Sam Mellinger

The Kansas City Star

Well, since you’re dying to know, I updated my man-card and cut that box springs in half to get it up the stairs and me and the Lady slept on it last night. So to date, my manliest homeowner achievements, in order:

1. Cutting a box springs in half like the nice woman on the YouTube video showed me.

2. Built a fire (gas starter, but still).

3. Ribs on the grill.

4. Hung pictures.

The bar is low, people.

Anyway, busy week so let’s get to it. Two reading recommendations this week. For a book, check out No Easy Day, written by one of the badasses on Seal Team Six who killed Bin Laden. For an article, check out Eli Saslow’s Life of a Salesman, a beautifully told story about the stubborn resiliency of the American dream.

This week’s food recommendation: gnocchi at Garozzo’s, an overlooked delicacy.

As always, thanks for your help.

@MJWildeman Is it okay if we cheer when you’re injured? #writerscramp #twittertuesday

And we’re off to a good start.

@sayjackshit Sam somone nationally needs to say that the few that were cheering were being screamed at and taunted by alot if fans, fighting

That’s one of the points I tried to make on Outside The Lines,^ but of course it’s lost in the noise. There are a lot of points I wish I had time to make on that show, including that Antonio Pierce is just dead wrong when he said fans in other places haven’t cheered injuries, or provide more of the context pointed out in my column that this was about much more than Matt Cassel.

^ Why so serious, Joel?

These are issues that have been stirring for weeks, probably longer, and it’s not completely fair that Cassel has become the target for all of this but it’s also how the world works.

Like Jason Whitlock says here, I think America will survive.

@kelliott62 you think one day you will be asked to come on a national show because something good happened in KC?

I’m an optimist.

@rock_hawk So KC fans are bad ‘cuz we boo Cano. But then we’re good ‘cuz we cheer Miggy. But we’re bad again ‘cuz some cheered/booed Cassel?

In the end, the national perception doesn’t matter here, but one thing I’ve found aggravating in a lot of the (over)reaction is this undertone that cute little Kansas City isn’t allowed to boo, that a small market should just be happy it even has a team so just shut your mouth except to eat barbecue.

It’s ridiculous.

Kansas City is a great place for a lot of reasons, but pro sports isn’t one of them and you’re damn right people here get upset about it. When and if a star — slugger, quarterback, GM, whatever — lifts the Chiefs or Royals to a championship, you will see a form of adulation that would require at least an R-rating.

But until then, people are going to be frustrated.

@ruby92879 Is Pioli/Crenell secretly happy about Winston vs.fans? Its seems to be distracting most from the disaster that is this franchise

This is a good transition back to football, so thanks for that! I do think there can be some positives in an offensive lineman so directly and passionately standing up for a teammate. Along with playing their best game of the season — they should’ve beat the Ravens, and lost to the Saints — these are good signs for the Chiefs.

I mentioned this in the column, but this is getting messy enough that — if it goes the way it’s going — it’s easy to imagine Pioli referencing it as part of what it didn’t work in Kansas City when he talks with decision-makers and -shapers in his next job.

To whatever extent a small minority of fans cheering a starting quarterback’s injury overshadows the fact that that quarterback should’ve no longer been the starter, yeah, it is a convenient distraction.

@MidMORoyalsFan What’s the best comfort food meal in KC to help lessen the heartbreak of another lost season?

Pizza 51 makes a slice as big as your face. Carmen’s lasagna can make you feel warm inside. The chicken at the Peach Tree will make you forget about your troubles.

@kent_swanson The storyline Chiefs fans should be concerned about is Jamaal Charles’ carry count. Papa Romeo is being selfish.

It’s a good point, and one I tried to make in the column off Sunday’s game.

Two years ago, Charles was treated like he was fragile. Then last year, he tears his ACL. Now, he’s the only back in the league with two 30-carry games and Romeo is openly wishing it could be more.

The NFL is a rough business, and you can’t fault the hustle of a head coach trying to save his job, but if Romeo burns Charles out in a lost season the Chiefs are in even worse shape than it looks right now.

?@ClintT13 A substance abuse counselor/friend compared KC fans to junkies. Helpless to spend $ on something we know is bad for us. Thoughts?

This is depressing. Let’s change the subject.

@benherrold After Vandy loss, Pinkel is 47-47 at MU vs conference competition. Does he retire w/ winning record vs teams in his conf? #TT

Well, maybe Mizzou football isn’t the best choice of subject change here, but there’s no going back now. A lot of you were calling me stupid for not being more concerned about MU’s losses to Georgia and South Carolina, and you look smarter than me after the Tigers lost on Saturday.

At home.

To Vanderbilt.

Some of you — not all, maybe not even most, but some — are blaming this on James Franklin’s injury with the flimsy rationale that MU got two field goals with him still in the game. Even ignoring that many MU fans wanted Corbin Berksresser to play anyway, this is pretty weak because you just can’t lose to Vandy at home.

I understand that MU has had more than its fair share of injuries already this season, particularly on the offensive line, but injuries are also part of football and the Vandy loss sure pushed me closer to the side of believing the SEC is exposing some significant holes — notably MU’s depth and Pinkel’s game management.

But to answer your question, I’ll still go over. I think MU has or is building all the infrastructure needed to compete in the SEC.

@Speck60 Good thing football became irrelevant in KC just in time for bball season. Basketball should make everyone happier, right?! #TT

Actually, yeah. Kansas and Missouri are each early Final Four picks in some places, and I’m really interested to see how Bruce Weber gets things going in Manhattan, so it should be another fascinating season.

