Missouri Tigers head coach Frank Haith – Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-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, Derek Franks, to our team.
Derek will be helping in our effort to expand our Tigers, Royals, and Chiefs coverage. We are excited to have him writing for KC Kingdom.
Derek Franks is off to a flying start, and has already published several things for us. He has been covering the Tigers down the stretch, and he posted an article on evaluating Michael Sam for his football skills.
Like all of the new writers to KC Kingdom, Derek Franks 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?
Attending the University of Missouri has really branded me with permanent Tiger spirit. So it is in my nature to be drawn to Missouri sports, no matter how maddening it sometimes is to be a Mizzou fan.
My connection to the area has made me a fan of Kansas City sports in general. Growing up, my dad passed along his Kansas City Chiefs fandom onto me, despite my love for the Dallas Cowboys. Some forget though, the Chiefs started in Dallas and I’m a huge fan of the history of old American Football League.
Being up in Missouri has also made me enjoy watching the Royals, a team who to me has always seemed like they are slowly building something special out at Kauffman.
Where did you grow up and where do you currently live?
I’m originally from Dallas, Texas so my teams down there are important to me. But I’ll refrain from letting it show here on KC Kingdom, no worries.
I currently live in Columbia, Missouri, finishing out my degree and focusing on the next step in my sports media life. Kansas City is where I want to go.
What is your college/educational background?
B.A. In Communication, with an emphasis in Mass Media from the University of Missouri
What do you do for a living?
This. Being a sports writer, editor, columnist, it’s my life. I eventually want to be a known member of the sports media realm or work for a sports media company as an editor, manager, PR-marketing person.
Do you have a family?
Not, yet but someday.
What do you like to do for fun (sports related or otherwise)?
Watch my teams play. I’ll watch pretty much any sport at any time. A hot summer day isn’t complete without baseball. I don’t get a lot of free time but when I do, I enjoy playing guitar, writing and performing music, working out, going out with friends and hanging out with my girlfriend.
What are your least favorite team(s) and why?
Oh, don’t get me started on this…
New York Giants— the worst team to ever win a Super Bowl, much less two Super Bowls. I’m a Cowboys fan (unfortunate, I know), which means I’m not a fan of anyone else in the NFC East. But the Giants take the cake. They got lucky; won with defense (not Eli Manning who didn’t deserve MVP) and in 2011 were 6-7 with three games left in the season. Doesn’t say Super Bowl worthy to me.
Can you tell I don’t like the Giants?
Being a Mizzou guy, obviously Kansas makes this list. I really do hope that we can restore that rivalry soon.
What is your favorite sports moment or memory?
There are a few:
1) When Missouri beat Oklahoma in 2010 on Homecoming and we stormed the field. It was one of the coolest weekends ever, having ESPN’s College GameDay come to Mizzou’s campus, then upsetting No. 1 Oklahoma.
2) Seeing the Mavericks win the NBA Finals, being able to attend a Finals game
3) Seeing my first game at Arrowhead—just one of the best football venues ever with the best crowd ever
***
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.