Hearne: The State of WWE Wrestling Today & Monday's Matches @ Sprint Center

Was a time being a seven-time World Heavy Wrestling Champion like Handsome Harley Race was a big deal...

Less so these days since the WWE wiped out the NWA and other regional wrestling circuits around the country. For example, the current WWE world champ is a 210 pound dude named Daniel Bryan who rather unceremoniously won the belt minutes after Wichita refugee Big Show took it from fellow behemoth Mark Henry.

These days, wrestling is about two things; ridiculously improbable storylines and high risk acrobatics.

"Actually the belts aren't that important today," says retired promoter Jon Lunkwicz. "If you look at one of the most important wrestlers today, it's John Cena, and he hasn't been a champion for awhile."

Cena wrestles "The Big Red Monster" Kane in one of two headline matches Monday at the Sprint Center.

Glazer: The Price Paid & Damage Done From Being a 'Lady's Man'

 

I was watching the 1978 film, SAME TIME NEXT YEAR, with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn...

It  was like 5 AM and I woke up early for radio and turned on the tube. It brought back memories of seeing the hit movie in the theater back in 1978. I watched as the story unfolded about a man and a woman who met at an out of way hotel one evening - both married - and began an affair that night. They continued to meet then for nearly 30 years, one weekend a year, until they were senior citizens. The night they met they were young and in love and it lasted a lifetime. Boy, what a tear jerker.

Remember the Johnny Mathis/Jane Oliver theme song, "HELLO I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME..BUT I'M HOPING ALL THE SAME THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A SIMPLE HELLO..."

Yep, all my memories of the important ladies in my life began to flash through my mind.....

Jack Goes Confidential: 'Man On A Ledge' Spells Diversionary Vertigo

Granted, MAN ON A LEDGE could easily qualify as a so-called 'high concept film'---meaning its plot can be described in a single paragraph.

However, that's not fair to this ensemble action-thriller of vertigo proportions.

MAN ON A LEDGE stars Sam Worthington as a disgraced ex-cop who was framed, convicted and imprisoned for the theft of a rare and highly prized diamond. But to clear his name, he's escaped the big house, checks into a Manhattan hotel and climbs onto the ledge ready to jump 200 feet down to 45th street and certain death.

Now it's up to tough police negotiator Elizabeth Banks to talk Worthington down.

But does he really want to jump? And who is Worthington secretly communicating with from the window's ledge on his tiny, hidden two-way?

Mermaid: Check Out Restaurant Week in Kansas City, Last Three Days

It's Restaurant Week everyone and let me be the first to say this is a fantastic way to try out places you haven't been to yet or maybe frequent a favorite spot. My date and I tried out Starker's Restaurant last night and had a wonderful meal. Kudo's to them for hanging in there after the tragic death of owner / chef John McClure last October. They are doing great!

Here are the logistics for Restaurant Week:

Jack Goes Confidential: Liam Neeson 'Dances' with Hungry Wolves

Technically speaking THE GREY is a first class action thriller...

It's got all the elements, fright, surprise, action and manly survival, one could ask for. And its primary setting of the sub-arctic Alaskan wilderness is relentless as duplicated for the film in Canada.

THE GREY stars Liam Neeson as an unlikely hero who, along with a group of oil-rig roughnecks, are the only survivors left and stranded after their plane crashes into this godforsaken icy horrorland.

But if the jet crash and the Alaskan winter wasn't brutal enough, the survivors now face a new enemy, a vicious packs of rogue wolves.

And they're hungry.

Hearne: 'Big Show' Big Bro Flashes Back, Looks to Monday's WWE Match at Sprint

To borrow a vintage local expression, Helloooooooo, wrestling fans!

Longtime wrestling afficionados may recognize announcer Bill Kersten's pre match incantation. Which brings us to the state of pro wrestling today and this Monday's big WWE Raw Supershow at the Sprint Center.

The match features two main events - a first for Sprint - including a battle between John Cena and Kane, along with a host of WWE stars ranging from Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, The Divas and Big Show.

Speaking of Big Show, it was former Beaumont Club main man Jon Lunkwicz who helped him during his formative years in Wichita.

"He lived with me for a couple of years," Lunkwicz says. "And I helped him get through the brief years he was at Wichita State and helped him get into wrestling."

Hearne: Don't Look Now But Jardine's Saga May Be Nearing End

That's right...

Two months into one of the longest - at times silliest - and frankly saddest chapters in modern Kansas City jazz, the dudes who jumped the gun last month by telling the Pitch and Fox 4 they'd bought Jardine's are poised at to do just that - buy Jardine's.

Today partners Robert McCain and Joseph Fulgenzi met a drop-dead deadline for a payment owed by Jardine's owner Beena Raja to the jazz club's founder Greg Halstead.

"We have, that is correct," Fulgenzi says. "We still have a couple more hoops to jump through, but it's getting closer."

