I have never been interested in a downtown stadium. I find the one way streets downtown irritatingly narrow and getting in and out of the area is a challenge…and then there is the parking issue. Out at the truman sports complex we have the luxury of getting in and out of the facility with ease and there are plenty of parking spots for both royals and chiefs fans. Why is there no vision in kansas city? Why can’t we come up with something special that will draw people all year long? Put stores out there…that you can’t find anywhere else, put great restaurants in that are unique and add one or two “classy hotels” that people will look forward to staying in.

It is sad that we have this wonderful facility and nothing to be proud of around it. The only reason we have fans and radio talk show hosts screaming for a downtown ballpark is because in other cities there is so much to do around those parks. We don’t need to abandon kauffman stadium the way we did kemper, we can build around “The K” and make it something unique to the sports world. Here’s one idea, what if we built up a rustic theme around the area with a couple of world class hotels, first class restaurants that were decorated in that same theme and then shops that would bring “shoppers” out even if the royals and chiefs weren’t playing.

What if we had some kind of light rail that connected this place to the bass pro shop in independence? I think it is time to start taking advantage of what we have in the truman sports complex and make it the greatest sports/shopping/vacation destination in the world. I don’t want another abandoned facility and I certainly don’t want to move either team downtown. Let’s get some vision in kansas city and think outside the box. They did in Kansas City, KS around a racetrack…and if no one on the missouri side is capable of having vision, then let’s start putting people in office who have some. I’m tired of hearing about the Mayor’s Wife and We’ve had enough school superintendents.

It is time to take advantage of what we have, to take it to the next level. It can be done. It should be done. I don’t want to see empty land, trailer parks and strip clubs around the sports complex. I want to make this city great.

The “young guns” if you will…were brought up together with no real veteran leadership. They didn’t learn how to win at this level…in fact losing became a way of life. So now…when we want this team to reach another level…we have a “core” of players who should be playing “lights out” in their prime…but don’t have that day in and day out intensity. They don’t have the fire on a consistent basis.

Their experience in the big leagues was special treatement. They were led to believe they were here to save a franchise…and win or lose… their jobs were secure. They never really “earned the right” to be here. They had potential..but never stayed down in the minors long enough to solidify it. I’m not saying they don’t have talent. They do…but they never really put in their time…they were “babied” and so they are not battle tested. Several of those players seem to easily lose focus. They don’t have the passion you need in a marathon season.

Back in the 80′s..the royals brought up three young pitchers to start in their rotation. Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza and Danny Jackson were the “stars” of the staff…But they had veterans like George Brett, Hal McRae, Frank White, Charlie Leibrandt, Dan Quisenberry and veteran Catcher Jim Sundberg to set the standard, to show them the ropes…to keep them in line.

Today’s core group learned from journeymen free agents who were here to resurrect their own careers or guys who were coming off injuries…and they used kansas city as a place to get a paycheck. This core group..had no one to show them baseball etiquette..or baseball success. Do you remember when the royals even gave guys houses? These young guys were so secure in their jobs here, there was no hunger. That attitude still raises it’s ugly head now and then…I recognized the monster during that recent 8 game losing streak. The guys who lost patience at the plate, who played defense like they had holes in their gloves…they couldn’t figure out how to overcome adversity.

Dayton Moore saw the problem when he came to kansas City. He realized the cupboard was bare in the minors and he has had to work to fix that problem.

But one problem still haunts us…”the Core” needs to learn how to win. It’s an attitude, a work ethic..something they have yet to master. I believe Dayton and Manager Trey Hillman are trying to fix it…but old habits die hard and I think that’s why this team can at any time..go in the tank for awhile. Until it is fixed..we are going to keep seeing these ups and downs.

Three years ago he almost walked away from the game because he just couldn’t handle the environment the Royals had put him in. He wasn’t emotionally ready to be the saviour of a losing franchise. He was drafted out of high school and he needed time to grow up…time to be around players his own age. But the Royals expected too much too soon back then. He had the talent, but he needed the time to develop emotionally.

