Using Plus Sign in Google Search Not Necessary

Just a quick note to my old friends who are probably my age or a little older, class of 19@* or whatever. Although we were the last really cool generation, the generation that all of the young people aged 12-26 are still imitating, the last generation that actually stood for or meant anything, or contributed anything to the world musically, the last generation who was still socially adept, can look you in the eye and give a firm handshake, not text something to you to avoid confrontation like these stupid kids today walking around with their heads down as they walk texting, and texting.............................wait, what was I talking about........I had a point here.....................oh well.....senior moment.

What I wanted to tell you was, you don't have to use the plus (+) sign when searching Google or any other search engine anymore.  That technique was taught to us back in the early 90's and it is no longer necessary.  Now pay attention kids, this is awesome.  In the old days, to search the World Wide Web as we called it, you would type in search+the+world+wide+web in the search box.  And oh, what advances we have made since then.  Old people, you may now retire your plus key, but please don't lose your sense of style, because, as you can tell by watching Idol or Glee or any of the other crappy shows on network TV, the only good songs that they perform were all written before 1994, what I consider the last year actual music was made.  To wit, the preppy kids are STILL wearing the polo / izod shirts with collars up and some of them are even going back to high tops!  Hey little farts, WE started that back in the 80's.  What's next, are you guys going to start rolling up your jeans at the bottom to make them skinny.  Just wait, it's coming.

But I digress................I just noticed that since our little team here at www.kansas-city-news.pro have reached the top ten on Google under the search phrase "kansas city news" (don't try achieving THAT at home), we are getting a LOT more traffic and that some of you old schoolers are still using the plus sign when you are searching, and I want you to stop it.

Chiefs Select Jonathan Baldwin

As predicted, Kansas City ended up trading down in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to select Pittsburg WR Jonathan Baldwin. Kansas City passed on some talented defensive players and a few offensive lineman to get Baldwin, which has led to some debate as to whether or not this was the right move.

Whether you agree with grabing Baldwin or not, Kansas City's first round strategy was sound. The Chiefs likely sold themselves on getting Baldwin and giving their wide receiving corps a much needed boost, and knew he would be available later on in the first round. The Chiefs' trade not only gives them help at WR, but also allows them to address depth issues on the offensive line with an extra third round pick. I would be surprised if the pick Kansas City aquired from the Browns isn't used on a guard, which could be a valuable addition in the third round. Yes, there were a lot of other routes the Chiefs could have taken, and Baldwin has been labled one of the biggest "boom or bust" candidates in the draft, but credit Scott Pioli with finding the player he wanted and getting an extra third round pick.

As for Baldwin, he appears to have the tools to be a quality NFL receiver. He has great size and should provide Matt Cassel with another red zone target. Drafting a wide receiver in the first round is always a huge gamble, and teams have been able to find outstanding NFL wideouts in the second round in previous drafts.

The Chiefs could have added much-needed help to its defensive front seven or offensive line, but Pioli addressed a need, and was smart to trade down and acquire an extra third round pick. Look for Kansas City to add a guard with its upcomming picks and try to find a sleeper it can develop at outside linebacker.

2011 NFL Draft Picks 18 - 32

18 Corey Liuget	DT	Chargers
19 Prince Amukamara	DB	Giants
20 Adrian Clayborn	DE	Buccaneers
21 Phil Taylor	DT	Browns
22 Anthony Castonzo	OT	Colts
23 Danny Watkins	OG	Eagles
24 Cameron Jordan	DE	Saints
25 James Carpenter	OG	Seahawks
26 Jonathan Baldwin	WR	Kansas City Chiefs
27 Jimmy Smith	DB	Ravens
28 Mark Ingram	RB	Saints
29 Gabe Carimi	OT	Bears
30 Muhammad Wilkerson	DE	Jets
31 Cameron Heyward	DE	Steelers
32 Derek Sherrod	OT	Packers

Nate Solder goes to Patriots 17th pick 2011 nfl draft

After trading up from  the Raiders, The New England (not a real place) Patriots select Nate Solder, one of the biggest men in the NFL Draft at 6'8'' 319, an OL from  Colorado.

Ryan Kerrigan goes to Redskins 16th pick 2011 NFL Draft

With the 16th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Washington Redskins select Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan.  This was the pick that the Redskins got from their trade down with the Jaguars.

Mike Pouncey goes to Dolphins 15th pick of 2011 NFL Draft

With the 15th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Dolphins select Mike Pouncey, the monstrous OL from Florida.

Robert Quinn goes to the Rams with the 14th pick 2011 nfl draft

With the 14th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select DE Robert Quinn from North Carolina.

Nick Fairley goes to the Lions 13th pick in the 2011 nfl draft

With the 13th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Lions select Nick Fairley, a DT from Auburn.

Christian Ponder goes to Vikings with 12th pick in 2011 NFL Draft

With the 12th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Christian Ponder, the QB from Florida State.

J. J. Watt goes to Texans in 11th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft

With the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, the Texans select J. J. Watt, the dangerous DE from Wisconsin.

Blaine Gabbert goes to the Jaguars in the 1st round 10th pick overall

The Jaguars "pounce" their way up to the number 10 pick by trading with the Redskins to grab up Blaine Gabbert, the towering QB from MU.  It is surprising that the Redskins allowed this trade as they desperately need a quarterback with an aging Donovan McNugget on the roster.

Tyron Smith goes to The Cowboys with their first pick - 9th overall

With the 9th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, The Dallas Cowboys select Tyron Smith, the massive OT from USC.

Jake Locker goes to the Titans

With the 8th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select Washington QB Jake Locker.  Locker got a lot of credit from the NFL and the NCAA alike with his decision in 2010 to stay on and finish his senior year at Washington.  This is very possibly the reason why Locker went before Blaine Gabbert in the draft.

Mizzou's Aldon Smith to 49ers

With the 7th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Missouri DB Aldon Smith.

Atlanta Falcons trade up to get Julio Jones WR

Trading up from 27th pick to the 6th pick, The Atlanta Falcons select Alabama wide out Julio Jones.  The trade will involve the Cleveland Browns and will mean that the Falcons will give up their second and fourth round picks this year, and their first and fourth picks next year.

