Frank White's Coming To Chappell's

In case you haven't heard yet, I just wanted to give you a heads up that we have a special "Behind the Stats" planned for you this week, Aug. 30. Royals Hall of Fame second baseman (and someone who should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame) Frank White will be joining Dave and I for a fun and candid night.

Although each guest each week is "special" in some way, we're adding a little something extra this week. Frank will be at Chappell's a little longer as he signs copies of his book, "Good As Gold: Techniques for Fundamental Baseball." We'll be selling books at Chappell's for $20. Most of the time with "Behind the Stats" you're more than welcome to bring whatever you want to bring to have signed. In a way, you can do that this week, but there's a catch. As with a "traditional" book signing, Frank will sign one piece of memorabilia for each book that you buy to have signed. I apologize for any inconvenience. The shindig will begin at 5 p.m. and last until the end of the show, 7 p.m.

Since Frank's book is an instructional book on how to play better fundamental baseball, we'll ask Frank a few questions during the show about some different baseball plays and techniques. If there's a question you want us to ask Frank about playing the game of baseball, please feel free to send an email to mattfulks@hotmail.com before Thursday morning and we'll do our best to ask Frank about it during the show.

As a bonus, if we ask your question on the air, you'll receive a pass for two to the upcoming 23rd Annual "Pork Out" at the Airline History Museum. The charity event, which is scheduled for Saturday night, Sept. 8, will feature a Celebrity Texas Hold'em Tournament hosted by former Chiefs player Danan Hughes.

You know, it just hit me that this blog is nothing more than a big advertisement. For everything. I guess that's a good thing about blogs.

Maybe next time I'll have something better to write.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you Thursday night at Chappell's in North Kansas City.

Matt

Steve Palermo, Calling It, Like He Sees It, On and Off the Field!

Friends,

Thanks to those of you who came out to see Matt and me host our weekly radio show from Chappell's and thoroughly enjoy ourselves by having a conversation with MLB umpire, survivor and our new hero, Steve Palermo. Steve handled every question with a very entertaining and detailed story. In particular, Steve detailed his experiences of umpiring 1977's Yanks vs. BoSox "Bucky Dent" game, in his native Boston and of being shot, that 1991 July night in Dallas. As per usual, the fun didn't stop after the show, as Steve, his wife Debbie and their friend Jackie, swapped stories with the hosts and patrons.
A huge thank you, again, goes out to Steve, Debbie and Jackie. Thanks also to Jim and his wonderful staff at Chappell's and to Brad Doolittle, KC Star sports writer, who includes our show guest list in each Monday's page 2 column, "The Week Ahead".
Please join us this Thursday, August 23rd. Our guest will be former Royal catcher, Mike McFarlane.

Keep Listening,

Dave

John Wathan is "The Duke", Indeed

In case you missed "Behind the Stats" radio show last week, you missed a very candid and playful John "The Duke" Wathan. If you did catch the show, you know what I mean. The former Royals player, coach, manager, broadcaster, scout and current roving baserunning/catching coach, was very engaging and insightful. Numerous times during the broadcast, he commented how he had never shared certain stories publicly before, how quickly the hour went, and what a great place Chappell's was to do this show -- thanks Jim.

Well Duke, Matt and I would say the same back to you. We appreciated your candor in your storytelling and we felt as though 60 minutes seemed like 15 minutes. We will definitely take you up on your offer, that when your schedule permits, we will have you back on the show.

Stay tuned this week as former MLB Umpire, Steve Palermo joins Matt and me.

Please be sure to check out our weekly show guest list. It's in every Monday's KC Star sports section, in Brad Doolittle's article on page 2. Thanks Brad.

Thanks again to you, our loyal listeners,

Dave O'Hara

Riding For A Cause

This might not be the time nor the place for a post such as this, but please humor me for a few minutes while I solicit from you.

For the past couple of years, I've participated in the MS 150 Bike Tour. The weekend of riding helps raise money for the MS (multiple sclerosis) Society. It's an incredible cause and they've done great work for people who suffer from MS. This year, however, due to a close relative and numerous friends fighting cancer, I've decided to ride in the "Sunflowers to Roses" Bike Tour, which is a 62-mile ride to raise money for cancer research and programs, next Sunday, August 19.

Why this ride? Well, like most people, I've already been touched by cancer's wrath more than once. About a week before last year's MS 150, a close uncle who was the reason I went to Lipscomb University and the reason I became a writer, lost a battle with cancer. Even before that, though, in 1991, at the start of my first senior year at Lipscomb, one of my best friends -- and my first broadcasting partner -- lost a quick battle with cancer.

My wife and I have had other friends who have either battled cancer or had others in their family (children and parents) fight cancer during the past 12-18 months. Simply put, cancer sucks. And I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help find a cure.

I have a goal this year of raising $1023 to support the Sunflowers to Roses organization which raises money for both Kansas City area cancer treatment centers (i.e. the KU Cancer Center) as well as national organizations such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Bike For Life Children's Cancer Camp. I am meekly asking for your help in making my goal. If you'd be interested in helping, please visit my Sunflower to Roses site and sponsor me online today. (And, yes, every donation is tax deductible.)

And, this will be the only time I ask you for money. Unless you want to sponsor the "Behind the Stats" radio show. Or, if you're offering money.

Thanks!
Matt Fulks

Upcoming....the "Duke"

It's been more than a week since I returned from Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony and, especially, to see our friend Denny Matthews receive the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. It was a thrill for me to live vicariously through Denny that weekend as we worked on the daily "Denny's Diary" for Metro Sports' Web site. (You might still be able to go to http://www.kcmetrosports.com or http://www.kcondemand.com and read the three entries.) It was especially interesting to see how busy the Hall of Famers and award winners are during the weekend. I also got a kick out of hearing the excitement in Denny's voice after meeting some of the players he followed as a child such as Willie Mays, Monte Irvin and Sandy Koufax. One day, Lord willing, I'll tell you about one of my big thrills, which was sitting down with famed author and sports historian Bert Sugar.

In the meantime, the "Behind the Stats" radio show goes on. Last week, August 2, former major-league pitcher and Leawood resident Steve Renko joined us. Besides being a solid big-league pitcher, Steve also was a three-sport letterwinner at the University of Kansas. Great stories.

Speaking of great stories, this week's guest will be former Royals player, coach, manager, scout, broadcaster John "Duke" Wathan. Overall this is his 31st season with the Royals organization.

As I wrote in a "Where Have You Gone?" article for Metro Sports earlier this season, Wathan’s career with the Royals started as the club’s first-round selection in the 1971 January Free Agent Draft. Even though many felt he’d never make it to the big leagues, he played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, 1976-85. One of his crowning moments came in August 1982, when he set the single-season record for stolen bases by a catcher against the Rangers. It’s a record that stands today and could have Wathan’s name next to it for years to come.

Besides being a solid player, Wathan is a great storyteller. The show should be a lot of fun. My co-host Dave O'Hara and I would like to invite you to join us live during the show at Chappell's Sports Museum and Restaurant (323 Armour Road in North Kansas City) from 6-7 p.m., Thursday. John Wathan is more than willing to meet with fans, sign autographs, have photos taken, and so on. If you can't stop by and meet "Duke," be sure to tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM.

Matt