McCain and Fulgenzi must now finalize a deal on the lease with American Century, settle whatever taxes and outstanding debts may be owed and complete the aquisition of a new liquor license.

ETA on reopening Jardine's?

Donnelly/ Grogan: AWOLNATION @ The Beaumont in KC, January 22, 2012

If any of you guys were brave enough to make it out to the Beaumont on Sunday, you would have seen KCC photog Katie Grogan elbowing her way through sweaty dudes in the chops to hold her position up near the front.

And you would have seen AWOLNATION, a band that is gaining some real momentum among the alt-rock crowd, with its electronic infused party thrash that’s getting copious airplay on stations like 96.5 the Buzz and the like.

Word is they tore the roof off the Beaumont Club in front of a near sold out crowd.  But don’t take my word for it, I wasn’t there.  Hear's how Katie put it, and check out a few of her shots of the band after the jump…

Glazer: Dov Davidoff, Jim Jefferies, Broken Lizards on Way to KC

People often ask, "Who's the next big name coming to Stanford's?"

And I say, "Well, I try to book big names every week. It's just different stokes for different folks." Truth is, just like music or the NFL/NBA these days, the big names change very quickly. There are new stars every year and, sadly, some bigger names fall off the map faster than is fair. But that's the way it is today.

We have two of the top three comics coming in the next couple months.

Hearne: Jardine's Sudden Death Sale Coming Down to the Wire Wednesday

There have surely been dicier business propositions than the sale of Jardine's...

Then again, I've yet to be privy to one. Let's review, shall we?

Following a series of flareups with her manager / chef, Jardine's owner Beena Raja and a hairstylist pal returned to the club by cab in the wee hours Thanksgiving morning to retrieve the stylist's car. Only to discover a passel of servers drinking and smoking illegally after hours at the club. On Jardine's dime, no less, Raja says.

Here's where it gets a little dicey.

Sounds Good: The Lemonheads@Granada, Fourth of July@Tap Room, Mountain Sprout@Bottleneck

 

Step yo game up, KC!

OK, yes, I love Lawrence. So maybe I'm biased. Scratch that, I'm definitely biased.

But lately it seems like LaLa is bringing all the shows right to ME. Just making it too easy, you know?

For example, the Greasy Hair Tour is stopping through this weekend with a trio of shows.

The headliner is, of course, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads with perhaps the greasiest hair this world has ever seen.

Then throw in some hillbilly folk and indie rockers who actually try to make their hair like that and, well... no one light a match, OK?

Starbeams: Red Light Cam Mythology, West Edge Boom & Driveway Blues

A new study by KCPD finds red-light cameras do not decrease the number of injury accidents at intersections.  In fact, rear-end wrecks, injury wrecks and overall wrecks increased dramatically.  Police became suspicious when they realized the cameras were made by Maaco.

*******

Construction in the KC area was off 43 percent in 2011.  In fact, there wouldn't have been any construction work at all if it weren't for the West-Edge project on the Plaza.

New Jack City: Few Surprises In Today's Oscar Nominations

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences announced today its nominees for the best on film for 2011. 

The actual OSCAR awards will be presented Sunday, February 26th on ABC with Billy Crystal hosting.

The scorecard has HUGO in 1st with 11 nominations, followed closely behind by THE ARTIST with 10.
Other big hauls this morning were by MONEYBALL and WAR HORSE, with each scoring six nominations.
THE DESCENDANTS and THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO had five each. And THE HELP and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS both got four Academy Award nominations.

Now here are the Oscar nominations in the major categories as well as my takes on them:

Glazer: No Family Feud Here, Stan Glazer Turns 80 & Parties at the InterContinental

Well, my dad Stan Glazer turned 80 on New Years Day...

That's a real milestone in our family because not only is he the oldest living male Glazer, as far as we know, he's now the oldest ever. Most of our us pass away in our 70's.

Stan's wife, Lori Glazer - about half my dad's age at 42 - threw a big splash at the InterContinental hotel on the Plaza. They used the top floor and bar area which holds several hundred. It was mostly friends and family that attended with just over 200 people.

And get this, the last time I was in that space it was in 2003 for my own wedding reception.

Yep, I got married at what was then the Fairmont - big wedding and dinner - those people at that hotel do it right.

Stan's bash started at 8 PM and went until nearly midnight. And lots of KC "names" were there. Far too many to mention here, but some you might know include former Chiefs Hall of Famers Bobby Bell and Ed Budde, former KC mayor Richard Berkley, several city councilmen, David Block, The Mermaid, Jack Possiger, former Royals GM Cedric Tallis's daughter and Folly Theatre guru Gayle Tallis and on and on.

I took Jessie, the hottie whose picture you've seen here several times lately.