It is rumored that the Falcons were very interested in Georgia wide out A. J. Green, but of course he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 4th round.  This makes it very appearant that the Atlanta Falcons were desperate to get a wide receiver in the 2011 NFL Draft.

I'm thinking that this was probably NOT a good decision by the Atlanta Falcons, but they do have a lot of talent at QB with Matt Ryan.

During the 2010 season with Alabama, Jones had 78 receptions, 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. For his career, Jones caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Patrick Peterson goes to Arizona Cardinals in 2011 NFL Draft

With the 5th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals choose Patrick Peterson, the dangerous DB from Louisiana State University.

Patrick Peterson, often compared to Atlanta Falcon star DB Deion Sanders, performs Kickoff return and punt return duties, giving the Arizona Cardinals a deep threat in special teams.

A. J. Green chosen by Cincinnati Bengals 4th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft

With the fourth pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, The Cincinnati Bengals chose A. J. Green, the 6'4 211lb wide receiver from the University of Georgia.  Green finished the 2010 season with a team high 57 catches for 848 yards and nine touchdowns with Georgia.

Marcell Dareus selected by Buffalo Bills 3rd pick in 2011 Draft

With the third pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The Buffalo Bills select Marcell Dareus, the quick and powerful DT from Alabama.  Marcell Dareus is said to be dominant with proper pad level, and may need a little help with technique.  Dareus also has never been 100% healthy for a full season.

The Buffalo Bills ranked last in 2010 in overall defense so this pick definitely makes sense.  Dareus is being compared to Vince Wilfork, the center for the New England Patriots.

Von Miller 2nd Pick of 2011 Draft by Denver Broncos

With the 2nd pick of the 2011 draft, The Denver Broncos select Von Miller - the powerful and explosive OLB from Texas A&M.  Von Miller is known for being able to perform in any defensive front, has active hands and can use them at full speed.  The only concern for the Denver Broncos is whether or not he can perform in the 4-3 defense.  At 6'3, 246lbs, Miller is already being compared to Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs due to the impact that he made while at Texas A&M.  I don't know about that, but it does not make the Chiefs fans very comfortable knowing that this beast will be squaring off against us next season.

In March 2011, Miller was selected to represent top flight rookies in the NFL Labor Union talks.  He was persuaded by LaDainian Tomlinson to join the lawsuit.  Von sported goofy looking "Spike Lee" glasses at the draft ceremony and spoke of being a team player first and foremost.

Carolina Panthers Select Cam Newton 1st NFL Draft Pick

Talented, and most likely criminal, Cam Newton was selected first by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft.  Newton was caught stealing a laptop computer from a fellow student while at The University of Florida, accused of academic fraud, and his shady father Cecil Newton tried to extort money from several teams who were interested in Cam.  Through some smooth shimmy shimmy coco pop talking and some slippery lawyers, Cecil was able to avoid permanent damage to his son's career despite his ghetto street antics.

Cam Newton led Auburn University to the BCS Championship in 2011, and also won the 2010 Heisman Trophy.

Coaches and professors who were around Cam Newton claim that he is easily influenced by other people, and tended to "hang around the wrong crowd" and has an incredibly inflated ego.

Marty Hurney, GM of the Carolina Panthers has never taken a quarterback in the first round of the draft, but he's got his hands full now with Cam Newton.  There is no doubt that this kid has a lot of talent, but as we've seen time and time again in the NFL, a bad apple can definitely spoil the whole bunch.  Good luck Carolina.

NFL Draft Picks LIVE - Thursday April 28th

Kansas City News will be bringing you tonight's NFL draft picks LIVE as they happen.  The environment in New York at the draft tonight is anything but placid, the crowd chants out "we want football!" every chance they get and when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the podium the entire room erupted in loud "boo's".  Goodell started with "I hear ya" - as he was pretty much forced to acknowledge the booing.  He then immediately turned the boo's into silence when he asked the audience to calm down and honor the 300+ lives lost in the torrid weather sweeping through the South of the US.

Commercial break, rowdy crowd (how do all of those trashy hillbilly looking people get in there anyway?) and the fun is about to start so stay tuned!  The draft picking order so far (no trades yet) is:

1. Carolina (2-14)
2. Denver (4-12)
3. Buffalo (4-12)
4. Cincinnati (4-12)
5. Arizona (5-11)
6. Cleveland (5-11)
7. San Francisco (6-10)
8. Tennessee (6-10)
9. Dallas (6-10)
10. Washington (6-10)
11. Houston (6-10)
12. Minnesota (6-10)
13. Detroit (6-10)
14. St. Louis (7-9)
15. Miami (7-9)
16. Jacksonville (8-8)
17. New England (14-2) -- from Oakland
18. San Diego (9-7)
19. New York Giants (10-6)
20. Tampa Bay (10-6)
21. Kansas City (10-6)
22. Indianapolis (10-6)
23. Philadelphia (10-6)
24. New Orleans (11-5)
25. Seattle (7-9)
26. Baltimore (12-4)
27. Atlanta (13-3)
28. New England (14-2)
29. Chicago (11-5)
30. New York Jets (11-5)
31. Green Bay (10-6)*
32. Pittsburgh (12-4)*

NFL Draft Schedule

The 2011 NFL draft is only a few hours away. While ESPN and sports radio will be providing analysis and coverage for hours this afternoon, the draft will officially begin at 7:04 p.m. when the Carolina Panthers are officially on the clock. The draft has a much more positive feel to it with the news that the NFL lockout has been lifted, and fans can enjoy the selections with the knowledge that these guys might have a season in the fall.

The Chiefs have the 21st selection, which means they will not have a shot at the top prospects on the board. Kansas City still has plenty of needs, and will try to build off a strong 2010 draft to shore up several holes, most notably at wide receiver, outside linebacker and the line.

Kansas City also has an opportunity to make a trade, as many teams drafting at the end of the first round or early in the second round may want to move up to grab a player they covet. The Chiefs could swap their first overall selection for more picks later if there isn't a player they are really sold on with the 21st pick, or they could bring in a veteran with a pick swap. The Chiefs could use immediate help at receiver and outside linebacker, so don't be surprised if Kansas City trades its top pick to immediately upgrade those positions with a proven veteran.

