When Bad Things Happen to Good Teams

Let me be honest. I would have been really happy if the Kansas Jayhawks had made history and run the table this year, marching their way to the National Championship without dropping a game. That would have been really fun. But, in my heart, I knew that wasn't likely and I was even in the camp that felt it might be okay to lose sometime during the Big 12 season just to take the undefeated pressure off. Unfortunately, I forgot to put in the exception - that loss should in no way come to the Missouri Tigers or the Kansas State Wildcats. A loss to Iowa State or Texas A&M? No big deal. Just don't fall to the hated Tigers or 'Cats.

Well, the Crimson and Blue took care of business in Columbia. Last night came the showdown in Manhatten, where the Jayhawks hadn't lost since 1983! Read that again. The Jayhawks hadn't lost on the K-State home floor in 24 seasons. No player in the game last night was alive the last time a Jayhawk team walked into Manhatten and lost. (Yes, that just makes me and you feel old. I know.) So, I had some confidence heading into last night's game. Sure, the upstart Wildcats had the best player in the country in Michael Beasley. But karma wouldn't let these guys actually win, right? I mean, the only reason Beasley came to K-State was because Huggy-bear hired the phenom's AAU coach as an assistant and the coach stayed on the staff after Huggins bolted for WVU. That kind of crap doesn't get rewarded, right? You see, that was my downfall. That kind of crap DOES get rewarded. Larry Brown hires Ed Manning as an assistant. Danny Manning picks Kansas over UNC. Kansas wins 1988 National Championship.

Last night, the basketball gods paid the Jayhawks back as the team of experienced guards looked rattled the entire game, Brandon Rush scored his first 2nd-Half points with less than four minutes left and Russell Robinson fouled out not once, but twice! That's right, the streak is over. The Jayhawks are no longer undefeated. The card board cut out known as K-State coach Frank Martin has his first "signature win". Whatever that means.

So, where do we go from here? Well, fortunately, the 'Cats still have to come to Lawrence later this season. I'm counting on redemption in that game. And I still firmly believe this Kansas team is the best team in the entire nation, despite Memphis' undefeated season. (Come on. Conference USA?) But, now they look a little more faliable then before. It's like when Lex Luthor finds out about kryptonite. The mighty can be beaten. And that's what will be harder going forward. The blueprint for failure has been officially published. Granted, no other team has Beasley. And KU doesn't have to play a road game during the tournament. But, they aren't perfect. That's what really stinks.

Tag, Sucka!

Okay, so I've taken some abuse over the past few months for my failure to get back on the blogging train. Well, consider this comeback number three - with some modifications.

First of all, I'm letting go of the "columnist" style writting. I need to accept the fact that I'm not going to be the next Sports Guy. Now, that doesn't mean that I'm not going to write about sports. I will because, frankly, I love sports! However, I am going to open up my writings to other topics as well - family, politics, religion, movies, books, you name it! Hopefully, that is good news to all of you.

Second, I'm not sending out notices when I post. Time to start checking back, just like everyone else. I always felt kind of stupid sending those out, so this is really just a change to make me feel better about me.

Finally, I'm going to try and post something a couple of times a week. Some will be long, some will be short, all will be Pulitzer worthy! (Okay, that's a little bold.)

So, I hope you enjoy - Now, for my first trick. . .

Several days ago, I was "tagged" by my brother, Joel, who is an awesome guy. Tagging is like those email surveys that go around, but cooler because it's called "tagging". It makes me feel hip and in the know. Here we go:

A. The rules are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people, posts their names, and goes to their blogs letting them know they've been tagged. (I may break this rule. I don't know if I know of five blogs that haven't already been tagged. I'll do my best.)

