Multimedia Reporting (Adler-Utsler)

Anything good on TV lately? That question might generate a negative response from a Kansas Jayhawk football fan. As the football program under coach Mark Mangino continues to rise in wins and fan support, the Jayhawks are still finding it difficult to find a place in the college football television landscape, and it could get even harder.

The Jayhawks were only on national television four times last season, with the locally-owned Sunflower Network broadcasting an additional four home games. Sunflower usually broadcasts on tape delay the next day any home game that isn’t televised on another network. Much to the displeasure of many Jayhawk fans, Sunflower might not be allowed to broadcast any games in the future.

As the Jayhawks opened one of their most anticipated football seasons earlier this month with an impressive 52-7 win over Central Michigan, many fans were left wondering why the replay wasn’t shown the next day on the Sunflower network. For the first time in over 20 years, Sunflower wasn’t allowed to broadcast the game thanks to the Fox Sports Network. FSN, which in 2003 signed a 10-year contract worth over 100 million with the Big 12, has the exclusive rights to the replays for every Big 12 game not shown on other national networks. In the past, Fox Sports has given Sunflower permission to broadcast the games. This year however, was different. According to Sunflower’s General Manager Patrick Knorr, the move to not allow his station to broadcast the game came at the last minute.

“ We didn’t know we weren’t allowed to broadcast the game until the day before. The representatives at Fox Sports didn’t work with us at all. It was hard to communicate with them,” Knorr said.

Knorr said the main issue was money for the rights to broadcast the games. Sunflower struck a last minute deal before the second game to broadcast the rest of the non-conference games. The local cable station though, is unsure if they will be allowed to air any additional Big 12 games this season. Negotiations are set to continue this week.

For Kansas, losing the Sunflower broadcast is just another setback in their ongoing struggle to get more television exposure. The Big 12 television contract with ABC/ESPN and Fox Sports is widely regarded as one of the worst for a conference its size by most television experts. Metro Sports reporter Mick Shaffer doesn’t understand why the local teams can’t find a way to get on the air.

“ With all the different networks broadcasting football games, it is crazy to think that some of the teams aren’t on television.” Shaffer said.
The current deal calls for only three games to be shown on Saturday, so six teams are left without any television exposure. Unlike the Big 10, which is broadcasted on both ESPN networks and ABC, the conference usually has all of its teams on national television.

Rivals.com recruiting expert Jon Kirby explains it’s not only the fans who are hurt by this, but the team as well. Most programs use their television exposure to sell their program to a potential high school recruit, but because of Kansas and the Big 12’s lackluster coverage, it is harder to get the recruit’s attention.

“This is a major problem for the local schools. I am talking to kids in Kansas City and St. Louis, which are Big 12 cities in Big 12 states, but because they are bombarded with Big 10 football games on their TV every week, they are choosing those schools instead,” Kirby said.

Kansas junior wide receiver Marcus Herford noted it was tough sometimes for his family down in Desoto, Texas to watch him play on Saturdays.

“ For them to watch me play, they have to travel 10 hours up to Lawrence and see me in person. It doesn’t make any sense to me that instead of showing Kansas games in Texas, they are showing games from the east or west coast,” Herford said.

While perennially powerful football schools such as Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska don’t have to worry about getting on television, it is the schools lower in the football pecking order such as Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State that have to fight over the scraps left on the plate. Iowa State, a program similar to Kansas can also relate to the poor TV coverage. For Andy Pollock, who runs Cyclonenation.com, he can sense among the members of his online community the frustration in the lack of TV exposure for his favorite school.

“Most, if not all, Cyclone fans hate the Big 12 package. Being a "lower tier" team as far as fan base is concerned, we don't get on television very much if at all,” Pollock said.
Iowa State has had its own problems with Fox Sports Network. The universities local cable provider, Mediacomm, couldn’t reach a deal with FSN and had to discontinue broadcasting the games. While ISU’s in-state rivals the Iowa Hawkeyes, which is part of the Big 10 network, is on television almost every week.

“With Iowa being on TV every week, it helps them draw in new fans and recruits, it gives them a huge advantage over us,” Pollock said.

While the Big 12 appointed Dan Beebe new commissioner last week, fans shouldn’t expect any changes to the television contract which runs through 2011. KU’s associate athletic director Jim Marchiony thinks by the time a new contract is worked out, the way the media broadcasts football games might change.

