Post by lazarus on Dec 28, 2007 13:31:18 GMT -5
www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/1...g_with_a_punch/
From Shane: “I am talking to the Chiefs who are known as the best fans in the NFL. Well, they used to be the best fans in the NFL.
“It seems like the Sea of Red at Arrowhead is quickly draining to fill only the lower level of seats these days. To the real Chiefs fans of the world, it is an agonizing and painful sight to see Arrowhead empty on Sunday home games. The mystique is gone.
“The fans that choose to leave early and not show up are cursed with hearts of quitters. They were a label of fair weather fan proudly and complain any chance they get. They are not real Chiefs; rather, they are spoiled Chiefs doubters. They spread gloom and blame inside Arrowhead with boos and backsides as they leave their seats … is it that hard to understand what rebuilding means? Herm said it best when he told the fans to “Get over it.” We are not immune to a down year and we should not give up on your team so easily.”
Shane, I appreciate your passion and your words. People become fans of a person, team, place or event for many reasons. No matter why they became Chiefs fans, those folks who climbed aboard the bandwagon in the last 18 years were accustomed to seeing winning football games. Now that we’ve had a season where the team has struggled to win, a lot of those fans are questioning their commitment.
Frankly, that’s a good thing. Much like the roster needs to be rebuilt, maybe the fan base needs to be rebuilt as well. Maybe this is a good time for Chiefs fans to consider why they care and why the Arrowhead experience is important to them.
There’s one thing I know for sure: if those folks who buy tickets find the whole thing has become a less than satisfying experience, they will not pay for seats. Everybody in charge at Arrowhead understands that. That’s why there’s a lot of internal pressure to make sure this team gets turned around and turned around correctly.
That’s why I think it’s folly for fans to jump ship now. Have some patience; there’s something building here that if given time will provide a big payoff.
From Josh: ” I have lived with the pride and degradation of being a Chiefs fan all my life. My heart bleeds red and gold. But I am hearing some sick rumor about how the Chiefs are going to trade their first-round draft pick for Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles. We are already the oldest team in the league. What do we need a couple of old broken Jets for? Someone please tell me it isn’t true.”
Josh, it isn’t true. I would never discount the possibility that a Pennington or Coles might roll through Arrowhead, but it won’t be at the cost of a first-round draft choice. It would come only if the Jets released them and were street free agents looking for work.
Even then, they would not fit the direction Herm Edwards wants to go. He wants to build this team with homegrown Chiefs, not mercenaries looking for a paycheck, even if he should happen to have a history with those players.
From Shane: “I am talking to the Chiefs who are known as the best fans in the NFL. Well, they used to be the best fans in the NFL.
“It seems like the Sea of Red at Arrowhead is quickly draining to fill only the lower level of seats these days. To the real Chiefs fans of the world, it is an agonizing and painful sight to see Arrowhead empty on Sunday home games. The mystique is gone.
“The fans that choose to leave early and not show up are cursed with hearts of quitters. They were a label of fair weather fan proudly and complain any chance they get. They are not real Chiefs; rather, they are spoiled Chiefs doubters. They spread gloom and blame inside Arrowhead with boos and backsides as they leave their seats … is it that hard to understand what rebuilding means? Herm said it best when he told the fans to “Get over it.” We are not immune to a down year and we should not give up on your team so easily.”
Shane, I appreciate your passion and your words. People become fans of a person, team, place or event for many reasons. No matter why they became Chiefs fans, those folks who climbed aboard the bandwagon in the last 18 years were accustomed to seeing winning football games. Now that we’ve had a season where the team has struggled to win, a lot of those fans are questioning their commitment.
Frankly, that’s a good thing. Much like the roster needs to be rebuilt, maybe the fan base needs to be rebuilt as well. Maybe this is a good time for Chiefs fans to consider why they care and why the Arrowhead experience is important to them.
There’s one thing I know for sure: if those folks who buy tickets find the whole thing has become a less than satisfying experience, they will not pay for seats. Everybody in charge at Arrowhead understands that. That’s why there’s a lot of internal pressure to make sure this team gets turned around and turned around correctly.
That’s why I think it’s folly for fans to jump ship now. Have some patience; there’s something building here that if given time will provide a big payoff.
From Josh: ” I have lived with the pride and degradation of being a Chiefs fan all my life. My heart bleeds red and gold. But I am hearing some sick rumor about how the Chiefs are going to trade their first-round draft pick for Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles. We are already the oldest team in the league. What do we need a couple of old broken Jets for? Someone please tell me it isn’t true.”
Josh, it isn’t true. I would never discount the possibility that a Pennington or Coles might roll through Arrowhead, but it won’t be at the cost of a first-round draft choice. It would come only if the Jets released them and were street free agents looking for work.
Even then, they would not fit the direction Herm Edwards wants to go. He wants to build this team with homegrown Chiefs, not mercenaries looking for a paycheck, even if he should happen to have a history with those players.
