Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 608: 607 City Lifeline Chapter 608: 607 City Lifeline In just one year, it all felt so real, yet so dreamlike, that at any moment in daily life I would find myself in a daze, questioning whether all this had truly happened.

After repeated confirmation, the fact that “the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions” always managed to bring a smile to my face, restoring a sense of happiness.

Perhaps, to outsiders, eight whole months had passed since the Super Bowl, and the city was still basking in the glory of the championship, which seemed quite insane.

But West would say that’s because they didn’t live in Kansas City.

“These past years, the entire city has been struggling, as if enduring an invisible storm—with factories closing, neighborhoods crumbling, widespread unemployment, and young people forced to leave in search of survival.”

“It was a slump, a gloom.”

“If someone asked me what Kansas City was like, I’d say it was a disaster, no need to come here, we’re all worried we’d become the next Detroit.”

West noticed Li Wei’s surprise and couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

“Yes, we were in that bad of a state.”

Detroit, the once-great Motor City, declared bankruptcy in 2014, the largest municipal bankruptcy in North American history, resulting in the city being managed by The Federation.

Luckily, the bankruptcy didn’t last too long.

After a whole year, the city’s finances returned to normal, and The Federation handed back control to the municipal government.

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

Unexpectedly, Kansas City was facing the same depressive and bleak hardship.

In fact, even now, Kansas City’s economic situation was still terrible, with a high unemployment rate casting a shadow over the entire city.

West took a deep breath.

“This is a blue-collar city, home to a bunch of workers.”

“We don’t have much cleverness or talent, just honestly, diligently, earnestly relying on our hands to make a living.

We can’t keep up with the trend of the internet economy, living our lives straight and simple, without extravagant desires or dreams, just trying to live simply.”

“Once the factories can’t keep going, people can’t find a way out.”

“This city has always been fighting adversity, suffering from hardship, and people don’t deserve this treatment.”

“Football is the only thing we have, it helps us find the strength to keep on living.”

“If we win, even Monday doesn’t seem so bad, you can see smiling faces, you can find a weak ray of sunshine in the gloom.”

“But if we lose, things start to get difficult…”

He trailed off.

West looked at Li Wei, slightly embarrassed, “Sorry, we don’t have any other entertainment.”

Li Wei shrugged lightly, “Hey, you’re discussing my job, could you show some respect, please?”

“Haha,” West could not control himself, “Hahahaha,” his laughter simply uncontrollable.

Initially, West had been worried about putting all the pressure on Li Wei.

These young second- and third-year players had already endured enough attention and expectations; he really shouldn’t keep piling all the hopes on Li Wei’s shoulders.

But now it seemed, the reason Li Wei was able to become Li Wei was not without cause.

My mind relaxed a bit.

“Football, for us, is more than just football.”

“I know you’ve never been to the Old Oak Tavern on game day, after all, you have your work, God, what am I even talking about, I hope you never have the chance to witness the tavern’s game day in full swing.”

“But…”

“Every game day, it’s guaranteed to be packed.

One hundred percent.”

“For us, football is not just a game, from early in the morning, we gather in the bar, joking with each other, looking forward to the game, right up until after it ends.”

“It’s not just about drinking and having fun, but a group of old friends coming together, people needing support, needing someone to listen to the troubles in their lives, you can feel you’re a part of this community.”

“My parents were regulars here, I still remember the scene following them to the Old Oak Tavern for the first time after a game, that time we won.”

“September 20th, 1993, the first home game of the season, against the Denver Broncos, ‘7:15,’ we won.”

“I was only five years old that year.

Imagine me, holding my father’s hand, pushing open the door of the tavern, the jukebox blaring loudly, people joyfully singing, clinking their glasses, hugging each other, even dancing in the middle, that scene, deeply etched in my mind.”

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

In just a few words, West painted a picture in Li Wei’s mind.@@novelbin@@

Li Wei had never experienced it, but he couldn’t help but imagine that, just like football in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, football is also rooted in North American communities, this sport has long transcended mere entertainment.

“In my memory, the Old Oak Tavern has only closed once in twenty-five years, because Old Anderson fell at home, and David had to rush back, later Mr.

Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and then…”

“In any case, this place has always been open, even on Christmas Day.

Open all year round.”

“People always say, hey, buddy, it’s just a game, no need to take it so seriously; but it’s not, really, it’s a part of our lives.”

As he spoke, West became animated, his face flushed with excitement, unable to hide it.

“The first time I went to Arrowhead Stadium with my parents, I still remember that scene, a massive red wave sweeping through the stands, face after face brimming with happiness.”

“After my father passed away, my mother never went to Arrowhead Stadium again, because it held too many of their memories, their first date, my father’s proposal, oh God, can you imagine that he actually proposed at Arrowhead Stadium?

Haha, but he did, he really did.”

“It’s the same for me.

In my memory, time isn’t important, the stadium and those games are what matter.”

“The first time I fell in love with a girl, November 28th, 2004, we were routed at home by San Diego, officially losing our playoff hopes, I met her right here at the Old Oak Tavern, a girl who cursed and vented her emotions with me.

I still remember her black jeans under her jersey.”

“But at that time, I didn’t have the courage to ask her out, until December 25th, the Christmas Day showdown, we defeated Oakland for the victory, right outside Arrowhead Stadium, I mustered the courage and asked her if she would like to watch a movie with me, and she said yes.”

A smile climbed to the corners of my mouth, filled with happiness.

In the world of football, there is a famous saying that football is not a matter of life and death, but it is more important than life and death.

Actually, football is the same.

But this is not to say that football is more important than life, but that football has long become a part of life, including life and death, the birth of life, the passing of life, also intermingles with the stadium, the teams, and football, giving life weight, giving life warmth.

Be it happiness or sadness, neither can be separated from football.

Perhaps, no one can escape the fate of death, but those vivid memories associated with the stadium and the team will never fade away.