February - Kansas City Sports & Fitness Magazine

2 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
Sports Entertainment
Report
page 10
Running & Cycling
Report
page 19
February 2010
High School Report
+ Sports Extra
page 8
Health & Fitness
Report
page 20
Bill Grigsby page 7 | Royals page 14 | Golf page 18
Mavericks Hockey page 12 | Big 12 page 3
Sports Commission Calendar of Events page 19
Commentary page 17, 25, 27 | Phrase that Pays page 27
Zack 5 Pack Contest page 15
Steve Fisch
Publisher
11730 W. 135th St., Suite 18
Overland Park, KS 66221
Phone/Fax: (913) 764-2050
Email: sfisch@kcsportspaper.com
www.kcsportspaper.com
Editor
Alan Eskew
Sales
913-764-2050
Angela Etienne, Bill Igou,
Todd Hillman, Jeff Moore
Christine McCarthy, Sales Manager
Contributing Writers
Charles Redfield, Brad Ziegler,
Alan Eskew, David Garfield,
Bill Grigsby, Alan Hoskins,
Rob Haworth, John Landsberg,
Jim Potoski, David Smale,
Marc Bowman, Kim Peterson,
Lora Edwards, Dr. Lynn McIntosh
Contributing Photographers
Scott Thomas, Ed Graunke,
Alan Hoskins,
Scott Weaver, Warren Ingram
On the Cover
Photo by Ed Graunke
Published Monthly
Entire Contents © Kansas City
Sports & Fitness 2010. The views
and opinions of the contributing writers
contained in this publication do not necessarily
reflect the views and opinions
of the editor and/or publisher.

THE COLLEGE HOOPS REPORT
The “X” Man is X-tra good
as Kansas freshman
Xavier Henry had the game and name
to go anywhere in the country to play
college basketball.
Henry, an Oklahoma City native, could
have gone to Memphis, where he originally
committed to before John Calipari bolted
the Tigers to take the Kentucky head
coaching job. Henry would have dominated
in Memphis and been a superstar from
day one.
In the end, Henry wanted to follow his
family’s legacy (both his parents and aunt
played at KU in the 1980s) and play for the
best - Kansas - the
preseason No.1 team
in the country.
He announced his
decision to be a
Jayhawk last April 23,
just 10 days after KU
stars Cole Aldrich and
Sherron Collins
declared they were
returning for the
2009-10 season.
“That was huge,”
Henry said. “They
said they had a chance
to win the title. No
better then to join
them...I’m always
down for playing with
good players or
against good players.
If I wanted to go to a
sorry team, I really
wouldn’t be a basketball
player if I just
wanted to go and be
the star of the team.
I want to win something.
That’s why you
play basketball.”
Henry has done his best this season
to help the Jayhawks win. Entering
February, Henry ranked second on the
team in scoring at 14.1 points per game.
Henry, who got off to a hot start in
November and December (17.3 points per
game on 69-133 field goal shooting for
51.9 percent), set a KU record for most
points by a freshman in his debut (27
against Hofstra on Nov. 13) and exploded
for a career-high 31 versus La Salle on
Dec. 12.
Despite a shooting slump in January
(10.5 ppg on 24-78 field goal shooting for
30.8 percent), the 6-6 frosh with the NBA
body and magnetic smile has still scored in
double figures in all but four games and is
growing more comfortable on the court,
giving Kansas a whole new dimension at
small forward with his athleticism and
natural scoring ability.
Henry will continue looking for shots.
“I’ve always been able
to shoot,” Henry said.
“My dad (Carl) always
kept me in there shooting.
If I can rely on
something, it would be
an easy jump shot, nothing
too hard about that.
“That’s what I’ve been
known to do since I was
in middle school. I like
to score.”
But Henry’s points
Photo by Ed Graunke
David
Garfield
Contributing
Writer
have come within the
system. He hasn’t
forced shots, and is
still trying to blend in
with his teammates.
“I’m more of a
team player,” Henry
said. “I like playing
with the whole team.
I got a big man All-
American (Aldrich),
a point guard All-
American (Collins).
I’m trying to fit in
and be aggressive at
the same time.”
At every level,
Henry has been the
star and go-to player.
While he’s putting up
impressive numbers
at Kansas, he’s glad
he doesn’t have to be
the man as he was at
Putnam City High
School in Oklahoma
City, where he con-
cluded his career as
the school’s’ all-time
leading scorer. Henry led Putnam City to a
Class 6A state championship his senior
year, averaging 28.3 points, 6.7 rebounds,
2.7 steals and 2.1 assists per game.
“In high school, they just counted on me
to score so they got me the ball and I’d just
go score,” Henry said. “Now I can be off
the ball and we can work through each
other and I can work through everybody
else. I don’t have to be the focal point of
every play. Everybody is a superstar and
everybody can do what they do and play
their roles just as good as I can play my
role. That makes us a better team and
makes it easier to win.”
While Henry defers the spotlight, it’s
hard to overlook his skills and great potential.
Bill Self, who is in his 17th year as
head coach overall, calls Henry the most
gifted freshman scorer he’s ever coached.
Still, Self sees room for improvement.
“As a freshman, he obviously scores the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 3

THE COLLEGE HOOPS REPORT
Where have you gone? Former KU star
Calvin Thompson using life lessons as a teaching tool
There is a certain adage about sports being a teaching
tool for life. That certainly was the case for Calvin
Thompson.
Oh, there are the stand-bys: winning and losing. But,
also, in Thompson’s case, there’s determination, hard
work, growing up, playing through pain, leadership, psychology.
And probably a few others.
As a senior, Thompson was an integral part of KU’s
Final Four team in 1986, the first Jayhawks team to reach
the national semifinals since 1974. Getting to that point,
though, wasn’t easy for Thompson.
Thompson, who grew up in Kansas City, Kan., didn’t
pick up a basketball until about the sixth grade. He said he
was “as wide as I was tall.”
“I was lazy,” said Thompson, who still lives in the
Kansas City area and runs a youth basketball program
called HOOP Service. “I would rig the net so the ball
would come back to me. That’s how I became a good
shooter. I wasn’t running after it, but I could shoot it.”
That was in the mid-1970s, right after KU had reached
the 1974 Final Four with the likes of Danny Knight and
Roger Morningstar, the father of current KU player Brady
Morningstar. Seems as though every kid in Kansas wanted
to be a Jayhawk. Including the one who was as wide as he
was tall — Thompson.
One day, he told his mom his intentions. If he had the
chance, remembers saying to her, he wanted to be a
Jayhawk. His mom chuckled. Probably a combination of
not wanting her son to get his hopes up too high, while
7 Questions with Harry Gibson
The following is from the “Behind the Stats” radio show on
SportsRadioKC.com with Matt Fulks and Steve Renko, who were joined
by former Jayhawk basketball player, Harry Gibson, who starred for the
Jayhawks during 1961-64 after an outstanding career at Wyandotte
High School.
1. My hero growing up was...?
Harry Gibson: Ray Evans, an All-
American at KU, who also happened to
be my uncle.
2. The thing I missed most about KU
after my career ended…?
HG: I missed the association with the
players. As far as on the court of what I
missed, I wish I was wearing a ring right
now.
3. My favorite movie of all-time is…?
HG: “Pride of the Yankees”
4. My favorite musician or type of music of all time is…?
HG: This might sound like an odd combination, but my favorite musician is
Elton John and my favorite type of music is country and western.
5. My favorite book of all-time is…?
HG: “Killer Angels,” which is a story of Gettysburg. It’s a fictionalized
account of Gettysburg.
6. My message to parents of young kids…?
HG: I like to see kids make their own decisions. One thing that disturbs me
now is that there’s too much helicopter parenting. The parents don’t seem to
let their kids make their own decisions and then live with the consequences.
7. The one person in history I’d like to meet is...?
HG: Ronald Reagan.
For more information about “Behind the Stats,” please go to
www.SportsRadioKC.com. You can contact the show at
BtS@SportsRadioKC.com.
4 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
thinking he was cute for dreaming that. That’s not exactly
how he interpreted it.
“I took that as her saying I couldn’t do it, so I wanted to
prove her
wrong,” he
said. “I started
understanding
about hard
work and what
it could do.
Then, regardless
of the
weather,
I never took
a day off. I was outside shooting and playing basketball
every day.”
As Thompson became an All-State star at Wyandotte
High School in the early 1980s, everyone knew his intentions:
he was going to KU.
Another lesson came after Thompson’s freshman year in
Lawrence. Ted Owens recruited him, but the Jayhawks had
been struggling under Owens. In fact, during Thompson’s
freshman year, 1983, KU went 13-16. It was the
Jayhawks’ second straight losing season. And Owens’ last
as head coach. KU brought in the opposite of Owens,
Larry Brown.
“It took awhile to buy into what coach Brown was
doing,” Thompson said. “It didn’t help that he told us that
we’d be really good when he got his kids in there. As an
18-year-old freshman, I was offended by that. It was tough
to swallow because we were there. We were his players.
I understand what he meant now, though. Once we all got
on the same page, coaching staff included, we ended up in
the Final Four.”
Call it a lesson in growing up. Of course, other lessons
soon followed.
By the time Thompson reached his senior year and had
established himself as a double-figure scoring threat and
one of the best free-throw shooters in the conference (once
hitting 33 in a row, which was a school record for two
decades). He was looked upon as one of the senior leaders
on the team, which Brown relied heavily. Because of that,
he sometimes seemed to come down harder on them than
the underclassmen.
“I took a lot of heat from coach Brown as a leader,”
said Thompson, who started all four years at KU. “People
thought it was coach and I fighting all the time, but that
wasn’t the case. Coach Owens and coach Brown were
great teachers, but coach Brown helped put Kansas back
on the map with his style of play. But he was a great
psychologist.
“I tell my kids in our program, the older you get, the
more it’s about the head. Getting under an opponent’s skin
because basketball is a mind game. I’ve won tons of
games simply because the other team was out-coached.
That’s not being boastful — it’s just that our kids buy into
the program just like we bought into coach Brown’s.”
The 1986 KU squad lost to Duke 71-67 in the Final
Four in Dallas. Archie Marshall went down with a knee
injury in the semifinal defeat. Many people, including current
coach Bill Self, who was a graduate assistant on that
staff, think the injury to Marshall was a key in the loss. It
didn’t help that the Jayhawks were in foul trouble during
the second half.
“That was a tough loss because we
were the best team, and I thought we
could win,” Thompson said. “We had
Duke where we wanted them even with
injuries and foul trouble. People thought
we were looking ahead to Louisville in
the championship. We weren’t, but we
thought we should’ve been in that game
on Monday night.”
The New York Knicks drafted
Thompson in the fourth round, but traded
him during camp to the Los Angeles
Clippers. He ended up not making the
Clippers or three other teams he tried
out for. After two seasons in the CBA
with the Topeka Sizzlers, Thompson
headed overseas to play.
Matt Fulks
Contributing
Writer
He played for teams in France (two years) and Israel
(five years) before coming back to the United States.
“That was a great experience,” he says. “We had a lot of
free time, so the American players would get in touch and
travel around. I met tons of people and took in a lot of different
cultures.”
The interesting thing about Thompson’s career, besides
his determination to become a great player, was that
throughout his playing career, he had to overcome an old
football injury that resulted in one leg being two inches
longer than the other. The back pain that caused over time
became excruciating.
“I used to tuck everything in my shoes to build up
the shorter leg,” said Thompson, who had surgery last
March to remove part of his large colon due to diverticulitis.
“Coach Brown got here and sent me to a specialist
and they fit me with orthodics. But, in the fall of 1997,
after I was done, I had hip surgery and they took off the
extra length.”
Thompson then said with a laugh, “I’m now 6-5, not
6-7. I don’t really need that extra height now.”
It’s all of those lessons from sports and life that
Thompson’s been using for the girls’ and boys’ basketball
teams through his company, HOOP Service. As any good
coach would do, Thompson relates his experiences to
what he’s trying to teach the players in fourth through
eighth grades.
Thompson started HOOP Service in 1997, conducting
camps in small towns where people couldn’t necessarily
afford to go to a camp at Kansas, Kansas State or
Missouri, “as a way of saying thanks to people for
supporting us at KU,” he says. (HOOP is an acronym
for Helping Out Other People.) He then started
coaching teams.
As busy as he remains, though, with HOOP Service and
his family, including two kids, Thompson still follows the
Jayhawks — and his old friend Bill Self — closely. He’s
constantly impressed, he says, with the talent level and the
way the Jayhawks continue to grow and develop in practice.
And, if there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about
growing and developing and good coaching, it’s
Thompson.
Matt Fulks is a local author and broadcaster. His latest
book, “For Jayhawks Fans Only,” is on store shelves. You
can listen to Matt each weekday from 10-noon with
“Behind the Stats” on www.SportsRadioKC.com.

