Jim Chappell, the owner of Chappell's Restaurant in North Kansas City, loves to tell stories. Especially other people's. One of his favorites is from Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson. According to Chappell, Dawson said tackle Dave Hill perfected the "Watch Out!" block. A defensive lineman would get past Hill and he'd turn around to Dawson and shout "Watch Out!"
I'm going to provide a "Watch Out!" block for KU.
In case you haven't heard, the No. 2-ranked Oregon Ducks were knocked off by Arizona last night. The Ducks are about the 47th team this season to hold the No. 2 ranking only to be upset. They're following in the footsteps of teams such as USC and USF. Although the Jayhawks won't officially be the second-ranked team in the country when they take on Iowa State this weekend, it may feel like it. The Cyclones have been surging in recent weeks. So, KU, "Watch Out!"
But, assuming KU gets past Iowa State, they'll likely be second-ranked in the polls when they meet a great Missouri team at Arrowhead on Thanksgiving weekend. Probably enough said. Kansas will be in good company, though.
****
On a side note, Dave-O and I will have a special KU-MU "Behind the Stats" show next week. Since it's Thanksgiving, we're taping on Monday, Nov. 19, at noon at Chappell's (323 Armour Road). Right now we're scheduled to have Steve Renko and Frank Seurer representing KU and Corby Jones representing MU. (We're awaiting word from another ex-Tiger.) We hope you can join us then. If not, and even if so, be sure to listen Thanksgiving night from 6-7 p.m. on 1140-AM and 1160-AM in the Kansas City area.
Matt
Friday, November 16, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Catbackers Unite
Before the time gets away, Dave and I want to thank the KC Catbackers for allowing us to look like a couple of goofballs last Tuesday at their weekly gathering at the Lucky Brewgrille in Mission. In case you're a K-State fan, you definitely want to check out this group. Besides their downfall of inviting Dave and I, they have a great time and they love their Wildcats.
I've found through my unscientific research that K-State fans are some of the best (translated: nicest) fans in college sports. That certainly held true last week.
Even though the CD we took to display some of our better "Behind the Stats" shows didn't so much work, we're hoping you guys enjoyed at least some of our stories. (The clips that were on that CD, incidentally, can be accessed here.)
By the way, here's my lone shameless plug of the day. If you're looking for a good place to nap next Sunday the 18th around 3 p.m., come by Claridge Court at about 80th and Mission. I'll be there telling stories from a couple of my books.
Well, one more plug. Former Chiefs quarterback Bill Kenney will be our guest on "Behind the Stats" this Thursday. Stop by Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum on Thursday night from 6-7 to join us for an entertaining guest.
Matt
I've found through my unscientific research that K-State fans are some of the best (translated: nicest) fans in college sports. That certainly held true last week.
Even though the CD we took to display some of our better "Behind the Stats" shows didn't so much work, we're hoping you guys enjoyed at least some of our stories. (The clips that were on that CD, incidentally, can be accessed here.)
By the way, here's my lone shameless plug of the day. If you're looking for a good place to nap next Sunday the 18th around 3 p.m., come by Claridge Court at about 80th and Mission. I'll be there telling stories from a couple of my books.
Well, one more plug. Former Chiefs quarterback Bill Kenney will be our guest on "Behind the Stats" this Thursday. Stop by Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum on Thursday night from 6-7 to join us for an entertaining guest.
Matt
Friday, October 26, 2007
That's It for the Rocks
Rosie O, start tuning your vocal cords. The Colorado Rockies are about finished.
Who saw this one coming? (C'mon, the Rockies are a very good baseball team.)
I didn't. I thought Boston would win the first game of the Series and then Colorado would take the second. But, as we've seen in Kansas City so often in recent years, a relatively young team with relatively young arms usually struggles in a longer series against a veteran team that knows how to win.
It didn't help that the Rockies had eight days off. For a recent article on Metro Sports' Web site, Royals Hall of Famer Willie Wilson told me that when the Royals had three days between the ALCS and the World Series against the Phillies in 1980, it pretty much killed them. He said at this point of the season, if you take more than two days off your timing is shot. It's been obvious with the Rockies.
That's too bad. I predicted a six-game series. Oh well. A great season for ex-Royals Clint Hurdle and Jamie Quirk.
Matt
Who saw this one coming? (C'mon, the Rockies are a very good baseball team.)
I didn't. I thought Boston would win the first game of the Series and then Colorado would take the second. But, as we've seen in Kansas City so often in recent years, a relatively young team with relatively young arms usually struggles in a longer series against a veteran team that knows how to win.
It didn't help that the Rockies had eight days off. For a recent article on Metro Sports' Web site, Royals Hall of Famer Willie Wilson told me that when the Royals had three days between the ALCS and the World Series against the Phillies in 1980, it pretty much killed them. He said at this point of the season, if you take more than two days off your timing is shot. It's been obvious with the Rockies.
That's too bad. I predicted a six-game series. Oh well. A great season for ex-Royals Clint Hurdle and Jamie Quirk.
Matt
Saturday, September 22, 2007
A Tale of Two Guests
I need to preface this by saying that I've never called out (or thrown under the bus, if you will) anyone I've interviewed during my career. And, believe me, as anyone in the media can tell you, there are plenty of times we'd like to. Sure, I've talked about a few privately -- that's just human nature.
But the more I think about this story, the more I feel I need to apologize to you, our listener.
