I ordered the combo (2 meats). I picked brisket and burnt ends. I got fried and beans. And a large souvenir soda. The combo is 10.50, with everything it was about 20 bucks.
Just phenomenal. Really fucking good. Everything was perfect. Well the fries weren't my favorite (not crispy at all) but who cares. I would order the same thing every time. It took about 20 minutes to get through the line. As we left, the line was out the door.
Brit didn't get anything there, so next stop was the Plaza. The buildings were decorated and lit up for the Royals.
We got an outdoor table at the Cheesecake Factory. By the time we left the Royals were up 4-1. We headed downtown. It was surprisingly crowded. I figured the sports bars would be packed. But the streets were jammed. Lots were charging $20 for "Event Parking." That cracked me up. The event in question is a baseball game in California. Eventually we drove by this scene:
It's not my picture. Because I didn't get out of the car. There was nowhere to park and the line to get in seemed impossible. (Because who's going to leave?) So we headed toward the burbs, Overland Park. When we were downtown it was 4-4.
We walked into a sports bar in Overland Park. It was full but not exciting. The Royals were down 4-7. Tired, we just headed back to the hotel. Turned on the TV, and the Royals were down 11-4.
The next morning we hit Gates before going to Arrowhead.
I ordered something I've never had before. A double decker combo, two meats in one sandwich. I picked beef and pork. The woman behind the counter described it to somebody else, "21 slices of meat."
So fucking good. Gates and Arthur Bryant's really are the two best barbecue restaurants in Kansas City (and by extrapolation, probably the planet.)
Brit asked me which is better. My answer to her:
"Arthur Bryant's is probably a little better. But Gates tastes like home. If you could only have one meal, do you go with what's better or what tastes like home?"
Brit: "Probably home."
"Yeah."
But no reason to choose. Just go to both.
And then it's on to Arrowhead. The parking was a nightmare. They developed a new system and we were in the stadium complex 20 minutes before the game, but it took 40 minutes for them to route our car to a spot. Awful. I heard the Rams score from the car radio.
Eventually we got to our seats.
We're 28 rows up in the upper deck (of about 40) but right on the 50. They're actually really great seats. I didn't mind the height. And it's a great view. The first drive I got to watch, the Chiefs scored and tied it at 7-7.
With 7:46 left in the 2nd quarter, still a 7-7 game, Charles fumbled and the Rams took over at the Chiefs 8 yard line. This would be the turning point of the game.
1st and 2nd down resulted in 1 yard run. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Ron Parker sacked Austin Davis for a 14 yard loss. On 4th down, Zuerlein missed the 38-yard field goal.
That defensive stand allowed 0 points and even gained 20 yards of field position.
On the ensuing drive, the Chiefs hit a 53-yard field goal as the first half expired.
On the ensuing kickoff, Knile Davis returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
The Chiefs tacked on 17 more points and the Rams never had a chance. In garbage time, the Rams got the red zone for the first time since the fumble, but were sacked on 3rd and 4th down. It was a complete domination. The touchdown return after halftime was the best part.
After the game it was back to the MCI, the saddest international airport in the world.
