrong. I really don’t have time for anybody who wants to tell me he was right.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“How can the media, after the fact, crucify George for his language when they thought it was ok to air it over and over again on radio and TV? It was one of the worst jobs of ‘bleeping out’ the bad words I’d ever seen. And there was no attempt to blur his mouth for the lip readers. I think the media as a whole reacted so strongly to what was said because we, as a group, aren’t good at ‘taking it.’ We can throw verbal grenades in the clubhouse then run for cover. But heaven help the coach or athlete who shoots back at us.”
Dave Stewart, in his Eat This column on kcondemand.com
GH: Bingo, bango, bongo – Stewart just hit one where Mike Jacobs’ bombs usually land.

“Jack (Harry) in particular wasn’t very fair to (the Royals) when I’ve watched his broadcasts – something that I try not to do but sometimes you watch it. For a guy who never goes out to the ball park he sure has his own opinions.”
George Brett, 810 AM
GH: After listening to Brett on two different stations Tuesday, I came away convinced his biggest gripe is with TV 41’s Jack Harry. I watched Harry’s sportscast Tuesday night to hear his rebuttal to Brett’s comments. Instead of Jack Smacking Back, we were treated to a canned story about some local yokels playing sandlot Australian Rules football. I was disappointed that Jack decided to punt.

“I think Soren and you have been fantastic to him. I think Soren has been fantastic. …I really value his baseball knowledge and whatever. To be honest with you, I’ve never heard him say anything bad. So maybe it’s picking spots and listening.”
George Brett, to Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: If you promote yourself as an edgy talk show host, you really don’t want the local athletes and front office guys congratulating you for being such a great cheerleader for the home team. All that Royals and Chiefs ass kissing is coming back to haunt King Kevin and his Prince.

“Do not diminish what members of the media do every day.”
Kevin Kietzman, lecturing his listeners yet again on what a difficult job he and others in the media are strapped with, 810 AM

“I went to drastic measures today (to get Brett on WHB).””
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Does this mean George will need to visit his proctologist again?

“You know what, it’s really not something I sit around thinking about. …That’s obviously something I would like to come over here (to Kansas City) and do. If I do it, it would be awesome.”
Mike Jacobs, when asked if he thinks about erasing Steve Balboni’s Royals’ season home run record of 36, 610 AM
GH: Jamie Quirk described Jacobs as “country-boy strong” after his 9th homer of the season on Tuesday. Another promotion idea for the Royals; Jacobs’ Ladder. Build a giant ladder to the heavens out there in the right-field stands on Rivals Sports Bar or the Party Porch. Add a new rung every time Jake jacks one into the seats. Get Home Depot or Lowes to sponsor it and have that sucker up by Greinke’s start on Thursday. I cannot wait until game time tonight!

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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George Brett goes Andrew Dice Clay with the TV cameras rolling

Posted 5-19-09

“Every manager takes criticism. Every manager is gonna take criticism. I don’t give a (crap)  if you’re Joe (f-ing) Torre, you’re gonna take criticism! I think the problem is in this town is that we’ve lost so many (f-in’) years in a row that people don’t have any patience! So as soon as he does something that the media doesn’t like, they explode on him. Well (f) you and (f) them! Believe me, Jack Harry, Kevin Kietzman, Roger Twibell…have never interviewed for a manager’s job. You know why? You know why? Because there are 30 teams in major league baseball. Thirty! No one’s ever called these guys to manage, have they? No one’s ever called them to be the general manager. Why? Because they don’t know what they’re talking about sometimes. And I’m sick and tired of listening to it. Okay? I’m sick and tired of listening to it, believe me.”
George Brett, interviewed while standing next to his golf cart at the Joe McGuff ALS golf tournament on Monday, KSHB 41
GH: First things first, the reporter for KSHB 41 who initiated what will be the local sports interview of 2009, was Justin Unell, the senior producer at 41. Unell was also the recipient of Brett’s first, “(F) you!” The photographer who captured George’s words, facial expressions and panned his lemon-yellow zebra-striped slacks was Tom Christiansen. Both of these men deserve a deep show of gratitude from every talking head in local sports talk.

“The passion is still there. By the way, the Royals are off today.”
Leon Liebl, immediately following the first airing of Brett’s video clip on the 6 PM news,  KSHB 41
GH: WHAT! That’s all you’re going to say about what you just aired! George Brett just went Andrew Dice Clay at a charity golf event, you have the only video of it and you move on to, “By the way, the Royals are off today.” As George would say…What the $%#@&!!*&%!

“There are a lot of people who respect (Hillman) that understand the game of baseball. A lot of people do! A lot of people respect him for his managing abilities. And you know what? If our media doesn’t, that’s fine, because it’s not going to affect him. It’s not going to affect him. End of story.”
George Brett, additional comments from Brett in the unedited version that Jack Harry ran on his 10 PM sportscast, KSHB 41
GH: Kudos to Harry for adding Dave Stewart’s name (which had been edited out of the 6 PM sportscast) back into the video he ran at 10 PM. If barely edited f-bombs are okay for the evening news, we ought to be able to hear the name of a sportscaster on a competing television station.

“You gotta have respect for somebody though, who, I mean, he says it like it is, like he sees it. And he doesn’t care if it he has to be bleeped.”
Elizabeth Alex, KSHB 41
GH: Respect is not the first word that comes to mind after viewing this video. I do think, though, that George may have just made himself even more popular with Royals fans than he was – which is almost an impossibility. But so is hitting .390 and he managed that just fine. 3-f-ing-90! Damn!

“It’s been trumped! We’ve got a much better card to play than the Chiefs.”
Kevin Kietzman, announcing that the sound from the Chiefs’ practice would have to wait because of the George Brett sound bites, 810 AM
GH: WHB was the first to air a piece of Brett’s interview. KSHB had sent it to them to promote the full version that was set to air on KSHB’s newscasts at 6 and 10. It was a huge win for both stations.

“Suggesting only 30 people are capable of managing a baseball team! Real-ly! How many brain surgeons are there? How many heart surgeons are there? People can cut into your skull and operate on your brain. I’m pretty sure there are thousands of people capable of managing the Royals.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK flip-flopped between being offended by Brett’s comments and being amused. In the end, I think he was more offended than amused, although he tried hard to hide it. Which is pretty much what makes Kietzman, Kietzman. He has an innate feel for what makes great radio UNLESS it involves him playing the stooge. KK does not play stooge on his own show no matter the reward.

“It’s a badge of honor!”
Todd Leabo, on what it means to be f-bombed by the Royals lone Hall of Fame player, 810 AM
GH: Hearing Brett invoke your name, even in vain, is heady stuff for most members of the media. 810 replayed the audio of Brett’s bombs at least six times during the five-o’clock hour. Like everyone else, I listened each time.

“I’m hurt, George. I’m hurt!”
Kevin Kietzman, in a joking, teasing tone, 810 AM
GH: KK’s teasing tone did not last. Read on.

“He doesn’t have to f-bomb me!”
Kevin Kietzman, in a much more serious tone, 810 AM
GH: I am one of at least two people I know who have been f-bombed by Kietzman. The other was Steven St. John, who was standing next to me during a conference call with KK in 1999. We were discussing my radio show’s content. Imagine that.

“Roger Twi-BELL?!! Don’t lump me in with him!!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman scoffed at Brett linking him with Twibell. I found this a bit presumptuous on KK’s part. Twibell’s professional resume includes play-by-play for the Boston Celtics, he was one of the early pioneers at ESPN SportsCenter and he has broadcast each of the PGA’s four majors. While Twibell is a rookie at sports talk radio -- and a not-very-good rookie at that -- he has accomplished much as a broadcast pro compared to KK’s local sports gigs.

“George Brett pretty much gets a free pass in this city. He’s an icon who can do no wrong in the eyes of many in this city. It’s obvious there is a lot of passion still left in this 56-year-old former ballplayer.”
Jack Harry, KSHB 41
GH: It’s the passion that Brett exhibited for the Royals’ manager that fans will remember and love him for. This town is beginning to love the Royals again, and if George thinks they’re worth fighting for, so will a lot of fence sitters.

“As far as George protecting Trey, I think it’s great. I think we should be honored to have an ex-Royals Hall of Famer still passionate enough to drop an f-bomb like that.”
Caller Chad, 810 AM

“I’m excited about seeing somebody stand up and somebody be loyal (to the Royals).”
Caller, 810 AM

“That’s kinda sad to hear from George because he is the icon. My fear is that I don’t want people standing up for the Royals just because they’re the Royals. There’s some substance to what you, Jack and others bring to the table. Show me something first and then I’ll jump onboard.”
Caller Marcus, to Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Marcus spoke with some intelligence but many callers wanted only to back Brett.

“I think George is right about a lot of this. You guys sit there and see what you can do to stir up a little controversy. What can you do to make people call in? And to say you’re not doing that, you’re not being 100% honest, are you?”
Caller Joe, 810 AM

“I love George Brett! He still has passion; he still gets fired up protecting the team!”
Caller, 810 AM

“I think this is funny more than anything else. I’m sitting here with a big grin on my face.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“Really! Really! This is tough, isn’t it George?”
Kevin Kietzman, in a sarcastic tone following yet another airing of Brett’s comments, 810 AM
GH: KK says he is smiling and grinning but his words say otherwise.

“That to me is amazing! That a man can sit there with a television camera in his face and drop f-bombs. That’s amazing! You know you can’t! We can’t do it here!”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: Much was said about Brett’s use of R-rated words. Kietzman, Clinkscale and Harry all said they had a problem with the language he used. I don’t. I like it when people drop the façade and are their real selves in front of a camera or microphone. How many times do you think WHB would have played Brett’s interview if he had said shucks and darn?

“I think there is plenty that this team can be criticized on and that’s why we have this show, so we can call in. And we’re passionate about this team and he’s right, we’re fed up with the losing but at the same time, we’re passionate and we want to call in and talk about it. So I support you guys and I love George.”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: So not everyone thought George had a point. Read on.

“If this was any other year in the last 20 years we’d be talking about the Chiefs right now. The fact we’re talking about Trey Hillman’s moves on May 19th means we still care about the Royals.”
Caller, 810 AM

“If you were in a big city, this team would be getting ripped big time.”
Caller, 810 AM

“The only thing I don’t understand about George’s (message) is the word, ‘patience.’ What does he think the last 24 years have been?”
Caller, 810 AM

“This is George freakin’ Brett! I’m not gonna accuse the guy. This is George Brett! This guy can fart in elevators right now and nobody would care! You know what? That’s his team!”
Caller Mailman, 810 AM

“I was really taken back when I heard the context of his remarks this afternoon. This folks, was not an ambush job set up by an overzealous producer. George knew exactly what he was saying. …There were too many bleeps in that interview. I think the world of George. I just wish he would have used better judgment in his choice of language before the camera.”
Jack Harry, KSHB 41

“George Brett to me was out of line. I was always told that if you wanted to be forceful about it you didn’t need to use swear words. I think George has been out of the spotlight a little while and I think he’s doing something to get himself back in the limelight. I just don’t understand his point of having to drop f-bombs to make his point. I think George took the weak route and I’m a little disappointed in him.”
Caller Steve, 810 AM
GH: My hope is that George doesn’t hear this kind of whining and then make a less-than-heartfelt apology today or tomorrow. I would really like him to just say, “I said what I meant so just deal with it.” I don’t agree that Hillman has been overly criticized or should be above criticism. But I like that Brett is so passionate about defending him that he is willing to risk tainting his own image.

“I don’t know Joe Torre’s middle name but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t start with an ‘F.’”
Todd Leabo, 810 AM
GH: Torre’s name has now changed forever for many Kansas Citians.

“Remember the pine stuff? That’s him, man. And that image I will never ever forget.”
Jack Harry, KSHB 41
GH: That’s the image this team and this city need to get back to so we can be winners again instead of whiners. Two images best represent Kansas City for me; Norman Rockwell’s “Kansas City Spirit” and Brett charging out of the dugout to take on the Yankees and anybody else who got in his way. How popular do you think Brett will be the next time he steps in that Royals clubhouse?

“We were able to reach Toby Cook and he was able to confirm for us that it took the security staff four minutes to arrive (at the scene of the fight) after they were first notified.”
Kevin Kietzman, on arrests in the outfield concourse area of The K on Sunday where an alleged racially motivate fight took place, 810 AM
GH: Toby Cook needs to send George a thank you note for making the Royals’ Fight Night at the jungle gym a page two story.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Whitlock says trust the writer, not the check writer

Posted 5-18-09

“The Times and SI can kiss my ass. Jayson Blair worked at The Times. Mike Price won a lawsuit against SI for the lies the magazine published about him. And years ago, an SI writer wrote a profile about me for the Columbia Journalism Review and, among other journalistic crimes, lifted a quote from an old column and passed it off as something I said to him.
Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com
GH: The above rant from Whitlock ran in the second column this week he authored in an effort to toss sludge on the new A-Rod bashing book written by New York Times columnist, Selena Roberts. I agree with JW that just because a newspaper or a publication is well known, doesn’t mean it is automatically credible. What is interesting is to hear a journalist at a major newspaper make this claim. Read on.

“Never trust a publication. Hell, the more prestigious the publication, the more pressure there is for the writers to cut corners in pursuit of a good story.”
Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com
GH: One thing you cannot deny is that Whitlock has years of experience dealing with and working for major print publications. For an insider like him to trash the credibility of the print media is startling -- and should be eye-opening to those who still add more weight to the printed words in publications like The Times, The Star, SI or the WSJ. As the day rushes forward when our beloved daily newspapers all drown in their own red ink, remember Whitlock’s insider comments and maybe we won’t miss them as much.

“Place your trust in the writer.”
Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com
GH: Written by a guy who sounds like he is preparing to break away from the shackles of The Kansas City Star. Is Whitlock about to open a website of his own, ala former fellow Star columnist, Hearne Christopher? I doubt Pork Chop has the work ethic to divorce himself from the industry he now depicts as untrustworthy. He will continue to cash their checks while publicly telling his readers to trust only the writer, not the check writer.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Even a ridiculous rainstorm couldn't stop Greinke, passionate fans

Posted 5-18-09

The following events take place between 5:00 pm and 1:00 am, Friday, May 15, 2009. Despite strong evidence, there is no truth to the online chatter that Tony Almeida has compromised Katie Horner.

5:00 PM: My plans are to leave work and head straight to The K for the 7:10 game. It looks like it’s 11:00 PM outside. The rain is pounding down on the cars floating by on College Blvd. outside my window. I wait another hour and then head out.

6:00 PM: The hail is just starting as I wait for the light to change at Roe Ave. The storm is coming from behind me, out of the west, in marble-size but loud metallic bursts. I decide to try to outrun the hail and maybe save my 1996 Toyota pickup any further embarrassment. I succeed.

6:15 PM: I am having serious doubts about the Royals’ chances of getting this game in tonight. The sky is Toto-black and green and the rain unrelenting. The digital info screen on I-435 North alerts drivers that the five remaining miles to I-70 will take 25 minutes. My old man body is telling me to head home, eat dinner with the family, and then catch the game (if there is one) in HD on the tube. My 21-year-old brain is telling me to drive through the high standing water really, really fast.

6:30 PM: I bolt from I-435 at the 63rd Street exit and head into the Sports Complex via the Blue Ridge Cut-off. Traffic is almost non-existent. Jason Anderson, who is hosting 810’s Royals pregame show, gets a text message from the Royals VP of Communications, Mike Swanson,  that states the Royals are “determined to get this game in tonight.” As I approach the stadium, the rain intensifies – if that’s possible. The lightning and thunder are of such cinematic proportions that even Charlton Heston would be unnerved.

6:35 PM: I am in traffic just outside Gate B of the Sports Complex. A HUGE crack of thunder almost knocks 610 AM off the air. I have barely been able to pick up 610 or 980 during my stormy commute to the game through all the static. Maybe it’s just me but Entercom’s AM signals seem to have weakened over the years. Jason Anderson on 810 has been my companion most of this trip. Anderson tells his listeners that the Royals have officially moved back the start time of the game to 8:30 PM. I pull out of line and head home. If they’re saying 8:30 PM, they’ll be lucky to start by 9 PM. I figure I can go home, eat, spend some family time and still get back if the game is actually played tonight. As I zip north on rainy but sparsely congested I-435, the possibility of me returning for a game tonight appears remote.

6:55 PM: Our rain gauge shows we have received almost 4.5 inches this afternoon. The rain is now only spotty in our neighborhood. Donna has whipped up a tasty tuna casserole and she wants to know what Netflix DVD we’re going to watch tonight. I pop in Taken and we spend the next two hours enthralled with Liam Neeson’s ninja-like abilities against ridiculous odds and the incredibly poor aim of every Albanian bad guy who tries to take him out with an Uzi. You have to turn your brain off for this one but I gave it 3.5 out of five stars nonetheless. That switch is a short one for me. I covertly check my phone throughout the movie to see if the Royals game has started.

9:45 PM: After Liam has restored order to the world of his SoCal princess and the credits roll, my phone tells me Greinke has gotten through the top of the first without giving up a run. I announce to my bride of 25 years that I am heading to The K. This does not go over well. “Why don’t you just stay here and watch it on television?” she asks. “It’s Greinke. I gotta go.” She shakes her head and says nothing as she heads to bed. I have no explanation that she will understand and we both know this.

10:00 PM: The view of the stadium from I-70 has mesmerized me since the first time I saw it in high school. It is most impressive on game night. As I make that gradual uphill curve on I-70 East and the lights and seats open into view, I am stunned with the size of the crowd that awaits me. Over 25K fans have made it through a 2.5 hour rain delay to watch their Royals. Damn, this IS a baseball town!

10:02 PM: The K’s parking lot entrances are dark and vacant of any admission people. No charge for parking at this hour. I park up close to the stadium’s home-plate entrance and follow a set of elderly grandparents and their 15-year-old mentally-handicapped grandson into The K. The security guy goes through grandma’s Hen House plastic grocery bag and does a quick wand job on her bundled up bod. Grandpa walks in unsearched, as do the grandson and I. This strikes me as incredible overkill by the security guy. But after I related this story to another fan, he made an excellent point. “It’s not the grandma’s intentions to sneak a bomb inside the security guard is concerned with,” he said “The security guy knows that threesome is the perfect carrier pigeon to plant something on because they’re an easy mark.” Sad but true.

10:05 PM: Top of the second is just ending and I grab an open seat along the first-base line just under the overhang. My ticket seat is somewhere down the right-field line but I sit in my assigned seat about as often as Greinke gives up an earned run. I cannot believe I am actually watching baseball after experiencing the earlier storms.

10:07 PM: While my row is almost empty, there is a young couple one seat to my right and a group of couples in the seats directly behind my row. I quickly begin to rethink my seat choice when one of the guys behind me loudly, and I mean LOUDLY, begins to exhibit the unattractive effects of alcohol after sitting in a ballpark for almost four hours awaiting the start of a game. He is a Royals fan and he’s not happy with the umpire’s strike zone or anything else not named Budweiser.

10:30 PM:  The young couple to my right rise and squeezes past me as they make their way out to the restrooms and concessions area. As the mid-20s guy passes me he politely asks, “Hey, would you mind looking after our stuff while we’re gone?” I had not spoken to the couple, or anyone, since I arrived. But in this Midwestern city where trust is handed out as quickly as a smile, they felt comfortable enough to list me as a good guy rather than a bad guy. It made me feel good to live in such a town. “No problem,” I smiled.

10:35 PM: A trim, mid- to late-40s guy who is adorned in a beautiful and authentic Cal Ripken away jersey and an Orioles New Era-fitted cap, walks into my row and asks if the five seats to my left are taken. I tell him, “No,” and he quickly sits in the seat immediately to my left. I am now sitting next to a decked-out Orioles fan in the middle of an almost otherwise empty row. The physical proximity is uncomfortable. I am starting to think the loud drunk guy behind me ain’t so bad after all.

