2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Kandha–Pana tensions
The Kui Samaj called for a Shutdown on December 25, 2007 to protest against the allowing of ST caste status to the SC Pana Christians. With the shutdowns on Christmas Day, Christians, Christian institutions and Churches targeted by activists belonging to the Kui Samaj and the VHP. Christians were killed and churches were burnt and damaged in the violence during the Christmas of 2007 that slowly calmed down till the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda, which created a massacre during August 2008. The National Commission for minorities reported that the tensions between the Kandha and the Pana tribals were partly responsible for the agitation and violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, The Sangh Parivar
A senior Home Department official said that the present struggle between the mostly Christian-Dalit Panas and the Kandh tribe, mostly pro-Hindus, was the outcome of the ethnic, social and religious divide that helped Maoists to set up their base. While over 1200 Churches and 400 Christian institutions became an eyesore for Hindutava forces, conversion was also a strong issue that had helped Sangh Parivar to strengthen its roots in Orissa.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, The Sangh Parivar
American political Scientist, Paul Brass argued that the generally insignificant, local communal conflicts in India are made into larger communal violence by groups he terms as 'conversion specialists'. In his book Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion and Caste, Chad M. Bauman argued that the Sangh Parivar leaders followed the same technique in the Kandhamal riots by linking their local politics and clashes with broader national fears like extinction of Hinduism, a Christian demographic increase and even a 'Christian military coup'. Thereby providing justification for the anti-Christian violence and also issuing a 'national call to arms' for the defense of the Khandamal Hindus.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, December 2007 violence
The Human Rights Watch reported that the first wave of violence occurred on December 24, 2007 during an argument between Christians and Hindus over Christmas celebrations in the Kandhamal district. A Christian group attacked a vehicle belonging to the VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and in retaliation 19 Churches were completely burned down and razed. The Hindutva groups and the activists of the Kui Samaj were mostly involved in the 2007 attacks.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, December 2007 violence
The Kui Samaj and the VHP called for a bandh on December 25 to protest against the granting of ST status to the Pana Christians. The VHP also called for a bandh on Christmas Day for the attack on Lakshmananda's car. This led to Clashes between both the groups which continued for days where 837 families lost their houses. A mob of 500 strong attackers also torched a police station and burned the police vehicles and a Congress parliamentarian's house was also attacked. Saffron activists and Kui tribals who opposed the tribal status to the predominantly Christian Pana tribals joined together in the attacks. According to various Non-Governmental Organizations, the VHP exploited the tensions between the Kui Samaj and Pana Christians to propel the Christmas attacks.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, December 2007 violence
From December 24 to 27, 2007, at least three persons were killed and over 100 churches and church institutions, including convents and hostels, about 700 houses and other structures were burnt during the riots.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, December 2007 violence
On 1 January 2008 further violence was reported at several places. Police said at least 20 houses and shops were torched at Phiringia, Khajuripada, Gochapada and Brahmanigaon by rioters.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
On the evening of Saturday, 23 August 2008, unknown militants entered into the Ashram at around 8.00 p.m. and fired bullets from an AK-47 on the frail body of 84 years old Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati at Jalespata Vanabashi Kanyashram in Kandhmal District of Orissa. After killing him brutally, the proxy militants allegedly also cut various parts of his body by chisel and axe as it appeared.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
Others who tried to rescue the Swami, namely Sadhwi Bhakti Mata who was overall charge of the Kalyan Ashram, Kishore Baba, Amritanand Baba and a visitor guardian of an inmate of the school, were also killed. The dead body of Bhakti Mata was also defaced and ripped by brutal cut injuries. The attackers, estimated at thirty gunmen, were suspected of being Maoist insurgents but the Sangh Parivar family blamed it upon local Christian evangelical groups. Both the manner of attack and a letter found at the attack provided the basis for this. The government announced a special investigative probe into the attack.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
Christians have killed Swamiji. We will give a befitting reply.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
While the government held the Maoist insurgents of being responsible for the attacks, the Sangh Parivar groups blamed the incident on the Christians. The VHP state general secretary, Gouri Ram Prasad blamed the murder on the Christians and also said that the organization would retaliate on the Christians and also called for a ban on churches in the district.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Background, Murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
In October 2008, a senior Maoist leader claimed responsibility for the murder of Laxmanananda and police officials confirmed that the Maoists trained youth in the tribal community to murder Laxmanananda.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
At the midnight of August 23–24, hours after VHP chief Lakshmanananda Saraswati was killed, the chaos began. The police suspected the role of Maoists and announced it to the media at 11:00 pm. The news spread quickly and activists from Sangh Parivar groups, including the VHP and Bajrang Dal, erected barriers in several locations including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The police theory of suspected Maoist involvement was denied by Sangh Parivar leaders who accused militant Christians of murdering Lakshmanananda. On August 23, about midnight, demonstrators burned down a private bus and also damaged many churches.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
The VHP and Bajrang Dal called for a statewide shutdown on Monday, 25 August 2008. Activists from the BJP, VHP, the Hindu Jagarana Samukhya and the Bajrang Dal staged protests and blocked traffic in nearly all district headquarters towns in the next morning demanding the detention of the Lakshmananda's killers. Businesses, banks and all schools and universities stayed closed as directed by the government. The police in the state stood mostly as silent observers to the harassment of those who had stepped out of their homes during the bandh. On the same day, rioters attacked a Christian orphanage at Khuntpalli village in Bargarh district. A local Hindu woman employee in her 20s was gang-raped and burnt alive by the mob after she was mistaken for a Christian, when the orphanage was set on fire.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
The funeral procession which passed through hundreds of villages, was organized from Lakshmanananda's ashram at Jalespata to Chakapad. The procession began on the noon of August 24 and ended at the afternoon of the next day after stopping for the night at Phulbani. The event was attended by Sangh Parivar leaders, including Suresh Pujari, the State BJP's president. Hundreds of people assembled along the way to pay their last respects. Enraged mobs there assaulted Christians in the towns that the procession went through. Christians who were considered to be supporters of Congress were assaulted everywhere and many Hindus were also assaulted in some places because they supported the congress. The attackers included the BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal and other Sangh Parivar groups and the Biju Janata Dal.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
There is no place for Christians. If Christians don't become Hindus, they have to go. We don't care where they go. They must leave Orissa.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
Hindu mobs angered by the murders allegedly incited by Manoj Pradhan, an elected state legislator from the BJP, set fire to many Christian settlements. VHP chief Pravin Togadia travelled across the state inciting violence. Christians who demanded tribal status they belonged to Scheduled Castes on the basis of their shared Kui language with the Kandha tribal people, were also attacked. No effort was made by the police on service to stop the demonstrators from targeting Christians and their properties.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
The Kui Samaj, a Kandha tribal organisation which opposed this joined with the Sangh Parivar and the ruling alliance on the attacks. The government officials and government offices were attacked and police and civil administration vehicles were damaged by the demonstrators. In the entire district, prohibition orders were tightened and curfews were enforced.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
Neighbors became rivals in many areas and burned Christian families alive. The houses belonging to the Christians who escaped into the nearby woods and hills were also robbed and torched by people from the surrounding villages. Many of the victims stayed up to seven days hidden in the jungles and came out only when the police found them and reassured them of protection. Soon, the relief camps set up by the government wasn't enough to house the homeless. People were inquiring about the whereabouts of their loved ones in the overpopulated camps, 10 days after the riots.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
The violence was led by the Bajrang Dal, VHP and the RSS. The Government of Orissa and police, military and paramilitary forces deployed in the state failed to respond efficiently, effectively or appropriately. The VHP claimed that Hindu people in the area had taken the death of the Swami "very seriously, and now they are going to pay them back." A curfew was imposed in all towns in Kandhamal. Despite this, violence continued in Phulbani, Tumudibandh, Baliguda, Udaygiri, Nuagaon and Tikabali towns. Many others fled into the jungle or into neighbouring districts and states. All nine towns in Kandhamal district were under a curfew, and the police had license to shoot. Curfew was also imposed in Jeypore town of Odisha's Koraput district. Five police personnel were injured in mob violence. The state government sought additional paramilitary forces to combat the continuing violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
About 2,000 Christians are estimated to have been forced to leave their religion in the violence. Thousands of Christians were herded into temples and were forced to perform conversion rituals with their heads shaved, according to a fact-finding tribunal led by Justice AP Shah. As a gesture of purification, the Christians were made to consume water mixed with Cow-dung and some were forced to damage churches and burn bibles to demonstrate that they had abandoned Christianity. As required by the anti-conversion law, they were made to sign "voluntary statements" asserting that they are now willingly becoming Hindus. District authorities said they had received dozens of complaints of forced conversions to Hinduism. Some victims have put saffron flags atop their home to prevent any future attacks and those sheltered in the refugee camps have been told they can go home only if they become Hindus.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots
During the riots, some small villages in rural areas were targeted by extremists. They killed the pastor of Mukundapur, a small village in Gajapati District. Hindus have also been attacked by members of their own faith, for having Christian relatives. One woman, who is herself a Hindu, says she was gang-raped by her grandparents' neighbors due to her uncle's refusal to renounce his Christian beliefs.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 1 September 2008 the state government of Odisha claimed that the situation was under control. However, several houses and places of worship were burnt in the riots, especially in worst-hit Kandhamal district. 12,539 people were fed in relief camps, 783 people were fed in two relief camps in Rayagada district. In all, 12 companies of para-military forces, 24 platoons of Odisha State Armed Police, two sections of Armed Police Reserve forces and two teams of Special Operation Group (SOG) were deployed to control the riots.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 4 September 2008 a group of nearly 2500 extremists barged into the Tikabali Government High School Relief Camp shouting at the Christian refugees and took away supplies meant for the refugees, while police remained as silent spectators. On the same day, over 300 VHP incited tribal women attacked a relief camp for the Christian riot victims in Tikabali, demanding food, employment and relief for non-Christian population, who they said had been starving following the 12-day-old curfew order clamped by the district administration to contain communal violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 7 September 2008 VHP leader Praveen Togadia announced that an all-India agitation would be launched if the killers of Saraswati were not arrested. The Church and Christian groups in turn demanded dismissal of the state government.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 15 September 2008, it was reported that there was an attack on two Hindu temples in Odisha's Sundergarh district. One was attacked on the night of 14 September, and the other 2 weeks earlier.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 30 September 2008, a Christian nun accused the mob of raping her on 25 August at Nuagaon in Kandhamal district. During a press conference she said that a group of unidentified persons, dragged her along with Fr Thomas Chellan to the deserted Jana Vikas building. The priest was doused with petrol and beaten up. She reported that the mob paraded her on the streets in the presence of a dozen policemen Eventually, four men were arrested for the attack, and a senior police office suspended over the delayed investigation.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