Looking Back on Last Year's Draft

With the 2011 NFL draft a day away, the Chiefs could benefit from taking a look at its 2010 draft class. Many experts deemed Kansas City's 2010 draft a success before the rookies strapped on shoulder pads, and the group lived up to the hype. If the Chiefs hope to repeat the success the team enjoyed in 2010 and continue to build a winning foundation, another strong draft is critical.

A team's draft is dictated on who they grab with their first pick, and the Chiefs finally got a game changever with its top selection last year. Eric Berry made an immediate impact for Kansas City, blossiming into a pro bowl safety in his first season. Just imagine if the Chiefs had found two other pro bowlers with its first round picks rather than take Glenn Dorsey or Tyson Jackson. The Chiefs now find themselves without a top five pick, meaning they could take the best player available rather than address a specific need. Hopefully Kansas City finds another player who is ready to make an impact with its top pick, and former first round picks Dorsey and Jackson start to live up to their draft selection.

A team can get good in a hurry if it finds starters in the middle rounds of the draft, and the Chiefs did that last year. Kansas City injected its team with much needed speed by drafting Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas. McCluster added a playmaking spark to the offense while giving the return game a much needed boost, while Arenas showed the potential to be a solid defensive back and showed flashes of being a dangerous returner as well. Tight end Tony Moeaki also had a successful rookie season and appears to be the Chiefs tight end of the future.

Last year, the Chiefs were able to find quality starters while adding depth, the two ingredients for any successful draft. After years of bad drafts, Kansas City now finds themselves one good draft away from having a talented core of young players mixed with capable veterans. Hopefully the Chiefs will keep the momentum going from last year's draft and hit another home run tomorrow.

In God We Trust in the Pledge of Allegiance and Coins

Ah, shock emails, gotta love 'em.  The latest one running around everyone's email box is actually a regurgitated email from back in 2004.  It basically goes:

Subject: Fw: NBC POLL
Do you believe in God?
NBC this morning had a poll on this question. They had the highest Number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the Percentage was this:
86% to keep the words, IN God We Trust and God in the Pledge of Allegiance,
14% against.
That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.  I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't.  Now it is your turn .... It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is the world catering to this 14%?
If you agree, pass this on, if not, simply delete.
In God We Trust
END OF EMAIL

Most of these emails are aimed at getting a rise out of someone, and this one is no different.  It must have got a rise of some kind out of us or we wouldn't be blogging about it. 

But just to be clear:  we don't like to blog about religion here at Kansas City News because people should be allowed to believe whatever they want about religion, and it's no one's business but their own.  My simple philosophy has always been that no one has ever come back from the dead to tell us what the correct beliefs are now have they?  That's really all you need to know about religion - NO ONE KNOWS.  Just believe what you want - and more importantly, keep it to yourself.

Some analysis was done by About.com on this particular email, basically proving that, like most of these stupid emails, it is a hoax.  Here's what they found:

Analysis: Some versions of this 2004-vintage email claim NBC pollsters were "shocked" or "surprised" to learn that such a large percentage of respondents (86%) voted in favor of keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" as the national motto. The point we're supposed to take away, evidently, is that the mainstream press is rife with Godless cretins who neither share nor understand the religious convictions of average Americans.
There's no evidence to suggest that anyone at NBC actually reacted that way to such a poll, however, and in point of fact it wouldn't have made sense if they had, given that the same questions constantly turn up in public opinion polls, and the results are always roughly the same.
It's unclear whether NBC actually conducted a "Do you believe in God?" poll around the time these messages first surfaced (2004). If they did I couldn't find evidence of it, though I gather from secondhand sources that NBC subsidiary CNBC did conduct a survey more or less along those line in March 2004, asking participants if the words "under God" should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. The results broke down similarly to those stated in the email: 85% answered no (meaning they favored keeping the phrase "under God," and 15% answered yes.
Public opinion polls have produced strikingly similar results over the years:

• A Newsweek poll in 2002 found that 87% of respondents favored keeping "under God" in the Pledge, and 9% were against.
• In 2003, a Gallup poll found that 90% of Americans surveyed were in favor of the inscription "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins. In addition to the 8% who said they opposed it, 2% said they didn't know.
• A 2004 Newsweek poll yielded 87% in favor of keeping "under God," 12% against, and 1% "not sure."
• An online poll launched by MSNBC in 2005 posed the question, "Should the motto 'In God We Trust' be removed from U.S. currency?" When last I checked the results, 89% had voted no and 11% had voted yes.

Judge Ends NFL Lockout

U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson ruled in favor of the NFL players yesterday, ending the lockout. While this was a huge victory for the players in their war with NFL owners on how to split over $9 billion in revenue, there is still no promise for an NFL season in 2011. NFL owners plan on appealing Judge Nelson's ruling.

Nelson's ruling wasn't much of a surprise - players have historically come out better anytime they have battled a group of owners in court over a labor dispute. Nelson ruled that players will be harshly affected by a lockout, and that many already are feeling the effects from the work stoppage.

The NFL players had slowly gained the upper hand throughout the lockout process, and Judge Nelson's ruling only gave the side more power. There is still a lot of legal anecdotes to work out, but this ruling has to make fans more optimistic that NFL football will be played in 2011. What comes out of the owners' appeal will likely be a sign to how close (or far away) this is from being over.

MLB Players Blast Bud Selig's New Playoff Plan

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig recently went on record to state that baseball's playoffs will likely expand sometime in the near future. Selig expects the MLB playoffs to expand to 12 teams by 2012, moving away from the eight team format the league has used since 1995.

At first, the move to expand MLB's postseason was met with support from both the owners and the players union. Many shared a "the more the merrier" standpoint, noting that other leagues such as the NBA and NHL have 16 team playoffs, while the NFL features a 12 team postseason field.

Despite the initial positive reactions, many MLB stars have recently blasted the notion of expanding the playoffs. San Francisco Giants star Tim Lincecum was the most vocal, ranting to reporters about having more teams to deal with and that Selig doesn't care about the players. Other stars such as Buster Posey and Mark Teixeira also voiced their concerns over expanding the current format. Lincecum is a two-time Cy Young winner and led San Francisco to the World Series Title last season, so it will be interesting to see how much he can influence other players and fans.

Personally, I see both sides of the argument. While it would be great to have more series and games, there is the potential for less deserving teams to have a shot at the title. Baseball's regular season is extremely long, which provides plenty of time for the best teams in the league to seperate themselves. It appears that an expanded postseason is going to happen, so we might as well get used to the idea.

