Tag Archives: Sports

Best Sports Activities in KC

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Hello all! Scott Asner here. Kansas City is a great sports town, and it’s no secret that I am a huge sports fan. I love watching games and keeping up with my favorite teams, and I like to do sports to stay active as well. If you are looking for sports entertainment around KC, keep reading. Today, I’m sharing a list of some great sports activities right here in Kansas City.

The Dugout

If you are looking for batting cages in KC, The Dugout is a solid choice. You can make a reservation for batting cages, pitching tunnels, and turf fields to practice or bring your team for drills. The Dugout has a staff of baseball and softball instructors for team classes or private lessons. If you are looking for a kid-friendly activity, The Dugout also hosts birthday parties and camp sessions.

T-Shotz

T-Shotz is an exciting, virtual driving range for all ages. Not your average driving range, T-Shotz has simulations of some of the best golf courses in the world. Even those who are not golf fans will enjoy the fun mini-game simulations! With a full menu of food and drink available, T-Shotz also makes for a great event venue for any occasion.

The Soccer Lot

For the soccer fans, The Soccer Lot has pickup games, leagues, camps, and tournaments. The Soccer Lot is known for hosting 5-a-side teams, so it’s a great way to play a game with a smaller group. With only four field players and a goalie on each side, these games, sometimes called “mini soccer” are usually more fast-paced. This location hosts events and parties, so if you’re looking for soccer activities for a group, look no further.

The College Basketball Experience

Basketball lovers will have a blast at The College Basketball Experience. Home of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, this venue is a sports fan’s dream. There are interactive games and activities, so it’s a fun time for all ages. For all things basketball, there is no better place to spend the day than The College Basketball Experience. 

Kansas Speedway

If motorsports are more your speed, you can’t miss the Kansas Speedway! It’s no wonder NASCAR is so popular in Kansas City, the races are always thrilling to watch. Anyone who loves cars and action will have a great time at the Kansas Speedway, and it’s a popular attraction for all ages. It does get loud at the track, so it is a good idea to bring ear protection, especially for kids.

Needless to say, if you are a sports fanatic like I am, you’ll find no shortage of activities here in Kansas City! Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, I hope this list will help you get your fill of sports entertainment in KC. 

~ Scott Asner, wannabe musician and Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Also follow Scott Asner on: Medium, About.me, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Xing.

A Beginner’s Guide to Boxing: Three Things You Should Know

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Hello all, Scott Asner here. I have been a fan of boxing for decades, and I’ve watched as boxing has seen a surge in popularity, especially because of the internet. Boxers are not just athletes anymore, they help the sport grow by also being influencers on social media. Many new fans are drawn in first by boxing personalities such as Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, and they learn about the intricacies of the sport as their interest becomes deeper. If you are a fan that is new to boxing, here are some of the basics you might want to know!

Weight Classes:

You may have heard some boxers called “heavyweight champions,” but did you know that there are several different weight classes? Weight classes, also known as weight divisions, are used to group boxers and other athletes into a similar range so their fight is fair. After all, if a 120lb fighter goes up against a 200lb boxer, it’s going to be a much easier fight for the heavier boxer. In professional boxing, there are usually eight recognized classes, ranging from 108lbs to over 200lbs. The classes are: flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight.

Gloves:

Are all boxing gloves created equal? If you’re a new boxing fan, you may not realize that boxing gloves vary greatly. Similar to how athletes have weight classes, gloves can range from 8 to 16oz. Boxing gloves are designed to protect the wearer’s hand, as well as the other fighter’s head, but although cuts are less common these days, gloves do not prevent brain injuries. Boxing gloves worn in competition have strict regulations about weight, markings, and padding. White markings on gloves help judges see where a boxer’s knuckles are. Padding can be made from horsehair, foam, or both. Horsehair lasts longer and is better for the environment than PVC, a common material for foam gloves, but is also less protective. Most modern gloves use PVC and latex, and boxers also wrap their hands and wrists with cotton bandages for extra protection.

Rules:

Boxing matches are fast-paced and exciting, but they might be difficult to follow if you are unfamiliar with the sport. So how does boxing actually work? Basically, a fighter can only use their knuckles or they may receive a foul or even be disqualified. Boxers are not allowed to hit with anything other than a closed fist, so headbutting, kicking, elbowing, or using any other body part will be considered a foul. Even hitting with an open hand or the side of the hand is not allowed. Boxers are also restricted to punching certain places: hitting below the waist or “below the belt” is not allowed. Hits to the back of the head, neck, and kidneys are also prohibited.

