No, the KCK Preps ceremony does not violate KSHSAA rules

By NICK SLOAN
NJSloan212@gmail.com

Over the past two weeks, a few concerned parents have reached out to both David Brox and myself about the All KCK Award Ceremony coming up on December 10 at The Legends Theater.

Three concerns have been brought to our attention.

1. There's a thought that the award ceremony violates state rules.

2. There's been some concern about the use of the football jerseys.

3. The date of the ceremony is an ACT day.

First off, I apologize about the date coming on an ACT day. The Legends Theater is a popular place, meaning reservations are not as simple as walking in and asking for a specific date.

Plus, some students may be on vacation during the holidays, so we wanted to get it as far away from the holiday break that we could.

It's the best day we could find, but the ACT is very important, so no problem there if you cannot make it.

However, it's the first two concerns that I want to dismiss or touch base on right now.

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1. First off, I'm 99.9 percent sure this ceremony is not in violation of KSHSAA rules. 

To be 100 percent sure, both David and I have emails out to KSHSAA. I assume they'll be responded to after the Thanksgiving break.

However, while the KCK Preps ceremony is new for Wyandotte County, awards ceremonies themselves are not uncommon.

First, The Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal honored Washington's Tra'Vaughn White last year. White was allowed to wear his jersey and both him and head coach Eric King traveled out of town to the ceremony that was held. White did a video interview with The Wichita Eagle from the ceremony itself.

Also, Metro Sports presents awards. They usually air the show on their station at some point in the spring.

Then, there are the formal awards, such as the DiRenna. The DiRenna Award ceremony is sponsored by the basketball coaches and was held in a nice hotel last year.

While what we're doing is nice for the players, it's far from the extravagance of what that ceremony is about.

Those type of media and award ceremonies have went on for years.

This one is no different.

Again, I'm waiting for a response from KSHSAA just to be 100 percent safe. However, I think there's clear precedence for what type of event we're hoping to start annually. There are no CASH awards available and no "gifts" outside of a trophy will be given to the players.

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2. The use of the football jerseys.

Again, there's some concern about how the football jerseys are being used and why we're encouraging them.

I won't touch on this long, but again, there's precedence.

Tra'Vaughn White and Reese Holliday the past two years wore their jerseys in a photo ran by The Topeka Capital-Journal. I encourage you to look them up.

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Outside of the ACT falling on the awards ceremony, there's really no excuse to not enjoy this event and supporting your athletes who will be honored.

I hope these explanations address those concerns.

David has put a lot of hard work into this and if we pull it off, this ceremony can begin a tradition that honors our local athletes.

Do not believe in the rumors about this event being in violation of the state rules - it's not.

Again, thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

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Orton signing is an act of desperation

The signing of Kyle Orton is nothing more than an act of desperation. Ticket sales and perception have driven this organization for years and after getting drubbed by a very good New England team and the prospects of seeing 6 more weeks of the same the Chiefs decided to sign a veteran quarterback.

There is one exception in my short NFL history of taking a well traveled quarterback and turning him into a winner and that is Rich Gannon. Surrounding him with Jerry Rice, Tim Brown amongst other weapons enabled him to have a few solid season, an MVP and a trip to the Super Bowl. Where it is worth noting he fell flat on his face.

Here are a few assumptions we can now make.

1. Palko should not be on the roster and a mistake was made having him as the backup.

2. Stanzi was a horrible draft pick and is not going to pan out at all.

3. Someone's job is on the line and they must field something respectable to try and save it.

4. The Chiefs are desperate to sell some tickets at the end of the season.

I would put a lot of stock in the 4th point. Not having the crowds there paying 8.50 for a beverage and 4 dollars for a hot dog hurts the pocket book of Mr. Hunt. Less cars paying 27.50 to park means less money to spend.