THE COLLEGE HOOPS REPORT
By ALAN ESKEW, Editor
Tiller’s defense, intensity make him one of the best
Missouri senior guard J.T. Tiller is on the
Wooden List, a candidate for national
player of the year, although is statistics
do not leap off the page.
Tiller averages 8.5 points a game, which
was his average last year, but his defensive
play, intensity and intangibles are not found
on the statistical charts. Tigers coach Mike
Anderson knows Tiller deserves to be is on
the Wooden list.
“J.T. was the (Big 12) defensive player of
the year, one of the best in the country,”
Anderson said. “Just think, how many guys
on that Wooden list averaged single figures
(last year)? That tells you what kind of
impact he has on a game. The kid is a winner.
And obviously he can score. Memphis was
supposed to be one of the best teams in the
country in terms of defense. This guy scores a
career high on them.
“I think he embodies what we talk about.
I’m really proud of what he’s done. He’s like
a kamikaze guy, everywhere, diving on the
floor,”
Tiller hit 10 of 16 shots and scored
26 points in a 102-91 victory over Memphis
last March in the West Regional as the Tigers
advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA
tournament.
Missouri, however, does not
rely on Tiller to be a big scorer.
Three other Tigers have better
scoring averages.
“It’s the way he approaches a
game and the intensity he plays
with,” said teammate Zaire
Taylor. “When I’m playing
I personally I don’t feel like
I can play any harder than what
I’m playing. I imagine most
players feel the same way.
When you see him, there is not
a doubt in your mind he’s giving
everything he has. He honestly makes me
feel like I’m not giving everything I have
when I see him play.
“He’s not the fastest player in the nation.
He’s not the strongest player in the nation.
He’s fast and strong and can jump, but not the
most athletic player in the nation. But when it
comes down to it and there is a loose ball
and a guy faster than him is going after it,
I would still bet my savings that he’s going to
get the ball.
“When you come with that
level of play, it raises the
whole team’s level of play.
I think that’s the best thing
about J.T. He is the most
unselfish player I’ve ever
played with.”
Tiller knows his role. He
can fill the net when needed,
but takes just as much pride of
shutting down an opposing
team’s high-scoring guard,
doling out an assist or coming
Photo courtesy MU Athletics
up a loose ball. He enjoys
Anderson’s tormenting defensive style, forcing
turnovers.
“It’s great,” Tiller said. “Not many people
get to play the way we do. It’s definitely a
unique system, but it allows us to go out there
and play to our talents.”
When asked who is the best player in the
Big 12, Anderson mentioned Cole Aldrich
and Sherron Collins of Kansas, Craig
Brackins of Iowa State and James Anderson
of Oklahoma State.
“I can be biased and say J.T. Tiller,”
Anderson said. “J.T. Tiller is the heart and
soul of our team.”
Tiller was suspended for a non-conference
Dec. 19 game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
after he was arrested on a warrant for an
unpaid speeding ticket.
“We talk about him being the face of our
program, with everything he’s done, with
everything you ask of a student-athlete, it just
shows you, if it can happen to J.T., it can
happen to anyone,” Anderson said. “No one
feels worse than J.T. Tiller.”
Tiller has been tutoring Mike Dixon, a
freshman guard from Lee’s Summit West, on
making the transition from high school to the
Big 12.
“(Dixon’s) got an advantage over a lot of
people,” Anderson said. “When you get a
chance to go against J.T. Tiller every day and
Zaire Taylor, they make you a better player.
J.T. is so physical. He’s so strong.”
Tiller, who had off-season surgery to repair
a torn right wrist ligament, is from Marietta,
Georgia. His father Clarence was in the
United States Navy for 20 years before
retiring in 1998.
Taylor did not point out one Tiller shortcoming.
“He’s cheaper than me, I know that,”
Taylor said and laughed. “He splurges on
electronics, but after that he tries to save a
penny when he gets it.”
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 5

THE COLLEGE HOOPS REPORT
When Jacob Pullen arrived at Kansas State in 2007 as
a 17-year-old freshman, he was mostly overlooked.
He arrived at the same time as Michael Beasley.
Any spotlight left over went to fellow
freshman Bill Walker and first-time
head coach Frank Martin. The 6-0
guard from Maywood, Ill., was just
one of the “other guys.”
Beasley lasted one year before
becoming the second pick of the 2008
NBA Draft. Walker also was a secondround
pick that year. Martin has
proved wrong anyone who said he
would only last as long as he had the
two super freshmen.
And while Beasley put Kansas State
back on the college basketball map,
where it still sits very comfortably, the
impact on the program by Pullen may
be as big as anybody’s.
Credit the beard.
“Jake certainly has matured,”
Martin told a Kansas City
Catbackers gathering in September.
Most thought he was talking about
Pullen’s leadership and poise in
clutch situations. “When he got
here, he just had a little peach fuzz.
Now he has a full beard. It’s
impressive.”
As Pullen’s beard has grown, the
following has grown with it. It’s not
unusual to see “Fear The Beard” T-shirts in the crowd at
K-State games. Prior to the Texas game, K-State gave out
fake beards to the first 2,000 fans. While it presented quite
an image for the national television audience, Pullen wasn’t
too impressed.
“It’s flattering,” Pullen said “but I think they made me
have a bad game. I’m telling them not to do that again.”
Even though Pullen scored only 12 points against the
Longhorns, he was 6-for-7 from the free-throw line in the
final 3:07, helping the Cats win at home against the then
No. 1-ranked team for the first time since 1988.
“He’s playing really well,” ESPN College Basketball
Analyst Jay Bilas said. “(K-State defeated Texas) on the
defensive end. Some younger players let their shot determine
how they view their game. They fill the tank on the
offensive end. The veterans know you have to play a
whole game. You don’t hear great teams saying, ‘We have
to shoot well tonight.’ They say, ‘We have to play great
defense and find good shots.’ That’s what Pullen has come
to understand.
“Players mature at different rates. He’s gotten better
each year, not only in skill level, but in his approach to the
game. He is one of the most improved players in the country.
He’s shown a great deal of maturity.”
It’s not just his face. Pullen’s game has matured as
well. As the only Kansas State starter younger than 22
(he turned 20 in November), he’s the leader of this
year’s Wildcats team. He leads the team with 18.8 points
per game, more than four points better than Denis
Clemente. He averages 40 percent from 3-point range
(54-of-135) and leads the team at 78.8 percent from
the free-throw line.
He’s also capable of playing the point if Clemente
needs a break. That’s a huge advantage for K-State,
according to Bilas.
“It means you can’t sit on one guard,” he said. “K-State
6 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
Fear the Beard at Kansas State
Photos by Scott Weaver
has two who can initiate. If one is facing a better defender,
the other can initiate. Both can play the 2-guard also.
Usually point guards aren’t used to guarding 2-guards.
Whoever is being guarded by the
opposing team’s point guard has a
chance to have a big game. Both guys
can move without the ball. Both are
hungry scorers.
“Pullen is a scorer, but he’s not a
volume shooter. He’s on the attack
more. He’s not a selfish player; he
takes advantage of what defense
gives him.”
But leadership on good teams is
more than stats.
“There’s a huge difference between
being one of the guys and being the
guy who has to accept the responsibility
of answering the questions,
whether we succeed or fail,” Martin
said. “His freshman year the people
who had to accept that responsibility
were Mike Beasley and Bill
Walker. They weren’t around last
year. Neither were Blake Young
and Clent Stewart.
“Our biggest challenge early last
year was finding guys who were
willing to accept that responsibility.
Jake was one of those guys
right off the bat who was willing to
sit there and answer questions,
whether we played well or didn’t play well. When we didn’t
play well, he was the first guy in the gym trying to
push everybody and encourage guys to play better.
“It’s easy to find success when nobody pays attention to
you. When you’re the target of everyone’s attention, you
have to stay the course. You can’t get emotionally caught
up in the ups and downs of the season. As last year went
on, he learned that.”
Pullen not only has taken a leadership
role with communicating to the media,
but his teammates listen to him as well.
“His body language is good. He does
a good job of communicating to his
teammates what the bench wants,” Bilas
said. “You can tell a lot about a guard
with the way he communicates what the
coaches want. His demeanor brings
everybody together, instead of apart.
That’s what you want. Some teams don’t
have that.”
It started in the off-season.
“We bonded more than any team I’ve
ever been on,” Pullen said. “In my freshman year, we
David
Smale
Contributing
Writer
really didn’t hang out much. This year we do everything
together. We go to the movie theater and walk in with
13 or 14 people. We all watch the same movie. We do
things together. Sometimes we look like a circus act,
because there might be three 6-8 guys in the back seat of
my Ford Taurus. We don’t have a separated locker room.
When we do something, the whole team does it. It’s not
really a choice if you want to go, we all go.”
Some Kansas State basketball observers say Martin has
mellowed. He’s still intense, but he’s calmer during the
game. Pullen says that’s because the players have assumed
that responsibility.
“Frank has put a lot of trust in us,” he said. “If you walk
into one of our practices, you might see Frank sitting on
the sideline and not say anything for 45 minutes. You
might think, ‘What’s wrong with Frank?’ But if you look
on the court, you might see Chris (Merriewether) or me
yelling at a freshman. Frank really appreciates the fact that
he has upperclassmen as leaders.
“If you see Frank screaming at me this year, he’s most
likely screaming at me to scream at a freshman. The difference
between my freshman year and this year is that we
have a lot more balance and a lot more leadership. He’s a
lot more relaxed, because he doesn’t have to worry about
Jacob Pullen being mature.”

THE COLLEGE HOOPS REPORT
MIAA basketball tourney returns to Municipal in March
The MIAA basketball tournament will
take center stage March 4-7 in Kansas
City. It will be the eighth time the
MIAA championship will be played at the
historical Municipal Auditorium.
The Central Missouri Mules will look to
defend its men’s tournament title, while the
Washburn Ichabods will look to repeat as
the women’s tournament champion.
The tournament tips off March 4, with
women’s first-round games. The men’s
action will begin March 5. Sessions begin
at noon and 6 p.m. each day. Men’s and
women’s semifinals will be March 6, with
the women playing in the afternoon session
and the men competing in the evening session.
The MIAA Tournament Championships
will be March 7. The women’s title game
will tip at 1 p.m., while the men’s championship
begins at approximately 4 p.m.
Entering February, Fort Hays State is at
the top of the men’s standings, boasting
an unblemished 11-0 record in MIAA
play and a 17-1 mark overall. The Tigers’
only loss was a close 83-76 setback at
Kansas State.
Trailing Fort Hays State by just one
game in the men’s standings is Central
Missouri at 10-1, with the Mules’ lone conference
loss being to the Tigers. Along with
holding the top two spots in the MIAA, Fort
Hays State and Central Missouri are also 1-
2 in the first NCAA Division II South
Central Regional Rankings.
After the Tigers and Mule, there is a logjam
for the next three spots between
Southwest Baptist, Nebraska-Omaha and
Missouri Western. Missouri Southern,
Washburn and Northwest Missouri are
looming not far behind those three.
Emporia State sits in first place in the
women’s standings with an 11-1 record in
MIAA play and an 18-1 overall mark. The
Lady Hornets, No. 2 in the first South
Central Regional Rankings, owned a twogame
lead over Washburn in the MIAA
standings as the calendar flipped to
February. Washburn, at 9-3 in conference
play and 15-3 overall, earned the No. 4
spot in the first regional rankings. Pittsburg
State and Fort Hays State are still in the
hunt for the women’s championship. Pitt
State is in third place at 8-4 in league play,
while Fort Hays is 7-4 in MIAA games.
The stretch run on the women’s side
Take these cage picks to
Vegas...well, maybe not
I
’m ready for global warming. It’s been a
long stretch of arctic weather. Reminds
me of my air corps days in the Aleutions
where the grizzlies were mean and the bottle
of bourbon cost 500 bucks.
We did have a basketball goal in one of
the hangers where we would play dressed
out in muck lucks and parkas. We would
challenge teams from Adak, Shemya,
Kiska and Attu. It wasn’t on par with the
Big 12, but it was something to keep our
minds off battle. This was wartime,
remember?
Most college and university kids were
off fighting, so the talent was thin and the
scoring was minimal. We didn’t have the
shot clock in those days, but it was so cold
in the hanger we didn’t waste a lot of time
working for a basket.
The guys who played in our league were
mostly about six feet tall. Today, a Big 12
roster doesn’t give you a mention unless
you reach 6-4 or 6-5 or up to 7-0.
I watched Cole Aldrich of Kansas play
the other night and he makes the Jolly
Green Giant look small.
And you won’t find
many native sons playing
for teams today. Every
roster looks like a page
from the United Nations.
You might wonder
why I am reaching back
into antiquity to bring
you up-to-date in the
current state of affairs in
the Big 12. Well, it has
been a while since I cov-
Bill
Grigsby
Contributing
Writer
ered the courts for the Midwest teams, so
I figured a little war story along the way
wouldn’t hurt.
The game today is better because it’s
bigger, faster and better played than at any
time. Oh, some of the old timers will disagree
with me, but it’s the facts, man.
Kansas is the best I have seen and their
roster includes players from nearly every
place in the world, but Brady Morningstar
is the only player from Kansas garnering
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
should be intense as there is only a onegame
difference between fifth and ninth
place. Central Missouri, Northwest
Missouri, Missouri Southern,
Nebraska-Omaha and
Missouri Western are all
tightly bunched.
Tickets for the MIAA tournament
are on sale through
Ticketmaster. MIAA fans
can call 1-800-745-3000,
go online at www.ticketmaster.com
or make their purchase
through area
Ticketmaster outlets, including
the Municipal Auditorium
box office. All-session and
single-session tickets are available.
The all-session pass is available for $50
per person. Single-session tickets can be
purchased for $15 apiece for Thursday and
Friday sessions and $20 each for Saturday
and Sunday sessions.
Student/youth tickets will be available
only at the Municipal Auditorium box
office during the event. Tickets will also be
available on campuses that aren’t
Ticketmaster outlets. All-session passes
sold on MIAA campuses are only $40.
Thursday and Friday single-session tickets
can also be purchased on campus this year.
MIAA fans and alumni may book fan
rooms at the Kansas City Downtown
Marriott at a rate of $124 by clicking on
the Marriott link on this page. A limited
number of rooms are available, so fans are
encouraged to make their reservations as
soon as possible.
The Golden Ox and MIAA will again
partner to provide a Fan Pavilion at Barney
Allis Plaza. “Between the Lines” with
Kevin Kietzman will originate from the
Golden Ox Fan Pavilion on March 5 from
2 p.m.-6 p.m.
In addition to the basketball tournament,
the MIAA will once again host “Titlefest”
in the Greater Kansas City area. The 2010
MIAA Golf Championships will take place
April 19-20 at Tiffany Greens Golf Club.
The MIAA Tennis Championships will be
April 24-25 at the Plaza Tennis Center. The
MIAA Softball Championships will take
place May 6-8 at the Blue Valley
Recreation Complex in Overland Park.
The MIAA Baseball Championships will
be May 6-9 at the CommunityAmerica
Ballpark, home of the minor league
T-Bones, in Wyandotte County.
Only a few weeks remain in the
basketball regular season, so get ready for
what should be another exciting spring
with the MIAA Basketball Tournament
and Titlefest.
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 7

