Greetings everyone, Kellis Robinett here.
I’m your new Kansas State beat writer and K-Stated blog aficionado.
Today is my first day on the job, and I can’t wait to get started. Covering the Wildcats and writing for their extremely loyal fan base (you) is an opportunity I’ve always wanted to have. I’m pumped I get the chance to do it.
But seeing as how you’ve been without KSU updates for about a month now, I’m not going to force an introductory piece on you.
I guess if you really want to know about my background I’ll put something in after the jump. Otherwise, stay tuned for as many posts as you can handle. One thing you should probably know about me is that I blog a lot. I also twitter. Feel free to follow along for even better coverage.
But right now, with the Wildcats’ season opener just two weeks away, it’s time to dive into K-State football – hard. So let’s get started.
So you clicked on the jump. Good for you. That means you want to know something about me. Well, here is my basic info:
Hometown: I grew up in Austin, Texas and still love the place.
Current Location: I live in Omaha, Neb. with my wife Staci, but before the season starts I will call Manhattan home.
Experience: For the past month I’ve been writing here and there for the Omaha World-Herald. But the majority of my professional newspaper experience came at the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello, Idaho. I worked there for three and a half years covering Idaho State on top of writing a weekly column and maintaining my own blog.
Awards: The Associated Press Sports Editors have honored my work five times. The United States Basketball Writer’s Association has done so once.
Education: I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2005.
Favorite sport: Golf, and I can actually play the game. Back in my junior golfing prime, I broke 70 and hit a hole-in-one. Now if only I were good at basketball.
Favorite restaurant: Whataburger.
Favorite beverage: Dr. Pepper.
Favorite movie: The Godfather.
Favorite TV show: Tie between King of the Hill and Entourage.
53 Comments
kellis, i like you. a lot. so just a quick word of warning: if you do not provide plentiful updates on ksu bball recruiting, the fans will turn on. i’ve seen it happen.
it may not be right, but that’s the world we live in. i hope you make it.
Kellis, welcome aboard. Good to hear you blog a lot. Are you a Jayhawk or Cornhusker fan? Congrats on the Dr. Pepper btw.
Also, I like you more then sys.
Also, I meant to type “than” instead of “then”. HTH.
I clicked over to write you a welcome comment. Then I saw you’re a KU grad. How do you plan on overcoming that?
Good luck.
As a result of your educational background, will the Eagle be hiring any additional editors or will we just need to simply decipher your articles on our own? Also- was your leaving the great state of Nebraska a result of the low numbers of literate subscribers to print media, or did the state in general just creep you out? TIA in advance, Ill hang up and listen off the air.
Just to reiterate, I wanted to thank you in advance of actually thanking you. I think it’s important to be polite. I certainly don’t want to start off on the wrong foot here.
Quote from you, “BREAKING: Most Toothless Suspension in History
February 17, 2009 at 6:23 p02 | In Uncategorized |
K-State Coach Frank Martin has lowered the hammer on Denis Clemente, suspending him for the Wildcats’ crucial matchup with North Carolina Central tonight.
Here’s a thought that will keep me up at night: how many other elbows would have been thrown against the Jayhawks Saturday had the team known beforehand that it was a free pass to not have to play the Soaring Eagles?
Bill Snyder would be proud.”
Is this a joke Wichita Eagle?
“o Tim Fitzgerald says Denis Clemente’s idiotic actions of elbowing Brady Morningstar and slapping Tyrel Reed were brought on by players on the Kansas bench shouting racial slurs at him, huh?
Yeah, I don’t think so.
Maybe if he weren’t the editor of a K-State fan site I would believe the claim. Or maybe if he in fact had heard the racial slurs himself, rather than members of his staff claiming to have heard them and passing the gossip along to him I would believe the claim. Or maybe if it were humanly possible for people on press row to hear anything that players say to each other on the court I would believe the claim.
But he is biased. He didn’t hear the words himself. And, as a college basketball beat writer myself, I know first hand it is not possible to clearly make out anything that’s said on the basketball court in a crowded stadium. So, I must agree with Kansas coach Bill Self here and say that hearing those ridiculous claims, “Really pisses me off.”
Also, I like you less than sys.
i changed my mind, kellis. i don’t like you anymore.
apologize to martin and clemente and publish some hot new ksu bball recruiting scoops, and i might change my mind.
might.
