By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Everyone knows Kid Rock is the headliner Saturday at Country Stampede.
• But have you heard about his leadoff act, Old Rubble?
• That best describes SE 77th Street (Gary Ormsby Drive), the washboard that leads to the entrance of Heartland Motorsports Park.
• Look, I don’t know which entity has jurisdiction of that pavement, city or county.
• I know both have had episodes with Heartland Park that did not end in warm and fuzzies.
• But good grief. Country Stampede and the NHRA pro drag racing are easily two of the primary events attracting people to our city and county.
• And the impression you want to leave visitors (and residents) as they enter Heartland Park is one of decay and disrepair?
• Also, consider constructing a four-lane street to accommodate Mars and WalMart.
• Each company believed enough in this community to open facilities and provide jobs.
• Maybe our politicians can believe enough in the community to give the south side a little love.
• I commend anyone attending Country Stampede, especially as you walk away realizing that air conditioning remains undefeated.
• Ten unvaccinated players seems kind of high for a baseball organization that previously hosted a “Vaccinate at the Plate” event.
• I guess you can get into the power of the players union, and whatever, but leadership on that front begins at the top.
• And it doesn’t have to support the merits of vaccines as much as knowing your club will play in Canada, which enforces stricter COVID-19 vaccination policies.
• This incident, and play on the field, should prompt Kansas City Royals management to consider the removal of Dayton Moore.
• Those who couldn’t make the trip let down Royals fans, technically.
• But the performance of those called up in their place created a feel-good story, if only temporary.
• The farmhands want to play in a Royals uniform, unlike Whit Merrifield.
• Call me crazy, but based on his remarks, I get the impression Whit wants a trade.
• His agent might get that done, and in the process, advise Whit not to play with matches near bridges.
• Golf’s ruling bodies seem to be working diligently at snuffing out the LIV Tour.
• Fans reacted too during the British Open, booing one of their Ryder Cup heroes, Ian Poulter.
• TV got the message. Phil Mickelson is no longer a darling of the cameras.
• Ahh, but no one ever has to wonder how Tiger is limping about.
• Leave it to Dustin Johnson to shrug, go about his business, and soar into contention.
• The dude rarely changes expressions. He could ride a bike along Gary Ormsby Drive and never grimace from the potholes.
• Then jump off his bike and drive the green on Forbes’ road hole, No. 6.
• The R&A should concern itself with the pitch and putt that has become St. Andrews.
• Tradition, with all the yada-yada-yada it sparks, dictates ye Old Course not be changed to a par 70.
• Psst, after the initial uproar, most would accept it.
• Makes as much sense as not inviting a select group of past champions to festivities for past champions.
• Maybe a few more hotels could be added to the sacred ground to obstruct sight lines off the tee.
• Hard for the namesake folks at Big 12 Media Days to cover the event without focusing on realignment.
• Football will be played, but reporters must take a stab at what the future holds and how the new commissioner commands the situation.
• The next domino to realignment is possibly the largest, Notre Dame.
• If the Big 12 gets out of this skipity-do da as the third-best conference in the country, nice work.
• Seems as if we’re discovering other networks besides ESPN and Fox want inventory, which is good.
• People point to those at ESPN wanting to model college football after the more lucrative NFL.
• Yet the NFL media arrangement allows small markets, like Kansas City and Green Bay, to flourish.
• Why not college football?
• Can’t help but wonder about the influence of social media.
• Seems like it’s just as important that schools, teams and fans win there as it is winning on the field of play.
• Belonging to a powerhouse conference seems like the top prize anymore for Nebraska or Missouri in football. Uhh, and basketball.
• Soon, Oklahoma and Texas could value league membership as much as actual results.
• Defeats in the SEC certainly won’t prompt as much mockery on Twitter.
• But don’t go begging for a flag when opponents flash Horns Down.
• Make sure to cast your vote for your favorite high school coach as Rick Peterson ranks the best to ever do it in Shawnee County, a feature coming soon on this website.
• I feel privileged and humbled to have covered a lot of the coaches sure to make the cut.