68’s Inside Sports offers two facilities, topnotch staff
Will Shields retired. Hardly.
After being drafted in the third round in
1993 out of Nebraska, Shields soon
developed into a perennial Pro Bowl
offensive lineman for the Kansas City
Chiefs before retiring after the 2006 season.
Shields, No 68 with the Chiefs, however,
is anything but sitting in a rocking chair on
his front porch. He is one of the owners of
68 Inside Sports, one of the finest athletic
clubs and training centers in the country.
There is a training facility, called The
Warehouse, at 9111 Flint. There is a fitness
club just a few blocks away at 11301 W.
88th St. in Overland Park.
Shields spends about 60 hours a week
with the business.
“When I sleep at night, I’m still working,”
Shields said. “I’m retired from football,
but I’m definitely not retired. It’s a
business, that’s for sure. It has its good
moments and bad moments.”
Shields was interested in doing a football
performance program after he retired,
but he said 68 Inside Sports “has grown.”
Oh, how it has grown. Athletes can get
training in football, baseball, basketball,
softball, soccer, lacrosse and other sports.
There are basketball courts, a running track
and a swimming pool.
“We have pretty much anything anybody
would need,” said Jamie Bluma, a former
Royals pitcher who is manager of The
Warehouse. Bluma, who went to Wichita
State, gives one-on-one baseball lessons.
“This time of year it is hard to find an
open spot,” Bluma said. “I’m booked for
12 half-hour sessions from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
most nights.” Bluma said he works with
kids from eight to 18 and during the summer
will tutor college players and some
pros, including T-Bones players.
The facility includes 17 hitting tunnels
and seven have pitching mounds. There are
seven coin operated hitting machines.
Also on the baseball staff is Charlie
Hovey, who went to Maple Woods and
Missouri State and played two years in
the minors.
The two facilities are so close, Bluma
said one grandmother dropped off her son
at the fitness center, not The Warehouse.
Bluma wondered why he did not show up
on the appointed time for his lesson, when
he got a call.
“I think we have your lesson here,”
Bluma said. Bluma drove over and picked
up the kid.
“It’s a one-minute drive,” Bluma said
and laughed. “He didn’t miss any time.”
Bluma said the close proximity of the
two 68 Inside Sports facilities allows for
“cross marketing.” He said parents will
often drop their kids off at The Warehouse
for lessons or team workouts, while they
workout at the athletic facility.
Bluma said The Warehouse has a 30-foot
8 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
ceiling, is 55 yards long and 25 yards wide.
Plenty of space for teams of several sports
to rent and workout indoors.
Ndamukong Suh, the Nebraska All-
America defensive lineman who some
project will be the first player picked in
this year’s National Football League draft,
was recently shown around the facility by
Shields. There was the obvious Nebraska
connection between the two.
“Will and I grew up about a half hour
apart in Oklahoma,” Bluma said. “I’ve
known Will for a long time. He’s a year
older. He was a rookie with the Chiefs
BILL GRIGSBY| FROM PAGE 7
much court time.
Now, football is a bit different since 90
percent of the great kids come from Texas.
But basketball is a bit different in that the
better players seem to come from East of
the Mississippi. Kansas likes recruiting in
the Philadelphia area, but will take anyone
who is tall, talented and able to score from
anywhere in the arena.
KU has even gone to adopting twins, and
I do believe they are from Wilt’s old
Philadelphia stomping ground.
Kentucky was knocked off it’s unbeaten
perch at the end of January, allowing the
Jayhawks to begin February as the No. 1
ranked team.
Texas and Baylor along with Missouri
when I was a rookie with the Royals.”
Shields coaches offensive and defensive
linemen at the facility, while former
Kansas place kicker Johnny Beck will
work with
skilled position
players
and is a
strength and
conditioning
coach.
“We’re
trying to
combine
their athleticism
of
speed,
power and
strength with
increasing
football fundamentals,”
said Beck,
who went to Kansas City Piper High and
kicked a 59-yard field goal as a Jayhawk
freshman. “We teach them how to tackle
properly, block properly, how to catch a
ball and how to hold onto a ball.”
He said players invited to the NFL
Combine and NFL free agents have trained
at 68 Inside Sports. NFL players working
out there include Justin Rogers and Tom
Crabtree.
Friends, teammates and
family members of the Class
4A State Champion Bishop
Miege Stags and representatives
from the U.S. Army gathered
at Buffalo Wild Wings in
Overland Park to watch teammate
Justin McCay participate
in the U.S. Army All
American Bowl in San
Antonio, TX on January 9th.
A similar event was held at
Minsky’s Pizza in Liberty, MO
for teammates and fans of
the Liberty Bluejays’ Marcus
Lucas who also participated
in the game.
and Kansas State will be in the top 20
through most of the season. Only the best
of the Big East can be lumped in there with
the Big 12. You must consider Kentucky
and Michigan State among the best, too.
They’re capable of going far in the Final
Four fracas.
Sleepers include Syracuse and, maybe,
Villanova. I always keep an eye on
Gonzaga.
There, I have spoken. But it would be
best if you didn’t take my picks and engage
with a local bookie or a friend in Las Vegas
since I have missed a call here and there.
As I recall, I took Germany and the
Falkland Islands in a two-teamer in the war
and lost the family fortune. So beware the
Ides of March.
Beck said strength, agility and conditioning
training has really intensified.
“This type of training was unheard
of less than 10 years ago,” he said. “It’s
a luxury for these kids to have this facility
(in Kansas City). You get stuck in a rut
running the halls in high schools. Here
kids can bring their cleats and run full
sprints. We have the space to train 50 kids
at a time.”
There is also a chiropractic clinic,
headed by Dr, Anthony Phillips, at the
fitness facility.

Junior forward Koon leads talented Liberty squad
By ALAN ESKEW, Editor
Liberty High School coach Roger Stirtz
was the last one to know.
The crowd began to chant “200 wins”
as the final seconds ticked off in the
53-45 victory over Olathe East in
last January as Liberty won its first
C.W. Stessman Invitational championship
since 2003.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Stirtz
said. “It was kind of a surprise. I don’t
keep track of it. Someone asked my wife in
the stands if this was my 200th victory and
she didn’t know.
“Every year the state asks you send in
your career record. I noticed I was close to
200. I thought hopefully if we have a good
year I might it. That was in August and that
was the last time I thought about it. I’ve
got to credit the players. It’s a neat deal,
but hopefully there’s a lot more wins.”
The Blue Jays went 3-0 in the Stessman
Invitational, including pinning the first
blemish on Leavenworth’s record with a
63-39 triumph.
“From top to bottom it was probably our
best field ever,” Stirtz said. “We had five
teams in the metro top 25. To win such a
tough tournament meant a lot.”
Stirtz is in his 11th year as the Blue Jays
head coach. They entered February with a
14-3 record and with a deep experienced
squad that could make a long run in the
playoffs. Grandview, the
state runner-up last year,
beat Liberty by three
points in the Elite Eight
last March.
“Our ultimate goal
every year is go deep in
the post-season,” Stirtz
said. “I think the opportunity
is going to be
there. We were able to
do that last year, but
this is a new and
different group.”
Liberty is led by 6-7
junior forward Denton
Koon, who had 15
points and nine
rebounds in the championship game and
was named to the All-Tournament team.
Koon, who is averaging 15.8 points and
8.9 rebounds and had a career-high 26
points in a Jan. 29 victory over Blue
Springs., is beginning to get a lot of attention
from several NCAA Division I midmajor
colleges, including UMKC.
“He’s had a phenomenal year,” Stirtz
said. “He’s hard to guard. He’s is our leading
free throw shooter (hitting 80 percent).
He needs to get more explosive and get
better physically with his game and he has
a chance to be a nice college player.”
Stirtz does have two
Division 1 players,
Christian Brinser and
Marcus Lucas. Both are
going to Missouri on
football scholarships.
Brinser as a punter and
Lucas, who is 6-5, as a
wide receiver. Lucas, a
football All-American,
is a sometime starter,
averaging five points.
Brinser, who comes off
the bench, also averages
five points.
The Blue Jays do
have one of the quickest
point guards in the area
in 5-9 senior Marshon Norfleet, who leads
the team with 51 assists, while committing
only 36 turnovers. He is the team’s third
leading scorer with 9.06 points.
“Marshon brings a lot to our squad,”
Stirtz said. “He handles the ball. His
defense is very intense. He’s given us all
we want out of the point guard.”
Jordan Lewis, a 5-10 guard, average
10.2 points and is the Blue Jays second
leading scorer. J.T. Nixon, a 5-11 senior
guard who averages 7.25 points, won the
Hustle Award at the Stessman Invitational.
Bryan Adams, a 6-7 senior forward, has
returned to the starting lineup after missing
five games with a foot stress fracture.
Adams could only shoot while out with the
stress fracture.
“I think his shot is better than at the
beginning of the season.” Stirtz said. “He’s
getting back to full speed.”
Lucas also missed two games while
on a recruiting trip and to play in the Army
All-America High School football game at
San Antonio.
“We’re playing better defensively,”
Stirtz said. “They say less is more and
we’ve simplified things. We play three
different defenses, but 98 percent of the
time we’re man-for-man. We played one
game with a zone.”
The Blue Jays have a Feb. 12 rematch
with Lee’s Summit at Liberty. The Blue
Jays lost by 18 points in January at Lee’s
Summit. Liberty shot only 29 percent from
the field in the 62-44 defeat. Koon had
22 points, matching his season high season,
and 13 rebounds in the loss.
“We played terrible and they played
extremely well,” Stirtz said. “The game
wasn’t even close. We’re hoping for a
different outcome the next time.”
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 9

