Kansas City Sports What Ifs

I was reading a Bill Simmons article concerning the NBA a few weeks ago when an idea came to my mind.

In Simmons column, he recalls some of the events in recent years that have transformed the NBA into what it is today. He traces the events, labeling them “What Ifs,” and writes about what could have been different. A very good idea, so I’ll steal it.

Going back the past 15 years or so, there’s been a number of “What Ifs” in Kansas City sports history. Let’s recall just 15 of them. For sakes of discussion, I’ll include all three of the local NCAA teams – Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas State.

I really have no big criteria points here. But then again, anyone can make a “What if” situation out of anything, so I’ll try to limit them to big stage events and moments. I also realize that many probably could care less about "What ifs" but they are important to consider and it's fun wondering about alternatives in life. Sports is no different. Enjoy.

15. What if Pig Brown doesn’t suffer a fluke leg injury last season?

Mizzou finished 12-2, #4 in the nation, and has since earned a Top 20 recruiting class. Nothing to complain about, right? Well, for this blog’s sakes, lets just say Pig Brown doesn’t suffer a strange injury against Iowa State in last year’s game in Columbia. This question actually works in both ways. Would Pig Brown have helped MU calm the storm during the OU blitz in the second half of the Big XII Championship Game in San Antonio? One player doesn’t make a difference, but Brown was a big playmaker who set the tone many times last year. However, would William Moore have grown as a player to the level of a first round draft pick in the NFL Draft next year? It works both ways, but I really wonder if Brown’s healthy if Mizzou is celebrating a national championship right now.

14. What if Kareem Rush returned for his senior year at Mizzou?

Coming off an Elite Eight visit the previous season, the Missouri Tigers lose their best player to the NBA Draft. Who could really blame Kareem Rush for leaving for the league? I don’t. However, imagined if he stayed. Would Mizzou have made the Final Four in 2003? That team lost to a darn good Dwayne Wade-led Marquette team in the second round in overtime that year, so it’s not like they fell off the face of the Earth. Because of that, I wonder what happens if Rush stays that season. He’s probably a lottery pick the following year and Mizzou probably makes it into at least the second weekend. Would two Elite Eights in a row made things easier for Quin Snyder? I think so too.

13. What if a strike doesn’t shut MLB down in 1994?

Along with the numerous records that would have likely fell that season, there was a local interest. The Royals were only 4 games back from the Chicago White Sox in the A.L. Central that year and only 3 games behind the Indians. The division was shaping up for a classic race to end the season. But the strike shortened it. Since then, the Royals have only had one winning team and have not sniffed the playoffs. Sometimes luck plays a part of things. If the Royals would have somehow stolen the division that year, is the franchise looked upon as a joke? Would things have improved a little quicker than it did?

12. What if Miles Prentice won ownership of the Kansas City Royals?

OK, this might be a good thing it didn’t happen. If I recall, Miles Prentice wanted to skip the MLB Draft and instead hold massive tryouts for the team. Prentice also had about 345 other investors who wanted to join him in buying the team. I can’t help but think this would have been an epic disaster. Maybe I’m wrong. It’s hard to see the Royals would actually be worse than they have been the past decade or so. This could have made it worse, however.

11. What if the Kansas City Chiefs hold onto a lead against Oakland in 2000?

All the Chiefs needed to do was beat the Oakland Raiders to win the 2000 AFC West division. Earlier in the day, the Seahawks lost to the Jets in New York and at the same time, the Chiefs built a 17-0 lead against the Oakland Raiders. Then things got interesting. In his return to Arrowhead Stadium, Rich Gannon led the Raiders back into the game and they would eventually win the game in a seesaw affair. Winning 41-38, the Raiders knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs and Seattle won the division. It was also Derrick Thomas’ last game in a Chiefs uniform. If they defeat the Raiders, they would have hosted a very average Miami Dolphins team at Arrowhead the next week. If Gunther takes the Chiefs to a playoff victory, would he have been the head coach longer? Does Dick Vermeil even become the Chiefs head coach? Does Kansas City finally accept Elvis Grbac if he led the team to a victory, knocking off Rich Gannon in the process? While people rightfully point towards Thomas’ death as a turning point for the Chiefs, I’ve always thought it was this game. The Arrowhead mystique died in the game.

