Category Archives: Local College

Posts related to the local college teams.

Listen To Me; I Am An Expert

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Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 03/09/2010 – 4:06pm
Filed under: Feature, Local College  

It’s baaaaack.  Yup, March Madness is fully upon us.  The Tim Horton’s Brier Curling Cup competition started Saturday. 

Did you see Manitoba just flatten Prince Edward Island?  Oh, you didn’t?  Me neither.  I was too busy immersing myself completely in college basketball hysteria.  Here is how excited I am; pretend this guy is me, and the fire is college basketball.  Get the idea?

As a KU fan, tomorrow begins my second favorite part of the season.  The Big XII tournament.  I figured that since I am the official KCSportsPodcast college basketball guru, you all would appreciate my opinion on what’s going to happen over the next four days in Kansas City.

Plus, do you really want to read anymore about the Royals?  I thought so.

So here we go with my predictions on how everyone will do starting with the worst teams, and going to the winner.

The “If they are getting rid of gift baskets, then why are we going?” Group.

Oklahoma 13-17 (4-12):

Why they can win: They can’t.  This season has been a disaster for Boomer.  This team’s fans are just waiting for football season.  That’s it.

Why they will lose:  I don’t know.  Because they aren’t very good at basketball.

Where will they finish: Lose in the first round to Oklahoma State by 20.

Nebraska 14-17 (2-14):

Why they can win: They also cannot.  The only thing they might win is the “Guy with the longest name” award.

Why they will lose: Because that same guy just looks too much like Scott Baio. 

Where they will finish: Lose in the first round to Missouri by 10.

The “Let’s piss someone’s fans off and win a game we shouldn’t” Group

Iowa State 15-16 (4-12):

Why they can win: Ask Kansas State.  They are athletic.  Craig Brackens would be all Big XII if he was surrounded with anything, and Gilstrap can play.  Plus, you gotta’ believe that they are coming in with quite a bit of confidence.

Why they will lose: Along with confidence, a game like that also gives you a lot of mental and physical fatigue

Where they will finish: Quarterfinals

Texas Tech 16-14 (4-12):

Why they can win: They can tie.  Check this stat out.  Texas tech scores on average 76.4 points per game.  They give up 76.4 points per game.  My guess is that they find a way to tie it.   Then they just need one point in OT to win.

Why they will lose: This team was 12-2 coming into conference play, and 4-12 since then.  They kind of a collapse doesn’t happen for no reason.

Where they will finish: Quarterfinals

The “How the hell were we ever ranked #1” Group

Texas 23-8 (9-7):

Why they can win: The talent is there.  People didn’t just guess that this team was good, and rank them #1.  If they can play to their potential, they can win the whole tournament.

Why the will lose: Because they won’t play to their potential.  Plus, I hate Texass. (misspelled on purpose)

Where they will finish:  Well, if you have been following along with your brackets you will notice that I think they will lose in the opening round to Iowa State by 8.

The “You should win the first game, but I would never wager on you” Group

Colorado 15-15 (6-10):

Why they can win: They just beat the Red Raiders by 11 last weekend.  Plus, Alec Burks gets to come and play in his hometown.

Why they will lose: The Buffs are on a three game winning streak.  They haven’t had a four game streak this entire season.

Where they will finish: Lose to Texas Tech in the opening round by 6

The “Teams that are complete wild cards” Group

Oklahoma State 21-9 (9-7):

Why they can win: Two words; James Anderson.  He is the only guy in the tournament with the ability to pick his team up onto his back and carry them to a title.

Why they will lose: Three words; No One Else.  That’s the problem.  If Anderson is off, who is going to pick up the slack?  It is saying something when you have the Big XII player of the year, and yet you barley finished above .500 in the league. 

Where they will finish: Quarterfinals.

The “What do you mean we have a first round bye” Group

Texas A&M 22-8 (11-5):

Why they can win: I personally believe that Turgeon should have been coach of the year.  You look at this team, and you don’t see anything real special.  But they somehow get it done.  They get good guard play from Sloan, and have a solid big man in Bryan Davis.

Why they will lose: This team has not had this kind of success in a while.  They have only had a first round bye three times ever.  Average seeding…8.3.  Too much pressure on the poor Aggies.

Where they will finish: Quarterfinals

Baylor 24-6 (11-5):

Why they can win: LaceDarius Dunn is a star.  As is LaceQuincy Acy and LaceEkpe Udoh.  This team can be LaceScary.

Why they will lose: Again, I think it comes back to experience at this point.  The highest seed Baylor has ever had was a 5, and that’s only happened twice.  Look, just be happy that Tweety Carter hasn’t killed anyone.  What??  Too soon?

Where they will finish: Semi-Finals

The “Dear God, please let this happen” Group

Missouri 22-9 (10-6)

Why they can win: They do have some experience in this tournament being that they won it last season.  The style of play is pretty good for tournament play, as it wears down the opponents.  Plus, there is no way that God would deprive me of yet a third KU beat-down of the Misery.

Why they will lose: All that being said, if the tiggers attempt to build an addition onto the Sprint Center with bricks, they could be back in CoMo before dinner on Wednesday.

Where they will finish: Semi-finals, and it’s gonna’ be the biggest defeat yet.

The “We all knew it would come down to this” Group

Kansas 29-2 (15-1)

Why they can win: because they are the best goddamn team in the whole goddamn country.  You know that.

Why they will lose: KU doesn’t have a lot going for them in this game.  They will have wrapped up the number one overall seed and a trip to St. Louis.  They don’t have anything to prove.

Where they will finish: Let the kitties finally win one, for crying out loud.

Kansas State 24-6 (11-5)

Why they can lose: See what I did there???  Anyway, K-State has some flaws.  We saw that last weekend.  I have some advice for the Cats.  Don’t name your arena if you plan on losing there pretty consistently.  I am having a real tough time backing you up right now.

Why they will win: This is the mf-ing superbowl for State.  It’s in KC, It’s against KU, and everyone is talking about the Cats falling apart against ISU.  Notice how the discussion went from “should K-State get a one seed” to “K-State will be lucky to get a three seed” just like that.  The cats are listening, and Frank Martin is getting angry.  Bellwether just peed a little when he read that.

