NSR: Wizards Catch All Thread v2008.08

Discussion in 'Sporting Kansas City' started by Spoon, Dec 10, 2008.

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  1. Wizardscharter

    Wizardscharter New Member

    Jul 25, 2001
    Blue Springs, MO
    Merry Christmas everyone!

    In that spirit, NBC is giving everyone a gift. That being Saturday night at 7 they are re-running the Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics in China this past summer. You may remember everyone universally being way-over-the-top impressed by the show the Chinese gave the TV world and this is probably your only other opportunity to take it in and enjoy it.

    The original version was 3+ hours, NBC has cut it to 2. I don't recall many "lowlights" exactly. Pretty much all of it was amazing or better.

    NBA: Christmas day basketball is almost always Playoff caliber. TNT with two games later tonight as well. So, Shaq's many missed free-throws cost his team yet another game. San Antonio with a 3 at the death to win and steal a road game from an 0-11 first quarter start. Boston@LA on right now...pretty good level.

    NHL: If I was an NHL owner truly the only thing I would desire is Commissioner Gary Bentmann's head on a figurative platter. The list of mistakes grows ever longer and is easily googled. But, no hockey on Christmas or Christmas Eve. Meanwhile college football has Bowls. The NBA puts out 4 outstanding and marquee matchups that will rack up monster ratings. They do this to not entertain the legions of people who are sick of their relatives, full of food and drink, and/or wish to veg in front of a game; but also to attempt to capture those who wouldn't otherwise take in a game. {Wow, what a 3-point defense, hustle, and effort play by the Lakers at 9:19 in the 2nd Quarter...that one will be on highlights tonight} The NHL's national contract is a game a week, often a lesser one, on Versus. MLS arguable has a larger footprint today! Yeah, the NHL probably doesn't need the exposure.

    My goodness.

    MLS: Working back to soccer. MLS has a tremendous opportunity forming. Money will be tighter the next 2-3 years, minimum, if not longer. Many new stadiums are coming if not already here. Expansion is rolling strong. Hockey is flat faltering. NFL will be affected in at least small ways as their maximize profit at all ends course the last 30 years will reap some negatives. Baseball will have permanent effects from a competition standpoint due to the Yankees ability to dominate financially with their new stadium and abundant 6-digit season tickets. Combine this with the spread of things like increasingly overpaid and obviously disconnected athletes, reasonably priced large TV screens, and How-to channels like HG and Food Channel that make entertaining at home a more desirable option, and you have abundant reason to occasionally if not always skip the game and stay home.

    Point being, all geologic and vulcanologist signs are there that at least a mini-eruption of sports revolution will happen. Lava will flow and some will get caought up in it. Some say it already is happening.

    Vegas is getting killed, other casinos are hurting and running on leaner staffs, concert tour are shorter and concentrated in largest markets as three digit tickets are common, and theaters are benifiting as they are by comparison a much cheaper ticket as odd as that may sound.

    MLS has a tremendous opportunity to pick up market share in a glutted sports and entertainment market that by all accounts has priced out the middle class. At the very least, the middle class has been forced to choose if the season tickets or the vacation are the largest priority.

    There are only two accepted ways here generally. One is to provide a product unequalled in the marketplace. That will always be tougher for MLS to replicate as the experience in other leagues already is what it is. The second way is to provide more value for the same dollar.

    Providing value isn't hiring no-name bands to justify jacking up the ticket cost on an "event game" or raping the city coffers for a new stadium while the city goes broke (as it's being reported is happening here in KC, BTW. City of KC's fault in my view, OnGoal is just doing what the OnGoals of the world will always do.). Also, in almost every MLS market the new stadiums have proven to only be temporarilly a big seller, if that. As such, value will become paramount to maximize the opportunity.

    Value will be winning on the field. In a hard cap league without monumental "luxury tax" enhancements for the have-nots, that becomes difficult. Also, in an expanding league 6th of 14 is easily top half, but top-half of what? Only 9 original franchises remain. 3 "newer" franchises are clearly ahead of KC (CHI, HOU, and CHV) On one level, your peer-group is really those 8 other remaining franchises. Maybe you include Chicago as well, although the addition doesn't exactly help. NY, DC, and LA - three historically favored MLS markets - will not remain permanently at low positions and many of the others below KC are expansion franschises. It will get harder.

