Kansas City Star: Sports Commentary

Quiet Manning is now the face of the NFL

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A season that began with many laughing at Eli Manning for answering a question about whether he's an elite quarterback is ending with him defending the family name in his brother's stadium. Now, the entire football world is talking about him being in the Hall of Fame someday.

Border War actually lived up to the hype, and more

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

No. 4 Missouri beat No. 8 Kansas 74-71 in a head-throbbing, sometimes angry, often joyous, down-to-the-last-second and ultimately insane Mizzou Arena on Saturday that pulled off perhaps the rarest feat in sports: It lived up to a hyperbolic wave of buildup.

Hiring Daboll just another pat move by the Chiefs

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Maybe the Chiefs choosing Brian Daboll as the team's new offensive coordinator is a good hire, maybe it's bad, but here is what it definitely is not: bold. In choosing an old New England co-worker, new head coach Romeo Crennel followed the established Scott Pioli pattern of valuing familiarity above inspiration.

New offensive coordinator has faith in Chiefs' leadership

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Brian Daboll, The Chiefs' new offensive coordinator, is saying nice things about the people giving him his chance, and maybe there is nothing to be taken from that. Then again, maybe the whole thing can be explained with that answer.

Too early to think KU-Baylor? Nah

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00 CST

For all the stressing over this year's 18-game gauntlet of a Big 12 basketball schedule, the thing could be over before anybody breaks a sweat.

Monarch killed in regicide

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The last regicide was in 2001, when Birendra of Nepal was his murdered by his son Crown Prince Dipendra in the massacre of the Nepalese royal family; Dipendra proceeded to commit suicide without having been crowned king.

Steelers introduce Haley

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:03 CST

The Pittsburgh Steelers introduced former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley as their offensive coordinator on Thursday. Amazingly, he was not asked about his messy departure from Kansas City. Or if he was, it wasn't included in a transcript distributed by the Steelers. Haley was asked about his heated discussions with players on the sidelines: "One of the first things I will say to these guys is we aren't going to be real into a lot of sensitivity," Haley said

Mike DeArmond: No Long Goodbye

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:41 CST

As many know, today is my last day at The Star, my last coverage of a Missouri athletic event. A lot of lasts. I will not belabor the point

The Royals and PECOTA

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:32 CST

Baseball Prospectus released its PECOTA projections earlier this week. (The latest numbers came with a statted-up explanation of the changes to the system.) If you're not a premium subscriber, you won't have the honor of combing through the sprawling spreadsheets of player forecasts

Updated Sunflower League and EKL basketball standings

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:15 CST

Mono and some new duties have turned me into a slacker as far as blogging goes, but I am going to try to better as we come down the home stretch of the season. For now, we'll start with updated Sunflower League and East Kansas League boys' and girls' standings:

It's been an uphill battle for Sporting KC's Hedrick

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Cyprian Hedrick will be the first to tell you he is blessed, but don't mistake that to mean that he has led a charmed life.

MU: The best Mizzou team ever?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:21 CST

BTW: This may be my last post on UFR. If so, you'll hear from me in the future and I'll be happy to spell it out

Allen Fieldhouse will be jumping for K-State game

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:15 CST

No students? No problem about the atmosphere at Kansas for Wednesday's league opener against Kansas State. Playing the Jayhawks presents major challenges, Wildcats coach Frank Martin says.

Big 12 is a football power in all but the bowls

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:15 CST

Of the factors that shape football conferences reputation -- NFL draft selections, individual awards and success in nonconference games and bowls -- the Big 12 excels, right up until that last one. Its teams collectively own a losing record in bowls in the Big 12's 15-year history, and the league is 2-5 in games that decided the national championship in the BCS era.

Two step up for Jayhawks

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:15 CST

Ohio State beat Duke. The Blue Devils beat Kansas. The Jayhawks beat the Buckeyes 78-67 on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse. But as much as Kansas would love this transitive property to define elite status, it can't. Not yet.

Reports: Haley lands with the Steelers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:22 CST

Reports surfaced Monday that former Chiefs coach Todd Haley will be named the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator, replacing Bruce Arians, who wasn't retained after the 2011 season. Kansas City's 610 Sports Radio first reported the news of Haley's new job, which will be with his hometown team

Comments from Crennel, Daboll

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:13 CST

Here are a few comments from Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll: "Brian is a fine football coach and offensive mind," Crennel said. "I worked with him when he was a young coach in New England and I am proud of the way his career has developed

Tony G shares his story in documentary

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:11 CST

Former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, now with the Atlanta Falcons, is featured in a one-hour documentary "NFL Characters Unite" to be aired on Feb. 10 on USA Network.

