Monthly Archives: November 2007

Kansas-Missouri

Nov. 24, 20072:57 p.m.

I was thinking about just how much tonight’s game excites me compared to some other games I’ve covered during my now 33 years at The Eagle (my anniversary is today, FYI). This ranks right up there for a lot of reasons, not least of which is because it represents a first for Kansas football. It’s fun to be a part of something big, even if it is just as a journalist. And this is big, foremost because it’s so new to KU and its fans.

For the record, I think the Jayhawks will beat Missouri and it might be convincing. But for the sake of safety, I’ll say the final score will be: Kansas 38, Missouri 31.

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The Mist

Nov. 24, 20072:55 p.m.

I saw this movie on Thanksgiving night and it was really fun. As much fun as watching people be killed by monsters can be, I guess. Anyway, it was well made and the team of Stephen King and Frank Darabont, who came up with The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile hit another home run. Or at least a triple. This movie wasn’t as good as The Shawshank Redemption, for sure, but it was on par with The Green Mile. At least from what I can remember from The Green Mile, which I saw several years ago. My memory isn’t what it used to be.

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6A title game

Nov. 24, 20072:52 p.m.

I stopped off at the Class 6A championship game between Hutchinson and Olathe South in Topeka, on my way, of course, to Kansas City for the big KU-MU game at Arrowhead.

Here are some observations from the high school game, which is tied 14-14 in the third quarter as I type this.

Olathe South has 32 cheerleaders. They take up most of the track. Hutchinson has nearly as many cheerleaders. Do they have tryouts anymore or does every girl who wants to be a cheerleader get to be one?

There is non-stop chatter in the press box, which is fine. Except the people doing the chatting think they’re funny and they’re not. They’re really not. There is nothing worse than people who aren’t funny trying to be funny and this press box at Yager Stadium is full of those kind of people. They have a comment for everything. I’m nearly insane, but attempting to hold it together. They’re not bad guys, I don’t think, just not funny guys. Who think they are.

Could the Kansas State High School Activities Association make these state championship games seem any less important? Yager Stadium for the 6A title? On the campus of Washburn? Nothing against Washburn, but we have to do better than this. The five championship games today should be played at the same place, starting at 9 a.m. The lineup would be: 9, noon, 3, 6 and 9. That’s doable. And how much fun would it be to have all the teams together at the same place? But, alas, nothing changes with the KSHSAA, which is stuck in some dark age.

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KSU-Nebraska

Nov. 10, 20076:56 p.m.

Wow!

Has any team ever given up 76 points one week and scored 73 the next? While you’re checking the record books, let me just say that this win now puts K-State coach Ron Prince on the hot seat.

Or at least the warm seat.

Nebraska is awful. I think we all agree on that. Yet Nebraska beat Kansas State on Saturday by 42 points. And Huskers quarterback Joe Ganz passed for seven touchdowns and more than 500 yards.

What to make of it?

Don’t think for a minute that Nebraska fans are going to forgive Coach Bill Callahan for his transgressions. Callahan is a goner and nothing can save him at this point. Not even a lopsided win over Kansas State.

I’m most interested in the reactions that will be coming from K-Staters. Prince inherited a situation that gave him a certain amount of time to grow as a coach. And everyone who follows the Wildcats had to be satisfied with the 2006 season, his first. He led them to the Texas Bowl and seven wins.

This season hasn’t gone nearly as well. Prince had holes to fix on the offensive line and running back and he didn’t fix them. And the defense, which was so good early this season, has imploded. The Wildcats can’t stop anybody. Impressive wins over Texas and Colorado now have little meaning.

It will be interesting to see how Prince handles this week leading into a home game next Saturday against Missouri, a game the Wildcats need if they want to get back to a bowl. But the way K-State is going, Mizzou will score a ton of points next week. This has been an unexpected turn for the worst for Kansas State and I suspect criticism of Prince and the team to be pretty rampant this week.