Royals Swept in Texas

Is this the beginning of the end for the Royals? After a nice start to the 2011 campaign, Kansas City was swept over the weekend in Texas, dropping the Easter day game 8-7. As Royals fans, we are always waiting for the other show to drop, or the 15 game losing streak to begin. Though the good guys showed some signs of life, the Rangers bats were too much to contend with. The Rangers scored 22 runs in the three game series, by far the most given up by the Royals in a series this season (Cleveland scored 20 runs over a FOUR game series).

Bruce Chen was the victim on Sunday. Chen, who has been electric to start the season gave up 6 runs in 4 and a third innings - far and away his worst outing of the season and dropping his record to 3-1 on the season. A six run 5th inning by the Rangers did in the Royals, who did however mount a furious comeback in the final two frames to fall by 1. Mike Aviles hit two home runs and stole a base for his best offensive performance of the season.

The road trip continues on Tuesday with a three game set at division leading Cleveland before returning home for the weekend.

Of note: in attendance at Easter Sunday's game was former President and former Texas Rangers Owner George W Bush (pictured above).

Kansas City Chiefs 2011 Schedule, Monday Night Games

Even though the NFL is still not a certainty this season, they have released the Chiefs 2011 schedule, which includes 3 Monday night games and a notable increase in schedule difficulty.

The Chiefs kick off the season with a couple of easy teams, The Buffalo Bills and The Detroit Lions.  Although we know that the Chiefs love to beat the difficult teams and lose to the easy teams (cough, cough, the Raiders in 2010), these two games should get the Chiefs off and running to a 2-0 start.

The three Monday night games actually look pretty good.  We get the Chargers at home, then a recently not so impressive New England team at their house (even though there's no such place as "New England" - it's like saying that your team is from "Atlantis" or something - it's a FICTIONAL place folks) - we should have a chance vs. the diminishing Patriots.  Hopefully we'll snap off Brady's leg at the knee and put him out for the season again.

Then finally we have Pittsburgh at home, which on paper looks like we should get our asses kicked.......unless you happened to be at Arrowhead on November 22nd, 2009.  On that beautiful day, the bandwagon Steeler fans proudly sported their brand new Steelers jerseys, and actually outnumbered the Chiefs jerseys at Arrowhead.  It was pathetic.  We were joking around the entire game with these plastic Steeler "fans" telling them that they probably couldn't even point to Pittsburgh on a map.  Posers.  That reminds me:

Note to idiot fans that feel the need to wear the opposing team's jersey to our home games:  If you insist on wearing the other team's jersey, it must be clearly NOT NEW, showing us that you are a real fan of the team, and that you've been a fan for more than one season.  Don't show up at Arrowhead with a brand new jersey from the team that just won the Super Bowl the prior year.  You will be ridiculed, and possibly even doused in beer.  Especially if you're anywhere near our section on the 50 yard line in good old Section 118.

Anyway, we got our revenge on the "away team jersey posers" that day as the Chiefs smoked up the Steelers 27-24 in overtime and the Steelers never recovered that season.  Since their loss to the Chiefs, they slunk away into obscurity and lost most of their remaining games :)

The Kansas City Chiefs 2011 Schedule

• Week 1 - Buffalo Bills
• Week 2 - @ Detroit Lions
• Week 3 - @ San Diego Chargers
• Week 4 - Minnesota Vikings
• Week 5 - @ Indianapolis Colts
• Week 6 - Bye
• Week 7 - @ Oakland Raiders
• Week 8 - San Diego Chargers (Monday Night)
• Week 9 - Miami Dolphins
• Week 10 - Denver Broncos
• Week 11 - @ New England (Monday Night)
• Week 12 - Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Night)
• Week 13 - @ Chicago Bears
• Week 14 - @ New York Jets
• Week 15 - Green Bay Packers
• Week 16 - Oakland Raiders
• Week 17 - @ Denver Broncos

Royals Pull Out late Victory to Split Series With Cleveland

The Kansas City Royals pulled out a late victory last night to split a 4 game series with division leading Cleveland. The good guys scored one in the 8th, and 2 in the 9th for a thrilling come from behind win. The victory salvaged a 2-2 split with the Indians, and kept Kansas City within a game of the Division lead.

Kansas City has had several walk off victories this season with many different heroes. Last night Melky Cabrera did the honers with his two RBI single in the bottom of the ninth off of previously perfect Indians Closer Chris Perez. Slumping Kila Ka'ahue delivered a lead off double to get the party started in the final frame. A pinch runner, a single, a walk and runner thrown out at home later, Cabrera came up with the bases loaded.

This win was just another day at the office for these young Royals. Exciting win after exciting win have been the norm for these guys. I guess they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be the American League Central whipping boys. Kansas City sits at 12-7 and has the second best record in the American League. Maybe it won't last, but we should enjoy it while it does.

Next on tap for the Boys in Blue is a week long road trip visiting the reigning American League Pennant winning Rangers and then a trip to Cleveland where the Indians will be hungry for revenge.

NFL Schedule Allows Room to Make Up Missed Games

With the possibility of a lockout next season, the NFL has crafted a schedule in which there could be no games during the first three weeks of the season yet all 16 regular season games could be played. With a lockout looming as a strong possibility, this is a very smart move by the NFL to keep fans optimistic while negotiations continue.

Every game in week three features teams that share the same bye week later in the season. This allows teams to make up a missed week three during what would have been their bye week later on in the year. The league could also skip the week off between the conference championships and the superbowl, while also playing the superbowl a week later than normal. To be safe, the NFL has booked hotel rooms in Indianapolis (the site of next season's superbowl) for two weeks, in case the championship does get pushed back a week.

The regular season is scheduled to kick off September 8 with the Packers hosting the Saints. With the wrinkles in the schedule, the season's start could be delayed until October 2nd and still end February 12. Not bad at all. Kudos to the NFL for drafting an emergency plan and trying to give fans as much football as possible.

Ryan Mallett Misses Practice, Uses Drugs, Draft Position Affected?

Without a doubt the most interesting quarterback in the 2011 NFL draft, Ryan Mallett missed practice today after allegedly partying too hard the night before.  Mallett was in the middle of a draft visit to the Carolina Panthers when his agent called and told Panther's staff that Mallett was sick and would not make the day's practice.  This came on the tails of an ongoing probe into Ryan Mallett's drug use during his days at Arkansas U.

