Congratulations to the AFC West Champion-Kansas City Chiefs

Happy Holidays, everybody! I can't believe that it has been almost a month since my last post. I totally apologize, and I promise to get my act together in the upcoming year. Anyone who has even accidentally read my blog knows that I am a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. Since 1989, I've been a Chiefs fan for better or worse. For the last couple of years, it has been mostly worse. Since 2006, the Chiefs have lost their legendary owner the late, great Lamar Hunt. They have had two different General Managers exchanging Carl Peterson for Scott Pioli. They enlisted 2 head coaches: Herman Edwards and Todd Haley. They have started five different: Trent Green, Damon Huard, Brody Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Matt Cassel. They traded Pro Bowler Jared Allen and future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Their record during that time period a dismal 19-45.

During those years, the Chiefs have had many good draft picks that just didn't seem to pan out. First Rounders: 2006-Tamba Hali, 2007-Dwayne Bowe, 2008-Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Albert, 2009-Tyson Jackson, 2010-Eric Berry. Not to mention 2007 2nd and 3rd rounders Turk McBride and DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler who were popular during the Hard Knocks documentary, but whose talents are now elsewhere (Turk in Detroit; Tank in Carolina). The Chiefs picked up Brandon Flowers, Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam, and Brandon Carr in 2008. In 2009, the Chiefs picked up Alex Magee (who was later traded to Tampa Bay), Donald Washington, Colin Brown, and Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Succop (who many joked was the MVP of 2009). 2010 saw the addition of Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas (from the Tony Gonzalez trade), Jon Asamoah, and Tony Moeaki.

Now, I like many Chiefs fans expected a much improved Chiefs team. After all, last season's record was 4-12. I was hoping for an 8-8 record. I had the Chiefs finishing 2nd behind the Chargers (mostly because I refused to put the Broncos or Raiders ahead of my Chiefs). ESPN had them second in the West. Of the Sports Illustrated panel only one put the Chiefs winning the West. NFL Fan House had the Raiders or Chargers winning, while Sporting News had the Chiefs with a 9-7 record behind the Chargers who they saw as finishing 12-4. Boy, were we all wrong.

The Chiefs are sitting on a 10-5 record after the Raiders and Chargers went down in flames Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs have 7-0 record at the New Arrowhead heading into Sunday's finale against the Raiders. Last season, the Chiefs had no Pro Bowlers for the first time since 1978. This year Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, and Brian Waters are going to the Pro Bowl. *Tony Gonzalez is also on his way to #11. I am aware he's not a Chief anymore, but it's my blog...

Jamaal Charles is second in the league in rushing yards with 1380. Dwayne Bowe is 8th in the league in receiving yards (1094) and 1st in the league in receiving TDs (15). Meanwhile, Matt Cassel is 19th in yardage, but tied with Aaron Rodgers in 6th place with 27 touchdowns. Not bad for a team that finished last year with a 4-12 record.

I don't know how far my boys will go in the playoff, but I'm gonna enjoy this trip for as long as I can. The Chiefs haven't won a playoff game since Joe Montana was quarterback, a streak they definitely want to break. That game was January 16, 1994. The Chiefs beat the Houston Oilers. 1994. I was a sophomore in college, Tony Gonzalez was a senior in high school (so was Tiger Woods), Justin Bieber was born that year, Home Improvement was the number one television show, Forrest Gump was the top movie of the year, and The Sign by Ace of Base was the top song of the year. That was a long, LONG, time ago...

Congratulations to the AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs...Good luck in the playoffs boys!!!!

So, until next time, just remember "If you can accept losing, you can't win."~Vince Lombardi