Spoils...No, Pizza to the Victors. Congratulations KC

My grandfather always said "there's no such thing as a free lunch." I understand what he meant by this metaphor and still, I have often thought otherwise.  I will allow a thoughtful gesture by my beloved San Francisco Giants to serve as my evidence that—well grandpa— sometimes, there is. And wow, do they taste good. 

Today, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News wrote: 

The Giants front office sent 25 pizzas to Royals front office employees at Kauffman Stadium. It’s a tradition the Boston Red Sox started a year earlier, when they ordered pies and had them delivered to Giants employees at AT&T Park.“ 

We can’t take credit for this, but we’re happy to continue it,” Giants vice president Staci Slaughter said.

The story would have climbed to epic proportions of food lore had they sent San Francisco's best pizza, which I believe is Tony's pizza. But, I took comfort in reading "the Giants didn’t just call up the local Pizza Hut or Domino’s. They placed a call to Minsky’s Café and Bar and asked them to include a note with the order: 'Have fun planning the parade – and enjoy the ride!”

I shared this story with my students at the beginning of class today because it left me smiling. I said "So what does this story have to do with Esau and Jacob? well, nothing but this is what my grandfather once said...and it's funny to me just how much we love a free lunch. Pizza isn't that uncommon; it's not even a delicacy—but I know how sweet those pies tasted."

They thought so too. "it's the thought behind it that counts," said one sophomore. "Yeah, that someone would take the time and realize what the Royals did, and act upon in a special way, says a lot," said another.

I have coached three different sports now on the high school level. Everyone of them holds something in common: a love for food, and for talking about it. Food nourishes our bodies, it tastes great, it brings people together and it's meant to be enjoyed. No wonder Jesus gathered his disciples to share a meal and remember Him in that way.

Hopefully the Royals will continue this tradition and pay it forward to whoever wins the World Series in 2016. They should and hearing about something special they did at the conclusion of last year's Fall Classic,  I wouldn't be surprised if they did. 

Kansas City is known as the “City of Fountains” and is said to have more fountains than Rome. According to their Parks & Rec page, "the  unique water sculptures and statuary celebrate generations of Kansas Citians." Even if you didn't know this about a city actually located in Missouri, it makes sense. A waterfall hangs in the outfield of Kaufmann Stadium—home of the Royals.

After the Giants defeated the Royals in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, those fountains—a symbol of the city—ran orange, as a way to say congratulations. 

It's easy for the victors to share the spoils, it's different when you're on the losing end.

Perhaps that incredulous gesture is yet another reason the San Francisco Giants sent a free lunch to the Royals. I love the fact that they did

Photo Credits
Royals Staff
Note on Pizza Box

Kaufmann Runs Orange