Sam Mellinger

The Kansas City Star

If you wanted to encapsulate the local professional sports scene over the last generation, you could do worse than Sunday, when Luke Hochevar stunk like rotten underwear and Matt Cassel stunk even worse and the Royals and Chiefs lost by a combined 27 and we were all left to make drinks and cry and then drink delicious Boulevard beer.

And then Sporting KC fans started talking about buying playoff tickets.

We heard Romeo Crennel say he didn’t understand what happened with his team, which makes him just like a bunch of Kansas Citians who aren’t getting paid millions to understand what happened with his team.

I haven’t kept secrets on what I think of the Chiefs or what needs to happen, and the whole thing is driving a wedge into Kansas City.

You won’t be surprised that this is the major topic here today, so let’s just get to it.

This week’s food recommendation is the Moonshine For Lunch at Nica’s 320, and the reading recommendation is Scott Raab’s series on the Freedom Tower saga in Esquire.

As always, thanks for your help.

@Thuettenmueller How long before the fans give up on the #Chiefs, or even this city? We cant support these losing teams forever, can we?

This is pretty representative, I’d say.

But we know the answer here, right? The whole racket depends on the fact that we won’t give up, won’t turn away, because these are our sports and it sure beats dealing with real life.

Most of the time, anyway.

@drkn78 this Chiefs mess is still Todd Haley’s fault, right? Seriously, what are the odds that Clark may clean house during the bye? #TT

I’d be really surprised if any major changes came during the bye week, but — and I understand I’m in the minority on this — if the product continues to embarrass, Clark Hunt is not going to stand around and just hope it gets better.

The guy is not his father. Business and results are more important than loyalty.

@chris_coffin I’m now ok with paying $30 to park. Parking lot is the best part of the game. Tickets should be $30 and parking should be $85.

Please join me in congratulating Chris on This Week’s Most Kansas City Twitter Tuesday Question. Funny, self-deprecating, dealing with your team’s failures and profits with a sense of humor.

Well done, Chris.

@xpromoto n after a Ravens loss..shock collar !! reporter..”HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR QB play today” buzzzz!! “good”

Charlie Weis may be losing games in Lawrence, but he’s gaining street cred in Kansas City, even if time has made most people forget that Cassel completed a pedestrian 58.4 percent of his passes in 2010, threw for an ordinary 3,116 yards and surely led the league in dropped interceptions.

@cody4prez I’m not living near KC anymore, so I don’t know what’s being said. Am the only KC fan believing its time to can Pioli? Romeo?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

@LetsGoRoyals Can’t we just blame Bill Bellichek for making Pioli and Cassel look way better than their worth? #Chiefs

This is a good point. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have created something of a cottage industry of spin-off millionaires, and Kansas City has more per capita than any place in the country.

@froggiemlm #twittertuesday What did KC do to deserve a chiefs game like that and a hocheaver start on the same day?

I’m convinced in a past life, Kansas City must’ve been home to the most badass sports in the world. I’m talking pro prospects on honorable mention All-Metro teams, national championships for every college — even KU football — enough pro titles to make Bill Russel tear up with envy, and Roman Gladiator type stuff on the weekends.

It’s really the only explanation. The only thing that makes sense. The only thing that makes this all fair.

In other words, I blame our great-great-great-great-great grandparents.

@brentbeats Hochever vs Cassel: who has cashed in on a bigger lottery ticket? Poor talent + big money + loyal GMs = TheProcess. #TT

I know this is nails on the chalkboard, but I will make a slight disagreement: Hochevar does have talent. He sucks, and really bad, but he does have talent. You can see that on his good days. I’m not sure where you see the talent with Cassel, though all things considered — including the fact that Cassel’s level of suck is not historic — he’s better at his job than Hochevar is at his.

But your question is posed in terms of money, so I’m going with Cassel getting the bigger lottery ticket because he’s making more money.

But it’s close.