Although missing a day of work here and there is common place for us average guys, going out and partying during a weekday and then having to use the perennial "personal day" after waking up feeling like you'd been hit by a truck, this is JUST NOT DONE in the NFL.  Players are expected to show up sick and play anyway.  On ESPN they interviewed several NFL veterans who claimed that they NEVER missed a single practice or game for being sick - not even one.  It could be that Mallett really wasn't interested in playing for Carolina (understandable), and maybe that was his way of blowing them off.  The problem is, the rest of the league heard about this and now there is a question mark next to Mallett's name on the draft board.

Slotted to go in the top 5 in the 2011 NFL draft next Thursday, Ryan Mallett is a hot handed, highly competitive quarterback who led the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Sugar Bowl where they were pummeled by Ohio State.  Mallett talks like a black person and sounds like a complete wigger idiot, but we watched him in a recent episode of Jon Gruden's Quarterback Camp and he seems to know what he's doing when it comes to being a great quarterback.

We've seen how NFL teams react to off-field antics lately, showing absolutely no tolerance, cutting or benching ANY player no matter how talented for poor ethics off the field and / or in the locker room.  Our overall impression of Ryan Mallett is that he is a larger than life quarterback (6'7" 253lbs) that has a rocket arm, and well, likes to do drugs and party all night.  If a "bad-boy" quarterback is what you're looking for, Mallett might be your guy.  Raiders?  Are you listening?

NFL Draft Round One - Will Kansas City Select a Defensive Lineman?

With the 2011 NFL draft fast approaching, the Chiefs are running out of time to evaluate the team's needs and formulate a strategy. Unlike recent years, the Chiefs will not be one of the first teams selecting a player, which makes it harder to predict what direction Kansas City will go with the 21st pick.

Many analysts predict the Chiefs will take a defensive lineman, and one name floating around the internet is Muhammed Wilkerson. The former Temple star will likely be around when the Chiefs make their pick, and has been noted for his run stopping ability. Kansas City already has a pass rush specialist at OLD in Tamba Hali, so improving a run defense that struggled at times makes sense.

Sports Illustrated has also bought into the idea of Kansas City adding a defensive lineman, predicting that the Chiefs will grab DT Stephen Paea of Oregon State. Paea had a monster combine and would provide a boost. Another DT SI mentions as a possibility for Kansas City is Illinois' Corey Liuget. The team has struggled to find a playmaker on the defensive line, as Tyson Jackson has underperformed early and often in his career. The Chiefs may yet again draft a defensive lineman with its first round pick, despite addressing this area several times recently.

Kansas City has several needs, so it will likely grab the best talent it can get rather than reach for someone to address a specific weakness. If a talented defensive lineman is on the board, don't be surprised if the Chiefs grab one in hopes that its 3-4 defense will continue to make strides in 2011.

Two New Traffic Laws Go in Effect in The State of Kansas

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed two controversial traffic laws into effect. The State Maximum speed limit will be raised by 5 mph to 75, and motorcyclists can now run a so called "dead red" light. Both laws go into effect later this summer.

The new speed limit law will go in effect July 1, and the State Secretary of Transportation will decide which roadways qualify for the higher speeds. Estimates suggest that around 1,100 miles of Kansas Roads will see a higher limit. Opponents say that motorists already exceed the posted speed limit by 5-10 miles/hour, and this is just permission for drivers to drive as fast as 90 mph. Speed isn't necessarily dangerous, though, and most accidents are caused by distracted driving or driving too fast for weather conditions. Neighboring states (Nebraska and Oklahoma) already have 75 mph speed limits in place.

Motorcyclists can now run a "dead red" after waiting a reasonable amount of time. A "dead red" is when a red light does not change for a motorcycle because they are not large enough to set off the sensors that trigger lights to change to green. This is especially problematic late at night when few cars are on the road. Opponents argue this is just dangerous and waiting a long time at a light is worth it to stay alive, but I would contend that motorcyclists already have to be extra vigilant, and this is a common sense law. Give people some credit here. The law also applies to bicycles.

What the Chiefs Need in the 2011 Draft

The Chiefs had a very successful 2010 draft, putting the organization in a strong position to contend for the next several years. Many of Kansas City's picks ended up contributing to the team right away; Eric Berry lived up to his high draft status, Tony Moeaki was productive at tight end and Dexter McCluster added some explosiveness to the return game.

A successful 2011 draft would give Kansas City a young nucleus as good as any team in the league. The Green Bay Packers have proved that teams can win championships by stockpiling and developing young talent through the draft, and Chiefs GM Scott Pioli would like to follow the same blueprint. Despite taking a huge step forward last year, Kansas City still has some holes to fill before it is ready to compete for a title. The following are areas the Chiefs must address in the draft:

Wide Receiver

Dwayne Bowe finally broke out last season and put up Pro Bowl numbers. However, it is crucial that Kansas City find another big time wideout to open up the offense and take some pressure of Bowe. Some of the top wideouts in the draft like Julio Jones will likely be gone by the time Kansas City is up, and drafting a WR in the first round is always a risk. Kansas City may elect to grab a WR through free agency or a trade, and grab a wideout in the later rounds it can develop.

Outside Linebacker

Tamba Hali is as good as they come, but the Chiefs could use another playmaker outside in the team's 3-4 defense. There seems to be a lot of options here in the draft, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is where the Chiefs go in the first round. An outside linebacker likely provides Kansas City an opportunity to get the most bang for its buck in round one.

Nose Tackle

A good nose tackle is essential for a 3-4 defense, and the Chiefs could use a playmaker at this position. I would be surprised if Kansas City didn't take a nose tackle at some point in the draft.

Offensive Line

While the Chiefs have done addressing this area recently, there is still room to improve. The line got beat soundly towards the end of the last season, and giving Matt Cassel more time must be a priority. In the past, teams have found steals in the later rounds with offensive lineman, and the Chiefs may be able to do the same this year. At the very least, this is an area that Kansas City could use more depth.

