Sportsfrog.com

That’s the million dollar question that everyone in the Kansas City area seemingly has an opinion on.

Here’s what Jason Whitlock had to say. And no, he didn’t mail this one in.

On Thursday, when Taylor and Collins met with the media, they downplayed Taylor’s Facebook posts, suggesting they were misinterpreted by the media. Taylor said he constantly posts rap lyrics on his Facebook page.

“I listen to my iPod all day,” he said. “If you know me, you see me with my headphones on all the time.”

When asked about his use of the N-word, Taylor hesitated and fumbled to explain. Collins intervened.

“It’s like second nature to us,” Collins said.

Taylor added: “It’s a word we use on a regular basis. It’s accepted when we’re talking to each other.”

Finally, Collins tied the whole thing together.

“Jay-Z uses it. Lil Wayne uses it,” Collins said. “These are rappers we look up to and listen to their music.”

They’re kids. They’re swept up in a culture that preaches to them on their iPods that the way to handle any dispute is with violence. Rep your ’hood (team). Never hesitate to put a N-word on his back. Bitches ain’t (spit).

It’s a dangerous culture that entertains those of us not in it and destroys the young people who buy into it.

Jack Harry, Kansas City sports media icon who has learned to love to watch himself rant:

Head football coach Mark Mangino sees no reason to discipline any of his players.

Any other student would be expelled from school for being involved in three altercations in less than a day.

The only way KU can put an end to this is to yank a scholarship or two, but the chances of that happening are zero.

Do you really think KU will do without any of their star athletes?

Hell, I like Chad Rader’s idea, even though his opinion that this will die down and be laughable, is, well, laughable.

Just hold a Jayhawk version of the Royal Rumble. Set up a ring at center court of Allen Fieldhouse. Sell tickets for $25 a pop, $40 for ringside. Proceeds to a designated charity. The basketball and football team each get to select eight representatives.

For those unfamiliar with the Royal Rumble, it started in the WWF days. I watched the first Royal Rumble as a high schooler in 1989, as it’s a fun format (Jim “Hacksaw” Duggan won). The WWE has carried it over today, though I haven’t watched wrestling in 10 years, give or take another five.

Anyway, the match starts with two wrestlers and every 90 seconds, another wrestler enters the ring. Eventually a melee peaks with a ringful of wrestlers swinging, kicking and slugging. Wrestlers are eliminated if they are tossed over the ropes, out of the ring.

Personally, I think something public needs to be done. I’m not naive enough to think that anyone good would lose a scholarship over this–even though three sober brawls in 24 hours is a pretty big offense–but at the same time, suspensions would go a long way. For the Kansas basketball team, it wouldn’t be much of a problem if players were suspended at various points for the first five or six games of the season. It’s a long season, and the first few games really don’t matter.

But Mark Mangino is in a tougher situation. Conference play is next, and he’s already suspended Dezmon Briscoe once this season. Suspending Briscoe and others for the conference opener would send a strong message, but at the same time, could potentially put Kansas behind the eight ball for the Big XII North title. Oh hell, who am I kidding. Dammit Mangino, you’re playing Iowa State and Colorado in your first two conference games. Your tubby behind could start at running back and you’d still win.

What do you think, are Lew Perkins, Mark Mangino and Bill Self being pansies? Or are closed door punishments good enough? Drop by in the Swamp with a thought or two.