Kansas City, St. Louis’ little annoying sibling, just has to do everything we do. First we were like “It would be awesome if our football team was really terrible.” and then Kansas City thought that was awesome, so now the Chiefs suck, and now after our All-Star game last year Kansas City wants one of those too.

Commissioner Bud Selig will be in Kansas City on Wednesday to formally award the 2012 All-Star Game to the Royals and Kauffman Stadium. [...] The announcement was delayed as details — such as available hotel rooms — were worked out.

Major League Baseball promised Kansas City an All-Star Game if it passed the major renovations to Kauffman Stadium that opened last year.

Look, St. Louis isn’t exactly in the running for the Olympics lately, but at least we have some major sporting events here. When was the last time Kansas City had anything like this?

[I]t will be Kansas City’s first major sporting event since the 1988 Final Four.

Spit take! Ha. These are the people that get jazzed up like its the effing World Series when the Cardinals come to town once a year, and they want an All Star game? The best part of the article announcing this on KansasCity.com is that last paragraph that basically pleads for the people of KC to not be weird and screw this up:

Because Kansas City voters rejected funding for a rolling roof over Arrowhead Stadium that would’ve drawn a Super Bowl and potential Final Fours, this could be our last major sporting event for some time.

This is just like the ugly girl in the high school class that finally gets her chance to shine and gets all made up for her big night…but then actually still looks really ugly and everyone is all like “Oh yeah, that’s why we don’t like her.” and instead the cool jock goes back to his girlfriend with the giant boobs and great body…ok face, but I mean, that’s not a deal breaker. Don’t get us wrong, she’s not ugly or anything, she’s just realistic in that she knows no one is looking at her face because her jugs are huge.

…oh. So uh…that’s why we should change Troy, MO’s name to “Stop Saying You’re From St. Louisville”…or something.

via Kansas City.com

In the post “Don’t Blame Pujols: An Apology” on the Riverfront Time’s website, Tom Finkel tells the tale of their All Star Guide to St. Louis and how it ruffled the feathers of one big Dominican Cardinal:

Last Thursday afternoon I got a call from Brian Bartow, the St. Louis Cardinals’ director of media relations. Bartow said the team had seen and loved theRiverfront Times Guide to All-Star Week, a special supplement this paper had published the previous day — all except the part where we revealed the home addresses of some current and former Redbirds luminaries.

The players, Bartow said, were particularly peeved, especially Pujols. So upset were they, Bartow told me, that the ballclub felt it had no option but to instruct Major League Baseball to revoke the credentials they’d granted Riverfront Timesto cover the All-Star Game, and to rescind our credentials to cover the team over the course of the regular season.

Finkel goes on to mention what was our initial thought on the subject, that this information is really easily attainable from public records, but I’m betting that doesn’t make Pujols feel any better.

As with most posts like this, the article is fun, the comments are better…god bless comments.

Abe Peters says:

So this smarmy column is supposed to be an apology?

A deranged racist once threatened to kill Derek Jeter and other black players. How would your second-rate publication feel if it contributed to a crime by giving some nut a road map?

Here’s hoping you never get credentialed again. Amateurs.

Dudes named Abe are always grouchy.  I bet Lincoln was grouchy.

Seely says:

I covered the Cardinals a few years ago for the RFT, and the surliest player in the locker room was none other than Pujols. Now, granted, that may have been his pregame psych-up ritual, but the dude hardly has a saintly demeanor, devout as he is.

I’ve heard that all the great ball players were in some way kinda dicky (with the exception of Musial).

Big Joe says:

do you honestly think the players are actually playing out there?! who the hell cares if they win or lose…..think of what would happen if one of those players breaks their arms during an All Star game…..

I could care less who wins the game…..Im more interested in how hot the girls are at the Playboy parties after the game and before the game.

any idiot who thinks all star games and pro bowls are for real is a little wet behind the ears.

Why do all conversations in this town seemingly have to eventually involve a guy that goes by “Big Joe”?

We all need to chill out on this “Greatest Fans” crap.  Not because I don’t think its true, I think the average St. Louis Cardinals fan has got to be right up there in the argument to who is the best, most intelligent fans.  No, I think we should cut the “Greatest Fans” thing because the weight of living up of that is apparently weighing on some so much that they have had the fun squeezed right out of them.

The best example of this was last night at the All Star game, specifically during the introductions of the All Star players.

As Joe Buck went down the list, the Cardinals fans in attendance cheered like good little “best fans,” even when they introduced the Red Sox, but when they got to Ted Lilly, starting pitcher for the bitter rival Cubs,  the Cardinals fans in Busch Stadium booed.  Gasp.

I thought it was awesome.  Thats what you are supposed to do…its game…the Cubs are our rivals.

Some, however, disagreed.

At least Will Leitch (of Deadspin) is on my side…

Chill out St. Louis.  Take that giant self-imposed lead weight off your shoulders and enjoy a fun game that includes rivalries. Being good fans is great and I think thats us, but being uptight all the time about something as fun and silly as booing your rival, just makes us sound like the British people of the baseball world.

According to Matthew Leach, the MLB.com writer that covers the Cardinals, pretty much nothing will be allowed past the gates for the All Star game because of the Presidential first pitch.

Here are his tweets from earlier today:

Working on story on stadium/city/etc procedures for ASG week. One thing mentioned: for the game itself, it’s essentially TSA security. #

“If you can’t take it on the airplane, you’re not going to be allowed to bring it in the building that day. ” – Joe Abernathy, stadium ops. #

Won’t be that strict for the rest of the weekend, just Tuesday night w/the President in attendance. #

I do NOT believe that applies to shoe removal. It was not mentioned. #

However, no bottles, even water bottles, on Tuesday night. #

Also – no re-entry whatsoever on Tuesday night. Not even for smoke breaks. #

They were not shy about admitting that traffic, parking and security will present some headaches. #

I would say that sucks, but whatever.  I can pee, smoke, leave, come back, keep my shoes on and take my pants off at home with the HD TV.

When we get a link to Leach’s full article, we’ll be sure to update with a link.

[Editor's Note: In other Matt Leach news, you can find him on our St. Louis Sports Celeb Twitter Index!  Check it out and follow some sports guys to butch up that following list full of Perez Hilton and Britney.]

STLog tried to find out what the deal is with the Cardinals and tickets to July’s All-Star Game.

Strohm says that those with Cardinals season tickets will have an opportunity to get seats, but the exact locations of those seats haven’t been determined. The club will contact season ticket holders in April with more details. 

Want to Remember 1986 live?  Hal Sparks is coming to the lou.

So is James Taylor and is tickets are pretty expensive for a guy I remember being on Sesame Street.

One last concert note: If you don’t already have Joel McHale tickets, you ain’t goin’!

Todd Jordan tells you about Goodreads.

Goodreads is more than just a place to chalk up all of the books you’ve read. It’s a place to share, be shared with, and to find out what your friends are reading and recommending.

Lastly, Super Fun Patrol laments the loss of Aqua Pizza.