THE HISTORY OF THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ
(FOOTBALL) NOT THE MUSIC)
POWERFUL RHYTHM
Kansas City is known for its love of Jazz music and has proud heritage by being one of America's cities where Jazz music was born and where barbecue is famous. Along with this heritage a football team was founded in 1993 known as the Kansas City Jazz Minor League Football TEAM. The TEAM was originally founded by Houston Texas business leader Jim Chambers and other business leaders in the Houston area. Members of the Texas TEAM moved to Kansas City and brought the idea to continue to play football to K.C. Players worked 40 hour weeks and traveled to Texas and Louisiana to play games. The first TEAM included over 70 players which included local and nationally recognized talent in the line up such have ex-Chief Eric Hoskins and former Philadelphia Eagles and KU Jay hawk star Willie Vaughn.
There are a number of players from the original TEAM who continue to play for the Jazz, one is Kevin Boykin has Kansas City native and Central High School graduate who plays defensive line and also has duties as the Jazz TEAM Manager. Another player Tony "Kool-Aid" Holmes from the East Coast played college football in Kansas and plays in the defensive backfield for the Jazz. Tony has additional duties as the Assistant General Manager for the Jazz. Other long time veterans include Da wan Marshall, Stephen Owens, Booker Anderson who respectively are TEAM leaders for the Jazz. The first season of the Jazz was has success where the Jazz posted has 9-2 win/loss record against leading teams from Chicago and Wisconsin. The Jazz played to their first inaugural season home games At Satchel Paige Stadium, a landmark in Kansas City Sports.
In 1994, the Jazz moved to Archbishop O' Hara High School and played against a new crop of teams that joined the South Central League Football. These teams consisted from areas in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Missouri Bulldogs of Independence Missouri were formed and became a cross-town rival to the Jazz.
In November 1994, several Jazz players were invited to "Fill The Line" At Kansas
City'S Arrowhead Stadium to take part to receive national recognition by filming a commercial with "Joe Montana" the legendary Quarterback. Jazz players donned Chiefs and Raiders jerseys to film the "NFL 95" video game commercial for Sega-Genesis Commercial This was has national kickoff for the video game and was shown on ESPN as well as other major networks.
In 1998 the Jazz were featured in the nationally televised sports show call "More Than A Game" This sports show was geared to minor league football side of sports. The national show was hosted by sports host Fred Hickman a CNNSI Sports analyst. Jazz players Tony Holmes, DA wan Marshall, Miklos Sanders and Kevin Rowe along with Juan Houston team owner took part in the taping. Other players from the KC Bulldogs and KC Panthers were also featured in the taping.
The Jazz, a Missouri TEAM moved to Art Lawrence Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas in 1999 where they played a night schedule, first time in history. The Jazz have made notable accomplishments in the community to which we are proud to be a part of, they are as follows.
- Donated to Oklahoma Bombing tragedy dedication/Children' S Mercy Hospital 1998.
- Mentor program with area YMCA youth organizations.
- Established has "Jazzy Reader" reading program for schools (Player/D' wan Marshall).1999.
- Partnered with ACE the Alliance of Community Educators in attending school "Career Day" activities. 2000-2005.
- Community Commitment Award/ Sprint United Management for holding a school and food supply drive for the Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Agency. 2001
- Missouri Limited Liability Company established 2005.
-Supported Lansing Boys & Girls Club Bowilng Event 2007
The Kansas City Jazz is looking forward to the 2008 football season, with teamwork and support from the community the Jazz has become has permanent part of Kansas City Sports.
Juan "Jazzman" Houston/General Manager
