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
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Belichick and Bonds go hand in hand
You'll be happy to know that today's post is going to be short (albeit not sweet -- you'd expect nothing less). But I need to quickly lead some of you away from the idea that what Bill Belichick and the Patriots did isn't as wrong as what Barry Bonds (allegedly) did because "Belichick was just looking for a competitive advantage."
I'm not a fan of Bonds. I don't particularly have a strong affection for Belichick. That said, what Belichick did was wrong. NFL teams were warned before the season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that videotaping another team was strictly prohibited. What do the Patriots do in their first game of the year? They use videotape against the Jets. The Patriots are probably good enough (and the Jets bad enough) that they didn't need to resort to cheating. In football, there's really no telling how much knowing the signals really helps. It's not like in baseball where, if a team steals its opponents pitching signs and can relay that somehow to the hitter before each pitch, it's a tremendous help.
However, what Belichick did was wrong. Period. He blatantly went against rules that were explicitly laid out before the season. And he deserves whatever punishment Goodell hands down.
What Barry Bonds allegedly did, was wrong. Steroids in whatever form are wrong. Against the rules. By using them, like Belichick, he was looking for an advantage. If Major League Baseball ever proves it, Bonds should be punished.
But by saying what Belichick did wasn't as bad as Bonds and, therefore, shouldn't be said in the same breath, is ludicrous, ignorant or hypocritical. Take your pick.
One more thing. I recently heard someone say that George Brett, because of the Pine Tar Game, was one of the top cheaters of all time. Evidently, the person was a Yankees' fan. Everything George Brett touched as a player had pine tar. Helmet, jersey, you name it. Pine tar up to the label on a bat wouldn't help the ball fly any farther. Sorry.
OK, now one more thing. Be sure to join Dave O'Hara and I tonight at Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum in North Kansas City for the "Behind the Stats" radio show from 6-7. Former Mizzou and L.A. Laker player Clay Johnson will be our guest. Either stop by and join us (and try to answer the Chappell's Trivia Tour question) or tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM.
Until then, have a day.
Matt
(www.mattfulks.com)
I'm not a fan of Bonds. I don't particularly have a strong affection for Belichick. That said, what Belichick did was wrong. NFL teams were warned before the season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that videotaping another team was strictly prohibited. What do the Patriots do in their first game of the year? They use videotape against the Jets. The Patriots are probably good enough (and the Jets bad enough) that they didn't need to resort to cheating. In football, there's really no telling how much knowing the signals really helps. It's not like in baseball where, if a team steals its opponents pitching signs and can relay that somehow to the hitter before each pitch, it's a tremendous help.
However, what Belichick did was wrong. Period. He blatantly went against rules that were explicitly laid out before the season. And he deserves whatever punishment Goodell hands down.
What Barry Bonds allegedly did, was wrong. Steroids in whatever form are wrong. Against the rules. By using them, like Belichick, he was looking for an advantage. If Major League Baseball ever proves it, Bonds should be punished.
But by saying what Belichick did wasn't as bad as Bonds and, therefore, shouldn't be said in the same breath, is ludicrous, ignorant or hypocritical. Take your pick.
One more thing. I recently heard someone say that George Brett, because of the Pine Tar Game, was one of the top cheaters of all time. Evidently, the person was a Yankees' fan. Everything George Brett touched as a player had pine tar. Helmet, jersey, you name it. Pine tar up to the label on a bat wouldn't help the ball fly any farther. Sorry.
OK, now one more thing. Be sure to join Dave O'Hara and I tonight at Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum in North Kansas City for the "Behind the Stats" radio show from 6-7. Former Mizzou and L.A. Laker player Clay Johnson will be our guest. Either stop by and join us (and try to answer the Chappell's Trivia Tour question) or tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM.
Until then, have a day.
Matt
(www.mattfulks.com)
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Tour is Here!
