Absent A Buyer, Wichita Wings Soccer Franchise Likely To Fold

By Josh Heck

Unless something changes soon, professional indoor soccer won’t be played in Wichita this season and likely beyond.

Efforts to sell the Wichita Wings to a new ownership group have proved unsuccessful thus far, but the Major Indoor Soccer League is still working to find a buyer.

Wink Hartman, who revived professional indoor soccer — and the Wings franchise — in Wichita after a 10-year absence, announced in March that he wanted to sell the team as part of a review of his group of companies.

League President Tim Holt says a new ownership group would need to emerge in the next 30 to 45 days to allow enough time to complete the scheduling process in time for the 2013-2014 season, which starts in November.

If that doesn’t happen, Holt says, the Wings won’t field a team, and the organization will fold.

Holt tells me that the MISL has not received any business plans or ownership-transfer agreements regarding the Wichita Wings, which seems to refute earlier reports on Wednesday that the league had rejected a potential buyer’s group for the Wichita Wings.

“At no point and time have we received any application or business plan for transfer,” Holt says.

Hartman representatives could not be reached for comment.

In 2011, Hartman announced his plans to bring indoor soccer back to Wichita. The original Wichita Wings ceased operations in 2001.

It wasn’t until later that Hartman was given clearance to use the Wings name again with the new team.

Holt says the team was a good addition to the MISL.

It had, he says, a loyal fan base and was competitive in games, though that wasn’t necessarily reflected in the win column. Holt says the Wings appeared to be headed in the right direction and could have been a playoff team in another year or two.

Holt says the league hopes to again have a team in Wichita.

But that’s starting to appear less likely.

Milwaukee Wave Get New Ownership

Sue Black, who was named president and CEO of the Milwaukee Wave in February, on Wednesday announced she has taken ownership of the indoor soccer team from Jim Lindenberg.

“The more I got to know about the organization and the team and the potential, it just seemed like a natural fit,” Black said.

She made the announcement Wednesday with Lindenberg and coach Keith Tozer. The Wave plays at the U.S. Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee.

The terms of the sale are confidential, but it includes ownership of the Wave and its charitable nonprofit organization Wave of Hope.

Black said she is reviewing a number of ways to improve team operations.

“It’s a matter of prioritizing, but I’m being very stealthy about what we tackle first,” she said.

Black in late March said the Wave of Hope organization was a leading factor in attracting her to take the CEO position.

Black said Wednesday that giving back to the community will remain her No. 1 priority.

“The more I got to know the players and the coach and how the team gives back to the community, it’s everything I was looking for,” Black said.

Lindenberg, former owner of World Class Wire & Cable in Waukesha, bought the Wave in 2009. He recruited Black to lead the team while she was hunting for a job after being fired as director of the Milwaukee County Parks system.

Comets Magical Season Comes To An End

The 2012-2013 Missouri Comets set some high goals for themselves at the beginning of the year.  They nearly accomplished all of them tonight after jumping out to a 4-0 halftime lead in Game Two of the MISL Championship against the Baltimore Blast.  The Blast scored four straight goals in the second half, and held off a Comets comeback attempt to become the 2013 MISL Champions.

After falling behind early in Game One, the Comets were determined to have a stronger start game.  Playing strong on both sides of the field, Missouri controlled possession for much of the quarter. With 5:02 remaining in the opening quarter Byron Alvarez put the Comets on the board.  In the second quarter a streaking Robert Palmer was heading towards goal when he was taken out from behind by Baltimore’s Max Ferdinand.  Byron Alvarez converted the resulting shootout opportunity and the Comets went into the halftime break leading 4-0.

The Baltimore Blast, playing in their third straight Championship Series, were not ready to go down easy.  Ferdinand, Tony Donatelli, Adriano Dos Santos and Lucas Roque rattled off four straight goals across the third quarter and first part of the fourth quarter.  With seven minutes remaining and the season in the balance, the Comets began a furious comeback attempt.  Byron Alvarez completed his hat trick, scoring his third goal with five minutes remaining to bring Missouri back to within 2 points, 8-6.

Inserting Vahid Assadpour as the sixth attacker with two minutes remaining gave the Comets many chances, but Baltimore goalkeeper, William Vanzela, came up with several game-preserving saves.  His performance earned him the 2013 MISL Most Valuable Player Award.

The Comets finish with a regular season record of 13-13 and a second-place finish in the 2013 MISL Playoffs.

Comets Fall Short In Game One

The Missouri Comets advanced to the MISL Finals for the first time this season while their opponent, the Baltimore Blast are now playing in their third straight Championship Series.  The experienced Blast jumped out to a big first half lead, but behind 5,279 cheering fans, the Comets rallied back.  Unfortunately, it was not enough and the Comets fall 21-12 in Game One of the series.

