Thunder lose heartbreaker in Game #2 of Playoffs

The Wichita Thunder lost Game 2 of the CHL Playoffs on Saturday night. They got beat 2-1 in Double Overtime. They are now tied in the series with Bossier-Shreveport 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. They are back in Wichita for Game #3 on Wednesday night at the Kansas Coliseum. So, I am guaranteed three more Thunder games to work.

Thunder Win!

The Wichita Thunder won tonight. They made the playoffs winning the last game of the season. They are faced up with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. The Mudbugs are the top seed. It's the best of seven series, and Wichita won the first game 5-1 tonight in Louisiana. They play there again Saturday night. Games 3 and 4 are Wednesday and Thursday here in Wichita. I have to work both of those. It looks like my season of doing music for the hockey team is going to be extended by a few more days.

Only In Wichita. Caught this picture today.

I was driving to work this morning. I had to stop downtown to pick up a couple of things for our company luncheon. I was on McLean Blvd. just south of Kellogg by the Arkansas River and noticed a Detour sign...or should I say "Detuor" sign. This is classic. Tax dollars hard at work! :)

Bracket Bummer. KU Loses.

It's goodbye to another season of KU Basketball. They were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by losing to UCLA 68-55 on Saturday night. I really thought that they had a chance to make it to the Final 4 and maybe even win the whole thing, but not this year. That stinks!

ELITE EIGHT BABY!!! KU WINS!!!

The Kansas Jayhawks are on their way to the "Elite 8!" They just beat Southern Illinois 61-58 in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks will now play the winner of the UCLA-Pittsburgh game tonight. GO KU!!!

Suffering from a case of the Monday's

It has been a busy few weeks and it's caught up with me. I was not in today at work. I took a sick day. It's the first one that I have taken at the station in a long, long time. I still got about 15 calls and text messages anyway. Well, hope you had a nice weekend.

Hubbard, his eye-in-the-sky wife, off to Chicago

Hubbard, his eye-in-the-sky wife, off to Chicago

By Dick Kreck Denver Post Staff Columnist

They arrived together and they'll leave together.
KDVR-Channel 31 reporter/weekend anchor Jeremy Hubbard is movin' on up to a job as a Chicago-based correspondent for ABC News, covering Middle America.
And he's taking his fly-by-day wife, Taunia Hottman, KUSA-Channel 9 eye-in-the-sky reporter, with him.
The ink's not dry on his ABC contract, but Hubbard expects he'll be gone from Fox by mid-April. Hottman says her last day at 9News is April 13.
Husband-and-wife teams in the TV biz are not unheard-of but landing jobs together isn't easy, which makes their electronic odyssey unusual. The two fell in love in college, worked together in Wichita, Kan., then moved to Kansas City before arriving in Denver three years ago.

Leaving won't be easy either, says Hubbard. "I was born in Glenwood Springs and lived in Leadville. Being back here was a huge thing. We talked about (leaving) for a long time." Ultimately, it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. "I watched Peter Jennings all the time as a kid. Now, here I am working at the same place he worked. It's a dream come true. I was afraid if I didn't do it now it wouldn't present itself again."
Hottman's going without a job but she's looking forward to the Chicago move too. "I'm just thrilled beyond anything for him. I know it's a large freelancing market so I'm hopeful something will turn up. We loved living here. It's really difficult to be leaving."
What I found out too late about Hubbard: He's a rabid fan of Neil Diamond. "I have every song he's ever recorded." I have no comment.
Hubbard averted a horrible tragedy recently when someone stole his iPod that contained his entire Diamond collection. That must have been one disappointed thief. Luckily, Hubbard had his Diamond treasure trove saved elsewhere.
Taunia disavows any connection with Jeremy's Diamond madness. "I have nothing to do with that."

Jeremy and Taunia in the "Windy City"

I got a text message from Jeremy earlier today saying that they were in Chicago this weekend House Hunting. I then called him and he said that it was chilly up there and that they would be looking all around this weekend.
Earlier this week my brother made it official. He is going to be the new ABC News Correspondent from Chicago. Congrats bub! Love ya!