After the complaint was launched, police had a medical examination of the nun carried out, which confirmed her rape. Police sent the clothes of the said nun to the state forensic laboratory for further verification. Police arrested nine people in connection with the crime while the nun in case was in hiding for fear of reprisals. The Crime branch took charge of the probe following a government decision after the medical report.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Kandhamal riots, Continued violence
On 22 October 2008, the Supreme Court of India, rejected an appeal by the Archbishop of Cuttack, Raphael Cheenath, for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident and asked the victim to look at an identity parade of those accused to identify the culprit with the help of the state police itself. Reuters reported the nun's media conference under the headline '40 men gang-raped me, says nun'; though she had made no such statement.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Relief camps
20,000 people were sheltered in 14 relief camps built by the state government from 23 August onwards. Approximately 50,000 people were hiding in the district's forest areas, and nearly 500 people went to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to stay in relief camps made by the YMCA. Around 50,000 people reportedly escaped to surrounding districts and neighboring states.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Relief camps
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that by March 2009, and at least 3,000 individuals were still in government camps, reportedly because of their inability to return to their family homes unless they "reconvert" to Hinduism. After two weeks, a month long series of "reconversion" rituals and processions with the slained Swami's ashes were announced. There was no immediate police response. Many Christians allegedly took place in these ceremonies due to the fear of additional violence, property destruction and harassment.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
Government reports suggested that the violence resulted in at least 39 killed, over 365 churches vandalized or destroyed, over 5,600 houses were looted or burnt down, 600 villages ransacked and more than 54,000 were left home less. While other reports put the death toll to nearly 100 and suggested more than 40 women were sexually assaulted and many Christians were forced to convert to Hinduism with the threat of violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
The report by the Centre for Child Rights reported that at least 300 churches were destroyed; 13 Colleges, schools and 5 NGO offices were damaged. About 30,000 people lived in relief camps for months. About 2,000 people were forced to convert to Hinduism.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
According to a research by the Kandhamal Committee for Peace and Justice, 395 churches and places of worship and more than 6,500 homes were ransacked and razed to the ground during the August 2008 attacks.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
In its report, a CPI fact-finding team quoted officials admitting that in the month-long anti-Church riots in which VHP and Bajrang Dal played a central role, not less than 500 individuals were killed. The report said a senior government official on the requesting anonymity stated that he personally relegated 200 corpses found from the forest and from fires after getting them loaded in a tractor and reported that depending on the severity and pace of murders the number of those slain is over 500 people. The report also claimed that the incidents took place in front of the police and the police were mute spectators.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
Initial reports suggested that more than 18,000 were injured and 50,000 displaced. Another report said that around 11,000 people were still living in relief camps, as of October 2008. Some tribals even fled away to border districts in neighbouring states. 310 villages were affected with 4,640 homes, 252 churches, and 13 educational institutes torched during attacks. Multiple Hindu temples and an unknown number of Hindus were also killed during the riots, excluding the five Hindu sadhus (including Saraswati) who were killed in the beginning itself.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Total casualties and damages
On 14 October 2008, Cuttack Archbishop Raphael Cheenath moved the Supreme Court seeking ₹ 30 million as compensation to rebuild the demolished and vandalized churches in the riot-hit areas. He also sought ₹ 550,000 for the kin of those killed in the riots and compensation of ₹ 60,000 to those whose houses were damaged or torched.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
A report by the National Commission for Minorities blamed the violence on Sangh Parivar outfits and the Bajrang Dal. The Director general of police of Gujarat, CP Singh, stated on record that "organisations like the VHP and Bajrang Dal are clearly behind the violence. The CPM member Basudeb Acharia blamed the Bajrang Dal of the attacks and said that within an hour after the swami's murder the Bajrang Dal and the VHP armed with swords and spears started to attack the Christians and burnt-down their houses. Orissa's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the Sangh Parivar was involved in the violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
In a press release made on 21 September, The National Commission for Minorities blamed the Sangh Parivar and Bajrang Dal for the communal violence in states of Karnataka and Odisha. Shafi Qureshi, member of the NCM team stated that the NCM teams had determined activists of Bajrang Dal were involved in these attacks in both in state of Odisha and Karnataka. Condemning the attack on churches in Kandhamal and other areas of Odisha and in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Mangalore in Karnataka, the Commission stressed the need for immediate confidence building measures to allay the fear from the minds of the minorities in both states of Odisha and Karnataka.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
The Sangh Parivar was also held responsible for the violence by the report of the fact-finding commission led by Justice AP Shah in 2010.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
The historical context of the Kandhamal violence is the spread of the ideology of Hindutva... A planned attack on the Christian minority in Orissa was a tragedy in the waiting period following the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 that killed over 2,000 Muslims and destroyed the community. Kandhamal was an ideal place for such an attack because of the possibility to manipulate the strained dynamics of the relationship between both the Dalit and the Adivasi populations to satisfy the aims of religious extremists.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
On 28 August, a letter of denial (denying responsibility for the murder of Saraswati) was received by some media houses suspected to be from a Maoist group. While the letter denied that the Central Committee of the Kotagarha branch of the Maoists had approved the attack, it claimed that some Maoists may have been lured by "nefarious elements" to launch the attack.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
But the local police force continued to maintain that Maoists were behind the operation Soon after the appearance of the aforementioned letter, "Azad", another leader of the splinter Maoist People's Liberation Guerrilla Army group, claimed responsibility for the murder of Lakshmanananda in another letter. Azad was suspected by the police of leading the attack himself. Finally, on 9 September 2008 the Maoists, who work underground, made an official press release claiming responsibility for the killing of Lakshmanananda.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
Many Maoist sympathizers of south Odisha had initially denied the role of CPI-Maoist in the murder of VHP leaders that sparked off communal violence in Kandhamnal district. Communist Party of India (Maoist) leader Sabyasachi Panda claimed that they killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples at his Jalespeta ashram on 23 August, for his Anti- Maoist hate speech, in the state of Odisha and the tribal Kandhamal region in particular. Finally, on 7 October 2008, the Odisha police announced they arrested three Maoists in connection with the murder of the Swami.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
On 16 October 2008, in an interview to PTI the IG police Arun Ray told that "Maoists trained certain youths of the tribal community to eliminate Saraswati", the "tribal community" believed by the Hindu Extremist to be a reference to the converted Christians of the region led to the "Fuel in the Fire" in the riots. The plan to eliminate Lakshmanananda was made in 2007, he added.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Investigations
Elaborating the probe by the crime branch, Ray said investigations also showed that a group had collected money from some villages in Kandhamal which was given to the Maoist group to train their youth for the purpose. The police said that they already arrested three persons, including two tribals and others who belong to the extremist Maoist groups and efforts were now on to arrest the other accused.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Political and legal fallout
At the time of the Kandhamal riots in 2008, the ruling government of Odisha, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was a coalition of the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In the 147-member state assembly the BJD-BJP combine had 93 members, 32 of whom are from the BJP. Some BJP legislators blamed the government for not providing adequate protection to Saraswati, despite other attempts on his life. They called for withdrawing support from the government, which would lead to its collapse.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Political and legal fallout
In the runup to the 2009 elections, Patnaik broke his ties with the BJP, saying that the alliance in the state had to be broken because it became impossible for him to stay with the BJP after the Kandhanmal riots which "horrified the entire world". In November 2009, after winning the elections again, this time without the support of the BJP and therefore free from political compulsions, re-elected chief minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, claimed that the Vishva Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were involved in the violence.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Political and legal fallout
On 4 September 2008, the Supreme Court of India issued an order on a petition filed by Catholic Archbishop Raphael Cheenath seeking a CBI enquiry and dismissal of the state government. The order refused to dismiss the Odisha state government but asked it to report on steps taken to stop the wave of communal rioting that had claimed at least 16 lives. In his petition, the Archbishop claimed that VHP leader Pravin Togadia carried out a procession with Saraswati's ashes after his cremation, an act that clearly inflamed further communal tension and rioting.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Political and legal fallout
The Supreme Court, in its order, asked the state government to file an affidavit explaining the circumstances under which this procession was allowed. However, it later emerged that Saraswati was never cremated in the first place (as a Hindu sannyasi, the holy man had already symbolically cast his physical body into fire while alive by wearing saffron robes, and set the soul free). As is the tradition of sannyasis, Saraswati was not cremated but instead buried and entombed after death.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Political and legal fallout
Since no cremation ever took place, Togadia replied that there was no question of "ashes" being proposed to be carried in any procession at all, and therefore the claims of "asthi kalash yatra" (carrying of the ashes) were untrue. He also alleged that Archbishop Raphael Cheenath had therefore "lied under oath to the apex court", because no such procession ever took place.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Arrests and convictions
On 29 June 2010, a fast-track court set up after the Kandhamal riots found Manoj Pradhan, a Bharatiya Janata Party politician and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha, guilty of murder of Parikhita Digal, a Christian from Budedi village who was killed by the mob on 27 August 2008. Manoj Pradhan who was nominated by the BJP while imprisoned pending trial, was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment. However, pending his appeal, he was granted bailby the High court on 6 July. A number of others have also been sentenced in riot-related cases. On 9 September 2010, another judge found Pradhan guilty in the murder of Bikram Nayak from Budedipada on 26 August 2008. In December 2010, 24 people were convicted.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Arrests and convictions
The Hindutva groups blamed the local Christian tribals for the murder of Lakshmanananda even-though the killers were suspected of being Maoist insurgents by the government. Later a senior Maoist leader claimed responsibility for the murder, the police also confirmed that the Maoists trained tribal youth to carry out the murder. On 30 September 2013, Additional district judge Rajendra Kumar Tosh at an Additional district and sessions court in Phulbani convicted seven Christians  for the murder: Gadanath Chalanseth, Bijaya Kumar Shyamseth, Buddha Nayak, Sanatan Badamajhi, Duryadhan Sunamajhi, Bhaskar Sunamajhi and Munda Badamajhi. However, on 1 October 2013, the same court also convicted a Maoist leader from Andhra Pradesh for the same crime.