10:38 PM: I discover there are four other people in Ripken’s party and they show up shortly after he sits down next to me. This makes me feel much better about my seating arrangement. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

10:40 PM: Ripken and I start talking baseball, like thousands of other strangers are doing on that same damp but gorgeous spring evening inside The Kougar. He lives in Carroll, Iowa and has rooted for the Orioles since the days of Brooks and Boog. He is surprised I know where Carroll is until he learns I grew up in Omaha, about 100 miles to the southwest. He has two young athletic daughters and a five-year-old son named Cal. He traveled to Ripken’s HOF ceremony in Cooperstown in 2007 along with 75,000 others. We exchange intimate knowledge of our favorite teams as each player makes a plate appearance. When I tell him I find it odd that a native Iowan is an Orioles fan, he agrees. “There are only six of us in Carroll,” he states without hesitation. I immediately love the fact he knows this statistic.

10:45 PM: “We’re hitting this guy!” exclaims Ripken, bolstered by the O’s ability to get good wood and base runners on the recently christened greatest pitcher in the game today. “Yeah, but you’re not scoring runs,” I correctly point out. “If you don’t get Greinke early, and nobody gets Greinke early or late, you don’t get him. He gets better and in a more Cy Young groove as the game goes on.” The loud drunk guy behind us yells at the home plate umpire to get some glasses. I believe he thinks this is an original thought.

10:50 PM: Ripken announces for at least the second time to no one in particular that Kauffman Stadium is a beautiful ball park. He has been to Camden Yards ten times but rarely gets down to KC to watch his O’s. He goes to Minneapolis to see them when they play the Twins. He likes that he can plan ahead and doesn’t have to worry about rainouts in the Metrodome. Ripken is not military but he could be. His clothes are impeccably neat and it is obvious he does not like surprises. “This is just a beautiful place to watch a ball game,” he says as he scans The K. “Have they always had those seats out there in the outfield? That scoreboard is huge! The lights on the waterfalls and fountains are beautiful. I love this ball park!” My reply is short but proud, “So do we.”

11:05 PM: The loud drunk guy (LDG) is getting on the Orioles players and decides to aim his boom box on Ripken. “THE ORIOLES SUCKKKKKKK!” he bellows into his ear. My inner ear is vibrating like a tuning fork from the tenor of his voice. A small boy in an orange Orioles t-shirt sits three rows in front of us with his dad to his left. He cannot stop turning around and staring at the LDG. He tries to point out the LDG to his dad who not only doesn’t turn around, but grabs his young son’s finger and rotates him back around to face the field. The kid cranes his neck in an attempt to retain eye contact.

11:10 PM: The beer vendor strolls by and the LDG wants to buy a beer and then decides to buy Ripken a beer as well. “You want a beer? Have a beer! Get Cal Ripken a beer! I’ll buy you a beer. I’m buying! How ‘bout a beer, Cal?” Ripken smiles and turns full around in his seat to face the LDG. He thrusts his right hand out and shakes mitts with the LDG. He then politely declines the beer by saying thanks but no thanks – “I’m driving.” The LDG looks down on Ripken for a moment and then blurts, “Well, I sure as hell ain’t!” Everyone laughs and they both return to watching the game. A once tense situation has dissolved into ball park camaraderie.

11:20 PM: The Royals’ bats have been rejuvenated by the middle-of-the-plate pitching from the O’s starter, Adam Eaton. Ripken is living and dying with each Royals’ base runner. He knows Greinke is now on his game and the O’s chances of victory are slipping away. After Olivo belts a three-run jack to give the Royals a comfortable 6-1 lead, I turn to Ripken and tell him Earl Weaver would approve of that kind of instant offense. He places his head in his hands and sighs. He then sits upright and turns back to the LDG. “I’ll take that beer now,” he says.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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KK employs his own brand of Kietzbonics at Tony G's expense

Posted 5-14-09

“(Todd Haley) will let you know what’s on his mind. Some players respond to that and some players don’t respond to that. And I was like, well, I don’t know how well I’d respond to that. And as old as I am, I didn’t feel like I needed to be getting yelled at.”
Tony Gonzalez, in an interview Thursday morning on The Border Patrol with Steven St. John and Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: Read Gonzo’s above comment one more time because it was the phrase, “I didn’t feel like I needed to be getting yelled at,” from the former Chiefs tight end that Kevin Kietzman repeated at least a dozen times on his show later that afternoon. It was a sexy sound bite that pros like KK latch onto and beat the author with mercilessly to maximize their opinion and elicit public response. Read on.

“Tony did not want to be part of this (Chiefs) football team. He wanted to be Tony and he wanted the other guys (on the team) to have their rules.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: This is where KK stepped into familiar territory for him. He stretched an athlete’s words into an unrecognizable opinion that he delivered as fact. KK continued throughout his show’s first hour to paint Gonzalez as a selfish player who cared only about himself during his time with the Chiefs. Read on.

“That was sad to hear from such a great player like Tony Gonzalez.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Huh? Did we miss something? No, Kietzman is simply translating Gonzalez’s words into Kietzbonics.

“I think (Gonzalez) was a player who was extremely comfortable with his surroundings. Management took care of him, he kept getting big contracts, he ran with the rich and famous, he lived the life he wanted to live because he was never here about winning. He was here about Tony.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: For a second there I thought KK was dictating the prelude to his autobiography.

“Tony was a diva.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: You get the point. In my opinion, KK attacked Gonzo and used his “yelled at” comment to fillet the guy from 2 PM to 3 PM Thursday. I listened to the interview on The Border Patrol live and it actually was a very positive interview, with Gonzalez making many positive comments about Pioli and Haley. But where Kietzman loses me and anyone else with hearing is in his refusal to take ownership of his attack and fabrication of what Gonzalez’s words meant. KK runs from his comments often, but I don’t recall a time he has ever been more blatant and bold in denying what he was doing while doing it. Read on.

“I listen to you all the time, Kevin. Sometimes I like you and sometimes you make me so mad I could… To me, that is not what Tony said.”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: I heard Kietzman take three calls after his verbal evisceration of Gonzalez. All three callers were upset with KK for the way they felt he misrepresented Gonzalez’s words. Kudos to Craig Brenner, the call screener on BTL Thursday. He let every one of the callers through and KK had to deal with them. It was stunningly entertaining radio.

“I don’t have one bad thing to say about Tony Gonzalez.”
Kevin Kietzman, in response to a disagreeing caller, 810 AM
GH: Now you are getting a peak under the hood of the man, the mystery, the guy who obviously can’t keep track of what he said five minutes ago.

“I don’t even have an opinion today!”
Kevin Kietzman, responding to another caller who was irate with Kietzman’s attack on Gonzalez, 810 AM

“I heard what I heard. …I am so thankful Tony told us the truth here. ”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Here is another trademark of Kietzbonics. Offering the subject he is crucifying or about to crucify a backhanded compliment. You hear this one all the time when he discusses Kansas or Missouri athletics.

“I don’t have a fight here!”
Kevin Kietzman, perplexed that callers are questioning his motives about Gonzo, 810 AM

“I’m not sitting here knocking Tony G. But I’m not, not knocking him.”
Kevin Kietzman, as callers continued to gang up on him, 810 AM
GH: This is as close as you’re going to get to an admission of guilt from Mr. Guilty.

“I don’t want to use Tony as a poster child and pick on him.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“You’ve been kissing so much (Chiefs) butt lately, for whatever reason, to get inside with (Pioli and Haley). Now you’re taking it one step further and calling Tony Gonzalez a prima donna. You’re saying he wanted special privileges.”
Caller, 810 AM

“I did not call him a prima donna. I called him a diva. I’m not calling him names.
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Read that one again, too, because that one may have set a personal record for old Kev.

“Before you hand out the Marconi or the Peabody Awards, you should know 610 scooped you. They interviewed Tony Gonzalez yesterday (Wednesday) on 610. You got scooped. I usually listen to you, but I switched channels and heard him while you were talking (barbecue).”
Caller, 810 AM

“Didn’t hear it. Didn’t know about it. All I know is what I heard today (on the Border Patrol).”
Kevin Kietzman, in response to the caller who informed him about Chris & Cowboy’s interview with Gonzalez the previous day, 810 AM
GH: A couple things don’t jive here. KK knows everything of significance that goes on his competition’s shows. The fact that he would be unaware that his drive-time competition had Gonzo on their show the day before he was scheduled to be on 810, runs counter to everything I know about Kietzman. Second, if it is true that he was caught napping on this, shame on him. But KK does not nap. Hell, I’m not sure the guy goes outside in daylight.

“I can’t speak to whether or not he did interviews with Fox Sports. There is no scoop as far as getting an interview with Tony Gonzalez. Every interview with Tony Gonzalez is set up through his publicist. There was no scooping anywhere.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: This is the KK we all know. He intentionally refers to 610 as “Fox Sports” rather than 610. He also couldn’t let a caller tell him he’d been scooped and let that one not be refuted. KK scoops, he does not get scooped. Please read your bible.

GH: I will post more of Gonzalez’s comments from both his 810 and 610 interviews in a future OTC. Believe it or not, very few of them were about how much he hated Pioli and Haley. Below is a sample that KK did not play on his show.

“These guys (Pioli and Haley) are proven. Now, they do things a little bit differently than I’m used to. I know the media knows they’re a little more closed off. They’re very football. They are saying, ‘You guys are here to play football and that’s all we want from you guys.’ And that’s fine. I like them both. Like I said, there were no hard feelings. It wasn’t like that (the Brian Waters incident) with me at all.”
Tony Gonzalez, 810 AM
GH: See you at the Royals game tonight. We need a GD win and I am going to be out there cheering my wrinkled ass off!

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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It's Ladies Night. . .and the feeling's right

Posted 5-14-09

“The flaw with this is that every girl in town hates her! …My women friends don’t like Holly. They don’t know her, but they don’t like her.”
Kevin Kietzman, on the Royals choosing Holly Starr, the curvy spokesperson for 38 the Spot, as the MC for Girls Night Out at The K on Thursday night, 810 AM
GH: I have experienced this phenomenon myself. Every time an attractive young woman appears on television, I get a sideways glare from my women friends (just kidding about the plural, honey) that could penetrate Scott Pioli’s playbook. Holly-lious is in the top five on that list. If Loren Halifax or Amy Hawley is on the tube, I just get up and leave the room. But what does Holly Starr think about KK’s comment? Read on.  

“I think it’s funny, what Kevin said. I understand where Kevin is coming from and I have heard that before. But I disagree. I would hope that the women Kevin is talking about are just a select few. I will say that it’s been my experience that women who might think negatively about me change their minds once they get to know me. …My parents raised me correctly. They taught me to be nice to everyone.”
Holly Starr, when asked about KK’s above comment, kcconfidential.com
GH: I was a Holly Starr fan before I interviewed her but that relationship was purely digital. This is a very bright young lady who might be even nicer than she is gorgeous. Take a glance at her photo again and do some quick ciphering on just how nice that equates to.

“I will have plenty of eye candy there for the ladies. I will be interviewing five Royals players.”
Holly Starr, on what the female attendees can look forward to tonight at The K, kcconfidential.com
GH: Starr said her player interviews will include Mark Teahen, David DeJesus, Kyle Davies, Ron Mahay and Mike Aviles. Her favorite? Teahen, hands down. Read on.

“Mark is one of the most authentic and genuine guys. He comes from a great family and background. He has a good head on his shoulders and he is really active with the Challengers Program for disabled kids.”
Holly Starr, kcconfidential.com
GH: Starr rattled off detailed facts about Teahen and the others that made me ask if she was a sports fan. “Huge!” was her quick reply. She then told me how she and her sister still begrudge their mom for not taking them out of elementary school to attend the Royals World Series Championship parade in 1985. “My sister, Gretchen, refused to answer to her name,” recalls Starr. “She would only respond if you called her Brett. She was convinced she was George Brett.”

“My singing voice is not so great. I am hoping for a lot of crowd participation.”
Holly Starr, who will be singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame tonight during the seventh-inning stretch, kcconfidential.com

“No, sir!”
Holly Starr, when asked if she would be participating in the Kiss Cam during the game, kcconfidential.com
GH: When I asked why not, Starr replied she had no one to kiss. Somehow, I don’t think that will be a problem at The K later this evening. 

“I think Frank (Boal) is still the most attractive man in this building.”
Kevin Kietzman, suggesting that Fox 4’s Silver Fox would make a more appealing MC for the ladies at Girls Night Out, 810 AM

“I think Frank would say he’s a little long in the tooth for that role.”
Danny Clinkscale, responding to KK’s suggestion, 810 AM
GH: Frank is a nice guy and probably a stud in his day, but the last time he was considered an aphrodisiac Elvis was alive and Ronald Rea
gan was an actor.

“People have been joking around about hitting the panic button. Well, I’m hitting the panic button. Because I’ve been watching lots and lots of Royals baseball and they’ve been garbage. …I’m worried that this season is going to go into the tank.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“People have been saying 85 or 86 wins could win (the AL Central). I think it’s going to be 95 wins. I think Detroit is coming together.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Bold statement. Detroit was trash last season, finishing last with 74 wins – one more than the Royals.

“One of the things we’ve heard in defense of Trey Hillman is the winning atmosphere in the clubhouse. Where did it go?”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: You want a clue as to how to tell if a manager is not the next Earl Weaver? The organization lists one of his attributes as -- creates a winning atmosphere in the clubhouse.

“2009 probably isn’t where this team is at to win a division. …Maybe this team is going to end up with 75 to 82 wins like I said (before the season).”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Not a bold statement. 75 to 82? Even Linn Elliott could kick one between that spread.

“(Todd Haley) sounded exactly like Toby from The Office – with every bit of the enthusiasm that Toby would have.”
Nate Bukaty, after the drab Chiefs coach wished the media a very uninspiring happy Mother’s Day, 810 AM
GH: Bukaty nailed this one. Haley and the heavy-eyed and drone-sounding Toby could be brothers. I’m wondering if Haley has traveled to Costa Rica lately.

“On Thursday when (Soria) struggled, I wrote down on a piece of paper that only Frank (White) could see, ‘D. L.’”
Ryan Lefebvre, predicting the closer’s trip to the DL, 810 AM
GH: Why would the Beav not share this insight live with his TV audience? Instead, he tells this story days later. Maybe he didn’t want to jinx Soria but it is info like this that adds quality to a broadcast and credibility to a play-by-play broadcaster’s voice.

“We’ve won games without (Soria). I still think we’re a pretty good ball club at the tail-end of the bullpen.”
John Buck, 810 AM
GH: I am not one of those gotta-have-a-closer-or-you-can’t-compete guys. It is great to have a guy like Soria you can turn to in the ninth, but the odds of a team mounting a comeback in the ninth against any competent major league pitcher (not named Farnsworth) are long. A quality starting pitcher is much more valuable to the team’s overall success. Soria is actually one guy the Royals can afford to be without.

“You can’t lose that game! You can’t live with it! There’s just no way! There’s no way you can lose that game Saturday night! You’ll never get it back! …What we saw Saturday night is an absolute killer!”
Kevin Kietzman, on the Royals wasting Greinke’s 4-hitter in a 1-0 loss to the Angels, 810 AM
GH: KK went on for longer than I cared to listen about how this loss would haunt the team for the rest of the season. In the middle of his tirade, Danny Clinkscale offered a differing viewpoint by stating that one loss doesn’t count any more than any other loss. Surprisingly, Clinkscale was not hung up on nor was he told, “I’m done with you,” or “I’m over you.”

“Is (Jim Colbert) the stammering idiot on 810 right now? KK is trying to weave Greinke into every conversation and this doddering old fool can't put two words together in the span of twelve seconds. The Racin' Boys sound like solid gold radio compared to this.”
b12, post on the former PGA pro’s weekly segment with Kietzman, kcforum.net
GH: JayhawkChris, in a very entertaining post on kcforum.net, authored the following imaginary conversation between Colbert and KK;

KK: "Well Jim, Tiger is on the comeback trail, do you think anyone has ever changed the way other golfers play just based on whether or not Tiger is in the tournament?"

JC: "He is such a tremendous putter.........15secondpause.............then I took out my 8 iron and decided to hit a hooded shot...........10secondpause.........he hits more long putts than anyone I have seen..................it....was ..a...long...

KK: (Butting in) “Ha! HA!! HAAAA!!! Yeah, he makes the longest putts, he is just so solid, guys literally know going in they are playing for second place. Do you really think he can step right back on tour at the top of his game?”

JC: “Nobody can just turn it on and off.....15secondpause.....on a dog leg left you have to set up with the ball back in your stance.... he is the best....hitting greens in regulation is always important.”

KK: “You got that right pards, well listen Jim, we gotta wrap this up, what's your tip for the week for us weekend duffers?”

JC: (as music to break is playing over him) “This time of year the greens are wet.....it's...uhh...important... to huh......(fade to Gary Joslin commercial).

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Soren Petro has an on-air meltdown of epic proportions

Posted 5-13-09

“I think what you saw this weekend (the Royals getting swept in Anaheim) was a little dose of reality.”
Jason Stark, ESPN MLB insider, 810 AM

“I’m real nervous as a Royals fan that our fun little Cinderella trip is over.”
Soren Petro, after the Angels swept the Royals in their three-game series, 810 AM
GH: That sweep in Anaheim has sure turned a lot of people off on the Royals hopes for 2009. The blowout loss in Oakland Tuesday night will only add to the naysayers. KC is still in the hunt and I expect them to make this summer interesting.

“I’m just going to stick to what I’ve been saying all year; I think this is a team that can and should hang around most of the year. A kind of 500-ish kind of team -- 84, 86 wins, I don’t think that’s impossible.”
Jason Stark, on the Royals, 810 AM

“We never saw any of the concerns (in Omaha) that the Royals had about Luke (Hochevar) going deeper into games. As a matter of fact we saw the exactly opposite from Luke.”
Mark Nasser, voice of the Omaha Royals, 810 AM
GH: What we saw in Oakland Tuesday night was a guy who gave up eight runs in two innings against the worst scoring team in the AL. That ain’t good.

“If this (start in Oakland) fails for (Hochevar), he’s used up all the shots he’s had as a starting pitcher for the Royals.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: Hamblin’s assessment on Hochevar might be a tad harsh. His dominance at Triple A shows he has the talent. What I think he needs is some mental toughness. Greinke might be able to help him with that problem.

“If you’re on my side, you (understand) baseball. If you’re not, you don’t. That’s how bad that decision was by Trey Hillman.”
Soren Petro, pointing out that Hillman’s decision to pinch run for Guillen and Butler in the seventh inning against the CWS last week was a dumb baseball move, 810 AM
GH: Petro has fielded a number of calls, emails and texts defending Hillman’s move the past week. On his Tuesday show, after taking yet another, he went absolutely Petro-listic. I was glad I was listening. Read on.

“I don’t have time for this! …Look, I’m going to be as loving and caring as I can possibly be to folks out there with this statement; if you think Trey Hillman made the right move, you don’t know the game. There’s a line – people who do know the game and people who don’t. If you think that was the right move, you don’t know the game.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM

“It’s the Tom (Hanks) face in League of Their Own, when he’s trying to stay calm.”
Kurtis Seaboldt, describing Petro’s face as he tries to control his frustrations with the callers, 810 AM

“When I say that that move is grounds for termination if it’s made in the playoffs and you don’t win the series, I take that comment very seriously. And I’ll stand in front of Trey Hillman and reiterate it to the man’s face.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Petro was worked up. And if you have ever seen him reach his boiling point, it is a sight to behold.

“I have never seen such a stupid act defended by so many (callers) before in my life! I want to move right now! What does it take! Please! Boston, can I get a gig? (15 second pause) JHFC.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: The 15 second pause in this tirade was some of the best radio of the week – and I’m not being sarcastic. I could feel the tension in that studio as Petro fumed, Kurtis sat silently and Craig Brenner stared from the other side of the glass wondering if Soren would ever speak again. 15 seconds (and I timed it) of dead air is a lifetime on radio.