For most of you who care, this isn't news to you. For the rest of you, here you go: the Tour of Missouri begins in Kansas City tomorrow (Tuesday)! What's the Tour of Missouri? It's a professional bike race that will be similar (albeit 3x shorter) than the Tour de France. This year marks the first annual race in Missouri, which is only one of three of its kind in the United States.
Here's the really cool thing about this year's race. It's the final race for the potent Discovery Channel team, the one that featured Lance Armstrong, the one that had this year's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and third-place finisher, American Levi Leipheimer. Armstrong's long-time teammate George Hincapie also will be racing.
Having a chance to see the start and finish of a cycling race, even if you're not a cyclist or pay much attention to the sport, is going to be a unique and thrilling experience. Besides the pageantry and excitement surrounding the event at the start, inevitably in a race such as this, there will be an exciting finish. Not to mention, it's starting and finishing at the Plaza.
Some more information can be found on the Tour of Missouri's Web site...here is the page on Kansas City. (There also was a two-page spread in the sports section of Sunday's Kansas City Star.)
This is a chance for the state of Missouri, beginning with us in Kansas City (although I don't claim to be from Missouri), to show off our area to the world.
I hope to see you there.
Matt Fulks
Here's the really cool thing about this year's race. It's the final race for the potent Discovery Channel team, the one that featured Lance Armstrong, the one that had this year's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and third-place finisher, American Levi Leipheimer. Armstrong's long-time teammate George Hincapie also will be racing.
Having a chance to see the start and finish of a cycling race, even if you're not a cyclist or pay much attention to the sport, is going to be a unique and thrilling experience. Besides the pageantry and excitement surrounding the event at the start, inevitably in a race such as this, there will be an exciting finish. Not to mention, it's starting and finishing at the Plaza.
Some more information can be found on the Tour of Missouri's Web site...here is the page on Kansas City. (There also was a two-page spread in the sports section of Sunday's Kansas City Star.)
This is a chance for the state of Missouri, beginning with us in Kansas City (although I don't claim to be from Missouri), to show off our area to the world.
I hope to see you there.
Matt Fulks
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Mangino rant is right on
I will start off by saying that, although I grew up in the Kansas City area, I attended college at a small school in Tennessee. So, I don't have any financial allegiance to any schools in this area. Also, I happened to be in Tennessee over the Labor Day weekend and am just now hearing about Kansas football coach Mark Mangino's berating of wide receiver/kick returner Raimond Pendleton. Although it looked as if he was about to have a heart attack -- literally -- and he dropped many more F-bombs than I'd prefer hearing, his actions were fantastic.
In case you didn't witness it in person, have you seen the YouTube video? Just type in "Mark Mangino" and you'll see a video that's getting some tremendous play and responses.
I wrote extensively about this in my "Behind the Stats" column for Metro Sports' Web site this week (www.kcondemand.com), but I just have to say, regardless of your argument, I believe Mark Mangino had every right to do what he did to Pendleton. Yes, Pendleton was excited and did what many other athletes do -- enjoyed the moment. Celebrated in his own way. Yada, yada, yada.
But what Mangino did is also part of sports. Coaches sometimes berate or call out their athletes. I was in a locker room one time when a coach, while yelling at one of his main players, "accidentally" smacked him upside the head. It stunned everyone in the room. And I was the only person not directly a part of the team. So, if it stunned the players and other coaches, you know it shocked me a little. Did the coach mean to do it? Only he knows for sure. The coach and the player are friends of mine, and both have said it was a heat of the moment kind of thing. It happens in sports, particularly when a coach is trying to foster a team attitude.
In order to build a team concept, as Mangino is trying to do with Kansas football, a coach has to make sure each individual on that team is on the same page. Dick Howser did that. Bill Snyder did that. Vince Lombardi did that. John Wooden did that. Even Bobby Knight does that. That's not to compare Mangino to those legends, but I'm hoping you get the point.
Coaches are not perfect people. Even someone like Wooden, who's widely considered one of the top coaches in the history of sports, has said he wasn't perfect. But he was demanding of his players. And he got their respect because of that.
