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As the ball bounces, so goes KC’s self-worth
Can you believe that some people are so shallow as to base their self-esteem — or, for that matter, the self-esteem of an entire city or region — on the success or failure of a sports franchise?
How pathetic. How childish.
Then again, what can I say? We big time, baby.
Woo hoo! Some hat trick we’ve got going, ain’t it?
First, my Jayhawks made it all the way to the final game of the Final Four. And even if they lose tonight (which they won’t), so what?
Bill Self’s kids handed it to Coach Roy on Saturday, and it doesn’t get any sweeter than that.
Vengeance! Served up on national TV.
Then there are the Royals, who have had one of their best starts in years and are above .500 — for a couple more days, anyway.
My heart was all fluttery-like just hearing the props they got on ESPN for sweeping the heavily favored Tigers last week.
Finally, the Kansas City Wizards are now 2-0 and lead Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference. And what a great place CommunityAmerica Ballpark is to take in a match.
Yep, it feels mighty good to be associated with a winning team — or three. If only the Chiefs would get with the program.
Then again, does any of it really matter? Does something as inconsequential as success on the playing fields have any real importance in the well-being of a city?
There has been much debate on this point. But the simple answer is: What, are you crazy? Of course it matters.
What else do we have to brag about? The lovely scenery? Our white, sandy beaches?
I mean, there’s just so much you can say about barbecue and the fried chicken at Stroud’s before reaching for the Alka-Seltzer.
Fact is, everything about this town is wrapped up in how the teams are doing.
Why?
Because we’re underdogs.
We’re a medium-size city in flyover country that is 500 miles from anywhere worth visiting (sorry, Wichita).
People on the coasts can’t pinpoint us on a map.
“Is Kansas City in Kansas or Missouri?” they ask. And when you tell them the correct answer — which is “yes” — they don’t get it.
We’re insecure. We’re needy.
Whenever a local slips and refers to KC as a cowtown, the Chamber of Commerce trots out fact sheets listing the many attractions that prove we are, instead, very cosmopolitan.
Did you know some people in Kansas City have never seen a cow?
Rubophobia — the fear of being perceived as a rube — is the term writer and Kansas City native Calvin Trillin coined to describe this syndrome.
This town has it bad.
Not everyone is afflicted. The mayor unashamedly describes himself as a hick (and gets few arguments from what I can tell).
Meanwhile, transplants rave that there is nothing for which we locals need apologize.
They go on about the art museum. They say the boulevards are beautiful, the fountains lovely.
Good job on that new downtown!
So who cares if the Royals lose another 100 games?
What does it matter if the Chiefs always choke in the playoffs?
Because we’re Midwesterners, that’s why.
“Hey, look, we’re not so bad” ought to be the city motto.
We want it widely known that the Wizards have a better record and are a better team than David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy.
That the Royals just might be on the way back.
And when KU takes the court tonight, it’s quite possible that even Mizzou fans will take pride in that.
Though, I wouldn’t say it’s likely. Everyone has his limits.