IT'S OFFICIALLY...A MURDER.

Rough day for the Chiefs.  To ease the pain, let's all just sit back and enjoy one of the greatest montages of all time:

I'VE GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS

So does this ever happen to anyone else?

You go to a movie.

Maybe it's a romantic comedy. Twenty minutes in, you figure out what the love-triangle/apparent obstacle to romance plot twist is going to be.

Or it's a dramedy. You realize about a third of the way through that the most likable character is too likable. So likable, that it's pretty much certain he or she is going to die before the movie's over. Then you're going to get to watch the other, less-likable characters learn Something from the tragic death.

Perhaps it's a suspense/action flick, and after the first half-hour, you realize which main character is secretely the bad guy, how the double-cross is going to go down, and how the good guys are going to manage to secretely record/and or broadcast the bad guy's confession.

So after you come to the realization, you're pretty much just sitting there watching all the filler between the main plot points. As the main plot points arrive, you check them off the list you created in your mind once you had your realization. Makes watching the remainder of the movie a lot less enjoyable.

Well, this is pretty much how we view our career as a sports fan over the past few years around here. Each season, it's only a matter of a few weeks until we realize how it's all going to go down.

Although we cover as many of the area pro and major college teams as we can, it's no secret that our personal rooting interests lie in the Royals, Chiefs, and K-State Wildcats. And things have not gone well.

In fact, there's been one season that exceeded expectations out of that group over the last three years: K-State basketball, last year. For the rest, it's just been a matter of how far into the season it takes before we realize we're watching the same old movie.

The rest of the time, it's just been a matter of when we figure out that this season, like most recent seasons, is just going to be another compilation of losses in which we're forced to look for positives like Billy Butler's number of doubles, Tyler Thigpen's performance in the pistol offense, or Larry Johnson's ability to go to a bar without having assault charges filed.

Sometimes, it's worse. You know what movies we never see? Movies like Valkyrie, where you already know the ending, and you know it's not good.

Last year, K-State football was the Valkyrie of our rooting interests. We knew it wasn't going to end well before it even started.

We had a little--little--more hope this year, but it's become clear by now that the improvement in coaching at K-State isn't going to make up for the deficiency in talent. Once again, we're reduced to looking for improvement in the little things, like the offensive line's ability to hold a block or Carson Coffman's attempts to run an option without tripping over his own feet.

There will be an upcoming podcast reflecting on K-State's improvements and remaining deficiencies, but the bottom line is that once again there will be no bowl.

(It's indeed a strange time: K-State fans looking forward to basketball season and KU football players standing up to the basketball players in the quest to be the BMOC.)

It just sucks to have to sit through the rest of the movie when you already know how it ends.

STRAIGHT OUTTA LECOMPTON

Well, I suppose when your university colors are the same as the country's two most prominent rival gangs, something like this is bound to happen eventually. Turf war! KU basketball vs. KU football!

TWEETING TODAY'S GAMES

We've got three TVs set up and ready to watch a lot of good football today. We'll be tweeting our thoughts on the games throughout the day @quickshotskc.

PODCAST IS NOW

Well, here it is. The first Shotcast. It's not the smoothest, but it should get better as we go along. We explain our Big 12 North picks and take issue with some K-State season ticket holders.

You can play it in the following player, or visit the link above for download and subscription options.

Powered by Podbean.com

IN THIS ECONOMY, THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IS THAT JOE MORGAN SOMEHOW REMAINS EMPLOYED

In case you missed it today, the boys from the sadly-defunct Fire Joe Morgan reunited at Deadspin for one glorious day of doing what they do best: exenterating columnists who phone it in and/or suggest Derek Jeter is deserving of the MVP.

Also, we may have been responsible for tipping Deadspin as to the photo of the large shirtless fellow who stormed the field at the Royals' game last night. You're welcome, America.

BOLD & DARING LOSS

K-State wasn't overly impressive this weekend in defeating UMass, but things could have been worse.

Former KSU head coach and current UVa special teams coach Ron Prince's pursuit of perfection at his new (but old) school got off to a rocky start with a loss to FCS school William & Mary.

Memo to UVa boosters: keep a close eye on your administration to make sure Ron's not working on any secret agreements with them.

THESE COLORS DON'T BOOZE

According to the KC Star, MU and KU officials have complained to Bud Light about its sale of cans in Lawrence and Columbia that feature the local universities' colors.

K-State is taking a more reasonable view:

"If the cans had a university logo and had a Powercat on them, then obviously we would be concerned,” said Pat Bosco, K-State vice president for student life. “We have a commitment to educating our students about underage drinking, but we don’t have a trademark on purple and white."

I particularly liked this line from the article:

Officials said they also worried the cans might appeal to underage drinkers.

Yes, officials. I'm sure it's the appearance of the cans and not their content that's going to cause underage students to drink.

BIG XII NORTH PREVIEW

Since the only thing holding our interest in the Royals these days is whether Zack Greinke can successfully pull off a Cy Young year while playing for one of the worst teams in franchise history and whether the Royals can at least succeed in nailing down the first pick in next year's draft and thereby win the Bryce Harper Sweepstakes, it must mean that football season is just around the corner.

And indeed it is. This year, the first weekend has a number of delicious matchups that will get the season started strong right out of the gate.

So its time for us to give our thoughts on how the Big XII North will shake out. We're trying something different for this: a podcast with our pontifications. However, we haven't quite finished navigating all the technical issues required to post the podcast, so while we do that, we'll provide the following teaser for the podcast.

Predicted Big XII North standings:

1. Colorado. The Buffs benefit from a favorable schedule to claim the top.
2. KU. Perhaps the most talent returning, but schedule precludes a championship.
3. Mizzou. Too much turnover, but still in the race.
4. Nebraska. Surprisingly popular pick, given their brutal schedule.
5. Kansas State. Should be fun to watch Snyder's new offense, but ultimately won't have the horses this year.
6. Iowa State. No wonder Gene Chizik bailed.