    KC has many great things happening. The larger point is an increasingly higher degree of excellence will be required from owner down to laundry guy. This as not only will the sports market be much tougher going forward, but the league is expanding at a time where doing that creates undue exposure to business risk that must be tempered in some way. The situation is different, but the last mistake cost the league 2 franchises and an entire geographic area.

    I think MLS needs a new commissioner with expertise in running a war-time operation. Money was easy and will not be going forward. Hire whatever guy Hockey should be hiring. Do it now. If I'm an owner, I'm not sure I care about much else today, lest I become contracted 5-10 years from now. This especially if my staudium theft is already completed.

    I'm not as worried about KC's on-field. That path seem pretty clear. Sign two SI studs up top and in the back, re-rack, work on shooting, let the kids grow, hit your knees every night and pray for Wolff's ligaments, and see what happens.

    It's the off-field path, namely attendance in 2012 and beyond that is a little daunting today. KC can be both entertianing and good and still may have some issues. Even if great on the field, they still might.

    For me, the stadium has to be not just good, but great. People have to immediately want to return. Whatver that takes. If it's another doable year at CAB then so be it. I don't think that opening half-assed like Frisco did is something KC can do to any good effect other than on a short-term financial statement.

    Sorry, I should have put the above KCW stuff in it's own thread. It gets long before I realize it. Game withdrawl is setting in.


    -WC
     
  2. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i think garber's doing a pretty good job. when he took over, the league couldn't have been in worse shape. my opinion will change, however, if he grants barca miami an expansion franchise over st. louis or portland. i still think chivas lite was a mistake by the league (but i can only issue partial blame because he didn't have the options he does now), and barca and claure are spewing the same type of rhetoric that vergara was before his team took the field. it's even worse that they're the ones giving ultimatums.
     
  3. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I agree completely. I think Garber has done well. However, I too will change my mind if Miami gets granted a franchise. I am not against them having a franchise but I believe there are better candidates at this time.
     
  4. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So, what did everyone get for Christmas?

    I got about 8 books, a couple of DVDs, and some clothes.

    But, the best gift I got was a Roku box. If you havent heard of this and like movies, I recommend checking it out.

    http://www.roku.com/
     
  5. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    doesn't the xbox360 do the same thing... or any internet-enabled computer?
     
  6. Felixx219

    Felixx219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 8, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I believe the 360 does but doesnt access as many movies. You can access them on the internet as well but I personally cant stand watching movies or TV shows on the internet. This actually hooks up to the TV.
     
  7. BenC1357

    BenC1357 Member

    Feb 23, 2001
    KC
    My best gifts were US soccer gear. I got the new black (although it's a dark gray) US jersey, a red jacket that has "Est. 1913" on the left side and a dark blue jacket with "USA" on the back in red. I also got a cool long sleeve Wizards shirt, made out of jersey-like material but it's a bit thicker. It'll be perfect for the cooler nights.

    Oh, and the new electronic Trivial Pursuit. No cards in this edition, 600 questions are stored on a hand held electroic device. You can then purchase up to 1800 more questions online and there is a USB hookup to drop the questions on to the device.

    And Kim and I went and got each other the Instict phones by Sprint. We absolutely love them.
     
  8. Kasmatsu

    Kasmatsu Member

    Sep 1, 2008
    Gardner, KS
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the NHL will be fine. The problem they have at the moment is from the 90's when instead of locking down their cap and expenses they forced all their small market teams to move into larger southern US markets. Unfortunately for the most part people in those markets don't care about hockey.

    A national tv contract isn't important because pretty much all the teams have solid local contracts. Not to mention the NHL has its own 24/7 channel which is even available in HD. The teams that are in the correct markets even have excellent attendance. If you don't have a local team you can get the Center Ice package. Heck, here in KC we don't have a team yet the KC version of fox sports net carries Blues games.

