Kansas City Mayor's Race a Boring Affair

Mike Burke (pictured to the right) and Sly James held their first Mayoral debate, post primary, Tuesday night. They agreed with each other so much that at one point Sly James jokingly accused his opponent of getting answers off his website. Both candidates are currently lawyers in private practice - both made reference to the city being their only "client" if elected. Mike Burke even declined to explain how he would be a different mayor than James. It's enough to make you want to puke.

Mike Burke seems content in letting his endorsements win the race for him. With three ex-mayors and several civic and community leaders endorsing Burke, I think he believes he just needs to keep from doing something stupid in order to win. He may be right. Sly James biggest name endorsement is the Kansas City Star - nobody reads The Star anymore, so I can't see that helping much. Former Mayor Cleaver won't even help a brother out - he has refused to endorse anyone.

I sure do miss Mayor Funkhouser's presence in this race - he sure knows how to stir the puddin'. I predict voter turnout will be embarrassingly low for the March 22nd election. Few people care normally, with these two bores, no one will care. Maybe they should cancel the election and just be co-mayors. Unless something interesting happens, I won't be paying attention.

Kansas State Beats Texas, KU Now First in Big 12

Kansas State wrapped up a spot in the NCAA Tournament and officially turned around its season with a 75-70 win over the Texas Longhorns. The Wildcats were left for dead after a 1-4 start to conference play, but have salvaged its once heralded season with an impressive five game winning streak. The win moves KState to 9-6 in league play, 21-9 overall and fourth in the Big 12 standings. Now the question isn't whether KState will make the NCAA tournament, but how good of a seed it can secure.

Texas has now lost three of its last four, watching its strangle hold on the Big 12 division evaporate into thin air in two short weeks. The Longhorns have a history of late season collapses under Rick Barnes, and it looks like once again a talented Texas team is struggling at the worst possible time. Also, I think it is now safe to say that KState officially owns Texas. Despite the Longhorns success in both football and basketball, it seems that every year the Wildcats upset them, at home or on the road. Forget Oklahoma and Texas A&M, its time for Texas fans to worry about KState, especially since the two teams will play more often in the new Big 12.

During the chaos that is the Big 12, Kansas has quietly continued to hammer inferior teams, despite various injuries and suspensions. When the smoke from the last two weeks cleared, it was the Jayhawks who once again found themselves on top of the Big 12 standings. KU has a tough remaining schedule, but a win tomorrow night against Texas A&M would give KU at least a share of its seventh consecutive Big 12 title. Seven in a row. How has this not gotten more media attention? If Duke or UNC had accomplished more than three, I guarantee ESPN would have a montage on it running before every college basketball game. Bill Self has his team in position to add to what has already been a rediculous decade for KU basketball, thanks to a little help from its in-state rival.

Big 12 Weekend Recap

As the Big 12 season winds down, several teams are trying to make a push for an NCAA Tournament bid and an opportunity to move up the Big 12 standings. No team made a stronger push than the Colorado Buffalos, who shocked Texas 91-89 and got back on the tournament radar. Colorado was down by 22 in the first half and found itself in a 48-33 hole at halftime, but was able to rally back thanks to Alec Burks' 33 points. The win saved Colorado's season, and puts the Buffs in a position to crash the big dance with a strong finish.

At the moment, the Big 12 has four tournament locks in Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri, while Kansas State's win over Mizzou on saturday pretty much guarantees the Wildcats will be dancing in March barring an epic collapse to end the season. The Big 12 could easily get in a sixth and possibly even a seventh team in, the question is who? Nebraska was unable to carry any of its momentum from a huge win over Texas into its next two games, and now finds itself outside of the tournament picture at 6-8 in the conference. That leaves Baylor and Colorado, who are both 7-7 in the conference and have 18 wins overall. Colorado has the easiest road, with its last two games against Iowa State and Nebraska. Two wins to close the regular season and a strong Big 12 tournament performance might be enough for Colorado to sneak in. Baylor has a tougher schedule: an away game against Oklahoma State and then a home contest against Texas. It won't be easy, but a victory over the Longhorns would probably be enough to get the talented yet inconsistent Bears in the tournament.

Another factor to keep in mind is the Big 12 tournament, which should be better than ever this year with so many teams fighting for a postseason spot. With Kansas and Texas left with nothing to play for except a one seed possibility and the parity in the league this season, this could finally be a year that a team left for dead makes a run and wins the tournament. If a low seed wants to win it all though, it will likely have to go through Texas and Kansas - not exactly the easiest path to March Madness.

Bill Grigsby Dead at 89

Kansas City icon Bill Grigsby died on Saturday at the age of 89. Anyone who was a Chiefs fan will never forget "Grigs" on the radio broadcasts with his "old pal Leonard" Dawson. He was a broadcaster for the Chiefs for 46 years calling both Super Bowls the Chiefs were in. In total he was a broadcaster for more than 60 years getting his start in his hometown of Joplin, MO calling minor league baseball. He then moved to Kansas City and worked for the Kansas City Athletics ball club before joining the new AFL franchise that had just moved to Kansas City.

Bill Grigsby suffered from several medical problems over the last few years, he retired from the Chiefs in 2009 with his health deteriorating. He was diagnosed with Prostate cancer later, and suffered a broken hip last fall. The Chiefs honored him last season with a pregame ceremony on the field. He published his Autobiography in 2004.

I never met the man, but from all accounts he was a nice guy. He certainly had lots of energy - that would come through in his broadcasts, and he really seemed to enjoy life. I sure will never forget how he growled out the words "Prrriiccee Chhoopper" for his drop ins during Pre and post games. That's the best advertising Price Chopper ever got. It was certainly always a beautiful day when Grigsby was around! We should all be so lucky to live a long, happy life.

Another Record Snowfall Pounds the Kansas City Area

Another record snowfall for the Kansas City area, as KCI recorded 6.2 inches of snow. That shattered the old record of 3.8 inches set way back in 1934. Though not everyone got a half foot of snow, everyone in the Kansas City metro got a taste. Snowfall Totals ranged from 2" in the southern parts of the area, up to around nine inches to the northwest. Even die hard snow lovers have had it with winter in Kansas City that if you remember didn't even really start until January. We can hope, but don't expect this to be the last of it either.

There is another storm system setting up that could bring snow to Southern California before bringing heavy rains and possible snow Sunday into Monday.

Hang in there folks it can't last much longer. Check out some snowfall totals from around the Metro.

Overland Park - 2.2 inches
KCI - 6.2 inches
Lees Summit - 2.7 inches
Leavenworth - 8.7 inches
Gran Valley - 1.5 inches
Independence - 4.0 inches
Blue Springs - 4.0 inches
St Joseph - 8.4 inches
Bonner Springs - 5.1 inches
Pleasant Hill - 1 inch