10. What if MU hires Bill Self as head coach in 1999?

I’ve already chronicled this saga here. To sum it up, Mizzou’s in far better shape today and KU and Illinois are not.

9. What if the Royals moved to the National League in 1997?

ESPN’s Jonah Keri recently covered this in a lengthy ESPN piece concerning the embarrassing performances from the Royals the past 15 years. Wouldn’t the National League have made a little more sense? The Royals would probably be in the same division as the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Houston Astros, and the Cincinnati Reds. The Royals-Cardinals rivalry is already there. The Cubs would sell out Kauffman each series they were in here. The division would have provided more entertaining match ups. Plus, the National League has been the JV league the past several years concerning Interleague Play and the All-Star Game. Rebuilding a team like the Royals would have been easier. Heck, the Marlins have won two World Series championships in that time span.

8. What if Tyus Edney doesn’t drive down the court against MU in the 1995 NCAA Tournament?

Again, this might be a stretch. But if Mizzou wins this game, they go into the Sweet 16 as the story of the tournament and one of those classic Cinderella Teams. I don’t think they go into the Final Four that year. But a Sweet 16 would have done wonders for Norm’s legacy and the basketball program itself. It may have also been the game of the tournament, since UCLA went on to win the title that year. There would have been a different champion and Mizzou, one year from an Elite Eight birth, could have traveled back to the round in 1995. The Tigers would get some revenge back on the Bruins in the 2002 Sweet 16 round. In 1995, it just wasn’t meant to be.

7. What if Bob Huggins had stayed at Kansas State?

Sorry to my Wildcat buddies on this, but more heartbreak stories will be found later on. If Huggins had stayed, K-State’s probably a Sweet 16 team at worse this season. It’s hard to blame Frank Martin, being a first year head coach. However, Huggins had more experience and KSU enjoys more success than it did. Also, the recruiting classes probably increase in talent and the Wildcats’ program probably looks significantly better for the future. A sidebar “What if?” can be applied here. Mizzou was ALSO looking for a coach that year? If they had hired Huggins, does he still leave for West Virginia? Probably, but I think MU would have been in better shape than Kansas State is now. Who knows.

6. What if Roy Williams had left for North Carolina in 2000?

Since both Roy Williams and Bill Self have national titles at their respective jobs, people seem to forget that Roy said “no” to North Carolina once. What if he hadn’t? There would have been a good chance that both Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison would have transferred back to schools in Iowa, so two of the nucleus of KU’s back-to-back Final Four teams leaves the school. Who would have KU hired to fill the position? I suppose Rick Pitino was available, but would he have said yes? Better yet, would Roy have immediately won at North Carolina like he did the second go around? Guthridge left decent talent on that team. Plus, Roy was looked upon as a choker before he broke through with two more Final Fours in 2002 and 2003. This would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he left in 2000 instead of 2003.

The following five are probably the biggest sports stories in Kansas City the past 10 years or so. I have no doubt about it. If things had gone differently in these five events, Kansas City probably has more professional championships and national championships to its credit than it does. Before KU won its title in 2008, the city was going through a dry-spell. While I hate to admit this, Kansas City is driven by what KU does, which can be mostly credited with the media in this city and in Lawrence. It takes the city over and it did this season.