Federal Right to Work Legislation Introduced in the Senate

Last Month, Eight Republican Senators sponsored a bill that would institute a National "Right To Work" law. Right to work in this case means the right to work without being forced to join a union. Currently in 28 states if you work at a "Union Shop", you MUST join and pay union dues as a condition of employment. One of the sponsors, Rand Paul of Kentucky, has an online petition you can sign to show your support of the measure.

For those of you unfamiliar with Rand Paul, he is the son of long time Libertarian Congressman and perennial puddin' stirrer Ron Paul. Ron Paul is affectionately (or affectionately, depending on who you are) referred to as "Dr. No" in the House of Representatives.

Senator Paul has a description of his petition and supporting points on the conservative Party of Know website. In it, Paul asserts that forced unionization lines the pockets of Union Executives while doing little real good for the employee - drives jobs overseas - union dues pay for lavish lifestyles and political power for the corrupt few in leadership positions. Of course, Senator Paul is right, but it's a hard concept to get across to those who perceive they benefit from the system (and there are some workers who otherwise might be unemployable due to incompetence laziness, or both who do benefit). It's an emotional struggle for some who have swallowed these union ideals hook, line, and sinker to the detriment of the American Economy.

Let's take GM for example. Years of union dominance over management led to massive labor costs and benefit packages that were unsustainable. Poor management didn't help, but there is no way with the decades of success that company had that they should be bankrupted by a few years of off sales and bad management. Union pay and benefit packages are rivaled only by a government worker.

Locally, Kansas is a right to work state. Missouri is not, but the current Republican State Legislature is trying to remedy that with SB1.

Bob Knight-John Calipari Feud Reaches New Low

The Bob Knight-John Calipari feud has taken a new twist, as Knight has now resorted to making false claims about Calipari's players. Knight recently criticized Kentucky's 2009-2010 team, claiming that they started five players who did not attend second semester classes. While the team posted a dreadful 2.18 spring GPA, Knight's claims ended up being false.

Knight hasn't been shy about his feelings towards Calipari, and for good reason. There is no way to sugar coat it - Calipari is the slimest coach in big-time college basketball. He has had two Final 4 appearances vacated with two different schools, and it is pretty clear that he has constantly bent the rules to try to win games. Outside of the state of Kentucky, you would be hard to find any basketball fans who didn't dislike the proven cheater.

Despite all of Calipari's scumbag tendencies, Knight is out of line criticizing Kentucky's players. Kentucky had players who went to class and made passing grades despite leaving school early. By stretching the truth, Knight losses credibility in his attempt to fight for a worthy cause - eliminating the one and done era in college basketball.

If Kentucky wants to sell it's soul to win, let them. The University decide long ago that it would do anything to get back to consistent success, and that is why it hired Calipari. Knight, and other respected members of the game, have every right to be critical of Calipari and Kentucky's slime - as long as it doesn't cross the line. This time it did, and Knight owes the Kentucky players an apology.

Royals Face Indians with First Place on the Line

The Royals had a productive weekend, winning a series against lowly Seattle and pushing its record to 10-5 for the season. However, the Royals currently sit in second place behind the surprising Indians. Naturally, Kansas City begins a four game home series with Cleveland tonight.

The Royals had a great opportunity to sweep Seattle and pull even with Cleveland; however they came short against Seattle’s young Michael Pineda. Pineda was able to contain the Royals’ offense and limit Kansas City to only two runs. Before Sunday, the Royals’ bats had been red hot, and they will need to find their offense in a hurry with a tough upcoming schedule. Kansas City has a series with Cleveland, Texas and then Cleveland again.

Tonight’s game provides a golden opportunity for both Cleveland and Kansas City to prove they are for real. Both teams had terrible seasons last year, and have become the biggest stories in baseball. Most experts and fans still aren’t sure how legit the Royals are, but we will have a real good idea after this series.

Freedom Festival Planned For July in Kansas City

It's name will be similar to the Libertarians' annual Freedom Fest, but this will not be a political rally. Kansas City will see the return of a summer festival at Penn Valley Park. Most people should remember the annual Spirit Festival that was held every July for nearly 20 years. The last Spirit Fest was in 2003 - headliners were the Wallflowers, Quiet Riot, and Dennis DeYoung. I'll bet that was a hell of a show! Heck, I might have been there, couldn't tell you for sure.

Anyway, the new incarnation will be called Freedom Festival, and while details are scarce at this time, it will be similar to the Spirit Fests of the past. The dates for the event are July 29-31, 2011. It looks as if they have some corporate sponsors lined up, prices are set ($10, children under 12 free), but no entertainment has been announced at this time. Kansas City News will keep you updated when new information becomes available.

Missouri's Basketball Coaching Staff Takes Shape

This past week, New Missouri Head man Frank Haith has hired most of Staff. And by all accounts, he's assembled a fine one. On Wednesday, he announced his recruiting coordinator to be Tim Fuller, Bench coach Ernie Nestor, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Todor Pandov. By Friday, Isaac Chew had been added to the staff. I will give a little background on each of these new coached.

Tim Fuller - Great Recruiter. Last year was a member of Rick Pitino's Louisville staff. He played at Wake Forest on some great teams with Tim Duncan. After his playing days were over he spent time all around making some great contacts in the basketball world. He also spent time as a rep for Nike. Fuller has stated that Frank Haith is like a father to him (Haith was an assistant at Wake Forest when Fuller was a player) and is looking forward to working with him in Columbia.

Ernie Nestor - An Excellent coach who has been around winners in the NCAA for 35 years. Along with Assistant coaching stints at Wake Forest under Dave Odom, He was also a head coach at Elon University and George Mason. Should help Haith with the X's and O's aspect of coaching (something he is said to need help with).

Todor Pandov - Pandov was Haith's Strength and Conditioning Coach in Miami. He is Bulgarian and A former college basketball player at Western Kentucky.

Isaac Chew - A great young assistant with ties to Kansas City. He played for Avila in college and was an AAU coach for Kansas City Pump-N-Run, the same program that current Tigers Michael Dixon and Marcus Denmon played for. AAU coaches are a tremendous help in recruiting. Chew's ties with the Kansas City area and AAU will be an asset for Tiger Basketball. Most recently Chew coached for a very successful Murray State program and was instrumental in bringing a Kansas City recruit to that program.

With these winners in place, I hope Missouri fans feel better about their future than they did when Frank Haith was hired. I know I do. They really have their work cut out for them with several scholarships opening up next year.