Congrats to Mike Modano. He's in the "500 Club!"

There never has been much doubt that Mike Modano is among the NHL's elite players, but just in case there was any uncertainty somewhere, he erased it earlier this week when he scored his 500th career goal.
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I hate the Dallas Stars, but I am a Modano fan. He was a member of the Minnesota North Stars when Norm Green (or Norm Greed), moved them from the Twin Cities to the South. He has been a member of the same organization for his whole pro career. I was glad to see him make it to 500 goals, but I don't want to see him holding the cup anytime soon!

KU ROLLS!!! Great start in the NCAA Tournament!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK, KU!!!

The Kansas Jayhawks kicked some major butt tonight in Chicago. They rolled past Niagra 107-67. They were picked to win by 19 points. They more than doubled that tonight! The last two years they tanked in the first round with losses to Bucknell and Bradley. Not this year. They will play again on Sunday. GO KU!!!

Old Radio Friend is Coming Back To Wichita Radio

I have known about it for weeks, it was made official today. My friend, Tim Peters is coming back to Wichita radio. He is replacing me in a weird way. He's the new morning guy at 92.3, but it's now Classic Country. Here's the Press Release:

Classic Country 92.3 Announces New Morning Personality

Wichita, Kan. – A familiar Wichita radio voice will return to the airwaves as Classic Country 92.3’s first morning man. Veteran broadcaster Tim Peters will wake up Wichita starting Monday March 26 on KFTI-FM, which has been playing Classic Country Music since January 16th.

Operations Manager Beverlee Brannigan made the announcement, remarking, “In the search for the right morning personality, Tim Peters name kept coming up. It’s clear that Wichita has a strong connection to him. With Tim on board, Classic Country 92.3 is off to a great start.”
Peters adds, “I am so excited to be returning to Wichita. I can't wait to get on the air and re-connect with all my friends who used to listen to me and make a bunch of new friends.”
Tim Peters was most recently on the air at KFKF, Kansas City. Previously, Tim had Wichita’s #1 morning show for more than five years between 1982 through 1987 on KEYN and KKRD.

Another Comedian Dies. Richard Jeni Dead From Apparent Suicide

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Richard Jeni, a standup comedian who played to sold-out crowds, was a regular on the Tonight Show and appeared in movies, died of a gunshot wound in an apparent suicide, police said Sunday.
Police found the 49-year-old comedian alive but gravely injured in a West Hollywood home when they responded to a call Saturday morning from Jeni's girlfriend, Los Angeles Police Officer Norma Eisenman said. Eisenman said the caller told police: "My boyfriend shot himself in the face." Jeni died at a nearby hospital.
Eisenman said suicide had not been officially confirmed and the investigation was continuing. An autopsy on Jeni would be done Monday, said Lt. Fred Corral from the investigation division of the coroner's office.
Jeni regularly toured the country with a standup act and had starred in several HBO comedy specials, most recently A Big Steaming Pile of Me during the 2005-06 season.
Another HBO special, Platypus Man, won a Cable ACE award for best standup comedy special, and formed the basis for his UPN sitcom of the same name, which ran for one season.
Jeni's movie credits included The Mask, in which he played Jim Carrey's best friend, The Aristocrats,National Lampoon's Dad's Week Off, and An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn.
He had guest appearances in the TV shows Everybody Hates Chris,Married: With Children, and updated versions of the game shows Hollywood Squares and Match Game.
Frazer Smith, standup comedian who often opened for Jeni and the emcee at the Ice House, where Jeni often performed, said young comedians looked up to him.
"He was probably one of the best standup comedians in the last 50 years," said Smith. "He had tons and tons of material. He was looked up to by all the young comedians, a total pro."
The Brooklyn-born comic first received national attention in 1990 with the Showtime special Richard Jeni: Boy From New York City. Two years later, his Crazy From the Heat special attracted the highest ratings in Showtime's history.
Jeni became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show during Johnny Carson's reign and continued to appear after Jay Leno took over as host.
He also wrote comic material for the 2005 Academy Awards, which was hosted by his friend Chris Rock.