In addition to your coverage of the Cats program, can we expect you to also cover any tractor pulls that may occur in the area? It would be a shame to let your experience with that exciting sport go to waste. Also- I have a pretty fast lawnmower and I am currently negotiating the details of a race with a neighbor of mine. Would the Eagle/Star schedule you a time so that you may cover it?
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090819/SPORTS/708199825
Just out of curiosity, do you recall the score of last years Montana State game? You should put that prediction on your resume. Perhaps while you are in Manhattan, you should attend a real University. We do accept CC and KU grads.
Kellis, don’t take this too personal, but it appears that you are an obviously ku biased hack.
It’s going to be fun to see if Frank will be willing to confide in you like he did with Jmart.
You have a chance to change this perception, but it won’t be easy. You might want to save eveyone some time and resources and quit now. Of course maybe I am wrong. Maybe you will turn out to be the opposite of Shay Wildeboor who graduated from KSU, but calls himself a KU fan. Long shot, I know.
Also, please come post on ksufans.com….we get board with BMW_Hawk and the other KU fans who come over there…need some new blood.
p.s. You don’t get to use “EMAW.”
I can’t believe this is the guy the Eagle/Star chose to be the beat writer for KSU. This biased reporter has written blog posts for Jayhawk fan sites absolutely trashing the school, it’s coaches, and their fans. It’s sad that they forced J-Mart out just to replace him with a KU fan who I doubt will show any journalistic integrity or neutrality.
I won’t be reading this blog, or the KC Star ever again.
Disgusting.
This is a disgrace to Dr. Pepper imo.
Are you serious??? A UK grad??? Hard to believe that the people predicting the ultimate demise of the UK Star may be correct based upon decisions like this. Did the leadership (and I say this tongue-in-cheek) of the UK Star Sports/Wichita Eagle not understand that this decision could create issues leading to few subscriptions?
I just got my renewal in the mail yesterday. Guess what Star? It’s over.
Maybe you’ll get a bailout.
Kellis, you ever get the feeling that the world is a tuxedo and you’re a brown pair of shoes? You’re going to have to be really good at this, really quickly.
Remember when those KU thugs made racist comments to Denis Clemente? They should stick to loving in an elevator and shooting bb guns at people. Dirty on probation birds!
oh hey, kellis, my friend, one quick question:
a friend of mine (canadian guy, you don’t know him) was wondering who he should write to, you know, to complain about you being hired and to try and get you fired asap and all that. if you’ve got an email addy handy for your boss or whatever, could you blog that real quick?
thanks a bunch.
I like the part where Kellis tells us about his junior golf accomplishments….seems like a cool dude.
Also, please add the ability to use italics in comments on this board. TIA.
Rock Chalk!
Your new bff,
Pete
Is there any way that when I visit this site and make a sarcastic post that it won’t be counted as a “hit” to this site? Maybe we can work something out that when I visit this site it will count as a negative “hit”? That way someone won’t be confused that I’m here because I like it. And when I say someone I mean your editor/boss.
Kellis, do us all a favor and turn around and go back to where ever you came from. This is another example of the idiots at the Star/Eagle. I would rather have no coverage of K-State than to have a hack like you do it. No wonder the newspapers are going broke.
Hmmm, Fitz is biased while you – a former KU blog editor are not? You, a former UDK sports editor? Do you really think HCFM will give you the time of day after seeing your blog articles about Denis Clemente? Your first attempted interview with LHCBS will most likely be short and to the point. For that matter do you even know the meaning of HCFM and LHCBS?
And, oh yeah, about that while LIC thing at your alma mater………..
Nellis Ellis Kellis whatever your name is. You are an A hole. Anyone on press row knows what the KU sissies pulled om
N Clemente…safe to say you will NEVER sniff press row. KStates AD and Prez are all over this one. Enjoy the mailroom Squawk.
Nellis Ellis Kellis whatever your name is. You are an A hole. Anyone on press row knows what the KU sissies pulled on
Denis Clemente…safe to say you will NEVER sniff press row. KStates AD and Prez are all over this one. Enjoy the mailroom Squawk.
Good heavens. You are the prick that predicted MSU to win in Manhattan, defended racist comments from KU players and had a KU blog. Goodbye Eagle. Had a subscription for 30 years. This is the final straw.