“Do we have so much free time that we just want to argue to argue? Does nobody have anything going on? (7 second pause) I gotta take a break! I can’t take this! Take a break, Brenner!”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Let’s review. Petro was having an out-and-out meltdown because callers wanted to argue baseball strategy. For the record, I’m on Petro’s side on this instance and have been since I saw Mitch Maier trotting out to third base to pinch run for Guillen.  But it’s just baseball. Not every fan analyzes every managerial move like they were studying the molecular structure of a paramecium’s cilia – and thank god for that. We have some serious baseball sickies on the air in this town and Petro might be the sickest.

“That guy’s got a different name every time he calls. I’m done with it!  (Hang up) …He has a completely different name every time he calls and wants to pick a fight. …I’m over you! And I’m not going to fight with you anymore. Never, ever!”
Kevin Kietzman, after he hung up on Caller Dale on Tuesday after they argued over what KK said or did not say, 810 AM
GH: I’m over you? When does Harry meet Sally in this soap opera? Is there something in the radio booth at 810 that has the hosts reacting like they are five? Oh yeah, it’s called Petro and Kietzman.

“Somebody get a grown-up in here. I got a feeling I’m gonna need it before the day’s end.”
Soren Petro, after coming back from break, 810 AM
GH: This comment was funny and made me think there may yet be hope for this seamhead.

“If Andy Petitte doesn’t believe him, what else do we need to know?”
Jason Stark, when asked if he believes Roger Clemens’ claims of steroid innocence, 810 AM

“Andy misremembers.”
Roger Clemens, when asked to explain Andy Petitte’s sworn statement that he had conversations with Clemons regarding steroids, ESPN Radio
GH: Kudos to The Star’s Sports Daily for alerting readers that Clemens would be interviewed live by Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio Tuesday morning at 7:25 am. I caught his interview locally on 1510 and didn’t believe him all over again.

“We started staying in San Francisco a number of years ago and let me tell you, it’s much better on this side of the Bay than (the Oakland) side of the Bay.”
Ryan Lefebvre, on the Royals choice of hotels in the Bay Area, 610 AM
GH: I worked for a start-up software company in the late 80s that was woefully underfunded. When we attended trade shows in SF, we did the opposite and stayed in an Oakland hotel in an effort to save money. Here’s a true story: The guy I traveled with on that trip brought one pair of underwear and one pair of socks. He washed them out in the sink each night and dried them over the room’s register while we (he) slept. I didn’t do much sleeping that trip. When you’re coming up through the minors (no matter what the job) those early years are a bitch.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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It's time for a little talk about spring football

Posted 5-12-09

“Let’s face it, the team that’s going to be picked to win the (Big 12) North was this close, this close to being 2-6 in the conference last year.”
Danny Clinkscale, on KU’s high expectations for their football team in 2009, 810 AM
GH: Yeah, I know, it’s baseball season. But indulge me in a little spring football wrap-up talk. Kansas looks very, very good and should win their first-ever Big 12 North title. But as we all know, the games that count are played in October and November, not May.

“I always say quarterbacks are like tea bags – you never know what you’ve got until you put them in hot water.”
Gary Pinkel, on assessing his untested crop of QBs at MU, 810 AM
GH: MU, K-State and Nebraska have no idea what kind of tea bag they have running their offense in 2009. Not only does KU know that Todd Reesing is the man, he will complete his career as the greatest Kansas quarterback in school history. And that ain’t something to say lightly when you consider John Hadl and Nolan Cromwell once held that job.

“The group of kids we have right now are the hardest working group we’ve ever had since we’ve been here. That’s a heckuva statement, but it’s true.”
Gary Pinkel, 810 AM
GH: Many of my Nebraska buddies want to discount Mizzou’s rise the past three years as an anomaly. They believe now that Daniel and Maclin are gone, MU will return to second-tier status in the conference. I do not agree. Mizzou is now pulling recruits that Nebraska always got in the past. Sure, they’ll need to reload this season but I believe the Tiger football program is here to stay.

“Fasten your seat belts, folks. This could be a tough year for K-State football.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: I am not hopeful that the Bill Snyder resurrection will succeed. He was slipping when last we saw him as a head coach and his talents as a recruiter will be severely tested when he talks with today’s text-crazed athletes. I can’t imagine Snyder responding well to, “yo…no.”

“Can (Nebraska) win at Lawrence? …Based on what I saw this spring, and (at the spring game), the Huskers should be able to meet expectations next fall, which is to challenge Kansas for the Big 12 North title and go somewhere warm for a bowl game, preferably San Antonio or San Diego.”
Tom Shatel, columnist, Omaha World Herald
GH: So this is where the B12N is now -- Nebraska is merely hopeful of upsetting KU in Lawrence. The reality of the state of football north of Oklahoma is this – we are playing for crumbs. Gourmet crumbs, in that there are BSC bowls to win, but crumbs nonetheless. I do not see the northern schools overcoming the recruiting advantage that Oklahoma, Texas and even A&M and OSU now have on their revenue-poor little brothers to the north. It seems like a long time ago that KSU’s Darren Sproles last punctured that South balloon. I can see a northern school sneaking out a title once every six or eight years just to keep us cold-weather hicks buying tickets to the annual December ass kicking in Dallas. I would love to be wrong because every fall I again think with my heart and not my head. 

“The girls at K-State and Kansas are way, way better than here. I don’t know. There are so many different types here – environmental types, weird types. That’s not attractive to me. Even though we have a lot of people from California here, the girls from Kansas are better. “
Chris Harper, former Wichita Northwest QB who was a freshman running back at Oregon last season, Kansas City Star
GH: The Midwest farmer’s daughters really do know how to make you feel alright!  Score one for Dorothy and her sisters.

“Guys like (Caller) Mike have been brainwashed by the King D-bag. Apparently, everybody in Missouri is going to move to Texas after they see the state of Texas logo on the side of the Chiefs helmets.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, on Kevin Kietzman’s over-the-top outrage at the Chiefs throwback Dallas Texans helmet logo, 610 AM
GH: I do not hate Kietzman. I understand his motives and his quest for ratings as a talk show host. What I do detest is that he portrays Kansas City as a weak, wish-we-were-anyplace-else kind of town. His constant bashing of Texas, St. Louis, New York, and any other place that he deems better than here needs to stop. We Cowtowners are not intimidated by what others think, say or do. Kansas City doesn’t have a streak of paranoia and self-loathing simply because KK apparently suffers from these traits.

“Literally within 10 seconds (after sitting in the right-field corner) a very nice usher came over and said, ‘I have to see your tickets. …If you don’t have tickets you can’t sit here.’ The Royals need to do a better job when those seats are open. I hate to think that that’s a new part of the New Kauffman.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: It was part of the Old K as well. Stadium’s call it “seat integrity.” I know because I have tested this policy in probably 70 or 80 major stadiums and arenas across the country – typically with great success. I understand the team’s official stance but common sense needs to come into play more often than it does. But common sense is almost never found in the black and white handbook of regulations found imbedded in most of today’s stadium ushers and personnel. Maybe the Royals could be the first?

“I think the cat’s out of the bag. Those outfield seats are the place to be.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: I have yet to sit in the right field seats for a Royals game -- but I am hearing some great stories from those parts.

“They sucked 10 to 15,000 bees out of that tube.”
Ryan Lefebvre, on the bees that have infested the remote camera inside The K, Royals TV
GH: This sounds like a job for Crowd Counting Man! – aka Hearne Christopher! Once Hearne gets wind that Beaver estimated the bee population at The Kougar to be 10K to 15K, he’ll have his count-ologists whittle that number to four mosquitoes and an oversized gnat.

“I just thought it was kind of a funny thing. Yeah, I like it. I didn't know what Kougar meant. The Kougar is a good looking older lady, right? I said to somebody, what's a Kougar? They told me, and I said, yeah, that's a good name. It's an older lady, 40 years old, maybe has some kids, and is beautiful. Yeah. I think it's cool, yeah. I don't want to get in trouble for saying that. Will I get in trouble for saying that?”
George Brett, in an interview with KC Star sports writer, Sam Mellinger, the father of The Kougar nickname, Kansas city.com
GH: One thing that would really make the Kougar nickname catch on is if the stadium started to attract virile young male studs who know how to use their bats…instead of just screwing with us.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Is Trey Hillman in over his head as Royals' manager?

Posted 5-11-09

“Don’t get me started on Trey Hillman. I just don’t think he’s a major league manager – and I said that last year.”
Caller Danny, 610 AM

“I just really question some of the basic decisions Trey is making.”
Caller Bob, 610 AM

“The man’s an idiot! I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be that rude.”
Caller Will, on Royals postgame show after Trey Hillman failed to score against the Angels and waste Greinke’s four-hitter against the Angels, 610 AM

“I’m really curious to find out if he was asked why he didn’t bunt in the fifth and sixth innings when he had a chance to move runners over. That should be the first or second question asked of Trey Hillman.”
Robert Ford, host of Royals postgame, 610 AM

“The players are here. They’re just not being managed properly.”
Caller Will, 610 AM

“My thought is the Royals are getting the most out of the pieces they do have.”
Robert Ford, 610 AM

“All the hair-pulling over Trey Hillman’s decisions in April obscured the fact that the most important job for any manager isn’t pushing the right buttons in the late innings, it’s putting his players in position to succeed in the first place. And the best manager can’t win without the horses. The Royals have the horses.”
Rany Jazayerli, Ranyontheroyals.com
GH: Rany wrote this in his Thursday blog. The Royals then proceeded to lose three frustrating games in Anaheim. I’m not sure if Rany is still as on board with Hillman’s in-game decisions but if the Nipon Nun keeps this up, we may all be bald by September.

“In my day a pitcher would be embarrassed if he came out after only five innings.”
Mark Gubicza, 610 AM

“The Royals could win this division, because the rest of the division sucks! They are absolutely terrible.”
Jeff Passan, MLB columnist for Yahoo.com and former KC Star Royals writer, 610 AM

“This is the Billy Butler everybody’s been waiting to see. I saw it for a whole year down in Double A.”
Frank White, Royals TV

“When I was younger I created a whole team of Jason Anderson’s on my Nintendo and gave them all max (skills).”
Jason Anderson, 810 AM

“It may have been the best swing I’ve seen him take.”
Les Norman, former Royals outfielder, on Tony Pena, Jr.’s one-handed swing when batting with a broken hand, 810 AM

“When we broke this story…you heard it here first.”
Kevin Kietzman, claiming first dibs on the story that Paul Splittorff would be out of the Royals TV booth due to a virus, 810 AM

“It is irresponsible as a baseball fan to miss a Zack Greinke start.”
Jason Anderson, 810 AM

“How popular are Royals tickets right now after their hot start? …I called Hal, who owns Ace Sports at the Oak Park Mall, Saturday to check on sales. Hal says tickets with a face value of $75 (for Friday, Greinke’s next start) are going for $125-$150. Tickets with a sticker price of $39 are going for $80-$100. Wow! Can you imagine paying those prices two years ago? Ah…..no. Will you pay those prices now? My guess….hell yes!”
Brad Porter, of Metro Sports, KCondemand.com

“Hal also advises, and he obviously has more than a rooting interest, to buy tickets to the Royals-Cardinals series NOW. The two teams meet at “The K” in mid-June and both could be in or close to first place in their respective divisions. Hal expects three massive sellouts. Buy now, sell later.”
Brad Porter, KCondemand.com

“I’ve running out of superlatives. He’s absolutely incredible. We’ve never seen anything like this guy. The guy’s just a phenomenon. He’s just unbelievable.”
John Barry, on LeBron James, ESPN Radio

“You’ve got a chance to get a guy like Brett Favre? You go get him. It’d be great. It’d be awesome! But you can’t put all your eggs in that basket. We’ve still got a team to run and a division to try and win.”
Jared Allen, on what it would mean if his Vikings landed Favre, ESPN Radio

“You know, I had a blast (last season in Minnesota)! Nothing against Kansas City – I loved the city, loved the fans and Arrowhead was great. But I had an absolute blast (with the Vikings)! And this year I hope I can do it without a couple of injuries and then I’ll have even more fun.”
Jared Allen, when asked if playing in Minnesota in 2008 was his most fun as a pro, ESPN Radio

“I just thought, ‘Hey, don’t turn your back on what got you going.’ So I’m rockin’ the mullet!”
Jared Allen, when asked about his new mullet hairdo, ESPN Radio

“I think I have people testing the boundaries of hairdos in Minnesota right now.”
Jared Allen, on the number of mullets and Mohawks cropping up on the Vikings team, ESPN Radio

greghall24@yahoo.com

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KC blogger claims buzz about Greinke is just whitey cheering whitey

Posted 5-8-09

Jim Rome’s always entertaining Smack-Off takes place today from 11 AM to 2 PM on 610 AM. Check out the contestants odds here for the invitation-only event.

“I just don’t think he needs a nickname. I’m just good with Zack.”
Josh Klingler, 610 AM
GH: I like nicknames. I came up with Zack Black earlier this week and I’m going to ride it for now. It has an easy rhythm to it (just like his pitching style) and it brings to mind Greinke’s ability to pitch on the “black.” I also like that it coincides with the Royals new tough-guy ‘tude. These are no longer the pushover Royals so many AL teams have feasted on for two decades. These are the darker, Miguel Olivo stand-and-fight Royals. I’d like to see a stadium blackout for an upcoming Zack Black start where the Royals wear black jerseys and ask the fans to show up in black attire. Hell, give out Zack Black t-shirts at the gate – sponsored by Black & Veatch. The Zack Black moniker fits Greinke’s knockdown no-regrets style and this city’s new image of shedding that wimpy chip from our shoulder and replacing it with a squared-shoulders glare.

“Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down. You can stand me up at the gates of hell but I won’t back down. …Heeeeeeyyyy baby, there ain’t no easy way out. Hey I will stand my ground. And I won’t back down.”
Tom Petty, lyrics to “I Won’t Back Down” Petty’s first single from his first solo album, Full Moon Fever released in 1989
GH: The Royals need an anthem and I am suggesting Petty’s, I Won’t Back Down. The BoSox play Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline (for some ungodly reason) before the bottom of the eighth at Fenway. I’d like to see the Royals do the same by blasting Petty’s song over the PA for the fans to sing along. Instead of George Harrison and Ringo in the music video, run video of the Royals pitchers knocking down batters, Brett’s pine-tar tirade, Olivo’s chin-high tag, Harry Truman holding up the Dewey headline and anything else that depicts Kansas City as a team and place not to be trifled with. Make The K a happening everybody in the Midwest wants to visit and be a part of this summer…and dare I say fall?

“Local white people celebrating their similarly-skin-colored heroes have once again mistaken a slightly better than mediocre performance for The Second Coming. …Let me be the first to note that Royals pitcher Zack Greinke is nothing but a lot of hype at this point. This early in the season there is no telling who is going to be a factor down the line and the locals are silly to take bored sports newsies at their word.”
Tony Botello, author and publisher of tonyskansascity.com, a popular and entertaining blog on all things Kansas City
GH: Okay, so not everybody is drinking the Zack Black cherry Kool-Aid. That is understandable and may even prove to be smart. But Tony’s racism angle is obtuse. Read on.

“I'm not afraid to note that all of this Greinke hype is yet again tacit racism on the part of Kansas City sports fans. Looking for a white face to cheer for is an ugly local tradition that big media loves to feed into and once again playing to this town's worst instincts proves profitable.”
Tony Botello, tonyskansascity.com
GH: Love when whitey is cheering whitey it is “tacit racism” but when 96% of blacks vote for Obama it is solidarity. TonyBo’s charge of racism has less sting than a Whitlock column on the DH. White people in KC or DC could not care less what color the guy is that is scoring touchdowns or striking out hitters – just as long as their town’s name is scripted across the front of his laundry – and he doesn’t want to move in next door.

“Let's get this straight . . . In terms of MLB, Greinke is a non-factor so far and IF HE DOES prove to have some talent in the long term that only means that he'll leave Kansas City in a hurry. So overly enthusiastic white people wanting the baseball star to have sex with their family should probably calm down . . . Because the only thing people from Kansas City can count on is disappointment.”
Tony Botello, tonyskansascity.com
GH: Damn, it must suck to be TonyBo. Did this guy get run over by Charlie Finley’s mule when he was a kid? Did Hank Stram beat little Tony with his rolled up program to within an inch of his life? It’s just sports, mi amigo. If the Royals turn out to be trash, it’s not like we haven’t survived that journey before. Zack flees? Been there, done that – new laundry shows up at The K every spring. Take a breath, enjoy the games and who knows, you may discover that life is not nearly as bleak as you apparently perceive it to be.

“That is a man-child! (Greinke) has been impressive every time out. He reminds me so much of Saberhagen when I first saw him.  And now after watching him in the first month of the season, he’s better than Sabes was. Yeah, right now there is no doubt (he is better than Sabes was). I never saw Sabes dominate like this.”
Kevin Seitzer, 810 AM

“I’ve never seen anybody do it quite as easily as Zack is doing it right now – and I came up with Dwight Gooden.”
John Gibbons, Royals bench coach, 610 AM

“A lot of people question the amount of money (the Royals) gave John Buck in arbitration, but thank God they did.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Buck’s arbitration deal pays him $2.9 million for 2009. That total may be very close to the number of pitches that deflect off his glove, shin, shoulder and mask this season.

“Come on Nancy! Put it right down the alley!”
Old man in the Keystone Light commercial who has trouble catching the full beer can tossed to him by “Nancy”
GH: Anybody else get the feeling this old guy is what John Buck is going to look like in 50 years?

“When I saw him in spring training I nicknamed (Alberto Callaspo), Magic Wand. He’s always putting that fat part of the bat on the ball. He’s got tremendous hands. He really likes to swing it.”
Kevin Seitzer, 810 AM
GH: Reread Seitzer’s above comments about the Royals hard-hitting second sacker and this time pretend he’s reviewing a porn star. Seems to work either way.

“The Kougar.”
Sam Mellinger, KC Star writer, announcing his nickname for the 40-year-old and dramatically cosmetically improved Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City Star
GH: The same morning Mellinger’s Kougar column ran in The Star, I heard George Brett call the stadium “The Kougar” in an interview with Twibell and Klingler on 610 AM. Mellinger spent the majority of his column trying to convince Royals players to endorse his Kougar nickname. Check that one off your to-do list, Sam.

“Technically what we were doing was illegal – there’s a big shock. Channel 41 nicely asked us -- they did not send their attorneys -- they sent a letter. The term in the legal world is ‘cease and desist.’ So we have been asked to cease and desist. We will cease and desist before we get arrested.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, announcing they will no longer air their weekly Jack Harry montage, 610 AM
GH: C&C’s Jack Harry montage consisted of multiple sound bites of Harry that they lifted from his TV 41 sportscasts and spliced together for an entertaining couple of minutes each Friday afternoon. DA did the same with Herm Edwards audio. It was meant to make fun of Harry and his over-the-top delivery. It succeeded – apparently too well. Read on. 

“Jack gets a lot of stories wrong so we thought it would be a nice way to kind of have some fun. Mike Shanahan is not the coach of the Chiefs. Priest Holmes doesn’t have a tumor. Xavier Henry’s dad is not working for Memphis. We just tried to keep it straight.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM

“It’s a sad day because those of you who know, we try to make you laugh a little bit sometimes. A little bit of humor. We had the Jack Harry montage from some of his more spirited newscasts. We put it together for you every Friday afternoon.
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: We do not know if Harry was offended or if TV 41 sent the cease and desist w/o Harry’s knowledge or approval. But we can make a fairly accurate assumption that Harry could have prevented TV 41 from taking this action. I’m guessing he did not appreciate the young guys’ ribbing. I find that sad. It appears that Jack’s Smack is a one-way street. 

“Dave Owen has not had a great year as a third-base coach. He’s had several runners thrown out.”
Greg Schaum, on the Royals third-base coach, 610 AM
GH: Twibell mentioned on his show that Owen “is a very nervous guy.” He said he picked up at spring training that Owen got “excited and nervous” as the third base coach. Twibell also said that Owen is one of Trey Hillman’s best friends. After five weeks, Farnsworth leads Owen by a nose for worst start.