Taking after Bella

I snapped this picture from my camera phone on Saturday afternoon. Zach fell asleep watching T.V. He was wearing his KU shirt in honor of the #2 Jayhawks game against K-State. Isn't he just as cute as can be? It's nice and quiet when he sleeps.

R.I.P. Brad Delp

Brad Delp, whose soaring tenor on songs such as "More Than Feeling" gave voice to the best-selling rock band Boston, died Friday at the age of 55.
Mr. Delp was found alone Friday afternoon in his southern New Hampshire home, the Associated Press reported. While police characterized his death as untimely, they reported no indication of foul play. The death remained under investigation by Atkinson, N.H. , police and the New Hampshire medical examiner's office, with a report scheduled to be released on Monday.
A Danvers native, Mr. Delp helped form Boston with guitarist and studio mastermind Tom Scholz, drummer Sib Hashian, guitarist Barry Goudreau, and bassist Fran Sheehan in the early 1970s.
The group's self-titled 1976 debut album was one of the fastest selling in rock history. Songs such as "More Than A Feeling," "Foreplay/Long Time," and "Rock and Roll Band" helped the album sell over 17 million copies and is a staple of classic rock radio to this day.
While Scholz was the musical wizard, Mr. Delp's voice lifted above the trademark layered guitars, seemingly reaching into the stratosphere pictured on the band's space-age album covers.
Boston's debut has since appeared on countless "best of" lists and was recently voted one of the top 50 essential albums for rock fans as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Definitive 200."
The band took two years for the followup, "Don't Look Back." But Scholz, a notorious perfectionist, was unhappy with the results, and it took eight more years for the release of Boston's next album, "Third Stage."
By then only Scholz and Mr. Delp remained from the original lineup. Still, both albums went to Number One.
During its heyday, Boston's following in New England was huge. In 1987, soon after the release of "Third Stage," the band played an unprecedented nine nights at the Worcester Centrum.
"It took us a long time to get here -- and we're going to stick around a while!" the curly-haired Mr. Delp shouted from the stage at one point. "This is the best audience around," he added. "It's good to be home."
Boston kept a low profile after that, and Mr. Delp spent time in a band called RTZ, which released albums in 1991 and 1999. He rejoined Boston in time for the tour in support of the band's 1994 release "Walk On."
Steve Simon, who was in charge of the band's business and legal affairs from 1983 to 2003, last night remembered Mr. Delp as the "go-to guy," making himself available for everything from autographs to interviews to charity appearances.
He recalled a two-night charity event the band did in the mid-1990s at the House of Blues in Cambridge , when Mr. Delp lost his voice.
"He could have stayed away, pouted, not shown up, but he was there," said Simon. "He croaked out a couple of words with a smile. In all ways someone could nonverbally communicate with the audience, he did."
In recent years, Mr. Delp found new fans while fronting Beatlejuice, his popular Beatles cover band, which was scheduled to play Johnny D's in Somerville this weekend.
"We're really kind of walking around in a daze," the club's booking agent, Dana Westover, said last night.
Beatlejuice had been performing at Johnny D's since 1996. Each of its more than 50 appearances were sold out, Westover said.
Though some fans were initially drawn by Mr. Delp's Boston fame, they came back for the group's ebullient performances, in which he always dedicated "All You Need Is Love" to the lovers in the audience.
"Not only was the band really sharp, but Brad had this uncanny way of becoming John Lennon, and Paul McCartney and Harrison too," said Westover, who called Mr. Delp "a dear friend" to the club. He planned to have a tribute to him at the venue last night.
"I think everyone who hears this news today, the first thing they think is, 'Oh my God, he was such a nice guy.' " Westover said. He was "one of the most congenial guys I ever met."
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry agreed in a statement last night. "The few times I did meet him, he was very down-to-earth and seemed like a great guy, without any of the ego baggage," Perry said. "He had one incredible, amazing set of pipes. He is going to be sorely missed in this city and the music-loving world."
Mr. Delp had recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend. The two reportedly planned to wed during days off from Boston's scheduled summer tour.
Last night, the band's home page was set to a black screen with these simple words: "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."

