FanShot

Yes, it's a beautiful thing how every sports town has its own rhythm, and for 20 years or so that...

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Yes, it's a beautiful thing how every sports town has its own rhythm, and for 20 years or so that Kansas City rhythm was Carl Peterson. People outside Kansas City may have known his name, may have seen him interviewed here or there. But in Kansas City, he really was Mr. Potter, the biggest man in town. People argued about him and complained about him and grudgingly appreciated him. They booed him and called talk shows to demand his firing and maybe on occasion would raise a glass to him for making the Chiefs matter again. It all ended quietly though, on a Monday afternoon, at a press gathering that Carl himself did not attend. By the time it ended, Peterson had few fans left, few people who remembered or cared about how it began, few who wanted to give him credit for anything. The feeling was celebration in Kansas City, which is a shame. There were a lot of good memories in those 20 years. That's how it goes, though. People sometimes forget good memories. People always remember the end.

Joe Posnanski - www.sportsillustrated.com