Well, its good to know communism isnt dead after all. Seventeen years after the Berlin Wall fell, so did the final shred of credibility Royals ownership held. Friday afternoon team officials revoked the credential of 610 Sports reporter and Disco Diva Rhonda Moss. Why? For doing her job. In Royals Land, the first amendment is just a suggestion.
Dayton Moores introductory press conference last Thursday grew into a courtroom trial with owner David Glass and his son Dan getting cross-examined by the local media. The Disco Diva opened the briefing by asking why David had allowed the firing of Allard Baird to become soap opera drama. Glass didnt like the question. Royals fans did.
Moss followed up 15 minutes later by asking team president Dan if his job description would now change since Moore has been reportedly granted full autonomy of baseball decisions. Glass didnt like the question. Royals fans did. Following the presser, the Disco Diva asked both David and Dan if they would join 610 Sports for a phone interview. Both declined. The next day, the team revoked her credential.
First, no protocol was violated by Moss. Team officials never stipulated before or during the press conference ownership could not be asked questions about the leadership of the franchise. Second, the Glasses (whose skulls are always half empty) were never made available for media queries before or after the presser. So what happened? The Glasses were embarrassed. Not only by Moss questions, but by everyones.
The Royals were hoping Thursday would turn into a love fest and baby shower for acquiring one of the most sought after young minds in the game. The Glasses were hoping to bask in the glory of an admittedly fantastic hire. Unfortunately for them it turned into the Spanish Inquisition.
Im not above the fray. I take my own responsibility in Thursdays confrontational events. I asked David Glass how much responsibility he takes in captaining the fastest sinking ship in professional sports. Since he purchased the Royals, the team has lost 100 games three times and is well on pace to do it again. Before he took over, the team had never lost 100. What we are witnessing right now is ineptitude of historic proportions. No non-expansion team since the Pirates of the 1950s has lost 100 games three straight years. The 2006 Royals might accomplish that by the All-Star break. The Kansas City Nine is on pace to break the once-thought unbreakable mark of 120 losses by the punchline expansion Mets of 1962. As Clark Griswold famously uttered, -Look around you, Ellen. We are standing at the threshold of hell.-
Glass began by answering everyone shoulders responsibility, but of course soon thereafter alluded it was simply poor baseball decisions by Allard Baird and the scouting department that had led us here. He then uttered his now infamous words, -Honestly, I donŐt quite know how we got here.- You dont say.
Im sure the Glasses didnt enjoy having the flashlight beamed in their eyes as employees and fans watched them squirm. But thats too bad. This undyingly loyal fan base has been dragged through the mud for nearly two decades. They deserve answers. The decent and patient Royals diehards deserve to know why and how we got here. They plunk down money for a family of four to enjoy the baseball experience. They gather at the watering hole to watch the game with buddies. They open up the sportspages every morning to see what new absurd way the Royals found to botch it again. Glass ownership should be held accountable. Fans should know what makes Dan Glass competent enough to be second in command after extensive training in the, ahem, jewelry business. Yeah, that seems like a natural progression.
Simply put the Royals are attempting to control opinions and last time I checked our United States Constitution protected against that. Again, the only thing Moss is guilty of is asking tough questions. There was no breaking of rules, no breach of protocol. Per MLB rules, the team reserves the right to revoke credentials for any reason. The Glasses didnt like being put on the spot and are hoping this sends a message to the rest of the media. Disagree with us? Publicly criticize us? You might find your credential revoked too. Who knows, next week the Royals PR department might tell us Glass hit five hole-in-ones in a single round at Wolf Creek like North Korean President Kim Jong Il.
Its dispiriting, disappointing and enraging that we have come to this. Royals fans find themselves restricted in what they say and how they think. This is a nation built on dissenting opinions and open dialogue. We are the land of the free because everyone has the right to ask any question. The only illegality is restricting that freedom of expression. The First Amendment is apparently dead at Kauffman Stadium. Thats good. You wouldnt want to know what I thought of the Glasses.
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Well, its good to know communism isnt dead after all. Seventeen years after the Berlin Wall fell, so did the final shred of credibility Royals ownership held. Friday afternoon team officials revoked the credential of 610 Sports reporter and Disco Diva Rhonda Moss. Why? For doing her job. In Royals Land, the first amendment is just a suggestion. 
