KC Royals: The Jonny Gomes Mic Drop
By Alec Tilson
The Royals paraded the streets of Kansas City yesterday, and it was bench outfielder Jonny Gomes who became the star.
Just when you thought this KC Royals team was out of tricks, outfielder Jonny Gomes goes and grabs the microphone in front of a couple hundred thousand fans. And what occurred was two-plus minutes of absolute Royals gold.
It was pure Jonny Gomes. Genuine, unscripted and raw. And he did it all while toting a nine-foot pole with the American flag attached, pacing madly across the stage outside Union Station.
Here’s a link to the Jonny Gomes mic drop (or mic toss), via 41 Action News’ YouTube account:
(Here’s a longer version of the Gomes speech from FoxSports.com)
Gomes started by calling for a moment of silence, then stole the show as he rallied the crowd in thanking the organization and reminding fans of exactly who this Royals team defeated on its way to the top. Teammates mobbed him after.
Some might say Gomes only played in 12 games as a Royal. He struck out 14 times in 30 at-bats. He’s 34 years-old, and he was just along for the ride. But they’d be wrong.
Someone said that Jonny Gomes didn't even make the postseason roster why is he holding a mic... Look at his teammates reaction.
— Darin Downs (@DDowns99) November 4, 2015
Gomes has long been known as a clubhouse guy, a guy who embraces the team and who goes about the game the right way.
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His teams played in the postseason in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010. He won a World Series for the Boston Red Sox in 2013. He’s around a lot of winning teams, and it seems to be because of his contagious effect on a ballclub.
The Royals didn’t trade for him with the idea that he’d play every day. He had a larger role off the field.
In an ESPN E:60 story from years back, Gomes summed up perfectly what he brings to a team – and it’s exactly what he brought to this 2015 Kansas City Royals team (via YouTube):
"I’m the grease of the team. When you got a big engine and a big machine, you need a lot of grease. So I let all those guys be the horsepower, and I’ll just take care of the grease."
The guy is classic. That’s a guy who understands what he is, what he’s capable of and how to help his team win. Is he a loose cannon? Maybe. Probably. But he makes no bones about that. He’s Jonny Gomes, and he literally doesn’t know how to be anything else.
Gomes clearly felt comfortable with the microphone and he rallied a packed Royals parade one final time yesterday as this team cemented itself in Royals’ lore. It was a momentous day for the city and the franchise, and Gomes gave us yet another memory for the road.
Next: KC Royals: Who Will Be Back To Defend The Title?
Interestingly, Gomes was a member of the Oakland Athletics team that lost to the Royals in last season’s AL Wild Card game. It’s a funny game, Major League Baseball. Somehow the baseball gods keep finding Jonny Gomes on good teams. But this year’s team might be his best one yet.