KU Rolls!!! Keep it up Hawks!!!

KANSAS 67, KANSAS STATE 61

Darnell Jackson went to the line for a one-and-one trip out of the timeout, rolling in the first one. He swished the second attempt, making it a six-point game with 3:57 to play.
David Hoskins turned the ball over for K-State, but Brandon Rush couldn’t capitalize, as he missed a three from the corner. Cartier Martin missed a trey look on the other end, and Julian Wright threw a wizard-like pass to Darrell Arthur for two points which put KU back up by eight with 2:30 to go.
Hoskins dusted two in off the glass while knifing across the lane, taking a pass from Clent Stewart to do so. Chalmers then tried to ice it with a three, but the ball went out of bounds, back to K-State, trailing by six with 1:53 left.
Julian Wright put the game on ice with a minute left as he hit a tear-drop jumper in the lane to put KU up by eight, it gave him 12 points and his second huge play of the final minutes.
A free throw-fest finished up the game, as Mario Chalmers led KU with 16 points. Julian Wright had 12, including a late bucket in the lane and a nifty dish to Darrell Arthur, both of which helped KU ice K-State for the third time this season. Sherron Collins was the third Jayhawk in double figures, scoring 10, including two three-pointers.
Cartier Martin led all scorers with 17 points, while Lance Harris had 16 and Akeem Wright had 12 for K-State.
KU will take on the winner of Texas and Oklahoma State tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Ford Center.

Lazy Dog!

It's very nice in Wichita today. Kristi was looking out the window and saw Bella hanging around. Check this out! Isn't this cute? Bella loves it outside. Kristi took this picture a few minutes ago of Bella sleeping in a baby bouncer. That dog is hilarious!

It's off to the Wichita Garden Show.

We are on the way to the Wichita Garden Show. It's a busy day. We are meeting Pete and Linda Tilley and going to the show. KFDI is one of the sponsors and we are going to check it out. Then, it's off to the Kansas Coliseum later today for ANOTHER Wichita Thunder hockey game. I have to do the music at that one. They just have 6 home games left this season and it looks like there may not be any playoff games to worry about. They have been losing a lot lately. Well, off to the show! Have a nice day.

There's something new and very cool in Oklahoma City

We went to Penn Square Mall in OKC on Saturday to get Eskimo Joe's shirts for Madison and Zach. Maddie has been asking for a pink Joe's shirt for about a year and I was finally able to get her one. When at the mall, we noticed that they now have a Cheesecake Factory. Kris and I went there after the hockey game on Saturday night and split a piece. It was great!
I know that my dad would like that place. Dad, I miss talking to you.

An evening at the Ford Center

Kris and I were in Oklahoma City on Saturday night for a hockey game. I do the music for the Wichita Thunder and their rival is the OKC Blazers. The Thunder office hooked us up with free tickets. We were on the club level. Great seats! Here's a picture. It's from my camera phone, so it's not that clear. The Thunder lost 4-3,

What Can Brown Do For You?

I took this picture with my camera phone on Saturday in OKC. It's a Buffalo statue dressed up as a UPS worker. Kris and I went down for the day. The Thunder gave us tickets to their game against the Blazers in OKC. The Thunder lost 4-3.

I have heard of a Plumber's Butt. Well now it's Plummer Buc! Jake is headed to Florida!