“There is so much technology coming out, it is tough to know what new ways and new forms of media we will be broadcasting Kansas football to our fans,” Marchiony said.
For now though, Kansas fans can only hope that Fox Sports and Sunflower agree to a deal in the future that will keep Kansas football games on TV. Or local fans might find new channels to watch – or new teams to root for in the future.

For resident Jack Curry, driving through the streets of North Lawrence after it rains might be comparable to trying to drive his car through a lake.

“ I might be better off in a boat,” Curry said.

The flooding in North Lawrence has been a problem now for over a decade and despite what potential North Lawrence businesses claim, the ongoing flood problem in North Lawrence doesn’t look like it is going to improve any time soon.

Next time the skies open up, if one drives across the bridge over to North Lawrence, they will notice standing water on lawns, streets flooded, and even water seeping into basements. North Lawrence Neighborhood Association President Ted Boyle explains that the problem started in 1994 when low-income homes started popping up in the North Lawrence landscape. With over 140 houses being constructed in the last 13 years, the development led to new streets and sidewalks being built. Anytime a community gains more surfaces, it also means more stormwater as well.

“We never had a problem before all the new development came,” Boyle said.

Besides the flooding, a potential hazard with the standing water in home owner’s lawns is the risk of increased mosquitoes carrying infectious diseases. This leaves some Lawrence residents worried for their families.

“ I won’t let my kids play in the backyard after it rains some times because I don’t want them getting bit by all the bugs,” Curry said.

Matt Bond, director of storm water runoff for Lawrence, realizes the extent of the problem north of the river, but because of the current lack of money in the city government, Bond’s hands are tied. In a North Lawrence storm water drainage study done in 2005, over $41 million was estimated to be needed to create and improve new infrastructures to make storm water runoff more efficient. Such items recommended were an entirely new pump station, plus bigger pipes and tunnels to alleviate some of the excess water. Bond has had to think of new ways to find the money to pay for the improvements.

“We have bonds running through 2009, but I don’t see any debt being taken until then.”

One group that recently stepped forward to help aid the stormwater problem is the developers of the proposed new business park by the Lawrence Municipal Airport. Developer Jes Santualaria, thinks the park, which had its stormwater plan approved by the government, will benefit the residents of North Lawrence.

“ With all the tax revenues that the business park will bring in, that money can go to fix the infrastructure for the rest of North Lawrence,” Santualaria said.

Count Ted Boyle as one resident who isn’t impressed with the Business Industrial Park’s plan. Boyle points out that any tax revenue that is made, probably won’t be seen for at least 20 years. Boyle also knows that the business park will want the city to help pay for their own stormwater infrastructure.

“I think it will help crap,” Boyle said. “ How is the city going to pay for that, if it can’t even give us a $4 million pump?”

As the years have passed, business after business has offered their own solution to solving the storm water problem. Boyle is tired of talk and wants something to be done.

“There hasn’t been a developer in 12 years that has stuck behind their proposals. They arrive, build their business, then leave. It is the residents that have been stuck with the problems,” Boyle said.

There is also the feeling among North Lawrence residents that this problem would never have escalated to this point, had its location been in a more prominent part of Lawrence. North Lawrence still lacks such amenities as a coin laundry center and a grocery store, and Boyle notes that no major growth can really happen until they solve the drainage situation first.

“They did it all backwards, they built new houses and businesses before the infrastructure was ready. They need to fix the drainage situation before they do anything else,” Boyle said.

The city is planning to put in a new left turn lane in front of Johnny’s Tavern in the next year to help make it easier for the stormwater to go directly into the Kansas River. While not the big solutions that resident of North Lawrence hoped for, it should help.

While it only takes 2-4 inches of water to flood the streets of North Lawrence, city government officials fear that a big rainstorm and a flood could severely damage the North Lawrence economy. City planners hope the problem is fixed in time.

“While I think most in the city government are aware of the problem, some forget about it until a big rain storm happens,” Bond said.

For now though, North Lawrence residents can only hope the weather forecast is bright and sunny, even if the immediate future of their storm water problem is not.

The people may come and go, some of the haunted houses may have changed names, and the rats have definitely been replaced, but if there is one constant to the West Bottoms during Halloween season, it is Harry Lewezo – The Rat Man.

Starting in September and running through the Halloween season, Harry can be seen roaming around the streets under the towering vacated warehouses turned haunted houses, sticking live rats in his mouth. From scaring little kids to chasing former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Warren Moon down the street, Harry has become somewhat of a mini-celebrity during the Halloween season. Police Officer Dan Reed, who patrols the area around The Edge of Hell, the haunted house where Harry works, has noticed the popularity of the Rat Man.

