This is something I’ve been toying with off and on for some time now, based on the magnum opus by Robert Greene entitled The 48 Laws of Power.  It’s a great read, especially for history buffs or anyone seeking to get ahead.  I wouldn’t say it changed my life, but it’s a book I occasionally re-read in spite of its length, if for no reasons other than its sheer volume of historical details and amazing level of applicability to all facets of life.    But its lessons seem especially applicable to football, since football is essentially a physical game of chess and the management of a football team is something that requires outsmarting adversaries, seducing free agents with the promise of opportunity, and developing a cohesion and loyalty among your ranks.  Hell, the reason we do “power” rankings is because we gauge teams in the league in terms of relative power.  I’ve long felt as though this particular book is one that must’ve been assigned by Bill Parcells to his coaches and staff from day one, and for that reason, I’ve begun to look for clues that Haley and Pioli have internalized these lessons. 

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From the FanPosts. We feel for you, out-of-town Chiefs fans. -Joel

The 2011 NFL season is racing full throttle to the September 11 debut and as visions of smoking brisket slathered in sauce dance in the heads of you fans lucky enough to live in the greater K.C. Metro area, please take this opportunity to shed a tear for your brethren living the hard life in these exiled years.

It's a tough road to travel when you live outside K.C., especially so in the last few years because the relative lack of success our beloved Chiefs endured all but eliminated any national exposure.  Still, we with the misfortune of living in excess of 250 miles away from the nearest Arthur Bryant's, OK Joe's, or Gates survived. 

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The NFL stadium tour is an annual tradition for my old college roommate and I.  Every year, we visit a new city, see the Chiefs conquer a new stadium, and leave with a new experience.  I highly recommend this particular life goal to anyone and everyone.  Its a chance to visit places you might not otherwise prioritize, meet fans of other teams, and see the Chiefs notch another win. 

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A friend of mine who's a Raiders fan was talking about starting a bar and restaurant and we started throwing around potential names.  Somehow, it evolved into naming restaurants for players in the AFC West along with little one-liners to throw in there.  When the season is going as bad as ours has been so far, it helps to have something to laugh about (some of them aren't that good, but I figured I'd try to get in as many as I could).

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The Chiefs no longer have A. Toomer, and neither does my girlfriend.

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From the FanPosts. -Chris

I was at Big Charlie's Saloon on Saturday night. I had the rare opportunity to meet Scott Pioli. I originally intended to do a lengthy post about my trip to philly, how cool Big Charlie's is, and show the pictures of Pioli signing my shirt and just generally brag about that whole experience.  I'll tell you this much about Pioli, he really is a man of the people.  He treated all of us in that bar with respect and dignity.  He listened to our concerns, told jokes and laughed with us, and was as accessible a personality as I ever could've imagined. 

He is a smart guy with a long term vision and even though this season has started off rough, I have every confidence that he knows what he's doing.  Whitlock says he is an ego, and maybe that ego shines through when he's dealing with as big an ego as Whitlock himself.

But in that small bar in South Philly among some of the most passionate and die-hard fans the Chiefs have, he was one of us. It would be easy to be detached and distant and even egotistical when you're an NFL GM and you're among regular beer-drinking joes, but he wasn't. 

For a half hour, Scott Pioli was one of us.   He wasn't able to stay around for long, so he wasn't able to have a one on one conversation with everyone gathered in the most random Chiefs bar in South Philly, but he did address the group as a whole.

There is one thing he told us, and something that other recent events in my life are reinforcing the wisdom of: Be Patient. 

Little did I know how meaningful that advice would be only a few short days later.

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In less than 24 hours, I will board a flight from Los Angeles, CA to Philadelphia, PA.  That's a hell of a long trip and an expensive overall experience to see a game that all those pundits and prognosticators thought would be a blowout and a big Iggles win before the season started.  Admittedly, I figured McNabb would be injured by week 3 like he always is and as part of my NFL stadium tour (visit a new stadium every year with an old college friend), I opted to check out the relatively new Linc and visit a city of rich history that I have never been to.  I'm sitting on the visitors bench side, row 5, around the 30 yard line in case anyone else is in the area.  Looking forward to seeing the Chiefs pull a big road upset and I realize I will have to keep my alcohol consumption and resulting Tomahawk Chop a bit under wraps this weekend in order to ensure my own personal safety.  That is, unless I can find a few more scrappy Chiefs fans willing to show up in Philly in red and gold and show the Eagles fans unfettered passion not afraid of a few green men. 

So here it is, The Roll Call.  Who is gonna be in Philly this weekend?   

I wanted to create this thread to thank Derrick Thomas for everything he means to me, to us, and to the entire world.  Feel free to share your own thanks.  Its days like this that I am overwhelmed with emotions because I feel great sadness that he is not with us today to see the culmination of his glorious career, but I am alternately filled with immense joy that he is finally getting the recognition that he has long deserved.  There will never be another player in the NFL who comes remotely close to filling his shoes.