2008 Kandhamal violence, Aftermaths, Arrests and convictions
Six days later the same court set free five non-Christians who were being tried for burning of a Christian house in the riots following the murder. Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christians alleged that the court is biased against the Christian minority. The defence lawyer, S.K. Padhi said that the ruling would be appealed against in the Odisha High Court.


2008 Kangaroo Cup
The 2008 Kangaroo Cup was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor carpet courts. It was the twelfth edition of the tournament which was part of the 2008 ITF Women's Circuit. It took place in Gifu, Gifu, Japan between 28 April and 4 May 2008. The total prize money offered at this event was US$50,000.


2008 Kangaroo Cup
This tournament marked the return of Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm, who returned to professional tennis almost 12 years after retiring, at the age of 37. Date entered the qualifying with the help of a wildcard, and she not only qualified, but had a run to the singles final, where she was beaten by Tamarine Tanasugarn. She also won the doubles title here, with compatriot Kurumi Nara.


2008 Kangaroo Cup, WTA entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2008 Kangaroo Cup – Doubles
Ayumi Morita and Ai Sugiyama were the defending champions, but neither player chose to compete that year.


2008 Kangaroo Cup – Doubles
Kimiko Date-Krumm and Kurumi Nara won the title, defeating Melanie South and Nicole Thijssen 6–1, 6–7(8–10), [10–7] in the final.


2008 Kangaroo Cup – Singles
Chan Yung-jan was the defending champion, but decided not to compete that year.


2008 Kangaroo Cup – Singles
Tamarine Tanasugarn won the title, defeating Kimiko Date-Krumm 4–6, 7–5, 6–2 in the final.


2008 Kansas City Brigade season
The 2008 Kansas City Brigade season was the third season for the franchise, second in the American Conference's Central Division. After starting the season with 6 consecutive losses, the Brigade finished the season with a 3–13 record, however still the worst record in the American Conference.


2008 Kansas City Brigade season, Standings
z - Clinched division and conference's best recordx - Clinched playoff berth


2008 Kansas City Brigade season, Final roster
Rookies in italicsRoster updated June 21, 200822 Active, 6 Inactive, 4 PS


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2008 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League and the 49th overall, and third and final with head coach Herm Edwards at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4–12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement". The season turned out to be the worst in the franchise's history at the time, by tallying 13 losses for the first time ever. The Chiefs' record tied with the St. Louis Rams where they stood 2–14.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The Chiefs' 2008 season began with a 1–10 record, with the franchise losing 19 of 20 games over a two-year period. The team lost seven games by 7 points or less, two games by 24-point margins, suffered a 34–0 shutout to the Carolina Panthers, and allowed a franchise-high 54 points against the Buffalo Bills. Following a 22–21 loss to the Chargers, a game in which Kansas City allowed two touchdowns and lost an 11-point lead in the game's final minutes, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt announced the resignation of General Manager/Vice President/CEO Carl Peterson effective at the end of the season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The Chiefs suffered instability on offense with rotation at the quarterback position and offensive gameplans, and also on defense after trading DE Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings. After trading Allen, the who led the NFL in sacks in 2007, the Chiefs got 10 sacks on the season, setting a new NFL record for fewest sacks in a 16-game season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The Chiefs reorganized their offense to focus around quarterback Brodie Croyle, but his season-ending injury in Week 7 led to a new spread offense gameplan focused around Tyler Thigpen. His passer rating climbed from 44.3 to 76.9 in the five games following his initial start at Atlanta. The Chiefs scored more than 10 points just twice in their first six games, but scored more offensive points than that in every game since, and twice topped 25 points. The Chiefs won their first game with the new offense against the Raiders in Week 13.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The season was the twelfth and final season in Kansas City for long-time Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons after the season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason
Beginning with the 2008 season, the team's Lamar Hunt/American Football League tribute patch which was introduced in the 2007 season became a permanent part of the Chiefs' uniform.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
The 2008 season is going to be a very important year for our football team. I expect us to at least compete for a playoff spot...I'm realistic and patient to some degree. But I also know that in the NFL you can quickly turn things around.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
Following the Chiefs loss to the New York Jets in the 2007 season finale, general manager Carl Peterson announced that both he and head coach Herman Edwards would return to the Chiefs in 2008. However, team chairman Clark Hunt—who took over leadership of the Chiefs in late 2006 after the death of his father, team founder Lamar Hunt—declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status. Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense."