A quick recap: The KC Tiger Club recruiting reception

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:41 CST

Got a chance to check out my first KC Tiger Club recruiting reception last night, and I've got to say, it was a lot of fun. Lots of interesting tidbits came out

Tennessee State victory had KC flavor

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:36 CST

There was a Kansas City flavor to Tennessee State's upset of undefeated and ninth-ranked Murray State on Thursday. John Cooper, the Tigers coach, is Kansas Citian and Rockhurst High graduate. When he was young, Cooper spent his mid-March days and evenings at Kemper Arena watching the NAIA Tournament. When Cooper, then an Auburn assistant, interviewed for the Tennessee State job three years he spoke passionately of the Tigers' hoop history, not because he had studied it in a history book but because NAIA fans talked about those old teams coached by John McLendon. People who attend the NAIA tournament know that Tennessee State, led by Dick Barnett and John Barnhill, won three straight championships and became the first historically black college to win an integrated college basketball tournament. Cooper, who played under Eddie Fogler at Wichita State, brought that connection to the Nashville school. Thursday's victory was the first as a Division I program over a nationally ranked team and improved the Tigers' record to 16-10

Report: West Virginia, Big East reach settlement

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:53 CST

The Charleston, W.Va., Daily Mail reported Thursday that West Virginia has reached a financial settlement with the Big East that clears the path for the Mountaineers to start Big 12 competition this fall.

KU signee Ellis a McDonald's All-America

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:46 CST

Kansas recruit Perry Ellis was named a McDonald's All-American and will be one of 24 high school seniors playing in the annual all-star basketball game March 28 at Chicago's United Center. The 6-8 Ellis averages 26.1 points and 9.7 rebounds for Wichita Heights. He's had one of the most successful careers in Kansas high school history as a three-time state Gatorade player of the year

Vegas says Royals are still very much longshots to win in 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:23 CST

As the majority of American shake off the post-Super Bowl cobwebs, we spent a few minutes this morning gazing at the Royals' current World Series odds. It's as good a time as ever

Butler collects Hutch Award at Safeco Field in Seattle

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:58 CST

Billy Butler became just the fourth Royal in history to accept the Hutch Award during a ceremony on Wednesday in Seattle. A staple in baseball circles, the Hutch Award annually honors the major-league player who best exemplifies "the honor, courage and dedication" of Seattle's Fred Hutchinson, a former major-league pitcher and manager

Did Bryce Harper end the Royals' minor-league reign?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:11 CST

Where to pick up a pair of new jordans 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:35 CST

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:20 CST

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:20 CST

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Sporting KC snags another 2-1 preseason win

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Sporting Kansas City claimed its second 2-1 win in as many preseason games Saturday, taking down D.C. United at Casa Grande, Ariz., in a preview of the season opener for both teams in one month's time.

Sporting News: Kansas City extends TV deal with KSMO

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:55 CST

Sporting Kansas City will retain KSMO-TV as its local broadcast partner for the 2012 and 2013 MLS seasons.

Sporting Kansas City enters final stretch of preseason

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:55 CST

A calendar of what's in store for Sporting Kansas City during the final month of preseason.

Sporting's Myers makes most of his chance

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Now into his fifth camp with Sporting Kansas City, defender Chance Myers is entrenched as a starter, but he refuses to let that fact go to his head. "You come in with the same mentality," Myers said. "You're fighting for your position regardless of what happened last year."

Wrapping up the NFL - QB style.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:42 CST

I don't think there is a better day of the year than Super Bowl Sunday, but hardly for the reason you would assume. No, it's not the anticipation and the watching of the SB

KU-MU: War Games

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:51 CST

columbiaheartbeat.blogspot.comThis was truly a great game to watch. The battle of two schools that have played each other for over 100 years, the battle of the bigs versus the smalls, the battle of the two states that still hate each other, the battle for the conference lead

K-State: Coming out of a slump!

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:43 CST

The slump Shawnee Mission South's Will Spradling had been in for Kansas State was real, beyond coincidence and forced Rodney McGruder to be the only realistic outside threat on the team. Had Spradling just managed an average game (meaning one similar to his first 14 games) against Texas A&M, it would have felt good enough

The NBA All-Stars

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:25 CST