After careful tabulations from the numerous counts and recounts of your votes (3) in regard to my next blog topic, "Why Dave Phillips is my hero..." won in a lopsided victory, taking two thirds of the total votes.  Phillips trounced the "smell from the newsroom mini-fridge" in a manner that hasn't been seen since Regan v. Mondale in '84.

Dave Phillips as you may or may not know (shame on you for those of you that do not), is one of our talented anchors that co-hosts KAKE Sports Overtime Live each and every Sunday night unless he has something better to do of course.  Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to work with Dave at different occasions.  During those all too brief but enlightening assignments I've seen a bit more of the man behind the desk.  Dave raw and uncut if you will. 

Why is Dave Phillips my hero?  Dave is my hero because he will wear a neck brace while at an NCAA tournament game rooting for the Wildcats just because they are from Kansas and because he can.  He also would wear that same neck brace on air while anchoring to pay homage to Jim Wooldridge and his recent neck surgery and because he thought you might get a kick out of it at home.  Or perhaps you thought he was a moron for doing it, either way, you know what I'm talking about because it was memorable.  What did any other sports anchor do two days, months or years ago?  Exactly.  Who knows?  Perhaps you remember a Friday Football Blitz that was a little hard to understand unless you happen to be bilingual.  This particular occasion was when Dave gave a report in Spanish.  Why? You ask.  Why not?  Again love him or hate him, it was something that people had an opinion about.  If you hate something Dave does, you're probably missing the point and taking whatever he said or did waaaaaaaaaaaay too seriously.

Dave doesn't take the show, certain stories or himself more seriously than he should.  He wants viewers to have fun when they watch.  Don't agree with him? Great.  Call the show or send us an email and tell us why.  Challenge him, he wants debate and interaction as much as he would like all of you to laugh and enjoy the show.

During our last assignment together Dave, Tyler (our sat truck operator and photographer), Matt (Dave's son/intern), and myself were at the KU/Mizzou border showdown game in Kansas City.  We played a Pong (yes Pong from Atari) tournament in the satellite truck while we were warming ourselves between live shots while braving the latest blizzard to hit the Midwest (OK maybe not a blizzard, an inch or so sounds more appropriate.)  Eventually the championship round was between Dave and his son Matt.  Matt was in a hole. Having come up through the loser's bracket this meant the young lad must beat the elder Phillips in two consecutive games in order to take the title.  After a grueling first match, the younger Phillips hit his stride and dominated Dave in the second match to take the title and tournament championship.  Upon finishing a very awkward victory dance and a bit of taunting toward his father Matthew asked, "What do ya got to say about that?"  To which Dave chuckled and with a smile and with a sigh replied, "You're adopted."  HA! Of course Matthew is flesh and blood and not adopted, but you get the sense of humor that Dave has.  Very dry.  He is a "one liner" machine.  Susan Peters labeled him "the funniest man on the planet,"  I refer to him as the closest Wichita will ever get to John Lovitz.  It truly is a pleasure to work with Dave on just about any assignment because you know that during nearly all of the assignment you will be laughing, a lot.

However if you only look at the quips and witty remarks and think that's all there is to a man like Dave Phillips then sadly you're missing the more important part of Dave's personality.  He is a person with an enormous heart and is willing to do whatever he can to help another person.  If you haven't had the opportunity to meet Dave or anyone in his family for that matter, you are missing out on knowing truly good people.  Sharp, clever and humorous as he is, most importantly he is a good friend, good father, good citizen (well maybe that's pushing it), and a good person. 

He is Crimson and Blue through and through and despises every part of Mizzou, but Dave Phillips is a hero of mine.  So why is isn't he a hero for you too?  Wow that was (Dr. Seussian, let me try that again.)

This is why Dave Phillips is one of my heroes...Why isn't he yours??

DT