AFC Championship - Take One

This is the first blog post of at least a few, and how phenomenally splendidly wonderfully euphoric it is to have some blog takes about postseason Chiefs greatness. I've blogged so much about the wrenching despair, that despair indeed one of those great things about those deep, dark valleys. Yes, a blessing. Yes, '71 and '90 and '94 and '95 and '97 and '03 and '13 through '18, blessings in disguise all of them.

It is simply because those times make '19 so spectacularly awesome.

There are a dozen different things to say about this game, and I'll have a whole week to share them. But for now, just this photograph. There are Norma Hunt and Bobby Bell up there, wow. And just what has been said about Clark, Brett, Andy, the front office personnel, the coaches, the players, and above all the fans of the Kansas City Chiefs. There were two really astounding things Clark said when he accepted the trophy named after his dad.

First, he thanked the Lord. You never hear an owner do that. Players do it all the time, but how often do you hear somebody of that stature do that? That was awesome. Secondly, he did something I so often hear neglected. Right out of the gate he thanked the fans, indeed, the best fans in football.

Sure, they all say that. But I truly think there is a tremendous amount of truth to that claim. The Kingdom has been through it. See the years above, that says it all.

This is the Kingdom. This is 50 years in the making.

I can only think of all the fans at those places around the country that root for the Chiefs from their little far-away-from-KC metro grottos. The faithful at Charlie's Saloon in Philly. Out here it is Jalapeno Pete's in Los Angeles. Our own home on game day 1,500 miles away. Just seeing the people out and about with Chiefs caps or jackets and talking Chiefs with them even if for a moment.

And the vast red sea at Arrowhead, a place that even there, in our home stadium, has been a nightmarish place to experience playoff football.

Well to close out the decade, on the 50th anniversary of the Chiefs crystallizing the success of pro football in America...

The Chiefs have made it to the promised land.

Finally.

Beautifully.

Gloriously.
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The photograph above is from Steve Sanders at the official Chiefs website.
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