Who doesn’t love a good urban legend? Take the one about some dude getting beaten with a pipe in front of McFadden’s or the one about someone who went missing.
Both tales come packaged with the sinister element that the “powers that be” and police are keeping the stories hush-hush so as not to damage the new entertainment district’s vital-to-the-city reputation.
KC Councilman John Sharp says he has investigated the rumors.
“I checked with the police and mayor’s office, and that report is completely bogus,” Sharp says of the pipe beating.
And the quote/unquote missing person?
“That was part of the being-beaten-by-pipes,” Sharp says. “That is totally untrue.”
Sharp, however, says he is concerned by reports about what some people call the Power & White District.
“I have never gotten this level of complaints about their dress codes and how they appear to be aimed at turning away young African-American males,” Sharp says of the P&L. “They’ve got some problems there.”
Power & Light spokesman Jon Stephens’ take?
“Our take is each individual nightclub and restaurant in the district can enforce a dress code, and I think posting it educates the guests of what to expect when they visit,” Stephens says. “And that I think minimizes concerns and issues.”
And helps keep out troublemakers?
“I don’t know about that,” he says. “I’m happy to say the Power & Light District has a very diverse audience, and I challenge anyone to come down and see for themselves.”
Hannah Montana redux?
The Kansas City Wizards have landed next-big-thing ’tween queen Selena Gomez for their June 28 home game against Salt Lake.
“She’s being tabbed as the next Hannah Montana,” says Wizards PR dude Rob Thomson. “She was in the ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ movie, and she’s in the ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ on the Disney Channel, so obviously there’s a total Wizards connection.”
Gomez will not perform, Thomson says, but “she’s going to meet everyone, sign autographs and take pictures.”
And if 5,000 to 10,000 Selena fans show up?
“I guess we’ll just walk them through quickly,” Thomson says. “Supposedly she’s the nicest person.”
The schmooze is penciled in for two hours before the 7 p.m. game.
As for the prospect of a Hannah Montana-like ticket nightmare?
“We anticipate the game being sold out quickly once all the details are finalized,” Thomson says.
Illustrated
The Cowtown looms large in the June 2 Sports Illustrated.
A major league baseball players’ poll asking if managers are too strict on pitch counts notes: “Royals starters average 99.1 pitches per outing, the most in MLB.”
If that sounds a bit droll, Royals pitcher Brian Bannister reveals in a separate item why his stats are better in day games than in night games: “The hitters tell me my fastball looks faster when they’re still a little hung over.”
Finally in SI’s “Pop Culture Grid,” youthful Wizards surfer dude Chance Meyers offers up a five-pack of trivia and tripe.
Meyers’ advice to Tony Romo: “Keep smiling for the cameras.” Favorite candy: Hershey’s Special Dark. MTV’s Heidi and Spencer make me want to… “Kick a soccer ball through the TV.” Favorite summer drink: “H2O.” Favorite Sex and the City character: “No idea. I’m a 20-year-old dude.”
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