Where they will finish: Big XII Tournament Champions*

You see what I did there Mizzou fans?  Yeah, you know.

Of course, what the hell do I know?  Scott Baio could get hot, and take the whole thing…

***What are your predictions?  Let us know at lwood@kcsportspodcast.com***

KU’s loss: Blame Palin

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Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 03/01/2010 – 12:48pm
Filed under: Local College  

As most of you know, KU fell to the Cowboys on Saturday in a game that was not nearly as close as the score would make it seem.  But I don’t blame the players.  It was out of their hands.

I am not going to talk about KU’s atrocious defense in Stillwater. Nor am I going to talk about KU’s turnovers.   And I am not going to talk about OSU shooting 97% (or whatever it was) from the field. No, the blame for this latest KU loss* falls squarely on one person.

*I say that like there have been so many.

Sarah Palin.

You’re going to have to hang with me on this one. Okay, so everyone knows that many of our government programs stink. I actually watched about 6 hours of the “Health Care Summit” last week. Unfortunately, there was no curling on that day. What I figured out from that informative collection of ideas complete waste of time and money, is that the two parties in Washington cannot even agree what time lunch should be, should they eat in or go out, and what they would like on their pizzas, much less what they can do to fix health care.

I don’t necessarily blame that on them. They are just sticking up for their parties’ platforms. No, the real blame for that is on Barack Obama. He is the president for crying out loud. He has to be the voice of reason that pulls everyone together and says, “Hey McConnell, come on man. And Pelosi, calm down.” He has to bring the sides to the table and get something done. He has failed to do that.

Now, on top of health care, another thing that is completely broken is the education system. How is it that the high school I attended in Minnesota has enough money to build a heated dome for the football team to practice in, yet some schools hardly have enough money to turn the heat on in the classroom? The level of disparity between the haves and have-nots is wider than the space Jon Shuster had to shoot at on four or five potential game winning shots combined.

Something must be done about this. I blame Barry on this one too. For all of his blabbering on about health care reform that, basically, no one wants, he has failed to address the education system at all. Except of course to say that it is all George Bush’s fault.

That brings me to the Kingston High School Lady Cougars. Kingston is a very poor school district located in Cadet, MO. Look, here’s where it is. It’s like Deliverance out there. When there are more burnt out 1968 Chevy trucks than people, you know it’s not exactly palm springs. Shit, I think I got a meth contact high just driving through there.

Anyway, this school district is so poor that they don’t even have money to outfit their sports teams. Do you hear me? They can’t allocate money to the very things that statistically have shown to keep kids in school and off of drugs. My future sister in law coaches the softball team. They needed to raise money in order to get bats for the team. Bats for a softball team? What a novel idea! So she asked me if I would put on a charity trivia night for them on Saturday. Of course I will do that. How do you say no to that?

Now, because I was having to help out the Lady Cougars in Cadet, MO, I was not watching the KU-OSU game on Saturday afternoon. More importantly, I was not able to sit in my lucky spot on the couch, and position my remote in the exact position that it needs to be in. Nor was I able to go with HP to our lucky bar where we have only seen one KU loss EVER (Michigan State last year in the sweet 16).   When these factors were negated, of course KU lost. KU is undefeated when I am able to affect the outcome of their games in these ways. The only other time I was not able to do this…at Tennessee.

So you can see how important my position for watching games is for KU basketball success. In summation, I absolutely do not fault myself in this case. I do not fault my future sister in law or her team. I don’t fault the Kingston K-14 school district, and I do not fault the congress. I fault Barack Obama for KU now needing to beat both KSU and Mizzou to win the outright Big XII title.

“B-b-b-b-but, Logg. I thought you said it was Sarah Palin’s fault.”

Oh right. Well, if Sarah Palin had never existed, Barack would have never won the election.

Thanks a lot Sarah.

*Like it?  Don’t?  Indifferent?  Let us know.  E-mail us at lwood@kcsportspodcast.com

A Whole Lotta’ Nuthin’

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Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 02/26/2010 – 12:18pm
Filed under: Feature, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Local College, Non-Sports  

Let me explain something about sports writing.  When you are a beat writer for a specific team, you can usually find something to write about because, well, you only have one subject.  We here at kcsportspodcast.com don’t have that luxury.  We write about so much crap (and I emphasize the word crap) that we sometimes can’t decide what to write about.  I have been thinking aboot (in honor of the Canadian Olympics) my next column for days now, and I just couldn’t narrow it down. 

So I enlisted the help of my good friend Bellwether.  I asked him what he was working on in the hopes that he would be working on something so I could cross that particular topic off my list.  Here is what I got: “Shit, go for it…I got nothing.  I’m too hung-over today to ‘give the effort’”. 

Thanks BWJ.

So I figured I might strike up a short conversation with our “head writer” about some topics.  This is the crap that we came up with. 

LWK: Why the hell are you hung-over on a Thursday morning?  I am a little scared for you.  I can see the Intervention episode now:

            HP: “Bellwether, you used to be someone I looked up to.  Your pithy and insightful remarks on sports always made me think and examine the games in a different light.  But now, it’s different.  Your drinking has affected my life in the following ways.  What was once a funny column has become a slew of Dennis Miller-esque turds.  On top of everything else, your “Sledgehammer” karaoke episode has scarred me permanently.  I want my little brother back.  Please accept this help today.”

             BWJ: “Fuck you.”

Speaking of getting some help, how soon do you think Jon Shuster will hang himself after that curling performance in Vancouver?  If he and Debbie McCormick had a child, that child would have as much depth perception as Helen Keller.  Actually, can we get Helen on the 2014 team?

BWJ: I’m hung-over on Thursday because it comes after Wednesday.

Also, I’m a third Slovak (don’t call me Czech, motherfucker), and I figured that after their victory last night, somebody had to root for them.*

* Sweden’s hockey team was eliminated last night by Slovakia.  I had a Swedish friend in college.  I mean, from Sweden.  I say I’m Slovakian, even though nobody in my family has set foot on the European continent in the past century.  No, this guy was from Sweden, and as such was nicknamed Swede.  I know…original.

