The Pride of Missouri Part 4: 21st Century
As the new millennium began, the United States was entering an era where technology would soar more than ever, new inventions and forms of communication were spreading worldwide, and the election of the first ever African American president was just eight years away. And when America was attacked in one of the worst days of the nation’s history, sports provided a welcoming distraction for fans all across the country.
From 2000 to the present day, right in the heartland of America, the state of Missouri gained a football team that went from bottom-feeders to champions almost overnight, only to be reminded years later that football is as much of a business as it is a game and suffer the ultimate heartbreak, the ‘Show Me State’ saw a team make one of the biggest comebacks in baseball history to claim glory following one of the greatest games of all time, and saw one of baseball’s greatest managers leave the game in spectacular fashion.
Meanwhile in Missouri, two of the state’s most beloved teams would pull off the improbable and end decades of heartbreak and despair for their fans.
Legendary figures, be it athletes or coaches/managers, continued to make their way into the state and give their respective teams glorious memories that will last a lifetime.
The first 25 years of the 21st Century have been a roller coaster ride for the sports fans of Missouri.
Let’s dive in!
GLORIA!
The St. Louis Blues entered the 2018-19 season with expectations that they could contend for a championship, after missing out on the playoffs by a single point the year before. During the offseason, their biggest acquisition was a center from the Buffalo Sabres named Ryan O’Reilly.
The Blues weren’t sure what to expect from O’Reilly, but he was coming to a team that had a chance to win.
“We can talk all day about whether any player is worth five pieces going the other way,” Todd Panula of Bleedin’ Blue said. “The bottom line, now that the deal is done, is that the Blues got a quality player. O’Reilly can play the middle and just set the NHL record for faceoffs won.”
FINALLY
Coming into training camp in 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs were poised to avenge the previous year’s heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship game, and finally reach the promised land for the first time in 50 years.
“Last year was a good moment for us,” linebacker Reggie Ragland said. “But we strive to get to win the AFC Championship this year and go to the Super Bowl, so we have to keep working and being tough mentally. So far, we’re doing a good job of it.”
The 2018 season was a tremendous success for the Chiefs make no mistake about it, but the heartbreaking, bitter, and abrupt end to the season from the Patriots, just one step away from the Super Bowl stuck with the players and the fans all offseason.
One Last Strike
On the morning of August 25, the Cardinals had fallen to a 67-63 record and were 10 and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves for the wild card.
Their chances at making the playoffs were 1.3 percent.
But on the morning of August 25, the day after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chris Carpenter and other veteran players called for a team meeting.
Players like Carpenter and Pujols lit a fire under the team, knowing that they’re a better team than what they’ve been showing, and it’s time to step it up, not embarrass themselves, and make a run for it.
“I guarantee that the team you have seen in the past few weeks is not the team we have,” Tony LaRussa said. “And I believe you will start to see our team tomorrow.”