Michael Salmon may be a villain
inside the cage, but the unbeaten
mixed martial arts 170-pound titleholder
says that is just showmanship.
Salmon, who is from Lee’s Summit,
stopped previously undefeated Jereme D.
Wiederin of Davenport, Iowa in the second
round of a January card at Harrah’s North
Kansas City before a sold out crowd at the
VooDoo Lounge.
Wiederin’s face was a bloody mess after
Salmon disposed of him in the main event.
After the victory, Salmon dipped his finger
in some of Wiederin’s blood on the canvass.
Then he proceeded to dance in the
middle of the ring before being presented
with a middleweight championship belt.
While Salmon had plenty of fans, some
in attendance did not like Salmon’s postright
cockiness and booed.
“I love being the bad guy. People want
to see me lose,” said Salmon, who has yet
to lose in seven fights. “Half the crowd
loves you. Half the crowd hates me. I just
played around with him. I never end fights
in the first round. I want to give the fans a
show. People want to see blood.
“I’m pretty much a nice guy when you
meet me, get to know me. I put on a bad
guy image in the ring.”
And what about that victory dance?
“I’m an amazing dancer,” he said. “I’m
one of the best dancers in Kansas City. You
can quote me on that.”
He is also one of the best MMA fighters
in Kansas City. Salmon, 23, was born in
Lawton, Okla., but said he has “traveled
the whole world.” He joined the Army
when he was 17 and was in several countries.
He said his parents live in Lee’s
Summit and that is where he trains.
He said he started in Kyokyshin, which
KU| FROM PAGE 3
ball more consistently than anybody I’ve
had,” Self said, “but I don’t even consider
‘X’ a great scorer yet. I think his ceiling is
very high. I consider him a very good scorer
and a real good shooter. But I think he
can do more to score, whether it be getting
to the hole, getting to the free-throw line
more and things like that.”
Self would also like to see Henry
elevate his rebounding (4.1 rpg).
“He should be about as good as rebounding
small forward as there is in the country,
as athletic, strong and as physically gifted
as he is,” Self said. “He can become a
much better offensive rebounder.”
Self said Henry is becoming a more
complete player and “starting to get it.
I think he’s taking more and more pride in
doing other things to give us the best
chance to win games.”
Like playing defense.
“I just like to play defense now,” said
Henry, who had a career-high seven steals
10 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
presents THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT REPORT
Salmon wins MMA title at Harrah’s
is a form of karate, and took up boxing
about three years ago. He used both MMA
styles to demolish Wiederin.
“I hit him with a
lot of uppercuts
and with a lot of
knees,” he said.
“People don’t want
to fight me.”
Salmon said he
would “probably
turn pro this year.”
Promoter Danny
Campbell was
impressed with the
Harrah’s facility
and said he is planning
on putting on
four shows this
year at the VooDoo
Lounge.
“This venue is
excellent,”
Campbell said.
“Every seat is
great. It reminds
me of the Blue
Horizon (a legendary
small boxing arena in
Philadelphia). I’m real happy with the
turnout. I’ll come back here.”
If Campbell’s name rings a bell, he was
a four-time Kansas City Golden Glove
champion before turning pro boxer in the
1970s. He was in the same stable with middleweight
contender Tony Chiaverini.
Campbell had a record of 14-1 before retiring
because of tearing knee ligaments
twice and needing surgery. He has teamed
up with locally owned TITLE Boxing to
open the first boxing, kickboxing and
MMA fitness center in Kansas City.
against Baylor on Jan. 20, tying the Kansas
freshman single-game record for steals
with Tony Guy (1979) and Darnell
Valentine (1977).
“It’s getting more fun. I really haven’t
been challenged to play defense (in the
past). They’ve always asked me to score
points. Now that I’m asked to play defense,
I just get excited.”
Henry has said all the right words and
acted in all the right ways since his arrival
at KU last August after a long recruiting
battle between Kansas, Memphis and
Kentucky over the ballyhooed prep star.
After he committed to the Jayhawks in
April, there was talk he was reconsidering
Kansas before Henry silenced those
rumors.
Some critics thought he’d be a prima
donna when he finally arrived at KU in the
fall, a selfish kid who was using Kansas to
just get “his” before he jumped to the NBA
after one year. But they’ve been proven
wrong; Henry has actually been the com-
“They didn’t have MMA back in my
days,” Campbell said. “I’m glad because I
probably wouldn’t have done it.”
In another feature
bout on
Campbell’s card,
Jimmy Jordan of
St. Joseph beat
Drew Long, also
of St. Joseph, in
the first round.
Long tapped out
after only 38 seconds
due to
strikes in the 155pound
match.
Jordan went to
St. Joseph
Central High,
where he wrestled
for four
years. He does
his MMA training
in Cameron.
“My strong
point is
wrestling,”
Jordan said.
He used a ground and pound attack to
overcome Long.
“I saw blood on the mat and kept hitting
him,” he said. “I like to get them on the
ground and hit them.”
Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge will host
another mixed martial arts card on March
5. Blue Corner, which was founded by
Benjamin Nogueras and Patrick
Harrington, are the promoters. They also
had a December card at Harrah’s that drew
a capacity crowd.
Dominic Cantu and Christopher Spencer
are slated to meet in one main event.
plete opposite, the poster boy of a team
player.
Self said Henry has been a joy to coach.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been around
anybody that tries to please anymore than
he does,” Self said.
And have fun doing it while teaming
with his older brother C.J, a KU redshirt
freshman transfer from Memphis.
“I’m having a great time with all my
teammates and my coaches and all the
fans,” Henry said. “I love it here.”
While many believe Henry’s sure to be
“one and done,” Henry isn’t thinking about
By ALAN ESKEW, Editor
Tony Davis, who headlined the December
card with a victory over Travis Sauer, plus
Paul Whitworth and Chris Barrows are
also scheduled to fight on the March 5
show. Tickets are available at Harrah’s
North Kansas City.
ENTERTAINMENT AT
HARRAH’S
AT VOODOO LOUNGE
2/5, 2/6, 2/12, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27 & 3/6 - 9 PM - Live DJ
2/14 8:00 PM LOVE AFTER DARK
FEATURING DRU HILL & ROME
2/19 9:00 PM ARENA ROCK SHOW FEATURING
STAIRWAY TO ZEPPLIN WITH REVELATION
2/25 8:00 PM ROBERT CRAY
2/26 8:00 PM GARY ALLAN
3/5 8:00 PM ULTIMATE BLUE CORNER BATTLES
3/7 6:00 PM METAL WARS / COVER WARS
3/19 8:00 PM THE DAN BAND
3/26 8:00 PM THE ORIGINAL WAILERS
AT TOBY KEITH’S
Each weekend in February
Events are Free
Wednesdays 8:00 PM XTREME TRIVIA
Fridays 9:00 PM FRIDAY NIGHTLIFE DJ
Saturdays 10:00 PM KARAOKE
For more information on these events
and other events at Harrah’s,or for more
on the hottest gaming action around
and fast-paced table games,
visit harrahsnkc.com or call
(816) 472-7777
the NBA just yet. He’s focused on KU
winning games with hopes of cutting down
the national championship nets April 5 at
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Henry came to Kansas to play with the
best, and he wants to end this season as the
best. Heck, he doesn’t care how many
points he scores to accomplish that feat.
“That’s what our goal is to (win the rest
of our games) and not for everybody to go
to the NBA or for everybody to average
30,” Henry said. “Our goal is to win it all,
and we know how to do it.”
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Or visit us at www.kcsportspaper.com

THE MAVERICKS HOCKEY REPORT
Not many Missouri natives play professional
ice hockey, but Derek Pallardy
is one of the rare few.
Pallardy, who is from the St. Louis area,
also is an atypical player in that he plays
both forward and defense for the Missouri
Mavericks in the Central Hockey League.
“My parents were big St. Louis Blues
fans and started bringing me to the games,”
Pallardy said. “I loved the game. I was two
years old when I started skating, but they
didn’t have leagues at that age.”
He had to wait until the ripe old age of
four before he could play in a league. And
he began as a goal keeper because his
favorite Blues player was Greg Millen, who
tended the St. Louis nets from 1984-90.
It was soon determined that Pallardy
“might have been too good of a skater to
be a goalie,” no matter who is favorite
player was, so he moved to forward.
That is where he played in the Triple-A
hockey league from age 12-18 in the St.
Louis area and at Chaminede Preparatory
High School. His Triple-A team traveled to
play stiff competition, including trips to
Chicago. Detroit and Toronto.
“I played three years in high school,”
12 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
Missouri native Pallardy
plays forward & defense for Mavericks
he said. “One year we were not allowed to
do both high school and Triple-A. We had
a pretty solid conference for hockey. For
the most part, high
school hockey was
more recreational,
not as serious as
Triple-A.”
After high
school, Pallardy,
who was born in
Chesterfield,
Missouri, played
2 ½ years with
Springfield, Ill. in
the Junior-A North
American Hockey
League with hopes
of attracting a college
scholarship
while polishing his
game. After scoring
24 games and
doling out 48 assists in his final two years
with Springfield, he received a college
scholarship to Merrimack in
Massachusetts.
He received a bachelor’s degree with a
major in English and a minor in philosophy
from Merrimack, but desired to play professional
hockey. Knoxville Ice Bears
coach Scott
Hillman offered
him a tryout and
he made the
Southern
Professional
Hockey League
club last year. He
scored six goals
in 40 regular season
games and
had one goal and
four assists in 12
playoff games.
When Hillman
was named the
Mavericks coach,
Pallardy fol-
Photo by Scott Thomas
lowed him to
Independence,
where there was a new arena and firstyear
franchise.
“I’m happy where I’m at right now,”
Pallardy said. “I think it is a perfect fit for
me, being in Missouri, on this team with
By ALAN ESKEW, Editor
this coach.”
It is close enough to St. Louis where
most weekends when the Mavericks play
back-to game home games at the
Independence Events Center that his parents
and other relatives will come over for
the games.
Two of Pallardy’s three goals for the
Mavericks were ironically short-handed,
including one on Jan. 26 in a victory
at Tulsa.
“I think Nick Sirota pressured their
defensive man and ended up on a breakaway,”
Pallardy said. “He was being
chased by two of their players and
I was right behind. I knew if there was
going to be a rebound; I was going to
be right there.”
He was and put the puck in the net.
Pallardy has always been a forward,
but this season started playing some as
a defender.
“We were short on defensemen and to
fill a role where we were kind of lagging,”
he said.
Hillman asked him to play some as a
defenseman.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Q&A with 1980 USA hockey
gold medalist Ken Morrow
Not many winter Olympic sporting
moments stand out to Americans as
much as the hockey team’s win during
the 1980 Games. The young
U.S. team beat the unbeatable
Soviet Union squad in the
medal round, and then beat
Finland for the gold. For more
than a decade, one of the star
defensemen on that team, Ken
Morrow, has lived in the
Kansas City area.
Morrow, who’s the Director
of Pro Scouting for the New
York Islanders, recently joined
Hall of Fame baseball announcer Denny
Matthews on Matthews’ hockey show,
“Talkin’ Pucks” on SportsRadioKC.com.
Denny Matthews: Ken, as I’ve watched
a number of hockey games this season —
and really over the past couple of years —
it’s amazing to me how much bigger
goalies are getting, especially when you
factor in the size of their gear. It’s a wonder
any goals are scored. As we approach the
Olympics and the 30th anniversary of the
1980 U.S. hockey team, one goalie who
became a household name was Jim Craig.
Ken Morrow: Definitely, that was a legendary
performance (in 1980). That’s why
Jimmy will be remembered any time someone
mentions those
Olympics. He came up on
the big stage at the biggest
time. We got it from Jimmy
that whole tournament. We
had to have it, especially in
those final couple of games.
It’s easy to say now, but our
team was underrated. We
were all unknown at the
time, but when you look
back, we had a couple guys
who had NHL All-Star careers and a number
of guys who were good NHL players.
We had better players and more talent than
people thought at the time.
DM: The Russian team and the Russian
style of play really began to manifest itself
in the early 1970s when they started to play
against some of the NHL teams. Weren’t a
lot of the North American hockey people in
both the U.S. and Canada surprised by the
skill level of the Soviets? Wasn’t it a puck
possession style of play?
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THE MAVERICKS HOCKEY REPORT
PALLARDY| FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
“I had no problems with that,” he said.
“It’s gone quite well. It’s pretty unusual to
never have done it before and get to the pro
level and do it for the first time. The team
doesn’t suffer too much with me back
there. I think I’ve upped my value because
of my ability to play both positions. It can
only help my career.”
While he has his degree, he said he is not
ready to go “cold turkey” and quit playing
hockey. At his age, he knows the chances
are slim he would ever make it to the
MORROW| FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
KM: It sure was. You hit it right on the
head. They came on the world stage in
1972 in the Summit Series. When they
came over and played the NHL All-Stars,
people were amazed at how great Soviet
hockey was. It was a distinct style. The
North American style and the European
style were two distinct styles. They played
a skill, puck possession style. The North
American style was dump and chase and
crash and bang. Now, there’s been so much
international play over the past 20 years
that the styles have meshed. There isn’t a
distinct style between the North American
and European countries. It was really hard
to play against them.
DM: Especially since you weren’t
accustomed to that style, how did you prepare
for it in 1980?
KM: The credit for all of that goes to
coach Herb Brooks. He was one of the alltime
great coaches and innovators. He was
ahead of his time. The kids he picked for
the team were great skaters. He wanted
guys who could skate and play that style of
hockey on the big ice surface, which is bigger
in international play. He wanted to
keep the team together for six months
instead of just a couple weeks before the
Olympics. We trained and prepared to play
that style of hockey. He wanted to beat
them at their own game. It was a real gamble
because he was taking kids who had
never played that style of hockey before.
We played a 60-game schedule. We had our
ups and downs, but we were able to beat
them at their own game.
DM: After you beat the Soviets, did you
guys have an unbeatable feeling?
KM: Well, we felt good about ourselves.
We were in trailers in the Olympic Village.
National Hockey League.
“I’ll be 27 this summer and they are
looking at young players,” he said. “I’m
not sure how long I’ll play. I’m taking it a
year at a time. I plan to play next year. I
want to play as long as long as a can. There
is an internal battle on what is going to be
best in the long run for me. I’m at a crossroad
right now.”
Pallardy is no longer the lone Missourian
on the Mavericks. Tommy Lange, a friend
of Pallardy’s from the St. Louis area,
joined the team just before Christmas.
They had the regular rooms and then trailers
because of the number of athletes.
There were three guys from the team in
each trailer. All we had in there was an
AM-FM radio; no TV. We had gone back
after the Russian game, and I was turning
the radio around and picking up all the stations
around New York, and I picked up
one talking about the game. A person said
we could be playing the Montreal
Canadiens because there was no way we’d
lose. That might be one way to look at it.
Coming off a great upset, it would’ve been
real anticlimactic to come out and lose that
Finland game. But when you’re dealing
with a young team, you just don’t know.
Finland was a good hockey team, a real
good hockey team. True to form, we found
ourselves down 2-1 going into the third
period.
DM: Was there any panic at that point?
KM: Since we had been in that position,
no, not at all. It was quiet in the room. It
was a strong resolve more than anything.
Then, someone said how it was the last 20
minutes we’d be together, so let’s make it a
good one. Jack O’Callahan said it best
when he said that. As soon as the doors
opened, we just steamrolled Finland.
“Talkin’ Pucks”
with Denny
Matthews can be
heard each
Wednesday from
1-2 p.m. on
SportsRadioKC.com.
Missouri Mavericks
Jeff Christian (left) and
Carlyle Lewis are pictured
with Mavericks’
fan John Olivarez at a
recent appearance at
Shocking Prices located
at 2411 S Hwy 291
in Independence.
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 13