“We’re going to go commercial free here for quite a while after the Royals game.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: With Royals afternoon games being broadcast on 610, KK’s commercial-free move is an attempt to keep listeners tuned into 810. But Thursday he treated two callers who disagreed with him as if KK doesn’t need anyone listening who doesn’t goosestep to his cadence. Read on. 

“Oh, I’m done with this call! You’re going to sit there and do this to me? Forget about it!”
Kevin Kietzman, hanging up on a caller who said he thought KK was being too negative about the Royals, 810 AM
GH: KK has resorted to dumping almost every contrary call I hear him take. It is just bad radio – and he sounds like a thin-skinned radio rookie doing it. This reminds me of when Don Fortune started to lose it. Fans of 1510 began to call Fortune’s show just to see how high they could raise his blood pressure.

“Listen, if you really don’t like the show, you don’t have to listen! It’s a free show. …I could call you names like idiot, stupid and moron, but I won’t do that. ”
Kevin Kietzman, after ending another call where the caller claimed KK was making negative statements about the Royals simply because 810 is no longer the Royals radio rights holder, 810 AM
GH: This is dangerous territory for KK to tread. No matter what your ratings are, and KK’s are as high as anyone’s, it is treacherous to come off as a pompous elitist who doesn’t need his audience. And that is exactly how KK sounded with these two callers Thursday afternoon.

“We’re the greatest (broadcasting) crew in the country, I really believe. I’ve never heard one of those guys – the camera guys, the stage director managers, ever complain. They love what they’re doing.”
Joel Goldberg, TV reporter for Fox Sports Kansas City’s Royals TV broadcasts, 810 AM
GH: Goldberg’s numerous cut-ins from all over the ball park have been severely curtailed on Royals TV broadcasts since his interview with the fake Guy Fieri on Monday night. I don’t mind his cut-ins but why in the world is he wearing a suit and tie at the ball park?

“I suggest finding out what the expected crowd is going to be and if it’s over 25,000, I can almost guarantee you’re not going to be happy with your experience (at The K).”
Danny Clinkscale, complaining about the long lines at the concessions and restrooms on nights the Royals play to large crowds, 810 AM
GH: If Clink is right, and I don’t think he is, there are going to be an awful lot of unhappy fans at The K this summer.

“I just take gentle jabs at the (MLS) league because our league is notorious for making up rules as they go. I’m sure they’ll fine me for saying that.”
Jimmy Conrad, of the Kansas City Wizards, referring to an irreverent MLS column he writes for ESPN.com, 810 AM
GH: And you thought I was going to go the entire spring w/o a Wizards quote.

“One thing about wearing those types of (tight-fitting) uniforms -- with no belts and you had an elastic waistband and a pullover – if you didn’t have it, it showed!”
Frank White, describing the revealing nature of the uniform pants in his playing days, Royals TV
GH: Has there been an ex-Royal who has held more positions with the organization than White? He helped build the stadium as a laborer, was a Gold Glove player, a front office guy, an assistant coach, a minor league manager and now a broadcaster. White’s initial exit from the Royals as a player was not amicable. White was not happy that he was being forced to retire in the early 90s and he lashed out publicly at the organization. One Royals official at the time told me, “Frank White will never work for the Royals again.” Guess that’s why they tell you to always get two sources.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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For some reason, Royals still enamored with Sidney Ponson

Posted 5-6-09

“Everybody told me that the Royals were the sexy team (to pick to win the ALC) this year. I said that no team with Sidney Ponson is the sexy team.”
Seth Everett, MLB.com columnist, 610 AM
GH: Ponson is as hot a topic on sports talk radio of late as Greinke. But unlike Zack Black, Ponson is treated by callers as if he were a spike-necked Raiders fan inside the men’s restroom at Arrowhead. Read on.

“I’m pulling for Sidney (Ponson). I’m not going to say that on (the Twins broadcast) because I get paid by those guys.”
Bert Blyleven, radio voice of Twins Baseball Network, Royals TV
GH: Bert Bly coached Sly Sid on the Netherlands WBC team this spring. He was the guy who tipped off the Royals that he thought Ponson could help their starting pitching this season. I guess the Twins, Bly’s employer, passed on the “opportunity.”

“Sidney Ponson has obviously struggled a few times, but we still feel very good about him. We’re looking forward to his start this Wednesday to see how he does.”

Dayton Moore, Royals GM, 810 AM
GH: Moore might be the only person outside of Seattle and Aruba looking forward to Ponson’s start.

“He’s an innings eater. He’s not going to be a guy who’s going to go out and pitch a lot of shutouts. But he’s an innings eater. That’s what you need on a staff.”
Bert Blyleven, Royals TV
GH: Here’s how MLB works. Almost every team knows they will lose at least 70 games. The Royals would take a 92-70 record every year and never complain. They need a couple of starting pitchers who can eat innings and absorb those losses. They won’t tell you they expect to lose but the truth is; they expect to lose when guys like Ponson pitch. They just hope he goes deep enough into the game to not burn the bullpen.

“I was talking to Bob McClure about that and he said he’s the type of guy, if he stays healthy, he sees him in a Royals uniform for four or five years.”
Bert Blyleven, Royals TV

GH: I think/hope Ponson is back in Aruba by the All-Star break.

“We can listen to Bert Blyleven and believe he’s going to be a good pitcher or we can believe what our eyes tell us. I think I’ll believe my eyes. Because my eyes tell me exactly what the back of (Ponson’s) baseball card has been telling me for the past three years – no matter what Bert Blyleven says. To me, I’ve seen enough. They said they fixed his mechanical problem, what’s the excuse now?”
Jason Anderson, 810 AM
GH: Anderson is a rising talent as far as Royals analysts go. You have to hunt to find him on 810’s air (Thursday nights and Saturday mornings if you need a hint) but he’s worth the search.

“That’s why we went out and signed Sidney Ponson, we felt the depth in our starting pitching was lacking and it still is.”
Dayton Moore, 810 AM
GH: Is it still considered depth when the talent is as shallow as Ponson’s?

“Do I think that’s the only reason (Luke Hochevar) is down (in Omaha)? No, but I think that’s the reason.”
Jason Anderson, on whether the Royals are stalling in bringing up Luke Hochevar because they want to push his arbitration year to 2014 instead of 2013, 810 AM
GH: If that is the reason, I have no problem delaying his arrival to later this month. But the Royals are running the risk of sending a message to their young minor league players (and fans) that money means more than victories.

“Luke (Hochevar) hopefully will continue to pitch well (in Omaha) and hopefully will continue to force our hand. …There’s a huge difference between Triple A and the major leagues, as everybody knows. We’ve got to make sure he is definitely prepared to be successful over the course of the entire season.”
Dayton Moore, 810 AM
GH: I don’t like babying players. I think it creates soft athletes who never develop a mechanism to handle injury or failure. Throw him into the fire and find out if he’s made of steel or wood.

“For the lack of a better term, you never know when they’re going to grow into their ‘man body.’ Luke (Hochevar) is maturing. He’s becoming more mature physically.”
Bob McClure, 810 AM
GH: I know all too well what McClure means by my “man body.” I’ve spent the last 20 years trying to shed that sucker.

“I think Bob McClure is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball. And let’s keep it that way.”
Soren Petro, on the Royals pitching coach, 810 AM
GH: Petro had McClure on his Monday show for a live interview and it was anything but bland. Petro asked McClure almost every question that I wanted an answer to about the Royals staff. Read on.

“I still consider Gil the number one (pitcher on the staff) because he is more of a leader emotionally and mentally.”
Bob McClure, Royals pitching coach, on whether or not Greinke was now the team’s ace, 810 AM
GH: McClure might be the only one of these left.

“(Ponson) is a guy who can pitch 180, 200 innings. He’s had experience. He’s also got an edge to him. He’s pitched on some good teams. He’s a hardcore guy as far as pitching goes. He’s very brutally honest and hard on himself. He’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Bob McClure, 810 AM

“(Ponson) has been fantastic (in the clubhouse). He’s in there every day working out, doing extra work and going the extra mile. Plus, they just had a baby. I think Sid is aware this might be my last chance. I’m in a place I really like in Kansas City. He’s excited about his teammates and he’s excited about working to win this division.”
Bob McClure, 810 AM
GH: The Royals appear to love Ponson. I thought his last outing was brutal. Maybe we need to give him another couple of starts and see what they see in the guy.

“If you watch any of (Kyle Farnsworth’s) games, the quality of his balls… He’s just not winging balls all over the place anymore. I think we finally broke through with Kyle (Farnsworth). Even though the results haven’t been good, he’s not winging balls all over the place like he used to. So I think we’re looking for some very good things from Kyle in the future.”
Bob McClure, 810 AM
GH: Farnsworth’s quality balls are probably the size of marbles after the way he’s been raked by hitters and fans in the late innings this season. If McClure can bring this guy’s game back from the dead he is a genius.

“I hate to use pitch counts because I just don’t think it’s the same for everybody.”
Bob McClure, 810 AM
GH: Finally, some sanity about the inane stat called pitch counts. Read on.

“Gil Meche is physically capable, as long as he’s healthy, of throwing 120-130 pitches on an occasion. Once a pitcher grows into his body, there’s nothing wrong with throwing 130 pitches. 130 to me is not a big deal. We make a big deal out of it now just because it’s counted and everybody looks at it. But guys with real good stuff, and their stuff is holding through 115-120 pitches, there’s no reason to (pull them from the game).”
Bob McClure, 810 AM

“I would say that most of us are pleasantly surprised that so many people have embraced the outfield experience as much as they have. It’s just going to take some adjustment because we’ve got a lot of people who go out to the outfield and stay. We’ve got concession points and restrooms all throughout the stadium. We’ve got a whole bunch of people out in the outfield. So we’re making some of those adjustments.”
Toby Cook, Royals director of communications and community relations, on the complaints from fans and the media that lines at the New K are unbearably long for concessions and restrooms, 610 AM
GH: The K’s long lines are not confined to the outfield concourse. Let’s hope Cook and the Royals are working on smoothing out the wrinkles throughout the stadium and not just at party cove.

“It takes a couple of home stands to get everything ironed out. We wouldn’t be surprised at all when Baltimore comes to town (May 14-17) that we have the same size crowds but we’re going to be ready for folks.”
Toby Cook, 610 AM

“You just have to consider the source.”
Roger Twibell, to a caller asking for his opinion on Jack Harry calling for the Royals to trade Alex Gordon, 610 AM
GH: I like it when even the old civilized guys start dumping on each other. Let’s dub this; gray-on-gray crime.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Greinke the Great capturing nationwide attention

Posted 5-5-09

“I still don’t think you can put into perspective what Greinke is doing. This is Cliff Lee BETTER than last year.”
Karl Ravech, ESPN
GH: Ravech is right, what Greinke is doing the first five weeks of the season is almost uncharted territory. Two names that have had similar starts are Fernando Valenzuela and Walter Johnson. Wow.

“It is so dominant and his stuff is so great. His pitchability is so tremendous!”
Peter Gammons, ESPN
GH: Greinke is so good Gammons has to make up words to describe his performances.

“The Kansas City Royals are in first place. Let that wash over you for a minute. …The longer they remain relevant, the more likely you are to become familiar with one of the best pitchers in the game. His name is Zack Greinke.”
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN

“Baseball’s best kept secret.”
Stuart Scott, referring to Greinke, ESPN
GH: It sure beats the secrets A-Rod’s been hiding.

“This guy is just filthy!”
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN
GH: That’s filthy in a good way, mom. What are the other popular baseball slang saying to communicate a pitcher is good? Nasty, sick, wicked…they all have a kind of evil tone – all must have been authored by hitters.

“It was fun out there. Great energy by the crowd tonight, especially in the last couple of innings. Just made it even more exciting because they always do that when Soria comes in but a starter doesn’t get to see that very often. It was nice.”
Zack Greinke, FoxSports Kansas City
GH: We got to the game an hour before the first pitch so that we could take in the entire ball park prior to the game. I am always amazed at how polite and friendly almost every stranger is at The K. Are there some jerks? Yeah, but so few you can go nine innings without encountering even one.

“I’d rather watch the Royals on TV when Greinke pitches. I like to be able to see it in HD and watch the pitch movement from the center field camera.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Few love to watch a game on the tube more than I. But I made a decision a few weeks ago – if Greinke is pitching at home this season, I’m there. I dare say that the 21,000 who were there with me Monday night will be back for more Greinke.

“This was by far the greatest night I’ve had as a Royals fan. I was in the front row in right field. If there is a rowdier crowd in the major leagues, I’d like to see it. We were so inside (Sox right fielder Scott) Podsednik’s head. He finally flipped us off. It was freaking incredible! I’ve never had more fun at a Royals game!”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: The magic may end and all of this could just be another Royal Blue mirage come August. But it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like a pennant race is brewing here in Cowtown. And if you think the stadium is exciting now, wait until September. Nothing, absolutely nothing in sports – not March Madness, not a Super Bowl run -- nothing compares to following your baseball team through a late-season pennant race. It is all consuming. It is why I am a sports fan.

“I heard Stuart Scott pronounce Callaspo’s name as Calypso. I don’t care what the ESPN guys think about Kansas City! We are a proud group of people here in Kansas City!”
Greg Schaum, 610 AM
GH: Schaum sounded like a little girl when he let out this whine. This is the kind of small-market talk that gives Kansas City a bad name. Why should ESPN or any network media outlet take the Royals seriously? This franchise has been an embarrassment to their fans for two decades. Now that we’re 1.5 games up on the Tigers in early May we should expect the world to bow down to all things Blue? Embarrassing.

"To me, he's the best in the league right now,"
Ozzie Guillen, White Sox manager, on Greinke, Chicago Tribune

“He toyed with the Sox with a fastball clocked as fast as 97 m.p.h., and a curve that could barely break the highway speed limit.”
Mark Gonzales, writer, Chicago Tribune
GH: Watching Greinke live from behind home plate is a treat -- even from the $5 cheap seats.

“I tell ya, to me watching Zack tonight, that almost eclipsed watching (Bret) Saberhagen and (Mark) Gubicza pitch.”
Caller, 810 AM

“I’ve never been to a baseball game like this in Kansas City. I got goose bumps watching the game tonight.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Wright is in his 20s. He’s never known the Royals to be good. I have listened to him scoff at those who call this a baseball town. He has no idea how much the sport of baseball means to those who call this town home. I sincerely hope he finds out this season.

“I sure am glad he pitches for us.”
Trey Hillman, in a postgame interview, 610 AM

“Naw, I’d like to stick around here for a little while. I thought if I got somebody up they’d have run me off.”
Trey Hillman, when asked if he considered getting someone up in the bullpen in the late innings, 610 AM
GH: Hillman is showing signs of loosening up and letting us see some of his more humorous side. I like the view.

“Zack Greinke’s at the podium. Cross your fingers.”
Danny Clinkscale, tossing it to a live feed of Greinke’s postgame interview, 810 AM
GH: 810 radio immediately starts their postgame show after the game’s last out. While 610, the flagship station for the Royals, is mired in their bulky to-do list of interviews, scores, commercials and other boring flagship duties. 810 had Greinke’s postgame comments live long before 610 ran them on tape. Great work by 810 and another reason to ignore 610 once the game ends. Read on for some of Greinke’s postgame comments.

“The shutout’s not important at all. I thought it was important to give Soria a day off.”
Zack Greinke, Royals Postgame

“I learned when you try to go deep into the games, sometimes it has the opposite effect.”
Zack Greinke, Royals Postgame

“For the past two years I’ve felt like most of my stuff is working.”
Zack Greinke, Royals Postgame

“I forgot the question. I do that a lot.”
Zack Greinke, Royals Postgame

“Billy made the best play of his life. That play was impossible.”
Zack Greinke, on Butler’s save of an eighth-inning double-play throw from Callaspo, Royals Postgame

“I don’t notice them a whole lot unless it’s really loud.”
Zack Greinke, when asked if he noticed the fans, Royals Postgame

“We don’t want to just roll over like we usually do. The White Sox kind of bully us around sometimes.”
Zack Greinke, Royals Postgame

“No. I think Johan (Santana) and Roy Halladay are the two best pitchers -- without a doubt.”
Zack Greinke, when asked if he is the best pitcher in baseball, Royals Postgame
GH: I would offer that there is some doubt. Maybe even quite a lot.

greghall24@yahoo.com

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Some of those SportsCenter boys are really digging the Royals

Posted 5-1-09

“I’m going to say it over every Royals highlight I do this year, I LOVE what they’ve done with Kauffman Stadium! I love it! The K.”
Scott Van Pelt, SportsCenter anchor, ESPN
GH: Van Pelt grew up in Washington D.C. and graduated from Maryland. He is as east coast as you can get. But he knows the Royals history and our ball park. Watching SportsCenter highlights of home runs land in the fan-filled outfield seats is the best commercial the Royals could buy. Fans in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, the Dakotas, Arkansas and every burg in between are making plans to come to our city this summer to see our new ball park. Do I wish it was downtown? Yes, but it’s not. Is it perfect? No, but it’s pretty damn cool and I’ll be out there in those cheap seats all summer long. See you there.

“The biggest surprise so far (this season) is the Kansas City Royals. They are working with the same ingredients that the Tampa Bay Rays had last year. That is good defense, timely hitting, but more importantly dominant pitching. Their starters are doing an outstanding job right now.”
Eric Young, MLB analyst, ESPN
GH: Well, at least the Royals have had some dominant pitching. Not sure where EY is getting the “good defense” and “timely hitting.” Maybe he’s got a crystal ball on the SportsCenter set and he’s channeling what’s coming in May.

“Kansas City is a good baseball town. It’d be nice to see them have the Royals being good and for them to enjoy that all summer.”
John Anderson, ESPN
GH: Anderson is an Iowa native who graduated from Mizzou. See, not everybody at the Eastern SPorts Network is an east coast homer.

“We’re not going to call it the New K, we’re going to call it the OK. If you have porta-potties in your stadium, it’s not a new stadium. The renovation of that stadium was built for 20,000. … Who is the new food vendor at (Kauffman Stadium)? Aramark? F! F! F-! Hire more people! Terrible!”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: I understand that KK is still pissed that his push to build a new downtown ball park was rejected. But his constant bashing of the stadium renovation while they’re still getting the kinks worked out sounds a lot like whining. The New K was ready a full year before it was scheduled to open. I’m guessing the grade card by next April will have a lot of A’s.

“The Royals bust out the baby blues for their day game with the Jays. I think we’d like to see full baby blues. Commit to the trouser as well.”
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN
GH: Agreed. The BB tops with the white trou makes the Royals look like half their luggage is still in Cleveland.

“John Buck was on an 80-home run pace for a while, too.”
Josh Klingler, cautioning fans to temper their expectations for a 30-win season out of Greinke, 610 AM

“In half their games (the Royals) have scored two runs or less. And I think that is going to continue.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: I sure hope Nate is wrong. Two runs a game for 82 games means another cellar season.

“It’s pretty amazing because the guy in spring training looked completely lost in every outing.”
George Brett, on Brian Bannister’s success in his first two starts with the Royals, 610 AM

“I think (Trey Hillman) believes he is being persecuted and unfairly treated. When the truth of the matter is, he’s a big-league manager — so they’re all persecuted and unfairly treated! And even more than that, he really hasn’t had that much pressure yet.”
Joe Posnanski, 810 AM
GH: Let’s hope that pressure comes this fall when the Royals battle for their first pennant since, well, I was still hairy.

“Oh look at this! Look at this!”
Kevin Harlan, as Hinrich delivered a double fore-arm shiver to Rondo in the Celtics/Bulls 3 OT thiller, TNT
GH: Apologies to the NBA fans who troll the OTC (yeah, you Soylent). I haven’t found much room here for the NBA playoffs but this Bulls/Celtics series is one even sleepy KC fans have to be jonesing for. (Do people still say jonesing?) While Hinrich’s retaliatory shove of Rondo was impressive, it looked to me like he followed that attack by taking two steps backward to every feint forward. But Rondo didn’t even pretend he wanted any of the crazed Mad Mag cover boy. Rondo had his tranny in reverse faster than RuPaul.