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again. Edwards and Peterson were considered to be on the hot seat by the press, but inside the team, both were considered to be safe unless absolutely zero progress was made in 2008. Clark Hunt had expressed his expectations of a winning Chiefs team earning a playoff berth in 2008.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
On January 1, the Chiefs fired offensive coordinator Mike Solari after two unproductive seasons. Offensive line coach John Matsko, receivers coach Charlie Joiner and running backs coach James Saxon were fired as well after a season in which the Chiefs were among the worst offensive teams in the NFL. Tight ends coach Jon Embree and assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Dick Curl were the only offensive assistants who were retained.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
For offensive coordinator, the Chiefs interviewed Chan Gailey, Paul Hackett, Eric Price, Mike Shula, and Jim Fassel. Both Shula and Gailey were interviewed twice. Gailey was hired on January 16. Price was later added as the team's wide receivers coach.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
In addition to Gailey, the Chiefs added Bob Bicknell as their offensive line coach, and Joe D'Alessandris assistant offensive line coach. Curtis Modkins, from Gailey's staff at Georgia Tech, was added as the team's running backs coach.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Coaching and roster changes
By releasing several veteran players, the Chiefs began their youth movement. Overall, the 2008 Chiefs were the NFL's youngest at an average of 25.9 years of age. They had the youngest starting lineup at 25.5.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency
The Chiefs had 9 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2008 off-season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In February, Kansas City claimed OT Anthony Alabi off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City also agreed to two-year contracts with K Nick Novak, S Erick Harris, DT T.J. Jackson, CB Chad Johnson, OT Joe Lobdell, and G Rob Smith.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In March, Kansas City claimed FB Oliver Hoyte off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. The team also signed free agent LB Demorrio Williams, and WR Devard Darling.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In April, Kansas City signed KR B.J. Sams, TE John Paul Foschi and C Wade Smith.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In May, the Chiefs signed a total of 23 undrafted free agents. and cornerbacks Will Poole and Jason Horton.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In August, the Chiefs signed K Jay Feely but released him the following day.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In September, the Chiefs signed QB Ingle Martin following an injury to Brodie Croyle.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Additions
In October, the Chiefs re-signed K Connor Barth, who was released at the beginning of the season at the 53-man roster deadline. Kansas City also signed QB Quinn Gray following a season-ending injury to starting QB Brodie Croyle. A slew of injuries to the Chiefs' starting lineup in October and November made the team sign several players in order to fill holes.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Departures
In February, the Chiefs released WR Eddie Kennison, OT John Welbourn, RB Gilbert Harris, DE Khreem Smith, CB Ty Law, LB Kendrell Bell, TE Jason Dunn, DT James Reed, and OT Chris Bober. After attempting to trade him for the second consecutive year, the Chiefs released FS Greg Wesley in July. In October, Kansas City released LB Napoleon Harris, and K Nick Novak.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Failed signings
The Chiefs were as aggressive as NFL rules allowed them to be in pursuing of C Jeff Faine and K Josh Brown, both of whom signed with teams on the first day of free agency. NFL rules prohibit teams from contacting prospective free agents or their agents until free agency begins. In 2008, that time was 11 p.m. on February 28. "There were probably some deals done before (the start of the league year)", Edwards said when asked why the Chiefs didn't get in the game with either player. "We didn't cheat. We abided by the rules. That's how you're supposed to do it, and that's what we did."


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Free agency, Failed signings
Entering the season, the Chiefs were unsure if injury-prone Brodie Croyle could be their quarterback of the future. Following the season-ending injury to QB Croyle, the Chiefs contacted recently retired QB Daunte Culpepper and free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski. Culpepper acted as his own agent and asked for "preposterous" contract terms, which caused many teams to cancel talks, including Kansas City. Culpepper agreed to meet with the Chiefs on October 28 for a physical and face-to-face negotiations but canceled the meeting in favor of other opportunities with the NFL.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Jared Allen trade
In February, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on DE Jared Allen to prevent him from hitting the free agent market before the teams agree on a long-term deal. In April, reports surfaced detailing a proposed trade between Kansas City and the Minnesota Vikings which would send Allen to Minnesota in exchange for additional selections in the 2008 NFL Draft. Other teams that had contacted Allen's agent include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Philadelphia Eagles also proposed a trade with Kansas City. Allen was not tagged as an exclusive rights franchise player and had the right to visit and negotiate with other teams.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Jared Allen trade
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson's relationship with Allen had been strained ever since Peterson, in the wake of Allen's DUI convictions, described him as "a young man at risk." Allen, who could be suspended for a season if he has another alcohol-related episode, had said he would not negotiate with Kansas City if he did not get a contract done by July 2009. Allen had previously voiced his wish to stay with the Chiefs.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Jared Allen trade
On April 22, the Chiefs and Vikings reached an agreement on a trade package, and at roughly the same time, Allen reached an agreement in principle on a contract with the Vikings. Upon reaching the contract agreement, Allen headed to the airport and left for Minnesota.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, Jared Allen trade
Sources said the Vikings included a second third-round pick (No. 73) in the 2008 draft to get the deal done. They had been offering a No. 1 pick (17th in the first round) and a No. 3 (No. 82). The teams also swapped spots in the sixth round with the Vikings getting a better spot in the sixth round, sources said.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, 2008 NFL Draft
The Chiefs chose fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. A coin flip held at the NFL Scouting Combine determined the tie-breaker between the Chiefs, Falcons, and Raiders. The Chiefs had a league-high 13 selections heading into the draft.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, 2008 NFL Draft
Kansas City was interested in defensive end Chris Long following the departure of Jared Allen, but ended up with Glenn Dorsey after he slipped to #5 overall. Kansas City had Dorsey rated higher than Long, despite not having an immediate need at the position. Regardless of concern from NFL scouts about a previous leg injury to Dorsey which may cause him to get surgery in the near future, Kansas City selected Dorsey fifth overall. Dorsey and OT Branden Albert, Kansas City's other first-round selection, were considered by some to be the best players in the entire Draft.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Offseason, 2008 NFL Draft
Several analysts considered Kansas City to have made the best draft selections of any team. Kansas City also received the largest rookie pool to pay their 12 rookies, with a sum of $8,221,790, due in part to their two selections in the top 15 of the NFL Draft.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Preseason, Training camp
The Chiefs departed for training camp at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls on July 24 and broke camp on August 15. The 2008 training camp session marked the Chiefs' 18th season in River Falls, Wisconsin. Prior to the start of the season, Kansas City named Patrick Surtain, Pat Thomas, Brian Waters, and Jon McGraw as team captains.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Preseason, Exhibition games
The Chiefs played the Chicago Bears on August 7 and their offense was very consistent. They won the game 24–20 and had their first victory in the pre-season since August 2006. The team lost to the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 27–17 at Arrowhead Stadium on August 16. The Chiefs were shut out by the Miami Dolphins at Dolphin Stadium by a score of 24–0 on August 23. Kansas City played its final pre-season game against the St. Louis Rams on August 28 at Arrowhead Stadium for the Missouri Governor's Cup. The Chiefs won the game 21–17.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Schedule
The 2008 NFL season schedule was released on April 15. The Chiefs were reportedly one of the four teams being considered to play an international regular season game in London in 2008. Among the Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks were in consideration. The Chargers and Saints were later chosen instead.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 1: at New England Patriots
The Chiefs played the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots, and were 16 ½-point underdogs entering the game. With 7:20 left in the first quarter, safety Bernard Pollard hit quarterback Tom Brady in his left leg. Brady went down, clutching his left knee and would not return to play in the game. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel entered the game, and his first pass of the game went 51 yards to wide receiver Randy Moss. Cassel continued to excel as he was 5–6 on the drive.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 1: at New England Patriots
It ended on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Moss, giving the heavily favored Patriots the early lead in the second quarter. Five drives later the Chiefs got on the scoreboard after a 13-play drive that ended on a 40-yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak. However, New England replied with their second touchdown of the day, this time a 5-yard run by running back Sammy Morris. Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle was hurt when he was sacked and slammed to the turf on his shoulder.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 1: at New England Patriots
With around 50 seconds on the clock and down by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had the ball near the Patriots goal line. Kansas City had a chance to score but Dwayne Bowe dropped a pass in the end zone on fourth down, leading the Patriots victory. The loss also gave them a franchise-worst 10-straight losses, dating back to last season.e tried to throw on the sideline, but immediately indicated he was through for the day. Damon Huard substituted for Croyle and had the Chiefs on the 5-yard line when they ran out of downs. The Patriots won the game 17–10, and the Chiefs fell to an 0–1 start.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
Hoping to rebound from their tough road loss to the Patriots, the Chiefs hosted their AFC West rival, the Oakland Raiders. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski got a 56-yard and a 25-yard field goal. Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard suffered a neck injury in the first quarter and Tyler Thigpen substituted as quarterback for the remainder of the game. Huard was in for Kansas City's first two series, but didn't return after throwing an interception late in the second quarter.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
Marques Hagans, who was listed on the Chiefs' roster as a wide receiver, checked in as quarterback for several draw plays. The Chiefs announced at the end of the third quarter that Huard sustained "mild head trauma," a move deemed controversial as Huard never sought medical attention in the following days.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
Under Thigpen, the Chiefs' offense struggled to move the ball down the field. In using three quarterbacks, the Chiefs had only 65 net yards at halftime. Raiders RB Darren McFadden got a 19-yard TD run in the third quarter. Oakland increased its lead with Janikowski nailing a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs would respond with rookie QB Tyler Thigpen completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City executed a two-point conversion pass to rookie FB Mike Cox to make them within 8 points with just over five minutes remaining. The Chiefs' two-point conversion was the team's first in two years. Kansas City lost its opportunity to tie the game as the Raiders pulled away with RB Michael Bush getting a 32-yard TD run.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
The Chiefs' defense allowed the third-highest total yards on offense in franchise history. JaMarcus Russell completed only 6 of 17 passes for 55 yards and led the Raiders to a 15-point victory. Following the game, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson voiced his displeasure with the Chiefs' offense and his role with the team. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to an 0–2 record for the third consecutive year. Kansas City's 11-game losing streak (2007–2008) is the longest in franchise history. The Chiefs also lost their second consecutive game to the Raiders for the first time since 2001.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Chiefs played a Week 3 interconference duel against the Atlanta Falcons. With Damon Huard still recovering, second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen was given the start.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
In the first quarter, Kansas City's struggled as Falcons RB Michael Turner got a 4-yard TD run, along with QB Matt Ryan completing a 70-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. In the second quarter, Atlanta increased its lead with kicker Jason Elam getting a 27-yard field goal, along with Turner's 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would close out the first half with Thigpen completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
In the third quarter, Kansas City closed in on Atlanta's lead as RB Larry Johnson got a 1-yard TD run. However, the Falcons replied with Turner's 2-yard TD run, and a fourth quarter interception sealed the win when CB Chris Houston returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
With their twelfth consecutive loss, the Chiefs fell to 0–3.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The Chiefs hosted the 3–0 Broncos in hopes of winning their first game of the season. The Chiefs' offense, averaging fewer than 11 points a game, turned early touchdown opportunities into short field goals.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
In its first two possessions, Denver's league-leading offense had a turnover, a sack and a shanked punt. Larry Johnson ran a career-long 65-yard run to the 21 yard line on the game's second play. Kansas City had first-and-goal from the 9, but only managed a field goal. The field goal gave Kansas City their first lead in 22 quarters, since the team's lead against the Titans on December 16, 2007.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
With QB Damon Huard at the helm, the Chiefs' offense allowed no turnovers and scored more points in one game (33) than their first three games of the season combined (32). Denver's running defense was noticeably weak and allowed Chiefs RB Larry Johnson to run for 198 yards. Johnson also tallied his first 2 touchdown game in over two years. Denver allowed four turnovers, which the Chiefs capitalized on three. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez scored one touchdown and finished the game within three yards shy of tying Shannon Sharpe's all-time receiving record (10,060).