The playoff atmosphere was apparent from the beginning of the game.  With the MISL Championship Trophy on display during player introductions, the crowd was buzzing with the excitement of seeing the first indoor soccer championship match since 1997.  Even after the Blast’s Tony Donatelli scored in the first 27 seconds, the crowd was roaring for their home team.  The energy in the building propelled Byron Alvarez to answer with his first goal of the night one minute later, tying the game at two points each.

The rest of the half though belonged to Baltimore.  While the Comets adjusted to playing in the biggest series of the year, the Blast calmly sat back and waited for their chances to strike.  Adauto Neto, Ptah Myers, Donatelli, Lucas Roque, and Michelle Millwood all scored for Baltimore before Neto closed the half with his second goal.  At halftime the Comets were reeling 14-2.

The team calmed down at halftime and found the rhythm that helped them to upset the defending champion Milwaukee Wave in the Semi-Final round.  Milan Ivanovic planted himself in front of Baltimore goalkeeper William Vanzela’s net and tapped in an easy two point goal from John Sosa two minutes into the half.  Ryan Junge stepped up his pressure and caught an unsuspecting Vanzela off guard a minute later.  Comets goalkeeper Danny Waltman joined the attack later in the quarter and took a shot towards goal that Lucas Rodriguez deflected into the corner netting.  After three quarter the Comets had rallied back, only trailing 16-6.

Baltimore weathered the Comets relentless attack to start the fourth quarter.  Goalkeeper William Vanzela proved why he was named to the MISL’s all-rookie team earlier this week with several point-blank shots.  Machel Millwood deflected a restart opportunity for the Blast to extend their lead midway through the final period.  The Comets pulled Waltman to bring in Vahid Assadpour as a sixth attacker with about six minutes remaining.  The extra player resulted in two quick goals from Leo Gibson and Byron Alvarez, his second on the night.  However with only a few minutes remaining Tony Donatelli was able to lob a pass over the Comets defense for an empty net goal, sealing the Baltimore victory 21-12.

The series moves to Baltimore on Saturday March 16th at 6:35pm CDT.  Should the series be tied after Game Two a 15 minute ‘Mini-Game’ will be played immediately following to decide the winner.  Comets fans are invited to the Comets Nation Fan Club Watch Party at Coach’s Bar & Grille on 103rd & Wornall at 6:00pm.

March 14 Weekend Preview, The Shamrock Edition

Well, this weekend we celebrate everyone’s Irish heritage whether or not you are Irish. Kansas City lays claim to the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade so get out and enjoy all the festivities KC has to offer. For all the St. Patrick’s Day activities Explore Kansas City has you covered. Click here for full coverage.
This weekend there are only two movies of note being released this weekend. The first is The Call starring Halle Berry. When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.
The other movie is The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act—both onstage and off—if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.
This weekend is a bonanza for Kansas City sports fans. There are so many events this weekend that it would be almost impossible to not find something to see or do. First off there is the Big 12 Tournament. The tourney kicked off on Wednesday with the opening round of games, Thursday will be the quarterfinals, Friday the semifinals and Saturday will be the championship. The event has been played in Kansas City 11 times since the league began competition in 1996-97 - more than any other city in the Conference. So it is time to get your Jayhawk or Wildcat on (Sorry Mizzou fans you have to go to Nashville to catch your Tigers live).
Do you need more hoops action? Head over to Municipal Auditorium for the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. Games began Wednesday and conclude with the championship Tuesday, March 19th. See the nation's oldest college basketball championship, right here in Kansas City. See the new NAIA Kids Zone and the new courtside entertainment at halftimes and between games. It's fun for the entire family! For more info visit here  
Don’t forget about the Miller Lite Basketball Fan Fest in the Power & Light District. Come out for an all-day party just steps away from the action at Sprint Center and blocks away from the courts at Municipal Auditorium. The KC Live! Block and Power & Light District are in the middle of it all. Watch the games on the country's BIGGEST High-Definition Big Screen, plus enjoy team pep rallies, contests, games, giveaways, live music and more! This event is FREE to attend and open to all ages until 9 PM. Must be 21 years of age or older after 9 PM. For details, click here
There is also the Big 12 GameDay Street Festival Presented by Phillips 66. This is a free, interactive experience that features games, music, mascots, autograph opportunities and promotional giveaways.
The College Basketball Experience will host expanded hours during the month of March. Show your Big 12 Men's ticket at the door and save $2 on admission.
Saturday kicks off the Inaugural Big 12 5k Fun Run & Family Stroll. This 5k course will wind around downtown Kansas City through the Power & Light District. (Click here to see the course map) The overall male and female winners will receive $1,000 in FREE GAS from Phillips 66 and be recognized at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship final. Be one of the first 100 registered and receive a unique stocking cap. Strollers are welcome for this family-friendly event.
As far as the hometown teams this is also a big weekend. The Comets get things started this Thursday with the MISL Finals. For the first time ever, the Comets will play in the MISL Championship Series!
The Comets will face the Baltimore Blast at 7:35pm at the Independence Events Center. This will be the last time you can see the Comets in action this season – and the stakes have never been higher!
On Saturday join the front office for a CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH PARTY for the game in Baltimore at 6:30pm at Coach's at 103rd & Wornall.
The Mavericks host the Denver Cutthroats on Friday. There will be a Colt King Bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,500 fans and St. Patricks Day Jersey auction benefitting Community Services League.
Saturday night they take on the Quad City Mallards at the IEC. The first 1,500 in attendance will receive an orange seat cushion courtesy of American Family.  Then the team heads to Quad City to again battle the Mallards on Sunday afternoon.
On St. Patrick’s Day the Kansas City Renegades begin play in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. Exciting indoor football action returns to Kemper Arena. So after the parade head on down to the West Bottoms for pre-game tailgating, entertainment and high-scoring football. The team has announced that after the first touchdown they are going to create a Harlem Shake video. Sooooooo bring your props, costumes and energy to the game and be a part of this epic movement!
May the luck of the Irish be with the Renegades.
If you want to get primed for the Renegades game you can head to Topeka on Saturday night to catch league rival, the Kansas Koyotes, as they begin play in the CPIFL. They host the Oklahoma Defenders at Kansas Expocentre with kickoff scheduled for 5:30pm.
The Topeka RoadRunners are on the road this weekend. They are in Odessa to take on the Jackalopes. As with all RoadRunners away games there will be a watch party at Blind Tiger Brewery.
Erin go Braugh

