As I wrote in my last post, this week it is just about the soaking up all the hype. There was none of this 50 years ago, so for the first time ever the Kingdom gets to live richly in it. In fact right now I'm enjoying watching Patrick talk about his experiences with his dad hanging around the Derek Jeter's of the world showing him how much hard work is required to be really good. This is just awesome stuff. So much of it -- it is so much fun.
Thing is, I can't help but write a bit about why for 51 weeks in the year -- 52 when the Chiefs aren't in the Super Bowl -- I pay no attention to anything sports because too many of the media are just ding-dong supremes. I can't stand it.
For instance there was the question asked to Clark about when he going to sign Mahomes to the largest contract ever. Now someday Mahomes will get that, and that's a fine thing. But when Clark is extraordinarily thoughtful yet quite properly deflects the question, the impression is only intended to be, "What a cheapskate owner, he's not telling us all about how he must be offering Patrick $300 million right now!"
Then there's the article by the I-simply-won't-name SI writer who essentially wrote about how Tyreek Hill is putting on a face because he's still the worst kind of criminal. Come on. These media people.
Fortunately everything those-in-the-Kingdom have said is so thoroughly good. Mahomes said he'd love to play in Kansas City for his entire career. End of that. I noticed Sammy Watkins even said he likes the Chiefs so much he'd consider coming back and taking a pay cut to do so.
Wonderful.
What a difference. This isn't about how much these guys should or shouldn't be making. I've always thought Watkins was always worth his keep. And really, think about this. Just a scant seven years ago the Kingdom was in the most abject disarray. Remember that? When the 2-14 season that was the worst of anything Chiefs ever?
And just seven years later we're in the Super Bowl? And not only that, but the reputation of the Kingdom is now profoundly 180, all over the place.
I was looking at the story of getting Mahomes in the draft and thinking about how amazing all of that all worked out -- Veach's work and the draft trade and just thought about how lucky we were. Remember when the Saints gave up all its picks in a draft just to get Ricky Williams? Now Williams was indeed a fine running back, but he was in only four playoff games gaining 80 yards total.
We gave up only three ultimately not-so-major picks to be able to snatch up Mahomes. Whuh-ow. Were we more lucky than any other NFL team to have such splendid luck shoved in our faces?
But you know? Don't forget this. We were the unluckiest team by far for the entirety of our existence with respect to drafted quarterbacks. Thirty years of utter futility with a drafted and developed quarterback. No, it's like...
Finally, we get a shot at this thing.
Indeed there are a million things to say and write and share, but I'm going to close with this. Just this simple thing I've wanted to put here.
But as the sun set over there on the west side of the field, I had to take a snapshot of that. It is here. I simply could not help but see how much red and gold and arrowhead angles were in that thing.
It was glorious.
Now it's on to Super Bowl Sunday!
Kingdom let's rock the place!
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Photograph of Patrick Mahomes is by Jamie Squire at Getty Images, thank you.
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