The Athenaeum

Tag: kansas city chiefs

  • Mahomes II Looking to Etch His Name on the Lombardi Trophy

    Mahomes II Looking to Etch His Name on the Lombardi Trophy

    The 54th Super Bowl will feature the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers, and if the Chiefs are to win the Lombardi Trophy quarterback Patrick Mahomes will need to be firing on all cylinders. Mahomes was born in Tyler, Texas and is the son of former MLB player Patrick Mahomes Senior – the quarterback shares the same name as his father. Mahomes was born with the athletic gene, and if you have caught any of his games during his time as a starter for the Chiefs, Mahomes is definitely not short on athletic ability. The star pivot has an uncanny ability to contort his body in a variety of ways to deliver the football – both while looking and not looking as he is well-known for his “no-look” side-arm passes to open receivers. 

    Mahomes grew up watching his father and spending much time in MLB locker rooms, throwing baseballs to Hall of Famers like Derek Jeter. In high school the young quarterback played three sports: football, baseball, and basketball. He excelled in each, but he was outstanding in both baseball and football. In his senior year, he played well enough in both that Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and also received a scholarship to play quarterback for Texas Tech. Mahomes decided to play football and while his father was surprised by the decision, he knew his son had what it took to excel in whatever he chose. 

    In Mahomes first year as a Red Raider, the star sat on the bench before taking over the starting role in his second year. Under the tutelage of then head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Mahomes found great success as he set NCAA single-game records and was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the Nation’s top passer. Mahomes decided to forego his last year of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft in 2017. It turned out to be a wise decision for the young athlete as he was selected 10th overall by the Chiefs and signed a four-year contract worth $16.42 million. 

    In his first NFL season Mahomes backed up the Chiefs then starter, Alex Smith, who was traded the following off-season as Mahomes took over the starting role. Mahomes has not looked back since as he has shown that he has what it takes to be a long-time franchise quarterback in the NFL. Head Coach Andy Reid has been a steadying voice for the young star and has provided the structure and system necessary for the quarterback to thrive. It also helps when you have one of the best (if not the best) tight end in the league, Travis Kelce, along with the fastest player in the league, receiver Tyreek Hill. This past season, Mahomes had a 66% completion percentage, threw for over 4000 yards, and passed for 26 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions – all while compiling an 11-3 record as he missed part of the season due to injury. The Chiefs are in good hands with Mahomes at the helm, and if the team is to win their first Super Bowl since 1969, they will need to rely on him to make game winning plays in big moments. 

    If Mahomes is to lead the Chiefs to victory, he will be the third black quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy – joining Doug Williams and Russell Wilson. History will be made during the 54th edition of the Super Bowl, and Mahomes will hope to be on the right side of history come Sunday night. 

    Sebastian Farkas is a Fourth Year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.

  • What’s in a Name? Racism: A Response.

    This is in response to the article in the last issue titled “Unpopular Opinion: Controversial Team Names Aren’t All That Controversial.” In short, I call bullshit.

    I appreciate the fact that you, Anonymous writer, would rather see more productive means of protest that doesn’t involve boycotting games. This I can agree with. I understand that you feel as though the controversial team names in question are honouring the Native people. Not only are you wrong about this, but perpetuating this idea is dangerously ignorant.

    You may be thinking that something as simple as a team name or their mascot cannot possibly promote racist ideologies. It’s all in good fun, right? Wrong. Take the Washington Redskins for example. Do I even have to go further with this explanation? “Redskins” is a term used to refer to the scalps that were collected for bounty. Scalps were literally taken off the heads of Native people and sold off like a trendy pelt. Over time the term developed to literally mean ‘person with red skin,’ aka Indigenous people. Does this development make the term more acceptable? No. It is completely degrading and one of the most grotesque terms available. So, how are the Washington Redskins showing respect and honour as you so eloquently point out? This isn’t an homage. It’s a reminder of social hierarchy. It’s making a joke out of our Indigenous peoples, where the punch line is the acceptance that people like yourself feel towards this issue.

