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December 14, 2006

Always our league MVP: Lamar Hunt dies

Lamar
Lamar Hunt, after a long protracted battle with prostate cancer, passed away last night in a hospital in Dallas. He wa 74. Here's just one story.

You want to talk about a marketing visionary? He was it. Here are just a few highlights:

- Invented the AFL (Talk about the ultimate Challenger Brand.)
- Spearheaded the AFL-NFL merger.
- invented the Super Bowl and gave it it's name. (For that alone he needs to be inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.)
- Was key in bringing the 1994 World Cup to the US.
- Was integral in getting Major League Soccer off the ground in 1996.
- Had the idea to build the first two-stadium complex back in 1973, before they did that sort of thing.
- He was a founding investor of the Chicago Bulls.

I could go on, but you can read it for yourself today. For me and for lots of us in Kansas City and beyond, Mr. Hunt's spirit, creative vision and perseverence will be sorely missed.

And this year, when we're discussing Super Bowl spots, let's take a moment to thank Mr. Hunt for making our discussion possible.

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Comments

Without Mr. Hunt, we'd never have the Chefs... I mean the Chiefs. Great googily, boogily.

Not up there with the Super Bowl, in terms of reasons to put him in the Advertising Hall of Fame, but you can argue it's an reason to thank the man nonetheless.

Pretty incredible guy, and the man that ties you guys in KC together with us in Dallas. Amazing how much that man accomplished.

I only wish his passion for developing soccer, er football, in America is shared by more people. Incredible life.

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