Second thoughts

Changing the tune in Kansas City?

Kansas City Royals fans may be singing a new tune this season.

KCTV in Kansas City reports that the Royals may no longer play “Friends in Low Places” during the sixth inning of games at Kauffman Stadium this season.

Playing the country and western hit by Garth Brooks has been somewhat of a tradition since 2008. An image of Brooks would pop up on the video board during the middle of the sixth inning and lead the crowd through the song. Not surprisingly, some fans loved it and others didn’t.

So, the Royals have decided to let fans have their say regarding what song will be played.

Team spokesman Toby Cook said, starting in a couple of days, fans can nominate songs to be played through social media. The 32 best suggestions will be put in a bracket, and two songs will go head to head at each home game.

Fans in the stands get to choose which song moves on by texting their vote, and a champion will be crowned inJune. That song will remain for the rest of the season.

“We expect to get a lot of feedback,” Cook told the television station. “People have opinions on music and the type of entertainment we have at the ballpark. Everyone has their favorite.

“I happen to think of ‘Ring of Fire’ after the seventh inning stretch, but no one listened to me because everyone has their favorite song.”

Of course, just because the team is holding a contest doesn’t mean that “Friends in Low Places” is out of the running. As long as someone nominates it, the song will be among those considered.

Chances are good that will happen, considering how long the song has been a part of the sixthinning festivities.

“I know some people look at it like ‘Friends in Low Places’ because the Royals are at the bottom, but we’re making a comeback now,” Royals fan Nate Chastain told KCTV. “Let’s hold onto our roots and enjoy the tradition. There’s not a lot of good songs that everyone knows.

“It’s just hick enough for Kansas City.”We’re covered

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander’s girlfriend Kate Upton didn’t make the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue this year, but she is pictured on a bonus back cover.

“It’s the best Cover 2 since Rod Marinelli was in town,” wrote Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press.

Sign him up

Brad Dickson of the World-Herald in Omaha, Neb., was impressed by former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel’s showing at the NFL combine.

“Johnny Manziel ran a 4.56 40-yard dash,” Dickson wrote.

“Even more impressive: You put an autograph table and a broker at the end, he can do 4.49.”Back in his day…

Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote was bothered by golfer Steve Elkington’s post on Twitter that said Michael Sam, who is set to become the NFL’s first openly gay player, led the NFL combine in the “handbag throw.”

“First, that sounds homophobic,” he wrote. “Second, aren’t the only people who still call purses ‘handbags’ women in their 80s ?”Quote of the day “I wish I could have been a ghost.”

Bryan Morseman, who

finished second behind Mark Chepses in the Little Rock Marathon

Sports, Pages 16 on 03/03/2014

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