Two score years ago, a great American, in whose shadow we sit under at The K, signed the Kansas City Royals into existence. This historic decree came as a sense of hope to millions of fans exposed to the pains of mediocrity. It came as a joyous ray of light to end the long gloom of incompetence.
But forty years later, the Royals fan still is not free. Forty years later, the life of the Royals fan is still sadly crippled by the blind guesses of a clueless front office. Forty years later, the Royals fan lives in shame and is mocked throughout the land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we’ve come here today to cash a check. When the architects of baseball wrote the magnificent words of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, they were signing a promissory note to which every fan was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all fans, yes, Royals fans as well as those of the Evil Empire, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Hope, Faith and the pursuit of the Pennant.” It is obvious today that baseball has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her small-market teams are concerned. Instead of of honoring this sacred obligation, baseball has given the Royal fan a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”
But we refuse to believe that the bank of David Glass is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of the Wal-Mart riches that he owns. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of the Yankees and the Red Sox and the security of re-signing our home-grown talent.
But there is something that I must say to my fans: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for victories by drinking from the cup of unfaithfulness. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.
The Royals cannot win alone.
And as they win, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
Let us not wallow in the cellar of the standings, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the heart of every Royals fan.
I have a dream that the Royals, for the first time since “Lima Time,” will band together for a miracle run and give Royals fans everywhere something to cheer about…for the first time in 25 years.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and recognize the true brilliance that is Zack Greinke and he stand up and shun the big-market teams.
I have a dream that one day our lineup will be able to provide the support and security Zack deserves, and he will be able never again receive a no decision after allowing one run.
I have a dream that one day even ESPN, a network sweltering with the intense worship of the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies, will be transformed into an oasis of Royals Nation.
I have a dream that the four new acquisitions will one day play in a league where they will not be judged by the name on the front of their uniforms but by the content of their statistics.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day Trey Hillman will play his best players, instead of the eldest.
I have a dream that one day Willie Bloomquist will never enter the game and Mike Aviles will receive sufficient plate appearances.
I have a dream that one day Yuniesky Betancourt learns what a walk is and somehow incorporates it in his offensive skill set, which has plenty of room for it.
I have a dream that one day Dayton Moore will explain what he was thinking giving Gil Meche $55 million dollars for a 9.89 ERA.
I have a dream that one day the name Kila Ka’aihue is known in every American household, and maybe even worldwide.
And if the Kansas City Royals are to be a great team, this must become true.
And so let victories flow from the fountains of the K.
Let victories flow from the newly-opened ceiling of Target Field.
Let victories flow from the winds of U.S. Cellular Field.
Let victories flow from downtown that surrounds Comerica Park.
Let victories flow from the mistake by the lake Progressive Field.
From every ballpark, let victories flow.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every city and every state, when the Royals shock the world with a miracle, when that dog pile forms on the mound on that chilly October evening, we will be able to see the day when all Royals fans, those dedicated for their life-time and those freshly on the bandwagon, will be able to join hands and sing in the words that every baseball fan dreams of saying:
Champions at last! Champions at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are champs at last!
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