“As happens many times when you chop down a tree, things that have been in the shade begin to sprout.”
Kevin Harlan, on the Celtics lesser players stepping up their game w/o the injured Kevin Garnett, 810 AM
GH: Who knew Harlan could wax so philosophically? If a tree fell in the woods, would it land on Brodie Croyle?

“I’ve been doing this for quite a while. I’m probably one of the first broadcasters who is going to spend his whole career doing sports talk because it was just getting started when I (got my first job). I was always told by my (bosses), ‘You can’t just talk sports. You’ve got to talk guy talk. You’ve got to talk about what you did the night before. You’ve got to have shtick.’ So basically all my (bosses) were morons.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: I met Petro in 1994, not long after he graduated from Syracuse. He was working the board at KCTE 1510 The Team for Pete Enich’s morning sports talk show. He rarely was allowed to speak on the air in those days. I was a guest on the show a few times (as I believe both their listeners were). I would always bug Pete about getting Soren more air time. As they say, look at the monster we created.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Is this why Twibell has been down on the Chiefs?

Posted 4-30-09

“Gitmo North.”
Roger Twibell, on his new nickname for the Chiefs offices at Arrowhead, 610 AM
GH: About two weeks ago I made some calls to determine whether or not Twibell had been bumped from his Chiefs preseason TV gig. I was curious as to what prompted the surprising and constant negative flow from Twibell about the Chiefs. I finally got my answer this week with the announcement that Twibell is out and Kevin Harlan and Dave Armstrong are in.

“They replace Roger Twibell, who had other commitments this summer.”
Randy Covitz, reporter, Kansas City Star
GH: There are few firings like a media firing. The Chiefs press release mentioned nothing about Twibell. Covitz did not cite his source, which very well may have been Twibell. One thing I’m not buying is that Twibell had “other commitments.” It appears to me that the Chiefs are not only clearing out leftover players, coaches and scouts from Carl Peterson’s regime but also members of the media like Twibell – who appears not to be taking this change passively. Read on.

“I mean how many more old people do you want in here, folks?”
Roger Twibell, on the Chiefs signing Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel, 610 AM
GH: When King Carl reigned at Arrowhead, you would hardly hear a negative syllable escape Twibell’s lips regarding the Chiefs. Even with four- and two-win seasons to bash, Twibell remained upbeat about Carl’s club. But now that Pioli and Haley are in charge, Twibell makes Chiefs bashing a daily morning exercise on 610.

“You’ve only sold 35,000 (Chiefs) season tickets. You’ve got to do better than that. You’ve got to reach out to your fan base. You can’t ignore them!”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: The Chiefs might respond that bringing Harlan back for a couple of preseason games is an attempt to excite the fan base. But the Dave Armstrong hiring kind of negates that thought.

“You’re building this new Arrowhead, you’d think they’d do everything you could do to sell this franchise and this new direction. I just don’t see it. Are they doing any marketing plans? The only thing I’ve seen is TV ads that say buy season tickets.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: Just a guess that Peterson and Twibell still talk…because I hear a lot of Peterson in Twibell’s comments.

“I would think people would be jumping up and down to buy tickets but apparently not. Are you seeing anything when it comes to player promotions or the coach? …There’s kind of a disconnect in a sense.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: Can you imagine Twibell publicly dissing a Peterson-led marketing campaign?

“For too many years in this town, too many reporters were guilty of sucking up to the public relations department at Arrowhead. …With the changing of the guard, the lackeys in the Chiefs’ PR department have no clue what’s going on behind closed doors. For that reason there are no more internal leaks at Arrowhead.”
Jack Harry, KSHB 41
GH: Twibell, Bob Gretz and Soren Petro would be members of the local media I would consider inside Carl Peterson’s “circle of trust.” Jack Harry and Kevin Kietzman would be two who would not be inside that ring. Read on.

“Ding dong the wicked witch is dead!”
Kevin Kietzman, reveling in the resignation/firing of the Chiefs’ CEO last December, Carl Peterson, 810 AM

“I don’t understand this perverse enthusiasm about this (Peterson) firing.”
Tim Grunhard, on the gleeful celebrations by some fans and members of the media over Peterson’s exit, 810 AM
GH: Peterson could be a bully and treated those who dared to criticize him with disdain. Both Kietzman and Harry have mentioned many times that he attempted to get them fired from one job or another. It is understandable that they might celebrate the end of his reign.

“People don’t even know why they are (happy over Peterson’s departure). They just know that everybody’s chanting it and so let’s get on board and go with it. Let me make a huge reach here to make a point. I’ve heard people sit around and say, ‘Well geez, the Germans are dumb. I don’t know how Hitler came to power.’ Then take a look at why you are cheering that a guy got fired. How has it affected your life up until now that you’re at a point where some of the things I’ve heard said go beyond rational humanity?”
Soren Petro, bemoaning the firing of Peterson, 810 AM
GH: The Germans? Comparing the Chiefs’ fans joy over Peterson’s removal to Hitler coming to power in Nazi Germany? And you thought Whitlock was reaching with his Barry Bonds column.

“I think (the Chiefs) have the worst talent in the league. Far and away THE worst. Worse than Detroit, worse than anybody. I think they’re miles away (from improving).”
Danny Clinkscale, prior to the hiring of Pioli and Haley, 810 AM
GH: This is why Pioli and Haley were brought in by Clark Hunt. I am willing to give them a chance to do things their way for now. The other way sure wasn’t getting it done.

“Can I say (Peter King) is prickly? He is difficult to get. He is in a stratosphere of the media in his own category.”
Kevin Kietzman, complaining about his difficulty in getting the SI writer on his show, 810 AM
GH: So if you’re not available for KK’s show, you’re “prickly?” Is that the family-show way to call a guy a prick?

“I get the feeling that (the Chiefs) said we’ll grant you access as long as we can edit your (article). It was a Kansas City Chiefs PR piece. It was a story that could have been written by Bob Gretz or the Chiefs PR department.”
Kevin Kietzman, after reading King’s SI story on the new Chiefs that is also in this week’s SI, 810 AM

“This is just my opinion but I believe they identified (Tony Gonzalez) as a selfish player when they got here and said, ‘That is not the kind of player we need.’”
Kevin Kietzman, on why Pioli and Haley traded Gonzo to Atlanta, 810 AM
GH: Twibell has been bashing the Chiefs for trading Gonzalez while KK has been bashing Gonzo for two or three years. I think the trade was a good one for both Gonzo and the Chiefs. I’m not so sure Atlanta is going to get the TG they expect. Age has a habit of appearing with devastating quickness.

greghall24@yahoo.com

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Nick Wright of 610 Sports shows a refreshingly honest side

Posted 4-29-09

“I ran into some friends here in California the other day and they were asking about (Greinke). They wanted to know how to pronounce his name. ‘Is it Gronkee? Or Grunk? Who is this guy?’”
George Brett, on the national buzz surrounding Zack Greinke, 610 AM

“They’ll probably sell the least amount of magazines in a long time – except when NASCAR was on the cover.”
Zack Greinke, after hearing his photo will grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, Kansas City Star
GH: Bob Dutton of The Star deserves kudos for writing an entertaining article about Greinke’s reaction to his SI story. I heard many people quote from this article on Tuesday both in the office and on the air. I am also curious to know how the Racin’ Boys feel about his NASCAR slam.

“You’re going to hear about the curse. I was on (the cover of SI) four or five times. Everybody said, ‘Yeah, you got the Sports Illustrated curse!’ And that played in your mind a little bit. I think Zack’s got the mentality that there’s no such thing as a curse.”
George Brett, 610 AM
GH: Greinke will test the curse immediately when he starts against Toronto Wednesday night at The K. I hope it didn't start Tuesday night with Gil Meche's back

“They have a jinx?”
Zack Greinke, Kansas City Star
GH: Pure Greinke. Mark “The Bird” Fidrych may be recently deceased but we have our own lovable odd duck right here in KC. Greinke’s interviews remind me of Yogi. My favorite Yogi story was told to me in an Elkhorn, NE law office by a WWII vet who played with a teenage Yogi in the Army. Their team had gone scoreless and been baffled by the other team’s ace pitcher until Yogi hit a towering home run in the eighth inning. As Yogi circled the bases, he approached his manager who was coaching from the third-base box. Eager to know what pitch his catcher had hit, the manager asked, “What did you hit, Yogi?” Yogi cocked his head and looked at his manager with a strange gaze. “Weren’t ya watching coach?” Yogi replied. “I hit a homer!”

“If he doesn’t know what the jinx is then I guess there’s no jinx.”
Jaime Bluma, former Royals reliever, 810 AM
GH: Let’s hope not. Greinke takes the mound at The K Wednesday night against high-scoring Toronto. See you at the ball park.

“It’s good for Zack, it’s good for the franchise, it’s good for everybody in the organization. People realize that Kansas City has been in a downswing for quite some time. …It’ll be a good story, I’m sure. I’m sure some guys who don’t know (Greinke) are going to read some of his quotes and say, ‘Man, this guy is out there!’””
George Brett, on the positive vibe the SI cover story will mean for the Royals, 610 AM
GH: It is also good for JoPo who is getting his second SI cover story in the past two months. Let’s hope he keeps his trademark hearsay quoted conversations from the dugout and mound to a minimum.

“It’s a very well-done story but you’re not going to learn anything you didn’t know (about Zack Greinke).”
Danny Clinkscale, after he and KK both had read the SI article, 810 AM

“As near as I can tell from this story, he didn’t give much of an interview to Joe Posnanski either.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“When was the last Royals player that attracted this kind of national attention? I really can’t figure out who it is.”
Jason Stark, 810 AM
GH: Bo Jackson was the first name to come to Kietzman's mind and I agree. Back in the late 80s I did a lot of traveling and the first words out of most peoples' mouth when they heard I was from KC was, "Bo Jackson." Everybody knew Bo. He was almost Ali-like in his worldwide fame. No other Kansas City athlete has ever come close -- none.  

“I’m just really eager to get down there (to Kansas City) and start working. Football is my love. I’m gonna take all my time and all of my hard work and I know only good things will come pay out from there, once I start putting all of my time and effort toward the Kansas City Chiefs and that organization.”
Tyson Jackson, the Chiefs first-round draft pick in an interview with Nick Wright, 610 AM 

“If the guy (Soren Petro) who is on right now up the dial is able to get paid doing radio commercials selling Chiefs tickets, and that’s not a conflict of interest, then it’s not a conflict of interest for me to root for Tyson Jackson. If he stinks I’ll let you know, but that’s a good young man.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Nick Wright scored one of the local media’s first one-on-one interviews with the Chiefs’ first-round pick. As far as WHB’s Petro and his apparent conflict of interest as the Chiefs new ticket salesman, it is interesting to see the young Wright call Petro out on the air. 810 would be mistaken not to take this new sports talk radio war seriously.

“I was really born in the bayou…about 15 minutes outside of New Orleans. People down here are real hard workers. They keep to themselves.”
Tyson Jackson, 610 AM
GH: Jackson came off in his interview with Wright as a mature, well-mannered, sincere young man. The kind of guy any city would be proud to have wear their team’s colors. Let’s just hope he can play football near the level that the highest paid player in Chiefs’ history will be expected to perform.

“(Winning a championship) is one thing I’ve always based all of my careers off of. I always say I want to leave my career winning a championship. My high school career it was my senior year. My college career it was my junior year. So in the NFL, I can’t exactly say when it’s going to be but I can guarantee it’s going to be within my career some time. I’m definitely going to win the Super Bowl.”
Tyson Jackson, 610 AM

“I was as shocked as anybody when they drafted (Jackson). But after hearing that interview, the two things I think of are class and chemistry. That’s what I think this kid is going to bring to the Chiefs.”
Caller Joe, 610 AM

“I read all the blogs. I google ‘Nick Wright sucks,’ to see what people are saying about me.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Refreshingly honest. Wright has some holes in his game – (long, winding soliloquies and insincere humility to name two) -- but he has some pluses in his broadcast game as well. You can’t teach his level of enthusiasm and competitiveness. I get the feeling this guy (and Chris and Cowboy) would work the midnight shift to keep their listeners informed. Wright’s delivery and pace are network quality. It is very early in the war, but I think we may have a fight.

greghall24@yahoo.com

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Even Jackson can't explain his sudden rise toward top of draft board

Posted 4-24-09

“I really don’t know where it came from.”
Tyson Jackson, when asked how he suddenly rose from an expected middle-round selection to the third pick in the NFL draft, 810 AM
GH: Tyson was not alone in his surprise that he was the first Chiefs’ draft pick of the Scott Pioli and Todd Haley regime. Read on.

“I think for the most part (the crowd’s reactions was), ‘Huh?’ With a little bit of cheer and a little bit of boo. Some people were disappointed. …There was a smattering of boos.”
Soren Petro, on the reaction of the Chiefs fans at the Chiefs indoor facility to the pick of Jackson, 810 AM
GH: Petro’s photo was featured on the Chiefs official website of late so he may be attempting to pull a Bob Gretz on his listeners. I saw video of the Chiefs fans reaction on both Metro Sports and KSHB 41 -- and it was nothing like Petro described. The crowd’s reaction was loudly and undeniably negative with a smattering of golf claps. I was hoping with the departure of Carl Peterson that Petro would be more honest in his assessment of the Chiefs. I’m still waiting.

“If you look over at me and Cowboy right now, it looks like the wind’s been taken out of our sails. And it’s not because we don’t think this guy is going to be a great player. It’s just I have no idea why this guy was the pick.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: I would offer to guess that Wright’s and Cowboy’s reactions mimicked the majority of interested Chiefs fans. Why this guy, when the “best athlete in the draft” according to so many experts was Aaron Curry? I am disappointed that the Chiefs decided to gamble on yet another LSU defensive player.

“A disappointing 2007 season forced Tyson Jackson back to school but has given him another opportunity to shine in LSU’s defense. Jackson saw his sack total drop from 8.5 in 2006 to 3.5 in 2007 despite playing alongside Glenn Dorsey.  He’s far from flashy and is not going to be a big playmaker, but he offers teams a reliable run stopper and a versatile big body capable of flip-flopping positions and schemes with ease. …His game is not based on bringing down quarterbacks, he’s just not that type of end. ”
Daryl Breault, analyst, NFL Draft Dog.com
GH: Breault lists Jackson’s strengths as; “size, versatility, athleticism and quickness.” His list of weaknesses include; “strength, consistency, motor and desire.” Sounds a lot like some other LSU draft picks we know.

“I feel like Allard Baird is out there working for the Chiefs! This is an Allard Baird kind of pick.”
Caller Mark, 610 AM

“For a guy to be completely off the radar screen and then on everybody’s radar screen – something’s going on.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Petro suspects the Chiefs reached a salary and contract agreement with Jackson and his agent prior to the draft. He said he would be “shocked” if Jackson isn’t signed very soon. Getting a player on a Wal-Mart discount is not what I wanted with the third pick of the draft.

“I’m gonna have to give Scott Pioli a pass. …I think it is a stretch. … I gotta believe Scott Pioli knows what he’s doing.”
Richard Baldinger, Metro Sports
GH: Many of us feel this way. We don’t understand the pick but we want to give the new guys the benefit of the doubt. It sure as heck ain’t Derrick Thomas.

“I do trust Scott Pioli, but dammit! I do think Tyson Jackson is a guy you’ve got to get at 15!”
Nick Wright, 610 AM

“We’re quite comfortable with his intelligence.”
Scott Pioli, 810 AM
GH: According to online reports, Jackson scored a 16 and a 17 after taking the Wonderlic test twice. Those two scores would predict well-below average intelligence. Matt Stafford scored a 35 and a 38 – a remarkable score and more than Jackson’s two scores combined. Other defensive ends in the 2009 draft class included these score: Brian Orakpo, DE at Texas, scored a 25. Stryker Sulak, DE at Mizzou, scored a 22. Ian Campbell (K-State) and Zach Potter (Nebraska) both scored 32. The average score for defensive ends was 22.

“I would move down a little bit. …I would have to get a linebacker, a rush guy. That’s where they’re lacking a little bit. They’re in pretty good shape because they’re a fairly young football team.”
Herm Edwards, on what he would do if he were picking for the Chiefs, ESPN
GH: Herm is pushing that he was the fall guy for the Chiefs’ youth movement and now KC is set up to succeed because he weathered the rebuilding years. It doesn’t look to me like the rebuilding is close to being over.

“(Tyson Jackson) is a great football player in terms of hustle. He’s not gonna give you lots of sacks.”
Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN
GH: Both Kiper and McShay gave the Chiefs a C+ on picking Jackson with their third pick.

“He’s got some pass-rush skills, there’s no doubt about it. That’s one thing that excited our defensive coaches.”
Todd Haley, 810 AM
GH: Let’s hope the Chiefs know more than almost every other pundit who evaluated Jackson’s pass-rushing skills. After viewing the Chiefs’ eight picks from this draft, they all appear to be projects that will require work. I sure hope there is more to come -- because this Chiefs’ season is looking bleaker than the 2009 Chrysler is expecting.

“NFL.com is never wrong. They’re not always first, but they’re never wrong.”
Nick Wright, after receiving conflicting reports on Saturday that the Chiefs had signed Matt Cassel to a long-term guaranteed contract, 610 AM
GH: Wright and Cowboy entertained multiple rumors on their three-hour pre-draft show. One was that Cassel had signed a contract, freeing up cap space for the Chiefs to trade Dorsey. It was sexy stuff and a helluva lot more exciting than what actually happened. But when Josh Klinger, who was reporting for 610 at Arrowhead, informed Wright and Cowboy that SI’s Peter King said the Cassel contract was bogus, the on-air duo were reluctant to pull back on their trade scenarios. It will be something to watch over the next week.

“This is insanity in the National Football League. Roger Goodell has got to find a way to put a cap on draft picks.”
Brad Porter, on the six-year $78 million contract Stafford signed with the Lions, Metro Sports
GH: Talk of a rookie cap is underway. Those numbers are impossible for me to even comprehend when considering that money is going to a 21-year-old who has yet to prove he can do what he will be paid to do.

“I gotta give it an ‘F.’”
Mel Kiper, Jr., on the Raiders selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey,, ESPN
GH: At least we’re not Raiders fans.

“It’s always, always about the fans.”
Trace Atkins, in a new TV commercial promoting the 2009 Chiefs season, ESPN
GH: The Chiefs finally revealed their new TV ad campaign for the 2009 season and it highlights nice-guy country singer Atkins. I would have preferred to see Curry or Crabtree starring in the video.

“That is maybe the best bargain in the first (round).”
Brad Porter, on Jeremy Maclin going to Philadelphia with the 19th pick, Metro Sports
GH: I hope Mac lights up the NFL. How about Josh Freeman going 17th to the Bucs? Wow! I thought he was a second round pick but he cashed in big by foregoing his senior year at KSU.

 “Oh, god! I just found out we picked up Matt Cassel for a second-round pick. Oh, god!”
Caller Joe, day of the NFL draft, 610 AM
GH: This guy called in about 11:15 AM on Saturday. I’m pretty sure the call was from 1987.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Haley sounds like a bumpkin, Teicher gets feisty, Grigsby goes off on Tony G

Posted 4-24-09

We really feel this is in the best interest short term and long term for the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Scott Pioli, 610 AM
GH: I listened to replays of Pioli’s and Haley’s Q&A with the media on both 610 and 810. On 610 I heard a more unedited version of the remote presser than what I heard on 810. The 610 version included many of the media’s questions as well as the GM’s and head coach’s responses. Here’s my take on the individuals I was able to identify:

Pioli: Contrary to many reports, this guy comes off to me as a GM who is very interested in having the media respect and even like him. He was cool, open and displayed respect and local knowledge of and to Adam Teicher and Jason Whitlock. He called both Star writers by their first name and even went back to them to make sure he answered their queries to their satisfaction. The guy was impressive.