To watch him now, it’s scary to think..he could have missed all this…

That time away from the game helped him. When he came back a few weeks later…he pitched in Double A Wichita…and played on a team with players his own age. He started enjoying the game again.
This year..His personal life is rock solid..he is engaged to a woman he has known since High School.
On the field…He is finally working with a pitching coach who isn’t trying to re-invent his wheel. Bob McClure has figured out how to challenge Zack and has helped him reach the next level.
Zack has always had the ability to throw several pitches..at different speeds, but now he has the confidence to use them to dominate hitters.
Zack can use any pitch to set up any other pitch and that is truly amazing.
Like a chess player he loves to “set up” hitters and get them to “bite” on that nasty slider. He doesn’t change his arm motion when throwing and that leaves a batter helpless to read what is coming.
Zack says McClure persuaded him to start mixing up his repetoire..
Most pitchers have a dominant…”bread and butter” Pitch..a Pitch they use to set up everything else. Zack has lots of them. That’s why he can throw any pitch to set up any other pitch. He can bear down and throw a 97 mile an hour fast ball..he can step back and throw a painfully slow curve. He is a master on the mound…having his way with opposing teams.
The numbers speak for themselves..he leads the league with 6 wins, 54 strike outs and and ERA of 00.40.
But the true success of the season is that…he is an overcomer…He could’ve given up…but didn’t. He could’ve been so confused by every pitching coach who wanted to change his mechanics..that he couldn’t figure out how to be himself.
Zack now knows who he is and what he can do. And just in time…at the age of 25..he is just entering his peak years.
I don’t think you are seeing a fluke…this is the beginning of great things to come…Zack is just stepping out into an amazing ability he has had his entire life…He has now learned how to crank it up to the Major League Level.
I applaud the Royals for signing him to a 4 year deal before the season started.
And Zack is one of the those rare indivduals who will stay with this team as long as he is happy and the team is committed to winning.
He signed up for four years because he saw the direction things were going. He told me during the winter that David Glass is the MVP of the team, for stepping up and bringing in the players the royals needed, despite the cost.
I think this could be a very happy marriage for years to come.
As long as he stays healthy…and the Royals continue their commitment to winning…Zack will stay here. He was truly touched by the fans the other night…who cheered him on against the whitesox…That kind of support will make sure he stays a royal.
But beyond that…Fans should want to go out to “The K” just to marvel at a “one-of-a-kind” talent…
He can do what few have ever been able to dream about in the game of baseball. It is fun to watch the Master work. Greinke is great…and Royals fans need to come out to the games and enjoy it!

Barack Obama is our new president…and i find my self cheering and celebrating with all those who went to Washington to witness history. There is something about this man that inspires me and makes me believe everything is going to be alright! A man who has shattered racial barriers just by caring about his country and giving encouragement and compassion to all Americans…especially those who have given up on their own dreams.

I am most touched by the passion of the people..people of all shapes and sizes..of all colors and religions…somehow..this one man has given the hopeless..a reason to hope…he has given the down hearted a reason to smile…he has given those who have forgotten how to trust..a reason to believe…he has given those of us who pray..a tangible answer to those prayers.       

I have never seen this kind of excitement for a president..it is usually reserved for sports….

I remember the way this city cheered when the royals won the world series in 1985…I received a champaign shower doing interviews in the lockeroom afterwards…to this day..people still come up to me and talk to me about that great celebration we all enjoyed after game 7.

I felt a sense of that passion in 2003..when tony pena kept telling fans “We Believe” and this city came alive as the royals were in first place for a good chunk of the season.

And for years..that passion could be felt every sunday at arrowhead..no wonder players around the nfl said kansas city was the toughest place to play.

But nothing in the sports world compares to this. Today we shouldn’t be concerned about who the chiefs next head coach should be…it shouldn’t matter..this one day…if the royals made enough “off season” moves to win a division title…

For this one day..we should take in all the passion and the hope rekindled in this great nation. We have an inspirational man ready and willing to tackle the problems in this great country.

Sports fans think it’s amazing that  the arizona cardinals are  headed to the superbowl…

But I challenge all Americans to realize..the greatest turn around is yet to come…

America is going to bounce back..I can feel it in the passion and the emotion of the people who make up this great country. And today..that’s just better than sports!