Ex-Royal Gubicza, an Angels analyst, isn't sure whom to root for
The first thing George Brett noticed about Mark Gubicza the other day was his naked fingers.
"Where the hell is your World Series ring?" the Hall of Famer Brett demanded, jokingly. "Too scared to wear it?"
Gubicza simply laughed and the two former Kansas City Royals embraced in a bear hug.
It is true, though, that Gubicza is somewhat hesitant to wear that 1985 World Series ring he earned along with Brett when the Royals captured a world championship.
Gubicza clearly is torn. On one hand, there is his long-lasting love for the Royals, with whom he spent 13 years.
"It was the only team I really knew for virtually my entire career," he said. "My two oldest children were born in Kansas City. I've always felt a closeness with the people there.
"Fans in Kansas City are like family to me."
On the other hand are his duties as an analyst covering the Los Angeles Angels for FOX Sports West, where he has been for more than 11 years.
And now his two teams, the Royals and Angels, are pitted against each other in the American League Division Series.
Even Angels manager Mike Scioscia has been curious about Gubicza's loyalties.
"He walked up to me before the game Thursday and said, 'Hey, you are rooting for us, right?'" Gubicza said. "I just said, 'Sure, skip.'"
But truthfully, Gubicza isn't sure how to feel. He has followed the Royals as closely as possible this season, especially during the team's run toward its first postseason berth since 1985.
When the Royals clinched a playoff spot, he cheerfully tweeted:
Congrats to #Royals on making it to the postseason! Long time coming but well deserved!! 1985 WS team salutes you guys!
— Mark Gubicza (@Markgubicza) September 27, 2014
"And as I was watching their wild-card win over Oakland, I got goose bumps," Gubciza said. "That place was so electric, I felt like I was there again.
Watch the Boulevard Royals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Kansas City after every Kansas City Royals postseason game.
"And every time they showed a camera shot of the people in the stands, I turned to (my wife) Lisa and said, 'Hey, I know that guy, and hey, I know that guy, too.' And she laughed and said, 'You can't possibly know all those people.'
"But I felt like I did know them because when I played there, I felt such a closeness to the fans it felt like I knew all of them."
Still, as much as Gubicza, a Royals Hall of Famer, loves his former team, he knows he has a job to do providing analysis for Angels fans.
"What do you do? You kind of get pulled in two directions," he said. "But really, the game Thursday was kind of the perfect game. Both teams played hard and played well and it was a great game. I guess that's what you root for — just great games."
Gubicza will admit this much: He can't wait to come back to Kansas City again, this time for a playoff game at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday.
"And you know what? I might just wear that World Series ring when we get to Kansas City," he said.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
