FanPost

Why?

Why are you a Royals Fan?

“I’ll never be your beast of burden, my back is broad but it’s a hurting.” - Mick Jagger

Were these ancient lyrics aimed directly at the heart of Royals Review members present? Because, Jesus H. Christ, there are some sore backs up in this piece. Emotionally investing in this franchise is a hefty psychic load. The reasons to leave the Royal relationship are long. Player development is an undeniable weakness. The Dayton Moore regime has proven incapable of meeting the many challenges a small market team must overcome to be a contender. Canny trades? Not so much. Savvy free agent signings? So few and far between, or so insignificant, they don’t merit recounting. Accurately assessing when the MLB team is a contender or in development mode? No. An effective player development system? No. Embracing bleeding edge analysis or exploring market inefficiencies in anyway? Hard to believe this could be a possibility. Beyond the consistently frustrating ways in which the Royals conduct their business, fans are forced to grapple with the constant losing. Always the losing. The losing has changed me in so many ways. Like you, I assume you come to these pages frequently because you are something of a baseball fanatic. Baseball is beautiful. It obviously has a relatively significant role in your life. Baseball as performed by the Kansas City Royals is decidedly less attractive. Why do you keep coming back? I would love to latch onto another team, but for some reason I can’t. Apparently my soul was stamped with an indelible mark by virtue of declaring the Royals my favorite team when I was a 4th grader. Fuck yes I think there is something of the spiritual and metaphysical at work in these decisions. Who could have guessed that such a glib decision could prove to be so durable? I’ve invested too much time in the Royals to quit. Ultimately, for me, the Royals don’t belong to the Glass family; they belong to the community of Royals fans. I’m demoralized by the losing. Hope is being cruelly tortured this year precisely because the saviors are proving to be very un-savior like. I’ll still be here though. Like Charlie Brown lining up for another kick. I’ll take my joy where I can find it. And endure. Baseball is not designed for the quick fix or instant gratification. 1985 was a long time ago. What difference does another seven years make?

I need no fussing,I need no nursing Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be – Mick Jagger

Why are you still a fan?

This FanPost was written by a member of the Royals Review community. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors and writers of this site.