Haley: He sounds like a bumpkin to me. This guy was a golfer in college? Where, Sanford-Brown? He sounds like Jethro and him just polished off a kettle of vittles and are fixin’ to do some cipherin’. I hope there is more going on behind those droopy headlights than what appears. I think Brian Waters may have misunderstood Haley at their first meeting. What I think Haley may have said to Waters was, “We could go get a couple of 22s off the street and shoot up 2, maybe even 14 possums.”

Teicher: Adam is a feisty little dude, always has been. He is well remembered as the guy who Caller Wolverine Willie pushed into a frothy on-air verbal fit that played as a drop on 810 for months. He got into it with Haley and Pioli when he asked about Chiefs tight end, Brad Cottam. Haley said this presser was about Tony and he didn’t want to get into evaluating Cottam. Teicher snapped back that Gonzo was no longer a Chief and they had always been told by management they didn’t want to discuss players on other teams, which TG now is. Haley seemed dazed and confused by Teicher’s attack. Pioli’s initial reaction was to bark back but he reconsidered and attempted to soothe the conflict. It was good radio – and that is rare from a presser.

Jason Whitlock: Whit is a character. He tossed out his press conference questions like he was thumbing through the latest Maxim mag and distracted by the centerfold. His thoughts tumble out of his mouth in pieces, always accompanied by that unmistakable gravy-ladened voice. But even Haley perked up a bit to respond to Pork Chop’s questions. Carl Peterson looked at J-dub as a young and dumb kid. But Pioli and Haley are contemporaries of the 43-year-old Whitlock and defer to his status as a national media voice. It’s early in their relationship but the Chiefs’ brass has decided to treat him with caution and fear. 

Karen Kornacki: Korny tried to ask her question a couple of times but she was mowed past by the male reporters as if she was a high school yearbook editor. When she finally did get the floor she began her set by asking a stunned Pioli how he was doing. I thought I was listening to a caller on Don Fortune’s old show.

Cowboy Cory Anderson: I was surprised to hear Cowboy on the line but then remembered that the Royals early game freed him up from his PM show. I just have a difficult time taking this guy seriously in a Chiefs presser when I know him best for promoting a douche-bag tourney and also cautioning listeners to not stare at another man’s “junk” while standing at the urinal.

“I think this is a BS trade! I think the Chiefs could go 1-15 this year! He is the only guy scoring the touchdowns! Who they gonna plan around now?”
Caller, 610 AM

“Nothing the Chiefs have done this year really excites me. These players they’ve signed – they’re coaches’ players, period.”
Caller Ed, 810 AM

GH: Callers were probably split about 70-30 against the trade. It is tough to lose a future Canton resident but it was the right thing for the Chiefs to do.

“Leadership is strategy for the organization. This was the right call. This was the right time. I am fully in support of what is occurring. I wish Tony Gonzalez the best. I think this is extremely pleasing and I think we are headed in the right direction.”
Caller Zeke, 810 AM

“The best time (to trade Gonzalez) was a couple of years ago. I was calling for that then and most people didn’t agree with me. It’s better than nothing but the best time would have been a couple of years ago.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK has sounded testy and pouty the past few days – snapping at callers and even telling one caller he was “offended” by him. This attempt to diminish the Chiefs move by recalling his call to trade Gonzo a couple of years ago was self-inflating. Could the Chiefs have gotten more than a second round pick for a 31-year-old tight end in 2007? Doubt it, Kev. Please don’t be offended.  

“We as a fan base need to get beyond about individual records and start worrying about the team winning.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK then segued into how he and his show have broken a record with every ratings book since Tony Gonzalez has been drafted – which was 1997. Riveting radio. Is it me or is KK starting to lose it?

“He’s not a George Brett kind of figure. When his career is over he’s not coming back to Kansas City.”
Caller, 610 AM
GH: George’s relationship with Ewing Kauffman wasn’t always pristine. I remember #5 talking about how great it would be to maybe end his career playing in Toronto’s sold-out Sky Dome shortly after it opened. It is my belief wife Leslie is the most important reason the greatest player to ever wear Kansas City on his chest remains a local.

“Tony Gonzalez flipped his lid when he wasn’t dealt at this (2008) trade deadline – largely because general manager Carl Peterson was asking for a second-round pick in exchange. Gonzalez blamed Peterson for being greedy and unrealistic.”
Charles Robinson, writer, yahoosports.com

“Gonzalez felt a third rounder for a 32-year-old tight end in the twilight of his career was more than enough to make a deal happen, but instead Tony will remain a Chief.”
Bill Pollock, writer, after Carl Peterson failed to accept Green Bay’s offer of a third-round pick last season, Missourinet.com
GH: Looks like King Carl was right to hold out for a second rounder. Gonzo is more valuable than even he knew.

“I think (the Gonzalez trade) opens (the draft up) for the Chiefs. I think Crabtree is a guy the Chiefs might look at now. Crabtree is the only receiver you’d look at in the number-three spot. Maclin is a nice receiver but he’s a long way from (Crabtree).”
Jayice Pearson, 810 AM
GH: I would love to see Crabtree wearing an Arrowhead on his helmet but I don’t think he is in Pioli’s plans. Read on.

“Better be smart and they had better be dependable.”
Scott Pioli, on what he is looking for in a draft choice, Kansas City Star

GH: Crabtree scored a 15 on the Wonderlic test. A score of 21 is what an average U.S. citizen is expected to score. That sure doesn’t fit my definition of smart.

“I’ve heard diva, I’ve heard Chad Johnson a little bit. That’s not to say Crabtree is a bad kid, but some teams are starting to get nervous. …Don’t be surprised if Crabtree is suddenly still available at number 10 overall for the 49ers.”
Todd McShay, ESPN
GH: Crabtree is the second-coming of Ocho Cinco? Pass…I mean RUN!

"I was at the premiere of this professional wrestling documentary that will be appearing on Metro Sports. In the 50's, Grigsby use to announce wrestling. I was talking to him when a fan came up and of course asked about the Tony Gonzalez trade.  Grigs went off.  He started yelling about the Chiefs making Tony millions of dollars and he was unappreciative. He said he was just as bad as Larry Johnson and he was glad to see him go. I was just stunned that someone I assume is still on the Chiefs payroll would make those comments in public. But it was very entertaining. And before you ask.....no I didn't smell liquor on his breath. LOL. "
Rick, KCC reader
GH: Rick, get that sniffer of yours checked pronto!

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Brace yourselves: Mock drafts, three-hour pre-draft radio shows

Posted 4-21-09

“I disagree (with those who think Aaron Curry is the best draft pick for the Chiefs). They brought (Mike) Vrabel in for his leadership. They don’t need some young jock coming in stirring things up.”
Eddie Kennison, former Chiefs wide receiver, 810 AM

“I would say finding a middle linebacker high in the draft is like a wide receiver taking the Wonderlic test. Not good.”
Eddie Kennison, former Chiefs
GH: Kennison was a guest of Soren Petro’s Tuesday and he made some interesting and entertaining comments. His sense of humor and willingness to be bold with his comments were refreshing.

“I’m stoked about this draft! If you’re a Chiefs fan, we’re going in there with Moneymaker at the table.”
Mitch Holthus, 810 AM
GH: Holthus is referring to Scott Pioli as the Chris Moneymaker of the NFL draft table. It will be fun to watch how Pioli handles his first draft w/o the great Hoodie-ni.

“Because Pioli was in New England, I think the Chiefs will be paid a lot more attention to at the draft. They’ll have somebody assigned to the Chiefs.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: I doubt the Chiefs are going to garner any more attention from the ESPN cameras than usual. We’re still a 2-14 team with rookie management -- not too sexy.

“My draft board…I feel like such a giant doofus with those words coming out of my mouth! It’s another thing when we impersonate Bill Polian and we’re nearing 40. I feel like a DB with those words coming out of my mouth.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: By “DB,” Soren did not mean defensive back.

“We’ll have three hours of pre-draft coverage.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, promoting their noon to 6 PM draft coverage on Saturday, 610 AM
PS: The NFL draft itself is mind-numbingly slow. Three hours of pre-draft coverage may put me into an irreversible coma.

“It’s become popular to bash mock drafts and write that they are so inaccurate. Sure, it’s easier to write that than to put one together yourself.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: It is hard for me to not think of Z-man at this time of year. Z-man was the former afternoon sports talk host on 1510 AM that predated even KK. He loved mock drafts like King Carl loved bad draft picks. I think of Z-man every NFL draft and every time I visit Oklahoma Joe’s.

“Wide receiver is one position where you can really avoid contact. So they all have got big fat mouths because they don’t have to go in there and hit anybody.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Soren whiffed on this one. When ESPN replays their ‘Jacked Up!” hits montage on Monday nights, it is the receivers who almost always star as the players who are getting jacked up. No position leaves an NFL player more exposed to vicious, dead-run, head-on hits than that of a wide out. Those receivers who attempt to avoid contact are not around the league long enough to notice.

“I can’t see throwing down $30 million guaranteed for a guy who at this point in his career has never gotten to the quarterback. …It all starts with the quarterback – either getting him or protecting him.”
Soren Petro, who prefers drafting an offensive lineman in the three spot instead of Curry, 810 AM

“There isn’t a reporter in this town who has inside information about what Scott Pioli and Todd Haley plan to do (in the NFL draft).
Jack Harry, KSHB 41
GH: Probably not, but what appears to be different this year is that the national media are just as out of the loop as the locals when it comes to the Chiefs. Scoops about Pioli’s Chiefs will be well earned.

“Some people have (Josh Freeman) on the board above (Mark) Sanchez or (Matthew) Stafford – and that’s legit.”
Charles Davis, draft analyst for NFL Network, 610 AM

“I think Josh Freeman has a good chance of being that last player in the green room. If I’m not a lock for one of the top five picks, there’s not a chance in hell I’m showing up for this thing.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM

“Have we ever had three area football players drafted in the first round? Because I think we’re about to.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: I didn’t catch the three local college players KK was promoting but I’ll guess they are Freeman, Maclin and Chase Coffman. Maclin is a lock. Freeman is iffy but a possibility. Coffman is a long shot. Great hands and effort but who drafts a tight end in the first round?

“Listen, steroids work. If they didn’t work, I wouldn’t have taken them. …I spent four years in Green Bay and never had a sober day. I moved back to Michigan and drank and drugged for three more years. …I absolutely hated myself.”
Tony Mandarich, ESPN
GH: ESPN’s Outside the Lines featured Mandarich in a story that profiled his drug use and failure in the NFL. It is the kind of insight fans now expect from the media that covers their heroes. It is shocking, it is depressing, it is why you and I question almost everything we see and hear.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Firestarter Farnsworth, Nippon Nun team up to blow another one

Posted 4-20-09

“It was certainly more of a defensive letdown in my eyes than it was a letdown out of the bullpen.”
Trey Hillman, after Kyle Farnsworth increased his ERA to 18.9 by giving up a walk-off homer on his second pitch, 980 AM
GH: The Nippon Nun strikes again. Sure, Farnsworth is a joke but at least he’s consistent. Nippy wants to blame the defense instead of his decision to roll out the Hoser –Farnsworth’s version of a new bullpen position; a pitcher adept at closing a game by giving up a game-winning homer.

“I would like to observe that I believe our manager, as a bench coach, is about as well-skilled as Mike Jacobs is at first base.”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: Speaking of that poor late-game defense – whose job is it to hide Jacobs under the crate of sunflower seeds after the seventh inning? Oh yeah, Nippy is in charge of that decision as well.

“When criticizing a manager, it’s always best to keep in mind that the guy getting paid for the decisions is working with information the rest of us don’t have, sometimes facts that would change our minds, and other times hunches and feelings and educated guesses built on access available only to the guys in the clubhouse. All that said, this one’s hard to understand.”
Sam Mellinger, KC Star sportswriter, Kansascity.com
GH: Here is the info that we all had going into the ninth: Texas eats fastball pitchers out of the pen like Pork Chop eats yammer fries and pies. 2) Hoser’s 97-mph fastball moves about as much as Pork Chop after consuming said yammer fries and pies. 3) Every man, woman and child knew Hoser would choke – again. The definition of ignorance is repeating an act and expecting a different outcome. Nippy appears determined to prove Hoser is worth his $9-million invoice – no matter how much he costs his team.

"Farn the luck"
Headline, Kansas City Star's Sports Daily
GH: The Star's Sports Daily  has some good young talent writing for them in guys like Sam Mellinger, Jeffrey Martin and Kent Babb. But I fear there have been one-too-many layoffs when it comes to the quality of their headlines of late. What was once a strength of the section has deteriorated into a distraction.

“There's nothing you can do when someone is pitching like that. …If everybody I pitch against pitches like that guy tonight, it's either going to be frustrating or a bunch of no decisions. You've got to tip your cap sometimes.”
Kevin Millwood, Texas Rangers’ pitcher, on Greinke’s shutout, Dallas Morning News
GH: Sure glad Greinke didn’t follow through with that desire to become an outfielder a few years back. This guy could be Maddox good. This guy could be 300-wins good. Oh, gods of baseball, please let it be so!

“Yeah, the news about Gordon sucks any way you look at it – when the guy who I labeled the single most important player in determining the Royals’ playoff hopes goes out for half a season, there’s no way to spin that as a positive. But it’s not the end of the world either.”
Rany Jazayerli, ranyontheroyals.com
GH: I am going to officially place A-God in the “bust” category. I think he may need to change teams if he ever hopes to achieve his potential.

“At least have some explanation for why he played as poorly as he did in the season’s first week. …it’s a relief of sorts to know that something really was wrong with him.”
Rany Jazayerli, ranyontheroyals.com
GH: Yeah, that’s what I want to believe, too. I just ain’t gonna fool myself anymore thinking it’s going to happen here for Gordon.

“What a play! What a play! …That (throw) could have gone a lot of places.”
Frank White, on Alberto Callaspo’s web-gem dive, snare, log-roll and hook-shot toss of the grounder in Texas Saturday night, Royals TV
GH: I have seen a LOT of baseball at every level in my 54 years. I am always amazed when something occurs inside the diamond that I have yet to witness. Callaspo’s incredibly spontaneous and magical feat was one such event.

“That was like a Harlem Globetrotters’ play!”
Ryan Lefebvre, on Callaspo’s web gem, Royals TV
GH: The Beav is still around, in now his 11th season with the Royals. I like him much better on television than I do radio. He understands the analyst is the show and makes himself fairly inconspicuous. He just strikes me as one of the last guys you’d want to get trapped in a cab with – unless you’re into discussing pitch counts and Dodgers trivia.

“I think there are a lot of Royals fans who are jaded because so many bad things have happened in the past 24 years.”
Jason Anderson, 810 AM
GH: Some say jaded, others might say numb, comatose or are now Cardinals fans.

Don’t be ashamed to be a Royals fan. The way they are playing now there’s certainly a reason to be prideful.”
Jason Anderson, 810 AM
GH: You stick with your team no matter what. Bitch, cry, complain, get pissed off – but if you’re a Royals fan, you wear your KC hat and root for the home team every night – win, lose or Farnsworth.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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These folks not so optimistic about this year's Royals

Posted 4-18-09

Today’s OTC looks at some comments that view the Royals’ glass as half-empty. Kind of like Dan Glass’ noggin.

“Hey, you guys who say we’re too negative about the Royals – bite me! Take a flying bite out of my right cheek! This organization has been a loser every year since 1994 save for one year. If you haven’t been negative about the Royals, you’re an apologist. So, I’m sorry if reality is a kick to the groin for you.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Taking a bite out of a hairy buttocks and a kick to the groin. Sounds like summer with the Royals for the past 20 years.

“(Trey Hillman) is just so sensitive to any criticism. You cannot be that way! That’s what your job is (to be second guessed). The guy’s got to get used to it. He really does!”
Jack Harry, 810 AM
GH: I agree with Mad Jack’s take on the Nippon Nun. The media and fans don’t politely bow here before and after asking questions…and Jason Whitlock is not a Sumo wrestler.

“I tell you, this thing is gonna be over by the Fourth of July and Trey Hillman’s gonna have sparklers in his hand.”
Caller, predicting another failed season for the Royals, 610 AM

“You might need to take three or four ibuprofen before listening to Trey Hillman because you might want your mind clear. And he might give you a headache listening to him.”
Danny Clinkscale, prefacing sound of Hillman discussing his thought process for Monday’s lineup, 810 AM

“If Mark Teahen bats third for the Royals, they are never going to get to go where they want to go…and that is no knock on Mark Teahen.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: KK’s statement is one I can concur with…except the one where he says this is no knock on Teahen. It is, but so what? Teahen is a nice utility player with average hitting skills and little power.  

“The concern for me with the Royals is defensively. I counted 10 plays over the weekend (series with the Yankees) that should have been made.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM

“There are still a lot of things going on with this ball team that 40 games in spring training didn’t iron out.”
Brian McRae, 810 AM
GH: There are still a lot of things with this ball club that two seasons and two managers haven’t ironed out! The Royals have two quality starters, a great closer, Coco Crisp and David DeJesus. Everybody else is maybe, kinda, sorta.  

“Most of the scouts I talk to think he’s absolutely not suited to pitch in the American League. They don’t think he’ll be successful for the Royals.”
Buster Olney, MLB writer for ESPN.com, on Royals lefty Horatio Ramirez, who had a 9.00 ERA this spring, 810 AM

“I know how respected our baseball people are within the industry, and they’re in Kansas City to get this thing done. To hear fans or people in the media act like nobody knows what they’re doing is just mind-boggling to me.”
Dayton Moore, Royals GM, Kansas City Star
GH: Dayton, you don’t pay Farnsworth $9 million for two years and then watch him implode twice in two weeks and not expect some cocked heads looking back at you. Winning changes being second-guessed. Until then, get used to walking around with a boggled mind.

“If we don’t get (in the playoffs), then in our eyes we had a failed season. It’s not a matter of, ‘Let’s just get better and try to play .500 baseball.’ That’s not even close to where we want to be. Who cares what our record is? Our goal is the playoffs.”
John Buck, Royals catcher, Kansas City Star
GH: I had to drop some positive Royals vibe into this discussion. Nothing I’d like better than to watch/listen/dream about meaningful Royals games in September.

(Email greghall24@yahoo.com)

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Chris & Cowboy already doing what they said they would not

Posted 4-17-09

“The problem is that they (the Chiefs) called Will Franklin into a meeting and they told him he was a marked man because he was one of Herm Edwards’ guys. And that they were going to be all over him! It got so bad that Will Franklin asked for his release. The Chiefs did not release him voluntarily. Will Franklin asked for his release!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: I heard Chris and Cowboy discussing this “story” during their first hour of their Thursday show. It sounded like hokey, KK-like sensationalism to me. I tuned them out and was amazed that they were still repeating themselves when I tuned back in hours later. Read on.

“The first thing that Haley said to (Franklin) was, ‘You’re a marked man because you’re a Herm Edwards guy! And I’m going to ride you!’”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: How does Hamblin know what the first thing Haley said to Franklin? Comments like this just add to the stench of this kind of reporting.

“I just have a problem with him treating a human being this way!”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: How about how Neal Jones was treated? You remember Neal, don’t you guys? Your coworker? The guy whose name you can no longer mention on air?

“To me he was completely disrespected by Todd Haley. He’s a human being!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Will Franklin was a fourth-round pick in 2008. He produced almost nothing of note last season. It looks to me that Haley was giving him a chance to step up his game or be cut. That’s more than most radio, newspaper or TV people get when they get canned by the boss.

“It was above and beyond regular coaching and criticism that pushed (Franklin) to this point.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: Exactly what is the definition of “above regular coaching and criticism?” Have these two ever witnessed Gunther Cunningham coaching his players? Many would consider Gun’s style to fit that description. But you will be hard-pressed to find a coach more loved by his players.