Comets Host Game One Of MISL Championship

The Missouri Comets shocked the Major Indoor Soccer League last weekend when they came from behind in two games to defeat the defending champion Milwaukee Wave for a chance to win this year's title. Now they are set to host the first professional league championship in any sport since the Kansas City Attack hosted the NPSL Finals in 1997 and before that, the Kansas City Royals hosted their last World Series game in 1985. The first MISL Championship series for the Comets begins at home, in the Independence Events Center, this Thursday, March 14th at 7:35pm.

Finishing third in the MISL's Regular Season, the Comets were paired up with the Milwaukee Wave for the third straight year in the MISL Semi-Finals series. After winning the MISL Championship each of the past two seasons, Milwaukee enjoyed a 16 game winning streak and a 12-1 home record this season and looked to be on a path towards a third straight championship run after they defeated the Comets in Game One of this year's Semi-Final series at the Independence Events Center in overtime 12-10.

The Comets entered Game Two at Milwaukee with the confidence that they were the only team to make the Wave suffer defeat at home and that they ended the 16 game winning streak for the Wave this season. However, after falling behind 8-5 in the fourth quarter, the outcome was looking bleak. Coach Kim Roentved kept his side calm though as they chipped away at the Milwaukee lead. Mads Falck got Missouri within one point with an unassisted goal halfway through the final quarter and with 34 seconds left in the game Leo Gibson sealed the win with his first goal of the postseason.

With the series tied at one game apiece, the two teams immediately faced off in a 15 minute "˜Mini-Game' to decide who would move on to the MISL Championships. The Comets got on board first with a three-point goal from Coady Andrews. Although only scoring four goals all season, this was Andrews' second three-point goal of the day. Milwaukee jumped back with two goals of their own for a 4-3 lead though and packed in their defense to try and preserve victory. The Comets pulled their goalkeeper, Danny Waltman, to bring on Vahid Assadpour as an extra attacker as they threw everything at the Milwaukee defense. With seven seconds remaining in the season for one of the two teams, Marcel Feenstra of Milwaukee deflected a shot up and over his goal, setting up a corner kick for the Comets. As Assadpour and Lucas Rodriguez crashed the goal, John Sosa's corner kick found Byron Alvarez sneaking into the space vacated by the two midfielders and knocked home the game winner.

Championship weekend for the MISL begins tomorrow, March 13th when the league announces the Most Valuable Player, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year awards. Earlier today, Comets defender Leo Gibson was named 1st Team All-MISL and captain Vahid Assadpour was named 2nd Team All-MISL. The awards will be handed out at a press conference in the Independence Events Center's President's Club at 3:30pm. The Press Conference is open to the public.

MISL All-League, All-Rookie Teams Announced

The Major Indoor Soccer League honored the top performers from the 2012-13 regular season today, naming the All-MISL First and Second Teams as well as the All-Rookie Team.

Six MISL clubs are represented in the teams, with the Baltimore Blast and Rochester Lancers leading the way with four selections each. The Milwaukee Wave and Chicago Soul each had three players honored, while the Syracuse Silver Knights and Missouri Comets had two each.

