Fans flock for radio shock jock

Rome packs house for 'unbelievable' tour stop

? The clips of Danny Manning and the Miracles winning the 1988 NCAA championship which were flashing on two big screen TVs inside Municipal Auditorium Saturday afternoon had a raucous crowd of 10,000 crazed sports fans pumped.

But the seemingly pro Kansas University audience went crazy when a short man dressed in all black emerged through the leftover smoke from pyrotechnics as the song “Welcome to the Jungle” resonated through the auditorium’s sound system.

“KC, what is UP!” screamed Jim Rome.

And with those words, World Tour Stop No. 26 officially began.

Of course, the sports fan’s ultimate party ? athletes, alcohol and music ? started much earlier for some. People lined up in downtown Kansas City as early as 10 p.m. Friday so they could see their favorite sports radio shock jock live.

Rome, one of the top sports media personalities in the country, built his reputation with his nationally-syndicated radio show, The Jungle, and his Fox Sports TV show, The Last Word. But it was the idea of Saturday’s impromptu Vegas-style act (sponsored by Kansas City’s 810 WHB-AM) that had sports fanatics entranced for the past couple of weeks.

The appearance seemed to go off without a hitch as thousands of clones, Rome’s affectionate label for his legion of followers, showed up in droves and participated in a mass sports-laced orgy that the likes of only Woodstock and Mardi Gras can top.

“KC was just unbelievable,” said Rome, 37, whose radio audience spans more than 200 affiliates worldwide. “KC is already in the top five (of all-time tour stops). Just the energy and the enthusiasm here was unbelievable. I’m thrilled.”

Saturday’s guest list read like a who’s who of Kansas sports figures. Celebrities like Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett, Negro Baseball League legend Buck O’Neil, Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes and current Royal Mike Sweeney were just a few among the dozens sharing the area’s sports spotlight.

All wanted to be a part of the show with the radio host best known for his quick and venomous smack ? another one of the Jungle’s unique glossary words, meaning “uninhibited or gloatful sports talk.”

Even KU coach Roy Williams made a brief appearance, albeit from South Carolina, where he was celebrating his wife Wanda’s birthday.

“Jimmy, I can’t believe 11,000 people showed up to see you,” Williams quipped. “I’d love to be there with you, but I had to take care of my girl. But someone sent her a Jim Rome T-shirt in the mail, so she’ll be representing you down here in South Carolina.”

The capacity crowd ? which had nearly 3,000 more spillover spectators watching via closed-circuit TV in nearby Bartle Hall ? filled the auditorium an hour and half before the show.

They kept occupied with sing-song chants like “St. Louis Sucks” mixed in with the back-and-forth verbal assaults of Kansas and Missouri fans quarreling and the more than occasional flash by the out-numbered female clones.

But one female participant, Colleen Pleiss, a 2001 master’s graduate from KU, said while she liked Rome, she came out because she was a complete sports fanatic.

“I love sports and this is like a once in a lifetime experience,” Pleiss said. “I came out here because I wanted to see some of the people that paved the sports paths in this town through their extensive efforts.”

While no one may have been bigger in that regard than the legendary Brett, it was 90-year-old O’Neil who stole the show.

O’Neil, who Rome called a “national treasure” spun several baseball stories, including one tale about legendary Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige.

After a colorful and drawn-out affair, O’Neil had the audience reeling in laughter. He then proceeded to talk about the meaning of sports in KC and the blessing he received to play some part in it.

“As an athlete, to make your body do exactly what it is you want it to do,” O’Neil said through a sly smile, “there’s nothing better ? not even music or sex.”

O’Neil turned over the microphone to a slew of Chiefs, led by Holmes who again whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Rome, much like the reputation he has built for himself, offered several of his own takes between guests, including one hilarious impersonation of Mike Tyson ? one of his favorite smack targets.

By the time Brett got involved, the all-out warfare between Kansas City and St. Louis natives was at its high point, with the trash talk concerning the 1985 World Series.

But after Brett put Cardinals fans in place, he tried to steal a little Jungle karma ? Rome’s good luck offering ? for this year’s squad.

“I love you Romey. You’re the best,” Brett said. “But we need to get some Jungle karma out there at Kauffman Stadium.”

A few more guests, and the show ended much like it began.

“I love KC!” Rome again shouted as he disappeared in the shadows.