THE KC BASEBALL REPORT
Alberto Callaspo hit .300 last season
with 41 doubles, 11 home runs (after
entering the season with none in
399 career at-bats), 73 RBIs and scored
79 runs.
Only Billy Butler had a better season
offensively, .301, 51 doubles,
21 HR and 93 RBIs, than
Callaspo for the Kansas City
Royals.
The offensively-challenged
Royals, who ranked 12th in
batting average (.259) and
13th in runs (686), however,
do not have Callaspo penciled
in as a starter with spring
training opening. Chris Getz,
who was acquired from the Chicago White
Sox in the Mark Teahen trade, will begin
spring training in Surprise, Ariz. as the
starting second baseman, where Callaspo
played 146 games last year.
Callaspo not starting after his superb
2009 season at the plate?
“That’s not my area,” hitting coach
Kevin Seitzer said. “I’m pleading the fifth.
I don’t know what Trey (Hillman, manager)
is going to do. He’ll work it all out for
sure. He’s a sharp dude. Trey is going to
have some tough decisions to make as far
as how we get guys at-bats and how he
uses them. My job is to try to make them
as tough as possible.”
The Royals, who ranked last in the
American League with a .981 fielding percentage
and committed a league-high 116
errors, attempted to upgrade their defense.
Callaspo’s fielding, 17 errors, and limited
range make him a defensive liability.
In addition to Getz, the Royals signed
outfielders Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik
and Brian Anderson and catcher Jason
Kendall during the off-season. All three
new outfield additions have played a
majority of their games in center.
In the Royals’ revamped outfield, Ankiel
will start in center, Podsednik in left and
David DeJesus, who came up as a center
fielder before switching to left last season,
will move to right. With three “center
14 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
fielders” patrolling the outfield, there
should be fewer balls dropping in the spacious
Kauffman Stadium.
“We like our defense a lot, potentially.”
Royals general manager Dayton Moore
said. “You look at the free agents that
existed for the 2010 season and Rick
Ankiel and Scott Podsednik are two of the
better athletes in that group, period. That’s
not debatable and we are fortunate to have
them. You add a Chris Getz, who is another
tremendous athlete, along with the group
we have, and we like where we are. We’re
proud where we are.”
While Kendall lacks the pop of departing
catchers Miguel Olivo (who led the
club with 23 HR) and John Buck, the hope
is his defense and game-calling will be an
improvement. The Royals catchers allowed
14 passed balls last year, while the Kansas
City pitchers topped the majors with 89
wild pitches.
Jose Guillen will move from right
field to getting most of his at-bats as the
designated hitter. The unpredictable
Guillen, however, has voiced his displeasure
about being the everyday DH and
prefers being in the outfield. There could
be some volatile moments upon Guillen’s
Arizona arrival.
“We’ve reached out to him,” Moore said
after the Ankiel signing. “We called them
all immediately and told them what the
plan was and where we were.”
Was Guillen contented with the news of
moving to DH?
“I don’t know,” Moore said. “Jose is a
professional. He’s been in the game a long
time. It’s just the way it goes.”
The way it is probably going to go is not
smoothly. Anticipate Guillen to make some
waves in February. And nobody should be
surprised if he does not show up on time.
Guillen’s $12 million salary in 2010, the
last season of a three-year $36 million
contract, and his explosive history make
him virtually impossible to trade unless
the Royals opt to eat about $10 million
of his salary.
Alex Gordon, who was limited to 49
games last season after having hip surgery,
is penciled in as the starting third baseman.
However, former Oklahoma State quarterback
Josh Fields, who was also acquired in
the Teahen deal, could wrestle the starting
job away from Gordon with a good camp.
“They are going to have to compete,”
Moore said. “We’re not going to award
jobs (before spring training). We are ultimately
going to see who is producing.”
Normally championship and contending
clubs go into spring training with their
lineup all but set, but not the 2010 Royals.
“Spring training’s going to be an important
time for us,” Moore said. “Not only
does Trey and the staff have the challenge
to get the players prepared to play on
Opening Day and for 162 games, it’s also
going to be a period of evaluation that
must take place. It’s going to be an important
time for us.”
By ALAN ESKEW, Editor
Spring training includes new faces, different outfield
The rotation is full of questions after Cy
Young Award winner Zack Greinke. Gil
Meche, Brian Bannister and Kyle Davies
were all shut down in September with
shoulder and back injuries. Luke Hochevar
has not lived up being the first pick in the
2006 draft. Robinson Tejeda moved from
the bullpen to starting in September after
the injuries and pitched well enough to be
a rotation candidate in March.
The bullpen, outside of closer Joakim
Soria, was terrible last year, despite the
additions of Kyle Farnsworth, Juan Cruz,
Jamey Wright and Doug Waechter.
Farnsworth and Cruz need a bounce-back
year for the Royals’ bullpen is get the
ball to Soria with a lead in the ninth. Too
many saves were blown in the seventh
and eight innings.
“It’s all there, the ability to shock the
world,” Seitzer said. “We’re getting ready
to get cranking. I’m excited to see how it
all comes together in spring training. I was
really excited last spring the way things
unfolded and the start we got off to. You
just can’t do anything about injuries. You
just have to try to make the best of it and
move on. From a depth standpoint, Dayton
and Trey have done a phenomenal job of
putting us in a better place than we were
last year especially from a depth standpoint.”

THE KC BASEBALL REPORT
As we see Kansas City Royals general
manager Dayton Moore make move
after move during the off-season,
I recall the time I sat down with him a
few years back as he approached his first
challenges of building not only a winning
team, but a contender.
He was positive about bringing back the
tradition of winning to Kansas City. Each
and every year, Royals fans and local
media either salivate or criticize his free
agent moves, as if anyone knows what
will actually pan out.
I am always on the positive bandwagon,
hopeful secondtier
transfers
might reach their
potential.
I loved the Gil
Meche signing
and hoped Mike
Jacobs might
actually break
Steve Balboni’s
single-season
home run record.
As much as I follow
fantasy baseball,
it becomes so easy to get excited
about new Royals’ additions, especially
after comparing the potential stars of
tomorrow to the previous year’s duds.
What is up with the headline? Notice
the question mark above and the fact that
it has been 25 years since we were even in
the playoffs, let alone in the World Series.
I like we are at least we are doing something.
In previous years, we tended to get
broken down pitchers and stuck with veterans
who looked like your worst employee
just showing up for a paycheck. You
know the guy, he mopes in a bit late and
clocks in, clocks out. Kansas City fans
just don’t tolerate that and players should
know it. But heck, what have we looked
up to in the past few years.
The Rick Ankiel signing is a good one.
He should add some pop and a good glove
to the outfield, as well as Scott Podsednik,
who has little pop but some good stolen
bases numbers. I actually do not have a
problem with a complete overhaul. Kansas
City needs to find an identity, and too
often we go with the wedding gift philosophy:
Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, and Something
Blue. Sometimes our free agent acquisitions
meet more than one of these criteria.
Brian McGannon of Royals Kingdom
currently hosts a show on our network and
it is interesting to have someone who wasn’t
around when the Royals won it all. His
father was a trainer for the 1985 team, but
he can only listen to stories and watch
highlights. He represents a generation who
has had to base each season on hope, only
to have it squished by September. The
young Kansas City fans need to start
25 gun salute?
seeing something productive,
something to
hang their hat on.
I am convinced
more moves are on the
way. Sure, we need
another great starter to
compliment Greinke
and a better bullpen.
Looking at the pitchers
unsigned on the eve of
spring training,
I would take a gamble
on Pedro, Smoltz and
James
Peuster
Contributing
Writer
any lefty named
Eric. The first two
would definitely fill
the seats, which
would only give
more income for
more pick-ups.
Seeing Kauffman
filled with Blue last
year when Zach was
out there was a joy
for me, but that is
only every fifth
game. A winning
product is always nice, but any draw to
the K could give the extra cash flow to get
tier one players.
I recently watched Bret Saberhagen’s
no-hitter on the net and he made it look
so easy with ground ball after ground ball.
I often toss in videos of the 1985 World
Series to get my juices flowing again.
But as we enter our 25th year removed
from being World Champions, my
glimmer of hope continues to lesson as
Spring Training approaches. So what can
we do? Here is a list of ideas for Moore
to consider.
1. Go back to the formula that won it all
in 1985. Great young starters; solid up the
middle guys and coax George Brett out of
retirement. Not sure which one would
work the best.
2. Keep making moves and shaking it
up. Moves may not solidify the team concept,
but it is like panhandling for gold.
Get rid of the rocks and look for the valuable
nuggets and hold on to them.
3. Don’t listen to the media. Except for
me, turn off the negative criticism.
4. No more broken down players. If
they haven’t ever played more than 150
games two seasons in a row, we don’t
need them.
5. Put more pressure on our scouting
and farm system. We used to produce
dozens of starters and outfielders in
the day.
There you have it; I look forward to
another year and hope for the genie in a
bottle. I has been done before, maybe;
just maybe this is the year for the Royals.
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KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 15

CHIEFS VS. ROYALS
Experts weigh in:
Are Chiefs or Royals closer to reaching playoffs?
The Kansas City Royals have one winning
season since the strike-shortened
1994 season and have not sniffed the
playoffs since the 1985 World Series team.
The Kansas City Chiefs last appeared in
a Super Bowl after the 1969 season, beating
the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 on Jan. 11,
1970 (remember when the Super Bowl
was not played in February?) when Len
Dawson was
quarterback.
They have not
won a playoff
game since Jan.
16, 1994 when
Joe Montana was
quarterback.
So which team is closer to reaching the
playoffs, the Chiefs or the Royals? We
asked our panel of experts at
SportsRadioKC.com. And if you have not
tuned in SportsRadioKC.com on your
computer, you are missing some of the
best sports coverage in the area.
Steve Baker, host of “Royals Weekly,”
each Tuesday at 9 a.m.: The Royals are
much closer to the postseason
than the Chiefs. In
fact, I wouldn’t be shocked
to see them sneak in this
year.
The Royals have been
under new leadership and a
plan for development and success for four
years. The Chiefs have only started that
process.
Building team culture, unity and a winning
attitude takes time. My sense is the
Royals players understand what is being
done in that regard and have bought in to
what (general manager) Dayton Moore and
his staff are trying to do. There is no doubt
many of the Chiefs players are still not
fully behind the new regime at Arrowhead.
Having said that, I can envision a Chiefs
team at 8-8 and even 9-7 in 2010, but not
playoff-bound.
One other important factor is the Royals
have experienced some winning the last
few years so they know what it feels like
and how to sustain a winning cycle.
They’ve had streaks during the season,
and even the last month of the past two
seasons, that help them know how to win.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have fallen
woefully short of any type of winning
streak for a few seasons.
Bradford Doolittle, writer for
SportsRadioKC.com:There are some
eerie similarities between
the Royals and Chiefs right
now, and not just because
they both stink. Both teams
are now run by men who,
at the time they were hired,
were deemed to be the No.
1 general manager prospect in their respective
sport. Scott Pioli was the man behind
the scenes for the Patriots’ mini-dynasty
of the 2000s, looking to escape the shadow
of Bill Belichick, the person with the real
clout in New England. Dayton Moore was
the right-hand man of John Schuerholz,
who crafted 13 straight playoff teams in
Atlanta, while Moore was looking to take
the Braves’ philosophy out into the world
and make his own name.
Pioli and Moore both struggled out of
the gate with teams looking hardly
improved over the disasters that came
before them. The jury is still out on both
men, but the nature of the NFL gives Pioli
an edge over Moore in the race for a playoff
berth. Right now, both are on the bottom.
The NFL, however, is hell-bent for
parity. There’s no reason a team, no matter
how bad it is, cannot make the playoffs the
very next year, even if Al Davis is running
the team.
In baseball, however, the long season
means the true talent level almost always
wins out. Yet the economics of the game
entail a guy like Moore must grow his own
impact talent. It takes a long time and even
though Moore has three-plus seasons under
his belt, his best young acquisitions have
yet to reach the majors.
Chiefs fans can always hope for lightning
to strike, even next year. Royals fans
must remain patient, even in the face of a
quarter-century of futility.
Duke Frye, host of “The Chiefs Show”
each Monday at 9 a.m.: Neither has a better
chance of reaching the
playoffs before the other.
Neither one is close. But
the odds would tell you
that it’s the Chiefs because
the NFL has the ability in
its structure to help teams change quicker
and recover quicker.
From a statistical standpoint, you’d say
the Chiefs have a better statistical probability
of getting to the playoffs faster than the
Royals. In truth, they’re closer. They may
not have a franchise quarterback, but they
have a quarterback. They have one of the
best young running backs in the league.
They need help at wide receiver and on the
offensive line and help defensively. In
Derrick Johnson, they have a good linebacker.
So, they have some players who
give them a chance to get to the playoffs.
And, consider this: they’re in a division
with the Raiders and a Denver team that
is still up and down. There’s certainly
a chance for the Chiefs to overtake
the Broncos.
San Diego has a lot of aging players.
The Chiefs have a decent chance, if they
make some good moves, draft well and
have other players step up.
With the Royals, you ask yourself that
question and you see they have Cy Young
award winner Zack Greinke and Gil Meche
to build a rotation. They have a few good
players. When Dayton Moore came in they
said they were going to improve defensively
and add speed. What have they done to
do that?
At catcher they have aging Jason
Kendall, who doesn’t hit with any power
and in recent years hasn’t hit for average.
At shortstop, they think they have
Yuniesky Betancourt and you want to beat
your head on a wall when you hear that. At
second base you either have a guy, Chris
Getz, who can field but not hit, or a guy,
Alberto Callaspo, who could hit but not
field. In center, evidently, you have Rick
Ankiel. Although he’s better than some of
the players they have, what does he do for
the long-term strength and health of the
club? I don’t believe it did anything longterm.
So, up the middle from catcher
through the middle infielders to the
centerfielder, they are not a strong defensive
team and they don’t have any real
team speed. There are a lot of other question
marks around the field.
I love baseball and the Royals, and I’d
love to see them win 81 games this season,
but I don’t see it being possible. So, going
back to the question, I see the Chiefs with
a better shot at reaching the playoffs before
the Royals.
Steve Renko, former major-league
pitcher and co-host of “Behind the
Stats,” Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10
a.m.: The Chiefs simply because of how
the economics and player
development are so different
in Major League
Baseball and the National
Football League.
The Chiefs could draft
players that can provide first-year help.
Not many baseball players are drafted and
immediately find themselves on a majorleague
roster. For the most part, Royals’
draft picks will be three to four years away
from helping.”
Jason Tarwater, host of “The Happy
Hour Show,” weekdays at 3 p.m.: Here’s
the weird part of this question
– while I think the
Royals organization is
headed in the right direction,
I think the Chiefs are
closer to the playoffs. My
reasoning is relatively simple – it’s easier
to make the playoffs in the NFL than it is
in Major League Baseball.
If the Chiefs do what everyone thinks
they will do and draft a left tackle, then
they improve two positions immediately –
left tackle and guard by moving Branden
Albert to guard. Throw in some free-agent
signees and draft picks who can help right
away, it’s a no-brainer this team should be
better next year.
Meanwhile, in baseball, it’s different.
With no salary cap, the Royals can’t immediately
go out and get (high-dollar) free
agents. So they have to rely on young players
who are still a couple of years away.
The system in baseball makes it harder for
the Royals to compete with the New Yorks
and Bostons of the world in order to get the
best players. The process takes more time
than the NFL process. So, though the
Royals have had a better winning percentage
the last few years than the Chiefs, the
Chiefs are still closer to reaching the playoffs,
as it’s much easier to improve a lot in
one season in the NFL.”
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 17