The All-MISL and All-Rookie teams are selected through a vote by MISL team management and select media members.

Baltimore and Missouri will face off in the best-of-three 2013 MISL Championship Series starting Thursday at the Independence Events Center in Missouri (8:35 p.m. ET, MISLNation.com), with the second leg set for Saturday at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore (7:35 p.m. ET, MISLNation.com). A deciding mini-game will be played immediately following Game 2 if needed.

2012-13 All-MISL First Team

GK Nick Vorberg, Milwaukee Wave

D Leo Gibson, Missouri Comets

D Mike Lookingland, Baltimore Blast

MF/F Doug Miller, Rochester Lancers

MF/F Neto, Syracuse Silver Knights

MF/F Mauricio Salles, Rochester Lancers

2012-13 All-MISL Second Team

GK Jeff Richey, Chicago Soul

D Pat Healey, Baltimore Blast

D Nelson Santana, Syracuse Silver Knights

MF/F Vahid Assadpour, Missouri Comets

MF/F Carlos Farias, Chicago Soul

MF/F Luan Oliveira, Milwaukee Wave

2012-13 MISL All-Rookie Team

GK William Vanzela, Baltimore Blast

D Stephen Basso, Rochester Lancers

D Pedrinho, Rochester Lancers

MF/F Luan Oliveira, Milwaukee Wave

MF/F Carlos Munoz, Chicago Soul

MF/F Lucas Roque, Baltimore Blast

Comets Rally To Reach Championship

The Missouri Comets booked their first trip to the MISL Championship Series since the franchise's return to action in 2010 after taking a pair of dramatic victories against the Milwaukee Wave on Sunday evening at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Leo Gibson's goal with 34 seconds remaining kept the Comets' hopes of advancing alive, evening the series with a 9-8 win, before Byron Alvarez scored the game-winning goal with five seconds to play in the Game 3 mini-game to earn a 5-4 win and a meeting with the Baltimore Blast.
After losing Game One 12-10 in overtime on Thursday night, the Comets knew they had a big mountain to climb in Milwaukee. Missouri fell behind early when the Game 1 hero for Milwaukee, Guiliano Oliverio, scored halfway through the opening quarter. Oliviero’s initial shot was saved by Comets goalkeeper, Danny Waltman, but was still bouncing slowly towards the goal line when Comets defender Vahid Assadpour raced to save it off the line, only for his shot went off Oliviero’s head and in the net.
Jeff Hughes put the Comets on the board three minutes later when his cross in front of the Wave goal was deflected in by the Milwaukee defender, but the Wave regained the lead in the second quarter as Ian Bennett snuck home a shot off the right post to take a 4-2 lead into the half.
The Comets and Wave traded goals in the third period, with Tenzin Rampa making it 6-2 for Milwaukee as he scored from close range. Coady Andrews answered for the Comets from 3-point range, making it a one-point game entering the fourth quarter, but Oliviero scored nine seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Wave an 8-5 advantage.
The Wave then fell into a defensive shell to try and protect their advantage, giving Missouri the bulk of possession in the quarter. Feenstra was unrelenting as he faced several shots from the Comets and turned most of them away. Brian Harris was able to get the Comets back within one point when he took a shot from outside the penalty box that ricocheted through the Wave defense and into the net.
The Comets brought Vahid Assadpour on as a sixth attacker with around two minutes remaining in the game to try and overcome their 8-7 deficit. The move paid off with 34 seconds remaining when Gibson, returning from a three-game suspension, deflected a ball into the net, forcing a Game 3 ‘Mini-Game’.
In the 15-minute game, the Comets maintained their momentum from Game 2 as Coady Andrews, who scored only four goals all season, knocked in his second 3-point goal of the day only two minutes in. As the two-time defending champion, however, Milwaukee was not ready to give up its chance for a three-peat. Luan Oliviera weaved through the Comets defense for a goal from the left, then had the assist four minutes later when Hewerton’s goal put the Wave in front 4-3 with a little over five minutes to play.
Once again, bringing on Assadpour as the sixth attacker proved to be the key for the Comets as they pressed for a late game-winner. The extra pressure that comes from having one more attacker than the Wave had defenders created space, and Feenstra did well to deny the Comets as he tipped a shot over the crossbar with seven seconds remaining for a corner kick on the left. Milan Ivanovic threaded the needle on the restart, Alvarez finding space after a dummy run by Assadpour pulled defenders toward him, and the former MISL Most Valuable Player wasted no time and buried the shot from close to the penalty spot to give his side victory.
The Comets will host Game 1 of the MISL Championship Series at the Independence Events Center on Thursday, March 14th at 7:35 p.m. CT, with Game 2 set for Saturday, March 16 at Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena.