Anyways, like all the Swedish, they wait four years so that they can root for Peter Forsberg and the Yellow-uni’d Swedish hockey team in the Olympics.  In 2002 they lost to Belarus.  Ouch.  The only time I ever saw him more pissed is when somebody called him “Weege.” 

Jon Shuster deservedly got canned for the US Curling team curling (??) like a bunch of asshats.  Also, bad omen when your Olympians can’t win the Duluth Curling Club’s Tuesday Night League.

I’d be much more willing to forgive US Curling for their embarrassing showing at these Olympics if they curled (??) it in the nude.  Hell, everybody else is doing it…

[Ed. Note] – Bellwether Johnson is not aware if the verb “to curl” actually refers to the sport of curling

LWK: First off, I thought The Swede’s nickname was “Bjerg”.  Second, the Duluth Curling Club’s Tuesday Night League is a damned tough win to notch.  Oh, who am I kidding?  They stunk.  But just think of how Jon Schuster’s fiancée must feel knowing that there is no way her future husband can “find the button”.  Dear God, I made a curling joke.  Moving on…

I too watched the Swedes gracefully bow out, and give Canada, quite possibly, the easiest semi-final opponent in history.  If anyone thinks that Slovakia has a chance at beating the Hoser’s, then I have a shitty shortstop to trade them for their best pitching prospect.

As for the US, I gotta believe that this is about over.  Finland is very good.  As much fun as I have had watching the undefeated American squad, I just don’t think they have this in them.  Based on the game against Switzerland yesterday, they don’t have the firepower to make a gold medal run.  It’s like their offense has gone missing in Vancouver.

Just like Boner. *

[Ed. Note]: The following section was written before the report of Richard “Boner” Stabone’s untimely death.  The world has lost one of the great ones.  Enjoy this clip where Boner wants to join the Marines in remembrance of him.

First, I loved Growing Pains.  I always wondered how they got away with naming a character “Boner”.  Was that just not part of the nomenclature in the 80’s???? 

Second, where is Boner?  This has got to be the most interesting story of these Olympic games behind The Curly Straw of Doom (my new name for the bobsled track) and Lindsay Jacobellis screwing everything up…again. 

Bellwether, have you seen Boner?

BWJ: Well if that isn’t a set-up for what is sure to be The Most Disappointing Joke That Has Probably Already Been Made in the Past Three Days About Boner, then I don’t know what is.  I’m just disappointed he was a character on Growing Pains and not Leave it to Beaver.  (ZING!!)

You’re a little more down on US chances against the Finns than I am.  All I heard about the Swiss leading up to the quarterfinal match was:

“This is not going to be a cakewalk for the US”

“The Swiss are great in goal”

“They are going to get in your face and make things tough”

And you know what??  As advertised.  Those fuckers swarmed like a bunch of assholes, and Jonas Hiller was a wall.  What do you want??  They won the game.  It’s a tournament, and every game is going to be tough.

Still, I could be way off base here considering that the only thing I know about Finland is…

Wikipedias Finland (Oh, lookie!!  Uni-Cameral Legislature!!)

…Helsinki.  The capital is Helsinki.

Please tell me what to fear about the Finns.  You know, besides the Umlauts and the Speed-Metal.

LWK: I don’t really have a Boner joke.  My joke machine broke after my curling/clitoris output earlier.

My problem is with the top players on Team USA not scoring goals.  Kessel – 1 Goal, Kane – 1 Goal, Langenbrunner – 1 Goal.  All of those “stars” have combined for less goals than Brian Rafalski (4).

Brian Rafalski has 4 goals the whole NHL season (54 games).  The point is, the secondary scorers will inevitably cool down.  You need your stars players to score in order to be successful*.

*Case in point…the Soviets

As for Finland, they are the most experienced team in this tournament.  They have, in my opinion, the best goalie remaining (Mikka Kiprusoff), and solid scoring from Selanne, Koivu, Koivu, Ruutu, Ruutu, and probably another Koivu. 

All I will say is this; the US will win only if Miller stands on his head again.

The only other thing I know about Finland is that Projektiilin means projectile in English.  Speaking of that, what kind of a world do we live in when a mascot can be held liable for throwing assorted meats into the crowd at a sporting event?  I hope Slugerrrrrr has a good Lawyerrrrrr.  Your thoughts on hotdog tort reform?

BWJ: All right!!  And now The Most Disappointing Joke That Has Probably Already Been Made in the Past Three Days About Sluggerrr!!  I haven’t seen that good of wiener-to-eye accuracy since Peter North!!  Oops!!  I mean Peterrr Norrrth!!

Boy, if that isn’t an omen for bad things this coming summer for our fair Royals, than I don’t know what is.  I keep feigning excitement for the fact that pitchers and catchers reported last week, and real-live baseball is right around the corner, but it’s already kind of hard when you root for the Royals, and especially this year.

For the past three years — actually all of them since Dayton Moore arrived — the upcoming spring has been filled with at least a little hope that our decrepit franchise was, if not on the cusp, on the cusp of the cusp of turning the corner to respectability, when, in one off-season (Mike Jacobs, Miguel Olivo), Dayton Moore proves he has absolutely no clue whatsoever in how to build a major league roster.

It’s maddening that this franchise has such enormously die-hard fans that are far more level-headed on what constitutes a baseball lineup than the man actually charged with the task.  Bill James, Rany Jazayerli, Rob Neyer.  These are the men who furiously wave the flag of Sabermetrics, and just happen to have been Royals fans since birth.  To see the captain at the helm of Good Ship Royal spit on and grind that into the ground is just disheartening…especially when I’m supposed to think baseball and spring when it’s minus-five in Iowa.

