Titletown. That is a name some cities bestow upon themselves if multiple sports teams win their respective championships. As of now Kansas City is the only city left with hopes of claiming that title currently.

The Royals are fresh off a World Series title. The Kansas City Chiefs are hot. The Chiefs are a long ways from a Super Bowl but they are one of just eight teams left playing this weekend. 

They have a legitimate shot at beating the New England Patriots. One of the weaknesses of the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots is their offensive line. One of the strengths of the Chiefs is the defensive front seven.

If the Chiefs are fortunate enough to get by the Patriots what could be better than a trip to Denver to play the Broncos for the right to go to the 50th Super Bowl. 

Prep thoughts

With a lot of the area attention being paid to boys teams at Central Plains and St. John, the Larned boys have quietly gone 8-1 this season. The Indians have a very balanced attack on the offense end, making it difficult for teams to defend. Larned’s only loss so far this year was to St. John.

The Indians will get a good test tomorrow night when they travel to Hesston to take on the Swathers. Hesston’s only loss on the season was 4A No. 3 Buhler in the season opener. Hesston is currently ranked No. 4 in Class 3A.

Following the trip to Hesston the Indians will head the Mid-Winter Classic in St. John where another potential matchup with St. John looms in the semifinals.

Former athlete/coach update

The view is pretty good from the top of the Southland Conference. That is Steve Forbes’ view of the basketball standings. During the former Cougar men’s basketball coach’s initial season as a head coach in D-I, Forbes has his East Tennessee State team with the early lead.

Now it should be noted that at 3-0 in the Southland, the Buccaneers (10-6) lead may be a little misleading – or maybe not. ETSU has won five straight with two big road games this week. It starts tonight at Samford and crescendo’s Saturday at Tennessee-Chattanooga.  Chattanooga is 3-1 in the conference and 14-3 overall. If the Bucs can sweep those two they are probably the team to beat in the Southland.

Around campus

Senior Day. Not something you hear much at a 2-year school. Barton, however, does have a Senior Day – for high school seniors. Tana Cooper and her admissions staff are the cornerstone for this day, which will be Feb. 6. Now entering its fifth year, Senior Day takes a lot off effort by Cooper and her staff – Maggie Harris, Kristan Connell, Wendy Rodriquez and the cast of cheery ambassadors.

The day consists of an information session by the admissions staff, meetings with advisors in interested areas of study as well as campus and housing tours. The days wraps up with drawings for prizes, including a pair of $500 Foundation scholarships and tickets to the basketball game that night.

Seniors are encouraged to register on the Barton website. So even if you have visited before, come back and try and win that scholarship and cheer on the Cougars.

And finally

I am working on an idea. An idea that would keep me from lugging our 8-foot Christmas tree to and from the basement twice a year. I think I have it figured out. How about we leave the tree up year ‘round and decorate to different holidays. This could work. While Christmas would still be its main season and highlight of its year, the tree could have odd jobs in the off season as the tree for other holidays.

Right about now would be time to be taking down Christmas and begin decorating for Valentine’s Day. From there you can have St. Patrick’s Day or March Madness. Then Easter would round out the spring season.

Following Easter would be the hard one. Perhaps something with the end of the school year. Or maybe squeeze in a Mother’s Day tree. The summer months would be easy. Memorial Day to Flag Day to the Fourth of July. You would never have to change it if you didn’t want.

Another tough fill might be following the Fourth. Perhaps the start of school and football season along with Labor Day could take you into Halloween, Thanksgiving and right back to Christmas.

Think about. You put the tree up just once and leave it. There would be time spent changing the ornaments but that isn’t too tough.

It would start an entire new line of ornaments and help the economy as well.

Who’s with me?