So how do boxers win their match? One way to win is to simply score higher, which is determined subjectively by the judges. You’ve probably also heard of KO’s and TKO’s, which stand for “Knock-Out” and “Technical Knock-Out,” but boxers are not necessarily unconscious when they lose a match— boxing would be a lot more dangerous if that were the case! A knock-out happens when a boxer falls to the mat and does not get up before the referee counts to ten. A technical knockout usually occurs when a boxer can no longer safely continue, usually decided by the judges, coaches, or doctors. Some rules say that if a player is knocked down three times, it is considered a TKO.

If you are a new boxing fan, I hope you learned something from this post, and I hope you’ll continue to enjoy this exciting sport. Thank you for reading!

~ Scott Asner, wannabe musician and Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Also follow Scott Asner on: Medium, About.me, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Xing.

This is Why Boxing has Changed Forever

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Hi guys, Scott Asner here. As you all know, I love sports and I particularly love boxing.

Boxing is one of the purest forms of a sport you can find; two men, competing directly against each other with no external forces influencing the outcome. Or, well, it was previously like that. Boxing has changed.

When Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in 1974 it was just two men trying to best each other with pure technique, strength and determination. The best boxers didn’t just have the best physiques, but possessed an extra gear; a voice that simply said “I won’t lose.” Mike Tyson fought people much larger than him, weathering barrages that should have knocked people much bigger than him out, but his competitive spirit refused to lose. These boxers were concerned with nothing other than beating their opponent; it was as simple as that.

Today boxing has become something very different. While I love the notoriety and prestige that boxing has enjoyed in recent years, I thinks the sport has changed. Where there was once a pure, unadulterated contest between two athletes, there is now more circumstance than fight. Publicity has taken center stage, with sport playing second fiddle.

Much like other sports, boxing has adapted to social media; but the sport lost something along the way. Boxers used to fight each other for accolades. The desire to be number one was their main driving force, but today that force is money. It’s hard to say when exactly this change happened, but the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight of 2015 is a good example. You might remember how that fight went, or rather how it ‘didn’t’ go, with both fighters trading what seemed like inconsequential blows until a judge’s decision mercifully ended the altogether unremarkable bout.

While you may remember the fight, chances are, most people remember the build-up much more. The media had a field day with the headlines, the whole world was on the edge of its seat. I couldn’t help but think about how out of hand things had become. Boxers have always been interested in the prize money, but $300 million for a single fight is ridiculous; a prize like that can’t help but change the ethos of any sport.

Muhammad Ali and George Foreman each took home $5 million dollars for their historic fight in ’74, but even adjusted for inflation (about $27M in 2021) that only represents 1/10 of the purse earned by Mayweather and Pacquaio for their 2015 bought. The focus of the sport has undoubtedly shifted to generating revenue. The names on the ticket being almost more important than the fight itself.

More recently, boxing has taken another strange turn. Where it was once an arena for seasoned athletes, today it has become a place to settle celebrity beef. It’s shocking to see internet personalities that I’ve never heard of before on the billing cards of high-profile fights. Jake Paul comes to mind. This is someone whose internet fame seems to eclipse his athletic accomplishments, but he still garners attention in a boxing match. When Jake Paul fought Nate Robinson, I had little respect for either fighter. Here was a retired basketball player and an internet celebrity fighting in the ring, a place made sacred by the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson and Mike Tyson. It felt like people were there to watch the story of the fight, to cheer for the ‘underdog’ when neither fighter was even a boxer by trade. The purity of the sport is long gone, and what remains is unproven.

Jake Paul, after handing Robinson a loss by K.O. went on to fight a former MMA fighter and won that bought as well, but any boxing fan understands that these wins mean very little. Paul hasn’t fought a real boxer before, but at least he’s fought, unlike his brother.

Logan Paul, Jake’s brother, fought Floyd Mayweather in June 2021. Logan has fought only once before, losing to fellow ‘YouTuber’ KSI. I was outraged. What happened to climbing up the ranks; having your eyes set on the championship title as you progressed past ever more challenging opponents? How is it that someone who has never even participated in a professional boxing match now gets to fight one of the greatest of all time without qualification?

The easy answer: it’s all about the money. This boxing fan, however, misses the time when it was all about the competition.

~ Scott Asner, wannabe musician and Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Also follow Scott Asner on: Medium, About.me, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Xing.

The NFL Draft Might Be the Most Watched Sporting Event of 2020

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Hey there, Sports fans –

As many of us tuned into the 2020 NFL draft a couple of weeks ago, I had a realization that seemed somewhat surreal to me. Due to the ongoing pandemic: the NFL draft may be the most watched sporting event in the entire year of 2020.

The draft has continually earned more viewings every single year, with the 2019 event attracting nearly double the viewership than in just 2015. And new ratings show that this year’s draft saw a record-breaking 15.6 million viewers; a 37% increase from last year. Needless to say, the NFL has never been hotter.

