Nate Bukaty

What I started doing with the broadcasters was when they come to town, I try to throw a barbecue at my house and tell them really long-winded stories so that they can say, boy, I really love Kansas City now.

Then you go out and play on the soccer pitch you painted in your backyard.

We have a kickabout.

We have some Kansas City barbecue and a little hospitality.

I think that the friendliness is the best thing we actually have to offer more than anything.

And guys, the word started spreading around the league.

I had guys calling me after all going, hey, man, am I going to get a barbecue when I come to town?

And

And if I can't do that, I try to take them out to some of the places that I think, hey, by the way, you ought to see this place.

You ought to learn about this history.

And I thought, well, I can't throw a barbecue in my house for everybody that's coming.

I wish I could.

But if I write this book, maybe it's a way to, you know, the more people I can get in front of that.

they'll get an understanding of the incredibly rich history that this town has.

The soccer is a microcosm of the incredibly rich history that this town has and the really unique personality that this city takes on.

And so that's when I had the idea.

It was April 4th of last year.

I knew that I had no idea how to write a book, so I texted Rustin Dodd that day, and he said it's a great idea, but it's a super fast timeline.

And

I heard from several publishers who thought it was a ridiculously fast timeline and said, no, thank you.