    I can see the NHL contracting all the poorly managed teams in non hockey markets, or those teams migrating back north where they belong.

    The issues of no christmas games isn't that big of deal because they have their "big event" game the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on new years day. In fact on christmas day, I watched a marathon of previous years' Winter Classics on the NHL Network.

    As far as the Wizards stadium. At least they deserve it, unlike the chiefs and royals with their renovations. Or that big empty Sprint Center. How many trophies, finals, and playoff trips do the Wizards have since the Cheaps or the Royals have even made the postseason? If the people of KC want to watch a quality winning sports product, they should start saving their pennies for Wizards season tickets at our new stadium. A season ticket package for the 2011 Wizards campaign will probably be competitively priced to a single trip to the beer stand at most NFL stadiums going forward.
     
  9. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    do you think you're falling in love ... with a phone?
     
  10. KCBearcat

    KCBearcat New Member

    Nov 16, 2004
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Gave notice at AT&T today... thanks to New Year's and some vacation time, I will only work 3 days between now and 1/9/09.

    Felt pretty farkin' good, too... :)
     
  11. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Some of my Christmas highlights.

    FIFA 09 for the PS3
    Lego Star Wars the complete saga for PS3.
    USMNT jersey #4 Bradley
    Venture Brothers Season 1
    Scrubs Season 7
     
  12. Abracadabra

    Abracadabra BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 11, 2006
    Olathe, Kansas
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good to have the luxury to quit a job you hate. Color me green with envy. ;)
     
  13. KCBearcat

    KCBearcat New Member

    Nov 16, 2004
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, I didn't really have a choice... they were helping pay to send me to umpire school, but weren't going to give me the time off to go... that was the straw that broke the camel's back, in this case...

    If I wasn't going to be going to school, I wouldn't have quit... I like getting paid, even if I hate(d) my job...
     
  14. cjgwizard

    cjgwizard Member

    Apr 25, 2006
    LSP, section 129
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So those were some pretty fierce winds blowing through my neighborhood at 4:30 this morning. My bedroom is on the NW corner of the house, and I actually felt my house shaking with 75 mph winds. Just took my dog out for a brief walk around and saw lots of trash and shingles scattered about. I also saw one complete side of a fence down as well. Since that fence was built by the same company that did mine, I went out to inspect my fence to make sure it was still upright. It's leaning a bit, but still standing thanks to my forethought of reinforcing some loose fenceposts last summer. I heard that the Walmart store near 159th and Metcalf had some doors in their automotive department blew in and some roof damage. This is the kind of weather that makes me think putting my trash out on the morning of pick-up instead of the night before is a splendid idea (that and some neighborhood cats that like to dig for goodies). ;)

    Anybody else tired of winter yet? :eek:
     
  15. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hey it could have been worse, all that rain could have been freezing rain or snow...
     
  16. cjgwizard

    cjgwizard Member

    Apr 25, 2006
    LSP, section 129
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That, or would could be living in Seattle, Chicago, or New England right now. ;) We have been lucky with the snow totals so far, but then again, it's only December. Seems we usually get smacked worse in Jan and Feb with the snow. Let's hope it's not worse than usual (so it won't slow down demolition any further than it has been, if for no other reason).
     
  17. StuBentley

    StuBentley New Member

    Sep 12, 2000
    Olathe, KS
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah we had the shaking house thing going on too. We also found a chunk of a neighbor's roof in our back yard this morning...shingles and flashing. I think we lucked out as our fence is still standing and our roof is still there. Lots of fences down and trash and Christmas decor everywhere in our neighborhood. I'd say that I was ready for spring, but then, this is what we get more of in the spring right? But then I guess in spring the high winds aren't usually followed up by freezing rain is it?
     
  18. Unorthodox Yank

    Feb 27, 2001
    Constant Flux
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My Christmas gifts consisted of:

    - Commando: Directors Cut on DVD
    - Underwear

    Good times.
     