“I think you guys are making a big thing out of nothing.”
Caller Ted, 610 AM
GH: Finally, a caller with a reasonable viewpoint called into Chris and Cowboy’s show. I was stunned by the hosts’ treatment of his dissenting opinion. Read on.

“Hey Ted! I’m gonna hang up on you if you don’t have a take!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Cowboy’s response was immediate. Ted had barely gotten his words out of his mouth and he was being threatened with a hang up. A very classy way to start your radio career in prime time. Can we get these two binkies and bibs to go with their egos?

“If you want to react to the story, we’ll let you!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, instructing Caller Ted to conform or be forlorn, 610 AM
GH: Ted never raised his voice to match the hysteria coming from Cowboy. You could hear the caller shrug his shoulders as he calmly answered the host…

“If you want to hang up on me, go right ahead. If that’s how you want to run your show. Do it…”
Caller Ted, before being abruptly disconnected, 610 AM

“Ted, I gave you a shot! I gave you a chance!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, after hanging up on Ted, 610 AM
GH: Let’s hope Cowboy’s listeners give his new, extremely rough radio show more of a chance than Ted received.

“Awesome!”
Chris Hamblin, in response to his co-host disconnecting Caller Ted, 610 AM
GH: Does Hamblin have any original thoughts or is he simply Cowboy’s mare?

“Ted is the number-one seed in the D-Bag tournament next year!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: I am sure Ted is devastated to learn of this seeding. If Chris’ and Cowboy’s plan is to quickly hang up on callers who disagree with them (and that is all Ted did), their show is going to be one to avoid. I could not believe how petty they sounded and reacted. Very disappointing. 

“We’ve had other players tell us they can’t stand (Haley)! He’s a complete jerk!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Cowboy obviously knows what being a complete jerk consists of.

“We’ve been told by players on this (Chiefs) team that won’t go on record because this is their boss. They’ve said, ‘Look, we really like Scott Pioli but we really can’t stand Todd Haley.’ The term jerk has been used, the term A-hole. And they didn’t say A-hole! So this is just not an isolated incident with Will Franklin! Yeah, that’s me blowing it out of proportion! This seems to be a pattern!”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Let’s hope the pattern set this day is not that these two afternoon rookies are going to be as insufferable as the competition they swore to not emulate. Remember that, boys? Read on.

“It’s not about trying to act like the sky is falling or sensationalist journalism or trying to overplay stories or over-hype them. …Not just throw stuff out there and see if it sticks. There won’t be sensationalism. There won’t be any trying to make stories bigger than they are.”
Cory Anderson, last week as he described the direction of his new show to listeners, 610 AM

“I think the reputation Todd Haley had is known throughout the league. There have been blowups (with players) behind the scenes that have been well documented and that people know about. ”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: Does Hamblin know the definition of “well documented?” Where is the documentation of these blowups? The five-second clips of him arguing with Bolden and Warner during a game? What a KK-like farce.

“You know, if Haley wanted to man up, he would have said, ‘Get rid of Brian Waters.’”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: What would a couple of guys who hung up on a dissenting caller know about “manning up?”

“I think we are blowing this kind of out of proportion. We’re only hearing one side of this story.”
Caller, 610 AM
GH: This caller, later in the hour, was at least allowed to have his say. Maybe there is someone in that studio who recognized these two need a nanny.

“I don’t think coming in five pounds overweight shows arrogance on Will Franklin’s part.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: It sure doesn’t show intelligence.

“I think it came down to Todd Haley wanted to make an example about a guy. He’s a hypocrite in saying everybody has a clean slate and then telling Will Franklin he’s a marked man.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: A hypocrite. Do I need to re-post the comments Cowboy made about KK’s show again?

“I will ask (Haley) Saturday when I’m out there (about Will Franklin) but I can already tell you what that answer will be.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Be sure to mention you think he’s a hypocrite, Pistol Pete.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

 

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Glass half full: An optimistic view of this year's Royals

Posted 4-17-09

The Royals sat atop the AL Central with a 5-4 record on Thursday as they traveled to Texas. There is both optimism and pessimism for the 2009 Boys in Blue seeping from different sources of the media. Below is a look at those in the optimism camp. Tomorrow we’ll look at those who have a darker view after the season’s first fortnight.

“This is just the Kansas City Royals saying we’re done with all of this crud. We’re tired of rolling over to these supposedly better teams in the division. And I believe it this year.”
Mike Mcfarlane, on the Royals new attitude and winning record, 810 AM
GH: Mac’s last comment caused me to pause. We have believed that the Royals were ready to make this leap many times in the past two decades – only to be made to look foolish again and again and... Does Mac really believe this is the year or is the fact his business partner, Kevin Seitzer, is the new hitting coach clouding his manure detector?

BTW: My favorite quote about Macfarlane came from Al Fitzmorris many years ago on a local radio talk show. A caller told Fitz that Macfarlane, the Royals catcher at the time, reminded him of his car. Without missing a beat, Fitz responded by saying, “Why? Does it run real slow and pull to the left?”

BTW2: Fitz turned 63 in March. I think we can all agree it’s time for him to get a haircut. That homeless Vietnam vet look he’s got going is starting to scare people.

“(The Royals) are no longer pushovers. Not with Joaqiun Soria closing.”
Steve Berthiaume, Baseball Tonight host, ESPN
GH: The Mexicutioner is the Royals first honest-to-goodness superstar since, since, well…dare I say Bo Jackson? Damon, Beltran and Dye were/are great players but none emerged from their cocoon until after they shed their Royals caterpillar gear. Soria could be the best closer in baseball right now while wearing Royals blue.

“Best new nickname to emerge this season is the ‘Mexicutioner’ one given to Kansas City closer Joakim Soria, which thankfully so far has escaped persecution by political correctness fanatics.”
Reid Cherner & Tom Weir, USA Today
GH: Even the Royals have embraced the Mexicutioner nickname this season by scrolling it across the jumbotron as Soria strolls in from the bullpen. If you have not been inside The K to witness Soria’s ninth-inning performance and the fan reaction that accompanies it, you need to make it one of this summer’s top destinations. Southwest Blvd., Independence Ave. and KCK should be creating Mexicutioner Towns to celebrate our Pele of pitchers.

“There were about five or six years year where every time they (The Royals) played a baseball game, they hoped they’d win and they hoped they didn’t blow it. Every time you walk out onto the field you gotta feel like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna win this thing!’ And I think that’s what I see (with this Royals team).”
George Brett, 810 AM
GH: Brett referred to the Royals – our Royals and his Royals – as “they” five times in one sentence. Let’s hope “they” impress #5 enough this season to awake the echoes and for him to once again think as “we.”

“I think the additions of Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs (are positives). …It’s the attitude that they bring to the ball park every day. Mike Jacobs is a really, really good leader in the clubhouse and a good leader in the dugout. Coco Crisp is the same.”
George Brett, 810 AM
GH: It speaks volumes that Brett chooses two players who are new to the team in 2009 to designate at the team leaders. Despite their tenure with the team, Buck, Teahen and DeJesus, have yet to develop into the clubhouse captain that so many winning teams rely on for direction. 

“And I think (leadership) is one thing this team has really lacked. No one ever felt like they were good enough to step up and be THE guy. Good teams have those guys. And Mike Jacobs and Coco Crisp are going to be real big in that leadership role with this ball club.”
George Brett, 810 AM

“It seems like Mike Jacobs is our new go-to guy (for the media). He seems always willing to talk.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: I may never get comfortable with Jacobs’ weird beard. It looks very Oakland A’s-ish to me.

“These are the first words I ever heard Mike Jacobs say, ‘Blankety, blank media! Don’t they ever get enough!’ I thought, ‘Oh God, he’s going to be a peach of a guy to work with.’ But he’s been great.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“With Zack (Greinke), he has such an array of pitches that I don’t think you can stick down a wrong finger.”
Mike McFarlane, 810 AM
GH: Greinke is reason number two to head out to The K this summer. He is learning how to win even when he doesn’t have his good stuff – and that should scare the hell out of the rest of the AL.

“They are going over two million (in attendance) if they win this year. I’ll make that bet in a heartbeat.”
Danny Clinkscale, on the Royals 2009 season at the renovated K, 810 AM
GH: I would bet the Royals will be disappointed in anything under 2.25 million this season. The renovated stadium should being in at least an extra 500,000 the first summer.

“This team could really find themselves in contention in this (AL Central) division. If you are a Royals fan who was pessimistic, you should now be optimistic. There’s no reason to think they can’t do it now.”
Cowboy Cory Anderson, spouting unbridled optimism after nine games, 610 AM
GH: Hold your horse there, cowboy. There are plenty of reasons to be cautious about this version of the hometown nine. We will discuss those in my next OTC.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Josh Freeman: Much media speculation about where he'll go in draft

Posted 4-16-09

“Josh Freeman is a polarizing figure, man. Some people think he is the best quarterback in this draft class and others say they wouldn’t take him in the third-round. Nobody’s got a good read on him and I’m one of those people who doesn’t have a read on him. I have no idea if Josh Freeman is going to be a Pro Bowler or a bust.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Freeman has been creating drama in the Kansas City sports scene since his days at Grandview High. He endeared himself to K-State fans and infuriated Husker Nation when he dumped Nebraska for Ron Prince. He throttled Texas twice as a Wildcat but never could beat KU, MU or NU. Is he a stud or soft? Are his physical tools enough to make up for his tendency to turn the ball over? Everyone has an opinion. Read on.

“Kansas State's Josh Freeman continues to generate a buzz (at the NFL Combine). Not only did he run well and jump out of the stadium on his broad jump of 9’11, but he was every bit as big as expected measuring close to 6’6 and 248 pounds.”
Michael Conroy, NFL writer, at the NFL Combine, AP

“I think (Josh Freeman) would be a great local story. But I would probably take him maybe in the fourth or fifth round. ...Nothing against Josh Freeman, but big quarterbacks just aren’t working in the NFL anymore.”
Tim Grunhard, 810 AM

“I think the biggest buzz of the whole combine is what you saw of Josh Freeman.”
Danan Hughes, who said Freeman did nothing to hurt his chances of being the third quarterback drafted, 610 AM

“In short, the (NFL) scouts are saying he’s going to be a project, although Freeman thinks he’s going to be a top-three (QB) guy.”
Jack Harry, KSBH 41

“I think Peter King is nuts saying (Freeman) will be there in the third round.”
Steven St. John, on the SI writer saying he thinks Freeman will be available in the third round, 810 AM

“The only other quarterback selected to share the green room with (Josh Freeman) this year will be matt Stafford out of Georgia.”
Erin Bajackson, Metro Sports
GH: I would be surprised to see Freeman go in the first round. A green-room invitation is a very good sign for Freeman’s draft chances -- but his wait in that hot seat could prove to be long and uncomfortable.

“I didn’t get invited. I’m fine with it. I’m not tripping off that.”
Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Star
GH: Mike DeArmond of The Star reports that Maclin will watch the draft on television at home. Maclin is almost sure to go before Freeman. Something tells me we’ll see Maclin in that green room come draft day.

“You definitely try to walk out there with good posture with your six-pack showing.”
Jeremy Maclin, on parading in his underwear in front of team executives at the NFL Combine, 610 AM

“Jeremy Maclin is an absolute game-breaker. He will kill you if you give him a cushion.”
Todd McShay, NFL analyst, ESPN

“People ask me what I do best and I tell them, ‘I score touchdowns.’”
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri wide receiver, on what NFL scouts wanted to know about his game, Fox Sports Radio

“Maclin has route-running issues coming out of Missouri. He is not the perfect receiver to throw the ball to. He’ll drop one now and then. But based on everything I hear, he is going in the top 10.”
Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN Radio

“The first seven (picks), not much activity. Eight through 32, lots of activity.”
Mel Kiper, Jr., when asked if he saw much opportunity for teams to move up in the first round, ESPN Radio
GH: I keep thinking Scott Pioli will deal the Chiefs third-pick into multiple picks. Kiper does not appear to agree.

“They need somebody in that (Chiefs’) locker room that is going to step up and be a damn leader! They don’t have that! They don’t have that!”
Tim Grunhard, earlier this off-season, 810 AM
GH: I believe Pioli shared Grunhard’s above opinion. That is why he acquired Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas. For all of Tony Gonzales’ greatness (and he is a first-ballot HOF receiver) he apparently never rose to accept the mantle of team leader.

“(Sam Bradford) is a dope for not coming out (in the 2009 NFL draft).”
Nick Wright, on the Oklahoma QB’s decision to return to college for his junior year, 610 AM
GH: Bradford was a no-doubt first-round draft pick who decided to stay for another season in Norman. His decision makes no monetary sense. I am glad some college kids still base their decisions on something other than monetary sense.

“I think he does a great job catching the ball but when I watch game films, he’s not a guy who stretched the field (with his speed).”
Danan Hughes, former Chiefs receiver, on Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, 610 AM
GH: Hughes is not high on Crabtree. He mentioned that he didn’t see the speed from Crabtree that he thinks the Chiefs desperately need. He said Crabtree would offer nothing the Chiefs don’t already have in Duane Bowe. I think Crabtree is going to be off-the-charts good even as an NFL rookie.

“We heard from several experts who said (Chase Daniel) played himself out of the draft.”
Jeff McCarragher, 610 AM
GH: I cannot recall a college player whose stock fell farther in the span of two months than Mizzou’s Heisman hopeful QB. Is he the player we knew the first three-and-a-half seasons or the struggling passer we saw the last half of 2008? I do not think he’ll get drafted but I think he will make an NFL roster.

“Generally, half the first-round picks (in the NFL draft) are flops. That’s just a fact. You can’t argue with that.”
Gary Pinkel, 810 AM
GH: No argument from us Chiefs fans. We would be ecstatic with a 50% return on our first-round flubs the past decade. I know the Chiefs desperately need an offensive tackle and help at linebacker and rush end  but I would grab Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree with their third pick and worry about drafting fat guys later. Crabtree, one of football’s most exciting receivers since they introduced air into the bladder, will sell about as many #23 jerseys the next five years as His Airness once did.

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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John Buck providing some much-needed punch thus far

Posted 4-15-09

“Everything is magnified early in the season. Your struggles are magnified and your successes are magnified. I’ll ride the wave for as long as it lasts.”
John Buck, on his three home runs and eight RBIs in his two starts, 810 AM
GH: Steven St. John and Nate Bukaty have Buck as a weekly guest on their Border Patrol show this season. His appearance Wednesday morning could not have been more fortuitous for their ratings. Buck was coming off a two-homer, five-RBI night and just happens to be the hottest Royal in the dugout. SSJ and Nate did a nice job of keeping their questions short and letting Buck talk. He said a mouthful and this OTC will cover much of it.

“I think you’ve got to ride the hot hand.”
Frank White, on whether Buck or Miguel Olivo should start at catcher, Royals TV
GH: Olivo was given the starting job in the off-season and Buck took the demotion seriously. He showed up at training camp looking like he’d spent the winter in a phone booth changing from Clark Kent into Superman. Competition is a good thing. In talk radio and sports.

“You gotta remember, I got those two rug rats (at home). One of them was up at 3 AM. They could care less what I did last night. They could care less if we had a ball game or not. It definitely keeps you level-headed because they’ll remind you, ‘Hey, you’re the one who is changing my poop.’”
John Buck, 810 AM
GH: Buck’s wife, Brooke, gave birth to twin boys (Cooper and Brody) last May. Almost a year old, that baby-boy poop Buck is dealing with is no longer the easy-breezy kind of squirt but now the kind of dump that packs a punch – just like daddy’s bat this season.  

“That really wasn’t a toss-your-bat-away kind of home run. It barely made it over the wall.”
Josh Klinger, on Buck immediately flipping his aside after connecting with his grand slam Tuesday night, 610 AM

“That was just pure excitement and adrenaline. The other guys told me they’d never seen me do that. I don’t know what happened. I surprised myself.”
John Buck, attempting to explain his sudden impersonation of his Reggie Jackson-like bat flip, 810 AM

“John Buck is a fan favorite. …You’ve got to think there are a lot of fans pulling for John Buck.”
Ryan Lefebvre, Royals TV
GH: I don’t see Buck as a fan favorite. A nice guy maybe, but far from someone Royals fans have grown to enjoy. His play the past five years has been dismal and his personality is a well-kept secret. Let’s hope all that changes this season. But Buck has had hot stretches in the past that have quickly dissolve into mediocrity.

“It is my opinion that John Buck is the unquestionable leader of this (Royals) team. I believe John Buck is the captain of this ball club from what I observed in spring training.”
Brad Porter, 610 AM
GH: If true, Buck needs to get into the starting lineup if he expects to lead this team. Not many teams are led by a guy on the bench.

“I guess joy’s just coming out (of me). Life experiences happen and you realize what you have – not that I was taking it for granted before. But now I’m enjoying it a little bit more and being less hard on myself, which is enabling me to enjoy what I’m doing a little more.”
John Buck, on why he’s a different player this season, 810 AM

“As much adrenaline as I have, instead of beating myself up, it’s coming out as excitement for my teammates in the ball game. So you’ll probably see a lot more positive approach than what I was doing before.”
John Buck, on why he is more vocal and visibly emotional this season, 810 AM

“I guess I was to a point where I knew I had to make a change or things were not going to turn out the way I wanted to in my career as far as where I wanted it to go. The bad season last year was getting hard on myself. So I figured, ‘What the heck? Let’s sellout (and accept Kevin Seitzer’s hitting philosophy).’”
John Buck, when asked how he decided to make a change in his hitting, 810 AM

“Seitz got the (hitting coach) job and I had worked with him on my own in the past. It was just kind of a blessing that he got the job and I could just work with him on an everyday basis. I really kind of sold out and said, ‘Alright Kevin, I’m gonna sellout on everything you say.’”
John Buck, 810 AM
GH: Buck is Seitzer’s best (and only?) success story in this young season. The Royals’ hitting and offense has been atrocious. Did you watch Alex Gordon whiff three times Tuesday night? There are signs though, that the warmer weather may bring more runs our way. Let’s hope what Buck’s got is contagious.

“You know the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, right? I’ve been calling (Seitzer) Splinter. Because the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles go out and beat up all the bad guys but when the big boys of the bad guys comes out, who comes out (for the Turtles)? Splinter. He just kind of sits in the background, he knows what he’s doing. So whenever anybody sees (Seitzer), I want you to call him Splinter. That’s his new nickname.”
John Buck, 810 AM
GH: Splinter it is, Donatello.

“I think I’m still undefined – which is sorta who I am.”
John Buck, when asked which TNMT he considered himself to be, 810 AM

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Aldrich, Collins coming back; Is Henry on the way?

Posted 4-14-09

“I thought about it and I thought, ‘Why not?’”
Sherron Collins, Fox 4
GH: Collins told Fox 4 that he made up his mind to return to KU while at the Final Four in Detroit.

“My mom was the one who said, ‘Hey, you gotta go back.’”
Cole Aldrich, Fox 4
GH: After much media speculation that Aldrich might opt for the NBA to ease his parent’s financial burden, it turns out mom is the reason he’s staying in Lawrence.

“My mom had bugged me about having a Senior Day the whole year. She gets her Senior Night. I get my degree, and hopefully we’ll get another national championship.”
Sherron Collins, Lawrence Journal World
GH: Get your reservations for Senior Day 2009 in Lawrence. I have a feeling Collins’ farewell might be one that even the Phog lifts for.

“One thing that means a lot to me is that nobody in my immediate family has graduated from a university. That’s huge for me.”
Cole Aldrich, Fox 4
GH: Reread that comment one more time and then tell me Aldrich didn’t just report he’s not just back for his junior season but his senior season as well.

“The thing that was most unique was, neither one wanted any information. I didn’t get any information for either one of them. They said they didn’t need it.”
Bill Self, Lawrence Journal World

“Both (Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich) could leave now and be fine. I think both would be better served if they stayed (at Kansas) one more year.”
Kevin Harlan, NBA play-by-play voice, prior to the announcement, 810 AM

“I think either both come back or neither come back. It won’t be one of them. It will be both or neither.”
Blair Kerkhoff, college sports columnist for the KC Star, prior to the announcement, 810 AM
GH: Kerkhoff had it right. It appears that Collins and Aldrich consulted each other before making their decisions.

