Tradition Tuesday: Congregation Leader Talks of "Taking It to Glendale," Disses Dog Fighters, Rain Makers

The rough focus of this blog is the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs (heralded by Bankmeister) and the Denver Broncos (championed by Cecil and Old No. 7). It may seem unfair that it's two versus one, but once KC gets that second Super Bowl win we'll even out the delegation.

Seven years ago we started The Tradition, in which Bronco fans travel out to the Truman Sports Complex with their team, and Chief-lovers return to the Rocky Mountains with theirs. We tailgate, we talk massive amounts of shit, our wives are occasionally assaulted by rival fans, and we almost always watch the visiting team lose. It's grand old time.

Here at the HoG, we're going to keep The Tradition going with Tradition Tuesday--a weekly state-of-the-rivalry address.

Priest Holmes is my hero. Plain and simple. Sure. He's spent his injury-recovery times away from his teammates. He's eaten nachos in the booth. He's announced on primetime televsion that he wants to get paid. I couldn't care less. (Editor's Note: For those of you that can't get that saying right, just think about it: If you could care less, you would.)

There's a lot going on in both Dove Valley and River Falls, but this week's installment of TT will focus solely on the guy in red, white and gold that sports number 31. Damion McIntosh could be out for a while. That blows big time. Jarvis Moss could be back as early as Tuesday. File that under: also blows. And, all ridonculous optimism aside, the Chiefs really do need Larry Johnson to sign a new contract. The latest word is that the two sides haven't even spoken in over a month. To quote our non-adminstrating administrator Old No. 7, "Guh."



I don't even know what that word means. I mean, I see it on the Deadspins and the Leathers of the CyberWebs, but give me a break. That word sucks. It sounds like a grunt you might offer when taking a painful shit. Let's make it the first officially banned HoG word. Shall we? Good.

Anyway, Priest. I usually try to maintain some sense of journalism and refer to athletes and such by their last name, you know, since I'm like not really on a first-name basis with them. Holmes is kind of the exception, though. That name is like, 14,000 times cooler than, oh, I don't know, Ebenezer or Elvis or any of the other completely random names that come to mind. I digress.

Priest donned the pads for the first time in 22 months yesterday. Granted, he's still limited to conditioning exercises, but it's a massive step. Number 31 also consistently offers some of the best, albeit peculiar, interviews I've ever seen/read. Jason King of The Kansas City Star published a post-practice (yes, we talkin' 'bout practice) Q&A with the Chiefs all-time leading rusher in today's paper. Here are some of the highlights:

"Q: A lot of people are still dubious about why you're even here.

A: Dubious is a great word. But dedication is a little more defined and concrete. (Note: God, I love this cat.) It's about perseverance and having a great story to tell.

We have what's called 'Making it rain' and we have the dog fighting. We have so many things that have cast a negative light on the NFL. [...] I'm excited about the story we have here in Kansas City. [...] There are so many new faces, so much energy. A team with energy allows us to get that push we need in the postseason. [...] But with the focus we have and the end goal we have in mind...taking it to Glendale (...), that's exactly where we're headed. ...

Q: Was today a big step, getting the shoulder pads and helmet on?

A: Today was a big step. [...]Regardless of the struggle, it's not about the perception of the pain I'm enduring, it's about the perception of where I'm headed. Glendale is the spot..."

Bad. Ass.

It's become widely accepted that you can't count Priest Holmes out. You just can't. The Chiefs have kept the door open for him each time he's gotten injured and, to date, he's returned and been a major contribution to the team. He claims to want to do that again, and he's prepared to accept whatever role the Chiefs will offer him, assuming he makes the team. Depending upon how serious McIntosh's injury is, the Chiefs will need Holmes to some extent.

Scratch that. The Chiefs will need Team Priest regardless of who's on the O-line. He's that good. This, of course, is not to take anything away from Larry Johnson. He's pretty okay, too. I believe what Priest says when he talks about being a leader for this team. It is a bid odd, in a Muhammed Ali kind of way, to continually hear Priest refer to himself as something associated with greatness, but hey, he is. And whether or not his hype about the team is legitimate, it's exciting; I've got to believe some of the youngsters are buying into it, too.

They'd better.

And by they, I mean Brodie Croyle, who looks more everyday like the job is his to lose. And by they I mean every pass-catcher not named Eddie Kennison or Tony Gonzalez. These kids have got to find a way to catch the laser rockets Croyle's delivering that Huard allegedly cannot. If Priest can help in either of those facets, chalk his presence up as a win. If his presence involves splitting time in the backfield with Johnson, book those tickets to Glendale, Lone Reader. First class, even. 'Cause Daddy's comin' home in style, and likely not joining the mile-high club on the way.