Month: July 2014

Water slide opening date now Thursday

The new Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn is now scheduled to open Thursday, July 10, at 94th and State in Kansas City, Kan., according to a Schlitterbahn spokesman. Billed as the world’s tallest water slide, the ride has been delayed in opening several times previously this season for adjustments. Riders on the Verruckt will start at the top of the 168-foot-seven-inch-tall tower and travel down the slide, strapped to three-person rafts. The Guinness Book of World Records has designated the Verruckt as the world’s tallest water slide.

Sporting KC signs midfielder Michael Kafari


Twenty-two-year-old rookie joins reigning MLS Cup champions

Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of 22-year-old Michael Kafari on Tuesday.

Kafari has been added to the club’s roster and will occupy a supplemental roster spot.

“We scouted Michael in college,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “He has some qualities that we like and that we think will be able to fit in with our team.”

“I’m very excited to join Sporting Kansas City,” Kafari said. “This is a great organization and it’s a honor to sign with them. The players have welcomed me from day one and I look forward to playing for the MLS Cup champions.”

The native of Accra, Ghana, moved to the United States in 2001 at age 9 and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. A product of the Boise Nationals Soccer Club in Boise, Idaho, Kafari also trained with the youth academies at Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea FC of the English Premier League as a teen. After transferring from Mountain View High School prior to his sophomore season, Kafari lettered all three years at Centennial High School and led the Patriots to a state championship during his senior season in 2009.

Kafari was recruited to the University of New Mexico, where he helped lead the Lobos to a 58-16-12 record in his collegiate career with three goals and three assists. His 82 appearances rank sixth most in school history and were instrumental in securing first place finishes in the MPSF Mountain Division (2011, 2012) and Conference USA (2013) regular season standings as well as four consecutive berths in the NCAA Tournament.

New Mexico became one of only three college programs to reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen each of the last three seasons, beginning in 2011 when the Lobos were eliminated by Dom Dwyer and the University of South Florida in a penalty shootout. In 2013, Kafari’s senior season came to a conclusion in College Cup with a 2-0 loss to eventual champions Notre Dame in the semifinals.

Kafari was one of five College Cup Final Four participants to attend the 2014 adidas MLS Player Combine and paired with fellow Sporting KC teammate Victor Munoz on Team Predator. The Vancouver Whitecaps then selected Kafari in the third round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft (No. 51 overall) and Kafari signed with USL PRO affiliate Charleston Battery in mid-March after spending preseason with the Canadian club.

The 6-foot-1 two-way midfielder made his competitive debut for Charleston on May 28 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round. He started and played 71 minutes against the Orlando City U-23’s in a fixture that set the competition record for the longest penalty kick shootout at 14 rounds following a 2-2 draw through extra time.

Kafari was also a member of the Austin Aztex during the team’s USL Premier Development League expansion season in 2012. Coached by current Real Salt Lake assistant Paul Dalglish, Kafari played alongside fellow MLS players Michael Lisch, Kris Tyrpak, Blake Smith, Kekuta Manneh and Dillon Powers.

Sporting Kansas City now has 28 players under contract with the addition of Kafari to the team’s roster. Two players (Jon Kempin and Christian Duke) are currently on loan to USL PRO affiliate OKC Energy FC and three players are unavailable due to injury (Chance Myers, Ike Opara and Peterson Joseph).

– Story from Sporting KC

T-Bones raise awareness for domestic violence tonight

On Tuesday, July 8, the Kansas City T-Bones will help raise awareness for domestic violence with Strike Out Domestic Violence Night from Verizon Wireless.

Fans are encouraged to bring and donate their no-longer used phones and accessories, in any condition from any wireless provider at the 7:05 p.m. game at the CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. Verizon will then donate all collected devices to Kansas City-area shelters for victims in need.

There will be a silent auction benefiting Safehome domestic violence shelter. In addition, Verizon Wireless will be giving away T-Bones cell phone cases to the first 1,500 fans that arrive.

During the game, live tweeting from the Social Media Club of Kansas City will also take place to continue to raise awareness. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #StrikeOutDV.

Vice president-general manager Chris Browne, select T-Bones players and T-Bones media personnel will conduct live tweet sessions before and during the game via @tbonesbaseball.

– Story from T-Bones