Josh Klingler is the co-host and update anchor of "Fescoe in the Morning," heard weekdays 6a-9a on 610 Sports Radio. Perhaps the busiest sports personality in Kansas City, "Kling" also hosts pregame and postgame for KU Football and Men's Basketball broadcasts on the Jayhawk Radio Network and does morning sports updates on News Radio 980 KMBZ. He brings you his insight each Thursday on 610sports.com
I'd like to think this is some stream of consciousness, but I think it's probably the opposite. I'm emptying my noggin bag.
I remember the old School House Rock bit about how a bill becomes a law. I think we need a reprise for college athletics about how a bowl game becomes a playoff. A nice little jingle about how Mike Slive or Jim Delany comes up with a plan and gets others to come on board and then they have meetings at other locations around the country in which these topics are discussed all the while it really takes another meeting later in which to determine how the first meetings can proceed. Does that make sense??? We might need a multiple verse tune.
It looks to me that we've got the cart before the horse when it comes to any further conference realignment in that we need to first decide how the playoff system will work. Then teams can access where they stand and how being in a particular league can help or hurt their chances.
To the Royals, is it time to trade Frenchy? The starting pitching has been a revolving door, the bullpen has been taxed, and Jeff Francoeur may be at his best right now. Seems like the time to try to pull a deal and see if a move at the major league level can actually result in some pitching. I know Fescoe disagrees with me, gunshy on making deals that don't pan out in more pitching .. fearful of getting back more Sean O'Sullivan / Vin Mazzarro / Jonathan Sanchez type. But you can't hit one if you don't try. Francoeur is heating up which could be good to move and Wil Myers can come up and be on his way. I like Frenchy's club house leadership, but I'd be willing to take another stab at getting some pitching.
On to the Chiefs. I'm almost sorry that I helped create a firestorm among Stanzi Nation this week by observing the Chiefs 3rd string QB taking 2nd string snaps. It's the 2nd week of OTAs and it's not even June. It is way, way, way too early to speculate that Ricky Stanzi could be the 2nd stringer over Brady Quinn. He had a good practice and hopefully he will be able to challenge and create some good QB depth, at this point, no more. Keep an eye on the TE situation, that's where I see a fun competition.
And Sporting KC, kudos for finally implementing my FIFA '12 lineup last weekend against San Jose. I mean, what works in video games can work in real life? Having both Teal Bunbury and CJ Sapong in the lineup together .. scoring machine. For your next challenge, I've actually used backup goalie Eric Kronberg as a forward in garbage time and had him score a goal. Are you up for it?
Monday marked another start date on the NFL calendar as the Chiefs took part in the first session of Organized Team Activities or OTAs.
The sessions are voluntary (air quotes around that) and nearly the entire Chiefs roster including the rookies were on hand, the only no show was WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe was not a surprise as he's not signed his franchise tender.
RB Jamaal Charles, S Eric Berry, TE Tony Moeaki all did not practice after knee surgeries last season. LB Brandon Siler and S Kendrick Lewis were also out after surgeries as well as rookie DB De'Quan Menzie, who suffered a minor injury in rookie minicamp last week.
The very very very unofficial "Kling's" first teamers based on some offense vs defense drills. On offense RT Eric Winston, RG Jon Asamoah, C Rodney Hudson, LG Ryan Lilja, LT Branden Albert, QB Matt Cassel and RB Peyton Hillis (w/no Charles). They ran double TEs with Kevin Boss & Jake O'Connell and WRs Jonathan Baldwin, Steve Breaston & Dexter McCluster (when no 2nd TE) -- the offense missing Bowe of course.
The 1st team D. DL Glenn Dorsey, Amon Gordon and Tyson Jackson. LBs Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Jovan Belcher, Justin Houston. CBs Brandon Flowers & Stanford Routt. Safeties without both Berry & Lewis included rookie FA Terrance Parks out of Florida State & Travis Daniels.
There's not any hitting and only helmets no pads during OTAs so it's not much real game action. Both Cassel and backup Brady Quinn hit on nice downfield plays during O vs D.
It's approaching the dog days so right on cue ... college conference realignment sticks up it's ugly head.
This time for the Big 12 it's good news, or rather potential good news, or at least not negative news. This summer is not about teams bolting, but the potential of teams coming to the league.
Florida State and Clemson seem to be the latest hot-button targets for the Big 12 to actually live up to it's 12 team monicker.
10, 12, 14 .. exactly what is the right number? I think I've reached the point where it's Notre Dame or bust. Any combination of 11, 12 or 14 is fine, but one of those should be the Irish.
It's time for the Big 12 to get it's swag back and fend off remaining talk of 'instability.' I'm not even sure what that means anymore. There's no threat of the conference dissolving anytime soon. They have a boat load of TV $$ coming in and everyone should be happy (or at least content). Anyone who wanted to pull their chips back already has.
I think new commissioner Bob Bowlsby's first task should be a full sit down of the families (I'm envisioning the Godfather .. or the hotel drug cartel meets in The Wire) with a once and for all 'air out your grievances or forever hold your peace' session.
Task two should be how to pitch to Notre Dame that they finally need to be all-in in a conference for football. There have been rumors of the Irish putting all of their other sports in the Big 12. Nice opening salvo, but you must ensure that football would come sooner rather than later. Tell them they can keep their football home games on NBC and keep the money that goes with it, road games to the Big 12 packages and you can also start your own 3rd tier network.
For me anything without the Irish doesn't have enough sizzle to get excited about.
I wish I could quit you .. Royals. Just when I think I'm out, they pull be back in. Alright enough movie lines, I just can't get away from the Royals, no matter how much I probably should.
A winning road trip, beating Detroit with Justin Verlander on the mound, Jonathan Sanchez allowing one hit .. yeah I'm back.
I never really fully left. The other night, while the Royals were getting waylaid and the NBA Playoffs were on opposite. I bailed and went to the NBA but at halftime I was back, in a game where the Royals really had no chance of coming back, I was still around.
What if? What if? There's a big homestand ahead. Win one game and go on from there. Who knows?
Hosmer starts to hit. Starting pitchers start pitching above their level. The bounces that haven't gone their way do now. No one really separates in the division. Is that the wish list?
I wish I could keep a level head but I'm clearly Royals-bipolar. I think it's my only real vice. It's the team I go back the furthest with and I can't get away from them. Even though I'd likely have a longer life span if I did.
The 1st team D. DL Glenn Dorsey, Amon Gordon and Tyson Jackson. LBs Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Jovan Belcher, Justin Houston. CBs Brandon Flowers & Stanford Routt. Safeties without both Berry & Lewis included rookie FA Terrance Parks out of Florida State & Travis Daniels.
