The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports

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I remember last year, in late October, looking around and seeing all the St. Louis fans going crazy-their team had won. All I could think was, "Man, I wish my hometown teams were World Champs." There is only one obstacle to that wish: I am from Kansas City. And unfortunately, the two major teams here, the Royals and the Chiefs, are two major screw-ups.

Now my Royals have been bad my entire life. And when I say bad, I mean they are "might-be-worst-team-ever" bad. But in their case, I have accepted it and even learned to enjoy it. I mean, when I go to a Royals game, I fully expect them to lose. I have come to love that atmosphere, and I wouldn't trade it, nor the ridiculously cheap tickets for a good team.

The Chiefs, however, are a different story. They are actually a historically successful team, and have made the playoffs a couple times in my life. Over the summer even HBO had a show all about them.

But I sit here, one game into the season and stare down the barrel of a season where they might not win a single game. Pessimistic? Maybe a bit, but really, they are struggling. Even during the preseason we were already written off. Months away from the playoffs, we already have no chance. What kills me is that it always seems to be next year's team, or a team that will contend in the next few years.

But after a while that gets old. When will our year be? When will I get to be like those Cards fans last October, celebrating like mad? Why does Kansas City have to be cursed with two terrible teams?

Some blame bad ownership, bad coaches, others bad luck. I don't know nor care what the cause is. I want it solved though. I look at the Chiefs and see our best hope for a Championship team, and I see them losing every game of the season. It is not the best idea to think about, your best hope is the worst team in the league.

Despite this depressing dose of reality, I remain stupidly optimistic. I still believe that I will one day be that crazy fan watching my team win. It isn't going to be this year, or probably next year, or in the case of the Royals anytime this half-century. But I have faith that one year mathematical probability will cause us to win.

Until that glorious day, I will deal with the few victories we have. I will continue to support my teams so that when Superbowl LXXIX rolls around and the Chiefs win, or when the Royals win the 2067th World Series, the victory will be that much sweeter.

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