  19. KCWizMystic4Life

    KCWizMystic4Life New Member

    Dec 26, 2005

    -Samsung 'Eternity' phone (AT&T's version of the Sprint 'Instinct')
    -FIFA 09 for PS3
    -Little Big Planet
    -Monopoly for PS3 haha
    -End War for PS3 (Which I'll actually end up trading in for Mortal Kombat vs. -DC Universe because my friend let me borrow End War for a couple of weeks and it blows)
    -Another PS3 controller
    -K-State stuff (which is where I've decided I'm going to college next year)
    -Coffee
    -Money

    Also, if you have a PS3 and want to play me in FIFA (08 or 09) or COD World at War, PM me to exchange online IDs.
     
  20. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hey my wife bought that game as well.
     
  21. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    so i guess taco bell has given the finger to their own "fourth meal" ad campaign? seriously, what's the deal with this? just about every other fast food joint in this town (i can only speak of blue springs) is now open later than taco bell. pisses me off.:mad:
     
  22. szazzy

    szazzy Member

    Apr 18, 2004
    Kansas City, MO
    I went to the Taco Bell on Armour a few nights ago past 1 am.
     
  23. Wizardscharter

    Wizardscharter New Member

    Jul 25, 2001
    Blue Springs, MO
    I agree. I'm just saying the road is much much different ahead and he isn't the guy for that road. If I didn't know better on my own, just reading your and others' comments tells me that.

    Yeah, but you only get Blues games and I like actual hockey... Good SOW against my Sharks last night, though.

    My main gripe is during playoff time. You get one game a night at a time where 4 of them are on nightly in Round 1. The NBA, by contrast, has almost every single game staggered and televised for all 15 playoff series. ESPN of course has the family of networks, making it easier at least if not more watchable. Also, if on ESPN, then you get the nightly :30 wrap show with Melrose, Bucci and Chicken Parm.

    I follow your sentiment.

    I can't agree as the second you use verbs like "deserve" in decription of hundreds of millions of dollars of public money going to entities that already have hundreds of millions of dollars, you lose me. What, only winning teams should be allowed to effectively steal? It's a moral code to be sure, but maybe a flawed one.

    Easily found would be two very separate but connected things: One would be the total value of public concessions or flat payments to the 32 branches of the NFL oligopoly. Another would be a - ridiculous in our extremely rich country - stat about whatever horrible number of kids or people that die or are hurt for some silly reason requiring some slight fraction of the above NFL number to vastly reduce the overriding problem. It doesn't even have to be about poor people if that makes you uneasy. The same things can be about decaying roads, bridges, buiildings, and other infrastructure.

    Politicians make their own decisions. One fills their re-election campaigns with huge checks and the other doesn't. So, Governor, under your leadership what happened? Well, we solved every major and minor issue known to the state. Our citizens are happy, healthy, safe, 100% literate, and employed if they want to be. The State Budget is on surplus and economoically we are growing like kudzu. But we did lose our sports team to the extortion of a better deal for the owners elsewhere, so I wasn't re-elected...

    I'm all for celebration of Capatalistic ideals. We all should spend less and save a bit more. I make my living educating about simlar things including (legal) tax avoidance. At a certain point, some people don't need any more help. There will always be those that truly do.

    That's aside from the purpose of giving such tangible assets being largely for intangible things like civic pride and at the direct expense of arguably more required other civic options. This when every study ever done by independent economists has shown that monies given by the public are almost never repaid in present value monitary terms. Simply put, in reality, it's never a positive net present value situation for the city. Businesses run like businesses would NEVER decide to willingly do it. Cerner, Inc. would NEVER do that deal unless the tax write-off for the charitable gift made it worth it...which it wouldn't.

    That's not to say it isn't going to be of benefit to KC (the city proper) in OnGoal's situation.
     
  24. Wizardscharter

    Wizardscharter New Member

    Jul 25, 2001
    Blue Springs, MO
    NFL:
    It was a very interesting final weekend. Chiefs continue to struggle and Herm Edwards is clearly in limbo. This limbo feels more malignant than floating through space. More like awaiting the guillotine. No one with any ego at all will want the previous guy’s guy. At some point that has potential to become something else, like what I would imagine would happen if a current woman you are dating has friends that constantly remind you of what a great guy her ex- happened to be.