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I am going to be visiting the Linc on Sept 27 to see my Chiefs play there.  Essentially, what I want to know is how can I make it out alive.  I've always had some love for the Iggles, one of only two NFC teams I have any real liking for (the other being the Bears cuz I lived in Chicago as a kid).  The Eagles and Chiefs have some common threads, our old HC Herm Edwards was a DB for you guys during Vermeil's tenure as HC.  And of course Vermeil was our HC at one point too.  Anyhow, I'm a Chiefs fan first and foremost and will be wearing my road uni while at the Linc.  I won't be obnoxious, but I'll definitely cheer if and when my Chiefs score.  I am thinking I should be safe, as the prospects of the Chiefs winning are rather dim and its not like we're an in conference team that would be hated for any reason by Philly fans, but I guess I was wondering if there are any precautionary recommendations you guys had to help one fan of good football survive the Linc experience.   

Tony Gonzales is no longer a Chief.  His replacement was drafted last year, out of a school that seems to have a knack for producing NFL talent (Tennessee).  Brad Cottom is the most massive pile of humanity I have seen at a skill position in the NFL.  I have this feeling that Cassel and Haley are looking forward to jump balls in the end zone for Cottom, the man who shall hereafter be known as the Jolly Red Giant.  Obviously, he is not Tony Gonzales.  But we all knew Tony was getting long in the tooth and this trade gave us the opportunity to get some value out of him that will benefit us for years after his retirement.  It is sad to see such a professional leave the organization that he left his stamp on.  After my initial reactions and really collecting my thoughts on the subject, I have realized that this is the right move. 

I think this trade demonstrates the confidence that Haley and Pioli have in the Jolly Red Giant.  It is his time in KC and I look forward to seeing what Cottom can do for this team. 

So every year, an old college buddy and I fly to a new city and see a game at a new stadium.  Fortunately, my friend is not a fan of any team specifically, so he has been down to visit a stadium that the Chiefs are playing at when we do these trips.  Well, he and I have narrowed our list down to three potential games based on cities we've never been to (we both live in California), stadiums and teams we'd like to see, and interesting games (crossed the late season stuff off the list so that we can see a game that we know will have some meaning).  I would appreciate greatly your votes on which of the three games to check out and any recommendations on sites to check out while in that city.  The three are @Philly, @Washington, and @Jacksonville.   Personally, I'm leaning toward Philly right now, but I am open to any advice especially from anyone who has been to any of these cities themselves. 

Well, I think that most of us have determined that our Chiefs are at the very least likely to replace Herm Edwards as head coach sometime this offseason. 

So I have put together a poll with the names of some of the rumored candidates that we have heard about in our rumor/speculation mill.  Notice, I did not put a "Retain Herm" option on there, in part because I think that the speculation has gone so far that it doesn't make sense to keep a lame duck Herm on as HC (though he might have a place on the coaching staff if he'd be so willing).  I also did not put Cowher on the list because all indications are that he won't be available until 2010 and I am keeping this relevant to our current offseason. 

Dear Pats Fans,

You guys get a bad rap.  It seems there are so many teams in the NFL, especially in the AFC, that absolutely despise the Pats.  I am not among them, although some Chiefs fans are.  I have tried explaining to my brethern in Chiefs Nation why the Pats are an organization that we should root for once our own team is out (translation: after week 6 in any year under Herm Edwards).  I'll admit, I am kind of partial as my dad was born in Boston and taught me at a young age to hate the Yankees and the Lakers.  But here is what the Pats have done that make you guys a personal favorite of mine in the AFC, outside of obviously my first and foremost allegience to the Kansas City Chiefs:

1.  The Raiders hate you guys ever since the tuck rule.  As the most hated division rival of mine, any team that pisses off the Raiders fan base makes me happy. 

2.  You guys have beat Peyton Manning and the Colts in the playoffs with consistency.  My beloved Chiefs have a tendancy  to lose to the Colts in the first game they play in the playoffs, no matter whose house its in.  1995, 2003, 2006.  Everytime.  The Colts have become my most hated non-division rival and I am eternally grateful for the number of times you have stifled Peyton Manning.  Manning may be a great QB, but he has always had the weapons around him.  I have watched Tom Brady win rings with second rate talent at WR, and put Tom in the same sentence as Joe Montana.

3.  You exposed the Chargers for the cry-babies they are.  LT, Rivers, Merrimen, all of them.  Hate them.  They are classless and cannot take it when a superior team with the greatest coach of his generation (or possibly ever) dominates them.  I can always sleep easy at night knowing that as long as the venerable New England Patriots are in the playoffs, the Chargers will not see a Super Bowl ring (sadly, I must pin my hopes on teams that I do not have as much confidence in this season).

You have been the dynasty of this decade, and I do not expect your success to stop anytime soon.  You have capable personnel in the front office and a coach that knows that it takes to win.  I wish your franchise great success in the future, and I am sure that Scott Pioli has trained his successor well.  We look forward to meeting you guys in future AFC Championship games.  I cannot wait to see BB and Scott Pioli shake hands on the sidelines as genuine friends before that game.  I will thank you in advance for allowing one of the brightest minds in the game to leave the nest and prove his value to a starving fanbase in the Midwest that so desperately needs to taste victory again. 

Sincerely and with Best Wishes for 2009,

A Die-Hard Chiefs Fan