One Word Describes Gordon?s Return: Loyalty

KC Star: Deal Reflects Both Sides' Goodwill

SI Explains Why Gordon Took Less Money

Perfect Ball Player Now 'The Perfect Royal'

Social Reaction to New Royals' Deal: Joy

NY Times: Gordo This Generation's Brett

Forbes: Why New Contract Helps Royals

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Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Yes, Alex Gordon deserves to be called the Perfect Royal, and small wonder Kansas City went crazy Wednesday when the Lincoln native and Nebraska legend agreed to stay at least four years longer with the reigning World Series Champion Royals.

The only thing superseding shock and awe Wednesday in KC – not to mention Lincoln and the entire state of Nebraska – was sheer joy. Why? Because what most baseball fans considered to be a definitive long shot reached a finish line that very few experts even considered.

Kansas City, Kansas City, here he comes again, straight down I-29 South from his humble home in Lincoln. I fully understand the odds that kept flying across the country for months, but every time I heard Chicago, St. Louis or anywhere else, I referenced the same word that popped into my mind early on and never left my conscience.

Baseball brains that are at least 10 times sharper than mine couldn’t fathom Alex Gordon staying in Kansas City. Everyone seemed to freeze and focus on the same word, and it is spelled M-O-N-E-Y. Every time they emphasized why Alex had to take the multiple milllions more that he'd earned, my inner voice screamed a different word, and I kept sharing it with friends in Lincoln and Kansas City, our family’s home for 23 years.

Loyalty is One of Nebraska Athletics’ Five Core Values

Whenever friends told me that Gordo was as good as gone because of the financial disparity, I kept reminding them that Alex was born a Husker, grew up a Husker, played for the Huskers and still thinks like a Husker. In my mind, that background elevates one word above all others and every true Husker fan can spell it: L-O-Y-A-L-T-Y... something infinitely more meaningful to a Midwesterner than the big bucks he turned down to stay with the team that shares his heartbeat.

For Husker student-athletes, coaches and staff, loyalty happens to be the punch line for Nebraska Athletics’ five core values, along with integrity, trust, respect and teamwork. Alex Gordon exemplifies loyalty. He always has and always will. It’s part of his heart and in his soul.

Remember when he was deemed a “bust” early on with the Royals? Most would have caved, grabbed the money and moved on. Not Gordo. Armed with Nebraska will and Husker spirit, he proved how success is the result of perfection and hard work. He learned from failure and enabled it to increase his persistence and multiply his loyalty.

I agree with a New York Times piece on Wednesday that called Alex Gordon this generation’s George Brett. I don’t dispute that at all, but I ask this question: If Brett was moved from third base to left field, would he have attacked that uncomfortable challenge with the same tenacity and resolve that Gordon did? Somehow, it seems only fitting that those two baseball warriors are destined to have bronzed statues close together outside Kauffman Stadium.

Gordon Will Earn Every Dime He Makes with the Royals

Because of his work ethic and attitude, Gordon will earn every dime he makes with the Kansas City Royals, and I only wish the organization could calculate how many Nebraska cars, SUVs and trucks are parked at "The K" on any given weekend or weekday.

Talk about a smart and strategic franchise investment. Gordon just might be the mother lode.

So congratulations to both the Royals’ management and the proud owner of the franchise’s biggest player salary in history. Because they were made for each other, may the force be with them, now and in the future.

And because Gordo decided to stay home, Husker fans once again understand the rewards of loyalty. You could even say that Big Red fans everywhere are True Blue, and that’s why KC and Lincoln were two happy towns on Wednesday, January 6, 2016…a historic day for both.

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

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Big Red N-Sider on Blue Collar Alex Gordon

Voices from Husker Nation

What a thrill it is to have Alex back with the Royals! He is a True Royal and proved it Wednesday. All I could do on Wednesday is yell yes! I am so excited for the KC Royals to have him back. Lana Bohannon, Oakland, Nebraska

It's good he's staying with the team. However, you cannot blame the guy for at least shopping around in the free agency. Justin Klein

Loyalty goes both ways. Glad Gordon preferred to stay with Kansas City, but also glad the Royals stepped up and paid him what he is worth. Gena Curry

I am a huge Gordon fan. I even have one of those name and number T-shirts no grown man should have, but 72 million dollars can buy a lot of loyalty. Danny Nichols

The bottom line is that KC management found a way to keep him. This type of contract issue is the exact reason our Royals could never make it to the top in the past. Kudos to Dayton and the management team for making it happen and keeping Royal fans excited for the future. I do believe that the Boston’s and New York’s would have shelled out money to get him. So also a big thanks to Gordo for his loyalty to the team. Michael Pralle

Glad he stayed, but wouldn't have begrudged him had he left. A career in sports isn't forever…family is. You do what is best for THEM. Fans will turn on you in a heartbeat. Sam June Samson Nemecek

Glad he is staying there, even though KC wrecked my Astros last October. Erich Eisenach

So glad that they could come to an agreement! Natalie Winterstein #Gordo #ForeverRoyal #loyalty #ProBigRed

Loyalty is what always makes a great team! Tom Wells

Loyalty Royalty. Wish people would stop talking about the money. He is a good player and has worked hard to get where he is. Stop hating just because nobody has ever offered you that kind of money for your talents. Maggie Cook

I've long been an Alex Gordon fan. But we need to teach him the words to Dear Old Nebraska U or Hail Varsity before the 2016 Husker night at the K. He's promised to sing the fight song before and has delivered with rousing Go Big Red chants. Karen Loftis

Great analysis. Thanks. Stephen Gibbs