Sometimes I feel like we’d be better off with Joe Morgan as our GM…wait…pretend I didn’t just say that…

See what you done did there Logg??  Here I was all happy looking at nude curlers, and you have to bring me down by mentioning the Royals.  Damn you…

LWK: Hey, I didn’t say anything about the Royals.  I was merely continuing a discussion centered around phallic symbols (Boner and Hotdogs).  You decided to take it there. 

But since you did…Good God it’s going to be a long ass summer.  I heard the Royals might make Kyle Farnsworth a starter.  I guess they subscribe to the old “Well he makes as much as a fifth starter” adage.  I have absolutely nothing good to say about the Royals; that’s how bad this is. 

Oh, and we even got our own Roid Head now.  Yippee.

No, I just can’t even start thinking about Royals baseball until KU basketball is done. Speaking of college basketball; I know you don’t get much Mizzou propaganda up there in the frozen corn fields, but suddenly the Missouri fans think they can make a deep tournament run.  They point to their semi-successful run as of late.  Sure, winning 5 of 7 is good, but it’s not like they are crushing good teams.  The only win worth a damn is against a reeling Texas team at home.  The rest have been against the likes of Colorado, Iowa State, and Nebraska. 

Now they get a huge game against K-State this weekend.  Please explain to me how the Mildcats are #6 in the country.  Outside of the win over previously decent Texas, they have beaten basically no one.  So you may be wondering, what is the deal?   Well, I found out what the deal was.

The Power Towel.  Also, did you know that Ron Prince is available for your bar mitzvah?

BWJ:  Oh, c’mon now with the Wildcats.  I loath Mizzou as much as the next guy, but I like K-State like a little brother.  Sure, Man-happenin’ is the scourge of the entire midwest, and I’ll never hate another team more when they take the floor against the Jayhawks, but they ARE from the state of Kansas, and that has to count for something, right??  Ad Astra Per Aspera??

As far as their ranking goes, why shouldn’t they be #6 in the country??  They’re 26-4, 10-3 (second) in the Big XII (#1 RPI Conference), and Ken Pomeroy has them at #10 in the country.  They could probably be ranked anywhere from 5-15 along with about 10 different Big East teams.  Also, take into account that, unlike many of those Big East-ers, they’ve won 6 in a row (albeit against Big XII bottom feeders), and recent performance is the biggest barometer as far as the AP goes.

They’re still a scary team, and the last thing I’d want is for Sherron Collins, the winningest player in KU history, to go out with a loss on Senior Day.  That game is gonna be a bloodbath…

LWK:  Look, I’ll give you that the Mildcats are decent.  They are from Kansas, and I’ll give ‘em a break being that they have to wear purple and all.  However, I still contend that they have not been tested except by KU at home, and they lost that.  They also scare the hell out of me, though.  Besides, I have no idea what language you were speaking there, and certainly don’t know what that means.  I would assume it means “party like a female Canadian hockey player”.

So did you hear the rumor that the Chiefs may try to trade Cassel and draft Jimmy Clausen?  Any thoughts on this monumental disaster before it happens?

BWJ: Ugh…Chiefs news already??  Rumors are rumors, and I don’t think this one holds any water, especially with Cassell’s contract.  For me, it’s Russell Okung or bust.  Seriously, though, the NFL Draft is still two months away…let’s keep it that way.

Look, I like football as much as the next guy, but those people who bitch and moan about “Oh, the Super Bowl’s over…my life is devoid of meaning until September!!” need to shut up.  That’s what Todd McShay was brought into your life for.  Go chat on the NFL message boards and leave me alone until after the MLB All-Star Break.

Also, Logg, I’m taking you down a peg for not knowing that “Ad Astra per Aspera” is latin and translates to “To the Stars, Through Difficulty.”  It was written on the space shuttle, and is also *drumroll* the official State Motto of Kansas.

You’re on notice, Logg…

LWK: Totally agree with you on the football thing.  I just wanted to be able to check off the “Chiefs” category on the website.  If only I knew anything about the fucking Wizards we’d have a clean sweep of the topics. 

Well, this has been real, been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun.  Congrats on your stupid Latin lesson.  Here’s one for you; “Carpe Fermentum”.   That means “Seize the Alcohol”.  At least now it’s Friday and you have a legitimate reason to be hungover.

Oh, and R.I.P. Boner.

Andrew Koenig 

Richard “Boner” Stabone

1968-2010

Hell Freezes Over

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Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 02/11/2010 – 3:55pm
Filed under: Local College  

So I am sitting here perusing one of the Mizzou message boards because, well, I have nothing better to do.  As a journalist (term used very loosely) who covers Big XII basketball, I wanted to know what the feelings were about Mizzou’s narrow victory at home last night over lowly Iowa State.  I am getting the usual; for some the sky is falling.  For others, this was just a mild hiccup.  But then I stumbled across this discussion thread:

“If you were to write a book on sports psychology and the KU fan, what would your title be?”

Interesting.  Being that this is a Missouri board, one can conclude that the responses won’t exactly be a glowing review of people like me, but I thought it would at least be mildly amusing.  Some responses…

“The Cheating Culture”

“The Jayhawk, Christianity, and Homosexuality”

“Balls, Chicken, Choke, KU”

But then there was this one: “Profiles in Entitlement”

This caught my eye because I had noticed this “entitlement” theory in other posts over the last few weeks.  I find MU fans to be quite arrogant (for what reason, I have no idea.  Write in to lwood@kcsportspodcast.com and explain it to me), and I had been very interested in why they despise KU fans.  I always thought it was jealousy because they had never even been to a Final Four.  But I now know that it’s because Mizzou fans believe that KU fans have a false sense of entitlement. 

First of all, KU basketball fans certainly have some reasons to be proud.  KU is one of the most prestigious programs in the entire country, has been to 13 Final Fours, and won five national championships including one just two years ago.  The sense of pride that a Jayhawk fan feels for their team is earned and appropriate.  So they can’t be talking about that.

Maybe they are talking about our expectation level.  Every year, KU fans expect our team to compete for not only the Big XII, but a national title.  We expect to get great coaching, fantastic recruits, and wins.  What is wrong with that???  Surely Mizzou fans have some sort of expectation for their team.  They may not be (and should not be) as lofty as KU’s, but I am sure they expect something, and feel disappointed when it is not achieved.  So it would be unfair for them to come down on us for the same thing, right?

