(KMAland) — We are moving into the 21^st week of the 2019-20 sports calendar year. Are you having fun yet? On to Seven Points…

Point 1: The Chiefs – yes, the Chiefs! – are going to the Super Bowl

As a young lad, I found a love and a passion for Kansas City professional athletics. Of course, I chose the one that played in the baseball stadium rather than the football stadium. Well, to say that I chose it would be a bit disingenuous. My dad put this sickness inside of me.

While I was all about the Royals, I was not a fan of the Chiefs. I am not a fan of the Chiefs. I actually developed some sort of sick competition in my head between the two professional franchises. It makes no sense, I know, but it sits in my brain and won’t leave. For years, the Royals were getting their butts kicked in that competition. The Chiefs have been one of the best franchises in the NFL while the Royals – for a large part of my life – were at the bottom of MLB.

Of course, things leaned Royals in 2014 and 2015 when they improbably advanced to Game 7 of the World Series against the Giants and then clowned the Mets on their way to their first championship since 1985. I know some Chiefs fans really think they’ve been suffering for a long time, but try being one of the worst teams in the league for three decades.

I know, I know. There have been playoff catastrophes and heartbreaks, but the Royals didn’t even bother getting to playoffs. Or even getting close to the playoffs. There was never any hope with the Royals. There’s almost always been hope with the Chiefs. You don’t know long-suffering unless you’ve been to the K to watch guys like Jose Guillen, Angel Berroa, Aaron Guiel, Mendy Lopez, Chris Getz and the like fumble around. Anyway…

It’s not that surprising that the Chiefs would go to the Super Bowl. They have a strong owner that cares only about winning. They play in the NFL, where everybody is pretty much playing on an even field with a salary cap. They made an outstanding coaching hire in Andy Reid, and they’ve made smart/outstanding draft decisions and additional strong acquisitions. And yeah, they played the 4 and the 6 seed in the top-heavy AFC to get there.

But make no mistake, this is an outstanding team that deserves to play in the Super Bowl. I really wish we could have seen Baltimore/Kansas City in the AFC Championship, but I’m good with settling for KC/San Francisco in the Super Bowl. These are two outstanding football teams, and even though I would rather hammer nails through my feet than have to cheer for one of them, I will enjoy this one as a football fan. Go Royals.

Point 2: Speaking of the Royals….

The Kansas City Royals, which – by the way – had the bigger accomplishment in winning the 2015 World Series than the Chiefs would have by winning this year’s Super Bowl (smirk), are close to or have already agreed to a one-year deal with Alex Gordon.

Royals beat writer Jeffrey “Flanny” Flanagan tweeted yesterday: “Sources indicate the Royals and Alex Gordon are “getting close” on a one-year deal. Might be announced Tuesday or Wednesday after his physical.”

I laughed about those last three words because Alex Gordon taking a physical must be an absolute marvel, but I see this only as good news. Alex Gordon – the single greatest hero from that 2015 champion – can play for the Royals as long as he wants. He’s still elite defensively, and he had a pretty solid year at the plate in 2019.

There are some that don’t understand why the Royals would want to bring him back. They think that it will disrupt the rebuild. Now, I would agree with that notion if there was actually some sort of young outfielder that he was blocking, but I don’t think Bubba Starling, Brett Phillips or any other number of quad-A type outfielders are going to be a part of the future anyway. So, let’s see some more Gordo.

Point 3: My ongoing gag with the charge call in basketball continued

I charged up the Creston faithful on Friday with this tweet.

Now, if I had to do it all again, I probably would have left that last part off of there. I need to better understand that not everybody is familiar with my ongoing gag with the charge call in basketball. Basically, I hate charges*. I don’t hate the people taking them, and I don’t hate the people calling them. I hate the rule. I also think it’s misapplied quite often.

*I will note that I don’t mind when primary defenders beat their offensive player to a spot and then take it in the chest. Those charges are A-OK with me. I’m just not big on the slide-ins or slide-unders that make up for what is generally poor defense (not talking about this specific instance since it was sort of a frantic scenario).

Anyway, my final “….charge is not an acceptable answer” was simply an ode to that. I should have known it would lead to an emotional, visceral reaction from those that it personally impacted. There were some ugly moments involved, including the misapplication of your/you’re, but that’s going to happen. (I really think teachers should re-teach that, though. It’s a simple lesson, really.)

Either way, I apologize for the comment that raised the ire of the Creston folks. In the end, I was and am still impressed with the effort on both sides on that play. In other words, “both teams played hard.”

Point 4: McGregor/Cowboy

Boy, the UFC really could not have matched up a worse duo. Not when it comes to fighting. When it comes to being a solid, respectable human being.

McGregor has been investigated for two sexual assault allegations. Innocent until proven guilty, but he doesn’t exactly have a clean history. And then there’s Cowboy Donald Cerrone, who has dropped several homophobic slurs and rants in the past. While he did apologize after the first one, there was a recent sit down with Brendan Schaub where he continued that behavior.

So, who do you root for when two pretty bad humans get together in the octagon? I suppose you just hope it ends quickly. And fortunately it did.

Point 5: What are you doing for others?

As I was writing this, I thought I was starting to run out of ideas, points and other thoughts. Then I saw a tweet from Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln’s volleyball account. It’s a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. (it’s MLK Day, by the way) with one of his many great quotes: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question: What are you doing for others?”

