All Alone On Christmas (Circa 1971)

I watched that game in Higgensville MO with my family. Great memories of Christmas pasts. Thanks
And please give hugs from me to all the generations of your kin left to receive them :)

Merry Christmas.

I was in senior year HS … listened to the game on radio Grigsby and about cried like a baby when it ended … felt so badly for Stenerud, Podolak, all of them … Dawson to this day swears that was the best team he was ever on, and I believe it … the loss was tough, tougher still was that it was the “beginning of the end” for the Hank Stram Era, and the team went downhill shortly after that for far too long (still upset that, in the 80s, Steadman fired Marv Levy)

and yes, the end of an era regarding Municipal Stadium … butt ugly place and the orange beams got in the way of the view, but the memories … went to my first baseball game there, Lew Krausse’s major league debut …

so long ago, yet still so clear in memory

Great story….I wasn’t even born yet :)

Awesome story, hope everyone gets a chance to read this. Thank you for sharing it.

I watched it with my dad In Arkansas city ks. I cried when they lost too. All these years I wondered was I the only 10 year old who would have taken a Chief’s win that day over presents?

and I was only 10. The world never seemed the same after that. I was devastated. I was a member of the Chiefs Huddle Club. I remember listening to that game on the radio (blacked out at home as the rule was then) and being absolutely shocked as Jan missed kick after kick. I was so hurt I couldn’t even watch the game when it was broadcast in KC a few days later. In fact I’ve rarely been able to watch highlights of it over the years. It took me about 25 years to quit hating the Dolphins. Especially during the following 15 years without making the playoffs as the Chiefs became perennial losers.

And I agree with Len about that team being the best Chiefs team. I think half of the players on that team went to the Pro Bowl that year. A great team and a tremendous tragedy. I don’t think I’ll get over that game until we win another Super Bowl!

People just don’t seem to understand what football is all about anymore.

Merry Christmas to all you APers.

Wish me luck, as I’m trying to fly into KC today from Seattle! Hope that blizzard blows through.

It is good to know ; as we bring back the glory we can still remember and celebrate (circa 1971). Go Chiefs !

with an arrowhead in my hand…

Such a good read on Christmas.

I remeber thinking…THIS IS A DONE DEAL!. I also thought we would get another chance. God I cried. I also banged my head on the floor. It goes to show how much we all love him. He gave us something very special over his career.

I hate the fish. Not quite with the venom of the Raiders or Donks, but damn.

WHAT IF WE WIN OUT!!!!!

I think we can take the Jets! One playoff win would be a GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT.

GOOOOOOO CHIEFS

listened to the entire game on radio, kickoff to the final, bitter end … ah well, so it goes … shows that sometimes the best team on the field DOES lose sometimes (Dawson and others would say often for years afterwards that he felt that 71 team was the best he’d ever been on, better than the Super Bowl IV winning team of the 69 season)

I was 6 at the time almost 7 ( Jan 18 ). And it was the first game I ever saw or at least remember seeing. Being from Iowa and Podolak playing for IOWA is what had my grandfather, uncle and my father and me so interested in the game. And what a game it was! What I remeber about the game ( Besides Podolak’s 350 all purpose yards ), Was a Chiefs reciever ( Taylor ) ? catching a long pass falling to the ground un-touched and crawling into the end zone, doing an indian dance. Only to have the ball placed at the 3-5 yard line. I was hooked, but for a while after I thought there were two Chiefs teams cause sometimes they would have red pants and white shirts! : ) And of course my grandmas silver tree with a light behind it that changed colors! So cool! thanks for the bringing up those old memories!!! merry christmas all!!

My mom took me to the game . my dad died in 1966 and she told me if he was still here he would take me . she made sure i got some autographs and had a good time that day . I have only missed a handful of games since then my mom made me a chiefs fan but the team they are my soul . when i feel down i sit in my man cave 3 pictures hang on the wall . my dad, my mom,Lamar Hunt .

anywho I fly back to KC now to see games w/my family. As many of you know I grew up in KC, and my parents are still there. My family can’t believe how fun the pre-game is. We’ve been in SD, now Denver and the rest of the AFC West has nothing on KC when it comes to game day. I’ll admit that Coors can put on a decent pregame at Invesco, but KC is still way better. My wife equated the pre-game to a Jimmy Buffett concert. I think it’s not thhaaaaat crazy. Also, you actually want to see the main event lately, unlike the concert :). I just missed the Muni Stadium years, I was a bit too young.

it was a cold day for us when we were stationed at the naval shipyard in portsmith NH. this was the day i loved my chiefs so much to play so long against the team i grew to really really dislike after ward and to this day. my pops loved his 49ers bit when my chiefs came on he would watch with me and cheer with me. thru the years he would have fun at my expensive being a chief fan. but when montana was traded to the chiefs some how someway he got me a jeresy signed by joe for xmas which hangs in my pc room. will never forget this game and being with pops wish he was still around to these chiefs now and how we handed his beloved 49ers the loss earlier this year merry christmas chiefs fans!

You couldn’t heat a pin drop when it was over.

Merry Christmas

Wow that year flew by. One of numerous stories that never get old. Merry Christmas everyone.

Here are my favorite games. The Christmas Game was incredible but frankly I am still too traumatized by the outcome and can not list as a “favorite”.

1. ‘70 SB IV at Tulane. 17 point dog. Total domination by our guys. Vision of Otis down the sideline never goes away.
2. ’93 PO Game at Arrowhead vs, Steelers. Classic late PO comeback from Montana. 4th &7 .07 left for the TD. OT Win
3. ’69 PO at Shea vs. Jets. Vs. Namath in cold-windy conditions.
4. ’69 Championship Game at Oakland/Alameda vs. Raiders. Everone thought Oakland would win.
5. ’91 MNF at Arrowhead vs. Bills. Statement game. Loudest in Arrowhead History
6. ’65 Championship Game at War Memorial vs. Biils. First Chmapionship for any KC Team
7. ’66 Pre-Season at Municipal vs. Bears (63-24 Win). Immediate redemption after SB I
8. ’93 PO at the Astrodome vs. Oilers. Huge underdogs unleashed on Buddy Ryan
9. ’10 MNF at Arrowhead vs. Chargers. A new beginning
10. ’70 RS at Municipal vs, Redskins. First huge KC hosted RS game against traditional NFL Powerhouse
11. ’94 MNF at Mile High vs. Broncos. Montana Magic – Dierdorf comment… "lord send me to heaven…I’ve seen it all"
12. ‘94 RS at Arrowhead vs. 49’s. Montana Revenge – Marcus’s 100th TD
13. ‘82 RS at Arrowhead vs. Bronco’s. Joe Delaney’s biggest game – late 80 yard td dash
14. ‘75 MNF at Texas Stadium vs. Cowboys. Huge win gave hope that didn’t last
15. ’97MNF at Oakland/Alemeda vs. Raiders. Big late TD – Grbac to Risen with a few seconds left.

As I sat in the Wolfpack on the 40yd line that cold Xmas day, I, my wife and friends, just knew that the Chiefs would emerge victorious. But, as fate would have it, the Chiefs lost by a lucky field goal. None of us could believe that Jan could miss 3 field goals in a row and the other guy would make his 3rd attempt by a lucky bounce (Jan’s last kick bounced away) if I remember correctly. A great Xmas dinner that we delayed until after the game just didn’t taste as good as it should have. Despite the loss, it was a great game, although it took a while for Stenerud to get back in my good graces. I wish that I could see that game again.

Let’s all hope that next year’s Xmas day game (probable) sends us to our 3rd Super Bowl appearance.

Thanks for sharing this!