Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 608 The lifeline of the city
In just one year, it was so real, yet so dreamy. At some point in daily life, I would fall into a trance, doubting whether all this was really happening. After confirming it again and again, the fact that "the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions" always makes me smile and find the taste of happiness again.

Perhaps, in the eyes of others, it is a bit crazy that the city is still immersed in the glory of the championship eight months after the Super Bowl.

But West would say that's because they don't live in Kansas City.

"The past few years have been very difficult for the entire city, as if it had experienced an invisible storm, with closed factories, run-down neighborhoods, widespread unemployment, and young people forced to leave to survive."

“It was a kind of depression and a kind of gloom.”

"If someone asked me what Kansas City is like, I would say it's a disaster and there's no need to come here. We're all worried about becoming the next Detroit."

West noticed Levi's surprise and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Yes, we are that bad."

Detroit, the once prosperous automobile city, declared bankruptcy in 2014, the largest municipal bankruptcy in North American history, and the city was handed over to federal management.

Fortunately, the bankruptcy did not last long. A full year later, the city’s finances returned to normal and the federal government transferred management rights back to the city government.

The Detroit Lions, this NFL team has also been struggling on the edge.

Unexpectedly, Kansas City is also facing the same depression.

In fact, even now, Kansas City's economic situation is still bad, and the high unemployment rate has cast a shadow over the entire city.

West took a deep breath.

"This is a blue-collar city, and the people who live here are a bunch of workers."

"We don't have much wisdom or talent. We work hard to earn a living. We can't catch up with the trend of the Internet economy. We live a regular life without any extravagant hopes or ideals. We just live a simple life."

"Once the factories can no longer sustain themselves, people will find no way out."

"This city has been fighting against adversity and has been suffering, and people don't deserve this."

"Rugby is the only thing we have that helps us find the strength to carry on."

"If we win, Monday won't seem so bad. You can see smiling faces and you can find a ray of sunshine in the haze."

"But if we lose, things will become difficult..."

Hesitant to speak.

West looked at Levi, slightly embarrassed, "Sorry, we don't have any other entertainment life."

Levi shrugged slightly, "Hey, this is my job you're discussing, so please show some respect, okay?"

"Haha." West couldn't control himself, "Haha." The laughter was totally uncontrollable.

Originally, West was worried about putting all the pressure on Levi. These young sophomores and juniors have already been bearing enough attention and expectations, and he really shouldn't continue to put all his hopes on Levi's shoulders.

But now it seems that there is a reason why Levi is Levi.

Relax a little bit.

"Rugby, to us, is more than just rugby." "I know you've never been to the Old Oak Tavern on match day. After all, you still have your job. God, what am I talking about? I hope you never have the chance to witness the grand occasion of a tavern match day."

"but……"

"Every match day is always full. One hundred percent."

"For us, rugby is more than just a game. We gather in the pub from the early morning, joking with each other and looking forward to the game until the end."

"It's more than just drinking and having fun, it's a group of old friends coming together, people need someone to support them, people need someone to listen to their troubles in life, and you can feel that you are part of this community."

"My parents were regulars here and I still remember the first time I followed them to the Old Oak Tavern after the game, which we won."

"On September 1993, 7, the first home game of the season, against the Denver Broncos, we won by 15:."

"I was only five years old that year. Imagine holding my father's hand, pushing open the door of the pub, the record player was playing loudly, people were singing happily, holding glasses to each other, hugging each other, and even dancing in the middle. That scene is deeply imprinted in my mind."

“From that moment on, I fell in love with this place.”

In just a few words, West painted a picture in Levi's mind.

Levi had never experienced it, but he couldn't help imagining that, like soccer in Britain, Spain and Germany, rugby was deeply embedded in the North American community, a sport that had long since transcended simple entertainment.

"As far as I can remember, the Old Oak Tavern has only been closed once in the past 25 years, because old Anderson fell down at home and David had to rush back. Later, Mr. Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and then..."

"Anyway, this place is always open, even on Christmas. All year round."

"People always say, hey man, it's just a game, don't take it too seriously, but it's not, it's not, it's part of our lives."

As he spoke, West began to dance with excitement on his face, unable to conceal it.

"The first time I went to Arrowhead Stadium with my parents, I still remember the scene, the huge red waves and the happy faces."

"After my dad passed away, my mom stopped going to Arrowhead Stadium because they had so many memories there, their first date, my dad's proposal, oh my god, can you imagine him proposing at Arrowhead Stadium? Haha, but he did it, he really did it."

"It's the same for me. In my memory, the time is not important, but the stadium and the games are important."

"The first time I fell in love with a girl was on November 2004, , when we lost badly at home to San Diego and officially lost our playoff hopes. I met her at the Old Oak Tavern, a girl who cursed with me to vent her emotions. I still remember the black jeans she wore under her jersey."

"But I didn't have the courage to ask her out until December 25th, the Christmas Day game, when we beat Oakland and won, right outside Arrowhead Stadium, I plucked up the courage and asked her if she wanted to go to the movies with me, and she said yes."

A smile climbs up the corners of his mouth, full of happiness.

There is a famous saying in the football world: football is not about life and death, but football is above life and death. In fact, the same is true for rugby.

But this is not to say that football is more important than life, but that football has long been a part of life, including life and death. The birth and death of life are also intertwined with the stadium, the team and football, giving life weight and warmth.

Happiness or sadness, everything is inseparable from football.

Perhaps, no one can escape the fate of death, but the vivid vitality that remains in memory along with the stadium and the team will never disappear.

(End of this chapter)