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The win was Kansas City's first since a victory over Oakland on October 21, 2007. Johnson tallied his 29th career 100-yard rushing game and his fifth against Denver.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 5: at Carolina Panthers
Coming off their stunning home win over the Broncos, the Chiefs flew to Bank of America Stadium for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 10-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Chiefs continued to trail as Williams caught a 25-yard TD pass from QB Jake Delhomme, along with getting a 32-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Carolina kicker John Kasay missed a 32-yard field goal, along with Delhomme completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers sealed the win with Kasay nailing a 43-yard field goal. TE Tony Gonzalez (3 receptions for 17 yards) became the NFL's all-time leader in career receiving yards for a tight end with 10,063 yards.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Bye Week: Gonzalez and Johnson controversies
TE Tony Gonzalez met with Chiefs GM Carl Peterson during the bye week and inquired about a trade to a playoff contender. Gonzalez, who had always said he would like to end his career with the Chiefs, voiced his desire to play for a Super Bowl contending team and the rebuilding Chiefs would like to acquire extra draft picks. Buffalo, Atlanta, Green Bay, Philadelphia, and the New York Giants had been in contact with the Chiefs regarding Gonzalez. The Giants were considered to be the front-runners, but showed "lukewarm" interest. The Packers offered a third round draft choice, but the deal was not finalized, and Gonzalez remained with the Chiefs after the trading deadline passed.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Bye Week: Gonzalez and Johnson controversies
RB Larry Johnson was charged with simple assault for allegedly pushing a woman at a Kansas City nightclub in February, the third time he has faced assault charges against a woman. Johnson was also reportedly offered by the Chiefs for a trade. Days later, coach Herm Edwards ruled Johnson out of the Chiefs' upcoming game against Tennessee as a result of a violation of team rules. Edwards stated that it was not in response to Johnson's legal troubles, but instead of insubordination.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Bye Week: Gonzalez and Johnson controversies
Days later, reports surfaced that Johnson was under investigation for allegedly telling a woman that he was going to kill her boyfriend then spat in her face at Kansas City's Club Blonde on October 10, just four days prior to his court hearing for a separate incident. Johnson's pattern of behavior could lead to a possible suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy. Johnson made a public apology on October 22. As a result of his October 10 incident, Johnson was de-activated for the Chiefs' game against the New York Jets. As a result, Johnson was charged with simple assault for the second time in two weeks. The Chiefs indicated that Johnson would meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and would not play "for the foreseeable future." Goodell subsequently suspended Johnson for the Chiefs' Week 10 game against the Chargers.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans
Coming off their bye week, the Chiefs went home for a Week 7 duel with the undefeated Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Titans kicker Rob Bironas got a 49-yard field goal, along with RB LenDale White getting a 6-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with White getting a 2-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Chiefs continued to struggle as Bironas got a 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans began to put the game out of reach as White got an 80-yard TD run. Kansas City would finally get on the board as kicker Nick Novak got a 26-yard field goal. Tennessee would seal the win as RB Chris Johnson got a 66-yard TD run. The Chiefs would end the game with QB Tyler Thigpen getting a 14-yard TD run.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans
During the game starting QB Brodie Croyle (9/10 for 63 yards) suffered a sprained knee in the second quarter. Also, veteran QB Damon Huard (9/16 for 96 yards) later left the game in the fourth with an injured thumb. Both would be placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Implementing the spread offense
To help Tyler Thigpen prepare for the game against the Jets, the Chiefs implemented the spread offense to help Thigpen and the rest of the younger players play to the best of their abilities, and also following the absence of RB Larry Johnson due to suspension. The Chiefs made a huge gamble by doing so, as most in the NFL believe that a spread offense cannot work in professional football, and also head coach Herman Edwards was traditionally in favor of more conservative, run-oriented game plans. Prior to the Chiefs implementing the spread offense, Thigpen had been playing erratically with the Chiefs, and he suddenly became poised and effective running the new offense.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Jets
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Titans, the Chiefs flew to The Meadowlands for a Week 8 duel with the New York Jets. Due to the season-ending injuries to QB's Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, Tyler Thigpen made his second career start. Thigpen became the starting quarterback by default.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Jets
In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Jets QB Brett Favre completed an 18-yard TD pass to RB Leon Washington. In the second quarter, the Chiefs tied the game as Thigpen completed a 19-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. New York responded with Washington getting a 60-yard TD run, yet Kansas City closed out the half with Thigpen completed an 11-yard TD pass to WR Mark Bradley.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 8: at New York Jets
In the third quarter, the Chiefs took the lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth nailed a 30-yard field goal, yet the Jets regained the lead with RB Thomas Jones getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Kansas City took the lead again as rookie CB Brandon Flowers returned an interception 91 yards for a touchdown. However, New York got the last laugh as Favre completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The game started well for the Chiefs who jumped out to a 24–3 lead, which included a "trick" touchdown pass from Mark Bradley (wide receiver) to Tyler Thigpen (quarterback). The momentum started to change when the Buccaneers ran a punt return for a touchdown and added a late field goal to cut the deficit to a 24–13 margin. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay picked up a late touchdown on a fumble to bring the game to a 27–25 deficit. They converted the two-point conversion to tie the game at 27–27. In overtime, the Buccaneers systematically ran the ball to the 30-yard line and then kicked the winning field goal to capture a 30–27 victory. It was the biggest margin they have overcome in their history. The loss was the Chiefs' 16th in the past 17 games.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 10: at San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs took an early lead on a 30-yard pass from Tyler Thigpen to Mark Bradley. The Chiefs defense continued to show improvement in the red zone, limiting the Chargers to two field goals instead of two touchdowns. At the end of the first half, Thigpen threw a pass to 34 yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. However, the extra point snap was botched and an attempt at a quick pass failed.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 10: at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers controlled the second half better than the first, scoring two touchdowns and leading the Chiefs by 7 at the end of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs' final drive ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez. A 1-point PAT would tie the game. However, Herm Edwards told Thigpen to go for two, explaining in a post-game interview that the defense was too beat up for overtime play. The resulting two-point conversion ended in an incomplete pass. The Chiefs lost by one point.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
Hoping to snap their five-game losing streak, the Chiefs went home for a Week 11 interconference duel with the New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, Kansas City struck first as QB Tyler Thigpen completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe. The Saints would respond with kicker Garrett Hartley getting a 30-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New Orleans took the lead as RB Deuce McAllister got a 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would answer with rookie kicker Connor Barth getting a 20-yard field goal. The Saints closed out the half with Hartley making a 23-yard field goal.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
In the third quarter, New Orleans increased their lead with QB Drew Brees completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore. Kansas City replied with Barth making a 21-yard field goal, yet the Saints answered with RB Pierre Thomas getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs tried to rally as Thigpen hooked up with Bowe again on a 5-yard TD pass. However, New Orleans pulled away with Hartley nailing a 35-yard field goal.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
Connor Barth kicks off against New Orleans; Wallace Gilberry in background


