Meet Chiefs Super Fan Jovita Martinez
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the most loyal fan bases in the National Football League. There are millions of devoted fans in the Kingdom — perhaps, none more devout than 96-year old Jovita Martinez. She’s a faithful watcher and supporter of her beloved franchise. Her allegiance to this football team is known around her Kansas City community and has been for many, many years. Her granddaughter Nece Ruiz, incidentally a fan of the Oakland Raiders, recounted memories that stretch back to her childhood:
"Growing up, everyone in the neighborhood knew Grandma Jovi as a kind heart, a surrogate mother, and a die-hard Chiefs fan. If you happened to be over watching the game and weren’t rooting for the Chiefs, you’d keep your mouth shut or get out of her house. That still holds true to this day!"
On Sunday afternoons, you’ll find Martinez smack in front of the television, outfitted from head-to-waist in Chiefs garb. Her normal game attire typically includes a Chiefs hat, shirt, and twin foam fingers. She’s as rabid a fan as you’ll find in the metropolitan area, but one experience has eluded her. Jovita’s never seen the team play in person. That will all change over the weekend though. She will celebrate her birthday on Saturday the 23rd of August in part by making a trip to Arrowhead Stadium for her first ever Chiefs game.
Earlier this month, Facebook community “Help a 96 Year Old Chiefs Fan Get to Her Very First Game” began a campaign to help make Martinez’s dream of attending a game a reality. Fellow superfan Ty “The X-Factor” Rowton answered the call and is providing tickets for Jovita and her family. Together, they will join a crowd of more than 30,000 for a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings. That kind of generosity and solidarity amidst the Sea of Red is enough to make you misty-eyed.
The 400+ members of the FB community that made this all possible are rejoicing with Martinez. She’ll have the opportunity to share this special experience with her loved ones. Jovi’s daughter and caretaker Virginia Martinez-Crowe had this to say about Saturday’s festivities:
"Mom won’t believe it’ll happen until that day. She’s going to wear her No. 25 Jamaal Charles shirt — he’s her favorite. She’s got her No. 1 fingers and her hat, so she’s ready."
No one’s more excited than Martinez. When asked how she felt about the forthcoming opportunity she said,
"I’ve never been to a Chiefs game, but I watch every game on TV. Whether they win or lose, I still watch them all the time. I’ve been a sports fan since I was in grade school. I used to play basketball, baseball, and volleyball. I just love sports and I have been a fan of the Chiefs for a long, long time."
We’ll all be watching with you, Jovita.
From everyone here at Arrowhead Addict, we sincerely hope you have the time of your life and get to share in a toast to victory with your favorite football team. As always, we appreciate your readership and support. The chance to share a story like this makes everything we do here worthwhile. Be sure to check back for my regularly-scheduled weekly column on Tuesday at 10am (Arrowhead Time).
Until next time, Addicts!