Bob’s Blog

You know, my blog allows you to talk amongst yourselves. People read your comments, then make comments of their own. My goal is for this blog to be instrumental in the marriage of a happy couple. Don’t worry, I won’t be involved.

One thing I have noticed is the high IQ of the people who respond to this blog. I’m sure you have noticed, too. I believe this blog is the most highly read in Wichita by brain surgeons and rocket scientists. I could be wrong.

Anyway, I love hearing from you. Even those of you who think this is a place to criticize me and put me down. That stuff used to bother me. Now it rolls off my back.

My apologies to Shelley Hansel for not listing her among my favorite callers to the radio show I co-host, Sports Daily. Shelley, you know I love you. It was an oversight, plain and simple.

Thanks to the people who have written to the blog with nice things to say about me. It’s wonderful to have relatives.

Thanks, even, to those of you who despise me and everything I do. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Because the job of a sports columnist, and a radio sports-talk show host, is to spark disagreement and controversy. Isn’t it? Would you rather I didn’t share my opinions? When I do, hopefully, it causes you to think about your opinion of the subject matter. And at the end of the day, all we’re talking about is sports. And everybody has an opinion. What’s right and what’s wrong?

Over the years of writing my column, feathers have been ruffled. I’m trying to come up with the five events that sparked the most debate _ and the most hate mail. Here’s what I come up with:

1) Randy Smithson’s coaching tenure at Wichita State. It became apparent to me early on that Smithson wasn’t going to be successful because of his controlling nature over the players. But WSU fans, many of whom love Smithson from his Shocker playing days, thought I was out of line to criticize on of their own. Well, I happen to like Randy Smithson. I covered the team when he was a player and he was always outspoken and honest and one of the best guys I have known since I’ve worked at The Eagle. But I questioned his coaching methods and don’t regret doing so.

2) The Ben Christiansen-Anthony Molina beaning incident. Ugly stuff and nobody looked good, including the Shocker coaching staff. Easily the most controversial story I have been involved with as a sportswriter. I suspect much of the antipathy directed at me from WSU fans is directly linked to my criticism of Gene Stephenson for some of the things he said after this incident.

3) The Ell Roberson fiasco before the 2004 Fiesta Bowl. Roberson was with a girl in a hotel room in the wee hours, less than 48 hours before Kansas State was to play Ohio State in Tempe, Ariz. But instead of punishing Roberson, K-State coach Bill Snyder started him in the game and Roberson played the duration. After the game, Snyder handed down some meaningless punishment. I didn’t think Snyder handled the situation the way he should have and Kansas State fans let me know what they thought.

4) Roy Williams and his departure from Kansas for North Carolina. The timing was awkward as the story really gained momentum as the Jayhawks were competing for a national championship. I questioned Williams’ decision to leave just a few years after he spurned a job off from Carolina to remain at KU.

5) Wichita’s downtown arena. I have always been a huge proponent. But it appeared this issue was dead until Wichitans and residents of Sedgwick County finally got behind it, voting in 2004 to build an arena. My pro-arena stance drew the ire of many.

For almost five years, I have been fortunate enough to not only write a sports column for The Eagle, but also to co-host a sports talk show, Sports Daily, with KWCH anchor Bruce Haertl.

People always ask me which I like best. And I tell them I love them both because they’re so different.

Radio allows me to show my personality. Now, it’s up to you whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The thing I enjoy most about radio is the free-flowing exchange. It’s fun to debate topics. It’s a challenge to attempt to be informative and at the same time entertaining. I enjoy the banter with callers.

Speaking of callers, we have many regulars. My personal favorites are Dennis, Kevin, Ronnie, Mike, KU Pat, Husker Brad and Pastor Mike, who has recently made a comment on this blog inviting me to one of his church services.

Thanks, Pastor Mike. People tell me I could use some religion, so I just might take you up on the offer.

Other frequent questions I get about radio include:

Do you and Haertl get along? Yes, we do. Bruce is the captain of the Sports Daily ship and I’m the sidekick. It’s the role that best suits me. Yes, we argue. But what would a sports talk radio show be without some emotional debate?

What about you and Savage? Paul has taken years off of my life. He’s a great guy who would do anything for anyone, but how someone can be so wrong about so many things is one of the great mysteries of my life. Sometimes I think Savage just says things to get people riled up; that he couldn’t possibly believe what he says. But none of Savage is an act. A three-ring circus, perhaps, but not an act.

Which do you like more, radio or newspapers? As I said, both are very enjoyable. I grew up wanting to be in radio as a baseball play-by-play announcer. So radio has familiarity for me. But there is nothing like writing a great column or a great story. I know, some of you are saying you’re still waiting for a great column or a great story from me. Ha, ha, ha. The creativity of writing is in my blood. So are newspapers, which fascinate me each and every day.

Make no mistake, I love radio. But I’m a newspaper guy first and foremost.

I can think of nothing but the Cardinals. I know it bores some of you when I write about baseball. But you know what? It’s my blog. If you don’t like it, go get your own blog. And for now, I’m writing about the Cardinals.

Somebody asked me where the Pujols home run ranks among those I remember from Cardinals history. It’s No. 1, no doubt, absolutely. Just ask my vocal chords.

The best thing about that home run is that it won the game with the Astros and extended the NLCS. But it also shut up the Astros fans who were so ready to go bananas if only Brad Lidge had been able to record that third out.

I was in St. Louis for the NLCS in 1985 when the Cardinals swept three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. I witnessed the home run hit by Ozzie Smith to win Game 5, the one made famous by Jack Buck’s radio call, "Go crazy, folks, go crazy!" In Game 6, Jack Clark hit a game-winning homer that ranks right up there.

Jose Oquendo, who is not a power hitter, hit a dramatic home run in the 1987 NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.

Ken Boyer hit a dramatic World Series home run in 1964, when I was nine. I was in third grade and our teacher, Mrs. Robinson, with whom I never had a fling, allowed the class to watch the game on television. That was when the World Series was played in the afternoons.

Jim Edmonds hit a huge Game 6 homer in last year’s NLCS against the Astros to win the game in extra innings. Scott Rolen’s Game 7 homer off Roger Clemens was huge.

But none of them is bigger than the home run hit by Pujols. I just hope it carries the Cardinals to the World Series.

Congratulations to the Astros. And to all of you who are worried about me and how I will possibly handle another Cardinals’ disappointment I simply say this: You should worry!

Next season, I want the Cardinals to go 55-107, kind of like the Royals. Talk about having it easy. You Royals fans have it easy.

This wasn’t the Cardinals team I watched play this season. But give credit to Houston. The Astros dominated the series. St. Louis couldn’t get a big hit to save my life, except for the two-run single by Mark Grudzielanek tonight.

Thanks for your support. I would appreciate it if you would bring hot soup by the house the next few days as I mourn.