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
Tyler Thigpen leads the Chiefs' offense in a shotgun formation


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Chiefs hosted the 5–5 Bills, losers of their past four games, on November 23. Tyler Thigpen had his first bad game in five outings in the Chiefs' 54–31 loss. Thigpen's three turnovers–two interceptions and one lost fumble–led to 20 points by the Bills. Despite the turnovers, Thigpen also threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
The 54 points by Buffalo were the Chiefs' most allowed in a game in the franchise's history. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to a 1–10 record, their 19th loss in 20 games.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
The Raiders hosted the Chiefs at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum on November 30. The game began with both teams exchanging field goals to tie the game at 3. The Raiders lined up to kick another field goal, but instead elected to run a fake field goal, which was fumbled and recovered by Chiefs CB Maurice Leggett and returned for a touchdown. The Chiefs led the game 10–3 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Raiders tied the game at 10 with a touchdown by RB Justin Fargas.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
With the Chiefs backed up to their own 9 following a punt, QB Tyler Thigpen led the Chiefs's offense down the field and capped the drive with a hand-off to RB Larry Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown. On Oakland's next possession, Justin Fargas fumbled the football which eventually set up a Chiefs field goal. The Raiders attempted to get back in the game with a field goal by K Sebastian Janikowski, but the Chiefs held possession and ran out the clock for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs managed to snap their seven-game losing streak by beating the Raiders 20–13. It was Kansas City's sixth consecutive victory at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. The victory was Tyler Thigpen's first as the Chiefs' starting quarterback.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: at Denver Broncos
Fresh off their divisional road win over the Raiders, the Chiefs flew to Invesco Field at Mile High for a Week 14 AFC West rematch with the Denver Broncos. In the first quarter, Kansas City got the early lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth got a 26-yard field goal, while rookie CB Maurice Leggett returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos would with RB Peyton Hillis getting an 18-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs answered in the second quarter with QB Tyler Thigpen completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, yet Denver closed out the half with QB Jay Cutler completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Marshall.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 14: at Denver Broncos
In the third quarter, the Broncos tied the game with kicker Matt Prater nailing a 33-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Denver took the lead as Cutler hooked up with Marshall again on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Kansas City tried to rally, but the Broncos' defense was too much to overcome.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs hosted the 5–8 Chargers on December 14, hoping to end their slim playoff chances. Temperatures which hovered in the low 60s when early-arriving fans first showed up plunged into the 20s by the end of the game. The Chiefs dominated the game early, leading 14–3 at halftime. Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen threw for one touchdown and ran for another for the Chiefs and was 19-for-28 for 171 yards.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers had three turnovers and, perhaps more embarrassing, gave up three sacks to the NFL's worst pass rush. Tamba Hali had two sacks and caused two fumbles for a Chiefs defense that hadn't gotten a sack since playing San Diego four games ago. The three sacks pushed Kansas City's season total to a league-low nine, and the Chiefs need five in their last two games to avoid tying the NFL record for fewest in a season. Five of the sacks from the season have come against San Diego.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers
Leading into the fourth quarter, Kansas City led 21–10, but allowed 11 points in the final 79 seconds of the game to lose 22–21. The Chiefs, despite having an 18-point lead, used up all three time-outs. The victory sealed a season sweep for San Diego over Kansas City, with both victories ending in a one-point margin.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers
Although the announced attendance was 73,842, Arrowhead Stadium was noticeably empty throughout most of the game


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Resignation of Carl Peterson
The day after the Chiefs' loss to San Diego, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt announced the resignation of Carl Peterson from all positions held (general manager, vice president, and chief executive officer) effective at the end of the season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Resignation of Carl Peterson
The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been on-going throughout the season. Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2–12. Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herman Edwards would be settled after the season. Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise. Hunt said he plans on hiring someone from outside the organization.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
Kansas City hosted the Miami Dolphins in the second-coldest game ever held at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21 with the game-time temperature at 10 °F and a wind chill at −12 °F. It was the coldest conditions that Miami had ever played in. Miami scored first on the opening drive with a touchdown by WR Ted Ginn Jr. Despite trailing 10–0 early in the game, Tyler Thigpen led the Chiefs to a 28–24 lead by halftime. The Chiefs failed to score a touchdown in the second half of the game, only managing a field goal by Connor Barth.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins broke a 31–31 tie with a touchdown by TE Anthony Fasano with 4:08 remaining in the game. With just over a minute remaining, Chiefs LB Demorrio Williams forced and recovered a fumble to give the Chiefs another chance to tie the game. A failed drive capped off by Thigpen's third interception helped Miami run out the clock. Thigpen threw a career best 320 yards with two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. TE Tony Gonzalez became the first Chiefs player and first NFL tight end to record four 1,000 yard receiving seasons. The game also marked the last time Gonzalez played in Arrowhead Stadium as a member of the Chiefs, due to his trade to the Falcons following the season.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals hosted the Chiefs for both teams' final game of the 2008 season on December 28. Entering the game, the Bengals had a 3–11–1 record and the Chiefs had a 2–13 record. While there was speculation over the job status of Herm Edwards as head coach entering the off-season, RB Larry Johnson voiced his intention to seek a trade. Cincinnati completely dominated the game. They outrushed the Chiefs 204 yards to 31 yards. Kansas City could only manage two first downs in the first half.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Regular season, Game summaries, Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Chiefs did not get closer than the Bengals' 37-yard line until their final drive, which ended with TE Tony Gonzalez's 5-yard touchdown catch from QB Tyler Thigpen with 2:20 left in the game. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Bengals effectively held the lead for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs' defense had one sack in the game to finish the season with 10–the fewest in the NFL since the league started recording team sacks in 1960. The team surpassed the 1982 Baltimore Colts' record of 11 sacks.


2008 Kansas City Chiefs season, Season statistics
All statistics through the completion of the 2008 NFL season (December 28, 2008).


2008 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals' 2008 season began with the team searching for its 15th manager in franchise history. Trey Hillman, former minor league baseball and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (Nippon Professional Baseball) manager, was hired as the team's skipper on October 19, 2007.


2008 Kansas City Royals season
The team looked to improve upon its record of 69–93 from 2007. The team's payroll for the 2008 season was initially estimated to be around $57 million, and wound up at $58 million (24th in the major leagues).


2008 Kansas City Royals season
Despite another last-place finish in 2007, the Royals sought a breakout season in 2008. Renovations to Kauffman Stadium were ongoing throughout the 2008 season and it was completed in time for Opening Day in 2009.


