Why We Cheer

by Flowers24 on Nov 26, 2011 7:02 PM CST

I'll be totally honest with all of you; I'm at a loss with what to write about this week. I didn't write my usual Thursday spot because of the holiday, which I hope was good for all of you. I've been thinking about what topic I should cover, and I hope you enjoy what I've picked.

Occasionally I'm lucky enough to work behind the scenes for ESPN Monday Night Football. Last week was such a case.

As Kansas City ran out onto the field for warm-ups I was able to speak to a few of them (Thomas Gafford, Dwayne Bowe). They were both very nice and easy-going. I watched more players run by (almost all of them) and couldn't believe how close I was. I couldn't imagine as a kid ever sharing the field with my beloved Chiefs, being within an arms length.

We all know the final score, but it didn't matter since the outcome was predictable. Sure I would've loved to see Kansas City pull off an improbable victory but I knew those chances were slim. Regardless, I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.

We all want to cheer for a winning team. A team that makes us proud and relieves stress on Sundays. Kansas City is not that team this season due to injuries and bad losses. It's been tough to accept after such a great run last year and the hope that accompanied the beginning of this one.

However, we don't cheer because of the final result, we cheer because it pulls us all together as one collective unit. As Chiefs fans, we watch our team clad in their unchanging red and yellow with arrowheads adorning solid red helmets. We hope each year is our year and we're sorely disappointed when it becomes apparent that it is not.

The Chiefs, through all the losses and heartache, have shown me that they're more important than the scoreboard. They bring families and friends together. Arrowhead Stadium brings people of all different races and religions together because those individuals share a common bond. They're all pulling for something bigger than themselves.

Part of my job enables me to watch the game from the end zone. While I did, I thought about what had transpired in my life that put me in this spot.

I realized my Father is why I cheer. He grew up rooting for Kansas City (even though he hails from New Jersey) and passed that love along to me. I've been deeply invested every Sunday since I was five-years-old as I watched the bottom line waiting for an update on the Chiefs score.

Right before the national anthem, I sent my Dad the following text:

"I wish you were here with me tonight, because I'd never be here without you. No matter what, thanks for rooting on an underdog 42 years ago and staying true."

Tell me, why do you cheer?

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Comments

I'm confused as to why I cheer for them

Let the confusion continue, then.

When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Jamaal above all. #25 ftw.

CHIEFS WILL!

by NJChieffan16 on Nov 26, 2011 7:11 PM CST via mobile reply actions

great post

i was there for monday night football as well to witness my beloved chiefs for the first time. Sitting 4 rows up behind my team in a sea of patriot fans, it felt surreal to actually be watching my Chiefs for the first time. The results of the game weren’t great, but just being that close & seeing my team for the first time meant so much to me, and talking to brandon flowers after the game & getting him to autograph my hat really closed the books on a great night regardless of the results. I can’t wait to be a part of the Red Sea in arrowhead stadium someday, for now that MNF game was the best sporting event of my life, i had so much fun being the lone chiefs fan getting up & pointing the 1st down & looking at the scared patsy fans faces as we put together drives in the 1st half & shut down their offense. man that was fun. Was also great meeting some fellow diehard chiefs fans for the first time, that was awesome

by TheMainEvent on Nov 26, 2011 7:14 PM CST reply actions

I was there

I was there also and that was my first game. couldd have written that post execpt i was in the 8th row. I met with very nice Chiefs fan too. Maybe you are one of them (NS ?).

That was just awesome and next year, ill do the trip to KC, which is 3000Km from my home, for the same reason which is to share that common bond of being a Chiefs fan.

