But will you PLEASE release the man from the freakin' leash of editorial constraint? His Hall column is a nice view into the local sports scene. It has wit, sarcasm and is often downright gut-bustin' funny, but where this man really shines is in his Off the Couch columns. Jeffrey Flanagan's column in The Star is as close to a clone of Off the Couch as they can muster, but Top of the Mornin' is about as close to Off the Couch as the Pitch is to The Leaven. BRING BACK OFF THE COUCH!
Brian Kubicki
Kansas City, Missouri
Since Davis chose to apparently ingest high levels of cocaine, chose to enter the Osco to commit a crime and chose to fight with the employees who were justifiably attempting to detain him until the police arrived (and who just happened to be white), Davis is responsible for his own death. No amount of protesting, displacing of blame or race-baiting will change that.
Mike Lowther
Shawnee
The system described in your article is deplorable. In fact, it looks to me like it borders on fraud! While I certainly am NOT one for bigger government, the elected leaders in Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County need to take a hard look at how to curb this type of abuse of the system and of the public.
K.A. Mimms
Overland Park
It gave us some insight into how suckers are taken to the cleaners. It's time to connect the dots. Those who prey together stay together, like the landlords who apply for entitlements from the federal government's Housing and Urban Development to fix up these rundown properties (to which they hold title) through local banking groups. The notes are guaranteed by HUD. Local bankers love it!
Some landlords don't do what they're supposed to do, then pour the HUD-guaranteed loot into the money markets, stocks or other "investments" and find a sucker to "rent" their properties, often with an "option" to buy.
You've seen these "Make-a-Million-in-Real-Estate" infomercials on TV. Now go to the bank and have them explain how to get a HUD-guaranteed grant. Or call Congressman Dennis Moore's office. He knows because he's on the House Banking Committee.
The trail ends in Washington, D.C.
Richard W. Fatherley
Kansas City, Kansas
I know personally the Band X Miller refers to. What hurts local bands more than anything else are sore losers. Grow up, guys, and quit whining so much, and just have a good time. When you allow other people and their critical approval or disapproval to affect you, then shame on you, sore loser.
Fast Bettie (that's what we'll call him) should keep his hands in his own pockets and stop trying to raise the dead.
Name Withheld Upon Request
Independence