“ He is the main attraction, people from all over come just to see him,” Reed said.

While most people only know Harry from his Rat Man persona, most don’t realize that after Halloween, Harry trades the rats and his gig at the haunted houses for early 6 a.m. wakeup calls and a job installing floors.

“I am just like anybody else, working from 9 to 5,” Harry said.

Even without the costume and the rats, Harry still can’t escape his Halloween character, when he was visiting his father on the west coast, he was identified by a random person. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as Harry has met countless people in the two decades he has worked at the Haunted Houses. The people that Harry remembers the most, is the fellow “actors” that work with him, Harry likens it to a family environment.

“ Many times after work, you sit around and have a beer and talk about who you scared, or the different reactions you get, it is good group,” Harry said.

One of those people Harry met ended up becoming his wife, and even his kids currently work at the Haunted Houses. Denny Jordon, who works at the Edge of Hell, knows of two things that will upset the Rat Man more than anything.

“ Bottom line, you don’t mess with his kids….or his rats.”

Harry, who has used countless rats through the years often gives the rats away to kids or local schools after the Halloween season is over. While Harry takes good care of the rats, it still doesn’t stop them from biting Harry whenever he tries to put them in his mouth, but he has a simple solution to that.

“You just got to bite them back, one good bite deserves another.”

Before the rats and the popularity of haunted houses, Harry got his start as a youngster tagging along with his future brother in law, working at the 4H haunted houses in Wyandotte county. He has been in the business ever since. In 1984, The Edge of Hell opened up in the West Bottoms near Kemper Arena in Kansas City, and Harry officially became the Rat Man. Along with Harry, the haunted houses popularity grew every year into what Harry refers to as the “biggest and best” haunted houses in the country.

While Harry and The Edge of Hell may be widely known, it still doesn’t stop people from running away in fear when chased by Harry and his rats. One reaction Harry remembers is when a father wanted him to scare his daughter on her birthday.

“ When she saw me she turned around and ran right into a light pole, they then left to go to the hospital,” Harry remembers.

Most encounters are safe ones, but Harry doesn’t have enough fingers on his hands to count the number of times he has seen people run away, scream, or even wet their pants. Harry has enough experience to tell which people to go after.
“You can tell by the way they try to avoid eye contact, or shuffle their feet. It is easy to point those people out.”
Tom, who runs a concession stand near the haunted houses has seen all types of people get freaked out by the rat guy.

“ The girls get scared the easiest, but the guys try to hide their fear, but they don’t want to get to close to him either.”

While Harry has no apprehension about making his mouth a home for the rats, others aren’t so eager. Often times Harry will inquire if anybody else wants to hold or even join Harry in sticking a rat in their mouth. While most decline the invitation, some take Harry up on his offer.

“On a good night you can get at least three people to do it, the girls will always stick the dry end of the rat in their mouths.”

After another strong year at the box office, the haunted houses still continue to attract a large number of people each year, and as long as it remains fun, Harry wants to keep doing his part.

“It is like a bad addiction I guess.”

Walk inside the Riverfront Plaza’s east tower on 6th and New Hampshire and you can still see the bright green tile on the floor. The tile was put down more than 10 years ago hoping to lure customers to Lawrence's first enclosed mall. Now on one side of the former mall sits a hotel, while the other side was converted for a Pregnancy Care Center. Problems with parking lot access, competition from another new outdoor mall in North Lawrence, and the rise of online shopping meant the Lawrence mall never got off the ground. City Commissioner Mike Dever thought Lawrence was a bad fit for a mall from the start.
"Many successful outlet malls are located in isolated areas on major interstates or in tourist havens that have a large supply of pent up demand from visitors,” Dever said, “I think the City of Lawrence is not located in either of these two areas."

A few years after its opening, the Riverfront Mall went out of business, and other malls in the area were starting to see their glory days as a retail attraction come to an end.

Business at enclosed malls has been going down steadily around the country for the last ten years. Customers and their credit cards are choosing to shop at box stores and open air malls like The Legends in Kansas City, Kan., or Town Center Plaza in Leawood. Malls have reacted in different ways to the change in shopping habits. Some malls locally like Oak Park have become even more popular, by bringing in new stores and tenants. Other malls in Kansas City failed to adapt to their new conditions like Bannister Mall and died a slow death . Finally there is Ward Parkway Mall, which has evolved with the times, and gives hope to other malls in the area looking for one last chance.

