American Royal BBQ 2010 Winners - Contest Winners

American Royal BBQ 2010 Contest Winners - Kansas City

The American Royal BBQ Contest was another pork filled fun weekend here in Kansas City.  The smokers were a'smokin' and most of the people there were probably smokin' as well.  Parking was impossible as usual and the bands on the main stage were OK at best, except for Liverpool, who continues to be a great Kansas City band.  The weather was PERFECT, however, and that made up for the long walk from your car to the BBQ.  The American Royal BBQ is one of the biggest events of the year in Kansas City and draws over 100,000 people each year to the contest.

2010 American Royal BBQ Contest Winners
Best Overall - "Lotta Bull BBQ" - 1st Place
Best Chicken - "Swine Assassins" 1st Place
Best Pork - "Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ" 1st Place
Best Ribs - "Jiggy Piggy" 1st Place
Best Brisket - "Uncle Bub's BBQ LLC" 1st Place
Best Sausage - "SMOKE BREAK" 1st Place
Best Sauce on the Planet Award - Tim & Todd's Excellent BBQ Sauce

Congratulations to all of the American Royal BBQ 2010 Winners - we'll see you again next year!

2010 Ryder Cup - Golf was Interesting for a Day

Europe held on to defeat the United States in a thrilling finish to the 2010 Ryder Cup. Graeme McDowell, one of the hottest names in the sport, was able to nail a long birdie putt and close out Hunter Mahan to give Europe a permanent lead.

The match featured the world's best players going all-out in fierce competition - something that has been missing from the last several majors. After so much of the sport revolved around Tiger Woods' personal life in the past year, it was refreshing to see the game back in the headlines for something other than Woods' affairs.

After Europe jumped out to a big lead, the US team almost completed one of the biggest comebacks in the history of the competition. The narrow lead for Europe led to some big moments down the stretch, butMcDowell was simply too good for team Europe to lose. Golf is at its best when the competition is tight and the game's biggest stars battle right down until the final hole. The Ryder Cup finally delivered all of that and more, making up for an otherwise boring year for the sport.

Kansas City Golf Courses

Kids are Struck By Vehicles at Alarming Rate

Kids are Struck By Vehicles at Alarming Rate

Another Child was hit by a car near a school this morning. This is the third time in less than two months that a Kansas City Metro Area child has been hit by a vehicle. Two in a school zone, one died. For all of those not familiar, on your right is a SCHOOL ZONE SIGN. Please slow down and get off your phone / internet / texting / facebook device for 5 f-ing minutes, Asshole. This morning it was an eleven year old in a crosswalk IN FRONT OF the School he attends. Luckily, his injuries were minor.

The same cannot be said for Kade Meyer, a seven-year old Gardner boy who was struck and killed in front of Madison Elementary School. The boy ran between two parked cars to cross the street and was hit by an SUV. No charges were filed against the driver, but this situation illustrates the point that you must be vigilant when driving, especially around a school. Though in the eyes of the law, there is no negligence to file charges, and I honestly feel for the driver of the SUV that hit the boy - I would contend that when driving in front of an Elementary School, you need to EXPECT a child to dart in front of you. Let this be a lesson to the rest of us - SLOW DOWN. Same goes for driving in a neighborhood. I watch cars everyday drive down my dead end street in a subdivision at 35-40 miles/hour, half the time on the phone. There is no way you can react to a child chasing a ball, or family pet darting into the street.

Big 12 Football: A Look at Today's Games

With most Big 12 teams starting conference play this week, the conference's picture will soon come into focus. One game can make or break a season in college football, and week one in league play only supports this notion. We have already seen one thrilling game this week, with Oklahoma State knocking off Texas A&M 38-35. The win gives the pokes an inside track to compete for the Big 12 South title. Examining the remaining matchups on a game-by-game basis shows what each team has to gain (and lose) in week five.

21 Texas at 8 Oklahoma
This game almost always decides who will win the league and have a possible shot at an appearance in the national title game. This year may be no different, however both teams have struggled in the non-conference slate. Texas will look to rebound from an embarrasing loss to UCLA, while a win for OU would put them in the national title hunt.

Texas Tech at Iowa State
Both of these teams sit at 0-1 in the league after tough losses in rivalry games. The cyclones are solid, yet face a daunting schedule. Texas Tech is young and still needs a win to prove itself. Both teams need this game to avoid a big early season hole and a chance to get back into the bowl picture.

Kansas at Baylor
Both teams must win this game to have any shot at making the post-season. Kansas has been extremely up and down and traditionally struggles on the road. Baylor sits at 3-1 and will likely need to win this game to have a shot at a bowl in the tough South division. Stick a fork in whoever loses this one.

Georgia at Colorado
A matchup of two coaches who likely will not be back next season. Is this the game that finally gets Colorado going? Will Georgia start winning and save Mark Richt's job? Expect a sloppy one in Boulder.

Week one is full of great matchups and plenty of intrigue. By tonight, the Big 12 race will have some clear favorites. Let the fireworks begin.

Chiefs Shaun Smith Fined by NFL; Royals on Late Season Tear

Chiefs Shaun Smith Fined by NFL; Royals on Late Season Tear

In Sports, there is all kinds of touching between men that is inappropriate on the street. Hugging, ass slapping, and apparently crotch grabbing as our friends in the picture have illustrated (maybe that's only OK in St Louis). Chiefs Defensive Lineman Shaun Smith, or as the media is starting to refer to him, "The Genital Giant", has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for what it termed as "Unnecessary Roughness" for the crotch grab on San Francisco Lineman Anthony Davis. This comes after the second complaint by an opponent after as many games. This time the incident was (sort of) caught on camera. Though you really can't see the actually grab, it is obvious he does something very painful to Davis, who retaliated and was penalized 15 yards in the game. Smith said in an interview that he doesn't recall doing anything like that. You would think a guy would remember grabbing another guy's balls, but OK.

How about your Kansas City Royals. They are in the midst of one of their patented end of the season runs that does nothing but provide false hope for next season. They have won four of their last five (against two of the best teams in the League) and taken the Rays out of first in the American League East. Last night, Bruce Chen, pitched his first complete game shutout in a 12-year Major League Career. Chen took his season record to 12-7, the best on the Royals pitching staff. His ERA is 4.17 - the same as Zach Grienke's. Is Bruce Chen our new ace? God it sucks to be a Royals fan.