Wave Rally For Overtime Victory Over Comets

The Milwaukee Wave scored six consecutive goals to rally for a 12-10 overtime victory against the Missouri Comets on Thursday night in Game 1 of their semifinal series of the MISL Playoffs at the Independence Events Center. Hewerton scored a hat trick, including the game-tying goal with 20.6 seconds to play, while Giuliano Oliviero scored the game-winning goal for the Wave 8:48 into overtime, putting his side one win away from a return to the MISL Championship Series.

The Comets high-pressure approach to the game early forced mistakes from the Wave that created early opportunities for the hosts. Coady Andrews started things off when he recovered a rebound from a Byron Alvarez shot. Milwaukee goalkeeper Nick Vorberg cheated far to his left to try and block the shot, leaving the rest of the goal wide open for Andrews. As the first quarter ticked down, Jeff Hughes stole the ball from the Wave defense and found a streaking Milan Ivanovic on the right side of the goal. Ivanovic wasted no time and hit a one-timer into the back of the goal, giving the Comets a 4-0 lead at the end of the first.

The Comets remained strong in the second quarter. Hughes got his second assist of the night when he and Mads Falck streaked down the field uncontested towards the Milwaukee goal. The Wave’s Vorberg tried to cut off the angle as he attacked Hughes, but the speedy midfielder was able to push the ball over to Falck who finished the opportunity. A few minutes later, Hughes stepped up to the plate and scored himself, this time on a diving header from forward Byron Alvarez on the power play to give his side an 8-0 halftime lead.

As the second half started, the Comets seemed to be in control, especially after Robert Palmer scored his first MISL goal to put Missouri up 10-0. As the defending champions, however, the Wave were not ready to go home yet. Slowly they chipped away at the Comets' lead as goals by Hewerton and Oliviero brought the Wave to within six points at the end of the third quarter.

The Comets were unable to maintain their high-energy attack in the fourth quarter, and the Wave wrested away control through goals by Hewerton and Luan Oliviero in the first seven minutes of the quarter. With the score 10-8, Missouri seemed to settle down and played a ball-control game, hoping for the clock to tick down to the end. Pulling their goalkeeper in favor of a sixth attacker, the Wave put everything into the attack as the seconds ticked down, and their persistence was rewarded when Hewerton was able to complete his hat trick with only 20.6 seconds to play, sending the game to overtime.

The Comets seemed to be reenergized in the extra period, making several attacks that nearly ended the game. Goalkeeper Danny Waltman was at the top of his game as well, stopping several Milwaukee shots without allowing dangerous rebounds. Ultimately, however, Guiliano Oliviero placed a far-post shot from the left side in the only place he could fit it and won the game for Milwaukee.

The series shifts to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT. If the Comets can pull off the win in Game 2, there will be a 15 minute ‘mini-game’ to decide the series winner. Fans are invited to watch the game with the Comets Nation fan group at Coach’s Bar & Grille.

