Chiefs X-Factor's Inside the Huddle-Suicide Mission?

xfactor · 10-19-2011, 05:18 PM

Entering where no KC
Superfan has gone before

In scientific terms, a black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. A similar phenomenon exists within the Oakland Coliseum, which is home of the Raiders.It’s a place where sanity enters and is never seen again, where fans from opposing teams never venture, a place where the entire spectrum of colors is reduced to silver and black. All that will change on Sunday.

The X-Factor - complete with my cheesehead, form-fitting spandex and bright red and gold Chiefs’ colors will be on the front row. Yes, you read that right. Like Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise, I’ll be going where no Chiefs Superfan has ever gone before . . . into the belly of the beast.
This isn’t something I do casually. As a Superfan, I’ve made it my goal to attend a Chiefs road game in every NFL stadium. As of this moment - after 73 road trips - there are only three stadiums missing from the list. I’ve yet to see KC play at Atlanta, against the Jets in the Meadowlands (I have seen them play the Giants) and at Oakland.

As of Sunday, I’ll be able to mark the Raiders game off my bucket list.
Insane? Yes. Stupid? Open to debate.But I’m not venturing into the Black Hole on my own. I’ll be accompanied by none other than my good friend and fellow Superfan Raider Ron who, by the way, hasn’t missed a Raiders game in more than 20 years. That’s a real Superfan. Raider Ron has been to Kansas City on many occasions, has been begging me for years to be his guest at a game in Oakland.

At the time I agreed to make this trip, the Chiefs were 0-3 and I felt the team needed a spark. Coach Todd Haley and my other friends on the team are super-excited that I’m willing to do this for them.They also agree that I’m super-crazy which has never been open to debate.I’ll be a guest of honor (or dishonor) during the pregame tailgate party where there will be thousands and thousands of Raiders fans.

Raider Ron has promised that I’ll be well-protected which is a good thing because I’ve been told that, among Superfans, I’m among the most hated in the Raider Nation. Denver and San Diego don’t have Superfans, so Kansas City is the only division rival with true Superfans and, apparently, Raiders fans know the X-Factor.

The trip is already generating a lot of traffic on Facebook and message boards. This is turning out to be a big deal - even bigger than I expected. I’ve been getting e-mails from people asking me to reconsider for my personal safety. I’ve even been told by friends that I could become the first official Chiefs martyr, which would be one more thing to mark off my bucket list.
Am I worried? Yes and no.

Any Chiefs fan who would enter the Black Hole without some apprehension is beyond crazy. But I’m putting my trust into Raider Ron and my own experience as a Superfan. I fully expect to be the butt of a lot of ridicule, jokes and profanity. This is Oakland Coliseum and it is the NFL. I’d be disappointed in anything less.

The key is to fight back - not with fists or words, but with humor. I can make more fun of myself than any Raiders fan. I’ll shake hands, pose for photos . . . whatever it takes to diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand.
And, once the game starts, everyone - including myself - will be much more concerned with what happens on the field.

Make no mistake about it. I hate the Raiders and the Raiders feel the same way towards the Chiefs. I expect to be a lightning rod for that resentment on Sunday. But I also believe that, as a Superfan, I’m held to a higher standard.
At the end of the day, it’s not about me, or Raider Ron, or whether the Raiders want to lynch me. This is about the NFL and the teams that we are truly passionate about. Hopefully, at the end of the day we’re talking about a great football game which (of course) the Chiefs have won.

I’m anticipating a memorable game and a weekend that will go into the Superfan history book. And I’m also planning to break new scientific ground as the first Chiefs Superfan to enter - and leave - the Black Hole.
Arrowman and Stephen Hawking, eat your heart out.

10-19-2011, 05:18 PM	Topic Starter
xfactor Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $9985222	X-Factor's Inside the Huddle-Suicide Mission? Entering where no KC Superfan has gone before In scientific terms, a black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. A similar phenomenon exists within the Oakland Coliseum, which is home of the Raiders.It’s a place where sanity enters and is never seen again, where fans from opposing teams never venture, a place where the entire spectrum of colors is reduced to silver and black. All that will change on Sunday. The X-Factor - complete with my cheesehead, form-fitting spandex and bright red and gold Chiefs’ colors will be on the front row. Yes, you read that right. Like Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise, I’ll be going where no Chiefs Superfan has ever gone before . . . into the belly of the beast. This isn’t something I do casually. As a Superfan, I’ve made it my goal to attend a Chiefs road game in every NFL stadium. As of this moment - after 73 road trips - there are only three stadiums missing from the list. I’ve yet to see KC play at Atlanta, against the Jets in the Meadowlands (I have seen them play the Giants) and at Oakland. As of Sunday, I’ll be able to mark the Raiders game off my bucket list. Insane? Yes. Stupid? Open to debate.But I’m not venturing into the Black Hole on my own. I’ll be accompanied by none other than my good friend and fellow Superfan Raider Ron who, by the way, hasn’t missed a Raiders game in more than 20 years. That’s a real Superfan. Raider Ron has been to Kansas City on many occasions, has been begging me for years to be his guest at a game in Oakland. At the time I agreed to make this trip, the Chiefs were 0-3 and I felt the team needed a spark. Coach Todd Haley and my other friends on the team are super-excited that I’m willing to do this for them.They also agree that I’m super-crazy which has never been open to debate.I’ll be a guest of honor (or dishonor) during the pregame tailgate party where there will be thousands and thousands of Raiders fans. Raider Ron has promised that I’ll be well-protected which is a good thing because I’ve been told that, among Superfans, I’m among the most hated in the Raider Nation. Denver and San Diego don’t have Superfans, so Kansas City is the only division rival with true Superfans and, apparently, Raiders fans know the X-Factor. The trip is already generating a lot of traffic on Facebook and message boards. This is turning out to be a big deal - even bigger than I expected. I’ve been getting e-mails from people asking me to reconsider for my personal safety. I’ve even been told by friends that I could become the first official Chiefs martyr, which would be one more thing to mark off my bucket list. Am I worried? Yes and no. Any Chiefs fan who would enter the Black Hole without some apprehension is beyond crazy. But I’m putting my trust into Raider Ron and my own experience as a Superfan. I fully expect to be the butt of a lot of ridicule, jokes and profanity. This is Oakland Coliseum and it is the NFL. I’d be disappointed in anything less. The key is to fight back - not with fists or words, but with humor. I can make more fun of myself than any Raiders fan. I’ll shake hands, pose for photos . . . whatever it takes to diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand. And, once the game starts, everyone - including myself - will be much more concerned with what happens on the field. Make no mistake about it. I hate the Raiders and the Raiders feel the same way towards the Chiefs. I expect to be a lightning rod for that resentment on Sunday. But I also believe that, as a Superfan, I’m held to a higher standard. At the end of the day, it’s not about me, or Raider Ron, or whether the Raiders want to lynch me. This is about the NFL and the teams that we are truly passionate about. Hopefully, at the end of the day we’re talking about a great football game which (of course) the Chiefs have won. I’m anticipating a memorable game and a weekend that will go into the Superfan history book. And I’m also planning to break new scientific ground as the first Chiefs Superfan to enter - and leave - the Black Hole. Arrowman and Stephen Hawking, eat your heart out.
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