Someone else once mentioned to me the idea of KU fans needing validation from Mizzou fans; that we have a “look at me, look at me” attitude.  There may be some truth to that.  It is certainly nice to hear from a rival that you are good, or in this case, better than them.  I don’t think we seek that out, though.  I mean, if I want to hear about how great KU is, I can certainly just turn on ESPN.  God knows that, even with their decidedly east coast bias, just about everyone on there thinks KU is awesome.  I sure as hell wouldn’t go looking for validation on a Missouri fan website.  That’s like Tiger Woods hoping for sympathy from Steve Phillips.  So that really can’t be it either.  Dammit.  What to do?

So I asked the person what they meant by this.  His impressive response???

“Exactly.”

So, since Mizzou fans won’t clue me in on this, I figured I’d do some research.  I looked up “entitlement” in the dictionary.

Entitlement – noun, the state of being entitled.

Okay, so that’s as helpful as a Mizzou fan.  Let’s try again.

Entitle – verb, to give a person or thing a title, right, or claim to something

In one respect, they may be saying that we feel like we are owed something.  I couldn’t disagree more.  KU fans are not guaranteed wins by anyone.  KU provides them through superior talent and coaching.  So that doesn’t make sense.  But wait a second…

Entitle – verb, to call something by a particular title

You mean like National Champions?  Okay Mizzou fans, I agree with you.*

*I will now torch my clothes and take a three hour shower.

Roy

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Posted by Bellwether Johnson on 02/02/2010 – 10:34am
Filed under: Local College  

April 7th 2003:

I am brimming with confidence.  We’ve just demolished Dwayne Wade’s Marquette team to get to the NCAA Championship Game, and I’m sitting in Des Moines, IA, the backyard of Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, refugees from Tim Floyd’s departure form Iowa State who were swooped up by Roy Williams to help in bringing him his elusive first NCAA title. 

After valiantly falling to eventual champ Maryland the year before, it was our turn.  The previous three champs were laden with senior leadership: Mateen Cleaves and Mo Peterson’s Michigan State squad in 2000,  Shane Battier and Nate James’ 2001 Duke team and Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter’s previously mentioned 2002 Terrapins.  Who were we playing??  A Syracuse team who’s leading scorer was a freshman, and who had only one starting senior, Kueth Duany, a forward averaging a scant 11 pts and 3 rebs per game. 

This was ours.

Two hours before the game, Hippolito Pichardo picks me up, and we head to DrugTown to get liquored the hell up for the game.  I couldn’t be more excited.  HP, like many of us is a superstitious fellow; he’s been wearing the same KU shirt for each tourney game, but that shirt is conspicuously absent from his shoulders as I hop into his car. 

“Dude,” he tells me, “You’ll never believe what happened.”  Apparently his fiancé’s sister’s dog took a huge shit on his shirt that afternoon. 

My first reaction is this.

My next is this.

With that, I knew…it was over.  We would loose, and in heartbreaking fashion.  It was after that game that my dad (an Illinois grad) clued me into the rumor that Roy would leave and would be replaced by Bill Self.

I still to this day don’t know how to feel about Roy Williams.  I couldn’t really feel that much rage over him leaving for North Carolina.  To be honest, I was more ticked about losing DeShawn Stevenson and Charlie Villanueva, recruits whose verbal commitments waved bye-bye along with Roy. 

Roy had never been a Kansas guy.  Like he said in his goodbye presser, he was a Tar Heel born and would be a Tar Heel dead…or something like that.  Jayhawk fans should hold more animosity for Dean Smith – who grew up in Emporia, who played under Phog Allen, who was a coach on the staff of the 1957 team that lost in triple overtime to North Carolina – for never coming home. 

Then, two years ago, we exorcized the demons.  We absolutely throttled his team in the final four, and then with Roy (and his giant Jayhawk sticker) watching on, we won the title.  I remember half of the KU fans assembled to watch the game booing Roy when he was interviewed at halftime wearing his allegiance to Kansas.  I wondered why.  We crucified the guy for the four-plus years since, and had just given him his pink slip from the tourney two nights earlier.  The way I saw it, we could use all the help we could get to keep another group of upper-classmen from losing to a freshman phenom again.

Since then, I’ve been indifferent.  I rooted for Michigan State in last year’s final, but out of rooting for the underdog, not because of some misplaced aggression toward Roy (or love for Tom Izzo, for that matter).  I root against North Carolina because I want KU to be #1.

Before the season started, the three most storied college basketball programs in history (sorry Indiana, UCLA and Duke) were all within distance of 2,000 all-time wins.  Kentucky, thanks to John Calipari, have already passed that milestone, doing so on Dec. 21st this season.  Looking at the perceived strengths of UNC before the season started, there was no reason to believe that KU would reach that milestone before them.

Well…guess what…

UNC currently sits at 1997 wins with a 13-8 record this season. 

KU currently sits at 1990 wins with a 20-1 record.

Say it with me:

FUCK ROY

We’re Goin’ Streaking!

5
Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 01/26/2010 – 2:18pm
Filed under: Local College  

I promise not to dwell on what happened last night.  It was not a surprise that KU ran MU out of the gym.  The Tigers haven’t won in Lawrence in 11 years now; so I am not shocked.  I will give a brief two part comparison between my opinion on the game, and the opinion of the MU fans on Mizzou message boards.

Why KU won:

Me: Because they are a better basketball team, have better players, played at home, and are better coached.

MU Fans: Because Cole Aldrich murdered a number of players during the game, and the refs are all from Lawrence

On the Refs:

Me: I thought they let them play a little bit.  Cole’s tip in off the missed free throw was over the back, but Xavier was hacked on a breakaway (that’s a hockey term that I may have misused there).

MU Fans:  The refs were clearly an Al Qaeda sleeper cell placed here to advance the  terrorist scheme of Cole Aldrich.