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago

1. January 98 - Trying to get Leah to like me and impress her with my superior wit, charm and cooking ability. (Turns out she really doesn't like pasta.)
2. Producing KBYU news three days a week.
3. Teaching Assistant for the beginning television class. Good times, seeing people get in front of a "live" camera for the first time and try to sound coherent.
4. Living with Dave (one of my best friends for mission/college), Steve (a great guy that predicted after our first date that Leah and I would get married), Jason (interesting) and two guys that were only up at night, it seemed. One of them worked at the movie theater and could get us in for free, so that was cool.
5. Trying to win the "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings" internship.

5 Things on My To-Do List Today

1. Conference Call with account manager trying to give away about $200K worth of equipment and maintenance. Not a good idea.
2. Finalize all E-Rate pricing.
3. Call Brother Furnell
4. Start calling Sacrament Meeting speakers for February.
5. Take down the swing set (weather permiting).

5 Snacks I Enjoy

1. Ice cream (upsets my stomach)
2. Cereal and Milk (upsets my stomcah)
3. Chocolate (upsets my stomach)
4. Cheetos (jury is still out)
5. Pizza (Papa Murphy's, please)

5 Things I'd Do If I Were a Billionaire

1. Buy a beautiful house in San Diego with all the things Leah and I have always wanted in a home.
2. Pay off all debt for me and Leah, all our siblings and our parents.
3. Put enough money away for Kate, Emma and Ryne that they never have to worry.
4. Travel in my own private jet - no more waiting in airport terminals.
5. Alternate between Leah's family and my family hosting Christmas in various fabulous locations (Hawaii, New York City, London, Paris, etc.)

3 Bad Habits

1. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to scheduling things and sticking to the schedule. When I go out, I like to map out my route (in my head, not on mapquest) and, as Leah can attest, I get a bit bothered when we change up on the fly.
2. I'm a teaser. My kids definately get it from me.
3. I just love too much! Okay, just kidding. I am, in my heart, extremely lazy. Given the opportunity, I would spend my Saturday sitting on the couch watching sports. Leah and kids make me get up and moving and I'm a better person for it, but I secretly still want to be sitting back and cheering the Jayhawks!

5 Jobs I've Had

1. Paper Boy
2. Carpet Cleaner
3. Waiter in a theater in a barn in the wilderness of Northeastern Kansas.
4. TV News Producer
5. Tariff Analyst

5 Things People Probably Don't Know About Me

1. I've lost about 35 pounds in the last six months.
2. I believe my actions effect the outcome of specific sporting events involving the Kansas Jayhawks, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. If I find a spot on the couch and my team is winning, I don't move. If I do move and they lose, I blame myself.
3. I have a man-crush on Danny Manning. Every time I see him on TV, I get excited.
4. Thanks to Joel and Amelia, I loved the show "Veronica Mars" and was really upset when it got cancelled last year.
5. I love 80s power ballads - Def Leppard, Whitesnake, REO Speedwagon. They are awesome.

Okay, so there you go! I'm tagging Sarah, Christy and Andy. Everyone else's blog has already done this!

Michael Jordan is a PHONEY!

This is my least favorite sports picture of all time. Not just because it's from the Jazz NBA finals loss to the Bulls, but because it is clear that Jordan is not really sick at all. He is just putting on a show to build his own legend! I've seen better acting in junior high school performances of "Fiddler on the Roof"! This picture drives me nuts!

Bonding with Barry

I can’t believe I’m writing this. Even as I type the words into my laptop, I can’t believe I’m about to make the statements that are running through my head. What could I possibly be thinking? What would make me alter a course I thought was true? Frankly, I’m tired of the deception. I’m tired of the lies. I’m tired of Bud Selig’s drawn and lined face drooping in a sanctimonious frown. Give it a rest, Bud. That act is transparent.

So, here it is – the big revelation that is just so earth shattering. Are you ready? I think Major League Baseball should honor Barry Bonds when he breaks Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record. I think the commissioner of baseball should glue himself to the San Francisco Giants after home run 754. I think he should be there when Barry ties the record and I think he should be stopping the game and unveiling a plaque when Barry breaks the record. Unfurl the red, white and blue bunting. Order a bat made of solid gold to present to the new home run king. And, use every bit of pull you’ve got with Mr. Henry Aaron and convince him to be there, too. He doesn’t need to smile and he doesn’t need to talk – but he ought to be on hand.