March 7 Weekend Preview

This weekend you have an eclectic mix of films being released this weekend. The biggest releases is Oz The Great and Powerful. This adventure fantasy stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams. Disney's fantastical adventure directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot--fame and fortune are his for the taking--that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity--and even a bit of wizardry--Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
For a unique viewing experience of this film head to Union Station and catch it on the Extreme Screen.
If you are into action flicks you might like Dead Man Down. This movie stars Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace as two strangers whose mutual desire for revenge draws them together and triggers an escalating trail of mayhem. The film, which also stars Academy Award-nominee Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper, marks the American theatrical debut of director Niels Arden Oplev (the original "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo").
Lastly, there is the limited release of Emperor. A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, "Emperor" tells the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of post-war Japan. Starring Academy Award-winner Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew Fox, and newcomer Eriko Hatsune, "Emperor" brings to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture - General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved?
I also want to mention that one of my favorite westerns is getting the big screen treatment at the Alamo Drafthouse. This coming Wednesday the Drafthouse will be showing The Wild Bunch. This is a film about the mantle of violence passing from old professionals, who live by a code, to even more chaotic and deadly future generations. And what is the code these old men live by? Stand by your friends and against the world, take what you can get, and don’t kill civilians...unless they get in the way.
If you are a Gearhead then you will be happy this weekend. the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show at Bartle Hall. The event kicks off Wednesday and runs through Sunday afternoon. More than 500 new cars, trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and minivans will be on display. Product specialists will be ready to provide all the latest information and demonstrations. Prices are $11 for adults and $6 for children ages 8 to 12. For more information and a full schedule visit their website at: http://kansascityautoshow.com/
The sports weekend kicks off a day early this week. You have two choices to pick from on Thursday. First there is the Comets playoff game. For the third year in a row, the Comets will face off against last year's MISL Champions, Milwaukee Wave at 7:35p at the Independence Events Center!
Also – the Comets will be holding a Pre-Playoff Game Pep Rally Thursday from 3:30-4p at the Independence Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn directly across I-70 from the IEC!! Join Comets players, coaches, mascot and the Galaxy Girls for this FREE event! The playoffs are here! Please join the Comets on their march to the MISL Championship!
College basketball tournament time is also officially here. This weekend the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) will hold its Men's Basketball Championships at Municipal Auditorium (March 7, 9-10) for  the 11th straight year. The conference's top eight regular-season finishers will play in the championship tournament over its three-day stretch. Tickets for games can be purchased now at the Municipal Auditorium box office or online through Ticketmaster. You can also support your favorite team by purchasing tickets through each institutions ticket office and receive a $15 discount off the KC Tournament Pass, which provides you access to all of the games in Kansas City. $5.00 Student KC Single Session and $20 Adult Single Session tickets are also available. Children 6 and under are admitted free.
While you are downtown you can continue to satisfy your basketball jones. The College Basketball Experience will host expanded hours during the month of March. Next week if you show your Big 12 Men's ticket at the door you save $2 on admission.
The Mavericks have a home game this Friday as they host the Quad City Mallards. Back by popular demand, buy 3 tickets to this game and get one free. The next night the situation will be reversed as the Mavericks will battle the Mallards on their home ice. Then the Mavs will be back home on Sunday to host Interstate rival the Wichita Thunder. This is a Pepsi Family 4-Pack game.  The 4-packs include 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 Pepsi products. The Mavericks will also host a post-game skate with the team on Sunday. You can register to skate with the team at the ticket table behind section 109. It is $5 to rent skates, $2 if you have your own skates. Click here to get your 4-Packs now!
You also have a chance to catch the Kansas City Renegades as they wrap up training camp this week. If you want to catch their final practice of camp at the KC Sports Lodge (19310 E. 50th Terrace, Independence, MO) they will be there from 8am-11am.
The Topeka RoadRunners are on the road this Thursday and Friday to take on the Texas Tornado. As with all RoadRunners home games there will be a watch party at Blind Tiger Brewing.
Have A Great Weekend!

Milwaukee Wave In Missouri Tonight For Game 1 Of Playoffs

The MISL playoffs begin tonight, and for the past two seasons the Milwaukee Wave have taken the crown. They will look to hold off three other teams in order to capture their third straight MISL Championship. Their first opponent in their title defense will be the Missouri Comets, who finished the regular season with a 13-13 overall record. Game one takes place at 7:35 p.m. tonight in Missouri. Game two is set for Sunday, March 10th at 3:10 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

"It's going to be tough because they're good offensively; we just have to dig deep play defense, and they'll be ready to go, but so are we," said Wave forward Ian Bennett on the upcoming series against Missouri. The two teams split the regular season series 2-2.

Game one saw Missouri tie the game late in regulation, and come out with a win in overtime. #22 Joe Hammes of the Wave put the Wave up 2-0 on a restart, but that was matched by #23 Byron Alvarez goal to tie things at 2-2. Missouri went on top 4-2 on a goal from #25 Brian Harris, but the Wave regained the lead on a three point goal from #7 Luan Oliveira. The Wave added one more goal to take a 7-4 lead into the second half. #27 Ryan Junge of Missouri tied the game at 7-7 with a three point goal of his own. The Wave went up 11-7 on goals from #10 Jonatan Santos and #28 Jonathan Greenfield. Missouri's Alvarez scored his second goal of the game, and then with a sixth attacker on the field Missouri tied things at 11-11, and the game went into overtime. In the golden goal overtime #15 Coady Andrews of Missouri put one in the net to allow Missouri to come away with a 13-11 win.

In the second meeting the Wave defeated Missouri 18-6. #4 Josh Rife and #24 Marcelo Fontana each scored a goal in the first quarter to give the Wave a 4-0 lead. No scoring occurred in the second, but Milwaukee got things going once again in the third, with goals from Oliveira, and Rife (his second of the game) to make it 8-0. A Missouri score by Alvarez made it 8-2 heading into the final quarter. Hammes and #14 Nick Perera scored to extend the Wave's lead to 13-2. Following those goals Oliveira and Fontana each added their second goals of the game to clinch the win.

