Bill Althaus's blog

I'm writing a book entitled FOR MIZZOU FANS ONLY and I am looking for some interesting stories, sidebars and personal tales about life as a Tigers fan....it can be about any sport, from any era. I've talked to a kid who mowed Norm Stewart's grass and a guy who brought a Mizzou toilet to Football Fan Appreciation Day to have it signed by all the players (they were laughing their heads off)...Were you there for the fifth-down game? Are you a former player or coach?

Just picked up my credentials for the Chiefs and can't believe the new look of Arrowhead Stadium. It's going to serve as the perfect partner to the new and improved Kauffman Stadium within the friendly confines of the Truman Sports Complex.
I'm usually not that enthusiastic about a preseason game, but I want to see the Pioli-Healy era Chiefs, even though it's the first exhibition game of the season. It will be interesting to see what Haley's no-nonsense approach with the team produces in regards to penalties and the silly mistakes that plagued the team the past two years.

He's got a great smile, flaming red hair and a work ethic that could make him one of the top middle distance runners in the area. Remember the name Tyler Banks, who could be something special over the next couple of years. He won two races at the Bank of Grain Valley Invitational and was edged out in another. Banks won the 800 and 1,600 and was edged by Ruskin's Roland Denson in the 400 (Denson won the event at the KU Relays). Banks is just a sophomore and the sky's the limit for this exciting young Panther star.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive end Tyson Jackson of LSU with the third overall choice of the NFL draft. Let's hope he has a better rookie season than former LSU defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, the team's No. 1 pick last season.
 
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Jackson should also fit nicely if the Chiefs decide to switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment under first-year head coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli.

Jessica Holder won the high jump with a 5-0 effort at the Bank of Grain Valley Invitational Friday night. So sorry I left her accomplishment out of my story...When the field events are taking place, and you're trying to get the results from all the running events, sometimes a winner is overlooked. Sorry Jessica. Congats on your win.

WOW! I didn't see this coming...I just thought Tony Gonzalez would be unhappy, but finish his career in Kansas City...That No. second-round pick could be big next year...Could the Chiefs be looking at MU and Pay-Pec grad Chase Coffman at TE? His dad played the same position for the Chiefs and he is a young man who would be model member of the team -- on and off the field.
Here's the information directly from the Chiefs front office:

I spent an hour Monday at the office of our new Central Hockey League team and believe me, if the squad works as hard as the front office, they're going to be fun to watch. Everyone, including team president Brad Lund, was manning a phone, talking up the team to potential season ticket buyers. Fans showed up as early as 7:30 a.m. to get season tickets -- and the office didn't even open until 9 a.m. But that's all right because assistant general manager Joe Greene was one of the first to arrive at the office bright and early Monday morning.

Blue Springs South head baseball coach Ben Baier and assistant coach Andy Mayfield took 20 some players to Independence Saturday morning to help build a Habitat for Humanity home. Not only are these Jaguars winners on the field, they're winners away from the diamond as this project proves. The kids on the team raved about the work day, even 6-foot-5 Stuart Pudenz who spent most of the day in a 4-foot tall attic spraying insulation. Everyone I talked to sounded like they had just won the conference championship. They were enthusiastic and sincere.

When I arrived at Ophelia's Restaurant on The Square Thursday afternoon and had to drive around the block to get a parking space, I thought something special was about to happen. But I never anticipated the number of folks who attended the announcement of Indendence's new hockey team. There were more than 200 people at the standing room only event and the management team from our new team put on one of the most electrifying and professional events I've attended. Team president Brad Lund is a pro's pro who will make this team exciting and fun to watch.

Hello, welcome to my first attempt at blogging. For a guy who can't change the oil in his car, replace one of those irritating recessed ceiling lights or change the battery in the smoke detector, this is pretty intimidating. But here goes ... since our new puppy's bladder is even smaller than mine, my blogs might appear at any time -- day or night. Let me know what's on your mind and I'll let you have a glimpse into mine.