2008 Kansas City Royals season
Following the team's 81st game, the mid-way point of the 2008 season, the Royals had a 37–44 record. The closest the team managed to crawl back to a .500 record after their 9–6 start to the season was within 6 games in mid-July. After compiling a 7–20 record in August, the Royals were eliminated from recording their first winning season since 2003. However, an 18–8 record in September let the Royals finish with a 75–87 record, their best since 2003.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Coaching search
I'm a hungry guy...I do not like to lose. I like to start from the ground up and build, and build in such a way that it's going to be maintained for many years to come.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Coaching search
— Trey Hillman at his introductory press conference, October 22, 2007.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Coaching search
Buddy Bell announced his resignation at the end of the 2007 season after serving two and half seasons with the Royals. Early candidates to assume the manager's position included Royals bench coach Billy Doran, former Royals star Frank White, and Triple-A Omaha manager Mike Jirschele. Former Major League managers such as Joe Girardi, Jim Fregosi, Ken Macha, and Jimy Williams were also in consideration. Trey Hillman, who was considered a sleeper candidate, was chosen on October 19. Hillman was interviewed in 2007 by Texas, San Diego and Oakland. He was mentioned as a possible successor to Joe Torre with New York. Hillman had never played, coached or managed in Major League Baseball prior to his hiring by the Royals.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Winter meetings
The Royals entered baseball's winter meetings in December 2007 with José Guillén and Andruw Jones atop their free-agent prospects list. Torii Hunter was also considered by Kansas City before signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Royals signed Guillén to a three-year, $36 million contract, while Jones signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Winter meetings
The acquisition of Guillén was the Royals' only major move at the winter meetings. Just before the meetings, the Royals had ministered to another need by signing reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta to a two-year deal with an option for 2010. Yabuta, from the Nippon Professional Baseball league, was seen as the likely successor to David Riske in a right-handed setup role. Riske left the Royals for a three-year, $13 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hiroki Kuroda was on the Royals' radar, but several other teams were in pursuit as well, and the Dodgers signed him first.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Winter meetings
In the Rule 5 draft, the Royals picked up left-handed pitcher Ray Liotta from the Chicago White Sox.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Roster moves
Kansas City avoided arbitration with all of its players for the 2008 season.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Roster moves, Trades
December 15—Traded RHP Billy Buckner to the Arizona Diamondbacks for IF Alberto Callaspo.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Return of the Powder Blues
After a lengthy absence, the Royals' powder blue uniforms returned in 2008. The new powder blue jerseys were unveiled to season-ticket holders on December 6, 2007, at a private event in downtown Kansas City. Royals players John Buck, Mark Teahen, Alex Gordon, José Guillén and David DeJesus and manager Trey Hillman modeled the new power blue tops and white pants, which will be an alternate home jersey in 2008. The Royals previously wore powder-blue uniforms in away games from 1973 to 1991.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Offseason, Return of the Powder Blues
The Royals debuted the jerseys on April 12 against the Minnesota Twins. The first 20,000 fans for the game received a replica powder blue No. 16 Billy Butler jersey. With that promotion, the game was a sellout. Manager Trey Hillman and seven players—Brian Bannister, Gil Meche, Joey Gathright, Tony Peña, Jr., John Bale, Zack Greinke and Butler—helped hand out the free jerseys when the gates opened at 4 p.m. All 20,000 powder blue tops were handed out within 40 minutes after the gates opened.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Suspensions
Outfielder José Guillén was to be suspended for 15 days (12 games) for violation of Major League Baseball's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Kansas City signed Guillén knowing that he might have been suspended. Guillén was cited in the Mitchell Report when it was released on December 13, 2007. Guillén's suspension was put on hold for 10 days allowing him to play in the team's season and home openers. The suspension was eventually upheld and Guillén never received any punishment.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Suspensions
Miguel Olivo faced a five-game suspension for fighting at New York in the 2007 season while a member of the Florida Marlins, but the suspension was reduced to four games after an appeal. He was eligible to begin playing on April 5 against the Minnesota Twins.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, March and April
On March 31, the Detroit Tigers hosted the Royals on Opening Day. Kansas City listed only 24 players on their active roster, as Miguel Olivo began serving his four-game suspension. The roster listed 11 pitchers, 7 infielders, 4 outfielders, and 2 catchers. Gil Meche made his second consecutive Opening Day start for the Royals, lasting six innings. The Royals won the game 5-4 in 11 innings, and went on to sweep the Tigers in the three-game series outscoring them 13-5. Kansas City hosted the New York Yankees for their home-opening series at Kauffman Stadium and won two of three games. Their 6–2 start was the franchise's best since 2003.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, March and April
The Royals hosted the Twins from April 11–13, where game-time temperatures reached as low as 29 °F for the series. After losing the first two games and not scoring any runs, the Royals won the last game by a score of 5-1. Kansas City debuted their new alternate powder blue home jerseys to a sold-out crowd on April 12, with a replica jersey giveaway promotion. Brian Bannister threw a complete game and allowed only three hits on April 13 in a 5-1 win. The following night, Zack Greinke threw a complete game as well.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, March and April
It was not until their 19th game of the season that the Royals fell under a .500 winning percentage in the middle of a seven-game losing streak after going 9–6 to start the season. When the streak was snapped they were 10–13. In 2007, the Royals lost their second game of the year and remained under .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing with a record of 69–93.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
At the Royals' May 9 game against the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City-native David Cook threw out the ceremonial first pitch and sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the seventh inning stretch. At the time, Cook was a finalist on American Idol, and he eventually won the competition.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
Brian Bannister threw a two-hitter on May 11 in a 4-0 win over Baltimore for the Royals' first victory over the Orioles after losing 12 consecutive games to the franchise. Through 40 games, Joakim Soria had a 0.00 ERA and ten saves, and the Royals signed him to a three-year contract extension through the 2011 season.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
In early May, Kansas City completed their second series sweep against Detroit, advancing to 6-0 over the Tigers on the season. Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox threw a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19. It was just the Royals' second game to register no hits against an opponent, and the first since May 15, 1973.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
The Royals endured a 12-game losing streak following the loss to Lester and the Red Sox, sending them 11 games under .500 and in last place of the American League Central. The Royals started their May 31 game against Cleveland with the fewest runs, sacrifice flies, RBIs and walks in the major leagues, but beat reigning Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia 4-2 to end their losing streak.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
The losing streak prompted José Guillén to criticize his team's performance with the media after a 9-8 loss to Minnesota:


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
"We've got 25 people. We've got to play as a team, win as a team and lose as a team. We've got too many babies here. They don't know how to play the game and play the game right, the way it's supposed to be played... That's the problem here. Now I know why this organization has been losing for a while."


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, May
The Royals' losing streak was the longest in the majors since Kansas City and Pittsburgh both had 13-game losing streaks in 2006. While going almost two weeks without a win, Kansas City had allowed three grand slams, lost a five-run lead in the ninth inning of one game and scored three or fewer runs in nine others. It was the Royals' fourth time losing 12 consecutive games in franchise history, and all of the streaks have occurred since 1997. The losing caused Kansas City to make roster changes by sending the struggling Billy Butler to Triple-A affiliate Omaha. Mike Avilés was called up in exchange.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
Looking to rebound from their 12-game losing streak in May, the Royals started the month of June with 4 consecutive series wins over National League opponents. Kansas City completed its first ever series sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. In 12 years of Interleague play, the Cardinals still hold the I-70 Series lead, 26-22, but the Royals have done better in St. Louis, winning 11 of 21 games. On June 22, the Royals made an improbable comeback after trailing 6-0 and later 10-3 against the San Francisco Giants.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
The Royals scored 8 unanswered runs and won the game and Joakim Soria recorded his 20th save of the season in 21 tries. Following a sweep of the defending National League champion Colorado Rockies, the Royals boasted an MLB-best 12–3 record in Interleague play and won for the tenth time in 11 games. Following their 12-game skid ended in May, the Royals went 15–9, closed to within seven games of .500 and skipped out of last place of the American League Central.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
José Guillén made controversial remarks about Royals fans following booing in the June 25 game against the Rockies which prompted him to apologize days later to the Royals fanbase and team management. Fans booed Guillén in the eighth inning of the Royals' 4-2 win. He grounded to Colorado Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins and began a slow run toward first base. Atkins' throw was off target, forcing Todd Helton to leave the bag. If Guillén had been at full speed, he might have been safe. Guillén had been battling several injuries which had caused him to play easier in order to avoid the disabled list.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
After defeating the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals boasted a six-game winning-streak, the team's best since their 9-0 start in the 2003 season. Billy Butler rejoined the team after Alberto Callaspo was involved in a drunk driving incident.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
At the Royals' home game against the Cardinals, the team inducted Art Stewart into the Royals Hall of Fame. Stewart became the first scout to be inducted into any of Major League Baseball's franchise hall of fames, and the Royals' 23rd overall inductee.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, June
In the final game of the month, the Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles after Miguel Olivo, on a 0-2 pitch, hit a game-tying home run into the left-field seats in the bottom of the 9th inning. José Guillén batted in the Royals' game-winning run and Joakim Soria closed out the game for his 22nd save. The Royals finished out the month of June with a 16–11 record.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
Joakim Soria was selected to be the Royals' lone representative in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and José Guillén was named to the All-Star Final Vote ballot. Guillén was involved in a heated argument with pitching coach Bob McClure before the team's July 5 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but was not penalized for his actions.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
At the All-Star break, the Royals boasted a record of 43–53, an improvement compared to their 38–50 record from 2007 and 31–56 record in 2006.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
On July 21, the Royals suffered their worst defeat of the season, and the Tigers registered their first victory over Kansas City in 2008 with a score of 19-4. By the seventh inning, it was 9-0 in favor of Detroit. The Tigers' 10-run eighth inning mostly came against Jimmy Gobble, who was charged with all 10 runs. At one point in the inning, Gobble allowed six straight hits, the last being a home run by Gary Sheffield. His ERA spiraled from 7.99 to 11.31. Gobble faced 12 hitters in the inning before Hillman finally called for Leo Núñez to substitute. The Royals, behind 19-0, finally broke through with four runs in their half of the eighth. They had five straight hits, including Billy Butler's two-run single. Manager Trey Hillman said following the game:


