There are still things to be thankful about with the Chiefs (Posnanski
KC Chiefs Fanatic
By JOE POSNANSKI - Columnist
Date: 11/24/98 22:40
This week, for Thanksgiving, we offer a potpourri of Chiefs, an
assortment of some of the opinions, thoughts, good feelings and
cranberry sauce swirling out there after they blew a 17-point lead to a
San Diego team that had not scored 17 points in a game all season.
(That is an exaggeration. The Chargers did score 20 points once, against
Seattle.)
You know what was frustrating about watching the Chiefs lose on Sunday.
Here, they have gone through this nightmarish season, filled with
penalties and turnovers and disgrace, and in the fourth quarter, they
were STILL COCKY. They were still woofing and flexing and jawing while
certain Chiefs fans held up the We're No. 1 fingers (Geez, No. 1 in
what? The Seattle Times computer ranking?)
What will it take to humble these players, a meteor landing on the
practice facility? Maybe you agree with Jim, a lifelong Chiefs fan, who
writes in to say that at the end of that San Diego game he found himself
rooting against the Chiefs for the first time in his life, because this
team is just too doggone arrogant to cheer, because these players
deserve to lose with their attitudes, because he wants a team he can
love again.
"I wonder," he writes, "how many others like me are out there."
Top five Chiefs defense nicknames, sent in by Sam Ferro of Leavenworth
County (actually he sent in 10, but, hey, you know we've got these
shorter columns to deal with now):
1. The Escort Defense
2. Derrick and the Dominoes
3. The K-Tag Defense (Pass without stopping)
4. Penalties R Us
5. The No Game Defense
Quick thankful list: Winstead burgers, Buck O'Neil, Bryant's burnt ends,
the Shuttlecocks (dig those), the drive down Ward Parkway, Miles
Prentice (finally), Marty Schottenheimer (still), the sounds at Allen
Fieldhouse, Margo Ann, Plaza lights, Michael Bishop's arm, Norm
Stewart's grumpy look, Pellom McDaniels, The Starlight Theater (under
the stars), the way they scream "Hello, may I help you?" at Gates, the
J.C. Nichols memorial fountain, Rich Davis, Tony Muser, Sinatra
(swinging for young lovers), the Raphael, Municipal Auditorium (more
tradition in there than any basketball arena in America), Kauffman
Stadium in June, Corby Jones running the option, Ben and Jerry's Cherry
Garcia, Tom Watson when he's putting just right, and the way Arrowhead
Stadium looks and feels and smells on an early Sunday afternoon, when
it's filled all the way, and the parking lot smells like autumn, and the
game has not yet begun.
Tom Gubbels sends in this one, it's old but a classic, nonetheless:
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
To the family who got separated and lost their eleven children at
Arrowhead Stadium: They have been found. Please pick them up
immediately.
They are beating the Chiefs 35-3 in the second quarter.
Finally, a wonderful little story from Terry Tingle for this holiday
season. Seems, he's felt many of the pent-up "Fire Marty, bench Elvis,
boo Chiefs," emotions that flow around Kansas City. Then, one Sunday a
couple of weeks ago, his five-year-old daughter asked why he wasn't
painting her face with a Chiefs' arrowhead, like always.
He explained to her that the Chiefs played on Monday that week.
"Oh," she said. ~"I thought maybe we quit cheering for the Chiefs
because they lose games."
Well, Terry felt bad, and told his daughter that, no, they still cheered
for the Chiefs, no matter what.
"That's good," she said. "I like cheering for the Chiefs, even if they
lose."
Joe Posnanski's column normally appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. To reach him, call 234-4361 or send e-mail to
jposn...@kcstar.com
All content © 1998 The Kansas City Star
Todd
Council Bluffs, IA
-------------------------------------------------------
My Kansas City Chiefs Page
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/5096/
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KCChief...@webtv.net
Fanatical about the Kansas City Chiefs!
"R&B"
KC Chiefs Fanatic wrote in message
>There are still things to be thankful about with the Chiefs
Like the fact that the season will be over in a little over a month. And
that we'll likely not have to put up with that idiot Schittenheimer much
longer.
Randy
OmegaMan69
>
>Like the fact that the season will be over in a little over a month. And
>that we'll likely not have to put up with that idiot Schittenheimer much
>longer.
Marty will be back. Mark my word.
KC Chiefs Fanatic
>Like the fact that the season will be over in a little
>over a month. And that we'll likely not have to put
>up with that idiot Schittenheimer much longer.
>Randy
If you have read the Star article about Lamar Hunt, you will know that
the second part of your statement isn't correct. You might want him
gone, along with many other fans. But, his employer doesn't share your
sentiments.
KC Chiefs Fanatic
> Todd, I saw the article on the KC Star website (I
>don't live in KC)...
>And what you say *may well be* correct -- Lamar
>may be totally in his coach's corner, which is
>certainly his right.
>However, I would merely point out to you (and
>anyone else who took Mr. Hunt's comments in the
>article at face value), that he said the same thing
>(in so many words) in 1974 before firing the only
>coach the Chiefs ever had (Stram) following the
>first losing season they'd had in ten years. Notice a
>parallel here?
>It's the much-dreaded "vote of confidence" that so
>often precedes a bloodletting.
>Randy
I apologize. I meant to say the Star article on their website. I, too,
don't live in KC, but do faithfully read the articles on their site.
I remember what he said before he let Stram go. They are markedly
similar. However, that is where the parallel ends. This doesn't
explain his lenghty stays with the likes of Gansz, Mackovic, Levy,
Bettis, et al. If losing seasons was the criteria for letting a coach
go, then KC would have had a hell of alot more coaches during the Dark
Ages of the late 70s and the 80s. This is 1 losing season in 10, not 13
losing seasons in 15.
I am not saying I totally agree with Lamar. I don't think, though, that
one losing season in 10 is necessarily a reason to let him go. There
are possible other reasons to let him go, but not based solely on one
losing season.
Afterall, look what happened the last time he fired a coach after one
losing season in ten. They stunk for 15 years. That is one parallel I
don't want to see.