THE GOLF REPORT
Do golfers cheat? It’s not as clear as you might think
Do most golfers cheat? Unlike just about
every other sport, golf is without referees,
officials or umpires and so both
the opportunity and temptation is there.
In football, if you’re caught holding,
there’s an official with a yellow flag to
penalize your team 10 yards. A foul in basketball
usually results in a couple of free
throws. Step over the foul line in bowling
and you’re caught by the magic light.
But golf is different. A game that has
long prided itself for its honesty and
integrity, only in the professional and top
amateur ranks are there officials to see that
all rules are followed to the letter. Over the
years, there have been numerous instances
of players calling penalties on themselves
because a ball moved or a rule was interpreted
incorrectly. To get caught or even be
accused of cheating would bring national
embarrassment. But that’s on the professional
tours and in major amateur tournaments,
where there are not only rules officials
but TV cameras to capture every shot.
The question is not about cheating at the
professional level, but those of us who play
golf for fun, the recreational golfer. Do you
turn the ball over a little in the rough, take
an occasional mulligan after a bad tee shot
or concede yourself a two-foot “gimme?”
According to the Duke Center for
Behavioral Economics which recently conduced
a survey of 14,800 golfers from
around the U.S. to determine what types of
golfers cheat, when they cheat and why,
7.6 percent admitted cheating, while 22.2
percent believe others regularly cheated.
“Why do this?” asked an Executive
Summary on “Cheating in Golf/Cheating
in Business” released by the Duke Center.
“We think that those who are more likely
to cheat in golf are just as likely to be the
people who are more likely to cheat in
business.”
Here’s what the survey revealed:
● Statistical data suggests you are more
likely to cheat playing your clients (23.8
percent) than your friends (22.8 percent)
and more likely to cheat with your friends
than the boss (21.8 percent).
● On average golfers reported taking a
mulligan on the first hole 40 percent of the
2009 March issue
18 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
time versus 15 percent on say the ninth
hole. Although the two acts of dishonesty
are identical, golfers rationalize their decision
to take a mulligan
on the first hole to be
“starting over.”
● After a hole where
you played poorly and
decide you might
fudge on the score, you
are much more likely
to pencil in a better
score (14.7 percent)
than you are to change
a score at the end of
the round (5.38 percent).
● You are back
behind a tree from your
tee shot and need to
improve your lie to
have a shot at the green. Assuming you are
going to cheat, golfers were much more
likely to improve the lie with their club
(22.8 percent) than kick the ball (13.9),
pick the ball up and move it (10.6) or kick
the ball all the way to the fairway (6.1).
● The longer a person has played golf,
the less one reports cheating and the more
a golfer improves, the incentive to cheat
declines precipitously. Also, the longer you
have worked for a particular company, the
least likely you are to cheat.
● Single people reported cheating more
(9.8 percent) than both men and women
who were once married (around 7 percent).
Interestingly, people who were divorced
were no more likely to cheat than those
who were married, which goes against the
idea that divorced people might be more
likely to cheat than married ones.
● Students cheated significantly more
than those in the workforce – employed or
unemployed.
Having said all that, I think most of
those responding to the survey cheated on
their answers.
I dare say there’s not a golfer reading
this who has not been the recipient of a
‘gimme’ putt – although the rules state all
putts must be holed. If you haven’t noticed,
even the world’s best golfers concede putts
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right and left in the Ryder Cup and
Presidents Cup matches. There’s no such
thing as a mulligan and yet it’s often standard
among friends
off the first tee.
So the ultimate
question is what constitutes
cheating at the
recreational level?
Obviously, someone
who takes six strokes
and writes down a
five is cheating. If you
enter a tournament
with a 12 handicap
and you’re actually an
8, that’s cheating.
But what about giving
short putts, turning
the ball over in the
fairway and taking a
mulligan on the first hole – all violations
according to the Rules of Golf but not, I
contend, violations if those deviances are
agreed on by all members of your foursome
or group. In fact, some tournaments
permit “turning the ball over” on the fairway
as part of the rules.
Sometimes, it just takes common sense.
Instead of wasting time and holding up
play to go back and re-tee when a ball is
lost, dropping a ball in the area it was
believed lost and taking
a stroke penalty makes a
whole lot more sense.
Ultimately, of course,
it comes down to what
does your conscience
say? Only you can
decide but don’t be too
tough on yourself – the
game was made to have
fun and enjoy.
Meanwhile, I leave
you with observations on
golf from noted authors:
Alan
Hoskins
Contributing
Writer
“Eighteen holes of golf will teach
you more about your foe than eighteen
years of dealing with him across
a desk.”
Legendary sports writer Grantland Rice.
“The income tax has made liars out
of more Americans than golf:”
Will Rogers.
“The reason golf is so popular is
that it gives people cooped up in the
office all week a chance to lie and
cheat outdoors:”
American humorist Henry Beard
On KCXL 1140 AM & KCTO 1160 AM
Monday thru Friday 6:00-9:00pm
Anatomy of Sport
with Dr. Jim Krause and Steve Nash
Forward Progress
with Dr. Don Oyao and Mark Graves
KC Sports & Fitness Radio
with Steve Fisch and Jim Potoski
The Last Word
with Jeff Eskow
COMING IN MARCH
In Season
with Rusty Pettit

Taking endurance training to the next level
By BRAD ZIEGLER, Contributing Writer Valdez, owner of the Runners Edge train-
For the majority of us, staying in shape
involves cycling, walking, running,
swimming or otherwise working out on
ing program. “They come from all different
ability levels, and they are taking on
this new challenge for a
variety of reasons.
a regular basis and occasionally participat- Regardless where they
ing in 5K runs or organized group cycling start, however, our group
events in the area.
training program
These events allow participants to break can help them reach
up their conditioning routine and to meas- their goals.”
ure their training progress while pushing Half marathons can
the envelope a little by competing against be a more accessible
their peers. A growing number of area resi- alternative for many
dents, however, have given “pushing the runners and walkers.
envelope” an entirely new meaning and With less demanding
have set their sites on more demanding training schedules and
endurance events such as triathlons, half less strenuous physical
and full marathons and other “ultra” events. impact, half marathons have dramatically
Many runners and walkers were intro- grown in popularity. Hospital Hill Run, in
duced to their first marathon as a member its 37th year this summer, has seen larger
of a charity training team, participating in numbers of registrants over the past couple
races at beautiful destinations or in races of years, and new area half marathon
with “rock and roll” or other fun themes. events, such as the Rock The Parkway Half
Motivation came from the cause they were Marathon in March, have been met with a
running to raise money for and support strong response.
came from their fellow team members. For those who seek to participate in
Others chose a marathon as “the ultimate their first triathlon, there are also more
challenge” and want to accomplish some- accessible options than the more highly
thing, even with the increased popularity of publicized long-distance events, like the
these 26.2-mile events, few have achieved. televised Ironman Triathlons that may
The time commitment and physical chal- have motivated cyclists, runners and swimlenge
of running a marathon can be dauntmers to get involved in these increasingly
ing, however, and the best way for most popular events.
first-time marathoners to prepare them- “I would recommend the first time triselves
for such a significant increase in athlete pick a local sprint event (such as a
training is be part of a team.
750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) to try
“We work with a lot of runners and out the sport,” said Sandy Cohen, one of
walkers who are participating in their first the founders of the Kansas City Triathlon
marathon or half marathon, and the majori- in May, which offers different distance
ty of them have been options. “A shorter
active in the past, but event will allow them to
are looking for a new focus on those parts of
challenge,” said Eladio the event that may not
Photos courtesy Dick Ross, seeKCrun.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
2/7-6/5
Missouri Mavericks Hockey, Independence, MO
Home games: 2/5, 2/6, 2/11, 2/13, 2/18, 2/23, 2/26. 2/27
Run Kansas City Training Program
2/13 Run Toto Run, Wyandotte County Lake Park, KC, KS
2/14 Love 2 Run, Downtown Airport, Kansas City, MO
2/21 Indoor Triathlon, Jewish Community Center, Overland Park, KS
2/27 Christo Rey Drum Run, Shawnee Mission East HS, Prairie Village, KS
3/4-8 MIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournaments, Municipal Auditorium, KC, MO
3/6 Truffle Shuffle, JCCC, Overland Park, KS
3/6 Mrs. Robinson’s Romp, Wyandotte County Lake Park, KC, KS
3/10-14 Big 12 Men’s & Womens Basketball Championships, Kansas City, MO
3/14 32nd Annual Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run, Kansas City, MO
3/18-24 NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament, Municipal Auditorium, KC, MO
3/20-21 Ol School Basketball All Star Basketball Camp, 68’s Inside Sports, OP, KS
AND TUNE IN THE KC SPORTS RADIO SHOW: Saturdays 8 AM on 1510 AM,
Tuesdays 6 PM on 1140/1160 AM and Thursdays 2 PM on SportsRadioKC.com
If you have a sports event you’d like included in our calendar, send it to
sfisch@kcsportspaper.com at least 45 days before the event.
be their strength, and to prepare for
the logistical challenges that a triathlon
can present.”
Stepping up to a new
endurance event challenge
means making
changes in training, in
diet and hydration, plus
in clothing, shoes and
equipment.
“You are asking
more out of your body
and your shoes and
apparel, and you have
to pay attention to how
you treat them during
your training process,”
said Troy Fitzgerald, a sales associate at
Garry Gribble’s Running Sports. “Shoes
specifically designed for your body are
important when you plan to spend more
time in them, and newer technology socks
and apparel will be worth the investment
during both the training for the race and
the race itself.”
Taking your bike in for a check-up is
also important to ready it for the additional
demands of training and there may be
accessories or component upgrades that
can be added to improve performance.
An endurance athlete’s diet needs to be
made up of the right combination of pro-
teins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals
and water. Endurance athletes need to
give special attention to adding additional
fuel-efficient complex carbohydrates, such
as pasta, breads and cereals, because of the
extra calories burned daily. It is also important
to increase the number of calories consumed
as the weekly training mileage
increases to meet the body’s demand for
additional fuel. Additional mileage also
requires additional attention to proper
hydration and glucose supplementation,
both of which are essential to successful
training and racing.
Runners and cyclists targeting longer
distance events will need to add strength
training to their workout schedule, which
may be a new aspect or many. Strength
training should focus on light weight and
high repetition weight lifting. The biggest
risk is over training, using too much weight
and too many repetitions. Getting training
on the proper way to lift weights is just as
important as it is to get quality training for
running, cycling and swimming, but, as part
of a comprehensive endurance training
program, strength training can help to
reduce injury and improve performance.
Join us at the Rock the Parkway Half
Marathon, 10K and 5K on Ward Parkway
on March 27. Go to rocktheparkway.com
for more information.
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 19

We’ve all seen the warnings: Check
with your doctor before beginning
an exercise program. It’s on exercise
equipment and in articles you read about
exercise. But is this really necessary?
In most cases, beginning a moderate
exercise plan without seeing your physician
is quite acceptable. If you are a
healthy adult, starting a exercise program
is going to be just fine. You do need to use
good judgment to determine if you can
jump into a program or need to schedule an
appointment for testing before hand. Think
about these factors to determine if you
should make an appointment:
Has your doctor ever said you have
a heart condition and you should only
do physical activity recommended by a
doctor?
1. Do you feel pain in your chest when
you do physical activity?
2. In the past month, have you had chest
pain when you were not doing physical
activity?
3. Do you lose your balance because of
dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?
4. Do you have a bone or joint problem
(for example, back, knee, or hip) that could
20 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
Do you need to see your physician
before starting an exercise program?
be made worse by a change in your physical
activity?
5. Is your doctor currently prescribing
drugs for blood pressure or heart
condition?
6. Do you know of any other
reason why you should not do
physical activity?
If you answered YES to
any of these questions,
you should consult your
physician before beginning
an exercise program.
The Surgeon General’s
Report on Physical Activity and
Health states 25 percent of
adults are not active at all. If
you haven’t been active at all
for a prolonged period of time,
now is a good time to start a
new exercise program.
Physical activity does not need to be
overly strenuous to be beneficial. A good
guideline when beginning an exercise program
is the ability to elevate your heart
rate and break a sweat while carrying on a
conversation, even though it’s a bit chal-
lenging. If it’s challenging, but not difficult,
and you aren’t gasping for air between
words, this would be an appropriate level
of moderate exercise. As you become more
accustomed to the exercise, you can slowly
increase the intensity. You are more likely
to continue an exercise that you enjoy and
are comfortable doing.
If you experience any of the following
conditions after starting your work out,
slow down the intensity
of your exercise:
Have pain or pressure
in the left or middle part
of your chest or in the
left side of your neck,
left shoulder or left arm
• Feel dizzy or sick
• Break out in a cold
sweat
• Have muscle cramps
• Feel sharp pain in
your joints, feet, ankles
or bones
Dr. Lynn
McIntosh, DC
Contributing
Writer
• Notice your heart starts racing or beating
irregularly
In cases of severe pain, stop immediately,
seek help and follow up with your
physician.
Dr. McIntosh is a board certified
Chiropractor, licensed in both Kansas and
Missouri. In addition to being licensed to
provide general chiropractic care, Dr.
McIntosh is a Certified Chiropractic
Sports Physician, working with athletes
from multiple disciplines on specific
sports-related problems.