On what will happen in Columbia:

Me: It will be closer, but KU isn’t going to get any worse between now and March.  KU wins 75-67.

MU Fans: KU should not even come.  We will provide our own refs, give Morningstar some cocktails, and poison Aldrich.  Mizzou wins 185-4.

On why my fiancée won’t talk to me today:

Me: it’s a simple misunderstanding.  We are adults, we like two different teams.  It’s no big deal.  We’ll make up, don’t worry.

MU Fans: She’s an idiot for even dating me.  She isn’t giving me the silent treatment.  She is merely busy writing her final goodbye to me before her father tracks me down, and blows my head off with a shotgun.

So that is that.  I am looking forward to that final game of the season (if I make it that long). 

Now, KU ran it’s home win streak to 54 including 15 this season.  That’s a really long time.  So when will it end?  I mean, the Big XII, with the exception of Missouri, is no slouch.  (Sorry honey…)  The Jayhawks have five home games remaining.  So I took the time to handicap who has the best chance to end “The Streak for The Beak”.  Yeah, I made that up.  Feel free to use it.  In order of likelihood…

5. Colorado 25:1

The Buffs aren’t the worst team in the Big XII (see Tigers, Missouri)*, but they also aren’t a real threat for much. They did beat Baylor at home, which is impressive.  But they also lost to Tulsa on the road.  This just isn’t the year CU.  Thanks.

*I should be prepared for a few nights on the couch.

4. Iowa State 15:1

I know that KU stomped on the Cyclones in Ames, but I think that ISU is better than that.  Brackens and Gilstrap can play.  Plus, they get the customary “Eustachy odds bump”.  Despite all of that, it just isn’t going to happen for you either.

3. Nebraska 7:1

You lost to Mizzou, and have only one guy who averages double digits in ppg.  No.  As a matter of fact, I am bumping you behind Iowa State.  Sorry Colorado, They’re still better than you.

2. Oklahoma 5:1

I don’t know what to think of OU this season.  Why have they underachieved?  Oh, that’s right; Blake Griffin was given the curse of the Clippers.  They still have Willie Warren and a guy named Tiny Gallon (yeah, I am serious).  Besides, they may overlook this one waiting for the rematch against…

1. Kansas State 3:1

Come on, who else on this list was going to be in this spot?  Look, I think that K-State is good.  I think KU is better.  If KU loses on Saturday at Bramlage, then I give the Cats no chance in this game.  But, if KU manages to smear shit in the collective faces of this team in their home litter box, then watch for the wrath of Manhattan on March 3rd.

At the end of the day, I don’t expect KU to lose any of these games.  I expect the streak to stay alive until Mizzou visits again next year.  I would assume, based on the following post I lifted from a discussion board today, that we have no chance next season.

“we will own lowrents next season!  when they loose collins, henry and they dont have that toothless thug inside getting away with plying like a bull in side”

Okay, maybe we should just wait and see.  Rock Chalk!

Frank Martin Makes Me Want To Pee My Pants

4
Posted by Bellwether Johnson on 01/20/2010 – 12:45pm
Filed under: Local College  

“What does this win mean to me??  It means we won a game on January 18th.  Look, these guys should be proud of the effort they showed tonight, but on Wednesday, they’d better come ready to compete with the same intensity or I WILL DESTROY THEM in practice.”

-Frank Martin after K-State’s win over Texas

Christ, he’s terrifying.

We practice a lot of homerism here in this site.  But we can.  It’s not like we’re journalists or anything.  And other than Asian Schwab, we all pretty much follow the straight path of what I believe is the plurality of  KC Sports fans.  That is, we follow and root HARD for the Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawks Basketball.  I don’t think we need to apologize for it, but that doesn’t mean that I have to look at KC sports thru any prism other than what a specific sporting event will mean to the teams listed above.

So, with that said, I can say without trepidation that I am completely and utterly horrified of this K-State team.  They are big, they are brash, and they don’t give a FUCK.  They’re like a hockey team out there, and if there were boards on the court, rest assured they’d pull a Sutton/Dupuis any chance they could.

Not to say they’re dirty.  No, they simply play with an attitude that they are going to be more physical than you in every single aspect of the game.  They committed 32 fouls against Missouri.  They committed the same against Colorado, and the Buffs retaliated with 36 of their own, making it the most heavily foul-called basketball game in Big XII history.

While that many fouls might not mean smart basketball, it certainly does mean that K-State is playing a brute style that might not be the most pleasant to play against; at least it wasn’t to Texas on Monday, and certainly won’t be for Kansas in the upcoming Big XII season.   And that’s a reflection on their coach.

Picture this: a young, under qualified coach comes into a head coaching position with almost no relevant experience.  He his thrust into this position mostly for who he knows more than what he can do, and is probably more a product of the players he coached than they of him.  On top of that, he’s a hothead.  He constantly yells at, berates and belittles his players, often times on the playing field.  He’s ornery with the media, and lackluster when he doesn’t have superior players at every position.  Oh, and Jason Whitlock hates him.

Sounds familiar, huh??   But it’s not Todd Haley I’m talking about.  Noooooo.  I happen to be talking about Frank Martin.  Remember this??

“The Wildcats are being swallowed by the enmity, paranoia and feeling of victimization that permeates the K-State fan base and fuels…Frank Martin’s coaching style.”

Or this gem??

“All the game-day, over-the-top negative energy/vulgarity directed at the refs, the opposition…is undermining the Wildcats’ growth.”

And now this:

“[Martin] has a chance to be the Latino/Brown/Cuban John Thompson, college basketball’s groundbreaking Hispanic coaching star.”

Excuse me?? 

Those first two quotes were from columns that Whitlock wrote in Martin’s first season in Manhattan (since deleted from kansascity.com…nice archive, guys).  The last was from today’s paper, imploring new K-State AD John Currie to sign Martin to an extension.

So what’s the difference??

Winning.  That’s it, plain and simple.  It doesn’t really matter what type of coach you are, as long as you win, nobody cares what you do.  Hell, you could shit in a towel as long as you’re tallying points in the “W” column. 