Following a wild 24 hours of public speculation regarding the future and a reported retirement decision by Jake Plummer, the Broncos executed a trade of the quarterback Saturday morning, sending him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a conditional selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The Broncos also sent their 2007 sixth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Dan Wilkinson, who is at the cusp of his 14th season after being the No. 1 overall selection in the 1994 NFL Draft. Denver retains the sixth-round selection it acquired from the Detroit Lions as part of the Dre' Bly trade of a day earlier.

On Friday, reports surfaced on NFL.com and the NFL Network that Plummer had opted for retirement rather than accept a trade to the Buccaneers, sending message boards and sports talk-radio outlets into a frenzy over the quarterback's status.

By the time Jay Cutler made a previously scheduled appearance at Columbine Elementary School in Denver to read Dr. Seuss books to students on Friday afternoon, he was surrounded by cameras wondering about the status of the man he supplanted in the starting lineup in December.

Congrats to Kristy and Lloyd

I wanted to congratulate my friend, Kristy Swanson and her man, Lloyd Eisler on the birth of their baby boy. Magnus Hart Swanson was born a couple weeks back. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Kristy was due on Valentine's Day.
I met Kristy when the show "Skating With Celebrities" debuted on Fox. I interviewed her on the air. She was very cool. She started come on with me 1-2 times a week. I also had Lloyd on with me. They ended up winning the contest. I will let you know what she has to say about being a mommy now. Congrats guys!

Please keep my friend Kent in your thoughts & prayers

I heard from my friend Kent Hagelgantz this morning. I have not talked to him in some time. Please, keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

On Jan. 12 he was diagnosed with a very rare case of Lymphoma cancer. There are many types and of all the types this type is only 1% of the types. His doctor said if not treated soon he would be dead in a few months. Friday he will be going for his 3rd chemo treatment of 6, he goes every two weeks for treatments.

On March 13 he is going to Omaha for a consultation and after school is out this summer there is like a 99.9% chance he will have a bone marrow transplant. They will remove it from his body, clean it, give it a powerful chemo treatment and then put it back in his body. He should be in hospital then for 3-4 weeks. The reason for this is because he is lacking a gene that would fight this off and prevent it from coming back.

This cancer is also non-Hodgkin's which is harder to treat than Hodgkin's according to his doctor.

Kent is a Special Ed Para at a local high school in Topeka. His father passed away last Jan 10 2006 from a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Kent is a good guy and I have considered him a dear friend since 1986, when we first met at Garden City High School. Please keep him in your prayers.

Here's the article from today's Eagle.

Manny Cowzinski, director of marketing and promotions, Journal Broadcast Group, Wichita

With more than 15 years of experience in radio, Cowzinski will now oversee promotional efforts for Journal Broadcast stations in Wichita.

He will be responsible for organizing and coordinating promotional events for all six of the company's Wichita stations: KFDI, 1070-AM; KSTI, 92.3-FM; KICT, 95.1-FM; KFDI, 101.3-FM; KFXJ, 104.5-FM; and KYQQ, 106.5-FM. He is looking forward to the KFDI listener appreciation party this spring.

Prior to becoming Journal Wichita's director of marketing, Cowzinski worked on and off the air, starting in 1990 as an on-air personality and assistant program director for KKRD, 107.3-FM. He also spent time on-air at a station in Kansas City and as program director for KJMK in Joplin, Mo. Most recently he hosted the morning show on 92.3 before it changed formats.

Cowzinski said his time at the Joplin station helped him make the transition between on-air duties and marketing. Because it was a smaller station, he had a lot of responsibilities on both sides.

As director of marketing and promotions, his goal is to "take the company to another level."

Cowzinski also believes his knowledge of Wichita, his hometown, will help him serve the company and its clients.

He said that he'll miss being on the air, though he does still have on-air opportunities on the weekends at KFDI.

You can see the story at the following link. The lady that interviewed me messed up a lot of things. I have been in radio for 21 years. It's KFTI-AM and KFTI-AM. She also said KFDI and KFDI FM 101.3. She must be new at this. I know the feeling. I am new to my position and I feel like a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest sometimes.

Well, take care. I will check in later.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/business/16805942.htm