@kent_swanson Is it hard to write articles calling for someone to get fired, even if it’s warranted?

Well, yes. It is. These are human beings who’ve worked their entire lives to get where they are, and they have friends and family and I hope I never lose sight of that. But I’m also not calling for the heads of teachers or firefighters — Scott Pioli doesn’t need to work another day in his life and he’ll know his family is set up financially for generations.

I’m always trying to get better at my job, but one thing I’m happy with is that I’m not the Overreaction Sports Media Guy, where every mistake means someone should lose their job and every letdown is the worst thing ever. I’ve written that Todd Haley, Trey Hillman, and Dan Beebe should be out of their jobs — and fairly soon after they were.

Each of those men were always professional to me, and I had good conversations with all of them. Same with Pioli. I introduced him to the Peanut’s wings. Went to his hometown to do a story on where he came from. So it’s not personal.

I’ve gone in early on Pioli, and maybe I’ll be proved silly and regret it. But it’s also not something I went in on without thought. I wrote before the season that this fall would be all about Pioli, good or bad, and so far it’s been horrendous. The team has fundamental flaws that are a direct reflection of Pioli’s wishes, and beyond Justin Houston and Eric Berry, the vast majority of the Chiefs’ best players were acquired under Carl Peterson.

So, yes. It is hard, and something I won’t ever take likely. But it’s also part of the job.

@JDecKC so what are you sayin the score will be this weekend?

Ravens 40, Chiefs 23.

A third tail-beating in three home games.

@KingLenz11 how many games do the chiefs win this year #TT

I’m thinking 6-10.

Look, they’re not THIS bad. Turnovers can be coached, and turnovers largely separate good teams from bad ones, but the Chiefs are just not going to turn it over six times in many games. They’ll get some breaks, eventually, because that’s the way that football goes and as much as it doesn’t feel this way right now, a lot of NFL games are won on a razor’s edge.

It’s hard to see with the offense constantly giving the Chargers a short field, but the defense has played much better. The Chiefs will win some games, and they may get to 7-9 or possibly even 8-8.

But barring something drastic, the best thing for the long-term success is for this season to be bad enough that Clark Hunt makes some changes and hires a GM who will change the culture and especially the quarterback.

@prezmike25 Please explain to people the potential and awesomeness that is Luke Hochevar. I think he’s misunderstood. #Royals #TwitterTuesday

There’s no way this is serious.

Right?

@rockchalk8687 Atop the league down the stretch, winning big games, actually making the playoffs, etc., etc.. time to anoint #SKC as KC’s team?

Been getting a lot of this, and I think we all understand why.

Sporting is essentially everything you could want in a sports franchise. Locally owned. Beautiful stadium. Terrific atmosphere. Commitment to winning and fan service. Attractive product, not just in winning but in style.

They offer so much of what Kansas City is starving for, but the payoff just isn’t close to what will happen to this area if the Royals or Chiefs ever accomplish their leadership’s stated goals.

@countzerokc So what are your plans to attend the Sporting KC playoffs? You know the KC FO that actually seems to give a damn about winning

I’ll be there. Look, I’m in on Sporting. I think it’s a great product, great game experience, and I think more people should get beyond their soccer-phobia and embrace a good organization.

So I plan on covering the march. But if it coincides with the Chiefs, I’m watching (American) football.

@KevinJW1 winner of Royals over/under gets? Delivered Peanut wings? A shot at Royals 2013 rotation? @kentbabb ‘s old job?

I think we decided on a gift card at Oklahoma Joe’s. A shot at the Royals’ 2013 rotation apparently requires a historically awful track record, and we’re actively searching for an improvement on Babb — last I talked to my boss, he was down to a stray dog or a cheeseburger.

@TheFakeNed #TwitterTuesday @mellinger What is it about the Ticket Oak commercials that make it “creepy awesome” & Progressive Flo spots just “creepy”

Simple. You want a Ticket Oak at your house, but you don’t ever want Flo anywhere near your private moments.