Make Valentine’s Day about your heart…and your health
Iwas recently discussing marketing
ideas with a business associate. As we
were sharing ideas, I suggested I would
be running a “couple’s special” at my
health club for Valentine’s Day. “Are you
crazy,” he asked. “My wife would kill me
if I got her a gym membership for
Valentine’s Day!”
“Really? Why?” I was genuinely
surprised.
“She would totally read something into
it…like I was calling her fat or something.
I always stick with jewelry. I never get
in trouble because earrings are one size
fits all.”
This got me thinking. So, I asked my
husband, “What’s the first word that comes
to your mind when I say ‘Valentine’s
Day’?” Like a dear in the headlights, he
froze, staring into the open refrigerator,
trying to come up with something better
than whatever word was on the tip of his
tongue. “Come on I said. What’s the first
thing that popped into your head?”
“Annoying,” he said, though I suspect
he really had a stronger word in mind.
Sappy romance isn’t his style or his strong
suit, so Valentine’s Day has always vexed
him. I suspect that’s true for many of you,
as well.
But who says love means never having
to say, “Your butt looks big in those
pants?” Too early in our relationship,
I asked my husband where he thought ‘this
thing between us’
was going.
He replied,
“Don’t ask me a
question you don’t
want the answer to.”
Barring the frozen
fear of having to
answer my
Valentine’s question,
we have tried
to be honest with
one another ever
since. That honesty,
though sometimes
hard to hear, has
benefited us both.
So when we both
got a little heavier
after our two boys
were born, I encouraged him to start learning
tennis like he had been talking about,
and he encouraged me to enjoy my time at
the gym…not because he didn’t want a fat
wife, but because he knew I would benefit
mentally, physically and emotionally by
taking time for myself. We want a long,
healthy life together, and we want to keep
up with our kids now and our grandchildren
later. We gave each other the gift of
fitness because it is a gift of love.
And why would anyone assume you are
being critical by
suggesting a
healthy activity
that you can do
together anyway?
After all, isn’t
Valentine’s Day
supposed to be
about your heart?
Quality time
together is the
surest way to keep
your relationship
healthy.
When you
mix that with
exercise, you literally
strengthen
your heart while
you improve
your relationship. Healthy lifestyle changes
are always easier with a support system
and you will be acutely aware of the positive
changes as the exercise begins to
reshape you both into the healthier, trimmer
people you want to be. How nice it is
to stop and pay attention to one another,
and to compliment the changes that make
you both feel better about yourselves and
one another.
I had a member last year who was taken
off of three medications after three months
at our club. His doctor told him he no
longer needed the drug for his high
cholesterol or his high
blood pressure. When
the blood pressure meds
went away, so did his
need for Viagra. He was
thrilled to tell me the
gym was saving him
money and repairing his
marriage.
Everyone associates
the gym with weight
loss. But there is more to
it than that. Exercise
increases energy levels,
Kim
Peterson
Contributing
Writer
lowers stress, boosts endorphin production
(think ‘runner’s high’), and improves sleep
quality. Self-esteem skyrockets with exercise,
usually long before you see any measurable
physical changes. And improved
sense of self is a surefire way to increase
sex-drive. (Happy Valentine’s Day, Dear!)
Valentine’s Day is about the heart.
Caring about someone doesn’t just mean
giving them what they want. It also means
giving them what they need. And treadmills,
like earrings, are one-size fits all.
Kim Peterson is the owner of Anytime
Fitness in Overland Park. She and her
trainers have developed a philosophy
geared toward regular, everyday people to
improve their health, fitness and quality of
life. She can be reached at 913-599-3700.
And for more information on Anytime
Fitness visit anytimefitness.com.
Easy diet tips when eating at a restaurant
• Skip the appetizers. Many are high in fat and will make you full before the entree arrives
• Be careful at the salad bar. Choose fresh vegetables and greens but skip the prepared
salads (like potato salad or pasta salad). These usually contain high levels of fat.
• Select foods that are baked or broiled instead of fried or prepared in a cream or cheese
sauce.
• Ask for salad dressings, gravies and sauces to be served on the side. Use them sparingly.
• Fish is a great option, but be careful, some are leaner than others. White fish is less fatty
than salmon or swordfish. Watch out for fish prepared in oil or butter..
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 21

Enzymes may be key to sharpening competitive edge
You’ve heard of sugars, fats, carbohydrates,
fiber, probiotics, vitamins,
minerals, and proteins. But, you may
not have heard of one of the most important
components of our food: Enzymes.
Whether you’re just getting serious about
fitness for health reasons, or are looking to
sharpen your competitive edge: Enzymes
may be the key to unlocking your full
potential, with quicker recovery and more
enjoyable workouts.
Enzymes are the key to life. Like a
molecular spark plug, enzymes catalyze
life’s chemical reactions. These reactions,
and life itself, would not be possible without
enzymes. There are metabolic enzymes
present in every cell, digestive enzymes
produced by our organs to break down and
assimilate our food, and enzymes in our
food when they are in their raw state.
Heat destroys enzymes, so cooked food
does not provide enzymes to our bodies.
Enzymes are so valuable; the human body
has developed recycling processes to
absorb them from the digestive tract into
the bloodstream.
Enzymes can help you perform at your
peak level. Supplementation with proteases
– enzymes that break down protein – has
been shown to reduce strength loss that
occurs immediately after eccentric exercise
22 FEBRUARY 2010 KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS
and improve short-term strength recovery
(T.W. Beck, 2007). Enzyme supplementation
is reported to decrease muscle soreness
and
accelerate
recovery
of muscle
function
after
intense
exercise -
possibly
by regulating
leukocyte
function
and inflammation (T.W. Buford, 2009), as
well as – if not better than – Non-Steroidal
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs; P.C.
Miller, 2003).
Enzymes have even shown merit for
treating cancer. Dr. William Kelley developed
a successful, and as yet unproven,
treatment for cancer by using raw foods
and juices, and large amounts of proteolytic
enzymes (American Cancer Society,
Kelley Malignancy Index and Ecology
Therapy, 1970). His assertion was that,
there are always neoplastic (cancerous)
cells in our bodies that will grow out of
control, but are held in check by proteolytic
enzymes produced by the pancreas.
Pancreatic enzymes not only digest our
food, but also keep these neoplastic cells
subdued – so that they do not grow into
cancerous tumors. When our pancreas
becomes overworked from producing
digestive enzymes to break down the
processed and ‘dead’ foods that we consume,
then it cannot produce sufficient
enzymes to keep the neoplastic cells from
growing into cancer. Supplemental
enzymes may provide benefit to an overworked
pancreas.
The science indicates that our bodies
have a biological limit of enzymes that
can be produced during our lifetime.
Dr. Edward Howell described this as an
enzyme “bank account” (Enzyme
Nutrition, 1985). We burn up enzymes by
just living, breathing, and eating. So,
enzymes are depleted more rapidly when
we eat cooked foods, when we are sick,
and when our energy demands are greater
– all of which make withdrawals from our
enzyme ‘bank account’. A lack of enzymes
can lead to sickness and disease, including:
cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and digestive
disorders. To extend our lifespan,
maintain good health, and perform at
our best, we should avoid needless
withdrawals and take a quality enzymatic
supplement.
For more information on enzymes, visit
kcsportsnutrition.com.
Rotate Your Tires
by Kate Chaney, Contributing Writer
Better said, vary your fitness program for
motivation, injury prevention and long term
success.
“Rotate your tires!” We rotate our tires to
avoid potential damage and injury. Similarly,
we need to rotate our movement patterns.
Just like tires, repeated movement patterns
can cause wear over time and potentially
lead to injury. Protect your progress by
incorporating exercises to move your body
in new directions
“Variety is the spice of life!” When a routine
grows weary progress slows with
excuses and lack of advancing challenges.
Stoke the motivational and metabolic fire by
adding new moves, finding new classes, or
incorporating new equipment. These new
challenges can enhance lean body mass,
strengthen cardio endurance and rev up
metabolism.
Compliment your program. The repetition
of a set program may have left other muscles
neglected and weak. Variation can
build strength and stability in an area that
has been sacrificed with the current routine.
Add a complimentary exercise to begin
building strength and stability for the whole
body – not just a few target areas.
Please note, it is recommended to talk with
a fitness professional about the safety and
appropriateness of certain exercises for
your body.
New challenges, new goals, new results!
Kate Chaney is the Fitness Director
at Woodside Health & Tennis Club
where she is also a Star 3 Spinning
Instructor. She can be reached at
816-304-3125

Can a flap of a butterfly’s wings in
Brazil cause a tornado in Kansas? That
is the hypothesis called “The Butterfly
Effect” proposed by a scientist years ago to
explain meteorological events. The hypothesis
states, “small variations of the initial
condition of a dynamic system may produce
large variations in the long term
behavior of the system.” How does this
relate to our health? Putting it simply, what
we do today affects tomorrow BIG TIME!
Workout Tips
by Kory Jacobs, Contributing Writer
Every minute counts. Don’t eliminate
your exercise for the day just because you
have a full schedule. If you’re crunched for
time, then crunch your routine. Simply
decrease the frequency or duration to
accommodate your workout. You’ll feel better
knowing you did something rather than
nothing.
Leave the magazine on the coffee table.
It might seem like a great way to keep
yourself entertained during a workout, but
if you can read captions in a gossip magazine,
chances are you’re not pushing yourself
hard enough. If you’re really into reading
material, try downloading a podcast or
listening to an audio book.
Buddy up. Working out with a friend is a
great way to stick with a fitness routine.
Meet each other for a run in the morning or
take an aerobics class after work. Just
make sure you partner up with a pal you
can count on to push you and help you
reach your goals.
Why weight?: A weight gain of 11 - 18
pounds increases your risk of heart disease
by 25%. More than 25 pounds and
your risk goes up 200% - 300%.
New soles! Your walking shoes should be
replaced about every 500 miles. Special
tip: buy two pairs of shoes to walk in. Wear
one pair to walk regularly in and wear the
other pair just on Sundays. When you
begin to feel the difference between the
two pairs of shoes, it’s time to buy a new
pair of shoes. Now use your previous
Sunday pair for your regular walks and
your new shoes as your Sunday pair.
A little bit goes a long way. The risk of
heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer
and diabetes can be reduced just by taking
the dog for a walk, climbing the stairs or
sweeping the driveway.
Kory Jacobs is a personal trainer at
68’s Inside Sports and can be reached
at 913-888-9247
The “Butterfly Effect” of wellness
Yes, I know. You are thinking, “I thought
the Butterfly Effect was an old Ashton
Kutcher flick.”
So true, but it
also can guide
us in making the
right decisions
for our future
health.
For example,
eating an extra
100 calories per
day (the equivalent
of a
Starbucks
Grande Café Au
Lait with nonfat
milk) can translate
to an extra
pound of fat per
year. That is what health professionals call
“weight creep.” Before you know it, ten
extra pounds of fat are preventing you
from fitting in your college Levis. Of
course, you can compensate for these extra
calories with increased calorie burn with
activity. But, our sedentary lifestyles with
our computerized workstations get in the
way. Attention desk job jockeys: to get the
recommended 10,000 steps per day to keep
body weight in check, we would need to
walk continually all evening around the
house for three hours. Time to get a second
job, and that second job is an hour of exercise.
Lousy
pay, but long
lasting benefits
such as excellent
health!
A poor diet
today can lead
to chronic disease
tomorrow
such as cancer,
heart disease
and even
arthritis.
Excessive saturated
fat typically
found in
fried foods and
high fat items
and trans fats found in processed foods
such as baked goods contribute to inflammation
in the body leading to the aforementioned
diseases. Help yourself stay out
of the hospital with two cups of fruit and
three cups of veggies per day. The rich
nutrient value and fiber will cut down the
cravings for fat laden processed junk.
These decisions today not only affect
your health in the future but also your family,
the health of the nation and the earth.
Your family benefits by having you around
longer and you set a positive
example of health
for your children and
grandchildren.
Our nation is going
through incredible strain
with the increasing burden
of chronic disease
in our health care system.
Diabetes alone is a
major industry now with
whole magazines devoted
to the killer.
Lora
Edwards
Contributing
Writer
Lastly, the earth benefits by a greener
lifestyle- more consumption of fruits and
vegetables and less meat reduces the carbon
footprint tremendously and hoofing it
instead of driving your car to the mailbox,
self-explanatory!
So, just like the butterfly, set your
wings in the right motion for the future.
It affects us all!
Lora Edwards, M.S.Ed., R.D., CSSD is
an exercise physiologist and registered
dietitian at Metazone Training located in
Pepsi Ice Midwest in Overland Park.
She can be reached at 913-851-1600.
Tips to reduce stress
on your back
• Sit with your knees higher than your hips
• Stand with your knees slightly bent or
one foot up on elevated object like a box
or stool.
• Carry objects close to the body
• Never lift more than one-third of your
body weight
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 23

