I was a naysayer of the Kansas City Royals during the entire post-season, even during the 2014 World Series.  Being from Kansas City it was hard to announce my prediction that the San Francisco Giants would win it in 5.  Obviously I was wrong about that.  I wanted to predict that the Royals would get swept by the Giants to follow the same story line of the Colorado Rockies in 2007 but I wanted to give the Royals the benefit of the doubt.  Again, I would have been wrong.

However, what I forgot to take into account was that it had been 29 years since the Royals had even been in the playoffs.  Some of the players for the Royals had not even been born the last time they were in the playoffs.  In fact I was only a year old.  I remember how I celebrated that night by taking a huge giant swig of milk in a bottle, much like the winners of the Indianapolis 500 do.

The other thing that I failed to see, even though I could see it right in front of me, is just how important the 2014 playoffs were to the fans and people of Kansas City. I saw the celebration that the city had when the team made it to the wild card game.  I felt the excitement in the bottom of the 9th of the Wild Card game against the Oakland A’s when Nori Aoki sacrificed himself to score Dyson and tie the game sending into extras.

The fans and Kansas City were buzzing as the Royals swept their way through the Division and League Championship Series.  I reluctantly, got caught up it.  I say reluctantly, because I never fully believed the Royals would win.  When the World Series was tied at 2 games apiece, I threw my prediction out the window.  When the Giants crushed the Royals in Game 5 of the 2014 World Series, I continued to tell friends, fans, and co-workers that the Giants would win Game 6.

Game 7 in any sport is the greatest spectacle of any sporting event.

The day of Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, you could feel that Kansas City was about to erupt.  Not the type of eruption where there would be riots in the streets and cars burned.  The type of eruption that has been building for 29 years that results in a ground shaking, ear bursting celebration that only Kansas City could have.

Even though in the end of the month long playoff run the Kansas City Royals didn’t win what I learned was to never doubt a team that has the will to win and has the fans to back them. And always ALWAYS support the team that you root for.  Just because you may be fearful that they may not win is NO reason to not stand with them as they make a run.

This is a lesson that I want the Rookie to learn as well.  Don’t jump on a bandwagon just because it is the popular thing to do but stick with your team and be a true fan. I may not be the best sports fan because I don’t root for the home team or I don’t stand by my team when the going gets rough.  The Rookie can learn from the fans of Kansas City and stick behind his team and support them like no other fan does.

I am proud to say that I am from Kansas City and the fans of the Royals are as passionate as they are.  Here is to you Kansas City and not waiting another 29 years to make it to the playoffs.