On Thursday, former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander shared a heartwarming story on Twitter about Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
I heard a story recently that highlights what’s special about #ChiefsKingdom and about our quarterback.
A few weeks back, @PatrickMahomes and his girlfriend @brittanylynne8 were having dinner at a pizza place near their home in #KC.
— Jason Kander (@JasonKander) January 31, 2020
As the story goes, Mahomes and his girlfriend were out dining at a local restaurant where, despite the fact that many other patrons knew who he was, none of them came over to ask him for an autograph or picture during the meal. As a thank you for allowing him to enjoy his dinner, Mahomes “spoke to the entire restaurant,” thanking them and saying “this is why I love Kansas City” before leaving. It was only then that everyone discovered their meals had been comped by Mahomes.
Pat stops at the door, turns back, and everyone looks up. He says to the entire restaurant, “Thanks for letting us enjoy our dinner. This is why I LOVE Kansas City. You guys are awesome!”
After he and Brittany left, it was revealed they had paid the bill for every table.
— Jason Kander (@JasonKander) January 31, 2020
It’s the ideal story you’d want to be spread about the star player on your favorite team right before they play in the Super Bowl. It speaks to the way we’d hope to think of a famous athlete and the way in which we’d like our own ideals reflected back at us. It’s also a great way to subtly get across the salt-of-the-earth mentality that you’d like to think locals represent. That we’re the kind of people who let star athletes be, unlike people in those other places.
Of course, it’s 100% bullshit.
Not to say that Patrick Mahomes doesn’t seem like a nice guy, because he does, but this story is almost word-for-word the same one used to make Troy Palumalu seem like a great guy back when he and the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the Super Bowl 11 years ago.
I liked the bad, fake chain mail story better when it was about Troy Polamalu 11 years ago https://t.co/NneXQLZNSV pic.twitter.com/fVMin88bdK
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) February 1, 2020
It’s the kind of hokey thing that people used to pass around in chain emails before the days of social media, so it’s not too surprising to see that it spread so easily, especially in NFL circles where athletes are often overpraised for perceived moments of common decency.
People outside KC don’t seem to get it yet—Pat is just different. Kansas City is so lucky. And you know what? Pat and Brittany are lucky to have KC. pic.twitter.com/GbMmFieVxZ
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 31, 2020
Mahomes has done plenty of positive things for Kansas City fans so far and he has the chance to do them the ultimate kindness of Sunday. We’re thinking Chiefs fans will take a Super Bowl win over some free mozzarella sticks anyway.