I do know that Orton is not a long term answer at quarterback. I do know that you won't know anything about Stanzi unless he plays. I can't imagine he is any worse than Tim Tebow throwing the ball around at a 30% clip. Put him in there and see what you have. I get that you are in a horrible division and we are mathematically in the playoff hunt. If Palko is not worth starting as a backup then at least make him 3rd string for now and bring in Stanzi if/when we are completely out of the playoff hunt.

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COMMENTARY: Zenger, Self embarrassing own university in aftermath of Mizzou’s departure from Big 12

By NICK SLOAN
NJSloan212@gmail.com

The common metaphor to describe the conference realignment shake-up is about a relationship ending and breaking up.

One reason is the fact so much history is ending. Another reason why the metaphor works is the griping from both sides and snipping of each other about who was right and who was wrong.

The perfect example is what’s going on in Lawrence, Kan., and Columbia, Mo., regarding the Missouri Tigers departing the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.

Only in this instance, it’s clear to see which side is the classy one handling the break-up well and the one who’s extremely bitter about it.

Missouri athletic director Mike Alden touched on the rivalry during the press conference that announced the school’s exit from the Big 12.

"Everyone in here recognizes that our rivalry with the University of Kansas is one of the great rivalries in our country," Alden said. "It's certainly our hope and our desire to continue to participate against the University of Kansas in every sport that we play in for the next 119 years."

That’s quite the different tone than Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger and Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball head coach Bill Self are displaying during this episode.

In multiple interviews and press releases, Zenger has bashed Missouri for the decision.

A recent interview in The Lawrence Journal-World contained more bombs from the Kansas athletic director.

“The coaches and the administration at the University of Kansas and the major stakeholders, as well as large portion of the KU fan base, don’t have an appetite to continue this game or other competition in the wake of what’s transpired over the last couple of years,” Zenger told The LJ World. “It’s our perspective that the instability in the Big 12 Conference began in Columbia, Mo., and then was prolonged here in the last several months when they really had a chance to bring things together.”

Self, meanwhile, has made similar remarks.

"I don't really talk to fans, but the ones that have talked to me, they couldn't care less (about playing Missouri)," Self said. "Our fans aren't going to determine what we do, but Missouri isn't going to determine anything we do either.”

The upset feelings are fair game.

The conference realignment issue is one of the most emotional sports issues in a long time, especially for the State of Kansas.

Kansas and Kansas State (and earlier this year, Missouri was too) were both on the chopping block of not making a BCS conference.

Honestly, I get that part of it. What I don't get is why should a university make it public like this. 

You don’t hear these type of complaints from Kansas State publicly. I have no doubt the athletic department in Manhattan, Kan., has the similar set of feelings about Missouri, but they’re not airing them out like some sort of scorned mistress.

You don’t see Kansas State Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder complain about Missouri on a weekly basis. You don’t see Snyder or the school issuing tacky press releases and Tweets stating how “we won” the rivalry.

All Snyder is doing is preparing for the next football opponent and having his best coaching season ever in my opinion.

Kansas State, Iowa State and the other schools have at least been professional on the issue.

They could teach the University of Kansas a lesson (or ten) on class.

Zenger’s remarks don’t just feel like a scorned lover, but someone who’s jealous of the new girlfriend Missouri has in the form of the best athletic conference in America.

It’s never good if you can confuse a university’s athletic director from the same university’s biggest and most diehard fan - and that's what's happening here.

It’s odd that Zenger is expressing these bitter feelings when the school’s chancellor said the Big 12 will have strength in the future.

If West Virginia and TCU are better conference members than Missouri and Texas A&M, why discuss it publicly like this? Why not thank the schools for leaving and opening the door for two “better schools,” instead of slamming them?

That doesn’t make too much sense for me.

There’s a legitimate argument that Missouri fueled this realignment saga, but it’s tough for me to buy the argument they started it.

How could a school without a Final Four or a national title in any sport kick-off the biggest domino effect in college athletics history?

The pieces were laid there for this process to start and schools like Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, TCU, Boise State and others were just the few dominoes that began the process.

The comments do not do a proud university justice.

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