A Gift Bestowed
10/30/14
by Joe Tassinari
The 2014 World Series is in the books – the San Francisco Giants rode the arm of pitching ace Madison Bumgarner to defeat the Kansas City Royals with the score of 3-2 in a thrilling game 7 finale.
This series was filled with many accomplishments. World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner pitched 21 innings giving up only 1 run for a 0.43 ERA while the rest of the Giants starting pitchers threw only 16.1 innings combined. Hunter Pence hit for a .444 average the third highest in World Series history. The Giants won a game 7 on the road a first since the 1979 “We Are Family” Pittsburg Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles. This series marked the 1st time a #5 seed (Giants) won the championship.
With all the accolades and records set, one of the greatest achievements of this contest was how the Kansas City fans treated the San Francisco fans who traveled to Kauffman Stadium to watch the series.
“Welcome to KC you guys have a great team! Good luck tonight, do you need any help around the stadium. The Giants deserve to be here. Let me buy you a beer.” Reports from Giants fans visiting Kansas City for games 1, 2 and 6,7 were filled with platitudes about the gracious spirit of the Royals’ fans.
With hatred spewed by hooligan fans from one city towards another, deriding chants like “Dodgers Suck” and the horrific Bryan Stow incident in 2011, it’s high time we grew-up as sports fans. After all, without the other team there would be no game. When we see fans wearing the other teams gear let’s welcome them in partnership towards a common pastime.
Thank you Kansas City for bestowing upon the world a better way to root for your team while respecting the fans from the opposing team. Your welcoming and friendly spirit directed towards the fans of “the other” team is a moral accomplishment in civility and a true gift to society.