@Speck60 How’s life? Anything new? How’s the new crib treating you? #NonSportsTwitterTuesday

The house is awesome, very comfortable, terrific neighborhood, all the things you’d want … ‘cept me and the Lady are still sleeping on the floor. Long story, but basically the box springs won’t fit up the stairs (very old house). We’re working on it, even thinking of taking out a wall, so in the meantime it’s like we’re camping or something.

First world problems.

@ClintT13 Self’s deal got me thinking. What would Mizzou look like if it hadn’t hired Snyder over Self & Calipari in 2000? Final 4 by now?

I think about this every once in a while, actually. Part of the identity of Mizzou fans is the heartbreak, the Fifth Down and the Tyus Edney and the Kick Game and all the rest of it, but it sometimes gets overlooked that Mike Alden had Quin Snyder and Bill Self on different floors of the same hotel and made an awful decision.

Self went on to win big at both of Mizzou’s rivals, and there is no reason to believe he wouldn’t have done the same at MU.

Then again …

@patronaut0709 #TwitterTuesday Hi, my name is Pat & I’m #Royals fan & #Pirates fan. I need help.

… it could be worse.

@DBLesky I’m going to give you a serious one for once. Do you see the comments of David Glass as putting Dayton Moore on notice?

I thought Dayton was on notice before. Next year will be his seventh full season on the job, and it’s time to start seeing results.

I’ve written and said before that Dayton will either be remembered as the guy who brought back winning baseball to Kansas City or as the worst GM in franchise history. The Royals don’t have to win the division to keep him around, but they can’t have another lost season.

@zcall_it is the West Virginia vs Baylor game/track meet a good or bad sign for KSU Big 12 title chances?

I don’t think so. Both those teams can score, obviously, but I just can’t fathom them scoring 63 or 70 against Bill Snyder and the Cats. And keep in mind that both teams gave up big numbers, too.

West Virginia should be considered the favorite, but at least in my eyes that’s as much because they get K-State in Morgantown as anything else. It’s also true that K-State just won in Norman, and if they can do that, there’s nothing in the schedule they can’t do.

@Speck60 Talk a Chiefs/Royals/Mizzou fan off the ledge here. Or just push me off and end my suffering. #TwitterTuesday

Don’t do it, buddy. You have friends. People who love you. Phil Pressey to watch. Jamaal Charles. Sal Perez.

But I’m not against you finding a support group.

Comments

1. 

   Brian Grant

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   If Luke Hochevar returns to Kaufman Stadium next year for the home team, this fan will not.

2. 

   Jim M

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   Two things on Bill Self and Missouri:

   1) Hiring Quin Snyder was not an “awful decision” at the time. Obviously it turned out bad, but literally everyone at the time loved the hire.

   2) Even if Mike Alden hired Bill Self, I seriously doubt he would still be at Missouri. Even if he won, and being that he’s won everywhere else he likely would have won at Missouri, he most likely would have left for a better job by now, either at another NCAA school or the NBA.

3. 

   Jim Wagner

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   Split boxsprings, Sam. That’s the only way we are sleeping in the upstairs of our house.

4. 

   Mad Chief

   8 months, 2 weeks ago

   Sam, I am not certain that you are being blunt enough…Pioli is truly one of the mostarrogant pompous General Managers ever…his arrogant manner is the reason that Payton never gave us a look…..Clark is clueless….he is a very smart man intellectually, but that does not mean he knows how to manage anything….I believe he wants to win, but has no clue how to hire or motivate. If Pioli was not so arrogant and if Clark knew how to manage they would know how to handle the PR mess they are in….hiding in your office is no way to handle it. Finally, I feel for you….I think that they allowed about 6 questions at the Sunday press conference….Pioli has limited the information getting out to the degree that it is not fun to follow the team any longer. It is hard to sell papers when there is nothing to write about….If I was you, I would be really irritated.

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