SPORTS & RECREATION ball courts off Holmes Road and Blue Ridge Boulevard is within a watermelon’s throw of a busy railroad line to the east that causes the ground to shake slightly when a train plows by. But it’s a welcome destination for experienced volleyball players, newcomers and those in between.
BEST REC-CENTER INVESTMENT
Wyandotte County pays to keep the Eighth Street YMCA open Earlier this year, the YMCA of Greater Kansas City announced plans to shutter its Eighth Street location. “Hell to the no,” said the Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners. In April, WyCo’s leaders offered the Y $10,000 a month to keep the treadmills on. Worth it. Yeah, the building is old and has a unique odor that doesn’t help your bench press. But the Y is a rare workout joint near downtown, and the place is usually hopping on weekend afternoons. Plus, it’s the last Y location to offer racquetball. We really need our damn racquetball, you guys.
BEST FAST-PLAYING PUBLIC GOLF COURSE
Heart of America Golf Academy 7501 Blue River Road • 816-513-8940 hoagolfacademy.com
One of the most appealing things about the Heart of America Golf Academy’s public course is that it’s one-stop golfing for anybody who plays the game. If you’re just learning, sign up for lessons or whack a bucket on the driving range. Hacks with a little more experience can knock out a round on the par-3 course called “The Rock,” which works water hazards and tricky trees into the game. Already got skills? The “River Course” is the one for you: Water factors into more than half the holes, the greens are challenging to read, and the landscaping is relatively fresh. If you’re looking for a quick round that won’t suck up your whole day, HOA is your place.
BEST SHRED OF HOPE FOR UMKC SPORTS
UMKC hires basketball coach Kareem Richardson “Kansas City’s university.” So say the most recent advertisements from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Let’s face it: If the school really wants to whip up a local frenzy of support, it’s going to need more than de-
cent medical and law schools and a worldrenowned conservatory. It’s going to need an exciting (read: winning) sports team. The school could be moving that way with its men’s basketball program. The school hired coach Kareem Richardson to lead the Roos into their first season in the Western Athletic Conference. Richardson is hot off winning the 2013 NCAA Championship as an assistant coach with Louisville. The Roos will be his first turn as a head coach (his résumé includes assistant stints at Xavier, Drake and Indiana State), and we’re hopeful that he can turn around a program that has languished for years. If Richardson can reverse the Roos’ fortunes, the team’s new home at Municipal Auditorium will easily be able to handle larger crowds.
BEST ATHLETE WHO MAKES US FEEL LAZY
Kelly Dippold Most days, we’re pleased if we get out of bed on time, do a decent job at work and clock out in time to flail on the treadmill for a halfhour — all the while hoping that the attractive, fit people surrounding us don’t notice as we gradually decrease the speed setting. So we’re hella impressed with Overland Park triathlete Kelly Dippold. The 50-year-old not only qualified for the Triathlon World Championships in New Zealand last October but also went and won her age bracket. Dippold, who works for Lockton Companies, claimed the title (and the envy of everyone who dons old 5k T-shirts for their jogs) with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes, 21 seconds. Yeah, that’s a pretty impressive time to complete a 1,500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer bicycle ride and a 10-kilometer run. She makes us all look like slow-moving bums.
THANKS KARNBESSTASBOCWLIITNGYALLEY &
FOR VOTING US TOP 3 FOR FAMILY FOR 55 YEARS! FOR BEING PART OF OU - MISSION BOWL
BEST SURPRISE
The Kansas City Chiefs' defense Last year, we called Chiefs defenders Justin Houston and Tamba Hali the "Best Hope for the Chiefs' Future." We were onto something. As of press time, Kansas City is undefeated, and a big reason is the defense. Houston is the NFL's sack leader, and he's the league's third-fastest pass rusher to record 20 sacks. The only guys better: Chiefs legend Derrick Thomas and ex-KC mullet king Jared Allen. Add a ball-hawking secondary of Sean Smith, Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers; imposing linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali; and a barbecue-free Dontari Poe, and the Chiefs' D is looking stronger than ever.
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