With further ado:

5. What if Kansas completes the comeback in the Border War Game at Arrowhead last fall?
Completely dominated through the first three quarters by their archrivals from Columbia, Mo, the Jayhawks began a comeback. Down 28-7, they got within 34-28 before a late safety put the game out of reach and ended it. What if KU had stolen that game from MU? Oh my…let’s count the shockwaves. Would Gary Pinkel have been on the hot seat if they blow that game? Not with me personally, but a ton of MU fans would never have forgiven him or the team if they lose that game in the end. While Pinkel completely out coached Mark Mangino in the game, he would have taken every part of the blame if MU loses. On the KU side? They remain undefeated, ranked #1 going into a Saturday showdown with OU. I think OU wins the game, but KU may have matched up better, especially on the sidelines. Mangino was Bob Stoops lead assistant on the 2000 Sooners team that won the title. Would Mangino have out coached Stoops and upset OU? I think it’s possible. I’m convinced that all three of the Big XII teams would have defeated Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl that season. Here’s another bit of irony: MU probably makes the BCS. If OU loses, it’s a mute point. If KU loses, there’s probably a good chance they would have been left out. A great season and a great game would have been much different if KU sneaks out with a victory. Thank GOD it didn’t happen.

4. What if Kansas State composes itself and holds on to the 1998 Big XII Championship game?

I’ll go to my grave thinking the 1998 Kansas State Wildcats were the best team in college football that season. But for 10 minutes, they were not. Save the schedule talking points. It was a weak schedule but they absolutely dominated every opponent in 1998. Unfortunately for the Little Apple, they did not hold on to the lead. If they do, I believe they would have defeated the Tennessee Volunteers in the national title game that year. What would be the ramifications if those events occurred? First, Manhattan, KS., would have forever been on the college football map. It would have been easier to recruit to the school and they would have become a national power if they win the title. Second, I can’t help but wonder if Mangino has a fraction of success at KU if Kansas State wins the title. They probably remain without a shadow of the doubt the best program in the state and they probably takeover the Big XII North for a number of years. On a lighter note, Bill Snyder is probably credited with the greatest coaching job in college football history if he pulls that out.

3. What if Roy Williams doesn’t leave KU in 2003?

The other side of the equation. What if Roy stayed in Lawrence in 2003 and said no the Tar Heels again? After seeing both Roy and KU win national titles since the divorce, I really believe that KU-Roy is like the Romeo-Juliet relationship, a tragic ending after a beautiful relationship. I believe Roy would have never won a national title at KU. It’s not a knock on his coaching abilities or his recruiting abilities. But I wonder if fate would have prevented KU winning a national title under Roy Williams. It probably worked out for the best for both teams. KU got a young, successful coach and Roy turned North Carolina around. North Carolina would have never rebounded if they didn’t land Roy Williams in 2003. Kansas never declined under Bill Self, so both teams won.

2. What if Derrick Thomas lived and played two or three more years?

Tragedy hit the Kansas City Chiefs franchise in 2000 when Derrick Thomas died as a result of a car accident. I hate to play games with anyone’s life. With the death of Thomas, it seemed like the declined of the Chiefs ferocious defense also began to occur. The defense has never recovered. In addition, do the Chiefs perform well enough with Thomas to save Gunther’s job in 2001? If he would have stayed in football for three or four more years, does he lead Dick Vermeil’s defense to a better position and do they make it a little further in 2003 with Thomas leading the defense? Another few years with 8-10 sacks probably makes him a no-doubt Hall of Fame candidate as well.

1. What if Rich Gannon remained starter for the Chiefs instead of Elvis Grbac?

This is probably the greatest controversy in Kansas City sports history. Elvis Grbac, who received a massive contract from the Kansas City Chiefs, was inserted back into the starting lineup after Rich Gannon led the Chiefs to a great record, including victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers. If Rich Gannon was kept in the starting lineup, does he lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl championship? I think he does. I believe Kansas City and Denver were 1 and 1A when it came to the best teams in football that season. Gannon would have led the Chiefs to victory over Denver, defeated the Kordell Stewart led Steelers the following week and probably upends the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl later on. Plus, he doesn't lead the Raiders to three AFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance. The Chiefs win the Super Bowl, Carl Peterson is somewhat forgiven for his past screw ups and Marty gets the monkey off his back forever.