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
It was a nasty loss... Obviously lopsided—a laugher for them. Toward the end, at least we were playing with a little bit of pride, still battling and we got rid of the shutout. That was a positive.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
Hillman decided to enlist shortstop Tony Peña, Jr. to pitch the ninth inning for the Royals. Peña, who lost his starting shortstop job to Mike Avilés, pitched a one-two-three inning and registered 90 mph-plus on the radar gun. This was his first competitive pitching since high school in the Dominican Republic. Peña was the first position player pressed into pitching service by the Royals since July 17, 1998, when infielder Shane Halter took a turn in an 18-5 loss at Seattle.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, July
On July 29, ESPN Deportes reported that José Guillén expressed his wish to be traded due to a bad relationship with manager Trey Hillman. When Guillén signed with Kansas City he knew the team wouldn't be a contender in 2008, but he was promised that moves would be made to build a winning team in 2009. Kansas City had not shown any interest in trading Guillén. The source said Guillén was ready to defer his salary for 2009 and 2010 if it were to help increase his value on the trading block. A "visibly upset" Guillén met with Hillman and denied the report. The trade deadline passed on July 31 and the Royals made no trades.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, August
The Royals recorded a season-high 19 runs against the Chicago White Sox on August 2 in a 9-7 win. The following day, Kansas City closed out the series against Chicago by winning 14-3. In two days, the Royals recorded 38 total hits for the first time in franchise history. The Royals finally fought back against the White Sox—who have dominated the Royals in years past—both literally and figuratively. Four players and both teams' managers were ejected from the game after confrontations over wild pitches.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, August
The Royals and White Sox played again in mid-August and on August 14 Kansas City allowed four consecutive home runs in the sixth inning to White Sox batters, tying the MLB record. Joel Peralta gave up the first three and Robinson Tejeda allowed the last home run after a pitching change.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, August
José Guillén had to be restrained from a heckling fan during the fourth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on August 26. Royals third base coach Luis Silverio and others restrained Guillén, while security escorted to a new seat in Kauffman Stadium. Guillén met with Royals general manager Dayton Moore to discuss Guillén's public outburst, his fourth of the season. Royals manager Trey Hillman did not see the incident take place. "I was actually in the toilet, so I didn't see it", Hillman said. "Managers do have to use the restroom and I guess I picked a bad time to be in the restroom. I found out about it a half inning later. We talked about it briefly. There's no sense on commenting on it."


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, August
Through 114 games, the Royals were just 7 games under .500, but winning only 7 out of 27 games in the month of August effectively assured Kansas City of another losing season.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
Too bad this isn't our August... It's a step forward that we need to realize, take, use and finish up strong so we have some good momentum going into the offseason.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
— John Buck on the Royals' strong finish in September.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
Going into September, it seemed that the Royals' 7–20 record in August had doomed them to a last-place finish in the American League Central, but the team's best September since the 1977 season helped erase the losing record in the previous month. The Royals took control of fourth place in the division with another three-game sweep of Detroit.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
The Royals tied their win total from the 2007 season (69) with a victory over the Seattle Mariners on September 18. The victory was the team's seventh consecutive victory.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
In their final series of the season, the Twins hosted the Royals. The Twins hold a ½ game lead in the American League Central over the White Sox, and the Royals won two of three games, leading to a one-game playoff between the Twins and White Sox.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Regular season, Monthly summaries, September
The Royals finished the season with a 75–87 record, their best since 2003 thanks to an 18–8 mark in September.


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Batting
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Player stats, Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts


2008 Kansas City Royals season, Awards and honors, Player of the Week
April 7–13: Brian Bannister, shared with Raúl Ibañez (Seattle Mariners). May 12–18: José Guillén. July 28 – August 3: Mike Avilés, shared with Xavier Nady (New York Yankees).


2008 Kansas City Wizards season
The 2008 Kansas City Wizards season was the first season played at the temporary home Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Team News
The Wizards have been seeking sites for a soccer-specific stadium, initially targeting possible locations in Johnson County, Kansas. The Wizards' new ownership identified a site at 159th Street and U.S. Route 69 in south Overland Park, Kansas as its preferred location for a stadium, but this plan was met with numerous difficulties, namely the decision of the town's mayor to pull his support for the financing of the stadium after a vote had failed to secure money for the building of youth fields at the same site.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Team News
Due to renovations of Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards were expected to play at a temporary stadium beginning in 2007, while planning and awaiting the construction of a new facility. Yet on January 31, 2007, it was announced the Wizards would continue to play in Arrowhead in the 2007 season.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Team News
The reasons given for the return to Arrowhead were the difficulties in expanding other facilities in the area (the KC Wizards played an exhibition in the beginning of the 2007 season at the District Activities Center owned and operated by the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas) and the delay in the Arrowhead renovation plan.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Team News
On July 27, 2007, the Kansas City Star reported that Lane4 Property Group, a developer hired by the Wizards, was moving closer to making plans final for a massive redevelopment of now-vacant Bannister Mall that will probably include a new 18,500-seat stadium for the Wizards and 12 to 18 tournament soccer fields. Under Lane4's plan, the Bannister Mall and Benjamin Plaza shopping centers and the adjoining Benjamin Ranch property would be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use project with retail, office and residential components in addition to a possible Wizards stadium.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Team News
According to MLS.net on December 14, 2007, the Wizards plans for a new stadium were approved by the Kansas City council. The current target date for completion of construction for a new facility has been stated as the beginning of the 2010 MLS season. Team owners are currently collaborating with architecture firm 360 Architecture on the design of the new stadium.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Matches, Pre-Season, Saturn Cup
The senior team played its first competitive match of the 2008 campaign in Norman, Oklahoma at John Crain Field on the campus of the University of Oklahoma on March 22, 2008 as part of the Saturn Cup against Real Salt Lake. The Wizards took home the hardware with the only goal of the contest coming from the head of defender Jimmy Conrad off a Carlos Marinelli free kick. This marked the second time in club history that it won the Saturn Cup.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Matches, Pre-Season, New Mexico Cup
2008 Colombian newcomer Iván Trujillo scored twice against CSD Municipal the defending Liga Nacional de Guatemala champions in Albuquerque, New Mexico while the Wizards defense held the Reds scoreless, 2-0. The New Mexico Cup was played at the University of New Mexico.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Matches, Major League Soccer, Notes
• Kansas City has now qualified for the playoffs in nine of their 13 seasons, both seasons since OnGoal bought the team in 2006. • Kansas City finished the season 5-1-1 in their final seven matches, including a 3-0-0 record in their last three. • Claudio López finished his first MLS season tied for second on the team in league goals (6) and tied for the team lead in assists (7). • Davy Arnaud clinched the team Golden Boot after scoring two goals in his final two games.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Matches, Major League Soccer, Notes
• Five times throughout the season Kansas City scored three or more goals. • Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and defender Jimmy Conrad are the only Wizards to play all 2700 minutes this season. • Hartman, Conrad and defender Michael Harrington are the only three players to start in all 30 MLS games. • Hartman now has 138 career wins, an MLS all-time record. • Kerry Zavagnin's final MLS appearance came away to the Revs in the season finale and was his 237th appearance for the Wizards, a club record. He finished with 20,516 minutes played in league play, also a club record.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Matches, Major League Soccer, Results summary
Last updated: Oct 25, 2008Source: Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won;  T = Matches tied;  L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Squad, First-team squad
As of OCT 25, 2008 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Squad, Transfers, In
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008 Kansas City Wizards season, Squad, Transfers, Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses
The 2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 21 delegates at stake. The remaining 11 delegates were selected at the Kansas Democratic Party District Conventions on April 12. The state, and a majority of its delegates, were won by Barack Obama.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses, Process
The Kansas Democratic Caucus was open to all registered Democrats, non-Democrats, 17-year-olds eligible to vote by the general election, and new voters who could register or re-register at the door. Surrogates were permitted for religious observance, military service, legislative service, or physical disability. At the caucus, participants gathered into preference groups. There was a 15-percent minimum threshold required for viability at the precinct level, with re-caucusing among all participants permitted.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses, Process
After re-caucusing, the results were tallied and reported to state party headquarters, and delegates were selected to Congressional District Conventions on April 12, who then selected delegates to the Kansas Democratic Party State Convention on May 17. In Kansas, delegates' pledges are binding to congressional districts at the precinct level, unlike most other caucuses, where delegates are unpledged up to the Congressional District Convention level.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses, Results, District Convention Results
Allocation of delegates to candidates was pre-determined by the results of the local unit conventions on February 5. Only the persons filling the roles of delegates and alternates were chosen at this event.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses, Analysis
As he did throughout all other states that held caucuses, Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton by a nearly three-to-one margin in Kansas, one of the reddest states in the nation. Obama, however, had roots in Kansas, as it was the state where his mother was born and raised. Obama also received a huge endorsement from former Governor Kathleen Sebelius who was at the time a very popular Democratic Governor in a very Republican state.


2008 Kansas Democratic presidential caucuses, Analysis
The endorsement by Sebelius, who went on to serve as Secretary of Health & Human Services in the Obama Administration, along with Obama's roots in the state, may have contributed to his large victory in the Kansas Democratic Primary. He won a majority of counties and carried all four of the state's congressional districts. Clinton only carried three counties in the state - Franklin, Linn and Miami (both Miami and Linn are situated along the state's border with Missouri where Clinton did far better). Clinton also tied Obama in 16 counties but these were relatively rural and far less populated areas that could not be overweighed by his margins in the more populated, urban areas including Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita.