As a sports fan, however, Cantwell doesn’t know what it’s like to celebrate your team’s championship.
That’s because the teacher from Conception Bay Central roots for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and baseball’s Cleveland Indians (though he came close this fall, before the Tribe fell to the Chicago Cubs).
The Indians we can understand, Cleveland being a long-time and somewhat historic MLB franchise.
But the Chiefs?
His affection for that team goes back to his days at St. Anne’s Elementary School in Conception Bay.
The school’s library, he said, had a sports section and he made great use out of it.
“I came across a few football books and magazines, and one that continues to stand out to me was a season preview for the 1993 season, with a picture of (Chiefs quarterback, and future Hall of Famer) Joe Montana on the cover.
“Living around the bay in Newfoundland, football was not a huge attraction, and I didn’t know too much about it, nor did I know many people who actually followed it.
“This magazine got me interested, and well the best QB in the world was with the Chiefs, so how could they not be my favorite team?”
Soon after, Cantwell got the Sega Genesis NFL Football ’94 game, which also featured Montana on the cover in his KC jersey.
“The love of the Chiefs and of football has only gotten stronger since those encounters back in elementary school,” he said.
Cantwell admits to getting a few comments lobbed his way when he’s worn his Chief hoodie or Priest Holmes jersey to The Bigs for a few wings, but they’re always in good fun.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “I’ve followed them since elementary school, and even though I don’t have many, if any, supporters in my corner here in Newfoundland, it makes for great sports discussions and debate.”
Cantwell’s Chiefs play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in a divisional playoff game.
As a sports fan, however, Cantwell doesn’t know what it’s like to celebrate your team’s championship.
That’s because the teacher from Conception Bay Central roots for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and baseball’s Cleveland Indians (though he came close this fall, before the Tribe fell to the Chicago Cubs).
The Indians we can understand, Cleveland being a long-time and somewhat historic MLB franchise.
But the Chiefs?
His affection for that team goes back to his days at St. Anne’s Elementary School in Conception Bay.
The school’s library, he said, had a sports section and he made great use out of it.
“I came across a few football books and magazines, and one that continues to stand out to me was a season preview for the 1993 season, with a picture of (Chiefs quarterback, and future Hall of Famer) Joe Montana on the cover.
“Living around the bay in Newfoundland, football was not a huge attraction, and I didn’t know too much about it, nor did I know many people who actually followed it.
“This magazine got me interested, and well the best QB in the world was with the Chiefs, so how could they not be my favorite team?”
Soon after, Cantwell got the Sega Genesis NFL Football ’94 game, which also featured Montana on the cover in his KC jersey.
“The love of the Chiefs and of football has only gotten stronger since those encounters back in elementary school,” he said.
Cantwell admits to getting a few comments lobbed his way when he’s worn his Chief hoodie or Priest Holmes jersey to The Bigs for a few wings, but they’re always in good fun.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “I’ve followed them since elementary school, and even though I don’t have many, if any, supporters in my corner here in Newfoundland, it makes for great sports discussions and debate.”
Cantwell’s Chiefs play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in a divisional playoff game.