The third matchup between the two teams went back and forth until Milwaukee pulled away late to get a 29-15 victory, and home-field advantage in the first round of the MISL Playoffs. Missouri went up 5-0 early on goals by Alvarez and Jeff Hughes. The Wave came back with goals from #25 Israel Sesay and #26 Ian Bennet to put the score at 5-4. Each team added another goal and at the end of the first quarter it was 7-6. #7 Vahid Assadpour pushed Missouri to a 9-6 lead, but the Wave's Fontana cut the deficit to 9-8 with a goal of his own. Harris scored for Missouri, but Wave goals by #79 Hewerton and #21 Giuliano Oliviero gave the Wave a 12-11 halftime lead. Missouri's Assadpour and Milwaukee's Oliveira scored their second goals of the contest, and #8 Fabinho of the Wave hit a three point shot to give them a 17-13 advantage heading into the final quarter. #14 Leo Gibson from Missouri nailed a two point shot to make things interesting at 17-15, but the Wave ran away with the game, scoring 12 straight points en route to the win.

The Wave had a 16 game winning streak heading into the two team's final meeting. That streak came to an end as Missouri won 17-9. Ian Bennett connected on two goals to put Milwaukee in front 4-0 after the first quarter. Missouri came back in the second when Leo Gibson scored two goals of his own, to tie things at 4-4 at the midway point. Missouri gained their first lead of the game in the third quarter on a goal from Byron Alvarez. #18 Bryan Perez of the Wave scored his first goal for the team to tie thing up, but #11 Mads Falck's goal helped Missouri regain the lead at 8-6. Alvarez added his second goal to start the fourth, but Bennett completed his hat trick with a three point goal to put the score at 10-9. That would be as close as the Wave would get, as Vahid Assadpour added two goals, and Gibson completed his hat trick with a three point goal to get Missouri the win.

Two Comets Receive Weekly Honors

The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that the Missouri Comets had a pair of players named to the Team of the Week as defender Ryan Junge and midfielder Vahid Assadpour were honored after their side’s 8-6 overtime win against Chicago. Assadpour scored twice, and Junge had a pair of assists, as the Comets locked up the No. 3 seed in the MISL Playoffs and a series with the Wave this week.

Milwaukee Wave forward Nick Perera was named the league’s Player of the Week for the final week of the 2012-13 season. Perera scored five goals and added two assists as the Wave entered the 2013 MISL Playoffs on a high with three consecutive victories.

Milwaukee goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra joined Perera on the Team of the Week after picking up a pair of wins with a 7.00 goals-against average. Feenstra was at his best in Syracuse last Wednesday, recording 23 saves as the Wave held off the Silver Knights’ second-half rally, and he also recorded 18 saves in Milwaukee’s 8-6 win against Wichita.

Chicago’s Carlos Farias and Carlos Muñoz rounded out the honorees, with Farias having a seven-point night in the Soul’s playoff-clinching 17-6 win against Syracuse last Friday. Muñoz also shined against the Soul, finishing with a hat trick, as the expansion side capped its inaugural season with a berth in the playoffs.

The Comets open up the MISL Semi-Finals Series at home this Thursday.  Game time for the matchup against the Milwaukee Wave is 7:35pm.  This is the third straight season the Comets and Wave have faced off in the league’s penultimate series of the year.  FC Kansas City forward and second round draft pick for the Blues, Erika Tymrak, will be a special guest at Thursday night’s game and she will be signing autographs following the match.

Comets and Independence Chamber Organize Playoff Pep Rally

As the Comets prepare to take on the defending MISL Champion Milwaukee Wave this Thursday night, March 7th in the first round of the playoffs, the team will first be treated to a pep rally a few hours earlier, courtesy of the Independence Chamber of Commerce. The team will be showcased as part of the Independence Chamber's Business Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn, located directly across Interstate 70 from the Comets' playoff venue, the Independence Events Center.
The pep rally will take place during the last half hour of the Business Expo from 3:30-4:00pm Comets coaches and players will be joined by mascot Calvin the Comets' Canine, the Galaxy Girls dance team and a pep band. The rally is free and open to the public. The Independence Chamber of Commerce Business Expo runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm, where many of the area's top companies will be represented.
Comets Head Coach, Kim Roentved is thrilled that the Independence Chamber is highlighting his team's accomplishments this year. "The team is grateful and humbled that the Independence Chamber of Commerce has chosen to honor us in this fashion," said Roentved. "We are excited about the pep rally, which we hope will propel us on to victory later that evening."
Game time for the Comets March 7th semi-final matchup against Milwaukee is 7:35pm.