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Long Road Out Of Eden

Nov. 10, 20075:30 p.m.

The new Eagles’ recording has been out a couple of weeks now and, of course, I have listened countless times. It’s a great set of 20 songs _ about 17 are worthy of being talked about in the best work of the band.

But one song _ Waiting in the Weeds _ stands above the rest. It’s a Don Henley song and it’s amazing. I can’t stop listening to the words, the melody, the instruments, Henley’s incredible voice, the harmonies with Timothy B. Schmit.

I have given it a lot of thought, and this song might be the best Eagles song I have ever heard. That’s a bold statement, to be sure. I would love to hear what you think. And this is the place to get your feedback.

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Duane Frazier

Nov. 10, 20075:24 p.m.

My long-time friend and co-worker, Duane Frazier, is leaving The Eagle after 26 years. He takes on a new job at Hawker-Beechcraft on Nov. 26. I just always assumed I would work with Duane _ we sit across from one another in the newsroom and have for many years _ until I retired.

Duane is one of the best people I have ever known and he does a fantastic job covering high schools and motor sports. He is organized beyond belief and has poured himself into his job for a long, long time. But, more important to me, is his friendship. Going into the office day after day is not the easiest assignment for me these days. But knowing Duane was going to be there with his great wit and humor made it easier.

Plus, Duane has an uncanny ability to remember places, dates and times better than almost anyone I know. He can tell me about stories I have written that I have absolutely no recollection of. He knows where I was, and what I was covering, more accurately than I do. He’s just that way.

Duane is a great family man who likes to stay away from the spotlight. He’s unassuming _ I’m sure there are people in our newsroom who do not know who he is. But those of us who work with him closely know and cherish his friendship and depend on him to make The Eagle a better place to work.

I will miss Duane tremendously, but I am also happy that he found this opportunity. He will do a wonderful job for Hawker Beechcraft and become as important to the people he works with there as he has been to those of us who have been fortunate enough to work with him at The Eagle.

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Seeing, not believing

Nov. 3, 20071:27 p.m.

I’m in Lawrence today, covering the Nebraska-Kansas game. It’s just before halftime, the Huskers are driving for another score. There have been so many. It’s 48-21, Kansas, as I write this. It’s unbelievable.

The Jayhawks have amassed 377 total yards. Nebraska is at 280. That’s 657 yards of offense and we’re not even out of the first half. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.

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Long Road Out of Eden

Nov. 1, 20071:55 p.m.

The new Eagles recording is out and I’ve taken a couple of days to listen before giving my opinion. I’ll be writing about my love for the Eagles, and my impatience while waiting for this new double-disc CD, on Sunday in the newspaper.

This will serve as a little review.

First, the Eagles have never been a critically-acclaimed band. But, when I read the reviews of the Eagles’ music, I always come away thinking the reviewer just doesn’t get it.

The Eagles are and have always been all over the place. With four amazingly talented musicians at the front, how could they not be? Don Henley is the brains. Glenn Frey is the fun. Joe Walsh is the musical backbone. And Timothy B. Schmit is the spirit.

Long Road out of Eden includes 20 songs. One of the early criticisms is that it didn’t need to be a double set; that there are several songs that could not have been included. I agree. There are three or four songs that could go. But there are 16 or 17 that are from good to great, and having been an Eagles fan since 1972 I can honestly say this CD is one of the best they have produced.

My favorite songs: Waiting in the Weeds, Long Road Out of Eden, Do Something, Frail Grasp of the Big Picture, Somebody, What Do I Do With My Heart, Busy Being Fabulous, No More Walks in the Woods, How Long, Guilty of the Crime, I Don’t Want to Hear Any More. Ah heck, all of them are my favorites. I’m nothing if not loyal to the Eagles.

Now, I want to hear what you have to say about this record. And I also want to again pledge to attempt to keep in better touch here on this blog. How many times have you heard that?

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (4)