But with reports of a potential “second coronavirus wave,” expected to arrive in the fall, this year’s NFL season may end up being exclusive to TV, or even postponed.

Interestingly, due to the enormous amount of TV revenue generated in a typical season, the NFL is in a better position than other sports financially to play to empty stadiums. In fact, due to the postponement of virtually every other sporting event – including the Olympics – TV viewership will most likely be higher this year.

At least the NFL season has until the fall to figure out their strategy. Perhaps by then, we may have figured out a way to mitigate the spread of another coronavirus outbreak, or possibly even have an effective and reliable treatment. For the time being, we can all still boo Roger Goodell and hope for the best.

Until next time, Go Chiefs!


~ Scott Asner, Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri

Also follow Scott Asner on: Medium, About.me, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Xing.

Tipping Point: Will New Faces on Defense Propel Chiefs to go all the way in 2019?

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With the September 8 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars just weeks away, I’m excited about the Kansas City Chiefs’ prospects for 2019.  Like every other Chiefs fan, I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time – ever since our heart-breaking overtime loss to the New England Patriots in last year’s AFC Championship game.

Unless you were living in a cave last season, it would have been impossible not to notice that second year-quarterback Patrick Mahomes lit up the scoreboard all season long, becoming just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season. Mahomes led the chiefs to an impressive 12-4 regular season record, a performance that was good enough to earn Kansas City the AFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs – the first time the Chiefs reached the top seed in the conference since 1997. It was also good enough to earn Patrick Mahomes the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Despite having the NFL’s best offense and home-field advantage, I was still concerned the Chiefs might somehow find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when they faced the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round.  After all, the Chiefs had lost the last six of their previous home playoff games and 4 of their last playoff games against Indianapolis.

My fears proved to be unfounded.  Mahomes picked apart the Colts secondary and Kansas City’s unstoppable offense rolled up an impressive 31-13 victory to end 25 years of playoff drought. 

Although the Chiefs fielded the best offense in the league, the defense – which ranked second to last among NFL teams in total defense – played inconsistently throughout the season.  Despite performing well against Indianapolis in the divisional round, the defense collapsed in the second half of the AFC Conference Championship against New England, allowing the Patriots to run the ball into the end zone during the overtime period (and ending our dreams of Superbowl glory). 

Following the conclusion of the 2018 season, the Chiefs fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and brought in Steve Spagnuolo, a veteran defensive guru who is known for running aggressive defenses and favoring unconventional blitzing schemes.  Spagnuolo has a lot of experience coaching defense for winning teams, most notably the 2007 New York Giants Super Bowl team.  He also worked previously as part of Andy Reid’s coaching staff with the Philadelphia Eagles and spent two years as a head coach with the St. Louis Rams.

In addition to changing the defensive coaching staff and going from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3, the Chiefs let some marquee players go. Gone are defensive lineman Allen Bailey, linebackers Justin Houston and Dee Ford, cornerback Steven Nelson and safety Eric Berry.  Given the disaster that was the Chiefs’ secondary last year – not to mention Berry’s chronic injury issues – those moves should have come as no surprise.  Losing veterans Dee Ford and Justin Houston DID surprise a lot of people, yet considering the move to a 4-3 defense, it may prove to be justified.

Their likely replacements include defensive linemen Frank Clark, a free agent acquisition formerly with the Seattle Seahawks and Alex Okafor, acquired from the New Orleans Saints.  Along with linebacker Damien Wilson (Dallas Cowboys), all three of these players have significant experience playing in the 4-3 scheme.  Adding to the mix are free agent defensive backs Bashard Breeland (Green Bay Packers) and Tyrann Mathieu (Houston Texans).  Bashard, a cornerback who played with the Washington Redskins for three seasons, signed with the Packers last September.  Despite playing in only 7 games last season, he amassed 20 tackles, four passes defended, two interceptions and a tackle for loss.  Tyrann Mathieu is a veteran safety who will provide leadership and depth.

The new free agents will be joined by veteran stalwarts Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland at linebacker, defensive tackle Chris Jones (who just reported to training camp after a long holdout) and defensive backs Daniel Sorenson (safety) and Kendall Fuller (cornerback).  Juan Thornhill, a second- round pick in the 2019 draft, has impressed in training camp and will likely compete with Sorenson for the starting free safety slot.

Will this makeover of the Chiefs defense be enough to take them over the threshold?  No one can say for certain, but we will all know soon enough.  One thing I do expect: a vastly improved Kansas City Chiefs defense.

~ Scott Asner Kansas City, Missouri

Also follow Scott Asner on: Medium, About.me, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Xing.