Why would I speak such blasphemy? Why would I throw my support behind a washed up slugger who in all likelihood spent five of the most prolific home run seasons in baseball history putting so many illegal steroids and hormones in his body that he could probably carry quadruplets to term? Well, I’ll tell you. This predicament – the one where a surly, mean and cranky (on a good day) outfielder is about to break the most revered career record in all of sports – is the fault of Major League Baseball.

Now, you’re right. Baseball is not the only one at fault here. Barry absolutely carries a significant amount of responsibility. I will never be convinced that the man wasn’t aware of what was going into or onto his body. He makes a living with his strength. His body must function at the highest level possible to do what he does. He’s always been able to hit, but his sudden and dramatic increase in power between 1998 and 2003 was absolutely and unequivocally the result of performance enhancing drugs. And that is wrong. Granted, they weren’t illegal when it came to the rules of baseball, but most of what he took was illegal in a court of law. And, let’s be honest here. Barry is a grown man. My four year olds are aware when they have made a bad choice. Barry knew what he was doing.

However, it is my contention that Major League Baseball – right up to the commissioner’s office – knew what Barry was doing, as well. They knew at least as early as 1998 when an acne-covered Mark McGuire started belting the ball and Sammy Sosa’s head grew to the size of a watermelon. And, I’m guessing they knew about the problem in general long before that. And, yet, they did nothing. They watched that summer as Mark and Sammy held their own personal love-in, each of them trying to out-homer the other until the hulking Cardinal first baseman finally tore down Roger Maris’ asterisked home run record. Their eyes must have been like cartoons with those dollar signs turning over and over. Why else would they remain silent when McGuire said the andro was just a supplement? Why else would they look the other way when major league locker rooms were so covered in acne, you would have thought you were in my old Central Junior High School football locker room? Why else would they cover their eyes when Barry Bonds showed up the next year like a beefed up version of the Incredible Hulk – when his baseball card that year still looked like mild-mannered Dr. David Banner?

I’ll tell you why. Bud Selig, as a representative of the owners of all 32 major league baseball teams, wanted the home runs. He wanted the excitement. He wanted the gate receipts. And, so, his sin was not one of commission. Bud didn’t take the roids, that’s for sure. He didn’t inject anyone in the rear and he didn’t set up a pipeline through Mexico to sell the stuff. What he did do was just as bad. He did nothing. He didn’t move to change the league’s drug policy until after all the news came out. He didn’t open an independent investigation until after fans started comparing baseball with professional wrestling. He didn’t start suspending players until after the stars had time to clear their systems – sorry Palmiero, you were the sacrificial lamb. By doing nothing, he allowed the cancer to grow and develop and he gave it his implied blessing.

So, Mr. Selig, you are the Dr. Frankenstein to Barry Bond’s scary monster terrorizing the villagers. You created him and he is very much alive. I know, you’ve been hoping for an injury or an indictment. But, it’s probably not going to come. Now, it’s time to live with the world you created. It’s time to own up to the fact that you were complicit in arriving at this point. It’s time to put on your San Francisco cap and you’re warmest smile and stand in front of that camera in a week or two and take your medicine. Stop wringing your hands and stop pretending it isn’t happening. It will be like taking off a band aid – better to jump right in and get it over with. And, just think. As soon as he breaks the record, you can start hoping against hope that in a few short years, A-Rod can knock Barry’s name off the top of your list. But don’t sell us this see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil act. Acknowledge the record. Go to the game. Shake Barry’s hand. And stop treating us like we’re morons. Don’t you think we know why the Brewers’ are in first place, mister former Milwaukee owner?