Kevin Na Has Historic Meltdown at Texas Open

I used to think I was a pretty bad golfer. Ok, I know I am a pretty bad golfer. However, I don’t think I have ever approached what Kevin Na did at the Texas Open yesterday. Na shot a 16 on one disastrous hole – the worst score on a par 4 in PGA tour history. This probably isn’t a record that he is going to be very proud of.

How could any golfer, let alone a PGA professional, even come close to shooting a 16? Na’s performance was a spectacular mix of failure: a tee shot into the woods, a second tee shot into the woods, a ball that struck a tree, then his leg (which is a penalty) and then went backwards. Na continued to try to blast his ball out of the woods which usually moved his ball into even more trouble. It took Na 12 shots just to get out of the forest. At one point, he became so distraught that he nearly hit a shot with his caddie standing right in front of him. I don’t know whether that is funny or just sad.

Na somehow didn’t come close to challenging the PGA record for worst performance on a hole ever – that honor belongs to the immortal Tommy Armour, who somehow shot a 26 on one hole in 1927 (maybe one of his wooden clubs broke). Na still gets the distinction for worst par 4 hole ever, so at least he will be remembered for something in golf. That is more than you and I can say.

Kobe Bryant Fined For Using Gay Slur in Game

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined 100k by NBA commissioner David Stern for using a gay slur during a game. Bryant has apologized for the incident, and plans on appealing the fine.

The All-Star guard apparently was upset after being whistled for a technical foul, and hurled the slur at referee Bennie Adams. Unfortunately, the cameras were on Kobe (as they usually are). Bryant, known throughout the league as a fierce competitor with an extremely short fuse, will not have to miss any playoff games if further punishment is issued.

The league did what it had to do on this issue, especially with a high-profile player such as Bryant. This is an athlete who has the second highest selling jersey in the league and is on TV night in and night out. As a result, Stern’s actions were praised by various gay and lesbian communities across the country.

In Bryant’s defense, he said something in the heat of the moment that likely gets tossed around several times in an NBA game. Basketball players are notorious trash talkers, and we have several examples of guys taking it too far. Bryant got caught, and saying these comments to an official rather than an opposing player probably deserves a stronger punishment. While the NBA did the right thing, it is foolish to think this will cut down on NBA trash talk or force athletes to choose their words more carefully during games.

Big 12 Signs Long Term Deal With Fox Sports

On Wednesday, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe announced a new TV Deal with Fox Sports for Big 12 Football. The Deal starts next year (the 2012 season) and runs for 13 years. Financial terms weren't disclosed by Beebe, but insiders say the deal is worth $1.17 billion ($90 million/yr). Other experts also said the deal could have been worth more, but the Conference insisted that Fox televise KU games as well. Add that to the $65 million annually that the Big 12 already gets from ESPN/ABC and that's a whole pile of money. Each school stands to get around $20 million after you add in other revenue from sources like the NCAA Tournament and Merchandise.

Just 10 months ago the Big 12 looked as if it might disband all together as two members fled to other Conferences and perceived greener pastures. Commissioner Beebe kept the remaining ten members together with the promise of a new TV deal that would keep the institutions flush with cash. More than that, it seems assured now that the Big 12 with 10 teams is a viable league for the long term.

All of this is good news for Kansas City, whether you are a college sports fan or not. Revenue is generated by the Big 12 coming here for their Conference Tournaments and Football games played at Arrowhead Stadium. The basketball tournament alone is said to have a $14 million impact on our local economy.

Royals Fall to Twins in Extras

After starting the season with a couple of thrilling wins in extra innings, the Royals have now been on the wrong side of two extended games. Last night, Kansas City fell to Minnesota, 4-3. As a result, the Royals are no longer in first place, trailing the White Sox by a half-game. Chicago grabbed the division lead with its own extra-inning magic against Oakland. The Royals were in a dogfight all night, and were forced to manufacture runs off of sacrifices and infield singles. The weak offensive output wasted another solid start from Jeff Francis, who now has three straight no decisions despite only giving up six runs in his first 20 2/3 innings as a Royal.

The difference in last night’s game was the performance of the bullpens: Minnesota’s relievers were absolutely lights out, retiring 12 consecutive batters and never allowing KC to pose a threat. Robinson Tejeda struggled, loading the bases before Danny Valencia won the game with a single.

Kansas City has a bad habit of dropping close slugfests like last night’s game, especially against the Twins. If it wants to continue to win games and be a contender, it has to start beating Minnesota consistently.

Spring Has Arrived in Kansas City!

Every year Kansas City marks the coming of spring by turning on their world famous fountains. This year Fountain Day fell on April 12. Tuesday, the city turned on all but one of its 47 public fountains. The Kansas City Parks Department operates the fountains, and has been preparing for this years season for the last 3 weeks. The first fountain turned on was the Firefighters' memorial fountain located in Penn Valley Park. Built in 1991, The Firefighters' Memorial Fountain is dedicated to all fallen Firefighters, but specifically those killed in a 1988 explosion on Kansas City's East side.

Our fountains are important to our local identity, and even the logo of Kansas City has a fountain in it. The decision to incorporate fountains into the city plan started in the 1890's with the City Beautiful Movement. Unfortunately, Kansas City's oldest surviving fountain is not yet operational for this year. The Women's Leadership Fountain, built in 1899 at 9th & Paseo, had copper fittings and pipe stolen from earlier this year, and will not be repaired until later this summer. The lights were stolen from the JC Nichols Fountain on the Plaza, but the water is flowing at that site anyway.

The cost for running the fountains all summer is approximately $168,000 - part of that cost is shared by the "Friends of the Fountains" fund. And repairs to the two vandalized fountains will cost around $85,000.

Lawrence Taylor Reputation Ruined Despite Lowest Sex Offender Status

Lawrence Taylor was given the status of a level one sex offender, meaning his name will not appear in search results on the online sex offender registry. Judge William Kelly ultimately decided that Taylor was not a threat to public safety and would likely not repeat his crime.

