"Second f*cking Base!" -- Reggie Jackson, responding to a reporter who asked where his third home run (on three pitches) landed, 1977 World Series.
--------------------
Its always been my favorite quote in sports.
"Second f*cking base".
Its so neat. For starters, you get the gratuitous use of the f bomb for no obvious reason, and that's always special.
But its more than that. Its not just acknowledging something sweet that has occurred (like a home run bouncing back so far because of the force it hit the facade with in the outfield, that it landed back in the infield).
Its acknowledging something ... utterly incredible. Something that, if you're lucky, you witness at least once in your lifetime.
(Like me getting laid, for example. (dusty voice) ha! Good one Steve!)
Anyways. "Second f*cking base". Its how I felt this afternoon, laying on the couch, suffering through day three of "Barf Watch 2009", when the news came across the ESPN ticker that the Chiefs had hired Scott Pioli as their new GM.
This was more than a solid personnel hire. This was more than swinging for the fences, connecting on a 98 mph fastball, and clearing the bases.
This was ... this was "second f*cking base".
Chiefs fans, we can emerge from our long, dark depression. The era of trying to bring "Lamar's Trophy home" is over! Let's repeat that, together. The era of trying to bring "Lamar's Trophy home" is OVER!!! Its deader than Republican hopes of stopping the Obama agenda!
No longer is aiming for second place good enough in the eyes of our front office, or of our owner! With one hire, one simple personnel move, Clark Hunt announced to the nation that simply winning his dad's trophy isn't enough.
He wants Vince's trophy. And I don't mean McMahon.
Consider just the last ten years of Mr. Pioli's employment (1999-2000 Ravens; 2001-2008 Patriots). And tell me this isn't the single greatest personnel decision in franchise history (on paper) ...
* 0 Losing Seasons -- the worst a team he was affiliated with finished was 8-8 in 1999. By contrast, the Chiefs have had 5 losing seasons in that stretch (2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008).
* 7 Playoff Berths -- all but 1999 (8-8, one game out), 2002 (9-7, lost division and wildcard on tiebreakers), and 2008 (lost division and wildcard on tiebreakers). By contrast, the Chiefs have two playoff berths (2003, 2006), and one year missing out on tiebreakers (1999) in that stretch.
* 6 Division Titles -- only the 2000 Ravens squad that got in on his watch, failed to win its division. All 6 Patriots teams that reached the playoffs, won the AFC East. By contrast, the Chiefs won one division title in the last 10 years (2003).
* 5 AFC Championships. Lamar's Trophy? Been there, done that for Mr. Pioli, five times in the last nine years (2000 w/ Ravens; 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 w/ Patriots). The Chiefs have never even played for Lamar's Trophy in the last decade ... and a half.
* 4 Super Bowl Championships. Only the 2007 Patriots failed to win of the Pioli teams that reached the sport's ultimate stage ... and they entered that game 19-0. The Chiefs ... yeah, we know.
"Second f*cking base"? We not only hit it today with this hire, we shattered it. We beat that white piece of pillow in the middle of the dirt like Ike Turner beat Tina, like OJ beat Nicole, like Gregg beat(s) me at NCAA on the Playstation. Beaten like the government mule the Reverend Sharpton is still looking for.
Today, the Chiefs were the center of the NFL universe. For a reason other than losing 23 of 25, other than employing a head coach who actually used two timeouts on the same challenge (vs oakland last year). For a reason other than being the worst team in the AFC.
Today, we mattered again. Today, this team, our team, actually was relevant again.
I guarantee you, it won't be the last time under Scott Pioli that the nation noticed the Red and Gold.
"Second f*cking base". God bless it! Holy crap, it feels good to say that phrase and know its my team that hit the bag ...
No comments:
Post a Comment