March 1 Weekend Preview

Well, February ended with SnowPocalypse and March is here. so if you have been snowbound you are probably itching to get out and do something. There are movies for every taste opening this weekend. First up is the Party Comedy “21 and Over”. In this laugher Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him. But when his two best friends Casey and Miller surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, he decides to do the unexpected for a change, even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery in this outrageous comedy.
Next up is the horror thriller “The Last Exorcism Part II”. Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can't remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning.
Then there is the Cold War Thriller “Phantom”. Ed Harris plays the captain of a Cold War Soviet missile submarine who has secretly been suffering from seizures that alter his perception of reality. Forced to leave his wife and daughter, he is rushed into a classified mission, where he is haunted by his past and challenged by a rogue KGB group (led by David Duchovny) bent on seizing control of the ship's nuclear missile. With the fate of humanity in his hands, Harris discovers heas been chosen for this mission in the belief he would fail. "Phantom" is a suspense submarine thriller about extraordinary men facing impossible choices.
If those are not to your liking you could take in the Fantasy flick “Jack the Giant Slayer”. This movie tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself.
Lastly there is the British Crime Drama “The Sweeney”. Tearing up the streets of London, "The Sweeney" is a stylish, exhilarating action thriller proving sometimes you have to act like a criminal to catch a criminal. Armed and dangerous, the Sweeney Flying Squad are old school crime fighters enforcing the law. Led by legendary detective Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and his loyal partner, they have their own unique way of operating and always get results. With a bank heist in progress and his old enemy making a reappearance on the London crime scene, Regan will do whatever it takes to get the job done, even defying orders from his no-nonsense boss (Damian Lewis).
As far as the local teams you have several options this weekend. The Comets regular season is over with them hosting a playoff game next week and the Mavericks only having one home game this weekend. On Friday the Mavericks take on the Quad City Mallards and will be wearing their BLACK jerseys. There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive and plenty of pre and ingame activities planned. For a full list of all the activities click here. Chuck-A-Puck is benefitting Child Abuse Prevention Association and the jackpot will be $600!
The Missouri Rhythm hosts a two game set against the Oklahoma Impact  this Saturday and Sunday.
If you are an indoor football fan and can barely wait for the Kansas City Renegades season to kickoff their inaugural season you are in luck. The team has begun their training camp at the KC Sports Lodge (19310 E. 50th Terrace, Independence, MO).  This is open to the public so you can check out KC’s newest sports team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Training camp dates:
Wednesday 2/27/13 practice #3 (8am-11am) practice #4 (1pm-4pm)
Thursday 2/28/13 practice #5 (8am-11am) practice #6 (1pm-4pm)
Friday 3/1/13 practice #7 (8am-11am) practice #8 (1pm-4pm)
Monday 3/4/13 practice #9 (8am-11am)
Tuesday 3/5/13 practice #10 (8am-11am)
Wednesday 3/6/13 practice #11 (8am-11am)
Thursday 3/7/13 practice #12 (8am-11am)
Friday 3/8/13 practice #13 (8am-11am)
For fans: Players will be available to sign autographs and take pictures after practices.
These games will be played at the Grandview Christian School. For more details check out the Rhythm site.
If you are in the mood to see some roller derby action then you are in luck. The Kansas City Roller Warriors kickoff their season this Saturday night. The action starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Over at the Sprint Center there will ne plenty of action this Saturday and Sunday. Speed! Air! Danger! It’s what makes Arenacross the premier indoor, off-road motorcycle racing championship. What separates Arenacross from traditional motorsports is its intimate close-to-the-action setting, giving fans the on-track feel of horsepower and gravity. Fans will be treated to an exciting new competitive format in 2013 with a pair of high-octane 12-lap Main Events during each night of racing on the highly-technical, air-inducing tracks of Arenacross. As reigning champion Tyler Bowers sets his sights on a third consecutive title, a highly-talented field of challengers, led by veteran Jeff Gibson, will stop at nothing to capture the coveted crown. Fans can also get a one-of-a-kind chance to meet the riders and feel the dirt at the Track Party, full of interactive experiences and the unique chance to see Arenacross up close and personal.
Kansas City will also host the Junior Supercross Challenge (KJSC) that will be making its debut in Arenacross, where the future stars of the sport are showcased in a professional racing environment.
The KJSC will select 15 lucky racers for the chance of a lifetime as they live the life of a factory rider. Aboard identically prepared, factory backed 50SXS bikes these riders will be competing on the very same track as the superstars of Arenacross. The junior racers will also be provided custom racing gear and their very own crew to work on the bikes. During race day, KJSC riders will be able to participate in the rider track walk, opening ceremonies and autograph sessions just like Arenacross competitors and fellow teammates Jeff Gibson and Kelly Smith. KJSC riders will have a full day of activities, from the minute they arrive. These riders will be pitted in a state of the art KJSC race team transporter where they will gear up to begin afternoon practice laps and prepare themselves to compete in a four-lap exhibition race which takes place during the night program.
Professional Racing will be held on Saturday and Amateur Racing will take place on Sunday.
The Topeka RoadRunners return home for the first time in a month as they play two against the Wichita Falls Wildcats. One dollar from each ticket sold for Friday night’s game will be used to help send CPL David Gogian and OFC Jeff Atherly families to Washington DC for the National Police Week Memorial. The Expocentre will match each dollar collected in this effort. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit the Expocentre Box Office.
Have a great and safe weekend!