The tweet also has a hashtag that I love: #BeKind. I can’t say I always lived up to this ideal, but I try to every single day. I think one of the most important things in this nation right now is to try and carry on those kinds of things. Care for one another, love one another and be kind to one another. We’re living in a contentious time. Let’s do our part to better that.

Point 6: Our schedule this week is going to WOW you

Look at this…

Tuesday: St. Albert at Glenwood boys on KMA 960, 7:30 PM (Trevor)

Wednesday: Corner Conference Girls Tournament at Stanton – Sidney vs. Fremont-Mills & East Mills vs. Stanton on FM 99.1, 6:00 PM (Brent)

Thursday: Corner Conference Boys Tournament at Malvern – Stanton vs. Sidney & Fremont-Mills vs. East Mills on FM 99.1, 6:00 PM (Me)

Friday:  Corner Conference Girls Consolation & Championship at Malvern on 960, 6:00 PM (Brent) & Martensdale-St. Marys at Mount Ayr girl/boy doubleheader on FM 99.1, 6:00 PM (Trevor)

Saturday: John J. Harris Wrestling Invitational on 960, 3:30 PM (Trevor & Steve Baier) and Corner Conference Boys Consolation & Championship at Griswold on 99.1, 6:00 PM (Derek)

Extra Point: Have a great week!

Enjoy the 21^st week of the calendar!

Send any questions, comments and/or concerns to dmartin@kmaland.com.

MILLBURN, NJ — The head coach for the Millburn High School girls volleyball team has been arrested after he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old player from a private club, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said.

Peter Nguyen, 50, of Edison, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of sexual context with a minor, one count of aggravated criminal sexual contact, and one count of giving alcohol to a minor for allegedly abusing a player.

The two met at Impact Volleyball Club in Rahway, Carey said, where Nguyen was a coach and the teen played. He invited the teen to his home on two separate occasions, gave her alcohol, and “inappropriately sexually touched her,” Carey said.

Nguysen has served as the head volleyball coach for the Millburn High School for approximately three years, and as a bookkeeper in the business department for the district. He is not charged with assaulting any players from the Millburn team.

“The Millburn Township Board of Education has been made aware of criminal allegations made against one of its employees. The Board is unable to comment about that employee’s terms and conditions of employment or the specific allegations made against the employee. To the extent that the criminal allegations may impact the District, we will be fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities,” superintendent Christine Burton told Patch.

An investigation began after the girl alerted her parents, who in turn alerted Woodbridge Township Police.

The investigation remains ongoing, Carey said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Deon Mccall of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3652, or Detective Ryan Hoppock of the Woodbridge Police Department at (732) 634-7700, or Detective Jeffrey Tierney of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7400.

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Image via Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

A judge in Puerto Rico has said there is not enough evidence to charge a former US Olympic volleyball player in the 2016 death of her young daughter.

Authorities said on Friday that 2008 silver medalist Kim Willoughby, 37, had been accused of murder and child abuse

However, Judge María del Pilar Vázque declared on Friday that there was no cause for trial despite the charges. 

A former US Olympic volleyball player has been charged by police in Puerto Rico in the 2016 death of her young daughter.

At the moment, it is unclear if prosecutor Esteban Miranda will appeal the decision.  

In March 2016, Willoughby was allegedly searching for a towel around 9:45am when her three-year-old daughter, Kailia, slipped and hit her head, according to a police report.

CPR was performed, but the toddler was pronounced dead upon her arrival at the Medical Center of Mayagüez.  

During the investigation, it was found that the blows she suffered were incompatible with the alleged fall.

‘The Forensic Science report showed that the cause of death was not compatible with a fall. On the contrary, the cause of death was a severe corporal blow,’ said Commander Janice Rodríguez, of the Criminal Investigation Body of Mayagüez. 

Willoughby was a member of the US Olympic team that took home the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after losing to Brazil in the finals.

Afterwards, she moved to Italy to continue her professional career. She tested positive for nandrolone – a steroid – after a match for her Italian team, Perugia, in April 2009.

In September 2009, it was announced that Willoughby was given a two-year suspension from the Italian Olympic Committee, to end in July 2011, reported the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Following that, Willoughby moved to Puerto Rico to play for various teams in the Puerto Rican league. She is currently a member of the Indias de Mayagüez.

This is not Willoughby’s first run-in with the law.

In June 2001, Honolulu police charged her with abuse of a family or household member and third-degree assault, both misdemeanors. One month later, Willoughby entered deferred guilty pleas to both charges.

Five days after police charged Willoughby in the case, the victim filed for a temporary restraining order against her, leading a judge to issue a three-year protective order.

In September 2008, she was arrested for assaulting a woman outside a Honolulu night club in December 2006.

Willoughby allegedly got into an altercation with Sara Daniel at the Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako, causing severe bone fractures to Daniel’s face. 

Willoughby claimed self-defense, but prosecutor Sherri Chun disagreed, saying: ‘This incident was not self-defense. [Willoughby] followed [Daniel] out of the club, and that’s when this all happened.’

The volleyball star pleaded no contest in a plea agreement with the state and was sentenced to five years’ probation. In January 2012, she was granted an early end to her probation.