Kansas City has had a million faces. We’ve been a cowtown, an industry town, the center of the crime world. But Kansas City has always been and will always be a sports town at its core.
Pase por cualquier campo de béisbol o fútbol en primavera o por cualquier gimnasio en invierno para ver todos los coches alineados con miles de pequeños atletas esperando ascender a la gloria. Ver el KC en una gorra o una camiseta significa algo en todo el mundo. Pero nunca ha significado más que ahora, mientras Kansas City atraviesa su era futbolística.
The championships of the Kansas City Monarchs was a warmup act. The playoff runs of the Kansas City Kings and the early Royals reign in the 70’s and 80’s was the pinnacle at the time. But Kansas City was going to, indeed, be a football town when it all comes down to it.
Lo que estamos viendo ahora nunca quedará eclipsado en el panteón de la historia del deporte de Kansas City. Nunca habrá otro Ali, Serena o Jordan.
But Chris, you say, the Chiefs have won championships before. They’ve had decades of dominance. What about Marty, and Derrick, and Neil? What about Hank and matriculating the ball down the field with Leonard and Buck?
The Hank Stram Super Bowl era was I Wanna Hold Your Hand and shows in the Cavern Club. The championship decade of AFC West dominance in the 90’s was Sgt. Peppers and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. But the era of Mahomes and Andy, Travis and Chris Jones is the White Album. It will have no peer in history.
I say this only to remind you to enjoy this while it happens. Sure, we can bellyache about Kadarius Toney dropping passes. Or gripe about a penalty now and again. But in 30 years, you’re going to tell your grandkids that you saw Mt. Rushmore being carved in real time. You’re going to say you saw Elvis at the ’68 Comeback Special or that you saw Serena’s Grand Slam with a front row seat.
Ignora el resto del ruido. Se trata de un período incomparable de la historia que podría durar otros 10 años, pero que también podría terminar mañana.
Tens of thousands traveled to Kansas City this summer to watch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and it was certainly one of those “where were you when” moments. A celebration of the chapters in an artist’s career – an artist who happens to be at the height of said career.
The dynasty era of Chiefs football will be long remembered as well. There’s the ridiculous throws by Mahomes. The sacks by the defense. Travis and Taylor. Andy’s frozen mustache. Or the millions of moments from the past five years. I texted my son the other day after the Chiefs pulled off the amazing win against the number one seed Ravens, “you are watching Tiger at Augusta. You’re listening to Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock. You are helping Michaelangelo pick out paint brushes. Never forget it. It won’t last forever.”
De Cowtown a campeones. Disfruta la época.
(Sigue a Chris Kamler en X, donde es @TheFakeNed)