I think this has a real chance of being part of the next CBA if the owners let all players become free agents after two years of service.

And Ozzie Guillen says something reasonable. . .

...Jacoby Ellsbury says "I'm excused, right?".

Kudos to Ozzie.

Dusty Baker went a step further, arguing that the National Baseball Hall of Fame be closed during the summer.

Mandatory doesn't strike me as a good idea, but players, and fans (and others) should take it in, especially if the Museum has resolved its internal governance problems.

I wish I had a reason to go to KC to take the museum in. It's not a trip I'd make specifically for the museum, but if I ever find myself in the area, I am freakin there.

Guillen's a bit of a nut (to say the least) but his heart is in the right place on this one. It's not too much to ask each of the American League clubs to pay a visit during their trip to Kansas City. And from everything I hear, it is a great museum.

And from everything I hear, it is a great museum.

It is a very great museum. If you are ever anywhere near the KC vicinity and don't go, you're making a large error.

I don't doubt it's a great place to visit, but I'm surprised how little slapping around Ozzie's getting for suggesting it be mandatory.

Where's the right when you need them??

A trip down the street to Arthur Bryant's should also be included.

It's not too much to ask each of the American League clubs to pay a visit during their trip to Kansas City. And from everything I hear, it is a great museum.

Hey, this sounds like one of the few good things about the abomination that is interleague play -- a few NL clubs will have the chance, too.

Of course, ballplayers are often ignorant of the game's history -- didn't one of the Nationals ask F-Robbie "Hey skip, you ever play in the majors?"

I went to it. It's great, has a lot of stuff that even people here would learn new things from. It's next to a jazz museum too, if that's your thing.

If you enjoy art museums, the Nelson-Atkins is another reason to go. They have a great collection of medieval work and it's the place to go if you like Thomas Hart Benton.

It is a very good museum. I get the sense that visitors leave it with either no expectations or low and come away very impressed. Kind of like the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY. You do not expect to see one of, if not the world's best collection of firearms and western art, but you do.

Kind of like the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY. You do not expect to see one of, if not the world's best collection of firearms and western art, but you do.

Another very great museum.

I wish I had a reason to go to KC to take the museum in. It's not a trip I'd make specifically for the museum,

#11 beat me to the answer: Your reason to go to KC is to go to Arthur Bryant's for barbecue, and while you're there, you go to the museum.
Or, if you prefer, you go to KC to go to the Negro League Museum, and then go to Arthur Bryant's while you're there. Either approach is the right way to go.

If I ever went to KC, I'd also have to take in a game at Arrowhead. This would require a lot more planning, but it would be worth it.

I spent a few days in KC a few years ago. Went to the Negro Leagues Museum, the Jazz Museum, Arthur Bryant's, the Harry Truman Library, Satchel Paige's grave, Zach Wheat's grave, and two games at Kaufman. It was absolutely a wonderful three days, and well worth planning a visit for.

I support any reason to visit KC for dining and museums, but would insist that Stroud's (and their PAN fried chicken, chkn fried steak, etc.) be elevated to near the top of any KC restaurant pilgrimage. ABs, Gates and others get all the pub, but I'd visit Stroud's as much as any other place in KC.

#11 beat me to the answer: Your reason to go to KC is to go to Arthur Bryant's for barbecue, and while you're there, you go to the museum.
Or, if you prefer, you go to KC to go to the Negro League Museum, and then go to Arthur Bryant's while you're there. Either approach is the right way to go.

I don't eat meat! Are there still jazz clubs in KC or do they just keep a couple open for the tourists? I can see heading over there to take in a Royals game, maybe a soccer game, hit a couple of museums and then see some music. Any good hikes in the area (despite its reputation for geological blandness?)

Are there still jazz clubs in KC or do they just keep a couple open for the tourists?