Must Wins

Here’s a question: When was the last time a Major League Baseball team faced a must-win game this early in the season? Give up? Okay, the answer is last year at this same time. However, it may have been a trick question since the team needing the win today and last year are one and the same. That’s right, it’s mid April and once again my Kansas City Royals are fighting for their playoff lives. It they were an NBA team with two games to play, that would be exciting. Alas, they claim to play in the MLB, and that means they have 148 games left. And this afternoon, they must win.

It’s terrifyingly eerie, actually, the similarities between the start of this season and last season – especially since this team is supposed to be so much better. It’s the first full year of the Dayton Moore Experience. His free agent moves are now on the clock – Gill Meche, Ryan Shealy, Tony Pena, Jr. His improvement of the Royals’ minor league system is ready to produce – Alex Gordon and Zack Greinke now, Billy Butler and Luke Hoechaver soon. He’s got the veterans who can build on great things from last year – Mark Teahen and Mark Grudzielanek. This should be so much better right? Well, based on the first 14 games, we’ve seen a whopping one game improvement.

In 2006, the Royals started strong with a 2-3 home stand. All they had to do was have a mildly successful nine-game road trip and they’d start generating some confidence and keep the fans coming back. So, what did they do? They went 0-9 on the road. Nothing ever really improved after that point. Just that quick, they were 2-12 and out of contention. So, now we have all these high hopes for 2007. So what do they do? They open up 2-4 at home, but they played Payroll, Jr. (Boston Red Sox) and the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers. Plus, they got some great pitching performances. The only concern were their quiet bats. All they needed to do was have a mildly successful 10-game road trip. 4-6 would do it. So, what happens? The only two positives are a win in the second game in Toronto and a rain out of the fourth game in Baltimore. That’s right. They are 1-7 on the trip. They did give up grand slams in three consecutive games, so that was pretty cool. And David DeJesus. That guy’s awesome. But, if they lose this afternoon, they come home at 3-12. If they win, it’s 4-11. That single win can make a world of difference. If they don’t get it, the wheels might just come off again.

So, as you probably know from reading this site, it’s time for me to make a couple of well-intended suggestions. Look, I love the Royals and always will. And I’m in no way saying that the front office hasn’t considered these options. Perhaps they have. What I am saying is that there are a couple of things I would do in order to keep that feeling of hope for winning Royals baseball, especially if they aren’t going to actually win on the field. So, here are my top three suggestions.

1) Trade Mike Sweeney. Now, I’m not saying trade him today, because I think he’s hitting .162 and you’re not going to get much considering his injury history. But, as soon as he warms up a bit and gets that average up to about .250, I say start shopping. Two reasons: First, he’s still a big enough name to draw some interest from those teams that like to spend in the A.L. – the Angels, Red Sox and Yankees all might take a look. Second, you’ve got a better hitter cooling his heals in Wichita. Let Billy Butler take over the D.H. duties. We want to see him in K.C.

2) Play Reggie Sanders every day. The man is hitting .391. He deserves to be on the field every single day until they decide to trade him. And they will decide to trade him. Reggie is playing his way into the perfect fourth outfielder/pinch hitter on any contender in either league. If he stays healthy, he’s going to command some decent value in return come late June, early July. Let him show off what he’s got so we can get something back for him.

3) Start looking for a new manager. This must be done quietly. I’m not in any way trying to disparage Buddy Bell’s character. He seems to be a truly nice guy. He is not, however, by any stretch of the imagination, a successful major league manager. At the end of this season, if not sooner, he needs to go. We need someone who knows how to prepare a team to play. This team has been woefully unprepared for several years. Buddy is not the answer. He been keeping the seat warm since Tony Pena quit, but he hasn’t shown the ability to motivate the players or manage the game. I’m not saying do it now, but at least by the end of the year, be ready to hire someone new.

So, that’s it. That’s where I would start. Well, that’s not quite true. The place to start is by getting a win this afternoon. Then come home and build on it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Kansas City is a baseball town. It always will be. We want a competitive team and the parts are tantalizingly close. We’re almost there. We just need a win to keep the hope alive.