    If you still don’t believe that team names can promote racism, take a look at some of the headlines that have appeared over the years: “Scalp ‘em, oh wonderous Redskins” (Chicago Sun Times, 1987) “Hartley Claims Redskins’ Scalp” (The Mirror, 2000), and most recently “Red Robins Scalp Indians in Solid GNC 6-0 Shutout” (Antigo Daily Journal, 2017). These are only three examples of many more. Now that we have established that racism does exist, let’s turn our attention to cultural appropriation.

    Have you ever seen a Braves game? The “Tomahawk Chop” is a fan favourite that involves swinging a foam tomahawk and participating in a “rallying cry” that is supposed to replicate what these people think a Native one would sound like. The Kansas City Chiefs will also say that they are honouring Indigenous people, and yet they encourage stereotypes. They play at Arrowhead stadium, sport a logo of an arrowhead, and have a horse mascot named Warpaint. The fans are often seen wearing head dresses, and yell out war cries for their team. The Cleveland Indians, besides having a name that is well known as a derogatory term, have an incredibly racist mascot named Chief Wahoo. But I suppose you feel as though Indigenous people should feel honoured to be made fun of, because at least they get some recognition, right? What you are really saying in your article, dearest Anon, is that we should be grateful for any kind of representation we can get in this world, even if it’s offensive. What you are saying is that you can still take and take and take from us, and there isn’t anything we can do about it. We are not your mascots. We are not your property, and we sure as hell aren’t going to sit here and accept it like you want us to do.

  • Unpopular Opinion: Controversial Team Names Aren’t All That Controversial

    The controversy of team names has been a hot topic in the world of sports as of late, and all the attention being brought to the topic has me thinking: are these team names controversial, or are activists just bringing it up to create controversy? Before you gasp in disbelief and accuse me of supporting cultural appropriation, just hear me out.

    Think of other team names that aren’t considered controversial. The mascot of a team usually represents something fierce and unstoppable. Panthers, Eagles, Lions, and the list goes on. If a team isn’t named after an animal, it’s named after something that pays respect and homage to the team’s city, country, or background. This is where we get mascots such as the Maple Leafs or the Oilers. So, isn’t it possible that, like these team names, the “controversial” ones are also used to pay tribute to the Indigenous people? In my opinion, having teams such as the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Chiefs remind people of America’s roots. These names aren’t meant to be racist. These names are meant to pay tribute to the strength, excellence, and determination of the Native peoples.

    At the end of the day, people are offended by anything and everything. Environmentalists will take issues with the Edmonton Oilers, tall people might take issue with the San Francisco Giants, and perhaps people are offended with the Boston Celtics because of the Irish. If we are going to insist that sports teams change their names to be less controversial, then it should be consistent. Not just for the sports teams with Indigenous based names.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m not stubborn in my opinion. I can understand why some people will take offense to these names. But I do not feel like the actions being taken are progressive in any way. It has been reported that many people have boycotted sporting events, reporters refuse to say the name of the teams on broadcast, and merchandise is being destroyed. So, my question is this: why is the team being punished for the name? They did not name themselves. These actions are directly effecting the players, and that isn’t right or fair. There must be a better way to voice your discontent.

    Alternatively, maybe those who are offended should see it from a different perspective and accept that team names honour their namesake. The logos and mascots themselves is an entirely different story, and I could see why that may be taken offensively. However, the team names and their mascots are different matters and should be treated as such. Keep this in mind the next time you decided to hop on the bandwagon and protest something you didn’t care about a year ago.

Betzillo positions itself as a versatile gaming hub where structured bonuses and adaptive gameplay mechanics support both short sessions and extended play.

Built with a focus on innovation, Spinbit integrates modern casino architecture with rapid transactions, appealing to players who value speed and digital efficiency.

Ripper Casino emphasizes bold entertainment through high-impact slot titles and competitive promotions crafted for risk-oriented players.

A friendly interface and stable performance define Ricky Casino, offering a casual yet reliable environment for a wide spectrum of gaming preferences.

King Billy Casino channels classic casino spirit into a modern platform, delivering recognizable themes supported by contemporary reward systems.

Immersive visuals and layered slot mechanics are at the core of Dragonslots, creating a narrative-driven casino experience.

Lukki Casino appeals to players seeking direct access and minimal friction, focusing on fast loading times and intuitive controls.

Casinonic provides a structured and dependable gaming framework, blending modern slots with transparent operational standards.