Sidelines
THERE is the story, a wonderful story told by a handful of Kansas City Chiefs fans, of a day when they got incredibly lucky and had seats right behind the bench. They were in on all the action, they got to listen in on the strategy, see the looks on the players' faces, feel the tension of an NFL afternoon. It was like a dream. Miracles can
happen in HawaiiThese were the days when Buddy Ryan was in his brief comeback with the Houston Oilers and his defense ruled the AFC with an iron fist. Joe Montana, the legend, was finding new life in Kansas City, but this day Ryan's troops had his number. Joe was pounded and hammered and he stumbled to the sidelines looking out of the earhole of his helmet. He looked like an old man. It looked like this was the end of the line.
And in their front row seat, the fans could see it all. They could feel every bruise.
But then something happened. Joe came to the sidelines after another 3-and-out, and he looked Marty Schottenheimer in the eye and with matter-of-fact firmness said, "I've figured it out."
This was when the clouds parted, a heavenly light shone down and a host of angels sang the Hallelujah chorus.
Schottenheimer, the stern, old-school, all-business coach, got this incredibly incredulous, joyous look on his face, like, Joe has got it figured out!
He didn't ask Joe how. He didn't ask Joe what he had figured out. He didn't need to. This was good enough for him. He didn't need to hear another word.
The fans said this was the most beautiful sight they had ever seen. They could see his eyes. They could feel the miracle.
Schottenheimer was emphatic. Schottenheimer was convinced. Schottenheimer was converted.
"Joe's got it figured out!" he said. He did a little hop. He gathered the team around. "Joe's got it figured out! Don't worry! We're going to win this! Joe's got it figured out!"
The team, of course, all had similar reactions. Joe had it figured out.
Joe did. For the rest of the day, he skewered the defense. In the final blow, a Chief spiked the ball into a Buddy Ryan banner following a Montana touchdown pass. The legend lived. Kansas City won. And the fans carry that moment with them to this day.
They'll always remember Schottenheimer's reaction.
I'll always remember why he had it.
SPORTS, as Yogi Berra told us, are 90 percent half mental. It's all about the moment when you figure it out.
Last season, Hawaii had 3-9 worth of knowledge. But those lumps are now known as "experience."
Chris Brown is starting to see things, starting to understand the flow to the ball.
Ashley Lelie is beginning to finally get what June Jones had been talking about all this time.
Timmy Chang has a whole year of pounding behind him. A brainstorm looms likely on the horizon.
Will he be ready to snatch the pebble from Jones' hand?
Sit tight in the front row, and watch it all unfold.
Kalani Simpson's column runs Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
He can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com