CRAIG GLAZER QUESTIONS PROGRESS OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AS HE CALLS THE COMEDY AND FOOTBALL WEEKEND!!!

TKC NOTE: Our pal Craig offers his perspective on the Chiefs and calls the upcoming weekend . . .

Time to Get Out of the House
Comedy and Football Weekend

Well if you are like most Kansas Citians, you’ve been shopping, visiting relatives or shut down at home over this Holiday week. Now that the weather has cleared up it’s time to go out and have some fun. One thing that’s always a plus is to get your smile and laugh on at one of the two Stanford’s Comedy Club locations right here in Kansas City.

Enjoy former Kansas Citian, now L. A. comedian Jon Schieszer at the Legends this Friday through Sunday! Jon has been busy the last several years gaining national attention on Comedy Central and with his comedy album ‘You Should Have Seen Me Tuesday’ available on iTunes. Scheiszer is joined by his hysterical sidekick Jeremiah Watkins also from Los Angeles.

Stanford’s On Broadway, located at 3700 Broadway right next to the Uptown Theater, features America’s youngest headlining comedian; 18 year old Aaron Branch. Branch beat out more than 100 regional comics to win Comic of the Year in 2012. Aaron is now honing his craft in Chicago working with the famed Second City Improv Company. Aaron has been compared to a young Will Smith as well as Kevin Hart. Branch’ talent was so explosive, he was offered a contract from the biggest agency in LA but turned it down to finish his schooling and get a degree. His clean cut take on life as an adult is not only refreshing but often brilliant. See Aaron, Chuck Miller and several other talented area comics this Holiday weekend this Friday and Saturday night at Stanford’s on Broadway.

If you are like too many of us, you haven’t made plans for New Year’s Eve Tuesday night yet. Let me help you out, years ago we had the number one comedy ventriloquist of today, Jeff Dunham, who has won the hearts of America. These days you see him and all his puppet pals at venues like the Sprint Arena where he played last year. New Years Eve through Saturday, we have Dunham and pals’ evil twins in Otto and George. They are the naughtier version of Jeff Dunham and Peanut. Otto and George are regulars on Howard Stern, the Tonight Show and even have their own Showtime Special. A safe, fun and unique way to ring in 2014. This dynamic duo will also appear Thursday through Saturday as well. For tickets to any of these shows call (913)400-7500 or go online at stanfordscomedyclub.com.

Football Picks
2013 Sports Year in Review

Like Frank Sinatra said ‘It was a very good year,’ all of our pro teams stepped up so a tip of the hat to the Royals, Chiefs and Sporting KC. We also need to acknowledge the continued best franchise in this area, the University of Kansas basketball team for winning their ninth consecutive Big 12 title as well as making a nice run in the March Madness tournament. KU looks to be even more talented this year. The University of Missouri football team could equal one of their greatest seasons of all time with a win over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl next week. We even have to send a smile Kansas State’s way for ending up in a decent bowl against Michigan next week as well.

While many Kansas Citians enjoy their college teams and cheer for the Royals, the big news is still what’s going on with our Kansas City Chiefs. You know the old saying, the better you get, the more you want. Our Chiefs shocked the NFL with a 9 and 0 start but then fell back down to earth with a 2 and 5 finish (assuming they lose to the Chargers, which they will) as they head to the playoffs. This is a huge improvement over last year’s 2 and 14 team. Andy Reid is likely NFL Coach of the Year, Jamaal Charles is the best running back in the NFL and an All-Pro. Several Chiefs will make the All AFC team including Alex Smith, Derek Johnson and Tamba Hali. You might even see Poe and a couple Special Team guys on the list.

I have to be honest, when you start out 9 and 0 and finish out 2 and 5 down the stretch, that big improvement takes a hard kick in the groin. We all now know that the Chiefs never beat a very good team the entire season. What we’ve learned after 15 games is the following: our pass rush is nearly non-existant, the Chiefs secondary is well below average, the Chiefs have no true NFL starting receiver anywhere excluding running back Jamaal Charles, with the exception of Dexter McCluster, Alex Smith and Charles, there are no offensive weapons on the Chiefs worth mentioning. To be blunt, you could argue that while their record has improved dramatically that the team itself is almost no better than last years, that they just have a better coach, quarterback and running back. I fear that next year this team will still be somewhere around average. After seeing the Chiefs poor performance against Indy at Arrowhead it’s tough to believe they will win that road game in Indianapolis next week. Let’s hope for the best.

Picks

College
Minnesota (-4) over Syracuse

Pro
San Diego (-3 ½) over KC teased with Denver (-5) over Oakland
San Francisco (+6) over Arizona teased with Philadelphia (-1/2) over Dallas
San Diego (-3 ½) over KC teased with the Rams (+17 ½) over Seattle

We’ve had a good run so far with 53 wins and 33 losses against the spread, love to hit plus 60 wins and stay in the 30’s on losses by seasons end. Happy New Year follow me on Twitter @KCKingofSting