Hearne: Former Club Concert Kingpin Looks at Life From an 8 by 8 Room

Hank Williams III, Jane's Addiction, Big & Rich, B.B. King...

Former Beaumont Club main man Jon Lunkwicz has partied with the best. For year's he was the force behind hundreds of Kansas City's top club level shows in the popular Westport live music emporium.

No mas.

Three short years ago the 60 year-old Lunkwicz awakened to find himself paralyzed. He's since retired and now lives in a long term care facility just outside Kansas City.

"My world's very uncomplicated," Lunkwicz muses. "It's about an eight by eight space and I suspect the food's about as good as prison food. And I get to shower about twice a week, that's pretty exciting."

There's more.

Hearne: Nelson-Atkins Museum to Party Arty Patrons; Lay Down Your Arms!

It's not often patrons at an upscale society shindig have to be warned to unarmed...

But that's exactly what happened in the case of Saturday's Party Arty at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This year's theme, "All the World's a Fair," advised attendees to a) "come dressed" and b) "Steampunk flair preferred."

Here's where it gets a little odd.

"No prop weapons or real weapons will be allowed in the Museum," the invite cautioned. "Security reserves the right to deny entry to guests whose attire and/or behavior compromises the safety of guests."

A high society event that urges partygoers to engage in themed costumary, and in the next breath warns them not to come packing?

You got it.

Donnelly: Danny Pound at the Lawrence Arts Center, January 21, 2012

Saturday night’s Danny Pound Review, featuring Danny, Arthur Dodge, Matt Suggs, and Suzannah Johannes, could have used a tad more music…

After the sold out show - my first ever at the Lawrence Arts Center - I couldn’t help but think back to 2004 when I saw Ryan Adams at the Lied Center in Lawrence.

During Adams’ performance, which as always featured rambling, incoherent stories and unprofessionalism at its best, someone in the audience yelled, “Less talk, more rock!”  For those not familiar, this is the quickest way to piss off a performer.

Adams scanned the audience, and demanded, “Who said that?”  When the guy raised his proud hand, Adams replied with something like, “Shut your fucking face, I’m Ryan Adams and you’re some jerkoff who yells stuff.”

But the culprit Saturday wasn’t a boozed up, prima donna musician. Nope, it was the emcee, Tim, who seemed to sap more stage time than the bands.

New Jack City: Feds Force Airlines to Show Us the Money!

With the frustration over a la carte pricing by airlines these days, the government is fighting back...

Starting this week, the Feds are forcing carriers to become more transparent when it comes to airfare pricing and the online purchasing of tickets.

Since forever airlines have been using low prices as come-ons in their advertising only to ambush frustrated customers with veiled final pricing that includes additional taxes, fees and fuel surcharges.

But now, as of later this week, the airlines must reconfigure their "now you see it now you don't" selling model in the following manner:

** Advertised fares must include all government taxes and other associated fees such as fuel surcharges which can add 30% to 50% to the final ticket price.

Glazer: Eat My Dust, Scribe Tells Non Believers After Perfect NFL Picks

This is why I make the big bucks!

Your humble scribe picked BOTH NFL playoff winners this past weekend. New England with sexy Tommy, and those hard charging New York Giants. Hey, I picked them both last year too. When you got it, you got it.

My early pick for the winner of this year's Super Bowl: NEW ENGLAND, currently at -31/2. Yeah, I like the Pats.

I know many of you all wanted the Harbaugh Bowl, sorry. By the way, you had to reread the KC Star a few times today to find either Harbaugh name even mentioned, it came up once in four articles, wow.

You saw the missed field goal? We know that feeling here (twice).

The one Jan Stenerud missed against Miami in 1972 was the end of the Chiefs era as an elite team.

They would never again matter.

Leftridge: Tales From the Tweet: Pioli Perverts Privacy & Darvish Does Dallas

Well, it’s been awhile since I cracked open the ol’ Twitter and had a looksie, and because of the absence, I expected a cornucopia of information to come cascading down upon my head as soon as I logged in. Twitter, however, had different plans. Namely: there wasn’t a whole lot of anything going down. Despite being in college basketball conference play, baseball arbitration coming and going, and the NFL playoffs being in full bloom… crickets.

One thing that was being tweeted and re-tweeted, however, was reaction to the recent Kansas City Star expose by Kent Babb about the frighteningly “Russian factory-like” working conditions at One Arrowhead Drive. Since you’ve probably already read the piece—and if you haven’t, you should—I won’t rehash it in painstaking detail. Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve probably heard the key pieces: decoy candy-bar wrappers left on stairs to test employee laziness. Spy-thriller tales of bugged rooms and tapped phones. Constant, paranoia inducing monitoring of all comings and goings. Todd Haley trading in his grimy, sweat-stained ball cap for a tinfoil hat.

So what do local radio people have to say? Well, it depends where you work. If you’re with 810, you said nothing.