When looking at coaches, it’s important not to look at the reasons why a coach might not be successful, but rather to look at why he is successful.

In the case of both Martin and Haley, Whitlock as focused so intensely on the first that he has forgotten about the latter.  Martin yells and screams, but he relates to his players.  Haley yells and screams, but has a great eye for talent, and knows exactly what he needs out of his players.  There is a reason why these guys were hired.  They know how to coach.

Trust me, the tide will turn for Haley when he gets legitimate talent to work with.  In the mean time might I suggest the beard??

Hell, it seems to be working for RobertoClementeVinceLombarti Martin.  And like I said before…terrifying.

KU to Cancel Rest of Season

2
Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 01/11/2010 – 3:36pm
Filed under: Local College  

I was sitting here in the KCSportsPodcast News Room doing research when I was handed this bulletin from our crack staff:  It’s official; Kansas has decided to forfeit the rest of their games this season in return for an automatic bid into the NIT tournament.  In the wake of yesterdays monumental loss to Tennessee, Bill Self addressed the media this morning.

“We just aren’t good enough to play against NCAA tournament teams. Teams of that calibur are just too talented. Cole, Sherron, Xavier, they just looked overwhelmed. This was something that I was afraid of going into the season. We would play well against the lesser teams that we scheduled, but we just could not get around playing a team like Tennessee. And now, to expect us to play a full Big XII schedule; I just don’t think we could handle that. I mean, have you seen Mizzou?? They beat K-State for crying out loud!”

Aldrich was unavailable for comment. He left Allen Field House early on Monday morning, and boarded a bus back to Minnesota to prepare for the NIT, and get some ice fishing in.

Collins was more vocal while cleaning out his locker. “I don’t know what we were thinking. All those heroics over the last three years, it was all luck. Plain and simple. That’s why I didn’t enter the draft. I wasn’t actiually going to be drafted. This was just a distraction.”

This is a huge blow to Kansas Basketball. A season that started out with so much promise, has come crashing down. It wasn’t just the loss on the road to a nationally ranked Tennessee team. This collapse was epic, beginning all the way back with a 57-55 squeaker-win at the hands of Memphis in November. You could tell then that this team just didn’t have what was necessary to make a run.

The slide continued with a 73-61 win at UCLA. Sure they won, but they were never really in that game. Plus, UCLA had no fans show up, and only two players who had ever heard of basketball before. The rest of their team had been fielded only moments before gametime from homeless people outside the stadium.

“We couldn’t believe that we walked out of there with a victory.” said Self, “I was sure that we would take an aboslute beating there. I mean, I know they had the homeless guys, but a couple of them were pretty tall.”

But I think we all knew this was going poorly when KU was only able to edge out nationally ranked Temple by 32. How can you not go on the road into a hostile environment and win by at least 50?? The simple truth is, this KU team just doesn’t have the talent.

So, it’s easy to understand why Lew Perkins has made this decision. He’s already had to dismiss a football coach for mistreating fried chicken wings. He couldn’t afford another black eye on this already down-trodden university…

Wait…Bellwether has just handed this to me. Let me see if I can get through this…

Kcsportspodcast.com has just learned that Kansas has decided to go ahead and play on Wednesday at Nebraska. No official statements have been made as to why the change of heart. The athletic department has only announced that they plan to be in Lincoln on Wednesday, and they will field a team to play against the Huskers.

I don’t know that this is the best idea. I mean, Nebraska is no slouch. It’s not like KU is ranked #1 anymore. You don’t have the “invincibility” that comes with that ranking to protect you anymore. I will see what I can find out from my inside sources, and I will let you know. Stay tuned to this blog for further updates. Rock Chalk.

Open Beak, Insert Owl Foot?

2
Posted by L. Wood Kellogg on 01/05/2010 – 12:39pm
Filed under: Local College  

I apologize for the title, but I just didn’t know what and owl’s foot was called.  If you know, please pass it along.  Oh, and I know this game was three days ago…blame that one on Bellwether for posting six minutes before me yesterday.  So…

Hey Temple fans.  What’s up?  I just wanted to let you know that I understand.  I really do.  You were picked to finish a mediocre (at best) eighth in the Atlantic 10 conference.  I am sure that hurt.  You hadn’t received a single vote in either of the major polls.  Insulting, right?   You must have felt disrespected.  You were 8-2, and one of those losses was to #20 Georgetown by one on the road.  And then, to top it all off, you just upset the number three team in the county, Villanova, by 10!  So yeah, I understand your arrogance a couple of weeks ago.  

November 19, 1999 Des Moines, IA.  The Iowa State Cyclones are visiting the Drake Bulldogs.  Iowa State is expected to contend for the Big XII championship.  The Dawgs are expected to hope for a berth into the MVC Tournament at best.  Low and behold, Drake beat the mighty Cyclones 48-44.  They beat Marcus Fizer.  They beat Jamal Tinsley.  They beat the team that would be ranked #6 in the country at the end of the season.  I, along with 5 other people, stormed the court.  Later on, we decided that Drake could make a NCAA tournament run.  You know what happened?  They went 11-18 overall, 4-14 in the conference, and managed to lose 9 of their last 10 games. 

I wasn’t thinking clearly after that game, and you weren’t thinking either when you chanted, “we want Kansas!”  You thought that if you could beat a team like Villanova, then you could beat anyone.  In this case, it appears you bit off more than you could chew.  The old eyes were bigger than the stomach trick.  It happens.

You were holding people to 53 points per game.  Your defense would surely stifle the Jayhawks, who were averaging 90 points per game.  What you didn’t think about was that you had absolutely no one who could play inside with Cole Aldrich, “Marquise” Morris*, Thomas Robinson, or even Xavier Henry.

*That’s my name for the player named Morris who somehow is allowed 10 fouls per game.

Your best player, Juan Fernandez, came in averaging 21 points.  Surely he could help you keep up with Sherron Collins, or Aldrich, or Marquise, or Robinson, or Taylor, or Morningstar, or Reed, or Withey.  Oh, it didn’t.  Crap.