Hard to imagine Mizzou hoops having much trouble transitioning to the SEC, for instance. Also, on Twitter the other day I said it was “crazy” that Phil Pressey was a preseason pick for SEC player of the year.

I’ve thought more about it, talked to a few college hoops people, and would like to take that back. It surprised me at first, because there are as many as four lottery picks in that league, but Phil is an absolute stud and as long as we’re talking about college basketball effectiveness and not NBA potential, sure, he should be in that mix.

@patronaut0709 #TwitterTuesday Should #KState be afraid of #IowaState this weekend?

David Ubben cites an awesome stat every once in a while that says Paul Rhoads has won something like twice as many games at Iowa State than he’s been favored in. This game is in Ames, where ISU is especially dangerous, so, sure, absolutely, K-State should be on alert.

But I also think this SO fits the profile of an upset, and SO many people seem to be thinking this, and we’re also talking about Bill Snyder here … so I’d still be surprised if K-State lost or was looking ahead too much to the West Virginia game next weekend.

Covering the 7 1/2 points is an entirely different deal.

@DanielSWesley Question for #TwitterTuesday: Can Bill Self lay claim to the title of “Most Powerful Sports Figure in Kansas City”? #KUBBall

No. There are a million different ways to determine “powerful,” but to me, by definition a coach at one of three major universities in an area with NFL and MLB teams can’t be the most powerful.

Self might be the most successful, you can argue between him and Bill Snyder. But powerful? That’s Clark Hunt and David Glass, in that order.

@rockchalk8687 Thanks for including me in #TT. One question, do I now get to add “published” to my resume?!?

Just please, whatever you do, use your power wisely.

@Turnksu so, we now know Bill Snyder likes Taco Bell. IYO, who serves the best tacos in KC?

Ignoring that the Taco Bell thing has been overstated — he eats there like once a month, I hear — you’ve come to the right place. My taco tastes vary from time to time, but at the moment:

1. Los Corrals.

2. Frida’s.

3. Bichelmeyer Meats.

@PhilGarver I’ve got Perez, Esky, Butler & Gordon as untouchable. Is there more? Is there less?

I’ve said this a few times, but the Royals just aren’t good enough yet to make anyone untouchable. That said, the guys you mention — I’d add Moose and Hosmer to that list — that are almost certainly more valuable to the Royals than any other team. I also don’t think Butler should be on this list. He’s one of the more likely big leaguers to be traded, actually, because he’s only under club control two more years, is “only” a DH, and if Hosmer bounces back the Royals move on relatively smoothly.

But if the Royals make a trade this winter for a starting pitcher — and they’d be able to match or beat virtually anyone’s trade offer — it’s going to have to include someone valuable, like Butler or Wil Myers. That’s just the price of doing business.

I guess what I’m saying: nobody’s untouchable, and the only players I’d be SHOCKED to see traded are Perez and Escobar.

@informedblackmn When you reflect on your career covering the Chiefs, which fumbles or interceptions will stand out? #somany

I know where you’re going with this, and I respect it, but actually the one that sticks out the most is by an opponent: Philip Rivers’ fumbled snap that lost the game in Arrowhead last year.

Time will tell, but I think a close second will end up being Cassel’s fumbled sneak attempt on Sunday because there are buckets of symbolism in there.

@mitchopkins I’ll throw-up next time Bowe points to the back of his jersey. Do you recommend not watching the Chiefs, or a trash can close by?

I was saying on Twitter the other day that the game was going back and forth between funny and sad, but really, at this point, as long as you’re of the proper age and have a sober driver I can’t recommend watching the Chiefs without some sort of libation to dull the pain.

I’m a whiskey and beer guy myself, but these are decisions each man must make for himself.

@pandajerk01 Lets make a friendly bet. Royals make it to the playoffs before chiefs do, starting this year. Any takers?

Let him know, guys.

@BobbyCave Yesterday we found a new definition for a low point in life: Becoming sadly excited will now be known as “cheering for Quinn”

I can get behind that.

@BenC1357 23 year STH, I am done. Can you convince me not to? Fans booing hurt players and losing like this isn’t what I pay so much for.

I think for a lot of fans, a healthy separation can be a good thing. You love your team, and eventually it will love you back.

But if it’s not working right now for you, maybe you should see other people. Walk the dog. Take the wife out. Play with the kids. Clean the gutters. Something.

You’ll come back to each other. I feel strongly about that. But in the meantime, if you have a couch and a TV you have a hell of an option to save some money.

@TbobSmith Who are you rooting for in the MLB playoffs and why? I’m rooting for the O’s, they’ve stunk forever too so I feel their pain.

Well, the Nationals are in that same group, though there’s decidedly less passion in that fan base.

My honest and boring answer is that I’m not really pulling for any particular team, just good games and high interest, but if you’re forcing me to say I’ll go with Detroit because I love watching Verlander pitch and Fielder hit, I respect what Cabrera did this year, and I’ve always liked Jim Leyland.

@waggz2 I’ve debated with people.. Would you let Tyson punch u in face(during prime) for $200,000?

Every man has his price, I suppose, but I’m somehow happy enough with my life and my face (shut up) that $200,000 isn’t high enough. Maybe I’ve seen The Hangover too many times.

But if it’s seven figures, let’s talk.

Comments

1. 

   Todd Templer

   8 months, 1 week ago

   I didn’t realize it was fans vs Winston. I think this whole thing is overblown and something sports writers/bloggers and sports radio hosts use to fill time?

   I agree with Winston that no one should cheer anyone getting hurt. I also think he spoke out of frustration and passion and well, probably some lack of experience for what KC is going through. But my gosh, someone on that line needs to learn to block someone.

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