    Loved the implosion of Dallas on national TV. That was outstanding. Another decade of that, please. We were lucky enough to see both Denver and Dallas be dismantled on the same day! Wow!

    I waffle about Detroit. I’m a Vikes’ fan - {Viking Horn}- so two permanent wins on the schedule is a good thing. It’s not a coincidence that the others in the division are always sniffing around the playoffs. 0-16 seems like piling on, sort of, until you really look at it anyway. It hurts to be on a bad team. If on a bad rec team, the thought enters your mind during the day that you have to go get your ass kicked in that night. That pales to the black cloud feeling during and post-game. I’d imagine it hurts less cashing a huge check, but still. The NFL is a single-entity Capped league where to be either great or horrible to historic extreme is difficult to a point approaching the absurd.

    Unlike any other pro sports league, there are only two avenues to get players, free agency and the draft. The NFL runs a draft combine, so info is essentially equal. Free agency is limited by the Cap. Nothing has been done correctly, except maybe the stadium obviously. Now it’s so bad, signing any quality free agent is near impossible.

    Just the attention that goes with it is enough of a deterrent. You can be an unmitigated joke in the NBA and nobody cares, at least not in LA. You can be a joke in hockey, only Canadians take it uber- seriously and they are polite. Even then there is Junior and International hockey. Reading an internet beat writer’s story about a bad hockey team is more like reading an account of how unfortunate us fans are, but the boys try hard, there’s a kid in Mooseneck lighting it up, has hands like The Great One, oh, and spring will be here soon, eh… The media pressure on NFL franchises is a larger and very different American animal.

    Sure, feel for the highly paid guys working very hard only to eventually fail. I’m sure it affects your very soul, as similarly and permanently but in a polar opposite way to winning a Championship. They say greatness stays with a man. Well, so does abject failure…and one of those two is much more common.

    Bottom line is it’s too bad they couldn’t mange even a single win, but at some point you’re paid to be excellent, pro sports isn’t a participation youth league. If you’re not excellent, time to find something else to do. Oh, and Go Vikes! Nice Figgie. Philly should be the favorite.

    Miami with a remarkable 10-game turnaround. 1-15 to 11-5 division winners. It’s en vogue to refer to NFL’s horrible teams as having the option to do what Miami did this year. Sure, why not? It’s possible to hit all 6 Powerball numbers or run into Jen Aniston in a café somewhere and strike up a friendly conversation filled with smiles that leads to her saying, “Here’s my number, I’d be disappointed if you didn’t call me” or with the right workout program I can have my 25 year-old lungs and reactions back. In theory one might never enjoy a cookie, a drink, or I suppose a cigarette ever again and outlive everyone.

    I’m told all these things are possible.

    Miami hit the perfect storm. The last-place NFL schedule is kind, Buffalo had to go to Canada and play their home game in air-conditioning, draft picks have exceeded expectations, the others in the division have demanded a high level of excellence just for survival, Their new head Sporono is one of statistically very few that has worked, Tom Brady and others go down for New England, Ricky Williams is almost nothing against the Cap, and because of Favre, Chad Pennington falls into your lap and stayed healthy while an opponent hurt themselves. Are any of those things likely to repeat themselves? Maybe Ricky.
     
  25. cjgwizard

    cjgwizard Member

    Apr 25, 2006
    LSP, section 129
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's going to be an interesting off season to say the least. First time in 20 years we will have new leadership at the top. LJ and Tony G both said they want out, so I am not sure how much worse next year can get after 2-14. I guess we could be Detroit and win zilch. I'm both curious and nervous to see who we get with the #2 or #3 pick. They had better get a pass rusher, as that seems to be the most glaring need IMO. You gotta think they might look at QB's as well, since Croyle might as well start looking at the want ads if he hasn't started doing so already. This team could be bad for a few more years.....
     

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