Very Great post ! Thanks

by egonthier on Nov 27, 2011 8:41 AM CST up reply actions

I cheer much like you (except for mine is from around the KC area in Grandview)

My father (and even his father) were, and still are, Chiefs fans. I picked it up from my dad and haven taken my fandom even farther than his (which was just rooting on the Chiefs every sunday watching them play, and picking up some Chiefs gear. Even though we’ve been hard times and have never witnessed a playoff win by the Chiefs in my entire life (was born a year too late!) and even though they haven’t won a Superbowl, or much less been to the Superbowl since that date way too many years ago I still cheer them on knowing that one day we will be back again, and with another Superbowl title to add to the resume..Oh and one reason the Chiefs clicked with me was because my favorite color was, and still is, Red. (Goold ol’ red) :)

Winner of the 2010 Arrowhead Pride, "Beat The Insiders"
Start Stanzi!

by KC Nate on Nov 26, 2011 7:27 PM CST reply actions

I cheer because they are my favorite team duh!

Lol jk jk.
When I first understood football my friend had madden & I could never beat him, I played with the Chiefs & finally beat him. This was the 2003 chiefs by the way. So I watched a game on tv & saw the team on madden was just as good so I knew some players names & starting rooting for them so then on Ive stayed loyal & fallen in love with the Chiefs Red & sick emblem, team, fans & players

by Tipzz on Nov 26, 2011 7:49 PM CST via mobile reply actions

We cheer becuase

this is my team, being an accused homer i still think without our injuries we would have won the division. Now even with the injuries im still positive that we can get in playoffs and lose. i dont care what the usual suspects say about my team. Go Chiefs! go chiefs and in case you didnt understand GO CHIEFS!

by Sinny on Nov 26, 2011 7:54 PM CST reply actions

“Arrowhead Stadium brings people of all different races and religions together”

I take it You haven’t been to Arrowhead recently.

Standing on the corner in a white Godfather hat. He drives a long black gangster Cadillac. He can steal a broads mind, man, in three or four minutes. It’s not how long you talk, brother, it’s what you put in it.

by HIV 2 Elway on Nov 26, 2011 9:17 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I haven't been to Arrowhead lately for a game. What are you saying?

by KCbo on Nov 26, 2011 9:28 PM CST up reply actions

I cheer for the Chiefs because

when I was a kid just becoming aware, the Chiefs were new to KC. They came to my grade school and signed autographs (Jerry Mays, Len Dawson, Jim Tyre, Otis Taylor, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan). They played basketball games against celebrities in my school’s gym (I went to Christ the King at 85th & Wornall and the Monseignor there was a mover/shaker who used to let the Chiefs use the school gym for workouts). I remember the Super Bowls, especiially the second one. We spent Christmas Day listening to the longest game living and dying with every play and missed field goal.

These Chiefs are not just a football team, they are part of us. I have always been a Chiefs fan and always will be a Chiefs fan.

by KCbo on Nov 26, 2011 9:26 PM CST reply actions

My best friend told me once

If you cut off one of my arms it would bleed red,white& blue- huge patriot proud soldier. But if you cut off my other arm it would bleed red dark Kansas city chief red!

We cheer for our boys for hope, distraction & because we know that 1 day soon our team will bring home the Lamar hunt trophy to its home! And then the ultimate prize; the superbowl trophy. And we will feel vindicated that we stood by and cheered/cried/went horse for days staying faithful as the bandwagon types come in hordes.

I truly think our next superbowl appearance is soon and it will be versus the packers. It will be a super bowl I rematch! And it will be glorious!

"Stay Classy Kansas City"

by Mas Cervezas on Nov 26, 2011 10:45 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Why do I cheer?

The alcohol, mainly…

Ok, so Haley doesn't totally suck...

by Randy5225 on Nov 26, 2011 11:11 PM CST reply actions

You know why i cheer

FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE MY TEAM. EVERYONE BETTER BRING THEIR SEASON TICKET HOLDING ASSES OUT TO THE GAME TOMORROW NIGHT AND CHEER LIKE YOU NEVER CHEERED BEFORE. Who cares if we lose, this is the STEELERS, the HATED STEELERS. We NEED to distract them and be the FORCE behind what drives our CHIEFS on the FIELD! WE ARE THEIR INSPIRATION. GO CHIEFS! GET OUT AND SUPPORT THIS GROUP OF GUYS, GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO WIn!

by Coady on Nov 26, 2011 11:30 PM CST reply actions