I laugh at the idea if you will be given any access to Snyder. Maybe you can be Mangino’s wipe boy!
I have been reading the Wichita Eagle for over 50 years and if you are still here monday, I WILL CANCEL THE PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe KSU gets a beat writer that has been personally responsible for endlessly bashing the coaches he now has to cover on a daily basis. I’m a pretty easy going guy that doesn’t wish any harm on anyone, but I really hope all of the KSU coaches have seen and heard some of the garbage you have written in the past.
You don’t deserve the time of day from these guys. There are much more respectable journalists that our coaches should answer to first.
Hey Kllis. How is it going? I am that anadian guy SYS was talking about. Just curious how you were coming along on the whole giving us your email address so we can talk to your bosses and see about getting you fireee ooohh whoops, errrrrr ummm a raise. Yeah, thats it, a raise. So hope all is well. Hope you had a great day in Manhattan, and can’t wait to hear from you. Oh yeah and KU sucks and is on probation b/c they are a bunch of cheaters. GO CATS!! Any updates on your email address? Much appreciated.
Kellis, So sorry the journalism school at KU never told a budding young journalist like yourself to use a little descretion in what you post on the interent as it will be there,uhhh, FOREVER! No surprize, you probably had the same student advisor Shady Arthur had. Life’s a bitch, hope lesson is learned while you search for your new big break, maybe in Texas. It may be time to go home.
Tough Luck Kid.
pffffttt, I’ve died and gone to absurdly entertaining and weird comment heaven. :popcorn:
Now by “Loyal Fans” you must have thought we were toothless morons who didnt understand google, this trick obviously worked on the small bus that hired you for this job but this fanbase will never accept you nor will our coaches or anyone else that covers KSU. You are a fraud, and the worst part is your a huge dork, atleast Jmart was somebody you could have a beer with. Not so much with you.
I remember laughing at what a homer you were for picking MSU thinking you probably had to wear a helmet while you ate, this confirms that.
Please be good. We can’t afford to have another terrible KSU beat writer (not talking about J-Mart he was awesome!)…
Excellent move by the eagle/star. Cat fans had become used to crap coverage of their university by those outlets pre J-Mart. We all expected it to go back to much of the same after he left. What better way to spark interest in their paper/website then hire a grad (and outspoken fan) of the other major state school? Plus he hates the school (players, coaches, and fans) he now covers???? Solid gold. How many new registrations will this site process in the coming days? How many have they already gotten since this blog post? He won’t cultivate any of the connections inside the programs J-Mart did. Won’t put any effort into trying to scoop any KSU related stories. But we don’t expect whoever was hired in this position to do it anyway. At least the eagle has given KSU fans SOME reason to frequent this site. Well played.
Looks like you have irritated the dozen or so KSU fans that can read. In their defense, I can’t imagine why anyone with a choice would live in Manhattan, Kansas. The job market must be as bad as they say.
Darn. The headline says “Jeffrey Martin of The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star takes you inside Kansas State Sports.” I was excited for a moment. I thought we had JMart back. Instead, we have a diehard KU loyalist who has recently bashed Tim Fitzgerald, Denis Clemente and Bill Snyder. To avoid further confusion, please change the headline to say “Kelly Bobby, die-hard KU Fan, covers KSU sports when he’s not busy blogging on Jayhawk Lounge.”
You are also pretty bad at predicting the outcome of college football games. You predicted that Montana State would beat KSU. KSU won 69-10.
Lastly, you lied to us in your first article. You have always had the opportunity to cover KSU sports. You just chose to cover KU sports. Even when you were in Idaho, you chose to cover KU sports. I’m not saying you can’t or won’t do a good job. I’m just saying that no one will ever know. Don’t take this personally. It’s the fault of The Eagle and The Star for putting you and us in this miserable situation. What can we expect from a company that just built a brand new printing press in a time when newspapers are increasingly going electronic? Apparently we should expect this crap. A KU fan pandering to KSU fans and telling us he’s “pumped” to have this “opportunity.”
Good luck Kelly Bobby.
