February 23rd, 2008
[ Outdoor ]
The 49th annual Kansas City Sportshow begins Tuesday, and visitors will see a lot of the usual stuff. There will be boats and hundreds of booths promoting hunting, fishing and vacation spots here and abroad.
There will be ATVs and motorcycles, recreational vehicles, fishing lures and rods and reels for sale — everything under the sun where it comes to outdoor entertainment.
Oh, yeah, Bill Grigsby also will be there. The longtime announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs will be the show’s host, something he’s been doing for 45 years now.
“It’s a labor of love,” Grigsby said of the Sportshow. “I love working for these people. What I really like are the seminars. We’ve got Ray Scott of BASS fame here this year.
“When we had the show at Municipal Auditorium, we had stage shows. When they moved into Bartle Hall, you couldn’t do the stage shows anymore, it was just too big. I’ll be there to introduce some acts, meet people, just circulate.”
One of the acts this year has Grigsby intrigued. “I haven’t seen it yet, it’s new this year,” he said. “It’s called the Rattlesnake Wranglers. It’s unbelievable. Four Kansas farmers get into this pit with 100 rattlesnakes. Man, you wouldn’t catch me doing that! But it should be something to see.”
Another legend also will be there. Harold Ensley, the Sportsman’s Friend, once again will be in attendance.
“Harold will be there, sure,” Grigsby said. “I’ve know him a lifetime. He was in Joplin, working as a preacher, when I was there broadcasting minor league baseball. I told him he should get into my line of business and the next thing I know, he’s got a TV show in Kansas City.”
Grigsby doesn’t hunt or fish anymore.
“I used to hunt ducks,” he said. “But, with football, I’m awful busy this time of year, though I sure do enjoy it.
“I’m 80 and my duck hunting and golf game are things of the past. I actually think of myself as 45 though; it’s an attitude thing. I get around swell. I tell people it’s vitamins in the morning and a couple vodka martinis at night that is the trick.”
The Sportshow hours are 5-10 p.m. Tuesday; 2-10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $8 for adults; $4 for children 5-11; and children under 5 are admitted free. On opening night, the first 500 children ages 5-11 with a paid admission ticket will receive a free Zebco spincast road and reel combo.
Among other attractions at the show are live fishing for rainbow trout, the traveling fish tank, live trophy whitetail deer, a BassMaster Casting Kids competition, and a large slate of seminars that deal with hunting and fishing.