Cats Chiefs and Things to be Thankful For....by MP

Happy Thanksgiving, basketball season, football playoff/bowl season, and best time of the year for sports season!

I have to start out talkin to you Cat fans out there. Pretty exciting start of the year!! The K-State hoop squad at week start was the #4 team in the country. They had beaten the likes of Va Tech and Presbyterian and entered the CBE Classic held at Sprint Center against Gonzaga. They looked good to me and much like last year, very tough on the boards and on the defensive end of the floor. They had their way with the Zags which pointed them toward a matchup with the #1 ranked Dukies. Wow #1 vs. #4 national TV and a bigtime matchup! Please keep in mind everyone, I am a 'Hawks fan but do not hate K-State. I actually detest Duke and was rooting against the Devils big time. Bottom line on the deal folks....it was never close and the Devils beat the Cats by 14 and may as well been 30. My assessment is unless the Cats get a lot tougher mentally, cut down on turnovers and bad shots and improve free throw shooting dramatically, they will not contend in the league or at the Big Dance. 11-23 from the stripe with 21 TO's is not the way you want to play against a team the caliber of Duke. Also, I am sorry to report that Jacob Pullen is overhyped and overrated. I know he averaged 24 in the tourney last year, but I see him as a good 2 guard, maybe 2nd team All Big 12?

Thanksgiving is a great time to remind ourselves to be thankful for the resurgence of the Kansas City Chiefs. A tough loss at Denver followed by a nice win at home against Arizona since I blogged you last!! I got a kick out of the boys on 810 radio on the way home from the Arizona game Sunday. Now Matt Cassel is a prolific QB because he has 18 TD's and 4 INT's and threw for over 400 with a 116 passer rating against the Donkey's?? I am very excited for the turnaround of the Chiefs, but if anyone thinks Matt Cassel is going to lead us anywhere big.....they are nuts! Look at the big timers today...Rivers, Rogers, Brees, Manning and Brady all make plays! They make big plays with their arms or by using their noggin. Phillip Rivers has had a different cast of WR's each game and it does not matter. All we hear about Cassel is that our receivers are slow or cannot get open or this or that. The game against Denver is a great example...early in the game we need a 3rd down and he is not even close. Denver gets up 35-0, DB's stay off the wide outs 10 yards and yeah, they let Cassel have the check downs that turned into big yards for the game. No one is saying Cassel is Rivers, but they are getting similar money! It is irritating to me because I can easily see that Cassel is a detriment to our success not a strength. He is a serviceable QB who manages the game, nothing more.

Anyway enough of that...it has been tough losing to Oakland and Denver back to back when the Raiders and Donks are not that great. It was a beautiful day this past Sunday at Arrowhead I was sure thankful to be there to see them rebound against the visiting Cards! The Chiefs while managing zero big plays and statistically being identical to Arizona, won 31-13. We still have a leg up on the division at 6-4. We head to Seattle this week and sorry all, I do not see us coming out with a win. Seattle and Denver are the 2 toughest places to play in the NFL and you caught the Denver game right? If we beat Oakland at home, Tennessee is doable at home with no QB, and maybe Denver at home or St. Louis on the road and that gets us to 9 wins baby! Definitely something to be proud of and thankful for!

A couple of other quick thoughts....Congrats Josh Hamilton AL MVP!! Bo Pelini....nice job...if you get those boosters upset with you for hammerin the only QB you have had there in 15 years and you will be looking for work elsewhere! Hoops wise Kentucky has a lot of talent but are very young. As this is written they are down 20 to a surprising UCONN team led by Kemba Walker who is a tough customer! The Jayhawks get Josh Selby back!! Even Dickie V is talking up KU with him at the PG! Speaking of Dickie V, I have always liked him....but year over year it becomes harder. He openly roots for Duke and it grates on me tremendously! Speaking of Dukies....Jay Bilas said something the other night and I thought it was great, as this too is another great frustration of mine. Speaking of the block/charge rule....which is butchered by every official in the game....Bilas said something to the effect of...it would be great to see it called if the guy gets knocked down, not if the guy falls down. How true and how many non calls would that make and what would happen if the Blue Devils quit getting all of those flops! Remember one of the great stats of all time...Duke one year made more free throws than their collective opponents attempted! Mind boggling! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and VC is right.....we need to appreciate all we have and those we love. I love my wife, son and family and am THANKFUL everyday!!! Thank you for reading everyone!!!

Top 10 Reasons VC is Thankful!

Move over Letterman, I got the Top 10 List today!

That's right, CBS. I know you've been waiting for this so the heck with shooting any more bull. Let's get right to it!

Van Cleave's Top 10 Reasons why I'm Thankful in 2010!

10. Basketball. Except for maybe Tobacco Road, there may not be a better spot for some great college basketball than the I-70 Corridor that includes Manhattan, Lawrence and Columbia. All three teams are in the top 15, all three figure to secure spots in the NCAA Tournament and could make a deep run in the tourney.

How cool would that be if the Wildcats, Jayhawks and Tigers end up in a three-way tie for the Big XII championship! It's doubtful, but possible, since each has four games against the other two. I say the regular-season champ goes 12-4, that's right four losses! That's why a tri-championship is possible.

9. I'm not a referee! Yep, I'm thankful I don't don the zebra outfits except one day a year when I help ref a 4-5-6 grade boys tournament for our Masonic Lodge fund-raiser each February. The pressures these men and women have of the up-tempo style that is prevalent in basketball or the spread formation in football that leads to a lot of passes...I have a greater respect for them.

8. Social networking. Holy Toledo, just what did we do 10 years ago to communicate? Heck, 5 years ago? But I hafta tell ya, this txt thing is pretty awesome. idk bout u, but i kinda like it! ttyl! haha lol

7. ESPN! I'm sitting here in a quiet house on Thanksgiving Eve, my family is not here, I have an NBA game on TV and I'm flipping it back and forth between the pro and college game that's offered on the ESPN family of networks. Now if we can just put a muzzle on Vitale we'd have it made!

6. Bill Snyder. Say what you want about the 71-year-old man who orchestrated the Miracle in Manhattan Part 1 and Part 2 is a work in progress. The man can coach. He can come up with some of the dangdest gameplans, just ask Texas coach Mack Brown this year. The Wildcats are going bowling, probably the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, but a bowl nonetheless.

5. Gary Pinkel. Some Mizzou fans were ready to run him out of Columbia after Tiger losses to Nebraska and Texas Tech. I'm sorry, MU can go 10-2 with a Border War Showdown win Saturday over Kansas. Win your bowl game, Cotton or Holiday, and that's 11 wins MU fans. That would be more than KU and K-State combined.

4. The Big XII will remain intact. It appeared back in May KU, K-State and Mizzou were being forced off the abandoned ship. Commissioner Dan Beebe didn't allow that to happen and we will proceed with 10 teams. Not sure what it'll be called, I like Big X, but 10 teams remained united.

3. Hail to the Chiefs! Isn't it nice to pick up a newspaper, flip to the sports section, check out the NFL standings and see who's atop the AFC West...the Kansas City Chiefs! I saw a game at Arrowhead back in September with Patterson. The loudness that day against the 49ers reminded me of the Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith-led teams in the 90s.

2. Thanks to you, our readers. Matt and I love sharing our passion which is writing about sports and putting it into words that the true sports fan can relate to. I've said it many times, Matt's forte is at the professional level, mine college and high schools. His strong suit, editorializing and going deep in discussion about the game. Me? I love getting into people's minds and thrive on the human interest side.

And the No. 1 reason why I'm thankful...I'm sure Patterson will agree. It's our wives and family. You seldom hear about them, they are the Lights, Camera, Action that keep us focused. Matt has Kim and 3-year-old boy Luke, who is a spittin image of his old man. Kim keeps Matt at bay, thanks Kim! I've tried all these years but it took a strong-willed woman to step in and take charge. Same thing in our household where Denise has to put up with a lot of 5 a.m. wake-up calls. Throw in 8-year-old triplet girls in Hannah, Hope and Addison the score is always 4-1 in our household.

Yep, we are thankful. My motto here is Celebrating Life Through Sports. Without a great wife and family, that's not possible. Thanks Denise, thanks Kim! You're the best!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

VC Makes a Willis Reed Like Return to the Blog!

Patterson has threatened to cut my pay in half if I didn't get an article so Boss Man, this Blog's for you!

I've been on the road a lot lately promoting our student loan/scholarship program that I am glad to be a part of at the Kansas Masonic Foundation. I've met many wonderful counselors who in 2010 do not wear the same counseling hats they did 30 years ago when I was a teen. Due to budget cuts and teen pressures, counselors typically don't even have time to fill their coffee cups once they walk in the school doors.

Imagine showing up at Yates Center High School like I did a few years ago. It's a Monday morning, around 9, when I stop to visit with the counselor. I'm told she won't be available because over the weekend a senior boy committed suicide because his girlfriend broke up with him. She was now counseling young people along with area counselors that were called in from Eureka, Iola and Burlington.

Or at Northern Heights recently. Northern Heights, the first Kansas high school to consolidate over 40 years ago, is located near Emporia. A couple of months ago, three teens were driving near Americus when their truck rolled after swerving to miss an oncoming vehicle. Three precious young lives were lost. The counselor there told me two days later it was the worst day of his professional life.

One day this past week I visited seven high schools in the Manhattan area. Two counselors I never got to meet that day because they were busy dealing with crisis situations in their school.

These people bring passion to their jobs. One example is Angelo at Shawnee Mission Northwest. I was at a financial aid night there this past week. About 150 people were there. When he started the program by introducing the main speaker and me, the enthusiasm spilled out of his mouth. Dickie Vitale I'm not, but Angelo's energy immediately connected inside my body and my Vitalism was ready to explode by the time I got the microphone.

Sometimes counselors grieve for their own brothers and sisters. Dan Roberts, a man I called a friend as he was counselor at Chase County and Hartford high schools, was killed one year go when he had a heart attack while driving south of Emporia.

Thank you counselors for all you do! Without you, young people would not be able to play sports, march in the band and enjoy all the extracurricular activities that are offered to young people. Good stuff as we Celebrate Life Through Sports!

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As I predicted on this site back in August, the K-State Wildcats may be going bowling in New York next month.

The Kansas City Star reported this week the Pinstripe Bowl would love to have the Wildcats playing in their Dec. 30 game at Yankee Stadium.

K-State, 6-4 heading into Saturday's game at Colorado, is already bowl-eligible. It will be K-State's first bowl game since 2006. Only Baylor has had a longer drought of no bowl games among Big XII teams.

Pinstripe Bowl Executive Director Mark Holtzman made it clear who was being targeted the most.

"If it was today, it would be Kansas State," Holtzman told The Star. "And we would be thrilled by it."

Of the eight bowl games affiliated with the Big XII, the Pinstripe Bowl picks seventh. Of the seven conference teams that are now bowl eligible, K-State has the fewest number of wins.

It was reported Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Iowa State and Texas are also on the Pinstripe's radar. However, only A&M is currently bowl-eligible. A&M has Nebraska and Texas left; Iowa State closes out with Missouri and Texas ends up with Central Florida and A&M. K-State fans, you need to root for Mizzou to beat Iowa State but probably more importantly, A&M to beat Texas.

I think K-State will play in one of two bowls: Pinstripe or Holiday. K-State's other game left is at North Texas on Nov. 27. If K-State wins both games, an 8-4 record should land them in San Diego at the Holiday Bowl. The Holiday Bowl loves the Wildcats. OK, they love the 10,000 fans that will travel as well!

If K-State splits its final two games or loses both, the Big Apple will welcome the Little Apple with open arms.

Andy Williams is right. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

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Lastly, my tip of my Wildcat hat to Tex Winter, who earlier this week was honored at halftime of the KSU-Virginia Tech game. Winter, who coached the Wildcats to great success in Ahearn Fieldhouse, went on to coach at Marquette, Washington, Northwestern and Long Beach State before assisting Phil Jackson's nine NBA championships.

Tex will be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.

"Here's the thing about Tex that's so good," Bob Knight, the analyst for the ESPN broadcast that day, told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "There's nobody I met I liked any better than Tex, or I thought cared more about the game of basketball like he did.

"Tex really, really likes the game of basketball. That was great to see, and I appreciated that from the time I first knew him until today. And then on top of that, Tex as an oustanding basketball coach."

Tex, now 88, lives with his wife Nancy in Manhattan with their son, Brian. Tex suffered a stroke last year which makes it difficult for him to speak.

Congratulations, Tex! It's about time!

To that, I say thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! .

Randomness by MP!!!!

Wow! What a year in the NFL so far....and college too for that matter. Our Chiefs took a tough loss at the dreaded Raiders last week and now gear up to go to Mile High this week.

Last week was a bad situation. I thought we would be Oakland, who I still believe we are better than, instead we lose and lose valuable ground as the Raiders and Chargers pick up wins. Yes SD is pulling their Zenyatta move....dead last to another surging finish. The Chiefs could have beaten the Raiders, had a lot of confidence heading into Denver...then back home to face a weak Arizona team. Now I am concerned about a problem coming in Denver, then who knows what with AZ.

Outside of a lot of penalties and poor QB play, the Chiefs are still playing well. I am still juiced for the coming years. Expect a pretty detailed write up coming on the heels of the Donkeys game.

Around the NFL, lots of strange things afoot for certain. Dallas done, and Phillips gone. It seems to be a year with a lot of parity and anyone able to win on a given Sunday. It will be a great finish for sure.

College football is interesting too. The Cam Newton deal is dominating the press. The QB from Auburn who has helped the Tigers to a 10-0 record is mixed up with allegations of getting money to attend the school. Pretty convoluted stuff I guess it could have been a previous school. Who knows? Is anyone really surprised? It is the SEC and I would imagine everyone is doing it. The interesting thing to me is that he is the prohibitive favorite to win the Heisman. Will he get votes if folks expect a Reggie Bush deal?

The other story in the collegiate ranks is that Boise and TCU are going to play for the National Championship. Is that interesting? Are these the best two teams? Uhh speaking of the SEC....TCU and Boise would in the basement in either side of the league. I wish that system could get fixed!! Maybe Oregon gets to the game....I cannot figure Auburn is able to beat Georgia, 'Bama, then win the Conference title game. Too tall of an order.

You know what will save the day? Basketball season baby! The time has come and I am ready to roll! Go Jayhawks....FREE Josh Selby!!

Congrats to the SF Giants...horrific showing by the Rangers and boring series. Great move by the Royals sending DeJesus for nothing....another genius front office move! NBA wise the Heat are not looking great. LeBron was complaining about playing too many minutes last night! Hmmmm would Jordan or Magic want less minutes?? Trouble!!

Thanks for reading everyone! Expect a lot more stuff coming soon....I think VC broke some fingers in a farming accident....that is the only reason I can figure for him being on hiatus like he has been! Go Chiefs....Go 'Hawks!! And thanks for checking this out!!!