A couple of weeks ago we were scheduled to have Clay Johnson, former Missouri Tiger basketball player, as well as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers' famed "Showtime" days, on "Behind the Stats." Dave O'Hara and I both have known Clay for a few years...nice guy who wants to help the Kansas City community with his newly formed Clay Johnson Foundation. He's also a good storyteller.
That said, we generally book guests far enough in advance that we can promote it in Brad Doolittle's "Week Ahead" column on page two of Monday's "Kansas City Star" sports section. That way, when you're reading Brad's column on Monday morning, you can plan on what to bring to Chappell's that week to get autographed and so on. Last week we got a lot of questions about Clay Johnson and why he wasn't at Chappell's, as scheduled and mentioned in The Star, on the 13th.
Basically, Clay forgot. Whether he's too busy trying to get his foundation going or he had a lot on his mind with his celebrity basketball tournament, or what, he -- as much as it pains me to admit this -- was at a fashion show. Yes, we were juked for a fashion show.
Dave and I are neither egotistical nor ignorant enough to think that any guest, even someone like Clay Johnson, should feel honored to be on "Behind the Stats," and should never have anything come up that would force them to have a change of plans on the day of the show. However, Clay asked Dave to let him come on the 13th so he could promote his event and kick off his charity.
Guests calling, sometimes at the last minute, to cancel is part of this business. It's not ideal but it happens. In Clay's case, he didn't even call. Dave, about 10 minutes into the show, after we realized you didn't want to listen to us ramble much more about traffic and the Tour of Missouri, called Clay.
We ended up doing a 25-minute phone interview with Clay, which was fine. But, again, on behalf of Dave and our sponsors, I want to apologize especially to those of you who came to Chappell's expecting to meet Mr. Johnson.
So, all of this makes me wonder about the future of his foundation. Pardon the cynicism but if attending a fashion show makes him forget about a radio appearance that he had planned to promote these things, what does the future hold for his foundation? I didn't watch any news coverage last weekend, but I understand his celebrity game went very well, at least all four stations covered it during their news. Although you shouldn't get your hopes up to hear Clay on "Behind the Stats" in the future, it will be interesting to see how his foundation works out. It really seems like a great cause for youth in the Kansas City area.
After a great time last week with Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde on "Behind the Stats," we're scheduled to be joined by former KU great and another Chiefs HOFer, Curtis McClinton. When Curtis and I spoke over the weekend, he was looking forward to the show and meeting some great fans.
We hope you can join us in person this Thursday, 6-7 p.m. at Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum at 323 Armour Road in North Kansas City. If not, tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM. And, as always, you can find more info than you care to learn about the show at www.mattfulks.com.
Matt
But the more I think about this story, the more I feel I need to apologize to you, our listener.
A couple of weeks ago we were scheduled to have Clay Johnson, former Missouri Tiger basketball player, as well as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers' famed "Showtime" days, on "Behind the Stats." Dave O'Hara and I both have known Clay for a few years...nice guy who wants to help the Kansas City community with his newly formed Clay Johnson Foundation. He's also a good storyteller.
That said, we generally book guests far enough in advance that we can promote it in Brad Doolittle's "Week Ahead" column on page two of Monday's "Kansas City Star" sports section. That way, when you're reading Brad's column on Monday morning, you can plan on what to bring to Chappell's that week to get autographed and so on. Last week we got a lot of questions about Clay Johnson and why he wasn't at Chappell's, as scheduled and mentioned in The Star, on the 13th.
Basically, Clay forgot. Whether he's too busy trying to get his foundation going or he had a lot on his mind with his celebrity basketball tournament, or what, he -- as much as it pains me to admit this -- was at a fashion show. Yes, we were juked for a fashion show.
Dave and I are neither egotistical nor ignorant enough to think that any guest, even someone like Clay Johnson, should feel honored to be on "Behind the Stats," and should never have anything come up that would force them to have a change of plans on the day of the show. However, Clay asked Dave to let him come on the 13th so he could promote his event and kick off his charity.
Guests calling, sometimes at the last minute, to cancel is part of this business. It's not ideal but it happens. In Clay's case, he didn't even call. Dave, about 10 minutes into the show, after we realized you didn't want to listen to us ramble much more about traffic and the Tour of Missouri, called Clay.
We ended up doing a 25-minute phone interview with Clay, which was fine. But, again, on behalf of Dave and our sponsors, I want to apologize especially to those of you who came to Chappell's expecting to meet Mr. Johnson.
So, all of this makes me wonder about the future of his foundation. Pardon the cynicism but if attending a fashion show makes him forget about a radio appearance that he had planned to promote these things, what does the future hold for his foundation? I didn't watch any news coverage last weekend, but I understand his celebrity game went very well, at least all four stations covered it during their news. Although you shouldn't get your hopes up to hear Clay on "Behind the Stats" in the future, it will be interesting to see how his foundation works out. It really seems like a great cause for youth in the Kansas City area.
After a great time last week with Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde on "Behind the Stats," we're scheduled to be joined by former KU great and another Chiefs HOFer, Curtis McClinton. When Curtis and I spoke over the weekend, he was looking forward to the show and meeting some great fans.
We hope you can join us in person this Thursday, 6-7 p.m. at Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum at 323 Armour Road in North Kansas City. If not, tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM. And, as always, you can find more info than you care to learn about the show at www.mattfulks.com.
Matt
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