To really see how far some local malls have fallen, you look 40 miles east of Lawrence to Metcalf South Mall in Overland Park. Almost 40 years ago, the opening of Metcalf South Mall was celebrated throughout the city. A whole section in the Kansas City Star was devoted to the first enclosed mall in Kansas. It became the hangout spot for teenagers in the 1970’s and 1980’s, families would crowd the mall on weekends, and kids would flip coins from their allowance in the fountain. The mall had everything anybody could want, from the hottest new clothing stores, to a barbershop, and even an arcade, Metcalf South Mall was the place to be. Over time the competition from other malls increased, while Metcalf had a tough time keeping their stores from going out of business. The mall quickly lost touch with the times. Today, if you walk through the mall, you can still see the Footlocker sign above the store, as well as some of the old store logos that haven’t been torn down, but most of the stores and people have left and the mall only seems to be reminder to people in the area of what was once a landmark in the community. For Jennette Fulster, exuctive assistant to the mayor of Overland Park, she has fond memories of the mall.
“ It was so big, it was like Oak Park is now,”

Oak Park Mall doesn’t have to look to the past to remember their glory days, they are living in it right now. Despite being 30 years old, Oak Park is still the crown jewel of malls in Kansas. Director of Marketing Kate Peterson thinks there is one major reason for the malls sustained popularity.
"You have to keep getting new stores and tenants so customers have a reason to keep coming back," Peterson said.
Oak Park is planning major renovations for early 2008, the mall plans to add new stores such as XXI which is a popular Forever 21 brand. Unlike Metcalf South, Oak Park has taken advantage of being rooted in the middle of the richest county in Kansas.
"Being in Johnson County does help because this area is big on the income and we get a lot of college students, so that doesn't hurt either."

One of the malls that hasn’t been helped by its location is Bannister Mall in South Kansas City. Bannister Mall, built just 27 years ago, was once one of the hottest malls in Kansas City. As the years passed the mall saw the area around it rise in crime and drugs. Shad Bailey, who owned a telemarketing company that was located inside the mall, heard crazy stories such as people hiding under cars and slitting ankles with knifes, but most of those stories were never proved to be true. Bailey though, said the mall’s reputation took a hit.
“I would have people call in looking for a job, and once I told them we were located inside Bannister Mall, they wouldn’t show up for the interview,” Bailey said.
By the turn of the century, JC Penney, one of the mall’s anchor tenants left the mall, but Bannister was already into a free fall as empty store fronts dotted the inside of the mall. After failing to land a Bass Pro Shop, the mall continued to decline until it eventually closed in May of 2007. Bailey felt the mall management never adapted to the changing landscape and demographics of the mall. The stores that were making the most money weren’t the ones selling high priced clothing items, but rather gold teeth.

“By the end, most of the shoppers and people that worked there were African-American,” Bailey said, “ The people running the mall never got out of the mindset of making it a suburban mall, when it should have been more of an urban mall.”

One mall that looked like it was going to join Metcalf South and Bannister as another failed mall was Ward Parkway Mall. Once one of the biggest malls in Kansas City just 20 years ago, by the late 1990’s the mall started to notice a severe drop in customers. As mall management watched open air malls gain in popularity, they decided to make a drastic change. They started making more of their stores accessible from outside as well as inside the mall. Customers could go to the store they wanted to without ever stepping foot inside the mall. This is a new trend known as a "Hybrid Lifestyle Center". While Ward Parkway has the traditional stores inside the mall, it also accommodates larger square footage users such as Dick's Sporting Goods, 24 Hour Fitness and Old Navy. Known in the industry as Mid-size boxes. Ward Parkways is also currently under construction adding its newest business, “Staples.” This new development has breathed new life into the mall making it a viable place to shop once again. General Manager of Ward Parkway Chuck Oglesby thinks this could be the future for declining malls.

“This evolution is a trend across the Unites States as developers seek opportunities to capitalize efforts on existing retail locations surrounded by good demographics and placed in highly visible areas,” Oglesby said, “The costs of renovation are substantially less than new construction and zoning and entitlements are already in place. With increased costs on construction goods and steel, it is very probable that this trend will continue for some time.”

While Ward Parkway shines a light of hope for other declining malls in the area, Metcalf South Mall has yet to write its final chapter. Developers from Colorado have offered a plan to turn the mall into an outdoor plaza combining new stores with office space. While a decision on the final plans won’t be made on Metcalf South Mall until next year, Shad Bailey notes one thing malls have to do to stay alive.

“Malls have to adapt to the times and the areas surrounding them, if they don’t they won’t be around long in today's market.”