But I can't neglect to mention that the main things that really hold back the Chiefs are the NFLers and the Scorecasting conditions that afflict us. Last year I detailed all the things that happened that kept us from being competitive. Not going to repeat those specifically now, but they did happen, and will likely happen again. When that changes I'll be more enthusiastic about this season. We'll see.
I've also mentioned that a key thing that I believe is a critical part of that is the profound impropriety of sustaining official gambling organization associations, really just an attempt to draw in more fans. If we can readily place bets on anything and everything, we'll pay more attention, and we'll spend more money on NFL football. That's it, and it is ugly.
I'd been reading a book, Everybody Loses by Danny Funt, and it goes into great detail about how much the online betting world has infected professional sports -- everywhere. The fans, the players, the coaches, the gamblers, the media personalities, the organizations -- all of it, and it is gruesome. I had hoped to write a longer piece here about it, but why? I've already written so much, and nobody gives a crap.
I will share this one passage in his conclusion, because it pretty much encapsulates why this is so significant.
If indeed gambling becomes the default way most people consume sports, the financial toll will be enormous, but there's so much more than money at stake. The betting boom also threatens to shatter faith in the integrity of sports; in the independence of sports media; in commissioners to protect their players, coaches, and referees from threats of violence; in lawmakers to prioritize the well-being of their constituents over the wish lists of gambling lobbyists.
This is wretched. So much of it is criminal, even lethal.
So all I will say here in this preseason post is, I still like my Chiefs and still want them to do well. I will still post after every game, but realize my remonstrations about the afflictions just don't mean a whole lot, which is still extraordinarily discouraging. As such I'm making a commitment to refrain from writing about it this season. In the past I've written tons and tons about the wickedness, sometimes even about the things that have happened not just to the Chiefs but to other teams and players as well.
Even though it has been good therapy, I'm just going to post about game things. It doesn't mean I've closed my eyes to the injustices, and I'm sure my disappointment with those things will seep out somewhere, it is just I've really got to be doing other things than laboriously pounding out stuff here about it all. If there is something major going on -- that the NFLers get exposed more, that indictments of important people are brought down, or simply that the Power-That-Be actually do something about it like not just disassociate from them but reprimand them and even seek firm legislation that would put those online betting organizations out of business...
Should those kinds of things happen, I'll note them here.
And cheer.
Yesterday, even though we lost yet again in exhibition play -- we've lost something like 11 or 12 straight preseason games going back three or four years -- our fine kicker Harrison Butker made a 69-yard field goal, with room to spare. Sweet. If he can regularly do that, our offense can make it to midfield and still get points on the board.
Reminds me of the Jan Stenarud days when making 50-yarders was a big deal -- and Stenarud regularly hit from everywhere, demoralizing teams. Some say his 48-yarder in Super Bowl IV to start the scoring put the Vikings on their heels right out of the gate.
So yeah, from this point forward, just the best of our Chiefs, no matter what.
At least there should be some fun enjoying that this season.
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The second image there is a nice artwork piece with that iconic Super Bowl IV Chiefs huddle, and forgive me when I clipped it years ago I didn't note who did it. Please forgive the lack of attribution, but it is great, I'm honored to post it, and thank you.
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