Despite avoiding a level two or three sex offender ruling, Taylor’s name has already been dragged through the mud with this trial. The former NFL star was sentenced to six months probation for being caught with a 16-year-old prostitute in May of 2010. Taylor never made any apologies for seeing a prostitute, claiming that the girl told him she was 19. While Taylor escaped a more severe punishment than many thought he deserved, he will likely now be exiled from the NFL community. His actions as well as his comments on prostitution are enough for the league to distance itself as far away from Taylor as it can. It is sad, really, that many of the best NFL players over the past 25 years carry so much baggage. Hopefully Taylor serves as a reminder to other players that no matter how dominant you are on the field, your actions off it often shape your legacy.

Charl Schwartzel Wins Masters

The 2011 Masters will go down as one of the wildest in history, with several storylines that weaved together to provide plenty of drama on golf's biggest stage. However, when the smoke cleared, it was Charl Schwartzel who was wearing the green jacket.

Before Schwartzel made his dominant run to claim the jacket, golf fans had gotten everything they could ever want from a Masters tournament. There was the triumphant return of Tiger Woods for starters. Woods made a furious comeback to take a share of the lead, only to run out of steam on the last nine holes. While Woods ended up tying for fourth place, the tournament was a lot more suspensful with him in the mix. If Tiger continues to improve, he may yet again be the world's best golfer. If this weekend was any indication, he is on his way.

Then there was the epic collapse of poor Rory McIlroy, the young phenom from Northern Ireland who entered the final round with a four stroke lead. McIlroy then proceeded to shoot an 8 over 80, the worst final round in Masters history for a player who entered the day with the lead. McIlroy will be back, however his collapse will sting for a long time.

While all the drama of McIlroy and Woods was hogging the headlines, Aussies Adam Scott and Jason Day silently kept playing tremendous golf. Each would finish just short, however, as Schwartzel ended up being nearly unbeatable. The South African finished his final round with four straight birdies, never letting Scott or Day sniff the lead despite their incredible play. Schwartzel is the ninth ranked golfer in the world according to ESPN, so his win wasn't too much of a surprise. However, he has now joined the elite company of golfers who own a major championship, and certainly earned it.

Royals Take Weekend Series From Detroit

The Royals improbable fast start continued over the weekend in Detroit where Kansas City took 2 out of three from the Tigers. With some timely hitting and atrocious defense by the Tigers, the Royals won the rubber game on Sunday 9-5. The Royals had 15 hits on the afternoon, coupled with 4 errors by the Tigers, Kansas City put the game out of reach.

Luke Hochever (1-1) picked up his first win of the season, and the artist formerly known as "The Mexicutioner" pitched the final two-thirds for his 3rd save of the year. Offensively, Wilson Betimet had a great day reaching base in all five plate appearances. He went 4-4 with an RBI, 2 runs scored, and a walk. But everyone contributed, up and down the lineup, no one went hitless, and the Royals had a total of 6 extra base hits.

The series win puts the Royals at 6-3 and a game out of first in the AL Central. Cleveland is on first place and in the midst of a 7 game winning streak. We are off today before a short two game series in Minnesota Tuesday and Wednesday. Minnesota is off to a slow start, now is the time to take advantage with a sweep before heading back home for the weekend. There's hope again in this cow town.

Missouri House Approves Congressional Redistricting Map

On Thursday, The Missouri House of Representatives approved their version of the newest US Congressional District maps for Missouri. Redistricting needs to be done because the State lost a seat in the 2010 Census. Missouri will now have 8 Representatives in Washington DC instead of nine. A district would be lost in the St Louis area, removing one currently Democratic Representative (Probably Russ Carnahan-good riddance). The map has been sent to the Senate for approval.

In the new map, Congressman Cleaver's 5th District will change. It would no longer include any of Cass county, but would add three rural counties to the east of Kansas City. Also added to the 5th, parts of Kansas City and Gladstone north of the river - subtracted would be the Northeastern part of Lee's Summit. Still a majority Democrat district, but not as much so as has been the case. Unfortunately Cleaver is probably safe for the foreseeable future.

Most Democrats in the House were against this redistricting plan arguing that in the best of times for Democrats they could only win 2 of the 8 seats while in general statewide elections Democrats garner around 50% of the votes typically. And of course Jonas Hughes, undoubtedly the DUMBEST member of the Missouri House had something to say as well.

There were also a few Republicans not happy with the map. Those from the three rural counties added to the fifth district were apparently not pleased that a Communist sympathizing, race-baiter will be their new US Congressman. A very similar map will likely be approved by the Senate and go to the Governor for signature. It will be interesting to see if the Democrat Jay Nixon will veto or not.

Kansas City Police Dog Attacks Bystander

A 56 year old woman was attacked by a Police dog Sunday afternoon. The woman saw Police activity outside her home in the 4300 block of Chelsea Ave in Kansas City and came outside to see what was going on. She was on the phone with her daughter at the time, and the dog must have heard her talking. The next thing you know, the dog pulls the leash out of the officers hand and attacked the woman. She suffered bites to her head and buttocks. The woman already had a fear of dogs and said she wouldn't have come outside had she known the dog was there.

Police in the area were searching for a gun used in a robbery - a magazine had already been found nearby. The handler had the dog on a long leash and had the choke collar inactive as is customary when no suspects are nearby. The Police Officer, not expecting the dog to react in that way, was not gripping the leash tight enough.

It's a shame that something like this happened. Police dogs are very important to the Department, and I would hate to have an incident like this diminish their role in the Department. The woman will likely win a large settlement and Police will review policies and procedures in the handling of their dogs. The KCPD said that handlers have been bitten over the years, but the last time a KC Police dog bit a bystander was in the early 90s when a man leaned over the top of the dog while some children were petting him. Hopefully the next incident will be decades away as well.

Royals Lose In Third Straight Extra Inning Game

The Royals continue to give fans their money's worth, as nine innings once again was not enough to decide a winner. After winning their first two extended games, the Royals couldn't keep the magic going, falling to the White Sox 10-7.

Joakim Sora, one of the best closers in the league, was to blame for this one. Soria had the White Sox on the ropes - a three run lead with two outs in the ninth - and somehow surrendered four runs and the lead. Soria is one of the best closers in baseball, and this is likely just a rare slip-up from the all-star. When you have a great chance to move to 5-1 on the season and choke like Kansas City did last night, it could be a turning point.

If the Royals begin to lose games and fall apart, this will likely be the game many point at. The Royals' offense has continued to produce, so fans should remain optimistic about the team's chances.