Like I said, I understand.  We all get a little out of hand after a big win.  Maybe you thought you could beat Kansas.  I mean, KU may have been #1, but they hadn’t played anyone.  Through some scheduling quirks, teams like Memphis, Michigan, and UCLA were having down years.  Plus, KU you had encountered some trouble against this cupcake schedule.   Yes, I get the “We want Kansas!” chant two weeks ago.

But here is where your misguided arrogance goes wrong.  Prior to the game with the Jayhawks, you chanted “Overrated!” at KU while they were warming up.  Why would you do that?  What in the name of John Cheney were you thinking??  I mean, I am sure you already had the attention of the Jayhawks.  Everyone heard the original chant.  But now you are going to piss off the “best” team in the country 3 minutes before tip off.  That’s why Sherron lit you up.  That’s why your only lead was 3-2.  That’s why you got ripped on your home floor by 32.  

So Temple, again I understand where you were coming from.  I had even been in that same spot.  However, I didn’t chant anything at Iowa State until we had actually won.  Maybe go with the “Overrated!” chant aimed at Villanova after you beat them.  Or maybe just chant things like “We want UMass!” or “We Want St, Louis University!”   Or you can jump on the band wagon and chant “Rock Chalk Jayhawk!”

Week In Review Grab Bag

1
Posted by Bellwether Johnson on 12/19/2009 – 12:00pm
Filed under: Local College  

– Programming Note:

For those that follow our Twitter Feed @KCSportsPodcast we plan to be much more active, so, you know…tweet us (??)  Logg and myself have joined the fray as well. 

Follow us:

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Time for a Week in Review Grab Bag!!  Let’s see what we find!!  (I hope it’s a Zhu Zhu Pet!!)

Nebraska + Iowa = Kansas

Looks like Lew Perkins was resigned to take his third choice thrilled to hire former Nebraska QB and Buffalo head coach Turner Gill.  Gill has been listed as one of the “Neat’o Awesome Up-And-Coming Coaches” (official title) for the past couple of years.  He’s had some moderate success at a place where nobody expects even moderate success, and took Buffalo to their first bowl game ever.

These are all (yawn) good things, but what most people are talking about is the crack staff of assistant coaches that Gill has assembled to serve on his staff.*  These names include such also-rans as Carl Torbush and former Iowa QB Chuck Long.  

* ”Serve on his staff”…This sounds a lot dirtier than it should…

Many are hoping that the recruiting trail will open up a little wider* with both on board, because, you know, nothing says Kansas Football like former Iowa and Nebraska Quarterbacks!!  Still, from experience, people in Iowa are fucking crazy.  Chuck Long’s name still holds a shit ton of water down here, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to convince a corn-fed half-ton youngster to take the trek to Lawrence, KS than it is to get him to go to either Buffalo or San Diego.

* “The recruiting trail will open up a little wider” …This also sounds a lot dirtier than it should…

Oh, and I’d be remised if I didn’t mention Whitlock’s take.

If you’re scoring at home:

Turner Gill: “I’ll give [him] two years before offering a strong opinion.”
Todd Haley: “Fuck that guy”
Trey Hillman: “Who??”

My advice, Turner??  Invite Ole’ Whitty over for a nice all-you-can-eat buffet before the season so that you can butter him up.  You don’t want to face the wrath of a Whitty scorned.  And if that fails??  I’m sure Charles Barkley will be more than willing to take you up on your offer.

High Powered Recruits + Overmatched Opponents = Kansas

It’s that time of year again!!  Snow on the ground??  Check.  Fifty point victories??  Check.  Sherron Collins trying to shed the last few pound of off-season McDonalds weight??  Check and mate. 

It’s College Basketball Season!!  Yeeay!!

It’s a little hard to tell about these Jayhawks.  They are absolutely rolling right now, and if not for a single renegade Texas vote, they’d be a unanimous #1.  Now, traditionally, there’s not much to be said for CBB before January, and KU’s pre-Big XII season in the past hasn’t been filled with heavy-hitters either, but this season is particularly void of nearly any competition.

Really, the only time KU has struggled this year was against Memphis, and boy was that scary.  As down as Memphis is talent-wise this year, they’re still the most formidable opponent they’ve faced this year, and they just barely squeaked it out.

Still, with as bad as their pre-conference schedule is this year, the Big XII itself is looking better and better.  Mizzou is always a tough out and only two years removed from an Elite Eight run.  K-State is no longer an afterthought, and back in the Top 25.  Texas Tech is finally buying into Knight Jr.-ball.  Even Iowa State is improved; returning their top scorer for the first time in five years.  Looks like the conference is bound to give the KU steamroller some speed bumps this winter…and that’s not necessarily a bad thing…

Also, is this a bad time to mention that I had a dream last night that KU was beaten by Wisconsin in the second round of the tourney in a game in which Cole Aldrich scored only five points??  Also (in real life) I already have tickets to go with HP to the Midwest Regional Final in St. Louis in March. 

OK…I’ll shut up now…

Mizzou + Big Ten = Cash Cow

The Big Ten, as they do every couple of years, has made some noise this week by stating that they will be looking at the possibility of adding a twelfth team to the conference, or as I like to call it, “Shit, we’re insignificant after Thanksgiving…let’s stir the pot.”

The usual names of Pitt and Notre Dame, of course came up, but one, Missouri, might sound surprising.  Missouri, after all, is not viewed as a traditional Big Ten school.  But take this into consideration.

Plus for Mizzou: The Big Ten Network has been a financial boon for the conference, with the proceeds split between all conference members.  The Big XII TV Contract with FSN is heavily geared toward the southern half of the conference.  Also, they already have a natural Big Ten rival in Illinois.  Not quite the Border War, but an established rivalry none-the-less.

Plus for the Big Eleven:  Despite gaining another team for the purposes of hosting a conference championship game, the Big Ten would figure to expand their reach to not one but two metropolitan areas; St Louis and Kansas City.  Oh, sorry…that’s $t. Loui$ and Kan$a$ City.

But, it being college athletics and all, it probably makes WAY too much sense for anybody to actually go for it.