¢ Is the Kansas sports scene like the fighting factions in Iraq? Brian Kratzer, a Kansas native and photographer for the Gainesville Sun makes that assessment in a column about sports allegiances._Kratzer paints a picture of Kansas as a sports version of Iraq, where residents swear allegiance at birth to either the University of Kansas or Kansas State. But let’s be serious: It isn’t even the most college-sports crazed state in the heartland, a distinction Nebraska wins hands down._¢ Does Kansas City have a college sports identity beyond the Jayhawks? CBS Sportsline columnist Dennis Dodd incorporates KU in column about the “mediocre” Chiefs._Kansas City is a college town and, no, I’m not talking about the University of Kansas, 30 miles to the west (In fact, Jayhawks basketball has more of a pro feel because it being an incubator for NBA talent).__It’s a college town because the lemmings that continue to support mediocre football make it that way. They value barbecue and brats more than accountability by the front office. They can brag about their season tickets in their suburban cul-de-sacs and load up the SUV every Sunday._¢ Alan Mulally, who grew up in Lawrence and now is CEO of Ford Motor Co., was named Aviation Weekly and Space Technology’s person of the year._Not many executives are called upon to play a pivotal role in saving one American icon, let alone two. Alan Mulally has been, first as the leader of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and, now, as chief executive of Ford Motor Co._¢ A KU student whose father was killed by a drunken driver in California testified at the driver’s sentencing hearing last week, according to the Sonora (Calif.) Union-Democrat._ “He was my dad, and I loved my dad,” testified Lawe’s daughter, Sierra, a senior at the University of Kansas studying political science.__”I could drink but I make a choice not to,” Sierra Lawe continued as Dues sobbed. “It’s called strength and I hope you gain some.”_¢ Mark Hirschey, a KU business professor, offers some thoughts on buying small stocks in December so they can rebound in January in this story by the Washington Post._ One of the oldest year-end techniques involves buying small stocks in December in hopes of a January rebound. Despite widespread publicity, this “January effect” still occurs, probably due to tax-loss selling, says business professor Mark Hirschey of the University of Kansas.__His research shows that, even though small stocks’ January effect gained notice in 1976, it has continued to occur. His research shows that small stocks still rise 6 percent on average in that one month, compared with a 1 percent large-stock gain._¢ Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves is the subject of a Q&A in today’s DC Velocity publication. Graves now is in charge of the American Trucking Associations.