There are a few left. The Phoenix downtown used to be pretty good, but it closed a few years ago and despite rumors I don't think they ever re-opened. Jardine's on the Plaza can be good although they also have a lot of R&B acts. The Mutual Musicians Foundation is THE place to be though. I guess a ton of local musicians will congregate there and just jam and you can get a really cool experience on the right night. Its in the 18th and Vine district by the Negro Leagues Museum.

As for hikes, I hear walking the levees along the river can be okay. The Katy Trail is not really in KC (yet) but if you want to drive a bit, its a great trail that stretch across most of Missouri.

Does MLB subsidize the NLBM? I know its struggled to stay afloat since Buck O'Neil's passing and some recent management issues.

Also, I would recommend the World War I Museum in KC for history buffs. Really a neat museum for a war a lot of people forget.

Major league baseball/American League should make guys go see the Negro League Museum in Kansas City. They should make them go there and find out the real history of the game and the great thing[s] about baseball.

I'm wouldn't be surprised if Joe Maddon does this already.

Actually, it would seem a lot easier to implement if the teams simply took it upon themselves to make a yearly visit to the museum during their first visit to KC during the season than try to collectively bargain for it. I'm sure a player could make an issue of such a detour, but who the hell is going to want to do that?

I may owe several cokes for this, since I haven't read through the comments, but when I saw that headline in the Hot Topics bar, I imagined an endless stream of Taxpayers at Gunpoint being uprooted and transported to Kansas City and then having to pass a knowledge test about NeL baseball before being allowed to go back home.

I went to the NeL Museum a few years ago when I was in KC for a wedding. I had high expectations based on the comments here, and I was not disappointed. I will say that the museum was different than I expected--it was more informative than I'd hoped, but had less memorabilia than I expected (I guess most of that stuff, to the extent it exists, is in Cooperstown)? My wife really loved it as well.

The National World War I Museum is also in KC, although I've never been.

I would be ok with that. Also can we teach em manners while were at it?

Is that a League of Their Own ref?

I agree with the recommendation to visit the WWI museum (Liberty Memorial). My son and I did a road trip to KC for baseball & BBQ last summer. We saw the Twins pound the Royals (another bonus - your favorite team is likely to win) two nights with one day spent at the NGL museum, Jazz museum & Arthur Bryant's and another at Liberty Memorial. Liberty Memorial is the best museum of the bunch (on par with the Smithsonian in my opinion) though the NGL museum is very good. The Jazz museum is uneven and lacks artifacts, probably a better experience when they have live music. We also caught a minor league game in Iowa on the way back home to check out Twins prospects. We stopped in Iowa City and went through the natural history museum and old Capitol also. Great road trip and pretty easy on the budget.

Twins players have visited the NGL museum in the past, I remember articles on Torii Hunter and LaTroy Hawkins visiting. I wouldn't want them to be forced to visit every road trip or even yearly but everyone should go at least once.

I can't comment on the Thomas Hart Benton or the Truman Library, maybe next time. Stroud's is closed Sundays.

The Steamship Arabia museum is well worth a visit.

And if you have to please your distaff side, I've spent worse 1.5 hours than I spent in the Toy and Miniature Museum.

If you're in KC and you like BBQ, I highly recommend LC's on Blue Parkway. It's actually not that far from the K, so it's a good place eat before the game. The place might be filthy and the service rude but I've found it to be the best BBQ in the city.

If you're in KC and you like BBQ

....then you should make a road trip to Memphis.

I went to LC's, the quality of the meat itself wasn't as good as Arthur Bryant's. It was also about 100 degrees in the restaurant and the coke machine was busted. I liked Arthur Bryant's better.

If you're in KC and you like BBQ

....then you should make a road trip to Memphis.

I guess it makes for a good debate, but I do not treat BBQ, Chili, pizza, etc. as if it is a zero sum game. KC and Memphis are both tremendous meccas for Q. I don't like either Carolina style as much, but it too has some great stops. I guess I shouldn't forget Texas' brisket.