So the Titans lost to the Chiefs, no biggie…
More importantly, how does KC and Nashville stack up, sports teams not withstanding.
“Did you know Kansas City has a 19-foot-high badminton birdie in front of its art museum?” asks Tennessean writer Brad Schmitt. “We compare public art and more in the two cities squaring off.
“You’ve seen comparisons between quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Patrick Mahomes. Then there’s Derrick Henry and, uh, well, I don’t know who’s running the ball for the Chiefs. But after Sunday’s game, which puts the winner in the Super Bowl, life goes on for people living in Nashville and Kansas City. So let’s see how the cities stack up, shall we?”
Schmitt makes no pretense at objectivity.
“I mean, I’m writing for a Nashville-based news outlet, so there’s little doubt about how this is going to play out, right? But hey, there are some former KC residents in our newsroom, and I did get their input. So I pledge to do as unbiased a comparison as possible (sort of).”
Fair enough…I guess.
Speaking of fairness, Schmitt’s first totally fair comparo pits Nashville country music versus Kansas City and World War I.
“Yes, Nashville neighbors, there is something called the National WWI Museum and its home is Kansas City. And the museum is legit — really interesting and well done exhibits, many of them interactive, and I left knowing much more about the Great War than when I walked in.
“But c’mon, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum? Stars, sequins, songs and Elvis Presley‘s 1960 solid gold Cadillac limo. A draw for people from around the world.”
Winner: Nashville
On a far more level playing field, next up is KC barbecue versus Nashville BBQ.
“Nashville has taken great strides with the smoked meats, even, dare I say (Dare! Dare!), surpassing Memphis. But, uh, the Kansas City Barbeque Society pretty much runs the BBQ world. And there really are some tasty, tangy treats slathered in hearty sauce coming out of those pits.”
Winner: Kansas City
After that surprising concession, we’re on to “The Strips.”
More specifically, Lower Broadway vs Power & Light District
“If you haven’t been, KC has a bunch of restaurants and bars in a giant rectangle called the Power & Light District, and that area fills up with thousands of college hoops fans every March. It’s a manufactured place that’s a magnet for drunken college students for the month.
“Nashville’s Lower Broadway is a history-rich, organically-formed strip of honky-tonks, restaurants and bars that’s a magnet for drunken bachelorettes and tourists — year-round!”
Winner: Nashville
Hold it right there…a far more equitable comparison would be with Westport.
Next up…
Sculptures: a big birdie versus naked people
Seriously, the shuttlecocks versus – you know – actual cocks?
“Visit the art museum in Kansas City, and you’ll immediately be drawn to a 19-foot-high sculpture of a badminton birdie on the front lawn. Why a shuttlecock sculpture? Dunno, but it is really cool and compelling.
“Then there’s Nashville’s Musica, a 38-foot-high sculpture of nine nude figures in the middle of the Music Row roundabout. Stunning piece. But here’s the thing — there are nude sculptures everywhere, but a giant shuttlecock? Can’t think of another one.”
Winner: Kansas City
At this point in the comparison KC’s picking up steam – call it momentum – heading into the all-important “beer” category…
Boulevard Brewing versus Yazoo
“Yes, Yazoo is fun to drink and fun to say. But beer drinkers nationwide know of the KC Boulevard Brewing’s huge footprint and excellent products.”
Winner: Kansas City
Which raises – at least to me – what the heck is Yazoo?
Turns out, it’s Nashville’s Yazoo Brewing Company, founded in 2003 by some dude from Mississippi named Linus Hall. Yazoo’s won a few minor medals, but clearly nothing like Boulevard. They’ve got a Pale Ale and since 2013 “sour and wild” beers in the company’s “embrace the funk” series.
Celebs: Comedians versus country stars
“Did you know there’s a whole pile of comedians who are from the Kansas City area? No joke. The list includes Paul Rudd (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up), Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live), Eric Stonestreet (Cam on Modern Family), David Koechner (sports dude on Anchorman) and more.
“Funny thing is, that doesn’t compare to Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan and a pile of other country and not-country stars (Nicole Kidman, Ashley Judd, Jack White and more) who live in Nashville.”
Winner: You guessed it, Nashville.
Presidents: Harry Truman and Andrew Jackson
“Uhhhh …”
TIE
Festivals: CMA versus Plaza Art Fair
“KC has that cute, little arts festival.
“Nashville has the Country Music Association Fest four-day party. And it has a major network highlights show after the festival every year.”
Winner: Nashville
Famous Journalists: Ernest Hemingway vs. Gore
“Famous author Ernest Hemingway once wrote for the Kansas City Star. Former Vice President Al Gore once wrote for The Tennessean.
“Hemingway went on to author For Whom the Bell Tolls. Gore invented the Internet.
“Another tight race for Gore, but the Supreme Court won’t intervene in this one.”
Winner: Kansas City
Universities: Vanderbilt vs. UMKC
“Nashville has prestigious Vanderbilt University and Kansas City has the University of Missouri Kansas City, home to the fighting Kangaroos.
“UMKC costs about $10,000 a year. Vanderbilt costs about $10,000 a week. Still…”
Winner: Nashville
The bottom line:
“In a squeaker, Nashville edges KC, 5-4.”
Unfortunately for Nashville, it’s Titans lost big time to KC’s Chiefs…
“You’ve seen comparisons between quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Patrick Mahomes.”
