Know Your Knight: Jared Barzee

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

KC Kingdom is expanding at a rapid pace, and our goal is to be the best Kansas City area sports site on the internet. Aaron, Josh, and I are pleased to announce we have added another new staff member, Jared Barzee, to our team.

Jared will be helping in our effort to expand our Tigers, Sporting KC, Royals and Chiefs coverage. We are excited to have him writing for KC Kingdom.

Jared Barzee is off to a flying start, and has already published his first two articles with us. In his first article, he writes how Alex Smith may have just scratched the surface of his potential in 2013 in Andy Reid’s offense. In his second effort, Jared discusses the problems with the Chiefs’ offensive after free agency defections.

Like all of the new writers to KC Kingdom, Jared Barzee took a few minutes to answer eight questions so we can get to know him just a little better. Here are his answers to those 8 questions:

How did you become a fan of the team you’re covering?

I’ve been a fan of the Chiefs, Royals, and the Missouri Tigers for as long as I can remember. And my wife’s family are huge soccer fans which really turned me on to Sporting KC and actually follow the team the last few years. It’s easy to fall in love with the Chiefs and Royals. I can’t imagine cheering for any other teams.

Where did you grow up and where do you currently live?

I grew up in Blue Springs, MO, graduating from Blue Springs High School in 2007. I currently live in Grain Valley, MO. Although there are many places in the country I would love to live, Kansas City is just a special place to me. I’m excited to raise my son in such a great part of the country.

What is your college/educational background?

I attended the University of Central Missouri for as short time, and currently looking at going back to school to finish my degree. I studied marketing and business management, and would one day love to be a small business owner. What business that would be exactly is the big question.

What do you do for a living?

I work as a Personal Banker for Bank of America in Blue Springs. I’ve been there for just over two years now. I had never worked at bank, or wore a shirt and tie to work, so that took a lot of getting used to! And after two years, I still can’t believe I have my own desk. I’m extremely grateful for the job that I have and the opportunity that was given to me.

Do you have a family?

I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Ashley for two years now, and we have a 9 month old son named Ayden who we are absolutely crazy about. My wife loves going to Royals and Chiefs games with me. Her grandpa has been a Chiefs season ticket holder for over 45 years! And it’s already been decided that my son is a lifelong fan of Kansas City sports.

What do you like to do for fun (sports related or otherwise)?

I’m a huge movie junkie. I can give random useless knowledge about movies all day long. I’m also a pretty big gamer. I play way too Xbox at times. I love traveling, (preferably somewhere warm) when I get the time and money, and seeing some of my favorite bands perform live when they come to town. I have a softball and flag football team I play on throughout the year. And more than anything I just love spending time with my family and friends every chance I get.

What are your least favorite team(s) and why?

KU (don’t hold it against me Jayhawk fans), St. Louis Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and the LA Lakers. To name a few. Some of these are self explanatory due to them being the biggest rivals of my favorite teams. But teams like the Cowboys I can’t stand simply because of all the coverage they get from the national media year in and year out to the point of sheer annoyance.

What is your favorite sports moment or memory?

That’s hard to say. But I would have to go with the Chiefs opener against the Chargers in 2010. It was on Monday Night Football, albeit the late game, not the true prime time one. But the atmosphere was electric. I was walking past ESPN video crews left and right, and we got to see all the awesome renovations at Arrowhead. The fireworks before the game were incredible. Arrowhead Stadium is always a special place. But Arrowhead Stadium at night is just pure magic.

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If you would like to write for KC Kingdom, covering the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting Kansas City, the Jayhawks, Wildcats, Tigers, or Shockers, please fill out our online application. We are always looking to add passionate fans to our roster of outstanding staff writers. We are happy to give anyone a voice but we really need writers to help with our college coverage. If you love the Tigers, Wildcats, Jayhawks, or Shockers, come join us at KC Kingdom as a staff writer.

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