Lamar Hunt (August 2, 1932 - December 13, 2006)

[senile1]

For those who haven't heard, Lamar Hunt, chief founder of the American Football League and Kansas City Chiefs owner, died last night.  As a Chiefs fan and a person familiar with all that this man has accomplished, I am saddened.  If you are a sports fan and aren't familiar with the legacy of Lamar Hunt, it would behoove you to read about him today.  He is responsible for many of the things we take for granted in the NFL, such as the name of the Super Bowl, the playoff format, the two point conversion, etc.  He also helped form World Championship Tennis in 1967 and has been at the forefront of establishing soccer as an American sport.  Despite his wealth and the things he has done, those who knew him best say his greatest legacy was his humility and his kindness to others.  Here's a link to a story about him.  

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/special_packages/lamar_hunt/16234939.htm

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Yes, very sad news.  I think people outside of the KC area don't know just how much he is resposible for the way the NFL is today.  If it wasn't for him, the NFL could look muck like the MLB of today.  It's a great loss.

I was around him one time during an interview on the news and it was hard to believe that this little soft spoken man was such a big influence in the NFL.  I have a feeling he was one of those guys who didn't say much, but when he did everybody listened and what he said carried a lot of weight.  A strong silent type.

[huskertko]

Truly a sad day not only for KC, but for the entire sports world.  Mr. Hunt was in my opinion the epitome of what a good human being should be.  In spite of his immense wealth and influence in many of the major sports in the US, he was a very humble and well rooted man.  He never forgot who he was or how he got to where he was, which in today's society of "look at me, see what I can do" is a major statement.  The NFL and MLS owes a great deal of gratitude to this man and his vision.

He will truly be missed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Hunt family and to all the lives that he touched.

[basspro05]

Prayers go out to the Hunt family

Kansas City is having a rough year for icons, first Buck O'Neal and now Lamar Hunt, they will be missed.

[RatONaStick]

My condolences, Lamar Hunt was a good man and instrumental in the NFL as we know it today.

A quote from Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney on the Death of Lamar Hunt

"Lamar Hunt was one of the most influential owners in professional football over the past 40-plus years. He was instrumental in the formation of the American Football League and in the AFL-NFL merger, which helped the National Football League grow into America's passion.

He had a vision that played an important role in the growth of the National Football League and always ran a first-class organization. His contributions to our league were recognized not only in his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but also in the naming of the Lamar Hunt Trophy which is presented annually to the AFC champion.

Lamar's business savvy was rivaled only by his tremendous character. He was a wonderful person who truly cared about the NFL and all of its people.  

Our prayers go out to the entire Hunt family and the Kansas City Chiefs. Lamar will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, but his contributions to our sport will never be forgotten."

http://news.steelers.com/article/72779/

[Shad_Master]

Several years ago, I had to fly to Dallas for a convention and I discovered that the cost to fly from KC was quite a bit less than flying from Omaha, so I decided to drive down to KCI and catch my flight there.  While waiting in the gate, I sat down next to a guy that was reading the sports section but didn't really pay much attention.  After a while some other guy walked up to him and asked, "are you Lamar Hunt?" and he said he was.  When the plane started boarding, Mr. Hunt was able to board early because he was Gold Member or something, but when it was my turn to board I was surprised to find that he was seated next to me in Coach Class.  We talked some on the flight, but I tried not to act like a school kid.  He was very friendly and talked about how much he enjoyed being "a part of the Chief's organization".  I came away very impressed with him as a person.  Very down to earth.