TOP OF THE MORNIN': Gammon seeks own style for Chiefs' gig
As the new Chiefs sideline reporter for KCFX, former Chief
Kendall Gammon said he won’t be trying to become the next great reporter patrolling the field.
But Gammon pledges he will bring plenty of insight nonetheless.
“Obviously, I will be looking for injury updates and that sort of thing,” Gammon said by phone. “But mostly, I want to be able to pass along the mood of the sideline and how the players are reacting. That comes with the experience of having been there and knowing what’s really going on.
“Now, there’s a line you have to make sure you don’t cross in terms of giving out too much information and strategy. Other teams do monitor broadcasts and look for any edge. But I want to give the listeners an insight into what the players are feeling during certain moments of games.”
Gammon is replacing Bob Gretz starting this season. Gretz was fired after 18 seasons as the sideline reporter.
“I’m not trying to replace him or his style,” Gammon said. “He did a great job. I wasn’t going after his job. (KCFX) made a decision to go another direction, and then they spoke to me. I believe they talked to other people, too, about the job.”
Gammon said he hasn’t spoken yet with Gretz about the shakeup.
“We haven’t talked, but I think we’ve had a good relationship,” Gammon said. “I’m sure our paths will cross. He’s still at the stadium, and he’s still working for the (Chiefs’) Web site.”
Meanwhile, Gammon said he’s eager to get started and work with Len Dawson and Mitch Holthus.
“The preseason will be pretty important to me,” Gammon said. “That’ll be a good test. I’m ready to go.
“I’ve been kind of building toward this for a long time. I always said when I played in the NFL that it was the best temporary job anyone could have. Now, I have a chance to do something that keeps me close to the game.”
Book ’em
It’s not on the level of a Chiefs-Raiders rivalry yet, but Royals director of event operations Chris Richardson tells me that there were three arrests made as well as 10 fan ejections for disorderly conduct during the weekend Cardinals-Royals series at Kauffman Stadium.
“There were, at times, groups of Cardinals fans and groups of Royals fans having ‘discussions’ about which team was better,” Richardson said. “At certain times, those discussions took on a more physical tone than verbal.”
Richardson said there was an incident in the parking lot that led to one man being hospitalized.
“It was my understanding that an individual was trying to jump on the trunk hood of another car,” Richardson said, “and the driver of that car became alarmed and hit the brakes. The man trying to jump on the trunk hood went flying through the rear window. He was hospitalized.”
@ Go to
KansasCity.com to read more news and notes from Top of the Mornin’ columnist Jeffrey Flanagan in his new blog, “Over the Top.”
To reach Jeffrey Flanagan, call 816-234-4492 and leave a message or send e-mail to jflanagan@kcstar.com