– yes… and according to the NFL’s own official rating system ‘QBR’ (not be confused ‘HRUS’ i.e., ‘homers are-us’, preferred by those KC), Tannehill is #1 – the ‘best’ as in highest rated QB 2019; coming in at #7, wearing a Ketchup-Colored uni and pate in serious need of a pruning…
“In a squeaker, Nashville edges KC, 5-4.”
– sounds about right…
“Unfortunately for Nashville, it’s Titans lost big time to KC’s Chiefs…”
– unfortunately for both, KC (as their forefather Texans) and the Titans (as progenitor theirs Oilers) have won the same # of ‘Championships’ – 2 – neither since the fabulous 50’s gave way 60’s, latter the decade which birthed the sham and shame game that we are stuck with today, century 21… suspect the trophy case each franchise will continue to echo ad nauseam… ad infinitum…
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Where are you getting your QBR numbers from?
ESPN has Tannehill at 62.2 QBR for the season (9th place overall):
https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14876/type/nfl/seasontype/2
They have Patrick Mahomes at 76.3 QBR for the season (2nd place overall):
https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3139477/patrick-mahomes
Patrick Mahomes threw for 1300 more yards, 4 more TD’s, and 1 less interception.
Lamar Jackson is in 1st place for QBs, not Tannehill.
There is more than one rating system for QB’s – the official one NFL – produces the as stated rankings, as Kerouac illuminated.
The NFL system assesses how well an quarterback passes – not how well a quarterback plays: among the ‘qualifiers’ Tannehill was the best QB in the NFL 2019:
1 Tannehill 117.5
2 Brees 116.3
3 Jackson 113.3
4 Cousins 107.4
5 Wilson 106.3
6 Stafford 106.0
7 Mahomes 105.3
These are not my rankings, rather criteria creators of the game NFL, masters the universe theirs… yours as others opinions as mileage, may vary.
(adjust accordingly passer ratings category far right, qualifiers ‘RATE’ on the far right ~ link below)
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?seasonType=REG&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-p=1&d-447263-s=PASSING_PASSER_RATING&tabSeq=0&season=2019&experience=&Submit=Go&archive=false&statisticCategory=PASSING&conference=null&qualified=false
See, this is what happens ‘outside KC’ – in the parlance, known ‘reality check’, where it isn’t all ‘hype’, all ‘swiss chiefs’ all ‘wait till next year’ (now serving part 50), all the time…
All of us hold bias – Kerouac would choose Aaron Rodgers over every other QB in the NFL nod his passing acumen, yet he does not appear in the top 7. Anyone tells me there are 7 QB’s better than Rodgers, and I’ll take that bet to the bank… and cash it in.
Of the top 7 listed, Kerouac would take (in addition to Rodgers) Brees, Wilson and the Texans Watson before the local yokel #15 – his adherents likely feel he’s better several the QB’s listed, nod their own bias… the trail of tears outrage line forms to the right.
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Always disagreement – in their prime Kerouac would take Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Len Dawson, Sonny Jurgensen and Fran Tarkenton ahead of ANY of the Qb’s who have played since (all played the toughest/most legitimate era in pro football history.)
Those who played primarily 70’s and aft (to include every from Montana to Brady and each today’s ‘imposters’ comparison the vintage guys), can’t carry the shoes their QB forefathers listed.
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Pretending that Al Gore is, in any way, comparable to Ernest Hemingway is like pretending, that Stevie Wonder can hit a major league curve ball.
The WWI Liberty Memorial is internationally acclaimed for it’s window into the past century and the “War To End All Wars”. Comparing it to what I am sure, is a great exhibit in Nashville that centers around Elvis and Country Music makes no sense.
We can’t touch Nashville’s history with Country music and they are not within a light year of the kind of Military and historical exhibit that we have at the Liberty Memorial.
I’ve been through Nashville, it is a nice little town.
I see your points, Chuck…
That said, since the matchups are all but impossible to line up perfectly, I think he did a nice job.
BBQ and beer are easy to match, but I like the other comparisons and in a tourism-like way, it’s a fair match.
And frankly, probably a lot more people on the tourism plan would opt for the country music artifacts – pop culture.
Having spent time in both, Nashville is far and away leap years ahead of Kansas City in about every category. I love KC, it is not a slam on us, it is just not Nash…Nashville has done it right in terms of development on the river, arts, nightlife, JOBS…the major downfall is housing in Nashville is getting out of control and was compounded by Amazon coming there…people complain about housing cost in KC, well check out Nashville…two great cities though..it is not like saying coming in second to Nashville is a bad thing..
Fair nuff, Dee…
Used to live and work in Kentucky – long ago – and spent my weekends going to either Memphis or Nashville.
I preferred Memphis long ago but Nashville has blossomed big time since then, while Memphis has remained so-so…although that Memphis in May fest and BBQ fest totally rock.
Nashville has benefited somewhat obviously my country music becoming so huge. Used to be more of a hick kinda thing long ago, but no mas.
Personally, I’d rather move to Memphis of the two – although I know that’s just a personal whim.
There are quite a few other areas KC wins; Major League Baseball, Mjor League Soccer, Nelson-Atkins Museum, arguably better housing options as you point out and maybe a few more.
But your point is made