The Jayhawks bring back all five starters, assuming Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins don't change their minds and depart. …This team is primed for another deep run with experienced stars in 2010.”
Andy Katz, who picked KU No. 1 in his top 25 for next season, ESPN.com
GH: Who else does Katz like for next season? Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas and Villanova are the familiar names that round out his top 5.

“I’m Jason Lamb in Lawrence, Kansas where the Kansas Jayhawks just became everyone’s favorite to win the National Championship in 2010.”
Jason Lamb, Fox 4
GH: Three local sportscasts opened their reports Monday night with predictions that the Jayhawks are now the favorites to win it all in 2010. Read on.

“(Kansas) should be the odds-on favorite to win next year’s national title.”
Leon Liebl, Channel 41

“Don’t be surprised if nearly every national poll has Kansas as numero uno next year.”
Nick Griffith, Channel 9
GH: North Carolina was able to take this same hype in 2008 and turn it into a national title in 2009. Can the Jayhawks do the same? It sure would be easier with Xavier Henry in the lineup.

“This, to me, paves the way for Xavier Henry (to attend KU).”
Cory Anderson, on the news that Collins and Aldrich will be back at KU, 610 AM

“The facts simply say…(Xavier Henry) ain’t coming to Lawrence. And if you think he is, you are delusional. …BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO PLAY THERE! If he did, he’s had many opportunities to simply choose KU.”
Martin Manley, writer, Kansas City Star
GH: Call me delusional, then. I think he’s coming.

“One challenge I have is Kansas City. Kansas City is a great place but it’s hard to convince people it’s a great place, especially if they aren’t in the raising-a-family stage of their life. …the schools we recruit from are on the coasts, and I can tell you, for people who have never been here, the vision of covered wagons, tumbleweeds and livestock is alive and well.”
Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, Star Magazine
GH: Maybe Hesse needs to hire Bill Self as a consultant. I saved this quote because I so strongly disagree with Hesse’s approach to recruiting. There are fabulous universities on the east and west coasts that churn out graduates with excellent pedigrees. But the best talent in the country happens to be growing under Sprint’s upturned nose. The Big 12 schools and the smaller state schools in our four-state area (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa) produce excellent employees that exhibit character, pride and personality. What Hesse should be concentrating on is not how to get the coasters to come to Kansas City, but how to keep the local crop from waving good-bye.

Email greghall24@yahoo.com

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610 Sports shakes up its lineup in effort to dip into KK's ratings

Posted 4-13-09

Changes at 610

“We’re going to be putting on something different from 2 to 6 that has not been on from 2 to 6 in this market for a long time. We’re gonna try and have a lot more fun. It’s not gonna be stuffy country-club, 45-year-old-white-man radio.”
Cory “Cowboy” Anderson, KCSP’s new co-host on afternoon drive, on being paired opposite of 810’s Kevin Kietzman,610 AM
GH: I found it ironic that Cowboy made this comment on Roger Twibell’s show. Twibell might be the whitest, country clubber to ever speak into a Kansas City sports talk radio microphone. Why wasn’t Twibell in the 610 studio on Monday morning? He was at Augusta National playing a round of golf on maybe the whitest, most exclusive country club in the country.

“We’re going up against the King D-Bag.”
Cory Anderson, on going head-to-head against Kietzman, 610 AM
GH: Anderson and his on-air partner, Chris Hamblin, hosted and promoted a Who’s KC’s Biggest Douche Bag head-to-head tournament on their 610 website that ran concurrently with the NCAA tourney. For weeks, listeners were encouraged to vote for who they believed to be the biggest D-Bag. Kietzman won it in convincing fashion over some notables such as Jack Harry, Mark Funkhouser and Talks at Urinal Guy.

“What I think we can add and 610 can add with this new lineup is a perspective that has not only been disregarded but not even considered for a long time. Far too often the voices and the opinion makers in this town kind of have been in-step with each other. …I think we’ll add something that will be very refreshing to the Kansas City listeners.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: One of WHB’s strategies to win over the local market was to hire TV and newspaper people. This eliminated the opportunity for local criticism from the likes of Jack Harry, Adam Teicher, Len Dawson, Mitch Holthus, Blair Kerkhoff, Dave Stewart, Jason Whitlock, Frank Boal and even Greg Hall. Much of 810’s current on-air talent came from Entercom’s 980 KMBZ. I don’t think Nick, Chris and Cowboy see their opportunities at 610 as a chance to audition for a future job with 810. That could be a very good (and entertaining) thing for the listeners.

“What you’ll also see, especially with us in the afternoons, we understand that we’re kind of the release. Sports talk radio is kind of a release for people in this town. It’s not necessarily all about doom and gloom. It’s about trying to have some fun.”
Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: Fun is not a part of Kietzman’s arsenal. KK’s sense of humor consists of a fake laugh and making fun of Danny Clinkscale when he uses a three-syllable word. But KK hasn’t needed humor or accuracy to beat the living radio knobs off of everyone who has dared to take him on the past decade.

“It’s not about trying to act like the sky is falling or sensationalist journalism or trying to overplay stories or over-hype them. Not turn on the radio have somebody tell you the Chiefs are going to play all of their games on the road. We’ll try to be right. Not just throw stuff out there and see if it sticks. There won’t be sensationalism. There won’t be any trying to make stories bigger than they are.”
Cory Anderson, 610 AM
GH: No one screams, “FIRE!,” like KK. But what 610’s boys club may want to ponder is that Kietzman’s Jerry Springer act has allowed Union Broadcasting to grow from nothing to a major player in local radio. Here is the scary question – is KK’s Chicken Little act what the KC sports talk audience craves?

“Or that Mike Shanahan is the next coach of the Chiefs. Gary Patterson is not the coach at Kansas State. Mike Anderson is staying at Missouri – he didn’t take the job at Memphis.”
Chris Hamblin, reciting some of KK’s recent fire-starter comments, 610 AM

“Wait! I’m a little of a sensationalist!”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Wright’s move to mid-mornings was necessitated by the Royals broadcasts taking up the next five months of evenings. I’m not sure he’ll be any better known in October than he is now. A two-hour gig while most people are on the clock may require some sensationalistic headlines to get listeners to notice.

“We have an obligation to help the overall public perception of our sports figures.”
Nick Wright, the new 9 am to 11 am host on 610 AM
GH: Wright has a tendency at times to speak a large quantity of words without saying much. I am not sure what he meant by his above statement. The last obligation on a sports journalist’s plate should be improving the public’s perception of our sports figures.  If Nick thinks he’s in the PR business for the Chiefs and Royals, he will find himself leading a very short parade.

“I know a lot of you guys that listen to the show have been waiting for something like this to happen. So here it is.”
Chris Hamblin, on his and Cowboy’s move to afternoon drive, 610 AM
GH: True competition in KC’s sports media died once Don Fortune surrendered to KK in 2001 and then again when Jason Whitlock stomped away from his afternoon-drive slot on 610 in late March of 2005. Few members of the local media were as comfortable as KK and Pork Chop when it came to attacking their competition. Oh, plenty of them would like to tell KK what they think, but most of them now work for him. It will be interesting to see if the young guns at 610 come out firing at KK or their own feet.

“This has been a strange journey for Cowboy and I. We started off at night because I just couldn’t handle the show on my own. (Management) was like, these guys argue all the time in the newsroom so it sounded like a good idea to put them on together.”
Chris Hamblin, 610 AM
GH: That sounds like a perfect example of how not to program your radio station. If Chris and Cowboy think Kietzman is easy pickings, they need to consult their history books. Nothing gets KK’s juices flowing like competition (or maybe a late-night drive through Mission Hills). This challenge from 610 just might be what KK’s show needs to jolt it from its comfort zone and take some overdo risks.

“Some big news coming from 610 today? Are they going to announce they have found their listener?”
Reader Van, kcconfidential.com

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Opening Day at the New K

Posted 4-12-09

“The lines for the men’s bathrooms were crazy long. It looks like we’ve traded one problem for another.”
Male caller, after opening day at The New K, 810 AM
GH: In the middle of the fourth inning of the home opener I headed into the upper concourse area to use the restroom. I was stunned to see a line of more than 50 males lining the wall, awaiting their turn at the urn. In contrast, the women’s restroom next door looked abandoned.

“What I want to say is, ‘Guys, welcome to my world.’”
Caller Deborah, on the long lines at the men’s restrooms, 810 AM

“Tons of girls were taking pictures of the guys standing in line for the men’s restroom.”
Female caller, 810 AM

“It was really bad. At one point some guys took over a women’s bathroom and were waving guys over to use it.”
Male Caller, 810 AM
GH: A caller remarked that due to building codes, stadiums now have to have an equal number of women’s restrooms and men’s restrooms. This makes almost as much sense as Title 9. Sports stadiums might need to revisit the unisex bathroom idea that debuted with the Ally McBeal TV show.  Either that or those fountains are going to start looking very inviting to the guys sitting in those outfield seats.

“The one thing I didn’t want to hear on opening day was, ‘I couldn’t take a leak.’ That’s disappointing to me.”
Todd Leabo, 810 AM
GH: The one thing I didn’t want to hear on opening day was, ‘And the starting pitcher for your Kansas City Royals, Sidney Ponson!’ But everybody has their points of emphasis. What I found disappointing was that 810 staffed their postgame show with two guys, Leabo and Danny Clinkscale, who were not at The K for the opening day game. They found themselves unable to respond to the many postgame calls from fans who had attended the game and made comments about their experience at the renovated stadium.

“You know what I say about the scoreboard problems? ‘No excuses!’ That’s the same scoreboard you had out there last year. It’s opening day! No excuses!”
Caller, 810 AM
GH: The video board flashed a message in the early innings that they were experiencing technical problems in displaying statistical information. Glitches happen, especially when you’re dealing with technology. But many Royals fans have had it with excuses, even from the scoreboard operator.

“(Kyle Farnsworth) got booed A LOT in the pregame introductions.”
Robert Ford, 610 AM
GH: I don’t think I have ever been more proud of a Kansas City Royals crowd. When Farnsworth stepped forward and doffed his cap prior to the game, boos rained down on him as if he were the love child of Lynn Elliot and Carl Peterson. I am not an advocate of boo birds, but for decades Royals fans have been correctly portrayed as suburban yokels more interested in mustard out racing ketchup between innings than the franchise, the team and the game. This baseball-savvy opening-day crowd knew exactly who Farnsworth was, how much the Royals paid to get him and that he was the guy who gave up the three-run dong to Jim Thome to ruin Gil Meche’s opening day win. It is exactly how a baseball town like Boston or St. Louis would treat the underperforming and overpaid new guy. Farnsworth got the message. He mowed down the Yankees in the seventh with three consecutive strikeouts. Tough love works.

“We just brought in a lot of brown-looking sod in the middle of March and with a little of fertilizer and a little attention we were able to get it to green up.”
Trevor Vance, head groundskeeper at Kauffman Stadium, 710 AM
GH: The K’s grass is always stunning. Thick, green, it almost shimmers on HD television. Why oh why, just a parking lot away, does the sod inside Arrowhead always look as sparse and patchy as the top of my head? Maybe the Chiefs can draft a groundskeeper in the seventh round.

“Just because (the Royals) are improving doesn’t mean their win total will improve. This team could be better. This team could improve. And they still could win just the same number of games as last year. You cannot judge this team just on wins and losses. I have them going from 76 wins to 73 wins.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: I’m not a big proponent of the, we’re-better-but-you-just-can’t-tell-by-our-record kind of thinking. You’re almost always as good or bad as your record.

“From what I understand they have expanded the number of writers (The K’s press box can accommodate) even though the number of writers continues to shrink. Meanwhile, broadcasting is exploding and we’ve got a shoe closet.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: Soren has a scoop if he thinks broadcasting is “exploding.” There is only one place where the media numbers are exploding and that is on Mr. Gore’s World Wide Web. A year or two from now that closet might be just the right size for all the newspaper, radio and TV journalists covering the Royals.

“What use is it to have the world’s biggest HD TV but they show you no replays?”
Caller, complaining that replays at The K are reserved only for non-controversial plays that show the Royals in a positive light, 810 AM
GH: This is maddening to me. Always has been and always will be. It appears to me Kansas City is the worst offender in MLB of not showing their in-stadium fans replays. Mike Jacobs stabs a hot grounder in the first inning that scores two and is scored a hit. No replay. Another scorching one-hopper gets past Mike Aviles at short. No replay. A close call at second base on a pick-off move. No replay. Willie Bloomquist runs a post-corner pattern Saturday night in search of a catchable fly ball and, you guessed it, no replay. Renovating The K, $350 million. Parking at The K, $9. Royals’ game-day ticket, $15. A bottle of beer, $7.25. Replays on the jumbotron, priceless.

“Hey, these guys make a lot of money. If they make an error, it’s okay if it’s up there (on the video board).”
Todd Leabo, 810 AM

“Those are not controversial plays, those are just plays. … It is ridiculous. Ridiculous.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM

“I’d do it anyway! I’d still turn down the TV and listen to the radio!”
Nick Wright, to a caller who informed him that the radio broadcast is typically six to nine seconds ahead of the HD telecast, 610 AM
GH: Those days are gone. I use to love the option of tuning in the local radio broadcast instead of the TV network guys but now with DVR and pause-mode, I am rarely even watching the game as it happens.

"They had a big sale at Wal-Mart on green and yellow jackets."
Unnamed Usher at The K, when asked why the Kauffman Stadium personnel were all decked out in green and yellow outfits
GH: I understand that the color scheme is to make it easier for fans to spot an usher -- but did they have to dress them like Green Bay Packer fans? Ghastly!

“A huge (opening day) crowd but boy, they are very quiet.”
Denny Matthews, as the Yankees held a 4-1 lead in the 5th, Royals Radio
GH: This was a very boring opener. The Yankees jumped out to a quick lead and the Royals looked inept at the plate. You can only cheer a ball park for so long.

“Does CC Sabathia get credit for a whole win or a half of a win, since it was against the Royals?”
Saturday evening host, Fox Sports Radio
GH: I didn’t catch the host’s name but the national media is already taking shots at the 2009 Royals. What hurt most was that after five games of no offense and very little defense, we might deserve it.
­­­­_________
Here’s a link to a new Royals book, 2009 Annual Royals Authority, by Craig Brown and Clark Fosler that every hardcore Royals fan will enjoy as they follow the Boys in Blue throughout the summer.

http://royalsauthority.com/2009/03/royals-authority-2009-annual-is-now-on-sale.html

The Annual is meant to be a companion for Royals fans throughout the year... Something to keep by the TV to break out while watching a game or when they hear about a minor leaguer suddenly on a tear who got promoted to Double-A.  It's for sale exclusively on line at:

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback_book/royals_authority_2009_annual/5614087

Greghall24@yahoo.com

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Some reaction to the Chiefs new front office attitude

Posted 4-9-09

“The days of ‘warm and fuzzy’ at Arrowhead are over.”
Eric Hicks, former Chiefs’ defensive end, commenting on Todd Haley and Scott Pioli as the Chiefs new head coach and GM, 810 AM
GH: The local media is abuzz with talk that Pioli and Haley have dug a moat around Arrowhead and instituted a bunker mentality when it comes to information and player access.

“If anything, I think they’d like a whizzing match with the media.”
Soren Petro, on the new Chiefs management, 810 AM
GH: If anything, I don’t think they give a hoot about the media – which to me is a refreshing change from the Carl Peterson years.

“It’s almost like they wants to shock the players -- because in the end you gotta deal with the players.”
Herm Edwards, on why NFL teams will choose to hire head coaches that are polar opposites of the outgoing coach, 810 AM
GH: I don’t think it has anything to do with shocking players. I believe it has to do with trying to win football games – preferably more than four or two per season.

“I just never bought into a ‘player’s coach.’ I didn’t want the head coach to be my friend. If a guy can go in there and feel totally comfortable around his head coach, I don’t think you have his complete attention. When I played for Lou Holtz I was never comfortable. Ever! I’m still not comfortable around him.”
Tim Grunhard, 810 AM
GH: Grunhard also related a story about when he and his wife closed on their first home here in Kansas City. Marty Schottenheimer said to him, “Are you sure you want to do that? You might not be here that long.” Grunhard never forgot that your income is never safe as a player in the NFL. Just ask LJ.

“He thanked me for getting the (Chiefs) organization headed in this direction.”
Herm Edwards, when asked what Clark Hunt said to him when he was fired, 810 AM
GH: Edwards made this statement during an interview with Kevin Kietzman. Why KK didn’t asked Herm, ‘What direction would that be, reverse?’ We will never know.

“I’ve got serious questions about Todd Haley. I will not be surprised at all if 18 months from now you and I are sitting here talking about the firing of Todd Haley.”
Soren Petro, 810 AM
GH: I have found it interesting how Petro’s criticism of the Chiefs’ management has quickly escalated since his puppet master, Carl Peterson, “retired.”

“Jake (Gutierrez) thinks I’m wrong. How can I be wrong? Because I don’t think anything. I’m just not part of the (Chiefs) cheerleading squad.”
Soren Petro, on his thoughts about the Chiefs new management staff, 810 AM
GH: Ironically, Petro called Gutierrez a “kiss ass.” This from the guy who was so into Carl Peterson’s shorts that many in the local media referred to him as Bob Gretz, Jr.

“Everybody in this place is going to be all about winning.”
Todd Haley, addressing the media after his first practice as the head coach, Fox 4
GH: That does not sound good for Larry Johnson’s future in Kansas City.

“There were times when Larry Johnson had to make a pretty good move on the defender to get out of the way!”
Lynn Dickey, discussing LJ’s unique pass-blocking technique, 610 AM

“I think (Larry Johnson) is a non-factor. He’s trouble. He’s been trouble. He’s always been trouble.”
Roger Twibell, 610 AM
GH: Johnson is the Chiefs best option at running back but few think he’ll wear Chiefs colors this fall. What a waste of an immense talent. I hope some young, talented and arrogant kids learn from LJ’s plight.

“I’m rooting for (LJ) to stay out of trouble and be a productive member of the team and not get himself in trouble for a whole year. But I’m also rooting for the Royals to win the World Series.”
Steven St. John, 810 AM

“I think he’ll be good. Will he get a lot of sacks? Probably no. He’ll be a two-down player. They’ll get him off the field on third down”
Herm Edwards, when asked how he thinks Glenn Dorsey, his top draft choice in 2008, will perform in the Chiefs’ new 3-4 defense, 810 AM
GH: If Dorsey is no more than a “two-down player” shouldn’t Clark Hunt get half of his money back?

“Hey, I’d like a playoff win. This is my 16th year! If I get a playoff win I’m going to pour champagne over my head.”
Mitch Holthus, on the postseason drought the Chiefs have experienced since he’s been the team’s play-by-play voice, 810 AM
GH: Jason Whitlock started covering the Chiefs for the KC Star in 1994, a few months after the Chiefs last playoff victory. Holthus came on board from K-State’s football broadcasts about the same time. To think neither has covered a Chiefs playoff victory is stunning – and a testament to the patience (blindness?) Lamar Hunt showed with King Carl.

“Brian Waters has been through hell and back for the Chiefs. You know, he’s been through some pretty tough things. And for a coach to tell him we could have done what you did with some guys off the street, that’s a pretty tough thing.”
Adam Teicher, Chiefs’ beat writer, Kansas City Star
GH: Get Teicher a crying towel to go with Waters’ 3X diaper. Hell and back? Waters is a multi-millionaire because of the Chiefs. What are the “pretty tough things” Waters has endured as a Chief? Getting paid an outrageous sum of money despite a decade of losing? When I hear the media wax on melodramatically about how “tough” these professional athletes I would like to introduce them to the kids on the T-Bones roster where a rookie makes $800/month.

“If y