GOOD COACH, RICH COACH
Iwould like to take this opportunity to
thank those men and women who coach.
I don’t want thank all coaches, only
those that are committed to making a difference.
I would like to thank those coaches
that sacrifice their family time to serve
as positive role models, counselors and
mother/father figures to others.
I would like to thank those coaches that
not only feel the responsibility to teach the
fundamentals and X’s and O’s of their
sport, but also character. We ask a lot of
our nation’s sports programs. We ask sports
to be a motivating factor for such things as
better grades and attendance at school,
drug and alcohol avoidance and character
building. Yet, many of us fail to understand
it’s not sports that make the difference, but
the adults who surround those activities.
Although the games are important, it is the
coaching that makes all the difference.
Many coaches understand the basic
formula for coaching: describe what it is
that you want your athletes to do; demonstrate
what it is that you want your athletes
to do; direct your athletes toward successful
completion of that task and reinforce
your athletes’ attempts at what you previously
described, demonstrated and directed.
Almost all coaches understand these
basic principles of coaching. However,
the coaches I would like to thank, take
these basic principles and turn them into
Thanks Coach...
success stories both on and off the field,
court or pitch.
I would like to thank those coaches that
understand it is not
about the X’s and O’s
but about the Jill’s and
the Joe’s. These coaches
understand coaching
has much more to do
with people than it
does programs. To
focus on the people
rather than programs
simply means to focus
on relationships.
Gregory Dale, a professor and sports psychology
consultant at Duke University suggests
the “most successful coaches are
those that not only win most of the time
but also are able to develop meaningful
relationships with athletes they coach.
Architect Frank Lloyd Write stated, “No
stream rises higher than its source.” The
same is true for athletes and the character
they display. In interviewing many successful
high school coaches from around
the country the importance of demonstrating
behaviors they wanted their team to
have was revealed. If these nationally recognized
coaches wanted their athletes to
demonstrate respect, responsibility, sportsmanship
then they believed they too must
demonstrate those character traits.
If they wanted their teams to demonstrate
respect for officials and umpires then
they demonstrated the same behavior during
contests. If they
wanted their team to
outwork all neighboring
teams then they
worked harder than all
neighboring coaches.
I would like to thank
those who make a difference
by not only
what you say, but what
you do. The athletes of
these coaches know
their coaches care about them and that that
care extends beyond the field of competition.
It was college Hall of Fame Coach
Alonzo Stagg who said, “I will not know
for 20 years” when confronted with the
question about whether his season had
been successful. That is because he cared
about his athletes.
Effective coaches see their athletes as
more than just a means to an end. Great
coaches may not like all of their athletes,
they may have difficulty respecting some
of the decisions they make, but they do
care about them just the same. I would like
to thank those coaches who consistently
model their expectations for how successful
athletes, students and citizens act.
Coaching can be a lonely profession.
Though coaches spend a
great deal of time with
athletes, the athletes’
perspective on the day is
not the same as the
coach’s. Though coaches
work in a community of
coaches their decisions
are their own. Without a
core of firmly held
beliefs, it’s difficult to
steer a steady course.
I would like to thank
those coaches that stay
the course. Being a coach is an amazing
profession. It is challenging, dynamic,
energizing and draining, but most of all, it
is rewarding. Every coach has an impact.
Great coaches make a difference.
Rob Haworth,
Ph.D., is a Vice
President for the
National Association
of Intercollegiate
Athletics Dr. Haworth
administers the
Champions of
Character initiative, which is charged with
changing the culture of sports. If you are a
parent, coach or athlete and would like to
know more about Champions of Character
go to championsofcharacter.org.
Colleges pick high-$ coaches over classrooms & academics
The date was 1961. That was the year
when athletics and money officially
became more important to major colleges
than anything that goes on in a college
classroom.
Since that point more than a half-century
ago the emphasis on the revenues generated
by sports has gradually led us to the
point today where most major colleges are
more like Goldman Sachs or CIT Group
than institutions of higher learning.
It all started at The Ohio State
University. Legendary coach Woody
Hayes’s team had just won another Big Ten
title and qualified for the Rose Bowl.
However, in those days a faculty council
had to approve whether the school played
in the game. They voted 28-25 “the
school’s academic reputation was suffering
because of an over-emphasis on the football
team.”
The Buckeye nation was stunned! The
school was not going to the Rose Bowl?
There was minor rioting by students in
Columbus. Woody was not pleased by the
decision (and it was not wise to make
Woody mad).
Ohio State did not go to the Rose Bowl
that year. It was a decision Ohio State
and every major college since then never
made again.
Today we have a situation where
Missouri went to the “Who-Gives-A-Crap”
Bowl in December (and lost 35-15 to Navy
at the Texas Bowl!). The school said even
though it lost money by
going to the bowl (the second
straight year it has gone into
the red on going to a lowertier
bowl game), it had to go
just to show potential recruits
it is a bowl-caliber school -
whether anyone ever heard of
the bowl or not.
Can you imagine Alabama
announcing it was not going
to go to the BCS title game
this year because the school
was going to focus on academics?
It would be laughable.
In fact, Alabama actually
cancelled classes for three
full days so students could travel to the
game (anyone think ‘Bama refunded any
tuition to the parents)?
The average pay for a Bowl-division
head coach is $1.36 million. And that doesn’t
even include all the assistant coaches
(some of whom make more than a million
bucks themselves).
Texas head football coach Mack Brown
gets $5.1 million per season. Pete Carroll,
who coached at USC until he jumped back
to the NFL, taking the Seattle job, ahead of
several potential NCAA violations, was
making a cool $4.4 million per season
tying him with Urban Meyer of Florida.
Alabama’s Nick Saban
makes a paltry $3.9 million
(until bonuses kick in). Bob
Stoops new package at
Oklahoma would pay him
more than $30 million
through the end of 2015. He
got an actual “stay” bonus of
$700,000 on top of his
$3.675 million salary for
2009.
While coaches are being
lavished with millions of dollars
the schools are constantly
whining they need additional
funds. When was the
last time a college did not
raise its tuition?
It is important to note the average
tenured professor’s pay these days is
$90,000 per year. The average pay of a college
president is $225, 991. Yes, the average
pay of a major college coach is about
five times that of the president of the entire
university.
And, let’s face it. Does anyone really
think some of the top college athletes in
football or basketball are even remotely on
campus for educational reasons? Ever
listen to a star basketball
player try to even spit
out a logical declarative
sentence? Many simply
take courses that are a
joke. They are there to
help colleges win games
and generate revenues.
While athletic budgets
are skyrocketing at an
alarming rate, where do
many major colleges try
to cut costs? With their
instructors.
Rob
Haworth
Contributing
Writer
John
Landsberg
Contributing
Writer
In colleges in the U.S about 50 percent
of the faculty today are part-timers. Parttime
professors are cheaper. You don’t
have to offer them any benefits and you
can fire them at anytime. And many parttime
instructors do not have office hours,
spend little time with students and often
have little loyalty to the college.
The bottom line is colleges are profitmaking
businesses and just like corporations
many are paying their top revenue
generators the most money. Those aren’t
teachers. They are coaches. So much for
higher education.
John Landsberg of Bottom Line
Communications can be reached at jlandsberg@bottomlinecom.com.
KANSAS CITY SPORTS & FITNESS FEBRUARY 2010 25

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Time to turn off ESPN (Excessive Sports Promulgated Nightly)
and put an end to your couch-potato life
I consider myself a sports fan.
Always have been. Always will be.
Well, maybe not so much on the latter
assertion. I’ve changed. My senses
have dulled. My hunger for action has
abated. Seems the older I get the less satisfaction
I extract from watching my favorite
teams, players and pastimes. Can’t totally
figure it out?!
Maybe it’s the exorbitant prices keep me
out of parking lots and stadiums? Maybe
it’s the egregious bad play, bad behavior
and bad business that keeps me from
investing more time and attention? Most
likely it’s the television broadcasting
conglomerates that keep force-feeding so
much uninteresting content onto my
Motorola that I’ve decided to read more
books and plant more petunias?
The leading purveyor of this apocalyptic
pipeline is none other than ESPN and its
insatiable sister stations. The Worldwide
Leader, as it’s aptly described by friend
and foe, has become a such global gladiator
that it gobbles up grotesque gains with
the likes of Google, Goldman Sachs and
Jay Leno.
Around the Ski Lodge, I subscribe to
basic cable. How Spartan. How dial-up.
This format offers me The Original and
The Deuce. Those two flagships, plus Fox
and Versus, fill out my scorecard like Sofia
Vergara fills out a sweater. How much athletic
competition can one AARP-member
consume? Sooner or later, the onslaught
becomes silly.
Case in point. On a mid-January
Thursday evening, I flipped across two of
the aforementioned biggies on my clicker.
One had a men’s
hoops between
Michigan-
Indiana. The
other featured
DePaul-
Providence. It
was pure torture.
These teams
were so inept
and the play so
ragged even the
announcers were
appalled. You
could hear it in
their voices.
Why was
ESPN sending
out trucks to
showcase this
slop? Why were
advertisers buying time? Because the big
dog eats where and when it wants?!
Because the big dog knows it has
Pavlovian lapdogs ringing the bell and lapping
up this drivel like just another quesadilla
supreme.
Second case in point. Less than 48 hours
after the Thursday fiasco came the weekend.
Time to wash the car. Time to visit a
place of worship in order to worship something
other than the pick-and-roll. Then
I perused Saturday’s TV calendar. Holy
Killjoy?! There were 31 college games
Martial arts is not the same everywhere you go.
Steps to select a school that’s right
for you or your child.
Step one in choosing a school is to clearly understand what you want your child to gain
from learning the martial arts. Is it light recreation and playtime? Then a community center
program may fit your needs, not a fulltime professional school. Is it self-defense, personal
development and fun? If so, then a full-time professional school will be more suitable.
Many parents view the martial arts as part of their child’s educational development and
with a good professional school, it is that indeed.
Step two is to recognize that choosing a school is really choosing the instructor. Be sure
to visit the school and watch the instructor work with other children of the same age.
Every school is very different because every instructor is different. Don’t get confused by
claims of black belt degrees, tournament wins or martial art styles. The only style that matters
is the teaching style of the instructor and how your child will respond to him or her.
Finally, trust your instincts. A professional school will have a family atmosphere, lots of
smiles, clean, professional and a safe environment You’ll feel comfortable with the personnel
and the facility.
In addition: ask the big question, “How long does it take to get a black belt?” If the
answer is less than 4 years and you see a room full of 7 year old black belts.....its time to
visit another school!
Source: Amerikick Martial Arts. For more information visit worldchampkarate.com or call
913-432-2787.
listed like departing flights at KCI. Eight
more on Sunday. That’s blow-a-gasket
ridiculous and didn’t even take into consideration
the
NFL playoffs,
the
NBA, the
PGA and a
fantastic 8
a.m.
Saturday
morning
radio show
on KCTE
Hot Talk
1510 AM?!
The sheer
volume was
wasteful in
dollars spent
and
resources
ruined?!
This “jockimus
max-imus” visual stimulation was
like front-row seats at a Victoria’s Secret
fashion show. Way way way too much
bouncing and strutting.
Therein lies the problem. ESPN is an
enabler. It created obesity. It caused global
warming and freakish
winter storms. It forced
Simon to leave Idol. It
made Mark McGwire
bulk up. What a beast!
The broadcast brotherhood
cannot deny it has
turned educated viewers
into candidates for The
Biggest Loser. What can
spellbound Americans
do? I say we vote-byremote
and let the
Jim
Potoski
Contributing
Writer
Connecticut Kingpins know we’re mad as
heck and not gonna take it anymore?!
Consider this a couch-potato call-toaction!!.
Turn off EPSN. Let me repeat
that. Turn off ESPN. It can be done. Mix in
a little Deadliest Catch or Colbert Report.
Better yet, cook dinner. Take your loved
ones to a matinee movie. Volunteer at an
animal shelter. Take back your life. There’s
a Pilates or Yoga trainer just itching to
develop “core strength” in your squishy
abdomen. Rent the DVD. Better yet, head
down to the gym for a good sweat. You can
do it. Your appreciation for sports, like
hopefully mine, will be renewed.
Listen to “Between The Stats” weekdays, 10 AM-
Noon and 6-8 PM or the “Happy Hour” weekdays
from 3-5 PM or 11 PM-1AM on SportsRadioKC.com.
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