The eagle and the star have just accelerated their descent into oblivion. These rags play no significant role in media anymore and will cease to exist in the next five years. Adding a writer like this to cover K-State is a complete joke! The only reason I maintained my subscription was to read about KSU, not regurgitated AP stories from days ago or about grass fires in the area…That subscription is now cancelled…
Really?? The Beagle hired an Austin-born, uk grad from Nebraska for THE Kansas State University beat?!?!
WTF is the thought process here?!?! I hope all K-Staters will do as I have done and get an immediate email out to AD John Currie and the director of sports information at KSU immediately requesting that the Wichita Eagle and KU Star Media credentials are revoked at once.
This might possibly be the worst hire I’ve EVER heard of… Unbelievable.
This is not your fault for accepting the role you are in. It is the Star/Eagle that made the horrible mistake of hiring you. Please leave before this gets too ugly. You will never be accepted in the K-State Nation and this is not a controversy that is going to go away any time soon.
What a joke. Bye bye subscription.
The prior comments demonstrate the unfortunate reality that some of my fellow K-State fans identify more strongly with a shared hatred for all things KU than for a love for all things KSU. This is sad. Identifying by shared hatred is something A&M does vis-a-vis Texas, and something I have always thought the Sunflower State was above, though I recognize that these fans exist for both schools here. That said, K-State fans are (by and large) above such pettiness.
I for one appreciate good journalism. If anything, Kellis’ background will make his commentary on KSU better. A critical take is, in my view, preferable to a mere fan’s perspective. If I want to read what fans say, I can go to a message board. Those are fine, but they serve a different purpose than a news outlet like the Eagle. I come to sites like this for a reporter’s thoughts, not a fan’s thoughts.
Good luck, Kellis. I look forward to your well written coverage on the Cats.
It’s become quite clear that poor old dumb Calumnus just doesn’t get it. Good day to you sir your dimissed next!!!
I worked with Kellis long enough to know that he’ll be professional, fair and unbiased in his coverage. That’s one of the things they teach you at journalism school.
It’s not his job to be a KSU cheerleader, just report the news and provide you guys with as much coverage and information as possible. I’m sure he’ll do that.
Once a die hard UK fan always an UK fan. And UK fans hate KSU and KSU hate UK. It is what it is. Com’on who are you kidding. You are the one picked to write for the great Kansas State University. This is the worst hire for any company in the history of our Country. What were you thinking Eagle.
GTFO, Kellis.
You never know how much you have until it is gone. The absence of Jeffery Martin in exchange for Kellis Robinette illustrates this point.
For Kellis’s first exclusive interview with Frank Martin, Dalonte Hill, Scott Greenawalt, and Brad Underwood…I would really like to see him start the discussion by telling all of those guys that they are liars like he did on thejayhawklounge blog.
That could be the best piece of journalism this guy ever churns out.
This video has been out for a few months, but as we approach the first game, it is worth a view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WasHzhGsAIk
I wouldn’t bother moving to Manhattan, Squawk blogger.
Maybe you should re-consider this position before you pack up and move.
Seriously.
Hey, Kellis! What’s your NEW favorite thing to hate about Manhattan? Mine is you.
ksujoey, could you please enlighten me as to what is so blatantly obvious to you, but which I am too “dumb” to perceive on my own?
While you may be right that I don’t “get it,” what is clear even to someone as dense as me is that anyone who says anything neutral or positive toward Kellis will be characterized as ignorant or even attacked by the people joining in this hate-fest. The hate seems excessive, especially because it’s pouring out before even giving Kellis a chance. Have you read any of his work in Idaho? He might just be a good sportswriter, though I know the haters would hate to admit it. I am open-minded enough to give Kellis a chance, and I genuinely am excited for his columns.
Dear Kellis,
As you undoubtedly knew (but may now be starting to question, given the tenor of these blog comments), most K-State fans are good, reasonable people. Most of us are not mean-spirited, and the (very vocal) minority of rancorous fans who post horrible things on your blog is not representative of the rest of us. While those people are fans too, and have the right to their opinions, most of us do not pre-judge, and would instead prefer to let you actually have a chance to cover KSU sports before we determine that you are somehow irredeemably unfit for the job, despite your talent that obviously impressed the Eagle staff. Please do not think that all the rest of your future readers will be haters. Welcome to Wildcat Land.
-Everyone else
I registered for this web site because of this thread.
This = win.
(K-State ‘95)