Mark Mangino is trying to do the same thing. He demands a lot from his players and the other people around him. In the long run, though, that's what will help build a better football program at Kansas.
By the way, in case you haven't done so yet, be sure to check out Dave O'Hara's latest post from Tuesday, right below this one.
That's it for now. We look forward to seeing everyone at Chappell's Restaurant in North Kansas City Thursday night as we welcome KC music icon Tony DiPardo on "Behind the Stats" from 6-7 p.m. If you can't make it to see the show live, be sure to tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM.
Matt Fulks
In case you didn't witness it in person, have you seen the YouTube video? Just type in "Mark Mangino" and you'll see a video that's getting some tremendous play and responses.
I wrote extensively about this in my "Behind the Stats" column for Metro Sports' Web site this week (www.kcondemand.com), but I just have to say, regardless of your argument, I believe Mark Mangino had every right to do what he did to Pendleton. Yes, Pendleton was excited and did what many other athletes do -- enjoyed the moment. Celebrated in his own way. Yada, yada, yada.
But what Mangino did is also part of sports. Coaches sometimes berate or call out their athletes. I was in a locker room one time when a coach, while yelling at one of his main players, "accidentally" smacked him upside the head. It stunned everyone in the room. And I was the only person not directly a part of the team. So, if it stunned the players and other coaches, you know it shocked me a little. Did the coach mean to do it? Only he knows for sure. The coach and the player are friends of mine, and both have said it was a heat of the moment kind of thing. It happens in sports, particularly when a coach is trying to foster a team attitude.
In order to build a team concept, as Mangino is trying to do with Kansas football, a coach has to make sure each individual on that team is on the same page. Dick Howser did that. Bill Snyder did that. Vince Lombardi did that. John Wooden did that. Even Bobby Knight does that. That's not to compare Mangino to those legends, but I'm hoping you get the point.
Coaches are not perfect people. Even someone like Wooden, who's widely considered one of the top coaches in the history of sports, has said he wasn't perfect. But he was demanding of his players. And he got their respect because of that.
Mark Mangino is trying to do the same thing. He demands a lot from his players and the other people around him. In the long run, though, that's what will help build a better football program at Kansas.
By the way, in case you haven't done so yet, be sure to check out Dave O'Hara's latest post from Tuesday, right below this one.
That's it for now. We look forward to seeing everyone at Chappell's Restaurant in North Kansas City Thursday night as we welcome KC music icon Tony DiPardo on "Behind the Stats" from 6-7 p.m. If you can't make it to see the show live, be sure to tune in to 1140-AM or 1160-AM.
Matt Fulks
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Frank White is a Hall of Famer in Every Way
We appreciate those of you loyal listeners that joined us at Chappell's for a great time with Royals Hall of Fame 2nd Baseman, Frank White. Frank was very engaging and candid, as always. Whether he was discussing the possibility of managing or what it was like playing for his hometown Royals, Frank handled our interview with his usual dignity and class. His usual "frankness," if you will. He also discussed the finer points of his book, "Good as Gold: Techniques for Fundamental Baseball," which you can purchase, signed, at mattfulks.com. Thanks again to Frank White. We look forward to future shows with him.
Please join Matt and me at 6pm this Thursday from Chappell's. We will be helping all of KC get ready to kick off the Chiefs' regular season. Our guest will be Chiefs' bandleader and KC legend, Tony DiPardo. Tony will be signing and selling his bobblehead and also his book, "Life, Love, Music, and Football." (Proceeds from the sale of the bobblehead will go to the TD Music Foundation.)
Go Chiefs,
Dave
Please join Matt and me at 6pm this Thursday from Chappell's. We will be helping all of KC get ready to kick off the Chiefs' regular season. Our guest will be Chiefs' bandleader and KC legend, Tony DiPardo. Tony will be signing and selling his bobblehead and also his book, "Life, Love, Music, and Football." (Proceeds from the sale of the bobblehead will go to the TD Music Foundation.)
Go Chiefs,
Dave
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